The Washington times., 1931-10-19

"The capitalists in the United
States and other western cOun-
tries need to learn the same
lesson. The capitalistic syS-
tenn must give the workers
something they can own, some.
thing that will tie them to q
community.
81 remember in the old days
uL in Minnesota lumber mills
the company stores would keep
their books SO that q workman
who might want to go some
place else would be given only
a flannel shirt as the savings
of seasons. In most places
those times are gone. They
should have been abolished
everywhere long ago."
Knowing that Colonel Cooper
has had four or five interviews
with Stain, the writer asked
whether he believed that the
present Russian leaders wanted
to be a menace" to the capi-
talistic world. He replied:
81 am convinced that the
present leaders want to make
a success of the experiment
in Russia. I believe this was
the reason for Stalin's struggle
with TrOtSky, who wanted con-
tinual agitation for a world
revolution.
Right now the Russian lead
erS are so busy and need so
much money for the develop
ment Of Russia that they are
not worrying about starting
revolution in other parts Of the
world. I think they realize
that their salvation is to con-
centrate on developing Russia.
Sincerity Of Leaders
"YOu have to admit the sin.
cerity of the Russian leaders.
They have set for themselves
the job of raising the living
standards Of the great mass of
the Russian people. That is q
gigantic undertaking. To do
this they have been willing to
discard some of their own com.
muniStic philosophy.
"Take Stalin's July speech to
the industrial managers. The
proposals he made are merely
the first steps toward giving
private initiative a greater
change. He said the engineers
and their families should have
the same privileges as workers
and yet receive greater cOmpen.
Sation.
"SOme time soon, 1 don't
know when, they will be forced
to abolish all categOries. Then
they will have to abolish the
laws as to labor hire and
finally amend the laws to per.
init the borrowing Of money
by individuals from the state
banks"
The labor hire laws to whic
the colonel referred are to tn
effect that any individual VIII
hires more than two persons fo
productive labor is automaticall
"declassed," that is, loses hi
rights as a citizen. Under pre-
ent banking laws an individus
cannot borrow money at tn
banks, although he can form
cooperative which can borro1
money. His trade union, hov
ever, will advance him two
months salary if necessary.
Blowing out a lungful Of ciga
smoke, the colonel continued:
81 wish that every thinking
person in the United States
could read Stalin's speech.
That shows in which direction
Russia is going.
"The present government Is
producing more goods than
were ever produced in Russia.
But the more the people get,
the more they'll want. They
will find out that one pair of
shoes is not enough. In a few
years the Russians will be
wanting several pairs. Just
now they want more food and
clothing and better houses.
S0metime-but it's a long way
0ff-they will demand auto
mobiles.
Soviet Misunderstood
"The leaders will gradually
work out a system whereby the
government has control Of the
basic industries and the peO.
pie will receive the rewards Of
individual initiative.
Gas far as the people in the
United States are concerned
they only have to worry about
the competition of Russian raw
materials. The trouble is that
American and Russian people
are SO misinfOrmed about each
other.
81 have been in many lands
and I have had many expert
ences and I am convinced that
most of the worlds troubles
come from unnecessary ignOr.
ance."
Tomorrow: Russian EduCa-
tiOn.)