The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-08
Engdahl Talks at Health
Conference in Moscow
Confined from Pare Onel

WOEheIS IepuDliCS since Lne bOlSneVlk {
revolution.
1t was not difficult to talk to this |
great assemblage, many of whom
were highly skilled scientists and re-
nowned specialists in their profession.
They were all united in the common
struggle, not only to combat disease
in all its forms, but to eliminate the
causes of disease as well, a struggle
made possible by the building Of
new social order that is crushing the
profit system underfoot. / was pre-
sented to this audience by the first
assistant peoples commissar of
health, 2. P. Soloviov, who was act
ing as chairman. l said in part:
Engdahl Speaks.
"Comrade chairman and comrades
of the Sixth Convention of the Health
Departments of the Soviet Union. In
no country in the world outside the
Soviet Union does there exist a peo-
pies eommissariat of health as part
Of the government. This is so because
in no country where the rule of
profits exists, is the class in power
interested in combating and eliminat-
ing the causes of the diseases that
ravage the working masses.
"In the United States we have a
department of state that carries on an
aggressive campaign in the interests
of American imperialism. 1t is wag-
ing its fight today against Mexico,
Nicaragua and China. In the cabinet
of the American president there also
sits a secretary of commerce, Herbert
Hoover, to help protect profits
wherever they are endangered, and to
expand this robbery of the masses.
But there is no secretary of health in
the government of the American
profiteers.
Unity For Health.
within the borders of the Soviet
Union you have achieved the unity of
the health departments. Thruout the
Union one system of health protection
is maintained that is centralized in
the peoples commissariat of health.
You have already achieved tremen-
dous progress in winning the partici-
patton of the masses in the health
work of the Union, thru drawing the
workers and peasants into co-opera-
tive activities with these health de-
partments. You have developed the
program, not only for curing the sick,
but also for eliminating the causes of
disease.
"You are to be congratulated on
the able leadership of Comrade-Doctor
Semashko in carrying on this work.
Even in far off America we have
heard Of the able and constructive
work directed by Comrade Semashko.
The health authorities of America
are forced to recognize his worth,
even tho the profit system that keeps
workers enslaved under disease-breed-
ing conditions in American industry
makes it impossible for them to carry
out in the United States the system
you have established here. Comrade
Semashko recently presented the
health work in the Soviet Union to the
international family of health depart
ments at the health conference re-
Gently held in Paris But not until
the workers in other lands have also
won their victory over the profit sys-
tenn will it be possible for them also
to inaugurate the war against disease
on the broad and effective scale that
you are carrying it on here under the
banners of an emancipated working
class.
Workers Watch.
"Thus the workers the world over
are turning their eyes toward your
congress here, and It is with the earn
est hope Of world labor that your
achievements viii soon spread TO all
lands, that | greet you in the name of
the Communist International and also
Of its American section, the Workers
1 (Communist) Party Of America"
Many Of the remnants Of czarism
still persist among the so-called "pro-
fessional" classes. This includes the
doctors and physicians, some of whom
chafe under the fact that they do not
enjoy the best Of conditions. while
the Workers Republic strives to do
It's uttermost to lift the level Of the
masses, that was low indeed under
the czarist tyranny. Thus / urged
that the intellectuals, especially in
the professions, must become the hon
est and devoted afifoe ~ Che ,,,...l.....