Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-06
bOLSHEV|K, PROGRAM
TO LIMIT PROFITS
Leon Trotzky, While Russian For
cign Minister, Explains His Views
TO American Professor.
WILL NOT ROB THE OWNERS
Factories Will BE Operated for So
ciaI Wclfarc-WilI Force Capital
lists to Rcinvcst Portion OF Their
Income.

Associated PresS.1
NEW YORK, May 5.--Prohts OF Rus
Star factory owners are 10 be limited
to > or per cent on their Investment.
and the manufacturers are 10 bc re-
CURED TO rclnvcst quarter Of their
profits. under the Eolshevik economic
plan as outlined by Leon Trotzky, in
an interview with Professor l.. y.
Ross. OF the University OF Wisconsin.
Professor Ross was sent 10 Russia by
the American Institute OF Social Service
to study the social conditions OF that
country. and has reported his conclu-
sions To the institute. The Boshevik
revolution took place while Professor
Ross was in Russia. Trotzky was For
eign Minister when he explained tn"
Eolshevik economic program
rs it the intention OF your party
to dspossess the owners OF industrial
plants in Russia" Professor Ross
asked him.
No TrotZiSy replied. I'VE are not
ready yet 10 take over all industry.
THAT viii come in time. but no one
can say how soon. For the present. we
expect out OF the earnings of fac
tor! 10 pay the owner or per cent
yearly on his actual Investment. What
We aim at now is control. rather than
ownership"
What DO you mean b. control"
Il mean that we Will see 10 II that
the factory is run. not from the point
o. view OF private profit. but from the
point OF view OF social welfare demo-
ideally conceived. For example, we
will not allow the capitalist to shut
up his factory in order TO s;arve his
workmcn into submiss!veness. or be-
cause it is not yielding him profit.
II it is turning out economically a
needed product. it must be kept run
ming If the capitalist abandons it,
lie will lose it altogether. for board
OF directors chosen by the workmen
will be pu; in charge.
Again. control implies that the
books and correspondence Of the con-
Germ Will be open to the public so that
hcncetorth there Will I've no Industrial
secrets.
do YOU propose that the PROFITS
earned by a concern shall be divided
among its workers." asked tho pro-
fcSsOr.
No" said Trotzky. "proft-sharirg is
a bourgeois notion. The workers in
a mill will bc paid adequate wages
| MI tho profits earned will belong TO
socicIy. II is only pure profit that
woild be divided "
"Whcrc will tho money come from
that will build new factories"
I'VE can impose on the capitalis' u
whom VIC allow a dividend of or {
per cent on his capital tho obligation
to rcuvcst in some industry a part
say % per cent OF what he receives.
"lf in Russia you hold tho capitalists
down 10 or 6 per cent. while In Other
countries they can hope Tor twice "r
thrice rs much return. won't Russia
be stripped Of capual'''
They wont he allowed to romov,
their capital from Russia az Will" sai'
Trotzly significantly
Il submitted tho Bolshcvik program
10 various Russian economists. and al
agreed that The Russian workmcn are
100 ignorant and shoI,-sightc!l 20 con
form 10 the "ound principles which
may be held by their leaders," added
Professor Ross. Conscious OF being
masters Of the industrial, properties
they viii not submit themselves To in
dlspnn5.hlc discipline. They Will 80
follow the counsel OF technical m"t
and They Will eat MP the capital" s.
I that Before the factories have beer
long in their hands it will be imp IS
.iblc TO keen them going