The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1921-05-05
More Light on
BOlSheviSt Rule

turned home, when he went to Russia
as correspondent.
THE soviets are pretty solid polit-
ically, but economically extremely un-
sound" said Mr.. Fay. "They may
have TO give way TO firmer form OF
government, and one wherein property
rights must have some say The people
In the cities are the most unfortunate.
for they are so underfed. The govern
ment sends out expeditions TO requsI-
ton food from the farms. but the
peasants do not take kindly 10 the
appropriation of their products, and
are heartily opposed TO the soviets,
although they Will be slow TO take
any action.
Real Property Taken.
Sometimes the peasants ambush
these expeditions and kill them, but
these cases have not been very numer-
Gus. All real property has been taken
from those who owned the land. IL IL
not likely that they VIII ever be able
to recover any Of II. but all this propa-
ganda by those who have come out OF
Russia and have lost their estates will
be OF little avail, In my belief, for Il ~
extremely unlikely that Russia will re-
turn to the old form of government.
There are very few Americans IN
Russia now. The government does not
take kindly TO visitors, and travelling
has been made very difficult, They do
not like 20 have travellers come through
from Siberia, and no one IL allowed 20
enter from the southern countries OF
Asia. Another newspaper man and my
self were the only two Americans com
ing through from Siberia, and when
we arrived In Moscow the authorities
did not seem 20 like II, but finally they
sent us through TO Finland. and In this
way we came out of the country.
I'm Siberia Americans are very popu-
lar. ms America has done a great deal
for Siberia in sending clothing and
other aid TO the people. and also be-
cause the United States government
did not recognize Kolchak. But the
Russian people In the more western
areas are very bitter toward us, as
they feel that we offer greater re-
slstance than any other country, and
they say that we are the last strong.
hold Of capitalism. Their ideas are
that communism Is bound to prevail
oil over the world, and that they will
win out.
Issue Ration Cards.
''Ratlons are served TO every one in
Russia, but there is really great order
there. A traveller gets one pound OF
black bread day and one-half pound
of sausage and some salt sugar and
tea, but the residents only get one
pound OF black bread and no sausage.
They give you ration cards for which
you can draw from the government
stores, but only one meal a day. You
must buy the rest from whatever
sources you may be able 10 find. There
are government restaurants and there
are also some public markets In Mos
COW, but the government means to
eventually control all food products
and dispense with the public markets
they would do that now, but they find
II difficult to prevent those that are
open.
There Is no gasoline to run the
trucks and automobiles, but they use
as substitute spirit made from
potatoes. This Is also drunk quite gen
orally as a stimulant. II Is poorly
made alcohol and not so good as the
vodka that they used TO have In former
times, but II Is consumed In great
| quantities. Prohibition prevails,
though. all over Russia and II seems
| to be good thing.
"The American dollar Is now worth
from 1000 to 1900 rubles, but the
money has 10 be exchanged secretly.
While | was In Moscow ! heard that
Emma Goldman and Berkman had been
GENT out TO one OF the Russian prov
inces 10 collect data on some pretext
or another. rs thev were very unwol-
co, e TO the BOlsheviki. The govern
r,e1 was greatly annoyed that tho
Upi.e1 States should send an Fchists
10 Russia, as they do not recognize
them there. The soviet form = not
anarchistic,"