The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-06-24

tear the mSsk from TIE DOISneN1k gov
eminent and show the working people
OF the world the true character Of that
government and the methods by which
It sustains itself. The allied govern
ments contented themselves with tell
Ing the people that bolshevism was
bad, dangerous thing, q pitfall. In
stead, they should have thrown search
light on IL and let the people see its
rottenness and its danger Instead of
nghting propaganda with propaganda,
falsehood with abuse. fire with fire,
they should have fought fire with wa
ter, propaganda with truth, cunning
with frankness, and an enlightened
and educated populace would have
turned deaf ear TO bolshevik propa-
ganda. The Red" peril in the world
would not be the dangerous menace
1t is today.
Working People Took Alarm.
The working people noticed that a
portion Of the press previously allied
with the interests" and against the
right Of the people. Numbered most
bitterly against the .bolshevik govern
ment. This class Of papers denounced
bolshevtsm, called 1t names. but gave
little space to the calm, cool, plain
statement Of the truth about bolshe-
vism. They were as "red" In their con-
servatism as the Reds were false In
their propaganda. The newspapers Of
this class have not the confidence Of
the general public; they have long
been under suspicion. The bolshevik
propa gandists were I'm a better posi-
ton to get results than the conser-
vative press, and for three reasons;
first, the bolsheviks had the sympathy
Of the workers Of the world because
Of their connection with the liberation
Of Russia; second, the bolsheviks ap-
peared as the under-dog in the fight;
third, the conservative press suffered
from its past reputation as the mouth
piece Of those who stood In the way
Of better living conditions for the
great majority. Many leading business
men, captains Of industry, followed the
example Of the conservative press and
denounced bolshevism instead of ex-
posing 1t. These men were under suspi-
cion and their attitude confirmed the
belief growing I'm the minds OF the
workers that bolsheviSm would benefit
them. These same men denounced the
workers In their own countries when
they sought better conditions. Working
people remember that most Of the re-
forms that has come has been wrung
from the same conservative class; sell
dom, II ever, has a right been con-
coded to the working class. They have
had to fight, strike for 1t, and even
In this hour some Of the leading fig
ures Of the employing minority call
men bolsheviks who are not commun-
lists, who are not bolsheviks. On the
contrary, they are good citizens, seek
ing, as they have a right to seek,
larger share, a fairer measure of the
things they produce. These methods,
these attitudes. have reacted In the
minds of men who toll, and I have
heard many of them accept the chal-
lsnge and proudly boast that they
were bolshevIks, although In truth
they were not.
Investigators Unfairly Treated.
Someone drew a curtain Of silence
around soviet Russia. At least so 1t
seemed to the people. Men who came
out Of Russia and brought with them
reports which displeased their govern
ments were abused, their reports sup
pressed. Built, Robins and Steffens
are examples In America. The public
at once came to the conclusion that
these man had found conditions in
khAk Lob
safe, sane plan Of government; that
II was succeeding. OF course, this is
not the real story these men brought
out Of Russia, but the abuse, heaped
on these men, the silencing Of these
men, spoke louder and more eloquent
Iy than any report could have done.
An English paper went so far as to
charge the prohibition movement or
the United States with being in league |
with the bolsheviks, saying that Its
object was to make restless the work |
ers by denying them alcohol, hoping |
that out of this restleSSness would |
come revolution.
Another appeal to prejudice per-
mitted by the allied governments, was
IA6I LAG DO1SnGN4A movement c. O /
Jewish movement; that Lenine and
Trotzky were Jews and that the So
Wet machine was Jewish from begin |
ming to end. What difference could 1t
make to freeminded people whether
the leaders Of the bolshevik movement
were Jews or not? While the mass Of
the people are thought not to be edu- |
Gated, they have the common sense |
to see in such propaganda an effort |
to make them hostile to bolshevism !
by melting race prejudice.
A great crack was made In the cur
tain Of silence drawn around Russia.
Through 1t came the startling news |
that the bolshsvik government planned |
the naturalization Of women. No fact |
about Russia was given greater prom |
inence and publicity. / have talked |
TO many men who we're bitterly OPP |
posed to bolshevism, and In the last