The controversy which has arisen regarding the admittance of former traders into the cooperatives is discussed by N. Diamanstein, leader in the Ozet, society for Jewish land settlement, in an article published today.
“The time has arrived,” Mr. Diamanstein writes, when we ought no longer to use the word ‘declassed’ because it is confusing. Our policy to help the artisans is often utilized by those artisans who are really ‘Kulaks’ (rich peasants). We must now differentiate between the real artisans and those former traders who are now artisans but who are ready at any time to return to trading.”
Diamanstein concludes by declaring that help should go only to those who were poor before the revolution, not to those who lost their economic basis after the revolution.
Those who employ workers are also barred from membership in the cooperatives.
In the meantime the campaign to enroll artisans in the cooperatives is gaining strength. Artisans who do not join the cooperatives are excluded from obtaining loans from the credit kassas, from receiving bread cards and are compelled to purchase their supplies from private traders at prices many times over the cooperative’s prices. Nor are they permitted to use the machines sent to them by their relatives abroad.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
