The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1921-05-28
TTE PR0CEEDNCS OF THE End CONGRESS OF THE 3rd COM
~ MlJNTST NTERNA TI0NAL: Moscow 1920 60
(12th InstalIment)
EVENING SITTING OF AUGUST 5.
(Petrograd Pravda, Aug. z, 1920
Organization of Soviets.

a.
Comrade Zinoviev is given the floor, to
report on the organization of Soviets.
The fundamental principles OF the Com
munist Party ON the question OF Soviets rais-
ed no doubts or disagreements in our midst.
From private conversations with comrades
and from the exchange of opinions IN the
committee, Comrade Zinoviev has come to
the conclusion that all are unanimous IN re-
cognizing the need of Soviets Further the
Soviet idea has become so popular among
the working masses and among tollers, thae
Comrade Zinoviev considers it super1luous
to spend any time on this matter The ques-
tion simply is, when and why should Soviets
be organized?
In analyzing the attitude toward the Soviet
idea, Comrade Zinoviey notes that IN Italy
for example soviets have already been cr-
ganized, but that there the attitude toward
them is not exactly what it should be- Com
rade Zinoviev warns against . trifllng at
titude toward the Soviet idea. He says tnat
this idea must be popularizec always ana
everywhere, but that until all the premises
for the organization of Soviets are realized,
until the masses see clearly the need OF 90
viets and are organized to support them, and
until the broad masses of toilers understand
clearly the aim and significance OF the So
viets-until then the Soviet idea should net
be compromised
However, it does not follow that we should
wait until the learned ones have worked out
an ideal system of Soviet power. The Russian
Communist Party in opposition to he Ger
man, strove to realize Soviets before the
exact and scientific system for the Soviet
authority had been worked out, but neverthe-
less it must be noted that we have had the
Soviets that they represent kind OF sys-
TEN, while our German comrades to date
have only a system.
TT is not of course question OF the best
system for Soviet authority, but question
of strict observance of the main principles,
and of organization. From this point OF view
it is very important that Soviets should
strive from the very first days Of their ex
istence to be organizations Of governmental
character. 1t is on this point that we differ
radically from Mensheviks. and the Indepen
dents headed by Kautsky. These constantly
insist that Soviets should be a class organl
zation, and that they should not assume gov
ernmental functions"
Comrade Zinoviev insists most definitel,
that Soviets represent the realization OF tn
dictatorship of the proetariat, and that tn
victorious proetariat must OF course tTs
of all strive to retain in it's hands the az
paratus of governmental compulsion an
unity. Soviets must be organized exclusivel
for the purpose of opposing governments
apparatus of power of the proletariat that
striving for dictatorship. to the govern
mental power of the bourgeoisie Soviet
should function exclusively in this field tf
field of constant and concentrated strugg
against the bourgeois States and for govern
mental power.
From the above it may be concluded th'
Soviets should not be demanded of anyon
and that they can be organized only when
the premises for the organization of Sovie
are at hand. 1t goes without saying that tn
Soviets will occupy themselves with the wo