New Britain herald., 1930-04-30
Chicago Buns Remember Once Eloquent Shatof As News Stories
 Tell of Soviet Railroad Success
Former Red Organizer Completes Turkestan System Now Power in Communist Regime - Worked Near Hartford.

Chicago, April 30 OP)-Bums along West Madison street reminisced today about an old buddy whom they know as Wild Bill" Shatoff in his freight t-hopping, soap harangu- ing days 12 and more years ago.
 For news had come of the complc- ton of the Siberian -Turkestan rail- road and the awarding of further honors to Vladimir Segercvich Shat off, minister of transportation and moving force in the completion of the railroad, which is designed to make the Tuskestan wastes a rich cotton field of gigantic proportions. The builder of this 1,700 mile railroad. opening of which was celc- brated by elaborate ceremonies at which nine American newspaper correspondents were guests, is the same Wild Bill" Shatoff who once urged West Madison street buns to adopt the communistic principle.
 Just Jump Before Sherin
 He was just jump ahead of the sheriff the last time l heard about him here," recalled a weazened old man who stunned himself in the street of the down-and- cutters today. He was always preaching less work and more pay like the rest of the l. w. w. crowd when Big Bill Hay wood was around here"
 Files of newspapers from 1915 to 1921 elaborated the old mans mem- ory.
 Hull House echoed in those days to the harangue Of q paunchy, fluent man of S5 or so. a native of kicv. Russia, who had come to the United States in 1907 when his political ideas became too liberal for the old world monarchy.
 In the ensuing 10 years. Wild Bill' Shatoff saw America-from the door of box car Pullmans," " through jail bars, from the back windows of restaurants where he washed dishes, from soap boxes in radical halls.
 Held Many Jobs
 He first came to attention as di- rector of the Union Russian Workers of the United States and Canada in New York. Thereafter he wiclded q pick and shovel in Brooklyn, worked as tar roofer and hospital orderly in New York. was a bod carrier in Boston, a longshorcman in PhiIadel- phia, a gas house worker in Cleve- land, window cleaner in Pittsburgh, an assistant machnist in Cincinnati, shoe factory worker in Lynn, Mass, a coal loader in Mayfield, Pa, a house painter in Detroit, puddler in San Francisco, q farm hand near Hartford. Conn, school teacher at Shenandoah, Pa, a steel worker at Gary, Ind, and restaurant dish washer at Salt Lake City.
 Between times he found time 10 write a book on communism and lec- ture in scores of cities. He was ar rested more times than were ever recorded, fl times in Detroit alone.
 Helped in Battles
 When the Russian revolution broke out he decided to get in with the leaders from the start. He was placed in command of a division and helped repel the drive of Gen. Yu- denich on what then was Petrograd. For that feat he was awarded the decoration of the red banner and given Q. post tantamount to chief of police of Petrograd.
 Honors and responsibilities came fast. He cooperated with Serebro- ski to put the Soviet oil industry on it's feet and was director of the Soviet metal trust. Then he was given the post of supervisor of the far eastern republics transportation system and began one of the most ambitious railroad building programs Of modern times. in which as many as 60,0o0 men have been employed.