Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-06-16

two years reading Russian litera-
ture and getting information from
students OF the higher classics. He
read the books that were under the
ban OF the Russian government 50
lar as the peasantry was concerned
such works as those OF Dostoezski,
Turgenev and Tolstoi. He met all
sorts OF people from then on. in
his wanderings, who gave him, from
time to time. real ideas as TO the
cause OF the condition OF the mou-
jiks-why they persisted in sense
less uprisings why they murdered
Jews. He realized by that time that
the Russian moujik, or peasant far
mer, Is a man with a great intellect,
but that the imperial government
never gave him the opportunity Of
using it-that 1t was not the policy
Of the government 10 let the people
know how, they were being robbed.
Then Rortin became q revolution
airy leader. lie states that he has
seen sights that would make men
want to tear people limb from limb
make them want to overthrow any
government on earth. lie says. how
ever. the leadess Of Russian reyolu-
tons are not men Of the peasantry,
but those among the better educated
lasscs-doctors, lawyers, students OF
all kinds who have had the oppor-
tunity 10 learn and know absolutely
that the average Russian is Ike i
big horse. intelligent. quick to learn
and willlng-but that because of his
having been denied the opportunity
of education, Is easily swayed by the
emotions and can he lead by anyone
with the power 10 impress them.
Came 10 United States.
At the age Of 10 Bortin, realizing
that II he was to get out of serving
the then legal reqlrcment of three
years and eight months in the army,
he must present credentials show
ing high school degrees, managed
to procure them, and got off with a
service Of one year and eight
months. He had inherited a little
money from an aunt and went to
Switzerland after his military scrv-
ice. lie did not like Switzerland so
he went to Berlin, where he lived
eight months. Here II was impossi-
bic for him To make living, for he
was under the stigma Of his nation
llity. He then, in 1908, spent his |
last money fJr steamship ticket to |
Philadelphia, where he had n cousin !
living at tho time, Germans hunt |
revolutionary leaders, he says, and |
that was one reason why he left GER
many.
In Position 10 Know.
That the people OF the United |
states do not realize the extent to
which Russia depends on our armies |
to protect them from the gravest
dangers that ever beset the nation, is .
his assertion. A Jew. member of
.he race that is despised in Russia,
ouffeted from pillar TO post, Bortin
S in position to tell OF the reasons !,
IF the Russian uprisings and Jewish T
These troubles he blames entirely
IN the Russian system OF govern
nent--the system that decrces that
lone but certain of the elect shall be
allowed to read or write. A people
powerful in intellect and with great
,Rpacity for mental activity, Mr..
3ortin describes the Russian mouiik,
'r peasant farmer, as a man who.
through ignorance has debased him
elf to the level Of the beast.
Moujik Likes Vodka.
Through the governmental system
" allowing none hut some OF the
,leCt to even own land, the mOuiik /
S, for the most part, but a tenant
armer, and at best owns ranch" /
II possibly forty acres, from which |
le manages In some wise To scratch |
| living for his family. The big land
'wner is known as a pomiezchick. |
The Russian government has been |
Exceedingly generous IN allowing
he peopleoa great quantity of what
3ortin calls the Russian national dis
ase--vodka When the peasant
ONES to town, sells his produce and
'ets the money he makes for a
lace to buy vodka. Then he calls
lis family about him and all hands
roceed to get filled up on It. II is
lis only amusement The trouble
eelns. If there are any Jews in
own, usually they are the scape-
oats. Why?
The reason is simply this: The
have been taught to be-
.eve that Jews are robhing them.
'gitators, presumably sent out by
he government tell them SO, and
hey have no opportunity to learn
therwlse. jews are not allowed 10 {
wn land in Russia and they have to !
c merchants IN order to make
wing. s
Results OF Ignorancca {
Bortin SAYS he has seen''hnassacres
V half drunken mouiiks that WOuld | \