The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-03-26

the herman tongue dNu tHdL dAy OouJ
who did not care to listen could
leave. About 40 LEFT the hall. They
were principally jamestown people
who were not familiar with the
scheme of the meeting. In checking
u pthose in attendance, | found that
one party of Germans had driven 80
miles. Another party II miles, and
many parties 30 and 40 miles to at
tend. In the audience were many
German women who brought their
knitting with them. =.
~ "The speakers made plain to the
Germantown present, that they all
had left Germany to seek better con-
ditions in this nation, and that almost
without exception they had waxed
prosperous and found the happiness
they sought. That their children at.
tended American schools and univer.
Sites, and had been given the same
unqualified opportunities as every 9TH
er American child. That this has
thoroughly proven to be the promised
land and that it is their home and
the home of their children, and that 1t
is their duty to suppol'. the govern
ment without reserve.
/. Il don't know exactly what the
speakers told them, as my knowledge
of German language is somewhat linn
tied, but I could catch the general
drift OF things and could catch the
whispered comments of the audience.
after the meeting / talked to many
Of these German farmers and their
wives outside, and they told me that
t was the first time that the true
,esson Of making the world safe for
democracy and the liberty of mankind
had been, made clear to them. Sew
eral of them said that they could not
read English, nor understand it when
spoken and that they had been kept
in a somewhat bewildered state OF
mind, but that the meeting ha dmade
&C clear to them that their duty to
themselves to their homes and to
their children is to give their un-
qualified support to the United States
government Many of them said that
hey were willing to sign up then and
there for Liberty bonds. They ex.
planned that they had not bought be-
fore because they never had under
stood-that it ell had been :bewilder-
ing to them. =.
II am not going to hesitate in the
future to have speakers talk to Ger
mans in their own language. Perhaps
these old Germans should have learn
ed to read and speak English long
ago, but that cannot be- corrected In a
moment. We will teach their children
our language and that will take care
of the future. Meanwhile, l am con-
WINGED that it. is. due to these old Ger.
mans that we state our case to them
in the only language they understand.
They are entitled to the facts.
The success of the meeting can be
comprehended when it is known that
the following resolutions were adopt
cd by a unanimous vote at this meet
ing made up of persons OF German
birth and descent, and by people who
up to date have done practically moth
ing toward the support Of the govern
ment in this war:
WHEREAS we remember and point
with pride to the loyalty of the Ameri-
can citizen Of German birth and de.
scent in every emergency and crisis,
which in the past have confronted the
American people as Nation and not.
ably so. during the Civil war, and
WHEREAS the government of the
United States has recognized state
of war in the name Of liberty and hui
manity.
THEREFORE,, be it resolved, first:
that we condemn every unpatriotic &C
tiOn and utteranCo by WhOmSOeVer
made, and
Be It still further resolved, that we
pledge our heart and hand in perfect
loyalty to the President and to the
government and declare ourselves
ready to make every sacrifice neces.
sary to support all government finan-
cial activities for the successful prose.
cution of the war until the blessings
of peace shall again rebound to the
honor and glory of the United States
of America" !