The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-23
Moscow Correspondence
by William r. Kruse.

of them on every occasion to broaden
and enlarge the workers fund of
knowledge of his country, his class,
his tradition. Thus over practically
every holiday vast mass excursions
are arranged by which thousands up
on thousands of workers spend few
days in cities far from their homes,
there to become acquainted with their
fellow workers and their conditions
and achievements.
Over the Christmas holidays Mos
cow and Leningrad exchanged $500
excursionists. The immense tasks of
organizing such a vast pilgrimage
with the perfection of system and or
der that prevailed turnout, was no
small accomplishment 1t was no free
for-all affair but pro-rata quota was
assigned to each "Meskon," to each
trade union unit in MOSCOW. Thus ten
Z workers could go from among the hun
dreds in the Comintern, ten from the
caspian, five from another, etc. The
actual choice of those who were to ge
devolved upon the union committee.
The expenses of the trip were neglig-
ible-less than the cost of the railroad
fare for fifteen-hour railroad trip, say
New York to Cleveland, and four days
food,-shelter and entertainment. Only
eighteen rubles, $4,000 were charged.
A circular was distributed to those in
tending to make the trip outlining
the program and what was to be TAX
en- along-bedding, lunch for the train,
a cup, coap and towel, etc.-and also
instructions to appear at one of the
many clubs at Sunday noon before
the trip for further instructions. At
these meetings the itinerary was ex-
planned in detail, the accommodations
to be furnished were exactly describ-
ed, questions asked and answered and
mandates distributed. The day before
the trip the shop chairman distrib-
uted final notice giving exact time
trans and buses reached it, and yet
with every necessary detail covered.
THE station at the time of departure
L was jammed yet there was not the
slightest confusion. Thanks to the
directions everyone knew just exactly
what to do and where to go. Here
and there a call from some belated
lost sheep would lift itself from the
crowd; "Vtoraya gruppal" and an
answer from some corner OF other
would give the needed directive.
Everyone came on time-that is,
nearly everyone. Those who waited
until the last minute were good nat
uredly but sharply kidded by their
companions. Anyone who did not
come on time was entirely out of luck
for the train left on the minute-and
all groups we saw were full.
A word as to our monitor, or "Star-
osta." A finer type of human would
be hard to imagine. He was a big
blonde engineer from the Caspian
standing at least six feet, eight inches
in height, without an ounce of excess
weight on him. He looked after his
flock like veritable shepherd, seeing
to it that all 80 were present. that
they had their baggage, then that they
f. were supplied with sleeping places
that all had had chance to see what
was TO be seen, and that the voluntary
translators had fully explained the i'm
portant points to the unfortunater
who could not understand Russian
Aside from the Comintern group he
was the only party member in the q
excursionists. and there were only
two Komsomol (Young Communist
League) membership great mass be
ing everyday nonpartisan workers FOL
whom the Soviet government is open
ing undreamed Of opportunities FOL
travel and recreation.
A RRIVING in Leningrad after {
A night of singing and jolli1catiol
and little sleep-we load our bag