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according to their duties…political； military； instructional； and so forth。
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For the train has not merely an agitational purpose。 It carries with it a
staff to give advice to local authorities； to explain what has not been
understood； and so in every way to bring the ideas of the Centre quickly to
the backwoods of the Republic。 It works also in the opposite direction；
helping to make the voice of the backwoods heard at Moscow。 This is
illustrated by a painted pillar…box on one of the wagons； with a slot for
letters； labelled； 〃For Complaits of Every Kind。〃 Anybody anywhere
who has grievance； thinks he is being unfairly treated； or has a suggestion
to make； can speak with the Centre in this way。 When the train is on a
voyage
telegrams announce its arrival beforehand； so that the local Soviets can
make full use of its advantages； arranging meetings； kinematograph shows；
lectures。 It arrives； this amazing picture train； and proceeds to publish
and distribute its newspapers； sell its books （the bookshop； they tell me； is
literally stormed at every stopping place）； send books and posters for forty
versts on either side of the line with the motor…cars which it carries with it；
and enliven the population with its kinematograph。
I doubt if a more effective instrument of propaganda has ever been
devised。 And in considering the question whether or no the Russians will
be able after organizing their military defence to tackle with similar
comparative success the much more difficult problem of industrial rebirth；
the existence of such instruments； the use of such propaganda is a factor
not to be neglected。 In the spring of this year； when the civil war seemed
to be ending； when there was a general belief that the Poles would accept
the peace that Russia offered （they ignored this offer； advanced； took Kiev；
were driven back to Warsaw； advanced again； and finally agreed to terms
which they could have had in March without bloodshed any kind）； two of
these propaganda trains were already being repainted with a new purpose。
It was hoped that in the near future all five trains would be explaining not
the need to fight but the need to work。 Undoubtedly； at the first possible
moment； the whole machinery of agitation； of posters； of broadsheets and
of trains； will be turned over to the task of explaining the Government's
plans for reconstruction； and the need for extraordinary concentration；
now on transport； now on something else； that these plans involve。
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SATURDAYINGS
So much for the organization； with its Communist Party； its system of
meetings and counter…meetings； its adapted Trades
Unions； its infinitely various propaganda； which is doing its best to
make headway against ruin。 I want now to describe however briefly； the
methods it has adopted in tackling the worst of all Russia's problems…the
non…productivity and absolute shortage of labor。
I find a sort of analogy between these methods and those which we
used in England in tackling the similar cumulative problem of finding men
for war。 Just as we did not proceed at once to conscription； but began by
a great propaganda of voluntary effort； so the Communists； faced with a
need at least equally vital； did not turn at once to industrial conscription。
It was understood from the beginning that the Communists themselves
were to set an example of hard work； and I dare say a considerable
proportion of them did so。 Every factory had its little Communist
Committee； which was supposed to leaven the factory with enthusiasm；
just as similar groups of Communists drafted into the armies in moments
of extreme danger did； on more than one occasion； as the non…Communist
Commander…in…Chief admits； turn a rout into a stand and snatch victory
from what looked perilously like defeat。 But this was not enough； arrears
of work accumulated； enthusiasm waned； productivity decreased； and
some new move was obviously necessary。 This first move in the
direction of industrial conscription； although no one perceived its tendency
at the time； was the inauguration of what have become known as
〃Saturdayings〃。
Early in 1919 the Central Committee of the Communist Party put out
a circular letter； calling upon the Communists 〃to work revolutionally；〃 to
emulate in the rear the heroism of their brothers on the front； pointing out
that nothing but the most determined efforts and an increase in the
productivity of labor would enable Russia to win through her difficulties
of transport； etc。 Kolchak； to quote from English newspapers； was it
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〃sweeping on to Moscow；〃 and the situation was pretty threatening。 As a
direct result of this letter； on May 7th； a meeting of Communists in the
sub…district of the Moscow…Kazan railway passed a resolution that； in view
of the imminent danger to the Republic；
Communists and their sympathizers should give up an hour a day of
their leisure； and； lumping these hours together； do every Saturday six
hours of manual labor； and； further； that these Communist 〃Saturdayings〃
should be continued 〃until complete victory over Kolchak should be
assured。〃 That decision of a local committee was the actual beginning of
a movement which spread all over Russia； and though the complete
victory over Kolchak was long ago obtained； is likely to continue so long
as Soviet Russia is threatened by any one else。
The decision was put into effect on May 10th； when the first
Communist 〃Saturdaying〃 in Russia took place on the Moscow…Kazan
railway。 The Commissar of the railway； Communist clerks from the
offices； and every one else who wished to help； marched to work； 182 in
all； and put in 1；012 hours of manual labor； in which they finished the
repairs of four locomotives and sixteen wagons and loaded and unloaded
9；300 poods of engine and wagon parts and material。 It was found that the
productivity of labor in loading and unloading shown on this occasion was
about 270 per cent。 of the normal； and a similar superiority of effort was
shown in the other kinds of work。 This example was immediately copied
on other railways。 The Alexandrovsk railway had its first 〃Saturdaying〃
on May 17th。 Ninety…eight persons worked for five hours； and here also
did two or three times as much is the usual amount of work done in the
same number of working hours under ordinary circumstances。 One of the
workmen； in giving an account of the performance； wrote： 〃The Comrades
explain this by saying that in ordinary times the work was dull and they
were sick of it； whereas this occasion they were working willingly and
with excitement。 But now it will be shameful in ordinary hours to do less
than in the Communist 'Saturdaying。' 〃 The hope implied in this last
sentence has not been realized。
In Pravda of June 7th there is an article describing one of these early
〃Saturdayings；〃 which gives a clear picture of the infectious character of
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the proceedings； telling how people who came out of curiosity to look on
found
themselves joining in the work； and how a soldier with an accordion
after staring for a long time open…mouthed at these lunatics working on a
Saturday afternoon put up a tune for them on his instrument； and；
delighted by their delight； played on while the workers all sang together。
The idea of the 〃Saturdayings〃 spread quickly from railways to
factories； and by the middle of the summer reports of similar efforts were
coming from all over Russia。