The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-02-23

efforts at reconstruction. The new
economic policy, the numerous diff
cult problems of rebuilding the coun-
try after years of war and counter
revolution, the complicated social is
sues arising from the Soviet gov
ernment's inheritance of a people de-
graded and oppressed for centuries,
these are the subjects which weave
the story of "The First Time in His
tory"
AS Comrade Trotzky says in his
preface to this book, "Under the
prose Of the Nep New Economic Pol
icy), as well as under the dramatic
events of the civil war, she was able
to see, or perhaps at the very begin
ming, merely to feel-the intense,
stubborn, uncompromising struggle
against age-long slavery, darkness,
barbarism for new higher forms OF
life"
Anna Louise Strong deals with her
difficult subject matter in an admir-
able way. The approach is most real
istic. ain the nations of the West
they speak Of the new economic pol
lev as Russia's return to capitalism.
In Russia they call it, the new road
to Communism 1t is road that
they know will take them many
years. Already in two years they
have advanced farther than they
hoped when they began This is
the spirit Of Miss Strong in her
treatment of the period of August,
1921 December, 1923-two Of the
most trying years in the life of the
Soviet Republic of Russia.
Anna Louise Strong has had an
opportunity to see Soviet Russia at
first hand. Her findings and con-
illusions are based on her own care
full observations.
Among the subjects dealt with in
"The First Time in History" are
the role Of money in Russia, "The
Story of Russian Oil,' the housing
and agricultural questions, "The War
with Alcohol" "Do the Jews Rule
Russia" "The Church Revolution"
and Education in Soviet Russia"
The significance of Soviet Russia's
holding the balance of power in the
present world struggle cannot be
over-estimated and the author has
fortunately taken full cognizance Of
it. The vital point Of difference be-
tween the Soviet method of dealing
with the oil situation and the imper-
ialist capitalist method is made very
clear by Miss Strong. The author
shows how Soviet Russia has gotten
out of the stage Of stocks and bonds
in oil and into the realm Of work
ingmen and engineers.
The treatment of the agricultural
situation in Russia is especially en-
tightening. The author presents
most interesting reaction Of group
Of American agriculturists led by
Harold M. Ware to the effect that the
farmers Of Russia had the best
chance of all the farmers to pull out
Of the great international agricultu-
raj crisis that has followed the war.
Soviet Russia.s terrific struggle
with illiteracy is treated in very
vivid manner and the incompatible
difficulties confronting the first
Workers and Farmers Republic ar
brought home in the citation of many
facts about Russia's educational coz
ditions. We need but mention the
fact that schools in Russia are con-
Quoted in no less than sixty Ian
guages.
In closing, we present the authors
fundamental attitude in order to gee
the reader the message of the book.
"There have been many revolutions
in history, each with its tragic Dig
nifty, its cruelties, its power released.
But never has there been a great
organization, in control of the eco
nomic as well as of the political
resources Of nation, planning stead
lily thru the prose Of daily life fu-
ture embracing many lands and dec
AIDES, learning from mistakes. chang
ing methods but not aims, controlling
press and education and law and in
dustry as tools to it's purpose. =.
This is the common consciousness in
action, crude, half-organized and in
efficient, but the first time in history"
Turnout her story Miss Strong