The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-06-25

employment; they abandon them to occupa-
tional and other diseases; but, in doing this,
says Mr.. Vocovich they stimulate the welfare
of the workers. The more the capitalists steal
from the workers the greater are the benefits
accruing to the workers, according to Mr..
Vocovich If the workers would get any more
than they absolutely need, they would only
dissipate it in bootleg.
The only fitting answer to such propaganda
is an invitation to Mr.. Vocovich to repeat his
arguments in a real workers meeting. To
meet any possible fears Of Mr.. Vocovich such
workers meeting could guarantee his right
to choose his own doctor and his own hospital
after his speech.
With arguments such as produced by Mr..
Vocovich American capitalism is trying to
arouse the American workers against the So
Wet Union. However, all these arguments
cannot silence the clear and convincing Ian
guage of the naked facts of socialist eonstruc-
ton in the Soviet Union.
The successes of the Soviet Union in build
ing socialism are not merely passive exam
pie for the American workers to follow. They
are an active and growing influence upon the
working conditions in all capitalist countries.
The first efforts of the Soviets were directed
toward the raising of the unspeakably low
living and working standards of the masses
established by Czarist Russia to the level of
these standards in capitalist countries. This
aim has already been accomplished. The liv-
ing standards of the Russian workers today
are already ahead of those standards of the
German workers. In the reduction of the
hours of labor the Soviet Union has already
outdistanced all capitalist countries. Parallel
with the growth of the productivity of Soviet
industry and agriculture the working and liv-
ing standards of the Russian masses are i'm
proving. Every economic measure toward the
success of the Five Year Plan is contribu-
tion to the improvement of the living and
working standards of the Soviet workers. The
introduction of piece work recently decided
upon will accelerate still further the improve
ment of htese standards.
The piece work system under capitalism is
a means of increasing capitalist profits. 1t is
a means of increasing the portion of unpaid
labor stolen from the workers by the capital
lists. 1t also serves incidental purposes. Under
capitalism surplus labor (the permanent army
of unemployed) is constantly growing. The
piece work system supplies capitalism with
the means of seective elimination of workers.
The workers who because of age or physical
deficiencies, etc., cannot keep up with the
speed set by piece work are thrown onto the
human refuse heap of capitalism--the perma-
nent army of unemployed. Under capitalism
piece work is used to make out of the more
skilled workers instruments of greater ex-
ploitation Of the masses of workers. At the
same Stime with the constant cuts in the piece
rates and with the progressive meehanization
of production, these skilled workers them
selves are thrown into the full depth of mis-.
cry of the working class.
In the Soviet Union piece work has been in
troduced in order to speed UP the improve
ments in the working and living standards of