Protocol Record
Протокольная запись
Date: 1917
Source: PSS vol 31
Translated by: AI (Claude)

The materials presented by comrades about the activity of Soviets, although incomplete, turned out to be remarkably interesting. Perhaps this is the most important material from the information that the conference gave, material that makes it possible to verify our slogans by the actual course of life. The picture obtained disposes us to optimistic conclusions. The movement began in the centers; there for the first time all the energy of the proletariat was directed at struggle. A mass of energy was killed in the struggle against tsarism. By this struggle in Petrograd the central state power was eliminated. A gigantic deed was done. But if this led to the seizure of power by the bourgeoisie, from this one cannot draw pessimistic conclusions, one cannot see a mistake on the part of workers in that they did not seize power into their own hands. To suppose that in a few days of struggle the masses would take power into their own hands would be utopia. This could not be done in the presence of the bourgeoisie, which was perfectly prepared to receive power.

From the center the revolution passes to localities. This is what happened in France - the revolution becomes municipal. In localities the movement shows that there the majority is for peasants, for workers, there is least of all leadership from the bourgeoisie, there the masses did not lose their heads. The more data we collect, the more this shows us that the more proletarian composition of the population, the fewer intermediate elements, the better the revolution goes in localities. Kazan comrades directly approach the tasks of socialist revolution. We see that where the organizations of the proletariat are insignificant, practical needs gave the proletariat a completely correct definition of tasks. Without such elements as, for example, statistics, etc., proletarian revolution cannot be accomplished. For proletarian revolution to be accomplished, it is necessary that engineers, technicians, etc., be under the practical control of the revolutionary proletariat. The revolution in localities went easily. The danger of anarchy is always possible in revolution. For us anarchy is not...

The bourgeois revolution has no business with production, but here workers care about production. Workers are interested that production not decrease. The revolution in localities went with gigantic steps. Reports from localities showed that the sharper the class contradictions, the more correctly the revolution goes forward, the more surely the dictatorship of the proletariat is realized. The dictatorship of the proletariat in small places is realized, centers turn out to be least suitable for moving the revolution forward.

Absolutely no pessimism is justified. The fact is that in centers begins cooperation with the bourgeoisie. The bourgeoisie tries by its organization to turn the proletariat into servants, so that workers are temporary participants in what the bourgeoisie is building. It is ridiculous to think that the Russian people draws guiding principles from brochures. No, from direct practice flows the life experience of masses... The people can work it out practically in mass movement. Mass experience the people themselves began to collect... In Penza province power was formed under the dictatorship of the peasantry. The representative of Penza showed resolutions of peasants who seized into their hands the instruments of production, land. The words of Marx are confirmed... The program of revolution is implemented in localities - so that there be bread... so that they themselves establish connections. From this revolution people of practice are taken. And only under the control of practice from localities can the revolution go forward. And in all Russia, where peasants are present in a gigantic majority, the course of revolution encourages us to a strong degree.

After in the center there was not enough force to take production into our hands, in the provinces this is being carried out, where it is easy to carry out. In the provinces - municipal revolution, and it pushes the center; the latter picks up their experience.

Comrade the coal miner said that their first task, when... was a trip for bread... To think that this experience can be lost is mistaken. Without this experience the centers have nowhere to take the impetus for new revolution. New revolution is growing. The course of events, the ruin of life, hunger - that is what moves the revolution. Hence follows the struggle with elements supporting the bourgeoisie. The matter is going to such a crash with which the bourgeoisie will not cope. A new multimillion army is being prepared by us, which can manifest itself in Soviets, in the Constituent Assembly - we do not yet know how. We, in the center, have insufficient forces. In the provinces there is gigantic preponderance. For us is that course of development of revolution in localities, which is catching up, which is going.

People do not set themselves any communist plans. The revolutionary class throughout Russia is gathering its forces, and our task is to collect this experience and in measure of accumulation of forces to make a step. Not to let ourselves be frightened by the fact that they (Narodniks, Mensheviks) are in such overwhelming majority.

On the basis of experience it is possible now to indicate in the resolution... In localities it becomes necessary to take production into our hands, otherwise a crash is inevitable. Peasants will not give bread. To obtain bread, there must be revolutionary measures, which can be implemented by the revolutionary class, which must rely on multimillion masses.

I asked comrades from localities how things stand with you with production in localities.

In Nizhny Novgorod province they introduced the 8-hour working day, production increased. This is the pledge. Otherwise it is impossible to get out of ruin. For this it is necessary to work gigantically. We stand out from the line of petty-bourgeois. Life is for us. The crisis cannot be solved by methods of petty-bourgeois democracy, because they stop before revolutionary measures. (Shingarev, Milyukov.) The general course of revolution shows that the matter is going forward.

Our difference from the petty bourgeoisie is not that it says "caution," and we - "speed," we say "even greater caution." Merciless struggle with playing at state... Better later than earlier - and the center will win. (Applause.)

First published in 1934 in the book "Seventh (April) All-Russian and Petrograd City-Wide Conferences of the RSDLP(b). April 1917"
Printed from the typed copy of the protocol record