The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-12-13
LEADING UNION PAINTER
DRIVEN FROM COURTROOM
Charged With Supporting Resolution Of Sympathy for Rus
sian Soviet Government, Local Applicant for Second
Papers Is Refused Opportunity to Explain
Joel Echten Admits That He Socialist By Conviction But
Fully Favors American Form Of Government and
Never Has Stood for Revolutionary Action

, luth, and to conventions of the Mime
sofa State Federation of Labor. He
also became a member 81 the Socialist
party in America, but withdrew there
from when the socalled left wing came
into control.
Declared His Intention.
"Mr. Lichten declared his intention
to become a citizen Of the United
States in June, 1915, and made final
application for full citizenship in April,
1919. Since his arrival in the United
States he has been a law abiding citi-
| zen. He is not member of the /. w.
W., or any other political, industrial or
social organization committed to the
| overthrow of the United States govern
| ment. He at all times has strongly
advocated changes in government by
evolutionary processes through politi-
cal action and he has opposed revolu-
tionary changes, and particularly by
so-called direct action. He has made
it point to identify himself only with
law abiding and lawful organizations
Of men and women.
The Soviet Resolution.
cat the convention Of the Mime
sofa State Federation Of Labor, held at
New Ulm in July, resolution having
reference to the Russian situation was
introduced and acted upon at the
second days session. This resolution
read as follows:
"Resolved, that the Minnesota State
Federation of Labor hereby express
it's sympathy with the Soviet Russia,
denounce the Allied efforts at subjec-
the Mannerheim and Kolchak govern
ton and their erection and support of
ments and the worldwide campaign of
lying propaganda directed at the Rus
| sian Soviet government, and demand
sian territory of Allied troops, the ces-
| sation of support to the Mannerheim
and the Kolchak and other reactionary
| government"
"The- committee. on resolutions, to
which the Russian Soviet. resolution
was referred, recommended the follow.
'ng substitute for the original resolu-
ton:
4" Resolved, that this convention
favors the recognition Of truly demo
ratio form of government in Russia,
when it shall have been established
through 8 constituent or other form of
! national assembly, representing the
majority Of the people through popu-
lar elections, and not until then.'
Defined sovietisu.
"Mr. Liehten voted in favor of, and
talked in favor Of the original resolu-
ion, in which he made no reference to
Bolshevism or extended any sympathy
o the Bolsheviki, but in which he de.
ENDED the principal Of fSovietism in
Russia as he understood it. He de-
Jared that the Soviet system Of gov
| eminent was peculiarly Russian and
lad existed from the time of Peter the
Treat. About the only change be.
tween the present Soviet government
md the old Soviet, he held, was in the
'act that the franchise was now limited
those performing useful and neces-
sary labor to society.
"Now, when Mr.. Litchen g applica-
lion for citizenship was up for con-
liberation, he was questioned by R. K.
Doe, representing the US. Department
If Labor. Mr.. Lichten' witnesses
we're John E. Jensen, a fellow painter
md president of the Federated Trades
! Assembly of Duluth, and W. E. Towne,
president of the Allied Printing Trades
Council Mr.. Jensen lis known as a
conservative among labor men and the
neople of Duluth generally. and Mr..
Towne is classed as radical. When
Mr.. Lichten appeared before Mr.. Doe
he was questioned substantially as
follows:
Put on the "pan"
@. Are you Socialist
A. Yes, by conviction.
@. Did you vote for the Bolshevist
resolution at the State Federation Of
Labor Convention, held at New Ulm,
July, 19192
A. Not for the Bolshevist resolu-
tion, but for the resolution requesting
the withdrawal Of troops from Russia
and expressing sympathy with Soviet
Russia.
@. Did you attend the Mooney con.
vention held at Chicago, ILL.,, January
14-1S, 1919s
A. Yes. attended as duly elected
delegate from the Federated Trades
Assembly Of Duluth. ~.
@. Did you vote for the general
| strike resolutionf
A. Yes, did.
@. Did you recommend the, endorse.
ment Of the resolution to the Federated
Trades Assembly upon your return
| from the conventions
A. In my report to the Federated
Trades Assembly I gave a full account
of what transpired at the convention.
There were no recommendations in the
report. =
| Q. Did you make speech at the
Court House Square on Labor Day, in
which you stated that we should not
have gone to Europe to fight for
democracy when we have not democ-
raey at homei
A No, did not. I only referred
to, or I quoted President Wilson 3 mes
sage to Congress, in which he said that