Russian hodge podge

Old and New Russia

Russia was one of the largest and most backward countries of chiefly white people in the world before the Revolution. It is hard to conceive how the rulers of old Russia held their power of suppression so long especially since the western borders were next to countries of high culture. Only a small portion of the population had the wealth of the country while the rest were in want. The pity of it was that with all this wealth in their control they did not develop their natural resources.

When the World War brought on the Revolution it put an end to what might be called the last absolute monarchy on earth. Russia was born again as the first socialist republic of the world. But what was there to start with? What little development that did exist under the Empire rule was practically all destroyed. Reconstruction was hindered first by the Allies' invasions followed by an economic blockade. In spite of these set backs, to say nothing of many other hardships the Soviet Union encountered, it forged ahead. Soviet Russia today is actually accomplishing more in the way of industrial construction under socialism in one year's time than it would take capitalism to do in fifteen. Everything possible is being done for both old and young but there is little doubt that they are concentrating on their youth, having recognized that in their hands lies the ultimate success of the system.

Convention Takes a Back Seat in the Soviet Union

Russia is perhaps the only country in the world where one does not have to comply with conventional customs. In any of the large cities like Leningrad, Moscow, Kharkov, or Kiev, one can dress as one pleases, which means wearing whatever one chooses without being conspicuous or appearing to violate social convention.

How many of us would like to cast off our necktie, pull open our collar, and roll up our sleeves on occasions. Let some bank clerk, salesman, or business man do that and see how quickly he is criticized by his employer, disrespected by his customers, and cautioned by his business associates. Go unshaved? Don't try it unless you're in your own home or in Russia. If, on a hot day, one ventured out on a city street in Russia clad in pajamas I would feel safe in saying he would almost be passed by unnoticed. Contrast the publicity, even notoriety, attendant on attempts of the men to set the pajama style here.

Not In Russia

My travels through Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa afforded me many opportunities for making comparisons with Russia. I stopped off at Spain before returning to Paris since her Revolution was about a year old at the time and I thought there would be much of interest to observe.

While in Madrid I witnessed the big celebration of the first anniversary of the Spanish Revolution. It was a big day for Madrid. Arriving at the Spanish-French border I found the Spanish border police were on the look-out for people who were smuggling their money out of Spain since the change in government. I was suspected as one of these and was roughly led into another compartment of the same railway car. I presented my passport but the police were not interested in that. They began to search me from head to foot until they were convinced I had no Spanish money on me. Never had I encountered such treatment before. One would think this would be the tactics of Russia, rather than Spain, but on no occasion, either upon leaving or entering, that country, was I treated with the slightest discourtesy.

Travellers in the Soviet Land

Russia is now and will be more so in the future the most visited country on earth by sociologicaltravellers. Foreigners are highly respected, even welcomed, avid this welcome isn't the kind a traveller receives in the other countries of Europe -- to clean his pockets of money.

A striking instance of Russian courtesy to a foreigner occurred when I was in Leningrad riding on a crowded street car. An old woman offered me her seat. After refusing she still insisted so strongly on my taking it that I came near doing it just to please her.

The Russians as Travellers

The Russians are great travellers like the Americans and think nothing of taking long trips through their country, for they have large spaces to cover just as we have. However, it is difficult for a Soviet citizen to obtain permission to travel outside his own country. Many reasons can be given for this. The Soviet government forbids transfer of its currency into other countries . considering it a poor socialist policy to have Soviet citizens spending money in capitalist countries. But even if they didn't no other country would recognize it. At the same time the government wishes to avoid the embarrassment of having its citizens go where they are not wanted. More important the Russian government needs all of its people for its socialist economic construction.

This and That About Russia

A visitor to Russia with a biased attitude and a determination to be on the look-out for every little fault, can pick up a barrel of information opposed to Sovietism in no time. By the same process one could remain at home and pick innumerable flaws in one's own city if he were to look for them. But even so -- should we examine these so-called faults of Russia we would find many enlarged and some grossly untrue.

I have had engineers and others who have lived in Russia tell me that they did not like the country, complaining of general conditions and the strictness of the government, and finally ending up by saying such a system will never work. In the first place many of these people have never been in Europe before and know relatively nothing of European cusp tongs, having come direct to Russia and found the habits of life and customs so different from those of, their own country the general customs of Russia are classed as European----they soon begin to coin, plain and never stop until they return home. There are others who know European customs but find Russia not as luxurious and comfortable as other countries, and added to this the lack of the so-called "individualism" and private enterprise, which is so much to their liking. Knowing little or nothingabout the principles of socialism and the prerequisites that must be considered in a transitory period like Russia is going through now, the tendency is to condemn because the results are not immediately forthcoming according to their thinking or liking. Of course, some of these same people may be the kind who perhaps don't like Russia just as they do not like other countries or cities they had visited in or passed through.

I myself was quick to criticize some things in Russia. But when I visited some of the countries of southeastern Europe and Asia I found conditions were ten times worse than in Russia. It is true that the Russians endure a great deal more hardship in some places, than other people do, say, in America or Germany, but they are inured to it and take it for granted. It would not be a bad idea for some of those who dislike Russia to take a trip through the parts I have just mentioned.

Members of the Communist Party feel assured that the Soviet system provides more freedom than exists in other countries in spite of the governmental control of the press, political organizations, and free speech. All the actual restrictions in Russia today are for the small classes-private traders, old bourgeoisie, which will disappear completely in the new social order of communism. In the transitory stageof change necessary after any socialist revolution some suppression of the hangers-on of the old regime is always necessary. The Party believes that with the abolition of capitalism, which means the nationalization of all private property railroads, industries, banking institutions, power utilities, and land,--there will come a, great step toward economic equality and freedom which will surpass the puny freedom of individualism allowed under a system of capitalism.

We are taught to believe that the freedom allowed in a democratic nation is better than anything else in the world, including the freedom in a socialist republic. How can this be true when there is always a ruling class who controls the wealth and has the power to order what is to be taught in the schools, suppress the press, dictate politics, and even sway the courts? A student who criticizes the teachings in a capitalistic university sunless his professor is broadminded, is in danger, of flunking. If, a journalist writes a truthful article directed against the status quo he runs chances of losing his job. If a politician votes against measures favorable to the "financial interests" he will be defeated in the next election. And if a worker is hailed into court-guilty or not guilty-and has no. money to hire a shyster lawyer or bribe a judge, he goes to prison. Whereinlies the freedom or justice of such an order? The difference between a socialist republic and a democratic capitalist country, is that in the former the worker is really free and the capitalist is suppressed, whereas in the latter the worker is educated to believe in the wonderful so-called liberties which he is lucky to have a taste of, and the capitalist is really the free man. The worker in the Soviet Union does not have to be afraid of complaining to his "boss" or of criticizing factory conditions to the "shop committee," but if a worker did this same thing in a capitalist industry it would cost him his job. The Soviet newspapers frequently receive letters from Russian workers presenting their objections to this or that. These letters are not only printed, but the suggestions are welcomed, contrary to general opinion. Whereas the "Voice of the People" columns here are merely the feeble moan of a selected few.

Painless Surgery

Three Russian words, all of them well known but variously defined and confused, are: Bolshevik, Menshevik, and Soviet. They are not only misunderstood but as soon as they are mentioned many people throw up their hands as if they were in terror of the mere sound. When their meaning is known they appear as mild, even more so, than ourparty terms, Democrat and Republican. Bolshevik means majority, Menshevik, minority, and Soviet, council. The Bolshevik and Menshevik were political parties which came into being as a result of a split in the Russian Socialist Party in 1908. The Bolshevik Party represented the majority of the members of the Russian Socialist Party, whereas the Menshevik Party represented the minority. The Bolshevik Party is now the Russian Communist Party and the Menshevik Party no longer exists in Russia. The meaning of Soviet, I believe, is plain from its definition of council.

Gangsters?

After my return from Soviet Russia a friend of mine asked me if there were gangsters and gunmen over there. The answer is obvious, men of such character as we have here in America would not last five minutes in that country. No such individuals or lawless individualism are tolerated in a socialist republic.

A Conversation

While traveling on a railway train in Germany before entering the Soviet Union, a clergyman and I got started on what proved to be an extended discourse long before we arrived at the finish of our trip.It began the usual way most conversations do in those kind of meetings, including an inquiry as to my intended destination. It was my observation that the mere mention of Russia had the faculty of intensifying, if not electrifying, a person's interest. The clergyman thought new Russia was doing a wonderful thing for its people but did not see how that country could succeed without the help of God. In his estimation a godless country was bound to fail. I argued whether the nations involved in the World War in which millions of lives were slaughtered hid not forgotten the Lord. As for Russia, so far she seemed to be managing quite well without God.

Socialism in Name Only

The word socialism is loosely used, often abused. In Germany, England, Poland, Spain, the term socialism is applied to the state ownership of railways and utilities. This, however, is merely a veneer of socialism. The same holds true for political parties in those countries. Even in the United States there are parties of the same character sugarcoated with socialism. In the Soviet Union alone is the real socialism in theory and in fact. No private enterprises exist except where special concessions are granted by the government and then only for a limited time. These concessions are based onthe decree of the Council of People's Commissaries of November 23, 1920. A little later in the spring of 1921 the Soviet government introduced a New Economic Policy which gave private traders the right to do business in the field the government or co-operatives had not been able to establish yet. For this privilege they are taxed heavily, obliged to pay high rents, and restricted considerably when using labor. Most naturally the communists detest these traders and look forward to the day when they will become extinct by a process of natural elimination, when the co-operatives and the government stores win over the buyers. However, so long as these New Economic Policy men ("Nep" men) continue to show better buying tastes in the lines the Soviet stores have not yet succeeded entirely in doing, such as luxuries and other goods difficult to obtain, they will stay in business.

In Moscow

I know of at least one American dentist in Moscow who maintains a private practice and is doing a good business in spite of the government's free clinics. He had to charge high prices for his work because materials were expensive and difficult to obtain, besides being taxed heavily, but this did not seem to injure his practice. He did have a littletrouble about his rooms, however. At first he had three, one of which he lived in, but was finally cut down to one on account of the housing shortage. It was his intention to stay in business as long as there was any possibility of making money and then either to return to America or seek employment in a government clinic.

Some Russian Opinions

Talking directly to those Russians who spoke English and to others who didn't with the aid of my Russian-American friend, I encountered some perhaps unimportant but nevertheless interesting opinions. Several of the Russians were dissatisfied because of the lack of variety or insufficient food. Others were not getting all the clothes they wanted. But most of them spoke in terms of "we" and waxed enthusiastic at the industrial progress their government was making. A young woman expressed the view that the Americans are senseless because they have no aim except "individualism" and, if thrown out of a job, have no resources to fall back on. She continued by saying the Russian workers are conscious and have an aim and are constantly bettering conditions for themselves. I asked several Russians when they expected to have their country in good shape. The answers were about the same. Somesaid five and others ten years but they expected their country to be equal or better than America in the near future. Several were not satisfied with the present form of government and just as many praised it. Human nature seemed to be in Russia as it is in other countries-so many "kickers" and "praisers."

Sincerity?

Soviet officials as well as Party members sacrifice many comforts of life to show that they are sincere and always address everyone as comrade (tovarisch). While riding on an over-night train from Leningrad to Moscow I saw a Communist Party member riding third class-hard seats-and sleeping without a mattress or blankets. On another over-night train from Moscow to Nishni-Novgorod a Soviet official did likewise.Nowhere in Russia did I see any indication of wealth, unless it was concealed and then it could not amount to much, for all are equal, economically speaking, and have no chance whatever to own private property. (There is a distinction between private and personal property, the former relating to land, industries, the latter to furniture, clothes, automobiles, or any other items for personal use or consumption.) Nowhere did I see members of the Communist Party or leaders of the State displayingsigns of wealth by conspicuous expenditures and dress. These men are poor, which is quite the contrary to men of equal standing in capitalist nations of the world.

Private property and exploitation of man by man has been done away with in Russia-any outside observer can quickly see this-and wealth and fortune are things of the past. Perhaps this may sound ridiculous or unpractical, even unsatisfactory to us, but whatever we think about the men who guide modern Russia, we cannot help but admit their sincerity, honesty, and self denial when they could be so much better off ruling in another land. It may be hard to believe that such men exist today, but they do. Rule by the bayonet? Hardly. The aim of the Communist Party is to influence the masses by winning their confidence and then acting as their leaders.

When a Russian dies, he will not leave a fortune or an estate behind for his children and relatives to fight, over or the lawyers to graft on. There are no such things in this land.

Pace Not Always Strength

Because of the slowness of the average Russian I wondered how he ever got things done. Perhaps that was another reason piece work was adapted,to speed up the result without attempting to change national character. In America we live in the midst of plenty but many of us crave the simple things. One way we try to get back to essentials is by going into the country or restaurants where "home-cooked" food is served. Many of us would probably be better off if we were plainer in our wants and tastes. Many banks have "kicked off" and in some cities all of them have failed, leaving the community without a banking house, but business seems to go on just the same without them-a matter of getting used to it. So it is with becoming accustomed to most anything, and it is, perhaps, for our own good. When traveling in Russia I often complained of the slowness in getting meals served. I would, say "sei chass" to the waiter, meaning "immediately, this hour." In most cases it did no good. But after all, the pace of the horse or engine is not always an indication of its endurance or strength.

Listening In

A peculiarity of the Russian people, at first annoying, but later even entertaining, was their habit of gathering around within a few to ten minutes after a foreigner has stopped on the street to talk to one of their countrymen. I saw this take place several times and even on trains when a tourist, whoknew Russian, would start talking to one of the native passengers and likewise when my RussianAmerican friend started a conversation with one of them.

The Family and Family Life

It is not the Communists'- or the Soviets' idea to abolish family life. They realize that the basis of society is the family. Just because the Communists denounce the bourgeois "possessive" family does not' mean they denounce monogamy. But the bourgeois family, as is, which the Russians call our type, will eventually vanish under a communist form of government. In Russia all activities are outside the home, sports, clubs, cultural halls, and movies. Members of families go to their favorite places alone or together. Home is only a place to sleep and eat in, even less the eating if dining is done in a communal kitchen.

A great deal has been said about the wife having to work while the husband has This off-day or vice versa. At the beginning of the industrialization there were cases like this but as things gradually became better organized both the husband and the wife arranged to take their off-day together. The family may be said to be changed, for instance, there is no head of the family, little cooking at home, per-Naps little sharing of amusements, but there is nevertheless family life. The tradition of having a "boss" in the family is rapidly disappearing in Soviet Russia. As for cooking, what woman cares to cook after working all day anyway? And brothers and sisters seldom care for the same amusements or hobbies.

Our present family life, however, has so changed in the past ten or twenty years that today it is not far different -from the Soviet variety. True, we haven't openly eschewed religion, but there are many in Russia, who still cling to it. In America, as in Russia, the man and wife work in different places all day and dine together in a restaurant in the evening or cook their meals in the one or two room apartment. This is followed usually by a movie, visiting a friend, dance, card party, or an auto drive, only returning home to sleep. If the man and wife decide to have children they seek a bungalow, and, when their children reach the higher grades of the grade school or high school, they do not remain at home, but begin doing the same things their parents once did-movies, dance. Wherein lies the difference? Perhaps we started the change in the family and the Russians are carrying it a step farther. Only in Russia the outside activities are publicly owned-the clubs, cultural halls, movies. And they have the advantage over ours of costing less, whereas, due to private property, our admission prices are always too high.

Most important of all, that great dread of economic insecurity which has dissolved the stamina of many an American family, has no effect in Russia with the government functioning for its interests, ready to feed and clothe those who work.

Karl Marx, father of scientific socialism, describes the bourgeois family under a capitalist society, and the communist under its form of society thusly:

"On what foundation is the present family, the bourgeois family, based? On capital, on private gain. In its completely developed form this family exists only among the bourgeoisie. But this state of things finds its complement in the practical absence of the family among the proletarians, and in public prostitution.

"The bourgeois family will vanish as a matter of course when its complement vanishes, and both will vanish with the vanishing of capital.

"Do you charge us with wanting to stop the expoitation of children by their parents? To this crime we plead guilty.

"But, you will say, we destroy the most hallowed of relations when we replace home education by social.

"And your education! Is not that also social, and determined by the social conditions under which you educate, by the intervention, direct or indirect, of society by means of schools, and the like? The Communists have not invented the intervention of society in education; they do but. seek to alter the character of that intervention, and to rescue education from the influence of the ruling class.

"The bourgeois clap-trap about the family and education, about the hallowed co-relation of parent and child, becomes all the more disgusting, the more, by the action of modern industry, all family ties among the proletarians are torn asunder and their children transformed into simple articles of commerce and instruments of labor.

"But you Communists would introduce community of women, screams the whole bourgeois chorus.

"The bourgeois sees in his wife a mere instrument of production. He hears that the instruments of production are to be exploited in common, and, naturally, can come to no other conclusion than that the lot of being common to all will likewise fall to the women.

"He has not even a suspicion that the real point aimed at is to do away with the status of women as mere instruments of production.

"For the rest, nothing is more ridiculous than thevirtuous indignation of our bourgeois at the community of women which, they pretend, is to be openly and officially established by the Communists. The Communists have no need to introduce community of women; it has existed almost from time immemorial.

"Our bourgeois, not content with having the wives and daughters of their proletarians at their disposal, not to speak of common prostitutes, take the greatest pleasure in seducing each others' wives.

"Bourgeois marriage is in reality a, system of wives in common, and thus, at the most, what the Communists might possibly be reproached with, is that they desire to introduce, in substitution for a hypocritically concealed, an openly legalized community of women. For the rest, it is self-evident that the abolition of the present system of production must bring with it the abolition of the community of women springing from that system,-that is, of prostitution both public and private."

Certainly the Russians have affections. They love their children just as we do and the children them. Parents frequently attend the same school as their children and sometimes the children teach their own parents how to read and write in addition to other elementary subjects. There is certainly something of affection in this.

As to the morals of the women in Russia I cannot see where they differ from the morals of women in other countries. And young couples don't have, to hold off their marriage because of economic reasons -financial crises and small wages-as in capitalist countries. Nor does a girl have to get married in order to have a "meal ticket." She can support herself and study in the government technical school, if she wishes, thus elevating herself to a better position, the same opportunity as belongs to the young man. She is not held down economically because of being a woman, but receives the same wages as the man does if she is doing the same kind of work -- "Equal pay for equal work." Now then, because of these liberties, equalities, and the lack of traditions, there is no reason why the marriages cannot be more wholesome and lasting, and the family and its life likewise.

More About the Russian Workers

It has already been pointed out that the Russian workers have a seven hour work day plus a two weeks' vacation each year with full pay. Workers in unhealthful occupations like laboratory work, mining, chemical plants, and so on, receive three weeks to a month's vacation per year with full pay. And every worker receives one full day's rest inevery five as against our system of one-and-a-half day's rest every seven. There are six general holidays each year with additional ones which are called special days. No attention is paid to the day of the week for every day is an off-day for some worker. Quite different from our week-end holidays with theatres, parks, and roads so overcrowded no one can enjoy himself is the situation in Russia where some are working while others are "holidaying," all, satisfied and comfortable.

Social Insurance

The Code of Labor Laws of the Soviet Union provides compulsory social insurance for all workers, whether employed by the State or in private institutions. The social insurance includes : unemployment relief, permanent disablement relief, old age pension, medical assistance, temporary assistance in case of sickness, and a special provision in case of the provider's death or in case the dependents are abandoned by the provider. Many special privileges are granted women. An expectant mother is given a leave of absence with full pay, eight weeks before and after confinement, with medical assistance. Over-time and night work is not permitted for a pregnant woman or a nursing mother. Persons under eighteen years of age are not permitted to workover-time, at night, or in unhealthy trades. The maximum length of, the work day for all minors from sixteen to eighteen is six hours. Minors between the ages of fourteen and sixteen are not to be employed more than four hours. However, in no case can a minor under fourteen be employed. And, as a general rule, all persons under eighteen are not permitted to labor.

The Voter

Any person who is a worker regardless of nationality, sex, or race, can vote and hold office in the Soviet Union. This does not exclude housewives or students whose ages are eighteen or over. One does not have to be a worker any given length of time, but must show a card from the factory in which he is employed which identifies him as beg one. The workers vote for the person most fit for the local Soviet (council) office. Those of, the local Soviet elect the person or persons for the higher government offices and those of the higher offices elect the ones for the still higher posts. No one is set-up for office by this or that political committee but each shop in the factory has its voice, the shop placing its own candidate. Several of the foreign workers in the tractor plant in Stalingrad are holding or did hold offices in the local Soviet,

Party Membership an Honor

To be a member of the Communist Party is considered a great honor. In fact it is regarded as highly in Russia as being a distinguished social leader, clubman, or business magnate in America. Party members are limited in the amount of their wages if employed in an industry, the honor of membership being considered more important than monetary compensation. Before becoming a member it is necessary to go through intensive training and examinations. (They even prepare for the distinction.)

Out of the Russian population of 182,000,000 people, only from two to three million belong to the Communist Party.

Employment Paradise

During my stay in the Soviet Union I saw no indications of unemployment with the exception of workers coming from the country to the city in search of employment. The peasants were the ones to be attracted to the cities because of shorter working hours, the thought of being employed in a large industry, movies, and other entertainment. They do not remain without jobs long, however, as the factories, eager for new workers, train them for different kinds of labor. Russia in fact can almost besaid to be suffering because of not being able to find enough workers, especially skilled ones, technicians, and engineers, in spite of the intensive training nowgoing on. To remedy this situation, besides using foreign skilled labor and experts, the governmenthas extended the educational training of talented persons to universities in foreign countries.

Not Blind Justice

If there is such a thing as social justice in the world, Russia is the one place where it is rendered. The lowest paid common worker gets first choice in food orders, lower rents, cheaper clothes, and many other necessities as against the prices charged the skilled worker. Of course this does not mean that the skilled worker is punished because of his ability, but he is considered more able to pay a higher price, but one not so high as to discourage incentive.

The Ballyhoo About Food

There have been so many stories about food shortages in Russia that one doesn't know whether to believe them or not. During the days following the Revolution and blockade there were, quite naturally, severe shortages. Even now at times there are deficiencies in some sections of the country. Why? Because it is necessary for the government to do atremendous amount of foreign purchasing so as to care for the economic industrial program on which it is concentrating. And in order to pay for the machinery, supplies, and technical assistance, it is necessary to export commodities which have a ready market. Most of the commodities exported are food stuffs-wheat, butter, eggs, which should remain in the country for internal consumption. When international payments are heavy a temporary shortage results which means denying the people of items really needed in their own country.

The consignment of Black Sea butter which arrived in the London harbor recently on the Soviet vessel, Neva, a ship without a steering wheel, is typical of a Russia that considers it more important to fast that she might sell butter to get money for making scientific progress in her merchant naval equipment as well as other projects. It is not a case of having plenty of food, but of selling to pay foreign debts and to buy equipment to produce more food and commodities.

In many cases food shipments have been delayed by railroad tie-ups, this being caused by the congestion of traffic, duo chiefly to lack of facilities, in moving the, tremendous amount of freight required for producing the means of production, including railway equipment and increased trackage.

Russia has been faced with other difficulties concerning the food situation,-with slowness of the peasant class in becoming socialized. The "kulaks" resorted to withholding their products, secret selling, and even outright destruction in the years 1928 and 1929. And the poorer class peasants inmany cases followed the same procedure as the rich.

A great deal of the blame can be laid on the capitalist countries because they refuse to grant Russiaone cent of foreign debt since its inception. But the capitalist nations will loan money to other nations which default in interest payments and call moratoriums so as to get out of paying their obligations. Some countries are hostile towards Russia because of the confiscation of property belonging to their citizens and the lack of recognition of old national debts. Although the usual custom following revolutions in the past was to assume the former government's debts, the Soviets consider that to assume the debts of a former government which has disregarded its people or to compensate owners of private property (the owners of property being exploiters of labor) is contrary to socialistic principles. In both cases the Soviets strictly adhered to the principles of socialism. However, the Soviet government did try to reach an agreement with credit. The Soviet Union has never defaulted ongovernments suffering private and national losses, asking in return that Soviet Russia be allowed compensation for the loss of life and property damaged by the capitalist nations during the intervention period. This arrangement the capitalist countries refused, and so far no agreement has been reached.

Black Bread -- Cabbage Soup

Many people who have been to Russia complain of the black bread and cabbage soup. Some say this is the only food served over there because of its cheapness. Both are national foods and have been eaten by the Russians for centuries. To change this custom for a few dissatisfied travellers would be ridiculous. However, white bread is made in the Soviet Union and can be purchased at some stores, only at a higher price. Later, no doubt, white bread will be common, although I myself found the comn black bread more nourishing. It is made of the whole grain flour and palatable. As for the cabbage soup, soup is soup, and cabbage is a tasty vegetable.

Confections

The Russians are lovers of sweets judging from the enormous amount of them sold by all stores and "candy stands." Chewing gum and peanuts are not known in that country but sunflower seeds are substituted in their place. .

Doing One Better

Russia in one respect, at least, is perhaps several steps ahead of America. Speaking of American monopolies, and combines, such as chain stores, chain restaurants-that is Russia, too, with this exception, private profits have been eliminated. In that country everything is planned for and by the people and then executed by a central body for the benefit of all. Here in America the large combines are controlled and governed by a few bankers and capitalists, all trying to out-do one another for one primary purpose-to increase private profits.

Work to Eat

The Soviet government does not stand for "something for nothing" for all those who eat must work. Every available worker is needed in order to complete the new industrial plan. New machines - are welcomed in Russia-they mean lightened burdens and more goods-to be used for the benefit of the workers and not against them. The machine is their friend because it is controlled by them.

The psychological forces behind the proletariat class are far more stronger than those of privategain because there is a class consciousness, respect, and comradeship, obtained in a large degree by the terrific struggles of the Revolution. During the days of the Revolution the soldiers in the Revolutionary Army knew what they were fighting for--their homes, fellow workers, and against exploitation --and because of this, one revolutionary soldier was worth ten mercenaries even though they lacked good fighting equipment and adequate provisions. In event of a crisis the workers of this new Republic will not hesitate in defending what they have fought for, constructed, and established. These workers have even gone so far as to extend their comradeship to the world by including in their constitution an open invitation to any nation which is a Socialist Soviet Republic and is desirous of becoming a member of the Union.

A Capitalist in Russia

A retired American capitalist with whom I shared my room while in Kiev had come over to Russia to see how socialism was working. He told me ho* he had tried "socialistic" methods in his former factory and in the end they turned out to be too costly.

The strain of travel began to show effects on my companion and he was taken ill suddenly. Throughout his illness he was under a government doctor's care. Upon his recovery he inquired timidly, of the interpreter, of the charges, fearing all the time the bill would be high, since he was a foreigner, and that he would not be able to meet it, since he had only a limited amount for his passage home. The interpreter, knowing his financial standing, told him to send the money to the Moscow travel office upon his return home. However, if he did not think the services and the medicines worthy of pay, not to send the money. This was more than a square deal. Rather strange, too, for an American capitalist to be favored with such privileges in a country fundamentally opposed to his principles.

My Kingdom for a Drink

At the time I was in the Soviet Union all water served in the restaurants and hotels was boiled for sanitary reasons. Often, to my disgust, it would be served warm.

One hot day after a great deal of scouting around Ii in Moscow, upon reaching the post office where I wished to purchase some stamps for my evening correspondence, I noticed a large water cooler with a bottle almost completely filled with water. At last a cool drink! But to my surprise and disappointment the water was hot. Somewhat angered, I left the building in a hurry after purchasing the stamps,and, on the way to the hotel, stopped off at "Torg sin" to buy a few bottles of beer which I knew by former experience would at least quench my thirst. For the present I was satisfied, but there were many times afterward when I would have given a kingdom, had I one, just for a cold drink of water.

Take it or Leave it

A Russian told me the following story:"An American engineer upon first arriving in Russia noticed a peasant hit the bottom of a bottle of vodka with his hand so as to knock the cork out and then quickly drink the contents by holding the bottle with the open end in his mouth and tipping the opposite end of an angle pointing toward the sky, thus making it appear as though the drinker was looking at the sky through it. When he wrote home he said all the Russians were astronomers because they were always holding glass tubes toward the sky and peering through them."

Take it or leave it for what truth there may be in it. My purpose in retelling it is that it is typical of the American slap-dash understanding of the Russian.

Press Propaganda

At this writing there is a great deal of ballyhooabout the failure of the Five Year Plan. Since the Plan is nearing its expiration date the press is stressingthe fact that it is ephemeral just like Boshevikism was supposed to be fourteen years ago shortly after the Revolution in 1917. What of it? Just suppose that it does not come up to the expectations of the Soviet leaders or, further, suppose that it is a failure. What difference would it make? The Russians, taking their country into consideration as a whole, have more now than they ever had. Communism is too deep-rooted to depend on the success or failure of any initial plan now.The Five Year Plan whether or not it succeeds is, to date, the biggest human undertaking ever attempted in the world. And scientific history itself should have taught us that everything new or untried is always condemned at first by the status quo.

A Final Statement

To form a "cut and dried" conclusion of the Soviet Union in so brief a survey as I made r, for that matter, even in an extended one --would be doing the U. S. S. R. a great injustice as well as myself. Even if I had been in that country from the time of the Revolution it would be impossible for me to know everything just like it would be impossible to know everything about my own country or city for that matter. But I can say this, and with justification-the society, in my judgment, is the greatest and most tremendous social experiment that has ever been attempted.

It is more. How much more is comparable to the famous fable of the lady and the tiger. It is yet to be seen which door the Russians have opened.

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