Imperial Valley press., 1914-10-19
RUSSIA'S GREAT REVOLUTION
A MOST STARTLING FACT
lBy L. M. Holtl

History seems to record the fact
that all great wars are followed, not
only by great prosperity, but also
by great peaceable revolutions which
place the human family on solid
ground many steps to the front. The
abolition Of slavery and the rapid
development of the business interests
Of the United States after the Civil
war illustrate these points.
A few weeks since the civilized
world was startled by the news that
rearly the whole of Europe had been
suddenly plunged into war, the mag
nitude of which had never before
teen known. This war movement had
followed closely upon the heels of
peace movements that had been in
augurated by the leading nations of
both Europe and America. 1t was
generally believed here in America
that this war was the direct result
Of militarism in Europe that had been
built up the crowned heads of the
Old World, and that war of such
magnitude must result in great
changes, not only in the map of Eu~
rope, but it must result also in a
great change Of the character Of the
governing powers Of the remodeled
nations, and that royalty would not
only have to take back seat, but
that the great standing armies of the
world would have to be abolished, or
at least radically modified. Public
sentiment appears to point out the
fact that the civilized world will never
again permit such slaughter of hu
man beings.
But there appears to be also an
other revolution which may prove to
be more powerful and more radical
than the destruction of the standing
armies, and this revolution comes
from source least expected.
Russia has always been recognized
as the great half-civilized nation Of
Europe and Asia. It has a popula-
tion of 2OO,OOO,OOO and is able to
raise an army of 100000 or 8,O0O,-
900 of fighting men, and, while this
army is not as active or as we'll drilled
as the armies Of other more civilized
nations, still its magnitude presents
q power that must be recognized.
All Of sudden the Gear of all the
Russias issues an order abolishing the
manufacture and sale of all intoxicat-
ing liquors throughout the Russian
empire. This is the greatest edict
ever issued by any nation, affecting
more people than even the Emanci-
pation Proclamation issued by the i'm
mortal Lincoln. At first the edic,
seeerned to have been issued as wal
measure, to last only until peace
should have been restored. After {
few weeks trial a second order ap
vars to have been issued, which i:
sent to the world by telegraph, ant
the story is thus told by the Interna
ltional News Service dispatch:
| "Petrograd, via London, Sept. 30
Minister Of Finance P. Bark received
today an order to the effect that th,
prohibition of the sale Of vodka shal
be continued indefinitely after the enc
Of the war. This order is based prin
cipally on the tremendously improved
conditions of the country since tn,
emperor issued the edict prohibiting
traffic in this liquor.
| "Visitors arriving from southern
Russia say there is such change
in the region that the country is hard
ly recognizable. Peasants who befor,
the war had fallen into hopeless in
ldolence and depravity already hav.
merged into self respecting citizens
The effect on the character is ALREADY
visible in neatly brushed clothes in
stead of the former ragged and SLOW
emily attire. Huts which formerly wer
dilapidated and allowed to go with
cut repairs are now kept in first clas
condition.
"The towns have become more or
Gerly and the peasants indulge II
more wholesome amusements. Thesi
people now save 55 per cent of thei
earnings, which formerly were spen
for drink, and they have increased
their earning capacity through sobri
city. This extra money is now devot
ed to the necessities and comforts O.
life.
| "This startling Regeneration of tn,
peasantry, in the opinion of the Rus
sian authorities, is likely to have a,
important effect on the social ant
economic conditions of all Russia"
Vote California Dry
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