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PARTISAN REVIEW
for
him
are only levers. But I look at it this way, boys, this is exactly
what bureaucracy is. Let's say, we come to him for a meeting. Well,
talk like a human being, simply and openly. No, he can't without
being strict, he's absolutely got to be boss. The way he takes a look
around at everyone down his nose and snarls, 'Let's begin, com–
rades! All assembled?' Well, the heart goes out of you and so you
sit, waiting to be cussed out.
If
he'd only come out with it straight,
when something is not right! People would move mountains for one
straightforward word. No, he can't.
"He thinks that the party will lose authority if he talks with
the people like a human being, in a plain way. Why, he knows that
we earn in the kolkhoz 100 grams for a workday, but he repeats the
same thing over and over: with every year the earning power of the
workday is growing and prosperity becoming greater. There are no
cows left in our kolkhoz, but he goes on: with every year cattle rais–
ing in the kolkhoz is increasing and on a more solid basis. Why
doesn't he say- you aren't living so hot because of this and this ...
but we will live better. Say it-and people will take to their work
more willingly."
"It's a rough situation!" said Shchukin, again concluding Piotr
Kuz'mich's heated words.
Ivan Konoplev was finishing off another cigarette. He appeared
on edge and constantly trying to say something-apparently some–
thing harsh and caustic- but a severe asthmatic cough suddenly
seized him and forced him from the table. At the doorway Konoplev
lifted the broom and spat long into the corner. The livestock breeder
Tsipyshev said to
him
sympathetically, "Changed your tobacco, again,
probably, did you? I told you long ago-smoke only makhorka, the
stalk variety, it'll be easier on you."
Having coughed up a bit, but still without straightening up,
Konoplev raised his head and said hoarsely: "Our district heads
have lost the habit of how to talk with the people, they're ashamed.
They understand everything themselves but are afraid to take the
leap. What's persuasion have to do with this? They're relying on
levers. They see the boarded up homes in the village, but don't want
to talk of this out loud. All there's concern about is that there be
all round numbers in the reports. But what about people, what are
they left with?" And Konoplev again was racked with coughing.
