The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-08-29
Rl3 SIN l9lIII


PLAUsE.
EmPlasises Role, he HAS Played /,
Recent National Events and Make,
Rain His Intention of Guidin,
'Country's Course In Future.
Moscow. Aug. 26.--Russia Is pnss
ing through a period Of mortal dan
GER Premier Kerensky today told th,
State council. which assembled i,
MOSCOW TO hear the present situation
OF the country and plan for a ,,ae,,
national government. He declared
that an attempt to take advantage OF
the conference for an attack on tho
national power as embodied In the
provisional government would be re.
pressed pitilessly "by blood and iron. .
The council. which promises i'm.
portant results In the national life OF
Russia. opened at 3 o'clock this af.
ternoon In the Grand Opera with that
soiemnity and old Russian pomp es.
pscially characteristic OF Moscow.
The theater district was crowded
with sight seers and interspersed
among the members of the council
were to be seen characteristic Rus
sian types. including Tartars in peak.
ed caps. white robed Mullahs from
the volga. Georgians robed in cloth
Of gold. Cossacks and dignitaries OF
the Greek Orthodox Church who fae
arrived for the ecumenical church
congress which begins Tuesday.
Notwithstanding the one day strike
proclaimed by the Boisheviki in pro.
test against the council as counter.
revolutionary expedition. the city is
quiet. A few incipient attempts to
organize demonstrations were sup
pressed.
Precautions were taken against
Of all descriptions and the
council threatens to show rigor In
this respect. The building In which
the council ID meeting is surrounded
BY a close chain OF soldiers, with Of
f'csrs every few yards. the soldiers
being picked men. The chambers
under the building are occupied by
soldiers with nxed bayonets. Mem
bers and invited guests before being
admitted have their tickets exaniin.
ID by nine different military posts.
Premier Kerensky and other minis.
ters Of the provisional government
occupied the stage and were faced
By Generals Alexiff and Brusiloff.
former commanders I'm chief OF the
Russian armies and other high mill
ary officers In the former emperors
box. There was much comment be-
'ause Of the absence Of General Korn-
lon, the present commander In chief
Sut II IL expected he viii attend the
,ouncil tomorrow.
The proceedings began with Ker-
'nskys speech, lasting an hour and
! half. pronounced in a nervous, i'm
pressive voice which aroused tremen-
ious applause. mainly from that part
of the theater occupied by the dem
'cratic organizations and members
" the cabinet but the duma members
and the Moscow Industrial deputies
also at times participated.
Premier Kerensky spoke resolute-
". emphasizing the role he had play
ID In recent evnts and his determine
lion to guide events In the future
rhe premier was greeted with wild
applause when early In his speech,
speaking Of the dangers from the ex-
treme left. he declared: "All attempts
with armed force against the peoples
power will be crushed with blood and
IRON"
Still more applause greeted him
when hitting at a counterrevolution
conspiracy he exclaimed
Let them be warned who think the
time has come when. relying on the
bayonet. they can overthrow our
The audience arose and
cheered this expression for five min.
utes.
Premier Kerensky rebuked the Fin.
landers and other seeding nationali.
ties. his words evoking enthusiasm
and there was a menacing note in his
voice when he declared that their
pretentions threatened the success of
the revolution.
The 'psemier's speech indicated that
the government expects further at.
taeks toward the military duma and
the Moscow deputies. which he de-
nouuCad In advance