The Washington times., 1922-04-04

workers in the labor organizations
brought about bureaucratic deter
| ioration of the trades unions and
alienated them from the masses
| (Sor saying the same thingfs many
workers had been denounced as
| counter-revolutIonist and Skin
ners" and were sent to the Cheka);
II IL therefore now necessary to
establish voluntary membership in
| the unions.
2. The workers joining unions
must not be interfered with or ha-
raised on account OF their political
or religious faith. Shades of the
numerous victims who were dis.
eliminated against and browbeaten
because Of their political views un.
sympathetic to the bolshevikiD
g. The economic reconstruction OF
Russia necessitates the strictest
concentration Of power In the hands
of individual management: there
fore the labor unions must not seek
to control the industries leased or
owned by private capitalists.
Communists Made Supreme.
It is evident that the new eco
nomic policy, supported by Lenin's
thesis on the role Of the unions. is
opening the door to new labor prob
lens and inevitable conflicts. The
settling of all coming labor con-
flicts will be in the hands OF a
higher body" outside OF the trades
unions. Lenin's commission has
already indicated that this highest
authority" of forced arbitration OF
labor disputes is to be no other than
Ia nd "a
International.
II is apparent that the Communist
International means to preserve it's
domination Of the labor movement
of Russia while it is at the same
time bending every effort to gain
control of the labor organizations In
Western Europe and America.
Meanwhile the Russian worker.
under the new economic policy, is
faring even worse than since the
revolution began. He has lost even
those guarantees, few as they were.
that accrued to him as a result of
the revolutionary changes. Especi-
ally In this true in regard to the
hours OF work.
The eight-hour day. practically
universal in Russia for the last four
years, has now been abolished de
facto. According to the official
organ, the Moscow Pravda, of De-
cember, 1921, the situation is as fol
lows: Only Sc out Of 695 Industrial
establishments have retained the
eight-hour work day.
In most of the others work con-
tinues nine hours: in forty-four es-
Adjustments the work day is ten to
twelve hours long; in eleven, four
taar si~taov hauro. In fort -fpnr
workshops no regular hours exist.
Even children have been found. in
some places, to work twelve to four
teen hours.
Bakers Being Exploited.
The bakers are the most exploited
and work longest hours, from twelve
to eighteen. These data refer to con-
ditions in Moscow. the capital of
Russia. In the provinces the situa-
ton is even worse. Thus In the Don
coal district the miners remain at
work sixteen to seventeen continuous
hours. In the state leather factory
in Vitebsk twelve hours constitutes
the normal work day; in the Astra-
khan fisheries, according to the local
representative at the second all
Russian conference for the protec-
ton of labor. the work day is vir-
tually unlimited.
II can be thus seen how the new
policy Of state and private capitalism
is showering its blessings on the Rus
sian worker.
The Russian revolution, however,
has not been entirely in vain. 1t has
uprooted many Of the old notions of
the Russian masses. and the worker
Is no longer the docile slave he used
to be. He has been fed on politics ad
nauseum; he no longer believes in 1t.
Now that he will be able to combine
with his fellows in new labor organi-
cations, he will no doubt try more
direct methods to assert himself.
Lenin and his retinue are sensing
the danger. Their attack upon and
the persecution Of the labor opposi-
ton and the Observation-Disclosures are
continuing with even greater inten-
sity. Is 1t that the anarcho.syndical-
list star is rising in the East? Who
knows-Russia is the land of mira
cles.
Copyright New Y ,ork world) by Press
Publishing Co, 1920
(All Rights Reserved.)