The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-02-24

had in Europe in the last hundred
years have been the Russian people,
They are the only people in Europe
who have not at some time or other
disclosed great enmity toward the
people of the United States and to-
ward our Government.
At one time during the late Great
War Russia modified 21,000,000
men upon the side of the Allies.
In February, 1917, she had 14,000,-
900 men in her army, fighting over
front of $500 miles. During the
time she was fighting upon the side
of the Allies, she lost two and
half million more. She had 2,0O0,-
900 men taken prisoners, 100000
of whom died in prison. She lost in
injured or wounded three and half
million more. At one time she had
a third of the German Army, two
thirds of the Austrian army, all of
the hungarian army, and a large
portion of the Turkish army arrayed
against her. She captured during
the war 100000 German prisoners,
100000 Hungarians, 100000 Aus
trians, and a million Turks.
The fighting which the Russians
did in this war has no parallel in
the war when you take into con-
sidcratiOn the adverse circumstances
under which they fought. The adj
verse circumstances and the suffer
ing of the Russian soldiers were
only parallel by the adversely and
the suffering of the American soldier
during the great American Revolu-
ton.
They fought under such circum-
stances that those in the advancing
lines were compelled to wait until
their comrades fell to grasp the
weapons with which to continue the
fight. They literally fought at times
with their naked fists. They were
practically barefooted as they waded
through the snow. This is but an
intimation of the great suffering and
sacrifice made by the Russian SOL
diery upon the side of the Allies
during the war, a thing which we
have wholly forgotten. l say wholly
forgotten; wholly forgotten as far
as Government or official action is
concerned. Since the armistice we
have treated the Russians as if they
had been our enemies all their lives.
as if they had been upon the side of
the enemy, as if they had wounded
and killed our own during the war.
Ingratitude is written upon every
page of the history of the Allies
toward Russia.
Rid of Old Regime
The time came when the Russians,
under the inspiration which came
out of the preaching of democracy
during the Great War, determined
to get rid of the old regime, which
had brought disaster and suffering
to them for 800 years, the old re-
gime which had been more cruel
and bloody and longer continued than
any regime in Europe. They threw
off the rule of the Gar, and then
there happened that which always
happens when a great people under
take to be rid of old-established
customs and systems; chaos, tur-
MOL, suffering, bloodshed and
cruelty followed. There We're those
who came into power at that time,
with whose political beliefs we do
not agree. They set up a form of
government, or proposed form of
government, which we believe to be
impracticable, which we believe to
be in many respects intolerable
But, it was their form of govern
ment; it was one of the steps, I'M
fortunate and in many respects in
defensible, which people have al
ways taken in these great revolu-
tions, which lead to different and
a better condition of affairs.
Immediately after the armistice
the Allies, by reason of the fact, so
assigned, of this peculiar form of
government, Immediately began a
policy toward the Russians which
characterize as indefensible, intoler-
able, inhuman, cruel, and brutal.
We are greatly moved today by re-
counting the fact that in Russia
there are hundreds of thousands of
children dying for want of food; and
we are properly moved. l recall the
fact, however. when the inhuman
and intOlerable blockade, after the
armistice, was established against
Russia, at which we connived; when
hospital ships carrying medicine and
sustenance and relief to the citizens
of Russia We're kept out of the ports
VI lNhoold' we pdIu IlO dLIeIlIlOIl W
the dying childsen of Russia at that
time, and raised no voice in their
behalf.
Can't Escape Responsibility
We can not escape a part respon-
sibility for the condition which exists
today in Russia, we owe it not only
to humanity but to charity to change
our policy with reference to Russia
and the Russian people. They have
government in Russia which has
existed for four years, the only gov
eminent set up after and as the re-
suit of the war which has been able
to maintain itself single and alone
and even against the connivance and
conspiracy of the other Governments
of Europe.
France upon two separate oc-
casions has assisted in sending mil
itary expeditions into Russia for the
purpose of further harassing, dis
turbing, and demoralizing the stu
alton in Russia. The English gov
eminent has connived at the policy
which has been pursued, and the
of the United States has
either connived at or has refused to
raise a voice in condemnation of it.
They have received treatment, harsh
and punitive, from the hands of the
Allies, which many of the govern
ments upon the side of the enemy
have not received. We owe some
thing, in my opinion, as l said, to
to change that policy.
If had my way about it, | would
recognize the government that now
exists in Russia. | do not care
you call it bOlshevik gov
eminent or what you call it, it is
tho oOvarnp,auf do footo arJ a.