The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-08-25
GERMAN ARMS,
ONLY CAN KILL
Off DEMOCRACY
Russell Says Barring Teuton Sue
cesses Russia Will Be Ruled
by the People
NATIONAL COUNCIL IS
SOURCE OF AUTHORITY
Five of the Members Are Women
Suffrage Is Result Of Re-
volution

This is another of the series of
articles by Charles Edward Rus
sell, staff writer of The Tribune,
who has just returned from Rus
sia, where he spent three months
as member of the official Unit
ed States commission to the new
Russian government.
BY CHARLES EDWARD RUSSELL.
Copyright, 1917, by the Newspaper
Enterprise Associarion.)
may be doubtful, but there is one
Russian certainty all may bank upon
with confidence.
Earring only German success, dem
ocracy has come there to stay
Not half way democracy nor fake
miscalled by democracy's name. The
goods-the real thing.
Russia will be ruled by the Russian
people. All the Russian people. They
will rule absolutely.
Autocracy, whether frankly labelled
with the name of cZar or neatly dis
guised as a constitutional monarchy,
is dead one, in Russia. Keep the
Germans out and it will never again
have look in there.
Wise things may be done; also fool.
Iish. But whether wise or foolish
whatever is done will be by the grace
of the people of Russia, free and in
dependent.
Reactionary Influences in this and
other countries are. striving hard IT,
create the impression that Russia has
or is about to have dictator .s,-
You can put all that aside as the
idle dreams of troglodytes. l don't
know any climate on earth that is
more unhealthy for dictators now
than the climate of Russia. Gentle
men planning to go into that line OF
business are earnestly advised tc
look elsewhere. The prospects arc
not salubrious.
Russia will not have a dictator and
contrary to cave dwelling opinion
does not need dictator. 1t is no One
Man Country and never will be again
! don't know any country where the
national democratic spirit is stronger
more resOlute or better awake to its
| Job.
Wise democratic heads in Russia
are now studying outlines for the how
Russian constitution. No one need bt
astonished, if when their work is
| hn f,,f o10rf0l II
proves to be the most advanced doc
ument of the kind ever put together
No one need be astonished If it pro
vides for government more directly
and truly democratic than any Other
nation on earth has ever had.
Even now, without any formulated
constitution, the people are supreme
The most powerful institution in al
Russia is the National Council o
Workmens, Soldiers and Peasants
Delegates, and that is a purely demo
cratic power.
Local councils, similarly formed, fur
nish for the time being the govern
ing steam in the municipalities. The
National Council furnishes it in ma
tional affairs.
Source Of Authority.
The National Council is the only
source of authority What 1t say
goes.
Its $50 delegates were elected from
all parts of Russia by men and VIC
men voters equally endowed with cit
izenship
1t is the most remarkable logisla
tive body in the world, and, as i
looks to me, the most significant, the
most satisfactory and admirable.
1t is composed chiefly of farmer:
and workingmen; the actual produ
GERS and toilers.
Now in every country these are the
vast majority of the population.
Therefore, in every country, if W.
are to have real democracy, these
should compose the legislative power
In this country and in England
there is a strange superstition tina
nobody can make laws or manage
government except lawyers, bankers
exploiters and professional politi
clans.
Well, then, give fervent thanks tt
Russia She has knocked the spot:
out of all that fol-de-rol.
Her National Council does bushes:
with rapidity, good sense and goot
judgment. She doesn't miss the law
yers, except to bless the Lord the,
are not there.
Lawyers constitute less than one
per cent of the population and hold ir
our country 20 per cent of the .egis
lative offices. They can't see that il
l.ussia.
Also, to arrive at the next point fol
thanksgiving, five of the delegates
in the national council are women.
Women suffrage was achieved ir
Russia the moment the revolution
was a success. 1t achieved itself al
tOmatically without effort. Nobody
argued or campaigned for it. Nobody
had to point out that it was a goot
| (Nou%;n,,al IN Dooo EnurN