The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-02-07
PRESS COMMENT
Labor and Russia.

Labor and Russia.
Members of congress are being petit
toned by labor organizations far and
wide to restore trade relations with
Russia without delay, as an effective
means Of giving employment to hun
dreds of thousands of men and women
who find themselves out of work.
These bodies, it seems, are convinced
that the one thing necessary to i'm
prove unemployment conditions is to
grant recognition to the soviet gov
eminent Of Russia, lower all the bars
now raised against American trades
men and bring about a general inva-
sion of the Russian market.
These petitions, it appears, are in
identical form for the most part, al
though they come from far removed
sections of the country. This would
indicate that there is organized direc-
ton of the movement to bring pres
sure to bear upon congress for a re-
vival OF relations with the outlawed
government Of Russia. There is moth
ing to show sympathy on the part of
American labor for the regime which
the bolshevists maintain at Moscow,
but their program would give as much
aid and comfort to that regime as if
it provided for the immediate admis-
sion of the bolshevist government to
the family of nations.
1t must be apparent from this de-
monstration of sentiment and from
other manifestations Of same general
character that the government of the
| United States Is to find itself under
constant pressure, from one quarter
or another, for some degree OF recog-
milton of the government against
which the present administration has
firmly set it's face. Congress Is now
the center OF the storm; not the white
house, and 1t will remain the center
until there is a new president at the
head of the government.
The trade argument which is now
the paramount phase of the propa-
ganda for a resumption Of relations
with the Russians is the weakest of
all the arguments which have been
advanced for a revival of diplomatic
intercourse with the soviet govern
| ment. 1t Is an appeal, first, to the
| greed of the nation, and f. is, next
plain subterfuge.
As has been repeatedly asserted by
the government, there is no official
bar against any American trading
with any Russian. AS much business
| may be done by citizens of the two
countries as those citizens may care
to venture. Nor are there any barriers
TO the movement in or out of Russia
of any American who may have he
courage to trust his life and liberty
to the tender mercies of the bolshe-
visits. Acting Secretary Of State Da-
! Wis, in his recent communication to
Judge Alton B. Parker, makes all this
as clear as daylight.
At the same time the fact was en-
phasized that the American govern
ment, not being in diplomatic contact
with the soviet government, refuses
to give an American citizen a passport
| addressed to the soviet officials. Nor
does this government undertake to
protect any claims which the Ameri-
can trader may have against a Rus
sian trader All business that may be
done must be done at the risk of the
! individual.
It is argued eloquently by some
| champions of the soviet outfit that
trade relations may be reopened and a
vast amount of business engaged in
| by citizens of the two countries with
out any form Of recognition of the
| bolshevists. It may be easy to assert
this, but 1t is not easy to prove It.
Be all that as 1t may, there is not
| the least likelihood. it appears, that
| the present administration will change
| it's attitude in any degree toward the
existing Russian government. But in
| a few weeks a new order will be in
augurated IN Washington and the new
president and his secretary of stat
may be more amenable to the system
attic propaganda now carried on by
| bolshevist campaigners in this coun-
| try Fort MYERS Press