The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-11-13
American Workers on the Job
in Russia


to the Soviet factory. unless he happens to be
a revolutionary worker, he does not at once
understand the full difference. Only gradually
does he come to see that now he Is working for
himself and his fellow workers, in Workers
Republic. Once he grasps this, he throws him
self enthusiastically into the work and whole
life, with his full powers. He joins the Shock
Brigades, UdarrikD, and does all he can to aid
the rapid completion of the F1ve-Year Plan Of
socialist construction.
In the Kharkov tractor works we talked with
several American, German and Czeko- Slovakian
workers. Yes I like it here and intend to
stay" Lawrence Smirck, skilled mechanic from
Cleveland told me. "Of course some things are a
little hard but on the whole it is far better than
it was In the States" Smirck, non-class con-
scous worker, came to the Soviet Union with
his wife and three children eight months ago.
Being highly skilled, he earns 400 r,lbles a month
Rent for two rooms in one of the modern apart
ments costs him 80 rubles, and his wife buys am
pie quantities Of the best food for about $40
rubles The rest goes for clothes, amusements
books, or whatever the family may wish. Since
all medical treatment is free, there is no doc
tors bills to figure on.
"It's fine here-fine!" said Wolynec a skilled
filter from Ford's plant in Detroit, and former
member of the International Labor Defense. "I
worked seventeen years in Ford's and it is as
different here as day is from night. Two weeks
ago this big shed where we're working was empty.
Now 1t is full of machines and operating 1t was
a rnonstrous Job. thing like that couldn't hap
pen IN America. It's the spirit of the men and
women here-because here we have no BOSSES
but all work together like for ourselves - You
tell the workers back home for me that some
day soon hope they'll have the sense TO do the
same here"
The next American worker that we came across
in the plant, Jaroshuk, red -cheecked deliberate
man with powerful wrists and hands was busy
adjusting parts of a motor so we waited while
he completed his task Then he could spare
few minutes and not slow up production. For
Jaroshuk has the honor OF being Shock Bri-
gader and he feels his responsibility keenIy. He
stroked his tool gently as he talked about Amer
lea and Russia. Jaroshuk worked nine years in
the tool department at Fords One day he hap
pened to get the Daily Worker, and has been
reading 1t ever since. Here in Kharkov seven
teen hours train trip from Moscow he follows
events IN the States with careful interest Jar
oshuks wife is coming over to join him and also
work In the plant, as here women have an equal
chance to become skilled workers as men. RUS
STA has always been poor country In the past"
ia. cshuk said toward the end, but now things
are going ahead at a great rate. This for IN
stance. is well-equipped shop as any place In
the States. Give the Soviet Union ten years
and her people will have the highest standard
OF living Of any In the world. AS for the United
States7-s something is all wrong there. T don't
know, 1t looks tome like The. Il have to make
government like here
In the Arno Auto works in Moscow seven Amer
lean workers greeted the opening of the enlarged
works on October first by declaring themselves
Shock Bnsaders Among them were two defend
ants in the famous Gastonia case, Mclaughlin
and Harrison, who came to the Soviet Union
Tor refuge from capitahsm's dungeons over