The Washington times., 1935-11-23
SECRET POLICE
HARASS RED
W0RKMEN
ARTICLE TX
By MICHAEL BURSTEIN


Shock Brigddier OF the FiUe.YeGr
Plan in Soviet Russia and For
nlerIy a Commander IN the Red
Army.
At the Red Putiloff plant in
Leningrad, where 1 worked, there
were frequent cases of delay in
paying the workers. When the
pay envelope was withheld for a
few days, there was little COM
plant. But I remember an oc-
casion III 1882 when our monthly
wages were held up for periods OF
two to three months.
The huge plant began to Seethe
with discomfort. First there were
whisperings among the hungry
men. Then the murmurs grew
louder. Finally one day q veteran
metal worker cried out in our
midst:
I'VE cannot bear this any
longer. Even Putilov himself, our
former boss who used to skin us
plenty, paid us on time. II he
had not, there would have been a
strike, and now we have govern
ment of workers and peasants,
and look at the results"
Comrades Disappear
The outburst pried loose the
tongues of the workers. Suddenly
many voices began to echo the
protest. The men were in an
ugly mood. Under any other Sys'
TEN, spontaneous strike would
have broken out.
When we came to work the fol-
lowing morning, the word was
passed around quietly that so-and'
so was missing, that such-and'
such a comrade had vanished.
We knew the names as those OF
the most intrepid men. Towards
evening it became generally
known that more than 80 Of our
rebel comrades had disappeared.
We never saw these workers
again at the Red Putiloff plant.
Later we learned what had be
come of them. Those who had
protested openly were arrested in
their homes at night. Not even
their relatives ever knew whether
they we're exiled or what. The
G. P. U. gives out no information.
The Soviet workers regard the
G. P. U. even in a worse light
than they did the dreaded Okh'
rama of the Cars. In spite Of all
the efforts of the Stain propa
ganda machine to advertise the
G. P. U. as the guardian Of the
revolution, it is in ill-repute every
where. Even the highest Soviet
officials and honest Communists
look askance at a G. P. U. agent.
In the Red army and navy the
officials of G. P. u. are treated
with contempt. 1t is well known
that these officials are mostly ad.
venturerS and charlatans. who are
out to make careers by framing
up plots so as to get credit from
their superiors for exposing them.
Spies Everywhere
Even the closest blood-relations
Of a G.. P. U. agent are afraid of
him. There have been cases of
wives, sweetheartS, even parents
being betrayed by these Soviet
spies. Our factory was filled with
them. An incautious remark
passed by a worker would be
enough for any Stool-pigeon
present to have him reported and
arrested.
Many of the informers are
themselves unfortunate victims of
the G.. P. u, released from its
clutches on condition that they
turn spies. These are the ones
who profess their loyalty to Stain
at every meeting, who propose
resolutions Of praise for the Soviet
government.
The very atmosphere in which
the Soviet worker lives is infested
with espionage. Under the iron
clad dictatorship, in the terrific
struggle for survival, men sell
their souls, deliver their friends,
and Stoop to deeds which make all
the Communist slogans of soil.
darity and brotherhood the flam-
Ing mockery Of Soviet life.