The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-05-22

In Ekaterinoslav we visited three of such
clubs: that of the metal workers, that of the
building trades, and a general Workers Club.
All are splendid institutions. They were so
thronged with workers that it was often difficult
to thread our way through the innumerable
rooms and departments. All three have big
theaters and that night were running moving
picture shows The metal workers club, enor-
mously popular, is located in the steel mill dis
trict. The building workers have outgrown their
present establishment and are building a mag
nifcent structure hard by. The general workers.
club with 1000 members, is located in a former
capitalist club house. The furnishings are rich
and luxurious.
Lenngrad.
PROM Moscow to Leningrad is about $50 miles.
The last time travelled it was in 1921 1t
then took 20 hours on dilapidated train. Now
our party covered it in II hours on a train up
to-date in all essentials. AS we approached the
city the smoke pouring from the forest of factory
stacks showed that Leningrad is also experience
ing the revival of industry common throughout
| Soviet Russia. In 1921, the many factories now
humming busily, were closed and dead. The city,
which, in 1917, numbered 100000 inhabitants,
had been reduced to 100000 principally because
the workers. confronted with industrial paralysis,
| had fled into the country to escape the famine.
approximately 1,450,000 people and is steadily
increasing. The Nevsky Prospect was alive with
activity; whereas in 1921 it was bare streak
of desolation, all the shops being closed and the
walls a-tatter with the remnants of proclama-
tOns posted up during the previous years of revo-
lutiOnary struggle.
We were met at the depot by Ugaroff, secretary
of the Leningrad Trades Council, and body
of other trade union leaders. We were whsked
by auto to the Hotel Europe This is the big
gest hotel an Leningrad. yItis patronizeda prin.
cipally by diplomats, miscellaneous foreigners
and local NEP-men. These elements are given
the privilege of paying very freely for what they
get. The profits of the hotel go to repair and
build homes for the workers in Leningrad The
general manager was formerly machinist
SmoIny.
WE had only three days to spend in Leningrad
so had to utilize our time. Our guide, Hour
witch, was wonder at his trade and a dramat
ically revolutionary figure such as one can only
find in Soviet Russia. He had been soldier
in the struggle against Yudenitch, AN agitator
a president of a trust, a representative of the
Actors Union, etc. He was literally saturated
with the history of the revolution and he knew
Leningrad and all its institutions like a book
Before going to the factories we decided to visit
those three famous revolutionary centers
SmOlny, the Winter Palace, and the fortress OF
| st. Peter and st. Paul.
The SmOlny Institute was the headquarters
of the workers. forces in the revolutionary strug
gle against Kerensky. 1t was there they arrived
at the historic decision to seize power from the
Kerensky government. While we were visiting
the place a meeting of peasant delegates was in
progress in the very hall where this decision was
made, and they insisted upon our speaking to
| thpm Formerly SmOlnV was seminary for
daughters of the nobility. Now it is the head
quarters of the Leningrad Communist Party
| Many. of those whom we encountered praised the
accuracy Of John Reeds book, 'STen Days That
Shook the World" which portrays the stirring
events that centered around this birthplace OF
the revolution.
/ An interesting feature Of this historic build
ing is the room in which Lenin lived and worked
in the early revolutionary days. 1t is very