The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1918-09-19
WATCH RUSSIAN SITUATION.

The much hoped for plan of giving economic
and advisory aid to Russia has been abandoned.
The state department in Washington announces
that it has not been able to overcome the diff
culties in securing able men to undertake the
work. The attitude of the farming and working
classes in Russia also probably has a great deal
to do with the situation. It has evidently
proved impossible to help a people who do not
want our help. Their reasons for not wanting
it may be foolish, but that does not alter the
fact. Again we see only our side of the fence
and news from Russia appearing in our big city
dailies has been of a very doubtful character.
There never yet was a pig who was willing to
be pulled out of the mire by the ears.
Z = Whatever the reasons, the abandonment of
the big reason for Russian intervention places
a special responsibility on the American public.
They must back up effectively our national war
aims as announced by President Wilson lest our
promised aid to Russia degenerate into an ex-
petition to force concessions for capitalists and
for those of allied countries and to force Rus
STA to make payments on her foreign debt which
she may not be in a position to make at the
present time. Unfortunately there are power
full private interests in our own and in allied
countries anxious to do just these things, and
our right-minded citizens must be more than
alert to keep these bargain-hunters and camp
followers off the back of the president and from
interfering with the efficient prosecution of the
war for our democratic ideals.
These ideals do not permit of the use of force
for international debt collecting and democracy
in Russia should be free to invite in American
capital on it's own terms. Unless we stick to
these ideals we may, instead Of aiding the Rus
sian people to re-establlsh the eastern front
against Germany, force them into a protective
alliance with our enemies.
The North Dakota Observation-Disclosures
strenuously objecting to Estate socialism in
their speeches-incorporated demands for a
stateowned flour mill in their platform. And
this doesn't bother their big business hackers.
Evidently they think platforms are merely
made to run on. The people know, however,
that Governor Frazier and the rest of the Re
publican administration enact their platform
promises into legislation. Big business knows
it, too. That's why the people support Frazier
and big business is behind Doyle.
Some men prominent in the Liberty loan
work will refuse to work, according to the st.
Paul Dispatch, because the Washington admin
~istration may appoint Mr.. Lindberg, former
League candidate for governor of Minnesota,
to a federal office. Their brand Of patriotism
can be detected with the nose, but then, this
may be another wild product of the Dispatch
imagination. This sheet frequently publishes
what it calls "rumors arising from nowhere"
Steve Doyle is our idea of an optimist. He
has issued a campaign card which predicts his
election on the theory that at the general
election he is going to get all the votes Frazier
didn't get at the primary election and 10000
more to boot. Guess again, Steve. Thousands
of Republicans who voted for Steen at the pri-
maries will vote for Frazier this fall and it's
safe to assert that most Of the Wilkinson vote
will also go to the present governor.
The Republicans platform Of this state is a
Declaration Of Independence which will free
North Dakota from the economic domination Of
the Minneapolis Chamber Of Commerce.
The farmers voice will never be heard iii the
legislature until he get there and hears his own.
Patriotism would - \ rood cure for,prodteer-
ins.