The Washington times., 1905-01-27
BY 1. A. HouRwIcH, PHI. D.

Dr. Hourwich is well qualified 10 discuss
CONDITIONS in Russia He was born there
years.
He was graduated from the University of
Russia and practiced law several years be-
fore coming to the United States He made
a special study of the condition of the
| peasantry OF his country, and contributed
newspapers and magazines.
He entered Columbia College, at New York
soon after reaching this country, and was
! graduated with the degree OF Phi. d. his
thesis being Tine Economics of the Rus
sian Village
on Russia fer American magazines and sci
entific reviews.
The massacre last Sunday in St.
Petersburg has suggested analogies with
the great French revolution The cem-
parison lacks, however, the most essen
tial element, viz. acts of violence on the
part of the people
This procession of men women and
children, led by priest with a crucifix,
the symbol OF peace on earth and good
will toward men,, as their only weapon
of defense against machine guns, brings
to mind the description of the Roman
arena in SienkiewfcZ's Quo Nedis, at
that moment when, by order of the En-
peror, wild beasts are let loose upon
unresisting Christian fathers and moth
ers claspIng their babes in their arms.
6eISUluel u Slilkc1S.
The ranks of the st. Petersburg strik-
efs are made up, in about even numbers,
OF city residents and natives of rural
districts; the former include most of the
skilled mechanics, the latter are mostly
common laborers. Many of these labor
ers go home every summer to help on
their farms; they represent the poorest
section of the factory population.
The peasant farms are as rule too
small TO support the farmer with his
family, while the taxes in many sec,
tons of the country exceed the rental
value of the land, when the children
too, go to the city to help with their
earnings to pay the taxes.
Clothing Exempted From Tax.
Exemptions from public sale for
arrears in taxes are unknown to the
Russian law; the tax collector may
levy upon the working cattle, the mich
COW, the household goods, the wearing
apparel; it goes without saying that
under pressure from the tax collector
the peasant Iaborer VIII accept any
terms that the employer is willing 10
offer.
Among the demands of the strikers is
noted minimum rate of one rouble, that
is, 81 cents, per day for men and 10
copecks, that is, IS cents, per day for
women
The cost of living is about as high in
St Petersburg as IN Philadelphia or
Chicago Russian industries are protect
ed by a high tariff and many RUSSIAN
manufacturing corporations, according
to the official Financial Review, pay
dividends at the rate Of 30 per cent per
annum.
These facts explain why public SYM
nv in jc
workmen.
No Trade Unions.
There are no trade unions among the
workmen of st. Petersburg: a trade
union is regarded by the law as crimi-
nal conspiracy; no public meetings are
permitted. except when called by
chartered societies or corporations: pro-
prietors of public halls or private dwell
ings are prohibited, under heavy penal
ties, from letting their premises for IN
authorized meetings.
The law is very rigidly and efficiently
enforeaa As a result, secret organiza-
tons have come into existence, whose
membership is composed OF men who
are determined to defy the law at the
risk Of their liberty.
The beginning of organization among
the workmen of st. Petersburg dates
about ten years back. The first secret
societies were organized by college-bred
Young men of socialistic opinions; poiiti-
cal agitation, however. was at first ex-
Guided from these unions.
Their membership was limited, but
they soon gained an influence over the
unorganized masses of workmen. and
inaugurated a series Of strikes, which
met with varying success.
Strikes Under Ban.
Strikes are prohibited by the Rus
sian law; the strikers were thus inevi-.
tabIy drawn into conflict with the gov
eminent, and the labor movement as
summed a political aspect
During the last few years it has been
under the leadership of the Social-Dem-
ocratic Labor party. The latter is
secret socialist organization. composed
mostly of workmen. who, by reason of
their superior intelligence, exert an in
fiuence over their fellow workers. with
"a generous sprInkling of coliege-bred
agitators.
The ayowed aim of the Social-Demo-
Gratis is the overthrow of the monarchy
ana the establishment of a republican
form of government
IL IS. therefore. plain that the idea
OF petitioning the Car for the redress
or grievances and political reforms did
not originate with the Socialists III was