The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-06-24
Shall Chaos or Reconstruction
in Europe Follow the Great
World War?
B0LSHEVIKS FETTER LIBERTY
Theories Leaders of the Movement
Lay Down and Put Into Practice,
Fly In the Face OF All HUI
man Experience.
Article XIII.
BY FRANK CoMERFoRp.

! FNltiS OF kUSSla is OlU-l0SllOueu-De-
! hind the times. We still cling Ia the
old superstition that the people
should be the soyereignS, that public
! officials are public servants, that the
safest plan of government is that
form of government which is nearest
to the people. In the United States
| each citizen has one vote He has a
| vote for the men who make the local
| laws, the city or village ordinances ;
! a vote for the man who enforces the
! ordinances, the mayor; vote for the
! representatives in the state legislature,
| where the laws are made; for the
! governor, who enforceS the state laws ;
Il vote for the congressman and SEN
atOrs who enact the national laws and
| formulate the national policies; vote
! FOR the president, who carries out the
/ supreme law of the land. While it is
| true that in the case of the president,
| We vote for electors who elect the
| president, there has not been single
| case wherein an electOr has voted
other than he was instructed by the
| people We come together in political
| parties present platforms, and every
! citizen has chance 10 register his
/ opinion Of men and measures. The
citizen has rig,tt to vote at primary
elections and register his choice for
tue party candidates and for the dele
| gates to the conventions which formu-
late the party platforms.
6olshevik Argument Unsound.
The boIsheviks point ont that politi-
cal parties do not live up to their
| platforms; that candidates for office
| default in their promises after they
| are elected; that representative de
mocracy is frequently not representa-
| tive of and responsive to the people
| We know that there is some truth in
| this criticism, but we know that it is
our fault. We have the power to eX-
| press our wants, to record our will.
| We also lave the power TO punish our
| betrayal We can recall from office
| recreaut public servants; we can add
! to our legislation and take over the
power to initiate laws, and compel the
! reference of legislation hack to the
! people before it can become operative
us law. our public officials are only
| our agents; we hire them, we pay
them; we can fire them, disgrace them
and punish them if they fail to obey
! our instructions. Such is cur power.
| II we do not use the power intelli-
| gently and effectively it is our fault
If we are indifferent to the rights We
possess and fail to use them, the fault
| Is with US. Therefore, we do not con
denim a system of representative gov
eminent because some of the individ-
unls who make up the government are
unfit and unworthy of the rights they
enjoy.
The bolsheyiks appear to favor a
| change in the method of governing
the people. The plan they have adopt
| ed is based on the theory that the
| people must not be trusted, but that
| the oficehoders can. BOlshevism is
| government from the top down, rather
| than from the bottom up. They seem
to 20 on the theory that power dele
gated through many hands will lose
its corruption just as running water
does. This political theory flies in the
face of all human experience.
| BoIshevist cocker"
In our numbers we have a figure
which for many years has enjoyed a
peculiar reputation; it is the Jester
Of numbers. 1t is the number "23. -
1t is known in American slang as
"skiddOO." The bolshevikS inserted in
the constitution a joker and oddly
enough they gave 1t the "skiddoo'
aumbpr, "23 1t is found in Article
Of the constitution:
Being guided by the interest of the
working class as whole, the Rus
sian Socialist Federal Soviet Repub-
lie depriyes all individuals and groups
If all rights which could be utilized
5y them to the detriment Of the so
,ialist revolution
Here is the big beware sign in the
| constitution. What does 1t mean ;
what fears must come into the minds
Of men and women in Russia when
they read this paragraph? The con
Eitution depriyes every one, indIyid-
ually and collectively. of exercising
any rights Ne or they may have which
are opposed to bolshevism Did tyr
amy ever impose more arbitrary
autocratic ukase? The paragraph con
redes that individuals and groups have
rights. and then commands the people
not To dare use those rights If their
exercise might be detrimental to the
Leuine-Trotsky government. The right
10 voice thoughts is sentenced to ST
Ience Freedom of opinion Is crushed
who is To determine what rights, II
exercised. might be detrimental to a
socInljst revolution? The meaning Is
~ plain as the command IS stern. Fan
in line with bolshevism or perish, Is
the order. If you disagree with our
plans and methods, 'be seen but NOT
heard"