Evening star., 1936-06-22
SOVIET ANNOUNCES
EQUALITY CHARTER
New Constitution to Be
Voted On Is Distributed
throughout Nation.
6y tee Associated Press.

by TIE ASSoclateQ fIene.
MOSCOW, June 22.-An advance OF
the utmost importance in the Soviet
scheme of developing democracy
extension of the principles Of equality
has been announced by the Kremlln.
It goes far toward removing the
estigma" of origin in the old "privi-
leged'' classes and gives the farmer
equal political rights with the indus
trial worker, eliminating a disparity
which has prevailed since the revo-
luton.
National-wide discussion of the new
constitution as a preliminary to its
adoption at November session OF the
All-Union Congress of Soviets start
ed following the distribution Of copies
Of the text by all available means Of
transport.
Copies Dropped From Planes.
Thousands of copies were dropped at
Isolated points, especially in the Far
North, by airplanes. Tens OF millions
of farmers and industrial workers OF
both sexes are taking part in the dis
cussions, which were organized on
collective farms and in factories and
clubs
The official press, picking up sugges-
tions from various parts OF the coun-
try, published a number advising cau-
ton in the extension of equal suffrage
to the clergy, the former nobility and
others of the former privileged"
classes.
Summed up in the new constitution,
the changes depict what the Stalinists
say is a systematic growth through
socialism and democracy toward COM
munism-always the ultimate goal.
The constitution will replace 10
year-od document put into force ut
time when, the Bolshevists say, condi-
tions demanded rules Of inequality.
Under the old constitution, rural
populations could elect only one dele
gate to Congress for every five elected
by city workers. And until now origin
in the privileged classes-that Is the
merchant, landowner or nobility
classes-was hard to live down.
All members of society with the ex-
GSpIlOIl VI kClOOllS oloA4 o1ISAAAcSA Sy
the courts are guaranteed rights Of
equal suffrage by the new charter, in
cluding former princes, former mer-
chants, former Kulaks and members
Of the clergy.
Direct Voting.
The Forthcoming congressional ses-
sion will be the last dominated by the
city workers And it will be the last
to which delegates will be appointed
by the Soviets or Peoples Boards.
Hereafter the division will be equal
and delegates will be elected In direct,
secret voting.
State socialism and Soviet democ-
racy" are regarded by the Stalinists
as mere transitory periods in building
communism. When communism
comes, the state as an organ of COM
pulsion will disappear The Stalinists
admit that communism is not yet
within reach. III.
The official press has explained that
widening of individual rights has be-
come possible because class lines are
vanishing. 1t warned, however. that
they have not entirely disappeared and
that vigilance must continue to be q
watchword.
Among other things it stated 50
clearly as to remove any possibility of
doubt that the government will not
for the moment bury the big stick.
The remnants" of opposition, it said,
are still factor to be dealt with and
so long as it is necessary the govern
ment will use measures of oppression
Figures cited to show that rapid
progress has been made disclose that
only per cent of trade remained in
private hands in 1880 and since then
private capital has been eliminated.
Individual farmers control only 3
per cent of the total sowing area of
Soviet farmlands. All the rest has
been "collectivized" or transformed
into state farms. Which means that
individuals can be practically excluded
as landowners In the Soviet Union
today.