The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1920-08-19

gress, our president and the cabinet
1t has the supreme legislative and ex-
ecutlve power. Do the people have q
vote for these all-powerful congress
men? Certainly not. The All-Russlan
congressman are elected by the city
soviets and by the soviets of the prov
inces, who were elected by the city
and rural soyiets, the. rural soviets
having been elected by the local rural
sovlets, whose members were elected
by the people.
Congress Not Governing Body
The All-Russian congress is very
large body. The first congress met 10
1917. II numbered about 1,200 dele.
gates. The eighth congress is now
(January, 1920) In session and the
present membership has grown to over
two thousand. 1t is big, cumbersome
body, unfit for dell eratlve purposes.
1t IS more of a mass meeting, plat
form for the relief of those who have
speeches burdening their chests. The
congress never sits for more than
week. 1t was never intended to be an
organ of government. The constitu-
ton tells the story.
Section % reads: The All-Russian
congress shall elect central execu-
tive committee of not more than 200
members" This takes the government
another step from the people.
Section 80 says: when the All-Rus-
sian congress is not in session, the
central executive committee is the su-
preme power of the republic" But we
have not reached the END OF the jour
ney from the people to the seat of
power.
Section 80 reads: 1.-THE central ex-
ecutlve committee shall select a coun-
Gil Of peoples commissars who
shall manage the affairs of the Rus
sian Socialist Federal Soviet 3Repub-
lic."
But let us read on:
Section 81: The council of peoples
commissars is intrusted with the gen
eral management of the affairs of the
republic"
Section So: "For the accomplish
ment of this task the peoples com
mlssars shall issue DEGREES, resolu- |
tons, orders, and in general take all |
steps necessary for the proper and |
rapid conduct of government affairs"
Section 40: "The central executive
has the right to revoke or
all orders and resolutions of
the council of peoples commissars."
But a mote" TO this section of the
reads: Measures requir-
ing immediate action may be enacted
directly by the council of peoples
Without Voice in Government.
The council of peoples commissars
IS II In number. The people had no
voice in selecting the peoples COM
they were not given a choice
n picking the central executive com
nittee; they were not allowed to vote
or the All-Russian congressman; In
he rural districts the poor peasants
we're not even allowed to vote for the
aen who selected the men who in turn
elected the congressman.
At the head of the Sacred Seven
cen" is the chief of state, Lenine. At
is right hand sits Trotzky. commissar
f force in charge of. t army and
avy. When l think of the part the
eople play In this newest form of
free" government and the distance
hey are kept from their country's
fairs, l cannot help but see them
trough this constitution as though |
ere looking at them through the
rong end of pair of opera glasses.
Truly it is q long way from the
aople to the throne of Lenine. The ,
sople make only the first and short
t step. There are five long aud i'm e.,
,rtant steps between the poor peas
ITS" and the power and three be- i
feen the city voters and the real gov /;
nment of Russia. :
The bolshevik government is gov +
nment of officeholders, for officehold n
S and by. officeholders. 1t Is Lin Il
ms formula reversed. have heard II
said that democratic government is n
failure because political ofliceholders s,
not truly represent the people.
lere Is some truth in the statement
t the people have remedy; the
stem is not at fault. / cannot I'M r,
rstand the logic for the faith that a G.
vernment which provides three or n,
e additional sets of officeholders be m
cen the people and the government G
Il make things better. n
Title Conveys Much Meaning. al
The title peoples commissar is full ~
meaning. 1t is obese with power la
e title is copyrighted In the con
tuition.
n December, 1918, Lenine ad- a,
,Ssed letter to the American work -
men in which he said: -,
Let incurable pedants, crammed on
of bourgeois democratic and par I'M
nentary prejudices, shake their III
DIS gravely over our soviet; let oe
m deplore the fact that we have no m.