The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-01-14
Says'Instead of Diminishing in
Fury Struggle Will Grow
More Bloody
srom MondaN,s paI,v.

From Mondays Daily.
E. J. d. Larson, who spent num-
Der of months in the war zone as
the representative of The Minneapo-
lis Tribune, will speak at the armory
tomorrow night. He will discuss the
conflict now in progress in Europe
IN an interview today, Mr.. Larson
Gaid
There is the strongest basis for
the fear that instead Of diminishing
in fury from now on the war in
Europe has it's most terrible story yet
to tell. That is saying a great deal
When these hoStilities began, the ma
tons started something that grew in
barbarity and viciousness beyond the
! widest dreams of the most lurid
mind. 1t has gone On until every
trick of science that able men could
devise has been one after another
+! brought into play. | am sure that
many of the methods of warfare en-
plcyed today would have been reject
! ed as unworthy of civilized people. if
| they had been proposed at the be-
! ginning, a year ard a half ago. The
war has grown SO big that it has got
/ away from the men conducting it.
and yet the necessary decisive
ness to bring peace even within view
| is lacking. 1t is a long, long way
a long, bloody, frightful path to the
first glimmer of hope in the distance,
without the intervention of something
akin to a miracle.
sodies of Grave Men,
! "Along that pathway are likely to
be strewn the bodies of bravely fight
| ing millions, and all that may remain
! Of more than one once we'll organ
| lied government But before that ex-
| tremity will be reached, one side or
the other will have to be brought
nearer the point of actual ruin or ex-
| termination than any nation in Chris
| tan times.
Il do not wish to be excessively
pessimistic, but the facts are plain.
! For instance, who can form a mental
picture of Germany giving up so long
as one more blow can be struck?
| The same of France. 1t is equally
| difficult for us to fancy England ac-
cepting abject defeat in the measure
| Germany would apply it today 1t is
| almost as upthinkable that under the
circumstances Russia would quit with
the disadvantage still so greatly
hers.
| What Might Happen.
Suppose, then, that England comes
out of its sorry state and cuts a bet
| ter figure before the woodland this
! is not at all a wild supposition-and
that Russia's great reorganized forces
materialize better armed and better
! Differed than the original armies
That is when the real tug of this war
will take place and when the nations
! engaged will be up against sterner
conditions than they have so far.
Everybody knows that there is not
/ the slightest disposition at this time
| On the part of any nation to Quit. An
increasing number of the people in
| oil the countries engaged would glad
! ~ accept peace at almost any cost,
| hut | refer to the classes whose will
| rules.
| "In my mind it is also doubtful if
permanent peace could come at this
time. before either side has been re-
drced to greater extremities. Unless
! it il settled properly it will be no set
| tlement at all. The only real set
tIeIaent in my opinion can come after
the people have taken charge of their
governments themselves. And until
/ that time comes they will always
| ave wars in Europe.
Worry For Favorites.
However, I feel confident that if
| there are any strong pro-this or anti
| that people in Mankato thew are in
/ fer a lot CT worrying yet for their fav-
orites. NV advice to them is to for
| get it. and give all their attention
to beirg good Americans.
"As for me- my heart goes out aft
/ or what have seen in the war zone
mostly toward France and toward the
| renple Of the wasted lands of Central
Europe and Belgium. / mention
France particularly and boldly before
readers of all sympathies, for even
Germany today has more sorrow and
regret than anger toward it's military
enemy across the Vosges mountains"
rror, No. days Oa'iv.
Femberton will hold a Farmers In
stitute on Wednesday, January u, and
the following prizes have been Of
fered:
White corn: First, Nelson & Ofte-
| dohl, 81 90 in trade; second w. G..
Paeankopf, broom.
Yellow corn: First, Steve Sever
son, $1.00 whip; second, Walter At
cherson, fifty cents.
| Wheat velvet chaff: First, A. Gud-
/ dal, food chopper; second, Pember
+! ten state bank, fifty cents.
! Blue stem; First. Farmers State
bank, S100: second, Lampert Lum-
Der company, fifty cents.
! Winter wheat: First. Hunting
| Elevator company, $1.00; second,
Lampnrt Lumber company fifty cents.
Barley: First, Pickel Bros. S1.00
shirt; second, Hunting Elevator
company, fifty cents.
White oats: First. Pickel Bros,
S1.00 shirt; second Hunting Eleva-
tor company, fifty cents.
Rye: First, w. c. Pagenkopf, two
pounds of tea; second, Griner e COM
PAW. fifty cents in trade.
White potato: First, Pemberton
State bank, 81 90: second, Griner 6
company, twenty five cents in trade
Clover First, Griner & company
s100 in trade; second, w. c. Pagen-
konf, two pounds of coffee.
Timothy: First, Farmers State
bank, fifty cents; second, Griner &