Published:
First published in 1933 in Lenin Miscellany XXIII.
Printed from the original.
Source:
Lenin
Collected Works,
Progress Publishers,
1976,
Moscow,
Volume 45,
pages 316c-317a.
Translated: Yuri Sdobnikov
Transcription\Markup:
R. Cymbala
Public Domain:
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30.IX.1921
Comrade Gorbunov:
Please have this letter sent out in copies to
1) Comrade Danishevsky (Chief Timber Committee)
and 2) Comrade Molotov, C.C. Secretary
3) Comrade Kiselyov, Chairman of the Narrow C.P.C.
The C.C. has decided to assign 15responsible men for fuel (firewood, to be more precise) work for the three-week period.[1]
I should very strongly request comrades undertaking this extremely important work to devote especial attention to the following circumstances:
1) Verification of how the accounting (of the stockpiling, haulage and carriage to the stations) is arranged in the localities.
This business is run badly. The C.L.D. is aware of this, but does not know how to help. Comrades observing it at the grass roots, on the spot, can do a great deal to help, if they make a thorough study of the thing on the spot.
2) Stealing methods.
The stealing of firewood is very widespread (and this is understandable in a cold ruined peasant country). Bureaucrats and contractors very frequently cover up this stealing and carry it through “artistically”.
It is extremely important to make a much more detailed study from below of the methods of cheating (from entries in the books, receipts, etc., etc.). The C.L.D. is badly in need of this.
I earnestly request all 15 comrades who are going, to read this and drop me a couple of lines; if the need arises, to agree to remain on the spot for an extra week or so to make a more thorough study of the business.[2]
With communist greetings,
Lenin
Chairman, C.L.D.
[1] See Document 406 of this volume.—Ed.
[2] The register of C.P.C. and C.L.D. assignments has the following entry about this document, tinted September 30: “See to the fulfilment of Vladimir Ilyich’s assignment to 15 responsible workers mobilised for the three-week fuel (firewood) drive: a) check up on how the accounting has been arranged in the localities; b) study methods of stealing. Fulfilled 29.XII.21. 8.X collect their record. Fulfilled 11.X” (Istorichesky Arkhiv No. 5, 1961, p. 43).
In their reports addressed to Lenin, the workers mobilised by the R.C.P.(B.) Central Committee communicated the results of the three-week fuel drive, and also exposed the serious shortcomings in the work of timbering organs and the methods of stealing, and outlined measures to combat them (Central Party Archives of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism of the C.P.S.U. Central Committee). See also Lenin Miscellany XXXVI, p. 327.
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