AMERICA AND THE GERMANS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1698, 14 April 1917, Page 4

AMERICA AND THE GERMANS.

Discussing the activities of the German-Americans, Mr J. P. Whelpley, in a recent article, said: “Had it been possible to eliminate from American affairs (he work of the German propaganda, and the support given to it by a certain active percentage of German-born residents in the United States, and the anti-English agitation conducted by a faction of the Irish in America, with whose activities the English have been all too familiar for manv years, there would have been little pro-German sentiment publicly expressed in America during the war. It is also manifestly impossible that when a man like Dr. Elliot, ex-Pre-sident of Harvard College, and a voluntary and enormously effective illecltial worker for the allies, supported Mr Wilson for re-election to the office of President of the Fnited Slates, he believed otherwise than that the cause so near to his heart was in no danger from his candidate. It is equally true that the support given to Mr V ilson’s opponent, Mr Hughes, by men like Mr Roosevelt, Mr Root, Mr Bacon, Senator Lodge, and many others who are tremendously pro-ally, means they believed the cause of the allies would be in as safe hands if entrusted to their candidate. It was a curious and interesting feature of the recent political campaign in America, that, while scheming politicians tried to secure prw-Ger-man votes by quiet methods, every possible effort was made to keep a knowledge of those efforts from the public as a whole, for it was recognised by every practical politician that a vast majority of sentiment gither desired a victory for the allies or at least had no sympathy with pro-German activities.”