1915-05-13aa

“The anti-Teutonic feeling that is spreading throughout the country as a result of the slaughter by the German navy of the Lusitania passengers has reached Hamilton’s City Hall in a most vigorous form, and definite steps to deal with all German employees will shortly be considered.”

Hamilton Times.    May 13, 1915.

Max Anderson, of the Board of Works, had been assigned the task of prepare a statement showing the nationality, age, etc. of all the workers in the City of Hamilton’s employ, and have that document prepared for the May 18, 1915 meeting of the Board of Control.

As Anderson began his task, he told a reporter from the Hamilton Times that he was aware of two City employees who made no secret that they had been born in Germany, but he speculated that there were a large number of staff with German ancestry who had declared their nationality as Canadian.

One city department head made some very strong statements to the reporter :

“He claimed that not only all unnaturalized Germans, whether born in the Fatherland or of parents elsewhere, but all who have taken out papers during the last ten years should be called on to register, so that, if anything did happen, the police and the Government would have something to go on.

“ ‘I am given to  understand that there is a decided mental reservation in the oath taken by Germans seeking naturalization,’ he added, ‘They are allowed by the authorities at home to become naturalized, but on condition that their feeling to the Fatherland is not influenced. I am convinced that there are a large number of travelers going through the United States and Canada, supposedly acting for business firms, who are working under authority of the German government. In times like this we cannot be too careful. Of course, a line would have to be drawn somewhere, for there are men of German descent in this city who are as loyal as British born to King George and Empire. I do not speak of these, of course.’ ”¹

¹ “Anti-German Feeling is in the City Hall : Strong Disposition to Make Sure Against Possible Teutonic Sympathizers.”

Hamilton Times.   May 13, 1915.

In some of the east Hamilton factories there were on-going suspicions that many of the employees engaged in supplying munitions had distinctly pro-German feelings. It had been noticed that one shipment of ammunition about to be sent to the front had been rejected after being inefficiently prepared by a naturalized German worker.

In the same May 13, 1915 issue of the Hamilton Times, a lengthy editorial was carried regarding the subject of German citizens in the climate of the day:

“The sinking of the Lusitania has had its effect of public opinion in Canada, and in some places there has been more or less rioting. There is no denying the fact that  since the Ypres battle, when so many Canadians feel, and since the sinking of the British steamer, the feeling in Canada towards the Germans has undergone a change.

“The ‘maffiking’ in Montreal and Vancouver by Germans over these events have made a deep impression on the Canadian mind, with the result that suspicion and anger have been aroused. There is no doubt that when the Germans sent the Lusitania to the bottom of the sea they did the worst thing they could have done for themselves – a deed that will forever blacken the reputation of that nation.

“In Hamilton, we are glad to say, nothing has happened except the voluntary closing of the Germania Club, for the time being. Our German fellow-citizens have always been looked upon as being among our best citizens, industrious, orderly and energetic, and we have no reason to believe that the war has changed them. We do not expect that they have lost their love and respect for the home of their forefathers.

“Most of them are naturalized British subject, and as such we expect them to be loyal to the British Crown. There are also many unnaturalized Germans in the city, and they stand upon a different footing. They may not be expected to be loyal to the country of their residence, and it will be the duty of the authorities to see that they do not in any way outrage the hospitality they are the recipients of, and the citizens can help the authorities in this matter. Those born in Canada of German parents, we look upon as Canadians, and expect them to be Canadians in every respect.

“Nothing should be done that the safety and peace of the country does not require. Should we do more, we would be merely following in the steps of the Germans.”²

² “Anti-German Agitation”

Hamilton Times.   May 13, 1915.