Page:The Gillette Blade, 1918-02.pdf/28

28 "Freedom," the workman and the peasant farmer expected immediate betterment of their condition. The peasant farmer is demanding a proper division of the land and the workman is demanding a better house, higher wage and better living conditions. The social problem will take years to work out, whereas the workman and peasant farmer are demanding that the problems be worked out immediately. A committee of the workmen, as well as a committee of the army, is working with the Duma and with the Ministers upon these problems and the general impression seemed to prevail in Petrograd that the workmen and farmers could be held in check until the different problems were worked out.

The crying need in Russia is organization. She needs Americans and Englishmen to organize her industries, particularly her railroads, manufacturing, coal mining, oil, etc. With proper organization Russia, in spite of the ignorance of her people, will make tremendous strides and very quickly.

National pride seems to be lacking in Russia. Very few of the people seem to care whether the Baltic Provinces are German or Russian; the same with respect to Poland or any other part of Russia. They are lacking in patriotism, but the soldiers when officered and under proper discipline give a good account of themselves regardless of their lack of patriotism. More than ten million soldiers are under arms in Russia.

In talking with the banks, American Embassy, English Military Control and various business men, I find the opinion unanimous that Russia will meet all of her financial obligations and that she will emerge eventually from her present condition a big, strong, healthy nation.

One of the most remarkable scenes I ever witnessed in my life was that of Labor Day in Petrograd. On Labor Day no food was served in the hotel; the chambermaid would not make the bed; the elevator boy would not run the elevator, nor the porter carry your bag. One clerk remained in the office and with that exception, all the hotel help was on the street taking part in the labor demonstration. The same was true of every other hotel and every factory and store. No street cars were running, nor carriages, nor automobiles. A crowd estimated at one million people took part in the Labor Day parade. I witnessed the parade from a street and I saw in line children from five years of age up, workmen from the factories and other industries, women and girls, black men from Turkestan, Mohammedans, Tartars from the Caucasus, Kurds from the Trans-Caucasus, Mongolians, Manchurians, Laplanders and people from every, part of Russia. Some soldiers were in the procession, business men and all classes and conditions of people. All wore the red badge of the Revolution and each separate crowd carried a banner. The children for instance were singing "We Want Free Schools"; the workmen, "We Want Better Wage and Better Living Conditions"; the peasant farmers, "We Want the Land." Other banners were "No Peace Until Victory." No policemen nor traffic officers nor anyone in authority were on the street to preserve order, yet the