WORLD’S ONLY REAL DEMOCRACY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20443, 13 June 1936, Page 17 (Supplement)

WORLD’S ONLY REAL DEMOCRACY

ELECTION REFORM IN RUSSIA DRASTIC OVERHAUL OF CONSTITUTION “CLASS ENEMY” HAS BEEN LIQUIDATED United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received June 12, 8 p.m.) LONDON, June 12. The Moscow correspondent of “The Daily Telegraph” says: “The text has been issued of the new Soviet Constitution. which was drafted by a commission, over which M. Stalin presided. The Commission claims to have established the world’s only real democratic system. Though the monopoly of the Communist Party is maintained, Parliament will consist of two newlycreated Chambers. The Lower House will be called the “Union Council,” directly elected by secret ballot with one member for each 300,000 electors. The Upper House will be called the “Council of Nationalities,” indirectly elected to represent the Soviet Republics and autonomous national Republics. The two bodies will meet in Moscow regularly twice a year. They will form a “Supreme Council,” to elect one President for the entire Soviet Union. Every citizen, male and female will be expected to vote, and will be able to stand for election. The so-called “class enemy” is now considered to have been “liquidated.” The civic rights granted include equal pay for both sexes, pensions and holidays, while religious liberty, the right to hold political demonstrations, the freedom of the press, free speech, and security from arbitrary arrest have also been established.