The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-09
|KUlTUR|STS AvOWED
PERSONAL LIBERTY
Hide Its Pro-Gcrman Trcnchcry
by Abusive Tactics.

The drastic change from an air Of
brayado and bluff. of smiling con
( righteousness on the part of those
high UP in the councils Of the nation
al German American alliance, to ono
/ Of The meekest humility; from open
and fragrant protestations of devotion
80 German kultur and German insti-
tutions to fawning allegiance for
the country which is giving them a
home and protection, is not being lost
sight of by those who have followed
with intense interest disclosures be
fore the senate Judiciary comm ittee's
subcommittee Of the more recent as
well as tho past activities OF this
anti-American organization.
Once the light was turned upon the
activities Of Herr Dr. Hexamer and
his cohorts. the country sat up and
took notice. and sentiment was arous-
I'd which BODIED III for those who had
heretofore looked with scorn upon
all things not allied with the German
idea of kuiur--the Hohenzolcrn
idea--as II were
The first disclosures rnade before
tho senate comn1itte bv Gustave-
Ohinger, OF Toledo. startling but alb
solutelv substa inflated. caused the
,
Such things could hardly be believed
Or those who arc enjoying tho bless
ings which 20 with citizenship under
the Stars and stripes.
Members Of the alliance in attend
once upon these hearings openly
sncered at Mr. Ohlingor and. in the
public prints, ehara cterized az absurd
and ridiculous charges made by the
latter. However the sledEchannor
4 L., q.
/ dana ciuG testimony against the or
eanization hoaStinE OF The approv4l OF
tho 1fohonzollcrn head were so quick
~ followed M by reluctant but con
Vincing admissions upon the part Of
officers and members Of tho orEAniza-
tiou that a different aspect was pre-
scutcd
/ Hoping to provide a kind Of alibi
which might gain them some support
and approval I'm this country, the al
: lance heads s~ll back upon the plea
that they were fghting for personal
liberty that they had been particu-
larlY active aS an organization TN
fighting the "Prohihition hypocrites"
or America. thus endeavoring 10 shift
/ the publit gaze from exposures Of un-
American activities 10 their acknowl-
edged campaign 10 protect them in
their personal liberty" views
lea. which as an organization and
! through is officers. had FIRST openly
dared 70 attack the pro Herman acttV-
tiles of this liquor propaganda crowd
, then came in for attcn1 pied assa ults
upon tho part OF the alliance witness
cs Hero again. however the German
I kujturists quickly found themselves
! in hot water. Members Of the gen
ate examining committee quickly
made it known that iiftIe sym pathy~
in fact a real antaEonism would be
aroused by such tactics. and they
were discontinued
The upshot nf tho whole matter rs
that the senate committee ha re-.
ported favorably upon the bill OF Sen
ator King. Of Utah, under which tho
examination was held. and has recon
mended. that the charter OF the nation
, German American alliance he re
vOked This action by the committee
anticipated action by the alliance. At
a special meeting ira Philadelphia for
tho purpose Of voluntarily dishandtng
I Congress is expected to promptly
ratifr the ction of the senate com
mittec, and the action taken in rhila-
GcIphia viii he disreEarded In this
event it will not he possible after the
war to revive the personal liberty
/ organization. with pro-German lean
incs, under a charter Of congress