The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-10-18


NOTE-Correspon of the
Associated Press who We're admit
ted 10 Russia with the American
relief workers found the economic
conditions there of great interest.
The bars against free trading had
been removed by the Leninc gov
eminent and the people We're again
allowed to buy and sell without
danger of confiscation. But wages
in Russas deprecated currency
were fantastic.
This condition is described in
the following article, written by
one of the men sent into Russia
and who has previously reported by
cable the famine situation.
MOSCOW, Oct. 1S.-Russia' struggle
to recover economic normalcy over
shadows all political consideration and
is the one subject which is command
ing the attention of Russians of all
parties and sects.
The contention of the Bolshevists
that food and manufactured articles
had been boarded has been justified
10 certain extent by the sudden ap-
pearance upon the markets Of nearly
all kinds of foodstuffs and notions.
Marwet stalls and small shops open.
ed speedily after the declaration of free
trade in domestic commerce. Needles,
pins, thread, nails, toilet articles. cloth.
shoes, timed milk, Australian corned
! beef, English bottled pickles, pressed
]
cults and various household articles
and furniture made their appearances
suddenly.
| Prices are so high that only the
wealthy, as wealth goes in Russia to-
day, can buy extensively. But the mar
ket folks do such a lively business that
the bolshevist claim about extensive
boarding of money! foreign as well as
Russian, is also supported to a consid-
cradle extent
Larger shops have not opened ex-
tensively in the center of Moscow and
the small hatters, shoedealers and
clothers have chiefly confined theii
activities TO various street markets and
bazaars AS the weeks of free trade
drag on, merchants are becoming more
secure in their position and have ap-
parently lost all fear that soviet gov
ernment threw open the market for
the purpose Of drawing goods out OF
hiding and confiscating them.
People Starve With Bread in Sight
In one of the worst famine centers
on the Volga The Associated Press cor.
respondent saw hungry refugees starv-
ing within sight of markets where
bread, meat and all sorts Of food We're
displayed in great quantities for sale
at prices entirely beyond the reach
of the average Russian peasant
"Why don't you seize the food and
feed these people?" the correspondent
asked a provincial governor who was
not able to obtain enough food TO give
10 900 orphans scanty ration.
THAT would only make food scare
err" the governor replied. 1T would
drive all the supplies back under cover
and the well-to-do would not be able
to buy. Consequently they would have
to depend on the government rations
and make the situation worse. When
money and manufactured articles can
be exchanged legally for food the peas
ants bring their supplies into the mar
kets and the burden which the govern
ment has in collecting food is lessen
ed"
Russians who are in the worst plight
are the formerly well.to-do who nave
not found employment under the soviet
government. Employees of the govern
ment all get some food. Consequently
all departments are greatly overstaffed
and the clamor for positions is deafen'
ing Salaries are small and the scale
| is so varied that it is impossible &c
learn what the standard is. But EN-
ployes work for food rather than fol-
money. One woman clerk in the for
eign office told the correspondent that
she received 1000 rubles month. \
soldier employed as guard at gov
ernment guest house says his wage is