New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-14

grlpped the people of Russia is
l. not sudden or an isolated phe-
nomenon in that Communist
ruled land. Rather is it one Of the
links in q chain Of economic collapse
which Russia has forged for herself in
her mad threeyear career OF Commu
mist orgy. True, it is the most tragic
link of all, the greatest of the number
less misfortunes that have befallen
Russia, but it is one of a connected
series nevertheless. And as such it is
the most startling manifestation of the
economic collapse of Russian commr-
nism. bringing forcefully to the atten-
ton of the whole world the stark hor-
ror Of the true situation in Soviet Rus
STA
In the sight of this browning horror
of the Russian reality it may be of
special interest at the present time to
review briefly the salient features of
the whole economic experiment of Rus
sian communism, that has transformed
Russia into heap of economic ruins
over which utter starvation has now
cast its black shadow. In order to see
clearly the processes that have oper-
ated IT, Russia in the course of the
Communist experiment, it may be we'll
into three phases.
The first phase, lasting until about
the end of 1919, was a period of at
tempts to centralize the direction of
economic activities and to work out
new forms along basic lines. The sec
ond phase, which lasted until the be-
ginning of 1921, was the period of COM
pulsion. when the Soviet regime at
tempted to make it's economic system
work by means of mechanical regula-
ton and the application of sheer force.
Finally, the third phase, in which the
Soviet regime finds itself to-day, is a
period of compromises on the basis Of
economic decentralization and the
gradual giving up of the principle Of
sheer compulsion and mechanical reg
ulation.
Communism Began With
Hay Idea of Building
Communism began its economic
career in Russia with fairly definite
roton of what it wanted to destroy
and very hazy idea Of what it want
ed to build up. The thing doomed to
destruction was the capitalist order,
- kx.sI o$ -
ownership Of the means of production,
employment of labor by private indi
yiduals, profits accruing from such
employment, as we'll as from trade in
commodities that have to be exchanged
one for another by individuals and
groups Of individuals. The system that
was to be substituted for this was de-
fined in terms of abstract justice, but
was more than vague from the view
point of its practical workings.
Capitalism in Russia had two ex-
form of Russia's industrial develop
ment, j. e., factories, foundries, banks,
mines, great trading corporations,
large landed estates; and the second
OIL small scale, in the form of peas
ant economies, home industrial produc-
ton, local cooperatives. The plan Of
the Communist leaders from the start
so far as they had any plans-was to
gain control of the large-scale factors
of production Immediately after their
Eeizure Of government, and then grad
Gsliy to acquire intimate control over
inc rest OF the country's economic life.
90 during the first phase of the Com
munist experiment we find the Soviet
regime devoting practically all its at
tertion 20 questions of industry All
through the first two years of its
career the Soviet regime followed the
policy Of insistent concentration in the
hands Of the state of all the means Of
industrial production through the
process Of the naturalization of
ranks, factories, railroads, mines, etc.
n special apparat~s for the admins
tstion OF these phases Of economic life
was created in the form Of the Su-
I'eme Council of National Economy
and large number Of local councils,
az o. them part Of the Soviet gov
e'nment- All those working in these
ha''onalizcd enterprises became en-
p'oycea Of the state, receiving compen-
r''ion for their services, while every
'ang they produced became the prop
city Of the state.
"ufai Economy Still Is
"a Hands Of Peasants
WIN regard 10 agricultural produc-
's'' Inc Communists could not apply
we same tactics, much az they would
"N's n@ed IN do 30. One reason for this
"@s mat IN the case Of factories, banks,
W. tney we're dealing with forms of
.'"honic activity which already had
20" degree Of concentrated control. In
s"' case u rural production there was
s0ch concentration. Moreover, the
N'@' economy WAC, and still il, in the
'9''s 81 the peasantry, VINO constitute
DVef"neiming majority Of the
>sv''at'on and we're, and still are. adj
'a'1'eojy opposed 70 communion. For
~ eheEe reasons, in their dealinyz with