The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-05-02
BY H. ]. FREYN.
(Renrinted from New Republicl

tReprinted from New hepunne)
The following report on the Five
Year Plan is In substance part of
a speech which MIR. ii. J. Freyn,
the well known Chicago engineer,
recently delivered before meet
ing of the Taylor Society, Mr..
Freyn has been doing engineering
work for the Soviet Union during
the past four years. His company
is at present building steel plant
in the famous Kuznetsk Basin in
Siberia, and is also cooperating
with Russian engineers at "Gipro-
mez," the central engineering Or
ganization, preparing plans for new
iron and steel plants.
AS my personal interest and that
Of my company is primarily centered
in the Soviet iron and steel indus
try, 1 am more familiar with this
particular phase of the Five Year
Plan than with the others and can
speak of it with some semblance of
authority. However, I am convinced
that the same observations will also
apply to the other branches of eco
nomic endeavor in the Soviet Union.
Broadly speaking, all Soviet in
dustry is under the general direction
of the Supreme Council of National
Economy, the chairman of which is,
incidentally, member of the Coun-
Gil of Peoples Commissars. This
council cooperates with the State
Planning Commission. An important
role is played by special organiza-
ton known as the Workers and
Peasants Inspection, which acts as a
sort of independent check on the ac-
tivities and decisions of the Supreme
Council of National Economy and
other governmental bodies.
Workers Enjoy Privileges.
Factories and plants are in charge
of Red" managers. They are in
variably Party members picked from
the ranks of the workers. Their edu-
cation is limited and their previous
experience deficient. They are learn
ing while administering their office.
No wonder their efforts are not al
ways successful. Occasionally Red
directors are removed from their
positions after a failure to prove
their worth and are sent to the Red
university in Moscow to round out
their knowledge. 1 do not believe
that any incapable or offensive man
ager could remain in an executive
position by sheer political pull or per-
sonal influence. The workers, who
enjoy great privileges and power,
would soon bring SO much collective
pressure to bear in high places that
he would be removed and replaced.
I am satisfied that the loyalty,
honesty and unselfishness of those
individuals in responsible executive
positions are beyond shadow of
doubt. The average American or
European who has personal dealings
with these men and enjoys the priv
ilege of knowing them in social
way, will be impressed by their SUI
perior qualities, I have met num-
Der of officials and managers con-
nected with the Soviet iron and steel
and allied industries with whom /
had to discuss and adjust many in
tricate business projects and in
variably found these men devoted to
their work and to the cause, in whose
righteousness they firmly believe.
RED Managers Sincere"
Their sincerity and fairness have
made our business relations entirely
satisfactory. / have had no reason
to complain or to take issue with
any Of their actions. AS an engineer
ing organization rendering technical
assistance in the iron and steel in
dustry of the Soviet Union, we are
not expected to extend credit, and
being somewhat In the position of
salaried employees, we have always
found that the Soviet institutions
with which We are doing business
lived up to their obligations. Mis-
understandings, bound to arise in
business relations, could invariably be
adjusted by personal discussions
across the table -+--- -