WfJlINEIIS ,,1N'II,1II' 25; No. 78 ·t~~x-~ 26 September 1975 • • e o I ICS 0 ra Manson, Squeaky, SLA, Patricia Hearst, and now ... admitted

SEPTEMBER 23-Grotesque mock­ FBI informer terrorist excesses by pseudo-leftists ap­ pear to be becoming something of a fad. Shortly after Patricia Hearst told a takes a shot California court that as an "urban guerrilla" she could be categorized as "self-employed," and "Squeaky," a Man­ at Ford son family acolyte dressed like little red riding hood, pointed a pistol at Gerald Ford, someone fired a shot from a short­ barrel .38 calibre pistol across a four-lane street at the U.S. president. When the smoke cleared there was Sara Moore, a 47-year-old mom, self-declared FBI informer and friend of the Hearsts. This eru ption of bizarre and degenerate frenzy is a godsend to the bourgeois press, which is luxuriating in the delightful prospect of simultaneously boosting circulation and smearing the radical movement. Banks are robbed and inno­ cent hystanders shot "to get the pig capitaiists", as~assinatjons are attempted "to draw attention to prison reform"; and it seems as though every ecology freak in California wants to use Gerald Ford as organic fertilizer. What is behind this surrealistic carnival of fake-political "extremist" violence'?

The Strange History of "Sally" Moore Sara Moore is deranged and danger­ ous. She admits being an FBI informer tion of her subsequent actions: guilt over and the FBI confirms her story. She her connection with the FBI following began her "career" late in life as a "the shock of Popeye's death." She wrote, Patricia Hearst UPI volunteer bookkeeper for the People In "Whoever did it must have thought they Need program of free food distribution Robert Hendrickson and laurence Merrick could get away with the killing of a black initiated by the Hearst family in an man .... None of us white middle class attempt to ransom their daughter "Pat­ people who were suspected of or even ty." According to an interview given to proved to be 'snitches' or 'pigs' has ever the Berkeley Barb on June 20, Moore was been physically harmed." "contacted by the FBI and agreed to spy Sara Moore presents in classic form on a man she refuses to identify other the double image of the erratic petty­ than that he was associated with a cadre bourgeois propelled by moralism from revolutionary group." This she apparent­ social-work prison reform to individual ly did. Then she claims to have been terror. Now this "revolutionary" book­ "converted to revolutionary politics and keeper, self-confessed former FBI in­ told her control agent, Bert W orthing­ former, liaison between the "under­ ton," of her conversion. ground" and the Hearsts is staying at the This spring she flooded villifying home of LaRue Grimm, a lawyer who stories about "Popeye" Jackson, head of also represented the Manson family. the United Prisoners Union, to various left-wing organizations. She claimed that The Instant legend of "Patty" he had struck a deal with Wm. Randolph Hearst Hearst to "receive favorable treatment from the state's parole authorities." On September 19 Patricia Hearst was Shortly thereafter a communique from picked up in San Francisco by FBI the "New World Liberation Front" agents. Along with Hearst they arrested repeated the same allegations and two Emily and William Harris and Wendy weeks later on June 8 Jackson was killed. Yoshimura. Bail for Yoshimura has been Moore was roundly denounced by the set at $250.000 and that of the Harrises at Bay Area left as an informer and general $500,000 each; Hearst has been denied creep; she was kicked out of the Vietnam bail altogether. Since Hearst is the only Veterans Against the War and character­ one who could raise such astronomical ized by them as "a dangerous individual sums, all the prisoners are effectively and a security risk to all movement being held without bail. Compared to the organizations." fiery on-the-spot execution of their six I n a letter to the Berkeley Barb (4-10 comrades on 17 May 1974 by the Los July) "Sally" Moore admitted her FBI Angeles police department, anything that involvement. The letter, which has been might happen in the courtroom prosecu­ generally ignored by the press, is filled tion of Hearst and the Harrises on 18 "Squeaky" Fromme (center) and other Manson followers protest jailing of their with class and race guilt and provides felony charges will seem to be a model of "god" by carving "x's" on their foreheads. some insight into the apparent motiva- continued on page 10 Sixth Pop-ular Front Government in Lisbon Turmoil in Portuguese CP

SEPTEMBER 22-After weeks of excru­ A \'ante.' of 4 September the CP leader­ ciating negotiations a new government ship published two declarations in re­ has been formed in Portugal, headed by sponse to the "many questions" it had Admiral Pinheiro da Azevedo. Although received concerning Cunhal's press con­ one member of the Communist Party ference. The "questions" give a good idea (CP) holds a minor ministerial post ("as of the state of mind of the membership. an individual, not a party representa­ Doesn't the "composition of the proposed tive"), the CP has seen its governmental meeting diminish the role of the revolu­ influence dwindle to almost zero. In the tionary forces," they asked. Does this new cabinet there are four Socialists, two "contradict. .. cooperation with the part­ Popular Democrats and four military ies who called for the creation of a officers associated with the "moderate" revolutionary front"? Does this mean the wing of the Armed Forces Movement CP is looking for "an alliance with the SP (MFA). to the detriment of the left parties"? Etc. The Azevedo government is the sixth The party's propaganda and information popular-front coalition (joining reformist section responded "absolutely not" to all workers parties together with the bour­ the questions, It is doubtful that the geois MFA) to take office since the questioners were satisfied. overthrow of the rightist Salazar / Caeta­ no dictatorship on 25 April 1974. Shifting MFA Breaking Up? sharply to the right from his predecessor, General Vasco Gon9alves, Premier The rightist victory signalled by the Azevedo announced in his inaugural ouster of Gon9alves has also had a speech that his main goals would be to tremendous impact on the Armed Forces restore "public order, authority,' disci­ Movement. Representing the officer pline and cohesion of the Armed For­ corps of the capitalist army, the M FA is a ces .... " Ominously, the New York Times bourgeois political force, something most (21 September) reported-i.e., centrist and reformist socialists in Portu­ threatened-that "The new Cabinet is Workers gal and elsewhere refuse to recognize. widely considered the last chance for demonstrate Simply to defend its own existence, the moderately leftist democratic rule to in Lisbon officer corps must defend the mainte­ last week. prevent the country from going once nance of capitalism, as the new "moder­ again under some form of rightist ate" leaders of the M FA are proving authoritarian rule." despite their rhetoric of socialist revolu­ During the period after its resignation tion. To call for alliance with the M FA, from the fourth provisional government even with its "progressive sectors," means in July, the Socialist Party (SP) of Mario to call for clasS' collaboration, the same ous lynch mob assaults in which suppor­ the "MFA-People Alliance" and a capi­ treacherous policy which led to the Soares mounted an anti-government ters of the bourgeois Popular Democratic talist austerity program. For the ostensi­ offensive which served as the spearhead bloody debacle in Chile. Party (PPD) played a prominent role, bly Trotskyist Internationalist Commun­ Cut off from power and threatened by for a reactionary mobilization which saw Cunhal is playing a game of semi­ ist League (LCI) joining the an imminent purge orchestrated by the scores of offices of leftist parties burning opposition by refusing to sign a common "revolutionary I popular united front" "Group of Nine," numerous leftist offi­ in towns across northern Portugal. program or join a formal coalition and signing the August 25 communique cers of the MFA are now beginning to During the negotiations around the government with the PPD, and at the represent capitulation to Stalinist refor­ have doubts about their political orienta­ formation of the new cabinet the SP once same time "permitting" a CP leader to mism. However, for the CP membership tion. One of them, Captain Carlos Matos again took the lead in demanding the join the cabinet it appeared a welcome shift to the left, Gomes recently resigned from a stabilization of capitalist rule by calling The response of the CP ranks has been away from playing games with the rightist COPCON commando unit announcing for a massive purge of leftist elements in less than enthusiastic. Le Monde (18 generals. that "It is necessary to be able to abandon the MFA and dissolution of all incipient September) reported that "On September The pro-Gon9alves demonstration in one's illusions while there is still time," organs of workers power. 16 at the Campo Pequeno arena, 20,000 Lisbon called by the "FU R" on August 27 and "The MFA no longer exists." I n a letter to President General Costa Communist militants listened in silence to was reportedly one of the largest (50,000) But it does exist, and unfortunately so do Gomes, Soares demanded as a condition Carlos Brito, member of the central and most combative in months. Yet the illusions in it. for joining the new government that it committee of the PCP" as he "tried to very next day Cunha I appeared at a press A gooa example of the contradictory include in its program: justify the participation of the 'revolu­ conference to abandon Gon9alves, saying mood at present was the meeting of "0) Reaffirm the principle that the tionary forces' in the next government that "resistance, consistent struggle and neighborhood commissions and workers delegates of workers of the Companhia commissions are forms of people's power and to denounce 'certain sectors of the firmness are not e'10ugh" and that "flexi­ Uniiio Fabril (CUF), a major trust which must be developed, so long as they left' which, by refusing to participate in bility" to "diminish tensions" was also including the key Lisnave shipyards, at do not pretend to be a 'parallel power' to the negotiations, 'leave open for the right _ necessary. He called for an immediate Barreiro on September 10. The main the political-administrative apparatus of a space which the left could occupy'." broad conference including the so-called speaker was Major Ramiro Correia, the state .... Attempting to appear militant, Cunhal "Group of Nine" rightist officers who had "E) Promulgate legislation severely pun­ formerly head of the agit-prop Fifth ishing the 'armed militias' which must be threatened to go into combat if the CP been leading the anti-Gon9alves, anti-CP Division of the General Staff (dissolved suppressed within a maximum of one were kept out of the government. offensive in recent weeks. by President Costa Gomes earlier this month's time, along with the 'popular Having grown rapidly from about This proposal evidently provoked· month), who declared, "At the moment it vigilance commissions' and others which 5,000 members to over 100,000 in 17 massive protest in the party, for in continued on page 5 have arms in their possession." months, the CP is experiencing consider­ -Portugal Socialista, \0 Septem- ber able turmoil both at the top and at the base. The Lisbon daily Republica (12 While stating in his inaugural speech on September) reported that Octavio Pato, Friday that he "reject[s] social democra­ head of the CP delegation in the constitu­ cy" and instead is working for the ent assembly, is favorable to joining a "construction of a Portuguese Socialist parliamentary government based on Republic," Azevedo in substance agreed elections after the promulgation of a to implement Soares' program for restor­ constitution. Opposed to this rightist ing the authority of the bourgeois state "Berlinguer line" (after the head of the and striking down rebellious workers and ultra-reformist Italian CP) are Cunhal in leftist soldiers. In announcing his pro­ the center with his semi-opposition farce gram the premier called for an end to and, on the left, sentiment among the nationalizations, "reanimation" of the ranks for a revolutionary struggle for private sector of the economy and power. "severely repressive legislation against Indicative of this mood was the armed groups of civilians" (Le Monde, 16 response of the Communist Party mem­ September). bership to the formation of the so-called Cunhal Under Attack "revolutionary (or popular) united front" ("FU R") with five other leftist parties on Meanwhile the Communist Party has August 25. Created at the invitation and been playing a sad charade. Frightened in the presence of officers of COPCON for its very existence, the reformist CP is (the elite security force) and representa­ trying desperately to preserve the slightest tives of the MFA, this c1ass­ shred of influence in ruling circles. Under collaborationist political bloc was explic­ pressure from his members, who have itly committed to the Gon9alves Oer Spiegel spent the last month fighting off murder- government, the government's policies, New Portuguese premier Azevedo with deposed Vasco Gon~alves.

2 WORKERS VANGUARD Lener: Comp1DY, Courts, .UMW rODS GangJlp. on Strikers To the editor: Hansenite Pabloites in the United States and abroad have found once again an opportunity to confuse the workers and to justify their departure from Arnold Marxism. This is evident from Hansen's "Is Democracy Worth Fighting ForT' (lntercul1linental Press. 4 August 1975). Surely. no socialist can support anti­ democratic rule of even the red bureau­ crats. not to speak of the bourgeois Miller dictatorship. But does that mean the Trotskyists. like Stalinists. defend bour­ geois democracy against fascism and advise chm;sing the I~sser evil'? 'ever to a Trotskyist as such. But to a Hansenite Pabloist. struggle for democratic rights Breaks becomes identical with the defense of the bourgeois democrats. Thus. the PST defends Peron against the threats from the guerillas on one hand and the military coup on the other. The same logic should have led the followers of Hansen to Coal support Indira Gandhi against the "fas­ cist threat" from J.P. Narayan and others alleged to be CIA agents. That is how the pro-Moscow CPI has supported Indira Miners at Labor Day rally in Whiteville, West Virginia. WVPhoto Gandhi. Despite this inconsistency, Mr. Hansen hopes he has been able to make Wildcat out a case for bourgeois democracy and the socialists must rally round the class SEPTEMBER 16-A wave of repression Frank Tucker called for the "expUlsion of ed by another Pittsburgh suit filed by the enemies to defend democracy! threatens the United Mine Workers the radicals" (Charleston Daily Mail, Bituminous Coal Operators ASSOCiation, Hansen's flunkey, Dick Fidler (UMW) membership in the wake of a S ~otember 8). the industry's bargaining arm. Industry (intercontinental Press, 28 July 1975), massive wildcat coal strike that lasted raking his· cue, Judge K. K. Hall officials describe the suit as an attempt to to mislead his misinformed readers tries over four weeks. Courts and corporate reserved his harshest sentences for two "help" the sagging UMW administration, with a wrong impression that the Sparta­ owners are attacking the militant miners leaders of the Right to Strike Committee, not hurt it. The suit does not ask cist League regard the Maoist MRPP"as damages, but seeks a court order compell­ the best hope in the Portuguese revolu­ with fines, law suits and the threat of Skip Delano and Bruce Miller. On tion." I nformed people know that is a lie. legislative shackles. Stepping to the September 8, they were given $500 fines ing "prompt and affirmative action" by What the Hansenites attempt to hide capitalists' tune, U M W President Arnold and 17?-day jail terms. In what must have the union "using all reasonable means at behind such lies and slanders is their own Miller and the union's International come as a shocking disappointment to its command" (including disciplining flirting with the Maoists and what is even Executive Board (lEB) not only sabo­ their followers, Delano and Miller se­ striking members and putting wildcatting more monstrous, their own criminal taged the strikers' efforts at every turn, cured their release after only five days in locals and districts into receivership) to betrayal of their co-thinkers and asso­ but have now passed new regulations jail by agreeing to the judge's terms: not to stop picketing and work stoppages. ciates in different countries. designed to crush "unauthorized work engage in strikes, not to encourage other If court suits and cooperative U M W The case of comrade Jagadish Jha is a stoppages" by disciplining militants. bureaucrats do not suffice, the coal and fine example of it. Though he was miners to strike, to report to work on the The strike, which peaked Labor Day next shift. and to obey all future court steel magnates are prepared to resort to involved in more than three dozen court stronger means. On August 28, U.S. Steel cases and about 150 of the supporters of weekend with nearly two thirds of the orders! Other miners refused probation­ the Indian section of the United Secretar­ UMW's 120,000 members out, ended in ary conditions and remained in jail while board chairman E. B. Speer called for iat were involved. neither the Hansenites defeat. Neither a stop to the use of court Delano and Miller gathered their belong­ new legislation to place coal mine labor nor the United Secretariat cared to move. injunctions to break strikes nor the right ings and left. relations under congressional control, as After writing for years to them. Comrade in the Railway Labor Act. Reports to strike over local grievances-the issues On the same day Hall was dispensing Jha got information that the United circulating in Washington say that there that had fueled the spreading walkouts­ "justice," the union tops were meeting in Secretariat meeting on September 7-8, was gained. By September 9 only a few is congressional and administration 1974. had decided to appeal to all sections Washington, setting their own sentence thousand miners were still out in Logan on the miners. In a resolution that passed interest in such a proposal, using the and sympathizing organisations to as­ "energy crisis" as an excuse to throttle the semble aid in proportion with their County, West Virginia, where the strike 22 to 2, the IEB instituted a IO-point declared membership and to ask the press originated, and there were scattered anti-strike program that included: . rebellious miners. of the Fourth International to publicize reports of miners ignoring or driving off -nullification of the long-standing "24· The entire labor movement must the continuing need for help to the the few remaining pickets. hour rule," where all three shifts of a vigorously oppose these grave threats to comrades in Bengal. One year has passed This tragic break in a 50-year UMW mine strike if one turn goes out; the UMW's independence, mobilizing the since then and nothing has been done. On tradition of never crossing a picket line -forbidding the use of UMW funds for widespread working-class sympathy for the other hand, they have shed much tears must be laid squarely at the feet of the the defense of miners involved in the miners' cause. For example, during for the Naxalites. and the Bengali organ union leadership. Far more than Charles­ the wildcat rank-and-file steelworkers in of the Communist League of India has picketing mines other than where they been ever kind to them while the article by ton Judge K. K. Hall's $700,000 fine work. or to pay fines and damages Lorain, Ohio and Gary, Indiana put out Li Fu-jen about the Trotskyist prisoners against the union (payable to local coal assessed against union locals for their leaflets calling for defense of the miners in Mao's jails, though translated in Hindi operators!), it was Miller's incessant participation in wildcat strikes; and demanding the right to strike for and Bengali by a comrade in West "back-to-work" orders that broke the -providing I EB authority to "try charges steelworkers, currently saddled with I. W. Bengal. remains suppressed. Why? Is it back of the strike. U M W St:cretary­ against members who, by their actions, Abel's "no-strike" Experimental Nego­ not because the Naxalites appear to M r. Treasurer Harry Patrick summarized the in willful and deliberate defiance of tiating Agreement. Hansen and his associates like Tariq Ali. leadership's hostility after a Charleston International directives, seriously jeop­ Massive government; court "as the best hope in the Indian meeting with 65 local presidents, when he ardize the integrity of the union"; intervention into U M W affairs is not Revolution?" announced that "the contract will not be -calling for contract instruction for local new, but pressure for it is sure to increase Farooq Alim re-opened. The right to strike people can officials, immediate meetings with as miners fight deteriorating safety and strike until Hell freezes over ... " (Louis­ management when strikes break out, working conditions in the rapidly ex­ ville Courier-Journal, 31 August). The local meetings "as soon as possible" panding industry. "Reformer" Miller is decisive turning point came on Septem­ after a strike starts, with the appropri­ not in a position to strenuously object, ber 5, when Miller and Patrick met with ate District officer (whose responsibili­ since his own election in 1972 was the WHIIII over 250 local officials from District 17 ty is "directing the men back to work") product of a request for Labor Depart­ and pushed through a resolution de­ in attendance. ment and court intervention into the manding a return to work, refusing The specific provisions of this program union. The Spartacist League did not support for the right to strike over local were not accidental. Three days before support the Miller; Labor Department """'~IJMarxist Working-Class Weekly grievances and calling for "punishment of the IEB met, the UMW was notified by of the Spartacist League of the U.S. campaign and warned that his mishmash union members who have spread the U.S. Steel (which owns numerous coal program of "democratic" homilies con­ EDITOR: Jan Norden strike." mines) that it was filing a suit against the tained new betrayals. Our call for the PRODUCTION MANAGER: Karen Allen As the miners returned to the portals, union in Pittsburgh. In the words of the construction of a new Mine Workers' CIRCULATION MANAGER: Anne Kelley there was growing reliance on red baiting big-business mouthpiece Wall Street leadership based on a full class-struggle EDITORIAL BOARD: Liz Gordon (Chairman), to discredit strike militants, especially Journal ( 12 September), "in several program has been brushed off as "sectari­ Chris Knox (Labor), James Robertson those in the Miners Committee to Defend respects, Monday's action by the union's an" by all brands of reformists (from the (Advisory), Charles Burroughs (Editorial Staff), the Right to Strike. Although from its board closely parallels those requests." In Communist Party to the Revolutionary ,Joseph Seymour (Midwest), George Foster (West Coast) inception in 1974 the Miners Committee addition to demanding union discipline, Union, International Socialists and So­ Published weekly, except bi-weekly in August has never raised anything remotely suspensions, fines, etc., for illegally cialist Workers Party), all of whom have and December, by the Spartacist Publishing Co., resembling a radical program, limiting picketing members, and a permanent tailed after Miller in the past (as the CP 260 West Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10013. itself largely to the right-to-strike issue, it injunction to prevent wildcats, the U.S. and SWP continue to do at present). But Telephone: 966-6841 (Editorial), 925-5665 (BUSiness). Address all correspondence to: Box became a whipping boy for UMW leaders Steel suit asks for compensating damages every passing day, with new attacks 1377, G.P.O., New York, N.Y. 10001. Domestic unable to solve miners' real grievances. of at least $2 million it claims to have lost complemented by scab Miller's backstab­ subscriptions: $5.00 per year. Application to Frank Clements, Alabama IEB member, during the strike, plus $10 million in bing, confirms its validity. Only a class­ mail at second class postage rates is pending at New York, N.Y. blamed the walkout on "left leaning" punitive damages. It asked the court to struggle leadership will be able to secure Opinions expressed in signed articles or letters people who "didn't even believe in the seize "all union dues," estimated at $1. 7 the UMW's complete independence from do not necessarily express the editorial Constitution." District 17 president Perry million a month, in order to secure government control, a vital condition for viewpoint. "pointed a finger at a small minority of payment! the miners' ability to wage new radical miners" and Local 1054 president This outrageous assault is supplement- struggles .•

26 SEPTEMBER 1975 3 UFT Ranks Inflamed Over Shanker Sellout

SEPTEMBER 21-A disastrous strike It is widely believed that Shanker WVPhoto settlement forced upon the membership deliberately intended to keep the vote NYC teachers line up to vote on new contract September 16 as parents call of the United Federation of Teachers down to a small core of loyal supporters. for a "no" vote. (UFT) has caused broad discontent According to a delegate from a Brooklyn within the union. New York City teachers elementary school, "There is incredible coherent organization, much less struggle affiliation question was a focal point of have gone back to work under totally opposition. Schools are reporting 90 for power. The oldest is the Teachers the struggle against anti-union "profes­ chaotic conditions, knowing only that the percent of the people are against it." He Action Caucus (T AC), which is bally­ sionalism. ") T AC's "lesser evil" endorse­ Board of Education spent not one penny also reported dissension within Shanker's hooed in the pages of the Communist ment of one pro-capitalist bureaucrat on the new contract while withdrawing own base: "There was one school whose Party's Daily World and affiliated na­ over another demonstrates its total several preparation periods and other chapter chairman for the last couple of tionally with the United Action Caucus in incapacity to build a real alternative to past union gains. This loss will supposed­ years has been a Unity Caucus [the the AFT. The Rank and File Caucus the present AFT / UFT leadership. ly be compensated by a two-hour reduc­ Shanker caucus] chapter chairman. That (RAFC) is supported by the Progressive Although the Rank and File Caucus tion in the instructional week, a cut in school is drafting a letter to ask Shanker Labor Party (PL) and shares the latter's ran its own candidate, David Rosoff, educational services denounced by parent to resign. There's many splits within economist trade unionism and liberal against both Selden and Shanker in 1974, groups as "illegal." Unity on this." The outrage runs so deep anti-racism, but shorn of PL's ritual it too is unable to draw the class line or Meanwhile, the $43 million committed that some teachers believe the settlement references to socialism. develop a consistent class-struggle pro­ to salary increases is frozen until the city may actually be rejected when a second Both of these' caucuses are notorious gram. Rosoff. just like Selden, was a becomes financially solvent, a far-off membership vote is taken this month to for having scabbed during the 1968 New McGovern supporter, and according to prospect to say the least. Of about 7,000 reaffirm it. York City teachers' strike. Despite RAFC literature he was also an elected substitutes, 4,500 regularly licensed Shanker may have trouble living down blatant appeals to racist sentiment by the member of the New York state committee teachers, 3,000 paraprofessionals, 500 this sellout. His base in New York and his leadership, the 1968 strike was necessary of the Democratic Party. It is not guidance counselors and 500 secretaries presidency of the national American to stop forced transfers of teachers by surprising that a caucus whose candidate who have been laid off since June, Federation of Teachers are in large part community school boards which threat­ for union president actively supports a perhaps 2.400 positions at most will be due to his reputation for coming across ened the seniority system and very capitalist party should also scab on a restored by using accumulated salaries with substantial ~ettlements. And then existence of the U FT. In the newspaper of strike and threaten to take their union unpaid during the strike and the matching there are his career aspirations: Shanker the CP-supported Trade Unionists for into the bosses' courts. Taylor Law penalties imposed on the already on the AFL-CIO exec board Action and Democracy (TUAD), TAC striking teachers. and reportedly hopes to succeed George member Robert Greenberg brazenly Smarting under this insulting Meany. At least one newspaper account described the group's anti-union actions: A Class Line, Not Simple "agreement," the U FT ranks are also well saw these designs behind Shanker's "A movement of rank and file teachers. Anti-Shankerism aware that with so many positions cut, the calling of a U FT strike when the rest of Teachers for Community Control. op­ Among the resolutions backed by the possibility of maintaining contractual the NYC labor bureaucracy was meekly posed to the course that the Shanker leaders had taken, joined with parents in RAFC at the 1974 AFT convention was class sizes depends on a sharp increase in playing dead. But this year he threw away opening the schools and teaching the one submitted by Houston Local 2415, each teacher's overall workload. If after many past gains after only four days on children during the strike. TCC was the which said in part: "Resolved, that the several weeks of disruptive and confusing strike. forerunner of the present rank and file AFT urge locals to establish 'watchdog' reorganization the Board of Education caucus within the UFT. the Teachers committees on preferential hiring to can't hold the line, it has a legal right Needed: Class-Struggle Action Caucus." make sure the policy on minority teacher (thanks to loopholes in the 1972 contract) Opposition in the UFT The RAFC also refuses to repudiate its hiring is being carried out and to to raise class sizes anyway! For those scab role in 1968, making it easy for Greater opportunities exist now than at recommend legal and other action, if teachers whose layoffs are rescinded this Shanker to dismiss his opponents as any time in the past to build a strong necessary ...." When questioned by a WV year, there is no money in the contract or strikebreakers who "work to destroy militant opposition to the formidable reporter about his opinion of using court school budget to keep them next year. To unions." The third group, Coalition of Shanker machine. The task is not easy, suits to settle internal union affairs, top it off, several teachers reported to WV New York City School Workers, was for the UFT apparatus is relatively new formed recently but, characteristically, it Rosoff replied: "I like that. Maybe we that layoff notices continue to be sent out and vigorous (its first contract came in ought to do that to Shanker." Whatever after the settlement. has no position on the controversial 1968 1962), unlike most American unions strike. the anti-bureaucratic rationales advanced Shanker Pulls a Fast One whose hidebound, encrusted bureaucra­ to justify them, such suits break the cies settled into their easy chairs in the Democrats and Social Democrats cardinal principle of trade-union inde­ U FT President Albert Shanker put this 1930's and 1940's. Moreover, no business­ pendence from the capitalist state and dismal package over with a defeatist soft­ unionist reformer is going to be able to T AC is also compromised by its invite massive government intervention. sell, backed up by bureaucratic crack the Big MAC austerity program or support to the incumbent David Selden in The RAFC's blindness on the crucial manipulation. On Tuesday he told the provide answers to the problems posed by the 1974 AFT presidential election. question of the state, as well as its past union's delegate assembly meeting in the depression, as Shanker will certainly Selden, a long-time member of the union stands, raise the immediate question of Madison Square Garden that "We're point out. At this moment the only machine, was a victim of Shanker's where it will stand if Shanker is clapped in taking some forward steps, some side­ opposition which could possibly unseat ambition. The political overtones of this jail for leading a strike in violation of the ward steps and, in a couple of things, I'd the incumbent sellout "labor statesman" intra-bureaucratic dispute echoed a split Taylor Law. Such an attack on the union say we're taking some backward steps. It's would be one which does confront these in the moribund American social democ­ movement must be protested by militant a mixed bag." Shanker's "clinching" vital issues, by presenting a full, political racy around the 1972 U.S. elections. labor action, including a city-wide gener­ argument, which he repeatedly put to the class-struggle program. Shanker is a prominent supporter of the al strike if necessary! delegates, was that "in times of depres­ Unfortunately, however, the existing right-wing Social Democrats USA which The Coalition of New York City sion,· you have to hold onto what you opposition groups, while all organized by champions the sabre-rattling Senator School Workers is less hardened in its have.... This boss has no money." radicals of various persuasions, are doing Jackson and braintrusts for Meany, while reformism than eitherT AC orthe RAFC, Nevertheless, a majority of the speakers their best to appear as nothing more than Selden was loosely associated with the but only because it lacks a coherent attacked the pact as a sellout and 35 "honest union militants." The thought of pro-McGovern Democratic Socialist program and is essentially an amalgam of percent of the assembly voted against it. putting forward an explicitly anti­ Organizing Committee. small groups with different histories. This represents a significant division in capitalist program, including 'such de­ On the basis of his less-than-inspiring What elements of a program it does have the normally conservative and pro­ mands as expropriating the banks or program for "the rebirth of liberalism in do not fundamentally distinguish it from Shanker body. calling for a workers party, sends shivers the AFT." T AC and the United Action the other two caucuses. All three Opposition from the ranks IS down their spines as they think of all the Caucus backed Selden against Shanker's approach th~ anti-labor austerity pro­ reportedly even greater. Although 38 rank-and-filers who are not yet ready to successful effort to unseat him. In gram imposed on the city by the "M unici­ percent of those voting turned down the support a fundamental challenge to the addition to long collaboration with pal Assistance Corporation" as though it settlement, less than a quarter of the bourgeoisie. It requires principled Marx­ Shanker's sellouts and bureaucratic were purely the machinations of a greedy membership was able to participate due ist leadership. not seeking instant popu­ wheeling and dealing, Selden was severely bankers' conspiracy (the line taken by to conflicting radio reports on when and larity with a reformist program but rather compromised by a backroom deal he Gotbaum and. occasionally, even Mayor how the balloting would be done. One putting forward the only program that negotiated to merge the AFT with the Beame) rather than an outgrowth of the teacher from Brooklyn told WV, "At five corresponds to the objective needs of the rival National Educational Association capitalist business cycle. minutes to 5:00 they closed the doors working class. to present a real alternative (NEA) with a three-year trial period All three UFT opposition caucuses despite the fact that there were people to Shanker. during which the central question of propose as the answer to Big MAC the waiting on line to vote." Among other Of the three present opposition AFL-CIO affiliation would be left in idea that the city should simply pay the irregularities was the fact that no one had formations, two are tainted by past abeyance. (Since the much larger NEA banks less and tax them more. Leaflets even seen the contract they were voting to betrayals and a third, newer, group is could obliterate teacher unionism by distributed by them during or just before tentatively accept. barely able to present the appearance of a simply swallowing up the AFT, the the strike show little difference on this key 4 WORKERS VANGUARD question: independence. refusing to fall into a tees and complete citizens' rights for - T AC -"It's time for the unions to insist dangerous propaganda bloc by limiting soldiers. This order. which Trotsky that the banks make some sacrifices Portuguese CP ... instead of the working people." their demands to a lowest common referred to as "the single worthy docu­ - RAFC -"As for the banks. not onlv can (continued from page 2) denominator joint platform, and continu­ ment of the February revolution." wa' the windfall interest beeliminated but the ing to warn the masses against the class quickly extended in practice. banks can directly contribute adequate is not the armed forces who will keep the collaboration of the reformist workers "The soldiers approached the committees sums for cit\' needs." flame of the revolution lit." A worker was parties and the demagogy of the leftist from the opposite angle. and united -Coalition '''11' the cit v TAXED banks around them against the -commanding and corporations instead of BORROW­ quoted as asking. "How can we continue officers. When the CP in desperation staff. ... The situation of an officer who I;\IG from them. there would be no the struggle if we feel at our backs the signed the August 25 communique with came into connict with the committee financial crisis at all." guns of officers who want to defeat us? .. several "far left" groups, this was a became unbearable. Thus was created the Even "socialist" Albert Shanker Arms in the hands of the workers'? Why tremendous opportunity to win the ranks unwritten right of the soldiers to remove of the CP to proposals for working-class their commanders." occasionally employs such rhetoric! not now'?!" Yet another of the "progres­ -Leon Trotskv. Historr at' the Instead of implying that the needs of sive officers" present proclaimed, "There independence as opposed to the Stalin­ Russian Revolution. Vol. I'.1930 working people can be fulfilled simply by ists' policy of support to the bourgeois are people in the MFA whom you can The same understanding is rapidly pressuring the bourgeois state to adopt a M FA which today threatens to extermi­ trust. " spreading among soldiers in Portugal as populist "tax the banks" gimmick. a class­ nate them. But the "far left." including the Meanwhile, on the right General Sousa the revolutionary allure of the M FA has struggle leadership would put forward a self-proclaimed "Trotskyist" LCI. did not de Castro called last week for dissolution been tarnished. At a meeting on Septem­ real program for victory: open the do this. Instead they adapted to Cunhal of the soldiers' advisory Unit Delegate ber 10 of the delegate assembly of the corporate books. cancel the debt. exprop­ by agreeing to support for the Gonc;alves Assemblies (ADU) and a purge of the left Military Police regiment in Lisbon, the riate the banks, form a workers party and government and the "MFA-People wing of the officer corps. And among the Maoist-led soldiers (who a few days struggle for a workers government. Alliance"! ranks of the military the organizers of the earlier announced in a demonstration Shanker tries to justify his incredible 1,500-strong soldiers contingent at the Unable to perceive the bourgeois their refusal to obey orders to go to giveaway contract by pointing to the September 10 demonstration in Porto are character of the MFA the centrist LCI Angola) passed a motion stating that: depression. Of course, he is only looking reportedly forming a soldiers committee has constantly fostered illusions about "In this sense the delegates of the unit in for excuses. But it is the capitalist independent of the M FA and against the the "progressive officers" who talk of the ADU and the popular will represent­ business cycle that is responsible for the ed in this Assembly decide to accept the military command structure under the socialism while locking up union leaders teachers' current plight, and the fact is support of the unit's Command. making name "Soldiers United Will Win" (SUV). and Maoists. Thus in a communique that none of the reformist caucuses has a quite clear that since the soldiers are the dated February 15, the LCI stated that the only revolutionary social stratum in the program to fight the depression. Their What Program for Victory? workers movement "must offer to these barracks the Command. if it wishes in demands during the strike were strictly 'progressive officials' the effective possi­ fact to be on the side of the soldiers in the limited to traditional union demands (no The principal obstacles to socialist bilities to ... accelerate their joining the struggle. must accept the direction of the soldiers." layoffs. no cutbacks. a big wage increase) revolution in Portugal are the treacher­ struggle of the working class." which. while absolutely vital. are insuffi-. ous misleadership of the Stalinists and -Expresso. 13 September "This joining would be expressed. among Meanwhile, the SUV soldiers committee cient for victory. (Of the three. only the social democrats, and the masses' illu­ other things. by their defense of the Coalition consistently called for joint sions in the MFA. Under the impact of soldiers' right to organize inside the army. issued a press statement announcing that work stoppages with other city unions, the wave of reactionary terror during the by their explicit refusal to participate in the first weapon of the capitalists was. but even it did not raise the necessary last two months and the removal from repression against the workers move- "our incapacity to undertake an autono- demand for a city-wide general strike against the capitalist austerity program.)

So long as oppositionists fail to prepare .~' the ranks for a general working-class , ¥ assault on capitalism. the Shankers in the ").'" . unions will legitimately and effectively '.' point out that their reformist opponents can produce no more than can they. since all share a business-unionist framework. What is needed is the construction of a class-struggle opposition in the U FT..

SPARTACIST edizione italiana

The "reconstituted" MFA, Generals Fabiao, Carvalho and Charais.

l Diario de Noticias power of the left wing of the officer corps. men!. against revolutionary demonstra­ mous offensive with a true class charac­ important opportunities have arisen for tions. etc." ter. Alreadv many times we have vielded -Comhate Operario. March 1975 to the class-enem)'. notably by submitting revolutionary Trotskyists to split the our struggle to the Alliance with the reformist parties and break the most But comrades, benevolent actions toward MFA. ... the workers and soldiers will not change conscious layers of the working class "We must know how to confront this from the bourgeois Armed Forces Move­ an officer from an agent of the bourgeoi­ danger with our class organization ment. To accomplish this, recourse to the sie into a member of the workers intimatelv linked inside and outside the Leninist tactic of principled united fronts movement! barracks: thereby breaking the military hierarchy of the army and globally INDICE is indispensable. Split the Army! challenging the power of the bourgeoi­ - Dichiarazione per organizzare Only by creating organs of soviet sie's state apparatus of which the army is a part." una tendenza trotzkista power can the working people of Portu­ The armed forces are the heart of the internazionale (1974) gal decisively crush counterrevolution. bourgeois state apparatus and the officer This is correct. Truly "revolutionary For this it is necessary to unify all workers _corps is the structure around which the officers" must submit themselves to the • Verso la rinascita della IVa Internazionale (1963) commiSSions, neighborhood commis­ military is built. The task of the commun­ direction of the soldiers, and the soldiers sions, workers militias, popular vigilance ists is to split the army, by extracting the committees must break with the M FA • La conferenza di Londra del committees, soldiers committees, "peo­ soldiers from the control of the officer and the military command. But while the Comitato Internazionale ple's assemblies" and similar bodies into a corps, and to smash the bourgeois state. LCI reportedly played a role in organiz­ (1966) unitary, democratically elected represen­ Thus the condition for individual officers ing the S UV, its signing of the August 25 • Dichiarazione di Principi della tative national council of workers and to come over to the side of the working communique and joining the class­ Spartacist League (1966) soldiers deputies. In addition to agitating class is not good will but breaking with collaborationist "revolutionary I popular • Genesi del Pablismo in the workers' and soldiers' organiza­ the military command structure and united front" directly contradicts this and • Conferenza internazlonale tions for this program, the ostensibly submitting themselves to the discipline of constitutes a betrayal of Marxism and tr, provvisoria (1974) socialist parties should be challenged the soldiers committees. proletariat. With its centrist gyrating anr • Le origini del Nucleo through united-front proposals to under­ Soon after the February 1917 illusions in the "progressive officers" the Spartacista d'italia (1975) take the construction of soviet bodies. revolution which toppled the tsar in LCI has shown itself incapable of And in the face of the threatened purge Russia, soldiers were already demanding providing revolutionary leadership t" the PREZZO:75C and crackdown on leftists in the military an end to control by the commanding Portuguese workers and soldiers. \'-'hai is by the rightist generals, a Marxist staff. They forced the nervous reformist urgently needed is a break frc';~l the Scrivere a: leadership would propose to the other left leaders of the Petrograd Soviet to sign capitulationist tailism of thi~ Pab!oist Spartacist Publishing Co. parties and even to sectors of the MFA a "Order No. I" calling for elected commit­ .perversion of Trotskyism, aw1 a fig!lt to Box 1377, GPO temporary united military bloc. tees in all military units, soldiers' deputies build an authentic Trotshi~t rar:) in New York, N.Y. 10001 In undertaking such initiatives, the in the soviet, political control by the Portugal, constructed in tl,,_, ~,;cllgg!C to Trotskyists must maintain their political soviet, control of weapons by the commit- reforge the Fourth Inter> .:li()!';,! g

26 SEPTEMBER 1975 5 Gunpoint Elections in the Fields Grower Vigilantes Terrorize Farm Workers # '.

ft, .. being ballots of "economic strikers" who Elizabeth Sunflower have been on strike since the time of the Above: Cesar Chavez with UFW organizers. Below: Member of gun-packing Pacifist Chavez Relies I BT takeover. This could mean an vigilante "citizens posse," which has been trying to keep UFW organizers away on State Arbitration eventual UFW victory, as they are from tomato pickers, being arrested after shooting incident with police. entitled to vote according to the law's SAl'\ FRANCISCO, September 14-As provisions, but each individual case must the first wave of voting returns in union be ruled on by the five-man governor­ representation elections came in this appointed Agricultural Labor Relations week, it was clear that the survival of the Board (ALRB) charged with implemen­ United Farm Workers (UFW) union ting the elections. hangs by a very slender thread. Though Long-time labor organizer Fred the California Agricultural Labor Rela­ Ross, who is aiding the UFW during the tions Act which governs the elections was representation elections, declared that hailed as the vehicle which would finally never in his 30 years of union experience bring labor peace to the fields, it is has he seen "anything which begins to proving to be one more tool to debilitate approach the climate of fear and intimi­ the farm workers, putting their fate into dation" around the Gallo elections. His the hands of the courts and executive was one of a number of depositions bodies of the class enemy. It is extremely submitted in a series of unfair labor urgent that the labor movement across practices charges the U FW has filed with the state take action in defense of the ALRB. Among the charges are the fact UFW. that Teamster organizers and Gallo Though the UFW has won about 24 security guards (whose head served with elections covering 4,500 workers to the the State Department in Vietnam) fol­ I nternational Brotherhood of Teamsters' lowed, photographed and recorded the (IBT) 14 victories covering 4,000 workers names of workers talking to U FW (Oakland Tribune, 13 September), many orgamzers. of the larger and most important ranches As if this weren't enough, these same remain, at least for the moment, in security guards cast ballots (challenged Teamster hands. Last spring as Governor by the UFW) in the elections. The hired Brown's agricultural labor bill was being goons of the capitalists have no place in a agreed to by the UFW, lBT and agribusi­ farm workers' union or any other labor ness interests, we warned that this organization. They are strikebreakers by measure would permit a state arbitration definition and enemies of the labor board to decide whether the farm work­ movement! ers' union would live or die, and that The pattern in other Teamster "victo­ class-conscious workers should therefore ries" was similar. Both at Giumarra, oppose it. Most of the left remained silent largest U.S. table-grape grower, and Egg on this crucial question and UFW leader City, the nation's largest producer with Cesar Chavez assured his ranks that three million eggs a day, the contested everything \yould turn out all right since ballots could turn these U FW election the Teamsters had no support. defeats into victories. Even so, the UFW The voting has shown that the U FW is in serious trouble and cannot afford to retains the loyalty of most agricultural give away elections. At the small Dalton workers in California, but it also shows Richardson vineyards south of Bakers­ Daily World that Chavez' pacifism and impotent field the UFW handed victory to the lBT access ruling was immediately reversed deputy for protection, the answer was boycott strategy continue to imperil the by refusing to even get on the ballot on September 3 by U.S. DistrictJudge M. quick: "We are not escorting you into the very existence of the union. The Farm because a U FW organizer was shot and D. Crocker of Fresno, who, coincidental­ fields" (San Francisco Examiner, 4 Workers' election defeats appear to come killed at the ranch in 1973. ly, owns about 75 acres of row crop land September). from ranches where there was massive near Chowchilla. On September IO intimidation by gun-toting company The Growers' "Rights" Crocker's ruling was upheld by a Fresno Capitalist Hypocrisy goons during the voting, and from the The intimidation tactic is not limited to County Superior Court judge, who found Such is the hypocrisy of capitalist "law oldest target& of U FW -led consumer Gallo. The results of the September 9 the union access rule to be "unconstitu­ and order," which makes blatantly boycotts. Over the years vineyards like election at McSweeney Farms, a produce tional and excessive." i.e., a violation of evident the bankruptcy of Chavez'legalis­ Gallo and Giumarra have built up an grower, were not certified by the ALRB the capitalists' holy of holies: the "right" tic pacifism. To look for salvation to the entire labor force of scabs. pending resolution of unfair labor prac­ to private property. Again, resolution of capitalist state disarms the workers "A Climate of Fear and tice charges. The election is significant in the question awaits a decision before the politically and in every way. While the Intimidation" that it was the first to produce a vote for appropriate capitalist body, this time the growers organize private armies, the no union representation. Two known U.S. Supreme Court. sheriffs deputies and police spend their Last week's important vote at E. & J. U FW supporters were fired and the The growers have made clear that they time assaulting and arresting UFW Gallo concerns not simply the 450 owner' threatened to shut down his entire claim the "right" to defy, with violence if members (as occurred at Merced in workers directly employed by the winery. operation if a union were voted in. The necessary, a ruling against them. Armed August). According to Chavez' defeatist The bulk of the grapes for this largest U FW got two votes and 45 workers voted vigilante groups calling themselves "Sher­ line, farm workers must passively "turn wine producer in the country are bought against having a union. A Board agent iffs Posse Comitatus" have appeared in the other cheek" and rely on the bosses' from numerous small growers. It is pointed out. however, that the UFW "had the fields carrying guns, "citizen's arrest" courts to stop this brutal intimidation. generally recognized that the vote at to get 51 per cent of the workers to sign forms and their own badges, to keep In a telegram to U.S. Attorney General ~;allo will determine the union affiliation cards indicating they wanted an election UFW organizers out of the fields. In the Levi the ALRB chairman. Bishop Maho­ of the supplying vineyards. Furthermore, in the first place so something peculiar Stockton area such a "posse" of right­ ney, this month accused the Border : he U FW boycott against Gallo and the must have occurred" (NeH' York Times, wing thugs (many of whom also belong to Patrol of interfering in the conduct of the ';l'~cr's expensive anti-UFW advertising 10 September). anti-income-tax and anti-gun-control elections. Under the guise of enforcing ~·"',';'aign give the vote a cQ.{lsiderable The most graphic example of the organizations), repelled U FW organizers la\\ s against "illegal aliens," the Patrol is ~.'.:;::',··dic importance. contrived character of the legislative from tomato fields September 3 and 4. responding to employer "tip-offs" by ~:1( election results were a stalemate "solution" to "California's farm labor When questioned about the "posse," a selectively arresting and deporting un­ ~cT: i[i~: nothing. The Teamsters, who problem" is the growers' defiance of the tomato grower sarcastically answered, documented workers who sign petitions fn·. .: :::hc ... k.:d off union dues at Gallo ever Board's ruling that UFW organizers can "Why guns? It's their right to carry for secret-ballot elections under the ,I n,,~ skill,ng the contract in 1973, got 223 enter ranch property for three hours per guns .... You know, dove season opened agricultural labor act. Bishop Mahoney ';oti::~ ii' ,ilt: UFW's 131. However, 198 day to speak to workers-before and Monday." When UFW organizer Jim said that "potential voters mav be ",0' .,.. ;,· •. m'l.:sted, the bulk of them after work and at lunch break. The ALRB Drake approached a nearby sheriffs continued on page 10 6 WORKERS VANGUARD Communal Terror in Lebanon

SEPTEMBER 22 In the small '-lear outside Beirut and in the southern section Eastern state of Lebanon (about half the of the country. killing 300 and wounding site of :\ew Jersey and with an estimated 600. This in turn provoked massive population of between 3 and 3.5 million). Moslem demonstrations against the some 2.500 persons have died in "confes­ government. sional" warfare since April. In the last Although the Palestinians have an eight days alone communal strife has armed militia of 10,000, following Fatah's resulted in 400 casualties. with major slogan of "non-interference" (the same areas of the capital. Beirut. bombed and slogan which beheaded their movement burned out. The recent wave of violence in Jordan) the militias did not come to the was sparked by a fight between two taxi aid of the worker-student demonstrators. drivers in the streets of Tripoli over the Under the Cairo Agreement signed in right-of-way. resulting in a full-scale civil 1969 to end a previous round of fighting war between a 3.000-strong army raised between the Lebanese army and the from the Moslem populace of Tripoli and commandos, the Fatah-dominated Pal­ a force of 2.000 from the nearby Maronite estine Liberation Organization (PLO) Christian village Zgharta. That trivial agreed to subordinate the militia to the squabbles can unleash such murderous army and to police the refugee camps. In ferocity reveals deeply rooted social the current communal strife select units of antagonisms that give the lie to Lebanon's the Palestinian militia are interceding reputation as the "Switzerland of the essentially as adjuncts of the Lebanese East": peaceful, prosperous, democratic army. and conciliating its several minorities. Certainly Lebanon resembles The Ultra-Right Switzerland in being the banking and The confessional system in Lebanon commercial center of the l\ear East. enforces the political hegemony of the although this role has been diminished Christian businessmen and ecclesiastics, since its largest bank, Intra. crashed in the Moslem sheiks and muftis, the Druze 1966. In 1969 financial services contribut­ tribal leaders, the za'ims (Mafia-like ed almost 22 percent of the country's urban bosses) and landlords over the gross national product and commerce 31 masses. A non-believer is politically percent. compared to 13 percent for disenfranchised and, with the exception industry and handicrafts and less than 10 of the extremely reformist and over­ percent for agriculture. Lebanon is whelmingly middle-class Communist relalil'ely prosperous. Excluding Israel Party, political movements are drawn and the oil sheikdoms, Lebanon has the along communal lines. Moreover, the highest per capita income ($500 yearly) inflammation of religious and ethnic on the Asian continent. Of course, this hatreds has tremendously strengthened income is extremely unevenly distributed. the extreme right wing of the political with both class and communal dispari­ spectrum. Lebanon counts not one but ties, the poor being concentrated in the several fascistic and ultra-rightist Moslem population (and in particular formations. among the Shi'ite sects). Lebanon also presents a facade of AP The best-known is the predominantly bourgeois democracy. Elections are by Lebanese army patrols the streets of Beirut during communal fighting last week. Maronite Christian Al Kataeb, or Phal­ secret ballot, there is universal .adult ange, founded by Pierre Gemayyel after suffrage and women have had the right to Picot agreement of 1916 for splitting the Israelis launch a terror raid into Lebanon he returned from the 1936 World Olym­ vote since 1952. The press is comparative­ former Ottoman holdings between (carefully including both the Palestinian pics in Berlin, and modeled on the Hitler ly free and newspapers numerous. In 1962 French and British imperialism, France camps and Lebanese towns and villages), Youth movement. Another founder of there were reportedly 49 daily took both Lebanon and Syria. (This the army "retaliates" by attacking the the Phalange, Charles Helou, was presi­ political newspapers, 38 weekly political imposition of colonial rule was subse­ refugees. dent of Lebanon from 1964 to 1970, and magazines plus 112 weekly non-political quently legitimized in the guise of a A typical Lebanese crisis scenario today the movement has seven deputies in magazines in this small country. Beirut is League of Nations "mandate.") Using the takes the pattern of events following an parliament and an armed paramilitary currently the only Arab city where there traditional imperial policy of divide and Israeli commando operation in the heart force of 6,000 which has been responsible can be published an ostensibly Trotskyist rule, France created a separate Lebanon of Beirut on 10 April 1973. The response for most of the anti-Moslem terror and journal, el Mounadil (The Militant), in order to maintain a base of support in of the government headed by Moslem provocations. It was the Phalange that organ of the Revolutionary Communist the Christian communities which feared prime minister Franjieh was "Black May" massacred 22 unarmed Palestinians on a Group which is affiliated with the United persecution as a tiny minority in an (named after "Black September" of 1970 bus in April, precipitating the current Secretariat. independent and predominantly Moslem in Jordan, when King Hussein wiped out wave of violence. Greater Syria. In order to cut across pro­ Palestinian commandos and massacred But the Maronites have no monopoly "Confessionalism" and independence and unionist sentiment, the 5,000 refugees). The Christian-office red on fascist parties. In 1932 Antun Saadeh Imperialism French constitution of 1926 created a Lebanese army attacked refugee camps launched the fanatically pro-Nazi Syrian chamber of deputies and a quota system But while Lebanon is the on~r Arab Nationalist Party which found its greatest for government jobs based on confession­ country to have a secular constitution, it support among petty-bourgeois Greek al representation. is by no means a secular state. Instead Orthodox. The Armenians, refugees from This system was, in the main, retained politics at all levels are based on tradition­ Turkish terror, have taken their political after independence in 1946. While osten­ movements with them into exile, domi­ al apportionment of various posts among sibly an evenhanded means for preven­ the 17 reiigious communities. The domi­ nant among them being the fanatically ting tyranny by the largest minority or the nant Christian sect. the Maronites, are anti-communist Dashnak. In 1958 when splintering of the state, the confessional inevitably elected to the most powerful Lebanese president Camille Chamoun system is inherently discriminatory and office, the presidency, by a necessary two­ called in 10,000 U.S. Marines to help him anti-democratic. For example, represen­ thirds vote of the chamber of deputies. suppress a rebellion by Moslem political tation is based on the 1932 census which The president, who appoints all ministers, opponents, he was backed by only three is obliged to nominate a Sunni Moslem as found six Chnstians lOr every five parties: the Phalange, the Syrian Nation­ prime minister. A Shi'ite (from the next Moslems. The Christian political pre­ alists and Dashnak. dominance continues to this day, al­ most numerous Moslem sect) is by The closest thing to a left in the though it is well known that the Moslem tradition elected president of the chamber Lebanese electoral system is personified population has outstnpped the Christian. of deputies, and so on. by Kamel J umblatt, member of a leading Thus one of the key demands of the This confessional representation grows Druze political family. Originally aligned Moslem militants is simply for a new out of the medieval Ottoman empire with pro-French forces, Jumblatt broke census! which ruled through religious communi­ with the colonial government in 1943 ties. The latter were permitted wide­ The Excluded Palestinians after the French arrested most of the ranging local autonomy so long as they elected Mandate government. While paid allegiance and taxes to the Sublime In a country too frightened to take a organizing the Progressive Socialist Potentate in Cdnstantinople. But as the new census, no place can be found for the Party (PSP), founded in 1949, he was mountains of Lebanon had provided 300,000 Palestinian refugees. as their simultaneously negotiating with the refuge for persecuted religious minorities enfranchisement would jeopardize upper­ Syrian Nationalist Party. Jumblatt sup­ throughout history, this area proved class Christian predominance. The right­ ported Chamoun in the 1952 elections particularly troublesome for the wing Maronite parties grouped together and only broke after Chamoun backed Ottomans. in the Triple Alliance (Phalange, Nation­ the "Eisenhower Doctrine" for U.S. Following WorldWar I Arab national­ al Bloc and National Liberals) call for intervention in the Near East. The PSP ists demanded immediate independence expUlsion of the Palestil).ians. while the Salhani/Sygma continues to be based on the Druze for a united Greater Syria including Moslem-based parties give the refugees Para-military commando of the fas­ community but has evolved a utopian Lebanon. However. in the secret Sykes- lip-service support. And whenever the cistic Phalange in Lebanon. continued on page 9 26 SEPTEMBER 1975 7 39!1for 40 UAW "Shorter Work Time" Hoax WASHINGTON, D.C.-Delegates of 1973 has become increasingly popular War II, the Trotskyists popularized "30 negotiations. The pro-capitalist U A W the United Auto Workers (UAW) Na­ with auto executives plagued by high hours' work for 40 hours' pay" as a tops settled for 60 hour workweeks at tional Ford Council meeting in Washing­ absenteeism and faced with current concretization of their slogan for a Ford, 54 at G M and Chrysler-which just ton September 9-11 routinely approved reduced production needs. The one-half "sliding scale of wages and hours" to happened to be the standard overtime the only resolution to come on the floor, a hour paid time off per week-only about spread available work to all. The U A W's already being worked at the respective proposal from the leadership making three days per year!-for perfect atten­ paper program has included "30 for 40" companies! "Shorter Work Time" a key demand in dance was originally proposed by Bannon since 1936, but it has never been seriously The exigencies of periodic capitalist the 1976 auto negotiations. This token to curb absences, not unemployment. bargained for. crises-and the profit-hungry companies' gesture seeks to translate the strong And indications so tar from the Some pressure, albeit timid, is also preference for paying fewer workers time­ sentiment among auto workers for a agricultural implement companies are coming from the "National Short Work and-a-half for overtime, rather than shorter workweek to combat layoffs into that, to the limited extent it has been an Week Committee" headed by Cadillac incurring additional "fringe benefit" a bogus "time bank" plan, whose impact incentive, the plan reduced the number of Local 22 president Frank Runnels. expenses by more hiring-mean that the on unemployment will be paltry, if not jobs available! With less absenteeism, Aspiring to higher office and seeking a lives of auto workers are punctuated by counterproductive .. fewer surplus workers are needed to fill in power base, Runnels has sought to group grueling overtime and long layoffs. Even After two days of exhorting the vacancies. around himself other local-level U A W the 40-hour week, center of bitter labor assembled local bureaucrats to "go visit The fraudulent guise of a job­ leaders. He recently held a Detroit battles in the late 19th and early 20th your congressmen" (along with the telling producing "shorter work time" label is meeting drawing representatives from centuries, is a myth for auto workers admission that "nothing happened" after required now because of the depression­ over 60 U A W locals, many of whom had except during economic slumps (and then the union's February 5 pressure-the­ level unemployment in auto. Last winter previous connections with the "30 and only for those who avoid the layoff list). Democrats jobs rally), UA W's Ford nearly 300,000 production workers (38 Out" campaign for "early retirement." Securing an end to unemployment means Division Director and Vice President percent of the total) were on indefinite or The insufficiency of Runnels' call for a preparing the ranks of labor for sharp Ken Bannon introduced the resolution. temporary layoff. Even with the current meager four daysj nine hours is under­ class struggles, beginning with the fight He largely repeated a "program" outlined upturn in production (caused more by lined by reports that he is even willing to for a massive reduction of the workweek in a July 1974 Ford Council motron: less balancing out of the 1975 models and compromise on that! Perhaps he, Wood­ at no loss in pay and factory occupations time on the job, more leisure time, introduction of the 1976's than by cock and Bannon can all agree on "39- of shut-down plants. reduced unemployment, no increase in increased sales), 84,000 remain on the and-a-half for 40." But it is the capitalist system itself that overtime. Though purposely vague, the recall lists. As Bannon pointed out, these This meeting of the Ford Council, is the cause, and the fight for jobs must actual intent is revealed by the inclusion figures do not even include the workers which as usual produced no concrete aim at expropriating the companies and of a quote from a 6 June 1974 news who have lost their recall rights-nearly accomplishments, did emphasize the vastly expanding production in a ration­ conference by UA W President Leonard 20,000 just at Ford-or those whose jobs necessity of a new class-struggle leader­ ally planned economy under a workers Woodcock: have been eliminated by attrition and ship for the UA W. Not one of the 146 government. Those who pretend that "Well, you talk about the question of a speed-up. Bannon estimated that 138,000 voting delegates-mostly local presidents something less will suffice-whether "36 four-day week-the bonus hours plan is a jobs had been lost in the industry during and paid officials-uttered a peep in for 40," lobbying for the Democrats' method of shortening the individual's the last two years. protest over the resolution's advance drop-in-the-bucket jobs bills or some work time. It's true it's only in a small Pressure for union action for jobs has billing of an obvious sellout. The motion other reformist panacea-are only trying way-half an hour per week in the been building up, especially since the G M was read by an administrative assistant to to fool the workers. If successful in agricultural implement contracts. But building on that, it is possible to shorten and Chrysler SUB funds ran out of Bannon and passed unanimously with no winning office on their gimmick pro­ the individual's working time by periodic money this spring, sharply increasing the discussion. grams, they will only replace the W ood­ weeks off but still maintaining the basic misery of those sacked. Several DetFOit­ What is shaping up as the "Great Short cocks and Bannons with more of the 40-hour week .... " area locals have erected billboards sup­ Work Time Hoax" is strikingly reminis­ same. The fight for a consistent, class­ The "bonus hours" or "time bank" plan porting "30 for 40." During the last cent of the fate of "voluntary overtime," struggle leadership of the workers move­ won initially at John Deere Company in depression and again following World billed as a key demand in the 1973 auto ment is the key to victory._ OL SUPP'orts Meany's Grain Boycott Maoism and Anti-Communist Protectionism George Meany and Teddy Gleason, the Stalin's autocratic arbitrariness set Soviet ment (and through them with U.S. tion, planned economy. etc.) against both arch-reactionary AFL-CIO chiefs who agriculture back for decades. Further­ imperialism) in an unholy alliance against the mismanagement of the Stalinist recently called a short-lived boycott of more, it was Stalin who for half a decade the USSR. usurpers and the aggressions of grain shipments to the Soviet Union. are was a leading opponent of Trotsky's call And what about these "Soviet capital­ imperialism. not alone. On the same side in the for gradual, voluntary collectivization! ists"? The puerile "theory" that the USSR The real interests of the international "struggle" to blame U.S. food-price Denouncing Meany for "dem­ was above reproach under Stalin but then working class lie not in protectionism but inflation on trade with the Soviet Union agogically using" the boycott which he somehow reverted (unnoticed at the time) in an end to all restrictions on trade with stand the Maoist October League (OL) and ILA head Gleason called and ended to capitalism under his successors in 1956 the bureaucratically deformed workers and the ex-Maoist Progressive Labor by bureaucratic fiat, the OL proclaims not only makes the question of which states. In the imperialist countries it is the Party (PL), both of which recently that "thousands of longshoremen took a class rules dependent upon the mere obligation of the class-conscious workers endorsed the anti-communist, protec­ militant stand" against "Soviet manipUla­ whims of a few top policymakers, but to oppose all protectionist trade barriers. tionist grain boycott. tion" of U.S. prices. But workers who, above all it serves as a cover for the The longer that Arab countries are In a leaflet announcing a against theit real class interests, are innumerable betrayals of the Maoist blamed for oil price increases, the Soviet demonstration against President Ford in enlisted in a protectionist, anti­ bureaucracy. Trotskyists, in contrast, Union is blamed for inflation of food San Francisco on September 22, a communist crusade will not stop to defend the still-existing economic prices, etc., the longer the real culprits­ coalition put together by PL included the distinguish Mao's China from Soviet "red conquests of the Russian Revolution the monopolistic corporations-will get demand, "Stop the U.S.-Russian Grain bosses." One sign on the Houston docks (nationalization of the means of produc- off the hook .• Ripoff." Nowhere in the leaflet or in the during the boycott read, "Let Commies pages of Challenge was PL's policy on the Starve"! The mind boggles at this attempt grain deals explained, however. to defend Stalin's worst crimes while in The October League made the mistake the same breath "critically" supporting POC Campaign for Jagadish Jha of trying to justify its support for the anti-Soviet ploy of the most reaction­ Meany / Gleason anti-communism. "So­ ary elements of the American union -a Success viet capitalists are all too glad to buy bureaucracy. Western grain," says the OL's Call The OL's contradictory position is, The Partisan Defense Committee (PDC), legal defense arm of the (September 1975), since they are strapped however, consistent Maoism-that is, the Spartacist League, reports that the defense campaign waged on behalf by stagnation in agriculture. This is nationalist world view of the Chinese of Jagadish Jha has been very successful and that substantial funds for allegedly because "the revolutionary Stalinist bureaucracy as opposed to the his legal fees were raised by this effort. Jha, a veteran Indian Trotskyist, enthusiasm of Soviet peasants which was internationalist interests of the proletari­ has suffered repeatedly at the hands of the Indian government for responsible for the great advances in at. In order to improve their position organizing West Bengal peasants and agricultural workers beginning agriculture under Lenin and Stalin, has against the rival bureaucrats in the in the late 1940's. He and 150 fellow union militants were hit with a been wiped out" under Khruschev and Kremlin, Peking leaders call for strength­ lengthy series of court battles after leading a successful agricultural Brezhnev! ening NATO forces in Europe and workers strike in the Bankura district during late 1969. Jha became a It is impossible to keep a straight face continued U.S. military presence in Asia, focus of PDC defense support in March of this year, after it was learned after reading such assertions. To begin while grasping the bloody hands of that the "United Secretariat," with which he is associated as a member with, even official Russian historians now "Third World" despots like Bandara­ of the Communist League of India, had criminally neglected this admit that peasants slaughtered over 50 naike and Mobutu in warm friendship. valiant militant in favor of more "popular" cases and issues. The million cows, sheep, goats and horses in To support the same ends, the October Partisan Defense Committee thanks readers of Workers Vanguard for response to Stalin's forced collectiviza­ League lines up with the worst anti­ their generous support of Jagadish Jha. tion. Far from producing great advances, communist elements of the labor move- 8 WORKERS VANGUARD Lebanon ... Basque Leadershin Isolates Strike (continued from page 7) Nationalists and non-sectarian program calling for civil marriage, free education and ultimately a Maoists Face "socialist" society based on early marri­ age, family life and religion. Death Sentences Communalism and Genocide in Spain Berkeley Firemen Historically the formation of nation­ states was a bloody process in which the Free All Victims of dominant nationality suppressed weaker "remnants of peoples" left over from Franco's Terror! feudal times. The more completely this obliteration of minority peoples was SEPTEMBER 22-ln its desperate Defeated After carried out (e.g., the annihilation of efforts to crack down on the American Indians in the U.S.) the less the increasing mobilization of work­ national question is a burning topic ing people in Spain, the Franco today. But in building their colonial regime has during recent days empires Western imperialist powers used sentenced eleven ETA (Basque the classi'c "divide et impera" methods of nationalist) and FRAP (Maoist) setting different subject communities 25-Day Walkout militants to death by garroting. against each other, arresting the process According to today's news re­ of national consolidation. While greatly ports, eight of these sentences developing a few export-oriented eco­ may be carried out within the BERKELEY, September 20-A first­ 120 to 4), the only possible way forward nomic undertakings, a great many social week. The use of this barbaric ever firemen's strike here is over after 25 for the union was to link the strike with holdovers from feudalism were main­ medieval form of execution ac­ days. In what was aptly described as "a other strikes in the area, in particular the among them communalism. Thus tained, companies recent arrests of 200 decisive victory for the city's position" by Berkeley teachers' strike, and to call for a some of the most intractable national and persons and a renewed attack on the conservative Berkeley Gazette, the city-wide shutdown by all municipal communal conflicts today occur in ex­ the press. The wave of state terror firemen voted 119 to 18 to accept the employees. At the same time, the liberal colonial areas where the different com­ unleashed by the reactionary original pre-strike offer which they had politicians sitting on the council should munities are relatively evenly balanced in dictatorship in Spain must be met twice previously rejected. Under the have been exposed as strikebreakers, and strength and extensively interpenetrated, with immediate international settlement, firemen's wages will increase a fight waged to break labor from as in Lebanon. protests! by 16 percent over a two-year period. The supporting either Democrats or Republi­ Lebanon is not a nation but a state The past ten months have only improvement is that the wage cans, to call instead for a workers party. composed of numerous religious-ethnic­ witnessed continued weakening increase will now be "front loaded," with national communities permanently tee­ of Franco's already minuscule an immediate \0 percent hike retroactive In a period of rising inflation the tering on the brink of pogroms and social base of support and an to July I. As was the case in the previous firemen have no cost-of-living protection confessional warfare. Under the capitalist increasing class polarization. In contract, this agreement contains no cost­ whatsoever. Workers Vanguard asked social order the prospects for even a December 200,000 Basque work­ of-living (c-o-l) protection, meaning that Local 1227 president Rinne why the modicum of inter-communal harmony ers struck to protest convictions the measly 8 percent yearly increase won't union wasn't demanding a full c-o-l are bleak, for even ifthc historic discrimi­ of two ETA militants. Repeated even keep up with inflation. escalator. He replied: "The city just nation and exclusion of the Moslem political strikes led to the halting absolutely refuses to discuss the cost of of production and finally the populations is reversed, it would simply A week before the strike ended, the living .... It's never gotten that far. I do lockout of the SEAT auto works in lead to victimization of the formerly union (Local 1227 of the Fire Fighters know that it would be turned down." Barcelona. The January strike dominant Christian sects. There is a Association) launched into a short-lived Rinne admitted that since 1971 the union solution under capitalism, namely the upsurge was highlighted by the "truck blockade" to stop Teamster-driven has gotten only a 13.5 percent wage Cyprus solution of civil war and massive erection of barricades in the trucks from delivering goods into the city. increase, while in the same period the rate industrial city of Pamplona. The population transfers. (Last week the last The "blockade," which lasted only three of inflation was 23 percent. "In seeking death sentences meted out to two 8,000 Turks caught behind the lines in days because it was "too effective" the wages we are asking for," he said, "we Basque nationalists accused of Greek areas of Cyprus were transferred, according to union president Jack Rinne., are just seeking to get to where we were in murdering a policeman, Jose thus completing the brutally painful and was reminiscent of militant union tactics 1971." In other words, in order to have a Antonio Garmendia Artole and necessarily discriminatory social redivi­ used during the 1930's when roving "reasonable" image, he was willing to Angelo Otaegui Echeverria, re­ sion of the island by the Turkish army pickets-"flying squads"-would tie up accept defeat in advance. The union sulted in a protest strike by begun with the invasion of August 1974.) the city to ensure complete labor support. leadership reduced its original wage 130,000 workers three weeks ago. Radical Arab nationalists have held This time 85 percent of all trucks failed to demand of 22 percent for one year (itself In response Franco's hench­ out the goal of a pan-Islamic "nation" make their deliveries. too low) to 16.5 percent over two years, as men have resorted to their tra­ united through struggle against Western an "indication of good labor negotiat- ditional solution: more violent When asked in an' interview this week imperialism. But so long as there is not a .tng n,. socialist economic organization permit­ repression. The hysterical police with Workers Vanguard why the tactic ting the cooperative development of reaction was codified in a draco­ was called off, Rinne said: Berkeley firemen and workers in "It was called off primarily because there resources there will be endless battles over nian August 27 law which makes general do not have to be "good guys" who controls the Jordan River or the death sentence mandatory for was no desire on our part to injure any citizen of Berkeley. If the strike had when it comes to defending their needs Arabian oil. And to the extent that the persons convicted of killing po­ continued with that tactic much longer, against the capitalists and their govern­ bourgeois nationalist program is not licemen, soldiers or government we would have had people at different ment agencies. Full c-o-l protection must openly for genocide of minority commu­ officials. But despite the regime's plants laid off because there would be no be included in every labor contract, materials to work with. The stores would nities, in regions of interpenetrated vicious terror, opposition conti­ whether it be with General Motors or nues to grow as the masses' have been out of supplies that weren't peoples it will lead in practice to pogroms being delivered. It would have produced with the city administration. The workers and communal warfare. At the same time, hatred for their exploiters hardships on a lot of people that we don't are not responsible for inflation and deepens. it fosters the most extreme reactionary feel should be damaged by this type of should not have to suffer for it. When the action in that manner. I guess it's just a politics among the more privileged The FRAP and ETA militants government claims it has no money, the groups-witness the multiplicity of fas­ case of trying to be a nice guy again. must not die! Free all political Basically our fight is with City Hall and union must demand the cancellation of cistic groups in Lebanan and the growth prisoners of the bloody Franco not with people out in the homes. As far the municipal debt and expropriation of of the extreme nationalist right in Israel. regime! For a soviet federation of as using that or similar tactics again, if it the banks without compensation. Public In regions of intermingled peoples­ the Iberian peninsula! becomes necessary we will use them again." services such as education, transportation Lebanon, Palestine, Cyprus among and the cost of urban upkeep must not be others-there is no equitable solution to Brother Rinne is right about one thing: sacrificed to bankers profits. In addition, national and communal conflicts short of "nice guys" don't win strikes, especially the federal government must be forced to the dictatorship of the proletariat. But FORUM- when correct tactics are given up so create a massive public works program to this does not mean that communists can easily! provide jobs for all. raise no immediate demands during the "confessional" violence. On the contrary, Faced with an adamant Berkeley city it is necessary to defend the right of Building a council composed of such "darlings" of The seeds of defeat for the Berkeley communal self-defense; to call for non­ Revol utionary the radical community as Ilona Hancock, firemen's strike were planted at the sectarian militias of workers, poor peas­ Ying Lee Kelly and Mayor Warren beginning. Throughout the strike, eight ants and Palestinian refugees to disarm Party in Canada Widener., backed by the local Chamber of fire chiefs, all members of the union, the ultra-rightist terror squads; and to Commerce, the union leadership capitu­ scabbed for the city. Such supervisory demand the right of return for all Speakers: lated to mounting pressure to end the personnel, whose loyalties are clearly Palestinian refugees and full citizenship strike following a fire which threatened revealed, have no place in the labor rights for those who choose to stay in Tom Riley the lives of three persons. The fire came movement and should be expelled from Lebanon. Trotskyist League of Canada on the heels of another unsuccessful the union. Without a militant class­ • Smash "contessionalism"-For a dem- Central Committee attempt by the union to extend the struggle leadership committed to a ocratic constituent assembly in picketing to include city refuse collectors winning program and strategy­ Lebanon! Michael Cranston and local government workers who including demanding a full cost-of-living • Down with Zionism-Israel Out of the Trotskyist League of Canada belong to Public Employees Union Local clause and extending the tactic of "roving Occupied Territories! For the right of 390. pickets," leading to a city-wide self-determination for the Palestinian Fishermen's Hall/138 East Cordova shutdown -strikes such as these will Arab and Hebrew Peoples! Friday, 26 September 8 p.m. While morale seemed to be high (the remain ineffectual and isolated, resulting • For a socialist federation of the Near VANCOUVER previous city offer for a 9 percent in continuous defeats for the working East!. immediate increase was turned down by class .• 26 SEPTEMBER 1975 9 "Citizen Kane." transformed by wild "sinceritv" and her wish to be "normal", metamorphosis into an "urban guerrilla" again w~uld be, in the finking tradition of Boston Teachers... Crazy ... and, latest. tragic prisoner. Perhaps in a Jane Alpert, to supply the names and (continued from page J2) (continuedfrom page J) period of economic decline America addresses of other fugitives she may have needs to run the rags-to-riches scenario met while in her "trance." students. black and white. This. of course. judicial propriety. backwards. But the point is not to put Patricia is consistent with the NAACP's sole Though the prisoners are no doubt The Hearst family is so filthy rich that Hearst in a frame house in LA and invite reliance on the bourgeois courts and grateful for the fortunate coincidence by the spotlight on "Patty" is making those crazed cops to burn it down in order to racist cops to protect the rights of black which they were not present in the house charged with administering "justice~' provide equal "justice" for the black children. in south central Los Angeles (now a uncomfortable. Bourgeois "justice" lumpens and the daughters of the bour­ vacant lot) where the televised massacre ranges all the way from cop terror on the geoisie. "Patty" Hearst should get her The path to victory is not the weak­ took place. they are in serious trouble. streets of the ghettos through the wrist­ legal rights·--and with her money she kneed bargaining of Robinson. who Conviction on just one of the charges slapping of the perpetrators of the My Lai probably will. delayed the strike for two weeks hoping (kidnapping with the purpose of robbery) massacre to negotiating "deals" with the for Garrity to pressure the School 'could result in life imprisonment. Among Spiro Agnews and pardons for the Not with a Bang but a Squeak Committee into offering him some face­ those who have it in for these adherents of Richard Nixons. In an editorial state­ saving compromise. To win its fight the The comic-strip exploits of "Sally" the degenerate cultist Symbionese Liber­ ment. the Nell' York Times (20 Septem­ BTU must mobilize community support Moore and "Patty" Hearst have all but ation Army (SLA) are the bourgeoisie's ber) tried to present differential justice as from black and white poor and 'working crowded out of the limelight the saga of most powerful agencies and institutions if it were an open question: "Will justice people. who will suffer from the cutbacks the third in a trio of "weird sisters," of repression. including the FBI which be blind to the social and economic in social services. and seek support from "Squeaky" Fromme, Charles Manson's resents being made the fool for so many background of the defendant. or is there the rest of the labor movement. administrative assistant who on Septem­ months. indeed one form of justice for the poor ber 5 pulled a gun on President Ford in Only by linking their strike to the fight It is of course "Patty" Hearst who and another for the rich?" Even the Times Sacramento. The incident catapulted for immediate implementation of busing makes the capture front-page news. Since knows the answer to this question! Lynette Fromme's freckled face onto the and defense of the democratic rights of 4 February 1974-when Hearst was Under bourgeois democracy both the covers of Time and Newsweek as the oppressed minorities can teachers begin pulled from her Berkeley apartment, rich and the poor bave an equal "right" to media recalled with horrified fascination to defuse the self-defeating racial conflicts stuffed in the trunk of a car, held for hire millions of dollars worth of legal the sadistic Tate/ LaBianca murders by of the urban poor and launch a struggle ransom and then "won over" by the counsel. Not surprisingly, the Hearst the "Manson family" five years ago. against those who are really responsible S LA-the story has been given sensation­ family has engaged a small army of "Squeaky" embodied the childish, for the hellish conditions in the schools­ alist coverage by the media. The press has lawyers. There is pervasive speCUlation simple-minded vacantness for which the capitalist class!. followed with cloying attention her that the rich-kid-come-home will get off Manson's "girls" became notorious as she parents' trail of tears from a $2 million with a year or so as a "brainwashed" demanded, "What are they mad about? food giveaway to their consultations with mental patient. Today in court specula­ The gun didn't go off." psychics and mobsters to the recent tion about Patricia Hearst's legal strategy According to Prosecuting Attorney "family reunion." There is no small ended as the heiress' lawyers read her Vincent Bugliosi's well-documented ac­ YOUNG delight taken in the return to the fold of sworn statement claiming she was locked count in He/ler Ske/ler, "Squeaky," the "Patty" who in April 1974 called her up, starved, tortured and forced to rob though not personally a participant in the SPARTACUS parents the "pig Hearsts" and vowed to banks by the SLA. Now that "Tania's" orgies of murder that took place at the "stay and fight." slumming adventure is over, her battery Tate and LaBianca residences on 9 and 10 Current issue includes- The prodigal daughter myth is only one of lawyers is moving to separate her from August 1969, was integral to the opera­ • Civil War in Angola of the many best-selling "Patty" stories the other defendants and setting up a case tions of the Manson cult and generally • No State Aid to Parochial Schools! that has emerged. The most lurid is the to claim that she acted under duress. It served as Manson's second in command. • Mao Sacrifices Guerrillas on inverted Horatio Alger myth: the beauti­ will no doubt have occurred to her During the period of the clan's squalid Detente Altar ful young heiress, granddaughter of lawyers that one way to prove Patricia's • SWPIYSA Defends "Right" of Free existence at the Spahn ranch, stagiIlg Speech for Fascist Scum! ground for the murders, "Squeaky" • Buckley Goes to Pot handled such business matters as selling • Iranian Students Protest with SPARTACIST LEAGUE autos and other accumulated loot. She Hunger Strikes LOCAL DIRECTORY was also assigned to be the trusted Farm Workers ... ANN ARBOR ...... (313) 662-1548 companion of the 81-year-old owner of the ranch. While George Spahn permitted SUBSCRIBE NOW! (continued from page 6) c/o SYL, Box 592 Ann Arbor, MI 48107 the "family'" to occupy the ranch, Manson intimidated" by the appearance of Border BERKELEY/ preferred to own it and, according to the $2/11 issues Patrol agents at election sites to "inquire OAKLAND ...... (415) 653-4668 plan, "Squeaky" was to become Spahn's Name ______about alien status of voters." UFW Box 23372 heir by virtue of the sexual services she organizer Eliseo Medina has also charged Oakland, CA 94623 performed. ' Address ______that employees arrested in raids following BLOOMINGTON .. (812) 332-3235 "Squeaky's" arrest record ranges from City ______the filing of election petitions have been Indiana 47401 drug possession to murder, though her fingered by Teamsters and farm manag­ BOSTON ...... (617) 492-3928 convictions have been for relatively State/Zip 78 ers. Furthermore, according to a New Box 188 ...... (617) 436-1497 minor offenses. The "family" has on York Times (9 September) account, "a M.I.T. Station different occasions claimed to have Make payable/mail to: source close to the situation" said that one Cambridge, MA 02139 committed at least 35 murders, and the Spartacus Youth Publishing Co. of the deported workers telephoned him CHiCAGO ...... (312) 427-0003 circumstantial evidence surrounding Box 825, Canal Street P.O. from Mexico to say "a Border Patrol unsolved murders and attempted mur­ New York, New York 10013 Box 6441, Main P.O. agent had told the w'Jrkers while they Chicago, IL 60680 ders of "family" associates is indeed were at the Border Patrol detention CLEVELAND ...... (216) 621-3379 chilling. center that 'we will call lawyers for you if Box 6765, In 1971 "Squeaky" was sentenced to 90 , you go with the teamsters'." Cleveland, OH 44101 days in the near death of witness Barbara In the past, Chavez has repeatedly DETROIT ...... (313) 881-1632 Hoyt. That a murder attempt had been SL/SYL '" asked this same Border Patrol to remove Box 663A, General P.O., made could not be sufficiently proven. "illegals," a demand which not only stabs Detroit, MI 48232 Likewise in 1972 the body of 19-year-old PUBLIC OFFICES fellow workers in the back but also HOUSTON ...... (713) 926-9944 Lauren Willett, who had fallen out with facilitates the present union-busting Revolutionary Literature Box 9054, the "family" (as had her husband, who activities of U.S. Immigration officials. Houston, TX 77011 also disappeared) was found buried under BAY AREA The U FW has nothing to show for this LOS ANGELES .... (213) 485-1838 the house occupied by Manson "family" treacherous finking, nor for its endless Box 26282, Edendale Station, members. "Squeaky" was among those Friday } appeals to the courts against the cops and Los Angeles, CA 90026 charged with the murder, but the evidence and 3:00-6:00 p.m. vigilantes. When California AFL-CIO was again insufficient for conviction. Saturday MADiSON ...... (608) 257-4212 leader John Henning recently appealed to c/o SYL, Box 3334, Witnesses were understandably 330-40th Street the state attorney general. Evelle Y oung­ Madison, WI 53704 reluctant to testifv at the Manson trial, (near Broadway) er, to help the local San Joaquin sheriff NEW yORK ...... (212) 925-2426 for less than a dozen members of the Oakland, California disarm the "posses," Younger answered Box 1377, G.P.O., "family," which at times claimed more Phone 653-4668 that he thought the sheriff "has things New York, NY 10001 than 100, were behind bars. The rest, led under control." PHILADELPHIA ... (215) 667-5695 by "Squeaky," executed Manson's will on CHICAGO Whatever the rulings of the ALRB, Box 25601, the outside with well-coordinated energy. Tuesday 4:00-8:00 p.m. union representation in the California Philadelphia, PA 19144 She led the Manson followers who Saturday 2:00-6:00 p.m. fields clearly belongs to the U FW. Labor SAN DIEGO maintained a vigil outside the Los must demand: Teamsters out of the fields! P.O. Box 2034, Angeles Hall of Justice throughout the 650 South Clark For a massive state-wide farm workers' Second floor Chula Vista, CA 92012 trial, shaving their heads when Manson strike-defend the picket lines! Militant SAN FRANCISCO shaved his, carving crosses into their Chicago, Illinois workers in all unions must push for labor Phone 427-0003 Box 5712 foreheads when he did. Ever the chief support to the embattled farm union: For San Francisco, CA 94101 cheerleader of the Manson cause, NEW YORk the formation of union defense squads to "Squeaky" explained that "We have Xed smash the "posses"! Hot-cargo scab TROTSKYIST LEAGUE ourselves out of this world." The mutila­ Monday } produce-For a California general strike tions became a ritual for new members, through 3:00-7:30 p.m. in defense of the UFW! And once again OF CANADA "complete to tasting the blood that ran Friday the farm workers' struggle demonstrates TORONTO ...... (416) 366-4107 down their faces." Since Manson's Saturday 1 :00-4:00 p.m. that the working class must place no faith Box 6867, Station A imprisonment "Squeaky" has waged a 260 West Broadway in the phony "neutrality" of the capitalist Toronto, Ontario crusade for Mansonism, attempting to Room 522 government: Dump the sellout union VANCOUVER ..... (604) 299-5306 recruit new members and to prevent New York, New York bureaucrats, break with the Democrats­ Box 26, Station A members from deserting the group. Vancouver, B.C. \.. Phone 925-5665 .J Form a workers party to fight for a The blood fetish, the god! devil wor­ workers government!. ship of Manson's person, the slavish self- 10 WORKERS VANGUARD negating servility achieved through per­ ter of the SLA is clear: the SLA is an It is a Marxist commonplace to note cultivated a sophisticated vision of the sonality decomposition are all part of irrational and cultist expresssion of that petty-bourgeois elements are driven absurd, was grief-stricken to discover his Mansonism. Manson espoused an ideolo­ lumpen-proletarian rage having nothing to fren7Y by their inability to influence students outside his window chanting the gy as consistent even in its contradictions in common with the struggle of the events which affect their lives. Sealed off fascist slogan, "Down with Intelligence­ as it was demented. The murders were working class for socialism" (WV ]\;0.43, from the great social forces of history, Long Live Death!" From Jacques Barzun part of a strategy for achieving his 26 April 1974). petty-bourgeois currents express a world and R. D. Laing to Manson, the cult of megalomaniacal ends. to which "Squea­ Some left-wing terrorists, while dang­ view so narrow and special that they often the irrational nourishes petty-bourgeois ky." like the others. fully subscribed. erously derailed from the path of socialist maintain only a tenuous grip on reality. frenzy. As "revealed" to Manson in personal revolution, nevertheless exhibit a distort­ With the break-up of the New Left While the SLA projects shadows to the messages in the lyrics of Beatles songs and ed anti-capitalist impulse. While their many young people became convinced left. at points it overlaps the Manson cult the Book of Revelations. he had a historic acts are often stupid or vicious, falsely that they could not change the world, and as well. Petty-bourgeois cultism may mission to carry out: to lead the chosen personalizing the struggle of classes, began to act as though the world itself was contain a political component, but it is through a cave in Death Valley to a organizations like the Weathermen, or not real. The rapid spread of obscurantist not usually clear where such groups and paradise in the center of the earth where petty-bourgeois left-nationalist groups religion, as well as deep political cynicism individuals floating above solid political all the other "tuned-in tribes" that had like the I RA and sections of the Palestini­ among a significant layer of youth, terrain will touch down. These amor­ ever existed had escaped to avoid extinc­ an resistance movement, express in a provides the culture medium in which the phous bodies revolve on an axis of their tion. There they were to wait out the deformed way the aspirations of the Mansons and Marcuses recruit. Both the own, ungrounded by a stable connection Armageddon that was imminent on earth oppressed. The left must defend such Mansonite and Marcusite milieux shelter to the material world and the realities of in the form of a race war whereby the people against repression by the capitalist its social dynamic, and cannot simply be entire white race would be exterminated aliented, disoriented and despairing state, in order to defend itself. But such elements of the petty bourgeoisie. analyzed on a linear political continuum by the black, who were believed to be people must be carefully distinguished from left to right. biologically inferior and would therefore from the SLA and the Mansonites who The political shading off into lunacy have to turn to serve the real leader: engage in criminally degenerate ritual But the Manson "family" and Marcus' and criminality becomes even more Charlie Manson and his followers. The killings. Labor Committees are not the same; the difficult to separate in a social-cultural murders-the more shocking the better­ formt::r is a criminal cult, while the latter is milieu in which it is not difficult to were to be blamed on blacks, thus Among the recently arrested SLAers a political cult. There is a significant imagine someone joining the Revolution­ precipitating "Helter Skelter," a holo­ only Wendy Yoshimura can be defended difference between the left-wing reformist ary Union, then Venceremos and then the caust triggered by the whites' retaliation. from a class perspective. Linked to the scientology of the Labor Committees and SLA. "Squeaky" at points can sound like Known for this racist filth, it is little SLA by the alleged discovery of her the wanton murderous activities of the any residual California dreamer who wonder that Manson refused to leave his fingerprints in the Pennsylvania farm­ Mansonites. Although Marcus can tor­ cares more about whales than wars. cell in Folsom prison out of fear for his house where the fugitives may have lived ture his membership and accuse his Sometimes the most misguided individu­ life, and does so now at San Quentin only some months ago, Yoshimura is accused "comrade of great dignity" of "sucking al can be won to the cause of proletarian since he has reportedly found a protective of having explosives said to have been . and' actuating a pig," the Marcusites, revolution, but the traffic goes both ways. home among the reactionary fascist scum used in blowing up an ROTC building in unlike the Mansonites, are not committed of the Aryan Brotherhood. 1972, before she became associated with to a program of genocidal race war. Marxists look carefully at the motives In recent months "Squeaky" and her the SLA. Born in a detention camp for involved in terrorist acts. We have Although both exhibit behavior that roommates proclaimed a new "religious Japanese-Americans, the daughter of a sympathy for the rage of the oppressed. It can best be described only by a competent order" to pray for Manson's freedom. She Fresno gardener, Yoshimura is the only is also understandable that a petty clinician, the Labor Committees express told an interviewer: one who sits in the Santa Rita prison farm bourgeois, confronted with the brutal "We're nuns now, and we wear red robes. and speaks to her family through barbed (and are part of) a weak left movement. oppression of capitalist institutions, We're waiting for our Lord [Manson]. wire. This can be judged by its two most could be guilt-shocked into social work, and there's only one thing to do before he important split-offs, the Socialist Labor comes off the cross, and that's clean up mad bombing or both. We care for the Counter-Culture Fungus and Left­ Committee and the International Work­ human creature who wants to answer the the earth. Our red robes are an example ers Party, which defined themselves as of new morality. We must clean up the Wing Morbidity terror of capitalist society with a terror of political and leftist when they broke with air. the water and the land. They're red The crisis of mankind, said Trotsky, his own; but we do not support the acts. with sacrifice, the blood of the sacrifice." can be reduced to the crisis of revolution­ Marcus. After the proletarian revolution Equally importantly, just because some­ - Time, 15 September ary leadership. That crisis is demonstrat­ we would try to win over elements ofthe one takes aim at a prominant capitalist According to her roommate, "family" ed not only in great historic events like cult of Marcus, while simply protecting politican or robs a bank, that act does not member Sandra Good: Chile and Portugal, but also by the society from the cult of Manson. make him automatically part of the left "Squeaky is very, yery gentle, and that's why all this monstrousness out here hurts terroristic exotica and other strange fruit There are also political cults on the far and defensible as such. her. It's on her back; she carries that grown on the political soil of the U.S. right, such as the Ku Klux Klan, in which Individualist terror is a stupid petty­ weight. Every day we would wake up and That a disturbed crackpot like Lynn (unlike the Mansonites) the political think, 'How many whales did they kill bourgeois self-indulgence, the flip side of -rmray:=- ---- Marcus, for instance, can gain a following component prevails over ritual criminali­ the "self-made man." Political assassina­ of hundreds of youth (some of whom ty. The workers movement will deal with -New York Daily News, 8 tion is a particularly stupid act. It is also want to see a socialist society) is an September such groups on the way to and during the fundamentally negative-that is, against expression of the extreme weakness of the This summer a xeroxed letter was sent revolution. something but not clearly for something U.S. left and the present quietism of its During the Spanish civil war a vener­ to the Sacramento Bee ~nd an LA else. Ford could just as easily be lined up misled and racially torn working class. television station, headlined "Manson is able old professor, Unamuno, who had in the rifle sights of some right-wing nut Mad at Nixson" and signed with a who thought Helsinki was a sellout to the backward swastika. It ...,indicated that "commies." The most obvious point is the Manson was still angry over Nixon's correct one: Rockefeller is no better than public declaration of Manson's guilt Ford. during the trial and went on to say, "If Build the Weekly Wealthy individuals or their children Nixon's reality wearing a Ford face must not be considered "fair game" for continues to run this country, your homes maniacal hunters who espouse a hatred of will be bloodier than the Tate-LaBianca capitalism. Class war is exactly that-a houses and My Lai put together." war between classes in which the question We wept no tears over the death of of terror is subordinated to the military John Kennedy, and class-conscious .'lIltEIIS strategy of the class. Individual American workers are not concerned to protect the anarchists are famous for botching physical safety of the chief imperialist military matters; Alexander Berkman, warmonger, Gerald Ford. But the assassi­ who served 20 years in prison for missing nation of the president by a member of industrialist Frick, used a cheap second­ the Manson family spouting semi­ """'111} hand pistol. At the time it was correctly political verbiage would have been far Name noted that, typrcal of anarchists, "Berk­ from funny, and the left in man couldn't shoot straight or think this country should heave a sign of relief Address State straight." The connection is organic. at "Squeaky's" failure. The Mansons help The painful social relations of an City Phone __ create the atmosphere of "law and order" Zip exploitative society in its death agony can crackdown and generalized repression 78 only produce more and more "insanity," that Nixon dreamed of. and more grotesque symptoms of its Just as Bernardine Dohrn and others Workers Vanguard (includes Spartacist) social decay-pimps and pushers. But a had earlier sought to make Manson's o $5/48 issues 0 $2/16 issues (Introductory) Marxist does not call on the cops to fight murderous band into counter-culture the evils of the social order they violently heroes, some groupings on the left, Women and Revolution Young Spartacus defend, not even to bring the most vicious titillated by the chance to shock bour­ and wholly indefensible mad-dog killers geois sensibilities, were willing to claim a o $1/4 issues o $2/11 issues to "justice." The LA cops in burning out kinship on the basis of SLA "serve the the SLA proved again that capitalism's people" rhetoric. The media are delighted mad-dog killing is systemic, organized to identify the SLA with the leftist Make payable/mail to: Spartacist Publishing Co. and infinitely more dangerous than the movement. But the SLA, the Mansonites Box 1377, GPO, New York, NY 10001 SLA. and self-confessed former FBI informant ~ ~ Predictably, the newspapers are once Moore are not part of the left. The SLA's again howling for gun control. Such killing of an obscure black school Subscribe SUB DRIVE SPECIAL: control has as its aim the further administrator, Oakland School Superin­ concentration of the means of violence as tendent Marcus Foster, was simply an o 56 for 48 issues of the monopoly of the state. Not the indefensible criminal act; its "hit list" of WORKERS VANGUARD, bourgeoisie, but the organized and people to be shot on sight was evidently No wI and 11 issues of powerful future proletarian movement, compiled on the basis of personal YOUNG SPARTACUS will overwhelm "the politics of crazy" as a vendetta. As Workers Vanguard ex­ by-product of the destruction of the plained at the time, "the essential charac- bourgeois order.- 26 SEPTEMBER 1975 11 • WIJIlIiIIiS ""''''111)

Enthusiatic strike vote at Boston Teachers Union meeting Sunday. Smash Racist Anti-Busing Drivel

position against "forced busing" was met r with jeers and hoots. Even President Henry Robinson felt compelled to re­ spond that his son is happy to be part of Free.~ the busing program. Victory to The unity of black and white teachers Swinton! against the School Committee's attack is not, however, the result of any principled SEPTEMBER 23-The trial of anti-racist stand taken by the BTU Patricia Swinton began this week leadership. Robinson and his predeces­ in Federal Court in New York. sor, John Doherty, were responsible for Swinton is alleged to have partici­ Boston past attempts to isolate the aides, who are pated in a conspiracy in connec­ mainly black and Latin, in separate tion with the bombing of several meetings, and for a BTU resolution military installations and banks in calling for a year's delay of Phase Two 1969. Communiques issued at busing. the time of these bombings indi­ The strike represents an important cated that the actions were in­ opportunity to fight for militant united tended as acts against "the cor­ Teachers' working-class struggle which alone can porate state" and in solidarity with cut across the hard race lines in Boston. the NLF. Fighting unity can be forged in defense of David Hughey, an indicted co­ the teachers and all public employees conspirator along with Sam threatened by budget cuts and in the Melville, Jane Alpert and Patricia struggle for quality, integrated education. Swinton, refused to testify at This requires the union to reverse its past Swinton's trial; in 1970 Hughey Strike' stand and unequivocally support the pleaded guilty to the charges and immediate implementation of busing and served two years in federal prison. that it take the lead in mobilizing for Jane Alpert also refused to testify BOSTON, September 22-Members of year. ... I'm afraid that when something labor! black defense against racist terror. yesterday-not in solidarity how­ the Boston Teachers Union (BTU) went happens the whole school is just going to The union faces a hard battle. Boston's ever, but rather on the grounds on strike today in defiance of a court explode." liberal Mayor Kevin ~Vhite set the tone that testifying would "put my life injunction rather than accept the paltry It is widely believed that the School when he labelled this a strike "against the in danger." The Daily News re­ wage increase, elimination of class size Committee pursued a deliberate policy of people of Boston." Already Robinson has ported that, "many radical groups restrictions and undermining of job provoking the teachers' strike as a last­ been subpoenaed to appear in court and have accused her [Alpert) of security contained in the School Commit­ ditch effort to stop Phase Two. By tossing face charges of violating an injunction giving information that led to Mrs. tee's "offer." A solid 94 percent of the the teachers into the middle of the busing issued under a state law banning public Swinton's capture last March in teachers and aides stayed out (unlike the conflict, the committee hoped to simul­ employees' strikes. In addition, liberal Vermont." last strike in 1970 when many elementary taneously disrupt school integration and black groups like the NAACP and the The case against Swinton rests school teachers scabbed), and the School to squeeze the militancy out of the union. Black Educators Alliance have petitioned entirely on the blanket charges of Committee's plans to keep the schools However, on the picket lines today the Arthur Garrity, the judge who ordered conspiracy and on the trumped­ open fizzled. extreme racial polarization of the city did the busing plan, to issue a federal up testimony of George Dem­ The strike follows two weeks of not infect the strikers. The strike is injunction against the strike. merle, a self-proclaimed infiltra­ extreme tension in the schools as Phase strongly backed by black teachers and Such a short-sighted policy (supposed­ tor and informer with no Two of the desegregation program went aides who, as newer members of the ly to protect the desegregation program) credibility. into effect. A fragile calm was maintained union, have a particular stake in fighting reveals the true loyalties of these petty­ The PDC has contributed to the only by the presence of a small army of layoffs and maintaining class sizes. This bourgeois liberals. They prefer to line up Pat Swinton Defense and de­ 1,800 state and city police. Even this in fact represents the first time that these with the mayor and School Committee mands that the charges against massive fcirce did not prevent a rash of non-white members have been drawn into rather than support the BTU which, her be dropped immediately. fights and racial confrontations in the the life of the union, and consequently the despite its wretched position on busing, is Inquiries about the case may be schools. A black student described to the atmosphere at BTU meetings has been fighting for smaller classes, more nurses sent to: Shoshana (Pat Swinton) Boston Glohe the ugly atmosphere at sharply altered. At a meeting of several and librarians, remedial reading and Defense Committee, 339 LaFay­ South Boston High School: "In a way thousand strikers this morning, a teacher other special programs to benefit all etteStreet, New York, N.Y. 10012. things are worse than they were last who demanded that the union take a continued on page fO 12 26 SEPTEMBER 1975