The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-07-31

new Dictatorship of the Proletariat'
He Immediately infused a. vigorous
spirit of organization and order into
the new Government. The sale OF
spirituous liquors was forbidden. Fire
arms were confiscated. Severe pen
alties were imposed for all crimes
against public order and security.
Pillagers were shot on the spot.
Budapest at night was safer than
some parts Of New York in the day
time
| had many occasions to see Bella
Kun and was greatly impressed by
the resourcefulness and strength OF
his personality. Physically he is un
impressive, with a medium though
sturdy physique, bullet-shaped head,
sensual face, and somewhat apologize
manner. He soon reveals, however,
keen intelligence ,great selfcontrol, a
clear sense of direction, a sure power
of decision. and courageous readi
ness to accept all the consequences or
his decisions. He is not a passionate
fanatic, and has rare political sense
that enables him TO seize every OPP
portunity to forward his ends.
This latter quality was revealed in
his mastery control of the Commun-
ists-those extremists who believe
strongly in a policy of violence. Kun
knew how to utilize as well as to re-
press their fanaticism. While the
moderate Socia lists were more or less
at sea as to their program, he harm
essed up the enthusiasm of the Com
munists and gave character and driv-
! ing force TO the Dictatorship of the
/ Proletariat." His admiration for and
devotion to Lenin was unbounded,
and quiet frankly avowed He did not
seem to have a similar feeling for
Trotzky.
Lenin, as / have already stated
early advised the Hungarian Social
lists to avoid the mistakes and excess.
ess of the Russian Bolsheviki, and
continued for long while in con
slant communication by wireless with
Bella Kun. Just what was implied
by this caution is hard to say in the
light of events. My impression, how
ever, was that Lenin realized how ser
iously socialism was discredited by
acts of pillage. violence. terrorism
and murder. He particularly con
sidered ii mistake to affront the in
telIectual leaders among the bourg
eoisie. and desired, on the contrary
to make use of their services in be
half of the new socialistic regime
John Spargo emphasizes this fact in
his remarkable book on Bolshevism.
II was quite apparent at the start
that Bella Kun was, eager to con
ciliate the Entente. This was shown
by his efforts to protect foreigners
from the rigors of the new regime, and
by his heavy-handed punishment o.
excuses committed by members o
the Red Guard. Radical Legislation
was toned down and harsh measures
administered with married. modera,
ton in some instances. Furthermore
he early disclosed desire TO eiimin
ate the most extreme Communist
from the Government, and to move {
long way from the Left" to the
Right. His policy seemed clearly
to try to establish working accord
with the Entente. 1t was also o
special interest to note his eviden
eagerness to serve as an intermediar!
between Lenin and the Entente. Ever.
thing, in fact. at one time seemed sub
ordinate to this ambition.
The majority of the other member
of the new Government were moder
ate Socialists; that Is to say, moder
J.. ate as contrasted with the Commun
lists represented by two fiery youth
named Samuelli and Vargo, both o
, of whom were avowed Bolsheviki iron
t lie start. Among these so-calle,
, moderates were a number of colleg
professors such as Kunfi and Bolgai
, the latter formerly student in CLAIR
, University, Worcester, Mass. ThougI
animated with that class hatred whicl
! unfortunately characterizes mos
Socialists, they were obviously appre
| hensive concerning the Communist
and early disclosed desire to get ri
; of this dangerous faction. Socialism
2 ocracy could not hold its own agains
the tyranny of the Dictatorship of tn
/ Proletariat."
Having in mind the origin of thi
4 socialistic regime and the characte
of its leaders, it is of interest to not
: the nature of the great mass of legii
+ lation enacted Immediately by the ueN
9 Government Its aim was to replac
t in a day the legislation of centuries
9 Not all was created de nova, however
1 as it was evident that most OF thi
1 legislation was copied from the Ru:
T. sian Bolsheviki.
The first important decree was {
: abolish the right of private propert.
< Everything henceforth was to belon
T. to the State. But there were impol
i tant concessions and exceptions. 1
} order no. to antagonize the peasant
: 1t was recognized that small holder
. of land under cultivation were to b
: left unmolested. This was in harmony
t of course, with the socialistic principl
that every man is entitled to tn
= fruits of his own labor. The questio
of actual title 20 property was left il
2 allegiance 1t is evident however, a
} Spargo points out, that the Bolshe
= Wiki believe in the standardization" o
} land. The Hungarian Government
took pride in an experiment in tn
7 specialization of a big estate along tn
itsame lines as the specialization of il
} dustries, where the employees contro
the management and share the profit
of the enterprise. Mr. Brailsford
, when | met in Budapest, seems Il
have been greatly impressed by th
experiment as described in his articl
5 of May 2S in The New Republic. | d.
| ~ ft,,Y,C ,.tt, nm