the crisis in russia(俄国危机)-第21章
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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。 Then Lenin became interested； seeing in
these 〃Saturdayings〃 not only a special effort in the face of common
danger； but an actual beginning of Communism and a sign that Socialism
could bring about a greater productivity of labor than could be obtained
under Capitalism。 He wrote： 〃This is a work of great difficulty and
requiring much time； but it has begun； and that is the main thing。 If in
hungry Moscow in the summer of 1919 hungry workmen who have lived
through the difficult four years of the Imperialistic war； and then the year
and a half of the still more difficult civil war； have been able to begin this
great work； what will not be its further development when we conquer in
the civil war and win peace。〃 He sees in it a promise of work being done
not for the sake of individual gain； but because of a recognition that such
work is necessary for the general good； and in all he wrote and spoke
about it he emphasized the fact that people worked better and harder when
working thus than under any of the conditions （piece…work； premiums for
good work； etc。） imposed by the revolution in its desperate attempts to
raise the productivity of labor。 For this reason alone； he wrote； the first
〃Saturdaying〃 on the Moscow…Kazan railway was an event of historical
significance； and not for Russia alone。
Whether Lenin was right or wrong in so thinking； 〃Saturdayings〃
became a regular institution； like Dorcas meetings in Victorian England；
like the thousands of collective working parties instituted in England
during the war with Germany。 It remains to be seen how long they will
continue； and if they will survive peace when that comes。 At present
the most interesting point about them is the large proportion of non…
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Communists who take an enthusiastic part in them。 In many cases not
more than ten per cent。 of Communists are concerned； though they take
the iniative in organizing the parties and in finding the work to be done。
The movement spread like fire in dry grass； like the craze for roller…
skating swept over England some years ago； and efforts were made to
control it； so that the fullest use might be made of it。 In Moscow it was
found worth while to set up a special Bureau for 〃Saturdayings。〃
Hospitals； railways； factories； or any other concerns working for the public
good； notify this bureau that they need the sort of work a 〃Saturdaying〃
provides。 The bureau informs the local Communists where their services
are required； and thus there is a minimum of wasted energy。 The local
Communists arrange the 〃Saturdayings；〃 and any one else joins in who
wants。 These 〃Saturdayings〃 are a hardship to none because they are
voluntary； except for members of the Communist Party； who are
considered to have broken the party discipline if they refrain。 But they
can avoid the 〃Saturdayings〃 if they wish to by leaving the party。 Indeed；
Lenin points； out that the 〃Saturdayings〃 are likely to assist in clearing out
of the party those elements which joined it with the hope of personal gain。
He points out that the privileges of a Communists now consist in doing
more work than other people in the rear； and； on the front； in having the
certainty of being killed when other folk are merely taken prisoners。
The following are a few examples of the sort of work done in the
〃Saturdayings。〃 Briansk hospitals were improperly heated because of
lack of the local transport necessary to bring them wood。 The
Communists organized a 〃Saturdaying；〃 in which 900 persons took part；
including military specialists （officers of the old army serving in the new）；
soldiers； a chief of staff； workmen and women。 Having no horses； they
harnessed themselves to sledges in groups of ten； and brought in the wood
required。 At Nijni 800 persons spent their Saturday afternoon in
unloading barges。 In the Basman district of Moscow there was a gigantic
〃Saturdaying〃 and 〃Sundaying〃 in which 2；000 persons （in this case all
but a little over 500 being Communists） worked in the heavy artillery
shops； shifting
materials； cleaning tramlines for bringing in fuel； etc。 Then there was a
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〃Saturdaying〃 the main object of which was a general autumn cleaning of
the hospitals for the wounded。 One form of 〃Saturdaying〃 for women is
going to the hospitals； talking with the wounded and writing letters for
them； mending their clothes； washing sheets； etc。 The majority of
〃Saturdayings〃 at present are concerned with transport work and with
getting and shifting wood； because at the moment these are the chief
difficulties。 I have talked to many 〃Saturdayers；〃 Communist and non…
Communist； and all alike spoke of these Saturday afternoons of as kind of
picnic。 On the other hand； I have met Communists who were
accustomed to use every kind off ingenuity to find excuses not to take part
in them and yet to pres
