for example, which is the actual labour centre, is
controlled directly by the unions. As Commissar
of Labour, I was elected directly by the General
Council of the Trades Unions. Of the College
of nine members which controls the whole work
of the Commissariat, five are elected directly by
the General Council of the Trades Unions and
four appointed by the Council of People's Com-
missaries, thus giving the Unions a decisive ma-
jority in all questions concerning labour. All
nine are confirmed by the Council of People's Com-
missaries, representing the state as a whole, and
the Commissar is confirmed by the All-Russian
Executive Committee."

Of course control by the workers, as it was first
introduced, led speedily to many absurdities and,
much to the dissatisfaction of the extremer ele-
ments, has been considerably modified. It was
realized that the workers in any particular fac-
tory might by considering only their own inter-
ests harm the community as a whole, and so, in
the long run, themselves. The manner of its
modification is an interesting example of the way
in which, without the influence of tanks, aëro-

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