The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-11-11
RUSSIAN VIII GES
ARE DEL ENDED ON

G VIxHL tlA1 5SIxsv
I. 3 |. " h A &
these five-sixths are locally govern
led according to more advance prin-
icipals of equality and equal oppor-
.tunity than any other peoples in the
tpresent-day world. And this is
found. in the world greatest surviv-
ling stronghold OF autocracy.
The Russianyvil lila ge bears q strong
il resemblance to the patriarchial
family. While its ties are not so fast,
Ethey are much closer than in COM
immunity organizations elsewhere. The
ssian village is an example in prac-
lttca1; communism. The lands which
1.-THE. individual. members till are own
led and parceled out by the Villages
1.-THE grazing lands are common prop
Eerty' likewise; and the village COM
immunity is,respon sible for the taxes OF
Iits members. This village response.
lbihty gives 1t a strong interest IN the
conduct of its members individual a
fairs III q ( "a { n
THE land Is redistributed periodi.s
cally among the members OF the conf;
munity and this Forms their most
important political endeavor. While
utterly democratic, there Is no cleo
ttion excitement among them, as no no
one wants to be elected to ANYTHING
Village Offices carry with them no
honor and small: pay. On the other
hand, they entail much work 4;
story Is told in Russia. that one peas
ant who had been guilty Of some
serious mlsdemeanor was informed
Iby the proper village officer. that
ihenceforward, he would be incompet-
4 ent to hold public Office. The mis-
creant bowed very low and spoke his
4 heartfelt thanks for the new priyi-
lege conferred. So Z = ~ .,
Meet in Open Air.
THE village assemblies meet IN +ba
open air. All heads Of families arc
competent to join fn discussions ana 4
Ios.vote: ,Oratory Is not. tolerated.
4 honorable members are addressed by
simple unaffected .blockhead.' The
vinage elder presides In a way. his
TASK being to take sense Of the ortho-
ldox and occasionally to tell members
70 mold their tongues. Where a
4 FANNY IN the village is represented
i ~ q woman, she has the right Of tax
Ing part IN the assemblies and OF yot-
ing. In a way, woman suffrage Il
OF long standing In Russia desnfte 'tfa
male Russians none too flatferine
judgment Of his women; the hair Il
long and the mind Ii short, :
me assembly distributes the
liand; hxes the moving time; decides
when blowing may he nm darts1.t..
ana interferes. when II. thinks whole.
Isome. IN the family affairs Of its a am.
ners.s The are innumerabIe ma
mods by which the land is rsd,stri-
Iputed. The most simple one Il that
by which land Is parceled ont acco M,
l ~ 70 tne imperial governments list
y. revision souls: Another method
~ distributing land Is In accordance
/ NJ MIN me working strength Of families
!lne redistribution may not take place
! more y IRE, olten than once in twelve years
me community. decision ID, law
unto each Of Its members, and his;
l psasant never thinks Of disputing
@hat the assembly of his yilIaee
oEethern has determined. In the ne.
semoly. he has every Opportunity "a
'eata as long and as loud ana az
-avlfoientiy as any other member. and
N the open air meetings Of these Rms
san parllaments all members 5tallsi AZ.
once and all the time. There 81
,lnodesty and silence, reserve: AM, 4
oig4nity3 alone to be noticed In sncn
village meetings; when sthe time far
eiection OF village officers Is come ana
aaeh member Of the village is2emnlnv.
{ ing all OF the energy. the subtlety ana
personal appeal. to avoid beins
elected to anything that Is emnlovad
In America to win public once" =