The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current, October 05, 1919, Section One, Page 5, Image 5

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    TIIE SUNDAY OREGONIAX, PORTLAND, OCTOBER 5, 1919.
ITERUSSIATIRED
OF BOLSHEVIK RULE
Poles Now Dominant Expect
ecf to Do Better.
GOVERNMENT IS ASSURED
Present Backwardness of People Is
Proof That KusMan Dominion
lias Tkwo Little for Them.
'On!noed Torn Flr-t Psre.
hours before General Jadwin. who
had been at Vilna. reached Mink.
The, Poles entered at 19 o'clock In the
morning of August S. and he arrived
at 9 that evening. Incidentally, ha
ran a certain risk, as tha I'hlans had
moved so fast tbey had not cleaned
up all the bunches of bolsheviks, to
whom General Jadwin's Cadillac
straggling up the deep sand on the
hills, mum have looked tempting.
Also to run Into a freshly captured
town at nightfall is not very safe
But the general felt it was his duty
to get there as soon as possible (the
city was captured -4 hours ahead of
schedule) and maintain American
honor.
A nrriraa liflarirf Felt.
For General Szentyski had sutrcest-
ed Henry Morgenthau of the Ameri
can commission to i'oland to write a
proclamation to the Jews of Minsk,
asking them to keep entirely out of
the fight.- This was dropped from
aeroplanes and General Jadwin. being
I a member of the same commission and
soldier by profession, wanted to be
there and see that the Jews, taking
Mr. Morgen thau's sucscstion, should
have America's assistance in return
for their non-combatancy. Minsk is
not so big that it did not know very
soon that an American flag was flut
tering through its streets and per
haps that also had something to do
with the lack of fear on the part of
the Jewish population.
still It seemed to me the Jews were
not very much afraid anyhow. They
expected Indignities, such as beard
cuttings and some looting, but they
were not really afraid of the Poles.
'or. after all. there is something in
this ancient good relationship be
tween the Jews and the Poles, al
though it Is nowhere nearly as good
as It used to be. The first encounter
1 noticed between a Pole and a Jew
was anything but unfriendly.
I headed down this way from War
saw about the time I expected Minsk
to fall in the company of a Polish
landowner with property near Minsk,
which he was anxious to reach as
soon as it was released from the bol
shevikl. My companion belonged to
an ancient Polish family and ordi
narily looks like a modern cultivated
gentleman. But after he had passed
two nights in a box car and pushed a
heavy auto through sand and dug it
out of mud he looked like one of his
own ancestors, with long, drooping
mustaches and haggard eyes. He
needed only shave his head around
and wear a pigtail to drop back five
hundred years.
Pole mud Jew Km brace.
All the way along: he had been ex
pressing fear for the safety of a
certain friend of his. who was also
his agent. The moment we arrived,
he insisted on stasting at once to this
friend's house. In the street we heard
a cry of Joy from the other side and a
little old white-haired Jew came run
ning across the street. The two met
in the middle, threw their arms
around ea'-h other, slapping each
other or the back a score of times
and kissed each other. Polish style.
We were led off to the old man's
house, where everybody fll on the
Pole's neck, though he was crtainly
the fiercest looking Pole in Minsk
that day. It is worthy of note that
my companion in expressing anxiety
continually for his old friend never
thought of mentioning the fact that
he was a Jew.
From his family I got my first
figures on the cost of living under
the bolsheviki in Minsk, figures after;
ward verified. Bread was 40 rubles a
Russian pound (which is about -0
per cent smaller than ours): butter,
I'OO rubles: salt. 100 rubles: ten eggs,
100 rubles: sugar. ISO rubles a
pound: meat. 73: tea. 00 rubles; cof
fee, unobtainable; bacon, 250.
Bread S3 Taaad. Baroa S17.SO.
At the rate of exchange for roubles
In Warsaw, bread is over $3 a pound
here and bacon is $17.50 a pound. But
this exchange rate is fictitious as far
as life in Russia is concerned. All
money 19 demonetized in Russia just
what the bolsheviki want. The effect
Is that, although money Is thick, it
does not stay in town. The peasants
demand sheaves of it for everything
and they get It. I am told the peas
ants around Minsk often have 200.000
or 400.000 rubles.
Those peasnts are Inluck. Now
the Poles are here and begin to bring
in merchandise they can buy things,
and their money will jump to 10
timee. even SO times its value. So
the money will come flowing back
into town.
Kxperts on monetary systems can
figure who wins and who loses on the
transaction. The political effect is
more important now. It is going to
make the peasants pleased as Punch
with the Poles. They mill not care
whether they are Kuthenians or rot.
To be Poles will be good enough for
them. They have no national aspira
tions anyhow. All they want is to be
let alone.
Coming down here Into this back
woods of Europe among these Ku
thenlan peasants, it Is perfectly ob
vious we ase no longer in Poland.
I have enjoyed putting my Polish
acquaintances on the defensive In
venting reasons why they ought to be
here, where outaitle the towns not
over a per ceni or tne people are
Poles. To my accusation, not seri
ously meant, that this Is imperialism,
they give every argument except the
real one mat wnue Kussla is no
more Russian than It is Polish, it is
simply Kuthenian. and the Kuthenians
neither can nor seem at all anxious
to set up a government of their own.
Their backwardness is a proof that
Russia did little for them. Poland
la certain to do belter. Just now they
are very tired of Russian rule, fur
they regard bolshevik rule as Rus
sian rule, a more minute tyranny than
that of the t'xar. Both come out of
the east. If the Poles, by an aichemy
that has something to do with the
points of Uhlan lances, make them all
rich, they are goin gto like the Poles
well enough. Also the Poles are set
ting about at once providing a civil
ised government.
Mlask Mervly itasalfled.
I. who love Russia, for all her
faults, came Into this country with
something of the feelings of a man
who has the agreeable sensation of
getting near home. But. as I stay
here. I realise that Minsk Is simply
Russified. What there Is of Russia
about it Is superimposed. It has not
th real Russian flavor.
To get here I had to cross that vast
waste that runs from Dvlnsk to
Brest-Lltovsk, the region the Grand
Duke Nicolas Nicolalvitch razed with
his Cossacks and emptied of 1.000.000
innabitants so he could have room to
carry on war. As the train creeps
past the weedy fields, the charred
villages, mile after mile, endlessly,
without a domestic animal, without a
human being, only the circling black
birds, only the empty, grass-grown
roads, the sense of desolation has the
poignancy that Is felt only in deserted
places where people once lived. This
waste is 40 miles wide on the way
here from Vllna. and a very few peo
ple are just beginning to come back.
Most of them were driven so far into
Russia they never will get back. I
met one family on the road that had
been trekking It from Turkestan,
Our train consisted of a few freight
cars. We were riding with a Ruth
enian Pole who had half a carload of
bacon, with which he was easing his
way up toward Minsk waiting for
through traffic, to open. He expected
to make a fortune and carried with
him a private armed guard. He was
generous, too. and gave away a good
deal to the wretched peasants who
had found their way back and crowd
ed around the newly opened railroad
to get food.
War Waifs Seeklag Home.
On the train were two girls of 14
and a boy of 7 with a little pig In
a sack. They told us they had got
separated from their parents when
their village was wiped out, the bat
tle spewt over them and the Germans
sent them a few miles to the rear.
For four years they have been living
on a farm, working tneir way. ana
now for their last months united
pay they had received tne pig ana
Here starting back to their old home
with it.
When we came to their station,
they were at first bewildered by Its
emptiness, for even the stationhouse
was cone, but in a minute they got
their bearings and started off across
the weeds through the dreadful wil
derness toward what had once been
their home. When they left the oldest
was 10. The chance that their par
ents were among the few returning
peasants was too small to be calcu
lable. But they were old in hard
ship, indured to devastation, and
the crows that croaked at their shawl
covered heads struck no terror to
their hearts.
These are not the only war-wise
children we encountered. At an
American Red Cross relief station
that has been catching the wayfarers
children as young as 6 sometimes
drift In by themselves. One little
chap came along and asked for a meal
and. having got that, sat with his chin
on his palm thinking for a few mln
utes. Then, looking up with bis wide
little eyes, said:
"It is coming on right now. so you
will not turn me out. will you?"
Another, when asked where he
came from, replied: "I don't come
from anywhere; Imp ust here; thaj's
alL"
Poland Has Opportunity.
The children of these parts are lit
tle old men and women. They have
seen nothing but war all their con
scious lives, and life Is serious to
them. The lack of children's shrill
cries and joyous laughter Is more de
pressing than the desolation all
about.
These Red Cross nurses have tales
to tell. These refugees come hungry,
broken, covered with vermin. They
are in no condition to set to work
deconstructing their farms. Besides,
they have no material, no foods, noth
ing. When the children are once
bathed and clean their happiness is a
delight. I saw one little girl of 8
who did not want to leave and go on
with her parents.
"I want to stay,' she protested. "I
never felt like this before."
If Poland is clever In administering
White Russia. It will feel that way
about ti. too.
BRIDGES WILL BE REBUILT
Xew 210-Foot Span Over Cowlitz
at ika Planned.
CHEHALJS. Wash.. Oct. 4. (Spe
cial.) The Cowlitz river bridge at
Nesika Is to be rebuilt soon, accord
ing to State Highway Commissioner
Allen, who has issued a call for bids
for a new 240-foot span. Bids will
be opened at Olympla October 20.
Two years ago
Overcoats
of smart
men and
one from
My showing"
overcoats for
vounsr men is
which you will delight to
choose for yourself, for it is
replete with fine examples
of the master-tailors' skill."
Here are rich, colorful
woolens of American, Irish,
Scottish and British weav
ing, correctly modeled and
faultlessly tailored; gar
ments that will serve, and
look well in the serving; the
kind of garments you like to
see men wear the kind you
like to wear yourself.
Come in and choose your
winter overcoat now while
there is so much to attract
and please you.
$25 to $90
enSellin
Morrison S treet ai Fourth:
to the bridge was washed avay and
a big jam caused the stream to shift
its main channel. This left the steel
span on the north end of the struc
ture practically high ana ary. fol
lowing a consultation of engineers
efforts were made to shift the stream
back to its old channel, but last win
ter when another big flood came all
this work was lost.
The last legislature made an ap
propriation which, added to Lewis
county and other funds, will add an
other span to the south end. By next
summer it is hoped to have the Nesika
bridge ready for travel.
W. J. ROBERTS IS DEAD
Seattle Business Man Is Survived
by Widow and Child.
' SEATTLE, Wash., Oct. 4. (Special.)
W. J. Roberts, ex-president or the
Roberts-Burkhardt company and a
member of the firm of the Alaska
Pacific Fisheries company, died Satur
day at his home after a week s illness.
Mr. Roberts .was a resiaent oi Se
attle for 25 years, having come here
from Portland, where he was born in
1SS. He Is survived by a widow and
a 12-year-old daughter, Virginia Rob
erts. Funeral arrangements will not
be completed until the arrival of C. A.
Burkhardt. president or tne Aiasna
Pacific Fisheries company, from Port
land.
toward the erection of a nurses' home
and to a relief emergency fund.
APPLE GROWERS IN PANIC
Shortage of Packers Threatens
Serious Loss to Many.
HOOD RIVER, Or., Oct. 4. (Spe
cial.) Hood River apple growers
have never experienced so severe a
shortage of apple packers as they
have this season. W. Wilkie, in
charge of the government employ
ment office, says he could place 200
packers at or.ee, but no more are
available.
A number of growers, fearing loss
of apples remaining picked in unpro
tected sheds, grew panicky today and
offered a cent bonus' over the six
cents set by the Apple Growers' as
WINLOCK TO GET PAVING
Plans for Roadway to Connect AVln
lotjk AVith Highway Approved,
CtfEHALIS, Wash.. Oct. 4. (Spa
rial.) Plans and specifications for
the proposed new paved road that "will
connect Winlock with the Pacific
highway at Cowlitz corner, have been
approved by the Lewis county com
missioners. G. R. Walker, E. G. Lowry
and Walter Clinton have been named
as appraisers and have begun their
work. The pavement will be 18 feet
In width and of concrete. It is hoped
to get some of the grading done this
winter so that the roadbed will have
time to settle before laying the con
crete next year.
The work is being done under the
Donahoe road law, the county to pay
half, the road district one-fourth and
the abutting property one-fourth
under the zone system.
Six Games Scheduled.
SALEM, Or.,... Oct.. 4. (Special.)
J. L. Stalker yesterday disposed of
his 103-acre ranch situated in the
vicinity of Silverton to Edward Olsen.
The consideration was $12,500. Arthur
Fosdick has sold his ranch, near Ger
vals, to A. C. Keene for $14,000, while
Frank Kloft. for af consideration of
$17,000, has sold to Frank Bernards a
150-acre ranch near St. Paul.
JACK PICKFORD
in
"BURGLAR BY PROXY"
A yarn packed full of action, adventure and rapid
comedy f un by the ton ! It's tough to slip out of being
a burglar when you are caught with the goods his best
girl there, too! You never could guess his alibi!
A Lloyd Comedy
"THE RAJAH"
Harold Lloyd, Bebe Daniels and
Harry Pollard in a joy-goulash
The Wonderful
PRIZMA
The glories of Glacier National
Park in natural colors.
TODAY AND ALL WEEK
New
Columbia
Orchestra
Evenings
Portland's
Theatre
Beautiful
Yudenltch Moves on Petrograd.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 4. Simultane-
otislyv with the renewal of the of
fensive against the bolsheviki. on the
eastern front by the Kolchak forces,
General Yudenitch has begun an ad
vance toward i-'etrograd from the
Archangel district, according to ad
vices by the Russian embassy.
Benefit Dance Nets $260.
THE DALLES. Or.. Oct. 4. (Spe
cial.) More than $260 was cleared at
dance given last night in the Elks
temple by The Dalles Hospital Alumni
the south approach association. The proceeds will go
O 1919 Knox Hat Company, lac.
k
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here is character in hats just
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good points are what you are
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then why not have the hat with
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good style; good quality; good
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on
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icliel
men's furnisher and hatter
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331 Washington st., near broadway
The Chamber of Commerce of Brus- IkSS rSrgST -7: 1 rfc ill 7 Vi'B
sels. Belgium, has recently addressed ilril frffT j i 'i')h I ' ''-I
the government, urging that harbor g 1 ImLj4 Sli 1 1 iv!1 V- I''il: IJ.Tni' l1 -ft J--"- L 1 9
works contemplated in 1914 should iHSBl&'W 'Ml I
now be constructed. . IMr&J) SPifl Mi'-"i?itnrtt sf J 5SZi ?
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i IB UlJM JUai-iV'WilW I ll-WMl 1:3! tf,.?-t 11 I : D
' rlll''illl' ' 'h ljjj Jj
S - &i ;l iff
jJ The Lady with the f Jt Ell M
$50,000 back. VC . . V' I If
f CV : - 111 U m B"del
See How
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Here is a really artistic lighting fixture that is beauti
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The fixtures illustrated are of the handsome Adam
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Miller Lighting Fixtures
Special, as Offered in Saturday Evening Post
CHANDELIER
5 1U antique gold
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BRACKET
2 It., with switch,
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Modestly priced.
Miss Gordon, in this pic
ture, wears an amazing
array of gowns, furs, hats
and jewelry all up to
the minute; a veritable
Fashion Show, displaying
$250,000 worth of finery.
"PLAYTHINGS OF PASSION"
Can two wrongs make a right? She was accused unjustly
by her husband, and in the resultant mix-up this Butterfly
of Fashion gets a clergyman tangled in the web. The
result was startling, to say the least!
TODAY
AND ALL WEEK
STAR
Washington at Park
a aa
SIDE DISHES
1. KINOGRAMS
2. FORD WEEKLY
3. SCREEN MONOLOGUE
See the Fixtures at Our Showroom
iii
mmt-am
J. C. English
Upstairs 148 Fifth Street
"It