Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-11-15
LIFE IN SOVIET. RUSSIA
Peasants Faring Far Better Than the
.,,,,...t. - .Industriaiists. ?, -.

feaSartS fdTing Ear bettoT nan tf'e
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The Russian peasants have Jared
best under Soviet rule, despite the fact
that the government laid stress on the
betterment of the condition Of the city
workmen, and communists, who are
mostly city. and town workers. accord
ing to an Associated Press correspond
ent> writing from Moscow. -. q.
Except in the, famine areas where
over 2O,00o;000 are necessitious peas
ants, the farming population has, kept
the pot boiling and managed to eat
much. more regularly than,the city
men, The great majority Of the
metropolitan population has returned
to the land .a ..-s.,. .I..,.
The Bolshevik prevention Of free in
terror trade has starved the cities
whose people had to go to the coun-
try for food carrying with them their
personal belonging which they traded
for potatoes and flour. AS conse-
quence the thrifty farmers have be-
come wealthy. -.
|, AS wealth goes in the village. they
have ,horded rubles, household articles
and wearing apparel which the city
folk have brought in exchange for
bread.
The peasant women also have TAX
en- on the. fashions of their city sis
ters, struggling in vain to make them
litter of pigs, flock OF chickens and
q potato patch, the peasant woman
had the most desired commodities in
Russia and she exchanged flour, vege-
tables and meat for the trGppings Of
city. life. Humble cabins are filled
with gaudy tapestries, gilt furniture,
pianos, musical Instruments. Dresden
china, hideous marble and bronze orna-,
ments. silver dishes, opera coats and
shoes. ss..
The rugged peasant girls with
broad shoulders, muscular arms and
large feet, which Is the result of years
of ploughing and hoeing and wood
,chopping,, present a strange appear
ance in their tiny aigretted hats, short
skirts and slippers which the village
shoemakers have fashioned after the
Partisan models for feet only accus-
toned to the boulevards.
Investigation seems to show that
the peasants are generally pleased
with the governments new system of
taxation whereby the farmers must
surrender a fixed percentage OF their
crops in taxes, for they are finding II
far more preferable to, the old re-
QUESTION system. They are not resist
ing it to any considerable extent and
seem confident that only, fixed
amount will be taken. .a.
The present system Of free trade
reminds them of old times and they
are generally showing satisfaction.
The government seems to be gradually
winning them over in a .half-hearted
way. ..
Meantime the government finds Its
pet sprotegees-the city workmen--
are faring worse and worse. and they
seem much disgruntled. Free trade
is of no assistance as the people are
lacking the money to buy. In addi-
tion the government is unloading the
responsibility for the feeding of the
workmen.
The outcome of the complete mo-
nopolization of trade is probably
wholly different than the party lead
ership intended and the party are
now finding it diffucult to explain
their good intentions to the indus
trialists whose families lack food and
clothing.