The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-06-28
The Conflict Commission"

of breaking of rules. The vast majority of
cases of broken rules are: drinking, come to
sleep late and not reporting to work. After
investigating cases of infringement of rules
the Conflict Commission" reports its findings
to the general meeting of the Commune, which
alone can decide upon punishment. The pun
shment in the greatest majority of cases con-
sists in putting certain restrictions upon the
freedom of the guilty, such as prohibition from
going to Moscow, visit relatives, etc, for a
given period of time, As an illustration of
the splendid discipline and confidence placed
in the members of the Commune is the in
stance when the whole Commune went to Mos
COW to participate in the huge May Day cele-
bration with not a single member remaining
in Moscow when the whole group returned.
There is no set time which a member of
the Commune must remain. When the men,
Der enters he is put to a task, taught trade
and absorbed in a network of social organ
izations designed to draw every member of
the Commune into the social life of the So
Wet Union, to understand and appreciate the
genuine efforts being made to bring back their
self respect and become members of a work
ers society. These social organizations con-
sist of study circles, dramatic circles, orches-
tras, sport clubs and host of other activ-
ties. Quite number of members of the Com
mune attend schools in Moscow studying jour
There are also schools in the Commune in
mechanical drawing, auto mechanics, mathe-
mates. physics, chemistry, the study of the
German language (other languages to be given
later), etc. Illiterates are taught to read and
write.
The freedom of the members of the Com
mune extends to their right to marry inside
or outside the Commune The husband and
wife both live in the Commune and are given
individual quarters as otherwise, the unmar-
ried live in dormitories of about eight to ten
people in one room, there being separate mems
and womens dormitories. The dormitories are
located in three large modern buildings, we'll
ventilated, clean and with plenty of sunshine
In the dornlitories very comfortable
lounge rooms, which also serve as reading
rooms, chess playing, studying, etc. Electric
plug and earphones for radio is attached to
each chair. This is done not to disturb
those who care to concentrate, thus avoiding
loud speaker. The children of the members of
the Commune cared for in the Commune
with kindergartens, schools, etc.
Food and Sports.
There is a communal dining room serving
very excellent food, communal stores, large
athletic track and football field. The Com
mune hockey team is the best in the whole of
the Soviet Union. The Commune has its own
theatre seating more than 1000, with their
own band of rs people, dramatic groups. Every
once in a while the Meyerhold and other first
rate theatres come to the Commune to per-
form for them. The Commune issues its own
newspaper, edited, written and printed by the
members. Anyone can write what they chose
Should there be disagreements they are print
ed in the paper. They have special meetings
of self criticism, etc.
A member, after having been in the Com
mune for some time, can either apply in per-
son to be released or the Commune itself,
after considering that the member has been
sufficiently absorbed into Soviet life and can
be of service to society, decides at general
meeting of the Commune to grant such rights.
The granting of this right restores a member
to full citizenship, is made member of the
union and becomes a full fledged Soviet citi-
zen. After receiving this right the member
can decide whether to remain in the Commune
or not Quite number of those who have
been released remain in the Commune, since
around this Commune quite large industrial
center is springing up and he can work in the
factories belonging to the Commune, enjoy its
privileges, etc.
Just three of many instances to illustrate
the remarkable effectiveness of this human
means of restoring to society people who
otherwise would have been a menace and who
IN capitalist countries would ule III CIe uuH-
geons or be habitual criminals. The following
story was told us by member of the Com
mune. He served five years in prison for
completely in murder. Upon being released
he considered his career to be criminal one
He had no social outlook and was ready to
accept the life of criminal. He had heard of
the Commune, but at first considered it use
less and utopian and was very cynical towards
it. However, he made an attempt to enter
and was admitted. He became a member of
the Conflict Commission" after being in the
Commune three years, is highly respected by
the members of the Commune and in telling
his story he showed splendid consciousness
of his new role in society and spoke of his
past in a highly intelligent and political
manner
Member Returns.
There is another case of former member
of the Commune. who came to the Commune
before his prison term up, was member
of the Commune for four years, released from
the Commune, Joined the Red Army for two
years and is now chief guard in the prison he
originally served.
The heai of the schools in the Commune
served a prison sentence for political crime
against the Soviet Union. This man is also
the chief psychologist of the Commune, being
an authority on penology.
The certainty of the methods of the work
ers state reform methods can be seen by the
'qct that after a member has been released
from the Commune, he is eligible for mem-
bership in the Communist Party. Such candi-
ates however, have to serve two year can
,dacv while workers have to serve only six