The daily worker., 1930-03-05
By S. BELSKAYA.

world has become catastrophlcal IN Polanu,
with its weak economic and industrial de-
velopment.
The textile industry, especially in the Lodz
area, the chief textile district in the country,
where 10000 textile workers are employed,
has come practically to a standstil Only
few of the big mills are working at the pres
ent time and then only two or three days in
the week. The Lodz mills always used to
work for the Russian market, but this market
has now been lost. The frontier set up by
the Polish bourgeoise between Poland and the
USSR is simply undermining the very exist
ence of Lodz with its large working class
population. In view of the pauperzation OF
the working masses of Poland and the general
depression observed throughout the agrcul-
tural trades the home market is unable to abb
sorb the output of the Lodz mills, while the
Polish bourgeoisie has been unable to extend
the export trade.
There is a complete slump in the building
industry, and this is by no means a seasonal
phenomenon. 1t became very clear already
during the building season that operations
would be drastically curtailed. And the pres
ent slump in the building industry has brought
about a crisis in the cement, brick, machine
construction and woodworking industries.
The depression in the agricultural trades has
led to crisis in the chemical and engineering
duction in the demand for agricultural machin-
cry and fertilizers.
Things picked up somewhat in the coal in
dustry owing to a fairly brisk demand which
lasted for some little time. But there had
already been a slackenng up of industrial coal
orders. The first threatening signs of the on
coming crisis in the mining industry were
seen recently. In upper Silesia, for example,
short time has been introduced in several of
the mines. Meanwhile in the Dombrov Basin
several mines have closed down altogether.
The crisis is now spreading to the oil,
leather, food and other industries. AS the de-
preston affects one industry it inevitably
brings on a crisis in the allied industries. The
slowing up of some parts of the capitalist ma
chine in Poland is gradually bringing the whole
machine to standstill In Poland in contrast
to our own industrial development, economic
life is slowly dying down. And this is no tenn
porary depression this time, owing to short
spell of bad conditions. 1t is the bankruptcy
of capitalist stabilization in Poland.
Unemployment Increases.
Whereas in October, 1929, the number Of
workers employed in the large scale and me-
dium plants of Poland comprised $4,000, in
the following month, November, the number
employed had fallen to $4,000 (as against
608000 for November of the previous year,;
while throughout December and the first half
of January thousands upon thousands of work
ers were laid off in practically all the indus
tries.
There has been an Incredible growth of un-
employment in Poland. The number of reg
istered unemployed. which according to Off
cial figures comprised $4,000 at the begin
ming of November, grew to 100000 early in
December and to the incredible figure of $685.
900 at the beginning of January, which means
that during November and December the mum.
Der of unemployed more than doubled. At
the present time there are 100000 unem-
ployed and the tendency is towards further
growth.
But the official statistics based as they are
on the registered unemployed, are no true IN
dex to the actual size of unemployment in the
country. Even in the towns the number un-
employed far exceeds the official figures. In
the countryside you will find thousands upon
thousands of unemployed agricultural aborers
who register nowhere and are not kept track
of at all. There are hundreds of thousands of
completely unemployed workers in Poland to-
day, not counting the scores of thousands on
short time and whose numbers are increasing
with each passing day.
Approximately only third of the unem-
ployed industrial workers are receiving unem-
ployment relief. The rest are doomed to star
NdIloii. IHe uHeIHpioyeu WOTkeTS III TOldHu
are really up against it today. Their position
is hopeless. And the breakup of Polish econ
omic life makes any improvement in their posi-
tion totally out of the question.
So this is where the policy of the fascist
| government has landed the Polish workers.
There are about million industrial workers
in Poland.
But what is the position of those in en-
ployment? Threatening to lay off the men,
the industriaists are increasing their drive
against the workers. Wages are coming down.
Agreements are no longer being observed.
Capitalist naturalization and speed-up sys-
TENS are being screwed up pitch higher,
completely exhausting the workers. A longer
working day is being introduced with the short
err week. Factory delegates and all class con-
scious miitants are being prosecuted and dis
charged. The capitalists lash is falling equal
ly on employed and unemployed.
Fight Exploiters and Fascists.
Both these sections of the great army of
labor of POLAND are now fighting the exploiters
and the fascist government.