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
san Soviet Government, Local Applicant for Second
l. Papers Is Refused Opportunity to Explain.
Joel Lchten 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 q member of 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 1. 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
immediate withdrawal from all Rus
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
ing substitute for the original resolu-
ton:
/" Resolved, that this convention
favors the recognition Of truly demo-
cratic form of government in Russia,
when it shall have been established
through constituent or other form of
national assembly, representing the
majority of the people through popu.
lar elections, and not until then.'
Defined sovietism.
IINE, I;oL&o.. ,,n4oa - eax,o. - nn3
talked in favor Of the original resolu-
ton, in which he made no reference to
Bolshevism or extended any sympathy
to the Bolsheviki, but in which he de-
Tended the principal of Sovietism in
Russia as he understood it. He de-
clared that the Soviet system of gov
eminent was peculiarly Russian and
had existed from the time Of Peter the
Great. About the only change be.
tween the present Soviet government
and the old Soviet, he held, was in the
fact that the franchise was now limited
TO those performing useful and neces-
sary labor to society.
"Now, when Mr.. Litchen's applica-
ton for citizenship was up for con-
sideration, he was questioned by R. K.
Doe, representing the U. s. Department
of Labor. Mr.. Lichten's witnesses
were John E. Jensen, a fellow painter
and president of the Federated Trades
Assembly of Duluth, and w. E. Towne,
president of the Allied Printing Trades
Council. Mr.. Jensen is known as a
conservative among labor men and the
neople of Duluth generally, and Mr..
Towne is classed as a radical. When
Mr.. Lichten appeared before Mr.. Doe
he was questioned substantially as
follows:
Put on the "Pan''
@. Are you a Socialist
A. Yes, by conviction.
@. Did You vote for the Bolshevist
resolution at the State Federation of
Labor Convention, held at New Ulm,
July, 19197
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, 1897
A. Yes, I attended as a duly elected
delegate from the Federated Trades
Assembly of Duluth.
O. 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 conventionf
A. In my report to the Federated
Trades Assembly gave full account
of what transpired at the convention.
There were no recommendations in the
report.
@. Did you make a 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-
racy at homei
A. No, I did not. I only referred
to-, or I quoted President Wilson s mes