TWENTY YEARS O F SOVIET POWE R BY EARL BROWDER

Where Is the Socialist Party Going? JACK STACHEL

Trade Unions in the Land of Socialism

New Developments in Organizing the Marine Industry ROY HUDSON

Southern Textile W orkers Organize JOHN .J . BALLAM

On the Eve of October LEt TN A n STALIN

ALEX BITTELMAN on PPare and Trade Union Unih•

TWENTY CENTS /

STATEMENT OF THE OWNERSHIP, .MANAGEMENT, CIRCULATION, ETC., REQUI;RED BY THE ACTS OF CONGRESS OF AUGUST '24, 1912, AND , \ MARCH 3, 1933, of THE COMMUNIST, published monthly at ;New Yoi-k, N. Y., for Octob<>r 1. 1937 . . State of New York .. <~ounty of New York \ _, 1 Before me, a Notary Public In and tor llp.e St~tte and county afor';,s,ald, per­ --~-Ona-ifY--appeared Joseph Fields, who, haVing beeri--dulY-SWor~ a~co~ding"~to raw, deposes and says that he Is the Business Manager of The Communist, and that the following Is. to the best of his knowledge and belief, a true statement of thP ownership, management (and If a dally paper, the circulation), etc., of the afore­ said publlcatl~n for· the da'te -~ow:n In ·the ~bove caption,- re,qulred by the Act of August 24, 1912, as amended b;p' the, Act of, March 3, l!i33, embodied In Section ii37, Postal Laws and Regulatldn8, printed cin the--reverse of this form, to wit: 1. That the names and addresses of the publisher, editor, managing editor. 11.nd business managers are: Publisher, Communist Party of U.S. .,'\., 60 East 13th Street, New York, N. Y. Editor, Earl Browder, 60. East 13th Street, New York, N. Y. Managing Editor, None Business Manager, Joseph-.Pields, 60 E·ast 13th Str·Pet, New York, N. Y. 2. That the owner is: (If ·owned by a corporation, its name and address must be stated and also Immediately thereunder the names and addresses of stock­ holders owning or holding one per. cent or more of total amount of stock. If not owned by a corporation, _the names and addresses of the individual owners must be given. If owned by a firm, company, or other unincorporated concern, Its namP o.nd address, as well as those of each Individual member, must be given.) Communist Party of U.S.A., 60 East 13th Street, New York, N. Y. Earl Browder, General Secretary, 60 East 13th Street, New York, N. Y. A non-profit organization-political. 3. That the known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders own­ lUg or boldine 1 per cent or more of total 9mount of honds. mortgages. or other aecurltles are: (If there are none. Ro Rta te.) None. 4:. That the two paragraphs next above, giving the names of the owners. atockholders, and security holders, If any, contain not only the list of stock­ b.olders and security holders as they appear upon the books of the company but also In cases where the stockholder or security holder appears upon the books of the company as trustee or in any other fiduciary relation, the name of the person or corporation for whom such trustee is acting, is given; also that the said two paragraphs contain statements embracing affiant's full knowledge and belief as to the circumstances and conditions under which stockholders and security holders who do not appear upon the books of the company as trustees, hold stock and securities In a capacity other than that of a bona fide owner; and this affiant has no reason to believe that any other person, association, or corporation has any Interest direct or Indirect In the said stock, bonds, or other securities than as so stated by him. 6. That the average number of copies of each Issue of this publication sold or distributed through the malls or otherwise, to paid subscribers during thP twelve months preceding the date shown above Is , .. (This Information 1• rP­ quired from dally publications only), .TOSFJPH- P'IFJLDS. Business Manager.

A MAGAZINE OF THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF MARXISM -LENINISM PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE U.S.A. EDITORS: EARL BROWDER, ALEX BITTELMAN, V. ]. JEROME

CONTENTS

Review of the Month . A. B. 973 Twenty Years of Soviet Power EARL BROWDER g86 Lenin and Stalin on the Eve of October gg6

Where Is the Socialist Pahy Going? JACK STACHEI. 1000

Trade Unions in the Land of Socialism 1007 New Developments in Organizing the Marine Industry ROY HUDSON 1016

Southern Textile Workers Organize JOHN J. BAI.LAM . 1023 Unite the Negro People for the People's Front! . For a Common Front Against the War­ Makers EARL BROWDER

From the World Communist Press 1045

Book Reviews M; CHILDS PAUL NOVICK Recent Books Acknowledged

Entered as second class matter November 2, r927, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the Act of March 'h r879. Send checks, money orders .and correspondence to THJ! CoMMUNIST, P.O. Box r48, Sta. D (Jo E. rJth St.), New Yor.l. Subscription rates: $2.110 a year; $r.DO for six months; foreign and Canada $2.50 a year. Single copies 20 cents. PJIINTED Ill' U.S.A. ~209

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LENIN LENIN . . V I. I. JOSEPH STALIN JOSEPH STALIN

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"The "The Communist Communist International" International"

Special Special November November anniversary anniversary issue issue of of

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by by V. V. 2.00 2.00 Lenin Lenin I. I. . .

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(Special (Special Anniversary Anniversary Edition) Edition)

by by V. V. Lenin Lenin I. I. . . 5c 5c

ON ON THE THE EVE EVE OF OF OCTOBER OCTOBER

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SOCIALISM SOCIALISM MARCHES MARCHES ON ON IN IN THE THE SOVIET SOVIET UNION UNION

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LIFE LIFE AND AND LABOR LABOR IN IN THE THE SOVIET SOVIET UNION UNION

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Victories Victories of of Socialism Socialism

Read Read about about the the REVIEW OF THE MONTH

Roosevelt's Peace Program. Collective Security Is Only Road to Peace. Who Is in Opposition? Finance Capital Is Not Isolationist. Various Tendencies in Wall Street. Is Second World War Inevitable? It Is Not Here Yet. Norman Thomas Writes Another Open Letter. Socialist Phrases Covering Reactionary Substance. Why Not Make China Safe for the Chinese? Wilson and Roosevelt and Two Different World Situations. Browder's Call to Realize President's Peace Pmgram. Mobilize Masses in Inde­ pendent People's Peace Movement. The Nine-Power Conference and What to Do. Labor Takes Position Against Fascist Aggressors. Com­ munist Party Presents Program of Action. Denver and Atlantic City. C.l.O. Establishes Leadership in Struggle for Unity. Unity Is Possible. Next Steps. Greetings on 2oth Anniversary of October Revolution. Party Recruiting Drive and Lenin Memorial Da'V.

T Is necessary to say plainly and Ironically enough, they attacked it as I directly that the opponents of col­ a "war" program, as a policy that will lective security, whatever their inten­ take this country into war. They tions may be, are in fact helping the picked up quickly the insinuating/ fascist aggressors. threat of the German fascist press that · This has been true right along, and Roosevelt would suffer the same we have said so. But after the Presi­ "shipwreck" as Wilson did. And while dent's anti-war speech in Chicago, there is as yet very little unanimity on which necessarily aroused widespread what exactly should be done in a discussion and hastened political positive way, the camp of reaction alignments on the issue of peace or seems to be pretty solid in its deter­ war, the enemies of collective security mination to sabotage and, if possible, are making the meaning of their op­ ruin the President's peace program. position crystal clear. It is opposition As usual, the reactionaries are try­ to peace. ing to play upon the isolation illu­ Speaking for the most reactionary sions of certain sections of the people. and most imperialist circles of Not that the reactionary monopolies monopoly capital, such organs of ex­ are themselves isolationist. This they pression as the Chicago Tribune, the never were and never will be. Repre­ New York Herald Tribune and of senting the economic foundation of course the unspeakable Hearst have imperialism, monopoly · or finance been attacking the President's peace capital is by its very nature the main program from every imaginable angle. driving force of imperialis~ wars of

973 974 THE COMMUNIST

conquest and aggrandizement. Whom appearing isolation illusions, is at the do the fascists represent, if not die same time opening up new angles of most imperialist and most rapacious attack against the collective struggle sections of finance capital_? Whose bid­ for peace. One of these is the patent ding are the fascist war aggressors do­ absurdity that the danger of a new ing today in China, in Spain, in the world war is really not so great and Mediterranean, in the whole world, not so close as it is being pictured by if not that of the most imperialist and the adherents of collective security. reactionary monopolies of Japan, Ger­ That is, the war danger is no~ denied. many and Italy? Who can deny that and get away with No, the reactionary opponents of it? In fact, the coming of a new world the President's peace program and of war is made to appear as being in­ collective security in general are not evitable, but that it is still far off and isolationists by far. They are merely that, therefore, there is no need get­ exploiting existing isolation illusions ting too much l!xcited about it now. among the masses to obstruct the This is how a new angle of attack struggle for collective security, for against collective security is being de­ peace, and to promote their own veloped by the New York Herald schemes, which are war-like, aggres­ Tribune, for example. It says: sive and imperialist. " ... certainly, the great war is inevitable, But isolationism alone is apparent­ of course, but not now." (October 14.) ly no longer sufficient to arouse large masses against collective security. The Unwittingly, perhaps, this spokes­ American people have learned a good man of the reactionary monopolie:;. deal in recent months and weeks. has let the cat out of the bag. And Under the impact of fascist aggres­ thus everybody can see that the reac­ sion, which spreads war and threatens tionary monopolies in this country to embroil this country into a new are orienting on a new world war, world conflagration, isolation illu­ that they want such a war. Not now, sions among the masses are crum­ and this is important too. Says the bling, gradually disappearing, giving Herald Tribune: way to a realistic and practical under­ " .... nobody can be found thinking about standing which must lead to the ac­ war today or tomorrow; next year, yes or the ceptance of collective security. Clear­ years after, maybe, or when this or that ly, President Roosevelt's Chicago power is 'ready'-certainly, the great war is inevitable, of co!lrse, but not now." (Ibid.) speech is in itself a response to these changes in the attitude of the people Ignore {or a moment the glaring as :well as to the increased danger of untruth that "nobody can be found a new world war resulting from un­ thinking about war today or tomor­ checked fascist aggression in China row"-in the face to two wars already .f1nd Spain. being waged by the fascist aggressors There is still considerable isolation­ in China and Spain. Fix your atten­ ism among sections of the people, but tion upon the assertion that war is it is on the way out. Hence reaction, inevitable but not now, because this while clutching desperately at the dis- gives the key to the orientation of REVIEW OF TfH: MONTH 975 this particular group of opponents of for war, not for peace; they are the collective security. class forces of the most imperialist First, as to the "inevitability" of a circles of monopoly capital. The new world war. This is objectively un­ struggle for P.eace, for collective secur­ true. The forces of peace, .those inter­ ity, for the realization of the Presi­ ested vitally in the preservation of dent's peace program, is a struggle world peace, are by all odds over­ against these reactionary forces in whelmingly stronger than the fascist American life. forces of war. The President said that Speaking of new angles of attack go per cent of the people of the world against collective security, it is neces­ want peace, and that is no exaggera­ sary to take note of still another one. tion. If these peace forces unite and It comes, however, from a different pursue a policy of collective security, camp, from those misguided and con­ thatwill eurb the fascist aggressors and fused (terribly confused) pacifists who prevent the outbreak of a new world are apparently sincere in their isola­ war. Those who in the face of these tionist beliefs but who, despite all considerations insist upon the "in­ their sincerity, are giving comfort to evitability" of a new world war, either the reactionary war-makers. We again do not know what they are talking refer to the New Republic, to its edi­ about or, as is the case with the tor, Bruce Bliven. His new angle of monopolies behind the Herald Trib­ attack against collective security seems une, they desire a new world war. to be this: you are talking about the Second, they do not desire it now need of collective security in order to but "next year or the year after." This prevent the outbreak of a new world too is understandable. The reaction­ war. But the new world war is already ary monopolies in this country would here; and the United States is not in like to go into a new world war with it yet. So, why not go on the way we a federal government more to their have been, just keeping out, enforcing: liking than the Roosevelt administra­ and making more strict the "neutral­ tion is-with a government that would ity" laws, and leaving the world war (a) curb the American people and de­ to its own fate? Why not, Mr. Bliven stroy their liberties; (b) place upon seems to be asking. the working people the entire eco­ He does not, of course, say so in so nomic burden and sacrifices of war, many words; he is not so naive. All and (c) respond surely and eagerly in he says definitely is that the second its foreign policies to the ambitions of world war is here. He writes: the reactionary monopolies for impe­ "People ask casually whether there is dan­ rialist conquest and aggrandizement. ger of another world war or, showing more And it is well known that they defi­ pessimism, when it is likely to begin. I think · nitely have such ambitions in the Far a good case can be made for the contention East and in the world at large. that it has begun." (Oct. 6.) Therefore we say: the reactionary And he proceeds to make out the opponents of the President's peace case. .6-ll of what follows ,in Mr. program and of collective security are Bliven's article may look yery far-see­ the forces that work in this country ing, very learned and very expert. But THE COMMUNIST what it amounts to in reality is the cally and .without analysis to the dis­ fatalistic acceptance of the coming of aster of 1914-1918, but, by inference, a new ~orld war, something akin to ~swilling to acquiesce even in war (not the "inevitability" of the Herald a fight for peace) if only Roosevelt Tribune, though with different inten­ would agree to socialism as Thomas tions. It amounts, in fact, to giving up understands it. Curious, isn't it? the struggle for peace. It paves theway Aside from all its curiosities, con­ (despite all subjective intentions) to fusion and rotten reformism, this a surrender to war, to a surrender to "open letter" has very definite politi­ the fascist forces which make for war. cal objectives. In a defensive form, it Yes, a surrender to the new world launches an attack upon Roosevelt's war which is not yet here but which peace program and against collective is made more imminent by the mis­ security in general. Stripped of its guided pacifism' and historic specula­ pacifist and reformist phraseology, tions such as Mr. Bliven's. this attack differs little (if at all) The New Republic once burned its from the attacks of the reactionaries. fingers in giving support to America's It is in substance the same. participation in the world imperialist That this judgment is no exaggera­ war of 1914-1918 and to Wilson's poli­ tion will be seen from these facts. cies. The present editor of the New One, the "open letter" treats Roose­ Republic wants to avoid the fatal velt's Chicago speech, not for what it error of his predecessors. This is really is, not as a program of struggle praiseworthy and tremendously im­ for peace, but as a policy to take this portant. Our own Party, the Commu­ country into war. Read the Chicago nist Party, arose in the struggle pre­ Tribune, the Hearst papers and the cisely against that imperialist war and Herald Tribune and you will find the against Wilson's policies. But the same thing: the reactionaries seek to editor of the New Republic (we must arouse the people against Roosevelt's say that in all frankness and sincerity) policy on the false ground that it is today in danger of making another takes this country into war. Two, and fatal error, the error of giving up the more specifically, the Thomas letter struggle for peace, which may lead makes the main attack against the the New Republic to the same conse­ principles of collective security. This quences as its error in 1918. again is precisely what the reaction­ ary warmongers are doing. • • • Thomas writes on October 16: Norman Thomas's "open letter" to "And we are profoundly concerned be· President Roosevelt is a curious docu- · cause of the danger that you and your State ment. It is full of all the existing illu­ Department are about to make a false iden· sions of isolationism despite its decla­ tification of world interdependence with the practice of collective security, an identifica· I·. ration to the contrary. It repeats all tion all too likely to lead the United States the arguments of the reactionaries into war in the Far East." (Socialist Call.) , against collective security while at­ tempting to dissociate itself from the Thomas quibbles and indulges in camp of reaction. It points uncriti- sophistries. He dare not challenge the REVIEW OF THE MONTH 977 contention that the peace of America new world war. No, Thomas does not depends .upon the peace of the world. dare to do any of these things. So he He dare not discuss frankly the fact goes around them and asks the Presi­ that unchecked fascist aggression in dent a "question": Europe and in the Far East threatens you think that your government will a new world war which will embroil "Do or should go to war and conscript our sons America. Yet he does not want Roose­ to make China safe for the Chinese?" velt "to identify" the interdependence of world peace with collective secur­ What about helping the Chin~;e-

the the in in interested interested now now are are countries countries socialism socialism that that Thomas Thomas with with lieved lieved

capitalist capitalist these these that that know know we we But But be­ never never We We socialism. socialism. for for as as well well as as

"righteousness." "righteousness." in in interested interested not not are are peoples peoples all all for for necessary necessary is is peace peace for for

governments governments capitalist capitalist that that out out find find to to struggle struggle the the that that answered answered have have We We

order order in in does, does, Thomas Thomas as as Roosevelt, Roosevelt, C.I. C.I. the the of of Congress Congress World World

President President consult consult to to have have not not do do Seventh Seventh the the as as back back far far as as firmatively firmatively

We We righteousness." righteousness." for for crusaders crusaders as as af­ answered answered have have we we question question This This

simply simply war war to to go go "will "will states states capitalist capitalist Thomas. Thomas. by by Roosevelt Roosevelt to to propounded propounded

these these of of governments governments the the whether whether one one the the not not and and Socialists, Socialists, by by swered swered

not not is is question question the the you, you, Mind Mind an­ be be to to question question the the is is This This ments? ments?

govern­ capitalist capitalist under under gressors. gressors. live live whom whom

ag­ fascist fascist the the by by threatened threatened selves selves of of most most nations, nations, whole whole including including but but

them­ are are and and war, war, in in not not peace, peace, in in fascism, fascism, against against and and peace peace for for fight fight

interested interested vitally vitally today today are are countries countries the the of of backbone backbone the the allies, allies, its its and and

capitalist capitalist of of number number a a That That (d) (d) class class working working the the of of only only not not sisting, sisting,

peace. peace. con­ front front peace peace worldwide worldwide a a up up build build

for for force force powerful powerful a a is is aggression aggression to to possible possible it it Is Is situation? situation? .world .world ent ent

fascist fascist against against peoples peoples attacked attacked two two pres­ the the in in possible possible peace peace for for struggle struggle

these these of of struggle struggle heroic heroic the the that that and and a a Is Is be: be: then then would would question question correct correct

China, China, and and Spain Spain against against war war waging waging The The them. them. for for it it do do or or questions, questions, their their

already already Asia, Asia, and and Europe Europe in in states states reformulate reformulate to to them them force force must must We We it. it.

of of number number a a of of integrity integrity territorial territorial with with away away get get them them let let not not must must we we

and and freedom, freedom, independence, independence, tional tional and and reactionaries, reactionaries, of of also also tactic tactic the the

na­ the the threatens threatens fascism fascism That That (c) (c) is is This This more. more. once once exposed exposed be be must must

not. not. does does war war world world the the but but prevent prevent to to this, this, about about struggle struggle the the of of stead stead

forgets forgets in­ Thomas Thomas war war peace. peace. for for discussing discussing power power of of dous dous tactic tactic Thomas Thomas

tremen­ a a the the state, state, with, with, socialist socialist a a begin begin to to earth, earth, But, But, on on arena. arena. world world

force force new new a a the the today today on on is is there there alignment alignment That That (b) (b) present-day present-day the the of of

version version Trotsky-like Trotsky-like the the states. states. and and fascist fascist formism, formism, the the states, states, gressor gressor

re­ sectarian sectarian ag­ pacifism, pacifism, definite definite absolute absolute are are there there chism, chism, today today robbery, robbery,

Anar­ everything. everything. and and have have you you conquest conquest of of Here Here war war imperialist imperialist an an

waged waged and and for for whom whom ~:}llyprepared ~:}llyprepared

righteousness?" righteousness?" for for

of of each each coalitions, coalitions, imperialist imperialist two two

crusader crusader a a as as simply simply war war to to go go will will ment, ment,

into into divided divided was was world world the the when when 1918 1918 govern­ nationalist nationalist and and capitalist capitalist any any cially cially

espe­ government, government, any any that that history, history, and and logic logic 1914- unlike unlike that, that, noted noted we we history history

all all of of face face the the in in believe, believe, really really you you "Do "Do from from learning learning And And Japan. Japan. and and Italy Italy

Germany, Germany, as as countries countries imperialist imperialist "question": "question":

three three such such of of control control in in now now fascism, fascism, another another asks asks he he so, so, do do To To curity. curity.

world world the the of of redivision redivision the the for for war war i~ i~ se­ collective collective to to movement movement the the oppose oppose

new new a a to to driving driving force force the the That That (a) (a) to to peace, peace, for for struggle struggle the the stemming stemming of of

showing: showing: by by that that proved proved purpose purpose the the for for All All capital. capital. monopoly monopoly

We We "inevitable." "inevitable." is is war war world world new new British British and and American American between between tions tions

a a that that idea idea the the rejecting rejecting possible, possible, is is contradic­ imperialist imperialist the the upon upon even even

peace peace for for struggle struggle the the that that answered answered and and illusions, illusions, "neutrality" "neutrality" illusions, illusions,

have have \Ve \Ve war." war." of of crisis crisis new new "a "a needs needs reformist reformist prejudices, prejudices, national national narrow narrow

COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE THE REVIEW OF THE MONTH 979 preservation of world peace because That is why Comrade Browder peace new serves best the imperialist promptly called for support and unit­ interests of their bourgeoisie. ed struggle by the people to realize These are objective facts. Now, the President's peace program in life. what do you do with these facts? If Does that mean that we overlook you believe, as we do, that the most the fact that President Roosevelt's ad­ vital interests of the working class, of ministration is a capitalist govern­ its allies among the toiling classes, of ment? Does it mean we have forgot­ the Soviet Union and of the future ten that we live in a capitalist system of world socialism, and of the whole dominated by monopoly capital, of humanity demand imperatively which is the economic basis of imperi­ that w'orld peace be preserved, then alism? No. We have not forgotten you will formulate on the basis of either of these things, just as Norman these objective facts a policy of collec­ Thomas has not yet fully learned tive security. And this was what we them, especially about the economic did. Life is daily confirming the cor­ basis of imperialism which he con­ rectness of our policy, although great tinually confuses with what he calls difficulties have to be overcome in "capitalist nationalism." the struggle for its realization. No, we have not ovel:looked these The weakening of the isolation il­ things. On the contrary, we have lusions in the United States and, in analyzed them deeply and thoroughly, response to this, the Chicago speech as Marxists, proceeding from the eco­ of President Roosevelt, are in them­ selves fresh confirmation of the cor­ nomics of the situation to the line-up rectness of our peace policy. We do of class forces; rejecting all schematism not know whether the President is for and mechanical repetition of for­ the same brand of "righteousness;' as mulae, seeing the struggle for peace Norman Thomas. Frankly, we are not in its concrete objective setting of the interested in that. But we are int~e'> historic fight for the People's Front, ested, vitally so, ~n whether the Presi­ against fascism, for democracy, and for dent's program Is a peace progta socialism. That is why our analysis And our answer is: yes, it is; it con­ is a true one. On the basis of this tains the essentials of such a program. analysis, we are able to say: We are interested in whether this President Roosevelt's peace program program can be made to serve the is, of course, not in conflict with the struggle for collective security, which policies of the \ is now the only way to preserve world tr~diti~nal ~~ited States m the Far East, the policies of · peace. And we say: yes, it can be the "Open Door" and the territorial made to serve that purpose by the sup­ port of a wide people's peace move­ integrity of China. These traditionai ment, independent of the govern­ American objectives are the class ob­ ment, struggling unitedly for peace jectives of the American bourgeoisie and collective security, struggling dictated by the broad imperialist in­ against the opposition of the reac­ terests of American capitalism. Presi­ tionaries who attack the President's dent Roosevelt's peace program pur­ program. sues these traditional objectives of g8o THE COMMUNIST

American Far-Eastern policy. But­ dent's peace program will most cer­ and this is decisive for the camp of tainly seek t9 sabotage it by all means labor and progress-the pursuit of at its disposal. And these means are these traditional objectives of Ameri­ not negligible. The most imperialist can Far-Eastern policy at the present circles of finance capital, speaking time demands a struggle for collective through such organs as the Chicago security, for curbing the fascist ag­ Tribune, the New York Herald gressors, for the maintenance of world Tribune and Hearst, have clearly in• peace-a struggle which the camp of dicated what their line is. To sum labor and progress must and can carry up what has been discussed in the on as a struggle against fascism and foregoing, this line is an orientation war and for democracy and peace. · on the "inevitability" of a new world war in which America will participate • • • for the imperialist aggrandizement of MPORTANT to emphasize at the pres­ the monopolies, collaborating most I ent time is the building up of the likely with the fascist aggressors. widest people's peace movement to Caught in the contradiction between fight for the realization of the Presi­ their class affinities for fascism and dent's program. Only the active sup­ their interest in the traditional Far­ port of an independent peace move­ Eastern objectives of American capi­ ment of the masses fighting for the talism, some of these most reactionary principles of collective security will and imperialist monopolies seem even bring about the carrying out of this inclined for the moment to subordi­ peace program. nate the traditional objectives in the One reason for the need of an or­ Far East, to go easy on them. And ganized mass struggle for the realiza­ why? In order not to weaken the fas­ tion of the President's program was cist aggressors abroad and not to im­ indicated by Raymond Leslie Buell, pair their own chances at home for president of the Foreign Policy Asso­ the advancement of reaction and fas­ ciation. Commenting on the fact that cism. Roosevelt's Chicago speech constitutes Remembering the resourcefulness a challenge to the fascist dictatorships, and reserves mobilized by reaction in he says: the struggle against Supreme Court ". . . but whether they take the warning reform, and the temporary victory seriously depends on whether American pub­ which it scored, the camp of peace lic opinion will not only support the prin­ and progress will have to broaden and ciples underlying the speech, but also a organize its forces as never before to policy necessary to give it effect." succeed in the struggle for peace. That is correct. Hence, we must Monopoly, or finance, capital is ob­ help educate and organize the masses viously not of one mind on the issue along these lines as well as work for of collective security. While its most the utmost possible independent ac­ reactionary and fascist-mindeq circles tion in support of the Spanish and are in opposition to collective security Chinese peoples. and to Roosevelt's peace program, Reactionary opposition to the Presi- other circles of finance capital are REVIEW OF THE MONTH 981 generally in favor of collective peace 0 RGANIZED labor has already taken efforts, ~hus endorsing on the whole a position in condemnation of the President's policy (the New York the Japanese fascist aggressor and in Times, .for example). But these latter favor of a nationwide boycott of Japa­ circles of finance capital, those favor­ nese goods. The C.I.O. conference ing the President's policy, are defi­ made decisions to that effect. And nitely antagonistic to the anti-fascist under the pressure of its rank and and democratic implications and file and progressive elements, even the methods of this policy. It is there­ Denver convention of the A. F. of L. fore to be expected that the pressure went on record. in favor of a boycott which will come from these circles of Japanese goods. This will immea­ upon the Roosevelt administration surably strengthen the peace move­ will most certainly be directed toward ment and the struggle for the realiza­ weakening the anti-fascist implica­ tion of the President's policy. tions of its peace policy, toward com­ It is necessary to warn that the sub­ promises with the fascist aggressor at sequent "broadening" of the A. F. of the expense of its victims, toward that L. boycott decision to include "all im­ kind of "peace collaboration" which ported goods," sponsored especially by the British Tories have made in­ Matthew W oll, threatens to weaken famous. the boycott of japanese goods. There Speaking on the Nine-Power Con­ is great danger that the Walls may ference, Mr. Buell correctly sounds a try to switch the movement for the warning that attempts may be made boycott of Japanese goods into the there to "bring pressure on China to channels of Hearst's pet scheme of accept another Hoare-Laval deal": "buy American." The peace forces of the country, for whom the boycott "If Japan agrees to go to the conference, of Japanese goods is one of the means it will doubtless be due to the belief that Britain and America will bring pressure· on of struggle for curbing the fascist ag­ China to accept a face-saving formula which gressor and for peace, must not allow will give Japan the substance of its demands the movement to be destroyed by the in North China and Manchukuo." machinations of Hearst's agents in tht: Mr. Buell believes that "the United labor movement. States government will not willingly The task of the moment is there­ be a party to such an agreement." fore clear. As called for by the Com­ :Perhaps. But it may become a party munist Party: Rouse and mobilize the to such an agreement "unwillingly" masses for the realization of the Presi­ if the pressure from the New York dent's peace program! Widen and Times group of finance capital to­ consolidate the broadest people's gether with the pressure from the peace movement in the struggle for British government will not be coun­ the fo1lowing immediate actions: teracted by the pressure of the Ameri­ A wide boycott movement against can people through an organized Japanese goods. An embargo by the peace movement. government upon all imports from and exports to Japan. Support for the proposal of the C.I.O. and its THE COMMUNIST maritime unions for a working class also increase. We must put the masses embargo against Japan. Maximum on guard against that. We must be possible aid by the American govern· vigilant and alert te every machina­ ment and people to China and to tion of the Trotskyite agents o~ Hitler Republican Spain. Demand the lift­ and Japan, expose them before the ing of the embargo upon Republican people, and help drive them out of Spain. Support the demand for the labor and people's organizations. Only immediate withdrawal of all Italian thus will the struggle for peace and and German forces from Spain. Sup­ collective security be successful. port the demand for the immediate withdrawal of all Japanese forces from • • • China. Demand the revision of the wo national gatherings of repre­ "Neutrality Act" in accordance with T sentatives of organized labor took the program of curbing the aggressor place in the first half of October: fn and organizing collective security. Denver, the American Federation of Demonstrate support for the Presi­ Labor; in Atlantic City, the Commit­ dent's program through mass meet­ tee for Industrial Organization. The ings and resolutions, delegations to contrast and the results are full of Washington, telegrams and delega­ instruction and enlightenment for tions to Congressmen urging upon every worker in the United States. them a similar course. Support the The contrast demonstrated is not demand for united peace action by la­ between the membership of the two bor in this country and for similar organizations. The membership of united action by all working class or­ both are workers, members of the ganizations internationally. Support same exploited class. And of them the peace actions of the American John L. Lewis said truly: League Against War and Fascism and "Out in the localities where our great in· its forthcoming national congress. dustries are located, in the community assem· Demand the dissolution of all fascist blages, as members of the various plants, in and Naxi agencies in this country. the daily activities of community life, there Support the peace policies of the Sov­ is no difference between the members of the iet Union and urge collaboration for Committee for Industrial Organization and the members of the American Federation of peace between the governments of the Labor...... United States and the Soviet Union. "They both want and. desire the same Realize the President's peace pro­ thing-increased living standards, a high so­ gram! cial status, more political freedom and greater opportunity. Their hearts and their Since the struggle for a peace pro­ minds are aspiring to the same objectives, gram by the United States is becom­ and clinging with fierceness and loyalty to ing wider, more intense, and closer the same ideals regardless of whether these 'j to realization, and since the opposi­ working men and women are affiliated with . ~ the C.I.O. or the A. F. of L." tion of reaction will be bitter and vicious, it is to he expected that the This is from Lewis' speech on unity activities of the Trotskyite agents of at the national conference of the the fascist aggressors to discredit the C.I.O. in Atlantic City. And this is principles of collective security will the basis of the unity of the working REVIEW OF THE MONTH

class, of the unification of the Ameri­ A little "detail" of procedure which can trade union movement. can and should be ironed out, but Unity is possible. Because the class significant nonetheless as a characteri­ interests of the workers in both organi­ zation of the two leaderships and zations demand it; because the work­ their respective approaches to unity. ers want it; because the C.I.O. ~nd The C.I.O. leadership rests the case the progressive forces in the A F of of trade union unity on the broad L._3re strong enough already to d~­ principles of working class unity, on feat the opposition to unity on the the needs of the struggle for the prog­ part of the Hutchesons, Freys and ress and advancement of the working their helpers. class on the economic and political Needless to say, a united trade fields. Therefore, the C.I.O. conceives union movement of about S,ooo,ooo the task of making unity in its prac­ members will at once mean tremen­ tical aspects as a task of uniting the dously augmented strength for the two organizations and creating a working class, for the People's Front stronger and more effective trade movement against fascism and war, union movement. A glimpse of what for the entire camp of progress in this that could be and do, we have already country as well as in the world. And received in the rise and advance of this is how, in broad outline, the the. C.I.O. itself. Naturally, such a C.I.O. and the progressive forces in task of unification is a serious and the A. F. of L. conceive correctly the complicated business and requires for task of reuniting the American trade its solution the participation of the union movement. leading and active forces of the two Unity is possible. And the C.I.O., trade union movements. Hence it the main body of organized labor in was perfectly reasonable for the C.I.O. this country, has taken the lead in to suggest that the· conferences for the achievement of trade union unity. unity negotiations be participated in The convention of the A. F. of L., by 100 representatives from each dominated as it was more than ever side, since this did not preclude the before by the reactionaries and split­ possibility of setting, up smaller com­ ters, saturated with hostility to nearly mittees in the course of the wprk of all progressive developments in the the larger conferences. This is the country, showing tendencies to re­ democratic and correct way. align the A. F. of L. politically in op­ The Executive Council of the A. position even to President Roosevelt, F. of L., which split the trade union did not dare, however, to reject out­ movement to begin with, and has been right the proposal for unity negotia­ maneuvering right along to split the tions by the C.I.O. The A. F. of L. C.I.O. too, covering up this maneuver Executive Council finally felt com­ with the cry of "unity," is still ma­ pelled to agree to a preliminary con­ neuvering. It is most likely that the ference, insisting though upon a small Executive Council is going to the committee meeting in opposition to unity conference with the C.I.O. in the idea of the C.I.O., that it be a the spirit of the advice given to it by large conference composed of 1 oo dele­ the Herald Tribune. This spokesman gates from each organization. of reaction told the Executive Couil- THE COMMUNIST cil in effect: go to the conference, ganizations are engaged in immediate otherwise your maneuvers will be too struggles for the advancement of their much exposed. This-life will show. interests: against the rising cost of liv­ However, while fully realizing that ing, for the protection of their civil the Executive Council is still maneuv­ liberties, against vigilantism, for ering against unity, we must also peace, to promote the boycott of J apa­ realize that its maneuvering possibili­ nese goods and to render help to the ties have become narrower. It can no peoples of Spain and China, to men­ longer continue to the same extent as tion only some of the immediate com­ before to play With the issue of unity mon tasks. Local political activities for purposes of disunity: because the and the building of Labor's Non­ demand for unity from below is grow­ Partisan League -labor's political ing stronger day by day and because mass weapon-this is another field of the C.I.O. has definitely established action for both trade union organiza­ leadership in the struggle for trade tions. union unity. It should be kept in mind that com­ The first conclusion that fo1lows plete unity will not be accomplished from this is that the progressive ele­ overnight. Unity is possible througb ments in the A. F. of L. must im­ the overcoming of a number of diffi­ measurably increase their activities in culties and serious obstructions from favor of unity, as correctly conceived the opponents of unity. This will take by the C.I.O. The stronger the pres­ hard work and time. Therefore we sure from below upon the Execu­ urge: unity negotiations to be assisted tive Council the narrower will be­ by the maximum possible united ac­ come its maneuvering possibilifies tion day by day between the unions against unity and the sooner will the of the C.I.O. and the A. F. of L. American trade union movement be And a third conclusion: build the united. A similar task confronts the C.I.O. unions, win the masses in sup­ progressive elements in the railroad port of its principles, in support of unions. the resolutions adopted by its con­ A second conclusion is that the ference in Atlantic City. These reso­ unity negotiations must be accom­ lutions, and the demands incorporat­ panied by the maximum possible ed in them, are of momentous impor­ united actions for common aims, eco­ tance to the working class and to the nomically and politically, among the entire camp of progress. Spreau unions of the A. F. ofL., the C.l.O. them far and wide. They will be most and the Railroad Brotherhoods. The effective in building the unity of the need for this is evident. Nothing will working class and in promoting fur­ create a better atmosphere for the ther the People's Front movement. unity negotiations than such common action. It will, in fact, help make These resolutions will prove a most unity. Besides, there is urgent imme­ powerful weapon for mobilizing the diate need for such common action, a masses for labor, farmer and progres­ need that cannot wait until unity is sive legislation at the special session fully consummated. In every locality of Congress, as well as in preparation and community workers of both or- of the People's Front forces for the REVIEW OF THE MONTH

Congressional elections of 1938. Build In 1937, on the 2oth anniversary of Labor's. Non-Partisan League! the great Socialist Revolution, there are 3o,ooo,ooo children in the Soviet schools, studying in their own native REETINGS on the twentieth anni­ languages, and facing a free path to G versary of the great Socialist higher education and development. Revolution, which significantly coin­ Greetings, finally, to our own Party, cides with the approach to the first to Comrades Browder and Foster, to elections on the basis of the Stalin the advanced detachment of the Constitution. American working class. The celebra­ In mobilizing the masses for tlie tion of twenty years of Soviet power celebration of this historic event, we on one-sixth of the earth will, among shall further promote the advance of other things, mark a stage in our the American people against reaction recruiting drive. Our Party is gradu­ and fascism, build the People's Front ally setting in motion all its resources and strengthen the leading role of for building itself into a mass party the working class in it, and stimulate of strong Bolshevik ideology. With its progress to socialist liberation. increasing momentum we must carry Greetings to the peoples of the forward the recruiting drive, which Soviet Union, to their Communist has been extended to Lenin Me­ Party, and to our common leader, morial Day by Central Committee de­ Comrade Stalin! \Ve extend these cision. At that time the National greetings in the inspiring belief that Party Builders' Congress will be held. socialism is the solution for all of us Through more intense political and that we are helping the American mass work, as behooves the vanguard people to move to this solution by Party of the working class, we must building the unity of the working energetically promote the enrollment class, the People's Front, and the Com~ of the best elements of our class into munist Party. the Party. At the present time we are Greetings to our working class and engaged in the prosecution of two people on the twentieth anniversary central political tasks: the struggle for of the October Revolution, which trade union unity and the struggle lights our way and strengthens our for peace, linked up with the eco­ struggles for a better life. The Ameri­ nomic demands of the masses-in the can masses, when informed, fully ap­ first place, the fight against the rising preciate the tremendous achievements cost of living. of the peoples of the Soviet Union We say to the membership of our under socialism. Such facts as these Party: speak eloquently: Carry our political line and message In 1914, under capitalism and the on these basic issues to the masses and Tsar, there were in Russia only their organizations in the current 7 ,Soo,ooo children in the schools. Of weeks. Strengthen your contacts and them, 7,ooo,ooo were in the elemen­ relationships with the best elements tary schools, the children of workers of the mass movements on the basis and peasants, as a rule, having no of our political line and message. And access to higher schools. -bring them into the Party. A. B. TWENTY YEARS OF SOVIET POWER*

THE TRIUMPH OF DEMOCRACY THROUGH SOCIALISM

BY EARL BROWDER

"Capitalism generally and imperialism es­ geographical and historical influences pecially transform democracy into an illu­ in the two great regions under ex­ sion, while at the sa.me time capitalism gives amination. birth to democratic aspirations among the masses; it creates democratic institutions; it sharpens the antagonism between imperial­ RUSSIA AND NORTH AMERICA ism, which denies democracy, and the masses, who strive for democracy." •• The territory known until 1917 as the Empire of the Tsar of Russia

OVEMBER 7 marks the twentieth closely approximates in extent, in N anniversary of the rise of a new climatic conditions and in richness type of state, Soviet power, which of natural resources, our own North began the building of a new type of American continent. Its population is society, socialism. about 20 to 25 per cent greater. With This event marked a new turning such close similarity of the basic nat­ point in the history of mankind. It ural factors, however, these two areas has made necessary for the whole have gone through sharply different ' world a re-evaluation of old values, historical developments. Both ·came a re-examination of all problems, a under the impact of the rising capital­ re-alignment of previous social group­ ist system of Western Europe during ings, a redirection of the course of approximately the same period, but human affairs. with different results, due to a differ­ It is my purpose today to examine ent inheritance from the pre-capitalist the achievements of twenty years of era. Soviet power in relation particularly Russia came into the world-com­ to the problems of North American munity and world-market that was democracy, to the problems of the brought into being by capitalism, people of the United States and with the heavy inheritance of a feudal Canada. sy_stem of economy and society rooted A few preliminary observations will in centuries of slow development, a be of value by way of comparing the system with a highly developed super­ structure of government, of state • ~ address to the Eighth Dominion Con­ power. In contrast, North America ventiOn of the Communist Party of Canada, was only beginning to be conquered at Toronto, October 10, 1937. 1111 Lenin, Collected Works, VoL XXX, p. by an immigration from Europe com­ 259, Russian edition. posed, in its great majority, of people g86 TWENTY. YEARS OF SOVIET POWER in rebellion against the oppressions two great sections of humanity, of the .combined decaying-feudalist Russia and North America, so similar­ ami early-capitalist influences of their ly equipped in natural resources and homelands; the political superstruc­ population, came to the world crisis ture imported with them had scanty of 1914-1918 at the opposite poles of roots on this continent, was main­ economic and political development. tained only by force from abroad, Russia was the most backward in and was consequently soon shattered eve:ry important respect; North Amer­ by the forces of democracy that grew ica was the most advanced. Russia rapidly under the influence of a capi­ emerged from the World War with an talist economy at work on almost economy shattered and prostrate, virgin soil. racked by famine; its old political In the years 1776 to 1787, the superstructure broken and scattered United States won its independence to the four winds; its new infant sys­ as a nation, and fashioned a stable tem, Soviet power, fighting against a state power, within which the only hostile world with its back to the serious obstacle to unfettered capital­ wall, and spoken of deprecatingly ist development was the compromise even by its friends as an "experi­ with slavery; this bourgeois-demo­ ment." North America emerged from cratic revolution was completed, in the World War with an enormously its most essential aspects, by the Civil strengthened economy, the world's War of 1861-65, and the consequent banker, holding the debts of the other abolition of slavery. Canada won es­ powers, and with, at least for a time, sentially the same level of historical predominant prestige and influence in development in the struggle of 1837. world politics. In the tsarist empire, however, the What a contrast this was! Every enemy was much more stubborn and philistine, every shallow thinker and powerful. Although the same demo­ vulgarian, could and dl.d tell the cratic forces were at work there, they world that North America was the could not break through; they were promised land, that it had found the defeated again and again. The devel­ way to "permanent prosperity," that opment of capitalism sapped and un­ with the "American system" poverty dermined the foundations of the old was being abolished and the mil­ order; but at each period of crisis the lenium ushered in. Henry Ford and feudal autocracy emerged triumphant the belt-line system of mass produc­ through a combination of extreme re­ tion were the new God. And with pression, concessions and foreign alli­ God in his heaven, all was right with ances. The result for Russia was an the capitalist world. As for that curi­ extremely backward and distorted ous and disreputable "experiment," economic development, and the al­ Soviet Russia, everyone knew that it most complete postponement of the was prostrate and starving. Lenin was democratic revolution until the twen­ announcing the New Economic Policy tieth century, when it merged with and offering concessions to foreign the socialist revolution. capitalists; soon Russia would be safe­ Thus it was, in brief, that these ly back in the capitalist family, as the

its its in in monopoly, monopoly, of of capital, capital, finance finance proud proud the the of of humiliation humiliation the the in in God God

of of predominance predominance the the of of perialism, perialism, of of wrath wrath the the only only saw saw who who however, however,

im­ modern modern of of era era the the entered entered Europe Europe Isaiah, Isaiah, of of line line the the of of not not are are We We

of of nations nations capitalist capitalist the the with with gether gether civilization. civilization. of of destruction destruction fascist fascist

to­ America America North North approximately, approximately, of of threat threat the the and and living living of of standard standard

time, time, same same the the At At halted. halted. was was process process declining declining a a camps, camps, labor labor ployment, ployment,

this this frontier, frontier, the the of of disappearance disappearance unem­ of of desolation desolation the the into into people people

the the With With lands. lands. cheap cheap or or free free of of basis basis their their cast cast and and inheritance inheritance their their dered dered

the the on on Pacific, Pacific, the the to to continent continent the the squan­ have have mighty mighty and and proud proud the the

over over seaboard seaboard Atlantic Atlantic the the on on ments ments how how describe describe to to enough enough bitter bitter scorn scorn

settle­ sparse sparse original original the the of of expansion expansion find find or or years; years; ten ten past past the the in in over over

the the through through itself, itself, reproduced reproduced time time times times five five it it multiplied multiplied but but ance, ance,

long long a a for for democracy democracy of of basis basis nomic nomic inherit­ ruined ruined his his completely completely restored restored

eco­ This This tools. tools. craftsman's craftsman's the the and and only only not not who who builder," builder," "proud "proud the the

farm farm individual individual the the chiefly chiefly operated, operated, as as 192o's 192o's the the of of beggar" beggar" "hungry "hungry that that

individually individually and and owned owned privately privately of of emergence emergence the the worthily worthily celebrate celebrate

country, country, the the of of economy economy productive productive could could Isaiah Isaiah an an of of words words passionate passionate

the the of of population population the the among among tion tion the the Only Only humble. humble. the the of of exaltation exaltation

distribu­ widespread widespread the the of of basis basis the the and and mighty mighty the the of of humiliation humiliation the the

upon upon arose arose democracy democracy American American celebrated celebrated who who prophets, prophets, Hebrew Hebrew old old

crisis. crisis. the the on on brought brought the the of of some some to to turn turn to to tempted tempted are are

and and expansion expansion economic economic to to limit limit we we reckoning, reckoning, this this of of results results the the with with

sharp sharp a a set set time time same same the the at at and and racy, racy, deal deal To To here. here. is is reckoning reckoning of of day day The The

democ­ of of basis basis economic economic the the mined mined starvation. starvation. and and ruin ruin inherited inherited which which

under­ which which capitalism capitalism of of velopment velopment Russia, Russia, Soviet Soviet by by and and leadership, leadership,

de­ full full the the was was it it But But capitalism. capitalism. of of its its and and wealth wealth world's world's the the half half herited herited

development development the the to to sweep sweep full full gave gave in­ which which America, America, North North by by ance ance

production, production, from from fetters fetters the the moved moved inherit­ this this with with done done been been has has what what

re­ which which was was it it This This rights. rights. cratic cratic of of accounting accounting an an for for call call we we Today Today

demo­ of of distribution distribution broadest broadest the the

INHERITANCE? INHERITANCE? THE THE

and and remnants, remnants, semi-feudal semi-feudal and and feudal feudal

WITH WITH DONE DONE BEEN BEEN HAS HAS WHAT WHAT

of of carry-over carry-over least least the the had had it it is, is, that that

democracy, democracy, bourgeois bourgeois of of example example est" est" 192o's. 192o's. early early the the in in appearance appearance -the -the

"pur­ the the was was it it Politically, Politically, nomically. nomically. was was Such Such doorstep! doorstep! the the at at beggar beggar ing ing

eco­ and and politically politically progress, progress, world world starv­ a a was was Russia Russia Soviet Soviet world! world! the the

of of vanguard vanguard the the in in stood stood had had ica ica led led and and owned owned America America North North tled: tled:

Amer­ North North War, War, World World the the Until Until set­ was was issue issue the the people, people, sensible sensible all all

For For history. history. harness. harness. our our of of capitalist capitalist doxes doxes the the into into back back

para­ dialectical dialectical the the of of obediently obediently straw straw of of understanding understanding wisp wisp this this follow follow

deeper deeper a a by by to to loss loss the the Russians Russians compensate compensate 14o,ooo,ooo 14o,ooo,ooo can can the the expecting expecting

we we perhaps perhaps prophets, prophets, the the of of imagery imagery wheat, wheat, of of war-stores war-stores superfluous superfluous some some

brilliant brilliant the the equal equal cannot cannot we we with with Administration, Administration, If If Relief Relief American American

the the over over sent sent explanations. explanations. contemptuously contemptuously our our for for Hoover Hoover science science to to turn turn

and and mighty, mighty, the the of of Herbert Herbert work. work. confusion confusion dirty dirty this this for for the the doing doing and and

causes causes material material find find kitchen kitchen We We the the powerful. powerful. tending tending and and relation, relation, poor poor

988 988 COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE THE TWENTY YEARS OF SOVIET POWER 989 economic life. This was the period of rulers behind the mask of a popular rapid concentration and centraliza­ democracy. Political democracy was tiOn of capital, the pyramiding of reduced largely to what Anatole great trusts, the feverish search for France described as "the equal right new markets, fields of capital invest­ of rich and poor alike to sleep under ment, and sources of raw materials; bridges." the division of the entire world The World War, which brought among the great powers-and the con­ America to full realizaiton of this sequent rivalries and antagonisms process, thus gave it the illusion of that resulted in the imperialist World grandeur and power precisely at the War. time when it had prepared the gen­ American democracy, based upon eral breakdown of the whole capital­ individual private property, had ist system. The tremendous produc­ made possible this unexampled ex­ tive economy could not, under the pansion, which projected the United laws of capitalism, operate except un­ States as the chief world power. But der the stimulus of a constantly in­ this expansion had simultaneously creasing mass of profits; these accumu­ wiped out the economic foundation lated in the hands of a small class of the democracy which gave it birth. which, already exhausted in the Individual private property in the search for new forms of wasteful con­ nation's economy became more and sumption, could use these enormous more concentrated and centralized in funds only for further capital invest­ the hands of a constantly smaller ment for further profits, or for war group of families, constituting the to conquer new fields of investment. privileged class, the upper and de­ Economic paralysis, or war, became cisive stratum of the ruling class. Agri­ the Hobson's choice facing a society culture, which felt this process least not prepared to break the bounds of sharply in terms of production, was capitalism and pass over to a socialist completely overshadowed by the system. growth of industry and the cities, but Thus it was that in 1929 and since, even the individual farm producer the old Hebrew prophet's curse fell into the clutches of finance capital against the proud and mighty was through mortgages, usury and market visited upon North America in the monopolies. Individual craftsmen al­ hour of her apparent triumph. most disappeared, replaced by the America's "sin," which brought this great armies of propertyless wage­ vengeance upon her, was not, how­ workers in mass production, in which ever, that of blasphemy against the thousands and even tens of thousands ancient prophet's Yahveh; it was the became cogs in a single big productive "sin" of having permitted the fruits mechanism under a single impersonal of bourgeois democracy to destroy its corporate direction. Production was foundation, of allowing control of socialized-while ownership remained the people's economy to pass out of private but confined to a smaller and the hands of the people. smaller group which, through eco­ During this same period of the nomic power, became the decisive humiliation of once proud America, 990 THE COMMUNIST the starving beggar, as our arrogant first time in human history. American capitalists considered So­ Above all, at a moment when de­ viet Russia, emerged as the most mocracy and culture are destroyed in rapidly progressing land in all fields half of Europe by the barbarian -economically, politically, culturally hordes of fascism; when they fight for -ever recorded in the history of man- their life in the rest of Europe; when kind. Surrounded by a hostile world, China, the greatest country of Asia, with nothing other than its natural fights against odds for its very exist­ resources and its superior system of ence, when democracy is under fire social organization, the Soviet Union and threatened even in North Amer­ restored its wrecked economy, pro­ ica-at this moment Russia, so recent­ ceeded to multiply its wealth produc­ ly the synonym of backwardness, steps tion to thirteen times that of the early forward with its new Constitution, 192o's, and more' than four times that shaped under the guiding hand of of 1929, advanced from last place in Stalin, a constitution which is a new Europe to first, and is now engaged high mark in the achievement of de­ in a race to catch up with and sur­ mocracy, such as in the past only a pass the United States. The rate of few great spirits could dream of, but growth of Soviet economy is five or which now comes to life in the every­ six times that of the United States day activities of 17o,ooo,ooo people. in its period of most rapid expansion. The Constitution of the United In the period when the American States was for generations the most standard of living fell on the average democratic in the world. But com­ by 50 per cent, the standard of living pare it with that of the Soviet Union. in the Soviet Union was raised by 400 The U.S. Constitution tolerated for per cent. While America was throw­ generations the disfranchisement of ing 13,ooo,ooo workers onto the the great majority of the population; streets, unemployed, of whom seven for eighty years it confirmed slavery or eight million are still dependent for one-tenth of the population; its upon the relief dole, the Soviet Union grant of suffrage to the Negroes is still was not only abolishing all unemploy­ largely unrealized today; for over 130 ment, but doubling the size of the in­ years it excluded half the population, dustrial working class by absorbing the women, from suffrage; citizenship peasants into the factories. While rights begin only at the age of twenty­ American agriculture was saved from one years. destruction only by gigantic subsidies, The Soviet Constitution provides paying for the curtailment and de­ universal adult suffrage, the only ex­ struction of crops and cattle, Soviet ception being those adjudged by a agriculture had been reorganized court as insane or guilty of a major on a collective, socialist basis and crime against the state; the right to doubled its production, with an in­ vote begins at eighteen years. crease of living standards in the coun­ The U.S. Constitution provides un­ tryside of immeasurable proportions proportional representation; · in the -bringing a life of culture and secur­ Senate, without which no law can be ity to the agrarian population for the adopted, the four or five million TWENTY YEARS OF SOVIET POWER 991 voters of the twenty-four smallest in general, the realization of the Bill states. have equal power with the of Rights, insotar as this involves eco­ 35,ooo,ooo voters of the 24 largest nomic factors, is left entirely at the states. Within the states, unpropor­ mercy of the capitalist ownership of tional representation is so common the economy. The livelihood of the that it is reduced to a system with citizens, without which no rights have a special name, "Gerrymandering." any meaning whatever, does not come The Soviet Constitution provides within the scope of the U.S. Consti­ for absolutely proportional represen­ tution at all. tation, with one representative in the The Soviet Constitution has as its highest council for each 30o,ooo very heart the specific guarantee of voters, and for the lower Provincial work at a living wage for every citi­ Councils one for each smaller bloc of zen, vacations with pay, free educa­ voters in proportion. The equal repre­ tion, and adequate leisure. The work­ sentation in the Council of Nationali­ ing day is limited to seven hours, with ties, regardless of population, guards six hours for dangerous occupations. the special interests of the different The rights of free speech, press and nationalities in the Union, without assembly are guaranteed by putting at the possibility of a minority veto over the disposal of the Soviet citizens, the majority. through their organizations, all the The U.S. Constitution establishes a meeting halls, public buildings, the judiciary which in practice has be­ radio, printing press and paper, the come the supreme power, which is ap­ supply of which is constantly being in­ pointed for life, which is irremovable, creased. The foundation for all these and which is responsible at no time guarantees is the possession of the en­ to the people or to their representa­ tire national economy by the people, tives. and its operation for their common The Soviet Constitution provides benefit, which is made permanent in for the direct election, by the people, the Constitution. of all government officials, without THE ECONOMIC FOUNDATION OF exception and including the judiciary, DEMOCRACY for a limited number of years and with the right of recall. Democracy, the control of state The U.S. Constitution, in the power by the people, acting on the Amendments constituting the Bill of principle of majority rule and the Rights, denies to the national govern­ delegation of power to representatives ment the power to pass any laws periodically chosen by election, can be limiting the civil rights of the people, historically developed only upon the the most important being the rights foundation of an appropriate eco­ of free speech, press and assembly. But nomic system. it does not prohibit the states from That democracy which developed making such limitations, and the with capitalism, and which, in its struggle for civil rights is thus merely purest forms, gave capitalism its high­ transferred to the states, where in fact est development, was originally based they are in many cases limited; while upon the widespread distribution of 992 THE COMMUNIST ownership in the basic economy of final death-blow by the last crisis. The the country; which was an economy only new forms by which democracy of individual production, chiefly has achieved a very fragmentary and agricultural. precarious economic foundation un­ With the growth of commodity pro­ der modern capitalism, have been so­ duction, exchange, the market, di­ cialized forms-militant trade union­ vision of labor, the accumulation of ism, especially in its industrial form, capital, and finally the rise of ma­ and· governmental intervention in chinery and mechanical power, and economy under the influence of the gigantic production units-as produc­ democratic aspirations and demands. tion took on more and more social­ The struggle for these new forms ized forms-there took place the simul­ brings about a realignment of forces taneous process of divorcing the small within the democracy-with the capi­ owner from his 'property. This takes talists, their agents and dupes on the place through the normal operation one side, fighting for maintenance of capitalist economy, accelerated al­ and increase of their profits, and the ways by state policy, and often by producing masses on the other side, extra-legal fraud and violence. By va­ fighting for a better life at the ex­ ried and sundry means, the full de­ pense of capitalist profits. This is the velopment of capitalism always and process that has brought the present necessarily means the creation of a chaos in the traditional political life ~mall privileged owning class, monop­ of the United States and Canada. oly capitalists, set over against a large For a time the monopoly capitalists wage-working class which has no own­ are able to keep this struggle of the ership whatever in the means of pro­ masses under their control, within duction, and which comprises in certain limits, by trickery, fraud and North America the vast majority of force, by keeping the toiling masses the population. divided and fighting one another in­ Democracy in North America has stead of their common enemy. But thus been almost completely deprived finally, when all these resources fail of its original economic foundation. them, when they see the masses uniting To the degree that democracy still at last against them, upon a program lives unaer this developed capitalism, of social betterment at the expense of therefore, it must find for itself a new the capitalists-then the capitalists be­ economic foundation. This is no gin to destroy the democracy which in longer possible in the form of indi­ the past served them so well, but vidual ownership. All possibility of which now threatens to escape their that has been destroyed beyond recall control. They turn to fascism, the by machinery and mechanical power, open, brutal and bloody dictatorship making necessary large-scale mass pro­ of finance capital, exercised by turn­ duction. ing loose upon society the criminal The illusion, fostered for a time by underworld and declassed elements, capitalist propaganda, of a democrati­ organized and controlled by their zation of capital by widespread cor­ enormous wealth, and the terrorist porate-stock ownership, was given its destruction of the organizations of the TWENT~ YEARS OF SOVIET POWER 993

people. They destroy democracy-al­ precisely because it has given to de­ ways under the pretext that democ­ mocracy a full and complete economic racy is threatened with destruction at foundation, one which will endure, the hands of Communism, of Marx­ which will not be undermined and ism, of Bolshevism. It is an infalliable disappear as did the individual pri­ sign of the rise of fascism when, as in vate property. Every advance of the United States today, such moder­ science in the Soviet Union, every in­ ate democrats as President Roosevelt crease in production and productivity, and John L. Lewis, who openly pro­ . strengthens Soviet democracy and claim their allegiance to capitalism, strengthens its economic foundation. are denounced by the Tories as The Soviet Union has shown the "Communists.'' way to the final and complete guaran­ Democracy today is destroyed in tee of democracy, and for its fullest much of the capitalist world. It is development. And such a democracy fighting for its life in the remainder. is unconquerable. It can survive under capitalism only SOCIALISM AND THE PEOPLE'S FRONT to the degree to which there are suc­ cessfully carried out such programs From all that has been said, it fol­ as those of John L. Lewis and the lows that the central political task of Committee for Industrial Organiza­ the day is to organize the working tion and the economic reforms and class, and around it the majority of the peace program of President Roose­ the people, to fight for a better life, velt. It will always be in danger of de­ to obtain a measure of economic struction so long as the national econ­ power, and to defend democracy omy is owned and controlled by a against the attacks of the capitalists small plutocratic capitalist class. The who are turning to fascism. only final guarantee for democracy is Such a majority of the toiling the transfer of ownership of the na­ masses, organized to defend democ­ tional economy from the hands of the racy and defeat fascism, w.ill learn, ,~ small capitalist class into the bands through their experience and our of the whole people, that is, through teachings, that the {ull transition to socialism. socialism is the only final solution of That is the main lesson to be our problems, the only final outcome drawn by us today, in the North of the struggle. American countries, from an examin­ The struggle for realizing socialism ation of the achievements of twenty is, however, not the beginning of this years of Soviet power in the Soviet process, but rather its outcome. Espe­ Union. cially in the United States and The Soviet Union has ben able, in Canada, economically ripe for social­ a world where elsewhere democracy is ism, the masses are not politically pre­ on the defensive or destroyed, to make pared. To make the immediate transi­ a great new democratic advance, pre­ tion to socialism the question of the cisely because it has taken both eco­ day would merely serve to split off the nomic and political power out of the small minority of. those who stand for hands of the enemies of the people, socialism from the masses; to leave 994 THE COMMUNIST these masses, without our unifying obstacle to or an enemy of socialism, and organizing influence, open to all instead of the precondition for the the splitting and disruptive influences least painful transition to socialism, of the bourgemsie; and thus to facili­ which it really is. Their position only tate the coming to power of fascism reflects their shallow understanding of and the destruction of democracy. socialism, and of the laws of social The People's Front against reac­ development in general. They have tion, fascism and war-that is the cen­ the illusion, on the one hand, that by tral task of the day. That is what all placing their "socialism" against the sincere democrats who resist fascism people's unity to resist fascism, they must also want, whether they agree will thereby force these people to come with our socialist program or not. We over to socialism as the only alterna­ can completely agree with such non­ tive, however unwilling they may be. socialist democrats upon the united On the other hand, they have so little defense of democracy under capital­ faith in their ability to convince the ism. We never had, and never will majority, by the simple compulsion of have, a program of trying to force so­ logic and experience, that they are cialism upon an unwilling majority afraid to join in a larger mass move­ of the people. Within the People's ment with a goal short of socialism, Front for democracy and peace, we for fear of getting lost in the move­ grant the full .right of the non-social­ ment; they have no faith in them­ ists to propagandize us on the pos­ selves. In cutting loose from their old sibility of solving our problems under style of opportunist Socialism, they · capitalism; in every effort to improve got lost and fell into the trap of Trot­ conditions under capitalism we will skyism, which began as opportunism give our fullest energies for success, disguised in Left phrases and is now thus giving them the most favorable fully developed fascism with the same conditions possible for their program. mask. At the same time, we ask for our­ Trotskyism is treachery reduced to selves the freedom of educational a science. Defeated and driven out work to explain our understanding of everywhere it shows its face openly, the laws of social development, of Trotskyism now works in a hidden why we think socialism is necessary manner, especialy making use of con­ and finally inevitable. We are sure fused liberals and Socialists like John that before long life itself will con­ Dewey and Norman Thomas, who vince the majority that we are correct. have lost their bearings in the chaos This is the true relation of the of capitalist disintegration. In the People's Front to socialism. This is struggle against this poisonous and quite different from the distorted wrecking influence, as in every other view, the opportunist sectarianism, of phase of the struggle for progress, such Socialists as Norman Thomas in workers and other progressives can the U.S., and some Commonwealth learn much from the experience of Federation leaders in Canada. These the Soviet Union. people, under the influence of Trot­ In putting into effect the new Stalin skyism, see in the People's Front an Constitution the Soviet Union has re- TWENTY YEARS OF SOVIET POWER 995 leased the full forces of its vibrant teachers of history, Marx, Engels, democracy to cleanse its house of all Lenin and Stalin. It will defeat all its the lingering anti-democratic and enemies in the future. anti-socialist remnants that have hung The People's Front wil be success­ on from the past and that have de­ fully formed and will defeat fascism, veloped through the degeneration of because its conception was in the weak elements. At the same moment same scientific understanding of the the forces of world fascism, preparing laws of history. for their supreme effort of war to con­ With the defeat of fascism in its quer the world, made a big drive · warlike aggressions, the peoples of through their Trotskyite allies, fully Italy, Germany and Japan, losing to mobilize their spies and wreckers their fear of a terrorism that lives whom they recruited from among only by constant victories, will ·turn these rotten elements. The results of upon and destroy the nightmare mon­ the clash between these two forces ster that today disturbs the sleep of within the Soviet Union have not all the world. brought much comfort to Hitler, With fascism wiped off the face of Mussolini, or the Japanese milit~rists. the earth, with the glorious achieve­ With its house cleaned, the Soviet ments of the Soviet Union as an ex­ Union is driving ahead with its so­ ample, the rest of the world will find cialist construction, is completing its the transition to socialism relatively military defenses, and is holding out rapid and painless. the hand of cooperation to all the These are the main thoughts that democratic and peace-loving peoples arise from an examination of twenty of the world for organizing world peace. years of Soviet power, of the trium­ The Soviet Union has defeated all phant emergence of the new society, its enemies, internal and external, which is showing the road for the en­ and has successfully constructed its tire world, which today stands as the r.ew socialist ·society, because it was most reliable protector of democracy guided by the genius of the greatest and peace. LENIN AND STALIN ON THE EVE OF OCTOBER

[NOTE: We are printing below the reports at the important Sixth Con­ "Letter to the Members of the Cen­ gress of the Bolshevik Party during tral Committee" of the Bolshevik August, I9IJ, will be found in the Party, by Lenin, written on Novem­ newly-issued pamphlet, The Road to ber 6, I9IJ, on, the eve of the upris­ Power.-The Editors.] ing in Petrograd. Lenin had been in hiding for some time because the Pro­ LETTER TO THE MEMBERS OF visional Government was seeking his THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE arrest. However, he kept in constant BY v. I. LENIN touch with the Central Committee through correspondence. After send­ CoMRADEs! I am writing these lines ing this letter, he prepared to go to on the evening of the 6th. The Petrograd, appearing that day at the situation is extremely critical. It is as Bolshevik headquarters, in disguise, clear as can be that delaying the up­ and taking command of the final prep­ rising now really means death. arations for the uprising. With all my power I wish to per­ All of Lenin's writings, from the suade the comrades that now every­ February to the October Revolution, thing hangs on a hair, that on the fmm March IJ, when he first learned order of the day are questions that are of the overthrow of tsarism while not solved by conferences, by con­ zn Zurich, Switzerland, to his letter gresses (even by Congresses of Soviets), of November 6, reprinted here, are but only by the people, by the masses, to be found in the Collected Works, by the struggle of armed masses. The bourgeois onslaught of the Volumes 20 and 2I (The Revolution of 1917 and Toward the Seizure of Kornilovists, • the removal ofVerkhov­ Power). Selections from his works dur­ sky* * show that we must not wait. ing this period are to be found in the • General Kornilov, head of the Russian Little Lenin Library, Volumes 8 to armies at the front, organized a counter-revo­ IJ inclusive. lutionary maTch on Petrograd, in September, 1917, with the connivance of the Provisional The article by Stalin, "What Do Government, aiming to defeat the growing We Need?", printed below, was also proletarian revolution. The Bolsheviks or­ ganized the workers and soldiers of revolu­ written on November 6. It deals with tionary Petrograd to resist the counter-revo­ the preparations for the uprising and lutionary attempt of Kornilov, and defeated him. the elections to the Second Congress • • Verkhovsky, Minister of War in the of Soviets .. A selection of Stalin's Kerensky government, who declared that the Russian army could not continue to carry on writings in I9IJ, and particularly his the war and favored the conclusion of peace. gg6 ON THE EVE OF OCTOBER 997

We must at any price, this evening, today), while they risk losing much tonight, . arrest the Ministers, having tomorrow, they risk losing all. disarmed (defeated, if they offer resis­ If we seize power today, we seize it, tance) the military cadets, etc. not against the Soviets; but for them. We must not wait! We may lose Seizure of power is the point of the everything! uprising; its political task will be The immediate gain from the seiz­ clarified after the seizure. ure of power at present is: defense of It would be a disaster or formalism the people (not the congress, but die to wait for the uncertain voting of people; in the first place, the army November 7. The people have a right and the peasants) against the Korni­ and a duty to decide such questions lovist government which has driven not by voting but by force; the people out Verkhovsky and has hatched a have a right and duty in. cziitical second Kornilov plot. moments of a revolution to give di­ Who should seize power? rections to their representatives, even At present this is not important. their best representatives, and not to Let the Military Revolutionary Com­ wait for them. mittee* seize it, or "some other in­ This has been proved by the history stitution" which declares that it will of all revolutions, and the crime of relinquish the power only to the real revolutionists would be limitless if representatives of the interests of the they let go the proper moment, know­ people, the interests of the army (im­ ing that upon them depends the sav­ mediate offer of peace), the interests ing of the revolution, the offer of of the peasants (take the land imme­ peace, the saving of Petrograd, the diately, abolish private property), the saving from starvation, the transfer of interests of the hungry. the land to the peasants. It is necessary that all the boroughs, The government is tottering. We all regiments, all forces should be must deal it the death blow at any mobilized and should immediately cost. send delegations to the Military Revo­ To delay action is the same as lutionary Committee, to the Central death. Committee of the Bolsheviks, insis­ Written November 6, 1917. tently demanding that under no cir­ First published in 1925. cumstances is power to be left in the hands of Kerensky and Co. until the WHAT DO WE NEED? 7th, by no meansl-but that the mat­ BY JosEPH STALIN ter must absolutely be decided this evening or tonight. N FEBRUARY* the soldiers and History will not forgive delay by I workers overthrew the Tsar. But revolutionists who could be victorious having vanquished the Tsar they did today (and will surely be victorious • The overthrow of tsarism occurred in February, old style calendar. After the Bol­ " Selected by the Central Committee of shevik revolution the calendar was advanced the Bolshevik Party, this committee, headed thirteen days, making it uniform with the by Stalin, was in charge of the preparation new, Western, calendar, and therefore the for the uprising. It also included Sverdlov date according to the new calendar is March and Dzerzhinsky. 12. gg8 THE COMMUNIST not want to take power into their own ln overthrowing the Tsar the peo­ hands. Led by the bad pastors, the ple thought that a Constituent Assem­ Socialist-Revolutionaries and Menshe­ bly would be convened within two or viks, the workers and soldiers volun­ three months. But the convocation of tarily handed over power to the place­ the Constituent Assembly has already men of the landlords and capitalists, been postponed once, and now it is i.e., the Milyukovs and Lvovs, the obvious that the enemies are prepar­ Guchkovs and Konovalovs. • ing to wreck it altogether. Why? This was the fatal mistake the vic­ Because in the government there are tors committed. And the soldiers at the enemies of the people, for whom the front and the workers and peas­ the timely convocation of the Con­ ants in the rear are now paying stituent Assembly is unprofitable. dearly for this mistake. After the victory of the revolution, In overthrowing the Tsar the work­ power remained in the hands of the ers thought that they would obtain landlords and capitalists, the bankers bread and work. But instead, tliey and profiteers, the forestallers and "got" high prices and starvation, marauders-this was the fatal mistake lock-outs and unemployment. Why? the workers and soldiers committed, Because in the government there are this is the cause of the present disas­ the placemen of the capitalists and ters in the rear and at the front. profiteers who want to starve the This mistake must be rectified at workers into submission. once. Further delay now will be fatal In overthrowing the Tsa:r the peas­ for the whole cause of the revolution. ants thought that they would obtain The present government of land­ land. But instead of this they "got" lords and capitalists must be replaced the arrest of their deputies and puni­ by a new government of workers and tive expeditions. Why? peasants. Because in the government there The present impostor government, are the placemen of the landlords who which was never elected by the people will not yield an inch to the peasants. and is not responsible to the people, In overthrowing the Tsar the sol­ must be replaced by a government diers thought that they would obtain recognized by the people, chosen Ey peace. But instead of this they "got" the representatives of the workers, sol­ the prolongation of the war; and efforts are being made to prolong it diers and peasants, and responsible to still more, until the autumn. Why? these representatives. Because in the government there The Kishkin-Konovalov govern­ are the placemen of the Anglo-French ment must be replaced by a govern­ bankers for whom a "speedy" cessa­ ment of the Soviet of Workers', Sol­ tion of the war is unprofitable, for diers' and Peasants' Deputies. whom the war is a source of ill-gotten What was not done in March must riches. be done now. • Representatives of the big bourgeoisie, In this way, and only in this way, who were the leading participants in the first can peace, bread, land and liberty be Provisional Government formed after the overthrow of the Tsar. won. ON THE EVE OF OCTOBER 999

Workers, soldiers, peasants, Cos­ If you will act solidly and firmly sacks, all toilers! no one will dare to resist the will of Do you want a new government of the people. The more strongly, the workers and peasants to come into more organized, and the more power­ power in place of the present govern­ fully you act, the more peacefully will ment of landlords and capitalists? the old government make way for the Do you want the new government new. And then the whole country of Russia, in conformity with the de­ will boldly and firmly march forward mands of the peasants, to declare the to the conquest of peace for the peo­ abolition of the landlords' right to ples, land for the peasants, bread and the land and to transfer all the land­ work for the starving. lords' land to the peasant committees Power must pass into the hands of without compensation? the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Do you want the new government Peasants' Deputies. of Russia to publish the secret treaties A new government must come into of the Tsar, to declare them non­ power, a government chosen by the obligatory, and to propose a just Soviets, recallable by the Soviets and peace to all the belligerent nations? responsible to the Soviets. Do you want the new government Only such a government can ensure of Russia to curb the lockouters and the timely convocation of the Con­ profiteers who are deliberately ag­ stituent Assembly. gravating famine and unemployment, Rabochi Put,• November 6, 1917. chaos and the high cost of living? taken over by the Bolsheviks and used as If you want all this, gather all your their headquarters during the revolutionary forces, rise all of you, as one man, period. It is still the headquarters of the organize meetings, elect delegates, and Leningrad Committee of the Bolshevik Party. The Second Congress of Soviets, which met put forward your demands through in Smolny on November 7• ratified the estab­ them to the Congress of Soviets which lishment of Soviet power as a result of the successful proletarian revolution and the is to open in the Smolny• tomorrow. overthrow of the Provisional Government headed by Kerensky. · • Smolny Institute, formerly a finishing • In Russian, Workers. Road, a Bolshevik ~chool for daughters of the nobility, was newspaper .. WHERE IS THE SOCIALIST PARTY GOING?

BY JACK STACHEL

o SAY that the Socialist Party is It was formed in the year 1901 T in a crisis is by now nothing new. through splits and unifications of The state of crisis has already become various Socialist groups that preceded chronic. The cause of the crisis has it. Already in 1912 the Socialist Party also been restated on numerous oc­ had attained a membership of more casions. In a larger sense it is part of than 1oo,ooo, and a vote of nearly the crisis of Social-Democracy the 1,ooo,ooo for Debs, out of a totai vote world over. But there are also certain of some 15,ooo,ooo. It enjoyed a tre­ historic and immediate factors which mendous influence in the trade further determine the character and unions. It had dozens of daily papers, the depth of the crisis. All of these numerous weeklies and monthlies, a questions have been dealt with over huge literature sales apparatus. Its a period of years in various periodi­ speakers could be heard in the work­ cals of our movement, in man~ ers' halls, on the streets, on any day speeches and reports by Comrade in alrnost any part of the country. Browder and others. Undoubtedly It was indeed a powerful force with a the pamphlet by Comrade Foster, tremendous influence. This was only The Crisis in the Socialist Party, gives ten years after its formation and repre­ a fundamental and thorough treat­ sented a steady going forward. ment of the Socialist Party and is in­ Today, thirty-six years after its dispensable to all who wish really to birth, the Socialist Party can hardly understand what has been happening count 5,ooo members, the majority of in the Socialist Party all these years. whom are to be found in the New Here we wish to limit ourselves to York and Wisconsin state organiza­ just a summary of the present situa­ tions. Certainly, its dues-paying mem­ tion in the Socialist Party following bership does not reach this figure. Its the expulsion of the officially recog· vote in 1936 (its influence has de­ nized Trotskyite group. clined further since) was less than 20o,ooo out of a total vote of close A BACKGROUND VIEW to 45,ooo,ooo. So that while the total But even in dealing with the situa­ vote trebled, the Socialist vote in 1936 tion in the Socialist Party in this was only one-fifteenth that of 1912 in limited sense it is necessary to bear actual strength. The Socialist press certain facts in mind. First, let us has almost completely disappeared. remember that the Socialist Party is Aside from the Milwaukee Leader, now more than thirty-six years old. which is in reality no organ of the 1000 WHERE IS THE SOCIALIST PARTY GOING? 1001

Socialist Party, the Socialist Party the nomination of Norman Thomas possesses o~ly the Socialist Call, which for President, the Socialist Party at­ has very little circulation and even tracted to itself a substantial section less influence. of middle-class elements from among The history of the Socialist Party students and church elements especi­ since 1912 can be divided into a num­ ally, who were formerly gathered ber of periods marked by sharp clashes around Thomas in the League for and changes. First, there was the crisis Industrial Democracy and similar in 1912 which was dramatized by the groups. These elements, whose first expulsion of whole sections of the years in the Socialist Party coincided party who followed Bill Haywood. with the beginning of the crisis (1929) This split further strengthened the and who were not involved' directly Right wing elements in the party and in the trade unions, where the So­ robbed the Socialist Party of some of cialist leaders had been carrying on a its best proletarian elements, espe­ struggle against the Left wing, tended cially those in the basic industries and toward a "liberal" criticism of the the Western states. It strengthened S.P. leadership of Hillquit, and were the hand of the petty-bourgeois and especially dissatisfied with the lack of careerist leadership headed by Hill­ progress of the Socialist Party and its quit. passivity. Undoubtedly they also The Socialist Party experienced a rallied around them the small groups new growth with the World War. Its of the more proletarian elements in influence rose. New sections of the the Socialist Party who became ever workers, among them large sections of more critical of the official policy of fo'reign-bom proletarians, joined its the Hillquit leadership. Especially ranks. This was due largely to the was this true later, when a good num­ policy of opposition to the imperialist ber of unemployed workers and unem­ war (even though the Socialist Party ployed generally were attracted to the official policy was more pacifist than Socialist Party in the course of the Socialist) and above all to the stimu­ second, the 1932, campaign of Nor­ lus given by the great Russian Revo­ man Thomas. lution. With this growth came the The exposure of the bankruptcy strengthening of the Left wing under of Social-Democracy, which paved the the leadership of Charles E. Ruthen­ way for fascism in Germany and berg, culminating in the expulsions Austria (1933), gave greater impetus and in the birth of the Communist to the Left forces in the Socialist Party Party in 1919 under the leadership and culminated finally in the expul­ of Ruthenberg. sion of the Waldman Right wing in The 1919 split left the S. P. only a the spring of 1936. This "Left," shadow of its former self. Until 1928 however, which was not based on a it stagnated with a membership of Marxian program, but was rather a less than 1o,ooo, and in 1924 it did conglomeration of all the various not even conduct an independent groups and grouplets, was incapable presidential campaign. In 1928, with of freeing itself of the bourgeois- 1002 THE COMMUNIST liberal radicalism best represented by had heeded out warnings, it would Norman Thomas, and could not raise have been spared the admitted dis­ the party out of the crisis. Instead, grace of harboring a counter-revolu­ one crisis was followed by another. tionary gang. In each case the healthy proletarian Each one of these ·crises has further strivings of a section of the member­ weakened the Socialist Party. Large ship were diverted into the path of sections of the party, disgusted, con­ struggle against Marxism. The lowest fused and resentful of the leadership, level of this unprincipled policy just dropped from its ranks. which was always characteristic of the Socialist Party leadership was reached WHAT LESSON IS THE S. P. DRAWING when, immediately following the ex­ FROM ITS ERRORS? pulsion of the Waldman group, the And what now? Is the Socialist counter-revohitionaryTrotskyists were Party leadership drawing the lessons admitted into the Socialist Party. of its excursions? Are they ready to But this new marriage was indeed adopt a working class program and short-lived. This was due in no small join hands with the labor movement measure to the fact that, at the very and with the Communist Party in the moment when the Socialist Party ad­ fight against reaction, for the needs mitted the Trotskyites into its ranks, of the masses, and to build for social­ the Moscow trials exposed the Trot­ ism? Unfortunately, the signs are in skyites before the whole world as not the opposite direction. only disrupters and saboteurs, as the Everything that has happened since counter-revolutionary renegades into the expulsion of the Trotskyites from which they had degenerated for some the Socialist Party indicates that the time, but exposed them before the party is not yet ready to draw the whole world as agents of Hitler and lessons of its erroneous, opportunist, Japanese imperialism. It was this sectarian and anti-Marxist position. development, on which even Norman In fact, the very basis upon which the Thomas had not .counted, that made Socialist Party carried through the ex­ it impossible even for him to main­ pulsion of the Trotskyites shows that tain them in the ranks of the Socialist the party, far from moving in the di­ Party. rection of a Marxist position, is try­ Had· the Socialist Party leadership ing to run as fast as possible back to heeded the warnings of our Party the policies which dominated it under that the Trotskyites were not inter­ the leadership of the Old Guard. ested in entering the Socialist Party What has been the reason ascribed as Socialist Party, but that they were for the expulsion of the Trotskyites? tricking their way in for their coun­ Is it that they are anti-w.orking class, ter-revolutionary politics of blocking anti-socialist, counter-revolutionary? the united front desired by the mem­ By no means. Even with this step bership of the Communist and So­ the Socialist Party leadership wanted cialist Parties, and of spreading anti­ to inflict an attack against the only Soviet poison-if the Socialist Party genuine working class revolutionary WHERE IS THE SOCIALIST PARTY GOING? 1003 party-the Communist Party. The dominated the Party councils and reason for the expulsion (believe it' or determined its policies. In the present not) is that the Trotsky-"communists" crisis (1932-1937) there was unfor­ are no better than the Stalin Commu­ tunately no group principled enough nists. Norman Thomas has once more and dear-headed, with courage to give discovered the true virtues of pure expression to the strivings of the pro­ Social-Democracy. The Trotskyites letarian elements in the party. Surely, were to him merely an example of the expulsion of the Old Guard was what Communism is. Thomas wishes to the rank and file of the party a de­ to utilize the fact the Trotskyism is sire to put an end to anti-Soviet pol­ exposed and hated in order to at­ icy, a desire for militant working class tack· the Communists. But Norman action, for unity of action with the Thomas will fail, as he has failed in Communist Party in the face of the the past. ·All he will succeed in doing growing menace of fascism. But the is further to demoralize and disorgan­ Thomas-Militant leadership succeed­ ize the Socialist Party. ed in shunting the healthy strivings. Immediately after the expulsion of From the very beginning the Militant the Waldman-Oneal group, Norman group represented t:onfiicting views. Thomas discovered the virtue of an At the May, 1936, convention, the "all-inclusive" party as against the Socialist Party took a step forward on "exclusiveness" of the Communist some issues. On others, especially the Party, which demands adherence to struggle against war, and the People's principle. What, with all the con­ Front, it definitely developed a semi­ flicting groups, could he do but praise Trotskyite position. With the admis­ the virtues of "all-inclusiveness"? Here sion of the Trotskyites, this tendency was the Wisconsin organization with was strengthened. its own brand of Socialism and its own Immediately after the convention discipline.. The Thomas-Devere Al­ in May, 1936, and the almost simul­ len group represented a more or less taneous admission of the Trotskyites, pacifist position rather than Socialist. the Socialist Party found itself tom The so-called militant caucus, as was into many factions: These were: shown later on, was itself divided into (1) The official Trotskyists; (2) The a number of grouplets (Baron-Altman Tyler-Zam-Clarity group; (3) The group, Tyler-Zam group, etc.). And, Altman-Baron Militant group; (4) finally, it was on the basis of "an The Thomas-Devere Allen group; inclusive party" that the Trotskyites (5) The Wisconsin organization; (6) were admitted into the Socialist Party. The Reading, Pa., organization. In fact, the Socialist Party was never The sharpening of the struggle in a homogeneous party. Opposition and the Socialist Party led to the "Emer­ distortion of Marxism, lack of adher­ gency Convention" in Chicago in the ence to principle, existence of fac­ early part of 1937. This convention tions were and remain characteristic sealed the elimination of the Reading features of the Socialist Party. But group from the Party, and gave the always it was the Right wing that leadership into the harids of the 1004 THE COMMUNIST

Clarity groups, which rose to power rumors flying around that there are with the direct aid of the Trotskyites, taking place some conversations in to whom they stood closest. The the Jewish section of the movement Thomas-Altman-Wisconsin g r o u p s to unite the expelled Old Guard So­ were in the main united; and while cialists with the Jewish section of the they succeeded in ~checking the Trot­ Socialist Party. And again the attract­ skyites to an extent, they were in the ing force of these two groups is their minority on the new National Execu­ opposition to the Soviet Union and tive Committee. Communism. Under the pressure of the immedi­ The role of the Clarity group in ate situation and the fear of complete the Socialist Party is, at least for the isolation from the labor movement, present, one of forcing the Thomas­ Norman Thomas succeeded in secur­ Altman group to cover with Left ing a majority' of one at the last phrases their retreat to the Right, to N .E. C. meeting for his withdrawal the Old Guard position. as candidate for Mayor. But the step While having expelled the Trot­ was taken without the Socialist Party skyites and differing from the Clarity drawing the logical conclusion from group on the election policy in New this step-that the Socialist Party's pol­ York, the Socialist Party on all other icy in the last elections was wrong and major questions follows a policy not sectarian. Second, they do not see much different from that of the Trot­ this step as part of a broad policy of skyites and the Clarityites. Take the the People's Front. The result is, three fundamental issues of the world first, that they take only half meas­ labor movement today-the Soviet ures; and, second, that they look upon Union, the struggle in Spain arid the this step and carry it through in the fight for peace. manner of the old Social-Democratic Norman Thomas, to make certain policy rather than the policy of strug­ that his position would not be mis­ gle against fascism and reaction which understood following the expulsion is the cornerstone of the People's of the Trotskyites, went on the radio Front policy. and made one of the most vicious at­ The conclusion which Thomas and tacks ever made by anybody against Altman are drawing from their pres­ the Soviet Union. Thomas and the ent position in the election is that Socialist Call continue with the most they were until now following a pol­ vicious attacks on the Negrin govern­ icy to the "Left" and were therefore ment, and especially the Communist isolated. They confuse their unholy Party of Spain. On the war question, marriage with the Trotskyites as a Thomas and the Socialist Party are relationship with a brand of Com­ today in the forefront in the attack munism. Now they say they have seen on the Soviet peace policy and on all the folly of their ways and are won­ those who w:ish to check the aggres­ dering if they had not been wrong in sion of Hitler, Mussolini and Japan. ousting the 0 ld Guard from the So­ In fact, they propose to give conces­ cialist Party. In fact, there are already sions to the fascists in the same man- WHERE IS THE SOCIALIST PARTY GOING? 1005 ner as the Socialist-pacifist Lansbury, the body of the Socialist Party~ Of who recently visited both Hitler and course, there is as yet no unity among Mussolinl. all sections of the Party. They differ Just at this critical moment, when on a number of questions, as, for ex­ all the peace forces of the world must ample, on the trade union question. be united to stop the fascist aggressors, Some, like a number of Socialists in the Socialist Party and its outstanding Wisconsin, and like Laderman of the leaders are devoting their attention Pocketbook Makers Union in New and time as never before to try to York, support the Green-Woll A. F. of weaken and discredit the forces of L.leadership against the C.I.O. Others peace and progress, and above all the support the C.I.O. Still others, like Spanish government and the Soviet McDowell and Trager of the Clarity Union. To be sure, they try to cover group, make veiled attacks on the up their work in behalf of the fascists C.I.O. leadership and especially resort with Left phrases. to Red-baiting against the Commu­ In this respect the position of the nists in the C.I.O. But then again, this Socialist Party is practically identical is only an expression of die oppor­ with that of the renegade Lovestone tunism of the Socialist Party and its group, which has in the recent period "all-inclusiveness" so dear to the "clarified" its positions and come ~ut heart of Norman Thomas as against more openly than ever against the the "orthodoxy" of the Communists. Soviet Union, against the Spanish gov­ THE SOCIALIST PARTY MUST WEIGH ITS ernment and in defense of the counter­ FUTURE revolutionary P.O.U.M. and against the fight for peace through the unity But the party as a whole carries on of all the peace forces of the world a policy that will not build the Social­ against the fascist aggressors. ist Party, because this policy is detri­ And the policy of the Socialist mental to the interests of the workers Party today differs from that of the and the people generally. It is about "Old Guard" only in that the Wald­ time that the honest Socialist elements man-Oneal-Cahan group does not in the. Socialist Party. break their sil­ cover its policies with Left phrases. In ence. They must act quickly if they the columns of the New Leader we wish to save the party from further find articles and views expressed al­ compromise and disintegration. The most identical with those in the pamphlet of Porter presented to the Socialist Call. Especially is this true membership at the time of the "Emer­ with regard to the attacks on the Sov­ gency Convention" is so far the most iet Union and the Spanish people's healthy expression that has come out government. Clearly, the Socialist of the Socialist Party. Because the peo­ Party is not moving toward a realistic ple who think like Porter are passive, and working class policy following the Socialists like Joseph Lash are com­ expulsion of the Trotskyites. The pelled to leave the Party; Socialists Trotskyites have been expelled. But like David Lasser, Philip Randolph, the poison of Trotskyism still corrodes and the Reuthers in the auto union, 1006 THE COMMUNIST find it impossible to carry out the deci­ upon a policy of full and genuine sup­ sions of the party if they wish to con­ port of the C.I.O. and trade union tinue to play a leading role in the la­ unity based on the general principles bor movement. There are hundreds of the C.I.O.; joins wholeheartedly in of others who have the same views. It the struggle for the Farmer-Labor is upon them that the future of the Party and the support of the struggle Socialist Party rests. Only if they and of all progressives against the reaction­ others like them assert themselves can aries in the realignment that is now the Socialist Party be saved from fur­ on foot in the country; abandons its ther ruin, and from even further dam­ wrong and dangerous policy of "isola­ aging the name of Socialism. tion" and pacifism, which is of such We hope that the Socialist Party practical assistance to the fascists, and will make a change in its present joins in the realistic fight for peace on course. We will, do all we can to help the basis of uniting all forces of the in this direction. We stand ready to people against fascist aggressors; and unite with the Socialist Party on any adopts the policy of united action and all questions which offer a basis with the Communist Party, can the for united action. We hope that the Socialist Party begin to get out of the field upon which united action will present crisis in which it finds itself, be possible will widen. But we are cer­ become a force for progress and tain that only if the Socialist Party peace, and help in the struggle for revises its present course and embarks socialism. TRADE UNIONS IN THE LAND OF SOCIALISM

N THE u .s.s.R. the trade unions are many reformists who continue to I the largest workers' mass organiza­ measure Soviet trade unions with their tions next to the Soviets. It suffices to own yardstick, according to condi­ say that at present the trade unions tions prevalent in the bourgeois state. embrace 82 per cent of all workers. Historically, trade unions have The following table illustrates the arisen as a class organization of the continuous numerical growth of proletariat under capitalism. The workers in the Soviet Union: Mensheviks, the opportunists, cling to this old conception only to distort I9JI I9J4 Number of the correct approach to Soviet trade workers 17,05:1,000 :13,334.000 25,ooo,ooo unions. After the overthrow of the Number of bourgeois dictatorship and the estab­ trade union the trade unions became one of the members 12,551,000 17,947,000 21,639,000 proletariat, the tasks of the trade The number of workers joining unions began to change basically. trade unions is increasing yearly. The From organizations struggling against reasons are understandable. Trade the capitalists and their government, unions in the U.S.S.R., as V.I. Lenin the trade unions became one of the defined them, are "training organiza­ main supports of the dictatorship of tions of education and participation; the proletariat, the chief reserve of they are the schools, the school of ad­ the Soyiet apparatus, the school of ministration, the school of practical communism which trains millions of economy, the school of communism." people, under Communist Party guid­ Millions of men and women are ance, teaching them iri. practice how studying in this school. Thousands of to build a new, socialist society. Soviet workers who now occupy re­ The function of trade unions in sponsible government positions re­ capitalist countries is to struggle for ceived their first training and learned higher wages and shorter working the methods of social work through hours, to build unity and solidarity participating in trade union activities. among the working masses in order to Soviet trade unions, functioning resist the constant tendency for ·in­ under victorious socialism, have creased profit-squeezing. Trade basically different tasks from trade unions in the capitalist countries re­ unions in capitalist countries. People sort to strikes as their chief and most outside the Soviet Union do not al­ effective weapon in this economic ways, and sometimes do not wish to, warfare. understand this difference. There are Iri the U.S.S.R. the parasitic classes

1007 1008 THE COMMUNIST are liquidated and the exploitation of and surround them with the utmost man by man has been obliterated. All care. They send their members to rest the means of productions belong to homes, sanatoria, and take measures the toilers and constitute national to better medical aid and to decrease property. The Soviet Union has a illtJ.ess. The entire social insurance working day of seven hours, the short­ fund is employed to improved the est in the world. Unemployment is health and living conditions not only abolished forever. Every worker is of members but of their families as guaranteed the right to work, to rest, well. t.o education, and to sick and old age The trade unions take an active benefits-all of which are provided for interest in the education of their in the Constitution. members' children. They place them The main objectives of the trade in creches, kindergartens, play­ unions are to, aid in building social­ grounds and pioneer troops, and send ism, to strengthen the dictatorship of the sick children to sanatoria, out­ the proletariat, to increase the ·pro­ door schools, etc. ductivity of labor and the productive Since the Soviet trade unions con­ forces of the workers' and peasants' sider as one of their main tasks politi­ government, to safeguard the socialist cal education, raising the cultural property which is the source of wealth level, improvement of literacy and and power of the Soviet Union, and general education of the membership, the source of a prosperous and cul­ they have organized palaces of cul­ tural life for all the toilers. ture, clubs, red comers and libraries. In their function as mass organiza­ Physical culture, tours and various tions for training millions of workers . forms of sport figure prominently in to build the socialist society, the So­ their work, for which purpose the viet trade unions are the closest aid to trade unions build stadiums, skiing the work of the Party. As Comrade and water-sport stations, excursion Stalin, leader of the Soviet people, grounds, etc. said-the trade unions are the trans­ By means of inspection, the trade mission belt from the Party to the unions see that the laws. regarding masses. working hours, safety, distribution of The trade unions in the U.S.S.R. uniforms, etc., are carried out. They set up also as their task, for which have the right to control adminis­ they have established a whole series trators in their spending of funds al­ of departments, the complete fulfil­ lotted to them by the government for ment of the economic, cultural and safeguarding labor, for industrial hy­ everyday needs of their members, rear­ giene, etc. ing them to be builders of the social­ Soviet trade unions, representing ist order. the workers, make collective agree­ Financed by the federal budget, ments with the various economic or­ the trade unions carry out full social gans, in which wages and conditions insurance. They subsidize their mem­ of work are stipulated on· the basis bers in the event of illness, during of planned socialist economy. They pregnancy, confinement and nursing, check daily as to whether the indus- . TRADE UNIONS IN THE LAND OF SOCIALISM 1009

trial administrators carry out their place at one of the Moscow plants. duties. According to law, they have the The Englishman asked: right to· institute proceedings against "Is there only one trade union in any administrator who violates the each industry?" collective agreement. "Yes," the president of the shop Since the trade unions participate committee replied and then asked in planning and distributing funds him: "Do you disapprove of this ar­ allotted by the government for build­ rangement?" ing and renovating living quarters, "Not at all," the miner protested, restaurants, creches, kindergartens, "We too talk a great deal about unify­ bath houses, laundries, etc., they play ing the trade unions on an industrial an important part in bettering the basis. But, regrettably, it is not easily workers' living conditions. Within accomplished. In England, to this plants, factories and other projects very day, many trade unions organize they exercise control over the correct their workers on the craft basis; fre­ usage of housing areas, timely altera­ quently into different unions in the tions and regulatiom of houses occu­ same industry. As a result, lack of pied by workers. unity hampers the struggle for better Soviet trade unions play an impor­ economic conditions." tant part in the development of so­ The Bolsheviks, who regard unity cialist democracy and in consolidating of the working class as paramount, the state government of the working have always fought against the craft class society. They involve the masses basis and have always striven to unite in administration of the state and na­ the working class into industrial tional economy. They select for the unions. Soviet apparatus their most active and In Russia, soon after the February capable workers for state and social Revolution, the Bolsheviks initiated work. In accordance with Article 114 attempts to organize trade unions on of the U.S.S.R. Constitution, the an industrial basis. But the Menshe­ trade unions advance their candidates vik conciliators, who fought in every in each election district for the Su­ way against unification of the toiling preme Council and the Sovieta of masses, for a long time still played an Deputies. active role in the trade unions; thus tendencies toward craft unionism and "ONE UNION IN EACH INDUSTRY" disunity continued. Only after the great October Revolution did the Recently, an old English miner, a merging of unions begin to proceed trade unionist from Wales, visited the rapidly. Soviet Union. He saw everything: the The Russian working class under­ gigantic industrial enterprises which took the tremendous task of building employ tens of thousands of workers, socialism, as well as governing a vast the mines, the textile mills. In every country. The toilers, regardless of dif­ project, he showed special interest in ferences in their crafts, merged into the trade unions. Toward the end of unified trade unions, for they realized his visit a characteristic dialogue took that any split in their ranks would 1010 THE COMMUNIST weaken the strength of the working fessors, instructors and office workers class and undermine the dictatorship in universities, institutes and other of the proletariat. The Soviet trade schools of higher education belong to unions are now organized on an in­ a special union. Workers in educa­ dustrial basis. tional institutions ·not of the school All the workers in each industry, re­ type (libraries, museums, social or­ gardless of craft, belong to a single ganizations, etc.), belong to the trade union. For example, in the Gorky union of political-educational insti­ shops of the automobile plant named tutes. Instructors in the primary and after Molotov, there work black­ secondary schools have their own inde­ smiths, punchers, locksmiths, turners, pendent unions. Salesmen, stockroom painters, founders, unskilled workers, workers, store managers, etc., are or­ chauffeurs, engineers and construc­ ganized into the unions of national tors; while in ~e office of this plant trade workers and the unions of the there are draughtsmen, bookkeepers, consumers' cooperative workers, on a accountants, planners, designers and republic scale. project workers. All of them-begin­ Every trade union is based on the ning with the director and ending principle of democratic centralism, with the charwoman-belong to the characterized by the following: automobile workers' union. A. The right to join and resign vol­ untarily and to free participation in CHARACTERISTICS OF TRADE UNION the life of the union; STRUCTURE B. The right to elect officers; c. Regular reports from function­ Soviet workers are organized into aries to the membership, to whom 164 industrial unions. We shall name they are responsible; a few of the most typical. D. Responsibility of the lower or­ At one time there existed in the gans to the higher ones; U.S.S.R. a single metal workers' union E. Subordination of the minority to which embraced all metal workers re­ the majority in decisions of all ques­ gardless of industry. Now, in its place, tions pertaining to the life of the there exist several industrial unions union. for-respectively-the heavy machine The highest organ of each union is works, light machine works, agri­ the convention, which elects its cen­ cultural machine works, transport tral committee. The regional, district machine works, tool and dye industry, and all-republic trade union commit­ and metal works. tes are elected at respective local con­ All workers in the textile industry ferences. City and district con­ are organized into the following ferences elect their own committees. unions: cotton industry union, knit­ A general meeting of any industry or goods union, silk union, hemp and enterprise which has the required flax union. minimum of twenty-five union mem­ Educational workers belong to bers elects its plant, factory, . or local trade unions according to the type of committee. The shop meeting elects industry in which they work. Pro- its own shop committee, and, finally, TRADE UNIONS IN THE LAND OF SOCIALISM 1011 a general meeting of union members ted by and are responsible to each of of a group elects its own trade union the lower committees. group organizer. (Usually the union The democratic principles laid members in a shop are subdivided down as the basis of trade union according to brigades and districts, structure expose their activities to into separate groups of ten or fifteen daily control by their membership. members.) Not a single important organizational Since all trade unions of the or financial measure of the union's U.S.S.R. are headed by the All-Union central committee is carried out with­ Central Council of Trade Unions, the out approval of the trade union con­ organizational structure of each union vention. The plan committee has no can be illustrated as follows: right to decide upon any important The All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions The Central Committee of the Union Republican or Regional Union Committees City (district) Union Committee Factory and Plant Union Committee at the Projects Shop Committees Trade Union Group Organizers Generally, this structure is typical, question concerning trade union life although not fully applied to every in the plant without approval of the union. Those which embrace only a general membership meeting. small number of exceptionally large A general membership meeting of industries have foregone the middle each enterprise must be called not less links -(regional and district commit­ than once a month. This meeting tees), and give direct charge over elects the factory-plant committee and plant and factory committees to their the inspection commission, and passes central committee (the union of the on their reports. The general meeting agricultural machine works industry, takes up the questions of budget for for instance). There are also unions the factory-plant committee, and of that have no city district committees, social insurance within the limits of for they embrace enterprises not cen­ an enterprise. It also . decides upon tralized in any district or city. such questions as who should be sent All leading organs of Soviet trade to sanatoria, rest homes, etc. Finally, unions, from top to bottom, as well important functions of the general as the delegates to conventions and meeting are acceptance of new mem­ conferences, ·are elected by separate, bers, expulsions and reinstatements. secret ballot for each candidate. PROTECTION OF LA:BOR Besides the leading organs shown in the diagram, inspection commis­ The only workers' government in sions are also elected, responsible to the world turned all its attention to­ the trade union convention or to the ward insuring the best working con­ general IIJ.eeting of the enterprise. In­ ditions, literally on the second day it spection commissions, as well as plant came into power. Such was the decree and factory commissions, are also elec- establishing in the republic of Soviets 101.2 THE COMMUNIST

an eight-hour day (there is now a In the mining industry of tsarist seven-hour day), which was followed Russia coal was extracted exclusively by laws · establishing the control of by hand. At present 88 per cent of labor over production; finally, there the coal extracted at the mines under came into existence the renowned the Commissariat of Heavy Industry Labor Code. is done through mechanized methods. Of course, the country was able to In the oil industry processes of drill­ achieve the best working conditions ing and procuring oil are fully me­ only when its national economy was chanized. In blast-furnace production fundamentally reconstructed, and a the labor in the mining yards and socialist industry established which foundries is 75 per cent ·mechanized. completely changed, not only the The rolers, who used to shift millions technical set-up, but also the condi­ of tons of ore and metal by hand, tions for safeguarding labor in each have completely disappeared as a industry. craft. The blast-furnaces which yield Mechanization of difficult and dan­ 6o per cent of all pig-iron production gerous work, isolation of injurious are completely mechanized. In those processes, rationalization of inner fac­ metallurgical plants where wo per tory transport, institution of safe-. cent mechanization was impossible guard devices, wide use of sanitary­ either because they were too old or technical and sanitary-living conven­ because of faulty installation of blast­ iences (ventilation, lighting, show­ furnaces, partial mechanization, or ers, etc.)-all this helped to decrease so-called minor mechanization, has illness and injuries. been introduced. Toward the begin­ The mechanization of labor was ning of 1936, 68 per cent of the open­ not only a powerful factor toward in­ hearth furnaces in the U.S.S.R. were creasing production; it also served to fired automaticaly, 22.3 per cent were make working conditions safer and equipped with automatically func­ more sanitary. At the 1931 conference tioning valves and 35 per cent had of industrial administrators Comrade automatic furnace doors. Stalin stressed this special role: The special funds allotted to the "The mechanization of the processes· of protection of labor are growing from labor is for us that new and decisive force year to year. During the First and without which it would be impossible to Second Five-Year Plans billions of maintain either the tempo or the scope of rubles were spent for these measures. our work." New enterprises are built according During the First and Second Five­ to the latest word in science and tech­ Year Plans, the level of mechanization nique; their most characteristic fea­ in all fields of national economy was ture is abundance of light, air, and raised sharply. Many enterprises are landscape gardening. now equipped with the most modem The Stakhanovite movement shows machines and means of transporta­ .some astounding results. Everyone tion. knows of the unprecedented growth The following facts illustrate suc­ in labor productivity, of the flourish­ cesses in the field of mechanization. ing of Soviet national economy, of the TRADE UNIONS IN THE LAND OF SOCIALISM 1013 rapid strides toward plenty and a Only in the U.S.S.R. could such a prosperous .life. But there are few who wide network of state inspection have know that the Stakhanovite move­ been established to enforce the carry­ ment at the same time greatly de­ ing out of the world's best labor legis­ creased illness and industrial acci­ lation. There are more than 6,ooo dents. For example, in the Don Basin, labor inspectors-legal, technical and on No. 6 "Capital" mine of the Bu­ sanitary-working in socialist indus­ denny ore administration, there were try, and about 1o,ooo specialists on in December 4.1 cases of illness for safety technique. There are also con­ every 100 non-Stakhanovite workers, siderable cadres of specialists in ser­ while there were only 1.7 cases for vice with the industrial-sanitary in­ every 100 Stakhanovites. In mine No. spection department in the People's 7-8 "Donbassantratzita," in December Commissariat of Health. and January, for every 100 non-Sta­ Labor inspection is controlled by khanovites 2.1 cases were released from the trade unions and is given excep­ work due to industrial accidents, tionally broad rights, fixed by the whereas for every 100 Stakhanovites Labor Code and by a series of special there were 0.7-exactly a third as state decrees. The role and tasks of many. Soviet labor inspectors are vast. There are fewer sick cases and acci­ Here are a few points from the dents among Stakhanovites because, "Labor Inspection Decree" passed as as intelligent workers who have mas­ far back as December, 1925: tered technique, they know the basic Point 7 states that a labor inspector rules of prophylactics in their every­ has the right of "free access regard­ day life and in industry, and they ob­ less of time to any industrial or agri­ serve all safety rules. Contrary to the cultural project or establishment in venemous insinuations of enemies his district, also to any other place that the Stakhanovite movement is an where work is being conducted as well injurious strain on the muscles, that as to any other affiliate establishment it is Taylorism, etc., facts bring us the for the workers (baths, hospitals, irrefutable conclusion that the Sta­ apartments, creches, etc,)." khanovite movement leads to the liqui­ Point 8 says 'that "in the event of dation of industrial injuries and de­ discovery of non-compliance with the creases illness. existent legislation on labor, the in­ spector shall rectify the violation, TRADE UNIONS AND THE PROTECTION shall institute legal or administrative OF LABOR proceedings against those responsible The reader can see that the basic for it, and shall also have the right principle of Soviet industry is to in­ to appear in court as plaintiff in this sure high productivity on the basis of particular· matter." creating ideal conditions for safe­ How broad the rights of the trade guarding labor. For the slightest vio­ union labor inspectors are can be seen lation of these principles those in from Point 12, which states that "be­ charge are held responsible with all sides the measures contained in the the strictness of the revolutionary law. preceding articles, the organs of labor 1014 THE COMMUNIST inspection have the right to special production aim at extracting the measures, even to closing down the maximum of surplus value from the project," in order to remove condi­ worker. tions directly menacing the life and In the U.S.S.R. a worker welcomes health of the workers. technique and mechanization, per­ sonally tries to master it, participates PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR in organizing labor and rationalizing In the U.S.S.R. the owners of labor production. The Soviet worker is not power are also owners of the means of afraid that mechanization and im­ production. Socialist production rela­ proved organization of labor will tions create tremendous possibilities force a certain number of workers out for the development of labor produc­ of one industry or another. There is tivity, not as a means of exploitation, no unemployment in the U.S.S.R. of profit for ohe class at the expense There is a place for every man's labor. of another, but to improve the .eco­ The decisive factor in socialist or­ nomic conditions of the toilers. That ganization of labor is the new, con­ is why increase in labor productivity scious attitude of the workers to labor is the cardinal task of socialist con­ and their interest in the growth of struction. Lenin said: productivity; for the interests of pro­ "Capitalism created a productivity of labor duction and labor do not contradict unprecedented during feudalism. Capitalism each other, but are identical. can be completely conquered and will be All this does not mean, of course, conquered by the fact that socialism will that it would suffice to overthrow create a new, far higher productivity of la­ capitalism and the socialist organiza­ bor." tion of labor would appear by itself These words, uttered many years without any effort, without any strug­ ago, are borne out by the whole ex­ gle or difficulties. Socialist forms have perience of socialist production in the come into existence for the first time U.S.S.R. in the history of mankind. Despite the How have the tremendous successes new order, old habits and customs in in growth of labor productivity been work persist and cannot be abolished gained? Above all, by the fact that in immediately. Socialist forms of work socialist society, as distinguished from grow and become strengthened in the capitalist society, the workers them­ struggle against habits and traditions selves promote labor productivity, for which have remained from bourgeois they know that the gains made there­ society. Although most workers take a by belong to them. All obstacles new attitude toward socialist produc­ which hamper the growth of labor tion, there are still many (not to men­ productivity have been demolished tion those that have been absorbed together with the capitalist order. from other classes into the ranks of Outside the U.S.S.R. machines are workers) who regard socialized indus­ used to enslave workers, while the try as they did industry under capi- mechanization of labor leads to the talism. · scrapping of many workers. All meas­ This situation was explained by ures the capitalist takes to ratio·nalize Comrade Stalin as follows: TRADE UNIONS IN THE LAND OF SOCIALISM 1015

"We cannot say that we have overcome to socialism, consist of safeguarding the in­ the survivals of capitalism in the conscious­ terests of the working class from individuals, ness of the people. We cannot say this, not groups, and strata of workers who stubbornly only because man's consciousness in its de­ cling to the traditions of capitalism and con­ velopment lags behind his economic posi­ tinue to regard Soviet power as they did their tion, but also because he is still surrounded capitalist employer: to give 'him' less and in­ by a capitalist environment which strives ferior work, to cheat 'him' as much as pos­ to revive and maintain capitalist survivals sible?" in the economic structure and in the con· sciousness of the people of the U. S. S. R., The struggle to overcome these old against which we Bolsheviks must always be on guard." attitudes is the main basis of the "Does not the class struggle," Lenin said, whole mass production work of the "in the period of transition from capitalism trade unions. NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN ORGANIZING THE MARINE INDUSTRY

BY ROY HUDSON

"W HAT happened in the maritime union-smashing tactics of the A. F. of industry nationally and on the L. reactionaries. He had further char­ Pacific Coast in ·the fight against the acterized the Pacific situation, for C.I.O. will happen elsewhere!" which the Executive Council is en­ This warning was hurled at the tirely responsible, as follows: delegates to the Denver Convention "We have men at each other's throats on of the A. F. of L. by Mr. Vandeleur, the Pacific Coast and elsewhere, fighting each President of the California State other like animals in the days of the jungle Federation of Labor. He was not a and as the primitive men fought each other delegate to the convention, but was in those days.' present as an invited speaker, appar­ Green, Hutcheson and Co. know ently brought there by the Executive that the maritime industry and the Council for the purpose of further Pacific Coast are decisive fronts in inciting the delegates to war against their war against everything progres­ the C.I.O. If so, he earned his hire, sive in tl_le labor movement, and that because he outdid even President the outcome of the struggle in these Green in the brazenness of his attacks. fields will have a far-reaching effect In appealing for a war to the finish, on the fight for the strengthened he said: C.I.O., for trade union unity, and for "We don't monkey around with the C.I.O. progressive unionism. Therefore the We expel them. We have the C.I.O. backed tactics and policies pursued by the down to the waterfront. If we get the support progressives on these fronts are of im­ of the A. F. of L. and the International portance to the entire labor move­ Unions we can lick them in thirty days." ment. In making this statement, Vande­ ATTEMPTS TO BLOCK NATIONAL UNITY leur was merely basing himself on President Green's report to the con­ The decisions of the Cincinnati vention, in which the Pacific Coast conference ordering suspension of the and, by inference, the maritime indus­ C.I.O. created a new situation for the try, had been singled out as the "main labor movement, and raised for the battlefield with the C.I.O." Green had marine workers in particular ~e ques­ called for making the Pacific Coast tion as to how most effectively to the concentration point in carrying maintain and strengthen their own through the splitting policies and unity, help defeat the splitting tactics

1016 ORGANIZING THE MARINE INDUSTRY of the A. F. of L. Executive Council, constant and open conflict with the and advance the struggle for trade reactionary president and Interna­ union unity. It is to the maritime tional Board of the I.L.A. workers' credit that they saw in the Thus, there existed a situation in Cincinnati decisions not only a decla­ which the unions embracing the ration of war against the C.I.O., but overwhelming majority of the work­ against everything progressive in the ers in the industry nationally were trade union movement as a whole either directly outside the A. F. of and, hence, a warning of increased at­ L. or in open opposition to the re­ tacks upon their own unions, which actionary policies of the A. F. of L. constitute one of the most militant leadership. Thus, the A. F. of L. lead­ sections of the American labor move­ ership was the main force blocking ment. They realized that these attacks the establishment of national unity of could be met only through increased the seamen and of all the crafts support to policies of industrial through a National Maritime Fed­ unionism against the A. F. of L. re­ eration. actionaries and in alliance with the With increased attacks by the ship­ C.I.O. owners, the question of united action In determining how to achieve of all ·crafts on a national scale and these aims, the maritime workers had of a national seamen's union is a life-. first to consider· the concrete situation and-death issue that will determine in their industry. No national union whether or not the unions on the At­ existed among seamen because of the lantic, Gulf, and Pacific Coasts con­ undemocratic policies of the Interna­ tinue to exist. tional Seamen's Union (A. F. of L.) In view of this situation, direct af­ bureaucrats. These haters of indus­ filiation to the C.I.O. was the concrete trial unionism had long ago split the step that would enable these unions seamen's organization by expelling most effectively to maintain their own the Sailors' Union of the Pacific. unity-unity based on support of in­ Their strike-breaking policies had dustrial action, progressive policies, forced the seamen in the. East and and rank-and-file control. This step Gulf to organize a new union, which was necessary to advance the struggle they refused to recognize although it for winning longshoremen in the Eu embraced the overwhelming majority and Gulf, members of the I.L.A., fa of seamen. The American Radio support of the progressive program. Telegraphers Union, including prac­ To apply this general national pd tically all marine radio operators, had icy successfully, a number of majQ. been refused a charter by the A. F. of objectives had to be achieved, namely, L. Executive Council. The Marine to strengthen and consolidate the Na­ Engineers Beneficial Association ex­ tional Maritime Union in the East, isted as an independent union. The Gulf, and Great Lakes, to maintain progressive policies, especially those of the unity of the Pacific maritime unity with the rest of the marine unions through the Maritime Federa­ crafts, pursued by the Pacific Coast tion of the Pacific, and to advance the District of the I.L.A., brought it into movement for a national seamen's 1018 THE COMMUNIST union and a national maritime feder­ credited, created a committee of ation affiliated to the C.I.O. There­ three, headed by Joseph P. Ryan, fore, in estimating the correctness of charged with the responsibility of steps taken and in indicating the per­ saving the seamen for the A. F. of L. spective and future tasks, it is neces­ Masquerading as a "new set-up," un­ sary to review briefly the extent to der the slogan "Drive the Communists which these objectives have been and C.I.O. off the Waterfront!" they achieved. launched an attack accompanied by unlimited intimidation and gangster EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE UNIFICATION violence. IN THE EAST The revolt of the seamen against The achievements of the East Coast reactionary policies, and their organ­ seamen in consolidating their forces, ized strength, had reached such a de­ and the correctness of the policies gree that the combined attack of the they pursued, can best be appreciated shipowners and A. F. of L. officialdom in the light of difficulties they were could not stem their advance. This confronted with and enemies they had was proved by the results of the to defeat. Last winter, after nearly N.L.R.B. elections on a number of de­ three months of heroic struggle, they cisive issues where the mass of seamen were forced to terminate their strike voted overwhelmingly against the A. in such a manner as to maintain their F. of L. The Constitutional Conven­ organized strength, before their de­ tion of the National Marine Union, mands were entirely met, because .of held in New York, made possible the the reactionary policies of the~·tS. . establishment of a powerful new and A. F. of L. officialdom, w o h d union along industrial lines. Already labeled their strike "outlaw" a ac­ through the National Marine Union tively assisted the shipowners in re­ the seamen have secured substantial cruiting scabs; Thus, the seamen were improvements in wages and working robbed of the immediate fruits of conditions and will shortly be in a their struggle. Later, the bureaucrats position to conclude union agree­ tried to crush the militancy that had ments covering the entire Atlantic been expressed in this strike, through and Gulf Coasts. the use of injunctions, gangsters, and The union has also expanded its alliance with the shipowners. activities to the Great Lakes, where, These continued attacks, and utter within a short period, it has secured violation of all democratic procedure, several agreements, conducted the first forced the seamen to renounce the strike there in over twenty years and I.S.U. and organize the National Mar­ enrolled several thousand Great Lakes itime Union, in order to maintain seamel'l into its ranks. Thus, the basis their strength and continue their has been created for organizing the fight for increased wages and im­ Great Lakes 100 per cent, which will proved working conditions. The A. F. be of tremendous importance to the of L. mobilized all its forces to com­ newly-organized workers in the steel bat this action and, recognizing .that and iron ore industries. the old I,s.u. offi<:ialdom was dis- While the immediate t4sk of con- ORGANIZING THE MARINE INDUSTRY 1019 solidating the National Marine Union policies within the A. F. of L. unions. and uniting all seamen into it has not The center of their attack was the yet been completed, nevertheless, on Pacific Coast District of the I.L.A., the basis of these results, there is no especially San Francisco, which had longer any uncertainty as to the abil­ voted overwhelmingly for C.I.O. ity of the National Marine Union to affiliation. achieve consolidation in the immedi­ The fight to prevent the maritime ate future, if its progressive leader­ workers from uniting around a cor­ ship mobilizes all forces to carry out rect policy in relationship to the decisions and policies adopted by the C.I.O. developed on a number of union. fronts. The main opposition came These achievements are of double from forces led by Lundberg, head of significance because the establishment the Sailors' Union of the Pacific, a of a powerful union of Eastern and syndicalist, strongly under the influ­ Gulf seamen strengthens the position ence of Trotskyites, whose policies of the C.I.O. in the maritime industry, brought him more and more into alli­ advances the fight for one united ance with the most reactionary and national seamen's union, and exerts discredited elements in the labor tremendous influence on the member­ movement. Their position was as fol­ ship of the International Longshore­ lows: to block C.I.O. affiliation on· men's Association in the East and the grounds that the C.I.O. was "un­ Gulf. democratic," had no constitution, had not fulfilled promises given to the THE STRUGGLE ON THE PACIFIC COAST Sailors' Union of the Pacific, and While the Eastern and Gulf sea­ "catered to the Communists"; to op­ men battled against tremendous odds, pose cooperation with the National the struggle on the Pacifiic Coast was Maritime Union and the establish­ even sharper, more difficult, and more ment of a united national seamen's complicated. The situation required union on the grounds that the a new orientation on the part of the N.M.U. was a "Communist-con­ unions, while the issues were not com­ trolled" paper organization and that pletely clear and the dangers of con­ the Eastern seamen were finks-the fusion and splits in the workers' ranks equivalent of scabs. They attempted were consequently great. The ship­ to foster and promote friction be­ owners and industrialists saw here an tween the seamen and longshoremen opportunity to accomplish what they of the Pacific Coast, charging the had been unable to do in nearly three longshoremen with trying to dictate years of constant warfare-smash the the policies of the seafaring unionS unity of the maritime unions and and invading their jurisdiction. They weaken their organizations. The A. F. talked of a West Coast Federation, in­ of L. bureaucrats felt that with the dependent ofboth C.I.O. and A. F. of support of the employers the time had L.; at the same time, they secretly and come, not only to deal a death blow sometimes openly supported and at the C.I.O. on the Pacifi~t, but made alliances with the A. F. of L. to crush all support f<;>f prsigressive reactionaries.

Schmidt Schmidt stood stood true true solid solid in in as as view view a a rock; rock; of of the the the the growing growing sea- dissatisfac-

longshoremen longshoremen on on under under the the defensive. defensive. Bridges Bridges This This and and is is especially especially

the the Teamster-A. Teamster-A. ters ters F. F. of of of of the the L. L. labor labor policies. policies. movement movement The The definitely definitely

and and helped helped unite unite the the Pacific Pacific the the masses masses Coast Coast and and against against placed placed the the split­

site site effect, effect, as as and and it it made made strengthening strengthening the the issues issues of of clear clear C.I.O. C.I.O. forces forces on on

This This attack, attack, gle gle however, however, made made possible possible had had the the oppo­ the the consolidation consolidation

Secondly, Secondly, the the longshoremen longshoremen outcome outcome of of this this from from strug­ going going to to work. work.

lines lines around around the the docks docks to to prevent prevent the the tional tional maritime maritime union. union.

teamsters' teamsters' officials officials threw threw mass mass picket picket tional tional unity unity of of the the seamen seamen and and a a na­

days days and and reached reached a a climax climax when when the the their their own own unity unity and and to to achieving achieving na­

embargo embargo was was in in effect effect over over twenty twenty C.I.O. C.I.O. was was the the key key to to maintaining maintaining

the the C.I.O.-Communist C.I.O.-Communist combine!" combine!" The The helped helped them them understand understand also also that that the the

the the splitters splitters of of the the labor labor movement­ pudiated pudiated the the A. A. F. F. of of L. L. policies. policies. It It

men men under under the the slogan slogan of of "War "War against against shoremen; shoremen; therefore therefore the the seamen seamen re­

and and the the public public against against the the longshore­ the the C.I.O. C.I.O. meant meant war war against against the the long-· long-·

paign paign was was launched launched to to incite incite labor labor on on the the Pacific Pacific Coast Coast that that war war against against

docks. docks. An An intensive intensive propaganda propaganda cam­ membership membership of of the the maritime maritime unions unions

cargo cargo to to or or from from the the San San Francisco Francisco First First of of all, all, it it made made clear clear to to the the

their their membership membership not not to to handle handle any any unions unions and and the the labor labor movement. movement.

against against the the longshoremen longshoremen and and ordered ordered the the fight fight for for unity unity of of the the maritime maritime

. . housemen, housemen, declared declared an an embargo embargo marks marks an an important important turning turning point point in in

manding manding jurisdiction jurisdiction over over the the ware- finish." finish." The The outcome outcome of of this this struggle struggle

officialdom, officialdom, who, who, under under cover cover of of de­ treat, treat, and and call call off off their their "war "war to to the the

in in this this war war was was the the teamsters' teamsters' union union teamster teamster officials officials were were forced forced to to re­

longshoremen's longshoremen's union. union. The The spearhead spearhead ranks ranks of of their their own own membership, membership, the the

the the finish" finish" against against the the C.I.O. C.I.O. and and the the the the danger danger of of a a growing growing revolt revolt in in the the

Labor Labor Body Body and and launched launched a a "war "war to to with with the the marine marine workers workers united united and and

San San Francisco Francisco I.L.A. I.L.A. from from the the Central Central Thus, Thus, the the showdown showdown was was forced: forced:

ment ment wide wide open, open, they they expelled expelled the the leadership leadership was was growing. growing.

all all fronts. fronts. Splitting Splitting the the labor labor move­ teamsters teamsters against against the the policies policies of of their their

leaders leaders intensified intensified their their activities activities on on the the resentment resentment of of the the rank-and-file rank-and-file

cess cess of of this this group,· group,· the the A. A. F. F. of of L. L. mis­ the the same same time time it it became became evident evident that that

Encouraged Encouraged by by the the apparent apparent suc­ wise wise supported supported the the longshoremen. longshoremen. At At

questions. questions. a a consistently consistently progressive progressive poliCy, poliCy, like­

ficial ficial action action m m support support of of these these The The cooks' cooks' union, union, which which has has followed followed

tional tional unity, unity, thus thus preventing preventing any any of­ support support of of the the teamsters' teamsters' embargo. embargo.

Union Union on on C.I.O. C.I.O. affiliation affiliation and and na­ of of their their plans plans to to commit commit the the union union to to

ducted ducted by by the the Sailors' Sailors' and and Firemen's Firemen's of of other other reactionary reactionary officials officials because because

the the ballots ballots of of a a referendum referendum vote vote con­ the the union, union, and and forced forced the the resignation resignation

and and such such criminal criminal tactics tactics as as burning burning ly ly had had removed removed Ferguson, Ferguson, secretary secretary of of

They They resorted resorted to to vicious vicious Red-baiting Red-baiting did did the the firemen, firemen, who who a a week week previous­

the the unity unity of of the the maritime maritime unions. unions. nize nize the the teamsters' teamsters' picket picket line; line; so so also also

and and other other issues issues threatened threatened to to split split longshoremen, longshoremen, and and refused refused to to recog­

group group of of "super-militants" "super-militants" on on these these overwhelmingly for for overwhelmingly support support of of the the

The The position position of of Lundberg Lundberg and and his his men, men, with with Lundberg Lundberg abstaining, abstaining, voted voted

THE THE COMMUNIST COMMUNIST 1020 1020 ORGANIZING THE MARINE INDUSTRY 1021 tion of the rank-and-file teamsters, united action with the seamen's without whose support it becomes in­ union, for a better agreement, and for creasingly difficult . to conduct war a referendum on C.I.O. affiliation. against the C.I.O. The growth of this movement and the Thirdly, the resulting situation intensified C.I.O. activity in the ma­ should make more clear how the steps rine industry enabled the longshore­ taken by the longshoremen's union, men to secure those concessions that and now under consideration by the were gained in the recent negotia­ other maritime unions, in affiliating tions, even though their major de­ to the C.I.O., served to strengthen the mands have not been met. fight against the splitters of the A. F. Unification of the maritime unions of L. Executive Council and for a nationally, and the establishment of united trade union movement. Would a national maritime federation or the unions constituting the original council affiliated to the Committee for C.I.O. bloc have been able to defeat Industrial Organization will be of the attacks of the A. F. of L. reaction­ tremendous importance in the gen­ aries without the direct support of eral struggle for a united trade union such powerful unions as the long­ movement, for peace, and for the de­ shore, loggers, and the seafaring velopment of a People's Front in the crafts? Does not the affiliation of the United States. It will mean the con· longshore and other powerful unions solidation of all C.I.O. forces on the · to the C.I.O. strengthen the fight Pacific Coast and the creation of a against the labor splitters, and help mass base there for a strong campaign the A. F. of L. rank-and-file under­ to organize the unorganized and a stand what is meant by "War on the vigorous fight for trade union unity. C.I.O.," thus increasing their senti­ On the Atlantic and in the Gulf ment and struggle for united action Ports especially, winning all the mari­ with the C.I.O. unions and for a time crafts, especially the longshore­ united trade union movement? men, for· this policy will mean a blow to whatever strength the reactionaries TASKS AHEAD who stand in the way of unity and progressive action still have. In New Thus, the maritime workers can York, for instanGe, establishing a register progress in the accomplish­ united front ·of all maritime unions ment of the major tasks that have con­ on the basis of C.I.O. principles and fronted them. Prospects are now affiliation will mean a ahange in the more favorable for them to realize a whole relationship of labor forces in National Maritime Federation and a the state in the direction of progres· National Seamen's Union affiliated to sive policies and a united trade union the C.I.O. The successful achievement movement. of this will greatly stimulate the or­ The maritime unions, united na­ ganized movement of longshoremen tionally through the C.I.O. under the in the East and Gulf, which during banner of progressive leadership and recent months has registered consider­ policies, will be of tremendous im­ able growth around the slogans of portance in the struggle for peace. THE COMMUNIST

With the sentiment for an embargo days unless we get finances and against Japan, with the demand fur support." action against the aggressor nations, Here he inadvertently gave expres­ the maritime unions can, with the sion to the secret fear of himself and backing of labor and an organized those that he speaks for-a fear that peace movement, give expression to exists notwithstanding their loud these demands of the people, in such speeches and war cries. Finances, they form as to have immediate effect upon may get. But the only support that the fascist warmongers, and to influ­ would do them any good is that of ence greatly the federal government the rank and file in the maritime toward collective action with other unions and the A. F. of L. member­ peace-loving nations against those ship. They cannot rally this support who threaten the peace of the world. on the basis of dividing and destroy­ This article opeped with quotations ing the labor movement. Those forces from Mr. Vandeleur. It can fittingly that stand for progressive unionism, close with a quotation from the same for unity, for democracy, can-if they source, when he stated: work properly-rally the support of "We can't hold out in the fight the rank and file and thus ensure the against the C.I.O. for another thirty continued forward march of labor. SOUTHERN TEXTILE WORKERS ORGANIZE

BY JOHN J. BALLAM

ooN after its victories in a.uto and W. followed the traditional conserva­ Sin steel, the C.I.O. turned its at­ tive policies of the A. F. of L. under tention to the formidable task of or­ its two Presidents, John Golden and ganizing the nation's textile industry. Tom McMahon. After thirty years of This industry presents serious organ­ continuous existence, it had less than izational problems which must be 35,ooo members organized in isolated studied and overcome. In the past local unions in an industry employing many trade unions came upon the 1,2oo,ooo. The U.T.W. combined scene, conducted organization drives both the craft and industrial forms of and struggles, held on for a spell in organization. About 1931 the U.T.W. one locality or another, and disap­ sought to establish federations of local peared. These included almost every unions in the silk, woolen, worsted, type of labor organization-separate hosiery, dye and other branches of the local societies and craft unions in the industry. Of these only the Federation early eighties, the I.W.W. in Law­ of American Full-Fashioned Hosiery rence and Paterson, the. One Big Workers and the Dyers and Finishers Union, the Amalgamated Textile Federation (1933) succeeded in estab­ Workers of America, the Textile lishing stable organizations. In surviv­ Councils, combining several semi-in­ ing all other textile unions the U. T. dependent craft locals as in New Bed­ W. had the advantage of absorbing ford, independent unions, such as the their past experiences. Under the Carpet Workers Union, the National leadership of Francis J. Gorman it Textile Workers Union, T.U.U.L., adopted progressive policies and im­ the United Textile Workers, A. F. of mediately after the 1935 A. F. of L. L., and many others. None of these Convention the U.T.W. joined with unions had succeded in organizing the the other nine A. F. of L. unions in majority or even a decisive minority founding the Committee for Indus­ of the American textile workers. trial Organization-the now famous Of these unions the United Textile C.I.O. Workers has the longest record of ac­ Influenced by Section 7a of the tivity on a national scale. Organized N.R.A. (1932-34) textile workers in 1902 at Washington, D.C., it united flocked into the U.T.W. until nearly many scattered craft locals. The U.T. 20o,ooo were organized under its ban- 1023

than than less less the the average average yearly yearly wages wages for for whole whole were were never never adequately adequately organ-

a a year year ($16 ($16 a a week) week) or or $300 $300 a a year year won won or or lost, lost, the the textile textile workers workers as as a a

account account seasonal seasonal fluctuations, fluctuations, is is $850 $850 nation. nation. But But whether whether their their strikes strikes were were

Their Their age. age. annual annual income, income, taking taking into into the the textile textile industry industry t.hroughout t.hroughout the the

I I Io,ooo Io,ooo minors minors from from IO IO to to I7 I7 years years of of ooo ooo poured poured out out of of the the mills mills paralyzing paralyzing

bor bor history history when, when, 662,ooo 662,ooo in in 1934, 1934, men, men, nearly nearly 428,ooo 428,ooo 475·­ women, women, and and

These These 1,2oo,ooo 1,2oo,ooo workers workers include include largest largest single single strikes strikes in in American American la­

have have to to their their credit credit one one of of the the three three

TEXTILE, TEXTILE, A A FAMILY FAMILY INDUSTitY INDUSTitY

Textile Textile workers, workers, led led by by the the U.T.W., U.T.W.,

Councils Councils and and the the Communist Communist Party. Party. value. value.

leadership leadership of of labor labor the the the the United United ultimate ultimate Textile Textile amount amount of of surplus surplus

durance durance and and to to maintained maintained squeeze squeeze out out their their of of their their ranks ranks under under the the

(1926-27) (1926-27) for for eleven eleven months; months; they they tile tile workers workers to to the the limit limit of of their their en­

J. J. textile textile mill mill workers workers in in Passaic, Passaic, N. N. whose whose job job it it is is to to drive drive 1,2oo,ooo 1,2oo,ooo tex­

movement movement was was ficials, ficials, carried carried managers managers out out by by 16,ooo 16,ooo and and ~echnicians ~echnicians

in in the the history history of of the the American American labor labor stockholders. stockholders. They They employ employ 1o,ooo 1o,ooo of­

One One of of the the longest longest The The textile textile effective effective mills mills strikes strikes support support 25o,ooo 25o,ooo

demands. demands. etc. etc.

dure dure extreme extreme hardships, hardships, to to win win their their gaged gaged in in producing producing synthetic synthetic fibers, fibers,

courage, courage, and and for for their their capacity capacity to to en­ ing ing and and processing processing plants, plants, those those en­

They They are are famous famous for for their their tenacity, tenacity, there there are are dye dye houses, houses, printing, printing, finish­

frequently frequently for for the the right right to to organize. organize. lated lated to to and and bound bound up up with with textile textile

mill mill owners. owners. Mill Mill workers workers have have struck struck sumed sumed 7•035,089 7•035,089 bales bales of of cotton. cotton. Re­

other other forms forms of of exploitation exploitation by by the the silk silk and and rayon. rayon. Cotton Cotton mills mills con­

wages, wages, long long hours, hours, the the stretch-out, stretch-out, and and 4,233·4oo,ooo 4,233·4oo,ooo pounds pounds of of cotton, cotton, wool, wool,

out out by by textile textile workers workers against against low low In In 1936 1936 these these mills mills consumed consumed

struggles struggles and and demonstrations demonstrations carried carried products. products.

pages pages of of labor labor history history than than the the strikes, strikes, vet vet and and plush, plush, burlaps, burlaps, lace, lace, and and other other

militancy. militancy. There There are are no no more more glorious glorious passamenterie, passamenterie, belting, belting, tire tire fabric, fabric, vel­

cannot cannot be be attributed attributed to to their their lack lack of of knit knit goods, goods, hosiery, hosiery, carpets, carpets, tapestry, tapestry,

ganization, ganization, North North or or South, South, certainly certainly cotton, cotton, silk, silk, rayon, rayon, woolens, woolens, worsteds, worsteds,

permanent permanent forms forms of of trade trade union union or­ manner manner of of fabrics, fabrics, yarns yarns and and cloths­

American American textile textile workers workers to to achieve achieve riety riety and and in in enormous enormous quantities quantities all all

This This failure failure on on the the part part of of the the ooo,ooo. ooo,ooo. They They produce produce in in infinite infinite va­

adhering adhering to to a a single single trade trade union. union. represent represent an an investment investment of of $7,ooo,­

tage tage of of dues-paying dues-paying workers workers heretofore heretofore of of the the country. country. These These 5,870 5,870 plants plants

which which represents represents the the highest highest percen­ mills mills are are scattered scattered throughout throughout the the rest rest

had had 7 7 5,ooo 5,ooo dues-paying dues-paying members members Four Four hundred hundred and and seventy seventy additional additional

Organizing Organizing Committee, Committee, Alabama, Alabama, there there the the are are U.T.W. 5,400 5,400 textile textile mills. mills.

incorporated incorporated into into the the Textile Textile Workers Workers of of the the Appalachians, Appalachians, from from Maine Maine to to

Along Along the the foothills foothills the the membership membership and and the the valleys valleys declined, declined, and and when when

the the U.T.W. U.T.W. After After the the strike strike of of 1934 1934 a a cursory cursory view view of of this this industry. industry.

within within the the industry industry Workers Workers itself itself Union Union let let us us which which take take voted voted to to join join

sand sand members members ties ties of of the the in in organizing organizing National National Textile Textile textile textile workers workers lie lie

ized. ized. Since Since the the ner. ner. causes causes This This of of figure figure the the difficul­ includes includes several several thou­

1024 1024 THE THE COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE T. W. 0. C. AND THE SOUTH 1025 all American industries. From the number of capable youth and women viewpoint of wage levels alone no body organizers, preferably those with ex­ of American workers needs the benefits perience in the mills or who have of trade union organization more than been active among women and youth the overworked, underpaid and sweat­ textile workers, know how to approach ed textile workers. The textile indus­ them and who understand their reac­ try is based generally upon family tions and definitely special problems. labor. Father, mother, adult sons and THE QUESTION OF CONCENTRATION daughters and minors depend upon their combined income to maintain a In auto, in steel or in transporta­ low standard of subsistence for each. tion the union, when it has achieved This presents a problem of first magni­ a percentage of mass organization, can tude to the textile union organizer. sign contracts with a relatively few In the steel and auto industries, for companies in order to organize most example, one has to organize the male of the industry, because of the high breadwinner-in textile one has to degree of concentration. In textile, take the whole family into the union, 3400 companies own 5,87o mills or and then get them to pay dues indi­ plants. In the past fifteen years there vidually. has been a trend toward consolida­ This problem is by no means im­ tion. But there is nothing in textile . possible of solution. To be overcome, which can compare with General however, it must be fully recognized. Motors in automobiles or Carnegie­ For every six adult male workers in Illinois in steel, or Goodyear or Fire­ textile there are four women. These stone in rubber. Therefore, the union women textile workers are perma­ in textile must attack the problem of nently employed in the industry, ex­ organizing thousands of companies on cept during periods of child-bearing, many fronts, simultaneously, in order since marriage usually does not change to achieve mass organization. their status. For every ten adults em­ The general experience of previous ployed in textile there is one child textile unions, and more especially the under 17 years of age. These children, recent experiences ,of the T.W.O.C. once in the mill, are ordinarily since March, 1937, have demonstrated doomed to spend the rest of their lives that it is well nigh impossible to or­ in the industry. ganize simultaneously the far-flung. The garment trades, among others textile industries with thousands of employing a large number of women mills, each with its individual man­ workers, have demonstrated that agement, under the direction of thou­ women can be successfully organized, sands of owners and companies. It is are as militant as me:p. in defense of obvious that the principle of concen­ their unions, equally as capable of tration must be applied; concentra­ trade union leadership and make dis­ tion upon the most vulnerable and ciplined and loyal trade union mem­ decisive branches of the industry, and bers. within these branches or divisions, If this problem is to be met the concentration upon the companies T.W.O.C. must employ an adequate controlling chains of mills and upon THE COMMUNIST

the most important large single mills were settled, the workers gaining all in strategically located mill centers. their demands. The mills raised wages Otherwise there will be dissipation of to forestall organization. energy, time and money resulting in Here was an opportunity for the the signing up of small, obsolete mills T.W.O.C. to go boldly forward, which have no effect upon the indus­ formulate demands, win a collective try as a whole. This has already been bargaining contract and thus set an the experience of the T.W.O.C., par­ example for the whole Piedmont tex­ ticularly in the South. tile area. A rank-and-file textile work­ In this respect let us take the ex­ ers' committee should have been set ample of what happened in the up to work in cooperation with the T.W.O.C. drive at Danville, Va. T.W.O.C. organizers; a dozen more The Riverside and Dan River Mills men, youth and women organizers at Danville are probably the largest should have been sent to Danville to cotton mills in the world, employing sign up rapidly the remaining work­ about 1o,ooo workers~ The U.T.W. ers on the basis of concrete demands maintained a very small, dormant lo­ worked out by the textile workers' cal union in Danville which is a committee and broadcast to all the notorious open-shop, anti-union town. mill workers. But the T.W.O.C. Miss Hazel Dawson went there, in Roanoke Regional Office did not do January, 1937, to help organize work­ any of these things. Instead, Hazel ers in the U.T.W. local. She worked Dawson was discharged. The 3,ooo carefully and patiently, selecting work­ cards with the workers' signatures are ers from the mill, training them in still on file. The T.W.O.C. is still · small groups to become voluntary waiting for the Riverside and Dan organizers. Dawson had about fifty River Mills to sign up. of these workers, a selected group of And the textile workers of Danville? courageous and loyal trade union men They feel that the opportunity to and women, ready for action when build their union and improve their the T.W.O.C. came into Danville last conditions under the banner of the April. A T.W.O.C. director took C.I.O. has been missed. Meanwhile, a charge of the work. Dawson was put hundred organizers of the T.W.O.C. on the T.W.O.C. payroll and began were scattered all along the line, each to function openly. T.W.O.C. head­ one trying to organize a dozen smaller quarters were established, and under mills all at the same time with very Dawson's direction the fifty volunteer little success anywhere in the South. organizers went to work. The mills The principle of concentration was were busy, working two and three not applied as it should have been. shifts largely on government orders. In a comparatively short time some THE T.W.O.C. AND THE FOREIGN-BORN 3,ooo mill workers signed T.W.O.C. Yet another factor which goes to cards. Danville did not strike in 1934; make up the complexities of organiz­ its last big struggle was in 1931. Now ing in textile must be noted. During they are ready. Two small depart­ the Lawrence strike of 1912 it was re­ ment sit-down strikes, in succession, corded that the 24,ooo textile workers THE T. W. 0. C. AND THE SOUTH 1027 involved spoke 25 different languages dustry in an intricate jumble of lines and 42 distinct dialects. Since then from the mill to the wholesale house, textile hibor in Northern areas has to the broker, to the converter, to the become more homogeneous, under­ retailer and finally to the consumer. standing and, more or less, generally Along this maze of trade the surplus speaking the English tongue. Yet in value originally squeezed out of the the mill towns of New England, New mill workers is dissipated. Commis­ York, Pennslyvania and New Jersey, sion merchants make this confusion textile organizers must deal with Rus­ worse. sians, Poles, Germans, Irish, Belgians, All this waste and anarchy result in Italians, Portuguese, French Cana­ higher prices to the consumer, while dians, Jews, Armenians, Syrians, Lith­ the mill owners try to recoup their uanians, who have habitually lived in losses by depressing wages below. the their own "ghettos," formed their subsistence level and stretching out own language clubs and societies and the workers from 12 looms to 24, to follow their national political and so­ 48, and in some instances, to 65 and cial leaders. over. The unorganized textile worker The T.W.O.C. can use their for­ pays for this industrial anarchy with eign language clubs and societies as a his health and eventually with his basis for building the new mass in­ life. A powerful industrial union, na­ dustrial union. T.W.O.C. organizers tional in scope, would protect the mill can be recruited from among the men, workers and force the manufacturers women and youth of these nationali­ to reorganize the industry with some· ties. These are the natural and trusted regard for the workers' interests and leaders of their people. Many volun­ rights. teer organizers may be found among Compare this situation with the them. All these organizers can be automotive industry where capital is orientated toward the general T.W. concentrated and production central­ O.C. program by forming them into ized and where monopoly prices rule. democratically controlled organizing The big companies maintain their committees in each textile commu­ own sales agencies and control their nity, under the direction of the own finance corporations for market­ T.W.O.C. Regional Office. ing their products. In the field of distribution and No examination of this creaking, marketing the many companies are in rickety industry would be complete fierce competition with one another without an analysis of the conditions and this competition also exists as be­ under which the fibers, upon which tween the different branches of the textile rests, are produced. Hemp, silk industry. No other industry illus­ culture, cotton planting and ginning, trates so well what Marx meant by sheep raising, produce the raw mate­ "anarchy of production" under capi­ rials for the mills. The demand for talism. Woolen goods vie with silk, cheap cotton creates the basis for the and rayon with cotton. The ancient semi-feudal plantation system in the distribution system inherited from the Cotton Belt, with it concomitants­ old English factories involves the in- sharecropping, tenancy and virtual

in- the the of of branches branches powerful powerful all all the the in in of of drive drive the the President President man, man,

Hill­ Sidney Sidney of of organizing organizing chairmanship chairmanship while while the the der der T.W.O.C., T.W.O.C., The The

un­ formed formed was was Committe Committe Organizing Organizing U.T.W. U.T.W. old old the the in in

Workers Workers Textile Textile base base the the C.I.O., C.I.O., the the organizational organizational with with strongest strongest the the had had

agreement agreement unanimous unanimous by by and and D.C., D.C., had had they they that that fact fact the the to to due due ones, ones,

Washington, Washington, at at met met U.T.W. U.T.W. the the of of new new gaining gaining in in and and tracts tracts con con old old their their

leadership leadership the the 1937, 1937, March, March, In In drive. drive. maintaining maintaining in in both both drive, drive, the the in in ress ress

the the conduct conduct to to apparatus apparatus the the up up set set to to prog­ greatest greatest the the made made have have Workers Workers

proceeded proceeded C.I.O. C.I.O. the the Hosiery Hosiery and and industry, industry, Dyers Dyers The The textile textile T.W.O.C. T.W.O.C. the the

the the to to attention attention into into its its turned turned completely completely Having Having merged merged were were filiates filiates

af­ U.T.W. U.T.W. other other All All apparatus. apparatus. own own

TEXTILE TEXTILE ENTERS ENTERS C.I.O. C.I.O. THE THE

their their maintained maintained and and T.W.O.C. T.W.O.C. the the

with with cooperation cooperation in in but but dependently dependently article. article. this this

in­ drives drives organization organization their their ducted ducted of of scope scope the the outside outside far far too too us us take take

con­ Federation Federation Finishers Finishers and and Dyers Dyers would would review review a a such such But But together. together.

the the and and Workers Workers Hosiery Hosiery Fashioned Fashioned soul soul and and body body keep keep to to rice rice of of bowl bowl -a -a

Full­ of of Federation Federation American American The The pence pence few few a a for for day, day, a a hours hours 18 18 hands! hands!

union. union. workers' workers' textile textile trial trial bare bare their their with with water water boiling boiling in in

indus­ national national a a into into locals locals and and gions gions cocoons cocoons silk silk unwind unwind girls girls and and babes babes

re­ the the consolidate consolidate and and convention convention where where Japan, Japan, and and India India China, China, to to

a a call call will will T.W.O.C. T.W.O.C. the the organized organized Orient; Orient; the the to to us us take take would would It It bone. bone.

thus thus is is industry industry the the of of part part stantial stantial the the to to exploited exploited are are men men and and shorn shorn

sub­ a a or or industry industry the the When When union. union. and and raised raised are are sheep sheep where where Australia, Australia,

T.W.O.C. T.W.O.C. local local a a as as function function and and and and America America South South and and North North

charter charter T.W.O.C. T.W.O.C. a a given given are are cerned cerned of of plains plains and and areas areas mountain mountain hills, hills,

con­ workers workers the the plant plant a a with with signed signed foot­ the the onto onto perish; perish; and and fester fester slaves slaves

is is contract contract a a When When contract. contract. gaining gaining colonial colonial where where America America South South and and

bar­ collective collective a a for for management management the the Mexico Mexico of of plantations plantations the the and and Islands Islands

approaches approaches Office Office Regional Regional T.W.O.C. T.W.O.C. Philippine Philippine the the of of fields fields hemp hemp the the

the the up, up, sign sign company company or or mill mill into into us us take take would would survey survey a a Such Such

a a of of workers workers the the of of most most when when that that enemy. enemy. common common their their against against

was was theory theory The The mill. mill. each each for for agency agency brothers brothers colored colored ·their ·their with with hands hands ing ing

bargaining bargaining collective collective the the as as T.W.O.C. T.W.O.C. join­ from from mills mills the the of of slaves slaves white white the the

the the designates designates which which card card pledge pledge prevent prevent to to and and cultivate cultivate they they land land the the

a a on on dues, dues, or or fees fees initiation initiation without without own own to to right right the the for for agricufturalists agricufturalists

viz.) viz.) workers, workers, textile textile up up sign sign to to steel, steel, white white and and black black of of union union the the prevent prevent

in in employed employed that that as as same same the the was was to to order order in in generations, generations, for for owners, owners,

technique technique The The field. field. the the took took izers izers mill mill and and bankers bankers owners, owners, plantation plantation

organ­ of of Hundreds Hundreds appointed. appointed. were were by by people people Negro Negro whole whole the the against against

directors directors regional regional Eight Eight immediately. immediately. engendered engendered hatred, hatred, race race and and ism, ism,

initiated initiated was was drive drive The The incorporated. incorporated. Crow­ Jim Jim lynch-terror, lynch-terror, arise arise which which

was was U.T.W. U.T.W. the the of of apparatus apparatus tional tional of of out out and and exploitation exploitation and and pression pression

organiza­ the the committee committee this this Into Into op­ dual dual suffer suffer people people Negro Negro of of lions lions

America. America. mil­ where where Belt Belt Black Black the the with with nant nant

of of Workers Workers Clothing Clothing Amalgamated Amalgamated conso­ is is Belt Belt Cotton Cotton The The peonage. peonage.

COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE THE THE T. W. 0. C. AND THE SOUTH 1029 dustry and in all sections of the coun­ industry with its 35 plants and 54,000 try simultaneously, did have a limited workers. The du Pont Rayon Com­ program of concentration. This con­ pany's plants, the Italian syndicate's centration was on the woolen and Tubiz-Chatillon plant at Rome, Ga., worsted branch, almost wholly located the Dutch syndicate's plant Enka at in New England and New Jersey, and Ashville, N.C., will not yield except to upon synthetic yarn production the greatest pressure since these are plants located mainly in Virginia, notoriously hard-boiled, open-shop Pennnsylvania, West Virginia and outfits. Northern Tennessee. There are im­ These important gains have been portant plants also in North Carolina made mainly in the North. The great, and Georgia. basic cotton industry has barely been With the drive under way for the touched. Hardly a dent has been past six months the T.W.O.C. has made in the solid South, where the made definite progress. Recent figures, drive has recently been experiencing announced by Sidney Hillman at the difficulties and has some short­ C.I.O. Conference at Atlantic City, comings. are as follows: 47o,ooo pledge cards Let us examine the situation below signed, of which 27o,ooo textile work­ the Mason-Dixon Line. ers are covered by contracts that have Fifty-nine per cent of the nation's been signed by 905 employers. The textile workers are in the South. T.W.O.C. spent $978,421 in the drive Much has been written about the to October 1, 1937. industrialization of the South but it Two of the largest woolen mills in must be emphasized that, aside from the world, employing some 1o,ooo the Birmingham area of heavy indus­ workers, the Ayer and Wood Mills try (coal, iron and steel), little of this of the American Woolen Company of industrialization would remain if tex­ Lawrence, Mass., have recently con­ tiles were eliminated. Other Southern cluded consent elections under the industries, mainly connected with National Labor Relations Board, and agriculture, are transportation, saw­ the workers are on record overwhelm­ mills and wood-working, cotton gin­ ingly for the T.W.O.C. as their sole ning and cotton seed oil extraction, bargaining agency. It remains to be etc., together with cigarette and seen what demands will be made and tobacco manufacturing, centering whether or not a favorable contract around Winston-Salem, Readville and can be signed without a .strike. It is Durham, N.C., employing about 45·­ the entering wedge for the organiza­ ooo workers most of whom are Ne­ tion of the whole woolen textile in­ groes; furniture manufacturing, main­ dustry. The favorable agreements ly located around High Point, N.C., signed by the T.W.O.C. with the employing about 10,ooo workers; and American Bemberg Co., in Elizabeth­ scattered chemical, railroad, garment ton, Tenn., and with the Viscose shops, etc., would account for nearly Company, cover nearly 2o,ooo work­ all Southern industries. ers and form the base for the organ­ The textile industry, as almost all ization of the whole rayon-producing Southern industry, is concentrated in

mills. mills. Many Many of of the the textile textile workers workers in in ing ing the the 6o-hour 6o-hour week week and and in in raising raising

ings ings and and their their final final herding herding into into the the and and betrayals, betrayals, have have resulted resulted in in smash­

the the expropriation expropriation of of their their small small hold­ struggles, struggles, in in spite spite of of set-backs, set-backs, terror terror

mestic mestic economy economy of of the the free free peasantry, peasantry, other other for for better better conditions. conditions. These These

the the story story of of the the smashing smashing of of the the do­ that that has has not not struck struck at at one one time time or or an­

the the textile textile industry industry in in the the South South is is textile textile workers workers were were organized organized or or not, not,

The The story story of of the the development development of of the the Mason-Dixon Mason-Dixon Line, Line, whether whether the the

poverty. poverty. There There is is hardly hardly a a mill mill town town below below

sanitary sanitary conditions, conditions, illiteracy illiteracy and and Falls Falls and and Paterson. Paterson.

hideous hideous results results of of malnutrition, malnutrition, un­ ford, ford, Passaic, Passaic, Berks Berks County, County, Central Central

malaria, malaria, venereal venereal disease disease and and other other ers ers alongside alongside of of Lawrence, Lawrence, New New Bed­

concomitants concomitants of of pellegra, pellegra, tuberculosis, tuberculosis, glorious glorious traditions traditions of of the the textile textile work­

out, out, child child and and family family labor, labor, with with its its Huntsville, Huntsville, take take their their places places in in the the

area area of of long long hours, hours, low low pay, pay, stretch­ Marion, Marion, Elizabethton, Elizabethton, Danville, Danville,

evil-smelling evil-smelling out-houses. out-houses. This This is is the the of of "cheap "cheap and and docile" docile" labor. labor. Gastonia, Gastonia,

or or dust-choked dust-choked unpaved unpaved roads roads and and blood blood the the mill mill owners' owners' sneering sneering insult insult

dilapidated dilapidated shacks shacks on on stilts, stilts, muddy muddy decade decade wiped wiped out out with with their their own own

village village is is found found with with its its unpainted, unpainted, independent independent farmers, farmers, have have in in the the past past

area area that that the the notorious notorious Southern Southern mill mill and and daughters daughters of of mountaineers mountaineers and and

It It is is precisely precisely in in this this cotton cotton mill mill But But these these textile textile workers, workers, the the sons sons

mills mills throughout throughout the the country. country. localities. localities.

nearly nearly 5oo,ooo 5oo,ooo workers workers in in over over 1,ooo 1,ooo ern ern capitalists capitalists to to put put up up mills mills in in their their

Cotton Cotton textiles textiles as as a a whole whole employs employs izer," izer," as as an an inducement inducement to to the the North­

its its boundaries. boundaries. influence influence of of the the trade trade union union organ­

more more than than 100 100 cotton cotton mills mills within within contented contented labor" labor" and and "safe "safe from from the the

County County (N.C.) (N.C.) alone alone boasts boasts of of having having far far and and wide wide as as "docile, "docile, cheap cheap and and

employ employ 35,000 35,000 workers. workers. Gaston Gaston Chambers Chambers of of Commerce Commerce advertised advertised

workers. workers. Ninety-six Ninety-six ers ers whom whom mills mills in in the the Alabama Alabama Southern Southern small-town small-town

states states employ employ nearly nearly 35o,ooo 35o,ooo textile textile textile textile workers. workers. These These are are the the work­

The The mills mills in in these these three three Southern Southern whelming whelming majority majority of of the the Southern Southern

industry industry of of the the freedom-loving freedom-loving nation nation is is concentrated. concentrated. folk folk compose compose the the over­

gia, gia, where where the the The The cotton cotton descendants descendants manufacturing manufacturing of of these these hardy, hardy,

Carolina, Carolina, Sout4 Sout4 Carolina Carolina and and Geor­ forever. forever.

turing turing states states in in this this area area are are North North their their status status and and that that of of their their children children

The The three three leading leading textile textile manufac­ walk walk into into the the mill mill gate gate to to change change

Knoxville, Knoxville, and and off off their their Elizabethton, Elizabethton, small small patch patch Tenn. Tenn. and and had had but but to to

lanta, lanta, Ga., Ga., of of through through the the Cotton Cotton Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Exchange, Exchange, were were driven driven

contributory contributory the the belt belt bankers bankers extends extends and and from from by by the the At­ manipulations manipulations

Georgia, Georgia, into into of of Northern Northern the the big big planters, planters, Alabama. Alabama. by by A A the the usury usury of of

North North Carolina, Carolina, South South Carolina Carolina and and Piedmont, Piedmont, ruined ruined by by the the competition competition

Appalachians Appalachians from from Virginia Virginia through through erished erished white white cotton cotton farmers farmers of of the the

along along the the foothills foothills of of the the Southern Southern tion tion economy economy of of the the lowlands. lowlands. Impov­

Piedmont Piedmont passes passes caped caped in in from from a a sweeping sweeping the the hated hated curve curve slave-planta­

its its Northern Northern tip tip at at Danville, Danville, Va., Va., the the were were once once mountaineers mountaineers who who had had es­

the the Piedmont Piedmont area. area. Extending Extending from from the the Carolinas, Carolinas, Georgia Georgia and and Tennessee Tennessee

THE THE COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE T. W. 0. C. AND THE SOUTH wages above the prevailing $6 and $8 tant delegation to the convention of level. They have forced concessions the U.T.W. held in New York City from the unwilling hands of Southern on August 16, 1934. mill owners and improved conditions This convention drew up a list of in many a mill village. These strug­ demands upon the nation's mill own­ gles, costly at times, because often ers. Chief among these were: poorly organized and frequently led 1. A 30-hour week; by inexperienced, timid or faithless 2. Minimum weekly wages of $13 leaders, have, nevertheless, demon­ for unskilled and proportional in­ strated to the mill owners the inher­ creases for workers of varying degrees ent fighting qualities of the Southern of skill; worker, letting them know, in a lan­ 3· Elimination of the stretch-out; guage that they could not fail to un­ 4· Reinstatement of workers fired derstand, that in their unconscionable for union activities; ·exploitation of these Southerners, 5· Recognition of the union; whom they once despised, there was a 6. Establishment of an arbitration definite and calculable limit. tribunal satisfactory to both sides to There has been a pronounced ten­ settle disputes, all decisions to be final. dency among some T.W.O.C. organ­ The convention instructed the izers down South to decry and under­ union officials to submit these de­ estimate these past struggles, to stress mands to all mill owners in every the negative side and to emphasize branch of the industry and, in case of the blacklisting and victimization of rejection, to call a national industrial the more militant workers whom the textile strike by September 1, 1934. mill owners characterize as "Reds," On August 24 the General Strike without recognizing the positive gains Committee rejected the Cotton Tex­ made through these demonstrations tile Board's attempt to forestall the of resistance to virtual serfdom. But it strike by mediation. The strike was is the strike of 1934 that is most often called on September 3· Workers in 22 held up as an example of the futility states answered the call and by Sep­ of strike 'action. It is for this reason tember 6, three days· later, it was re­ that I want to review briefly this im­ ported that over 475,000 textile work­ portant struggle. ers had walked out. Extreme terror was levelled against the workers, THE GENERAL TEXTILE STRIKE OF 1934 North and South, on the part of the Encouraged by the belief that Sec­ police, gun thugs, strikebreakers and tion 7a of the N .R.A. would protect state militia. More than 15,ooo troops them against the mill owners in exer­ were mobilized against the picket cising their right to organize, thou­ lines at an estimated cost of $37,ooo sands of Southern mill workers, a day. All the forces of the govern­ together with their Northern fellow­ ment and the employers were em­ workers, flocked into the United Tex­ ployed to call off the strike. tile Workers Union. Following the A Board of Inquiry was appointed big strike of 7o,ooo silk workers, the by President Roosevelt (the Winant Southern mill hands sent a big, mili- Board) on September 5· Two weeks THE COMMUNIST later they made public their findings. of action, cutting across craft, depart­ They urged the union to call off the mental, geographical, national, re­ strike; suggested to the mill owners ligious, race and sectional lines. At that the strikers be taken ·back with­ one blow, acting on the decisions of out discrimination; recommended the their convention for attainable de­ appointment of another textile labor mands designed to solve common relations board and a survey of the national grievances, they broke industry. Conservative U.T.W. lead­ through every scheme devised by the ers spoke of the strike as "a complete ruling class to keep labor divided and victory" and called off the strike on helpless. They fought against great September 22, 1934, although none of odds with supreme courage. They dis­ the basic demands had been granted. played flexibility and initiative, orig­ The mill owners, particularly in the inating the "flying squadron" method South, blacklisted unionists and of spreading the strike and consoli­ strikers. By October 19, 1934, a par­ dated their gains as they moved on to tial report to the U.T.W. showed dis­ fresh victories. crimination in 363 mills, involving The rank-and-file textile workers over 2 5,ooo workers. • are not responsible for the loss of There is no doubt that this strike the 1934 strike. At the very peak of was insufficiently prepared, inade­ their action, at the crest of their of­ quately staffed, poorly financed and fensive, the spectacular swiftness of directed by the General Strike Com­ which demoralized the mill owners' mittee. The mobilization of public forces, they were ordered by their gen­ opinion behind the strikers was to eral staff to abandon their positions, some extent neglected and organized break ranks and surrender. Of course, support from the. rest of the labor the mill owners' forces rallied, struck movement was lacking. The Commu­ the retreating workers left, right and nist Party's forces in the strikers' center. The retreat became a rout, the ranks were too weak to stem the re­ rout a panic. These splendid bat­ treat and we had little influence upon talions of labor, nearly half a million the leadership. The hasty and panicky strong, after 19 . days of continuous termination of the strike left no op­ victories all along the line, were left portunity to bring up those reserves helpless and defenseless before the which could have ensured at least a vicious blacklisting and victimization partial victory. But most inexcusable, of the Hower of their forces by the because in violation of correct strike cowardly and brutal bosses. strategy, was the demobilization of During the strike seventeen workers the strikers' ranks without obtaining were murdered by the militia, police any guarantees against victimization and gun thugs. Scores were injured by the employers and for the protec­ and thousands arrested. The T.W. tion of the union. O.C. now inherits the traditions of This strike demonstrated, however, these textile workers. The demands the mobility of the nation's textile of 1934 have yet to be realized and workers, their capacity for solidarity brought up to date on the basis of the • Labor Fact Book, Vol. Ill, pp. 81-82. increased earnings of the mills and THE T. W. 0. C. AND THE SOUTH 1033

the enormously increased cost of liv­ of willing hands and stout hearts. It ing. The T.W.O.C. must yet carry the is these natural leaders of the textile 1934 convention demands into life workers, from among the rank and and pledge that these seventeen heroes file that must be organized first. This of labor who died in 1934 shall not can be done by taking these selected have died in vain. workers into the confidence of the Communists are often charged with T.W.O.C. organizer, meeting with advocating strikes in season and out them, organizing them into local and and with being irresponsible strike mill committees, giving them a voice agitators. It must be pointed out here and a vote on questions of local policy that the responsibility for strikes rests and procedure. They will become vol­ squarely on the shoulders of the em­ untary organizers and form the nu­ ployers. Communists are opposed to cleus around which their fellow work­ "wild-cat"· strikes or any other undis­ ers will gather. They know the textile ciplined action on the part of the workers in their mills and in their unions or the workers, nor do we vicinity and. they know how to talk advocate strike struggles under any to them. This is how steel was organ­ and all circumstances. ized, from the inside, under the direc­ Earl Browder, General Secretary of tion of the S.W.O.C. leaders. This is the Communist Party, reporting to its how textile will be organized. Ninth Convention in June, 1936, said: THE WAGNER ACT NO SUBSTITUTE FOR ORGANIZATION "When American workers go on strike, it is not because Communists are stirring up trouble, but because in those places the forces The Wagner-Connery Labor Act is of big business are denying these workers the now the law of the land. It is imple­ right to organize and bargain collectively, mented by the National Labor Rela­ and denying it by force and violence..•• To tions Board. But the Wagner Act and strike is a weapon of last resort, to which the workers turn only when the capitalists the N.L.R.B., at its best, can only have blocked every other road of redre8s for protect the workers in their right to their grievances." • organize, determine ~he bargaining - agency through consent elections and The organization of the Southern prevent discrimination against union textile workers into the T.W.O.C. members during the process of organ­ will not be easy, nor can they be or­ ization. We cannot depend upon the ganized exclusively from the top. Wagner Act to organize the workers Certainly, they need and will accept nor can we expect the mill owners to the direction and advice of capable obey the law without mass pressure. and experienced organizers. But they When the mill owners find that must be shown how to organize them­ they cannot avoid recognizing the selves. Right inside the mills and in T.W.O.C. they will scream, "Reds, the mill villages there are thousands Communists and Moscow gold" at the • Earl Browder, Democracy or Fascism, top of their voices, echoed by their Workers Library Publishers, New York, 5 reactionary press, their A. F. of L. cents-Eft. stooges and their political henchmen 1034 THE COMMUNIST

-the Baileys, Byrds, Glasses and The T.W.O.C., therefore, should Coxes. direct its propaganda and publicity Fulminating against the Wagner to the farmers, Negro and white, for Act, the N.L.R.B. and the C.I.O., the textile workers live in rural com­ Representative Cox of Georgia cried munities and their immediate tradi­ out in the United States Congress: tions are closely associated with the land. John L. Lewis says: "This country will witness an uprising of its outraged citizens in protection of their "I believe the fundamental interests of industries, their business, their employment, labor and farmers are interlocked and that their homes! And that, Mr. Speaker, will be they should work together for common demo· civil war!" cratic and economic objectives."

Thus it is not the Communists who The C.I.O. and the T.W.O.C. are for force ahd violence, uprisings should also carry out a program of and civil war in opposition to the es­ dose collaboration with the middle tablished laws of the country and classes of town and country, especially against the Constitution but these re­ in the South. - actionaries of the Democratic Party In a statement of the Central Com­ who were sent to Congress by the mittee of the Communist Party, issued votes of the workers, the farmers and recently, it says: th~ common people and who, after "The Communists will work for all these they were elected on the New Deal ai:\:ns and policies as an inseparable part of program, unite with the open-shop the working class, of the C.I.O. and of the liberty-loving American people. . . . The Wall Street bosses, the "Economic members of the Communist Party everywhere Royalists," to bring, not democracy take the initiative in ... promoting the unity and peace to America, but civil war of labor with the farmers and small business · and fascism. and professional people in the whole struggle The organization of textile in the against reaction on the economic and polit­ ical fields." North will remain precarious until the South is organized. What is WINNING THE SOUTH FOR THE needed now is a general C.I.O. drive PEOPLE'S FRONT to organize every industry in the South. Nor can we afford to neglect The successful organization of the the farm workers. The organization of textile workers into a democratically the farm workers will bring about a controlled and powerful industrial higher wage level for all workers in textile workers' union under the all industries. The American Wool C.I.O. is not only an immediate neces­ and Cotton Reporter, a magazine sity for the mill workers and their published by the mill owners, says: families, but is of immense impor· tance to all workers and their middle­ "The South is always going to have low class allies in the struggle of the wages. The majority .of workers are agricul­ American people against fascism and tural workers and they set the day rate for agricultural wages; and industrial wages can­ reaction. The C.I.O. recognizes this not help but be governed by agricultural and therefore has thrown its great re­ wages." sources behind the T.W.O.C. drive THE T. W. 0. C. AND THE SOUTH 1035 which can· and will overcome all ob­ p.eorgia elected ten U. S. Congress­ stacles on the basis of its present ex­ men with only 52,833 votes! periences and the experiences of Or take the State of Alabama. The C.I.O. unions in other industries. United States Census of 1930 gives Textile is still the most important Alabama 1,348,041 citizens 21 years of industry in New England and the mill age and over, of whom 479,950 are workers comprise a decisive section of Negroes. But Alabama's total registra­ its population. But it is in the South­ tion of voters in 1932 was 325,oool I eastern states that a victorious T.W. Over one million citizens of Alabama, O.C. drive, resulting in the organiza­ alone, were thus disfranchised, almost tion of the workers in the textile in­ all of them unlawfully. dustry, will have the greatest eco­ The organization of Dixie's indus­ nomic and political consequences and trial and agricultural workers, and in will change the face of the South. the first place its 50o,ooo textile work­ A general and concerted C.I.O. ers, would change this situation. The drive to organize the Southern work­ almost unbelievable conditions where ers to obtain collective security, de­ a political clique in Georgia con­ cent working conditions and the trolled the election of ten Congress­ smashing of the wage differentials be­ men on the basis of 52,833 votes could tween the North and South would in­ be changed by the workers and farm­ evitably be coupled with political ac­ ers of Georgia almost overnight. The tion supported by middle-class lib­ rank-and-file voters of the Democratic erals, progressives and the Negro Party, mobilized by the trade unions, people to break the Southern reac­ progressive middle class and farmers' tionaries' grip on government, which organizations, could march into the is based upon disfranchisement, terror Democratic primaries in each of the and race hatred. · Southern states and nominate candi­ Hundreds of thousands of Ameri­ dates committed to a minimum pro­ can citizens, both Negro and white, gram of economic, social and political living below the Mason-Dixon Line rights for the common people, Negro ar~ deprived of the right to vote be­ and white. They could easily vote out cause of fake literacy tests,. poll taxes, of office the present reactionary Bour­ racial discrimination and terror in bons, the political representatives of violation of the Constitution of the the Wall Street bankers and monop­ United States. For example, Georgia oly capitalism. and Wisconsin having about the same These Southern reactionaries in population each have ten Congres­ Congress speak openly of a split in sional districts. In 1932 it took 1,044,­ the Democratic Party. It is entirely o69 votes in Wisconsin to elect ten feasible for Southern labor, organized Congressmen, whereas, in 1932, the into C.I.O. unions, in cooperation State of Georgia sent ten Representa­ with their fellow trade unionists in tives to Congress elected by 267,146 the A. F. of L. and their middle class votes. The vote of Wisconsin in the allies, to see to it that when Bailey, Congressional elections of 1934 was Byrd, Glass, George, Cox and Co. 639,546, while in the same year "take a walk" with AI Smith and the THE COMMUNIST

Raskobs, du Ponts, Sloans, Girdlers tor and the bearer of the old demo­ and Morgans, that they walk out cratic traditions of the South-the alone. It is entirely within the field of traditions of George Washington, practical politics for the workers, Patrick Henry, George Mason, Nat farmers and the city middle class-the Turner and Thomas Jefferson. As common people of the South-to take such, the Communist Party will re­ possession of the machinery of the quire all its members to increase their Democratic Party, in the. South, and efforts to give loyal and active support turn it into an agency for democracy to the C.I.O., the T.W.O.C. and its and progress. leaders, to take advantage of every Harry W. Odum, a patriotic South­ opportunity to build the unions erner. once described the South as: whether as rank-and-file union mem­ bers or as union organizers and to pre­ " • • . a region of farins, yet an importer of foods; potentially a garden spot, in reality a pare the political ground for the region of broken hearts and backs; abounding growth of the People's Front which in traditions of good living, actually often will prepare the way of the Southern lacking the means for a decent subsistence toiling masses out of bondage. level of life." This is the road which the South, And Mr. Odum cries out: together with the rest of our country, must travel-the road of mass struggle "Is the South to remain forever a poor for increasing democratic rights, the relation, a dark continent, an abode of pov­ road to socialism-in order to achieve erty, misery and lack of opportunity?" lasting peace, security, and progress The C.I.O. and the T.W.O.C. can for all. In the historic struggle, the and will answer this question by or­ American textile workers are destined ganizing the forces of labor. to play an important and decisive The Communist Party is the inheri- role. UNITE THE NEGRO PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE'S FRONT*

HE upward trend in recovery, in many other industries, Negroes are T which is already showing evi­ leaders in the unions of the C.I.O. dence of decline, was never very pro­ and are taking an active part in mili­ nounced as it affected the Negro tant struggles. Negro voters contrib­ people. A large section of the Negro uted to the organization of the pro­ people remain jobless; lay-offs on gressive forces in the elections of 1936 ·W.P.A. and cuts in the Relief Bureaus and helped to give a smashing blow hit the Negro population hard. They to reaction. are poorly housed and undernour­ Negro volunteers, together with ished. They are denied civil rights their white brothers and the Ethio­ and liberties, and manhood status. pian warriors, are making a splendid Their cultural outlook is blighted record in Spain against international and retarded. The forces of reaction fascism, fighting to preserve democ­ and fascism attack the Negroes with racy in the world and to shatter the especial vehemence. There are few hold of Italian fascism on the Ethio­ sections of the forces of reaction so pian people. autocratic, dictatorial and anti-Negro On the basis, and around the fol­ as the Supreme Court of the United lowing· issues affecting the Negro peo­ States. ple, the Communists must develop The favorable decisions of the Su­ struggles in the interests of the Negro preme Court in the Scottsboro and people and for democracy and prog­ Herndon cases were forced through ress in the United States: by the pressure of millions of work­ A. The lack of adequate housing, ers and progressive people in the and the prevalence of high rents un­ U.S. and the world. der Jim-Crow conditions. The militancy of the Negro people B. The rise in the cost of living; has been shown in the great steel the higher prices of inferior food and struggle. The Negro people have other commodities, particularly in the played a big role in the movement Negro ghettoes. to build a powerful labor orwmiza­ c. Inequalities, the denial of civil tion, centered in the C.I.O. In the rights: lynclfing; persecution, notably steel, as well as in the automobile and exemplified in the case of the Scotts­ tobacco industries in the South, and boro boys. D. The lack of security. Relief ap­ • Resolution adopted at the Plenum of the propriations are being drastically cut; Central Committee, C.P.U.S.A., June 17-20, 1937· lay-offs on W.P.A. are growing every 1037 THE COMMUNIST day in larger proportion among the lished between the membership and Negro population; special provisions leaders of the Communist Party and deny relief to agricultural workers the membership and leaders of the (Negroes) who refuse to accept low progressive organizations of the Negro wages in private employment, on people. The interest of carrying out farms and plantations, and as per­ our policy and of broadening the Na­ sonal servants; social security legisla­ tional Negro Congress movement re­ tion excludes domestic and farm quires systematic, sustained and fra­ labor, laundry, restaurant and hotel ternal collaboration with outstanding workers (categories which include Negro organizations, particularly the large numbers of Negroes.) National Association for the Advance­ E. Wage differentials. Wage-and­ ment of Colored People, the National hour legislation as now formulated Urban League, the National Colored permits the same type of differences Women's Federation, and similar or­ in wages for Negroes as was the case ganizations. under the old N.R.A. The broad progressive trade union F. The absence of farm tenancy · movement now being developed legislation. Southern farm labor feels around the C.I.O. offers increasingly the heavy blows of insufficient and in favorable opportunity to the Negro many cases of complete lack of farm people to improve their economic tenancy legislation. conditions. The involving of Negro G. Retarded cultural development. workers in the economic struggles of The advancement of the cultural life the trade unions on strike commit­ of the Negro people is retarded by tees, as organizers and in the leader­ attacks of reactionaries and their false ship of the trade union movement re­ inferiority doctrines. quires the closest attention of Com­ Around these basic issues of eco­ munists. All Negro workers, and all nomic and physical insecurity of the elements among the Negro people, Negro people tlie Communist Party must be rallied to the support of the must render assistance to, and take an C.I.O. There should be no neglect of active and leading part in building, the task of fighting for equal rights the United Negro People's Front. We and equal status for Negro workers in should aim (x) to unite the Negro the A. F. of L. and in the indepen­ people for full and equal rights, for dent trade unions. manhood status, and for cultural ad­ THE SOUTH vancement, and (2) to unite the Ne­ gro People's Front, as expressed in the The drive of the C.I.O. and the National Negro Congress and by the widespread progressive development fight that is constantly carried on by inside the Democratic Party in the various organizations of the Negro South have tremendous significance people, as a part of the People's Front and offer advantages for the Negro in the United States against reaction people. The C.I.O. leaders are giving and war, for democracy and peace. more attention to the need of appoint­ Both locally and nationally, the ing Negro organizers. They must warmest relations are to be estab- make still more firm and clear their UNITE THE NEGRO PEOPLE! 1039 determination to fight against dis­ movement in the South will raise the crimination both in the industries status of the Negro people and broad­ and in the unions. The Communists en the struggle for their national must help the C.I.O. leaders nation­ liberation. ally and locally, and impress upon "The Party will be equal to its them the need for extra vigilance in task" of building the People's Front combating racial prejudice, thereby and winning the Negro people for helping to win the confidence of Ne· support to it "only if it fights for the gro workers in unionization. equal status of the Negroes" (Dimi­ In view of the terrific super-exploi­ troff). We must fight against all dis­ tation of Negro workers-with wages crimination, against the exclusion of as low as ten cents per hour in the Negroes from industry, and against South-which works against the inter­ the attempts of the reactionaries .and ests of all workers, white as well as employers to stir up racial animosities black, special demands must be placed between Negro and white workers in the interests of Negroes, for the (in the auto, steel and other indus­ establishment of higher wages and tries). better conditions. Broad sections of the Negro people A powerful ferment is growing in can be won to the struggle for peace the Democratic Party in the South. and in support of the Spanish people The fight is sharpening between ele­ because the aggression of fascist Italy ments who support the progressive and of Nazi Germany in Spain is a measures of President Roosevelt continuation of the brutal assault up­ against the reactionary Bourbon land­ on the liberty of the Ethiopian people lords and capitalists who are uniting -an aggression which aims to destroy with Wall Street against relief and for democracy throughout the world. All low standards for the Southern work­ Negro organizations must be rallied ers and farmers, black and white. to the support of the Spanish people Progressives in the South realize and for our heroic Negro and white that they must have the support of volunteers now fighting for democ­ the Negro masses in the primaries, if racy in Spain. they are to upset the old political ma­ BUILDING THE PARTY chine and the reactionaries-such as Senators Glass and Byrd of Virginia The slow growth of the Party -and are beginning to fight for the among the Negro masses, in the face right of Negroes to vote. Progressives of the successful fight freeing Angelo in the trade unions and Southern Herndon, the partial victories in the white liberals are putting forth pro­ Scottsboro case and the general suc­ grams for the abolition of the poll tax cesses gained by our Party for equal system or for its modification, for rights and status for the Negro people, lightening the burden of the poor, is serious. This slow growth can be and for abolition of the fee-system, by attributed to: (1) insufficient sus­ means of which hundreds of thou­ tained activity and independent lead­ sands of Negro and white workers are ership by the Party in the day-to-day imprisoned annually. The progressive problems of the Negro people; (2) in-

• THE COMMUNIST sufficient mass education conducted Party members; our Negro leading among the Negro people and lack of personnel should give special atten­ systematic training and education of tion to recruitment for the Party and our Negro leading personnel; (3) in­ building the circulation of the Daily sufficient attention of leading Party Worker and Sunday Worker among committees of state and district organ­ the Negro masses. But concentration izations in those specific territories of the attention of the Negro Party where large masses of Negroes are to members upon this task does not les­ be found. Training schools should be sen the responsibility of the entire organized; Party organization should Party membership to render every as­ be strengthened in these centers; and sistance in Negro work, to win the special literature should be written. confidence of the Negro people, and A major task of winning Negro re­ thereby to gain their support for the cruits for the Communist Party rests People's Front against reaction, fas­ upon the shoulders of the Negro cism and war.

FORTHCOMING ARTICLES

W. Z. FosTER -·"THE C.I.O.-A REVIEW"

FREDERICK ENGELS- "THE BAKUNINISTS AT WORK" (Hitherto untranslated)

The publication of "A Year of Science and Society" by V. J. Jerome, announced for this issue, is unavoidably held over for the next issue. FOR A COMMON FRONT AGAINST THE WAR-MAKERS

BY EARL BROWDER

RIENDS AND COMRADES, your con­ Co:q:tmunist Parties of Canada and the F .vention of the Communist Party United States should fail to have the of Canada• meets at a moment when closest and most brotherly relations. the whole world stands at the cross­ By our close collaboration, which ex­ roads, pondering the most fateful de­ presses our full internationalism, we cisions. The horrible fumes of a new are at the same time continuing the world conflagration already hang over best traditions of our two nations. every home. Today, on the most vital questions A small minority of desperate in­ of war and peace, and the regroupings ternational bandits have been able, be­ taking place in our political life, there cause the great majority of peace­ is an essential similarity and close re­ loving people have been disunited lationship between us in the problems and retreating, to drag the whole we face and the solutions we must world again to the brink of the abyss. find. It is hardly possible that our At this moment, above all others, your two countries should part company Party has a most responsible role to now at the crossroads of history and play, above all in helping to create take opposing paths. and strengthen a common front Why is the whole world threatened against the war-makers. by war today? Why is it that no city This critical moment in world his­ can be sure that it may not be awak­ tory puts to the test a11 men, all lead­ ened any night by the' crash of bombs ers, all programs, all parties. It is dropped from the air? Why is it that upon this background that it is my three governments have been able to duty and pleasure to bring to you the terrorize the world? warmest fraternal greetings of the There is a direct succession of Communist Party of the United events, during the past six years, States and of the Executive Commit­ which inevitably created the present tee of the Communist International, situation. In 1931, the Japanese mili­ and to wish you the most fruitful tarists marched unannounced into deliberations. Manchuria, seized control of it by It would indeed be strange if the violence, and transformed it into a Japanese colony with a puppet gov­ • An address to the Eighth Dominion Con­ vention of the 'Communist Party of Canada ernment called Manchukuo. The at Toronto, October 8, 1937. whole world shuddered, the League THE COMMUNIST of Nations and the U.S.A. declared slogan of a war for Christianity un­ the act a violation of international dertook to destroy the Spanish Re­ law and of solemn treaties-but noth­ public. The democratic nations re­ ing was done. The great majority who sponded with the hypocritical farce wanted peace based upon ordered of the "non-intervention" policy, agreement could not themselves agree which blockaded Republican Spain upon any common action. while the fascist rebels were freely This helplessness and futility were supplied with men and munitions by not lost upon the other bandit Mussolini and Hitler-a positive help powers. Hitler tore up the Locarno to the bandits, in which, to our treaty, marched into the demilitarized shame, the U.S.A. also joined with its Rhineland, fortified it, and brought irrational "neutrality" law. Again the his gigantic war-machine directly to international bandits were told in ef­ the borders of ,France. Again nothing fect that they could freely roam the happened-the democracies were ter­ world with the torch of war. rified by the threat of war, retreated With such a complete breakdown before the aggression, bowed before of international law and morality, the accomplished fact. why should the Japanese not have as­ Mussolini, originator of fascist ban­ sumed that a "neutral" world would ditry, drew the next conclusion by also complacently witness their horri­ throwing an army of invasion into ble atrocities in China? The democra­ backward and helpless Ethiopia, tic nations had done everything possi­ member of the League of Nations. ble to encourage banditry! During all This time there were gestures of or­ this period, only one great power had ganized resistance; the League de­ stood out as an uncompromising nounced the aggression and declared fighter for peace, had never deserted economic sanctions against Italy. But Ethiopia, had stood firmly by the side just at the moment when sanctions of the Spanish Republic, had given could become effective, just when the practical aid to China. That power, U.S.A. was ready to declare it cooper­ the most reliable bulwark of peace, ation, the Tory ruling circles in was the land of socialism, the Soviet Britain torpedoed the ship of peace Union. by exploding upon the world the But six years of unresisted interna­ Hoare-Laval proposal, broke up and tional banditry, six years of constant scattered the peace front, and opened "scuttle and run" policy by the de­ the road to Addis Ababa for Musso­ mocracies of the West, had so clearly lini. Again the bandits were told in brought the whole world on the brink effect that the world was their free of disaster, that we now witness a hunting preserve, that the forces of great upheaval of the people, de­ peace were helpless before them. manding that a halt be called upon Then the bandits struck again, this the bandits. time into the heart of Europe; Mus­ This people's uprising began with solini and Hitler made their joint in· the movement to aid the Spanish vasion of Spain, with the help of Republic, which brought the flower Moorish mercenaries, and under the of democratic youth from the whole FOR A COMMON FRONT AGAINST WAR-MAKERS 1043

world into the Republican trenches glove with Hitler and Mussolini in in Spain, in the glorious International world affairs. They will move heaven Brigade, a:nd our own MacKenzie­ and earth to defeat the President and Papineau and Abraham Lincoln his policy. Battalions. Only the active support of the Now it has become a great storm masses of the people in the United of protest against Japanese banditry States, as well as in Canada and the in China, in which the whole labor other democratic countries of the movement in the English-speaking West, can overcome the resistance of countries is already mobilized in a the accomplices of fascism and carry "boycott Japanese goods" movement. this positive peace policy into effect. This upheaval of the peace-loving We have in the United States a peoples of the capitalist democracies group of pacifist societies who, in the found its strongest, most far-reaching name of peace, are counselling uncon­ voice in the great speech of President ditional surrender to the interna­ Roosevelt in Chicago. tional bandits. Whatever their mo­ In the past few years, we Commu­ tives, such pacifists have become no nists have been the sharpest critics of better than the conscious agents of President Roosevelt, even while we Hitler and Mussolini. The time has were his staunch supporters when he come to end the fascist menace to fought against the reactionaries for world peace. Everyone must line up progressive policies. Our criticism of on one side or the other. Whoever is the President has been especially opposed to collective action for peace sharp against what we considered his is an enemy of peace, an agent of the cowardly surrender to the reactionary international bandits. · neutrality policy. More than ever we are conscious All the more clearly, then, because that only a socialist reorganization of of our past criticism of President society can, once and for all, abolish Roosevelt's foreign policy, must we the causes of war and bring perma­ of the Communist Party declare our nent peace to the world. But the great full and complete support to the line majority of the people, in the United laid down in his Chicago speech. It is States and Canada especially, are not the only course which can save the yet ready for the fundamental solu­ world from a terrible catastrophe. tion of socialism. We have no illusions that the new But they do want peace; they are course charted by President Roosevelt ready to fight for peace; they have the will be easy to execute. Above all, we leadership for peace of the head of are conscious of the strong and bitter the most powerful capitalist nation, enemies who will oppose a positive President Roosevelt; they have the peace policy with all their power. People's Front in control of France, These reactionary forces own or con­ with a powerful will for peace; they trol most of the daily press of the see the iron battalions of the Spanish United States. They control many People's Army throwing back the in­ leading positions in the President's vaders from their land; they see the own party. They are working hand in great Chinese people uniting into a 1044 THE COMMUNIST solid front of heroic resistance to J ap­ They must be stopped. That is the anese invasion; they know above all task of all progressive humanity. To they have the complete support of the that task we dedicate our full great and powerful land of socialism, strength. the Soviet Union. Quarantine the fascist war-makers! Therefore, the masses know that it is possible to stop the war-makers now, Unite the peace-loving peoples for the determination to do that job is collective action! growing throughout the world. The Stamp out international banditry! fascist war-makers can be stopped. Preserve the world peace! FROM THE WORLD COMMUNIST PRESS

WE SHALL MEET THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF OCTOBER AS IT DESERVES Editorial from Pravda, Moscow, September 13, 1937

HE country is gathering a harvest ternational Youth Day, one million T of seven billion, and an endless young men and women participated. flow of collective farm and state farm Such are the splendid events of the grain is filling the Soviet warehouses. Soviet autumn of the year 1937, the Detachments of eastern and western militant autumn of the twentieth border guards are entering into com­ year of the socialist revolution in the petition for the right to perform the U.S.S.R. Stalinist watch on the day of the The approach of the great jubilee twentieth anniversary of the great of Soviet power is calling forth a Revolution. great tide· of patriotic sentiment in The People's Commissar of Heavy every honest citizen of our country. Industry, Comrade L. M. Kagano­ Each individual wantS to show his vitch, has appointed the well-known love for the fatherland, his devotion Donetz miner, Nikita Izotov-a stu­ to the Party of Lenin-Stalin and to the dent of the Industrial Academy-in­ Soviet government-especially now, in spector for the coal industry under the pre-holiday days-by shock work, the People's Commissar. The hero of by good fulfilment of his duties. our time, Alexei Stakhanov, has taken The Moscow Stakhanovites splen­ Izotov's place in the Industrial didly reflected the rising feelings of Academy. our workers when they proposed to The sugar industry season began begin the pre-October competition of much earlier than in previous years, the factories and workshops. The call and up to September 12, thirty-seven of the Moscovites found a thousand­ sugar factories have been started; at voiced response in the country. Not this time last year, only o~e was only the workers, but even the collec­ working. tive farmers, want to participate in The pilot Kokkinaki has made a this important competition. Yesterday new speed record; and the hero of the we published an appeal of three col­ Soviet Union, Gromov, with the con­ lective farmers of the Moscow District, sent of Comrade Stalin, has worked who issued a call to meet the great out a plan for the capture of all the anniversary with new successes in so­ international aviation records. cialist agriculture. Yesterday in Moscow, in the tradi­ There is no doubt that the collec­ tional demonstration in honor of In- tive farm villages will answer this call, 1045 THE COMMUNIST that the collective fanners will take This is cheating, and sometimes in­ an example from the workers. And tentional sabotage. the workers are already answering the The task of the leaders of economy Moscow Stakhanovites with action. In is correctly to organize labor and pro­ the Diesel motor department of the duction, so that each worker can util­ Chelyabinsk tractor plant, more than ize his mastery and show his art. We 100 new workers have begun to must remember that, despite the double their norms of work. The Stakhanov records , in a number of Magnitogorsk rolling-mill workers branches of industry there is still a have established an unprecedented rather large percentage of workers record-in 24 hours, they produced who have not fulfilled their norms. 5,406 tons of metal. On the Moscow­ According to information of the cen­ Kiev railroad; a. brigade of machinists tral office of people's economic ac­ ran a train at a speed exceeding 70 counting, in June, the norm of work kilometers an hour. There it is-the was not fulfilled: in the ferrous-metal speed of Bolshevik railroadmenl industry by 17.6 per cent of the piece­ Our country knows how to appre­ workers; in the cotton industry by ciate good work. Where there is a 55.2 per cent of the workers. Stakha­ high productivity, there we have also novite Donbas gave several norms a high pay. The account book in a So­ shift, but at the same time, 10 per viet factory becomes a sort of special cent of the machinists in general did kind of passport of an honest attitude not fulfil the norm. Do not these fig­ towards work. In the account book of ures show how quickly the mining of the Donetz miner, Peter Proskurin, coal increases, if the leaders of econ­ his pay for August is written down omy correctly organize the work of all as 3,185 rubles. Seventeen cutting ma­ the miners? Help to those lagging be­ chine workers in the city of Sergo re­ hind in the fulfilment of the norm ceived in that month from 1,200 to pulls them up to the level of the 3,ooo rubles in pay. Honor and glory shock-workers and Stakhanovitesl­ to these masters of socialist labor! such is one of the tasks of the pre­ Anyone can become a Stakhanovite, October competition. and for Stakhanovite work-Stakhano­ Competition lets loose the creative vite pay. initiative of the mass. It is not neces­ New records and new wages-a sary, under the guise of "leadership" splendid agitator for the raising of to dilute this initiative by formal and the productivity of labor. Thanks to bureaucratic inventions. It is known the pre-October competition, it, no that bureaucrats are capable of dis­ doubt, will increase, if the leaders of couraging the most excellent work. economy will carry through the work In the textile factory named Dzher­ in a Bolshevik manner. In some enter­ zhinsky in Leningrad, they are now prises excellent conditions have been trying to push this pre-holiday com­ provided for one or two records; but petition into the narrow fr.amework the whole mass of the workers, who of "inner-factory individual competi­ wish to become shock-workers and tion." The Party and trade union or­ Stakhanovites, have not been helped. ganizations must understand that we FROM THE WORLD COMMUNIST PRESS 1047

are speaking, not of individual com­ lective farms and state farms, partici­ petition; but of the organization of pate in the pre-October competition, mass socialist competitiOn, inspumg and let everyone of them come out the advanced and drawing in the in the October demonstration as laggers. victors! Three and a half months remain until the end of the year. The rail­ roadmen, food workers, the advanced FOR THE EXECUTION OF THE enterprises of heavy and light indus­ PEOPLE'S FRONT PROGRAM try, have all the possibilities of ful­ L'Humanite, Paris, Sept. 28, I937 filling the yearly plan ahead of time. But there are also branches that lag: FOR UNITY coal, oil, lumber, light industry, water transport. The People's Commissar EACTION is furious at the strength­ of Heavy Industry, Comrade L. M. R ening of unity in the People's Kaganovitch, is, with a firm hand, Front on the eve of the cantonal elec­ smashing the bureaucratic barriers on tions, which will prove once again the the road to a further advance of in­ desire of the French people to see the dustry; he is destroying the harmful application of the program adopted functionalism 1n management; he is through universal suffrage in the legis­ strengthening the leadership and the lative elections of 1936. enterprises with new people, devoted The Communists, Socialist~> and the to the Party of Lenin-Stalin and to the mass of workers belonging to the or­ Soviet government. Other economic ganizations of the People's Front wish people's commissariats also need or­ that no stone be left unturned in sur­ ganizational reconstruction, especially mounting all the obstacles in the path the People's Commissariat of Light of the complete carrying out of this Industry, whose former leadership the program, in the defense of bread, government has removed because it liberty and peace. could not cope with the tasks given it. The resolutions relative to unity, The leadership in the center-in of which we are publishing several the People's Commissariats-is being passages, testify to the common desire strengthened, the creative advance of both Communist and Socialist among the masses is great; there are workers to create as soon as possible all the necessary conditions for meet­ a single party. ing the holiday as it deserves to be If the propositions of the Commu­ met. nist Party have been adopted, we We will work in a Stakhanov man­ would have been about to realize ner! We will, as the Moscow Stakhano­ unity, and Socialists and Communists vites call upon us to do in their ap­ would now be meeting in common. peal, "keep our Soviet doors shut with This evening the Coordinating a strong lock against the enemies of Committee of the two parties is final­ the people," and we will no doubt ly meeting, after a regrettable inter­ take yet another fortress. ruption of several months in its work, Let all the factories and plants, col- and we hope that the meeting of the THE COMMUNIST committee of unification will be able THE DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE OF to -take place very soon. THE PEOPLE's FRONT OF TARN-ET­ The masses expect unity; we think GARONNE ASKS THAT MEASURES BE that their hopes should not be shat­ TAKEN AGAINST SEDITIOUS GROUPS tered. The bureau of the departmental committee of the People's Front of THE PEOPLE'S FRONT COMMITTEE OF Tarn-et-Garonne, meeting· September MONTCHANIN ASKS FOR THE EXECUTION u, 1937, thinks that, in view of the OF THE PROGRAM evident bankruptcy of non-interven­ tion in the Spanish events, the French Asks the government to return to government should persevere in the the rigid and integral application of course it followed at the time of the the program for which the people last conference of Nyon, and that con­ pronounced themselves on April 26 sequently the blockade of the Pyre­ and May 3· 1936. nees border should be lifted. Demands that the government vote Furthermore, it is very much dis­ for and immediately grant old age turbed by the events in our country, pensions. whose evident purpose is to divide the Asks for the adjustment of salaries French people at the moment when to the cost of living through a sliding it is more indispensable than ever to scale. unite them in order to face the cun­ Demands on the part of the govern­ ning attacks of the Two Hundred ment vigorous steps against those who Families, attacks which are taking cause the cost of living to rise. place on the economic front upon the For peace throughout the world. orders of Hitler, Mussolini and Considering non-intervention in Franco. Spain a crime against our Spanish Located in a region which shelters brothers, demands the reconsideration a good number of "emigres" from of the Spanish problem. Spain, the bureau o~ the. P~ople's Demands the effective disbanding Front Committee beheves tt Impor­ of the fascist leagues, their having re­ tant to carry on a serious investigation constructed themselves in the form of in order to ferret out the emulators a party and remaining as before a of Franco and Mussolini who swarm danger to democracy. in our region. Demands respect on the part of the This resolution bears the signature employers for collective contracts and of the representatives of the Radical, for union rights which must give full Socialist and Communist Parties. guarantees to worker delegates. Asks that the national committee, THE COORDINATING COMMITTEE OF in order to reinforce the cohesion of COMMUNISTS AND SOCIALISTS OF the People's Front, convoke very DROME AND THE DEFENSE quickly a national congress of local OF PEACE committees, the object of this congress being to discover ways and means of The coordinating committee asks applying the program in its entirety. the People's Front government: FROM THE WORLD COMMUNIST PRESS 1049

1. To regain its liberty of action THE SOCIALISTS AND COMMUNISTS OF and to . re"establish free commercial CLICHY WANT THE SINGLE PARTY relations with the Spanish Republic, AND INTERNATIONAL UNITY OF in conformity with international law. ACTION SOUGHT FOR SO LONG This will assure a supply of arms and BY THE COMMUNISTS munitions to the Republican armies. The Communists and Socialists of 2. To support the requests of the Spanish government at the League of Clichy promise to do everything to Nations. bring about, in the shortest space pos­ 3· To secure adequate representa­ sible, the single party of the working tion with the Spanish government by class, and asks the unification com­ sending an ambassador to Valencia. mittee to accelerate its efforts in this direction. THE COMMUNISTS AND SOCIALISTS OF Striving to work thus in the best DROME ASKS FOR UNITY interests of the immense majority of The Coordinating Committee of the French people, the Socialists and the Socialist Federation of Drome and Communists of Clichy, before the of the Communist region of Drome­ grave danger to which international Ardeche expresses its satisfaction at fascism is exposing world peace, ask the good relations between the two the three great Internationals (Social­ parties in the Drome Department. ist, Communist and Labor) to achieve, In order to draw closer the bonds in the shortest possible time, interna­ which unite the members of the two tional unity of action to oppose the parties, they ask the Socialist and forces of war by the invincible Communist sections to hold frequent strength of the world proletariat ac­ meetings of local coordinating com­ cording to the example of what we mittees to permit the coordination of accomplished in France in July, 1934. the efforts of both Socialists and Com­ munists in the defense of the people of Drome. It rejoices in the agreement shown by the Central Committee of the BUILD UNITY WHILE THERE Communist Party with the resolution IS STILL TIME on unity of the Socialist Congress of HARRY POLLITT'S MESSAGE Marseilles. TO THE LABOR PARTY It sees in this identity of views a CONFERENCE happy augur for the realization of the single party of the proletariat. Daily Worker, London, Oct. 4, I9J7 Therefore, it expresses its desire that the national unification commit­ HE Labor :Party Conference opens tee meet without delay in order to T at Bournemouth today, at a time study the question of that realization of unprecedented gravity in the inter­ with a view to strengthening the ac­ national situation. tion of the People's Front and for the There will be no doubt that the achievement of its program. agony and sacrifices of the Spanish THE COMMUNIST and Chinese peoples will find an echo cause 1t 1s not united under a com­ in the hearts of all the delegates. mon leadership, is not able as yet to Fascist aggression has started two enforce its demands. wars already. No longer are wars de­ The Labor Party Conference at clared. They begin, and when begun, Bournemouth can help to bring about the fascist method is to slaughter de­ unity and leadership among all the fenseless women and children first. working class and progressive forces A year ago at Edinburgh the Chair­ in Britain . •.. man of the Labor Party Conference The Tories are in high glee. They said: "We stand for democracy. We openly declare the Labor Opposition stand for peace." But since that time in Parliament to be weak and im­ both democracy and peace have been potent. savagely attackecl. They gloat over labor's stagnation A year ago the Edinburgh Confer­ in the by-elections and the fact that ence was deeply moved by the appeal 50 per cent of the people are not of the Spanish delegation. Since that voting. time Almeria and Guernica have They applaud the decision of the burned themselves into the conscious­ Labor Party Executive to strike off ness of all decent people. all unity resolutions from the confer­ And in these last days the horrors ence agenda. of Canton, Nanking, Shanghai, Cha­ They rejoice in the decision to ab­ pei, have roused the British people as stain from voting on the arms esti­ never before in our lifetime to an mates in Parliament and in the re­ understanding of what fascism means. armament decision of the Norwich But who knows where the fascists. T.U.C. will strike next? Will it be at Prague? And up and down the country they Will at be at Vienna? No one knows are using these decisions against the what new horrors for civilization have Labor Party, as they did in Spring­ been planned in the recent meeting of burn and will do at Islington, know­ the two fascist blackguards, Hitler ing that they strengthen the National and Mussolini. Government.... Never was the responsibility of British labor so heavy and so serious. When the unity campaign was The peoples of China and Spain are started in January, Transport House building living walls with their bodies circles scoffed at it: "Anybody could against fascism. The people of Ger­ hold mass demonstrations." But the many and Italy fight despite illegality Labor Crusade has proved that the and terror, against fascism. present leaders of the Labor Party But the power of the British peo­ cannot get a mass response to their ple, under the National Government, appeal. is being used not to second these ef­ Why is this? It is because the work­ forts, but to thwart them. ers and other democratic forces do not The mass resentment in this coun­ feel that the lead, policy, unifying and try against Japanese brutality in fighting spirit are present either in the China is largely spontaneous and, be- official policy or among the leaders. FROM THE WORLD COMMUNIST PRESS

The workers are in doubt. They see Morrison's public utterances on this no clear line. The progressive forces question do not always accord with waiting and anxious to rally to a his private statements. fighting policy against the National We believe that, as the leader of Government feel that labor at present Labor's Crusade, Mr. Morrison would is not presenting the real alternative do the movement a greater service by they need. trying to probe why the Crusade is This is why the government feels not the success he had hoped and strong; why its foreign policy worked for. He might also reflect why strengthens reaction and fascism; why he and Messrs. Attlee, Greenwood and 2,ooo,ooo unemployed men and wom­ Shinwell, while being profoundly dis­ en are forgotten; why food prices rise turbed at some aspects of Labor Party and wages lag behind; why the Public policy, for example on rearmament, Order Act is directed against the find themselves so powerless in fight­ working class and not Mosley; why ing the extreme reactionaries in the the Harworth fighters are in Lincoln Labor Party.... prison. We Communists believe the times This is why the bloody agony and are too serious for living in the past. sacrifice of Spain and China goes on. It is the present that matters, not for We Communists sincerely believe Communists, but the whole labor that the Bournemouth Conference movement and progressive people of can give a lead that would dispel the Britain. present political stagnation, that History will judge Mr. Morrison would inspire great victories in the and Mr. Pollitt, not by what they said November elections, revitalize the years ago, but by what they are doing whole labor and progressive move­ now, when death stalks Spain and ment, develop such power as could China and threatens the whole world. force changes in the policy of the Na­ Others in the Labor Party believe that tional Government now, and help unity may have to be established if prepare the way for its defeat at a events take a turn for the worse. . . . coming general election by returning Have we to wait until conditions a majority of labor and progressive get worse? Until death is rained from members to Parliament. the skies on the working class quarters But this can only be done on the of London, Newcastle, Sheffield, Glas­ basis of unity. Mr. Morrison, in gow? Forward, has an article attacking the We Communists say no! We hope Communists and the united front. It the Bournemouth Conference will is an article that is a rehash of the say no. old, childish arguments that have been heard hundreds of times and ex­ A united movement, sworn to un­ posed hundreds of times. It is an ar­ ceasing struggle against the National ticle not worthy of a man claiming Government, would not only ensure to be a responsible leader. Although the ultimate defeat of that govern­ it needs to be pointed out that Mr. ment; it would be ready to replace THE COMMUNIST

it with a government supported by a out that "political bankruptcy" and united working class and all the pro­ the passing of this group to the "meth­ gressive forces of the nation. ods of individual terror and murder Such a government would trans­ plots" were the "typical methods of form the whole international situ­ the uprooted and politically defeated ation and give a new hope and con­ counter-revolution." At that time, the fidence to the smaller democratic Reich Executive of the Brandler powers, now weighed down by the fas­ group reached the conclusion that: cist menace. · It would also advance unity in the "The verdict of the Soviet courts against the Trotskyite-Zinovievite conspirators was whole international labor and peace the only one possible in accordance with the movement, and would go far to make proceedings and the laws of the Soviet state. the world really s~fe for democracy. It was an act of justified defense against a In these fateful hours, when the counter-revolutionary plot." specter of fascism and war is haunt­ But in July, 1937, Brandler began. ing the peace-loving peoples of all to work together with the Trotskyite lands, may the Labor Party Confer­ "Funke" group and the Trotskyites ence, with unity as its watchword, set who had split off from the S.A.P. • an example of courage and resolution in joint action for the· Trotskyite that will ensure the democratic and P.O.U.M. leaders. Brandler's new al­ peace forces throughout the world, lies are the people whom he himself and lead the British people forward, has called counter-revolutionary, through the defense of progress, against whom the Soviet court handed peace and democracy, to the final vic­ down the only possible verdict. Bran­ tory of socialism. dler' s new allies are the people to whom Maslow was recently permitted to expound the following purely fas­ THE GERMAN TROTSKYITES cist theory in a recent joint discussion: AND THE GESTAPO "There are . situatiOns in which Russia's defeat is a defeat of Stalinism From Die Internationale, special and opens the way to a new revo­ number of 1937, organ of the Central lution." Committee of the Communist Party In the Spanish question, Brandler of Germany. has gone over completely to the posi­ BRANDLER LANDS WITH THE tion of criminal Trotskyism. In "ma­ TROTSKYITES terial'' issued by the Brandler organ­ ization on the Barcelona events, the FTER the Mosc

the Soviet Union too. On December elements for the service of the Ges­ 13, 1926, Clara Zetkin gave them and tapo, thus becoming a cowardly all other Trotskyite enemies of the So­ traitor to the working class. Some ele­ viet Union an answer that holds good ments of this sort, who were no longer for all time: bound up with the work of our Party and the revolutionary movement, "I believe that I can stake this old head of mine upon this: if Marx and Engels were have, in the course of time, allied still alive today, they would reject the ques· themselves with all kinds of degen­ tion: 'is socialism in a single country pos­ erate elements and have descended to sible?' by pointing with admiration to the assisting enemy fascist agents. It is not achievements of the Russian proletariat, to enough that such elements are thrown life and developments in the Soviet Union. They would say: 'here, in the labor, in the out of the Communist Party; it is struggle of millions, there stands before us necessary to purge the entire labor the proof of the possibility of socialism and movement of them. of socialist construction'." The comrades of the Social-Demo­ cratic Party of Germany ought to un­ PURGE THE LABOR MOVEMENT derstand that Trotskyism is a pro­ OF TROTSKYISM vocative menace to their party and It is no accident that all the de­ their youth organization as well. generate elements expelled from the When three members of the Paris or­ Communist Party go over to Trotsky­ ganization of the Young Socialist ism. There they find protection and Labor League openly champion the shelter, and willing allies in the strug­ position and the arguments of Trot­ gle against communism and the Soviet skyism, it proves that the Trotskyites · Union. The so-called "conciliators,'-' have wormed their way into this who no longer have anything in com­ youth organization. Tolerance of mon with the opposition of that name them would mean tolerating a chan­ within the Party, which was beaten nel from this organization · to agents in an inner-Party discussion in 1928- of fascism. 1929, have also followed this path. Though it is obvious that the Under the leadership of the adven­ Brandlerites are supporting the Trot­ turer and renegade Karl Volk, they skyite policy and are waging a strug­ have caused the arrest of a number gle against the Spanish People's Front of Party functionaries through their and against the German People's failure to observe the rules of under­ Front, a leading Social-Democrat in ground work in their efforts to pene­ Valencia endeavored to obtain there­ trate into the Party apparatus within lease of the Brandlerites Bolze and Germany, because they were con­ Brauning, arrested there. He told the nected with all sorts of rotten and governmental authorities there that Trotskyite elements. Heinz Neumann these two were adherents of a Com­ has also revealed his true character: munist group in Germany and that he degenerated completely in the last both of them enjoyed the reputation few years and, together with Rem­ of absolute reliability in the German mele and Schubert, placed himself at labor movement. In reality, however, the disposal of the Trotskyite-fascist both of them were expelled from the FROM THE WORLD COMMUNIST PRESS 1055

Communist Party of Germany as the Soviet Union. When the Neue Brandlerites years ago, which was Vorwcerts praises a Schlamm, who has known· to that leading Social-Demo­ become in this manner an accomplice crat. Why, then, does he deceive the of the Trotskyite murderers, it strikes Spanish authorities by declaring that a blow against the illegal fighters in they are adherents of a Communist Germany. group? Whoever supports enemies of Comrade Ernst Thaelmann taught the People's Front, either out of us: "A clear understanding that pro­ light-mindedness or because of group vocation and stool-pigeons are a com­ interests, injures ·the cause of the ponent of the bourgeoisie's system for common struggle against fascism. breaking up the revolutionary labor The Tukhachevsky trial showed movement, and that, as a result, the every sensible person that all of struggle against these agent-provoca­ Hitler's war policy speculated upon teurs must be a daily component of the support of Trotskyism and of the our revolutionary class struggle condemned generals allied with it, against capitalism." Today, peace can­ who wanted to stage a Bonapartist not be defended if the Trotskyite pro­ coup d'etat against the Soviet Union. vocateurs are tolerated. One cannot In many acute situations, war and fight against Gestapo spies successfully peace depend on whether fascism and in common (and let the people thinks it is certain of the support of of the "I.S.K." group, in particular, such provocateurs.:....provocateurs who, keep this in mind), if one comes for­ like Trotsky and Maslow, are endeav­ ward at the same time as a protector oring to bring about "Russia's defeat of the Trotskyite-Gestapo agents. One as a defeat of Stalinism" in a coming cannot defend Spain against fascist war. And therefore it is with poor intervention if one does not combat grace that the Neue V orwcerts glorifies Trotskyism at the same time. none other than Mr. Willie Schlamm Therefore, our conclusion must as the representative of the "new hu­ read: purge the labor movement and manism" in its campaign against the the whole anti-fascist movement of Soviet Union, for it has not been for­ Trotskyism! Break with Trotskyism gotten that this Mr. Schlamm, as edi­ and P.O.U.M. polities in the S.A.P.I tor of the Neue Weltbuehne, pub­ Whoever supports Trotskyism sup­ lished the articles in 1933 in which ports fascism, consciously or uncon­ Trotsky advocated the necessity of the sciously. Fascism cannot be defeated violent overthrow of the Soviet gov­ without the destruction of Trot­ ernment and of individual terror in skyism. BOOK REVIEWS

THE PERIOD OF WAR quotas for deliveries of agricultural products and grain. The peasants delivered all tlleir COMMUNISM surplus in tile form of quotas, retaining only tile quantity of grain strictly fixed. by the The Period of War Communism, by V. I. Lenin. International Publishers, New York. government for their own consumptiOn and 460 pp., $2. for sowing purposes. This policy of ~~ Communism was an expression of tile m1h­ tary and political alliance of the proletariat HE PERI 1J OF WAR COMMUNISM is die T and tile peasantry. eighth in • series of Lenin's selecte~ War Communism had its positive aspects, works to comp. · ·e twelve volumes. Th1s in that it guaranteed victory for the prole­ volume, appearing ':Jr tile first time in Eng· tariat. But Lenin pointed out that this lish, deals witll the L ~neral problems of the policy was not and could not be a. correct period of War Communism, tile policy of ·economic policy capable of meeting the the Communist Party toward tile peasants, economic demands of the proletariat under economic organization and administration, different conditions. The peasants received and the revision of the Party program. very little in return. That is why Lenin The compiled reports, speeches, and articles said: cover the period of 1918 to 1920. When mea· sured in terms of years, tllis period seems "We admit ourselves debtors of tile peas­ short; but tllese were not ordinary years. ant. We took grain from him in reu~rn for This was tile period when the young Soviet currency notes, we took it from h1m on credit. We must repay tllat debt, and ~e Republic was fighting for its life; combat· shall 1epay it when we have restored our m­ ting famine, disease and sabotage; fighting dustry." (P. 266.) on all fronts against invading White-Guard· This debt has certainly been repaid by tile ist and imperialist armies. When viewed in proletariat of tile U. S. S. R. The difference tllis light, each year contained tile essence of between town and country, between work­ many decades. ingmen and peasants is disappearing as tile War Communism, Lenin pointed out, was socialist system is advancing tllrough new only a temporary policy, called forth by tile victorious stages on the road to Communism. needs of war, under actual historic condi­ In The Period of War Communism we tions. The chief slogan of tile moment was see Lenin, the master dialectician, solving "Everything for victory, everytlling for tile tile most difficult probleniS, tile simple and war!" The realization of tllis slogan decided the complex; probleniS concerning indus­ tile existence of tile Soviet Republic. try, agriculture, famine, cooperatives, trade Industry was in a state of collapse, tllere unions, tile Red Army, and a host of inter­ was an acute shortage of fuel and raw ma­ national problems. terials; industrial and transport equipment Under his leadership, tile Bolshevists were was worn out; in tile cities tllere was a food able to defeat all tllose who saw things only shortage; while the best workers were at tile in detached forniS and derived their conclu­ front. In tllis situation, tile government con­ sions on tile basis of abstract formulas. When centrated all industry in the hands of tile people were subject to despair, Lenin was state, set food quotas, abolished free trade, firm. in order to combat profiteering. The princi­ pal task was to distribute properly supplies "We have gained a number of successes on hand and to insure that the workers and botll on the external, tile military front, and the Red Army had tile necessary supplies. on the domestic front, in the fight against tile exploiters, in tile fight against sabotage, To realize tllis, tile government introduced and in tile fight for tile arduous, painful, BOOK REVIEWS 1057

thorny, but true path of socialist construc­ "Concessions do not mean peace with tion. We are on the verge of a complete capitalism, ·but war on a new plane. The and decisive victory both in the Russian and war of guns and tanks is replaced by econo­ in the international arenas." (P. 24.) mic war. True, it too harbors new difficul­ ties and new dangers, but I am certain that When Lenin proposed the signing of the we shall overcome them." (P. 298.) Brest-Litovsk peace, he was accused of When the economic and military prob­ "opportunism." Among the group that could lems were intensified and became more press­ not understand how to take advantage of ing, the question of using bourgeois experts imperialist contradictions and fought Lenin, in military affairs and industry aroused a were Trotsky, Bukharin and other so-called great deal of discussion. Some saw in these "Lefts" who have since found themselves in experts only out-and-out saboteurs. Lenin the enemy camp. As regards opportunism, had another viewpoint, the viewpoint of the Lenin says: Party. He said:

"Opportunism means sacrificing funda­ "We have been steeled in the struggle, we mental interests in order to gain temporary have the forces and we are united, and we and partial advantages." must carry on our work of organization, making use of the knowledge and experi­ As regards the Brest-Litovsk peace, Lenin ence of the experts. This is an indispensable points out: condition, without which socialism cannot be built.. Socialism cannot tie built unless "At that time we did not sacrifice any fun­ advantage is taken of the heritage of capi­ damental interests. We sacrificed subsidiary talist culture. There is nothing communism interests and preserved the fundamental in­ can be built from except what has been left terests." (P. 281.) us by capitalism. "We must now build practically, and we Lenin saw at the time of Brest that there have to create a communist society with the were two gigantieally powerful groups of hands of our enemies." (Pp. 36·!17·) imperialist pirates: the German-Austrian Since the period Lenin refers to, under the group and the Anglo-Franco-American leadership of Stalin, the Bolsheviks have de­ group. They were engaged in a furious veloped tens of thousands of proletarian ex­ struggle which was to decide the immediate perts. future of the world, Lenin said: The Trotskyists have distorted the history of Bolshevism. They have even succeeded in "The fact that we were able to hold on, although from the military standpoint we misleading some well-meaning people to be­ were a nonentity possessing nothing and lieve that the struggle of the Soviet govern­ steadily sinking into the depths of chaos ment and the C.P.S.U. against wreckers, di­ economically, the fact that we were able to versionists, spies, etc., is a campaign on the hold on, this miracle, was entirely due to the fact that we took proper advantage of part of Stalin to destroy the "old Bolsheviks." the hostility between German and American A careful reading of The Period of War imperialism. We made a tremendous con­ Communism will convince all honest peo­ cession to German imperialism and by mak­ ple that, not only is such a conception false ing a concession to one imperialism we at once safeguarded ourselves against the per­ and slanderous, but that Zinoviev, Kamenev, secution of both imperialisms." (P. 280.) Rykov, Tomsky, Piatakov, Trotsky, Duk­ harin, et al, were time and time again in History has well confirmed the correctness the opposite camp fighting Lenin and the of Lenin's viewpoint. When the question of Party; that the degradation was not acciden­ giving concessions to foreign capital came up, tal. again the panic-mongers whined about the A group operating under the banner of "betrayal" of the revolution. What did "Democratic Centralism" fought Lenin and Lenin say? He stated that he was glad that opposed the proposals of individual respon­ among the rank and file of the population sibility and management in industry. In the there was a certain suspicion of concessions; trade union field, in spite of the pressing de­ for this meant that the people were vigi­ mands of the civil war, Rykov and Tomsky lant and wanted to safeguard the revolution. fought for collective authority, against deli- THE COMMUNIST

nite responsibility, and even succeeded for a lessly suppress the uprisings of the predatory short time in influencing the Communist minority of the people against the govern­ fraction in the trade unions against Lenin. ment of the toilers. There can be no middle course. Peace is out of the question: even if Trotsky flew to the other extreme and they have quarreled, the kulak can easily wanted to impose military forms upon the come to terms with the landlord, the Tsar, workers in industry in place of socialist and the priest, but with the working class forms of labor. The Soviet government dur­ never. "That is why we call the fight against the ing the civil war did organize labor armies; kulaks the last, decisive fight." (P. 130.) i.e., Red Army men were used in industry and in agriculture, subject to mobilization In the fight against the Central Commit­ for transfer to places of the greatest need at tee, the Right opportunists even began to a given time. These, however, were tempo­ deny that there was such a thing as a kulak. rary measures. The Soviet Republic was in Bukharin stated at one time during this constant danger of attack; if these armies struggle that what is termed a kulak in the were demobilized and sent home, it would Soviet Union may only be a poor or middle take months and years to remobilize them, farmer in another country. considering the state of transport at that The counter-revolutionary Trotskyites and time. Trotsky wanted to make these labor Bukharinites, although using different labels, armies permanent-a bureaucratic, dangerous and arriving through different approaches, distortion of socialism. meet on common ground. The Trotskyites We cannot in this inadequate review deal wanted to treat every middle peasant as a with the numerous questions in The Period kulak, as a foe, instead of a friend. They of War Communism, but there are a few showed a complete lack of faith in the prole­ problems that need emphasis. Among these tariat's ability to lead the middle peasants. is the question of the relation of the prole­ In the present period they viciously oppose tariat to the peasantry. Lenin shows that in the People's Front because it is an expression order to abolish classes the· people must first of the solidarity of all the toilers. overthrow the landlords and the capitalists. In speaking of the petty bourgeoisie, the He further states that this is only part of peasantry included, Lenin said: the task toward the realization of socialism. "The task of the proletariat in relation to "In order to solve the second and most this class-or to these social elements-is to difficult part of the problem, the proletariat, lead it and to strive to establish its influence after having defeated the bourgeoisie, must over it. The proletariat must lead the vacil­ unswervingly conduct its policy toward the lating and unstable." (P. u.) peasantry along the following fundamental lines: The proletariat must separate, demar­ Many pages in the book are devoted to the cate the peasant toiler from the peasant problem of the peasantry. Lenin sl:ated: owner, the peasant worker from the peasant huckster, the peasant who labors from the "We are theoretically agreed that the mid­ peasant who profiteers. dle peasant is not our enemy, that he re­ "In this demarcation lies the whole essence quires special treatment and that in his case of socialism." (P. g.) the situation will varv in accordance with nu­ Here it is well to observe that the opposi­ merous accessory fac'tors of the revolution." (P• 30.) tion of the Right opportunists led by Buk­ harin, which has now taken on the character Taking into consideration these factors, of counter-revolution, wrecking and assassi­ Lenin formulated the Communist position nation, was based upon an anti-Leninist ap­ in that period: proach to this question. In his struggle against Stalin and the Party, Bukharin de· "Close alliance and complete fusion with the poor peasants; concessions and agree­ veloped the "theory" that it is possible for mentli with the middle peasants; ruthless the kulak to grow peacefully into socialism. suppression of the kulaks, those blood­ Quite contrary was the position of Lenin. suckers, vampires, robbers of the people and profiteers, who have grown rich bn starva­ "The kulaks are rabid foes of the Soviet tion-such is the program of the class con­ government. Either the kulaks massacre vast scious worker. Such is the policy of the work­ numbers of workers, or the workers ruth- ing class." (Pp. 131-132.) BOOK REVIEWS 1059

It was this correct policy of, the Party in Democratic reformists. These ideas of Bu­ its relation to the peasants that made it kharin were in turn reflected by Lovestone in possible for the civil war to be won and the United States. that later, through the New Economic At the time of the Eighth Congress of the Policy, consolidated the alliance between the Russian Communist Party, Bukharin mini­ working class and the masses of middle pea­ mized the dangers of capitalism and capital­ sants and paved the way for the "great ist elements. In 1927 in his struggle against change" of 1929. On the basis of universal Stalin he defended the kulak. Lenin continu­ collectivization in agriculture, it was possible ously emphasized the danger of capitalist re­ to raise and carry through the slogan of vival and always pointed out, as did Com­ liquidating the kulaks as a class, to involve rade Stalin in his recent speech on "Master­ the middle peasants in this movement and ing Bolshevism," that the capitalist rem­ so to transform the relationship in the coun­ nants have international support by virtue of tryside that the collective farm peasant be­ the capitalist encirclement. came the main support of the proletariat. It In his report to the Eighth All-Russian was this correct approach that stimulated Congress of Soviets, December 22, 1920, and made possible socialist forms of produc­ Lenin stressed the following: tion in agriculture with the Soviet and col­ "As long as we live in a small-peasant lective farms predominating. country, there is a surer economic basis for capitalism in Russia than there is for com­ • • • munism. This must be borne in mind. Any­ In the struggle on revising the Party pro­ one who has carefully observed life in the countryside, as compared with life in the gram at the time of the Eighth Congress of towns, knows that we have not torn up the the Russian Communist Party, Bukharin and roots of capitalism and have not undermined a group under his leadership wanted to strike the foundation, the basis of the internal ene­ out from the program the analysis of capi­ my. The latter depends on small-scale pro­ duction, and there is only one way of un­ talism. Bukharin argued that inasmuch as dermining it, namely, to plate the economy we were now in the era of imperialism, we of the country, including agriculture, on a might as well be "practical" and limit the new technical basis, the technical basis of description to imperialism. This was more large-scale production. And it is only in elec­ than a mere difference of opinion. tricity that we have such a basis." (P. 277.) In this struggle for the correct Party pro­ Comrade Stalin, best co-worker and pupil gram, Lenin said: of Lenin, clearly understood these dangers, as well as the Leninist way of overcoming "I think it is theoretically wrong to strike out the old program, which describes the de­ them. Under his leadership socialism has velopment from commodity production to been established in the U.S.S.R. And the capitalism. There is nothing wrong in it. question very often raised. by Lenin, "Who That is the way it happened, and that is the will win?" has been definitely decided in fa­ way it is happening now; for commodity pro­ vor of socialism. duction gave birth to capitalism and the lat­ ter led to imperialism. This is the general In the capitalist countries, and even in the perspective of world history, and the funda­ Soviet Union, there was a misconception re­ mentals of socialism should not be forgot­ garding the whole idea of communism. Some ten." (Pp. 314-315.) people thought that War Communism was a And again Lenin points out: permanent policy and must remain un­ changed. When the New Economic Policy "If one holds the point of view that there was introduced, these same people consid­ is such a thing as integral imperialism with­ ered it an "abandonment of communism." out the old capitalism, the wish is father to the thought." (P. 338.) Such ideas and conceptions as history has demonstrated had nothing in common with This conception led Bukharin to his anti­ Marxism. Marxist, anti-Leninist theory about "organ­ Lenin knew the limits of War Commun­ ized capitalism," which attributed an exag­ ism, and was always looking ahead to the gerated strength to imperialism, echoing the development of real socialist forms. He was words of Hilferding and other Social- intensely concerned with promoting electrifi-

mysti- behind behind hiding hiding no no is is performance performance there there the the to to Here Here Union. Union. accustomed accustomed become become ple ple

Soviet Soviet the the of of peo­ atmosphere atmosphere which which under under invigorating invigorating system system a a the the to to apply apply we we name name

into into humanism humanism hypocritical hypocritical and and democracy democracy the the is is hand, hand, other other the the on on "Communism, "Communism,

counterfeit counterfeit a a of of atmosphere atmosphere oppressive oppressive this this

from from comes comes one, one, when when again again breathes breathes "One "One form. form. higher higher a a is is communism communism

while while

society, society,

new new the the of of form form first first the the is is it it

concludes: concludes: he he countries) countries) Western Western the the of of

that that capitalism, capitalism, of of out out directly directly grows grows

which which

governments governments the the mind mind in in has has clearly clearly wanger wanger

society society

the the is is

socialism socialism

that that out out

points points

He He

(Feucht· (Feucht· Spain Spain on on attack attack fascist fascist the the and and cism cism

(Ibid.) (Ibid.) fas­ against against declarations declarations vague vague and and hearted hearted

fact." fact." in in 'communist' 'communist' are are as as life life social social our our

half­ its its with with civilization" civilization" called called "We~tern "We~tern

in in

phenomena phenomena economic economic such such to to clusively, clusively,

is is what what of of air air foul" foul" and and "stale "stale the the breathing breathing

ex­ and and also also but but Party, Party, the the of of name name the the to to

After After Union. Union. Soviet Soviet the the of of enemies enemies den den only only not not 'communist,' 'communist,' word word the the apply apply to to rect rect

cor· cor· more more be be therefore therefore would would unpaid. unpaid. and and It It hid­ and and open open among among thunderbolt thunderbolt a a of of effect effect

scale, scale, wide wide

a a on on

organized organized

state, state,

the the

of of

need need

the the

had had

have have

must must

book book

his his

of of sentence sentence

final final

general general a a satisfy satisfy to to labor labor is is this this countryside; countryside;

The The enemies. enemies. new new some some made made has has wanger wanger

the the in in practiced practiced always always was was as as such such neighbor, neighbor,

Feucht­ abroad), abroad), income income his his of of him him rob rob to to a a to to rendered rendered help help not not is is This This good. good. lic lic

pub­ the the for for scale scale wide wide order order a a in in on on export export for for performed performed them them state, state, publishing publishing (while (while

or or government government any any by by unregulated unregulated persons, persons, books books his his burned burned who who Nazis, Nazis, the the to to addition addition

individual individual of of work work unpaid unpaid the the is, is, that that niks, niks,

In In added. added. have have might might author author the the New,'' New,'' and and

subbot· subbot· of of appearance appearance the the with with only only begin begin

Old Old Too, Too, Enemies Enemies My My for for "And "And book. book. ger's ger's features features 'Communist 'Communist system. system. economic economic our our

Feuchtwan­ Lion Lion in in of of sub-title sub-title communistic communistic the the reads reads nothing nothing still still is is there there "But "But

"My "My

Friends" Friends" My My for for Described Described Visit Visit

says: says: Lenin Lenin on, on, Later Later

pp., pp., $2. $2. z5z z5z York, York, New New Press, Press, Viking Viking

241.) 241.) (P. (P. forms." forms." of of variety variety

The The Feuchtwanger, Feuchtwanger, Lion Lion z937, z937, by by MOSCOW MOSCOW immense immense an an in in manifested manifested capitalism capitalism of of

resistance resistance stubborn stubborn the the of of

face face the the in in

system system

"YES" "YES" SAYS SAYS FEUCHTWANGER FEUCHTWANGER economic economic capitalist capitalist old old the the of of remolding remolding the the

is is it it that that production, production, large-scale large-scale in in laid laid ing ing

be­ are are socialism socialism of of foundations foundations the the which which

in in process process a a is is it it that that say say to to have have should should

we we is, is, Russia Russia Soviet Soviet in in system system economic economic

present present the the what what ask ask to to were were we we "If "If

CHILDS. CHILDS. MORRIS MORRIS said: said: he he 1919, 1919, 20, 20, December December

on on (Bolsheviks), (Bolsheviks), Party Party Communist Communist Russian Russian celebrating. celebrating. now now are are we we which which revolution, revolution,

the the of of Conference Conference City City Moscow Moscow the the to to report report proletarian proletarian the the of of anniversary anniversary twentieth twentieth this this

his his In In itself." itself." manifest manifest to to began began communistic communistic on on especially especially fact, fact, this this remember remember to to well well is is It It

something something that that phenomenon phenomenon small small tremely tremely Communism. Communism. War War of of period period the the of of struggles struggles

ex­ this this "in "in saw saw Lenin Lenin subbotniks, subbotniks, the the in in the the in in found found be be will will forms forms higher higher these these of of

But But established. established. already already is is system system munist munist foundations foundations The The Constitution. Constitution. Stalinist Stalinist new new

com­ the the that that impression impression falsi! falsi! a a give give to to not not the the in in expression expression finding finding already already being, being, into into

order order in in "communist," "communist," word word the the of of use use ous ous coming coming development development higher higher a a of of forms forms new new

promiscu­ the the against against warned warned always always Lenin Lenin with with disappearing, disappearing, are are classes classes of of remnants remnants

time. time. present present the the at at U.S.S.R. U.S.S.R. the the last last the the where where U.S.S.R., U.S.S.R., the the in in built built being being

in in Stakhanovism Stakhanovism of of movement movement the the to to only only now now society society the the for for basis basis the the of of analysis analysis tical tical

perhaps perhaps comparable comparable is is which which change change -a -a theore­ deep deep a a but but events, events, and and data data historical historical

importance" importance" historic historic of of change change a a of of ginning ginning actual actual of of record record a a only only not not see see therefore therefore

be­ "the "the this this considered considered Lenin Lenin country, country, the the we we Communism Communism War War of of Period Period The The In In

of of defense defense the the assist assist and and disruption disruption economic economic to. to.

combat combat to to labor labor volunteer volunteer of of method method a a as as referred referred often often Lenin Lenin and and Marx Marx that that munism munism

(Saturdays) (Saturdays) subbotniks subbotniks Communist Communist troduced troduced com­ of of form form higher higher the the not not was was Communism Communism

in­ 1919, 1919, May, May, in in Moscow, Moscow, in in Party Party munist munist War War that that reader reader the the to to clear clear be be will will It It

Com­ the the of of

organizations organizations lower lower the the When When

239.) 239.) (P. (P. phenomenon." phenomenon."

plans. plans. economic economic other other

general general the the becomes becomes good good common common the the for for

as as well well as as countryside, countryside, and and town town electrify electrify work work unpaid unpaid when when compulsion, compulsion, of of chinery chinery

ma­ specific specific to to any any plan plan the the without without initiate initiate duties duties to to public public helped helped of of he he and and cation, cation,

COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE THE 1060 1060 BOOK REVIEWS 1061 cal, meaningless slogans, but a sober ethicsthe problems with which the formation of prevails, really 'more geometrico constructa,' this new Socialist State confronts them." and this ethics alone determines the plan according to which the Union is being built Feuchtwanger touches upon something up. Thus they are building there by a new which will explain the attitude of many a method and are using completely new mate­ "disillusioned" intellectual. Some of these be- rial. But the time of experimentation lies far behind them. There are still everywhere de­ came "impartial" to the point of ignoring_ bris and dirty scaffolding, but already the his book. Others turned to slander. framework of the mighty building is rising Feuchtwanger mentions Andre Gide by up pure and clean-cut. It is a very Tower of name on but two occasions, in discussing Babel, but one which wants not to bring the Stakhanovism and the Soviet youth. With lit­ people nearer to the sky, but the sky nearer to the people. And the work has succeeded. tle effort he explodes the tales of Gide that They have not allowed their languages to Moscow people are "lazy" and that Soviet become entangled; they all understand one youth is "arrogant." Gide lamented that he another. "It does one good after all the compromise had been questioned by Soviet young people of the West to see an achievement such as as to whether there was a subway in Paris this, to which a man can say: Yes, yes, yes, and whether Soviet films were shown in with all his heart; and because it seemed un­ France. He was shocked by such "arrogance." grateful to keep this 'Yes' within me, I wrote this book." But the mere citing of this silly nagging is insufficient. The Moscow subway happens to Feuchtwanger says "Yes, yes, yes" with all bear the name of the Paris subway: Metro. his heart-three outstanding reasons for the Soviet newspapers have on numerous occa­ cold reception accorded to his book by the sions made comparisons between the Paris capitalist press as well as by "liberal" maga­ Metro and its Moscow namesake. The success zines, which gave so much prominence to the achieved by Soviet films abroad is a topic slanders of Andre Gide against the Soviet often encountered in the Soviet press. Small Union. wonder Feuchtwanger brushes aside the slan­ Here was a real test. A writer famed the der of Gide with so much ease. world over, having tasted the capitalist bless­ Gide was lavish in his praise while inside ings of Western Europe and America, writes the Soviet Union, only to turn slanderer out­ his sincerest opinion about the Soviet Union. side. Feuchtwanger, in the land, made ample Was it not reasonable to expect from pub­ use of the right of everybody in the Soviet lications proclaiming to be seeking nothing Union to criticize. He found an open ear but the truth to permit their readers to ac­ among the leaders of the government and the quaint themselves with this opinion, partic­ Party, including Stalin, who granted him an ularly after they had not lost a moment in interview. Feuchtwanger criticized. He was publicizing the Gide book against the Soviet not in agreement with ev.erything. He still Union as well as other attacks? Or, perhaps, it complains that the artists are "tied to the was not reasonable to expect. . . . state's apron strings." He grants that "the Some people hiding behind the label of Soviet Union is under the shadow of an im­ "impartiality" are mercilessly exposed in mediately imminent war." He exults in Feuchtwanger's book. Some of these people the building of a new Tower of Babel which have been particularly hit by the last chapter brings "the sky nearer to the people." A new of the book dealing with the "disappoint­ society is being built. Still, he does not see ment" of certain intellectuals in the Soviet that the artist must enlist his art in this lofty Union. Feuchtwanger declares: task, must help defend this young new so­ ciety. Feuchtwanger does not yet see the "For many this disappointment was cer­ freedom in the artist's self-integration with tainly honest. N~theless, there are also in­ tellectuals to whom it was welcome. The vio­ the fashioning of the new world. Feuchtwan­ lence with which these people reacted to the ger has not outlived everything. But he has trials undoubtedly springs from some inner­ found that when people in the Soviet Union most part of their being impervious to the say "Stalin," "they have in the back of theil dictates of reason. It springs from the uneasi­ ness which the mere existence of the Soviet minds increasing prosperity and increasing Union causes them, from uneasiness about culture." He has become convinced that

question, question, &omething &omething which which people people of of the the onymous, onymous, actually, actually, with with those those countries countries where where

rule, rule, the the solution solution of of the the national national and and racial racial Union Union the the very very opposite opposite of of democracy, democracy, syn­

book book to to this this glorious glorious achievement achievement of of workers' workers' this this reason, reason, such such people people consider consider the the Soviet Soviet

he he could could not not fail fail to to give give prominence prominence in in his his and and alarming" alarming" the the essence essence of of democracy. democracy. For For

from from the the barbaric barbaric racial racial "theories" "theories" of of Nazism, Nazism, are are people people who who consider consider "carping, "carping, whining whining

vigorating vigorating country. country. Having Having himself himself suffered suffered production." production." Feuchtwanger Feuchtwanger knows knows that that there there

Soviet Soviet Union, Union, the the real real democracy democracy of of that that in­ individuals individuals are are in in possession possession of of the the means means of of

the the solution solution of of the the national national problem problem in in the the actual actual fact fact that that there there the the people people and and not not

In In special special chapters chapters Feuchtwanger Feuchtwanger praises praises toward toward socialist socialist democracy," democracy," that that "it "it is is an an

romaniac, romaniac, Trotsky. Trotsky. Soviet Soviet Union Union has has "gone "gone far far along along the the path path

characterizations characterizations of of this this arch-bandit arch-bandit and and py­ chapter chapter on on democracy democracy he he proves proves that that the the

Feuchtwanger's Feuchtwanger's book book abounds abounds with with apt apt rise rise of of culture culture in in the the Soviet Soviet Union. Union. In In the the

He He depicts depicts the the "Hunger "Hunger for for Reading," Reading," the the

ment ment with with the the fascists." fascists."

the the

upbuilding upbuilding

of of

the the

country country generally. generally. hood hood of of Trotsky's Trotsky's having having come come to to an an arrange­

onies, onies, and and of of their their active· active· participation participation in in "This "This is is Trotsky's Trotsky's opinion opinion on on the the likeli­

national national culture, culture, of of their their agricultural agricultural col­

heard heard at at the the Radek Radek trial trial he he concludes: concludes:

Jews Jews under under the the Soviets, Soviets, of of their their flourishing flourishing

light light of of recent recent events events and and of of what what he he saw saw and and

tion." tion." He He tells tells of of the the achievements achievements of of the the

vention vention against against the the Soviet Soviet Union-and, Union-and, in in the the

atious, atious, and and apparently apparently insoluble insoluble Jewish Jewish ques­

contemplated contemplated "opportunity"-war "opportunity"-war

and and inter­

exulted exulted in in the the solution solution of of "the "the ancient, ancient, vex­

Feuchtwanger Feuchtwanger

pondered pondered

over over Trotsky's Trotsky's

aganda aganda in in countries countries outside outside of of Germany, Germany,

to to smile," smile," Ludwig Ludwig

adds. adds.

also also come come in in contact contact with with anti-Semitic anti-Semitic prop­

At At this this

point point

"even "even

Madame Madame Trotsky Trotsky has has as as progressive progressive writer writer and and as as Jew, Jew, having having

Feuchtwanger, Feuchtwanger, hounded hounded by by the the Nazis Nazis both both

TRoTSKY: TRoTSKY: "Ah, "Ah, ways ways could could be be found." found."

when when it it visited visited their their Great Great Theatre." Theatre."

Then, Then, the the

answer answer

came. came.

theatre theatre goers, goers, received received the the Georgian Georgian opera opera

stating, stating, there there was was "a "a pause pause of of contempt." contempt." of of Moscow, Moscow, although although thoroughly thoroughly spoilt spoilt as as

nessed nessed the the enthusiasm enthusiasm with with which which the the people people Here, Here, Feuchtwanger Feuchtwanger quotes quotes Ludwig Ludwig as as

and and theatres theatres of of a a high high standard. standard. I I have have wit­

you you out out when when the the others others want want to to let let you you in?" in?" national national traditions, traditions, and and national national opera opera houses houses

LuDWIG: LuDWIG: "But "But they they are are least least likely likely to to let let founded, founded, institutes institutes for for the the scientific scientific study study of of

the the government government would would act act as as a a stimulus." stimulus." bet. bet. Everywhere Everywhere national national museums museums have have been been

European European intervention, intervention, when when the the weakness weakness of of word word have have been been given given writing writing and and an an alpha­

sented sented from from outside-perhaps outside-perhaps a a war war or or a a new new Nations which which Nations hitherto hitherto knew knew only only the the spoken spoken

TROTSKY: TROTSKY: "When "When an an opportunity opportunity is is pre­ tered, tered, language, language, art, art, folklore folklore of of every every kind. kind.

gether?" gether?" ities ities of of the the autonomous autonomous republics republics are are fos­

LuDWIG: LuDWIG: "And "And sence. sence. when when Affectionately Affectionately could could it it come come the the to­ national national peculiar­

national national in in expression, expression, international international in in es­

"scattered "scattered and and therefore therefore many many languages languages difficult difficult to to of of estimate." estimate." the the Union Union in in many many forms, forms,

reality. reality. The The same same Socialism Socialism is is rendered rendered by by Trotsky Trotsky stated stated that that his his own own followers followers were were

substance,' substance,' has has today today been been translated translated into into

on on the the Isle Isle of of 'Prinkipo, 'Prinkipo, near near Istanbul. Istanbul.

mula, mula, 'national 'national in in form, form, international international in in

following following conversation conversation he he had had with with Trotsky Trotsky of of international international socialism socialism ...... Stalin's Stalin's for­

written written as as early early as as 1931, 1931, Ludwig Ludwig reports reports the the the the patriotism patriotism of of many many peoples peoples for for the the ends ends

gist, gist, has has worked worked the the miracle miracle of of mobilizing mobilizing rangements rangements with with the the fascists." fascists." In In this this book, book,

" " ...... Stalin, Stalin, the the great great practical practical psycholo­

book book to to prove prove Gifts Gifts "Trotsky's "Trotsky's from from Life Life ar­

Feuchtwanger Feuchtwanger quotes quotes from from Emil Emil Ludwig's Ludwig's He He writes: writes:

the the crimes crimes of of which which they they were were convicted. convicted. and and racial racial question question was was put put into into practice. practice.

Radek Radek and and his his co-defendants co-defendants were were guilty guilty of of the the Leninist-Stalinist Leninist-Stalinist theory theory of of the the national national

There There is is no no question question in in his his mind mind but but that that Feuchtwanger Feuchtwanger had had the the occasion occasion to to see see how how

Trotsky Trotsky has has become become the the ally ally of of fascism. fascism. means means of of production production remains remains unsolved." unsolved."

the the trial trial of of Radek, Radek, Piatakov, Piatakov, et et a!, a!, that that long long as as the the question question of of the the ownership ownership of of the the

come come further further convinced convinced liberty liberty and and from from equality equality what what he he is is saw saw self-deception self-deception at at ...... so so

the the people's people's language." language." rectness rectness of of Feuchtwanger Feuchtwanger Lenin's Lenin's formula formula has has be­ that that "all "all talk talk of of

countries, countries, he he became became any any other other convinced convinced of of the the I I know, know, cor­ that that he he speaks speaks state~man state~man

the the democracy democracy of of "of "of Weimar Weimar him him it it and and can can of of be be the the said, said, Western Western more more truly truly than than of of

Gide Gide type type so so lightly lightly pass pass by. by. Having Having tasted tasted "Stalin "Stalin is is flesh flesh of of the the people's people's flesh" flesh" and and that that

THE THE COMMUNIST COMMUNIST BOOK REVIEWS democracy is really crushed. "Their blindness This is attested by Moscow I9J7· Lion is to be pitied," Feuchtwanger states. And he Feuchtwanger's ivory tower was smashed by proves why. the onslaught of Nazi barbarism, compelling There are many elements in the short book him to turn publicist in order to shout his by Lion Feuchtwanger which make it im­ wholehearted "Yes, yes, yes" into the world. perative reading for anybody really desiring One gets the impression that certain intel­ to know the truth about the Soviet Union. lectuals pretend to be shocked by this "de­ It constitutes required reading material par­ sertion" of the ivory tower. However, since ticularly for intellectuals, for writers. One is those very intellectuals acted differently with reminded of the words of Comrade Earl regard to Gide and others like Gide, one has Browder, in his speech before the Second ground for suspicion that they are really dis­ Congress of American Writers: turbed by what Feuchtwanger has told them. Whether Feuchtwanger himself has bidden "Writers can stand aside from the struggles farewall to the ivory tower forever will have that are rending the world only at the price to be seen. His book is an excellent beginning of removing themselves from _the life of the along the wad of struggle against reaction, people, the source of all strength in their art, and of becoming, even if unwittingly, apolo­ against fascism and war. One may hope that, gists for reaction. They can join the camp of inspired by what he saw in the Soviet Union, reaction only by completely . abandoning all invigorated by the air of socialism, having honesty and decency, not to speak of the professional stultification of all writers who realized the necessity of forbidding in the join the goosestep parade of fascism which Soviet Union "the agitation in support of the celebrates its victory by burning books. Writ­ principle that twice two is five," he will cast ers cannot contribute anything to literature off his ivory tower doubts as to the role of today except in the service of the people, against reaction, fascism and war. The ivory the writer in this struggle by enlisting in tower has been irretrievably shattered by the that struggle with an equally wholehearted bombs of Hitler and Mussolini." "Yes, yes, }es." PAUL NOVICK. RECENT BOOKS ACKNOWLEDGED

BOOKS The Road to Power. J. Stalin. Inter~ national Publishers, New York. 5 From the Bourgeois to the Proletarian cents. Revolution. V. I. Lenin. Interna­ .tional Publishers, New York. 66o The Road to Liberation for the Negro PP· $2.00. People. By sixteen Negro leaders. Workers Library Publishers, New The October Revolution. J. Stalin. York. 1 cent. International Publishers, New York. 168 pp. $1.oo. Red· Baiting: Enemy of Labor. Louis Budenz. Workers Library Pub­ Engels on Capital. International lishers, New York. 3 cents. Publishers, New York. 147 pp. American Democracy vs. the Spanish $1 ..25· Hierachy. Spanish Information Bureau, New York. 5 cents. PAMPHLETS Life and Labor in the Soviet Union. Robert W. Dunn and George Wal­ Manual of Industrial Unionism. lace. International Publishers, New William Z. Foster. New Edition. York. 5 cents. Workers Library Publishers. 10 cents. Socialism Marches On in the Soviet Union. James B. Turner. Interna­ Railroad Workers, Forward! William tional Publishers, New York. 5 Z. Foster. Workers Library Pub­ cents. lishers, New York. 10 cents. A Confession of Faith: We State Our China and the U. S. A. Earl Browder. Case to the Legislative Committee. Workers Library Publishers, New Communist Party of Massachusetts. York. 1 cent. .2 cents. On the Eve of October. V. I. Lenin. Vote Labor and Communist. Com­ International Publishers, New York. munist Party, .. ew York State. 1 5 cents. cent. Read MOTe About MARXISM·LERIRISM iD H'Dlldredt of Books Pamphlets, Magazines for Sale at These Book­ atoreo and Literature Distribution Centen

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