Wc propose that the regular 1940 session of the Congress of the United States shall enact emergency legislation to put into immediate effect the following: 1. Appropriation of $10,000,000,000 to provide, at once, jobs on housing and other public works projects for unemployed workers. 2. Amendment of the Wages and Hours Act to provide throughout private industry and public works a Socialist Appeal maximum work week of 30 hours and a minimum weekly pay of 30 dollars. 3. 30 dollar weekly old age and disability pensions. 4. Appropriation of $3,000,000,000 to guarantee either maintenance at school or jobs for all youth. Official Weekly Organ of the Socialist Workers Party, Section of the Fourth International

NEW YORK, N. Y., MARCH 9, 1940 Vol. IV, No. 10 FIVE (5) CEN' 14- STATE TEAMSTERS FIGHT BOSS FRAMEUP

______">! INTERSTATE Transit Men Denounce LaGuardia Union-Busting GROUP, TOBIN WARN THEY'LL B o m b a y W orkers Strike; Fight OMAHA JOBLESS Unemployed Increase 10p.c. MAP DEFENSE National unemployement rose 10.6 per cent in January. FIGHT BAN ON WIN OUSTER OF That terrible fact comes, not from radical or labor sources, Union Leaders Are Against War Gains In India but from the bosses’ own statistics—those released last week ------by the National Industrial Conference Board. Arrested In STRIKE RIGHT ADMINISTRATOR The Board estimates the unemployed in January at over hold in check the social forces of ten million. Sioux City T extile Operatives Again Take Lead In mass unemployment, hunger and But this accounts only for the plummet-like drop in pro­ unbelievable poverty. His latest Picket Six Weeks duction during January. The business Index kept falling all "Friend of Labor' Struggle; Masses Pressing Congress move is undoubtedly aimed at the way through February also. Eight weeks of uninterrupted The 14-state North Central Are stealing the thunder of his left- Against Vicious decline. Eight weeks of more workers tired and none hired. Committee of the Internations Announces His Leaders to Take Early Action wing opponents, but such tactics That means that, even by boss figures, the unemployed Brotherhood of Teamsters W« Fink Plan have the dangerous habit of Policies army stands at about ELEVEN MILLION. convened in a special meeting backfiring—that is, getting out of And the business index is still going down. with International President Da By SHERMAN STANLEY niel J. Tobin in Indianapolis, thli hand. That’s what has happened to those jobs that Roosevelt Again displaying theij- position as the vanguard of the Indian Gandhi well knows this. If he Friday, to fight back against thi After weeks of stalling the un­ OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 28—After promised us, in his Jan. 4 budget speech, as justification for people, 135,000 textile workers of Bombay have declared a general sees that a struggle is unavoid­ latest employers’ attempt ft ion with promises, Mayor La six solid weeks of day-and-night his slashing WPA and wiping out the PWA! strike, demanding a 25 per cent wage increase to make up for break a vital link in the team- Guardia has finally exposed his able at present, he will do all in picketing of the courthouse, or­ hand and openly announced his rising living costs since the beginning of the war. his power to limit it, isolate it tors’ movement. These workers represent about 90 per cent of Bombay’s textile ganized by the Federal Workers Intention of destroying the Trans­ and take advantage of the dis­ Section, the county board on The meeting was called aftei port Workers Union of New York. mills And come from 45 different mills. trust and demoralization that the arrest, last week, of Howard Meeting at Patna on March 1, the Executive Committee of the Tuesday fired E. F. Magaret, In a letter addressed jointly to has resulted from six months of county relief administrator no­ California Legislators Fouts, Ralph Johnson and Charles Michael J. Quill, International All-India Nationalist Congress has decided to prepare for the futile talks with the Viceroy. Cunningham, officers of Team­ launching of a civil disobedience campaign against British imper­ torious for his vicious starvation President of the Transport Work­ Above all, Gandhi will endea­ policies. sters Local 383 of Sioux City, ers Union and John J. Donnelly, ialism. In a strongly worded resolution, nationalist India has openly vor to prevent a mass, revolu­ Iowa, on the fantastic charge of The county board voted 3-2 to General Chairman of the Brother­ disassociated itself from British role and its war aims: tionary struggle in which the Slash Relief Funds “kidnapping and holding for ran­ oust the hated Magaret; even the hood of Locomotive Engineers, “Indian freedom cannot exist 17. Gandhi has thus deliberately peasants will begin to take rev­ som.” the Mayor stated that he would within the orbit of British Im­ olutionary measures by seizing two dissenters, the Omaha left the door wide open for a last World-Herald records, “protested Screaming extras, on the not honor the union contracts perialism, and dominion status minute acceptance of any offer and dividing up the land and the streets a few hours after the ar­ workers will begin to set up their only mildly against the dismis­ Cut Weekly Allowance to $2.60 For Next held by the union with the BMT or any other status within the that the British might make. rests, tried to scare Sioux City Idemocratic workers' control sal.” and IRT transit systems, that the imperial structure is wholly This was revealed by Maulana Twelve Weeks; 350,000 Affected unionists with a statement by the closed shop is to be done away inapplicable to India. . councils in the cities. Seeking a face-saving formula authorities that the union leaders Abdul Kalan Azad, newly-elected to cover up the fact that the with, that he will not recognize The preamble of the resolution But one thing is certain. The would not be released on bond president of the Congress and a pressure of the organized unem­ the union as spokesman and bar­ states that Great Britain is car conservative follower of Gandhi first open, mass revolt against LOS ANGELES—After appropriating $13,800,000 to because the maximum penalty for ployed forced Magaret’s dismis­ gaining agent for its 27,000 mem- rying on the war for imperialist who stated that, “even one min­ the World War and for peace is feed the unemployed till June 1, the California Legislature the offense was death by hanging. about to begin! sal, the board said the county bes working on the two systems purposes and that India cannot ute before the launching of any recessed for ten weeks. $13,800,000 divided among the present and, finally, that “the right to be a party to the war. It opposes Hindu-Moslem unity can now relief administrator was removed Aimed At 350,000 Drivers movement Gandhi would be pre­ because it was feared his contlnu strike against the government is the sending of Indian troops to pared to explore all avenues of be achieved on the battlefield average of 350,000 relief clients, gives each person an average These arrests were only P- ance in office would prevent the not and cannot be recognized.” parts of the British Empire for of common action and struggle. of $2.60 a week for the next twelve weeks! latest of a long series of attem,. peaceable settlement with the surplus commodity stamp plan In the December 30 issue of the war purposes. The Siesaluttoa British Viceroy.” The rallying cry of the Indian ed frameups, designed to smash from being introduced m Omaha. $2.60 a week for those lOcky enough to remain on the Socialist Appeal, we warned that concludes, "Nothing short of But the door seems to have people is, “Forward to Nation­ the Sioux City teamsters’ union The truth, of course, ik that the relief rolls! And absolutely nothing for those many thousands the demolition scheme of the La complete independence will be ac­ been shut by the firm refusal of al Freedom”, and “Long live and thereby break a link in the Federal Workers Section, backed Guardia administration to raze cepted by the Indians.” the British rulers to make the the democratically-elected Con­ who are denied all assistance. THIS IS SACRAMENTO’S powerful chain of recently-organ­ by the General Drivers Union and the Second and Ninth Avenue el­ slightest concession that would stituent Assembly!” ized teamsters in the 13-state Final Action Postponed the Central Labor Union, put so ANSWER TO CALIFORNIA’S HUNGRY! evated lines, which would throw satisfy the meagre demands of area. Overriding the opposition of much heat on the board that it The real meaning of this legislation has been quickly some 3,000 members of the union the Gandhi group. out into the streets, was nothing left-wing members of the Execu­ had to act as it did. In the successful teamsters' Masses Push Gandhi shown. Executive orders cut all relief checks 40%. Further struggle which culminated, in but a step in a carefully planned tive body, who demanded an im­ ANTI-LYNCH That labor pressure was in­ For six long months the Indian orders curtain county - spon- November, 1939, in the signing cam paign to destroy the union. mediate launching of the strug­ deed the reason for Magaret’s re­ workers and peasants have been Both Parties Guilty of a 13-state area agreement We stated at that time: “It is gle for freedom, Gandhi succeed­ moval is indicated by the fact sored works projects, elimi­ clamoring for leadership and ac­ But even keeping the unem­ creating uniform conditions, a plaih as a pikestaff that the great ed in postponing final action un­ that the commissioners immedi­ nate free lunches for under­ tion in the struggle against in­ BILL BACKED ployed quiet costs more than the closed shop and substantial wage ‘friend of Labor,’ La Guardia, in til the plenary session of the ately asked Jim Powell of the volvement in the war and for na­ nourished children, abolish job bosses are willing to pay. In increases for 350,000 over-the- collusion with the state officials Congress which is scheduled to FWS: “Now will you get that tional independence. For six Washington, Democrat Roosevelt road drivers, the Sioux City driv­ (Continued on Page 2) convene at Ramgarh on March picket line off?” placement services. These and months they have been told to IN ST. PAUL other measures merely trans­ himself takes the lead in slashing ers, were an important factor. be patient, to bide their time Is Only First Battle WPA to pay for the war machine. while Gandhi was fruitlessly ne­ late the lawmakers’ aims into In Sacramento, Democrats join 22-Week Strike ST. PAUL, Minn.—The St. Paul The ouster of Magaret is just gotiating with the British Vice­ concrete terms of human mis­ Republicans in an "economy bloc” Resisting the over-the-road Trades and Labor Assembly, cen­ the first step in the fight for de­ roy. Has the time for struggle to slash relief. Whether a relief area agreement, trucking com­ tral labor body, approved at its cent relief standards in this city. ery. come now ? So far as the 400,000,- cut is made by a Democrat or a panies in Sioux City and Omaha last meeting the following resolu­ Getting Magaret thrown out of Behind the Lines 000 masses are concerned the an­ The Assemblymen and Republican, the hunger that re­ locked out their men on Sept. 9, tion in support of the anti-lynch­ office is a great victory for the swer is yes! sults is identical. 1938. This strike, lasting over 22 By GEORGE STERN ing bill now before the Senate: FWS and for all organized labor State Senators claim that a A driving force behind their When workers are asked to de­ weeks, became famous in the an­ FRENCH EMPIRES IS A WHEREAS organized labor is inasmuch as it was achieved by recess is needed “to investi­ One of the factors making revolutionary spirit is the ris­ pend on a leader of the relief­ nals of the teamsters as the SOURCE OF CONSIDERABLE continualy faced with' the picketing in the face of Nebras­ for American intervention in ing prices of all foods: that is, gate the needs of the unem­ slashing Democrats to gain their “Omaha strike.” The unions won WORRY IN CERTAIN QUAR­ threat to move industries in­ ka’s infamous anti-picketing law, the war which has received hunger and increased starva­ demands for them, they are sur­ a general settlement on Feb. 8, TERS IN OFFICIAL WASH­ to the South where coolie which has been under relentless ployed.’’ As though the last least public notice is the effect tion. That is what the war has ten years of starvation have not rendering their fight to an enemy. 1939. B ut a m inority of the em ­ INGTON.” wages prevail, and attack by the General Drivers on American foreign trade of meant for them so far. provided ample evidence of the Even demonstrations are worse ployers in both Omaha and Sioux It is primarily to counteract WHEREAS systematic terror­ Union and by labor generally. the Anglo-French economic un­ needs of the unemployed! As than futile when used only to City refused to sign, and the this threat, the paper goes on to Left-Wingers Boo Gandhi ism has kept the workers of ion. The prestige of the FWS has though the report of the fact­ support Olson and his Party. strike was continued against intimate, that Secretary of State As their anger against the rule the South largely unorgan­ This union has been made in­ of the British has increased, so risen even higher since it has finding Richards Commission, ap­ Why Stalinists Praised Olson them. creasingly complete in the first Hull is carrying on his wide­ ized, and has their impatience with the Magaret’s scalp dangling in its pointed by the Governor, Is not Such was the recent demon­ six months of war through suc­ spread parleys with neutral coun­ WHEREAS lynching, an im­ belt. One third of the FWS mem­ Since then most of them have dilatory and treacherous tactics portant part of this terror­ available to every Legislator! A stration held in Sacramento by signed up. But a few companies cessive meetings and decisions of tries for the purpose of asserting bership is Negro. report that condemns even the the Workers’ Alliance. Praising American interests in world trade of Gandhi and Nehru. In a re­ ism, has served to drive a did not, and the strike is still the Allied Supreme Council and previous relief standards as giv­ Governor Olson for his “great under wartime conditions as well cent tour of Bengal Province— wedge between the colored “The Better Citizens" on against them—and effectively. trade and industrial representa­ ing “the family a mere subsist­ fight,” it served only to protect as under those of the distantly- center of left-wing nationalism and white workers and to The struck companies are being tives of both countries. Through Magaret’s reaction to his oust­ ence diet and wretched shelter." the - State Relief Administration envisaged peace. and stronghold of Subhas Chan­ prevent either from better­ variously subsidized not only by a series of agreements on cur­ er was typical: “It’s the board’s The lawmakers are not trying jobs of certain Stalinist leaders of The way in which wartime dra Bose, the leading left-wing ing their conditions, now the local chambers of commerce rency, tariffs, trade quotas, the privilege. The better citizens of to discover how much relief the the Alliance. trade conditions are affecting nationalist of the Congress— THEREFORE BE IT RE­ and boss associations, but also French and British Empires have Omaha know what I have been unemployed need—but how little Mass demonstrations, picket American interests have al­ Gandhi was booed at various SOLVED that we, the St. by other groups in the North been joined into what is almost a trying to do.” they will accept. They do not wish lines, and hunger marches are ready become evident in one meetings, perhaps for the first Paul Trades and Labor As­ Central Area. single economic unit, with Bri­ to find out how many are in need correct answers to starvation publicized example — British time in his long career. At one sembly, go on record as urg­ All during his public life Mag­ The important point is that tain, of course, the dominant par­ of relief — but how many more relief budgets. But they must abandonment of its tobacco railroad station he was met by ing the passage of the Anti- aret has drawn this distinction the Omaha and Sioux City lo­ ty- be directed against the Califor­ purchases in this country and demonstrators carrying black Lynching Bill in the U. S. between the “better citizens” and can be cut off, without arousing cals have had to fight many By the latest accord, signalized nia capitalists and ALL their its juggling of its take of flags—a symbolic rebuke of the Senate, not only on the basis the rest of the city. He has pub­ overwhelming protest. They have struggles, both directly against by decrees in London and Paris servants in the Legislature— American cotton in order to sharpest character in India. It is of protecting Constitutional licly admitted that he administer­ not recessed to measure the num­ the bosses and against the au­ on Feb. 28, all wartime restric­ Governor Olson included. better its position against Am­ to this anger that Gandhi has human rights, but also with ed relief in such a way as to ber of unemployed in their dis­ thorities who are hand-in-glove tions on trade between France Mass demonstrations of the erican rivals in South America. finally yielded—in part. the hope that it will give please the “better people.” tricts, but to gauge the strength with the bosses, to maintain and Britain and the French and unemployed, together with the Decrees signed on Feb. 28 In What Will Gandhi Do? some confidence and encour­ In the 1938 strike of the Gen­ and ability of the unemployed to the area agreement and thus British colonies were removed. fight against starvation. organized Labor movement, Goods will move between the two Paris establishing new controls How far is he prepared to go? agement to the Negro work­ eral Drivers Union Local 554, protect conditions throughout over French imports mean that That is difficult to judge at pres­ ers and help break down the Magaret played up to the "bet­ For only the fighting strength must demand that the Legisla­ the North Central Area. empires without formalities, li­ ture restore the 40% cuts: that in the future American exports ent. Although he is still the dom­ barriers that now stand in ter people” like A1 Gordon, des­ of the unemployed themselves Some of the hardest blows of censes, delays, or any of the red will determine how much will be it be called back into session tape that now attends so much of automobiles, radio equip­ inant leader of the nationalist the way of a widespread un­ pised owner of the fink Gordon the employers’ attack has been ment, movie films, business movement, he cannot endlessly ion movement in the South.” Van & Storage Company, by tell­ appropriated for relief. and kept there till it has re­ borne by the Sioux City local. of strangled international trade. It is true that Governor Olson scinded the $58 per month lim­ According to the Paris corres­ equipment, typewriters, etc., to ing relief applicants that if they Here, in this comparatively small France are going to bo virtual­ wanted any relief they liad bet­ and his supporters have asked for it on family budgets, removed city, located in a particularly pondent of the Wall Street Jour­ a larger appropriation—$18,000,- the three year residence re­ nal on Feb. 29, this system "ulti­ ly stopped. ter go scabbing on Local 554 by reactionary farmers’ area, the While this is going on, of working at the Gordon Company. 000 instead of $13,800,000: about quirements, and appropriated bosses hoped to find a weak link mately may embrace certain Bri­ Help Our Polish Comrades $3.50 a week instead of $2.60. B ut enough money to supply ade­ tish Dominions.” The purpose, as course, Anglo-French imports of Gordon is Magaret’s brother-in- in the armor of the teamsters' Several weeks ago the Socialist Appeal published a letter he is merely more sensitive to the quate relief to every person in described by this source, will be other lines from the U.S. will iaw. movement. detailing the desperate plight of our Polish comrades persecuted pressure of the workers since he need. “that the two empires will be mount—aircraft, copper, steel, The fight for decent relief stan­ by both Nazis and Stalinists. Their escape to Y------has been leaned so heavily on Labor’s vote Against this united front of Series of Police Frameups welded still further into one eco­ etc.—but the shift is certain to dards will be intensified in Oma­ at the last election. Democrats and Republicans nomic unit and that trade be­ cause a serious convulsion in little short of a miracle. ha, FWS leaders stated today. The bosses’ attacks have in the To avert the danger of inde­ against the unemployed, the tween the two will grow at the American industry unless the The response to the printed letter was most heartening. How­ last year taken principally the executive committee of Big Busi­ ever, several weeks have passed and it is now' necessary to make pendent action by the unem workers must present their own form of police frameups against expense of business outside.” ployed, the governor calls on party—a Labor Party. This is the real nub of the ness — the W ashington govern­ a further appeal. Enough money for only immediate needs was the officers of the union. them to leave the fight for ade­ All trade unions, old age organ­ matter, this "business outside” ment—soon puts a brake on Ang­ cabled to these heroic survivors. In order that life may be sus­ Last winter Howard Foute and quate relief in his hands, to dem­ izations, unemployed groups, —for this means mainly Amer­ lo-French presumptions. tained, it is necessary to send another substantial sum. Copies ? Have You Seen ? Ralph Johnson, Local 383 officers, onstrate only in his support, and workers, and farmers must unite ican business. And this is going to lead of the original letter have been printed with stamps of various were arrested on a charge of against those whom he points in forming such a party, elect la­ In another dispatch from straight to U.S. intervention in denominations attached to them. We feel sure that our friends the Special damaging a truck during the out as the "real enemy." Then, bor men to office, and oppose both Washington on the same day, the war . . . together with Bri­ will have no difficulty in the distribution and sale of these over-the-road strike, extradited with the unemployed safely cor­ the Democrats and Republicans the Wall Street Journal blunt­ tain and France against Ger­ stamps. Introductory and tried in a Sioux Falls, South ralled under his leadership, • he and the capitalists behind them. ly declared that “INCREAS­ many and Russia, but ALSO SHOW YOUR SOLIDARITY with the cause of labor by im­ Dakota court. A hand-picked Subscription Offer dickers with the bankers for an They must unite on the basis of ING EVIDENCES OF THE against Britain and France on mediately sending in your request for the letters. anti-labor jury, composed of THERE MUST BE NO DELAY! Life hangs upon your appropriation that will keep the their own program; a labor pro­ DEVELOPMENT OF A the economic warfronts where small businessmen and wealthy on Page 2 unemployed quiet, and yet avoid gram for labor’s own interests CLOSED ECONOMY EM­ the real fight for domination of prompt action. Send your requests to American Labor Aid, 125 farmers, convicted them and they any further taxes on the wealthy. against the bosses. BRACING THE BRITISH AND the world goes on. West 33rd Street, New York, N. Y. (Continued on Page 2) SOCIALIST APPEAL MARCH 9, 1940 Stalinists In The C.I.O. - A History Of Transport Workers Union-W recking And Corruption Denounce LaGuardia (Continued from Page 1) “We began to suspect what By E. R. FRANK the signing of wretched contracts, the CIO movement. The unsus­ and the Wall Street bankers, is is now made clear by your let­ pecting, inexperienced union mili­ making outrageous deals with the driving through an anti-union ter—that it-was your intention The financial difficulties—to matter is your first revolutionary Prior to the signing of the Stalin-Hitler pact, the Stalin- tan ts of 1934 and 1935 had under­ employers, belly-crawling before program designed to eventually all along to reduce the. transit use a mild word—of the Socialist duty! gone a profound transformation. :s constituted a major force in the American trade union any two by four politician or pub­ destroy the Transport Workers workers of this city to individ­ Appeal are due directly to the City Debt The new officials of the new un­ lic official, and a disloyal, ruthless Union." The prophecy has been ual helplessness by d«»troying failure of branches to meet bun­ Los Angeles...... $2.03 ovement. Posing as the best union fighters, the true cliam- ions had become more cautious suppression of all opposition. The fulfilled even sooner than anyone the Transport Workers Union, dle order payments. The figures San P edro...... 2.70 ons of honesty, militancy and democracy in the labor move- and more conservative both un­ Stalinists left in their wake a expected. the labor organization that they published below are only a pale San Diego ...... 3.87 der the pressure of capitalist pub­ fiirt, supported by a well-organized national apparatus, a trail of wrecked unions, honest had finally built after thirty •eflection of the Appeal’s troubles. Berkeley ...... 6.35 lic opinion and because of their Long-Planned Scheme :rong press, with huge funds at their disposal, the Stalinists union militants corrupted into years of pitiless persecution and In simple terms, these figures P a s a d e n a ...... 3.75 lack of class consciousness and cynical officials and thousands of The whole history of the “uni­ unceasing effort.” show the following: Fresno ...... 1.50 tught the rising CIO movement of young unsuspecting work- working class philosophy. disillusioned, disoriented rank and fication” deal reveals, clear as O a k la n d ...... 17.65 The union movement represent­ “How differently you treated 1. On March 1st, the branches rs completely unawares and easily wormed their way into file workers. day, that Hizzoner, the great San Francisco .... 29.00 ed to these officials, however, the Morgans and Rockefellers! owed the Appeal in unpaid bills Dntrol of numerous unions. WAVE OF REVOLT “friend of Labor” is a party to a Denver ...... 1.75 their life’s career. They became You did hot seem to be able to for bundles of $588.44. You will AGAINST THE STALINISTS deliberate conspiracy of the bank­ H a r tf o r d ...... 40 Once in the saddle, they showed the American labor bu- therefore extremely suspicious of give them enough of your time receive bills in your next mail. The Stalinists were driven to ers and tycoons of Wall Street to New H a v e n ...... 5.85 and antagonistic to the Stalinists and the people’s money,” Quill jaucrats how to really orga- f'bor movement and helped destroy be more cautious and diplomatic completely destroy the union of 2. M ost of the branches are W ashington, D, C. 5.99 who viewed the unions merely as continued. iize an autocratic, reaction- I its fighting power. in the last period just preceding the transport workers of New two, throe and more months be­ Chicago ...... 31.04 a pawn and tool to realize the The Roosevelt government, in the signing of the Stalin-Hitler York. hind in payments. Some of them Streator, 111...... 2.85 ry and corrupt machine, “Line” of the Stalinist Party. The The union letter implies that a this period, was on passively Pact, as great rank and file move­ are so far behind that even the E. Chicago, Ind... .70 "'hey signed agreements that union officials kneiw one thing for A year ago, the City of New strike will be called in all of the friendly terms with the Soviet ments sprang up in union after word disgraceful fails to apply. Evansville, Ind___ 10.26 sure: that their importance and York took title to the Sixth Ave­ subway lines, unless the Mayor iisgrac-ed the labor movement. Union. And since the American union, challenging their autocrat­ A reputable business house would South B e n d ...... 4.00 prestige, as well as their salaries, nue elevated line of the Manhat­ confers immediately with the un­ Stalinists were laboring with ic rule and exposing the union­ have cut them off long ago. Hutchinson, Kan....1.15 Fhey blandly united with rac­ wrecking activities of the Stalin­ depended upon a strong, virile tan Railway Company. The road ion officials and recognizes the might and main to line up the 3. We are behind In printing W hitew ater, K an .. 1.32 keteers, gangsters and any re- ist gang. union and they were interested in was closed on December 5, 1938 contracts which the union holds trade unions behind his war ma­ bills more than $300. This may Baltim ore (c) ...... 7.85 In 1939, this rank and file re­ preserving that. and the next day six hundred em­ at the present time with the tetionary forces in the unions, chine, Roosevelt displayed an at­ not seem like a large amount to Boston ...... 16.25 volt gained strength and swept Even more hostile to Stalinism ployees were thrown out ilito the transport companies. n order to gain control. They titude of toleration towards the you but to us here it means a Fitchburg, M ass... 2.60 through both CIO and AFL un­ were the rank and file leaders streets without a job. La Guardia Communist Party and its activi­ Austin Hogan, recently re­ threat of cessation of publication Gardner, Mass...... 6.64 systematically hounded, slan­ ions—in the Pocket Book mak­ who were arising in different lo­ promised them all jobs, but these ties. Many of the lesser New Deal elected President of Local 100 of each week. It seems breaking our L y n n ...... 7.05 ers, the Maritime unions on both calities, veterans of the strike six hundred workers were never dered and |>ersecuted all gen­ officials actually became outright the Transport Workers Union, back attempting to pay loans we W orcester ...... 1.17 the coasts and the Gulf, the struggles of the CIO, hardened returned to work. uine militants and progres­ supporters or fellow-travellers stated that the union did not in­ cannot possibly find the money W orcester ...... 1.90 Teachers Union, the West Coast and toughened by their experi­ of the Stalinist movement. Several months ago, the La tend to remain passive while to pay with. It means that our C am b rid g e...... 3.75 sives who dared to revolt Office W orkers, the secesssion of ences. They had learned the hard The Stalinists had the addition­ Guardia administration concluded their union rights were “taken reduced staff is placed on meager, F l i n t ...... 32.15 against these high-handed important unions from the Los way the meaning of Stalinism al support of John L. Lewis and its infamous unificatiori deal with away by some bankers’ puppet.” reduced rations. It means above Crystal, Mich.... 12.45 Angeles CIO Council, the New and the fact that it was the most practices. were in an official bloc with the the bankers. Immediately, in or­ all, constant danger of suspension D etroit ...... 18.45 York Painters and Food Work­ reactionary force in the American How different, this sounds It was the “Peoples Front” pe­ latter throughout this “People’s der to raise all available cash to of the Appeal. If the branches Ann Arbor, Mich.. 13.40 ers. This imposing rank and file labor movement. They were de­ from the-speeches of TWU offi­ riod of Stalinism. In this scheme, Front” period. Why did Lewis speed the “unification” along, paid up in full we might com­ St. Paul ...... 67.50 revolt against the Stalinist ma­ termined to destroy the Stalinist cials two years and even one the unions constituted the most make a bloc with the very people they pushed proposals for the de­ pletely liquidate our printing bill (inch 3000 sp. ed. for Mar. 12) important battle grounds. The la­ against whom he had waged a chine was climaxed by the titan­ cancer, in order that the labor year ago. So ends the honey­ Minneapolis...... 28.00 movement might advance and molition of the Second and Ninth moon with the Little White and have enough to carry us bor movement, suspecting noth­ bitter struggle in the miners un­ ic struggle in the Auto Workers St. Louis ...... 3.51 Avenue elevated lines, in order to Flower, New York edition of through the difficult month of ing, was to find itself, according ion ? It was not Lewis who had Union. grow. U niv'is’y City, Mo. 5.75 (A second article on the raise eleven million dollars in the “great friend of labor.” this pre-convention period. to the Stalinist plan, one fine day, changed his basic philosophy! The By 1939 the American trade Kansas City, Mo... 3.75 Stalinists in the CIO will ap­ cash from the increased assess­ Once again it is proven right 4. If! ! — There can be no lined up to a man behind the Communist Party, during the unions presented a far different Laconia, N.H ...... 1.20 ments on the adjoining propei'ties. down to the bottom that labor Roosevelt war machine and hell­ "People’s Front” period cynical­ picture than at the beginning of pear next week.) question of it. The branches must N ew ark ...... 0.00 This demolition program will put will always be double crossed bent on shoving through a “col­ ly dumped overboard all talk) make immediate payments. There Paterson ...... 3.95 out into the streets an additional and betrayed by all of its is no other way out. The paper lective security” war alliance of and pretense of working for so­ New B r’nsw ’k, N.J. 4.02 three thousand unionists for “friends.” Labor can only rely cannot be printed on sentiment. America, England, France and cialism or militant union policies. whom the city is not making any Ithaca, N. Y...... 3.25 on its own strength, its own How? If the bill is small, Russia, against the “bad, war­ If began to drape the Stars andj provision. R o c h e ste r...... 8.55 making fascists.” Stripes around itself and bellowed WORKERS' FORUM organizations, its own political your branch must take up an Jam aica, L. 1...... 1.95 party. WERE ROOSEVELT'S MOST more patriotically than £ven the i On March 4. union president immediate collection to liqui­ Gloversville. N.Y. (c)0.43 SERVILE AGENTS IN UNIONS Daughters of the American Revo-1 Quill answered the letter of La date it in its entirety. If the Fargo, N.D. ( c ) ------1.60 W in DID LEWIS SPLIT from our rather incomplete char- The TWU is holding mass bill is large, we have the fol­ To push through this infamous iution. Guardia and called attention to meetings throughout the city of T o le d o ...... 20.65 scheme, the Stalinists converted WITH ROOSEVELT? i acterization of the C.T.O. bureau­ the shameless run-around which lowing suggestion to make Akron ...... 32.20 LEWIS WAS SURE cracy. We have always pictuxed its membership to present the themselves into the most servile, Editor: the union had l'eceived from La which Newark has carried out C o lu m b u s...... 17.70 HE COULD BREAK THEM I spent a good deal of time re­ Lewis as a bureaucrat who goes situation to the membership con­ this week: take out a loan for belly - crawling supporters of Guardia. cerning the serious crisis of the Hudson, 0 ...... 6.35 Roosevelt’s New Deal, picturing Lewis and his lieutenants, viewing the Appeal’s discussion to the politicians and auctions off the entire amount and then pay Cleveland ...... 25.65 The Run-Around union. “The scandalous conduct it as an almost suitable substitute drunk with victory as a result of of the Lewis-Roosevelt split, and the labor vote. By that I mean it off from month to month Youngstown ...... 66.63 the first brilliant successes in rub­ after careful consideration, I that he offered the support of la­ of Mayor La Guardia and other either through a pledge fund for socialism itself. They hounded “Ever since the sum m er of 1938 administration officials in connec­ Portland, Ore...... 3.15 and slandered any worker who ber, auto, steel, maritime and oth­ have come to the conclusion that bor to the one who promised the we have repeatedly besought you or a monthly collection in the Q uakertown, Pa. . 2.70 er industries, thought they could there is something faulty in the greatest number of favoi's in re- tion with unification will be ex­ branch and among sympathi­ had the temerity to question this to confer with us," Quill wx-otc, posed,” Austin Hogan announced. Phila. YPSL ...... 14.85 dishonest, reactionary policy. work with everybody, use every­ Appeal’s analysis of this event. turn. At other times, we have “with a view to the formulation zers. We know there are ex­ P hila...... 15.40 body and outsmart everybody. E. R. Frank’s article in the pictured Lewis as one who uses tenuating circumstances. But Thus, this crew of union wreck­ of a plan which would, after uni­ Many Unions To Meet Allentown, Pa. ... 5.85 ers, posing as the left wing of the The Stalinists had a machine, a Februai-y 3 issue refers to the the labor vote as political black­ fication, I'ecognize the right of the printer won’t take these Reading, Pa ...... 5.66 anions, sidetracked the whole la- national press, experienced jour­ Lewis-Roosevelt split as a reflec­ mail; that is, he threatens to op­ transit employees to oi'ganizc In addition, a meeting of repre­ instead of cash. Besides the New Castle, P a.. .. 5.33 nalists, speakers and organizers. tion of mass feeling. Other ar­ pose some politician who refuses sentatives of all New York un­ payments are small enough ----- ~ 3 1 and bai’gain collectively in re­ Houston, Tex...... 0.30 In return for the services of this ticles in the Appeal are written to come across. In any case, we spect to their wages, hours and ions, AFL, CIO and independent, each month to make this plan Madison, Wigc...... 8.50 March Issue of machine, Lewis made the alliance, in the same tone, and from all have always presented Lewis as working conditions through a has been failed for Thursday eve­ entirely feasible. handing over to the Stalinists the indications, this appears to be the the active and aggressive element bona fide union of their own ning at the Hotel Capitol, to con­ The fate of tile Appeal is di­ Total ...... $588,44 " New International" maritime unions, the whole west in the pre-election deals. sider action of the whole labor The March issue of the New official party view on the split. choosing. rectly up to you. Action on this (c )—Credit coast CIO movement, the radio movement to answer the brazen International will be off the press However, neither Frank nor But there is something else in­ workers, the agricultural work­ anyone else has presented any volved. These CIO bureaucrats union-busting challenge of the soon. ers, the white collar unions, etc. mayor. It will feature a symposium concrete evidence in support of are also interested in the ques­ support him, he is undoubtedly He was positive that he could al­ Teamsters Map Fight on the “Russian Question.” his conclusion. Mass feeling is tion, “Who. is going to win the speaking of the support that ways get rid of the Stalinists, if All of these steps are excellent Vital articles by Leon Trotsky not something which we discover election?" They do not believe in Roosevelt would presumably get he so desired. as preparatory steps to organiz­ and by the Minority of the Poli­ by instinct; it is a thing which betting on losing hoises, for their from such groups of organized ing the fight ahead. It is however, tical Committe of the Socialist The period from 1936 to 1939 j soon expresses itself in outward greatest fear is the possible de­ woikers as steel, auto, coal. absolutely necessary to have a Against Boss Attack Workers Party, forming the most was the hey-day of Stalinist ru!e|| signs. If there were opposition to feat of their candidate. In many But to win, Roosevelt would bold, courageous fighting policy important section of the pre-con- and marks a fever chart in the I Roosevelt from below, local un­ cases they have supported their have to get the votes of the ten that realizes that the Mayor and (Continued from P age 1) ■vention discussion in the S.W.P. history of the unions which the ions, and even state organizations outspoken enemies, rather than million unemployed, the AFL that if the union officials were the whole city administration, were sentenced to four years in will be published in the March Stalinists controlled. Determined)' would have passed resolutions to to take a- chance on a sure loser building ti'ades (now being pros­ released. South Dakota penal of­ like any capitalist politicians, are the South Dakota penitentiary. Issue. to line up the unions behind their | that effect. Rank-and-file leaders (and a third party movement to ecuted by the Department of lined up, to a man, with the bank­ ficers were waiting to take them The conviction was appealed to to the penitentiary. Every revolutionary worker, ’collective security” program re­ | would have spoken out this op- them is always a sure loser). Justice), the workers (including ers and the industrialists of this the state Supreme Court. Pressure to prevent bondsmen every sympathizer of the revolu­ gardless of cost, feeling no ro3- ! position long befoie Lewis would Such w as the case -when they the big strata of white-collar city, and are determined to smash G-Men Help Bosses from dealing with these union tionary movement, every radical p'mibility for the unions, cynic­ take such a bold step. But the supported Kelly in Chicago, and workers), who didn’t get organ­ one of the most strategic unions Earle in Pennsylvania. Similarly, Then the F.B.I. came to the aid cases and sudden cancellations of interested in the latest develop­ ally indifferent to the real needs i Appeal ref ex's to no such inci- ized and who therefore have no of New York, the Transport and desires of the union member­ | dents; it merely takes them for it is Lewis’s fear that Roosevelt illusions about Roosevelt’s labor of the bosses. Spending fifteen bonds iiave been only one among ments in the Soviet Union and Workers Union. months, plenty of money and a the war crisis will be eager to ship, the Stalinists pursued a de­ I granted. might lose in another election legislation, the millions in their many incidental ways and means liberate policy of "rule or ruin.” My own observations among I which brought about the break. early twenties who came of age This challenge of the bosses score of federal agents on the by which the union has been ham­ purchase and read a copy of the job, they rigged up a case in the In those unions that would not fellow workers seem to confirm Of course, this is not the only in a jobless world, etc. and their agents can be met pered in its fight against these New International. federal courts against eight union bend to their will, as in the Sail­ my criticism of the Appeal. The cause, but it is the dominant one. in one way and one way only: fram eups. Order your extra copies in ad­ What is the sentiment towai'd officials of the teamsters’ locals ors Union of the Pacific, the Auto | workers in this area are still for In this sense, Lewis’s political a firm demand that the union Many Bosses Involved vance. Roosevelt among these workers? in Sioux City, Des Moines and Send in your order together Union, etc., they engaged in bit­ j Roosevelt. To them he is still the approach is vei-y much like S tal­ contract be recognized at a cer­ Trucking companies are not ter, irresponsible factional wars in's foreign policy. If they are hostile to Roosevelt, tain date OR THE CALLING Omaha, including Fouts and ! the only group behind this union- with payment to: j one president "who has done he cannot win. What, then, is the that threatened the-very life of May I suggest that the vai'ious OF A STRIKE ON ALL LINES Johnson and another Sioux City | busting campaign. The Union THE NEW INTERNATIONAL more for labor than any other difference between saying that teamsters' union leader, Jack the unions. Where they seized man”. They want to sec Roose­ proletarian sections of our party O F T H E CITY - OWNED Pacific and Northwestern rail­ 116 U niversity Place Lewis, in breaking w ith Roose­ Maloney. control, their rule was marked by be consulted on the question of TRANSPORTATION SYS­ roads are vitally interested in New York, N. Y. velt run for a third term, and velt, x'csponds to mass feeling—- The unionists were arrested in the Lewis-Roosevelt split. Whe­ TEM. The membership of the preventing the spread of union­ they are confident that if he runs of this major section of the work­ September, 1939—charged with ther or not the Appeal’s analysis TWU must put across this de­ ization in the area. The Sioux he will win. Among the more mil­ ers—or that Lewis breaks with damaging a truck in a bakery is correct we must determine mand in the meetings of the City Businessmen’s Association itant workers, this feeling is al­ Roosevelt for fear that Roosevelt strike eighteen months before! soon. “The truth at all costs!” union. is financing an “independent most unanimous. will not get ie-elected? We in­ The truck was supposed to have A Unique Let’s start digging for the truth union” drive. The big packing­ Speaks of Steel Workers vite Comrade Mills to write fur­ It is then up to the TWU lead­ been just over the Iowa-Minne- house companies are also inter­ Of course, it may be that we now. ther to clarify the importance of ership to call upon the whole la­ sota state line, providing the pre­ Fraternally, ested. For unionization of the are situated in an area which the distinction that he makes. bor movement of this city, com­ text for intervention of the F.B.I. Socialist Appeal Manny Mills teamsters has meant here, as in economically has fared better posed as it is of more than a mil­ and taking the case into a federal Minneapolis after 1934, the in­ East Chicago, Ind. Comrade Mills is right in em­ than othex- sections of the coun- lion union men and women, to court, where a jury could be spiration of unionism in every * * * phasizing the importance of our Subscription Offer try. However, for the past five back the TWU in its great fight hand-picked from outside the in­ field. knowing just what is the atti­ years, I have found the sentiment Comrade Mills is referring to against New York City’s New dustrial towns. The eight union Fortunately, the teamsters’ lo­ tude of the various sections of (for the month of March only) among workers in this area to be the sentiment of the organized Strike Breaker No. 1, Mayor La officers were sentenced to two cals throughout the 13-state area no different from that of the ma­ steel workers of the mid-West the working class toward Roose­ Guardia. years each in a federal peniten­ velt. We urge our comrades and understand the great role of the To introduce the Socialist Appeal to jority of the American workers. steel area. When he speaks of tiary. Sioux City drivers in bearing the It seems to me that the faulty Lewis's fear that Roosevelt might readers to write letters to the The Latest Fraineup Workei's’ Forum on this ques­ brunt of this attack. They under­ analysis of the Appeal flows lose even though the workers Now comes this latest arrest 4 friends for 6 weeks each tion.—Editor. stand that what is involved is Join the Socialist of Fouts, Johnson and Cunning­ the safeguarding of the union ham, the talk of death by hang­ conditions of the Area Agree­ PIN A ONE DOLLAR BILL TO THE COUPON BELOW Workers Party ing, refusal of bond, etc. Imme­ SAVE SATURDAY Night, March ment. That is why the North and four copit's of the APPEAL plus four wrappers diately upon their arrest, the Central Area Committee has already stamped will be mailed to your home for 16th. A party with a new twist bonds for Johnson and Fouts in — entertainment, hamburgers, peedily met with President Tobin the next six weeks. 1111111111111111111111111111111111111 .iiiiiiiiiiiianiiiiiiiiii: the South Dakota case was can­ beer, dancing, folk dancing, this week to organize the defense TWO NEW PAMPHLETS celled, giving the newspapers of Johnson, Fouts and Cunning­ All you have to do is 1: write a friend’s name gam es . . .all for 25c. 916 9th TWO EXCELLENT another angle—they announced ham. and address on the stamped end of each wrap­ LABOR AND THE SECOND WORLD WAR, Avenue, Harlem Branch. per; 2: roll a copy of the APPEAL in each by J. R. Johnson . . 5c BOOKS wrapper, seal and drop into the nearest mailbox. TEACHERS AND THE W A R ...... 5c to add to your library for less than the In bundles, up to 50 . . 3c COMRADE wanted to share an You can in this way introduce the APPEAL to PRICE OF ONE ! DOWNTOWN LABOR CENTER the same four persons each week or to four different 51 or m o r e ...... apartment; all improvements, 51 E a st 7th Street, New York, N. Y. furnished. Call Sunday till 12 persons each week. Anti-Duehring COMBINATION OFFER noon. 244 E. 13th St., Apt. 27, by ENGELS presents FILL THIS COUPON OUT NOW ! FASCISM and BIG BUSINESS, by Guerin (sale price) .75 N.Y.C., N.Y. (regularly $2.00) AN ANALYSIS OF THE WORLD REVOLUTION, American City The Socialist Appeal by C. L. R. James (sale price) ...... 1.50 by C. W. W ALKER "SOVIET-FINNISH WAR" 116 University Place CASE OF LEON TROTSKY, (originally $2.50) on New York, N. Y. Report of Dewey Commission (sale price) . . . .25 LIVING THOUGHTS OF MARX, No Better Way to Top BOTH FOR $1.98 Sunday Evenings at Eight I want to take advantage of this unique offer Introduction by T rotsky ...... 90 (plus postage) March 10—FINLAND—An Independent Nation? to introduce the Socialist Appeal to at least four the W eek! WHILE THEY LAST ! new readers for the next six weeks. I attach a all for $2.50 Speaker—Felix Morrow Let yourself go—to the Bronx Order Your Copies NOW ! March 17—IS THE SOVIET UNION A WORKERS’ STATE? One Dollar Bill. Rush my special subscription! TROTSKY’S SPEECH in English Branch Social. This Saturday, recorded on two discs (the s e t ) ...... $6.00 Speaker—E. R. Frank March 9th. Swell Music, dancing, Labor and political books are March 24—THE NATURE OF THE “SOVIET-FINNISH N a m e ...... Amount $ ...... Together with above offer . . . $7.50 entertainment, ping pong, Conga now available in our WAR.” Speaker—John G. Wright instruction, politics, games, etc. Rental Library. • A d d re s s ...... 1384 W ILKINS AVENUE QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION AFTER EACH LECTURE PIONEER PUBLISHERS (Freeman St., on I.R.T.) Modern Bookshop C i t y ...... S t a t e ...... 116 UNIVERSITY PLACE NEW YORK, N. Y. HE—25c SHE— 15c 27 UNIVERSITY PL., N. Y. C. Tickets for Series—25c, Single Admissions—10c iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaiiiiiiiiaiiiiiiH iiiiM SOCIALIST APPEAL MARCH 9, 1940 3 ■ ON THE WAR IN FINLAND Nazi Comment The Why We Should Defend the Soviet Union Negro Question On Moscow's By ALBERT GOLDMAN surplus capital and sell their ognize the difference between the blow to imperialism. By means Far-sighted leaders of the cap­ By J. R. JOHNSON V products. economy existing in the Soviet of the foreign trade monopoly italist class understand just as The war being waged between If and when the United States Union and that of the capitalist the Russian workers erected a well as Marxists that, in the last The Republican Party has issued a statement New Attitude France and England on the one enters into the war it will be an countries and still use the term wall to prevent the economic pen­ analysis, the Soviet Union with on its policy for the election in 1940. I t is not too hand and Germany on the other imperialist war on its part no "imperialist” to describe Stalin’s etration of the Soviet Union by its nationalized property and its By OSCAR FISCHER early for the Negroes to begin a careful con­ is an imperialist war. A great matter how many times Roose­ policies. They even attempt to the forces of imperialism. One- planned economy must be de­ sideration of the programs and candidates at the The Frankfurter Zeitung, mouthpiece of the many people make that assertion velt will assert that it is a war justify the use of the term by sixth of the earth’s surface was stroyed or else the whole capital­ chemical and export industries, published on coming election. without, however, understanding to save the world from fascism. stating that the aim of Stalin is thereby closed to the imperialist ist world is in danger. Although to increase the “revenue, prestige world which was unable freely to December 24, 1939, an extensive report from its The Republican party for years masqueraded as the real meaning of the term The United States, being an im­ Stalin’s policies have been of tre­ and power” of the bureaucracy. sell its products or invest its cap­ Moscow correspondent in the form of an annual the friend of the Negro. To quote Frederick “imperialist”. There are many perialist nation, cannot wage a mendous help to the imperialists, This is undoubtedly true; but it ital in the Soviet Union — the nevertheless, it is hardly possible balance sheet. The report bears the significant Douglas' famous words. "The Republican Party who dump the Soviet Union into war that is not imperialist in can be pointed out to these peo­ greatest blow imperialism has for the imperialists to permit heading: “The Year of the Great Turn". It mir­ is the deck and all else is the sea.” People have the class of imperialist countries character. ple that the aim of every bureau­ ever received. one-sixth of the world’s surface rors faithfully the raised hopes which a Fascist claimed that the adherence of the Negro to this and to prove this they point to journalist today experiences in Moscow: the invasion of Poland and Fin­ LENIN’S DEFINITION cracy, including that of the trade It has been the policy of rev­ to be excluded from their clutch­ particular position for so many years is proof of "German observers have been undergoing an land. The net result of applying OF IMPERIALISM unions is to gain “revenue, pres­ olutionary Marxists to defend es and to be dominated by a dif­ the Negro’s backwardness, stupidity, and inepti­ incomparable year in Moscow, reporting and de­ the term "imperialist” to the So­ Marxists have insisted on a tige and power”. That, however, colonial and semi-colonial coun­ ferent form of economy. By and tude for politics. It was nothing of the kind. Here scribing things from intimate proximity. The viet Union is to give the work­ very strict use of the term “im­ is hardly sufficient to transform tries, regardless of the reaction­ large the alternative has been again the Negro has been vilely slandered. narrow circle of Moscow Germans suddenly dis­ ers the idea that it is folly to de­ perialism”; especially since Len­ the trade union bureaucrats into ary character of their govern­ and, so long as nationalized prop­ covered itself in the very midst of historic events. fend the Soviet Union against im­ in wrote his pamphlet on imper­ imperialists, unless one wants to ment, against attack by imper­ erty continues to exist in the So­ Why Negroes Backed Republicans perialist countries because it too ialism, in which he severely con­ use the term in such a broad ialist countries. When Italy at­ viet Union, will continue to be: A breath-taking political development took place under the very eyes of the spectators. . . . Their After the Civil War, the Negroes, contrary to is an imperialist country. demned everyone who did not use sense as to make it meaningless. tacked Ethiopia we defended either the destruction of the So­ the general belief, flocked to the polls and lived When we say that Germany, the term "imperialism” to char­ In effect, they who shout about Ethiopia even though its ruler, viet Union or the destruction of aides and friends unexpectedly assumed the roles of fighters for new conceptions. They arose from an intense political life. Naturally they supported England and France are fighting acterize-the latest stage in the the imperialism of Stalin, whe­ Haile Selassie, was a slave driv­ the capitalist world. the Republican Party. The Republican party was an imperialist war we mean development of capitalist nations. ther they do or do not recognize er of the worst type. We defend This does not mean that the ri­ their desks and engaged in conversation with the the party of Lincoln; in it were revolutionary rad­ something more than that the It should b used only to apply any distinction between the econ­ China against Japan even though valries and conflicts between the leading men of the Soviet state. They initiated an icals like Thaddeus Stevens and Sumner who agi­ to the expansionist policy of omy in the Soviet Union and the imperialist countries cease to ex­ unterrupted, highly significant exchange of people who happen to be at the Chiang-Kai-shek has butchered ideas. . . . tated for expropriation of the Southern landlords head of the government of those finance capitalism. economy in capitalist countries, tens of thousands of Chinese ist. They continue and, as a mat­ and "forty acres and a mule” for the Negroes. countries have bad motives. It is There are of course many peo­ are all against defending the So­ workers. In defending the colo­ ter of fact, the imperialists have Retrospectively, it seems almost impossible true that Hitler’s aim is to de­ ple who use the term "imperial­ viet Union not only in the pres­ nial and semi-colonial nations we succeeded in dragging the Soviet to say just where the point of departure was for Within their limits, the Republicans, anxious to this new policy, for this reshaping of relations stroy the British Empire and ob­ ist” to designate any kind of ag­ ent conflict with Finland but, it follow 'the principle that, as Union under Stalin into their crush their rivals, played a progressive role— tain the colonies that Britain gression, but they are not Marx­ is safe to say, they will refuse against imperialism, the indepen­ conflicts. At times, as at present, between Germany and the Soviet Union. Un­ small wonder that the Negroes voted for them. now possesses. But it is import­ ists, although they might claim to defend it in case England and dence of the backward countries the inter-imperialist conflicts doubtedly a more pacafic attitude among the two This they did in unusually large numbers. ant to understand that German to be such. France send their troops into So­ is progressive. The defeat of any may succeed in pushing into the former antipodes developed as far back as De­ viet territory. background the contradiction be­ cember last year (1938), under the impress of Not that they were not tempted. In Virginia, industry needs these colonies in When the Red Army, in the imperialist country trying to sub­ tween the social system in the the Munich settlement. There was also an ele­ for instance, the Southern landowners embraced order to obtain raw materials, early days of the Soviet Union, ject a colonial people, is a blow IMPERIALISM IS capitalist world and that in the ment of readiness to be noted in Stalin’s speech the doctrine of Negro suffrage, and made an at­ markets for its products, and for invaded Georgia, the reactionary to all of imperialism, and revolu­ THE MAIN ENEMY! Soviet Union. From all appear­ at the party conference in March, an undertone tempt to win the Negro vote. They posed as the investment of German cap­ "socialists” set up a howl about tionary Marxists consider it their ances it seems that England and which later on grew perceptibly louder and which friends of the Negroes and in addition to promises ital. “Bolshevik imperialism". At Calling the Soviet Union an duty to help defeat their main Germany have decided to fight finally swung with it all of Soviet Russian pub­ they made threats: If the Negroes would not vote Great Britain on the other present every writer in the cap­ imperialist country conceals the enemy, imperialism. fact that the imperialism of it out to the last before settling lic opinion. Unforgettable in one'g memory re­ as their Southern employers wished, they swore hand wants to retain these col­ italist press, every liberal and If we defend Ethiopia against France, Germany, England and scores with the Soviet Union. But mains the day on which was issued the report to drive them from employment. This was a very onies for the same reasons that every pseudo-socialist insists that Italy and China against Japan, the United States is the most re­ they make a serious blunder who of Litvinov’s downfall. . . .” real threat, carried out without mercy. But in Germany wants to get them. The the invasion of Finland by the how much more is • it obligatory actionary phenomenon of mod­ close their eyes to the fundamen­ Regarding the sentiments of the population those early days the Negroes would not be co­ ruling classes of both countries Red Army is a sign of “red or upon us to defend the Soviet Un­ ern society and the greatest en­ tal contradiction that exists be­ the Nazi reporter has, to be sure, nothing at all erced. Some few Negroes were bribed ,and even desire to exploit the hundreds of Stalinist imperialism”. ion against the imperialist world, emy of the working class and of tween the capitalist world and to say. He only speaks once on this point and won elections against Republicans with the sup­ millions of colonial peoples. The Marxists, however, will con­ in spite of Stalin? The Soviet mankind in general. It is the im­ the Soviet Union, even under the precisely with regard to his discovery of Lit­ port of the Southerners. But the majority of the same is true of the French rul­ tinue to ask: Is the Soviet Union Union is completely closed to the perialism of the capitalist coun­ Stalinist regime. Sooner or later vinov’s downfall: Negroes voted solidly for the Republican Party. ing class. a capitalist country? If not, tries that causes wars, exploits imperialist world whereas the that contradiction must lead to “I sat in a Russian railroad train . . . the In fact, far from being; apathetic about politics, Why? Because these countries then the term "imperialist" to hundreds of millions of colonial colonies, whether they are inde­ an attempt by the imperialist provotnik, hoping for a good tip, handed the it was the political energy of the Negroes that are imperialist countries: their characterize Stalin’s invasions slaves and its “own” workers, pendent or not, are subjected to world to destroy the Soviet Un­ foreign passenger the latest Pravda. “Anything drove the old Southern landowning class into competitive capitalism lias de­ and policies is absolutely incor­ causes unemployment and retards ion and open up its territory to new?” the other passengers asked, crowding suppressing the Negro vote, at all costs. veloped into monopoly capital­ rect and can only result in con­ imperialist exploitation. As yet capitalist exploitation. around. The German hesitated as he looked at ism; the banks (finance capital­ fusing the masses and weaken­ the development of the product­ no imperialist country has the In Virginia the whites outnumbered the Neg­ ism ) have replaced industrial ing their struggle against real ive forces. WHY STALIN HAS Lhe dispatch and then turned the paper over to right freely to sell its goods in his neighbor, pointing with his finger to the dis­ roes. Soon after the Civil War they gained a po­ capitalism as the real power; ev­ imperialism. The Russian workers, by ex-1 | NATIONALIZED PROPERTY litical majority and controlled the government. ery one of these countries needs Some radicals of various kinds propriating the capitalists and i the Soviet Union or to invest its The undisputed fact remains patch in question. “Maxim Maximovitch—liqui­ They would not vote funds for public education colonies in which to invest their and types insist that we can rec­ I landlords, delivered a terrific Icapital there. that, within the territory occu­ dated!” the latter summed up philosophically.” and insisted on the full payment of the interest pied by the Red Army, territory on a huge public debt. William Malone led a split which formerly belonged to Po­ Bureaucrats Welcome Nazi Gains land, the land and the banks and from the government party and rallied the poor Nothing more was said by his Russian neigh­ farmers and the middle-classes against the re­ HOW STALIN SERVES HITLER larger industries were national­ ized and thus another section of bor and the Nazi can report no more. But this actionaries. The Negroes voted in great numbers philosophical silence is no less instructive than for Malone. the world was taken away from capitalism. Stalin could not af­ the warm sentiments which the Fascist press His party, the Readjusters, was returned with How Lenin Negotiated A Treaty ford to permit a different ruling representative discovers inside the Stalinist a majority and, backed by the middle classes, and class to remain in the territory bureaucracy and upon which he dwells at the the poor, white and black, Malone reduced the Another Letter to a Communist Worker annexed to the Soviet Union. It close of his article again, as the most important result of the “great turn”. public debt and raised the appropriations for pub­ is not because Stalin is anxious lic education. The Southern landowners saw that ii selves Communists, that the en­ 2, 1918, declared: tions.” Their revolutionary mes­ to advance the interests of the “German successes are observed with uncon­ cealed satisfaction, which resounds even more this combination of the poorer classes, both black Dear Will: slavement of a foreign people “We now declare that the Rus­ sage took time, however, in social revolution. All he is anx­ strongly in private conversations than in the and white, meant death for them. They sought for Last week I sent you an anal­ meant tightening by that much sian Revolution remains faithful reaching and moving the work­ ious to do is to save and strength­ press and on the radio. The fate of the armored the weakest link in the chain of their enemies ysis of the Feb. 25 Sunday Work­ the hold of a ruling class on its to the policy of internationalism. ers to action. The Soviets made en the Stalinist bureaucracy, but cruiser ‘Admiral Graf Spee’ has had a tremen­ and found it in the slogan against "Black Dom­ er article, ‘‘German Communists “own” people. Hitler’s enslave­ We defend the right of Poland, one more demonstration of the by virtue of the fact that this ination.” With this slogan, and by intimidation lead fight on Nazi hunger.” I ment of 22 million Poles is there­ situation to the world's workers; bureaucracy rules over a state dous effect on the Russian power of imagina­ Lithuania and Courland to dis­ tion. . . . and terror, they split the ranks of their enemies tried to show you that the title fore a disaster not only to thg pose of their own destiny, really, they refused to sign the treaty, where nationalized property ex­ “The number of German press representatives and regained power. of that article was a fraud, for Poles but also to the German freely. Never will we recognize the Germans advanced, and then ists, it is compelled to destroy in Moscow as well as that of Soviet journalists the article showed that the main masses. That this is a result of the justice of imposing the will when the treaty was signed ev­ capitalism in such territories as in Berlin is increasing in proportion to the great­ Active in Populist Movement activity of the Comintern in Ger­ the Soviet-German pact is a fact of a foreign nation on any other ery class-conscious worker in the it makes part of the Soviet Un­ many, by its own claim, consists which terribly compromises the world understood that the iniqui­ er desire for information. Near the end of the century, the Populist nation whatsoever.” ion. of propaganda on behalf of the Soviet Union in the eyes of the tous terms of the treaty were When Stalin invaded Finland “An incomparable year. The strictly enclosed movement asserted itself. Once again the Negro Izvestia, organ of the Soviet Stalin-Hitler pact. And, in claim­ German workers and class-con­ solely due to the German-Austri- he set up a government which circle of persons within which the German ob­ farmers rallied to it. The reactionaries used the government, that same day de­ ing that the pact ‘‘protected the scious workers everywhere. an imperialists. immediately issued a program for server used to carry on his work has very rapidly old tactics of "Black Domination” allied with nounced the German negotiators been extended far beyond its former confines. vital interests of the German Note that your party does not the expropriation of the big land­ violence. In vain the white farmers in the South as "wolves in sheep’s clothing.” WHAT SOVIETS SAID THEN Once again, after so many years of an alien at­ people”, your party was helping say that the Soviet Union could lords and for state control of protested that this new struggle had nothing to mosphere, a social bond is being forged between Hitler. For if it is possible for not help itself and had to sign INDICTS STALIN NOW large industry. His aims in Fin­ do with the conflicts of the Civil War. Once more TREATY-MAKING A Germans and Russians. Among the foreign Hitler to conduct a foreign pol­ the pact. Your party doesn’t say land were not realized so quick­ their ranks were disrupted. It was then that in REVOLUTIONARY WEAPON The All-Russian Congress of guests in the Moscow hotels, the Germans are icy beneficial to the German peo­ that rather than plunge the So­ the Soviets, meeting March 14, ly but the fact remains that Stal­ despair the poor and middle-class whites decided at present the predominant element. There are ple, to that extent his overthrow viet Union into war and thus en­ The same day Soviet agitators in's course in the territory that that to haye the Negroes with them meant the .19j.S, ratified the treaty in a dec- quartered the various delegations, the German is not a desperate necessity for danger its existence, it was bet­ distributed leaflets in the Ger­ laiation which said: he invades and occupies is funda­ ruin of their course and finally acquiesced in the business representatives and industrialists Even the German people. ter to save the Soviet Union ev­ man lines, denouncing the Ger­ mentally different from that pur­ exclusion of the Negroes from politics. Under You reply to me, heatedly and “It is unworthy of a true so- German travel book authors are beginning to the powerful pressure of legalized lynching, the en at the cost of letting Hitler man peace terms. sued by Hitler—or Chamberlain. at length. To sum up your argu­ cia’ist if badly defeated . . . to Stalin's actions in nationalizing make their appearance. . . .” Negroes gradually sank into political apathy. enslave the Poles. If your party The German generals consti­ ment, it is this: the Hitler-Stalin deny that facr. . .. it is not true property in the territory he oc­ said that, one could then argue tuting the negotiating delegation The Southerners rallied round the Democratic pact is of enormous benefit to the that we have betrayed our ideals cupied is a confirmation of our whether or not it was possible constantly protested against the Party. The Negroes, when they voted at all, were German people, but no thanks to| or our friends, when we signed theory that the character of the for the Comintern to call upon revolutionary propaganda con­ driven into the Republican camp. In the days Hitler. For, in the words of that the peace. . . . We have not sanc­ Soviet Union is fundamentally the Polish people—not the Polish ducted during the negotiations, The Stalinists when the Democrats were systematically exclud­ Sunday Worker article: tioned or covered any lie. We different from the character of state of the colonels—to rise up and called Trotsky’s speeches ing them from participation in politics, the Neg­ “Tlie Communists (in Ger­ have not refused to aid any capitalist states. It is absolute against Hitler and for the Red "provocative” and “addressed to ro’s only hope for salvation seemed the Republic­ many) patiently explain to friend or comrade in misfortune folly to call imperialism that Army to join the Polish masses the gallery.” You behave as if an Party. In many respects the Republican Party (heir fellow-workers that it in any way we could, or by ev­ which in actuality narrows the Are Losing Out in preventing Hitler’s occupation. you were dictating the peace to was indeed the deck, a very small and slippery was the victory of the prole­ ery means at our disposal.” base of imperialism. But your party doesn’t say the us, when the fact is .that we are deck it is true, but a drowning man catches at tarian October Revolution and The treaty sacrificed the na­ Soviet Union couldn't help itself. victorious and are negotiating on INVASION REACTIONARY much less than the Republican Party, and the the successful construction of tional independence of the In Harlem socialism which gave the U.S. On the contrary, it boasts, in the occupied Russian territory, the —IN WHAT SENSE Negroes were drowning. Ukraine. But every Ukrainian James Ford, leading Negro Stalinist and twice S.R. the strength with which words of the Sunday Worker ar­ Germans complained to the So­ worker understood that the So­ When the contention is ad­ to foil Chamberlain’s plans and ticle already quoted above, that viet delegation. vice-presidential candidate on the Communist Broke with Republicans in 1932 viets had "not refused to aid vanced that the invasion of Fin­ party ticket, has been removed from power in the to strike fear into the heart of the Soviet Union had the The German generals listened any friend . . . by every means land is reactionary, we say: yes, party, as a result of the alarming decrease in the With the coming of the New Deal, however, the Hitler and to compel him to "strength” to "strike fear into in bewilderment at some of the Negroes sat up and took notice. A New Deal. If the heart of Hitler and to com­ at our disposal." No lie was cov­ yes. that is true. But reactionary party membership among the Negroes, according seek peace with the Soviets.” Soviet demands: that passports ered or sanctioned. in w hat sense? Reactionary in any group of people in this country need a New So we must thank Stalin, and pel him” to sign the pact as a to The Pittsburgh Courier (March 2, 1940). Ford, be issued immediately to the Ger­ the sense that it has discredited Deal the Negroes did! They rallied to Roosevelt not Hitler, for all the conse­ result of which the Nazi and Compare all this with what the former executive secretary of the Harlem di­ man Independent Socialists for the Soviet Union in the eyes of vision of the C.P., was “kicked upstairs” at the in 1936 and carried consternation into the ranks quences of the Stalin-Hitler pact. Red armies collaborated in divid­ a visit to the Soviets; that ahy Stalin has done in the Hitler-Stal­ its only real defenders, the work- j recent meeting of the National Committee of the of the Republicans. The Republican High Com­ Very well, then. Let us, for ex­ ing Poland and turned over to publications the Soviets desired in pact! mand appointed Dr. Bunche of Howard Univer­ Hitler the lion’s share and 22 ing masses. But look on the other, C.P. and appointed as special representative for ample, thank Stalin for one of should be sent to prisoners of The difference between the sity to make a special investigation into the rea­ million Poles (not to mention the side of the battlefield and you; the Stalinists in Mexico. these consequences—the partition war in Germany and to the So­ politics of Lenin and Trotsky and sons for the desertion of the Negroes, though why doomed Jews!). behold the imperialist world, the ! Ford was given the Mexican "assignment” after of Poland. cialists, of Germany and Austria. the politics of Stalin is epitom­ they should have needed a special investigation most reactionary thing in exist­ a special report was read to. the meeting that of The Polish state was every­ DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ized in this: ence. to find out what everybody knew, passes ordinary thing which the Comintern press The Germans presented a pro­ an estimated 5,000 Negroes who joined the party posed treaty which began with comprehension. But the New Deal has failed. It is has called it: a dictatorship of STALINISM AND LENINISM The German social-democrats, For every worker, the world in 1939, only 250 now rem ain as members. The the usual diplomatic formula: “a now a corpse. The Negroes have begun to realize the colonels, a monstrosity, im­ Compare Stalin’s negotiations lackeys of German imperialism, over, the main enemy is imper­ report stated that there are only fifty paid-up treaty of peace and friendship be­ Negro members in Harlem. that there is nothing in it for them. The result is perialist oppressor of the Ukrain­ and collaboration with Hitler voted in the Reichstag for rat­ ialism, the breeder of wars and tween Germany and Soviet Rus­ Ford's Harlem work, says The Pittsburgh the beginning of a swing back to the Republicans, ian and Byelo-Kussian peoples, when the Soviet Union is assert- ification of the Brest-Litovsk fascism, the master of hundreds sia.” Trotsky demonstratively as seen in a Philadelphia election some months etc. Yet—one more of his crimes edly “strong”, with Lenin and treaty, justifying their vote on ot millions of colonial peoples. Courier, is being taken over by a bureau which is struck out the phrase “of friend­ ago. Stalin announced himself ready Trotsky’s negotiations with Ger­ the ground that the Soviets had Stalin’s policies hurt the strug­ reported to be planning a campaign on the ex­ ship.” A revolutionary govern­ ratified it. Lenin denounced them gle against imperialism and are ploitation of Negroes in the West Indies, Africa Swing back to what, however? What have the to defend this monstrosity in al­ man imperialism when the new­ ment could not permit itself such as traitors to the working class. contrary to the interests of the and the U.S. The Stalinists dropped these issues Republicans to offer? In their new draft pro­ liance with Britain and France, ly-born Soviets were pitifully a lie! For the Soviets, the treaty was world revolution but the Stalin­ in recent years during the People’s Front and gram, the Republicans make a strong plea for until the Hitler-Stalin past was weak! a bitter necessity to secure a ist bureaucracy rules over a state Democratic Front periods. the Negro vote. What they offer we must examine signed. Strikes in Germany were greet­ On December 12, 1917 Trotsky breathing-spell. But the social- which has taken one-sixth of the "Bitterness over the failure of the Communists closely. But this much is already clear. 1940 is a But what has replaced this ed by official Soviet messages: as arrived in Brest-Litovsk to open democratic deputies should have earth away from imperialism. and the Soviet Union to aid Ethiopia . . . is great turning point for the large masses of monstrosity, thanks to the pact? the Soviet Congress met on Jan. negotiations. He insisted, success­ been honor-bound to fight against The victory of the Red Army blamed for the big drop in Negro membership, Negro voters. They know that the Republican The Comintern press boasts 25, g reat strikes broke out in fully, that the negotiations be their “own” rapacious imperial­ may temporarily strengthen the as well as the published charges of ‘expelled’ Party has nothing to offer, and after eight years about the "liberation", of the Austria; the Congress hailed completely public. Every speech ists. Stalinist bureaucracy but the de­ Negro leaders that the Communist officers prac­ of the New Deal they are in as much misery as western provinces. Let us assume “the rising of the Austrian work­ by the Soviet delegation consti­ feat of the Red Army strength­ ticed discrimination against Negro reds in un­ ever they were. They form one-third of the ten it is liberation. But this libera­ ers.” tuted a public exposure of the Lenin denounced any German ens the main enemy of the work­ ions, WPA and functionary jobs controlled by million unemployed in the country. Roosevelt tion is one result of the pact; and imperialist aims of the German Thus, in every possible way in who supported the peace treaty ing class, the imperialist world. the party.” slashes at WPA and relief. He says not a word another is the enslavement of the negotiators and a ringing call to the midst of the negotiations the of his imperialist rulers. But your Under no circumstances, there­ Now that the Stalinists are following a pseudo­ about the Anti-Lynch Bill. It seems to be a case rest of Poland by Hitler. Eleven the international working class newly-born Soviets called out to party calls upon the German millions liberated, 22 millions en­ fore, can a revolutionary worker revolutionary line it was necessary for them to of either the Devil or the Deep Blue Sea. to overthrow their rulers. By ev­ the German and Austrian work­ workers to support the peace slaved. At this rate, socialism be indifferent in a struggle be­ find a scapegoat for past crimes and Ford is the But in 1940 there is a way out. There is no need ery possible device of radio, tel­ ers over the heads of the negoti­ treaty of their imperialist rulers. tween the Red Army and any victim. They have a tough job ahead, however. will be achieved at the cost of ators. In that single difference is ex­ to limit oneself to the reactionary Republicans or the enslavement of two-thirds of egraph, speech and print, Soviet army connected with the imper­ The attendance at a Harlem meeting at which the hypocritical New Dealers. Why must the After the German and Austrian pressed the unbridgeable gap be­ ialist world. To work for the vic­ Browder spoke in January, the opening gun in the world’s population! agitators communicated the pro­ workers continually trail behind the bosses ? What revolutions of 1918 we learned tween the Stalinist bureaucracy tory of the Red Army in such a their attempt to win back their Negro member­ we want is a Labor Party, a party of the workers HITLER’S GAINS ceedings to the entire world. how important in mobilizing the and the revolutionary interna­ struggle as against the capitalist ship, was not more than one hundred, whereas in and the farmers, white and black. If we are to ENSLAVE GERMAN PEOPLE In the midst of the negotia­ proletariat for those revolutions tionalism of Leninism. army is a duty of every worker, previous years they had packed the Renaissance form it, however, we must start laying the basis It used to be understood, tions the Central Executive Com­ were the speeches which Trotsky Fraternally, in the Soviet Union, in Finland Casino and the Rockland Palace with party and for it now. among people who called them­ mittee of the Soviets on January delivered as "treaty negotia­ FELIX MORROW or anywhere else. united front meetings. SOCIALIST APPEAL MARCH 9, 1940

world cannot solve their pressing problems by rhetoric alone. Spell-binder Martin dazzled many The A. L. P. Fight SOCIALIST APPEAL audiences but results were obtained by different VOL. IV. NO. 10 SAT., MARCH 9, 1940 methods. In the World of Labor Published Weekly by the Results were obtained by action in the great By Paul G . Stevans -Stalinists Won SOCIALIST APPEAL PUBLISHING ASS'N. sit-down in Flint, in the famous Battle of Bull’s at 116 University Place, New York, N. Y. Run which frightened the wits out of Knudsen, Militants Break with Australian Then it was Nazi Germany, which Pravda led Telephone: ALgonquin 4-8547 us to infer was invariably based on striving to A Hollow Victory Sloane and Co. General Motors understands no C.P.; Hail Fourth International defend and preserve peace! . . . Today, Finland is being invaded, just as Aus­ By FELIX MORROW E d ito rs: other language. Why try speaking to them as if Our A ustralian com rades’ vigorous anti-w ar ac­ tivity, reported in these columns on previous oc­ tria, Czechoslovakia and Poland were invaded. The bitterest things said about Alex Rose were not VELIX MORROW MAX SHACHTMAN they were human beings? said by the Stalinists, last Thursday night at the casions, is bearing fruit. A considerable number But this time the invasion is made in the name New York County convention of the American Labor Assistant Manager-. The workers of General Motors will vote for of rank and file members of the Communist Par­ of Leninism! To such a level has the Communist General Manager: Party of Australia, together with the rest of Party. The Stalinists were, indeed, feeling rather GEORGE CLARKE SHERMAN STANLEY the UAW-CIO. That is the only union for the ty of Australia are drawing closer to the Com­ munist League, the Australian section of the them, descended, that it can idealize that inva­ amiable. Looking over the auditorium they saw pre­ automobile workers of this country. Martins dominate the familiar faces of their comrades. Fourth International, and some have already sion and present it as the extension of Com­ phoney AFL group is a disgrace to the name of The bitter souls in the place were the small band of Subscriptions: $2.00 per year: $1.00 for six months. joined officially. The latest number of the Mil­ munism.s members of the Social Democratic Federation. They Foreign: $3.00 per year, $1.50 for six months. Bundle unionism: it has participated in strikebreaking itant, official organ of the League, reports that “With the Comintern attitude, switching now had warned Alex Rose and the other big shots of the orders : 3 cents per copy in the United States: 4 cents J. N. Rawlings, editor of World Peace, has brok­ left, now right, towards the war, and with pol­ actions, it has made united fronts with Fascist ALP, two years ago or more. He woul(i not listen. He per copy in all foreign countries. Single copies: 6 cents. en with Stalinism and endorsed the Fourth In­ icies, spread over years, that led to that atti­ demagogues like Coughlin and Gerald L. K. would not even consult with them. Because the Stalin­ ternational. tude, no true Marxian can have anything to do. ists provided the necessary Jimmy Higgins crews for Smith. Any worker who does not vote for the Rawlings was a member of the Australian “Events have shown that the Third Interna­ "Reentered as second class matter December 4, all the dreary detail work, he had welcomed them and 1939, at the post office at New York, N. Y.t under the CIO, is voting in reality for a return to the open C.P. for fifteen years. From reserved criticism tional has followed the path of the Second. But A ct of M arch 3, 1879." let them take over club after club. He had told Louis of the Pedple’s Front line he developed to the the path of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Trotsky is shop. Waldman it was all right, the Stalinists could be point where, at the outbreak of the war, he the only path that the workers can follow to cleaned out any time it was necessary. Now his But the auto workers will vote for the CIO openly took issue with the local satrap of the their emancipation, and a new, Fourth, Interna­ chickens were coming home to roost. with enthusiasm, lay down their lives on the Kremlin, one J. B. Miles, who went so far as to tional must be built to lead them along it.” FIGHT WITH THE SOCIALIST urge “fit and available members” of his party to The final indignity that drove the Social Democrats picket lines, only on one condition: that the un­ into highly articulate fury—my seat at the press join up with the army and "to participate in Labour Party Students Join WORKERS PARTY FOR: ion goes to bat for the men in the plants. the struggle to defeat the aggressor armies.” table was not too close to them but, stalking back Against Social Patriotism and forth, they threw discretion to the winds—W£s The auto workers want the 30-hour week at After several months of increasing conflict with 1. A job and a decent living for every worker. Alex Rose’s choice of a standard-bearer for the even­ the party leadership, Rawlings was summarily From time to time we have reported here the 2. Open the Idle factories—operate them under 40-hour pay put on the first order of business in growing anti-war movement in the lower ranks ing. The test vote was to be that for chairman. Like expelled, on December 17. workers’ control. negotiations with G.M. The auto workers want Rawlings had been editor of World Peace, the of the British Trades Unions as well as in the principled politicians the Social Democrats wanted Labour Party. Only recently, as this column someone put up who would symbolize the rabid red­ 8. A Twenty-Billion dollar Federal public work* to take the 30-hour week at 40-hour pay out of weekly paper of the League for Peace and De­ and housing program. the far-away realm of “basic demands” and pre­ mocracy, from its inception. He was immediately pointed out, this movement showed such strength baiting and pro-Ally program of the anti-Communisf 4. Thirty-thirty—$30-weekly minimum wage—30- removed from that post upon his expulsion from in the local Trades Councils that the top bureau­ bloc. But Alex Rose hadn’t even troubled to consult sented as an immediate demand. the Social Democrats. Instead he chose a man who, hour weekly maximum for all workers on all jobs. the C.P. A squad of Stalinist worthies raided his cracy became obliged to enforce its rule by means of extraordinary measures intended to from the rigorous standards of the Social Democrats' 5. Thirty dollar weekly old-age and disability The auto workers, want their union. But they editorial office, ordered him to leave w ith a squeeze the local bodies into line by financial was himself tainted with Stalinism—Sylvio Bottini, a threat of force and even refused to allow him to pension. want their union to fight for them. Let Lewis, pressure. minor building trades union official, the taint consist­ 6. Expropriate the Sixty Families. Hillman and Murray tell the auto workers what take his personal belongings with him. Guido Baracchi, another old time C.P. leader, has sol- Now we get word that the bureaucracy is also ing of his friendship with Marcantonio, the friend of 7. All war funds to the unemployed. the Stalinists. they intend to do today—not in the distant fu­ idarized himself with Rawlings in his conflict in conflict on this score with the University La­ bour Federation, the students’ organization affili­ I confess that I got a good deal of pleasure, that 8. A people’s referendum on any and all wars. ture—about the 30-hour week at 40-hour pay. with the party leadership. 9. No secret diplomacy. Aside from his journalistic work, which made ated with the Labour Party. Arthur Greenwood, evening, observing the infuriated but impotent dis­ That’s what the auto workers want to hear. deputy leader of the party in parliament, found comfiture of the anti-Communist bloc. 10. An Independent Labor Party. his name familiar to radical circles throughout the conflict so sharp that he had to resign as * * * 11. Workers’ Defense Guards against vigilante and That’s what the auto workers want to do: the British Empire, Rawlings is the author of president of the Federation. On January 4 the The Stalinists, in capturing the New York County Fascist attacks. fight for the 30-hour week at 40-hour pay. the authoritative “History of the Australian People” and of numerous pamphlets on economic Labour students held their national conference ALP, took over an empty shell. Their victory consist­ 12. Full social, political and economic equality for at Liverpool. The first step taken by the con­ and historical questions. ed in this: when they were still in a bloc with Alex the Negro people. ference was the adoption of a resolution “con­ Rose last August—before the Hitler-Stalin pact—the Excerpts from the Statement demning the war as an imperialist war for profit candidates for committeemen, who constitute the and for world domination”, and point out that legally-recognized county organization of a party, Issued by J. N. Rawlings the same anti-war policy has been “expressed were designated oy the ALP district clubs, where the by sections of the Labour Party and by trades Here are some interesting excerpts from a Stalinists had a majority, ahd ALP enrollees voted Defend A FL Unions unions in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Sheffield.” for these candidates at the September city primary. statement issued to the press by comrade Rawl­ The resolution carried by a vote of 49 against Czarist Stocks Rise As several hundred delegates from building ings after his expulsion: In other words, the Stalinists last Thursday captured 9 and 2 abstentions. Mentioning this fact, a nothing but the country machinery which the law "What of the thousands of workers who, re­ The war correspondent undoubtedly told the trades unions throughout the country were meet­ statement of the Federation chides Greenwood requires every party on the ballot to establish through membering the last war, were ready to oppose for attributing their attitude to "Communist the primaries. story to be funny. It appeared in Tuesday’s New ing in Washington to organize the defense of this, but who, seeing the Communist Party sup­ the unions against the Department of Justice’s instigation.” It continues: “The Conference of York Times. When a Finnish patrol came upon a port it, were either bewildered or led to believe the U.L.F. regards the struggle against war on The Real ALP Beyond Their Reach Russian soldier, he cried out: “Don’t shoot I union-busting campaign, the CIO committed a that they should fight ‘for the independence of the part of the labor movement as a foremost shocking act against labor solidarity. nations now enslaved by Nazism?’ task and as a step necessary for the realization The real American Labor Party—the trade unions am a Russian capitalist.” "But the decision to support the war was no of socialism. Only by such means can the L.P. which constitute it—did not and of course could not Funny? The incident may not have happened, The CIO News, official weekly organ of the •mistake’. It was a perfectly logical step. . . . and the U.L.F. fulfill their role as “light-house pass into the hands of the Stalinists by counting noses but if he invented it, the correspondent didn’t CIO, published an article in its March 4th issue, Capitalists and capitalist politicians were di­ of socialism”. The conference regards your of county committeemen. In the April 2 state primar­ entitled “AFL moguls in panic jump from fry­ vided into two classes, good and bad, according (Greenwood’s) action and that of the other lead­ ies, at which state committeemen of the ALP are help his friend Mannerheim. What would it as they were ‘non-appeasers’ and ’appeasers’. ers of the Labour Party who support the war elected, if the Stalinists win, they again win an empty mean for a Red Army soldier to say that? That ing pan into hotter fires.” It said in part: Capitalism was no longer the breeder of wars; and the political truce as treachery to socialism shell. The trade unions, other than the minority con­ he looked upon the Finnish army as part of the “Other signs of panic in AFL craft ranks wars now resulted from ‘Fascist aggression’. . . . and' to the interests of the working class. The trolled by the Stalinists, will scarcely remain in the ALP if the Stalinists capture the legal machinery. imperialist-world, which would spare only those were the calling of an emergency session of “First it was ‘democratic’ France and Britain conference has decided to continue the struggle —and Communists in these countries voted war against war and for socialism in agreement with The backbone of the ALP would be removed forth­ Russians who would adhere to capitalism. craft moguls in Washington to resist exposure credits, supported conscription, sang the Mar- the numerous groups in the labor and progressive with—the Amalagamated Clothing Workers, the In his own naive way the Soviet soldier un­ and prosecution of racketeers who have ex­ seilleise and, God Save the King, and hobnobbed movement who are opposed today and who will Ladies Garment Workers, the millinery union, etc, derstands infinitely more than the fat-headed lib­ with duchesses, deans and scions of noble houses. continue to oppose this war.” A Labor Party without unions is an absurdity. Why, ploited the workers and been a detriment to the then, have not Alex Rose and his cohorts not em­ erals and labor skates who are raising money for industry. . . . phasized in their public statements the absurdity of Hoover’s Finnish Commission, and the Norman “On the spot in the court of public opinion the Stalinist campaign to capture the legal machinery Thomases and Lovestones who are rooting for a of the ALP? The trade union bureaucrats have a distracted by prosecution of racketeers in their crushing argument against the Stalinists: why don’t Finnish victory. midst, plagued by jurisdictional disputes they the Stalinists demonstrate what their strength is, not We should like to ask all those people who call can't control, and alarmed by growth of the in the primaries dictated by the bourgeois parlia­ themselves part of the working class and who, SPARKS IN THE NEWS mentary system in which a dentist’s vote weighs as United Construction Workers Organizing Com­ by Dwight Macdonald much as a trade unionist’s, but in the trade unions nevertheless, call for the defeat of the Red Army mittee (CIO), the craft moguls are facing the which constitute the ALP? in this war, to give us their explanation of the one out of every five families in the nation is The fact is that the ALP bureaucrats have never worst crisis of their history.” (Our emphasis) The "Break-Even Point" starving and stagnating in the ranks of the un­ rise in price of Czarist securities on the Paris Much has been written about technological referred to this fundamental difference between a Every class-conscious worker will brand these employed. And, as I noted here a few weeks ago, Labor Party and the capitalist parties. They have Bourse. unemployment, but I have seen little discussion only 13 out of every hundred of those dropped statements as an act of disloyalty to the labor of one aspect of the problem: the steadily in­ been too desirous of winning to the ALP the profes­ A February 29 dispatch to the New York from WPA last summer have been able to find sional and middle-class flotsam and jetsam, taking movement. It is an elementary duty of every creasing ability of American industry to make jobs in private industry. Times reports a phenomenal rise in Czarist oil profits at ever-lower levels of production. A key the workers’ votes for granted. Instead of sharply unionist to defend all bona-fide labor unions, Yet last year’s earnings of most big companies statistic in any industry is the “break-even emphasizing that the unions have the right and duty shares: were spectacular. Goodyear Tire & Rubber re­ of running their own party, the Alex Roses have whether in the CIO, AFL or independent, point”, i.e., the percentage of a plant’s productive “For instance, Baku industrials rose from ported 63 per cent higher profits in 1939 than against the class enemy. The Department of capacity which must be used in order to oper­ wooed the elements outside the unions. The result: in 1938. . . . U. S. Steel lost $7,700,000 in 1938, clubs full of lawyers, doctors and dentists, small busi­ 16 francs in August to 80 in December and ate at a profit. In the steel industry, for exam­ Justice is the enemy of the working class. Its made $41,200,000 in 1939. . . D uPont made $50,- nessmen—and Stalinists working in them by party are quoted at over 200 francs now, though in ple, this is now between 40 per cent and 45 per 200,000 in 1938, $93,200,000 in 1939. . . . Inland assignment. In other words, easy picking for the "anti-trust” campaign is a scarcely-veiled cam­ cent—that is to say, once the average steel plant fact it is impossible to buy them at any price. Steel’s net rose from $4,900,000 to $10,900,000. Stalinists. paign to smash unionism in the building trades. begins to run at a rate which produces 45 per Grozny, North Caucasian and other oils have The National City Bank predicts that 370 lead­ The workers in the unions affiliated to the ALP cent as much steel as it can produce at full For every boss that has been indicted in the cur­ ing manufacturers will report 1939 earnings to­ have never been made to feel that they are active risen too.” capacity, it begins to make money. rent campaign, a hundred trade union leaders talling $329,000,000, which is double the 1938 members of th ALP through their unions. Around This means that an industry with a break-even From 16 francs to 200—a 1250% increase. figure. election-time a few speeches in the unions, and pay­ have been indicted. The real moguls of the build­ point of 45 per cent—and in many industries the That’s stock market language for indicating the If figures mean anything, these statistics mean ment of ALP dues—this is all that the ALP has been ing trades industry, the banks which control point is even lower — can make profits even to the union members. vulnerability of the Soviet Union and the extent though it is producing less than half the amount that American capitalism can function with the building sites, construction financing, construc­ If a union member wanted to be active in the ALP, of goods its plants can produce. Thus the nation­ utmost efficiency as a profit system, simultane­ of the concentration of Anglo-French troops on he could not do so through his union, but only by tion supplies and most of the construction com­ al consumption of these goods can be reduced ously with the utmost inefficiency as a social the Soviet’s Near-East border. joining a club in his neighborhood dominated by panies, are whitewashed and not touched by to half that of boom times, employment can be system. And since the bourgeoisie judge the de­ Defeat for the Soviet Union at the hands of sirability of capitalism by its ability to make lawyers and dentists. The result: the unionists didn’t Thurman Arnold. These facts alone brand the far below the boom level, and the industry in its capitalist enemies means that the capitalists profits, while the workers judge it by its ability trouble to go to the primaries and left the field to “anti-trust” campaign for what it is: a union- question can still make money. the Stalinists. will proceed to restore capitalism in the terri­ There is another interesting thing about this to produce and distribute material goods—this smashing conspiracy. being the case, there is inevitably a basic clash That the unions have not constituted the basic ac­ break-even point: once production reaches that tive units of the ALP is not an oversight. If the trade tories formerly ruled by the Czar. That means level, profits begin to increase much faster than of class interests. that anybody that’s for the defeat of the Soviet Practically every union procedure of the AFL union bureaucrats paid by a Stalinist victory in the building trades which is now under the fire of production. If a steel company makes, say $5 a Mass Production and Mass Misery primaries for their failure to activize the trade union Union is, willy nilly, for capitalism. That simple ton at 50 per cent of capacity, its rate of profit members, they prefer that to the alternative: steeping Russian soldier understood that. In his own way the Department of Justice is practiced by CIO at 60 per cent of capacity may well be not $5 a This class conflict the bourgeoisie, both lib­ the unions in the basic political problems facing the ton but $7 or $8. Thus it is often possible to eral and conservative, try to explain away with he was saying that anybody who calls himself unions. Refusal of union men to work on non­ working class. union materials; refusal of unions to supply men double and triple profits with only a slight rise the well-worn thesis that American capitalism The trade union as the workers’ organization deal­ part of the labor movement and isn’t for the in production. The reason for this is that A. highly is “different” from that of Europe in that it is ing with private employers in a specific industry is a to contractors not certified by the employers’ based on mass production and hence on the idea defense of the Soviet Union is a traitor to his mechanized mass production plant costs a cer­ difficult enough organism to keep under the control of tain minimum to run at all: it takes about as of a mass market. The assumption is that our class. bargaining agency with which the unions have bureaucrats committed down to their bones to the contracts; control by the unions of the introduc­ many employees, as much coal and water and capitalism must progress to ever higher levels capitalist order. In the union as an economic organ­ The Paris Bourse makes that clear, if nothing electricity, as much wear-and-tear on the ma­ of production and consumption because only thus tion of new manufacturing operations and de­ ism, consideration of the basic problems of unem­ else does. chinery, to produce steel at 30 pfer cent of ca­ can our great corporations find a market big ployment and insecurity are limited to what can be vices which involve cutting down the number of pacity as at 40 per cent. But once production is enough to absorb their huge productive capacity. done to alleviate hunger and want and poverty within workers; union insistence that certain work be high enough to absorb these minimum fixed Hence the common interest of the employer and the specific industry—and this at a time when every charges, then costs for additional production are of the employee lies in increasing production and done on the premises and not brought in semi­ thoughtful worker understands that these problems reduced to Tittle more than extra wages and raw consumption (or sales). The conservatives re­ cannot be solved on a trade union level. To limit the finished form to be completed by union work­ m aterials. peat, with the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, union to this trade union level serves the capitalist ers—these and a dozen other working rules of “What is Good for Business is Good for You:” order and the labor bureaucrats faithful to it. Vote CIO In Auto the AFL building trades now being attemptedly Sales Up 58 p.c.; Profits 910 p.c. The liberals talk of an “economy of plenty” (as Remove that narrow limitation from the workers’ In the first quarter of 1939 the automobile in­ against the typical European “economy of scar­ discussions of their life-and-death problems, turn the The National Labor Relations Board has or­ outlawed by Thurman Arnold, are practiced— dustry gave a dramatic illustration of the above city”). The New Deal spending philosophy is union floor over to the political level—to the question dered elections in the 59 plants of General Mo­ one or more of them—by the International La­ point. In that period, the net profits of the six based on this conception of the mass market be­ of the relation of the working class as a whole to dies Garment Workers, the Amalgamated Cloth­ leading automobile manufacturers were $65,- ing the logical corollary of mass production. the capitalist class -as a whole—and, my God, think tors. More than 225,000 workers in twelve states 500,000, as against only $6,500,000 for the same ing Workers, the Auto Workers Union and, It is true that when industrial production falls the bureaucrats, there is no limit to what the workers will choose between the UAW-CIO, the AFL or quarter of 1938. The increase in production, how­ below a certain minimum level (the national m ay try to do. “no union” in an election to take place “some­ indeed, in one form or another, by most of the ever, was very much less: sales of trucks and "break-even point”, so to speak), the bourgeoisie Alex Rose can make a militant in his millinery un­ cars for th a t q uarter of 1939 totalled 1,056,000, time in April.” CIO unions. lose money and, of course, society as a whole is ion look like an impractical fool for proposing to as against 669,000 in 1938. Thus an increase of in a bad way. But, as we have seen, once the wipe out unemployment in the industry. But Rose The Union News Service, official clip-sheet of For the CIO to delude itself that blows on 58 per cent in sales caused an increase of 910 break-even point is reached, profits become rap­ would be in a fundamentally different situation if he the CIO, announces extensive plans for a CIO this score can be directed against the AFL with­ per cent in profits. idly less and less dependent on increased produc­ tried to make fun of a militant on the union floor who campaign prior to the election. John L. Lewis, out leading to blows against the CIO would be tion. It seems probable that the future develop­ demanded that the union's delegates to a national Earnings and Employment ment of American capitalism will be in the direc­ a fatal error. If the CIO top-leaders are so near­ Labor Party insist on a program guaranteeing a de­ Phil Murray, and Sydney Hillman are scheduled The mysterious workings of the “break-even tion of extracting bigger and bigger profits out cent living to every worker. That’s why Rose prefers for big meetings in Michigan and other auto sighted as not to see this, they should be forcibly point” are one reason for the phenomenon we of ever-smaller production. (The great aim of to keep the unions out of direct participation in the •centers. reminded of their responsibilities by the rank see today of* enormous increases in profits unac­ modern technology is to lower the break-even ALP even if that means that the Stalinists capture and file of the CIO. companied by any significant rise in the nation­ point.) There is only one political formula for the legal machinery. The Stalinist victory is an empty The plans are pretty good as far as they go. al standard of living or any significant decrease imposing on the masses the lower living stand' one, Rose thinks, and that is true. Whereas a militant But they don’t go far enough. The auto workers Defend the AFL building trades unions in the number of the unemployed. ards this economic development would make in program that would sweep the unions would sweep want more than speeches. The best orator in the against the union-busting drive! As the readers of the Appeal are well aware, evitable. Its name is fascism. Rose right out of the unions.