and women in this workshop ; most were
anarchists, all of them skilled workers. In
New York they had established a toolmaker’s
business and conducted it on purely co-operative
lines. All through the war they had been
able to secure lots of work and consequently
shared considerable profits. When the revolution took place these people without a
moment’s hesitation wound up their business
and took ship to Odessa. For a time they
were able to work in a town in South Russia ;
the advance of Denikin’s army last summer
drove them to Moscow. I discovered them
in a very large suite of workshops carrying
on the business of toolmaking.
They conduct the workshop on strictly co-operative lines : there is a freedom and equality about the organisation which is apparent from the moment of entry. The buildings were given to this group by the Government. All the fitting up, erection of machinery and general planning has been done by the workers themselves. Many of the machines and tools, formerly used in America, were brought to Russia. Denikin’s army destroyed some and as is usual other parts were lost or damaged on the journey. What could be saved is now in full use : lots more though is needed and consequently much of the work done at this factory is on jobs which would be classed under the head of capital expendi-
