The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-12-22

For thousands the railroad provides
the only home. An official may get a
passenger coach or private car for
himself and his family, but the prole-
tariat-men, women and children-are
herded by dozens in ~bOx-cars, anybody
who can crowd in being free to pick
out q corner for a home.
Moving Slowly Toward Russia.
In Chita and Verkhne-Udinsk hun
cooking, eating and living in the open
during the day and at night sleeping or
rough shelves which have been built
into the cars.
Some are on the move, getting near
er soviet Russia whenever a locomo-
tive can be spared 10 pull their trains,
while others have been waiting for
months. Included in this weSt-bOund
tide a year ago were about a hundred
American artisans each month, bound
for soviet Russia-'a country where
men are Free" as they explained.
The military band is an important
factor in Chita's life. 1t precedeS
every company of soldiers, sturdy
young men in unmatched uniforms,
that marches through the streets dur
ing the day. In the evenings its mem
bers play at the two theatcrs and pub
lie gardens.
Chita ever has a circus. 1t is most
~ clowns with racy songs. On pleas
ant evenings the public gardens are
filled, though ) cents admission is
charged. Every seat in the theaterS is
taken. No IN attempts TO explain
how the strangely assorted crowd gets
the price Of admission. The cement
floored, free, outdoor dance pavilion is
crowded also during the warmer
months. Sometimes there is grand
opera and other weeks there is a stock
company or movies.
Among Russians, the paralysis Of the
country and the suffering the people
have experienced in recent years is
blamed on Japan. Much of 1t, how
ever, is n heritage from the revolution,
the overthrow of n deSpotic monarchy
and the launching Of another govern
ment whose principals go to the oppo-
site extreme in radicalism.
That Siberia could not recover as
long as Japan maintained q hostile
army within its territory, and that a
large proportion Of the Japanese mil
itary did not want it 10 recover until
it was annexed, as Korea was, seemed
equally evident.
Why the Republic Was Formed.
Seve.al motives contributed TO the
formation Of the Far Eastern republic
as a constitutional democracy. Soviet
Russia could have prevented, but as
sisted instead. Moscow has been the
only friend Of Chita, aiding it with gold
and soldiers, though extremely limited
in both. However, the two republics
were separate, as any one soon found
out when passing the customs guards,
immigration officers and soldiers on
either side Of the boundaries.
In the first place. the Far Eastern
republic satisfied the wish for a buffer
state between Japan and soviet Rus
sia. Next. the leaders of Moscow
realized that their beautiful theories OF
communism had been an economic
Siberia offered a good field TO try out
the democracy nf America cmbellished
with some OF the latest radical novel
ties.
The third reason, alone sufficient,
was that The Siberian peasant is loatll
to acceI< Il broader communism than
the guild communism to which he is
accustomed.
The Siberian peasant averages 100
acres Of land. He can have as much
more as he wants to cultivate. 1t is
there for the taking. What he raises
is his own. He is willing to put his
crop in the community Storehouse. but
the idea of turning it over TO Il govern
ment on the strength Of Il promise OF
clothes, tools, OF Il free ride on the
railroad cannot be driven into his
head.
Propaganda Is the gripping force OF
the government. Every employee or
soldier gets a free newspaper. and IL
Russian new spaper is always more en-
thusiastic for Its country and some
particular local party than it is for
news.
In each city Is a reading room. and
| the demand for books on industry,
electricity, mechanics, metallurgy,
medicine, agriculture, and other useful
sciences largely exceeds the limited
number Of well.thumbed copies.