The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-29
TELLS OF RUSSIA.
Lincoln Steffens Explains
Ideals of BOlsheviki.
Says They Are Striving for an
Ideal Democracy.
AHEAD OF OTHER NATIONS
Noted Publicist UphOlds SIav
Leaders in Talk Here.
Says They Think America and
England Seek Spells.

When the Russians were no longer
able to cope with Germany by force
of arms on account OF their appalling
! losses.'' asserted Lincoln Steffens, au-
thor and lecturer. they withdrew
from the armed struggle and volun-
teered to go into Germany and spread
propaganda that would cause the Ger
man people to arise against the Ger
man rulers to the end that a true
democratic peace be brought about at
(, once
Lincoln Steffens was formerly editor
of the American magazine and of
Every body's. He is a publicist of note,
and an author of national repute.
Steffens spoke before an audience at
the high school auditorium Thursday
night.
when the Bolsheviki party in Rus
STA first obtained control of the Rus
! sian government it represented about
per cent of the Socialists of the
country" said Steffens, but now the
Boisheviki have behind them a ma
jority of the people of Russia and ST.
IBERIA.
Bolsheyiki Are Advanced.
THE Bolsheviki." continued Stef-
| fens, ARE far ahead of any other peo-
, pie in the world in their ideals of
democracy, and they are bending ev-
| cry effort to make their ideals real.
The difference between the Rus
| sian Bolsheviki and the American
people," explained Steffens, lis just
! this that the Bolsheviki, when con-
fronted with Hun ruthlesSneSS imme-
diately wanted to know why and the
Americans first impulse was to judge
and get hold of the guilty parties.
One reason why the Russians offer
so little distance to the Germans is
| that they feel it is no worse to be eX-
plotted by the Germans than by the
English or the Americans or any 9TH
er nation
! Braved the Cannon.
| Charges that Russia were slackers
toward the allies are not true. Mr..
Steffens declared, because he said,
before the entry of the United States
into the war Russia had lost 100000
| dead and 100000 wounded. When
they were no longer able to cope by.
force of arms, the Russians felt that
tthey should do something more to-
thelp the allies, Mr.. Steffens pointed
out, and SO they volunteered to go
into Germany and spread propa ganda
| that would lead to German revolu-
| ton, and array the German people
| against the German rulers, to the end
that true Democratic peace would
come -i-- -esirs
| Russia was not successful in de-
| ing this because she could not get a
concerted statement from the allies as
| to their war aims, and she believed
| that the imperialiSt leaders among the
allies would persevere in the idea of
I
| Germans after the close of the pres
| ent conflict.
| They Ask for Reason.
| When the Bolsheviki first got hold
| of the government in Russia they rep
resented about per cent of the So
| c1aliStS of the country he said, but
now they have behind them a ma ior-
| ity of the people of Russia and Siberia
| The Bolsheviki are starting far
ahead of any other people of the
world in trying to form their democ-
racy. When they see the Hun ruth
lessness their first impulse is to I'M
derstand, and they ask why while
the first impulse of the Americans is
to Judge.
We want simply to get hold of the
guilty parties. That is the difference
/ between the people of Russia, who
| think for the good of their neigh
bors and the rest. of the country
rather than for their own individual
good.
"One reason why the Russians offer
so little resistance to the Germans is
that they feel it is no worse to be ex-
plotted by the Germans than by the
English or by the Americans or anv
other nation. Trotzky's Apo to the
Germans to keep their armies out of
Russia was an experiment Some dav
such an experiment will succeed"
Kerensky Lacked Executive Ability.
Kerensky's failure in Russia was
because he lacked executive ability,
the speaker said. Kerensky could only
get things done right by doing them
himself and he was able to accom-
plish wonderful things in Russia only
because he was so well loved by the
people, said Mr.. Steffens.
George Hughes, a man who has
known Steffens for long time, and
who was instrumental in helping bring
the lecturer to Topeka at this time.
| presided at the meeting