Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-16
RUSSIA PLANS TO
REHhDILlTATE Her
LOST INDUSTRIES

Moscow. Feb. 24-(MaiD Leon
Trntsky, the Russian War Minister,
may assume q now job, that of di-
rccting the rehabilitation of Russia s
big industries. if plans which are to
be presented to the twelfth congress
Of the Communist Party, meeting in
Moscow late in March, are carried
out. Trotsky it is understood. would
continue to act rs director of the
fighting forces Of Russia. but will
devote most of his time to the heavy
task of whipping Russian factories
into shape. He already has worked
out plans to this end, and will pre-
sent them to the congress.
Trotsky's ability as an organizer
would long ago have been called into
play in this particular job had it not
been for opposition by some members
of the party, who considered that the
war minister would enforce military
control over the workingmen. 1t is
said that in the beginning Trotsky
will close down many Of the factories
which are poorly equipped or poorly
managed. utilizing their machinery
to strengthen the mechanical equip
ment of the better factories which
are to be operated with larger forces
to bring about a normal output.
In addition to discussing plans for
industrial betterment, the party con-
greSs is expected to devise means TO
bring about Il better feeling between
the "Ncpmen," as the businessmen
developed by the new economic policy
are called, and the actual prolctarlat.
The "Nepmcn" have no votes. but
their growing prosperity has greatly
alarmed some Of the more rabid COM
munists, who see in their extension
the danger OF restoration Of old
time conditions in Russia. Premier
Leninc sounded the keynote eff the
conference policy in recent state
ment in which he declared that the
basis of the social reconstruction OF
Russia rests upon the collaboration
of the two classes. He has proposed
tina, about 100 of the most honest and
best Understanding communists ne
formed into Il special department.
authorized to inspect the working OF
all government institutions and in
dustries. with the aim of ironing out
any difficulties that develop in the
relationships Of the two classes. They
are to act in collaboration with the
central committee of the Communist
Party, forming body Of perhaps 400
men whose decisions would be Nlrtu-
ally final.
1.-The basis of Russia's social recon-
struction rests upon the collaboration
of the workmen and peasants on the
one hand and the bourgeoisie on the
other" Lenine said. The bourSeolsle
are now being allowed n little loeWay.
Should serious class differences arlse
between these two classes. then
clash is unavoidable. But the ncces-
sary conditions for such Il sptt DO
not exist in our structure, and the
chief aim of the central comml PC
should be to watch very carefuliyali
conditions out of which Il splltfmlEht
develop. and TO warn all that IN the
end the fate of our republic Will de-
mend chiefly upon whether the peas
ant masses will follow the WORKING
classes. or unite with the "Nepmen.
The clearer we have this possibility
before our eyes, the better the work
men and peasants will understand 1t,
and the better will we be able to
avoid n rplit that would be ruinous
to the Soviet Government
The party congress Will devote also
considerable time to projects Tor the
prevention of bribery, and to curtail
the red tape which now entangies
most government bureaus. Lenine IN
his article says that with the eXcep-
ton of the foreign Office, virtually all
of the government departments are
today as they were in the old days.
using the same old typical bureau
cratic methods.