Evening journal., 1920-01-09

Editors NOte-ln TINS, hdhSuiic
Nffh article. he describes what hap
nened To one factory taken over by me
worlers Thefailure Of the workers TO
control II. and their dependence on the
sNraster'' Of ahe factory illustrates how
the theory Of workman control mas
broken down in Soviet Russla)
drank tea with an old acquaintance
from the provinces, a Russian who De
fors The revolution. owned a leather
bag factory which worked in close
connection with his uncle's taunery
During the flrst revolution, thar is'
rom March TN eetober 1917, he fought
hard AGAINST the workmen, ana VIE
one OF the founders Of a Soviet OF iac-
sory owners, the object OF which was
10 defeat the efforts Of the workers
soviets, by agreeing upon lock-oues,
etc. This. OF course, was smashed by
the October revolution. Uncle ne
said after being forced as a property
owner. 10 pay considerable contriDu-
tions watched the newspapers close
lv realized That after the natonailza-
zion ~ the hanks resistance was hope
less and resigned himself 70 do what
he could. not TO lose his factory alto
he called together all the worhen
and nroposed that they should form
an artel or cooperative society, anu
rako The factory into their own hands,
zach man contributing a Thousand
ronbles toward lhe capital Win wiiicn
"a ,,,n A. Of course, the workmen had
moi rot a thousand roubles apiece, SO
uncie offered TO pay il IN for mem, on
the understanding that they woulu
Eventually pay him back" This was
illegal bin the little town was long
Vgsv from The center Of things, and u
seemed a good way out OF the duul,
cully he did not expect TO sel ~
back but he hoped IN this way TO keep
control Of ahe tannery, which he WISH
ed 10 develop having a paternal ihter-
est In it
Things worked very well. They
elected a committee Of control Uncle
was elected president, was elecled
vice president and there were three
,,orkmen. We are working on those
tines 10 this day They give uncle 1900
rouhles month, me a thousand, and
fhe bookkeeper a thousand. The only
dinlculiv is Rhat the men will treat
uncle as the owner, aud this may mean
trouble n things go wrong. Uncle IS
forever telling them, It's your factory,
don't call me Master and they reply
yes. lrs our factory, all right. bu'
h,sou are stll Master, and that must be-
Trouble came fast enough with We
tax levied on the propertied classes
"fncle.r very wisely, had ceased 10 be
property owner. He had given up
his house 90 the factory, and been al
lolted rooms IN o. as president OF the
farihry Soviet lie was, therefore,
really unable 10 pay when the people
from The district Soviet came to tell
BIN thst nc had been assessed TO pay
: tax of 10000 rOuhles He explained
The posiiion. The nephew was also
present and iolned IN the argument
whereunon the tax collectors consulted
bit OF paper and reiorted, "A tax of
a0,OO0 has been assessed on YOU too.
Be so good as TO put your coat ON
That meant sTrest, and the nephew
said he had 5000 roubles and would pay
that. but could pay no more. Would
that do?
very Wen, sald he TAX collector
"fetch &C."
The nephew fetched it
'And now put your cost on"
But you said 70 would be all right
y I paid the 5000?"
That's the only way to deal with
people Ike you. We recognize thsa
your case Is hard, and we dare not say
that you VIII get or But the Soviet
has told us 10 collect the whole tax or
The people who refuse 10 pay IL, and
they have decreed that II we come
back without one or The other. we
shall go to prison ourselves. You can
hardly expect us TO so and sit IN prison
out OF pity for you. So on with your
coat and come along"
They went, and at the militia head
quarters were shut up into a room with
barred windows where they were pres
entity Joined by most OF the other rich