Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-10-08
CRACKING OF RIFLES
CONTINUES IN RUSSIA
Hardly Day Passes But the
Death Sentence Is Made
Effective.
SOVIET RULES nurlLEssLY
&pcculntors Flourish. hut the Govern
ncnt II Busy DrNi>inE Means tn
cot Their Money Away From
Them.
tBy Associated Pross.l


RIGA. Oct. 7.-Thc cracking of the
''ihcs OF squads of cNccutioners con-
tinuos throughout Russia, and may
be heard simultaneously with the
'aitoo- OF workmcn's hammers en-
a;aged In the actual repair and re-
construction OF buildings throughout
The land.
That reconstruction has begun and
IS slowly continuing without import
"nt assistance from foreign conn
'r!cs. and that tho Soviet has not
changed Its unrclenting and ruth
less policy toward its political foes.
're two outstanding phases of the
Nussian situation evident TO tho cor
respondent OF the Associated Press
who has gone to Riga after an eight
months stay in Russia.
Hardly day passes but somewhere
IN the country the death sentonce
for political offenscs Is made erec-
tive, but ct the same time no day
dawns without the beginning OF some
new task, the purpose of which is to
Put in order buildings and streets
That were wrecked during the rcvo-
luton. Prisoners doomed TO die look
from their windows ont on busting
street scenes and smiling people who
have torSotten politics in the pleas
nre Of building new fortunes as trade
opens UP.
RuIrs RuthIcSsly.
There have been no changes in the
fundamental policies OF the Soviet
government. but its tactics now seem
- he strikingly summed up in the
phrase of a foreign observer at Mos
COW: Assist or wink ut anything
which ultimately helps us In the re-
construction OF Russia; relentlessly
crush any one who dares TO raise his
land against us politically"
Spectators flourish. but the gov
eminent is busy devising means to
got th"ir money away from them
these men pay heavy taxes: dine Mt
siupcndcuS prices in x-burdcncd
restaurants. and play baccnrat for
l'iEh stakes at night in tho casinoes
from which the government takes
7hc lions share of tho profits. To
we spectators tho government is
Jake the Gods OF olympus. permitting
Us children 10 play at business. but
threatening them with n thunderbolt
:; they dare 10 take part In the po-
litical game.
The government makes no secret
az 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
Dictatorship the existence of the
masses in Russia is beginning TO run
smoothly. While the CORES pondent
5 VA: In Moscow he was assured by
government leaders that no political
freedom would be granted Russia.
liut 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 per-
'sonal advancement
No Imp0rtnnt Jrurikfnr
Throughout Soviet Russia there Is
not today. nor has there been for
months. single important uprising.
The Communist control IS tighter and
more complete than ever. The Com
mittee of Investigation Is outwecd-
'nSly. trying and convicting various
minor officials who accepted brides,
and Is thus endeavoring to build up
a bureaucratic machine which Will
operate strictly in accordance with
orders from the central government
The old Cheka has ben abolished.
and In It's stead there has come IN
The orga nization known as the po-
1!t!cal police. Tho latter does not in
tcrfere in mems private lives, hut in
politics they are rs omnipotent as
ever. Al one timn the political po-
lice could shoot people first and try
them afterward, Today tho method