New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-13
DANGER In RUSSIA
LIFE AND RICHES UNSAFE.
Roger Foster Tells of Terrible State
Country Is In.

| Roger Foster, a lawyer at No. Is Broad street.
reesntlv returned from journey through Persia
and Russia and in the latter country found con-
| dition of affairs little better than anarchy. In
speaking of his experiences and what he saw he
said that as reported the universal strike In Rus
sia was a failure. that the present Douna had
given TO the government everything 1t needs. and
that there spirit of iawlessness almost be-
yond belief Hangings were of daily occurrence
over two thousand persons having been executed
last year. many of whom had broken law. and
that the daily hangings often amounted 70 from
twelve to sixteen. many of the victims being boys
and girls under twenty years of age, but the
papers not permitted to report the executions
AS the treasury OF the revolutionary party Is
empty, Mr.. Foster said that the energies of the
revolutionsts are bent upon shooting just many
policemen as possible, and to get enough money 20
live they seize funds belonging to the government
whenever they get the chance. The lives of for
eigners safe. to large extent, but they
were in continual danger of being robbed
'fIn the appropriation of the public funds at tina
postofices custom houses, offices fer the collec-
ton of taxes and elsewhere the revoufonists have
been wonderfully successful" said Mr.. Foster. I'm
a city where the garrison contained one soldier
for every four residents recently, to celebrate
anniversary, sixteen patromen were killed by ps-
toll shots at the same hour-10 o'clock in the morn
ing-and none of the assassins caught. No
one with whom I talked who not officer
attempted to conceal his sympathy with the revo-
luton. All agreed that 1t would be revived. but
not until the army is In sympathy with it can
success. be looked for. At present the peasants
sons. who comprise majority of the army, live
so much better than they did at home that they
mostly satisfied with the government"
Mr.. Foster said that a result of the concen-
tration of effort by the government to suppress
political crimes, the anarchists had practically OBJ
tanned control of many parts of the Cars empire,
especially in the south Blackmail was their COM
mon practice. The revolutionists have condemned
their course, but blackmail hourishes just the
The head a leading firm Of importers.
with which friend of Mr.. Foster is connected,
received the following letter from the anarchists:
Parasite! We demand of you 5000 rubles to
support the of anarchy. The Anarchist So
cialistic Committee"
Mr.. Foster said that although two patrolmen
employed to guard the cashbox were there no at
tempt was made TO arrest the messenger. The
merchant asked the messenger what the principles
of anarchy were, and received book by Prince
Krapotkn. After negotiations settlement was
made for 1000 rubes, in monthly payments, for
each of which receipt given. Mr.. Foster
said that this only incident out of many
brought to his attention.
"AT the banks in a city which has a population
of nearly two hundred thousand inhabitants" said
Mr.. Foster, ARE garrisoned by soldiers and have
special calls by which regiment be sum-
moned from the nearest barracks in case of an
attack. Deposits carried through the street
with several guards Those who cash checks alone
often robbed in front of the banks The rail-
way stations protected by the army. A
soldier with loaded rife and fixed bayonet stands
outside the window of each ticket office, and the
conductor collects the tickets, accompanied by a
corporaTs guard.
"1 stopped in the street by armed SOL
der, who ordered me to throw back the top OF my
carriage, which I had closed. since the secluson
afforded opportunity to throw a bomb Two
not allowed the drivers box.
I'm Baku, which believe exports moro oil than
any place outside of Pennsylvania neither life nor
property is safe at any time. Men shot by day
well by night because they refuse to pay
blackmail and for private grievances even in the
public concert garden Those who present turn
their away for fear lest, should they testify
the subject. their lives would be forfeited.
In the same town Mr. Foster said that Ar
menian woman killed by the Armenian cam
paign committee because her morals were sup
posed to bring dscredit upon her religion. When
number of ship owners on the Caspian Sea
formed pool, agreeing to divide the freight among
themselves a Persian, who was left out of the
combination, word that If he not admit
ted to the pool he would have the ship owners in
it killed. He admitted.
When judge the request OF the heirs of
estate, began to investigate charge of an en-
bezzlement of 100000 by the former secretary
of the dead man the secretary employed man
to kill the Judge and 1t done. AS 1t not
political crime the secretary sent to 81
IBERIA.
Mr. Foster mentions the killing the American
Consul at Batoum in the country where Jason
found the Golden Fleece and said that the head
of last English speaking person before himself
who visited Lenkoran Caspian seaport, was cut
off for some unknown reason. Rumanian who
arrived on train at Baku following the taken
by Mr. Foster robbed of his money and bag
gage within few rods of the station. When he
complained to the Mayor he was told that people
who come to Russia must look out for them
selves