Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1920-06-10

direct voice in their own government.
The constitution says: "The ALL
Russian congress is the supreme
power" This body in the government
of Russia takes the place of our con-
gress, our president and the cabinet.
1t has the supreme legislative and ex-
ecutive power. Do the people have
vote for these all-powerful congress-
men? Certainly not. The All-Russian
congressman are elected by the city
Soviets and by the soviets Of the prov
inces, who were elected by the city
and rural soviets, the rural soviets
having been elected by the local rural
sOviets, 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. 1t numbered about 1000 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 deliberative purposes.
1t is more of mass meeting, plat
form for the relief of those who have
speeches burdening their chests. The
congress never sits for more than a
week. 1t was never intended to be an
organ of government. The constitu-
ton tells the story.
Section % reads: The All-Russlan
congress shall elect q 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 SUI
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: "The central ex-
ecutive committee shall select coun-
Gil of peoples cOmmissars who
shall manage the affairs of the Rus
sian Socialist Federal Soviet Repub-
lic."
But let us read on:
Section 81: 1.-THE council of peoples
c0mmissars 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
miSsars shall issue DEGREES, resolu-
tinnS n tnlyn oil
steps necessary for the proper and
rapid conduct of government affairs"
Section 40: "The central executive
committee has the right to revoke or
suspend all orders and resolutions of
the council of peoples commissars."
But a mote" to this section of the
constitution reads: Measures requir-
ing immediate action may be enacted
directly by the council of peoples
cOmmissars."
Without Voice in Government.
The council of peoples commissars
is II in number. The people had no
voice in selecting the peoples COM
missars; they We're not given a choice
| in picking the central executive COM
mittee; they were not allowed to vote
| for the All-Russian congressman; in
the rural districts the poor peasants"
were not even allowed to vote for the
men who selected the men who in turn
selected the congressman.
At the head of the Sacred Seven
| teen" is the chief of state, Lenine. At
his right hand sits TrotZky, commissar
| of force in charge of tie army and
navy. When l think of the part the.
| people play in this newest form of
free" government and the distance
they are kept from their cOuntry's
affairs, / cannot help but see them
| through this constitution as though l
were looking at them through the
wrong end of a pair of opera glasses.
Truly it IS a long way from the
! people to the throne of Lenine. The
people make only the first and short
| est step. There are five long and i'm
| portant steps between the poor peas
| ants" and the power, and three be-
| tween the Guy NOteIS anu the Iedl SON-
eminent of Russia.
The bOlshevik government is a gov
eminent of OfficehOlderS, for officehOld-
ers and by officehOlders. 1t is Lin
coins formula reversed. l have heard
it said that democratic government is
a failure because political Ofliceholders
| do not truly represent the people.
| There is some truth in the statement,
but the people have a remedy the
system is not at fault. | cannot I'M
derstand the logic for the faith that a
government which provides three or
five additional sets of ofliceholders be-
tween the people and the government
will make things better.
Title Conveys Much Meaning.
The title peoples commssar Is full
of meaning. 1t Is obese with power.
The title is copyrighted In the con-
| stitution.
In December, 1918. Lenine ad-
dressed letter to the American work
ingmen in which he said: