The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-20

an anarchist who believes in the de-
 struction of everything. You're an l agent of the Union of Russian Work | CTS, aren't you?'
 | And what if I am--?'
 "Oh, nothing, except that you have l no place in a nation like the United | States, which was founded and dedi- | cated to an ideal higher than any you 1 can ever know
 An ideal - with money as it's God''
 And whats your God, Yakimov?" | 'LiberIy-"
 ''Ldcense! You want to inf1ame - pillage - destroy. And what ! then?"
 | You shall see-'
 What I saw in Russia-no wages | for any one. no harvests, factories | idle, blood - starvation - if that's what you like, why did you leave l there, Yakimov?'
 The man stood tense for second and then spoke with oiearness heard in every corner of the room. 'I came for another reason than yours. I came to, spread the gospel l Of labor triumphant. You came be- cause" Here the Russian leaned forward, shaking his first, his eyes suddenly infamed and missing his words in a fury. You came because | you believed in serfs and human slavery - because your own lana spewed pou out from a sick stomach. because you were one of the rotting sores in it's inside-that had made Russia the dying nation that she was; because it was time that your, coun- try and my country cleansed herself from such as you. That's why you came. And we'll let these men judge which of us they want to lead them here.''
 The nature of the attack was so unexpected that Peter was taken for moment off his guard. A dead si- lence had fallen upon the room as the auditors realized that 2 game was being played here that was not on the cards. Peter felt the myriads of eyes staring at him, and beyond them had a vision of a. prostrate fig ure in the corner of a courtyard. the blood reddening his blouse under the falling knout. They were all Michael kuprins, these foreigners who stared at him, all the grievances born of centuries of oppression. And as Peter did not speak at once, Yakimov pursued his advantage.
 ''I did not come here to tell who this unan fs.'' he shouted, "thts man who tells you what liberty is. But you ought to know. It's your right. Y You know why Russia. rose and threw off the yoke of bondage of centuries It was because this man before you who calls himself Peter Nichols and others like him bound the people to work for him by terrible laws, taxed them, starved them, beat them kill ed them, that he and others like him might buy jewels for their mis- tresses and live in luxury and ease, on the sweat of the labor of the peo- pie. And he asks me why I came to merica! It was for a moment such as this that I was sent here to find him out tahat I might meet him face to face and confront him with his crimes-and those of his father against humanity
 Yakin1ov paused suddenly in his furious tirade for lack of breath and in the death silence of the room there was a sudden stir as rich brogue queried anxiously of nobody in par ticular:
 ''Who in heGl is he, then?'
 "Tu tell you who he is," the Rus sian went on. getting his breath. He's one of the last of a race of tyrants and oppressors, the worst the world has ever known-in Russia, the down-trodden.
 ''He fled to America to hide until the storm had blown over, hoping to
 
 head of a new government of the Democrats and the Bourgeise the l Grand Duke Peter Nicholaevitch."
 The uproar that filled the room for a moment made speech impossible. 1 But every eye was turned on Peter nowJsome in incredulity, some in maI- ! evolence, and some in awe. He saw that it was now useless to deny his identity even if he had wished to do | IA r-o11- l,= feet, staring at Yakimov. who still i leaned forward menacingly, shrieking ! above the tumuIt, finally making him. | self heard.
 "And this is the man who dares to talk to you about a brotherhood of | humanity, just laws aand equality | among men, This tyrant and son of | tyrants. this representative of a po- | itical system that you and men like | you have overthrown for all time | Is this the man youn take your or ders from? Or from the Union of | Russian Workers which hates and | kills all oppreSsors who stand in the ! way of the rights and liberties of the 1 workers of the world!"
 A roar of negation went up from ! the rear of the room. and an ornin~ | ous murmur spread from man to man. | Only those grouped around Peter. | some Americans. the Scot. Brierly, | the eX-so,dier. Jesse Brown, and one ! or two of the Italians remained si- | lent but whether in awe of Peter. or | of his position could not be deter | mined. But Peter still stood. his | hands in his pockets. firm of jaw | and unruffled- It has been said that | Peter had a commanding air when | he chose and when he slowly raised | a hand for sileence the uncouth | Reds at the rear of the room obey | ed him. the menacing growl sinking l 70 mere murmur. But he waited | until perfect sileence was restored. l And then quietly:
 What this man has said is true" he announced calmly II am Peter | N5cholaevitch- I came to America as YOU have come-to make my way ! What does 1t matter who my fathers were? I am not responsible for what my fathers did before me I am only responsible for what I a-n-rnyseif- | If this man in whom you put your