The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-26
s.BOIshevism" Used on Street,
in Office and Homes.
Any Kind of Dissatisfaction
Means You're Bolshevist.
HOW IT STARTED IN RUSSIA
Derived From "BOlshinstOv,r
Meaning ''the Majority"
John Spargo, Graduate of Ok
ford, Writes on Subject.

He was dressed like an ordinary,
fairly prosperous man, and there was
everything to indicate that he had or
binary intelligence. He passed three
men. all of whom knew him and knew
he was the head of a department of
one of the city's Largest business con-
Germs. But, one of the three knew
something the other two did not.
Did you know Marco Polo is a.
Bolshevist?" the knowing one asked.
1.-The - he ISL one of the other
two exclaimed.
The other member of the trio was
neither surprised nor shocked. Huh,
business world than Marco Polo who
are Bolshevists,' he said. 'If you in
quire around a little among your
friends you will be surprised to find
that a great many of them will either
admit they are Bolshevists, or will tell
you they are not sure they have not
been inoculated."
And so the conversation went as the
trio disappeared in the crowd that
surged uP<Kansas avenue.
Probably no new word that has
come into the English language in the
last hundred years has carried such
magic and menace and mystery as the
word bolshevism. 1t is used to refer
to the most degenerate; it is applied
to the most idealistic of idealists; it is
appropriated by the most ambitious of
freaks and it is played upon by pro-
life writers and speakers of every
class. There is hardly a public ad-
dress in which it is not used and it is
hard to find a daily paper or cur
rent magazine that does not contain it.
BoIshevist in Many Things.
When a man expresses radical
views on any subject he is referred
to as a Bolshevist. When one is dis
satisfied with his salary, his condition
in life, with the policy of his firm or
the program of his political party or
his wife's cooking, he is referred to
as a Bolshevist. And a great many
men admit among friends that they
are Bolshevists in that they are not
satisfied with present conditions. 9th
ers who deny allegiance to Bolshevism
think it permeates the atmosphere
everywhere. The unrest of the coun-
try they say is due to the spirit of
Bolshevism. Labor troubles, the high
cost of living and about everything
else is linked up with this Russian
word. 5As
That capitalists and the heads of
industries and statesmen fear it. can
not be doubted. That a great many
people are not so certain it will never
threaten the peace and prosperity of
the United States is shown on every
hand. Bolshevism, whatever it may
mean, is great big word. and, in
deed, it is applied in a great many
ways to great many people.
John Spargo. Socialist of interna-
tional reputation, who is a graduate
of Oxford university and who lives
at Old Bennington. VT, has just writ
ten book on Bolshevism, published
by Harper Brothers. Spargo is an
avowed anti-Bolshevist, but liberal
minded, and he gives a very interest
ing account of the rise of Bolshevism
in Russia, relating its aims and ideals,
and relating it's failings and frailties in
most interesting manner.
In his book Spargo asserts that the
words ~Bolsheviki' and ''Bolshevism"
made their first appearance in Russia
in 1903. But it was not until 1905
that they began to acquire their pres
emit meaning, he says. Lenine, the
leader of Russian Bolshevism was
present in the capacity of midwife at
second convention of the Social Dem
ocratic party of Russia in 1903 there
was a tsplit. The majority faction,
headed by Lenine. adopted the name
'Bolsheviki," word derived from the
Russian word. "bolshinstoV" meaning
majority. The minority faction in
this split was called the "Menshe-
wiki" meaning the minority.
Thus the word "Bolsheviki" came
into existence.
small Part OF population.
According to Spargo. the present
Bolsheviki ruling Russia represent a
very small per cent of the population,
and the rule of the party is by force.
The Bolsheviki ruling class is made up
| almost entirely of industrial workers,
| even the peasants, except the very
poorest, being excluded from the
party
The object of Lenine and bis fol-
| lowers seems to be to get away from
the money evil and to make money
| one of the least attractive things in
the country and one of the least pow
erful. They do not forbid a man to
make money by employing the labor
and industry of other men, but they
propose to make it very unattractive
to get money in this way. Further
more, the franchise system they have
worked out is intended to take all the
political power away from money.
| Only those engaged in useful occupa-
tons who do not employ others for
hire are permitted to vote or hold Of
! flee.
Qualified for Office,
One of the most interesting parts
! of Spargo's book is that in which he
shows the political effect Russian Boil
| shevism would have if applied to
/ America today. The only classes that
would be entitled to vote and hold Of
flee would be the following:
First-EII wage earners engaged In the
production of goods and utilities regarded
| by some designated authority as "produe-
| tive and useful to society"
| Second-Teachers and educators engaged
! in the public service.
/ Third-An farmers owning and working
| their own farms without hired help of any
kind.
FouIth-An wGge-earnerS engaged in the
public service as employees Of the state.
| subdivisions Of the state, or public service
corporations-sueh as postal clsrks, street
railway workers, electricians and SO on
Fifth-Wiyes and others engaged in keep
| ing the homes of the foregoing, so as to
enable them to work.
Sixth-The soldiers in the army and the
navy.
!. Spargo says that the following GER
tainly would be excluded from the
right to vote or be voted for:
First-Every merchant from the keeper
| of corner grocery store to the owner of a
great mercantile establishment
/ Second-Every banker. every commits
sion agent. every broker, every insurance
| agent every real estate dealer.