The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1921-04-09
LET HIM HAVE
THE EVIDENCE,
By JOHN wESLER.

for a moment turned exspectantly to
the White House. Nothing to-day,
boys says Hughes, "there is no use
starting trade with Soviet Russia.
You know production and jobs are
found only where there's private pro-
perty."
That capitalist politicians do not
willingly take a step like opening
trade relations with Soviet Russia is
not surprising. The same twenty or
thirty fat chieftains of Big Business
that controlled the Wilson Admins
tration control Harding even more
This banking clique hesitate to trade
with Russia for fear they will help
her become a radiant example OF
proletarian controlled production, a
model for the workers Of all coun-
tries.
The liberal and so-socialist sup
porters of trade with Russia natural
ly find much to be thankful for IN
the Governments reply to Litvinoff.
But Mr.. Hughes inserted a few am
biguous and promising phrases if for
no other reason than to give those,
who make optimism an excuse for
inaction, some peg to hang their false
hopes on.
Optimism at present is fatal. Some
thought that capitalist cupidity and
immediate desire for trade would
prove a more powerful motive than
fear. The fact is that financial capi-
tai, at this particular moment, is
opposed to an increase in trade and
is deliberately sabotaging production.
The capitalists all over the country
are now engaged in q feverish con-
spiracy ''to liquidate labor to shat
ter the trade unions, TO sink the
workers standard of living. And this
sinister plot can succeed only at a
time of slack trade, Of widespread
unemployment, Of starvatioa- There
for thumbs down on trade with Rus
sia.
Ultimately, in the fuiness Of time
the need for foreign markets and
concessions will draw the American
capitalists to the limitless resource:
of Russia. This craving for sphere:
of influence and colonies-withouf
foreign markets our much vauntet
private property production would
collapse-not long ago prompted tn
various national groups Of compel
ling capitalists to send twenty milliol
men to slaughter. ("Production j
conditioned on the safety of life"-
if the dead could hear!) For mo
ment it seemed that our own none
kings would be among the first o
the competing capitalist swine t
scramble into the concessions an
profits in Russia. But our capitals
class and their political advisers hav
again proved themselves the mo:
clumsy and dull-witted Of their kint
"Small business" is strong for trad
with Russia. But what politicia
takes them seriously? This ella:
which can be so easily bulldozed b
! spectacular investigation or tt
chastisement of a naughty trust!
Secretary Hughes asked Sow
, Russia for convincing evidence"
fundamental changes" before CO.
. senting to trade relations. Howeve
what will drive the ex-judge and Il
. whole cabinet into action is not
: much fundamental change in Ru
sia as in the hearts Of the worke
of this country! The American wor
ingclass must supply the Secreta
Of State with convincing evidenc
that they will not quietly endure t
, willful sabotage Of trade by o
capitalist rulers while one seventh
, the working population Of the u.
;, are without jobs and the rest are
daily fear Of being thrown out
the pavements. The workers, emplo
ed and unemployed, must subn
a positive proof that they will no long
put up with politicians that aid a
abet the bankers and merchants
artificially creating unemployment
|, further their open shop conspirac!
+. Let him have bushels Of evider
: to prove that the workers in Il
country resent his refusal to or
: trade negotiations just because
4 government Of Soviet Russia is
!. the hands Of one section Of tn
- own class. Let labor lend empha
: to its attitude by casting off the
fool Gompers with his maudlin
tack on Soviet Russia.
II was by evidence Of this ty
g that the English workingclass kicl
LLOYD George into signing the Anp