The Daily Worker Newspaper, November 1, 1927, Page 3

t I ti iH h | | } \ THE DAILY WORKER, NEW YORK, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1927 2age Three The following is the tenth instalment of the re- port of the first American Trade Union Delega- tion to Soviet Russia, in the words of the delega- tion. The report will be published in The DAILY WORKER in successive issues until completed. Agriculture GRICULTURE in the U. S. S. R. proximately at the 1913 level. The amount of land under cultivation is greater; but the total yield is slightly less, indicating | a somewhat smaller yield per acre. judged according to certain other criteria, would have to be set down as better. For in- proved, land holdings have been reorganized, and much capital has been invested in re- search and experimentation, though the fu- ture results of all these have not yet been registered in figures. The first important fact to be discovered concerning any nation’s agriculture is the size of the units with which the farmers have to work. There are 22,000,000 peasant estab- lishments in Russia. Thirty per cent of these establishments had in 1925 less than 25 acres in tillage, and another 50 per cent were under 70 acres. These are small.operations, judged by American standards. This primary fact accounts for the present backwardness of Russian agriculture. Prosperous cultivation would seem possible if there were fruit or truck farms as we know them. They are, however, for the most part grain-farms of the type which we consider inefficient at less than several hundred acres per establishment. The only possibility of any greatly increased standard of living for the peasants, with this heavy original handicap is the development of socializing efforts, such as the communal use of machinery,, pure-bred sires, cooperative credit associations, selling societies and the like, and the program, already entered on, of emphasizing intensive cultures. The govern- ment, it must be said, is making strenuous ef- forts in this direction. It has far exceeded the pre-war standard of expert assistance for peasants, has assisted in bettering seed and animal strains, and, most important of all, has entered on a definite 10-year program for the reorganization of the medieval strip-farming still so prevalent in Russia. By re-surveying the land and consolidating the strip into the field system, and by introducing the five- or six-field rotation system, the government is doing what it can toward increasing produce- tion. It has, indeed, already had results. The present situation of agriculture in Rus- sia has to be judged in the light of its re- cent history. The great war and the civil wars, together with the disastrous policies during the period of war Communism, reduced farming to an unbelievable state. The recov- ery since has been remarkable. Part of it is merely the normal upswing from an abnormal depression and would have oerurred in any case. Part of it must be attributed to the present policy of the government. The fol- lowing table gives a concise but revealing pic- ture of the recent situation: is ap- The pres-' | another to secure with the returns from it the ent situation, judged strictly by the statistics, |\manufactured articles which the peasant finds would show a condition slightly less favorable necessary but cannot himself produce. than that which existed before the war, but ‘disparity between agricultural prices and the it| jprices of manufac tured articles—known as : Russia, and is as acute there as in other coun- stance, the status of the peasants has im-|tries, Bulk of Commodity | Production in | 1000 pounds Percentage} | Fee ies aes 317,556 100 . .825,116 102.4 | - 400,464 126.1 | 428,136 134.9 | | This is an increase of 85 per cent in four} years. The increase from the famine year,| 1921-1922, is still more notable—about 87 per'| cent. It is one thing to increase production, but The | ‘“the scissors”—-is a problem not peculiar to Its seriousness has produced an inter- esting illustration of the all-embracing power of the government, in the lowering of prices of manufactured articles and the raising of prices for agricultural products, which has been the consistent policy for six years. In January, 1925, the index of the relationship of industrial retail prices stood at 189. In| August, 1927, it was 106, with many fluctua- tions in the interim, but with a general ten- dency to correct the peasants’ disadvantage. | Tt still remains a question, however, whether | arbitrary price-fixing can be successful if it fixes prices far out of their natural trends. In Russia, because the growth of industrial production is far more rapid than that of agri- cultural production and exports and imports are rigorously controlled, the operation seems to have a good chance of success. If it con- tinues to succeed it will have a marked effect in raising the peasants’ standard of living. It ought to be borne in mind that only 18.3 per cent of all agricultural products is sold in public markets and that therefore a rise in standard of living for the peasant depends largely on his own consumption of his own or neighbor’s goods. Statistics of food consump- tion show that the peasant is eating about the same amount of bread, but of better quality, 15 per cent more meat, 43 per cent more milk, the same amount of butter, and 28 per cent more eggs. Although figures are lacking, we have good reason to believe that the peasant is eating more vegetables and fruit. He is as yet securing less furniture, clothes and other manufactured goods than were available to him in 1918, but he is enabled to use more of his own products. Thus, not only within the 18.3 per cent of his products publicly sold is the peasant gaining in capacity to purchase manufactured goods, but he is able to use more of his own products. Tt has been calculated that for the whole of the U. S. S. R. the peasant pays in taxes $1,250,000 less than his taxes and rent before the war, and should therefore be able to in- crease his capital, his disbursements, and his consumption. In theory he does not own the legal title to his land, but he and his family re- tain it as long as they can prove that it is being used. He may rent a part of the land, subject to rigid restrictions. Credit given to him, therefore, cannot be used for specula- tive purposes, but only for capital expansion and working funds. The administration of this credit through the central and local land banks and the cooperatives is not impressive in total size except in relation to the small capital resources available in Russia, which Sanitarium for Peasant Women—A Former Aristocrat’s Home. short-term loans. In spite of the fact that agricultural pur- chasing and marketing are almost completely in the hands of the governmental and coopera tive organizations, the cost of distribution re- mains high and is slowly, if at all, being dim-| inished. Costs of transportation make this a more serious problem for the peasant than for the city worker. All in all the status of agriculture in Russia is about as good as could be expected. The government, contrary to so many reports pre- valent abroad, is obviously not using the agri cultural regions as colonies to be exploited for the benefit of the city workers, who un- doubtedly do control the government, but is attempting to develop a rounded and solidly | based economie system, with agriculture as un integral part. When it is remembered chat the products of agriculture total some 35,500,000,000 and those of industry only vbout $3,500,000,000 the necessity for a wise! agricultural policy becomes apparent. Add te this the fact that of the 146,000,000 peo-| dle in the Soviet Union, some 116,000,000 live! ‘n peasant homes, and the importance of a wise policy becomes even more plain. Thirty millions of population could not hope in the) long run to exploit 116,000,000 without stor-! ing up a good deal of trouble. Furthermore, from the point of view of the Communist Par- ty’s hope of building up industry, agricultural exports are of first importance. These ex- ports are almost the sole source of funds in the world’s markets by which Russia can pur- chase machines with which to build up a rounded industry. It is also true that the purchasing power of the peasants has to be kept up if agriculture is to be improved by additions to its capital equipment and if the products of a reorganized industry are to find a permanent market. The great mass of peasantry in Russia has! always existed at a level which, measured by! our standards, is intolerably low. But, judged by its own criteria, there has been and should be more improvement if the present policies | of the government are continued. The re- stricted size of pores: the OynIUs system of SEND YOUR GREETINGS NOW To Be Published in the - Special November 7th Number of the Daily Worker ON THE \ TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION of 5) Send not less than 25 cents with every name to The Daily Worker, 33 First St., New York, N. Y. FULL NAME AMT, FULL NAME TOTAL GREETINGS—Accepted from working class organizations at $200 per full page (frac- tions of a page on this basis) and $1.50 per inch. Be sure your organization sends its greetings. ORDER A BUNDLE OF THE DAILY WORKER For the November 7th Meetings and for Distribution. RATES—$1.50 per hundred copies Fe ca Six Blackshirts Killed On Way to Fascist Fete | LONDON, Oct. 3 | | were killed and many | when a crowded | | Fascists to Bari f fifth anni ded with < ano, according the celebration | ‘sary of Fascism | other train at Trig- a Central News Dispatch today from Rome. ' | || i [pe pended, ‘ \ \children’s homes, ___MevtefcetFae USED AS EXCUSE. | FOR ‘RED’ RAIDS. | Gover nmentW on’tAllow | | necessitate high interést rates and encourage | organization, the difficulties inherent in dry- farming (which must be done in much of Rus sia) all militate against long-run prosperity. But within these limitations the development of communal enterprise, the growth of ne rotation and cultivation practices, the build- ing up of herds and capital, the reduction of costs of obtaining manufactured goods—all can do much toward the amelioration of old { wrongs. And all these are definite parts of {the present policy. Education if revolution has been followed by an ¢ mous amount of activity in the field ef education, resulting in a fundamental re- jorganization of the educational system and the launching of a new educational program. The primary object of this program is to con- tribute to the development of a social order essentially Socialistic, if not Communistic. To hieve this object the curricula and methods in the conventional divisions of the educa- tional system—elementary, secondary, and higher—have been radically revised. In addition many new institutions, such as schools for peasant youths, faculties, factory technical schools, adult education, and workers’ workers’ centers for {clubs have been created, and many interests |which customarily fall outside the field of ‘educational administration, such as museums, libraries, artistic and scientific institutions, theaters, publications and the cultural devel- brought under the supervision of the educa- opment of backward peoples, have been tional authorities. In the organization and administration of {education complete autonomy is granted each of the six republics which comprise the U. S.S. R. Within each of the republics the ad- ministration of education is highly central- ized, programs and policies being worked out fi3 ion.) by the People’s Commissariat of Educz The responsibility of local authorities is large- ly that of securing funds and adapting the policies and programs of local conditions. All education below the level of special and} {professional education is controlled and ad- GREEK SHOOTING ef the Soviet st cherin, loaded with Soviet Russia After Ten Years Report of the American Trade Union Delegation to USSR ministered by In those fields where no questions « 1 al education are ir d, a ions exist. Practic public pen to all, here tl ey than the fz dis le in favor of the wor At the the lower childre duc dinary sense of the tern lowances are frec Notwithstanding ditions which have pre\ ent, the achievements a new g cl system, and at ortunate in the or- maintenance al- upper but y provided. severe economic con- iled up to the pres- the development of have been large. in educational system The expenditures on education aré now in ex- cess of the pre-war figure. In the 1926 elementary education was e) about as widely as in 1914, while secondary, vocational, professional, and higher educa. tional, professional, and higher education were much more widely extended. The greatest achievement of the revolution thus far, however, the development of thousands of additional institutions, such as centers for liquidating illiteracy, schools for adults, trade union schools, party schools, cots tage reading rooms, workers’ and peasants’ homes, and young people’s clubs. The curriculum of the lower schools is chars acterized. by a large emphasis on the social studies, aimed to indoctrinate children with the ideals and attitudes of collectivism. The curriculum also emphasizes the methods and findings of the natural sciences, with the aim of developing in the children a definite ma. terialistic outlook. is In the realm of purely cultural interests, such as language, literature, and art, racial and national minorities within each republie are given an extreme measure of freedom, but in the realm of economic and political ideas adherence to the generally accepted policies of the U. S. S. R. is required. As in every other country, a teacher is not permitted te express in school ideas which are con: trary to the principles on which the present government is founded. The social and political status of the teach. er has been improved, but the absolute econ- omic status is not yet as good as it was be f fore the revolution, though the relative ‘stata \in comparison with other professions is bet- ter. The number of teachers who have beer ‘dismissed or who have left the schools be \cause of the revolution is certainly not more than five per cent. A strong effort is made to relate all instrue- tion to the community, the state, and the needs of the working class. Pupil participa. jtion in the government of the school is em |phasized throughout the educational system, The educational authorities have mapped out a most ambitious program for the rapid expansion of education during the next de cade. It is still !argely on paper, because the money to achieve it is inadequate, so- that its fulfillment must wait upon the realization of the economic program. (To Be Continued.) (The jull report oo the. American Trade Union Delegation to Soviet Russia, as pub= lished here by courtesy of Internationab , Publishers, can also be obtained in book form at all bookstores. ) —— British Inspire — Seizure of Soviet Ship With Big Cotton Cargo CAIRO, Egypt, Oct. 31 | ous international complic | Zeared as the result of the sei — "Carolina Senator | Threatens Split in. Democratic Party WASHINGTON will be two deme Seri- are a the Chi-| | 000 worth io} 31.—There cets entered {of cotton. The cotton w: pur- : OR y i | As a consequence the Fascist Delegation to USSR chased by Soviet representatives | |i" the 1928 p 1c cpollaiie | cele at Bari were sus- h 3 next Demo m abolishes iN thru the medium of the Equitable fhe: twoothied nator Cole ATHENS, Oe Despite the | Trast Company of New York. H South Carolinas, aradietel a -_—~ | repudiation of Gou who attempt- jure of the ship by the Rares micarm cect, ed to shoot President Kondouriotis, | | British-dominated Government is : hy the Communist Party and despite | | ce n to draw a sharp note from Which is the Sata Gouss with the Wit Troops in Solomon Islands to Attack Native Town. | able to | SYDNEY, Australia, Oct. 31.—A| Narge naval force has been landed | |from the cruiser Adelaide and is pre- said he | paring to attack Bassianos, a village | | despond The | jing in advices received from Tulagi today. The islanders against exploitation and heavy taxes | ficials. era, io’ used the shooting as censorship of the labor p series of raids on labor o wound and the president condition develops he will soon The prisoner, lamination today, tion with the Communist Party. lent and tried to kill Kondourj- jin the Malaitta island, according to| otis in sheor desperation. The Communist Party recently revolted | Goussios. s denial of any connection | | the Soviet Union. >» Party, the government has | © an excuse for a and a yullet inflicted on CHIC. 31 Chicago ing a fight for re AGO, the hospital. 2g Unless toxie be leave. during a second ex- denied any connec- He | was out cf work, hungry and to create’ more aries—now th federation’s bu garet Haley, wil! repudiated | TOKIO, ‘Oct hama yesterday. Chicago Teachers Hit Unfair Tax Evaluation ederation is le aluation of the pr perty of big taxpayers in an effort city inco: lotted to education and teachers’ sal- tened with a cut. ess manager ppear before state tax commission Nov. 2 and submit evi- | stump in dence showing connivance between the board of review and big tax payers Recently the Greek government re- | resulting in unwarranted tax cuts, and killed a number of minor of- | fused. to give the Greek Communists . Australian labor has steadily | permission to send a delegation to | , protested against the dispatch of the | Moscow to participate in the Tenth | warships partic: ipated in the Cruiser Adelaide against the island-| Anniversary of the founding of the Soviet government, More than 158 | naval review off the coast of Yoko- y, will lose her mvention if the se explained. ich conditions, he added, the South will bolt the convention, hold nd place a second (FP). The i. 4 hanged, Blease will support any Governor Al e to be al- | the two-thirds ed. Jf it is, J shall favor my ate’s delegation withdrawing from the convention and I have so*stated my position on the South Carolina time and The Mar- | time again.” Blease sated that his favorite candidate for the Democratic nominas |tion was Senator William EB. Borah, the Idaho “Progressive” Republicdin Blease said he believed P, Coolidge would be renominated by Republicans. r huge