SOCIALISTPublished Weekly as the Organ of the Socialist Party of APPEALNew York, Left Wing Branches.

Vol. 1. No. 6. -«*3^ 401 Saturday, September 18, 1937 5 Cents per Copy Nyon Meet Aids British War Plans

Japan Admits Long Fight C I O Tested Trade Union Leaders Ahead To Conquer China In A k ro n ’s Repeat 1914 Betrayal of British Imperialism. The policy of the British Gov­ By James Burnham ernment is based upon the eon- But Rivals are Preoccupied G um M ines tral aim of preserving for ex­ Events of the past ten days ploitation by British capital the In West, Soviet Stands Off again serve to b rin g out> shar­ Empire's colonial possessions and By Jack Wilson ply the unprecedented depth of dominions, as against threats the developing world crisis. Out­ from rival imperialist powers or By Li Fu-jen ) AKRON, Ohio. — The recent standing in their symptomatic from colonial revolt. The British U. S. Marines Smash importance were the hastily sum­ Japan’s latest empire crusade success of the United Rubber statesmen are well aware that moned Nyon Conference and the in China is now well in its third Strike Demonstration .Yorkers of America, CIO affiliate, success in this aim rests in the British Trades Union Congress. month. Confounding all the op­ in winning decisively the sole last analysis on armed force. Of Chinese Workers Both represent substantial vic­ timistic expectations of the collective bargaining NLRB vote Such force has been liberally tories for the delicate strategy Tokyo m ilitary specialists, the American intervention in the at Goodyear and Goodrich, and used during the past twenty Chinese armies in North China Sino-Japanese war at Shang­ the huge primary vote that years in the suppression of and at Shanghai have' resisted hai has already become a grim Labor’s Non-Partisan League colonial uprisings; but the ex­ the imperialist invader with re­ reality according to a United candidates for mayor on the haustion of the rival powers fol­ markable tenacity and bravery. Press dispatch from Shanghai Democratic ticket obtained, have Chautemps’ lowing the last War enabled Japanese spokesmen are now dated September 14. turned national attention again Great Britain to maintain its Obliged to admit the necessity of U. S. Marines, guarding to this rubber center of the warld. position against these powers, girding for a struggle which may “American lives and proper­ For Akron is rapidly becoming Rule Shaky up to the present, by juridical last three or four years. ty,” were reported to have recognized as the testing labor­ means and without resort to The Koum intang government, gone into action to smash a atory of the labor movement, armed international conflict. hurled into the struggle against a demonstration of 1,000 Chi­ particularly of the CIO. And that Prices Rise its w ill (its entire record since nese flour mill workers on is why Akron deserves close Juridical Solution study. ■¡Ifaaaguratioa of Japan’s con- strike to enforce payment of Inadequate ■ M policy in 1981 has shown a month’s wages. Twenty- By Frank L. Demby Its preference fo r compromise), five of the strikers were taken Sit-Down Began Here Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia is waging its defensive campaign to hospital suffering from Who w ill ever forget the bril­ In the economic sphere the demonstrated, however, that jur­ on a purely m ilitary basis, hop­ scalp wounds and the effects liant wave of sit-downs that French Peoples Front has above idical solutions were becoming ing the while that Japan’s impe­ of tear gas. The U. S. Ma­ swept the country in 1936 ? Akron all tried to emulate Roosevelt’s inadequate. The structure of in­ rialist rivals, first of all Britain rines, U. P. said, cooperated rubber workers developed that New Deal. Given, however, the ternational “legality", crowned and America, w ill step actively with British troops and the weapon. They staged over 100 far weaker financial structure of under the Versailles system by into the picture and save the day Shanghai Municipal Police in successful sit-downs that year, France, all the contradictions of the League of Nations, was swept for China. Nanking also looks breaking up the demonstra­ before the French working class a declining capitalism are accen­ away by Mussolini’s legions in for possible aid from the Soviet tio n . terrified the bourgeoisie of the tuated and little has been done, Africa and H itler’s new army in U nion. We trust the Daily Worker world by the May sit-down as compared with the United the Rhineland. The first phase China, largest single potential is satisfied that its demand strike s. : States, in the way of granting of the open struggle for the re­ market and held of investment in for imperialist intervention The 75,000 rubber workers of concessions to the working class. division of the world had begun. the world outside of the Soviet in China has produced such Akron of 1920 were permanently Moreover, such concessions as the Henceforth the immediate and Union, has been the scene of sharp­ quick results. reduced to less than 45,000 by workers have obtained—the 49- determining factor in the policies est imperialist rivalry, especially v .______; 1930 due to technological develop­ hour week, two weeks vacation of all of the great powers was scarcely have struck at a more ments in the industry. Productiv­ with pay, etc.—are obviously the the concrete preparation for war since the end of the World War. propitious moment, shrewdly cal­ Japan has, however, an indubit­ ity per rubber worker more than result of the direct class-struggle on an international scale. culating that none of their rivals doubled, wages remained station­ action of the workers; for, where For Great Britain this meant able advantage over her rivals was in a position to obstruct the and plans to oust them from ary. The cost of 17 tire price wars the workers have not been well the belated undertaking of a carrying through of their plans. in the virtually bankrupt industry organized, the Matignon agree­ ¡major rearmament program, a China in order to make that Imperialist Britain, beset with country her own exclusive preser­ was foisted on the rubber workers ments (which settled the strikes program not yet by any means the problem of maintaining its in the form of wage cuts. o f June, 1936) have been violated completed. Meanwhile, Great ve. To achieve that aim, all or­ Mediterranean life-line to India ganized Chinese resistance to with impunity by the bosses. Britain is confronted by the against the attacks of the Euro­ It was under the Blum govern­ tasks: (a) of delaying the out­ Japan’s continental policy would pean fascist powers, is obliged Role of A. F. of L. have to be stamped out and a ment that compulsory arbitration break of war on a world scale to watch helplessly while Japan The A.F. of L. craft unions government installed at Nanking was made the law of the land, at least until her rearmament damages and wrecks the vast existed only by the grace of the which w ill unquest ion ingly do that the first devaluation was program is well along; and (b) British properties and trade in rubber barons and on condition the bidding of Tokyo. decreed, that the “pause" in of jockeying for the most favor­ China. An illuminating test of that no effort would be made to social reforms was proclaimed. able position in the maze of al­ Opportune Moment Britain’s helplessness was afford­ organize the rubber industry, Thus, already under a so-called liances and counter-alliances. ed by the diplomatic exchange and the rubber workers were “ Socialist ’’ government, the The Japanese imperialists could (Continued on page 2) helpless until the summer of French bourgeoisie—badly frig h t­ Tactic to Delay 1933, when the wave of unioni­ ened during June of last year— In pursuit of the first end, zation that swept the nation had been able to reorganize itself Great Britain first tries to delay Convention Call Initiated during the early days of the and start a smashing offensive as long as possible each new con­ NRA reached Akron. Thousands which leaves the workers in many flic t, and then to localize it when of rubber workers flecked into cases worse o ff than before the it breaks out, as in the cases of A. F. of L. federal unions. Matignon agreement, and which Manchuria and Ethiopia, and By O hio State and Chicago The A. F. of L. pursued its has as its objective the wiping now in Spain and China. Sho reactionary course: workers were out of all the gains made by the tries to do this not merely geo­ divided into craft unions; unions The Ohio and Chicago organiza- . a sim ilar resolution. Both bodies workers and the corruption and graphically, by keeping the area were run autocratically; red— tkms of the Socialist Party this authorized the City Central Com­ eventual dissolution of all their of the fighting to a minimum« -baiting against any form of op­ week initiated a movement for a m ittee o f Local Nesv York (L e ft organizations. With the virtual but also diplomatically, by try- position- was the chief stock in rank and file convention to oust Wing Branches) to act as the abolition of trade union life due trade of the A. F. of L. organi­ (Continued on page 3) the Altman-Thomas-Tyler faction organizing committee on conven­ to the omnipotence of the CGT zers; sell-outs were plentiful. The for selling out to La Guardia and tion arrangements. bureaucracy (chiefly Stalinist- ' NEWS FLASH! unions declined in membership expelling the left wing. The Ohio and Chicago organi­ controlled now,) the workers Harry Milton arrived from from over 35,000 to less than By unanimous decision, the zations were the first party bodies have found it almost impossible Spain on Tuesday evening. 2,000. Ohio Stdte Executive Committee, before whom the proposal for the to fight against the employers. He w ill appear at the Revolu­ But, as the rising cost of living at its regular September meeting, convention was brought. Their Progressives Learn tionary Socialist Rally, Friday, decided to join with other res­ speedy action in favor of the left pinches them more and more, 8 P.M., September 17, at Irving ponsible party organizations and wing is a harbinger of the gen­ A new factor appeared on the they react. This explains the Plaza, Irving Place and the National Executive Com­ eral action of the basic units of scene in the fa ll of 1934. A pro­ number of recent strikes in a Fifteenth Street. m ittee o f the Young Peoples the party and the rank and file gressive workers school, agitating country where strikes are now Comrade Milton w ill be the Socialist League in calling the membership. The so-called ’’Na­ for industrial unionism and class ille g a l. main speaker at a mass meet­ convention. tional Executive Committee” has struggle policies, was formed The accumulated discontent of ing next week. Details w ill The Executive Committee of proposed; but the rank will be under the influence of the Com- the workers is, indeed, ready to appear in the next issue of Cock County (Chicago) adopted the final arbiter. (Ootathsaed on page 2) (Continued on page 3) the Appeal. 2 SOCIALIST APPEAL September 18, 1937

Japan Set For Long Fight; Akron Unions Built By Progressives Chiang-Stalin Pact A Dud

(Ceatiiraed from page 1) ] Japanese struggle on behalf of But C IO Chieftains Push Them O ut China unless such intervention which follow ed the shooting of should be vitally dictated by the (Continued from page 1) inspired by the Goodyear strug- | tendencies became str'oger. the British ambassador to China. interests of the Soviet bureau­ | gle, joined the URWA. The union Under pressure of the rubber Tokyo thumbed its nose at cracy. Stalinist foreign policy is munist League of America (later was established. companies, leaders of Labor’s Britain’s protest and the British still conducted within the con­ the Workers Party). Nearly 100 Using the weapon of sit-down?, Non-Partisan League, and the lion has not even emitted a roar servative frame-work of the rubber workers, most of them the rubber workers continued to I local press, the executive board by way of answer. In the hey­ status quo. That which does not subsequently the union leadership gain many concessions, to recruit ! removed B. J. Widiek, left-wing day of the British Empire’s ascen­ immediately affect the interests of Akron, attended the school. new members, to protest against J socialist, as research director of dancy a lesser incident would of the bureaucracy is no concern Some of its students included S. company policies, fight threats ’the International Union, The have led to war. o f S talin. H. Dalrymple, now president of of vigilantism both in Akron and bureaucracy continued to conso- the U R W A , L . S. Buckm aster, other rubber centers. Akron be­ | lidate itself. American, imperialism, rising Japan Unopposed gradually to the stature of the Firestone Local president, L. L. came the sit-down capital of world’s dominant power, is not From this brief analysis of the Callahan, Goodrich Local presi­ Am erica. ; CLU Liquidated yet in the fu ll stride of its march positions of the principal Far dent, and others. They learned Central Labor Union, under to empire destiny and therefore Eastern powers an inescapable how to fight the A. F. of L. bu­ Success Inspiration progressive domination, had done not ready to stake itself in a conclusion emerges: Japan w ill reaucracy effectively. The gigantic sit-down wave outstanding work. It was the serious war with its imperialist be able to c a rry through the The lessons were not in vain. that shook the foundations of ca­ | first CLU to support sit-downs, In September 1935, the progres­ rivals. The Neutrality Act of the present phase of her conquest pitalist France added fuel to the i It kept a general strike com- Roosevelt Government is the of China without foreign hind­ sives had forced the A. F. of L. fires of the American struggles. , mittee permanently in readiness. formula of the unfpvepa redness rance. Japanese imperialism’s to call a rubber workers’ conven­ From rubber plants they spread | It gave funds generously to all of America imperialism. Wash- only actual foe is the Nanking tion. Despite the personal inter­ to other industries, especially i strike and other labor struggles, inton’s policy in China at this government and its armies, since vention of William Green, the automotive (not the least reason j It supported a YPSL fight against time is confined to a passive the exploited masses of both rubber workers threw out his was that Akron militants went R.O.T.C. at Akron University. It “protection of American lives and China and Japan are held down hief organizer, Coleman Claherty, into the industry and agitated refused to allow a split. William property" accompanied by vague by m ilitary dictatorship. set up an independent interna­ for sit-downs as the best method Green’s demands were always hints that both Japan and China China’s defeat by Japan is tional union based on industrial of building the United Automobile thrown into a waste basket. The will be held accountable for cei'tain unless the defense against unionism and adopted a class Workers of America). CLU, as the platform of the left- damage to American interests. imperialism is wrenched from struggle policy for organizing the wing, was a thorn in the side of in d u stry. The effects of these struggles the control of the Kuomintang were not confined to the rubber the developing bureaucracies. Moscow Compromises regime and the defense campaign Struggle and Victory plants. This entire city of 250.000 A few weeks ago the URWA transformed and enlarged into a felt the repercussions. Grade ; international officers agreed to No threat to the Far Eastern general offensive against impe­ Meanwhile, the unrest in the school children sat down because j allow the rubber workers ti> be stake of French imperialism is rialism on all fronts. This re­ factories developed into tempor­ home assignments were too long! ¡expelled from the CLU upon immediately present in the war quires the intervention of the ary stoppages of work, dubbed The badly exploited downtown (another request of Green. Hnwe- of Japan and China. France’s masses under a revolutionary sit-downs by a reporter. They store clerks sat down. Aided by | ver, a joint CIO-A.F. of L. council trade with China is infinitesimal leadership. N anking, i f i t does culminated at Goodyear in the rubber workers, many strugles j is being formed, sentiment for and her principal interests are not succumb to a humiliating five weeks strike. The rubber were successful. Akron was really (solidarity is so strong. Of course, her colonial territories in Indo- military defeat, will effect a workers demanded and obtained becoming a union town. ¡the left-wing w ill be excluded, if China and her "concessions" at "compromise" with Japan — a the support of the CIO a week (possible, from this council. Shanghai, Hankow and Tientsin. Tired of being robbed by the compromise which w ill be dictat­ after the strike began. What The former are far from the m ilk trust, even the fanners near Causes ed by Anglo-American imperial­ started as a sit-down and walk­ scene of Sino-Japanese hostilities, Akron went on strike, 3,000 of ism at the expense of China’s out of 500 out of 14,000 Goodyear while the latter, because of their them. They called on the progres­ The growth of conservatism in sovereignty and independence, a workers ended in the winning of location, have suffered practi­ sive and left-wing unionists to the local union movement came compromise which w ill still fur­ many concessions. Thousands of cally no damage in the latest help them. A farmers union was because of definite, ascertainable ther enslave China’s millions. rubber workers in other plants, reasons, in addition to the specific fig h tin g . organized and the strike was won. ones already mentoined. The one country which was a Foremost of the reasons was real source of worry to the Tokyo LEWIS FOUND GUILTY BY OWN PARTISANS CIO Tops Intervene the defeat of the "Little Steel” warlords was the Soviet Union. strike. Reactionary forces took The convention of the URWA Would Moscow, concerned for its heart from labor’s defeat. The FOR BUYING VOTES in September 1936 marked the strategic defenses in the Mongo­ wide-spread barrage of anti- turning point in the history of lian People’s Republic, permit union propaganda intensified, and the local union movement. Under Japan to grab North China and union officials retreated before CIO pressure, and the constant Inner Mongolia? In June, Stalin By John F. Dwyer and Lewis the defendant. He it. Roosevelt’s betrayal of the barrage of the capitalist press, framed and executed the flower brought his own jury from Cam­ workers created political uncer­ the convention refused to sanc­ of the Red Army commanding Acting on the letter published bridge to hear the case. I charg­ tainty, but the CIO leaders re­ tion sit-downs as a weapon of the staff. The Japanese army imme­ in the September 4 issue of the ed him with (1) buying members fused to speak out. diately seized two strategic islands Appeal, inviting me to come to into a party to fight the left union. Likewise support of Roo­ in the Amur River which indis­ supper with my wife and have wing (the Salerno letter published sevelt and of Labor’s Non-Par­ Militancy Declines tisan League were voted. putably belonged to the Soviet my head amputated, I attended in the Appeal of September 4), Akron workers this summer Union. In subsequent negotiations, the exclusive lynching party in (2) using his position and the Major attention of the leading lost th e ir firs t s trik e since 1933. Moscow virtually ceded control the home of Mary Dickson in party apparatus for factional unionists turned towards organi­ City police, heartened by the of the islands to Japan. The Northampton, Mass achusetts. purposes, and (3) bringing false zing the rest of the industry, success Chicago police had in Tokyo wai’lords rightly conclud­ Supper started at 6 with Com­ and malicious charges against a after the glaring defeat at getting away with the Memorial ed that if Moscow feared to de­ rade Konikow abstaining. It was member in good standing. Gadsden, Ala., where Goodyear Day massacre, prevented picket fend “its own" territory, it cer­ a perfectly delightful meal with thugs smashed the union. With lines in the Enterprise strike. tainly could not be expected to Found Guilty higher wages, better working Judge Pineo acting as second When a rumor spread that obstruct Japan’s attempts to conditions and definite lim itation maid. Goodrich Ixical might strike,' a seize North China and Inner The Lewis jury, which also of production (temporary aboli­ My trial got under way with company of National Guardsmen M ongolia. received ducky little invitations tion of speed-up), Akron’s rubber Pineo acting as chairman and appeared in Akron, fully rimed to supper, sat and looked very workers began to slip back into Hostess Dickson and Comrade and ready for trouble. (Not even Pact Meaningless wise throughout the trial. I pre­ their old norms of living. Konikow filling out the com­ sented my case and Lewis his. a s trik e vote had been taken. Militancy, more and more, be­ In a feeble effort to offset the mittee. I wag charged with using The jury asked numerous ques­ The rumor was completely false). came a reflection of the great advantages thus given to Japan, the word "reject" instead of tions and finally found as fol­ Six months before, the appearance strike struggle elsewhere. The Moscow has now concluded a “object" in expressing my feel­ low s: of guards would have signalized ings about the actions of ithe rubber workers kept the local non-aggression pact with Nank­ Charge 1: Guilty—vote to a general strike. But the workers N.E.C. in the Spanish resolution. plants going so they could better ing. It is a fact of common know­ censure. kept quiet: when they had march­ I protested that the National contribute to the auto, maritime ledge in the Far East that nego­ Charge 2: Two voted not ed to Youngstown, 3,000, to fight Office had accepted the word and other strike funds. A fever tiations for the conclusion of guilty and one voted guilty. the guards during the steel strike, when Roy Burt accepted the San heat was reached again during this pact were commenced as far Charge 3: Three voted to union leaders ordered them home Francisco resolution for a refe­ the General Motors strike. A back as 1933, when diplomatic defer until after the Sep­ saying that Davey’s guards would rendum. But Lewis assured his general .strike slogan raised by relations between Moscow and tember meeting of the protect the strikers. committee that Burt had no in­ revolutionary socialists won wide Nanking, ruptured in 1927, were S.E.C. (Continued on page ."») restored. Moscow sought by this tentions of sending out any such support. At the last minute it In short Lewis’ own jury could pact to hinder Nanking from referendum and so I was found was called off under terrific SOCIALIST APPEAL making an alliance with Japan guilty of being in grammatical not find him not guilty of any pressure of the CIO leaders. of the charges by a unanimous against the Soviet Union. Nank­ disagreement with the N.E.C. Vol. 1 No. G Saturday, vote. On the contrary they did ing, hoping to make a satisfac­ Bureaucrats Develop September 18th, 1937 Roles Reversed find him guilty on the first tory deal with Japan, delayed Each problem exposed the The committee then recomend- charge, i. e., of bringing into the Published every week by the signing but kept the pact in re­ limitations of the " progressive­ ed my expulsion and referred the Party bought members. Socialist Appeal Pub. Assn. serve as a threat to the Tokyo ness ” of the progressives. A matter to the next S.E.C. meeting warlords. In signing it now, CIO adviser, Allan Haywood, was which w ill be held the third Sun­ Left Wing Carries On Published a t Room 1609 Nanking hopes to frighten Tokyo the power behind the union lead­ day in September. 100 Fifth Avenue, New York into sweet reasonableness. But, The left wing has the support ers. When he was sent elsewhere, The Lynn, Boston, and Wor­ having no fundamental common of 98 per cent of the active the official union leadership suf­ Subscriptions: $2.00 per year; cester Locals have refused to interests with Moscow it will membership of the state. Lewis fered a severe blow. He had prop­ $1.00 for 6 months. Bundle expel their representatives on scrap the pact if opportunity has the support of those people ped up more than one weak orders 3 cents per copy. Single occurs to make what seems a the S.E.C. and so Lewis will who forgot to leave when the union official. The x-ubber com­ copies 5 cents. favorable agreement with Tokyo. bring charges against the three rest of the Old Guard did, and panies, aided by the local press, The Stalin government, which locals on that date. the Fabian Sewing Cii-cle took up a policy of conciliation. All checks and money or­ abandoned the German and After my “mthnate” and branch of Western Massachu­ It had its effect. Progressives ders should be made out to Austrian proletariat to their fate “friendly” supper trial was over setts. The people who remain turned into conservatives. Mean­ the Socialist Appeal. we changed juries and started with him will dissolve into the while, the best class-conscious and which today sabotages the Application for entry as trial No. 2. In this trial the roles first Farmer-Labor Party that struggle of the Spanish workers, elements were doing organizing second class m atter is pending. Will not intervene in the Sino- were reversed. I was the accuser comes over the horison. work elsewhere. Bureaucratic September 18, 1837 SOCIALIST APPEAL 1 FRENCH WORKERS ARE RESTIVE AS GAINS ÂKRON AND ST. LOUIS John Bull, Arming, Pledged OF STRIKES ARE WIPED OUT BRANCHES RALLY TO Support by Reformist Chiefs (Continued from pace 1) hardly one price sign is reliable. SUPPORT OF LEFT WING explode. Even the petty function­ If one goes to buy cigarettes and (Continued from pae 1) ening. The “lumbering democ­ aries in the trade unions, as their leaves 2 fr., for that is what is ing to prevent unnecessary re­ racy” proved able to act as quick­ standard of Irving declines, are marked on the box (of ID), percussions in other spheres from ly as the dictatorship: the Nyon ready for strike action. Natural­ “Pardon, monsieur, it is 2.25 fr. By unanimous decision, the the given conflict. In addition, Conference was called and com­ ly, the official "Communist", now.) Prices are rising so rapidly Akron, Ohio, branch of the S.P. at the appropriate moments, she pleted in what must be close to offers “solutions” designed to record time. “ Socialist" and CGT press speaks that it is almost impossible to on September 5 denounced the of "other methods besides strike estimate the extent of the rise. provide a formula for settling New York expulsions as “a action", “we must respect the But it is clear that the whole the conflict with the least inter­ B rita in wins “Strong law", “order", “dignity ”, but the burden of the rationalization of further dismemberment of the national disturbance. Often sev­ Hand” anti-working class nature of economy and the preparation for body of the party upon the altar eral solutions are attempted, of­ every arbitration decision leaves imperialist war is being placed of the capitalist politician, La fered at first experimentally, As a preliminary, Britain was and withdrawn if the time is not willing to permit the Soviet the worker with very little con­ on the workers. Recently, the G uardia.” fidence in such methods. price of metro (subway) tickets ripe—as was so conspicuously Union the luxury of its sharp In addition, the criminal policy was raised 25 per cent, bus “ To such acts of political van­ true of Great Britain’s handling notes to Italy: an act which the of the leadership in most of the tickets 33 per cent. It is estimated dalism”, declared Akron," “revo­ of the Ethiopian affair. Kremlin, slavishly dependent on recent strikes is sinking deeply that these price increases, to­ lutionary socialists can have but In seeking to delay the out­ the British Foreign Office, would break of the war, however, Great never have committed without Into the consciousness of the gether with increase in taxes one answer: unqualified condem­ and tariffs, which cover every Britain finds herself in a partial Britain’s prior knowledge. workers. One example w ill suf­ nation of {he Altman-Thomas- fice: In the recent hotel, res­ conceivable commodity and ser­ dilemma. The advances of the The Conference was held, and taurant and cafe strike in Paris, vice, w ill result in a 56 per cent Valenti right-wing clique and its rival powers threaten constantly Britain ean record the following where the spirit of the workers rise in the cost of living for the Clarityite allies, and solidariza,- to weaken Britain’s own m ilitary results: the Rome-Berlin axis was excellent, not only did the French worker during the com­ tion with the expelled left wing and naval postion. She must was (through the exclusion of weigh this threat always against Italy and Germany) if not weak­ trade union bureaucracy refuse in g year. comrades. Let every revolutionary This increase in the price of her incomplete preparedness, for ened, reminded that it should not to provide the strike any sort state organization, branch and of national solidarity in the way necessities, in the basic cost of if her position were too much ' have too exclusive a character of funds, etc., not only did the living, w ill find a very eold re­ comrade repudiate with scorn weakened in advance, she would but must take the rest of Europe bureacrats negotiate a shameful ception amongst the workers. the policies and acts of the right not be recompensed even by gain­ into account; a juridical status contract at the very height of That is why almost every poli­ wing. Forward to revolutionary ing the delay for further rear­ was given to the presence of a the strike (providing for “the tical tendency, from extreme Socialism!” mament. From this results the large section of the British Fleet in the Mediterranean; recogni­ reemployment of not more than right to extreme left, is agreed The Local St. Louis member­ apparent inconsistency, hesita­ 1A per cent of the strike lead­ that this fall and early winter ship meeting of September 7 tion, zig-zags of British foreign tion of belligerent rights for ers"'!), but L’Humanite and Le w ill be very critical and is almost condemned “the action of Ward policy: in reality only the cau­ Franco—demanded by Germany Pepulaire (official organs of the certain to witness another strike Rodgers in bringing criminal tious, sober, and careful experi­ and Italy, and a pre-requisite C.P. and S.P.) also proclaimed wave and the fall of the Chau­ charges in the capitalist courts mental moves of the world’s most fo r a solution o f the Spanish con­ it as a victory, thus adding insult temps cabinet. against Glen Trimble._ The use accomplished diplomats in work­ flict—was advanced a stage to injury. Since the workers (In succeeding articles Comrade of the capitalist "Courts as a ing out the most useful solutions further by giving identical treat­ ment in the Nyon Declarations weren’t very convinced of it, the Demby, who has just returned weapon against party opponents to problems which by their very to the fleets of Franco and of the CP sent Thorez to speak to them from France, will deal with is a vicious and unprincipled nature are incapable of being Loyalist Government; the Non- and to assure them that they had the political forces in the practice hitherto unknown in the wholly solved. Intervention Committee was won a tremendous victory, and it French crisis). Socialist movement in America.” The Italian conquest of Ethiopia dropped into the gackground; m ust be a il r ig h t because the did, in point of fact, to some Britain recovered freedom to ex­ C.P. is in favor of the settlement! degree weaken Britain’s posi­ tion. Nevertheless, her astute ercise effective control on how Capitalists Profit Austrian Trotskyists Jailed, maneuvers kept the loss to a much material aid enters Spain minimum, and effectively gained for either side (it has been her Big industry is showing an Sentenced By Fascist Courts tim e. general policy to attempt to bal­ increase in profits of about 10 ance aid in such a manner as to per cent and more over last year, After being kept in jail for Compromise in Spain prevent either army from win­ and there is a duel between the periods of six to eight months Ludwig Auinger was sentenced For Spain, Britain has followed ning a quick and overwhelming Peoples Front press and the awaiting trial, six Austrian Trot­ to two years at hard labor. Georg the same general course as in victory, but this balance was up­ reactionary press as to whether skyists were brought before the Scheuer to eighteen months, Karl the Ethiopian affair: localization set by the serious threat of “pi­ Blum or Chautemps should re­ Court of Assizes in Vienna on Fischer to fourteen months, and of the disturbance, protection so racy” to all aid to the Loyalists); ceive the credit for increasing A ugust 13. Johann Schoffman to twelve far as possible of her own posi­ all of these, together with the- the profits of the capitalists! The Their names, as given by the months of hard labor. Elans tion as against the other powers, fact of the Conference itself and explanation of the recovery reactionary press, are: the en­ Mayer and Berthold Grad were released, the specific charges not attempts and proposals at a Britain’s new “strong hand”, (which is no more than a tem­ gineer, Johann Schoffman; Bert- “solution”. The most favorable— constitute a further step toward porary stabilization of the crisis, hold Grad; the silversmith, Lud­ being proved against them. though not the sole acceptable- Britain’s solution of the Spanish as is readily seen from any sort wig Auinger; the bank employe, These are not the only recent solution from Britain’s point of question through a “compro­ of careful examination of French Karl Fischer; the worker, Hans arrests of Austrian Trotskyists. view is a “compromise" of the m ise” . economy), however is not hard Mayer; and the unemployed Three months prior to the Au­ Civil War by agreement between to find. None other than Vincent worker, Georg Scheuer. gust trial, Comrade F. Niescher, W ar Postponed They were charged with pub­ a 24-year old commercial worker, the opposing m ilitary staffs, the Auriol, the "Socialist” Minister From Britain’s success at lishing and distributing the received a sentence of eighteen establishment of some form of of Finance in the Blum cabinet, Nyon there follows the probabil­ journals of the Austrian Trot­ months imprisonment for writing unified bourgeois regime perhaps gives away the entire game when, ity of the postponement for the skyists, Der Bolshewik, Der Ein- for Der Bolchewik. Previous to backed by international (troops), in his speech at the Marseilles immediate future of the imperi­ zige Weg (The Only Way), and that Karl Hochrainer, aged 19, with protection for the “rights" Congress of the SP (Le Populaire, alist world war, since such post­ Arbeitmacht (Workers Power), was given a sentence of five and interests of all of the im­ July 12, 1937), he says: "Yester­ ponement is part of Britain’s as well as Unser Wort (Our years at hard labor for having perialist powers in Spain and no day's war, the. preparatidn of basic strategy. This probability Word), organ of the German sold and distributed Der Bolche­ new naval bases for Italy or Ger­ national defense—the broken- many. This solution is undoub­ is by no means, however, a cer­ down arms, the new arms— Trotskyists. w ik . tedly making headway, particul­ tainty, and no way alters the While thousands of Austrian A Young Socialist of Vienna absorbs 72 per cent of the bud­ arly since the internal develop­ inexplicable fact that the con­ Nazis were being authorized to writes to La Latte Ouvrier of get." (My italics). What more ments in Spain have, since May, clusion of the present period of participate in a “song-fest” at Belgium (Trotskyist): “Our sinister comment could there be been rapidly erasing the line be­ international developments w ill Breslau, while Hitler’s Mein whole unit has discussed the tria l on the nature of capitalist pro­ tween the Loyalist and Franco be found in the new war on a Kampf was being circulated by of the Trotskyists in very lively fits! What surer indication can regimes and thus taking the so­ world scale. It is still possible the Vienna libraries, the fascist fashion and has ’Unanimously there be of the imminence and cial content out of Hie Civil War. that Britain w ill find her posi­ catastrophic character of the dictatorship of Schuschnigg de­ concluded this: whoever now tion being so seriously underu next depression! The entire eco­ creed the imprisonment of our dares s till to designate the Trot­ Opposes Rom e-Berlin mined that she w ill resort to nomic fabric depends for its very comrades. skyists as fascists or their agents, what would be in effect “preven­ life on war preparations. is a miserable vilifier.” Axis Tribunes of the Masses tive” war before completing her The bourgeoisie refused to give Britain’s second task, of rearmament program. decree powers to Blum. That Comrade Auinger assumed jockeying for the most favorable Again, it is not at all certain Bonapartist weapon must be en­ complete responsibility for the MARTIN ATTACKS position in the maze of alliances that the Spanish Civil War can trusted to one of their very own deeds charged to him. He de­ and counter-alliances, is being be liquidated in any manner; in —and so, Blum was succeeded clared that “the birth of the COMMUNISTS carried out in her traditional which case the struggle in Spain by Chautemps, some parliament- Trotskyist movement is due to manner, chiefly through the (together with that in China) ary juggling took place. Bonnet our opposition to the liquidation negative means of preventing the may spread link by link until the emerged as the miracle man of of the world revolution by the Homer M artin, president of the firm consolidation of an over­ great powers find themselves in­ the financial world. Another Third International.” “They (the United Automobile Workers, powering alliance on the Conti­ volved in war de facto with per­ devaluation was put through, Stalinists) have turned away told the Associated Press, Sep­ nent. This, of course, is her only haps no diplomatic recognition again lowering the standard of from the path of Lenin and are tember 8, that Communists are worry over the “Rome-Berlin” or declaration of a “ state of war”. living of the French masses. leading the USSR to catastro­ entitled to membersip “only in axis: Britain is quite content to And, furthermore, the general Every effort is being made to phe." “Everyone who works in the rank and file and not as U. find terms with either Germany international tension is by now repatriate French capital and illegality must know that he A. W. A. organizers.” Martin or Italy, but she must aim to so grave that some one of ton attract foreign capital. Blum’s works to overthrow the govern­ made this statement on the eve ostruct the crystallization of too daily “incidents” might well lead “pause” is not only extended, but m en t.” of the meeting of the executive powerful a bloc, from which to an irrevocable step. 10 billions of francs are pared off Comrade Georg Scheuer, 21 board at which organizers and France would be excluded, around the existing reforms in an effort years old, made several long office employees for the ensuing Germany and Italy. Labor “Leaders” Help to balance the budget. In little political statements. A Socialist year w ill be designated. Suddenly, about a month ago, Recognizing these possibilities, more than two months, the first since his childhood, previously M artin wa» unopposed for the the raids on neutral shipping— Britain does not wait “at home”. Bonapgrtist Peoples Front go­ arrested for political activity, he presidency at the recent con- including many ships of British Military rearmament is not vernment has shown the workers took responsibility for editing convention, the Stalinists voting registry—began to occur almost enough, her rulers know, for the and masses very clearly what is the eleventh number of Der Bol- for him. The Lovestone “Inde­ daily in the Mediterranean. Here successful prosecution of the war. in store for them. chewik, as did Comrade Fischer. pendent Communist Labor was a threat far more serious She must solidify the “national Prices Soar Comrades Grad and Schoff­ League” delegates were in the than the Civil War in Spain, for union” of all classes in order man also declared themselves same caucus with Martin and Britain must keep the Mediter­ both to have a free hand for Prices are moving up with Trotskyists, but denied the par­ vigorously defended him against ranean open. At the same time rapid negotiations and maneuvers such astonishing rapidity that ticular acts attributed to them. all the “leftists.” the Rome-Berlin axis was tight­ (Continued on page 5) 4 SOCIALIST APPEAL September 18, 1937

N . W . Union Progressives Condemn Reading O ld Guard Joins In Fight Against “Trotskyism** Union Splitting Moves of Stalinists All the attacks made on the ty of the S.P. At the^same time, “Trotskyists" by Thomas-Alt- in sweet, dulcet and' democratic MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 11. Two By Carlos Hudson out that the move to the CIO will man-Tyler are poor imitations of tones for which cops are famed* weeks ago, the Stalinist leader­ give the bosses the excuse fo r a the arguments of their former the YPSL was ordered not only, ship of the three Machinists’ renewed fight on the union. Al­ comrades, their political brothers out of their Labor Lyceum but locals in Minneapolis and Hop­ that curse the movement else­ ready, this is being borne out. and future leaders, the Old “out of the vicinity.” kins— Nos. 382, 1037, and 1313 where. By going CIO now, the auto Guard. Not only the “democratic” mechanics and machinists isolate Old Guard vs. Trotskyism —induced the membership to Stalinist Tricksters arguments but also the “democ­ vote to withdraw from the In­ themselves from their machin­ ratic” acts follow the same pa- ternational Association of Ma­ Yet here, as in every union ist brothers internationally. By tern right down to the use of the The Old Guard in Berks Coua- chinists and join the CIO. So where they have power, the Stal­ going CIO, the machinists do not “democratic” cops against the ty is strong against Trotskyism. that- militants in the American inists have used that power to improve their organizational set­ L e ft wing. In that graveyard gazette, the labor movement may understand abuse, mislead, and cheat the up—they face a much poorer We shall not delve into the Reading Advocate, one of those the backround of this move, and union membership. Hilliard Smith, set-up under the CIO. At pres­ democratic methods of “Honest" dull gray sheets that are the why it has been condemned by a Stalinist organizer, for many ent they are chartered in the Jasper McLevy, head of the So­ curse of the labor movement, the the progressive forces in the months has spent all his time, Radio & Electrical Workers. But cial-Democratic Federation and editor, Hofses, fo r a change drop« trade unions of the Northwest, while on the union payroll, at it is known that the Steel Work­ mayor of Bridgeport. Strike­ ped his scissors and put his pea we present here a brief story of playing with reform politics and- ers Organization Committee and breaking has an odor all its own and imagination to work on aa the case. People’s Front maneuvers. Mau- the United Auto Workers, at the and when combined w ith democ­ article on the “Crisis in the S.P.” The Auto Mechanics Local 383 seth, another Stalinist leader, very least,, are going to claim ratic sewer socialism, it is a bit jurisdiction over some o f the received its charter in 1027 has time and again made un­ too much. Maybe after he has Editor Hofses charged that the former members of the I.A.M. when the trade union movement necessary compromises with the been sprayed with the “fellowship Trotskyists were responsible not machinists in Minneapolis. in Minneapolis as well as through­ bosses. For instance: in case of freemen” and whitewashed only for the present split in the “By going CIO in this manner out the United States was at its a fte r case, where Joe Pease, a; editorially by Gns Tyler, he’ll be S. P. but also for the split la and at this time”, the progres­ lowest point. For six years, up machinist business agent and a* ready for inclusion in the all (ex­ Reading in 1986. On the other sives pointed out, “the machin­ to 193S, this unit remained a l­ progressive, has made a good clusive of revolutionists) inclu­ hand, his democratic co-worker* ists make it possible for certain most inactive, never having more settlement of some grievance, sive party. George Rhodes, will inform any« reactionary International officials than 60 members. Like many Mauseth will go to the arbitrator Instead, as an example of one who asks th a t Charlie Sands another local union, it received and accept a settlement on much to compel local unions to with­ genuine, home grown American alone is responsible for- the Read« hold support from them, support a powerful stimulus from the worse terms. democratic socialism I give you, ing split, and God knows that which has not and could not be smashing victories of' the Gen­ The Stalinist regime has been the Hoopes-Stump gang of Read­ Sands is no Trotskyist. Hofses denied if a truly responsible trade eral Drivers Local in 1934. Its criminally wasteful of the union’s ing, Pa. They are forever in­ and Rhodes should get together union policy were carried out.” membership grew with amazing funds, in a way that any in­ toning praise of “democracy” on one story, otherwise historians and rejecting “the language and will have difficulty in determin­ speed. formed trade unionists anywhere Move Lacks Basis in the country can readily un­ tactics of force, violence, seizure ing what motivated our democ­ Win Strikes derstand. When Mauseth took, And what possible point can of power, illegality and meddle­ ratic heroes. Certainly the mo­ the CIO have in taking in the some attitudes towards trades tives were of the highest. Thess On midnight, January 3, 1935, over the leadership, the union machinists of Minneapolis ? Every unions.” A look at their record gentlement are always moved by a joint Twin Cities strike of auto had 315,000. Mauseth put a progressive unionist supports the will be instructive. the ‘highest ’ motives. Any num- mechanics was called. Officials squad of his henchmen on the campaign to organize the unor­ I here racketeer in Reading can of the Minneapolis General Driv­ union payroll, bought cars out of ganized of America. But that is Old Guard “Democracy” testify to that. ers Union placed themselves at union funds for Communist Par­ hardly the question in this ter­ the disposal of the strikers, and ty leaders from New York, etc. Just over a year ago the Read­ rito ry . The A. F . of L ., because Primary Fight functioned actively on the picket ing Old Guard “democratically" Ill-Advised Sympathy Strike here it is led by progressives, lines and in the strike headquart­ took over the Pennsylvania State has already organized such an At the present moment the S. ers of both Minneapolis and St. Convention of the S. P. by the In August of this year, an ill- overwhelming majority of the P. in Reading is engaged in a Paul. The strike was settled in advised and ill-organized auto simple democratic method of workers in Minneapolis that this making themselves the creden­ bitter fight in the Socialist pri­ about two weeks and resulted in salesmen’s strike was called in city is acknowledged by the U. maries with the Old Guard. The a victory which gave the unions tials committee, rejecting suf­ the Twin Cities. Following out S. Labor Department to be the latter have the advantages which a firm foothold in their indus­ their People’s Front line o f kow­ ficient “undemocratic" delegates best organized city in the United to secure a majority and then go with control of several hun­ try . towing to the white collar work­ States. Organizing the unorgan­ dred city jobs. They have a ers, the Stalinists took the auto calling the “convention” together In 1934, the Machinists Inter­ ized is one question. Raiding the and proceeding to “organize” it. weekly paper and a monthly national had chartered Local 1313 mechanics out on a sympathetic A. F. of L. in this situation is sheet which is given away ires. strike. Now this in itself was It might he worth recording that In Minneapolis, with jurisdiction another question. By taking in they also “democratically’’ char­ They have weekly picnics and over the ornamental iron indus­ not wrong, but the method of the machinists, the CIO will mass meetings at Socialist Park. going about it was decidedly tered new branches the night be­ try. In the summer of 1935 a only serve to confuse and dis­ fore the convention met and elec­ Their candidates are in the main strike was called in this indus­ wrong. The machinists had hun­ rupt the local labor movement. more widely known. The impor­ dreds of grievances against the ted additional delegates as a sort try. On the morning of July 26, The progressives stated that "the of reserve army of democracy in tance of a strong campaign industry’s bosses (who are very Farmer-Labor Mayor Latimer interests of neither the workers case of need. against such a well entrenched appeared at the struck Flour well organized). The logical thing and corrupt machine is obvious. in the A. F. of L. nor in the CIO The democratic victory won by C ity plant w ith a squad of 68 to do was to fight for a settle­ can possibly be served by such Y e t not one line in support of police and escorted 30 strike­ ment of these grievances. This the above means was just a be­ a blundering, irresponsible move.” ginning. On returning to Read­ Local Berks has appeared in the breakers into the plant through was not done. Subsequently, the Socialist Call and not one finger a smalt and suiprised picket line. bosses organized company unions What’s Behind the Move, ing they found an obstacle or two still in their path. The re­ has been moved in support by The General Drivers Union mob­ to supplant the unions of the auto the N. E. C. Granted the hope« salesmen, and that strike was The real reason for this shift cords of the local p a rty were ilized a picket squad during the to the CIO is that it is a job­ lers bankruptcy and inefficien­ day, gave the scabs a stormy lost. The machinists went back still in the hands of members saving device on the part of the loyal to the S.P. and these mem­ cy of the N. E. C., I still think reception, and the strike was to work in a month, without a the criminal neglect has a deeper thing to show for their sacrifice. Stalinist leadership of the ma­ bers together with the YPSL revived with a bang. Late in chinists’ nnion. I t is more than basis. The political agreement September, a strike settlement If the Stalinist leadership was seemed to think th a t they had a this. It is an attempt to man­ rig h t to use the Labor Lyceum of the N. E. C., certainly of its gave the union most of its de­ rotten to the core, the Grand euver into a position where these (S. P. Hall) for which they had dominant Thomas, Altman, Wis­ mands. Lodge officials of the I. A. M. union mis-leaders can attack the sacrificed time and money. A consin wing, with the Reading were not far behind. By threat­ All Inclusive progressive unions in Minnea­ new democratic call went forth Old Guard is evident. Its two ening to break up the machinist polis. That is the SOLE reason from that citadel of democracy, major actions during the primary set-up here along craft lines, by In 1936 a charter was issued for the move. the Socialist Town Hall of Read­ campaign (1) the expulsion drive red-baiting and lack of decisive­ to the machinists in Hopkins, a ing, “Calling a ll cops, calling a ll against Trotskyists (2 ) the sup­ ness, the Machinist Interna­ The Stalinists are throwing Minneapolis suburb, and this cops, a robbery is being com­ port of La Guardia, have both tional furnished the unscrupul­ everything they have in the union has about 700 members, mitted at the S. P. headquarters. played into the hands of the Old ous leaders of the Minneapolis unions in this section—the lead­ Chiefly through organization of ership of the machinists—into The robbers may need protection. Guard and constituted a stab in machinists w ith just the excuse the back to the S. P. in Reading. the Moline plant in that com­ the pot, in-a desperate attempt That is all.” m unity. they were seeking. In the last to reach the position where they And under cover of the democ­ There is no room in Reading The three Machinists unions, week in August the Stalinists, for two “Socialist” democratic by talking of lower dues, by ap­ can attack the rest of the labor ratic protection of the police, the w ith a membership of about movement and label all other democratic Old Guard took over parties. The Old Guard has the <,060, Constitute the stronghold pealing to the sentiment of the inside track for reformism and members for unity which they onions as reactionary, etc. The the records of Local Berks Coun­ ef the Stalinists in Minneapolis, growing strength in the North­ for deals with “progressive* being the one section of the had already achieved, took the Republicans or Democrats. Foe unions into the CIO. west of what Stalinists term movement in which they enjoy “Trotskyism” is forcing the un­ move, there is plenty of evidence the present Local of the S. P. there are but two roads, bade« leadership. Fought by Progressives principled C. P. into such criminal th a t such is not the attitude of Because a very small progres­ moves th a t jeopardize the mag­ Lewis, Brophy and the respon­ ward to disintegration and decay sive fraction in the Machinists The progressive forces, gath­ nificent forward march of labor sible* heads o f the CIO. with the La Guardia Socialists* had fought for such a set-up, ered around the Northwest Or­ in Minneapolis. eventually ending by entering the Minneapolis machinists un­ ganizer, immediately pointed out C all for Reconsiderations the Old Guard, or forward with that, of all the mistakes made Leaders Recognize Seriousness der the International Association Progressives of Minneapolis the Left wing to Revolutionary by the irresponsible Stalinist a t Machinists charter enjoyed Those in the leadership of the are calling upon the membership Socialism. leadership, this mistake is the the finest organizational set-up national trade union movement of the machinists locally to re­ «f machinists anywhere in the one fraught with the gravest realize the significance of the consider their action of voting dangers to the very existence of conntry. Last spring, the I. present situation in Minneapolis. CIO. They are demanding of the Machinists’ organization. The A. M v authorized the local ma­ Hi an unprecedent move, the en­ the International Machinists that NOTICE TO PARTY truth is that not one honest and chinists to take in outside crafts tire Executive Board of the I. A. it guarantee that the Minneapolis BRANCHES practical reason can be advanced —insiders, iron workers, sheet M., led by Wharton, is moving machinists w ill continue as in the Please send in names o f for taking the machinists over metal workers, etc.—so that to into Minneapolis and, beginning recent past as a united all-in­ comrades elected to serve as to the CIO at this time. all intents, in fact if not in name, Sept. 13, will hold a hearing on clusive metal trades union. correspondents to the SOCIAL­ the Mwneopolis machinists had IST APPEAL Special at­ Agreements Endangered the lecsl situation. Next week’s article will bring an all-inclusive metal workers tention must be given to pro­ The CIO has ordered John the latest news of the machinists Industrial union. The progres­ viding us with timely stories The machinists had signed Brophy here immediately. Where­ situation, and will point out what sive labor movement here has on trade union straggles. Agreements w ith the bosses, as in Minnesota, almost the en­ the Stalinists hoped to gain in protected them from the un­ All copy must be in by agreements made under the A. tire CIO staff is made up of Stal­ the Minnesota F-L Party by Saturday. healthy jurisdictional disputes F. of L. The progressives pointed inists, who blessed the machinist their attempted coup. v— . ■/ September 18, 1937 SOCIALIST APPEAL AKRON CIO CHIEFS PLAY POLITICS WITH DEMOCRATS Crushing Left W ing Majority A t (Continued from page 3) cials of Labor’s Non-Partisan The rubber companies comp­ League, meeting with the Demo­ YPSL Convention M ake Impossible leted large inventories this sum­ cratic chairman, determine this mer and also their, plans for “strategy.”) decentralization of production. In an off moment Patterson Alibi Attempt of Socialist Call They began a campaign of attri­ told the press, “I expect to go tion to break the union spirit. high in Democratic national Production was lowered to two- politics.” A labor candidate? Not In last week’s issue of the So­ the Mississippi! And east of the cialist Call there appear two Wishful thinking day a week schedules. Lay-offs an iota more than that faker, La Mississippi ? There were pro­ began by the hundreds. "If you Guardia, and not as clever, inci­ mealy-mouthed efforts to ex­ bably 2 or 3 from Cleveland, rep­ Did Hamilton answer the claim don’t like it, strike,” Goodrich dentally. Patterson admits he is plain away Clarity’s crushing resenting 20 members, 2 or 3 from that the delegates who packed told the union committeemen. simply trying to climb higher on defeat in the Young People’s So­ Pittsburgh for the 3 or 4 mem­ the room represented all that cialist League. One, written by Confident that the unions were the back of the workers. He bers there, 2 from Baltimore was healthy and vital in the A1 Ham ilton, secretary of the on the titrn , Goodyear and Good­ hasn’t even promised anything to (made possible by the purchase League, that they came from rich permitted the National Labor labor, he has no program, yet Clarity-Right-wing caucus, is a of dues stamps on credit in ex­ cities which had shown growth sniping prevarication at the Yip- Relations Board to hold employe the union officials are seeking to cess of the real membership of and activity? Could Hamilton sel convention after Clarity had elections to determine if the put him across. the YPSL in that city), 3 from dispute the fact that his few bolted. The other, by some an­ U R W A would obtain sole collec­ Milwaukee, and possibly another delegates, who represented hard­ onymous scribe, is an attempt tive bargaining rights. The Stalinists Right-Wing 5 delegates from legitimate or ly more than themselves, came to show strength where only Unions won 3-1 at Goodyear and And what are the Stalinists semi-legitimate sections. from sections that had stagna­ weakness could be seen— the ses­ 10-1 a t Goodrich. Despite the doing ? No sooner had the charac­ ted, declined? Was it an acci­ sion of the Clarity-Right wing wavering of the leadership, the ter of this political campaign dent that Hamilton’s report on caucus th a t had the impudence The Figures Broken union rank and file wasn’t on the begun to expose itself and m ilitan t the year’s activities made abso­ to call itself a “YPSL Conven­ run. The great lessons of the workers began demanding a break D ow n lutely no mention ci figures on tion.” The only impression that League membership! past three years were not for­ with the Democratic party, than remains is that of the poor au­ gotten by the rubber workers. the Stalinists organizer gave a How much of a joke their pre­ Hamilton saw the “worried” thors, pecking away half-hearted­ In order to make this analysis radio address, begging the work­ tense was, is revealed by the look on the faces of the left wing ly at their typewriters, while a of Akron as clear as possible, ers not to split with the Demo­ New York delegation. In New delegates. These “wanned” dele­ sickly blush betrays their tweaks we must now refer to the specific crats! The usual attack against York City there were 357 paid gates held the most spirited con­ of conscience. political considerations that have the “Trotskyites” also featured up members. Allowing another vention in the history of the been the center of controversy in his speech. Stalinism is being Says Hamilton “A group of 100 for “members in arrears”, League. Were their shouts of the labor movement. exposed in all its brutality, hy­ Appealites who were visitors, and (the cemetery vote) the total is enthusiasm when Erber opened pocrisy, and reformism in this a smaller group of about 40 dele­ 450. Even the most unregenerate the convention the cries of “wor­ F. L. P. Scheme campaign. The Stalinists, to the gates remained with him (Er- Clarityite will now admit that ry”? Was it with “worry” that The Stalinists began an intens­ amusement of many workers, are b e r)”, when he opened the con­ at least 200 of New York Yipsels they boomed out the “Interna­ ive campaign for the formation the right-wing of Labor’s Non- vention. Hamilton never had an were left wingers (250 would be tional” while the Clarityites of a Farm er-Labor party in 1936, Partisan League! opportunity to estimate accurate­ more accurate, but we won’t quib­ slunk out? Did Hamilton detect in Akron as elsewhere. ly the number of delegates pre­ ble). That leaves a maximum a single left winger who was not Gathering delegates from all Uncompromising sent because he did everything of 250 for Clarity, the Right impatient with the delay of the their stooge organizations, gain­ in his power to prevent the con­ wing, the Y C L stooges and mis­ convention by the centrists? ing some support from the unions S tru g g le vention from convening. cellaneous independents. This Wishful thinking. Did Hamilton here, the Stalinists called a con­ Whether Patterson wins or not Let Ham ilton think back: 250 got 53 delegates. One of think the delegates would worry vention in May 1936. Rubber (his chances are (50-60) a new When Erber opened the conven­ these came from Circle 6 Sr because he was leaving the unions sent observers. Since stage of political development tion and Hamilton filed out of Manhattan—and represented her­ League ? most of the delegates were either has been reached in this rubber the hall w ith a self-conscious self, the lone Clarityite in a cir­ Stalinists or stooges, the move­ center. Basically, we have an handful of followers, there re­ cle of 14 members. Two came A Sorry Confession ment collapsed, as the revolution­ attempt of the bourgeoisie to mained L48 people by actual from 1C (C ity College) repre­ Ham ilton makes an admission ary Socialists had predicted. At­ divert the growing class cons­ count. Of these, 104 were regular senting just themselves in a cir­ that knocks the prop from under tempts to blame the “Trotsky- ciousness of the workers into the delegates present in Philadel­ cle of 32 members. Ditto for his arguments—"... the elimina­ ites" failed. The militants wanted safe channels of class-collabora­ phia to attend a convention Hunter College and other circles. tion of the large New York dele­ independent political actoin but tion on the political field. .which Ham ilton was determined Need more be added than the gation might have given the Ap­ became disgusted and withdrew would never be held. Who, that fact that in the last city elec­ peal a bare majority.” Precisely! when the program adopted was was present in Philadelphia, does tions the Appeal received the —only the majority would not so mild that its best supporters, JOHN BULL ARMS, not remember the miserable pic­ largest single bloc of votes, or have been “bare”. In these words along with the Stalinists, were ture of the Clarityites shuffling 41% of the whole, and that since Hamilton admits that the Ap­ the worst reactionaries in the LABOR LEADER AID out of the hall while the walls then many left wingers joined it. peal had a conclusive majority labor movement, like H. B. (Continued from page 3) rang with the singing of the “In­ in the entire country. Blanckenship, vice-president of ternational”? When all the Clar­ When the Old Guard-Militant (such as the Nyon Conference), Clarityite “Answers” the CLU a t the tim e, one of Ak­ ityites had left, not a dent had split took place in the Socialist and likewise be assured of com­ ron’s notorious red-baiters. been made in attendance. Those Party, the party convention gave plete support when the war it­ “During the (National ) Com­ The huge rubber workers vote who remained filled every inch both delegations equal rights self breaks. Thus the decisions m ittee’s deliberations'”, says in the last presidential election of the room. u n til the convention had decided of the Trades Union Congress, Hamilton, “the elaborate and created the l»sis for the present upon the merits of the case, and which ended its session simul­ widespread statements concern­ political situation. Hungry De­ neither side had the right to vote taneously w ith the Nyon Con­ “Figures Compared” ing gerrymandering (etcetera)... mocratic politicians saw a pos­ on the qualifications of the other. ference, are by no means an ac­ were one a fte r another answered, sible means of grabbing the spoils At Philadelphia, however, the cident. The entire Congress rev­ Forty delegates, indeed! At the along with the naling of lie after of city hall from the entrenched Clarity NEC sought to prevent olved around the question of the League convention there were no lie told by the Appeal leaders in Republican machine. Union bu- the Convention from exercising foreign policy of the National less than 23 delegates from Chi­ a desperate effort to heighten the reacrats saw a source of political its constitutional rig h t o f decid­ Government. The entire work of cago alone, elected by 187 mem­ morale of a worried rank and file power. ing delegate contests by decree­ the Congress was summed up in bers (an under-statement, but which did not want to leave the ing in advance that this huge in­ its vote to support the rearma­ the figure set by the Clarityite League.” Where facts are not Democrat Victorious flated Right wing-Oarity bloc ment policy of the Government. national administrative secretary, Labor’s Non-Partisan League, w ith you, use rhetoric. By whom was legal and that it would have In this way, the officialdom of Judah Drob)j Then delegates were the “widespread statement” dormant after the Roosevelt re- voice and w fi on its own eligi­ the British working class, fol­ had come in from California to election, was revived. The Stalin­ answered? Who answered for bility. The NY left wing could lowing the lead of the Socialist speak for at least 200 members; the record manipulations in New ists lost no time in jumping on not appeal as a contested dele­ and Stalinist deputies who in 8 other delegates could not man­ York? Barshop? Hamilton? M ilt the band wagon. But they weren’t gation, but only as individual ex­ France in January voted the age to come in. Twenty-nine quite as fast as reactionary A. Freidman? Wle remember instead pelled members, seeking redress French w ar budget, announce delegates from New York (only F. of L politicians who grabbed the pitiful complaint by Milt of grievances. their treachery in advance, in ad­ 27% of the total) most of them Friedman, the NEC member from leading posts in the League, even elected before the split there had Precisely because the left wing though the rubber unions furnish­ vance declare to the imperialist Clarity’s left, that the Appeal was so certain of its majority if government that they will turn taken place and all of them re­ had put them on the defensive, ed the vote. A municipal judge, G. allowed the barest elements of over to it the B ritish masses fo r presenting directly at least the that all that mattered was Ap­ L. Patterson, a Democrat, was democracy, it clamored for the slaughter in the imperialist war. number of members set by pre- peal’s “split” perspective. Who chosen fo r m ayoralty candidate, :onvention rules. Other delegates opening of the convention. Con­ to run on the. Democratic party answered California’s claims for versely, because the C larity-R ig ht Pledge Sell-Out Before­ attended from Louisville, Cleve- unprecedented growth and ac­ ticket. He didn’t bother with a land,Akron, Youngstown, Read­ wing bloc knew its own weak­ program. tivity? Hamilton did his best to ness it tried to stymie the con­ hand ing, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bos­ belittle it. But Drob, with his Patterson received 17,000 votes ton, Dorchester, Lynn, Albany, vention. in the primary, swamping the During the last war it was last ounce of honesty, had to not until after hostilities had be­ Syracuse, Newark,—35 cities in admit that California had made ether Democratic nominee. The all. Every one of these was there A “Convention” Republican mayor got less than gun that the parties of the Se­ remarkable progress, “up to a cond International completed in the flesh, representing 1000 certain point”. After that cer­ Compare the League conven­ half that figure but he was unop­ members all told, according to tion with the centrist caucus ses­ posed. This prim ary result was their betrayal and voted the war tain point California had held budget. The immeasurably great­ Drob’s figures in most cases. the most successful summer sion. The old-young tired radi­ hailed as a great victory fo r cals who attended the centrist labor. er profundity of the present But examine the Clarity cau­ school in the history of the YP crisis of world capitalism is in­ cus: 92 delegates were seated, SL, recruited members, and open­ meeting lacked s p irit and- enthu­ N o P ro g ra m dicated by this fact that today 53, or 57% of the total came ed new circles. siasm. They gathered in an air of discouragement. In their dis­ However, subsequent events the bourgeoisie must exact its from New York. Of the remain­ Was the motion for an inves­ have already justified the revolu­ pledge beforehand. And it is ing 39, five were members of the tigation committee an answer to cussion on Spain, the right wing­ tionary socialists who refused to this fact which at the same time NEC, who, by the bureaucratic the proof that WJard Rogers was ers combined with the “normal” support Patterson and the gives the revolutionists the op­ rule of the old Constitution, had a fink and a stool-pigeon? Did centrists to defeat a minority of League’s nebulous political pro­ portunity, which they did not voting rights. Twelve came from Hamilton “nail the lie” when the seven who presented a left-wing position. An NEC was elected, gram. The corrupt Democratic have in 1914, to make clear be­ Philadelphia — representing 44 photostat was thrust under his composed of budding lawyers, politicians, the ward heeler, and fore the outbreak of the war the people out of the 65 who voted nose? An answer was given by semi-retired radicals, end inac­ Other stooges of the capitalist exact character of the betrayal, in Philadelphia (the other 21 had Blackie Palla, seaman, who de­ tive incompetents. Only one Class, and specifically of the to point unerringly at those voted Appeal) and only one vot­ clared Rogers would be hounded ing delegate was allowed at our member of the NBC Hamilton rubber barons, are backing Pat­ guilty of it, and to rally the from the labor movement just as terson. He is campaigning not forces which are determined, at League convention for these 21! himself, can boast of any real or as a labor candidate but as a any and every cost, to oppose the There was not one C larity dele­ scabs and finks are chased from imagined contact with youth. He democratic candidate. (The offi- war. gate from the country west of the waterfront. (Continued on page 7) 6 SOCIALIST APPEAL September 18, 1937 How G.P.U. Hounds Revolutionists Old Bolshevik, Tarov, Escapes, Testifies to Inquiry Commission

® ■ (Continued from last week) Akmolinsk, a place where there beg for mercy, etc. This was was not yet a railway, a man done with the purpose of fright­ In the meantime, the G.P.U. trying to construct with bare ening the other prisoners. It was Spanish Govt. Outlaws pursued its work of demoraliza­ hands a broadcasting station to not until they reached the court­ tion. I was dismissed from my communicate abroad with Trots­ yard that they gagged the con­ job without even receiving the k y ! demned man, and the cries ceased. Criticism, Chains Press Wages due, on the pretext that We knew, by counting the shots, But the G.P.U. had “located" Manuel Irujo, Basque business­ days on August 7 for having dis­ I had keen given a wrong rating. the number of bullets it took to a witness who declared that we man, Catholic, and Minister of obeyed orders o f the» censor«. They had me come to the G.P.U., finish the victim. The next day, had attempted to build this sta­ Paulino Gomez, General Delegate now before one, now before while walking in the courtyard Justice of the Valencia Govern­ tion together. They even found of Public Order in Barcelona in­ another, o f the chief’s assistants. around this strange structure ment, issued the following decree, material proof at the ‘•witness” ’ formed the press that the specific One threatened, the other offer­ that reeked of blood, we would published in the official Gaceta. house, that is, parts of radio ap­ A u gu st 12: act of disobedience was "that ed privileges, etc. But all to no paratus. This witness was a learn which of us was missing. avail, I remained Arm in my posi- ....“ Whoever censures as fascist, they should not publish white direct agent of the preliminary as traitor, as anti-revolutionary, spaces." That is, deletions by the tie « . investigation and “accompanied" Began in 1928 Finally, for the last time, I given person or group of persons, censor must be hidden from the us to the Verkhne-Uralsk isolator. In August, 1928, I was sitting unreasonably or without sufficient masses by inserting other ma­ was called before the G.P.U. There, after three days he hand­ They proposed that I prove my home one night, reading. Sud­ foundation, or without the (court) terial. The CNT press had been ed in a “declaration of recanta­ abandonment of the Opposition denly the door opened, and there authority having pronounced protesting the censorship in silent tion" and he was set free so that by “facts." m a t kind of facts? appeared a YCLer, Andrusha. sentence on hint (the accused), fashion by leaving the blank he could continue his work else­ “We must teach these Trotskyists Conspiratorial methods had fails in his duty before the law— spaces. how to behave," they inswered, and where. been introduced among us after “He who denounces a citizen The Gaceta of August 11 i>ub- From Akmolinsk we were asked me to name the comrades the Zinovievists split from us for being a priest of a religion lishes the decree dissolving the transfered to Petropavlovsk. The with whom I had worked in the and had, on innumerable occa­ or for administering the sacra­ Council of Aragon, in plage of investigation of our case was Opposition as far back as 1927- sions, turned Oppositionists over m ent_ causes an unnecessary which an appeinted governor* carried on in the inner prison. 1926. 1 categorically refused, and to the GPU. For this reason, and disruptive disturbance of general is to rule this province. We were isolated from each other I added that for my Oppositionist Andrusha, on being questioned, public order when not committing Established September, 1936 w ith at the start. After a preliminary work io the past I had already could not say who had given him an irreparable crime worthy of a CNT majority and a program questioning, I was placed with served tune in prison and in exile the Oppositionist literature that penal punishment.” of agrarian collectivization, the ordinary criminals. In a cell in­ but that now, since my abandon­ had been found in his possession. Decree Helps Fascists Council had ably re-established tended for two or three men, ment of the Opposition, I pledged They put Andrusha in a cell. production in the areas wrested there were from twenty-six to This decree puts a complete myself *o longer to work against There he was tied to the cot, so from the Fascists by the Catalan twenty-eight prisoners. We could jnd to ferreting out of fascists the leadership of the party. The arranged that water dripped m ilitia s . only sit down. To stretch out, it )y the workers, as well as halt­ G.P.U. agent became irritable constantly on him. At night he The CNT of Madrid of August was necessary to ask the only ing sharp ideological criticism of and called me a faker. was transferred to an even more the government bloc. It also ends 14 published the following decree After the conversation with one lying under the bench to yield terrible place, he was undressed, of the Ministry of Interior, out­ his place. We suffered excrutiat- all forms of surveillance of the the G.P.U. agent, I became con­ the barrel of a loaded revolver lawing all press criticism of the ing torture from the lack of ven­ Catholic priesthood just after the vinced that the only way out of was pressed against his belly, and Vatican has openly thrown its Stalinist regime: the situation was to escape from tilation in the cell. It was hot, they threatened him: "We are . .“ With repetitions, that permit stifling; bathed in sweat, we felt support to Franco, exile. But I was constantly wat­ going to fire all seven shots if Commenting on a previous divining a deliberate plan of of­ ourselves suffocating. Our lungs fending an exceptionally friendly ched, probably with the purpose you do not confess!" The YCL’er circular of Minister Irujo decree­ seined compressed. Even the nation, thereby creating difficul­ of establishing whether I had gave in but did not know whom ing legalization of Catholic ritual tiny peep-hole was barred from ties for the government, various any relations with other exiled to name. The G.P.U. gave him services in private, the CNT’s the outside. newspapers have occupied them­ Oppositionists. I was unemployed, time to “regain his senses.” He Spanish (Valencia) Bulletin of I shall never forget these days selves with the U.S.S.R. unsuit­ deprived of correspondence with ■’regained his senses” and re­ August 14 declares that his of terrible torture. The prisoners membered, me, for he knew that ably... This absolutely condem- my fam ily and friends. The G.P.U. “famous circular had as its end organized demonstrations, de­ liable license should not be author­ I belonged to the Opposition. He to prepare for the domination of had a special spy who kept cons­ manding air, but not a sound ized by the council of censors,... decided then to tell the G.P.U. the Catholic Church, that again tant watch over me and who did came from the corridor; the The disobeying newspaper w ill ho that it was I who had given him should be able to wield influence not hesitate to tell me of his role. suspended indefinitely, eves Nevertheless 1 ¿succeeded in es­ guards were under orders to the propaganda material. But he igainst the people, enforcing the maintain absolute silence. They could not remember my name though it may have been passed caping. counter-revolution already initiat­ had placed me among the ordinary and exact address. He therefore by the censor; in that case the ed.” censor who read the proofs being Isakovsky’s End criminals to force me to give undertook to conduct G.P.U. CNT Organ Suspended false testimony. But after the agents to my lodging. held for the Special Tribunal Rakovsky could not do as much. questioning, I wrote on the pages The G.P.U. men did not venture Solidaridad Obrera, chief CNT charged with dealing with crimes That was impossible for a sick of the record: “I consider the to search my place immediately. organ, was suspended for five of sabotage.” old mau. And he was lost. His entire testimony of the witness, They did it only a month later, telegram immediately divided agent of the G.P.U., to be pro­ when they received a general convictions but weak constitu­ broken, and the firm Opposition­ hi« from the Opposition. The vocative insinuations of the order from Moscow: arrest and tions or characters, they were ist of yesterday was transformed, immense confidence that the Op- G.P.U" The examinations were deport all Opposionists. Then, in unable to withstand the constant in the hands of the G.P.U. into a tool against the Opposition. posiorusts had in him fell to zero. terminated. I was sentenced to a single night, the G.P.U. arrest­ repressions and violence of the To cite one more instance re­ And the G.P.U. utilized all its three years hard labor, with ed more than a hundred Opposi­ G.P.U. In the end, they were des­ lating to this state of affairs: methods of repression to force Jantiev, Khudaev, Peter Popov, tionists in our city, in accordance troyed ideologically as well All in 1933 (in December), we Op­ Rakovsky to say B after he had Zalaev, and two local workers with lists that we ourselves had the capitulators, without excep­ positionists in the Verkhne- said A. Rakovsky said B, that is, that they had mixed into our sent to the Central Committee in tion in the beginning did not wish he wrote a long letter against Uralsk isolator began a hunger case. The rest were deported to the past in order to support by to slander the Opposition or to tke Opposition, a letter that con­ strike, demanding that the au­ the depths of Siberia. our votes the proposals of our ,‘onsider their convictions errone­ stituted his political suicide^. Ra­ When the G.P.U. men arrest thorities cease arbitrarily pro­ fa ctio n . ous, “counter-revolutionary" etc. kovsky lost all political dignity. anybody in the street or at home, longing the sentences of the Op­ They all began by pledging no 'The O.P.U. did not let him escape they never say, “ Hands up!" or Hunger-Strike positionists. On the eleventh day again from its web. “Don’t move!” but shout, “Lie longer to carry on factional work. of the strike, the prison adminis­ I ask pardon for dwelling so down!” I •first discovered this in In the Verkhne-Uralsk isolator Unemployment, arrests, deporta­ tration resorted to forcible feed­ long on this matter, but I think Petropavlovsk prison in 1931. in December, 1933 we Opposition­ tions, executions, concentration ing. The Mensheviks would not it may be useful to the commis­ The one-eyed executioner of the ists (about 130 men) declared a camps, tortures in prison, all of tolerate this arbitrary treatment sion for arriving at a more pro­ G.P.U. (well known in the city, hunger strike to protest against these were applied to the Oppo­ of the Oppositionists, and de­ found understanding of the role of German origin, I forget his , the abominations and oppressions sitionists in the cruelest form, in clared on their side a three day accordance w ith the special orders • f the G.PJJ. concerning capitu­ name) thus arrested kolkhoz and 1 of the G.P.U. A fter eleven days, hunger strike as a sign of protest lators, and the real relations bet­ worker “wreckers.” In the begin­ ; we no longer felt pangs of issued by the head of the Central against the G.P.U. outrages in ween the Opposition and the ning, there were very few who I hunger. It was no longer difficult Committee. refusing to satisfy the legitimate «afttalabars. consented to lie down before the for us to continue the hunger The G.P.U. did not liberate ca­ demands of the prisoners, and G.P.U. agent. But the regime , strike four or five days, and die. pitulators at once. To begin with, risking the death of 130 men. A t How the G.P.U. Tortures ruthlessly destroyed men, and it But the G.P.U. did not permit us they were required to declare the same time, newly arrived that they considered their beliefs capitulators whom Stalin—mis­ Prisoners taught the Soviet citizen to lie ; to die. They fed us forcibly for down before the G.P.U agent. one day (with a rubber tube in- and ideas counter-revolutionary, trusting—had decided to impri­ that those ideas were anti-com­ son in the Verkhne-Uralsk isolae In 1931, the n ig h t o f January Thus are Soviet citizens treated ' serted into the stomach through munist, Menshevist, and that tor, not only did not support ns, 2l8t-22ud, the G.P.U. carried out from the moment of arrest, that the mouth; ten jailors held each Trotsky was an “agent of the but even shouted: “ Down with the mass arrest of Oppositionists ini is to say, when it is not yet estab­ of us during this operation) to lished whether they are guilty excite our appetites and torture international bourgeoisie. " In Opposition! Down with the Trot­ different cities and places of! other words, the G.P.U. did not s k y is ts !” -exile. On the same night, they: o r not. us with pangs of hunger, in order to break the hunger strike. let them go until it had trans­ Such cynical attitude on the arrested owr entire colony of ‘ formed them into dirty and part of the imprisoned capitula­ exiles at Akmolinsk (Jantiev,: Slaughterhouse Why They Confess trampled tatters. After their tors toward the Oppositionists on JQhagaiev, Djigaev, Davtian, Za- In the inner prison of Petro­ official renunciation, the capitu­ hunger strike aroused the disgust peev, Gassanov, Gogadze, Tsint-: pavlovsk, where the author of The capitulators have no other lators stayed in prison a year, even of the G.P.U. guards. The end re, Mdchael.... and others. The these lines remained for six way out but to give false testi­ two years, and sometimes more. latter forced the capitulators to investigation began. months waiting for the sentence mony and confessions, i. e., to Many capitulators were even be silent, calling such an attitude They accused me of having pronounced in Moscow, the G.P.U. repeat everything the G.P.U. kept in prison after they had of prisoners toward other prison­ tried to construct a short-wave shot the condemned in a special dictates to them. Whoever is served their sentences. During ers, “ shameful." radio broadcasting station in ‘ structure erected directly in the acquainted with the ideological this time, the capitulators had to And then, after all that in order to establish communication center of the court yard where dispute between the Opposition write dozens of statements. Fol­ the Moscow trials they tell us abroad, with Trotsky. This was the prisoners took their daily and the Stalinists w ill not be lowing repeated interviews with that the Bolshevik-Leninist Op­ recorded in my indictment. I walks. Generally, when at night astonished when I say that the the head of the prison, they position formed a bloc and a knew nothing about a radio they dragged the victim along the great m ajority of the capitulators would return to their cells in a center with such men! broadcasting station, short wave corridors to the “slaughter house” abandoned the Opposition only state of nervous collapse, cursing or any other kind. If it were not —as the prisoners called this because they could not endure the G.P.U., cursing themselves, P a ris, June 12, 1937. for the arrest, it would have place—they gave him an oppor­ the bestial repression of the but finding no way out. Finally (Abridged by the editor) been omnic. In Kazakstan, at tunity to cry out, howl, implore, G.P.U. Often, having strong their political backbone was September 18, 1937 SOCIALIST APPEAL 7 Harry Milton, Wounded London Buro Aids Stalin Frame-Ups Saved From G P U Jail By Refusal To Join Probe Commission Harry Milton, torn from the of Bilbao. It w ill now be possible Clutches of the Spanish GPU, is for the fascists to move the Bil­ arriving in New York. Wounded bao army to raise the siege of «n the Aragon front, his sacrifices Huesca which is now completely Hypocrisy In Guise of “Impartiality” Shown In Reply By Brockway la the struggle against fascism surrounded. If they succeed there did not save him from arrest and w ill be hell to pay in Aragon and imprisonment as a revolutionist. Catalonia. By Leon Trotsky Workers’ protests saved him. My general health after fifteen We print below extracts from days here is beginning to crack. “The London Bureau of Revo­ settled opinions on this score but gation of the Moseew frit roe-ups Comrade Milton’s recent letter: I’m always very tired, very sleepy lutionary Socialist Parties’’ was they were either alarmed by or’ immediately after the Zinwviev- Jefatnra Prison, and have no energy. We have invited, together with the Seeond indignant over the "totalitarian" Kamenev trial, the G.P.U, might Barcelona, 5-21-37. absolutely no exercise and a and Third Internationals, to par­ character of Moscow justice and not have dared to put in circula­ The day before yesterday I was cockroach would die of starva­ ticipate in the International Com­ over the fact that the Norwegian tion the palpably false charge- arrested by the authorities at tion on the food. mission of Inquiry on the Mos­ “ Socialist” flunkeys of the G.P.U. that the leaders of the P.O.U.M. Portbow, brought back here and Falcon Prison, cow trials. On May 21, Fenner had placed me behind lock and are collaborating with General Without being given an opportun­ J u ly 11, 1937. Broockway, in the name of the key at the very moment when Franco. But this was not done. ity to speak or to make any kind I have already told you that London Bureau, rejected the in­ I needed freedom most to defend The "im partial” ones shielded of an explanation, thrown into with me in prison was Kopp, the vitation. The pertinent section not only myself but hundreds of the G.P.U. As a result, Nin has jaik The conditions here in jail commander of my regiment. We of his reply reads verbatim as others. It goes without saying been murdered, together with beggar description, a long damp had a thorough discussion three fo llo w s: that had the American Committee scores and hundreds of others. stone room, about 100 persons days ago, as a result of which "The International Bureau been composed of hypocrites it The P.O.U.M. has been crushed. in it. Absolutely no provision for we decided to immediately or­ ■ is not able to endorse the Am­ might have called itself "The What has been let slip cannot be sleeping or resting. No beds, ganize a general hunger strike. erican Commission of Inquiry Committee for the Defense of retrieved. Do Messrs. Brockway blankets or any sanitary facili­ After taking all the necessary or to be represented on it be­ Eternal Precepts of Morality. ” ¡think that the time has now ties. We are fed twice a day, one steps to bring it to the attention cause it takes the view that But it choose to act openly. By come for an international inves­ thin piece of bread and a little of the radical and labor press in a disastrous mistake has been “Defense of Trotsky” the Com­ tigation of the crimes ef the platter of rice and potato soup. England and Europe, a letter was made in initiating the inquiry mittee had and has in mind not G.P.U. in Spain—of the frame- A Spanish edition of the infa­ sent to the Chief of Police de­ through a Committee which to provide the alliance between ups, pillages and murdere? Or mous Moscow trials is now being manding that charges be imme­ describes itself as a ‘Commit- Trotsky and Hitler with a cover are they waiting for the sterilized concocted. diately placed against us or that thee for the Defense of Trot­ but to provide Trotsky with an priests of im partiality to initiate Some of the POUM comrades we be set free. The idea caught sky’. ” opportunity to publicly refute the investigation? Let Brockway have already been brought before on like wild fire. When the po­ The London Bureau, it would the accusation made against him. supply me with their addresses a special tribunal of three judges liticals learned of our discussion, seem, is vitally concerned in the Nothing more! It is quite suf­ and telephone numbers. 1 w ill all of whom are Stalinists. All and that we were already on success of the inquiry and if it ficie n t. immediately get in touch with of them are asked to confirm the strike for almost two days, they refuses to give any assistance it The members of the Committee them. But if, as I suspect, they alleged link between the POUM also decided to participate. A ll is solely due to the fact that the understood from the first just as do not exist in nature, let the and Franco. The entire procedure the anarchist prisoners joined in. investigation was initiated by the well as Brockway did that the London Bureau take upon itself is a farce. The POUM refused to partici­ “ Defense” Committee. However, verdict of the International Com­ the initiative of calling the in­ The anarchist workers are pate. After four days the joint Mr. Brockway fails to specify mission would carry weight only quiry. Let the Bureau, emulating becoming increasingly more im­ Plenum of the Anarchists and just who should have initiated if the inquiry were conducted the example of the American patient with their official leaders the Youth passed a resolution to the inquiry. The new head of the with all the requisite guarantees Committee, turn to all the exist­ and all kinds of anti-leadership the government demanding an G. P. U. Yezhov? Or the secre­ for thoroughness and objectivity, ing labor Internationals and to and illegal papers have appear­ immediate release.... or else. The tary of the Comintern, Dimitrov? in particular, wtth the participa­ outstanding individuals in sci­ ed on the streets. In prison with government told the anarchists Or the King’s Counselor, Pritt? tion in the Commission of repre­ ence, literature and art who are me is my commandant from the they would take some action but Or the secretary of the London sentatives of the different trends known for their honesty and in­ front, Kopp, a ranking General. first the strike must end. The Bureau, Fenner Brockway ? Or, in political thought. The Com­ tegrity. If someone were to say A t the front we had been quite anarchists instructed their mem­ finally, the Archbishop of Can­ mittee began by inviting publicly that Fenner Brockway would make friendly but now we are real bership to quit. They did and of terbury? The most “impartial” the representatives of the Moscow a "disastrous mistake” by initia­ chums. He’s a Belgian engineer, course nothing happened. I didn’t Devere Allen, turally, not a question of the "accuser” a brazen hypocrite. ammunition, and since has been Salud to my dear friends and none other than Brockway him­ political or moral evaluation of In conclusion, I consider it at the front. He w ill probably be comrades, the Bolshevik-Leninists self not only refused to initiate Stalinism, Trotskyism, Bolshevism necessary to recall here another abot on the charge of having led of the United States. For ours the inquiry but did everything in or Marxism. No political ten­ not unimportant circumstance. In tile uprising of May 3. So fa)' no is the banner of today and tomor­ his power to prevent others from dency would agree to serve as the very same February letter charges heve been made against row. We shall conquer. The day taking the initiative, and, fur­ the object of appraisal by an in which he expressed his touch­ me but I assume similar charges w ill come when once again the thermore, adduced arguments in­ inter-party commission; no ra­ ing concern for the interests of w ill also be made for participat­ working class will measure volving not the interests of im­ tional commission would under­ Stalin, Yagoda and Dimitrov» ing in an "insurrection" while on swords with the enemy. And when partiality but those of the Mos­ take such an insuperable task. Fenner Brockway proposed to leave. that day comes we shall wipe the cow bureaucracy. Here is what The appraisal of political ten­ create an international commis­ The m ilitary situation is again capitalist class off the face of Brockway wrote to Allen: The dencies is made by the masses sion of inquiry.... into my political extremely serious, with the fall the earth. Speed th a t day. inquiry “ .. .w ill merely arouse in the course of the political activity and, furthermore, with prejudice in Russia and in Com­ struggle. The final verdict is rather strange "precipitancy” munist circles.” Isn’t it astonish­ brought in by history. proposed to include in this com­ SOCIALIST CALL ALIBI ON Y .P S .L ANSWERED ing ? In a letter not intended The task of the inquiry of the mission Norman Thomas, Otto for publication Brockway incau­ International Commission did and Bauer, Branting, and other bitter tiously spoke up as a member does consist only of verifiying political enemies of mine. The BY COLD FACTS of the "Committee for the De­ certain specific charges made very idea of an "official” ap­ fense of” — Stalin, Dimitrov, against certain individuals. The praisal of the political activity Vyshinsky and Yagoda. I pointed political conclusions from the of an individual or a party (Continued from page 5) every section of the country and, this out in the press at the time. verdict of the Commission w ill through the medium cf a com­ above all, of militancy in the Not a word came in reply from be drawn by each tendency in its mission of inquiry is so absurd class struggle. Every one of the Brockway. Several months own way. This made it all the that it properly belongs only on had, and may have still some 18 members was active in some elapsed. In his letter of May 28, more essential for every organi­ the pages of a provincial humor­ influence in the upper councils capacity in building the organ­ Brockway again came out against zation interested in bringing out ous magazine. Of course, Fenner of the Methodist youth move­ ization. They included union or­ the inquiry, but this time with a the truth to participate in the Brockway himself could not have m ent. ganizers, student leaders, profes­ completely different set of ar­ investigation. But the direct and failed to understand this. But he One of the new NEC members sional revolutionists. No fly- guments. But in essence he ¿till indirect agents and "friends” of attempted to make use of the is the leader of the Altman youth byrnight dilettantes. Every one •emains a member of the under­ the G.P.U. and the friends of gory Moscow amalgams in order group, Hyman Bookbinder. Bar- of them was young, though many cover “Committee for the De­ friends flatly refused to parti- to deal a blow at Bolshevism shop, who created a scandal in have years of self-sacrificing ex­ fense" of the falsifiers against pate. Some of them, in the spirit (“Trotskyism”) which he hates the League with his record mani­ perience behind them. Older their victims. o f Fenner Brockway’s first letter, so much; in addition he tided to pulations, was also put on the comrades, leaders in past activi­ There is no juridical or moral argued that it was impermissible cover up his factional’ struggle Committee. Report has it that ties, left the ranks of the youth ground whatever for the suspi­ to arouse any perjudice against with the cloak of an impartial when he was put in nomination, in order to augment the cadre of cion which Brockway, in the na­ Stalin and his Comintern; others, “investigation.” Specialists in many delegates booed. How much party militants. me qf the London Bureau, seeks j in the style of Fenner Brockway’s morals are notoriously fond of e f this was plain jest and how to cast over the inquiry. A ll that second letter, adjudged the com­ Ours was no apologetic, pussy­ fishing in troubled water.'. much honest peeve on the part of the American Committee did was mission not “ im partial" enough. footing tone. The Convention We, the "amoral” Bolsheviks, the few activists present, will to take the initiative. Further­ Both the former and the latter proceed differently. We openly meant a great deal to those dele­ likely never be know. Prominent more, the sum and substance of had ample justification for fear­ criticized Nin’s policies when be gates who had sacrificed so much •militants, who are known to be its initiative consisted precisely ing an investigation. The London was alive. We did not alter «ar to attend. They had come to lay le ft wing in sympathy, were com­ in this: To assure, in collaboration Bureau protected their rear. evaluation of him after he died. the foundations for a mass revo­ with other organizations, an But inasmuch as we never for pletely excluded from the NEC. lutionary youth organization. To reveal more vividly the un­ objective and a conscientious a moment doubted the integrity With a bold militancy they or­ worthy role played by this Bureau investigation through a special of this proletarian fighter, we And a Convention ganized a Young Peoples So­ we shall dwell on another, and International Commission, entire­ more recent case. The gangsters stand ready to do everything in Most of the delegates at the cialist League that, shaking off ly independent of the initiators. of the G.P.U. in Spain murdered our power to rehabilitate his League convention had met for the petty obstructionists like The composition of the Amer- j Andres Nin, the leader of the name and mercilessly brand' his two long days in left wing cau­ Clarity, w ill come to grips with ican Committee is not a homo- j P.O.U.M.. Nin was an opponent executioners. We declare in ad­ cus session. Yet they went the real enemies, the capitalist geneous one. There are individu -1 )f mine. Fenner Brookway, on vance to Fenner Broekway and als in it who understood from the | the contrary, considered Nin a all other specialists in morals through the convention with no class and its reformist agents. very outset the absurdity and | co-thinker. If the London Bureau that, not a single, one of o a r Blackening of spirit. An NEC Along this road lies the future vileness of the Moscow accusa-land other “impartial" Pontius friends and co-thinkers w ill at- was elected, representative of of the revolutionary YPSL! tions. Other members had no' Pilates had joined in an investi­ (Continned on page 8) 8 SOCIALIST APPEAL September 18, 1937

] of just representation means to TYLER-ALTMAN BLOC BUILT ON HOSTILITY FORGOTTEN ZAM-TYLER WORDS INDICT ¡prepare a party split. i “ Party democracy today means TO LENINISM THEIR OWN PRACTICES IN PARTY : the extension of the elements of ! party democracy to the Trot­ skyites and pacifists as well as revolutionary than that of the “ Repeated experiences of the comrades. To make such a criti­ “The manner in which the to all other comrades. The So­ Stalinists.” Tyler’s unprincipled working-class have proven that cism a ground for charges makes Trotskyites were separated from cialist Party has no second class factionalism has already carried party democracy is not just some all criticism impossible, for the the Socialist Party w ill soon be­ citizens. h im ..... to the formulations of phrase for the mouths of minori­ champion of an unpopular cause come an affair of academic in­ “Party democracy, in spirit as the Russian Mensheviks, although, ties in a party nor the product w ill always be accused of vil­ terest," says Gus Tyler’s unsign­ w e ll as fa c t, can only be pre­ none too informed, Tyler is pro­ of devotion to broadmindedness. lainy and lying and the majority ed editorial in the Call of Sep­ served while responsible and bably unaware that this is pre­ The absence of democracy and w ill sit itt judgment upon him. tember 11. W ith this cynical re­ leading party comrades foster a cisely the way in which the emi­ democratic procedures can only “ Party democracy means the mark, the ex-leftist Tyler at­ spirit of comradeliness, maintain gres characterize the Bolsheviks lead to the creation of a Comin­ right of comrades of like mind tempts to dismiss the country­ a policy of integration to all o f today. tern, a British Labor Party, an to organize to advance their wide indignation at the bureau­ party groups, and stamp out all As we have already said, Old Guard Socialist Party, and views in the party. Such groups cratic expulsions, and to lift the tendencies to provoke a split in Tyler’s new line is part of an in the final analysis to such or individuals have the right to controversy to a “ political” level. the party by the expulsion of international phenomenon, the practices as now mark the So­ issue printed matter and call His political justification for this group or that group which demoralized “re-evaluations" of viet trials. Party democracy is meetings, so long as such are the expulsion of the Trotskyites one comrade or another decides those unable to analyze the de­ a PRINCIPLE! conducted for party members was outlined by Tyler at the in unassimilable. The task of the feats of our epoch by Marxist “ P a rty democracy can n ot be o n ly. National Executive Committee leadership is to map a policy and principles. Next week we shall maintained unless persons or meeting. His bloc with Jack A lt­ carry through a line; if there be publish an analysis by Leon groups in the minority are per­ man was consummated by their Minority Rights any who are unassimilable, prac­ Trotsky, “ Stalinism and Bolshe­ mitted to speak their mind, even common argument against the tice w ill show.”—(From Socialist vism,” concerning the historical if it be foolishly, or tactlessly, Trotskyites. That argument was “Effective party democracy C la rity , M arch 1, 1937— “ A Pro­ and organizational roots of the within the party. Administrative given to the capitalist press by can only be maintained while gram—for Left Wing Unity”). the N.E.C. in the succinct state­ Fourth International. W ritten as action in the form of grievances significant minority groups in ment that the Trotskyites were an answer to some European and charges can not be brought the party are given representa­ “■communists” and therefore had Tylers, it is a definitive reply to against the comrades for political tion on leading and minor com­ APPEAL FRIENDS no place in a socialist movement. the American breed. characterization of their party mittees. To deprive any impor- SEND IN SUBS “When Leon Trotsky defends the acts perpetrated by the Bol­ “ What a pleasant and delight­ sheviks of his day,” said Jack ful surprise it was to find, upon Altman, 'he is defending that RIDING THE RODS . . . BY CARLO opening a package of paper, the very system which led to the Socialist Appeal. No words can degeneration of Russia today.... describe my feeling or the rise Trotsky may be a much better of my spirits when 1 beheld the representative of communism emblazoned heavy black type ¿urn Stalin, but we are social­ across the top page. Here was is ts ." something placed back in my hand after it had been torn away Something New from me by ruthless hands. It was like finding a long-lost child This “line” is rather novel for which had been given up as dead. Altman, who has never been As a member of the State Ex­ known to criticize the Stalinists ecutive Committee of the Social­ in public. It has, however, the ist Party of Indiana, 1 want to advantage for the Thomas-Alt- commend the Appeal Assn, on man-tTyler faction, at this mo­ the step taken in reviving the ment, of assuring the labor bu­ Socialist Appeal. We revolution­ reaucrats of the American Labor aries of the SEC of Indiana wel­ Party that they have nothing to come it with open arms and w ill fear from these La Guardia do all in our power to place it in Socialists. the hands of our state member­ At the N.E.C. meeting, Tyler ship, despite the edict issued re­ flatly declared: “Trotskyism, in cently by Burt, Thomas and Co. Common with Leninism, means under the title of the NEC." bureaucratism and terror when So w rite s H erbe rt S. Kim m el, in power.” This warmed-over part of whose letter we reprint precept of the Mensheviks and because he says more succinctly Social Revolutionaries is becom­ what scores of other comrades ing stylish again as a pretext are saying. And not only party for struggle against the princi­ members: ples of Bolshevism. “Enclosed is one dollar for Dutch Courage subscription. I wish to -tate that I am highly pleased with your Between the N.E.C. meeting first number. I hope that in suc­ and his editorial, however, some ceeding issues, there w ill be a of his Dutch courage oozed out full Marxian discussion of na­ ef Tyler. In the editorial there tional and world events," writes is no reference to Leninism. Now Robert Lee, Yonkers, N. Y. jt is: “'trotskyism and Stalinism, arch-enemies in program, are Brockway Aids Stalin nevertheless children born of one womb.” What was that womb, Fram e-U p according to Tyler? He is afraid (Continued from page 7) to articulate his thought publicly, tempt to use the investigation of for he still wants to pose as a Nin’s murder as a pretext to radical. But in spite of him the settle scores with Nin’s policies. meaning is clear. The source of To wage a struggle against op­ the evil to him is the Leninist portunism and centrism we have tra d itio n . no need to hide behind a “com­ If his courage evaporated on mission", created for a totally this score, Tyler summoned up different purpose. We leave such new nerve on another. U ntil now methods to the Tartuffes of ideal­ he has been complaining that, istic morality. We, gross mate­ though he is ready to grant the rialists, prefer to call a “nettle revolutionary character of the but a nettle and the faults of Trotskyites, they refuse to grant fools but folly". We deal blows him similar status. In the edi­ to our adversaries openly and in torial, however, he says: “The our own names. Trotsky program is less counter­ Coyoacan Sept. 5, 1937. Hear the Truth About The Sell Out of the Socialist Party to La Guardia

Greet the Newly Elected National Executive Committee of the Young Peoples Socialist League SPEAKERS JAMES P. CANNON MAX SHACHTMAN Chairm an ERNEST ERBER NATHAN GOULD National Chairman, YPSL E . R . M cK i n n e y National Organizer, YPSL Friday Evening, September 17, 8:15 P. M.

IRVING PLAZA Irvins Place and 15th Street