The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-06-28
HOW THE G. P. i. HANDLES
CRIMINALS
BY ARTHUR FRED.


fear of the remarkably efficient instrument
Of the dictatorship of the proletariat to track
down counter-revolutionary plots of every de-
scription to the CONSERVATION of the plotters
have been carrying on a bitter campaign
against the G. P. U.
The bourgeoisie is deliberately spreading
the idea that the G. P. U. is some kind of
secret terroristic organization which swoops
down upon innocent people to spirit them away
and never to be heard from. They have put
to use their prostituted imaginative writers
to concoct dime novel stories of the supposed
exploits of the G. P. U. This is being done
not only to prevent the masses from under
standing and approaching the marvelously
powerful arm of the Soviet Union in uncover
ing all kinds of dastardly crimes against it,
such as the bringing to light of the network
of economic and political espionage in the
Ukraine, the now famous Schachty Trial, the
deliberate sabotage of the British ntriguers
in the Lena Gold fields and the many other
numerous instances of sabotage. The propa-
ganda of the bourgeosie against the G. P. U.
is also intended to lull the masses into ac-
cepting the bourgeois Megar terroristic and
fascist organizations; the Scotland Yards, the
Department of Justice" in the U. S. A., New
York's Chief of Police Whaen's undercover
provocateurs in the left wing labor movement,
ETC.
The writer is naturally proud of the G.P.U.,
and it was with great eagerness that the op-
portunity presented itself in visit to the
Commune of Labor No. /, G.P. u" to see some
of its activities.
This Commune was organized five years ago
under the inspiration of Comrade Dzerzhinsky,
formerly head of the G.P.U., to regenerate
those who have committed crimes against the
Soviet Union, to fit them into Soviet life and
to be useful to society and to themselves. This
institution characterizes the sharp contrasts
between the Soviet Union and capitalist So
ciety. The bourgeoisie shows its hatred and
venom in mortal fear in defense of its prop
erty rights. 1t therefore treats these unfor-
tunates as beasts of prey, bounding them,
burning them to death by the hundreds as was
the case in the recent catastrophe in a prison
in the U. S., making them outcasts prevent
ing them from again becoming part of society.
In the Soviet Union things done just the
reverse. 1t is recognized that crime is essen
TALLY an economic question and that ages of
oppression, ignorance, hate, pre-Soviet envir-
onmental influences are responsible for the
commission of crime, from which those who
commit them have not yet succeeded to free
themselves They are therefore given full OPP
portunity to train themselves to become use
in view that the Commune was organized.
The Commune of Labor, G.PU.," is sit
uated in village near Moscow in typically
beautiful Russian pine forest and having rich
cultivable lands There are no sombre, men,
acing walls with parapets and murderous
crcctur at machine guns. The entrance is
through a gate like that to a farm house,
which leads into a wide avenue through pine
forest into a very spacious opening where
some of the members at play. There is
no rafting of heavy steel doors, no fearsome
looking guards. We walked into the Com
mune, not being certain whether in
the right place and only after inquiring were
we directed to the office. There we found a
very pleasant, intelligent young G.P.U. man,
apparently the head of the institution. His
office is not fortress surrounded by innum-
cradle guards like the offices of prison heads
in bourgeois jails. Anyone has access to this
office.
Composition of Commune.
We were taken around the Commune by
this officer, who walked unarmed greeting
people he met genially and an occasional hand
shake This was the first impression which
imbedded itself deep into our consciousness.
The Commune is composed of 826 boys and
girls of ages from 16 to "a years, with 10 per
cent of this number being girls Member
ship and methods of admission to this Com
mune is very remarkable. Anyone who is
still serving a prison sentence, or who have
finished their term can apply for admission.
The applicant is investigated by committee
elected by the Commune, who visit the prison
the applicant was an inmate and carries on
other investigations. The committee then re-
ports its findings to a general meeting OF the
Commune and only upon decision of the Com
mune is the applicant admitted or not. The
I.PU does not decide upon the When
once admitted they receive full privileges of
any other member of the Commune.
The Commune is self sustaining, growing
most of its own food supply. The members of
the Commune work in several factories max
ing sport goods, of which more will be men
toned later, agricultural work, and other work
necessary for the maintenance Of the Com
mune. After their eight hours of work every
member is absolutely free to do with his time
what he pleases and 60 where he peases. They
can visit relatives, go to Moscow 1.-THE near
est large city, to study, etc. They must, how
ever, be in the dormitories at a given hour and
Of course must be at work and on time The
members receive full trade union rates for
their work and pay for their upkeep out of
their earnings.
The Commune is organized on a strictly
democratic basis There are no guards, no
prison cells and no individual punishment.
The whole administration is composed Of eight
neople, the remaining administrative force
being volunteer help from amongst the mem
bers of the Commune. Discipline is self i'm
posed and thoroughly democratic. No ind