The sun., 1917-08-16
EDITORS
HERE TRAITORS:
ROOT ASSERTS
Should Be Tried, Convicted
and Executed, He Tells
Union League.
TIME WILL PROVE 1T
Other Members of Russian
Commission Back Statement
for Summary Action.

Elihu Root. head Of the United States
mission to Russia. in a severe denuncia-
ton OF the German propagandists In
America before the Union League Club
last night. declared there were men
walking about the streets Of tho city
who should be taken out and shot at
sunrise. and that there are editors here
who should be tried. convicted and ex-
ecuted.
| And It Is only a question Of time" he
shouted. until they will meet this fate"
Every man in the hall jumped to his
feet and applauded. There were cries
OF They certainly VIM" and the ap..
parent wrath with which Mr.. Root had
declared himself seemed to spread
throughout the hall.
Charles Evans Hughes was the chair
man Of the meeting. introducing Mr.. Root
as the nations ablest statesman and
finest patriot.
When 1t was announced he said.
that the President had selected Mr.. Root
to 90 at the head Of this important
commission to Russia we. were all ex-
| tremely glad that the best thought Of
the nation was to find expression
through this eminent statesman I am
Root had some little misgivinss. because
at the time We were filled with uncer-
tainty and apprehension. The age
which his appearance bellies was about
to be put to a severe test. He might
we'll have sought exemption. Our mis-
sivings, however. were without war
rant"
Mr. Root said in part:
Il am to say something about Rus
| 7 yvtS IN ~ 10
about America thought often while
In Russia. as I watched the labors and
Judged the mental state and feelings o.
the mon who were engaged in the hard
task OF building up government In Rus
sia. Of those men OF the days Of '63. who
gathered In tho old clubhouse in Union
Square to render the same purpose to
against the Impending danger Of death
10 the republic. ..... .-.,
Lauds n sssian Leaders.
II wish to cay to you that I never
have seen a more gallant night with
purer motives and nobler purpose than
the few men who are controlling the
Government of Russia to-day have been
making against overwhelming odds for
the freedom OF their people and the
safety Of democracy in Russia, and in
the world. tApplause.)
| Everything was against them. the
soldiers and the people. the peasants
who make up IS per cent Of Russia, had
lost ardor. They had not been in the
habit Of thinking upon political ques-
tions they had been In the habit OF
obeying. and the word which they had
obeyed was gone The soldiers had lost
tho ardor to follow they had lost
their national head; they had lost their
national flag The laws which re-
ceived their sanction from the Car
seemed to have moral obligation. The
police had disappeared. The people OF
Russia are practically without govern
ment, for the temporary provisional
Government had no power to execute q
decree.
without police. without law. their
own orderly habits. their own mutua
consideration for the rights of Others
alone remained to preserve their re-
spect for property and life and human
rights. Throughout Russia, with nc
! other safeguard order reigned as perfec,
, as reiEns In the United States to-day
, because tho people of Russia have in
grained. inherent characteristics. quail
ties Of character. which are necessary
for the maintenance Of free self-gov
, ernment.
German Intrikues.
Germany. making common cause with
those extremists who would break down
and destroy all industrial organizatio
, all national authority. Germany carried
on in the early months of the revolution
, a great propa ganda In score of ways
to pervert the minds Of the Russian
people. Their agents swarmed over the
, border. they spent money by the millions
In buying adherents to the German cause
Y they purchased newspapers and estab
= lished newspapers: they distributed litera
tuIe; their troops under order swarmet
out Of the trenches with open arms Il
I fraternize with the Russian troops.
0 ''They said to them Why do you hgh
US? This was the Cars war. 1t wal
not your war. Why do you want to xii
us who are your friends? Why do 70,
. want to get killed? Why not go HON,
and share In the division OF the land
II you don't hurry YOU will get left. 1
n will all be In other hands
a "'Why go on with the Cars was
which was not your war;? And the
have produced an effect on the army q
!. Russia that has made them generall
v along all the thousand mile line un
q willing to fight. They were tired OF tn
r war, as all the peoples OF Europe ar
Russia II seemed as II the game wa
= over. Sagacous observers there sait
= According to all the rules of the gam
y Russia Is out Of the war
/. Kerensky saves Day.
r "A few men, thoughtful men. realize
y that the erection of a system OF FIRE
l. self-government according to the III
i the customs the spirit Of Russian III
!; could never be developed under tn
suxerainty Of Germany. They realize
that subjection to Germany meant tn
y death Of Russian liberty. and they ~
out to reinspire In the Russian people
knowledge, a realization. q spirit of d.
|. fence for their newly won freedom. an
B. under the splendid leadership OF Kerer
N aky. under the wise and saga cious cor
troll Of Nekrosoff and Tcherenko an
IL Sarantilly and a score OF others the
gradually brought discipline back. o,
Of confusion and bewiiderment they ha,
= brought a knowledge and . reaiisatio
70 Of duty, and Russia has found herse
y and has begun again to dght for Il
le preservation of her own freedom.
!. Germany has appealed In Russia, I
she has appealed In America and q
10 over the world. to all the baser motiv,
of mankind. She has appealed