The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-12-13

In dl6courte0uS, SnarnnS, con
teqptuous manner, two weeks ago last
Friday, Page Morris, U. 8. district
Judge, kshed joel Lichten with seorn
and drove him from the courtroom
when he appeared at the bar to seek
the sweet . ON of American citizen
ship.
Had the applicant for the greatest
honor on earth, American citizenship,
been duly and properly examined and
then, after fair, impartial, unpre-
JUDGED judicial consideration, been
found unworthy or untitled, none,
not even Joel Lichten, could have com
planned Of criticised.
Mr.. Lidhten has not taken the Rip
saw into his personal confidence. The
editor of this paper always has held
q high opinion of his honor, manhood
and ability and, at various times,
ehampioned him as against brutal, law
less, unwarranted attempts to harass
him by those clad with bit Of brief
authority.
When the editor Of this paper learn
ed that Lirhten had shown sudh bad
manners and questionable taste as to
be extremely active and even narrowly
dictatorial in local politics, he was rap.
ped ON the wrist, as a mild discipline
and lesson to others. There never was
any idea that the man was disloyal
unduly radical or q snake in the grass
towards the American form of govern.
ment.
William e. McEwen's Views.
In the issue of the Duluth Labor
World Of last week, William E. Nc.
Even reported at length on Lichten
and his experiences in Judge Morris
court. Mr.. McEwen knows Mr.. Lich-
ten 80 we'll and covered the case so
fully that, as matter of deep interest
and to place the facts before this
papers thousands of readers, that re-
port is reprinted, as follows:
"In the campaign to prevent unde.
sirable persons Of foreign birth from
becoming citizens of the United States,
Joel Lichten, secretary Of the local
Painters union, and one Of the least
offensive men we have ever known,
is the first victim. He was denied
citizenship in Judge Morris court last
Friday morning after admitting that
he had voted in favor of the resolution
Of sympathy for Soviet Russia at the
New Ulm convention of the Minnesota
State Federation of Labor.
Beyond the trade union movement
Mr.. Lichten and The Labor World have
little in common. We widely differ
with him on many subjects. Perhaps if
we had suffered under the yoke Of op-
preston as he has done we would en-
tertain his views on political and in.
dustrial questions, and we doubt if we
would be as mild, patient and con-
siderate as he is. In speech he is with
out passion or malevolence. In man
ner he is gentle and kind. In thought
he is tolerant and considerable. These
are not usual characteristics of danger
Gus enemies to our country or its insti-
tutions. It would have been better had
the federal authorities chosen a more
glaring subject for the denial Of citi-
zenship.
Loyal During War.
"During the war, Mr. Liehten 10y
ally supported the United States. He
introduced a motion in his local union
for the purchase Of $500 worth of
Liberty bonds. He also presented a
resolution directing the treasurer to
buy quantities Of War Savings certifi-
Gates and Thrift stamps to be sold to
the members. He personally purchased
Liberty bonds Of every issue and still
possesses them. He registered under
the draft and did not claim any ex-
emption as an alien, but asked only for
such classification as was given to
maZsied men. He supported President
Wilson and was jealous in his defense
Of Americas stand in the war as de-
fined in the fourteen points. Through
out the war he was loyal, not disloyal.
He made no boast of patriotism, but he
rendered patriotic service to the coun-
try. Classed as radical because Of
questions, but usually conservative in
his views on political and economic
action and always practical his only
crime is that he has zealously labored
to improve the condition Of his fellow
worers and all the people.
Exiled from Russia.
"Joel Lichten was born in Zdunska-
VIOLA, Poland, in Russia, on July 8, 1886.
AS yOuhgSCer Nc became aIIlllateu
with the Polish Socialist party, the
dominating democratic political organi-
cation in Poland. which was foremost
in the fight for the political independ.
ence of that country. Because of his
activity in behalf Of political indie
pendenee, the Cars government had
him posted, and to avoid exile to 81
IBERIA, he escaped from the country in
to Denmark and from there to Sweden.
In Sweden Mr.. Lichten identified
himself with the trades union move
ment and took an active part in its
operations. He worked as painter
and travelled considerably over Europe,
where he learned to speak six different
languages. In January, 1914, he came
to the United States and settled in Du-
1uth. Having a transfer card from
the Painters union Of Stockholm, he
became a member of the Painters
union Of Duluth, in which organization
he has since taken an active part,
serving IL as secretary. as delegate to