New-York tribune., 1919-06-29
New Hyphenate Leagues
President Tells Plans

many Of them to understand more
clearly"
Have citizens of German extraction
any public interest that differs from
the interests of the great body OF
American citizens?"
mo. Certainly not. Our citizens
are similar and we should all be good
Americans. In the league we are not
organizing as Germans, but as Amer
leans. Our aim is to serve this coun-
try"
Your organization has appealed to
Congress to mitigate the terms OF
peace to Germany, stating that the
present terms violate President Will
sons. fourteen points and reflect upon
the honor Of the United States. Do
YOU believe that the citizens whom you
represent are more jealous Of our ma
tion's honor than other classes of citi-
zens are"
"No. But they may understand the
situation better. The German people,
as you probably know, are exception
ally we'll educated and they under
stand public affairs quite we'll. 1t is
a matter of principle to us as Ameri-
cans"
as 1t not true that your organiza-
tion is designed to take the place Of
the old German-American Alliance ?"
NO. very positively, "Our organi-
zation is greatly different. 1t seeks
to accomplish things for the general
good and to create better conditions.
The German-American alliance was
not permitted to take part in politics.
We intend to be active politically, not
as part of any political party, but as
citizens in an independent way. We
shall support men who stand for the
right things and we shall support
measures that are good and sound"
How far have you gone in max
ing the league nationwide move
ment 2"
eve have done nothing in that d.
rection at present. The league is
more or less Chicago movement. We
do not plan to extend it., at least not at
present"
In this connection it should be
stated that the secretary Of the
league, who will direct the work Of
organization, states positively that the
league will be national in membership
and scope.
care you prepared to give out the
names of the seventy organizations
which, according to the leagues Off
cial statements, are affiliated with it ?'
1--WE do not wish to do so. Not that
there is anything secret about the
matter, but many persons are unduly
suspicious and publicity would expose
these societies and their officers to
unnecessary annoyance"
"Just what was your connection with
the German american alliance? ?"
81 was president of the Chicago
branch for five or six years." (This
included the world war period before
the alliance lost it's Federal charter.)
"Were you connected with the Amer
lean embargo conference, Jacobson's
organization, and it's successor, the
American independence conference, or
with any similar racial organization
formed during war time ?"
Nothing To Do
With Embargo Plan
"No. I declined to have ANYTHING ia
do with the embargo, conference. When
join q society I want to know whore
the money that supports 1t comes from
and how the money is spent. Our new
league will be supported by its mem
bers at the rate of cents a year per
capita"
Your league states that it wishes
to modify the peace terms to Ger
many in order to preserve Americas
honor. You are president of the
league. May l ask what you have
done personally to resist Germany's
attacks upon Americas honor and
help America win the war against
Germany?"
Your questions go very Deep" said
Mr.. Walther after a moments silence
Perhaps l have done all that you
have done. What have you done?"
Your counter question is perfectly
fair" I replied. ~ am ready to an.
swer It," I briefly outlined few
things that I had done or tried to dc
IN an effort to do my bit. Anticipat.
ing one reply that I expected he
would make, stated that I had bough,
Liberty bonds and had contributed tc
the Red Cross, heap the heat" and
similar funds, but said that 1 did not
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