The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-12-18
But Librarian Says Books
He Mentions Are Not
on Shelves.
IS Remarkable YOUTH.
Good Boy in School He is
Now Opposed to
Authority.

NEW YORK, Dec. is = Thomas
Duhkanob, the 17-year- old self-con-
fessed school boy anarchist now on
Ellis Island awaiting deportation TO
Russia as a dangerous alien, who says
he obtained his education" IN radi-
cal!sm from books obtained at the
New York Public Library in an in
terwew with a representative OF Tho
Associated Press, indicated that a real
menace to American Institutions rests
upon many free bookshelf
Some rich men have unwitttngly
aidsd 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 desired, printed In Russian,
from the 96th street and Lexington
avenue branch Of the New York Pub
lie Library"
atIng from New York public school.
became the secretary Of the Union OF
Russia Workers Local, an anarchist
organization in Brooklyn with mem.
bership of $50, discussed with perfect
frankness the causes which had led
him to his impending banishment from
the United States. The first step, he
said, had been socialism, theory Ia
vored by some Of the teachers IN MS
school. 1t was not radical enough, he
said, and so he took up anarchy,
Buhkanob would prove study Tor
the psychologist. He Is more than
ordinarily intelligent and quick-wit-
ted, A pair Of light blue eyes peer
from beneath shock OF very light
brown hair and when he smiles he
shows fine set Of well-kept teeth
Well-dressed and supplied with an
abundance Of cigarettes he expressed
contentment with his lot and hoped
he would soon be sent to Kronstead or
Mimi Nopgorod, in Russia where, he
said. there we're anarchistic COM
munes. The necessity OF leaving his
mother and two sisters, one OF whom
is a student in Brooklyn high school,
and none Of whom share his views,
caused him few regrets, he said, be-
cause zone must be willing to sacri-
flee himself for a 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 mujlk, is dead. For five
years he attended a New York public
school, graduating in 1917. He had
been taught the usual branches IN.
GLIDING knowledge Of the United
States constitution. He said he had
no use for governments OF any kind
because they were all dishonest"
Upon leaving school Buhkanob obtain
ed employment at what he said was
fair wages. His home life, he de-
clared, was happy.
/ II was working in a machine shop
for $21.60 q week and would have re-
ceIved a good raise" said Buhkanob
laughingly as he discussed his plight
The boys manner was earnest, al
most eager, to answer questions. HIS
parents, he said, had been members
Of the Greek Catholic church but he
had never been very religious. He
could not understand, he said, If there
was GOu WHY Lu64S WOO ~ AANSA wa
in the world.
ii slept last. night" he went on,
with lot of murderers and robbers
but am able to take care Of myself"
Here BuhkanOb recounted with some
evidence of pride an experience he
had had when he was chief monitor In
school. Five or six boys attacked
him. 81 knocked out two Of them" he
chuckIed and the others beat It."
Buhkanob said few Of the boys and
girls in school entertained the views
he did. Most of them preferred to
spend their leisure time at the NOV
les. He liked to read history, phil
osophy, sociology and economics.
my fift book of this kind was one