The Stalin school of falsification - Marxists Internet Archive

Stalin School of Falsification -- Chapter 15
be created on the initiative of the peasantry, but in the district organs there must be the participation of
peasant organizations.
The delegates of the local Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies and the organizations of toiling
peasantry are to participate in the regional Congresses.
The Congress.
Voitinsky proposed representation on the basis of 1 to 25,000; Bogdanov, proportional representation.
The following decision was adopted: Up to 100,000, one representative for each 25,000; five from
150,000; above 200,000, six. In addition, the Congress will include the representatives of the
organizations of the toiling peasantry from among the socialist parties. Voitinsky proposed to convene
the Congress for the Russian May 1, but the representatives of the Army objected, feeling it desirable to
arrange a demonstration on that day. It was decided that the Congress must be convened before the close
of the season of bad roads, so that the Army is organized for the beginning of military activities. The
Congress will elect an All-Russian Center which will be sup plemented from time to time at the regional
conferences. It is possible that a permanent body will be established -- the Executive Committee. The
composition of this Executive Committee has not been decided beforehand, the decision is left to the
Congress. The calling of the Congress is entrusted to the Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet of
Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, which is to be supplemented with 10 delegates from the present
Conference (Voitinsky in sists on 5). This Organization Bureau is instructed to draw up the agenda and to
transmit it to the organizations. Up to the convocation of the Congress, the Bureau will perform all the
political work. This Bureau represents at the present time the entire revolutionary democracy.
I should like to explain the question of binding mandates. The Army representatives have arrived with
binding man dates, which hinders the work. I consider this impermissible. I had a conversation with
Voitinsky who considers this a debatable question. He is personally of the opinion that it is permissible.
DROBNIS (supplementary report): At the last session of the organizational section, the following
question arose:
Inasmuch as the Government heads the democratic revolu tionary Russia, the question arises that this
Government should reflect the opinion of all Russia. A desire was expressed that those who are elected to
the Central Executive Commit tee take up this question. In addition, a desire was expressed that the
Executive Committee be supplemented with representatives from the oblosts.The army representatives
expressed the desire that representatives from each army should be included (all told, about 20 men);
others were in favor of representatives from each front (since there are four fronts, that would be 4 men).
The question was left open.
TSVILLING: Is it the opinion of the section that repre sentatives of officers should be elected?
MANDELSTAM: There must be no separate representatives from the officers. Should an officer be
elected by the soldiers, he will be seated; otherwise, no.
NEVSEV: It has been decided that the Executive Commit tee will direct the political work in the country.
But how?
MANDELSTAM: This question was raised and settled in the sense that the Petrograd Soviet of Workers'
Deputies, as represented by the Executive Committee, is deserving of complete confidence.
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