Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1919-01-17

will have to turn to Germany FOR tim
Il ber."
\ The kaiser was a harsh critic Of 6ul
election system. The idea of a four
year term for the president was nat
urally 'epugnant to one who held such
exalted notions as to the rights OF
rulers. It would be too much to ex
pect the Hohenzollern mind to approve
Of a constitution which provided fol-
the rulers return to private life after
| period Of four years at the head OF
the government.
| He declared that with a constant
change of administration it was quite
out of the question for this country
to follow any definite policy. 1t was
bad enough even so far as internal
affairs were concerned, he said. but
such system made it impossible he
thought for America ever to take q
prominent place in international poll
tics.
you can't expect the nations of the
world to. deal with America as they
deal among themselves when the next
change of administration may mean
the adoption Of an entirely new foreign
policy" he declared. '"There can be
nothing stable about the foreign policy
Of a nation whose leaders change every
four years."
American party politics were a con-
slant source of embarrassment to the
kaiser. He always seemed undecided
as to just how he should receive an
American of prominence. If he hap
pened to be Of the same political faith
as the administration. the kaiser was
afraid to do him too much honor for
fear of offending the opposing party,
who might win the next election; and
If he were not of the same party as
the administration, the kaiser feared
to honor him lest more immediate re-
sentiment be stirred up in America.
Thus ne refused to receive Bryan on
two different occasions when Repub-
lican administration was In power. e..
He criticized very strongly, too, our
election methods.
Instead of discussing principles,
your political candidates exchange per-
sonalities," he said. my people would
be shocked at the sort of speeches and
accusations which figure in all your
political campaigns. Over here, moth
ing of the kind is ever heard"
The kaiser was very much interested
in our negro problem. 1t seemed to
have a great fascination for him, and
he frequently referred to it. He told
me that he understood there were
100000 negroes in this country, but
they were dying off in great numbers
through consumption and other dis
eases to which they offered but poor
resistance.
'The negro will always be great
problem in your country, however," he
added. 'They don't mix socially with
the whites, and there will be constant
friction. My brother prince henry,
when he returned from his visit to
America. told me lot about these
negroes. Indeed, one of the most i'm.
pressive things he heard there was a
choir Of negro voices. He said they
sang some wonderful melodies. and
their voices were as clear as bells"
After the war started. the kaiser
referred to the negroes again. 'Now
is your chance to settle your negro
problem" he declared. half facetiOusly,
of course. If America insists upon
coming into the war, why doesn't she
send her negroes across and let us
shoot them d0wn7"
When a fleet of our battleships Wis.
tied Kiel some six years ago the kaiser
paid them a visit and was very much
interested. When he called to see me
shortly afterward he told me of his
experience. .....
II went over the ships from top to
bottom" he declared. "They are ex-
cellent vessels, every one Of them. and
was very much impressed with the
way they are manned and Offered. 1
have only one criticism-the lattice
work coming towers. or fighting
masts. The only possible use I can
see in them would be to train vines on
them and install an elevator inside,
and serve tea in the afternoon to the
ladies on top-the most beautiful place
for serving afternoon tea I can imag-
inc.
"But, seriously speaking" he went
on, II can't see that these masts have
any practical value. On the contrary,
I can see very serious disadvantages
in them. No matter what nation you
might be fighting, your enemy would
always be able to recognize you at
distance. before you could identify
him, because the warships of all other
nations look very much alike at dis
lance.
''They say these coming towers are
armed he went on. ''but you would
never get close enough to your enemy
to use such small guns. Again. If one
of those masts were hit It would send
q shower of steel about the heads of
the men ON board, and would not only
nut ,nanv NJ them nut NJ action hut