American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-06-14
THIS GERMAN DOES NOT WANT
ANY GERMAN RULE.
Tells How He Came TO BE Here, and
Of the Conditions He Escaped By
Reason OF His Being an American.

Herman Wilkes, a man born in
Germany. but now residing In Scran-
ton. Kansas, has the following to say
about Germany and the conditions that
obtain there.
Il know Germany. / was born there.
went TO school In the fatherland
And let me tell you, my good German
friends here. you do not know what
you are talking about II you support
German %autocracy. II you are honest
about II you will say that you and your
father fled from Germany, just as
mine did, TO escape military tyranny.
know Prussianism. You may have been
born elsewhere in the empire, but the
brutal iron heel of the government that
has drenched this whole world In
blood In It's war for world power, was
the same power hat made every Ger
man that had a little cottage or mud
hut, no matter how poor he was, board
a German soldier free OF charge. The
soldier was the autocrat Of that home.
His word was law. II ne punished a
child or knocked him from a chair to
the floor. the father must smile. To
IAiNNAN AMf AAAAhn VI Alt must u
guest, who must have the best Of every
thing In the house. was to bring dire
punishment upon the head of the fam
lily. There was a filled knapsack hang
ing upon the wall and a loaded gun
In the corner, and when the call for
war did come, hat soldier, with 9TH
ers. knew just where to run in order
TO form a company ready for immedi-
ate service. This is a type Of German
organization for you. What | hare
said a not be denied.
Let me tell you something else. |
have been asked so many times. low
can the German people. who are gem
orally 80 peaceful. have changed into
such m%urderers? l tell you that for
years there has not been a minister
standing in any pulpit of Germany
but What has been selected by the
: government. Approved by the powers,
Z he has never preached to the people
. without combining the name of the
Kaiser Wilhelm with Almighty God,
" The people have had IL preached TO
them. II has become a part of their
. religion. God has given them the
kaiser. Il Is a part of their training
as well. for not a school teacher OF
y instructor In the schools of the faith
= erland but what Is there subject t.
= the approval OF the imperial German
government. and the children are
. taught that Germany must lead the
% world. that their kaiser and their God
. are i~nseparably connected l tell you
y that the German people nave had sc
" much nf fhtu. I,atrfnr tint tho ,.,II.
believe what they have been taught
y and can not escape from the virus.
y My own mother carried me in heI
own arms. She knew what military
tyranny was. for she suffered before
" she came to the land of the free tc
live under the God-given Stars and
y Stripes. often | have heard her say
7" In hearthroken anguish over tn,
g safety of her brothers who fought In
y the German legions. oh. why Is II
necessary for a people to tight anC
u keep great armies when all could be
so happy. Her brothers were killed il
battle but our love went nj 10 the
great country of freedom which Il
; ours today How happy would she
Z be were she only here now that three
. I"ANANN HAAAAnRAn AAN IA AMN NfANANt
= ready TO follow Old Glory to a greater
! sphere of freedom than the world has
u ever known. They have taken q
solemn vow TO follow our flag unit
. IL floats in triumph over Berlin. II
need be. And their march will not b,
, the march OF the Germans through
, Belgium. with its crimes and tears
y for they will say TO the German people
Come, my brothers. into the enjoy
ments of the fruits OF a great freedom
: Iof world democracy that knows nj
u divine right of kings and that shall
. mean for all peace and happiness. W,
come not to rob YOU OF your land OIL
money. or TO enslave you. but TO hrinl
q you In larger measur that messag'
which the angels sang Of old. Peace
ON parfh rood will to mon 90