South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-04-30
FIRST STEP MADE
TO GIVE FREEDOM
FOR RUSS PAPERS
Existing Communist Journals
Are Permitted Now to
Criticize Regime.

/ MOSCOW. (By MaD-The first
step towards restoring freedom OF
/ the press has been made in Russia.
I IL is only first step. of course. and
falls a long, long ways short Of free
dom of the press in its real sense.
I but IL is nevertheless a step.
Although opposition newspapers
.re still prohibited, the existing
communists and official trade union
organs are now permitted openly TO
voice opposition TO the administra-
tons policies.
Two OF the trade union organs, the
Economic Life and the Socialistic
Labor, are taking active advantage
Of this privilege and even the Pra-
vada. official organ of the communist
party, has taken a pot shot or two
at the Kremln. The Izvestia, the
official organ of the government, oil
course still religiously supports and
defends every official move.
The Economic Life has been carry
I ing on what seems 10 be a consistent
campaign OF opposition to certain OF
/ the governments methods under the
new economic policy. The editorials
read much like the normal criticisms
I OF the administration in an average
opposition paper in the United States.
I The writer often handled the subject
with no gentle hand. The Socialist
Labor also occasionally takes d slash
ct the Kremliu.
Tn the recent intra party quarrel
! between the radical left communists.
+ lead by Schlapnikon. and the execu-
/ tive committee of the third interna-
/ tiOnale. the radicals were permitted
Z to veutilate their case thoroughly in
IAN the newspapers. While condemn
ing the insurgents in their editorial
columns. the newspapers published
/ lengthy articles from the Iefts in
their news columns. even the Izvestia
+ turning over its entire front page TO
I prOtagonists Of both sides.
Criticism in Russia"
This initial lOosening OF gag has
4 been noticeable only for about foU
/ weeks. SIX months ago. when I came
. TO Russia, a secretary in the foreign
Office insisted that even then the Of
! fetal uewspa pers sometimes criticized
I the government. What he meant by
criticized" / Go not know. But
( do know that I watched all the edi-
tions daily for five months without
I finding anything which an American
reader would consider a criticism
and certainly nothing anyone could
possibly call opposition.
These last four weeks, however, a
distinct change was apparent in the
Economic Life and a regular. per-
s.stcnt form Of open opposition mani
tested itself This opposition did not
take the shape Of autagOnism 20 the
Kremiin as an administration bu;
that of continued hostility 10 certain
governmental policies or govern
mental departments.
The Pravada recently criticized the
governments present tactics of COINS
into business and trade inside Rus
STA and urged limitation of govern
mental economic activities TO con-
trolling and directing the distribu-
ton of a few basic. necessary COM
modities
All the newspapers ave enlarged
their editions since the irst OF jan
Uary. Pravada Izvestia and Loo
nomic Life never have less than four
pages. and not infreQuently six or
eight. Formerly al were single
sheets The additional space is I'LL
cd with Advertising fully three
fourths OF which is from various
governmental departments or semi
governmental stores.
II addition 20 the regular COM
munist political and trade union
papers four non governmental or
private publications are now being
offered on Moscow news stands Two
are theatrical weeklies. one a sports
paper. and a third q trade sheet
The anarchists occasionally publish
q little folder