The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-01-28
Minnesota Scion Talks For
Little Countries Abroad
From Fridays Daily.

From Fridays Daily.
Washington, Jan. 21-An attack on
Germany's submarine warfare and a
plea that TIE United States, when it
comes to intervene for the benefit of
neutral countries, shall remember
Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Hol-
land, were the outstanding features of
speech in the senate by Senator Mel
son of Minnesota.
Senator Nelson insisted that the
United States should endeavor 10 at
tempt to prevent interference with
her commerce by Great Britain or
Germany and that when she asserted
the rights of neutrals she should
speak for the little countries of North
ern Europe.
This war has been prolific on the
part of all European belligerents IN
violation of international law" said
Senator Nelson.
"Most OF our commerce during the
war has filtered trough the neutral
countries of Northern Europe. Much
of our commerce held up by British
orders in council has been that which
passed through Holland, Norway
Sweden and Denmark"
Referring to list of neutral YES
sells destroyed by German submarines
or mines Senator Nelson said the to-
tai of vessels destroyed was 1874.
British Release Many Slips.
the English and German method of in
reference with ocean commerce,
Senator Nelson said. 1.-THE British
have held up our ships, taken them
into port. searched our cargoes and
taken cut what they considered to be
improper and either confscated it or
commandeered it. But in the main
they have let our ships go. They have
not destroyed the ships.
THE GermGns not only destroyed
the cargoeS, but they have destroyed
the ships, and. in many instances,
have killed the crews. OF course the
little neutral countries | have men,
toned are helpless in the face Of
these powers and have submitted.
81 call attention to this in order that
when the government of this country
irtervenes in this matter it will see
to it that the traffic OF these countries
is protected not only in the interest
of our commerce, but in the interest
of their trade with these neutral ma
tons"
Debate was precipitated by Senator
Hoke Smith of Georgia, who delivered
a long prepared speech denouncing
Great Britain's course in holding up
neutral commerce, and particularly
her interference with cotton ship
mentS to Germany.
While Deputy Sheriffs Albert Ner-
dahl and John Macbeth last evening
were hurrying in an automobile out
to the farm of Charles Peterson near
the Klondyke quarries on the St.
Peter road, to arrest man that was
causing a disturbance, they had an
accident that might have had very
serious results.
They came to the crossing of the
st. Peter road and the Northwestern
and Omaha tracks. 1t was about ten
O'Clock. They saw the headlight OF
an Omaha freight train approaching
in the distance. They calculated that
they could readily get across the
tracks before this train came. But
they did not know at the time that
a Northwestern freight train was
going right over the crossing in front
of them at that moment. So they
rushed ahead with their machine.
Mr. Macbeth was driving the car. Just
as they got within fifteen feet of the
passing train they saw it. To stop
the auto there was no time. Mr.. Mac
beth did the only thing that could
have been done, and that was to drive
right into a signal post by the track.
The fender of the auto was smashed,
but the car was saved from colliding
with the train.
This is q bad crossing. It js hard
to see a passing train as hill on the
farther side obscures the sky. This
is where q collision occurred some
months ago, resulting in tho Treanor
law suit against the Northwestern
road.
The officers made their way on to
the Peterson place, where they ar
rested Fred Meyers, a Mankato bar
tender, on the charge of being drunk
Today he and George Johnson, ar
rested on a like charge pleaded gull
ty before Judge Plymat OF the mu-
nicipal court and fine of So and
costs was imposed on each.
At a special meeting of the board
of county commissioners this morn
ing, county ditch No. 35, south of Ma
pleton, was accepted. All was har-
mony at the hearing. The contractor
and bondsmen were released, but
some money was retained to cover
the back filing that is still to be
done.
The contractor was G. e. Gilbertson
of st. James. This is enc of the
largest contracts of the kind ever
carried out in this county. The work
was done during the summer of 1915
1t was very wet season. Yet that
was ditch with thirty-s six inch
tile and the work was done in so
satisfactory manner that when the
property owners appeared today,
there were absolutely no objections
10 lon