The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-07-18
Editorial Comment
Seeing Soviet Russia
(The Chicago Tribune)

Delegates to the economic conference at Stock
holm have been invited to pay visit to soviet Rus
sia and some will 60. There are other pilgrimages
from the United States and among the observers
is Roger Baldwin of the civil liberties union. As
to Mr.. Baldwin, we would remark that his trip
seems to be rather like expedition for the study
OF snakes in Ireland, but we suspect Mr.. Baldwin
will emerge with assurance that civil liberties
are tenderly regarded by the communist govern
ment and that only the ruthless capitalist press has
given Us the contrary impression. We have also
rather more than suspicion that other visitors
will bring back observations fairly satisfactory to
Moscow, which is we'll worth the trouble of enter
tanning visitors and the expense of keeping up the
scenery they are shown But their fellow citizens
will wonder why it is necessary to abolish free
dom OF the press and censor all foreign news men
if bolshevism has nothing to conceal.
For such however, of these travellers as wish to
have check upon their Impressions, and for Amer
lean readers generally who have an interest in the
workings of the Russian experiment in MARKHAM So
cialisn', we commend study by Prof. Anton Kali
gren OF the University of Copenhagen, entitled
"Bolshevist Russia" and translated into English.
Prof Kalgren is specialist in Slavic culture and
has paid yearly visits to Russia for many years.
He writes in moderation, but the indictment he is
forced to frame is sweeping, disclosing how little
the prolearans have to say under their alleged die
tatorship and how inefficient and hugely wasteful
the machinery of economic control by party job
holders and must be.
The study is warning to Americans aured by
the theories of government ownership and opera
ton and other socialist devices. The fallacy that
the people rule when they turn productive enter
prise over to officials and political partisans ought
to be plain to us, but there is substantial faction
in the Republican party that calls it progress
Incidentally, Prof. Kagren refers to the arrange
ment for visitors, the model factories, the model
schools, the model hospitals, which relied upon
to give the proper impression for western minds
1t is a theatrical facade which hides for the con.
Quoted visitor the deplorable failure of communist
mudding in production, in popular education, in
general social amelioration.
But there is one result accomplished by the revo-
luton which gives hope for the future Of Russia
It is that the Russian man Of the people, however
poor his state as compared to the people of capt
talst countries, has gained q respect for himself
and confidence in his future he did not possess
der the tyranny of czardom. That is q tremendous
gain. The tragedy Of Russia is that it could hav,
been won more fully and held more securely under
m enlightened regime. The savage and incompe
tent fanaticism of the bolshevists has wasted tn.
profits obtainable at the overthrow Of the savage
and incompetent rule Of czarist bureaucracy. Thu
pity Is that revolution removed the Russian masse
from one tyranny to thrust them under another
Yet il Prof. Kalgren is right IN his perception Of
new self-respect in the common man Of Russia. |
may be hoped that this force win eventually de
stroy the new tyranny. But It i not likely thu
political. economic, and social progress Is likely
arrive In Russia By any short cut o. BY any pat
that 4 not long and stony Meanwhile, bolshevisu
tn Iron rule of bigoted theorists, II blocking fre
thes9ht and initiativs and shutting off the Russia
niad fom, ~ Naht Il nssds 70 guide It 70 Vi,