The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-01-05
appeals and German answers.


tober 20, 1916 (requisition of a list of
workmen to be drawn up by the mu-
nicipaIity)
''The municipal council resolves to
| maintain its attitude of refusal.
1T further feels it its duty to place
on record the following:
The city of Journal is prepared to
submit unreservedIy TO all the exigen-
cies authorized by the laws and Gus
toms OF war. Its sincerity cannot be
questioned. For more than two years
it has submitted to the German eecu-
| patton, during which time it has lodged
| and lived at close quarters with the
German troops, yet it has displayed
| perfect compOsure and has refrained
from any act of hostility, proving
thereby that it is animated by no idle
spirit of bravado.
In his declaration dated September
,, 1914, the German governor general
of Belgium declared: I ask none to
renounce his patriotic sentiments
The city of Journal reposes con-
| fidence in this decoration, which it is
bound to consider as the sentiment of
the German emperor, in whose name
the governor general was speaking. In
accepting the inspiration of honor and
patriotism, the city is loyal to fUnda-
mental duty, the holiness Of which
must be apparent to any German Off
Ger.
Answer Is Lecture and Fine.
''TOurnai, 23rd October. 1916.
"In permitting itself, through the
medium Of municipal resolutions, to
oppose the orders OF the German mill
tary authorities in the occupied ter
ritory, the city is guilty OF an unexam-
pied arrogance and of a complete mis-
understanding of the situation created
by the state OF war.
'The clear and simple situation is
in reality the following:
''The military authorities order the
city to obey. Otherwise the city must
bear the heavy consequences, as have
pointed out in my previous explana-
lions.
1.-The general commanding the army
has inflicted on the city-on account
of its refusal, up to date, to furnish
the lists demanded-a punitive con-
tribution of 100000 marks, which must
=.
ginning with today. The general also
adds that until such time as all the
lists demanded are in his hands, for
every day in arrears, beginning with
December 81, 1916, a sum of 10000
marks will be paid by the city.
HOPPER, Major General.
'Etappen-Kommanda
The Commission Syndicate of Bel
gian wOrkingmen also attempted to in
duce the German authorities to aban-
don their terrible plans.
Recited Wrongs of Workmen.
Commission Syndicate of Belgium,
Brussels, Both Oct, 1916.
ITO the Governor General of Belgium.J
'Excellency: The measures which
are being planned by your admins
tratiOn to force the unemployed to
work for the invading power, the de-
pOTtatiOn of our unhappy comrades
which has begun in the region of the
etapeS, move most profoundly the en-
tire working class n Belgium.
''The undersigned, members and rep
resentatives of the great central So
cialist and Independent syndicales of
Belgium, would consider that they had
not fulfilled their duty did they not ex-
press to you the painful sentiment
which agitate the Iaborers and convey
to you the echo of their touching COM
plants.
For more than two years the Ia
boring class more than any other has
been forced to undergo the most bit
ter trials, experiencing misery and
away fight and die, and the parents
of these children can never convey to
them the affection with which their
hearts are overlooking.
Pathetic Appeal Disregarded.
"Our Iaboring class has endured
everything with the utmost calm and
the most impressive dignity, depressing
its sufferings, its complaints and heavy
trials, sacrificing everything to. its
ideal of liberty and independence. But
the measures which have been an
nounced will make the population drain
the dregs (Of the cup) of human sor-
row; the proletariat. the poor upon
whom unemployment has been forced,
citizens of a modern state, are to be
condemned to forced labor without
having disobeyed any regulation or
order.
'In the name of the families of
workmen among which the most pain
full anxiety reigns at present, whose
mothers, whose fiancees, and whose
little children are destined to shed so
many more tears, we beg your excel
lency to prevent the accomplishment
of this painful act, contrary to in
ternational law, contrary to the dig
nifty of the working classes, contrary
to everything which makes for worth
and greatness in human natrue.
I'VE beg your excellency to pardon
our emotion and we offer you the hon.
age of our distinguished consideration. :"
appended are signatures of mem
bers of the national committee and
the Commission Syndicale.)
Won Kissing in his reply, November
8, practically admitted the truth OF the
complaint by attempting to justify the
measures protested against.
The Philippine hat industry, which
boasts handmade products akin to
those Of Panama, in 1915 more than
doubled the value of its 1918 exDorts