Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-07-10
'a'TROTSKY OF RUHR".
QUITS; STILL LEADS.
Rubhausen Admits Com.
munrof defeat When He Re-
tires as Police Chief.
BY HIRAM KELLY MoDERwELL.
BY Cable TO The Star and Chicago Daily
NeNs. COnYripht. 1879.


GELSENKIRCHEN. July 10-Max
Rubhausen, called the ''Trotsky of
the Ruhr,'' has retired from the posi-
ton Of chief Of police of Geisen-
kirchen to private life in the office of
a labor newspaper in Essen, and a
new armed and uniformed police force
takes up it's duties with the approval
of the French.
The new force replaces. the trade
union police, which peacefully dis
bands after a month of service, and
with its departure vanishes the last
remaining outward vestige of the COM
munist uprising Of last month.
The curious thing about it all is that
Rubhausen abdicates feeling not de-
feated but victorious. The defeat of
the communists in Bochum and else
where made the position of the COM
munSts in Gefsenkirchen and the
neighbortng towns untenable: There
fore they beat gradual strategic re-
treat under Rubhausen's direction.
Tactics Displayed.
His tactics were to throw the blame
for the defeat on the moderate trade
union leaders and make the workmen
feel that they had been betrayed" In
this he believes he has been successful.
for, he asserts, trade union members
unions in enormous numbers. The pro
letarian battalions," though technically
dissolved, will be able to spring up
again when needed Rubhausen asserts.
and within two weeks the communists
will be able to conduct an action"
throughout the Ruhr area without de-
pending on the church or socialist
unions
From other sources the correspondent
Is convinced that this estimate is
hpfnrp
uprisings the communists had a ma
jority of the Ruhr metal workers and a
large majority of the miners. Besides,
they had the confidence of a surpris-
ingly large number of non- communists.
1t would be premature to conclude
that the communist danger in the Ruhr
is ended. In reality il is greater than
before because the communists feel
stronger and the terrifically high prices
for food, which are due partly to the
cutting of communications by the
French. are driving the workers to be-
lieve only in desperate methods.
Source of Strength.
Much of the communist strength
rests on the personality of, Rubhausen.
In Gelsenkirehen he has won an inf1u-
ence far beyond that of his party. He
is only twenty-nne years old and five
years OF his life have been spent in
prison for political offenseS. He is a
German citizen, but was born of a
Spanish mother. He is short, dark
and wiry, and not unlike Trotsky in
appearance, and has terrific nervous
energy and capacity for work. His bit
terest enemies acknowledge his capac-
fly for leadership.
Rubhausen is proud of having MAIN
tanned law and order in Gelsenkirchen.
He asserts that the records show a de-
crease of crime under his police. He
claims to have driven the criminal ele-
ments out of Gelsenkirchen within
twenty-four hours after taking control.
On numerous visits here the writer
noted the peaceful aspect of the city
and the admirable bearing of the vol
unteer police. They took their respon-
siblities very seriously. Rubhausen's
prestige has been so increased by his
deft handling of the dangerous situa-
ton here that he is the predestined
leader-if he cares to be-of uprisings
which most persons here believe will
come soon.