The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-17

reason why many leaders Of the Bund
have so energetically in 1917 circulat-
ed the rumor that Lenin is a German
spy; they have explained 1t psycholo-
gically: it is easily believable of a
maniac" of the Lenin type, he will
justify any means that lead to the at
tainment of his goal.
II.
N a comparatively short time after
1 the London congress, l was des-
tined to be political emigrant. Those
comrades in whose minds those times
are still fresh, can easily imagine
with what thirst / threw myself on
the various discussions and writings
OF the leaders of the Russian socialist
movement outside of Russia.
l had then the occasion to hear
Plechanov speak at Geneva. The i'm
preston of his readings and lectures
was colossal; his satire, his briIliancy
Of speech, his thoro knowledge, his
ability to polemise enchanted me.
At Plechanov's lectures the audi
ence did not feel at home. The peo-
pie did not breathe freely. Even.the
appearances Of Plechanoy gave the i'm
preston that he looks down to his
audience, that he is fully conscious
OF his importance, that he is far above
those around him. He was always
dressed like an aristocrat In a black
frock. high stiff collar and beautiful
necktie hanging down his snow white
shirt; a gold ring on his finger. a
monocle in his hand, his hair properly
combed-all this was very often in
disharmony with the poorly clad emf.
grants who made up his audience.
Another thing one could notice.
When one dared to express his opin-
ion in a debate, he did it with such
fright as one who is undergoing an
examination. This was the case not,
only with the ordinary rank and file
but even with some of the prominent
leaders Of the movement.
remember, once in Geneva. the now
famous leader of the Russian Com
munists, Alexandra Kolontai was de-
livering lecture on the woman ques-
ton. The lecture was brilliant in
content and form. In the middle of
the lecture Plechanov appeared. Alex
andra Kolontai seeing him, got con.
fused and could not finish her speech;
the brilliancy was lost, the enthusiasm
gone so did he brighten her.
Usually, these things were ascrib-
ed to the great respect people had for
Plechanov's great personality, to the
fact that everybody felt small in his
presence, fearing not to prove ignor-
ant in his eyes.
The strange impression Plechanoy's
open forum made on me became
stranger still when l had the occasion
to be at his house having a personal
talk with him.
The entire atmosphere in the house
smelled with bourgeois culture" The
comfort which prevailed there was out
OF place for one who imagined PIE
chanov the revolutionist, who should
also be different in his private life,
-St eHO mummy tOuA ScOAS ilc-iL was
the comfort Of a simple, bourgeois
self-sufficiency, full of aristocratic
snobbish "bon-tone." Such was PIE
chanov's behavior. One almost heard
him say: Beware, dear fellow, that
you stand before Plechanoy himself.
realize, then, the honor 1t gives you
and be weakened.
My knees did really tremble. And
when I came out Of the house my
proletariat consciousness reyoited.
Where, then. is the example that the
socialist leader and thinker must set
for others by his own way OF living?
| was then too naive to understand
that one may be great socialist
thinker. revolutionist in theory, and
quite ordinary citizen with all bour-
Continued on page 81