The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-19

tator, Bessie Beatty Writes.
Bessie Beatty, San Francisco
newspaper woman, who started
| to see the world war for herself,
! has been in Petrograd for several
weeks. Recently in an article in
The San Francisco Bulletin,
Miss Beatty gives an interesting
picture Of Lenine and the
methods by which he has re-
manned in power. In part 1t fol-
lows:
Petrograd (by maiD-Those Rus
slams who cried that nothing but a
dictatorship could save Russia have
their wish. Napoleon himself, IL he
could return to Russia today, would
have to bow before the superior
methods OF Victor Ulianoff (Lenine),
president Of the Council Of Peoples
Commissars, aided by Leon Trotzky,
his commissar of foreign affairs.
Trotzky and Lenine are both clever
enough to realize that the length Of
their political lives, as well as the
safety of their necks, depends upon
keeping the people fed.
They are playing for high stakes,
a game involving something much
bigger than the government Of Rus
STA, but whether they remain in Of
fee long enough to realize their
schemes depends almost entirely on
their ability to keep the bayonets
with them and the bayonets will not
continue faithful long when their
owners are hungry.
At present all the visible physical
force in Russia is with, the Boish-
eviIi. The various schemes for the
recapture of the government seems
to have fiattened out. The bourgeoisie
is biding its hour and saving its
life.
Sees No Separate Peace.
Separate peace is, to my mind,
just as far off as it ever was. The
game which Lenine and Trotzky are
playing is an international one, and
a separate peace between Russia and
Germany is far too small a thing
for. their ambition.
Even those who are loudest in pro-
claiming them German agents, and
short sightedly disposing of the
whole of the Soviet with German
plot" can't help recognizing the
ability and the daring Of the men.
I'VE did not say we would obtain
Immediate peace" Lenine declares,
but only make immediate PROPOSE
tions OF peace and publish the secret
treaties"
There have been several little
brushes between the executive COM
mittee and the dictator, on the old,
old question of the last word.
The first and most decisive Of them
came when some decree was issued
which seemed a little too drastic for
some of the liberty loving members
Of the committee.
On this occasion Lenine did not
appear, but Trotzky very ably spoke
for him, explaining that Lenine did
not have time to come down, and his
DEGREES must be considered as law.
There was a little debate upon the
question, but in the end the majority
agreed with Trotzky, and expressed
that agreement in a resolution entire
Like Murphy And Tammany.
"CharIes Murphy on the job" said
a New York man in. an aside upon
the situation.
1--WE have to act when action Is
due" Lenine says. 1--WE have the
right to function as a government,
because we are government"
If DEGREES could solve all the prob-
lems, Russia would be well upon the
high road to happiness.
Besides the decree Of international
peace, there has been a decree put
ting the land into the hands Of the
committees, a decree maxi
ing advertising a state monopoly, a
decree abolishing the five classes in /
Russia, and what is probably the
most drastic and radical measure or
Of the press ever at
anywhere.
The measure relating to the sup |
preston of the press produced more
than any other.
Gaaning the Newspapers.
One night recently at Smolney !
was standing talking to a group OF
men, when a little fellow, with a |
thin, pale face and great, mild brown
ewes. Joined in. He had gone TO AM |
erica from exile in Siberia and was
ea0er to speak English.
He drew a newspaper from an IN /
side pocket and showed mo the head
lines, carefully shielding II from Drs
Ing eyes with Ills coat.
ut is forbidden here he said i'm q |
lushed voice.
Id was d copy Of a MonchevilS Obo- /
tontsi (Patriotic Socialist) journal, /
Ind forbidden publication under the /
suppression OF the press. /
Then with both courage and /
he answered:
~ am not afraid I have been /
twice TO Siberia. can go again"
He had been sent into exile by the /
of the car as a boy Of
III for no other crime than that of /
belonging to the Social Democrats. i
Now he considered himself in danger
81 being sent to Siberia by the Boil
sheviiEi for the same otfense.