Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-06-16
labor CONVENTION BLOCKS
ATTEMPT TO CALL ON US. TO
RECOGNIZE SOVIET GOVT

,,e-,--esl. June Enforcement to
-a- ,-,o.. ne United States to recog-
rs soviet government or lift
,..~ysoes against Soviet RUSSIA was
.,,ryed = the annual convention of
.,s A-nerlcan Federation of Labor
.,1sr after a heated debate. James
-,rrran Of the Seattle Central
na~ -7uncIL ed the fight in be-
.,.f At ne Soviet with the aid of
LOCOMOTIVES Of the Ladies Gar
-,s-, Workers. but the convention
.oo--e1 oy IN overwhelming vote
.ra ~erort If the resolutions COM
r-.-.ee 97poslng any action.
me Not Vet Hips
RVS Committee report declared
leaf ne federation would not be
..-,,s-.--c taking any action that
,r,-rl ne construed as IN approval
.e--e SOVIET government SO long as
81. e Aasnd upon auth or1ty which has
an. naen vested N any popular ma
.,,-,s1 representative assembly, Of
ne russian people or SO long as il
.rooevnr 70 create revolutions in
,,.a5. asra Dilshed civilized nations of
tie woria. or so long as II advocates
ma applies nIlItarlzaton to labor
nr prevents the organizing and
-,inc-orluE Of trade unions and
tnaIutenauCes Of free speech. free
,,rosr nd Tree public assemblies"
~he committee took no action on
. demand nv Abraham Greenstein, a
5alegYie Of the Jewelry Workers.
mai < nave an Investigating COM
n,rtee to learn the true facts" IN
2ussla. The American news ageu-
les nv "nlsre presentlng the facts"
he SAD. were responsible for the
r~esent situation IN Russia
IN amendment offered by Joseph
:. Cannon Of New York which
would urge the government to
lease rs activities IN unfolding the
DloEkaaa" of Russia, and would
protest against supplying munitions
70 NATIONS al war with Russia, was
defeated unanimously. No vote was
-aken on q resolution by Luigi An
,0nIo. Of the International Ladies'
.larneut Workers. 10 declare that
he United States IN continuing the
blockade was an abettor IN this
most herlous crime against a free
sovereign people with whom the
american people have always been
a peace.
Z also passed over motions that
ne convention use its influence TO
ring about a withdrawal of armed
ores ri Eli powers now opposing the
Bllsnevikl. a telegram from Secreta-
Y u state Colby which was read
SAID:
There IS no licensed or regular
Fading between the United States
anG Russia at present. There have
Desn, a. YOU may know, several con-
-erences on The subject of the removal
- restrictions against trading with
aussI&- These conferences have been
aeld Z Europe and their course has
beer carefully observed by this gov
eminent They have SO far been void
n results. The Soviet government is
'1sistent upon political recognition as
condition precedent TO a renewal Of
am commercial contract.
Winnie TINS government has no de-
sire e Interfere with the thermal af-
-G--s 4 the Russian people or to sug-
Eest ne KIND Of government that they
5nou-1 nave. the existing regime in
aussla does not represent the will or
"onserc ~ any considerable proper
ion Of ne Russian people. 1t repu-
Gates ererr principle of harmonious
ana -rusltGI relations. whether of ma
long 9r # individuals. and is based
-2on he negotiations Of honor and
zoHc tAIth, ana every usage and con-
"entIon underlying the structure of
-1ter.a-loral law"