Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-06-06

ter trim for front service than reg
iment of regulars two-thirds of whom
are now in the business.
OF course the rsgular-army men will
have the advantage of training given
by officers of long, hard service The
recruits in the course of few months
will attain the standard of their com
panion regulars. and the new regi-
ments in trim and efficiency will be
equal 10 the organizations as they ex-
listed before being split up into small
units about which 80 build up new for
nations.
Russia and American Help.
II is only in the most general way
probably that the commission 10
Russia of which Elihu Root is
the chief was given instructions, The
members have, of course. a guiding
principle. but they Will be moved TO
this course or 10 that by conditions as
they exist in Russia
With American engineers on their
way to Russia and win this other
commission of pleading and instruc
ton" starting on its way, Washington
is looking half fearfully, half hopeful
/ ly 10 the future. What is to be ac-
complished by American effort in the
Land Of Doubt?
II is known definitely that the rock
on which the chief structure of hope
of success is founded is that which will
bear up strongly the direct statements
Of the Americans that no democracy
with hope for IT'S future as demo
cratic state can afford TO break faith
with other democracies and to make
terms with despotlsm.
Everything which has come to the
officials in Washington from Russia
bears out first belief that the masses
Of the people of the new republic do
not understand the situation as II Is
related specifically TO conflict be-
tween democracy and autocracy.
American socialists have told Ameri-
1 can nonsocialists that millions of Rus
SLAMS see simply In the present stu
alton chance to secure peace for
themselves and thereby to help in the
securing of permanent peace for
the whole world.
Russian Masses Must Be Taught
There is the blackness of ignorance
throughout great part of Russia and
/ for II the former ear and his men and
/ his methods have been held RESPONSE
I BILE The enlightenment. SO socialists
/ here say, that is needed is one which
| will make plain to the Russians the
pathway Of democracy's duty in such
a war as this. American socialists,
or some of them. at any rate believe
that liberty so recently founded in Rus
STA will be lost quickly to some Man
on Horseback" If pledges to the allies
are reludated and peace is sought
with Germany.
So il is that the belief, seemingly
substantial. is that Elihu Root and his
colleagues will do what they can al
most on the instant of their arrival 10
Russia 20 impress upon the leaders and
the people, the workingmen and the
soldiers that the surest way to lose
the gift of freedom is to make friends
with freedoms enemies.
II has been held In Washington that
q plan of American participation In
the campaigns IN Europe unquestion-
ably would include one for partlcipa-
ton In the fighting on the east front
-Four American army officers are ac
companying the commission To Russia
one az them is n campaigIsr of many
years, q strategist and man known
for his persuasive powers. 1t seems
altogether unlikely that Maj. Gen.
Hugh L. Scott, chief Of staff Of the
United States army, would have been
sent with the commission unless the in
tention. If Russia holds firm, is to send
"heartening force" of the soldiers Of
one republic to fight side by side with
the soldiers of another.