Riot, arson, and wanton destruction of property was their function, and well they performed it.

The whole regular army was in the field, called there by the actions of the Black Hundreds.* All cities and towns were like armed camps, and laborers were shot down like dogs.

Out of the vast army of the unemployed the strike-breakers were recruited; and when the strike-breakers were worsted by the labor unions, the troops always appeared and crushed the unions.

Then there was the militia.

As yet, it was not necessary to have recourse to the secret militia law.