The Daily Worker Newspaper, December 5, 1925, Page 14

By M. A. A. SKROMNY (Reminiscences of the Revolutionary Days of 1905, by an old Rebel). EDITOR'S NOTE:—In connection with the 20th anniversary of the revolution of 1905 we publish this series of word pictures of the revo- lution as told by a comrade who Participated in the events of that time. This is the third story. * * on Til. In the House of Worship. FTER tle pogrom the revolution- ary movement in the city slowed down. Before the pogrom there was no trouble between the christian and Jewish population, there were no bad feelings. After the pogrom the trouble began. The different nationalities looked upon each other as enemies. Ip was quite a big job to bring some derstanding and more unity be- eer them for the sake of fighting ch real enemy of both of them—the @aristic government. The revolution- ists undertook that job. The government, on the other hand, continued its work of bringing more hatred between the different nation- alities, It began a systematic cam- paign to organize its forces for per- manent work along these lines. Thus, for instance, the first patriotic organ- izations among the masses, made their appearance. Their main purpose was to “defend the czar and country from the reds and the Jews.” The hooligans, (hoodlums) as they were properly called, began their ac- tivities. in the streets by beating up Jews, studenis. and all those who looked like revolutionists to them. The ‘police conveniently did not notice these beatings: The revolutionists were forced to organize in self de- fense. Thus the Boyevoy Otriad (mil- itary squad) of the revolutionary or- ganization came to life in our city. It was under the strict and direct contrdl of the city central committee. HE most dangerous and difficult jobs were usually assigned to the B. O., as it’ was called. Such jobs were plentiful. The everyday task of the B. O. was to organize meetings. Under the laws of the czar3; this was quite a job. There was no possibility of any kind to meet under the disguise of some legal organization for the stmple reason that there were no le- gal organizations among the masses. Trade unions were not permitted, benefit societies or mutual aid socie- ties, clubs or anything of the sort could not exist. The only way workers could meet was illegally, in’defiance of the law, taking thereby a chance of going to jail for three months or being exiled, if caught. It. was the job of the B. O. to organize the meetings so as not to endanger the workers and the party leaders. Usually nobody, except the members of the B. O. knew where the meeting is to be held. They would find. the room, usually by a comrade or Sympathizer, and then would lead the, workers from the shop or the “birja” to the place of the meeting. A member of the B. O. would take along. with him one or two workers, two other workers would follow at a distance so as not to loose sight of them until they would come to the meeting place. Not more than two or three would enter a house at one and the same time. Other members of the B. O. would do the same, If it was necessary the trip would be re- peated many times. Comng every time from a different direction so as not to become conspicious on the street. After the meeting was already under way it was the business of the B, O. to watch the police and warn against a raid; and sometimes to hold off the police in order to give the camrades time to disperse. HE “birja” was mentioned and a little explanation is necessary for “foreigners,” those who were not for- tunate enough to participate in the movement at that time. After work the workers would usu- ally go home or to the “chaynaya” (tea room), and after supper every party member and sympathizer would go to the “birja” (exchange). But In the Flames of Revolt Twenty Years Ago In the Defense of Red Petrograd The Red Guard that came after the Boyevoy Otriads (military organization) in the October days. The Red Army came arr the Red Guard. this was not a labor exchance in the usual*sense of the word, Not having | etc. any meeting clubs or buildings the workers would select streets or parks were people usually prominade, in order to see each other, to meet friends and to attend to party busi- ness that could be attended in such a manner. The different parties usu- | | ally had their different “birjas” that were well known to everybody includ- ing the police. But the police was helpless, because thousands of other people were promenading in the same places. From time to time raids would be conducted on the “birjas” but that would only create trouble for the police: Many strangers would be pick- ed up against whom nothing could be proven, indignation would be créated among the indifferent, and sometimes real fights with the police would re- sult. If any known comrade was taken, ‘the BY 0} would rush to his home, make ¥f geheral clean-up taking out every discriminating book, letter, or piece of illegal literature. By. the time the. police would arrive, every- thing had been cleaned out .and the police would gain. nothing. The B. O. also had many other more difficult’ tasks, as for instance, the organizing of street demonstrations, mass meetings, the distribution of literature. At the same time it was training, theoretically, of course, how The Red Army a School for Citizens tigre: red barracks, the red army of the Union of Socialist Soviet Re- publics, are not only a school for the military training and preparation of red army men, but are also a school for educating them to be citizens and cultured workers. The following figur- es will show us what tremendous work’ the red army is doing in this respect amongst the various regular and territorial units. “Leninist Corners” in Army. There is a tremendous network of what are termed’ “Leninist. corners” in the red army. Here. the ted army men spend the hours of their leisure and carry on autodidactic work. There are 4,500 such corners in the red army. The club, library work among the rank and file of the red army is of a very extensive nature, The number of books read increases year by year. In 1923, 6,438,- 484 books were borrowed from the red’ army libraries and in 1924, 10,051,804. Educating a Nation. The workers’ republic is conduct- ing tremendous work in the field of liquidating illiteracy. Unfortunately, until now a fairly large percentage of illiterates have entered the red army. On the average they fluctuate around 20%, and we-are liquidating this illi- teracy during the time of service in the ranks of the red army. In 1924 we instructed 33,421 absolute illiter- ates, which represent 9%; also 33,717 semi-literate, that is 11.6% making a total of 71,138. In 1925 we will finish the liquidation of illiteracy; we are instructing 28,947 totally illiterates study circle and to build barricades, how to use a gun, Once in a while small groups of the B. O. would go out of town into the hills for target practice, and then they would discover that they don’t know much about a gun, but they did the best under the circumstances. FTER the pogrom it was very dif- ficult to obtain rooms for meet- ings. The Jews were afraid that the christian neighbors would betray them, and the christians were afraid that the Jews would betray. them. Bspecially difficult became the situa- tion after a meeting was attacked by a group of hooligans. The meeting was called for the purpose of organ- izing the seamstresses, The party was funetioning organizing workers into underground unions for ‘the eco nomic as well as political battles. On the way home the girls were. attacked ~ a group. of hooligans and some of hem Badly Wéaten tip. This forced the B, O, to be more careful and to find safer places for meetings. One cold winter night a. very impor- tant meeting was arranged and when the comrades were brought to the meeting place, they found themselves in’ a Jewish synagogue. The watch- man was somewhat sympathetic and being poor agreed for a certain con- sideration to allow us to meet there. and y ,257 semi-literates——a total of 73,204. Particular attention should be drawn to the cultural work conducted by our territorial units. Both during the pre- liminary training in the work of the territorial units themselves, not only the newcomers, but the entire male population of our villages in general take part. The following example will give an idea of this work. In the Vologda and Cheripovitz provinces 28% of the members of military study circles are those who have already. un- dergone military training while the rest are ordinary peasants, In. the Trotsk county of the Pskov province, ‘out of 4,220 people attending the milit- |: ary study circles; 670 are ex-red army men while the rest have not yet. un- dergone military training. We have a similar state of affairs in other ter- ritorial divisions. A Different Kind of Commander. The commanding and political staffs of our units are beginning to enjoy ever greater respect and recognition on the part of the peasants. Here is the opinion of a peasant from the Vo- ronezh province concerning our com- manders: “This is really our army. In the old days, we could not even go near the officers, but now the com- manders are our best comrades and counsellors,” When our .command- ers leave the villages after carrying on work there among the new re- cruits, there are scores and hundreds of applications from lower Soviet or- ganiations, and from the peasant pop- ulation, requesting that they be al- “lowed: to remain behind in the coun- . That synagogue was used & number of times and then it became danger ous. At another time we also used a Synagogue, but without the consent, or better say, in spite of the protests of the owners. The Jews as well as the christians continued to pray daily for the health of the czar and his whole damned family, Finally we decided to do something about it. A proclamation was prepared and distributed over the city, The B. O. at the same time arranged a raid on a synagogue, one of the biggest in the neighborhood. About a dozen members of the B. O. were assigned to the job. It was a Jewish holiday, the house of worship ‘was crowded to capacity. We came up from different directions and took up positions: at the, different entrances. Everybedy waa permitted : to enter, but nobody ta: Téave;: Ther * came forward the speakers with 2 atheit i bodyguards. They walked up to the * central platform where honors are sold for kissing the tora (holy scrip- tures). Ane speaker raised his hand and announced that he represented the revolutionary organization of the city and warned everybody to keep their seats and avoid trouble, as the Boyevoy Otriad is at the doors and it wom’t do anybody any good to start something. TT'HE crowd was dumbfounded and no one stirred. “You are praying every day for the _ health of the bloody czar, the czar - that made the pogrom on you in this city,” the speaker began in the Jewish language. “You are kissing the boot that kicks you. How long will you stand for this outrage? How long will you be slaves?” He continued with a short revolutionary talk wind- ing up with: “Down with the bloody czar! Long live the. revolution!” He was folowed by the other speak- er in the Russian language with a workers tO unite With “the. christian workers for the overthrow of their - common enemy—the bloody czaristic government, When they finished; a rain of pro- clamations came fluttering. down from the gallery where the women’s de- partment was located. The peaple began to read the proclamations and we quietly left the place. “ Somebody notified the Police, but when they came no trace of the “reds” could be found. < ; the red army is the offspring of the working class-and peasantry in the true sense ‘of the word and that it is a tremendous cultural force in the countryside. The red army intends carrying on this work in the future, and we are firmly convinced that this work will give us the unity and the mutual understanding between the red army and the workers, between, the rear and:the red: front, which iss the foremost ‘and truest. guarantee for the future” victories of: the workers’: republic. The Walden ‘ Book Shop 307 Plymouth Court (Between State and Dearborn » Just South of Jackson) CHICAGO tryside to carry on ibdiniing civil So- ‘ viet work. This goes to show that To those who work hard for thelr money, | will save 50 per cent on all their dental work, DR. RASNICK DENTIST 645 Smithfield Street, PITTSBURGH, PA. a Ganesh, similar talk, calling upon- the Jewish ae ¢ cue Srna War or WE SION 2 EE eh se me