Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-09
LEN|N LIES DYING,
BUT PASSING WILL
NOT ALTER SOVIET
Only Miracle Can Save Rus
sian Premier, Uncensored
Dispatch Reveals.
By T.. A. MACKENZIE.

Mr.. Mackenzie has just arriued
at Warsa,O from Mosco,U and this
dispatch is the only one that he has
Teen able to get through recently
,rithout being subjected to severe
censorship
By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News.
Copyright, 1928
WARSAW, April 9.-Nikola Lenin
lies in the kremlin dying and nothing
but a miracle can save him.
More than once in the last anxious
weeks the physicians hastily sum
moned 70 his monastically simple
apartment have declared that he
could not live another forty eight
hours. Each time he has rallied, but
the end cannot be far off.
What will happen when Lenin is
gone? Those who anticipate no
change and those who gleefully pre-
dict the return of the old regime to
power will both be disappointed. The
old regime stands no more chance of
returning to power in Russia than
the Hanoverian kings have of ruling
over Washington. Exiled Russians
living in Paris and London and en-
couraging conspiracies in Russia are
guilty of criminal folly
Trotsky's Relative Director.
During Lenin's illness the govern
ment has been directed by NJ.
kaminev, Trotsky's brother-in-law.
He has done much better, even on
the admission of his enemies, than
any one expected. his training as an
organizer of big business in the DAYS
before he adopted communism serv-
ing him well in his present duties.
Bolshevist difficulties will come
through differences in the ranks of
the communist party rather than
through reaction. The decision con-
corning Lenin's successor will be
made by a committee of the commun-
list party. which is now meeting every
day. What 1t decides all Russia must
accept. Directors will have no chance
or appeal against it's verdict, for it
controls the most perfect political
machine In the world and is backed
by army, courts and execution yards
to enforce its will.
Leaders Not in Accord
But the heads of the communist
party are not yet fully in agreement.
1t is an open secret that, behind the
scenes, two main groups are emery
ing from the struggle for leadership,
rallying respectively around Trotsky
and M. Rykov. The latter, an old
revolutionist and formerly president
of the council of national economy. is
TO
the other two being Kaminev and
Stain. Rykov is a new member of
the party. He creates more intense
admiration and sharper repulsion
Jewish descent counts strongly
against him in the battle for leader
ship.
M. Stain is the mystery man of
communism. A Georgian by birth.
stunning publicity and working hard,
he is favored by many. He controls
the machinery of the communist party
ana his following. is great. Many
believe, however, that he will prefer
TO be the power behind the throne
Troops to Decide Winner.
No survey Of the Russian situation,
in view of the impending death of
Nikolai Lenin, can be complete with
oos NhSc ~ lic disposition OF
the red troops. Russia's military
forces are divided into three groups
first, the regular army under
Trotsky; second, two battalions or
communist Kremlin guards who ara
controlled directly by the leaders. Arr,
carefully picked and are entrusted
with the safety of the chiefs of the
state; third, the soldiers of the state
political police. strong politically.
hand picked and made enthusiastic
devotees of their cause by the most
intense propaganda. These are under
the control of NJ Dzierzhinsky. and
their strength may give him the set
ting vote in the choice Of Lenin's
successor.
Sphinx of New Russia.
NJ. Dzierzhinsky is a Pole who has
revealed organizing ability equal to
that of Trotsky. He is the sphinx of
the new Russia. He created the
cheka, the most powerful and reIent-
less political police in the world. He
rescued Russia's railways from ruin.
Merciless where his political prin-
ciples are concerned, he is yet a man
of gentle ways and passionately fond
of children. Formerly men would
have said that he would certainly
incline toward the left.
Today this is doubtful, all his ac-
tions during the last year having
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