New-York tribune., 1918-02-02
Bolsheviki Here
Form Council
OfAllthe eReds
Anarchists Demand Release
of Berkman and
Goldman
200 Assemble in
City Convention
Meeting Proposes to Spread
Doctrine of Russian Rev.
olution in This Country

More than two hundred Socialists.
Anarchists. Pacifsts and Bolsheviki,
representing Russians in Chicago.
st. Louis, Kansas City, Cleveland and
most Of the large cities and indus
trial centres of the country, organized
the "First Convention Of Russian Citi-
zens in the United States of America"
last night in Beethoven Hall, on Fifth
Street.
Their first official act rs body wa.
to pass resolution calling on Presi-
dent Wilson to release Alexander
berkman and Emma Goldman in order
that they might return to Russia and
assist IN her regeneration.
Bolsheyiki Here Organized
The delegates were elected by the
Bolsheviki in America, an organization
formed here by sympathizers with the
radical movement in Russia, and their
deliberations showed that the same in
dependence of thought prevails among
Bolshcvilli on this side of the Atlantic
as among those on the other.
The resolution calling for the re-
lease of Berkman and Emma Goldman,
who are to serve q twoyear term in
prison for conspiracy against the draft,
was not carried without bitter opposi-
ton.
There were some, it appeared, who
/ thought Alexander Berkman and Emma
Goldman should be released uncondi-
tionally. The resolution was intro
duced bo Naon Bcrkus, of Cleveland.
Ohio. Nikolai Horowitz, an editor of
"Novy Mlr." q local Russian newspaper,
and an opponent of the selective draft,
! cxhorted the delegates to vote for the
freedom Of the two anarchists to travel
wheresoevcr they choose. For one,
Horowitz declared, he was not in favor
of making any compromise with the
American government in demanding
their release.
The resolution follows:
''f'he Russian anarchistic delegation
from Cleveland, Ohio, calls upon the
convention to demand of President Will
son by telegraph tonight the liberation
Of Alexander Berkman and Emma Gold
man and that this convention ask the
President to allow their immediate re-
turn to Russia"
The resolution was carried in its
original form after q wrangle that
lasted for hours. One Koltchin, con-
tributor to "Novy Mir" brought the
"reactionary" element to its feet with a
storm of applause by shouting that the
convention would do we'll to take less
interest in Emma Goldman and her fell
low prisoner and more in the liberation
of dozens Of Russians imprisoned in
Russia by the Bosheviki for opposing
that party. The Kisses and groans Of
the opposition finally drowned out this
orator.
The convention had been called by
editors of "Novy Mir" which is a Rus
sian Socialist daily, to unite Russians
in America behind the present regime
in Russia a. Wcinsten, an editor of
the paper, called the meeting to order
snd was elected permanent chairman.
lie is we'll acquainted with Leon
Trotzky, and, in fact, used to read the
copy" which the present Foreign Min
lister of Russia wrote last spring when
he was employed by the "Novy Mir" at
$50 week.
Convention Is Delayed
The convention was summoned for 9
p. m. and met at s. 1t was evident
from the first that, despite some op-
position, the programme laid out by
the editors of "Novy Mir" would be car
ried out with scarcely hitch.
The Bolshevik Dirge
The session opened with the singing
Of the funeral march which the Bolshe-
wiki took for their own when they came
into power in Russia. The "Pokoron-
noy March" it is called, and translated
it goes thus:
You fell victims in the fatal fight
| Owing to your limitless love for the
people
You gave all you could for the cause of
right
Your life and honor and freedom
In his opening address Mr.. Vein
stein said: "Not long ago you were in
suited by the American press, which
called you German agents. They re-
ferred to you not as Russian citizens
or immigrants, but as enemy aliens
They've got to deal with you, at whom
they have hurled insult. You are the
people who are writing the most brill
liant pages in the history of the civil