A Local Visitor to the Land of Vodka.

The famous case of Capitalism (plaintiff) versus Socialism and Communism (defendants) was taken a stage further on Thursday evening last, when the evidence of Mr. Max Riske, M.A., described as an evangelist, was taken before his Honour Mr. Justice Scotney and a common jury at the Labour Club tribunal. The public galleries were packed to hear the witness, who accepted his Honour's invitation to "tell his own story in his own way."

As far as can be ascertained at present, the jury is strongly divided over Max Riske's testimony, some accepting it at its face value, and others "declining to accep the risk" (as the foreman remarked with a chuckle) and accusing the witness of "Satanic plausibility."

Max Riske opened his remarks by reminding the jury that he had for some time been out of touch with that indescribable, indefinable something known as the student mind," and asking for leniency on that account. At all events, he was left entirely unhampered throughout the evening, save for the detonations from the inevitable football practice on the higher slopes of Olympus.

No Utopia.

The witness pointed out, to begin with, that he was in Russia from December to February, that is to say, from mid-winter to early spring, and that at such a time, with monotonous scenery, frigid temperatures, and nature at its lowest ebb, there was no misleading gloss in the natural surroundings. He saw things in the worst months of the year and under the least favourable conditions.

He declared that he had been given absolute freedom to see what he liked in Russia from the best schools to the worst, from the newest factories to the most tumble-down. In fact there was much more honestly about Russia's difficulties within the country itself, he said, than among many Friends of the Soviet Union in this and other lands. Russia was no Utopia either of human beings or of material environment, but the people were facing their problems realistically, openly and frankly, and had achieved and were bound to achieve amazing success.

Enthusiasm and Progress.

Living conditions were described in detail especially with regard to housing and meals. In particular, the running of a student hostel—once one of Peter the Great's barracks, now a self-contained student world—was fully described. Its only resemblance to Weir House was that it contained people of student age. For the rest, its organisation was democratic, politically directed, and closely bound up with the entire labour system.

The general life of the city people was outlined. In a short but interesting survey the witness testified to the enthusiasm and vitality of students and workers in general, the complete security against unemployment, the socialised system of medicine, the insurance and superannuation schemes, the interest in art and the theatre, the insatiable demand for books, the camaraderie of the whole people. The speaker's principal difficulty was, in fact, that he had too much information to impart.

Convincing Facts.

Cross-examined at first on more technical and economic matters, Mr. Riske gave direct, and for the most part convincing, replies. He did not fence. All the fencing was done before the meeting—in an exhibition bout upon which the Labour Club rudely intruded.

Thereafter the questioning turned to questions of morality. "Now that we are on the question of morality," said Guy Bliss, with (we thought) a disarming lack of logic, "what is the position of the Church in Russia?" It appeared that the Church was free except . . .

Mr. Barker opined that human nature would out, but Max Riske replied that capitalism had not existed five generations ago and therefore could not be taken as "human nature." On the figures of priests sent to Siberia being quoted at 3000, Max Riske expressed surprise at this reduction from the usual quotation of 300,000, till he was told that the latter was reckoned with interest.

We were told of freedom of speech, the Red Army of Peace, and the relations of the Soviet Government and the Communist Internationale.

In proposing a vote of thanks to the witness, who had been kept talking till twenty minutes to eleven. Mr. P. J. Smith, foreman of the jury, congratulated him on his ideals, sincerity, and "Satanic plausibility." Max Riske, he said, would go on making such speeches till he was shot, hanged, or made on of Mr. Coates commissars.

One is bound to admit that the witness gave a factual account of his experiences, and did not merely plead "the case for Russia." He spoke not with the hysteria of sudden conversion, but with the force of calm and reasoned conviction. The jury had not returned with a verdict when we went to press.