The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-04-17

ment's merchant feet to the private
shipping corporations. He has writ
ten to Chairman Hurley of the ship
ping board to get an official opinion
from the board. Jones Is perfectly
willing to leave the fireworks to Mel
son, while Jones quietly arranges for
the probable Republican attempt to
sell the fleet at a bargain. And If the
friends of public ownership prove too
strong, Jones will be found willing to
compromise, anywhere that the COM
promising is good.
RUSSIAN EMBASSY CHANGES.
The Russian embassy here is swim
ming in the teacups of social gossip
again. Some time ago Washington
society was all upset because the
Boris Bakhmeteff, who was sent here
as ambassador by the Miliukof pro-
visional government of Russia, was
being snubbed by the George Bakhme-
teff, who resigned the same job when
the gar was toppled off the throne.
The old imperial ambassador was a
grouchy person with a rich American
wife, and they decided that his sue
cessor, who was a mere Russian bust
ness promoter, should not be permitted
to get anywhere in the ~high-toEed So
ciety of the capitol of our democratic
republic. Sad to say, the new ambas-
sador appeared to desire nothing so
much as to shine in the drawing rooms
of our dowagers and their millionaire
husbands. When the story went
around that old George explained that
Boris was in the same way related to
him that Booker Washington was re-
lated to the Original George, society
did not take the remark as an insult
by autocracy to democracy, but as a
personal calamity to Boris.
And now come rumors that the
beautiful Russian embassy building,
which old George had to vacate in IA
vor of Boris, may be turned over to
a still newer ambassador. The pos
sible soviet ambassador is either to
be Mr.. Martens, a wealthy and cul-
tured purchasing agent for the big
gest steel company in MoscOw-nOw
a nationalized concern-or professor
Lomonsoff, a very learned scientist,
who was sent here by Kerensky, orig
inally, to buy a hundred million dol.
lars worth of railroad equipment.
Either of these men would be more
acceptable in really cultured circles
than either of the Bakhmeteffs. But
the society leaders are worried. They
face the possibility that they will
never even be asked to enter the CO.
Wet embassy! Instead, they under.
stand that it is to be made a center
for brainy American progressives-
people who have contributed to con.
structive democracy.
WHAT WILL PALMER DO?
Attorney General Palmer is a puzzle
to the various elements in Washing.
ton that are ,tugging at his sleeve.
Some say that he is going to estab'
lish a big secret service which will
strike terror" into the hearts of all
nondemocratic political agitators
Others say that he is going to reverse
the policies Of his predecessor, Mr..
Gregory of Texas, and will present a
striking contrast to the policy OF
Postmaster General Burleson-like'
wise of Texas-to the extent that he
will ask the president to liberate all
the so-called political prisoners.
Thu far Mr.. Palmer has done two
things He has recommended the
dismissal of a number of indictments
against prominent Socialists, who
were accused of seditious u%tterances
during the war; he has politely but
firmly shaken of the connection Of the
private spying organizations from the
department. ~
In interviews, Mr.. Palmer has de
clared that the government will net
assume to curb the right of free
| speech and a free press, SO long al
| violent overthrow of the government
is not advocated. He has promised
to prosecute any M who does advo
cate violent revolution.
Rumors that the president is going
to pardon Eugene ". Debs have not
been verified. On the other hand
Palmer has announced his opposition
Reports that MI. Palmer is going tc
order the dismissal Of some 600 to 7O(
indictments brought under the es
pionage act are apparently nearer The
truth. It seems probable that the new
attorney general will dispose Of this
matter before the question Of a gen
eral amnesty for political prisoners II
taken up by him with the chief exec
utive.
sBAER FIGHTS FOR SOLDIERS.
Congressman Baer is to introduce {
bill in the new house granting a year,
pay, as q bonus, to each soldier whel
he Is discharged. One Of the frs
delegations to line up In support o
the proposition has been the Tam
many delegation from New York City
It appears that thousands Of discharG
ed soldiers are stranded In New York
and that the Tammany clubs hav!
been forced to dig down into thei
treasures to meet the demands Of tn,
boys for help. The bread line starte'
III New York was partly dissolved on
day BY q group Of factory foremel
SsAG%RE.-..# ~. $500. ka 2A-AAx&MS -