Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1923-04-27
Conditions in Ruhr Valley as Seen
by Special Correspondent
Differ Greatly From Those Alleged to Exist in the
Misleading Stories Now Being Sent Out
By Subsidized Press Associations
By LOUIS p. LOCHNER
European Director, Federated Press

Berlin, Germany, (By MaiD-Mak-
ing the usual rounds of the General
Federation Of rec Trade Unions of
Germany the other day, | was forcibly
struck by the volume of letters from
trade unionists, from all over the
world that keep pouring in upon this
virile labor body, representing eight
million organized workers, and that
offer suggestions and opinions re-
garding the Ruhr situation.
Here was a typical letter from a
machinist in Chicago; he declared that
the workers Of America sympathized
with the lot of the German workers,
but that they felt that German labor
was merely acting as decoy 1or the
industrial barons Of the Rhineland
and the Ruhr valley. "Your great
industrialists have sent their riches
out Of the country to escape taxes"
argued this machinists, "and that is
why your appeal will meet with no re-
sponse in this country. Why do you
not work the mines and railroads, pay
the French what is due them and dis
tribute the balance among the work
crs?"
This letter seemed to me to be so
typical of the usual point of view that
one hears expressed by the "man on
the street" in America, that | decided
to use it as a text for an authorita
tive interview on the official position
Of the German labor movement re-
garding the Ruhr situation. The
formula of the reply was delegated to
Peter Grassmann, first vice-presiCent
&c 4Lo EoInro+ino I1,hn ic n cnncial
charge of the foreign relations of
German organized labor.
"The position of the Ruhr workers
in their, defensive struggle is deter,
mined by their own interestes," said
Vic-president Grassmann. "Ihey
have thus far made their decisions
irrespective of the bosses and will
continue to do so in future. The very
fact that German labor has relent-
lessly criticised the attitude. of the
German capitalists (and, incidental
ly, by this criticism in the press and
in public meetings has probably
first attracted the attention of the
outside world to this situation),
should show conclusively how errone-
Gus is the assumption that German
labor is acting as decoy for the Ger
man capitalists.
"If in this present situation it hap
pens that German employers and Ger
man workers are acting together IN
resisting the invasion of the Ruhr,
this is due solely to the fact that all
classes of Germany look upon the ac-
ton of Franc. and Belgium as cleaF
violation of international law. ma
tionalistic" elements, to be sure, are
trying to profit by the deep emotions
that have been stirred in the hearts
of the German people, and are trying
to capitalize them for their purposes.
But the workers are combating such
tendencies decisively. In fact, the
constant aim of the trade union
leaders in the occupied area has been
that of urging the workers to remain
calm, and to remember that they could
commit no greater folly than to re-
sort to force. a.,
GAS for making the German capital
lists pay taxes, that is something IN
which obviously German labor has
direct interest for our workers are
heavily loaded down by the system OF
deducting 1919 of every workers
pay envelope as taxes and by the
numerous indirect taxes levied upon
him. 1t should pc pointed out in all
fairness, however, that sabotage OF
our taxation laws (according to
which. for instance, the income tax
is graduated up to 60 per cent? has
been made possible chiefly by the de-
cline of the mark and by political
events outside of our own conhnes.
1t is these outside that have largely
frustrated labor's attempts to tax the
possessing class fairly and equitably'