The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-08
Leon TrOtsky, Who OverthreW
Kerensky, a PrO-German.
He Also Was One of Leaders of
1905 Revolution.
RADICAL SOCIALIST AGlTATOR
Acted for Lenine, Wanted by
Govt as Kaiser Agent.
Won Control of Workmen's and
Soldiers Congress.

Gated for some time past that an at
tempt was to be made by the Maxine
alists in Petrograd to seize control of
the capital. November 2 was the date
originally set for an extremist demon
stration which was expected by its
promoters to result in the taking over
of power by this element A post
ponement to an unannounced date,
however, was afterward decided upon.
The MaMmalist, or Bolsheviki ele-
ment, comprises the most extreme
class of the Russian revolutionary
Socialists. 1t first sprang into promi-
hence in the early days of the revolt
ton, under the leadership of Nikolai
Lenine, the radical agitator, who later
was put under the ban of the pro-
visional government because of his
ultra-radical preachments and his sus-
pected ro-German leanings. He is
known to have been in Petrograd for
some time past, but a government
order for his arrest failed to result in
his apprehension. Meanwhile these
MaximaIists were under the leader
ship of his chief lieutenant, Leon
Trotzky. whose home was in the
United States when the revolution
broke out, but who sailed for Russia
shortly afterward. He was one of the
leaders in the 1905 revolution.
Were DisgruntIed Minority.
The strength of the Maximalists has
lain in the support which they OBJ
tanned from the military, chiefly in
the Petrograd garrison, among which
| they have been able to work, with lit
| tie interference from their govern
ment. They had failed, however, to
impress their policies upon Russia as
whole, as has been shown by the
manner in which they were out-voted
! in the all-Russian congress and the
| minority part played in the organiza-
| ton of the preliminary parliament in
which they refused to participate after
| they We're shown to- be outnumbered.
| Nevertheless, their influence upon
! Russia's politics, both internal and ex-
ternal, has been marked because of
| their predominance in Petrograd, the
| seat of government. 1t was this sinis-
| ter influence that in part prompted
/ the recent proposal by the Kerensky
| government to remove the capital to
! MOSCOW, where it was believed the
| government would be freer to repre-
| sent adequately the will of the whole
| Russian people.
| The Bolshevih have worked chief
/ ly thru the -Petrograd council of work
1 mems and soldiers delegates, which
/ was theirs absolutely. Uncertain of
their ground at first they refused
months ago to assume responsibility.
aitho claiming the power to dictate
Ithe governments policy Latterly
however, they have shown increasing
boldnesS. The fear of a counter reyo-
luuonary movement which held them
IN check for a long time has been yir-
tually dissipated by the failure of the
I}kornlloff revolt and thew apparentlv
nave been preparing for a consider
able period for a radical move to as
ssert their authority. This was evil
-uenced recently when they appointed
la military committee to take charge
OF the defense of Petrograd and or
dered the garrison to accept only its
orders and ignore the goyernment's
authority - .
Aerensky Regarded Menace.
Premier Kerensky seemingly recog-
hlzed that the growing menace to his
government was one he could not cone
with by drastic. measures surrounded
as ne was by the military power in the
! hands of his opponents 1t was on;,,
within the past day or two that he re.
fused to declare the Bolsheviki viz
! tual outlaws
| Kerensky's task at the head of the
provisional government since his as
sumption of the premiership on JULY
/ ~, last, has been a formidable ono
! Hailed as the savior of Russia in her
| hour of need, he labored with ability
and patience to keep the diverse ele-
ments comprising the revolutionary
| democracy together. Assailed from
one side by the clamors of the extrem-
i lists for an early peace and the adoo-
| ton of the most radical internal poii-
I c1es, he was impelled from the other
TO endeaVor to maintain some form If
| cohesive government for the nation.
! save Russia from falling into the tran
/ laid for her by the German propa-
/ gandists in their peace clamoring and
! endeavor to keep Russia in her pIa "a
/ in the war and faithful to her obliga-
! lions to her allies.
1t appeared for time after the fail
ure of the Korniloff rebellion that he
! might succeed in tiding Russia over
/ the dangerous shoals upon which she
! had drifted as the result of divided
councils and the seemingly irrecon-
/ cilable diverse currents. That he was
/ becoming discouraged ovt. the situa-
| ton, however, was indicated by a
recent interview with him in which.
altho he declared Russia was still emu
phatically in the war. 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.