The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1921-08-20

view 1Ork, aug. IA conference
took place here tonight, under the
Craftsmanship Of DR.. j. W. Hartman,
editor of Soviet Russia, to consolidate
the efforts being made by various or
ganizations in relief work for Soviet
Russia.
The conference was called at the
special instance Of a provisional COM
mittee. representing the American
Labor Alliance, Friends of Soviet
Russia, Society of Technical Aid for
Russia, and the Medical Relief Com
mittee for Soviet Russia.
Caleb Harrison of the American
Labor Alliance, opened the conference
and stated its purpose.
"We propose to do all we can in
such manner that we won't have
to depend upon Herbert Hoover and
such agencies for helping the famine
victims of Soviet Russia. Funds col
lected by this organization will not
be turned over to- so-called humani-
tartan organizations.
"We recognize Hoover and similar
agencies of relief as counter r-revolu,
tionary. We are the class brothers of
our struggling brother workers Of
Russia, and we propose by our relief
work not only to stem the tide Of
hunger, but also to save the Russian
Revolution from the attacks of the
counter-revolutionaries."
American Aid Only An ImperiaIistic
Venture.
DR.. Hartman pointed out that Hoover
had laid down various imperialistic
terms as the conditions upon which
aid would be given. He referred to the
article entitled "Overthrowing Red
Rgime" which appeared in the June
issue of Worlds Work, written by
t. t. G. Gregory, one of Hoover'a
agents, who openly boasted that it
was the intention of the relief COM
mission operating in Hungary during
the Soviet regime in that country, to
overthrow the Hungarian Soviet Gov
ernme t.
bf. Hartman showed Chat tine pre-.
sent offer Of capitalist relief commits
sions to Soviet Russia was another
attempt on the life Of the Russian
workers Republic.
Hoover Dare Not Issue Call for Funds
Hoover, DR.. Hartman asserted
dared not issue a general call fol
funds to help the Russian workers
since he knows full we'll that the
American people would respond
abundantly and thereby manifest Their
overwhelming sympathy with the
workers of Russia.
The credentials committee reported
that 81 organizations were represent
ed at the conference by $50 delegates
The credentials of two delegates were
rejected because they emanated from
counter-revolutionary paper which
has indulged in rabid and repeated
attacks on Soviet Russia.
No Conditions Affixed to Relief
Work.
The conference decided to call the
new organization the Friends Of So
Wet Russia. The organization will
collect funds for the relief Of famine
stricken Russia, the money to b.
turned over to the Soviet Government
or it's accredited representatives with
out imposing any terms. All appeal!
shall be of distinctly working clas.
character, class-conscious and fret
from the humanitarian faint always
involved in such enterprises conducted
by capitalist organizations.
It was decided to elect an execu
tive committee to serve for three
months. Those elected were DR.. Hart
man, Caleb Harrison, Edgar Owens
Allen S. Broms, DIR. Mendelsohn, DR.
Wilenkm, DR.. Reichel.
To seek the cooperation of other
conferences.
The conference instructed the Exec
utive Committee to seek ways anC
means Of securing the cooperation O
the other conferences taking place II
the country. It was pointed out tina
united effort in the relief work will
avoid duplication of work and releas
energy for extending the organiza
tion and bringing the whole working
class into action for helping tn
famine districts Of Soviet Russia.
The attitude Of all the delegate
present demonstrated the tremendou
interest that American workers ar
taking in the relief drive for Sovie
Russia and their heartfelt solicitud
for the welfare Of thsir fellow-work
ers across the sea.
Another conference will take rae
next Tuesday, to which represent
. atives Of more organizations hav
been invited.
Executive Committee Issues Call
Other Organizations.