Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-01-31
BoURTSEFF'S MISSION.
Aim of Russian ExPoser of Cars
Spies is Peaceful Revolution.

Aim of Russian ExPoser of Cars
Spies is Peaceful Revolution.
Vladimir L. Bourtsef, the cars en-
envy, the noted Russian revolutionist,
who recently arrived in New York and
has been exposing the methods of the
secret police system of the cars gov
eminent, said that he had come to
America to rally Russians here to free
dom's cause.
The man to whom hundreds of Rus
sian spies owe their downfall has moth
ing of the fanatic in his appearance
A pair of mild blue eyes beam kindly
through his spectacles. The frost has
settled in his hair, and the beard that
wreathes his mouth is not at all of the
bristling order. lie bears none of the
earmarks of the sleuth, but looks rath-
or like n harmless student.
81 shall probably be here for a few
months" said Mr.. Bourtseff 'T in
tend to lecture, TO make known to
those who are interested the real con-
ditions in Russia. The government Of
Russia is a crime and an outrage as
it now stands. 1 advocate a repub-
ican form of government or at least a
strongly constitutional monarchy. No
improvement can be looked for under
the present regime"
Through this man, If plans go right.
the American public will learn more
than it has ever known of the real
movement toward Russian political re-
form. He has been for years the edi-
tor of a monthly known as Bloc the
PasO, and of late he has been pub
fishing a weekly known as the Com
mon Cause, designed to rally all the
elements Of monapchical opposition into
on- overpOwering party for the com
mon relief. That is his mission in the
United States. Revolution by peace
able methods is the aim of Mr.. Bourt-
sefT's work
1t was reported by cable that Bourt-
self expected to speak more freely in
America regarding the ear and the
Russian government than he dared
even in Paris. He seemed the other
day to be living up TO that eXpecta-
ton, for he declared that the car was
the worst enemy the Russian people
have.
1.-The car" said he, lis the strongest
opponent in Russia of liberty and jus
tice. The terrible reactionary policies
of the government are not dictated
by his relatives. the grand dukes. but
are the ideas of Nicholas himself. /
have studied his character intimately
for fifteen years and know him not to
be the plastic putty he shows to the
outside world, but the real power on
the throne.
HE is not shielded from knowledge
Of happenings or conditions, as some
suppose. All the massacTes of the
Jews were with his connivance and
by his actual orders. Azef was
friend Of the car. Azef was in the
plots which ended in the deaths of
Won Plehve and the Grand Duke Ser
gius. The czar protected the slayer of
Poloneff. member of the first Russian
douma from Poland. When extradition
of the murderer was asked the car re-
fused.
1.-THE car inspired the torture of
poor Marie Spirindova, who was put
under the care of Abramoff, special
servant of the car, and driven almost
to a maniac's cell by i'll treatment at
his hands He knows everything evil
done in Russia.
81 have evidence that there are hun
dreds in New York active in the serv-
ice of the Russian government and
many within the circles of professed
revolutionists. Five We're on the ship
with me who watched every move
ment. There are Russian spies on
every ship. especially every ship bound
for the United States. paid to watch
and warn"
Mr. Bourtseff makes his home in
Paris and there issues his publications.
Russia has been forbidden ground to
him for many years. He said he ex-
pected to be under the espionage of
the cars agents all the time he was4
in the United States.