The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-06-23
MANY HARD
PROBLEMS
IN RUSSIA
People Over There Talk
Much and Vote Often
These Days
IS A TOPSY-TURYEY LAND
Expected That Common People Will
Be On Top in New Republic
When Final Settlement Comes
By WILLIAM G. SHEPHERD.

BY WILLIAM G. SHEPHERD.
PETROGRAD- Every theory, every
belief, every schism of sociology, ev-
cry injustice, every problem of poverty
and of affluence and of labor-is being
voted on in Russia to-day.
Meetings by the thousands are be-
ing held The Russian people are di-
viding themselves along the lines OF
professions and occupations and in the
meetings the smallest problems are
brought up. In a meeting of wash
women in Petrograd the other day, for
instance, the women went so far as to
discuss their social standing.
Want Eight Hour Day.
I'VE want an eight hour day." de-
clared one washwoman, 1--WE want to
have time every day to visit our
friends and enjoy life
@'No! MOI" declared the next speak
er. "What we want is more work.
want to get all the work I can do
and work as long as please. l have
no friends to visit"
.eThat woman is wrong" declared a
third, eff we haven't got any friends
to visit, it's because we've never had
time to>make friends as other people
do. What we need is more friends
and more time to enjoy them"
Free Speech for All.
Utter and absolute free speech ex-
lists; only this could make possible
the infinity of the. number OF matters
that are being discussed by the people
If seething Russia. Folks are free to
.alk against each other. Only yes
,erday, for instance the soldiers of the
18th army at the front decided that the
ear was not being guarded with suf-
'iicent care in his palace. They pass
I'd a resolution to that effect and the
resolution reached Minister of War
<erensky.
Wine From Ex-CZar.
"The ex-Czar is giving liquor to the
oldiers who are guarding him." was
me of the charges.
Kerensky went to Tsarko Selo to
ook into the matter. He found that, |
.ccording to long established Gus
ON at the palace, the guards were be-
ng given a bottle of wine every day
Ie laid the matter before the troops
.uarding the palace.
eyes," they replied. eve receive |
bottle Of wine evrey day from the
zar's cellars. We are only follow
ng an ancient custom-but if we are |
eing criticized for it by the soldiers
f the 18th army, we will discontinue
he practice"
Wherefore, in solemn assembly, they
oted to abolish pleasant and there
ore somewhat lingering custom OF
sarkoe Selo.
Vote at Drop of the Hat
People in Russia vote at the drop
E the hat-on any subject.
The third impression I received as
n American, was a sense of bewild-
at the problem of getting all
lis voting translated into laws.
The voting is not vague and unsys-
matic. Spontaneously system has
rown up out of the old organizations,1
hereby national organizations of all
,rts are developing.
A few washerwomen, for instance,
a few farmers, in some extremely
mote district hold meeting and
ect a delegate to meeting of wash
women or farmers in some nearby
wn. This larger meeting, in turn,
ects a delegate to a convention IN
still larger center and finally dele
ties are chosen to represent still
rger district in the main organlza-
IN which is being formed here at the :
pital. There is a bewildering num-
r of such organizations, with an un-
untable number Of repetitions.
Have Repeaters Too.
A man, for instance, may be mem
r of a soldiers organization; he may :
20 belong to an organization Of his :
aft and, in addition, he may vote in I
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