The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-12-08
.LETTISH WORKERS
OF CHICAGO Give.
DIPLOMAT JOLT.
Mass Meeting Brands
Him Coward

The Lettish workers Of Chicago had
a good laugh on the diplomatic re-
preventative Of the Latvian govern
ment Mr.. A. Sehja who came all the
way from Washington, D. C. to ad-
dress the local branch Of the United
States Chamber of Commerce and
Lettish mass" meeting arranged for
him by his representative Mr.. Ullman,
a renegade socialist and now Latvian
consul There were 80 people present
at the mass" meeting and Sehja
treated them as tho he had a school
boy audience
Several weeks ago, agents of the
Latvian government, including
notorius Mr. Schmidt, renegade So
cialist, have been feeling OUT the
sentiment of the Lettish workers in
Chicago, as to whether they would
agree to come to Sehja's meeting. It
was explained that everybody would
be allowed to ask Questions in writing.
Agreement, Reached.
An agreement was reached-in wri
ing-that a meeting, arranged by ii
Lettish Branch Of the Internationa.
Labor Defence, would be addressed
by Sehja or Ullman. In a circular
letter sent to Lettish workers in
Chicago, it was made clear that there
are no illusions about the character
of the Latvian government, as far as
the working class is concerned. The
circular read, in part, as follows:
"Lettish workers: We expect the
official representative of the Latvian
government, Sehja, to tell us all about
the imprisonment of Lettish workers.
by the Latvian government. for no
other crime than their political beliefs
and opinions and what is being done
to take care of the victims families.
We expect also that Sehja will tell us
that the militant trade union move
ment is suppressed in Latvia and its
individual members deprived of all
political rights including the right of
free speech and aHsemblage. and that
the trade union representatives are
all jailed" stsr
Too Hot For Coward.
This circular letter proved too hot
for Mr. Sehja. e'felt that the Lettish
workers are wise as to his true mis-
sion in this country; that they are
well informed about conditions in
Latyia, where jaiis are overcrowded
with political prisoners, and that the
same inquisitorsi employed by the old
,zarist regime ID Latvia are in power
With number of'additions. He decid-
ed to stay away from the meeting
called by the International Labor
Defense, Lettish Branch.
Adopt Resolution.
There were 200 workers present at
Harmony Hall ah,the meeting arrang-
ed by the LetHsh Branch, Interna-
tional Labor Defense. Several of
those present pointed out the reasons
for the absence of Mr.. Sehja and Mr..
ullman and of the conditions in Lat
Wan prisons andvin the country. Two
letters, received from Latvia during
the past week, were read depicting
the conditions in the country; the
struggle Of the workers for bread and
the utter impossibility to find en-
ployment; of the sfepressive measures
used by the government against work
ers and their organizations and the
open support given fascists: express
sing confidence that the time is not
ar away when the Lettish working
class will overthrow the present gov.
eminent and establish in it's place a
workers and peasants soviet.
After a discussion, the following
resolution was adopted, which reads
in part as follows:
BE it resolved that we consider
Mr.. Sehja and Mr.. Ullman, towards
for falling to attend the Lettish mass
meeting as promised, and that the
meeting is aware OF the true character
of the Latvian government, and its
American representatives and that
copies Of the resolution be given the
press and sent to Mr.. Sehja and Mr.
Ullman, minister and consul, respec
lively, OF the Latvian government in
this country"