The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-15
THE SOVIET AND THE LEAGUE

HE SOflEI AND HE LEAG UE
 It is reported that Premier Macdonald would invite soviet Russia into the League of Nations. Nothing could more wildly portray the British premier's misconception of the soviet. Because he is the head of labor government MT Macdonald doubtless believes himself commissioned to ally his government with other labor governments. But the premier is woefully mistaken in regard ing the soviet regime as i9 any manner comparable with his own, or as truly representative of Russian workingmen. Although sheralding itself as gover.n- ment of labor, the soviet is in reality a government of pillage, and subversive of both the dignity and the interest of labor. It is believed that the premier is sin cere, but it is equally apparent that he is deceived.
 American labor far more clearly per- ceives the essential character of the Third Intetnationale. It is not labor movement, nor an industrial movement, but a political movement of usurpation. The condition of the Russian working man, bad enough under the czars, is now worse than it has been in century. The soviet has destroyed industry, credit and currency. No factory is a safe in- vestment within soviet jurisdiction. No soviet pledge to pay is dependable. A wheelbarrow-load of paper rubles IS worth scarcely the effort to push 1t home. It is true that there has of late been a more constructive effort to put the ruble on gold basis, but before such a program can proceed very far, there must be in hand the gold or it's equiva- lent. This the soviet does not possess, except in the potentials of production, commerce and fair dealing, which have not been developed, and have been de- liberately squandered.
 For such a government as the Rus sian soviet to be proposed for member ship in a league composed of nations none of which has yet formally recog- nized the soviet is ridiculous. The na- tions belonging to the, league are sov- ereign. The soviet is not recognized as sovereign. The nations belonging to the league are observant of their inter- national covenants and obligations. The Russian soviet has either formally re- pudiated, or else has ignored it's cove nants and obligations. The only sovlet agreement that has not been violated is the recent one with Great Britain, In respect to which the soviet faith has been tested. Even the Germans, desperate as they recently were, and skilled in nego- tiation as they have always been, could make no headway with soviet relation ships.
 Admission of the Russian soviet to membership in the league would debar the United States from joining, at. least until this nation found it possible inde- pendently to recognize government in Russia. It is not believed that England would be duly compensated in any man. ner for seeking Russian favor at the ex- pense of full American cooperation. The labor regime in England would be injured and not advanced by association with the soviet. The league has nothing to gain from admission of the soviet to membership, but it has much of grow ing prestige to forfeit by permitting it. self to be united with a government that is the antithesis of all that the league stands for.
 The league might we'll assume the same policy towards Russia that the United States assumed towards Mexico prior to our recognition of the Obregon regime. The league might well specify the conditions on which Russian mem bership in the league shall rest. Fore most among these would be. recognition of the foreign obligations formerly re pudiated by the soviet; absolute and un' eouivocal recession of the soviet from intention, propaganda or effort to under mine other governments and to establish the soviet in it's stead; rehabilitation of Russian credit and currency; revocation of all unjust edicts which impede Rus sian industry and oppress the Russian people; suitable guaranties of foreigr life and property rights in Russia, anc any other stipulations which would bt taken as a matter of course in other gov ernments, but to which the soviet policy has been inimical. If Russia wants to be readmitted to decent society, Russia mus regain her former decency.
 THE SUPREME COURT
 Of all the policies, principles or pro posals, not excepting that of govern ment ownership and operation of tht