The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-07-21
MEMBERS Of LIONS
ENTERTAIN LADIES
AT DINNER MONDAY
Ceremony Inaugurates New Fa.
ciIity at Local Hotel; Par
sons Installed

Members Of the Lions cub. their
ladies and guests, Monday night made
merry at the formal opening of the
new private dining room in the q. P.
hotel, formally INDICTED E. w. Par
sons into office as president and
heard M. W. Thatcher, general man
ager Of the Farmers Union Terminal
association, st. Paul. tell how much
more he thought of America after
returning from Russia.
Numerous skits and bits Of by-play
we're staged by club members during
the evening for the entertainment of
their guests. the induction Of Parsons
consisting in part of a woodworking
to one Lilly Lion" as characterized
by William Doty.
DR.. G. E. Dursema, A. L. Bavone
and Fred Peterson were members OF
the committee in charge.
Discussing Russia. Thatcher said If
an American needs anything to perk
up his patriotism a trip to that coun-
try will do 1t. He travelled 5000 miles
in Russia, he said, and vas w so
glad to get away from anywhere as
from there. Everything is exactly OPP
posite to what 1t is in the United
States, he said. Everything is on a
purely materialistic basis. There is
no religion, no home life and the love
of family is regarded as pure senti-
mentalism.
The lack Of culture and of decent
living is terrible. he said, and said he
and his wife lived on black bread and
tea almost exclusively while in the
country. On two occasions they had
a little butter and once they had some
cheese which was tit to eat, he said.
He tried to buy a bar Of ancient
chocolate and the charge was SAILS.
he said.
10 Years From Slavery
Reviewing the history of the coun-
try, Thatcher pointed out that only
10 years ago %. 900 Russian peas
ants were liberated from slavery and
living conditions in the country al
ways have been hard. These things,
he said, all help to make the present
situation possible, since they enabled
the Communists to seize control.
Commenting on the Communist
party organization, Thatcher said IL
men rule the country which COM
prises $50. 900 900 people and one
seventh Of the worlds surface and
which has the most tremendous nat
ural resources of any country. Only
per cent Of the people are Com
munists, he said, but they rule the
country with an iron hand. 1t is very
difficult to get into the party, he said
since it is a closed corporation and
membership is guarded carefully.
Elections Are Farce
All elections are a farce, since they
are controlled by the party, he said
and freedom of thought, OF which the
Communists pirate, is permissible
only so long as one agrees with the
Communists. A common sight in the
country. he said, is to see the crosses on
churches torn off and red flags raised
in their stead. People are permitted
however, to go to church and to have
religious o~bservances in their homes
Thatcher pictured Russia as a ma
ton without decent food and literally
in rags, starving itself and going
without necessities today in order
that 1t may have luxuries tomorrow
Tremendous strides have been made
in the five-year plan Of accomplish.
ment. he said, and indications are
that 1t will be finished in four years
Brilliant theorists in control of the
state have made everything subserv.
lent to it, he said. but have adopted
such items from the capitalistic sys.
tenn as different rates Of pay for diff
ferent work and the piece-work plar
of payment. The Russians have beer
hard on machinery because they die
not know how to operate it. he said
but they have tremendous factories
and are learning to manage m oper.
ate them.
Home life and love of family /.
frowned upon. he said, and the chill
dren of the burgeois and intelligent.
STA are denied the opportunity to &
to university, although the children
of the commoners may do 50 il they
show special aptitude. renounce al
home ties and make themselves thu
nronortv ~ tho stoto