Greenwood daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1919-1926, 1919-12-18
GOT EDUCATION
IN RADICALISM
From Books Obtained At New York
Public Library, Says Self-Con-
fessed SchoolbOy Anarchist
Associated Press

IeSSeO ScnOOiDOy Anarchist
Associated Press
NEW YORK, Dec 18-Thomas Buh-
kanob, the 17-year-old selfconfessed
schoolboy anarchist now on Ellis Is
land awaiting deportation to Russia
as a dangerous alien, who says he
obtained his Education" in radicalism
from books obtained at the New York
Public Library, in an interview with
representative of The Associated
Press, indicated that a real menace
to American institutions rests upon
many a free book shelf.
"Some rich men have unwilling
ly aided the spread of revolutionary
doctrines, he said, referring to the
millions invested in libraries all over
the English-speaking world. II had no
trouble in obtaining the radical books
l desired, printed in Russian, from the
96th street and Lexington avenue
branch of the New York Public Lib
rary."
The youth who, shortly after grad
uating from New York public school,
became the secretary of the Union of
Russia Workers Local, an anarchist
organization in Brooklyn with men,
bership of $50, discussed with perfect
frankness the causes which had led
him to his impending Punishment
from the United States. The first
step, he said, had been socialism, a
theory favored by some of the teach
ers in his school. 1t was not radical
enough, he said, and so he took up an
archy.
Buhkanob would prove a study for
the psychologist. He is more than or
dinarily intelligent and quick-witted.
A pair Of light blue eyes peer from
beneath shock Of very light brown
hair and when he smiles he shows a
fine set of well-kept teeth. Well-dress-
ed and supplied with, an abundance of
cigarettes he expressed contentment
with his lot and hoped he would soon
be sent to Kronstad or Mini i-Novgo-
rod, in Russia, where, he said, there
were anarchistic communes. The nec-
essity of leaving his mother and two
sisters, one of whom is student in a
Brooklyn high school, and none OF
whom share his views, caused him
few regrets, he said, because lone
must be willing to sacrifice himself
for q cause"
The prisoner came to the United
States from Volhynia, in the Ukraine
or Little Russia, with his mother In
1912 when ten years old. His father
a Russian mujik, is dead. For fivs!
years he attended New YUtn
school, graduating in 1917. He hal
been taught the usual branches in
cluding a knowledge of the Unitet
States constitution. He said he hat
no use for governments of any KIM
because they were all dishonest
Upon leaving school Buhkanob oh
tanned employment at what he sal
was fair wages. His home life, he de
clared, was happy.
II was working in machine shol
for $21.6O q week and would have re
ceived a good raise" said Buhkano
laughlingly as he discussed his plight
The boys manner was earnest, almos
eager, to answer questions. His par
ents, he said, had been members Q
the Greek Catholic church but he ha
never been very religious. He coul
not understand, he said, if there wa
a God why there was so much evil i
the world.
81 slept last night" he went OF
with lot of murderers and robbel
but am able to take care of myself.
Here Buhkanob recounted with som
evidence of pride an experience h
had had when he was chief moniter
school. Five or six boys attacked hin
81 knocked out two of them, h
chuckled 'andthe others beat it."
Buhkanob said a few of the boy
and girls in school entertained tt
views he did. Most Of them preferre
co spend their leisure time at the mi
vies. He liked to read history, phil
sophy, sociology and economics.
my first book of this kind WI
one by Tolstoy, mild, good man, b
a dreamer, he offered no solution e.
cept Christianity and that I do not a
cept- Then / read, at other times, kr
potkin's Bread and Freedom Bal
unin's God and the State, Novimi