Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-19
.GORKY HEADS MOVEMENT
TO CURE RUss|A's EVILS
TO Work for Reconstruction OF AZ.
fairs on Basis Of Universal Ap.
plicatiOn of Science to Life.
DISTINGUISHED MEN WITH HIM
First Cause for Nations SufYerings,
He Claims, Is Its Painful Back
wardncss In Scientific and Techni.
cal Equipment.

PETROGRAD. juno IT (vla London,
June 1Sl.-Maxim Gorky, the author.
is taking the lead in a widespread
movement for political and economic
reconstruction of Russian affairs on
the basis OF universal application of
science to political life. NJ. Gorky. I'm
collaboration with other distinguished
writer's and men of science. Is starting
The Free Association for Development
and Dissemination Of tho Positive
Sciences"
Since the revolution. NJ. Gorky has
been participating actively in politics
as tho founler and editor OF the ex-
treme democratic newspaper. New Life
AS result of severe work and over
strain. he had return OF his old lung
complaint in April. but has recovered
The correspondent to-day interviewed
tho famous writer. who began with
the announcement that he was aban-
doning politics. and in future would
devote himself to cultural and artistic
questions
The reason Is" he proceeded, that
have formed the conclusion that the
evils from which Russia Is suffering
have their first cause our painful
backwardness in scientific and tech
traced the present political instability
OF which you hear 30 much. In re-
gard to politics. will merely deny
tho stories circulated abroad that
am an adherent OF the faction which
desires peace. even at the price of
Russia's destruction. I am accused of
being one OF the 'porazhenets.' a new
term OF derision applied to that fac
tion My position merely is that
condemn NIL wars. and expect the
present will be ended by the combined
action Of the worlds democracies
las regards our Internal condition,
| advise you not to believe the talk
about anarchy too readily. Undoubted-
~. anarchy exists temporarily, but its
seeds existed long before the revoIu-
ton. The fact is that under the con-
ditions of the old regime OF despotism,
arbitrarincss, cruelty and falsehood.
Russians could not develop sense OF
order and justice.
To-day many are disillusioned.
am beginning even 20 receive letters
proc!aiming that the revolution is ruin
ing Russia. This Qucrulousness 10 a
natural product of our national PASS
ivity. and is equivalent to crying fire
withou: summoning tho fire brigade.
We must have a positive and construc-
tive scher,c for curing our UNDER
lying ills
Through lack OF science half our
peasant children die before reaching
the age OF five. From the same cause
nearly al the peasant women suffer
from womcn's complaints. Moujiks
cultivate the land so badly that tho
average yield Is less than onc-fourth
the yield obtained in England or Bel
GUM. Conditions in our cities arc
JI-
where. Our town soil is poisoned.
We are chokcd with smoke and dust
Town children are rickcty nervous
wrecks. Against such evils we need
not sterile dreams. but science, tech
nique. machines. efficiently developed
industry.
SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS
MUST BE CREATED
ITO assist in bringing this about
there should at once be created scien-
tifc institutions; for instance, in
stitutcs OF applied mechanics. chem
istry and biology. and the whole series
OF meteorological. hyEicnic and gem
erai medical institutions. II thereby
we cleanse Russia physically and in
tcllcctually our anarchy will cease.
Those are the ideas underlying my
new movement ideas which led to tho
foundation OF The Free Association
for Development and Dissemination OF
the Positive Sciences. The associa-
ton will widen existing achievements
OF scholars in all that concerns man
and society. concentrating first OF all
on alienation for tho struggle for
bread. and lighting t:,e morbid phe-
nomena which undermine our social
life. We are determined not to rest
until we have created pan-scientific
institution which has no parallel any
where in the world.
Il have admirable collaborators al
ready. and intend to appeal to all
classes of workers. manufacturers and
professions to assist and to provide
tho vast sums which are necessary.
Soon anarchy will be uprooted by
order. Believe me. Russia is not lost.
believe firmly in our nations gen.
uine aspirations to higher civilization.
consider our present troubles tran
STORY and easily durable by means OF
the steady and fervent application OF
the two supreme NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
edge and work."