Militant, GuardianJ William Hinton

'Gang of four !I purge debated in Chicago By Mike Taber Teng Hsiao-p'ing a year before was convincing proofs of the repression new communist party to overthrow the CHICAGO-Some 400 people filled also false, wasn't this whole concept, and privileges that characterized the current regime. an auditorium at the University of put forward by Mao, "a convenient regime in China under Mao. A leader of the New World Informa­ Chicago here April 3 to hear a panel epithet the government uses to cut off tion Center, a group friendly to the debate on the question "What Is debate, to silence and defeat an opposi­ Chiang Ch'ing Chinese government, asked Evans to Happening in China?" tion?" "Chiang Ch' ing met with Roxane explain why he considered the forma­ This was the first large public Evans said that the purge revealed Witke in a private mansion in Canton; tion of a new party in China necessary meeting held in the United States to four features of Chinese politics today: she had Garbo films flown in for her and realistic. He replied: discuss the issues raised by the purge 1) an attack on Mao and his policies amusement; she had a staff of ladies­ of Chiang Ch'ing, Mao's widow, and by the new government; 2) extensive in-waiting, all dressed in matching silk Workers democracy three other top leaders of the Chinese repression of the Chinese masses gowns .... "I think that the question of workers Communist party last October. under Mao, which was continuing "The question Jack Smith raises is democracy is at the very heart of all of The meeting was remarkable not under Hua Kuo-feng; 3) "the extent of how is that possible? I say that it is the disputes between the different only for its size and the .intense the privileges, the life-style, of the top possible only on one condition: Only factions. I think that the way these interest in the issues under leaders of the government, as revealed on the condition that it is generalized, disputes are carried out reveals precise­ discussion-the question period had to by the new regime itself in the attacks that it is the common practice of the ly the lack of any genuine workers be extended from a scheduled one hour on the 'gang of four'"; ~:.nd 4) "the leadership of the Chinese Communist democracy in China. to almost two and a half hours-but stirrings of mass discontent, as indi­ party. "You have people who are top also for the range of opinions repres­ cated by the Tien An Men demonstra­ "The repression that the government leaders of the party. A dispute breaks ented. tion" of April 1976. describes is the means by which the out over many different kinds of The panelists were Jack Smith, Evans cited four criteria Jack Smith masses are prevented from changing government policy. Some of the accu­ managing editor of the N~w York had proposed in the Guardian last that. The new government does not sations involve crimes, but other accu­ weekly Guardian; Les Evans, a con­ November to judge if the new regime permit any discussion or debate openly sations against the 'gang of four' do tributor to the Militant on China and a was continuing Mao's policies or over its own conduct, over its own not. They involve alternative cultural member of the National Committee of breaking from them. Smith had listed financial disclosure, over the right of policies, alternative economic strate­ the Socialist Workers party; and Willi­ the campaign to criticize Teng Hsiao­ somebody now in China to debate its gies, etc. These are questions that am Hinton, a well-known unofficial p'ing, the campaign to criticize Confu- current policy. I think that is endemic should be debated in China, publicly. spokesperson for the Peking govern­ ment. Hinton is the author of Fanshen, an eyewitness account of the Chinese revolution in the late 1940s in a peasant village, and· is a former chairperson of the U.S.-China People's Friendship Association. The debate was sponsored by the University of Chicago Student Govern­ ment Speakers' Committee, and ably chaired -by Quintin Young, a doctor on the staff of the university who has visited China as part of a medical exchange program. " Although both the audience and the speakers were s}J.arply divided on the issues under debate, all points of view were listened to with complete courtesy and the meeting stuck to the issues throughout. Smith's remarks From left: JACK SMITH, WILLIAM HINTON, LES EVANS In his opening remarks Jack Smith made the following points: "The world was stunned last Octob­ cius, the upholding of Mao's claim that to the regime. I think that it flows from "You don't have that. In place of er, first by the death of Chairman Mao, a "bourgeoisie is to be found within the the privileged character of the regime. that you have the single dominant line and then by the arrests of the so-called party"; and Mao's dictum that "class ·~I think that can be changed in only of whoever happens to control the gang of four. struggle" is the "key link." one way. It can be changed when the press apparatus and the party appara­ "These were not just four minor Evans cited recent articles in the masses of the Chinese people take the tus. And when that particular group is party members or a small faction. Peking press to show that on each one reins of government into their own defeated and jailed and ousted· from They constituted four of the leading six of these issues the new government hands, and do not rely on any wing of the party, their line is replaced by a members of the party Politburo. And has openly attacked Mao's campaign the Chinese Communist party to do different line. You do not have the heretofore, at least, they had been and slogans. their thinking for them and to decide participation of the Chinese working identified as the left wing of the party. for them. class in any serious way in the All of them in one degree or another Repression "The future of China lies in a mass formulation of national policy. owed their elevation to their proximity On repression in China, Evans said: antibureaucratic revolution to replace "The ruling party has shown no to Chairman Mao." "The Chinese press accuses the the present leadership of China with a indication of correcting that. There is The Guardian's position on the 'gang of four' of throwing political democratic, proletarian government no debate today. There is one position: purge, Smith said, was that "it's a prisoners into jail for disliking Chiang based on Leninist internationalism." to attack the 'gang of four.' The legitimate campaign against left dog­ Ch'ing's movies. It accuses them of fundamental belief of Marxism is trust matism, which, if carried too far, could firing workers from their jobs, of Hinton in the masses. William Hinton says the lead to rightist errors." deporting people to the countryside, William Hinton took tl}e position revolution must be secured by being While giving this general endorse­ and even torture, murder, executions. that "the 'gang of four' developed into tough. ment to the new ·government, Smith It accuses them of stealing from the a reactionary group, that their expo­ "The revolution is most insecure raised some criticisms and questions: state treasury for their own benefit. sure and arrest was necessary, and when decisions are made in a group of "We find it impossible to believe that "These are gross crimes in any that it does not represent a rightist six people and two of them throw the high-ranking Politburo members could country, under any regime. If you take trend in China, but a solution of a very other four into jail and no one knows have behaved in the reprehensible the position that these things are true, serious counterrevolutionary trend." what the debate is all about." manner that these four ar.e supposed to then Mao is not guilty of failing to Hinton said the accusations of ex­ Smith and Hinton responded that have behaved, and not to have been reform these people, as Jack Smith treme privilege on the part of the from what they had seen in China, chastened by the masses or by Mau or says. He is guilty of covering up before "gang of four" were accurate. "Les has Evans's position was false and sland­ by the party. How could they be the Chinese masses crimes committed said this is typical of the higher cadres erous. China, they maintained, was the pornographers, be rightists, be Kuo­ primarily by members of his own in China. I don't think it's typical. It's freest country in the world, where the mintang agents all these years and no personal circle and of his own family. a matter of great struggle." most wide-ranging debate takes place. one could stop them? To what extent, "Jack Smith does not want to believe Chiang Ch'ing, he added, "didn't The next question was on the mean­ we wonder, is Mao Tsetung himself the government's accusations. If these have a private villa; she had the use of ing of the Tien An Men demonstra­ being criticized in the current cam­ things are true, he says, then what do a publicly owned rest home or resort, tions in April 1976. Both Smith and paign against the (gang of four'? we have to say about Chairman Mao? but I think she abused this privilege." Hinton said that they believed the "It is possible that the correct I agree. I would add, if they are all lies, Mao, he said, had tried to block the demonstrations were a genuine out­ verdi-cts of the Cultural Revolution are then what do we have to say about the four by appointing Hua Kuo-feng as pouring of popular discontent and of being overturned. These questions are current government of China?" premier in April 1976. support for Chou En-lai against the raised by the nature of the campaign. Evans granted that Smith was A wide range of questions were influence of the "gang of four" in the We find it unbelievable that they were probably correct in his view that the raised in the discussion period: the government. capitalist roaders." new government was lying to the character of Chine-se foreign policy, Evans commented: Les Evans said that it was to the people of China on many of the whether Lenin as well as Mao held the "I think that the Tien An Men Guardian's credit that it "has asked .accusations against Mao's followers. idea that there was a "bourgeoisie" in events demonstrate very graphically for facts and not just for assertions" But he cited the publication in the the Communist party, the meaning of exactly what I said on how decisions from China's new government. He Chinese press of the names and dates the Tien An Men demonstrations, and are made in China. Today Bill Hinton asked, if the charge that the supporters of arrest of many political prisoners by so on. suggests that this demonstration was of Mao in the government were "capi­ the previous government, and Chiang The central issue, however, raised in a genuine reaction by the Chinese talist restorationists" was false, and if, Ch'ing's revelations to Roxane Witke, many forms, was workers democracy masses. How then do we explain the as the Guardian now admits, the same recently published in Time magazine, and whether its absence in China fact that the press of China reported charge made against acting-premier on her privileged living standards, as justified calling for the formation of a Continued on page 30

THE MILITANT/APRIL 22, 1977 9 SOCIALIST EDUCATIONAL WEEKEND. Speak­ 2271 Morris Ave. (near 183rd St.) Ausp: SWP. For 1022 South J St. Donation: $1 for each class. Ausp: er: Harry Ring, Militant Southwest Bureau. The more information call (212) 365-6652. Militant Labor Forum and SWP. For more informa­ Trotskyist Movement in the 1930s: Personal Recol­ tion t::all (206) 627-0432. lections. Part 1: Fri., April 22, 8 p.m. Part 2: Sat., April 23, 11 a.m. The Ideological Struggle in the PITTSBURGH Calendar SWP in the 1940s. Part 1: Sat., April 23, 2 p.m. Part THE HYPOCRISY OF U.S. SUPPORT TO HU­ BERKELEY, CALIF. 2: Sun., April 24, 12:00 noon. Center for Dialogue, MAN RIGHTS-UGANDA, IRAN, SOVIET UNION. THE FIGHT FOR CHICANA LIBERATION. 2175 NW 26th St. (at 22nd Ave.). Donation: $1 on Speakers: Fr. Augustus Taylor; Jonathan Harris, Speaker: Anna Nieto Gomez, Presenting a slide Friday; 50¢ for each class on Saturday and Sunday. professor of political science, University of Pitts­ show on Chicana liberation. Fri., April 22. 8 p.m. Ausp: Militant Forum. burgh; Martha Harris, SWP. Fri., April 22, 8 p.m. 3264 Adeline. Donation: $1. Ausp: Militant Forum. · 5504 Penn Ave. Donation: $1. Ausp: Militant Forum. ... China For more information call (412) 441-1419. For more information call (415) 653-7156. MILWAUKEE Continued from page 9 THE STRUGGLE FOR BILINGUAL/BICULTU­ afterwards that the Politburo met and CLEVELAND RAL EDUCATION. Speakers: Tony Baez, bilingual SAN DIEGO SOCIALIST EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE. Fri., unanimously voted to condemn this as parent coordinator for MPS; two bilingual education PROSPECTS FOR SOCIALISM IN AMERICA. April 29, 8 p.m.: State of Black America. Speaker: a 'counterrevolutionary incident'? teachers from South Division High School; a Latino Fri., April 22. 8 p.m. Speaker: Sam Manuel, 1977 Thabo Ntweng, SWP National Committee. Sat., "There was no public debate over high school student; representative from the SWP. SWP candidate for mayor of Los Angeles. Sat., April April 30, 1 p.m.: The Fight for Democracy in the Fri., April 22, 8 p.m. Guadalupe Center, 3rd and 23, 11 a.m.: Women's Evolution; 1 p.m.: Speaker: that. Nobody had a chance to write Trade Unions. Speaker: Andy Rose, staff writer for Washington. Donation: $1. Ausp: Militant Forum. Fred Halstead, plaintiff in SWP suit against the· even a letter to the editor or make a the Militant. 3 p.m.: Women's Fight for Equality. For more information call (414) 442-8170. government. UCSD, Student Center, North Confer­ Speaker: Trudy Hawkins. 7 p.m.: reception. 8 p.m.: speech anywhere or protest the govern­ ence Room. Donation: Conference, $1.50; Fri. Socialist mayoral campaign kickoff rally. 2300 ment's decision. Hundreds of people only-$1; Sat. only-$1. Ausp: YSA. For more Payne Ave. Donation: $1 per session; $3 for entire NEW ORLEANS information call: (714) 234-4630. were arrested at the end of the demon­ weekend. Ausp: Cleveland Socialist Workers 1977 'WOMAN TALK': A series of monologues about stration. A number of people were Campaign Committee. For more information call women, by women. Featuring Kathy Kendall & Betty Hugh. Fri., April 22, 7:30 p.m. 3812 Magazine killed by the troops. Their lives aren't (216) 861-4166. SEATTLE St. Donation: $1. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more going to be brought back by the fact GROWING OLD IN AMERICA: INSULT & IN­ information call (504) 891-5324. that after the 'gang of four' are in jail, KANSAS CITY, MO. JURY. Speakers: Stephanie Coontz, author of What . THE BLACK STRUGGLE: U.S. TO SOUTH Socialists Stand For; Dawn Steere. co-coordinator, a year later, the government may AFRICA. Speakers: Rev. Emmanuel Cleaver, chair­ NEW YORK NOW Women & Aging Task Force. Fri., April 22, 8 decide-it hasn't done it yet-that Bill person, Kansas City SCLC; Pat Wright, SWP CRISIS IN INDIA AND PAKISTAN TODAY. p.m. 5623 University Way NE. Donation: $1. Ausp: Hinton was right, and it really wasn't National Committee. Thurs .. April 21, 7:30p.m. 4715 Speaker: Tariq Ali, member of the political commit­ Militant Forum. For more information call (206) 522- a counterrevolutionary incident after Troost. Donation: $1. Ausp: Militant Forum. For tee of the International Marxist Group, British 7800. more information call (816) 753-0404. section of the Fourth International; recently toured all. Pakistan. Fri., April 22, 8 p.m. Third St. Music "This shows how decisions are really MIAMI Settlement, 235 E. 11th St. at Second Ave. Dona­ TACOMA, WASH. made in China. And it shows some­ PROSPECTS FOR SOCIALISM IN AMERICA. tion: $1.50. Ausp: New York City Militant Forum. For SOCIALIST EDUCATIONAL WEEKEND. Speak­ thing about the explosive character of Speaker: Derrick Morrison, SWP National Commit­ more information call (212) 260-6461. er: Clifton DeBerry, SWP National Committee. Fri., tee. Mon., April 18, 8 p.m. Center for Dialogue, 2175 April 22, 8 p.m.: History of Blacks in the Labor a mass movement, or just simply NW 26th St. (at 22nd Ave.). Donation: $1. Ausp: NEW YORK: THE BRONX Movement. Sat., April 23, 2 p.m.: Civil Rights people in the streets, who have to Militant Forum. CLASSES ON SOCIALISM. Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Movement; 4 p.m.: History of Black Nationalism . submit to that."

When these parties put up a token Black for security trust fund," is spent by the government in office, it is only to better disguise their attacks on other categories, such as weapons. ... CP the oppressed and exploited. Since 1967, for exam­ It is hard to figure out exactly what constitutes a Continued from page 25 ple, the number of Black elected officials in this "welfare cheat" in the confused right-wing mind, "In the area of housing," he told the Reader, "well country has risen from· fewer than 100 to around but it probably does not include recipients of social ... I think that with the right attitude and lots of 3,500. But conditions in the Black ghettos continue security. This minimal payment to older people is giving and taking, we could arrive at some solu­ to decline. crucially necessary for the subsistence survival that tions." The CP's support to Democrats such as Washing­ it provides. Look at the figures. Washington is equally vague on school desegrega­ ton, Bradley, and Young has nothing to do with In 1975, a year of bitter economic slump, workers tion, refusing to be pinned down in support of "Black political power." In fact, the CP has a long received $62.6 billion in social security. The presi­ busing. history of supporting white liberal Democrats. dent's report gives the average of $206 per month And on jobs, even the Daily World reported that In the 1975 Chicago mayoral race, for example, per recipient. That keeps social security "benefits" "some workers have expressed concern ... over a the CP backed white Alderman William Singer's at the poverty level pure and simple-less than recent statement by Washington that he would primary cballenge to Daley. Yet, in the general $2,500 a year. create jobs by giving tax breaks to big busi­ election, the CP refused to support the only Black The unemployment benefits of $13 billion were ness ...." independent-Willie Mae Reid, candidate of the paid to an average of 16 million workers a month in But to the Communist party, such "details" seem Socialist Workers party. 1975-or $68 per month per worker. to have no bearing on Black political independence. And the CP has recently supported many other The g9vernment spent more than eight times as Reporting on a Chicago meeting for Black CP Democratic liberals-from Ramsey Clark and Bella much money in its 1975 military program as in its leader Claude Lightfoot, the March 23 Daily World Abzug in New York, to Tom Hayden in California, 1975 unemployment relief program. said, "Dr. Lightfoot described Black political power and Paul Soglin in Madison, Wisconsin. "Welfare cheats"? Perhaps that is supposed to in the South and its coming of age in the North. He The only candidate in the Chicago mayoral include the parents and children who receive Aid to gave Detroit and Los Angeles as examples.... " election who is putting forward the perspective of Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). In 1975 These examples provide some insight into what real political independence from the big-business there was an average of 11.1 million people the CP really means by "Black political power." parties is Socialist Workers party candidate Dennis receiving AFDC per month, coming to about $65 per Take Detroit, for example. The March 15 Daily Brasky. "Only Black and labor political action individual. The 1975 military expenditures were World carried_ an article on "the fight of Black independent of the Democrats and Republicans can thirteen times as high as AFDC. incumbent Mayor Coleman Young for re-election." defend our democratic rights and living standards "Food-stamp cadillacs"? The average monthly "Mayor Young is already the target of attack by from the attacks both parties are carrying out," benefit here, in 1975, was $21 per person. Washing­ ultra-Right forces ...," the article reported. Brasky is telling Chicagoans. ton's military budget was twenty-five times higher " 'Crime in the streets' is the main !;!logan of the This stands in stark contrast to Washington, who than its food-stamp relief program. anti-Young groupings." says, "My purpose is to reform the Democratic Similar figures could be put down for Medicare The World f~;tiled to mention, however, that Young Party, not to dismantle it or destroy it." and Medicaid. has been Detroit's most vocal "crime in the streets" The CP's support to Washington-and its failure The point is plain. scare-monger, using it as an excuse to hire more to even mention Brasky's socialist campaign­ Military requirements get the top priority in U.S. cops. The article also ignored Young's opposition to should give pause to those who may have been government expenditures. The government gives the city's court-ordered busing plan and his do­ taken in by the Stalinists' empty rhetoric about only minimal aid to working people. And whenever nothing approach to the massive joblessness among political independence. a choice must be made, social welfare programs are Motor City workers, the great majority of whom are CP General Secretary Gus Hall told the party's cut, military programs are increased, and workers Black. national committee last November, "For a long time are asked to pay higher taxes. In Los Angeles the CP urged "progressives to we have been talking about mass breakaways from mobilize independent pressure in the coming the two-party system, and the need to build a broad, primary election April 5 to defeat the attempt of meaningful alternative to the two old parties." reactionary forces to regain control of City From their showing in the important municipal Hall.... " elections this spring, they are evidently still just ... TFWU In the Daily World's special vocabulary, "mobil­ Continued from back page talking. ize independent pressure" clearly meant, "Vote for provision that makes it mandatory for a newly Mayor Thomas Bradley," the incumbent Black hired farm worker to join the union after five days. Democrat and former L.A. policeman. Therefore, the ALRA is a direct challenge to the In this case, at least, the World was slightly more ... taxes antiunion "right to work" law. critical. An April 1 article pointed out that Bradley Continued from page 29 Farm workers in Texas have an average yearly "has retreated under pressure on the busing following breakdown of government expenditures income of $3,000. Frequently, minimum wages, controversy.... " The full truth is that Bradley is for all the major federal income security programs child labor, and the eight-hour

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