The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-01-30
GOMPERS WILL
BREAK LANCE ON
SOVIET SHIELD
Invites Himself Before
Reopened Hearings

WASHINGTON. - With the hope
of turning the tide against the SEN
tifnent for Russian recognition, Sam
i'ael Gompers, conservative leader of
the American Federation Of Labor,
has called upon Senator Borah for
permission to testify before the COM
m,ttee investigating evidence of Rus
sian propaganda in this country. The
committee opens its hearing today or
tomorrow.
Gompers asks that several of his
associates appear with him. These
may include James Duncan, vice pres
ldent of the federation. Matthew
Vol, chief spokesman for Gompers,
and Chester Wright, renegade Social
ist and chief engineer of tine Com
rers' anti-red publicity.
The A. F. of L. hierarchy will main
tain that their organization, as now
constituted, is the chief bulwark of
existing social institutions in the
United States, and that recognition Of
Russia will threaten the domination
Of conservative labor policy in this
country. At the Portland convention
4 the federation, Matthew Woll de-
clared that recognition would assist
such movements as that represented
by William F. Dunno, who had just
been unseated.
Duncan is the Russian expert" of
the official family of the federation.
He was a member of the Elihu Root
mission to Russia in 1917 and enjoyed
the confidence of the leaders of the
mission to such an extent that he
was chosen by his colleagues to speak
before the Petrograd Soviet. His
subject was the "Union Label" and
he spoke for an hour and half on
this safe and sane theme to the as
constituent of the delegates to the
Soviet, who had just overthrown car
ism and capitalism.
Represent Civic Federation
Behind the Gompers' forces turks
the American Civic Federation. arch
foe of Russian recognition.
Senator Borah is not enthusiastic
about the continuance of the hearings.
being more interested in bringing the
subject of Soviet recognition direct
before congress, but he has consent
ed to give the state department and
its friends another opportunity to pre-
sent some of the evidence that thew
have failed to adduce so far.
Friends of Russian recognition will
get the floor and be given an oppor-
tunity to reply to the wild charges
That have been made against them.
Party Spokesmen May Appear
The Workers Party expects TO have
the opportunity to nail the lies
against Soviet Russia and American
radicals when the senate subcommit-
tee resumes its hearings on the
recognition of Soviet Russia. Sena-
tor Borah, after a visit from C. E.
Ruthenberg, executive secretary of
the party and Jay Lovestone, said he
would take up their request to an
pear before the committee with his
colleagues and expected quick action.
John L. Lewis, president of. the
United Mine Workers of America. is
expected to send Ellis Searles. au-
thor of his anti-red publicity, as
pinch hitter for the reactionarv
forces. Lewis's original intention, It
is learned, may be given up as the
result Of the strength shown by the
forces at the miners con-
vention.
1t was Senator Borah's intention to
adjourn the hearings permanently
and throw the whole case before the
senate but demands of witnesses to
appear have caused reconsideration.
Borah feels that Secretary Hughes
has made no case as yet, but he will
continue the hearings till opportuni-
ties to present evidence have been ex-
hausted.