The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1919-12-06
.L|CHTEN DENIED
: CITIZENSHIP BY:
FEDERAL COURT
Turned Down co|d|y For Voting
For Soviet Resolution at
New UlIn Convention.

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 ad-
uniting that he had voted in favor
of the resolution Of sympathy for
Soviet Russia at the New Ulm con-
ventlton of the Minnesota State
Federation of Labor.
! Beyond the trade union miovebent
Mr.. Lichten and The Labor World
| have little in common. We widely
| differ with him on many subjects
i Perhaps if we had suffered under
the yoke of oppression as he has
| done we would entertain his views
on political and industrial questions,
| and we doubt if we would he as mild,
patient and considerable as he is. In
speech he is without passion or ma
| levolence. In manner he is gentle
! and kind. In thought he is tolerant
| and considerate. These are not usual
| characteristics of dangerous enemies
I to our country or it's institutions. 1t
| would have been better had the fed
eral authorities chosen a more glar-
ing subject for the denial Of citizen
ship.
Loyal During War.
During the war, Mr.. Lichten 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
resolution directing the treasurer
I to buy quantities of War Savings GER
| tificates and Thrift stamps 20 be sold
to the members. He personally pur-
chased Liberty bonds of every issue
and still possesses them. He regis
tered under the draft and did not
| claim exemption as an alien, but
asked only for such classification as
was given to married men. He sup
ported President Wilson and was
jealous in his defense of Americas
stand in the war as defined in the
fourteen points. Throughout the
war he was loyal, not disloyal. He
made no boast Of patriotism, but he
rendered patriotic service to the
country. Classed as a radical be-
cause Of his views on political and
economic questions, but usually con-
servative in action and always prac-
teal his only crime is that he has
1ealously labored to improve the
condition of his fellow workers and
all the people.
Exiled From Russia.
Joel Lichten was born in
zdunskawola, Poland in Russia on
| ! mi ho IN
came affiliated with the Polish
Socialist party, the dominating demo-
cratic political organization in Poland,
which was foremost in the fight for
the political independence of that
country. Because of his activity in
behalf Of political independence, the
Cars government had him posted
and to avoid exile to Siberia, he
escaped from the country into Den
mark and from there to Sweden.
In Sweden Mr.. Lichten identified
himself with the trades union move
ment and took an active part in it's
operations. He worked as a painter
and travelled considerably over Eu-
rope, where he learned to speak six
different languages. In January
1914, he came to the United States
and settled in Duluth. Having a
transfer card from the Painters union
of Stockholm, he became a member
Of the Painters union Of Duluth, ir
which organization he has since taken
an active part. serving it as secretary
D as delegate to the Federated Trades
S Assembly of Duluth, and to conven.
j. tons of the Minnesota State Fedora.
ton of Labor. He also became mem
e Der of the Socialist party in America
), but withdrew therefrom when the so.
e called left wing came into control
i Declared His Intention.
Mr.. Lichten declared his intention
to become a citizen of the United
States in June, 1916. and made fina
!. application for full citizenship II
April, 1919. Since his arrival in thu
: United States he has been law abid,
! ing citizen. He is not a member o.
| the l. W. w., or any other political
l. industrial Or social organization com.
| mitted to the overthrow of the United
! States government. He at all times
| has strongly advocated changes i,
| government by evolutionary processe
. through political action and he ha
- ! OPpO~N AOFOAuLAOl1dAy CI1dIlSGS, dliC
particularly by so-called direct action
;: He has made it a. point to identif!
himself only with law abiding ant
lawful organizations Of men ant
! women.
The Soviet Resolution.
At the convention of the Minnesota
State Federation Of Labor, held a
New Ulm in July, resolution havin,
reference to the Russian situation
was introduced and acted upon a
the second days session. This resolu
ton read as follows:
| "Resolved that the Minnesota Stat
Federation of Labor hereby express
it's sympathy with the Soviet Russia
! denounce the Allied efforts at subiec
ton and their erection and supper
| of the Mannerheim and Kolchak gov
ernments and the worldwide Campaign
Of lying propaganda directed at tn
Russian Soviet government, and de
mand immediate withdrawal from a.
Russian territory of Allied troops, tn
| cessation Of support to the Manner
| helm and the KOlch2k and othor re