The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1917-06-07
HOW SOCIALISM
MADE HEADWAY
in RUSSIA
Cooperative Movement Solves Great
Political Problem After Many
Mistakes in Tactics
(By Samuel N. Harper)


The following taken from a series
of articles in the Christian Science
Monitor written by Samuel S. Har-
per, professor of Russian in the Uni
versity of Chicago will prove of i'm
mense value to the Socialists in the
United States. Nobody can deny
the Importance of the cooperative
movement and the successful use of
1T by the Russian Socialists ought to
be enough to encourage us to de
velop and control a like movement
here
Because of the political conditions
that prevailed in Russia, Socialism
became frankly revolutionary. It
was impossible to organize a purely
workmen movement when all strikes
were illegal, and the police and mill
tary force were used to suppress
them. Working among the peasants
the early Russian Socialists promoted
the development of the only form of
political protest which the peasants
had been able to develop under the
conditions of serfdom, namely, riot
ing and agrarian disorders.
For a long time Russian Socialists
adopted a doctrinaire, hostile attitude
toward any purely political move
ment. They not only refused to
work with those striving to bring
about political emancipation, but
they definitely opposed such move
ment. They wished "social revo-
luton"
This early stage of the develop
ment of democracy in Russia came
to a close in the first decade of the
been learned during this first period,
and this fact was evidenced in the
political movement of 1866. By
that time the Socialists had come
TO recognize the need first of a pure
ly political change, and they contrib
uted very materially to the move
ment of those years, which brought
the institution of the Duma 1t will
be recalled that the manifesto of
October, 1905, promising to the peo-
pie share IN legislation, was the
result of a general strike, led by a
Council of Workmen Deputies, sitting
in Petrograd and supported by all
classes of the community.
In 1905, after this first victory, the
Russian Socialists felt that they
could proceed Immediately on a pro-
gram of social reform, and they or
dered strike, with the slogan Of
an "Eight-hour labor day." This
second strike failed, as did a third
strike, ordered this time as a pro-
test against the introduction of mar
tial law in Poland. The council then
tried to organize an armed uprising.
During 10 days Moscow was the
scene of a frank but abortive revolu-
tionary movement 1t then became
evident that Petrograd was not the
center of the Empire. 1t was seen
that nothing could be accomplished
unless the peasants gave support, also
the army, though now a national
army, had been won over to the
peoples side.
The most outstanding lesson of
the revolution of 1866 was that
the Socialist leaders were doctrinaire,
and not representative Of the real
sentiment of the democratic masses.
The latter had been organized under
the flag Of Socialism, but this did
not mean the acceptance of Social
istic doctrines. From 1905 on one
noted most interesting change
among the Socialist leaders who re-
NAMED in Russia. Those who were
forced to leave the country, and con-
tinued their activity abroad, return
ed to the discussion of programs
and tactics, and became ever more
doctrinaire. The Socialists in Rus
STA however, followed another line.
They realized the mistakes of the
past; they saw that they were not
in actual touch with the peasants
or Workmen.
During the last years the "intel-
lectual" leaders finally succeeded in
bridging the gulf that had always
existed between them and the people.
During these same years there de
veloped in Russia, on the initiative
largely of the peasants and work
men themselves, the cooperative
movemnt. The Socialist leaders saw
here an opportunity, and seized it.
Through the cooperative movement
they now came into union with the
people; they went down to the vii
lagos, not "to preach" but to help
in the technical task of organizing