The Labor Journal

THE
LABOR
JOURNAL

FRIENDS OF SOVIET RUSSIA
SUBMIT REPORT OF ACTIVITIES
SHOW MANY AFFILIATIONS WITH A. F. OF L. UNIONS—
NEARLY $250,000 SENT TO RUSSIA FAMINE

The Friends of Soviet Russia was
organized on August 7, 1921, in New
York City, having as its nucleus a
number of labor unions and workers
organizations in the city of New
York. Out of this local organization
grew the national body which today
embraces 140 branches in every important city in the United States
from coast to coast.

Early in the development of relief
work in America a branch was established in Toronto to take care of
the Canadian work. Toronto has been
unusually successful when one considers the difficulty of covering such
a vast territory with its big stretches
of unpopulated area. Toronto has
served as the center for the activity
in the eastern portion of the country.
Winnipeg and Vancouver for the central and western parts. For some
time Vancouver was not directly associated with the F. S. R., but it has
lately become an integral part. Winnipeg still remains aloof, although
we are glad to assist that organization to the limit of our ability. We
hope within a short time to have all
Canada lined up in one single organization for relief work.

Affiliated with the local branches
are thousands of locals of all important labor unions in the United
States. This includes the American
Federation of Labor, Amalgamated
Clothing Workers, I. W. W., W. I.
I. U., and other smaller independent
labor unions. The following central
labor bodies, which in the different
towns are the central unions of the
important bodies affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor, have
endorsed and are affiliated with the
Friends of Soviet Russia:

Chicago Federation of Labor.
Detroit Federation of Labor.
Seattle Central Labor Council
Tacoma Central Labor Council.
Minneapolis Trades and Labor Assembly.
Toronto Trades and Labor Council.
Montreal Trades and Labor Council.
Illinois State Federation of Labor.
Portland Central Labor Council.
Trenton Central Labor Council.
Denver Trades and Labor Assembly
Ogden, Utah, Federation of Labor
Utah State Federation of Labor.
Central Labor Union of Mansfield,
Ohio.
Richmond, Va. Central Trades and
Labor Council
Washington, D. C. Central Labor
Union
Hartford, Conn. Central
Labor
Union.
Binghamton, N. Y. Central Labor
Council.
Rockford, Ill. Central Labor Council.
San Diego, Cal. Federated Trades
Council

The Central Labor Union of New
York, which hitherto has remained
indifferent to famine relief, voted
unanimously on January 6, 1922, to
support famine relief, after a speech
by Foster, who is touring for the
F. S. R.

The activities of the Friends of
Soviet Russia have consisted in the
holding of mass meetings with prominent speakers, several of whom recently returned from Soviet Russia.
Among these are William Z. Foster,
Hulet M. Wells, P. P. Cosgrove and
other speakers of national repute.
Henry Sara of England is expected
soon to make a trans-continental tour.
In addition, innumerable mass meetings with local speakers in all languages have been held. Bazaars, concerts, balls, "hunger" banquets, and
entertainments have been arranged.
House-to-house collections, tag days
and every other conceivable method
of raising money made use of.

The financial statement of the Federated Committee as of December
31 follows:

Friends of Soviet Russia $260,000.00
Volkszeitung 9,500.00
Joint Furriers Union 2,994.12
Joint Conf. Russia Relations 2,000.00
Workmens Mutual Aid
Assn. 1,500.00
Children's Milk Fund 1,000.00
Kenosha Society, Kenosha,
Wis. 800.00
Workmen's Circle No. 457 100.00
Individual Contributions... 422.00
Returns, Products Exchange 1,006.61
Rent and Telephone 129.61
Interest from Bank 24.95
Total Receipts $279,477.56
Total Disbursements...... 274,113.54
Balance 5,364.02