Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-14

willingness to accept any leader who ap-
peals to them. The truth about his brief
meteoric career is gradually coming to light.
He was employed by the police to organize
the workmen Of St. Petersburg in opposition
to the social democratic party, In opposition
to the labor unions, in opposition to the
strike, and was we'll paid for it. Since his
death $15,OO0 has been found to his credit
In one of the banks, and 1t has been dis
covered that a newspaper reporter here,
who was employed to work with him among
the labor element, robbed him of $4,000 or
$4,000 before his assassination. There Is
no doubt that he was assassinated. The
man who committed the deed Is known
to be one Lundenberg, an engineer, VINO
has fed from the country and Is now being
sought for by the police. l was told yes
terday that he was in the United States
The ablest leader of the workmen was
Paul Nassau, better known as Croustalion,
who Is now in prison because OF his own
vanity. II he had not lost his head and
allowed himself to boast of his achieve
ments he might be at the head of the labor
party in the duma today in place of Ala
din. His is an interesting story.
Nassar's Notable Career.
Nassau Is son Of peasant of the vii
lage of Tsatringoff, In Little Russia" He
distinguished himself In the village schools,
went through the gymnasium of kharkon
and the University Of Moscow, where he
took his degree before he was twenty-five
years old His brilliant talents attracted
attention, and Mr.. Cherimetsuffski, who
may be called the leader of the MOSCOW bar,
invited him to study law in his office. Mas
sar spent his leisure time investigating eco
nomic and political questions, and, ike
many other young men, became infected
with the socialistic fever. He abandoned
as promising a career as was ever offered
to a young man in Russia and left Mr..
Cherimetsuffskrs law Office to join the great
army Of artisans and learn the printers
trade. AS soon as he became journeyman
he organized his associates and the other
printers of st. Petersburg in a secret union,
and then visited Moscow. Kieff. Warsaw,
wilma, Kharkoff Kazan. Odessa and other
cities of Russia, where he succeeded in
bringing the local compositors together IN
the same way. After arranging a secret
code Of communication and rules for CO.
operation he returned to st. Petersburg and
there directed a propaganda among the
printers Of Russia generally.
Last fall when the great strike began,
his opportunity came, and he sprang to the
head of the movement. He showed extra
ordinary talent for organization. his
day. reused the workingmen to the highest
pitch Of enthusiasm, and he exercised an
almost despotic power over the committee
OF 200 which managed the strike. Nassau
gave the police no excuse to arrest him. He
was exceedingly prudent and shrewd In all
his operations and the soul of the strike
He showed more ability, I am told, than
any other of the many brilliant leaders that
have appeared from time to time among the
laboring elements of Russia, and was daily
becoming more and more powerful emo
dangerous. Indeed, 1t was feared In high
| quarters that he might attempt to play the
role Of Murat, Danton, RObespierre or other
leaders in the French revolution, or pro-
claim himself dictator OF Russia. The min
| istry became convinced that as long al
he was at large the strike would continue
But he had committed no ofense against
| the law and there was no pretext for his
arrest.
Betrayed by His Vanity.
Therefore Gen. Dedoulne. who succeeded
| Trepoff as chief Of police, invited him to q
| conference, and Nassau walked directly int
the trap. His vanity was 80 fiattered bj
| the compliments of Dedouline that he los
| his head entirely and. at the latter's re-
quest, related the principal incidents In hi
/ history. 1t was a fatal mistake, for imme
| for carrying false passport He had boast
| ed to Dedouline that Croustaliof, the grea
| labor leader, the man whose name was OF
| every tongue, and who held the peace and
| safety OF the city of st. Petersburg in thu
| hollow of his hand, was really Paul Nassau
son OF Tsheringon peasant. and formeri.
| law student of Cherfmetsunski NASSAU
| went from that unfortunate conference
prisoner to the dungeons OF st. Peter an,
st. Paul. His rooms were searched ant
among his papers were found the names o
his associates, who were also sent to prison
and remain there still. Nassar's arrest wa.