The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1919-11-13
AN OPEN LETTER
Bismarck, N. D.,
November s. 1919.


Bismarck, N. D.,
November s, 1919.
, President w. c. T. u,
Bismarck, N. D.
Dear Madam:
There is an impression abroad that
the local organization of the w. C. I.
U. is more or less inclined to an adj
miration Of the Russian Soviet Repub-
lie.
An intimate knowledge of the things
for which the w. C. T. U. has stood
for many years, leads me to believe
that any advocacy of these principles
would not be tolerated by your organ
ization if you understood the nature
of the government which had been i'm
posed upon Russia by the revolution
ary socialists. For this reason l am
taking the liberty of directing to your
attention some of the provisions of
the constitution of the Soviet Russian
which / am sure neither the w. C. T.
u, nor any other body of people af-
filiated with an organization founded
upon the Ten Commandments, will ap-
prove.
In passing it might be noted that
Sections A to G of Chapter 2, Article
!, Of the Constitution Of Soviet Rus
sia, provides that the private owner
ship of land is abolished and it is ap-
portioned to those best able to utilize
it without compensation to the former
owners. All personal property, as we'll
as improvements on real property, is
made the property of the state; like
oil fnn
roads and all treasures of the earth,
forests and waters of general public
utility, banks, stores, factories and etc.
were taken over and now belong to
the state. In order to perpetuate the
rule Section provides that all work
ers be armed, and that Red Social
ist Army be organized and the proper
tied class be disarmed.'
1t was not, however, to point out the
loss Of the home and everything we
call our own under the Soviet form Of
Government, that l am writing you
this letter, but to point out provisions
which more nearly touch your organ
ization. For instance, under the chap
ter devoted to Church and State, Sec
tion four provides: "The proceedings
Of state and other public legal insti-
tutions are not to be accompanied by
any religious customs or ceremonies.
This means that law making bodies
can not be opened by prayer, or pub
lie officials may not take an oath of Of
flee, or any other ceremony permitted
in public bodies or acts allowed which
recognize the Deity.
Section provides "The teaching of
eligious doctrines in all, state and pub
lie, as well as in private, educational
institutions in which general subjects
are taught, is forbiddn. Citizens may
teach and study religion privately"
This means that anything referring to
the Deity, Church or religion must be
banished from our schools, public, or
Section twelve provided HtSo church
or, religious society has the right to
own property. I:leJ i,avc no rights
of {. juridicad person.
Section thirteen provides "All prop
critics Of the existing church and re-
ligious societis in Russia are declared
national property"
Article four declares that only all
who have acquired the means of live
lihood through labor which is produc-
tive and useful may hold office and
vote. This includes housekeepers,
soldiers of the Soviet Army and citi-
zens Of these classes who are unable
to work and perform their duties.
Even if contained in these classes
the following people may not vote
(Subdivision A, Sec. 65) persons who
emDlOV hired labor in order tO ohtain
from it an increase in profits" This
means that if Farmer Jones, living
upon State land, hires Farmer Smiths
boy, who also lives upon State land,
to pick up potatoes for him, he is dis
franchised. Section B. disfranchises
persons who have an income without
doing any work, such as interest from
capital, receipts from property, ETC.
Section 6 disfranchise "Private mer-
chants, trade and commercial bank
ers". Section D disfranchises monks
and clergy Of all denominations.
! > If we were blessed with this Russian
Republic then the preachers couldn't
vote and good many politicians who
have tried in vain to stem the tide of
prohibition would consider the last
provision a most excellent one.
The Chapter on Marriage declares
that marriage is civil contract Of
the same nature as the purchase of
bushel Of potatoes or pound of steak.
Quoting an explanatory note: "Church
marriage is private affair of those
EHYI - ~