The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-11-15
Republican Publicity Associa
ton Gives 0uta
Statement

Washington, November S.-The
Republican Publicity association,
through its president, Hon. Jonathan
Bourne, Jr., today gave out the fol-
lowing statement from it's Washing
ton headquarters:
merce, CHARTERED in New York City,
in statement issued by its board of
directors, following a special meeting,
declares: IF German influence re-
mains intact in Russia, the war will
be won for Germany, for Russia furn-
Isles Germany an opportunity to re-
establish ler finances, her industry
and her commerce, and to again bring
into being the idea of German world
domination. Irrespective of any mill
tary decisions on the western front,
irrespective of the elimination of Ger
man political ambitions through the
oVerturn of her present government,
if the allies allowed the German in
fuence to be permanently established
in Russia, Germany will be able still
TO SecIrc economic supremacy through
her domination of Russia's future. To
assist the Russian people in the de-
velopment of a sound government is
the privilege and duty of the Ameri-
can people and can imperative neces-
sity."
1T is to be observed that this dec
laration is addressed, not to one man,
but to the American people. Some
months ago the Republican Publicity
association suggested the establish
ing. under allied leadership, of a pro-
teCtorate over Russia, effective until
such time as education and recupera-
ton have fitted the Russian people to
determine for themselves the form of
government they desire, when they
could be assisted by the allies in put
ting that form into effect, as the best
method of stiffening resistance to
German Imperialism on the eastern
fornt. AT that time it was declared,
while We hesitate, Germany's definite
policy of expansion moves eastward. ,
Germany has now approached the ad-
mlnistration expressing willingness
to accept the fourteen principles
(none of which has been accepted by
our allies in the hope that by accept
ing them she san escape economic
punishment, the penance which she
chiefly fears, and can retain her in
fuence over Russia, for, says the
Russian Chamber, behind Germany
to the east is one sixth of the land of
the earth, and the people of this land
are sick, in comatose condition and
without trusted leadership, while the
entire land is parcelled out to Ger
many's indefatigable propagandists
Russia presents the only avenue of
escape for Germany for the conse-
quences of her crimes
The resources of Russia are we'll
nigh limitless in almost every con
celVable raw material, except cotton,
OF which the country normally gets
about $4,000 tons from Transcaucasia.
To anyone who can read and under
stand English, Mr.. Wilson's third
principle, calling for removal, so
far as possible, of all economic bar
riers,' certainly carried the idea of
free trade. However, his latest inter-
probation, so far, which, in turn needs
interpreting, a task which none of his
henchmen will volunteer to undertake
, is twisted so to apply to the making of
tariffs, that there should be no dis
ordinations against some nations that
did not apply to others. Now so fa1
as the United States is concerned, the
, removal of all economic barriers is an
accomplished fact by reason of the
tariff law row in force in this country
and unqualifiedly supported by the
democratic party. The average rate
OF duty Oh all goods imported by us at
| the present time is between five and
! six per cent. The acceptance of this
third principle alone, even under its
stop gap Interpretation of October &c
would bind our allies not to discrimi
nate against German exports, and that
is method of economic punishment
which they have long had in mind to
! visit on the provoker of this war
! With German capital exploiting Rus
sian labor supply with an economic
aggressiveness frenzied by the bill
collector, the tax gatherer, and the
dream, not ended, of world domination
Germany could thus exercise con
troll over European markets fal
greater than ever in the past, while
the United States would be absolute
prey to German commercial ruthless
ness-all except the cotton barons
who could supply Germany with al
the cotton which her labor, and that OF
Russia, could consume in the manu-
facture of goods to undersell the pro
ducts of the allies. Thus, Germany
apparently about to escape a war will
in her own territory, would. if the
mischievous fourteen principles were
adopted, escape economic punishment
i'll the future.