THE IRON HAND

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 125, 24 November 1930, Page 9

THE IRON HAND

HOW RUSSIA IS RULED

EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE

There is "iron discipline" used by the Communist Party in controlling its members at the present time, the thirteenth year of the Eussian revolution, according to Professor Samuel N. Harper, of the University of Chicago, who has just returned to the United States from a six months' sojourn in the land o.f the Soviets/ Professor Harper's conclusion was that the discipline with its penalty of expulsion from the party for disobedience, was remarkably effective. He noted "a subjection of personal aims to tho good of the party existing to. a remarkable degree." The Chicago professor, who has studled Russia intensively since long before the revolution, spoke under the auspices of .the Chicago University's downtown college, giving six lectures. So great was the interest in his subject that all seats were sold and all standing room taken in the hall when he spoke. The American observer was especially interested in the Russia of the last two years, since- its resumption of what it calls "the Socialist offensive," reports tho "Christian Science Monitor. 5' In 1928, he recalled, the Government launched upon its famous "five-year plan," which a current slogan calls a "plan for overtaking and outstripping all the capitalistic nations," in economic development. Now the question was, "Will the plan succeed?" "It will depend on the success of the leaders in educating and propagandising the masses," said Professor Harper. "Tho economic situation is now serious, some say critical. One notices economic tight places, such as food shortage, and political tight places, too. There are arrests, executions., censorship. KEY MEN. . "People are called upon to accept present hardships for future well-being. 'Build till it hurts,' seems to,.be the watchword of the present.' This means a terrific strain on the masses. It is not a normal but a revolutionary situation, and it must be maintained for the fulfilment of the five-year plan." The "key men," in carrying!out-this almost military regime, Professor Harper said, were the- "party_ workers," numbering about 50,000," a selected group from tho 2,000,000 enrolment of the Communist Party. These men who give all their time to party activity, "monopolise leadership," according to this student. An American engineer told him if lo "wanted to get anything done" to go to the local party worker, and.Professor Harper found that this was true. The worker managed to get him what he wanted quickly. The party workers were intended to act as group leaders. They held practically all responsible positions; they were expected to set an example of work to others. Professor Harper waa impressed with tho care which he said the Communist Party took in the selection, of new members. Quality, not quantity, was sought. Everyone had to undergo examination; every candidate had to be recommended. Once in, a member could not resign, but could only bo expelled, which meant loss of position, according to Professor Harper. "In thirteen years the party increased from a membership of 240,000 to one- of 2,000,000. During -that period 600,000 members have been expelled. "The party has come virtually to be the Government. There is practically no difference between the two since 1925." BEHIND PROGRAMME.. The "Izyestia," organ of the central executive committee of the Communist Party, recently admitted that the Soviet five-year industrialisation plan finished its second 'year, Ist October, 5 per cent, below schedule, yet in an editorial the paper claimed a great victory all along the line for Communist government. According to a message sent out by tho American Associated Press, tho. biggest deficiency was shown in the light industries, which showed only an 11 per cent, increase- against the 23 per cent, planned. The newspaper calls attention- to a 38.1 per cent, increase in industries to which the Government devoted greatest attention, this being only 2.6 per cent, under the increase expected. . The ''Izvcstia" is jubilant especially at what it terms the great success of collective farming. It claims during tho year a total Qf 128,700,000 hectares were cultivated, of which 38,000,000 were cultivated in collectivist fashion. The figures were claimed to exceed the five-year plan by 23,000,----000 hectares. Attention also is called by the newspaper to 12,000 tractors and 400,000,000 rubles (about £48,000,000) worth v of other machinery distributed during the year. Failure of the light industries, to achieve the schedule figures .is laid

to lack of raw materials, which, short* age is expected to be overcome during tho third year of the plan. Attention was called to an incieasaj of 60 per cent, in the 1930 cotton crop* and of 150 per cent, in the sugar Beet crop. "The national income for 1930 is given as 33,000,000,000 rubles" (about £4,000,000.000), tho paper said, "of which t\vo:tliirds is in the hands of socialised sectors. Conditions 'necessary for a wide Socialistic advance ou all fronts are fully ripe. The Bolshevik five-year plan is achieving great victories. It can and must be carried, out in four years."