Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-09

leaders in the 1905 revolution and be-
came associated with the socialists
when he came to this country from
Russia.
The strength of the mAximalfsts has
Lain in the support which they obtain
ed from the military, chiefly in the
Perograd garrison, among which they
had been able to work with little inter
ference from their government. They
had failed, however, to impress their
policies upon Russia as whole, as has
been shown by the manner in which
they were outvoted in the allRnssian
congress and the minority part played
in the organization Of the preliminary
parliament in which they refused to
participate after they were shown to
be outnumbered.
.PETRoGRAD IS STRONGHOLD.
Nevertheless their influence upon
Russia's policy, both internal and e1.
ternal, has been marked because OF
their predominance in Petrograd, the
seat of government 1t was this SIMS
ter influence that in part prompted the
recent proposal by the Kerensky gov
eminent to remove the capital to Mos
COW where it was believed the govern.
ment would be freer to represent ade-
quately the will of the whole Russian
people.
The bolsheviki have worked chiefly
through the Petrograd council OF work
mems and soldiers delegates, which
was their absolutely. Uncertain Of
their ground at first, they refused
months ago to assume responsibility
although claiming the power to dictate
the governments policy.
BoLDNEsS OF RECENT ORIGIN.
Latterly, however, they have shown
Increasing holiness. The fear of q
counter revolutionary movement which
held them in check for long time has
been virtually dissipated by the failure
of the Kornilo1f revolt, and they appar-
emily have been preparing for a con-
siderable period for a radical move to
assert their authority. This was evil
denced recently when they appointed .
military committee to take charge OF
the defense of Petrograd and ordered
the garrison to accept only its orders
and ignore the governments author
ity.
KERENsKY FoREsAW DEFEAT.
Premier Kerensky seemingly recog-
nized that the growing menace to his
government was one he could not cope
with by drastic measures, surrounded
as he was by military power IN the
hands Of his opponents. It was only
within the past day or two that he re-
fused to declare the bolsheviki virtual
outlaws at the request of the cossacks,
although asserting the government
was taking all measures to deal with
the threatened uprising.
Kerensky's task at the head of the
provisional government since his as
sumption of the premiership on July
20, last, has been a formidable one.
Hailed as the savior Of Russia in her
hour of need, he labored to keep the
divers elements comprising the revo-
,utionary democracy together.
~sAvIOR'' Is DISCOURAGED.
Assailed from one side by the clam.
ors OF the extremists for an early
peace and the abortion OF the most
radical internal policies, he was i'm
PEELED from the other to endeavor to
maintain some form OF cohesive gov
eminent for the nation, save Russia
from falling into the trap laid for her
by the German propagandists In their
peace clamoring and endeavor to keep
Russia in her place in the war ana
faithful tc her obligations to her allies.
THAT he was becoming discouraged
over the situation was indicated by
recent interview with him in which. al
though he declared Russia WAS stin en-
phaticaIly in the war, he asserted she
had been worn out by the struggle and
felt she had right to claim that her
allies henceforth assume the heavier
part of the burden.