New-York tribune., 1918-02-03

Bolsheviki il not successful in aiding
the common people Of Austria and Ger
many to break down their autocracics,
the Russian soldiers will be fighting
again." declared Colonel William B.
Thompson, hnancicr and recent Red
Cross agent In Russia, in speech be-
fore the Rocky Mountain Club a few
days ago.
Colonel Thompson is considered one
Of the most successful and astute BITS
mess men in the United States. and SO
his speech attracted wide attention
His copper interests are as large as
il not larger than, those OF any other
man. When the Federal Reserve sys-
TEN was established he was elected a
Class b. or lay. director Of the New
York bank. and has held that office
ever since. He is also a director of
banks, railroads and industrial corpo-
Witnessed Revolution
Several months ago he volunteered
his services to the Red Cross, and
shortly afterward he was sent to Rus
eia to organize the relief work of that
organization there. His official con-
nections brought him into close touch
with the heads of the various political
organizations in that country and he
was able to witness the revolution.
In the four months he remained in
Russia, Colonel Thompson had bet
ter opportunity perhaps than any other
American citizen to study and under
stand just what was taking place. The
things he saw, the people he met. the
spirit he encolntcrcd--all made trc-
mendous impression on him, and he
returned to this country stanch
advocate of the new regime.
Colonel Thompson IS himself po-
neer Of the West. having gone there
in the days of 40. In the Bolsheviki
he saw a reincarnation of tho men and
the times through which he had lived
Colonel Thompson "Forty-Niner"
A Few days ago Colonel Thompson
was the guest of honor and principal
speaker at the annual dinner OF the
Rocky Mountain Club, of which he is
a member. After describing conditions
as he had found them, Colonel Thomp-
son summed up his own attitude tow
ard the Bolsheviki by declaring that
the "Forty-Ninrrs" would have been
the first to welcome the workingmen'S
government i'll Russia to-day. Colonel
Thotnpson's speech in full was as 1ol-
lows:
~ have returned TO this country with
some very strong ideas regarding Rus
sia and the duty Of the United States
and the Allies to that stirring-and,
am afraid you will think, somewhat
erratic-young democracy.
"L como from people now. generally
known as the Bolshcviki, who Just now
arc extremely unpopular in the Ameri-
can press. They arc held up as as
sistant Germans and are being de
nounced for having deserted the Allies
side of the Kaiser. ] am afraid tho
American people are slow to realize
one of the greatest facts in the war al
this time. The Bolsheviki at the pres
ent moment are a tremendous factor ir
making the Central Powers of Europe
realize that they can never win this
war; that they will be forced to the
basis of reasonable and 4 lasting
peace.
"The newspapers that are denouncine
the Bolsheviki just now are printing
columns about revolution in Austria
Hungary, a revolution based upon I'M
mediate peace with no annexatlons ant
no indemnities. This Austro-Hun
Russian Bolsheviki The Importance Of
this revolution should not be ignored
The example and efforts of the Rus
sian democracy are setting the Centra
Powers on fire. The most damaging
enenv Germany has rs the Russian
democracy alongside OF it, preaching t(
the German common people and to tht
German soldiers the same doctrine OF
democratic peace. Stranger things
have happened than that lasting
peace, without the realization OF an!
of Germany's despotic war aims, may
be at this very time in the making.
"When I arrived in Russia last July
I found the country almost prostrate
through decentralization caused by un
opposed German propaganda. German
propaganda had brought about strike
through all Russia three days before
the declaration of war in 1914. Ger
man intrigue and propaganda had 81
surrounded the Gar that separate
peace was almost impending last March
Food Riots Part of Plot
"Food had been cut off deliberatel! |!
from Petrograd and other cities in or
der to cause bread riots and strikes
with the cold intention on the part O.
the German and Russian autocracies Of
using these measures as an excuse fol
separate peace. The Russian soldier.
refused to fire on the hungry people
and the long -sought-for Russian Revo
luton was realized with the abdicatiol
of the Car. At the time reached
Petrograd that noble Russian patriot
Alexander Kerensky-and I am deliber
ate in calling him notoe man--was at
tempting coalition government
government representing the rich ane
The poor The rich, he' ever, were no
satisfied to work with the poor.
German propaganda was busy tear
ing down Allied haggling was uncon
sciousIy aiding. and this resulted in al
attempt to place over Russia a man OF
horseback Korniloff. To me it seem!
that madder scheme was never con
ceived in the brain Of man. IT aroused
to frenzy the great mass Of Russians
who interpreted it as a return Of tht
old order Just at this time Russian
general. Gurko, who had been deprived
~ ~, command Of the army for Wrl I,