The Elk Mountain pilot., 1920-03-18
Shall Chaos or Reconstruction
in Europe Follow the Great
World War;
BoLsHEvIk RULE OF FORCE
People Arc Helpless While the Army,
Privileged, Keeps Lenlne In Power
by Its 6ayonets-Freedom 10
a Thing Forgotten.
Article XIV.
By FRANK coMERFoRp.

By'FRANk coMERFoRD.
The effort to socialize politics did
not demOcratize politics; it was not
intended to. In practical operation, it
fulfilled Its purpose. 1t created polIt-
feal autocracy.
The greatest power in Russia today
IL the Red army. Without an army a
minority government cannot exist.
Force is the strength and security of
minority rule. Bayonets held the car
on his throne, the same power holds
the LenineTrotsky government in au-
thority. Every inducement has been
offered men to Join the army and the
navy. This is the best and almost
the only job In Russia today. The
teed good food and a warm bunk. He
escapes the danger of cold and starva-
tion. Living conditions are better in
the Red army than in any other occu-
patton.
Section 10 of Article Of the consti-
tuition IL interesting:
'FOr the purpose Of defending the
victory of the great peasants and
workers revolution, the Russian So
cialist Federal Soviet Republic recog-
nizes the duty of all citizens OF the
republic to come to the defense Of their
socialist fatherland. and 1t, therefore,
introduces universal military training.
The honor of defending the revolution
with arms Is accorded only to the
workers, and the non-working ele-
ments are charged with the perform
ance of other military duties"
Only "Reds" Allowed FIrsarms.
No one else in Russia is allowed to
have or carry arms. This. rule is
strictly enforced. and searches have
been made almost weekly In search of
arms. 1t Is serious matter to have
{ frearm In Russia II you are not a
member Of the army. As conse-
quence. the one armed force in Rus
sia today Is the Red army. This is
the backbone Of the bolshevik govern
ment. The people are utterly help
less. Az long as the army ID we'll fed.
warm and well clothed. 1t will con-
hnue to be the most popular occupa-
ton in Russia.
Carrying out the general plan of
socialising. the bolshevik government
stripped army ofdcers Of rank. In do
ing this they tried to live up to the
constitution forbidding the bourgeoisis
entering the army. However. this
theory. like many others, did not work
out in practice. Skill in military d.
rection Il indispensable to an elective
military machine. Facing civil war.
with the Red army alone between the
eevsFnmeat and disaster. Lenine and
Trotxky found It WDsdient to turn
their backs upon the constitution. It
was necessary to have trained men as
oficers, and the bourssoisie to whom
they hsd-denied citisseship and the
honor Of defending the republic. were
called upon to advise the army.
Albert Rhyse Williams IL q devoted
friend Of Lenins's. He was 20 enam-
ored with the bolshevik movement that
he offered to Join the Red army. He
has written q biography Of Lenine.
from which quote:
"He (Lenine) sent an automobile
with Red guards to the fortress of
Peter and Paul to fetch part Of the
counter-revolutionary staff In prison
there.
Gentlemen said Leoine. ~ the
generals filed into his once. I have
brought you here for expert advice
Petrograd is In danger. VIII you be
good enough to work out the military
tactics for its defenseT They as
sented.
".Here are our forces resumed
Lenine. indicating upon the map the
location of the Red troops, munitions
and reserves. And here are our latest
reports upon the number and disposi-
tion Of the enemy troops. Anything
else the generals desire they will call
for
'sThey set to work and toward eve
ming handed him the result of their
deliberations. Now said the gen.
erals ingratiatingly, will the premier
be good enough to allow US more COM
Portable quarters?
"My exceeding regrets replied
Lenine; some other time, but not just
now. Your quarters. gentlemen. may
not be comfortable but they have the
merit of being safe The staff was
returned to the fortress of Peter and
Paul."
1 have given this excerpt from the
life Of Lenine, not because the Incl
dent is important, but because 1t illus.
trates the difference between bofshevik
theory and practice. l am not criti-
cising Lenine's good sense IN promptly
abandoning the foolish theory he
wrote in the constitution am trying
to emphasize the fOolishness and i'm
practicability of the theory.
BoIehevik Breach Of Faith.