davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1917-11-25
People Had Resolved
To Destroy Autocracy

The Cars empire at that time was
honeycombed with revolutionary CON-
mittecs, each Independent Of yet almost
all affiliated with the Narodnaia Volya,
the Peoples Will, which had decided
to crush autocracy at whatever cost to
the individual, so that the reign Of
ignorance, corruption and tyranny
might cease, and the people, after CEN
turtles OF oppression, at last come into
their own.
In the small town Of Tambov itself
there WAS a young school mistress who
had been a student in one Of the higher
schools which for the last forty years
had been open to women in Russia.
She was one of the politically "sus-
pected" or Enthusiastically" persons,
for, when scarcely fifteen years old,
she had interested herself in the well
fare of school children, had arranged
little meetings for them; and, as this
fact was equivalent 70 crime under
Nicholas IFS rule. she had been thrown
INTO prison. Finally, she was liberated.
but remained under police supervision.
This twenty-year-old girl was in
trusted By the Revolutionary Commit
tee with the task Of delivering Russia
from Luienovsky, who was passing
New-York tribune., 1917-11-25
Loyalty Forces, Rally
ing Around Senator
Nelson and Governor
Burnquist, Swamp
Pro-Germans
Farmers and Industrial
Workmen Gradually
Coming to See Their
Future Lies With
American Democracy

Ns1 York seiu haze an opportn-
,itY to-morTot0 night Of making the
acquaintance Of trco Of the leaders
jx the ,ceIter Of politics and pdcifsn
vkich has caused doubts as to the
loyalty Of the farmers Of the North
vest. A. c. To1cnley, president Of
tie Non-PdrtisGa League, farm
ers' organisGtion that Is seeking full
DoliticcI control Of the Northwester7'
States, ard J. N. Baer, a man it has
put into Congress ard a eartoonist
for Hearst, tciu speak at Madison
Square Garden at q meeting Under
labor auspices. IL t0Gs at a meeting
Of the league that La Toilette dellr-
srse the notorious speech th1t IS the
basis for action against him in the
Srcte. To shosO the conditions
vbieh these men haze helped to pro-
ducs The Tribune has obtained the
ioIlotcing article from a man IN the
closest possible touch nth the
Northeast and Of tried Judgment.
New-York tribune., 1917-11-25
Swede. Enlist
Before the Draft

Shortly after the United States be-
came involved in the war. many of
foreign parentsgc volunteered their
services in behalf OF their country
For example, from the village of Lind
stror. Of this state, which Is inhab-
tied nearly exclusively by people OF
swedish extraction, IL per cent OF the
nopulation enlisted prior TO the draft.
Il ia claimed that the proportion OF
enlistments 20 population is as great
in this village as in any other village
in the country. II is possible that some
citizens of Scandinavian birth. be-
cause of ancient antipathy 20 Russia.
svmpathized with Germany in the ear
~ stages Of the war; but to-day these
naturalized Americans, who constitute
about two-thirds of the foreign born
population Of Minnesota, having Tor
many years enjoyed the advantages
and liberties Of this land. will un-
questionably do their share in Its be-
half
"Those Of this state who we're Dora
IN Germany make up about one-tnird
of it's foreign born population. Among
them are to be found some OF our
most loyal and patriotic citizens. Inc
work they have done in the sale OF
Liberty bonds and Red Cross contri-
New-York tribune., 1917-11-25
Was Proud Of
Commission to Kill

Slim and tall, with a beautiful, ex-
pressive face, lovely. as youth only can
be, with long auburn hair, and eyes
which betrayed that in her dreams she
already saw Russia free. she having
contributed toward 1t. thus was Marie
Spiridonova. She suffered inexpressi-
bly, at the scenes Of horror she wit
messed daily, and was proud of the
task given 20 her.
The government officials under Mich
olas IFS regime knew that they were in
danger; that at any time a bomb or
the thrust Of dagger might end their
iniquitous career. But Luienovsky's
suite was impotent TO guard him from
the revolver with which Marie Spirido-
nova wounded him mortally on January
Is, 1906, as he alighted from the train.
Her mission accomplished, she tried 70
kill herself, but the charge failed.
There followed a treatment of her
which seems incredible, but friends Of
mine who were watching her from the
distance. and her mother, who saw her
weeks after. assured ne the means the
police officer and his Cossack used can
only be compared 20 the darkest doings
of the Inquisition. She was seized by
the hair. dragged along by the arms, so
that her body swept the ground. In the
police cell she underwent the most ao-
iect tortures, tortures so cruel and de-
grading that they cannot be related. a
degradation so infamous that for
months Ifterward her life was in
jeopardy. People who knew her before
and were asked TO identify her could
New-York tribune., 1917-11-25
Joe an Opportunist
In His Religion

Joe Gish's religion is somewhat
eheekered and susceptible TO hasty con-
versions. Many company commander
has smiled 10 himself at an open air
service before headquarters on a fair
Indian summer Sunday 10 see half A
battalion Of Joe Gish attentive to the
prayer of an eloquent Y. VI. {. A. shep-
herd. Smiled decorously. recalling that
when the War Department authorized
three days leave for celebration OF the
recent Jewish holidays 81 per ceRt Of
Joe Gish suddenly claimed 20 be Of
Hebrew persuasion.
But beyond ereeds and regulations
and kitchen police is a mecca towPrd
which swings the powerful body Of Joe
Gish at sundown, on wnich sets the
soldierly professional eye. 20 which
snaps the smart, rigid professional
salute, while the shrill b are of bugles
sounds "colors" and the big gun boons
across the waters. ~
That mecca is a thing penelIling
against the sunset sky down which hut-
ters a dash Of color, a mighty symbol
whose rest Joe Gish shall guard. The
long, cold night rules over troubled
seas. beyond which fights Joe Gish, be-
meath which lies Joe Gish and over
which will dawn the great morning 20
find Joe Gish still the backbone OF arm
les past, present, national and 20 come.
New-York tribune., 1917-11-25
Women Of Russias Revolt-Marie Spindonova

not recognize in this Ian entabIe wreck
the girl they had admired.
The report of what Marie Spirido-
nova underwent in that first hour alone
with the officer Of police and the Cos
sack, whose use Of the Cosssck whip
was the least Of their misdemeanors,
cannot be put down on paper Details
which were given at tn hour Of the
trial stirred the whole o. Russia 20 It's
very depths and flled the world with
horror.
Outwardly a phys cal wreck, the
shadow of her beaut.fu. self, the noble
spirit Of the prisoner had remained un-
daunted. With prophetic words-they
must come back sometimes 20 the dis
crowned Emperor of all the Russss In
his abandonment az Tobolsk-she
turned TO her judges: y do not fear
death. You may Kill ny body but you
cannot kill my belief that the time OF
the peoples happiness and freedom is
surely coming time when the life
Of the nation will express itself in
forms in which truth and justice will
be reslized-when the IDEAS Of brother
hood and freedom will be no more
empty sounds. but part of our everyGsy.
real life. II this be truth, IL is no grief
for me 10 lay down my life"
Her words. which carried the sonvic-
tion truth possesses. the impassioned
appeal Of her barrister, were Of no
avail. Marie Spiridonova was con-
demned TO death.
New-York tribune., 1917-11-25
An Offence Both
Sequence and Preface

The Summary Court officer Is aT
omnipotent council of one to prosecute,
defend and impose sentence upon Pri-
vate Gish for whatsoever misdemeanor
ne has committed. The officer has the
evidence plain writ before him and his
mind is largely on other things.
Private Gish evidences acute indiffer-
ence during the reading Of his crime.
His attitude is constrainedly respect
ful. He is not raw, but a regular Of
the deepest dye. His offense is one of a
series which is rotational, inextricably
sandwiched in his mind between over
staying his leave and overstaying his
leave again. 1t is the natural sequen ,e
20 the one and preface to the other.
He has found extended kitchen police
to be uncongenial and so expressed
himself in unbeftting terms, and GER
tain personal illusions, 70 his immedi-
ate superior, which worthy non-com
has now, as invariably in the past,
sought retaliation through the law.
"-- did act in a disrespectful man
ner toward a non-commissioned officer.
to wit, addressing him in the following
words:"
Here follows the phrase which con-
stituted the offense in which Private
Gish indiscreetly expressed his private
opinion concerning the ant~cedants Of
the non-com in question, unconsciousiy
voicing theories which sustain the
Darwinian and which are so excessively
funny as 20 cause the S. c. o. to retire
behind a cloud of cigarette smoke and
regain his judicial equilibrium. The
irste countenanee of the insulted one,
glaring from the background, bears
evidence that Private Gish's analysis
was inspired.
New-York tribune., 1917-11-25
Governor Takes
Optimistic View

A somewhat different and more op-
timistic view was voiced by Governor
Burnduist, "the Governor who knocked
out the Peace Council" From his post
of vantage he has been able TO keep
his finger on the public pulse. In his
judgment the improvement of public
sentiment has been marked and sub
stantial. not least among the foreign
born population, including the Ger
mans. The Governor says:
"The war situation in Minnesota is
to-day better than at any time since
the commencement Of the great strug-
gle. Prior to the entrance of the
United States into the conflict there
were, in our state as elsewhere. men
whose sympathies were biassed by rea-
son of their ancestry. Since our en-
trance into the war, however, senti-
ment has changed. A greater amount
Of study as to its cause and a more
definite knowledge OF the desire of the
German government to extend its
boundaries for selfish purposes, to-
gether with proof of the unbelievable
atrocities of the German military
autocracy, have made the people real
ize that the only way in which we can
hope to have a righteous and lasting
peace is through the defeat of the self.
seeking, barbaric war machine of the
house Of Hohenzollern.
Minnesota has recently had some
experience with disloyalty, when GER
tain misguided public officials, in q
community where those Of German an
cestry resided, were instituting a
movement in opposition 70 sending
troops 10 foreign battlehelds; but,
since the suspension Of those officials
and the forbidding Of their meetings
and the so-called peace meetings OF
the type proposed by the American
Peace Council, there has been exceed
ingly bitter opposition throughout the
state TO the holding Of any meetings
that SAVIOR in any degree Of disloyalty
The Non-Psrtisan League. which per-
mitted the La Toilette speech, on rep
resentation that nothing seditious
would be said, has, since the day Of
that address, encountered many diff
culties
New-York tribune., 1917-11-25

The Petrograd papers tell US elYil
war has destroyed the democratic gov
ernmeut which was set up in the alno 81
religious fervor of the first days. The
reaction which follows every great ma
tional upheaval has begun.
There is nothing strange in all this;
history but repeats itself. Thus, after
the Ninth Of Thermidor which teIIed
Robespierre, the men who sat in the
Council Of the Nation amused them
selves with instituting a counter reyo-
luton.
A in the France Of 1894, it is not
the revolutionary spirit, but the spirit
Of The demagogue, which has taken hold
Of the democratic conference The
great cooperative organizations, the
Council OF the Zemstvos and that OF
the Towns will ask themselves II all
their efforts during the long, arduous
campaign, the care, devotion and fore
SIGH. they bestowed upon the nations
wants. if il all has been in vain. II
reign of terror will succeed or utter
indifference lead the people 10 be fin
ally the prey Of the enemy. The pres
ent moment is grave, but firmly be-
lieve the flames will subside and a
greater and stronger Russia arise.
Doubtless the two women. seated in
the gallery, listening now to one OF
the rare impassioned speeches, then
again looking at the apathetic faces OF
some of the men who had come back
from the front, nominally to help the
great republic on her way but who
apparently had lost every interest in
il, must have wondered and asked them
selves how it was that times had so
sadly changed.
New-York tribune., 1917-11-25
Knew Suffering
In Siberian Exile

These practical democrats, who had
spent years among the people, who both
had languished in the Siberian mines
under suffering unspeskable, these two
women, Nine. Breshkovsky and Nile.
Spiridonova, had the right 70 ask such
questions; for one, the venerable figure
to the right of the estrade, known all
through Russia as "Babushka," the
grandmother of the revolution, has de-
voted her whole life to the cause; and
the other, still in the pride Of life
as far as years go, is Mile. Marie
spiridonova, who. at twenty, killed
viee-Goyernor Lujenoysky.
In these days OF wholesale murder,
when our men are decorated for killing
Boches-and those who kill most are
most honored-it is difficult TO say
that Marie Spiridonova ssssssinAted
the man VINO. accompanied By his Cos
New-York tribune., 1917-11-25

the form of visiting card an officer
should use; he has been guilty OF con-
duct unbecoming an officer and forth
with ANONYMOUSLY discharged a thou
sand times and for thousand reasons;
he has been shot for desertion and
cited for bravery; assigned 20 kitchen
police and recommended for promotion,
all within the pages of the army's great
textbook. But in the heart Of the old
army, Joe Gish is a regular, true 20
form, steel hard and snromsntic, the
backbone of "all armies, past, present,
national and 70 come" as the saying Is
to give full credit 70 the new forces.
With the C. A. c. band playing
Faust" in front OF headquarters and
the sun streaming over the old parade
ground and rambling white buildings
nearly a century old, it is hard 70 be-
lieve in the iron hand OF Joe Gish
beneath this velvet glove. But the
shriil note OF the bugle in recall" and
the swift gathering Of officers on the
steps OF the old white house where the
X. o. reigns, while 'Faust's" love-sick
plant continues, show the war gods
spear and make the very sun appear
willy factor in a system of camouhage.
But Joe Gish is rare-y entirely what
Re seems. There is a summary court
officer, who has perhaps less to learn
Of human nature than any other, who
received the shock Of his life recently
when inspecting the evidence OF most
commonplace case. A certain Joe Gish,
Of unknown antecedents, was charged
with "defacing government property by
writing upon and otherwise defacing
the walls OF cantonmeut." The IN
specting officer gazed incredulously
Upon powerful sketch of Robins
great statue ale Penseur." Behind
the titanic figure loomed the dim con-
tours of the Pantheon in Paris. before
which the original stands, etched with
architectural precision.
The s. G. o. withdrew, profoundly
concerned with the difficulties Of try
ing fellow student of the great mas
ter. just dead, for so magnificent
crime. Joe Gish is often recruited from
the worlds of art and fortune, which
have proved too slow for the nomad
soul which is born for soldering.
On the other hand, Joe Gish is the
logical conclusion Of his training.
Down the road from the guardhouse
10 another kind OF trial at headquarters
New-York tribune., 1917-11-25
Sentence COMMITTED
To Life Imprisonment

Public opinion had been reused at the
recital OF what this martyred cir. had
suffered. ! rember well the day when
the news came 10 Paris. Some OF my
countrymen, among them Anatole
France, interested themselves on her
behalf and sent a petition 70 the Car
asking that she should not be executed.
Il was in Nicholas us interest az that
time 20 be friends with France, so the
judgment was changed into that Of per-
petual imprisonment.
For months Marie Spiridonova lin
gered between life ana death, but at
last she was ready 10 start for the
Akatui Denitentiary. close 20 the Arctic
Ocean. The journey was a triumphal
procession. With banners and speeches
she was received, not merely by the po-
litical offenders, but even by the local
authorities. There is something in the
heart of every Russian 20 which cour-
age and nobility Of character appeal
II you accept the oficialdom built up by
carbon.
The year Marie Spiridonova spent az
Akatui, where she found compan ions.
girls like herself implicated IN political
aggressions, was too favorable for the
Czar's tools. With six others, she was
transferred in the middle OF winter. in
open sledges, 10 another penal settle
nent, and the Governor Of Chitrs. 90
make sure that measures were as Sc
we're as he wanted. finally confined her
10 a prison under his own guard.
Il was there that the news reached
her, ten years later, that she had not
suffered in vain, but brought stone To
build up that greater and happier Rus
sia 10 which all her thoughts had
tended. for which she had been ready
20 give what man holds dearest-her
life. Marie Spiridonovs had done morst
New-York tribune., 1917-11-25

the loan was much greater than had
been expected. Duluth leads the list
with 20 per cent Of her population as
Liberty bondholdsrs. Twenty-one OF
twenty-six "Austrians" in the local
steel works took bonds, probably, how
ever, mainly as q good investment and
hold upon their jobs. The farmers
Of the state, who were sluggish on the
first loan, came forward more readily
this time, although they are still be-
hind the cities. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
have occurred mainly in farming COM
munities; oversubseriptions in cities
and villages. Many of the strong Ger
man communities are far behind; in
other places the Germans are well TO
the front.
The bad spots" in the state are
clearly shown where subscriptions have
fallen far below allotments. with the
people exceptionally well-to-do. The
loan campaign has been effectively in
strumental in defining the boundaries
OF territories where there is a commu-
nifty love of European fatherland that
overshadows that of a devotion 10
America. Loud protestants of loyalty in
some sections of established wealth
have taken TO the cyclone cellar when
solicitors for the bonds appeared on the
horizon"
But, on the whole, our people did
we'll, and in many other ways also they
are coming TO take more active part
in She business of the war
All this is encouraging. There is nc
doubt that the general condition OF
public feeling and activities has i'm
proved. and that the war sentiment has
grown substantially in strength. Yet
things may not be exactly what they
look. The conservative-or shall we
say pessimistic view was expressed,
during a frank talk by banker Of
Minneapolis, who is in close touch with
conditions all over the state. In his
opinion the war sentiment is crystal
LIKING, but still rather weak. Il is not
what the loyalty meetings and the sue
cess Of the loan would seem TO indi-
cate. There is a rather strong under
current for peace among the people,
and il is not easy 10 forecast how il
will be influenced by unfavorable de-
velopments abroad. He himself expects
a long and hard war. The farmers, he
thinks, will go as strong as now on the
next loan, but no stronger.
New-York tribune., 1917-11-25
Governor Vetoes
Peace Council

Fortunately, Minnesota had as ehlei
r,o-,t91.a a frue American, a firm and
-esolute man, with the courage o.
t;s convictions. Governor burnquls.
rronn,Iv vetoed the much heraIoeS
peace Council meeting. and thus WIN
80 Mid stroke checked seditlous
v,ovement that threatened 10 ASSUME
dangerous proportions. Otner Hvs-
sr,oys followed the example set pS
Sin and the Peace Council oecsne
wanderer and practically an ou''a"
in the land. .;o, With the
cs,,a,ror as president, was proihPS "
,ska vigorous measures 10 CheeA
ie,.s1.,, and incipient lawlessness' Ae.p
80 close watch, especially IN
n;n;rg districts and on the colhgS -
the Organizers and speakers ot ''''
N0r,f Tte d salntary Effects Of this i1rm ,r,
noiicv soon became apparent: u,,t
great league convention IN ot. -;
which had been planned IN spIlIs
defiance, came 70 mark a turning FO
in league strategy. Some OF tne sPean
ers. among them La Follette, W.
played their hands, inviting action W
The Safety Commission ana ha'ions'
government agencies. Inc 'oeb"s -
ers concluded that the time had come
70 cut out open pro-Germanism ana
mako the organization officially ioya!.
Not trusting in these professions, tne
reople in many localities Of the state
hsvc refused TO hear Mr. Townley. AT
The ,ame time. The /. W. W. have also
h.ror. more circumspect since good.
Iv batch OF their leaders was bagged
bv the national government.
Hand in hand with these and other
e4orts for suppressing disloyalty much
gooa work has been done 70 promote
fovaI,v. Patriotic meetings have been
hsid and largely attended in al parts
~ .be state. and addressed BY. the
Governors and other strong speakers;
STbo stars and Stripes League has
tsen organized to arouse active IN
,s,sst in war work and incidentally 70
as,bcr records Of slackers OF all
sbsdc, "Labor's Loyal Legion has
Sorc .plendid work in combating the
eosiaiis. pro-Gorman propsgsnds IN
,be ranks Of the toilers.
And now, how do we stand to-day
unrb better than q few months ago
Wir,s,ota oversubscribed her allotment
~ the second Liberty Loan, az d,d tns
ar district at large. In some iocaii.
,1s. Z ~ the state the general interest In
New-York tribune., 1917-11-25
By Nine. Marie de Perrot

sacks, had come 10 the government os
Tamboy, obeying the orders given by
Nicholas II to "pacify" the country
in other words, to commit wholesale
murders of its inhabitants.
1t was in 1905, the year Of the Red
Sunday, and the feeble, terror-.tricken
Emperor of all the Russias, hiding
away from his people at Tsarskoe Selo
was devising with his councillors new
means of torture TO further humiliate,
oppress and torture the ignorant, naif
masses who had believed the Little
Father would help them in their mis-