New-York tribune., 1919-01-16
Officials To Fight
First Soviet inU. S.
Formed in Oregon
Legislature Frames Bills to
Down Bolshevisn1 Shown
bv Workers and Soldiers
Council Just Organized

PORTLAND, Ore. Jan. 15.-Bol-
shevism has appeared in Oregon. A
self-styled Council of Soldiers and
Workmen's Delegates has been organ
lied in Portland, headed by II. M.
Wicks, editor of a Socialist magazine
as temporary chairman. Two meet
ings, attended by about 1000 men
each, have been held, and the Bolshe
wiki, through their chairman, have an
nounced their intention of meeting
soon at the Municipal Audito rum.
One movement is now reported as
formidable.
Mayor George L. Baker received in
formation that the Bolsheviki had de-
clared they would seize the auditorium
forcibly. Wicks, when asked about
this, said it was the intention to meet
at the auditorium, but not by unlawful
means.
Violent speeches were made at the
meetings of the Bolshevik Resolu-
tions were adopted indorsing the Soviet
government in Russia, recognizing the
new Sim Fein Irish republic and de-
mandng that the United States gov
eminent forthwith withdraw its forces
from Siberia.
Speakers denounced the United
States government in unmeasured
terms and declared that Russia is en-
Joying much larger degree Of free
dom than are the people of the United
States.
In an address delivered to members
OF the Oregon Legislature just prior
to It's convening, Mayor Baker warned
the members that the present indus
trial crisis in Oregon is grave and that
the Bolshevist menace is real.
Lied by members of the I. w. w. and
apparently plentifully supplied with
funds from some mysterious source"
said the Mayor, "these self-called Boil
shevlki are meeting discharged soldiers
who are being released from the army
here at the rate of 600 a day. The
Bolshevki give food, lodging and cloth
ing to these soldiers, many of whom are
pennless. AS result, they are en-
listing some of them in their own
ranks. Unless we meet this situation
and put down this movement it will
put us down."
The influence of the Bolsheviki was
apparent in the convention of the Ore
gon Federation of Labor at it's sessions
here last week, when numerous radical
resolutions were adopted over the pro-
test of conservative delegates. Among
them were the Sim Fein and Siberian
measures previously declared for by the
bolsheviki. In opposing resolution
proposing the formation of councils of
employers and employees to ad Just labor
differences, one delegate declared the
programme of the American Federation
OF Labor was inadequate and that only
revolutionary action could be expected
to obtain for labor it's rights. The
proposed councils were voted down by
the federation.
While local, state and Federal Of
tclals declare the Bolshevist movement
IN this state is neither extensive nor
formidable, steps have been taken in
the Legislature to check it.
Two bills designed to cope with
troubles that may arise during the
period of reconstruction have already
been introduced in the Houes and are
IN the hands of the committees
House bill No. 1, introduced by Rep
resentative Kubli, of Multnomah
County, is stringent measure against
the l. W. w. and Bolshcvism in any
form. 1t covers agitation, propaganda,
organization for those purposes and
torbids the owner of any building to
allow 1T to be used as a meeting place
tor radical organizations.
One introduced by Representative
Schuebel, of Clackamas County, pro-
viding for joint board of Cancellation.
is in effect the same measure that
called for bitter fight on the floor of
the Labor Federation convention in
Portland. whore it was finally defeated.
Schuebel's bill provides that the board
consist Of one man named by organized
labor, one man named by the en-
ployers' association and one man
agreed unnn hv tho Grst +uro