THE SOVIET SYSTEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1918, Page 3

THE SOVIET SYSTEM.

ORGANISATION DESCRIBED

FRANK DICTATORSHIP OF WORDING CLASSES.

(By tho Paris Correspondent of the “Westminster Gazette.”) While a great deal is said as to the necessity of rescuing Russia from the

Soviets, surprisingly little is known of their organisation. Even the apologists of the Soviets admit that it is class rule, and that it is even a class dictatorship. There is a written constitution—draw n

up recently at Moscow —and it is from

the principles therein .stated that this account of its operation is drawn. The Soviets were originally composed of delegates of workers, peasants and soldiers for fighting purposes in. the revolution ; afterwards they became the organs of power. They represent the dictatorship of the proletariat and the peasants and they recognise th P political rights of no one who does not belong to these classes. The most startling fact, about present-day Russia, is perhaps that the right- of voting ancT the right of sitting in the Soviets are specifically denied to all who employ a worker for purposes of gain, who live on the revenue of invested capital, who are merchants, middlemen, or who are professionally engaged in a religious calling. This complete reversal of the rol c and Russian citizens reminds one of England before the passing of the Reform Acts, only with the tables completely turned. The theory on which is based this denial of the vote and of all political rights to what have been called the “possessing classes’’ in that in a society divided into classes always the power of the state is a Dictatorship and one or other of the classes, guiding the machine- of State, dominates the rest. The power may be concealed in normal times, but when the power is threatened all legal formalities are east aside, and the rulers of a country establish a frank dictatorship. This is how Lenin arrives at his point of view. The proletariat conquered the bourge- j oise; the bourgeoisie eon spire to restore I the old order of things—they even, ai- ! jeged the Soviets seek the help of foreign Powers for this purpose. Therefore, capitalists and proprietors must have no say in political affairs. They must he kept in subjugation. Each village or town elects a S° v iet °f workers and peasants. All the local au- ; thorities are controlled by that Soviet— j the police, the and other public ! services. There are groups of Soviets (Volosto) to administer wider territorial areas; and these groups in their turn select delegates to sit on a larger eon- j gress. This latter congress sits in the , chief town of the district; hut each j town of more than 10,000 inhabitants retains its independence of the congress Several arrondissemeuts form a department-, which has a council composed of ■ representatives elected by .the congress and the Soviets of the independent towns.

j Such towns as Moscow and Pet-rogrcd j are not subject to the- departmental ' Councils. The Soviets meet together to decide general matters; but there are : also a large number of executive comI inittces. The Congress of All the Soviets ' is the supreme authority of the country.-• I ft used to meet every three months. Re- ! cently; it decided to meet every six | months. It is the councils of the doj partments that elect the delegates to ; this body, which may hold extraordinary ■ meetings in case of emergency. In fact, I the chief function of the All Soviets J Congress is to elect a Central Executive Committee which is composed of a two hundred members, and which really governs the country. The duties of the various ministries are filled by colleges, to whom the Central Committee gives special powers. They direct the affairs ! of the nation, subject to the agreomont iof the committee. There i K > according ■ to law, no president, and Lenin’s perJ sonal power comes rather from his dom- : mating personality than from an specific j authority. The life of the deputies j may be very short. They arc elected ; on the Soviets only for three months, j Each factory of any description elects its representatives in acordance with the ! number of workers. Those artisans who j are out of work also elect- their repre- ! sentaticos at a separate poll. At any time if a delegate gives dissatisfaction he can ho recalled and a new election, be held. Such, according to the friends of the Soviets in France is the system under which Russia is governed at this moment. All power is in the hands of those who “draw their means of existence from productive labour or work of public utility,” that is, employees in industry, commerce agriculture and the service of he State. It is quite openly the rule of the worker. It is, however, only fair to say that th© system was born in revolution and nursed in a stormy cradle, andthat- the extension of the franchise is doubtless in the minds of the present rulers when, if ever, any chnee of counter-revolution has disappeared and .when the free reign of Socialism begins.