THE PRE-REVOLUTIONARY PRAVDA AND TSARIST CENSORSHIP WHITMAN DASSOW Ar Tap Sixtth CovrereNce of the Russian Social-Demoeratic Labor Party beld in Prague in January, 1913, the Bolsheviks, under Lenin's leadership, expelled tic Mensheviks, arrogated che party name and organization co themselves and dected a Central Gou- mittee under their control. They also cecided wo publish a legal dhaly newspaper in Russia which was to be the chief vehicle for spreading Bobhevik propaganda among the workers and was in- tended te spearieud their campaign ip the forthcoming Dana elections. When the paper appeared on the streets of Se. Petersburg, fom April 23, ror (old style), ie bore the name which has since become world-renowned: Pravda ‘This firs. version of Pravdy* was published until July 8 1944. when it was finally suppressed. At various cimes, its staff and con- tributors included Lenin, Ol'minskij, Molotov, Zinov’er, Kamener, Stalin, Bubnoy, Sverdlor, Bukharin and many others’ who later tyecame prominent in the Soviet Government, Lenin appears co have been the dominant figure on the paper. From Cracow, safe from the reaches of the Ohrana, he guided its destinies with an iron hand. His prineipal assistants were Zinov'ev and Kamener, who feft Paris to join him there, Since the scope of this article is limited co a description of Pravda’s difficulties with the censorship, we shall not discuss the paper’s cole during the years 19t2 to 1914. We must note, how= ever, that the record suggests chat Pravda was a singularly effective propaganda and agitational instrument which enabled the Bolshe~ viks to gain control of the Petersburg labor movement and to build inp a mass base for their organization? “Pravda changed ts name cglt ives before I was soppresed, bux abeays 16- tnained the sime paper. In ander ra 0K poschle confusion al eight are ced in the ext under the nurse of Pravda In the footnote, the specific tle i giver Ueotaya ada Ze pret, ee TX nowt on sourcer The sthor was fortunate in being able to consult one of the rae fle ofthe orginal edition of Prasan, with only nineteen faves missing ext Df 645. Ths fle is avalatle st the Bilirkeque de documentation intemancnale "The menor presented inthis aicle were published after the Revolution and icis fay cenain thn the writers were only too ansious o ponay an unfavorable pirate ofthe eunscrsop system, They were sso most cerainiy bow of tit Ewa prowess eireurnterting the couorsip ln pie of tc, theve memoir tert to have cme htorcal valve since they were publtted fatiy soon after the event Sd belore the Soviet Govornmest begat to faify histories account in the grand tnanner of ler years, This ace is Bed on a chapter of disertion for Which the author received » Dactrst & Urivenite fom the Sorbeenry The Americas Slavic and Bast Ensopean Rev During the two years, two and a half months of Pratda’s exist- fence, it was under Constant attack by the police. Its preinises were raided, Sues confiscated, fines imposed, editors arrested, and it uiilized normal channel of distribution only with great difficulty. Police spies gained positions of importance on the edieorial staff and tried ro destroy the paper from within, Innumerable legal and illegal subrorfuges were used to provent Previa fom publishing regularly and reaching its readers, bue still it continued t0 appea™ “The pofice themselves, in their seeret reports, admitted that Pravda had succeeded in becoming an influential force among the Russian workers Although Prevea’s hostility to the regime was universally recog nized ard it was known to be the organ of the Bolsheviks, the Government still permitted its publication as long as ic abided by the press regulations. This tolerance on the part of the Government, plus the ingenuity of the staff in side-stepping prosecution, the Financial support of the readers, loopholes in the press laws, and the inetficiency of che police made tre continued existence of Pravda possible. It is the purpose of this artiele to examine the major elements of the conflict between Pravda and the State. This conflict acquires more than. historical significance at 2 time like the present when all govemments are rethinking their attirudle tevrard the Comusist pres * Although pre-publication censorship of certsin newspapers bad been abolished in Russia in 1865 this did not appear to inereise freedom of the press in any significant way. Newspapers were sll subject to rigorons supervision and required approval of censoring officers. The editor was responsible for the cantents of his pub- lication and violation of the press laws was punishable by contisea~ tion, fine, or imprisonment. Responsibility for the supervision of all published matter was vested in the Ministry of the Intecior.* Within the Ministry there ‘vas a Deparement of Press fairs with offies or representatives cei teen port he hn o,f eed thf Sr pnonaei, owner vy ofa teres gare oat sep sesrg coma el ede gate td a ing hae Se Se cere meg ea een, Val A Stn as Ree 169) 9. sono rontskojPre-Revolutionary Pravda and Censorship ry throughout ¢he country. Each of the larger cities had a Cor of Press Affairs and a staff of inspectors charged with the en: ‘ment of the press laws.* These inspectors, no longer called censcrs although they actually fulfilled that funetion, read all books, maga- ines and newspapers in search of reprehensible macerial. If any were found, the police would be notiied to take action against the offending puitication and its editor. ‘The regulations required thar a newspaper could not be pubd- lished without 2 license from the Ministry of the Interior.© When publication began, the paper was requited to furnish the local Commitee on Press Affairs with copies of each ise. Te was re- aquired co priae the name of the editor, the address of the printing plant and editorial offices in each iswue, Violation of these rules ‘was punishable by a fine of 300 rubles for the first offense, 300 to 1,000 rubles for the second offense, with 2 possible closing of the printing plane should the court so decide.* Poblihers of newspapers and magazines closed by court order swito “continue she same or begin to publish any other new pesiodi- cal insteed of the suspended or discontinued publication before the court announces its decision in regard to the suspended publica sion” were punishable by fine and arrese.* “The types of articles 2 newspaper was permitted o publish were clomestic and foreign policy, science, theater and music, eeonomie and industrial questions, sports, ete.) The Criminal Code, on the other hand, contained + long lise of limitations on che contents. Viohtion of the Code subjected the editor eo imprionment or fine Article 103 forbade “insulting the reigning Emperor, Empress, or the svecessor to the throne.” Arricle 121 was directed against treason and inciting t0 riot.” Article 129 forbade the publication of articles or speeches which provoke “mourinous or traitorous activity; . .. subversion of the existing social order; . .. enmity between different parts or classes * Auicley,"Ustay cent i pebahindanie Hp pula” Sood sakoroe onthe} innprissrdolonic tors tode Be, Poterarg, 11281 TK, "Prat receed Leite No. 339} dated Apa 1, 191 See tex °Z ergata tava cenzaras Krastyy arbor, Lips) 3 ‘ttc sors, Ulotonio 0 nates, sgoloiy thf inpirty lb, dane sis fase vilrien see) po praltentim Ya, ith, toes sae (Betoe idiot, 9.307 Anil yg Ugelowoe teBenie (stu, evedeatie v detec fedanle 109 sada to sHuitlenions satel po prodolBeniinn tore 1913 aadow (Petra. 10 wv i iby nes