The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-03-18
RENEW FIGHT
FOR TRADING
WITH RUSSIA

The inauguration of President
Warren G. Harding and the exit
of a hostile State Department has
called forth from organized labor
of America a renewal of its de-
mands for assumptions of trade
with Russia. On the eve of the
Presidents inauguration the Central
Trades and Labor Council of Great
er New York sent to him and to the
executive council of the American
Federation of Labor a resolution
urging immediate opening of trade
relations with Russia without any
strings" and calling attention in
singing terms to the "delugc of
diplomatic and manufactured pub
licity" against Russia.
Two days later the American
Labor Alliance for Trade Relations
With Russia sent the following tele-
gram demanding action on the Rus
sian trade question to President
Harding and to Secretary of State
Hughes:
"The American Labor Alliance
For Trade Relations With Russia,
organized November % by author
lied delegates representing 100000
members of trade unions of New
York City for the purpose of voic-
ing the demand of organized labor
in America for resumption of trade
and friendly relations with Rus
STA, calls on you and your admin
istration to take immediate action
on the question of resuming trade
relations with Russia.
"The Labor Alliance further de
mands that your administration
adopt a new policy toward Russia
that will show the sincerity of
Americas expression of sympathy
for the suffering of humanity and
desire to relieve the unemployment
situation in this country, by imme-
diately inviting the Russian Soviet
Government to send an official trade
delegation to the United States to
discuss trade.
"These demands are made in be-
half of two and a half million or
gained workers, who through thir-
teen international unions, three state
declarations of labor and seventy city
central labor bodies of twenty-nine
states have endorsed our program
and believe that trade with Rus
STA will materially alleviate our I'M
employment by providing employ
ment for our five million idle
workers.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,
Alexander Trachtenberg,
Secretary
The resolution of the New York
Central Trades and Labor Council
calls attention to the unemployment
situation and the open shop anti
union campaign, and continues:
Whereas, on every occasion ir
the past, and especially now wher
the opening of trade relations with
Russia is imminent and to be made
real fact, a deluge of diplomatic
and manufactured publicity against
such action by the government OF
the United States. invariably ap.
pears in the daily press, and
whereas, a new administration
is to be inaugurated, and indica
tions are that its policy will BIZ
favorable toward the resumption
of full trade relations with Russia
therefore be it
Resolved, that the Central Trades
and Labor Council of Greater New
York and Vicinity once more reit
crates its stand for the immediat,
opening of trade relations will
| Russia without any strings and b,
it further
Resolved, that we declare our OPP
position to the propaganda new
manufactured at this time to pre-
vent such a step being taken; ant
be it further
Resolved, that the secretary b,
hereby instructed to send immedi
ately to President Harding a cop,
of this resolution, and also one t,
the executive council of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor and t.
the Press.