The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-01-28
A Visit with Soviet "Convict Labor"
By BURCK

ably re-admitted by the Commune Those who
don't return either adjust themselves successfully
to life in their outside world or, if they commit
fresh offenses again come to the attention of
the authorities Members remain in the Com
mune until the Commune and individual con-
cerned feel he is ready to return to ordinary
life, land be a good Soviet citizen"
The Commune is completely self governing.
Its rules and regulations of all phases of life
IN the colony are binding. There is no higher
authority. The leader, also member of the
G.P.U, is there to suggest and advise, but not
to direct. Even if he wished to do so, he could
not over-rule a Commune decision Manv of
the VISITORS accustomed to the mock type of
se1-government practiced in schools and re-
formatories in this country, were shocked at
such genuine seif-rule. But the director re-
minded them, the five years test had proved
such methods worked The main difficulty he
had said. was that the Commune tended to be
too severe on its members who broke any of it's
rules. Already three other colonies of this type
nae been established, one with 1000 members
This Commune was to increase to six hundred
members the next year, and the Soviet Govern
ment planned to extend this system to include all
the prison population of Russia
The daily life in the Commune ran as follows.
After breakfast eight hours of work in one of
the fa tories. Sport goods was the main prod
uct; ice skates and shoes, snow shoes. and ski
ing equipment. There was also a small wooden
plant and one for wood work The plants were
clean and light. The union scale of wages held
ranging from sixty to one hundred roubles a
month depending on the skill and speed of the
operator Living at the Commune cost thirty
i've roubles month, which left twenty-five to
slxty-five roubles to spend for clothes trips to
town, books savings or however they liked
From Saturday noon to Sunday evening. mem
oers were free to go where they pleased. and
most Journeyed into Moscow Occasionally an
individual broke his pledge to the Commune and
got intoxicated. II this was discovered a sorry
half-hour before the Commune followed with
prooaoiy the revoking of this weekend priv
llege Tor stated period, fine or both CThe
income from fines is used for community pur
poses). After work is over, the hours are spent
in cultural and sport activities, with dramatics
or singing in the evenings
We inspected the eating and living quarters
and the entire grounds, and found everything
so satisfactory that one American asked the old
stupid question, What is to keep Young peone
from committing crimes, if this is the type of
lie they get?" The director smiled "Our plan
is not to punish but to make anew. We bank
on appealing to the finer side that resides in
every human and re-mould him through par
tclpation IN the high group morale we build up"
There are also certain restrictions which Com
mune member faces. He can not serve in the
Red Army, which is considered one of the high
est honor worker or peasant can receive
Neither can he hold public office or vote Once
socially aroused, he naturally desires to remove
these restrictions
An incident which occurred to some of lis
illustrates what the Commune is accomplishing
In going from one building to another. three of
the viritors stopped to talk with Commune
member, peasant lad who stood leaning against
the bicycle which he proudly told us he had
bought with his earnings at the plant He was
chewing sun-flower seeds, more popular past
time in Russia than peanut eating is in this
country One American could speak Russian
fluently, and in the course of one conversation.
which had led to the subject of revolution the
American teacher asked half jokingly, But. the
reason you are revolutonist is because YOU
have not all the things you want, isn't it?" The
boy chewed reflectively for moment and then
replied, "No The truly social person thinks not
only Of his own welfare but also of the welfare
of Others"
After having ltnch with the Commune writing
In their guest book, and asking and answering
many more questions, we started for the bus
When we reached It, we found it had been trans
formed by some of the Commune youths who
had decorated its hood and sides with green
bowers and flowers, and with an inscription
which we learned asked us to carry their greet
ings to the American toilers and tell them to
win their freedom. rs they had done here.