Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-31
MAY SEND MISSIONARIES
into HEART OF RUSSIA
Lewis II. Machen Suggests Plan to
Help Nation Become
Truly Free.
USE
Proposes to Send Those Who Know
Language Among Educated Poo
pic Of Russia to Tell Them OF Real
Objects OF Democracy.

OBJECTS OF Democracy.
II is that Lewis H. Ma
chen, director of the Legislative Ref
ercnce Bureau. has worked out n pro-
posed plan for the United States 10
assis, the provisional government OF
Russia. Ills plan has been submitted
TO Charles II. Flint. of New York.
chairman OF the Commission for the
Encouragement of democratic govern
ment in Russia. through DR.. Edwin y.
Alderman, president OF the University
of Virginia. a member OF the commis-
sion, The plan is creating consider
able interest among those who are de-
pressed over the present indications
that the masses OF the Russian people
arc not cooperating with the provis-
ronal government in carrying on the
war.
Mr.. Machen says that though he re-
ccived a bclated letter from Chairman
Flint. saying that the commission was
being assisted by q large orEaniza-
ton Of Russian laborinE men in Amer
lea. he has seen no indication that the
objects of his plan are being to any
degree attained.
Mr.. Machen yesterday outlined his
scheme rs follows:
The active cooperation OF the
masses OF the Russian people with the
provisional government in the prose-
cution OF the war is OF the most vital
Importance to the United States, rs
we'll as 10 the other allies. Our allies
have already under arms nearly the
whole of their man power. II the Rus
sian armies give away through lack OF
munitions. morale. or popular support.
their places must be taken by the
armies of America.
WILL RELIEVE PRESSURE
on AMERICAN SOLDIERS
Every dollar that can be effectively
expended for holding the Russian
forces intact and securing for them the
active assistance OF their countrymen
will to that extent, relieve the pressure
upon the soldiers OF America when
they take up the burdens of actual
warfare. Therefore. the most pressing
question for us is How can this coun-
try most effectually assist the proVis-
ional government OF Russia In It's ell
forts TO enlist the enthusiastic support
of the masses of that huge country"
There are in the United States more
than a million and a half people who
were born in Russia. They are scat
tered throughout this country, but most
of them arc in the Middle Atlantic and
North Central states. Even IN NirGinia
there are nearly 5000. Most of them
have imbibed the spirit OF American
Institutions and have been making eN-
cellent citizens. The few anarchists
among them who have had SO much
~unfavorable ADVERTISING are by no
means typical. Out of this vast num-
Der of Americans OF Russian birth it
should be easy 10 select a thousand or
$500 or even 5000 who. though thor
oughly Americanized in their princi-
pies and views, yet are able TO speak
the Russian language, to understand
49, ---.. II -a,. a-l - ,D-a
ciate local conditions in every prov
ince throughout the Russian republic.
and who would be willing TO return
10 Russia at the expense Of the Aneri-
can government and under direction OF
the provisional government go into
every part OF Russia and do mission
AIRY work among the masses. addressing
them in their own language, in a man
ner they can understand and acQualnt
them with American ideals of liberty
with order and the establishment of
democracy by crushing the autocratic
ambitions OF the central powers.
BRING HOME u
OF GRATEFUL PEOPLES
They could bring home to the
masses in a way perhaps not other
wise possible the hopes which the great
free peoples of the world have regard
ing the Russian people, the anNietics
that are felt lest their turbulence and
idCh OF Se!l-reStrtlnt VIII bring about
a despotism as bad as that from which
they have. Just escaped and the vita
necessity Tor Rissia's cooperation in
Kidding the world of the menace OF
Prussian militarism.
u a plan was limited at by an edi-
toriai IN the Washington Star some
weeks ago. but for some reason il has
not been acted upon. II cannot be
doubted that educated and capable
Russians would volunteer by the thou
sands Tor such an expedition. They
coulo remain as long as there was any
necessity for 1t and return TO America
feeling that they had we'll served the
country or their adoption. as well as
that or their nativity. They would have
no selhsh political! or commercial ends
20 gain, and il cannot he doubted that
their message would be gladly received
and most fruitful in results.
There would be no occasion 70,
this thing TO be done in n corner. The
are sending their spies and
emissarics through Russia under the
cover OF dark ness. SECRECY and subter-
uEe Some English w~orkingmen have
been going among the Russians openly
put II is probable they do not sufficient
~ understand the Russian language or
Viewpoint. The expense Of such an cS-
pedition would toe large or small, ac-
coroinG TO the number enlisted and
Inc length OF their stay. but IL Is con-
ceivablc that even many millions spen,
In such A movement, II II should proyc
successful. would save cvcn,uailv =
hundred times as much. Res, of ali !,
might save an enormous ,ou az ,be
ives OF our brave American soldiers