The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-08-24
Purcell Declares
Again for Unity
With USSR | abOr

4 ARiS, aug uSL q 10Y Mail -
President A. A. Purcell of the Inter-
national Federation of Trade Unions
has aroused the anger of Leon Jo-
haux, the leader of the French unions
affiliated with the Amsterdam Inter
national, when the former declared in
favor Of an aIl-inclusive world con-
gress of trade unions as a prelude to
the restoration of unity, and said that
the fruits Of the Russian revolution
must be conserved.
Johaux In Angry Retort.
Leon Johaux, in an angry tone, in
sisted that Purcell's statement was
made on his own personal response
bility and was disapproved by the
rest of the executive with the excep-
ton of the two British members,
Brown and Purcell.
Ben Turner and George Hicks,
other members of the British delega-
ton, declared themselves in favor of
PurcelPs stand. Brown, who is the
British secretary of the l. T. F. u,
said that he was entirely in ignorance
of the protest made by Johaux, who
did not consult the majority in whose
behalf he took the responsibility to
speak,
Failed In General Strike.
Purcell, who proved a weak "left
winger" during the great general
strike, was one Of the foremost advo-
Gates of unity between the Russian
trade unions and those affiliated to
the I. F. T. u. in an all-inelusive
trade union international. He has
been severely criticized since then, by
the left wing, for his objective sup
port of the right wing leaders, such
as Thomas, Bromley, Macdonald. But
the masses in Great Britain are feel
ing the pressure of capitalism more
and more and the passage of the
Trade Union Disputes Bill is forcing
the leaders to use militant language.
The following is the gist of Pur-
cells speech in reference to the Rus
sian trade unions:
How miserable are the follies
which have kept ourselves and the
Russian workers apart!
eve need the young and powerful
Russian trade union movement in our
international. We need the support
Of our Russian comrades, we need
their freshness of outlook, their bold
ness, vigor and courage.
Reaction Gaining.
"The world would be a far, far diff
ferent place today, reaction and fas-
cisn would not have obtained the
grip on Europe that they have OBJ
tanned, if, Immediately following the
Vienna Congress of the I. F. 7. u,
the Russians had joined with US in
strengthening and building up and
giving vitality to the International
trade union movement.
"The saddest reading of all in the
report of the ]. F. T. U. is those parts
dealing with Russian relations. All
those who in any way claim to be
leaders of the working class owe it as
a solemn duty, sacred obligation, to
the workers, to unite the forces of
our movement.
"The conquests of the Russian
revolution must be defended at all
costs.
Need Russian Workers.
eve need our Russian comrades in
our International. We need our
American comrades. We need our
Mexican comrades. We need our
Chinese comrades. We need every or
ganized body of workers in the world.
"The I. F. T. U. must adopt the adj
vice of Danton. 1t is fO' the Trade
Union International to fare, and
dare, and dare again.
"on every hand the inefficieacy
and decay Of capitalism is being made
apparent. International capitalism is
! bankrupt in ideas and in statesman
ship. Only organized labor can in
troduce order and efficiency, the full
est and best use Of the highly de-
Iveloped productive forces science and
invention have given US, and liberty
and human happiness into the world"
Tho All-Russan Council Of Trade
Unions has persistently tried to bring
about tho unity Of the workers in one
all-lnclusive international. All It's eff
forts have been frustrated by tho OPP
position Of tho continental leaders Of
the /, f. T. U. with fow exceptions,