The Washington herald., 1921-08-05
From Czar to Soviet.

A
TX that of this Soviet government is afnitely
worse. In the days of the czars there
WAS much of oppression; there systematic po-
lice SPYING there that extreme OF bureaucracy
!, which always results in plethora of graft and
much of personal vindictiveness from higher and
'lower officials and there the extremes of
wealth and poverty.
But this very system based upon espionage
and both rigid and excessive tax collection left a
wide field of local freedom untouched. So long
as the local communities paid their taxes and were
loyal to the central government they had large
measure of local government in their own hands
There was nowhere in Europe more of real de-
mocrscy in local affairs than in rural Russia. There
was nowhere more of cooperative economic asso-
5ciation and enterprise. 1t was these organizations
wholly independent, strictly cooperative and free
of government interference that saved Russia in the
,Far period.
rs These were the natural ground work for re-
apublican form of government. 1t was largely due
10 them that Kerensky's government won over
Shelming victory in the constituent assembly cleo
tions of 1917. 1t was the Kerensky government
stecognized by the United States and the allies,
(which Lenin and Trotsky overthrow by armed
force. They had almost negligible number of
sotes in the assembly after as free and fair an
heection Russia had. There charge
,pf unfairness in the choice of this assembly; no
tnal ge that it did represent the free choice OF
ihe Russian people.
e. 1t should not be forgotten that the present
Soviet government did not overthrow czarism and
aid not succeed the reign OF the 1t succeeded
"a truly republican government which had forced
lthe abdication of the czar, had refused to have
,any personal his authority had estab-
,lished peoples government and had submitted
eits authority to free vote, referendum, receiv
,ingra vote of confidence The assembly, SO elected
w3s to frame and offer to Russia a constitution. 1t
iwss this government Lenin and Trotsky over
Threw by the Of the armed forces centered in
iPctrograd. 1t in this way they seized the
:Power which they have since held by mill
tary dictatorship.
y Under the czars, there complete freedom of
trade within Russia and in export. 1t not only fed
itself but the worlds greatest exporter of
foods Before the war, it growing rapidly in
varied industries which expanded enormously during
She war. There other country in the
world capable Of sclf-support, and if the ener-
gies of its people had been turned to production,
no blockade, no matter how complete could have
won against Russian internal resources and
productivity. The greatest need of the allies was
TO open a way to Russia for the export of her
surplus food and this the purpose back of the
disastrous GallipoH campaign.
= 1t such Russia which Lenin and
Trotsky seized control. 1t this Russia whose
dSstines they have controlled for four years. Their
political record is known. The American Relief
Association has just issued statement of the eco
nomic record. Industry has decreased 90 per cent
Ss compared to the prewar or car period 1t had
greatly increased during the war and up to the
Soviet period all the decrease is directly charge
Ole to the Lenin-Trotsky dictatorship. Indirectly
il is stated that pig iron and iron ore production
but per cent OF prewar; copper ore o6 per
cont; manganese ore 20 per cent salt, Is per cent
rlbber industry, per cent; paper, 20 per cent;
Sugar, per cent; coal, per cent; cotton spindes
,-per cent; woolen cloth, per cent.
: These reports come from actual Investigations
Bat worst Of all in the richest grain growing re-
,ssDns only hall less of the available area was
,Ifanted. As example: in Tula province only 20
to IS per cent OF the necessary seed grain was
Available. OF the collected in kind the Soviet
.government will have this year in grain about TO
per cent OF last years collection onchaf the guam
rt2y of potatoes and onc-half the seed.
e There has been no incentive to plant and grow
F-cre has been incentive to labor Russia is
tQday example Of country deprived for four
ssHs Of all industrial inceptive but held in the
gdp of military force. Incentive to industry was
nor only not encouraged it was suppressed Fam
me is the inevitable result OF even partial failure
Or crops under such conditions With transporta-
ton in even fair condition with means OF inter-
ssrnmunication maintained in ordinary efficiency,
6raine is less possible in Russia than in the
sntted States.