L 1 liiiin -SiEBES-«0' ^^ ilFflHiE «^ PUBLISHED BY ALL-AMERICANPUBLISHING CO. Not inc. 412 STANDARD BANK BUILDING CHICAGO, ILL. PRICE PER COPY lO GENTS WRiHtjowftm: my 08 1994 >J=«66IIVATl6M :OPY ADDED )R1GINAL TO BE lETAINED Copyrighted 1919 by ERNEST RIEBE Chicago, 111. Price per Copy lO Cents CRIMES OF THE BOLSHEVIKI By ERNEST RIEBE Dedicated to the ' Interests of the International Proletariat Workers of the World Unite THE RADICAL BOOK SHOP I S67 No. Clark St. I OHICAQO. • . iLLINOfS 304 ,•• • • 2 — V ^-4 ^^4 14 ^r^ t^^^v l\ ^- ^M. ® JBinii fel One of the first crimes, the bolsheviki com- mitted was the signing of the peace of Brest- Litovsk. The Russian army was no longer cap- able to hold back the well-organized forces of the Germans and the bolsheviki stopped the useless massacre of defenseless men. The Russians had sacrificed in death alone about three million men. The bolsheviki were called traitors; especially by people who were too cowardly to do any fighting themselves. — 3 WISE THE OOPi^ 801.SHfc\/l Kl CR»M»NHtS. ^!iV After signing the peace the bolsheviki started an anti-war propaganda amongst the German soldiers, appealing to them to stop fighting and to overthrow their masters. This propaganda was carried on without the consent of the German officers, as the picture plainly shows. <^ mug g g F a aac a 33 [ THEY Pur ONE 0\l£R OH US <£>£ R If I"*. The bolsheviki also enlightened the people in Germany and urged them to start a revolution. It dawned on the warlords that it was impossible to deal a deathblow to the allies on the western front and that the defeat of Germany was cer- tain. The bolsheviki must be credited with short- ening the war and saving millions of soldiers, who would have been slaughtered if the German war- lords had not been forced by the demoralization of' their armies to sue for peace. — 5 — WHWTT NOW^ HRN6IN C? ? OP. HOE I NO r ©eBim . The bolshevik! brought hardship and misery to some of the "Best People" in Russia. Many a nobleman was brought face to face with hoe, pick and shovel. The peasants had been the slaves of the big landowners for centuries but under the bolsheviki they came again in possession of the land, which had been taken away from them. — 6 — Bolsheviki are naturally cruel to animals. They robbed thousands of dignified Gentlemen out of the comforts of life. Butlers and other lackies became sassy and preferred honest work to hu- miliating servitude. The aristocracy of other countries sympathizes with their Russian breth- ren in distress, because they fear that the time will come when they also have to scratch them- selves. — 7 — I RRN6 THE BCLL TWICE !* WHERE HRE MY ciortRErres V That girl used to be one of the best domestic animals in Russia, but listen to her now, "Where did she get that stuff?" "From the bolsheviki." The lady never heard that kind of sass before. She spent her whole life terrorizing her domestics after the fashion of the idle rich and never had any backtalk. No wonder she's one of those who say that bolsheviki are criminals. I ll.„ lllt^l THEY CrtNT RUN r H e FrtCrOKY WITHOUT ME WHRT DID "^OU 51 MP EVER RUN YOU HLWBVS HIRED SOMeBOPy TOR THHT PUHPQSey c^ DTuniir ^:/^. ©EKn'i. In order to handicap the bolsheviki, some fac- tory owners closed the plants and locked the work- ers out. The bolsheviki simply opened the factor- ies and locked the boss out. To get the necessary experts, such as chemists or supervisors, the bol- sheviki did the same as the boss used to do, they hired them. The boses, who extorted tips from the workers, were not in sympathy with the bolsheviki because bosses lost their graft in bolshevik Russia, where every worker is entitled to a job and don't have to "see" the boss. You may be sure that every grafting slave driver on the face of the earth con- siders this a crime. -- 10 The bolsheviki were the cause of many hot tears. Profiteers could no longer indulge in sense- less luxuries, made possible by the sweat of wasted labor. The agony of the upper classes meant nothing to the cruel bolsheviki. This ex- plains the hatred of the idle jewelry fiends all over the world. — 11 Bolshevism stands for the majority. That's what the word means in Russian. Bolshevism is a good thing for the big majority of the people and is a very bad thing for the small minority, the exploiting profiteers, the grafting politicians, the lazy, lying preachers, who fight for the master class, the department store owning white slavers and all the vultures, who make a living out of the misery and immorality of our present system. Bolshevism seems to be cruel to those paracites, and it is ;it is enforcing the law of the holy scriptures: "He, who will not work, neither shall he eat." 12 — 1^ ■?©^^ The bolsheviki destroyed the higher aspirations of the "better classes" and made expensive and "artistic" monkey pup-dinners impossible in bol- shevik Russia. The welfare of the wealth-produc- ing workers concerned them more than the silly and wasteful amusements of degenerates. The pup -dinner aristocracy of the world is therefore hostile to bolshevik ideals. 13 — ■■ I M " /IN HOfs/er T 1-JVI NC? NOW. THE 0OUS-HEV/KJ MROe IT poysieDz liOION fJ^\^ GOT N The keepers of immoral houses in Russia were amongst the bitter enemies of the bolsheviki. In all countries the traders in human flesh and blood are heart and soul with the newspaper prostitutes, preachers and politicians, who fight the bol- shevikis. The newspapers employ experts and turn out lies in every issue. Sometimes the game is played so raw that it becomes necessary to pull off a little sham battle against grafters and prof- iteers. — 14 — TO UE^VH y^OR THB After the bolsheviki made peace in Russia there were still people who advocated war. The bolsheviki stopped this propaganda in a very dras- tic manner as shown in the picture above. Jingo- istic profiteers all over the world hate such methods. Not only for reasons of their own health, but also because an army raised this way whould be very small and ofifer poor prospects for fat contracts. 15 Jan D :3U%r TO IN V o M e cou BO|s/) B FLRNJ\N(P (i) E R n iir The bolsheviki caught some profiteers planting bombs to implicate labor leaders and promptly marched them off to face a firing squad. In cer- tain countries the profiteer bomb-planter is very seldom caught and never punished. The labor leaders are in most cases the victims. Some are executed, some are lynched and some stay in jail. Sometimes the conspirators have not even to plant bombs in order to put the man of labor out of the way; they simply trump up a charge of "high treason" and the noblest men of the working class are buried alive in the penitentiaries. 16 — "PRODUCTS The bolsheviki were criminal enough to threaten the manufacturers of poisonous food- stuffs with drastic measures. This raised a storm of indignation amongst the manufactuerrs of embahned beef and other delicacies. The prof- iteers feared a similar treatment and for hygienic reasons denounced the bolsheviki as dangerous, unscrupulous criminals. 17 — ©fei jmi 3o^^?oc I L er YOU opF ON ACCOUNT OF TECHNlCflLlTlEf. SOMETHING KIGHT. [ij}nl{lL)lill... The bolsheviki are charged with the crime of abolishing old style justice. This they did. The poor man was always convicted, because he couldti't hire a good lawyer like the rich man. The bolsheviki convict no man because he is poor and they allow no lawyer to twist the law to suit the wealthy lawbreakers. In the following chapters we will find some more of that old system of "jus- tice" abolished by the bolsheviki. 18 — WBR£HOUJ m^ .-o r.^ Il is a rule in profiteer countries to make the workers toil long hours for small wages and when all warehouses are filled with goods, the factories are closed and the workers have to starve. This is known as a panic and necessary for the speculat- ing profiteers. Under the bolshevikis, goods are manufactured for use and not for speculation, and that's a crime against the speculators. — 19 — NO BOtfHEViK JH/1LL SPOli-^ HV FUN Cs) E P. n I T In "civilized countries" the farmer is very often the slave of the.mortgiage holding banker. The bolsheviki freed thousands of mortgage slaves and nationalized the banks in Russia. How the profiteers hate those who endanger their profits was shown in Minnesota and other states some time ago when members of the non-partisan league were tarred and feathered by the prtfieers for advocating state ownership of banks, grain elevators and stores. — 20 The bolsheviki are against the outrage of child- labor, and this aroused the wrath of the exploiters in all "civilized" countries. Bolsheviki educate the children instead of murdering them inch by inch for the sake of profiteering, church-going hypocrites. The abolition of child-labor is against the religion of the profiteers, who's god is Mam- mon. Everybody knows which the countries are, where the supreme court declares the abolition of child-labor unconstitutional. 21 {t HUfs/OReP MEN FOR -V ,|. OWE. 30B. THeV^U WOKK /IT HY TERHS NOW. SMMLL PRY, tOMO HOUKS ©£P> 1117 -sfe^s-iot The profiteer is happy when millions are out of employment and go begging for jobs. The misery of the masses is a blessing for him. The bol- sheviki spoiled the fun and established the shorter work-day so that everybody had a job. This, being against the interest of the profiteers, is an- other reason why the truth about the bolsheviki is suppressed. — 22 Slave-driving is common in "civilized" coun- tries. The language used by some bosses is so vile that it is not allowed to be printed, but the defenseless slaves have to submit to it because the cowardly cur happens to be the master of their bread. The bolsheviki demonstrated that industries can be run successfully without humil- iation of the workers, when they know they are not exploited. 23 - In our good old Christian civilized countries of today the poor old people are kicked around or penned up in the poorhouses. This is cheap and infamous, but the bolsheviki established justice, whereby they take care of their old and infirm and carry out the practice of the early Christians. And for this reason they are slandered and mis- represented just like the followers of Christ by the money changers lamd usurers. 24 youH rhfusAl to iNSTR-Li. SAFETY hPPLf /=itiCES CJ^U^eo THE DEATH OF SOME Of OUR FELLOW U/ORKERf. The profiteer is absolute master over the work- ers. He condemns them to death if profits de- mand it. Thousands of workers are annually sac- rificed to save money. When the bolsheviki changed this in Russia they were condemned by the profiteers of all countries. Profiteers are class- conscious and international. If one of them is injured, the whole mob will holler, '^11 the bol- sheviki !" 25 - The profiteers in Russia had from time to time massacred the workers, who struck for better conditions. They used to organize mobs and lynched men, women and children. This later method was very popular and was used to charge the crime to "Public Sentiment." In all cases the assassins were never punished. The bolsheviki took away from the profiteers the right of massa- cre and also the lynch privilege. — 26 - Only by terrorism has the profiteering class, the small minority been able to keep the big majority, the working class, in subjection. In Russia the bolsheviki have partly succeeded in abolishing the atrocities of capitalism and they are fighting hard to abolish capitalism altogether. Their aim is the same as that of the Revolution- ary Socialists and for that reason they are mis- represented by the capitalist press just as the So- cialists are. The crimes of the bolsheviki in the profiteer papers make the same reading as the crimes ot which the JSociaiists have always been accused. Murder, free love and treason; it sounds so familiar to us and this is perhaps the reason why we sympathize so much with the bolsheviki. Our heart goes out to those blood-thirsty crimi- nals across the sea. .We recognize in them our comrades in crime and we greet them cordially, "God bless you, fellow assassins, thieves and free lovers. .Good morning, homebreakers and degen- erates." The very atrocities which the profiteers commit every day, are charged against us, the opponents of capitalism. The profiteer press of America de- serves the credit of having attained the greatest efficiency in manufacturing lies about the bol- sheviki. The shamefulness and boldness of the professional liars has become so atrocious that men have taken a stand against it who never had — 27 — anything to do with Socialism, and who do not even belong to the working class. Colonel Ray- mond Robins is one of them. He could not submit in silence any longer to the misrepresentations of the anti-bolshevik press. .This gentleman has never been accused of being a Socialist, an I. W. W. or a hod carrier. He was the head of the American Red Cross in Russia and happened to be an eye-witness of the bolshevik revolution. .Sev- eral times he testified to the honesty of purpose of the bolsheviki. First of all be corroborated the fact that the bolshevik Soviet represents the overwhelming majority of the Russian people. The kept press alwasy claims that the bolshevik Soviet represents a small minority of criminal fanatics, who rule the majority by brutal force. Regarding Lenine and Trotzky, Colonel R. Robins says: "Were Lenine and Trotzky German traitors? My deliberate statement is, that Lenine and Trotzky were international revolutionary Social- ists, engaged in th propaganda of world revolu- tion. "Had they wanted to, they could have left Rus- sia when the leaving was good. But they re- mained at the risk of their lives to further the aims of the revolution. — 28 — "God Almighty couldn't make a man do the things I saw Nicolai Lenine do, if that man had dirty money in his pockets. "The story which history will write later on must be made up on the basis of truth, not on the basis of special interests or predilections of one group or another." Of Trotzky, he said: "Trotzky never broke faith with anybody, and he always put behind his promise force sufficient to carry it out." He told of traveling through 6,000 miles of ter- ritory contiguous from European Russia to Siberia, and that in all that distance the signa- ture of Lenine was honored and the Soviet gov- ernment was in power. "I crossed 50 Soviet jurisdictions. I did not bribe a single officer. Lenine's letter was my safe conduct for the 6,000 miles. Though I had five guns, I didn't hear a shot fired. In Amur I got the freedom of the city on the basis of Lenine's letter. That happens to be history, not hot air." In his talk, "One view of Russia," he said: "All there is to the Russian story cannot be contained in one person's mind. History will show it at its true value. The truth will not be spoken next month or next year. "It will come out ultimately, because there are forces and elements that will repudiate the false statements. — 29 — "One reason I have rested so easily and com- fortably in a most unpleasant state of criticism has been that in spite of the clamor, for the most part false, I have felt the truth would ultimately prevail. Propaganda, however, well organized, will never stifle truth. No matter how much agi- tation is made by the old interests, the defenders of autocracy, those views will eventually surren- der to the truth." We have the testimony of many other promi- nent Americans, w ho prove the misrepresentation of the capitalist press and some of the capitalist papers themselves were forced to publish the real facts occasionally. But they were shrewd enough to hide the truth in the inside pages and keep the faked murder stories in big headlines on the front pages. Due to the fact that millions of newspaper readers accept the biggest type as the biggest truth, the campaign of lies is partly successful. The anti-Bolshevik campaign was started by the German profiteers under the leadership of their Kaiser when the Bolsheviki refused to quit agitat- ing against capitalism. The Kaiser demanded this in an ultimatum and when this was ignored, he made this statement : "I wish the whole Russian army was intact and in the field against me in- stead of this Bolshevism. It is more dangerous than the best artillery." Like the Kaiser, the profiteers of other countries are convinced that Bolshevism is dangerous artillery and they are fighting it with a barrage fire of lies in their newspapers. 30 — iOBRxtii. vJ /;r^'" n f^/V TO - 6EE,WH«r RCRIME' Here's a sample of profiteer propaganda. Bol- shevik! crimes, that's what sells the extras. Make it interesting for the "intelligent" reader and put it on thick. The above rape story was published all over the country and swallowed by millions. It is ridiculous that a great body of men, com- prising uncounted millions like the bolsheviki, should condemn their own mothers, sisters and children to slavery. Furthermore, the bolsheviki are not short on women. The latter outnumber the men in Russia by many millions. The Blocks should also know that the Bolsheviki have given equal suffrage to their women. n O ERirn. When in 1918 the bolsheviki saw, that their rule was firmly established they declared an am- nesty for those plotters who were not considered dangerous any more. The international profiteers knew that this generous act would gain prestige for the bolsheviki and therefore invented the lie of the wholesale massacre of the bourgeoisie, "the Russian Bartholomew night." The campaign of lies goes merrily on, but the number of blocks becomes less, to the chagrin of the profiteers. — 32 — At last we offer the most momentous bolshevik crime, the Bolshevilc Constitution, which will go down in history and stand when all the profiteer press agents are buried under the ridicule of an enlightened world. Truth at last will triumph. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE RUSSIAN SOVIET. CONSTITUTION (Fundamental Law) The Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic. ' Resolutions of the 5th All-Russian Congress of Soviets, adopted on July 10, 1918. The declaration of rights of the laboring and exploited people (approved by the third All-Russian Congress of Soviets in January, 1918), together with the Constitution of the Soviet Republic, approved by the fifth Congress, constitutes a single fundamental law of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic. This fundamental law becomes effective upon the publi- cation of the same in its entirety in the "Izvestia of the All-Russian General Executive Committee." It must be published by all organs of the Soviet government and must be posted in a prominent place in every Soviet insti- tution. The fifth Congress instructs the People^s Commissariat of Education to introduce in all schools and educational institutions of \he Russian Republic the study and ex- planation of the basic principles of this Constitution. — 33 — Article One Declaration of Rights of the Laboring and Exploited People. Chapter One. 1. Russia is declared to be a Republic of the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies. All the central and local power belongs to these Soviet national Republics. 2. The Russian Soviet Republic is organized on basis of a free union of free nations, as a federation of Soviet national Republics. Chapter Two. 3. Bearing in mind as its fundamental problem the abolition of exploitation of men by men the entire • aboli- tion of the division of the people into classes, the suppres- sion of exploiters, the establishment of a Socialist society, and the victory of socialism in all lands, the third All- Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies further resolves: a. For the purpose of realizing the socialization of land, all private property in land is abolished, and the entire land is declared to be national property and is to be apportioned among husbandmen without any compensa- tion to the former owners, in the measure of each one's ability to till it. b. All forests, treasures of the earth, and waters of general public utility, all implements whether animate or inanimate, model farms and agricultural enterprises are declared to be national property. c. As a first step toward complete transfer of owner- ship to the Soviet Republfc of all factories, mills, mines, railways and other means of production and transporta- tion, the Soviet law for the country by workmen and the establishment of the Supreme Soviet of National Economy is hereby confirmed, so as to assure the power of the workers over the exploiters. d. With reference to international banking and finance, the third Congress of Soviets is discussing the Soviet decree regarding the annulment of loans made by the Government of the Czar, by land owners and the bour- geoisie, and it trusts that the Soviet government will — 34 — firmly follow this course until the final victory of the in- ternational workers' revolt against the oppression of capital. e. The transfer of all banks into the ownership of the Workers' and Peasants' government, as one of the con- ditions of the liberation of the toiling masses from the yoke of capital, is confirmed. f. Universal obligation to work is introduced for the purpose of eliminating the parasitic strata of society and organizing the economic life of the country. g. For the purpose of securing the working class in the possession of the complete power, and in order to eliminate all possibility of restoring the power of the x- ploitrs, it is decreed that all toilers be armed, and that a Socialist Red Army be organized and the propertied class be disarmed. Chapter Three. 4. Expressing its absolute resolve to liberate mankind from the grip of capital and imperialism, which flooded the earth with bloo^ in t^is present most criminal of all wars, the third Congress of Soviets fully agrees with the Soviet Government in its policy of breaking secret treaties, of organizing on a wide scale the fraternization of the workers, and peasants of the belligerent armies, and of making all efforts to conclude a general democratic peace without annexations or indemnities, upon the basis of the free determination of the people. 5. It is also to this end that the third Congress of Soviets insists upon putting an end to the barbarous policy of the bourgeois civilization which enables the exploiters a few chosen nations to enslave hundreds of millions of the toiling population of Asia, of the colonies and of small countries generally. 6. The third Congress of Soviets hails the policy of the Council of People's Commissars in proclaiming the full independence of Finland, in withdrawing troops from Persia, and in proclaiming the right of Armenia to self- determination. Chapter Four. 7. The third All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Work- ers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies believes that now, — 35 — during the progress of the decisive battle between the proletariat and its exploiters, the exploiters can not hold a position in any branch of the soviet government. The power must belong entirely to the toiling masses and to their plenipotentiary representatives — the Soviet of Work- ers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies. 8. In its effort to create a league — free and voluntary, and for that reason all the more complete and secure — of the working classes of all the peoples of Russia, the third Congress of Soviets merely establishes the funda- mental principles of the Federations of Russian Soviet Republics, leaving to the workers and peasants of every people to decide the following question at their plenary sessions of their Soviets; wether or not they desire to par- ticipate, and on what basis, in the federal government and other federal Soviet institutions. Article Two General Provisions of the Constitution of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic. Chapter Five. 9. The fundamental problem of the Constitution of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic involves, in view of the present transition period, the establishment of a dictatorship of the urban and rural proletariat and the poorest peasantry in the form of a powerful All-Rus- sian Soviet authority, for the purpose of abolishing the exploitation of men by men and of introducing Socialism, in which there will be neither a division into classes nor a state of autocracy. 10. The Russian Republic is a free Socialist society of all the working people of Russia. The entire power, within the boundaries of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic, belongs to all the working people of Russia, \ united in urban and rural Soviets. * 11. The Soviets of those regions which differentiate themselves by a special form of existence and national character may unite in autonomous regional unions, ruled by the local Congress of the Soviets and their executive organs. — 36 — These autonomous regional unions participate in the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic upon the basis of a federation. 12. The supreme power of the Russian Socialist Fed- erated Soviet Republic belongs to the All-Russian Con- gress of Soviets, and, in periods between the convocation of the Congress, to the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. 13. For the purpose of securing to the toilers real free- dom of conscience, the church is to be separated from the state and the school from the church, and the right of religious and anti-religious propaganda is accorded to every citizen. 14. For the purpose of securing the freedom of ex- pression to the toiling masses, the Russian Socialist Fed- erated Soviet Republic abolishes all dependence of the press upon capital, and turns over to the working people and the poorest peasantry all technical and material means of publication of newspapers, pamphlets, books, etc,, and guarantees their free circulation thruout the country. 15. For the purpose of enabling the workers to hold free meetings, the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Re- public offers to the working class and to the poorest pesa- antry furnished halls, and takes care of their heating and lighting appliances. 16. The Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic, having crushed the economic and political power of the propertied classes and having thus abolished all obstacles which interfered wit hthe freedom of organization and action of the workers and peasants offer assistance, ma- terial and otherwise, to the workers and the poorest peasantry in their efforts to unite and organize. 17. For the purpose of guaranteeing to the workers real access to knowledge, the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic sets itself the task of furnishing full and general free education to the workers and the poorest peasantry. 18. The Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic considers work the duty of every citizen of the Republic, and proclaims as its motto: "He shall not eat who does not work." — 37 — 19. For the purpose of defending the victory of the great peasants' and workers' revolution, the Russian So- cialist Federated Soviet Republic recognizes the duty of all citizens of the Republic to come to the defense of their Socialist Fatherland, and it, therefore, introduces uni- versal military training. The honor of defending the revolution with arms is given only to the toilers, and the non-toiling elements are charged with the performance of her military duties. 20. In consequence of the solidarity of the toilers of all nations, the Republic grants all political rights of Rus- sian citizens to foreigners who live in the territory of the Russian Republic and are engaged in toil and who belong to the toiling class. The Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic also recognizes the right of local Soviets to grant citizenship to such foreigners without compli- cated formality. 21. The Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic, recognizing equal rights of all citizens, irrespective of their racial or nationl connections, proclaims all privileges on this ground, as well as oppression of national minori- ties, to be in contradiction with the fundamental laws of the Republic. 23. Being guided by the interests of the working class as a whole, the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Re- public deprives all individuals and groups of rights which could be utilized by them to the detriment of the Socialist Revolution. Article Three Construction of the Soviet Power. A. Organization of the Central Power. 24. The All-Russian Congress of Soviets is composed of representatives of urban Soviets (one delegate for 25,000 voters), and of representatives of the provincial (Gubernia) congress of Soviets (one delegate for 125,000 inhabitants). Note 1. In case the Provincial Congress is not called before the All-Russian Congress is convoked, delegates for the latter are sent directly from the county (Ouezd) Congress. — 38 — Note 2. In case the Regional (Oblast) Congress is con- voked indirectly, previous to the convocation of The Ali- Russian Congress, delegates for the latter may be sent by the Regional Congress. 26. The All-Russian Congress is convoked by the AU- Russian Central Executive Committee at least twice a year. 27. A special All-Russian Congress is convoked by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee upon its own initiative, or upon the request of local Soviets having not less than one-third of the entire population of the Republic. 28. The All-Russian Congress elects an All-Russian Central Executive Committee of not more than 200 mem- bers. 29. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee is entirely responsible to the All-Russian Congress of Soviets. 30. In the periods between the convocation of the Con- gresses, the All-Russian Central Executive Committee is the supreme power of the Republic. Chapter Seven. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee. 31. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee is the supreme legislative, executive, and controlling organ of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic. 32. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee directs in a general way the activity of the workers' and peasants' government and of all organs of the Soviet authority in the country, and it co-ordinates and regu- lates the operation of the Soviet Constitution and of the resolution of the All-Russian Congresses and of the cen- tral organs of the Soviet power. 33. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee con- siders and enacts all measures and proposals introduced by the Soviet of People's Commisars or by the various de- partments, and it also issues its own decrees and regula- tions. 34. The A.ll-Russian Central Executive Committee con- vokes the AU-Russian Congress of Soviets, at which time 39 — the Executive Committee reports on its activity and on general questions. 35. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee forms a Council of People's Commissars for the purpose or general management of the affairs of the Russian So- cialist Federated Soviet Republic, and it also forms de- partments (People's Commissariats) for the purpose of conducting various branches. 36. The members of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee work in the various departments (People's Commissariats) or executive special orders of all the All- Russian Central Executive Committee. Chapter Eight. The Council of People's Commissars. 37. The Council of People's Commissars is entrusted with the general management of the affairs of the Rus- sian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic. 38. For the accomplishment of this task the Council of People's Commissars issues decrees, resolutions, orders, and, in general, takes all steps necessary for the proper and rapid conduct of government affairs. 39. The Council of People's Commissars notifies im- mediately the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of all its orders and resolutions. 40. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee has the right to revoke or suspend all orders and resolutions of the Council of People's Commissars. 41. All orders and resolutions of the Council of Peo- ple's Commisars of great significance are turned over for consideration and final approval to the All-Russian Cen- tral Executive Committee. Note: Measures requiring immediate execution may be enacted directly by the Council of People's Commis- sars. 42. The members of the Council of People's Commis- sars stand at the head of the various People's Commis- sariats. 42. There are seventeen People's Commissars: a. Foreign Affairs; b. Army; c. Navy; d. Interior; e. Justice; f. Labor; g. Social Welfare; h. Education; i. — 40 — Post and Telegraph; j. National Affairs; k. Finances; 1. Ways of Communication; m. Agriculture; n. Commerce and Industry; o. National Supplies; p. State Control; q. Supreme Soviet of National Economy; r. Public Health. 44. Every Commissar has a College (Committee* of which he is the President, and the members of which are appointed by the Council of People's Commissars. 45. A People's Commissar has the individal right to decide air questions under the jurisdiction of his Commis- sariat, and he is to report on his decision to the College. If the College does not agree with the Commissar on some decision, the former may, without stopping the execution of the decision, complain of it to the executive members of the Council of People's Commissars to the All-Russian Central Committee. Individual members of the College have this right also. 46. The Council of People's Commissars is entirely re- sponsible to the All-Russian Congress of Soviet and the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. 47. The People's Commissars and the Colleges of the People's Commissariats are entirely responsible to the Council of People's Commissars and the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. 48. The title of People's Commissars belongs only to members of the Council of People's Commissars, which is in charge of general affairs of the Russian Socialist Fed- erated Soviet Republic, and it cannot be used by any other representative of the Soviet power, either central or local. AflFairs in the Jurisdiction of the All-Russian Congress and the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. 49. The All-Russian Congress and the All-Russian Central Executive Committee deal with questions of state, such as: a. Ratification and amendment of the Constitution of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic. b. General direction of the entire interior and for- eign policy of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Re- public. — 41 — c. Establishing and changing boundaries, also ceding territory belonging to the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic. d. Establishing boundaries for regional Soviet unions belonging to the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Re- public, also settling disputes among them. e. Admission of new members to the Russian Social- ist Federated Soviet Republic, and recognition of the secession of any part of it. f. The general administrative division of the territory of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic and the approval of regional unions. g. Establishing and changing of weights, measures and money denominations in the Russian Socialist Fed- erated Soviet Republic. h. Foreign relations, declaration of war, and ratifica- tion of peace treaties. i. Making loans, signing commercial treaties, and financial agreements. j. Working out a basis and a general plan for the na- tional economy and for various branches in the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic. k. Approval of the budget of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic. 1. Levying taxes and establishing the duties of citizens to the state. m. Establishing the bases for the organization of armed forces. n. State legislation, judicial organization and proced- ure, civil and criminal legislation, etc. o. Appointment and% dismissal of the individual Peo- ple's Commissars or the entire Council; also approval of the President of the Council of People's Commissars. p. Granting and cancelling Russian citizenship and fixing rights of foreigners. q. The right to declare individual and general amnesty. 50. Besides the above mentioned questions, the All- Russian Congress of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee have charge of all other affairs which accord- ign to their decision, require their attention. „ 42 — 51. The following questions are solely under the juris- diction of the All-Russian Congress: a. Ratification and amendment of the fundamental principles of the Soviet Constitution. b. Ratification of peace treaties. 52. The decision of question indicated in Items c and h of Paragraph 49 may be made by the All-Russian Cen- tral Executive Committee only in case it is impossible to convoke the Congress. Chapter Ten. B. Organization of the Local Soviets. The Cpngress of the Soviets. 53. Congress of Soviets are composed as follows: a. Reginal: Of representatives of the urban and county Soviets, one representative for 25,000 inhabitants of the county, and one representative for 5,000 voters of the cities — but not more than 500 representatives for the entire region — or of representatives of the provisional Congress, chosen on the same basis if such a Congress meets before the regional Congress. b. Provincial (Gubemia) : Of representatives of urban and rural (Volost) Soviets, one representative for 10,000 inhabitants from the rural districts, and one representa- tive for 2,000 voters in the city; altogether not more than 300 representatives for the entire province. In case the county Congress meets before the provincial, election takes place on the same basis, but by the county Con- gress instead of the rural. c. County: Of representatives of rural Soviets, one delegate for each 1,000 inhabitants, but not more than 300 delegates for the entire county. r. Rural (Volost): Of representatives of all village Soviets in the Volost one delegate for ten members of the Soviet. Note 1. Representatives of urban Soviets which have a population of not more than 10,000 persons participate in the county Congress; village Soviets of districts of less than 1,000 inhabitants unite for the purpose of elect- ing delegates to the county Congress. — 43 — Note 2. Rural Soviets of less than ten me^ibers send one delegate to the rural (Volost) Congress. 54. Congresses of the Soviets are convoked by the re- spective Executive Committees upon their own initiative, or upon request of local Soviets comprising not less than one-third of the entire population of the given district. In any case they are convoked at least twice a year for regions, every three months for provinces and counties, and once a month for rural districts. 55. Every Congress of Soviets (regional, provincial, I county and rural) elects its Executive organ — an Execu- tive Committee the membership of which shall not exceed: (a) For regions and provinces, 25; (b) for a county, 20; (c) for a rural district, 10. The Executive Committee is responsible to the congress which elected it. 56. In the boundaries of the respective territories the Congress is the supreme power; during intervals between the convocations of the Congress, the executive Committee is the supreme power. Chapter Eleven. The Soviets of Deputies. 57. Soviets of Deputies are formed: a. In cities, one deputy for each 1,000 inhabitants; the total to be not less than 50 and not more than 1,000 members. b. All other settlements (towrjs, villages, hamlets, etc.) of less than 10,000 inhabitants, one deputy for each 100 inhabitants; the total to be not less than 3 and not more than 50 deputies for each settlement. Term of the deputy, three months. Note: In small rural sections, whenever possible, all questions shall be decided at general meetings of voters. 58. The Soviets of Deputies elects an Executive Com- mittee to deal with current affairs; not more than 5 mem- bers for rural districts, one for every 50 members for rural districts, one for every 50 members of the Soviets of cities, but not more than 15 and not less tlian 1 in the aggregate (Petrograd and Moscow not more than 40). The Executive Committee is entirely responsible to the Soviet which elected it. — 44 — 59. The Soviet of Deputies is convoked by the Execu- tive Committee upon its own initiative, or upon the re- quest of not less than one-half of the members of the Soviet; in any case at least once a week in cities, and twice a week in rural sections. 60. Within its jurisdiction the Soviet, and in eases mentioned in Paragraph 57. Note, the meeting of the voters, is the supreme power in the given district. Chapter Twelve. Jurisdiction of the Local Organs of the Soviets. 61. Regional, provincial, county, and rural organs of the Soviet power and also the Soviets of Deputies have to perform the following duties: a. Garry out all orders of the respective higher organs of the Soviet power. b. Take all steps towards raising the cultural and economic standards of the given territory. c. Decide all questions of local importance within their respective territory. d. Co-ordinate all Soviet activity in their respective territory. 62. The Congresses of Soviets and their Executive Committees have the right to control the activity of the local Soviets (i. e., the regional Congress controls all Soviets of the respective regions; the provincial of the respective province, with the exception of the urban Soviets, etc.), and the regional and provincial Congresses and their Executive Committees in addition have the right to overrule the decisions of the Soviets of their districts, giving notice in important cases to the central Soviet authority. 63. For the purpose of performing their duties, the local Soviets, rural and urban, and the Executive Com- mittees form sections respectively. Article Four The Right to Vote. Chapter Thirteen. 04. The right to vote and to be elected to the Soviets is enjoyed by the citizens, irrespective of religion, nation- — 45 -- ality, domicile, etc., of both sexes, who shall have com- pleted their eighteenth year by the day of election; a. All who have acquired the means of living thru labor that is productive and useful to society, and also persons engaged in housekeeping, which enables the for- mer to do productive work, i. e., laborers and employees of all classes who are employed in industry, trade, agricul- ture, etc., and peasants and Cossack agricultural laborers who employ no help for the purpose of making profits. b. Soldiers of the army and navy of the Soviets. c. Citizens of the two preceding categories who have to any degree lost their capacity to work. Note 1. Local Soviets may, upon approval of the cen- tral power, lower the age standard mentioned herein. Note 2. Non-citizens mentioned in Paragraph 20 (Ar- ticle Two, Chapter 5) have the right to vote. 65. The following persons enjoy neither the right to vote no rthe right to be voted for, even tho they belong to one of the categories enumerated above, namely: a. Persons who employ hired labor in order to obtain from it an increase in profits. b. Persons who have an income without doing any work, such as interest from capital, receipts from prop- erty, etc. c. Private merchants, trade and commercial brokers. d. Monks and clergy of all denominations. e. Employees and agents of the former police, the gendarme corps, and the Okhrana (Czar's secret service), also members of former reigning dynasty. f. Persons who have in legal form been declared de- mented or mentally deficient, and also persons under guardianship. g. Persons who have been deprived by a Soviet of their rights of citizenship because of selfish or dishonor- able offenses, for the period fixed by the sentence. Chapter Fourteen. Elections. 66. Elections are conducted according to custom on days fixed by the local Soviets. 67. Election takes place in the presence of an electinjp committee and the representative of the local Soviet. •_ 46 — 68. In case the representative of the Soviet cannot be present for valid causes, the chairman of the electing committee takes his place, and in case the latter is absent, the chairman of the election meeting replaces him. 69. Minutes of the proceedings and results of elec- tions are to be compiled and signed by the members of the electing committee and the representatives of the Soviet. 70. Detailed instruction regarding the election pro- ceedings and the participation in them of professional and other workers' organizations are to be issued of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. Chapter Fifteen. The Checking and Cancellation of Elections and Recall of the Deputies. 71. The respective Soviets receive all the records of the proceedings of the election. 72. The Soviet appoints a commission to verify the elections. 73. This commission reports on the results to the Soviets. 74. The Soviet decides the question when there is doubt as to which candidate is elected. 75. The Soviet announces a new election if the elec- tion of one candidate or another cannot be determined. 76. If an election was irregularly carried on in its entirety, it may be declared void by a higher Soviet au- thority. 77. The highest authority in relation to questions of elections is the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. 78. Voters who have sent a deputy to the Soviet have the right to recall him, and to have a new election according to general provision. Article Five The Budget. 79. The financial policy of the Russian Socialist Fed- erated Soviet Republic in the present transition period of dictatorship of the proletaliat, facilitates the fundamental purpose of expropriation of the bourgeoisie and the pre- paration of conditions necessary for the equality of all „ 47 - - citizens of Russia in the production and distribution of wealth. To this end it sets forth as its task the supply- ing of the organs of the Soviet power with all necessary funds for local state needs of the Soviet Republic, with- out regard to private property rights. 80. The state expenditures and income of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic are combined in the state budget. 81. The All-Russian Congress of Soviets or the All- Russian Central Executive Committee determine what matter of income and taxation shall go to the state bud- get and what shall go to the local Soviets; they also set the limits of taxes. 82. The Soviets levy taxes only for the local needs. The state needs are covered by the funds of the state treasury. 83. No expenditure out of the state treasury not set forth in the budget of income and expense shall be made without a special order of the central power. 84. The local Soviets shall receive credits from the proper People's Commissars out of the state treasury, for the purpose of making expenditures for general state needs. 85. All credits allotted to the Soviets from the state treasury, and also credits approved for local needs, must be expended according to the estimates, and cannot be used for any other purposes without a special order of the AU-Russian Central Executive Committee and the Soviet of People's Commissars. 86. Local Soviets draw up semi-annual and annual estimates of income and expenditure for local needs. The estimates of urban and rural Soviets participating in county congresses, and also the estimates of the county organs of the Soviet power are to be approved by provinc- ial and regional congresses or by their executive com- mittees; the estimates of the urban, provincial, and re- gional organs of the Soviets are to be approved by the All- Russian Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars. 87. The Soviets may ask for additional credits from the respective People's Commissariats for expenditures not set forth in the estimate, or where the allotted sum is insufficient. — 48 — 88. In case of an insufficiency of local funds for local needs, the necessary subsidy may be obtained from the state treasury by applying to the All-Russian Central Executive Committee or the Council of People's Commis- sars. ARTICLE SIX. • .The Coat of Arms and Flag of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic. Chapter Seventeen. 89. The coat of arms of the Russian Socialist Fed- erated Soviet Republic consists of a red background on which a golden scythe and a hammer are laced (cross- wise, handles downward) in sunrays and surrounded by a. wreath, inscribed: Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic. Workers of the World Unite! 90. The commercial, naval, and army flag of the Rus- sian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic consists of a red cloth, in the left hand corner of which (on top, near the pole) there are in golden characters the letters R. S. F. S. R., or the inscription: Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic. Chairman of the All-Russian Congress of Soviets and the All-Russian Central Executive Committee: J. Sever- dloff. Executive Officers — All-Russian Centi^al Executive Com- mittee: T: I: Teodorowith, F. A. Rosin, A. P. Rosenholz, A. C. Mitrofanoff, K. C. Maxinoff. Secretary of the All-Russian Central Executive Com- mittee — ^V. A. Avanessoff. A timely pamphlet covering the economic aspects of a social danger signal ''The Chicago Race Riots'' $ 1.00 per doz.; $6.00 per hundred $27.50 per 500; $50.00 per 1000. Send orders and remittances to GREAT WESTERN PUBLISHING CO 1237 W. MADISON STREET CHICAGO, ILL. 'THIS BOOK IS DUE OIT THP T *=■» STAMPED BeIZ''^^^''^ AN INITIAL FlNP~r.ir .. 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