Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-21
WRITER IN CAPITAL
AFTER SOVIET VISIT
Mrs. Helen Christine Bennett
ADVISES Those Going to Rus
STA to Speak Carefully.
By GRETCHEN SMITH.


n you want 70 so to Russia you. will
while you are there keep your opinions
So advises Mrs. Helen Christine Ben
nett, who recently returned from six
weeks. visit to the Soviet Republic,
where she was sent by Q leading Amer
lean periodical to observe present-day
conditions Of wGnlen and children.
II took Mrs. Bennett, whose name
outside Of the literary world is Mrs.
benjamin. Franklin Maupin, just 10
days to make the trip from New York
10 Leningrad. While in Russia she
visited approximately 100 institutions,
including schools, factories, museums
and churches.
Visited IL Churches.
eyes, churches" remarked Mrs. Ben
nett. There is no doubt that the So
Wet Government Is openly antagonistic
10 religion, but despite this fact I Wis
tied IL churches IN which services were
being held; q Lutheran Church. an
mpiscopalian Church, q Roman Catholic,
4 Jewish Synagogue and several Greek
catholic Churches.
="Adults are permitted to attend
churches, which they must support. un-
nolested. But the state absolutely
fofhids any child under Is years Of age
attending church services or Sunday
school. OF course, there is no way of
Hreventing parents at home from teach
ing their children religion. but the
nate schools, which must be attended
Nv all children; openly teach against
tsllgion.
. %Amazing progress has been made
among the Russian workers, however"
enntinued Mrs. Bennett, "in hygienic
instruction. Public clinics are now
0nen, which teach mothers the proper
care Of themselves and their children.
nEducation IS urged everywhere for
an But there is not much need of
mreing, because learning Is considered
d privilege among the Russians. No
Russian child would ever be given extra
studies, as q punishment. 1t would be
considered terrible to make learning q
Denalty for misdemeanor. Being kept
II idleness Is considered the worst form
81 punishment administered to a Rus
dian school child"
Can't Criticize OaAcials.
: Regarding the claims of many who
have visited the Soviet Republic, that
little freedom Is permitted in the visit:
sng of public places or In the expression
Gf personal ideas, Mrs. Bennett said:
mo criticism Of the government is per-.
@aitted. One must be very careful Of re-
marks made in public regarding govern
Mlent management or public men. Many
Americans are foolish to voice openly
npinions derogatory to officials. So
many Of the Russians speak and under
stand English and their remarks are
nassed on. One Is always watched.
ION the other hand, open criticism OF
n0nditions or management of public
institutions is invited. In every one
nk the 100 institutions which visited
Z was given q book and asked to write
dxactly what thought Of the place.
always did so, and several times, when
nay criticism was unfavorahle, was
deeply thanked BY the oficials, who
promptly proceeded to improve condi-
hons
Ers. Bennett told with much en-
Hausiasm Of . visit to the great textile
factory at sIvanovo-V onesensk, where
1000 workers are employed, the ma
1ctity Of whom are women.
@y Use Modern Designs.
NThey are using modern designs, she
md. Tractors, airplanes and farming
implements and machines are used for
designs upon the brilliantly colored
cretonnes and cotton goods which are
being exported TO ASIA
MRS. Bennett Is now in washington
10 attend the White House conference
On child health and protection, coming
ae the personal representative, OF the
e6ttcr Of the periodical for which she
tnurneyed TO Russia. Before her activi-
Aes In the literary world Mrs. Bennett
was supervisor Of recreation work among
the schools Of Philadelphia. She Is q
graduate Of the Philadelphia Normal
college.
hrs. Bennett, who Is staying at the
Dodge Hotel, win remain for the entire
period Of the White House conference.