Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-10
RUSSIAN WORKING
MEN TO- DO THEIR
PART, DUNCAN SAYS
Member of American Mission
Says He Looks for Close
AffiIiation Between Govern
ment and Labor

q
WASHINGTON, Aug s.-America,s
work toward rehabilitattng Russia was
taken UP by officials today who had be-
fore them extensive reports and adj
vices of the mission headed by Elihu
Root s
Details of the general report which
holds cut high hopes for the future of
Russia still are kept secret. Mr.. Root
believes that any information Regarding
the Observation-Disclosures shoula-oome from
President Wilson The White House to-
day had not indicated any intention to
make them public. other members of
the commission, while refusing to dis
cuss the report, are anxious that it
be published as quickly as possible be-
cause they believe it would be of great
aid to the United States in understand
ing true conditions in Russia
Six special reports probably will be
submitted to different departments of
the government. Upon arrival in Rus
STA each commissioner was given
special assignment to cover some particu-
lar branch of the new government.
The assignments were as follows: Mr.
Root, ministry; Charles Edward Russell
workmen's council. political parties and
socialists; Cyrus H. Mccormick and
Charles r. Bertron, finance; James Dun
can, labor; John r. Mott and Charles
r. Cranei religion; Major General Hugh
L. Scott, army; Rear Admiral James
H. Gleason, navy.
REPORTS ON LABOR.
Reports on labor conditions particu-
larly are being eagerly awaited by gov
eminent officials and labor leaders, be-
cause of the great activity of working
men in the formation of the new gov
eminent Although Mr.. Duncan has not
completed his special report, he gave
IN pP nf the nTinSPinal
features of 1t today that he might set
at rest conflicting stories which have
gone broadcast.
1.-The Russian working man certainly
will do his share" Mr.. Duncan said. He
has done 1t already and he is entering
in the spirit of the new government
with a whole heart. When the scheme
of the government is finally rounded
out, he will be found to have a big
hand in 1t and he will discharge his
duties properly.
Gradually the workingmen are as
similat ting the .dea of organization and
| expect them to round out some sort
of a federation, embracing both skilled
and unskilled labor, more similar per-
haps to the British system than to
ours.
Russian workingmen still are daz>
zled by their freedom to organize. or
uIlueT the SAdiS l1Cy AiAO hO la
Dor organizations. Now that they have
organizations they scarcely know how
to operate them. 1t is not unusual
for the workers to leave their benches
in the middle of the day. call meet
ing and advise their employer that they
are displeased with conditions
THE eight-hour day, enforced soon
after the revolution, has greatly pleased
the workers. 1t is a wonderful sight
TO see workers who have been tyran~
nized for years, coming out of factories
at o'clock in the afternoon with moth
ing to do until tomorrow,
I'm many cases wages have been
raised 100 per cent. This seems large,
but when it is remembered that wages
IN Russia always were low and 1t was
rot unusual for manufacturers to make
from so to 200 per cent, the increase
does not seem exorbitant.
II look for very close af1liation be-
tween the government and labor"
WORKMEN'S COUNCIL.
Describing the sessions of the work.
mems council, in which he sat almost
daily for a month, Charles Edward
RUSSELL said it compared very favor
ably with other similar legislative
bodies. The greatest apparent differ
ence, he said, was in the absence of
laundered collars. Only the newspa-
per reporters wore them, he said.
THE council is very well regulated"
he said. There is no such disorder as
might be expected While there are
more than 1000 members, $40 with
votes and 200 without votes, they are
under good control.
"All members may speak on any prop
osition, if they desire, but speeches are
limited to ten minutes except in the
Of fpi and visitors
The commission took lunch today with
Secretary Lansing. Mr.. Root probably
will leave for New York tomorrow