The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-09-08
ROOT MISSION
GIVEN OVATION
BY SIBERIANS
Crowds Gather In Villages
To Greet American En-
vOys To Republic.

WERCHNE.UDINSK, Siberia, Sept
s-(Correspondence Of The Associat
ed Press)-A thousand Russians
crowded the railway station platform
and cheered for America as the Root
Diplomatic CommisSion's special train
stopped at this interesting frontier
town to change engines. This point
Is the end of the Caravan trail from
China, across Mongolia to the Trans
Siberia railway.
The cosmopolitan character of its
population could be distinguished by
a glance at the shouting crowd. Chin
ese and Mongolians, wearing their pic
turesque robes, stood beside the Rus
SLAMS clad in blouses of all colors.
Peasants and patricians, soldiers and
civilians, humble women wearing
shawls over their heads and well-dress-
ed women with fashionable hats, join
ed in the cheers for the American par
ty.
Official Explains Party.
Such insistent demands were made
for information about the commission
that Mr.. Gorbotenko. the official des-
ignated by the Russian Railway Ad-
ministration to conduct the American
Commission, made brief address in
which he explained who the members
OF the party were and the reason for
their appointment by President Will
son to confer with the Russian govern
ment
This did not satisfy the insistent
crowd. Speeches were demanded from
the Americans. Mr.. Root responded
in a short address, thanking the
crowd for the reception and express
sion of good will toward America. He
said the commission brought mes
sage of sympathy, hope and courage
from the American people to the Rus
sian people and that the great Ameri-
can democracy sympathized with the
Russian democracy and was determin-
ed to do everything in it's power to CO.
operate with Russia in the great bat
tie against tyranny.
America" and democracy" are
much the same in Russian that they
are in English. Consequently the Rus
SLAMS caught those words and applaud
ed enthusiastically before the inter-
prefer translated the remarks of Mr..
Root. Hats and caps bearing the red
insignia of the Revolution were waved
frapticauy and thrown into the air as
the special moved out of the the sta
ton with Mr.. Root, General Scott, and
the other members of the party wav-
ing farewell to the crowd.
Other Demonstrations.
Similar demonstrations were held at
Petrofeki. Zavod, Mogzon and several
other larger stations, and small groups
were gathered at less important towns
eager for glimpse Of the American
Before the Revolution the police in
Siberian towns forbade all gatherings.
the public is now max.
ing the most of its freedom. Peasants
who cannot read and have been in al
most total ignorance of the political
and military situation now gather
about members of citizens and SOL
diers' committees who read the latest
and discuss the news for
the benefit of the uneducated and un.
informed. Red flags float from the
stations and public buildings
Of all the Siberian towns. Members of
the committees in control of the towns
all wear red bands upon their arms.
Soldiers no longer salute their Off
GERS. The military organizations are
now controlled by soldiers committees
which have charge of dicipline. At
first many of these committees were
lax. But the necessity for
discipline soon became apparent and
conditions are speedily improving.
Since the militia in Siberia has been
freed of officers whose loyalty to the
movement was in ques.
lion more and more confidence is be-
ing placed in the officers, and the SOL
iiers are realizing that democracy
cannot succeed without discipline and
authority.