The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-10-17
RIFLE SQUADS BUSY
THROUGHOUT RUSSIA
HARDLY A DAY PASSES WITH.
OUT EXECUTIONS. RECON
STRUCTION UNDER WAY.


RIGA.--The cracking of the rifles
of squads of executioneers continues
throughout Russia, and may be heard
simultaneously with the tattoo oil
workmen's hammers engaged in the
actual repair and reconstruction Of
buildings throughout the land.
That reconstruction has begun and
is slowly continuing without import
ant assistance from foreign countries
and that the soviet has not changed
its unrelenting and ruthless policy to-
ward its political foes, are two out
standing phases OF the Russian situa-
ton evident to the correspondent oil
the Associated Press who has come
to Riga after an eight months stay
in Russia.
No Fundamental Changes in Policy
Hardly day passes but somewhere
in the country the death sentence for
political offensesis made effective, but
at the same time no day dawns with
out the beginning of some new task,
the purpose of Which is to put in or
der buildings ahd streets that were
wrecked during the revolution. Pris-
oners doomed to die look from their
windows out on busting street scenes
and smiling people who have forgot
ten politics in the pleasure of building
new fortunes as. trade opens up.
There have been no changes in the
fundamental policies OF the soviet
government, but its tactics now seem
to be strikingly summed up in the
phrase of a foreign observer at Mos
COW: Assist or wink at anything
which ultimately helps us i'll the re-
construction of Russia relentlessly
crush anyone who dares to raise his
hand against us politically"
Spectators flourish, but the gov
eminent is busy devising means to get
their money away from them. These
men pay heavy taxes; dine at stu
pendous prices in tax-burdened res
taurants, and play baccarat for high
stakes at night in the casinos from
which the government takes the lions
share OF the profits To the specula-
tors the government is like the Gods
of Olympus, permitting its children to
play at business, but threatening them
with a thunderbolt if they dare to
take part in the political game.
The government makes no secret OF
its dictatorship, and the people are
becoming accustomed to this and are
even happy in their daily lives under
it. Under the iron hand OF Dictator
ship the existence of the masses in
Russia is beginning to run smoothly.
While the correspondent was in Mos
cow he was assured by government
leaders that no political freedom
would be granted Russia But this
seems not to worry the people, and
tired of war and strife they now see
ample food before them, coupled with
the possibilities of personal advance
ment.
To foreigners in Russia the leaders
make no effort to conceal their policy.
They are not ashamed. They have
confidence in the policy of doing
wrong that good ultimately may come,
and they apparently are succeeding,
slowly and painfully, i'll reconstruct
ing Russia, but along their own lines,
and without any important sacrifice OF
principle.
Reconstruction Is Superficial.
The evidence of reconstruction in
the land is more superficial than real
" deep-seated. Streets are being re-
paved, buildings reconstructed, and
railroad passenger traffic is becoming
normal. Industrial plants, however, II
no worse condition than a year ago,
certainly are in no better shape. These
plants need foreign capital but lack
ing this on terms to which the COM
munists can consent the government
is ready to wait until it has surplus
of exports from agriculture. This II
hopes for in 1923, and then and there
after it sees money with which 1t Will
be able to establish industries itself.
In the meantime, with evidence al
hand of enough food to feed practical
w the entire population; with fuel
supply exceeding that of last year,
and with textile works producing a
considerable amount of clothing, the
government expects the population 10
be fed. and warmed, and clad, not
necessarily very well, but still wen
enough to weather another year with
out foreign loans.
To feed the few hundred thousands
of people who still suffer from the
Russian famine the government still
looks to foreign aid. This ,yill permit
it to devote most of the available lam
inc and church treasure funds to
constructive agricultural betterment,
and to the purchase of harvesting ma
chinerv, horses etc.
Nikolai Lenine, premier OF Russia,
though far from strong as the result
of his recent illness, has been the
guiding mind in these general policies
o.v 0OII urDr,c A