The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-09
sovIETIsM NOT eoLsHEvisM.

"There was a comparatively new idef
OF some value imbedded In the politica
/ plans OF Lenlne and his associates" re-
| marks the Chicago News in the open
| ing sentence OF an editorial on "GrouI
Government In Europe" This IL wha'
Is termed the soviet system which II
not necessarily feature OF bolshevist
| communism with which II Ia 30 gen
| orally confused The present govern
eminent OF Russia In termed the soviet
republic by those who compose II, but q
more accurate descriptive term wout
bo n communistic despotism. II Is ir
no proper sense representative re-
public.
But back to the soviet idea. THE
basic idea OF the soviet system" ac-
cording to our contemporary. lis repre-
sanitation by vocational. professional and
industrial groups rather than represent
alton from geographical areas" This
plan Is supposed to guarantee govern
ment and administration by experts in
stead Of by professional politicians. At
any rate. representatives IN the govern
mcnt would speak for those with whom
they were directly identified leaving
other representatives to perform a sim
liar service for others. In the final
analysis. legislation. instead OF reflect
ing consensus OF the opinion OF bank
ors or lawyers or captains Of Industry.
would comprehend a blending Of tho de-
inands OF all divisions OF society--in
short. democracy.
We can agree with the News that
tho bolshevist government 10 very
poor exemplihcation OF sovietsm. In
stead Of comprising representation OF
all occupational groups. In reality and
pctentiality 1t represents but one sec
tion Of only one group--the communist
portion OF industrial worlsingmen. The
balance OF the people have little or
nothing to do with tho government ex-
copt perhaps to pay tax. II Is easy,
therefore, to see that sovietsm and com.
| munism have little klnship. The for.
| NOR affords representation to the va.
| rtous groups of society while the latter
reduces society to one Eroup--the pro-
letaria. Tho former contemplates n
blending OF interests: the latter would
eliminate all interests but one.
This In crude outline Is a sort Of con
trast between sovietsm and bolshevist
communism. Sovletlsm has been hailed
by some political writers as a remarlS-
ernment-writers not infected In the
slightest degree with communism.
Premier Mllerand. OF France, and his
associates are said TO be considering
the ndvlsabillty OF Incorporating some
OF tho features OF sovlotlsm into the
governmental system Of that country.
lnasmuch as the president and mem-
bers OF the French senate are not
elected by the people, the premier
thinks II would not be difficult TO pro.
vide for n method OF soviet representa-
tion In choosing them
In Great Britain, where the constitu-
uonal system lends itself more readily
to such an innovation, there In also
manifest a disposition TO discuss
whether or not tho soviet system mlght
rot be introduced, In some measure
with advantage to the country in pre-
venting or allaying class feeling and
contention. II would be more dificult
to Mt In scheme OF soviet representa-.
ton under our constitutional system
There has been some discussion OF pro-
portional party representation in this
country and II has. we believe, been
adopted In one or two states. That IA
step In the direction Of sovietism,
The soviet idea would probably AFFECT
our party system profoundly. though
u would not necessarily ohllterate Il.
Representatives Of various occupations
might at the same time be representa-
tlVos OF parties, since II IL known that
members Of various trades, professions
ana callings are never united I'm tho
support OF any one party Under tho
soviet system, however, farmers, In.
porers, merchants. manufacturers,
bankers. professional mon. etc, would
hs represented by men from their own
ranks, Talk by presidential candidates
OF appointing real ''dlrt" farmer ms
secretary Of agriculture. n real working
man ms secretary Of labor and n real
merchant rs secretary OF commerce is
an approach TO the soviet idea.