Evening star., 1937-02-07
WILL STALIN'S SUCCESSOR
ADHERE TO NATIONALISM?
C. Commentator Thinks Next ''Man of
SteeI' May Be Forced to Accept Die.
tates of Strong ARMY Leaders.

bulky man, Stalin's Man Friday.
Molotov presides over the Council OF
Commissars, has been Bolshevik for
"a years. An industrious man, who
knows all the moves; but not forceful;
not the leader type.
We next have Kaganovich, the
transport boss, an able and energetic
man, one of the younger oligarchs.
but not an heir for Stain. Ordzhoni-
kidze is higher up the line: An old
guard Bolshevik who joined the party
back in 1908, worked under Lenin, led
the revolution in the Caucasus, and
now Is heavy industry boss. A man
with fighting spirit, but without Sta
Inns brains and political fair.
Maxim Litvinoff cuts figure in
Europe, but not in Russia. He has
only lately become known in Bolshe-
vik-land, through inspired press re-
leases. He is time-server, soft
fleshed, adrot, careful to satisfy his
masters, keep clear of intrigue and
avoid suspicion of personal ambitions.
He has no influence in Russia. He is
not one OF the ollgarchS.
On the other hand, Bluecher, little
known outside Russia, at the last all
Russian Congress got cheers which
lasted 81 seconds longer than those
which greeted Stain. That was be-
cause he commands Russia's prize in
stitution, the Army Of the Far East,
$50 1000 strong, with 400 airplanes, 450
tanks and 5000 field guns. The oil
garchs have made that force practi-
cally self-sustaining in its area. 1t is
the shield against Japan.
And Voroshilov, boss of the whole
ton, is so popular that Stain now is
rarely photographed without him, or
he without Stain alongside. The
fame and influence of Voroshilov have
risen on the war tide. Forty years ago
he was a peasant youth going to his
first city job in steel mill. He in
hailed the early revolutionary gas with
ardor. At % he became Bolshevik.
He was a useful organizer Of street
riots, but did not mix with the master
minds.
The Bolshevik plot which overthrew
the Kerensky government was planned
nthe military section Of the bolshevik
party, Voroshilov participated, with
out being leader. He rose steadily in
the hierarchy Of the Red guard He
was joined with Buddeniy to organize
the Red cavalry, but Boddeniy got
| the fame. He commanded the Red
armies in the Causasus, but Ordzho-
nikidze was the Official Red boss OF
| the area.
Voroshilov Rises to Power.
Thus Voroshilov rose, dependable,
uncomplaining, obedient, loyal. steady.
energetic and uninterested in party
politics. Lenin died. The oligarchs
quarreled over the succession. Right
and left wings clashed. And out went
Trotzky on his neck. 1t is the sad.
inevitable fate Of left-wingers in all
revolutions. If they are not shot or
eNled, they get retired to the boards
Of big business.
Trotzky, brilliant, offensive, impe-
rious individualist spell-binder, had no
machine, few friends, and many enc.
mics. However, Stain never takes
risks. He needed dependable men to
take care of the army. Voroshilov
stood out as safe man. He was put in
command of the Moscow district.
With Frunze, Voroshilov then purged
the army of Trotzky men; and when
Frunze passed, Voroshilov became war
commissar.
That was II years ago. He has
filled out since. Desk work has let
flesh accumulate under his chin and
around his middle But he has de-
veloped. He is full of vigor. He looks
10 years younger than his SIS years.
In the trial Of the 16 conspirators Of
the Kemenev-Zinoview group before
the military collegium last Summer.
his name kept recurring with Stalin's.
Get Stain and Voroshilov-and other
leaders" ran instructions to gunmen.
The pick Of names has significance.
OF equal significance is the vast
growth of the war machine. There are
nearly 5000 centers Of instruction for
the army, which approximates 100000
regulars, 100000 militia, with 100000
Ogpu and special troops. The air feet
is the worlds biggest, with 5000 ma
chimes, and naval air arm quad
rupled since 1888. There are 5000
pilots trained annually, and a drive Is
on to get 100000 men with flying liz
censes. Orlov. the navy chief, has
under his hand force which during
the last three years has tripled its
battleship strength and increased its
submarine strength five times.
Must Side With Army.
All this means an immense and
closely integrated professional organi-
zation, the growth Of a powerful
vested interest, the rise of q new
esprit de corps, and new loyalitieS.
Stain has swung over to the national
war machine and away from the ma
chine for world conquest through rev.
olution. No successor to Stain could
sustain himself against the hostility
of the armed forces.
But that is not altogether the point.
The point is, would Russian resistance
to German-Japanese pressures slide
out like the core of an apple under the
corer if Stain disappeared? Many folk
think so. The last batch to entertain
the opinion tried to test it by trial.
and-error experiment. 1t failed, and
the would-be experimenters were "liq-
Undated" But suppose the experiment.
had succeeded? The supposition sheds
light on the dark Russian scene. Take
q glance at 1t from the historians
angle:
"As 1886 drew to its close, the dele
gates to the Au-Russian Congress Of
Soviets assembled in the Kremlin
throne room. Their business was to
vote themselves out Of existence as
the governing body Of the red realm.
They were turning over in 1887 to
two-house Parliament. directly elect
ed, under constitution granting se-
cret ballot, freedom of religious wr~>-
ship, independent judiciary. respaas
for the secrecy Of correspondence