New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-24

strike are punished with a brutality
unneard of in Western countries.
5trlkefs are not only imprisoned, but
deprived of their rations
Martial Law Rules
Almost all branches of industry are
under martial law. Workers cannot
change from one factory or occunntion
to another. They are forc:blv enlisted
IN so-called labor armies and over
time is compulsory
trade unions do not exist az indie
pendent bodies; they are subordinated
70 a. central organization and thus con-
verified into h compulsory government
apparatus.
"As a result Of this policy the Rus
sian industrial workers, being put into
desperate position and unable to
obtain help from their own organiza-
Mons, desert the cities and go to the
villages"
Because large number of workmen
have deserted the cities and are seek
ing to earn their living in the country,
the document declares that Gin order
to save the situation and to detain the
workers in the towns the Soviet gov
eminent has had recourse to measures
of compulsion."
From the beginning of 1920 mill
tarlzation Of the Russian industries
has been introduced" continued the re-
port. This measure was at first ap-
piled Only to the railways, but gradual
~ it was extended over the coal mines,
metal industries and finally over the
timber. -four and sugar industries.
"Militarlzatlon means complete and
absolute subsection Of the workmen
to the works arrangements. 1t en-
bodies number OF stern measures,
also restriction of leases and cruel
suppression of strikes
ut is needless to say that the Soviet
government suppresses strikes by
severe measures; the strikers are ar
rested, deprived of food rations and
even shot"
Wages Insufficient
Overtime work is compulsory, It was
stated, and the Russian metal worker,
whose working time is normally eight
hours day and forty-four hours q week,
is now twelve hours day and seventy
two hours week Sometimes COM
pulsory work is performed ON Sun
days, which makes eighty hours a week,
1t was stated.
Seeing that the remuneration in
money is quite insufficient" continued
the document. "the Soviet government
, shows tendency to pay the workmen
in kind-food and clothing However,
tins remuneration is equally INSULT
cient. In Petrograd each workman has
ration card a. which entities him
to from one-fourth to one-half pound
of bread day. This, together with
the 'Nasic card gives pound of bread
a day. Other necessaries are distrib-
uted occasionally and differently in
various districts
"1n Petrograd this summer Card "a
entitled the holder to five or six
pounds of wheat, three or four pounds
| of fish, one-quarter of pound of
tobacco and three quarters of pound
of sugar month a head.
Footwear and clothing are distrib-
uted irregularly, and, therefore, it is
impossible to state even approximately
how much a worker gets of this kind
of remuneration.
Workmen from the Kolpinsky
Works (near Petrograd) announce: 1T
is sad and shameful to think that the
Russian workman is condemned to ex-
tinction owing to the foolish economic
policy of the Bolsheviki. Half of the
Russian proletariat already have per-
ished. Outside the towns there is food
in plenty; it is, however, impossible to
get at it. Purchase and sale are pro-
hibited; prices are high beyond rea-
son.
"a workman from the Pootiloff
| Works Gin Petrograd) says: In the
full sense of the word we are starving,
as we exist on bread and Soviet soup
alone. We are completely exhausted,
owing to excessive overtime and INSULT
cient nourishment.'