The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-12-06
TWO KINDS OF BOLSHEVIST
AND THOSE WHO GET HIT

The great middle class. the 100000 we have spoken of
before, stands today in the uncertain position midway between the
Parlor Bolshevist and the Basement Bolshevist.
The middle class knows from the ominous sounds coming
from both directions that something is impending.
He docs not know what is going to happen, but ne knows
that whatever happens is going to happen to him.
He stands mute with expectancy, but afraid to look in either
direction for fear something will happen to him from the op-
poste direction.
He has made up his mind that he is not going to escape
that it is not intended that he shall escape. He is only hoping
that he will not be hit from both directions at the same time.
He doesn't know whether the Parlor Boshevists are going
to pull the house down on him from above or whether the Base
ment Bolshevists are going to blow up the house from below.
The middle class knows only that some are going to escape
and that he, for one, is going to get hit.
1t may be that his house will be cold because the miners
decree it as a part of their program. 1t may be that his family
will be hungry because the profiteer has placed in cold storage
the food it needs, 1t may be both. He is only praying that it
will not be both at the same time, But however misfortunes may
come he knows that he is in for a cold deal.
Isaac F. Marcosson, writing for the Saturday Evening Post,
says the prohteer in Germany may be distinguished from other
persons because he has rubber tires on his automobile. Others
have steel springs on their wheels. The rubber tires glide along
smoothly, securely and with great facility. The steel spring wheels
make a Earring noise as they rumble over the cobblestone pave
ment.
1t is not quite so easy in this country to distinguish the
Pahor Bolshevist from the Basement Boshevist. The surface in
dications are not so pronounced.
We do know that the Paror Bolshevist is smooth, suave and
Snug in his c~ompacent satisfaction with himself and with the
treatment he receives from the world. He is the pneumatic, rub
Der tire variety, And we do know that the Basement Bolshevist
is noisy, uncouth and dissatisfied with everything as it exists. He
is the steel spring, rafting, raucous variety.
As to which is the more dangerous to the country we do not
pretend to say. We do mean to say that the danger to the nation
is not the resentment Of the oppressed alone. There is a lot OF
danger in the unrcstrained oppressor.
After all there is slight difference in the doctrine of the rich
Bolshevist and the poor Bolshevist. The Basement Bolshevist
would take possession Of the wealth that he had no part in saving
The Parlor Bolshevist would take possession of the labor that
belongs to other men.
The Basement Bolshevist would destroy the government be-
cause he opposes restraint of any kind and governments OF all
kinds,
The Parlor Bolshevist would destroy the government because
it would regulate the price Of the commodity that he has cornered
The one would take the wares of other men without pay, and
the other would sell his wares to other men for more than they
are worth.
There is no limit to the excuses to which either would 60 il
unhampered by government regulation. Regulation to one is as
calling as it is to the other.