Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-06-13
RAD1cALIsM NOT RADICAL

One of the most significant things in the entire
program of radicalism is the constant recurrence OF the
assertion by its advocates that the thing is not really
radical at all. We find this cropping out almost ev-
erywhere. The so-called Farmers program in North
Dakota was framed by a group Of professional Social
lists. Some of them when engaged in this work were
actually members Of the Socialist political party. Others
had been members of that organization, but had become
separated for one reason or another. Some had never
united With it formally at all, but all OF those leaders
espoused doctrines which were distincuvely Sociallstlc
in their character and attempted to organize them into
a system and to apply that system to the affairs Of
|NEorh Dakota.
notwithstanding these facts the effort has been
made by most of the leaders in this movement who
have remained in touch with North Dakota affairs that
the movement is really not socialistic in character. They
have accepted the principle but they attempted to con-
vince the people that their program does not represent
an application of that principle.
We find the SAME thing in Russia. Whether
known by the name of Socialism or Communism or
some other, the plan proposed for the government Of
Russia has been in its essentials identical with the plan
proposed for the government of North Dakota. What
ever difference has existed is a difference in the degree
of application attempted at this particular time. The
two policies stand upon the same basis that basis be-
ing the Socialization of the activities OF the people Of
the state. Eutsin Russia as in North Dakota we find
that the strongest pleas for outside support which are
being offered are offered on the theory that ile Russian
Soviet system is not what it has been described to be,
and that after all it presents no features which can not
be accepted by the SO often and SO vehemently de-
nouncedA capitalist class whose pounds and dollars are SO
urgently desired by the Russian Communistic leaders.
In this connection a statement made by Henry G. Ais
berg in the New York Nation is Of interest. Mr.. Ais
berg has been known until recently as an enthusiastic
supporter of the Soviet regime, and he has Travelled
in that country in the interest Of his magazine for the
purpose of obtaining first hand information as to the
workings of the system. On the changes which are rep
resented to have been brought about, he writes as fol-
lows:
ut is necessary to point out that the Communist
government of Russia is no longer revolutionary. or COM
nunistic. Radek admits to me, Naturally We know
quite well that we haven't Communism at all in Rus
sa now, but we have preserved the advance
guard ready to fight the terrible reaction
which otherwise would sweep from the west This
idea, that an ass dressed up in a lions skin can keep
frightening the Curzons, Churchills, Brands and Stln-
neses with stereotyped brayings, viii soon be exploded,
and western capitalists will see that they can easily
come to terms with this docne creature.
ut were doing Russia of today a disservice to con-
tinue with the myth of the international1sm and world
revolution. The International efervescence Is
almost pumped out, and the chief desire of the rulers
is to reconstruct Russia, and in doing so to make every
imaginable concession to internal and external bourgeo-
isdom. In return the Soviets want to get engines
asnd agricultural supplies and in general manufactures
and also technical and organization skill"