Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-08
FLUID RUSSIA

TNl1E best census figures recently available
l. gave Russia total population of ap.
proximately 1SO 900 600 Impartial surveys
made since the Soviet experiments we're
well under way indicate clearly that the
government at Moscow never had more than
500. 900 active sympathizers. The reports
which sustain that calculation we're made by
representatives of the British Labor party.
by German Socialistc groups and by OBJ
servers like Arthur Henderson and II. G..
Wells. all of whom were sympathetic not
only toward Russia and the Russians, but
toward some of the doctrines of bolshcvism
as well
The great masses Of Russia have looked
on lazily at the effort to bring about n social
millennium by the adjustment Of money and
all rewards commonly bestowed by society in
recognition Of industry, ability, talents or
hard work.
The revolutionary movement that took
definite form suddenly at Pctrograd has been
gathering energy for long time. If it does
not result Conclusively now it will reappcar
in an enlarged form before long. The fall
of bolshevism is so certain that il may be
accepted an accomplished fact in cs-
Inmates of the near future
What ought to interest civilization now is
NOT the Boshevist government but the thing
or things that may succeed it. For Russia
IL sun u lutlOT FIOsplN Tplhlpu III fN'lN
scheme of settlement and reconstruction pro
posed in London. in Paris and even in Berlin
Until the world can identify not only the
leaders of the anti Soviet rising but the
forces behind them speculation Is useless. IT
is highly probable that the chief element of
strength in present or future revolutions will
be found in the agricultural workers, who
while they are the vast majority in Russia, ,
have never ceased to believe that they are Nt
a great disadvantage under Soviet rule They
have been forced to divide all the fruits of
their toll with the state. They have had TO
feed armies and they have had to make
large contributions to the industrial workers
without receiving anything worth while in
return. All they have needed at any time
was leadership. Those on the outside who
sought most ardently to eliminate LcniniSm
know this and always have known it, Months
ago the interested groups on the continent
decided that bolshcvism would have 10 be
fought from within. Attacks directed from
outSid" were costly and futile.
1t has been supposed in some parts of
Europe that return of something like
pre-. war conditions in Russia and something
lik" a pre- war government would be- most
desirable" in the end But the baronS who
have been directing Il great deal of the anti
lioI>hcyist propaganda and inspiring great
deal Of TN" anti Soviet energy are almost
blood brothers to the barOns of Prussia and
other northern areas whose philosophers were
pretty clearly reflected in the German war
METHODS
Russia >""ms safe from return of the
harons to exclusive power. But Russians arc
still unframed. They still must depend on
leadership. What the world ought 10 hope
for is a triumph for the social democrats.
the groups who were active in all earlier
revolutionary movements inspired bv a desire
for constitutional forms Of government some
what similar to those applied in the United
States. GroHt Britain and France. The
masses in Russia will 60 along with any
strong governments So the nature of the
regime that will follow after bolshevism de =
ppnds wholly on leadership and on the acci-
dents of opportunity.
Europe may b" confronted over night with
Russian Government wholly pro German
or altogether pro French. There can be nc
telling. One Of IN" biggest stakes ever
| played for in human history is on tn" table
and tho fight for it is being carried on with
the energy of desperation