Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1921-09-07
LIKE A SORE THUMB is HOW
THEY MISS KAISER WILHELM.

following letter to the Norwalk Star,
telling not only how the Germans
miss CD the Kaiser but also telling
Of conditions generally as he found
them in that country. We publish
the letter in full because we believe
it to be of interest.)
Wilton, Wis, August /, 1921
Dear Editor-Since my return
from a six months sojourn in Europe
II have had many inquiries from the
people regarding the conditions in
German. | thought if you would
permit me space l would describe
same through your columns as it
might interest some who are unable
to see and have a talk with me. At
the time of my writing from Germany
through your newspaper last spring,
could not describe conditions fully as
did not know much about. them
To begin with, I travelled quite ex-
tensively through Germany and found
the prevailing feeling was, they
were glad they were rid of Kaiser
William and the whole Hohenzollern
House, and made the remark, they
wished they had been rid of them
thirty years ago." owing to their
iron power and big standing army
and their burden on the poor people
by high taxation, etc. And they
feel he deserted them as a coward
when the country was in a state of
gloom and depression owing to the
four years Of war. Of course some
of the high officers in the army who
drew big salaries from the govern
ment and had a good time under his
administration, would speak a good
word for him, but the common and
poor class-"no kaiser for them.
Quite a number of the people made
the remark to me that they were glad
that Germany lost the war, otherwise
they would have to emigrate to other
countries, as they could not endure
his iron ruling longer
Since the people have had a little
more freedom under the new admin
istration there is q different feeling
among them. They have more
ambition to work, etc., as they enjoy
their privileges. Of course, the new
government is not an established
government like our government, so
many different parties want the ruling
power, namely Bolsheviki, ETC., which
causes revolutions. | witnessed some
of these uprisings in the cities of Es-
sen, Bochum and Oberhauser, where
they marched 100 or more strong,
both men and women, with cannons
and machine guns, smashing plate
glass windows and taking everything
and killing and wounding all who re-
sisted. 1t was necessary to call out
the militia from Dusseldorf and Coin
to quiet the uprisings. The leaders
were captured and shot. The German
people were glad the soldier boys
stationed at Coblenz, Cologne, Dus-
seldorff, MINI and Frankfort on the
Rhine, as they look to them for pro-
lection from the Bolsheviks who are
composed of Polish, Russian Polish
and a mixture from all parts of
Europe; same as our anarchists in
this country.
The state of business in general is
good. They are anxious to resume
commercial relations with this
country. l visited the Krupp Works
at Essen, which employs $4,000 men,
this being where the cannon and
machine guns were manufactured.
After the armistice was signed all
patterns and finished guns were brok-
en- up into scrap iron as per agree
ment They now manufacture loco
motives, also automobiles, harvesting
machinery, ETC., instead of something
to destroy life.
[ was quite favOrably impressed
with the way the prOfteers are shut
out. There the government estab-
fishes all prices. The owner receives
certain per cent which is added to
the selling price and inspectors are
appointed by the government to see
that the government price mark is
attached to all articles; if not there
is a fine from 500 to 100 marks, and
from all incomes the government re
ceives 10 per cent which is applied on
the war debt.
There is plenty of work for the
laboring class at good wages from 4
to 10 marks an hour. From these
wages the employer keeps 10 per cent
also to apply on war debt.
There is friendly feeling in
Germany toward America, and they
are depending upon America to helm
them. Some of them acknowledged
that they were to blame for America
where we could go on the high seas.
But they have no time for EXPIRES.
Wilson owing to the IA points which
they claim were not fulfilled.
During the war the people were
obliged to eat potato vines, Feelings
mixed with ground oats straw, ETC.,
no lard no grease of any kind, no soap
for washing. But at present they
have plenty to eat and wear and if
anyone has friends there and wants
to send them something, if they
send money there is plenty of
everything to buy and it is surprising
where it all came from in so short
time.
The crops are No. L this season;
only little shortage in the hay crop.
When l left June goth they were
harvesting rye.
The joyful meeting of my brothers
and sisters after Sc years absence is
indescribable. Having three sisters
and two brothers, living in the
Rhine and Westphalen countries, not
one of them knew me and the way
approached them as travelling sales
man they will never forget and when
l revealed my identity we all wept for
joy, and of course the sad part was
when l bid them all good bye when |
left for home [ understand several