The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-10-20
Country Is in Prosperous Con-
dition; Workshops Busy.
But Common People CIamor for
Reduction of Tariff.
Land Owners Trust is a Men,
ace to the Inhabitants.

Adolph Lille has just returned from
stay of six months in Germany, the
land of his birth. In conversation with
The Free Press Mr. Lille talked inter
estingly and entertainingly of the coun-
try ruled by the kaiser. Fifteen years
have worked wonderful changes in the
fatherland. Conditions are more favor
able there for the man of limited means,
and the people have made wonderful add
vancement along all lines. The country
is in prosperous state and manufac-
turing industries are fourishing The
people are in more contented frame of
mind, although the middle class is clam
oring for reduction of tariff rates. In-
fact, the tariff question is discussed
there more than all others. In Ameri
ca the people are battling against trusts
/ of all descriptions. In Germany they are
waging a war on the land owners trust
which controls the food products and
holds them at prices that are really pro-
hibitive The laboring classes are fore
ed to 90 without meat and other articles
of food, being absolutely unable to meet
the prices at which they are held. That
is the reason why the people of that
INV,
in the tariff rates on beef. The prices
of clothing and dress goods are reason
able. In many cases the figures are
lower than those which prevail on the
same class and quality of goods in this
country.
Mr.. Lille comes back a firm believer in
the government ownership of railroads.
He likes the system which is in vogue
in Germany. There one can ride either
| first, second, third or fourth class, ac-
cording to his means. He pays his mon
ey and takes his choice. The service
| it is true, could be improved upon, but
he LOOKS lOfWdIu W Ilc Cllhc WITCH ldii-
way coaches there will be constructed
after the pattern of those used on Am
erican railways. Passes are something
few and far between in Germany. Ev-
erybody that travels pays fare and the
government loses nothing. Graft" is
unknown in that country. The laws are
strict and more rigidly enforced than
in this land of the free. There is al
ways a heavy travel on the railroads.
The trains are made up of more coaches
than those, which run to and fro in this
country. This is due to the fact that
the foreign cars are not so heavily built
as those in America. The trains as a
rule make better time and they are
rarely delayed. One minute off the
schedule time will cause storm of COM
plant among travellers. But there are
disagreeable features connected with
travelling in Germany. One must rely
upon his own wits almost in getting
about. There are no walking bureaus
of information. Trainmen do not min
gle with the passengers as they do on
American trains. Conductors have their
own compartments and remain in them
during the run between stations. There
are no ''newsies" to aggravate the trav-
eler. The roadbeds are better and more
solidly constructed than those in this
country.
Strange as it may seem laborers are
scarce in Germany. Most of the common
labor is performed by the Italians, Aus
TRANS and Polanders who have invaded
the country. The Germans have taken
more largely to the trades, many OF
them seeking employment in the fac
tories, while others fit themselves for
the government service, which offers a
large field for competent young men.
The Russian japanese war did not at
tract much attention among the COM
mon people in Germany. They do not
seem to pay much attention to interna-
tional questions. Their thoughts are
more largely occupied with domestic at
fairs. The kaiser is not popular in
dividual at home. He is more highly
thought of abroad than he is in his own
country. Mr.. Lille was surprised to find
such feeling existing among the peo-
pie toward their emperor. He has al
ways looked upon the kaiser as man
who was putting forth his best efforts
to better the condition of his subjects
But the prejudice against kings and EN-
perors is strong among the liberty-lov
ing people of the fatherland. They dc
not believe in ''the divine right of
kings"
German emigration is not in the direc
ton of America, but it is now going t.
South American countries. where there
are many fields of usefulness openin:
iup and where there are many opportuni