New Britain herald., 1922-11-17
PLANS KEEP RUSSIA BUSY
But Executioners Are Also Hay
 ing Hands Full

Riga, NOV. l1.-Ine cThshihs VI khe rifles of squads of executioners contlnues throughout Russia, and Iray be heard simultaneously with he tattoo of workmens hammers en- kaged in the actual repair and recon btruction of buildings throughout the )and.
 That reconstruction has begun and Ia slowly continuing without impor- ant assistance from foreign countries hnd that the Soviet has not changed ts unrelenting and ruthless policy toward its political foes, are two out standing phases of the Russian situa- lion evident to the correspondent or |The Associated Press who has come to Riga after an eight-months' stay ln Russia.
 Hardly a day passes but somewhere In the country the death sentence for political offenses is made effective, but at the same time no day dawns without the beginning of some new task, the purpose of which is to put an order buildings and streets that were wrecked during the revolution Prisoners doomed to die look from their windows out on bustling street scenes and smiling people who have fcrgotten politics in the pleasure of building new fortunes as trade opens up. There have been no changes in the Fundamental policies of the So- vjet government, but It's tactics now seem to be strikingly summed up in the phrase of a foreign observer at Moscow: Assist or wink at any thing which ultimately helps us in he reconstruction of Russia; relent- essly crush anyone who dares to raise his hand against us politically.
 Speclilators Flourish.
 Speculators flourish. but the gov ernment is busy devising means to get their money away from them. These men pay heavy taxes; dine at ztupendous prices in tax-burdened restaurants, and play baccarat for high stakes at night in the casinoes from which the government takes the lions share of the profits. To the spectators the government IS ike tho Gods of Olympus, permit ling its children to play at business, but threatening them with a thun- derbolt if they dare to take part in the political game.
 The government makes no secret of ts dictatorship, and the people are becoming accustomed to this and are even happy in their daily lives under t. Under the iron hand of dictator ship the existence of the masses in Itussia is beginning to run smoothly. While the correspondent was in Mos LOW 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 ad- vancement..
 No Important Uprisings.
 8srhroughout Soviet Russia there IS Sot today, nor has there been for months, a single important uprising. me, Communist control is tighter had more complete than ever. The coInmittee of investigation is out weeding, trying and convicting vari- bus minor officials who accepted bribes, and Is thus endeavoring to build up a bureaucratic machine which will operate strictly in ac- hordanoe with orders from the cen tral government. A t.
 The old Cheka has been abolished and in its stead there has come up The Organization known as the po- itical police. The latter does not in- erfere in mems private lives, but in colitics they are as omnipotent as eyer, At one time the political po- ice could shoot people first and try them afterward. Today the method to have court trial first and then tarry out the execution, or to send Buspects into exile without trial.
 To foreigners in Russia the leaders make no effort to conceal their pol cy. They are not ashamed. They have confidence in the policy of do- ng wrong that good ultimately may eome, and they apparently are suc- ceeding, slowly and painfully, in re- constructing Russia, but along their pwn lines, and without any important Eacrif1ce of principle.
 Reconstruction Work.
 The evidence of reconstruction in Inc land is more superficial than really deep-seated. Streets are being epaved, buildings reconstructed, and railroad passenger traffic is becom- ng normal. Industrial plants how ever, If in no worse condition than h year ago, certainly are in no better bbape. These plants need foreign rapital,3 but lacking this on terms to which the Communists can consent, fhe government is ready to wait until [ has a surplus of exports from agri- culture. This 1t hopes for in 1928, hnd then and thereafter 1t sees money with which it will be able to estab- fish industries
 In, the meantime. with evidence at hand of enough food to feed prac- ically the entire population; with a Euel supply exceeding that of last year, and with textile works pro- 1ucing a considerable amount of blothing, the government. expects the