this situation, the Minister of the Interior had placed machine guns in the
garrets, in steeples, on housetops, and other such places where they could
command the important streets and shoot down the mob. The rising did not
take place because Miliukov, the great liberal leader, learned that the
Government was behind this move and that preparations had been made to
slaughter the unsuspecting workmen. He, therefore, addressed them in an
open letter calling on them not to make any demonstration, and they did
not. For the time being the strike was off, but the air was full of
discontent and restlessness, and it was difficult to say when trouble would
break out again. With this in view, a number of representatives of various
organizations met to discuss the situation and to determine what attitude
they should take and what counsel they should give to the labor leaders.
Miliukov and a few others urged that all uprisings should be discouraged
because they would interfere with the war, would cost the lives of many
innocent persons, and would accomplish nothing. There were, however,
others, especially Anisimov, who argued strongly in favor of a strike,
saying that this was the opportune time to overthrow the present regime
and to establish a democratic government.[Footnote: I have this story from
Miliukov.] When the revolution came off and the papers of the secret police
were seized, it was discovered that Anisimov, who urged the revolt, was
the paid agent of the Government and was doubtless doing its bidding. This
shows that the Government instigated and abetted the uprising. But this
is not all the evidence. Between February 27 and the outbreak of the
revolution men impersonating Miliukov went to the factories, calling on the
workmen to rise against the Government.[Footnote: I have this story from
Miliukov.] There is still another bit of evidence. In order to give the
laboring classes cause for revolt, the food supply in the factory districts
was reduced and many people suffered from hunger and in their desperation
came out into the streets. During the revolutionary week little, if any,
food came in, but immediately after it the soldiers found 250,000 "puds" of