Combined with uThe New Yor~ Comm~nist" The Revolutionary Age Devoted to the International Communist StruBlle

Vol. 2, No.3. Saturday, July 19, 1919 Price Se.

1: }"f'2A1>E ~ ~H1I.(, g., t

~~

Guaranteed to cure all Wars, Corns, Bugs and Protect Capital 2 THE REVOLUTIONARY Ar.R July 19, 1919-

conquered; and now, the world greets the ,The Revolutionary Age French Revolution as a great event. Now to Work Combined with The Ne'll.' York "Communist" November 7 symbolizes the proletarian rev­ olution; for it was. on that day in 1917 that APITALISM plunged the world into war. National Orgui of the Left Wing Section the Russian proletariat conquered power. C It made work for death instead of life the Socialist Patty Abuse and slanders are the portion of the normal occupation of peoples. It disorganized LOllIS C. FRAINA, Editor men and women of this Revolution; the whole industry, encouraged destruction and idealized world of bourgeois privilege is arrayed against EADMONN MACALPINE, Managit~g Editor death. Capitalism did all these things in order the Soviet Republic, the Bolsheviki being stig­ to promote the supremacy of Capitalism. Owned and Controlled by the Left Wing matized as beasts and assassins,-precisely Section of the Socialist Party as during the French Revolution. The terrible tragedy of the war was a pro­ 'When the world accepted democracy, it re­ duct of the terrible tragedy of peace. Cap­ NATIONAL COUNCIL italism is latent war and destruction, becom­ John BaHam C. E. Ruthenberg versed the original opinion of the French Rev­ olution; when the world accepts ,the Com .. ing actual and all-consumming at a particular Max Cohen Benjamin_ Gitlow moment. The necessity of war and destruc­ James Larkin 1. E. Ferguson munist Commonwealth-as it will-the world will 'reverse the prevailing opinion of the Rus­ tion creates its own ideology: Capitalism Bertram D. Wolfe makes a litany to war and destructj'\" "leces­ I. E. Ferguson, National Se' :etarv sian Revolution, and greet it as the greatest event in all history, since it initiated the final sary to Capitalism but against life and peace. Issued Weekly. B. Gitlciwl Business Manager struggle against class privilege and class dom­ Capitalism, during the war, made its litany Cjc. a copy. Six months, $1.50. One year, $3.00. ination. to war and destruction familiar to the masses. Bundle orders, 10 or over, 30 cents a copy. War was a symbol of all the virtues, of self­ 43 West 29th Street, New York City. sacrifice, of honor and courage, of the finest The' Small Nations in man. Work, in itself, was beautiful in ~he ~~ measure that it promoted war. It was neces­ BEFORE the Allies secured 'the services of sary to fight and destroy, argued Capitalism, Woodrow Wilson in creating an ideology for in order to realize one's ideals. the' war, they conceived the war as a war to But the workers did not realize any of their "protect the small nations." But these nations Union Bureaucrac9 ideals during' the war-they simply realized were not "protected" at the Peace Conference, death, agony and oppression. War was to the WHEREVER militant labor gets in action" it being used by the great powers in making the workers a tragic teacher; it taught them that meets the antagonism of the bureaucracy of world safe for their Imperialism. it is necessary to fight and destroy to realize the old unions. The Amerkan labor mc., le­ Under the conditions of Imperialism, there ment is familiar with the contemptible in­ ideals, but in a particular way. The masses can, be no real independence for the small of Europe, accordingly, are restive; they have trigues of the A. F. of L. bureaucracy against nations; they may have their own govern­ I. W. W. strikes, and particularly during the accepted the ideology of power; they propose ments, but these must act in accord with the to fight and destroy in the struggle against gr-eat Lawrence strike of 1912, when the A. Imperialism of the great powers. The small F. of L. officials did all in their power to Capitalism in order to realize their proletarian nations, moreover, become means for the ideals. break the workers' struggle. This tendency great powers directly to promote their own But now Capitalism, realizing the menace also characterized the recent general strike in pre~atory purposes. Seattle. New nations are being created in Central of its own teaching, is speaking piously against The union bureaucrats are particularly Europe,-Poland, Czecho-Slovakia, Jugo­ war and destruction. It now sings a litany to peace and work. against industrial I unionism, since industrial Slavia; and others are in prospect. No carving­ unionism ends craft divisions and craft dis­ out these nations, the Allies have one general The statesmen of the worldl until recently putes, which constitute the power of the union purpose: to erect a barrier against Bolshevik; idealizing war and destruction, are now ideal­ bureaucracy. In Canada, the One Big Union Russia. It works this way: the Allies decided izing work. In Italy, France, and England, in -industrial unionism-has captured the im­ that Soviet Russia should be crushed: accord­ the "Socialist" Republic of Germany and in agination of the organized' workers. The ingly, they bargained with the Czechs that, the United States, the chorus now is: "Cease One Big Union directed the great general in return 'for national independence, they your struggles, workers. We must have social strike 'in Canada; but, says an observer, "the should fight against Soviet ·Russia. This peace. An end to destruction! In work alone International Brotherhoods have come out bargain has been agreed upon also with Fin­ is our redemption." against the strikers, shrewdly forseeing in the land, N ow comes the news that the Allies' Work is now necessary to Capitalism, as One Big Union the destruction of their orga­ have decided that Soviet Russia must be war was necessary for almost five years. The nization." This is a damning indictment of crushed, but they dare not send their own proletariat is always urged to do the thing the old unionism. troops to do the dirty work; accordingly, an necessa:ry for Capitalism. One of the chief functions of the Commun­ agreement is concluded with Rumania and But this means work under the old condi­ ist Party now in process of formation will Czecho-Slovakia to fight the Hungarian So­ tions of peace,-with t1;te oppression of the be to wage unrelenting war upon the old viet Republic. The Allies control the world's worker by the employer. There is not much union bureaucracy, to encourage and rally trade and finance and use this control to redemption in that for the workers. the militant mass movements in these unions. coerce the small nations. Struggle is necessary. It is necessary to to construct a revolutionary union movement. Imperialistic France is developing a gran­ struggle against oppression, against injustice, diose scheme for the domination of the con­ against the dominant class and its old order. tinent of Europe. In fulfillment of this scheme I t is necessary to destroy this order of Cap­ July 14-November 7 France is erecting a group of small nations in italism. Social peace is realizable only after Central Europe which are under the diploma­ the struggle against Capitalism ends in the JULY 14, symbol of the conquest of the tic and financial control of France, and which BastIlle by the masses of Paris, was this year destruction of Capitalism. Life must destroy cannot act unless allowed to by the imperial­ in order to realize life. in France officially a celebration of the victory istic &lique that governs France. Imperial­ over Germany. ,The July 14 of 1879 sym­ istic France conceives this scheme so import­ Work is necessary. But work under Cap­ bolizes revolution and progress; but the of­ ant that it antagonizes Italy in order to const­ italism means drudgery and oppression. It ficial "Victory" celebration of July 14. 1919, ruct a Jugo-Slav nation under French control. means that man.lives to work, instead of work­ symbolizes reaction. Yet among the masses The small nations, moreover, are satisfied ing to live. there was a revolutionary threat! ... to be used by the great powers. The capitalists "In work alone is redemption," says that The bourgeois press offers its tribute to of the small nations possess large appetites Capitalism which just a year ago urged that July 14, and the French Revolution, greeting and small power-hence they adopt means of redemption was in war. There is redemption these events as real contributions to the pro­ intrigue and become vassals of ~he big im­ in work,-under new conditions. If the work­ gress of th-e world. Sim1,lltaneoltsly" the perialistic nations. They are utterly reactionary ers 'return meekly to work under the old con­ press heaps slander and abuse upon the Rus­ and terrible oppressors of labor. ditions, it will mean redemption for Capitalism. sian Revolution, Time was when the struggle for national I t is necessary that the workers should strug­ One hundred years ago, the French Rev­ independence was revolutionary and progres~­ gle to end Capitalism, after which alone work olution was slandered as an orgy of assassins ive. N ow these aspirations for national inde­ will mean redemption for the workers. and beasts. The whole of privil~ged Europe pendence are simply an opportunity for Im­ To work? Yes! To work in the struggle intrigued against the Reyolution, precisely as perialism to a~grandize itself. The ,struggle ag-ainst Capitalism, to destroy the old order. it now intrigues against the Russian Revolu­ of our epoch 1S the international proletarian Then will work mean redemption-a new life tion. But the ideas of the French Revolution struggle against Imperialism. a nd a new world. July 19, 1919. THE REVOLUTIONARY" AGE 3

The political strike, according to Collier's, Political Mass Strikes "is hostile to democracy .... Their legitimate The Parly Fight instrument is the citizen's vote, not economic HE Michigan-Federaton call "to organize T HE proposed general strike to compel the civil war." Democracy is hostile to the poli­ release of Tom Mooney and other class tical strike, since the function of democracy T a Communist Party" of their own, con­ war prisoners has not, as yet, materialized. is to reconcile the workers to their oppression sidered elsewhere in this issue, contains this Sabotaged by the bureaucracy of the American and assure the supremacy of Capitalism. Eco­ utterly misleading statement: Federation of Labor and its necessity blurred nomic civil war is a repudiation of democracy: "Their policy (that "of the National Left by the liberal-"Socialist" campaign for am­ but capital uses this civil war to impose its Wing) is one of endeavor to capture the old nestv, the proposed mass strike is now a thing will equally upon the workers and the state. party machinery and the stagnant elements of ;egrets. The bourgeois press is jubilant Capital threatens the workers with unemploy­ who have been struggling for a false unity since a strike to compel the release of class ment and starvation unless its supremacy is and who are only ready to abandon the ship war prisoners would constitute a political assured; and capital threatens the state Should when it sinks beneath the waves of reaction." strike, the first use by American labor of this the state act contrary to its will. Capital im­ The!" amount of misrepresentation in this aggressive and potentially revolutionary form poses its will upon the state since it controls short parag~aph is truly astonishing: of action. the financial and economic power; labor must I) The policy of the National Council of impose its will upon the state by means of its the Left Wing is not "to capture the old But as econon~ic pressure and revolutionary machinery." The Left Wing struggle is to agitation proceed, the political strike will be­ assertion of econoniic power in political mass strikes. get the revolutionary masses in the Socialist come familiar to the "American proletariat," Party. " since class antagonisms and class struggles are Democracy prevails in France, Italy and " 2) The Left Wing is not after "the stag­ being emphasized, necessitating emphatic England. But this democracy does not pre­ nant elements who have been struggling for action. vent conscription, it did not prevent the war, a false unity" in the Socialist Party. The In Europe, where the political strike is a it does not prevent the starvation of the Rus­ revolutionary masses in the party are not familiar form of proletarian action, the work­ sian people and supplying Kolchak & Co. with stagnant; the "intensity "of their struggle ers are preparing for the mightiest of all poli­ munitions to murder the Russian people. against the Right Wing is a proof that they tical strikes-a political strike simultaneoilsly Realizing these fruits of democracy, the work­ are not concerned with a "false unity." It is in France, Italy and England on July 21 to ers are concluding: To hell with democracy! not the state of Michigan nor the Central compel the end of intervention in Russia. The Capital controls the state and the press, -it Committee of the Russian Federation which proletariat of Italy is using the political strike controls all the availa:ble means of social ex­ "has made a national issue of revolutionary to act on the food crisis; while the Seamen's pression and can sabotage the will of the Socialism in the Socialist Party, but precisely Federation at Naples preventecl the steamer masses expressed in "the citizen's vote." The these revolutionary masses in the Left Wing Cablons, boutid from London to Vladivostok, one real social expression capable of being who" are now stigmatized as "stagnant ele-" from leaving the port because it carried muni­ used by labor is the mass political strike, which ments." tions for the counter-revolutionary forces in may, at the right moment, impose its own gov­ 3) To maintain a contact with the masses Siberia fighting the Soviet Republic. ernment forms upon society. Democracy as in the Socialist Party for some time longer, British labor is being agitated by the issue of it prevails is not the rule of the majority, but in order to agitate and rally the revolutionary the political strike. The moderates oppose this rule over the majority, it is the particular form elements for a Party of Communist Social­ aggressive form of proletarian action. James of expression of bourgeois requirements and ism, is not a policy of "false unity," but of Sexton, Labor Party member of Parliament, supremacy. If the mass political strike an­ actually carrying on the struggle for revolu­ "favors" a revolution so:ial in character, but nihilates this fraudulent democracy, so much tionary Socialism. opposes using the strike for political purposes the better for the political strike! V otes can 4) To accuse the Left Wing of being as it would be "letting mad dogs ioose." But be disregarded, but not the political mass composed of elements which "have been the more radical representatives of British strike of the proletariat. struggling for a false unity" in the Socialist labor urge the use of the mass political strike Party, is not in accord with the facts, and to end conscription, to compel the return of In the economic civil war which is a natural characteristic of Capitalism, an expression of disgraceful. It is the Michigan-Federation all troops from Russia and to stop the ship­ the irreconcilability of interests between labor clique which is acting on the basis of false ment of munitions to the troops of Kolchak unity, since the Michigan delegates repudiate and other counter-revolutionary elements. and capital, democracy is always repudiated. Government, tlational and municipal, suspends the Left Wing Manifesto and Program while the Federation delegates are in favor. To The bourgeois (aped by the "Socialist" mo­ all civil 1 ights ; the courts, the police and often derates) are against the political strike. An hell with consistency and revolutionary in­ the army are used against the workers on tegrity! editorial in Collier's of July 19 says: "Always strike; the issue becomes an issue of power. up to the present (strikes) have attempted There is no democracy during a strike; and The character of the Left Wing struggle claims only in regard to the workman's own should militant labor, when it develops the within the Socialist Party is determined needs: his wages, hours, and right to organize. power, recognize democracy, it stultifies itself equally by means and by purposes. The pur­ N ow the strike has been brought from the and defeats its own purposes. Power is the pose is to construct a Party of Communist So­ field of economics into that of politics. Instead final answer to Capitalism. cialism: the means, at the immediate moment, of defending the pay of a group, it is to dictate must consist of a struggle to secure the masses the policy of a state." In the general strike in Canada, particu­ in the Socialist Party. Precisely: it is militant labor's purpose to larly in Winnipeg, the municipal government In other words, a Party of Comunist So­ use it~ economic might by means of political practically disappeared as a force. This mass cialism must issue either out of the conquest strikes to impose its will upon the state. In strike was not 'a political strike; it was a strike ,f the Socialist Party, or out of a mass se­ the intensity of the class struggle, with the for direct economic objects; but it necessarily cession to organize a completely new Party. machinery of government deliberately calcul­ clashed with the state power and assumed a This policy has characterized "the struggle of ated to baffle the will of the masses, labor can political character. Instinctively, necessarily, the Left Wing within the Socialist Party. conquer only by the assertion of its economic the strikers usurped municipal functions of The Left Wing made an issue out of an might iIi political mass strikes. government; while the petty bourgeois and Emergency National Conv&ntiQn of the So­ bourgeois citizens organized their own forces It cialist Party: it forced the issae. Our policy, is just because strikes have been localized and equally usurped government functions;­ to wages and hours that labor has not secured determined l?y objective facts, was that the power and control over its own life. As poli­ the strike developing into a contest between Party struggle would come to a climax at this tical problems are at basis economic problems, the "government" of the strikers and the "gov­ Convention. Hut now that the struggle is on just so the economic problems of the workers ernment" of the bourgeois citizenry. 1,e verge of final crisis, a small clique insists are political problems in the sense that these The political strike develops out of the that we abandon the struggle at the crucial problems are products of exploitation and ex­ usual economic strike-the usual strike neces­ moment! ploitation is defended by the political power of sarily developing political characteristics when The utterly slanderous character of the the capitalists. But these problems of the it becomes general and clashes with the state. Michigan-Federation policy is indicated in workers are political in the larger sense, not The political strike is conscious of its purposes another mis-statement: "The majority of the simply in the parliamentary sense; they imply and, moreover, it develops out of the impulse cielegates to the Left Wing Conference neg­ the necessity of coercing the state, of impos­ of the mass struggle itself the tendency toward lected to sever their connections with the ing labor's will upon the state, and the initial proletarian dictatorship-all power to the reactionary N. E. C."! The N. E. C. was not form of accomplishing this purpose is a mass workers by means of their own gqvernment recognized; it was repudiated'; it was made stoppage of work in order to compel the state organs, as against all non-proletarian social clear that the Conference proposed a Party to come to terms. groups. of Communist Socialism. I \ t ~, 4 THE REVOLUTIONARY AGE July 19, 1919' i ~ \ racter is gone. She feels that her very name Here and There is in itself a jeer at her proutI announcements Bolshevikjabs of yesterday; the building of a new world, the N an editorial under the caption tiThe safeguarding of democracy, the war to end THE Right Wing in Local Kings, N. Y. I. American Offense Society", The New York war an~ the beautiful vision of a Capitalism at a meeting the other night decidd to Call emits a whine about the way in which the wherein the soldier, the machine gUll, the form an E11glish Brauch in .onc of the dist­ I American Defense Society quotes Hillquit. bombing plane, the battleship and the sub­ ricts-"Comrades Oshimky. Shit:lakoff, \Veil, marine would be as rare as a prohibitionist "One item listed is a small pamphlet, entitled Pavlov and Sheinbh!111 were elected." Ii 'The Immediate Issue', by Morris Hillquit, on Broadway. She is gratIually awakening to \Ve understand that thc formation of a the fact that there ain't no New Republic, but which is a reprint from The Call." says the forei~n speaking Brandt is ('on~err:plated antI I ,editorial. "From this pamphlet these patriot- only the 'Old republics, up to their old tricks, wot1ld suggest the election of Comrades Lin­ eers quote the following: under new names. That is excluding Russia coIn, Washingtoll Jefferson, Adams and \ and Hungary, and our once proud contempo­ l "Shall the socialization of industries and Hancock. national life be. attempted by one master rary could not, of course, .have anything to do stroke, or shall it be carried out gradually with them. Why, she has not even been intro­ * * * and slowly? duced. Besides their language is coarse and A delegation of merchants, teachers and students visited Peking palace the other day "This article appeared a few weeks ago in plain. They talk of dictatorship, iron discipline, and proletarian might, when everybody who antI attempted to commit suicide in the pre­ the columns of this paperl and the extract sence of President Hsu Shih-chang as a pro­ quoted above is taken from it. It deals With is anybody is at least mentioning democracy, a controversy within the Socialist Party and rule of majorities, and plebicites even in the test against the transfer of Shantung to Ja­ ans'wered this question by affirming that no drawing-rooms. pan by the Reace Treaty. This method of great social change is possible in this country In the last issue The New Republic, in a protest is said to have the unqualified ap­ by 'one master stroke.' (Call's italics). It is an burst of indignation, announces· to the world proval of Japan. answer to some heated individuals who think the enormity of her betrayal. The alliance with * * * that a social revolution is imminent in this France, blows t~e League of Nations to atoms, Judging from the speeches which the Pre· country." proves that Mr. Wilson did not always mean sident has delivered since his return fror.] . The Call then becomes indignant at what it what he said, or say what he meant, lays the abroad the chief purpose of his visit to Eu­ terms the "'mendacity" of the American foundations for new wars, and shows that rope was, not to make peace, but to find out Defense Society. It waxes virtuous, denounces France and England are scheming for what just to what length the Europeans were go~ng the methods pursued by such organizations got Germany into trouble-the domination of in their admiration of America. and assures the world that Hillquit is very the world. * * * much against "master strokes." . We are inclined to think that all the things The chief advantage of this interpretation The correct title for this editorial would be: The New Republic attributes to the alliance of his mission lies in the fact that even the "Please, Mr., it wasn't me, it was the other with France are exactly what those who fram­ most carping senator cannot very well find fellow." The Call denounces the American ed the pact intended. France is

T HE onward sweep of world revolution portations, in which bombs, stilletos, Black (rmuna s'Vndical~m." The criminal citation has not left this country unmoved. In Hand work, secret cellar conspiracies and was a COP)T of The One Big Union but later in deadly poisons play an important part. the case other papers and pamphlets were spite of the A. F. of L. Convention, the failure introduced. Along with Socialist, and 1. W. W. of the Mooney events and the oft repeated In Massachusetts, Indiana, California and several other states the criminal syn­ papers-The Revolutionary Age and The Re­ warning that "this country is not Russia," the bel W orker,-such revolutionary papers as events that have been remoulding the old world dicalism law is already in effect, while a Criminal Syndicalism Bill is pending in Con­ The Dial and The Nation are cited while have made a deep and lasting impression in among the pamphlets are a reprint of a speech America. Nowhere is this more clearly de­ "'ress. At the present time several arrests have been.made under these state criminal syndical­ delivered in the English parliament by Philip monstrated th~n in the attitude of the powers ism laws, and their true nature is being Snowden. Jus,tice and Labor in the Mooney that be towards all forms of radicalism. The Case. The Old Order in Europe and the New forces of "law and order" are suffering from brought to light. From the facts in the case which is before the courts of California it is 01'1('1' i11 Russia, by M. Phillips Price. a bad case of nerves. In the fury of fear they When the. court was informed that the pub­ are rushing headlong towards that which they clear that anything that the industrial barons of this country do not like can be construed liclibraries circulate books of even more ra­ r1esire to avoid. "This country is not Russia" dical tendency the police judge said that "all they cry, and set about making it as like the 'as criminal syndicalism. The absence of a de­ finition of what criminal syndicalism really such books should be burned, these books were old Russia as possible, with the result that the written before these times, and since the times tendency to make (t like new Russia grows by is, gives the law practically a universal scope. No overt act is necessary in order to bring one are now changed, we must adapt ourselves to leaps and bounds, among the working masses· the new conditions." All over the country the legislatures are within the scope of this law and the written framing new laws, which are modelled on or spoken word becomes criminal syndicalism This gives some idea of what is meant by, those of the Czar's regime. The "rulers" of through the District Attorney's interpretation criminal syndicalism and the case has aroused America see the handwriting on the wall but of what some unknown person or persons wide-spread interest among labor organiza­ they have "learnt nothing and forgottetJ might think as a result of reading an article tions. The workers are beginning to under­ nothing". They desire to avoid the fate of the or listening to a speech. stand that criminal syndicalism, as interpreted European autocracies, and so they scan the The various state laws dealing with the by the courts, is aimed against them. That the statute books of the old autocracies and mo­ subject differ somewhat in the wording but inea of protecting the country from "bomb del new laws on those that contributed to the in effect they are practically the same. Under ",lotters" is simply a subterfuge and that the downfall of these autocrats, in the belief that these laws anyone is guilty who advocates the purpose of such laws is to prevent workers they will save the new autocracy from the changing of existing conditions by a general from learning anything that might be of dis­ same fate. cessation of industry. by force, or by any advantage to their masters. And that any One such measure which is enjoying great method . that stands a reasonable chance of \"orker who takes an intelligent interest in the popularity with budding czars is the so-called success. It is not necessary that the, guilty per­ affairs of the world or of his own relation to Criminal Syndicalism Law. No one seems to son' should actually suggest the overthrow of society is guilty of criminal syndicalism and is know exactly what criminal syndicalism is, the government or even desire its downfall. liable to suffer a long term of imprisonment. none of the laws attempt to define it, but it all that is required is that someone should Labor is beginning to examine these laws sounds pretty bad and so it is hoped it will think, as a result of hearing a speaker or read­ and to wonder just when a strike is criminal pass unchallenged. The average worker in ing an article, that it wouldn't be a bad thing syndicalism and when it is not. Faintly America knows little of syndicalism, as such. if the government was overthrown. In effect it is dawning on the worker that anything that It is not practiced by his union, he does not the criminal syndicalism laws are a revival of tends to make life worth living for those who expect that in the course of his struggles with all the old laws of suppression. To differ from labor is against the law. The workers of Russia the boss he will ever be called upon to invoke the king is crime. were well aware that the laws of the czar were its aid, and when he hears about a law to In the California case which is at present designed against them, they knew that they punish it he is not interested. When he hears before the courts, Emanuel Levin is charged had no part in their making and that the czar's that the law is designed not against syndicalism that he did "wilfully and unlawfully and will alone was law. So they rose up and swept bat criminal syndicalism he begins to be some­ felon,iously circulate and publicly display books, the czar out of existence. \~ hat in favor of it. That is what laws are for; pa.pers, pamphlets, documents and other prin­ But "this country is not Russia". Here the to punish criminal acts, and criminal syndical­ ted matter ... containing and carrying written workers make the laws and elect the govern­ ism is probably one of those European im- alld printed advocacy, teaching and ad'vising ment! The N. E.· C. Mobilizing Slanders T HE press service in behalf of the rump deal during the past three stirring years, with tional insanity (the Oneal explanation for N. E. C. is a shameless fabric of outright most exceptional opportunities for observation everything which differs from his own abso­ lies, half-truths which are worse then lies, and and intensive study. Where is the evidence lute wisdom). degraded personal slander. The Oneal state­ that his critics of the Right Wing have learned Again, Oneal refers to "that queer combin­ anything out of the cataclysmic developments ment of June 30th is of this calibre. ation of phrases known as the Left Wing of these years? Left Wing criticism of party actions and program." This is curious, indeed. At Chi­ politicS have been insistent and unrelenting, What did Comrade Reed do to entice the cago, during the recent N. E. C. deliberations, but they have been criticisms of party actions. party members to give him ten votes for each I heard Oneal carefully review the New York Cheap personalities cannot answer, these cri­ vote given to James Oneal? Perhaps the Left Wing program in order to demonstrate ticisms. party membership is not quite so stupid as how near he came to accepting it in its en­ Oneal imagines; perhaps there was a large tirely. He asked only for a few modifications. For instance there is much emphasis put element of discriminating judgment as be­ but his main point was that there was no on the fact that John Reed favored Woodrow tween these two individuals as representative legality or reason in such a program being Wilson in 1916 and now receives the high vote of present-day Socialism in the United States. adopted until Oneal and his associates were in the Socialist Party elections for Inter­ From every part of the country the results ready to dictate it to the membership. For national Delegates. When Comrade Reed are verv much the same, so the camouflage a "queer combination of phrases" as an eva­ came back from Russia and was but a few about election frauds does not help solve the weeks in the party those who are most insist­ sion of all principles, we need only refer to riddle of the enormous vote for Reed and the. the N. E. C. "statement of principles" of May ent about his former admiration for Woodrow meagre vote for Oneal. .One might think this 29th, heretofore reviewd in The Revolution­ \Vilson were very anxious to run Comrade vote was at least a hint to Oneal, but there ary Age. Reed as candidate for Congress. It was only ~re some persons whose vanity cannot be after he showed by his public utterances and The Left Wing program seems to mean party activities that he was of the Left Wing punctured by the membership of the Socia~ist much to most of the members of the Socialist that the New York politicians reminded them­ ·Party. They measure the intelligence of the Partv. But this is more evidence of brain party by its appreciation of themselves. If the ~elves of Reed's former support of Wilson, storms, according to the Oneal analysis. Is which was known to them all the time. The members give Reed ten times as many votes there anybody in the United States who is point is that John Reed has. learned a great as they give Oneal, it is a clear case of emo- (Continued 011 Page 13) July 19> 1919. TilE REVOLUTIONARY AGE 7 All Power to the Left Wing! T HERE is a call issued for the "organiz- By Louis C. Fraina out of a secession at the Emergency National Convention. ation of a Communist Party" at Chicago An Answer to the Michigan-Federation on September I. The Convention is called by a Call for a New Party 2) The Conference developed the theore­ "National Organization Committee" consist­ tical, tactical and organization basis for the ing of Dennis E. Batt, D. Elbaum, O. C. Party. Johnson, John Keracher. S. Kopnagel, ]. S. tral Committees of the Russian and Lettish 3) The Conference decided that, in the Stilson and A. Stoklitsky. The committee re­ Federations, who are the heart of the seces­ event the Socialist Party National Convention presents a small group which, emphasizing sion group. Yet they rallied around this call is postponed by the old N. E. c., the Council its own plans and purposes as against the con­ at the Conference-a miserable compromise. of the Left Wing shall proceed with the Con­ sidered opinion of the Left Wing Conference, This maneuvre was decisively beaten. vention. is actually sabotaging the Left Wing. But still the "Communist" minority stayed 4) The Conference, moreover, issued a This development was initiated at the Con­ in the Conference. At another session, De­ call for a Convention in Chicago, September ference. A group of comrades, of which the legate Hourwich (who was elected by Local I, of all revolutionary elements that would most consisted of the delegates of the Cen­ New York of the Left Wing, but actually re­ unite with a revolutionized Socialist Party or tral Commitee of the Russian Federation and presented the Central Committee of the Rus­ with a new Communist Party. four delegates from Michigan, together with sian Federation at the. Conference) proposed These decisions provide an ample basis for three utterly unrepresentative delegates from that, in add~tion to nine or eleven members the unity of all uncompromising Left Wing New York City, appeared at the Conference of the National Council of the Left Whig to forces. Yet a small clique of deserters issue determined upon one thing: to force the im­ be elected at the Conference, each Central their own call, as against the Lett Wing. mediate organization of a Communist Party. What is this call issued "to organize a Com­ All their actions were colored by this deter­ munist Party"? In the first place, it says: mination. The Conference itself did not in­ Call For Delegates "Those who realize that the capturing of the terest them. The task of laying the theore­ Socialist Party as such is an empty victory tical and tactical basis for our movement did Pursuant to the actions of the National Left Wing Conference, the following call is made will not hesitate to respond to this call and not interest them. All was secondary to their to Left Wing Socialists and Locals through­ leave the 'right' and the 'centre' to sink to­ preparations for a coup d'etat,' and when their out the country: gether with their 'revolutionary' leaders. . .. coup met miserable disaster, they practically Act at once to win the allotment of dele­ Rendered impotent by the conflicting emo­ abandoned the Conference. gates to your State for the Emergency Con­ vention of August 30th for the Left Wing. tions and lack of understanding present (the The Left Wing Conference laid down the Proceed at once, in a regular official way. Left \Ving Conference) continued to mark theoretical and tactical basis for a party of to instruct these delegates 'to join themselves time as centrists in the wake of the right." Communist Socialism. That is indisputable. with the National 'Left Wing Organization in its plans to transform the Socialist Party into In other words, the Conference and its Na­ It equally laid down the organization basis, a Communist Party, or to establish a new tional Council represent the "centre," while since it unified the forces of revolutionary Communist Party. the small clique of deserters represents the Socialism. A party does not consist simply Where the Left Wing has failed to make Left Wing. of a name. It must have a theory, tactics nominations on the regular ballots for elec­ tion of delegates, or where the Left Wing But now consider: The Call to "organize a and an organization,-all of which were dev­ elements cannot carry the regular party elec­ Communist Party" says: "This party will be eloped at the Conference. tions. to organize the Left Wing membership founded upon the following prii1ciples/' and The Conference was not against a Com­ provisionally for the purpose of electing de­ then comes the program of the proposed new legates to go to Chicago on August 30th to munist Party. The majority favored a Com­ work with the National Left Wing. party, every single word of which, except one munist Party in principle, but decided that The election of delegates by. the Left Wing short sentence and the excision of certain the fight within the Socialist Party should be acting outside the regular party machinery unimportant passages is the program adopted waged for two months more, to completely should however. be on same ration of dele­ by the Left Wing Conference, and appropriat:... gates to members as in regular election, al­ rout the moderates and to rally the revolu­ though the requirement of three years party ed by these deserters. tionary masses in the party, and that the final membership would not apply in this case. Either- decisi<5n should be in Chicago at the Emer­ In the formation of a new party these Left -the Left Wing Conference adopted a gency Party Convention. Wing delegates will constitute the only re­ revolutionary program worthy of being used presentation of their respective States, so it is The issue in dispute was not one of prin­ all-important that such delegates be sent to as the basis of a Communist Party, in which ciple. It was one of judgment whether to Chicago on August 30th. event the crime of the small clique of deserters organize the party immediately, or wait two Notify the Left Wing Council early and in bolting the Conference is moustrous; months. fully concerning your actions. Or- This is not a fundamental issue. NATIONAL CoUNCIL, LEFT WJNG -the Left Wing Conference was a "centre" But the minority deserted, at the moment I. E. Ferguson, Nat'l Sec'y Conference adopting a "centre" program, in when a concentration of our forces was ab­ which event the proposed Communist Party solutely necessary. is to be built upon the basis of a "centre" or Th~y are comrades who, at the moment Committee of the Russian Federations should non-Bolshevik program. when revolutionary unity is indispensable, elect one member each in addition-whiCh Either contingency is a terrible comment­ place their own ambitions and their own petty would have meant Central Committee, not ary on the acts of the seceding comrades. politics above the fundamental interests of the federation membership control of the Co~nci1. The small clique of deserters stigmatizes movement. Secessiol\ on principle is justifi­ This proposal was decisively defeated. And the Left Wing Con{erence as reactionary. But able; but secession where there is agreement then, at another session, 31 delegates, repre­ they adopt its program. By this adoption, on fundamental principles is desertion. senting mostly the Federation delegates, read they admit that it is a revOlutionary program Consider the facts: a declaration "withholding further activity in representative of fundamental Left Wing The problem of whether a Communist the Conference" because the Conference re­ principles and tactics. They admit, moreover, Party . should be organized immediately at jected the proposal for a Convention to that the Conference, in its formulation of the Conference was discussed at several ses­ c.rganize a Communist Party. theory and policy, was in accord with Com­ sions. The proposal was decisively defeated. But these delegates stayed in the Confer­ munist Socialism. The proposal being decisively defeated, the l.nce and participated in its acts after the It comes down to this, apparently, in the minority delegates who favored a Communist defeat of the "immediate Communist Party" judgment of the small clique of ,deserters: if Party immediately should have withdrawn and issue. They did not withdraw until the pro­ you favor the immediate organization of a organized the1'r party. That alone would have posal to control the National Council was de- I Communist Party, you are Left \Vlng; if you constituted sincere, consistent and uncom­ feated. In other words, the "Communist" min­ favor a Communist Party being organized promising procedure. But they stayed. ority did not secede until its proposal to allow two months later, you are a "centrist." It At a subsequent session, the "Communist" I.ach Federation Central Committee separate makes the test of revolutionary integrity, not minority qnited in favor of a Convention call­ representation on the Council, thereby secur­ one of fundamental principles and tactics, but ed by the State of Michigan for Chicago on 'ng control, was rejected by the Conference. one of time and judgment-which is nonsense. September 1 to "organize a new party." Re-consider the facts: Not all who favor an immediate organiz­ The call for a new party issued by Michi­ J) The Left Wing Conference decided in ation of the Communist Party are Bolsheviki. gan was not a Left Wing or Bolshevik call­ favor of a Communist Party, to issue either Three of the names signed to the Call are not that is admitted by the delegates of the Cen- out of the capture of the Socialist Party or (Continued on Page 8) ~ THE REVOLUTIONARY Ac.f'~ July 19, 1919- --~- ---~~.------.:.....::.:..:=:.. The Bolshevik Sweep R EPEATEDL Y items have appeared in the Bolshevism in the French Army, and in ing its first and most important duty, namely, . press to the effect that the Entente troops the French and British Navy that of restoring these provinces to a normal in Russia have in great measure been "infect­ course of life both in material and a moral sense, it is actually imposing chains upon the ed" with Bolshevik ideas. Th~ following ap­ changed! It is well known that there is now a liberties of the Russian people. N ow it is peal from French soldiers at Odessa to their Soviet Republic in Russia. Are not our two republics therefore sisters in their ideas, in clear to us that we are dealing with represent­ Russian comrades, which was published on their intensions? Can they not therefore unite atives of two classes. One class flatters us in April 1st in the Communist newspaper N asha in pursuing their common objects? Or is the order to confuse our minds, the other calls Pravda appearing at Riga, leaves nothing to Soviet Republic altogether too Socialistic? upon us in the name of the purest human be desired in the way of clearness. The very The reason actually is that our imperialistic feelings. \Ve hope that within the next few title is significant enough: The truth about rulers are mouth-pieces not for the will of the days we can render account precisely for all ,our so-called {(voluntary" sojourn at Odessa~ people, but for their own interests. They do that has happend and thus open the eyes of all "In spite of the promises," the appeal begins, the French workers, whose senses have been '''which were given by him who is rightly called misled by the uninterrupted lies of the gov­ :the dictator, namely, Clemenceau, who, fearing ernment press. We hope to be ahle to hasten Bolshevi~ Agitation -I to the aid of the Soviet Republic which is .a weakening both of the military front and of the· rear, declared in the Chamber several A report fr,om He1singfors recently stated I the only true democratic and Soda1istic re­ months ago, when it was not yet known to that the French batleship Curacao which was public. the flagship of the English Baltic fleet, with a "A group of French Soldiers." which side' victory would swing: 'We shall base at Helsingfors, has returned home, after wage war to a victorious conclusion, but when a minor explosion which produced some dam­ The above appeal shows very conclusively we have reached our goal, we shall not prolong age. Our correspondent, however, learns that that the Entente troops in Russia are experi­ there is a report in Finnish military circles the war a single unnecessary hour/-in spite to the effect that the cause for sending the encing a real, revolutionary and Socialist edu­ of tliese promises, we are still waging war. Curacao home, was not an explosion but a cation. Such soldiers will return to their res­ "The armistice signed November 11th was mutiny among the crew on board, who refused pective home countries as excellent proclaim­ regarded by us with a feeling of relief, as it to operate against the fleet of the Russian ers of the truth to the working masses. Workers' Republic at Kronstadt. As the mu­ was the end of the bloody slaughter. But the tiny threatened to spread to other ships the The newspaper of Deputy Brisson, La yoke of military discipline did not become battleship was sent home. Vag1te, publishes a letter from a French lighter for us. In fact, we began to feel its Mutiny in the French Baltic Fleet. sailor at Sebastopol, dated April 30 , 1919. pressure more than ever. Before we knew Reports from Tilsit are that the crew of According to the letter the French are to eva­ what was happening to us we found ourselves the French squadron at Libau recently raised cuate Russia because the revolution has in Russia to carry out in that country-we now the Red flag. The crews of the warships de­ broken out on the French armored cruisers recognize this to be the case-the most ex­ mandel of their officers to be returned to France. immediately. "France," "Justice," "Vergnac," and "Mi­ tensive and the most shameful attack on the The French vessels were immediately sent rabeau," as well as some other vessels lying lives and the liberty of the working class of home and an English squadron steamed in off Sebastopol, and on April 31st, the crews which we are ourselves members. to occupy their positions at the port of Libau. of the ships sang the International and raised "After landing at Odessa, unacquainted French Soldiers in Southern Russia. the Red Flag. Those on shore leave joined with the intentions of the government, we were According to a Soviet wireless message, the Bo1sheviki and marched through the mentioned in Avanti of May 4th, General streets of Sebastopol. There were a number absolutely at a loss concerning the political d' Anselme admitted in a conversation with situation in the city. representatives of the Odessa Soviet that the of encounters in which several persons were "On December 18th, blindly obedient to the Bolshevik propaganda had "demoralized" killed and wounded. When the sailors de­ servants of capital, the officers, we insolently sixty per cent of his soldiers. manded that Russia be evacuated the Admiral offended those whom we then did not know, replied with a promise that the evacuation but who are really the representatives of the violence to our own liberties when they sent should take place within fourteen days. coming, true Socialist republic. ForgiYe us, us out to check the liberating international So­ The. sailor added in his letter that if .Russia comrades and brothers! For on December cialist movement, of which we are so badly in should not be evacuated all the French sailors 18th, we did not yet understand what was the need. would revolt and no longer be answerable for interest in which we were opening fire. We "Our place is not here. We. have our own actions. now have the right to ask why our government people who are eagerly waiting our home­ L'Humanite reports that of the one hundred stood in a relation of friendship to Russia coming from the districts which have but re­ and thirty thousand copies of La Vague, one when a Czat: was at the head of that country, c~nt1y been freed from invasion. While our hundred and twenty thousand were confiscated a despot, while today the condition has entirely government should be devoting itself to realiz- because of the publication of the above letter. All Power to the Left Wing! ( Continued from Page 7) split away from the Left Wing Conference compromise. It decided upon an uncompro­ Bolsheviki at all-Dennis E. Batt, O. C. John­ which is so thoroughly Bolshevik that they !TIising party policy and adopted an uncom­ son and John Keracher. The program adopt­ adopt its program as the basis for their pro­ promising program. ed at the Left Wing Conference (which the posed new party. The compromisers of the proposed "Com­ Call for a Communist Party adopts as its The most miserable compromise lurks in munist Party" must be disciplined. They must program) was opposed in fundamentals by this whole procedure. At the Conference, the be repudiated. They must realize the neces­ these three Michigan comrades. Russian comrades rallied around the Michi­ sity of revolutionary discipline in the Left At the Conference, I challenged the com­ gan Call, which they admit was not Bolshe­ Wing. rade delegates of the Central Committees of vik; now the Michigan comrades accept a At the Conference the Michigan delegates the Russian and Lettish Federations to deny prograrn which they opposed at our Confer­ (who had not adopted the Left Wing Mani­ that the call for a new party issued by Michi­ ence and which they repudiate in fundament­ festo and Program) issued an ultimatum, that gan (around which they rallied) was not Bol­ als. This is petty politics, unworthy of men the Conference must either adopt their call shevik-cbut there was no answer to the chal­ in the revolutionary movement. and proposal for a Convention in September, lenge. A Communist Party must adhere to funda­ or they would withdraw and proceed with The MiChigan comrades (I mean the "lead­ mental revolutionary principles. It mu~t be their own plans. They acted directly against ers" and not the membership) are in funda­ uncompromising. the unity and discipline of the Left Wing. mentals antagonistic to Left Wing principles But .the proposed new Communist Party There is danger ahead, comrades, and par­ and tactics; they never adopted the Manifesto starts with the most miserable compromise ticularly comrades of the Russian Federation. and Program of the Left Wing; they' are, in imaginable. It starts with elements which do The vanity and the lust for power of leaders fundamentals, Menshevik. not agree: It compromises' in caucus, and must be crushed. We must have revolution­ In other words, Stoklitsky, Stilson, Hour­ st:lrts as a swamp. It is these compromising ary discipline. We must have a mass move­ wich & Co. are willing to unite forces. with comrades who at this moment are playing the ment. There is only one Left Wing, organ­ comrades whom they admit are in theory "centre" game. ized in the National Council. All power to actually antagonistic to Bolshevism; but they The Left Wing Conference repudiated the Left Wing! July 19, 1919. THE REVOLUTIONARY AGE ~ Soviet Hungary and the Allies

COMRADES': 1 will not utter a single By Bela Kun the situation over before we determine what to do, what can best succeeo in this land where beautiful word, and I beg that you will Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs-­ today the proletariat assumed power. Before listen in deadly seriousness to what I say. The Address I}elivered to the Budapest the determination that we establish a Prole­ dictatorship of the proletariat is-I define it Workers' Council tarian Dictatorship was reached' there were once more-the self government of the prole­ signs from certain circles that if we were to tariat.The proletariat 'itself decides how it is renounce our belief in Socialism, and place' to work and thereby really does work. Pro­ and some did not participate. It was clear to our faith in the coming of a Messiah, the of­ letarian dictatorship means a' break with all us that an army could not be easily .organized, fensive of the Entente would not materialize, secret diplomacy, it means a break with every that a new revolutionary discipline could not if, in other words, the Hungarian proletariat policy that requires being pursued behind the be easily created. Armies, revolutionary pro­ would bend its head under the yoke of trium­ back of the proletariat. And I will here say, letarian armies, class armies, can form revolu­ phant Imperialism. (Interruptions: never, without exaggeration and in concrete form, tionary proletarian discipline only of them. never!) all that one can and must say today about the selves in the war against counter-revolution, military and foreign situation. When I use and can maintain it only of its own accord. International Proletarian Revolution the word "can" I· do not mean that I will (Lively assent and applause.) To us this was Comrades! I speak further and beg you to conceal anything. When I say "can" I will clear, we have cooly and deliberately calcul­ hear me out quietly and seriously, for this is tell you everything that we know, all the know­ ated, for the revolutionary proletariat has not not the hour for enthusiasm but for deeds. ledge we can gather from the signs and symp­ only a warm heart, but also a cool, calm, deli­ (That's it, that's !t!) The case is this, com­ toms. berating head. rades, if a government should be established From Comrade Kunfi's speech it is clear The Rumanian offensive at first was suc­ here that would again set up the old order -we all know it is-that two world forces cessful; Szatmarnemeti has fallen. Now Szat­ of private property, a government that would are fighting over Hungary, over the Hungarian marnemeti is under bourgeois rulership, the not only make exploitation by the Hungarian Soviet Republic. The coming together of im­ dictatorship of the bourgeois. The rulership of capitalists possible, but would allow a double perialistic capital and Bolshevik Socialism is the proletariat has ended and the order of exploitation of the Hungarian proletariat­ taking place before us, and we are partici­ private property, rightly the anarchy of private exploitation by the Entente and by the Hun­ paters in the clash. The comrades know of the property, restored. The Rumanian troops are garian capitalists-it may call itself Socialist exchange of notes with the representative of now before N agyvarad, and within a short or coalition, if there should come such a gov­ the Entente, Gen. Stuuts, who was here. It was time the exploiting capitalist order will be ernment, I say, should such a government take not as if we stood on the principle of territo­ again established in that city. A part, a very over power, and, I will add, should there be rial integrity, not as if we wished to establish small part, of our troops held their ground, a Proletariat that will surrender its power, the oppressive policies of the old Hungary sacrificed everything, fought to the last drop then, comrades, the Entente offensive VlTi1l against the deeds of' the nationalists, but it is of blood; the rest like menials ran away so not materialize. because the Hungarian Republic of the work­ that the defense was lost. Debrecen is an im­ The alternative, comrades, is quite clear. ing masses wishes to live and exist that we do portant point, and there the workers have sup­ If we do not wish for private property, the not favor the pushing back of the demarcation pressed the counter-revolution (lively ap­ return of Capitalism, if we wish, on the con­ Hne towards us. Weare not willing to leave plause), there the armed proletariat has not trary, to uphold the Dictatorship of the Pro­ our freed proletarian brothers in the neutral only not given up its power, but today holds letariat, then we must act. We must consider zone to bend' anew under the yoke of Capital-, it stronger than ever. immediately which forces we can use as a de­ ism, to suffer again from the exploitation of To relate details about this Rumanian front, fense against the hostile imperialistic powers. Capitalism. For this reason we are not willing is, I think, unnecessary. Towards Bekoscsaba We must bear in mind that while the territory to submit, for submission wQuld mean de­ the war situation is bad. There the troops have of Hungary is small, not so immeasurably big p1"iving the Hungarian proletariat of the poss­ in part lost ground, the other part is holding as Russia, and having no such unlimited pos­ I ibility of physical life. We will not accept out. The Rumanians are attacking every­ sibilities for defense, still the forces of the the new boundary line, for we do not wish where with more power and better arms, better' International Proletarian Revolution are at i to lessen the territory under the rule of the equipment, than the army of the young prole­ our service. If we have considered that, then proletariat, the territory 9ver which the dictat­ tarian state has at its command. So far the we have thrown in our lot with the Interna­ orship of the proletariat has full sway, and we offensive on the other fronts has not material­ tional Proletarian Revolution. I say it now, are willing to make any sacrifices rather than ized. and will always say so, comrades, even I submit. At first we thought that when the foreign though the Entente succeeds in instituting The Rumanian Boyar Army Offensive. armies came to the demarcation lines elected massacres here, that we have not been con­ I1:j What had' happened' in Paris in the mean­ by General Smuts and Colonel Vix that they quered if we have united our freedom .with the ,~ International Proletarian Revolution. (Great ,.~ while is not known to us in detail. would not go any further. The situation today We know, however, that the offensive is such that we must presuppose, and certain applause.) ;1 was started by the Rumanian Boyar Army. It very well established developments lead us to But first of all, comrades, we must reckon believe that the Entente will take up the offen­ on our own power. While the International :1,' started with the whole force that the Boyars " can today muster against the Hungarian Soviet sive against us with full force, that the Entente Proletarian Revolution is on our side, is com­ Government. (Cries, shame!) We can not is i'taJy to bring on us the fate of th~ Paris ing, is developing, still it is necessary that expect any thing else from Imperialism. Cbmmune, that the Entente imperialists are we hold out until we gain the active support (That's it!) It is not a question of morals. determined ,to strangle the proletariat. of this of the International Revolutiona-ry Proleta­ of likes or dislikes, but of the international laneY. (Calls: that we will never permit.) riat. class war (stormy assents), the international Comrades! The Czech front has not yet been Our first task in this case is that everyone revolution- and theinternationl counter-revolu­ set :11oving, nor is the Southern front yet !:1 here in Budapest, whu is not necessary in the tion. action. I do not know, however, whether at Central Administration, every proletarian and Cool and deliberate thought told us that this this moment the advance has not already every representative of the proletariat who would come. When we established the prole­ begun. Possibly it has, but it is also probable can be spared, under any circumstances, must tarian dictatorship in Hungary we did not put that it has not. If not today then perhaps it go to the front. Unity is necessary now. At out of our reckoning not being able to will start tomorrow . . . (interruption: mobil­ this moment all friction must disappear, we cope, in a systematic war, with the military ize!)' To cry "mobilize," comrades. is an easy '"ust establish an iron unity that nothing can power of the Entente troops. We did not be­ thing, I also can cry "mobilize." still it is destroy or dissolve. (That's it, that's it!) lieve that we could arrest the offensive, direct­ necessary to delay the decision until I point Who goes to the front, must go with the ed against us from all sides, with the six divi­ out the consequences, till everyone has per­ knowledge that the Central Dictatorship is in sions that the terms of the armistice permitted ceived the whole situation. good hands; who remains at his post, must the Soviet Republic to retain. We have empha­ Noone must doubt that on the question of believe that the fate of the Revolution is in sized, and continue to emphasize, that the armament and equipment we are badly placed. good hands at the front. If this is so, if the fate of the Hungarian Soviet Republic lies We took over an almost impossible task in proletariat, Budapest's proletariat, whose re­ with the international revolution, with the in­ the war situation and to develop any sort of presentatives, whose deputies you are, will not ternational social revolution. (That's it!) The great military action during the time when we be lethargic, but will advance, happy in the Rumanian offensive has set in. Our troops in were forced to build up the new state was sacrifice, in ever increasing numbers, then service on the different fronts were exhausted, impossible. That is why we must first think (Continued on Page 12)

..~1 10 THE REVOLUTIONARY AGE July 19, 1919 The Communist Party

y what means is the Communist world By N. Bucharin Members of the employing class have been­ B order to be established? How are we to Dictatorship of the Proletariat for so long accustomed to live in idleness ex­ attain it?" sessed by the capitalist exploiters. Soviet Rus­ ploiting the workers, that even after Capital­ The answer of the Communist Party to sia, with her workers' and peasants' govern­ ism has been overthrown in every country, these questions is: "Through the dictatorship ment, is like a tiny island in the stormy ocean they will endeavor to evade work and to injure of the proletariat." of Capitalism. Should the victory of the Rus­ the working class. They will have to be­ "Dictatorship" means a power as strong as sian workers be followed by the victory of the forced to serve the people and force will not first be necessary. iron, a power which gives no quarter to its German and Austrian workers, there would enemies. ' "The dictatorship of the proletariat" still remain the other great robber states of The workers must establish a system for means the government of the working class Capitalism. Should the entire Capitalism of organizing the business concerns which have which abolishes the landowners and capitalists. Europe give way under the hammer stroke of been taken over from the manufacturers; they , A workers'government can only be pro­ the working class, there would still remain must see to the transport of the crops produced duced by a social revolution of the working the Capitalism of Asia, headed by Japan, and by the peasantry; and secure a fair distribu­ class; a revolution which will destroy the cap­ the Capitalism of America. tionof corn, manufactured goods, agricultural implements and machinery. italist state and erect on its ruins a new power; These capitalist states will not surrender the power of the working class and the poor their position without a struggle. They will However, the small usurer and war profiteer peasants who support the workers' govern­ fight desperately in order to prevent the pro­ may refuse to serve the community and may ment. letariat from securing world pOWler. The say: "I am my own master." The workers and We Communists', therefore, stand for a greater the onrush of the proletariat the more poor peasants must force them to obey, and workers' government until the workers have precarious becomes the position of Capitalism, they must coerce in the same way the big capitalists and the former landowners, generals gained complete control over their adversaries; the more must it strain every muscle in its and officers. until they have crushed the entire employ­ fight against the workers. ~I ing class and knocked out its pride, and until When the proletariat has been victorious The more perilous the position of the work­ I' the employing class itself has given up all in one, two, of three countries it will come ers' revolution, the greater the number of its hopes of ever again coming into power. into unavoidable collision with the capitalist enemies; the more firm must be the revolution­ Of course, it will be said: "Then you Com­ world still remaining, which will endeavor to ary rule of the workers and of the poor peas­ J munists are believers in force?" crush, with blood and iron, the attempt of the ants, the more energetic the dictatorship. The 1 We shall answer: Most certainly; but our workers to liberate themselves. Therefore. power in the hands of the workers is the axe belief is in revolutionary force. Weare con­ even after the Revolution we must understand, which they must hold in' readiness against the vinced that by soft words the working class that there will be, in some countries a trans­ attacks of ' the capitalist class. In the commun­ will gain nothing from the capitalists. No ition period between Capitalism and Commun­ istic social order, when the capitalists' will ,".~.: good will come of conciliation. Nothing short ism, in which the workers will be faced by a exist no more and all class distinctions will of a revolution, which will overthrow Capital-, hard struggle against their enemies both at have disappeared, when there will be no more ism and destroy the bourgeois state, can liber­ home and abroad. peril from within or from without-then there ~. will be no more necessity for this axe. But l ate the working class. For this struggle it 1s necessary to have a Every revolution means using force against rigid, widespread, and firmly-welded organ­ we are in the periOd of transition now, when the former government. Force was used ization completely equipped for the struggle. the enemies around us' are showing their te~th, against the tyrannical landlords and Czar in The Proletarian State, the Workers' Govern­ and are ready to drown in blood the whole the Russian Revolution of 'March, 1917, and ment, provides this organization. Like every working class movement. To prove this one' in the Revolution of November, 1917, force other state that of the working class is an need but recall the shooting of the workers in was used against the capitalists by the work­ organization of the ruling class. In this case Finland and Kiev, and the wholesale shootings ers, peasants, and soldiery. Such force-the the ruling class is the working class, and its of workers and peasants in the Ukraine and use of force against those who are oppressing organization is at once a defense against Cap­ in Lettland. In this period only those who are millions of workers-is not merely free from italism and the means which will finally destroy wholly ignorant of the situation can wish to evil; it is sacred. it. act without the indispensable weapon of state Moreover, the working class is obliged to Those who shrink from the establishment power. use its power against the capitalists even after of such a power are not really revolutionaries. A hue and cry is raised against the Dictator­ Capitalism has been openly overthrown, for The assumption that every kind of power must ship of the Proletariat from two sides. On the even after the workers have destroyed the be vicious is arrant nonsense. The power used one side from the Anarchists, for they are capitalist state, the capitalist class still exists. by the rich, the power used by the capitalists against any kind of government and. conse­ Its members by no means disappear all at against the workers, has for its object the quently, also against the Government of the once. On the contrary, they still hope for the maintenance of the predatory capitalist system. Workers and Peasants. To them we can only return of the old regime and are prepared to The power used by the workers against the say: "Go into a nunnery, if you are against make any kind of alliance against the victori­ capitalists has the opposite aim of liberating putting into the hands of the workers the ous workers. millions of worker.s from the yoke of Capital­ means to coerce the bourgeoisie!" The experiences of the Russian Revolution ism, and the freeing of humanity from annex­ On the other side the Dictatorship of the furnish convincing proof of this. In November ationist wars, which entail the savage pillage Proletariat is attacked by the Mensheviki and 1917, the workers eliminated the capitalist class and destruction of works and collections on the Social Revolutionaries. Though formerly from all share in the Government, but the cap­ which the human race had been engaged for they used to advocate it, they are. so they say, italists did not throw up the sponge; they thousands of years. The rigid mechanism of against the interference with the privileges and agitated against the workers, mustering all the proletarian dictatorship is essential for the the liberty of the bourgeoisie. They are of their forces, and using every means to over­ success of the Revolution and to secure the opinion that the workers are not yet "ripe" throw the workers' government and recapture period of establishing the Communist social for a dictatorship. We can only say to them: power. They organized sabotage, procured a order. "Why do you not join the capitalist class which counter-revolutionary strike of government It is clear that in this period of transition, you love S'O much and which you are trying officials, and employees; they mobilized the the working class must strain every nerve in t(l protect?" They do not wish to because they troops of Dutov, Kaledin, Kornilov, Semenov, the struggle with its many adversaries, and that would have to own that they are in opposition and called for help to the armies of foreign the only organization through which it can to the workers and poor peasants. Capitalism in Germany, Japan and elsewhere. attain to victorv is one in which the workers It is just because the Communist Party Thus the Russian experiences have proved that and the poor peasants are banded together stands for the iron dictatorship for the work­ ~ven after what seems a decisive victory the Could this organization resist the attack of ers over the capitalists, the usurers. the former workers' government is forced to resist attack foreign imperialists without having control of landowners. and other lovely products of the by powerful enemies from abroad who stretch the home government and army? Certainly old bourgeois regime, that it is the most radical. out helping hands to the fallen capitalists at not. the most revolutionary of all the existing home. How will it be possible to force the capital­ groups and parties. "Through the inexorably A thoughtful survey of the position reveals ists to submit to government by the workers firm government of the Workers. to Commun­ to us that Russia is the only country in which and to all sorts of confiscations unless the ism" is the watchword of our party. And the the proletariat has yet overthrown the bour­ working class is in possession of the means to program of our party is the program of the geois state. The rest of the world is still pos- force the rich to do their duty? Dictatorship of the Proletariat. July 19, 19 19. THE REVOLUTIONARY AGE 11 The Conquest of Capitalism THE Socialist who does not know Capital- From the Finnish CfJmmunist Paper "Viesti" in every country are the directors of tens and ism is a poor Socialist. He gives the Published at Stockholm. possibly hundreds of corporations; at the same working class, which is fighting against the Translated by O. W. OKSANEN time their servants, bookkeepers, are on the forces of Capitalism, a wrong understanding iookout for the smaller undertakings. The of the enemy; at the same time persuading it supremacy of the bankers is not limited to the themselves. One of its branches, the agricul­ boundry of the state, nor even greater bound­ to use methods of attack which lead only to tural trust, extends its tentacles far outside disappointment and defeat-not to victory. He the boundry of the United States. They are des. This is international. "Foreign" capi­ thus proves false to the workers, and betrays wound around the farmer in Canada, Mexico tal flows wherever dividends are to be had, as them to the enemy; during a decisive battle and even in Finland. It not only controls the ~he American dollar was invested in every he will probably join the enemy's ranks and prices in America, but it has made agreements corner of the "Old World." So had the Czar turn his weapons against the workers. with the steel kings of Europe not to underbid and the Kaiser invested tens of millions for To know Capitalism means to have know­ them, and for this kindness they have divided the rainy day in American railroads and real ledge of its various phases. It is not an un­ the markets of the world. estate. German capital had secretly and pub­ changing condition that can be sufficiently un­ The steel trust not only produces steel, and licly undermined English capital by holding the largest amount of stock in John Bull's derstood by an occasional random reading' of all mat IS manulactured from steel, from .. the Erfurt Program, or by an acquaintance needle to a giant battleship, but everything corporations and at the same time compelling with a few maxims of the bourgeois rule of else imaginable. Over night it has constructed the proud Englishman to buy the cheaper Ger­ some countries. Capitalism is an evolution­ factories, costing millions, and next to these man goods. ary process, its development before the world it has built cities, with dwellings, stores, chur­ Exportation of goods which was the chief war was rapid, and during the war increased ches, newspapers, saloons and brothels. All aim of the nation, is now substituted by send­ with furious speed. . these it directs and uses as a means of exploit­ ing capital into foreign countries to net divi­ We in Finland, had the opportunity to ob­ ation. Above all things it produces paper, dends. The developing industry' and the serve some of the phenomena: the centraliz­ profitable stock, and other obligations with greater exploitation, produce so much surplus ation of industry, the stock speculator, petty interest bearing coupons. Its directors are Capital that its investment is one of the most grafting, the rapidity with which the peasants among the world's greatest bankers. At the serious problems of Capitalism. These "sav­ became sympathizers with the bourgeoisie, and outset of the war one of the systems of ings" mean something when we learn that in the greater rapidity with which the conditions banks in the United States was under the con­ I9JO the approximate investments in the world of the workers deteriorated. trol of Morgan Jr., who is indirectly connected amounted to 160 billion dollars. The share When the Russian revolution became a fact with the steel trust, while the other banking of the capitalists of England was 28 billion we saw the proverbial treachery of the most system was under the control of the oil trust. dollars; of the United States, 26 billion dol­ liberal bourgeoisie in action. The ravenous These two systems were connected, except in lars; of France, 22 billion dollars; of Ger­ wol f emerged from its liberal lambskin. large j oint investments, by the government many, 19 billion dollars. The annual interest, Eventually we were face to face with Impe­ finance committee, which was the center of which amounts to billions, is invested in the rialism itself, with its usurpation and looting, capitalistic business and which looked after its same way as the principal. in the form of German militarism. That was interests when the national loans were up for \Vhat is the goal of capital? It is autocracy, a revelation! Nothing remained vague! consideration. monopoly~ The beginning of capital was com­ Those "social democrats" who are trying to Banks hold the reins of production of the petition, but its later development destroys heal the wounds of the working class with entire business world. We have examples of cometition. As a haberdasher thanks God for "democracy" do not understand .that what this in Finland, where the National Bank is the failure of his competitor, so Rockefeller has been tried in Finland during the past year gathering up all the threads of business. Busi­ rubbed his hands and smiled when he heard is the culmination of Capitalism, and that the ness establishments are unable to get credit, that his last competitor had comitted suicide. only way out is social revolution. They do and so are swallowed up. Through its agents He sent his millions of profit to seek other not understand that' Imperialism is nothing the tourist nobility, it bouglit Swedish real profit in Central and South America, in Eu­ else than Capitalism and that the workers estate. Its branch offices in small cities and rope, Africa, and Asia. That China was con­ must struggle directly against it for Social­ villages were devices for getting the money quered 'by "enlightenment" of a kerosene lamp ism. In order to fully understand the neces­ of the people for undertakings which turned is a well known story. But in those countries sity of a revolution we must understan i the out unsuccessful, i. e. went bankrupt, and American capital meets English, French, and theory of Imperialism .. then were turned over to the bankers at ridi­ German capital. There exists keen competition What is the basic economic principle of culously low prices. The National Bank was in the sale of their "goods"-credits, money, Imperialism? the leader of the opposition to the uniting of investment and public loans-in which each Briefly, it is the centralization of the mean') the private banks, but these private banks tries to crowd the other to the side. But as of production. We knew this to be the direc­ were allowed to join in draining the money in our economic scheme of competition, the tion of the developmeit of Capitalism, but we from the people for the purpose of "obtaining reduction of price and interest would be de­ were' unable to estimate its achievement or funds" for the community, or the state. The trimental to the capitalists of the various observe the rapidity with which it was reach­ establishment of an Emissiov Company meant countries, they must seek other means to ac­ ing this end. At home we were familiar with' that the accumulating surplus money in the complish their purposes. So long there is any industrial union circles, The match swindler banks might be used in forming industrial en­ part of the earth's surface unapportioned, It and his accomplices were known by this term, terprises and new companies, which would is possible for them to separate sections where We applied the terms monopoly and trust to then remain in the control, and under the each can exert its own influence, or consider sugar and paper products which could be ob­ directorship of the banks. The stocks of these it a colony where it is possible to nave a mono­ tained only through one agent, because these banks were circulating on the market as bait poly on the exploitation. This, however, does products were subject to the protection of for the savings of the credulous people; at the not seem to satisfy for th~ are crowded upon duty and customs. There existed mining cor­ exchanges they were sold at a high price and the same areas, and finally they must resort porations and logging companies who owned bought back at a very low figure. Watering to their political remedies. half of several provinces. stock became a favorite habit; capital was What are the politics of financial capital? But we learned that in other countries there created upon paper without an equivalent in­ It is just that phenomenon which is known were organizations more powerful than our's: vestment in the plant or in goods. A com­ by the term Imperialism. This term comes the German syndicate and the American trust. pany with a million dollars in property could from the Latin word imperium which means We knew that the oil trust had a complete very well pay dividends on five million dollars empire (imperator, "commander," kaiser), an monopoly, that the capital of the steel trust capital. The small bourgeoisie and the pea­ aspirant to world power. England is the is reckoned in billions, and that its yearly sants were dragging the same net with the leader in this field, she has "independent co­ profits amount to hundreds of millions. The banking capital, the former got its plunder by lonies" (Canada, Australia, South Africa), same is true of all industries. These trusts heing a faithful agent of large capital, and the regular colonies (India, and various parts of are not separate business concerns but are latter had the good fortune to buy and to sell Africa) , proprietory colonies (Egypt), and tmited, as for example, the steel' trust· it at prices which were controlled by the large vassal states (Portugal, Norway) . Every­ "sells" its products to itself, for it is mad: up capitali~s, where-in China, Persia, etc. England is of ma,ny companies having a capital of hund­ As an illustration of the power of the banks strugglil"!g to exert her influence. reds of millions each, which are trusts in !et it be mentioned that the directors of banks (Collcll!ded in ollr next Issue) 12 THE REVOLUTIONARY AGE July 19, 1919. , The Allies In Siberia A LMOST a year has passed since your An appeal to the libefal and radical citizens out mercy. Subsequently Horvath and then governments have taken it upon them­ of the Allied. countries by the Workers and Kolchak alternately declared themselves rulers selves to control the destinies of Revolutionary Peasants of Siberia and the Russian Far East. of the Russian people. Russia through armed meddling, diplomatic­ During all this time the peasants and work­ ally called intervention. At the outset the the self-ruling Workers' and Peasants' Coun­ ers of Siberia groan under the yoke of this att'itude of these rulers toward the Russi:;lfi cils or Soviets-the most democratic form of regime, which in brutality and cruelty excells people was concealed by declarations of friend­ government the world has ever seen. The the darkest days of Czardom. All trace of ship and benevolence, by solemn promises not Allied forces were massed to destroy the So­ freedom is obliterated. The active factors of to interfere in our internal affairs, by the oft viets, this real government of the people, by Siberian life today are the Cossacks, the na­ repeated assurances that the Allies had not the the p~ople, for the people which sprang into gaika (Cossack's whip), the prison cell~ and slightest intention of violating 'our national being during the tempest of the great Russian the bullets of the executioners. All the Siberia.n rights and independence, and by hypocritical revolution out 0'£ the genius of the Russian civil and military prisons are filled to such an statements to the affeet that their sole aim workers and peasants. . extent that they have become- pest-holes of ,vas to "assist" Russia. It has now been established beyond the sha­ epidemic diseases. The powers that be have \iVhen, immediately after these declarations dow of doubt that the Czecho-Slovaks had not taken upon themeselves the vain and cruel and assurances active forces of Japanese, Eng­ the slightest ground for hostility toward the task of exterminating Bolshevik ideas. and lish, French, Italian and Canadian troops were Siberian Soviets, and that they betrayed the sympathies by the annihilation of the popul­ concentrated on our territory, with their sev­ hospitality and confidence bestowed on them ation. The Japanese troops have introduced eral military staff members, military missions~ by these same Soviets, under pressure of the the terrible practice of . bombarding villages and kindred agencies utilizing our railroads, French General Staff anI the urgent request without any warning' or reducing them to requisitioning our buildings, and generally act­ of the French diplomats, who promised them ashes by fire in order to stamp out the "nests ing in the same manner as they would in their the recognition of Czecho-Slovakia as the of Bolshevism." The villages of Sakharino respective home countries; we were told that price of these treacherous and bloody deeds. and I vanovka, near Blagoveschensk, were laid the Allies were preparing to transport troops It is also now well-known that Semenov and waste in this fashion a short time ago. and munitions to European Russia through Kornilov, the two Cossack chiefs, who so While these conditions prevail in Siberia; Siberia in order to reconstruct the Russian zealously prosecuted war against their own the common people are lOteadfastly cO~lvinced western front against Germany. According countrymen, were financed, equipped and sup­ that all their misfortunes are but the direct to another version of the story we were told ported-the former by Great Britain, the latter sequel of this cursed foreign intervention, that the object of the Allied troops in Siberia by Japan. which demoralizes, brutalizes and tyrannizes was to protect the Czecho-Slovak army, which Thus due to the united force of these powers the country. We are certain that all these was at that time moving along the Siberian and their abbetors, and due also to the trea­ Semenovs, Kalmikovs,. Kolchaks could not railroad, presumably on the way towards chery of single individuals the Soviets were exercise their criminal power a single day, if France, and whose. security, we were informed, overthrown all through Siberia. Unprepared, your troops did not protect them, and' if they was menaced by armed hosts of Austro-Hun­ poorly equipped, and surprised to such an were not supported by your governments by garian war prisoners. extent that they had not sufficient time to supplies of gold, mUhitions and equipment. Shortly afterward it was t:evealed that the mobilize the people or even communicate with contemplated battlefield was situated, not in each other, the various local Soviets were sud, We cannot presume that all this could occur Germany, but in the peaceful cities and villages denly confronted with the might of the Allied wIth the knowledge and sanction of the liberal ()f Siberia. The cannons of our "Allies" were armies joined by Cos~ack bands, adherents of and radical citizens of the Allied countries. directed against the Siberian workers and the old' order and all foes of the revolution Weare certain, that the treacherous and blooay -peasants and not against German, Austrian or and the common people. role which your governments play in Russia Hungarian war prisoners, whose reported men­ The government power was thus snatched today would outrage your sense of justice. acing of the Czecho-Slovaks was nothing but away by forc~ from the people and placed in We, therefore, bessech you, we implore you, a convenient subterfuge. the bloody bands of Kalmikov, Semenov. we demand of you in the name of justice and In short, it was soon brought to light that Gamov and similar small tyrants, who divided freedom, in the name of humanity, in the name the Allied expedition' in S~beria was directed Siberia among- themselves. Under the protec­ of brotherly love, and in the name of the great not against militaristic Germany but ag-ainst tiort of the Allied bayonets these rulers began Russian revolution, not to stand calmly by revolutionary Russia, that the combined armies a campaign of terror against the common while your governments strangle revolutionary of the Allies aimed to strike not Germany, but people, to club, martyr, shoot and hang with- Russia. Soviet Hungal'9 and the Allies (Colltin-ued from Page 9) ation in Vienna, you know that there the pro­ must act, act and again act (continued ap­ are we, comrades,and then is the Proletarian letariat is armed to fight for Dictatorship plause and assents). Revolution, saved. Then we will have time ( applause) . Ybu know that the troops of the I repeat: I do not desire to indulge in ora­ to await the International Proletarian Revolu­ Russian Soviet Republic have crossed the tory or fine phrases. Let the proletariat of tion, and if we should fall, then we will fall border of East Galicia (continued applause). Budapest, whose representatives you are, in such a manner that the International Pro­ speak now, let them say what they want; new letarian . Revolution will not be hurt by our You know that a part of these troops is bourgeois Capitalism (cries: never), exploit­ misfortune. advancing on Czernovitz. That is help,. which ation by the bourgeoisie, o'/: Socialism, Com­ I have never considered the matter from the still lies in. the distance. I emphasize again, munism? (Stormy applause.) Penetrating all point of view of the Hungarian proletariat. I that we must depend in the first place on our hells, enduring all sacrifices! (That's so, that's do not consider the matter from the point of own strength - upon the revolutionary so!) And after they have spoken, may the pro­ view of the proletariat of any land. There is strength of the Hungarian proletariat till the letariat of Budapest also act (thunderous hur­ only one point of view: the point of view of rahs and continued applause). the International Proletarian Revolution. time when the proletariat of the surrounding lands will hasten actively to our aid. To arouse (At the close of the meeting, after Joseph (That's so, that's so!) Pogany had spoken (we shall publish his ad­ Weare only building a small part of this this revolutionary force, the organization, uti­ dress in our next issue) the following reso­ International Proletarian Revolution. If there lization, and enlarging of this force, that is lution was adopted amid tremendous ap­ should come a time when we must go down in your task (that's so). Act, act and then again pia use: "The Budapest Revolutionary W ork­ defeat then the International Proletarian Rev­ act! ers' Council resolves, at its meeting held April olution will still live, and will again awaken 19, 1919, that half the members of the Soviet us to new life (great applause). Do you "yant the Proletarian Dictatorship, do you want the working masses to govern Government and of the Workers' Council, as I have described the situation-coldly, care­ well as half of the general workers, shall go fully, just as it is. I will now add to that, themselves? Do you wish the possibilty of to the front. The Soviet Government is en­ what is happening to the proletariat of all action? We want all these things. The time trusted with the carying out of this resolu­ lands. 'You are acquainted with the situ- is here, the moment is deadly serious, we tion.") July 19- 1919. TIIF; REVOLUTIONARY AGE 13 --_.__ .. - ---- , The Prison that IS Society C RAMPED within a tiny cell a man sits By Martha H. Foley able to the maintenance of the inviolabilty of staring through iron bars at a wall sur­ have passed away, but still the prison stands its prison is patriotism. To disrupt and sepa­ mounted by spikes-a gaunt blank wall which and sweating and bleeding prisoners fiil it. rate worker from worker, to drain themcof their energy, it pits nation against nation. The bounds the horizon of his life. Beyond lie * * '" plains rioting with color, rivers and seas alive 'Laws should free, not restrict. Capitalism blood shed in these conflicts it laps up gree­ with ships, mountains that flame in the dawn, employs the law only to oppress the worker, dily, at the same time spurring the workers and cities seething with activity. Years ago for it itself knows no law. Let the inventor by words of praise to llobie sacrifice. nut there was' hope of breaking those bars· and invent, if his" product prove aught of value they, blindly slaying each other, do not realize escaping over the wall, but that was long ago. to his master, let the artist create if his that they are also slaying the workers of the Now he would not know what to do with his creation may be exploited to the further gain future and strengthening the wals that con­ freedom if he did attain it. So he sits staring, of those that rule, let the student study if his fine them. staring-a prisoner. knowledge can be subsidized; but let none * * '" advance beyond the wall. And society has At times there are disturbing signs of un- * * * rest among' the inmates which must be quell­ Bent over a roaring machine in a dust- supplied itself with guards to see that none transgress the prescribed bounds. There are ed. Baits are thrown to them in the form of filled room a man. turns out metal disc after social welfare enterprises and employees as­ metal disc. His body quivers with the mo­ many guards, gr,eat and small, but chief among them are the school, the church, the sociations. Misled by these "uplift" and tions of the machine and perspiration blinds press, patriotism, the settlement, arid the "em­ "welfare" movements, overwhelmed by the his eyes and runs down his naked breast. ployees' association." These and things "kindness" of their keepers. they become duly Somewhere a violinist is pouring out his soul which were once good in themselves, society grateful and sheeplike. The chains seem to in an ecstasy of music, pleading for a listening seizes upon to serve its own terrible purpose drag less heavily upon them. In truth they ear, somewhere hangs a painting in whose are fettered more firmly. glowing colors is blended the life-blood of an and to thwart any budding desires toward artist, waiting for an appreciative eye, some­ the free life. As to all that lies outside the prIson, as to where is shelved unread a book whose author In the school all spontaneous instincts of the birthright of freedom that is denied them, starved that he might give forth its message. originality in teacher or student are quickly those inside know nothing and after long in­ The hours come and go, eight, nine, ten, still suppressed. Perverted is the history and eco­ carceration come to despise. Nature flaunt­ the man stays fettered to his task of grind­ nomics that are taught. There are the first ing her ruby and gold suns~ts, sweeping wild ing out the shining bits of metal and the chains forged that bind the future worker in wincis across seas silver with foam, or pour­ grinding into dust of his dreams. his jail, Childhood with its fairies and hob­ ing night's jewels into silent pools, is but a goblins, youth with its dreams and aspir­ source to derive material for toil; science * * * ations, society sees only as a fertile soil where­ which carries man among the uttermost stars A prisoner-one of the millions imprisoned in to sow that which may be reaped as profits. and chains the lightning, that which increases by capitalist society, robbed of justice, robbed Religion, in one of its phases, is the out­ and expedites their labor; and art echoing the of beauty, robbed of life that the few may be come of man's groping toward the spiritual. soul's response to the beautiful, folly. Life glutted. Incarcerated in the shops, mines and The religious impulse---not superstitious is to slave. slave, slav.e or die. factories, doomed to life-long toil whose faith in some ruling deity-is the indefinite Under the system of class rule society can­ fruits he may not taste. And woe unto him expression of the finest in man. Society fears not possibly be anything but a vast prison. who ventures to tear asunder the irksome that finest and takes care that the church be When it imprisons one worker it imprisons shackles or thrust even his hand 'beyond the one of its staunchest supporters. And the all, and not until all make a determined effort bars that confine him! Societv knows well church doing its bidding, inculcates the su­ to free themselves can one be free. When how to punish, society can brari'd and crucify preme virtues of obedience, humility and the workers erect a new structure and in its today as it has branded and crucified through­ and patience-prates of a reward after death. erection demolish for all time their prison, out the centuries. Deafened by its mouthings, the workers hear when a world-wide Soviet replaces bourgeois Far back in the dim past, when primitive not the call of freedom. democracy then will they breathe the fresh air man first forced to slave for him the captive One of the most vigilant of monitors is into their lungs, live and be free men. he had taken in tribal warfare, was laid tpe the press. Lie after lie it feeds to the workers Sections of the prison are already crashing cornerstone of the prison that is society. Stone until they cannot discern the true from the in ruins. In Russia and Hungary the workers upon stone it was reared as serfdom followed false. It converts the rattle of their chains have done away with their walls and their chattel slavery until was erected the strong­ into music and their liberation into destruc­ keepers and for the first time know freedom. hold with many ramifications in the wage­ tion, so that from its pages they learn to And the gaps in the wall made by them render slavery of today. Empires and the prisoners clamor for the perpetuation of their slavery. unsteady the whole. Soon will it fall and who under the lash sweat and bled for them Another guard that society finds indispens- crumble, never to hold man prisoner again. The N. E. C. Mobilizing Slanders (Continued from Page 6) was never a time before when the new nation­ conducted against opportunistic reformism as willing to defend the N. E. C. "statement of al party executives were elected by such the essence of our party activities. The Left principles" on the public platform? Where large votes. Wing criticisms which had their legitimate and when? N ow the question arises, why didn't the basis in intelligent participation in the party Says Oneal: "As there was an Ebert-Schei­ supporters of Oneal make it their business to functioning, were barred from the party press del!1ann gang in Germany, naturally they get ballots and vote? Or is it really possible and the Left Wing adherents were fired out accepted the statement that we had one here that they were as few as the votes indicate? of the party by the reactionaries who happen­ too." Quite naturally. Of course it is no very great effort for party ed to control the executive committees. Thus The deliberate lies about the Left Wing members to find the opportunity to vote, and arose the necessity for a separate Left Wing votes continue. All of these votes are on file at least it is not charged that anybody who press and finally for Left Wing organization in the National office but are carefully with­ wanted to vote for Oneal was denied the full taking on a national scope. held by order of the N. E. C. It is Clear al­ and free chance to do so. But there were N at to have carried on this campaign within ready that this is the biggest party referen­ ever so few who sought the opportunity. the party would have constituted a betrayal dum ever taken. The votes run high in the Strange, indeed. But what can you expect of the world proletariat in the great struggle metropolitan centres and low in the smaller of a party that is all in the whirl of the Left now going on, under the banner of the Com­ towns: that is the entire mystery of the fact Wing brainstorm? One might suggest the munist International, against the united Im­ that 25 per cent or 30 per cent of the members alternative of unfitness of Oneal to represent perialisms. To have waged this campaign and voted, while perhaps as many as 75 per cent the militant proletariat of America, but that to have won it is an achievement of tremen­ did not vote. There are hundreds of locals would be crediting the members of the So­ dous significance for a Socialist movement in in the United States which have been allowed cialist Party with discriminating intelligence. the United States of revolutionary proletarian virtually to die out by the old party regime, The Left Wing has never conducted "a consciousness. and from these half-dead locals there were campaign against the Socialist Party." Nor There remains now the great task of the re­ no votes at all. This is -the ordinary ex­ have the Federations ever conducted such a org-anization of the party according to the perience with referendums, except that there . campaign. But a successful campaign was Left \Ving program. July 19, 1919' 14 THE REVOl.UTI0N ARV AGE Correspondence

To The Revolutionary Age:- Coucerllillfj a }\'e'lr Party thing has moved faster that you and J. reckon­ ed. Those ousted from the party made a res­ · RECEIVED a letter from a comrade who ponse which you and I, still within the party, I expresses great concern. lest the mention Michigan Convention had decided upon a call did not feel. Arguments were made about the of the poss~bi1ity of a new party may work for a new party to be formed September first, party fight which had the merit at least of dis­ mischief with the Left Wing conquest of the and this call was made absolute. The Left counting the idea of too long a fight for its party. This comrade st~n?s today in the. fore­ Wing could take or leave it; Michigan would physical apparatus, though these arguments most ranks of the SocIalIst movement m'the go ahead anyhow. have yet failed to budge me as to the worth United States and undoubtedly expresses the By this time I had become convinced of one whileness of our two months campaign within sentiments of many· thousands of the most thirig: that there must be an exact date when the party. The subsequent expulsion of Mas­ earnest members of the party. For this reason this party fuss shall stop, and this date could sachusetts, the threatened expulsion of Penn­ I am asking you to publish this letter as my not be left to the choosing of the old N. E. C. sylvania (and probably of Ohio)-all of these personal expression on the vital question in­ There is no use quoting the Censtitution as show at the same time the lengths to which volved. I may add, however, that I did not against the proposition that the old N. E. C. the old bunch will go and the clearness of the send this letter without asking several of the will control so long as there is no Convention. Left Wing triumph. When we come together members of the National Left Wing Council And there is no use driving a good argument August 30th in Chicago, there will be no to read it, and I am assured that my letter ex­ to the point of absurdity by insisting that there question but that the party is ready for Com­ presses the point of view which dominated the is no way for the old N. E. C. to frame up a munism, or that the new party is only the same National Left Wing Conference. Right Wing Convention for August 30th or party turning into a new avenue of aggressive The letter follows (July 9, 1919) : later. Things can be done in the physical attack against American and world Capitalism. I have just read your letter of July 4th to sense which are ethically outrageous. They Not to mention "new party" in connection Comrade Cohen. I hasten to make answer in ;e been done j they are being done from with our fight within the party is to play the addition to such answer as may be made by day to day by Germer and his bosses. The old game of fooling our own people in the Comrade Cohen, in the first place to greet you gang that has gone as far as these men have vain hope of allaying the timid ones. We from this office and to urge you to send me gone will hardly stop at any extremity. The cannot yield ourselves to the Michigan-Fede­ all the suggestions you have for immediate point is that by forcing them to these extrem­ ration politicianeering, nor can we ignore the action, and in the second place to make 'some­ ities we make clearer than ever the real state realities of party sentiment which this call for what clearer to you the party situation as it of affairs within the party, showing beyond a Communist Party represents. Those who will stands after the Left Wing Conference. I dispute that the Left Wing is the party This not frankly face a crucial situation, recognize think I would have 'written just what you it is mighty important to do.But it is another its definite alternatives, and accept the dicta­ wrote if I had not been to the Conference, matter to keep on insisting against every­ tion of facts, cannot be truly helpful in this using almost the same language, as I recall my thing and anything that the Left Wing is situation. There must be a showdown, and it point of view of twenty days ago. On the bound to control a party convention chosen had better be August 30th, let the old gang do other hand, I am quite positive that if you by a few thousand voters still outside the Left as they will. I have argued that "new party" had undergone the experience of the Left Wing movement. And even worse would it be is just what they played for, and I refused Wing Conference there are certain statements to let the mass of the membership remain adrift to help them get what they wanted. But I you make which you would consider inappro­ at the pleasure of the gangsters~ telling them cannot see the merit of carrying this argument priate to the actual situation. that some day it will ~ll come out all right. to the extreme of forgetting that we have It is very important that we understand one The Michigan proposal had the advantage something far more important to do than to another fully and exactly under the circum­ of coming from the outside, from an ousted attenuate a party factional fight beyond the stances of this party crisis; . . . By this time State, as a mandate of the Michigan member­ time needed to show up the situation clearly you have received the delayed number of The ship, expressed by a Convention. It had the. to the active membership. I do not know just Re'l}olutionary Age telling about the Confer­ ~,·~advantage of being pinned on to a declar­ what we shall be calle<:l upon to do with regard ence. . . . But I will deal with the single item ation of principles upon which the new party to the physical apparatus of the party, but I of "new party" just as it came to my personal was to be organized. Also, it did not include ..

T HE Cleveland referendum proposal to rescind "bosses" of the Russian Federation. There is no There is no question but that the final tally of the the acts of the old N. E. C. expelling Michi­ question but that these Federation schemes will be party elections is available at the National office, gan, suspending the seven Federat~ons, holdin~ up sharply rebuked by their own membership at the but according to the action of the N. E. C. this the election referendums, and puttmg the nattonal moment the true situation becomes known. Of tally will not be made known until August 30th. . headquarters into the absolute control of trustees, course it will he their policy to keep their members Meanwhile the State Secretaries have pUblished 'has been seconded by 172 locals, representing 17,- properly misinformed, but that sort of policy cannot enough of the votes to leave no qustion of the out­ 800 members. These seconds come from 29 states carry them along very far. come except as above indicated. There may be and 10 Federations. Over 12,000 of the members There is a small group of pretentio s "leaders" some variation also in the Fourth District, where represented are from the regular English-speaking in Michigan who, while they have done some splen­ the votes are few and scattered. But as to 12 or . branches 2,130 from Russian-speaking branches, and did critical and educational work within. the Social­ 13 of the new executive body there can no longer be 3,631 fr~m 48. branches of the Finnish, German, i~t Party, are making a sorry mess of their attemptl any question, and according. to the party law. the Jewish and Scandinavian Federations. to take the whole national movement into their new N. E. C. is entitled to control beginning July This "straw vote" is all the more striking by hands. The national movement will dispose of it­ 1st. reason of its scattered, spontaneous character. It self at Chicago, on August 30th, with representation There can be no "legality" by which a defuncet is apparent that the same proposition put to the from every part of the country. A self-Constituted Executive Committee can keep the newly elected vote of the entire membership through the regular "national organization committee" will never create committee from taking office. By such "constitu­ party machinery wo~ld result in a repudiation of a "Communist Party of America" when its first tionality" the". old body could perpetuate itself in­ these acts of the N. E. C. by practically 100 per act is a repudiation of the initial national effort definitely,. let the members vote as they like.. Stop­ cent of the active party membership. As an example to draw together the Left Wing elements for com­ ping referendums is the method chosn to make sure of the limited reach of this expression of party mon action. that the members consent. sentiment. New York City is not represented at The National Left Wing Council is the immedi­ A motion for a meeting of the new N. E. C. has all, nor Detroit, and only a few of the smaller ate embodiment of the National Left Wing.' The been made by Comrade Katterfeld, who happens branches from Chicago, while these thre~. cities question of the process of revolutionizin~ the So­ to be a member of both the old and new Executive . have over 20,000 party members. . cialist Party was most carefully conSidered at Committee. In case National Secretary Germer re­ Now it appears that this referendum will never New York by representatives from many States. fuses to put this motion, as is most likely, Comrade be submitted. It is "unconstitutional" because it and it is this decision which must govern the Left Katterfeld will himself take the vote of the newly contains "comment." Sherlock Holmes, and all the Wing Council The insurgents who could not elected committeemen. . other great detectives, real or fictitious, never exlIi­ force the Conference to accept their dictation now This meeting is of the highest importance. It is bited ingenuity equal to this. It was suspected that presume to marshall their forces allainst both the up to the new N. E. C. to keep up the continuity of some way would be found to sidetrack this refe­ official party and the Left Wing. They expect to the party. The only valid party authority today, rendum until too late for the Emergency Conven­ sweep everything before them by the magic of the officially speaking, is the newly chosen N. E. C. ·tion, but the particular method chosen to get rid of a name "Communist Party of America." That is Fundamentally, the final ruty authority is the party disastrous rebuke from the party membership was a name which deserves far greater respect than to membership, and ir. obel.~ence to this authority it beyond forecast. Except tfor . the extreme seri­ be used as. bait in this sort of game. When it becomes the duty o~ t'"", new committeemen to meet ousness of the party situation and the nasty temper becomes the name of the revolutionalY Socialists and take up the ex~i. .(1 ve work of the party. If of the rump officialdom, one might find in this movement in this country, it will not be by man­ there is any question about the elections it can only 'latest performance of the hold-over N. E. C. an date of two little groups of petty intriguers. It be raised by contests coming from any district inspired outburst of the comtc spirit. will be under auspi~es which held the name of where defeated candidates may claim seats on the Communism in too profound respect to make of it N. E. C. The uncontested committeemen must de­ * * * a football as in this game for a Michigan-Russian cide these contests. THE MICHIGAN-FEDERATION CALL Executive Committee private political party. There is need to make reservation for the intense * FOR A NEW PARTY sincerity of some of the comrades in.. volved in this THE FINNISH FEDERATION LINES UP. The call for a new party to be formed at Chicago call for a new party. But there can be no rese:'­ It was evident at Chicago that the main reliance on September 1st, regardless' of the Left ,Wing vation as to their temporary loss of mental balance of the Opportunists was on the Finnish Federation,' organization and procedure, is without national with respect to the general proletarian movement which has long been first in the list of Federations. significance except as it may work injury to the in the United States upon which all that they long Now the news comes to hand that the Finnish Fe­ already difficult task of the Left Wing in drawing for depends. deration denounces the actions of the N. E. C. and together the revolutionary elements of the American demands that- the August 30th Convention shall proletariat. The call comes from a little committee. * * * PLAN FOR MEETING OF NEW N. E. C. take no account of the expulsion and suspensions. most of whom represent none but themselves. and The National Left Wing Council and several of The proclamation coming from the Executive Com­ all of whom are desperately bent on playing out a the members of the newly elected N. E. C. are try­ mittee of the Finnish Federation characterizes the petty game of controlling the future of Socialism ing to work out a plan for a meeting of the new majority of the N. E. C. as petit bourgeois oppor­ 111 America regardless of the will and understanding tunistic Socialists. Finally, comes this significant of the mass of party members. N. E. C. at as early a date as can be arranged. The election of Comrades Fraina. Hourwich, Harwood, statement: "If the internal crisis created in the This call was formulated in the East with none Prevey, Ruthenberg, lloyd. Keracher. Batt, Hogan, party unavoidably leads to a'. division of forces, we instructed to that effect except the delegates to the Millis, Nagle, Katterfeld, Wicks and Herman ap­ join without hesitation those that follow unalter­ National Left Wing Conference from Michigan,' pears now to be certain. while there is still a ques­ ably in the wake of the uncompromising class strug­ and this was a Convention not a membership instruc­ tion about the third choice in the First District, gle. There shall be Our place." tion. The others wh() join in this call act under I. E. FERGUSON, ·the direct inspiration of three or four would-be Comrade Lindgren leading without the New York vote. National Sec'y_ Greater New York News ENDING the consolidation of the locals of ly revolutionary in spirit. Local New York felt and so on. Comrade Alcinikoff asked for the floor P Greater New York the City Committee of that it had to do something, surely, in order to get of the members, who granted it with acclaim, in the Left Wing has called for the immediate rid of the revolutionary elements. Not having any order to answer Gerber. But not having asked it formation of a central committee of New York. real ground, a fictitious one would do just as well, of his august self. Gerber. the party hired secretary The New York Left Wing branches have' had no in the opinion of the Right Wing. centralized unifying governing body· up to the kept on beating with his hammer. This continued Letters were sent out saying: inasmuch as there until Gerber and the rest of the Black Committee present with the result that there has been little were ejected from the hall by the members. Some work accomplished along those lines. We must was a disorderly element in the branch (no meet­ ing had ever been 1-.t>ken off in disorder); inas­ six of his kind left the braneh with him. On going engage in the primary fight among other activ:ities out Gerber shouted out, "You'll pay for this, you and that also requires some centralized body to much as the branch officers had been recalled (this carrv on the work. also a lie); the branch was to be. reorganized. The are no longer members of the party." The New York Left Wing branches are therefore Black Committeee came around and took our One month later. a masked ganlt' of three, easily called upon to elect delegates for the N. Y. Central names All activities of the branch were sus­ recognizable by their smell. according to the man Committee at its next meeting where they have not pepnded. Some four weeks later another letter who described them. as being Spritzer, Shub and done so already. The first meeting of the dele­ was sent out. This time Gerber was there and ex­ Extract, broke into the branch during the morning gates of the Central Committee will be held on plained that the other reorganization meeting was hours by way of the fire-escape window. All tile Tuesday. July 22 at our headquarters 43 W. 29th not supposed to have taken place, was uncalled for furniture was taken out, the fixtureJ of the lights were torn from' the walls and ceilings, even a book­ Street at 8 o'clock. Minutes of that meeting will .. ,I be puJ>1ished in the next issue of The Revolutionary case belonging' to the Y. P. S. 1.. did Dot escape Age. MEMBERSHIP MEETING their rapacity, but was jimmied open. Some of the books were stolen. We only hope that they Branch organizers or secretaries will please no­ Sunday, I P. M. August 3. 1919. tify this office when and where their meetings are will read them and perhaps learn some Socialism. held. Also their other activities of interest to the MANHATTAN LYCEUM Jacob Hillquit, the brother of Morris Hillquit, comrades of the Left Wing. was the treasurer of the branch and had some $250 66 East 4th Street, New York of the branch's money-so that besides the furni­ ture. upon which they will be able to realize quite Dear Comrade:- * * * Ratification of the National Left Wing Conference and election of officers. a little sum. these few have the $250. As another instance of the already over-accum­ How much lower must such as these fall in ulated examples of the Democratic actions of the Admission by Left Wing Application Card order to be on the same plane with the Eberts­ Right Wing. let me describe the one perpetrated and Socialist Party Card. Scheidemanns-Noskes of Germany? upon the 18-20 A. D. This branch of the S. P. did not participate in Application Cards can be secured at head­ the actions and reactions between the Left Wing quarters or from Branch secretaries. Fraternally, and the Right Wing-but it was definitely decisive- WK. BOUKSTEIN '6

Is Your Answer In Yet) The National Left Wing Council Needs $15,000 Now The Left Wing of the Socialist Party of America has organized itself as a national unified expression of Revolu­ tionary Socialism. In every industrial centre, the Left Wing is a power.

Its immediate tasks are enormous.

The struggle within the Party must be waged-to conquer the Party for the revolutionary Socialism of the Com­ munist International, or organize a new Communist Party.

There is the struggle among the masses--the winning of the broad maSb~S of the workers for Corntnunist Socialism

Leaflets must be issued, speakers routed, papers published. All this requires money-At Once.

The Socialist Party Convention meets August 30. We must carry on an enormous agitation without a momel)fll delay. Time is pressing -and money is an urgent necessity.

Then money is needed immediately for The Revolutionary Age

-which has become the national organ of the Left Wing. It must treble its circulation within the next two months in order to reach the rank and file of the Party and the masses of the workers with our message. Financially it is in a sound position, but it is not yet covering fully its own expenses. Every addition to its circulation means a reduction of the organization's expenses.

The Left Wing Convention authorized the National Council to is'!ue special emergency stamps to help raise money. This is being done. But the process is slow. We need the money now.

We ask all comrades to contribute indi-ridually according to their means. 'I We ask all locals to immediately donate money on the basis of the following quotas: \ ~ New York l greater city) ...... $1,500 Boston, Mass...... 200 , Chicago, Ill...... 1,000 Portland, Ore...... 200 " '~ .,~ Cleveland, Ohio...... 1,000 Rochester, N. Y...... 200 .i Detroit, Mich...... 500 Toledo, Ohio...... 200 1 .! ] Denver, Colo...... 300 ;'1 Los Angeles, Cal...... 200 -j ~ Buffalo, N. Y...... 300 St. Paul, Minn...... 200 ~ Philadelphia, Pa...... 400 Duluth, Minn.. , ...... 0.·...... 100 Pittsburg, Pa...... ,...... 300 Minneapolis, Minn...... 100 1 ~[ Seattle, Wash...... 300 Hartford, Conn...... 100 '~ San Francisco, Cal...... 300 Providence, R. I...... 100 1,' j, Comrades of the Left Wing-history calls to YOU! Upon you-the Left Wing-depends the future of Communist I Socialism. Act! Individuals and locals of the Left Wing-act now.

I. E. FERGUSON Secretary, N ation.al Council 43 West 29th Street N'..... V n.lr r"tv