The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-02-09
BY EUGENE LYONS
United Press stan Correspondent
tC.orvrigbt 1o92 nv United PreSs)


Copyright. 1888. by United Press
MOSCOW. Feb. 9-Hundreds of
thousands Of families in Moscow,
Ieninprad. Kharkov and other large
cities franticaIly are packing their
few belongings for a tragic plunge
into the unknown. as the redoubtable
o. G.. p. u. Estate secret service)
begins enforcement of the rigorous
passport regulations recently pro
mulgated,
knowing that they will be classed
anMng the undesirables in the
amazing nationwide sitting OF
16O0OO.OOO human beings these
families are preparing for the in
evitable. In effect, they face exile
to unfamiliar regions and the heart
breaking task of adjusting them
selves to harsher living conditions.
Tens OF thousands are rushing
from the urban centerS before their
turn comes. In that way, they hope,
thew at least will choose their new
homes instead Of being assigned"
to some inclement lumber or min
ing district.
Little Hope of Escape
This hope is likely to be dis
appointed, however. The passport
system is being applied first in the
six largest cities, but it will be ex-
tended quickly to the rest of the
country. Those whom the govern
ment considers useless mouths" or
potentially if not actually hostile to
the dictatorship, will be ferreted out
even in the tiniest hamlets Of this
immense land.
From Moscow, alone, according to
common report here, some 100000
inhabitants will be expelled. In all,
it is likely that the displaced popu-
lation-shifted by official force to
places where it can be more useful
to the Kremlin's political and econo-
mic program-will run close to TO-
100000 by the time the passport de
cree is fully enforced.
Those affected are not necessarily
all hereditary 'claSS enemies or
former Kulaks. Millions are peasants
who fled from collectivization to the
seemingly more attractive industrial
centerS. They constitute an enor-
nous floating population, restlessly
seeking work where feeding and
housing conditions are somewhat
more tolerable.
Job Only Protection
Others to be cleaned out of the
urban districts are people who, I'M
able to adjust themselves to the
new regime, have been living by
their WitS-a little reading, an occa-
sional job, some handicraft work at
home which the government does
not think indispensable, etc.
Among such people - and their
number is legion-there is at pres
ent frenzied rush to obtain re-
spectacle jobs in factories and Of
fees A useful job is the Only pro-
lection against the terrors of the
passport system.
Those who have jobs tread softly
and scarcely dare to breathe, for
fear of losing them at this crucial
point. To be driven out of an office
or factory just now may bring exile
in its train.
While the passports are being is
sued, the authorities have taken a
number of steps to strengthen their
control. For instance, they have
forbidden moving from one home
or apartment to another. Barriers
also are being raised by the govern
ment against haSty departures, es-
pecially through control of the sale
Of railroad tickets.
The transport system. already in
credibly overburdened, is being
swamped further by the sudden
hurried shift of population.
Must Get Passports
Under the passport decree. every
Soviet citizen over the age of Is
must obtain from the G. P. U. A.
special Identification passport which
records in detail his or her social
history The chief item of this
history, of course, is parentage.
Never before has the status of
people ben so rigidly predeter-
mined by birth-descendantS of the
former rich, aristocratic, religious
elements, or even the sons and
daughters of small czarist officials.
gendarmes, etc. have only a min
mum chance to escape the roundup
of undeSirableS.
A pathetic by-product of the
passport decree is a sudden reduc-
ton in the price of old furniture and
other household effects. ForeSee-
ing expulsion. families hurridly are
disposing of their property, accept
ing almost any price.
Government organizations which
buy up such property for resale
such as the commission shops-are
reaping a more than usually rich
harvest. Most of them. however
are holding off, buying in the cer-
tainty that prices Will sink still
lower, as the panic spreads among
former people who still have
few things from the good old DAYS.