Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-01-20
.|OWAN TELLS Of
RUSSIA DANCER
DEAN RUSSELL, OF s. v, l., RE-
PORTS ON CONDITIONS AS
HE FOUND THEM.
SENT BY GOVERNMENT
TO MAKE SURVEY
5olshevism, Hunger and Ignorance
Must Be Overcome Before Russia
can Re-establish Stable Govern
ment and Become Self -SuPportins-
Party Had Narrow Escapes.
Special 10 Times Republican.

special TO Times Republican,
Iowa City, Jan. 20-Iiaving escaped,
unscathed. from the deadly perils that
environed him, during the heat of the
bolsheviki revolution in Russia, Prof.
W. F. Russell, dean OF the college Of
education at Iowa university, is pre-
pairing TO go 70 Washington, D. c., the
current week, TO report on the things
he saw, and participated in, during
mis- tour Of Russia, as the educational
adviser OF the goNernment's committee
on public Information.
one night, while Dean Russell was
dining with The commander of the
army at TomSk-trapped, as 1t were.
between OmSk, and Chlta 700 people
were slaughtered in the streets OF the
city, whose ;horoughfares were car
peted with lifaless bodies, declared the
Iowa scholar 10 = representative OF the
Times Republican.
Trains, when the Iowa educator
travelled. were attacked again and again
velers were Snatched away. like the
cry from the lips Of Prof. Russell! and
his fellow citizens, "Americano!'
"AmeriCano!" averted disaster and the
sons OF the United States were lett
untouched.
1000 Miles Interior Travel
Dean Russell Travelled 1000 miles IN
the interior Of Russia. He visited Tomsk
Irkutsk and many other cities,
Trains were constantly checked by
the tragedies and tragedies or DOL
shevistic carnage and vandalism
Bridges were down; tunnels blown up;
all conditions were indescribably bad
Trains were compelled TO remain at
cold stations for hours at a time.
Twenty minutes was the shortest stop
From "a to 35 hours was more likely.
l. took fourteen days to travel 1000
miles.
Cars were vile, filthy, horrible Of
scent-radalent Of decay and filth
Seats were built Of TERED planks. three
deep-passengers sitting one above the
other
Dean Russell found few evidences OF
the much-talked Of starvation, but
Injuries were lacking. Tea and sugar
were almost nil, save In certain Sec
tons, and then they were to be pur-
chased at high prices.
Bolshevism, Hunger. Ignorance.
Bolshevism. in darkest Russia ,
Dean Russell believes, can not be cast
out until hunger and ignorance are
SUPPRESSED by full stomachs and devei-
opnent Of intelligence. If ignorance
and lack of proper nourishment con-
tinue throughout the country, oolshev-
ism will wreak havoc long and dis
aSterouSly.
Prof. Russell was sorry to find that
holshevists had destroyed schools and
school systems, but was glad that
teachers were eager to introduce ana
learn more OF American educational
methods. At present. records are de-"
etroyed. books pencils, ink, paper
everything and all things-are gone.
The teaching authorities; the city
and county officials, Gas It were) are
earnest and eager. During two weeks
+ Irkutsk. Prof. Russell sums up the
situation thus: Russia may be saved
as 10 education II we supply her
schools with proper materials, II Rus
sian teachers come O'et iei' w SS
new information as to systems ana
methods. and other international steps
are taken to save the day, by letting
the Russian schools forge ahead. as
Democracy, which has saved them
from autocracy, plans and hopes. Be
fore the revolution, Russia had good
schools, he said. but not enough OF
them. The 5olshevists cut them to
pieces. Now, if healthy growth succeeds
fungus. and if the good ideas OF the
really devoted, loyal, and Woodworking
teachers over there are strengthened
through assimilation Of the better
ideas that America can lmpart; and II
bolshevism-at present o|erpowered IN
many cities-nlay be surpassed, the
Russian schools may reach admirable
heights in the days to come.