The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-02-12

detlclt OF o6%o. For the year OF 19Z5
the deficit expressed itself in the fig
ure Of 40. And for the year of 1926
the budget had no deficit. Is this
not sufficient testimony to the inn
provement of the economic state of
the Union of Soviet Socialist Repub-
lies?
"The Soviet Union is a country
with an overwhelming majority of the
agricultural population of the peas
ants. From the 144,000,000 compris-
ing the entire population, 120,000,000
live in the small villages, thus leaving
only 24,000,000 as the population Of
the cities. Thus the economic situa-
ton of the peasants is Of greater
significance. Let us look at some
statistics concerning the cultivated
area, during the years 1913, 1920 and
1924. In the year 1913, the cultivated
land of Russia amounted to S8,000,-
600 desyatinas (acres). In 1928 it
amounted to 100000, and in 1924
it surpassed the pre-war figure, hav-
ing reached 104,000,000. This is in
disputable evidence of growth and
improvement in peasant economy.
Explains Unemployment.
CAS- to unemployment in the Soviet
Republic, it assumes a specific char
acter, that differs most essentially
from the unemployment in other
countries. The unemployment in the
Soviet Union results not from disin-
tegration of industry, not on account
of the workers losing their work, but
on account of the influx Of workers
from the villages. This gravitation
of the peasants to the towns indi-
Gates not so much a still existing diff
ficult situation in certain parts of
the peasantry, but more still de-
sire of the peasant youth to live near
centers of culture. The youth wishes
to study, wishes to construct its life
on a new basis.
CAS- to the state of commerce at
the present moment, there is no COM
parison with the conditions existing
previous to the revolution. AS the
most striking example, let us take
foreign trade. During the czarist
days, the principal objects of produc-
ton were purchased abroad, while at
the present time the main commodi-
ties imported from abroad are mach
ines for the increasing of production.
Zone of the most often heard re-
proaches against the Soviet Govern
ment, is that it is giving big conces-
sions to the capitalists of foreign
countries. But this charge is COM
pletely groundless. Previously, all
the riches of the land where found in
the hands of foreign capital. But
at the present time, in spite of what
our adversaries may say, the conces-
sions granted by the Soviet Govern
ment are very few. So, for instance,
Germany, which received from US the
greatest number of concessions,
counts throughout the Republic only
twelve concession societies. England
has eight such societies, Norway,
three.
"The Soviet Government gives
much attention to the economic i'm
provement of the Jewish people.
Those Jews who wish to remain on
the land as agricultural workers re-
ceive all kinds of assistance neces-
sary from the government. Many Jews
have colonized in the Caucasus, in
the Crimea, in White Russia, and in
the district of Homel. The majority
OF these colonies find themselves in
state of prosperity.
Zone repeatedly hears charges
against the Soviet Government for
its severity towards its enemies. 1t
is strange to hear blame for this
from a country like the United
States. This country led not less
violent struggle for its independence,
when it was not yet the United
States, but colony belonging to Engt
land, and George Washington, who
headed and led the struggle for this
independence, is to this day the ma
tional hero. The difference btween
the struggle for independence of the
United States and the Russian Revo-
luton is simply this, that the Russian
Revolution forced out not only the
foreign exploiters, but its own nobil-
ity and landowners, who were not
in the least better, but perhaps worse
than foreign exploiters.
"The lives of the workers in the
Soviet Union are being continually
improved. The average worker re-
ceives 612 rubles a year. Unemploy-
ment is continually diminishing, and
for the skilled worker unemployment
has ceased to exist long ago. In
fact, a lack of 100000 skilled work
ers is being felt at the present time.
Medical Treatment Free.
"All the workers have the right to
free medical treatment, as we'll as
to sanitariums.
"The Union of Soviet Socialist Re-
publics is a beacon light for the
workers of other countries. These
see the conquests Of the workers Of
Soviet Russia, and they conceive the
hope that the time will come when
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