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… Page 41…
RUSSIA IN 1919
AN EX…CAPITALIST
February 13th。
I drank tea with an old acquaintance from the provinces； a Russian
who； before the revolution； owned a leather…bag factory which worked in
close connection with his uncle's tannery。 He gave me a short history of
events at home。 The uncle had started with small capital； and during the
war had made enough to buy outright the tannery in which he had had
shares。 The story of his adventures since the October revolution is a very
good illustration of the rough and ready way in which theory gets
translated into practice。 I am writing it； as nearly as possible； as it was
told by the nephew。
During the first revolution； that is from March till October 1917； he
fought hard against the workmen； and was one of the founders of a
Soviet of factory owners； the object of which was to defeat the efforts of
the workers' Soviets。* ＇（*）By agreeing upon lock…outs；etc。＇ This； of
course； was smashed by the October Revolution； and 〃Uncle； after being
forced； as a property owner； to pay considerable contributions； watched
the newspapers closely； realized that after the nationalization of the banks
resistance was hopeless； and resigned himself to do what he could； not to
lose his factory altogether。〃
He called together all the workmen； and proposed that they should
form an artel or co…operative society and take the factory into their own
hands； each man contributing a thousand roubles towards the capital with
which to run it。 Of course the workmen had not got a thousand roubles
apiece； 〃so uncle offered to pay it in for them； on the understanding that
they would eventually pay him back。〃 This was illegal； but the little
town was a long way from the centre of things； and it seemed a good way
out of the difficulty。 He did not expect to get it back； but he hoped in this
way to keep control of the tannery； which he wished to develop； having a
paternal interest in it。
Things worked very well。 They elected a committee of control。
〃Uncle was elected president； I was elected vice…president； and there were
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RUSSIA IN 1919
three workmen。 We are working on those lines to this day。 They give
uncle 1；500 roubles a month； me a thousand； and the bookkeeper a
thousand。 The only difficulty is that the men will treat uncle as the
owner； and this may mean trouble if things go wrong。 Uncle is for ever
telling them； It's your factory； don't call me Master；' and they reply； 'Yes；
it's our factory all right； but you are still Master； and that must be。'〃
Trouble came fast enough； with the tax levied on the propertied
classes。 〃Uncle；〃 very wisely； had ceased to be a property owner。 He
had given up his house to the factory； and been allotted rooms in it； as
president of the factory Soviet。 He was therefore really unable to pay
when the people from the District Soviet came to tell him that he had been
assessed to pay a tax of sixty thousand roubles。 He explained the
position。 The nephew was also present and joined in the argument；
whereupon the tax…collectors consulted a bit of paper and retorted； 〃A tax
of twenty thousand has been assessed on you too。 Be so good as to put
your coat on。〃
That meant arrest； and the nephew said he had five thousand roubles
and would pay that； but could pay no more。 Would that do？
〃Very well；〃 said the tax…collector； 〃fetch it。〃
The nephew fetched it。
〃And now put your coat on。〃
〃But you said it would be all right if I paid the five thousand！〃
〃That's the only way to deal with people like you。 We recognize
that your case is hard； and we dare say that you will get off。 But the
Soviet has told us to collect the whole tax or the people who refuse to pay
it； and they have decreed that if we came back without one or the other； we
shall go to prison ourselves。 You can hardly expect us to go and sit in
prison out of pity for you。 So on with your coat and come along。〃
They went； and at the militia headquarters were shut into a room with
barred windows where they were presently joined by most of the other
rich men of the town； all in a rare state of indignation； and some of them
very angry with 〃Uncle；〃 for taking things so quietly。 〃Uncle was
worrying about nothing in the world but the tannery and the leather…works
which he was afraid might get into difficulties now that both he and I were
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RUSSIA IN 1919
under lock and key。〃
The plutocracy of the town being thus gathered in the little room at
the militia…house； their wives came； timorously at first； and chattered
through the windows。 My informant； being unmarried； sent word to two
or three of his friends； in order that he might not be the only one without
some one to talk with outside。 The noise was something prodigious； and
the head of the militia finally ran out into the street and arrested one of the
women； but was so discomfited when she removed her shawl and he
recognized her as his hostess at a house where he had been billeted as a
soldier that he hurriedly let her go。 The extraordinary parliament
between the rich men of the town and their wives and friends； like a crowd
of hoodie crows； chattering outside the window； continued until dark。
Next day the workmen from the tannery came to the militia…house
and explained that 〃Uncle〃 had really ceased to be a member of the
propertied classes； that he was necessary to them as president of their
soviet； and that they were willing to secure his release by paying half of
the tax demanded from him out of the factory funds。 Uncle got together
thirty thousand； the factory contributed another thirty； and he was freed；
being given a certificate that he had ceased to be an exploiter or a property
owner； and would in future be subject only to such taxes as might be
levied on the working population。 The nephew was also