Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-21
SLAvS' FIRST
CONGRESS IS
CL0SEDS0ON
Bolsheviki, Authorities Dis
solve Assembly After
Losing Out in Vote.

Petrograd, Jan. 20.-The consh.
tuent assembly has been dissolved
by the BOlshevik authorities, 1t is
officially announced today. Sailor
guards closed the assembly at 4
o'clock this morning and a decree
of dissolution will be issued dur.
ing the day.
The decree issued by the central
executive committee of the congress
of workmen's and soldiers delegates
dissofvfng the constituent assehdBiy
says that the revolution created the
workmen's and soldiers council as the
only organization able to direct the
struggle of the exploited working
classes for complete political and
economical liberation. During the first
period OF the revolution the work
mems and soldiers congress, it is
added, perceived the illusion Of an I'M
derstanding with the Bourgeoise, its
deceptive parliamentary organization
and realized that the liberation of the
oppressed classes was impossible
without a rupture with the Bour-
geOise.
Election Wrong, Claim.
Therefore the revolution of No.
vember arose giving all authority to
the congress of workmen's and SOL
diers' delegates, t he decree says, "the
constituent assembly being elected
from the old election lists was the ex-
preston of the old regime when au-
thority belonged to the Bourgeoise.
The people who voted for the social
revolutionists were unable to dis
tinguish those of the right who were
partisans Of the Bourgeoise and from
those of the left, who were partisans
of socialism. Therefore the constitu-
ent assembly necessarily became the
authority of the Bourgeoise republic
setting itself against the revolution OF
November and the authority of the
workmn's and soldiers council"
The revolution of November, the de-
cree continues, has shown the work.
ers that old Bourgeoise parliamentary
ianism had had its day and was incom.
patible with the tasks before social
lists, and that only such institutions al
the workmen's and soldiers councils
were able to overcome the opposition
of the rich classes and create a new
socialist state.
Would Be Step Back.
i Every REFUSAL" it adds, ito recog
nize the authority of the Republican
worknens and soldiers councils, ant
to place in the hands of the constitu
ent assembly and the Bourgeoise. thu
! I;I .fa1x ho1 h.
a step backwards and toward thu
bankruptcy of the workmens an(
peasants revolution.
THE constituent assembly openet
on January Is and for known reasoni
gave a majority to the social revolu
tionists OF the right--the party o
Kerensky, Tchernoff and Avkenstieff
1t is comprehensive that this faction
refused to debate the just and cleal
program Of the the central executive
committee of the congress OF work
mems and soldiers delegates, and t,
recognize a declaration Of rights o
the exploited working classes, as vel
as the revolution of November and tn,
authority of the workmen's and sol
diers' councils"
Made Breach Inevitable.
This, the decree says, made breacl
in the assembly and the departure o
the Bolsheviki and social revolution
lists of the left inevitable. The socia
revolutionists OF the right, it says. ar
fighting openly against the authorit.
of the workmen's and soldiers coun
ellis and supporting the exploiters o
labor and II this party only remaine'
it might play the role OF leading |
Bourgeoise counter revolution. Tn
decree concludes:
THE central executive committee
therefore orders the constituent a.
sembly dissolved"
Question Is: Who Shall Rulei
London, Jan. 21.--The constituen
CONTINUED On Page Eleven)