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Committee of the Russian Communist Party. (See Appendix 22.) Trotsky presumably had in mind these Political Sections when in his report to the All-Russian Congress of last December, in speaking of Communists, he said: "The number of members of this party found in the army is about 10,000. The responsible posts of Commissaries are occupied by them in the overwhelming majority of instances." (Appendix 23.)

V

DISCIPLINE IN THE COMMUNIST PARTY

In a report by Bukharin quoted later (Appendix 40) emphasis was laid on the strict discipline enforced in the Communist Party. An article in the Samara Kommuna of April 11, 1919, on "Iron Discipline" states that—

All Communists who for any reason violate party discipline should immediately be turned over to a pitiless party court, should be boycotted, and finally as a last measure of punishment excluded from the party. (See Appendix 24.)

Communist "Saturday work" was organized in the late summer of 1919 and the Moscow Committee of the Russian Communist Party issued instructions that—

Members of the party are obliged to take part in Saturday work. In these instructions it is stated: "Those not taking part must be re-registered and membership dues are not accepted from them." (See Appendix 25.)

Members of the Communist Party are ordered to report to the local committee, notices of such orders constantly appearing in the official newspapers (see Appendix 26) with the warning that

Most severe measures, including exclusion from the party, will be taken against all comrades failing to appear within the time set.

This discipline was enforced with respect both to the younger members and to the leaders of the party. An article

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on "The Duty of New Members of the Party" (Krasnaya Gazeta, September 27, 1919) outlines duties, the fulfillment of which must be "the first examination . . . in order to receive the honorable calling of Communists.' (See Appendix 27.) The Central Committee of the Party ordered "responsible representatives" to various provinces to take charge of organization work. (See Appendix 28.) Among those thus ordered were such prominent leaders as Steklov, Krylenko, Lunacharsky, and Bukharin.

Communists are penalized or punished more severely than non-communists. For example, in an Order published in the Petrograd Pravda of November 4, 1919, Trotsky instructs that

Communists must be at the most dangerous posts, giving an example of bravery and indefatigability. Communists who will be found guilty of saving themselves will be punished doubly. (Appendix 29.)

VI

MEMBERSHIP IN THE PARTY

The Communist leaders have controlled most carefully the membership of the party. The Moscow Committee, on February 15, 1919, resolved to

Call on all party organizations to check up in the strictest manner all members of the party and cleanse its ranks of elements foreign to the party, in addition to strengthening party discipline and strict control. (Appendix 30.)

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After a re-registration and weeding-out, a campaign was started to recruit new members for the party. "Party weeks" were organized and two circular letters were sent by the Central Committee of the Party to party organizations giving strict instructions with respect to the inscribing of new members. (Appendix 31.)

Certain local party organizations evidently were too free in admitting new members. An article in the Petrograd Pravda of November 15, 1919, under the title "Unfortunate

Misunderstanding" reminds comrades in Tver that the party week was organized—

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Not in order to bring into the ranks of the party petty-bourgeois elements, but in order to open the doors wide to the workmen and peasants. (Appendix 32.)

Another article in the Petrograd Pravda of December 12, 1919, under the heading "More Care," states that

The doors into the party are wide open for the workman and the workwoman, but there are strong gates—against every kind of "Soviet employee." (Appendix 33.)

APPENDICES

I

FIFTH ALL-RUSSIAN CONGRESS OF SOVIETS, JULY 4-10, 1918 [Official Stenographic Report, published by All-Russian Central Executive Committee]

SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS

Stenographic report of speeches, covering 201 pages.

On election of Central Executive Committee we find the following on pages 197-198:

"Now let us pass to the question of the elections of the Central Executive Committee. Allow me to propose the following procedure. At the last Congress the Central Executive Committee was composed as follows: Lists were handed in by fractions in proportion to the number of members in the fraction. At the last Congress we had 1,198 members, and we reckoned one member of the Executive Committee for every six delegates. Now we have 1,150 members, but not all of them will be able to exercise their rights, because of conditions, so I propose to take 1,000 as the basis, so that we can have a few more than 200 in the Central Executive Committee.

"I propose to elect from every five delegates one member of the Central Executive Committee. The fractions are to present corresponding lists prepared on the proportional basis and confirmed, which then will be adopted by the Congress. The fraction of the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries can not, as you heard, propose such lists because it has not been able to discuss the question and to gather in a full session. Undoubtedly it will be able to do so in the course of the next days. Let us fix the proportion: From every five delegates one member of the Central Executive Committee. The Congress asks that the list be given to the praesidium, which will then call the first sitting of the Central Executive Committee at which will take place the election of the praesidium, etc. Are there any other proposals? There are none. Let me put it to the vote; from every five delegates one member is elected. Each fraction presents a list which the Congress in advance confirms. All who are for this procedure

raise their hands. Hands may be lowered. Adopted unanimously." (Then follow announcements from party leaders as to where party meetings will take place.)

Protocols of the four sessions giving summary of most important resolutions.

On page 214 it is stated that the constitution "enters into force from the moment of its publication, in final form, in the Izvestia of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee."

Twenty pages of telegrams of greetings.

List of delegates with decisive voice and table analyzing, from which the following facts are taken:

Total number of delegates, 1,425, of which 868 Bolsheviks, 470 Left Socialist-Revolutionaries, 4 Socialist-Revolutionary of Right and Center, 37 Socialist-Revolutionaries Maximalists, 7 Anarchists, 28 non-party, 9 Social-Democrats Internationalists, I Jewish Social-Democrat Workmen Party (Poali-Zion), and I Dashnaktsutium. Total number of electors given as 35,625,000.

2

DECREE EXCLUDING SOCIALIST-REVOLUTIONARIES (RIGHT AND CENTER) AND MENSHEVIKS

[All-Russian Central Executive Committee, June 14 (1), 1918]

Whereas:

1. The Soviet authority is passing through an exceptionally difficult moment, resisting simultaneously the attack of international imperialism on all fronts and of the latter's allies within the Russian Republic, who do not hesitate to use any methods in their struggle against the Workmen's and Peasants' Government, from the most shameless slander to conspiracy and armed uprisings;

2. The presence in the Soviet organizations of representatives of parties that clearly strive to discredit and overthrow the authority of the Soviets is absolutely inadmissible;

3. It is clearly revealed from documents already published and from documents read in the present session that representatives of the party of Socialist-Revolutionaries (Right and Center) and of the Russian Social-Democratic Workmen's Party (Mensheviks), including even the most responsible, have been found guilty of organizing armed uprisings against workmen and peas

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