The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-27

Rock Island, July IS. Editor
Tho Argns: Your editorial IN last
nights Issue Of The Argus on
sIenine's Coloesal Failure" COR!
tanned 70 much misinfprmation con-
ceFpinK Russia, that ! viii a5k yugr
permission to register An enphatic
protest IN tho Interest Of justice and
fair play. TO ray that Leniuesis re- |
sponsible for the chaotic conditions !,
existin8 II Russia today IL thsI
hei&ht Of folly and stupidity Why
not place the blame where It right
fully belongs, namely, the old cxar-
list regime, before the World war!
Can anyone conversant with the his
tory Of Russia deny this indictment!
Think Of the tremendous amount
OF grating omqials,s both military.
civil and ecclesiastical, that
held sway for centuries in Russia,
and who did their best To keep the
people in ignorance and supefsd-
ton In order that the cars might
continue In power. Up to the be-
ginning Of the World war there
was probably no country in Europe
Excepting Turkey where graft
was so prevalent among all classes
of officials, and considered entirely
proper and legitimate, Is in Russia
Men we're placed in position Of trust
and power who were not only
grossly ignorant and crude, but ex-
tremely cruel as we'll; and whose
barbaric and stupid methods OF
dealing with the people can ind no
parallel in history, except In the
most savage and uncivilized peoples
of the world. When this despotic
and unholy government was over
thrown in Russia at the close OF the
war, the people were in the throes
OF civil war. All honor to the earlier
revolutionary leaders who tried to
rally the people around their var
ious well Meant efforts, even though
they failed. Lenine and Trotzky
were able to do what no one would
ever have thought possible.
/ The soviet system OF government
was introduced and so firmly estab-
lished in Russia that all the efforts
of the powers to break it down have
failed miserably, up to date. In
1spite Of numerous obstacles, expe-
Editions, counter revolutions, and the
infamous Commercial blockade, :,
Russia is steadily forging ahead,
rslowly but surely overcoming the
ALMOST insurmountable obstacles,
both natural and man made, which
Iare to be met with today in that
unhappy country. The railroads
land transportation in general
were demoralized and the whole
country depleted and ruined before
the bolsheviki party Tor the CON-
munists) took over the reins Of gov
eminent in Russia. Let US not for
get that, nor lose sight of 1t when
speaking of Russian affairs. The
great famine, as a result Of the loss
Of crops, cannot be laid to the door
of Lenine or the soviet system. 1t
is ridiculous in the extreme to say
otherwise. Sweden. Of all the
European countries. is the most gem
erous and farsighted and is not
Iafraid to build locomotives and roll
ling stock for the railways Of Rus
STA, and also electric power plants
of great magnitude. She is being
paid not in silver or notes, bpt In
pure gold. Sweden is getting trade
where we are refusing to enter and
receive it. We will have to blame
ourselves if we are too proud to
deal with soviet Russia. When
Mr.. Wilson was in Europe he sent
Mr.. Built to Russia to investi-
gate conditions, and to the surprise
OF all he reported back to the
president that the bolsheviki had
accomplished more In the education
Of the people in one year. than the
czarist government had done in 81
years. Think Of that, coming from
an impartial observer, sent BY Pres.
ident Wilson.
/. Let us be fair and Just when w
talk about Russia Put the blame
for the breakdown where it be.
longs, and instead let us help in al
ways that. we can to build up thai
country. Russia deserves our helI
and 'sympathy. We should not die
tate what kind of government the,
should have. II they want the SOW
, let system let them. have it and
. wish them good luck" The sin
certify Of the soviet leaders has nevel
been disputed. by those who hav'
come In contact with them. Let ii
stop misrepresenting conditions II
Russia
Respectfully.
]. P. PETERSON,