Evening star., 1924-09-11
Steuben Society Endorsement
of La Toilette Brings Vital
Question to Fore.
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.

Woodrow Wilson to be elected in 1916
on the slogan, He kept us out OF
war"-the World War, In which Ger
many and the other central powers
were fighting the rest of Europe and
Japan. 1t has been claimed also that
these same votes were swung against
the Democratic party and in support
of President Harding in 1920 and had
much to do with the 100000 ma
jority rolled up by the Republican
ticket four years ago.
Thanks Committee.
The Steuben Society in Its conven-
ton at Detroit last week indorsed
the candidacy of La Toilette for the
Presidency. Senator La Toilette yes
terday addressed the committee
thanking them heartily for the sup
port accorded him.
The pledge of support to Senator
La Toilette by the Steuben Society
may precipitate a discussion of SEN
ator La Follettes record during the
World War. and the pledge of the
German american vote may cut both
ways. it was pointed out today. SEN
ator La Toilette opposed the entry
of the United States into the war with
Germany.
In his address to the Steuben So.
ciety committee yesterday, however
Senator La Toilette, took the position
that the support of the society was
rendered him not because of his op-
position to the war. but because OF
the society's support of the pro-
gressive principles for which he
stands. He said:
You have made 1t clear. my friends.
that you do not come to me today with
a tender of your valued support. be-
cause l opposed our entrance into the
World War. Neither do l assume that
all citizens who are now enlisted in the
Progressive ranks approved Of my ac-
tion upon that question of foreign pol
icy. The only ground upon which /
can rightly hope to receive your con-
tinued support is that in war. as in
peace. l have sought to protect the lib
critics and the interests of the Ameri-
can people from those who would en-
croach upon them"
VIII he Met Suuarely.
There have been rumbllngs ever
since the Republican national con-
vention in June that the war record
of Senator La Toilette would be the
object of attack during the campaign
How much of an issue the Republi-
cans and the Democrats may seek to
make of Senator La Foi1ette's war
record, however. has not yet been
disclosed. That attempts to make
his opposition to the war an Issue
will be met sQuarely by the La Fol
lette supporters goes without saying.
The Americans of German descent
have been reckoned as a conservative
force in this country, generally
speaking. Many of them may, or
may not, subscribe to the political
principles Of the La Toilette Wheeler
ticket. Further the settlement Of the
tangle in Europe over the German
reparations, through the Dawes plan,
may make for support for the Re-
publican ticket among these people.
But in view Of the action of the
Steuben Society, there can be no
doubt but what the organized Ger
man Anne ricans - engaged in poli-
tics-just : as in the case of the
American Federation Of Labor, have
aligned themselves with the Inde-
pendent Progressive ticket.
The German-American voters in a
number Of States, if they voted solid
ly, likely would hold q strong bal
ance of power. -
Menbers of Comnittee.
The steuben Society committee was
headed by William Meuser, civil en-
gineer Of New York, and the other
members of the committee were: :
DR.. E. n. Arnold.' New Haven; Rev.
George ". Beese. Philadelphia: DIR.
Joseph Broadman, New York: Rev.
julius Hoffman, Baltimore; Hans Key
del, Detroit: Ottmar Marcus. San
kee; Theodore Mulch, Westwood,
N. j.; Leo Osterner, New York; c. D.
Rinald. Philadelphia: Fred s. Schra-
der, New York; w. H. r. Schultz,
New York: John Tjarks Baltimore
and Albert versen, Yonkers, N. 7.
In his statement to Senator La
Toilette, Mr.. Meuser said:
Many Of those for whom we speak
have always been Republicans, many
have always been Democrats. 1t is
a momentous step to sever old his
toric relations. But it is not we who
have changed. The responsibility
falls ON the leaders of the two old
parties who have betrayed their
solemn trust. We no longer find a
trace of the teachings of
Thomas Jefferson in the Democratic
party of today, any more than we
find the teachings of Abraham Lin
coin in the creed of this present-day
party.
Between the confessions OF faith Of
the one and the other there is no
longer any material QlHefenCe. bOtn
are ruled by the same invisible but not
intangible power--a power that has
crept into our Government like thief
in the night and now determines within
what limits the people may engage in
the pursuit of happiness and while so
regulating domestic affairs calmly
usurps the functions of our Govern
ment abroad to lay down the political
and economic policies for the govern
ment of Europe.
Revision of Treaty.
"Our declaration Of principles has
been assailed by the allies of Wall
street because. we join with you in
asking for the revision OF. the treaty
of Versailles; but we demand the re-
vision of the treaty not because of
the natural sympathy with the moth
erland OF our race, but because our
faith in the honor and
fidelity of the United States compels
us to call for the discharge of an i'm
perative duty on the part of our gov
eminent to see that the promises
made in the IA points Of Woodrow
Wilson are faithfully redeemed.
1--WE. make no boasting promises,
but as the 100000 so-called German
votes IN Il SEQ formed the balance of
power in the States OF Ohio, Illinois,
Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan.
Minnesota and Nebaska. which elected
Lincoln, so we firmly believe that the
E,sN ls,A AS,~