Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-12
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
/. G. M.

/ 4. W W. /
PAN-sov1ET1sM: The Issue Before
America and the World. BY Bruce
Hopper. Boston,. Houghton MifIlin
Co.
Over in London night or so ago Mr..
Bernard Shaw let admonition loose upon
a meeting Of the British Institute of
Journalism. Time lag was the label
affixed to the Shavian fling Tagging
after events instead of running out to
meet them. Such the charge upon this
occasion against bo,h press and public.
Against the public, in large measure,
because of delinquency in the press. To
recognize an event as distinct from a
mere happening, to appreciate some
thing of its potential Importance to the
world, to realize its sources in their es-
sence, their trends, their advance or re-
treat-thiS, in effect, Mr.. Shaw contends
is the business of men and women
everywhere within the zone of our pres
ent prideful enlightenment. Instead.
both press and public have the habit of
looking backward at great and vital
facts accomplished for the general good
or for its i'll. Time lag is a besetment
to be overcome. To the body of writer's
before him Mr.. Shaw cited times when
the beginning of momentous events took
place as mere casual daily mention. The
War OF American independence was one
of these neglected bits of history. Com
ing nearer he cited the truth that even
yet a Russian revolution Is not fully and
generally conceded. Not quite agreed
that Russia has come out under a new
form of political control, that 1t is a
communistic entity, that 1t is 100000
600 people socialized to an industrial
commonwealth.
What is this Russia anyway? What is
the grea country trying to do? How
much of this has it already done? Fair
questions that all of us, so enlightened
and wise, should be able to stand ex-
animation under. And, just now, means
of knowing Russia fairly well are at
hand, at every hand. The period of
historical reporting is pretty well over.
That Of barefaced and blatant propa-
ganda is fading. In the stead OF these
are studies of high source, of good SUBJ
stance, of keen appreciation, of profess
Sional insight, of excellent method, for
the acceptance Of those who want to
know about this modern political phe-
nomenon, the Russia of today.
Books and good books, are ready now
for the study of Russia. Perhaps the
one set out with, at the moment, is
New RuSsia's Primer: The Story OF
the Five-Year Plan" Comprehensive,
simple, admirable as plan, this little
book is calculated to clarity a deal OF
obscurity that, naturally, is in posses
sion of the general readers mind. Fol-
lowing 1t are excellent studies of Russia
upon its surface under the new order.
One of the best Of these Is Negley Far
sons BLACK Bread and Red Collins"
Century Coz. There are others to
meet the special need Of one and an
other in selling the externals OF Rus
sian life as it goes on today.
"Pan-Sovietism," by Bruce Hopper,
drawn-ofT from his highly effective
course of Lowell lectures stands as an
admirable next step in ones pursuit
of this absorbing theme. The new
primer becomes an atlas, or map guide
to Russian plan. The lighter reports
of journalists and adventure men give
life and color and point to current
Russian outlook and behavior, linking
them to the rest of us in the business
of getting along with the days job.
Then comes this book by Bruce Hopper
which seats us before the scholars
findings-racial and historical to con-
tribute to the amazing spiritual and
political revolution that has worked
the socialistic state from one of the
great despotisms of the past.
finely reasonable study of Russia 1t
would be helpful to concede the funda-
mental fact that the world today is an
economic probl.m. Not in Russia alone,
but here in America and elsewhere.
Not a political world, any longer, not
even a truly spiritual world, yet-but
quite certainly and indisputably, a great
economic institution, a gigantic BUSH
ness concern for the feeding and cloth
ing of every hungry and naked hu-
man upon its surface. We are coming
to see that, coming slowly to see it.
The President of the United States
knows this and acts upon his convic-
ton, the first of our prime executives
to have this view and to live by 1t.
What I set out to say is that with this
as a fundamental belief in respect to
the human trib. the reading of Bruce
Hopper's study of Russia becomes mere
ly rational step by step advance
through country and climate and a
vast submerged population out into at
least the vision Of wider and more
equitable distribution of that with
which the earth Is so bounttfuny sup
piled.
That yielded, however, this study be-
comes both new adventure and new
vision.
Under this writer, Russia divides into
two parts. The World War, in its i'm
mediate antecedentS and its lasting
effects, marks the great line OF separa-
ton. Before this the vast domain in
its climatic influences and the old
time spirit of class, lord and serf, de-
veloped the early tyrannies and des-
potismS. Since the war has come the
swift frllition of long secret outreach-
ings toward the human standard on the
part of the enslaved peasantry. just
q few leaders were needed to prectpi-
tate vague discontents into open re-
bellions. Brutality? Yes. Outrage?
Yes. What would you expect from half
humans, destitute to acute and habitual
sufferings? Then the leaders came,
the Lenins and the Stains and the rest.
They, brutal too, and remorseless? Yes
but they are all going somewhere.
Get out of the way!
Bruce Hopper gives a finely plain
picture of industry before the war.
Farming and making things and dis
tributing them. Then, the story Of the
revolution itself, coming in from the
west on the tide Of MARKHAM capitaliStic
theory. Modified sometimes, over in
Russia, sometimes not. Advancing at
this point, because it worked, for the
moment at least. Receding at that one
because it did not work. Then, by de-
grees, came the Soviet state, in its con-
stitution and its administrative instru-
ments. And now we are hurrying for
ward through various measures pointed
upon a unity of purpose and effort in
every branch of the Russian state. And l
then crowded by its vast area, its limit
less natural resources, its tnexhaustible
man power came the great industrial
ization project which IS at the moment
running neck and neck with itself to
do the five-year plan over into one OF
less acknowledgements. even three. |
Here is definite account of the man
side of this speeding up. The story I,
Of living conditions, Of work distribu