SAVE FINLAND FROM GERMANY AND DEATH

...one, be he even a ruffian or a horse-thief...

...It means there more than so and so many tons of rye or wheat, it means the future of a people, it means the unity of the North whether it will hold or break...

...Every IN spite of the fact that Finland is an agricultural country, she has always been compelled to import about half of her need of foodstuffs from abroad, mostly from Germany and Russia...

...Now, when the bloody fight is won, and we are able to give a more sober consideration to the situation, as it presented itself during the first months of this year, we can better understand the attitude of the Scandinavian Governments...

...IN SPITE of the fact that Finland is an agricultural country, she has always been compelled to import about half of her need of foodstuffs from abroad, mostly from Germany and Russia...

...b) A bona fide student proceeding with his training for some useful occupation...

...The movement referred to, among the Finnish youth, was in its nature absolutely identical with the Czecho-Slovak movement of the present day, which has received such ample praise and recognition from the Allied Governments themselves...

...The Finnish newspapers printed enthusiastic editorials in honor of France, and when the Marseillaise was played at the gala performance at the theatres, the audience rose and greeted the hymn of France with thundering applause...

...People have to live, somehow, and to that end foodstuffs are necessary...

...These Jaegers volunteered in the German army in the spring of 1915, with a written pact that they, under no pretext, should be used on the western front against England and France (America and Italy were then still neutral...

...Needs More Food...

...will remember all assistance in various forms which the Scandinavian countries have given for the relief of the famine stricken country...

...All the above nKffltioned stories are absolute and deliberate lies, and have each and every one been officially contradicted by proper authorities, or disproved by actual happenings...

...BUT, you will say, perhaps Germany only extended her helping hand to Finland in order to be able to exploit her later...

...The grain that Finland had bought and paid for was confiscated for the Allied armies...

...Now another danger is approaching...

...The advantages hereof are by no means only in Finland's favor...

...Will America's answer be yes or no ? The people of Finland are once more anxiously pinning their hopes on the West...

...With everlasting gratitude Finland IN order to realize what effect this twofold help from America and England would have on the Finnish people, we only need to recall how the recognition by France of Finland's independence was received in Finland...

...On the other hand, a new refusal to sell foodstuffs to Finland would have the most disastrous results and would inevitably bring about tha very thing that should by all means be prevented, viz: a further exploitation of Finland by Germany...

...man with an open mind is bound to admit the simple truth thereof, and no one can, in fairness, blame Finland on that account...

...To this point of view the movement in our country must be traced, that many a young patriotic Finn thought justice and his country's welfare demanded that he lend his support to the enemy as this seemed to be the only way to reach the goal, a fr^e Finland...

...Persons out of employment by reason of labor disputes and students are exempt from the operation of the law, but a claim of sufficient income for self-support and the support of dependents will not suffice...

...Finland then appealed to America...

...The Scandinavian governments chose to stand aloof, but certainly their choice was made with an aching heart, for th> people wanted to help their struggling brother...

...Thanks to the 3,000 Finnish "Jaegers" (chasseurs), Finland is not today a Russian province again...

...In a great speech before the Finnish Diet, on the 20th of April, 1917, Tokoi, the Prime Minister, said, referring to the Russian offensive in Galicia during the winter of 1915: "As to the Russian army, sure enough only temporarily, penetrated deeper into Galicia, and the Russian Government thought herself well in the saddle, she forgot all her promises to the small nationalities...

...This condition has also been respected to the letter...

...Soma doubt as toconstitutionality was admitted yet the measure was held to be justified if it would produce any advantage, however small, in view of the conditions involved in the prosecution of the war...

...On Finnish ships, and with the assistance of Finnish ice-breakers the Finnish Jaeger battalions were transferred from Riga to Vasa where they bejan to arrive on the 18th of February...

...When the revolution in Russia broke down the autocracy of the Czar, the mission of the Finnish Jaegers in the war was fulfilled...

...Since this article was set up it has been reported that a German Prince has been made King of Finland.—Editor's Note...

...The governor's approval was accompanied by a memorandum stating that the object of tha measure was to require contributions by all able-bodied males toward a remedying of the conditions due to the present shortage of labor...

...It is an undeniable fact that the Finnish nation gained her liberation from the threatening Russian Bolshevism, partly through Germany's help, and the Finns woaid certainly be a people without honor or pride, were they not grateful on that account...

...The fourth section relates to proceedings and the disposition of fines...

...Fourteen million dollars are ready in New York to pay for all we need...

...reason, this was not done...

...When we here, in America, during February and March read about the "German invasion" of Finland and how "the Germans" captured on place after the other, it was in fact the Finns and the Finnish army who did it all...

...AND Tokoi was right...

...d) Usually employed in some useful occupation and temporarily unemployed owing to differences with his employer common to similar employees with the same employer...

...But the sailing was delayed again and again, and while the ships were lying there at the docks with 40,000 tons of grain in their holds, the food embargo was put in effect in America...

...In Sweden alone, within a few days, some 65,000 Swedish men and women, among them thousands of the country's best citizens, signed a petition to their government, asking for armed assistance for Finland...

...Finland has recently, at the sacrifice of thousands of her best and noblest sons, erected a dam against the flood of Bolshevism...

...The American consul in Helsingfors, Mr...

...The food shortage for last year was estimated to be 40,000 tons of grain...

...No wonder that a wrong opinion 1b formed when based on such absurdities, spread by out enemies for the sinister purpose of making Finland appear as an accomplice of Germany...

...This movement on the part of Finnish youths is clearly and unmistakably explained in a speech of the Finnish Socialist leader Tokoi...

...Then came tht> great rebellion...

...Only for Exploitation...

...Then, when the Bolshevik rebellion at the end of January, this year, broke out in Finland, the Finnish Government requested that these Finish youths be sent home...

...The World War closed the first door four years ago, and the chaos in Russia finally shut the latter...

...An order in council brings the Dominion of Canada under similar regulation...

...The first two sections of this order are as follows: 1. Every male person residing in the Dominion of Canada shall be regularly engaged in soma useful occupation...

...So" the good will was Miere...

...Their equipment was paid for with Finnish money and the ammunition imported on Finnish ships...

...But there is now another danger brewing for Finland...

...They* find that they have not enough to spare for their starving sister...

...This argument, so often repeated, is entirely wrong, and based on a misconception...

...Germany, of course, is very much "up against it," and can hardly spare anything...

...Loitering in the streetssaloons, pool rooms, stores, etc., is considered prima facie evidence of violation of the act...

...We Fim.s know it...

...Another reason was to hasten the suppression of the rebellion, and thus the rescue of Southern Finland from anarchism and complete devastation...

...Whitman on the 13th of May...

...The food shortage for last year was estimated to be 40,000 tons of grain...

...A few small shiploads of grain from Germany to Finland would, of course, not materially relieve the food scarcity there, but it would put Finland under a new heavy obligation to Germany, and that should be avoided at any price...

...Innumerable other distortions and downright falsehoods have been spread broadcast by tha enemies of Finland, while the slow and afterwards totally interrupted mail communications with Finland, have made it almost impossible to check up those lies effectively and run them down, but meanwhile, a prejudiced and most unjust opinion about Finland has shaped itself in the American mind...

...The drowning man, in his utter distress, grasping the lifeline, does not care who pulls him from the water...

...The advantages hereof are by no means only in Finland's favor...

...During six centuries has Finland been the outpost of western civilization, and once more has she stood as a bulwark against eastern despotism...

...The Finnish newspapers printed enthusiastic editorials in honor of France, and when the Marseillaise was played at the gala performances at the theatres, the audience rose and greeted the hymn of France with thundering applause...

...Finland is not asking for a gift, is not begging for alms...

...f) Unable to obtain within reasonable distance any kind of employment which he is pby-» sically able to perform at current wages for similar employment...

...That meant starvation for tens of thousands of families in Finland...

...Thornwell Haynes, has himself, in a repor^ to tha American minister in Stockholm pointed out that the despatch of foodstuffs to Finland would be the best and surest way to prevent the country from being drawn still more under German influence...

...there is no other way...

...The ugly ghost of Starvation, already for years looming on the horizon, is today staring the Finns straight in the face, knocking on hundreds of thousands of doors in Northern Finland...

...Finland's hope has always been with Scandinavia...

...Very probably, but that does not in the least change the fact...

...2. That Germany and Finland have agreed to «IOia, by conquest, a "Greater Finland...

...Such employment must continue for at least 36 hours per week, non-compliance with the law being punishable by a fine of f 100 or three months' imprisonment, or both...

...To our extreme regret, for some inexplicable AMERICA and the Allies have just now an unequalled opportunity to win not only the gratitude of Finland, but also her friendship, by material help for the famine-stricken people, and by giving Finland moral support through a solemn recognition of her independence...

...freedom was, in reality, comparatively small and manifested itself mainly in authoritative pressure on the Rassians...

...That again brought starvation to many more thousands of homes...

...But the sailing was delayed again and again, and while the ships were lying there at the docks with 40,000 tons of grain in their holds, the food embargo was put in effect in America...

...And concerning the recognition of her independence, Finland is asking no sacrifice from America, only justice, a moral support for a small people'% century old fight for democratic freedom...

...That amount was bought in America last summer, paid for in Finnish money and loaded on Swedish ships...

...Compulsory Work Legislation THE adoption of laws looking toward the useful employment of all the working forces of the population as an emergency measure has received its most influential indorsement by the act of the Legislature of New York, whose bill on this subject was approved by Gov...

...More and more, not to say unanimously, the thought began to gain headway among our people that Russian victory meant Finland's ruin...

...That meant starvation for tens of thousands of families in Finland...

...Ye^, ii.deed, and no one is more anxious than w» Finns are, to have that affair fully explained and understood by our American friends...

...The civilized world will one day give Finland the credit that is justly hers, for bringing the Bolshevist menace to crumble...

...Again Finland appealed to hev Scandinavian brethren...

...America and the Allies have just now an unqualified opportunity to win not only the gratitude of Finland, but also her friendship, by material help for the famine-stricken people, and by giving Finland moral support through a solemn recognition of her independence...

...But our friends among the Americans ask us is it not true that Finnish boys in considerable numbers volunteered in the German army...

...She understood that here an excellent opportunity presented itself to forestall Germany's efforts to monopolize Finland's sympathies, so France energetically and immediately (this was on the 4th of January) urged her Allies, America, England, and Italy, to follow her example and recognize Finland's independence...

...6. That a declaration of war or an attack by Finland against the Allies "can be expected at any hour," etc., eta...

...The grain that Finland had bought and paid for was confiscated for the Allied armies...

...Another point mentioned waa the proteition of the State against undesirable persons who might enter it to escape the operations of the law of New Jersey...

...THE appeal to the American Government, made jointly by the Scandinavian countries —Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, in behalf of famine-stricken Finland, will be greeted with enthusiasm and gratitude by all friends of Finland...

...It is clear that the friendship of Finland will, for the Allies, be of the greatest importance for the future, as the Allies intervention in North Russia is developing in a territory which for a distance of more than seven hundred miles borders on Finland...

...Tells of Falsehoods...

...AMONG the deplorable falsehoods which have been widely circulated, mostly emanating from Socialist sources in neutral countries, I will i ention a few examples: 1. The story that the Kaiser has selected his fifth son or somebody else as king over Finland...

...His brother is one of the editors of the "Huf-vudstadsbladet," the leading daily paper ol i inland...

...The confusion of the Finnish Jaeger battalion with "the Germans" is one of those fatal misinterpretations which have created an unfavorable opinion about Finland abroad...

...The Finnish rebels received active support from the Russian Government, and the danger of dragging the Scandinavian countries into an armed conflict With Russia was too great...

...That is positively not the case with Finland...

...West Virginia was the first State to enact a law of this type, followed by Maryland in the same year (1917), while this year the States of New Jersey and New York have taken similar Aeps...

...There is not the smallest doubt that Germany is working ceaselessly to extend her influence there...

...2. In any proceeding hereunder it shall be • defense that the person is— (a) Under 16 or over 60 years ol age...

...4. That thousands of innocent Socialists have bsen executed ("murdered") by the Finnish Government without any trial or reason whatever...

...IN.ORDER to realize what effect this twofold help from America and England would have on the Finnish people, we only need to recall bow the recognition by France of Finland's independence was received in Finland...

...The Scandinavian governments as also the Finnish are willing to give every necessary guarantee that the grain bought in America will be used solely for the relief of the stricken sections, and the Finnish Government is willing to accept administrative control by Sweden, Norway and Denmark over the distribution of the foodstuffs...

...And finally, came frost and famine...

...It is safe to say that it was the saddest disappointment that young Finland has experienced, to ae« her independence refused by the world's two greatest democracies, America and England...

...If starving Finland cannot get grain from America now, she will again b« compelled to appeal to Germany...

...B. That a secret treaty existed between Germany and Finland reducing the latter to a vas-,yd state of the former...

...But as long as peace was not concluded between Russia and Germany, the Finnish boys were not allowed, for obvious reasons, to return to Finland, but were stationed in camps at Riga...

...5. That Finland covets the Petrograd-Kola railway, or the whole Murman coast...

...An unequalled opportunity is now at hand to correct this mistake...

...It was only in April that Germany, at the request of the Finnish Government, sent troops to Southern Finland In order to enforce the stipulation in the Brest-Litovsk Treaty for the evacuation of Finland by the Russian navy and army...

...Now thousands will have to go without bread, if help cannot be obtained...

...They now appeal to America...

...And so they were...

...It is clear that the friendship of Finland will, for the Allies, be of the greatest importance for the future, as the Allies' intervention in North Russia is developing in a territory which for a distance of more than Seven hundred miles borders on Finland...

...The New York statute applies to all able-bodied males between the ages of 18 and 50, requiring them to "be habitually and regularly engaged in some lawful, useful, and recognized business, profession, occupation, trade, or employment until the termination of the war...

...Recognition of France...

...The third section provides a penalty for violation of the provisions of the order, punishment to be a fine of not more than $100 and in default of payment imprisonment for not more than six months either in jail or at a public institution or farm...

...But the Scandinavian countries are themselves on short rations...

...Relation to Russia...

...e) Physically unable to comply with the provisions of the law as herein enacted...

...The further the Russian army advanced, the tighter became the grip of the Russian eagle on the oppressed peoples...

...However, she will not let an opportunity like this pass by...

...Civil war swept the country from north to south...

...Save Finland From Germany and Death The People Of Finland Are Pinning Their Hope On America Says Writer—Food And Recognition Are Asked By THORSTEN HEDENGREN The writer of this article is a well-known engineer long a resident of the United States, but a native of Finland, and in close touch with events in that country...

...Finland then appealed to America...

...Agriculture was made impossible in many places...

...The disappointment was great, nearly bordering on bitterness, when Finland, during her hard struggle for her newborn liberty, last winter saw heTseif almost deserted by her brethren, the Scandinavians...

...That amount was bought in America last summer, paid for in Finnish money and loaded on Swedish ships...

...and when your house is on fire, you are grateful to receive the bucket from any...

...The World War closed the first door four years ago, and the chaos in Russia finally shut the latter...

...Furthermore, France did not content herself with only a recognition of Finland...

...Finland's ability to resist Germany's efforts depends greatly on the attitude of the outside world towards her, and, I am sorry to say, it appears as if Finland, so far, has been left very much in the lurch...

...c) A bona fide student in actual attendance at some recognized educational institution...

...They refused to fight further...

...German assistance in Finland's battle for...

...The Canadian order in council already mentioned bears date of ADril 4, 1918...

...But the Americans say, how can we sell grain to pro-German Finland...

...Finland is not pro-German, if thereby is meant that she is inimical to the Allies...

...Geographically, historically, culturally, Finland forms the fourth blade in the four-leaf clover of the North...