Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-08
RUSSIAN PROVINCE
REEVES SERFD0M
Governor Issues Order Intended
to Overcome Scarcity
of Labor.
REACTION is IN FULL SWING
Many Organizations Formed to
Fight Present Inflated
Food Prices.

PETROGRAD. October 7.-Russian
provincial Governors exercise almost
dictatorial power. Recently one was
prosecuted for exling to Siberia n Jew
to the Governor. But the Duma had
to Intervene to accomplish this.
This incident does not stand alone,
for the Governor of the Province Of
kaluGa. Chenikaeff, did not hesitate. in
order to overcome the scarcity of labor
for tillinE the land and gathering in
tho harvest, TO rcintroduce scrfdom.
which was abolished In Russia in 1861.
His order is characteristic of the law
lessncss which, even at this time,
rcigns supreme outside Petrograd and
Moscow. The order was as follows:
Farm laborers and other persons of
both sexes between the ages Of ffteen
and nifty. free on tho day Of publication
or this order from employment and he
longing to the peasant class. are hereby
ordered to report themselves immedi-
ately, and those who own land after
having gathered their harvest. for en-
ployment for agricultural work By the
landowners residing within the boun-
diaries OF the Province of Kaluya, as
we'll as TO tenants of estates etc who
arc in need of labor for gathering in
wheat and hay; wages to be fixed by
local borough councils. according to
the conditions prevalent in the local
1tE. All orders of municipal and police
authorities concerning reporting for
work must be obeyed unfiinchinrly No
one has tho right to excuse himself
by doing any other than agricultural
work. Persons no; complying with this
order either will be fined or arrestel'
Thus reaction is even now in full
J swing. 1t is true that the new Min
lister OF the Interior. Khvostoff. has
introduced a proposal for the abolition
OF exile TO Siberia. He even Went so
far as to liberate on his own authority
about 12o political exilcs. But this was
intended for the consumption of the
new allies OF Russia in Western Eu-
) rope.
GLOWING CONSCIOUSNESS
on THE PART OF PEOPLE
However dark the future may APP
pear. II. nevertheless, has it's bright
side. There is an evcr-growinG con-
/ seriousness on the part of the people.
and. practically abandoned to their
F! own resources. public bodies. munich
palities and peasants are organizing
themselves. Two hundred and six town
councils have established various kinds
OF organizations for the purpose Of
I lighting the inflated food prices and re-
lieving those who are suffering most.
y great number OF Town and
/ Borough Councils have introduced the
! card system. which not only tends 10
( regulate consumption, but to introduce
I the democratic principle OF equality
among the different classes Of the com
munity. Up TO tho present time there
/ are about 100 towns which have
adopted this system.
/ Nor has the initiative OF Town and
/ Borough Councils stopped at this.
Many are more or less successfully
making attempts to monopolizc. under
municipal control. the distribution of
/ food and other comm odities. In Pctro-
| grad, Moscow and number of other
I towns municipal shops have been
/ opened which buy goods directly from
/ the producers and sell at nominal
! profit. This branch OF municipal ac-
/ tivity grows every day. Many have
! gone so far as to establish their own
| farms. keep their own COWS. and. in
! that way, have become producers and
! distributors of their own produce.
/ The last few months also have wit
/ messed tremendous growth in CO.
| operation. 1t goes without saying that
| such activities have not been regarded
! favorably by all those who speculate in
! food or by the government, which
! loathes organization and self-hclp in
any form. Under the prctcXt that
| municipal buyers interfere with army
! buyers. the government has prohibited
many municipalities from buying the
cheapest food. For instance Pctro-
/, grad bought cattle in Siberia and
| Mongolia and now is prohibited from
continuing to buy in these provinces.