Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-07
Soviet
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BY MYRA PAGE
BY MYRA PAGE
CHAPTER v
IN A YOUTH COMMUNE

very heart of Soviet life than among its youths
Our friends, the old workers, FeOdOr and Andree
linked for us the present with the dark past
when Singer owned the machine plant and die
| tated PodOlsk workers lives. So Jack SOnya
Alex and others link today with tomorrow Civ
| ing us an insight into what lies ahead.
In the land OF the hammer and sickle socialism
| Is maturing not only in material sense but in q
human one as well. While productive and cultural
forces are being developed to their full human
beings are likewise being transformed. This Is
| especially true of the children and youth.
The idea of cOmmunes is one expression of this
Organized usually by young workers, they spring
from their desire to live both off the job as well
as on as Communists and builders of a new world
Naturally these cOmmunes, or commercial liv.
! ing quarters, have their ups and downs The one
| in which we are living is no exception. But the
ups far outweigh the downs. After few weeks
| In our commune, it is easy to understand why
it receives so many applications for membership
Even the Old-time grudges about town who at
flrst looked askance at the idea-"ThOse young.
sters! They're probably up to some mischief!"-
now have to agree with the general opinion that
the youth commune is a community asset and de-
serves to grow.
| In the fall another commune composed OF
eighty of the best young workers, will be organ
lied.
Ours is not large commune-only nine mem
Defs mot including its two visitors). This April ii
celebrates its first anniversary. There are six
boys, Alex Ivan, Msha, Vashka, Nick and Gre.
CORY who share one large sized bedroom; and
three girls, SOnya, Ira and Shura who sleep in an
other slightly smaller one. All work in the sewing
machine factory, and are busy days and evenings
with Comsomol and other social activity All are
studying in order to develop themselves both
technically and politically In each case their par
ents are dead or are working elsewhere on the
farms, while the boy or girl has been drawn to the
town and factory.
wv bot II
toilet, there is room set aside for study and
reading, Commune meetings, and friendly gather
ings It's dOuble-glassed windows look out in win
ter over rolling plains of wood and snow, usually
dotted with skiing romping children-tiny round
balls of wool and fur In summer the scene changes
to one of cleaning woods and green Towering
fields where sun-burned youngsters with their
leaders, can play and explore to their hearts con-
tent These are children of those who work at the
sewing machine paint, for the Commune is stu
ated in the new Workers Town connected with
the factory The expense of the apartment which
total about eighty rubles a month"; is divided
among them according to earnings. This low
cost of living is one practical advantage of COM
munal life.
The walls of the room are bright with Soviet
maps, pictures of Stalin Lenin and VoroshilOv,
water-colors by Msha and the Commune's wall
newspaper. Written by its members out of their
experiences, it also carries news of Soviet con-
struction and the workers movement in other
countries In one corner is small first-ad cab
met, nearby a radio; the chest and large study
table, many books and papers.
over the window runs a slogan, written in home
made characters: mot things but persons are
petty-bourgeOis" THAT is, with the outlook of
small business mem. When we asked Ivan why
the Commune had put this up, he gave one Of his
frank bOyish grins. We'll, you see, it was this
way" he explained. when one of the fellows orr
girls would come home with silk tie or
scarf, the Others would josh, Oh you're going
pettybourgeois' 1t got pretty bad. So one day
we had commune discussion. That slogans the
outcome. Why shouldn't we have silk and enjoy
good clothes? The main thing is, not what we
wear, but what we do
This nineteenyear old lad is secretary of the
Comsomol organization in the factory school
where he and eight-hundred other young work
ers are receiving technical training
Then there's Alex Krichenko a lanky, bolster
Gus lad of about eighteen years. He carries card
given him by the Soviet government emitting
him to special rates at the workers theatres and
movies to free transportation and other privil-
eyes, That is because he is the son of poor peas
ant who joined the Red Partsans during the Civil
War; and lost his life defending the peoples free
dom. His mother receives a pension to care for
her family, Alex and the other children have been
given many opportunities. Completing three
year course in the POdOlsk factory school, Alex
is now skilled machinist entrusted with import
ant work on q new type of industrial sewing ma
chine, and earning a hundred and seventy rubles
month. Alexis mother, together with her daugh-
ter, works on collective farm which she helped
organize When vacation month comes Alex usu-
ally journeys down to pay them visit.
Gregory is near relative of Alexis They have
long shared their experiences and plans with one
another
Young Vashka is quiet fellow whose deep-set
eyes burn with intense desire to learn, to measure
up to his job. Hes good lad" his uncle, Andree
once told us, in answer to our query. when he
came to me from the village three years ago. after
his father died. he was greenhorn. | took him in
hand, and tried to give him some incentives. 1t
took him awhile to catch on But life in the fac
tory and Comsomol has done wonders Yes, L only
hear good reports about him." And the old revo-
lutOnary nodded his approval
Not long ago Vashka was freed from his ma
chine to become assistant secretary of the ComsO-
mol Working under Jacks direction, he is devel-
ing fast Between other duties he is burrowiDg
into his books. When he finds something that
stumps him he appeals to Jack for aid.
There is another side to Vashka. The other day
he asked his comrades (which will get first-a
new overcoat accordian?" After some debate
he decides the coat can wait He needs the ac-
cordian to make music for the youth to sing and
dor hu ha cad 70 I'm, thax will