The Russian Review/Volume 1/April 1916/News from Russia
News from Russia.
The recent introduction of temperance brought with it considerable changes in the social life of the people. Its immediate effect was to produce a kind of emptiness, which must be filled by other activities. The drinking-place is no longer there to fill the hours of leisure, and other means must be found to replace the relaxation offered by drink. In many places, educational and cultural institutions are being established and their work is conducted very effectively, for the sober population of the country welcomes these innovations most enthusiastically. The institutions are established mostly by the Zemstvos, and they consist of Sunday and afternoon lectures and classes, motion picture theatres, etc. The most elaborate project of this kind was that proposed by the Samara Zemstvo. This provides for the establishment in the government of Samara of six hundred and seventy-seven "Popular Centers." Fifty-four of these Centers would be located at the larger towns and cities, and would cost 810,000 roubles. Two hundred and thirteen Centers would be of smaller size, and their construction and equipment would cost 2,130,000 roubles. The other four hundred and ten Centers would be still smaller and would cost 2,050,000 roubles. The whole project would call for an expenditure of about 5,000,000 roubles. It is estimated that it could be carried out within ten years. Each Center must consist of meeting rooms, a large auditorium for lectures, a library, a motion picture theatre, etc. The Zemstvo expects that the central government will undertake a part of the financial burden in the carrying out of this plan.
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According to statistics recently gathered by the government, there are, at the present time, over 182,000 war refugees in the provinces of the Caucasus. Over 100,000 of them are concentrated in the government of Erivan. About 95 per cent of the total are Armenians, while children constitute 38 per cent The refugees are penniless, and require constant aid.
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The Socialist Party of Finland had, by the end of 1914, a membership of 51,520. The Party comprised 637 labor unions, forty organizations of farm laborers, ninety-five young men's societies, and 101 young women's societies, besides the regular party organizations. The Socialist unions owned 890 houses, valued at eight and a half million marks, their cash reserve was two million marks, while their indebtedness was four million marks.
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The dependence of Russian industries upon Germany is well illustrated by the present condition of the church candle industry, which is conducted by the Church. Despite the fact that Russia is able to produce enough wax to supply the whole of Europe, her wax industry was entirely in the hands of three German firms, which were suspended at the beginning of the War with the result that the country experiences a shortage in wax. It was finally decided by the candle manufacturers to purchase wax in England, and almost 200,000 pounds have already been bought. The importation of this wax is expected to relieve the shortage. At the same time, a movement has been launched with the object of developing Russia's own wax industry.
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Rumors were recently spread in the government of Tula that miracles were observed on the grave, of Leo Tolstoy at Yasnaia Poliana. These rumors rapidly gained credence among the peasants of this locality, especially among followers of Tolstoy's teachings. A group of these followers of Tolstoy was recently arrested for circulating a proclamation against war, which they issued under the name of "Our Open Word," signing it as "Tolstoyans."
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Following the recommendations of the military and marine courts-martial, a new set of rules was issued on January 22, 1915, making penalties for military offenses more severe than heretofore. The whole of Section 2 of the Military Code has undergone changes. The death penalty is now provided for the following offenses: desertion from the army, unless the deserter returns voluntarily; attempts of desertion to the enemy; attempts to avoid military service or military duties by furnishing false certificates of sickness, or by intentionally injuring oneself, in order to escape service.
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The District Court of Petrograd decided to postpone the case of G. S. Nosar-Chrustalev, pending the report of the commission appointed to investigate his sanity. Chrustalev was the president of the Workingmen's Council during the revolution. He was then exiled to Siberia, but succeeded in effecting an escape. He was living outside of Russia until the beginning of the War, when, like many other revolutionaries, he returned to his native country to take his place among its defenders. He was promptly arrested and changes were preferred against him on account of his escape from Siberia. The appointment of a commission to investigate his sanity came as a result of his repeated requests that Justice P. D. Ifliand should not preside at his trial. Chrustalev petitioned the highest authorities for a change of the presiding justice on the ground that Ifliand is of German extraction and that his sympathies are with the Germans, which fact would make him inclined to be harsh with the defendant. Chrustalev even charged the justice with being a secret "German spy." The Justice himself made a request that he be relieved of his duties, and Justice R. I. Savich was appointed to preside at the trial.
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Archbishop Andronicus of Perm, in a prelate's message to his diocese, condemned the rapacity of the merchants who raise the prices of necessities of life. "Like German murderers, or wild jackals," says the archbishop in his message, "they attack the people of Russia. By the power, granted to us by God, we say to these men, who are so fond of money: 'Your silver shall be your ruin. Your riches will rot away. You are jackals who attack your own kin, you are harmful and dangerous enemies of your country.'"
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The War Office plans to concentrate in Central Siberia all the prisoners of war already sent to Siberia. Several agricultural societies of Western Siberia, however, are petitioning the government not to remove all the prisoners from their districts, as their labor in the field is necessary there. On the other hand, the agricultural communities of Central Siberia are anxiously awaiting the arrival of these prisoners.