Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-28
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Nearer the frequently predicted overthrow
Of the cars government and the esta blish-
ment of the democratic republic. In conse-
quence, the raising of the slnews OF war has
become the vital problem for the socialists,
who constitute the bulk OF the various rev.
dictionary bodies.
In Poland this has been accomplished by
organizing a gigantic series of robberies, OF
which the chief victims are government in-
situations. Trains have been held up and
mail vans looted in g. fashion which recalls
the most daring exploits of the bandits OF
the untamed west. Banks have been looted
and treasury funds seized despite armed
guards. The raids have been planned with
rare skill and cunning and carried out with
q reckless courage and audacity which the
desire for plumber alone could hardly have
inspired. The perpetrators evidently believe
II is case of the end justifytng the means,
and are troubled with no computations OF
conscience. Besides filling the revolutionary
golfers these daring outrages have rekin-
died interest in the socialists and revived
the waning faith in their power to make 1t
hot for the government.
One Of the first official institutions the
Polish socialists determined to attack were
the government spirit shops, where vodka is
sold, and from which large revenue is de-
rived. The means employed are of the SIM
plest man enters a shop, buys big bot
tie of ''monopol.' the vodka Is called,
containing as much as two or three quarts,
drops II in the doorway. sets a light to 1t,
and shouts Pail Sic dts burning) at the
top of his voice.
At the signal his accomplices, who have
been waiting outside. rush in, and before
the astonished cashier can recover his pres
ence of mind. hold revolver to his head,
while one or two others empty the contents
of the till into their pockets. By this time
crowd has collected round the shop, with
perhaps a soldier or two, but the assailants
make their escape. shooting their revolvere
right and left; the rabbe loot the burning
shop. the ambulance comes to take the
wounded and dead away, and before po-
lice Inspector appears on the scene to write
his report there is no trace OF money spirits
or socialists left.
In one day between the hours of 10 am
and q in the afternoon twenty-five spirit
shops were looted in Warsaw. alone.
The authorities then set soldiers to guard
every spirit shop in Warsaw, Lodz and
other large towns. Two soldiers are usu-
ally allowed TO each shop. but the social
lists, nothing daunted raid them just the
same. The idea of burning them was
abandoned and other ruses employed. Space
forbids even short account of them all,
but the following is a fair example,
Two soldiers and a policeman-to writo
the inevitable 'protocar-were stationed
outside large spirit shop in one of the
busiest thoroughfares of Warsaw. The po-
hceman stood in tie road and one soldier
thanked each side of the entrance On the
other side OF the street stood an old man
band OF three or four rough-looking youths
came along, went up to the old man with
the pickles. bargain with him for mo-
ment and knocked over his barrel.
The old man began TO shout for help; the
soldiers and the policeman went to see
what was the matter. the policeman wrote
a protocol" and meanwhile another band
of bandits had entered the spirit shop,
held up the cashier and carried off 800
rubles in ready money and government
stamps.
These raids became frequent last sum-
mer that the authorities determined to
shut some of the spirit shops and double
the guard at others; but neither plan works
well. because the socialists find means of
evading the guard. and the spirit shops are
too good source of revenue to be shut In
q hurry. Sometimes. however, the raiders
have a hard fight for their booty. At 2
small town near Lodz they took 1900 rublc5
IN money and stamps gave receipt
signed by the Polish socialists for the
amount. and were chased by five Cossa cks
as they We're driving off in two-horse cab
TO a distant station.
On reaching the open country the Co.'S
sacks came up within shootinS distance of
them and began to fire. The socialists.
nothing daunted got out of the cab and
fred back with their revolvers When
their pursuers got a little nearer they left
the road and took refuge In cornhel6
shooting from the ditch. The Cossacks