The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-02-08
WORKERS CITY
EXPELS oilers
And PARASITES
Moscow Gives Bum.
Rush to Social Lice
BY GERTRUDE HAESSLER.

by GEKlKODE HAESSLER.
(Stan Correspondent Of The Federated Press)
MOSCOW.-For some time the
municipal authorities in Moscow
have been struggling with the hous-
ing problem. A vigorous campaign
has recently been initiated to expel
from Moscow all undesirable" and
Socially dangerous" elements. and
those not engaged in socially neces-
sary labor. In connection with this
campaign, the following notics ap-
peared IN all the daily papers in
Moscow:
To All Citizens of Moscow
The acute housing crisis and the
fact that Moscow is being filed with
socially dangerous elements, has led
the State Political Department C..
2. ID to undertake the clearing of
Moscow and the other large centers
of the r. S. +. S. r. from the dregs
of nepism, which, instead of taking
part in normal trade and production,
are exploiting the New Economic
Policy for the purpose of leading a
parasite existence.
In fulfillment of the instructions
of the Government and of the newly
elected Moscow Soviet regarding the
clearing of Moscow of persons not
engaged in socially necessary labor,
the G. P. u. has for the last few
days carried out the arrest and ex-
pulsion of socially dangerous per-
sons.
Parasites Classified.
So far $50 people have been ar
rested, of which 532 have been ex-
PEELED from Moscow. The others
will also be expelled shortly. The
arrested and expelled persons are as
follows:
% Traders in illicit spirits, no.
~ Swindlers and sharpers, 156.
(3) Smugglers of precious stones
and valuta, 100.
(4) Persons with no definite oc-
cupation and living in luxury, 453.
(5) Cocaine dealers, "a.
60 Keepers of houses of i'll fame,
So.
Total, GIG.
The G. P. u. announces that SINH
lar arrests and explosions to outlying
districts of the R. S. F. S. R. of per-
sons without definite occupation and
living parasitic existence in Russia
will be continued in future and the
only way to avoid arrest is for such
persons to leave Moscow and the
Moscow Province voluntarily.
The G. P. u, however, desires
II
in normal trade and industry, pay
ing the required duties, and con-
forming to the laws Of the u. S. S.
R. may continue their occupations in
security, since they are not liable to
arrest and expulsion.
Chairman of the o. G. P. u.
F. DZHERZHINSKI,
Moscow, Dec. "a, 1923.
Contrast with America.
The conception which the G. P. u.
has of socially dangerous" persons
brings to mind the case of old Tom
McDermott, who was a staunch
wobbly. In 1920, in San Francisco,
he was arrested under the criminal
syndicalism law and after his jury
disagreed, he was dismissed by the
court. Immediately after he shipped
out for Australia on a windjammer.
In Australia he visited wobbly head
quarters and he agitated among the
sailors on his boat. When he came
back to San Francisco seven months
later, with all his pay in his pocket,
he was arrested as he stepped of the
boat on the charge of vagrancy-
mo visible means of support" He
was convicted to six months in the
County Jail.
Tom was out of work at the
moment, it is true, and the authori-
ties wanted to ''get him." But the
G. P. U. does not consider as $50
cially dangerous elements" the work.
ers who are unemployed-unless they
have a mysterious source Of income
which permits them to live in luxury.