Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-11-04
VLADIVOS?OK
in new Peril
Red Troops May Prevent
Working Out of New
Republics Aims
WHERE SIBERIANS
DRAW THE LINE
Special to The Evening journal.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. A.
Evacuation OF vladivostok by the
Japanese leaves the Far Eastern Re-
public free for the working out OF a
curious political experiment unless
the present system is overthrown by
advancing Red troops" says a bull
letin from the Washington, d. c.,
headquarters OF the National Geo
graphic Society.
'Vladivostok's new Importance
arises because IL is the port city OF
the Far Eastern Republic. This re-
public. a new entity in problems OF
the Far East, is only a slice OF vast
Siberia-the southeast corner in
fact-and comprises less than one
twentieth OF the old Russian EN-
pire.
''rhe rail distance from the port
of the republic 70 Verkhne-Udinsk
near Lake Baikal where the trans
Siberian railway cuts its western
boundary. is approximately that from
New York City to Bismarck, North /
Dakota. Yet that distance Is only
a third OF the way across Siberia. |
And the Far Eastern Republic It.
self. in area is greater than Texas |
and California together.
Trains have been running from
Verkhne-Udinsk 10 vladivostok. ex-
cept for recent military Interrupt /
tions. but the running requires ex-
PLANTATION. An American traveller
tells how. at intervals, the train stops /
while the conductor trudges along
- - -f~f.. ~
"a drovamil' This Is the call for
passengers to pile out and carry
sticks from adjacent woodpiles 20 the
locomotive.
This extreme application OF COM
communism extends to passenger
accommodations. Only officials OF
the government can procure coaches
or private cars. The 'proletariat,' a |,
word that has a Definite meaning in \
the Far Eastern Republic. may
crowd into box cars and anybody is
free TO pick out a corner for himself.
Generally this form OF equal oppor- |,
tunlties for all passengers resolves A
itself into men. women and children
being herded into the cars like 50
many cattle.
yet the Siberian peasant Is not
a communist in the sense Of his
Bolshevist neighbors in Russia. The +,
particular brand OF his communism "A
IS summed up by Junius B. Wood, in
a communication 10 the National
Geographic Society, substantially as
follows:
THE Siberian peasant averages
100 acres of land. He can have as
much more ae he wants 70 cultivate.
It 4 there for the taking. What he
raises is his own. He is willing 10 :
put his crop IN the community store
house. but the idea OF turning II over
to government on the strength
OF a promise Of clothes, tools, or a
free ride on the railroad cannot be
driven into his head. He will not &C
cept communism 10 That extent
'arhe constitution Of the Far East
ern Republic may have been hand
made document when It was pre-
scented TO the 400 members Of the
first assembly, but 1t showed the
changes Of many hands-some
crude, others shrewd-before II
emerged.
ct guarantees rights Of private
property and goods; but all land,
rivers. and mineral rights belong 70
the state. They are leased in lieu
OF taxes, and the novelty OF pay 4
ing taxes IL the test OF the Siberian
peasants sincere support of the
government. To induce COLOMBIA
ton in Siberia. the old Tsarist gov
eminent not only RENTED taxes, but
gave bonuses OF machinery, seed
grain. or cash.
Every citizen Is years old. re-
gardless OF sex. religion. politics or
previous nationality, can vote. Min
GRITTY representation Is provided for
in national. state. county, city and q
village governments.
Five states are created on geo !
graphical lines and a sixth on en-
tireiy new llnes-the autonomous ra-
cial Buriat- Mongol State. composed
OF citizens az large.
The fear of a dictatorship was
evidenced when, instead OF single
president, commission OF seven,
known as The Government was 7
elected by the assembly. The Gov r
eminent Is the highest executive au- d
thority. II names the premier and {
he selects the sixteen cabinet heads.
The church is separated from the a
state. A citizen is free TO profess {
any religion or none, and religious r
instruction IL permitted only in theo-
logical schools.
Education Is free and compul-
sorry. so is work for every citizen, {
not more than eight hours a day or v
six hours at night. WITH further re- q
strictions for women and children. s
Every male citizen Is liable for 8
military service between is and IS s
years. and e IL compulsory between
20 and %. Bodily and capital pun
ishment are abolished.
Liberty OF the press, speech, and q
assembly IL guaranteed. Citizens I
may also initiate legislation and have c
share in the administration OF all v
government and public functions h
through an elaborate and compli-
Gated Peoples Control
This is the famous system Of
peoples commissars. In theory en- O.
forcing efficiency and honesty on the h
regular officials but in practice in V
terfering and inefficient. II one CT
officer is not efficient, little is &C. II
complished by placing another to
watch him. &c
The peoples commissars inter al
fere with the army the railroad
the local administration and every
other civil function"
~