~' ~\ ,a.~., , The Revolutionary Age t. l ~ A .Chronicle and Interpretation of International Events f r VoL I, No. IS Satur~y, February 15, 1919 Price 3 Cents t ~: i They can Deport Men, but not Ideas! T HE master class of America is becoming ner- present seething throughout the world is the result of through the years of waf only to find that their masters vous. The workers are restive and Capitalism is un­ foreign doctrines and thougb in some parts of the took advantage of the opportunity to more firmly en­ able to sooth them. The war has petered out and world there may be reasons for the discontent here trench themselves in their privileged positions. The­ tholic who bore its bloody burden are awakening to it is entirely the product of agitati~ and propaganda Iwar is over, ~e "Hun" is no longer at the gate and the the realization that they were duped. All the glowing by sinister forces utterly foreign to these shores! De­ workers of America are taking a breathing space and promises, all the thrills of victory, all the sacrificial port tbe foreigners and their ideas go with them and looking around. fire, all the democratic phrases are gone and only the we can once more resume our peaceful progress tow­ They find that while they have unsparingly labored hideous reality remains, the struggle for existence, the ards the millineum, we become a nation of potential others have schemed and that all their toil and misery bite of poverty, the quest of a job, the daily grind, presidents and multimillionaires! and bloodshed have resulted in nothing except riches the fear ,of want. The mirage has vanished and only This cry of Americanization, this movement for an for the few and poverty for the many. They have, the gritty desert sand remains to torment the parch.ed intensive and narrow nationalism, is in reality nothing however, discovered something more. They have be­ lips .... gun to realize that they have a community of interest The workers. those who remained behind and bore Strike Breaking with the workers of other lands, that the things they the slavery of -industry, those who went forward and are complaining about are the same things against suffered ~n the hell fire of war, are demanding a ful­ The arrest of Ime Kaplan, secretary of the Law­ which workers of other countries are protesting. fillment of the promises. Not .perhaps as yet cons­ rence Strike Committee, on the charge of draft evasion And more than this they are seeing that the Russian ciously but nevertheless insistently and the "masters, is merely a further instance of how even the Federal workers have found the solution. Dimly, through lords and rulers of all lands" are empty handed. The laws and the legal machinery of the country, to say darkened glasses, they are seeing that the evils which master class is becoming aware that a demand is being nothing of tSeattle shipyards, result and their nervousness turns to irritation. only senes to strengthen the assumption tha.t the affair the Lawrence mi11s, the Japanese rice fields, the Eng­ "Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad." was a deliberate "frame up" for the purpose of injur­ lish mines .... During the war the class conscious ·worker foresaw ing the cause of the workers. If after investigating the The unrest is not the result of agitators or of agi­ many of the developments that are now taking place case for a couple of hours the authori-ties can decide tation hut of conditions. The ideas are not the result that Kaplan had complied with the law, ~he question and he gave voice to his vision. The jails openeRussian revolution, the struggle in Germany, the silent and Capitalism smiled. The jails filled, still According to pre'Ss reports Kaplan was arrested unrest in Englanri, France, Italy, all affect the unrest the voices increased and Capitalism ceased to smile ... while a committee. meeting was in progress, and the in America just as the American unrest affects the un~ men, making the a1'rest also threa.tened Sam Bramhall, rest in Englend, France and Italy, and the deportation Now the war is over and the voices have become chairman of the Strike Committee, that they were after of the agitators only further this unrest. a roar and the roar has become action. The workers him. Bramhall is a man beyond the draft age and it While America is engaged in deporting subjects of are seething with dissatisfaction-dissatisfaction that would be interestsng to know why the police are after may at any moment become revolt. The master class the British Empire as alien agitators, England has him. It would also be interesting to know,provided gathered together over 200 agitators for deportation il> nervous and nervousness begets precipitate actiOl~. the newspaper accounts of the affair are corred, upon to America. The ships that carry the English, Scotch Deportations become the order of the day. what aut lan as "a draft dodger" and int~rspersed the news wid strikes in America. are conducted on American lines men and women, also agitators, whom they propose many references to "foreigners" clearly mowing thai because they are confronted with American conditions. lu deport. According to the newspapers the -avowed the objective aimed at is to once more divide the work­ The basic tactics of both the workers and the bosses object of the action is to stop the industrial unrest ers. The war department has officially stated that the are the same the world over but in detail they differ that is today spreading throughout America. The draft is no longer operative and it logically follows according to the prevailing conditions. prisoners are alleged to be Bolsheviki, Anarchists that it is no longer necessary to carry a registration card to protect· one from arbitrary arre'St. Why was and members of the I. W. W., or s~pathizers of The unrest, the revolutionary movement, that is these movements. Kaplan singled out for examination as to his draft sweeping Europe has its reflex in the American work­ status? Why was he taken away from the Strike ing class, but the American capitalist class also re­ Whether this action is a violation of the constitu­ Committee at the moment of critical deliberations? acts to it. A period of reaction is here, is developing tion of the country, or of the freedom that residents Did his arrest sene the interest of the 30,000 workers intensively.. The espionage act will shortly have to are supposed to enjoy matters not. The world is at who are on strike, or did it serve -the interest of the be repealed because the war is over but in the mean­ present in the throes of the birth of a new order of half-dozen industrial barons who are responsible for time the master class is preparing n~ laws to take its society. The class struggle is actually flaming in the strike? place, laws which will meet the newer developments. action and these deportations are an evidence of the The change in the immigration hws which makes pos:' fray. Two opposing classes face each other and The actions of the aut

tunity, and a new and more vital Socialism come into of industry by the workers with the complete elimi­ The Revolutionary Age being." nation of the boss. The decision lies with the employ­ This analysis of ours is being confirmed by events. ers of Seattle. Do they want to compromise and give A Chronicle and Interpretation of International events Great strikes arc developing; revolutionary Socialism in to the shipyard workers' demands or would they is measuring to the opportunity as detemined by con­ rather face expropriation? . . . lA:K1JS ~.A •••••••••••••••••••••••• Btlilor c. ditions. "It would be nothing short of a crime for the ship­ EADKONN MAcALPIn ••••••••••• • AoUoM. Btlilor. This analysis of our's is being confirmed by events. yard workers to allow the shipyards to remain idle COfJIn"hliftg Btlit0f'4 tied. Thc "prosperity" of the war is at an end-a for more than two weeks when the world needs ships SCOTT NEARING LUDWIG Lou prosperity which created thousands of new million­ and the returning soldier must be provided employ­ aires while millons of men were being slaughtered. ment alongside of the worker~ If the shipyard owner JOliN REED SEN KATAYAMA During the war there were more jobs than workers; does not want to "build ships" the workers must not N. I. HOURWICII G. WEINSTl:IN now there are more workers than jobs; accordingly, let him prevent them from so doing at wages satis­ unemployment, reduction in wages, strikes, more factory to themselves. ISSUED EVERY SATURDAY misery and oppression for the working class. "Unemployment stalks through the land; hunger By Local Boston, Socialist party And so they strike. The American workers are and cold threaten the people; millions of soldiers are awakening. The war has taught them; that nothing H. G. Steiner, Business Manager returning and expt.'Cting jobs which don't exist. What is coming out llf the war except splendid phrases is is the solution? Surely not the closing down of the 88S Washington St., Boston, Mass. tea~hing them; and the Bolshevik R.evolution, in shipyards for a protracted period. The shipyards BI/ndle orders 2C a coPy, SlIbscription $1.00 for which the workers themselves are masters of society, must be reopened; the strikers are the only ones to is having its profound influence among the workers six mouths (:z6 issues) do it. Then let's do it." of the world, silent, as yet inarticulate, but determin­ This was a proposal for revolutionary mass action; ing forms of action and about to burst forth in the and American Capitalism recognized the revolution­ international struggle for Socialism. And so they ary threat latent in the Seattle strike. The whole Reactionary A. F. of L. Officials strike-for shorter hours, for more wages, for better American press organized a campaign of slander conditions generally; but circumstances force these agairlst the strike; Mayor Ole Hanson used all the T HERE art at this moment 30,000 men and women workers to use new forms of action, to develop larger of the working class on strike in the textile mills power of the municipal government; Secretary of purposes; and an immature revolutionary expression V~r Baker sent troops to break the strike; all the of Lawrence, Ma~s. They have a hard struggle­ is imposed on the strikers by the brutality and aggres­ race prejudice and the governing powers are against forces of American Capitalism were directed against sion of the governing powers. the strike, the workers elsewhere did not responcr; them. In the midst of this hard struggle, the Central One thing the strikers seem to be learning, and that Labor Union of Lawrene issues an attack upon the and the strike ended-but only temporarily. Its edu­ is-it is not enough to strike, and fold your arms: cational value has been tremendous. The American strike: it declares that the strike is not at all founded strikes must become more aetive, must have a larger upon the "reasonable demands" of organized labor, working class 'will accept revolutionary mass action. purpose. They must, in the first place. become more Then came another industrial explosion, in Butte, but represents a bold attempt of a few leaders to stir general; not one trade, nor one industry, but a large up trouble, that the demands of the strikers are pro­ Mont. Thousands of miners are on strike, including number must strike ;-a general strike ;-they must hundreds of demobilized soldiers. The strike is being Gemlan (!) and tacitly calls upon organized labor be ready to meet the hostility of the state, the use not to support the strikers. This is infamous; it re­ directed by the local Soldiers' and Workers' Council, of armed troops; and they must, in any large strikc, 1,000 demobilized soldiers alone being on the picket minds one of the attempts of the A. F. of L. bureau­ assume control of keeping the life of a city going cracy to break the great Lawrence strike in 1912 by line. The Mayor has proclaimed martial law·: but the tlICIIISel'i.'CS while the strike is on and the employers workers are organizing their own military guards. all sorts of desperate and contemptible means. There are being beaten. is a real struggle developing between the workers and prepared to meet force with force, if necessary. reactionary unions and reactionary union officials: in In the great Seattle general strike, of the shipyard Troops of the regular army are being used against England this is a great issue, it is beoming a great workers, car men, and others, the new tactics of the the strikers, many of whom have been bayoneted issue here. There mllst be a struggle against reac­ industrial struggle were partly in action. It was a while picketing. The Council has demanded of Sec­ tionary unionism, against corrupt union officials, strike of many tradcs; it was managed by a unified retary of War Baker whether these troops are being against betrayals of the working class. On this issue council of the various industrial strikers; and ·it tried used as strike-breakers with the consent of the De­ the Socialist cannot compromise: it must become a to as:,ull1e municipal functions so that the strike might partment of War. Major A. M. Jones, of the United central issue of our party policy-industrial unionism rontiuue while the citizens of Seattle were not pre­ States Army, informed the soldiers and sailors that and mass action against reactionary unionism and its vented from eating and carrying on their regular he had cleaned up the scum of Panama and that there officials. functions. would be no dallying with the "disturbing" elements The Central Labor Council of Seattle issued the in Butte. The troops are armed to the teeth with Strikes and Mass following proclamation: machine gun equipment. Action "On Thursday at 10 A. M. there will be many cheer­ The strike in Butte is still in process of develop­ HEY said that thc American workers had no­ ing and there will be some who fear. Both these n\ent ; it may develop into a general strike; it 11 tinged thing' to complain about. They said that only enlotions are useful, but not te'''' much of either. We with revolutionary sentiments, the most important T in Europc could they have industrial revolts­ are undertaking the most tremeudous move ever made thing being the unity of soldiers and workers. In that only in monarchial countries was there any rev­ by labor me nin this country-a move which leads no this sign the working class will conquer I olutionary spirit. They have declared, the corrupt one knO\vs where. \Ve do not need hysteria. We Then there is the Lawrence strike; there was the masters of bonrgeois society, that the American work­ pee(1 thc iron march of labor. Labor will feed the silk-workers strike in Paterson and a number of ers were satisfied, and that only a few foreign agit­ people. Twclve great kitchens have been offered, and strikes in N~w York-all proof of the great move­ ators and un-American ideas were responsible for from them food will be distributed by the provision ment among the working class. unrest. They tried to isolate the American working trades at low cost to all. Labor will care for the babies This strike movement is developing new features. class, assisted by Samuel Gompers, against the inter­ and thc sick. The milk wagon drivers and the laundry The Butte, Seattle and Lawrence strikes are largely national development of class action and class cons­ drivers are arranging for supplying milk to babies, mass movements; the old union officials are bdng ciousness. invalids and hospitals and taking care of the clean­ repudiated; the workers are taking power 1nto their in~ of linen for hospitals. But. instinct ively, irresistibly, great strikes are de­ cwn hands, depending upon their own initiative and "Labor will preserve order. The strike committee veloping ill our l·olmtry. The war is over; the world mass aetion-as ;n England and in Russia. The old is arranging for guards, and it is expected that the is ~:1 fe for ';Ikmocracy;" the peace conference, union officials are largely conservative; they ar~ stopping of the cars will keep people at home.... through :\'\ r. Wilson. talks beautifully of a new order united with the government and with capital; they of civilization: 1,000,000,000 are appropriated by the o;.t\ s a mere shutdown will not affect these Eastern are trying to tie ropes upon the workers-the workers American Congress to feed Europeans; the press g<'ntJe111en Ithe shipowners] much, they could let the must repudiate them. Unionism and the working teems with reports of prosperity;---,but unemployment whole Xort,hwest go to pieces, as far as money alone class must be revolutionized before they can revolu­ is 0n the increase; demobilized soldiers can't get jobs; i5 concerned, but the closing down of the capitalistic­ tionize Capitalism. and all O\'cr the country strikes are breaking out, a ally controlled industries of Seattle, while the workers Strikes are not "made to order" by agitators-they gnat struggle is developing between the proletariat organize to feed the people. to care for the babies and come because they must, out of the terrible pressure and the c;Jpitalist class. the i'ick and to preserve order, this will move them, upon the workers. That more and larger strikes are for this looks too much like the taking over of power coming, that they are more radical than in th~ old In its i~sue of December I I, 1918, Tlte RC't'olution­ hy th~ workers. Labor will not only shut down the days is becat!se of more pressure, more expenence, ar:.'-' Aye saill: ;ndustries. but labor will reopen under the manage­ m~re understanding. H\Yith the cnd of the war and 'the peculiar indust­ ment of the appropriate trades such activities as are Bad davs are ahead for the American workers. nle rial conditicll" it created, will come readjustment; and necded to preserve public health and public peace. war has -strengthened the power of the capitalists, with re:1cljl1~tl11ent wilt come an era of great industrial r f thl' strike continues labor may feel led to avoid but not to the same extent the power of the workers. strug-~Ie". greAmerican left must have responded; they forced the hands of the officials, who mass action, by means of the seizure of power by the a clear theory and an uncompromising policy. Theory became "me too" Bolsheviki, but who did not draw revolutionary proletariat. The parliamentary strug­ is itself a social force; and our theory must be in com­ the revolutionary implications of the Bolshevik polq. gle, as th~ Manifesto itself says elsewhere, is plete accerd with Marxism and the proletarian revo­ These officials and their machinery baffled the will of agitational; its chief purpose is and can alone be the lution in Germany and in Russia, in accord with the the membership; more, the membership baffled itself development of the revolutionary consciousness and developments of life itself. Then we shall conquer 1 because it did not clearly understand the theory and mass action of the proletariat, which can seize power the practice implied in its instinctive class conscious­ and establish the transitional "state" of Socialism­ ness and revolutionary spirit. the state of Soviets, of the organized producers, func­ Bolshevikjabs While our N. E. C. accepts the Berne Congress and tioning temporarily as a dictatorship of the prole­ MR. HUNTINGTON, who has been a commercial refuses to call an emergency National Convention, tariat. attache in Russia, a kind of advance booking locals of the party are actively engaged in the great The Manifesto further says that "the Socialist bal­ agent for CapitaJism, is giving some very interesting struggle\ turning to the left, to revolutionary Social­ lot must be supported by the might of 'the itJdlutrial information to the Senatorial Committee which is, ism. Groups within the party are organizing and organization of the working class'." This is laying the or at any rate thinks it is, investigating Bolshevism. issuing proclamations, determined that the party shall emphasis on political action, while the creative revo­ We cull the following from the New York Times conquer the party for revolutionary Socialism. Two lutionary action lies in the industrial and revolution­ report of the proceedings: of these proclamations were published in the last ary mass ation of the proletariat. The Mani festo ac­ "In answer to a question as to whether or not issue of The Revolvtio1Ulry Age. They deserve seri­ cepts De Leon's formulation of this vital tactioal a report were true that several Russian Grand Dukes ®s consideration and discussion. problem; but revolutionary Socialism in Russia and had been thrown into a well and then bombarded with The manifesto of the Communist Propaganda ir. Germany has improved upon De Leon's concep­ hand grenades by Russian Red Guards, Dr. Hunting­ League of Chicago is a concise document. Its critic­ tion, and emphasizes that the conquest of the power ton said that he understood the report was correct. ism of the party is summarized: "the party proceeds of the state is not a parliamentary act, but an ac;t of He said that his information came from an American on too narrow an understanding of political action revlutionary seizure through proletarian mass actron business man of standing who was in the town at for a party of revolution; that its programs and plat­ breaking loose in a revolutionary crisis. And it is the the time of the slaughter. The bodies were afterward forms have been reformist and petty bourgeois in task of the political party of Socialism to prepare the recovered." character, instead of being definitely directed toward proletariat for action in this crisis. This conception If the hand grenades were part of the commerce the goal of social revolution; the party has failed to of industrial organization leads to another statement to which Dr. Huntington was attached it is no wonder achieve unity with the revolutionary movement on of. the Manifesto: "Only the eonomic Lrganization that this mission was unsuccessful and we would like the indUl;trial field." Its proposals for democratizing [this means, we presume, revolutionary industrial to say that he should not be blamed for ~e failure the .party-mass action in the party-are excellent; unionism] of the working class can build the new as even the most ignorant and primitive people dis­ it repudiates the old International and the Berne Con­ society within the shell of the old." Acceptance of like buying bum goods twice. gress, and asks: "Identification of the Socialist Party this {ormualtion depends upon whether it is relative * * * with class conscious industrial unionism; unity of or absolute. The dotrinaire industrial union concep-· \Vhile the investigation is going on and as there all kinds of proletarian action and protest forming tion, accepted by the Socialist Labor Party, is that seems to be a difficulty in locating the Bolshevild part of the revolutionary class struggle; political ac­ when the whole working class, or an overwhelming money that has come into this country we would like tion to include political strikes and demonstrations, majority, is organized industrially, then they may to respectfully suggest that the committee cast an and to be in cooperation with industrial mass action; seize industry and establish the industrial state. But inquiring eye on the' prohibitionists. no compromising with any groups not inherently. this, clearly, is utopian. The conditions of Capitalism Tom Mooney's case, .Frank Little's murder, the committed to the revolutionary class struggle, such as do not allow this gigantic organization of the prole­ Bisbee deportations, the reduction of wages, the in­ Labor parties, People's Council, Non-Partisan tariat; all that industrial unionism can accomplish is crease in unemployment, have all left the A. F. of L. Leagues, Municipal Ownership Leagues, and the to organize the working class partially into industrial cold, but prohibition is precipitating a labor revolt. like." The manifesto is too abstract in its formula­ unions, to establish a centre around which action! The g-rim spectre of a general strike stalks behind tion; but it is a dear expression of the left ,tendency. might unite, to develop the ideology of the industrial the "drys." We should remember that these Bolshe­ The manifesto published in our last issue under state; but you can "build the new society" only under viki are a desperate band and will turn to anything the caption "Manifesto and Program of the Left the shield of the dictatorship of the proletariat; only to accomplish their fell purpose. While we have been Wing of the American Socialist Movement" was when the working class has seized the Sitate power, keeping- strict watch on ferocious, dirty-looking, wild formulated and adopted by a group of comrades in and organized its new, transitional state, can the ideal eyed, long haired foreigners, is it not quite possible New York City, a group started by a bolt of dele­ of industrial unionism constructing the new commun­ that the sanctimonious looking gentlemen in the plug gates from a general meeting _of the Central Com­ ist society be realized. hats and shabby Alberts are the real agents of the mittees of the Greater New York Locals, after the The Manifesto accepts proletarian dictatorship, but Bolsheviki? meeting refused to discipline the "Socialist" Alder­ does not emphasize or clearly express its functions * * * men who are betraying Socialism and the party. It and its character. Its conception of the function of The indignation of the committee 011 learning that is a comprehensive document, and its tendency is that the "industrial organization" clearly indicates its the Bolsheviki are not in favor of the freedom of of revolutionary Socialism. But in many of its form­ lack of understanding. Moreover, the Manifesto does the press is really heroic. Wait till it discovers Burle­ ulations it is unfortunate and hasty, giving the im­ not mention the necessity of revolutionary mass ac­ son's existence! pression of not clearly understanding the problems tion (although it is implied)-that mass action which * * * under consideration. is the basis of the new Socialist tactics, of the prole­ Now that deportations are becoming fashionable We shall not discuss minor points, such as includ­ tarian dictatorship. In this the Manifesto is contra­ we hope that Congress will see the ttrg-ent necessity ing the Socialist Party of Italy among the particl:l dictory: in one place it says the state will be captured of speeding up the building of transports. whose "official press . . . suddenly reversed its po­ by the capture of legislative seats; in another place it * * * sition and called for resistance to the invader"-the says: "revolutionary Socialists do not propose to wait \Ve have come to the conclusion that this is a Italian Socialist Party has alw~ys been against war, until the vast majority of the people vote them into foreign country. The strikers in Seattle are foreign­ and it is a Bolshevik party. power." That is the policy of revolutionary Socialism, ers, the Butte miners are fore\g'ners, the Patterson There are more serious things. The moderate, but this formulation is contradicted !:Iy other portions weavers are foreigners, the Lawrence workers are parliamentary Socialists, says this Manifesto, "lost of the Manifesto, by other interpretations of political foreigners, the New York and Philadelphia clothing sight of Socialism's original purpose; their goal be­ acion. It must necessarily imply the acceptance of workers are foreigners. in fact all the 100 per centers came two-fold-'constrvctive reforms' and Cabinet revolutionary mass ation as the means for the con­ seem to have died of the flue . . . . ~ortfolios, of the means to an end they made an end quest of power by the proletariat. P. S.-The compositor says: "All but Indians are i. itself." In its demand "that the Socialist Party of America foreigners." This is either an unfortunate formulation, or a issue a call for an international congress of those * * * complete misunderstanding of revolutionary political groups of the Socialist movement that participated Is Japan's threatened war on China going to be .aioD. The impUcatioa is that "constructive reforms" both in the Zimmerwald Conference in September, "the last war?" 4. THE REVOLUTIONARY AGE Saturday, February 15, 1919 The Lawrence Strike - Impressions I N the general rush to cut wages the capitalists of By Richard Hansen throughout the world are foreigners where Capital­ Lawrence have kept abreast of their kind in the ism rules; the real citizens being only those who own other towns of the country. The introduction of a the factories, mills, mines and land-the Woods, Mor­ 48 hour week-decided upon some time ago, but de­ Strike Committee itself was invaded by a half-dozen gans, Rockefellers. . . . layed 011 account of the war orders--could not be armed brutes and the secretary, Ime Kaplan, arrested They are discovering that so far there is only one postponed any longer. on a trumped up charge, without even the formality exception-Russia-where everyone who is capable Government orders began to dwind·le, the business of a warrant. It is hard to believe that any feuda~ and willing to work is a citizen, without discrimina­ of the Woolen Trust shank somewhat and the stream despot ever had. at his cOl1unand a more irresponsible tion, where the workers themselves decide how the of boys coming home from "over there" and pouring horde of mercenaries. No crime is too black for Cap­ industries shaH be run and the conditions under which into the mills made it impossible to retain the 54 hour italism, when it is determined upon crushing an "up­ they shall work. rising" of the workers, though the demands of the week. The capitalists themselves proclaimed the 48 They are beginning to see that thus far only the hour schedule, carefully representing it as a great strikers are so extremely modest and their behavior so considerate that no sane person could call it a riot Russian workers have conquered irrevocably, wrested and glorious achievment for the 600,000 working men the means of life from the clutches of the greedy and women of the textile industry throughout the much less an uprising . Though the strikers' demands are so moderate their capitalists. Germany and England are in process of country. But the capitalists meant wages should be being freed from tile domination of Capitalism. Bol­ cut accordingly and apparently it was agreed with masters have detennined that they shall not have the right to refuse to work for less than a starvation wage shevism is spreading. The working class has set out the reactionary labor leader Golden that the workers to conquer their own countries and make themselves should not have any say in the matter. but must be drivel! back to the mills like sheep. Gov­ ernment experts, in the employ of the War Labor citizens. And the workers of Lawrence are becoming But it was not to be expected that the workers proud of being caBed Bolsheviki. who had lived through the great struggle of 1912 Board, have stated, after a careful and conservative would accept such a deal and they demanded that the investigation, that $30 per week is the necessary mi­ The capitalist press has~old them what they them­ present standard of wages be maintained-a standard nimum for a family of three to live in decency and selves did not know; that they were foreigners and by no means high, averaging only around $16 a week. it ·is generally assumed that an 8 hour day means a Rolsheviki. This is the single truth among the thou­ It is obvious that $16 a week is a starvation wage in 44 hour week. The workers of Lawrence, however, sands of lies that the capitalist press has spread about the full and sinister meaning of the word. The multi­ have not asked for this minimum established by Gov­ the Lawrence strike. This is the great lesson that the millionaires of the textile junkerdom know it, the city ernment experts. They are asking scarcely half as 30,000 workers are learning from the present struggle and state governments know it, as do the courts and much. All they insist upon is that the $16. shall not -the strike of "48-54-" It is a good lesson for the the Federal government. Nevertheless all the power be reduced. Nevertheless all the bestiality of Capital­ proletariat of America, and the! capitalists will be of the master class, the press and the legal machinery ism is turned loose upon them. , . . sorry for bringing it home to the workers and for has been directed towards reducing the miserable pay Tens of thousands of men and women, who gave keeping it firmly implanted in their minds by brutality envelopes of the textile slaves by the few cents re­ their brothers and sons to the army, who bought the at).d repression. The lesson will not be forgotten. presented in sixhou.rs pay. so-called Liberty Bonds, who trustfully hoped for and The time is not far distant when even "44-$30" The whole affair is piracy. And the industrial ba­ expected a brighter future after the war are now spat will appear as a modest demand even to the textile rons have acted Hke pirates. All their local hirelings upon, are ridden down by men on horseback, are rail­ workers. The workers are learning to understand have been mobilized, but this is 'not enough. Police roaded to prison, are thrown into misery and want that Bolshevism is the only way out of the d_oIe squadrons have been imported from Boston, Cam­ by their savage masters. crellted by Capitalism. They will ask for all they pro­ bridge, Lowell, Lynn and even across'the state boun­ In the press and even by the elected officials the duce, thev will make themselves real citizens of their dary from Manchester, N. H; Like the Cossack workers are reviled as foreigners and Bolsheviki. A country. 'They are becoming tired of being foreigners hordes of Czarist Russia they have been let loose upon week ago they resented this, they thought it was an in their own lands and starving in the face of plenty. the streets and sidewalks of Lawrence, clubbing down insult, they protested at being called foreigners whiie The present strike in Lawrence will end in victory defenseless women and men peacefully marching in thousands of them have citizen papers in their poc­ for the workers. The spirit of solidarity is admirable, the picket lines. After being beaten the workers are kets and many are native born citizens. But they are the sympathy for them is general. And the V'ictory arrested and dragged into court where the -just ma­ quickly realizing that a citizen in name is often a will mean something more to the workers of Law­ gistrates impose heavy fines on the most flimsy evid­ foreigner in deed. They have started to think and rence than "48--54." It will mean a lot of experience ence and framed up testimony. they have discovered that even an American born and the development of class consciousness which are The city government has refused to allow the worker is not a citizen, that they are all foreigners­ so important for the final deliverance of the workers strikers to parade in the streets. The other day the foreigners in their own country-and that all workers from the exploitation and oppression of Capitalism. Three Socialist Strike Leaflets "General Strike~Or?" silent, the steel is rusting in the winter rain, spiders "Ruuia Did It." spin their webs from girder to girder, and no ships Leaflet issued by Local Seattle of the Socialist Party Leaflet isSfUed by the Seattle Young People'S slide down the ways to carry the commerce .of the Shipyard Work ..s-You left the shipyards to en­ S ociolist League world. All is silent in the yards. Your labor power force your demands for higher "Cages. Without yon HE profiteers have made miIIions out of the ships has been withdrawn and a portion of the world stands your employers :Ire helpless. Without you they can­ the !Workers built. Now they refuse these work­ still. Does not this make you realize your strength? not make one cent of profit-their whole system oC T ers a living wage. They have forced thirty-thous­ Can you not see that it is the workers who produce robbery has collapsed. and men to go on strike. the wealth of the world and it is to the workers that The shipyards are idle; the toilers have withdrawn the wealth .should lbelong? Then why not prepare All the profiteering employers of Seattle are banded even though the owners of the yards are still there. to take that which is y~urs by right? together in their Employers' Association. All have a Are your masters building ships? No. Without your labor power it would take all the shipyard employers common interest in driving the shipyard workers back Strikers! The shipyard employers have confessed to slave conditions and smashing their labor organiz­ that they cannot properly manage industry. They say of Seattle and Tacoma working eight hours a day the next thousand years to tum out one ship. Of what ation, the Metal Trades. that they cannot conduct the yards efficiently enough use are they in the shipyards? The allied bosses want to smash the shipyard work­ to provide the workers with necessary food, clothing It is you and you alone who build the ships; you and shelter. They are failures. They admit it. But ers now so that they can have free hand to smash the create all the wealth of society today; you milke pos­ rest of the union men of Seattle later on. you strikers know you could properly run the yards sible the $75,000 sable coats for millionaires' wivt's. These' profiteers hate all unionism. They hate the because you have always run the yards. You know that you could shorten the hours, use more safeguards It; is you alone who can build the ships. longshoremen, the street car men, the electrical work.­ They can't build the ships. You can. Why don't you ~ ers, the men of the building trades, the restaurant against accident and death, have more sanitary ar­ There are the shipyards; more ships are urgent!), workers and all ethers as much as they hate the Metal rangements, give to every worm employed more of the necessities and luxuries of life, and still produce needed; you alone can build them. If the masters Trades organization that is ondtlcting this strike. -continue their dog-in-the-manger attitude, not able They want to eat labor piece meal. First the ship­ the ships that the world so sorely needs. You could to build the ships themselves and not allowing the yard workers, then the others. So they can make this l1lanage the shipyards through an industrial organiza­ workers to, there is only one thing left for you to do. an open shop town and cut wages. tion. You could discipline yourselves by your own uni­ Take over the management of the shipyards your­ Divide and c()tlquer is the motto of the boses ..... ons. You could select your own managers by compe­ selves; make the shipyards your own; make the jobs But we have a better motto. It is together we win!­ titive test from vour own members. You could control your own: decide the working conditions yourselves; If sixty thousand union men and women of Seattle your jobs and your own lives. You could work as free decide your wages yourselves. go out on a general strike the bosses \ViII cry for mercy. men instead of slaves. And you could produce the In Russia the masters refused to give their slaves Capital is helpless without labor. The business inter­ ships at far less expenditure of human labor energy a living wage too. The Russian workers put aside the ests cannot afford a general strike. And we cannot than under the wasteful rule of the inefficient indust­ bosses and their tool, the Russian government, and too!, afford to see our shipyard brothers beaten, because rial masters. Accept the employers apology. They ove.r industry in their own interests. our tum would come next. have failed Prepare to take and control the indust­ There is oni\' one way out; a nation-wide generhs imposed (2) A subsistence grant to all adults, represented centralize the control of industry, they have so by its fluctuations. developed the means of production that it threatens to in capitalistic values, of 7 pounds ($34) per week. With the exception of certain "Labour" Members And in addition a slid.ng scale of subsistence grants overwhelm them: either through the lack of raw. of Parliament, who take their seats and impotently materials, as at present, or later on, through the to the parmts of children up to five, ten, and fift,en await the proposals and legislation of their masters, years respefti'lJely, and a subsistence grant to both immense mass of products they will throw on the with the exception of their Trade Union fights with markets. sexes over tifteen and under 21 years of age. the employing class (fought singly, and either beaten The equalised standard of subsistence is reckoned What are their chief proposals to their workers? in detail or gettine concessions granted which have To return to the old methods of peasant holdiJtr! in capitalist values for these reasons: not in any way interrupted capitalist progression), 1st-It is essentIal that all individuals· shall be able and allotments, thus chaining up the worker to a piti· the working class has never yet, as a class, attempted ful existence on the land, and incim:nta¥y providing to gratify their wishes in realising the use value of the fight, not merely against the capitalist, but against the products of industry. Thus the progress of inven­ cheap labor for the capitalist farmer, whilst within the the system that produces him. industrial cities the glut on the markets is to be met tion is unretarded and the human mind so varied in With the downfall of the ruling classes of Russia its likes and dislikes, is not compelled to adapt itself by beggarly pittances of State relief to the unem­ and the Central Empires, their position to-day is even ployed worker. to some uncongenial environment of food, clothing more perilous than at any time during the war. Ob­ and shelter, whose finality of horror is that determined. These are the measures they propose at a time In viously the Government could not prolong its exist­ the history of mankind ·when his knowledge of pro­ by the capitalist class for the producers of their ence for another two or three yqrs, its plea of na­ wealth. Accordingly it is necessary-at any rate during duction can make wealth to flow like water! tional necessity existing no longer. Yet the economic Truly the capitalist class is bankrupt in intelligence the transitional pe:-iod-to fix l\' distributive value on problems created by the war could not wait and the the product, based on the cost of production in labour and ideas. Their further control of society is inimical possibility of a Parliamentary election occurring at a to its fullest welfare. As a ruling class they are obso­ time from the source of the raw material to the fin­ period when these problems had become acute has ished product. Eliminating from this cost the expenses lete. They must step aside and accept the new con­ compelled the oligarchy to act even against the advice dition produced by the means of production. of transport and administration, the cost of produc­ of some of its most faithful adheTents. tion would be :-Raw materials and depreciation and They accordingly dissolved Parliament, and selec­ The working class alone can solve the economic repair of machinery, tools, etc., and factory and sub­ ing their nominees under the label of Coalition, they problem. In their ranks are the skill, technique, and sistence grant to workers of £7 per week of 36 hou·rs calmly inform the working class that these protectors ability for organization which shall cause the labour. of the rights and liberties of democracy await their machinery of production to work smoothly for the 2nd-The whole of the surplus products of the franchise! benefit of every member of society. Prevented by, Communal Industries would be available to support Their objective is evident. By hook or crook the their position as an exploited class from com~.aing in those workers who wilt function as factors in distri­ oligarchy is determined to control political power. the mad struggle for individual gain, they have not the bution and the public services, the aged, infirm and In doing so it is compelled to show openly at last that lust for wealth and power which is so marked a trait sick, and the maintenance and education of the rising Capitalist S oeiety is governed and controUed by a of the capitalist class. Society is safe within their generation. small ring of fiery wealthy capitalists who govern dictatorship. With the downfall of capitalism the It must also be remembered that large numbers of through a Capitalist Dictatorshij in the mterests of necessity for exploiting new markets and new lands non-producing workers, who do not function in pro­ capital and not by the democratic vo~es of the people exists no longer. Thus the long series of wars and the duction or distribution under capitalism, yet are fed, of Britain. conflicts of dynasties and peoples come to an end and clothed and sheltered will, within Communism, be Yet, in order to establish a Soviet Republic, it is mankind enters into a new. and glorious era. absorbed into its industrial life. essential for the working-class to posses the political The capitalist class accuses the Communists of Taking all the foregoing faators into consideration, control over society that will enable it to abolish the fomenting industrial discontent and class warfare. It the production of the communal industries would be capitalist mode of production. In other words the is true, the Communists everywhere endeavour to increased fourfold as compared with Capitalism, and working-class must become the ,.uling clMs, and show their fellow workers their true position in s0- the proposed subsistence grant of £7 per week would through a period of time-the transitional periotl­ ciety. What the capitalists really desire is that they, have a corresponding distributive value reckoned 1D sufficient to establish firmly social and economic as a class, should dominate society, whilst their pas­ capitalist terms of at least an income of £700 per eql4ality, it must function as a Proletarian Dictator­ sive, obedient wage-slaves produce their wealth and annum to every adult member of the community. ship over the whole of MJeiety and bend it to its will. humbly receive the crumbs that fall from their tables. At present, at any rate, the capture of Parliament Accordingly, they conspire to continue their do­ DIstribution of Currency Notes is impossible, for the working-class have no Parlia­ mination. Meanwhile their press brazenly affirms that The subsistence grants would be in distributive mentary organization and the oligarchy ,viII use every of all societies, capitalism alone is the best and the notes of decimal values or of the present monetary method to delay its formation; nor can Industrial So­ only possible. system. Ai already pointed out their use would enabfe cialists, if elected, do anything: completely under their "The Communists disdain to conceal their aims." each communal member to acquire any desired pro­ domination, Parliament acts and reacts solely to the They openly declare that only the abolition of Capi­ duct, and also enable the Communal Industries to will of the oligan'hy, who directed its l-egislation. talism will end the poverty and degradation of the place a cost of production on their products. The cost Also it has been shown that Parliament will not working class. of production value would also enable the Central function within the Co-operative Commonwealth. Workers and Soldiers of Britain: form your cou,,­ Departments to arrange the necessary credits for the Accordingly, to brin~ about a Proletarian Dictator­ cils! importation of goods of foreign origin and the ex­ ship, the working-class must form its own political Let YOf4r watch~CJords be: portation .f certaiB surplus prCHiucts of the Co-opera­ machine on the same basis upon which it will form the Social and econo,,,ic equality! TTle land and the dve Commonweal•. Co-operative Commonwealth, viz., the administration instruments of troduction for the people! The wiTes ami mothers of families (who would also of industry. A Soviet Republic for Britain' receive the subsistence grants of their children), the There is another factor in the present si~tion. All power to the Workers' and Soldiers' Counrils' Saturday, February 15, 1919 THE REVOLUTIONARY AGE 7 The Character of the Russian Revolution HE first anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolu­ From the MOKo." Pravda, October 28, 1918 measures to realize the emancipat:on of the working tion of November 7, 1917, was celebrated uni­ class and realize communism. The organizations and T versally in Russia. Prior tit and during the the plot of Kornilov: the surrender of Riga to the institutions established through the Nov~mber Rev­ course of the celebrations a flood of inquiries poured Germans by Kornilov to frighten the Revolution, Kor­ olution as means of realizing mass emancipation, and in to the Regional Committee of the Communist Par­ nilov's rebellion and his campaign against Petrograd j the contrast in the position of the toilers before and ty of Russia (Bolshev;ki) ~~. infonnation and ~ug­ the Democratic Congress and the Preliminary Parlia­ after the Bolshevik Revolution. gestions cQncerning the character of the event and ment-all these events were, on the one hand, an 2) The basic principles of the Declaration of the the phases that should be emphasized. The Bolshe­ open organization and campaign of the counter-rev­ Rights of the Toilers and the constitution of the S0- vik Revolution was an historical event of enonnous olution against the workers and peasants, and, on the viet Republic as expressing the movement for eman­ importance, and its character still a matter of dis­ other, a growth toward the Revolution of Novem­ cipation. cussion. The Regional Committee, accordingly, work­ ber 7 under the slogan, II All power to the Soviets." ed out a summary of the points to emphasize in speak­ 3-The Significance of the Bolshevik Revolution During this critical period the Mensheviki and the for the International Proletariall M ovm'"nl ing and writing about that great proletarian event. Social-Revolutionary party were openly allied with The Rn'olutionary Age re-prints this document as the counter-revolution. I) The November Revolution in Russia has been of interest to all workers and Socialists: S) The November Revolution-the organization a stimulus to the workers in other nations, awakening in Petrograd of the Military Revolutionary Com­ them and putting before them the issue of the dest­ I-An Historical Survey of the Bolshevik ruction of Capitalism and war as a immediate prob­ Revol.. tion mittee; the uprising of the masses and the overthrow of the government of Kerensky; the sessions of the lem. A preliminary outline of the character of the Rev­ second All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workmen, 2) The Bolshevik Re~olufon prepared the way olution of March, 1917: 1) characterize the activity Peasants and Soldiers, and the heroic struggle of the for the organization of the Third International,· the of the first Provisional Government (Lvov-Milyukov) workmen and soldiers against the counter-revolution. International of Revolutionary Socialism, and this as well as the Coalition Government (Kerensky) as 6) The Congress decreeing all power to the So­ marks the beginning of the end of Capitalism and bourgeois in composition and policy, emphasizing the viets; the organization of a revolutionary Govern­ Imperialism. attempts of these governments to degrade the Rev­ ment, the Council of People's Commissaires, the de­ 3) The development of the proletarian revolution olutlon to their imperialistic aims-the great demon­ crees giving the land to the peasants, on peace, and in the West and the oppositional, counter-revolution­ stration of May 2-3 against the imperialistic policy on workmen's control of industry; the struggle for ary attitude of the imperialists of all countries toward of the Government and Milyukov, and the offensive peace (Brest-Litovsk negotiations); the Constituent Soviet Russia is convincing proof of the great influ­ of, July 1; discuss the international character of the Assembly, an organ of bourgeois power and against ence of our Revolution on the workers of the world. Revolution as indicated in the declaration of the the workmen's and peasants' revolution, and its dis­ Petrograd Soviet of Workmen's Delegates, March 4-0ur New Problems and the Condition.r solution by the Council of People's Commissaires j of thei,. Realization 27, 1917, calling upon the international proletariat the acceptance of the Brest-Litovsk treaty, as a to struggle for peace and against Imperialism. means of securing a respite for reorganization, and I) The main problem-organizing the defense of 2) The land question and the labor question (pea­ the struggle of revolutionary propaganda against Soviet Russia against international Imperialism. It santry and proletariat) were questions identified with Gennan Imperialism. is necessary to fonn a mighty Red Army, and to general economic problems; emphasize the utter re­ 7) The November Revolution in the Ukraine and organize aid for the workers of the West in their fusal of the Provisional Government to act on the the Don, its defeat there owing to the bourgeois alli­ deVeloping revolutionary act'on against the imperial­ dem~nds of the workers and peasants-the bourgeoi­ ance with international Imperialism. istic war and against Imperialism. sie sabotaging production to starve the Revolution, 8) The intelligentsi4's sabotage and its .ppesition 2) The conditions necessary to realize this fun­ the Government arresting land-committees of the pea­ to the proletarian revolution, proof of its being a damenW task are, among others: completing the or­ sants which seized the lands, etc. petty bourgeois cOltnter-revolutinary group chained ganization of the whole economic life on Socialist 3) The different parties in the March Revolution to the interests of capitalist society. principles, unity of the workmen and poorer peasants. -the counter-revolutionary character of the bour­ 9) The subsequent events and tactics of the left military training for all toilers. continuing the re­ geois parties (Cadets, etc.), the treason of the Men­ Social-Revolutionists (uprising in July, i91S) char­ lentless struggle against the bourgeoisie and for an sheviki . and· the Social-Revolutionists who accepted flcterize th~ as a petty bourgeois party, and their iron dictatorship of the proletariat. the bourgeo; government and a bourgeois policy; the tactics as counter-revolutionary. Intervention and 3) Finally, it is necessary to point out that our revolutionalJ consistency of the Bolshevik policy, the Czecho-Slovaks. ultimate goal-Communism--can be realized only on which on all issues pursued a revolutionary course. 10) The fundamental decrees issued by the So­ conditions that the international proletariat revolution 4) The events of July, 1917, as marking a turning viet Government, measures to restore the country, shall triumph, or have begun to triumph. point in the development of the Russian Revolution­ place all power in the masses, and develop communist Accordingly, all for the world Revolution! the offensive of July I, to restore discipline in the Socialism. anny and placate the Allies; the mass demonstratioQs In all their speeches the comrade-a~itators must of July 16-17, the Government's use of troops and 2-The Achin'ments of the November point out the influence of the imperialistic war on the counter-revolutionary gangs against the workers, and Revolution origin and progress of the Bolshevik Revolution. the measures of repression used, against the revolu­ I) The November (Bolshevik) Revolution is a In proposing this plan to the comrade-agitators, the tionary masses: the reactionary sweep after July: the Socialist Revolution which placed the land and the Regional Committee at the same time considers it Moscow 'Conference, at which the bourgeois reaction factories, and all state power, in the hands of the toil­ necessary that the local organizations shall define and the counter-revolutionary generals dominated; ers. The substance of the Soviet decrees as Socialist the celebrations and the character of the slogans. Soviet Russia Speaks to Britain

~ order to obtain the consent of the workers of [A copy of a leaflet, p,.inted in English, d,.opped they hope you will bring. Who else is welcoming you ~ Britain to the unwarranted act of aggression ove,. Ihe British lines on the Vologda Front, by The ex-landlords of Russia, who are expecting you I against us, your Government gives the following Bolshevik aernplane. Like leaflets are also printed to restore to them the land, forests, and mints which ~ their reasons for landing troops in our country: in Frellch, Italian, Russian, and even Japanese.] are now the property of the whole Russian people. The Capitalists, who want you to overthrow our I. That they have come to stamp out anarchy and restore order. cur social and economic life in such a manner to se­ 'Vorkmen's Governments and compel us to become cure to the workers the products of their labor. Your their wage slaves again. The chinovniks, the ex­ It is not true. Your Government and the French Government is not helping to do this. It has sent you officials of the Czarist Government, who want you Government are themselves responsible for what dis­ here to prevent our doing it. Your Government is to restore to them the:r soft jobs, to resume their old order there is in Russia. Ever since the Revolution co-operating with the Czecho-Slovaks, who are sup­ game of bribery and corruotion for which Russia in the agents of the French and British Governments pressing the workers wherever they go. In Samara the past was notorious. Yes, this crowd, with their have been conspiring with the counter-revolutionaries, the workers obtained an eight-hour day. It has been hangers-on. are very pleased to see you here. They giving them moral encouragement and financial as­ abolished. All working-class organizations, Trades will Ratter you and make a fuss of you; all the while sistance for the purpose of undermining the power Unions, and such like are suppressed. Wherever the they have a supreme contempt for YOlt, for you are of our Workmen's Government and to bring about Czecho-Sl<:>vaks go they suppress our Workmen's only working men whom they are using as their tools. its downfall. Your Government and the French Gov­ Councils, and establish in their stead an oligarchy of The Russian commander at your head. General Gurko ernment are co-operating with the Czecho-Slovaks, speculatoTll, capitalists, and ex...czar officers. Your is a reactionary of the worst descr'otion. He was who have blocked the access to our food supplies. Government will use you to do the same in North arrested by Kerensky for his monarchist propaganda. The serious food shortage in our country is aggravat­ and Central Russia. If your Government wanted to The agents of your Government helped him to escape. ing the disorganization. If there is disorder your help the Russian people it would recognize the Soviet His only object in joining you is to use you to restore Governments are responsible for it. Remember when Government of the \Vorkers and Peasants and assist the Czar. a capitalist Government enters a country where there us to reorganize our railways and industries. We, in Comrades! Do not put your trust in this reaction­ has been a revolution for the purpose of restoring fact, invited your Government to enter into business ary gang. Do not pennit yourselves to be used as the "order," it always means that they intend to crush relations with us that would have been to our mutual tools of the enemies of liberty. Never let the shameful the Revolution. That is what the Gennan Govern­ advantage. But your Government made no reply. thing be said that the English workers pennitted ment did in Poland, in the Ukraine, in the Baltic Pro­ N ~yoltr Government does not want to help the Rus­ themselves to be used to crush the Russian Revolu­ vinces, and in Finland. That is what your Govern­ sian people. It is helping to fasten the yoke of capi­ tion. ment wants to do in Russia. They do not want to talism and Czarism on them again. Fellow workers! Be loyal to your class and refuse restore order. They want to restore the Czar. 3. That the Allied invasion of Ru!sia is welcomed to do the dirty work of your masters. 2. That they have come to help the Russian people. by the Russian people. (Signed) LENIN. President of the Council In the first place is it helping to bring war amongst It is not true. Who is welcoming your landin,? of Peoples' Commissaires. a people already exhausted by war? We do not want A few starving peasants. whom your Government war. \Ve want peace'. \Ve want to be left alone to bribetl with promises of food. These poor people are (Signed) TCHITCHERIN. PeoTll~s' Commis­ consolidate the gain!' of our Revolution, to reorganize not glad to see you. They are only eager for the food saire of Foreign Affairs. ,8 THE REVOLUTIONARY AGE Saturday, Fe1araary 16, 1919 The Holy Trinity of Capital By Nicholas I. Hourwich ''HOLY TRINITY"-tbese are the three con­ "motion picture" of the confidence which the working ferences now being held in Europe: in Paris, though to the proletariat, fighting for i!s emanripation, masses and the Socialists are alleged to feel towards , ' the "peace conference." the "international" more contemptible and repulsive--is the. picture of the the gathering in session at Paris and its "child" the sOcial-patriotic corigress at Berne, Switzerland, and congness of the social-traitors of all countries now in league of nation$ (which is to all appearances not the German National Assembly. To a certain extent session at Berne. This congress was called with the destined to be born at all). an equality can be traced among these three partres, obvious and only purpose of strengthening the position Instead, however, of the touching enactment of an they compose an actual "trinity," for they have, &,s act of "reconciliation of classes," the Berne confer­ a matter of fact, gathered to work for a common ence lbegan with quarrelling and the flinging of mutual atuse--to save ("a!litalist society and its "foundations" Withdraw from Berne! accusations by the:;e "Socialists of the home pot,"­ from t~ coming "red-Bolshevist" m~nace. The w~ole ided in "astonishing the world" and is !rere. . the working clas.; of Germany will correct all its past errors. And thi" "new storm" is not a good omen "set fire to the waters," the representatives of all bour­ for the German bourgeoisie ....• geois powers now gathered in Paris have begun to quarrel among themselves over the straightening out of social-patrioti;.m and opportunism in all countries The three "strategic ;points" of the world Du~i­ of accounts. thereby still more increasing the uni­ and of attempt!n!! to win back the lost confidence of !(;«.'-Paris, Derne and Weimar-with historical in­ ve1'llal hopelessness of the "international situation." the workers thUS' saving them from the "contamina­ e\·itabletle!'s arc destined to become the three grave No less ~adder and hopeless to the bourgeois ("ye- tion" of Dolshe\·ism. This congress had to enact a l'TO!'ses in the cemetery of world capitalillm. The Bolsheviki Repudiate the Berne Congress T HE Central Committee of the Russian Commun- ter-revolutionaries organizing themselves for the pur­ ag-ainst participation in the conferences of falsely ist (Bolshevik) Party in a manifesto on the pro­ pose of forming leagues against the proletarian rev­ ("ailed Socialists.The Russian Communist (Bolshevik) posal to call together an International Conference at olution;; the warJd over, the Communists of all coun­ I 'arty refuses to take part in these conferences which Lausanne declares that the project cannot be con­ tries must rapidly close their ranks around the third abuse the name of Socialism. It invites all those who sidered even as an attempt to revive the Second In­ International-already. in fact. existing. This third desire that the third Revolutionary International shall ternational. The latter ceased to exist during the Tntt'rnational has nothing in common with the avowed live to take the same line; the task of this third Inter­ first days of August. 1914, when the representatives Socialist fmperialists or with the pseudo-revolution­ Jlational being to hasten the conquest of power by of tlle majority of nearly all the Socialist parties pass­ ary Socialists, who in reality support the former when the working class. ec.l over into the ranks of their Imperialist Govern­ they refuse to hreak with them and who do not recoil The CO"1I11tmic;t parties of Finland, Esthonia, Li­ ments. The attempts made to revive this Interna­ tht1ani~, of White Russia, the Ukraine, Poland, and tional. for which agitation has been carried on in all I rolJaml are at one with the Russian Communist countries throughout the war, emanated from ele­ Jlarty. The latter also regards as its associates the ments standing mid-way, which, whilst not recognil­ S!J:tr!acus group in Germany, the Communist Party it'lg openly Imperialist Socialism, nevertheless had no Mass Meeting I.f (;erlllan Austria and other revolutionary proleta­ idea of creating a third revolutionary International. in iian clements of the countries in the old Austro-Hun­ The 'attempts made to go back to the pre-war situatioa garian Empire: the Left Social Democrats of Sweden. regarding the labor movement crashed ag~inst the the Revolutionary Social Democracy of Switzerland Imperialist policy. of the official parties whi£h coi.t1d Grand Opera House :!:)(I Italy. the follower~ of Maclean in England, of not at that time admit the appearance of an attempt D(·l,;; in .'merica, of Loriot in France. In their per­ to restore the International. fearing, as they did, that Comer of Dover and Wuhington Streets !'nn:l the tJJird J nternational which is at the head of tbis mig-ht tend to weaken the war policy of the (iov­ Boston, M.... the \\'orl(l Revolution already exists. emment and the working class working in unison. To counteract these attempts the Imperialist Socialist \t the Jlre~ent moment when the Socialist Imperial­ parties undertook to change the conditions of repre­ Sunday, February 16, 1919 i~ts of the Entente, who formerly hurled the most !!entation of the national sections in the old Interna­ at 2 P. M. \';olent accusations against Scheidl"mann, are about tional. The last so-called inter-Allied conferences in In ullite with him and to hreak the power of Social­ the Entente cotmtriell made it clear that this change IME KAPLAX i~m in all countries, the Comll1unist Party considers had been effected. Great Britain was represented by General Se;:retary Lawrence Strike Committe(', 1];<1t tlnity fnr the "'orld Revolution is an indispens­ a motley organization in which the Socialist parties and other prominent speakers ,I hIe t'omlition for its success. Its 1110st dangerous could play no direct role. Italy was represented by <:n::lIl\' now i~ the Yellow International of the Social­ 1net1 whose party never before belonged to the Inter­ Auspice" Boston Local Socialist Party :~I tr~titors--thanks to whom Capitalillm still succeeds national and whose presence compelled the absence of i!1 h('ping' a considerahle portion of the working class theoffidal Italian Socialil't Party. America was reprl"­ ADMISSION FREE 1')HIt-,r its influence. For the conquest of power hy !ICt1ted hy \rOnl11ers representing association!' which 1lit· \I·orkcrs let us carryon an implacahle struggle nnrer had anything to do with the Socialists. :tg-ailll't those who are (leceiving thl"ll1--against the , As against the International of traitors and coun' pse\1fI()-~ocialist traitors.