TELEGRAM TO V. N. KARLOV ON THE COLLECTION OF ALL GRAIN SURPLUSES
Saratov. Comrade People's Commissar Karlov.
August 21, 1918
The size of the surpluses indicated by you is clearly underestimated. Gather more accurate data. It is necessary to identify exemplary [cases], that is, with the best organization of the poor in the village and volost, in order, first, to determine without concealment the quantity of grain surpluses, and second, to award a substantial prize to the volosts that have provided complete clearance and collection of all grain surpluses without exception.
Pass this on to all food supply officials and telegraph your response*.
Load the grain faster. [718]
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, Lenin.
* Underlined by Lenin. Ed.