New Mexico state record., 1920-07-02
PROBLEMS FACING
STRICKEN WORLD
Shall Chaos or Reconstruction
in Europe Follow the Great
World War?
B0LSHEvIK RULE OF FORCE
People Are Helpless While the Army,
Privileged, Keeps Lenine in Power
by Its 6ayonets-Freedom 10
Thing Forgotten.
Article XIV.
BY FRANK coMERFoRD.

| ~ SS"V SsSs
The effort to socialize politics did
not dem0cratize politics; 1t was not
intended to. In practical operation. II
fulfilled Its purpose. 1t created polit-
ical autOcracy.
The greatest power in Russia today
is the Red army. Without an army a
minority government cannot exist.
Force is the strength and security Of
minority rule. Bayonets held the czar
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
soldier and sailor Is at least guaran-
| 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 3 of the consti-
tuition Is interesting:
For fle purpose of defending the
victory Of tie great peasants and
workers revolution, the Russian So
ciallst Federal Soviet Republic recog.
nizes the duty OF all citizens of the
republic 10 come to the defense Of their
socialist fatherIand. 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 Firearms.
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 a serious matter to have
a firearm in Russia if you are not
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. As long as the army Is well fed.
warm and well clothed. IL will con
tinue to be the most popular occupa.
tion in Russia.
Carrying out the general plan OF
Socializing, the bOlshevik government
stripped army officers of rank. In do
ing this they tried to live up to the
constitution forbidding the bOurgeoisie
entering the army, However, this
theory. like many others, did not work
out In practice. Skill In military d.
rectiOn is Indispensable to an effective
military machine. Facing civil war,
with the Red army alone between the
government and disaster. Lenine and
Trotzky found 1t expedIent to turn
their backs upon the constitution. 1t
was necessary to have trained men as
officers, and the bourgeoisie to whom
they had denied citizenship and the
honor of defending the republic. were
called upon to advise the army.
Albert Rhyse Williams Is a devoted
friend of Lenine's. He was SO enam-
ored with the bolshevik movement that
he offered to join the Red army. He
has written a biography Of Lenine,
from which quote:
"He Uenine) sent an automobile
with Red guards to the fortress of
Peter and Paul to fetch part of the
counterrevolutionary staff in prison
there.
Gentlemen. said Lenine, as the
generals filed into his Office. 4 have
brought you here for expert advice
PetrOgrad is In danger. Will you be |
good enough to work out the military
tactics for Its defenseY They as
sented.
Generals Denied Better Treatment.
"'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 DISPOSE
ton Of the enemy troops. Anything
else the generals desire they will call
for
They set to work and toward eve. |
ming handed him the result of their
Now said the gen.
erals. ingratiatingly, will the premier
be good enough to allow US more CON-
Portable quartersT
my exceeding regrets replied
Lenine; some other time. but not lust
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"
have given this excerpt from the
life Of Lenine. not because the incl |
dent Is important. but because 1t illus.
trates the difference between bolshevik
theory and practice. I am not criti-
cising LenIne's good sense In promptly
abandoning the foolish theory he
wrote In the constitotion-I am trying
to emphasize the foo,ishaess and i'm
Of the theory.
Oeishsvik Breach 81 Faith.
So In the very beginning of the ex-
pertinent called bolshevism, its leaders
broke their promise and treacherOusly
struck down the peoples convention,
I'LL ne-0