THE GREAT AU TOMOBILE STRIKE

BY \1\IILLIAM WE INSTONE

Lessons of the Maritime Strikes ROY H UDSOJ\'

The Rubber Front in Akron JAMES KELLER

Party Mobilization in Ohio JOHN WILLIAMSOJ\'

Trial of Trotskyite Agents of Fascism I. AMTER

Trotskyism in the United States C. A. HATHAWAY

Struggle Against Criminal Syndicalist Laws ANNA DAMON

<<<<~<<<<<<<<<~(((~((((((~(( TWENTY CENTS

Y. Y. N. N. York. York. New New D D Sta. Sta. 148, 148, Box Box 0. 0. P. P.

PUBLISHERS PUBLISHERS LIBRARY LIBRARY WORKERS WORKERS

from from or or bookshop bookshop your your from from quantity quantity in in Order Order

Ford. Ford. W. W. -James -James Gebert. Gebert. -Bill -Bill

struggle." struggle." and and tion tion

unionist." unionist." trade trade every every to to

unioniza­ through through

conditions conditions

better better to to

indispensable indispensable is is strike. strike. It It on on go go they they

march march forward forward their their in in workers workers steel steel

when when

workers workers

steel steel the the of of

support support tive tive the the of of hands hands the the in in weapon weapon powerful powerful

ac­ into into masses masses more more one one is is Negro Negro the the pamphlet pamphlet drawing drawing new new of of "Foster's "Foster's

necessity necessity the the and and industry, industry, steel steel the the

Stachel. Stachel. -Jack -Jack

in in worker worker Negro Negro the the of of role role

important important

it." it." miss miss to to

the the emphasizes emphasizes pamphlet pamphlet afford afford "Foster's "Foster's can can problems problems labor labor of of student student

or or worker worker active active no no steel, steel, on on writes writes

Johnstone. Johnstone.

-Jack -Jack Foster Foster when when But But message. message. important important

pamphlet." pamphlet." this this of of an an has has he he sure sure be be can can one one pamphlet pamphlet

new new a a copies copies writes writes 100,000 100,000 Foster Foster distribute distribute "Whenever "Whenever should should "We "We

OPINIONS OPINIONS

ahead. ahead. lie lie which which struggles struggles big big the the in in action action

to to guide guide inspiring inspiring an an but but strategy strategy strike strike on on handbook handbook pensable pensable

indis­ an an only only not not is is It It won. won. when when victory victory the the consolidate consolidate to to sary sary

neces­ steps steps the the and and reserves, reserves, and and forces forces strike strike publicity, publicity, strike strike

defense, defense, strike strike relief, relief, strike strike leadership, leadership, strike strike democratic democratic tion, tion,

organiza­ and and preparation preparation strike strike of of problems problems the the detail detail in in covers covers

Steel Steel in in Strike Strike a a Means Means What What steel. steel. in in looming looming is is which which strike strike

gigantic gigantic the the of of effects effects probable probable and and significance significance political political the the and and

millions, millions, of of welfare welfare and and lives lives the the affecting affecting stake, stake, at at issues issues vital vital

the the imperialism, imperialism, American American of of fountainhead fountainhead the the constitutes constitutes today today

which which industry industry giant giant the the in in outlook outlook favorable favorable present present the the lyzing lyzing

ana­ 1919, 1919, of of strike strike steel steel great great the the of of strategist strategist master master and and leader leader

the the by by strategy strategy and and tactics tactics strike strike on on exposition exposition brilliant brilliant A A

FOSTER FOSTER Z. Z. WILLIAM WILLIAM BY BY

STEEL STEEL IN IN

STRIKE STRIKE A A MEANS MEANS WHAT WHAT

1937! 1937! of of Strike Strike Steel Steel Big Big Tile Tile

Horizon! Horizon! tile tile on on Looming Looming VOL. XVI, No. 3 MARCH, 19!7 7he COMMUNIST

A MAGAZINE OF THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF MARXISM-LENINISM PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE COMMUNIST PARrY OF THE U.S.A.

CONTENTS

Review of the Month A. B •• 195

The Great Auto Strike WILLIAM WEINSTONE 201

Lessons of the Maritime Strikes ROY HUDSON 229

The Rubber Front in Akron ·JAMES KELLER

Party Mobilization in Ohio JOHN WILLIAMSON

The Trial of the Trotskyite Agents of Fascism. 1. AMTER •

Trotskyism in the United States c. A. HATHAWAY

The Struggle Against Criminal Syndi- calist Laws ANNA DAMON •

Book Reviews JOHN KURTZ

Entered a second cltJSS matter November 2, 1927, tJt the Post Oflice tJt New Yorl, N. Y., under the Act of MtJrch J, 1879· Send chech, money orders tJnd correspondence to THB CoMI\IUNUT, P.O. Box 148, SttJ. D (Jo E. rJth St.), New Yorl. Subscription f'tJtes: $2.DO a year; lr.DO for six months; foreign end Canada $2.,o a year. Single copiu :w cents. ~2011 TO COMBAT THE MENACE OF TROTSKYISM

Read and Distribute These Pamphlets To Defend Assassins Is to Help Fascism By Georgi DimitroD . 2c Trotskyism Against World Peace By Earl Browder • lc Why I Resigned from the Trotsky Defense Committee By Mauritz Hallgren . lc At the Moscow Trial By p. N. Priu, K.C., M.P. 5c Trotskyism and Fascism By P. Lang . lOc Trotskyism: Counter-Revolution in Disguise By M. /. Olgin . 15c Trot:sky, the Traitor By Alex Bittelman 3c Trotskyism in the Service of Fascism Against Socialism and Peace By A. Y. Vyshinsky • 5c Traitors Accused Indictment of the Piatakov-Radek Trotskyist Group 5c

Stalin on the New Soviet Constitution 2c Molotov on the New Soviet Constitution . Sc Lenin and Spain By Earl Browder . lc

Complete Catalogue on Request Order from your local bookshop or from WORKERS LmRARY PUBLISHERS P. 0. Box 148, Sta. D New York City REVIEW OF THE MONTH

General Motors Can Be Licked • Labor Wins Important Victory • Contrasts With Green's Truce • Industrial Unionism and the New Strategy • Com­ mon Action for Auto, Steel and Coal • Sit-Down Strikes as a New Weapon • Valuable Experiences of General Motors Struggle • Monopolies Prepare Civil Warfare • Protecting Jobs of Striking Workers • Labor Views Roosevelt Critically ·• From Common Feelings to Political Alliance With Middle Classes • Faster Political Tempo • Victm-y of Maritime Workers • Stamp Out Labor Spying • A Significant Manifesto on Foreign Policy • Proposals Need Amendments • Roosevelt's Judicial Proposals and Certain Liberal Opposition • Struggle Against Trotskyism Is Affair of Progressive Mankind • Young Communist League Prepares Convention.

ABOR. has won a most important agers but with the national officials of L position in the struggle against the corporation. General Motors and the economic After General Motors double-crossed royalists. It has won a position from the "Lansing agreement", and the which it will now be possible to wage union thereupon refused to evacuate the battle for collective bargaining and the plants, Sloan's formula was: no better conditions in the automotive negotiations until the sit-down strikers industry on a wider front and with in­ leave the plants. Morgan, du Pont finitely greater effectiveness. and the entire capitalist press raised Labor has taken a great step for­ the issue of the "sacredness of prop­ ward. It has scored a victory on one of erty" and declared for no compromise the most decisive sectors of the class on this issue. On this, too, General struggle front. It has scored a victory Motors had to back down completely. for all genuinely democratic and anti­ They had to draw in their tails and fascist forces in the country. start negotiation while the sit-downers At the beginning of the strike, Gen­ held the plants. eral Motors refused to negotiate with General Motors had to back down the union altogether. Sloan's formula also on another of its fundamental de­ was: if the workers have grievances, let mands. It said it will under no circum­ them speak to the plant managers. On stances grant the right of "exclusive this issue, General Motors was beaten bargaining" to the Auto Workers' completely. Negotiations are carried Union; it will not "surrended" its on by the union, not with plant man- workers to Lewis' "bondage". From

begun begun have have negotiations negotiations the the Frey Frey in in and and Green Green continues continues It It Motors. Motors. General General

saying. saying. without without goes goes tinues-this tinues-this for for as as well well as as Green Green for for defeat defeat a a was was it it T

con­ Motors Motors General General in in Yes, Yes, "Defeat". "Defeat". shouts shouts Green Green William William FIGHT FIGHT HE HE

workers. workers.

• • • • • •

the the of of demands demands economic economic other other

the the for for and and union union the the of of workers. workers. tablishment tablishment

the the of of es­ demands demands other other complete complete the the the the and and for for rights rights fight fight the the tinuing tinuing

con­ for for positions positions its its for for advantageous advantageous realization realization full full highly highly the the for for fight fight the the

continuing continuing won won have have industry-for industry-for they they the the of of that that history history recognition; recognition; union union

full full of of realization realization the the in in the the time time toward toward first first forward forward position-the position-the tageous tageous

step step great great a a advanced advanced advan­ have have most most a a they they in in strike, strike, Union Union Workers' Workers'

44-day 44-day glorious glorious Auto Auto the the the the through through established established that, that, have have and and industry industry

auto auto the the in in realize realize unionism unionism also also they they company company at at But But blow blow this. this. understand understand

fatal fatal a a fully fully delivered delivered have have union union II II the the and and February February workers workers The The ished. ished.

of of agreement agreement fin­ the the not not and and strike strike therefore therefore is is present present Motors Motors General General

the the truce, truce, in in Green Green the the to to bargaining bargaining contrast contrast In In collective collective for for fight fight The The

I934· I934· in in truce truce Green's Green's of of quences quences plants. plants. Motors Motors General General other other all all in in bers bers

conse­ the the to to mem­ its its measure measure of of large large name name in in the the due due in in collectively collectively

bargain bargain to to right right was was the the and and Alliance", Alliance", strike, strike, "Flint "Flint on on the the and and unions unions

company company the the from from strike, strike, present present the the actually actually were were that that plants plants twenty twenty those those in in

by by confronted confronted months months six six difficulties difficulties for for the the of of deal deal recognition recognition exclusive exclusive

good good A A growth. growth. for for impetus impetus powerful powerful such such won won has has union union the the II, II, February February of of

most most a a and and life life of of agreement agreement lease lease the the By By new new a a Motors. Motors. given given General General of of

were were unions unions plants plants the the company company all all the the in in while while workers workers out out the the of of agency agency

bargaining bargaining genuine genuine wiped wiped only only the the nearly nearly as as was was nition nition union union workers' workers' auto auto

young young the the truce, truce, recog­ its its Green Green for for the the of of fighting fighting is is result result union union The The not. not.

a a As As I934· I934· of of "truce" "truce" infamous infamous the the in in course course Of Of Motors? Motors? General General in in nition nition

Green Green by by them them upon upon imposed imposed defeat defeat recog­ union union for for workers workers the the of of mands mands

terrible terrible the the with with de­ II, II, the the all all meet meet February February of of ment ment agreement agreement this this Does Does

agree­ the the in in resulted resulted which which strike, strike, this this corporation. corporation. the the by by tuted tuted

in in achieved achieved they they insti­ victory victory the the proceedings proceedings compare compare contempt contempt the the of of as as

undoubtedly undoubtedly will will workers workers auto auto The The well well as as officials officials union union the the and and downers downers

sit­ the the against against Motors. Motors. -General -General proceedings proceedings junction junction

masters masters their their with with together together licked licked were were in­ the the of of dismissal dismissal the the to to consent" consent"

They They failed. failed. have have Frey Frey and and Green Green to to "agreed "agreed Motors Motors General General Finally, Finally,

But But strikers. strikers. the the against against violence violence aging aging ment. ment.

encour­ indirectly indirectly and and "outlaw", "outlaw", an an as as agree­ the the of of parcel parcel and and part part is is letter letter

strike strike the the branding branding rights, rights, bargaining bargaining which which Murphy, Murphy, Governor Governor to to letter letter its its

exclusive exclusive for for Union Union Workers' Workers' Auto Auto in in months months six six of of period period a a for for gation gation

the the of of demand demand the the upon upon fire fire their their obli­ this this assume assume to to forced forced was was It It strike. strike.

concentrated concentrated Frey Frey P. P. John John and and Green Green on on plants plants twenty twenty the the in in agency agency gaining gaining

William William Motors, Motors, General General of of creature creature bar­ exclusive exclusive the the as as Union Union Workers' Workers'

vigilante vigilante a a Alliance", Alliance", "Flint "Flint the the with with Auto Auto the the effect effect in in recognize recognize to to forced forced

Together Together strikers. strikers. the the defeat defeat Motors Motors was was It It distance. distance. considerable considerable a a retreat retreat

General General help help to to could could they they all all done done to to had had Motors Motors General General position position this this

COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE THE REVIEW OF THE MONTH 197 on February 16 between the union and itself up as the only recognized bar­ General Motors on the demand of the gaining agency of all General Motors workers in the matter of hours, wages, plants and of the entire industry. speed-up, seniority rights, etc. It con­ A basic element for the consolida­ tinues also, and above all, outside of tion of the first victory and for its the conference room-in the intensive extension is the maintenance and building and strengthening of the building up of the existing fighting union. Now that the workers know that morale of the workers. The workers General Motors can be licked, that justly feel that they have scored a vic­ they need have no fear of joining the tory over the most powerful and labor­ union and fighting for their rights­ hating monopolists of the country-the now is the advantageous time to bring Morgan-du Pont gang. The sit-downers all workers into the union and to de­ have not been evicted. They held the feat completely all efforts of General plants until their union agreed to evac­ Motors to impose upon its employees uate. They have established their com}T.lny unions. union in a most advantageous position It will be childish, and worse, to as­ for continuing the fight. They have sume that General Motors has given compelled President Roosevelt and up the fight. The workers must expect Governor Murphy to protect in a cer­ treachery and double-crosses similar to tain measure the rights of the workers. that following the Lansing agreement. They have forced the Flint city author­ The dastardly attack upon the cele­ ities, servants of General Motors, to brating workers in Anderson, Indiana, give up some of their violent plans. on February 13, is a sinister indication They have scotched in part the maneu­ of what can be expected from General vers of the "Flint Alliance" as well as Motors and its servants. Even to make of Green and Frey. They have proven General Motors live up to the agree­ a power to be recf.oned with. ment of February 11 will require con­ This spirit and consciousness have to stant vigilance on the part of the work­ be maintained and further cultivated. ers and their union, instant readiness It is this spirit and understanding that to restore the battle lines and to fight will help make the victory final and in the spirit of the famous telegram of secure, that will carry labor forward the Flint sit-downers to Governor in all industries to greater · achieve­ Murphy. ments for the progress and democracy But the job is bigger than that. The of the American people. job is to build the union in all General Motors plants, to bring all workers into .. • • it, to make it a democratic and effective osT immediately concerned with organ for the betterment of the con­ M the auto victory and with the fur­ ditions of all workers. The agreement ther successful development of the of February 11 constitutes a victory for fight there are the coal miners and the the workers precisely because the con­ steel workers. The miners' agreement ditions won enable the union to pro­ expires on Aprilt. The Steel Workers' ceed now much more rapidly and ef­ Organizing Committee (S.W.O.C.) is fectively than heretofore in building preparing to present demands to the THE COMMUNIST companies at the same time. It is clear, New York Herald Tribune bewails on the face of this situation, that the "the extraordinary departure in labor interests of the workers in all these strategy introduced by Mr. John L. three industries (auto, coal and steel) Lewis with his highly centralized com­ are interwoven most closely, and that mand". (January 22.) It casts nostalgic intimate collaboration of the three glances at the "autonomous" craft unions is called for imperatively. unions which monopoly capital finds It is well known that the workers in so easy to keep in check. It cries out in General Motors are now fighting not horror at the fact that the workers only the masters of this automotive cor­ now- poration but also the masters of steel " ... march and countermarch as instructed as well as the ultimate masters of the from Washington, and hence 'in place of coal industry. The financial interests of strikes by single unions in single occupations, the Morgan-du Pont gang directly con­ plants and industries, there is here a threat trol General Motors and the United of simultaneous engagements in several indus­ States Steel Corporation. They also tries or throughout an industrial area'." (The quotation is from Mr. Wolman's article on the control directly the production of coke automobile strike in The Independent journal (the captive mines) and are able to ex­ of Columbia U1iversity.) (Ibid.) ert terrific pressure upon the rest of the coal-mining industry. This fact The reader will recall that Wolman, alone would be sufficient to call for a the author of the article quoted by the joint strategy by the unions of these Herald Tribune,is the same gentleman three industries. who designed the treacherous "truce" But there is also an immediate time in auto and put over with the help of element which demands the same William Green in 1934. thing. The auto workers, having made The New York Times, loyal spokes­ an important victorious advance in man of the rapacious moguls of finance General Motors, are now proceeding and corporate industry, is also horror­ to the nextstage of active struggle. At sticken at "the new strategy adopted the same time, the coal miners and by Mr. John L. Lewis and his organiza­ steel workers are engaged in active tions". And continues: preparations for struggle. It is, there­ "They order a strike not against all auto­ fore, obvious that a common strategy mobile manufacturers but solely against one and the most intimate collaboration of big company. The aim is to cripple it not only directly but by subjecting it to the pressure of the auto, coal and steel workers would competition of rival companies." Ganuary 27.) tremendously enhance the power of all of them. It would give them the most These outcries of the monopolists favorable chances for victory and fur­ show unmistakably that industrial ther advancement. unionism which alone enables the This is what the Morgan-du Pont workers to poll together their re­ gang, and the financial oligarchy as a sources, to adopt a common strategy whole, fear most at the present time. and tactics, to utilize effectively the They fear the "new stategy and tactics" rivalries of competing and antagonistic of labor, because this can and does groups of capitalists and thus secure produce results for the workers. The for labor new advantages for progress REVIEW OF THE MONTH 199 and betterment-that this industrial industry or part of it. To look upon it unionism hurts the economic royalists this way would mean to isolate the ad­ and drives fear into their corrupt vanced and militant workers-the sit­ hearts. This fact alone would be con­ downers-from their fellows, to enable clusive proof that the new strategy is the employers to provoke conflicts be­ good for labor. It is also good for the tween strikers and non-strikers, be­ American people generally because it tween union men and non-union men. weakens the monopolies and gives the Considering for the present only one people a chance to advance their in­ type of sit-down strike, the one prac­ terests. ticed in General 1\fotors, and which The monopolies are thus already can be defined as striking key plants by firing away at the common strategy of the sit-down method, it can already be the workers in auto, steel and coal said on the basis of experience that it which the moguls of finance anticipate has proven an extremely powerful and fear. All the more reason for the weapon of struggle. Experience has unions in these industries to shape proven that the power and effectiveness their course of action in the current of this weapon lies not in its ability to months precisely upon a common supplant or substitute for the policies strategy for the three industries. of mass organization and mass strike. Striking key plants by the sit-down or • • • stay-in methods cannot be a substitute IT-DOWN strikes have come to be an for mass organization and mass action. S important weapon in the hands of But due to the special characteristics the workers in the struggle for better of the present economic and political conditions. The course of the fight in situation in the country, which gave General Motors was probably decisive rise to the spread of the sit-down strike, in making it so. this method of struggle would seem to Like every new weapon in the class have proven already at least three posi­ struggle it presents also new problems. tive features. These have to be studied from the ex­ 1. It served to arouse the masses of perience of the mass struggles and a unorganized workers and to hasten and proper solution found for them. The facilitate their organization into the problems are numerous: technical, or­ union for mass strike action. In other ganizational and political. words, it served as a powerful organ­ A correct approach to these prob­ izing weapon. lems would require from the very out­ 2. By the method of staying in, the set that the sit-down strike of key workers are developing a potent means workers in key plants be considered as of preventing strike-breaking in addi­ an additional weapon in the hands of tion to the method of mass picketing the workers to organize and struggle outside the plants. A combination of as a mass for their demands. It won't the two has proven a tremendous do to look upon the sit-down strike as power. something that makes no longer neces· ~· The stay-in strike has raised a big sary the organization and strike action political issue, the struggle for which of all workers, in all plants, of a given can have far-reaching favorable conse- 200 THE COMMUNIST quences for the further advancement protection than General Motors has of labor and its allies. It is the right of had." It is worthwhile noting some of the striking worker to his job. these "preparations". Says Porter: The experience of the struggle "One large industrial company is said to should be studied with the greatest have an espionage department under which care, in all details, in order to arrive a workman ean never know whether the man at a final judgment on this very im­ working alongside him is spying upon him." portant question. It will no doubt be No doubt, a bit exaggerated and found that the wide emergence of the with a purpose. But the line of thought sit-down strike is accompanied here of the economic royalists is significant. and there also by some negative devel­ La Follette's Civil Liberties Commit­ opments. For example, a tendency per­ tee should have a deeper look into that. haps to look upon this powerful There are other plans afoot, too. weapon of key strikes by the stay-in method as a substitute for organizing "Another plan which has been discussed is and, bringing into action, on a demo­ to rebuild manufacturing plants like fortresses cratic basis, all workers in the plant or or penitentiaries, with walls, pill-boxes, guard· houses, sentries, impregnable gates, remote industry. Experience has, we think, al­ control of power, light and water facilities, so ready shown that to treat it as a sub­ that heat, light and water could be shut oft stitute for mass organization and ac­ in the section of the plant affected,· and such tion is to nullify in large measures the control over entrances and exits that food sup­ power and effectiveness of the stay-in plies could be cut off and sit-downers starved strike. The negative features will, of out." course, have to be eliminated and thus Plants transformed into fortresses labor will have acquired an additional and penitentiaries.... They are a good and highly potent weapon in the strug­ deal like it already in the basic indus­ gle for its betterment and advance­ tries. The idea seems to be to go much ment. This acquisition may prove one further in that direction. And further, of the major gains resulting from the as related by Porter: General· Motors strike. "It has been suggested that company police • • • forces be strengthened, specially trained in defensive methods against the sit-down and APITAL too is studying the strike specially equipped with effective but non­ C and drawing conclusions. It is lethal weapons, such as tear gas guns. They drawing conclusions of a political, would be expected to see that if a sit-down did technical and organizational character. occur, it would not be allowed to become a Very revealing is an item in The New stay-in or finally an 'occupational' strike, with the men in complete control of the plant." York Times (February 7), by Russell B. Porter, reporting the strike from Labor must take note of these Flint. The economic royalists have in "plans". More than before the workers mind, of course, the forthcoming strug· and all progressive forces must press gles in steel and coal. for thorough Congressional investiga­ "In general, says Porter, "industry tion of these civil war preparations of believes it must prepare itself with a the economic royalists. The Farmer­ more effective method of internal plant Labor democracy of this country must REVIEW OF THE MONTH 2oi make this one of its major battles. Dis­ established in large measure by their arm the moguls of corporate industry, successes thus far in the struggle with as demanded by John L. Lewis. De­ General Motors. It is necessary to con­ mand the immediate passage of legis­ solidate this very important gain. And lation that would outlaw and disband one of the things called for in the his­ the private bands of the. companies, toric fight to consolidate the right of that would clean out their munitions the striking workers to protect their and dismantle their arsenals and for­ jobs is to win for this struggle the sup­ tresses, that would punish as conspiracy port of the middle classes and of the all these and similar preparations by toiling farmers. the companies-steel, auto, coal, and The economic royalists must have · others-to wage civil war against the been bitterly disappointed at the fail­ workers and against the American ure of the middle classes to respond to people generally. the incitement of the capitalist press Though balked in its injunction ac­ "to rise in anger" against the "unlaw­ tion to dislodge the stay-in strikers, and ful seizure of private property". Public forced to consent to dismiss the whole opinion of the middle classes was clear­ court action, General Motors and the ly not with General Motors on this financial interests behind it have not issue. And apparently for two main given up the fight against ·stay-in reasons: strikes. They were forced to retreat; 1. The bulk of the middle classes but they will come back again, and have little sympathy for the monopo­ with greater force, if labor arid its allies lies and for the Morgan-du Pont gang do not proceed at once to consolidate -the rapacious exploiters of all toilers, the positions already won. One of these including the middle class small stock­ positions is the right of the workers to holders of General Motors. the stay-in strike. 2. The bulk of the middle classes The striking workers had a sound feared bloodshed and wanted a peace­ and correct position on the question. ful solution of the struggle. A New York Times correspondent re­ Labor shared both of these senti­ ports: ments and thus there existed in fact an alliance of feeling and sentiment be­ "Of the legal and moral questions involved tween labor and the bulk of the middle in taking possession of other people's property, classes on this issue. the spokesman at Fisher Plant No. 2, said: 'All that is up to the union and the lawyers. This, too, labor has to consolidate. We're not up on those things. We're just here By itself this alliance of sentiments is protecting our jobs. We don't aim to keep the not solid enough a foundation for joint plants or try to run them, but we want to see action against the economic royalists; that nobody takes our jobs. The reason this strike was called was that the company was it is not strong enough to withstand firing men because they joined the union.' " successfully future and more desperate (February 1.) attacks upon labor and its allies by the monopolists and their servants. For The issue is stated clearly. ·Striking these attacks we must be prepared. stay-in workers have a right to protect Hence labor must proceed more deter­ their jobs. This right the workers have minedly to solidify its contacts-politi- le02 THE COMMUNIST cal contacts and relations-with the control of the city governments in the toiling farmers and the middle classes one-industry towns (Flint is the ex­ of the cities. And this means, first of ample and experience), more pressure· all, more energetic independent politi­ upon Congress, the state legislatures cal action and organization by labor. and the Roosevelt administration for The C.I.O., the A. F. of L., Labor's the passage of measures needed by Non-Partisan League, the Farmer­ labor. Labor progressive movements of the There is no doubt that there is tak­ Northwest, the truly progressive group­ ing place now a certain change in the ings in the Democratic Party as well as attitude of the masses to the Roosevelt those who are nominally still in the administration, due to certain experi­ Republican Party-all Farmer-Labor­ ences in the General Motors fight, and democratic forces of the country must in others. The masses could not miss in make these fundiunental political con­ the General Motors' fight two outstand­ clusions from the General Motors fight ing facts in the relation of the govern­ and the general situation. ment to the struggle. First, that Roose­ Labor's political initiative is called velt and also Murphy were not with for once more. The situation is be­ the striking workers wholeheartedly, coming ripe for several advances on that they both felt very uncomfortable this field. Specifically, labor's growing in the face of the strike and were also political consciousness favors and very reluctant to give the slightest in­ makes possible such a course. It is per­ dication of approval of the workers' fectly safe to assume that, as a result position. A capitalist statesman may of the General Motors fight and of be a liberal, and thus differ from a re­ certain developments in the 75th Con­ actionary, but he is a capitalist states­ gress, labor and the toilers generally man, first and last. The masses feel it are learning certain political as well as today; we must help them to under­ industrial lessons. stand it. Second, that despite Roose­ At the basis of these lessons is the velt's capitalist feelings in the matter mass feeling, which one cannot escape, (and also Murphy's), the workers and that labor and its allies are proving to their allies have proven strong enough be a power to be reckoned with by to compel Roosevelt and Murphy to "friend" as well as enemy. And why? come across with a certain measure of Because the masses fight, they organize, protection of the rights of the striking they begin to rely largely on their own workers. independent strength. And from this This marks the beginning of a fact practical conclusions will be drawn change. Uncritical belief in Roosevelt by ever larger numbers of workers. among wider masses is rapidly disap­ Industrial unionism is the thing, more pearing. It is supplanted by a highly intensive struggle for the unity of the critical attitude, one that could be ex­ American trade union movement, pressed as follows: "Some say that we closer political collaboration with the must retain friendly relations with city middle classes and toiling farmerS, Roosevelt and such people as .Murphy independent political action to clean and Earle. Yes; but that should mean out the servants of the companies from only that we have to play politics with REVIEW OF THE MONTH these people, the same as they play tancy, solidarity, policies of industrial politics w~th us. That means: in order unionism (a maritime federation), and to gain advantages from such 'friend· fine working class leadership such as ships', we have to be strong and ready exemplified by Harry Bridges, brought to fight; we have to have our industrial victory to the workers. They won their unions and make more independent demands in all essential respects. use of our political power". These are It is clear that the consequences of the conclusions that large masses seem this victory will strengthen the labor now ready to make. movement, not alone on the Pacific but The workers will also be ready to say all over the country. Most immediately in a more mature manner: "Yes, we and directly, this victory points the way want President Roosevelt, Governors to the maritime workers of the East Murphy and Earle, and similar people and Gulf ports as to what has to be in power to help us against the eco­ done to secure similar victories. Amari­ nomic royalists; we expect such help time federation-industrial unionism­ and will demand it. And then, some­ and a militant progressive leadership. thing new will be added: the amount All power to the fight of the rank and of help to be gotten from this source file to achieve these ends. will depend upon the independent or­ Incidentally, the exposure of the ganization and struggle of the masses, treacherous machinations of the Trot­ on the economic and political fields, skyites on the West as well as East and upon their readiness to fight in the coasts, and the determination of the spirit of the famous telegram of the workers to drive these fascist agents out sit-downers to Governor Murphy. of the labor movement, are no minor The Communists knew, of course, gain resulting from the maritime fight. these truths all the while and were propagating them among the workers. • • • Now the wide masses, due to their own MENACE to everything that is pro­ experiences and to our work, are begin­ A gressive in the country-this is ning to make these truths their own. what has to be said about the time­ The progressive leadership of labor honored institution o~ labor-spying. must draw from this fact one general The recent disclosures of the La Fol­ (and many specific) conclusion: a lette Committee should produce a de­ faster tempo in the struggle for inde­ mand from one end of the country to pendent political action. the other for the immediate stamping out of this menace. • • • The so-called National Metal Trades HE VICTORY of the West Coast mari­ Association has been exposed as a T time strikers, helped so effectively criminal organization; and a very dan­ by the strike on the East Coast and gerous one just because of its apparent Gul£ ports, enters in the present situa­ respectability and tremendous re­ tion as a significant milestone in labor's sources. Also because of its under­ march forward. It was a long and dif­ ground connections with the army and ficult fight forced upon the workers by navy intelligence services. The investi­ the reactionary shipowners. But mili- gation of these connections should be THE COMMUNIST pressed with all vigor and to the very of American management", makes the end. Also this angle should be gone following eye-opening conclusion and into by the La Follette Committee recommendation: -the connections of John P. Frey "Until it is stamped out, the rights of labor -head of the Metal Trades Depart- to organize, freedom of speech, freedom of ment of the American Federation assembly, will be meaningless phrases.•.• " of Labor-with the labor-spying Na­ Stamp out labor spying-is a central tional Metal Trades Association? We demand of labor and all progressives. are moved to bring this up by the re­ What follows from tlle provisional re­ port current in Washington that port of the La Follettee comittee is "among labor lobbyists here-both A .. immediate congres~ional legislation to F. of L. and C.I.O.-he [Frey] is com­ stamp out this menace to the life and monly referred to as the liaison officer liberties of the American people. between the American Federation of Labor and the Army Intelligence" • (Paul W. Ward, The Nation, Febru­ • • ary 13). HE Manifesto published and On this report, Mr. Ward comments: T signed· by thirty members of the House of Representatives, including "It may ~lso explain why the La Follette Committee-in exposing the National Metal Farmer-Laborites as well as progress· Trades Association as a far-flung espionage ives in the two old parties, is an im­ agency engaged, with the aid of some of portant declaration on foreign policy Frey's subordinates, in sabotaging the very by the United States. It is significant unions Frey is supposed to lead-was unable to obtain any helpful data from Frey but was both for what it says and proposes and offered by him, instead, a mass of alleged evi­ also as showing a praiseworthy ten­ dence showing Communist 'infiltration' of the dency on the part of the progressives trade unions." (Ibid.) to assume initiative and to formulate an independent line. In the long run, In its report to the Senate (February the latter may prove even more im­ 8) the La Follette Committee said that portant than the former. it had discovered- From their manifesto it is seen that " ..• a colossal daily drive in every part of the Farmer-Labor progressives now the country to frustrate enunciated labor realize clearly that: policy and neutralize American labor laws." " ••• if an embargo is enforced against the We quote the Herald Tribune re­ Spanish government, but not against other port of February g: nations shipping to the Spanish rebels, the United States is placed in the position of ac· "The Committee's report said General Mo­ tually or constructively acting as co·belliger· tors and its subsidiaries had paid Pinkerton ents with the forces attempting to overthrow $167,586 in 1935, and charged that the de­ the Spanish government." tective agency had 'spent $240,000 of em­ ployers' money for corrupting men to sell out The conclusion from this should their fellow workers' during the first seven have been a proposal to lift the 'em­ months of 1936." bargo from the Spanish government The Senate Committee, after saying and to impose an embargo upon ship­ that "espionage has become the habit ments going qirectly and indirectly REVIEW OF THE MONTH (through Germany, Italy, Portugal) to war, loans and any assistance what­ the fascist rebels. Instead the Manifesto ever, to belligerents waging war in urges an embargo all around. This is violation of the Kellogg Pact and bad. Especially because it is based other recognized principles in inter­ upon a so-called stronger "neutrality" national law, waging such war either policy. by open declaration of hostilities or by The "strength" of the policy that engineering and supporting civil wars the Manifesto advocates is supposed in other countries or both. to lie in the mandatory character of This is by far not all that is needed the proposed neutrality legislation and for a genuine peace program, which its applicability to all belligerents, re­ alone can keep America out of war. gardless of who is the aggressor. But But it goes a certain way in that direc­ this attitude of "regardless" is precisely tion. With such an amendment, we the thing that makes neutrality un­ could, therefore, support the proposals neutral in the present world situation contained in the Manifesto. - a situation contammg certain Furthermore, it is necessary to insist powers, the fascist powers, definitely that such measures as the nationaliza­ known as aggressors. Embargoes upon tion of the munitions industry, pro­ "all" belligerents mean today encour­ hibition of private trading in arms and agement and assistance to the war­ munitions and opposition to the in­ provoking and war-making fascists and dustrial mobilization plan of the War militarists of Japan, Germany and Department-that• these measures be Italy. The Fanner-Labor-progressives part and parcel of any foreign policy must face squarely this fact. legislation to be adopted by the 75th The mandatory features of the legis­ Congress. It is therefore regrettable lation proposed by the Manifesto could that the Manifesto, while agreeing to be accepted in preference to the Pitt­ the need of some such measures "in man-McReynolds discretionary meas­ the long run", does not make these ures favored by the administration. measures an integral part of its imme­ That is, it could be accepted on this diate legislative proposals but leaves it condition: that a belligerent should be for some future date. more clearly defined and qualified. This, too, has to be amended. Thus, while differing with the Mani­ Incidentally, Congress ought to in­ festo on the principles that should un­ quire into the conspiracy of the steel derlie a peace policy for the United patrioteers who refuse to bid on steel States, we could support the proposals contracts for the navy unless the gov­ for mandatory legislation contained ernment agrees to suspend the opera­ therein with one important amend­ tion of the Walsh-Healey law. ment. • That amendment could be formu­ • • lated along the following lines: legis­ RESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S proposals for lation that would make it mandatory Pjudicial reform have created, ac­ upon the government of the United cording to Walter Lippmann, "a con­ States to embargo shipments of arms, stitutional crisis", "the greatest crisis in munitions, other materials needed for seventy years". It would be more cor- THE COMMUNIST rect to say that the reactionaries, whose would be more in accord with the pol­ dirty deeds Lippmann is always ready icies of the administration than is the to beautify and embellish, would like present Court. And this certainly can­ to create a constitutional crisis, or any not be worse than what we have today. other crisis, in order to save their Chances are it may be better. darling and hope-the Supreme Court It may be argued that the adoption -from being called to account by the of the President's proposals might tend people. to create a substitute for more tho­ It is high time that this irresponsible, rough and permanent change, and thus dictatorial and anti-democratic body delay for a long time such desirable -the Nine Old Men-be called to ac­ change. Such a danger really exists. count and shorn of the power which But the way to guard against such a they usurped in clear violation of the danger is certainly not to join with the Constitution. The trouble is that the reactionaries and fascists to defeat the President is not'at all ready and deter­ President's proposals. To do so would mined to lead Congress to reassert its mean playing the game of the Mor­ Constitutional powers as against the gans, du Ponts, Hoovers and Hearsts. usurpations of the Court. If he were, Admittedly the situation is com­ he would at once propose that Con­ plicated but this is no excuse for wrong gress resort to the simple, direct and decisions. As indicated by the Com­ constitutional way of achieving this munist Party, the correct course for objective-namely, by Congressional labor and all progressives is to defeat decision. This would at once put the the new offensive of reaction, which is Court in its right place and restore to trying to stage a come-back on this Congress the opportunity to legislate issue; and this means to help carry into for the welfare of the people of the law the President's proposals. After United States. this has been accomplished, the pro­ This direct road - Congressional gressive and labor forces would then action that will take away from the have to exert all their influence to see Court its usurped power-is and re­ to it that the proper judges are ap­ mains the best and most effective way. pointed. Such action could be reinforced with This is one phase of the task. The an appropriate constitutional amend­ next, and perhaps more important ment later on. For this the labor and phase in the long run, is to utilize the progressive forces should continue to adoption of the President's proposals fight. as an opening wedge to press forward A curious element in the situation is with Congressional action to curb the the unwillingness of some who call usurped power of the Supreme Court. themselves progressive and liberal to In fact, both things should be at­ support the Court proposals of the tempted simultaneously. President. Why? That these fall short In other words, while supporting the of what is needed is quite obvious. But President's proposals, the progressive it is equally obvious that the realiza­ and labor forces ought to concentrate tion of the President's proposals would on securing Congressional action for create a Court of such composition a'l the curbing of the Supreme Court's REVIEW OF THE MONTH power, and to arouse and organize the and Trotskyism has become here also masses to fight and press for such ac­ part of the reactionary offensive against tion. If carried out along these lines, the American people. No informed the fight against the Supreme Court person, familiar with the reactionary can become an important milestone in American press, not alone Hearst's, the further crystallization and develop­ could fail to see that fact since Trotsky ment of the Farmer-Labor-progressive arrived in Mexico. movements of this country, which Of course, one is free to close one's alone can become a bulwark against eyes to facts, but the facts remain none reaction and safe defender of de­ the less. And those who are willing to mocracy. fight reaction in America in deeds and With such an approach and policy, not only in words cannot for long keep the forthcoming national conference their eyes closed to this fact. on the Supreme Court, at which Sena­ Speaking of liberals and progressives tor Norris is to preside, can become a in the United States who "are rushing valuable instrument in the fight for with apparent eagerness into a hot the realization of the people's mandate controversy ... about the recent trea­ in the elections. son trials in Moscow", the New Repub­ • • • lic says editorially: "By lining up either on the side of Stalin or ROTSKYISM, the ally of fascism, is a T that of Trotsky, they are giving their convic­ menace to all progressive man­ tions about Russian politics predominance kind-this truth is becoming clear to over the needs for unity in supporting imme­ ever larger circles of people to whom diately desirable measures m this country, the fight for peace and democracy is a measures that have no relation whatever to the guilt or innocence of the men recently serious and vital affair. 1£ the Moscow condenined and sentenced in the Soviet trials had done nothing else but con­ Union." (February 17.) vincingly expose this truth before the world, they will stand out as one of See how much more politically dis­ the greatest contributions to the fight cerning, realistic and practical the re­ against fascism and war. actionaries and fascists are when com­ Yet we still find certain progressive pared with some of our liberal and elements who, though deeply im­ progressive friends. The fight against pressed with the exposures of Trotsky­ Trotskyism is "Russian politics", says ism at the trials, would wish to close the New Republic; but the American their eyes to the fact that the fight reactionaries work on the theory that against Trotskyism is not a Russian Trotskyism is American politics and affair alone but is the affair of all pro­ from this they proceed to work with gressive people everywhere. Also in the Trotsky and Trotskyism not only United States. Or, we should say rather, against the Soviet Union but against especially in the United States, since all progressive forces in this country. capitalist reaction and fascism in this The New Republic makes an alto­ country have adopted Trotsky as their gether unwarranted assumption when "own" (his proximity to this country it says that the fight for progress in the makes it easier for them to do so), United States has "no relation to the 208 THE COMMUNIST guilt or innocence" of the Trotskyites. readily agree that the unity of the pro­ Have the editors thought this state­ gressive forces is served best .by the ment through, or did it just slip out unity of labor's forces, labor being a from under their pen by itself? most important part of the progressive Certainly, the struggle to keep Amer­ camp. But Trotskyism in America (as ica out of war is something in which elsewhere) is a disrupter of labor's American liberals and progressives are forces. That is a well known fact. See or should be very much interested, and the disruptive role of the Trotsky-fas­ not only platonically. Yet who can cist agents in the Socialist Party, in the deny successfully that this struggle for Workers' Alliance, and in those unions peace in America is related in the which they managed to sneak into. closest way to the guilt of the Trotsky­ So, we must ask again: how can you ites proven at the trials? They were fight for the unity of the progressive proven: guilty of conspiring with forces for any measure if you refuse to Japanese and German fascism to stamp out the poisonous snakes that hasten war and to help fascism: win militate against any sort of unity the war and defeat the non-aggressor against reaction and war? It cannot be nations, including the United States. done. Has this any relation to our fight to It may still be possible to close one's keep America out of war? The closest eyes to these facts in the quiet of cer­ possible relation. tain editorial offices, but it cannot be The Trotskyites have been proven done any more in the organizations of guilty as allies and agents of fascism. the masses and in the struggle for their Has this anything to do with our fight daily needs. And even in some of these for democracy in the United States? editorial offices, this voluntary blind­ Of course, it has. ness cannot continue for long. The New Republic wants unity of Those who fight reaction and war the progressive forces for measures in the United States, and not only talk "immediately desirable" in this coun­ about it, have at the same time to try. So do we. And no fair-minded per­ fight the Trotsky-fascists. son will deny the Communist Party the credit due it for championing and • • pioneering for this unity. HE Young Communist League is But Trotskyism is the mortal enemy T in the midst of preparations for of this unity-here in this country, the its Eighth National Convention to be same as everywhere. The Trotskyites held in New York City, May 2-6, 1937· are conspiring, with the reactionaries, This national gathering of an im­ against the movements for a People's portant and leading section of the Front; that is an undeniable fact. How American youth is bound to have most then can you fight for the unity of the favorable consequences for the fur­ progressives without driving out of ther unification and advance of the your midst the Trotsky-fascist enemies young generation and for the strength· and disrupters of this unity? It simply ening of the progressive .camp gen­ can't be done. erally. The New Republic will, we hope, In the course of the last several REVIEW OF THE MONTH years, the Young Communist League hence to the American people. and of America has played a tremendously a wider road to influence and leader­ beneficial, helpful and pioneering role ship. in the coming forward of America's Just as the American youth is com­ youth to a prominent position in the ing forward to a prominent and pro­ public arena. America's youth is find­ gressive position in the. public arena, ing its voice, i» organizations, its plat­ so the working class youth, as part of form. It is becoming ever more con­ it, is developing ever greater intitiative scious of its special youth needs and in the general affairs of the youth as progressive role as well as of its close well as in the labor movement. relationship to the labor and progres­ Under the leadership of Angelo sive movements of the country. Herndon, chairman, and Gil Green, America's youth is coming into its secretary, the Young Communist own. And to this the Young Commu­ League is preparing for its eighth con­ nist League, through its membership, vention which, as Comrade Green cor­ organizations and good leadership, has rectly says, "will take place at a time. contributed a good deal. when war is no longer a remote possi­ The League itself has grown in bility but an alarming actuality". strength, consciousness and influence. From all these facts and developments, Becoming more thoroughly imbued the Young Communist League will with the spirit and teachings of Marx, have to draw certain conclusions for . Engels, Lenin and Stalin, the League its future policies and practical work. has broadened out its contacts, has All power to our young comrades in come into most intimate relationships the great and important work they are with broad sections of America's non­ doing. All assistance to them in the Communist youth, and has opened for preparation of their Eighth National itself broader perspectives of greater Convention. service to the youth of America, and A.B.

110 110

able able was was it it that that fact fact the the in in furthermore furthermore the the why why is is That That success. success. startling startling with with

consists consists union union the the of of victory victory The The weapon weapon this this wielded wielded has has strike-and strike-and

conditions. conditions. sit-down sit-down weapon-the weapon-the new new a a ployed ployed

working working and and hours hours wages, wages, on on mands mands em­ has has labor labor American American scale scale large large a a

de­ for for corporation corporation the the and and union union on on time time first first the the for for because because portance portance

the the between between negotiations negotiations open open to to im­ greatest greatest the the of of was was it it finally, finally, And And

agreement agreement an an won won it it and and plants plants other other Organization. Organization. Industrial Industrial for for mittee mittee

of of workers workers auto auto the the for for wages wages creased creased Com­ the the by by led led Workers, Workers, Automobile Automobile

in­ and and workers workers Motors Motors General General the the for for United United of of Union Union International International ized ized

increases increases wage wage won won also also It It industry. industry. organ­ newly newly the the by by fought fought was was and and

American American in in system system open-shop open-shop the the at at industries industries production production mass mass the the ganize ganize

blow blow powerful powerful a a struck struck workers workers auto auto or­ to to struggle struggle awaited awaited the the in in battle battle

the the achievement achievement this this By By strikes. strikes. the the opening opening the the was was it it because because also also nificant nificant

by by down down shut shut plants plants the the in in agency agency sig­ was was dollars. dollars. billion billion half half a a and and It It

bargaining bargaining one one collective collective worth worth sole sole the the as as corporation corporation a a and and against against fought fought

plants plants the the all all in in members members its its for for agency agency was was and and plants, plants, sixty sixty than than more more fected fected

bargaining bargaining af­ collective collective the the workers, workers, as as 150,ooo 150,ooo ognition ognition involved involved states, states,

rec­ formal formal won won corporation), corporation), shop shop fourteen fourteen over over spread spread was was battle battle the the

open open this this by by denied denied tenaciously tenaciously and and because because significant significant was was It It labor. labor. ized ized

stubbornly stubbornly been been has has which which right right (a (a organ­ by by challenged challenged was was companies, companies,

organize organize to to right right the the of of recognition recognition the the automobile automobile three three the the of of biggest biggest the the

Motors Motors General General from from monopolies, monopolies, wring wring to to motor motor the the result result of of giants giants the the

a a as as and and plants plants the the of of re-opening re-opening the the of of one one that that industry, industry, auto auto the the of of ance ance

prevent prevent to to days, days, appear­ the the forty-four forty-four since since for for time time duction duction first first the the century, century,

pro­ paralyze paralyze to to completely completely able able was was a a of of quarter quarter a a in in time time first first the the was was it it

union union the the that that fact fact because because the the in in struggle struggle consists consists significant significant a a was was It It It It

consist? consist? workers workers auto auto the the of of victory victory history. history.

the the does does what what In In workers. workers. auto auto the the for for labor labor American American in in strikes strikes greatest greatest

victory victory a a with with ended ended struggle struggle The The the the with with side side by by side side strike strike this this place place

will will which which passion passion and and nation. nation. vigor vigor a a with with

the the of of parts parts all all in in people people working working waged waged battle, battle, militant militant truly truly a a strike, strike,

of of millions millions by by great great a a concern concern and and unquestionably unquestionably interest interest was was It It won. won.

intense intense most most the the with with followed followed was was and and and and fought fought been been just just has has industry industry T

attention attention nationwide nationwide aroused aroused strike strike auto auto the the in in battle battle major major first first HE HE

WEINSTONE WEINSTONE WILLIAM WILLIAM BY BY

STRIKE STRIKE AUTO AUTO GREAT GREAT THE THE THE GREAT AUTO STRIKE Sill to withstand and repel a series of a conference begins to consider the violent efforts to dislodge the sit-down demands of the union. strikers who left the plants as victors The union demanded recognition as when their terms were met, who twice the sole collective bargaining agency smashed the injunctions issued against for all the workers. General Motors them and finally caused them to be declared that it would grant no such scrapped. recognition, holding that to be an in­ It consists finally in the fact that the violable and sacred principle of the policy of industrial unionism, of mil­ corporation. General Motors has now itant unionism and progressive lead­ agreed to deal with the union as the ership, based upon rank-and-file de­ exclusive bargaining agency for a mocracy, has proven to be the only period of six months (the exact form correct form of organization which can of the agreement is only a face saver effectively meet and defeat the corpo­ for General Motors). rations of big capital. A test has now General Motors in refusing the re­ been made on the field of battle of the quest for negotiations declared that it craft union versus the industrial union was paying the highest possible wage form of organization for the mass in the industry but as a result of the production industries and in this test strike, it has already declared a five industrial unionism has been entirely cents hourly increase in wages. and triumphantly upheld. General Motors in its application Let us consider the outcome of the for an injunction declared that the struggle a little more closely. stay-in strikers were no longer em­ The union fought for the right to ployees of the company but at the end organize the plants. This right was of the strike, as a condition for re­ conceded by General Motors in words suming operations, General Motors and denied in deeds by the discharge agreed to return to all workers their of workers for joining the union and former positions without discrim­ dismissing of those wearing the ination. union button. These were the issues General Motosr had said that it which caused the strikes in Atlanta would not discuss any questions with and Kansas City. General Motors has the union until its plants were evacu­ now agreed that the workers may or­ ated and its "unlawfully seized plants ganize and that they may wear their were restored", but General Motors union buttons. finally backed away from this position, The union demanded a national entered into discussion with the union conference for collective bargaining. and entered into an agreement, and not until it was signed did the workers General Motors refused this demand leave the plants. and referred the unions to the indi­ That is why the outcome of the vidual plant managers. As a result of struggle has encouraged the workers the strike, such a conference was held everywhere and raised them to a high and a written agreement between the pitch of enthusiasm. That is why the union and the corporation signed be­ auto strike is giving direct nourish­ fore the shops could be reopened. Now ment and impetus to the drive to or- THE COMMUNIST ganize the unorganized workers in the shut down the departments of their country. That is why, as a result of the plants and left for the Flint battle­ struggle, a new wave of strikes is begin· front. In Flint itself on a number of ning in auto, and other factories, and occasions the workers on the outside, that is why the Wall Street journal responding more to the prompting of now cries out against the strike that class instincts than to organized calls, "its effectiveness was obtained by ille· came to the plants appearing prac­ gal means". tically from nowhere to protect the Comrade William Z. Foster is in­ workers on the inside. deed correct when he says that the Special importance attaches to the "auto strike is fated to play a very im­ great activity of the women workers portant part in American labor his­ who organized "women's emergency tory" and that "it is a sign of the new brigades" in Flint and who were era that is dawning in the trade union assisted by women's brigades from movement in this country". other cities, who participated directly in the struggles, making up a vanguard HOW WAS THE VICTORY OF TilE of the fighting divisions which added UNION ACHIEVED? great · strength and solidarity to the In the first place, the victory was workers' ranks and cemented their won because the workers used and unity. One reason for this mobility perfected the sit-down tactic of strik­ and militancy is to be found in the ing which we shall describe later along. fact that the auto industry is composed In the second place the victory was largely of young people and these won because of the fighting determin­ people were on the side of the strike. ation and profound solidarity which Another and more basic reason for this prevailed among the auto workers. militancy is the fact that the auto work­ The General Motors workers in prac­ ers had made several attempts in the tically all the states affected by the past to strike the plants and win the strike, but particularly in Detroit, right to organize and were held in Cleveland, Toledo, Norwood, and check, were deceived and betrayed by above all in Flint, operated as a single the A. F. of L. officialdom and by unit, as an army which responded to Roosevelt's agreement of 1934. The every critical situation and to every workers now gave vent to their accumu­ danger. Toledo and Norwood workers lated hatred and expressed their deter­ came to Flint in the first days of the mination that this time matters would strike and greatly strengthened the be changed. All of which reveals the fighting lines. General Motors, Dodge, fact that in the last years, particularly Kelsey-Wheel, Midland, Chrysler and since the crisis, the workers have grown other workers from Detroit and also in class consciousness, militancy and from other cities came spontaneously solidarity. and repeatedly to the battle front at Third, the victory was won because Flint and were ready to move to Ander­ of the firm and united leadership pro­ son and Saginaw to lend a hand in vided by the C.I.O., which brought beating back armed thugs and vigi­ to the struggle that degree of aid and lantes. Workers in Detroit and Toledo unity so essential to large-scale battle THE GREAT AUTO STRIKE and which has been lacking in the past ous rank-and-file leaders especially in strikes where craft union divisions within the plants gave a powerful prevailed. The C.I.O. under the ag­ backbone to the strike because here gressive leadership of John L. Lewis were people who did not falter or run made it possible to maneuver with suc­ before the first blows of the enemy. It cess the ending of the glass strike at a was because the old Green-Dillon timely moment so as to exert the clique had been cleaned out or pushed greatest pressure upon General Mo­ into the background, especially at the tors. It also helped to work out the most critical points of the struggle in strategy of utilizing the competition Flint. Detroit and Cleveland, and a between General Motors and Chrysler new, fresh, militant leadership had and Ford to the benefit of the strike. taken its place that the strike could The C.I.O. unions sent organizers into be carried on with such vigor and suc­ the strike, sent delegations and speak· cess. ers, helped in picketing as, for example, Sixth, the victory was won because the steel workers in St. Louis and the union carried out modem progres­ other cities and gave moral and mate­ sive mass methods of fighting. It en­ rial aid to the auto union. gaged in demonstrations and mass Fourth; the victory was won because picketing; made use of mass agitation the craft unions in sections of the Ia- through bulletins and special news­ . bor movement outside of the C.I.O. papers, made successful use of the gave their support notwithstanding sound car; introduced mass singing of the treachery and the sabotage of the labor solidarity songs, and employed Greens and the Freys, as for example the labor theater as a medium of agita­ the support rendered by the Detroit tion and education (although on a and Flint Federations of Labor, the limited scale); organized mass strike Michigan State Federation of Labor, committees based on rank-and-file rep­ and for a time the Cleveland Federa­ resentation; formed relief committees tion, and numerous craft unions and and fought for state aid, and commit­ unionists. This proves that among the tees to ferret out spies, held frequent A. F. of L. unions there is a strong dis­ mass meetings and gave reports on all content with the policies of the Execu­ developments; carried on educational tive Council and that it is possible to classes; established solidarity of men work hand in hand with the craft and women and unity of Negro and unionists against the Executive Coun­ white; and enlisted and welcomed the cil and secure the unity so essen­ support of all sections of the labor tial at the present time in the im­ movement. The union appealed to and portant fights which the C.I.O. and received the support of the middle class also craft unions will develop. people, pointing out the advantages Fifth, the victory was won because to them of a victory of the workers and of the progres$ive leadership of the .by stressing the common interests of International union nationally and the workers and small business men in because of the progressive and militant weakening the power of this gigantic leadership in the most important areas trust. It is to be regretted that the of the strike. The existence of numer- union did not fight for and make better THE COMMUNIST use of the radio as a means of agitation. been employed as an agency of strike­ Special emphasis mm:t be laid upon the breaking. It cooperated with civil use of the sound c:~r which has proven rights committees and joined in or­ an indispensable instrument in such ganizing civil rights conferences, draw­ fights and should be introduced every­ ing on all sections of the labor where. Care must be taken immediately movement and middle class people. to thwart any attempts to restrict its use The Michigan Conference for the by laws, attempts which are being protection of civil rights, as well as the made by stealth in auto and steel American League Against War and areas. These methods, as against the Fascism, proved of. inestimable value isolated, restricted, narrow and bu­ in promptly organizing local and na­ reaucratic forms employed by the old tional protests against company terror­ Green-Dillon officials, have provided ism. In Cleveland the People's Con­ the only correct methods to be used in ference for the Protection of Civil strikes which involve large masses of Right also served a useful purpose people. toward the same end. And, seventh, the victory was won Special mention must be made of because the union did not hesitate to the role of the Flirit workers and their use political as well as economic leaders. Flint was the main battlefield weapons of struggle. It fought against because it is the heart of the General and exposed the company-controlled Motors industry and for that reason sheriffs, prosecuting attorneys, judges, the struggle there was most acute. and police. It demanded the removal Special tribute must be paid to the of the share-holding Judge Black and workers and leaders of the sit-down strike-breaking Chief of Police Wills of strikers in the plants, the leaders and Flint, and laid a demand for the im­ rank-and-file workers, and its -chief peachment of the judge before the organizer, who spread the struggle to Michigan State Legislature and the the Chevrolet plant and held firmly to governor. It demanded and secured the their positions in the Fisher Body deputizing of union men as special plants to the very last day of the strug­ police in Anderson.· It called upon gle, notwithstanding the violence, the and secured the aid of the La Fol­ provocations, and the attacks carried lette Committee on Civil Rights, out against them. The Flint leaders which had the effect of tempering the ably prepared for the strike by the de­ ruthless violence of the company­ velopment of a shop steward system, dominated local authorities. It de­ carried out persistent recruiting, ex­ manded full protection of the civil posed and eliminated stool pigeons, rights of the workers and the right of and understood the importance of the collective bargaining from the gov­ strike of the bus drivers, which oc­ ernors of the states, from the Depart­ curred several weeks before the auto ment of Labor, and from the President fight, rendering them every aid and of the United States, and in that way making the strike their own, and in fought and to a certain extent suc­ that way organizing favorable senti­ ceeded in offsetting the one-sided use ment in the city for unionism. In re­ of the state power, which has always turn they were well rewarded for their THE GREAT AUTO STRIKE efforts by the assistance rendered them ing institutions, the method of uncompromis­ by this small but important body of ing rejection of reform .••• The second meth· workers. Had the old group of leaders od is the method of 'liberalism', of steps toward the development of political rights, of that belonged to the Dillon clique and reforms, of concessions, etc. that worked hand in hand with the "The bourgeoisie passes from one method General Motors Corporation remained to another not through the malicious design in control in the Flint situation, the of individuals and not by accident, but by outcome of the strike against General force of the basic contradictoriness of its own position." Motors would have been entirely different. This is the type of government which rules today in Lansing and THE ATI"ITUDE OF THE GOVEitNMENT Washington. And the contradictori­ ness which Lenin notes in such a posi­ Finally but of first-rate importance tion was present even in the short among thereasons for the victory must period of the strike. be considered the attitude of the gov­ The policies of Murphy and Roose­ ernment. By the government I mean velt were to seek a compromise in the in this case the attitude of the Gov­ struggle, to avoid a sharpening of the ernor of the State of Michigan and of conflict, and to terminate it as early as President Roosevelt. The defeat of the possible, not only because of the mili­ reactionaries in the last election tant mood of labor and the danger of created more favorable conditions for the struggle passing over to other sec­ the winning of the strike, for it gave tions of the labor movement, but also encouragement to the workers and was because of the pressure of a section of the signal that the moment was ripe the capitalist class which found the to start the battle. It brought into office strike harmful to its interests. The gov­ in Lansing and Washington, adminis­ ernment had to face the outcry of the trations which had promised to as­ reactionaries, the big capitalist inter­ sist the workers in obtaining im­ ests, that the sanctity of private prop­ proved standards of living and the erty was ~eing violated, and Governor right of collective bargaining. Had the Murphy was called upon to uphold the Landon Republicans come into office Constitution, "to defenp private prop­ they would have taken the usual hard­ erty", to support the courts, and to use boiled Tory attitude on labor union­ the National Guard to evacuate the ism and strikes. plants. There was the ever-present dan­ Lenin has noted two methods of rule ger that this pressure would succ~ed. of the capitalist class. He says: At one time the National Guard estab­ "The bourgeoisie in all countries in practice lished virtual martial law around the inevitably elaborates two systems of governing, Chevrolet and Fisher No. 2 plants and two methods of struggle for its interests and virtually imprisoned the sit-downers. for the defense of its domination, and these If the National Guard was not used two methods now replace one another and it was due to the fact that both Gov­ interlace in different combinations. These are, first, the m'ethod of violence, the method of ernor Murphy and President Roosevelt · refusing all concessions to the labor movement, faced a stiff resistance of the workers tbe method of supporting all ancient and dy- and because they realized that the use THE COMMUNIST of violence with the danger of killing tion of labor, and it was because of the many workers would have aroused the growing movement for independent working class of the entire country, political action, that any compromise would have meant a sharp break with was prevented that would injure the their labor support, would have meant interests of the strike and the union. a shattering blow to the Democratic Party, and would have led to a tre­ DID THE UNION WIN ITS FULL OBJECTIVE? mendous development of the move­ Did the union win the full objective ment for the independent political ac­ which it set for itself? No, the union tion which asserted itself in the last did not win completely its major de­ election campaign although on a re­ mand of becoming the sole collective stricted scale. bargaining agency nor was it able to Consider the forceful position taken achieve the negotiations of its eco­ by the· union. The telegrams of the nomic demands while the strike was sit-down strikers addressed to Gov­ still in progress and the plants still ernor Murphy and President Roosevelt shut down. It is not to be expected are classical not only because of the that in the first round of battle, all passion and self-sacrifice which they the demands can be won, because of expressed, but also because they voiced the huge wealth of the corporation, its the insistence of labor that history shall entrenched position in the local com­ not repeat itself and the promises made munities, its strong political power and in the last election broken. Let us the backing which it received from the quote from one of these telegrams to steel and financial magnates, and on the Governor of Michigan: the other hand the youthfulness of the "'Ve feel it proper to recall to you the as­ union. General Motors proved a ruth­ surance you have many times given to the less enemy which did not hesitate to public that you would not permit force or use every means, foul or fair, to achieve violence to be used in ousting us from the its end of breaking the strike. plants. Unarmed as we are, the introduction of militia, sheriff or police with murderous It is clear that such a corporation weapons, will mean a blood bath of unarmed can be fully defeated and brought to its workers. The police of Flint belong to General knees only by bending the full energies Motors. The sheriff of Genesee County belongs of the union, only by demonstrating to General Motors, and the judges of Genesee the greatest strength, and only by suc­ County belong to General Motors•••• It re­ mains to be seen whether or not the governor ceeding in organizing the largest num­ of this stale· also belongs to General Motors. We bers of workers into the union before have decided to stay in the plants. We have no the battle begins. The union did not illusions what sacrific~ this decision will en­ prove strongly enough organized to tail. We fully expect that if violent efforts are reach this goal. used to put us out, many of us will be killed. What are the facts about organiza­ We take this method to make it known to our wives, our children, and to the people of the tion? At the outset of the strike the state and country, that if this result follows union succeeded in organizing a ma­ from the attempts to eject us, you are the jority of workers within approximate­ one who must be held responsible for our ly twenty plants. It was :where the death." (Emphasis mine-W. W.) plants were organized to any consider· It was because of this forceful posi- able extent that they were shut down THE GREAT AUTO STRIKE by strikes. The facts are that not all lack of organizations in such places), the plants were well organized in Flint, through organizing mass meetings of Detroit, or in Michigan, generally, "loyal workers", and by staging what the most strategic centers of General might be called a "pro-company rebel­ Motors, and that such strongholds as lion", through sending delegations to Pontiac, Saginaw, and Grand Rapids, the governor of the state, and in gen­ were practically unorganized. It is true eral creating the danger of a strong that the !Jnion shut down the strategic back-to-work movement. This enabled Fisher Body plants in Flint and Cleve­ General Motors also to raise the cry land and that this worked greatly to that it was serving to protect the rights the advantage of the union in paralyz­ of non-union members. ing the industry. The very audacity The A. F. of L. officialdom did its of the union in challenging a cor­ bit in helping this movement of the poration which held undisputed corporation along, especially since sway encouraged the workers and these officials fell in with the tactics of brought many thousands into the the corporation which claimed that union during the strike, but still this other workers were opposed to the was not enough for an industry em­ union as the sole collective bargaining ploying hundreds of thousands and agency. But, basically, the opposition indirectly affecting the jobs of a mil­ to the strike and the counter-move­ lion. The union attempted to widen ment attempted by the corporation the sphere of the strike but its forces had its foundation in . the company were too weak to achieve success. The unions which were practically un­ union was therefore confronted with touched in the preparations of the the dilemma of having carried through strike. This insufficiency of organiza­ a general shutdown without having tion and weakness in failing to break carried through and declared a gen­ into new territories at one stage of the eral strike in all the plants. While some struggle gave the offensive to the side 4o,ooo to 5o,ooo were affected directly of General Motors and seriously by strikes, another too,ooo workers threatened the outcome of the strike. were thrown out of work. This gave It was at this moment that the Flint General Motors the possibility of cry­ workers and their leader, Robert ing "that a minority was attempting Travis, conceived and executed a bril­ to dictate to the majority", to make liant move in achieving the sit-down the struggle appear as a battle between in the Chevrolet Assembly Plant No.4 union and non-union workers, to keep which once again gave the initiative a large number of workers on the side­ into the hands of the strikers and lines, and to create to a certain extent which virtually put an end to the back­ a popular mass cover for the usual to-work movement started by General strong-arm methods. This they did Motors. It was at this moment, too, through such organizations as the Flint that the Flint workers stopped a bog­ Alliance, through petition campaigns ging of the strike and a weakening of (obviously inspired by General Motors the ranks as a result of the defeat suf­ and carried through by coercion but fered at Anderson, where the leader­ nevertheless successful because of the ship was driven out by vigilantes and 118 TilE COMMUNIST also because of a mistake made in call­ deal with a walkout strike but Ceneral ing off the Saginaw meeting. Motors did not know how to deal with The insufficiency of organization the sit-down strike. The attempts to must be attributed to the fact that use the usual methods of securing an while the union had planned to attack injunction, illegalizing the strike, and General Motors and to develop a gen­ breaking up the picket lines by armed eral strike, actually there was a more force, as they attempted to do in Flint or less spontaneous outbreak of .the and in the battle before Fisher No. t struggle. The fight against General (now named the "Battle of Bulls Motors began at Atlanta with the Run", because the police did the run­ strike on November 18, followed sev­ ning on that day) failed miserably and eral weeks later by the strike at Kansas only enhanced the prestige of the City, and towards the last week in De­ union while arousing the indignation cember there took place the sit-downs of the masses. The attempt to cut off at Cleveland followed the next day by the heat and food proved a boom­ sit-downs in Fisher No. 1 and No.2 at erang. The General Motors workers Flint. A contributing factor here was and especially the Flint workers de­ the glass strike which threatened to veloped this weapon to the highest shut down the auto industry and which degree. made many feel that it was advisable to First of all they strategically locked hit the blow before such a shut-down themselves in, making it difficult to occurred. But there is no doubt that dislodge them without the use of con­ General Motors allowed the strike siderable force and numbers, while at movement to develop in order to bring the same time by taking over the gates, matters to a head, thinking that the they obtained the possibility of freely union was entirely unprepared and coming and going and thereby relieved would be defeated. the strain which they would othenvise General Motors had expected to have found a serious factor in their win. It thought that the armed force "voluntary imprisonment". Thus, by which it could put into action against coming and going in shifts, they were the strikers through its complete con­ able to hold out for a long time and trol of the local authorities would en­ thereby improved the methods of con­ able them to end the strike in double tinually staying in the plants which quick time. Why then did the calcula­ was the practice in the Midland Steel, tions of General Motors prove false? Kelsey-Hayes, American Aluminum It was because General Motors did not and other Detroit auto strikes. reckon with the leadership of the Second, they developed a complete C.I.O. and the militancy of the work­ and efficient organization within the ers and because it was entirely unpre­ plant, establishing a strike committee, pared for and unable to meet and and various sub-committees, and cap­ overcome the new tactic of the workers tains, including health and sanitation, -the sit-down strike. patrol and policing, trial committee (kangaroo court), and by ·means of SIT·DOWN STRIKE TACTICS · such organization exercised the great­ The big corporations know how to est vigilance and control, developina TH~ GREAT AUTO STRIKE 119 fully both the strategy and the means tie if the evacuation was attempted. of defense against any attacks. The :Fourth, they worked out the strategy workers .virtually barricaded .them­ of organizing a sit-down in the face of selves within the pfants and prepared the massing of numerous company themselves to use all devices available guards who were ready to use firm-arms (but emphatically barred. fire-arms) to prevent the occurrence of a sit-down. within the plant to hold their posi­ This they did in connection with the tions. In the Fisher No. 1 Plant in sit-down in Chevrolet Plant No.4· The Flint, the sit-down strikers covered the move executed by the Flint strike windows with bullet-proof metal sheets leadership consisted in arranging a sit­ through which fire hoses could be put down strike of the workers in Plant out to meet any gas or fire-arm attack. No. g, sending outside union men and They organized and drilled squads in women to give them support, and in the use of the water hoses for quick that way engaged the attention of the and efficient service. They organized a company thugs of Plant No. 9 and police patrol which made the rounds those of other plants, and while the at given hours to detect any untoward batde raged ·here, organized a march movement of peopl~ in adjoining from Plant No. 6 to Plant No. 4 which wings of the building occupied by the was the better organized and a more office help so as not to be caught by strategic plant because it produces mo­ surprise attacks, etc. tors for all Chevrolet cars, and effected Third, they combined the method the successful sit-down in this plant. of sitting down within the plant with a Thus they combined a march from system of outside car picket patrol, other plants as reinforcements for the which was supplemented by the union main point of attack. by daily outside meetings through a We must properly evaluate this new public address system, carried on by tactic of the workers. The sit-down the use of sound cars. This was fur­ strike has arisen spontaneously from ther supplemented by large-scale dem­ the ranks of the workers and is a new onsr.rations arranged by the union to weapon forged to meet the problems meet any critical situation, such as the of struggle against the big corpora­ threat of evacuation on the basis of the tions. It is a tactic, however, which is injunction. Such a combination of an already being employed in small as inside strike with outside mass mobil­ well as large factories, in industrial as ization and support rendered the use well as other plants. It is becoming the of the sit-down most effective. It was principal form of strike struggle at the because of this organized mass support present time and for that reason must that the corporation was frustrated in be paid the closest attention in order its efforts to dislodge them. For ex­ to impart to this method the greatest ample on the day when the evacuation consciousness and efficiency. Experi· was expected, following the issuance ence shows what the great teachers of of the injunction, about 3,ooo workers the working class movement, Marx and formed a picket line before Fisher No. Lenin, have emphasized many times, 1 at Flint, and many thousands more that new forms of struggle will inevit· were present, ready to pitch into bat- ably arise as special conditions change, no THE COMMUNIST "forms hitherto unseen by active in consciousness and understanding of people in the movement". the workers of their strategic impor­ The sit-down strike is not the old tance in the mass production set-up, syndicalist tactic of the folded ann the inter-dependence of departments strike, nor the application of the theory and plants, and thus their ability to of the militant minority (the idea that match the strength of the corporation a small group of resolute people can by their power to interrupt and halt impose its will upon large masses and the whole process of production by by their sheer determination drag them stopping the movement of the belt. along irrespective of their sentiments But the use of the sit-down, the "oc­ and convictions). While the number cupation" of the plant property re­ actually sitting within the plants was a veal that deeper forces have been at minority of the workers of the factory, work in the course ofthe last years. nonetheless, the sit-down strike was Let us consider the question of successful because these workers repre­ property and property rights. General sented and were supported by a big Motors and the ruling class press every­ majority of the workers of the shop. where set up a howl against the sit­ There is no doubt that the sit-down downers, that they had taken over · strikes of the French workers have had the factory, and were trespassing upon the most profound influence in intro­ the rights of the owners. Mr. Sloan ducing this instrument among the spoke about "holding the factory for American workers, but changed condi­ ransom". And the pretentious quack tions have favored the use of the sit­ scholar, John P. Frey of the American down strike here. Federation of Labor, followed in his What are these c.onditions? At first footsteps with occupation of the fac­ sight is the experiences of the workers tories. Editorials were written about in their struggle against the big indus­ the sit-down becoming a daily habit trialists in which they found them­ in the life of the people. "How would selves beset by brutal force, the break­ you like it if a stranger came into ing up of the picket lines and use of your house and squatted in your hired strike-breakers and other acts of dining room and refused to leave." violence. It must be remembered that Such was the theme of the edi­ in 1930, the picket line of Fisher Plant torials and news articles turned No. 1 in Flint was broken up and out in reams by the capitalist writers. driven out of the city en masse by the This was intended to shake the morale chief of police. This lesson was not lost of the workers, to scare the small prop­ upon the Fisher Body workers. erty owners and turn them against the Secondly, the last elections and the strike, and to bring pressure upon the defeat of the economic royalists have authorities-"sworn to uphold prop· given to the workers the feeling that erty rights and the constitution". But the government was on their side, matters did not turn out that way. The would protect them against the big workers did not sit down in the fac­ corporations, and would not so readily tories in order to take them. over and come out against them as a strike­ dispossess General Motors. They did not breaking agency. Thirdly is the growth carry out "expropriation", but instead THE GREAT AUTO STRIKE Ill carefully guarded the property and in ly the sole property of the owners to fact prided themselves that they took do with and to handle as they see fit, care of the property and machines "far but that there are human rights to be better than the plant guards". They safeguarded and that these rights must declared their readiness to leave the take precedence over property rights. plants if they were given the assurances Here we see the greater consciousness and were guaranteed that the plants of the position of the workers as wage would not be put into operation until slaves. Here we see the emergence a settlement was reached. The workers of the working class as a class. did not at all feel themselves strangers Here we see the sharp alignment of the in another man's home. As the Flint classes within the country-a develop­ Auto Worker pointed out, the workers ment which is finding and will find of the plant were part and parcel of the its expression on the political field. factory. They spent more days, weeks An epochal change is taking place in and years in them than did the owners, the mentality of the working class. The many of whom have never seen the fac­ years of the depression and crisis have tory and have not spent a single day shattered the old relationships, have within its walls. And thus the workers lowered the prestige of the ruling class were not motivated by revolutionary and have raised the independence and aims in occupying the plants but were self-assertedness of labor. It is this new limiting themselves to a form of pres­ strength of the working class which sure to achieve their immediate ends. General Motors and their henchmen They were encroaching upon the encountered in Flint and other Gen­ rights of the capitalists-"capitalist eral Motors strongholds; and it is this rights"-the right of unlimited ex­ strength which they tried to break ploitation and ruthless oppression, through the organization of the Flint and were asserting labor's rights, the Alliance, a combination of foremen, right to a decent livelihood under hu­ superintendents and local business man conditions of work; But does this men, dependent upon General Motors. not happen in a walk-out strike, when It was because of this strength that the workers cease to labor and stop the local authorities began to deputize working of the machinery (the prop­ loyal citizens and tHreatened to go erty of the capitalists), stop the hiring down to the plants to "shoot it out". of scabs and interfere with the "sacred Had it not been for the cool-headed­ right" of the capitalists to make profits, ness of the union leadership, a local just as long as they ignore the needs civil war could have been precipitated of the working people? And has this by the "guardians of law and order". not always been the cry of the capital­ The big corporations in meeting ists against strikes? Only here, to be with sit-down strikes will undoubtedly sure, we have a more advanced form of repeat the tactics of Gen~ral Motors. this "interference" with the sacred and The cry against alleged expropriation let it be said tyrannical property rights. will continue. This attitude of the Nonetheless, in this action, we see corporations wiil make the strike strug­ the maturing of the idea among the gles extremely acute. For that reason, workers that the factories are not mere- in sit-down strikes, the union must see THE COMMUNIST to it that the aims of the strike are the sit-down strike the problem of cleariy set forth to the whole popula­ picketing is reduced for with the work­ tion, that it imparts to the middle class ers &itting in, a relatively smaller picket -the merchants and professional patrol (this is absolutely essential so people-clear knowledge of the pur­ that the workers inside know what is pose of the strike and in that way align going on outside) is sufficient to guard the middle elements on the side of the against the infiltration of scabs. union and the strike, and that the The sit-down strike furthermore union leadership hold firmly to their makes it difficult to resume operations rights and do not waver before the even partially where acabs have propaganda onslaughts of the cor­ gotten in because by holding down porations. one section of the plant. it is hard to Wherein are the special advantages begin operations. of the sit-down tactic? Observation of The sit-down strike affords striken a number of strikes leads me to think greater possibility of defending them­ that the following are among the most selves against the violence of the police important reasons for the introduction and company men because they are in­ of this tactic: side the plants and are able to bar the Sit-down strikes give to the workers way of the attackers and also are able a greater feeling of strength and secur­ to organize means of defense and when ity because the strikers are inside the an attack does occur, the public under· plants, in the solid confines of the fac­ stands clearly who are the attackers. tory, at the machines which are the sources of their livelihood, instead of The sit-down strike makes for a away from the plant, moving around in greater discipline, group conscious­ "empty space", on the sidewalks sur­ ness and comradeship among the rounding the factories. strikers because of the very position in Sit-down strikes give to the workers which they find themselves and there­ greater sureness that there are no scabs by enhances the militancy and fighting within the plants and no production spirit of the workers. is being carried on and makes it diffi­ Finally, the sit-down strike arouses cult to run in scabs. For example, in the widest sympathy and support the walkout strike, the great problem among the working population be­ is that of picketing. Mass picketing­ cause of the courage of the workers in throwing of large masses around the taking "possession" of the factory and factory gates-is of the utmost impor­ because of the self-sacrifice and hard­ tance if scabs are to be kept out but ship which such action entails. This is even then the problem is extremely particularly the case of industrial com­ difficult in view of the size of the fac­ munities where the factory is the center tory and the numerous entrances. Take of everything. the Fisher Body No. 1 plant at Flint. Of course, the sit-down strike creates This takes up an area of one-half mile its own set of difficulties and problems. around and requires large masses con­ The question of sleeping ~ithin the centrated at a great number of points plant, of contacts with the families, of throughout the day and night. With feeding the workers, of holding the THE GREAT AUTO STRIKE workers within the plants, of keeping TASKS NOW FACING THE UNION out company men, of guarding ag-,tinst The position of the United Auto­ provocations, of the danger of the mobile Workers has been greatly stoppage of heat and food, of organ­ strengthened as a result of the strike, izing sets of inside and outside but it has still before it the task of the strike committees, the timely switch· negotiation of an agreement on the ing from an inside to an outside strike question of wages, hours and working when the lines do not hold, etc., all of conditions. It has won an agreement which requires careful study in order but the agreement has only the value to readjust the methods of strike organ­ of the organized strength behind it. ization to the problems of sit-down. General Motors will contest every inch The use of the sit-down method of of the ground in order to prevent the strike does not do away with the gen­ union from capitalizing on its en­ eral tactics and strategy in the opera­ hanced prestige and to prevent it from tion of strike struggles, that of the becoming the only union in the indus­ necessity for adequate mass prepara­ try. It will therefore require the utmost tion of the strikes, of the building up vigilance on the part of the union and of the union as the basis of the strike, continuous activity in order that it or of achieving the largest amount of may win a satisfactory settlement of its mass support among the workers of the demands. Strong arm methods used in plant-all features of good strike or­ Anderson and other places show that ganization which have generally been General Motors will not yet abandon employed in the walkout tactic. I have the field to the union. in mind, of course, the features of an The most important thing is to con­ organized strike. solidate the newly gained membership The sit-down tactic caught the cor­ and to entrench itself firmly within porations unprepared but already they the plants. Consolidation means above are developing counter methods to de­ all the establishment of an efficient feat it. These methods include the en­ shop steward system. Through the es­ largement of company police, the or­ tablishment of a department shop ganization of special groups of "loyal steward system the union will have the workers" forcibly to eject sit-down forces to carry on recruitment, to de­ strikers, to organize their plants in such fend the conditioJis of the workers in a way as to make an approach to the the shop, to take care of the grievances, factory more difficult and thereby iso­ and to bar the way to the company men late and starve out the workers. who will seek to create confusion and The sit-down strike is not an exclu­ steer the workers away from the union. sive method of strike. It does not re­ The establishment of a strong shop place the walkout strike tactic. Both steward system requires the carrying will be used but we must state that the through of elections, department by sit-down tactic is now part of the ar­ department, plant by plant, instruct­ senal of weapons which unionism is ing the shop stewards in their tasks, using, will use and can use in the strug­ and, above all, securing shop stewards gle against the exploiters. who have proven themselves to be mili- THE COMMUNIST tant and active men, who have demon­ of the union require, furthermore, strated theii loyalty and reliability in the continuation of the labor papers the course of the strike. In the election that have been issued by the union dur­ of shop stewards, non-union members ing the strike and the establishment of as well as union members should have papers of the union where none have the right to participate, and in that existed and the building up of sports way the shop stewards will truly repre­ groups, athletic teams, glee clubs, sent all the workers of the department. dramatic groups, educational classes, The necessity for a vigorous recruit­ the enlargement of the women's auxili· ing campaign is obvious, particularly ary-all of which will powerfully rein­ in those strategic places which Gen­ force the union strength. eral Motors held out against the union. Nor can the union ignore the chal­ It is also essential because General lenge which has been issued to it by Motors will carry, through maneuvers the local authorities who have shown to build up a competing union. The themselves to be tools of the company. ineffectiveness of the company union And in such places as Flint and other will undoubtedly compel General Mo­ industrial communities controlled by tors to seek to bUild up an independent General Motors as well as in Detroit, organization which will remain a crea­ the union must consider the question ture of the company. Here the Ameri­ of electing union men into political can Federation of Labor will be more office, to oust the General Motors poli· than ready to help out the corporation ticians, and to build up local labor and to provide an apparent indepen­ parties in order to achieve that aim. dent front for a company union set-up. The General Motors strike has set Already in Cleveland, there are signs the ball rolling. Other plants are step­ that the A. F. of L. bureaucrats ping into line. Strikes are growing in intends to move in and use whatever the independent as well as in the plants membership the company union ele­ of the other big corporations. The ments can provide it in order to estab­ question of an agreement with Chrys­ lish a rival organization. It will be ler will soon be placed upon the order necessary to expose this move and to of the day. The question of the organ­ show up these reactionaries as coming ization of Ford is not a far distant ques­ in only with the object of dividing tion. The union should discuss the the ranks of the workers and de­ lessons from the General Motors strug­ stroying the effectiveness of the Inter­ gle in order to fully prepare itself to national Auto Workers Union. But tackle these points. at the same time, the union must be prepared where its own ranks THE ACTIVITIES OF TfiE COMMUNISTS are too weak within certain depart­ IN TfiE AUTO STRIKE ments to send forces into such a set-up Among the auto workers there are with the object of wresting away the former miners and others who have leadership of such independent union had many years of labor experience. and in that way disrupting the tactics Their experience made for added soli­ of the company. darity and discipline. In this strike and The consolidation and development the union there were also radical- THE GREAT AUTO STRIKE minded workers and among this group, columns of news about· the strike, edi­ in the first place, must be mentioned torials and articles, which pointed out the work of the Communist members the problems of the strike struggle, of the union as well as the work of the which tried to foresee and warn Communist-Party itself. against the many dangers that lurked What were the activities of the Com­ ahead in the battle. It issued a special munists? The Communists and the supplement of 25,000 copies each and Communist Party gave the most loyal a total of 15o,ooo copies, which was backing and support to the strike, to undoubtedly of aid to the strike, and the aims, policies and activities of the in such places as Cleveland, the Com­ union and the C.I.O. The Communists munists in the strike issued a special worked ardently and earnestly in help­ shop paper which dealt with problems ing to build up the union and tried in of the strike at the Fisher Body plant. every way possible to properly prepare The existence of groups of Commu­ the strike so that it would rest upon a nists within the shops was undoubtedly strong foundation. In the strike it'lelf of great help because thereby a core the Communists sought to imbue the of experienced people were in the strikers and the workers generally with shops to help in the solution of the the greatest discipline, organization new problems connected with the sit­ and perserverance. There is no doubt down. The shop form of organization, that the fact that the Communists were the shop groups (units), has more than active, particularly at the most decisive justified itself. Where the Party organ­ points of the struggle, that there the ization paid attention to these units, strike was strongest, and this made for there the efforts of many years of work the success of the whole battle. The were fully rewarded. The shop unit Communist workers combatted any form of organization and the attention tendency to waver in the face of the to the shops are of even greater impor­ sharp blows of the enemy and helped tance today with the development of to keep the ranks as firm as possible. the sit-down strike methods. The Party members, not only in the . There were some who raised objec­ areas of the strike but in various parts tions to the distribution ,of the Daily of the country, gave moral and mate­ Worker in the shops among the strik­ rial aid, helped to collect food and ers, but quite generally the workers funds, arranged solidarity meetings, welcomed the paper and did not inter· helped the union in the distribution £ere with the right of the Communist of its material, and gave practical as­ Party to distribute its material. The sistance in other ways. The Communist "Red scare" which was raised at times Party early recognized and sought to although timidly and mostly by com­ impress upon every one the decisive pany men did not take effect because importance of Flint as the main battle­ the workers had learned that where ground of the struggle, and in that way such scares are created against Com­ aided in keeping the eyes of the entire munists and where discrimination oc­ country upon Flint so as to render that curs against the activities of one front the greatest assistance. section of the labor movement, there The Daily Worker contained many the company succeeds in dividing the

points points of of view view with with respect respect to to the the prob- munists munists cooperated cooperated with with these these Socialist Socialist

all all are are now now ready ready and and willing willing to to hear hear mass mass struggle. struggle. In In the the strike strike the the Com­

shops shops and and the the unions, unions, for for the the workers workers ists", ists", but but followed followed a a true true course course of of

ture, ture, must must center center chiefly chiefly around around the the sectarianism sectarianism of of the the "militant "militant Social­

Worker Worker Sunday Sunday and and Worker, Worker, of of litera­ fluenced fluenced to to any any large large extent extent by by the the

ance. ance. The The distribution distribution of of Daily Daily the the with with the the poison poison of of Trotskyism Trotskyism or or in­

order order that that it it might might be be of of greatest greatest assist­ were were Socialists Socialists who who were were not not infected infected

unions unions the the center center of of its its attention, attention, in in ties ties were were of of help help to to the the union. union. These These

for for making making the the factories factories and and trade trade worthwhile worthwhile activity activity and and their their activi­

acutely acutely than than ever ever before before the the necessity necessity bers bers of of the the Socialist Socialist Party Party showed showed

struggles, struggles, places places before before the the Party Party more more At At several several points points of of the the struggle, struggle, mem­

in in the the auto auto centers, centers, the the growth growth of of strike strike particularly particularly that that of of the the Socialist Socialist Party. Party.

The The rise rise of of a a new new labor labor movement movement activity activity of of other other working working class class groups, groups,

near near future. future. It It is is also also interesting interesting to to discuss discuss the the

ation ation which which must must be be corrected corrected in in the the during during the the strike. strike.

render render assistance assistance at at these these places, places, a a situ­ means means done done to to any any sufficient sufficient extent extent

made made it it impossible impossible for for the the Party Party to to working working class class struggle. struggle. This This was was by by no no

as as Pontiac, Pontiac, Anderson Anderson the the activities activities and and of of Saginaw, Saginaw, Communists Communists in in the the

of of Party Party organization organization in in such such places places full full appreciation appreciation of of the the importance importance of of

branches branches and and membership. membership. The The lack lack Party Party is is doing doing so so that that it it may may have have a a

county county and and state state committees committees with with the the Party, Party, to to show show the the workers workers what what the the

connection connection and and leadership leadership of of the the showing showing to to the the workers workers the the face face of of the the

this this is is also also related related to to the the insufficient insufficient of of great great urgency urgency is is the the necessity necessity of of

most most vital vital task task are are still still prevalent. prevalent. But But among among the the mass mass of of auto auto workers. workers. But But

keep keep Party Party members members away away from from this this organization organization which which is is influential influential

and and that that sectarian sectarian tendencies tendencies which which tacts, tacts, and and to to strengthen strengthen itself itself as as an an

ized ized for for joining joining in in the the economic economic fights fights itself itself in in the the shops, shops, to to enlarge enlarge its its con­

the the Party Party is is not not yet yet sufficiently sufficiently mobil­ in in that that way way enable enable the the Party Party to to root root

strike strike struggle, struggle, Party Party a a fault fault the the which which ranks ranks shows shows of of active active that that people, people, and and

members members participated participated in in assisting assisting the the real real recruiting recruiting drive, drive, to to win win to to the the

Not Not all all Party Party organizations organizations It It is is especially especially or or all all urgent urgent Party Party to to put put on on a a

the the strike? strike? No, No, this this cannot cannot be be said. said. workers. workers.

munist munist Party Party the the that that social social was was possible possible and and class class to to help help vision vision of of the the

done done by by the the Communists Communists and and the the Com­ country country and and to to enlarge enlarge and and strengthen strengthen

Can Can it it be be said said that that everything everything was was firmly firmly over over the the giant giant factories factories of of the the

the the greater greater the the success. success. planting planting the the flag flag of of trade trade unionism unionism

the the struggle, struggle, confronting confronting the the better better the the it, it, and and fight fight in in and and way way aid aid in in t~at t~at

militancy militancy obtain. obtain. of of the the The The social social more more and and united united political political problems problems

is is highest highest and and the the greatest greatest unity unity and and workings workings of of the the labor labor movement movement and and

there there the the consciousness consciousness of of the the workers workers class class movement movement a a knowledge knowledge of of the the

the the opinion opinion of of needed, needed, all all groups groups so so as as to to is is impart impart allowed, allowed, to to the the working working

Where Where democratic democratic agitation agitation policies policies and and prevail prevail education education and and are are also also badly badly

pany pany men men to to get get the the upper upper hand. hand. and and the the enlargement enlargement of of the the work work of of

ened ened and and there there it it is is easiest easiest for for com­ The The organization organization of of a a speakers' speakers' bureau bureau

ranks, ranks, there there the the lems lems strike strike and and tasks tasks becomes becomes of of the the weak­ labor labor movement. movement.

u6 u6 THE THE COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE GREAT AUTO STRIKE U'/ Party members (although not on the only with the rise in union member­ basis of any formal pact) and such co­ ship during the strike. It also fol­ operation proved fruitful. lowed on the heels of the discrediting But the same cannot be said of the of the General Motors officials due to line of policy pursued by the Socialist their very failure to enter into negotia­ Party through the columns of its lead­ tions in Washington, followed the re­ ing organ, the Socialist Call. While de­ buke which Secretary Perkins adminis­ voting considerable space to the strike, tered to Mr. Sloan, which raised the its policies were by no means free from morale of the workers and sharpened sectarianism. Take for example the their militancy and determination article of Frank Trager in the Socialist without which it would have been dif­ Call of February 6. Here he states that ficult to have carried through such a the offensive which took place in Flint sharp battle and such tactics as were in­ during that week "was under the volved in the sit-down in Chevrolet No. spirited leadership of the Socialist 4· In general it must be said that the leaders". This statement is not only negotiations carried on by the union guilty of unjustified boasting but, what leadership and the C.I.O., in contrast is worse, separates the leadership of to the negotiations of the old Green Flint from the general leadership of and Dillon group, set a new mark in the union and the C.I.O., and also dis­ the practice of labor leaders in making misses the leadership of militants who use of negotiations and conferences not occupied the most strategic points in to injure but to aid the work of the Flint and who are by no means Social­ men and women on the picket lines. ists. But the harmful sectarianism is to Nor can we dismiss the comment be found in another part of his article made by Norman Thomas in his in which he states that the offensive column of January 30 on the question took place because "the Flint auto of the sit-down. On the one hand, he workers discarded the futile strategy of endorses the sit-down strike as a weap­ long conferences and round table nego­ on which has obvious advantages for tiations". The inference here is that the the workers "beautifully demonstrated leadership of the union was wasting its in Flint where the spirit and discipline time in useless negotiations (while the of the workers have beeh remarkable". workers were favoring action) and On the other hand, he remarks that thanks to the Socialist Party they final­ because "the sit-down strike properly ly received it. This is a complete dis­ used is a powerful weapon for the tortion of the situation and what is workers-it does not follow that it has more, reveals a lack of understanding no dangers", and says, "if it is used for of the tactics of strike leadership. This the advantage of some small group apparent emphasis upon "action" and rather than for the advantage of the scorn for "talk" appear indeed very whole body of workers, if it is used "revolutionary" and are the latest fad without discipline; if it is used so as to of some leaders of the Socialist Party. create public hostility, then the sit­ But any knowledge of the situation down strike is not an advantage". shows that the action in Flint in taking It must be remembered that this wa& Chevrolet's Plant No. 4 became ripe written at the very moment when the

.. ..

. . tory tory moment moment very very the the at at struggles, struggles, the the of of

his­ labor labor American American in in landmark landmark a a be be height height the the at at group group This This body. body. skyist skyist

to to prove prove will will It It us. us. of of ahead ahead struggles struggles Trot­ main main the the of of variant variant and and off off split split a a

coming coming the the in in felt felt be be will will 1937 1937 of of strike strike Group­ Workers Workers Revolutionary Revolutionary the the as as

auto auto dramatic dramatic and and great great the the of of effects effects known known Detroit Detroit in in followers followers Trotskyist Trotskyist

full full The The Party. Party. Communist Communist the the and and of of sect sect little little a a of of activity activity disruptive disruptive

Communists Communists the the upon upon class-the class-the remarks remarks working working few few the the a a of of lastly, lastly, And, And,

section section revolutionary-minded revolutionary-minded gressive gressive through. through. carrying carrying were were

ag­ most most the the also also embrace embrace will will which which workers workers the the which which strike" strike" of of kind kind lar lar

movement movement front-a front-a "particu­ the the of of united united use use people's people's effective effective most most the the

real real was was movement-a movement-a thing thing people's people's important important all all real real a a the the Thomas Thomas to to

of of growth growth the the to to rise rise giving giving is is which which ess ess contrary contrary and and used, used, being being was was which which

proc­ a a people, people, progressive-minded progressive-minded all all strike strike of of kind kind the the of of success success very very the the

of of and and class class working working the the of of unity unity the the upon upon depended depended built built being being was was that that

also also welding welding are are union union of of which which and and kind kind movement movement particular particular the the fact fact in in

labor labor the the of of strengthening strengthening and and tension tension for for revealed, revealed, remarks remarks above above the the which which

ex­ an an toward toward driving driving are are which which forces forces sit-down sit-down the the of of question question the the upon upon

country, country, the the within within wavering wavering work work and and at at are are that that underestimation underestimation the the

forces forces new new the the of of reveals reveals essence essence the the is is workers workers Here Here mobile mobile build". build". workers workers

auto­ the the of of the the strike strike the the which which union union conclusion, conclusion, of of In In kind kind the the but but strike strike

movement. movement. labor labor the the of of section section a a of of kind kind particular particular the the not not is is thing thing

as as parading parading disrupters disrupters and and actionaries actionaries important important all all the the "that "that moral moral the the drew drew

re­ little little of of He He work work remarks? remarks? conduct-the conduct-the these these from from would would draw draw Thomas Thomas

movement movement labor labor the the of of enemies enemies which which Norman Norman did did conclusions conclusions What What ation. ation.

work work of of type type the the with with common common in in evacu­ intended intended the the to to resistance resistance the the

more more far far has has and and title, title, revolutionary revolutionary weakening weakening in in assisted assisted have have only only would would

a a has has group group the the of of usefulness usefulness name name its its the the to to as as though though ,doubt ,doubt m: m: ering ering

al­ activities, activities, wav­ any any for for it, it, revolutionary revolutionary to to any any of of hold·finnly hold·finnly and and on on

semblance semblance slightest slightest the the not not have have ganda ganda weap­ new new this this master master may. may. work..ers work..ers the the

propa­ and and that that so so activities activities weapon, weapon, Such Such new new ·the ·the of of violence. violence. importance importance

of of campaign campaign the the its its upon upon reinforce reinforce to to emphasis emphasis and and needed needed support, support, tional tional

company company the the which which uncondi­ thing thing very very the the unqualified, unqualified, just just requires requires ment ment

mo­ a a Such Such was was moment? moment? Party Party a a such such at at Communist Communist tages tages the the by by and and ers ers

work· work· the the by by disadvan­ repudiated repudiated its its and and of of demned demned discussion discussion and and down down

con­ sit­ emphatically emphatically the the on on was was which which moralizing moralizing is is ganda ganda use use what what Of Of

propa­ Such Such method. method. guard". guard". strike strike 'workers' 'workers' of of sit-down sit-down tion tion the the against against

forma­ the the for for call call aligned aligned to to was was and and them them public public the the arming arming that that impression impression

the the give give to to trying trying dis­ were were C.I.O. C.I.O. the the capitalists capitalists the the "against "against workers workers the the

warn warn to to was was when when which which of of also also substance substance moment moment a a the the at at let let work, work, of of out out

masses masses large large leaf­ keeping keeping a a was was issued issued group group small small strength, strength, a a their their of of stration stration

that that out out crying crying was was demon· demon· country country the the of of formidable formidable a a press press organized organized had had

entire entire the the and and ads ads workers workers the the full-page full-page when when and and lishing lishing attack attack to to text text

pub­ was was pre­ a a Corporation Corporation seeking seeking Motors Motors were were General General vigilantes vigilantes the the that that

228 228 COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE THE THE LESSONS OF THE MARITIME STRIKES

BY ROY HUDSON

HE struggle of the maritime work­ and organized, and what their objec· T ers, which was finally concluded tives are. with substantial victories for them, was The marine struggle did not catch provoked by the shipowners who timed the employers unexpected; on the con­ their attack with, and as part of, the trary, they were quite conscious of the general offensive of reactionary capital strength of the workers and knew its in the election campaign. This historic probable costs, which were in fact $7,· struggle started at the peak of the ooo,ooo daily, or a total loss of $686,­ election campaign and continued long ooo,ooo on the Pacific Coast alone! In­ into the so-called era of "good feeling" cidentally, in preparation for the strug­ that was promised by the reactionaries gle the shipowners are reputed to have following their rebuff in the elections. amassed, by a tonnage tax, a war chest Both the great auto and marine of $:wo,ooo,ooo. The shipowners pro­ strikes show that the American workers voked the maritime strike by refusing, are not so gullible as to be fooled about after three months of negotiations last the poppycock of an era of good feeling fall, to meet the demands ofthe Pacific which was ~upposed to have followed Maritime Unions, because they were the elections and that this talk was but prepared to risk the tremendous losses a smokescreen to hide the continued that such a struggle would involve, be­ offensive of the Liberty Leaguers to cause they were dete~ined to wipe realize their election program. This out the gains of 1934, and weaken and, can be seen by any one who looks at if possible, smash the powerful West· the General Motors strike; at the de­ ern unions, check the growth and mands for reduction in relief and W. strengthening of the unions in the P.A. appropriations, not to mention East and Gulf and deal a powerful the fresh outbursts of reaction's spokes­ blow at the growing progressive forces man, Hearst, and the resurrection of of America. Father Coughlin. In the national ma­ rine strike, more than any other recent Not only were the Pacific Maritime struggle of the American workers, we Unions successful in defeating this of­ see most clearly the planned character fensive of the shipowners, but by or­ of this offensive; the extent to which ganizing a counter-offensive, they were the forces of reaction have crystallized suc::c::essful in maintaining their gains ug THE COMMUNIST of 1934, in strengthening their unions, basic demands of the unions. The fol­ and the Maritime Federation, and in lowing table shows what was won by forcing the shipowners to gral1t the the Pacific Coast maritime unions:

EMPLOYERS' OFFER SEPT. 51> UNIONS' BASIC DEMANDS WHAT UNIONS WON General Arbitratie>n Direct negotiations Agreements by direct negotiations International Longshoremen's Association 8-hr. day 6-hr. day 6-hr. day Employer-controlled Union hiring hall Union hiring hall hiring (Preference of employment) (Preference of employment) Sailors' Union Optional overtime Cash overtime pay Cash overtime pay Employer-controlled hiring Union hiring hall Union hiring hall Basic wage $62.50 Basic rate $go $10 increase Cooks and Stewards Unlimited hours 8-hr. day 8 hrs. on freighters 9 hrs. on passengers Optional overtime Cash overtime pay Cash overtime pay Employer-controlled hiring Union hiring hall Union hiring hall Radio Operators Employer-controlled hiring Preference of employment Preference of employment Previous wage scale Wage increase Wage increase Marine Engineers Employer-controlled hiring Preference of employment Recognition of union Previous wage scale Wage increase Selection of men from union hall $15 wage increase Masters, Mates and :Pilots Employer-controlled hiring Union recognition Non-union masters Preference of employment Selection of men from union hall Previous wage scale Wage increase Wage increase

The Pacific Coast struggle not only of J. P. Ryan of the I.L.A., as well as rallied the support of the seamen and the scab-herding officials of the I.S. U ., licensed crafts in the East and Gulf, prevented them from maintaining the support which was vital to insuring vic­ original effectiveness of the strike and tory on the Coast, but also enabled the forced them to conclude their strike strikers in these districts to register on the basis of a partial victory. Never· achievements of the greatest signifi­ theless, they secured gains which are cance, even though the inability to ex· not yet understood thoroughly by the tend the struggle to the longshoremen, labor movement. Their strike forced due mainly to the strikebreaking policy the announcement that "peaceful LESSONS OF THE MARITIME STRIKES negotiations" between the former I.S. has forced important concessions that are in U. officials and the shipowners had re­ our interests." (From resolution adopted at calling off strike.) sulted in t~e following: $10 to $12.50 wage increases in all In the light of these gains, it is clear departments. that if the maritime workers are suc­ $2.70 an hour overtime pay. cessful in maintaining and consolidat­ The eight-hour day for Engine and ing their gains the strike will result in Deck Departments. strengthening the unions and the unity Hours in Stewards Department are of the various crafts, as well as an im· to be eight hours a day in port, nine !)rovement in wages and wcrking con­ hours on freighters and 10 hours on dJtions for the workers in the .East and passenger. Gulf, that is somewhat comparable to In comparison with the Pacific Coast the results achieved on the Pacific conditions, we see that a number of Coast in 1934. Certainly, in view of things, especially the basic question of these facts, there will be few marine union hiring, have not yet been se­ workers that will agree with Norman cured in the East. Nevertheless, the Thomas' analysis that the East Coast strike resulted in bringing wages and strike was a "defeat". working conditions generally up to GENERAL LESSONS OF THE STRIKE that won on the Pacific Coast. In addi­ tion to this, the strikers in the East and In meeting this attack, in defeating Gulf considered, when they voted to it, and forcing important concessions end the strike, that they had won the from the employers, the maritime following additional things through unions gave expression to the deter­ their struggle. mination of the American workers to struggle against the growth of reaction "Our strike has been a major factor in help· in this country, and for that "better schemes of the ing defeat the union-smashing life" they were promised by Roosevelt Pacific shipowners. "Our strike has established closer unity be­ and for which most of them voted. The tween the East, Gulf and W'est coasts. We have steel and coal workers on the verge of established closer unity between the licensed a struggle, all the forces of progress in and unlicensed crafts. We have helped this country, will be stimulated by the strengthen the fight of the I.L.A. membership outcome of the maritime strike as well against the strikebreaking, dictatorial policies of J. P. Ryan. For the first time effectively we as the auto strike, because they will have achieved unity between the white and see that victory is possible for them too. Negro seamen. If we maintain the unity we The C.I.O. and all other progressive have achieved in this strike then we have the forces that are championing the cause Federation. beginning of a real Maritime of industrial unions of militant pol­ "Greater democracy has been secured by the membership of the International Seamen's icies of trade union democracy are Union which has replaced its former of· strengthened tremendously by the ficials with elected, progressive leaders. maritime struggle, which confirms the "The strike has encouraged hundreds, if not correctness of these progressive labor thousands of licensed oilicers to join the re· policies that are agitating the trade spective unions of their crafts. "The campaign against the Copeland and union movement, and indicate the Ship Subsidy Bills has been strengthened and tremendous possibilities that lie before THE COMMUNIST labor through the application of these did they show their sympathy with the principles. · maritime unions by financial support, The determination of the marine but brought direct pressure on the workers to conduct such a long bitter government and shipowners, in behalf struggle, and their ability to do so, of the maritime unions, through the must be partially explained by an un­ numerous resolutions adopted in pro­ derstanding on their part of the char­ testing the strikebreaking speech of acter of the attack launched against Mayor Rossi and in demanding the them and the decisive influence that withholding of all ship subsidies pend· the outcome of their struggle would ing settlement of the strike. have upon the general labor move­ Perhaps in no other recent strike ment in its struggle against reaction. have such wide sections of the popula­ Certainly, not only a tremendous tion been mobilized on the side of the strengthening of their organized power strikers as was done on the Pacific nationally, but also an increased class Coast, and it was this wide support, consciousness was reflected in the unity together with the unshakeable unity of of the 4o,ooo members of the seven the strikers, that prevented the Pa­ Pacific maritime unions who stood as cific employers from utilizing terror one man and prevented a single ship and strikebreakers to smash the strike. from sailing from a Pacific port for Even on the East and Gulf coasts over 100 days, and in the splendid where issues were less clear, as a result solidarity of the seamen and licensed of the attacks on the strike by the A. crafts in the East and Gulf who in F. of L. leadership and some govern­ twelve different ports began to .walk ment officials, many prominent trade off their ships with but one demand­ union officials spoke in support of the support the West coast! strike, and tens of thousands of dol­ Of equal importance in indicating lars for strike relief was collected from the realignment of forces that is taking the trade union movement and its sym­ place in America is the wide support pathizers. given by the trade union movement The strike confirmed the growth of and wide sections of the "public" and progressive forces and t~nded to weld the unemployed to this historic strug­ together wide sections of the people to gle of the marine workers. This is to assist the strikers in checking the ship­ be seen most clearly on the Pacific owners' offensive. On the other hand, Coast where the issues were more clear. the strike emphasized the reactionary Here, as a result of a splendidly organ­ character of the A. F. of L. top craft ized campaign upon the part of the leadership whose splitting policies and Pacific maritime unions, those sections opposition to progressive measures are of the population who were alarmed at leading them into a more open united the growth of reaction in this country front with the Hearst, Liberty League and had voted against the Hearst­ and open-shop forces. We also see how Landon-Kno~ ticket in the elections Roosevelt's middle of the road policy aligned themselves either openly, or at plays into the hands of the reaction- least adopted a neutral position, to­ aries. ward the maritime strikers. Not only Wbile the C.I.O. forces were plung- LESSONS OF THE MARITIME STRIKES 233 ing ahead with their campaign to or­ cals in giving substantial financial sup­ ganize steel and were actively leading port to the strike. the great auto strike, the A. F. of L. The maritime strike constituted the Convention, under the leadership of first real test as to how Roosevelt would the Executive Council that suspended exercise the mandate given him in the the C.l.O. unions from the A. F. of recent elections by the American L., adopted a resolution condemning people, who were justly alarmed at the the action taken by the Eastern and plans of reactionary finance capital to Gulf maritime workers in support of come into control of the government. the West Coast Unions. The I.S. U. top At the best he tried to deal with the leadership, after the Eastern and Gulf same forces which opposed him in the membership, at official meetings, voted elections by "doing nothing" even for strike action, walked out of the though he had power to act on behalf meeting and declared the strike illegal, of the strikers by publicly withholding and served, throughout the strike, as subsidies and calling all loans to the the main scab-herders for the ship­ shipowners-which was demanded by owners. Joseph P. Ryan, President of hundreds of thousands of people! I.L.A. if anything, did more to betray Madame Perkins joined in the the strike even though he played a chorus with the Ryans and Hunters in more clever game than the I.S. U. declaring the East Coast strike as "out­ fakers. While in the beginning he law"; the Maritime Commission ap­ covered up his role by pledging sup­ pointed by Roosevelt attempted unsuc­ port to the West Coast !.L.A. long­ cessfully to align themselves with the shoremen, he ended up by denouncing shipowners. The failure on the part of the \Vestern longshoremen for sup­ the administration to postpone en­ porting the other seafaring crafts, forcement of the Copeland Bill in spite "fired" Harry Bridges, Pacific Coast of the overwhelming mass protests of District President of the !.L.A., organ­ the maritime unions and the labor ized gangsters to attack the East Coast movement played into the hands of pickets, and formed a united front the shipowners. Roosevelt, confronted with the major shipowners to conduct with a titanic struggle between the "strikes" against any shipping com­ forces of reaction and progress, tried panies that signed agreements with the to secure "peace" by getting the marine East and Gulf Coast strike seamen! unions to make concessions to the ship­ On the other hand, the C:I.O. forces, owners, and when he couldn't get away and their supporters in the craft with this, kept quiet in hopes that unions, gave full support to the Pa­ somehow or other the issue would be cific strike, and while the C.I.O. did settled without any positive action on not take an official stand on the strike his part. in the East and Gulf, a number of Roosevelt's natural tendency was to leaders of the C.I.O. unions expressed compromise with the forces of reac· their sympathy with the strike at pub­ tion-and if he was prevented from lic mass meetings. The C.I.O. unions doing so it was only because of the in needle, rubber, and mining joined strong pressure independently exerted hands with the many craft union lo- upon him by labor. These experiences, THE COMMUNIST if properly understood by the marine mining the ability to conduct the strike workers and labor generally, constitute to a satisfactory conclusion. While one of the most important lessons of the strike was national in character, the strike and prove the correctness of and had certain uniform aims, some oi the line of our Party in the last elec­ its main objectives differed according tions. This policy was that while labor to the relationship of forces involved must at all costs defeat the reactionary in the struggle. What were the chief Landon-Knox ticket it could not rely objectives before this national strug­ upon Roosevelt but could only force gle, which involved the members of all concessions from him by exerting pres­ Pacific Coast unions, and the member­ sure through organizing its political ship of the six of the Eastern and Gulf power independently. These experi­ unions? They are as follows: ences must serve to strengthen the (a) To defeat the attacks of the ship­ movement for independent political owners against the Pacific Maritime action, for the development of a broad Unions and to maintain the Maritime popular united front movement, to de­ Federation. feat the reactionaries in Congress, to (b) To force the shipowners to con­ secure the passage of progressive meas­ clude an agreement with the Pacific ures and for the building of a Farmer­ Maritime Unions that would meet the Labor Party. basic demands for which the workers struck. CORRECT POLICIES OF THE UNION (c) To advance the movement of the MADE VICTORY POSSIBLE Eastern and Gulf marine workers to­ ward uniform, national wages and The maritime unions were success­ working conditions, and to strengthen ful in registering these gains because, their unions, cement their unity na­ in the first place, the seven powerful tionally and among the various crafts, Pacific Maritime Unions, united and to advance the movement for a through the Maritime Federation of national Maritime Federation. the Pacific, were able to mobilize a (d) To strengthen and advance, es­ counter-offensive on a national scale. pecially in the latter phases of the Notwithstanding the support of the strike, the struggle against the reac­ general trade union movement and its tionary Copeland and ship subsidy sympathizers on the Pacific Coast, it is bills, which were enforced by the extremely doubtful if the maritime Roosevelt administration in spite of unions there would have been success­ the protests of the maritime unions, ful in beating back the offensive of the and the fact that enforcement of the shipowners without the splendid sup­ bills in the midst of the strike helped port of the maritime unions in the East the shipowners in their effort to defeat and Gulf. the strike. While the extension of the struggle It was the clear understanding on a national scale was a major factor achieved as to the character and object· in determining the final outcome of ives of a struggle that involved work­ the struggle, clarity on the objectives ers on a national scale that enabled of the struggles was essential in deter- the workers to conduct their fight on a LESSONS OF THE MARITIME STRIKES correct general policy and to formulate Second, to maintain the unity of all decisions on other basic questions that the unions involved in the strike on arose duri~g the course of the stmggle. the Pacific Coast, which was success­ This article cannot pretend to be a de­ fully accomplished.. The imponance tailed analysis of the tactics pursued, of maintaining unity at all costs was especially on the Pacific Coast (al­ understood right from the beginning, though such an analysis of all the especially by the longshoremen, who events on the Pacific Coast no doubt re-opened their agreement, which gen­ will be made, since their experiences erally speaking was satisfactory, in are of great importance to our Party order to be in a position to support the and the labor movement), but a few demands of the I.S.U. unions and of the more general questions must be liscensed officers. dealt with here: The unity of the strike was seriously First, although we can but mention endangered only three times, to wit: it in passing, the tactics pursued by the on the question of whether a strike vote West Coast unions prior to the strike should be taken prior to the strike; on that prevented the shipowners from the question of whether the tentative doing what the auto barons did-force agreements negotiated by Lundberg, a struggle at a time and on an issue of the S.U.P. and Ferguson, and Cook determined by the employers. Here the of the Firemen's Union should be unions, recognizing that the ship­ voted upon before the other unions had owners were organized and wanted to reached an agreement; and, finally, provoke a struggle, pursued a policy as to the policy to be pursued against aimed at: ( 1) Trying to force a settle­ the Copeland Bill. It is significant to ment without a struggle if this were note that policies which threatened the possible; (2) Avoiding entering a unity of the strikers originated from ., struggle at a time and under conditions sources close to the Trotskyites; and dictated by the shipowners; (3) While were rejected by the workers who sup­ exhausting all possibilities for a peace­ ported those policies proposed by the ful settlement, at the same time en­ progressives, headed by Harry Bridges, deavoring to isolate the shipowners, and that these policies met with the and to strengthen the position of the full endorsement of the Communist unions so that if a struggle were forced Party. Not only were these splitting upon them they would be able to enter policies defeated, but the struggle it with the strongest possible position. against them was conducted in such a The serious approach to the situation manner that the Trotskyites, who were that was reflected in this policy showed, mainly responsible for them, became among other things, that the leader· exposed in the eyes of large sections of ship of the maritime unions and our the trade unionists who were begin­ Party as well were responsible for the ning to recognize that the Trotskyite practical mass leaders who did not play agents of reaction are a far greater around with loose talk of "militant" menace at this time to the union than action, but enabled the workers to usc the attacks of the Hearst press, or of their strength to the best possible ad­ the discredited Scharrenbergs and vantage. Ryans. THE COMMUNIST Third, to maintain the unity of the gained control of, and exposed those strikers nationally, on the basis of a who continued to talk about "new correct policy. The most serious threat unions" as people whose talk about to the national unity of the strike de­ "new unions" and "fighting the veloped in connection with the open, fakers" merely covered up their split­ strikebreaking activities of the I.S.U. ting policies and sabotage of the deci­ top leadership. The creation of a new sions of the majority of the seamen. In union and the breaking away from the this connection one of the most im· American Federation of Labor was portant lessons to be drawn from this advanced at a most critical period, as experience for the trade union move­ the only means to defeat the strike­ ment generally is that the policies to breakers. This policy originated in the be adopted by the workers in their I.W.W., and from certain forces in the fight for democracy and for trade Sailors' Union of the Pacific who up union unity are not determined by the until then had concealed their split­ rules dictated by the reactionary bu· ting policies by pretending to fight for reaucrats, but by the support any the return of the charter of the S.U.P. policy can secure from the majority ot which had been revoked by the reac­ the workers. When an action is sup­ tionary top leadership. These forces ported by the majority of the workers, were either directly lined up with, or it is criminal to refrain from taking influenced by, the Trotskyites. For a such action because it meets with the time they attracted some support from disapproval· of the reactionary officials honest militants, who were disgusted who neither represent nor have the by the strikebreaking activities of the support of the mass of the workers. I.S.U. officialdom. But the confusion Fourth, to· bring the strike in the was liquidated, and unity maintained East and Gulf to a successful conclu­ through the action of the overwhelm­ sion. The inability to maintain the ing majority of the membership of the original effectiveness of the strike in I.S. U. in removing their former offi­ these districts and extend it to the cials and in electing new officials. longshoremen, due mainly to the These decisions, which were possible strikebreaking activities of the former only because of the strike, showed the I.s .. u. officials, and Joseph P. Ryan of support of the overwhelming majority the !.L.A., made this a very difficult of the membership of the l.S.U. lead· question. The growing weaknesses of ership, enabled the membership to the strike in these districts at the time "take control of their union" and to the hearings of the National Labor Re­ restore democracy. These decisions lations Board were forced made it clear enabled the rank and file to further that the Eastern and Gulf strikers advance their long bitter struggle for could best maintain their gains and democracy-a struggle which has been press for additional ones by terminat­ conducted successfully in spite of the ing their strike and prosecuting the great difficulties. fight on issues still unsettled through The fight from then on became one the hearings of the N .L.R.B., backed of how to maintain and strengthen the up by their organized power on the I.S.U. which the membership had ships. LESSONS OF THE MARITIME STRIKES The question then arose - how they had scored considerable victories would termination of the strike on this and created a most favorable situa­ basis prior to a settlement of the strike tion for continuing the fight, they had on the Pacific affect the position of the not completely prevented the govern­ West Coast unions, whose support was ment from putting these bills into the main objective of the Eastern and effect. The question then arose o£ how Gulf strikes? The answer to .this ques­ to continue most effectively the strug­ tion was that the West Coast could best gle to defeat the reactionary sections be supported, not by attempting to of these bills. Such "militants" as continue at all costs the Eastern strike Lundberg and Ferguson advocated the after it had reached its peak and was continuing of the strike until complete declining, but by maintaining the or­ repeal of these bills was secured. Such ganization and strength that had been a policy was wrong for two reasons: achieved as a result of the strike. To First,- this was a national issue, but at have continued the strike under these the same time the strike was no longer circumstances would have jeopardized effective nationally, and the possibil­ the gains made, and weakened the na­ ities for continuing the strike on a na­ tional organized strength of the work­ tional scale at that time did not exist. ers and possibilities of a settlement on Second, while the trade union move· the Coast. Even though the economic ment, especially on the Pacific Coast, effectiveness of the strike was no longer thoroughly understood the original so great, the increased organized na­ involved in the struggle and were pre· tional strength remained as a club pared to support it, they were not so over the heads of the shipowners, and clear and thoroughly mobilized in re­ this had to be maintained above every­ gard to the Copeland Bill. thing else. To have continued the strike on the On this basis the decision was made issue of "defeat the fink book" would to terminate the strike in the Eastern . have cost much of the former support and Gulf Districts, and the final settle­ of the trade ~nion movement, which ment of the West Coast a short time was of tremendous importance, and after, as well as the announcement of could not have been backed up on the wage increases in the East and similar action in the East and Gulf. other events, fully show that this deci­ The mass of workers rejected this pol· sion was correct. icy as disastrous and voted to press Finally, there was the question of the forward in their fight against the Cope­ Copeland Bill and especially the Per­ land Bill by insisting that no one be manent Discharge. Book, better known forced to accept a permanent discharge as the fink book. The maritime unions book as a condition of securing a job; had conducted a long campaign by intensifying their campaign to force against these reactionary bills, which Congress to act on the Sirovitch reso­ had been strengthened by the strike, lution, which calls for postponement and forced a considerable retreat upon of the enforcement of the Copeland the part of the government, and Bill for six months; and to consider brought their opposition to these bills their proposed amendments; and to before Congress. Nevertheless, while back up their whole campaign by THE COMMUNIST strengthening their position on the come forward a corps of honest, mili­ ships and securing wider support from tant, rank-and-file progressive leaders, trade unions and progressive organ­ growing in experience, well deserving izations. of the confidence they command from This program, where applied in an the rank and file, who constitute one organized manner since the conclusion of the main guarantees that the reac­ of the strike, has prevented the gov­ tionary bureaucrats leadership of the ernment from forcing the seamen to I.L.A. and I.S.U. whose position al­ accept the books; has resulted in the ready is shaky will soon be where they announcement that issuance of the belong, outside the ranks of organized books and certificates of efficiency has labor. been postponed for a month or more, ROLE OF THE PARTY and has. mobilized increased pressure upon Congress and the administration The inability of the shipowners and which, if followed up, can force a com­ their agents to split the ranks of the plete defeat of this reactionary anti­ workers with the Red scare is not only labor legislation: an indication of the increased strength Meeting such difficult and compli­ and influence of our Party and im­ cated problems as were encountered in provement in our methods of work but this strike and solving them is a real also shows the growing political con­ tribute to the abilities and devotion sciousness of the workers. of the leadership of the struggle. The In every port the leadership elected strike showed that the Frisco long­ by the strikers included Communists. shoreman Harry Bridges, who from a In some of the ports well-known Com­ working longshoreman and rank-and­ munists became outstanding leaders file striker became the leader of the of the strike. On practically every basic 1934 strike, is a brilliant, courageous question of policy the recommenda· leader of the maritime workers na­ tions of the Communists received the tionally, and one of the outstanding support of the overwhelming mass of leaders of the American trade union the workers. The Daily Worker and movement. Out of the ranks of the the Western Worller, which were sys­ East Coast seamen has come Joe Cur­ tematically distributed throughout the ran, a militant but inexperienced strike, were welcomed by thousands. fighter ten months ago, seasoned by Motions made by the reactionaries in two historic strikes into an established, the Firemens and Cooks Union on the capable leader. Jack Lawrenson, Jerry Pacific Coast against the Communist King and AI Lannon in the East Coast; press were overwhelmingly defeated. Henry SChmidt and Walter Stack on The best indication of the role of the West Coast are but a few of the the Party is to be seen in the recruiting. dozens of new progressive forces, splen­ A complete report on a national scale did militant leaders, whose standing of recruiting during the course of the as progressives and leaders has become strike is not yet available, but substan­ more firmly established in the course tial results were achieved in· all ports. of this historic struggle. Out of the The recruiting of some of the most struggle of the marine workers has important ports follows: San Fran- LESSONS OF THE MARITIME STRIKE cisco, slightly over 2oo; New York, 250; the marine workers have a big job Seattle c~me out of the strike with a ahead with many difficulties to over­ total membership of 153. These in­ come. Unless they are able to take cluded some of the best forces among advantage of the situation they will the strikers, who during the course of suffer setbacks. They must recognize the strike advanced well along the road that the conclusion of the strike does to becoming mass leaders. So many not mark the end of the shipowners' new forces were recruited and devel­ offensive. They should seriously pon­ oped during the course of the strike der over the statement appearing in that it became possible and necessary the Kiplinger letter, which says: in some districts to organize, at the "There will be peace on the Pacific Coast end of the strike, special training shortly-but it will not be a permanent peace." schools. In New York, for instance, twenty-five of the best seamen recruited The tasks that confront the mari­ during the strike are attending a three­ time unions at the outcome of the week school organized by the district. strike are: With the strength we now have in First, to understand that the success marine, with the army of forces that of the maritime unions was due mainly are developing, with the increased in­ because of their increased strength and fluence and prestige of our Party, it is unity on a national scale. To maintain now possible to accomplish much more their victories and continue to march than we have in the past. Further, if in forward they must secure even greater this generally favorable situation we strength and unity through supporting are still weak in some ports or unions, progressive national policies that will it is only because in these places we unite and strengthen the unions in all have not learned how to take advan­ districts. tage of the situation by improving our Second, the question of consol­ methods of work, by proper organiza­ idating the position of the Eastern tion of our forces, and by inadequate I.S.U. unions is the major task of all attention from leading committees. forces nationally. The decisions made by the membership in these Districts PRESENT TASKS BEFORE WORKERS restoring democracy in the unions, and the officials elected by them, and their The results of the strike are to be stand that they will accept the pro­ measured not only in those things al­ posed A. F. of L. investigations if they ready won by the strikers, but also in are guaranteed that they will be the favorable situation that now exists honestly conducted can and must be for consolidating their gains by realized as the first important step strengthening their unions, and ad­ toward reuniting the forces of the sea­ vancing the struggle for democracy, men on a national scale. Re-establish­ for unity, and for a National Maritime ing national unity in a situation where Federation. Never have the martime the Sailors Union of the Pacific has workers had such an excellent per­ been expelled by the International spective. But in order to secure their officials, who also refuse to recognize gains and to strengthen their forces the decisions of the membership in the THE COMMUNIST three unions composing the Eastern the struggle for industrial unionism in Districts, is one of the important tasks the marine industry. before the seamen in the coming By winning the support of the craft months. union membership on a national scale, The third important task is to con­ and by advancing the struggle for pro­ solidate the unity achieved in the gressive unionism in each craft union, strike and to advance further the move­ the membership will soon see that the ment for a National Maritime Federa­ benefits they get as a result of the co­ tion. Here there must be clarity and operation achieved through the fed­ the workers must guard against wrong eration will be increased and their tendencies, such as are reflected by organized power strengthened by amal­ some forces in the Gulf Federation, gamating all their forces into one which was launched prematurely powerful, compact industrial union. without any reid mass base. These This is the real path toward industria] forces, lacking the support of some.of unionism-and the idJe talk about the various craft unions because of the "real industrial unions" is but spittoon weakened position of the progressive philosophizing of sectarians and a con­ movement, tend to convert the federa­ fession of bankruptcy. tion from an organization of affiliated Fourth, to mobilize all progressive unior.~ into a "new industrial union" forces in every union on a national on at~individual membership basis. scale to support the fight of the I.L.A. The lessons of the strike, as well as membership for democracy in their the experiences in the formation of union and against the number one the Pacific Federation, show that the strike-breaker, .Joseph P. Ryan and his · march toward industrial forms of or­ reactionary policies. ganization in the marine industry The failure to involve the East and means first of all the strengthening of Gulf longshoremen prevented the sea­ the individual craft unions and the men and other crafts from securing a advancement of the fight for democra· more favorable settlement. Failure in cy and progressive policies in these the future to achieve united action unions. By following this path, and with the longshoremen will have even by strengthening the Joint Marine more serious consequences. Councils which were formed in the Fifth, to intensify the fight against Eastern ports at the end of the strike, the Copeland Bill by creating stronger the workers will soon be able to achieve organization on the ships and mobil­ a National Maritime Federation. As izing great support from the trade to those critics, especially the Wobblics union movement to force Congress to and some forces in the S.U.P., who act upon the Sirovitch Resolution, argue that a federation of affiliated which calls for postponing enforce­ unions is a "reactionary and bastard ment of the Bill for six months, and to form of unionism", we answer-ad­ force consideration and favorable ac­ vancing the federation movement na­ tion upon the amendments to these tionally is the main task in advancing bills submitted by the union. · THE RUBBER FRONT IN AKRON

BY JAMES KELLER

N DEAUNG with the questions of the union was able at its 1936 convention, I rubber unions and our work there, to register a growth of over 8oo per it will be necessary for me, in the cent. Still more important, the "big course of this report, to touch some­ three" in Akron-the Firestone, Good­ what on other phases of our work in rich and Goodyear plants-are, on the Akron and on the position of our average, over 85 per cent organized. Party as a whole. The year 1936 was Many of the smaller plants are now the biggest year in rubber production organized 100 per cent. since the days of 1929, and· the indi­ The rubber industry nationally is cations are that there will be a still still far from being 100 per cent or­ larger output in 1937. But the basic ganized. The unions are still weak feature in the industry in 1936 was in such important places as California, the great union organization drive. Michigan, and the eastern states, al­ The other day, a member of the though organization work in these Goodyear local went down to North places is making progress and numer­ Carolina and went to the waterfront ous struggles have been carried on. wearing his union button. The strik­ One fact stands out, however. The ing marine workers insisted on taking Akron district, center of the world's his button of the U.R.W.A. away from rubber industry, has been organized. him. They said, "You boys in Good­ This fact has had very serious con­ year started the ball rolling, and we sequences and confronted the Party want to keep your button here." with many new problems. This fact has also had serious effect upon the THE ORGANlZATION PUSH policies of the union leadership. The victory over the large Good­ It must be remembered that the year corporation in March, 1936, had, sit-down struggles which began in of course, important effects on labor January, 1936, in the rubber industry struggles nationally. We are not ready and the Goodyear strike itself resulted to say that it was Goodyear which from spontaneous action taken by the started the ball rolling. But we can rubber workers. The slogan of the say that the Goodyear strike was the International leadership and the local ~ push which organized the rubber officials was: "Organize first, then industry. As a direct result of the negotiate, and then strike if neces­ Goodyear strike, the International sary". When the Goodyear strike THE COMMUNIST started there was hesitance on the part ive use of these struggles, in an organ· of the union leadership to authorize ized way, to improve conditions and the strike and a good deal of vacilla· promote the growth of the union. tion with regard to the conduct of the This resolution was defeated at the strike. · convention by a vote of 35 to 27, but The Goodyear strike aroused the present developments show that this militancy of the workers and was fol­ resolution is becoming a guiding force lowed by a wave of sit-down strikes for the policies of the union. and gains by the workers. But this strike on the other hand caused a great PRESENT PROBLEMS deal of anxiety to the leadership of the International. At the present time there is a Soon after the Goodyear strike the changing line of policy on the part of efforts of the lrttemationalleadership, the union leadership in the rubber in­ and especially of the leadership of the dustry. It is moving definitely closer Goodyear local where strikes were to the line of policy which has been most frequent, were directed towards patiently advanced by the Party since pacifying the workers. The policy of the Goodyear strike. the Party during this period was to How did this change come about? organize and direct this militancy of We know that the rubber companies the workers towards larger gains and have in the past used the weak and eventual recognition of the Interna­ defensive line of the union leader­ tional union by the rubber companies. ship. They delayed settlement of But the International leadership took minor grievances in an effort to cause a different course. Their policy was conflicts between the union leadership (1) immediately to put a stop to sit· and the rank and file. They trans· down strikes; (2) to show the com­ ferred company-union men into de­ panies that the U.R.W.A. is a dis­ partments which were nearly 100 per ciplined and "responsible" organiza­ cent organized for the purpos-e of tion; (3) on the basis of these two creating friction. They launched in­ conditions to win the good will of the tensive attacks against the rubber companies and eventually to get a unions, raising the threat of decentral­ round-table settlement of major ization, and creating a fascist Greater questions and obtain recognition this Akron Civic Association which un­ way. loosed a continuous barrage of prop· A resolution on sit-down strikes aganda against the unions, through was introduced at the last rubber con­ the press and radio. vention, which our Party endorsed The unions, on the other hand, con­ because it coincided with the policies sidered it inadvisable until recently to of the Party. This placed the blame counteract this vicious barrage of the for labor disturbances upon the vi­ rubber barons and their agents. They cious policies of the companies, and directed their main efforts towards warned against spontaneous, un­ pacifying the workers, hoping thereby authorized sit-down strikes. At the to pacify the employers and· win their same time it provided for the effect· recognition. THE RUBBER FRONT IN AKRON This policy was most strikingly ex­ · practice of the Goodyear leadership in pressed in the leadership of the Good­ the past. "We shall clean out our back year loca1 which, as you know, was yard, so you can deal with us as res­ the main object of attack by the anti­ ponsible people." The step forward union forces. The Goodyear local was the mild request to the companies leadership was among the most con­ that they begin thinking about clean­ servative, expounding an open policy ing some of their back yards. But still of class collaboration, talking about the main stress was laid against cer­ "saving the goose which lays the tain sections of the union. golden egg" and directing its main As a matter of fact in both the fire against the most militant workers Goodyear and the Firestone locals the involved in sit-down struggles. officials tried to impose harsh disci­ It is very significant, therefore, that plinary measures against leaders in­ recently .a definite change has ap­ volved in sit-downs, and even against peared in the outlook and the line of certain outstanding leaders who had action of the Goodyear leadership. nothing to do with sit-downs but who On December 24, in an article pub­ were under fire by the company. It lished in Local 2 News John House, seems that the leadership thought it the union president, made a reply to necessary to make concessions to the the attack of the Greater Akron company by. attacking and trying to Association in which he mildly placed eliminate such people. the blame on the company. This Despite all such "good-will" ges­ article, though inadequate, was defin­ tures on the part of House and others, itely a step towards the line of the the company only took advantage of resolution on sit-downs. But in this such opportunities to increase its same article, House still had a very attacks against the union. The com­ dangerous position. I quote this part pany followed one consistent line all of the article: the time: "There is not room enough "The vast majority of those who are mem­ for both the Goodyear Company and bers of the U.R.W.A. have only one fault. They are too charitable in their attitude to­ the union in Akron." And the Good­ ward persistent offenders. They need only year local officials, it seems, are begin­ to stand up and give active and vocal sup­ ing to realize this. ' port to the principles and policies of the A few days ago a so-called "New Union refusing to go along with those who Year's message" appeared in the name are incapable of self-discipline and refuse to allow their minds to be poisoned and of Paul Litchfield, the president of their judgment warped by listening to the the Goodyear Company. This message propaganda put out by the enemies of the violently attacked the union, declared Union disparaging and attacking the char­ that decentralization was not a threat acter of officers and members of the Union. but a living reality and spoke of lay­ I think we should do just that, in spite of all the agitation the 'stoolies' and others stir offs of thousands from the Goodyear up. As for the Greater Akron Association, I plants in Akron. would say it would have plenty to do clean­ To this message, John House re­ ing up its own back yards." plied on January 7· It is important to This quotation and the whole ar­ quote some of this reply. Explaining ticle conveyed the idea which was the the Goodyear strike House states: THE COMMUNIST

"This came about simply as a spontaneous . DRIVE FOR AGREEMENT rebellion and as a result of an accumulation dgrievances which had been created through Some of the locals are already be­ the failure of the management to deal fairly ginning to provide the answer, which with the representatives of the employees..•. The strike is history and we should have it in large measure is the result of the 50. The only reason for this reference to persistent action followed by the '~hat transpired during the period covered Party at the last rubber convention above is to sliow you people who may have and in recent months. Some locals, forgotten that it is not the union that is for example, are drafting agreements to blame for the present situation but that it comes about as a result of the failure of which they propose to place before the management to recognize and deal fairly the companies. The leaders of these with the representatives of the workers in a locals are tired of handling thousands spirit of cooperation rather than from a of grievances in a disorganized fashion sense of expediency. . . . which is very much to the liking of "If these people really want to help Akron obtain and keep industrial peace and har· the management. These locals are pre­ mony, let them quit trying to intimidate paring to settle a good many of these the workers with their scue-head adver· grievances through an agreement tising. Let them probe deeper into the covering major points, providing def­ problem to see what really is the cause of inite machinery for the speedy settle­ so much unrest and then do something to­ ward correcting the conditions which allow ment of grievances-and aiming at the for this sort of thing toward the elimination recognition of the union. This is the of the causes of industrial strife." line of action, which should become This article is extremely significant the line of action for the entire Akron in comparison with the one previously clistrict of the U.R.W.A. and for our written by Mr. House. It omits any Party forces. sort of threat against any section of It is interesting to note that the de­ the union membership and it lays the mands which are now being consid­ blame squarely upon the company ered by the rubber unions have been and its union-busting organizations. advanced for some time by the pro­ Secondly, this article is primarily an gressive forces. The fact that the answer to the threat of decentraliza­ unions are taking up such policies tion, and shows no tendency to capitu­ now is not only indicative of the for­ late to this threat. We know, of coul-se, ward movement of the unions, but is that any line towards capitulation in at the same time a vindication of the the face of the decentralization threat, course of action advocated by the any tendency to soft-pedal aggressive progressives. union action, would destroy the What are the issues now confront- unions. Furthermore, it would not ing. the rubber workers? They are: stop but would encourage decentral­ 1. Recognition of the union. ization as a matter of future policy by 2. Elimination of company unions. the companies. Such statements alone, ·3· Raising of wages in the lower however, are not sufficient to meet brackets and setting a minimum of the present situation. What should be 75 cents per hour. the proper line of action for the 4· A sweeping adjustment of accum­ unions and for our Party forces? ulated grievances and provisions for THE RUBBER FRONT IN AKRON 245

~peedy adjustment of future griev­ licize and announce in advance that, ances. at a specific meeting of the local, the 5· EmJ?odying these points in an agreement would come. up for d~s­ agreement. cussion. Something of this kind has 6. Putting an end to attacks on the been done by the Goodyear local . in unions, now practiced by the compa­ connection with seniority questions. nies, through threats of decentraliza­ Such a meeting was held in the city tion and through the activities of armory and shows that any serious Akron Civic Association, the Stahl­ question, if announced in advance, Mate Club and similar organizations. will result in a heavy turn-out on the We should also consider the influ­ part of the union membership. ence of certain demands which have It would, of course, be a mistake to been raised by the automobile union try and keep the intentions of the and which find a warm response unions and the International secret. among the rubber workers. Among On the contrary, the Akron district of these are reduction of speed-up and the rubber workers and International the abolition of piece-work. itself would achieve the best results if As steps for action along these lines, they openly proclaimed their inten­ I believe it is necessary to draw up tion of seeking genuine collective bar­ carefully a program of demands or an gaining with the companies on all agreement which the International outstanding issues. Every effort should could present to the rubber compa­ therefore be made to inform and en­ nies. There is no doubt but that con­ lighten the public and to win public ditions are favorable for an aggressive sentiment and support behind the fight for such demands. There is no justified objectives and demands of doubt also that such action by the the rubber workers. After such prelim­ International would meet with whole­ inary steps, the ground would be well hearted and militant support by the prepared for the International to ap­ rubber workers and would help organ­ proach the rubber companies on the ize the entire rubber industry. question of collective bargaining and It is important to consider those the drawing UJ> of an agreement. methods which should be used by the RUBBER AND THE, AUTO STRIKE union in presenting the agreement. The terms of the agreement should be We have seen from what has been thoroughly discussed by the member­ said here that there is considerable ship of the local unions. Such dis~ difference in the situation in rubber cussions in local union meetings from that in auto and steel. This dif­ should be preceded by conferences of ference arises mainly from the fact shop committeemen where prelim­ that the rubber unions went through inary discussions on the agreement their major organizational struggles will take place. Local union meetings and growth in 1936, whereas the auto at which the agreement would be dis­ and steel unions are now in various cussed can be used to have a real stages of such organization. This is an turn-out of the membership. In order important factor which must be borne to do this it would be necessary to pub- in mind. At the same time, however, THE COMMUNIST we must see the close connection be­ These prejudices, of course, still tween the movements in auto and exist in the minds of ~ good many steel with the movement among the leaders and a section of the rubber rubber workers. Especially between union membership. But, the unions auto and rubber is there not only a are rapidly moving forward on the close productive connection but actual path of class struggle; During recent living interest between the two groups weeks we have seen two events which of workers. indicate the forward movement of the We must develop the greatest pos­ trade unions in Akron. One of these sible support for the organizing drives was the campaign developed by the of the auto workers in the rubber local trade union movement in sup­ unions. In due time, if needed, fin­ port of the maritime strike. The other ances will have to be raised in sup­ was the reception for the youth dele­ port of the automobile workers. The gation representing the People's Front ground for all this should be prepared government of Spain. through the rubber workers' press, In support of marine, the Goodrich through speeches on the automobile local went on record supporting the situation at local meetings, through maritime strike, voted $500 out of its mass meetings in Akron and other treasury and decided to raise $2,000 rubber centers, where representatives more through shop collections; $5o of the auto unions would· speak, and was voted by the Goodyear local, $100 similar activities. by the Firestone, $25 by Barberton The nation-wide developments in C.L. U. Over $8oo was raised. auto are having important effects Still more significant, however, is upon the rubber unions and the lead­ the fact that the International, with ership of the U.R.W.A. The whole the help of Sherman Dalrymple, its C.I.O. movement · has been tremen­ president, arranged a mass meeting dously stimulating to the rubber for Joe Curran which was held Janu­ workers. Organizers and leaders of ary 3· At this meeting a number of rubber unions are coming in contract labor leaders were present, including with other figures and sections of the Brother House of the Goodyear local. labor movement. Time and again Although the attendance was small,· these people come into contact with Mr. Dalrymple and others seemed to our Party with the result, of course, realize more and more as the meeting that they receive whole-hearted co­ went on its full significance. It wa~ operation and support. The result is indeed the first act of this kind by the a continuous broadening of outlook rubber unions in solidarity with an­ and deeper understanding of labor other important section of labor. The problems by these people. Last but results were greatly instructive to all not least, there is a growing respect who attended. Towards the end, Mr. for the Communist Party and a very Dalrymple, who acted as chairman, rapid exploding of the "Red menace" asked everyone to constitute himself and the prejudices which capitalist in­ a committee of one to collect funds for fluences have erected against the the maritime strike. He was followed Communist movement. by Brother L. L. Callahan, president THE RUBBER FRONT IN AKRON 247 of the Goodrich local, who appealed Goodyear strike and on other occa· to his committeemen to see to it that sions. They yoted on the basis of re­ every union man in the shop donated sults. Both in the International con­ at least 25 cents each to the maritime vention last September and still more strikers. When Brother Callahan fin­ so in the local union elections this ished, a rubber worker got up in the was the predominant feature. audience and addressing Brother John It is, of course, an undeniable fact House requested him to instruct his that th.ere was justification for con­ union members in the same way that siderable criticism of the strike leader­ Brother Callahan had just done. ship during the Goodyear strike. While Brother Curran spoke, the There were other situations in which rubber workers lived through the ma­ the International leadership a<> well rine struggle and compared it to their as the leadership of some locals hesi­ own. When Curran told them of the tated and even made serious mistakes. longshoremen carrying their "hooks" These mistakes, however, did not they remarked to each other, "that's justify a full slate in opposition to like the tomahawk (a tool used in the the present leadership. As a matter of rubber shops)-a dangerous weapon," fact there was no candidate running etc. against President L. L. Callahan of In the reception for the Spanish the Goodrich local but there were youth delegation, a still broader com­ contesting candidates for every major mittee was organized than was the office in the Firestone and the Good­ case in the meeting for Curran. The year locals. Such complete slates had present committee includes President the effect of drawing a line of division Dalrymple and another member of within the locals and reflected un­ the International Executive Board of favorably on some of the candidates the U.R.W., presidents of the Akron who should have been and possibly and Barberton C.L.U.'s, president of would have been elected for1 minor the Goodrich local, professors, attor• positions. neys and two ministers. Committees It is possible on the basis of friendly have been on the job in a number of criticism to influence the course of uhions, distributing leaflets, posters, the present leadership of the Interna­ and announcing the meeting. tional in the proper ~iirection. There The vote in the last election demon­ is every possibility for constructive strated that the membership of the work within the rubber unions on the rubber unions held uppermost in part of every tendency. For this reason their minds the fact that their union it is necessary to eliminate any sort had grown, had secured better work­ of opposition movement within the ing conditions and had made other rubber unions. definite gains. The membership The method of slates, therefore, has showed that they were not ready or definitely proven to be undesirable. willing to make any changes in lead­ There is no obstacle to anyone in the ership at this time. They did not go rubber unions obtaining recognition into the consideration of various issues from his fellow members providing he which had developed during the aggressively voices a correct line of . THE COMMUNIST policy, advances constructive propos· field. A good ~y unstable elements als and proves himself to be a sincere who were never secure i~ the Part1 worker for the union. It is on this and some of whom did not know basis that the more far-sighted ele­ whether they had joined the Party ments in the union should expect to or the unemployed council have receive recognition. This . method, dropped out. Their places have been moreover, will avoid any sort of feel­ taken by a new and a much more ing of special groups and group divi­ stable membership with mass connec­ sions in the organization which is tions, which increases the influence of created by such methods as slates. the Party manyfold. On the whole the mistakes com­ We have now a new shop branch. mitted have not gone so deep as to built up in the Goodyear strike and create any serious problems. The feel­ we have registered in this unit all the ing of friction created by the slates is decisive elements who had joined dur­ being eliminated. This is assisted by ing the Goodyear strike. We have a the fact that the rubber unions are much better trade union composition moving more and more along .the in the section, including some good lines of policy which has been put recruits from other trades beside rub­ forward by the most conscious ele­ ber. We have recruited some from ments in these unions. The outlook among the intellectuals and these for the future development and comrades are now conducting a Marx­ growth of the unions therefore ap­ ist study circle among a group of some pears bright. twelve to fifteen intellectuals who Our main tasks are twofold. First, carry considerable influence in the to facilitate and advance as rapidly as community. We have also had some possible the forward movement in the good recruits from among the W.P.A. rubber unions. Second, to build the As you see, the relative weight of Party in Akron, and particularly in our Party organization, its composi­ the rubber unions as one of the chief tion and inftuence, is far improved as guara,ntees that such a forward move­ compared with last year. ment will continue. But it is necessary to say that our gains are still negligible in comparison BUILDING THE PARTY with the possibilities and require­ How do matters stand with our ments of the situation. We are still Party organization in Akron? About confronting the outstanding and im­ one-third of our membership is made mediate problem-that of building a up of rubber workers. As compared mass party in AkroQ, and first of all with last year, the figures, which have a mass party in rubber. only increased by .110 or so, do not The question is, what shall we do show the actual qualitative change in further to correct our past slow pace membership which has taken. place in in the building of the Party? our section. Last year our branches We have begun to issue a printed were recovering from the change shop bulletin which has had excellent which occurred from the shift of our response in the plants. We bave to main activities to the trade union establish this bulletin on such a stable THE RUBBER FRONT IN AKRON 249 foundation that it will come out on ature and take to important meetings. the dot each month and will be so Such work even extends to social ac­ alive th~t its influence will continu­ tlvlttes, joint dinners, friendship ously expand. We have begun to col­ among the wives of such people, etc. lect names of union members and of­ It is such work, conducted systemati­ ficials for the purpose of mailing this cally, that we have been weak in, and bulletin. If, in addition to shop dis­ which is vital for the growth of the tributions, we succeed in regularly Party. mailing such a bulletin to several 'Ve come up here against a very hundred men each month, this bulle­ acute difficulty, the political develop­ tin will become a force in the rubber ment of our comrades. In order to locals. play such a role, our comrades have Above all we need the application to read, our comrades have to receive of such methods as we use in making political education or else they cannot our general trade union contacts. play such a leading role. At all costs, When, for example, we want to initi­ if we are to make any advances, we ate some measure in the trade unions, have to begin serious educational ac­ we visit certain people, we work with tivity in the section. them, we educate them and advise We are experiencing many difficul­ them. They come to depend upon us ties and have many shortcomings. and to seek our opinions and advice. But we are meeting with increasing What we need in every branch in the successes and we know that our dif­ rubber shops is a core of comrades ficulties are difficulties of growth. One who would have around themselves of the chief remedies for the solution in different fields of activity a num­ of our problems is to take seriously ber of trade unionists that they could the line of the last Central Commit­ activize, guide and advise, that they tee plenum for building the Party. could systematically supply with liter- This we intend to tackle s~riously. PARTY MOBILIZATION IN OHIO

BY JOHN WILLIAMSON

HE last Central Committee meet­ work has been conducted in the auto, T ing of our Party emphasized that steel and electrical appliance indus­ we "see in the overwhelming defeat of tries and gradually stronger and more reaction in the elections a great oppor­ mature unions are evolving. Aggressive tunity for the forces of the People's struggles stimulating this organizing Front to move forward, for labor to work have taken place in the auto in­ achieve some of its demands, for all dustry particularly. A growing con­ of the oppressed to win improvements sciousness is evident, especially in rub­ in their situation.... There is a mount­ ber, of the need for a broader outlook ing mood of confidence and readiness than merely their own industry and to struggle. This is the mood that must successful beginnings have been made be roused, stimulated and organized to in solidarity actions with other unions, drive the whole movement forward for as the rubber union support to the the People's Front." marine strikers; trade union support to All this has been verified by the great the struggle for Spanish democracy, etc. activity of the masses, first of all in the There is still evident, however, an heroic auto strike, but also in the or­ underestimation of united action on ganizing campaigns in steel, the in­ the political field, behind important creased legislative activities of the political issues of concern also to the trade unions and the growing spirit of trade unions. This is a reflection of the unity of all progressive-minded people slow development of these militant against reaction, wherever it raises its workers and their organizations in head. drawing the class conclusions from their successful economic struggles, A "C.I.O." STATE and the weight of the old practices and What do we find in Ohio-one of the political ideology of even the C.I.O. large and decisive industrial states­ unions, whose first impulse is to de­ where our Party line must express itself . pend upon some other political force, in life if the entire Party is succe5sfully rather than take the initiative and to move forward on a nationwide scale? solve their own problems, relying upon A state where steel, auto, rubber, min­ their own organized force and that of ing and electrical appliance industries the common people generally. predominate can be characterized as Participating ever more actively in a "C.I.O. state". Successful organizing these mass struggles and unionization PARTY MOBILIZATION IN OHIO drive is the Communist Party-helping America, deliberately tried to provoke to determine the outcome of events the union into premature action, hop­ through·the work of its members but ing in this way to break the growing still very inadequately drawing the influence of the C.I.O. among the auto complete class conclusions for all the workers. That is the explanation of toiling population from these great their provocative work in the Fisher struggles, because of inadequate inde­ Body Cleveland plant on December pendent work and woeful weaknesses 28, which started the national automo­ in building the Party and Young Com­ bile strike. munist League. Such a situation endangers the VICTORY IN AUTO whole future development of these The victory of the auto strike against struggles, especially the big battles now General Motors is not only of signifi­ maturing in steel, and the need for cance to the auto industry, where for aggressive independent farmer-labor the first time the heart of the industry political action in the coming elections. -Michigan-is being successfully pene­ Only a parallel strengthening of the trated and the giant of the industry­ open political influence of the Com­ General Motors-has been forced to munist Party, its organizational growth sign on the dotted line. Of equal im­ and theoretical development of the portance is its immediate effect upon Communist Party members, with that steel. Steel workers who had been join­ of the labor movement generally, will ing the S.W.O.C. in ever larger num­ make victory more assured. bers immediately after elections began to hesitate during the General Motors ECONOMIC ROYALISTS ATTACK .. strike, awaiting the outcome. With the Today we are in a new stage of strug­ news of the settlement, there was not gle as far as the organizing of the mass only a rush on the part of a minority production industries and the general of auto workers still outside of the struggle against reaction are con­ union to "get on the inside", but im­ cerned. In line with the policies na­ mediately, recruiting in steel was tionally of the economic royalists, the speeded up. One of the central tasks of vice-president of the. Republic Steel every progressive, every Communist, is Corporation at the recent Cleveland to emphasize the importance of and Chamber of Commerce banquet de­ give their best efforts to a speeding up clared "from now on we are going to of the tempo of the steel drive; in order get tough with these C.I.O. organizers", to take full advantage of this victory of and immediately two S.W.O.C. organ­ the auto workers. izers in Cleveland and two in Warren Party statements have already made were beaten up by company . police. clear the character and significance of This has been followed by "trial" fir­ the victory of the automobile workers. ings of active S.W.O.C. volunteer or­ In contrast with past strikes in the ganizers in the mills. Fisher Body plant in Cleveland, for In the auto industry, General Mo­ instance, this strike was victorious be­ tors, becoming alarmed at the growth cause: of the United Automobile Workers of 1. The workers in some twenty THE COMMUNIST plants-and especially in the key body leading committees a~d adopted a plants in Cleveland and Flint-stuck militant class struggle policy of strike together and maintained a solid front; conduct. In this connection the Cleve­ 2. The strike was conducted in a land auto strikers feel especially proud democratic manner, involving the of their own Cleveland U.A.W.A. maximum of active strikers in its con­ leader, Wyndham Mortimer, who not duct; establishing a broad strike appa­ only took an active part in the national ratus, including daily shop stewards' direction of the strike but at all critical meetings; moments found time to revisit his own 3· Absolute unity of the ranks grew Cleveland locals. out of this democratic conduct of the 6. They relied on their own organ­ strike, with the bosses' "Red scare" and ized strength, inside and outside the cry of Co)llmunists ruled out, and plants. Remembering the promises and everyone including the Communists arbitration boards of two years ago, contributing their best, whether on the they made sure they had an agreement Executive Board, shop stewards' com­ before trusting in anyone, whether it mittees or picket lines, to the victory be General Motors, the President or of the strike; the Governor. 4· The Fisher Body local union Realizing that their fight with Gen­ counteracted the efforts of General eral Motors was not yet over, the vic­ Motors and the local newspapers aided tory meeting of Cleveland Fisher Body by the action of Green, Wharton and strikers who ratified the national agree­ the local C.L.U. leadership, to isolate ment also adopted a resolution which the strike by organizing a broad stated in part the following: People's Conference. In five days' time, 99 trade unions (a majority of those "At the same time, the members of the affiliated to the C.L.U.) and 116 other union realize that the fight of the union is not yet over. We have won a victory, but this fraternal, civic, religious and political victory is not yet complete. Our job is not organizations responded with a total finished with the official conclusion of the of 268 delegates and 33 elected ob­ strike. Our big job now is the building of servers. our union. Our experience has proven that Immediately following this success­ only with a strong union in the shop, with every worker a member of the union, can ful People's Conference, an overflow we be assured that our demands will further mass meeting in support of the Fisher be granted and our grievances satisfactorily Body strike was held, addressed by adjusted. The job of building the union is Homer Martin, Allan Haywood and the job of every member of our local. We other C.I.O. and craft union leaders, must resolve that every member becomes a volunteer organizer for our union and upon where representatives of all important returning to work will honestly and patiently participating organizations, including . try to convince his fellow workers to join the the Communist Party, were officially union if he is not yet a member. Every mem­ introduced to the audience. ber should proudly wear his union button in 5· The U.A.W.O. had rid itself of or out of the shop. This duty of every mem· ber is just as important as reporting for picket the reactionaries, Dillon and Com­ duty and committee work during. the strike. pany; had further isolated the reac­ After the strike, the picket line transfers its tionaries within the ranks of its own work in the shop with these new methods. We PARTY MOBILIZATION IN OHIO expect every meptber to live up to this duty the last Central Committee meeting: as honest and loyal union men and women." "It is necessary to fight to preserve unity They then elaborated a system of below, in the city councils, in the state federa· department committees and shop tions, to prevent the threat of a split from stewards to guarantee that the agree­ being carried through, to put up organized ment would be enforced. · resistance to the plans of the splitters.... It In this strike, the Communists par­ . is necessary to emphasize the need of keeping the C.I.O. forces together. We fight against ticipated more actively than ever be­ any tendencies among the weak-kneed leaders fore as active union members. Dealing of some of these unions to abandon the fight with this question, the last strike edi­ and surrender to the reactionary policies of the tion of the Communist Party shop Executive Council. We emphasize at every paper, Spark Plug, which appeared point that under no circumstances will we allow any weakening of the work of build· twice weekly during the strike, stated ing the progressive movement inside the re­ as follows: actionary unions, those still dominated by the reactionaries." "We Communists in the union, whether on the Executive Board, among the shop stewards, on committees or on the picket line, have While there has been demonstrated given our best as a part of our Local Union increased united action, as in the case No. 45 to win the strike. We Communists feel of picket support to the Fisher Body happy that in almost every instance our ideas strikers, response to the People's Con­ become the policy of the strike. We do not say ference, raising of $1,500 by the rubber this boastfully. \Ve have no interest• separate and apart from the auto workers or the labor unions in Akron to the striking East movement. We are a solid part of it. Our Coast marine workers and many other Daily Worker and Spark Plug have been read examples, nevertheless, the need of an and received by the great majority as never organized struggle against the reac­ before. Hundreds who previously fell for the tionaries of the A. F. of L. craft unions old line of 'Red scare' see in our Party a fighting progressive force for everything which is not fully appreciated within the is to build a mighty lahoi: movement-a labor C.I.O. unions. Too often there are movement which will continue the battle adopted "very aggressive" policies of against the economic royalists for a still better setting up Labor Congresses and simi­ world to live in. lar bodies, which have within them the "The strike victory was only possible be· cause of the loyalty, devotion, sacrifice, and germ of dual C.L.U."s and will play unity o£ thousands of union men. The rna· precisely into the hands of the A. F. of jority are not Communists but together we L. reactionaries who are only looking had one common aim. We have won new re· for an opportuf!ity to split the trade cruits into the Communist Party during the strike. Now, with the building of the union, union movement. The uniting of the let us build a still more powerful Communist C.I.O. unions for joint action is neces­ Party in the Fisher Body plant of hundreds sary and advisable, but it must not lead of members in the coming weeks." to isolation from the other unions, but rather be an instrument to unite in UNITY IN THE TRADE UNIONS the C.L.U.'s and in the day-to-day or­ ganizing work, all industrial and craft In dealing with the imponant ques­ unions toward a more powerful and tion of the struggle for trade union united trade union movement, based unity, Comrade Browder declared at upon C.I.O. policies.

their their in in same same discuss discuss should should bership bership Motors, Motors, General General than than difficult difficult more more

mem­ the the understanding, understanding, and and support support be be will will Trust Trust Steel Steel U.S. U.S. the the defeating defeating

maximum maximum the the guarantee guarantee To To Three." Three." of of task task the the that that clear clear be be must must it it While While

"Big "Big trust trust rubber rubber the the to to mission mission utilized. utilized. fully fully be be not not will will workers workers

sub­ for for agreement agreement an an drafting drafting in in steel steel of of thousands thousands the the of of resources resources arid arid

officers officers union union local. local. and and international international ability ability the the which which without without committees, committees,

the the of of proposals proposals all all Support Support Rubber: Rubber: department department of of system system a a establish establish and and

plant plant the the inside inside organizers organizers volunteer volunteer shops. shops. other other

of· of· number number maximum maximum the the activize activize of of majority majority the the in in conditions conditions working working

to to imperative imperative is is it it task task decisive decisive this this better better for for push push to to Motors Motors General General

facilitate facilitate To To industry. industry. steel steel the the izing izing by by concessions concessions the the of of advantage advantage Take Take

union­ of of job job the the complete complete to to forces forces communities. communities. all all in in Councils Councils Auto Auto

active active the the all all of of Utilizing Utilizing Steel: Steel: District District as as apparatus apparatus coordinating coordinating

miners. miners. coal coal the the to to concessions concessions definite definite necessary necessary the the Establish Establish state. state. the the out out

with with operators operators coal coal the the by by agreement agreement through­ plants plants parts parts auto auto small small the the all all

new new a a of of signing signing immediate immediate for for W.A. W.A. in in drive drive unionizing unionizing up" up" "mopping "mopping a a

U.M. U.M. the the of of Support Support Mining: Mining: Coal Coal plant-begin plant-begin the the in in men men the the of of terests terests

workers. workers. Negro Negro in­ the the represent represent to to apparatus, apparatus, Steward Steward

the the of of ability ability fighting fighting militant militant the the of of Shop Shop Union Union necessary necessary the the establishing establishing

utilizing utilizing the the and and action action of of unity unity insure insure organized, organized, cent cent per per is is it it that that so so land land 100 100

to to plants, plants, non-Akron non-Akron other other and and stone stone Cleve­ in in plant plant Fisher Fisher the the unionizing unionizing

Fire­ in in workers workers Negro Negro of of thousands thousands of of job job the the finish finish To To Automobile: Automobile:

the the unionizing unionizing to to given given be be should should results. results.

attention attention special special drive, drive, organizing organizing successful successful such such with with field field the the tered tered

this this of of part part a a As As South. South. the the and and geles geles en,­ C.I.O. C.I.O. the the since since recorded recorded already already

An­ Los Los and and Detroit Detroit England, England, New New progress progress the the continue continue will will which which policy policy

in in especially especially Akron, Akron, of of outside outside plants plants of of line line a a leaders, leaders, and and members members union union

rubber rubber all all in in drive drive organizing organizing tensive tensive active active are are who who industries industries these these in in

in­ an an initiate initiate must must U.R.W.A. U.R.W.A. the the members members its its for for outlined outlined has has Party Party nist nist

workers, workers, rubber rubber Akron Akron the the agitating agitating Commu­ the the objective, objective, this this Toward Toward

is is which which decentralization, decentralization, of of threat threat elections. elections. municipal municipal

company company the the defeat defeat and and meet meet To To coming coming the the in in .action .action political political labor labor

agent. agent. independent independent for for weapon weapon political political erful erful

bargaining bargaining collective collective as as U.R.W.A. U.R.W.A. pow­ a a become become also also will will forces forces gressive gressive

the the of of recognition recognition grievances; grievances; future future pro­ other other all all and and unions unions trade trade other other

of of adjustment adjustment speedy speedy for for provision provision with with together together force force organized organized an an Such Such

and and grievances grievances accummulated accummulated of of ment ment steel. steel. in in job job the the completing completing of of task task

adjust­ sweeping sweeping a a unions; unions; company company difficult difficult more more the the face face to to U.M.W.A. U.M.W.A.

of of elimination elimination wage; wage; minimum minimum anteed anteed the the with with uniting uniting industries, industries, rubber rubber

guar­ a a and and piecework piecework of of abolition abolition ets; ets; and and auto auto the the in in gains gains the the consolidate consolidate

brack· brack· lower lower the the in in particularly particularly wages, wages, and and hold hold way way this this in in and and industries industries

of of increase increase speed-up; speed-up; of of reduction reduction

production production mass mass main main the the in in activities activities

as: as: such such agreement agreement an an such such for for posed posed

the the coordinate coordinate to to imperative imperative is is It It

pro­ demands demands popular popular the the supports supports

Party Party Communist Communist The The unions. unions. local local TASKS TASKS UNION UNION TRADE TRADE

COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE THE PARTY MOBILIZATION IN OHIO 155 this can be facilitated and made easier ber of other trade union bodies. Im­ by unionizing the key departments in portant bills introduced include: every mill. 1. State wage payment and col­ While laying the main emphasis on lection bill. recruiting into the S.W.O.C., a neces­ 2. Labor anti-injunction bill. sary part of this task is to continue 3· To make it unlawful for any energetic work among the employee . sheriff or elected officer to appoint a representatives and not allow the steel Deputy Sheriff or police officer on the trust to rebuild another instrument of payroll of any other than the state, hesitant, misled and backward work­ county, city, or township where they ers against the C.I.O. will be employed. Such a line of action, fully in accord 4· To make silicosis a compensable with the general policies of the C.I.O., disease. will speed up and coordinate the drive 5· A state Labor Relations Act. against these economic royalists who 6. To repeal criminal syndicalism have the common people of Ohio at act. their mercy-who not only rob and 7· To repeal State Lien clause in old exploit the workers in the factory, but age pension law, abolishing transfer pull the strings in Columbus, which of applicant's property to state. lay new burdens upon the common 8. Providing salary increases for people through increased taxes, cut­ state employees as follows: Less than ting of relief appropriations, etc. $100 per month, 25 per cent; less than $150, 10 per cent; less than $200, 5 per PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATIVE cent. PROGRAM g. Relief Standards Bill guarantee­ ing minimum relief standards. The progressive trade union forces 10. Protection of rights of minority of the state, C.I.O. and craft, are parties by simplification of election "marking time politically, waiting for laws. new developments instead of helping . The N.A.A.C.P., supported by the bring the!ll about". While much National Negro Congress, has intro­ greater energy has been displayed by duced amendments to the Ohio Civil individual unions in legislative affairs, Rights Bill putting teeth into it, after the efforts of the State Farmer-Labor the recent action of the State Supreme Party Promotional Committee to unite Court ruling against the rights of the these into a People's Lobby at Colum­ Negro people in department stores. bus with agreement on a minimum la­ The National Negro Congress has also bor legislative program have not ma­ outlined a legislative program in the terialized as yet. interests of the Negro people includ­ Legislative programs have been ing: adopted by the Ohio Federation of 1. Withdrawal of state aid from Labor, the United Automobile Work· all public institutions discriminating ers of America, the U.M.W.A., the agairtst Negroes. Building Trades State Council, the 2. Forbidding use of terms "Negro", State Council of the I.T.U. and anum- "colored", etc., on all job applkation THE COMMUNIST. ·blanks and examination records, etc. progressive organizations behind a 3· Negro representatives on all state minimum progressive legislative pro­ and regional housing authorities, and gram be carried into effect as speedily on all similar constitutional bodies, as possible. permanent, temporary, emergency and Such united action in Columbus, otherwise. supported by united action of the 4· We must work to abolish dis­ membership of the same organizations crimination in all hospitals serving the in the localities, will, togethet with the public in so far as hospitals serve the experience of the trade unions in these public. great strike battles, lay the solid foun­ (a) Work toward the placing of col­ dation for some form of independent ored doctors and nurses to do their labor political action in the coming interne work; municipal elections in every important (b) placing of colored physicians locality. and nurses on the staffs of all state and municipally owned hospital and health ROLE OF PARTY centers. 5· Relief to be administered accord­ In all these strike struggles and ing to needs regardless of race, color or other important mass activities, the · creed. Communist Party and its members are 6. Continuance of P.W.A. playing an important and sometimes 7. Proper housing for the low in­ decisive role. The covered character of come group in accordance with the the work of many leading Communists Ellenbogen Bill. who occupy strategic posts of trade 8. Equal educational opportunities union leadership results in the real for children living in the slum districts. contribution of our Party not being Equal equipment in the schools and made known publicly at this time, al­ adequate playgrounds and parks for though ever greater numbers of people congested districts. are realizing the common features of 9· We go on record for the Mitchell our printed policy and that being em­ Bill which: ployed in many important strike strug­ (a) Abolishes photographs in Civil gles. This covering of our real role is Service examinations; accentuated by the unsatisfactory in­ (b) Makes it mandatory that the dependent activities of our Party in im­ person receiving the highest grade in portant political affairs and campaigns, Civil Service examinations receive the · slow growth of the Party and Y.C.L. appointment. and impermissible status of the circu­ 10. We go on record for the Mitchell lation of the Daily Worker. Bill, which makes Red Caps employees · A recent examination of Party re­ of the railroads. cruiting in Ohio revealed that despite It is imperative that the decision of the active participation of our Party the Ohio Farmer·Labor Party Pro­ forces in the steel, auto and rubber motional Committee aiming at uniting unionization drives, the intensive work first in consultation and later in action, in developing a broad movement in the maximum number of labor and support of Spanish democracy, active PARTY MOBILIZATION IN OHIO 157 work amongst the unemployed and in Rubber: Akron-recruited 5 rubber a number of important united front workers out of 21 new members. activities and organizations as well as Coal: Ohio Valley-recruited 45 coal several months of energetic election miners out of 92 new members. campaigning, there were recruited dur­ These figures reveal the absolute ing the last six months of 1936 only 327 underestimation of recruiting by the new members. Party in Ohio. A comparison of these A further examin.ation according to figures with the activity and role of our important industries like steel, auto and rubber industries, revealed that in Party and its individual leaders in the the seven-month period from July, trade unions, the unionization drives 1936, to Feb. 1, 1937, the following and other forms of mass work, shows were the results in building the Party: that there is a serious danger of liqui­ Steel: Youngstown-recruited 14 dating the independent political roTe steel workers out of 33 new members; of the Party into these general mass West Side, Cleveland.,...recruited 5 steel movements, which are important but workers out of 23 new members; Can­ can never substitute for the leading ton-recruited 10 steel workers out of political role of our Party. 26 new members; Ohio Valley-re­ To overcome this situation by inten­ cruited 5 steel workers out of 92 new sive efforts to build the Party and Y.C. members. L., equip the Party members politi­ Automobile: St. Clair, Cleveland­ cally, better functioning of our Party recruited 13 auto workers out of 70 lower organizations (especially shop new members (and all of these were and industrial branches) and increased recruited during Fisher strike); Toledo circulation of the Daily Worker is the -recruited 1 auto worker out of 24 new central and all-important task of the members. Party in Ohio. THE TRIAL OF THE TROTSKYITE AGENTS OF FASCISM

BY I. AMTER

HE Radek-Piatakov trial, preceded and overthrow it by intrigue and plots T by the Kamenev-Zinoviev trial, is within the country as well as by clear proof of how world imperialism is armed forces from without. making incessant efforts, not only to mobilize world opinion and world re­ TRIALS OPEN AND ABOVE·BOAR.D actionary forces against the Soviet Union from without, but as well to use It must be stated in advance that all disgruntled, degenerate elements these trials were open trials. At the within the Soviet Union for undermin­ trial last August, there were present ing the country and the Soviet ma­ representatives of the capitalist press chinery from within. This one can of the entire world, including the easily understand. The sharpest con­ New York Times, Herald Tribune, tradiction exists between capitalism on o\ssociated Press, etc. United States Am­ the one hand and socialism on the bassador Davies also attended the trial. other. Capitalism itself is undermined An even more extensive representa­ by its own contradictions, as well as tion of the press was provided for at through clashes with the workers and the last trial. Not only were the above farmers of their own countries and the papers and press services represented, colonial people subject to the imperial­ but even Hearst had direct represen­ ist powers. The struggle of imperialism tatives in Moscow. Ambassador Davies against the Soviet Union will continue attended the trial every day. The and hence one should not be surprised whole world knows of what transpired at the continued efforts to discredit and at these trials. The reports in the cap­ assail the Soviet Union. italist press were all favorable. They The trials of August, 1936, and could not but report everything that January, 1937, are not two isolated in­ took place. Therefore any attempt on stances of these efforts. Nor are the the part of the fascist Trotskyites to trials announced to take place very pretend that the press was deluded or soon the end of these efforts. On the could not understand falls aside as a contrary, the_ imperialists have tried, ridiculous argument. from the beginning of the existence This same press, however, in its edi­ of the Soviet Union, to undermine torial pages and through special ar- TRIAL OF THE TROTSKYITE AGENTS OF FASCISM 159 tides, took pains to "interpret" what aid of the secret police of Berlin and took place in Moscow in an entirely of Warsaw, passports were secured for different light. There was no point of these agents into the Soviet Union. As agreement between the reports sent by a result of their plots, one of the best their correspondents in Moscow and Bolsheviks of the Soviet Union, Sergei what appeared in the editorial Kirov, was murdered. For this, Kame­ columns. This shows the venom with· nev and Zinoviev took responsibility, which the capitalist press looks upon working under the direction of Trot­ the Soviet government and how the sky. An attempt to assassinate Com­ entire capitalist press of the United rade Stalin at the Seventh \Vorld States-from Hearst to the small town Congress, which failed; the plot to papers-took the Trotsky conspirators bomb Stalin, Kaganovich, Vorishilov, under their wing as an ally in the Molotov and others when they stood struggle against the rights of the work­ upon the mausoleum reviewing the ers, against democracy, against the parade on May Day, 1936, which Soviet Union. failed-show how far these rats and Further-let it be understood that scoundrels can go. the defendants were offered legal At this trial other names and evi­ counsel, but all of them, except three, dence were mentioned as co-conspira­ rejected it, declaring they would de­ tors. This led to the second trial, of fend themselves. Surely Kamenev, Radek-Piatakov and Company, the so­ Zinoviev, Radek, Sokolnikov, Piata­ called "parallel center". kov needed no aid for their "defense". 3· The Radek-Piatakov trial estab­ lished the following: FACTS ESTABLISHED AT TRIAL (a) That they had been guilty of the Let us briefly summarize what was wrecking of Soviet industry-mining, proven at these trials: railroad, food, etc.-as a result of which 1. At the Kamanev-Zinoviev trial hundreds of workers were killed and it was definitely proven that emissaries crippled, Red Army soldiers were mur­ of the Kamenev-Zinoviev "united cen­ dered. ter", through the mediation of Trot­ (b) Sabotage was. engaged in with sky's son Sedov, in Berlin, met Trotsky the aim of reducing die productivity of in 1932 at the Hotel Bristol in Copen­ Socialist industry. hagen-a cafe that has a common en­ (c) Trotsky agents stole documents trance with the Grand Hotel Koben­ of the Soviet government and especial­ havn. Since 1931, it was proven in ly of the military commissariat, fur­ the trials, Trotsky has been the direct­ nishing them to the Japanese govern­ ing head of the conspiracy within and ment. without the Soviet Union. (d) Further attempts were made to 2. On the basis of the conspiracy assassinate leading Communists-Mo­ hatched, not only were the corrupt, lotov, Voroshilov, etc. degenerate Trotsky-Kamenev-Zinov­ (c) Piatakov visited Trotsky in De­ iev agents organized within the Soviet cember, 1935, as corroborated by the Union, but agents were sent to the Norwegian paper Tidans Tegu, in its Soviet Union from abroad. With the issue of January 27, 1937. At this visit -100 THE· COMMUNIST ·he was given distinct instructions to In this war, the Soviet Union will and proceed with assassinations. This was must be defeated.

also communicated to Radek by means TROTSKYITES DID THEIR PART of writing in invisible ink. (f) Radek was informed by Trotsky In view of these "theories," based that he, Trotsky, had made an agree­ upon a lack of faith in the working class, in the belief that the democratic ment with Hitler and Japan for war peoples of the world cannot and will against the Soviet Union in 1937. not unite against fascism and war, the These facts show the degeneracy and bandit wreckers, supposedly being op­ complete moral and political bank­ posed to "capitalist industrialism" in ruptcy of the Trotskyite bandits. the Soviet Union and pretending to want to establish "genuine" socialism, TROTSKYITE COUNTER-REVOLUTIONARY organize to do their part in the destruc­ "ARGUMENTATION" tion of the Soviet Union. Therefore, What was the basis for this degener­ by wrecking, spying and assassination, acy? The argument of the Trotskyites they begin their work. They cannot runs as follows: ( 1) Socialism is not deny that wrecking did take pface, that being built in the Soviet Union. It is spying was carried out, that Kirov was nothing more than "capitalist indus­ assassinated. There appeared at the trialism". Very smart Trotskyites de­ trial workers of the railroad and clare that this is even embodied in the mining industries who were maimed new Soviet Constitution in that it al· and crippled for life by these bandits. lows personal property to be accum­ Kirov is dead. The Japanese govern­ ulated; that there is a difference in ment has procured documents through salaries between the higher and lower these Trotskyite agents. Dare these categories, etc. This is sheerest char­ murderers and wreckers deny it? latanry and humbug, since the whole They hoped through wreckage and world knows, and the capitalists par­ sabotage to be able to create distrust ticularly heed the fact that industry is toward the Soviet government. Radek almost 100 per cent socialized, agri­ admitted at the trial that these outlaw culture is collectivized. The means of groups could procure no mass base production and distribution have been among the workers. They had been de­ socialized. feated and discredited in the minds of a. In face of the rise of fascism in the the masses of the Soviet people. But world, the Trotskyites declare that, in they hoped by means of wreckage and view of the international fascist alli­ sabotage to be able to place the blame ance-of Hitler, Mussolini, Japan, and upon the government and prove that other smaller states of Europe-fascism it is an "inefficient" government; an is invincible. "incompetent" government; a "bureau­ 3· Being invincible and faced with cratic" government. economic need from within, fascism As a result of this work and aiding must resort to war. the fascist governments, which through 4· Therefore, war is inevitable and a victorious war against the Soviet is directed against the Soviet Union. Union would overthrow the Soviet TRIAL OF THE TROTSKYITE AGENTS OF FASCISM 261 government, they, the Trotskyite fas­ card written by a French Trotskyite to cists, would rise into power. This they his friend, declaring, "Death to Stalin". justified; as Radek, quoting Trotsky, 3· At the meeting called by the declared, on the basis of the Clemen­ "Committee for the Defense of Trot­ ceau thesis. In 1918, when the Kaiser's sky" at Hotel Delano (jim-crow ho­ troops were fast approaching Paris and tel) on December 18, 1936, Max East­ the defense was weakening, Clemen­ man, one of the first Trotskyites in the ceau returned to dictatorial power in United States, declared: So, too, Trotsky, riding on France. "The new Constitution [Soviet Constitu· the crest of the wave against the Soviet tion] is nothing but a crude and obvious Union, would become the "dictator" political side-show.... the caricature of of Russia, in order to "save" Russia. representative government. Does it not com­ In return for this fascist cooperation pare with the totalitarian states of Hitler and Mussolini? From that date it has ceased to were with Trotsky, certain concessions be a workers' republic. . . . As to socialism to be made to Hitler and Japan. The being achieved in the Soviet Union, exactly Ukraine, including 1,5oo,ooo Jews, the opposite is the truth. The foundations of was to be handed over to Hitler; the wcialism are effectively washed out and Urals, with its rich iron, coal and other nothing but a political revolution will 'restore it." ore resources, to Hitler; parts of Siberia to Japan; the Sakhalin Islands with 4· In a voluminous, scurrilous tract, its tremendous oil resources to Japan, trying to disprove the evidence at the not only for war against the Soviet Kamenev-Zinoviev trial, Max Schacht­ Union but also for eventual war man, Trotskyite, leading Socialist, and against the United States. American editor of Trotsky's writings, This is the diabolical conspiracy declares on page 131 of Behind the hatched by the wreckers and murderers Moscow Trials the following: together with the bloody Hitler, Mus­ "The Stalin bureaucracy has it~elf wiped solini, and Japanese fascists! out the possibilitlj of the peaceful reform of Are these merely conjectures and the regime.... The despotism which is kill· suppositions on the part of honest ing the regime can only be removed by revo­ workers? Let us prove our contentions. lutionary methods-it has left the proletariat no other alternative." OUT OF THEIR OWN MOUTHS 5· In February, 1936, Maurice Spec­ 1. Let us quote the Trotsky Opposi­ tor and Lyman Paine, American Trot­ tion Bulletin Nos. 36-37 of October, skyites, visited Trotsky in Oslo. Upon 1934= his return to the United States, Spector "It would be childish to think that the made a report to the Trotsky caucus, to Stalinist bureaucracy can be removed with which was invited a former member the help of the party or the Soviet Congress. the Workers Party, now a member There are not left any normal constitutional of ways for removing the ruling clique. They of the Communist Party, Arnold John­ can be forced to hand over power to the son. At this meeting Spector made a proletarian vanguard [meaning the Trotsky­ report stating that Trotsky's arguments ites] only by force." were that there are "class lines" in the 2. At the Kamenev-Zinoviev trial Soviet Union and the only way to de­ there was produced in evidence a post- stroy the "upper classes" represented t6J THE COMMUNIST by Stalin was to organize a counter­ ending with Trotsky in Mexico in revolution. According to the report of 1937, planning, plotting, organizing Comrade Johnson, published in the overthrow of the Soviet government Daily Worker of January 17, 1937, and assassination of the leaders of the Spector was asked by another Trotsky­ Communist Party and the Soviet ite, Gould, "Did Trotsky mean a defin­ government? ite violent counter-revolution?" Spec­ HEARST AND REACTIONARIES tor replied, "Yes" and emphasized that SUPPORT TROTSKY "he was careful to get this right". 6. In an arranged speech from Mexi­ Who supports the Trotskyites? co over the telephone to the Hippo­ 1. Hearst, the enemy of labor, the drome meeting in New York on Feb­ enemy of the trade union movement, ruary 9, a speech which he did not the friend of Hitler and Mussolini. deliver, Trotsky·said: Hearst has opened his whole press to the Trotskyite underminers of the "For our part, we consider the Stalinists as traitors to the interests of the Soviet masses labor movement and of the People's and the world proletariat, • • • Front. "The q1,1estion is: to aid the demoralized 2. The whole capitalist press, bureaucracy against the people or the pro­ ranging from Hearst down to the so­ gressive forces of the people against the bu­ called "liberal" papers like the New reaucracy.... Stalin's regime is doomed. Will the capitalist counter-revolution or workers' York Post which, while pretending to democracy replace it?" help the labor movement, give equal consideration to all enemies of labor. This statement shows the zealous de­ The reactionary New York Herald sire of Trotsky to overthrow Stalin and Tribune, in an editorial on February put an end to the Soviet government. 11, states, From Mexico comes the word of Trotsky himself-in a signed article in "The democratic nations have been per­ suaded by these trials that Russia is in the Hearst's press given to the Universal hands of a Negro or a Caligula.lf Trotsky has Service-the Hearst telegraph service­ any light-however lurid and sulphurous­ and published in the New York Amer­ to throw on the anti-Trotsky pogrom in the ican on January 26, 1937. We read the Soviet Union, the outside world wants it." following: 3· It is necessary tomention in par­ "Stalin is fighting against the Socialists who ticular the semi-fascist George Sokolsky dare to criticize the despotism of the privileged who, while doing everything in his bureaucracy. power to stab the auto workers' strike "This is equivalent to an alliance with the enemies of socialism. in the back, at the same time wrote an "Inside the [Communist] party Stalin has article on Trotsky in the Herald Trib· put himself above all criticism and above une. In this article he significantly de­ the state. clared that if in 1918 Trotsky had been "It is impossible to displace him except by a member of the "Big Five", the Soviet assassination." Union would have returned to the side Can there any longer be any ques­ of the allies! tion as to where these murderers stand, Thus the whole capitalist press, beginning with Trotsky in 1951 and which features Trotsky on its front TRIAL OF THE TROTSKYITE AGENTS OF FASCISM ·a63 pages, and the whole reactionary and made him, Trotsky, useless to the capitalist class take Trotsky under fascists throughout the world! their wing.' To use Trotskyism as Following upon Hallgren's state­ a destructive element in the labor ment Louis Gannet, literary editor of movement; to cause doubts regard­ the Herald Tribune, Leroy Bowman, ing the Soviet government and so­ President of the Parent-Teacher Associ­ cialism; to sow discontent and prevent ation of New York, Sam Jaffe,· prom­ unity of the working class; to ob­ inent actor, have resigned from the struct the building of the People's Trotsky "Defense Committee". Why Front-are of tremendous importance did they resign? Because, as Hallgren to the capitalist class. says, "The American Committee for the Defense of Leon Trotsky has, per­ UBERALS DEFEND U.S.S.R. AGAINST haps unwittingly, become an instru­ TROTSKYISM ment of the Trotskyites for political Certain liberals of the United States intervention a g a i n s t the Soviet were for a time enticed by the "ultra­ Union." revolutionary" phrases of Trotsky. The result of this has been that some Some of them joined the Trotsky 70 liberals, thus far, not associated with "Defense Committee". It is gratifying, the Trotsky Defense Committee, have therefore, that nine members of this come out firmly against the Trotsky­ committee have already withdrawn. ites, for defense of the Soviet Union. This was initiated by the brilliant Thus, Trotskyism is e x p o s e d statement of Mauritz Hallgren, con­ through its own words, its own deeds, tributing editor of the Baltimore Sun, its own plots, its own intrigues, as a who in the midst of his declaration degenerate, corrupt, bankrupt polit­ states, ical group of scavengers, now in the "Here are men awaiting death on charges employ of 'the fascists, in plots against that Trotsky says are utterly false and here the progress of the people. is Trotsky who contends that he can prove FUNDAMENTAL THEORETICAL FALLACIES that they are false-and yet he withholds this indispensible proof for the sake of a book, or OF TROTSKYISM for the sake of an international inquiry not Is this due to monJentary aberrations yet arranged!" of the Trotskyite fascists? Not at all. Truly it can be said that Trotsky, The theoretical basis of this bankrupt­ allied with fascism and his counter­ cy lies in Trotsky's theory of the "per­ revolutionary supporters in the Soviet manent revolution", announced as Union, and having five months be­ early as 1905. This so-called theory de­ tween the first and the second trial, clares that socialism cannot be built in has withheld this "information" and one country alone. On the contrary, let these conspirators go to their death .the working class of one country must without raising his voice. Is this not receive "state aid" from the workers of proof again that Trotsky has no proof, other countries, in order to maintain has no evidence but only that which itself. In other words, permanent revo­ would have trapped him and his col­ lution means world-wide revolution leagues in the Soviet Union still more within a short time. THE COMMUNIST This is based upon a lack of faith nial country. This is a sign of open in the workers, a lack of confidence in hostility and enmity to the peasantry. their ability to destroy capitalism and Lenin, on the other hand, laid down build the new system of society. the correct thesis that the working class Lenin taught us, and the Sixth and leads the revolution and has as its Seventh World Congresses of the Com­ natural ally the peasantry-especially munist International emphash:ed it, the poor peasants and the agricultural that we are living in an era of war and workers-all those who suffer under proletarian revolution. In this era the capitalism, even though they have a working class breaks through first where petty-bourgeois ideology characterized the imperialist. chain is weakest. This by a desire for ownership of the soil. was old Russia. From that time on, the Lenin declared that it is the duty of working class moved forward in revo­ the revolutionary party of the working lutionary struggle. But the movement class to win over these natural allies, is not a straight line. It is a zigzag course. and either win over the petty hour· pushing forward, suffering setbacks, geoisie of the city-liberals, intellectu­ gathering strength, and pushing on als, students, small business men, etc., once more until the goal is achieved. who also have an interest in the strug­ The correctness of this Leninist gle against capitalism-or at least theory is borne out by the maintenance neutralize them. This was the basis of and growing strength of the Soviet the success of the Russian Revolution. Union in the nineteen years of its ex­ It is the liberation and mobilization of ~tence, and the building of socialism these forces today, on a program meet­ in the midst of an imperialist world. ing the immediate needs and in the Nevertheless, in 1922, five years after struggle for the political and economiC the Russian Revolution, Trotsky, in needs of the masses and all progressive the second edition of his book, z9o5, people that is called the Peopl'e Front. declared that "history has confirmed TROTSKYISM-ENEMY OF PEOPLE'S FRONT the correctness of my theory". History only confirmed the bankruptcy of his Trotsky and Trotskyism are in open theory. enmity to the People's Front. Trotsky­ ism damns the People's Front in Spain TROTSKYISM-ENEMY OF PEASANTS and in France, as a "betrayal of the Trotsky furthermore has no faith in working class". But if there were no the peasantry. In 1926-27, during the People's Front in Spain today, fascism struggle against the correct line of the would rule. The actions of ~e Trotsky­ Central Committee of the Communist ites in Spain and their efforts to split Party of the Soviet Union, Preobra­ the People's Front are actions of zhensky, the "theoretician" of the treason to the people, for which the Trotskyites, declared that the relation­ Spanish and the Catalonian govern· ship of the workers to the peasantry is ment are making them pay as traitors. that of an imperialist country to a If there were no People's Front in colonial country; namely, that of a France, French fascism, with the aid plunderer, exploiter, robber of the of Hitler, would have established a resources and man-power of a colo- fascist dictatorship. It is the growing TRIAL OF THE TROTSKYITE AGENTS OF FASCISM 265 movement for a People's Front in TROTSKY NEVER A BOLSHEVIK Mexico that has brought Trotsky into But Bolshevik and Menshevik mean negotiatiQn with Louis Cabrera, a re­ something more than majority and mi­ actionary leader, and into opposition nority, respectively. Bolshevik means to the People's Front, the National one who adheres loyally and devotedly Revolutionary Party, which is part of to the party line and carries it out the People's Front, and President Car­ fully. Menshevik means careerist, op· denas. Treason, wherever these Trot­ portunist, individualist, who decides skyites appear and operate! for himself what he shall or shall not TROTSKY'S STRUGGLE AGAINST THE REVo­ do. This is cl1aracteristic of Trotsky LUTIONARY LINE SINCE 1903 and Trotskyism who disregard all party authority, all party decisions, embark The struggle against the correct upon adventures of their own against Marxist-Leninist-Stalinist line is not a t_he party and against the interests of new struggle of Trotsky and Trotsky­ the working class. ism. As early as 1903, at the Second Congress of the Russian Social-Demo­ TROTSKYITE ASSASSINS FOUGHT LENIN cratic Party, an apparently "simple" From 1903 on Trotsky fought organizational question was the center against Lenin. Lenin continually of discussion, namely, what constitutes polemizcd against Trotsky and the membership in the revolutionary par­ Mensheviks. Trotsky only joined the ty. Lenin declared that to be a revolu­ Communist Party in July, 1917, a few tionist one must ( 1) accept the pro­ months before the proletarian revolu­ gram of the party, (2) pay dues to the tion. In every critical period in the party, and (3) carry out revolutionary struggle of the Party, both before and activity under the discipline of a unit after the establishment of the prole­ of a party. tarian dictatorship, Trotsky and Trot­ Trotsky and others took the position skyism were in opposition: 1918- that it was sufficient to accept the pro­ Brest-Litovsk-opposition to signing gram and pay dues to the party. How the peace treaty, refusing to carry out could one imagine a revolutionary the ·decisions of the Political Bureau party aiming to build a machine cap­ of the Communist Pat:ty on the mili­ able of leading the working class to tary front and consequent removal of the destruction of capitalism, unless Trotsky from four fronts. 1921, on the there were coordinated activity of trade union question, proposing to every member of the party, who, after make the trade unions organs of the discussion has been held and decisions state and not, as Lenin declared, have been made, carries out the deci­ schools for socialism. 1923-24, opposi­ sions together with every other mem­ tion to the New Economic Policy, ber of the party! This is obvious. The which gave a breathing space to the result was that at this Congress, Lenin, Russian working class. Upon the death leading the majority, laid down the of Lenin, open struggle against the line for a revolutionary party. The Party and its leaders. 1926-27, organiza­ majority (Bolshevik) · defeated the tion of underground groups, illegal minority (Menshevik). press in the Soviet Union and abroad t66 THE COMMUNIST to undermine the Party and the Soviet Yet Radek himself was part of the government. Since that time and after plot! Such degeneracy has rarely been his exile, open plotting against the heard of. Communist Party and the Soviet gov­ Trotsky howls; "old Bolsheviks" are ernment. Zinoviev and Kamenev a few being wiped out of the Communist days before the armed uprising on Party. The capitalist press protects November 7, 1917-these scoundrels these scoundrels, and sheds crocodile went to the capitalist press and exposed tears over the execution of these "old the fact that the Central Committee of Bolsheviks". They are not old Bolshe­ the Communist Party was organizing viks. They are degenerates, assassin<~ the masses for the armed uprising, be­ whom the united, determined Soviet cause they disagreed with it. Branded people have wiped out without hesita­ by Lenin as strikebreakers, they recog­ tion. They will exterminate any of nized their mistakes and Lenin pro­ their confreres whom they uncover posed that they be put into the com­ in· plots against the Soviet fatherland. mittee for organizing the armed up­ DIMITROFF-A REAL BOLSHEVIK rising. Radek, Piatakov and others united with these oppositionists in How does it happen that these "old underground, illegal activity against Bolsheviks" could not and did not the Party at every critical movement stand up and "expose" Soviet justice? in the consolidation of the Soviet Because they had involved themselves power and the building of socialism. so deeply in plots and their steps were Where then is the "brutal", "des­ so fully uncovered that they could not potic", "bureaucratic" hand of Stalin but admit every word in the indict­ and the Central Committee, who after ment preferred against them by Com­ the Party expelled them, re-admitted rade Vyshinsky. They amplified the in­ these men into the ranks of the Party, dictment. Had they stood upon just once, twice, three times, believing that grounds, if they had been firmly con­ they had recognized their wrong. Ex­ vinced of their innocence, why did they pelled-readmitted; expelled-readmit­ not act like Georgi Dimitroff, who ted. This is so-called "despotism" that stood alone before the Nazi court in rules the Soviet Union. Leipzig and denounced Nazi and But who can imagine deeper hypoc­ world fascism! Simply because they risy than that of Kamenev, Zinoviev could not. and Radek? Radek and Zinoviev ad­ TRAITORS IN OTHER CRITICAL mitted at the trial that they were part SITUATIONS of the plot and had helped to organ­ ize the murder of Kirov. Yet this did It is well known in history that wher­ not restrain them from writing obitu­ ever a crisis arises in a country, weak­ ary articles for the Pravda and Izvestia. lings, opportunists and careerists Radek, who also was involved in the vacillate and topple over. Was not plot, did not hesitate, after the Kame­ M ussolini before the world war an nev and Zinoviev admissions, to write "ardent", "militant" Socialist dissatis­ crucifying articles demanding that this fied with the Socialist Party? Did he scum be wiped off the face of the earth. line up with the incipient Communist TRIAL OF THE TROTSKYITE AGENTS OF FASCISM 167 Party? No, he became the fascist dic­ remnants. They came into opposition tator. Was not Pilsudski another "old with the Party due to their failure to Bolshevik", banned to Siberia by the understand Lenin's line for the Com­ Russian tsars? And yet he died as Mar­ munist Party. Today they are linked shal Pilsudski, dictator of Poland. up with the plots of the Trotsky cen­ Plekhanov, one of the first Russian ters, being given special functions for Marxists, the teacher of Lenin, intriguing among certain parts of the lined up with Lenin against the Men­ population. It was not remarkable, sheviks in 1903. He cooperated with therefore, that here in United States, Lenin in the editorial staff of the Iskra. those who before were associated with Disagreements followed and by 1!)14 Bukharin line up against the C.P.S.U. Plekhanov, the "Marxist", supported and Comrade Stalin in connection tsarist imperialism in the world war. with the trials and against the People's Ramsay McDonald, leader of the Brit­ Front in Spain. Thus the Lovestonites, ish Labor Party, is now a member of through their organ, the Workers Age, the National Government. print scurrilous, cynical· articles about the trial in Moscow, presumably by an Who forgets John Spargo, Charles author "who must remain anony­ Edward Russell, William English mous". They, at the same time, have Walling, who deserted the S.P. in 1917 made of their organ an organ for the at the time of America's entrance into Spanish Trotskyites who are openly the war? Today John Spargo is nation­ splitting the People's Front in face of al committeeman of the Republican the fascist military onslaughts on the Party for the State of Vermont. Who Spanish democratic republic. They does not remember Aaron Burr and print resolutions of the P.O.U.M., the Benedict Arnold, traitors and betrayers so-called "Workers Party of Marxist of the American revolution of 1776? Unity". They write articles against the Every country at a period of revolu­ Communist Party of Spain and the tionary crisis has its traitors. The Soviet United States on the question of the People's Front. Upon the closing of Union has its Kamenevs, Zinovievs, the Trotskyites' broadcasting station Smirnovs, Radeks, Piatakovs, Sokolni­ and the suppression of their press, and kovs, Serebriakovs, etc. the announcement that Trotskyite

"RIGHTS" AND "LEFTS" UNITE leaders may be put on trial by the AGAINST PROGRESS Madrid government for treason, the Workers Age declares, "This is the During the last trial the names of logical culminat\on of the prosecution· Bukharin and Rykov were mentioned of the P.O.U.M. for its insistance on -as Tomsky's was mentioned in the a revolutionary [ I ] line". The split­ first trial. Bukharin and the other ting of the People's Front is revolu­ "Rights" in the Communist Party of tionary! Any decent-minded worker the Soviet Union were against the has only one term for their counter­ rapid collectivization, thereby giving revolutionary cooperation with the fas­ aid to the kulaks and other capitalist cists-treason! 268 THE COMMUNIST

SOVIET UNION-MAIN SUPPORTER OF "But the Jewish people cannot exist with· SPANISH GOVERNMENT out a terri tory of their own. Zionism is based on this idea.'' From Mexico, Trotsky hurls defi· ance at the C.P.S.U. and particularly To be sure Trotsky declares that Stalin. He shouts that the Soviet Union Palestine may not serve the purpose. is sabotaging aid to the Spanish people Nonetheless~ with anti-Semitism ram­ -when the whole world knows that pant in the Soviet Union, according to materially and politically it is the So· Trotsky, and Zionism as the hope of viet Union, and to a Jesser degree the Jews, it is obvious that this is in· Mexico, that are giving real aid to the direct help to Zionism and the world Spanish government. Trotsky declares imperialism as against the policy of that Stalin is preventing real defense the Soviet Union and the building of of the Spanish government. Trotsky Biro-Bid jan. wants to provoke the Soviet govern· Trotsky speaks in the tone of tsaris,m. ment and facilitate armed attack upon He takes the position of the imperial­ the Soviet Union by the fascists. From ist fascists and tries to conceal the fact Mexico he attacks the Soviet Union, that anti-Semitism and acts of anti· declaring that anti-Semitism is ram· Semitism are penal offenses within the pant today, and that the Jews must Soviet Union. look elsewhere for a national home. What is the purpose of this attack upon the Soviet Union? It occurs at a TROTSKYISM FANS ANTI-SEMITISM time when Hitler is intensifying his brutal oppression on the German Jews; Through the Jewish Telegraphic when 3,5oo,ooo Jews in Poland are Agency, Trotsky in a signed statement passing through bloody pogroms; on January 23, 1937, declared: when in Hungary and Rumania at· "You ask me whether there still exists the tacks are being made upon the Jews; Jewish question in Soviet Russia. Yes, it does. when Mussolini raises his voice against . • • The almighty bureaucracy chokes the Jews; when in the United States Father development of national culture, as well as Coughlin and the reactionaries are fan­ culture in general. Furthermore the land of ning a wave of anti-Semitism. At this the great proletarian revolution now lives time, when the Jews of all over the in a period of deep reaction. world look with love to the Soviet "Since 1925 and particularly since 1926, . black anti-Semitic demagogy is in operation Union as the only country that has a and goes hand in hand with symbolic trials correct policy on national minorities; ·against the open pogrom makers. • • • when the national minorities are rec­ "An important part of the Jewish petty ognized as a co-equal part in the Soviet bourgeoisie has been taken into the immense government; when the Soviet govern­ apparatus of the government in industry, com· ment helps develop the national cul­ merce, co-operatives, etc. This creates a spirit ture of every national minority­ of anti-Semitism and the leaders are operating Trotsky defames Stalin and the Soviet with great ability and experience to divert Union. the discontent of the masses towards these The purpose of this is clear: (•) To middle class Jews instead of themselves." assist the reactionary governments in We quote further: their attacks upon the Jews as a means TRIAL OF THE TROTSKYITE AGENTS OF FASCISM 269 of evading the discontent that is They have sabotaged in steel and rub­ aroused among the masses because of ber. In the name of the Socialist Party, the econom:ic crisis and the denial of the Trotskyites in Akron, Ohio, and civil rights; (2) to create distrust of Paterson, N. J ., issued leaflets with the Jews throughout the world toward illustrations declaring that the People's the Socialist Fatherland; and (3) as Front in Spain is stabbing the Spanish part of this, to try to deny the correct­ people in the back. Is there any ques­ ness of the line of Lenin and Stalin tion then that these wreckers, assassins, on the national minority question. disrupters, plotters, spies and traitors Trotsky was prepared, as already have no place within the working class stated, to hand over a million and a and must be driven out? half Jews in the Ukraine to the bloody We Communists have very definite mercy of Hitler! tasks in the struggle against fascism

NEGROES SUPPORT SPANISH GOVERNMENT and Trotskyism. The question of Trot­ skyism is not one to be raised only Thus, too, the Trotskyites are trying where the small number of Trotskyites to work among the Negroes to under­ are to be found. On the contrary, the mine their growing faith in the Soviet capitalist class has shown its ability to Union. But Trotsky and Trotskyism use the worst degenerates as stool are making very little headway, for the pigeons and spies. They are making of Negro peoples of the world have seen Trotsky not only a "martyr" but a Mussolini rape and sack Ethiopia. The "hero", since he is of invaluable assist­ same Mussolini, Hitler, Franco, and ance to reaction today. Therefore, the fascists of the world are trying to Trotskyism must be raised among the destroy democracy in Spain. Hence we broadest masses of people and the full see in Spain soo Ethiopians fighting at meaning of Trotskyism explained. the front for the Spanish government. In doing so we must fully analyze the Prince Gehvet of Ethiopia, embark· trials in Moscow, the background of ing for Spain, declared, "I remember the conspirators, so that the workers the airplanes flying over Ethiopia, will understand what these people are. slaughtering women and children. I made up my mind to come to Spain to AROUSE MASSES TO DANGER OF fight with the Spaniards and defend TROTSKYITE FASCISTS their republic against fascism." Our tasks consist of: TROTSKYITES IN U.S.-SPLITTERS, x. Thorough discussions in the DISRUPTERS, SABOTEURS Party and Y.C.L. ranks to acquaint The American Trotskyites have particularly the new Party members proven by their actions to be disrupt­ with the meaning of Trotskyism. ers, disorganizers and supporters of 2. The raising of the issue in every fascism. They have attempted to break trade union and mass organization in the Workers Alliance and the Ameri­ order to stimulate and intensify the can League Against War and Fascism. struggle against reaction and fascism, They assailed the leaders of the marine and their ally Trotskyism-to uncover strike, both on the West Coast and in and drive them out. The question the East, in an effort to break the strike. should be discussed with the comrades

that that our our Party Party and and members members Trotskyism Trotskyism are are grounded grounded and and to to prevent prevent war. war.

tensive tensive study study of of Marxism-Leninism, Marxism-Leninism, so so with with the the Soviet Soviet Union, Union, to to smash smash fascism fascism

6. 6. This This entails, entails, however, however, a a more more in­ cratic cratic people people of of Europe, Europe, in in cooperation cooperation

cialism. cialism. of of the the people, people, together together with with the the demo­

intrigues intrigues against against the the building building of of so­ the the United United States States to to rally rally the the masses masses

answer answer to to all all people, people, the Trotskyite Trotskyite the will will make make plots plots it it possible possible and and for for us us in in

Soviet Soviet Constitution, Constitution, which which is is the the best best fighting fighting for for the the civil civil rights rights of of the the

speech speech of of Comrade Comrade Stalin Stalin on on the the new new strengthening strengthening the the Workers Workers Alliance; Alliance;

connection connection is is Building Building the the spreading spreading the the trade trade of of union union the the movement, movement,

And And particularly particularly important important in in this this Union Union are are on on the the order order of of the the day. day.

literature literature on on this this and and allied allied subjects. subjects. Labor Labor Party, Party, and and defense defense of of the the Soviet Soviet

reading reading and and circulation circulation of of the the Party Party Spain; Spain; the the building building of of the the Farmer­

working working class. class. Along Along with with this this is is the the war; war; for for support support of of democracy democracy in in

among among the the broadest broadest sections sections of of the the alert. alert. The The struggle struggle against against fascism fascism and and

of of the the circulation circulation of of the the Party Party press press Every Every Party Party member member must must be be on on the the

Y.C.L. Y.C.L. members, members, but but also also a a broadening broadening This This year year will will be be a a decisive decisive year. year.

and and Sunday Sunday Worker Worker by by our our Party Party and and cism cism in in all all of of its its ramifications. ramifications.

serious serious reading reading Trotskyites. Trotskyites. of of the the Daily Daily is is a a struggle struggle Worker Worker against against fas­ It It

5· 5· This This is is tied tied up up with with not not only only more more the the Communist Communist International International and and the the

economic economic issues. issues. ence ence of of opinion" opinion" between between followers followers of of

for for a a united united not, not, front front as as the the on on liberals liberals Spain Spain and and pretend, pretend, all all a a "differ­

for for action action against against The The the the struggle struggle disrupters disrupters against against and and Trotskyism Trotskyism is is

argument argument and, and, above above all, all, rally rally them them Y.C.L. Y.C.L.

cialists, cialists, furnish furnish them them with with facts facts and and new new members members into into the the Party Party and and

our our job job to to meet meet with with the the honest honest So­ tention, tention, we we can can recruit recruit thousands thousands of of

tion tion is is less less than than a a month month hence. hence. It It is is the the situation situation is. is. Hence, Hence, with with proper proper at­

or or split split the the S.P. S.P. The The Socialists' Socialists' conven­ the the side side of of fascism fascism shows shows how how acute acute

everything everything in in their their power power to to capture capture Trotskyism Trotskyism into into the the world world arena arena on on

rupters. rupters. The The Trotskyites Trotskyites are are doing doing workers workers take take sides. sides. The The bringing bringing of of

Trotskyite Trotskyite counter-revolutionary counter-revolutionary dis­ When When the the struggles struggles are are sharp, sharp, the the

above above all all to to clean clean their their ranks ranks of of the the on on an an intensive intensive recruiting recruiting campaign. campaign.

in in regard regard to, to, Trotskyism Trotskyism as as such, such, but but the the masses masses responding, responding, we we must must carry carry

helping helping the the honest honest Socialists, Socialists, not not only only 7· 7· In In the the midst midst of of this this struggle, struggle, with with

4· 4· We We have, have, above above all, all, the the task task of of

RECRUIT RECRUIT WORKERS WORKERS INTO INTO THE THE PARTY PARTY

will will help help to to clarify. clarify.

ritz ritz Hallgren, Hallgren, forums forums and and discussions discussions on on the the struggle struggle against against our our enemy. enemy.

Plentiful Plentiful use use of of the the statement statement of of Mau­ Party Party with with the the needed needed strength strength to to carry carry

what what an an ally ally Trotskyism Trotskyism is is to to fascism. fascism. will will train train more more leaders leaders and and furnish furnish our our

before before them, them, and and who who will will comprehend comprehend will will become become better better Communists, Communists, we we

munist munist Party Party if if the the facts facts are are brought brought against against fascism fascism and and Trotskyism, Trotskyism, they they

readily readily will will follow follow the the line line of of the the Com­ Thus, Thus, in in the the midst midst of of the the struggle struggle

S· S· We We should should reach reach the the liberals, liberals, who who and and the the Communist Communist International. International.

every every organization. organization. the the theories theories and and policies policies of of our our Party Party

worked worked out out as as to to how how to to bring bring it it into into nist nist Party Party of of the the Soviet Soviet Union Union but but on on

in in these these organizations organizations and and plans plans not not only only on on the the history history of of the the Commu· Commu·

THE THE COMMUNIST COMMUNIST TROTSKYISM IN THE UNITED STATES

BY C. A. HATHAWAY

"By lining up either on the side of Stalin these people, in exchange for fascist or that of Trotsky, they [American liberals] aid in their counter-revolutionary are giving their convictions about Russian struggle against the Soviet power. At politics predominance over the need for unity in supporting immediately desirable measures both trials the principals-Zinoviev in this country, measures that have no rela­ and Kamenev at the first, Radek and tion whatever to the guilt or innocence of Piatakov at the second-singled out the men recently condemned and sentenced Leon Trotsky as their theoretician and in the Soviet Union." (New Republic, Feb. leader and admitted direct connections 17, 1937·) with him (letters, visits, messengers, HAT is typical of how some liberal etc.). After these trials, Trotsky himself T spokesmen place the issues raised confirmed the charges against' him by the second trial of Trotskyists: when he brazenly declared (N. Y. "Russian politics . . . no concern to American, Jan. 25): "It is impossible to Americans." displace him [Stalin] except by assas­ But is such an approach correct? sination." In August of last year Zinoviev, Ka­ Within a few weeks after this trial menev and their co-defendants ad­ the Trotskyists of Spain also showed mitted that they had adopted sabotage, their bloody fascist hands. While the wrecking activities, and assassination Spanish people are waging a heroic of Communist leaders as their methods life-and-death battle at terrible sacri­ of struggle against socialist construc­ fice to maintain their freedom and to tion in the Soviet Union; they admitted open the way for social progress there, cooperation with Hitler's Gestapo. the Trotskyists wage war against the Now, at the second trial of Trotskyist People's Front government and against leaders, that of Radek, Piatakov, So­ the Soviet Union, which has given the kolnikov and fourteen others, they con­ Spanish people every possible aid in firm the confessions at the first trial their struggle. Their struggle against as the policies of their group-and they the People's Front and against the go further: they admit that their activ­ people's anti-fascist military bodies be­ ities include a direct deal with Hitler came so openly and direct aid to the and the Japanese militarists; they fascists, that the government was com­ acknowledged an agreement to turn pelled to close down their radio sta­ over the Ukraine and Eastern Siberian tion, their halls and their press and provinces to the fascists, enslaving begin a campaign to drive them out of THE COMMUNIST the people's movement. In Catalonia, weakens the whole world front against fas­ where they were in the government, cism and war. But it goes much further. they were removed. This demonstrates Trotskyism is active and damaging in every land, not least in the United States. Many that Trotskyists, no matter where they people belittle its menace, because of its small are, whether in the Soviet Union, in number of active adherents. But it works with France, in Spain, or here, are a menace the deadliness of cholera germs, and these to the labor and progressive move­ germs are broadcast throughout our land by ment. the tremendous capitalist press; it is the first line attack of fascism among the masses, to Yet the New Republic editorial, re­ paralyze their resistance through doubt and flecting a criminal indifference to the confusion." fate of the Soviet Union and Spain, This is not a matter of "Russian suggests: "'We should ... turn our at· politics". Trotskyism is not "Russian", tention to matters nearer home." To even though Trotsky the individual is. do otherwise they urge, "is inevitably It represents those renegades from to throw one's weight on one side or Communism who, after years of strug­ the other of a conflict about world gle within the Communist Parties for revolutionary policies which liberals an opportunist line against Leninism, and progressives, at least in America, have finally completely abandoned all have hitherto deliberately avoided ..." Communist principles, who have But to speak of "the need for unity adopted war against the Soviet Union in supporting immediately desirable and against the Communist Interna­ measures in this country" without at tional as their creed, and who have the same time waging uncompromising now allied themselves with the reac­ war against Trotsky and Trotskyism is tionary forces everywhere, including to talk nonsense. Certainly, if the New the fascists, to further their aims. Republic seriously desires unity here, This means more, however, than un­ it will have to throw its weight on the principled war against the Soviet side of the proponents of unity and Union and Communism. It inevitably against those trying to block unity. It becomes war against everything pro­ cannot be for a People's Front against gre~sive in every country, and in the fascism and war, and at the same time first place against the People's Front. adopt an attitude of tolerance toward A People's Front is anti-fascist and those who are determined to split the anti-war; it arouses the hitherto passive People's Front and who ally them­ sections of the population to struggle; selves with the fascists. it results in broadening the influence Comrade Earl Browder, in his recent and strength of the Communist Parties, Madison Square Garden speech, gave of the trade unions, of all militant or­ the following clear and sharp answer ganizations of the people; through the to those who think they can remain struggle for democracy and peace, it indifferent to the menace of Trotsky­ brings the people onto the road of ism: revolutionary struggle for socialism; it brings to the millions an und<:umUJu· "Trotskyism and its alliance with fascism fa no mere private affair of the Soviet Union. ing of the Soviet Union's stand for True it strikes first and foremost against that peace and against fascism, interesting 'lllulwark of peace and democracy; thereby it them in the victories of socialist con- TROTSKYISM IN THE UNITED STATES struction and transforming them into How then can some of our liberals conscious, active defenders of the So­ speak of "turning our attention to viet Union. The Trotskyists see in matters nearer home", when we have every new sign of unity, in every new these Trotskyist rats here, placing ob­ People's Front formed, new strength stacles in the way of unity, under­ for the Soviet Union, new strength for mining confidence in the Soviet Union, the Communists, new strength for the playing the game in the workers' ranks forces against which they are waging of the Hearsts and the Liberty war. They see stronger forces rallied Leaguers? To do so is to ignore a factor against fascism with which they are that today is seriously holding back the allied. They see new strength concen­ much needed united front of the trated against the war-mongers upon people against our reactionaries and whom they rely for the military defeat against war. of the Soviet Union. Is it any wonder What are the background and the then that the Trotskyists storm activities of the American followers of violently against the People's Front? Trotsky? The Communist Party of the United This opposition to the growing States cleansed itself of Trotskyists as united front of the workers and pro­ soon as they showed their face in our gressives characterizes the Trotskyists Party, toward the end of 1928 (Octo­ in every country. They war against ber), shortly after the Sixth Congress unity in the unions, among the unem­ of the Communist International. Trot­ ployed, among the students, every· sky and Trotskyism had already been where. They plan only to split and outlawed as representing an ideology disrupt. That these splitting, wrecking alien to Leninism at the Seventh activities are carried on behind a bar­ Plenary Session of the Executive Com­ rage of criticism from the "Left" aoes mittee of the Communist International not alter or modify their role. It is their (1926) after Trotsky, Zinoviev, Kame­ use of "revolutionary" phrasemonger­ nev, Radek and other Trotskyist ing, bringing with it confusion and spokesmen had been given unlimited sometimes demoralization among new opportunities to argue their position. groups of workers, that gives them a The Executive Committee had unani­ value to their fascist allies. Trotskyism, mously endorsed the sound Leninist as Comrade Browder has stated above, line of the Central Committee of the is the first line attack of fascism among the masses. Communist Party of the Soviet Union How then can one speak of the fight on the building of socialism in the So­ against Trotskyism as "ltussian poli­ viet Union as a requisite for the earry­ tics"? That is. akin to the belief that ing forward of the revolutionary inter­ fascism is "German" or "Italian". It is national objectives of the proletarian the fascist spearhead on an interna­ movement. It was two years after these tional scale aimed at the heart of the decisions, two years after our Party Soviet Union and the toilers. had unanimously endorsed the stand THE COMMUNIST of the Comintem, in 1928, that Trot­ policy very close to that of the Trotsky­ skyism first showed its face in our ists and apparently even in ·close co­ Party, and then as an outgrowth of operation with them. Though most of unprincipled factionalism, Trotsky's the Socialist Party members are not adherents here were immediately ex­ Trotskyists and even opposed to Trot­ pelled. Trotsky's splitting, disruptive skyism, they are without inner organ­ line of struggle against the Soviet ization for the defense of the party and Union and the Communist Interna­ without courageous leaders who will tional was peculiarly suited to Cannon, boldly take up the fight for socialism Schachtman, Ahem, V. R. Dunne and and against counter-revolution. The others who had established themselves result has been disastrous for the party. before the Party as unprincipled fac· The party has been thrown into a deep tionalists. crisis that will be fatal unless the During the first years, until their poisonous cancer of Trotskyism is cut alliance with the followers of A. J. out clearly at the coming Socialist con­ Muste in the "American Workers vention. Party", and mainly until their admit­ And what has happened to the tance into the Socialist Party last year, Socialist Party is exactly what theTrot­ sky leaders planned to bring about their influence was almost nil, except while maneuvering for their admit­ for Minneapolis, and their possibilities tance. In the inner faction bulletin of for harm to the labor movement strict­ the Trotskyists, circulated among ly limited. Now this is no longer true. themselves while merger negotiations With Trotsky carrying on his poison- were going on, Cannon boldly wrote . ous propaganda freely from Mexico that they were entering the S.P. in and giving guidance to his followers order to form an organized fraction here, now firmly entrenched in the therein, to strengthen their forces for Socialist Party, much harm is being the Fourth (Trotskyist) International done to the Socialist Party itself and at the expense of the Socialist Party through it to the whole labor move­ and to break off those they could con­ ment. Trotskyism has become a serious trol. In an open meeting in New York, menace against which the whole labor Cannon stated that the same sort of movement, and in the first place, the policy "as had been successful in the Socialists must be alarmed. American Workers Party" would be The Trotskyists are functioning as a followed in the S.P. There the Muste nationally organized group in the S.P., group was swallowed up by the Trot­ and because they are organized they skyists and those whom they couldn't are gaining one position after another swallow they expelled. In advocating to the detriment of the party. Already affiliation to the S.P. rather than con­ they, or people corrupted by them, tinuing as a separate group Cannon have gained control of three Socialist and Schachtman argued: "the Stalin­ papers, of several state organizations ists are the granite rock which cannot of the party, and even some the S.P. be penetrated or broken, but the Social­ national functionaries are following a ists are in such a state ·of confusion TROTSKYISM IN THE UNITED STATES 175 they can be readily entered and domi· story. That should convince the l,odal· nated'~. They made it clear that they ist workers of the soundness o£ · 9,Ul were entering to broaden their base advice when in the most comraddf. for struggle against the Soviet Union, way we warned them against the Trotf and immediately against the growing skyists. It should convince them, as sentiment within the S.P. for a united their French comrades were convinced, front with the Communists, develop­ that Trotskyism has nothing in com· ing as a first step toward an American mon with Socialism and has no place People's Front. To capture the Social­ in the Socialist ranks. It should serve ist Party for Trotskyism, to destroy also as an object lesson to other labor Socialism, to place it on the road of groups and progressives, proving the counter-revolution were their motives. wrecking, anti-labor role of Trotsky· How well they are succeeding is ism and the necessity of cutting it out shown by the position of the party of the labor and progressive move­ after one year's cohabitation. Already ment, root and branch. It shows the one sees Norman Thomas and other folly of opposition to the united front, leaders defending Trotskyism, ex­ attacks on the People's Front of France cusing the assassins of Kirov, defending and Spain, of a sectarian trade union the confused allies of fascism, joining policy, and of attacks on the Soviet with Trotsky in attacking the Soviet Union. Union. The narrow, sectarian policy The destruction brought about by foisted on the party during the election the Trotskyists in the Socialist Party campaign, undoubtedly reflecting Trot· they are attempting to duplicate in skyist influence, resulted in discredit­ every field in accord with their general ing ·the party among broad masses of policy of opposition to the united workers. It put the party in a position front. Unfortunately, these activities of rendering indirect help to the most are being carried on under the cover reactionary forces in the country-the of their Socialist Party membership Hearsts and the Liberty Leaguers­ and to the detriment of the party's who in dozens of ways were not slow prestige. to show their appreciation. And these In the Workers' Alliance, the unified very things repelled the trade union­ movement of unemployed and W.P.A. ists, doing harm to socialism which will workers, the Trotskyists are up to their take a long time and much effort to tricks, sowing discord and confusion, repair. Today every honest Socialist attacking the organization and its can see the damage done to his party leadership as insufficiently "revolu­ and to his own influence among the tionary", organizing a Trotskyist frac­ workers. The catastrophic drop in the tion in preparation for wrecking and Socialist vote and the heavy loss in splitting at the chosen moment. Leaf· membership-from 17,437 to 6,820 in lets putting forth their poisonous exactly one year of Trotskyism-at a slanders and insinuations are being time when the Communist Party and distributed among Workers' Alliance the general labor . movement were members, and even among the recent rapidly gaining in strength, tell the demonstrators to Washington who THE COMMUNIST were engaged in militant struggle Bridges and could see daily the sound­ against the relief and W.P.A. cuts. ness of his leadership. The strike vic­ In the American League Against tory there is the best answer to their War and Fascism we find them also, splitting moves. In Akron, Minneap­ and doing the work. They declare olis and many other places, their role their opposition to the League's ten­ has been the same. point program; they oppose the whole In Minnesota, where the Farmer­ idea of a broad, united people's peace Labor Party is in power, with Gover­ movement; they attack the Soviet nor Elmer A. Benson loyally adhering Union; they demand recognition as to the agreed-upon party program and an organized minority free to fight the going out of his way to aid and di­ League and its program, free to draw rectly support the efforts of tl1e work­ away_ its following. This also is justi­ ers to organize and improve their con­ fied as "more revolutionary"- but ditions, the Trotskyists (led by V. R. shorn of its phrase-mongering decora­ Dunne) are fighting Benson, fighting tions it is wrecking work in the interest the Farmer-Labor Party and allying of the fascists and the warmakers. themselves with everything vile, In the American Student Union and crooked and reactionary in Minnesota the American Youth Congress their politics. In the Trades and Labor Assembly elections, they put up a joint role is the same. They ridicule and ticket of Trotskyists and the most attack the broad mass character of notorious and discredited reaction­ these movements; they attack their aries. In their fight on Benson and his _programs, demanding a "revolution­ program they have gone with their ary" program; they attack the leader­ reactionary trade union allies into a ship (including their Socialist com­ broader alliance with the Minnesota rades in the leadership); they are clear­ Liquor Dealers Association and big ly preparing here also for splitting trucking corporations, to defeat legis­ activities. lative measures endorsed by a dele­ In the trade union movement, at gates' party convention unanimously. the most critical moments of struggle, Yet they attack the Farmer-Labor their role is that of strikebreakers and Party as insufficiently radical; they attack the People's Front. And to de­ stoolpigeons. The clearest example of feat it they join a broader front with their treachery was the unprincipled the open enemies of the Farmer-Labor and slanderous attack on Harry Party. They openly declare their aim Bridges, the beloved and tested leader to split the Farmer-Labor Party and of the West Coast maritime workers, to destroy the Communist Party. And charging him with being an agent of the Socialists should remember that all Ryan, in an effort to split the maritime this is done in their name, under the federation in the heat of its most bitter banner of "Socialism". struggle against the shipowners. They In the campaign for aid to ·Spain, were unsuccessful only because the when workers everywhere were stirred workers knew and trusted Harry by the heroic resistance of the Spanish TROTSKYISM IN THE UNITED STATES people to the armed assault of the fas­ fascists. In Spain they try to split the cists; when they came to meetings in People's Front and undermine the thousands, giving money, food, cloth­ government in the midst of bitterest ing; when hundreds were volunteering revolutionary battles. In Germany and to go to Spain ready to give their lives Austria they work with the secret po­ to aid in the fight for democracy, the lice, the Gestapo, betraying the heroic Trotskyists came to these meetings underground anti-fascists, both Social­ with leaflets, with questions and in­ ists and Communists. Here, look where terjections designed to demoralize and you will, wherever you find them, disorganize defenders of Spain. Leaf­ there they are splitting, wrecking, de­ lets were distributed saying, "Down stroying, hampering the growth of the with Franco, down with the People's workers' movement, striving to prevent Front!" The People's Front, while or­ its necessary unification. ganizing and leading the Spanish Such people have no place where people against fascism, was pictured honest, progressive workers gather. as stabbing the Spanish people in the They must be treated as workers have back. Is it any wonder that in Spain always treated betrayers, stool pigeons, they were branded as agents of the spies. The workers must be informed fascists in the people's ranks and then as to their role and aroused to drive suppressed by the Military Junto? How them out. At the same time it is necessary to long will we, workers and pro­ break down any semblance of support gressives, tolerate such scabbery and for them or tolerance toward them trickery here? among progressives and liberals who It is this long string of crimes may be influenced by false appeals against the working class and pro· such as the right of asylum for Trotsky, gressive movements here, in Spain, in a "free and impartial trial", etc. Every France, in Germany, in China, in the effort must be made to draw such Soviet Union, which proves that here people away from Trotskyist influence is not "Russian politics", but an inter­ and into the anti-fascist, anti-Trot­ national menace. Basing themselves at skyist camp. the outset on a determination to block In this connection it is necessary to the aggressive building of socialism in note the pro-Trotskyist policy of the the Soviet Union, to overthrow the Lovestoneites. They declare in one Soviet government, to defeat the loyal breath that they are not Trotskyists, Leninist leadership of the Communist but in the next proceed to condemn Party of the Soviet Union headed by the Soviet trials in the best Trotskyist Comrade Stalin, Lenin's best disciple, manner, finding justification or ex­ they have today become the servants cuses for the wrecking activities of of fascist reaction. In the Soviet Union these traitors, etc. Moreover, on Spain, they assassinate loyal and tried social­ the Lovestoneites are rendering full ist builders; they wreck trains, destroy support to the Trotskyist P.O.U.M., machinery, delay production; they ally justifying its betrayals and aid to the themselves with Japanese and German fascists, claiming of course that the 278 THE COMMUNIST P.O.U.M. is "more Marxist", "more Trotskyism must be smoked out and revolutionary", "more Leninist'\ etc. their policies and proposals defeated. But on the policy of the People's Front The Trotskyists must be driven out! the Lovestoneites, like the Trotskyists, There is no room for scabs, splitters are fighting against this course, refus· and assassins in the labor movement! ing to see that through the anti-fascist The People's Front-the Farmer-Labor struggle for democracy and peace, the Party-uniting all workers and honest people will be won for and drawn into progressives, must be pushed forward the struggle for socialism. In fighting with ever greater vigor as the weapon against Trotskyism, the Lovestoneites of the masses against reaction and its and all others who defend or excuse Trotskyist agents. THE STRUGGLE AGAINST CRIMINAL SYNDICALIST LAWS

BY ANNA DAMON

HE recent victory for free speech strike, the reactionary forces were T forced from the United States counting on dividing the unemployed Supreme Court in the case of Dirk De from the strikers, using them as strike­ 1onge, must be regarded first of all breakers. De 1onge organized a solidar­ from the point of view of the line of ity demonstration of the unemployed, political action which it indicates and which made the carrying out of these underlines. From the purely legal plans impossible. At that time, also, point of view it would be a mistake the police in their efforts to break the to regard this as in any sense a final strike made raid after raid onworkers' triumph. The decision was actually halls and homes in Portland. The Com- narrow, legally, and applied only to a munist Party called a meeting to pro­ specific and unusual set of circum­ test these illegal activities of the police, stances. The victory. on the other hand, as well as their brutal slugging and has the broadest political implications, shooting of striking longshoremen. • and already has had considerable re­ The meeting was held on1uly 27, 1934· percussions. It, too, was raided by police. Edward The De 1onge victory points first of Denny, the chairman, Dirk De 1onge, all, of course, to the importance of the one of the speakers, and four other work of the International Labor De­ persons were arrested, and were fense in conducting campaigns around charged with violation of the state specific, dramatic, cases of persecution criminal syndicalism law enacted in for ·labor and political activity. This 1919 and amended in 1933. De 1onge, was a Communist case, but it arose out because of his important role in suc­ of the reactionaries' attempt to break cessfully organizing the unemployed the 1934 Pacific Coast maritime strike, against strikebreaking, was singled out and involved especially the rallying of for special persecution. He was con­ the unemployed to support of that victed and sentenced to seven years' strike. Briefly, the story of the case is imprisonment. Denny was sentenced to this: two years' imprisonment. Another de­ Dirk De 1onge was a leader of the fendant was given a sentence of five unemployed movement in Portland, years, which was later suspended. The Oregon. In the middle of the 1934 other cases have never come to trial. 279 THE COMMUNIST DeJonge's conviction was appealed the charge as here defined and sustained (by to the Oregon State Supreme Court the Oregon State Supreme CQurt). The list of illustrations might be indefinitely extended to which upheld it. In this decision the every variety of meetings under the auspic:a court held that although there was no of the Communist Party although held for charge that De Jonge advocated the discussion of political issues or to adopt "crime, physical violence, sabotage, or ·protests and pass re!$0lutions of an entirely any unlawful acts or methods as a innocent or proper character. "While the states are entitled to 1Jrotect means of accomplishing or effecting themselves from the abwe of the tnivilecu industrial or political change or revo­ of our institutions through an attempted sub­ lution" (the language of the statute), stitution of force and violence in the place of he was nevertheless guilty because, the peaceful political action in order to effect revo· court held, the Communist Party, un­ lutionary changes in. government, none of our decisions go to the length of sustaining such der whose auspices the meeting was a curtailment of the right of free speech and held, did advocate those things. The assembly as the Oregon statute demands in evidence brought forward by the state its present application.••• " to prove this ridiculous charge against Here is the re-affirmation by the Su­ the Communist Party was in the nature preme Court of its position in favor of of witnesses who testified that the Com­ repressive legislation. In this decision, munist Party sent open postcards (not hailed as liberal, the court once more produced in court) to its committees takes the same position that it took instructing them to rob banks! in the Gitlow, Whitney, and other The decision of the United States cases, where long be(ore the present Supreme Court, delivered on January anti-labor decisions the court estab­ 4• 1937, cannot in any sense be re­ lished its reputation as the bulwark of garded as a legal reversal of the reac­ reaction. tionary principles of criminal syndical­ • ist laws. The decision was based on "We are not called upon to review the find­ if!gs of the state court as to the objectives of one point, and the Court specifically the Communist Party. Notwithstanding those stated that it was not deciding any objectives, the defendant still enjoyed his per· other issues. Previous decisions of the sonal right of free speech and to take part in Court (on the New York criminal a peaceful assembly having a lawful purpose, anarchy law, the California Criminal although called by that party. The defendant was none the less entitled to discuss the public Syndicalist laws) had declared this type issues of the day and thus in a lawful manner, of law constitutional. The following without incitement to violence or .crime, to quotations from the decision make this seek redress of alleged personal grievances. point clear, and it is from these sections That was of the essence of his guaranteed of the decision that the political impli­ personal liberty." (Italics mine-AD.) cations of the DeJonge victory grow: The ruling of the Supreme Court "If the Communist Party had called a public in the De Jonge case is in fact an en· meeting in Portland to discuss the tariff, or dorsement of criminal syndicalist the foreign policy of the government, or ta;xa· laws. tion, or relief, or candidates for the offices of It is clear that the Supreme Court President, Members of Congress, Governor, or state legislators, every speaker who assisted in carefully circumscribed its concession the conduct of the meeting would be equally to the fundamental principles of lib­ guilty with the defendant in this case, upon erty, in this decision, to say in effect STRUGGLE AGAINST SYNDICALIST LAWS that the State of Oregon had merely A significant indirect result of the gone too fast, too far, without taking De J onge victory is the decision of the necessary precautions to bring its Vice-Chancellor Fielder in New Jersey, actions within the rules of the game in a suit by the Communist Party of . as prescribed by the court. Hudson County, to enjoin officials The decision instructs the states that from arbitrary interference with meet­ any nullification or abridgement of the ings called by the Communist Party. great principles, which the court pro­ His decision granting such an injunc­ nounces so pontifically, will have the tion, coming down within two weeks court's approval, if only the states take after the DeJonge decision, was prob­ the trouble to apply repressive laws ably influenced by that victory. · "correct! y". Directly and indirectly~ the trade Now, having defined the limits of union and progressive movement and the legal implications of the decision, campaign in California for the repeal let us examine the effects and implica­ of the criminal syndicalist law there tions of the victory which was won by have been deeply spurred by the De the International Labor Defense in ob­ Jonge victory and by the impetus given taining a reversal of the De J onge for repeal in Oregon. With organized conviction. activity and political alertness, the First of all, of course, the freeing of same sort of movement can be devel­ Dirk De J onge and of Edward Denny oped in the State of Washington, where from prison terms, the lifting of the ·a repeal act has already been intro­ threat of prosecutions against four duced in the legislature. • It is on the other persons in Oregon indicted on Pacific Coast that the criminal syndi­ similar charges, are no small victory in calist laws have been applied most themselves. But repercussions of the de­ viciously. In Illinois the De Jonge cision have been much broader than victory has been used as a lever in a this. Even before tl1e text of the United legislative campaign initiated by the States Supreme Court decision had International Labor Defense for the been received in Oregon, tl1e tremen­ repeal of that state's criminal syndical­ dous popularity of the De Jonge vic­ ist law. Similar possibilities exist in tory for labor's rights had resulted in several of the thirty-six states which an open movement in the Oregon legis­ have criminal syndicalist or the re­ lature, which is gradually gaining lated "criminal anarchy", "sedition", strength, for the repeal of the state and "insurrection" laws upon their criminal syndicalist statute. The sup­ statute books. port of the majority of the press of the • Since the writing of this article, repeal of state (in which Hearst had not a single the Washington criminal syndicalist law was voted on February 18, by 58 to !17 votes in the newspaper) is behind this move. The House of Representatives. Other developments International Labor Defense and the in this struggle are the introduction in the Pennsylvania legislature of a bill to repeal the American League Against War and Flynn Sedition Law; passage of the criminal Fascism are organizing a campaign for syndicalist Jaw repealer by the Senate 1n Oregon; introduction of a repealer bill in the demand for such repeal, which Indiana; loss of a repealer for Idaho's criminal should receive the full support of our syndicalist law by four votes in the legislature of that state; defeat of a teachers' and school Party. pg against teaching Communism in Arkansas.

freed freed all all the the victinis. victinis. The The laws laws were were as as an an emergency emergency war war measure. measure. It It was was

action action of of the the Federalists, Federalists, immediately immediately 1917, 1917, a a federal federal sedition sedition law law was was passed passed

of of a a wave wave of of resentment resentment against against the the re­ against against the the entire entire labor labor movement. movement. In In

President President Jefferson, Jefferson, elected elected on on the the tide tide sive, sive, as as to to make make them them perfect perfect weapons weapons

in in criticism criticism of of the the administration. administration. these these laws laws were were so so vague, vague, so so all-inclu­

for for exercising exercising the the right right of of free free speech speech inal inal syndicalist syndicalist laws. laws. The The provisions provisions of of

levied levied against against them them under under these these laws, laws, a a barrier barrier to to revolutionary revolutionary ideas-crim­

rested, rested, jailed, jailed, and and had had enormous enormous fines fines state state set set up up what what they they hoped hoped would would be be

administration. administration. Its Its opponents opponents were were ar­ behind behind a a wall wall of of legislation. legislation. State State after after

of of 1798 1798 by by the the reactionary reactionary Federalist Federalist American American ruling ruling class class sought sought refuge refuge

the the federal federal "Alien "Alien and and Sedition" Sedition" laws laws in in Europe Europe (1919-1921) (1919-1921) the the fear fear of of the the

ures ures passed passed in in the the United United States States were were repercussion repercussion of of the the revolutionary revolutionary wave wave

The The first first political political repressive repressive meas­ hysteria hysteria which which swept swept the the country country as as a a

this this in in the the type. type. history history In In the the of of repressive repressive period period of of legislation. legislation. post-war post-war

made made the the model model for for Let Let all all us us present present examine examine laws laws briefly briefly of of the the highlights highlights

the the United United States States as as constitutional, constitutional, was was

country." country."

law, law, upheld upheld

by by the the Supreme Supreme Court Court of of

terrible terrible toll toll of of violence violence which which shames shames our our

during during the the war war and and post-war post-war years, years, this this

working working class, class, who who are are responsible responsible for for the the

chy chy

law. law.

Subsequently, Subsequently,

in in 1910, 1910, and and shop shop employers employers who who use use them them against against the the

to to the the in in strikebreaking strikebreaking the the New New York York agencies agencies State State and and criminal criminal the the open­ anar­

Klux Klux Klan, Klan, and and other other fascist fascist groupings, groupings, and and it it furnished furnished one one excuse excuse for for repression repression

erly erly applied applied only only to to the the Black Black Legion, Legion, the the Ku Ku

1901, 1901, and and the the hysteria hysteria which which followed followed

not not apply apply to to the the Communist Communist Party; Party; it it is is prop­

assassination assassination of of President President McKinley McKinley in in

tion tion of of advocacy advocacy of of force force and and violence violence does does

for for new new methods methods of of repression. repression. The The legal legal party party and and defends defends its its legality. legality. Prohibi­

ganize, ganize, the the not not rulers rulers terrorists. terrorists. of of America America The The Communist Communist cast cast about about Party Party is is a a

revolution'. revolution'. Communists Communists are are not not anarchists, anarchists, forced forced recognition recognition of of the the right right to to or­

itself itself as as 'sons 'sons and and daughters daughters of of the the American American

As As the the power power

of of labor labor grew, grew, and and

titled titled

by by its its

program program and and work work to to designate designate

1804, 1804, and and amended amended

in in 1861, 1861, and and 1866. 1866.

it it is is the the only only

organization organization

that that

is is

really really en­

example. example. It It was was originally originally passed passed in in

continuing continuing the the traditions traditions of of 1776 1776 and and 1861; 1861;

Angelo Angelo Herndon Herndon was was convicted, convicted,

is is

an an

organization; organization; it it is is an an open open revolutionary revolutionary party, party,

passed. passed. The The Georgia Georgia law, law, under under which which The The Communist Communist Party Party is is not not a a conspirative conspirative

constant constant fear fear of of slave slave uprisings, uprisings, were were dicalism' dicalism' laws) laws) directed directed against against such such advocacy. advocacy.

called called insurrection insurrection laws, laws, (federal (federal inspired inspired immigration immigration by by laws, laws, state state 'criminal 'criminal syn­

of of force force and and violence, violence, that that it it is is subject subject to to laws laws In In the the Southern Southern states, states, however, however, so­

the the force force of of law, law, that that our our Party Party is is an an advocate advocate developed developed to to "handle" "handle" labor labor matters. matters.

embodied embodied in in a a maze maze of of court court decisions decisions having having

these these failed, failed, the the frame-up frame-up system system was was

and and for for all all the the superstition, superstition,

which which has has

been been

suppress suppress labor labor organization. organization. When When

tunity tunity of of this this election election campaign campaign to to smash smash once once

relied relied on on

the the old old "conspiracy "conspiracy laws" laws" to to

"The "The Communist Communist Party Party must must use use the the oppor­

made made no no attempt attempt in in this this direction direction but but

eral eral legislature. legislature. The The industrial industrial states states which which followed. followed.

against against labor labor were were passed passed by by central central the the fed­ point point for for the the election election campaign campaign

direct direct political political repressive repressive form form measures measures of of a a resolution resolution presented presented as as a a

For For a a long long period period thereafter, thereafter, of of Comrade Comrade no no Browder Browder was was passed passed in in the the

and and fines fines remitted. remitted. Party Party last last July, July, a a portion portion of of the the report report

repealed repealed in in 1801, 1801, sentences sentences wiped wiped At At the the ou\ ou\ Ninth Ninth Convention Convention of of our our

THE THE COMMUNIST COMMUNIST STRUGGLE AGAINST SYNDICALIST LAWS ·repealed, except for one section, in issues of the right of labor to organize 1925. The one remaining section was and struggle for its economic as well used for the first and only time so far as its political demands. An example to prosecute unemployed workers who of this last is the Hudson County, New demonstrated for relief in Oklahoma Jersey, injunction secured by our Party. City in 1933. A federal sedition bill, This served not only to break open the similar to the state criminal syndicalist stronghold of Boss Hague for the Com­ laws introduced in Congress by Sena­ munist Party, but paved the way for tor Russell and Congressman Kramer the whole trade union movement in 1936, failed of passage. which is making a campaign to estab­ If we were to examine our activities lish its rights in New Jersey. in the elections we would find that al­ Yet we see day after day go by, with though this opportunity was used to a many important issues directly tied up greater extent than ever previously, it with the question of the legality of our was not made use of to the fullest ex­ Party dismissed as "just defense cases", tent either in the elections, or since. and turned over to the International For example, the De Jonge case was Labor Defense. This is particularly certainly not used in this manner in true of deportation cases, which are the election campaign, although the frequently looked upon as a matter for events since have shown what a power­ the lawyers to worry about, and not as ful weapon this could have been. By forums and vehicles through which we contrast, the issues in the Sacramento can bring forward the aims and the criminal syndicalism case, and the Americanism of our Party with telling issue of the repeal of the California effect, especially in the trade unions.. criminal syndicalist law, were brought Comrade Browder's report to the forward quite prominently in that December, 1936, plenum of the Central state. Undoubtedly the campaign Committee said: helped considerably in overcoming the "We should mention the problem of the Red scare agitation of Hearst and International Labor Defense and its growing paved the way for the splendid results importance; The whole question of labor. de­ in recruiting members into the Party fense and the struggle for labor's prisoners, in that state. internationally and natiomilly, is becoming The struggle against criminal syndi­ more and more important. As the masses get a keener understanding of the problem of the calist laws is one of the most dramatic connectio~ of democratic rights, they are tak­ forms of the whole fight for freedom ing up the problems of political prisoners with of speech, press and assembly, and for a keenness and on a wider scale than we have the legality of our Party, which we ever seen i11 this country. Enormous things can have so far developed. Even though it be accomplished in the field of labor defense nationally and internationally if we give a is only one phase of the fight, it is an little more attention to it." extremely important one. All around us are countless opportunities to take This whole broad field of defense of the offensive in this struggle, to put up political prisoners includes primarily real political battles in defense of our the defense of workers arrested in eco­ Party on the basis of its legality. It is nomic struggle. A tremendous growth the key, in many cases, to the broadest in the trade union labor defense move-

pos- the the of of and and struggle struggle this this in in stake stake law. law. repressive repressive new new

own own their their of of realization realization a a to to Alabama Alabama this this against against also also directed directed be be to to have have

of of unionists unionists trade trade the the brought brought which which will will case case this this around around developed developed ment ment

campaign campaign this this was was It It results. results. positive positive move­ great great the the free, free, him him sets sets or or gang gang

some some had had has has thugs, thugs, the the of of dictment dictment chain­ the the to to him him orders orders it it whether whether him, him,

in­ actual actual in in resulted resulted yet yet not not has has against against or or favor favor Herndon's Herndon's in in rules rules

it it although although set-up, set-up, political political bama bama Court Court Supreme Supreme the the Whether Whether states. states.

Ala­ the the in in contradiction contradiction every every of of use use other other in in force force in in those those than than drastic drastic

making making kidnappers, kidnappers, the the of of prosecution prosecution more more even even statute statute "sedition" "sedition" a a victed, victed,

for for campaign campaign relentless relentless A A September. September. con­ was was Herndon Herndon which which under under law, law,

last last thugs thugs company company steel steel by by flogged flogged "insurrection" "insurrection" the the to to adding adding by by lation lation

and and kidnapped kidnapped legis­ was was anti-labor anti-labor its its Prisoners, Prisoners, cal cal strengthen strengthen to to steps steps

Politi­ of of Defense Defense for for Committee Committee tional tional taking taking is is Georgia Georgia of of State State the the that that learn learn

Na­ the the of of secretary secretary Southern Southern Gelders, Gelders, we we written, written, is is article article this this As As issues. issues.

Joseph Joseph Barton, Barton, of of defense defense the the in in tivity tivity nation-wide nation-wide into into make make to to possible possible

ac­ his his of of Because Because be. be. can can these these tive tive and and necessary necessary is is it it which which issues issues such such of of

effec­ how how shown shown has has LL.D. LL.D. the the cases, cases, examples examples are are case, case, Sacramento Sacramento the the and and

defense defense of of out out 1937, 1937, 8, 8, often often very very February February arising arising argued argued tion, tion, was was it it where where

ac­ of of forms forms positive positive developing developing In In Court Court Supreme Supreme States States United United the the fore fore

be­ now now case, case, Herndon Herndon Angelo Angelo The The prominence. prominence. nation-wide nation-wide given given were were

violence, violence, of of question question the the on on position position struggle. struggle. this this for for labor labor

organized organized from from won won be be can can support support its its as as well well as as it, it, illegalize illegalize to to tempts tempts

Broad Broad minorities. minorities. political political and and tional tional at­ all all against against fight fight Party's Party's the the cases, cases,

na­ class, class, working working the the against against violence violence Gelders Gelders and and Barton Barton the the on on ington, ington,

of of vehicles vehicles other other and and vigilante, vigilante, Legion, Legion,

Wash­ in in Committee Committee Rights Rights Civil Civil lette lette

Black Black Klan, Klan, Klux Klux Ku Ku the the against against

Fol­ La La the the before before hearings hearings the the In In

offensive offensive the the with with woven woven inextricably inextricably

state. state. the the

is is drive drive a a Such Such them. them. on on based based cisions cisions

of of unions unions trade trade the the by by territory territory Steel Steel

de­ court court and and laws laws of of application application the the

S. S. U. U. the the of of heart heart the the in in up up opened opened

and and laws, laws, these these against against offensive offensive sharp sharp

was was rights rights labor's labor's of of violation violation against against

a a up up take take to to I.L.D. I.L.D. the the for for fascism, fascism,

movement movement offensive offensive an an case, case, Barton Barton and and reaction reaction against against struggle struggle a a is is time time

the the on on fight fight the the of of result result direct direct other other this this at at rights rights democratic democratic for for struggle struggle

an­ As As Birmingham. Birmingham. in in legality legality tial tial the the since since necessary, necessary, especially especially is is It It

par­ into into through through broken broken has has Party Party the the fields. fields. all all on on struggle struggle cal cal

Appeals, Appeals, of of Court Court state state the the by by tional tional politi­ of of importance importance the the of of realization realization

growing growing its its in in also also unconstitu­ sharpened sharpened being being declared declared is is was was ordinance ordinance

the the which which in in class class case, case, this this working working around around the the of of veloped veloped keenness keenness the the that that

shows shows cited, cited, de­ already already I.L.D. I.L.D. the the instance, instance, which which Jersey Jersey fight fight the the Through Through

New New The The law. law. syndicalist syndicalist ordinance). ordinance). local local criminal criminal a a the the (under (under literature literature

against against struggle struggle the the precisely precisely is is ment ment Communist Communist of of possession possession of of charge charge

move· move· this this in in factor factor unifying unifying greatest greatest a a on on Alabama, Alabama, Bessemer, Bessemer, in in convicted convicted

the the California California in in Barton, Barton, But But Jack Jack of of case case California. California. in in the the is is legislation legislation

evident evident already already such such and and against against imminent imminent campaign campaign mentis mentis successful successful A A

COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SYNDICALIST LAWS sibilities for action. A body of liberal on the ground that he is a Communist, and progr~sive opinion which few is an example. The biggest fight should ever realized existed in Alabama has -and still can-be made in this case or been developed and is in process of the basis of the legality and the Amer­ organizational crystallization in the icanism of our Party. The broad sup­ heart of the deep South. Through· this port which can be developed in de­ campaign a good airing of the issues portation cases is illustrated by the was secured in the Alabama press, and case of Lorenzo Puentes in Tampa, an exposure of a good part of the re­ Florida, who is threatened with de­ actionary set-up made possible both portation to Cuba on the ground that locally and, in the La Follette hearings, he is a Comunist, and in whose defense nationally. the International Union of Cigar In Tampa, Florida, the prosecution Workers has come forward. Correct of Lawrence Ponder, vigilante, one of presentation of the political issues in­ those who broke up the Browder elec­ volved in other deportation cases can tion meeting there October 25, 1936, produce similar support. is another example of the positive We have presented here only a few use of the courts to fight against examples of the struggle against crim­ all attempts at illegalizing our Party. inal syndicalist laws, deportations, etc., Prompt action by Comrade Browder with which the defense movement is and by the local people made possible now confronted, and some of the a campaign in which this issue can be forms used in this struggle. There are brought forward on the rostrum of the other forms which are being and can courts. be developed-the fight for freedom of Hand in hand with the struggle the air, for the right to the ballot, against repressive legislation must go against restriction of meetings, etc. the fight against deportation and revo­ There are literally hundreds of pos­ cation of citizenship of Communists. sibilities of development of this whole Very frequently these cases receive too campaign which need only to be recog­ scant attention from our people, who nized and taken up, to give this strug­ are inclined to leave the main conduct gle the character of a na~ion-wide pro­ of the defense in the hands of the de­ gressive movement, based on hundreds fense organization and of the lawyers. of local cases as well as on the relatively By the very nature of his profession, small number which can become na­ an attorney can only develop the legal­ tional issues. Such a movement can istic points. Whether the attitude is greatly broaden and enrich the whole that we must help and supplement the struggle against reaction. lawyer, or vice versa, it is necessary that The struggle against criminal syndi­ the political content of such defense calist and related laws, for freedom of cases (and all defense cases for that . speech and assembly and to maintain matter) be guided and controlled, even the legality of our Party, is inseparably in their legalistic phases, by those re­ tied up with the legislative program sponsible for political action. The case formulated by our Central Committee: of Emil Gardos, who was deprived of "Repeal all federal legislation in­ citizenship obtained by naturalization, fringing upon political rights and free-

local local as as well well as as federal federal laws. laws. port port of of our our entire entire Party. Party.

above above quotation quotation these these applies applies campaigns campaigns to to state state receive receive and and the the fullest fullest sup­

To To do do this this effectively, effectively, it it is is essential essential that that It It is is understood, understood, of of course, course, that that the the

this this

campaign campaign on on a a nation-wide nation-wide scale. scale. oath oath legislation." legislation."

decision decision

paves paves the the way way for for extending extending

criminal criminal syndicalism, syndicalism, and and

teachers' teachers'

J J Washington, Washington, Illinois. Illinois. The The De De onge onge

ist ist organizations. organizations.

Repeal Repeal all all sedition, sedition,

several several states-Oregon, states-Oregon,

California, California,

Klan, Klan, vigilante vigilante gangs, gangs, and and other other terror· terror·

the the repeal repeal of of repressive repressive legislation legislation in in

Outlaw Outlaw

the the Black Black Legion, Legion, Ku Ku Klux Klux has has already already initiated initiated a a campaign campaign for for

dom dom of of assemblage, assemblage, press press and and radio. radio. The The International International Labor Labor Defense Defense

THE THE COMMUNIST COMMUNIST BOOK REVIEWS

THE JUDICIAL OLIGARCHY

THE ULTIMATE POWER, by Morri.s L. factory proposals of Roosevelt to "purge" the Em.st, Doubleday, Doran ir Co. IJ.oo. courts. It shows that the reactionaries realize THE NINE OLD MEN, by Drew Pearson and that any step in the direction of curbing the Robert S. Allen, Doubleday, Doran ir Co. powers of the court is a blow in favor of $2.JO. progress; hence, the mobilization of every me­ dium capable of influencing public opinion to defeat the enlargement of the courts. 0 NE of the focal points in the struggle At this time, with a wave of reactionary between the forces of progress and re­ ballyhoo flooding the country with false stories action now going on in the United States is .bout the sanctity of the court; portraying the the judicial dictatorship of the Supreme Court. judges as a check against "dictatorship", and . From the very beginning of the United States other such Liberty League-inspired arguments, as a republic, the ruling class has used the it is necessary that the American people be judiciary to buttress the dominance of prop­ shown very clearly the role of the court as a erty rights over human right~. For this reason tool of the big corporations, and the personnel the judicial oligarchy was attacked by those of the bench as paid servants of the ruling who championed democracy and wider lib­ class. erties for the common man. Jefferson, Jackson One of the by-products of the fight over the and Lincoln in their day defeated the attempts Supreme Court has been a whole series of new of the courts to set themselves up as the books on the subject. There have been appeals supreme arbiters of the political and economic to popular opinion, seeking to paint the court life of the people. as nine arch-angels, interpreting the Consti­ Today the most reactionary sections of capi­ tution as a set of immutable principles laid talism are using the courts with the objective down from above. On the other side, there has of smashing the fight for greater democratic been a batch of books ~hich have tried to de­ rights and for paving the way to fascism. bunk the court and show the nine old men for Ever since the Civil War, the Supreme Court what they are. The two books under review are has been used by the ruling class to pile up a the latest which have come off the press. series of decisions which robbed the American They have the virtue of being popularly writ­ people of elementary rights and which have ten, and of containing a great deal of timely extended the domination of Wall Street. The material. nine old men are the shock troops of the re­ Messrs. Pearson and Allen-the political actionary and fascist-minded forces, who want Walter Winchells of Washington-have writ· to destroy every vestige of democracy. Through ten a gossipy book whose value lies in the setting up the Supreme Court as the ultimate fact that it portrays the men on the Supreme power, they hope to nullify the people's man­ Court as petty, hide-bound reactionaries, who date for progress registered at the polls last served railroads and corporations before their November. appointments, and who have served them even The importance of the issue can be guaged better after their appointments. Some of the from the ferocious offensive launched by the facts which they reveal can very well be used reactionaries against the mild and unsatis- to explode the dogma most favored by tlie

stitutional. stitutional. This This is is already already in in the the Constitu- JoHN JoHN KUllTZ KUllTZ

any any right right to to declare declare acts acts of of Congress Congress uncon­ received. received.

legislation, legislation, and and tions tions to to deny deny who who the the will will Supreme Supreme pay pay them them Court Court well well for for services services

reassert reassert its its power power old old fogies fogies to to pass pass on on labor labor the the bench bench and and social social back back to to the the corpora· corpora·

effective effective solution solution judges judges would would of of their their be be for for ultimate ultimate Congress Congress power power to to and and retire retire the the

In In the the first first place, place, people people a a much much are are simpler simpler to to deprive deprive and and more more the the Supreme Supreme Court Court

Supreme Supreme Court's Court's decisions decisions This This is is by by the the a a two-thirds two-thirds road road to to take take vote. vote. if if the the American American

Congress Congress should should actionaries actionaries have have the the right right on on the the to to issue issue overrule overrule of of enlarging enlarging the the the the court. court.

ever. ever. He He borrows borrows with with James James the the Madison's Madison's immediate immediate point point fight fight that that to to defeat defeat the the re­

lem. lem. And And he he has has no no effective effective solution solution whatso­ measures, measures, and and this this in in turn turn must must be be tied tied up up

the the book book is is Mr. Mr. Ernst's Ernst's solution solution for for the the prob· prob· power power of of the the judiciary judiciary to to destroy destroy progressive progressive

President President Roosevelt's Roosevelt's proposals, proposals, the the heart heart of of tion tion must must be be the the complete complete abolition abolition of of the the

In In view view of of the the hot hot fight fight now now raging raging around around question question of of the the day. day. The The fundamental fundamental solu­

terests terests of of Wall Wall Street. Street. proposal proposal to to enlarge enlarge the the court, court, which which is is the the

up up as as a a dictatorial dictatorial oligarchy oligarchy serving serving the the in­ tions, tions, nor nor aids aids towards towards the the passage passage of of the the

representatives representatives of of the the people, people, and and set set itself itself nouncement-are nouncement-are neither neither fundamental fundamental solu· solu·

longing longing to to Congress Congress and and the the other other elected elected changed changed them them since since Roosevelt Roosevelt made made his his pro· pro·

that that the the judiciary judiciary has has usurped usurped the the rights rights be­ Ernst Ernst in in his his book-although book-although he he may may have have

to to every every one one who who has has read read American American history history Suggestions Suggestions like like those those contained contained by by Mr. Mr.

The The book book again again demonstrates demonstrates what what is is known known resentatives resentatives of of their their own own choosing. choosing.

some some reason reason or or other other fails fails even even to to mention. mention. their their rights rights to to enact enact legislation legislation through through rep­

Government Government judiciary, judiciary, which which by by Mr. Mr. Ernst Ernst for for road road of of the the people people who who are are seeking seeking to to reassert reassert

factual factual material material collected collected by by Boudin Boudin in in his his aries aries would would place place greater greater obstacles obstacles in in the the

argument argument and and it it does does not not have have the the impressive impressive the the reactionaries. reactionaries. A A victory victory for for the the reaction­

economic economic conditions. conditions. There There is is little little new new in in his his "Left" "Left" point point of of view view are are playing playing the the game game of of

efforts efforts of of the the masses masses to to better better their their social social and and who who criticize criticize the the proposals proposals from from a a so-called so-called

instrument instrument of of reaction reaction which which nullifies nullifies the the the the tyranny tyranny of of the the judiciary. judiciary. Those Those liberals liberals

show show the the development development of of the the court court into into an an realizing realizing the the broader broader objective objective of of abolishing abolishing

attempt attempt is is far far more more ambitious. ambitious. He He tries tries to to aries aries on on this this point point would would be be a a step step towards towards

get get beyond beyond personal personal debunking. debunking. Mr. Mr. Ernst's Ernst's mediate mediate situation situation the the defeat defeat of of the the reaction· reaction·

However, However, Messrs. Messrs. Pearson Pearson and and Allen Allen never never support support of of Roosevelt's Roosevelt's proposals. proposals. In In the the im­

are are "progressive". "progressive". tions tions that that the the Communist Communist Party Party urges urges the the

seem seem that that the the liberal liberal members members of of the the court court It It is is in in the the light light of of these these fundamental fundamental solu­

so-called so-called conservative conservative wing wing which which makes makes it it cratic cratic rights rights of of the the American American people. people.

deed, deed, it it is is the the unrelieved unrelieved reaction reaction of of the the the the judicial judicial oligarchy oligarchy to to thwart thwart the the demo· demo·

tionaries-hating tionaries-hating every every form form of of progress. progress. In-· In-· can can be be passed passed ending ending forever forever the the ability ability of of

They They are are shown shown as as the the worst worst types types of of reac· reac· necessary, necessary, an an amendment amendment to to the the Constitution Constitution

are are super-men super-men above above prejudice prejudice and and class class bias. bias. to to reaffirm reaffirm its its powers. powers. In In the the second second place, place, if if

reactionaries-that reactionaries-that the the Supreme Supreme Court Court judges judges tion tion and and needs needs only only a a majority majority vote vote of of Congress Congress

COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE THE Read More MARXISM-LENINISM in Hundreds of Books, Pamphlets, Magazines for Sale at These Book- stores and Literature Distribution Centers

Aberdeen, Wash.: 115Y2 West Paterson: 201 Market St. Heron St. Philadelphia: H4 So. 9th St. Akron: 63 East Exchange Baltimore: 501A N. Eutaw St. Pittsburgh: 60 7 Bigelow Blvd. Berkeley: 2475 Bancroft Way Portland, Ore.: 314 S. W. Madi- Boston: 8 Beach Street son St. Buffalo: 61 West Chippewa Providence: 3 .l 5 West minster St., Butte: 119 Hamilton St. Room 42 Cambridge: 6 Y:z Holyoke St. Racine: 205 State Street Camden: 3 04 Federal Street Chicago: 200 West Van Buren Readin.~: 224 North Ninth Street 2135 West Division St. Richmond, Va.: 205 N. 2nd St. 1326 East 57th St. Sacramento: 1024 Sixth St. Cincinnati: 540 Main St. Cleveland: 1 52 2 Prospect Ave. St. Louis: 3520 Franklin Ave. Denver: 3 13 Mining Exchange Bldg St. Paul: 570 "''abasha St. Des Moines: 222 Youngerman Bldg. Salt Lake City: 134 Regent St. Detroit: 3537 Woodward Ave. San Diego: E6 3 5 St. Duluth: 2 8 East First St. San Francisco: Grand Rapids: 319 Bridge St. 170 Golden Gate Ave. Hollywood: 1116 No. Lillian Way 1609 O'Farrell St. Los Angeles: 230 S. Spring St. 121 Haight St. 2411 Y:z Brooklyn Avenue Madison, Wise.: Commercial Bank San Pedro: 244 W. Sixth St. Bldg., Room 417 Santa Barbara: Milwaukee: 419 West State St. 208 W. Canon Perdido Minneapolis: 812 La Salle Ave. Seattle: 713 Y2 Pine St. Newark: 33 Halsey St. Spokane: 114 No. Bernard New Haven: 17 Broad St. Superior: 601 Tower Ave. New Orleans: 1 3 0 Chartres St. Tacoma: 1315 Tacoma Ave. New York: 50 East 13th St. Toledo: 214 Michigan 140 Second Ave. Washington, D.C.: 1125 14th St., 98 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn N.W. Oakland: 567 12th Street Youngstown: Omaha: 311 Karbach Block 310 W. Federal St., 3d Fl. •

Write for a complete catalog to any of the above addresses or to

WORKERS LIBRARY PUBLISHERS

P. 0. Box 148, Sta. D New York, N. Y. Wllat tile c:ritic:s say allout new !looks a, the {f)IMI'£1111A71011A& List

CHANGE THE WORLD! By MICHAEL GOLD . $1.3.9 "The best of them are superb filled with a warm, sensuous passion for life, a love for singing human beings, and a black, angry hatred of greed"-Lewis Gannett, New York Herald Tribune. "No one but an artist, the kind of artist who could write Jews Without Money, could have written the essays in this book."-Edwin Seaver, Sunday Worker. "The man who has kept alive the journalistic tradition of Albert Brisbane-! didn't say Arthur."-Heywood Broun. • REVOLT OR THE CLYDE By WILLIAM GALLACHER $2.50 "Students of contemporary affairs will find it informa­ tive, well written and readable."-Ralph Thompson, The New York Times. "The joy of battle shines on every page of it.... His story of the Clydeside troubles in war-time differs, nat­ urally, from Lloyd George's; I suspect that in the per­ spective of time it will seem as significant a contribution to history."-Lewis Gannett, New York Herald Tribune. "The story he tells in Revolt on the Clyde becomes not only a rich personal narrative but one of the most impor­ tant iiOCial documents of our time."-Joseph Freeman, Book Union -Bulletin. • WAR OUR HERITAGE By JAMES A. WECHSLER and JOSEPH P. LASH Paper, 50c "This little book contains probably the clearest thinking ever presented by American youth on the question of peace, written in a popular and convincing style. In fact it is a handbook for all fighters for peace, no matter what age... .-The Herald-Sun, Durham, N.C., "Boldly challenges the followers of Mars with the un­ deniable facts."-Columbia Missourian. "They are young, earnest, and determined to make this a much better world."-Saturday Review of Literature . • Order from your local bookshop or from WORKERS LIBRARY PUBLISHERS P, 0. Box 148, Sta. D New York City