The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-04-13

WA aAAaAN anu WINK ny - rHiptt
show Of hands. That briefly Is
about how a soviet In the heart OF
Russia looks to foreign observer.
Between the New England town
meeting and the typical Russian
soviet In session there arc. OF course,
several fundamental differences. but
these grow out OF the innate char.
actcr OF the Russian people and the
diversity OF their political ideals.
VISITED SONIETS IN
THREE CITIES
l visited the soviets OF Petrograd.
Samara and Saratov. among others.
while In session. Thus was afford.
ed an object lesson Of the operation
Of present system OF government In
Russia
At the meeting OF the Petrograd
soviet. to which was invited by
zinovicv. president and governor OF
the Pctrngrad district. I was startled
BY the variety OF costume.
Being the second largest sovie, In
Russia. Moscow taking the first
place. IL gave rather the appearance
Of huge mass meeting. attended BY
a nondescript crowd OF sailors from
the kronstadt fleet. soldiers on leave
dressed in Khaki or brilliant Cossack
uniforms. workingrnen In their work
Ing clothes. and peasants CARRIED In
simple white biouses and shcd with
picturesque sandals Many women
were present. some fashionaely dress
ed. sitting next 20 their peasant ais
tiers clad In smocks. with vari-colored
handkerchicfs on their heads.
On the platform sat the prcsidlum
Of executive committee. as well as nu-
merous foreign guests and special
delegates from outlying districts.
some having come from remote
places In Sibcria. The delegates are
elected by their local trade unions or
guilds. As each member entered the
building--tn Petrograd the sessions
take place In the uritxky palace
WHERE formerly the duma convened
he was required TO show his crcdcn-
tfais to the military police who stand
with Cred bayone,s nj the door.
Tho program for this session. as IL
the custom. was read by Zinoviev.
Who then proceeded to put Zach ques-
ton a. II arose to the delegatea- Ono
u the propositions argued with not q
little vehemence was that OF CON-
pulsory labor. Speakers asked for
the floor and then passed down the
aisiea. Addressing the assemblagc
from the platform.
QUESTIONS FLY
DURING DEBATE
A. IN the British parliament. the
members are frequently interrupted
from the floor and fired all sorts Of
questions at the speaker. All the
delegates. down to the humblest gray
bearded peasant displayed remarkable
skill In discussion IL was most fan.
tastic TO see Terchlefed peasant wom-
en- rise and interpose a question. but
all conducted themselves with dignity
and decorum. as tho they were long
accustomed to parliamentary debate.
Often where a delegate was too diff
dent or for some other reason did not
wish 10 take the floor. ne would write
his questions or objections on a sheet
of paper and pass IL up to the
speaker.
I noted that In the Petrograd sow
Ct. "a In the others I visited. almost
all shades OF political opinion were
represented. The communist faction
was countsrbalanced by social demo.
Gratis and social revoiutsonaries. and
here and there was a sprinkling of
anarchists. The delegates addressed
each other from the platform or the
floor as ''tavarish" tcomrade).
VOTE REVERSAL
Is PULLING
When finally the vote was taken
by show Of hands. / was astonished
at the overwhelming majority the
measure received. Puzzled, turned
TO my interpreter and said: Il didn't
know they were all in favor OF the
measure. For a moment I thought
the opposition was very strong"
He. however, explained that while
many objected TO the measure previ.
Gus 70 discussion. they had reversed
themselves without hesitation when
sia depended upon work.
This seemed to me to be typical Of
the workings OF the Russian mind as
I encountered II everywhere. The
Russian workingmen and peasants
honestly believe in the efficiency Of
a public exchange OF ideas, and are
perfectly willing to be convinced, II
only the question at issue has been
completely threshed out. Not only
did the soviet pass the compulsory
labor measure. but 1t considered at
length the advisability OF "Sabotny,"
which means giving up holidays and
working without pay on those days
for the government.
After the important affairs OF the
day had been disposed OF. the special
delegates and guests were invited TO
speak. Nine. Revitch. representing
both the foreign office and the gov
eminent workers trades union. n
most beautiful and intelligent gentle
woman. addressed the meeting.
MAXIM CORK IS
LOUDLY CHEERED
Maxim Cork and his wife were
saIled on. When the famous drama
tist and novelist rose. the applause
was deafening. He spoke In his ca
pacity Of commissar OF art and edu.
cation, and his subject was the fu.
ture Of both in Russia. 1t was a
high-spirited address. and when he
bad finished the palace rocked with
cheering.
Iorin. secretary TO Zinoviev, and
editor OF the official Newspaper. also
spoke. When my turn came I asked
what they would like TO hear. and
hoy said almost unanimously: Give
us news OF the outside world and
what they think Of US here"
ThA session had opened at TO In