The Daily Worker Newspaper, July 11, 1925, Page 10

‘ By ANISE OSCOW, June 14.—(By Mail.)—I spent two days this past week in a Russian factory a few hours ride from Moscow. A former New York comrade in charge of “propaganda” for the district and invited. me out. -I first had the chance to see how Kus- sian party workers live out jn the provinces, for he moved over to share the room of a comrade and gave me his room. Certainly no unskilled work- er in America, who has a job, lives so plainly, A wooden plank bed, with- out springs, a large table on which to work, a wash basin in one corner with a tiny pail of water hung above it, one chair and one ‘stool—these were the furnishings. No rug, no -wardrobe, not even a ‘hook on the wall for clothes. For cooking food, there was an elec- tric teapot.. ‘The water had. to be brought from: a, distance, and. carried |, to a distance’ after, using. | There was no plate, no dish-pan, no pail and only one teaspoon, :ic + . He Jaughed: “When they go.to the north pole, they have more comforts. But I am‘ too busy. Besides, I get a hot meal every day at the factory.” . At home cold food eaten out of a bag sufficed. E went in the evening to the meet- ing of the Party “Yachejka,”— the communists of the factory. Orig- inally, the word yachejka signified a little nucleus, but now it is a big meeting; so have the numbers of the cdmmunists grown. Now also, at most of the meetings they allow outsiders or non-party people, since the subjects considered have to do with the wel- fare of the factory. The non-party people take part even in discussions, but do not vote. The young secretary of the Party Committee, a group of nine elected by the whole gathering to conduct the affairs of the party in that factory, was just finishing his report of the last six months as we entered. There were 180 members of the party, of whom 60 were received this year and 60 more \last “year. Such" largé: num- hers of hew. S,, almost swamping the mactiinery and requiring much la- bor to organize into work. For work of some kind had to be found for all of them; if they were not “active” they were no use, and might be dropped. The party in the factroy ex- isted as the active, energetic political force, correlating every activity. PPOSITE me as I sat down was the director of the factory—also a Communist. ..But he did not look happy. “He may possibly attack the report of the committee,” whispered R., “for they have been making it hot for him. He is likely to be removed from his job any time now on their recommendation. The Trust thinks he’s a good man, but he somehow doesn’t get the cooperation of the workers. He is sincere and has tried to learn; perhaps he has learned something here that will be useful to him élsewhere. But he cannot’ apply’ it here, for in the process he has roused too many prejudices. I am also recommending to the ‘Party thst he be transferréd.”* "> As we sat down, questions’ Ware’ breaking! out ‘trom "a! over ‘the’ room, taken down Tapidly® ‘int “writin By the chairman of’the meeting.” iy have’ we no report ‘froin the Pionéers? Are’ all the party members Of this ‘factory members aléo Of the MOPR? “{(Thé relief of communist political prison- ers in many lands.) Have we organ: ized a movement to help the prole- tarian student? Has thé Party looked into the matter of the Club’ and ob- served that’ we have no summer grounds or equipment for summer ac- tivities? How large is the active membership; how many members have no party duties? What has our'| Village Commission done in thé néar- by county of which we are now the “guardians?” Why haven't we bel hey yf tary organization? When this list of questions amt? eee’ ens po Magn 3 had - collected, ‘the ‘d worker’ in’ ‘black leather jacket, ily recently elected to the job, rose to answer. | HE Village Commission has spent two or three weeks investigating the village soviets throughout the ‘that the workers-get good:wages “and: ger questions of making~ the factory ‘ A Communist Group in a Russian Factory township. They had sent speakers to ull holidays and special days: The first of May, the Anti-Tuberculosis day and other events. Now came the question of organizing a day nursery for the peasants during the summer field work.. It was time~'now, he thought, to proceed to the organiza- tion of a veluntary Society of Guar- dians, taking {In any nonparty people who would be willing*to work... Onily so could the connection with the vil- lage be put on a broad enough basis, with enough willing workers to carry ‘on all the activities netded. No, he said, there was no sanitary organization, but there was a very good, small Sanitary Commission which had been doing some good work, ,It was not possible, in such a small factory with only a few hundred workers, to start so many organiza- tions. It was best to start organiza- tions for the important things, but merely have commissions for others, I began, to get the difference be- tween “commissions” and “organiza- tions.” In facing any prbolem, from sanitation to the relation with the pea- sant, from illiteracy to political pris- oners abroad, the Party group in the factory first organized a cmmission, chosen from among its own members. When this had been going for some time, and had aroused some enthusi- asm, then’ an atternpt was made to create a larger organization, drawing in nonparty members to do as much of the work as possible. But the line of direction had always been fixed first by the Partys commission. Thus they were permeating ever wider and wider groups of workers and drawing them into active participation in many new movements, HERE were many such move- ments in this factory. The Down With Illiteracy Society, the Friends of Children, raising money for home- less children, the M. O. P. R., the Vil- lage Get-Together organization, the Cultural Bureau, the organization for the Protection of Labor, the organiza- tion for Speeding up Production. All of these had been Once Taunched’ by the Party, but were now furictionirig; not under the Party, but understhe Factory Committee, elected by all the workers. They had become part of the accepted life of the factory. But the Communists who had launched them still kept a guiding hand on them, assigned members to work in them, received reports from them and made suggestions to them, with the aim of keeping all the life of the factory,—its production, its workers’ rights, its cultural groups,—in line with the ultimate progress towards Communism. “The most interesting job in the factory is that of party secretary,” whispered R. to me, as the meeting went on. “After that comes the job of managing the plant. But the Party secretary really has more responsibil- ity. If anything at all goes wrong— in production, or in the life of the workers, he is going to. get knocked for it. It is the duty of the manager to see that the factory produces well; he must satisfy the trust. ‘It is the duty of the factory. committee .to see: conditions of labor; they :must..satis- ‘the workers. But in the yeconciling | ‘of these ‘two demands, and’ in the big-' serve the ultimate needs of a social- ‘ist state+that’s where the party sec- retary has to satisfy everybody. If he sees friction growing between man- ager and workers, he must forestall trouble, Sometimes by arguing poli-| ‘ties with the workers and showing them what is and is not possible, and sometimes by recommending the removal of the boss.” HE young: secretary: had: jest ite - swered a question. A mild: clamor e in the back of ‘the? hall, ’ arty committees are*getting’ tobe r pets of the administration,” a discontented worker, The young ‘secretary paid no’atention. R, turned to me with a grin, “And he the boss! pet of the administration! park this’ of course, cannot be announced, for ating a scandal.” How many active members? was the next question. The secretary ex- plains that of the 180 party members there were about 30 who had no regu- lar party duties, There were certain conditions which brought this about. Some of them were new members who ‘could not; read and write yet, and ‘consequently could hardly take the ative part demanded in party work. There were. working women with children; it was hard for them to do party work evenings after work- ing all day. However, each individ- ual case was being gone into, to see how soon this passivity could be rem- edied. Some, perhaps, would have to be dropped as pure ballast. “Couldn’t you find'a stronger, more energetic woman organizer?” came the question. “Well, if you can name one,” said the secretary, and paused for a reply. Getting none, he went on: “She was. appointed with your assistance six months ago. She is not’ doing badly. But she lacks training. We are recommending her next year to a Party School.” “And what have you been doing about. vodka?” came another ques- tion. The secretary explained that cases of drunkenness had been repri- manded, but that he really must ask for facts before proceeding against individuals about whom there were rumors, “Does the Workers’ Cooperative Building Association report on its work to the Party Committee? I remembered the new houses I had seen going up near the station and I cauglst the secretary’s answer: “Of coursk it does.”. HE questions came to an end, Who has anything to discuss? asked the chairman. One after an- other they rose from various parts of th) room and contributed their ideas to the meeting. One man was a long-winded rambler. “That fellow was secretary of the Party here a year and a half ago,” said R. “He ‘couldn't be elected now. He talks too much. He is not;a ‘clear thinker and can’t deliver the goods. The demand of the working class are now greater, and there are more people growing up able to fill the places.” The boss of the factory also asked for the floor, but he made no attempt to attack the committee, but con- tented himself with platitudes. He was not. at home; there had been too much ufthappy gossip abount him. “If he is a Communist, and uses the fac- tory horses to go ani buy sausage with for his home,‘ naturally every- By ISRAEL AMTER. 5 enn days after the Fourth of July, when. the patriots of this country reannounce that “all men are born free and equal,” thousands of children of New York and the vicinity are . applying to- he adopted by a wealthy.man, ~... , EBS We -Bronwing, estate operator, is looking for a com- panion:.for his, foster: daughter; and has advertised to: that effect. Thou- sands of letters have poured in to the Bronwing mansion,’ appealing to Bron wing to adopt this or that child. “Mothers: plead poverty,” says the NewYork Times, declaring that they |. are “too poor to give their effspring the advantage and education’ which they felt their children deserved.” - One little girl, evidently not know- ing what the procedure meant, went with her nother to the,palaece,of the 1, estate operator. and when asked whether she,, wished... to: /Jeave her her and «be adopted; wipe tte teartw gad) .vaetwS temottontssad, af »9 Mothers. giving up their , children, | because: they amet’ ‘properly, support| them!) Children being torn, from their, Parents, because their. , take care ws them. ,; This is etree same’ ' om” and, “equality”, that Benjamin “All Men Are Born Free and Equal.” | York. deplorable,” - ane — bet ane body talks about it. He's a fool to do that in a little: town like this.” The meeting was drawing toa close , when there was a movement of pro: test among the women: ‘“Aren’t we going to get the floor at all? Only one woman has spoken—the wom- en’s organizer.” “Why didn’t: you speak up? The floor is free,” says. the secretary, Then a member moves that since it is past closing time, nobody else be allowed to speak except women. It is passed amid mild applause. Dead silence falls, Finally one of the women gets up. “When are you going to give us that mechanical laundry and free us? You haven't bought us washing basins, Each woman. delegate has two or three ‘young pioneers’ and she hasn’t time to attend to them.” LITTLE more discussion on this line and then comes reception of new members. Several “candidates” known to all present are received into full membership; two or three work- ers are presented as “candidates, Their sponsors tell © how “Yong ” they ‘ have known them and why they recomend them, The applicants risé to answer’ | any questions. There are no ques tions; the man is known to all; he lives in the factory barracks, and Ris life is an open book ‘to his fellow workers. But suddenly a man in the back of the room throws a question: “Are you single?” “Yes.” “Will you marry in church?”, “No,” says the applicant, and after a pause sits down. His working history, and his peasant parentage have already been an- nounced. It is extraordinary to think all over the largest republic on earth, from Leningrad to Vladivostok, in every factory and mill this is going on. This | vital organizing life, starting cultural societies, guiding them, keeping them true to a certain line. And that all this has been organized in eight years in a country where workers were for- merly not allowed to organize any- thing at all, “You know. how it’s done,” says R.. to me “If a factory has no Commun- ists, we send down three or four. After six months there are fifteen. Then we send a couple more with new ideas. Change the methods, get different things started. In a year we have forty. We form societies, Mopr, friends of children, day nursery, pioneers; we get non-party people working. We draw them in next. We keep changing personnel and bringing in new ideas and methods to keep things stirred up. Tae how it goes all over the land.” °° when he states that “children at the age of 2 and 3 have been found toiling away their days of mere infancy, help- ing their mothers eke out a living in the tenement houses of New York ” ‘and other. cities.” “In the cotton fields’ ot California, childrenas> young as.4 © ; pick from sunrise. to. sunset.” .- ¢ -@, wealthy real | “Margaret A. McGroarty, a visitng teacher, told. of frightful conditions .. ‘in the Italian . section. of upper. New «Children as-young as 3 work on artificial flowers. she . testified. . .“Condi- \tions ‘in’ Hast Harlem are simply ap- paling,” “All men are born free and equal.” Facts prove it! Philadelphia, Notice! Weber Printing Co. 350 N. ae hea i 1. KAPLAN MERCHANT TAILOR” Bulta: Made to ‘Order © ont Pht Reasonable Prices ** ' 8846 ARMITAGE AVENUE Phone Albany 9400 Their wages are - rt . 0 Sn TT —— |