The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-10-12
JOHN SPARGO
SAYS RUSSIA
IS ADVANCING
Present Unrest Due to Strug-
gle Toward the Light
FAITH IN KERENskY
WeIl-known PubIicist Delivers In
structive and Interesting Ad-
dress Before D. A. r.

The Bennington chapter OF D. A.. r.
was entertained Thursday afternoon
| at $3.50 at the home of Mrs ]. S. Hol.
den. The meeting was opened by the
saying of the Lords prayer and the
salute to the flag by the members, the
regent. Miss Jennie A. Valentine, pre-
siding.
The secretary's and treasurer's re-
ports were both read by the secre-
tary, Mrs. Mary Adams.
1t was voted to give $500 to the
national Y. M. c. A.. which is about
to raise large sum for the work in
the big cantonments.
Miss Valentine then briefly intro
duced John Spargo, who gave one of
the finest addresses, which the chap
ter has ever been privileged to en-
joy Mr. Spargo said in part that
the ID. A. r. organization exists for
the preserving of traditions of the
American revolution and keeping
alive the things that the revolution
represented and that in his talk be-
fore them he would endeayor to shed
some light on the great revolution
that has taken place in Russia and tell
something of conditions as they exist
after the upheaval
He explained some of the differences
between European continental poll
tics and our own American political
life America Is a nation with only
two major political parties, with oc-
casionally third party of temporary
power so that to an American, Eu-
ropean politics are difficult to under
stand
At the present time in Germany
there are seven well established par
ties and an eighth is being formed
In France there are nine parties in
the chamber of deputies. England, to
some degree, is characterized by this
same feature in its political activities.
In Russia there were no political
groups until quite recently, when in
1905 the Car granted certain priyi
lodges in the Duma which was sort
OF debating society, having no real
authority or power. With the de-
velopment of the present revolution
and overthrowing of the old Roman
off dynasty a decided effort is being
made to create real parliament, and
ever since the forming of the Duma
various parties have been growing up
and much of the dissension and diff
Guilty in Russia at the present time
arises from the efforts of these vari-
Gus newly formed groups to gain con-
troll and find expression.
Mr.. Spargo paid Kerensky a high
tribute and believes that America
can best aid Russia, by doing what
she can to strengthen his position.
Kerensky is the leader of the social
democratic party.
The two greatest problems facing
the Russian people are the land ques-
tion and the Jewish problem. The
Jews have been denied their civil
rights and have been subject to great
oppression and injustice They are
now to receive equal rights and civic
freedom
The peasant of Russia sees only
the land problem, he does not under
stand individual ownership of land,
having been a victim of the old feudal
system for generations. and until he
has been taught something better,
certain amount of injustice is bound
to be done in the seizing of large es-
tates and by other misdirected efforts.
The Jew in Russia regards the land
,t,p fol .ad 10,
his racial liberty,
Mr.. Spargo thinks that the newspa-
per reports we get from Russia are
misleading as much space is kiven to
whatever is of sensational charac.
ter and little is being said of the con-
structive and creative work that Is
going steadily on throughout the
country.
One of the most encouraging re-
ports received is of the formation of
cooperative societies. When the war
began there were 80 in Russia, now
there are 10000 and they are doing a
wonderful work by means of co-opera-
tive stores. Helping in the building of
homes and in taking charge of the
banks.
There is a committee of Russians in
this country at the present time, who
are placing s75,0O0,0 loan to car
ry on this work.
Mr.. Spargo believes the affairs of
Russia are in strong and capable
hands and that she will become
democracy worthy of our respect and
confidence.
The Bennington chapter of D. A. r.
extend to Mr.. Spargo their sincere ap-