Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-10-23
SOVIET AND TOWN MEETING

To most OF US the term Soviet government sug-
esaas the sort Of thing that they are having IN Russia.
and which most Of US do not want We are apt to dis
regard the original meaning OF the word. and to give It
. meaning consistent with the thtag with which 1t is
most recently and conspleueus'y associated. # we search
. short distance back Of the developments OF recent years
We find that soviet does not in itself mean anarchy. OF
tyranny. or ~bloodshed, or anything else that is reprehen-
stble.
a eovet, - the tsrn was sxelustvely understood IN
Russia unit, recently. was an assernblase. a council. q
gathering of representatives. II might be q Soviet Of all
or part Of the members OF q community. 1t might be .
sovet Of the entire population. or Of the farmers, the mer-
chants, the weayers, or what not. And a Soviet govern.
ment 10 = government composed OF representative chosen
BY local group. for the performances Of such duties as
may be entrusted to it. ~
Not a few people who have made this discovery have
asked why, if this is true. there is so much opposition
In this country to Soviet government in Russia. 1t Is
pointed out that our own is a Soviet government Begin
ming with the town meeting, Or something sirntisr to II.
and ending With the delegate bodies which have been
created TO carry out the will Of the local groups,
The answer Is that the Russian government is not
4 true sovet government At all and that in 10 far AZ it
erneodies the principles of the Soviet, 1t does 50 in q Eaan-
ner utterly inconsistent With the principles q free demo-
cratic government.
~ " 49, SNNS 80 stNAS VI ~ b@S1 6SSStSA W ~ nav
is controlled and directed from Moscow, local gatherings
Of villagers and jewellers in the cities are held, and that
these elect delegates to more central bodies, and go on,
until the main central government is reached. But the
naasses Of the Ruaaian people who are living under this
sort Of goveran,ent did not choose 1t for themselves. nor
are they in control Of its operations. The present gov
eminent of the bulk Of western Russia is centered in the
hands Of a small group OF o1acials who placed themselves
IN power, who formulated a system which they ordered
into effect, and who have taken great care that no mat
ter what the people down the line might say or do, the
ruic of the self-apppinted dictators should not be dis.
turbad. The soviets arc permitted to have their way just
SO long as they do not run counter to the wishes of the
ruling iunta. When there is such q conflict the local
body or the recalcitraut delegate is speedily brought to
terms or put out Of the way by Red guards who are al
ways conveniently on the Job. The rulers Of Russia to-
day arc not the people Of Russia, but Lenine, Trotzky.
and the handful! Of men whom they have chosen a their
associates. ~ ID"
The Moscow system is a nat violation Of everything
characteristic CT de,nocrac; in that even if it's authority
we're actually vested in the mass OF its members, thoee
members congsitute only a part Of the population and
nave taae;, :t'upon themselves to deny to all others the
right to any participation in the control Of the govern
n7ent. Vague and shadowy as is the actual power WELD
ed by the members Of the Soviet, that power, or its sam
hlance, is usurped. and those who think that they are
exercising it are in fact practieing tyranny over their
neighbors. Certain peasants, mechanics and others have
decided, or haze afguiesced in tbs decision made for
them by Lenlne. that they, and they only, shall be per-
laitted to enjoy the privilege Of membership in any Of the
local Sovets and to vote on any matter of public interest.
Suppose that the members OF any one Of the numer-
ous fraternal ordeFs-it matters not which-should de-
ter1nine 10 run this country themselves. Let them ex-
7ciude all other persons from their deliberations and frena
participation In their actions: Let them choose their own
delegates in their own way to central gatherings. Let
them seize the government machinery by force and fiji!
II. the Offices with persons Of their own choosing. That
wnuld be- q fair parallel to the popular" government
that Russia now experiences, except that while the Rus
sian zsoyiets actually exist, and arbitrarily exclude a very
large share Of the population, they themselves are sub
jet to the whims of the real authorities, Len.ue ct al.
The American system is based on the equal partiei-
patton Of all citizens In the work Of government. The
Russian system is a denial Of this equality. and rs utterly
illogical and wrong because it suhstitutes tor eitIzenship
something entirely different.
THE CAMERA AND THE MOB
One Of the first acts Of General wood wAss hs ua.
4Artook to etraikkten out affairs in Omaha after the hang,