The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-12-04

The Chicago Tribune of Sunday,
Nov. Is, contained an article on wages
in Soviet Russia. In scareline it
stated that the maximum salary of
doctors is $42. There was also a long
list of wages paid to various categor-
les of workers.
The purpose Of this article was
clear. The Chicago Tribune, sympa-
thizing with the viewpoint of Emma
Goldman, the "arch-revolutionist
tried to depict horrible conditions, in
Soviet Russia, in which even such es-
sential parts of social organization
as physicians are supposedly suffering
physical misery.
Confronted with Mighty Tasks.
The salaries of physicians have
been low since the revolution. The
Soviet government had several mighty
tasks upon taking power. The first
one was to resist the attacks of the
capitalist governments, including that
of the "arch-democrat and advocate
Of self-determination of peoples"
Mr. Wilson. The second one was to
fight the counter-revolutioh within the
country, fostered and financed by the
United States, British, and French
governments, as admitted by Savin-
kov, one of the main conspirators, who
was captured and in Moscow SEN
fenced to prison in the month Of -Au-
gust; and as declared by Nitti, the
Italian statesman in work entitled
1.-THE Tragedy Of Europe-and Amer
icaT The third one was to rebuild
the industries destroyed by the war
and counter-revolution The fourth
one was to secure the position of the
working class. The fifth one was to
adjust the relations between the work
ing class and the peasants.
The editors Of the Chicago Tribune
might do well to study the history of
the United States. Let them find out
how the American colonies looked
after the revolution in 1776; let them
delve little into the history of the
reconstruction period after the civil
war. Then let them begin to talk
about conditions in Soviet Russia.
Enemies on All Sides.
Soviet Russia undertook the solu.
ton of the above tasks almost in the
order given above. The Soviet gov
eminent, beset on all sides by enc
mics, had to perform the most neces-
sary tasks first. The defense of the
revolution was the supreme task
and the workers and peasants sacri-
feed themselves as no other people
have fought to preserve the fruits Of
the revolution. And what is more
they saved them. Only one who has
been in Soviet Russia and has talked
with the workers would realize what
they think about the revolution. They
hate the bourgeoisie with all the hate
that workers who have lived thru gen.
erations OF oppression can feel. Per-
haps the best indicator would be their
attitude to American agricultural
communes made up Of American
workers and farmers who have settled
IA Doficb huohld Inc American
workers we're better dressed, they had
a full equipment Of machinery. The
Russian peasants thot they were the
bourgeoisie returning to the country
Hence they eyed them with suspic.
ion, until convinced Of their real ma
ture.
Attack Domestic Problems with Zeal
Having saved the revolution, the
Soviet government-and before the
government, the Russian Communist
Party which is responsible for the ac-
tivities OF the government-turned to
domestic problems with increased
zeal. The situation of the proletariat
was the first consideration. There
was unemployment, housing condi-
tions were poor owing to the destruc-
ton Of the war period and the general
deterioration Of dwellings, which could
not be combatted for lack OF funds
and time. Municipal soviets attacked
these two problems, especially in
1924. As the industries were not
able to install new machinery. owing
to lack OF capital, the existing machin
cry had TO be reofganized and put IN