The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-12
Admit Provisional Govt Is Mis-.
trusted and POwerleSs.
Pleas to Peasants to Wait Or
ganizatiOn Prove i'm Vain.
GRAB $50 MILLION ACRES
Soldiers at Front Desert to Go
Home and Get Land.
Workmen Also Take Over
Reins of Big Factories.
nv wuLIAM SHEPHERD.

BY WILLIAM u. SHEihENND.
Petrograd, May 12.-Anxiety of the
plain people of Russia instantly TO
bridge the chasm between the autoc-
racy that was and the democracy that
is to be-without carefully testing out
the bridge-menaces Russia today
THE workmen and Socialists mis-
trust the duma leaders, therefore the
government is powerless and pracu.,
cally under arrest in its own mouse,
was the apt summary of the situation
made in the duma by the delegate,
Shulgin.
The friction between the duma
leaders and representatives of the SOL
diers and workmen has long been ap-
parent Today, however, came woro
of an equally menacing point of d1f-
ference. Russia's peasants are taking
things in their own hands. Pleas by
duma representatives sent broadcast
thruout Russia to preach the doctrines
of the new plan of government and TO
tell the ignorant peasants to wait Tor
complete organization are apparently
falling on deaf ears.
Vote to Grade Lands.
Word received today indicates that
nearly $50, 100000 acres of land have
been seized by the peasants thruout
Russia. The peasants could not walt
for the promised breaking up of vast
I
tributIon would come soon after the
constituent assembly had definitely
mapped out Russia's future
Confiscation and distribution OF
land has in many sections of Russia
been formally decided upon by vote
of popular assemblies. The movement
has become so general turnout the
land that German agents have sue
eeeded in stirring up great dissat1sfac-
ton among the soldiers at the front,
! No c-Nl n
deserted ami went home to participate
| in the confiscation, they would lose
their share. Numerous assertions
have come from this report.
Workmen Usurp Power.
The Russian workmen, too, are TAX
| ing matters into their own hands.
| Turnout Russia workmen are placing
representative officers of their organ
izations with various manufacturing
companies and refusing permission for
any shipments without their official
wise.
| Minister of War Gutchkoff today is
| sued the proclamation to the army:
people who hate Russia are coun-
| teracting the work of the army, clam
oring for the end of the war. An
active campaign is progressing against
discipline and obedience.
| Don't listen to traitors. Insist that
all ranks observe discipline. Soldiers
duty it is to punish disobedience Sc
verely.'
Hand of Germany Seen.
Germany's fine hand is seen in the
mushroom growth of many move
ments. Hundreds of German agents
work in PetTograd alone. The full
weight of Germany's influence is be-
hind the Stockholm Socialists confer
ence. The proclamation of the exec
utive committee of soldiers and work
men show realization of the pro-Ger-
man tinge now affecting the confer
| ence.'
| To combat that Germanic influence
! the committee decided to take the mi
tiative itself in any peace moves and
| to assume control, if possible, over the
meeting, ousting the German propo-
nents. The call for the conference
specifically condemns a separate peace
plan, but urges general peace, to be
achieved thru conference of Socialists
| of a II ha1liOerent nations