New-York tribune., 1919-06-30

When l asked DR.. Gerhard the pur-
pose Of the new league, he orally trans
lated into English parts Of the consti-
tuition.
"Why is it composed wholly of men
Of German extraction ?" asked.
"The reason fer that" said DR.. Ger
hard "is that it is easier to get held
Of Germans in this way. 1t is easier
10 instruct them about the institutions
Of America if it is done in the German
language, and, in addition, the ge-
lnuctlichkeit of German meetings is
helpful'
"No, OF course not" replied Dr. Ger
hard, when | asked him if in his opin-
ion men of German extraction have
any interest as citizens that is differ
ent from the interests Of American
citizens generally.
as it not fact that the new organ
ization is designed to take the place Of
the old German american Alliance?"
Says Old German
Alliance Was Timid
at is very much different" was the
reply. az is the very opposite of what
The alliance was. For one thing, the
German american Alliance was pre-
vented by its conditions involving its
charter from engaging in political ac-
tivities. 1t was very timid about doing
anything politically. When it did reach
out in this way and burned its fingers
. little bit it withdrew very quickly.
/ tried to induce the alliance to act in
political ways. The new league Will
take part in politics. 1t Will not tie
1t will support the right kind of men,
regardless of whether they are Repub-
licans or Democrats.
"What is MORE" continued DR.. Ger
hard, "thc league will be financed by
its members. The national body Of
the Gcrman-American Alliance re-
ccivcd only l cent per year per capita
from its members. Our league will re-
ceivc cents per capita. We shall not
need nor accept any outside aid. For
example, when we supported Thompson
for Mayor in the recent city election
here, we were asked what sum would
be required to meet our expenses. We
told them that we would pay our own
expenses"
81 assume from your words" I said,
chat the league supported Thompson
for Mayor of Chicago, not because he
was q Republican, but because, in the
opinion of the league, he. was the
right kind of man for Mayor?"
DR.. Gerhard nodded assent. (The
leagues position in the Chicago city
election may illustrate the character
of the influence that it will cndeavor
to exert in public affairs.)
Says He Represented
Embargo Conference
"Dr. Gerhard" 7 asked, "when YOU
went to Watcrtown, Wis, early in 1916
and raised considerable money among
citizens of German extraction, what
organization did you representa-"
"The Embargo Conference" was tho
unhesitating reply.
"Your league states that it urges
easier peace terms for Germany in or
der to uphold the honor of the United
States. Just what have you done per
Sonally to help this nation protect its
honor and to help it win the war
against Germany?'
Il have always acted as an Ameri-
can citizen" the doctor answered. 81
took out my citizenship papers soon
after | came to this country, and l
have never tried to serve Germany.
did favor an embargo. | favored it
strongly, but not in the interest of
United States. saw very clearly
early in the world war that unless our
government stopped the expectation
or arms and ammunition we should
inevitably be drawn into the war. AS
to what have done personally, we'll,
have bought Liberty bonds, two or
three of them. | did not enlist in the
army, but could not have done that.
My age, and even more than my age,
my health, prevented that. But one
OF my sons went into the service He
tror
When he was leaving | patted him on
the back and told him that he must
DO his duty to his country. 1 told him
that he would be fighting against men
Of his blood, perhaps against his own
relatives, but such is life--the way Of
the world.'
DR.. Gerhard stated. when questioned
about the matter, that ne had not been
connected either with the Friends Of
Peace or with the Teutonic Sons of
America.
"Ilow far have you gone in making
your new organization nationwide ?"
ut is being organized on national
lines replied Dr.. Gerhard. at is our
purpose to extend it to every part of
the country"
The doctor made some other state
ments about what had been accom-
pllshcd in the way Of organization, but
ne MADE an earnest request that these
facts be not published at present. His
statements, being confidential, are
Thinks There's Feeling
Against Germans Here
You understand" he said. by
way or explanation, that there is
great deal Of feeling among the Amer
ican people in general against men
of German birth or ancestry. and
AGAINST Gcrman socioties Of anM Lind