The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-03-29
new RUSSIAN
REGIME seen
Land Question to Bring
Bolshevik Collapse,
Observer Says.
DEMOCRACY NEXT
Mrs. Harrison Advocates
World Recognition to Re-
store Prosperity.
DEMOCRACY NEXT

Mrs. Marguerite Z. Harrison, inter-
nationally known newspaper wo-
man. who was a prisoner of the
Soviet authorities in Russia for
eight months. addressed members of
the City Club at their forum lunch
con yesterday. She was introduced
by Claude N. Bennett DR.. bcdrich
Stepanek. the Czecho- S.ovdhiaL
minister. with his sister, and w. w
| Husband, commissioner general of
immigration. We're guests of the City
| Club.
American Impressions of Russia
are largely fantastic" Mrs. Harri-
son said. There Is no chaos order
In absolute except in the far south.
which has always been bandit-in-
tested; children are not taken from
! their parents to become property
OF the state; the ridiculous ma
tionalization of women has never
been heard of except by those in
the foreign office who read the
American newspapers
Peasants Want Land.
The Bolsheviks gained power by
promising the peasants the land,
Mrs. Harrison explained. adding that
the land hunger of the peasantry,
which makes up nine-tenths of the
population. is the great mot!v9ting
force in the nation.
This brought their success" she
said. but 1t will also bring their
defeat. For they are now engaged
IN gigantic work OF educating the
peasantry and as these peasants be
A1 ed
sheNsm means naturalization of the
land. they are going to break away"
This change has already begun in
way. Mrs. Harrison indicated
pointing out that the peasants act
ually occupy the land. which the
state holds theoretically. and pay
their rents in grain. which is the
main tax source OF the government
However" she added. they are In
crcasing their demands for a piece
Of paper. otherwise title deeds. -
The kerensky regime failed, she
was told. because it did not give
the land to the peasants. being
purely weak political government
Embargo Strengthens Forces.
The allied embargo, by strength
ening the nationalistic spirit. has
aided the Bolsheviks tremendously
in maintaining power. Mrs. Harrison
said. pointing out that it had in
duCed such leaders of the old
regime as Gen. Brusiloff to lend
their aid to the Soviet government.
This embargo and the allied at
tacks, she also added. were largely
responsible for the present famine.
by shutting off necessary ma
chinery and railroad repair ma
terial. forcing the peasants into
the Red army and disorganizing the
| country.
Mrs. Harrison said she richly
deserved Imprisonment" as she
broke all the laws applying to i'm
migrants, starting off by entering
the country Illegally and following
it by other law violations How
ever. the experience in jail was
worth it," she added. Our COM
panions were very Interesting and
we were treated very kindly. Most
OF our companions were anarchists
and Socialists, as the Bolsh4viki
are greatly in fear OF them.
Russia today is full Of vitality
and has a great future" Mrs. Har-
rison said in conclusion. The peo-
pie are not downhearted: the Red
leaders are fanatical but very able
men: they are educating the people
and there is more general interest
in education, art, drama and world
affairs than one could believe pos
sible. World recognition will bring
return to normal"