Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-03-16
Open Forum
X 4 X X i y y x i X y X
GERMAN WOMAN SPEAKS HER
MIND FREELY.

To the Editor:
CLANS, how did you like the
speech3" l said to Mr.. blank after com
ing home from the meeting that night,
ooh, alright he replied. ''Well." 1
said, 81 am just like a mule. L feel
as IL l want TO buck. L sew and work
and we contribute to help the Red
Cross and other things, and when that
speaker classed us right in with the
bunch over there i'll the war zone, who
are doing such awful things, | was dis
couraged and thought L might as well
quit helping"
Continuing the conversation, Mr..
Blank said, 81 hear so much of that
kind of talk where l work all the time
that l don't pay much attention to
it,"
This in substance is the conversation
that was carried on between a German
couple not many weeks ago. And the
aforesaid lady in reporys-g ,ne matter
over the phone to another woman said,
"We wish to thank your husband for
publishing that article in the Open For
UNI of the Journal calling attention to
the fact that an injustice had been
done to loyal Germans, by a speaker ON
a certain OCCASION and she added.
e'Now we know n man heart IS IN
the right place anyway"
l think all fair minded thoughtful
citizens must admire the manner in
this man overlooks indiscretions
of speech on the part of his associates,
but al the same time must we not ad-
nit that his wife had just cause for
protest.
We attended a Red Cross meeting at
the Commercial club a few nights ago
and after the meeting we had the pleas
ure Of meeting President H. w. Meyers,
of Willamette Chapter for the first
time. While talking with him IN re-
gard to the work to which he is so
noblv devoting SO much time, he drew
from his pocket a document and read
10 rs official announcement of the fact
that our government had made arrange
ments with the Germans whereby food,
clothing, etc, might be sent through the
Red Cross to American soldiers IN Ter
man prison camps and in return the I'm
tied States grants similar privileges to
enemy in this country to communl-
cate with German prisoners here. HIS
cOuntenanc6 Dedu1GU VIVA HN
we discussed this matter and he ad-
ied, .sThis viii do much to soften the
bitter feeling existing between the
peoples"
1t is very evident that here IS an
,tber man whose "heart is in the night
But why should we thus point
out individuals here and there9 The
yrcat mass of the citizenship have
heir heart in the right place on this
-.
] associate with people in many diff
ferent stations in life and l am pleased
lmust beyond measure, in fact, almost
amazed that there is such an unselfish
,u.rit manifest to- ard the enemy. Wha.
We desire is not to wreak vengeance on
,,r foe but we 10 desire to see the
people delivered from their mil
tarv task masters who we believe are
nc Cnes responsible Tor the u~nspeakable
rimes being committed in the name
f German kultur.
referred to this man and woman
s Mr. and Mrs. Blank just simply u
and conceal their identity. Mrs.
,. Is an C pert sCamstress and worEs
nc day in the week to sew for the Red
ross and a second day she is to be
ound at the post office building pre-
airing surgical bandages for the soldier
,oys, and also does some other work
times, and her expert services