There are literally thousands of small German colonies in different
parts of this country. In one far distant State is a community settled
by about two hundred German families, who took up the land immediately
after the Civil War.
By some good fortune they settled in what is now one of the very
richest sections in the United States. Land that they bought for $1.25
an acre is now worth $250 an acre. In that community there are two
German churches.
Both pastors came from Germany, both were educated in German colleges,
both read German newspapers and both insist upon carrying on a
colloquial German school, with German teachers, German text-books and
German standards.
Little pressure was brought to bear upon these farmers during the First
Liberty Loan. By many devices they succeeded in getting their boys away
before the draft registration. While it was never proved technically
that they had all pledged themselves not to oppose Germany, morally this
is known to be the fact.
October of 1917 came and the Second Liberty Loan was on. One day all
these farmers received a printed card, saying there would be a meeting
on Monday night, in connection with the Second Liberty Loan. "I find you
made no subscription whatsoever to the First Liberty Loan. There are
reasons why I think it best for me to advise you to attend this
meeting."
Every German farmer read that card several times. Who was this stranger
who was coming into the community? Was he a Secret Service man? How did
he find out that there had been a secret meeting of the Germans
immediately after war had been declared against Germany? Each farmer
began to ask himself: "Has any one quoted me?" Each one decided to
attend that meeting.
The meeting began at precisely seven o'clock. Only one man who had
received the notice was absent, and his son brought a message concerning
his father's absence. The stranger arose in his place, but left it
uncertain as to whether he was a Secret Service man, a banker or a
patriot interested in his country. He began with substantially these
words:
"Men, you are all German-Americans. I find that not one of you
subscribed to the First Liberty Loan. You came to this country poor men.
This Government sold you Government land for from a dollar and a quarter
to two dollars and a half an acre. But you seem to have forgotten one
thing. Your title deed to your farm rests upon your loyalty as citizens
of the Republic. Whenever you refuse to support the people of the
Republic you have by your own act annulled the title deed of your land.
"If you refuse to support your Government in this war, you are a
traitor, and when this is proved you will be shot. If secretly you have
been sending money to the Kaiser to buy guns with which to kill American
boys you have forfeited the title deed to your farm. Your property has
become again the possession of the Government and people of the United
States."
By this time these farmers had their mouths open, and their faces became
tense and alarmed. When his words had had time to sink in, the stranger
went on: "I have here a statement as to the number of acres in each farm
owned by each man in this room. The first man's name is Heinrich ----;
you own 320 acres of land. It is worth at least $75,000. There is no
mortgage on this farm. Heinrich, I think you had better buy $2,500 worth
of Liberty Bonds. I am simply advising with you as a friend. I have made
out an application for you, and all you have to do is to sign it.
"My advice to every one of you is that you buy from three to five per
cent, of the value of your farm. I want to say incidentally that I
trust that there will never again be held a secret meeting of the
Germans in this room to discuss the best way to avoid supporting the
United States Government in this war against Germany, and how you can
best help the Kaiser."
That little sentence worked like magic. Every farmer in the room rose to
his feet in his anxiety to rush forward to the table. Men literally
struggled to see who should sign up first. Their enthusiasm for the
United States Government was as boundless as it was sudden in its
manifestation.
Remember that there were only two hundred farmers in the room. And yet
there are the best of reasons for believing that the men in that room
bought that night nearly $200,000 worth of Liberty Bonds.