RESOLUTION ON A LETTER FROM A. M. GORKY
January 31, 1920
I must apologize, dear Vladimir Ilyich, for being compelled to turn to you with a complaint and a request—here… one cannot obtain any meaningful results from anyone.
About a year ago, by telegram from the Supreme Council of National Economy…
I was appointed commissioner of the “Kopeyka” printing house, which had been entrusted to the care of “World Literature.” In order to ensure technical oversight and maintain proper records, the former commissioner from the local Council of National Economy’s printing section was also retained alongside me.
It took tremendous effort for “World Literature” to preserve the productivity of its printing facilities during those difficult years and to protect them from the collapse that had already befallen most large, nationalized printing houses.
*
The decree concerning consumer cooperatives, published in “Izvestia of the All‑Russian Central Executive Committee” on March 20, 1919, is hereby referenced.
To Vorovsky, for urgent recall.
Lenin

Seeking to increase the productivity of these printing houses, the local printing section found no other way than to forcibly, through its own commissioner, seize the “Kopeyka’s” workforce and transfer it to Soviet printing establishments.
On January 27, ten workers from the machine shop were thus taken from me; on the 28th, an equal number of typesetters and booklet makers were likewise requisitioned. These seizures were carried out despite my protests as commissioner.
Such conduct on the part of the printing section, while utterly undermining the operations of “Kopeyka,” deprives “World Literature” of the ability to print its books. Besides “World Literature,” with my consent, “Kopeyka” also prints materials for the Baltic Fleet, the Murmansk Railway, and fulfills orders from Smolny. Naturally, the printing house does not accept any private commissions whatsoever.
Thus, by sabotaging the operations of “Kopeyka,” the printing section ends up harming the very Soviet power itself.
I ask you:
1. To shield “Kopeyka” from further attempts by the printing section to interfere.
2. To take measures to restore to “Kopeyka” the workers who have been taken from it.
3. To affirm, with sufficient authority, my rights as commissioner, clarifying that the printing house has been placed under the exclusive jurisdiction of “World Literature” and that, apart from me, no other commissioner is needed.
I am confident that only in this way can we ensure the continued operation of “World Literature” and preserve, from ruin, the sole large-scale printing establishment in Petrograd that is functioning properly. I request that you consider my plea without delay and send me a reply by telegraph, for the destruction of the printing house has already begun—and is proceeding with great vigor.
M. Gorky
8,437 and 41,063