The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-10-11
Executions and
Reconstruction Mark
Russian Policy

IL Riga, Oct. THE cracking Of the
! rifles of squads of executioners con-
tinues throughout Rassia, and may he
beard simultaneously with the tattoo
OF workmen's hammers engaged i'll
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 cut &.
standing phases of the Russian sltua-
tion evident to the correspondent o.
he Associated Press who has come
to Riga after an eight months stay in
Russia.
Hardly day passes but somewhere
IN the country the death sentence Ter
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
IL, 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
forgotten 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 it's tactics now seem
to be strikingly summed up in the
phrase of foreign observer at Mos.
cow: assist or wink at anything
which ultimately helps us in the re-
Ct Instruction Of Russia; reientiessiy
crush anyone who dares to raise mis-
hand against us politically"
Spectators flourish, but the GOV
eminent is busy devising means to
get their money away from then.
These men pay heavy taxes; dine al
Stupendous prices in taX-burdened res
taurants, and play baccarat for hien
stakes at night in the casinoes from
which the government takes the lions
share of the profits. To the specn-
: lators the government is like the Coos
of Olympus, permitting It's children
20 play at business, but thu eatenn,.
them with thunderbolt if they dave
to take part in the political game.
The government makes no secrc, pf
its dictatorship, and the people are
SocominT accustomed to this and SIC
y happy in their daily lives un;er
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
tiredsof war and strife, they now Sc.
ample food before them, coupled with
the possibilities of personal advance
ment.
Throughout Soviet Russia there is
not today, nor has there been for
|rmonths, a single, important uprising.
The Communist control is tighter and
more complete than ever. The Cor,-
mittee Of Investigation is outweedling.
trying and convicting various minor
officials who accepted bribes, and is
thus endeavoring to build up hu.
reaucratic machine which will operate
strictly in accordance with order )
from the Central government.
TIL old Cheka has been abolished,
End in its stead there has come up the
organization known as the Political
Police. The latter does not interfere
in mems private lives, but in politics
they are as omnipotsnt as ever. AZ
one time the political police could
shoot people first and try them after.
ward. Today the method is to have a
court trial first and then carry out
the execution, or to send suspects
into exile withot trial.
To foreigneurs in Rssia the leaders,
make no effort to conceal their policy.
They are not ashamed. They have
confidence in the policy of doing