THE UPTURNED STICK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE UPTURNED STICK.

AN INDISCREET RUSSIAN. STORY OF A FATAL SPEECH. Early in the Bolshevik revolution in Russia, Leon Trotsky was one day presiding over a meeting. When the regular order of business had been completed he asked if anybody in the assembly had anything of interest to say. After a few moments of profound silence, a workingman raised his hand and was at once called to the platform to speak. With a somewhat ironical smile, he held up a walking stick and began as follows: ' Comrades, I cannot better express the idea which I have formed of Bolshevism than by using this cane as an illustration. Behold it l At the top end there is a small but useful handle of bone. Next there is the main arid essential part, a shaft of wood. Finally, at the tip there is a small bit of iron. Let us liken, this to Russia, in which we workingmen are the principal part, tho shaft of wood, The bone handle at the top represents the aristocracy. And the tip at the bottom end the criminals, the thieves and assassins." Thus far he was listened to with interest and approval. But he went on : "Very well. Do you want to continue Tsarist Russia, with the aristocracy on top and ns poor workingmen between it and the thieves' No? Then let us turn it upside down. Then we shall have the aristocracy at the bottom, where it belongs ; we workingmen will still be in the middle, while at the top will be" But ho was not permitted to finish his nkeness of Russia to the upturned stick—and tho next day he was hanged!