12 Trotskyist Leaders Released After Imprisonment of 13 Months

Longshore Wage Case And Union Solidarity — SEE PAGE 4 — the PUBLISHEDMILITANT IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE

VOL. IX — No. 4 NEW YORK, N. Y., "SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1945 267 PRICE: FIVE CENTS Churchill Blames 12 Trotskyist Leaders Released His Victims For After Imprisonment Of 13 Months Greek Slaughter w Clear the Road! By Joseph Hansen Roosevelt Rejects Winston Churchill, champion of capitalist counter-revolu­ Railroaded For Opposition tion for a quarter of a century, is now openly preparing the next AFL-CIO Demand great stage of the Second World War— suppression of the ad­ vancing European socialist revolution. In a sinister speech be­ To Roosevelt War Program fore the House of Commons on January 18, Churchill raised To Raise Wages the banner of an unholy crusade against a spectre haunting Eu­ By R . Bell First Labor Victims of Smith "Gag" Act to rope. The spectre Churchill wants to exorcise is “ Trotskyism.” The labor “ statesmen” have Speak in New York, Minneapolis, Chicago This is not the first time that*^ just concluded another pilgrim ­ Britain’s Prime Minister has step­ The Unholy Alliance age to the White House where, (By Wire to THE MILITANT) ped forth as the director of reac­ hat in hand, they pleaded for tion’s vanguard. When the Soviet Against- Trotskyism By Larissa Reed Union was born in the October an upward revision of the Little 1917 revolution, Churchill organ­ Churchill labels as “ Trot­ Steel formula. The conventions MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 24— After 13 months con­ ized the protracted Allied inter­ skyist” the insurgent Greek of the GIO and A FL have re­ vention which sought to drown workers and peasants murder­ peatedly gone on record to con­ finement behind federal prison bars, the 12 Social­ the first workers’ state in blood. ed by Allied troops. The duct a fight against the wage- ist Workers Party and Minneapolis Truckdrivers’ January 11 Daily Worker, Only the heroic defense of the freeze. The spectacle of the top Red Army led by Trotsky, com­ commenting on Churchill’s use Local 544-CIO leaders railroaded under the Smith of this term iiÇj his vicious leaders of 13 million organized bined with the support of the workers crawling to the shrine “Gag” Act were released this morning from Roose­ world working class, frustrated speech, offers the assistance of "labor’s friend” to beg for Churchill’s designs. of the Stalinists in putting velt’s penitentiaries. down “ Trotskyism.” “ Commu­ a handout symbolizes t h e Churchill spoke to Commons in nists (Stalinists) everywhere The 11 men prisoners arrived here at 11:30 another attempt to quell the poli­ “fight” which Murray, Green have a long experience with tical crisis his government faces and Gompany are conducting. 4. M. today from the Sandstone, Minn., Penitentiary Trotskyists,” declares the in consequence of public indigna­ Their abject attitude prompted editor of the Daily Worker; and held a joyous reunion with their relatives, com­ tion over the slaughter of Greek one reporter to make this cynical “ if Churchill means to fight Workers and peasants. He again comment: “For whatever good it rades and friends who ®. their influence, the Commun­ slandered these heroic fighters as may do, leaders of the CIO and is being met at the prison gates ists w ill always assist him just thronged the Great North­ “ brigands.” He lied that Allied the A F L have made it plain to by her sister Mrs. Dorothy Shultz, as we have been fighting them troops invaded Greece solely to President Roosevelt this week of St. Paul. They are expected without his assistance.” ern railway station to wel­ bring the blessings of food and that the workers in their Murray Intervenes To Bolster to arrive here some time tomor­ There is a third member in democracy. He did not breathe organizations a re clamoring come and honor them . row. this unholy combination—the a word about General Scobie’s for action on their demand They .are James P. Cannon, A l­ Deep joy and excitement went Nazis. Last May, the reac­ orders that the Greek partisans for higher wages to compensate bert Goldman, Vincent Dunne, through tiie 70 to 80 men, women tionary Greek government-in­ N o-StrikePolicy In Poll and children waiting to meet the give up the arms they had used for higher living costs.” “Both exile announced that 17 mem­ Farrell Dobbs, Felix Morrow, against the German armies and groups,” he added, “ left the White train bearing the homecoming bers of the Archeo-Marxists House empty-handed ...” By A rt P,reis Carl Skoglund, Oscar Coover, prisoners. Photographers wer.e get out of Athens. He lied that brass to put into public print the (Trotskyists), among them A fte r the interview, Green and Emil Hansen, Carlos Hudson, on hand to take pictures of their the partisans had provoked civil Two sharply opposed forces a-re locked in bitter struggle as obvious and absurd lies that the Vite, the General Secretary, Max Geldman and Jake Cooper. arrival. •war, although it was British-arm­ Murray reported that, “ the Presi­ the climax approaches in the GIO United Automobile Workers’ labor movement has actually had been executed by Ger­ A similar galb welcome home is The scene was extremely mov­ ed police who fired on an unarm­ dent ‘seemed to be sympathetic’ referendum battle over the No-Strike Pledge. The militant rank been strengthened because the man occupation authorities in awaiting Grace Carlson, sole wo­ ing as those so long deprived of ed demonstration against the but told them that he would take and file, local committeemen and officers, who daily feel the “ CIO helped to re-elect Roose­ Athens. Four other Trotskyists man among the 18 Trotskyists their homes and loved-ones step­ British-supported puppet govern­ no action in advance of a report velt and elect a more progress­ fell before a German firing whiplash of corporation provocations, are mobilizing to scrap the originally imprisoned, who was ped o ff the train. There were m e n t of Papandreou. He was dis­ which the War Labor Board was ive Congress. CIO unions, main­ squad in Salonika. Vite had re­ no-strike surrender policy. Arrayed against them is the entire released today from the women’s creetly silent about his order to preparing.” With this reassuring turned from exile to help or­ top bureaucracy of the UAW and; CIO, backed by the corpora­ taining their no-strike commit­ prison at Alderson, W. Va. She Scobie to provoke civil war even pat on the head the bootlickers (Continued on page 3) ganize the workers’ struggle tions, the Roosevelt administration and the Stalinists. ments, have scored decisive gains i f he must k ill women and chil­ gratefully retired. The report, for millions of workers.” against the Nazi armies of Exploiting the vast resources dren. without which Roosevelt declares This fiction is dished out to occupation. he w ill “ take no action,” is one of MUErestJge otd 210, the pro- I\ AT ALIA TROTSKY GREETS 12 1945 RED-BAITINQ Ip fighting “Trotskyism” «3 71 5o?6Veft '' Mnrrhy-Hffimatr-.... the auto: workers as rising wails a whole series of thimble-rigged Roosevelt Breaks emanate from the pro-RooseVelt ' Warmest revolutionary greetings to our Then came Churchill’s red-bait­ along with the Nazis, Churchill “cost-of-living” reports concocted chine is now intervening directly and the Stalinists thus reveal labor leaders themselves asking ing — a repetition of his red­ by the WLB to justify the wage- in the UAW struggle. So power­ friends upon their release. My deepest wish is that both camps of imperial­ “ Who won the elections?” . This baiting tactics against Bolshev­ freeze. The battle of statistics is Cleveland Strike ful is the rising offensive of the ists and their agents, despite “ progressive” Congress already fo r your success in the continued struggle fo r ism in the First World War. Des­ another aspect of the labor auto workers against the no­ their differences, have one aim President Roosevelt with looms up as one of the most re­ cribing the infiltration into Ath­ faker’s '“fight” against the Little strike policy which has placed the better future of mankind. in common in the Second them at the mercy of the corpor­ actionary in United States his­ ens of partisans defending them­ Steel formula. It has been going ruthless dispatch last week World War. That is the sup­ ations, that the CIO chiefs have tory. Its first act was to estab­ Natalia Sedov selves against British - backed on for years. broke a strike of over 400 CIO pression of the working class been impelled to rush openly to lish a permanent Dies Witch- counter-revolution, Churchill de­ While Murray and Green spar coal passers and maintenance movement for socialism. the aid of the hard-pressed UAW Hunt Committee as a slap in the claimed: “ For three or four with Roosevelt in their sham bat­ men of the Cleveland Electric leadership. face to labor. Since the start days or more it was a struggle to tle over the wage-freeze the cost Illuminating Company. Less CIO President Philip Murray of the new session its' members prevent a hideous massacre in the being equally hated in Russia.” of living continues to rise. Frozen than fifteen hours after the proclaimed his policy of open in­ have been competing for the “ hon­ ROOSEVELT, BRASS HATS center of Athens in which all In naming Trotskyism as the wages in the face of a constant strike began at noon January tervention in the UAW referen­ or” of drafting the most viciously forms of Government would have foe of world imperialism, Church­ rise iu the cost of living has re­ 12, Army officials carrying a dum in his letter of January 12 anti-labor legislation. been swept away and naked, tr i­ ill was careful to absolve Stalin duced real wages and lowered the presidential executive order to UAW President R. J.. Thomas, The past year wound up with umphant Trotskyism installed. I of any responsibility for foster­ workers’ standard of living. Pro­ SPEED FORCED LABOR "seized” the plant Saturday, declaring that “this is directed Roosevelt turning over the State think Trotskyism is a better de­ ing the socialist aspirations of fits have soared to the highest 4:30 A. M. through you to the membership Department and the leading gov­ finition oTGreek' Communist and the" ifiasses. “ Trotskyis^i . . . has levels in history. The cost-plus By C. Thomas of the largest union in the world.” ernment agencies to the direct certain other sects than the nor------i patriots rake in fabulous profits The speed with which Roosevelt A full-page reproduction of this agents of Wall Street. The year Responding to the fervent appeals of the labor haters Roose­ mal word. It has the advantage of (Continued on*oag« 2) as the costs of the war are loaded effected this “ seizure” was in letter appears in the January 15 concluded with Roosevelt and his velt has renewed his demand for legislation conscripting workers on the wage-earners. This is the marked contrast to the extreme CIO News. brass hats demanding a Nazi-like for profit. He dispatched a message to the House M ilita ry A f­ reality behind Roosevelt’s frau­ caution displayed in the Mont­ system of universal forced labor. fairs Committee- urging immediate action on the May-Bailey dulent “equality of sacrifice” pro­ gomery Ward case. Then Roos­ MURRAY’S LIES It was the year during which FLINT CIO COUNCIL SCORES gram. In Roosevelt the profit-hogs evelt acted only' after open-shop­ Bill now before that body. Along with his statement, Roosevelt Murray resorts almost entirely the War Labor Board turned have a consistent champion who per Sewell L. Avery had defied enclosed a message from the top ranking brass hats, Admiral to the most hypocritical anti­ down all the basic wage demands uses his executive powers to government orders for years and King and General Marshall. ®: ALLIED POLICY IN EUROPE strike propaganda of the corpora­ of labor, most notably of Murray’s Rumors were spread of the pos-. fleece the workers for the benefit had provoked a spreading strike The Commander-in-Chief and tions and their political agents, own steel union, and hardened sibility of buzz-bomb attacks on Taking the lead among American unions in publicly of the employing class. which threatened to undermine his Chiefs of S taff threw their who always advance their anti­ the wage freeze. I t was the year east coast cities. Race tracks were condemning Allied counter-revolutionary policy against the government’s whole compul­ weight behind the vicious May- VINSON DECREE labor policies behind a “ boys in in which brazen corporation pro­ shut down and conventions the workers in Greece and throughout “ liberated” : Europe, sory arbitration machinery. Bailey forced labor measure in The immediate provocation of the foxholes” smokescreen. He vocations led to the greatest vol­ banned; travel and hotel rooms the Greater Flint (M ich.) Industrial Union Council at its Recently, Roosevelt’s "economic an effort to head off the grow­ stabilizer,” Fred M. Vinson, is­ the power strike was the com­ appeals to the auto workers to ume of defensive strikes in four ing opposition to labor conscrip­ were rationed; rumors were cir­ regular meeting on January 6 adopted the followjng reso­ sued an order prohibiting the pany’s arbitrary shifting of a un­ reaffirm the “ sacred pledge made years. tion. Upon receipt of Roosevelt’s culated of wholesale shutdowns of all sports, gin mills, night clubs, lution : WLB from “deciding any wage ion steward from the day to the to the soldiers, sailors and RANK AND FILE TALKS communication, Chairman May of issue without prior assurance night shift. This was a move to marines.” Of course, this “ sacred the M ilita ry A ffairs Committee, etc. WHEREAS: To forestall a Democratic Government pi Greece But Murray’s absurd argu­ from OPA that the Board’s pro­ undermine the seniority aud pledge” is the one-sided agree­ co-author of the May-Bailey bill, “PSYCHOLOGICAL and restore the puppet King George, the Churchill Gov­ ments and downright lies are posed order w ill not affect prices.’’ grievance procedure established ment—originally palmed o ff as a abruptly terminated the hear­ WARFARE” ernment has slaughtered Greek Soldiers of the Worker's being most effectively answered The immediate effect of the or­ under contract with Local 270, “ three-way commitment between ings and announced: “ We’ve Editorials in the capitalist Army (ELAS) that drove the Nazis out of Greece, and der was disclosed when Philip CIO Utility Workers Organizing labor, management and govern­ by the auto workers themselves. discussed this matter long en­ press shrieked about “ our boys” WHEREAS: Allied tanks, planes, munitions and iuen were Murray announced that “ nego­ Committee. ment” — handed to Roosevelt The National UAW Rank and ough. I t ’s now time to act.” dying because of a shortage of used against Greek Workers at. the very moment when after Pearl Harbor by the top File Committee to Revoke the tiations with the steel industry STRIKEBREAKING CREW However, resistance developed munitions. Hysterical accusations American Workers were being slandered with bjjame for to put into effect the W LB’s or­ labor fakers, who had never even No-Strike Pledge is hammering to this attempt to railroad the were hurled at workers charged an alleged shortage of armaments on the •Western der of last Nov. 23, had just about But the basic causes of the consulted their memberships. home the truth in an organized bill through committee and hear­ with leaving their war jobs. The Front, and broken down and that the case strike were the company’s refusal Murray’s flag-waving appeal, campaign inside the shops, sup­ ings were reopened fo r further impression created was that the WHEREAS: Allied forces have been used also against Italian would be referred again to the to settle a mounting volume of which reads as though it were plemented by leaflets, news­ testimony. The technique worked workers were retiring to Palm papers, radio talks, stickers, and Belgian workers who protested being rulfed after WLB in a. few days.” The Vin­ grievances and the National War plagiarized from an advertise­ out by the forced labor advocates Beach and Miami to attend the Labor Board’s rejection last De­ meetings, etc. One of the most “ liberation” by the same native S. L. Averys, TorruGirdlers son decree gives the OPA power ment of the National Association was to rush the measure through races, loll on the warm sand, to veto any decision reached by cember 26 of the union’s year-old of Manufacturers, is topped off powerful expositions of the rea­ under cover of an emotional drink champagne and sti’oll along and Smith-Connallys who oppressed them under the Nazi, the War Labor Board. Thus the demand for a 7 cents hourly- by a truly fantastic claim. He sons for rescinding the no-strike barrage laid down by Roosevelt’s the boardwalk with a buxom heel, and WLB decision grantiug the steel raise. The board had stalled its asserts that the "peaceful pattern policy is contained in a typical “ psychological warfare” division. blonde on each arm. WHEREAS: American workers with our own Quislings and workers certain "fringe” demands decision to within a month of the of labor relations” was respon­ rank and file leaflet, being cir- This barrage reached a frenzied In commenting on “ Washing- would-be Hitlers and Mussolinis to deal with have common sible for “a year of progress on peak in the period following the cause with European workers trying to make a reality of (Continued on page 5) (Continued on page 4) the home front.” He has the (Continued on page 4) m ilitary reversal in Europe. (Continued on page 5) their so-called liberation, and WHEREAS: The right of Nations to determine their own gov­ ernment is a fundamental demand of oppressed peoples everywhere, regardless whether there ever yjMWK^Atlantic Charter, therefore be it RESOLVED: That the Greater Flint Industrial Union Council calls upon the CIO National Office immediately to launch HEAR Other Speakers: a nation-wide campaign to protest the use of Allied troops Henry Frachter/ against workers of any country who are trying to establish James P. Cannon their own democracy. We particularly protest the Chur- HOTEL DIPLOMAT United Retail, Wholesale & Dept. Store Employees—CIO National Secretary, SWP chill-Scobie butchery in Greece. Let the people of Greece, Benj. A. Gebiner Belgium, Italy, North Africa, etc., choose their own gov­ 108 WEST 43rd STREET NEW YORK CITY Asst. Gen. Secretary The Workmen’s Circle ernments and deal in their own way with their pative Albert Goldman Mayor Hagues, Hoovers, etc. We protest pur brothers in Attorney for Defendants O. K. Fraenkel the Allied forces—mostly denied the rig ht to vote here American Civil Liberties Union at home,—being ordered to shoot European workers who Farrell Dobbs Friday February 2,1945 - 8 P . M. - '♦ want a voice in their governments, and be j it finally Editor, THE MILITANT Benj. F. McLaurin RESOLVED: That copies of this Resolution be sent to the Brotherhood Sleeping Car Porters CIO National Office, to the White House} State Depart­ George Novack ment, Winston Churchill, affiliated Local Unions, and the Felix Morrow National Secretary, CRDC—Chairman James T. Farrell press. 1 Editor, 4th INTERNATIONAL Noted Novelist T H E M I l ' I T A N T SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1945 T R A D E Release Of 12 Prisoners Spurs UNION NOTES By Joseph Keller SWP Expansion Fund Drive Punitive Measures Against Union Militants The corporation-dominated War why the Federal workers were $18,000 Party Expansion Fund Labor Board has come to the res­ forced to go on strike. The deci­ A Pitting Welcome to Our 18 Class-War Prisoners NEW YORK SWP LOCAL cue of CIO United Rubber Work­ sion first complains that the “ un­ ers President Sherman Dalrym- ion has almost literally 'scraped By Rose Karsner/ Campaign Director ple in his ruthless bureaucratic the bottom of the barrel’ in its drive against the militant ranks demands.” The union, you see, Inspired by tfie release of pur 12 comrades this week, branch­ HOLDS LENIN MEETING of his union. is first blamed for asking “ too es, members and friendc of the Socialist Workers Party forward^ NEW YORK CITY, Jan. 21. — The New York Local of much.” But then, it is conceded, On January 17, the entire board ed the largest sum received in any week since the opening of the the Socialist Workers Party tonight commemorated the 21st an­ of employers, “ Public” members “ the refusal of the company to grant any union demands, even 118,000 Party Expansion Fund campaign. This concrete ex­ niversary of the death of Lenin, and the 26th anniversary of and union representatives in of those issues where the com­ pression of solidarity has boosted the Fund total to 83%. W ith the assassinations of Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg, at Washington directed the United mission action is known in ad­ five weeks left to go we are confident that the quota of 81.000 a public memorial meeting held at the Irving, Plaza Hall. States Rubber Company to deduct vance by everyone in the indu­ for each of the 18 Minneapolis Labor Case defendants will be Comrade M. Stein, Acting Na-$------:------$10,582 from the wages of 572 stry, leaves it open to charges exceeded by a comfortable margin before the March 1 deadline. tional Secretary of the SWP, gave this is beyond Stalin’s power and workers who had engaged in a of refusal to cooperate With the the principal address, describing this is why even today, 21 years strike last October in Detroit. union 'in meeting the common FROM THE BRANCHES the ideas and revolutionary after Lenin's death, Stalin and This $10,582 is to pay union problems of the parties.” achievement^ of Lenin, the great his cohorts must try desperately fines and reinstatement fees Detroit, A. Wood: “ The D etroit Bran.ch has paid in fu ll its In short, the company flatly Bolshevik genius of the October to falsify and distort Lenin.” levied by Dalrymple because of pledge of 1250 dollars in welcome to our twelve released comrades. refused to concede anything to 1917 Revolution. Harry Frankel, Today, it is only the Trotsky­ the striking workers’ refusal to the union, even provisions con­ Money order follows. We hope to send an additional sum before organizer of the Trotskyist Youth obey his arbitrary back-to-work ists who maintain Lenin's pro­ tained in the previous contract March 1st.” Group, spoke on the anti-imperial­ gram. “ Lenin showed us the way. order. Dalrymple had imposed and customarily sanctioned by Buffalo, B. Grey: “Buffalo over quota in fund drive. Money on ist war struggles of Liebknecht on each of 800 strikers a $12.50 He taught us how to build a party the WLB. This subsidiary of way.” • and Luxemburg, who organized fine which had to be paid by a that is firm, disciplined, a combat Bethlehem Steel corporation con­ Chicago, B. Radlow: “ Enclosed you w ill find our check for $233 the revolutionary socialist resist­ party. He armed us with a pro­ certain date or they would stand ducted a viciously anti- union pol­ which brings our total in the fund drive to $1100. We’ll keep send­ ance against their own German gram. He taught us his method.. automatically expelled. icy which provoked repeated work imperialists in World War I. The And that is why Leninism lives.' The 572 militants who refused ing it ! ” stoppages. The WLB rewards New York Local organizer, Geo. It lives in the Fourth Interna­ to pay this fine were expelled St. Paul, R. Wadsworth: “ Enclosed is a check in the amount o f these provocations by further un­ Grant, was chairman of the meet­ tional.” from the union. Then Dalrymple, dermining the union’s security. $125, which is the balance of the St. Paul quota of the Twin City ing. Comrade Frankel described Lieb­ with a “militancy” he never dis­ That is a prize example both Fund. Hope this payment reaches you in time to put it in The In his address, Comrade Stein knecht and Luxemburg as the plays in fighting for the union of the WLB’s “ im partiality” and M ilitant and by the time our comrades return from prison.” told of the world-wide mourning two revolutionary leaders who membership against the corpora­ its exercise of punitive measures San Francisco, A. Alexander: “ We made it! This check brings at Lenin’s death. “ I believe it is best symbolize for the youth of tions, demanded that the com­ against the workers. cur payment on our pledge to 72%% of our total, in time to greet safe to say that never was the today the fight against imperial­ pany take action against the ex­ our returning comrades.” death of -a man mourned so deep­ * * * ist war. He told of the heroic pelled workers under' the provi­ Over a thousand members of Pittsburgh, M. Johnson: “ This brings us up to our pledge on the ly by so many. Not only the lives of these two great German sions of the contract maintenance multi-millioned mass of the So­ CIO United Automobile Workers fund—now we’ll see how fa r over we can go.” workingclass leaders which cul­ of membership clause. viet Union felt orphaned with Local 661 engaged in what, to Milwaukee, H. Burns: “ Enclosed is a money order for $44, an­ minated in the struggle of the the death of Lenin, but wherever The company didn’t find it ex­ our knowledge, is the first “ sit- other payment on the Milwaukee quota. This brings our total to Spartacist revolution in 1918 and oppression exists, wherever men pedient to fire so many experi­ down” strike in this country since $114 according to our figures, an amount already exceeding the $100 their foul murder at the hands are exploited in the capitalist enced workers at one clip. It re­ Pearl Harbor. Their two-day ac­ quota set by us. Comrade Crane, the literature director, is deciding of the Junkers and their “ social­ countries and in the colonies, he ferred the issue to the WLB, tion last week at the Ranger on a cartoon from a selection of two or three and w ill let you know ist” agents of the Second Interna­ which decided that “ the urgent was mourped by the down-trod­ tional. “ We shall never forget Aircraft division of the Fairchild later which we want.” den in whose hearts he was im­ need for tire production as well Engine and Airplane Corporation, that monstrous crime of the so­ as necessity for reinforcing” the Boston, F. Daniels: “ I t ’s fa irly safe to say that the next payment bedded.” Farmingdale, Long Island, was cial-democratic traitors,” declared no-strike policy required a differ­ will carry us over the top. And that will be by the 22d of this month. directed at “ wage decreases” im­ The speaker pointed out that Frankel. ent action than dismissing 572 I ’ll wire you next Monday.” Lenin was a “ true disciple of posed by the company through The meeting sént resolutions of workers. The company against Cleveland, M. Baker: “ Am enclosing money order fo r $87. Com­ Marx and Engels. His masters, the method of reclassifications. greeting to the 12 imprisoned whose provocations the strike was rade Tony Black is sending in $50 this week. These two payments the founders of scientific social­ The strikers argued tli-at since Trotskyist leaders and to Natalia directed w ill deduct from wages will complete our quota of $250 for the Expansion Fund!” ism, did not have the opportu­ they could not obtain wage in Trotsky, widow of Leon Trotsky, the $12.50 fines and $6 union re­ nity to put their ideas into prac­ creases without prior approval of the co-leader with Lenin of the instatement fees exacted by Dal­ tice. Lenin was presented with the WLB, the company should Russian Revolution. The meet­ rymple. that opportunity. Together with not be permitted to reduce wages ing adjourned with the singing While the representatives of Trotsky, he led the great revolu­ without agreement with the union of the “International.” the employers on the WLB have WHERE YOU CAN BUY tion that wrested power from the always voted against maintenance and WLB. capitalists and established the of membership or any other type This sound logic did not prev­ THE "FOURTH INTERNATIONAL" workers’ power in a country that ent the Army from intervening of union security clause, they stretched over one-sixth of the and forcing the end of the “ sit- AKRON PHILADELPHIA BOSTON were more than happy to oblige earth.” 4 down” by threatening the strikers in perverting its use to strike a New Exchange, 51 S. Main. 13th and Market Streets. with the harshest punishment in Lenin, said the speaker, “ was blow at union militants. And even M ilitant Bookshop, Everett Friday Forums its power. SAN FRANCISCO an internationalist through and i f Dalrymple can’t win any gains * * * Bldg., 39' E. Market Street. through. He knew that the Oc­ FEBRUARY 2 for the union from the WLB, he Duncan’s Newsstand, 1986 tober revolution was only the Rm. 405. “THE STRUGGLE FOR secured 100 per cent cooperation In a recent 5 to 4 decision, the Sutter St.; Rays Smoke opening round of a life-and-death from it to strengthen his reac­ U.S- Supreme Court upheld UAW- CHICAGO Shop, 1174 Sutter St.; Mac- . struggle between the hidgous, pow­ NEGRO EQUALITY” CIO President R. J. Thomas in tionary hand against the rank 51st St. L Station; Donald’s Book Store, 867 ers of the exploiters and, the lib­ his appeal against a conviction erating forces fef the exploited the Workers Center and file. Ceshinsky’s Bookstore, 2750 Mission St.; Golden Gate * * * under a Texas anti-labor law re­ world over.” The Third Interna­ 158 Broadway - 8:15 P. M. W. Division St.; University News Agency, 81-3rd St.; quiring the licensing of union or­ tional was founded by Lenin as Auspices: SWP The WLB, which proved ganizers. of Chicago Bookstore, 5802 S. Fitizgerald News Agency, “ the general staff of the world helpless for years in enforcing Admission Free As a test case, Thomas had Ellis Ave.; Randolph News 21-4th St. revolution.” its directives against recalcitrant spoken at a meeting of Houston San Francisco School of So- After Lenin’s death, the bureau­ open-shop employers like Sewell CIO oil workers and urged non­ Shop, 63 W. Randolph. cratic caste of Stalinism, basing L. Avery, does not lack punitive members to join the union. , He cial Science, 305 Grant Ave., DE#OIT itself upon the weariness of the powers, or the w ill to employ 4th FI. was arrested and convicted. Thom­ masses and the isolation of capi­ them, against workers who refuse as appealed against a ?100 fine Family Theater Newsstand, talist encirclement, destroyed to accept the dictates and condi­ opposite theater, Carls Book BERKLEY DETROIT and 3 day ja il sentence which Lenin’s party and instituted a tions imposed by the employers. had previously been upheld by Store, 9109 Woodward Ave. Sather Gate Book Shop, 2335 Under the guise of an “ impar­ regime of nationalist reaction Sunday Lectures the Texas courts. Cass Newsstand, Cass at Telegraph Ave.; Whitey’s which led the workers of the tia l” decision directed against The Supreme Court majority corner Bencrost and Tele- world through defeat after defeat, “ both” the Federal Shipbuilding Michigan Ave. FEBRUARY 4 based its decision on the particu­ culminating in the betrayal to and Drydock Co. and Local 16 of lar circumstances in the Thomas M ilitant Bookshop, 3 513 graph Ave. the imperialists in the Second the CIO Industrial Union of Ma­ case, which they contended vio­ Woodward, Rm. 21. SAN PEDRO World War. “ HISTORY OF AMERICAN rine and Shipbuilding Workers, lated the free speech provisions But “ Lenin’s name and Lenin’s the W LB’s Shipbuilding Commis­ of the B ill of Rights in the Con LOS ANGELES Williams Book Store, 284- TROTSKYISM” writings are » constant threat to sion has granted only “ condition­ sfitution. At the same time, the 6th St.; Johnson’s Pool Hall, NE Corner, 5th and Main; Stalin’s works; if only he could ! u ----- Sneaker: ^ , al” maintenance of membership Court did not invalidate 326 W. 5th Street; Con- 531 Beacon St.; LaRue expurgate Benin’s name out of and check-off provisions to the “right” of the state governments AL RICHARDS solidated Bldg. 6th and H ill; Pharmacy, 1309 Pacific; The following letter accom­ a b it of good for the cause.” the minds of the workers — he local because of “unauthorized to pass laws regulating unions panied a 6-month introductory ' (We have referred this sub­ 3513 Woodward Avenue 2210% Bklyn. Ave.; 1660 N. Abrams Pharmacy, 1002 would then feel a lot safer. But strikes.” and union organizers. subscription to The Militant from scriber to Pioneer Publishers list Room 21 8 P. M. The WLB placed the union on On the contrary, the majoritj * Cahuega and Hollywood South Caffey. a worker in Brooklyn, N. Y.: of publications on socialism and '“probation” for six months, dur­ opinion, delivered by Justic« Blvd.; 1665 N. Los Palmos SEATTLE “ Perhaps you would be pleased the labor movement.) Ask Your Shopmate to Auspices: SWP ing which time the former con­ Rutledge, said such a “ right’ to know how come this letter. * * * and Hollywood Blvd.; 1679 Eckert’s corner Washington Subscribe to The Militant tract clauses w ill apply. A t the could “ hardly be doubted,” provid While bringing my wife home This urgent request was sent N. Highland and Hollywood and 1st Ave.; Bishop Drug end of the six months, the WLB ed more was involved than men from her place of enslavement us by a worker in Sacramento, Store, 507 Jackson St.; Ray- Shipbuilding Commission w ill “ re­ verbal endorsement or solicitatior Blvd.; 337 S. H ill St. (work) we were crossing an in­ Calif.: “Your paper is as useful ner’s Book Store, 905 - 3rd consider” its decision in the light of union members. If, however, « tersection, being very careful be­ NEW YORK Ave.; Pool Room, 500 Main as the IW W ’s. Give us something of the union’s “ conduct” in the union organizer sought to collecl cause of the slush, and noticed a but the hash we got from Street. “ tria l” period. Thus, the W LB is funds or obtain subscriptions, th< Newsstands on 14th Street, paper lying there, dirty, wet and Gompers. The 1WW is growing using the threat of withholding opinion declared, “ he enters i between 2nd and 6th Aves.; TOLEDO trampled upon. Yet my eye caught here like cowtails. We get De­ union security to force the Local realm Where a reasonable re 42nd St. between 5th & 6th. a glimpse of its name, The M ili­ Leon’s weekly in the library. Will 16 workers “into line.” gistration or identification re Athletic Sport Center, 908 tant. I went back, picked it up, you give us The M ilitant?” NEWARK The WLB decision indicated qurrement may be imposed.” Ii Washington St.; M. & M. brought it home and we both had * * * such cases “ solicitation would bi Progressive Workers’ School, Drugstore, Michigan St. and a swell time reading it. Believe A. West, our Toledo agent, re­ quite different from the solicits 423 Springfield Ave. Madison Ave. it or not, we never heard of this ports the following interesting tion involved here.” valuable paper. How altogether incident: “ The four subs enclosed f fo u rth The Militant That is to say: it’s a ll rigli MINNEAPOLIS ST. LOUIS thankful we both are fo r it. were obtained as a result of to talk favorably about unionisn Foster’s Book Store, 410 may now be purchased at Labor Book Store, 10 South “ My wife wants to know i f you several distributions in a housing in Texas, but don’t try to do anj 4 Street. Washington Ave. 242 Broadway, San Diego, CaL can suggest some books on project after which we called International real organizing without a licens Trotskyism fo r her. She holds a back to sell subs. We found that from the anti-labor government . position where she can do quite people remembered seeing the paper before and many were TABLE OF CONTENTS really interested in it. One woman headquarters of a local union with FOR JANUARY This Coupon and 25 Cents Entitles You to a 8 copies. He sold all of them im­ who subscribed said, ‘Yes, I found mediately—could have sold more. that paper in my doorway one 6-Month Subscription to A good number were sold at a night when I went out to get the The Heritage of Lenin...... By The Editors Pioneer meeting of the Stalinist-control­ milk. I brought it in and sat down led Wayne County CIO Council to read it. It is a dandy little | V. I. Lenin the other night. The comrades paper. I was still reading it at I H is-Life and W ork...... By G. Zinoviev t h e MILITANT themselves think the pamphlet is midnight when my mother came A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER Notes excellent.” and shut the light off on me’.” Resolution of Socialist Workers Party on From Los Angeles: “ One of and the Second World W ar” 116 UNIVERSITY PLACE, NEW YORK 3, N. Y. Libraries from Southern Cali­ our friends had a copy of the A letter from Anne Alexander Labor Party pamphlet with him; 0f San Francisco Leninism in Practice...... By George Collins, Published in the interests of the Working People fornia to Northern Maine are ! ___ » ___records eight ordering Joseph Hansen’s new in his shop. His fellow workers new subscriptions sold at one of The only newspaper in this country that tells the truth pamphlet, “American Workers looked at it and were soon in a their socials: “ Our recent social On the European Situation about labor’s struggles for a better world Need a Labor Party.” Its sale dogfight to see who should read it exceeded all expectations. We and Our Tasks...... By Daniel Logan promises to equal or surpass the first. Four of them kept passing had counted on about fo rty peo­ You may start my subscription to THE MILITANT with your sales of the widely read pamph­ it back and forth to each other. ple and got instead ninety. A ll of —*™ " " ...... 1 ...... w i i . i i i i Tteenty Ceiit« INTRODUCTORY OFFER of 26 issues for 25c. lets, “The Struggle for Negro Now that the supplementary them are either subscribers or I enclose 25c (coin or stamps). Equality” and “ Negroes in the order of two hundred copies has readers of The Militant. Eight Post-War World.” come in we w ill see to it that each new subs came in the night of one of them is able to get their Name ...... Acclaim for the pamphlet con­ the party from those present.” own copy. This is an ideal (Please Print) tinues to pour in from the branches as it meets With a warm pamphlet to sell at the gates of In Detroit, Mich. S tre e t...... A p t...... reception in the factories. factories and we hope to be able You can get to start this soon along with THE MILITANT Detroit writes: “The Labor Militant distributions.” City ; ...... Z on e ...... Party pamphlet is great. We at the expect some record sales on it. FAMILY THEATRE A t our firs t try one comrade State ...... Order from Pioneer Publishers, NEWSSTAND sold 17 at a union meeting. An­ 116 University Place, New York opposite the theatre other comrade dropped in at the 3, N. Y. 15c. per copy. SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1945 THE M IL I T A N T THREE ...... , ■ — ■ ■ ... ■■ * Speed-Up Hits Rubber Workers How Stalinism By Joseph Andrews AKRON, Jan. 15—The rubber industry this month launch­ Released Trotskyist Prisoners ed a 120-day non-stop speed-up drive to increase the production Rules Bulgaria of m ilitary tires. Sponsored jointly by the corporations and the government, the 4-month drive has been endorsed by the offi­ By Paul Abbott cials of the United Rubber Workers of America, CIO. After a six-weeks visit to Bulgaria, Joseph M i Levy has pub- The program has been sent o ff with a cannonade of pro­ lishad a series of articles in the N. Y. Times depicting conditions paganda in the press, designed to convince the tire builders that there under Stalinist domination. Living conditions have wors­ there must be a truce in the class struggle in the plants, and ened. Levy says this is particularly true of the Jews who were that uninterrupted production^ singled out for persecution under Nazi occupation. “ They are and extra effort are needed. < Condemn Dalrymple clotheless, shoeless and starving. They are existing, not living, Sixteen rubber companies, in­ under the most unsanitary conditions, three and four families cluding the Big Four, Goodyear, AKRON, Jan. 15 — Good­ rich Local No. 5 URWA-CIO sharing a dingy little room which is unheated and without win- Firestone, Goodrich and U. S. dowpanes. . . The children’s bitter cries for food and agonizing Rubber, have pledged, “ Business last week adopted a strong resolution condemning URWA moans of the sick are still ringing in the writer’s ears. Despite as usual is out!” They also have innumerable appeals for help, no relief from abroad has been faithfully promised that “there President Sherman Dalrymple forthcoming.” can be no changes in hours, for his dictatorial action in fining 509 union members of Such conditions, of course, are members of the present Bulgar­ wages and working conditions ian Cabinet represent the Father- EXCEPT (the emphasis is ours) Local No. 101, U.S. Rubber, concomitant with war. Hope for Detroit, for participating in a land Front, an organization com­ in the interest of greater produc­ alleviation rests with organiza­ walk-out. posed of these four of the most tion.” tion of a planned economy. How­ important political parties in Bul­ This pledge is a 100% fraud. Branding the wholesale fines as “a repetition of his action ever, Stalin promised . Churchill garia. This is the visible govern­ W ith the 120-day campaign and Roosevelt not to overthrow ment. in the firing of 62 bandbuild- hardly under way, the corpora­ capitalism in Bulgaria. Levy ers at General Tire and Rub­ “ The invisible government, and tions have intensified their wage­ quotes a member of the Arm is­ ber Local 9” {he Goodrich lo­ the one that exercises real power slashing drive by cutting stand­ tice Commission who reveals that cal adopted the resolution at in the country is Miss Tsola Dra- ards fo r piece work. Molotov outlined Moscow’s policy a general membership meeting goytehova, executive secretary of When the uniops protest this as follows: almost unanimously. There the National Committee of the violation of the 120-day agree­ “To strengthen the position of was one pro-Dalrymple vote. Fatherland Front in Sofia.” This ment, the bosses reply: “ But this Bulgaria the conduct of your woman, of course, is an old Stal­ is in the interest of greater That was the vote of a well- Young Communists, assisted by known Stalinist stooge, Keller inist. She has the m ilitia at her production.” our Young Communists, must disposal. Snyder, newly elected to the To what extent “ business as cease once and fo r all. This con­ The capitalist journalist Levy, usual” has been suspended was executive board. duct is certainly not the work of The 500 workers at U. S. of course, has his own axe to made- very clear in an article the leaders of your party or ours, grind. He is interested in white­ written on January 8 by Drew Rubber, who have refused to but the work of youth. Bulgaria pay their fines without first washing Anglo-American impe­ Pearson which made a sensation will remain a.democratic country rialism by painting up the hor­ in Akron. He revealed that for getting a fa ir trial, have been and we will not interfere in her threatened with expulsion rors of Stalinist rule. Actually the next 120 days, precisely dur­ internal affairs. Anglo-American imperialism has ing the period of the so-called from the union, and conse­ “ If certain Communists contin­ quently with being fired by the shown how little concerned it is drive, War Mobilization Director ue their present conduct, we w ill in establishing democracy by its company. Byrnes has extended high pre­ bring them to reason. Bulgaria actions in Greece, Ita ly and Bel­ mium prices on passenger tires, will remain with her democratic gium where it has used armed $1.30 per tire over the OPA the plants to work during the Government and her present or­ force to thwart the democratic price. 120-day campaign. These soldiers, The Minneapolis Labor Case prisoners released this week photographed in the Minneapolis headquarters of the Socialist Workers der and will govern herself in aspirations of the people. the manner that she may decide “ Believe it or not,” Pearson no doubt handpicked, have been Party just before their imprisonment on December 31, 1943. Standing (le ft to right) Farrell Dobbs, Harry DeBoer, Ed Palmquist, .. . .Do not be too optimistic. Bul­ Whether Stalin will succeed in wrote, “ the motorist w ill con­ sent into the plant as a military Clarence Hamel, Emil Hansen, Oscar Coover, Jake Cooper. Sitting (le ft to rig h t): Max Geldman, Felix Morrow, Albert Goldman, garia must bear certain burdens. maintaining capitalism in Bul­ tinue to pay an extra $1.30 assignment. They have not been James P. Cannon, Vincent Dunne, Carl Skoglund and Grace Carlson. Harry DeBoer, Ed Palmquist and Clarence Hamel were among We are not alone. We have Allies garia and in suppressing the despite the fact that profits of released from the army or its the six released last October. Carlos Hudson, one of the twelve released this week, was ill at the time and does not appear in the who insist that Bulgaria assume struggle for Socialism remains to the tire industry for the first six discipline. They have on the con­ picture. certain responsibilities — princi­ be seen. The facts prove, how­ months of last year, before taxes, trary been given to understand ever, that he is doing his utmost that they are being held strictly pally under the influence of your were 784 per cent of the average neighbors.” to carry out the counter-revolu­ profit for 1936-1939. Byrnes how­ accountable fo r their conduct in tionary objectives outlined by the ever, yielded to army friends the plants. PARTISAN YOUTH Allies in their Teheran conspir­ close to the tire industry and A t recent union meetings in 12 Trotskyist Leaders Released Molotov thus promises that acy. Whatever differences the im­ o.k.’d the continued price boost.” Akron union members report that Stalinism will do its best to main­ perialists and their agents may The profits of the Big Four of the soldiers have told them they tain capitalism in Bulgaria de­ have with one another, they are the tire industry for the first six are under instructions not to join spite the wishes of the people. united in one objective: at all months of 1944 was $149,262,970, the CIO, and to put on their His references to the “work of costs to prevent the extension of or 828 percent better than the “ MP” arm bands in case of any After 13 Months Imprisonment youth” are made clear by the the October Revolution of 1917 in 1936-1939 average.' threatened walkout, and to main­ (Continued from page 1) the future of their revolutionary There, amid mounting excitement to disaffiliate with Tobin’s union following extract from Levy’s re­ Europe of 1945. I t was no secret in Washington, tain “order.” party, the Socialist Workers and happiness, they are being and join the CIO. port: “ Tens of thousands of Pearson intimated, that army big Workers understand the pur­ laughter and tears, embraces and Party. . treated to their first real home- Tobin promptly appealed for youngsters, most of whom were pose of sending these soldiers form erly Partisans, have receiv­ shots put the pressure on for kissing, hard, sincere hand­ DEFENDANTS’ STATEMENTS cooked “ spread” since entering aid from the White House. Roos­ their rubber industry friends, to into the plants and are treating clasps. prison 13 months ago. The menu evelt as promptly seized on the ed tommy guns, rifles or revolv­ see to it that profits-as-usual them w ith kid gloves. I f they A ll the released prisoners James P. Cannon, National included roast beef—a treat that long-awaited opportunity and or­ ers and been put in charge of policing the country. Because of were continued for another 120 remain in the plants long enough, showed in their eyes and their Secretary of the Socialist Work­ lighted up the faces of the ex­ dered the Department of Justice the harsh, brutal methods used days. .and, if the workers explain pale skins the effects of their in­ er Party, stated: “We ACS.'glad, prisoners. to tgke “appropriate” action, FBI to be out. The work of the party against them and their families Thus, as fa r as the corporations patiently to them, many of these carceration for defending the in­ Comrades Goldman and Mor raids on the Socialist Workers during the last three years, these are concerned, the drive promises soldiers w ill come out sym­ terests of the working class and in our absence shows that our row proceeded east after a brief Party headquarters in Minnea­ party is based on ideas and can­ youths are embittered and filled to be a_ huge success. The sky’s pathetic to the unions. upholding the principles of revo­ stopover at the Minneapolis sta­ polis and St. Paul followed, and with a strong desire fo r ven­ the lim it fo r these slave-driving But their presence in the plant lutionary socialism. They wore not be halted in its work by the tion to receive the hearty greet­ in October, 28 SWP and Local imprisonment of a few individ­ geance.” profiteers. as a company-sponsored attempt the usual drab, poorly-fitting ings of their Twin Cities well- 544-CIO leaders were brought to uals. This makes our whole ex­ Levy explains that “During the Sherman H. Dalrymple, Presi­ to intimidate workers is a threat suits and heavy shoes that the wishers. Comrades Cannon and trial under the vicious Smith perience well worth a year in period of the Nazi regime. . . dent of the URWA, has signed against the union. government issues to those re­ Dobbs w ill return to New York “ Gag” Act. A fte r a historic prison.” there were from 12,000 to 15,000 the union’s part of the 120-day That they were not sent in to leased from its prisons. City after a day or two stay here. trial, in which the defendants un­ Vincent R. Dunne, National La­ Partisans roaming the Bulgarian agreement, which states that build tires as their primary duty But elation over their freedom These four wdll be the principal compromisingly defended their bor Secretary of the SWP and mountains, resisting the local po­ union members must “ adhere and is made obvious by the fact that and eagerness f o r renewed speakers at the Welcome Home Marxist convictions, 18 were sen­ great fighting leader of the licy and m ilitary authorities, and comply with our pledge to refrain soldiers are being sent into struggle predominated in the ex­ Mass Meeting sponsored by the tenced to prison on December 8, Northwest Teamsters movement, occasionally staging acts of sabo­ from work stoppages during this various departments and even pressions and words of the Trot­ C ivil Rights Defense Committee 1941, the day of the United declared: “ We went to prison as tage to German supply dumps. . . war emergency regardless of the into production of civilian goods. skyist leaders. Their first to be held next week in New York States’ declaration of war. the result of a frameup against The most barbaric and inhuman provocation.” The plan is to spread them thoughts were to address them­ City. This meeting in honor of The Civil Rights Defense Corii- the labor movement. We entered methods were employed against To guarantee that no matter throughout the plant to act as a selves to their party comrades the 12 w ill be addressed also by mittee launched a nation-wide prison w ith the unchangeable the Partisans. Not only were they what the provocation, no worker brake on the workers while the and the workers everywhere, ex­ a number of prominent labor and campaign to reverse the convict- idea that the party not only killed and their bodies le ft lying w ill dare to strike, the army has company pushes its ruthless pressing firm convictions in the civil liberties leaders. I t w ill be tions. Labor and civil liberties Would carry out our great work naked in village or town squares WINFRED LYNN sent several hundred soldiers into wage-cutting and speed-up drive. program of Trotskyism and in held Friday, February 2, 8:15 organizations and leaders assailed for our broad socialist aims, but —to intimidate the population— P.M., at the Hotel Diplomat, 108 the trial and convictions as a that the labor movement would but all their relatives, including West 43rd Street. blow at the rights of free speech women and children, also were also respond to the call of the and press guaranteed in the B ill Civil Rights Defense Committee MASS MEETINGS executed by firin g squads, burned Lynn Case Appeal of Rights of the U. S. Constitu­ alive or hanged to the nearest which defended us so well and The other 8 released Trotsky­ tion. This volume contains Trotsky’s lost writings which ore among the would make a counter-attack on ists w ill be guests of honor at a telegraph pole.” Rejected Again most lucid expositions of Marxist methodology and Bolshevik prin­ reaction stemming from high public Homecoming Banquet in LABOR SUPPORT Levy declares that the Bulgar­ ian people “ are hoping fo r early ciples of orgoniiation. Presenting the Marxist analysis of the Soviet places and carry on its great Minneapolis, to be held Sunday, In the course of the defense work.” January 28, 6:30 P.M., at the La­ campaign over 500 labor organi­ Allied action to establish a demo­ By Supreme Court Union and the reasons for defending it against imperialistic attack, cratic regime.” The masses of Albert Goldman, one of the bor Lyceum, 1800 Olson Memorial zations, representing more than The Supreme Court has for the these articles and letters stand out as o brilliant Marxist polemic Bulgaria, however, have already prisoners and brilliant defense at­ Boulevard. On his way to New 4,500,000 workers, have come to second time refused to take ac­ against the petty-bourgeois revisionists who broke away from the torney in the famous Minneapolis York, Comrade Goldman w ill stop the support of the 18. Despite shown what they want. When the Red Arm y entered their land, tion in the Lynn Case, reports Socialist Workers Party in 1939. 240 pages, cloth $2.00 tria l, stated: “ We are elated at over at Chicago, his home town, this tremendous volume of pro­ they held great welcoming dem­ the Lynn Committee for the Ab­ the support the labor movement where he w ill address a mass test, the U. S. Supreme Court olition of Segregation in the Arm­ onstrations, raising the Red flag by Leon Trotsky has given us and the cause we meeting in honor of the 12 on three times refused even to hear ed Forces. This case has been represent. We are now out and Thursday, January 25, 8 P.M., at an appeal. On December 31,1943, and saluting w ith the clenched fist. The Bulgarian ruling class, nationally recognized as a test ready to continue the struggle in the Ashland Auditorium, Ashland the 18 were sent to prison. In case involving violations of thé observed a capitalist correspond­ the same manner that we con­ Boulevard and Van Buren Street. October 1944, President Roose­ Selective Service Act by 'J im ducted it before we were sent to The Minneapolis Labor Case velt through his pardons board ent, “ were alarmed at the pros­ The companion volume to In Defense of Marxism by Leon Trotsky. pect of Communism. A t one time Crow methods of selection by ra­ prison. With a party strength­ constitutes the outstanding viola­ brushed aside the appeal of m il­ cial quotas. The two books comprise the basic documentation of the struggle on ened during our absence, we shall it looked as if it were only a tion of civil liberties and workers lions and refused even to con­ On May 29, 1944 the Supreme the Russian question against the petty-bourgeois revisionists within continue to educate and organize democratic rights in the Second sider a pardon for the 18. Six of question of a few hours before the Communists took over.” Court ruled that it could not re­ the Socialist Workers Party. How this anti-Marxist combination was the workers.” World War. The tria l and con­ the 18 were released last October view the case on the pretext that The insurrection nevertheless fought and crushed, the idea of Bolshevik discipline and organization, Farrell Dobbs, Editor of The viction of the 18 Trotskyists and on termination of their shorter Winfred Lynn, who had instituted Militant, said: “It is an under­ leaders of the famous Northwest sentences. was halted in its stride by the the Bolshevik method of fighting unprincipled political blocs ore hastily formed puppet govern­ suit for release from the army statement to say I am happy to drivers movement occurred in the Although released, the 18 vic­ at the time of his induction, was described buthoritatively in Cannon's book. 320 poges, cloth $2.00 ment which, with the backing of be back. We all have learned a summer and fa ll of 1941. tims of capitalist class justice are no longer in the custody of his great deal while we were away the Stalin clique in Moscow and by James P. Cannon '. BACKGROUND OF CASE now deprived of their civil rights. aided by the top Bulgarian Stalin­ first commandant at Camp Upton, which w ill be put to good service N. Y. He is now a corporal serv­ The infamous Smith “Gag” Act ist leaders, proceeded to disarm for the party.” This blow against the rights of ing in the South Pacifid. labor and the revolutionary so­ the masses and order them about Felix Morrow, Editor of under which they were imprison­ cialists was delivered by the as its reactionary predecessors The Lynn Committee, with the Fourth International, stated: ed s till stands on the statute books Roosevelt administration as a ma­ had done. The Arm y of occupa­ assistance of Arthur Garfiel^ This history of the origin and development of the Trotskyist move­ “ We know we are coming back jor preparatory step for shackl­ as a continuing threat to the tion intervened when the move­ Hays, noted civil liberties attor­ to a growing party and to ever­ ment furnishes background material for the study of the companion ing the m ilitant labor movement entire labor movement. Organ­ ment of the masses threatened ney, appealed the first refusal to growing opportunities for bring­ volume, The Struggle for a Proletarian Party. and harnessing it to Wall Street’s ized labor w ill have to fight hard­ to topple the capitalist regime. review. I t is this appeal which ing our socialist message to great war program. As leaders of the er than ever for repeal of this The Stalinists set up a class has just been rejected. Cannon analyzes the great depression, the strike waves of the NRA masses. Despite 13 months be­ powerful Minneapolis Teamsters “ dangerous thoughts” law. collaborationist “Fatherland The legal basis for the suit is hind prison walls, we have been period, the fusion of the Trotskyists and the American Workers Party, Local 544 and uncompromising Front” whose representatives the wording of the Selective Serv­ able to follow the life of the la­ the birth of the CIO, the entry of the Trotskyists into the Socialist fighters against capitalist war, take part in the government side ice Act, which states that “ in the bor movement and the party. We Party, the ideological struggle inside the Socialist Party, and the the Trotskyists were regarded by by side with former reactionaries. selection and training of men un­ know that despite all reactionary Twin Cities I “A virtual reign of terror pre­ der this act . . . there shall be no subsequent formation of Socialist Workers Party. 280 p., cloth $2.75 prejudices, the labor movement Big Business and its government as the most serious obstacle w ith­ vails in Bulgaria,” declares Levy; discrimination against any per­ has a great capacity to fight. It by James P. Cannon in the labor movement to Wall l “in which ordinary civil rights son on account of race or color.” is the party’s duty and the party’s Forum | are almost non-existent. Such ele­ Lynn was inducted to fill a “ Ne­ glory to play an increasingly im­ Street’s anti-labor and imperial­ ist designs. EVERY SUNDAY mentary democratic principles as gro quota” in Queens, New York, portant role in that task.” June, 1942. The occasion fo r this frame-up free speech and free press c riti­ Oscar Coover, Minneapolis 3:30 P. M. cism are taboo.” m m SWP organizer, stated: “I am was provided by A F L Teamsters glad to be back among our com­ Czar, Daniel J. Tobin, one of Minneapolis Headquarters STALINIST REGIME LOS ANGELES rades and we are ready to take Roosevelt’s most loyal labor Levy describes how the Stalin­ SOUTH SIDE our places in the ranks again and lackeys. For years, Tobin, had Socialist Workers Party ists control the regime: “In Bul­ been at odds with the Trotskyist carry on the fight.” 10 South 4th Street garia today one finds a govern­ Labor Bookshop leadership of Local 544, whose ment w ithin a government. One is GO TO HEADQUARTERS militant struggles had inspired a Come and Hear visible, the other invisible. To all 8026 SEVILLE AVENUE From the railway station, the tremendous resurgence of the en­ appearances, and especially for SOUTH GATE tire Northwest labor movement. returned comrades were escorted “The News Behind the foreign consumption, Bulgaria is Carries a Full Line of PIONEER to the Minneapolis party head­ In June 1941, Tobin proposed to ruled by a coalition government pususHSRs • m twiVfcimfY pU c ii remove the Local 544 elected Pioneer Publishers Works quarters, fine new headquarters Headlines’’ in which Agrarians, the Zveno, 703-errg|tu3- secured during their absence and leaders. The membership res­ Socialists and Communists are A ll M arxist Classics which they had not seen before. ponded by overwhelmingly voting equally represented. In fa c t,' FOUR TH E MILITANT SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1945 Stalinist Fink Clause In ILW U Contract Sr SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 17—On December 5, 1944, the O f Course, THEY Like It! Stalinist leadership of Local 6, warehousemen’s section of the Auto Militants International Longshoremen and Warehousemen’s Union, CIO, signed a new three-year master contract with the San Francisco Rally to Fight Distributors Association, affecting over 12,000 workers. This By V . G rey contract, widely advertised as another step toward “unity” con­ tains no wage increase for the great m ajority of the workers. No-Strike Pledge “ I don’t care what you say,” Scissorbill Sam (the bosses’ man) Instead, it features Bridges’ notorious permanent no-strike pledge By Jerry Kirk was protesting, “ You’ve got to have executives.” and an even more infamous “ strikebreaker clause.” “ Why of course you have,” said Pop soothingly, “ of course you DETRO IT, Jan. 20. — The have.” The ILW U Dispatcher, as isj> ■ - — — ■ ■ UAW Rank and File Commit­ usual with every Bridges action, “ Well that screwball Slim says things can run by themselves.” hailed the event as a “great step Rankin Speaks on tee here is steadily stepping up “ Nope, ’taint so,” Pop replied, not making it clear whether he forward in industrial relations— its campaign to win a majority meant it wasn’t so that things could run by themselves, or it wasn’t Negro Slavery for scrapping the no-strike a challenge to all sections of In keeping with the reaction­ so that Slim had said they could run by themselves. American labor and capital who ary character of the new Con­ pledge in the CIO United Auto­ Anyway, feeling thus encouraged, Scissorbill Sam got under are giving serious thought to the gress, Democratic Congress­ mobile Workers’ national ref­ way. “ And even if you had your own executives—Slim was talking Post-War World.” This sentiment man Rankin of Mississippi, erendum. about a bunch of two bit bookkeepers—huh!—even so, they’d have wras promptly echoed by the Peo­ Discussion over the referendum greeted it with one of his typ i­ to have someone over them, wouldn’t they? Even Eugene Grace has ples World, West Coast Stalinist bn the no-strike policy is reach­ cal tirades against labor and someone over him, hasn’t he?” sheet, which headlined its article the Negro people. As usual, ing new heights in this heart of “ Who?” said Shorty.- on the contract “ A Model for this Southern Bourbon inter­ the m ilitant auto workers union. Post-War Industrial Peace.” spersed his fascist-like rant- Voting is under way as ballots “The stockholders!” was the triumphant reply. Rank and file warehousemen ings with a pious expression of have been mailed starting Jan­ “ Oh, the thirty-eight million dollar a year boys. Grace is in have not responded to these ex­ his “good-will” toward Ne­ uary 4, to all UAW members, on that gang as well as being president of the corporation. So he alted proclamations, however. groes. including some 400,000 in the must take orders from himself.” What they wanted and did not He boasted thg.t once he had armed forces. “ That’s only accidental.” receive was a 15c per hour raise even .condescended to shake The climax of the referendum “ Pretty happy accident,” Pop chuckled. asked for in the negotiations. The campaign to rescind the pledge hands with an old man who “ I mean incidental,” snapped Scissorbill. wage increase was sold down the w ill be reached this week-end had been one of his grand­ “ Now don’t get excited. What’s your point?” river for this "Post-War Unity.” father’s slaves. “ My people when the powerful Briggs Local “ The point is that these engineers or bookkeepers or whatever According to Richard Lynden, were slave owners,” he brag­ 212 presents a half-hour radio president of Local 6, the union ged, “ but they didn’t enslave program to. urge the auto work­ they are, -won't have anyone to make them toe the line. Who’s going had requested a general wage in­ the Negro, they lifted him ers to vote down the no-strike to call them to order, who’s going to fire them?” crease of 15c per hour; but in the from savagery.” policy. A number of union locals interests of settlement had agreed This is like the lynch gang are implementing the campaign WHO’LL DO ALL THE FIRING? to forego a general increase at who cynically sneered when of the Rank and File committee “Well for that matter, who’s going to fire us under that kind this time. they murdered a Negro, that with leaflets and other literature of a set-up? Things’d come to a pretty pass,” said Pop “if there Rank and file longshoremen too, issued by the locals themselves. they didn’t hang him, they was nobody to fire us.” have begun to wonder if their In addition to its scheduled ra­ “ just lifted him up from earth “ Yes, fo r that matter, when you come rig h t down to it,” said new contract, now up for negotia­ to heaven.” dio bi’oadcast, officers and mem­ tion with the same demand for bers of Local 212 have issued an Scissoi’bill, looking all ai-ound with a challenging look, “ who is a 15c increase, w ill not follow the excellent leaflet entitled, “ Revoke going to?” economic gains or which are not same course. the No-Strike Pledge,” which Then he calmed down and was vei’y patient w ith the fellows. considered valid strikes.” The • The only concessions gained by draws the balance sheet of the “ What you guys don’t understand is that even these big executives, Stalinist-Bridges leadership has the union were a 5c increase only blows against labor since the thus discarded labor’s most pre­ even Eugene Grace himself, has to make out reports fo r the stock­ fo r those women making 70c per pledge was firs t made by the top cious weapon — labor solidarity. holders. And i f they don’t manage the business to show a profit, the hour, vacation pay to be based on union leadex-s on the false prom­ It was only upon such solidarity stockholders give them the air.” a 48 instead of a 40 hour week, ises of Roosevelt to institute that the ILW U was able to sur-. and a 5 day sick leave clause. “equality of sacrifice.” This leaf­ “ That doesn’t sound too bad,” said Shorty. “ A t least i t ’s vive. Even the 5c increase, granted let has been widely cii’culated systematic, if it really works that way. But what I’d like to know The 1934 San Francisco general only for the lowest scale of pay throughout the Detroit east side is this—if it really is the executives that make the business show strike, the tenth anniversary of fo r women, lias not been O.K’d and has met a heartening re­ a profit, and if the stockholders really do fire them if they fail, how which Bridges so loudly eulogized hut is subject to approval by the sponse from the auto workers. come the stockholders get thirty eight million dollars a year just a few months ago, threw the WLB. Reprinted from “ LABOR” The Rank and File Committee for firing people? Why Crabapple Jennings, over to the main gate, whole power of the labor move­ has mailed out thousands of cop­ ment behind the fight of the does all the hiring and firing for this whole plant, and he makes STRIKE-BREAKER CLAUSE ies of its program, described pre­ ILWU to organize and win a liv ­ hardly any more than I do.” For these piddling concessions, viously in The M ilitant, to local ing wage. Now Bridges cynically “ I t ’s their plant, don’t you understand?” shouted Scissorbill. the union signed a three year no­ officers, committeemen and active throws overboard this weapon to “ They own it—that’s why they get so much. . . You’d get it too,” strike pledge binding the union militants throughout Detroit and not to strike either during the war which the ILWU owes its very Murray Seeks To Avert he said grudgingly, “ if you owned it.” Michigan. All reports indicate existence. or after. But even this was not that this program is making “ Yeah, I ’ll buy you a drink when I own it. But that isn’t the That the Stalinist - Bridges enough for the Stalinist sellout strong headway. The Rank and point. You were tryin ’ to tell us why you have to have the owners. clique mean to follow this path artists. Something new has been File Committee is becoming rec­ Sure they are the owners right now. But suppose all of us here, added — a STRIKE-BREAKER of betrayal has been demon­ Auto No-Strike Defeat ognized as the only group w ill­ including Scissorbill and all the other working people, was to be strated by the Montgomery-Ward CLAUSE. (Continued from page 1) the cost-of-living has gone up, ery placed in these factories at ing and able to lead the struggle the owners. — Suppose we were just as extravagant as the present strike. Though Montgomery-Ward The clause binds the union to culated by members of Chicago’s since January, 1941, by more than government expense. Raw mater­ fo r progressive policies in the incumbents and paid our stooges a half a million or so a year just an agreement “that it ■will not has flagrantly defied the demand huge Chrysler-Dodge Local 274. 45 per cent, according to the fig­ ials guaranteed to them by a UAW. of the workers for a well-earned like they’re doin’ now—we’d still save the th irty eight million support strikes and picket lines Summing up the “ balance ures of our own International hundred government agencies. An Confronting the auto militants wage increase; though Mont­ profits, which isn’t peanuts. But according to Scissorbill, we wouldn’t by unions not party to this agree­ sheet” of the no-strike policy, the President R. J. Thomas. The: ample supply of labor guaranteed is a united front of reaction, with gomery-Ward has defied the un­ have sense enough to fire these half a million dollar babies if they ment unless such union’s rig h t to leaflet shows: “ LABOR SACRI­ right to collective bargaining — to them by the government, with the three boss-controlled dailies ion, government and WLB (giving acted up.” organize peacefully has been in­ FICED: The right to strike, because all demands and griev­ jobs frozen and wages frozen and here shrieking editorially against terfered with by the employers, even the Stalinists no legal that is, the right to its most pow­ ances went to the War Labor strikes frozen and grievances the rank and file. The corpoi’ation “ I didn’t say that. But who would you have over tixem to do or unless it has been denied the loophole to slip through); though erful weapon in the fight against Board, which denies our demands frozen. daily pi’ess published large ads the firing? A couple thousand jerks like you couldn’t just walk up peaceful means of its dispute.” In every other CIO union has come the big monopolists who are AL­ and ignores our grievances, or “Juicy cost-plus contracts, with furnished by the Stalinist-led in a body and do it.” out in support of the workers, other words, the Stalinist-Bridges WAYS working to lower oilr liv­ else buries them in its vaults for profits guaranteed by the govern­ Committee to Retain the No- “ I f a couple thousand jerks like- me walked up to Eugene Grace Bridges has bluntly ordered the months and years. ment. A War Labor Board, set clique has gone so far as to refuse ing standards and crush .our or­ Sti-ike Pledge, which appears lush in a body, it ’d be lots of fun” mused Shorty. “ Here comes Slim. Hey, aid to a brother union UNLESS ILWU; warehousemen working ganizations. The right to fight “LABOR GAINED: Nothing!” up by the government, which with funds that the auto workers Slim, i f you get this here Socialism, who’s going to make these that union has gone through ev­ for Montgomery-Ward to stay on for higher wages—because wages What is the no-strike “ balance looks carefully and tenderly after themselves certainly have not organizers of industry, the bookkeepers and all that, toe the line? ery phase of mediation, concilia­ the job and handle “ hot goods” were frozen. The right to look sheet” fo r t h e employers? their interests. The highest sal­ provided. from the strike - bound plants. “INDUSTRY SACRIFICED: Scissorbill was tellin’ us they wouldn’t have anybody to prod them.” tion and arbitration demanded for or get another job or a better aries in history for corporation The stronghold of this anti­ “ You mean there wouldn’t be anyone over them w ith a whip, by the Stalinists. Bridges is determined to carry job — because jobs were frozen Nothing! Nothing except their executives, with NO ‘$25,000 lim ­ strike committee is the official­ like the foreman over us?” This finky stand has been fol­ out his strikebreaking agreements and we could move from place to comical pledge not to lock out itation’ as was promised. The cor­ dom of the Stalinist-dominated lowed in both words and action. with the bosses to the letter. place ONLY by the permission of labor at a time when a lock-out porations moan and weep about Foi’d Local 600. However, Rank The daily press of December 5 Thinking workers can only the employer. The rig h t to have meant suicide for them. INDU­ the ‘high taxes.’ What are the and File leaders pi’edict that the HOW WE LL MANAGE SOCIALIZED INDUSTRY carried the statement of President draw the following conclusion. our wages go up as the cost-of- STRY GAINED: Land bought for facts? Let us quote just two Local 600 ranks will turn out a “ Yeah, I was just coming to that. I was figuring we could save Richard Lynden that “ the union The Stalinist-Bridges clique will living went up — because our them at government expense. Fac­ simple ones from the statement huge vote against the no-strike a lot of money just to give some guy three or four thousand bucks will not support strikes of other stop at nothing in their uncondi­ wages were frozen by the 15 per tories erected on this land by CIO President Philip Murray, pledge. a year and give him a bull whip. And the only thing he’d ever have unions which are called solely for tional surrender to the bosses. cent ‘L ittle Steel Formula’ while at government expense. Machin- and remember them well: ‘Cor­ porate profits for 1944, AFTER to do would be crack somebody with it when they got out of line. TAXES, increased 198 per cent That would save us thirty seven million, nine hundred ninety six over the 1936-1939 peacetime era. Roosevelt Breaks thousand dollars. Right?” Longshoremen Given Wage Run-Around Corporate profits for the same “ Right,” said Slim solemnly. “ But I ’m afraid we’d have to year, before taxes, show an in­ spend a little more of our thirty eight millioix than that. In the crease oVer the peacetime era of Cleveland Strike first place there’d be hell of a lot more than th irty eight million As Bridges Hobnobs With Shipowners 449 per cent’.” anyway, but say there was only that much more produced than» the By Robert Chester issue of The Dispatcher fi’ont- “ steady gang” reporting each “ BOYS IN THE FOXHOLES” By “Seizure” wages we’re getting rig h t now, we couldn’t add all of that onto paged a picture of Mayor Roger day to the hiring hall, whether Indignantly, the Dodge work­ (Continued from page 1) our wages. We’d have to spend a little making this place a little SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 17 Lapham, former American work is available or not. (The ers ask, “ What about the boys in more decent to work in. We’d get the new wheel on that number — Rank and file longshoremen Hawaiian Steamship Co. magnate “ shape-up” practiced before 1934 termination of the contract on two crane rig ht away, for instance, instead of w aiting fo r the in- the foxholes? Who shouts the January 31. of Local 10. International Long­ and President Frank Foisie of the was the vicious means used by sux-ance company to make us do it, after somebody got killed. • loudest about this? The corpora­ Last October 7, the local had shoremen’s Union, CIO are rest­ Employers Association together the employer to practice favor­ “As for the guy with the whip. Well, that’s getting by pretty tions chiefs, their spokesmen and voted for a strike and established less these days. After three with Bridges and Goldblatt of the itism, blacklisting and other tools, their paid editors and cheap for us. But it’s too much like Capitalism for my taste. We ILW U “ heisting a couple” methods of creating antagonism a deadline for October 22. The. years of waiting, a wage raise scribblers. Their nerve is almost want to produce more than we do today. We’ve got to have a more among the men). WLB then agreed to consider the seems as far away as ev er. Re­ Behind the beaming faces of as colossal as the profits they are efficient system that won’t break down in depressions and bust out (6)—A ruling which would pre­ union’s wage appeal and the cent hearings before a special the employers lies a cold calculat­ making. They want to teach US strike committee of 100 declared into wars. You can’t bring that about with a whip,” ing- purpose. They seek nothing vent a longshoi’eman, discharged W LB panel have not brought it patriotism! They are the same the walkout “ postponed.” “You mean the capitalists will let us walk in like cows going less than a return to pre-1934 by the employer “ for cause” from any closer. Meanwhile condi­ people who would not convert to to clover?” queried Shox-ty. conditions when they ruled the being dispatched fi'om the hall A slanderous . strikebreaking tions on the job, won in the war production, who would not barrage from the capitalist press, waterfront with a high hand until his case is heal’d and decided “Oh that’s something else again. I’m talking about how we’re produce a single airplane, tank, corporations, city and state offi­ great strikes of 1934-1937, are without “interference” of any upon. (Another form of black­ going to woi-k things—how we’re going to xxxake production go.” cannon, rifle or bullet /fo r the cials and leading clergymen erupt­ being given up without a strug­ union. A t the hearings they made list— nothing else!). “ We could elect an industrial commission, sort of inspectors on ‘boys in the foxholes’ until the ed against the strikers, even be­ gle. demands calculated to undermine Other ejnployer demands in­ a nation-wide scale. Only instead of holding a rule or a pair of government guaranteed them fore the issues of the strike be­ Longshoremen have not re­ clude a reduction in the size of mikes on the margin of a piece of sheet metal, they would have to the union and prepare the basis their heavy blood-profits. came known. The demand went gangs from 16 to 8 men (the em­ ceived a wage increase since 1941. to smash it w'hen they considered “ Who are the ‘boys in the fox­ up from all reactionary quarters measure up the total production of the whole country. I f the steel ployer hiring only as many men Polite requests by the Stalinist- the time ripe. The following are holes?’ They are OUR sons, for drafting deferred strikers plants weren’t up to specifications with the auto plants, the guys some of their demands. over the number of 8 as he feels Bridges leadership for a 15c per brothers, Our sweethearts or hus­ immediately into the army. After who were ox-ganizing the output of steel would be told about it.” (1) —A “neutral” chief dis­necessary); 30 days suspension of bands, Our fathers. We are a hour increase, made in 1942 and the strike was broken. Governor “ Thex’e you are,” said Scissorbill. “ These super-inspectors of patcher in the longshoremens h ir­ any worker convicted of work m illion times more concerned Lausche continued to demand yours wrould eat up your th irty eight million. You’d have to give 1943, were summarily rejected by stoppage, insubordination, or ing hall to be appointed by the with them than the ice-hearted such draft reprisals. them a damned high wage.” the bosses. Finally on August 7, slowdown; dropping him from Labor Relations Committee or an corporations who squeeze a bru­ A t the very outbreak of the “ I don’t know about that—” Slim started to reply. 1944, the union, under pressure of BRIDGES the hiring lists if the offense is tal profit out of everything those arbiter, in case the committee can strike, the. War Labor Boai-d is­ “ Now don’t tell me they’d work fo r the kind of money you do.” the rank and file, reopened its repeated. boys wear and everything they not agree. (One of the main sued a back-to-work ultimatum. “ Well, the capitalists get their Congressmen to work for ten contract with the Waterfront gains of 1934 was the establish­ These demands were made on use. We are so concerned with There were no repeated “ last journment of the final session, thousand a year. Thirty eight million dollars would buy th irty eight Employers Association for the ment of union control of hiring- the pretext of increasing efficien­ them that: We do not want them warnings” as in the case of the panel chairman Arthur S. Meyers purpose of obtaining, in addition under a fa ir rotating system cy. Gregory Harrison, attorney td come back to open shop condi­ powerful employer Avery. Roos­ hundred Congressmen for a year. It ought to buy the services of commented: “ 1 have never had to a wage increase, “ vacations that guaranteed equal distribu­ for the employers charged that tions . . . to low-paid jobs and evelt’s "seizure” order came in three or four production experts for the steel industry. I f it doesn’t, the pleasure of listening to two w ith pay, sick leave, increased “ since 1934 efficiency of Long­ back-breaking hours . . . to smash­ direct response to a personal ap­ we’ll train our own experts—send them to a college for expert better prepared cases than the tion of jobs to all members. In­ rates fo r handling explosive and troduction of a “neutral” chief shore work on this coast has ed or paralyzed unions. When peal from the power company of­ planners on the understanding that they’d have to work for a cases of the union and the em­ damaged cargo, and a guaranteed dispatcher is step number one to steadily pursued a downward we fight to make our union strong ficials. measly ten thousand a year when they come out.” ployers and I have no doubt that 36 hour work week.” The em­ break union control of hiring). course . . . and we are convinced and effective, we are also fighting Joining the reactionary pack ployers not only refused to grant I echo the opinion of my fellow that we have the poorest effi­ for THEM!’*' (2) —A “decentralized” hii-ing howling for punishment of the any of these demands but coun­ panel members.” ciency record in the world.” The That is the fighting auto hall. (This demand which was striking workers, the Stalinist DETROIT tered with demands of their own. Meyers should know. “ He is,” facts prove otherwise. Bridges, workers answer to the spread-' presented on the pretext of sav­ leadership of the Cleveland CIO After religiously following the admiringly comments the ILW U in his “everything for the war eagle and corporation-inspired ing travelling time would further issued a vicious strike-breaking procedure outlined by the govern­ Dispatcher, “ an experienced effort” policy has voluntai’ily in­ anti-strike propaganda of the public statement. CIO President weaken centralized control of job ment agencies, going through 12 mediator who has served as chair­ troduced speedup measures Murrays. Philip Murray intervened, threat­ Smorgasbord Dinner distribution by the union). steps of negotiation, conciliation, man in such famous cases as . . . Bridges has lost contact with ening an "investigation” of those (3) —“Preferred gangs” to and ai'bitration (in the i-ecord the dispute between the four the ranks of the union. He is “ l’esponsible” fo r the strike. work steady fo r an employer Buy THE MILITANT Saturday, February 3 tim e of four months), the case companies comprising ‘Little more at home with the union- The government promptly without going through the union came before a special three man Steel’ and the Steel Woi-kers Or­ hating shipowners, Foisie and IN CHICAGO initiated a campaign of reprisal hall. Movies - Dancing - Entertainment .WLB panel. ganizing Committee in 1942.” Lapham, than with the working at by reclassifying the alleged The panel held its hearings in (This dispute ended with the im­ (4) —An increase in slinglongshoremen who are beginning THE SOCIALIST WORKERS’ leader of the strike, Victor Stem- 3513 WOODWARD AVENUE - Room 21 - 7 P. M. the swanky M ills Tower. Ten position of the L ittle Steel For­ loads. (Instituting s p e e d-up i to ask embarrassing questions. BOOKSHOP berger, to 1 A. Stemberger was with a consequent relaxation of Auspices: SWP • Subscription $1 days of testimony were concluded mula upon American labor.) To He is more and more becoming 160 N. WELLS STREET the union steward who had re­ With a dinner for the panel jointly s till further assure the expectant safety conditions). the open and cynical agent of the fused to accept the company sponsored by the union and the rank and file that all was well in (5) —A return to the “ shape-bosses. His days of militant ac­ Tel. Dea. 7562 order to be shifted where he could Jraterfront employers. Before ad- the “ unity” camp, the Dec. 29 up” with every man not in a tion have long since disappeared. not fu lfill his union duties. SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1945 T H E MILITANT FIVE

•'LABOR WITH A WHITE SKIN CAN­ NOT EMANCIPATE ITSELF WHERE Churchill Blames His Greek Victims The LABOR WITH A BLACK SKIN 18 BRANDED” — KARL MARX. (Continued from page 1)

the advantage of being equally “Hunger With Dignity” in Italy Negro Struggle hated in Russia.” W ith these words, Churchill gave a vote of confidence to Stalin as one of the By Charles Jackson...... initiates in the fraternity of coun­ By Theodore Kovalesky ter-revolution sworn to suppress Get Into the Union Struggle the struggle for socialism. DIARY' OP A STEELWORKER ...... - What Churchill means by “ Trot­ The newspapers have carried a tiny note informing the public One of the things that rightly, away in the ice house, brother, so skyism” is revealed by a news that “ Benjamin Grimes, beloved husband of Eliza” etc. is no longer gripes active Negro unionists and why should I join an organiza­ flash from Greece, published in among the living, the local has sent flowers, and Johnny Crummit progressive white unionists is the tion that doesn’t always practice the London Evening Neil's three has taken over the keeper’s job that old Ben used to have. Every fact that there still remain in what it preaches. days before the war began, that now and then one of the fellows w ill say something about Ben, but many plants hundreds of Negro .Now obviously even the most the two thousand textile workers even that will die out soon. He’s just one more worker whose workers who refuse to join the progressive unions are not per­ of a well known thread-spinning tired-out body has been laid to rest in a peaceful grave. local union or, just as bad, they fect. They still reflect reaction­ m ill in Greece had taken posses­ Old Ben came out of the deep south a quarter of a century ago, sign up and then let themselves ary tendencies of today’s society. sion of the factory and appointed a tall, hungry-looking man of th irty with big, powerful hands, lapse out of good standing by Some of the best unions have a “ management committee.” The non-payment of dues been guilty of the faults men­ appearance of management com­ calloused from the plough. Life had been hard there. Daily he had Offhand, such a situation tioned above and many more. mittees indicates an advanced struggled to bring forth good live crops from his stale patch of would seem almost unexplainable We’re not asking for a whitewash stage of working class revolution. earth. The sun beat upon his head, and the Jim Crow system pressed in view of the fact that the grow­ job even on the organizations of Such committees mean that the down upon his spirit, and he felt himself trapped. ing force of the trade union the working class in which we former capitalist management has I t was a happy day fo r Ben movement, especially the CIO, has place all confidence. either decamped or been dispos­ when the white stranger came to sessed because of its sabotage of been more responsible than any But ijt is fo r the very reason his door and said, “ Boy, how’d you production. If such anti-capital­ other factor fo r the relative gains that the union movement still has like to go north and make a lot of ist actions were threatened on a made by Negro woi-kers in recent its shortcomings that every Negro money working in a steel m ill? ” years. wide scale, small wonder Church­ worker should be an active mem- ill rushed troops to Greece. Ben felt the trap open. He thought For black workers to turn their mer. I f every union official and backs on certain locals of the Churchill's red-baiting against he saw a new life for himself and union policy were perfect it A F L which set up “ auxiliary” Trotskyism flows from a coldly his family, a life that would not wouldn’t be so necessary to be a calculated attempt to lay down be so hard and barren. (polite name for Jim Crow) sec­ union member as it is now. The the ideological line for the Al­ So Ben went north in 1919 as tions is not only understandable Negro worker should — and must but it is exactly as it should be. lied conspiracy to crush the ris­ a scab and a strikebreaker. He — go into his union, pay his dues, ing working class movement of Under such conditions they have attend the meetings, fight any didn’t know that there was a great no voice and no vote and they Europe. “ We are toiling through strike throughout the nation’s steel suggestion of compromise on the a mighty maze,” declared Church­ are thereby not even given the plants. He didn’t know that the race issue, organize caucuses to ill, "but I can assure the House chance to put up a fight to change oust any reactionary officials, steelworkers had put up too long the reactionary policies of such it is not without plan.” This plan and fight relentlessly to make the with intolerable grievances, and a local. But what we are kicking was laid down at the Teheran union strong and to keep the un­ that finally they had borne all they about applies to unions which conference where Churchill, Roos­ NEWS ITEM : “ Widespread hanger is being borne with great dignity” by the Italian people, ion strong. could and had banded together to take the Negro brothers in on an evelt and Stalin not only carved The union is the official econ­ says Herbert Matthews, N. Y. Times, Jan. 18. equal basis, such as, for exam­ up Europe into spheres of influ­ fight with doomed courage for a halfway decent life. He knew nothing omic organization of the working ple, the UAW-CIO, where a re­ ence, blit agreed to hut down so­ of this. A ll he knew was that he whs going to the fabulous north class. Bad or useless as you the Greek workers as brigands, facts about his traduced oppo- nism used to be pretty strong in lentless battle has been waged cialist revolution wherever it to make a lot of money. may think your union is, yet might arise. Churchill is now en­ murderers, inhuman monsters. nents. But we are sure that the Greece years ago. Its spokesmen, for years against job discrimina­ The train took Ben and his fellow passengers right into the there is no other battlefield on Churchill is deliberately trying to Greek Trotskyists march in the who labelled themselves curiously tion. gaged in executing and defending plant, and almost the minute it stopped he was put to work on which you may fight, that is, this counter-revolutionary scheme shift the “ blame” for bloodshed front ranks of the. struggle as ‘Archivo-Marxists,’ gave many There are hundreds of Negro there is no other working class plotted at Teheran. onto the shoulders of his victims. against foreign imperialism and headaches to the leaders of the blast furnace. A white boss with a sneering, scornful face showed workers today who have the grouping today that has such a To insinuate that the EAM fo l­ its native agents. Communist International in Mos­ him what to do and complained in passing about the “ damned chance to join a UAW-CIO union Churchill made it clear that vast mass basis. To remain out lows the banner of Trotsky­ The January Socialist Appeal, cow. Under the Metaxas regime Bolsheviks” who had stirred up trouble in the plant and made it and are passing it up. It is spe­ British troops were sent into of the union just because there ism is a lie. The EAM is organ of the British Tf^tskyists, the ‘Archivo-M-arxists’ were wiped necessary fo r the foreman to do a pile of extra work trying to teach cifically these Rip Van Winkles Greece with fu ll approval of are some reactionary elements in headed by Stalinists, who, as reports that in some provincial out by police repression; and it a bunch of ignoramuses how to work on the furnaces without killing that we would like' to take a Roosevelt and Stalin. In a previ­ there is to turn your back on the Churchill himself points out, aré editions of the capitalist press seems somewhat doubtful wheth­ themselves and everybody else. Ben didn’t know about any of these crack at this week and see if we ous speech he indicated that he struggle. Then you are just as made an error in not including "not always free from the danger a story appeared that of "three er the same movement has now things, but he thought it was a pity fo r anyone to be stirring up can awaken them from their valueless to the progressive fo r­ contingent of American troops of being discredited,” but who prisoners interviewed by British been able to reemerge and to trouble in a world that was troubled enough anyhow. costly snooze. We say costly be­ ces as a deserter who has sur­ among the invading forces. Un­ nevertheless have done their ut­ journalists” in Greece “ two stated sway the Greek guerrillas. cause it is not only these negli­ The very first day, Ben saw he had been mistaken. Here too, rendered to the enemy. doubtedly he w ill be more careful most to hold back the Greek mass­ that they were Social Democrats, “ But it is quite possible that gent workers but the Negro peo­ life would be hard. He worked until he almost dropped from ex­ on this score in future operations. es from revolutionary action. and one that he was a member of some such unorthodox Commun­ ple as a whole who w ill have to On the other hand, if you get haustion and then worked some more. He sweated until his clothing More important, however, in div­ We do not know the truth about the Fourth International.” ist tendency may have established pay the price for this bull-headed 1 in there and fight for less work­ was drenched. It wasn’t the good, clean sweat boiled out of his body erting blame from British imperi­ internal political relations in The Socialist Appeal likewise itself among the ‘men of the attitude. j ing hours for all instead of mass mountains’ firm ly enough to op­ by the southern sun, but an unhealthy kind of sweat that was strange layoffs, for production for use alism is his construction of a Greece. Churchill’s censorship, quotes the August 5 Economist, However it is not so much con scapegoat called “ Trotskyism.” his gagging of the press, prevent pose the Lebanon Agreement and to him and made him feel sick. A fter a long time the boss came up demnation as explanation that’s! instead of for profit, and for an economic organ of British Big That is why Churchill pictured us from knowing the complete Business: “ Recalcitrant Cornmu- to reject any conciliation with to him and told -him he could go and sleep for a spell. Ben dragged so badly needed. In fact, the lines Independent Labor Party in the the dynasty. I f so then the Rus­ himself to the box car where there was a bunk for him and went that these Negro non-unionists political arena and if, through sian military mission in Greece miserably to sleep. He never forgot those first days. come up with prove that they are y°ur help, we win some of these w ill be confronted w ith a task Before long the strike was over, and w ith it went a large portion looking at the whole matter in fights, then some light will be which may be as much political Roosevelt, Brass Hats Press jo f the hopes and dreams that Ben had held concerning the north. a short-sighted manner and are thrown up that dark alley that as m ilitary. The Mission has blind to the more basic issues y°u say i*es ar°und the corner. come to Greece with an increased Angry, bitter white men came back into the plant, taking the jobs “ Why pay six bucks to join! Now back to discrimination, For Speed On Forced Labor moral and political prestige de­ that Ben and his new friends had held, calling the newcomers names, the union? 1 was only hired in How do you think a white union- rived from the victories of Rus­ refusing to have anything .to.do with them. Only the dirtiest, lowest (Continued from page 1) prompt action now is much more r savage penalties and Unions here because there was no one ist who is putting up a fight fo r sian armies. This w ill probably paying werk was le ft tc the Negroes. For a long time there was hard important in the war effort than | wrecking provisions as petty else to take the job.” “ Why keep Negro equality feels (and there strengthen its hands in laying feeling. ton’s psychological warfare,” the the perfecting of details.” Among I “ details” and demands that a up the buck a month dues when are plenty) when Negroes them- the ‘Trotskyist’ ghost in the Epi­ magazine Business Week re­ the “ details” which Roosevelt forced labor b ill be adopted rus.” I know darn well that as soon as selves fail to fight with him by marks: “ Responsible officials considers so unimportant is one forthwith. What Ben Came to Learn— and to Do the company can get along with- not joining the union or by not There is substance in Church­ discount—but do not deplore— providing that anyone who leaves W ith the exception of the In spite of the low wages (he recalled the “ big money” the out me I ’ll be kicked out in the keeping up their dues? Further- ill’s fears about the establishment such rumors. They regard them a job “without permission” shall strikebreaking Stalinists, all sec­ stranger had told him about) Ben managed to send for his wife and' street? Even though the union more, many white workers who of Trotskyism in Greece, for Trot­ ‘salutary speculation’ . which be “subject on conviction to the tions of the labor movement are fam ily and to install them in a rented house in the Negro steel­ means well, I ’ll be the first to have been falsely indoctrinated can be expected to hasten the skyism is the program of revolu­ penalties provided by the Selec- 0n record against driving the workers’ section, where he became part of the community, no longer - go even according to their rules w ill lose their prejudices and join transfer of workers from civilian tionary socialism. If the people tive Service Act, which run to workers to forced labor fo r the Of Greece were permitted to ex­ feeling out of place in a strange land. In fact, the land was quite because I have less seniority.” in our fight when they see black to war industry and to create in SIO.OOO in fines and five years’ benefit of the profit - hungry ercise their democratic right to Or, “ the union claims, on paper, workers in their same union put- the civilian mind a general recep­ imprisonment” or both. This is like the south. True, there were no lynchings, but there was Jim bosses. The union bureaucrats choose their own form of govern­ to be against all forms of dis- \ ting up a battle to keep that un­ tivity to any further restrictions just a minor “detail” to labor’s Crow all the same. In slack times Ben found that the colored work­ have so fa r confined their opposi­ ment, they would undoubtedly crimination but I can point out ion strong and to gain economic which may be necessary.” No “friend” in the White House. tion to purely verbal objections ers were the first to be laid off, the last taken back. He saw young a dozen cases around this man’s concessions * fo r all the workers wonder Roosevelt and his hench­ proceed to set up a workers’ re­ white workers advanced ahead of him even though he knew the work' Committee members said, “ they voiced by the top leaders. No public and organize socialism as town where Negroes have been in that plant, men decided that further open would apply corresponding prov­ serious attempt is being made to better than they, and in many cases, taught them all that they did discriminated against either in I don’t care what you think of hearings on a slave labor act the only way out of imperialist isions to those who are directed by mobilize the many - millioned war and capitalist chaqs. know about furnaces. Ben finally woi-ked up to a job as keeper, but hiring or in upgrading. Certain a guy. If he is active in a fight might prove embarrassing! their local boards to take essen­ ranks of organized labor against that was as fa r as he could go, and he knew it. union officials, including Negro that helps you, nine times out of The arguments advanced by tia l jobs and fa il to do so.” For the conspiracy to railroad a slave Still, in spite of the discrimination that he found in every phase union officials, have been called ten you w ill cast aside all previ- Roosevelt in support of a national quitting a job, or failing to take labor b ill through Congress. Buy "The Militant" of life, Ben came to realize that all white men were not the same. in and what have they done about ous intolerances and inhibitions service law were riddled to pieces. a job when directed to do so, a The union militants must take IN MILWAUKEE B it by bit he caine to know some of us and to like us as’ we like«} it? They have carefully and and get active id the fight that Testimony before tlfc House the lead in making the voice of worker can be fined $10,000 or liim, as workers like each other when they work together day in and quietly stashed those grievances | helps him. Military A ffairs Committee sent to ja il fo r five years, under labor heard in unalterable opposi­ at the newsstand on the north­ day out, laughing together, struggling together on tough jobs. I proved that there was neither a the provisions Of the May-Bailey tion to any and all forms of west corner of Wisconsin Ave. munitions” nor a “manpower bill. There is another provision forced labor. on Third St. think he was even beginning to understand the whole problem—how imtU-i'A'JOVQQtOpV» shortage. The champions of slave prohibiting unions from enforcing children are trained in ideas of racial superiority by the ruling class labor were compelled to fa ll back closed shop contracts. S till an­ of a nation so that the working class w ill be split up and unable to on their only remaining argu­ other would bring strikers within fight against the real enemy, the capitalists, how race baiting is HOW TROTSKYISM TRANSFORMS ment: “The brass hats want it, the provisions of the measure. But used by the companies as a union-busting weapon. He knew the and if they want it who are we Roosevelt brushes aside these 10 Years Ago difference all right between Girdler or Grace and the white steel­ to say no?” worker. MILITANTS INTO BOLSHEVIKS In answering the contention When the SWOC started organizing the plant, old Ben was ... that “ workers can produce better We were all for that kind of | 1 think the political education strong union man from the start. When they called us reds he under a voluntary program,” a Roosevelt Rejects Americanization, that is, adapts- which we conducted on the Bud- In The Militant recalled what they had told him in 1919 about the Bolsheviks. Above epresentative of the Chief of tion of our propaganda technique enz question in that period, was all, I guess he remembered how he had been barred from advance­ a model in our movement. The Staff replied “ The present AFL-CIO Demand JANUARY 26, 1935 to the country. That is good system is itself coercive, but it is ment. The CIO stood for racial equality and better conditions for results of it were shown when Leninism too. But Budenz very not impartial. All this (May- SACRAMENTO—Fighting for the freedom of the 18 Agricultural all workers, and Ben was all for the CIO. Budenz later drew the logical quickly showed that by Ameri­ Bailey) bill asks is a legalization and Cannery Workers Union leaders, framed up on charges of But now that’s all past, and Ben’s in his grave, and Ben’s CIO conclusions from his philistine To Raise Wages canism he meant a crude version of what now is being done ad “ Criminal Syndicalism,” a united front defense committee held local has sent a wreath, and pretty soon everybody w ill forget all “Americanization” program and (Continued from page 1) of jingoism. He came to the ministratively, but more univer­ its first meeting on January 19. The first act of the committee about him. Only, this is important to me. We weren’t great friends. National Committee of our party sold out to the Stalinists who at sally and hence in a more demo­ is to .be sent through Roosevelt’s was to draft a call fo r a conference of all unions and other We knew and liked each other, as I ’ve said. What’s important ik w ith a proposal that our whole that time were waving the Star cratic way.” It is true that Roose­ wage-freezing machinery once labor organizations, scheduled fo r February 10. this: this isn’t just tfie life of old Ben Grimes, old at fifty-six years program should be an amend­ Spangled Banner with both velt has frozen workers to their again. The call was signed by the Workers Party, the Non-Partisan of age. This is the life of thousands, of millions of Negroes, dis­ ment to the Constitution; that hands. He had expected to split jobs at frozen wages by execu­ The Vinson order, declared our revolutionary program be the party and carry with him all Labor Defense, the Socialist Party, the American Civil Liberties criminated against from birth to death, given the hardest and worst- tive decree. The ai'gument is ad­ Murray, “has got the War Labor whittled down to one parliamen­ these experienced and valuable Union, Charles Gordon of the Stalinist-controlled International paying jobs, denied opportunities, worked and worn out. vanced that if the present system Board definitely stymied. It has tary project. It was a terribly militants in the field. He counted of coercion is made “ universal” it Labor Defense, and the Communist Party. “ W ill this united If only I had the opportunity, I’d like to talk to every white without his host. He underesti­ placed the Board in the category fro n t last until the case is closed?” asked The M ilitant worker in the country and show him what his colored brothers have capitulatory, a philistine program would thereby • become “ demo­ of a second-rate panel, unable to of the crudest kind. mated what had been accomplish cratic.” editorially. ‘T his we cannot guarantee since it involves more to put up with. I ’d like to show him what causes Jim Crow and how ed in the preceding patient discus- move until and unless another Budenz tried to make some To the mind of a brass hat, than our party. Our position is clear. . . We are pledged to carry it breaks up the unity of the working class and harms the white sion and cooperation in common agency first nods its head.” Why trouble in the ranks, hoping to universal coercion and repression (the defense) out honestly not only for the sake of one defendant workers almost as much as it hurts the Negroes. I f I could do work. A t the showdown Budenz then does Murray lend CIO pres­ exploit ignorance and prejudice equals “ democracy.” Therefore, tige to an agency which has no who shares our views, not only for the sake of the other that, we’d be a lot nearer the solution of all our problems. found himself isolated and went There we had to be very careful they consider the system of Prus­ power to decide a wage dispute, seventeen defendants, but for the sake of the working class— over to the Stalinists virtually about repercussions, because he sianizing American life under the but can only function as an anti­ the real defendant at Sacramento.” alone. had been a field worker and was domination of a m ilitary caste as labor body? PITTSBURGH—In the American Federation of Labor, there was BUFFALO known to the workers in the field, The field workers remained the most “democratic” form of The answer is that Murray has growing unrest, as the need for industrial unionism was felt in The word had been assiduously loyal to the party, and were grad government. In plain language, no intention of conducting a seri­ mass industries. Symptomatic of the ferment was an unofficial spread that the Trotskyists were ually transforming themselves wh&t Roosevelt and his brass hats Charles Jackson ous struggle against the wage- rank-and-file convention called by militant unionists, to be theses sharks and hairsplitters, from militant mass field workers are demanding is the “ legal” freeze. Such a struggle must he Writer of THE MILITANT column who understood nothing of the into genuine Bolsheviks. That establishment of a military dic­ directed first and foremost opened in Pittsburgh on February 3. Many of the major AFL realities of the mass movement, takes time. Nobody is born tatorship. And they want to put against the “ chief executive” unions were to be represented, with the Amalgamated Associa­ w ill speak on and that no mass worker could Bolshevik. I t has to be learned it across before the people awaken whose hand-picked agencies move tion of Iron, Steel, Tin and Sheet Metal Workers in the fore­ have anything to do with them, And it cannot be learned solely to their real intentions. only when Roosevelt “ nods his front. “ Ostensibly this ‘rank-and-file convention’ is called to "The Struggle For Negro Equolity" We had to be very careful of this from books either. I t is learned ROOSEVELT’S HASTE head.” consider the decisions of the official San Francisco convention Hear Jackson discuss a fighting working class program prejudice that had been spread over a long time, by a combina­ It is up to the union militants recently held by the AFL and to lay plans for carrying out that will protect the interests of the Negro workers. against us. We didn’t care about tion of field work, struggle, per­ This Impatience was exhibited to mobilize the workers for a real these decisions,” sajd The M ilitant. “ . . .But there ’is im plicit Budenz. We had his number. But sonal sacrifices, tests, study and in Roosevelt’s letter to the M ili­ fight against the wage freeze. in such a procedure a revolt against the A F L officialdom.” tary A ffairs Committee which we were greatly interested in his discussion. The making of a Bol Demand that the labor represen­ WASHINGTON—Exposing the anti-labor mechanism of the New Sunday afternoon, February 11th, 3:30 p. m. stated: “ While there may be some friends among the field workers shevik is a long-drawn-out pro tatives resign from the wage­ Deal, a special correspondent to The M ilitant described its effect who had come from the American cess. But in compensation, when differences of opinion on the 479 WILLIAM STREET (near Jefferson) 3rd floor freezing War Labor Board! Re­ upon the incomes of the workers. “ Between August 1933 and Workers Party. We moved very you get a Bolshevik, you have details of the (May-Bailey) bill, scind the no-strike pledge! Build August 1934 living costs skyrocketed—because of the drought, Auspices: Buffalo School of Social Science carefully against Budenz. We got something. When you get labor’s own Independent Labor because of the Agricultural Administration Act processing didn’t expel him, we didn’t threat­ enough of them you can do any­ non, pp. 208-9. Pioneer Publish­ Party! For a national conference Admission 25 Cents en him. We simply opened a very thing you want to do, including ers, 1944, 268 pp., cloth $2.75, of all unions regardless of af. taxes, because the NRA codes permit cartelizing price-fixing and Questions Discussion cautious discussion. We began a make a revolution. paper $2. Order from Pioneer filiation to weld a workers’ front production control. The result? In that one year, real wages— very patient explanation, a poli­ (From “History of American Publishers, 116 University Place, of struggle against Roosevelt’s purchasing power—in the cotton industry in the north fell away tical discussion, political education Trotskyism,” by James P. Can- N. Y. 3, N. Y.) wage-freeze. 15 percent; in the south, 25 percent.” SIX THE MILITANT SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1945

This fight does not end with their release. These devoted working class fighters have been deprived of their civil rights. The viciously anti-labor Smith Supreme Court Juggles THE MILITANT “ Gag” AcU-remains a constant threat to labor and ORKERS’ democratic rights. Published in the interests of the Words on Child Labor Working People . Restore the civil rights of the 18! Repeal the Smith "Gag” Act! Defend labor’s rights! Under Roosevelt’s hand-picked Supreme Court on January Vol. IX —No. 4 Saturday, January 27, 1945 these slogans the struggle must and w ill go forward. ORUM 8 did another chore fo r the sweatshop interests and Published Weekly by child labor exploiters. By a 5 to 4 decision, the august THE MILITANT PUBLISHING A88’N I court sustained an appeal ef the Western Union at 116 University Place, New York 3, N. Y. The columns are open to the opinions of the readers of The Militant. Letters Telegraph monopoly permitting it to employ children Telephone: ALgonquin 4-8847 Rooseveltt Deceit are welcome on any subject of interest to the workers, but keep them short and include your under 16 as messengers. FARRELL DOBBS, Editor The official organ of the Railroad Brotherhood, name apd address. Indicate if you do not want your name printed. — Editor. The decision was a masterpiece of legalistic hair­ Labor, focuses an editorial spotlight on the decep­ splitting intended to evade the child labor provisions THE MILITANT follows the policy of permit­ Terrorism and problem be solved. The Jews and struggle against the common ting its contributors to present their own views tion practiced by Roosevelt in the recent election. Arabs of Palestine need a revolu­ enemy. of the Wage-Hour Act by uncovering an “exception” in signed articles. These views therefore do not ‘‘Strangely enough,” the editorial remarks, “ the Zionism tionary party to guide them in Here also an internationalist in the instance of Western Union. fighting imperialism, pointing the outlook is being concretely necessarily represent the policies of THE M IL I­ President did not have anything to say about this Under the Wage-Hour law, firms producing goods Editor: way in the fight fo r socialism, developed and this is very im- TAN T which are expressed in its editorials. for interstate shipment are prohibited from employing scheme to draft labor for private profit when he The two Palestinian youths which w ill emancipate’ all minor-1 portant fo r the British workers, child labor. The juridical jugglers of the Supreme Subscriptions: $1.00 per year; 50c for 6 months. was facing the voters in the last campaign. He who shot Lord Moyne have been ities. In the period of capitalist I hope to be able before long Court tossed the words of the law around with prac­ Foreign: $2.00 per year, $1.00 fo r 6 months. opened his battle for the presidency at a dinner sentenced to death by the Egyp­ death agony, Jews the world over I with material such as this to in ticed dexterity. While the court agreed that telegrams Bundle orders: 3 cents per copy in the United arranged by the Teamsters’ Union. On that occa­ tian court. The proceedings of cannot fight under the banner of troduce a discussion on Ameri­ the tria l were censored but the are “ goods,” they were not “ shipped.” Because, you States; 4 cents per copy in all foreign countries. sion he might have said something like this: reactionary nationalism, but must can trade union problems in the motives driving these Jews to fight in unison with thei only branch. see, the messages themselves were not sent—only Single copies: 5 cents. “ 'My friends, I assure you that if you will re­ such desperate acts are readily progressive force in society to­ The conference proceedings “electrical impulses.” elect me for a fourth term the first thing I w ill recognizable. day—the working class—fighting seemed very promising and the “ Entered as second class matter March 7, 1944 Even a minority of the court, no mean hair-splitters do w'ill be to demand that Congress pass a law Lord Moyne was Under-Sec­ fo r a new and better world! net gain must have been a at the post office at New York, N. Y., under themselves, could not quite stomach the “ linguistic retary of Colonial Affairs during Henry H ill strengthening and consolidation the Act of March 3, 1879.” to draft American workers.’ We all know' he didn’t purism” of the majority. In his dissenting opinion, say anything like that. So far as we can recall he a time when the alternative for Trotskyist Youth Group, N. Y. of the left wing. In this activity millions of Jews was emigration 'i am sure the supporters o f The Justice Murphy was constrained to remonstrate: “ To never mentioned the labor draft during the cam­ Militant are playing their part, sacrifice social gains fo r the sake of grammatical To defend the USSR as to Palestine or slaughter at the paign.” hands of Fascism. Churchill was British Workers perhaps in unspectacular circum­ perfection is not in keeping with the high traditions the main fortress of the This cynical deceit is not peculiar to Roosevelt not the least moved when Jews And UAW Militants stances but with a confidence and of the interpretive process.” But, of course, the world proletariat, against — although this master demagogue excels in the art drowned because of Moyne’s Editor: determination that must inevit­ Supreme Court was acting strictly in accord with the policy in the administration of ably bring great results. of hoodwinking the people. It is characteristic of all May I congratulate you on the “high traditions” of the capitalist legal system. all assaults of world im­ Palestine. No, Churchill the The key to good trade union excellent report of the UAW perialism and of internal capitalist politicians and parties foresworn to up­ humanitarian agitated for the work is the correctness of one’s Justice Murphy pointed out that “by reading into hold a system of exploitation, tyranny and op­ Conference which appeared in ideas plus patience and more the Fair Labor Standards Act an exception that Con­ closing of the “ Jewish Homeland” your issue of September 16th, counter-revolution, is the patience. To be able to weigh up gress never intended or specified, this court has today pression. The political structure of capitalist “ dem­ to victims of capitalist barbar­ copies of \Vhich are now arriving most important duty of ocracy” rests on the twin pillars of deceit and forcé. ism; giving them the universal a situation objectively and “ keep granted the Western Union Telegraph Co. a special in England. Comrade Preis has one’s feet on the floor” without every class - conscious In pre-election periods the political agents of the capitalist freedom—freedom to succeeded in projecting the at. dispensation to utilize the channels of interstate com­ • \ die. Three million Jews have died. succumbing to tail-endist em­ merce while employing adm ittedly, oppressive child worker. ruling class mask their subservience to the pred­ mosphere of the conference floor piricism or racing ahead of the What are the Zionists doing? into the pages of The M ilitant in labor.” — LEON TROTSKY atory money interests and swear eternal fealty to They hold weekly banquets, workers’ political development’ what is in my opinion a unique w ill speed the day when the The Supreme Court’s Western Union decision has the interests of the common man. After the returns rallies, conferences and con­ piece of working class journalism. Fourth Internationalists in Brit­ supplied additional fuel to the machinery of child are in and they take office, the mask is discarded gresses where the more aggres­ Here in Britain, the American ain and America w ill be in the labor exploitation which has been operating at high — until the next election. sive Zionists may on specific oc­ trade union movement seems a JOIN US IN FIGHTING FOR: casions m ildly criticize British leadership of the unions. speed during the war. It has further undermined the Roosevelt is an old hand at this routine. If all fairly complex problem for the S. H. policy in Palestine. On the record, average trade unionist, though I structure of social legislation established by decades his broken promises w!ere compiled in one book, London 1. Military training of workers, financed the Jewish Agency has sweated have no doubt the same applies of labor struggle to protect children, the most defense­ jy the government, but under control it would make a formidable volume. According to blood to recruit 30,000 Jews to to the American worker in rela­ less section of the population, from the worst evils capitalist standards, Roosevelt is a "smart” poli­ fight fo r the maintenance of the tion to the situation here. «Since Wants Definitions of capitalism. of the trade unions. Special officers’ tician. A smart politician is one who promises the British Empire in this great im­ receiving The M ilitant I have Editor: perialist war. American Zionism training camps, financed by the gov­ people one thing prior to the election, does exactly passed it on to some of the I read The M ilitant each week by forcing Silver out of its leader­ Amalgamated Engineering Union the opposite after—and gets away with it. Once in and am well satisfied with it. As ernment but controlled by the trade ship in favor of Stephen Wise has members and it is pleasing to fo r suggestions, I think that the office the stage-play is finished. The President can thereby placed the movement in Capitalist Judge Shows unions, to train_ workers to become note how easily they grasp the defining of ten words or so each defy the electors; for four years his seat is secure. the position of abject subser­ significance of the struggle being week such as subsidy, tyranny, officers. I le is independent of those w'ho elected him. Capi­ vience to British and American waged by the m ilitant wing of and proletariat would be good as “Impartiality” -- Almost imperialism. talist law does not permit him to be recalled. the UAW. They compare it with many people read the words but Neither by acting as tools of 2. Trade union wages for all workers the problems which we face in don’t look up the meaning. When OPA officials hailed a small Philadelphia Lacking their owm political party, the workers British imperialism nor by in the AEU and are able to ap­ L. O. L. restaurant owner into Federal court for violating price drafted into the army. are denied any control over those elected to office. dividual terrorism can the Jewish preciate the sim ilarity of the Huntington Park, Calif. It would be impossible to perpetuate this farce ceilings and asked that he be jailed, Judge Kalodner 3. Full equality for Negroes in the armed blew up. w'ere it not for the treacherous role of the "labor forces and the war industries— Down statesmen” who prevent the workers from organ­ He charged that the OPA agents had previously brought before his court for similar violations the with Jim Crowism everywhere. izing their own Independent Labor Party. managers of several swank hotels and restaurants, in­ 4. Confiscation of all war profits. Expro­ cluding the Bellevue-Stratford, the Barclay and Henri’s. But the OPA had not asked fo r ja il sentences priation of all war industries and their West Indies against members of the resistance weeks ago,” continpes Archam­ or severe penalties fo r these big price violators. This operation under workers’ control. The War Criminals movement. On January 11 three bault in the January 19 Times; was favoritism, the judge pointed out, toward wealthy During the last world war, the Allied rulers W ith each year of the war, the officers of the French Forces of “ and the movement is extending and influehtial law-breakers. burden of imperialist rule has the Interior were sentenced to rapidly, particularly in the south. 5. A rising scale of wages to meet the threatened dire punishment for the w'ar criminals weighed down more heavily on “ In those cases you were satisfied w ith injunctions, prison for having executed two In Toulouse, for instance, every of the opposing imperialist camp. What finally the people of the West Indies. but now you want me to send this man to jail. I won’t rising cost of living. collaborators whose death penal­ ward now has a committee that Although these islands are among send him to jail when others can go free by signing happened? The Kaiser lived to g ripe old age in ties had been commuted by de meets weekly and discusses the most fertile regions Of the 6. Workers Defense Guards against vigil­ luxurious exile. W ith the benevolent aid of Amer­ Gaulle. One was sentenced to grievances and complaints. It is a piece of paper,” declared the irate judge. “ In this world, Britain’s policy of deliber­ ante and fascist attacks. ican bankers, the German capitalists and Junker seven years in prison, the other hoped soon to reorganize com­ court you’ll not find one law for the high and mighty ately retarding industrial develop­ and another fo r the humble.” generals survived to plunge the German masses into two to five years each. The two mittees in every town and village ment and of growing only one collaborators had been condemned 7. An Independent Labor Party based on a second world imperialist slaughter. main crop— sugar—has fostered in the country.” I t almost looked as though here at last was a in Maubeuge. When they were capitalist judge who really meant to hand out “ im­ the Trade Unions. At the start of this war the Allied leaders pro­ direst poverty. A t the beginning reprieved a great crowd gathered, partial” justice. But he wound up fining the little of the war, sporadic strikes over threatening to storm the jail and claimed that "this time” all the fascist war crim­ restaurant owner $2,500 dollars and placing him under 8. A Workers’ and Farmers’ Govern­ wages and working conditions ex­ execute all the collaborators held Belgium inals, including Hitler, Mussolini and Hirohito, pressed the deepening unrest of a year’s probation. This was just to give a warning there. Pressed by the aroused I'M, January 14. published an m ent. w'ould "pay in fu ll.” A special United Nations War the masses. populace, the three FFI officers interesting interview with a Bel- to the big-shot violators to be more careful in the When the United States estab­ Crjmes Commission was established to draft a "w'ar executed the two most notorious ‘ gian resistance fighter at Fort future and not get caught. 9. The defense of the Soviet Union lished military bases throughout criminals” list and devise machinery for bringing collaborators. Eben Emaci. Only 21 years old. the islands, many hoped Wall against imperialist attack. Having sent the FF I officers to 1 he had been in the Belgian un­ them to justice. Street might prove more benefi­ derground for three years. But as the day of Allied m ilitary victory draws cent than London. They were not prison, de Gaulle on the follow “I’m a worker, and I suppose closer, the reluctance of the Allied rulers to deal long in being undeceived. Seeking ing day commuted another death That Revealing Leaflet to end imperialist oppression of sentence passed against the noto- I speak from the worker’s point- harshly with the fascist war lords is being amply rious Nazi collaborator, H e n ri, of-view. But most of us are very Greetings To The 12 demonstrated. In Italy, for example, leading fas­ both the Ixjndon and Wall Street variety, the workers and field la­ Beraud, chief contributor to the bitter against the Belgian indus- American Legion Withdrew trialists who worked willingly for This week we greet with joy the emergence of cists, are not merely protected from the masses by borers of the West Indies are now tot-alitarian periodical Gringoire. the Germans and made huge for­ the 12 Trotskyist leaders from Roosevelt’s “ demo­ the Allies, but are retained in positions of power turning toward socialism While de Gaulle continues to The American Legion, veterans organization run by tunes. Sometimes they played cratic” prisons where they have been incarcerated and privilege. In Barbadoes, for instance, a aid the forces of counter-revolu­ Big Business and the brass hats, has been conducting tion, economic conditions in both sides to keep their skins for thirteen months. The real Allied attitude toward the fascist war professed socialist has been safe. They would give 50,000 agitation for compulsory peacetime m ilitary conscrip­ elected to the Assembly. Accord­ France are becoming progres­ tion since 1919. Usually, the Legion’s propaganda has These valiant working-class revolutionists com­ criminals has been further revealed through the sively worse. Parisian bakeries francs to us and then make 2,000,- ing to the London News Review, been sugarcoated by assurances that such compulsory mitted no crime whatsoever' against the interests resignation of the head of the War Grimes Com­ cannot obtain even fuel. Many 000 from the Germans. this socialist is a wealthy Negro, “ I think some of them are military training would be for “not over” a year, that lack flour. Sugar cards in Nantes of the people. They simply did their duty to the mission, Sir Cecil Hurst, who complained that its Grantley Adams, who began his sabotaging a return to work in have not been honored since it was intended merely to “ build up” the health and working class in its hour of greatest need. They work was being “ frustrated” by the British For­ political career as a conservative Belgium right now and are think­ October. Salt in the Paris suburbs character of American youth and to “strengthen” but became convinced after hold­ ing longingly of the German oc­ told the truth about the exploitation, the tyranny, eign Office. The London Sunday Express discloses is disappearing from the market. democracy. ing public office that socialism cupation days. In those times the hopelessness of life under capitalist class rule. that Churchill’s government objects to trying the There is no illuminating gas after offered the only road for the there were no strikes or labor Recently, the American Legion hastily withdrew They told the truth about the imperialist w'ar. They fascist leaders "in the dock of a criminal court.” 8:30 P.M. and no electric current Barbadoes people, 90 percent of trdbbles because the workers its leaflet entitled “ Answers to Questions Regarding between 8:30 A.M. and 5 P.M. urged the masses to rid themselves of the plutocra­ It wants them "dealt with politically—as was Na­ whom are colored. Adams’ party would he sent off to German con­ Universal Military Training” because the author made except for one hour at lunch time. tic leeches and build a socialist society which could poleon, who was never put on trial but merely won seven seats in the Assembly. centration or labor camps if they a slip-up which disclosed the real nature and intent of A ll stores close at 5 P.M. France’s exiled.” This impressive electoral victory give peace, security and plenty to all. transportation system has broken kicked up trouble. Belgian work­ the program to establish a permanent system of m ili­ is clear proof that sentiment for ers are miserably paid—80 francs These were unpardonable crimes under a social The Allied imperialists feel that an open crimin­ down to such an extent that tary regimentation. Despite its attempts at suppres­ socialism is growing rapidly in a day—and the cost of living is system where the lie which serves the exploiters al trial might prove “ embarrassing,” explains the steam-driven passenger trains no sion, the Legion was unable to prevent a number of the West Indies. terrific. Butter now is 250 francs longer run. copies of the revealing leaflet from being circulated. has been crowned King. That is why the Roosevelt Express. . .Those in the dock might endeavor to for a little over two pounds. Coal production is lower than There were two questions and answers in the leaflet administration railroaded the Trotskyists to prison have prominent British statesmen brought to the “ The Pierlot government has France under German occupation. Mal­ under the infamous Smith “Gag” Act. witness box to give evidence for the defense. This accomplished nothing. You would which made it particularly “ unsuitable” fo r public nutrition and low wages are af­ How Stalinists act as agents think that all the time they were dissemination. Our comrades never flinched.in the fight against evidence would take the form of past utterances fecting the productive power of of Anglo-American imperialism is in London they would have work­ this vile conspiracy. A ll havp dedicated their lives in praise of the prisoners and. in some cases, the French miners to an alarming “ Question: W ill those who have completed 12 clearly revealed in a January 14 ed out some good system of food extent. Conditions are so bad, months of training be obligated for further service? to the cause of the working class, to the struggle extolling of the virtues of Nazism and Fascism. declaration of Maurice Thorez, distribution. Actually they had according to Témoignage Chre­ “ Answer: Yes, after the period of training there for a socialist world. They were prepared to pay Altogether, it would be an embarrassing business secretary-general of the French nothing ready when they returned tien, organ of the Christian Dem­ will be a period of obligation. That period can be the penalties meted out to those who dare oppose to have these skeletons trotted out in court.” Communist Party. Docile work­ to Brussels. ers are needed by the capitalists ocrats, that men deliberately in served in the regular army, or navy, the national guard the ruling m inority on behalf of the oppressed The Allied rulers also fear that such a trial might jure themselves in order to get “ As far as cleaning out the to fight for imperialist war aims. old collaborationists is'concerned. or tile reserve corps. m ajority. They viewed their persecution not only lead to the demand that all the war criminals be on the sick list for a few days Thorez, the Earl Browder of we have had lots of life sentences “ Question: While serving the period of obligation, France, has, accordingly come out rest. as a blow' directed against the entire labor move­ placed in the prisoners’ dock— the capitalist im ­ and even executions of young fas­ can the reservist be called to active duty ? ment but also as an opportunity to warn the work­ perialists of both war camps whose greedy rivalry openly against revolution, saying The rising revolutionary tem­ cist fighters of de Grelie. this is “rather a time for a union per of the French masses is in­ “ Answer: Yes, at the call of the Federal govern­ ers against the plans of the capitalist war-makers, for world markets, colonie.s, spheres of influence “ But none of the great indu­ of all leftist paijties into one dicated by a raid of 350 house­ ment.” to teach the ideas of socialism, and to give an has plunged the peoples of the earth into the strialists who have made fortunes popular party to help prosecute wives in Valenciennes (northern 'out of the war has been touched. In short, as it was pointed out in Labor, weekly example of principled revolutionary struggle bloodiest shambles of all history. the war.” France) upon a sugar refinery. “ We Resistance men helped the organ of 15 railway unions, “ young men who go The march of housewives upon against, capitalist reaction. The fate of the war criminals is not being w rit­ Thorez opposes the workers Americans take this fort from through the compulsory training will be subject to finding a correct political pro­ sources of food held by the capi­ We arc proud of the manner in which our com­ ten in the secret conclaves of Allied commissions. the Germans and we have been military service foil an indefinite number of years gram that could guarantee the talists and their agents is a clas­ rades fulfilled their obligations to the working It is limned in flic flames of the international so­ on duty here ever since. Now the thereafter. Suppose sucli young men, having returned victory of socialism. “ There is sic symptom of approaching revo­ Pierlot government wants to kick class. It is worthy-of the finest traditions of the cialist revolution now rising in Europe. None will to industry, go on strike for better conditions? Why, no place now for political fights. lution. In Paris, housewives are us out and put us in the Army they would still be in the ‘period of obligation’ and so revolutionary socialist movement. escape stern retribution. We must all make war against organizing committees to present under our old reactionary officers. lists of grievances. Most active it would be the easiest thing in the world to summon We commend the C ivil Rights Defense Commit­ As Leon Trotsky predicted in the 1940 “ Mani­ fascism. We French must get We don’t want that.” arms and help the Americans and in organizing these committees, them to the colors and thus break the strike. tee for the magnificent nation-wide fight it con­ festo of the Fourth International” : "The butchers English who must not he left according to N. Y. Times reporter ducted for the freedom of the 18 and for the repeal of the second imperialist war will not succeed in “ Perhaps someone w ill say that can’t happen here. fighting alone on the western Archambault, “ are Communist, \ ' ell it happened in France when a democratic regime of the vicious Smith “ Gag” Act. front.” Socialist and other advanced ele­ READ transforming Hitler into a scapegoat for their own still governed the country, back in 1937. Railroad We hail the more, than 4/ m illion members of sins. Before the judgment bar of the proletariat Meanwhile reaction, headed by ments.” Archambault does not specify whether these “ elements” workers struck and the government cracked down by over 500 labor organizations who rallied to the all the present rulers will answer. Hitler w ill do no de Gaulle, is consolidating itself THE FOURTH in France. Instead of purging are following ¿arty programs, calling them into the army.. France, you see, had the support of the 18 class-war prisoners in a splendid more than occupy first place among the criminals pro-Nazis who collaborated with “ Housewives began to be form ­ INTERNATIONAL7 kind of peacetime conscription now advocated fo r this demonstration of class solidarity. in the dock.” the Germans, de Gaulle is moving ed into committees only a few country.”