Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-05-12
Former Champion of Bolshevik
+ Theory of Government Returns
Completely DisilIuSioned.
GOLDMAN WOULD COME BACK
Says She'll Be Good Little Girl II She
Can Only Return-Rubin Narrow
.Iy Escapes With His Life-Liv-
inq Conditions Horrible.

Milwaukee.-Jacob II. Rubin of this
city, who recently returned from a
visit to Russia, says conditions In that
country are appalling under Bolshevik
rule. Mr.. Rubin has for number of
years been a prominent socialist and
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 Rasputin. Just as the peasants
feared the tyranicaf Romanoff before
his overthrow, they fear the Soviet
leaders now.
'There are nine anti Bolsheviki to
every adherent to Sovietism in Russia
today. even In such cities as Moscow
and Petrograd where the Bolsheviki
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
0erent while 1t is under the red seal
Uprising Called Futile.
I'VE read recently of an uprising
against the government in Kronstadt.
Nothing came Of 1t 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 Charkofr, 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
sdustrial 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 prom
use I'll be good little girl" Emma is
pIu ~ yho
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 it became known
he had brother who is an officer
In the American Federation Of Labor
and daughter who had been active
IN 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 a letter to St. Louis
newspaper saying that he was dis
appointed with practical socialism,
their suspicion became greater and he
was thought to be a spy.
Surrounded by Spies.
II knew I would be shot If I let
them know what / thought Of them"
he said, $50 / decided to be careful
with whom I spoke. One day a 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 he began denouncing
n &c WY W