davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1923-02-04
r u Ssh A

" HE Soviet government has
fought and won on many
- battle front. Will it
emerge victorious from its pres
ent struggle for big trade and
industry? The question looms
bigger from day to day.
There is, of course, the path
Of least resistance, so wildly
outlined by the allied diplomats
at Genoa and the Hague.
The vast domains presided over
by the Soviets throb with unlimit-
ed. unparalleled wealth still un-
tapped. The stupendous natural
resources lie there in wait for big
capital. initiative and organizing
genius.
A complete acceptance Of the
allied point OF view, i. g., an un-
conditional surrender along the
entire economic front, as con-
ceived by the Soviets, would set
the big wheels in motion, and
Russia would soon be on the way
to economic recovery; but this Is
just what the Soviet government
simply won't do.
Experience had shown that in
the matter Of concessions the
Soviets are willing to 60 just
that far and no farther.
The Washington times., 1923-02-04
Soviet Regime Makes Monopoly of Its Foreign Trade
"Witholat Trade We Are Doomed Independent
Cour1try' Saws Ler1n. "Our Activities Have
Brought Us Some Profit We Have Laid a


The motives actuating the gov
eminent to grant to a single de-
rartment powers so extensive and
dictatorial will be best understood
in the light of Lenin's recent
statement, made to the fourth
Communist Congress on Noven1-
Der 10, 1922. published in the
Isvestia Of November IA, last.
"Our third problem" said L.
min in discussing the new eoo-
nomic policy, "is big trade. Right
here I must say that in this
field the situation still remains
grave. Things took q certain turn
in 1921. We may, therefore. hope
for an improvement Of conditions
in the near future. To an extent
we have gathered the means for
that purpose.
I'm q capitalistiO country the
development of big trade would re-
quire a loan Of hundreds Of mil
lions, without which no improve
ment would DO thinkabie. The
economic history Of capitalistio
countries shows that in backward
lands extended loans of hundreds
Of millions furnish the only
means for developing trade on a
large scale. We have had ne
such loans.
The Washington times., 1923-02-04

severe. The first group consist
ed of Messrs. Brandt, Cassel,
jerks and Keynes. The second
was composed of Messrs. Wiser
ing, Dubois and Kamenka. But
both groups were equally en-
phatic as to the need of a SER
ious effort by Germany to bet
ter her condition.
The first experts said:
The sterilization of the mark
must be brought about in the
first instance by the efforts Of
Germany herself and with her
own resources, through the
vigorous action of her govern
ment. Germany should have her
own policy of reconstruction.
Such a policy may involve GER
tain risks, but it is the only
path to pursue.
The other experts said:
1t is necessary to enforce the
strictest economy in public ex.
penditures, to reduce the num-
Der of employees in Government
offices and Government services,
and gradually to abolish direct
or indirect subventions for keep
ing down the cost of food.
TO UNMASK TRICKERY.
It is perfectly evident that
without these reforms and with
out the organization Of some in
strument of control, any attempt
to stabilize the mark will be illu-
sorry. 1t will be more harmful
than beneficial, and will precipl-
tate the formidable crisis that
now threatens Germany. This
control ought to be exercised by
the Preparations Commission and
the Committee upon Guarantees.
It goes without saying that this
commission and this committee
would not take the place of the
German administrative authori-
ties. They would not assume any
responsibility that they should
not assume. But they should
have powers of investigation that
would enable them to unmask
trickery and prevent fraud, and
the right to veto lavish and
wasteful appropriations and new
issues of paper money.
Coming to the next point, the
Germans demanded a new mora
forum.
In this case, likewise, it is well
to review a little recent history.
The fact is that ever since jan
uary, 1922, Germany has been
enjoying a moratorium. She has
not been paying, as we know to
our sorrow, what she should pay
The Washington times., 1923-02-04

all-Russian central executive COM
mittee enacted on March 10, 1922.
The fundamental principles Of
the latter DEGREES, /. O.. the one
under which the department oper-
ates today are:
The foreign trade Is q govern
ment monopoly, vestlng In the
Peoples Commissa1'iat Of Foreign
Trade.
The primary duty Of the de-
partment is to plan and execute
all Of the governments export
and import operations.
At tho same time tho commits
sariat may aot as commission
merchant for the various govern
mental bodies and enterprises, al
SO for state executive commit
tees, etc,
The central council Of the Rus
sian co-eperatives has the right
to carry on it's own expert opera
tions. Such operations. how
ever. must be ee-erdinated with
the work of the trade department
and under it's control.
The eemmissariat has the right
to grant permissions te various
governmental bodies to carry on
export and import operations in
dependently. In such case, how
ever, each transaction requires
a separate permit, and such per-
NIT may be given emily to gov
ernment, or quasi-government
agencies, which under the law
have the right to export or i'm
port through the medium 0f the
department,
The Washington times., 1923-02-04
The Big Trust

The right to carry on export
and import trade independently
is also granted to shareholding
enterprises, formed by the gov
eminent, or the foreign trade de-
partment itself. Such trade or
CARNATIONS need apply for no per-
mission to export or import nner-
chandise. They must, however,
carry on their activities under
the control Of the comnissariat.
Such in substance are the ex-
pressed powers granted to Rus
sia's big trading trust. From
these, however, flow many I'm
piled powers, powers dictated by
the same logic, necessity and
ambition Of builders and organ
izers, that were and are to this
day SO intimately bound with
our own trade and industrial
menopolies.
In the rather brief duration OF
it's life the foreign trade de-
partment has managed to weave
a net extending into the remotest
corners of the vast country, 1t
has managed to branch cut into
various allied industries and
trades. 1t has assumed almost
complete control of the Russian
merchant marine.
For a definite length of time
the "Vnieshterg" held dietaterial
powers ever the ports of 'kron-
stadt and Petregrad, exaeting
tolls from incoming vessels, etc.
1t has its representatives en-
every pert committee. 1t has a
good deal to say In the matter
Of railroad characterization.
The Washington times., 1923-02-04

IVY ID are all-or, ct least. we
" used to say we were
miserable sinners. Even
so, when we hear that some par
ticular person is q miserable sin
ner, half of us are shocked and
the other half OF US are delighted.
Robert Louis Stevenson was q
good deal less miserable than the
rest OF us. This may account for
his luck in escaping detection so
far. But now, at least, his dossier
has turned up in America, and
Mr.. George Hellman goes into the
box and produces the evidence
against the accused in an article
called "The Stevenson Myth" in
the Century Magazine"
AN EARLY AFFAIR"
According to Mr.. Hellman, the
Stevenson we know is a myth
largely created by his wife. Mrs.
Stevenson, 1t appears. would have
no portrait painted Of him ex-
cept with a whitewash brush, and
even went so far az to put the
official biography In the hands
Of a writer who acquiesced in the
suppression Of important facts"
Sir Sidney Colvin has already
contradicted Mr.. Hellman on this
point, but let that pass for the
moment. Mr.. Hellman himself
goes on to give us the important
facts which the myth-makers
suppressed. He tells US that
Stevenson, before he came OF age.
had entered upon one Of the
greatest experiences OF his life"
He had had a liaison" with a
girl called Claire. surname un-
known, who belonged to ''the
lower class of life." and was
probably one Of the girls Steven
son met when, owing to the
small allowance made him by his
father in his student days, he
frequented cheap taverns and
went about with socially question
able people"
It is an amusing notion that the
reason why a youth Of Steven
sons Bohemian temperament was
attracted to cheap taverns" and
socially questionable people" was
merely that he could not afford no.
tel bars and the expense Of mix
ing with ladies and gentlemen.
But let that also pass while we at
tend to what Mr.. Hellman has to
tell US about Claire.
FACTS, PLEASE.
It appears that Stevenson wish
ed to marry Claire and longed to
have a child by her, but, according
The Washington times., 1923-02-04
Room, for InitiotiUe

The law as originally enacted
seemed to leave room fer private
initiative. 1t gave the foreign
trade department the power to
grant the right of foreign trade
to organizations and even indi-
viduals. At the same time the
department was given a virtual
monopoly ever the entire field of
foreign commerce and it's allied
industries.
The development of private in
itiatiVe and enterprise in foreign
trade seemed under the law to be
a matter of grace with the all
powerful '"VnieshterE."
The 1899 law on the subject
had been since supplemented by
the foreign trade decree Of the
The Washington times., 1923-02-04

"Above all, we must econo-
mize. We must be economical
even in the matter Of schools.
Why? Because we know that
unless we save our big trade. un-
less 1t is rebuilt from the bottom,
we shall have no trade at all,
and without trade we are doomed
as an independent country"
Thus simply and forcefully had
Lenin stated the gist Of one OF
the most vital problems facing
Russia today.
What has the Soviet Govern
mont done In an effort to solve
this problem? What are the
modest beginnings" referred to
by Lenin?
Indeed, tho word modest" 10
well chosen. 1t would be pre-
mature to talk of big achieve
ments at this moment, All that
can be truthfully said Is that the
powerful foreign trading trust,
known az the "Narkomvnieshtorg."
through which the SoViets eXer-
Disc their monopoly ever foreign
trad, is today functioning all over
Russia and in many capitals OF
Western Europe and Asia.
Will the present foreign trade
policy of Russia succeed? Will
the foreign trade department JUS
tify the expectations at the pow
ers that brought it ints existenee?
The future alone shall give an
swer te these questions. In the
meantime, let us see how and
under what powers the big gov
srRrnent business agency funO-
tioRa,
The Washington times., 1923-02-04

The count heaved sigh. But
that must be SO, because the
Emperor simply has no means of
any other kind of life. And the
Kaiser is glad that his house has
been put in order, that things are
done economically, and that the
gladstone spirit of his new life's
companion has banished his for
mer spiritual loneliness"
tactfully asked the count why
he had parted from his beloved
Kaiser. The count looked
trifle embarrassed.
COUNT HARD UP.
my household and my family
are in Berlin" he began, land
cannot leave them permanently.
He. paused a moment and then
continued, "but will not con-
ceal from you my chief reason.
am compelled to look after the
existence OF my family, and
must earn sufficient money in,
these hard times. That I can
not do in the service OF the
Kaiser, for he has hardly enough
for himself. But, to my great
JOY, the Emperor preserves his
old friendship for me. When I
left he made me q present Of
his book of "reminiscences inscrib.
ed with his own hand.
"And here you may see his
latest picture" The count care
fully lifted a highly flattering
full-faced photograph of the ex-
Emperor from his writing table.
with the exception OF the
Empress Hermine, only my uncle
Count Kuno Won Moltke, and
myself have copies. The En-
peror is not exactly pleased with
the little flattering pictures
which have recently been cir
culated of him, and has decided
to place a better portrait within
reach of the public.
Therefore a few weeks ago
he sent for his former court
photographer from Potsdam. Two
different poses were taken. one
of which, reproduced on post
cards, Is to be circulated to the
public"
The photograph which Count
Won Moltke so proudly displayed
to me bore the following In
scription in the ex-Kaiser's hand:
ITO my dear friend Moltke, from
his grateful Emperor and King,
Wilhelm. house of Doom. Novem-
Der 80, 1922"
''I can confirm" concluded this
high parsonage, that life at Doom
Is economical and Spartan, as is
necessitated by circumstances"
The Washington times., 1923-02-04

to Mr.. Hellman, we can easily I'M
agine how the elder Stevenson
would have regarded daughter
in-law Of this type" The worst
of Mr.. Hellman is that he can so
easily imagine things. He
''easily imagines," when we want
not easy imaginings, but facts.
He writes presumably" when we
want not presumptions, but facts.
He writes I'VE may surmise. |" when
we want not surmises, but facts.
In the result, he tells us scarcely
anything that alters the portrait
published during Stevenson's own
lifetime in these famous lines OF
Henley:
Buffoon and poet. lover and sensual
And something Of the shorter-cate-
chist.
Mr.. HeIlman IL evidently Of the
opinion that we have all these
years been idealizing Stevenson as
a man incapable Of sin. There
could not be q greater delusion.
We have idea1ized him because he
was a man capable Of virtue. He
himself never pretended to be
other than q mixture Of good and
evil. Did he not write ''Dr. Jekyll
and Mr.. Hyde2''
Did he not confess that he was
reluctant to bring women charac-
tiers into his novels because he
might write Of them grossly? Did
he not regard 1t as an achievement
as difficult as It was desirable that
a man should be able to look on
women without desire?"
LOVE IN LIMELIGHT.
Hence, think that the Steven
son myth" did not depend for its
continuance on our ignorance Of
certain comparatively unimportant
facts about Stevenson's youth. It
may be that we shall one day learn
that this early love affair had
profound influence on his y later
work or revealed fatal flaw that
students of his character will have
to take into account.
I, for one, am in favor Of pub
fishing all the facts possible about
a man Of genius after those who
might have been wounded by the
publication are dead. But It il alb
surb to concentrate the limelight
on the amorous side Of the nature
Of writer whose genius was less
concerned with amorousness than
that of almost any other novelist.
That, however. may not be quite
fair to Mr.. Hellman. Mr.. Hellman
regards Stevenson's amorousness
as the key to many things. He is
'inclined to surmise" that Steven
sons quarrel with his father was
The Washington times., 1923-02-04

under the London agreement. On
March 81, the Preparations Com
mission concluded that Germany
ought to pay this year 100, 900, 900
marks in gold, and 1,45O, 00O, 900
marks in goods, or a total of
2,17O, 100000 gold marks.
BEHIND IN PAYMENTS.
OF the 720,0OO,OO0 gold marks,
only 450,o0O,OOO have been paid,
and the 27O,O00,000 which should
have been paid beginning August
Is, have been converted into six
months notes.
The deliveries in kind were to
be divided this way: Nine hum
dred and fifty millions for
France and five hundred millions
for the other allies. Unhappily,
they are far from reaching this
figure.
That is where we stood at the
close Of 1922.
Well, then, finding ourselves
faced with this prospect OF a to-
tai or partial 6ailure in the pay
ments due us, we have stated to
parliament and to the country:
If Germany viii not pay up, the
Treaty of Versailles affords us a
remedy. Article 24S gives the
Allies a priority claim against
all the property and resources Of
the German Empire ard the Ger
man States. Is this article to re-
main a dead letter?
Certainly not. It's meaning is
very clear. All the national
wealth of Germany, and all the
wealth Of the Federal States that
compose the Commonwealth, can
be seized by the creditors of the,
Commonwealth. / know quite
well that the English word does
not correspond exactly with the
French word. In English the
treaty reads "a first charge" and
not "a mortgage" But France
has taken the position that the
French text shall be decisive,
and, so far as am concerned, I
shall stick to the French text.
Furthermore. international law
as well as civil law recognizes
the elementary principle that all
the property of a debtor is every
where and under all conditions
security for the creditor.
France is not seeking, and has
not sought, and never will seek
remedies primarily military. She
does not design to punish Ger
many or impose punitive sane
tons. She simply wishes her
money in the full measure that
1t can be collected.
The Washington times., 1923-02-04

"Narkomvnieshtorg" is one of
the many abbreviation terms
coined by the revolution. It is
made up Of the first syllables
Of the four words: Narodny Com
missariat Vnieshney Torgovly,
meaning the Peoples Commissary
Of Foreign Trade.
The fundamental law under
which tho department commenced
it's operations was enacted on
June II. 1920. at q time when the
ring Of steel surrounding Soviet
Russia broke, began fading away
and finally vanished under the
pressure of tho victorious Red
armies.
The Washington times., 1923-02-04
Only Alternative

The only alternative to swal-
lowing the allied proposals bod
lily was to buckle down, to try
to lay q foundation for big com
merce on the ruins OF tho great
est war and revolution In the
history of mankind.
It IL a stupendous task, q task
as great. perhaps, as that set be-
fore any general staff during the
world war.
Hence, the .NaEkomvniesh-
torg." the Soviet foreign trade
commissariat with it's many, va
ried and sweeping peweFs.
The Washington times., 1923-02-04
IAN interview with Count Won
MOltke by a special correspondent

IAN 1uCCEVAOW WIFI COUNC VOH
MOltke by special correspondent
X" HE new Empress. Her
- mine," said Count Won
Moltke, ''has already
taken a tight hold OF the reins,
and this seems to suit the En-
peror very well. Life at Doom
is nowadays spent in moro than
Spartan simplicity. The Emperor.
who formerly spent half his time
travelling, and who was always
surrounded with every luxury, is
today fettered in a. modest coun-
try house which only contains q
total of fourteen little rooms.
Only the dining-room can accom-
modate a fairly large number Of
people. ALI the glitter and ponp
of former days have disappeared,
and the Emperor spent his honey
moon more modestly and with
less freedom than any country
squire.
"Of so-called court or court
state there is no question at
Doom. There Is simply no money
for such things. OF course, there
are still few persons attached
to the Emperor's suite, for, after
all, the former sovereign cannot
live like a small official on q
pension, but the mode of life led
by the Emperor today has abso-
lutely no comparison with his
former life.
WHY THEY PARTED.
1.-THE new Empress has quite
settled down at Doom. Her per-
sonality may be felt throughout
the house. Like the Emperor's
first wife, she possesses the re-
nowned qualities of the German
housewife, and brings these to
bear even in detail in this little
fourteen.roomed house, a thing
which her predecessor had no
opportunity of doing. Hermine
directs this household with a
care, exactitude. and energy as If
she had spent her whole life in
preparing for nothing else. She
has very quickly restored order
in those sections Of the household
which, during the widowhood Of
the Emperor, had run a little off
the rails. In a word, she holds
the reins in a strong hand. but
nobody enjoys the new order Of
things better than the Kaiser
Nothing is done today in the
house Of Doom without Hermine's
approval. The suite and the
servants take their orders from
her, and she watches very care
fully that no money is spent un-
necessarily"
The Washington times., 1923-02-04
Must EconoT1izo

"Ail that, notwithstanding, we
can already see a very modest
beginning. Our trading activities
have by now brought us some
PFefit. At any rate, We have laid
q foundation"
The Washington times., 1923-02-04
BV WILLIAM RESWICK
World Traveller and Wr1ter

In other words, the decree
makes It plain that no private in
dividual in Russia may engage in
the export and import business.
It remains a government mo.
nopoly to be awaited Of by judi
ciaI bodies only.
The Washington times., 1923-02-04
ENGLAND
By ROBERT LYND
Famous British Critic

Prominent British Literary Critic
Stevenson Against Certain Criticisms
George Article the Century, he
enson Myths" Says While Courage"
The Washington times., 1923-02-04
F K E.
Rv RAYMOND POINCARE
The French Premier

France Occupied According Official French Viewpoint
audueny Bankrupt That France
Holds mortgage Commonwealth Civil
The Washington times., 1923-02-04
INES HERALD INTERNATIONAL PAGE
GERMANY
By COUNT Won MOLTKE
hide De Camp To Kaiser

Former Colonel of Guards, Who Has Been
Acting as Head of Imperial Household at
Doom, Describes to Special Corresponds
emit Features of Life There Follow
ing Imperial Honeymoon.
, 1923-02-07

before returning to her home in Den.
yer.
Miss Helen o'AIalley left yesterday
for Chicago and will spend three
weeks there visiting at the home of
her aunt, Mrs. Edward Steel.
Mr.. and Mrs. II. B. Hughes and
son Charles left yesterday afternoon
overland for Cheyenne where they
will visit for several days with
relatives.
Mr.. and Mrs. L. X. Garry and chill
dren arrived last evening from Mon
tana n viii make their future home
here.
Miss Roberta Collins left last eve.
ming for Denver and will spend some
time there visiting at the home Of
her sister, Mrs. II. l.. Olson.
Mr.. and Mrs. James r. HOOK and
daughter OF Florence, Colo, are the
house guests for the month of Mr..
and Mrs. II. S. Gibson
Mr.. and Mrs. w. Z. Carr!co will
leave this evening for Denver on Il
short business and pleasure trip.
Mss Mary Finn. returned from
Laramie this week, having been called
home by the Illness OF her mother.
Mr.. and Mrs. Vincent Mulvancy
have as their house guest for the re.
ma'ndCr of the winter months Mrs.
Muivaney's little sister. Miss Elsbeth
Se!de OF Chicago. Before coming to
Casper Miss Seidel spent a short time
Waiting at the home OF DR.. and Mrs.
Seibert in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Miss
Se!del is the daughter of Professor
, 1923-02-07
QUIT TOBACCO
So Easy to Drop Cigarette,
Cigar, or Chewing Habit.

No!To,Bac has helped thousands to
break the costly. nerve-shatterlng
tobacco habit. Whenever you have q
longing for a smoke or chew, just
place a harmless No-To-Bac tablet in
your mouth instead. All desire stops.
shortly the habit is completely
broken, and you are better off mental.
81, physically. financially. It's so
Easy. so simple. Get a box of No-To-
Bac md IL 1t doesn't release you from
Ill craving for tobacco in any form,
cur druggist will refund our money
without question.-Adv.
, 1923-02-07
American Legion
Auxiliary Meeting.

Members OF the American Legion
auxiliary held a social meeting yes
terday at the home Of Mrs. Burke
Sinclair. 404 Milton n The
meeting was well attended. 90 mem
bers OF the organization being present.
Plans were completed for n hope
chest which will contain fancy linen
and all articles necessary for a hope
chest. All members will be solicited
for one article. The chest will be
ratified off on or about May 1 at a
sonial function which the auxiliary
will give. Mrs. Sinclair was assisted
during the afternoon by the Mesdsmes
L. NJ. Sheppard and Julia Pursel.
, 1923-02-07

Hurry mother! Even a cross. sick
child loves the "fruIty' taste Of Cali
fornis. Fig Syrup" and 1t never fails
to open the bowels. \ teaspoonful
today may prevent Il SEX child tomor.
row. II constipated. bilious. feverish,
tretful, has cold. collie, or if stomach
Is sour, tongue coated, breath bad,
remember a good cleansing Of tho 1T
tie bowels is often all that is neces-
sary.
Ask your druggist for genuine
California Fig Syrup which has dl-
rections for babies and children of all
ages printed on bottle. Motherl You
must say g" -Turnia" or you may get
an imitati ; syrup. Adv.