The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1905-10-18

have been fought between them ana
the Uligani, and the men In uniform
have always got the worst of 1t, the
courage of despair conquering over
the unwilling bravery that is only
prompted by duty and discipline.
Another thing he found in Russia.
The old fear OF speaking aloud forbid
den truths has vanished. A feeling OF
recklessness pervades the nation from
the highest to the lowest. A rich man
ufacturer of vodka and Warsaw bar
Der, a cavalry colonel and police cap
tain, a Moscow cab driver and ST
Petersburg hotel porter-all repeated
the same refrain: 1T is all changed.
The game is now open. Why should
we not speak? If they kill us can that
be worse than what we are suffering
now?"
It took Mr.. Mandelkern two years to
arrange matters so that he could re-
turn to Russia without fear Of the au-
thorities. He had to have complete
discharge as a Russian subject before
his American passport could be of any
value to him. Once it was ia his
hands he hurried to Bielostok, where
his aged mother was still alive. 1t was
not until he had reached Russia that
his eyes became opened to what was
going on around him, and he became
filed with an irresistible desire to
learn as much as possible about this
nation in transformation.
Two things helped him to overcome
obstacles that would have been insur-
mountable to most other men. They
were his complete familiarity with the
Russian and Polish languages and his
American citizenship. He carried with
him two American flags of silk, which
be was In the habit Of displaying con-
Spicuously in his room. To those who
knew no better he let those flags serve
As tokens of ebullient patriotism. Real
ly he displayed them because they
were the talismans that set all natives
talking. "Amerikanisti," they cried,
and their eyes glistened. From Amer
ica-from the lucky land. Then you
are no spy" And while they talked
Mr.. Mandelkern listened and made
note.
Il remember when l was a student
ne said. THAT was in the days when
the bureaucracy still was all power
full and when to breathe anything
against the government was worth
ones freedom If not ones life. But
now it Is all changed. Everybody talks
in Russia today, and nobody cares.
That's a step forward at least"
On the train that carried him from
Alexandrovo, on the German frontier,
to Bielostok he met the new spirit for
the first time. The first inkling Of IT
came from the chief conductor, who
spotted Mr.. Mandelkern for foreign
Pr by his satchel The traveller, mind
full of the old days, replied quickly that
he would not listen to any talk about
politics. The white bearded conductor
laughed
1--WE all talk" he said. Whom have
we to fear? The government-pooh
Everybody knows that a change has
got to come"
saw, who looked like a prince, said the
same thing You know they cannot
kill us all They may Kill me and the
next man and hundred of US, but 1t
must come to an end sooner or later.
And then the rest of us will be free.
That's why it is not as of old. That's
why the game is now open"
1t is not the government, but the
Ullgani; not the pressure from above,
but the pressure from below, that tho
ordinary citizen has come to fear most,
Mr.. Mandelkern said In BielostOk he
had a chance to see with his own eyes
what the Uligani were and what work
they did. He had a friend named Mo
rem, a manufacturer who employed 500
men In his cloth factory and who never
had had a quarrel with his labOrers.
One day while Mr.. Mandelkern was at
Moren's house the latter was visited by
three men. They were dressed in blue
blouses of a particular cut and wore
short sticks These TWO, it seemed,
were the Insignia of the Uligani. They
were dirty and unkempt and insolent.
Their demand was for 800 rubles, to be-
paid before 10 O'Clock the next day.
who are you?" asked the manufac-
turer. Il know the Bund (the central
body Of the Social Democratic party
and know the Achrana the Citizens
Protective association. You represent
neither. Show me who you are and
will pay, but to any man walking in
from the street I'll not give up money"
Never mind who we are rejoined
the visitors Never mind why you
should pay Pay you must for protec-
ton, for your own life's sake"
That day Moren spoke to his work
men and asked If the demands came
from them.
mo, little father" said their spokes-
man. I'VE have no quarrel with thee.
Thou art ever fair. Those men were