The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1920-06-24
LABOR REFUSES
TO AID RUSSIA
A. F. of L. Will Not Assist the
Soviet Government "as at
Present Constituted"
WON'T ASK U. S. TO LIFT BAN
Secretary Of State Colby Wires For.
eign Rule That Doesn't Represent
the People Can't Be Recognized
by the United States.

Montreal, Canada.-A move to call
on the United States to recognize the
Soviet government or lift blockades
against Soviet Russia was blocked sn
the annual convention of the American
Federation of Labor after a heated
debate
James A. Duncan, of the Seattle
Central Labor Council, led the fight
In behalf of the Soviet with the aid
of representatives of the Ladies' Oar
ment Workers, but the convenlio
adopted by an overwhelming vote, the
report of the Resolutions Committee
opposing any action.
The committee report declared the
federation would not be justified in
taking any action that might be con-
strued as an assistance to, or approval
of, the Soviet government, so long as
1t Is based on authority which has not
been vested in it by popular national
representative assembly of the Rus
sian people, or so long as 1t endeavors
to create revolutions in well-establish-
so long as it advocates and applies
militariZation to labor and prevents the
organizing and functioning of trades
unions and maintenance of free speech.
free press and free public assemblies.
John Frey, chairman of the Reso-
lutions Committee, said it had ascer-
tanned on the highest authority" that
the Soviet government is an auto
cratic, militaristic government that
does not believe in democracy" and is
ruling by the "iron hand of the die
tatorShip."
Extracts from Lenine's speech,
which he read, showed, Mr. Frey de-
clared, that Lenine believed in making
trades unions subservient to the
Soviet government and labor COM
pulsory."
Opposition to the report, he said,
might indicate that the BOlsheviki
had infested the ranks of organized
labor in America with its propaganda. :"
James Duncan, of Washington, first
vice president of the federation, an
swered in defense of the committee
report. He read a telegram from Sec
retary of State Colby, which said the
eX-government did not represent he
will or consent of any considerable
proportion of the Russian people"
David Grange, New York delegate,
said the greatest trouble in America
was the BOlshevist plotters who IRE
trying to disrupt organized labor.
The telegram from Secretary of
State Colby said:
There is no licensed or regular
trading between the United States
| and Russia. There have been, as ou
may know, several conferences on the
| subject Of the removal of restrictions
against trading with Russia. These
conferences have been held in Europe
aud their course has been carefully
| observed by this government. They
have so far been void OF result.
1.-THE Soviet government is insistent
upon political recognition as a condi-
ton precedent to a renewal of any
commercial contact
while this government has no g.
sire to interfere with the internal af-
fairs Of the Russian people or to sug-
gest the kind of government that they
should have, the existing regime In
Russia does not represent the Will or
consent Of any considerable 0ronortIon
Of the Russian people.
at repudiates every principle OF
harmonious and trustful relations.
whether Of national or OF indivld' q.
and is based on the negation Of honor
and good faith and every usage and
convention underlying the structure Of
| international law"
The federation adopted a resolution
demanding repeal Of the compulsory
arbitration sections Of the Esch-Cum-
minis transportation act Of 1920. The
executive council was instructed to
take steps to bring about this action.