Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1921-06-11
Former Champion of BoIshevik
Theory Of Government Returns
Completely DisiIIusioned.
GOLDMAN WOULD COME BACK
Says She'll Be Good Little Girl II She
Can Only Return-Rubln Narrow
ly Escapes With His LIfe-Liv-
Ina Conditions Horrible.

WISH TO Russia, says COnultlOnS III tiittt
country are appalling under Bolshevik
rule Mr.. Rubin has for number OF
years been prominent socialist ana
went to Russia convinced that the Boil
sheviki had set up an ideal state there.
Conditions in Russia today are al
most indescribable," he said. people
In this country are made to understand
that Lenin and Trotzky are democratic
to the extreme and every one loves
them. The truth Is that the govern
ment over there at present is no diff
ferent from the one under the car
and Rasputln. Just as the peasants
feared the tyranical Romanoff before
his overthrow, they fear the Soviet
leaders now.
There are nine antl-Bolsheyiki to
every adherent to Sovietism in Russia
today, even in such cities as Moscow
and Petrograd where the BolsheviA
are considered powerful. But the peas
ants had to submit when the govern
ment was under the seal of the eagle
and they are afraid to do anything diff
ferent while 1t is under the red seal.
Uprising Called Futile.
eve read recently Of an uprising
against the government in Kronstadt.
Nothing came Of it because the Soviet
officials there are too powerful. Like
wise there could be no successful coun-
ter-revolution in Petrograd or Moscow.
The only places where they might
meet with little success are Odessa,
Kiev and Charkoff, which have not yet
been made Soviet stronghOlds.'
Mr.. Rubin told Of meeting Alexander
Berkman and Emma Goldman in Mos
cow, where they are working for the
government compiling data on the in
dustrial movement since the present
government has been established. They
are both very much dissatisfied with
their lot and Miss Goldman had COM
planned to the interviewer frequently
that she was sorry she left America,
he said.
"But you have free speech now and
should be satisfied" Mr.. Rubin said he
told her.
"Forget It," was her reply.
In the course of her conversation
with him, she said:
"Mr. Rubin, If you use your influence
in getting me back to America l prom
ise I'll be good little girl" Emma is
only one out of many who has seen
the mistake in Bolshevism, said the
former socialist.
Every one In Russia Is eyed with
Suspicion by every one else. Even
Americans in Moscow refuse to talk
openly to other supposed Americans
for fear they might be spies, Mr.. Rubin
said. And he was no different from
the others. When 1t became known
he had a brother who is an officer
In the American Federation of Labor
and a daughter who had been active
III collecting money for the various
drives in this country during the war,
he was looked upon by every one with
suspicion. But when they learned that
he had sent letter to st. Louis
newspaper saying that he was dis
appointed with practical socialism.
their suspicion became greater and he
was thought TO be spy.
Surrounded by SpleA
II knew / would be shot II let
them know what / thought Of them, "
he said, $50 I decided to be careful
with whom 1 spoke. One day man
who said his name was Williams came
to me and declared he, too, was an
American and occupied the room next
to mine. When ne begsn dehounclng
Lenin's government and praised
America / realized he was spy, so
/ praised Russia and complained Of
conditions in America. I thought l
had convinced him, but apparently /
hadn't"
Regularly every week Mr.. Rubin's
room was entered either while he was
out during the day, or at night while
he was asleep, and the raiders
searched for papers which they thought
he might have In his possession. He
was put III luloUu thicc ulhcS WnliS
he was in Moscow, he declared. but
was never kept longer than one night.
In Odessa, however, Rubin did not
fare as well, for he was forced to
spend seven weeks in Jail at the
orders of General Denikine, who
accused him of being a spy for the
BOlsheviki. He was arrested ON Oct.
IA, 1919-just few days after he
landed and was sentenced to be shot
on Jan. "a. Some weeks before the
threatened execution, the American
ambassador obtained his release.
Telling Of living conditions In the
Soviet capital, Rubin said that all
houses we're nationalized, even the
large, costly mansions Of the well-to-
do. Every workingman. he said, must
60 to the housing commission for an
application for rooms If he has a
wife and one child he is permitted to
have only one room; If his family
consists Of five. two rooms are given
him.
There is not a house n the entire
city which is not In need Of repairing
and replumbinE.