The Connecticut labor news., 1921-07-22
Machinists President on Return From Two Months Trip Tour of Investigation Tells of RuSSia's Trials.

"While 1 didn't get across the bor- der into Russia, l learned great deal concerning conditions there, sad William Ii. Johnston, president Ot the International Association of Machin- ists, when visited in his headquarters in Washington last Monday within a few hours after his return from two months tour of Europe. "l was as sured that denial of passports by the soviet government was political and not personal. The soviet legations in London, Berlin and Riga extended me every courtesy and would have issued me permission to cross the border had they the power"
 Mr. Johnstons primary object in going to Europe was to confer with the official staff of the Federation of International Metal Workers at Berne, Switzerland, with which the International Association ot Machln- ists is affiliated, being the only Amer iCan labor organization now holding international utilization Of any kind. He also visited the International La bor Office at Geneva, which, he says, Is functioning in splendid fashion and doing a great service for wage work CTS throughout the world.
 Metal Workers Oppose War.
 At the Rochester convention of the Machinists last October a resolution was adopted declaring that the metal workers of all civilized countries should refuse to make munitions for another great war, and instructed President Johnston to take the matter up with the Federation of lnterna- tional Metal Workers.
 Il found the official staff of the Fed eration at Berne very sympathetic with the action taken by the Amer iCan Machinists," said Mr. Johnston My conference there was exceeding ly satisfactory and the program out lined at our Rochester convention IS to be the first item on the agenda Ot the Federation when the next inter national convention opens at Luccrne, Switzerland, on August s.
 The metal workers everywhere are opposed to war and unless they pro- duce the munitions there can be no war, despite the statesmen and poll ticians who create the causes of war"
 MT. Johnston stated that before sailing from New York on May 4 he had assurances that himself and Frank L. Mulholland, of Toledo, Ohio, attorney of the 1. A. of M., who accompanied him, would be per mitted to enter Russia. This permit was expected to be delivered to them upon reaching Riga, i'll Letvia, on the border line. It was not there and MT. Mulholland started on his return journey in few days.
 Reason Given by Soviets.
 The soviet legation at Riga lnterro- gated Moscow, where the Third In ternationale was then in session. Ali ter waiting two weeks without re ceiving a reply, MT. Johnston return ed to Berlin and then to London. Ii was in the latter city that he rece1ved the following message from Foreign Minister Litvinov, through the soviet legation:
 "Inform MT Johnston that we can not talk of trade as long as the Amer iCan government continues to follow a policy toward Russia that takes away from both sides the most ele- mentary guarantees upon which the success of trade relations is SO de pendent"
 That ended all effort to enter "the bringing back an intelligent report gained from observations made inside the Russian borders. As shown by the foregn mnsteris telegram, this de nial was based upon the political re- lations between the United States and the soviet government of Russia.
 Wilhelm Riga and Berlin MT. John ston met numerous representatives ot the Russian government and others who had studied conditions there. In telling of the information obtained through these sources, MT, Johnston gave the following as his impressions:
 "Conditions in Russia are bad and are not improving. The eventual so- lution of the kind of government Rus sia will have rests largely with the peasants, who outnumber all other dl- visions of the population. There are comparatively few communist farms. Bulletin No. AZ issued recently by the All Peasants Central Association, says that of the estates formerly owned by Russian landlords, Sc per cent. are operated by peasants and only 2 per cent. went to communist holdings: The other I2 per cent consists ot forests.
 This year may tell the story of Russia's future Since the soviet gov ernment was established the peasants have been permitted to retain only sufficient subsistence for themselves and household The remainder was IdKel Dy lllc SON NCl llIllClll. Ilo Ne'l the peasants decided to grow only what would be required for their own subsistence and there would be nOth- ing left for the government to take.
 Lenine's Change of Policy.
 "This has caused Lenine to change his program of dealing with the peas ants He issued a decree substituting a tax in kind' for the purpose of in Creasing the amount of ground under cultivation. This would also fix the amount of produce to be paid over to the government on or before Decem- Der 5, 1921, the peasant to retain the remainder and do with 1t as he pleased It is believed, however, that this decree came too late to help the situation very much. The only way of communicating with the great mass of peasant farmers in Russia IS by word of mouth, very large per centage being unable to read, and messengers are sent throughout the country to announce the government deCreeS.
 "Co-operatives are medium through which practically all trade is conduct ed in Russia. Consumers co-opcra- lives are formed by the compulsory enlistment of all citizens wit hin a given area, while producers CO., operatives are formed by vol luntary enlistment. General supervision IS placed in the hands of the commis-
 o.+ hnI nt CT