The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-07-18

iue picoiueit VI RUSSIA, theoretical
ly, Is the chairman of the central q.
ecutive committee. At present ha /.
Michael Kalenin, a peasant. The M
shevik leaders are capitalizing the fa4
that Kalenin Is q peasant to win II.
support Of the peasants. AS a matte,
of fact, Lenine, as head of the csbipe,
of eighteen, is actual head of Russia
His position is similar to that Of MIN
ister-president or prime minister.
The bolsheviks boast that they nd,
have constitutional republic with \
one chamber legislature and that thei,
form of government is not SO radical
as people suppose. The constitution
YVES adopted by the third all-Russaa|
central soviet. 1t is claimed this CON
gress is representative body, though
the indirect system of election doe;|
not allow the people to say much re|
garding its membership.
People in Moscow familiar with ths|
! personnel of the soviet congress ssy|
that at least fifty per cent of the meh.|
bers are professional agitators or pol
! litical labor leaders. The percentage
is even higher in the executive conf
mittee and there are no real workmea|
in the actual government ITSELF Writ
ers and sofalled leaders compose As|
cabinet.
The form OF the Russian goverr|
ment would not be so bad were 1t nd|
for the way 1t is operated. No oF|
position to the party In power is toll
Grated, and no other party can get mi
to power.
No other party Is recognized but ths|
communists. These are divided intel
imensheviks and bolsheviks, and most
of the menshevik leaders have been|
driven from the country. The meH|
sheviks in theory are opposed to fores|
to bring about revolution. They would
rely on evolution. The bolsheviks sy|
anything is justified in fighting can|
tai.
Most Of the remaining menshevinI
have Joined the bolsheviks and hola|
offices. No one but communists ca|
hold offices Of political Importance y
this is not true by law, 1t is BY prae|
tice. It has been easy to stack tns|
lists of candidates for election 80 tna|
none but communists run for elecuca|
to soviets.
Everything is done through w
medium of the communist party. NJ
other party is allowed to exist OF NJ
hold meetings or to have anything pus|
iisned. MANY Russians want social|
ist-democratic party, but so far the %
shevikB refuse to permit its organlSa|
ton.
Only the chosen can belong 70 u1
communist party. Membership Is "
timated at a half million now. II aa'|
members of the party object 10 yull
your chances OF ever being admiI.ss|
into the bolshevik fraternity are po@|
Once member Of the party you a.. a.,
entitled to carry gun. YOU can ,,.,0s|
look forward to getting a ponu,,
post. probably as a minor coinmis S,a,s
at first, with the possibility Oh S ror
ing up to a headquarters ]oo, Wv,
missaires are sent out from Mossu
IT,. practically all villages to supe r rn
and instruct the local so'le's'
also control all travellers. ,,,, raa|
Around the activities OF this o,t.,,|
political machine there Is .eis sas|
'glamor. The sincere communists mon MI
that they are the chosen Few vw.snonsf|
whom falls the tremendous re sasolr
bility Of defending the Russian re- ie's an
tion. The insincere communists, os 81
preciate the fact that they are AZ
defending their jobs. makes
Since the economic platform o.a ,hsI
dependent on the s.a rsrcIss|
communist commissaires 40 !. e,u,nors|
great power and they feel lnei' .hs peo|
ance. Most of those close 70 ~ adds|
pie are extremely young wiz, nvn,tsiderl
to their enthusiasm. TO an M conf
the red-taped dictatorship Of the ant and
is alternately ludl st N Ru.|
tragic, but to the commuiliS' :
STA. it is an earthly Utopia.
Gland IL 10 " n