The daily worker., 1925-01-02
IN
hot DEBATE ON
SOVIET RUSSIA
Yale Man Nails Lies of
Counter-Re Revolutionist

A young professor Of sociology at
Yale University, Jerome Davis, de-
Tended Soviet Russia from stupid
attack by Pitirim Sorokin, of the uni
versity of Minnesota, at the final ses-
sion of the American Sociological So
ciety at the Auditorium Hotel. One
thousand college professors heard
Davis blast Sorokin's lies with a con-
else statement Of the actual facts.
Professors Get Jolt.
Davis was not expected to take up
the cudgels for Soviet Russia. He
was listed on the program under the
heading of Discussion" and 1t was
expected that he would perform the
usual duty of throwing bouquets at
the sleepy-eyed professors who had
preceded him. Davis, however, told
how he had been in Russia, and threw
a bombshell into the dry as dust theo-
retically minded body of professors
by taking some pages out of actual
life.
1T is quite plain why Professor
Sorokin gives one-sided view of the
international relations of Soviet Rus
sia," said Professor Davis. "Sorokin
was deported from Soviet Russia for
counter-revolutionary activity, and it
was only the action of Lenin himself
which saved Sorokin from being shot.
Professor Sorokin freely admits in his
book, Leaves from a Russian Diary
that he was actively engaged in plot
ting against the Bolsheyik govern
ment He says, My neutrality was
purely ficticious. My walks, my pic
MICS, my visits to the theater, were in
reality meetings where l plotted the
downfall of the Soviet government. E"
Exposes Plots Against Russia.
Davis, who spent a year in Russia
for the United States government.
branded as untrue Sorokin's state
ment that Russia had bought recogni-
tion from foreign countries by giving
each country granting recognition,
millions of dollars in gold. "Sorokin's
argument that the Soviet govern
ment has been too generous seems
strange when we think of the agita-
ton Of other European countries call
ing upon Russia to pay the czarist
foreign Debts" he said.
True, as Professor Sorokin saws.
the Communist International is plot
ting the overthrow of capitalism, but
it is equally true that capitalism is
plotting the overthrow of the Com
munist International. 1t is a battle
to the death between two forms Of
industry. The Soviet government is
trying to build an industrial system
which is owned and controlled by the
people,"
Russian Revolution Hrot Progress.
Davis declared that the good eff
fects of the Russian revolution out
weighed the bad" and that, "the
of the Russian revolution
may well be found to be the out
standing event of the twentieth cen
tury." One Of the good effects of the
Bolshevik regime, Davis declared, was
the German revolution, which was
brought about by Soviet propaganda.
Il was in Russia at the time, and the
Bolshevik authorities allowed me to
pass a million copies of Wilson's four
teen points thru the lines into Ger
many" Davis stated. Another good
effect of Soviet rule was the publica-
tion of secret treaties, Davis said.
The biggest problem faced by the
Soviet government is that of adequate
economic production. and Soviet Rus
sia is now trading with foreign coun-
tries, Davis said.
Davis told friend after his speech
that Russia is dangerous subject
to tackle. 1t is difficult to write all
the facts and still keep away from
dangerous ground"