Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-10-24
COMMUNISM FAILS.

sNacc1a Lenine admits that the communism
which be has sought to establish in Russia has fail
cd Admissions Of this kline. either express or tacit
have been made on many occasions in the recent
past. The Russian system undertook to abolish
capital, profit and the private ownership OF proper
sty. II undertook and carried into effect the dis
franehisement Of all bat the lowest stratum. Of the
poptlatior. It eonfscated all the wealth that had
been accumulated through generations, and made
common plumber of every species of private prop
erty.
But the new system had scarcely gone into ef-
feet before it was discovered that here and there ex-
eraptiors must be made from its operation. It was
easy enough to confscate a factory. for instance,
with all that it contained. But Z factory cannot be
operated. by a mob. 1t must have intelligent man
agernent, and intelligent management involves
more OF information, experience, understanding and
native ability than are usually to be found in the
ranks Of common labor. There were needed man
ayers, and superintendents, and fore.nen, and in or
der to obtain these the communists policies had to
be modified very materially. The complete equali-
ty of man might look we'll on paper, but for the
time being it was necessary to recognize the fact
that certain men are better fitted for certain posi-
tons than others. Some concession had to be made
to the practice OF property owning in order to OBJ
tain the services Of such men as were necessary to
conduct the economic operations Of the country.
A factory, moderately we'll superintendent,
might turn out goods as long as the supply Of raw
material lasted, and might exchange those goods
for other goods needed by its workmen so long as
need could be found for the output in the i,,,ne-
date vicinity. But when it came to the point where
it was necessary to renew the stocks of raw ma
terials, a difficulty was found. Many raw materials
had to be obtained from abroad, and the owners
wanted pay for them. Conhscation Of property
and reputation Of indebtedness did not make a
strong appeal to foreigners who had goods to sell.
Itswas necessary to pay in gold, for other money
was worthless. This involved an abandonment Of
one of the features OF communism. In the disposal
OF products it was found that local markets were
soon glutted with particular commodities, and dis
tant markets must be found or the wheels must
stop. 1t was necessary to revive other features of
the hated eapitalistic system.
y Little by little. it was demonstrated in practice
that the fine spun theories of the communists would
not work, and the head Of the Soviet government
now declares that the whole system is inapplicable
to present conditions.
It is interesting, and not a little significant. that
IN the present statement Lenine does not abandon
his theories, but merely declares that the ideals Of
communism cannot be reached at present. The
process must be a more gradual one than he had
hoped or supposed. The ends which he seeks must
besapproached less directly through the medium of
a more moderate socialism. That which has been
attempted and partially carried out in North Dakota
would doubtless be regarded as a satisfactory be-
ginning.