New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-26
Expects Lenine
ToLead Russians
Against Germany
M. Fainberg Says Bolshe-
Wiki Head Demands More
Than Kerensky


her vast population still manages to
get along somehow. Recent dispatches
from Petrograd disclose that banks are
open, the machinery of distribution is
still working and supplies are reaching
the army and cities. Where is the Sc
cret of this phenomenon What is it
that keeps Russia from complete in
ternal collapse? Answers to these
questions were given yesterday by NJ.
Fainberg, of 3O9 Broadway, who is the
purchasing agent in this country for
the All-Russia Cooperative Union and
representative of its Moscow Narodny
Bank.
The Cooperative Union, II. Fainberg
declares, is one Of the chief forces that
generated the revolution and is now
sustaining it. 1t is feeding a great part
Of the people, feeding the soldiers, OPP
Grating most of the industries, includ-
ing the factories abandoned by the
original owners after the Gar was
Owe rthrown, and, working through sew
en- ministers of the current Provisional
Government, is endeavoring to resolve
the present chaos into some semblance
Of order.
Union Wants Peace
The union wants peace. In fact. NJ.
Fainberg says, il recently proposed an
international cooperative congress ito
establish international economic rela-
items and to devise means for the
LIQUIDATION of the war and the CONSOLE
dation of fraternity"
"But," said VI. Fainberg, whatever
the fate of Lenine or Trotzky or Keren-
sky, the All-Russia Union of Consum-
crs' Cooperative Societies will see Rus
STA through. 1t is the chief stabilizing
force, and intends to keep Russia in
tact.
"Kerensky fell because the Allies re-
fused to state their war aims. ! would
not be surprised to see Lenine leading
the armies of Russia against the leu
tons, because he demands of the Ger
mans concessions for peace more dras-
tic than President Wilson. Through it
all the union stands for Russia"
Specifically the cooperative union of
Russia is an organization which en-
braces about 100000 people, practi-
cally half the population of that vast
country. The peasantry and working
classes of Russia organized the first
cooperative union in 1865, soon after
the liberation of the serfs.
Fought by the Gar
Fought by the autocratic government
of the Gar, which frequently sent lead
ers of the movement 10 Siberia, the
local societies multiplied slowly until
1898, when they were strong enough 10
assemble a convention in Moscow to
organize the union. Eighteen societies
joined that union. Its membership
grew until 1905, when the members Of
5000 consumers societies, comprising
mostly factory workmen who had to
tight the abuse of high priced factory
stores, took part in the abortive revolt
of Red Sunday"
To-day there are $4,000 local consum-
ers' societies in Russia, comprising 3D.
100000 families, and these, working
through credit unions and banks, of
which the Moscow Narodny is the larg-
est, have undertaken the colossal task
Of rehabilitating Russia, forcing idle
workmen back into industry, and send
ing equally idle soldiers into productive
activity.
Keep Order Throughout
cit kept order when all the forces
and agencies OF the old government
were disrupted" explained NJ. Fain-
berg. ats leaders opposed going into
politics at the time. but circumstances
forced an issue. The union called the
Cooperative Congress in Moscow last
September and voted with Kerensky for
a strong army 10 keep Russia intact
and for a continuance of the alliance
with the Entente"
The situation to-day with the Maxi
malists in power. VI. Fainberg as
serted, was, in his opinion, entirely the
result Of the attitude of Great Britain
and France in refusing to restate their
war aims.
The Importance attached 20 this by
the Cooperative Union was. he said, not
due to any particular adherence TO the