Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1919 — BOLSHEVISM AND WHAT IT MEANS [ARTICLE]

BOLSHEVISM AND WHAT IT MEANS

IS AMERICA AWAKE TOIMPENDING PERIL OF HIDEOUS HORROR? One word that has been added to the vocabulary of the average American as a result of the war is the word “Bolshevism.” Although the word may be knew to the average mind, Bolshevism itself is very old and has been growing and expanding slowly, but surely year after year and decade after deeade, its tentacles, reaching to the most distant points of the earth’s surface, sowing discontent among all peoples showing no discrimination and distributing the feeling wherever there is some form of government. To the average person Bolshevism brings to the mind thoughts of ehaos, anarchy, disorder, confusior and the big black bear, symbolical of Russia. One never connects it with his own country—anything bordering bn it In his own country is always given some other term. Bolshevism would be a misnomer in his own case. Whenever the term is brought up the lay mind ijpll simply treat it as something belonging entirely to Russia, something too distant and something too absolutely, foreign to himself. He hasn’t time for it Russia is far away, so he thinks, so why should he' concern himself with such trivial matters? That’s where Mr. Average Citizen is making a fatal mistake and permits himself to be brought daily nearer to a mighty dangerous brink. It has been said, and there is considerable truth in the statement, that there are many people in this country today that unintentionally and unconsciously spread.. — the doc-

trines of Bolshevism, There are %ti*ny who will disbelieve such statements, but nevertheless men of vision, men of far-reaching perspective, men who have viewed the situation from every men who are guiding the destiny of the work £oday, assert that the reign of terrorism now so prevalent in European countries is steadily and surely gaining a foothold in all countries ant that one of the greatest unheavels in the world’s history, more far-reach-ing than the great war just ended, will be the result unless this steadily increasing evil is stamped *but at once. Is America awake to the impending peril, does she realize the danger at hand, does she realize that a concerted effort must be made if she is not to becomg a victim of fanatic teachings? America is too tolerant and it is time for her to awake. It is to be regretted that every man and every woman in the Unitec States cannot read the testimony given in February by R. E. Simmons before the senate committee investigating Bolshevism. Mr. Simmons was formerly a representative of the United States department of commerce in Russia and left Archangel last November., It would serve as a warning of what is being attempted here.

Mr. Simmons read to the senate committee decress of various Bolshevism soviets, among which was what promulgated in the city of Saratov, with a population of 217,000, tenth largest city in all Russia., The decree was issued by the Anarchist Soviet which -was charged by Lenine and Trotzky with the government of the city of Saratov, and was dated March 15, 1918.

Out'of consideration for the feeling of our readers three paragraphs are omitted, although the decree has been published in full in both the New York Times and the Boston News Letter. The official translation of the decree reads: ( “1. From March 1 the right to possess woman having reached the ages of 17 to 32 is abolished. ’ “2. The age of women shall be determined by birth certicate or passports or by the testimony of witnesses, and on failure to produce documents their age shall be determined by the Black Committee, who shall judge them according to appearance. “3. This decree does not affect women having five children. “4. AH •women according to this decree are exempted from private ownership and are proclaimed "the property of the whole nation. .• > “7. The distribution and manage-

ment of the appropriated women in compliance with the decision of the above said organization are transferred to the Anarchist Saratov club. In three days from the publication of this decree all women given by it to the use of the nation are obliged to present themselves to the given address and give the required information. “8. Before the Black Committee is formed for the realization of this decree the citizens themselves shall be charged with such control. Remarks: .Each citizen knowing a woman not submitting herself to the address under this decree is obliged to let it be known to the Anarchist’s club, giving the full address, full name, and father’s name of the offending woßun. “10. Each man wishing to use a piece of public property should beb a bearer of certificate from the Factories Committee, professional union, or Workmen’s Soldiers’, and Peas-J

ants’ Council, certifying that he be-1 longs to the working family class. “11. Every working member is obliged to discount 2 per cent from his earning? to the fund of general public action. Remak: This committee in charge will put these discounting funds with the specifics-| tibhs of . —naxnes. And the state banks and other institu- i tions. handling down these funds to : the popular generation. . ■ “IS. Male citizfehs mot belonging toUhe working claSs in order to have the right equally with the proe.nriat are obliged to p.y TOO roubles m<?nthlv into the public funds. “13. The local Hrsnab.af the state bank is - obliged to begin to reserve the payments to the National Generation Funds. '• “14. Al! women proclaimed by this decree to the national property will receive from the funds an allowance of 238 rouble’s a month. “15. All women who pregnant are released of the direct state j duties for four month, up to three months before and one month after childbirth. “16. The children born are given to an institution for training after they are one month old where they are trained and educated until they are 1 7 years of age at the cost of the public funds. - “17. In case of a birth of twins the mother is to receive a prize of 200 roubles. are obliged to watch carefully their health and to make each week an examination of urine and blood. Remark: The examinations are to be made daily at the laboratories of the Popular Generation Health. | “19. Those who are guilty of spreading venereal disease will be held responsible and severely punished. “20. Women having lost their health may apply to the Soviet for a pension. “21. The Chief of Anarchists will be in charge of perfecting the temporary arrangements and technical measures concerning the realization of this decree.

“22. All those refusing to recognize and support this decree will be proclaimed sabotage enemies of the people and anarchists and will be helg'to the severest responsibilities. (Signed) Council of the City of Saratov, Russia.” This Bolshevism with which some of our “best people” are flirting is organized hatred, plunder savagery and lust. When people talk about the“ social revolution,” and the overthrow of the present “ capitalistic society,” what is meant is not merely a return to barbarism, they want to return to the lowest form of savagery.