The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-03-17
BY MYRA PAGE.
Our Correspondent in Moscow.

When our boat lands at Odessa the sky is still
dark. Quietly the snow falls it is barely seven
O'Clock. Through the portfolios drift strains of
mass singing, songs of the first unloading
Our leader runs from door to door, calling us
to get up. Hurry! Odessa workers are waiting
on the docks to greet us, with banners, bands
everything!" Quickly we get into our clothes and
60 outside. In the dim light we distinguish long
lines Of working men and women standing in
military formation, singing, cheering. News hav-
ing come that an international workers delega-
ton was coming to Odessa, the worker students
from the local Marine Technicum and Workers
Art University had marched to the piers an hour
before the boat was dua. waiting in the snow
for us, until now.
AS the snow falls around us and the sky grad
ualy lghtens- One after another our delega-
ton climb up on a pile of lumber to tell Of the
workers movement in England, Japan, SPAIN
and the United States, antd of what it means for
us to see, at tirst-hand the free life of Soviet
toilers and the way they're building socialism
Another Convict Labor Lie Exposed.
The English sailor In our group told how the
British capitalist papers, just before he left
we're running scare stories about convict labor
in Odessa-that men and women were being
forced to labor under armed guards on the docks.
Hearing this, the Soviet workers looked from
one to another in establishment and anger.
few laughed outright at the idea. They who had
struggled so hard for their freedom they the
rulers Of vast country-slaves! Well we could
Judge for ourselves.
I'm my six thousand miles trip in your coun-
try" the sailor went on 'Tve not been able to
find any Of that convict labor. Sure, I'll look
here, so can show up those yellow sheets what're
lying about back home.
Later we visit the docks and shipyard speaking
with men and women on the job, going wherever
we wish. OF course there is no semblance Of
forced labor. On the contrary the workers of
Odessa. as an over the Soviet Union, are the
only free workers in the world today.
Dockers Get Guaranteed Minimum Wage.
Soviet ports, In fact, are the only places where
the lockers and transport workers are not made
to suffer from the irregularities of their work.
Dockers are divided into three categories accord
ing to their experience and amount Of training.
The most experienced category Is called to work
first, then the second, finally the third, (Which
is composed largely Of young learners. However,
each man is guaranteed minimum wage suffi-
Client on which to i've while actual earnings
range much higher as the way Soviet industry is
organized and progressing, there is more than
enough work for all.
In the old days, as the lockers told us due
TO C1e long 0OurS DrutolZll1p CoUCluOrS anu uil-
certainties OF work." the seamen and lockers
along with the miners were known for the way
we hit the booze. Besides. we were an ignorant
lot. Now, with our shortened hours and bettered
conditions with the chance for everybody to get
training and Improve himself, you find us
changed lot No more BOOKING. except by few
laggards. Men from the docks are going to the
techncmns and universities; some have already
become engineers"
They show over the port. with pride. Their
port In recent years 1t has been extended and
many improvements made. 1t was here in
Odessa that the famous mutiny Of the battleship
Potemkin took place, during the 1905 revolution
We walk up the broad stone stairway which leads
from the sea TO the town, and where In 1905
the cars troops fired down upon the narmed
masses who were demanding bread and freedom.
In the International Seamens Club.
After two days OF visiting factories, Chill
dren's town, workers clubs, the local Opera. we
conclude our stay in odessa with an evening at
the International Seamen's Club AS it happened.
Army Day ths day that the United States en-
tered the last war will see mass demonstrations
Of the youth in all parts 10 the city. April g.,
at pm. the New York youth will hold monster
youth parade and demonstration, starting at
Battery Park, parading up the waterfront, and
demonstrating at Union Square.