The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-06-23
IS HOOVER
PLAYING POLITICS

| work alone IN Soviet Russia and alb
staining from political machination
hut is playing a double game.
On April IL, Hoover advised Presi
dent Harding that in all probability
all of the S20,000000 appropriated
by Congress for Russian relief would
not be needed. He stated that the
famine was well in hand" and, ii
was understood, the American Relief
Administration forces would with
draw from Russia about September
/. This statement, however, was at
such variance with fact, that a refu-
tation was not required. The famine
has spread and today embraces the
Ukraine, the granary of Soviet Rus
STA, fact of which the American
Relief Administration is well aware
Change of Front During Genoa Con-
ference
Since making that statement the
Genoa conference has taken place
During the conference, the Soviet
Government gave the world to un-
dcrstand that she would not bow be-
fore the capitalist powers. The Sow
let representatives declared they
would not barter away the achieve
ments of the revolution and of the
four years Of civil war imposed upon
Russia by Observation-Disclosures
within and hostile capitalist govern
ments without. Their attitude was
so definite, SO vigorous, that it
gained the approval of the whole
woodland particularly Of the work
ing class in every country.
Relief Activities in Russia Being
Supplemented
Even before the conference, how
ever, authentic information was
reaching the outside world to the
effect that the American Relief Ad-
ninistration is not adhering to the
agreement made with the Soviet Gov
eminent, viz, that the ARA would
abstain from all political propaganda.
1t IS for instance a very strange
fact that America shows such a pre-
objection for eX-army officers as Of
fiCials for relief work. 1t is not
generally known that the army is the
best service for acquiring efficiency
in that domain. Yet we find that all
the officials of the ARA working
in Russia are army officers, from
colonies down. Working in coniunc-
ton with these forces are primarily
school teachers and priests. These
are the two groups, part of which re-
fused to cooperate when the revolu-
ton broke out and sabotaged to a
great extent afterwards.
American Flag Now Flying In
Russia
When the ARA went to Russia, it
was decided not to use the American
flag, in order that there might not
appear to be any politics in the re-
lief work.
"Where they could have found the
flags, no one knows" Mr.. Bowden,
district supervisor of the ARA, re-
Gently declared can enthusiastic
Kitchen manager has adopted the idea
and probably passed it along until
a number of them are now unfurling
the flag during feeding hours"
bald to be effective. Flags do not
make their way into a country in
large numbers without having been
ordered. Nor have flags the ca
pacity of distributing themselves.
The ARA is now proclaiming what
was known from the very begin
ming, despite all asseverations-an
the blue and white flag of the ARA
did not conceal it.
Politics Easy to Mix With Relief
1t is very simple to mix a lit
tie politics to "humanitarianism," as
the record of Herbert Hoover in
Soviet Hungary demonstrated. 1t
was not difficult for Hoover, through
his agent Mr.. Gregory, to offer aid
to the starving people in Hungary
and at the same time plot and or
ganize and overthrow of the Soviet
regime in Hungary.
The same methods and tactics are
being applied in Soviet Russia at the
present time. The officials of the
ARA are active in arousing and or
ganizing sentiment for the destruc-
ton of the Soviet Government. A
report of recent date from Washing
ton states:
''The work of the American Relief
administration under Herbert Hoov-
er's direction has shown the success
Of policy of peaceful penetra-
ton in Russia. E. A better
understanding of the principles on
which the American government is
conducted seems to be prevalent in
Soviet Russia, even among the peas
ant class. To a certain extent SEN
timent has arisen which may be eX-
pressed in the phrase. whats good
enough for America is good enough
for u.s."
In what manner do the peasants
in Soviet Russia gain an understand
ing Of the principles on which the
American government is conducted 2"
According to all information reach
ing US, the Soviet government is not
conducting any courses in American
civics among the Russian workers
and peasants. The ARA. on the
other hand. speaks with such assur-
ance, chat is obvious that the ARA
officials themselves have been con-
Quoting this propaganda-which isl
purely political. It's purpose is clear.
The work of education, according to
the ARA, has proceeded even fur
Their. There is some reason to be-
lieve that the Russian people are
to understand that the
American relief workers are hamper
ed by the inefficiency of the Soviet
This process of en-
lightenment has been in progress for
some time"
This we do not doubt-particularly
in view of Hoover's Hungarian
achievement!
What Cannot Be Done One Way May
Be Tried in Another
The four improbable years of at
tempted invasion of Soviet Russia,
with the aid of the counter-revolu
tionaries. have demonstrated that the
Soviet government cannot be over
thrown. The famine afforded new
avenue for entering Soviet Russia
under the cloak of peaceful pene-
tration' by means of Humanitarian
ISM" and the ARA has taken full
advantage of it. To carry on its
-. IL y Lnr u, Rl,csir 1El