The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-02-26


Been Killed-Many Men in Moscow
Executed for Graft.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-Albert Rhys
Williams, the apologist for Bolshevism,
who on Saturday began his narrative in
ment before the Senate committee in
vestigatng Bolshevism, concluded his
story late yesterday.
On Saturday he estimated that the
number of people who have lost their
lives in Russia totaled between April
II, 1917, and June, 1918, not more
than $4,000 persons. Later he said that
the number killed between November,
1917 when the Bolsheviki overthrow
Kerensky, and June of last year totaled
not more than one in a thousand of the
population. He estimated the Russian
population at l50,000,0O0, and this would
Indicate casualty list under the Boil
shevist regime, in the period named, of
about 100000 persons.
Il think" said Mr.. Williams, that
there is a measure of truth in the state
ment that the Russians desire heaven
and are willing to go through hell to
get it."
In answer to a question by Senator
Woleott, Mr.. Williams said he believed
that the other witness, who told of the
horrors they had witnessed, were honor
able men who had gained their impress
sions from contact with the upper and
not the humber elements in Russian
life. He made the claim that in the be-
ginning the Bolsheviki were distinctly
anti-German and were "inclined to be
pro-Ally."
MIR. Williams then told of an cleo
ton, in Nladivostok. which he said was
held during the Allied occupation of
that city and at which the Bolsheviki
polled 10000 votes, which was more
than the total cast for all the other
tickets.
Nov, said Major Humes, don't You
know it to be fact that only small
part Of the Nladiyostok population voted
in that election? You have stated that
under the Bolsheviki everybody fifteen
years and upwards can vote and that
would mean about 10000 votes in Via
divostok. Now ism t that correct2'
1T may be so. However, Carl Ack-
erman has written in The New York
Times that in his opinion all Siberia
thinks Bolshevist. And right here, TO
revert back to European Russia, ] want
to point out that when the Bolsheviki
gained power there were l2,O00,OO0 men
in the Russian army, and these men went
home and fully half of them took their
arms with them. Now, if Russia wants
to overthrow the Soviet government,
why don't these armed men, who other
witnesses say are against the Bolsheviki
take up arms and overthrow it,"
'Of course, you must know" remarked
Senator Wolcott, that arms without
ammunition are useless"
The witness estimated that there were
now about 100000 former residents OF
this country in Russia, and that probably
$4,000 of them held public office of some
sort. Mr.. Williams said that great
many OF these persons had denounced the
United States on their return to Russia
However, he thought they could be made
a link to restore amicable relations be
tween America and the Bolshevik
Senator Wolcott made it plain that ht
was not in favor of such link
In answer to questions regarding graf
in Russia the witness said that his in
formation was that 40 per cent of tn,
men executed in Moscow were forme
officials Of the Bolsheviki who had beef
convicted of taking graft. He heard I
few days ago, he said, that a decree hat
been issued Furnishing by death official
who got drunk. Major Humes asker
him to cite the case of any Bolshevis
officials who had been executed for graft
ing. lie said he knew of commissary
but did not say who he was or where h
was located
In reply to a question as to the sourc
of his income, Mr. Williams said tina
his lecture tours depended entirely upo
private subscriptions. He named tn
Boston Economic club as one of the or
CARNATIONS that had contributed TO hi
lecturing expenses. He also said that a
army officer in Washington gave hin
SO. He said that he had borrowe
when in Russia 5000 rubles from Ray
mond Robins and had received less tina
GOO rubles all told from the Bolshevib
for work he did for them. Since hi
return to this country he had not re
ceived a cent from Russia. He ha
written special articles for The Natiol
The Dial, and other publications.