Evening star., 1924-09-22
GERMANS HONORED
BY LA TOILETTE
Candidate Pays Tribute to
Part They Have Played
in U. S. History.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
NEW YORK, September 22.-Sena-
tor Robert NJ. La Toilette in an ad-
dress here yesterday eulogized Fred
erick William Won Steuben, who
served as an officer in the American
Army during the Revolutionary War,
paid tribute to Carl SchurZ. Secretary
of the Interior under President Hayes
and discussed the great part played
by the German element of our popu-
lation in the making of America"
The Senator spoke at a celebration
held in the Yankee Stadium under the
auspices of the Steuben Society, which
is made up of men and women of
German ancestry. Although he de-
clared he was not speaking as a presi-
dental candidate and would not dis
cusS political issues, he was intro
duced as THE next President of the
United States" and was cheered for
more than 10 minutes when he first
faced his audience.
Praises War Record.
A wave of cheers greeted Mr.. La
toilette when he asserted that
throughout the terrible strain of the
World War citizens of German blood
loyalty supported the Government of
the United States"
Under the stress of war hysteria," :"
he continued. they suffered heart
breaking humiliation. They were
martyrs of wrongful suspicion. es-
pionage, persecution and mob vio-
lence. The German element of our
population passed through the reign
of terror with extraordinary credit
and fortitude. Reprisals were not re-
sorted to by citizens of German blood
TO settle their grievances"
war prejudice, declared Mr. La Fol-
lette, not only caused the teaching of
the German language to be dropped
voluntarily from many public schools,
but was responsible for the passage
of laws in some states designed to
prohibit the teaching of all foreign
languages.
Denounces nterference.
Recalling that the United States
Supreme Court declared such a Ne
braska law unconstitutional. the
' Wisconsin Senator declared that the
folly and stupidity that prompted this
: lie legislative interference with Ameri-
can liberty was bound to be short
lived" A like fate, he added. awaits
every form of bigotry and fanati-
cism attempted in this country"
That all nationalities should strive
to master the English language" said
Senator La Toilette, must be ac-
cepted as an inherent duty of our
common citizenship. Likewise let
each nationality preserve its own
language for its practical, educa-
tional and emotional value"
Coupled with the praise given by
Mr. La Toilette to Steuben, who was
known as the "schoolmaster" of the
American Revolutionary Army, was a
tribute to Gen. Lafayette. AS for
SchurZ. the speaker reminded his au-
dlence that he was the first German
born member of Presidents ca binet
Declaring that Schurz had struck
the first blow at the evils of the old
Spoils and office-Seeking system
Senator La Toilette continued: When.
as Secretary of the Interior, Schurz
found the Indian Bureau permeated
with corruption and graft, the ma
tIonS wards being despoiled of their
rightful heritage, he did not hesitate
to clean out the rascaIs, to remove
and punish the guilty, without fear
Or favor
Cheered by Crowd.
After applause had died down, the
Senator reiterated that he had no in
tention of talking politics, as cries of
Go ahead and Go to il, Bob" came
from the filled grandstand.
Discussing the part men and women
of German stock had played in the
development of the United States