The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-04-26
ROOT HEADS
WAR MISSION
TO RUSSIANS
President Wilson to Send Former
Secretary of State to Assist
New Government
COMMISSION COMPOSED OF
TWO OR THREE MEMBERS
These Men Will Assist in Estblish-
ing a Stable Regime in
Slav Empire

Washington. April 2G. EIihu Root
former Secretary of State, after con-
ferences today with President Wilson
ana Secretary Lansing, formally ac-
cepted the chuirmanship of the Ameri-
can Commission to Russia.
Mr.. Root spent an hour with the
President at the White House discuss
ing the Russian situation. The pre-
sident outlined fully what he desired
to accomplish.
Needs Of Russia.
The Commission will be composed of
three or four principal members and
Il staff Of secretaries and assistants.
1t is expected to leave for Russia with
in II few days.
The needs of Russia as outlined to
President Wilson are for, political
financial, transportatiOnal and COM
mercial advice and assistance.
Reaches Rural Districts.
Dispatches from Petr0grad report
that the revolutionary spirit is mani
Testing itself in the rural districts of
Russia, bringing the long standing
agrarian troubles to head NOtwith.
standing the organization of food com.
mittees which are doing their best to
| make the peasants understand that
the land question cannot be wisely
settled until the constituent assembly
is elected the peasants are inclined to
take the matter into their own hands
Soldiers visiting their rural homes,
with or without leave spread the news
Of the revolution and led the peasants
against landowners. This is chiefly
the case in the Saratov government
where the people are often inclined to
he turbulent. The peasants here, .af.
ter passing resolutions of contscatiOn,
have proceeded to take possession of
the lands and drive the land owners
away.
Lack Of Seed.
The peasants announced that they
will undertake. the spring sowing them
selves. but owing to lack of seed this
is said to be impossible. In cOnsc-
quencc the sowing is likely to be much
delayed and serious shortage of
crops is feared. The authorities are
taking the matter in hand and hope
to prevent such Il misfortune.
! Peasants conferences to which del.
egateS are sent from even the small:
est communities are being organized
in every province Of Russia to discuss
peasant needs. Those already held
have insisted on a proper distribution
of land. One characteristic resolution
demands that all land which private
land owners cannot now SOW must i'm.
lucdiately he surrendered temporarily
! to the peasants. soldiers wives to re-
ceive shares free and others at mod
crate rate, to be fixed by the local au.
thOrity. gfa.4tls .sHl'
Feeling Against Land Owners.
Considerable i'll feeling is shown in
some districts against land owners
BeSsarabiaIli peasants in one instance
sacked country house and estates
belonging to Il rich family. The peas
ants of the Tambov government sur.
rounded the houses of the land owners
and compelled them to sign documents
| SurrendCring their lands. In many
districts the peasants have taken nc
action. waiting for the authorities tO
act. In some parts of Bessarabia the
country people are highly reactionary
and in one district. especially the
Odessa. military authorities have ta.
ken strong measures to suppress a
counter revolutionary movement.