The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-26
A Timely Editorial
Russian Industries Reviving

From the Christian Science Monitor
 In an interview in London, pub lished in this newspaper, MT. Rob- ert W. Dunn gives an Illuminating view of the revival of industry in Russia. The specific industry with which MT. Dunn deals in this in- stance is the cotton industry. In this phase of national productive ness, the Russian people are return ing to the normal basis on an im- pressive scale. In two mills in Pet rograd, formerly owned by J. < P. Coats of England, but now nation alized, this revival of industry has reached point indicated by the employment of 1900 workers, as compared with 2,000 before the debacle, and the working staff is being increased every month.
 A significant sidelight on the progress, of events in Russia is fur nished by MT. Dunn's comment upon the fact, that, side by side with the growing volume of produc- ton, the once suppressed co-opera- tive system is reviving. For the workmen in these two establish ments. though paid in the vastly de preciated currency of bolshevized Russia, are spending most of their earnings in cooperative stores. What is going on in these two cot ton mills in Petrograd is true of a wide variety of industries in Rus sia. Even in the basic industry of transportation is plainly visible. process of rehabilitation, of inn provement, of slow but sure re- turn to normality.
 The return to productivity IS be- ing carried out by the soviets. And what is the soviet? It is the under lying machinery of democracy in Russia-underlying, in one sense, the vast accumulation of economic error and administrative abuse that the communists have piled upon 1t since they came into power. In this connection it is essential to un- derstand that there is no inherent connection between the soviets and bolsheyism. Bolshevism seized upon the soviets as the machinery of democracy, dating far back into Russian history, to carry out its own purposes. But the hold of the bolsheviki upon the soviets is weak. ening, slowly perhaps, but surely. The soviets are ridding themselves of the incubus of communism. They are returring to their original func- tion as instruments of democracy. As they rid themselves progressive ly of this devitalizing influence, they are returning to the business of democracy in it's normal aspect the business of producing, of adding to the resources of life and of the accessories that make for comfort. for happiness.
 Disclosures like that given by MT. Dunn are of great importance in this moment of stress and con fusion, when the world is striving to return to it's normal basis, and striving to some extent against the thwarting activities of statesmen The return of Russian to Its tradl tional power of producing will mean much to civilization. The return of Russia itself to it's rightful higl place in the list of nations is being effected side by side with-zanc through the agency of-its revivine power to add to it's own wealth ano to the wealth of nations. Great things, of deep significance, are go ing on in Russia. And the basic change that is going on in that vast country of bi-continental propor tions is the gradual restoration o1 ;fc Y,nxvcr tn nroducA