Wentz and Probst overheard: Probst said he "would talk German when he D--n pleased." Probst grabs brick and walks out before violence, with Wentz saying he was "too big a coward to talk German on the street."
This "mostly German" county how thinks they can "talk what they want to" now that the war is over. Gets a bit violent thereafter, as he engages in patriotic fantasies: "I am a real yankey [sic] and I am getting damned tired of it if you get a club…
Pastor says was recently visited by secret service man, told not to speak German, shown Harding proclamation, and sign with name of church defaced. He argues that these actions are "reprehensible" and Gov. has no federal authority to do this.
Becker had personal meetings with German preachers. Several acquiesced, some pushed back and were threatened with yellow painting to match their "yellow streak on the inside."
Calling attention to the "socialistic, German society" of the Amana Society, which holds property and women in common, speaking German all the while. We should "dissolve their charter -- wipe them out."
Davis says intransigent church got in touch with him, gave a "plea for mercy [and] I told them there was no help for them." They stopped German-language instruction from there.
Response to Davis. Remember, pre-Babel. Here: "as to taking the law in your own hands, that is a question you should not propound to me. As Governor of Iowa, I cannot and will not advocate mob rule. There are times, however, when a little harmless…
