South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-05
bOLSHEVISI HAVE
HARD TASK AHEAD
Writer Who Made lnveStiga-
ton Says Economic Prob
lens Are Most Pulling.
By FRANK j. TAYLOR.
Copyright 1879

BY nifeN Irtr5s
PARIS. June 5.-The economic
pIanks I'm the bolshevik platform ap-
pear 70 be the weakest part OF the
soviet structure.
Rebuilding Russia Is almost a SUI
perman problem. Even the bolshe-
Wiki are beginning 20 wonder II II
can be done through bolshevism.
They are also beginning 20 realize
that bolshevism stands or falls with
the results Of their economic expert
rnents. since communism has made
everyone dependent upon the state
for a livelihood. The bolsheviH have
Voluntarily shouldered the enormous
task OF feeding. clothing and financ-
ing everyone in Russia. SO far they
have been able TO meet the doubters
with the statement:
I'VE have had no chance 10 de-
velop the economic phases Of COM
munism owing 20 political and mill
tary opposition"
Increase Wages, But
Soviet Russia is in the throes Of
a race between the money run off
the printing presses and the increase
OF prices and wages. BY confiscating
all the bOurgeoisie's printing press
es the bolsheviki have kept pace
and they have increased wages al
most monthly 10 meet the rising
cost or living
Everyone has begun TO wonder
II this financial marathon can be
stopped short OF an actual collapse.
The peasants have become skepti-
cal and refuse to sell food for
roubles, which the bolsheviki print
in huge pages like postage stamps.
A number OF times I have seen a
commissary reach into a desk
drawer. pull out a square yard Of
roubles and hand IL 10 someone.
who would tear off a string Of a
dozen or more without bothering TO
separate the individual 90 rouble
pieces. Strings like stamps are car
ried by everyone.
New Industries is Problem.
Stimulating factory production
and replacing individual initiative
is a problem that bothers the boil
sheviki. It is not difficult TO take
over a number Of factories and run
them by means Of soviets, but es-
tablishing new industries is another
matter. A new supreme economic
mission has been appointed in an
effort 10 stimulate industry and re-
place capitalistic initiative. So far
its accomplishment have been con-
fined to planning.
The greatest test OF bolshevisn
Will come when their army is de-
modified, necessitating their coping
with an enormous unemployment
problem. They are Offering conces-
sions 10 induce capitalists. foreign
preferred, TO build up the railways
and new industries. which the state
would take over at the end OF a
number OF years. But they want the
capitalists TO grant the same labor
conditions as the nationalized indus
tries where the working day ha:
been reduced 10 six or eight hours
and wages are decided by the
unions The capitalists declare it i.
impossible TO meet these condition.
since the state makes up the de
fcits under which the communizeC
industries are operating.
Can't Handle Food.
Getting food &c the industrial cen.
tiers is a difficult problem owing Il
the shortage OF locomotives. which
is due 20 military demands.
There is plenty OF food in Rus
STA. villages are overstocked while
Pctrograd and Moscow are starvina
ON rations-though money buys anv
thing. at eXorbitant prices. from tn,
street markets. which the boIshevix
no longer seek 20 control. The gov
eminent sells a limited amount o.
food to these cooperative markets
recognizing three official categories
Full rations for manual laborers
light rations for office workers an,
hunger ratiOns for the bourgeoise
Everyone is obliged 10 patroniz,
these open markets. When was il
Petrograd recently these price
We're quoted 10 me.
White flour, 1000 roubles
pound; butter. 200 roubles a pound
sugar $50 roubIes pound: bread
so roubles a pound; potatoes. q
rouhles a pound
The average wOrkman's wages ar
60 roUbles "a day. With four-ffth
of the factories idle. railroads. in dis
repair. building run down and no
body taking a personal interest il
anything rebuilding Russia is al
most a hopeless problem. even 70
The idealistic bOlsheviki.
AUTEN CHAPEL.
Charles King and family and Har