How much had Russia accomplished by the great ruble reform (TIME, Dec. 22)? Ever since Lenin decreed the creation of a nonprofit society in Russia, peasants have made trouble and speculators have made profits. Last week, hard on the heels of a reform designed to squelch troublemakers and profitmakers, both were busy.
Censored dispatches painted a rosy picture of Soviet plenty, but uncerisored reports told a different story. With rationing off, demand up, and Soviet bureaucracy malfunctioning as usual, the supply of bread, butter, eggs and other commodities in the state stores was...