Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-03-27
EVERYBODY Is WATCHED
THE TRAVELLER IN EUROPE is
CONSTANTLY DOCCED.
Russia Leads In the Espionage of strangers,
bat Germany II "a Close second
Nobody IL Allowed to Feel
mt Ease over There,

idea what il is to exist in the espionage
which surrounds and permeates Euro
pean society. Even those who visit
Europe little appreciate the situation,
for the espionage is as impalpable as it
is all-pervading, In Russia the spy
system is moro thoroughly organized
than in any other country, and the SER
vice is practically obligatory on every
subject OF the car. He who should
fail 10 report anything suspicious com
ing under his observation would him
self be suspected. Everybody Is "A spy
on everybody and the saying that walls
have ears is eminently true in Russia.
All the world has heard OF the secret
police: but all the world does not know
that the ear has even more efficient
! forces of official spies in the clergy OF
| the Greek church OF which the car is
the head a good deal more wor-
ship being devoted TO him than TO the
Almighty. The clergy are entirely at the
mercy OF the ear. who can remove or
suspend any one of them, however high
or low, AT his mere pleasure, expressed
az rule through the synod Consc-
! quently from the metropolitan to the
village pope all Of them are spies and
! agents OF the government. The relig-
! ious acts OF every member Of congre-
! CATION are reported regularly 10 the
| police, and converts 10 the orthodox
faith are especially kept under strict
oversight. The Russian authorities as
sumo that every convert is a hypocrite,
| nd nh.l nj, .ir,l..
especially since the severe enforcement
of the anti-Jewish laws has led or com
PEELED many q the Hebrew faith TO pre-
tend conversion TO orthodoxy.
My most amusing experience with
the Russian police was at Kharkov, in
southern Russia. Ny arrival seemed
70 be anticipated. The driver who
took me to the hotel piled me with
questions that were ingenious and AT
the same time respectful and the land
lord appeared to take the deepest in
tercst in the safe custody OF my bag
gage. On coming home from "a walk
through the town | entered my apart
ment unexpectedly and found the land
lord and police agent rummaging my
trunk. The boniface stammered an
apology about mistake being made.
and the police agent did not say any
thing, but strobe out as if weighted
down with an important secret.
! noticed that one OF his pockets
bulged considerably and on investiga-
ton | missed copy of Zola's novels
and package of Anticipated love let
ters. ! could have spared at least the
novel, and had no particular objection
10 the police translating the love-let-
tiers, but | knew that the police had OK
ceeded their authority, even as inter-
preted in Russia. so | boldly went to
the police Office, showed my passport,
and made an imperative demand for
my property, at the same time threat
ening to complain To the French minis
ter. The property was returned.
With all the boosted freedom Of Ger
many, espionage there is not much be-
hind that OF Russia, Everybody in
Germany, except the socialists. wants
TO curry favor with the authorities. and
nearly everybody aspires to a public
Office of some kind, however petty. If
you want 10 find out the reach OF the
Kaiser's arm through his subordinates.
just go into a hotel, and in hearing of
anybody, perhaps Il German supposed
friend or acquaintance, make remark
derOgatory 10 the government or re-
mark that by some stretch may be con-
strued rs derogatory. You will be
pretty sure to hear from the police be-
fore the day is out. and lucky To escape
with mere warning TO leave town.
The absolute dread in which many Of
the Germans live Of being spicd upon
by each other can be imagined from an
incident that came under my Obscrya-
ton at Mannheim.
a window was broken i'm the house
of man holding q petty clcrkship in
the government offices. While the hus-
band was at work the wife hired the
glazier who happened 10 live nearest
TO put in new pane OF glass. When
the husband returned, he inquired who
had put in the glass, and upon hearing
the name, he at once knew that the
gla2ier was q socialist. Fearing that
the employment Of socialist 70 do
evsn such small Job might bring him
iilt buluIl Win Ills Supporters. lie
FASTENED TO break the glass again, and
sent for a glazier OF orthodox political
standing to do the mending.
1t is the intense struggle for exist
ence, and the aspiration for Office and
its pittance, that places vast army of
volunteer spies at the government SER
vice in every continental country Be
sides, European governments includ-
ing the English, never fail 10 reward
the spy for valuable information. no
matter how treacherously it may be
obtained.
In France espionage is not obnoxious
and aggressive. as in Russia. and to
some degree in Germany. But they
are all watching you--the coachman.
the barber. the waiter the concierge
They are all anxious to have their little
story 10 tell the police; not exactly