The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1918-03-22
The Americans Of
German Descent
! Are Sure Loyal
ORGANIZATION PERFECTED AT A
LARGELY ATTENDED GATH
ERING AT JAMESTOWN
THEY PLEDGED UNDIVIDED
SUPPORT TO GOVERNMENT
PEOPLE OF GERMAN BLOOD HAVE
GIVEN THEIR MONEY, SONS
AND BLOOD FOR U. s.

AND BLOOD FOR U. s.
An audience composed principally
of residents of the state gathered at
Jamestown last Friday for the pur-
pose of forming an organization to
put on record patriotic pledges and
feeling in regard to this government.
The purpose of the organization was
further shown in the constitution,
which was adopted at the meeting, and
in the resolutions.
Prominent Germans from various
parts of the state were present and
took part in the proceedings. The
principal address was made by Prof.
A. F. Koenig of Minnesota who
spoke along lines that were emphat-
. ically approved by his audience and
which were sentiments of answering
loyalty to the government of the
United States.
The audience was representative of
both German business men and farm
ers, as we'll as professional men, and
the interest which was taken in the
meeting was shown in the efforts
made, by many to 60 to Jamestown
Nearly every county in the state had
a representative and some of them a
number Two auto ,loads travelled
"a distance of seventy-four miles, and
one party drove over ninety miles by
auto to attend the meeting.
The resolutions pledged undivided
support to the government, condemn
ed every unpatriotic act, and SEN
timent of the German propaganda in
this country against the United States
and also from whatever source such
.disloyaI and un-American action or
purpose may have originated.
The meeting pledged definitely its
support to the war funds and to aid
the United States in every possible
way to win the war and to restore to
this country the blessings of peace.
Organization
John Knauf opened the meeting
with brief explanatory statement.
He stated that he had called the
meeting only after he had received
over l6e letters from people Of Ger
man descent, asking that some or
ganizatien be formed. These letters
came from every county in the state.
He said "Men are looked at askance
because they are of German birth or
ancestry. because they speak the Ger
man language, or merely because they
bear a German name.
''But people of German blood have
given their money, their sons, their
blood, for their country, the United
States Of America
Mr.. Knauf congratulated those at
tending on the spirit of loyalty that
had called them together.
G. Kraemer Of Dickey, La Moure
county was introduced as the first
speaker. He spoke in English, and
his oyer9 word was followed by the
audience.
He landed in jamestown in 1882,
and has found this. country q place
where he has been treated on an
equality. He spoke Of the fact that
Germans who have come here have
progressed much faster than they
wouaA have done in the old country.
'The German people in Germany,
are TO he pitied," he said. There
are many good people in Germany.
They are taught in school to obey
their parents and the laws They
are taught that their country Is
wonderful country and that Kaiser
Wilhelm is wonderful ruler. J..
.S., Something Wrong
'.F&pw there must be something
wrong with the German government
or else there wouldn't be eighteen
nations now fighting against il" -
The Lusitania sinking he charac-
terikea as blot that could never be
erased from Germany's record. He
stated that he could remember that
during the Franco-P Prussian. war the
soldiers were singing "Die Yacht am
Rhine" but that now it is "Deutsch-
land. uher Allies. ,.5 S S--5zs9s I.
/ !, Nearly all European countries
have kings or grand dukes or empor-
ors. But it would be much better IL
they. elected a president as we do. s=.5s...:
Our government Is not perfect; ];
there Is nothing perfect II this lls;
world; !; It has lots of time to change