The Washington herald., 1921-04-21
aECKLERSDETURB' )
|SPEECH TO SOLONS
| ON RUSSIAN STATE
Former Socialist Tells of
Woeful Conditions in
Land of Reds.

A grim picture Of Russia was
painted last Mi kht for members of
Congress in the House caucus room
by M, A. Schwartz, a former So
cialist, who hi just returned to
this country.
Schwartz is Russian by birth
but has spent much of his life in
America. Less than q year ago he
went to Russia an avowed socialist.
He returned IAN American" he said.
When he announced that he was
open to questions it was soon
learned that there were friends of
the soviets in the audience who had
come to heckle him.
Tries to Heckle.
Aman with a foreign accent arose
and began to ask prepared questions
designed to embarass the speaker.
A member Of Congress demanded TO
know the name OF the questioner'
Before he could answer anotner
SSoyiet defender jumped to his feet
and declared the Congressman
question an insult.
Several members advised the sec
ond heckIer to shut up" He re-
fused to be squelched. A Congress
man demonstrated, emphasizing his
remarks by prods of his finger.
Keep your hands on of me; don't
you touch me-" shouted the heckler,
The Congressman touched him.
.'Don't you do that again; I'll have
you arrested" screamed the heckler.
When quiet was restored the first
heckler was again asked his name.
He replied: Il am an American citf-
zen; a lawyer, and a member or the
New York bar"
Meeting Not Open.
Representative Julius Kahn. OF
California, then declared the meet
ing was for Congressman and friends
of Congressmen and that strangers
were not welcome.
He left to Schwartz the option OF
answering the questions but Repre-
sentative Raker. OF California. de-
clared they were insulting and that
he would not allow Schwartz to
answer them"
The questions insinuated that
Schwartz had sent the story out OF
Russia that Emma Goldman had
said she would rather languish IN
an American jail an her life than
remain in Russia.
At this point Representative PERL
man, of New York. who represents
an East Side district said II friends
of the Soviet in this country would
interview Russian immigrants COM
ing into New York as he had done,
instead of getting their information
from propagandist newspapers, they
would soon change their tune.
Tells of Reception.
Schwartz told how he and his wife
had been received by Trotzky and
Lenin with open arms. They were
Immediately made delegates to the
convention of the third Information
ale.
For two months they were their
own masters, when suddenly with
out warning or explanation, he was
seized and thrown into jail. He
later learned that he was charged
with being q spy.
He was kept in Jail for four
months. during two months of
which he was not allowed to COM
municate with his wife, although
they were both incarcerated in the
same building.
Orders Executions.
Schwartz asserted that when a
bomb exploded. killing eight Reds.
Trotzky ordered 100 White Guards
killed for the death of each Of the
eight.
When Schwartz was finally re-
leased, he said, he was forced to
swear he would not speak against
the Russian government in America.
Before they could get out Of the
country they were again detained.
Mrs. Schwartz went on a hunger
strike which finally secured their
second release. She died shortly af-
terwards. Schwartz swore to spread
the truth about Russia.
He said the women of Russia were
not forced to marry without .their
own consent. The marriage cere-
mony, however, he said, was simple,
as was also the divorce proceedings.
A couple could get married one day
and divorced the next with no ques-
tions asked except their names. II
the man wanted a divorce and tie
woman objected, the divorce was
granted anyway, he said.