The Washington herald., 1918-01-28

can politicians from time 70 tim.
and which have formed issues in
Presidential campaigns.
The confscation CT property 10
new to the Russian democracy. but
its advocacy has not been new 70 the
democracy of America. We should
remember those things when we are
hastily condemning the struggiing
people OF Russia who are trying 10
adopt Socialism as the basis OF their
government.
Russia with more untitled land than
the area Of the United States. hes
millions and millions of people who
desire little farm. There is enough
land to supply a largo portion Of the
Inhabitants OF the globe with far-ma
] think IL will be found that the pro-
gram OF the Russian democracy 10
completed whether that be the pro-
gram OF the present government or
the program OF the government which
will succeed the present government
When the lands OF the Cxar and the
grand dukes and the court fsvorites.
as well as the vast landholdings OF
the church. have been taken by the
State, and either leased or otherwise
disposed OF TO the soldiers and peas
ants OF Russia. then general order
and contentment will come IN the
country and the agricultural develop
ment OF the country will begin 20 70
forward.
Il suppose this win be termed
'conhscation.' and yet not 20 divide
this idle land which should be un-
der cultivation for the beneft OF
mankind, among the Russian people.
would really be n recognition OF the
divine right in land by the Czsr.
The divine right of kings and czars
and the divine right in land has
gone in Russia never 20 return.
Il would like TO say a word a. TO
the way in which industries have
been carried on since the revoiu-
tion. There Of course has been the
greatestN confusion in the factories
where the workingmen have organ
lied committees and have insisted
in having a voice in the operation
OF the establishments. There has
been great confusion in the trans
portation because the rolling stock
of the Russian railroads under wear
and tesr has very rapidly depregi-
ated, and there has been very small
opportunity to restore or replenish.
but the railroads have been run
ming after some sort OF a fashion,
and there has never been a break
down in Russian transportation such
as this country was threatened with
a short time ago owing to the Un-
precedented conditions.
Transport CopsItions-
'T have just received a telegram
that twenty-one Ss=sl1ses Of supplies
had been take J4rona Pttrograd to
IN IL. = s@H#
days This shipment " Authorized
by and conducted un6c- tlH DT-tsotion
OF the Bolshevik govern
THE railroads emp - ErEa e
had their full pay for '7- fT.r. end
are suffering from lack q aCu.s sE1
while they have threatened t. IKE.
they have stuck manfully or .aslr
posts. II they had followed the -rrrs
ican example. every engineer in Lus-
sia from the Baltic to the Pa ~
would have left his engine on the D o.
OF last August when the government.
told them that il was impossible to in
crease their wages. This Is one OF
the things that should be remembered
when the worllingmen OF Russia are
being condemned in such wholesale
manner in America
"Of course. there has been great
Generalization in industries: OF
course. there has been great demoral-
ization in the army: Of course, there
has been a universal cry for peace
from a despairing and weary people:
and yet somehow the country has
gone along with little spurts OF civil
war here and there. with the prospect
OF getting th~ land before their eyes
and always yearning for peace.
Few people have gone hungry in
Russia, but the country has gradually
! been using up its resources. One OF
the, great cries in Russia Is for boots
and shoes. should say that 80. .OoO. GO
people will be without shoes before
! the spring. Even last autumn SOL
diers without shoes, but with straw
wrapped around their feet. were in
the trenches on the Eastern front"
You have Just spoken OF the sgri-
| cultural resources of Russia which
are not now utilized, Have you any
observations 10 make about the re-
! sources Of the country as a means ot
/ paving Russis's debt.
The resources OF Russia are sut-
| ficient, in my opinion, II properly de-
veloped and managed, to pay the war
debts OF the world.
Russia is about forty times the
size of Hrance or Germany and more
than two and one-haH times the size
/ Of the United States. 1t has 90. .OOo 90
acres Of land that can be cultivated.
but only 240.0oO.O0o acres are being
cultivated. Much OF this is state and
church land. The forests OF Russia
cover 4So. 100000 acres and S. per cent
Of this belongs to the state.
ssFTSkara Sc -
| capital more than Russia after the
war. There is no country that pre-
sents such possibilities for profitable
development. In the United States the
last Of the public land is gone. In
Russia the distribution Is just begin
ming"
Our Duty In Russia.
What is our duty TO Russia? Col.
J Thompson was asked.
"Our first duty is to aid Russia. and
our second duty is to aid Germany by
| telling the German people what the
American nation stands for in this
war. am not sure but what the Ger
man people are receiving more aid and
the German autocracy more hindrHnce
from the Bolsheviki than from any
other influence now at work In the
world.
THE Bolsheviki are letting the Ger
man people know that this is not a
war against the German people, but
against the German autocracy. The
idea that democracy is in the ascen-
sncy in the world is getting deeper
into Germany through the Bolshevikt
than In any other way. This idea is
being instilled into the minds Of the
German soldiers and in the hearts of
the German people with whom. as
President Wilson said, we have no
quarrel. So 1t may be that through
liz. L...si..... q. ILL.,.