The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-14
(Continued fron Pane Onel


ism had not left the land thoroughly
impoverished, IL the wars and inter-
ventions had not sucked the nation
well-nigh bloodless, the workers and
peasants could have gone into the
world market and bought whatever
cars they needed. That would no
doubt have set back the industry at
home. The present situation, there
fore, is a sort of blessing in disguise.
Huge purchases abroad would en-
danger the Soviet valuta, hence as
few purchases abroad as is possible,
desperate struggle to develop the in
Gustry at home.
In the machine shop there are
lathes and drills and other machinery
Of the American Tool Works of Gin
cinnati, Ohio; also of the Cincinnati
Milling Machine Co.; testimony to the
admitted fact that the Soviet metal
industry was not yet able two years
ago to produce heavy machinery. But
the "Amo" plant does turn out all
its small tools, in addition to produc-
ing cars.
Most Of the huge auto-buses in
use in Moscow are of the Leyland
make from Great Britain. There is
also French make in q smaller bus.
The workers in the "Amo" plant have
succeeded in reproducing the whole
French car themselves, with the ex-
ception of the motor. They can re-
build the body of the Leyland bus but
not the truck, as yet The auto-bus
that is built entirely here is not as
large as those needed in the big cities,
but is just the right size for traffic
between smaller cities, or from small
suburbs to the big city. Thus the
industry climbs hand over hand to
an ever higher notch of perfection.
100 Per Cent Organized.
When one enters the Ford plant in
Detroit for visit, a paid guide takes
the visitor through the place, accom-
panied by many others on a similar
mission. It is considered very bad
taste to talk to the workers while on
such trips Of inspection. To discuss
hours, wages and conditions of labor
with them would meet with instant
Gisapproyal.
Here in Moscow our trip through
the "Amo" plant was arranged by
Gregory N. Melnichansl1y, head Of the
Moscow trade unions, and our guide
was Vladimir Yelesaiau, the secre-
tary of the shop committee, that rep
resents the interests of the workers,
and collaborates with the administra-
ton of the Soviet State in the con-
duct of the industry. The Metal
Workers Union has a 100 per cent
organization in this plant.
We found Comrade Yelesaiau. who
is a member of the Communist Party,
busily at work in his office, with
stenographer and assistants. Pic
lures of Lenin, Marx and Stain were
to he found on the walls here as every
where else. The shop committee con-
sists of 10 members, with four can
didates. The chairman of the COM
mittee is Alexander Sololow, young
bench-hand, whom the workers have
also elected to represent them in the
Moscow Soviet.
Shop Meetings.
Meetings of the shop committee are
held every two weeks to discuss the
conditions of work and to make rec
concentrations of desired improve
ments to the management. Regular
meetings of all the employees of the
plant are held at which the workers
discuss their problems, criticize the
management if they feel that their
suggestions have not been given the
proper attention, or if they feel, that
their criticisms have not brought the
desired remedies: The shop commit
tee is divided into four committees
that are continually at work: % the
cultural committee that attends to
the educational activities Of the work
ers; ~ the complaint committee that
takes care of the conflicts between
the workers and the management;
$50 the safety committee that wages
continuous struggle against acct
dents, and az the committee to give
advice for the improvement Of con-
ditions within the plant and develop
ing the efficiency Of the industry.
The driving force here, as every
where else throughout the Soviet
Union is the Communist Party with
its youth organization. the Young
Communist League. In this plant
there are 400 Communist Party mem
bers, with $50 members of the Young
Communist League (Consomols).
here are six factories in this m
ial section employing about 5000
$. They have a common work.
that has about 200 groups
themselves to educational
amatics, physical culture,
7sket ball and a multitude
'tivities.
BIS For Recreation.
I is called "The Palace of
J." The club arranges for
entertainments, lectures,
ctures and other attractions.