The Ruskies Cqn'l Believe lr

Getting the truth to ordinary Russians in their homeland about real conditions among people of their own class in the United States is utterly impossible, even vshen frank and well-mga,ning Americans teil them the facts.

Thomas Dreier in his magazine, "The Vagabond," makes that very clear in a practical way. He tells about Ferris Owen, a 37-year-old potato farmer of Newark, Ohio, who was one of a 13-man delegation of American farmers who recently visited Russia. "This group of farmers," says the article, "went to Russia with a genuine desire to help the Russians become better farmers, and also to learn anything the Russians could teach them."

They found that the Russians "are just as much afraid of our capitalistic system as we are of their Communism. They think that we're trying to take over the world. In Russia the words 'capitalist' and 'war-monger' are almost interchangeable. The people don't think all Americans are war-mongers, but they believe our country is controlled by a few rvealthy, war-mongering capitalists, and that our people are slaves to the capitalistic system."

Said Mr. Owen in this article: "Several times I tried to convince people that I am not a slave, but I don't think I was very successful. On one collective farm the workers were asking questions. 'Who plans your crop system?' one man wanted to know. 'I do,' I said. He seemed doubtful. 'Who owns your machinery?' he asked. 'I do.' He was puzzled. 'But how do you get it repaired?' 'We usually repair

An Editorial

it ourselves,' I explained, adding that since American farmers own their own equipment, there are no government tractor stations. 'Then you're a millionaire ?' the man asked. 'No.' 'But you do not work in the fields?' 'Yes, I do,' I assured him, 'I work right along with the men who work for me.' That was too much for him. Obviously I was either lying or crazy)'

Such was the report of a good, intelligent and helpful American farmer on his discussions with Russian farmers.

And, if men like Mr. Owen, looking these Russian farmers in the eye and giving them frank and friendly facts about America, can make no progress at explaining our way of life, how much good must we assume is done by the propaganda that we try to send to the Russians through the air and otherwise ?

Our ways are so far removed from their ways, and our conditions from their conditions, that they just can't understand, as Mr. Owen discovered. They vvould have believed fairy tales just as quickly.

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