The Washington times., 1921-09-11

TCIuIh ->------
Moscow and before the recent
changes in the Soviet polidies.
He told me his story SIM
ply, sincerely. with deep feeling
and with tears in his eyes. repro
duce II in the same disconnected
form in which he related it to me.
II left the United States for Rus
STA one month after the Soviet rep
resentative Martens had been sent
away" he began. IT went to Rus
STA as an earnest Communist. I be-
lieved that everything was being
done there for the welfare of the
working people. was not an agi-
tator in the United States. was
just a plain Communist, one Of the
rank and file, and like most Of my
comrades, I was devoted to Soviet
Russia. and prepared to make sac
rifices.
HAD FAITH IN SOVIETS.
II was full Of faith in the dictator.
ship Of the proletariat. felt sure
that there was no difference in Rus
STA now between Jew and Gentle.
I knew that there were no pogroms
under Boishevist rule.
whenever anyone returning from
Russia criticized the Soviet govern
ment. we said-and we actually be-
lieved-that he must be in the pay
Of the capitalists. could see no
other reason why these critics at
tackled the government Of the work.
Ing people. In fact, even when
Benjamin Sohlessinger. president
Of the international Garment Work
ers, returned from Russia and men.
toned some Of the shortcomings
OF the soviets. I called him an agent
OF the capitalists and a traitor to the
cause Of the workers. That IL how
I felt before I went to Russia
IT know better now. Others
who believed as did came with
me to Russia, but in . short time
OuE bpulI was ptOhCu ouE
faith shaken. We are disiflusioned.
We realize that We did not know
In America what was actually 60
ing on In Russia
my comrades. the Communists.
gave me q banquet In Philadelphia
before I started for Russia. They
presented me with this fountain
pen on that occasion. Most Of my
friends who could not go to Rus
sia envied me. I wish they could
have gone. They would have be-
como the best American citizens,
~ I have become now. They
would have learned how to appre-
ciate America, with all her faults,
especially as there 10 mono OF the
hooliganism IN Americ& which pre-
walls in Russia today.
LESS EQUALITY THERE.
During the first month noticed
that there are different privileges
for various workmen, and much
less equality than IN the United
States. I saw that Russia has been
turned into an enormous military
barracks. The returning emigrants
ara given q months rest to start
with upon their arrival IN RUSSIA
They do not have to work during
that month. and they get their
food cards as II they were working.
Before the month was over I
was offered good Job by the
government, in connection with the
transportation Of Russian emigrants
across the Latvian border. but I
refused Il. What learned In Rus
sia during the first two weeks was
sufficient to make me deeply dis
appointed.
' "It is enough for someone to say
a word against the government, and
he is arrested. And all those who
happen to live in the same house are
also placed under arrest. And any
name that may be found in that
mans notebook 10 sCTuthizco' oh"
further arrests are made.
ct also was arrested for q few
weeks on account Of an error In my
papers made by the commissary
himself. He gave me a permit to
visit my home town, but dated the
permit wrongly. This led to my
Imprisonment. There I found that
the prison is at present the only
place in Russia where people may
freely criticize the government.
PUPILS SMOKE IN SCHOOL.
when was in the States had
heard a great deal about the so.
called Subbotniki -the Sabbath
workers in Russia. The Commun-
lists in America described the won
derful devotion Of these Sabbath
workers who volunteered to help