Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-29
From Other Viewpoints
Soviet In Not Popular Government.
ny BURTON 1. FRENCH.

Recently a professor in one Of the leading
universities of our country spoke his mind In
favor of Soviet government AS soon he
understood q little more of what ii meant he
WAS just ready TO withdraw his approval
y government has right to exist
only IL serves the highest interests of the
people who make up the government and who
come in contact with it. Strangely enough.
good many writers seem to assume TINT the
only unique feature of the Soviet government
is group rcpresent ation. The fact is there is
absolutely philosophy by which the Soviet
form of government can he made representa-
tive unless the fundamental principles
which II rests shall be transformed and
changed as completely as the change of clc-
mcnts would be in color to make black white.
From an examination of the Soviet Consti-
is combined with the legislative and there is
no mention of judiciary. Also 1t seems that
Russia for its government is divided into units
Of various sizes. just is the United States.
We have the country whole. counties.
and other local units such districts pre-
cincts. or parishes. or urban units such as
cities towns, and villages. depending upon
the State Then we have the different bodies
chosen to govern these units. So in Russia
There Is no magic in the word Soviet" 1t
means merely council 1t means n legisla-
tive or dciiberative body. 1t had as we'll BIO
In Russia there are several different Sovicts-
the local rural. the rural the village or urban.
the country the provincial. the regional. and
the MI Russian Congress of Sovicts These
may correspond to delibcrative bodies of our
irecincts' our counties. our States and the
nation,
at least. theoretically. by trades or crafts, for
members OF the local Soviet That is the peo-
pie voting by trades elect members OF the par-
t.cular craft 10 which they belong to the local
Soviet. That is the only part the peoplc them
selves have in this much hcralded governments
the people then. or those of the people who
nave the franchise. in theory have the right
10 vote the members OF the local Soviet The
local Soviet in the cities is called the urban
SOVIET; IN the country 1t is called the rural
local Soviet
The farmer in Russia votes for his ruraI
rural local Soviet member and when ho casts
that ballot his power as a voter has come TO
an end The members of that local Soviet
vote TO elect members to the rural Soviet: the
members OF the rural Soviet then vote TO elect
members to the provincial soviet ana the
members OF the provincial Soviet vote TO elect
members to the An-Russian Congress OF
| SovctS.
In other words. as tho Senator'S OF the
removed from the American voter the mem
F, bcrs OF the All-Russian Congress OF Soviets
are three times removed from the Russian
| farmer. The city voter is trusted more than
! the farmer. for he votes direct for his urba
representative. who in turn votes for the
member OF the All-Russian Congress OF
| SoVie;s
| Under the Russian Sovie, system the MON.
| bcrs OF the legislative body known as the
| but by the urban Soviet members being elect :
| cd in the cities by the direct vote Of those OF
| the Russian people who are permitted the
! ballot while the country Soviete arc twice
| removed from the farmer who again canno,
he trusted with the responsibility Of voting
for so much as copntry officer in Russia
The next political unit in Russia is the