The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1919-01-18
RUSSIA AND BOISHEVIsM.

Local sympathizers of the Boil
sheviki in Russia have taken issue
with The Labor World on account
of a certain article appearing in
recent issue Of this paper in which
we quoted Prof. Gustavus Myers, who
characterized certain leaders of the
Bolsheviki as "crooks and anar-
chists."
We probably should not have
printed such matttr. We should not
be concerned about what is going
on In Russia. If the people in that
country want Bolshevism that IS
their business and we are in favor
Of withdrawing our troops and per-
hitting the Russian people to work
out their destiny in their own odd
way.
In our philosophy we have moth
ing in common with Bolshevism
Maybe the Russian people have
found way to solve their economic
problems through such a process, and
if they like it we are perfectly will
ing that they should do the expert
menting, mindful of It's awful cost
in human life
During the week we have read
contributions on both sides of this
question and it is difficult to de-
eide which to believe. We have be-
fore us terrific Indictment of Boil
shevism and it's methods by no less
a parsonage than William English
Walling, renowned as a Socialist
writer; another by Professor Gus
tavus Grondys, noted Socialist Of
Holland, who just returned from
Russia; another by Oscar Toxic, a
former Bolshevist and the first COIL
stitutionally elected prime minister
of Finland; another by Gorky, who
to keep his head on his shoulders, -
it is said, recently returned to Boil
shevism, and still another by T..
Everett HARE, who he is we know
not.
What these men say of the RED
Terror" seems incredible. They re-
late incidents filled with horror that
would make the vilest Turk turn his
head with shame.
When we had finished reading
what these men had to say, we picked
up an American magazine coming to
our exchange table, The Dial. and
! its defense of Bolshevism is no less
| strong than it's critics are severe in
| exposure. So we are left in a state
of doubt as to what is true and what
! is not true.
! In any event we assure our friends
| that they are claiming all together
too much credit for the Bolsheviki
They say the land is being distrib,
uted among the peasants. Pray, wha;
Xnd? The Bolsheviki Coded to Ger.
many nearly every acre of land worth
while in the Brest-Litovsk treaty, and
there is little left to divide among
such a vast population.
They claim that their "back-fire'
of propaganda stirred revolution
! within Germany and forced the
Kaiser to abdicate and the govern.
ment to sue, for peace. They thus
hold that Bolshevism won the war
Few Americans will take any stock
in this claim, for it is believed the
! surrender of Russia to Germany
| prolonged the war unnecessarily n
! least year. Prussianism was licked
from the front by our soldiers anG
from the rear by propaganda of nc
less a parsonage than the President
of the United States.
There is no doubt but that thu
Bolsheviki have done some good
They probably would not be in power
! so long if they had not done few
things to justify their existence, bu
as an instrument to produce socia
order and build staple government
it is seriously doubted that Boz!
shevism is capable of meeting tn
situation. This doubt is shared b,
many of it's adherents.
If the caliber of leaders in Rus
STA is anything like their prototype
in the United States, God help Rus
STA. Of course we know there are
are in command of the situation, bu
are in comman of the situation, bu
the curse Of the labor movement
everywhere has been the "buttlu
sky" activities of this tribe of theor
lists and impossibilists. We real1
) have more hope for Germany be
coming an Industrial democracy tina
we have of Russia. Bolsheviki eS
! cesses will in the end lose for tn
Russian people all they have gained
Labor must insist on a relativ
wage that will keen the pllrcnas,n