The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-02-09
SOvietCongress
Votes to Alter
Constitution
Direct Secret Vote
viii Link Farms
to Industry

J
sentatives of the city Soviets elect
to the congresses Of the Soviets Of
Union Republics, and the Con-
crosses of the Soviets of the US.
S.R.. one for each $4,000 voters, the
Congresses of Soyiets where peas
ants predominant elect one dele-
gate for every 125,O00,000 popula-
ton.
The privileges in favor of the
workers had been introduced when
the peasants were still for the most
part petty property holders, and
when the influence of the kulaks
was still great in the countryside.
These privileges reinforced the Lead
ing role Of the working class in
the Soviet state, helped to
strengthen Soviet power. and at the
same time ensured the bread as
sistance Of the proletarian dicta-
torship to the toiling peasantry in
the upswing of agriculture and in
ensuing Socialist reconstruction of
the countryside. The Party always
pointed out this privilege in favor
Of the workers as necessary at the
time to ensure the victory Of the
proletarian revolution, and always
emphasized its temporary character.
Since the Soviet Constitution was
written, the situation has radically
changed. This is evidenced by the
fact that the peasantry en- rnasse
divorced itself from petty prop
erty economy, and after uniting in
collective farms, is building new
Socialist life.
However, this does not mean that
the difference between the workers
and peasants has been completely
obliterated. No, the state enter
prises in which the workers are
employed are on higher level than
the collective farms in Socialist or
ganization and the revolutionary
stamina Of the workers, who, during
all the years Of the revolution, had
to occupy position in the front
rank of struggle against capitalism
and its survivals, cannot help being
of more Importance in the final
struggle for the victory CT Social
ism compared with the mass of
other toilers. AS a result. the lead
ing role in building Socialism must
still be preserved for the working
class.
But since, following the workers,
the peasants also took up their posi-
ton in the ranks of the in1rnedi-
ate builders of Socialism, the path
has been made clear to eliminate
every difference between the work,
ers and peasants, and first of all,
to remove a difference in their vot-
ing rights
At present, the workers and the
peasants are engaged in one COM
mon cause, engaged in Socialist
construction on the basis Of Soviet
order and Soviet power. This has
attained unprecedented strength.
Therefore, the former reasons for
the difference in voting rights be-
tween workers and. peasants must
fall away. The realization that we
are substituting equal voting rights
for not entirely equal rights for the
entire mass OF the toilers must bring
the workers and peasants still closer
to each other 1t must strengthen
still more their alliance, and con-
Sequently the might of Soviet power.
Applause We are travelling along
the road to a classics Socialist So
ciety. The capitalist elements n
our country are aleady liquidated.
one OF the man tasks of Soviet
power at present is the liquidation
OF the difference between the work
ing class and the peasantry on a
basis that will ensure the complete
triumph of Socialism in our conn
try The proletarian dictatorship
could realize this task in the course
OF a number of years. We must.
however, strive relentlessly to facili-
tate the solution of this problem. We
must utilize all means that will
contribute to bringing the solution
nearer.
Substitution of equal voting rights
for those not entirely equal for ali
tollers, will in many ways contribute
additional successes in advancing
our country along the road to a
classics, Socialist society. ZAP
plause.l
II in bourgeois states the ruling
classes not only do not think of
widening the voting rights of the
toilers, but are seized with panic in
the face of impending events, and
see as their task the STRENGTHENING
OF their power by completely re-
moving the toilers from participa-
ton in state administration. the
possibility of now substituting equal
for unequal voting in our country
is evidence of the tremendous growth
IN the forces of the Soviet Union,
At the same time, it creates the
prerequisites for further strength.
ening the Soviet State in every way,
lApplause.l
Substituting Secret Ballot for Open
Voting, Section 5
The introduction of the secret
ballot signifies one more form of
test of the link between the organs
Of Soviet government with the broad
masses Of the toilers.
We have not few means of test
ing the link between the leading
Soviet organs and the workers and
peasants. The substitution of Sc
cret for open ballot will be one more
important form of testing the firm
ness and seriousness of this link of
the Soviets with the toilers. This
method of election will help to re-
veal more rapidly certain weak Sec
tons in our work.
The Introduction of secret ballot