THE RUSSIAN LLOYD GEORGE

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 31 August 1917, Page 4

THE RUSSIAN LLOYD GEORGE

CA3ST HE LAST • The ex-Tsar did not decorate Alexander Kerensky with the Cross of St. George, but he lias it. It was given, to Inm by a delegation from the Russian at my. There aro thousands of people who believe that Russia's real need at this juncture is an autocrat possessing plenary powers to quell all internal revolts against constituted authority, nnd they think that Kerensky would be a .sood man for the job. He has all the qualifications for the post, for he lias been the friend of the poor and the oppressed, and—he has been in gaol. A winter in the New York ' Siui ' furnishes this pen-and-ink sketch of him : " He lias always been for tlie underdog. His clients at tlie Bar were the poor.and the persecuted. He fought for the Jews, which is not a popular thing to do in Russia. Workmen and peasants thrown into prison for ' unlawful assembling ' found in him a fearless and eloquent advocate. When 30 years of age Alexander Kerenskv represented tlie workmen of tlie river Lena strike, in which some 60 workmen were shot down by the police. Later he assisted in tlie -defence of Mendel Belis, who was charged at Kieff with ritual murder, and was one of a group of lawyers sentenced -to imprisonment for protesting in a round robin against the methods of that piosecution. (One of M. Keienskv "s first acts on becoming Minister of Justice-.was to order a searching inquiry into the police methods in regard to Belis's infamous prosecution.) But the Imperial Government of that day dared not deprive those courageous protest-ants of their liberty. The following year Kerensky was elected to the Duma to represent Socialist Labor. He distinguished himself bv exposing corruption in the Government, aiut after Russia entered the war he assailed pro-German influences and denounced ' graft' officials in aricl" out of tiit- militarv service.

"' Unless cut down by tuberculosis, from which he is suffering, or suppressed by jealous fellow-Socialists, in- assassinated lv the dark forces of reaction, there is every indication that in Alexander Kerensky Russia has produced a first-class leader. He has been tried before this. and. lias not been found wanting. In the present soul-stirring times, as Minister of War he is endeavoring to restore something like order, discipline, and fighting spirit into a vast army where chaos now reigns. I f this eloquent leader is spared to complete his task, if the soldiers and the workers and' the farmers will heed him. Russia will do her part in the war for the liberty of the world. Otherwise the Slavs will utterly fail their Western .Ji lies, and. while fighting among themselves, will give German and Austrian bayonets the coveted opportunity of reStoring Tsardom to power." Kerensky conies from the heart of Liberia, having been born in Tashkent 27 years ago. In appearance be is of medium .height, slight of build, and ac tive. During the recent events in which he has played a prominent part he has shown the power of an alert mind over an enfeebled constitution. Of the place of his b:rth Mr Louis S. Friedtand says : " There is something pemdiarly significant in this fact, for it is in Siberia that the stir of a larger industrial life, is most keenly felt. Siberia is like our own West of the days nf Bret Harte: towns are springing up overnight, as it- were, and the people know the zest of life amid fresh and epic beginnings. But these places are far from the Russian centre of government, and in the days of bureaucracy the laborers—still fresh'from the soil—were frequently the victims of outrages at the hands of unscrupulous exploiters and venal authorities. Iverenskv first came into public notice, through his noble defence of a number of Siberian laborers who had. been assaulted bv the gendarmerie. It was on the same' dav as the sinking of the Titanic that the workmen of the T_iena Gold Mining Company went out on strike, demanding ;m increase in wages. The strikers were assailed by the police, and several were shot. The incident aroused great x indignation throughout ißnssia. and an investigation was demanded. A voun<_r lawvev. Kerensky, came out in support of "the. laborers, and his able and fearless handling of the case won him wide ljonularity." . 1

As one oi the leaders of the Extreme .Left m the Russian Duma. Karenskv had to wage incessant battle against the sharpest minds and the most astute intellects, in Russia. Inspired by the ardent consciousness of high motives, he threw caution to the winds, and spoke his-mind freely, without fear or favor. His fearlessness lias, been amply demonstrated since then, a u<l his boldness hi the Duma caused him on several occasions Ho fall foul of the President.

On mole than one occasion the conservative President of the Duma, ordered that Kerenskv be escorted from the Hou«e Often his stinging alI( i truthful -words, flung at the Government representatives who came to the Duma in the interests of the Ministry, made the bureaucrats turij pale. And Ivereusky dared to do these things in the days of the dark reaction, knowing all the while that the police were forever watching him. _ " It was a severe a:sd thorough training in practical affairs that Kenerskv -went through m lus five years in the' House, -the members of the larger parties could alford to select 6oinc one field for their special labors. Die deputies in the two little grouns of the Left had to be versatile and their leaders, Kerensy and Chkheidzc, had to study all the important public problems of Russia, had to display a wide and accurate knowledga of facts, and to address

a wary and antagonistic House on a great variety of subjects. Courage, high-minded-ness, ceaseless activity, grit, presence of mind, and ready tact—these were the qualities and powers required bvKerensky. and these he seldom failed to display. He .was able to make friends where others of the radical wing found irreconcilable enemies.

" From the moment that Kerensky became Minister of War in the new Coalition Cabinet lie has been indefatigable in his efforts to marshal Russians forces for combat against the enemy. Over and over again he has made impassioned appeals to tlie soldiers of his country. In burning words he has urged loyalty, effort, sobriety, and discipline. Of free will he .•dands committed to the Allies. He has no faith in the desire of the mass of German .Socialists to accomplish the downfall of the Hohenzollerns. 'I am not a Marxist, 1 lie said recently, 1 but the people of Germany are, and while they hold their present views I believe revolution to be impossible.' He is unalterably opposed to the very idea of a separate peace with Germany. To a party of journalists he said.: ' If "the German i)eputy, David, supposes that ill 1 Chkheidze and I are going to assist in making a separate peace, he will be rudely awakened.' "