The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-12-24

(From Interview With Washington
B. Vanderbilt
every working man and woman in
this country can be kept busy for the
next three years, if trade relations
with Russia are resumed immedi-
ately," according to Washington b.
Vanderlip, American financier, just
back from Russia with contracts the
fulfillmcnt OF which he said would
keep American industries going al
most at war schedule for that length
of time.
Mr.. Vanderlip was interviewed yes
terday by a representative of the
American Labor Alliance for Trade
Relations with Russia, which repre-
sents 100000 organized workers of
Greater Now York.
Mr. Nanderlip said that if trade
were resumed with Russia, the crisis
which organized labor in this coun-
try is facing would be forstalled be-
cause "every wheel in the United
States can be turning within 80 days
There need not be an idle person in
the whole country for the next three
years at least, if the orders which
Russia is prepared to place and pay
for were filled"
When asked what will happen if
present policy of ignoring Russian
the state department continues its
trade and sending back Russian gold,
Mr.. Vanderlip replied:
"Why they will just keep $4,000
100000 worth of trade out of the
country and withhold that much en-
ployment from American workers.
The English national hands off Rus
sia committee which represents
British trade unions and the Labor
party, is already bringing pressure
to bear on the British government to
resume trade, using the concessions
and contracts that we have received
as their strongest argument, in reso-
lutions which they are circulating
broadcast"
To prove how eager American
business men are for trade with Rus
sia, Mr.. Vanderlip showed his inter
viewer thousands of letters from
business men offering their commo-
dities.
"a little while ago a man forced
his way in here to offer me a million
pairs of shoes for sale American
business men should organize as labor
is doing to bring about the establish
ment of trade with Russia" he de
clared.
Mr. Vanderlip was then asked if
only union labor would be used in the
manufacture of commodities for Rus
Sia.
"That would be up to the CONNER
cial representatives. of the Russian
government because they are the
ones to place the orders. We are
just the financiers and have nothing
to do with the placing of the orders"
Russia Has 700,000,O00 Rubles.
When asked if he was not worried
by the opinion prevalent in some
circles that Russia cannot pay he
replied:
British statistics gave Russia
600,000,O00 rubles in gold last year.
The Russians say they have 700, 0,000,-
900 rubles. Besides there is a vast
amount of oil which Russia is ready
to export. Production of oil is up
to 80 per cent. There are 800 tons
of manganese in ports on the Black
sea ready to ship. There are vast
amounts of flax, timber, pulp. |
talked with one of the largest pub
fishers in the United States yester-
day. l told him that hoped to es-
tablish pulp trade between the Muir
mansk and America, as we now pur-
chase our pulp from Canada and pay
very high prices. 1t could easily be
shipped to our eastern ports. There
is an unlimited supply of pulp in
Russia and in the north it grows
faster than it can be cut down"