TROTSKY.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 January 1918, Page 5

TROTSKY.

A SriORT SKETCH. ■ 'Trotsky, who by many is considered the real head of the Maximalist revolt, is well known in New York, where lie worked as a reporter for 12 dollars (2 10s) a week on an East Side newspaper during his brief exile in America, after having been driven out of Germany, France, Switzerland, and Spain. Like Lenin be uses an alias, his real , name being Leber Braunstein. A writer in The Times says: He was born in a town in the Russian Government of Kherson, near the Black Sea. He became an extreme Socialist, and, being -gifted with a forceful literary style, won distinction and prominence among the revolutionary leaders before the end of the nineteenth century. In the revolution of 190.) Trotsky published a book which practically set the sky as the limit for the Russian revolution, then apparently on its way to a favorable issue. He demanded the application of the full programme of Socialism, not only in Russia, but everywhere, and until this was accomplished revolution must never rest. The collapse of the movement in the following year sent him to Siberia, but after several years be was released, resumed his revolutionary activity, and was compelled to go abroad. At tbe beginning of the war be was in Berlin, but the radical teachings of his writings there were too much for the Berlin Government, which had no taste for Socialist programmes except in foreign parts. He wa s compelled to go to Switzerland, but here, too, lie found the atmospliere chilly. After a time ho landed in Paris, and edited a newspaper there, but the French Government refused to allow his doctrines to be spread after Russian troops arrived in France, and lie moved on to Spain. Trotsky, however, could not be suppressed. They might expel him and deport him, but wherever lie landed lie became a loader in radicalism and a vigorous pourmilistie propagandist. Spain l„mid him so hard to be rid of, and t'ui-a u serious menace to her peace and quiet;, that .it was finally necessary to Riiunirn!" •■i<n out of the country. He awoxe to iin<> himself on board a steamer Omnia rnr, Cuba. While this did not greatly iii«turl) his equanimity he found w m'-i for bis talents limited. Cuba was u v , small a country for encrgit... FXe sailed at once from Havana tor Now ■ York, and reached there on .nwiuar.y 14 last. Trotsky was welcomed, not only | by tbe most radical faction of Russian I Socialists, but tbe German Socialists, too. Leaders of radicalism on the East Side and in Harlem contributed furniture, Ifor the house vrknt hj» ettabliilied him-.,

self jn the Bronx, and it caused rable feeling among thorn when he eve«j^| ttially left town in such haste that B<n^H uf the contributors were notified, the furniture was left to take c«r«!l3H itself in the empty house f<jr a JOtJ'fiNALI.SM IX EAST SIDEj ' S Wiiile here ho wrote many artii){f|H for the Vorwacrts, the Jewish SociaUJj|H pitper, and wan for a considerable the principal editor of Nevy Mir, ommH of the Russian Socialists. Novy Mir since come under the ban of the Office Department, and has be«rrtlnijH wailing privileges for its extreme fist attitude, but at that time a majorinH of the Board of Managers wqre favor of Trotsky's propaganda for mediate peace, and, according to who knew him, he was eventually lie was in active relation with. taafH German and Russian Socialists, and: ric»n opinion is divded as to whethoridjH not be lias been an agent of since the outbreak of the view, however, of the fact that Xm&H was accused by Kerensky of German pay , and that Trotsky i« ently acting as a vizier of Lenin, jsgH presumption that he is in Gorman has been increased by recent is said that just -before lie left March a German Socialist group at in Harlem gave a dinner for him, the first time he had Ibeen go basinful by radical of that nationality ig)£|^H Trotsky sailed from New York Scandinavian port on March '®T, was tukeu off the ship at the British authorities, who knew record. There were loud and protests from American radicals at ■ action,, and eventually the first ftcMmH Provisional Government, apparently aware at that time of the tendencies of the Bolsheviki, was to «sk for his release. The thereupon permitted him to go OB is|^B Upon his arrival at Petrograd lie jraH ed the radical faction, which w&s ; denouncing America and the |M : scheming to overthrow the Government and bring about ; peace. Trotsky ha 3 denied for a separate peace, and says x thn6 the Germans refuse to revolt their Government and to fraterntaMtiilH tlm Russians the latter must defe^A^^l