The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-01-31
The Kaiser as | Knew ! lin
for Fourteen Years
1
oy ARTHUR N. DAVIS. D. D. S.


! yC0A SCA Ii Lux k5t0 III C6A0OAL was 40
urally repugnant to one who held sucl
| exalted notions as to the rights o
rulers. 1t would be too much to e1
| pect the Hohenzollern mind to APPROX
Of a constitution which provided TO
the rulers return to private life afte
period of four years at the head o
the government.
He declared that with a constan
change of administration 1t was quit,
out of the question for this countr,
to follow any definite policy. 1t wa:
bad enough even so far as interna
affairs were concerned, he said, bu
such system made it impossible ht
thought for America ever to take 6
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 nation whose leaders change every
four years."
American party politics were con-
slant source Of embarrassment to the
kaiser. He always seemed undecided
| as to Just how he should receive an
American of prominence. II 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
Ii 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 he refused to receive Bryan on
two different occasions when Repub-
lican administration was In power.
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 1t. 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 a 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 a 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. Nov
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 aud let us
shoot them down."
When a fleet Of our battleships Wis |
tied Kiel some six years ago the kaiser |
paid them 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
he declared. '~They are ex-
,ellent vessels, every one of them. and
was very much impressed with the
way they are manned and differed. I
nave only one criticism-the lattice
work coming towers, or fighting
nasts. The only possible use 1 can
zee in them would be to train vines on
hem and install an elevator inside,
ind serve tea In the afternoon to the
aides on top-the most beautiful place
or serving afternoon tea I can imag-
ne.
But. seriously speaking" he went
IN, II can't see that these masts have
my practical value. On the contrary,
can see very serious disadvantages
n them. No matter what nation you
night be fighting. your enemy would
llways be able to recognize you at
distance, before you could identify
lin, because the warships of all other
lations look very much alike at a dis
ance.
'They say these coming towers are
lrmed," he went on, .but you would
ever get close enough to your enemy
o use such small guns. Again. II one
t those masts were hit 1t would send
shower Of steel about the heads Of
be men ON board, and would not only
ut many Of them out Of action. but
7ould be In the way. Suppose, too,
be mast were struck down and hung
yer the side1 Il would drag through
be water, and would not only serious
: impede the vessel, but It would
auee the nip to Inst and expose Z
nfga1 area On one aide than would b
II. No. Davis, your dghting nasts,
! have nd, might answer AFSt-fats
= sorving taa, ut don't thlnk nsch {
~ 49, :