The Mena weekly star., 1920-08-05
LIFE !. OF SOVIET WOMEN
Mrs. Phillip Snowden, Noted English Suffragist, Tells of Conditions in the Russia of Today From
 Feminine Viewpoint.
lRr International News servIeel

|
 London. Aug. 3.-"Life for women , in Soviet Russia is unspeakablly hard.v said Mrs. Phillips Snowden, noted English suffragist and wife of the former Labor Member of Parlia- ment, who has just returned from Russia, where she went as one of two women members of the British Labor Party's delegation.
 sThere is no public criticism of Comunist principles or policies, 7 she said Those who criticise are classed as counter-revolutionaries, and the Extraordinary Commission takes care of them. The Communists thought to use us as propagandaists and arranged demonstrations at which we were advertised to speak.
 "The Bolsheviki have convinced the people that both Great Britain and the United States are on the verge of revolutions. l took every opportu- nity to tell the people how they had been misled. Bolshevik officials did not like it, but the applause from the people was surprising"
 Speaking of women and conditions generally, Mrs. Snowden said:
 q got first-hand information about an American newspaper woman, l was unable to learn where she was from. or whom she represented. but her name is Mrs. Harrison. She has been held in Russia for three years and will not be permitted to leave until after the war is over. She is not in prison, but is covered carefully by a spy.
 Emma Goldman, compared with the Bolsheviks, is a spotless lamb of mildness. She is very unhappy and is utterly out of sympathy with the Communist Administration; it's rigidi- ty is alien to her principles. She is spending her time looking out for the comfort and interests of the other deportees and quarreling with the Bolsheviks. Their treatment of the anarchists has made her very bitter.
 'sThe theaters are one bright spot. The care which the Soviet Govern ment takes of children is another. Country houses have been turned in to centers for the little ones and they are well cared for, l never saw miserable child all the time 1 was in Russia.
 But life for women is unspeakably hard Every woman whose services are not absolutely essential at home
 that Is to say, every woman who has no small children--has been con- scripted to work in the fields or fac tories. In addition to this work, they still have to care for their homes ito stand, in long queues, for the merest scrap of food; to build fires without firewood. They have no clothes except what they have had for years. There are no styles in Pe- trograd later in 1914. The efforts which the women make to appear presentable are pathetic. When I was in Petrograd went to birthday par ty, given in honor of distinguished poet. One of the lady guests wore a cloak of sable which was simply price less, but her toes were coming thru her shoes.
 "The Bolshevik Administration. as saw it, is neither democratic nor socialist. It is a merciless war ma chine. And the people are supporting it; first, because they are intensely patriotic and fear that division may mean conquest from an outside foe, and second. because they do not dare to oppose it.
 'I found nothing in the rumor that women had been nationalized. There is absolutely free divorce In the United States if both parties wish divorce that is an almost certain bar to obtaining it. They are accused of collusion. In Russia that is the only reason which need be given But if only one party desires a divorce the couple are put on probation for three months and so given an opportunity to reconsider and patch it up. Then, if one still remains dissatisfied. the divorce is granted.
 Russian women still find consola- tion in religion. The reports that the churches had been closed by the Bol- sheviki and the ikons and ornaments confiscated were untrue. It is true that the Soviet Government has for bidden the use of the word God" in the public schools and that the Church Is no longer under the con- trol and protection of the State, as a privileged institution.
 q found that Russian women, like English and American women. were chiefly interested in education, child welfare. and those matters of public interest which affect the home. I found them divided politically, but silent when they held views in oppo- sition to the Government, because the country was at war. Until Russia is again open to the trade of the world and at peace with her enemies no one will know how Russian wom- len really feel about Bolshevism."