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Vol. II, No. 8 Minneapolis, November, 1916

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CONTENTS: War News and Facts, 2 page.-The Election and After Thoughts, 3 p.-Political Divisions, 3 p.-German-Americans and the Election, 3 p.-The Northwest in Future Politics, 5 p.-The Hyphen Vote, 6 p.-Why Not for Germany? 7 p.-Germans Sure of Final Victory, 8 p.-Why Germany Will Win, 9 p.-How Germany Feeds the World, 10 p.-Germany Not to be Starved by Blockade, 13 p.-America Supplies "Sinews of War", 14 p.-Duty of the New Germany, 15 p.-America's Treatment of Germany, 16 p.-Rebirth of Polish Nation, 18 p.-Black Sea Passing to Central Powers, 18 p.-Deutschland's Second Visit, 19 p.-German-American Alliance and German Lutherans 20 p.-Junior High Schools, 23 p.-Goal to Speak a Language, 25 p.-Time to Begin a Language is in the Grades, 26 p.-World German High School, 28 p. -Culture, Language & Efficiency, 30 p.-Scandinavians at Home & Abroad, 31.

HART-KAISER

The 47,500 tons White Star Liner, "Britanic", used as a hospital ship, was sunk Nov. 22nd in the Aegean sea.

Von Falkenhayn's troops have reached Rumania's plains and hope soo to join Mackensen's army and take Bucharest, the capital of Rumania.

The new Poland of 12,000,000 is sending soldiers into the army of the Central Powers. Lithuania is also according to reports about to receive its own government and will be able to furnish 150,000 soldiers if needed. October 12th the British Government refused to modify its censorship of neutral mails.-October 14th the French assumed control of the Greek mails, telegraphs and railroads, after the allies had seized the fleet and forts of Greece on October 11th.-October 16th the French occupied Athens. Nov. 14th a large French warship was sunk.

The Allies in Dobrudja have fallen back about 75 miles since October 21st, when the battle south of the Constanza railroad terminated in favor of the Teutonic forces. Constanza was taken on the 23d. A day after the armies were sixteen miles northwest of that town; on the 26th they were on an average 50 miles north of Constanza. The bridge at Cernavoda the Roumanians destroyed after crossing it.

The Allies' offensive from July 1 to November has been an utter failure, the Germans claim, in that the German line has not been broken at a single point and both Peronne and Bapaume remain in possession of the Teutons. The extensive preparation in the spring and the hardest fighting all summer and fall since June 23d have gained nothing for the Allies in the west during 1916, while the Central Powers have made advance in the east, especially in Roumania on land, and everywhere on the sea. The Russians, it seems, have settled down for the winter. The Central Powers are on the offensive in Roumania under Mackensen and Falkenhayn. The Italians continue to show their weakness.

Young Turkey takes to German Education. A body of German professors and engineers has been called to Constantinople to establish more schools of higher education in addition to those the Germans founded before the war.

The War and the Metric System. Manufacturers and workmen in England and the United States have for the first time become familiar with the metric system thru its use in making goods for the Allies. England and the United States must fall in line with the rest of the world in teaching and using the metric system and modern languages if they want to keep up with the world educationally, commercially, socially and culturally. We in theory acknowledged this, but the war is putting it in practice.

Saloniki another Gallipoli. The long-heralded push from Saloniki is turning out to be another failure of the Allies. Neither the Serbs and French at one end nor the British at the other end has made any progress, compared to the Teuton advance in Roumania and Roumania's dire needs. Instead of having 500,000 soldiers it is doubtful if Sarrail has 250,000. Unity of action is lacking. But the Northcliffe press comforts the Allies by speaking of the Balkans as an unimportant factor in the war. Roumania, like Serbia, will, however, feel it has been sacrificed as "an unimportant factor." The plague of indecision has marked the Allied policy. They were too late in landing troops at Gallipoli, too late at Saloniki. When the time comes the Allies wll be too late at the Suez Canal and in Egypt, unless the change for the better.

DEATH OF FRANCIS JOSEPH

Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria-Hungary, died at 9 p. m. November 21st, following an illness of several months. The aged monarch succumbed to apoplexy after several attacks. The heir apparent, Archduke Charles Francis, and his wife, the Archduchess Zita, were at the emperor's bedside in Schoenbrunn castle when death came. His was a life of sorrow and tragedies. He saw, however, his nation and the Central Powers pass through the greatest war of history victorious and on the verge of final triumph.

7

The Election and After Thoughts

THE DIVISIONS AMONG REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS

The last word on the election has not been printed. Much, however, has been and it has set Americans to thinking politically and perhaps to thorough study. The last election breaks past records and traditions and may mark a turning point in American political history, especially, when considered in connection with the present war crisis in human history. Precedents were nullified and all signs seem to have failed.

"For the first time since Andrew Jackson, a democrat president has been elected to two terms in succession. For the first time, disregarding the Tilden-Hayes election, a president has been elected without the vote of New York. For the first time Maine went strongly republican in September and the country democratic in November. Jackson won the presidency by a combination of the south and the new west. Wilson has been re-elected by a combination of the solid south, Ohio, and the newer far west."

The Republican party under Lincoln saved the Union and it was a united party until progressivism sprang up within its ranks and, instead of leavening the whole lump, under selfish and unwise leadership its gretest beneficiary turned against it and caused its first division. The solid south, continued solid and never possessed the progressive spirit to develop a Bryan or a Rosevelt. We wish it had, or would do so in the near future.

"The Democrats", say the American Review of Reviews, "have never been a coherent party, having long been composed of four large, distinct elements, and some lesser ones. The large elements have been (1) the Eastern conservative wing, led by the late Mr. Cleveland, a political group usually more reactionary than any part of the Republican organization; (2) the radical wing, led typically by Mr. Bryan, always strongest in the West and Southwest; (3) the Democracy of the "solid South", to be found in those States where there is practically only one party, for sectional reasons; (4) the entity known as Tammany Hall, an organization without political principles or convictions, that controls the party mechinery of the metropolis and the State of New York. The Republican party, particularly now that so many of the Progressives have come back to it, has also its divergences of sentiment as respects points of political doctrine. But there is never a time when the Republicans are not more essentially homogeneous than are the elements and factions which have in common the Democratic name. When the Democrates come into power, they are unable to act unitedly, except as they submit themselves to the leadership of their President and bind themselves to specific action from time to time by the harsh rule of party caucus. Mr. Wilson as President has shown a skill in exacting obedience from Congressional majorities that has never been surpassed, and probably never equaled in the history of the country. The result has been constructive and important in surprising measure. The public business has been carried on in such a way that the Democrats could not this year have found any platform or any leader except Mr. Wilson, as interpreting himself."

GERMAN-AMERICANS AND THE ELECTION

The one dominating fact, that made the presidential election of 1916 so different from all others and more intensive than appeared on the surface, was that it took place in the midst of the world war, whose real issues were purposely publicly avoided in the campaign by emphasizing our relations with Mexico, the Adamson eight hour labor law and other questions favorable to Mr. Wilson. Few descendents of Mexicans attended the political meetings, but tens of thousands of descendents from the Central Powers

did, and they heard much on the Mexican and little on the European larger question. Never were our citizens from the continent of Europe so interested in a national election. They wanted to hear and be enlightened and a rare opportunity was offered to guide them, but failure to embrace it the meetings lacked enthusiasm and the crowds. This disappointment and mistake will not, or should not, be forgotten in future campaigns. The descendents from the British Isles-the English, Scotch, Irish and Welsh-. have always had a live interest in politics, because questions were always discussed that were of special interest to them and they hold the offices and are honored and rewarded. There is no incentive for others to take an

interest, but rather to avoid, politics.

The Germans are efficient as farmers and mechanics. They faithfully perform their duties in the home, school and church, but sadly neglect them in the state. One reason of this has been brought out by this election, it is that they are ignored and plotted against and slandered by political organs of both parties. Yet the Germans compose the largest and best part of our population. Many have long desired to see the Germans discover their political duty, talent and opportunity, and assert their efficiency in politics to displace the growing graft and inefficiency. They had an occasion this election and embraced it, only to discover how childlike they are in politics and what strongly organized powers are against them under various slanderous slogans-specifically against them as a nationality rather than against any other, pretensions to the contrary. The Germans in America are prosperous, peaceful and happy and they need not enter politics for gain, but politics need them and they should no longer shirk political duties and obligations, even if they are averse to their vain honors. Politicians juggled with the Germans at this election. All Germans were from the start against Wilson negatively, then all positively for Hughes, when Roosevelt unsettled them and the Democrats decoyed them again by the slogans "he kept us out of war" and $2.00 wheat war-blood prosperity. If there is one thing Germans hate, it is to be unsettled in their convictions and they suffered keenly during this campaign that may be their Jena for political education and preparedness that will not be shaken by every wind and slogan spreau before their eyes by a misleading press and trumpeted into their ears by campaign oratory. This work of German efficiency and preparedness in American politics is an education that has now commenced, dated from November 7th, 1916, and it is to continue with a thoroughness that will bring "German Culture and American Politics" to understand one another as they are, and not as they have been represented to be. The year 1920 we hope will not find them so ununiformed, confused and wavering.

In contrast with this political chaos among the descendents of the continent of Europe, it will be profitable to study the organizations, spirit, loyalty and hard labor of the descendents of the Allied nations in American politics on every question and interest touching Great Britain and her Allies, not to do as they have done, but to be what we as free, neutral and just Americans should be.

The war will continue and end as it commenced and progressed, and the United States, under another four years of Wilson autocratic rule, will also continue, and end as it commenced and progressed. The Allies will be helped and favored, while the Central Powers must bear and forbear. History, however, will sift, examine and establish the records to be laid before humanity in every language, for even money and the press "cannot fool all the people all the time." The ridiculed “German Culture", we believe, "will be finally acknowledged to be the strongest, and the dominating influence in Anglo-Saxon and American progress, and the Germans, instead of being blamed for being the poorest Americans, will be honored as the first among equals,

REPUBLICANS LACKED ENTHUSIASM AND ORGANIZATION

The man, the issue and the party are the three determining factors in deciding a voter in an election. In all three factors the Republicans had the advantage, but the Democrats were better politicians and had the greater enthusiasm and the better organizations. It is said that never was a campaign so badly managed as this one of the Republicans, especially in the west and northwest. In communities altogether Scandinavian and progressive both were completely ignored. Mr. Roosevelt, elected Mr. Wilson the second time and almost ruined the Republican party, not so much by his progressive principles as by his selfish, war spirit and his anti-German Mania. He is a knocker, destructive and for war, while Bryan is the stronger character and is constructive and for peace. Roosevelt told who was unAmerican and Bryan who American. States Roosevelt worked Hughes lost, while Bryan won states for Wilson.

Bryan campaigned in 19 states in 8 weeks, making 4 to 5 speeches daily, driving home two thoughts, according to "The Literary Digest", that the Government should not be turned over to the reactionaries, who were repudiated by the progressive element of their own party in 1912, and that the President should not be rebuked for keeping us out of war with Mexico and Europe."

The failure of the standpat Republican organization to fully and heartily recognize the Progressive Republicans, the slogan he kept us out of war (especially among women voters), the two dollar wheat and ten dollars a hundred for hogs in these war times, and the Adamson eight hour labor law, the Republicans could and should have cleareed up. Failing to do so, they elected Wilson, whose managers knew and worked the west far better than did the Republicans. The west is Progressive Republican and not Progressive Democratic as the Republican state ticket election returns prove. Kansas went for Wilson, but elected a Republican governor by over 100,000 plurality, and the entire state Republican ticket. In California Hiram Johnson was elected U. S. senator by 300,000 plurality and Hughes was defeated by 3,400. In Minnesota Hughes received a plurality of only 396, and Governor Burnquist, a Scandinavian Republican, received one of the largest majorities Minnesota ever gave a governor and the whole Republican ticket was elected by large majorities. The entire Northwest is strongly Republican, but is headed more to progressivism than to standpatism.

Many Germans, however, who were uncertain as to the presidential candidates, did not fail to carefully investigate the candidates for election to the U. S. Senate and House. The result is the House has become Republican.

THE NORTHWEST IN FUTURE POLITICS

This new era in American politics is passing the scepter of power from the east to the west, or rather from the New England Northeast to the New Scandinavian Northwest. The political influence of Great Britain in the solid south and in western British Canada on the vast Scandinavian border territory from the Lakes to the Pacific has worked together in this election to continue Wilson's pro-British foreign policy. A glance at the map wil prove to any one that the Northwest is the largest section of our country in area, larger than the southwest, northeast or southeast.. Its natural resources, its population with little colored element, composed of Scandiavians, Germans and New Englanders, its substantial and rapid growth and the returns on the recent election, all converge to indicate that the Northwest, and not New York state, will hold the deciding voice in national politics in the future.

What are the fundamental characteristics of the Northwest? The leading element is the Scandinavian. They are a people that has passed through

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