The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1905-03-13
Interesting Interview on
Conditions in the Far
East.
FROM JUDGE IVES WHO TRAY.
ELED In RUSSIA.
Economic Conditions in Russia
Chinese Bandits Help the
Japanese.

Cass Lake, March p Frank
Ives Of Cass Lake, ex-iudge Of
the Fourteenth Judicial District
of Minnesota, takes considerable
interest in the outcome Of the
war in the far east between the
Japs and Russians, and there is
probably no man in this part Of
the country who is better inform
ed concerning the conditions
which prevail in the Russian EN- J.
pire and the incidents which led
to the horrible conflict now being.
waged in Manchuria. Judge
Ives was a delegate from the
United States to the international
meeting of biologists which was
held in Russia, in 1897, and by
virtue of the Importance Of his
mission was shown every court
esy by the Russian officials and
took advantage Of the opportu-
nifty to thoroughly inform himself
as to the political situation in that
country. Asked few days ago
as to his impressions Of the pres
ent war, Judge Ives said:
eyes, | was in Russian and
western Siberia in 1897; spent
most of the summer there, and
had ample opportunity to investi-
gate conditions. I visited many
military camps and contonments
and saw soldiers and officers in
summer quarters. My impress
sions Of the Russian army were
not at all favorable. The Greek
orthodox church is the dominat.
ing power in the empire. The
Metropolitan at St. Petersburg
is not only the head of the church,
but direct the governmental poll
.cies. The church, being the
militant power, directs the selec-
tion Of the military officers, and
none but mem bers in good stand
ing in the church can hold a com.
mission in the army. The off
GERS are always educated gentle
men, as that term is generally
understood. The warrant off
GERS and privates, though fine
specimens Of the human animal,
are ignorant, stupid and cruel,
Cupidity, greed and love Of ease
and 'Wassail seemed to be the
only attributes Of the officers;
vodka, black bread and "salt
horse" the only wants of the
ranks. One may travel in Russia
from ST. Petersburg to Sevasto-
pol, from Moscow to Irkutz, and
will rarely discover a soldier,
officer or private, who seems to be
imbued with the patriotic spirit
that wins battles. Russia is
afflicted with trusts, not entirely
like our own, but they have the
same effect, practically.
There are some thirty grand
dukes in the empire, and to these
favorites every avenue of specu
lation and profits is opened. Pub
lie work is rarely let to the low
est bidder, but is farmed out to
the grand dukes, at prices that
would astoInd the most accomp-
.lished boodler of the United
States. The grand dukes are in
favor Of the present form Of gov
ernment, not because of any dan
ger to governmental rights, but
because they know that, with the
zemtsVo in power, their graft
would be gone.
"When the Manchurian war be-
gan, I felt fully convinced that
Russia would, unless some radi-
Exchanges were madein the man
@agement Of affairs, be defeated in
every important conflict. I have
seen no reason to change the
opinion then openly expressed by
me. The Japanese are fighting
for the preservation of their
homes and esides; the Russians
are fighting for we'll, for a cent
and half a day and enough of
the necessities Of life to keep the
vital spark from going out. There
can be no limit to the number of
men that Japan can and will com
mand to carry on the war China
is contiguous; the country
swarms with fighting men who
are now ready to doff the pigtail