The Indianapolis times., 1923-11-09
TOILETTE
URGES HELP
TO GERMANY
Wisconsin Senator Returns
From Sojourn in European
Nations,
BY ROBERT M. LA TOILETTE,
L. S. Senator from Wisconsin.

!
months Of study in England,
= Germany, France, Russia, Po-
land, Austria and Italy.
interviewed cabinet members,
economists, financiers industr,a lists,
labor leaders, workers. editors and
civil engineers. I have visited not
only the factories-privately owned
as well as state owned--but the homes
of thsApeople.. have been upon the
farms.
I visited hospitals, relief stations,
church. Red Cross and Y. NJ. c. A.
institutions.
1 have brought back a great mass of
material that now awaits study.
l accept every opportunity to ap-
peal to American men and women to
help the unfortunate people of Ger
many Wholly aside from the war
issues, common humanity calls upon
us TO aid this stricken people and do
it now.
People Underfed
They have an enormous shortage in
their potato crop-their great staple
aud the only food that is now within
each of the workers and the impov-
erished middle class. Their transpor-
tation system is dislocated; their cur
rency worthless.
They have been underfed for seven
years. They are suffering for want
of food, fuel and clothing. Young
children ard old people are dying daily
from hunger and disease Induced by
hunger. I saw FOOD lines where thou
sands Of men. women and children
formed in line as early as o'clock in
the morning-the sidewalks packed
for blocks-waiting through the long
hours for the meager ration served
them.
I visited. homes OF people Of the
middle class--formerly in easy circum-
stances. now in abject want-they
have no employment. no food and no
fuel Their houses are stripped bare
as piece after piece of the furniture
has been sold to sustain life Emac-
lated. despairing. these people are
waiting for the end.
Situation Desperate
The situation is desperate in the
common. The crisis which is at hand
involves possibilities too awful TO con
many. Hunger is the firebrand Of
revolution There is no time for
protracted debate The case calls for
immediate relief Delay means the
possible overthrow of government. dis
solution. chaos. civil war and hell let
loose in Europe.
No part OF a great, industrious peo-
pie should be allowed to perish when
help is available The efficient aid
rendered 80 Russia by America in her
frightful time Of famine has created
a sense of basis amity and regard that
can be understood only by actual con-
tact with the Russian people So. too,
in the case Of the japanese earth
quake.
The need Of Germany is no less
urgent than If caused by famine or
earthquake.
Democracy Wanes
Every American citizen who be-
lieves I'm the Fundamental principles
OF democracy-of government by the
peoples deeply interested In saving
the German republic. II the democ-
racy which Germany has established
with its enlightened constitution fails
the inevitable Alternatives are com
munish. or monarchy.
Not only In Germany. but in many
other European countries I have
visited. the institutions Of Democracy
are being crushed by relationships of
" arious forms.
While this madness is upon the
world. the greatest contribution
America can make to Europe and to
civilization is to develop and perfect
her own Democratic institutions. SO
that during the dark days that are
ahead they may stand as a beacon
lighting the way to all the peoples
What I have seen in Europe makes
me more determined than ever 10
devote whatever powers I possess to
bringing our Government back 10 the
people and to spend the rest of my
life in combating with renewed
energy the forces tending 10 under
mine and DESTROY here in the United
States the tradition of government by
the people.