Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-06-16
SCHEME To ASK
RECOGNITION Of
BOLSHEV|k| BY
j. s. BLOCKED
A, F, Of L, Convention, Af-
ter a Heated Debate, Fails
to Put Through Movement
Backed By Radical Wing,
COM MITTEE REPORT IS
UPHELD BY DELEGATES
Recommendation Opposing
Action At This Time Is
Upheld By Overwhelming
Vote of Those Present.

kBN MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL IGAsEo wIREl
Montreal, June Movement
to call upon the United States TO
recognize the soviet government or
lift bloCkades against soviet Russia
was blocked in the annual couven-
ton of the American Federation of
Labor today 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'
Garment Workers, but the Conven-
ton adopted by an overwhelming
vote the report of the resolutions
committee opposing any action.
The committee report declared
the federation would not be "justi-
fled in taking any action that might
be construed as an assistance to or
approval Of the soviet government,
so long as II Is based upon author
ity which has not been vested In 1t
by a popular national representa-
tive assembly for the Russian peo-
pie, or 80 long as It endeavors to
create revolutions in we'll estab-
world, or so long as 1t advocates
and applies militarizatiOn to labor
and prevents the orgauiza ton of,
and functioning of trades unions
and maintenance of free speech,
free press and free public assem-
blies."
Flaws Soviet Government,
John Frey chairman of the reso-
lutions committee, said it had as
certained on the "highest author
ity' that the soviet government is
an 'autocratic. militaristic govern
ment that does not believe in de-
mocraCy," and is ruling by The
iron hand of the dictatorsh p " Ex-
tracts from Lenines speeches
which he read showed Mr.. Fry
declared, that I.enine believed in
making trades unions srbseryient
10 the soviet government nnn fabor
compulsory"
Opposition 10 the report, he said.
might irdicato that The bo'she-
wiki had infested the ranks NJ or
ganzed labor in America with it's
propaganda"
Mr. Duncan said the committee
had made a "cnmoufIa ge rerort" to
deceive the workers If the country
as TO the true situation in Russia.
Conditions there We're much better
than reported in this country, he
said, and added that President
Wilson and Premier Lloyd George
approved recognition Of the soviet
government, "but had not the
courage Of their CONVICTIONS to
stand up and declare for 1t
James Duncan of Washingtcn. u.
c.. first vice president OF the feder-
alton. answered in defense Of the
committee report. He read tnle-
gram from Secretary OF state Col
! hv which said the existing govern
ment die not represent the will or
consent Of any considerable pro-
| portion of the Russian people"
The Trouble in Amer'ca.
| David Grange, a New York dele
gate. said the greatest trouble In
| America was the bOlshcvist p'otters
who are trying to disrupt organized
| labor.
"I don't care what President
Wilson or Lloyd George have
approved" he said. "but I do
know we have n good enough
form of government here In
| Anerica for me ard ! am not
going 10 take anv chance WITH
| Trotzky and ' cnine'S bcish"-
wiki crowd. They ore not anV
more the friend of labor than
was the Czar."
The convention took no action
! on demand wv Abraham Gre'n-
stein. a delegate Of the Tewe'rv
Workers. that it send an invest
eating commission to learn the
true facts" in Russia. The Ame"-
ican press ard news agencies. ~
"misrenresentng the fact7,' ne
said. were responsible FOR the
present situation of Russia"