The Washington herald., 1920-04-26
Men and Business
By RICHARD SPILLANE.

, There is a tendency in Europe
and America to trade with Russia.
But II is difficult. IL not hazardous,
to trade with an immoral organiza-
tion. 1t is question. too, whether
you should trade with an oreaniza-
tion that always has been and is
now an enemy to business and
which has ruined business in its
own country.
The purchaser does not know
when he buys whether he is not
getting stolen goods when he paws
his money. The property the Boz
shevists are most eager to sell at
present Is an example in point. 1t
belongs to the Rumauian govern
ment, but the Soviet. nevertheless,
VIII sell it.
An effort has been made to de-
velop trade through Russian Coop
erative societies. These societies
have strong internal interests, but
were dominated by the BoIshevists
Lenine and Trotsky really are ma
neuvering for recognition through
this channel. They have sent dele
gates-trade delegates-out to treat
with the world. The thing to watch
Is whether this is a step in a gen.
eral transition in Russian affairs or
camouhage that has a knife to be
stuck in the back of the nations.
There has been big talk of the
goods, the raw materials, there are
in Russia. If there are vast guam
titles. the Bolshevists cannot get
them out. They have not the loco
motives and the cars requisite to
large movement of freight and, even
If these could be provided and the
railroad beds repaired. il would re-
quire large credits and the active
cooperation of other governments
to finance the operations. So far,
the allies have refused to do busi-
ness even with the cooperative So
cieties except on a barter basis.
Business or no business, Mr..
Huntington says, Bolshevism. or
rather the BolshevIst government,
cannot last. 1t is destructive Of
values. As a philosophy it is i'm
moral.
Mr.. Huntington advises those
who are considering Russian trade
to look well into the situation.
Look out that you don't get your
fingers burned. There are many
illusory ideas as to the amount of
business to be done. There can be
no great business in a country that
lacks organization. There are goods
in Russia, but to get them to the
ports is q terrific task.
Another thing: Do not imagine
that one Soviet rules Russia. The
t. iHt
tions of sovietism. What Petrograd
orders Moscow may ignore and. in
effect, IL is the same elsewhere. To
a degree, it is each section for it.
self without particular regard for
the other or for all.
The present leaders will pass.
How soon they will be overthrown
remains to be seen. Russian B6I-
shevism, Mr.. Huntington thiaks, is
due to go through many phases,
and it may have long processes. 1t
is not radicalism so much as It is
lack of principle.
The Baltic provinces are the gate
ways to Russia. Mr.. Huntington
says the British are active there
and are earnest in seeking
monopoly of Russian trade. The
British merchants are backed up
by official representatives of their
government. who are working tooth
and nail to aid them. We are doing
little or nothing.
Germany controlled half the trade
of Russia before the war. Now
she is endeayoring to recover her
former grip. She has many ad-
yantages. natural and artificial. One
is that the Red army is manned by
German officers.
The prize Is dazzling. even If 1t
will be a long time in acquiring.
Russia is a consuming market of
200. 10000 persons. Today Ii is
stripped of nearly every kind of
commodity required by man. 1t is
rich in raw material. 1t will be a
tremendous field for investment and
development. -
Such is the view Of a man who
knows Russia as well. perhaps. as
any man in the service of the Unit
ed States government.
Mr.. Huntington has been In touch
with local men of prominence at
the chamber of commerce and the
Corn Exchange Bank, and Is going
to New York to address CONNER
cial men there on the Russian out
look.