New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-07-09

Neither group were communists in
practice. particularly when the opera
ton Of communism came home to
them.
For a time those peasants who had
a surplus sold their product TO the
government. For II they received
questionable paper money with a
doubtful value. Then began the hoard
Ing of farm products. The peasants de-
inanded manufactured things which
they needed. in exchange for their
farm products. The government did
not have the manufactured articles
the peasants needed and wanted. The
proletariat of the cities was hungry.
II was up to the bolshevik government
TO feed them, or fall 49,. Raiding par
ties were sent u The Red army
was used. The peasants stood together
to protect their property. The sociali-
cation Of land failed. Production on
the farms fell. General poverty re-
suited. The problem of the b~olshevik
government to provide food for the
cities still remained. With the failure
of communism of the land, the govern
ment set to work to cultivate the great
proprietary estates on a cooperative
plan. Graft. inefficiency of administra-
ton. and the unwillingness of the
peasants 10 work. caused this plan to
fail.
kerzhenstey in the "Izvestia" of the
provincial executive committees of
January 20. 1919, gives a picture OF
the situation THE facts describing
the village soviet Of the Uran borough
present a shocking picture which is
no doubt typical of all other corners
of our provincial soviet life. The chair
man of this village soviet, Rekhalev.
and his nearest cO-wOrkers. have done
population against the soviet rule
Rekhalev, himself. has often been
found in an intoxicated condition and
he has frequently assaulted the local
Inhabitants. The heating up of visit
ors Il the soviet office was an ordinary
occurrence. In the village of Biere-
zovka the peasants have heen thrash
ed. not only with fists, but have peer
assaulted with sticks. robbed of their
footwear and asst into damp cellars,
on bare earthen floors, The members
OF the executive committee, Glakhov,
Morev. Makhov, and others, have gone
even further. They have organized
"requIsition parties" which were moth
the course OF which they have used
wire-wrapped sticks on the recalci.
trants. The abundant testimony. veri.
fed by the soviet commission. pOr-
trays n very striking picture of vio-
lence. When these members Of the ex-
ecntive committee arrived at the town
ship OF SadOmovo they commenced to
assault the population and to rob them
of fOodstufs and of their household
belongings. such rs quilts. clothing,
harness. etc. No receipts for the re-
Questioned goods were given and no
money paid. They eve resold 10 9th
ers on the spot some OF the bread.
sturs which they had requisitioned."
This Is the testimony OF a ~welI-known
loyal b~olshevik leader.
Reports Fiooolng Of Peasants.
The b%olshevik. Latzis, reported In
the "Izvestia" Of January II, 1919,
that "in the Nellzsh county of the
province of vitebsk they are flogglng
the peasants by the authority Of the
local soviet committee"
The bolshevik, Krivoshayev. re-
In the "%Severnaya Commune"
Of May 10. 1919: '"The soviet workers |
taking from the peasants chickens
geese, bread and butter, without pay.
ing for II. In some households of these
poverty-stricken folk they are confs
even the pillows and the saino |
vars, and everything they can lay |
their hands on. The peasants natural.
ly feel very bitterly against the soviet
The peasants borough meetings ~
the province Of Kostroma forwarded
n resolution 10 Lenine published in
the "Izvestia." In which they say:
'rhe members of the sovie,s are rul.
ing us; they nre violating our will and
are %tantalizing MS ms II We were dumb
The peasants are hiding their
holding them for a day when
hey hope that the blight Of ON
will pass and sane democratic
government will reorganize Russia.
bring order out of chaos. establish
Their safety-deposit boxes
re empty bottles into which the peas
,nts stuff the paper ruhles and then
,nry the bottles. They look for a day
when a stable government will re-
ieem these paper promises called
money, which TODAY are Of little value.
shows their lack of trust in the
government and It's banking system.
I also points 10 the interest they have
n the passing Of the bolShevik GOV.
and the hope they hold FOR
he coming Of a new state.
Many Of the peasants who spized
and are conscious of the dishonesty
Il their title and Of the Insecurity Of
heir possession. They want good,
onest title Il their land. Several hun.
Ired million rubles were sent to the
government treasury of Omsk by peas
nts asking that they be given honest
tile 10 their land.
Copy right. 1920. Western Hewspa per Union,