New-York tribune., 1918-03-05
Use the Firing
Squad, Plea of
[. F. Marcosson
Shoot Spies and Advance
u. S. Cause, Writer
Urges

III we shot a few Of the German
spies here it would advance our cause
more than anything since we entered
the war" This statement by Isaac T.
Marcosson brought cheers from mem-
bers of the American Manufacturers
Export Association yesterday. The
writer was speaking at the associa-
tion's lunch in the Biltmore.
Il krow what I'm talking about" said
Mr.. Marcosson. I've watched the
sinister dagger Of the German spy and
propagandist penetrate every country
on the continent. saw the serpent
do Its work among General Cardorna's
gallant soldiers; saw it debaucb Rus
sla and enable the Bolsheviki to pros
trate Russia and prolong the war by
at least two years; I've seen it raise
It's head and pollute Spain
And after committing back and
forth across the Atlantic since the war
began, and seeing the silent influence
of the German spy here. say we ought
to shoot few Of them. 1t would be
the best thing we'd have done since
we entered the war.
And you who are business men re-
member this The far-hung battlelinc
of trade is going to win this war No
man who has seen the holocaust across
the seas at first hand fails TO realize
that year ago the power to win the
war on the field of battle ended. Now
economic weapons Will settle the fight"
II know what Germany has done in
Spain,' continued Mr. Marcosson. "I
know the strength Of the Kaiser's colo
nists there. Since the war began the
J)r-1,-- l. ,,,l =. |.
Spain and the Spanish aristocracy. If
John Jones in Seville wants red sad
die with purple pommel and green stir
rups the German says 10 him: "A good
idea. congratulate you on your taste;
you shall have it, We, on the other
hand. have assumed that we know bet
ter than the foreigner what he wants.
Wherever there is 4 water right for
sale in Spain to-day German is the
sites it is the same. If you could lift the
roofs from many warehouses in Spain
day you'd find them full Of resources
which the Kaiser has mobilized The
Huns have secret stores of raw mate
rials wherever it is possible to mobilize
them. The moment the war ends Ger
many is going to be mercllcss busi
ness concern, and will begin d trade
drive as efficient as her military often
sivc in August, 1914.
"She wants Spain, and Switzerland
and Holland, so that after the war she
can stamp her goods made in these
countries. And she viii get away with
it.
"American business men must pre-
pare for the commercial battles after
the war. England is preparing. Her
trade scouts are securing the universe.
The Empire Producers Association
/ cf INC
liza. the coffee growers Of Java, the
wheat growers Of Canada and the gold
miners Of South Africa. The whole
British Empire is being bound together.
not only BY the bonds of bloodshcd. but
by the bonds Of mutual interests. Eng
land. which has been the bulwark in
this war, is marshalling her resources,
which viii be one of the great INDUS
trial factors in the world and is going
to make US step lively "hen the great
trade procession begins.
What is true in England is true of
France in q lesser degree What are
we doing? with the gruclling and
fierce trade drive when this war is
over. competition. which was once a
part Of the orderly development of a
country, is going to be a struggle for
national existence. England, France
and Italy they must make good-they
must bind up their economic "out'os.
There will be no sentiment attached
ia il when the war is over. II is going
TO be a survival Of the httest
"In the midst Of war, before we
have even had our baptism Of blood, it
ig important for az to mobilize our
machinery, our industry, our exports
and our business. Unless we do, We are
going 10 lose our great international
prestige"
Marion Lctchcr, formerly foreign
trade adviser TO the State Department,
commented on the timidity Of those
who advocate "busjncss as usual at
this time. They mean. he said. "the
normal continuation Of industrial oper
alton 40 long M it does not Interfere
With the national war aims" Yet their
d,ffidencc in proclaimhR Their views.
he added, shows they want no mis-
take made about the force and quality
Of their patriotism