Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-23
DR.. STEINER ON THE SITUATION
He Believes Russian RevoIutio, 10
Bound to Come Sooner or Lat,r.


Dr. Edward A. Steiner Of the chair
of applied christianity of Grinnell Col
loge, blographer by appointment and
an intimate friend of Count Tolstoi,
the greatest OF the living Russia
philosophers and student Of the po-1
litcal history Of Russia, says Russia
is ripe for a revolution and Its peo-
pie are ready and capable of maintain
Ing a constitutional form Of govern
ment, not as liberal as our own, but OF
Il form similar to that of Austria forty
or fifty years ago.
Dr.. Steiner was seen this morning at
the union station, while waiting for his
train, and asked whether or not the
Russian laborer and peasant was cap
able of self-eovernment, and he gave
the following interview on the inter-
nal troubles which are just now caus-
Ing such an upheaval i'm Russia:
"'Fhe story Of the present dffit ulties
Is one of oppression and isolation Of
the peasants who did not realize their
condition and which has been carried
on for years." said Dr. Steiner. II. .mong
them came agitators uf the democratic
socialistic tye who have labored with
them, and the present revolutionary
movement is an outgrowth OF that
agitation. The laborers of st. I'eters-
burg are striving for their very exist
ance for everything. for so opr ressed
are they by the burden of taxation
that they are unable to provide food
for themselves and families.
THE present day movement Is one
In which the industrial problem, hav-
ing to do with the great manufa, turing
interests, and the political prob lem Of
personal liberty are both so co-ming-
led as to be inseparable. But hack OF
1T all is the inability Of laborer, wheth-
er Of the agriculturist class or the
factory or mill employe, to pro, ide the
means of living. The average paw OF
the worker of Russia is 1925 a year. Of
which an average of SAG a year goes
to the government in taxes Thu work.
er in the mills and factroies receives
an average Of so cents a day and of
this much of 1t goes for tax on land
which the laborer neither owns nor
controls"
Years ago when the masses were
freed as serfs the land was apportion-
ed In tracts of six acres to each man.
This land was owned by communal
interest. such as village or township
in this country. The freed SO is were
given the use of this land. bit could
not sell it, and while what it produced
was theirs they were compelled to pay
the taxes. later the tracts we're re-
duced to two and one half &C .es each.
So small We're these that the tiiler
could not grow upon them enough to
provide for his family, which resulted
in their being bandoned and II general
exodus to the cities began. There the
laborers found employment in the mills
and factories, but altho still receiv-
ing no benefit from the land they left
they were still compelled to pay the
taxes on 1t. Not only this tax, but
others the government imposed has so
reduced the laborers that ex xlstence Is
almost impossible.
yes, believe the mass of Russians
have enough natural ability and
slrewdness to be able to control the
of their schools, and are able to sue
cessfully maintain such a constitutions
al government as Austria has forty or
fifty years ago. | believe the con-
trolling power should be dec antraliZed.
The country is of such immense eX-
tent, with such varied interests that
central government at st. Peters
burg cannot keep in touch with the
varied wants and conditions of the
people
Each section should have its own
government, and toward a constitu-
tional form the people ale drifting.
which before it Is realized nay result
In a revolution. This may not come
now. but it will eventually
Professor Steiner is doubtless more
able to speak authoritively on Russia
affairs than any man in Iowa or the
west. His information cones at first
hand from months of living with the
peasants OF Russia for the purpose OF
studying the people. their political and
economic conditions.