The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-11-02
WHERE GRAFT HOLDS SWAY.

The dispatch from St. Petersburg relating how
one of the largest manufacturers in Russia refused
10 obey requisition of the imperial government
for a heavier contribution toward war expenditures
In Manchura unless he were allowed to appoint
agents to see that the money strictly applied to
military purposes calls attention to of the
weak spots in the present system of Russian rule.
The manufacturer in question took the stand that he
did because at the opening of the present war he had
donated one million roubleS' worth of cloth for the
Manchuran army only to discover little later that
this same cloth was being sold in Moscow shops
and he refused to be made the further victim oil
graft !"
In consequence, the governor of Moscow ordered
him to leave Russia, but before complying with this
command he gave instructions that all of his facto-
nes be shut down, thus throwing some 65000 EN-
ployes out of work At this point the imperial gov
ernment interviewed, and the order of banishment
was revoked
This incident is only one of a multitude of ex-
smples of the reign of graft in Russia that could
be cited. Not many months ago number OF agents
of American firms approached the Russian govern
ment for the purpose of selling the latter certain
supplies that it needed. The articles offered were
entirely satisfactory both in regard to quality and
price, but the American agents were speedily ap.
Prised that they could not hope to do business un
less they first put down good round sum in the |
shape of blackmail. The agents accordingly cabled
home to find out whether the concerns that they
ted Unr 10 20 h.;b
and promptly receiving an emphatic answer 'No, u
they dropped all efforts to find customer in the |
Russian government The only competitors of the |
American concerns were Britons and as the latter
finally succeeded in selling the Russian government
the supplies that it required the presumption is that
they yielded to the demands of the Russian graft
dS" n
What wonder is it that the Russian army and
navy are insufficient when nearly the entire service
EVIL and military is corroded with corruption |?
What wonder is it that in spite of Russia ample
knanciaI resources her hapless egons in Manchuria
are compelled to go days without food? What won.
der It that Russias trade is languishing when the
sOrrdry filed with harpies of high and low station
demanding 'rakeoff" and tribute as a condition g
business cdlllngS
What wonder is it that Russia is seething with in
sernal discomfort when the masses of the empire
bowed to the earth with taxation see public officials
Whs handle public funds grow enormously rich Men
do nat gather grapes of thorns or figs of thstes and
the astonishing thing is that Russia, with her gov
srnrnental service saturated with corruption as it is
has been able to make much progress, both as an
industrial and military power, as she has,
That Nicholas II is fully cognizant of the extent
sf the reign of graft among the officials of his do
nlniOu Is hardly open to doubt; but it is equally T
certain that this sort of business does not receive
ms sanction The fact, however that he seems un-
able to correct it shows the tremendous power that
IS Wleded by the Russian bureaucracy; and the mil
Kary reyerses that Russia has met in the far east
aud that she may continue to meet there will not
De without their compensations if they shall result
emphasizing the peril to any nation that tolerates
gfrmg corruption in public Office {
THE CALL FOR PEACE. g..