SOVIET SESSION LIKE
OLD TOWN MEETINGS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Returned American Eye-Witness Says They Are Orderly and Democratic
IS IMPARTIAL OPEN FORUM
Delegates With All Shades o Political Opinion Represented and Given Hearing
(Note. The following story was written for the United Press by Patrick Quinland, an American citizen who recently arrived in this country from Soviet Russia. Quinland has been connected with the labor movement in the United States, and while in Russia he was given the opportunity to attend the meeting of a leading first hand observations on the character of the people who attended them, and their proceedings.)
New York, April 14—Imagine a New England town meeting, discuss in a straightforward manner its local affairs and by voting by a simple show of hands in the heart of Russia to a foreign observer. Between the New England town meeting and the typical Russian society in session there are, of course, several fundamental differences between the two characters of the Russian people and the diversity of their political ideals. I visited the soviets of Petrograd, Samara and Saratov, among others, while in session Lwas afforded an object of the government in Russia.
At the meeting of the Petrograh Soviet, to which I was invited by Zinoviev, president and governor of the Petrograh district, I was startled by the variety of costume. Being the second largest lustre in Russia, Moscow taking the first place, it gave rather the appearance of a huge museum, attended by thousands crowd, and the Kronstadt fleet, soldiers, on leave dressed in khaki or brilliant Cossack uniforms, working们在 their working clothes and peasants garbed in simple white blouses and shod with picturesque sandals. Many women were present, some fashionably dressed, slitting next to their peasants sisters clad in snoods and vari-colored knick-knacks as part of their platform at the presidium of executive committee, as well as numerous foreign guests and special delegates from outlying districts, some having come from remote places in Siberia. The delegates are elected by their local trade unions or guilds. As each member entered the building in Petrograh the session opened, and formerly the Duma convened—he was required to show his credentials to the military police who stand with fixed bayonets at the door.
The program for this session, as is the custom, was read by Zionville, who then proceeded to put each question as it arose to the delegates. One of the witnesses was that of compulsory laud. Speakers asked for the floor and then passed down the aisles addressing the assemblage from the platform. As in the British parliament, the members are frequently called upon to answer all sorts of questions at the speaker. All the delegates, down to the bumblest灰-gray bearded peasant, displayed remarkable skill in discussion. It was most fantastic to see kerkhelef pessan woman rise and interweave a question with dignity and decorum, as though they were long acustomed to parliamentary debate.
Often where a delegate was too difficult or for some other reason did not wish to take the floor, he would write "I'm sorry." He would also of course of paper and pass it up to the speaker.
I noted that in the Petrograd Soviet, as in the others I visited, almost all shadows of political opinions were represented. The Communist faction was counter-balanced by the Social Democrats and Social Revolutionaries, and here and there was a sprinkling of Anarchists. The delegates addressed each other from the platform or from the floor as "tavarian" (comrade).
When finally the vote was taken by a show of hands, I was astonished at the overwhelming majority the measure received. Puzzled, I interpreted all that I didn't know for a moment in favor of the measure. For a moment I thought the opposition was very strong." He, however, explained that while many objected to the measure previous to discussion, they had revered it selflessly when we knew then that the future of Russia depended upon work. This seemed to me to be typical of the works of the Russian mind as I encountered it everywhere. The Russian workers and peasant honestly believe in the efficiency of work and are perfectly willing to be convinced if only the question at issue has bee completely threshed out. Not only did the Soviet pass the Compulsory Labor measure, but it considered at some length the authority of "Saboteur" giving workers working without pay these days for the government.
After the important affairs of the day had been disposed of, the special delegates and guests were invited to speak. Madame Revillach, representing both the Foreign Office and the Government workers trade-union, a most beautiful and intelligent gentleman addressed the meeting. Marie Macdonald, when the famous damesuspid and novelist roseau deaunifead was deafening. He spoke in his capacity of Commissar of Art and Education and his subject was the future of both in Russia. It was a high spiritled address and when he had finished the palace rocked with cheering, Zorin, secretary to Zinoviev, and editor of the official newspaper, also spoken. When my turn came, I asked them what they thought about almost unanimously: "Give us some news of the outside world and what they think of us there."
The session had opened at 7:30 in the evening. It was over by 10:30. As I passed out with the crowd, I reflected that the difference between a New England town meeting or democratic government anywhere and the soviet system was not so fundamental after all.
McKEEVER CAMPAIGNS FOR BETTER TOWNS
The Better Cities Campaign which is being carried on in Oklahoma by Prof. William A. McKeever of the department of child welfare, is attracting great attention and interest, as many press notices and magazine articles from various parts of the country testify. This campaign bids fair to rival in intensity of effort in Kansas similar one in Kansas in Kansas in which Winfield came out victorious out of the forty-three competing cities.
This Better Cities Campaign is a plan evolved for arousing and uniting all the responsible forces of a community and putting them at work upon a program of moral and spiritual betterment for the people. The utility is being given to its promotion. Many large magazines and about forty of the metropolitan dailies have given favorable comment on the work being done. The Daily Oklahoman uses a list of one hundred points made by McKeever, which if followed out, will be powerful agencies towards victory.
K. U. Professor's Work in Oklahoma Attracting Much Attention and Interest
The system of voting is regulated by a score sheet with a list of ten grading points. The judges are to be chosen from another state as so as allow for no pressure on the players in which facilities or play, in which facilities or playgrounds for children are estimated; industry, as evinced in training given in schools; schools, management, equipment and adequacy; health, hospital, care; scouts craft; supervision of boy scouts and campfires; moral safeguards, supervision of movies, dance hall regulation, general club life; sociability in the church and home; religion, Y. service clubs and societies of men and women dealing with juvenile problems, and finally, housing, sanitation, etc.
The prize offered to the winner of
For Taxi Call
12
.
De Molay
HOME SITES
Boys—Call for your Pin Guards. New Prices—Pins—Sister Pins. Cars—Dorines—Waldeirms. Card Cases. Cuff Links. Scarf Pins. Belt Buckles. Rings, etc.
If you are not ready to build now, never-the-less it will pay you to get your location and be prepared when the time does come, to build that beautiful bungalow that you have been planning so long.
YOU WANT A HOME OF YOUR OWN! We have the ideal location for it and you can buy it at pre war prices now.
HOLLIDAY
Ye Shop of Fine Quality
N O W is the time to buy, whether you wish to build this year or at some time in the near future! There must be more houses! They will be built and every house built takes just one more location off the market, and reduces the number of desirable building spots.
PRICES! Prices vary according to situation in the addition but all are very low and many have the additional advantages of being available for buying on excellent terms.
UNIVERSITY ADDITION. Just south of the University, only five or ten minutes walk, sidewalk, caroline and auto road to the University, one of the most beautiful additions ever platted, paved streets, modern improvements, large shade trees, the finest lawns in the City, well protected from the North winds of Winter yet having the full benefit of the South breezes of Summer, close to car line fully restricited, in fact there are no more Lawrence offering the same advantages of this location, not at advanced prices.
Phone 97
737 Mass
Said a student yesterday: "I enjoy the Kansan so much for practicing typewriting. They contain so many quotation and punctuation marks."
this contest is to be given by Shawnee who has laid the wager that she will win the contest, and if she loses she will have to pay the winning city fee. She will have to remember and will close the latter part of November of this year.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
K. U. band members will go to Kansas City Saturday to play for the Alumni Banquet. Watch the Kansan for notices as to time and place of leaving, and other details.—S. Z. Herb, Director.
Pen and Scroll club will meet Thursday evening at 7:30 in Room 110.
Fraser. Members will please bring their one dollar entrance fee.
Senior announcements are still on sale at the Fraser Check Stand, together with the collection of Senior dues. Price of the announcements, will depend upon the number sold—Gear Nettels, Chairman.
Girls who have signed up for the Maypole dance in the May tease, please report at 4:30, Friday afternoon for rehearsal. - Adelaide Steger.
Quill Club will meet in Fraser Rest Room at 8:00 o'clock tonight.
The K. U, B walt will go to Kansas City by city interurban at 9:30 Saturday morning. Full uniform. No phone calls. Interurban into Saturday night.—S. Z. Herb
There will be a meeting of the Y.
M. C. A. Thursday evening at 7:30
'clock, in Myers Hall.
If your present
Eating eat
Doesn't suit you—
The Oread Cafe
Brick's "Just a Step from the Campus"
Will be glad to number
You among its many
Boarders. What you want—
When you want it.
$5.50 Meal Tickets for $5.
Pen and Ink Impressions of the Comic and Melodic Highlights in the gray and exotic Greenwich Village Follies at the Bowersock tomorrow night. Seats Now on sale at the Round Corner Drug Store.
"All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy" Go to a Show
Varsity Bowersock
Last Time Tonight
Rosco "Fatty" Arbuckle
In an entirely new kind of comedy role. It is not a slapstick comedy but one that will please you from start to finish.
"The Life of the Party"
by
Tonight Only
Irwin S. Cobb Admission 11c and 33c
ALICE JOYCE in "Cousin Kate"
also
The famous Froman success in which Ethel Barrymore starred a few years ago.
Admission 11e and 33e Including Tax
Billy West Comedy
Annual Senior Play
One night only, Mon., April 25 Bowersock
Take Advantage of the mail order system and order today
Royal R. Ryan
1537½ Tenn. St.
I enclose $... for ... seats to THE
MECHANICAL MAN, APRIL 25.
I prefer seats in row...
Enclose Self-addressed
Envelope
Prices: $1.10, 83c, and 55c