FREE THE 18 !

VOL. V i l i — No. 41 NEW YORK, N. Y„ SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1944 Roosevelt, Tobin Roosevelt Stalls Labor's Demand Scheme To Deny Freedom For 18 To Modify Little Steel Formula "Holding the Line" By Joseph Keller Allied Leaders Byrnes Upholds Wage Freeze While two months have passed without a decision from the president on the pardon petition of the 18 imprisoned Trotsky­ ists, evidence is accumulating that Roosevelt. Attorney General Biddle and A FL Teamsters czar Daniel J. Tobin are continuing Seek To Trick As WLB Opens Mock Hearings their conspiracy which led to the frameup of the Socialist Work­ ers Party and Minneapolis Truckdrivers Local 544-ClO leaders General Motors and U. S. Steel Corporation in the Minneapolis Labor Case. Italian People Endorse Government's Wage-Freezing Policy A series of recent events, in­ volving these leading figures in By James Cowan By R. Bell the prosecution of the 18, indi­ Decision Held Up Alarmed by the growing radi- The administration, aided by Roosevelt’s labor cates that Roosevelt and his fel­ calization of the Italian masses, low conspirators are taking con­ which proceeds ever faster as the lackeys, is making a political football of the demand certed measures to counteract On Pardon Appeals conditions of their life become by workers for wage increases commensurate with the tremendous tide of protest in more intolerable, Roosevelt and labor’s ranks against tile frame- Churchill have resorted to a the rise in the cost of living. With the national elec­ up. After the presentation of For Imprisoned 18 the pardon appeals on August 2, transparent trick to deceive the tions in the offing, there has taken place a series of Daniel M. Lyons, U. S. Pardon Tobin had lunch with the Pres­ rebellious population of south­ maneuvers, spiced by a flurry of rumors, designed to Attorney, in reply to an inquiry ern Italy into believing that im­ ident. His magazine, The In te r­ from the Civil Rights Defense national Teamster, has intensi­ provements are on the way. create the impression that Roosevelt is favorably con­ Committee, has written to CRDC fied its campaign of slander In a joint statement issued National Secretary George Nov- sidering an upward revision of the wage-freezing against the imprisoned opponents Sept. 26, the imperialist statesr ack that the pardon applications men announced that, following Little Steel formula. Two special panels of the War of his reactionary and dictator­ of the 18 Minneapolis Labor Case ial union policies with scarcely- the recent Quebec conference, prisoners are “still under con­ Labor Board have submitted a “fact-finding” report they had given the Italian ques­ concealed lynch incitations sideration.” The pardon petitions against the Trotskyists. tion consideration and had de­ were presented on August 2 and to the WLB sustaining the contention of the CIO and cided : WORK TOGETHER have been before the President AFL that the cost of living has risen beyond the now for two months. 1. To hand over to the puppet The intimate political relations Lyons’ letter, dated September Bonomi government “ an increas­ figure established by the government’s Bureau of between Roosevelt and Tobin, 29, stated th a t "th is case is s till ing measure of control... subject which early in the case the Amer­ Labor Statistics. A report by the economists of the under consideration, and I am of course to that Administration's ican Civil Liberties Union point­ unable at. the present time to proving that it can maintain law OPA establishes that on ed out as one of the m otives be­ act, Mr. Byrnes’ statement could indicate with any degree of ac­ and order and the regular admin­ hind the prosecutions, was re­ the basis of tlieir earnings not have been better timed.” Xhe curacy how soon final action w ill istration of justice. To mark emphasized last week when the editorial then makes the perti­ be taken.” this change the Allied Control the steel corporations can President, in accordance with his nent inquiry: “Is Mr. Byrnes Commission will be renamed the custom, opened his election cam­ The pardon petitions for the well afford to grant a wage speaking authoritatively for tha ‘Allied Commission’.” paign by addressing a banquet of 18 Socialist Workers Party and De Gaulle Advances ‘Radical’ increase with an increase Administration, or is he merely AFL Teamster leaders in Wash­ Minneapolis Truckdrivers Local 2. To in s tru c t the U nited speaking for himself?” ington. 544-CIO leaders, who have been Nations Relief and Rehabilita­ in the price of steel. in prison since Dec. 31, 1943 tion Administration conference DIVISION OF LABOR A little over two weeks ago, charged with violation of the in­ “to declare for the sending of Program To Sidetrack Masses In a number of speeches made It is extremely improbable that Attorney General Biddle, who or­ famous Smith “Gag” Act, are before recent conventions of vari­ ganized the prosecutions and con­ medical aids and other essential Roosevelt’s first assistant would supported by over 300 labor and supplies to Italy.” By Ralph Graham ous CIO unions, Philip Murray ducted them through his Minnes­ make a public statement on inu civil rights organizations, rep­ dropped the “hint” that Roose­ ota prosecutor, Victor Anderson, 3. To take “ firs t steps... to ­ portant questions of administra­ resenting some 3,000,000 mem­ In a deceitful move, taken with the clear intent of hood­ Inside Germany velt intends to scrap the Little addressed by invitation the state ward the reconstruction of an tion policy without the prior bers. winking the French workers and diverting them from the road “In Magdeburg there was Steel formula and therefore labor convention of the Minnesota Fed­ Italian economy... These steps knowledge or consent of hia In his letter, Lyons gives no of revolutionär}' struggle to end the capitalist system, Gen. trouble among foreign workers must reaffirm its no-strike pledge eration of Labor. While in Min­ should be taken primarily as m il­ “chief.” Past experience ha6 reason for the unusual delay in Charles de Gaulle has “ committed himself and his Government two weeks ago,” cabled the N. and support the candidacy of nesota, he conferred with Ander­ itary aims to put the full re­ shown the existence of a division Roosevelt's pardon decision. It Y. Times correspondent from “their friend” for reclection. AFL sources of Italy and the Italian to the creation of a new economic system in France — a system of labor between Roosevelt and son. Anderson himself has been is clear, however, that the Min­ Stockholm on Sept. 30. “In President W illiam Green has also people into the struggle to de­ of planned economy under the direction of the Government, his first assistant. While on many lending a hand to Tobin and the neapolis case presents an embar­ quelling the disturbances the let it be known that the White feat Germany and Japan. For as he described it.” issues of importance to the lahof Stalinists in their attempts to rassment to Roosevelt in view of Gestapo found evidence that House was favorably disposed to­ m ilitary reasons we should assist De Gaulle announced this dustry, the General hastened to movement Roosevelt remains si­ sabotage support for the 18 by the pending presidential election. the foreigners had staged an ward the granting of a wage in­ the Italians in the restoration of “ new” program in a speech at add that his scheme for a “ planned lently in the background, Byrnea writing letters at their request, The U. S. Supreme Court last insurrection in accord with crease. In the midst of these op­ such power systems, their rail­ economy” definitely did not ex­ has come forward as ihe spokes­ itemizing the frameup charges December three times refused to Lille, the capital of the indus­ German fellow-workers. From timistic rumors and reports, ways, motor transport, roads and clude “ the stimulus of just profit man of reaction and has used the which helped send the 18 to fed­ consider the appeal of the 18. Now trial north of France, on Oct. this incident one can reason­ James F. Byrnes, Roosevelt’s War other communications as enter and initiative.” This means that tremendous powers of his office eral prison. Roosevelt, who set in motion the 1. It followed by only a few ably deduce that Germany has Mobilization Director, more com­ into the war situation,” etc. under de Gaulle there w ill be no to put across the program of Big Biddle's appearance on the AFL frameup of the 18, is apparently days De Gaulle's action in “ tak­ been divided Into two camps monly known as the Assistant real planned economy. “ Just profit Business. This division of labor platform was undoubtedly engin­ trying through this unwarranted ing over” the French coal mines regardless of the nationality President, exploded a bombshell HOLLOW MOCKERY and initiative” means the con­ has occurred on a whole series eered by Tobin and his agents delay to continue to keep them to avert a threatened general of the residents, namely Nazi in the form of a radio address tinuance of capitalist private of measures involving wage-freez­ who have considerable influence behind bars in violation of their A more hollow mockery of the strike of miners. The Renault and anti-Nazi.” in which he emphasized that the desperate Italian people could ownership, the continuance of the ing and price-gouging, cutbacks in the top circles of the Minnes­ democratic rights. automobile factory in Paris was And also into two class government must continue to and reconversion, job-freezing scarcely be im agined. profit system, the continuance of “hold-the-line” on wages “until ota labor movement. Under The labor movement cannot similarly “taken over” by the de camps, that of the capitalist and taxes. Byrnes has consistent­ To the demand of the Italians that competitive capitalist the dangers of inflation are pass­ pressure from Tobin this conven­ permit Roosevelt to keep the 18 Gaulle government. rulers and that of the insur­ ly advocated policies hostile to la­ for full democratic rights and an anarchy which makes real plan­ ed.” tion adopted a resolution, mod­ any longer in prison. The prog­ gent working masses. bor and these policies have just elled upon one just passed by the opportunity freely to decide their DE GAULLE DEMAGOGY ning impossible. ressive forces within the trade According to Byrnes, the "dan­ as consistently been adopted with political future in accordance What de Gaulle proposes, in Stalinist-dominated state CIO, unions and liberal organizations De Gaulle’s speech at Lille was gers of inflation” would not be the support of the administration with their own needs and wishes, effect, is some sort of temporary repeating the frameup charges must intensify their demand that a characteristic piece of capitalist passed “until after the defeat of —while Roosevelt was giving a government regulation of some of demagogy. He declaimed against Germany and until total victory good imitation of the Sphinx (Continued on page 5) the larger industries, with the Auto Union Strikes (Continued on page 5) (Continued on page 2) the trusts and asserted that “we is achieved over Japan.” In fact, when not openly supporting these system of capitalist ownership cannot longer tolerate those con­ he predicted, that “wage controls anti-labor moves. centrations of interests.” A left intact. By this means he In Protest Against would remain at home indefinite­ A fter the Byrnes statement had system of “ planned economy” was hopes to deceive the French work­ ly.” The New York Times, au­ sobered the extravagant optimism necessary in order to achieve the ers into believing that they now thoritative spokesman for Big of the labor bureaucrats they Opposition To Stalinist “fullest use of the resources of have a government which intends Ford’s Provocation Business, lauded Byrnes’ state­ were called to the W hite House to the country.” For this, in turn, to effect a radical social change ment in an editorial which said: “confer” with Roosevelt. The the state “should take over the in the interests of the masses and By Dave Andrews “This is excellent as far as it New York Times reports that: at the same time to safeguard direction of the great sources of DETROIT, Sept. 28. — The goes. When it is being widely “For an hour the President lis­ Rule Grows In UE-CIO the common wealth and should the threatened property rights of predicted that the President w ill tened to the labor leaders, asked huge Press Steel building of the control certain other activities.” the possessing classes. smash the Little Steel formula numerous questions, and finally, By M. Brown These new developments from the Lest France’s unnerved capital­ The de Gaulle “plan” is thus a Ford Rouge plant, employing before election day, for the sup­ NEW YORK. Sept. 30.—Opposition to the Stalinist leader­ largest districts of the union ists get the idea that de Gaulle plan to save capitalism. In 9,000 persons, was shut today posed political profit from that (Continued on page 3) ship of the CIO United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers were significant signs of a grow­ had adopted a revolutionary pro­ when the workers walked out of America reached its highest pitch in three years at the union’s ing opposition to the leadership. gram for the expropriation of in­ (Continued on page 3) as the result of the company tenth annual convention which ended yesterday after a week’s The no - strike pledge was disciplining two committeemen session at the Manhattan Center here. shunted into the position of a for allegedly using profane lan­ MARITIME UNIONS PRESS secondary issue on the convention guage in the presence of women Although the top officialdom, Reading Stalinists floor by the Stalinists. Using the employes. with its well-oiled machine, used pletely and add fuel to the op­ most nauseating demagogy and The falseness of the accusation the most bureaucratic and ruth­ position fire, the Stalinists did flag-waving, they incited the con­ DEMAND FOR PAY RAISE is manifested by the fact, that less methods in an attempt to not dare go through with a pro­ Incite Lynch-Drive vention against the handful of charges against the committee­ choke off any signs of militancy jected resolution endorsing a By Frank Lawrence courageous delegates who dared READING, Pa., Sept. 27.— tone to those put out by the men were not preferred until a on the convention floor, the permanent no-strike pledge which to brave boos, insults and slan­ Seattle Stalinists just prior to week and a half after the al­ Recent cuts in bonus rates paid merchant seamen for carry­ discontent of the rank and file had been submitted to the resolu­ Moving east with their cam­ ders and speak against the un­ their organized gang assaults on leged offense transpired. This ob­ ing supplies to the war fronts of the world have resulted in de­ succeeded in breaking through on tions committee. paign of lynch-incitation and conditional no-strike pledge. two Quaker forum meetings, vious framq-up is designed to the anti-labor policies of the War terrorism, which they brought mands for wage increases by all marine unions. The unions have Five delegates faced this which they broke up by violence intimidate the militant union rep­ Labor Board and on several or­ N E W FORCES to a head on the Pacific Coast undertaken these negotiations under handicap of the no-strike barrage to vote against the reaf­ several m ouths ago. (See The resentatives within the gigantic ganizational questions. pledge, and thus deprived of their bargaining power are subject At previous conventions, the firm a tio n o f the. pledge a fte r recently by vigilante attacks on M ilita n t, J u ly 8). Stalinist-controlled Ford Local. It to the wage-freezing policy of the W ar Labor Board. Because of the Stalinist domi­ opposition consisted principally calling for its modification or Quaker forums in Seattle, As elsewhere, this lynch cam­ is in line with the present pol­ nation, which is continuing its of the Philadelphia locals con­ repeal and attacking the leader­ Washington, the Stalinists here paign is really directed against icy of the Ford Motor Company Basic wages in the maritime paralyzing stranglehold on the trolled by the union’s former ship for using the pledge as a have issued a virtual lynch call all labor militants opposed to the to promote provocations which industry are among the lowest been forced to scale down its de­ union’s apparatus, this convention president and present CIO Na­ cover for surrendering the work­ against Socialist Party mem­ betrayal policies of Stalinism. can then be used in its drive paid to any group of organized mands. The Marine Firemen Re­ of the CIO’s third largest in­ tional Secretary, James Carey. ers’ collective bargaining rights. bers. There has been a considerable to weaken, undermine and, if pos­ workers. The wage scale of po rte r (Sept. 1) explained th is ac­ New' forces emerged at this con­ ternational union, with a mem­ Delegate Mont of Local 425 spoke The Berks County (Reading) leftward ■ trend among tbo Read­ sible, break up the union. $82.50 per month for able sea­ tion of the negotiating commit­ vention from District Four and bership of over 700,000, lagged for scrapping the pledge out­ Communist Political Association ing workers and there is a strong Tired of the inability of the men and marine firemen was tee as follows: the New England areas who rep­ far behind other leading CIO right, while his delegation ab­ last week issued a leaflet, an­ socialist tradition here. Stalinist leadership to settle their established before the war. Em­ “ While some firebrands might resented a more militant op­ unions which have met in con­ stained from voting for reaf­ nouncing a speaker on “the slimy A number of labor groups, in­ grievances, the workers walked ergency increase since that lime logically ask, why doesn't the position than the Carey group, vention this month in discussion firm a tio n because- the S ta lin is t re ­ role being played in America and cluding tile local of the AFL In­ off their jobs in a spontaneous has brought it up to $100. union ask for more, the answer of the major issues before the which continued to oppose the solution was not sufficiently in Reading” by the Socialist ternational Machinists, have en­ demonstration of solidarity un­ of the negotiating committee is labor movement, particularly the leadership only on purely or­ qualified. Party, in which the Stalinists dorsed the SP candidates in the equalled since the great strike of UNIONS ASK RAISE that we did ask for more, wc no-strike pledge. ganizational questions. coming local election as an ex­ 1941. M any S ta lin is t com m ittee­ CONDEMN WLB call in effect for physical violence Most contracts in the industry asked for thirty per cent, to be The UE convention still strug­ Attacks on the reactionary against Socialists. “No fighting pression of th e ir desire fo r inde-. men gave personal support to the are written to terminate on Sep­ exact, and the arbitrator ruled gled with the question of the policies of the Stalinists came, The real sentiments of the rank member of the European under­ pendent labor political action. At strike, walking off their jobs with tember 30 of each year. This no smoke on even one dime in­ speedup incentive pay system, however, from certain Hartford, and file at the wage-freeze, job- ground would recognize in these the same time, a group of local the w orkers. Realizing the serious­ year every union has sought an crease, so this time, the com­ foisted on the union by the Stalin­ Pittsfield and Bridgeport, Conn, freeze and company provocations ‘negotiated peace’ Socialists a com union leaders have formed an ness of the rebellion within their increase in the basic scales. Mar­ mittee figures to keep its feet on ists, and with issues of elementary locals and Ford Instrument Local were expressed when the resolu­ mon ally,’’ howls the leaflet. Independent Labor Party Com­ own ranks a meeting was ine Firemen, Sailors Union of the ground, ask for approximately union democracy. The leadership 425 New York. Local 452, Sunny- tions committee was compelled to “They would treat them exactly mittee which lias attacked Roos­ hurriedly called in the Ford the Pacific, and Seafarers’ Inter­ a fifteen dollar per month raise, jammed through one reactionary side, Long Island, introduced a bring forth a strongly-worded re­ like they treat the Quislings and e ve lt’s anti-labor pro gra m , Local and was addressed by the national arc unions whose de­ and argue like hell for it, on the resolution after another, using resolution condemning H arry solution attacking the anti-labor traitors who collaborated with exposed the treacherous role of Local President, W. G. Grant, mauds are still being negotiated. basis of decreased bonuses, in­ the crudest steamroller tactics Bridges, Stalinist head of the CIO practices of the. War Labor Board. the Nazis. The people of Read­ the Stalinists and called for the who has been fro n tin g fo r the The Marine Firemen’s negotiations creased living costs, and increased and parliamentary maneuvers to Longshoremen’s Union, for ad­ This resolution brought forth ex­ ing must give them, the same formation of labor's own party. Stalinists. have progressed further than any overall efficiency of ships machi­ stifle opposition expression. vocating a permanent no-strike pression of the deep resentment treatment." (Our emphasis). It is this movement which the Using all the demagogic tricks of the others now awaiting set­ nery calling for constant and Nevertheless, fearing to give pledge and strikebreaking during This vicious, slanderous appeal Stalinists are out to smash tlement. During the course of their sell-out hand away com­ the Montgomery Ward walkout. (Continued on page 3) is almost identical in content and through their campaign. (Continued on page 2) these negotiations the union has (Continued on page 3) TWO THE MILITANT SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1944 "] Pamphlet Campaign Forges Ahead The reports already coming in from the-blanches show that the quota of 10,000 pamphlets is very likely to be met and surpassed! New Minneapolis Headquarters The early returns, which include only nine branches, have already NEW YORK SWP CONVENTION By Joseph Keller covered almost one-eighth of the way to our goal. Letters accom­ panying these returns tell of the interest, of M ilitant readers in the Both the labor and capitalist to “gel,” from representing the Minneapolis Labor Case, an interest so deep that the set of the MAPS PROGRAM OF EXPANSION workers who have re-elected him four pamphlets on the case is eagerly purchased. press have noted that the most NEW YORK CITY—The New Civil Rights Defense Committee, overwhelmingly? significant development of the Pioneer Publishers is offering this set of pamphlets for only York Local of the Socialist W ork­ was disclosed in detail by com­ recent historic CIO United Auto­ * * s}: 25 cents to all the readers of The M ilitant who have trial subscrip­ ers Party held its City Convention rades active in that work. Local mobile Workers convention was John P. Frey, president of the tions. The set includes James P. Cannon’s “ Socialism on Trial,” and on Sunday, Sept. 10, w ith 21 unions, including the United Auto the emergence of the newly- AFL Metal Trades Council, who Albert Goldman’s “ In Defense of Socialism,” both transcribed from delegates, 6 alternates, and Workers-CIO, Steel Workers-CIO organized rank - and - file caucus was a leading party to the no­ the court records; “Why W'e Are in Prison,” giving the motives fraternal delegates from New and International Ladles’ Gar­ which led a powerful fight j strike pledge of the union of­ York, Bayonne, and Newark par­ ment Workers-AFL, and many against the no-strike pledge and of the Roosevelt administration in persecuting the Trotskyist lead­ ficialdom, must be feeling the ticipating in the proceedings. other unions have recently added won a referendum on the question ■ ers; and “ Who Are the 18 Prisoners in the Minneapolis Labor Case?” , “heat” plenty from his member­ An inspiring political report bv their support to the Minneapolis after the leadership finally put1 published by the CRDC. A comprehensive study of the Minneapolis ship, to judge by his strong re­ Acting National Secretary M. Labor case, w h ile hundreds of over a motion for reaffirmation j case, the pamphlets are also an introduction to the basic principles marks before the WLB last week. Stein, surveying recent develop­ workers in Manhattan, Queens, through a tricky maneuver. “We will take matters into our of the Trotskyist movement. ments in Italy and the formation and Brooklyn have signed peti­ Time magazine, Sept. 25, ob­ own hands and use our own Newark: During the first two weeks we obtained 13 six-month there of an active Trotskyist or­ tions for the release of the 18. serves: “The rank and file is ob­ judgement” Frey shouted at the renewals from the new subscribers, and sold 13 sets of trial pamph­ ganization, opened the morning Over 17,000 pieces of CRDC l i t ­ viously anxious to get back the hearing, if the government con­ lets, in visiting a total of 40 readers. The comments on The M ilitant session. erature and 8,600 copies of “ Who right to strike, their strongest Are The 18 Prisoners In The tinues its failure to “honor” the show how thoroughly the paper is read: Most of the subscribers The second session, devoted to bargaining weapon, as soon as organizational reports, reviewed Minneapolis Labor Case” were 1942 shipyard wage contract. “ We comment on the frankness and truthfulness of the paper. One work­ possible. And the rank-and-filers are not here pleading with your the activities of the New York distributed at. plant gates and un­ er said, “This paper should be a part of every worker’s weekly at the convention were well or­ board. We are here to tell your Local during the preceding eigh­ ion meetings in the metropolitan reading.” A young Negro member of the ILGWU said she liked the Minneapolis SWP In ganized around the Briggs Detroit board some things, the telling of teen months, and laid general area. news of the unions, and the articles in the paper concerning her Local 212. . . which is perhaps long overdue.” perspectives for work in the com­ Educational work, trade union “The strength of this ‘re- What Frey told the Board was people. New Headquarters ing period. Particular emphasis work, literature distributions, the scindist’ movement convinced that the AFL, at Roosevelt’s Another young worker said, “ Your paper certainly predicted was given to the campaign in sale of pamphlets and books, so­ By Barbara Bruce w hich over 2,000 new subscribers UAW officials that they had demand, had eliminated from the the truth about the Italian workers taking things into their own cial functions, were reviewed and to The M ilitant were secured by better not try to handle the shipyard agreement a clause hands. Look what they're doing to their fascists.” He also admired M INNEAPO LIS, Sept. 19.— A host of comrades, friends and plans for the expansion of all the comrades’ this Spring. Speak­ aspects of party activity were dis­ situation alone. They called in providing an increase in wages the courage of the paper in speaking its convictions, and mentioned well-wishers attended the open house held by the Minneapolis suave, spellbinding CIO President in proportion to price rises. He branch of the Socialist Workers Party in celebration of the open­ ers pointed out the changing cussed. Particularly interesting with special enthusiasm the Shop Talks and Kovalesky’s column. The character of New York work, as Philip Murray. Before he even pointed out that this contract was ing of the new party headquarters in this city on September 16. was the report on the Socialist readers know' all about the 18 Minneapolis prisoners through the typified by the successful sub mentioned the no-strike pledge, subject to review the following Situated in the heart of the Youth Group, which lias develop­ columns of The M ilitant and when we show them the trial packet, campaign. These 2,000 new read­ ed since the last city convention. Philip Murray was being loudly year, 1943, with the understand­ downtown district, the new loca- they tell US the latest news on the case! The paper is doing an ex­ ers will be revisited during the Its earnest young members, all booed. . .” ing that if price rises continued, tion of (be Minneapolis head­ cellent job of acquainting our new readers with the ideas of Trot­ next two months, with a result­ of high-school age, are stu d yin g Racine Labor, organ of both wages would be boosted accord­ Decision Held Up quarters at 10 South Fourth ing increase in tne sale of liter­ Marxism, conducting their own the Racine, Wis., A FL Trades and ingly. This was not carried out. skyism, and they are interested in discussing trade union problems Street is more accessible to Min­ ature and attendance at forums, educationals, and are aiding in Labor Council and CIO United “It is an open question,” Frey with us, too. neapolis workers. This has been On Pardon Appeals open meetings and Marxist basic Automobile Workers District) contended, “ if the government Buffalo: Our callback and pamphlet campaign is moving like borne out by the noticeable in­ organizational work. training classes. Council 8, reported: “The strength fails to carry out the provisions clockwork, and by convention time we w ill have it pretty much crease in the number of visitors The election of a new City Com­ The splendid work done on be­ and assertiveness of the rank and of an agreement it has negotiated | wound up. I think we w ill reach 400 sales! to the headquarters and the great­ For Imprisoned 18 half of the imprisoned Trotsky­ mittee closed the agenda of the with labor whether labor is any er volume of books, magazines file group was the most notice­ Youngstown: We visited six new readers, securing 2 renewals (Continued from page 1) evening session. longer bound by other provisions ist and CIO leaders by the N. Y. able event of the convention. of the subscriptions. We have also sold 20 pamphlets so far! and papers sold in the Labor of such an agreement.” Book Store which has its offices They led the fight against all Cleveland: The callback work we have done has been very in­ the President render an immedi­ three no - strike resolutions The “other provisions” ap­ in the same suite of rooms. Not spiring. We have sold pamphlet sets to over 50 percent of the sub­ ate and favorable decision in this (Addes - Frankensteen - Stalinist parently include the no-strike a small part in attract5 ng new scribers we visited, and have been told repeatedly of the favorable case. majority resolution, Reuthcr pledge. However, it remains to be friends to the headquarters is minority, and Addes-Franken- seen whether this is just “loud reception The M ilitant gets when these workers carry their copies played by the two-foot-higli let­ BOSTON, Sept. 25—A confer­ steen-Stalinist-Reuther jo in t talk” intended only to appease into the factory. tering on the second floor wind­ ence of Jewish workers’ organi­ motion) and are committed to the workers in his union locals San Francisco: Sunday we obtained two renewal subscriptions ows. zations in the Boston region, the formation of an independent who are threatening to cut loose to The M ilitant and sold four sets of the Trial Pamphlets. One new An attractive private entrance called by the Boston Civil Rights labor party, such as the Michigan against the no-strike surrender reader, who had given to friends the four introductory sub cards and lobby is a feature of the new Defense Committee with the en­ Commonwealth Party.” policy accepted by Frey and the headquarters. An open staircase you mailed, told me that he has given away almost every back issue dorsement of the District Com­ other AFL heads. Contrary to leads up to the second floor where * * * of the paper to his fellow workers at the shipyard. He knows it is mittee of the Workmen’s Circle, Understanding the significance and gave our distributors a very what Frey would imply, the the Minneapolis branch has a a custom to give out a paper when a sub is sold, so he took some of passed a resolution demanding of the UAW Convention and its good review of the soldiers’ reac­ double-cross in 1942 wasn’t only sirte of five large rooms, all con­ An “impartial” umpire has his back issues and presented them to the tria l subscribers he secured. presidential pardon for the 18 decision to put the no-strike tion to the war. He even wanted on the part of the government. nected by a common hall. The handed down a decision in the victims of the Smith “ Gag” Act pledge to a referendum of the to help pass the papers out and New York: The New York Local has sold 90 six-month and one- office is situated immediately at dismissal case of Nestor Dessy, i t t - * in the Minneapolis Labor Case membership, our agent in Chi­ told everyone that they should year subsci-iptions to The M ilitant thus far, in visiting the subscrib­ the head of the stairs, making it president of Detroit Chevrolet Although the pro - Roosevelt and voted to set up a permanent cago ordered 10,000 additional take the paper.” ers, and has also sold them a total of 540 Trial pamphlets. The convenient both for visitors and Gear and Axle Local 235, UAW- “labor statesmen” have been committee to work among Jewish copies of The M ilitant which car­ ajt * * comrades are finding it easy to sell the sets of pamphlets to the j for party workers who are on CIO, which calls for plenty of ex­ keeping quiet recently on the and nonsectarian fraternal and ried an analysis of the Conven­ readers of the paper by explaining that the pamphlets will give duty. This room is very trim Our Philadelphia agent re­ planations from the union’s In­ tion proceedings for wide dis­ still-unsettled Montgomery Ward labor organizations for the libe­ with ivory-painted walls, dark- quested 700 additional copies of ternational officials, especially them a fuller understanding of The M ilitant and the ideas it repre­ tribution in that area. “ Complete case, we are bringing forth our ration of the leaders of the So­ brown linoleum covered floor ami The Militant to be distributed at Walter Reuthcr, UAW vice- sents. The reactions of the new readers to The M ilitant is a good regular monthly reminder that cialist Workers Party and Truck near'y ceiling-high windows plans were laid to distribute the CIO International Union of president and head of the GM i barometer of its effectiveness. One reader said he had only one Sewell Avery has still refused to Drivers Local 544-CIO. which afford lots of light. these 10,000 copies to four auto Marine and Shipbuilding Work­ division, and Melvin Bishop, ap­ I comply with the numerous WLB complaint; he never gets the paper until two to four days after it is The Conference, held Sept. 24 plants. All comrades have been Next to the office and to the ers convention in Atlantic City. pointed administrator over the | orders to sign a contract, in- delivered. It seems that some neighbor takes it out of the mailbox, at the Workmen’s Circle Head­ assigned . . . Could you please left is the committee room which In the same letter our agent local by the International Board. | eluding a maintenance of mem- quarters, Dorchester, Mass., was send in advance 800 copies of this reads it, and then returns it to the mailbox for the subscriber to also serves for card-playing and writes: “Enclosed is a sub given Dessey with six other workers | bership clause. Roosevelt, who attended by delegates from the issue. We need it for an import­ read! informal conversation on social to me by a shipyard worker after was fired by General Motors after District Committee of the Work­ ant union distribution on Sun­ i wields a mighty hard club against The comrades who secured four renewals and sold four sets of occasions. To the right of the he received The M ilitant at a dis­ he was suspended from his I m ilitant workers, doesn’t appear men’s Circle, Workmen’s Circle day.” pamphlets in four visits one evening, have sent in their report: office is the Labor Book Store, a tribution.” elected union post by bureaucratic ! disposed to force any issues with Branches, 666, 705, 736, 902, 904, Chicago is also expanding its “ Our score for the evening was 100 percent—inspiring and gratifying spacious room with bookcases fiat of the International Board 918, 927, 947, Ladies Auxiliary regular Militant distribution: The branches have made the j the nation’s No. 1 Open Shopper. and a large literature display because his local went on strike. for both of us! At our very first address a group of workers, one sale of 3-month introductory sub­ Avery, who’s hard at work Branches 707 and 718, the Social­ stand flanking two walls. A read­ “The literature committee re­ He has been offered the “ choice” older Negro worker and three white youths, were playing cards; a ist Vcrband of Lynn, and the scriptions an integral part of j smashing the union in his Chicago ing table holds recent files of commended to the branch that of retiring from all union posts much-worn and read M ilitant was spread out on the table. Everybody their literature activity, accord­ and other establishments, has Free Society Group. many labor, political and Negro the bundle order of The Militant for a year in return for having ing to reports from our agents. been doing quite nicely in the in the room read the paper, and it was no trouble at all to sell a The Conference was addressed papers and periodicals. Comfort­ be increased by 300 copies per his discharge changed to a 10- Youngstown: “We have been profits column. Montgomery Ward renewal there! Then the four men chipped in. to pay for the set of by George Novack, National Sec­ able chairs invite the visitor to week. This was unanimously ac­ weeks suspension or staying per­ distributing The M ilitant for sev­ recently announced that its net trial pamphlets.” retary of the Civil Rights De­ stay and read. cepted. We are going to use the manently dismissed from his job. eral weeks in working class profits for the six months ending fense Committee and Sylvia The meeting hall next to the extra 300 per week to cover two neighborhoods to advertise our Dessy had just been re-elected July 31 were $7,981,736 as com­ Bleeker of the GRDC National book store has a seating capacity union meetings per month and to without opposition by his local. pared with “only” $7,305,193 for Office. Louis Frank, Director of of from 50 to 75 people. Two increase the number of papers newsstands. We decided to use He declared he would rather lose the same period in 1943. Milwaukee Branch SCOREBOARD the Workmen’s Circle in Mass­ s‘x foot, hand drawn and colored we distribute at our regular these distributions to get more his job than submit to the achusetts, explained that the plant distributions.” subs, so we divided our branch * * ?■ BRANCH QUOTA SOLD maps of the two hemispheres are outrageous decree of the umpire, Executive Board went on record hung on either side at the front * * * into five teams, each team to dis­ A kro n whose decision could be in­ AFL President William Green Marks Opening Of 70 0 in support of this case because of the hall. These maps are the tribute for three weeks and then The following comments made terpreted only as an attempt to recently addressed the convention A lle n to w n 40 0 the rights and liberties of all work of Karl Kuehn, one of the 18 to call back for subs. One of the of the Brotherhood of Sleeping by UAW workers were sent in dictate the choice of leadership to Bayonne labor organizations were at prisoners in the Minneapolis case. teams has already gone back for 180 0 by our Detroit agent: the Local 235 members. Five i Car Porters on how “to make New Headquarters stake. Fraternal greetings to the subs and they got six 3-month Boston 230 0 On the far left of the suite and union committeemen, victimized I American democracy a living conference were sent by Leon “At an auto plant distribution subs in about 1 Vi hours. W’e are MILWAUKEE, Oct. 2. — The B u ffa lo at the rear of the budding is the along with Dessy, were forced to \ reality for American Negroes.” 400 228 several people commented on the all out of sub cards so please Milwaukee Branch of the Social­ Arkin, Boston Manager of the kitchen and dining room. Much Green offered a three-point pro­ Chicago 700 76 article in The Militant, ‘UAW send us 25 by re tu rn m a il.” accept a similar decision of the ist Workers Party held a house- Jewish Daily Forward. devoted labor lias gone into the gram to achieve this aim, in­ Militants Stage Revolt Against umpire on their cases or have warnrng party on Sunday, Octo­ Cleveland 200 36 H. Victorsen of Workmen’s remodeling of this room. Roomy Los Angeles: “ We want to give cluding a job for everyone, the The Unconditional No - Strike their families face starvation. ber 1st. Tlie new headquarters, D e tro it 1000 0 Circle 705, chairman of the con­ cupboards, built in by carpenter our San Pedro branch a real con­ right to vote and adequate Pledge,’ as being the kind of an It was the arbitrary removal marking the expansion of Trot­ ference, recalled the tradition of comrades, cover one wall all the tact list. One thousand subscri­ educational opportunities for all F lin t 10 0 article that is necessary for the of Dessy from his union office by skyism in Milwaukee, was jam­ his organization in supporting way up to the ceiling. These are bers would be what would do the the union tops which originally without discrimination. Los Angeles 1500 144 movements to free labor prison­ working people. Also they asked med full. The group responded camouflaged with neat-looking trick. They already have about When it came to his own home M ilw aukee 80 28 if the paper would have an art­ emboldened the company to fire enthusiastically to the speech of ers. “In the same spirit with green and white striped curtains. territory—the Jim Crow “lily- icle after the convention. When 300, so we’re going to go out and him and the other worker m ili­ Jack O’Connell, the City Organ­ Minneapolis 330 96 which we fought to free Debs, At one end of the room is the white” practices of several AFL I asked why, the answer was that tants. What part did Reuther, izer, who exposed the capitalist N e w ark 700 52 Mooney and Billings, Sacco and sink, porcelain work table, range, help them get the rest. Plans craft internationals—Green of­ they wanted to read the truth Bishop and the other UAW of­ character of the Democratic and Vanzetti,” he said, “we shall ice box, dining table and service were made just yesterday to go fered the usual mealy-mouthed New Haven 40 0 about the proceedings and not ficials play in cooking up this Republ’can parties and pointed work actively until these broth­ bar from which lunches and din out this Sunday.” apologetics: “I want you to under­ New Y o rk 2800 540 the capitalist press release, that move to prevent a m ilitant local out the need for labor to organ­ ers are freed. We are setting up ners are served during forums stand that the American Federa­ in The M ilitant they have found union leader, whom they were out ize its own party. Philadelphia 80 12 a local committee in conjunction and social affairs. The other end tion of Labor has no more power the best analysis of any event. The hit of the evening was a P ittsb u rg h 10 0 with the C.R.D.C. to enlist the of the room opens onto the com­ to force affiliated unions to act This plant has been getting the medicine show, complete with Q uakertow n 10 0 aid of other organizations for this mon hall, and here are small ta­ than our Federal Government has paper for the past two months magic tricks, sleight of hand, and case. Just as we defend the right bles for those who participate Reading 90 0 and wait for it every week. to order a Southern state to sale of "Dr. N.A.M.'s Enterprise.” to express our ideas, we shall in party festivities. Rochester 140 abolish Jim Crow cars.” Roose­ This patent med’eine was com­ 0 work to restore the rights of When Minneapolis held its open “A t another plant the workers velt doesn’t act, in order not to posed of 50% greed, 25% hypoc­ San Francisco 350 92 these 18 trade unionists and so­ house, there was not a single vis­ took the paper very well. A dis­ charged service man stood there antagonize his Southern political risy, 10% cruelty, 10% indiffer­ San Diego 80 0 cia lists.” itor who was unimpressed by the machine; Green, in order not to ence, and 5% opium. Refresh­ Seattle 500 0 layout of rooms and the attract­ affront the craft union moguls ments and dancing completed the iveness of the headquarters. St. Louis 10 0 who keep him in office. celebration. The Minneapolis Branch is hop­ St. Paul Auto Union Strikes 140 56 ing to have the headquarters com­ Texas 30 0 pletely decorated in time for a Toledo 160 0 In Protest Against welcome home for the comrades Youngstow n 120 20 imprisoned at Sandstone, Alder- son and Danbury. They want these Ford’s Provocation comrades to see th a t the branch T otal 10,000 1380 (Continued from page 1) can not only keep up the tradition of a beautiful headquarters but the Stalinists taught him, Grant can improve upon it. harangued the worxers for nearly an hour. He implied that such the case of several m aintenance action as they had taken helped workers, the workers left the lo­ only Hitler. He stated that Roos­ cal meeting in an orderly manner evelt’s re-election was jeopard­ to return to work tomorrow. ized by strikes, hinting that the Much bitterness lias been engend­ workers bit the hand that fed ered by the sell out policies of them. Wrapping himself in the the Stalinist hatchetmen in charge flag, be carefully refrained from of the Ford Local. The great discussing the issues which had majority of workers in the build­ caused the walkout. He ended ing, as well as in the plant at this exhibition of verbal acrob­ large, are no longer content to atics by ordering the workers to sit idly by and watch the Stalin­ return to their jobs tomorrow or ists sell out their union to the forfeit any representation the un­ Ford Motor Company. ion might give them in the event This is merely the opening gun of reprisals on the part of the of a struggle on the part of the company. workers to regain control of tlieir Remembering Grant’s well- union and to resist the provoca­ known practice of calling in the tions of the Ford Motor Company. FBI to investigate the workers Many interesting developments whenever his policies are ques­ may be expected within Ford Lo­ tioned, as happened recently in cal 600 in the immediate future. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1944 THE MILITANT —THREE Background Of The Revolutionary Situation In France By Frank Laurence Events in France today, where a rapidly reviving working- French Partisans Disarm Nazi Stalinist Leaders class is moving toward the battle-lines of the socialist revolution, Union Wage Demand Is are testimony both to the explosive state of class relations and the unquenchable revolutionary tradition of the French workers. Meet Opposition The movement of the workers may still be rather halting, but. its general direction is unmistakable. The establishment of workers’ Stalled By Roosevelt committees, which have taken charge of many large industrial At UE Convention (Continued from page 1) flunkeys was typical of their Congress was considering the ex­ enterprises in the Paris area, is - (Continued from page 1) the clearest indication of the Doumergue and Flandin. Ruling spineless subservience to the dem­ tension of the Wage Stabilization by decree, these governments at­ after the committee had felt that agogue in the White House. In a Act,) in response to the demands revolutionary trend. of the workers and was carried tempted to circumscribe the ac­ it had completely summarized its statement made after the White of the CIO and AFL for a wage In embarking once more on the overwhelmingly by the conven­ tivity of the workers and prevent viewpoint, bade them adieu in his House conference, W illiam Green revision, Roosevelt “took the road of struggle, the French tion. a revolutionary solution of the usual friendly manner.” This bit and Philip Murray “ said that they view” that “wage stabilization workers are not starting de novo, crisis that was plaguing society. Opposition to the leadership of stage play was followed by had not asked the President to was a matter for Congress and from the beginning. Their pres­ Answering attempts by the fasc­ reached its height on organiza­ the announcement that Roosevelt make any commitments, feeling not the Chief Executive!” Roose­ ent struggles are a continuation ists to seize power, they struck tional questions. The climax oc- refused to make any promises or that it was improper to do so, but velt varies his tune according to of the great revolutionary up­ blows at the workers’ movement, cured on Wednesday morning commitments to revise the Little had laid their case before him.” time and circumstance with the surge which began with the anti­ which was proving itself the only when the leaders sought to ram Steel wage-freezing formula. The positive assurance that the well- fascist general strike of Febru­ TRAINED PUPPETS real barrier against fascism. through a. proposal for increasing “rumors” circulated by Murray trained labor puppets will acqui­ a ry 12, 1934 and the great sit- The forces of fascism grew. the pay of international or­ and Green of an impending wage While the labor skates consider esce in his deception. ins and strikes of 1936-38. They were entrenched in the ar­ ganizers fro m $70 to $80 per increase were politely scotched in it “improper” to ask the Presi­ Meanwhile the War Labor These events were the climactic week. This immediately threw the Board is staging a farcical “pub­ my staff, in the police, and in the President’s “usual friendly dent to make a commitment on points in a continuing crisis of convention into an uproar. Dele­ lic hearing” on the demand for the government bureaus. A year m anner.” wage policy, they do not feel at French capitalism. The workers gates from all major UE districts a revision of the Little Steel for­ after the attempted fascist coup, Roosevelt permitted Murray all reticent about committing la­ sought a solution on the field of rose to voice sharp objections. mula, based on the “ fact-finding” another coup was attempted. and Company to circulate this bor to the unconditional political revolutionary battle, but were Although only a very feeble vole report of its special panels, sup­ Again the workers came out on rumor in order to stem the rising support of Roosevelt, the can­ sidetracked and betrayed by their of concurrence was voiced, Presi­ didate of the Wall Street con­ plemented by additional testimony the streets to give battle. Again tide of resistance to the uncondi­ “ Socialist” and Stalinist leaders, dent Fitzgerald, a reactionary tool trolled Democratic party. Accord­ from labor and industry. The the fascist thugs were driven tional no-strike pledgq at the CIO who far from desiring the over­ of the Stalinists, prevented a ing to William Green, the Presi­ WLB has no authority to “ decide” back to their holes. conventions and then quickly re­ throw of capitalism, were anx­ roll-call vote by arbitrarily ad­ pudiated it when he saw danger dent “took the view. . . that the the issue but can only make a Under conditions of continuing ious to preserve it. These lead­ journing the session. of sowing illusions in the minds wage matter was before the NW- “recommendation” to the Presi­ crisis the Doumergue and Flan­ ers collaborated with the capital­ Such opposition as the Stalin­ of the workers who have been led LB and that he could not take dent. Under a series of Presiden­ din governments fell in quick ists and brought the workers into ists n i'/ on policy questions cen­ to expect an early and favorable any action until the board had tial decrees the WLB has been order. Laval formed another stripped of its authority to make political submission to their class tered mainly on the issues of the decision upsetting the wage- finished its work.” On a previous short-lived government. Then independent decisions and has enemies. 35-hour week and incentive pay. freeze. The reaction of the labor occasion, (during the time when came the regime of Sarraut. Un­ been converted into an enforce­ Delegates from Local 425 and OUTBREAK OF WAR able to solve the crisis of French ment agency to police the unions several New England locals, who capitalism or restore even a sem­ and administer the wage-freeze. The outbreak of w ar in 1939, were joined by the Carey In his testimony before the W LB, itself one of the consequences of blance of social equilibrium, they elements, opposed the leadership’s DEMANDS FOR PAY INCREASES passed in to lim bo as quickly as George Meany, secretary-treasur­ this betrayal, interrupted the re­ position. Mont, who attempted to er of the AFL, protested this de­ volutionary development in Fran­ their predecessors. give a minority report favoring Working men and women alike rose up to drive the Nazis from RAISED BY MARITIME UNIONS velopment when he stigmatized ce. The subsequent Nazi occupa­ Then came the 1930 elections. the 35-hour week, was simply Paris. The photograph above, taken during the uprising, shows the wage-freeze as a flagrant vio­ tion drove the labor movement Testifying to the mounting re­ halted in the middle of his re­ (Continued from page 1) bargaining weapon and would be lation of the agreement between underground and prevented the volutionary mood of the masses, a young woman disarming a wounded Nazi soldier, and handing marks by Fitzgerald, the chair­ helpless in the face of an in labor, industry and the Govern­ workers from profiting in renew­ the “ Socialist” and Stalinist par­ his gun to a Partisan fighter who runs up to receive it. man, on a parliamentary tech­ watchful attention by skilled en- evitable government - shipowner ment, made on December 23, 1941, ed struggle by the hard-won ex­ ties scored spectacular electoral nicality. Stansky, of Local 425, gineroom personnel.” offensive. Evidence that the WLB which provided that all disputes periences of the preceding period. successes. But neither of these succeeded however in completing Such a 15 percent increase would take advantage of the heads of factories as the workers Today, the French workers take were to be settled “ by democratic Today the struggle is being re­ parties had any intention of lead­ would bring the basic wages of unions’ working rules is shown in took control. The French revol­ up their struggle again, but a minority report favoring the methods through a tripartite la­ newed. ing the workers ifi revolution wipers, firemen and oilers up to the recent MMP, NMU and ution had begun. under different conditions, and Ford Instrument local’s resolution bor board.” against capitalism. They comb­ $100, $115, and $125 per m onth MEBA cases. Here the unions The general strike of February Panic-stricken by this great with the precious experiences of against incentive pay. Fitzgerald, Meany declared that the gov­ respectively. rashly opened the entire contract 12, 1934 was a dra m a tic con firm ­ ined with the corrupt Radical wave of insurrectionary action, the pre-war years. Numbers have while curbing opposition speakers ernment’s present wage policy Although wage demands made only to be cut down with losses, ation of the fact that the only Socialist Party, a party of the the “ Socialist” and Stalinist lead­ learned that the “ Socialist” and within the five minute speaking constituted a “fraud on the na­ by the Sailors Union, which rep­ rather than to achieve the “mod­ progressive force in France, as capitalists, to save capitalism — ers did all they could to dampen Stalinist policy of cooperating limits of the convention rules, tion’s workers.” It was this mon­ resents unlicensed deck personnel erate” gains they had hoped for. in all other countries, is the under the pretext that fascism the struggle, confine and ham­ with the capitalists and their permitted the Stalinist leaders, strous “fraud on the nation’s on the Pacific coast, and the Sea­ working-class. Fascists organized could only be defeated by a Pop­ string it, bring the workers back parties, on the pretext that the like Matles, extended time. The workers” which Roosevelt hailed farers International, AFL affiliate CUT DOWN CONDITIONS in the Croix de Feu and the Ca- ular Front which would unite all under the discipline of their ex­ Popular Front is the only way to delegates were finally given only as a boon to the “masses” in his on the east coast representing all melots du Roi had marched on the classes — including the cap­ ploiters. By making a few minor fight and vanquish fascism, pre­ the opportunity to vote for or The conditions of work, defined first political speech of the elec­ departments (deck, engine, and the Chamber of Deputies in an italists who were financing the concessions to the rebellious pared the way for Hitler’s against the Stalinist proposal for in the main body of union con tion campaign delivered at a stewards), have not been made attempt at a Hitler-like coup fascists! — in “defense of dem­ workers, the Popular Front gov­ triumph over France. They saw a “ ‘post-war’ program” of com­ tracts, are conditions won in the meeting of the AFL Teamsters public, they are substantially d’etat. The government of Pierre ocracy.” ernment of Blum induced them the capitalists and the capitalist plete capitulation to the bosses. 1934 and 1936-37 m a ritim e strikes. Union. “You and I know,” said higher than those of the Marine Laval, ruling in the name of a The workers, looking for a to end the sit-ins. Capitalism, de­ politicians betray France to the In the election of officers, the They are enforced through union Roosevelt, “ that the present poli­ Firemen’s quoted above. How­ capitalist class which was secret­ radical solution to their prob­ void of any resources of its own, Nazis. They have seen these same opposition, as a test-vote of its control of the hiring hall. Wher cies on wages and prices were ever. these negotiations now oc­ ly backing the fascist gangsters, lems, were disoriented and con­ was saved by the misleaders and people in active collaboration influence, ran an obscure candi­ these clauses were opened for conceived to serve the needs of cur against a background of re­ hastily capitulated before this fused by this policy of class coll­ betrayers of the working-class. with the Nazis for three long date, Martin J. Hogan, against arbitration the War Labor Board the great masses of the people.” cently established wage scales aboration, but their will to strug­ Fitzgerald for the presidency. look the occasion to strike out To Roosevelt’s contention that show of force. Thereby Laval pre­ But the crisis which produced the years. They know that a society agreed to by the Stalinist-d.omin- Although he ran on no program, certain holidays enjoyed by en­ his wage policies serve the needs pared his later capitulation to gle for a better life was unim­ sit-ins remained in all its urgen­ of peace and plenty can be at­ ated CIO National Maritime Un­ Hogan mustered the surprisingly gineers and mates, and fo r sev of the masses the workers will the Herman fascists. But the paired, for capitalism with its cy. On the ensuing wave of re­ tained only by ending the corrupt ion, largest organization in the workers, for whom fascism was never-ending oppression and action the Blum government fell and oppressive capitalist system. large support of approximately eral years specified in their agree­ respond by echoing the words of in du stry. ments. Similarly with the NMU a life and death question, appear­ hunger remained. to make way for the ministry of The class struggle in France one-fourth of the votes cast. The Meany who aptly characterized This union recently secured agreement. The Board ruled out ed on the streets to give battle Deladier and later the ministry chief Stalinists, Emspak and these policies as a “ fraud” per­ 1936 E LE C T IO N S thus unfolds on an incomparably what was termed a “wage in­ payment of overtime on Saturday to the fascists and drove them Matles, Secretary-Treasurer and petrated on the American working of Reynaud. higher plane than the great crease” by the War Labor Board Director of Organization respec­ afternoons, Sundays, and holidays class. back into their hiding places. For the workers, the victories Daladier, ruling by decree for but which actually did not strugg le s o f 1934 and 1936-38. tively, were permitted to run for on ships at island outports and Supplementing this action, they in the 1936 elections were a sig­ the French capitalists, revoked change the amount of wages sea­ AIDS CORPORATIONS Turning their backs on the “So­ re-election unopposed. anchorages. This has long been proclaimed a general strike in nal for revolutionary action. In the concessions Blum had been men receive. The ruling of the collected by seamen under the The most ardent supporters of order to paralyze the arm of re­ Paris and throughout the country cialist" and Stalinist traitors, the There were clear signs at this War Labor Board simply made obliged to make to the workers terms of their old contracts be Roosevelt’s wage policies, setting action. thousands upon thousands of convention that the UE rank and the $17.50 “ emergency” increase in 1936. A n o th e r wave o f w o rk ­ advanced workers will rally to fore the WLB started tampering aside the Stalinists, are the “ dol­ In the shadow of a virtual civil workers, especially in the heavy file are beginning to rise up part of the basic wage. Thus ers’ struggle rapidly developed. the clean banner of the socialist with them. At the end of a long lar patriots” who have coined fa­ war which plainly posed fascism industries, staged their famous against the Stalinist bureaucrats an able seaman's salary remains July, 1938 saw a fresh strike up­ trip it is these clauses that make bulous profits out of the adminis­ or the socialist revolution as the sit-in strikes, thus revealing an revolution, the banner of Trotsky­ seeking to chain the union to the $100 per month. surge. But the workers, despite the difference between a good tration’s war program of unlim­ sole alternatives, Laval resigned entirely new weapon of working- their great will to battle, were ism. In the fire of struggle they government agencies and the WLB RULINGS pay-off and a bad one. Thus the ited profits and frozen wages. to make way for the Bonapartist class struggle. The Red Flag of corporations. But, although the again sidetracked by the “ Social­ will build the party that will or­ strategy of the unions now nego Speaking before the W LB, James socialism flew from the mast- Stalinist leadership was shaken, The run-around all unions- re­ police-military dictatorships of ist” and Stalinist misleaaders. ganize their socialist victory. tiating is “leave the working1 con­ A. Stephens, vice-chairman of the the convention proceedings made ceive from the War Labor Board ditions alone lest we wind up United States Steel Corporation, it clear that to win out against is typified by its ruling in the w ith less ...” maintained that the steel tycoons case of the NM U demands. Jo­ the reactionary Stalinist policies, The long and futile process of “were defending the Govern­ seph Curran in the PILOT (Sept. the opposition must fight for a attempting to negotiate without ment’s wage stabilization policy 22) passes on to members of his principled militant program. That bargaining weapons is illustrated by opposing any change in the De Gaulle Seeks To Forestall union advice he gets from- these program must be based on the by the present status of the Fire­ Little Steel formula.” A prepared government boards. He says: three main issues before the labor men's demands. After weeks of statement read to the WLB by “ What are the reasons that we movement today: scrap the no- proposals and counter proposals H. W. Anderson, vice-president in have been unable to secure wage strike pledge; withdrawn the between the so-called "shipown charge of personnel of General Revolution By False Promises increases up to the present time? labor members from the WLB; ers” and the union the case has Motors, declared that it was the One reason of course is that the (Continued from page 1) struggle for a new socialist Resistance sought to block the end company unionism in politics finally been prepared for referral “considered judgment” of the cor­ War Labor Board, in agreeing society. mass movement, cheat the people by building an independent labor to the War Labor Board. poration, “ that there should be no with us to make the $17.50 a part "taking over” the coal mines and The treacherous conciliationist out of their victory, and render p a rty. change in the established wage of the permanent wages, pointed The “owners” in this industry- the Renault plant it is pre­ role of the Stalinists was stated Paris safe for the capitalist ex­ stabilization policy at this time.” out that it was a wage increase. are more parasitical than in any cisely this plan that is being by Benoit Fraehon, Stalinist ploiters. If he were telling the truth, of youths toughened by guerrilla They could not consider two de­ other. The industry has been built pursued. Both the French capital­ Secretary of the General Federa­ Roosevelt should have said “ You The story of this piece of life and apparently permeated not mands for a wage increase for the up entirely at the expense of gov­ ists and the Allied “liberators” tion of Labor, in an interview and I know” that “the present trickery was told in a Paris only by revolutionary habits but seamen at the same time, they ernment funds. The government fear the French workingclass. As with United Press in Paris on policies on wages and prices were dispatch to the N. Y. Times on by revolutionary ideas.” stated. This made our position loads the ships and determines the N. Y. Times reported, “the conceived to serve the needs” of Sept. 30. He denied that the Sept. 29. In the midst of the mass Raymond Daniel], another N. Y. difficult, although we could not their destination. It pays all Government's assumption of con­ Stalinists intended to “take ad­ U. S. Steel, General Motors and uprising against the Nazis in the Times correspondent in Paris, re­ agree with this argument. The wages. The only function of these trol of the mines had probably other such Wall Street corpora­ vantage of the situation and French capital, a “mysterious ports a popular distrust of de $17.50 tem porary wage increase “owners” in the negotiations for prevented a strike that both the tions. Sovietize or socialize enterprises,” truce” was arranged with the Gaulle for whom “ there seems to had been secured, actually, be­ higher wages is to scale down the French and the Allies’ authorities The demands of the unions for adding that the Communist Party Germans in what an FFI writer be very little enthusiasm. . . It fore the w ar started. S till, based demands of the unions and had feared.” wage increases have been kicked is pledged to support the de Gaulle asserts was an effort to “ruin was perhaps significant that a upon the principles adopted by prepare the case for the War regime until the elections—which the Parisian insurrection.” The around by Roosevelt-Byrnes and REVOLUTIONARY MOOD handpicked crowd in the hall the War Labor Board, we ■ could Labor Board. have been indefinitely postponed. the WLB for months on end. The truce was arranged by the present where he delivered his speech (on not get any more wage increases, What can be expected from the The revolutionary temper of A ll they wanted, this Stalinist WLB is now stalling along with Minister of Labor, Alexander the new ‘planned economy’) ap­ and they recommended that we Board is indicated by the Fire the French workers is attested in the object of indefinitely delay­ leader declared, was “ confiscation Parodi, who was then de Gaulle’s plauded, but that the crowds in go back to the operators, and in m en’s Reporter (Sept. 15), which almost every press dispatch on ing any décision. Neither Roose­ of the factories of all employers representative in the Council of the streets showed scarcely any line with our agreement with says that the negotiating com­ the internal condition of France. velt nor Dewey have found it who collaborated with the enemy.” Resistance, Charles Luizet, who enthusiasm.” them open further discussions on mittee has decided to "proceed “ There is a revolutionary change “proper” to make any specific But since the entire capitalist represented de Gaulle as Prefect In de Gaulle, working-class wage increases. This we have posthaste with the War Labor in the air all over France,” re­ commitments on the wage ques­ class in France, to one degree or of Police, and M. Chaband, who Paris sees ju s t another ca p ita list done.” Board on all the wage, overtime, ports a N.Y. Times correspondent tion. The labor flunkeys have aid­ another, collaborated with the was de Gaulle’s emissary in the politician — radical in words, In the present negotiations longshore cargo rate, standby “ but nowhere is it more noticeable Nazis, it is not difficult to sec that ed in this run-around by covering Robert D. Murphy (above), Committee of M ilitary Action of reactionary in deeds. They have most unions have agreed to sub­ rate, and such problems, and see than in liberated Paris, with its up the responsibility of Roosevelt the Stalinist program of confisca­ the Council of Resistance. observed how the de Gaulle gov­ mit only the question of wages to if we can stir that august body newspapers all clamoring for newly appointed political ad­ for maintaining the wage freeze tion is in effect a program of no The purpose of the truce, the ernment “has been too lenient the War Labor Board. They avoid to a fast decision. If the Board economic as well as political viser to General Eisenhower and in sowing illusions among the confiscation. Making confiscation FFI writer discloses, was to with collaborationists; too quick opening the working rules be­ has to consider our entire agree freedom and its walls plastered and the occupation forces des­ workers that “labor’s friend” in dependent upon proof of col­ “prevent an uprising of the to round up the small fry and too cause, having surrendered the m ent, the case w ill be up before tined to police Berlin, made his the White House w ill surely grant with the posters of the parties of laboration is the sleight-of-hand masses” and was inspired by fear right to strike, they have no real slow to go after those who, be­ them for years ...” a bountiful wage increase—if not the Left. . . If the press is a reputation as diplomatic rep­ trick by which the Stalinists seek that Paris would fall into the cause of their influence and before, then after, he is elected. reliable guide to the political resentative of the State De­ to restrain the masses from hands of the workers. By means power, performed great services If the administration is com­ temper of Paris and of France, partment in Algiers. There he carrying through a thorough­ of the truce, the masses were for the Germans.” pelled to grant a wage increase then the people will tolerate a going program for the liquidation restrained long enough to enable backed Darlan and Giraud— and The Paris workers, says the it will be entirely due to the return neither of the old leaders of capitalism. the troops of de Gaulle and the gave a good indication of the correspondent, “ are in a mood to mounting resistance in labor’s nor the old ways which con­ That the Stalinists, the “ Social­ Allies to reach Paris and clamp brand of “ anti-fascism” he w ill work for an fight for Liberty, ranks to Roosevelt’s “ wage stab­ tributed so greatly to the disaster ists” and de Gaulle are obliged down military rule. attempt to carry into Germany Equality and Fraternity as they ilization” fraud. In view of the that overtook the nation in 1940.” to drape their reactionary aims for the AMG. The Nazis, however, did not have never fought before in our drastic reduction in “ take home According to this correspondent, with a pseudo-radical program, honor the truce (they “never for time.” In actual experience they wages” due to cutbacks, down­ there are “two potential govern­ to inveigh against the big capital­ a minute stopped firing” ) and its are now discovering the treachery grading and plant shutdowns, a ments in France—that of the ist trusts, and to appear before working masses were ready to effect was “to increase French of the Stalinist and “Socialist” meagre increase based on the de­ Resistance and that of General de the masses as advocates of a continue the struggle. They losses and reduce German losses.” leaders, who are bent on preserv­ mand of the labor lackeys for a Gaulle,” and had de Gaulle been “ new” social order, with “ planned wanted to vanquish and dispos­ But Paris was saved from the ing the very system of capitalist “modification” of the Little Steel less “tactful” there might already economy” and all the rest, is sess the French c a p ita lis t class “mob,” that is, from the French oppression which the workers are formula, w ill be hopelessly inade­ have been “a bitter and bloody testimony to the seething revolu­ which had cooperated with the workers—for the time being! striving to end. quate. In order to smash the L it­ conflict which would have forced tionary ferment. Nazis, and to take over power. Yes, but only for the time be­ In the fire of the coming strug­ tle Steel wage-freezing formula Allied intervention. But both But the Stalinist and “ Socialist” This ferment became manifest ing! Harold Callender of the N. Y. gles a new revolutionary party, and win wage concessions at all groups realized the need for unity, leaders, instead of leading the when more than a million work­ Times reported from Paris Sept. enjoying the support of the commensurate with the rise in the and instead of a struggle for masses in struggle, sought ‘unity’ ers in Paris, aided by detach­ 30: “ This revolutionary mood . . . broadest masses and capable of cost of living, the unions must power there was a union of with the capitalists and joined in ments of the FFI, rose up against is real and will persist.” The leading them in the struggle for first regain their independence of forces.” a “coalition” with them through the Nazis and seized the capital armed forces of the FFI remain. socialism, w ill be born. Its Trot­ action. They can do so only by In this brief quotation is con­ de Gaulle’s Consultative As­ in advance of Allied occupation. They refuse to disband. They w ill skyist nucleus already exists. rescinding the unconditional no­ tained the whole essence of the sembly. They strove and are still Alarmed by this display of prole­ not relinquish their arms. The Nothing and nobody w ill be able strike pledge and withdrawing political situation in France. striving to damp down the tarian initiative, the political workers have established control to prevent the French working- their members from the wage­ Having booted the Nazi oppres­ revolutionary ardor of the masses representatives of the French over many factories. Here, says class from reaching its socialist freezing, strikebreaking War La­ sors out of their country, the and divert them from the road of capitalist class in the Council of Callender, “is a formidable mass destiny. bor Board. FOUR- THE MILITANT SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1944 In Memory Of Grant Dunne, Working Class Fighter Who Gave His Life For Socialism On October 5, 1941, shortly before the M in ­ neapolis trial, Grant Dunne, one of the 29 By V. Grey Socialist Workers Party and Truckdrivers Lo­ “Supposing we do give all the capitalists the gate, and run the cal 544-C10 leaders originally indicted, com­ Chiang Kai-Shek Regime show ourselves under a workers’ government, what about the rest mitted suicide. of the world? The Hitlers and Churchills aren’t going to like it much, A veteran of the First World War, Grant are they? Suppose they bamboozle the European workers to keep Dunne had been in ill health for many years right on in the old way. The capitalists would turn these Europeans as a result of shell-shock. Shaken By Grave Crisis against us and it would be our necks pretty soon, wouldn’t it? ” On this third anniversary of Comrade Yes. Sooner or later the whole world must be Socialist. It can’t Dunne’s death ice republish in part this tribute By Li Fu-Jen exist half free and half slave. And when we succeed we’ll help the to his memory delivered at his funeral on Oc­ Rotted to the very core by corruption, powerless to stem working people all over the world to do the same as we did. We’ll tober 7, 1941 by Farrell Dobbs, then National- the raging economic crisis, and unable any longer to offer even help them with money—with books and the like. But they’ll be look­ Labor Secretary of the SWP and now one of a token resistance to the armies of Japanese imperialism, the ing for the Socialist way out anyhow. They are already doing it to­ the IS prisoners in the Minneapolis Labor Case. Kuomintang police-military dictatorship headed by the butcher day. The conditions they have to live under make them start think­ By Farrell Dobbs Chiang Kai-shek is falling apart to the alarm of the "demo­ ing that way. The problems they have to solve are the same as cratic” imperialists who have been counting on Chiang’s regime ours. And there is only one solution. G ra n t John Dunne was born June 21, 1893, on as an indispensable ally in their war against Japan. Something happened in the shop a few years back that demon­ a farm oast of Little Falls, Minnesota. He went Facts testifying to the utter' strates this pretty well. It’s a long way from world Socialism and through eighth grade in a one-room schoolhouse rottenness of the bloody dicta­ (ruth has at last been permitted revolution, maybe. But it might give you the idea. Louie, the stump in the country. Soon after the turn of the cen­ torship which has ruled over the to pass the censorship. jumper, used to be one of the two welders in the shop before his tury the Dunne family moved to Minneapolis. Chinese masses for the past 17 Associated Press, in the dis­ eyes went bad on him. There was very little welding done here Grant went to South High for one year and years appeared in the capitalist patch from Kunming quoted then. And what the rest of us didn’t know about the subject we then, like so many sons of the working class, press last week and were pub­ above, said Chinese reverses “ are learned from Louie—which wasn’t so good because, even at that had to forego schooling and go to work. He licized as “ revelations.” But the generally put down to ineptness time, Louie was one of these tight-lipped customers—the kind of a got his first job as a bill clerk for the Railway facts are not new. They have and confusion of command, lack guy who would huddle his whole body over a blue-print for fear Express Company . . . simply been suppressed through of integrated communications and you might find out what he was going to do before he doped it out many other deficiencies ... Chung­ On February 6, 1918, he was married to Clara censorship exercised both by the him self. king has issued orders that have Houck. They had four sons, Claire, John, Richard Kuomintang government and its There were a couple of old coffee grinders that the company imperialist friends. Only the indicated a disregard or lack of and Russell. Five months after his marriage passed off for electric welding machines. Louie used both of them Trotskyist press has consistently knowledge of field situations. An on the day shift and Harry Johnson used them both at night. (There Grant was inducted into the 3rd Pioneer Infantry, revealed the true facts about example was the decimation of had to be two because one or the other was always going on tho and one month later he found himself in the GRANT DUNNE China and given accurate ap­ one army that, evidently for rea­ CHIANG KAI-SHEK frontline trenches in France. 1893-1941 praisals of the Kuomintang sons of ‘face,’ was ordered to bum.) Well, at this particular time we were working on a new job. His first great lesson in life he learned from regim e. drive back into Hengyang when Wo were making metal door arches for schools and offices. They the imperialist war, which broke up his life, took it might have been digging in for not criticize d by as much as a were made out of 16 gage sheet metal, bent several times the long LOSS OF KW EILIN the defense of Kweilin . . . At him from his wife who was with their first son, at the time when his organization was facing word. This is additional proof way to reinforce them and make them look fancy. Nowadays the times Chinese infantry has been that no fundamental change is and propelled him, untrained, into the maelstrom its greatest crisis. The occasion of the new “ revela­ roller line can bend a continuous strip a half a mile long while thrown into an attack simply for In the sum m er of 1934, when G overnor O lson’s tions” was the severe blow suf­ contemplated by the real politic­ you’re turning around to sneeze. But in those days each piece had of war . . . the sake of attacking, with no al power. National Guards were on the streets of Min­ fered by the U. S. 14th A ir Force to be cut in short lengths and bent several times on the brake. on Sept. 15 when it was com­ specific mission. On at least one Chiang is attempting to saddle Severe Case of Shell-Shock neapolis, were turning loose the trucks with pelled to abandon its $90,000,000 such occasion they were chopped responsibility for all the crimes m ilitary permits, were breaking our strike, raid­ THE SECRET OF LOUIE’S GREATER OUTPUT On the very eve of the Armistice he was trans­ base at Kweilin in the south­ to pieces by Japanese machine- of his hateful regime onto some gunners . . . Dysentery has taken porting munitions to the front lines when he ing our strike headquarters, arresting our lead­ western province of Kwangsi of his henchmen and the state The top of the arch had to be welded to the two legs. And I guess ers and our pickets, Grant, more than any other a terrible toll. In hot weather functionaries. To save his re­ they were holy hell to weld, especially with those awful machines. was caught with other soldiers in a terrific ex­ after dynamiting its 550 build­ the Chinese drink the water from gime, a regime of landlord-cap­ The metal was so thin the welding arc would go right through it if plosion at an ammunition dump. Grant sustain­ person helped turn the tide of battle. He ap­ ings and air strips as Japanese peared before the governor and before the colon­ forces swept down from the the rice paddy fields . . . A chest italist robbery and oppression, you used any heat at all. And by the time you cut the heat down to ed a severe case of shell-shock. He was hospi­ or abdominal wound for a soldier he will simply reorganize the els, forcing the release of the arrested union north in their campaign to com­ where you figured it ought to be, it was too cold to work at any talized in France and brought back to the United was virtually the same as a bul­ government, eliminate the more leaders, forcing the guardsmen to evacuate the plete the severance of all eastern speed with. These were the old fashioned machines, remember. States on a stretcher. . . His recovery from his let through the head, for gen­ notorious of the grafters, punish China from the hinterland. But old Louie finally seemed to get the idea somehow— and he wounds was slow, and he suffered many re­ union headquarters. . . erally speaking only the walking a few small-time functionaries. “It was almost a bloodless vic­ started turning those frames out like nobody’s business. W ith Harry, lapses, especially in the last year of his life wounded could be evacuated. The Nothing fundamentally will be He Opened Workers’ Eyes tory for the Japanese. Ten thou­ though, it was a different story. He’d struggle along all night with­ when the existence of another World War others were abandoned.” changed. sand troops swept the remnants out getting anywhere. Poor Harry Johnson and the stump jumper Grant did the greatest individual service for In this scheme to postpone the brought back to him the sufferings he saw and of- eight Chinese armies before CHUNGKING REGIME inevitable day of reckoning with had been carrying on some kind of a feud for years, and Louie, experienced in the first World War. me that anyone ever performed. He picked me them, meeting hardly a token re­ While Kweilin was being eva­ the masses whom he has tortured, even when he was expansive, was never what you’d call the most In 1920 he obtained employment as an office out from behind a coal pile in 1933, where I was sistance,” wired Charles Miner, cuated, the People’s Political starved and wantonly sacrificed, helpful guy in the world. Louie did three for Harry’s one every shoveling coal for 35c. an hour, bewildered and N. Y. Post correspondent at worker in Minneapolis. He was very conscious Council, a handpicked caricature he has Roosevelt’s backing. As Kweilin. According to the Asso­ day. Louie didn’t really mean to be a job killer. He just wanted of the fact that his lack of formal schooling was confused by life. Grant set my foot on the high of a democratic assembly, was Atkinson reports, “for purely ciated Press, the evacuation of to be nasty with Harry. a handicap, and he took up the task of self-edu­ road of the workers’ political movement. meeting in Chungking and, ac­ selfish reasons China’s allies, Kweilin presented the “paradox We all found out later on, when the new machine came in with Grant has started hundreds of other workers cording to Brooks Atkinson of notably America, are interested cation. Discovering a talent for figures, he im­ of unsuccessful defensive action an automatic volt and amp adjuster, just what Louie’s secret had on this same path, the only path that leads to the N. Y. Times, “never before in a unified China under the Gen­ mersed himself in the study of mathematics. aground despite clear superiority been. It was very simp’e. For that kind of a job you don’t just cut have delegates . . . spoken so eralissimo’s leadership to prose­ Later he entered the construction industry, work­ the ultimate solution of all our major problems. in the air,” for the 14th Air sharply to government ministers cute the war vigorously.” everything way down. You turn the voltage very low, but keep the ing his way up to the post of executive secretary Grant has opened the eyes of hundreds to the Force is “the most substantial about corruption, inefficiency, re­ amperage fairly high for such light work, and you can go right to realities of our economic and political system. firepower the Chinese had.” of a large construction firm, then serving the pression, tho shocking treatment SEEKS SCAPEGOATS town. Through these men Grant will continue to serve Loss of Kweilin (although by firm as branch manager in St. Louis and Wash­ of Chinese soldiers and other And Chiang himself, says the Well, to get on with the story. It seems Louie would finish a half the beginning of this week the ington, D. C . Still later, he was employed as an the workers’ movement until the final victory evils of tho moribund regime and correspondent, “believing that it hour early every day and deliberately reset the machine so Harry, Japanese forces had not yet expert estimator with a plumbing supply com­ is won. This is his greatest contribution to never before have Chinese news­ is still possible to keep the old the night man, wou'd find it that way and never dream that his reached either the city or its air pany in St. Louis where his expert knowledge humanity . . . papers reported speeches and worn machine from being tossed trouble was there. But Louie’s stump-jumping joy was short lived. base) alarmed imperialist head­ Grant saw all the young men of the present criticisms so fully.” Chiang’s fin­ on the scrap heap, is receptive to of the industry was frequently consulted by quarters because it was their One morning he came into work and saw welded frames piled up generation being shoved into the maw of the war ance minister H. H. Kung, pre­ new suggestions and eager to others. most advanced base in eastern all over the place. And he counted them—while he was pretending sently in the United States, and make necessary changes.” A re­ Then came the economic crash of 1929. Grant, machine. He saw the Roosevelt administration China and its abandonment has to look at a blue-pr.'nt. There were half again as many as. he’d notorious for his corruption, was vealing commentary on this sud­ lashing out against the union that Grant be­ placed both Shanghai and the ever done. The same thing happened for a week. Finally, he couldn’t like millions of other persons, was thrown into one of the main targets of critic­ den eagerness of Chiang to make longed to and against the party, the Socialist island of Formosa outside the the ranks of the unemployed. ism. “necessary changes” was con­ stand it any longer. He just hung around and waited one evening. Workers Party, that Grant belonged to. He saw range of their bombers. He just stood there with his arms folded, watching Harry. Of course, How did it come about that he and millions “Suddenly a breath of fresh tained in the Chungking press himself one of the victims of the vicious witch­ The feebleness of Chinese re­ a couple of us stayed, too, just to watch the stump jumper. Harry of others wanted to work but could find no work air has begun to rush through late last month. It was reported sistance to Japan’s advances has to perforin? Grant asked himself this question. hunts that always precede and accompany im­ the stagnant miasma of Chung­ that a transportation regiment of must have felt kind of funny. But finally he went up to the machine brought into question the value He again applied himself to study. He found the perialist war. The government and the union king,” the elated Atkinson re­ sick and half-starved men passed and set it. Louie didn’t make any bones about it at all. He walked of the Kuomintang regime as a through the capital and when right over and stood behind Harry to watch what he did. system of capitalism to be responsible for the bureaucrats were persecuting, in Grant, a man ported, adding that Chiang had military ally of the imperialists. Chiang was “prevailed upon” to who was himself a victim of the first World War. advised the Board of Censors “ to great ills of mankind. He found the answer in Roosevelt, determined to bolster visit it he was “so shocked that THEY ARRIVED AT THE SAME SOLUTION As Grant saw the approach of America’s en­ pass within reason everything the working class movement. He came to under­ Chiang’s decayed rule because he he struck the commanding off­ that is factually true.” Well, you’d have sworn Louie the stump jumper would never stand the need for trade unions and for trade trance into the bloody struggle for markets and regards it as the oniy barrier to icers in the face with his cane.” union struggle. He came to see the necessity for colonies and profits, he looked upon his three revolution in China, had earlier At these sessions of the Peo­ The lower command of the army have worked here again. He was that mad. Harry had finally got ple’s Political Council — a body working class political action. Fearlessly he sons of military age. He thought of the suffer­ sent Donald Nelson and Major- is to be made the scapegoat for on to the simple trick himself. Louie must have figured he had Gen. Patrick Hurley to Chung­ which has no legislative, much some kind of personal patent on it. But things w ill happen that way threw himself into the task of building the union ing this war might bring to them, as the earlier crimes against the soldiers just less executive powers, and which war had brought to him. He saw his first-born, king to see w hat could be done. as the bureaucrats are being when people have the same troubles. They finally have to come to movement, of strength -ning the workers’ pol­ The first step was to expose the only now has gained a right to Claire, a war-baby now grown and about ready blamed for the crimes against the same solution. Of course, if everybody were like Louie, the stump itical movement. He devoted the remainder of even criticize the government — long-suppressed facts. The aban­ the people. jumper it would be a pretty long drawn out business. It’s much his years to these tasks . . . to march off to another war. donment of Kweilin provided the Chiang himself, the fountain­ According to the Chungking quicker when new methods of doing things are taught by one to These sad burdens aggravated the wounds in­ occasion and at least part of the head of all the corruption, was newspapers, the “shocked” Gen­ another—or brought from one place to another. That’s the way it’s Contributions to Union flicted upon him in mind and body at the Ar- eralissimo “ordered the Conscrip­ going to be with Socialism. Workers everywhere are going to be gonne. All of this was more than he could bear. tion Bureau to improve the liv­ In 1933 Grant finally landed a job as driver. . . looking for it. Some w ill find it for themselves like Harry Johnson. He was one of the pioneers who helped launch SEPTEMBER F. I. FEATURES elihood of soldiers and civil serv­ He Was a Good Fighter ants." It is also reported that Others will have to be shown what wheels and switches to work- the campaign to organize the Minneapolis driv­ more “representatives” are to be But they’ll be just as good at it and fight just as hard to get it, as ers, who helped build that organization which We are gathered here to say our last farewell added to the People’s Political anybody else. to Grant Dunne. We shall cherish his memory. TIMELY ARTICLES ON EUROPE la te r came to be know n as Local 544 . . . Council. But barren decrees and When the CIO started in the middle thirties, the time was ripe We shall love him for the good he has done. olutionary leadership of the Seldom in the forefront, so far as the public Recent developments in a dressing-up of the impotent and the thing was needed. The movement spread like w ildfire. Shops working class must, and will be was concerned, Grant made heavy contributions Grant gave all that he had to the cause that France, the practical tasks fac­ assembly will change nothing. in our town got organized overnight. Just a hint, just a breath formed, to close the period of to his union. He served it as a skillful organizer. meant more to him than life itself. He risked ing the peoples of Europe, and The canker eating at the very capitalist imperialism by the suc­ of an idea of what it was all about and the rest followed. It’s like He was especially versatile in committee work. his life many times without giving it a second the theoretical problems posed heart of Chinese society is lodged cess of the socialist revolution. that all over the world. South America, Asia, Africa—all have trade thought. He was a good fighter. in the reactionary rule of the He played a brilliant role in presenting testi­ by the Second World War, form Trotsky’s own writings of 1915- unions today—where reactionaries haven’t crashed them. And it’s landlords and capitalists. It is at mony on the workers' movement and the needs We shall write his name on the banner of the focal point of the September 16 on "The Program for Peace," not because William Green or Philip Murray sent any round-the- one and the same time the source of the unemployed to various government bodies his union and his party. And here at his funeral issue of “ Fourth International,” appear in the "Arsenal of Marx­ world pork choppers to organize the workers, either. They did it of the country’s economic and in Washington. For years he served the Federal let us strike up once again the forward march now on sale. ism ." These articles have been social decay and of the utter themse'ves because of their own desperate need. A hint was all they to carry that banner onward — in spite of every­ newly translated from the Rus­ Workers .Section as its assistant from the Gen­ “Whither France,” by Daniel failure of the defensive war needed—if even that. Industries have appeared for the first time sian fo r Fourth International by eral Drivers Union. thing — to the final victory of the workers and Logan describes the uprisings in against Japanese imperialism. in these places. And almost at once trado unions have sprung up. John G. W rig h t. They pose Grant would always rise to his fullest stature the free world of emancipated labor. Paris and Marseilles, the role of The Kuomintang regime with all They didn’t go through a hundred years of organizational trial and the armed workers in the FF1, sharply and clearly the need for the revolutionary socialist oro- its corruption and ineptitude is error like elsewhere. They nave just seen the factory for the first and the insoluble problems facing merely the reflection at the pol­ gram of the Socialist United time. And the answer we have taken a long time to think up, hits the dictatorial De Gaulle regime itical summit of the social pu­ as it attempts to hold in check States of Europe as the them right between the eyes. trescence below. No mere re­ the demands of the French work­ only way to reconcile the asp'r- Now, in the ¡ast few years, the ideas of revolutionary Socialism shuffle of the government will ers. "Europe in the Sixth War ations of the peoples for national have penetrated these places too. Carried in every way you can change anything essential. Year," by W illiam F. W’arde, sur­ Independence and social libera­ imagine by soldiers, sailors, prisoners, labor battalions—by litera­ As Atkinson wrote, there is veys the ap pa lling scene of starv- tion with the economic need for ture, letters, spoken messages. And sometimes in places so remote continental unity. Written a no concrete evidence that any de­ at'on, inflation and misery in that travelers hardly ever reach them, we hear they have organized geuerat’on ago, the articles are cisive change is going to be made Europe, as Anglo-A m erican im ­ a Trotskyist party. This party has the right answers—the right solu­ perialism tights to subjugate the today more timely than ever. in the administration of this tion no matter what part of the world you talk about. When people continent. W’arde predicts that An excellent review of “Zap­ tired, impoverished, loosely knit, begin to look for the solution, they are looking for that party and the inevitable disillusionment of ata, the Unconquerable," the sprawling state.” Meanwhile he the European masses as they see biographical novel about the great reports an “ alarming decrease in its socialist program. We have a WORLD movement already. We’re in action the enslaving program Mexican agrarian revolutionist industrial production, motor going to have a WORLD-WIDE socialist society. And once we really of the "liberators” and the ot 1910, is contributed by Donna transport, which is limping on its get going nobody is going to stay bamboozled very long. treachery of Stalin w ill bring the Kcnt. last w heels; inefficiency in the European peoples into direct col­ The Month in Review by the m ilitary organization continuing lision with this counter-revolu­ ed'tors gives an analysis of the inflation; the widespread con-up- tionary crew. national elections in the United tion in taxation, the manner of “ T rotsky's Prognosis ol' Our States and pays tribute to the conscripting army recruits,” etc. Epoch,” by Joseph Hansen, des­ Fourth International on the Sixth Only the sorely-oppressed mass­ cribes the present epoch of im­ Anniversary of its Founding es of China, m aking a clean perialism as the direct introduc­ Congress. sweep of the landlord-capitalist tion to the period of world revo­ system and the putrid regime lution. He emphasizes, in Trot­ Single copies of “Fourth In­ which it supports, can rescue the sky’s words: “ It is not a question ternational” may be obtained for country from its awful economic of a single uprising. It is a ques­ 20 cents, yearly subscription $2, plight, expel the imperialists of tion of an entire revolutionary by writing to the Business all varieties, and clear the road epoch.” In the k iln of ceaseless Manager, 116 University Place, to a decent, prosperous, and struggles by the masses the rev- N . Y. 3, N. Y. peaceful era under socialism. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1944 THE MILITANT — FIVE Roosevelt And Churchill Attempt To Deceive Rebellious Masses In Allied Dominated Italy (Continued from page 1)

By Charles Jackson things they were promised by the It's the Same Bayonet imperialists more than a year alT0, Diary Of A Steel Worker A Worker's Fortune this period and always there was Roosevelt and Churchill reply with the temptation to evade complete a promise to give more control to I asked B. P., one of our newer honestly. I felt that, someday, the the monarchical police-military By Theodore Kovalesky comrades, to pinch hit for me this Negro must be given equal rights dictatorship of Bonomi which, sub­ Joey left the day before yesterday. There’s so much to say about week. He chose, in retrospect, by the government, that govern­ ject to Allied approval, “rules” his going, but there’s more to say about the letter he sent back. I to make some personal observa­ ment which had guaranteed all Italy solely in the interests of guess he must have written it right away on the train and mailed tions. His article follows and its men those rights—at least on the capitalist-landlord minority. eloquence needs no comment. paper. It is so easy — and so it at the first stop. It was a shock getting it so soon. But the con­ Answering the cry of a starv­ I am a fellow worker who in­ dangerous—to rationalize. It is tents gave me a shock, too, and hurt a bit. Joey never meant it that ing people for bread, they merely herited a great fortune. It came equally easy — and equally dan­ way, of course, and what he said is true, I guess, but still it sort of instruct the UNRRA to “declare to me after years of believing in gerous—to become a martyr in h it me. for” sending supplies, but with­ capitalism, fighting in vain for one’s own thinking. out any firm undertaking that He was writing about the future, about marrying his girl, Helen, equal rights and “butting my Day after day the battle raged they will be sent. He said, “Dad, I couldn’t stand the idea of Helen going through head against a stone wall.” It within me before the forces of life the way women live nowadays. When I came home and saw came as the result of the death of mis-education began to give way As for the economic “recon­ Mom, I was surprised: I didn’t think Mom was so OLD! I guess a man whose passing I have no to the truth. The trouble was I struction,” only steps of military cause to regret. lacked dominion over my onto value to the Allied imperialists she’s worked pretty hard and hasn’t had things too nice, Dad. I Under such conditions of in­ emotions and thoughts. will be undertaken. The resour­ know you did all you could for all of us, and I know both Mom and heritance it is no more than fair Dominion! That word stuck in ces o f the ruined co u n try and its I are as grateful as we can be. Only, you were a worker, Dad, and that I should share the fortune my inind. I needed it. No man people are regarded exclusively under this system your hands were tied.’’ with others. There is enough of ever needed it more than I did. from the point of view of their It’s funny. You live with a per­ it to go around no matter how But how to acquire it? That was value to the imperialists and their son for years, and you think they predatory plans. many take their cut, for it is not the rub. The mis-education and never change. At first, when I the kind of wealth that is washed constant propaganda I received The Roosevelt-Churchill pron­ read Joey’s words, I almost didn’t under capitalism made me rebel away by bank failures, depi'es- ouncement will certainly arouse understand them. I had been go­ sions or unemployment. In a at the very possibility of a no joy among the sorely-tried ing along for years with the idea manner seemingly strange, divi­ socialist world. But that rebellion Italian masses who are struggl­ that Mary was almost as pretty sion has the effect of multiplica­ was not so strong as to satisfy ing for bread, liberty and peace. tion on this new-found wealth of my mind and put it at ease. I But it came just in time to save as when we were a couple of mine. thought and thought. I checked the bankrupt Bonomi government youngsters going out to dances The man who bequeathed riches back over my life. I analyzed and from being cast into the trash- and dime shows together. I hadn’t to me resembled me in every out­ re-analyzed. I read and read some can by the outraged workers and seen her g ro w in g old— not re a lly ward way. His name was the same more for I knew that I was facing peasants. old—before my very eyes, or per­ as mine. He had the same parents, a crisis. haps I didn’t let myself see. the same childhood and the same RESCUE BONOMI PLAIN TRUTH Why, it seems only yesterday semi-education. As a matter of As the N .Y. Times reported in that we were sitting in the kitch­ fact, he was my former self. One night reading The M ilitant a Rome dispatch, the Bonomi en of her house trying to figure Yes, after a long and suffering I saw this quotation of Karl Cabinet, riven by dissension sidetrack the workers and peas­ out how we'd be able to get mar­ illness my former self gave up Marx: “Labor with a Nvhite skin among the “Six Parties” which ants from revolutionary action. a fruitless struggle and died. An cannot emancipate itself where comprise the “coalition” on Roosevelt, Tobin Continuing ried on what I was earning. It autopsy showed that he died of labor with a black skin is brand­ which it rests, was falling apart. AGRARIAN REVOLT was a cold and snowy night outside, and I was sitting there holding mis-education, vain desires for ed.” Somewhere I had read those Bonomi himself was about to re­ Meanwhile, testifying to the hands, hating the thought of plodding back through the night to unattainable riches, lack of faith words before but I didn’t give sign. profound deepening of the insur­ Mrs. Wieczowic’s boarding house. It was warm there and sort of in the working people and other Conspiracy Against The 18 them much attention because I The Stalinist leader Palmiro rectionary ferment in Italy are wonderful and peaceful. It seemed to me that with her to help me, complications often seen in the hadn’t realized my own futility. Togliatti (Ercoli) once more came reports of renewed outcroppings (Continued from page 1) I could lick the whole world and carry her right up to the top, al­ workers under capitalism. That night the quotation seemed to the rescue of the regime Nvith a of agrarian revolt. Last week, though I knew we’d be terribly poor to start with. I had the idea There is no finer sensation than almost illuminated on the printed reaffirmation of his party’s in­ United Press reported from Rome, against the 18 and urging their Upholds Bridges of giving her, somehow or other, all those things that women are that which comes with victory page. The light of truth shone tention to continue supporting the several thousand peasants armed members not to support their supposed to want. . . . over one’s self. It feels good to through. I saw that under Deportation Order government. This support from | with scythes, spades and a few campaign for pardon. Joey wrote that he was surprised to find her looking so old! go fronting into the obstacles of capitalist exploitation I could the strongest of the political par­ I old shotguns invaded the vast es­ The Federal Circuit Court of A N E W LO W I am, too. But, after all, what else could I expect? racial injustice created by capital­ never, no never, obtain equal ties saved the day for Bonomi, tate of Prince Enzo Odescaloni Appeals in San Francisco on How could she go through the years when the plant was work­ ism and winning a few scrim­ rights as a citizen. From that who, as the N. Y. Times report near Lake Bracciano and demand­ These two resolutions mark a September 27 refused a re ­ ing two or three days a week or even less without getting old ? How mages now and then; but it feels moment forward 1 was either to pointed out, “ was in a strong posi­ ed that the land be turned over new I onv in the history of deg­ hearing of its decision uphold­ could she haggle with the relief visitor, when I was laid off entirely, a thousand times better to go deteriorate or else to construct tio n because he knew- th a t nobody to unemployed factory workers. radation in the American labor ing the order of Attorney Gen­ forward with a program that has a life w o rth liv in g . else wanted to assume the thank­ They had returned to the village movement. The Minneapolis La­ eral Biddle and the Im­ without getting a little older’? How could she greet me each day as its goal COMPLETE achieve­ The quotation suddenly struck less task of running the govern­ of Bracciano after the factories bor Case has been corre ctly con­ migration Department for the with a smile and a kiss, when I’d come home without even the ment. home. “Why, that means me,” I ment." The venal Italian agents in Rome and other cities where sidered the outstanding violation deportation to Australia as an slightest prospect of a job, without aging? How the hell could she or said to myself. “ It means that the they had been working closed of civil liberties in this country “undesirable alien” of Harry CONQUEST OF FEAR of the counter-revolutionary any other woman go on drudging from one year to the next, raising white worker cannot succeed Kremlin gang are intent on abort­ down. Brandishing their weap­ during World War II. Organiza­ Bridges, president of the CIO kids, housecleaning, washing and ironing, struggling and worrying, I knew the joy of skating on a without me nor I without him. We tions representing over three ing the Italian revolution if they ons, they threatened to loot the Longshoremen’s Union. and still stay as pretty and young as I have always wanted to clear day; I knew the joy of must work together. We must castle and other buildings, but million workers have already The administration instituted can. Hence their support of the think she was? winning a baseball game with a establish a new economic order.” bankrupt Bonomi regime. were prevented from doing so by condemned this vicious frameup. deportation proceedings home run; I knew the delight of Obviously. Why hadn’t I seen But the revolutionary ferment Allied soldiers. Now Tobin, aided by the Stalin­ against Bridges when he still BREAD AND ROSES a good meal after a long walk. that before? A truth discovered ists, is trying to cover up his retained some reputation for of the masses continues and In th is one incident can be seen Joey went on: “I rgmember a song that Helen used to like in But all of them put together can always seems so plain and simple co m p licity in th is case by e xto rt­ militancy among West Coast grows. It can be stilled neither the close social connection be­ those days when the bunch of us used to get together sometimes not approach the thrill of con­ that we wonder why the discovery by Stalinist treachery nor the ing reactionary resolutions such workers. This anti-labor action tween the Italian workers and in the evening and sing union and revolutionary songs after we had quering the fear of capitalist in­ was so long delayed. empty promises of “Roosevelt- peasants, the community of their as these from the official union is still being pressed despite come in from distributing the paper or something. It was called justices and capitalist insecurity. My next step was to find the Churchill.” class interests, the need for them bodies in Minnesota. Bridge’s surrender to the em­ Nor the satisfaction of fighting, people who—today—follow the In Minnesota, Tobin’s machine ‘Bread and Roses’, and it was all about the lousy time that the An indication of the revolu­ to unite in joint struggle against ployers and the government in teaching and working for Social­ teachings of the author of that in the AFL and the Stalinist ap­ women have and about how the fight for the freedom of the work­ tionary temper of the masses was the capitalists and landlords, the line with the sell-out policies ism with its peace, plenty and quotation. I found the Marxist paratus in the CIO have been ing class is not only for bread, but also for the chance to get a little given by the Italian “Socialist” reactionary government, and its of the Stalinists. equality for all. fighters for equality and libera­ able to put over such resolutions leader Pietro Nenni in a speech In its brief submitted at this beauty into life. For twenty years I had fought tion of the workers of the world imperialist backers. only through the most ruthless at Aquila the day the Bonomi hearing the Department of “1 guess you wanted all the things for Mom that I want for against the unreasonable “ justice” in the Socialist Workers Party. Not the fake “coalition” of the bureaucratic measures. They Justice cited as a precedent cabinet got through its latest Helen. I want life to be clean and healthy and beautiful. I want meted out under the prevailing Since joining their ranks I am Six Parties, which is dedicated to continue to persecute every un­ against Bridges the use of the crisis. He declared that the re­ her to have some leisure time, not the idea of having nothing to do system. “What’s the matter?”, I even more convinced that their ion militant who dares oppose Smith “Gag” Act against the actionaries (meaning the capital­ the’ preservation of the rotted but be in clubs and serve on committees like rich women, but enough asked myself, and kept on asking strategy and their goal will bring their activities and threaten the 18 imprisoned Trotskyists al­ ists and landlords and their Fas­ capitalist order, but only the firm leisure to live and have some fun and some rest. I don’t want her that same question and hoping the only solution to the injustices posts of any union official who though Bridges himself is one cist henchmen) were mobilizing that the answer some day would against which nvc have a ll been revolutionary alliance of the refuses to go along NVith their of the most outspoken en­ to have to work and slave all the time like poor Mom has had to for action against the insurrec­ come. I prodded myself hard at fig h tin g . workers and peasants can lead sell-out policies. Nevertheless, it dorsees of the government do, through no fault of yours. tionary masses and declaimed: is significant that, despite their Italy out of the mire of hunger, frameup in the Minneapolis “You’ve been fighting now for a long time to make the world “We do not want civil war but desperate efforts to counteract Labor Case. Such are the a place fit for people to live in. Helen and I haven’t been fighting we declare that we w ill accept it poverty and war on to the high the nation-wide support for the suicidal consequences of the in the class struggle so long, but we’re in the fight, too, Dad, and if it is imposed.” road that leads to a socialist so­ CRDC pardon campaign, Tobin scabby Stalinist campaign to I think we have a half-way good chance of seeing the victory in that This threat certainly will not and the Stalinists have so far ciety of peace and plenty. sabotage support for the 18. frighten the reaction, for the “ So­ been able to gain support only fight. So, if I come back, I’ll be fighting for roses for Helen as well TROTSKYISM REPRESENTS THE cialists” in whose name Nenni from their completely-controlled as for bread for her and me. And I’ll be fighting against the people speaks are no more inclined to For a Rising Scale of union organizations in Minnes­ utive of the capitalist class, and that condemned Mom to a life of hardship.” lead the masses in revolutionary ota. Tobin, one of the most corrupt Well, there’s a lot in what Joey said. I still can’t believe that struggle than the Stalinists. They, The M inneapolis Labor Case labor lieutenants of capitalism, my girl is as old as he makes out, but he’s still young, and I guess REVIVAL OF GENUINE MARXISM Wages to Meet to purge the labor movement of too, participate in the Bonomi was essentially a conspiracy be­ maybe. Mary looks older to him than she docs to me. Maybe I do, “coalition” and do their utmost to its most m ilitant leaders and gag No doubt., in reading the liter­ We are rooted in the past. Our Rising Living Costs tween Roosevelt, the chief exec- too. But, it would be stupid to say that he is really wrong. The movement which we call Trotsky­ the voice of revolutionary social­ ature of the Trotskyist movement thieves who have been stealing the products of my two hands for in this country, you frequently ism, now crystallized in the So­ ism in preparation for Wall so many years have not stopped there. Their fingers have reached noted the repeated statements cialist Workers Party, did not Street’s war. Both Roosevelt and Tobin have found it increasingly into our home and stolen away part of our very lives. that we have no new revelation: spring full-blown from nowhere. difficult to defend their actions Trotskyism is not a new move­ It arose directly from the Com­ ment, a new doctrine, but the res­ munist Party, and, in part, the in face of the protests from prog­ ressive labor opinion. The im­ toration, the revival, of genuine Industrial Workers of the W’orld. prisonment of the 18 didn’t ach­ Marxism as it was expounded and It grew out of the movement c> ieve the administration's aim of 10 Years Ago practiced in the Russian revolu­ the revolutionary workers in beheading the revolutionary so­ tion and in the early days of the America in the pre-war and war­ cialist movmcnt or silencing the Communist International. time period. socialist opponents of the imper­ Bolshevism itself was also a The Communist Party, which ialist war. On the contrary, the revival, a restoration, of genuine took organizational form in 1919, In The M ilitant Trotskyist movement has since Marxism after this doctrine had was originally the Left Wing of grown in size and influence de­ been corrupted by the opportun­ the Socialist Party. It was from spite the imprisonment of many OCTOBER 6, 1934 ists of the Second International, the Socialist Party that the great of its leaders precisely because who culminated their betrayal of body of Communist troops came. SPAIN—The Spanish working class called a general strike in answer of its uncompromising adherence the proletariat by supporting the As a matter of fact, the formal to the growing threat of fascist rule. “ The political crisis,” said to its principles. imperialist governments in the launching of the Party in Sep­ The Militant, “came to a climax this week when the Samper Recognizing that the frameup World W ar of 1914-18. When you tem ber 1919 was sim p ly the o r­ government presented its resignation at the opening session of of the Trotskyists is a blow study the particular period I am ganizational culmination of a against the democratic rights of the Cortes. A new government has been formed under the going to speak about in this protracted struggle inside the So­ all labor, a powerful section of ‘radical republican’ Lerroux, representing a coalition of the course —- the last thirteen years cialist Party. There the program the union movement has come to blackest reactionary elements of the country, with the inclu­ •— or any other period since the had been worked out and there, the defense o f the 18. The e ffo rts sion of fascists (Popular Action) in three ministries.” time of Marx and Engels, one within the Socialist Party, the of the administration, Tobin and original cadres were shaped. This Reporting that armed clashes had taken place and the en­ thing is observable. That is, the the Stalinists to reinforce and internal struggle eventually led tire country put under martial law. The Militant said: “The uninterrupted continuity of the continue this frameup must not to a split and the formation of miners of Asturias are in open revolt in a body and appear to revolutionary Marxist movement. go unchallenged. More insistent­ a separate organization, the Marxism has never lacked au­ ly than ever must all defenders of be well supplied with rifles, ammunition and even with machine Communist Party. thentic representatives. Despite civil liberties let the White House guns.” all perversions and betrayals know that it must free the 18 The Socialist Party, backed by the m ajority of the Spanish which have disoriented the move­ (From “The History of Ameri­ without further delay. Nvorkers, assumed leadership of the struggle. Analyzing the role ment from time to time, a nev can Trotskyism,” by James P. and program of the Socialist Party, The M ilitant called for sup­ force has arisen, a new element Cannon, pp. 1-2. Pioneer Pub­ port of its efforts, while advising the workers “to point out has come forward to put it back lishers, 1944, 268 pp.; clo th $2.75, its political and tactical errors in an effort to correct them.” on the right course; that is, on paper $2. Order from Pioneer Pub­ the course of orthodox Marxism. lishers, 116 U n iv e rs ity Place, SAN FRANCISCO—President W illiam Green delivered the keynote This was so in our case, too. N. Y. 3, N. Y .) address at the A FL convention. He hailed President Roosevelt’s demand for mediation to replace strike action, warning that “ the right to strike involves so many serious considerations that it ought to be utilized only as a last resort.” Thus openly uphold­ ing his treacherous role in selling out the auto, steel and tex­ tile strikes, Green embraced the same Roosevelt proposals which had previously been approved by the National Association of Manufacturers. “Within the AFL there is not yot a national left wing,” The M ilitant said. “Nevertheless the AFL is arriving at a cru­ cial point in its history... Regardless of what they (the bureau­ crats) may do to try to stem the tide, a modern American trade union movement is in the making.” BIX — THE MILITAN'] SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1944

paper, L ’Internationale, was completely sold out within two hours. The planting of the Trotskyist banner marks a War Profits Spur Growth great revolutionary advance in Italy. It is impor­ tant not only for Italy but for all Europe. The Of Billion-Dollar Firms Trotskyists in America and throughout the world acclaim this great forward step. Confounding all Remember way back when Roosevelt solemnly the skeptics, it testifies anew to the readiness of the assured the American people that there would be vanguard of the working masses to accept the revo­ no new millionaires created in this war. We found lutionary socialist program, the program of the the chore of counting up the new millionaires too Fourth International. The columns are open to the opinions of the readers of The Militant. Letters extensive for our modest research facilities, so we We pledge complete solidarity with our brave are welcome on any subject of interest to the workers, but keep them short and include your concentrated on the “billion-dollar babies”, as the Italian comrades in their struggle for socialism. name and address. Indicate if you do not want your name printed. — Editor. giants of corporate monopoly are termed. According to the latest compilation of figures, is­ We know that the American imperialists, together desire on their part for genuinely For the last nine months, they sued by the United Press, war profiteering has been with the British imperialists, and helped by the MCF Candidates independent political action by have been serving the cadets on such a stupendous scale that the nation is now Stalinists and ‘Socialist’ traitors, will try—are try­ Endorsed by PAC labor instead of the Murray- without receiving the bonus. In Hillman-Stalinist brand of poli­ addition, for over eighteen “blessed” with 41 billion or multi-billioned dollar ing now!—to strangle the Italian revolution. We E d ito r: tics. months, they were punished for corporations, instead of the 32 in existence just be­ w ill do all in our power to expose the conspiracies A surprising amount of influ­ D . A. minor infractions by extra de­ fore Pearl Harbor. of the counter-revolution and to rally the Amer­ ence within the labor movement Detroit, Mich. tails of mess duty! Revealing the predominant control of finance ican workers behind the great liberating struggle was shown by the Michigan Com­ capital in this epoch of the highest stage of capital­ monwealth Federation at a meet­ B. R. Tucson, Ariz. ist monopoly, 17 of these tremendous aggregates of of the Italian people. ing of the Wayne County PAC Negro Soldiers wealth are banks and 8 are insurance companies. Friday, September 22, when the Win Demand new party came out of the meet­ Sops to Workers These are owned and controlled by not more than ing with the official blessing of E d ito r: 200 individuals, representing America’s Sixty Richest Wages And Inflation the PAC for two of its candid­ Fifty-seven Negro soldiers won E d ito r: Families, and their financial tentacles extend into ates. In spite of the Stalinist a substantial victory at Marana Many workers are under the every major corporation in the country. Whenever the unions raise the question of a wage bloc within the PAC, endorsement Army Air Field, as the result of delusion that social security is America’s wealthiest corporation is the Metropo­ was given to the candidacy of something new and that Roose­ increase, there is a tremendous hue and cry about a strike on Sept. 11. Their de­ litan Life Insurance Company, with net assets of Matthew B. Hammond, state mand for extra pay for working velt originated such legislation. the "dangers of inflation” involved in relaxing $6,463,803,552. The Ford Motor Company has To defend the USSR as chairman of the MCF and nominee in the aviation cadet mess-hall I confronted one of these work­ the wage-freeze. The argument is advanced that the main fortress of the for Congress from the Seven­ was granted, the Brass Hats ers with the statement that the emerged into the billion-dollar class and is now an increase in wages would mean a rise in prices teenth Congressional District, and awarding the men $25 per month German workers had a form of worth $1,009,092,488, although the private Ford for­ world proletariat, against which would necessitate a further wage boost. This to Ben. Garrison, past president additional pay. A t the same time, social security long before we tune has long been reputed more than a billion be­ all assaults of world im­ in turn would engender an additional price in­ of Ford Local 400, UAW-CIO and however, the Brass Hats simul­ ever heard of Roosevelt. cause of other extensive holdings. perialism and of internal crease, and so on, with the end result being runaway MCF nominee for state senator taneously increased the work He wanted proof. In the one year 1943, the assets of these 41 bil­ from the Fifth District. week from 56 to 84 hours! This So I looked it up in the 1941 lion-dollar corporations increased from $82,830,994,287 counter-revolution, is the inflation. The spectre of inflation is used as a The Stalinists, who have been inhuman schedule is now being edition of the Encyclopedia Ame­ to $91,504,426,132. This $8 billion gain is sufficient most Important duty of bogey to frighten the workers into passive accept­ opposed to the MCF since its in­ protested. ricana and found this informa­ to keep America’s Sixty Families and all their heirs ance of the wage-freezing Little Steel formula. The ception, attacked the endorse­ More important than the added tion in Volume 12, on page 518: every class-conscious in opulent luxury. They own between them about agents of Big Business seek to perpetuate the myth ments on the ground that it would hours is the significance of a real “The Imperial Civil Code, after worker. result in great numbers of void victory won by the solidarity of one-fourth of the total wealth of the country, and that the administration’s "hold-the-line” policies labors lasting for many years, — LEON TROTSKY ballots from labor because of the the Negro soldiers. A t 4 o’clock was adopted and went into effect most of its productive facilities and resources. Never have “ stabilized” the cost of living and that a inability of the average rank- in the m orning, on Sept. 11, the in 1900. A whole group o f laws, has monopoly capital flourished so well as under wage increase would upset the “ stability” between and-file worker to vote a split first shift of sixteen men report­ beginning in the ’80’s and con­ Roosevelt and his “War Deal.” wages, prices and profits. This is a monstrous ticket properly. This argument ed to the mess hall and announced tinuing into the new century, JOIN US IN FIGHTING FOR: fraud! was not given credence, however, that they would not work unless was framed, the so-called SO- when the meeting also endorsed they got the extra bonus, 50 per­ With wages frozen the cost of living has conti­ ZIALGESETZGEBUNG (social 1. Military training of workers, financed two Republicans, Clarence Reid, cent of their base pay, to which benefit legislation), having for Wages Face 25% Slash At nued to soar. The statistical survey conducted nominee for state senator from army regulations entitled them aim the material safeguarding of by the government, but under control jointly by the A FL and CIO prove that the cost the Eighteenth District, and Dr. for such work. They were im­ the bone and sinew of the nation of the trade unions. Special officers’ of living has risen beyond 45 percent. Therefore, Edward F. Fisher, nominee for mediately imprisoned, and a — the laboring element, the End Of War With Germany the Legislature from the Fifth “talk” was given to the second it is not a question of wage increases “ leading” to skilled toilers, the shopkeepers training camps, financed by the gov­ (Dearborn) District. Even the shift by the Executive Officer of and smaller dealers—and started Workers wages w ill be sliced as much as $30 billion an inflationary spiral but of the urgent necessity Stalinists were unable to come out the field, Major Tilden, and the ernment but controlled by the trade by Bismarck himself, being with the end of the war in Europe, an OPA report of trying to catch up with the inflationary rise in for endorsements for the Demo­ white commanding officer of the originally a sop thrown to these submitted to Roosevelt recently predicted. cratic candidates, John W. Hicks, Negro squadron, Lt. Shoupe. The unions, to train workers to become the cost of living which has already taken place hitherto oppressed and disaf­ This tremendous slash in income w ill be the result old - line Democrat from the second shift also refused to go despite the wage-freeze. The cost-plus patriots and fected strata of the population of several factors; mass unemployment, wide-spread officers. Seventeenth and Charles S. to work, and was sent to the from which the Socialists had their political agents place the cart before the reclassifications to lower paying jobs on civilian Blondy, at present appealing his guardhouse. chiefly recruited themselves.” 2. Trade union wages for all workers horse. The workers can catch up with the steadily conviction for graft, from the The two remaining shifts like­ production, elimination of overtime pay and reduc­ Dewey and Roosevelt are only F ifth . wise failed to report for work, tion of working hours. drafted into the army. rising cost of living only by fighting under the interested in continuing the cap­ August Scholle, Michigan re­ but no disciplinary action was slogan o f: A rising scale of wages to meet the ris­ italistic system and will throw- At the same time, the report pointed out, unit gional director of the CIO’s taken against them. Undoubtedly 3. Full equality for Negroes in the armed ing cost of living. For an escalator clause in all sops to the workers only when costs of production will continue to decline, and Political Action Committee, play­ the officers felt the situation was forced to as Bismarck did. Then profits for the biggest producers w ill go upward be­ forces and the war industries— Down union contracts. ed a safe role by putting the getting “too hot to handle;” the they will take them back when question of the MCF candidates largest concentration of Negro cause of increased productive efficiency and reduced with Jim Crowism everywhere. they can, as German capitalism directly to the 300 delegates troops in the country, is in this labor costs. did. The workers of America and present. The question has been area, near Tucson. The OPA report predicts a minimum decline of 4. Confiscation of all war profits. Expro­ Germany and of the whole xvorld growing more and more em­ M ost o f the 57 soldiers had 10 per cent in employment on conclusion of m ilitary Capitalist Censorship will not have real security until priation of all war industries and their barrassing to the PAC leadership been on K. P. duty for nineteen hostilities in Europe, largely among the higher paid they abolish the capitalistic sy­ Censorship of the news, like secret diplomacy, is in recent weeks. months or more, doing the most stem and establish socialism. workers in war industries. operation under workers’ control. The decision of the delegates menial work in the Army Air employed by the imperialists to screen their dirty W ith a return to a 40-hour week — or less — and to approve the MCF’s candidates Forces, under constant abuse and L. Kem p doings from the public eye and thus preserve the the elimination of overtime pay rates, the average 5. A rising scale of wages to meet the undoubtedly expresses a strong ' subjected to notorious speed-ups. Los Angeles. Calif. rising cost of living. illusion that this is a w'ar for “ freedom and democ­ full-time worker will receive a 25 per cent cut in racy.” The truth is always inimical to the nefar­ “take home” pay each week. 6. Workers Defense Guards against vigil­ ious plans of these conspirators against the masses. The shift from military to civilian production will be accompanied, according to the OPA findings, ante and fascist attacks. That is why they attempt to hide it. The further the war progresses, the more rigid and widespread by a general employer policy of reducing higher- paid workers to lower pay jobs. 7. An Independent Labor Party based on the censorship becomes. The drastic reduction that will take place in the The British Tribune for Sept. 15 comments on the Trade Unions. SPAIN The workers of Copenhagen realization that this feeble re­ total purchasing power of the workers will be so the blackout of news, especially from the Allied- declared a general strike Sep­ gime, which is supported solely 8. A Workers’ and Farmers’ Govern­ Encouraged by the ousting of great that it would require no less than a general occupied parts of Europe, remarking ironically the Nazis from France, the tember 19 after the Nazis had by Allied bayonets, is quite un­ 25 per cent increase in hourly wage rates to main­ proclaimed a new state of siege able to stem the tide of revolu­ m ent. that “ the more of Europe becomes liberated, the masses of Spain are getting rea­ tain the present money total of wages, even if there in an effort to end “disorders” tion. less we learn of what is going on.” dy to settle accounts with the were to be no extensive unemployment. 9. The defense of the Soviet Union bloody regime of General Fran­ arising from their attempt to Hence their promotion of a se­ Foreign correspondents are barred from “ liber­ co. Indicative of the coming re­ disarm the Danish police force paratist movement. They seek to against imperialist attack. ated” Brussels because the imperialists do not volutionary storm was the action who were resisting seizure and keep the island of Sicily a tight want them to tell the world about the tremendous last week of Spanish refugees in internment. The Danish police little stronghold of reaction in Wall Streeters Take Over revolutionary ferment among the Belgian workers raising the Republican flag over were accused of having taken which their reactionary rule w-ill part in anti-Nazi activities du­ who are displaying as fierce an opposition to the the building of the Spanish con­ not be effectively challenged. sulate at Perpignan, French ring the past year and the Nazis They are being supported by monarchy and the Pierlot "government” as the Key Government Positions Trotskyism In Italy town only twenty miles from the sought to disband the entire force Churchill and the British imper­ Italian workers did toward Badoglio and the House of 12,000, replacing them by G er­ Spanish border. Assisted by- ialists who are scheming to re­ So gigantic are the imperialist stakes in this war, For more than a year, ever since the overthrow man police. vive the long-discarded Sicilian of Savoy. French partisan fighters they that Big Business no longer dares to entrust the of Mussolini and the Fascist regime, Italy has been forced the consular represent­ The general strike, according monarchy and convert the island British censors in India prevent any news of the affairs of its government solely to mere political to Stockholm reports, paralyzed into an “independent kingdom” seething in a white-hot revolutionary situation great national liberation struggle in that country atives of the Franco government to withdraw and posted a guard all activities in Copenhagen, al­ subject to Britain, thus assuring hirelings. More and more, the key posts of govern­ against a background of fearful mass misery which from reaching the outside world. American censors around the building. though public utilities were kept British control of the eastern as ment and the war agencies are placed in the hands the advent of the Allied imperialist “ liberators” have blacked out all mention of the inspiring revo­ According to a Washington dis­ running. Street clashes occurred well as the w-estern basin of the of Wall Street men and their direct business agents. served only to intensify. lutionary demonstrations that recently shook Bul­ patch to the newspaper PM, and barricades went up once Mediterranean. Roosevelt’s cabinet, for example, is composed pre­ Franco is contemplating a pro­ again as Danish police, uniting dominantly of Wall Street bankers, stockjobbers and The masses in southern Italy, hungry and re­ garia when the Red Arm y marched into that coun­ ENGLAND test to the French Committee in with the workers, fought against legal representatives of the biggest financial in­ bellious, have striven and still strive to take their try. At a conference of British Em­ Paris on the ground that the the Nazis. Seven Nazis were terests. destinies into their own hands, to drive out the The imperialists impose a censorship of political Perpignan incident is “ an affront killed and many others wounded pire “ labor leaders” which open­ Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson is head of capitalists and landlords, and thus clear the road to news on the hypocritical ground that it is rendered to French sovereignty.” General during the afternoon of Sep­ ed in London on Septem ber 2, the the Wall Street law firm of Stimson and Winthrop, a new socialist society in which hunger and the necessary for "reasons of m ilitary security.” It is Franco, it was added, is expected tember 19 alone. luminaries of the British Labor Party took occasion once more to long the agents for the Morgan interests. His Under­ horrors of war w ill be banished for all time. denied that there is any political censorship as such. to make “ every possible move to SICILY demonstrate their loyalty, not to secretary is Robert Patterson, of the Wall Street They refuse to have saddled upon them the rot­ prevent the use of French soil But this is a flagrant falsehood. Jack Belden, Time for the organization of an attack Watching apprehensively across the British workers whose class law firm of Root, Clark, Buckner and Howland. Hen­ ten monarchy and the police-military dictator­ the narrow- Sicilian Strait the correspondent, exposes this falsehood in his latest against his authority in Spain. interests they are supposed to re­ ry S. Morgan, a son of the late J. P. Morgan, and mounting tide of revolution on present, but to the British cap­ ship which the Allies have tried to foist upon them. book, Still Time to Die, in which he writes: His authority grows weaker F. Trubee Davidson, brother of one of the J. P. every day as the end of the war the Italian mainland, the land­ ita lis ts w-ho are the exploiters They brought about the downfall of the Badoglio “ On the correspondents’ bulletin board in Algiers Morgan and Company partners, are in the top coun­ approaches.” owning barons of Sicily, long and oppressors of Labor. cabinet. Its successor, the Bonomi “ coalition” in 1 saw a notice posted there by the authorities: protected by the regime of Mus­ The opening session of the con­ cils of the War Department. Franco’s concern, the dispatch which the Stalinist and “ Socialist” leaders parti­ There w ill be no more political censorship.’ It was solini, are pushing vigorously ference was given over to craven Secretary of State Cordell Hull stems from south­ states, is shared by Lb S. Ambas­ cipate, faces similar opposition. Incipient civil war their movement for separation. expressions of loyalty to the ern railway intexests, including the old Louisville a lie. Should you write a message that dealt in any sador Carlton J. H. Hayes, who At Villalba, according to a N. British Empire which holds hun­ characterizes the entire situation. but the official American-British version of events, has proposed to Washington “ the and Nashville gang- that gave him his big start. His Y. Times dispatch from Rome on dreds of millions of people in In the industrial north the workers have for more often than not, when tracing it down, you disarming of the Spanish in the Undersecretary is the Morgan agent, Edward R. September 20, hand grenades colonial slavery. Ellen Wilkinson, French area.” He has also pro­ Stettinius, former head of U. S. Steel. months been giving battle to the Nazi oppressors. would find it streaked with many marks of blue, were thrown into a meeting call­ chairman of the British Labor posed that the French govern­ James V. Foi-restal, representative of the leading When the present artificial division of the country and penciled with the legend, ‘as censored by M r. ed by the Stalinist and Socialist Party, described the Empire as ment in Paris “be requested to parties and a number of people an “ association of peoples” which investment bankex-s, Dillon, Read and Company', is is ended, the great masses of workers in Piedmont Murphy.’ Should you question that august person­ send 10,000 Senegalese troops in the audience were wounded, should survive because it reflect­ Secretary' of Navy. His assistants include Artemus and Lombardy w ill join forces with the rebellious age, that representative of the mighty American from Houlouse, north of Perpi­ including one of the Stalinist ed “a mass longing for protec­ Gates, of the Morgan-controlled New York Trust masses of the more rural south. A fresh and even gnan, to the border as police.” state, he would blandly assure you: There is no speakers. At Palermo, the Sic­ tion, for coming and keeping to­ After Churchill’s recent “kind­ Company, and Ralph Bard, Chicago investment more vigorous chapter of the Italian revolution political censorship.’ ” ilian capital, one of the ministers gether in protective groups.” banker. ly words about Spain” in the w ill commence. in the Bonomi cabinet was pelted In censoring the news, the imperialists not only House of Commons, and in light Some 385,000,000 people in In­ Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morganthau, Jr., with vegetables and fruit by se­ A ll these things we have known and proclaimed. seek to hide their own d irty doings, but also to of the entire counter-revolution­ dia, more millions in British col­ is a member of a family which made a huge fortune paratists who broke up his meet­ onies in Africa and (he Middle What we did not know, until recently, was the screen from the eyes of the working-class the in­ ary policy of the Anglo-Ameri­ as W all Sti-cet legal agents and investment bi-okers. ing. These were but two inci­ can imperialists in Europe, it is East and the Far East, and still extent to which the revolutionary mood of the spiring struggles of their brothers in other lands. dents, both staged by the separ­ Jesse Jones, Secretary of Commerce and the man not surprising to find the latter more millions in British colonies Italian masses was crystallizing in the form of a Thus they hope to preserve national hatreds and atist landlords and their hench­ who dishes out the billions of the Reconsti-uction conspiring against the Spanish in the Western Hemisphere, know men, among “dozens of stories” Finance Corporation, is a big Texas banker with revolutionary political combat party able to or­ barriers and prevent the workers from achieving masses who hate the Franco re­ differently. They know from bit­ of landlord “lawlessness.” ganize and lead the masses in the struggle for international unity in common struggle against gime and are determined to get ter experience that the British close connections with northern banking interests. power, the fight for socialism. their common enemies, the capitalists of the w'hole rid o f it. The reactionary barons hate Empire is an association of the Attorney' General Fx-ancis Biddle is a scion of the Stalinists and Socialists des­ British colonial robbers which Now, we have been able to report through an world. Philadelphia’s wealthiest family, the. famous Chest­ DENMARK pite the fact that these supposed keeps them in abject poverty and nut Street Biddles, who dominate the financial and eye-witness account in last week’s issue of The But the censorship is not completely effective. leaders of the masses have pro­ Less than three months after virtual slavery. They are striv­ industrial scene of America’s third largest city. M ilitant, the “ rapid growth and increasing influ­ News does trickle through. It is one of the great their last general strike and in­ claimed their aversion for revol­ ing to break free from this “as­ The list could be extended at length, from Nelson ence of the official Trotskyist movement, the Bol- surrection against the Nazis, the ution and strive to hold the in­ sociation of peoples.” In this services of The M ilita n t to the working-class of Rockefeller, Standard Oil’s representative on the shevik-Leninist adherents of the Fourth Interna­ America that it hunts for newrs of w-orkers’ strug­ workers of Denmark, encouraged surrectionary masses in check. struggle they serve not only the by signs of the approaching end They mistakenly identify the cause of their own liberation, but committee for Latin American relations, to Donald tional,” formed in Naples, with groups in other gles everywhere and publishes all the facts it can of the Hitler regime, have re­ Stalinists with the great Bol­ also the cause of the British Nelson, former chief executive for the great, mail­ large cities, including Rome, and extending also obtain. In our next issue, we plan to present to our sumed their battle against the shevik Revolution in Russia. workers, who are exploited and order firm of Sears, Roebuck and Company. Today, into the Nazi-dominated industrial cities of the readers news of dramatic events in Bulgaria and oppressive invaders of their Their opposition to the Bonomi oppressed by the self-saine gang Big Business not only controls the government; it has North. The entire first edition of the Trotskyist India which have been suppressed by the censors. cou ntry. government springs from the of capitalist bandits. moved in to take direct and personal charge.