Political Loyalties, Immigrant Traditions, and Reform: the Wisconsin German-American Press and Progressivisnit 1909-1912

Political Loyalties, Immigrant Traditions, and Reform: The Wisconsin German-American Press and Progressivisnit 1909-1912

hij G*nl Kiirnnrri

rn.iiiy !n-]|)(>d GentiaJi-Americana lo endorse the social wt'lfttn1 [ini[jitsdL^ uf his |iarly. Bui. Pr-Otfn^siM- lender* held I ha I iif-rmun- he did nol rruUrt: Ut vtiiaL extent Am?rkfiti American!; >U|»|M»I-[I >l them in their hkl roniliiiotts hjfd pertneater] i jerraan-AmcFieiiii- for naliemnl poner. 'I'fii- Ulllhcjr Lnkes H clorti; he dir3 mit inideir!ilai)d ihe desin^ uf look at llnL oilier wide, al I he term* "I GrBrmajiAroericaiw for a stable poTitiea] *VK- • hi- (fi-miati-Aiiirricflnti themselves 41ml ti'in: In' 1E11I not f-umpTehend the cscwpleiity find*—t|uile another story. iil llie ingredierifa making up Cerntan- Atrierieaiiism. Wiecpasin's (^•iiitan-American edjtais did nut 1 iiiiiuiit ilitmselve* lo progrcS' sivism. Thry reacted to the proprc^Fiiir' HUM - POUT years afteT lhe election of 1912 Theodnrr mcnl on tlieir ovuti tetma. nnl «n Roosrt-eli** Roosevelt maintained that many Orrnian- (t'rins in an those of M 11 'i other ptogMeaivev1 Amrricun.s haul rallied to tine bellow of ihr Hull Un the one hand, the ECf>no,mic piaiiks of MDOSC because thev better Understood limn ilLiI auUianding progressive l**d«a were generally native Americana the social welfare reforms flu Re]) table lo the edi tar* of Wisconsin's advocated by the P*t>greawe party1 ]f the fft'miaii-.Ajneri-r'Hn press.* Mohert M. I.;i Toil views of Wisconsin's trrrman-American edi- ette asked for an amendment to the Gjnstittt- lors! are typical of ihr views uf most (icrniiin- lion makiTi^ iHt^silile a federal income In* luw, Americana,11 Rouseve.lt wan right in assuming employer's liuhilily laws, and progressive tabtir I hut the uc'eojupiishmenl*. of Bisinarrikian Ger- leL'isliitiori. including collective hftrgaiftin^ rif;hl.s for tabor, more eflerlivr anti-trust leg- 'Thmidrm- Rooseffilt, nuoled in George E. Mowry, Thfndaie Rmaet'ult and the Progrrnvrv Min-fiR-at I \tadi-wn, 1946), B20. lion of Gcrmiiny rnn>i Gentmn-Amorkajia not allili- *Thia atitdr IF based r,,i nin<' Genrian-lanpuaee etrd \iilh So*H1-Democracy bended to jc-lorifj1 ihr pjpera published iip W'iMiinsin. They weir carefully HH'H'H)ni|ilistiriiH'nt- uf ltlsiiidM'kLiin Gcmionry; 3) ihr eeTectad M the liasjs of It jnjfith'at atlegiaure, 2* subject m hand a progrtMfifiaiii, urni itir Germarei uf circulation, 'ij jilare nf publication. and I' ih*- r,,,,,i W'iwinisin livJ in ^hal h4nf been nnt1 ol the1 mott Iter of journals owned -nr cnntnttled liy particular uj-oj,T«s'ivt- flalfi" in the Linton since LB Kflllettr had nidiLishr.ns. The newnnarwr* se!erl*d neri- HIK follou- ljpi'onie 4ii>vfrn«r in IWQ, 11 W isiimsln's Germitn- ine;: AppfeUin CefrMtSOTt, l.n CrOM* Herald and American |in-M-i îiti1 liltlr I'vidrnrr H)f linvinj; «••- yi>ifc;frrtfni*d pro^rrssLhe reform? on |iro^rei^Lii' t*ntHJ, It Gpnnnuiit Abend/Msl, Shetioygjin .Virrd'oruif DtftUrkrat, >«eniK unlikely that Gerrn^n-AmHThfliw «ntAiile Win. La l!ros.ic .\'ardslern, Plymouth Camspvmltni. \f;i.i. ='(msin ai'iepted their Him^- , non JFui'tNtun 8o£Kjtfljjr#J ] Mil waul:** ^ nurtVli.'. In 'Tbir ate* a|i|'faip IH> have been true of thr nation's. 1 (bin nnii'lH lhn riewfi rf>l • t/rirJiTts.'. wnn nut ineiuded rFErmitn-Amnriraji prriiH. throrne SjKe*;ler VkSftwk, 5ic*pl when tlir- papff was in agreement with llir a Hiijf|M)rltT of [lie ProgrtainVt [ujrlv. ilaimcl Lh TJ1I3 , l , , ir-sl of the press, The Sol in] -f.êPlo^ Mî^ VutYxirix! ihm Ajnerhs*'* GerBi*n-Ai»ertc«n preaa had tost the wa* esHuded IwN'aiiKe il* Inuiu" **f n-fe i^nce differed ui|,J I'.i'riiiiLii iili-illisul ill ihe "forty-ei|>]M<'l'S7' Ulthouf "[, iri;Lrb'fJly fr«|ii mm—uf hili^t [rulrlirutiiill^ r<|il;ii'in^ i! with DIE -|'inl "I j nnf America, M\l- 'The L^neral iirfipvsilioii that edit UJ in! opinion in wauktx GiTvrtini-a Abadito&t. SHL[Hi?mher 10. 1912, Wisconsin'* GfiTEan-AmcrirBii nresE- reflected Ger For the cbuigfe in tjie msrial flml poliLKal \ii'ft- 11I man-American stliludes is, of i'dUTâ:, open to serious (he Gitmuit-Atn#Tit*tl |ir*™ filler ihr uuihc^thni nf question. The limited application uf Hii* pn>po*h}ori Ucrrmii)' tff-f- (.url l^JitfL*-, ft? If ho Built .-•iupmnu UH (ifi'd in tliisi piper, however, prohidJj' has HOIUP 1 \«i York, W>\, 210-211.

validity, ajiii for the Enlhihh]^ reasons: ]) tin; views •\„rJ' Ctrif War: 2) uln-r I)IM ujiiJiia- »-,tit, blirch IS. l'JI.HJ.

161 WISCONSIN BUC/tZare OF HISTORY KHUNC, 1957 islation, and increased um- nf co-operatives.0 violence committed hy striking workers.1- They Unos*velt at Aousgeddon demanded n itationa] supported ihr right hour ' Were liiki'Harm toward die German government's participalion in Ger jMililir'id pru|HiMils eafkouaed hy HKJI prugres- many's industrial MH'iely was as well known to sive leaders is La Fuili'lte. Krtowevelu William the editors as it was lit l)n: pruj^ri'ssiveiO They Jenniogs Bryan, and Wood row Wilson. understood the political function of these re Granted, the editors supported demands for forms in a Germany that had a .strong socialist the direct election of senators, accepted pro movement. They realized, particularly those posals for dirert primaries in the nomination in Milwaukee, whose papers had lo compel? uf presidential electors, and Huinetimes even until the Gormoo and Fngfisli language organs acquiesced in pleas for initiative, referen of the city's aggressive Social-Democratic dum, and legislative recall;'1 they'scoffed at party, that industrial reforms could weaken the the notion that the application of tricks iu the program of American Social-Democracy.* mechanics of democracy would improve ihe They did not oppose the nationalization of rail' quality of ihe electorate. They douhtcd that 10 roads and telegraph systems. They supported isjuîifie reforms would improve existing COH- the progressive program of conservation and i 1 L1 LC]i?, without some liarmfid I'flrMils."' The 11 endorsed some of the lahor reforms, Thry edilurs wanlfil a stable politieul system that dalmed labor had the righi to strike peae^ did not infringe, upoji the traditions of the fuJy. They felt that civil court! did not ade German community. They feared an increase quately protect the rights of workers. The in the power of ihe majority lirrausc such an editors insisted that criminal courts, where increase might hring women's suffrage, toft. guilt had lo he proven hey end a shadow of a peranw legislation, immigration restriction. duutil. should have jurisdiction nvrr ftch «f and. possibly, the revival of laws preventing the teaching of German in the schools of their communities. The German-American news- lFaconxm Blue Brtrtit, 1910, pp. f.70-n72 and 674- *75. pa[3ers simply suspreted the man with ihe "Muftrv, Rtjmnvch. 265-266; Theorfon: Romevelt, (ileum in his eye, he who strove for a homo "My Confession -of t'ailh." in tJeorge H. Pmiif, Thr geneous society on his own terms. Bin), <>i th* \nc P«'i}- HH. H. Kmtn-lx, i.-ti,, 1913), S14-J4.S. Wisconsin's Gcrman-Arncnean newspupen Charles McC'arthv, in Whcontin BuHchafttr. June constituted an old immigrant press in one of 19, 1912; Roosevelt, "Canfewinn of Faith," 249; Ben jamin F. IMS'id, The Eracreitwe IfaKneni [New America's moat progressive states. Most of York, 1915), 7. their readers had come to Wisconsin in the T "Kor a hiKlory of MIIwaukee s SociaJ-llemoi-Falip 1c party »e* Marvin Wurjhman, Wstvrt »i lie SocUii- years hefore ioW- By 1910 they found Dtmoentk Parly i>{ Milwaukee !S97-i9!tt (Urbana, themselves outnumbered hy their own second 1*4S}. generation, and the increase iu the native pop- "Herald and Vidkxfreund, January 20, 1912:; Plym outh Correspondent* February 17, 1912: Gwflicarf, September 27. 1910. 'five Harold and Vvlkf/taund, Uiw GClfflple, I^JIIIU1! fil llnw lim^ it W«MJLI[ tak« ""'pro- "Milirniikee (iermania Aiiendpost, July 2V, 1909; ar^tuivi! Ampi-tr*" in titck u[r in (rfr-itijiny iu Lho IT iscarain Bolsrhtifttr. Seplrailiti 14, 190V. prnvisiun of insurance prop-am* to prater! workers "ibid.. August 17 and il, 1909; Gcganwart* August injured in ibr. pursuit of lheir occmprtiofL 29, 1910: IHitivarikrt Carmamu Abeitdp&St, AiiftiH1! 3lRay Slannurd Baker, "*• ill Morgunheims Ijin- 27. 1912. lro[," in La Fnitette'r Jtfuîcr'rte, 2:1 ISeptember 3. w!i>id.. I mi VI, 1912; Xuiionul tfemukrat. June II. 1910); (iifforil f'inchol. "CMUMVtJtktr and (1111 GsM 1911; Hen,ld and ViUujnuni, .Mareb 30, 1912; rii- nf Living," in I'itvnr, Hirlh ttj ihr \rw Party, ]f&\- '•nnsin BuSiahaftar. April 3, 1912; La Cr-asse Volhf- 161 pod 163: ITiscomin Blue Baok, 1910, p. 674: trvand, April 3, 1910; Gtmantutt, Aofust 29, 1910, •tfj'iu'jufreL' Ccrmania Abendpost, July 23 and 27, "Ibid, April 25, lftJ2i Xvrdslern, July 11, 1909; 1909. and September 3, 1910; ',« Croat r'ottt/rmni, },» ('.ttivtr Vvtk.iJKHt/id, May 19 JIIII SftpH?miiei 4, July M and 23, 1909, an J September 4, 19J3; Pfe IWJi ftfiltraf-kee Cermania. AbmdpaH. June 5. 1909. HMDI Ifai-ifhtifier. August 31, September It and 2H. "Reuben C. Thwaites. "The J-'oresgn-bona Popula- and November 2, 1910; jYordsfern, Apr J 23 and linn of WrseoTisln," in Stale HUnoriâl SIM-IK-V III August 6. 1909; Gracitum-f, August 23, 1910. VbcciUU*, PrtteeeAin&i, 1690, p. W,

]<>2 KDH '.r a ' f.l F1M \V iMI'lili ^ PHKSli uliilioii and in the immigration from eastern They look pride in Germany's industrial and and southern Europe had sharply reduced the economic. it-gjisSnlion and wished America proportion of Gcrmaus living in the state." would Follow thene paths of the Fatherland. The circulation of their leading newspapers They distrusted all forms of radicalism and in Milwaukee, now, in 1910. was completely would sit best atte.pt only thoae reforms thai overshadowed by that of the Ettglish-tanjruage brought a moderate change in the polities] press.1' Symbolically. George ttrumrfer, owner system they held so dear. of the. German ia publieations, died in 1910, Parly regularity wsts at least as im|»rlanl shortly after predicting lli;il in fn>' vmrs to the editors ag was thrir pride in the accom German dailies would no longer be srtld on plishments of the Fatherland. Tln-y were either the streets of Milwaukee.L" islilL in the years Demp^rsls or KepuMitans who fought for from 1W9 to 1912 German'American news German-Americanism within the party of their papers flourished • " 'he ttate. Seventy-nine choice,** So long as candidate* had not been Gentian Journals were published in forty-one nominated and platforms not written they In ntn.fi, town*, unii viIIHgt's. Of Ihe seventy-nine sisted on adequate representation and the pro papers thirty-?!*: were published in frte pluces tection of their traditions, Once candidates had in the state: Milwaukee counted twenty, Apple- been chosen and the platform acrrplrd. loyalty ton and La ("rosw; fiy» each, and Manitowoc to the party took precedence &ij:rii!j; from 19OT lo 1912. These were sin have its spokesmen who could and did re ihe t-rlitors' refcrenee poirtl^. llieir touchstones, flect the similarities and conflicts of interest their Lrilt-ria when they sup|>orted particular between its declining identity and the progres candidates or endorsed certain views. These sive movement, The editors, partly because of elements made tip their own particular Wrfrijn- their eoonoraic stake in it. stressed the use <»r schaUUfig in the years when progressives msdc the; German language in the home: ydiiii1 even their hid for national jKjwcr, printed articles insi>linj.' thai Gcrumu was the. Often the Germ&n-lsnguasjc pai^rs f«\orrd holy language or Lutherans,'*- They fought (irriridfL-AiiirTJi'Uii political candidates beeauAe prohibition and women's suffrage, opposed all rif their national origin. 1" 1910, for example. attempts to rcs1ric( immi™ra1inri, and ;ithicki'd when the stated Re|uiblican party split OUT all those who, they claimed. were tainted with Rohcrt \|. I .a l''ollvltr's |iroi!rr:ssivisin. the. Kuow-Nolhiupism. They sympathized with the Democratic journals urêd (!harle<; Weil's problems of worker* in an industrial society. gubt-rnati trial nomination on the basis of hi A German extraction."* The Kepubliean papers "United Stutts Cc/isiut. 1930, v&L 3, p, 10C2; John asked in that same year for Gustav Kuester- A. Hji^HiMiJ, The Tragedy nf German-Ameriea tNt*w mann's re-election to Congress because Kites- York, i»w>, aa lermamt was a German-American. Gtrmania "Bsvrd Still. Hfituwtk&i The History «/ ii City and Nordstcm told iheir readers that, for ffar f Madison, lWflt. 265. IS iscortflin might lnsr its- only GerTnan rcjinv "Interview ndth George Brumdcr, Jr., August 18, 1952. "United State, OiU**, 191 n, ml. 3, i>|. HWW ltrTl; American Vrajpu/jcr Annual (Philadelphia, 19U1I. ^During tin: dwrtion (tf ISHO llir Jfeimtrrstaf Na- 1159. iriuint Ocmokrut und thr Rrpulilicun Mitn,mi t«'<- -'VerhtmAtiinfirti Jcy 28. lahreaitzung Yfein der (reTiaania. Al/?Ttdpos£ rl^ntrmslntfd rh.nl (he tuppdtl Deutstihen Prone mm JFucujijrjn 1191(1*, For Ituck' at Orman-Aitierican i-amliHat<«, na> HuijntJiHiiifd In prnumJ material on ihff rdilms of the I Tpr in an-Ameri putty hjyalty, lliry uriti'LTjrJ cn-cli other for support- can [>«>•** nf Wisconsin see t^crd Komi an, W iscfltiain's inj; fttity thwse tjerinariAnieriH'ati rjindirfiilfs ivha be longed tit tlu'ir «spocit*e puiies, \'iiiimuf Dwiokmi, Oernian-Aiiiei iran Prr™ mn! flip Proexrwive Movr- L nirnl. unpublislu-il mutti's thesis, Llriivr-r-iry of Wi-- October Ifl and 2b, I >IU; Miiwaakf* Cwjavnw eoiejin, 193,1, pu, ft H. 12-16, and 2fi-,1(>, ibendôtt. October 5 und 27. 1*14 "Htrttf, and Valkifreitntl, February 17, 1M12: ~'llrr,>lil nod YoOcxfreurul, Auuriial 27 and S\ and tU-trtiUHtrt, April 11 and 25. 1912. Srn a In,, Mitaan- S(:pH*4i|lHJr 3, 1910: iPlfiunfin Bolschafler, August kee Gcrmania Af/^mlpiUtt, Aprii 21, 1912, &\, 19J0; Nntionut Ihmvkrat. Augusi 31, 1910, 163 wtscn-isiiv M.H;AI;IÊ: OF HISTORY SPUING, 1957 sentative, "we (eel obligated to call upon the u'hrn it spetned ilmt temperance legislation in German citizens lo support their Lnduftnom the Ml.n|i- was about to lnjrfjiclr a realitv. In and tested representatii-t- in the House,"** 10(19, Tor example, when a lof-aJ-oplion bill wa= There were other instances when national discussed in the progressive Kepublle.Hrt Wis origin wa* the basis for opposing or supporting consin legislature, the RepuMifAn Ct-rrttania a particular candidate. ,\ordaiern occa ex Ihreatnied lo work for lb- overthrow of its claimed, "German citizens, vole as VOL please j••:irI y in the event lh^ bill bt-caiue law." After hut vnte against the (lerman hater [Charlrs the defeat of the bill tile If'itconsiii State H, | Rawlinson."'*1 When thr pragreasive lir- journal maintained that llie threat of the pi-blii-an -Stall? Central Committee sought lo (jerman-Jauguafie daily had killed the measure replace Frank C. Tucker as ih*1 candidate for and speculated as lo how many Germans attorney general, the CenoMts urged that placed the saloon over loyalty lo party, home, lliilipfi Lehncr, a German- •V-merican, would and church.11* Germania replied in a vein that be an c\luccd ihe drink -juration GennaH-Amerioan cAncTdata-j in the RepubSi- :ihtive party allcgjanee. cnri parly LehncVj, nomination would help "Of comtte ihe Gern}anit in Wisconsin do not demonstrate ihai Ihe party acknowledged it* place I In- aaloon above parly, ur ilunh ami deJil It) llit' f.emails of Wisconsin."7 hume: church and home have nuihirt'j lo di> To (irrniflri-Ameriians firohihi-Uo-n had al with the question at all. The Oermana of ways heen a "niece of sumptuary legislation WlBCOnfitTI at all limes. hitivevHT. plaee ihe thai violated every concept of personal liberty defense of personal liberty and the preser and tolerance.'"-'' During the fir?t decade. of vation of the L'U.H, name oi ihe otftte above the parly- ihi' twentieth century. when reformers, like William Jennings Aryan and Chase Osborn The German-Amerieflu press slrrnuously op- advocated temperance legislation, the National fioscd women's suffrage. In 1012. wlicri Wis (ierman-American Mluncc Fought all attempts consin fJntu\ressivcs fought for thin rtn-afinre. lo legalize prohibition.?1 Iri I OH I the German ibe stale's t!lermari-laTiûage paper* associated. Press Assoc! alii MI of Wisconsin agreed wiili opposition to it with the cause of Germanism. the Alliance,-"1" Thi> fear. of prohibition was They agreed with the many immigrant? who 1 Btroag enough for ea<:h (.erman-laiifiuage held ilujl a woman helunêd in ihr humr. * paper to subordinate its desire for harmony They used the arguments of tilergvmen ami the in its party to its anli-prrihihitionary position Nalioiial German-AnuTicaii Alliance and pre dicted the pollution of home and family if wife "Mitvaukty (rtrntnit Abendpott, totgwt 2*, 1910; and mother became active in politics.*" "Wc Siirdnt'.m, Sejileniljfii- 2, 1911). Germans do not eon5idcr r*ur women bilk in "VJJJI/,. NtitrmlwT- -l, 1910. H;IWIMI.SIUI V.H- ;i Hjihdi- ferior lo men. Wc hdd women hifih En uur dale fur county dexfc rMUtpaukte GfTKitnin. A&tndfKtSt, September 34, rslc-.:Tpi Hurt refusi^ lo sec ihem dc^rilile tbcin- sirlves liv pa.rtiripatiiiL' iji the struggle for two. 1 an ^Wiukc, IT* IfVn. tail: America, StSfi, politieal power. ' Gcrnwnia staled the casn "Clifton J. r.hilit. FAc Grrrjiun-j^mcrEenni fn Pair- of the German-AmericBn press succinctly when FK« I9K-W7 (Madison, 1939*, 10; box markc-d it I'xclaimerl; "Wisconsin Politics, 19(16 1999." in Slale Historical Sociely of Wisconsin. '•"Protect your family, your noblest JKHSCS- 'Yerhendbtaftft d& Dtuutken Prt*tt iwi Wkffth sion. Save yo.ir wonien aiiri tlaupbterft from .\in (n.|i., 19101; Child, Ccfuiuii.Amm«ntf in Pali- tiff, Fj. 'I In' SurJal-DriiiiK-i-atir- party •>! Milwaukee political intriguef Our I^Tirar bouSewivea atnii njiiuiscd prnhiriiti'in. Wnehmaiu Social Dtnw- tratii! Party

l-i KUhMAN : GLRMAA-AMKHiTJvS PRESS

-I

; *-'

r. 1 *±

- ,.\ The Oemum Prr*n (lull i>f Milwjnikre iibmit IUOO

Left lo right, Elandin?: Herman i'stist, Honry J. Mark, (JfHhr&r Pisket, (unknown), (unknownth Krnsl Borrhert. Olio Srhracli, Frederick r**|ml, Guttioe Pi hit. Bales! scaled r Schiuht, John S. Pierce, A. C. MorriiKin, [unknown}, Frank FaJk, Osusr Mueller. Pied J, Theurer.

niu Eiirt wart the Franchise, . . , We ivont to hammered on the two point9-:!"u The Republican keep our home, hearth, ami family frit from Cfrnnwua. for example, repeatedly totd its 1if political intrigue. , , ," readers of mass mct-tinps- and demonstrations The immigration question In-ramr relevant ln'ld by Hungarian.--. Poles, and Italians pro in shaping the* attitudes of Wisconsin GtftOftO- testing against WilsonT i debusing remarks in lan^U&gi- journals toward progressives when bis History of rh? American People. WiJsori, Wonilmw Wilson campaigned for the presi- ii charged, simply did not understand the drriiy. In the early month* of 1913 the papers. mentality ni immigrant communities. The the Democrat's supporting Qi:ini]i Clark and German daily wondered how jiny Democratic the republican's in the. role of general oppo- immigrant rould support Wilson's nomination; utiHKii lri?d lo ward off Wileon'ti rioiajrmtjoii N&bonjUitiea that have riot yet been in largely bec&DM (if llii alleg-cnl itieildArlLp to- dicted by the Governor of !\ew Jersey art; ward pfohibtttotiisti ,ind nllcped hostility requested to present ihi-mavlvfs so that , . . toward rmmtgranb foam eastern and southern Wilson may take care of anv oversight In: Europe.a* Through iht> wii'lc.i presiding the may have ooii]mitted."J<1 convention, when Wi taint WAS < Linking his view* on progressive reforms. the, papers Wfrri'KEs from an original |i]iotAprint intst-nl^ Jiy Jrtlrn C Gttfftry M ihe Soririj-'s t>ii5nrj|iliicdt rile. "I'ht- suhjivn HHTI- iikinilifil ljy Mr. Kitilerict PibtU "Ibid. II W.i- "Arthur S. Link, ITi/jon: Tfrr tlmnt In />/.- H'fa'ir "Mitutiukf Cermania .•lli'-ini/io.\i. Fi-ln-u^ry 14, Htm* 1 rVLrnrtmi, 1947), 3BMB5. !!H7r mid 3OT; March 'Id. Hirnl A]iril :-i. I'ML' \nti,imil Itrmukrtil. Will isin \. .MH1! A\IW\V. Making W(tQtlftiw iFilMtn Fehrua™ :Bl. 1«|J; VatvSrLs!, Haidi \>, VH2. Pr&idtnt (N™ V'nrk, 1931}, #, u,\fll»tilrlii-i: (IrrmunUt Abc/ldi/tilt. iEirell 2it, 1912,

165 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF IIISTUKY SPRING. 1957

Ortte it was clear to the rdllora Mini the sluod for the riiiniiiiii' treatment of newcomers, nominated candidate*. and the plulfuiiii.> of hi hroadoastin.fr to immigrants correct in 1910 and 1912 did not threaten GeTman- formation when they landed, for protecting American interests. parly regularity made the I he lieu- arrivals From fraud, and for helping journals use the issues of prohibition and im them fulfilf their expectations in coming lo the migration on behalf of their respective parties. I'lliled States." In the election of 191 (I. when La Folleltc, The Republican G-erm/inia actually aiivcd fonphl 1<] ret:iin h\$ sral in the Senate, the with Wilson's; position o.ni immigration as stated Demmmlir i ^Titian-language papt-rs did not |,v him during the rfeeliun ea mpai g;n.^D This. com? to his aid. Ignoring progressive feforni howrt'ef. was an election. Hence, while Demo measures, they asked German-.Americans lo cratic papers accepted the campaign statements vote Democratic because the Democratic plat- at face value, the Republican editor of Cer* Form opposed county option in Wisconsin." mania joined Y&rtjuarit! in digging up instead Tlit- Republican party did not mention the the. postages on immigrants. in the History of issue in lis fivn>!iii]ii and 10 lli.- Demoeratic the. American Pewit t>i many rears lieFore to journals, ihi.t. was. the significant difference be condemn llie Democratic candidate. The tween the two platforms, each of which they foreign-born citizens, too. Germania claimed, labeled progressive .^ remembered the remarks Wilson had made. Republican papers could not point lo any They doubled that he was a friend of immi 1 anti-WUnty option plank in their parly's. plat gration and immigrants." form. but iht'V were quick lo deny that a par Grrnumta and I he Republican NoTtfftem ticular progressive Republican candidate whom tidik llie Democratic papers to ta-k for defend they supported was a prohibitionist. Gprnapia* ing Wilson's views on prohibition, The Demo fnr c\ample, made cerlain its readers knew cratic journak at this time maintained that progressiva Henry F. (lot-hems was "riphl" on German-Americans actually aprccd wilh Wil the drink question. When Victor Bcrger, editor son, The drink question va* a social anil moral of VoTwam! and, in 191fl. opponent of issue miller than a, political one- they asrterli'il, Cochems in the Fifth Congressional District. and it waw up to CLUII Comniuriity to dei'ide charged that his progressive Republican rival uhether or not it *a* wet or ilry,'1' The Re had aided Indiana prohibit]onists in 15(17, the publican papers disagreed. Jn the first place, Republican Ctnttmitt defended OM.'hems and they said. Wilson's statements were campaign informed its; reader;; that on checking the facts nralory and eould nol he trusted.LfL Second. it had found that the Social-Democrat's claim and more important. German-Ameril:anS were »3f not true," not in Favor of local option. In 1^12. when Wilson received the Demo- "Is it not enough that we have lo fi^hl pro rralie presidential nomination, the German- hibition yew in and year out in the states. UngiJaê Democratic pa|iers accepted ibe that we should elect a prepident who is in choice oF their party and insisted that Wilson sympathy with prohibition?1'*" was "ripht on prohibition and iitnui grat ion ,T' In 1912 parly regularity prevented most of They HOW appeared to believe him when he the German-American editors from ecunrnil- said that he was not a prohibitionist, and that ti"E political ji|iosla>v in (lit: inlrrchls of pro- he favored the exclusion of only such immi- lireMiis'iîti. Although ihi' journals had aj?l'i-i'il grant*; a? had hern induced to migralr by with much of Iâ KoHettc's progressivism in ajient.- of steamship companies arid other 19H) they denied him sup|H»rt when he snu^ht business Drganizationa, Wilson, they declared.

"Link, Wikvn, m\ lipoid emrf Volksfretiml. ()<•• "JVdtlcnal Dtm&krei, A.U(IUJ-rt,t> Olotur 26. 1910, "\tUatmi.ff C&tnttin.it! .4htntl//f)*l. SeptMiilrtT ,1- "!Uilutiti!;cc Orrmunia Ahtttdpait, NovrmlHT 1, lr(l^: \'f>r{{\te!n, Sfjitfinlinf 7, 1912. i9ia "Ibid. MIK.M.4N : GERMAN-AMERICAN PRESS ill*1 presidency. La Folli-Ue apers simply pans of the country, ils deuraiu! for a down because lw. WHS H Tfrpuhlkan, and • i« • • -•>•* • In I ward revision of ilnr- Payne-A Id rich tnrilT. ils ilnl. in l°d2- k(-ep I he Mipporl of the iinpnr- endorsement of rmirb id ihe platform, and the hint Mepiibliean Germanm. Then IJI Follette, iiDHtpliroentar}' tope nfilhi which il usually re who had been ''right" on German-American ferred lu La Kollelte and those who cam iasuea, not only espoused women*! ^nirrufn' end paigned for him, showed thut in 1910 llir judicial recall. bu( op#nry challenged Prc*tdeiii pa|jer WHS much closer lo La Follette than 10 TiiTt for llir presidential nomination of the [In- standpatters,* l!H-|iuli|ji'Liri part} . By Jununry, lyll, oiler the National Pro Two years before, at A time when hi; WW gressive Republican League had been formed, out of favor with the Tad adroini^tralimi. La it was plain that Cermaniti was. leaving La Follette had snugthi re-ef*ction lo tin* I nited Follette. The paper did not liku I hi: League States Senate, Since he stand oin a progressive because it feared the organisation hoped lo platform that rebuked tmirli of Tad's legisla- capture control of ihe Republican party.'11 The lion and polieief, his nomination in the Re Republican daily admitted that the organiza publican party had ted lo si rump Republican tion included , i!- *•. b0 "I • al^o found that ihe "mixed Company ' making & derail Ebemelves ihe state's Administration un ihb- League locluded prohibitJomgta lilcn men."'- With tin: exception Lif ilif .\o7ttstern, William IL Stubbh :md Ciase Osboni, wild- the German-language paper* in the state had eyed re formers like Jonathan Bourne, Jr., and endorsed with reservations La Follette's views men like Gilford PinchoL who sought only to :,J on atate and national issues, The Democratic revenge themselves upon the Adminialration. journal* had expressed opinions and had head The |>aper realized La Follette was one of (hp lined a number of iheir stories in a manner loj;if'ul eandidatcs whom the orc;unization indicating lhal lliey Were close LO. if nut in •• •• i •: propose OS the Uf-pnbliean ridmiuec fur agreement with, many of La follette'a ideas.''1 the pres-idency. Cenimnia tlierefore made haste Vorwiirti! occasionally had also spoken kindly to warn the Senator to dissociate himself from 1 of La Follette and hia program.*9 Milwaukee's the ''zealots' if he did not want to alienate the (rirnmnia k;id endorsed Lii Fcllcttr ullhmi^li "Ijl^l minded public.'^ When La Follette il dill [Kit like thus*' plank- iti his plalfoi in 11:. I itcelurrH himself a r&ndidek? for the nomina- it considered Loo e.vlmne in their ideological Loh ami Wotted uilh ''ullr^-rEidiraL" hi- lrsH-t formulation and too intense in their insur the support of the daily. gency. The pa|«r di-d not care for the rebuke To Garmatiiu "zealots" were primarily pro- of Tafl Jind such plHiiks as imitative. referen hibitionista and other reform extremists. I>ur- dum, and ncstL1* Some (if the planks were iiijj most uf Tuft's adminislration La FoJIelle sheer "phantasy [phaittastisehe Schwaer- waa tiot a 'Zealot/' The paper a.HKumeil lha|, mereij."" Yet the daily had tried, in 1910. although lliu President and La Kolli-llt- were In dissociate. La Follette from ihosc whom it fioliiieal opponents, the parly was big enough laheled "iiralnls" b\ iimiHtiiiu thut after La to hold liolli men as long as they did not Follette had incorporated all his more moder compete for the same political office. Thus ate principles into the platform the "zealots*' Cermatiia roukl endorse the Senator whik; sup- had used the document as a sounding hoard porttri£ lilt- I'lenidi-nt. When, in January, far llicir ('[notion?,''* Furthermore, Gfrmaniti'r 1^12, La Follette official]v declared himself and Opened (he campaign for his own presidential IL. uriLiiaiion, Grrrrwriia joined with Norditttrn mWiiC&nifl State JitUtfrit, jDM 10, 191-Tt^ Muwrj. }

167 WISLU-N51X MAGAZINE <»F HISTUP.Y BTOBN*, 1967

(rcrrnania would have supported Tafl HunsciclL for I hi- presidency'- iliil mil lake no mailer *hat IJI FuJIr-lte's early campaign Roosevelt's statement* at their face value'" program mijrht have been, (hi- daily node H If [heir newspapers are any criterion Koose- dear l(i its reader-1 in Jantiun nT 1912 llul •. ili'v Progressive vie** clearly did in>i receive it Would mi longer p" along VL-iLh ''Haltli1 ibe endorsement lit most Fireman-Americans RofjV kind r)f pmgrt-**u i^m. In lhe. edilo- <>f Wisconsin. rial entitled "Up lo Here and !No Further" To spokesmen iulereMted in perpetuating Germenia took the Senator lit taut: {jernun-Americanivm an increase in the power "In the belief thai he was an honest reformer of the majority, insurgency, and party boiling | lilt" citizens iff \\ Lsionsin | have made errat was too high a price to pay for MIL- pmprre.ri- conC^tuona to La Follette. and have ac sivism of a Rmigevelt or a La rollettc. Wis cepted some things to which they were really consin's German-American press distinguished up|ML«-d. When, however, T,a Follette advo between the economic and political reforms cates women's suffrage arid the recalt of espoused by progressive*. for lhe: press ihrsp judges, Wisconsin public opinion decisively Miffs Up to here arid nn further."'' two kinds of rdonu were imt two sides of the progressive coin. The edilors accepted and Wisconsin's l^crmari-AiTicTJCBTi press also endorsed conservation measures, a downward opposed Tbcodore Rrinsevell when hr made hi* reviiioti of the tariff, anti-trust legislation, StfCOitd till f[jr lhe presidency, Roth before and welfare legislation on behalf of ihe workinp- after the Progressive parly nominated hint the mi'n. and atbef ptoposala lhai would have the press rharged lioosevell with insincerity. The *.tali: ]iartir:ipatt; more elfectively in the in papers had not supported La Folletters candi dustrial hfe. of the nation. They at best only dacy- but they knew thut La Folktte and no< acquiesed in the inilialivc, r*Lfijn-ndum, and Roosevelt represented ihoroiiphôinp; pmprcs- recall, ajul rejected OUlrijilit the recall of sivLsin within liie Republican parlv,':L HrsrtSe- judge* and women's suffrage. Economic re vi'lt could not really consider himself any more forms. they felt, did not in any way threaten progressive than the President, for Taft. with their t-ermar-AmiTEran interests. Political less "noise." had carried out Roosevelt's reforms did pose sue ii a threat, policies.. Ruwcvrll had always been a com In ihe years from 19rr9 to 1912 \\'iscoiiflin'3 promiser. Progrc.si.jivi.irn was simply RDOSC- German-American newspaper^ ibd not rnijiTiiit I ih- latest lirn- v* ifli which hr hoped in capture 13 ihemselvcs lo profrn'-îvism. Their a[if>roia! [if I he presidency/ certain fiHp<*te of pro^rtiiiHivisrn, their support The. press did not trust Roosevelt's ''Confes of some pro^refiiivesi or their opposition to sion o\ Failh'' or hi* plHllnrm. S'iaroasia others had titlfe to do Vi itb progressivism. The Botschajtrr. a Democratic [taper. noted thHt reasons for their endojrsement of (he economic the platform made rosy promises to every- reforms- were pooled in. the pruj-raniH nf Wix- one,"1 Germanic* a Taft paper, ridiculed ma-n-kian Germany. The reasons for their ac- Roosevelt's claim that he was fighting in the oeptance or rt.-jection of |>olilical candidates interest* of and for the people," VorwartsL were rooted in an allegiance lo a political supporting Eugene V, Dehs, insisted lhal party and in. a German-American identity. Kooseveh, prcênlinp himself as the savior id Wisconsin's- Germ an-American pre* reflect industrial America, WHS exploiting a reform ed the complexity of ingredients consliluting drift for personal pain.*"1 Even Pn'nrdstrrn, German-Americanism when tin- progressivea which by early April, \,:>)2. had endorsed made llieir hid for iiELtiortal power, fhrx rom- plexity raises a fundamental queslion about -lt>id> the nature of the support accorded th+i progres "yttrtmrlih March 9, 15*12; Wiieoiain Batschaftcr, February 14, 1912: Natutnal Drmokr-at, February 27. sives at that time: hprc WJIS one group that 1912; Hfilwi'uttec Vcrmnma Afantt/itixt, Velirunnr 2.3 made its political decisinns in terms of ils own in J jane 25. IP] 2, idenliLy, How many other groups supported or "Voruxirlsf, M^reli 9, 1912; JFjgffUufa #r>t#cfiufter. February t-V, 1912; \atitmal Flemnkrat, February 27, opposed progressives on their own terms in- 1912. slead of cm lho?e espoused by progTcsp-iic?;^ ^Fiscatuin Bolinhajter, Atigufi 9, ID]2. "HUvrauhrv f^crmania Al/rndpost. Au[rust 6, 1912. "YorwUm}, J nut; 22. 1912. "jVontrtar*, SopUaibtr 13, 1912,

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