The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1911. RUSSIA’S WAVE OF CRIME.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 64, 30 October 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 191 1. RUSSIA’S WAVE OF CRIME.

The remarks of Mr Felix Volkliovsky, a -well-known Russian politicial leader, throw an interesting light on the present conditions in Russia. Interviewed just before the attempted assassination of M. Stolypin, Mr Volkhovsky, referring to the recent murders of police officials in Russia, said he had no official knowledge of them from the executive of the Social Revolutionary party, but with the virtual breaking up of the old revolutionary societies there had been new ones formed with which he was not in touch, and they might quite probably bo re-

sponsible for what had occurred if the facts were as reported. The change which had taken place for the better in tiie attitude of the Government after the downfall of Plehvc was but temporary, and it had been followed

by a period in which the idea of the officials was one of revenge, and the outrages perpetrated, particularly on

the helpless “politicals,” in the prisons had stirred the consciences of the people as never before. Mr Volkhovsky said he believed that there would 1)0 another effort at revolution. Since 190 b the Government had set

itself to upset the system of communal

ownership on which the ancient village communities wore founded, and this had led,to much bitterness among the peasantry, who formerly were

juiesccnt. Tiie heavy taxation for the support of the army and navy was causing famine, but, most of all, there was the tyranny of officials and the

reign of crime. The Government, in seeking for some class in society on whoso support it could depend, had ad to fall hack on the worst elements n the population. In nearly every ssuo of any Russian paper one would

see a long series of crimes recorded which wore admittedly perpetrated by officials, or so-called “loyal” people, who had formed a great many organistations ostensibly for the support of the present regime, but membership of which was a decided advantage to any one accused of crime. Those peo-

ple never missed an opportunity to commit robberies and crimes of violence, not even stopping short of mur-

der. When the Courts wore compelled to convict them they were -invariably pardoned. That had now become the recognised rule. The con-

see nonce was a reign of terror such

;ts had never boon known before. r I Iso famous cases of General Rein hot and Colonel Korotki, the prefect and subprofect of Moscoav, were mere illustrations of what was happening everywhere. These things were stirring up a bigger revolution than ever, and one in which the word of the Tsar could no longer lie used with effect to quell the trouble hy promises of reforms, which people knew by experience would not ho canned out. Taking this view, the outlook for Russia'is indeed unhappy.