Fred Nelson to W.E. Hall, January 1, 1918
World War I; U.S. Department of Labor; U.S. Public Service Reserve; Nelson, Fred; Iowa
Nelson writes to W.E. Hall of the U.S. Department of Labor offering to volunteer to recruit people to enroll for the U.S. Public Service Reserve. Nelson writes from a Davenport, Iowa address.
Fred Nelson
State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
1/1/1918
Letter
English
Text
Herbert J. Metcalf Papers, MS 74 Box 1, Folder 4, State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
Davenport, Iowa; Scott County
German-Language in Orphanage letter to Defense Council member
Language; Education;
Mr. Metcalf writes to the chairman of the County Defense council, where he explains the letter which he has sent to Reverend Bredow. He asks for Mr. Koeberls assistance in making sure this matter is taken care of.
H. J. Metcalf
State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
4/29/1918
Letter
English
Text
Box 7, folder #10, The Herbert J. Metcalf collection, State Historical Society, Iowa City, Iowa.
Sumner, Iowa;
"Agent" Page of Iowa, the Home for Immigrants.
Immigration
"Agent" page of Iowa, Die Heimath für Einwanderer, revised 1873 edition. A handbook for immigrants.
Courtesy of the State Historical Society of Iowa
1873
"Amen" to Babel
World War I; Babel Proclamation; Council of Defense; German Language; Anti-Germanism; German-American Support for Babel; Business; Army Service; Kaiser; German Army
Carson writes of recent meeting in Sibley, where a patriotic German spoke against the Kaiser. Carson suggests using him to write something pro-Babel to disseminate to state's Germans.
Robert N. Carson
N/A
State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa
5/25/1918
N/A
N/A
N/A
Letter
English
TEXT
Box #15, Council of Defense, Governor's Office: Harding, Research Group #43, S61/07/05
1918-05-25; Iowa City, Iowa; Johnson County; Sibley, Iowa
"Calling Down" Pastor
World War I; Babel Proclamation; Council of Defense; German Language; Anti-Germanism; Pro-Germanism; Neutrality; Religion;
Local pastor, while preaching 'render unto Caesar' sermon, forcefully stopped by Germans in congregation, who didn't want to hear "anything in that line."
Chas. P. Lang
State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa
7/30/1917
Letter
English
Box #14, Council of Defense, Governor's Office: Harding, Research Group #43, S61/07/05
1917-07-30; Hardin County; Abbott, Iowa
"German Kultur Must Go"
World War I; Babel Proclamation; Council of Defense; German Language; Anti-Germanism; Impromptu Organizing; Business;
Conflating Pro-Germanism with German language, proposes making organization to combat "German Kultur."
S. L. Lamoreux
N/A
State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa
3/14/1918
N/A
N/A
N/A
Letter
English
TEXT
Box #14, Council of Defense, Governor's Office: Harding, Research Group #43, S61/07/05
1918-03-14; Kossuth County; Titonka, Iowa
"Germans for Cleveland," Carroll Demokrat
1884 Prohibition Act; 1884 Presidential Election; Hermann B. Scharmann; Grover Cleveland; James G. Blaine; Thomas A. Hendricks; Neal Dow
<p><strong>Why the President of the National Brewers Association won't vote for Blaine</strong></p>
<p>Hermann B. Scharmann, President of the National Brewers Association and a very influential Republican of the 21st Ward in Brooklyn, has as of now wholeheartedly declared his support for Cleveland and Hendricks. When asked as to how he had come to this point, he responded:</p>
<p>Because, in my view and opinion, Cleveland's candidacy has very much to do with personal freedom as well as with the lack of restrictions in every respect for many of our best citizens. Republicans of various states, particularly those of Kansas and Iowa, have attacked the gift of personal liberty most injuriously with their Prohibition laws, and some citizens must sacrifice their liberty for these laws. I believe that no one should have the right, by way of his vote, to say whether I must or must not drink any type of alcoholic beverage. A few of my Republican friends say to me: Scharmann, this Prohibition question is something which concerns states on an individual basis; the President has nothing to do with it. My answer is that the last Congress, due to the efforts of Neal Dow, the father of Prohibition, and of Mr. Blair of New Hampshire, appointed a committee solely for the purpose of reporting to the next Congress whether, in the committee's view, it would be advisable for the government to press for a Prohibition law against the sale and production of alcoholic beverages.</p>
<p><strong><em>What does this have to do with Mr. Blaine, in your opinion? </em></strong></p>
<p>You will recall that during the Republican National Convention Herr Blaine had the support of every delegate from Maine, Kansas, and Iowa, all three of which are Prohibition states. And you will further recall that when the Prohibitionists were encouraging Mr. Neal Dow to run for the presidency, he promptly answered: No, I will vote for Blaine; the man is enough of a temperance advocate for my vote.</p>
<p><strong><em>What portion of German voters agree with these views of yours? </em></strong></p>
<p>I have many good reasons to assume that my views are the same as those of a vast majority of the thinking German electorate, regardless of their political allegiance. However, I have other reasons to oppose Mr. Blaine. There is namely nothing that can be said to his benefit in the fact that the Republican Party has portrayed him as their shrewdest politician. Note well that I say politician. During the twenty-one or more years that he has sat in Congress, he has not helped write a single law that did any good for the public, and wherever Blaine could do a good deed, he has never forgotten his best friend: himself.</p>
<p><strong><em>In your opinion, which states will show the strongest German opposition against Blaine? </em></strong></p>
<p>New York, Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana, and the opposition in these states will likely be fatal for his candidacy.</p>
<p><strong><em>Hence the interest of our nation's brewers will also be against Blaine? </em></strong></p>
<p>I believe it will be so. However, as president of the Brewers Association of the United States, I am not authorized to suggest that all brewers will be against Blaine, although I think the majority is. My belief is based principally on the opinions of those men who are involved in the same trade as myself.</p>
<p><strong><em>What do you think the probable result in this state [New York?] will be? </em></strong></p>
<p>I positively believe Mr. Cleveland will win our state because I know a great number of my Republican friends will vote for the Democratic candidate. When I voted for the first time I voted for Abraham Lincoln, and if I now vote for Cleveland it will be the first time ever that I voted for a Democratic candidate. I am a Republican and thus do not belong to the Democratic party even now. I have however stepped down from the Republican general committee, so that I might be free and able to conduct myself freely without having to neglect my duties as a member of this committee.</p>
?
Carroll Demokrat
<a href="http://iagenweb.org/boards/carroll/obituaries/index.cgi?read=10450">Franz Florencourt</a>
August 8, 1884
State Historical Society of Iowa
jpg (second file better quality)
German
newspaper column
microfilm newspaper collections, State Historical Society of Iowa
Carroll County
"I Must Have A Man"
World War I; Babel Proclamation; Council of Defense; German Language; Anti-Germanism; Babel Enforcement
Local asks for a "man" to help in enforcement.
V. E. Gilley
N/A
State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa
6/29/1918
N/A
N/A
N/A
Telegram
English
TEXT
Box #14, Council of Defense, Governor's Office: Harding, Research Group #43, S61/07/05
1918-06-29; Coon Rapids, Iowa; Carroll County; Glidden, Iowa
"No Mobs!"
World War I; Babel Proclamation; Council of Defense; German Language; Anti-Germanism; Violence; Babel Defiance
Potential mob violence against local German, which the author doesn't disagree with in principle, but moreover "believe[s] in letting the Law take its course."
Ontjes
State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa
10/1/1917
Letter
English
Box #14, Council of Defense, Governor's Office: Harding, Research Group #43, S61/07/05
1917-10-01; Grundy County; Holland, Iowa
"Refuse to Recognize American People"
World War I; Babel Proclamation; Council of Defense; German Language; Anti-Germanism; Babel Defiance; Dutch Language
On the isolationist Dutch in Pella
Mrs. W. B. Johnson
State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa
11/5/1917
Letter
English
Box #14, Council of Defense, Governor's Office: Harding, Research Group #43, S61/07/05
1917-11-05; Marion County; Pella, Iowa