The Ordway new era., 1922-12-22


the only home. An official may get a
passenger coach or private car fol-
himself and his family. but the prole
tariat-men, women and children-are
herded by dozens in box-cars, anybodr
who can crowd in being free to picb
out corner for home.
Moving Slowly Toward Russia.
In Chita and Verkhne- -Udinsk hun
dreds are housed in box-car cities
cooking. eating and living in the opep
during the day and at night sleeping on
rough shelves which have been built
into the cars.
Some are on the move, getting near.
er soviet Russia whenever locomo
tive can be spared TO pull their trains,
while others have been waiting for
months. Included In this west.bound
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 theaters and pub
lie gardens.
Chita even has circus. 1t is most
ly clowns with racy songs. On pleas
ant evenings the public gardens are
filled. though s cents admission is
charged. Every seat in the theaters is
taken. No one 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 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 it. how
ever. is 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 hostile
army within It's territory, and that
large proportion Of the japanese mil
itary did not want it to recover until
1t was annexed, as Korea was seemed
equally evident.
Why the Republic Was Formed.
Several motives contributed to the
formation of the Far Eastern republic
as a constitutional democracy. Sovle!
Russia could have prevented, but as
sisted instead. Moscow has been the
only friend of Chita. aiding 1t with gold
and soldiers, though extremely limited
in both. However. the two repubiics
were separate, as any one soon found
out hen 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
and social failure. and this corner OF
Siberia offered good field to try out
the democracy of America embeihsheo
with some of the latest radical novel
ties.
The third reason, alone sufficient
was that the Siberian peasant Is ioath
to accept broader communism thah
the guild communism to which ne 's
accustomed.
The Siberian peasant averages loo
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 MS
crop in the community storehouse' Dut
the idea of turning 1t over to govern.
ment on the strength Of a promise OF
clothes, tools, or a free ride on the
cannot be driven into his
head. .. =,
propaganda is the gripping force OF
the government. Every employee OF
soldier gets a free newspaper, ana
Russian new spaper is always more en-
for its country and some
particular local party than 1t is 1or
news. ord
In each city is reading ROOM ana
the demand for books on INDUSTRY
mechanics, metallursy;
medicine, agriculture, and other useIu.
sciences largely exceeds the iim''eo
number Of well.thumbed copies