John L. Lewis TELLS HIS PROGRAM THE MILITANT Formerly the SOCIALIST APPEAL — See page 3 — Official Weekly Organ of the Socialist Workers Party

VOL. V—No. 19 NEW YORK, N. Y. SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1941 c^^^^>267 FIVE (5) CENTS UNDECLARED WAR ABOUT TO START Newark Workers Police Guards On Against Jim Crow In War Industries May Day Didn't FDR Spokesmen Vote This W eek Stop This Casualty Commit Us To It LaGuardia’s police on May Day carried out their tradi­ Militant Negro and White Unionists Should tional publicity stunt of post­ Stifling All Debate On Convoy Issue, ing “guards” at St. Patricks Vote For Breitman and Bill Bohannan Cathedral, and the Cathedral They Move Without Consent Of The Masses of St. John the Divine in New York. But the churches were George Breitman, candidate in danger on May Day only The climax to weeks of careful build-up in favor of convoys of the Socialist Workers Party from the bankers—in Seattle came Tuesday night, when Secretary of War Stimson radioed a call for City Commissioner in the one of the largest Episcopal no-t merely for convoys but for sending the U.S. Navy into battle Newark election May 13, an­ Churches on the Pacific coast against the Axis powers. nounced this week that the was taken over on May Day And Stimson said this, the White House staff told reporters, S.W.P. has also endorsed W il­ by St. Louis bankers who fore­ with the knowledge and approval of President Roosevelt. liam E. Bohannan, the only closed on an overdue mortgage But not with the approval of. the people. And not even with the member of the CIO who is a of $266,316. The dispossessed approval of Congress! candidate and the only Negro congregation w ill be forced to candidate running on a labor hold services next Sunday on Stimson’s argument was that, “ after the overwhelming response platform. the lawn of, a city park. to his (Roosevelt’s) appeals which has been made”—that is, Con­ Bohannan, a (Vigorous fighter gressional and public approval of Roosevelt’s PREVIOUS steps— against all forms of Jim Crow- “shall we now flinch and permit these munitions to be sunk in the ism, has chosen as his slogan Atlantic Ocean?” “ Make Newark a 100% Union Town.” Bohannan feels that Members of the National Negro Congress, from Washington and Baltimore, picket the OPM Wliat is Stimson saying here? Roosevelt was this slogan best sums up the Draft Board immediate needs of all the work­ in Washington, D. C., in protest against the government’s support of the anti-Negro job discrim­ able to secure public backing for moves “ short of ination policy of the Glen L. Martin aircraft plant in Baltimore. The corporation has been receiv­ ers, both colored and white. war.” Now this consent to moves which were sup­ ing millions in war orders despite its refusal to hire colored workers. In addition Bohannan has posed to save the country from war is adduced by sponsored in his election the Calls Worker “ Bohannan Equal Bights Bills,” Stimson as consent for taking the country into war! which have already been en­ During these crucial weeks when Roosevelt and his henchmen dorsed by the Greater Newark For Striking WILLIAM BOHANNAN Stalin’s Move Reflects have been building up to the point of committing the country to total Industrial Union Council of the war, they have moved heaven and earth to prevent any debate on CIO. These bills would pledge convoys or other further steps into the war. the City Commission to refuse to buy or contract anything CIO Union Blasts The Nye and Tobey resolutions came up Wednesday, April 30, Crisis In Soviet Union in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. By a vote of 13 to 9, from any firms that discrimin­ ated against Negroes in their Union-Busting Move Roosevelt’s backers—a bi-partisan combination—would not even re­ employment policies and would Of Local Draft Body port the resolutions to the Senate unfavorably for that would have make punishable by a fine of Depth Of Internal Economic And Political Crisis, Weakening permitted debate. They bottled the resolutions up in the committee. from $500 to $2,500 the owners Why do they fear debate ? Their “opponents” for the most part of any restaurants, theaters or Soviet Defenses, Drives Stalin To Ever More Dictatorial Role (The following story is re­ agree with the interventionists on the principle of aid to Britain. other public places which were printed from the May 3 UE The debate between them is limited to what is best for American guilty of discrimination be­ NEWS, organ of the United By JOHN G. WRIGHT imperialism. No one in Congress speaks for the interests of the cause of race or color. Electrical, Radio & Machine Stalin’s “ right-hand man*” his “ closest comrade-in-arms,” American workers and farmers against the interests of American Bohannan has been endorsed by Workers Union (CIO).) Molotov, has been removed from the post of Chairman of Hull Tried To Stop imperialism. In this sense congressional debate would be little more a number of trade unions and People’s Commissars which he has occupied for ten years, since than a sham battle. Negro organizations and is being * * * December, 1930. Stalin himself has assumed this key post in the Publication Of Yet even such a debate cannot he permitted by Roosevelt. For backed by a Com m ittee o f 100 HARTFORD, Conn., April 28— Soviet government, his first public office in years- The only other the issue now is nakedly clear. Up to now he has deceived and be­ trade unionists of both the AFL Repeated union warnings that, the A.P. Convoy Story governmental post ever Iiekl by Stalin was that of People’s Com­ fuddled the people with “aid short of war,” his promises that no and CIO. d ra ft apparatus would be used as missar of Nationalities under Lenin. American boy would fight in foreign lands, his reassuring comment Drawing for places on the vot­ a strikebreaking agency to intro­ Why has Stalin taken such an unprecedented step? Last Saturday morning, that “convoys mean shooting and shooting means war.” But now he ing machines last week put Breit- duce forced labor in the United Reflected in the purge of Molotov and the assumption by May 3, the Associated Press proposes just that: convoys and shooting. States were borne out last week ■man on the top row, as number Stalin of the premiership is the intensification of the unpreced­ sent over its wires a brief dis­ A-6, while Bohannan drew A-8. when the local draft board of West ented international and internal crisis into which the Soviet patch that 23 American muni­ And even as distortedly reflected by an “ isola­ Hartford revoked the deferment There arc 30 candidates for the Union has been plunged by none tion ships had reached the of a striking UE member. tionist” Congressman, the case against Roosevelt five places on the City Commis­ other than Stalin himself. leadership, or raise the confidence Suez canal under U.S. Navy The victim of the intended ag­ sion. The international position of of the soldiers in his ability. The convoy. would be too damning: the lies by which he was re­ Breitman’s slogan on the ballot gression by the draft board is the Soviet Union is little short of very first tests under fire w ill re­ Before most evening papers Donald G. Olson, UE striker at elected, the lies by which he pushed the country step is “Let Labor Control The City catastrophic. Stalin’s latest man­ veal how all of Stalin’s measures went to press, the A.P. wires Commission.” GEORGE BREITMAN the Hanson-Whituey Machine euver is in part intended to make have served only to weaken the clanged with a special warning by step into war, the undemocratic means he em­ Corp. Molotov the scapegoat for the Red A rm y . to editors: . “MANDATORY The UE is striking there for a ployed to do so. Therefore? Therefore Roosevelt isolation of the USSR. Simultaneously with assuming K ILL .” The dispatch, the A.P. union contract and to force the prevents any debate! Among the Soviet masses, and his new post of Premier, Stalin explained, should not be print­ company to reinstate two members within the ranks of the bureauc­ delivered his first public speech This, then, is the “ war for democracy,” entered into without the fired for union activity. ed, because Secretary of State racy itself, there is growing in years—a forty minutes’ ad­ democratic w ill of the people. ON THE WAR FRONTS The local draft board wrote Hull didn’t want it printed. alarm as Hitler’s war machine dress to the graduates of Soviet Some papers, however, had — by GEORGE STERN , - Hanson: As deceitful as the methods employed to drag us into the war draws an ever tighter ring off m ilitary academies. The sum and “Information has come to this already gone to press, others is the asserted aim of the war, A “war jigainst fascism” is precise­ In the offices of the major “Perilously retarded.” Why steel along the Western front­ substance of this speech is a ignored the demand to kill the board that you are no longer ly what it is not. Roosevelt and Churchill, the capitalist rulers ol press assdeiations and news­ then the absence of any public iers. Hitler is now poised on the boast that the Red Army has story, and so it got out. But working for the Hanson-Whitney the British and American empires, have no quarrel with fascism, papers there sits a man whose uproar over this perilous situa­ Scandinavian peninsula within been completely reorganized and that first brief dispatch was M achine Co. as you are out on They lived amicably with Hitler for years. They practice racial seg­ tion? Every shavetail Con­ rearmed. The very fact that it job it is to add up all man­ strike . striking distance of Leningrad, not followed by another word has been necessary to subject the regation like he docs. The great masses of India and British Africa, hours being lost from the war gressman and Administration “The deferment granted you on and in the Soiith he threatens over the A.P. wires following Red Army to such “reorganiza­ the Negroes of the American South, etc., cannot be horrified by H it­ program by the succession of office boy has been calling for Jan. 11, 1941, by th is board, be­ not only Soviet shipping lanes up the story, either from its tion and rearming” constitutes a ler’s crimes—they are victims of the same crimes at the hands of strikes in which workers are action against strikers— action cause you were then engaged in through the Dardanelles but also original source—Vichy—from public admission of the inad­ American and British “democracy.” asking wage increases as a ranging from flogging to the National Defense work, is hereby the oil supply in the Caucasus. the Suez canal area, or any­ equacy of the Red Army. This is not a war against fascism. It is a war among the most cushion against rising prices. death penalty. Why have none rescinded, inasmuch as your sta­ where else. The administra­ RED ARMY WEAK W ith Knudsen, W illkie and all of these patriotic worthies tus has changed, and you are as Stalin fools nobody, least of all tion had its way thereafter. powerful ruling classes, the stake being domination of the world. The weakness of the Red Army the other spokesmen for the boss­ gone to bat against the big- of this date tentatively placed in Hitler, by his boasts of what has was revealed last year during We Trotskyists, like all class-eonscious workers es warning us about thirty-day money manufacturers who re­ Class 1 under the Selective Serv­ been achieved in the space of a the Finnish adventure. The real crises and ninety-day crises, they fuse to budge a dollar of their ice Act preparatory to being phys­ single year, especially by his everywhere want to see fascism destroyed root and source of the weakness of the even go so far as to calculate— own funds until the govern­ ically examined preparatory to in­ methods and under his regime. coal—has remained stationary or Red Army lies in the fatal bur­ branch, and are ready to fight fascism arms in hand. these little men in the newspaper ment. gives them ironclad, cash- duction into the army.” Under the best conditions, a year has declined in recent years des­ eaucratic regime. Stalin’s answer offices—that the losses in man­ on-the-line guarantees that Immediate and forceful protests is too- brief an interval for the pite the investment of colossal But this is not our war. On the contrary, if we become —he has no other—was to make hours as a result of these strikes when the “emergency” is over by the union have forced an in­ reorganization and reequipment sums for expansion. Soviet rail­ Voroshilov the scapegoat. Last pliant tools of the “ democratic” imperialists, we might even make the difference the government—i.e., the mass vestigation of the outrage by both of a vast modern army. No boast way and river transport which May, he removed Voroshilov, by would be hastening the advent of fascism in this between victory and defeat of the people via the road high­ state and national draft officials. of Stalin can holster up the collapsed under the burden of kicking him “upstairs,” and ap­ Consequently it was a matter way of taxation—w ill stand the The local wired Draft Director morale of the Red Army or in­ m ilitary requirements during the country. pointed a nonentity, Timoshenko, of no small interest to discover whole whack and the profits of Hershey: crease its fighting ability. Finnish invasion canncrt possibly as Commissar of W ar. The real war against fascism requires, first of all, that the im­ in the well-informed Washing­ the bosses safeguarded against withstand the strain of a major “We are informed that there In the year that has elapsed ECONOMIC HAVOC perialists he pushqd aside. ton column of Arthur Krock in tax inroads. w ar. is a widespread plan afoot, spon­ the Red Army has not been The defensive capacity of the the New York Times, that some During the past week or so the sored by the West Hartford draft strengthened but weakened, Soviet Union has been weakened BURDEN OF ARMAMENT The real war against fascism can he waged only of our big industrialists are financial pages of the newspapers board, to revoke deferment of above all through the introduc­ most gravely by the economic Further unbearable strain lias under the leadership of a Workers’ and Farmers’ holding up a cool billion dol­ have been filled with dizzy, as­ Hanson-Whitney workers,” the un­ tion of a new officer-caste from havoc created by the Stalinist been placed upon industry by the lars in war contracts. Why? tronomic figures- showing the ion wire said. “Request you in­ Government. General to corporal. regim e. need to divert 'more and more o' Because they are not yet sat­ profits of many big utilities and form West Hartford draft board This officer-caste has been in­ The country is in the grip of the national production into m ili­ Against a Workers’ and Farmers’ Government in the United isfied that the government will industrial concerns for the open­ this is misuse of Selective Serv­ vested with the power of life and the most serious economic dif­ tary channels. Although the So­ States, Hitler would stand revealed for what lie is-—agent of Ger­ build and GIVE them the in g q u a rte r o f 1941. These pro fits ice Act and w ill not be tolerated death over the rank and file. The ficulties since the termination of viet Union has not yet been suck­ man capitalism. Against a Workers’ and Farmers’ Government, the plants in which these contracts have been so enormous that the by national government.” new disciplinary statutes of the the Civil War and the introduc­ ed into the armed conflict, almost German soldiers—workers and peasants—would not fight. And all are to be executed. N. Y. Times financial editor felt State officials at first defended Red Arm y are the severest in the tion of the New Economic Policy 70 billions of the 1941 budget have the oppressed peoples of Asia and Africa, conceded their independ­ N. Y. Times, April 30: “Unless compelled on May 5 to state the action of the local board but world. But savage discipline can­ (the N E P ) in 1921. The T h ird been allotted for the requirements ence and freedom by us, would join the American workers to de­ the contracts involved are soon UE officials in Hartford today ex­ apologetically that these earn­ not increase an army’s fighting Five Year Plan has been disrupt­ of the Soviet armed forces. This put in the works,” he writes, “ the pressed tho belief that union ac­ stroy fascism. ings “appear to have set a peak morale, no more than investing ed since 1938. The Krem lin’s own amounts to not less than 40 per second stream of armament pro­ tion and an aroused public opin­ That is our road. That is the war in which we shall willingly an officer with the rank of a Gen­ figures show that production in cent of the total national produc- duction w ill be perilously retard­ which w ill not be matched in the ion w ill cause national draft au­ eral can increase his capacity for the key industries—iron, steel, (Continued on Page 5) fight and die. And in no other. ed.” d u ra tio n o f the ■war,'* thorities to revoke the action. 2 THE MILITANT MAY 10, 1941

WORKER’S PRODUCTION RISES MORE THAN HIS WAGE SWP May Day George Novack Meeting In N . Y. To Start Tour Hears Goldman President Tobin of the Inter­ employers the right “ to reject or NEW YORK CITY, May 2 — national Brotherhood of Team­ discharge any employe for any Barred by the Stalinists from par­ Speaks For Socialist' Workers Party In sters has named his assistant, just and sufficient cause.” ticipating in the May Day parade, John Gillespie, to- nil the post of If all labor were to accept such Local New York of the Socialist Cities Between Buffalo And Milwaukee international secretary-treasurer rotten “ model”contracts as that, Workers Party commemorated left by the late Thomas Hughes. the American union movement May Day with an evening mass Gillespie will receive a boost in would shortly be a thing of the George Novaclc, well-known program for labor’s fight today meeting at Irving Plaza hall. The salary from his present $20.600 past. writer and journalist, will make and points out the road workers hall was decorated with slogans to the annual wage of $30,000. a speaking tour under tlie auspices must follow, if they are to pro­ such as: “Down with Imperialist' * ❖ !S« of the Socialist Workers Party, tect their rights and gains, and W ar!” “For a Socialist Society!” * * * The Negro News Syndicate’s beginning Friday, May 16th at Sy­ to win the power, social security, “Defend the Soviet Union, Down, The Seattle AFL LABOR story on the anti-white revo­ racuse, and ending Monday, June freedom from want and war they with Stalin!” “Down w-ith Jim NEWS for April 18th carries a lution in Ethiopia has been car­ 1st at Milwaukee. are seeking. Crowism!” “ For Trade Union Con front-page box, “Beware of ried by several Negro papers The subject of Novack’s talk D A TE PLACE trol of Military Training!” Communists,’’ w a rnin g its in America. “To. a large ex­ Will be “Labor’s Struggle for M ay 16 Syracuse On a banner reaching en tirely readers that “communists were tent,” the NNS correspondent Power.” “ 17 Rochester across the hall facing the audi trying to hold a mass meeting writes, “ what has taken place In his talk, Novack will present “ 18 B uffalo ence, T ro ts k y ’s last message was at the Civic auditorium in an in Ethiopia is the substitution a graphic, panoramic picture of “ 20 Youngstowu N. Y. May Day Parade inscribed: “I am sure of the vie effort to bring pressure to bear of British rule for the former the most significant events in the 21 A kro n tory of the Fourth International’ in the cause of the dispute at Fascist domination. This is be­ life of American labor during the “ 22 Cleveland Go Forward!” Below this banner the Boeing plapt.” The Seattle ing done under the guise of in­ past 11 years. He will draw a bal­ “ 21 ' Toledo wall-high portraits of Lenin am' Central Council passed a reso­ stalling British ‘military and ance-sheet of the achievements of “ 25 D e tro it Trotsky were each flanked wit! Ruined By Lack O f Unity lution pledging “ every effort to political advisors’ in Addis the labor movement and set forth “ 27 F lin t red streamers. stop the renting of the Civic Ababa and elsewhere through­ the significance of the latest strike “ 29 Chicago Lawrence P. Turner, chairman Auditorium to a group of com­ out Ethiopia. wave. In conclusion, he outlines a ■lune 1 M ilw aukee gations were small. These march emphasized the historic impoftanc< W ar-Mongers Sabotage Day Of Labor; munists and their sympathiz­ “The vast majority of Haile ers not only had to expose them -1 of this 55th commemoration o’ ers, and to. make every effort Selassie’s subjects are equally selves as following the Stalinists, May Day which “might well br Stalinists, Pacifists Complete The Job to see th a t the proposed mass bitter and mistrustful of all but had to defy the ban issued the last one before the American meeting is not held in the Civic by their officialdom against workers are sent into the battle white invaders, be they Italian, Auditorium.” NEW YORK CITY, May 2—May Day activities were a marching in the parade. fields to die for Wall Street’s pro British, or any other. Ethiop­ dramatic reflection of the political situation in the labor move­ As usual there w.ere the in­ fits.” The “communists,” of course, ians remember and remember ment. numerable front groups of the Art Preis, associate editor o/ were a CIO group. Regardless only too well how much they Thanks to their war-mongering leadership, the unions which Communist Party masquerading The Militant, described the grea‘ of the merits of the fight be­ have lost and suffered under have for decades been the backbone of May Day parades— the in the parade as “ mass organiza­ strike wave which has just swep' tween the two groups, the various white overlords. Thus, Amalgamated Clothing Workers, the International Ladies Gar­ tions,” the Latvian organization, the country. “The unconquerab.h Seattle AFL is playing the having driven out the Italians, ment Workers, the M illinery Workers, the bakers, etc.— did not the Friends of Nature, and the power of the workers has agair bosses’ game when it tries to most of the intensely national­ celebrate May Day at all. 12 members of the American been revealed.” he declared. “ Beth prevent any worker’s meeting. istic Ethiopians are equally in­ The ostensible excuse given by Hillrnan and Dubinsky’s Artists, etc. etc. lehem, International Harvester * * ❖ tent on driving out the British, KEEPING UP Ford — these mighty victories o' and making the white rout are having printed a little sticker lieutenants for the failure to celebrate labor’s oldest holiday was The Communist Party, march­ The Goodrich Local of the THE GOOD WORK the workers just, prior to Mat complete... The size of this which w ill be attached to the front that the day has been appropriated by Communists and Nazis ing under its own banner, along United Rubber Workers will ST. PAUL, Minn.—"At its meet­ page, making an appeal for subs and could not be celebrated again Day 1941 hear an ill omen for British army in Ethiopia be­ Communist Party. It specifically with the Young Communist stage an elaborate ceremony dur­ ing last night, the branch set a and donations, to the workers we until the world wag once more America’s Sixty Families. ‘ Wher came apparent during the past barred the Socialist Workers League, centered its slogans ing which 2,600 members w ill re­ quota of ten subs per month, eith­ reach through our house-to-house free. (Incidentally, the N azis in this energy of the working clas*- two weeks, when additional Party when our delegate at­ around the demand to free Earl ceive five-year service pins, the er to the FI or The MILITANT, work ... May I suggest also that Berlin did not celebrate May Day is directed into political channels British forces were badly need­ tempted to participate in the Browder, whose imprisonment is pin signifying the member has to be guaranteed to the national the paper carry some such appeal, this year.) then the socialist society w ill bf ed in L ib ya to h a lt N a zi ad­ com m ittee. opposed by all class-conscious been in good standing fo r at, least office. We have already started directed primarily at those work­ on the order of the day.” vances there. The British did While the social-patriots—so­ w orkers. five years. checking up on those fifty cent ers who have been receiving the cialists in words, chauvinists in At its first meeting the com­ The main speaker of the even not dare leave Ethiopia, for The weakness of the parade * * * subs secured early in the cam­ paper at plant gates.’’ We’ll try to deeds—-were thus busy sabotag­ mittee limited the slogans for the ing, Albert Goldman, attorney for fear that once they departed forced the Stalinists to- narrow paign which are now expired. In carry out this suggestion, com­ ing May Day, the Stalinists were parade to1 the Stalinist pacifist Leon Trotsky, spoke on the fu The Technocrats are propos­ they would have no excuse to the line. In place of 12 abreast, addition we are finishing up our rades. Look for such an appeal in no less occupied in the same slogans, thereby providing the tility and danger of pacifism ing that the United States aid re-enter. Thus becomes clearer they marched 8 abreast and in contact list, many of whom were forthcom ing issues. wrecking work. social-patriots w ith an- additional among the workers Britain to the tune of 26 bil­ the picture of what the white not seen before the close of the pretext for not participating in many cases only 5 abreast and Comrade Goldman described thf lion dollars, and boast that this powers’ war actually means to MILITANT NO TRANSPORT WORKERS sub drive. For new people we are the parade. even 3. Despite this narrowing fierce attack on the part of the is “the greatest sum ever pro­ native Africans. The answer is GOES O VER The false policy pursued by the proposing to continue the fifty of the parade, it took only five social patriots and the Stalinists posed By an organization.” In always the same—further ex­ ST. LOUIS, Mo.—A subscrib­ Stalinists on the question of May PACIFIST TRIPE cent introductory sub . . . We hours to pass. Last year it took against, the Trotskyist proposals return, the Technocrats advo­ ploitation and economic slav­ er. H.R. writes, “Please renew Day was reflected by the fact The theme of the Stalinist found it extremely valuable to get seven and a half hours. that military training and offic cate that the United States ery.” my sub for one year. that the Stalinist-led parade did parade was “peace” and among people to take the paper and will, Although the Stalinists claimed ers’ schools for workers lie estab take the British possessions in * % * the typical slogans were: “No of course, try to follow it up with “The paper is great. It’s the not include in it the Transport 75,000 marchers, the police re­ lished at government expense but the North American continent. The executive board of the CIO regular subscriptions. We recog­ type wc dreamed of back in ’37.” Workers Union (CIO). The ab­ A.E.F.,” “No Convoys-,” “Keep ported 18,788 at the mid-point, under control of the trade unions The Technocrats aren’t the Marine & Shipbuilding Workers nize that the quota of ten that sence of the TWU will certainly our men out of war,” “Washing­ and 24.000 at the entrance to The following message was sent only organization rooting for Union has expelled the president we have set means regular sub­ not be blamed by the Stalinists ton and London—hands off Ire­ Union Square where the parade to Natalia Trotsky by the meet­ that program. I. P. Morgan and and business agent of the scriptions, not tliis introductory on the u n io n’s leadership! la n d /’ “ W b y don’t the bosses: ended. Those who have observed ing: “Mass meeting of Local New Wall Street are thinking along IUMSWA Local 131 at the Mary­ offer. What happened was that the fight their own wars?” “The previous parades agreed that this York of the Socialist Workers the same lines. land Drydock for “Communistic “Thank you for your letters of Harlem Stalinists concocted such a mon­ Yanks are not coming.” But year’s demonstration was less Party sends you warmest greet­ * * * activity.” These two expulsions commendation about St. Paul. W» olithic parade that, in the end, HOW the workers can fight their than two thirds the size of last ings. We are sure that today Housewarming way out of this bloody epoch of were the first made by the union think we're pretty good, too ...” it became impossible for the year’s. marks one of the last May Days The Seattle LABOR NEWS under its new policy of expelling Transport Workers Union to war and militarism to peace— before the definitive victory of the hails a no-strike agreement just MASS DISTRIBUTION any member “for propagating or To open ihc new headquart­ march, at a moment when, en­ that key question remained un­ world socialist revolution. Long negotiated between the Pacific And here’s another note from furthering the cause of Commun­ ers of the I larlern branch of gaged in a life-and-death battle answered by the pacifist slogans. live Trotskyism!” Coast Metal Trades Council and 6t. Paul, which arrived the fol­ ism, Nazism, and Fascism.” with LaGuardia, the union needs During the afternoop, those the shipbuilding industry. “ Sim­ lowing day: i he Socialist Workers Party. Lenin in the last war fought James P. Cannon the support of the whole labor the pacifists and denounced them comrades whose unions did not ilar contracts will be sought by This is an exceedingly reac­ “Six comrades went out from movement. march in the parade distributed the AFL Metal Trades on the tionary position. Apparently, thl door to door and in an hour and Dancing; Refreshments again and again as betrayers of Speaks In Mpls. literature to the marchers and \o Atlantic Coast, Gulf and Great international officials couldn’t gel THE STALINIST LINE the working class, since only re­ a half distributed ninety-five the bystanders. Approximately Lakes.” the local membership to go for That the May Day parade was volutionary methods could end MILITANTS and collected $3.57 Raffle 8.000 copies o f T H E M IL IT A N T Not only does the agreement it and had to do it over their a caricature, confined to Stalin- imperialist war. But there was On May Day for them. We stapled an attrac­ were passed out. nothing of Lenin in this parade outlaw strikes but it gives the heads. tive tag with a full notice of our FIRST PRIZE IN RAFFLE $5 ist-c o n t r o 11 e d organizations Twin City May Day meeting to marching under pacifist slogans of the Stalinists. Moscow, it is MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., May 2 clear, demanded a pacifist de­ each paper. Several people said that were indistinguishable in —American workers must draw SATURDAY monstration in New York, on May that they would like to come to the main from those of the re­ up war aims of their own in or­ o u r m eeting, and we found so actionary isolationists, was due Day under the leadership of the der to convince German workers M AY 10 Communist Party and his hire­ LaGuardia Looks Silly much interest in our party and in solely to the way in which the to unite with them and fulfill THE MILITANT that we are Stalinists initiated, organized and lings carried out the order, furn­ their historic destiny of creating 72 W est 125 St. N . Y . C. anxious to go out again.” put over their “United May Day ishing “75,000” marchers—so a socialist federation of the world, Committee.” they claimed—for Stalin’s needs James P. Cannon, national secre­ LOS ANGELES That committee extended no in­ of the moment. As Bus Strikers Win Bring: your friends! tary of the Socialist Worker's Par­ TECHNIQUE vitations to any political parties ty, declared here last night at a FEAR OUR POLICY LOS ANGELES, Calif. — “We of the working class except the May Day m eeting of 140 w orkers Undoubtedly, one of the reas­ Mayor La Guardia’s latest strikebreaking venture against on the Independent division of the at Socialist Workers Party hall, ons why the Stalinists barred the Transport Workers Union (CIO) blew up in bis face when city subway lines, who have al­ 919 Marquette. the Socialist Workers Party from the union won a three-day strike against Jamaica Buses, ln.c., ways been under civil service and the parade was because of- the “American labor should adopt which operates three lines of buses servicing about 40,000 riders have never had a union contract, Trotskyist proposals that among a program which will tell the daily in the Queens area of New York City. are now receiving a $t a day less the official slogans be listed de­ German worker that it is opposed Wage increases ranging from 10 to 18 per cent were granted pay than the union men doing mands for m ilitary training and to imposition of a Versailles May 1 to the 131 striking drivers and mechanics. Bus drivers the same work on the BMT and officers schools for wmkjrs at peace, with dismemberment of are getting weekly increases of $3.50. and garage workers and IR T lines. government expense but uhder Germany and heavy reparations mechanics netted pay boosts of $3 to $5. The Assistant Dispatchers Coun­ control of the ti’ade unions. Such which will fall as a burden upon The strike was called April 29 after the union men had a t­ cil of the Civil (Service Forum Leninist slogans would have in­ the workers of Germany. It tempted for eight months to gee has attempted for three years to 23, 1941, and, therefore, could not dicated to the workers the only should assist those workers to the company to deal with their negotiate with the Board of Trans­ strike . real alternative to the plans of overthrow- their Fascist slave committee and pay the same portation to wipe out this pay dif­ As part of the strike settlement the war mongers. Such slogans piasters by calling for a socialist wages as all the other organized ferential. The Board repeatedly the union agreed to take over the could give tremendous impetus to federation of the world,” Com­ bus men get in Queens. refused to hear their complaints. existing contract, but with addi the revolutionary movement in rade Cannon said. No sooner was the strike called tional provisions for improved WHY COPS GET PAY the United States. Speaking of the strike wave than LaGuardia leaped into print grievance procedure. The fact In trying to prove that the sweeping this country, and of Stalin, however, must show the in an attempt to take a back­ that this was publicly reported as transit workers under civil serv­ the workers’ militant answer to American capitalists that his hand swipe at the union which the first union contractual ar­ ice don’t need a union, the city anti-strike propaganda from every local boys are tame and can con­ he is trying to smash on the city- rangement gives the lie directly tc and the local press have cited the side, the speaker told his audi­ trol the workers who follow the owned subways when the present LaG uardia. relatively high pay of the police ence that “courageous workers Stalinist line. Under no condi­ closed-shop contacts expire at the department as an example of what everywhere have resisted and, in­ LaGuardia’s big fuss about “in. tions, therefore, would the Stal­ end of Jiine. the city workers generally get different to the howls of the convenience” to the public was inists permit our proletarian m ili­ under civil service. bosses and the governm ent, have LA GUARDIA’S LIES merely part of his propaganda tary slogans in the parade. Part of the dirty work which the gone right on striking.” Ranted the “Little Flower:” build-up to turn public sympathy One of the greatest weaknesses cops are going to have to do to “The velvet glove of Roosevelt "The bus strike is, of course, against the subway workers ir revealed in the parade was the continue getting their higher pay reveals that it has elothed an unlawful, just another typical ex­ ihe event of a walk-out of thf absence of Negro marchers. The 27,000 TW U subway members ir is to help attempt to smash any iron fist.” he said. ample of irresponsible labor lead­ Stalinist National Negro Con­ June. During the recent strike o' subway strike. Police Commis­ Reviewing the government’s red­ ership. It is entirely irresponsible gress had approximately 65 over 3,000 bus drivers in Manhat sioner Valentine last Sunday ad­ baiting drive, Comrade Cannon in disregarding contractual rights marchers, about 45 of them tan, which lasted more than t.w< dressed 2,500 c ity police to ins­ analyzed it as a campaign against and indifferent and callous to the white. Tb" Negro workers, be­ weeks and halted bus service for truct them to be ready to act the most advanced, progressive convenience and comfort of the trayed again and again by the over 900,000 riders, the bus pas against the transport workers workers. "Labor must rid itself pu blic.” Stalinists, stayed away from the sengers demonstrated overwhelm this June. "Every station, every of the treacherous Stalinists,” lie The “contractual rights” to May Day parade. ing good-will and sympathy to mile of track, every car, every said, “but it must do this through which the Mayor referred was an ward the strikers. power-house; everything is cata­ FEW UNIONS MARCH labor’s own channels, and not by agreement which the company had logued and planned. Our strategy Of the trade unions, local 65 cooperation with the bosses!” made with its company union, the NON-UNION WAGE LOW is like that of the Army — we of the United Retail & Wholesale The speaker called for union Jamaica Buses Mutual Aid So­ LaGuardia’s claims that the prepare for everything in ad­ W orkers had about 1.300, one of control of military training and ciety, and which the company was rights of the subway workers now vance” stated Valentine. the heaviest delegations in the elimination of the bourgeois offi­ trying to foist on the union. The in the union will be better pro­ parade. The N.M.U. and the Fur­ cer caste and for expropriation company falsely claimed that the tected under civil service -without riers likewise . were fairly well of the war industries, which now TWU had agreed to accept the the union was further disproved Join the Socialist represented. As for the I.L.G.W. pour profits into the hands of a terms of tins contract which last week when it was revealed and the A.C.W. locals, their dele­ few. would not expire until October that assistant train dispatchers Workers Party MAY 10, 1941 T H E MILITANT - 3 Victims of Capitalism So This Is John L. Lewis’ Program For This Epoch Of War And Fascism!

The Leopard Hasn’t Changed His Spots Since He Backed Wendell W illkie

By FELIX MORROW velt may avail himself of just this proposal of John L. Lewis, Since the fiasco of his campaign for the election of Wendell appointing labor leaders as so many fig-leafs to cover up the re­ Willkie, John L. Lewis’ future course has been defined not too actionary nature of his regime. Or, to use an even more pertin­ clearly. At the CIO convention last November where Philip Mur­ ent figure of speech, Lewis and Murray would in a revolutionary ray replaced him as president, Lewis retrieved much of his stand­ crisis serve Roo-sevelt as lightning-rods, harmlessly drawing off ing in the eyes of CIO workers by his leadership of the fight and burying the rising class consciousness of the workers. against the Hillman proposal to make a capitulatory peace with And after the crisis were thus weathered ? Then Roosevelt the AFL bureaucracy. Lewis rose a big notch higher in the opin­ could unceremoniously boot out the door the labor leaders who ion of these workers when, during the miners’ strike, he con­ have served his purpose—-and the labor movement would, at best, demned the National Mediation Board for demanding that strik­ have to start from the ground up at that time. Far more likely, ers go back to work before the bosses agreed to settlements. having failed to lake over the governmental power in its entirety But what would be Lewis’ general program for the labor during the revolutionary crisis, the labor movement would pay for movement for this period of war? Lewis made no move to in­ that failure by being driven down, down into the dust by an “ Ame­ dicate that at the CIO convention. On the contrary, it was notice­ rican” fascism or m ilitary dictatorship. These are typical interned refugees arriving at a concen­ able that he carefully stood aside while Philip Murray expounded This is the dead-end to which John L. Lewis’ “new” pro­ tration ramp in France at Iiivesaltes from the camp- at Argeles- as a cure-all the proposal for “ industry councils” composed of gram would lead us. Th«Cre is nothing new about it. Just such Sur-Mer near the Spanish border. Internment of refugees began labor, employers and government representatives which—just coalitions between labor leaders and capitalists led to the down­ not with the Petain government, but with the “democratic” re­ how, Murray did not make clear either at the convention or since fall of the labor movements of Germany, France, Spain, Belgium. gime of Daladier, whose infamous treatment of Spanish Loyalist —-would solve the country’s major problems. In the four months For such coalitions weakened, disrupted and discredited the labor refugees before the present war has not been, surpassed by H it­ after the CIO convention Lewis made no public statement on any movements of those countries and left them easy prey for native ler himself. These are clippings from the London EVENING STAND­ question. reaction and foreign invaders. Lewis is merely travelling in the Was he sulking in his tent? Or was he pondering.some bold ARD and NEWS CHRONICLE. This is all the news which the footsteps of the Blums, Kautskys, Caballeros, who led the Euro­ steps to urge upon the labor movement? Rumor was rife, and “democratic” British government permits to appear about such pean working class to its doom. Like them, Lewis paves the way tlie inside-dope columnists assured their readers that Lewis was strikes, giving merely the strikebreaking activities of the gov­ for a native or foreign Hitler. coming forth under the banner of a real Labor Party. The Stalin­ ernment and nothing about the strike itself. G M Parleys Lag; ists in particular, still hanging on to Lewis’ coat-tails—they even W11AT LEW IS COVERS VP found aspects to praise in Lewis’ support of Willkie— have re­ Lewis glides over the “detail” that his “real representatives” cently conducted a whispering campaign in the unions: Lewis representation in the Office of Production Management or the would be APPOINTEES of Roosevelt. But that is the key to the would launch the Labor Party, Lewis was breaking with the pro­ National Defense Advisory Commission or the War Department.” whole prohlem. The reactionary nature of such labor-capital coal­ Action Wanted war Murray, Lewis had meant his criticism of the Mediation itions is glaringly revealed by the specific form of the U.S. gov­ Board as, in reality, criticism of Murray and Kennedy for serv­ HOW THE BRITISH MODEL W ORKS ernment; here the “ labor representatives” would be appointed by ing on it, etc. etc. So Lewis likes the British set-up? We’d like to know how he a president and a Congress controlled by the capitalist parties. Pressure On Top Union Leaders Is Growing; feels about its consequences. About the British government’s In Britain the reality that Bevin and the other Laborites are real­ LEWIS NAMES HIS PRICE legislation outlawing strikes and rendering strikers punishable ly nothing but appointees of Churchill and the Tory party is Workers Want Original Demands To Stand Well, Lewis has come out of his tent. The man-mountain has as sabotagers. The British government’s mobilizing strikers into covered over by the parliamentary formula of an agreement be­ labored—and brought forth a mouse. He produced it in his speech the army as punishment for striking. The o-utlawry of the British tween Conservative and Labor parties to . form the government at a testimonial dinner to Philip Murray at Harrisburg, Pa., April Daily Worker (Lewis’ Stalinist admirers, who haven’t said a word together. The U.S. form of government has this little virtue— D ETR O IT, Mich.— Negotiations between the General Mo­ 30; the text is published in the-May 5th CIO News; every worker about this speech of Lewis ought, at the least, to ask him about it reveals more crudely the real relationship between a capitalist tors Corporation, the United Automobile Workers (CIO) and ought to read it and study it. that!); the conscription of women workers; the failure to keep president and Congress and their appointee labor lackeys. the National Defense Mediation Board panel brought little re­ The real point of Lewis’ speech was sugar-coated by an at­ prices down and profits from rising. NO LABOR LEADER ¡¿HALL ACCEPT APPOINTMENT sults this week. tack on Knudsen and Hillman. He accurately characterized Knud- Above all, does Lewis’ approval of the composition of the BY A CAPITALIST GOVERNMENT. It is this fundamental Local unions grew restive at the lack of results, and began sen as a man “ who has devoted a life time to the baiting of lab­ British government mean that he approves of its war aims? Its principle which Lewis’ proposed program violates. pouring the pressure on in order to force the union leadership to or,” and obviously meant Hillman when he scathingly referred incredibly inhuman subjugation of the 475 millions of people in Speaking of the Hillmans (without mentioning them), Lewis take a m ilitant stand on the union’s set of demands. to “so-called representatives of labor in government who squirm India, who have no more rights than the inhabitants of the lands said in his speech: Committees representing dozens of locals have been crowd­ in their seats when Knudsen talks ...” dominated by Hitler? Its outlawry of the labor and peasant move­ “It is true that there are some individuals from labor in the ing the Detroit offices of the International officials, demanding But then came the point to which Lewis was leading: ment of Ceylon and British West Africa? Its plainly-indicated (government) set-up. But they do not represent labor in govern­ that the UAW bargaining committee speed up the negotiations “MR MURRAY WILL BE PROUD TO SUPPLY SOME aim of imposing another (even worse) Versailles Treaty on the ment; they represent the government in labor. Their business is and that they stick to the original pared for the strike, and has be­ REAL REPRESENTATIVES (of labor in government).” German masses? A ll this inevitably flows from the kind of gov­ to chloroform labor so that it w ill be voiceless and supine and go demands as drawn up at the Feb­ gun to send war-orders work into ernment that England now has. alpng with any policy in the interests of those who would make ruary GM conference. That, in a nutshell, is Lewis’ program for the American plants where formerly there was Labor in “equal” partnership with capital in government— a financial killing in this emergency.” So much pressure lias been workers for this epoch of universal war and militarism. “ Real” this is the government of England and what Lewis is proposing brought to bear on the Interna­ none. At lluick in Flint, in a representatives are to be named by the CIO leaders to sit in the Accurate words—but they also describe, in addition to the huge plant, where there was ab­ for this country. This at best—actually Lewis doesn’t even ask tional that telegrams went out this Roosevelt government. “ This war,” said Lewis, “if there is to be present Hillmans, ANYBODY ELSE who would accept appoint­ solutely no war-orders work, for equality in such partnership but merely says that “ Mr. Mur­ week from the office of the GM a war, cannot be won by baiting labor.” In other words, the war ment by the Roosevelt government. What two or three appointees there is now one machine working ray w ill be proud to supply some real representatives.” department of the UAW, calling is to- be conducted with the enthusiastic participation in the gov­ are doing, would also- be done by tw e n ty or th ir ty appointees. The on rolled steel, which is cut into the GM delegated conference back ernment of “real" labor leaders supplied by Murray and Lewis. same process would operate in either case. small pieces, bundled neatly and WHAT LEWIS’ PROGRAM MEANS into session on or about May 10, “Nor do we want to take part in any imperialistic war,” said sent over to the AC plant, where Suppose Roosevelt and his Democratic Party (including its to hear a report on negotiation, Lewis at another point in his speech; presumably he meant that, THE REAL ANSWER: THE LABOR PARTY this work was formerly done. poll tax Congressmen) were to accept John L. Lewis’ proposal. and to consider any possible pro­ if “ real” labor leaders were in the service of the government, it We Trotskyists want to see real labor representatives in posed agreement. This is the company’s move to would no longer be an imperialist war. What, concretely, would happen? Lewis, Murray, Kennedy and government. But we mean just that. We want to see labor rep­ use Reuther’s statement he would That this is what Lewis meant is indicated by his warm praise their friends would sit in the cabinet, the OPM, the NDAC, the resentatives and not appointees of a capitalist president and Con­ FOR ORIGINAL DEMANDS "not strike defense work." By for the composition erf the British wrar cabinet as contrasted to War Department. But who would play the tune to which they gress. We want to see representatives of the working class who Delegates to this GM conference, tliis method tlie company can the present composition of the American government. Said Lewis: would dance? A ll the legal power would still be in the hands of are in government in spite of and against the w ill of the capital­ the same delegates who drew up claim all plants are engaged in “The difference between labor in the United States and B rit­ the three main branches of the government—the Congress, the ists. We don’t want to see labor leaders serving as labor lack­ the excellent contract calling for war orders. ain is that in England today labor is a part of the government; President and the Supreme Court. The CIO representatives in eys of the political agents of the bosses. We want labor’s own, the ten cent wage increase, shop it sits in policy-making positions and has a voice in formulating the government would be merely APPOINTEES of the president, freely chosen by labor, without any commitments or “ partner­ steward system, union shop, 60- TOP CLIQUE FIGHTS policies. In the United States, labor is not represented. It has removable by him at any time. ship” deals w ith bosses. day s e n io rity clause. $25 weekly- In the midst of the negotiations, no place in the government- or in the cabinet. It has no adequate If the crisis of American capitalism becomes serious, Roose- Which means that we want a Labor Party, created by and pay for drafted workers, etc., are when tlie greatest solidarity is controlled by the organizations of the working class, launched expected to put up a determined needed, tlie UAW Executive Board with a class program. We want a Labor Party m ilitant enough fight for these original demands, is bringing out into the open its to arouse, not only the trade unionists, but also the unorganized and to speed up the long drawn inner struggles. The backhanded workers, the toiling farmers, the oppressed and disinherited of out negotiations which are lead­ slap at the Addes-Stalinist ma­ Glen Martin Aircraft Workers Win ing tile fight dangerously close to chine which R. J. Thomas made city and country. A Labor Party whose candidates w ill be strictly the lay-off period. in liis speech in Flint April 20. controlled by the party and under no circumstances ever to be These delegates arc undoubted­ lias been followed by an open dec­ candidates of capitalist parties. Class against class— that is what Reinstatement After Being Locked Out is going on in the economic field and is long overdue on the polit­ ly going to ask many questions. laration of the Reuther-Franken- They w ill want to know why, for steen-Tliomas bloc. The now open ical field. It is time to end the company unionism that Lewis and alliance between Reutlier and his type have for so long foisted .upon the working class in example, tlie negotiating commit­ 000,000 w orth of w a r orders from to turn the lock-out into a full- Frankensteen announced a cam­ BALTIM O R E, A pril 30—Twenty-seven members of the po litics! tee started out to fight for the ; the United States and Great Bri- fledged strike without the vote paign to outlaw from any union aircraft division of the United Automobile Workers (CIO) were One representative elected to Congress by such a Labor original demands as drawn up by itain, has hitherto refused to meet and knowledge of the union men, posts, elective or appointive, in physically ejected from the Glen L. M artin Bomber Company’s Party will be of infinitely more value to the working class than a the GM conference; but on May with any union committee, and or without any prior “talking it the international or local un Middle River plant near here and were locked out after they had hundred trade union officials appointed to government posts by 1st in the United Automobile . the management has required up” and strike organization with­ ions, “all Communists, Nazis and led a brief protest stoppage of 130 workers in the drop-hammer Roosevelt. He will be a real asset, where the hundred will be W orker, listed the demands as that workers take up their own in the plant. When the workers fascists.” department last Wednesday. liabilities—chloroform, in Lewis’ word—on the working class. follows: "a ten cent wage in­ grievances individually w ith were suddenly confronted with a This proposed constitutional But they were reinstated to their jobs Monday, following crease, recognition of the unions their foremen or the company’s picket sign asking them to stay It is not at all a question of counting our lone representative's provision would arm the conserv­ establishment of a CIO picket-line of the fired men and striking established position in the GM "Labor Relations Board.” out of the plant on Wednesday, vote As against the many votes of the capitalist Congressmen. plants, extension of the umpire's ative leadership with a weapon sympathizers before the gates of the plant Thursday and after and having had no prior knowl­ The arithmetic of the class struggle operates differently than The attempted lock-out of the jurisdiction and powers,, stand­ against local union militants who a union protest to the NLRB. edge that a strike was contem­ that—a Labor Party spokesman in Congress w ill stand up as a 27 union men was part of tlie ard seniority arid grievance pro­ oppose their policies, and reopen The company agreed, after a conference with state and fed­ plated or what the issues were, tribune of the people, summoning the masses to shout their de­ company’s effort to prevent the visions, and family coverage un­ the kind of fights which marked eral labor department conciliators, to restore to their jobs all the they went into work. mands so loud that even the deafest poll-tax Congressman w ill further growth of the UAW’ in der tlie hospitalization plan.” the red-batting frame-ups and ex­ locked-out union men and those who struck in sympathy with hear. A Labor Party spokesman w ill speak, not to the Congress» pulsion campaigns of Homer them, and to meet with any de­ the plant. The union has been UNION MEN LEARN Where is the union shop clause? sioner of labor and statistics of men, but to the masses, summoning them to struggle in all fields' M a rtin . partmental grievance committee conducting an organizing drive of As a result of these experiences, It is substituted for by an am- the State of Maryland, and my­ and everywhere—in the economic field and in the armed forces, of two elected workers, including growing proportions. however, the union rank-and-file biguonsly worded phrase. The Thus far the Stalinist have ans­ self, Mr. John E. O’Connor, con­ not merely at the ballot box. has learned a valuable lesson same goes for tlie shop steward wered this campaign only with a union committee. The ejection and lock-out of ciliator of the United States De­ That is why one such spokesman, genuinely representative Although all union men were' these workers grew out of a brief about the need for full participa­ system, a major demand appar­ a few whines. But the July con­ partment of Labor and Concilia­ tion and discussion by the mem­ of the working class, cannot even be spoken of in the same cate­ ently dropped by the negotiators. vention of the UAW in Buffalo returned to their jobs, tire com­ w o rk stoppage of 130 men o f the tion, held a two hour conference gory with the labor lackeys appointed by a capitalist president w ill see a fig h t on th is issue by pany issued a statement Monday drop-hammer department in an bership in any contemplated with tlie G. L. Martin Company and Congress. RECOGNIZE SMOKE SCREEN which declared: effort to compel the company to strike actions and for thorough the genuine militant elements in on A p ril 24th, 1941, and today 1 The attempt by Reutlier and the meet with their elected commit­ preparation and organization in the union. "No separate agreement has again conferred with the company. negotiating committee to swell tee and adjust a mounting vol­ advance of any serious step. A WORKERS’ AND FARMERS’ GOVERNMENT been made by tlie company with The Company, through Mr. II. F. into major questions the umpire ume of grievances. The fact that even these poorly Once the Labor Party would be launched, it would speedily anyone. There never has been one Volimer, vice-president of the and hospitalization questions is prepared actions made the com­ confront the capitalist class as the authoritative representative word of negotiations with John COmpany in charge of manufac- After the company flatly refused easily seen through by local un­ pany back down to the extent of of the toiling masses—the great m ajority of the population. Long How To Lick The E. O’Conner (federal conciliator) turing, agreed with mo that all to meet the elected committee of ion militants, who know very well rehiring the locked-out men and before the corrupt and manipulablc electoral machinery would or Judge John Pohlhous (state strikers, including the twenty- five, the men returned to work that the company lias no objection pay lip-service to the principle register more than a fraction of the Labor Party’s actual High Cost of Living conciliator) or any CIO represen­ seven who were ejected from the and the company threw out 27 of to increasing the powers of the of dealing with a union commit­ strength, the party would count millions of firm adherents. And tative. plant on April 23rd, 1941. are to the leading strikers. umpire, and that the question of tee has shown the workers what they would register their votes in many ways beside the ballot "There is nothing new in our return to work without DISCRI­ revamping the hospitalization On the night after the an­ FIGHT POORLY ORGANIZED genuinely effective and carefully box—-they would register them every day wherever workers’ in­ obligations to hear the grievances MINATION OR PREJUDICE; plan, althogh important and ne­ nouncement of the 10-cent an While conditions in the plant planned union action can accom­ terests are involved.-' of any individual or representa­ AND THE COMPANY W ILL RE­ cessary, does not rank with the hour wage rise, 2,000 men are among the worst in the air­ plish. This war is but the extreme expression of the bankruptcy of tives of any group among our em­ COGNIZE A GRIEVANCE COM­ craft industry and amply justify key question of establishing a from the U. S. Steel South It is generally agreed among the capitalist class which Roosevelt represents. For the second ployees. That obligation has pre­ MITTEE chosen by the EM­ strike action, this particular stop­ Bhop steward system. Works held, a celebration at the union men that the job ahead time in a generation it can offer us nothing but death and de­ vailed for years as part of our PLOYEES in any department to page was pulled without adequate The patience of many local the Masonic Temple in South is to strengthen union organiza­ struction. And after the war it can offer us, at best, a return to comprehensive agreement with all take up any grievance of the em­ preparations. Frank Bender, CIO union officers is now close to Chicago. Johnny Mayrick, tion within all the departments the economic crisis of 1929-1940. Those who, at this critical junc­ our workers. The only stipulation ployes in their department. There regional director in Baltimore, the breaking point. It is known Gary organizer, got the big­ in preparation for a hard-hitting, ture in the history of humanity, would tie the working class to lias been that prescribed proce­ shall be no more than two men called together a few job stew­ that one whole local union ex­ gest hand of the evening when well-planned campaign of union the fate of the capitalist class, would thereby lead it to the fate dure must be followed.” on the grievance conimir.tee.” ards the night before and the ac­ ecutive board, one of the larg­ he declared: action to niake the company nego­ of the European working class. est locals in GM, has demanded COMPANY LIES NAILED COMPANY BACKED DOWN tion was decided cm without tiate with the union. “The new contract has a Labor must appear in the political arena not as appointed over and over again that the The company’s assertion that knowledge of most of the union While government figures show 20-day clause and if the cost The company attempt to cover servitors of the ruling class, but as the rightful leaders of the negotiators call the strike and of living goes up we’re go­ up its concessions was answered "there is nothing new” in their members and job stewards in the that the Glen L. Martin company plant. nation. That is what the Labor Party means today. call it right away. It is very ing to re-open that contract by a union leaflet Monday which agreeing to meet with “represent­ netted $1,000 p ro fit per w o rke r Its goal is indicated by the needs of the masses—security possible if negotiations con­ and demand higher wages!” quoted federal co n cilia to r O’Cor.- atives of any group among our Further confusion was created in 1940, the average pay In the tinue to drag out that some among the workers and union against war and fascism, against want and hunger. That means" That’s the way for union nor’s report to the union repres­ employees” is an outright lie. Middle River plant is from 50 to unauthorized actions w ill break men, when Bender decided to at­ 60 cents an hour, 10 to 20 cents that the Labor Party seeks 'the helm of the ship of society. men to lick the high cost of entatives last Friday. This report The company, which employs 16,- out. tempt to secure the reinstatement For a .Workers’ and Farmers’ Government—that is why we liv in g ! stated: 800 w orkers at the M iddle R ive r less than in any organized air­ The corporation has already pre­ "Mr. John Pohlhous, commls- pla n t and has a backing o f $450,- of the locked-out men by trying craft plant in the country. need, why we must have, a Labor Party. 4 — THE MILITANT MAY 10, 1941 The Bosses Offensive Against The Workers w - -< a 500 Percent More Income Tax How Workers Pay Most Taxes Employers Attacking FEDERALSTATE LOCAL TAXES , On Four Fronts

Anti-strike Laws, Longer Hours Without Overtime Taxes, Government "Borrowing“ To Cut Living Standards

The employing class and the federal government within ing could be siphoned, back into the past two weeks have launched their "Spring Offensive" the Treasury." against American labor. This same article shows that Primary objectives of this onslaught are to prevent further most of the limited wage in­ •By 1938, over 73 per cent o f a ll taxes, federal, state and wage increases in the face of rising prices and to divert a large creases won by the recent great local, were of the “ regressive” type, which are of the sales and portion of mass purchasing power into financing the war in­ strike wave are already eaten up pay-roll variety and strike directly at the consumer and wage- dustries and war program. by price rises, stating that the earner. “Progressive" taxes, based on ability to pay, accounted The administration vainly hopes to curb price inflation "trend is shown by the govern­ for oniya little more than 26 per cent of all taxes collected. The by preventing the workers from spending their wages. ment’s index of basic commodity new proposed federal taxes will intensify “ regressive” taxes. A four-fold drive is under way: prices which has gone up Hü pet 1. To prevent strikes by legis cent.” Manufacturers last Sunday, lative decree. 4. “VOLUNTARY SAVING” 2. To increase production by through its executive vice-presi­ Last week, Roosevelt personal­ lengthening hours and eliminating dent, Walter Weisenburger, declar­ ly inaugurated the effort to fin­ Workers Facing ed itself for longer working hours, overtime pay. ance the war in part by “borrow­ 3. To extort billions from wage- asserting: “We want to help the ing” from the masses of people earners through increased income President achieve the / twenty- through sale of government bonds taxes on the lowest income brack­ four-hour, seven-day week because we believe it is necessary, but ice and savings stamps, with the in­ Huge War Taxes ets and through excise taxes on te n t of ra isin g $6,333,000,000 out consumers goods. must be realistic." of diverted purchasing power. 4. Sale of government bonds to What the employers are aiming This sum is the additional amount Proposed New Federal Levies Strike low wage-earners to siphon off at is further indicated in an As­ over taxes required by the govern­ any increases in purchasing pow­ sociated Press dispatch from ment to pay for its war program Directly at Low-Wage Earners er by high pressure methods. Washington, May 3, in which “in­ in the next fiscal year. formed quarters” close to the “de­ 1. A N T I-S T R IK E M O VES The purpose of this huge loan fense officials” were interviewed. Roosevelt's mechanized m ilitary forces w ill be greased with Over-riding the strenuous ob­ The dispatch states: “Technical drive, directed primarily at the butter just like Hitler’s. jections of every section of organ­ problems and the extra pay in low income groups, is stated by ized labor, the House Rules Com­ many industries for Sunday and John MacCormac in the New York That was made plain when Secretary Morgenthau, present­ mittee on April 30 voted out the n ig h t w o rk were said to make it Times, May 4, as follows: ing the Treasury’s plan for raising an additional $3,500,000,000 anti-strike, open-shop Vinson bill impracticable to solve the problem “The government is not offering in taxes, declared before the 1 louse Ways and Means Committee and sent it to the House floor of the ‘week-end blackout’ simply an alternative to private invest­ on A pril 24 that the proposed tax program “ w ill help to mobil­ where it is expected to be debated by adding additional shifts.” ment, but an alternative to spend­ th is week. ize our resources for defense by reducing the amount of money •The campaign to wipe out,the ing. If increased wages were to that the public can spend for comparatively less important Administration backing is forty-hour week was further given be spent on consumers’ goods it openly being given to the main impetus in the statement of Pres­ would mean an increased demand '«Si ' things.’' feature of the bill, which would ident James Kemper of the l). S. that in the natural order of things I Tree types of taxes are proposed in the Treasury plan, provide a] com pulsory 25-day Chamber of Commerce before that would require the manufacturers eacli to secure approximately one which fall entirely on the con­ “cooling-off" period between body’s convention in Washington of such goods to bid against de­ third of tiie total tax increases. sumer. the time of a strike vote and on April 28. fense manufacturers'for labor and The plan is aimed to hit the This tendency to throw the making the vote effective. Fol­ “At the present time,” Kem­ raw materials, sending prices up “Defense” Bonds Slice workers hardest. greatest burden of taxation on lowing the line of strategy per said, “we have gainfully em­ and requiring the imposition of a SOAK THE POOR • those with the least ability to pay which the MILITANT several ployed in Am erica 40.000,000 rigid system of priorities and (1.) Sales and excise taxes — has increased in tiie past three weeks ago predicted it- would w orkers accom plishing 80,000,000,- price controls. If the United levies on consumer purchases — years. pursue, the Administration has 000 hours of productive effort. It States is to make an all-out ef­ At Mass Buying Power fort to preserve democracy, it is are proposed to raise $1,233,000,- offered its backing to the bill is estimated that the defense pro­ The Treasury’s tax proposals 000. These would include a d d itio n ­ provided it is limited to the one gram w ill require 20.000.000,000 urged, it cannot carry on business have been countered by the Ways al taxes on cigarettes and tobacco, feature of the “cooling-off” work hours, that is 25 per cent of as usual. The production of con­ The last war was financed in large part through the so- prime purposes of the drive — and Means Committee with pro­ beer and other liquors, amuse­ period. our productive effort. We can’t sumers’ goods must be kept sta­ called Liberty Bond loans. This form of high-pressure ‘‘borrow­ the averting of higher prices for posals suggested by their own tax tionary or even reduced so that ments — including a 10% tax on “experts,” including Colin Slam, This would be offered to organ­ havé' our cake and eat it too: ing" raised over $21,000,000,000, between 1917 and .1919, 30 consumer goods and of an infla­ the output of defense equipment children’s movie admissions of 10 chief consultant for the Joint Com­ ized labor as a “compromise." either every employed person in per cent of which came from families with incomes of less than tionary blow-off — be achieved.” van be increased.” cents — and other so-called “lux­ mittee on Internal Revenue Tax­ (The original bill also provides the country must do. on the aver­ $2,000 a year during a period of sky-high price inflation. UNEMPLOYMENT uries.” These are all poor-man ation. for the open-shop in war indus- age, 25 per cent, more work, or Last week Roosevelt, this time prior to the declaration of “INSURANCE” taxes. we must get along without some war, launched a similar campaign as part of the bosses’ efforts Stam's idea is to reduce the stries). By this "hard cop. soft One ol’ the intents behind this of the things we have now." to get the masses to finance the war. (2.) Additional direct personal amount collected by income taxes cop” game, the Administration borrowing drive is to build up a hopes to get the trade union lead­ It is hoped that this campaign w ill raise some $6.000,000,000 income taxes to raise $1,521,000,- in the new tax b ill to only $1,100,- 3. TAXING THE WORKERS Pre-War Taxes reserve of post-war purchasing 000 are proposed, on a new sched ership to accept the principle of to $7,000.000,000 in the next 000,000 instead of $1,521,000,000. The proposed new federal taxes, porations is where the nation’s power. limitations upon the right to fiscal year. ulc placing the increases on the He would place a lower surtax on which are discussed in more de­ wage-earners may be found. Of this, the New York Times, s trik e as a “ lesser e v il” to even While the Administration in­ lower and middle income groups the lowest incomes, six per cent tail on another section of this “American Telephone and May 4, states: going in creasingly easy on those harsher anti-labor legislation. Struck Masses sists that the present campaign instead of eleven per cent as Mor- page, will raise the total tax load Telegraph| Corp. already has “If the hitherto unemployed will not be put over by the pres­ in the $50,000 to $750,000 cate ganthau has asked. 2. LO N G E R W O R K -W E E K on the Americaft wage-earners to announced its intention to were to spend their new wages or gories, while entirely exempting sure used in the last war — its But this seeming solicitude for While this direct offensive a point where 24 cepts out of adopt this policy and solicit the already employed their in­ from increases all those who quotas, “ slacker” lists, pledges, in-' the low wage earner is a fraud, every dollar of income will be Hardest Also creased wages on consumers' against wage increases gains voluntary pay-check deductions “ earn” over $750,000 a year, tha t voluntary pay-roll deductions and for the difference in revenue be­ headway, Roosevelt last week laid taken for taxes, according to Da­ from its employees. The Treas­ goods instead of laying part of is, the ruling bankers and indus payment of wages partially in tween the two income tax pro­ the basis for a drive to increase niel Bell, Under-Secretary of the ury Department is understood them by in the form of savings bonds and war-savings stamps — trialists of the country. posals would be made up by much the working day and working Treasury. The proposed new federal taxes, to he highly favorable to this the post-war demobilization of in­ Single wage-earners earning as there is little doubt that, as the stiffer excise tax, which would in­ week by his declaration that in- Elliott V. Bell, in a special ar- which will fail most heavily on proposal. dustry would find them with, no little as $800 a year and up to war financing campaign develops, clude taxeS on such com m odities dustry must be put upon a 7-day tide in the New York Times, A p ril the lowest wage-earners, do not “Payroll deduction plans reserves to tide over the period $2,000 w ill, in addition to the pre­ these same methods w ill be more as coffee, cocoa, tea, sugar, elec­ a week, 24 hour a day system of 27, declared of the new tax pro­ introduce a new policy of taxa­ of adjustment . . . Hence the new sent income tax which went into and more applied. proved the best method of rais­ tric light bulbs, natural gas, etc. operation. gram : tion in the United States. ing cash during the 1917-1919 bonds are carefully devised to dis­ effect this year, be required un­ T iie New York Tost on May 3 courage borrowing against them Stam also proposes to raise Although Roosevelt was ex­ “Thus the problem that con­ They will simply aggravate a Liberty Loan campaigns. At der the new proposal to pay an w rote: or redemption until ten years $160,000,000 by a $5 tax on the tremely careful to add the “ be­ fronted the Treasury expert^ and system of tax extortion which the height of that drive, there additional 11 per cent surtax on “It’s all pretty confusing and have passed. use of automobiles, yachts and lie f” th a t th is could be done members of the House Ways and year by year has dug deeper and were 'honor factories’ where their taxable income. Those witli haphazard at the moment and tiie That’s what you can look airplanes. Under this plan of “e- without lengthening (he work Means Com m ittee as they sat deeper into the already meagre every employee owned a $50 incomes between $2,000 and $2,500 “ real’ drive actu ally hasn't been forward to after the war—un­ qual sacrifice” a millionaire would week, the leading employers down to draw up a new tax bill incomes of the poor. bond.” w ill have a 14 per cent additional started.” employment, and trying to live be compelled to pay as much tax groups have leaped on the Pre­ last week was not merely to raise “ Purchasers are using past sav­ surtax slapped on them. Tiie total of all taxes collected on your savings. on his Hispano-Suiza limousine, sid en t’s statem ent as a s p rin g ­ some money. It was also to pro­ What that ‘real’ drive will ho ings to buy the defense stamps In other words, those whose in­ by local, state and federal gov­ yacht or airplane for private use board to launch (heir drive to vide a means wheteby a part of like is indicated by the further and bonds so far, bank officials The bonds designed for the comes are already below the com­ ernments in 1938, according to as any worker who drives a $50 lengthen hours and cut over­ the increased purchasing powet comment: report,” writes the New York Tost small income groups are known fort and decency level of exist­ U. S, T reasury D epartm ent re­ “jaloppy” to work. tim e pay. that is being pumped into the na­ “The greatest stimulus will May 3. adding: “ T h a t’s to be ex­ as Series E bonds, in denomina­ ence are to have an increase in cords, was $14,811,000,000. tions ranging from $25 to $1,000. The National Association of' tional economy by defense spend­ come, thotigh, when the thous­ pected at the start, but tiie big income taxes of alm ost 400 pel ROOSEVELT’S HYl’OCRISY 73.6 per cent of all these tax­ These are not sold at their full ands of American corporations task before the Treasury is to get cent, while the Morgans, Fords, Roosevelt last week while his face-value. A $25 bond is sold for es were secured by means of working on defense projects people to use current earnings for Rockefellers and their kind, who Treasury officials pressed for $18.75, and is redeemable fo r Cull "regressive” types of levies, put in systematic employee- purchases. make tiie war profits millions greater tax burdens on the poor, value in 10 years. This would dis­ that is, levies based not on the purchase plans. That's where “Only in that way can enough will be required to make tin- sent a letter to the Ways and courage borrowing against the ability of the individual to pay, the money is, for in those cor­ money be raised and one of the “equal sacrifices” of — nothing Means Committee stating lie was bond or redemption before the 10 but hearing directly on the con­ more. for taxes which would not “make years are up, because this would sumers and wage-earners—ex­ (3.) Less Ilian a third of these the rich richer and the poor poor­ eral “regressive” taxes had in­ ings, paid only 17,7 per cent of involve sacrificing potential value. cise taxes on commodities, sales new taxes are to be collected by er.” taxes, pay roll taxes, customs creased 145.4 per cent. a ll taxes. On the other hand, those with levies on corporation incomes. The New York Times, May 3, duties and tariffs. Many of The TNEC report concludes by The 29.5 per cent of the pop­ large incomes are offered Series Assistant Secretary of the Treas­ stated: “Except for laying down these taxes are “hidden,” and sta lin g : ulation with incomes between G bonds, ranging from $1,000 to ury John Sullivan, in outlining such general principles, the Presi­ arc passed on to the consumer "The brunt of the expanded $500 and $1,000 annually, $10,000. These bonds are sold at tim proposed corporation income dent's letter was vague enough in the price of what he buys. Federal tax program has been shelled o u t 21.9 cents o u t of face value, and in addition pro­ tax increase, declared: to permit of various interpreta­ borne by the people, largely every dollar to the various gov­ vide 2%% interest every year, “ In this connection, however, Terming the present tax struc­ tions.” the consuming public, not in ernments for taxes. paid by government check semi­ it is important to keep in mind ture of the country as “neither That this letter may lie the sole proportion to their individual The b u lk of taxes has come annually. that in the past many financial preconceived nor scientifically im­ action of Roosevelt on the new abilities to pay taxes, but ac­ from the 75 per cent of the pop­ Thus the bonds w ill deprive the corporations have received prac­ posed, but the result of political drastic taxes on the wage-earners cording to their inability to re­ ulation whose incomes have al­ low income earner of the use of tical exemption from the in­ pressure and compromise,” Dr. H. sist the imposition of added in­ ways been on the subsistence his money for many years, while was indicated in the further com­ Dewey Anderson, executive secre­ come tax due to their owner­ direct taxes.” level or below. the rich, who can’t spend all ment of tiie Times, which said: tary of tiie Temporary National ship of tax-exempt, securities. A graphic picture of the pres­ Now the bosses and th e ir po li­ their money for personal use any­ A large volume of these securi­ “In a press conference at the Economic Committee, wrote a re­ White House recently tiie Presi­ ent tax burden on the workers tical satellites are proposing to how, can pul their dividends in ties is in the form of partially port on taxes in which he de­ dent was asked whether lie would is given by the TNEC report. place the crushing burden of war cold storage and got a regular in­ tax-exempt Federal securities. clared: have a statement to make on tax­ In 1938, 17 per cent of A m e­ financing on these masses already come from tiie government. When­ “At. present, approximately “E ven functioning in a es, or whether’ lie would send a rican families averaged annual bled white by taxes. ever they want to cash llieir $20.000.000.000 (billions) of peacetime economy, the federal message to Congress on the sub­ incomes of only $346. “ Hidden” bonds in they can get full face such securities arc held by cor­ revenue system has proved so ject. He replied that lie would taxes took from them 22 cents THE FIRST ISSUE OF value from them. porations.” regressive in. character as to out of every dollar they earned. Tiie workers who have to wait have something to say to tiie pub­ interfere seriously with busi­ Although this income group is LA VERITE 10 years to realize on their loans WHERE TAX BURDEN IS lic later. Mr. Early (President’s ness recovery, because it so one of extreme poverty, having to the government may find that While those with (lie most abil secretary) said this evening that sharply curtails mass purchas­ no savings and receiving only A Monthly Organ for French- after the war their money will be ity to pay have thus evaded paying the letter to Mr. Doughton repres­ ing power.” 3.5 per cent of the national in­ Speaking Marxists paid back in inflated currency, taxes on $20.000,000,000 of income ented the execution of this pledge. This was taken, as an indication In 1930, the TN EC report come, it paid 3.7 per cent of all 5 C EN TS A COPY which will not have the buying in the recent past, a report of Hu that Mr. Ttoosevelt would have shows, “ progressive” taxes—grad taxes. power, of the present dollar, and Temporary National Economic Order from nothing more to say upon the lax uated income, corporation profits, At the upper end of the income that they will he taxed to death Committee reveals th a t the wage- DALE EDWARDS program .” contributed 72.2 per cent of .fed­ ladder, the .3 per cent of those to raise the money to pay the earners and consumers by I!>38 eral revenues. In 1938, “ progres whose average annual income is P.O.B. 173, S tatio n D government debts Incurred in the were paying 73.6 *per cent of a ll In plaiu English, Roosevelt lays sive” federal taxes supplied only $47,600, and who have amassed New York, N. Y. war, including the war “savings” federal, state and local taxes low while Morgentliau does the 54.4 per cent. In eigh.t years, fed­ 30:4 per cent of a ll in d iv id u a l sav­ bonds. through so-called' regressive taxes, gouging of the poor. MAY 10, 1941 T H E MILITANT - 5

British Workers Striking Trotsky On The Future Stalin Is Now Despite Government Ban Groping Around By ALBERT PARKER Of Hitler’s Armies For A New Line The Supreme Court- Decision LONDON, England (By Mail)—Much as the Labour the war — brick, chemicals, en­ By LEON TROTSKY “ Leaders” iti the War Cabinet would like 'to believe that the gineering, ship-building, iron and (The following paragraphs are a page in Comrade Trotsky’s It was extremely dissappointing to read the working class is solidly behind the imperialist war and that they steel and other nwitals, clothing archives, among the unfinished materials he was working on when comment of the Negro press on the recent deci­ By JACK WEBER acquiesce in the repressive measures introduced as a "necessary and transport. he was assassinated A ug ust 20. 1940 by S ta lin ’s G P U .) sion of the Supreme C ourt on the M itch e ll case. On the eve of the War, Stalin aud Blum, the evil,” the figures published in the “ M inistry of Labour Gazette,” (2) Those producing mainly H itler’s soldiers are German workers and peasants. After Most of the press went overboard for it hook, Comintern and the Second International. Were comparing industrial disputes in 1940 and 1939 tell a different for export — pottery and glass. the betrayal of the social democracy and of the Comintern, line, and sinker, hailing it as one of the most in a “People’s Front,” with each other and with tale. Actually, however, although the important decisions since the Civil War. these workers and peasants in large numbers succumbed to (he "democratic” bourgeoisie. In line with the Government legislation has declared strikes illegal, and number of disputes in these fields the fumes of chauvinism, thanks to the unprecedented m ili­ The Pittsburgh Courier went even further Franco-Soviet, pact, Stalin had placed the Third strikers can be charged with- sabotage. In spite of this was greater than in 1939, there tary victories- But the reality of class relations is stronger than than most, spilling the pictures of the eight judges there were 914 strikes in 1940 involving 300,500 workers as com­ International at the service of Anglo-French im­ were less workers involved. chauvinist intoxication. clear across the top of the front page and label­ pared with 940 in 1939 involving 337,300 workers. perialism. The Second International was already The armies of occupation must live side by side with the in that service. ing it ‘‘Eight Real Americans ... They Rendered A comparison of the last 10 years shows that 1937 had the As the Trade Union bureaucrats conquered peoples; they must observe the impoverishment Most Momentous Decision Affecting The . Race highest number of strikes (1,129); frown on all strikes in this "pe However, Stalin suddenly switched at the very 1939. This would tend to indicate since 1857.” 1939 the second highest (910); and and despair of the toiling masses; they must observe the lat­ outbreak of the Second World War, assumed a that the workers were speedily riod of national crisis,” the lead A re the C ourier editors.,kidding themselves or the war year, 1910, the third high­ ter's attempts at resistance and protest, at first muffled and position of "neutrality” and withdrew the Comin­ victorious in the majority of the .ership of these strikes has de do they believe it? The most that could be said est (914). then more and more open and bold. tern from its support of “democratic” as against disputes. volved on the rank-and-file com for the decision, so far as the great mass of On the other hand, the German m ilitary and bureau­ “fascist” imperialism. Relying on the proverbial What, is significant, however, is An examination of the figures the Negro people goes, was tha t it was a th in m ittees and especially on the Shop cratic caste, after a series of victories and robberies of Europe, shortness of memory of mankind, Stalin tried to that, in spite of the unusually reveal that the industries in moral victory insofar as the position of the 10 Steward movement w hich, as in lay the entire blame lor war-mongering on tlie high number of disputes, the num­ which there were move strikes in will rise still higher above the people, w ill flaunt more and Southern Attorneys-General was rejected. the last-war, is once more coming Second International and virtuously broke colla­ ber of working days lost in 1940 1940 than in 1939 were in the fol­ more its powers, its privileges, and become demoralized like boration with it. The decision did not wipe out segregation, in were the lowest in a decade — lowing groups: to the fore as the leaders of m ili­ every caste of upstarts. transportation, just as the court’s decision on the 78,000 compared w ith 107,000 in (1) Those mainly affected by tant struggle. The German soldiers, that is, the workers and peasants, But if the war-mongering of the Second In­ Gaines case a few years ago did not wipe out w ill in the m ajority of cases have far more sympathy for the ternational and the actual development of the segregation in education. That is what is fun­ vanquished peoples than for their own ruling caste. The ne­ war gave that already bankrupt organization the final coup de grace, the cynical and perfidious ac­ damental, and that is just what the court refused cessity to act at every step in the capacity of “ pacifiers” and tions of Stalin alienated the entire world prole­ to act on. oppressors w ill sw iftly disintegrate the armies of occupation, tariat from the Soviet Union. This is particularly The Negro press does not do a service to the 15,000 Apprentices Win infecting them with a revolutionary spirit. true of the European workers who suffer directly job of clarifying the struggle for full equality the full consequences of the victories of Hitler. when it prints such twaddle as it did on this case. Indeed, it sounds alm ost as rid iculou s as More than ever before Stalin needs working did Mitchell himself, when he crowed after the Key Strike In Scotland class forces outside the Soviet Union which he announcement of the decision that he wants the Britain’s Copperbelt can use for his foreign diplomacy as pawns in world to know that he fought the case single- the game of bargaining. With each fascist vic­ handed and deserves "the full credit.’.' The only GLASGOW, Scotland, A pril 2 (By M a il)—A great strike the careful preparatory organiza­ In Africa Reaps Gold tory the isolation of the Soviet Union grows more difference is that the Negro press ballyhoos the victory has just been won here by 15,000 apprentices in 184 tional work which was put in be­ menacing to its existence. Stalin would like to Jim-Crow Court as the protector of Negro rights, firms. fore the strike broke. be able to scare Hitler by means of the working while Mitchell ballyhoos only himself. The strike started in Kilmarnock on February 28, spread A t the fcnd of January a confer­ From Exploited Labor class of Europe, so as to prevent his turning on through the Clydeside to Glasgow, and before it was over af­ ence of apprentice delegates met Russia. But bluff alone will not do in this game. * 4 t ; The sudden appearance of the German Commun­ fected 22 towns in Scotland, including the entire industrial belt in Glasgow representing most of B y C. V A N G E L D E R E N not concede the demands puf for­ and several towns outside it. Thus did the Clydeside maintain its ist Youth manifesto in the Swedish Communist the big shops on the Clyde and LONDON, England — War lias ward by the African workers. Pickens Defends glorious tradition of working class struggle. organ, calling for the transformation of the im­ other towns. Systematic work brought unprecedented prosperity This was not what they were sent perialist war into a civil war in Germany, was British Jim Crow The strike was conducted in the teeth of government legisla­ was done, Including the setting to the British capitalists who to Northern Rhodesia for. Their intended not so much for bluffing Hitler, as for William Pickens has written another article tion which has declared strikes illegal and despite the fact that up of a National Apprentices have their money invested in the real job was to protect the inter­ in an endeavor to swing more Negroes to support the government has in • several Committee to coordinate the work. fooling the working class. Stalin thinks he can ticeship system under which the copper mines of Northern Rhode­ ests of the investors, not of the of the war to defend British imperialism. His instances mobilized strikers into While the committee was awaiting once more rally the revolutionary workers under boys receive wages utterly incom­ sia. The demand for copper is workers. latest article is directed against George Padmore the army as punishment for go­ a reply to its demands from the his banner with this bait. mensurate with the work they are unlimited and profits are soaring. Thus, the Commission considers who is now in England. Padmore’s article in the ing on strike. North West Federation of Em doing. Tied down to their appren­ The great wealth which is being that the Africans’ claim that they March issue of The Crisis, "Hitler Makes British The young workers won the ployers, word came that 500 boys ticeship, the boys received less produced in the copper belt is be­ can do the work of Europeans is Stalin's New Line in France Drop Color Bar,” has aroused Picken’s ire. wage increases for which they had were already on strike. Once wages than new male aud female ing almost wholly drained away unjustified at this stage. All it In France, the Stalinists have started system­ fought, and won them not only started the strike spread like wild We do not comment on it in order to defend trainees taken on who, in many by the parasitic shareholders in concedes is that they will prog­ atic propaganda to win over the social democ­ for themselves but for every ap­ fire through the Clydeside and, fin Padmore, because Padmore can ably defend him­ cases, had to be ta u g h t-th e ir jobs the C ity. ress and recommends that consult­ ratic workers. How is this to be done, under the prentice nationally in the ship­ ally, through 22 industrial towns self, but in Jbrder to defend the Am erican Negro by the boys. According to the conservative ation should take place between chaotic conditions and the m ilitary rule of H it­ building and engineering trades, people against the sly distortions of Pickens. Delegations of apprentices bad Then the employers changer’ "Economist” (March 22nd, 1941): the Government and the European ler?' Why, by the revival of the old Third Period for the final settlement between been seeking for months without their tune, the government hast “In spite of possessing its ricli workers’ trade union oh what por­ policy of the united front—from below! The Com­ Pickens’ theme, this time, is that in England the Amalgamated Engineering results to secure adjustment of ily set up a tribunal to deal with Copperfield, the Colony is very tion the African worker should munist International fo r October 1940 tells us; yon w ill find far less evidence of Jim Crowism Union and the employers provid­ wages. In many cases the employ­ the issue and the solid ranks o! poor, even by colonial standards; be encouraged to regard as with­ “The bolts that, kept the masses riveted to tlie than you will find anywhere else except maybe ed that the apprentice rates thus ers would not even discuss with the strikers brought victory. The the lapd still in the possession of in his grasp. bourgeois regime (that is, tlie Social Democratic Honolulu, Hawaii; and that therefore Negroes negotiated cover all apprentices them, and spokesmen for the ap­ raises, although only rising to 6f the natives is deteriorating ra­ parties) have been broken and the social democ­ should throw all their support behind the govern­ in the country. UNIONS OUTLAWED prentices were fired in several in­ per cent of the adult rate, rep­ pidly while large tracts reserved ratic masses are now so situated that the ques­ ment’s steps to aid England. Once Pickens had As for trade unions for the A fri­ APPRENTICE SYSTEM stances. resent for some boys increases o‘ for Europeans lie empty and un­ tion of what is to be done becomes ever more made more than GO lectures all over England, and can workers, the Commission sees The young workers were fight­ Victory came because of the more than 100 per cent, and ver: used. The strikes and rio tin g urgent with them . . . At this point the Com­ he claims that “for the Negro, the worst place in no. immediate possibility of any. ing against the reactionary con­ militancy and intelligence with considerable increases for all ap which took place on the copper- munists in a comradely way address their Social England is better than the best place in the United It holds that the policy of the sequences of the five-year appren­ which the issue was fought and prentices. belt a year ago must, therefore, Democratic class brothers to tell them that, there States ...” be regarded as a symptom of a Government should aim at the is only one way out of the situation to which “eventual” establishment of A fri­ The trick Pickens employs here is to separate deeper malaise than a wage dis­ their leaders have brought them—the formation can trade unions. the British Isles from the British Empire and pute between the mines and the of a united front from below.” African workers.” Blit “for trade unionism as it to pick out one isolated, very minor aspect of the What is the purpose of this move? It has two is generally understood by the first to justify all-out, uncritical defense of the Stalin Becomes Premier The strikes and disturbances in purposes, both related to each other. In France British worker, the African work­ second. We are willing to grant, for the sake the copper belt, last year, seri­ the bourgeois regime lies in ruins. Only the ously threatened Britain's war er in Northern Rhodesia is clearly of argument, the truth of Pickens’ observations forces of Hitler prevent its complete collapse. of prohibitive tuitions and child Conference last February was not ready.” Meaning, that the about racial discrimination in England (although (Continued from page 1) program and the British Govern­ Only the German military dictatorship, and not labor lias been introduced. The to remove the Communist government will not permit it. current reports about separate Jim Crow bomb tion. Far from lessening, this ten­ ment, wise in the ways of dealing that of the senile Petain, keeps the workers in repressive measures a d o p ted Party from its dominant posi­ shelters do not jibe with his pretty picture). But dency will become more pro­ with trouble in the colonies, sent Unfortuuately for tlie gentlemen check. What will happen later? A real revolu­ against the peasantry have been tion jn the country. At that is that the decisive question, as Pickens tries to nounced, especially with the ae- out a Commission to investigate. of the Commission, the African tion would be as menacing to Stalin as to Hitler. no less severe. The peasants have time we wrote; “Even the for­ make it appear? tual outbreak of hostilities. The Commission’s report lias now worker is hardly likely to wait Stalin would like to be able to control any move­ been corralled in the “ collectives.” mality of ruling through the been published. until they (the Commissioners) Ask Churchill, and the other imperialists, and DEPENDENCE ON MARKET m ent among the w orkers so as to steer i t in The cultivation of the landstrips party—)which never was a It reveals that the Commission consider them ready for trade un­ they’ll answer only too quickly that it is not. On top of the disruption of for­ accordance with his own reactionary interests. has been severely restricted. The monolithic hureaucratic entity was not altogether satisfied with ionism. The young workers of the Churchill and his class are not fighting to preserve eign trade has still further inten­ Above ’all he is afraid, qnd with the best of cause, high taxation imposed on the but remains very heterogen­ the conditions of the African Copperbelt in Northern Rhodesia Negro rights in the British Isles, they are fight­ sified the internal crisis. Far from that the French workers w ill be polarized around peasants is tantamount to forced ous)—not only becomes cum­ workers or the relations between have a splendid tradition of strug­ ing to preserve the British EMPIRE, which means having become self-sufficient in the Fourth International. Hence be will use the grain collections. All these laws bersome but actually turns in­ them and the Europeans. During gle behind them, dating back to the continued exploitation and oppression of hun­ accordance with Stalin’s theory of entire resources of the powerful Soviet bureauc­ have been passed in the last 12 to a grave obstacle to stability the inquiry, the Africans put for­ 1934 when the Government of the dreds of millions of colored workers and peasants building socialism in one coun­ racy to gain control of the French movement. months. because of the very danger of ward a claim that their work en­ Union of South Africa lent the in Africa aud India and the West Indies. try, Soviet economy still depends a rift between its upper and titled them to a higher wage than ntineowners a few bombing planes What would Stalin do with such control if on the world market, above all for STALIN FEARS MASSES Pickens is happy that two years ago in Lon­ lower tiers, because of the very they receive at present. The Com­ when asked to subdue the strik­ once it could be achieved? His real purpose would machines and machine tools. W ith The ferocity of these repressive don he “could roam through the whole town, and threat, especially in war time mission accepted this contention ing copper workers. They will he to demonstrate his usefulness to the bourgeoisie the United States embargo, im­ measures is a gauge of the fear stop and step into any public place, and eat and conditions, that the Bonapart- and recommended that the basic learn in the bard school of the and to Hitler once more. But if worst comes to posed by Roosevelt, the last source of the Stalin regime in the face worst and he must play a last card, then Stalin drink, and without receiving any discourtesy, ist rule may be challenged s ta rtin g wage o f 12|6 (about $3) class struggle how to make them­ of these v ita l necessities has been of the increasing discontent and would not be averse to an adventure in France could crowd shoulder to shoulder with the throng­ within the ranks of the party a m onth fo r surface and 22|6 selves "ready” for trade union or­ cut o ff.' resistance of the masses. The to divert attention away from Bussia, or to force ing English people, without a ripple of displeas­ i t s e l f.” (S O C IA L IS T A P ­ (about $5.50 a m onth) fo r under­ ganization and for the day of Moreover, the Slalin-Hitler fear of the regime is further in­ the imperialists to make peace ar.d to leave Rus­ ure.” But when he tries to imply that this is P E A L . F ebru ary 1, 1941.) ground workers should be raised reckortjng with British Imperial­ dicated by such significant items what the British ruling class is fighting for, he pact serves only to drain increas­ by 2|6 (62c:). ism and its Commissions. sia alone. We are told in another article in the as the allocation in the 1941 At the same time we predicted knows that he is deceiving his public. ing quantities of raw materials Of course the Commission did M arch. 1934. Communist International that social democracy and foodstuffs. Even if Hitler budget of 10 billion rubles to the in that same article that the bu­ “wants to force the masses to accept but one Padmore described how the progress of’ the war were willing to send the Soviet GPU. This is the firts time in his­ reaucracy is so ravaged by tlif alternative, the victory of either one or the other has compelled the British ruling class to tempor­ Union the necessary machinery tory that the GPU lias been open­ crisis and so hopelessly divided imperialism, as if the world contained only im­ arily lower some of the color bars against Ne­ and equipment in exchange, the ly included in the budget. that the only possible means o' perialists and not also peoples, hundreds of m il­ groes. The reason was not that they believe in Pierre Frank Remains needs of bis own war economy The crisis in the economy, stabilizing the regime “lies in tin lions of human beings, that can rise up in arms equal rights for Negroes, but that they want to would prevent him. which was further sharpened by open assumption of power by a to put an end to the war in their own way and strengthen the imperialist system that keeps the the outbreak of World War II, single individual who rules as ar Imprisoned In British Jail in their own interests.” great bulk of Negroes in subjection. S T A L IN ’S “ S O L U T IO N ” absolute dictator by virtue of tin has been' reflected in a political The Stalinists cry everywhere “ Stop the W ar!” W ith what domestic measures control of the army and the GPU Because for every Negro who might be able crisis. In the past, Stalin has re­ The Russian proletariat and the peasants stopped has Stalin met this crisis? So alone.” LONDON, England, April 2 (By to go freely in England, there were and are a furbished the prestige of his re­ tenced to six months imprison­ the last war by resorting to revolution. Short far as the bureaucracy is concern­ Mail) — Pierre Frank, French thousand Negroes in Africa who can’t go where gime when confronted by such Stalin’s open assumption o’ ment for having failed to register of revo lu tion there can be no such th in g as a ed, S ta lin has on ly reinforced its revolutionist, sentenced by the Ila- they want, or work where they want, or vote, or crises, by instituting a mass power, however, does not solve with the police. Frank explained "people’s” peace fo r w hich the S ta lin ists clam or. privileges. The bureaucracy lias ladier government in his absence belong to a union, or a party, or even an African purge, (Moscow Frameups, hunts the crisis in the Soviet Union any how he had been condemned by In reality they want a negotiated peace on any proved that it is incapable of to eight years imprisonment for form of the NAACP. for “spies” and "wreckers,” etc.). more than a boil coming to a the French government and that term s so th a t the w a r w ill stop— or so they hope making the least sacrifice for the anti-imperialist propaganda, is Since the outbreak of the war head cures an infection. The crisis he had felt that, had he registered —before Russia is dragged into it. Whoever takes defense of the Soviet Union. The another ..mass purge has been in w ill inevitably deepen still further saved from deportation to France with the British authorities in the NAACP Picket Lines bureaucrats refuse to relinquish seriously the idea tliat the Stalinists could or progress. But Stalin’s' apparatus and aggravate the discontent and — but only to be kept in deten­ usual way, he would have been The NAACP picket lines scheduled to be held would prepare tlie working class for revolution, or by a single iota the enormous tio n here! of repression has become so cor­ resistance of the masses to the turned over to the French gov­ could or would lead a really revolutionary struggle throughout the country on April 26 were far from proportion of the national income roded that it. can no longer be regime. By coining out into th< F ra n k ’s case came under the ernment. His explanation brought against imperialism, lias learned nothing from the successful demonstrations against Jim Crow­ which they devour. reconstructed by a mass purge open, S ta lin only makes it pos jurisdiction of Herbert Morrison, from the judge a denunciation of ism th a t they easily could have been. the terrible defeats brought on the workers by In respect to the masses, how­ Laborite cabinet member. Morri­ alone. More drastic measures are sible for this discontent to preci him as “a dangerous revolution­ Stalinism. But that Stalin, as a last desperate ever, no sacrifice is considered They were poorly organized, and consequently, necessary. pitate itself upon his head as the son’s secretary, replying to an ap­ ary dealing in subversive propa­ measure might try an adventure against Hitler— not well attended. too great. The wages of the Rus­ real criminal responsible for the peal by Fenner Brockway of* the ganda.” Like the previous Bonapartes, that is not only not excluded, but is a distinct sian w orkers have been slashed. Independent Labor Party, asking This must be a lesson to the leaders of the present unbearable impasse. Sta­ And now that his six months possibility. Hours of work have been !ucreas- Stalin is finding it necessary to lin ’s present imposing height only that Frank be permitted to remain NAACP, or all their other efforts will also be reach for a crown. The formality are up, he is to be kept in deten­ ed. The prices of daily nece~sities in England, wrote; * * * unavailing. They must pay more attention to measures the depth of the abyss tion indefinitely. have skyrocketed, accompanied by of ruling through a party must involving the Negro masses in the struggle against he is approaching. The mono “The Home Secretary has increasing inflation and growing be discarded — the danger of a discrimination. It is necessary and correct to lithic facade he lias created w ill had this case under review and scarcity of goods. By a series of clash between the upper and low­ "DEMOCRACY" IS SAVED! take care of court action, to prepare briefs for soon split wide open, revealing can assure you that there is no IN LOS ANGELES decrees the workers face crimina,’ er tiers of the party is too grave From the New York Times, May 7; Congress, to file telegrams of protest. But unless the enormity of tlie crisis he if intention of deporting Frank prosecution for quitting a job or in the face of the domestic crisis buy the FOURTH INTERNA­ these actions are backed up by the great bulk trying to cover up. to a cou ntry where he would be “QUEBEC. Que., May 6 (Canadian Press)— even coming late to work; they and the war. It lias become neces­ T IO N A L a t: of the Negro people (and everyone knows they Today more than ever be­ liable to be persecuted. He (the Any Person who expresses a belief that Germany face prison terms for turning out sary to curb and stifle and weak­ Smith’s Consolidated News are more aroused by present day developments fore, the defense of the Soviet Home S ecre tary) could not see defective goods; they face charges en even the last vestiges of the Stand 613% So. H ill Street. may win the war is guilty of violating the De­ than ever before), nothing will come of them. party by concentrating all power Union means first, and foremost his way, however, to setting of “hooliganism” in-the event of General News Stand 326 W. fense of Canada Regulations, regardless of the in the state and by concentrating a political revolution that will him at liberty in this country For more demonstrations involving the masses! accidents or breakdowns in the 5th Street. spirit in which the remark was made, Judge For real preparation and organization of such factory. the state in the personal rule of overthrow Stalin and his re­ and has made an order for his Sam Smith’s News Stand 5th Thomas Tremblay said today in a Court of Ses­ demonstrations to show the reel strength of the Children have been driven out one man. gime and restore workers’ dem­ continued detention here.” and Main Street. Negroes! of schools through the imposition The task of the 18th Party ocracy in the Soviet Union. On October 29th Frank was sen­ sions Judgement.” 6 — THE MILITANT MAY 10, 1941

for 1941 and the government w ill meet its increased tax schedule. The handful of corporation owners w ill still have $3]/2 billion in profits to keep their The Soviet Union Is In Where yachts in repair. If the war demands still more taxes—as it w ill — we can suggest some further substantial sources More Danger Than Ever We Stand of federal revenue. Piled up in the corporation treasuries and in By Albert Goldman the banks arc billions in unused capital reserves. Hitler Is Now Within Striking Distance of the Ukraine; And All Instead of “ putting some fat on its bones,” let’s The Stalinists Ignore Fascism slice this useless fat from Big Business’ belly. Stalin Can Think of Is "Peace"—And A New Hitler Agreement In this column last week it was pointed out that The bosses don’t like our solution to the tax W ith each passing day bringing more victories to Hitler, is preparing to attack Hitler. both the Stalinists and the group behind Lindbergh, problem? Well, the workers don’t like the bosses’ the danger to the Soviet Union becomes ever greater- If the work­ These moves are too minor to in­ for different reasons to be sure, completely ignore, in solution either! Only— there’s a helluva lot more ers in the Soviet Union, deprived by Stalin of accurate informa­ dicate such an im portant purpose. their anti-war propaganda, the question that agitates workers than bosses! tion and the right to think and speak independently, are un­ And, besides, Stalin still clings the minds of millions of workers. This is the ques­ As a matter of fact, our tax program is too gen­ aware of the danger to .their country, surely the workers of to his fundamental aim of avoid­ tion of what to do about the danger of fascism repres­ erous toward the bosses. Why should they be per­ countries where information is still available understand the ing a major conflict. ented, as far as these millions of workers are con­ meaning of H itler’s victories so far as the safety of the Soviet cerned, by a possible victory of Hitler. mitted to coin any profits at all out of the blood STALIN SEEKS A NEW Union is concerned. If there is any additional evidence to prove that and misery of the workers who must do the fight­ AGREEMENT WITH HITLER Wc do not have to accept all the rumors set into motion by the Stalinist leadership side-steps this question it can ing and dying in the war? The best explanation seems to interested parties to the effect be found in the May Day Manifesto published in the order to attempt a solution of his be that he is using these indirect We’d like to relieve the bosses altogether of any that Hitler will next send his Daily Worker. In this lengthy document this ques­ economic problems. methods to tell Hitler that he further worries over taxes. mechanized army into the Soviet tion is not even mentioned, let alone discussed. It wants to arrive at some agree­ is hardly believable but it is the truth that, at this LET THE GOVERNMENT EXPROPRIATE Union. Facts well-known to STALIN'S MOVES—ARE PROGRAM FOR TODAY'S FIGHT ment. And it is quite likely that THE WAR INDUSTRIES AND PLACE THEM everybody indicate how serious, THEY MERE CAMOUFLAGE? time when the danger of fascism looms large in the Hitler will be willing to enter in­ minds of the workers, the word itself occurs in the 1. No union fig-leaves for govern­ UNDER THE CONTROL AND MANAGE­ the danger to the Soviet Union It has been clear to everyone to another agreement with Stalin. manifesto only once. And then very casually and MENT OF THE WORKERS! re a lly is. that Stalin is aware of the dang­ ment strikebreaking. Demand that trade What kind of an agreement? with reference to some acts of Roosevelt. Hitler is master of all of Eu­ er that H itler represents. He has Production can be organized by the workers so Perhaps with reference to joint union officials resign from all posts in the rope. He has a huge army that made enpugh open although very As against the Lindbergh group and the Stalinists that all existing plant capacity is in operation. The occupation of the Dardanelles; has practically nothing to do. He cautious moves to indicate his who ignore the question of fascism, the pro-war New government, including the OPM and the nine to ten million unemployed can be put to work perhaps with reference to a pos­ must feed all of Europe and the extreme anxiety. Are these moves Dealers led by Roosevelt, and the anti-war Socialist sible division of territory to be National Mediation Board. producing goods in the 20,000 or so American necessary food is lacking. He Workers Party never for a moment leave the question made with the purpose of confus­ taken away from the. control of plants which are today working far under capacity needs oil for his industry and ing the statesmen of England and of fascism out of consideration. For altogether dif­ 2. Organize the picket lines for all- Britain in the Middle East—Iraq because most of the war orders have been monop­ mechanized forces. The Ukraine the United States, leading them ferent reasons it nevertheless remains a fact that in and Iran. Hitler might get the out militant defense against the thuggery olized by a handful of big corporations. and the Caucasus can solve his into vain hopes of a possible the propaganda of the Rooseveltians as well as in right to send his experts into the problem of food and oil. So every­ shift on his part to the democ­ our propaganda the problem of the relationship of of company hoodlums and government There’ll be plenty of goods for the workers to Soviet Union for the purpose of body thinks and undoubtedly H it­ racies? It is true that some of fascism to the war plays a tremendously important buy then. There’ll b’e plenty of guns, tanks and increasing production and thus cops. ler included. his moves have had that effect role. fighting planes to handle the fascists, both at home help Germany. Beyond question Hitler would but to attribute them to an in 3. Organize Union Defense Guards and abroad. Whereas it is impossible to RoosevelVs Use of the Fascist Menace prefer to settle accounts with tention on Stalin’s part simply to predict the exact nature of any Roosevelt and the New Dealers, including the So­ to protect the picket lines and union halls The millionaires won’t like this? Ah, but there the British Empire. Were he to fool Churchill and Roosevelt is future agreement between Stalin cial-Democrats, utilize the fear the workers have of w6n’t be millionaires to raise objections after our succeed in gaining a decisive vic­ that were his purpose he would against ‘law and order committees,’ and and Hitler, it is certain that so fascism in order to tie the working masses to then- program goes into effect. tory against England he would not to take Stalin seriously. If long as Hitler continues on his war efforts. All the forces clamoring for war play all other anti-labor bands. then turn his attention to the follow a more consistent line, victorious march Stalin will do it up as a war for democracy against fascism. Some Soviet Union with the feeling since one must also assume on 4. Call an immediate halt to all acts his best to . come to an agree­ are absolutely cynical and understand very well that that this is a minor problem. But that hypothesis that he follows ment with H itler who, as the rep­ fascism has nothing to do with the basic causes of of hostility between the AFL and CIO his efforts at invading England such a course with the conniv­ resentative of the dominant pow­ this war and they know that if the United States have failed and he is turning his ance of Hitler. which serve the bosses’ strikebreaking. er in Eurppe, can decide exactly goes into the actual fighting it will not do so in What Iraq Means attention to the Mediterranean During the last week an an­ what to offer Stalin, if he will order to defeat fascism but to protect its imperialist 5. Demand the unification of the If the English workers need an object lesson of and to the Middle East. nouncement was made that it was offer anything. interests. It would be naive to believe that the reac­ the dangers facing them in their struggle against Should he succeed in gaining AFL and CIO on the basis of preserving prohibited to ship through the It must not be forgotten that tionary Democrats of the South and the reactionary control of that section his oil Hitler, the situation in Iraq is that object lesson. Soviet Union any arms, muni­ in case of a prolonged war H it­ Republicans of the North are interested in democracy. and extending the industrial form of or­ problem will be solved but not So long as the fight against H itler is waged un­ tions or explosives. In Pravda a ler, by attacking the Soviet his food problem. The Ukraine A great many other people, it must be admitted, ganization. der the leadership of the British imperialists, so report was published that 12.000 Union, can cause all the reaction­ would become more necessary are absolutely sincere in considering this war as one long w ill the hundreds of millions of colonial German motorized troops had aries in England and the United 6. Independent working class politic­ than ever to solve that problem. for democracy and therefore in advocating American been landed in Finland. The States to clamor for a negotiated people ruled by the British imperialists not only participation in it. The sincerity of some and in­ And his armies would practically actual effect of the ban on arms al action. Build an Independent Labor look with indifference upon the efforts of Great peace with Hitler on the ground sincerity of others have little or nothing to do with surround the Soviet Union. shipments may be nothing at all. Britain to avoid defeat at the hands of Germany, that he is the savior of the capi­ the question. The fact remains that only by pictur­ Party. Should he fail to drive the B rit­ The truth of the report about the talist world from Bolshevism. ing this war as one against fascism is the govern­ but w ill actually look forward to such a defeat. ish out of the Mediterranean and landing of German troops in Fin­ 7. Expropriate the war industries Through Timoshenko, one of ment able to obtain the support of the masses for For to the colonial peoples a defeat of British the N e ar and M iddle E a st he land can be questioned. What is his lieutenants, Stalin on May its war efforts. How else could the support of the and operate them under workers’ control. imperialism means a chance for national independ­ would be under a still greater significant is that the ban on 1st pleaded for peace throughout masses be obtained? ence. The main enemy to the colonial masses is the necessity to utilize the resources arms shipments was officially an­ the world. He did not indicate the 8. For a rising scale of wages to meet It. is undoubtedly true that the vast majority of enemy they are immediately confronted with and nounced and the report on the nature of the peace that he of the Soviet Union. the English workers support Churchill because they the rising cost of living. landing of troops was published wants. F o r h im peace w ould be the defeat of that enemy is what the}/ seek. No one can predict the time, believe that they are fighting for democracy against in Pravda. the best possible situation even Each time a subject people of Great Britain the occasion and the method of fascism. The stubborn courage of the English work­ Why should these things have though it meant slavery under sees a chance to take advantage of the difficulties the future campaign Hitler will ers in going through the hell-fire of constant bombing confronting British .imperialism, that people w ill been given publicity at this time, Hitler’s regime for millions of can be explained only on the assumption that they launch against the Soviet Union. and why should the Swedish people. surely revolt. They certainly ought to do so and are willing to fight to the death against a fascist One dare not ignore, however, Communist press take such pains But peace is something that he they deserve the support of the workers of all victory. The leaders of their organizations have not the hundreds of thousands of to acquaint foreign correspond­ is hardly likely to get. Neither shown them any way to fight fascism other than by countries including the workers of England. A ents with the fact that the Ger­ Hitler, anxious to destroy the Where Taxes Belong troops H itler has stationed at the supporting Churchill. colonial or semi-colonial people fighting for in­ man Communist Party issued a Soviet Union nor the revolution­ Who’s going to pay for this war? Soviet border and the pressing When Roosevelt w ill decide to commence actual dependence against an imperialist master is con­ May 1st Manifesto calling for ary working class anxious to save The American Bankers Association has a swell fighting he will use the same methods used by the ducting a progressive war and deserves the sup­ need Hitler has to seize the re­ defeatism in Germany? the Soviet Union will give him answer— for the bankers. ruling group in England to obtain the willing cooper­ port of every worker- sources of the Soviet Union in It is hardly possible that Stalin peace. W. Randolph Burgess, vice chairman of Mor­ ation of the working masses. He has already placed gan’s National City Bank of New York, gave this If it is true that the revolt in Iraq can be at­ trade union leaders in governmental boards and he answer in his report, as head of the Association’s tributed to Nazi influence, the English workers w ill do it to a greater extent when actual shooting Economic Policy Commission, to the meeting of must ask themselves why Nazi influence can have will start. It is to the trade union leadership that the Association’s executive council on A pril 29. such power. Is it conceivable that a clique friendly Stalinist Clique Scabs he w ill assign the greatest responsibility for convinc­ ing the workers that this is a war against fascism. Amid the approving nods of his financial col­ to the Nazis could take power against the active leagues, Burgess declared: w ill of the great masses of people? If it is true that Our Program Against Fascism Nazi agents are behind the revolt against British “ . . . Too high tax rates on corporations tend to Our party, in its own way, constantly stresses the weaken the incentive for efficiency and in itia tive ... imperialism, it can be explained only by the fact On MEBA Ship Strike connection between fascism and the war. In the first that the masses are so incensed at British rule that The capacity of business to adjust itself to post­ place we emphasize over and over again that this is war conditions w ill depend partly on its putting they are indifferent to the character of the people not a war for democracy against fascism and that Joseph Curran, president of the National Maritime Union for a complete investigation of some fat back on its bones in this period. Similarly, behind the revolt. Roosevelt, in dragging us into the war, is not doing (CIO), ordered members of his union last week to break the all facts in the American Ex­ Liberals and social democrats can argue all they so because he fears fascism but to defend and extend too high rates for taxes on individuals kill off picket line of the Marine Engineers Benevolent Association, port Line strike.” initiative and stimulus to take the risks which are please about the relative merits of democratic im­ the interests of American capitalism. The policy of another CIO affiliate, which was striking four ships of the Ame­ As a result of this latest scabby necessary both for defense and the after-war re­ perialism as against fascist imperialism. But the aiding Britain “short of war” or by means of war rican Export Line at Jersey City, N. J., docks. undertaking, strong opposition does not have the altruistic purpose of defending adjustments.” peoples subjected to the rules of British demo­ Despite the reluctance of the N M U members to carry out within the ranks of the CIO and cratic imperialism are not greatly influenced by British democracy but ol’ defeating the most danger­ Burgess added: his strikebreaking orders, Curran last Thursday managed to among the NMU seamen is begin­ ous imperialist rival of American capitalism. “ W ith these reservations, taxes must be in­ these arguments. They know their immediate round up a crew of'unlicensed seamen and sent them through ning to crystallize against Cur­ creased; the increases should include means for enemy and they would like to get rid of him. the MEBA picket-line to the American Export Liner Siboney, ran and his Stalinist clique. How often have we said it, and we shall continue which was the first ship struck on its arrival in port April 26. to repeat it, that fascism is a product of the capi­ absorbing part of the widespread buying power From the very beginning of the war our party S.I.U. BACKS STRIKE Manned by Curran’s strikebreakers, the S.S. Siboney pulled talist system and even if the capitalist democracies created by the defense program, and at the same has pointed out that the hundreds of millions of The Seafarers International Un­ out of port last Thursday bound should win, fascism would not be destroyed and the time making all the people tax-conscious.” colonial peoples cannot be expected to struggle to the shipowners and government. ion, an AFL affiliate, pledged its for Lisbon. danger of fascism would be just as great if not greater T hat’s plain enough! According to the bankers, against Hitler under the leadership of British im­ Curran charged that the strike word to the MEBA that its mem­ than it is at present. The MEBA licensed engineers the war w ill be paid for out of the “ widespread perialists. If the English workers lake control of was over the question of the war bers would respect the MEBA struck the Siboney when the com­ In the second place, we take into consideration buying power.” It w ill be financed, in other words, bonus, an issue which he asserted picket-line. This is in line with the struggle against H itler by establishing a W ork­ the legitimate fear ol' the workers of a possible vic­ pany had tried to force them into could be settled around the con­ the SIU policy as shown during out of the wages of the workers. ers’ government in England and granting complete tory of Hitler and all that lie stands for. Opposition joining the Export Line's compa­ ference table. the MEBA strike on the Robin Along this line the bankers, the industrialists, independence to all the colonial peoples, they will to the imperialist war is absolutely imperative for ny union. The Siboney had been Actually, the major issue of the line, when the SIU backed up the the Congressmen, the Treasury officials are cooking immediately obtain the enthusiastic cooperation every Marxist, but he who refuses to take into con­ recently transferred from the strike is the attempt of the com­ MEBA although the strikers be­ up a tax plan in Congress to raise an additional and support of these colonial peoples. Hitler would sideration the tear the workers have of fascism and Ward Line, with which the En­ pany to foist a company union longed to the CIO. all that it means and does not adapt his agitation and $3% billion. Their plan is as simple as ABC. They come up against a stone wall in his attempts to gineer’s union has a contract, to upon the engineers. They are The MEBA conflict with the propaganda to that tact, is not a Marxist but a sect­ propose to shove their sticky paws deeper into the arouse the Indians, the Arabs, the Africans against the American Export line. striking for a union contract. Am erican E xpo rt Lines goes back arian. workers’ pockets. They’re going to filch a billion an England ruled by the workers. Once the strike began, the en­ to the 1936 strike, when the MEMBERS BACK STRIKERS Unlike the Stalinists we are not at all afraid to or so out of the workers’ right pockets in increased The danger for the English workers is very gineers on three other Export MEBA refused to accept a con­ Curran also claimed that the tackle that problem because we hav.e the answer to income taxes on wages as low as $800 a year. Then great but they still have a chance to stop and ut­ Line ships also came out. and the tract without the unlicensed per­ striking engineers did not have the question that is troubling the minds of the work­ they intend to cut holes in the left pockets of the MEBA demanded liquidation of sonnel also being offered an agree­ terly rout Hitler by getting rid of the British im­ the backing of their union or the er. the question of how to defeat fascism. The sum workers so that the workers can drop another bil­ the company union and a union ment. The unlicensed men lost perialists and taking the control of their country other engineers on the Export and substance of our program to defeat fascism here lion or two “ painlessly” along the waysides for contract. and the MEBA men went back into their own hands. line. This claim is completely and abroad is the socialist revolution. Only a Workers’ without contract. The NMU seem­ easy pickings, in the form of "hidden” taxes—ex­ CURRAN’S PRETEXT fake, since not a single man on and Farmers’ government can wage a successful war ed an agreement in 1937, but Cur­ cise and sales levies. EXPOSED the Siboney went back to work against fascism. ran paid back the support he had Yes, indeed, the bankers’ plan is as simple as The strike had been called ori­ and since the MEBA membership received from the MEBA by fail­ To sum up: ABC. Rob the workers to pay for the bankers’ ginally with the agreement of Cur­ voted unanimous backing of the ing to give support to the engi­ Why Cops Get High Pay ran and after consultation with strike at a meeting on May 2. 1. The group behind Lindbergh ignores the problem w ar! neers wh.cn they asked for it. The bankers’ plan must be stopped. The New York Post, in a recent editorial, attempts him . Despite the strikebreaking ac­ of fascism because it sympathizes with and has strong to convince the 27.000 subway worker members of The American Export Line is tendencies towards fascism. LET THOSE WHO PROFIT FROM THE Curran’s scabhefding job was tion of Curran, Local 33 of the the Transport Workers Uhion that they’d be better under the control of the Lehman WAR PAY FOR THE WAR! pulled on May 1, after his return MEBA has voted to continue the 2. The Stalinist leadership ignores the problem be- off under civil service without the union. Example: banking interests, with which front a conference wjtjj govern­ strike against the company’s other We’ll show Morganlhau how to collect his $3i/o New York Governor Herbert Leh­ ciuiso it has no revolutionary program to solve it. Look a t the cops, says the Post., look a t the pay ment officials in Washington. ships as they come into port. billion more in taxes all in one nice juicy slice— and they’re getting without a m ilitant union. The local has sent the following man is connected. The National 3. Roosevelt and his followers constantly emph­ Using the flimsy excuse that without a wince or a murmur from the masses. telegram to Philip Murray, CIO Labor R elations Board has been asize the problem in order to tie the workers to the We’d like to point out. that if it’s not their own the pickets being employed by Last year, before the all-out war spending, president: war ellorls of American imperialism. union which has brought the cops such high pay, the the MEBA were not actual strik­ stalling off the case of the MEBA corporation profits, after all taxes were paid, existence of all the other unions has had something ers, Curran broke the MEBA pick­ “ We protest against the ac­ on the Lehman lines for over 4. Our party brings the problem to the fore by totalled more than $5 billion (admitted). In the —a great deal—to do with it. tion of Joseph Curran, a vice stressing the necessity for the workers to take over et line. The eight Siboney engi­ three years. During this time, the governmental power. first' quarter of this year, average corporation pro­ Witness: Police Commissioner Valentine’s “pep” neers originally involved had en­ president of the CIO, which company has attempted to weed fits increased almost 20 per cent over last year. talk last Sunday to 2500 New York cops to be “ pre­ gaged for short runs on other un­ brought about replacement of Between us and every other group there is the eight striking CIO engineers out the union militants and re­ Total admitted profits this year will thus undoubt­ pared” if a subway strike comes this June. The bosses ion lines until the strike was a ast gulf existing betiveen those who support'capital­ edly mount to at least $7 billion- are always willing to give a few thousand cops high­ settled. with company union strike­ place them with company union ism and those who want to destroy it and thus destroy Just take one-half of these corporation profits er pay so that they can be used against the unions. To further justify his finky aid breakers. We ask that you call men. fascism.