The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-15
TO COUNTRYMEN
HIS WORD IS LOST.
Scranton Druggist the Leader
Of $4,000 Lithuanians.
DENIES ENCOURAGING RIOTS.
furcsd 10 Leave Russia He Is a Potent
Factor Among Miners Ia the
Coal Fields.

Scranton. Pa. Aug. 15.-Enrolled as
postgraduate student at the Polyclinic
hospital. Philadelphia, Is soft spoken.
mild hammered. we'll educated middle aged
man. DIR. John Szlupas is his name. and
to every appearance he has no other aim
In life than to take advantage OF every.
modern discovery in medicine and sur
gerry. He seldom speaks. and then only In
the line OF duty He has few. II any.
friends among his professional associates,
but his manner is always polite in the ex-
treme.
In the anthracite coal regions they know
this man otherwise. Talk ten minutes to
a mine operator fearful OF an attack by
Lithuanian strikers. and the name of DR..
Szupas will be mentioned. A sheriff.
deputy or coal and iron policeman will do
the same thing, while little Lithuanian
priest will shake his head and sigh sadly
as he speaks. That quiet. low voiced stu
dent has power almost supreme over a
majority OF the forty-fve thousand Lith-
uanians In the counties OF Carbon. Lacka-
wanna, Luzerne. Columbia, Northumber-
land and Schuyikill. He Is the founder
and ruler OF society which has many
thousand members His rule. they tell
of the society is to combat religion, ex-
listing government and existing customs.
ANARCHY is DENIED.
Many will go further than this and call
the purposes of the society anarchfstic
and point 70 the acts OF lawlessness OF
the present strike. almost entirely COM
mitted by Llthuanians. as one proof But
this Is vehemently denied by members of
the society who will discuss II. by the
physicians friends and family. It's pur-
poses are almost entirely educational.
they declare. Its object is to distribute
literature that will inspire higher thought,
make better citizens and encourage defer
ence TO laws.
Atheistic they admit II Is and sociallstic
OF communistic. but beyond that rational.
Force OF all kinds Is abhorent and con-
demned.
When DR.. John Sziupas came TO the
coal regions. eighteen years ago. he was
almost the pioneer OF his compatriots. He
was no more than twenty-five years OF
age and already physician. Many re-
member that then there was no more de-
vout member of the church than he. none
more jealous II its work. AS his country
men trickled In. he set about forming
them In congregations and he IL was who
brought the hrst Lithuanian priests to
this country.
Very little was known Of HIS antece-
dents then. as very little is generally
known now He was born, II Is said. Of q
good family In the country, near the Bal
ito sea. under Russian dominion. He had
attended the university first at Moscow
and then at st. Petersburg Young and
enthusiastic he had Joined one of the stu
| dent movements that are always cropping
| out and that had resulted In hurried de-
| parture from his native land. IT Is under
| stood that he never can return.
BECAME FREE THINKER.
Almost without warning DR.. Sziupas
| withdrew from the church about twelve
| years ago, and q short time later an
nounced himself free thinker. He has
| written many books and pamphlets since
then explaining why he did this. and the
/ burden OF 1. is rather an attack on the
| clergy itself than on the Institution.
His first society. known as the Society
| OF Science" was organized In Shenan-
| doah two years later. II had a member
| ship OF several hundred and has since
grown, II is said. Since then the Society
| OF Science" recently renamed the Union
| OF Free Thought" has established chap
| ters I'm every district OF the coal regions.
| In New York, Baltimore. Chicago, Water
| bury, Conn. and Philadelphia.
Szlupas always has remained Its SUI
| preme head. debating its policy and pro-
| ducing it's literature. With the exception
OF a small pamphlet entitled THE Bes-
| tiality OF the Tsars," and contributions 70
| the Truth Seeker and other English pa
pers of free thought they are In Lithua-
| nian.
DIR. szlupas lives with his wife and sew
eral daughters In a pretty home at 917
| Capouse street, and conducts drug store
| at All Penn avenue. This latter Is con-
| stantly visited by strangers from all over
the country. and behind the prescription
counter ape chairs and table Uttered
Al. a.. exyfu lie MI
In the absence OF DR.. Szlupas the store
Is conducted by his assistant DIR. j. Be
cevch, who processes himself entirely ir
accord with the views Of the elder phys
| clan. He explained today the objects ant
aims OF the society, and denied the ex
Isplanations OF strangers.
Amy one lies he declared, when h
| says DIR. Szlupas or the Union Of Fre
| Thought advocates anarchy or misru1e
They lie II they say he IL In anywise re
sponsible for any rioting now or at an,
other time. His life and his teaching
have Difference to law and education a
their ruling thoughts. DR.. szlupas ap
his society repudiate the church and al
churches and all religions He does no
believe In any OF them. He believes tina
, II a man iivos honestly here the hereafte
will take care Of Itself.
HIS IDEAS OUTLINED.
"IJnder no circumstances does he believ
2 force should be used to obtain anything
= The true weapon OF accomplishment an
! improvement. he believes. Is education
AS the minds OF all men grow broader h
a | knows the world will grow better. IL wi
Danish superstition ID all kinds. an
| where Improvement In government
needede that will come"
: what is his ideal OF government" ID
Bacevch WAS asked.
'Socialistic or communistic. the govern
| ment Of all. the only rational form"
Does ne advocate that for this cour
o tryy'
n mo" was the quick answer. He doc
| not He knows such state OF things Is
. matter OF evolution. II needs no advc
Gates IL will come OF Its own accord7"