Special interview with Chicano youth leader -see page 8

Antiwar forces build April 15 p.3 Abortion law repeal fight gains p.5 San Francisco strike p.6 An answer to the Daily World p.JO Marxism vs. individual terrorism p.l4 Chicano youth in L.A. fight for school control ,. -story page 12

Chicano, Black and Oriental students and supporters on picket line at Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles. Miserable condi­ tions at school, coupled with police bru­ tality, sparked movement for Chicano con­ trol of Chicano schools. Page 2 THE MILITANT Friday, March 27, 1970 • THE How 'Life 1n an Auto ·Plant' was born MILITANT Editor: HARRY RING Managing Editor: MARY-ALICE WATERS From gripe session There were a surpnsmg number of Business Manager: FLAX HERMES sympathetic callers, in view of the fact Published weekly by The Militant Publishing Ass'n., 873 Broadway, New York, N. Y.10003. to Militant series that WFL Y is reportedly listened to Phone 533-6414. Second-class postage paid by hirge numbers of right wingers. Of at New York, N.Y. Subscription: domestic, course, some of them called too. A $4 a year; foreign, $5.50. By first class mail: woman, identifying herself as a John domestic ·and Canada $13.50, all other coun­ Fremont, Calif. tries, $20.00. Air printed matter: domestic and Bircher, said she was against democ­ Canada, $20.00; Latin America and Eu­ I am writing to thank you for the racy because, "democracy leads to an­ rope, $40.00; Africa, Australia, Asia (including good coverage of my series on "Life archy." USSR), $50.00. Write for sealed air postage in an Auto Plant," and to tell you that rates. Signed articles by contributors do not The program ended with the Star necessarily represent The Militant's views. These we are happy it is coming out soon as Spangled Banner. are expressed in editorials. a pamphlet. Dave Haldane We have been able to introduce The Volume 34 Number 11 Militant to new readers here in the plant, and the pamphlet will spread the name Calls The Militant of the paper further. Friday, March 27, 1970 You will be interested to know how I reactionary happened to write about our life here Corona, N.Y. in the plant. It is funny and shows how While gazing through your rag I no­ sometimes hardly related events can at least will bring back a report to the ticed that while you call yourself The lead on to something useful. membership of what actually goes on Militant, from your news you ought Closing news date-March 20 We had a gripe session during our at these conventions. Meantime, if the to be called The Reactionary. lunch break, about 12 of us from my pamphlet is here before election day I In your report on the Seattle demon­ motor line and from frame and axle. hope to use it to campaign for such stration following the lynching of the It was during our strike crisis, and I delegates. Chicago 9 you say, "Ultraleft tactics Second, and even more important, the suggested that we corner the shop com­ Tom Cagle of some rock-throwing demonstrators problem is not primarily or in most mittee and tell them to get our story of provided the police with an excuse to cases that students do not know heroin speedup out to the press in order to move in and to break up the demonstra­ and amphetamines to be harmful. In expose and embarrass GM. Gl wants true picture tion, arresting and beating demonstra­ fact, they are aware that they are dam­ We got ahold of the chairman of the tors and bystanders." This is bullshit aging themselves and part of the very shop committee, explained our idea, of what's happening because the pacifists at that one will motivation they have for using these and urged that this tactic be tried. He have to see that you either have to drugs is the disapproval with which played the whole thing down by ar­ fight or be beaten in our police state. they know such self-destructiveness is guing that the big newspapers would Ft. Rucker, Alabama If you want the support of the New viewed by authorities for whom they not touch anything against mighty GM. Brothers: I am currently serving two Left, give news of it objectively-present have no respect, representing a system (He was probably right.) years of indentured servitude with Uncle ways to destroy society, and also give whose values they reject. But enough workers were interested in Sugar. I just wanted to thank the staff space to the cause of the Black Pan­ The responsibility for waging effective the idea so that it couldn't just be put of The Militant for giving me the true thers, Young Lords, RYM and Weather­ combat against this poisonous misex­ aside. So I suggested that we write the picture of what is happening through­ man, not just socialist news. pression of rebellion falls to revolution­ article ourselves, and that we get it out the country. As one could no doubt MLS aries who can, by creating an insurgent published in any of the papers that guess, The Army Times is not repre­ pole of attraction which inspires confi­ would handle it, including the under­ sentative of the growing dissatisfaction dence and optimism, in large measure ground and radical press. Everyone of American youth, and the entire left­ Monogamy and capitalism cut across the cynical despair at the agreed. They told me to write it up, ist movement. Solidarity. root of this new wave of drug use. and of course you know that the only Pfc. A C. Brooklyn, N.Y. Ultimately, of course, we will smash paper in the country that would pub­ In the past year, I've seen articles the conditions which give rise to this lish our story was The Militant. in The Militant regarding the family. tragic waste of human potential. In the None of us knew how much space True, monogamy developed with cap­ meantime, I think it is important that it would take. And we didn't know it italism, with the rise of individual prop­ revolutionary socialists deal explicitly would be run in installments. But that Socialists upset Upstate erty rights and individual wealth. True, with this problem more frequently and turned out well because everyone looked the masses suffer from the oppressors. in greater depth than we have in the forward from week to week for "our" right wingers That is what preserves monogamy. past. I hope to see The Militant do story. Some copies were read by as But you can't get rid of that over­ something on this subject in the near many as 15 workers on the line here. night. We have to get rid of wage ex­ New York, N. Y. future. There are young workers in the plant ploitation, and the exploiters who op­ Lee Smith who have had some political experience If you had been listening to radio sta­ press male and female alike. and are now taking another look at the tion WFL Y-FM in Albany the week pre­ What we need is a revolutionary Socialist Workers Party. I had an op­ ceding March 10 you would have heard movement to keep America and the portunity to meet one of them and was a commentator urge listeners to be sure world from going fascist. Capitalism Time for the real jury surprised to learn that he had been and tune in on March 10 to learn the must be destroyed. studying the writings of Trotsky. truth about the "communist threat in Edward Bellows to speak out I hope some young workers run as America." The show is called "The Truth Is" with the subtitle on March 10 being delegates to the UAW convention in McPherson, Kan. Atlantic City. They are the kind who "Expose- Communists Infiltrate Tri­ Cities Area!" Antiwar Gl paper Now that the Chicago Conspiracy trial is over and the verdicts and sen­ The "communist infiltrators" were in Frankfurt Kipp Dawson, SWP candidate for U. S. tences have been handed out it is time for the real jury to speak out. There By James P. Cannon senator, Bill O'Kain of the AlbanyYSA, and myself from the New York YSA. Frankfurt, Germany are too many people in the country who THE I.W.W. Kipp Dawson led the discussion by Enclosed are some issues of We Got still have blind faith in America's blind the brASS and Venceremos, a paper put justice. These brothers went to prison Reminiscences of a pariicipant explaining the importance of building the antiwar movement and the mean­ out by Gls in Frankfurt. Please send for us so let's get them out. all issues of The Militant which have K.S. SOc ing of her campaign. Bill 0' Kain de­ scribed the developing struggle at State articles on women's liberation or the GI struggle- as well as a subscription. Merit Publishers University of New York for student We'll send papers from here as they Merit Pamphlets 873 Broadway rights- a movement in which he is New York, N.Y. 10003 playing a leading role. I explained the come out. S.M. internal democracy of the YSA. WOMEN & THE CUBAN REVOLUTION Speedles by rHiel Castro. Assails Nixon's drug Artides by linda Jenness program ~ New York, N.Y. IF YOU SUPPORT THE ANTIWAR MOVEMENT, THE BLACK LIB­ One of the most damning indictments PIONEERS Of WOMEN'S LIBERATION of decaying U.S. capitalist society is ERATION STRUGGLE, THE BROWN LIBERATION STRUGGLE, THE the increasing use of heroin by high By Joyce Cowley 25f WOMEN'S LIBERATION MOVEMENT, THE FIGHT FOR SOCIALIST school students. This is also one more DEMOCRACY IN EASTERN EUROPE, A SOCIALIST AMERICA, YOU area in which bourgeois politicians, by PROBLEMS Of WOMEN'S LIBERATION BELONG IN THE YSA ... demonstrating their inability to cope with the problem, reveal the incompe­ by Evelyn Reed 95f ------clipandmail ------tence of their class to rule. Young Socialist Alliance, Box •71 Cooper Station, New York, N.Y. 10003. Nixon's latest proposal-for a $12- REVOLUTIONARY DYNAMICS million "crash program" of education about the danger of drugs-is a case or 0 I would like more information 0 I want to join the YSA in point. The projected program is pat­ WOMEN'S LIBERATION ently stupid on two counts. First, the Name . last people to whom high school stu­ by George Novaclr 25t dents will pay any attention on this Address question are school authorities. The stu­ Pathfinder Press dents have heard these people lie too (formerly Merit Publishers) . State . . Zip .. City often to put any stock in what they say 873 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10003 about drugs. Friday, March 27. 1970 THE MiliTANT Page 3

Aprill5 roundup Atlanta, other cities map mobilization plans

The Atlanta Mobilization Committee ston site April 14, leading into a gen­ to End the War in Vietnam has mapped eral strike of high school students on an ambitious program for the spring April 15. This is the same day the na­ antiwar offensive. It has projected a tional SMC has set for high school and full week of actions, culminating in an college strikes across the country. High April 18 mass march, in which thou­ school students will rally at City Hall sands are expected to participate around in favor of high school rights and then the slogan "End the Racist War in Viet­ march to join in the citywide antiwar nam-U.S. Out Now!" demonstration later in the day. April 14 has been designated "Wom­ At a citywide SMC meeting March en and the War" day, during which 14, lengthy political debate arose over campus SMCs and women's liberation perspectives for the spring antiwar of­ groups will hold teach-ins or panel dis­ fensive. The meeting was a sign of the cussions; and the Atlanta Mobe Wom­ expanding influence of the SMC in that en's Caucus will leaflet the city with it was attended by groups that have for March 10. This was obviously a SDS and SMC. Following the rally, special handbills. shown little interest in building the anti­ direct provocation on the part of the the crowd resumed the picket line at On April 15, leaflets will be distributed war movement in the past. The Pro­ administration, coming as it did on the doors of the gym. At this time the at workplaces explaining the relation gressive Labor Party, for example, the heels of the recent Black Studies police emerged brandishing their riot between the war, high taxes and the which opposed united antiwar action Department firings. sticks and forced the picketers back rising cost of living. from the outset, came to this meeting When SM C learned that the recruiters to the road running parallel to the On April 16, "GI Day," a special ef­ in large numbers. Other groups in at­ were scheduled to be on campus, it gym and finally succeeded ln dispers­ fort will be made to reach G Is with tendance included the Young Workers called a mass meeting to discuss what ing them. leaflets and actions at the many sur­ Liberation League, Labor Committee, to do. The meeting voted to have a Despite the cops, the demonstration rounding military bases encouraging the International Socialists and a few rally on Mon., March 9, with a march successfully prevented recruitment. It servicemen to take part in the April other sects. to the administration building to de­ also served notice to Hayakawa that 18 march. No agreement was reached on the mand that Hayakawa remove the re­ this campus will no longer be dormant The SM C and the High School many proposals put forward, and an­ cruiters. The meeting also decided on in the face of his provocations. This Mobilization Committee have called for other citywide decision-making meeting a mass picket line and rally on Tues­ was a good step toward building the a student strike April 17 with teach-ins will be held March 29. day. spring offensive here, when SMC hopes on campuses and a citywide rally for The New York SMC will be building The picketing began with over 200 to shut the campus down on April 15. high school and college students. the spring offensive and the activities of students participating. The recruiters Five project directors have been elect­ the High School Rights Coalition and had originally been scheduled to ·set Cleveland ed to coordinate the building of these the Third World Committee out of its up their tables outdoors but the militant actions. new, spacious headquarters at 15 E. attitude of the students forced them to 17 St., New York, N.Y. 10003. The Cleveland Area Peace Action New York move inside to the rear of the gymna­ Council hosted an Ohio regional anti­ sium. war conference here March 14-15. Most With the board of education refusing The administration provided "protec­ to even negotiate with the New York San Francisco of the participants came from adult an­ tion" by. calling in 75 "Tac Squad" po­ tiwar groups, though the SMC and High School Rights Coalition, the stu­ lice and 16 mounted police, who were dents held a meeting March 7 at which Students won a significant victory other youth groups did have a few located in the administration building delegates. they decided to picket the board's head­ over the administration at San Fran­ and surrounding the room housing the quarters at 110 Livingston St., Brook­ cisco State College March 10 in a strug­ Stanley Tolliver, attorney for Ahmed recruiters. Evans, and Sam Pollack of the Amal­ lyn, at 3 p.m., March 20. gle against military recruiting on cam­ Later the largest rally this year was gamated Meatcutters union addressed This slated action was to be a prelude pus. For the first time in two years a held, with over 1,500 attending. The themselves to the need to involve Afro­ to a mass demonstration at the Living- Military Information Day was scheduled speakers included spokesmen from YSA, Americans and labor in the fight against the war. Other speakers included Sid Peck of New Mobe; Joan Campbell of Clergy New attack by Chicago right wingers and Laymen Concerned; and Max Kirsch, a Cleveland high school SMC CHICAGO-Wednesday, March 11, Gil Terry, member of the bookstore broad range of organizations and vic­ leader. at 8:30 p.m., five members of the Le­ cooperative and victim of previous at­ tims of Legion attacks such as the Al­ There wa~ near unanimity at the con­ gion of Justice, a right-wing gang of tacks, went down to the police station liance to End Repression, Chicago ference on the need for continued mass thugs headed by attorney S. Thomas to bail Wunsch out. Peace Council, Student Mobilization demonstrations against the war. Vir­ Sutton, attempted to enter a Chicago Police refused to even look at the fire­ Committee, New Mobilization Commit­ tually every workshop oriented itself Peace Council-sponsored war crimes tri­ arms registration presented to them and tee, Young Socialist Alliance, Socialist toward building April 15 and contin­ bunal at the Palacio Theater in Chi­ immediately arrested Terry for assault Workers Party, the Guild bookstore, uing such forms of action in the future. cago. They were refused admittance be­ in connection with the Palacio Theater Young Workers Liberation League and cause of previous Legion attacks on incident. (Terry had opened the door the Lincoln Park Town Meeting. Los Angeles Peace Council members. Upon being for the departing Legion members at Laura Miller, spokesman for the escorted to the door, one Legion mem­ the war crimes tribunal.) Terry's bond group and national secretary of the In spite of a scurrilous attempt by ber, Steven Fedlacko, attempted to was set at $3,000. Committee for Defense Against Terror­ the Cal State school administration to press a lighted cigarette into the hand On March 18, a delegation of over ist Attacks, said of the meeting with prevent a March 7 regional meeting of Norman Roth, a trade unionist be­ 40 people met with state's attorney's Boyle: "This delegation was part of a of the SMC from taking place on the longing to the UAW. The Legion mem­ assistant Robert Boyle at the criminal response by citizens of Chicago to a grounds that violence might ensue, bers left without further incident. courthouse in Chicago to demand a chain of vicious physical attacks and close to 100 antiwar activists registered Two days later, on Friday, March grand jury investigation of the activ­ harassment upon various antiwar, so­ for the conference. 13, two Chicago policemen, along with ities of the Legion of Justice. The del­ cialist and student groups and the col­ six members of the Legion of Justice, egation included representatives of a lusion of the Chicago police department Through a broad defense effort sup­ ported by the SMC national office, the burst into the Speakeasy coffee house with the Legion. The state's attorney ACL U, various antiwar and radical in Oak Park where Norman Roth was has repeatedly refused to act on this groups, a decisive victory was won for speaking. The police immediately ar­ matter, and this meeting was another the SMC and all student groups at Cal rested Roth-in connection with the Pa­ disappointment for those who are at­ State L.A. lacio Theater incident! Roth's bond was tempting to defend the civil liberties The conference projected a mass set at $3,000. of the victims of the Legion of Justice. Also on March 13, at about 7:45 march and rally in downtown Los An­ "Mr. Boyle indicated that the state's geles April 15 and actions for high p.m., eight members of the Legion of attorney had not even considered the Justice entered the Guild bookstore at school students, women's liberation ac­ issue, despite the fact that these attacks tivists, and Blacks and Chicanos. 2136 N. Halsted Street, target of sev­ have been going on for months and we eral previous Legion attacks. have frequently attempted to enlist the Richard Wunsch, the proprietor, fear­ service of this office in stopping these Washingto.n, D.C. ful for the safety of the three customers crimes. No conclusive action will be in the store, told the Legion members taken by the state's attorney's office An April action coalition has been to leave. (The Legion carried out an at this time in response to the illegal formed here by representatives of a armed phy~.lcal attack on the Guild activities of the Legion of Justice." number of organizations, including bookstore on Feb. 6.) Less than two Due to appear in court Thursday, Washington Mobe, SMC, Vietnam Mora­ minutes later, the Legion members March 19, are S. Thomas Sutton and torium Committee, Women's Libera­ came back into the store with no less Legion members Thomas K. Stewart tion and at least a half dozen others. than 12 Chicago police. The police sur­ and Eugene Cozzi on charges of pos­ Plans being projected for April 15 veyed the literature in the book store session of stolen material. The charges are for morning actions oriented to and arrested Wunsch on the complaint stem from a Nov. 12, 1969, press con­ women's and Third World antiwar de­ of Steven Fedlacko, for aggravated as­ ference at which the three appeared with mands, a midday mass rally at the sault and possession of an unregistered materials which had been stolen during office of the Internal Revenue Service, weapon, all trumped-up charges. a Nov. 1 Legion attack on the head­ and a late-afternoon mass march to Wunsch's bond was set at $1,000 and S. Thomas Sutton quarters of the Chicago YSA-SWP. the Capitol for a rally. Page 4 THE MILITANT Friday, March 27, 1970 An historic chapter in U.S. labor history lnt'l Women's Day born •1n struggle

The following is the slightly abridged Later in the year, as women devel­ text of a speech by Dianne Feeley in oped a certain confidence in their orga­ commemoration of International Wom­ nizing efforts, around the militant In­ en's Day. The speech was given March ternational Ladies Garment Workers 8 at a meeting sponsored by Women's Union, women called the first general Liberation # 1 at Los Angeles City Col­ strike in the history of the United States. lege. Dianne Feeley is the Socialist The strike spread from New York to Workers Party candidate for U.S. sen­ Philadelphia, and although it was in­ ator from California. conclusive, the Revolt of the 30,000- * * * as it is known- proved the tremendous This week we celebrate not only In­ capacity of women workers to organize. ternational Women's Day, but Rosa Clara Zetkin, a German socialist and Luxemburg's birthday (March 5), and friend of Rosa Luxemburg, followed we are paying tribute to Harriet Tub­ these events closely, and urged the 1910 man and Susan B. Anthony. Luxem­ International Conference of Socialist burg is remembered not only as a great Women meeting in Copenhagen to com­ theoretician, but as a revolutionarywho memorate March 8 by making it an was brutally murdered in the 1919 Ger­ International Working Women's Day. man uprising. Harriet Tubman, who has been described as the Moses of Perhaps the two most significant her people, and Susan Anthony, B. March 8 celebrations to date occurred the suffragist, were Americans central within the next few years. In 1914, to the struggle for women's rights, to Clara Zetkin organized thousands of the struggle for human rights. And in women to protest Germany's pell-mell our celebration here today, we also course toward World War I as well as want to recall the many individual wom­ Rosa Luxemburg's arrest and convic­ en who have made contributions which tion for speeches opposing the impend­ must be written back into history. ing imperialist war. International Women's Day arose out In 1917, the Vyborg district women of an incident in American labor his­ textile workers in Petrograd, opposing tory, much like May Day. And the UNION FIGHTERS. This photo from the August 1926 issue of the government's ban, held an Inter­ history of this day is really the history Labor Defender shows a few of the 91 members of the International national Women's Day demonstration of American women, who helped to Ladies Garment Workers Union jailed during a strike that year which sparked the Russian Revolution. build up the technological society in As Trotsky wrote, it was the most op­ which we now live. for defying an anti-strike injunction. pressed section of the workers, the wom­ Women have been employed in the tained a woman's earnings were un­ ton agents, the lockout, the fear that if en, who began the re,TOlution with a large textile factories of the East since der her husband's control. you stood up and fought things would fight for bread. the beginning of the Industrial Revo­ Women workers, according to news­ only be worse. In the Lawrence, Mass., The fact that we are here today, cele­ lution. As a matter of fact, women repre­ paper estimates dating from 1833, were strike of 1912, the factory owners kept brating International Women's Day is sented an overwhelming section of the paid one-quarter of a man's wages. the idle machines running to fool the proof of the growing women's libera­ factory laborers in the textile industry- And, of course, there were the employ­ workers into thinking that production tion movement. We are coming together, 95 percent at one point. ers who simply told the woman, "I'm was continuing. The owners spread ru­ raising demands, and declaring that You know that saying about "a wom­ not going to pay you, and there's noth­ mors that the strike was dead, and we will no longer be slaves. We know, an's work is never done"? Employers ing you can do." In Century ofStruggle, the women organized a "No Back To too, that women throughout the coun­ were not in the habit of announcing Eleanor Flexner records a meeting in Work Monday" demonstration to effec­ try, and throughout the world, are cele­ quitting time, and they found that even which hundreds of women agreed, "Oh, tively squelch the rumor. brating this day. The central demand after working 10 or 12 hours, women if we could always get paid for our The Lawrence strike ended in a vic­ which we are all raising is the funda­ would continue to work. And so em­ work, we could get along." tory for the workers. During the strike mental right of women to control our ployers began extending the work day Statistics reveal that 36 out of every 116 children were sent to New York own lives, in all of its aspects. in those factories where women predom­ 100 workers in the Lawrence, Mass., City, to "foster parents" who would take inated. textile mills died before their 25th birth­ care of them for the duration of the History until now has been His Story. Many workers slept in the factories day. The factory recruiters, who be­ strike. Actually, most of the children But who could believe that one half of all week long, going home only on their came known as "slavers," would tour were strikers themselves. After a thor­ the population contributed virtually day off. Women would work anywhere the countryside each day, bringing back ough examination, all 116 were found nothing? We're going to see that the from 13-16 hours a day, until they a cartload of young women. Posters to be in one stage or other of mal­ story of women- Her Story, if you could no longer see the fabric, and portraying working men carrying suit­ nutrition. Such publicity was so devas­ will-is told along with the history of then they'd get a few hours of sleep cases filled with gold were put up all tating that when the second group of the Black and Chicano and Asian-Amer­ in a corner. over Europe, persuading hundreds of children was to board the train, they ican and Native-American peoples. Our Even a woman's wages were not her thousands of immigrants to try their were savagely attacked. When the mili­ story is the story of all women, of or­ own. Employers had a whole system fortune in America. tia was called in the mayor proclaimed, ganized women. of fines, to be deducted before pay­ "We will either break this strike or break Until now women have been taught But the wages were pitiful. In 1909, ment. One could be fined for singing, the strikers' heads." that "our problem" is just a personal while $900 a year might be considered for getting machine oil on the fabric, During the Lawrence strike the wom­ one, our maladjustment. It is not a the poverty level, a New England fac­ or for making mistakes. And on pay­ en sang their own song, "Bread and personal problem, but a social one. tory which employed many thousands day, a woman's father or brother or Roses," which was set to the "Hymn And we aren't going to end our secon­ of workers paid an average wage of husband would come to the paymaster to Joy" from Beethoven's Ninth Sym­ dary status in society by individual $437.54 a year. Working conditions to collect her earnings. In fact, it is phony. solutions. A social problem requires were primitive- disease, malnutrition only within the last ten years that Cali­ In 1908, the Socialist Party began a social solution. and accidents snuffed out lives as if fornia repealed the law which main- serious agitational work among wom­ The only barrier between us and the they were nothing but penny candles. en workers. As an outgrowth, a mass deterioration of our lives is our capac­ In 1860, defective pillars in a Massa­ meeting of more than 3,000 women was ity to build a strong, independent move­ chusetts mill claimed the lives of 670 held in New York City the following ment which will fight for our freedom. workers. In the 1912 Triangle Fire year. Working women raised demands This is our strength. And this is how on New York's Lower East Side, a centering around the right to vote and we are going to write women back into fire broke out in a building with barred an end to sweatshop conditions. history-by making history ourselves. WOMEN exits, killing 146. The employers kept them barred for fear the women might sneak out the back way. Many women plunged eight to 10 stories to their & THE In support offourcaseschal­ death, their bodies ablaze; others were trapped in the inferno. The courts ac­ lenging the constitutionality quitted the employers, and later fined of the law CUBAN one partner $20. The first known strike in which wom­ en participated occured in 1824, though Assemble at 12:00 Bellevue the men and women strikers met sepa­ Hospital- 23rd and 1st Ave. REVOLUTION rately. By 1828, in Dover, N.H., wom­ en organized their own strike. A fre­ P. A. A. L. marathon against speeches by Fidel Castro quent method of organizing was the petition, through which women would abortion laws on WBAI­ pledge to stand together on a given March 26 & 27 from mid­ articles by Linda Jenness issue. If the employer did not heed the night on. Please come or warning, the women mobilized those call in! 35 cents who had signed as the core of the strike organizing committee. In addition, wom­ sponsored by People to PATHFINDER PRESS en led struggles to improve their con­ (formerly Merit Publishers) ditions, particularly beginning with the Abolish Abortion Laws 135 period after the Civil War. 873 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10003 West 4th St. 212-25~8 Employers had their methods of keep­ ing women in line: cops, mayors, Pinker- Friday, March 27, 1970 THE MILITANT Page 5 Momentum builds for abortion law repeals

By ELIZABETH BARNES legal suits which sharply pose the basic have the immediate effect ofsavingthou­ MARCH 17 -As recently as a year constitutional issue of the right of wom­ sands of lives. ago, it looked to many people as if en to decide for themselves whether or It is only because the women's lib­ the fight against the oppressive abor­ not they want to have children. eration movement has begun to demand tion laws in this country was a losing The Hawaiian state legislature has recognition of the basic right of women battle. In New York State, for example, passed a bill which allows for legal to decide when and whether to have last year's legislature voted down even abortion with a number of restrictions, children that the lawmakers are now the most timid abortion reform bill. including a 90-day residency require­ also talking about this right. Up until Although some states made limited re­ ment. Over 13 state legislatures are recently, legislators interested in abor­ forms within the framework of existing considering bills similar to Hawaii's tion reform always thought in terms reactionary legislation, there was no and such a bill has already passed the of simply ''liberalizing" the old reaction­ Boston, March 8 serious consideration in any state of Washington state legislature and will ary laws in a way which would affect full abortion law repeal. be voted on in a referendum in Novem­ only a small number of women- by Now, as a result of the growing pres­ ber. broadening the law to allow abortion sure of the women's liberation move­ The Arizona House has approved in cases of rape or incest, or to pre­ lnternationat'l ment and of those who are organizing a bill with no residency requirement vent the birth of a deformed child, or around the issue of abortion, all this which would make abortion legal with to preserve the mental and physical is beginning to change. State and lo­ the limitation that it be performed by health of the mother. cal laws have been ruled unconstitu­ a doctor. Now, the legal right of any woman Women's Day tional by judges in Washington, D. C., Even the traditionally backward New to decide whether to have an abortion California and Wisconsin. In New York York state legislature ha6 a bill before or not has been established in some For the first time in nearly 50 years, State, the women's liberation move­ it which legalizes abortions performed states. That is a victory which will have International Women's Day was cele­ ment has spearheaded the filing of four by a doctor. The speed with which ever widening implications. brated March 8 in cities around the this bill has been· rushed to the floor At the same time, the new bills do u.s. of the senate is the direct result of the not, of course, bring about the full One of the most significant of these activities of the New York abortion goal of the women's liberation move­ observances took place in Boston, repeal movement. The largest abortion ment-free abortion on demand. Abor­ where some 400 women attended a demonstration in the history of the tions will still be prohibitively expen­ highly successful International Wom­ movement is planned for New York sive for many women. The residency en's Day Teach-in at the Massachusetts on March 28. On April 15, a three­ requirements will cause additional prob­ Institute of Technology. judge federal panel will hear the four lems. The conservatism and anti-abor­ The teach-in began March 6 with a abortion suits. tion prejudices of the medical profes­ talk on "How Women Lost Control of Some in the repeal movement are sion will have to be overcome. The Their Destiny and How They Can Re­ asking what should be our attitude to­ restrictions in the bill which make it gain It" by Marxist anthropologist and ward these new bills. And what is the necessary for a doctor to perform legal women's liberation author Evelyn Reed. meaning of the fact that the ruling cir­ abortions will no doubt make it more The next morning a panel featured cles in this country have apparently difficult for those who want to set up representatives from a broad spectrum decided to give substantial concessions free clinics to overcome the resistance of organizations in the Boston area on this issue? of hospitals to giving abortions. (There including Bread and Roses, Female The motives of many of the politicians are now modern, simple techniques for Liberation, National Organization for who have pushed the new reform bills abortion which can be used safely in Women, the Young Socialist Alliance, have certainly not always been the pur­ such clinics by trained nurses or other and a new women's group which has est. In New York, many of them hope medical personnel under the supervision submitted a position paper on abortion to appease the abortion movement and of a doctor.) to the state legislature. to dampen the impact of the March 28 The initial successes of the abortion In the afternoon, Florence Luscomb, demonstration while at the same time repeal movement simply place the fight suffragist and socialist, led a seminar backing an issue which is gaining great­ on a new level. When a New York leg­ on the history of the women's rights er and greater support among voters. islator called the office of People to movement. She was given a standing In addition, there is no doubt that some Abolish Abortion Laws to ask if the ovation. of them want to prevent abortion laws March 28 demonstration would still be A welfare mother spoke sharply from being totally wiped off the books held if the abortion reform bill was against the welfare system and asked by a favorable court decision on the passed, the answer he got was an em­ those at the teach-in to support the four suits. phatic YES. The demonstration will be welfare mothers by coming to the state­ But, the motives of the legislators is as important as ever to rally support house March 10 to speak before the not what is important. The fact is that for full abortion repeal and abortions Social Welfare Committee in favor of these new bills are the direct result of available to all who want them. The a guaranteed adequate income. the pressure of the women's liberation central demand of the demonstration A seminar on Black women in Amer­ movement and a gigantic step toward will remain, as before, free abortion ican society was led by four Black wom­ reaching our goal of free abortion on on demand. en. Another seminar discussed the prob­ demand. They will make it possible There is tremendous potential now lems of working and professional wom­ for tens of thousands of women to ob­ for involving new and broader layers en. The conference ended with a lively tain legal, safe abortions and they will of women in the continuing struggle. workshop on the problems of women's And by showing concretely the potential liberation. power of women if we unite in common On March 8, the celebration of In­ action, this movement can help lay the ternational Women's Day continued groundwork for future struggles around with a march of 500 women through Strike interrupts sub drive other issues. the streets of Boston, each group with In this way there is a parallel between its own colorful banners and posters. By FLAX HERMES the present fight of women for the basic The women sang and chanted, and Business Mana~er constitutional right of abortion and the the march grew as it advanced. MARCH 18- Last night mail carriers for Manhattan and Bronx struggles for constitutional rights car­ In addition to the Boston celebration, voted to go out on strike in what post office officials called ried out by the early civil rights move­ and others reported last week in The "the first (strike) thattheycouldrecallagainstthe Federal agency." ment. Struggles for such basic freedoms Militant, observances of International While The Militant wholeheartedly supports this action by postal as the right to vote and the right to Women's Day included the following: employees, the strike does make it difficult to get an accurate travel freely, many of which were won, • BAY AREA- Some 400 women at­ idea of how the subscription drive is progessing this week. helped to lay the basis for the more tended an International Women's Day We had received a good response from several areas before deepgoing struggles against social, eco­ weekend conference at Glide Memorial the strike began. Boston sent in 60 new subs, New York collected nomic and cultural oppression. Church. Several marches and rallies 88, and 32 reached us from San Francisco. But since we can't The struggle for the increased freedom were also held. get a complete tally on where we stand, we're going to skip this which comes with the right of abortion eGAINESVILLE, Fla.-A broad week's scoreboard. will help to increase the consciousness spectrum of groups from the campus Different areas should have an idea how many subs they've of women of their overall oppression. and community sponsored an Interna­ The burden of unplanned, unwanted tional Women's Day program which in­ sold so far even if we don't .We are now 53 percent through the pregnancies has been a key factor in cluded speakers and a film on Viet­ sub drive. If your records show you're ahead, keep up the good perpetuating the exploitation of women, namese women. work. If you've slipped behind, now's the time to start catching in discouraging and preventing them e LOS ANGELES-An International up by organizing dorm drives, sales at campus meetings, selling from realizing their full potential as Women's Day celebration at Los An­ at community events. human beings. The freeing of women geles City College featured skits and The strike by New York postal employees is just one small from this can only serve to highlight speeches from nearly every women's part of the dissatisfaction breaking out all over this country. the contradiction which exists between liberation organization in greater Los With all that's going on, our goal of obtaining 7,500 new readers the potential of women for full and crea­ Angeles. by April 15 should be easy to reach. We only wish we could tive participation in society, and the e DEKALB, lll.- Evelyn Reed was get The Militant into the hands of several times as many. stultification of this potential under the keynote speaker at a teach-in which present system. featured workshops, speeches and films. Page 6 THE MILITANT Friday, March 27, 1970

San Francisco union movement SWP Support SAN FRANCISCO -Social­ • ist Workers candidate for Cal­ 1n militant show of solidarity ifornia governor, Herman Fagg, demanded full support for striking city employes at the outset of their struggle. Con­ By ART SHARON machinery of the city, exclusive of ertheless, the other aspects of the strike MARCH 16- The four-day strike of teachers, firemen and police. They rep­ are significant, and deserve attention, trasting this stand to the pro­ 14,000 city workers ended today after resent that large section of the working and like the recent GE strike, its signifi­ boss views of his Democratic the seven unions involved voted to ac­ class whose decline in real wages has cance will spread. Party opponents, Fagg de­ cept the terms of a negotiated settlement. been the most painful and whose voice The strike was like an explosion of clared: The agreement raised all wages 5 per­ is rarely heard, ensnarled as they are anger. The combativity and elan shown .. When the chips are down, cent, preserved the annual 5 percent in­ in all the specially designed red tape of surprised everyone. It quickly para­ labor's so-called friends like crement which in five steps brings the civil service. lyzed all city facilities picketed. For the Mayor Alioto have exposed workers involved from the entry pay Mayor Alioto and the entire Board of overwhelming majority of these work­ themselves as antilabor, some level to the highest for his job, and Supervisors without exception had not ers it was their first strike experience. by opposing the strike de­ further provided for joint discussion of only rejected the union demand for a The last time there was a strike of city mands, others by failing to pay and conditions between the union 10 percent wage increase, but also their workers was in the 1934 general strike. give clear public support to and the administration. own civil service commission's recom­ Now, as then, Black, white and Chi­ the strike. This last was considered by the mendation for a 7.5 percent increase. cano workers by the thousands experi­ ..Mayor Alioto and the ma­ unions a major breakthrough-per­ Instead they made a proposal which enced for the first time that particularly haps the biggest since the 1934 general provided for the abolition of the in­ warm solidarity that cuts across all jority of the Board of Super­ strike- as by city law actual "collective crement steps that all city employes divisions of race, nationality, and job visors were elected only because bargaining" is barred. have enjoyed for the past 27 years. status. They were in a serious fight to­ they were endorsed by labor. These seven unions represent the so­ It is too early to assess the real and gether. Now they unanimously stand called miscellaneous employes of the actual gains made by the strike since on the other side of the fence." city, including office clerks, nurses, all the public statements and claims The picket lines at schools were joined maintenance workers, cafeteria workers made are suspect. This we will learn by teachers. Teacher and janitor, coun­ in the school system, janitors and many from the workers themselves who will selor and dishwasher marched together. other classes of workers who man the make a very accurate assessment. Nev- There was an almost unanimous unity of all sections of the labor movement behind the strike. The AFL-CIO, the Cops twist on Independent Longshoremen's union and the Teamsters, formed an official council to back the strike. This became, in fact, the biggest weapon of the strike. Featherstone Demand release of N.Y. Panthers On the fourth day of the strike it was due to spread to the waterfront and the By DERRICK MORRISON By DAVE HALDANE airport, to eventually become a general strike. The negotiations of the strikers' MARCH 18- The government is NEW YORK- On Mon., March 16 that was nothing more than a political demands and the strategy were in the making a concerted effort to convince over 100 people demonstrated in front frame-up. Because of a filthy pack of hands of a top committee of the city's the public, especially the Black public, of City Hall to demand the release lies, I and my child were left alone labor movement, made up of George that SNCC militants Ralph Feather­ of Lee Berry, one of the Panther 21. in this jungle that some people call Johns, head of the Central Labor Coun­ stone and William "Che" Payne were Berry's wife, Marva, was going to pre- a city. cil, Daniel DelCarlo of the Building not assassinated. sent petitions to that effect, bearing sev- "For three months my husband was Trades Council, Thomas Rottel of the According to the FBI, Featherstone eral thousand signatures, to Mayor.John denied medication and slept on a spring Metal Trades Council, .Jack Goldberger and Payne were blown to bits by a V. Lindsay. But the heavy police guard instead of a bed. Subsequently, he was of the Teamsters and William Chester bomb that they were transporting on barred her from the Mayor's office. beaten, thrown in solitary and gener- of the Longshoremen and Warehouse­ the night of March 9 from Bel Air, Lee Berry is a 70 percent disabled ally brutalized for a period of eight men's Union. Md. This report, issued in telegram Vietnam veteran who has epilepsy. Al- months. Then he was taken to Bellevue form by .J. Edgar Hoover on March though his name was not on the orig- where the attempt to murder him was There have been a series of local 14, was quickly assembled to substan­ inal indictment, he was arrested in a only intensified. He underwent tw'o ques- strikes in the Bay Area that have tiate the story of the Maryland police V A hospital last April as part of the tionable operations that brought him dragged on for long periods with mea­ and state medical authorities. Panther 21. He is now incarcerated to the brink of death and left him with ger results. The steady squeeze of the In an article in the New York Times, in the Riker's Island Infirmary, recov- permanent damage to his legs and inflation, the generally tougher boss March 15, Ben A Franklin writes, "By ering from the questionable operations lungs. response to resistance from the worker releasing at a news conference here the performed on him at Bellevue, a city "For 12 months we have paraded on the job, his increasing dissensions text of a telegram from the F. B. I. di­ hospital. Bellevue had him transferred before 35 judges in a futile effort to and dissatisfaction, are preparing the rector, J. Edgar Hoover, and photo­ because of the negative publicity stem- reduce his $100,000 bail on the ground kind of explosions that were witnessed graphs, diagrams and statements pre­ ming from these operations. that he is an epileptic, was arrested in the past four days. The recent GeneraJ pared by the state police and medical In her Open Letter to Mayor Lind- a hospital, and was seriously ill. Yet Electric strike and the closing of labor officials, the Governor [Marvin Mandel] say, which was to have accompanied even as he lay dying, the authorities ranks in its support was a preview of apparently sought to counter specula­ the petitions, Marva Berry describes of this city continued to ignore our pleas this one. tion, particularly among Negroes, that her grief and resentment: "It's been a for justice... The threat of a general strike alarmed Ralph E. Featherstone and William H. year now and I'm here to say to you, "As for you, .John Lindsay, you are the business interests of the city who in Payne, the victims, had met foul play." Mayor Lindsay, that I have had nothing more than a lying, hypocrit- turn gave the signal for a retreat. On Even before the second man in the enough. A year ago I was attempting ical demagogue. You point an accus- the whole, the working class of the car was identified as Payne, state of­ to enjoy a rather peaceful existence of ing finger at Chicago, yet here in your city must draw the conclusion that the ficials were pressuring Black spokes­ being a mother for the first time in own city where you possess the power power of the united labor movement is men to deny that it was the body of my life and interested in nothing more to correct the evil, you have for one formidable. This in turn will lead to H. Rap Brown. These moves spring than my new baby. But before that year given your silent consent to the increased pressure within the unions to from their nightmares of a ghetto re­ child was 10 days old, her father was atrocities being dealt to twenty-one use that muscle. A new period for the bellion if an assassination plot were snatched from a hospital bed, thrown Black people. It's time for you to clean labor movement in San Francisco is proven. By not even considering such in jail and accused of a conspiracy your own house... " opening up. a plot, the state thereby absolves or­ ganizations such as the Ku Klux Klan, John Birch Society, or Minutemen of any guilt. It is precisely such right-wing groups which have operated freely and openly in the state that are responsible for Brown's case in the first place. White racists precipitated the so-called riot in Cambridge by firing into a Black crowd on the night of July 24, 1967. Brown, who had just finished speaking, was wounded by these shots. In a "se­ cret" report prepared for the Commis­ sion on Civil Disorders by Dr. Robert Shellow in 1968, Brown was exoner­ ated, and the "riot" that the state says took place was shown to have never materialized. The blame for the distur­ bance that did take place was laid at the door of the state and local white racists. But now the state is trying to prove the opposite. This action plus past prac­ tice places more than a question mark over the credibility of the state in re­ spect to the deaths of Featherstone and TEACHING ASSISTANTS? Cops are part of force concerns issues of ending university complicity Payne. of several hundred policemen occupying State Uni­ with war in Vietnam, open admissions, and right The fact that Brown has yet to be versity of New York at Buffalo. The student strike, of students and faculty to determine policy on cam­ heard from makes the circumstances which began with Black student demands Feb. 25, pus. all the more ominous. Friday, March 27, 1970 THE MILITANT Page 7

Guardian tries to hide Randy Furst's politics

perience of the past several years of At the end of February, the Young dy Furst in the headline was exploiting the development and degeneration of Socialist prepared the ad which is re­ the Guardian. Susan LaMont, YSA na­ SDS, and reported much of it in the produced on this page. Thinking that tional secretary, and I made another Guardian. What makes Furst's decision the article by Furst would be of in­ trip to the Guardian office and spoke even more significant is the fact that terest to Guardian readers especially, with Carl Davidson, Jack Smith, and the developments which led him to join his article was featured in the ad. two other staff members. We got no­ the YSA have led others like him to To our astonishment, the national where. the same conclusion-as the article by office of the YSA was blandly informed A few days later Beinin called us and Nick Gruenberg testifies. by Irving Beinin of the Guardian that told us we would have to delete "Randy The Guardian, however, which views our ad would not be run. "The ad," Furst" from the headline altogether. By the YSA as an opponent of its amor­ this time we had decided to stop wasting Photo by Howard Petrick he said, "exploits the Guardian." When phous and oft-shifting political line, we asked Beinin which parts of the ad our time arguing the point. We made Randy Furst has responded with a wall of silence were objectionable, he specified the the additional change and the ad finally rather than open political debate. While headline and the quote from Furst's appeared in the March 21 issue with it has been forced to report on some article. "The Guardian has never pub­ the headline, "Who's joining the YSA?" By LARRY SEIGLE activities of the YSA (it's simply no ished anything anti-Trotskyist," he So now, after two and a half months YSA National Chairman longer possible to cover the radical said. "If Randy says we did then he's the Guardian readers will be able to The Guardian, a radical newsweekly movement and omit reference to the a liar." learn-albeit through a paid ad with published in New York City, has re­ YSA) it has not even attempted to ex­ Well, censorship is censorship, we fig­ somewhat aesopian phrases in order plain to its readers one of the most cently taken another step in its contin­ ured. We asked what we would have to "slip by" the censors-that reporter important facts of political life in the uing campaign to banish from its pages to change to make the ad acceptable Randy Furst has joined the YSA. And past year: the significant shift in the a simple fact which happens to be po­ to the Guardian censors. Beinin told Guardian readers may also see that litically embarrassing to those who set relationship of forces within the rad­ us that if we deleted the words "Guard­ the political viewpoint the paper repre­ the line at the Guardian. The fact is ical movement that has occurred with ian Staff Writer" from the headline and sents is not exactly broad enough to that Randy Furst, one of the five mem­ the breakup of SDS and the growth of selected a quote from Furst's article include the entire radical movement. bers elected to the Coordinating Com­ the YSA. which didn't refer to the Guardian, the mittee, the Guardian's top body, a Thus the Guardian faced a problem ad would be published. The next week In the course of our discussion with member of the Guardian staff for al­ when Furst decided to join the YSA. we submitted the ad with the changes Davidson and Smith, we asked them most two years, and by far the most To report it could only raise a ques­ as dictated. The headline read, "Why how they could explain their political qualified news reporter on the staff, tion in the minds of Guardian readers: did Randy Furst join the YSA ?" and censorship to the movement. "The decided to join the Young Socialist Al­ either their ace reporter had flipped out, a "non-exploitative" quote from Furst's Guardian doesn't have to explain any­ liance shortly after he covered on as­ or else something was happening in article was set in place of the original. thing to the movement," was the reply. ·signment the Minneapolis convention this country which the Guardian had In spite of what Beinin had told us, But you're wrong, brothers and sisters, of the YSA two and a half months neglected to mention. once again the ad was rejected. We were The Guardian does have some explain­ ago. Rather than confront the politics of now told that the use of the name Ran- ing to do. The new step taken by the Guardian the problem and state the reasons why was the refusal to print a paid ad­ it disagreed with Furst and the YSA, vertisement for the current issue of the the Guardian chose to continue the pol­ Young Socialist- until the content of icy of silence. the ad was altered to suit the wishes The problem, however, became more Why did of the Guardian publishers. complicated. It was no longer sufficient The ad, reproduced here, called at­ merely to ignore the YSA. Now, every tention to two articles in the Young article by Furst had to be carefully Socialist, one by Randy Furst and the "edited" to hide the fact that he was in Guardian other by Nick Gruenberg, a staff writ­ the YSA, or to delete any indication er for Liberation News Service, who that he was sympathetic to Trotskyist also joined the YSA after attending the ideas. When Furst was told to keep staff writer convention. "politics" out of his articles and stick The story of the Guardian's attempts to straight reporting, he asked for per­ to hide from its readers the fact of mission to write an "opinion" column Randy Furst Furst's membership in the YSA is an (a department supposedly open to all) extremely damaging tale for a publi­ in order to explain his views to the cation that claim~. to be a "movement" people he had been writing for. This join the YSA'? newspaper, with its pages open to all was denied. Finally, he tried to have points of view. a letter to the editor published, but this Furst's decision to join the YSA was was also rejected. Thus, for more than For the answer read the latest issue of the Y in itself a significant development in two months, the pages of the Guardian Socialist. Randy Furst of the Guardian and . the radical movement. Furst is a wide­ were kept clean of any indication that ly known and respected radical jour­ Furst had changed his attitude about berg of Liberation News Service covered nalist. He has gone through the ex- the YSA. tion of the Young Socialist Alliance After the convention both decided They give their impressions of the Israeli socialist in U.S. tour plain why they decided to joi wriHen a NEW YORK- TheCommitteeonNew and the Hebrew edition of the magazine · nti-T rotskyist, Alternatives in the Middle East an­ has been heavily censored. Iorge port, however, nounced March 19 that it is sponsoring Arie Bober was born in Haifa and ng been persuaded a speaking tour of the United States lived on the Kefar Rupin kibbutz in old left organization. during April and May for Arie Bober, Beit Sha'an Valley during his early such was not the case, a young Israeli Jew who is a leading youth. He served three and a half years neither irrelevant nor static, spokesman for the Israeli Socialist Or­ in the Israeli Navy, and has just been ificont revolutionary tendency ganization. released from a three-month tour of The ISO, which publishes the maga­ duty in the Army. He is a graduate zine Matzpen, is a joint Jewish-Arab or­ student of economics and political sci­ ganization committed to the struggle ence at the Hebrew University in Jeru­ for a socialist, united Middle East, freed salem and a research assistant in the Also: a on the Chicano liberation struggle, an of all imperialism and colonialism, in Vaervold School of Social Work there. interview with an Irish Militant and a review of the which all peoples enjoy full national He has published a number of articles women's liberation play, "How to Make a Woman." rights. As a frrst step toward this goal, on the Israeli economy and is a fre­ it demands the immediate withdrawal quent contributor to Matzpen. of Israel from all occupied territories, Among the sponsors of the Committee recognition of the right of all displaeed of New Alternatives in the Middle East _Enclosed is .25 for the latest Yaung Socialist. _I would like more information about the YSA. Palestinians to return to their land or are: Eric Bentley, Noam Chomsky, _I, too, want to join the YSA. to receive compensation as they choose, Eric Fromm, Florence Howe, Louis Name ______and the abrogation of all laws confer­ Kampf, William Kunstler, Robert Jay Clip and mail to: ring special privileges in Israel on Jews, Lifton, Dwight Macdonald, Ashley Mon­ especially the Law of Return. tagu, Pete Seeger, I. F. Stone, Louis Address ------Untermeyer and Howard Zinn. City------The ISO has recently come under Fur further information, contact the increasingly severe attack from the Is­ committee's secretary, Berta Langston, State ------raeli government. The Arabic edition at 145 E. 16th St., Apt. 9C, New York, of Matzpen has been completely banned, N.Y. 10003. (212-254-6362). Page 8 THE MILITANT Friday, March 27, 1970 they were refused the use of the building. What the gringo congregation did was turn over the building to a Chicano Special interview congregation so that it would become a Chicano fight. We had some hassles, we argued, we had meetings and so forth. Then the Chicano congregation turned it right A Chicano y back to the gringos, and the gringos had to act. We are now in the process of negotiating with them. An injunction has been brought against MAYO re­ stricting them from going into the build­ ing until the thing is settled, and now we politica are discussing what to do. Yesterday and today we had demonstrations try­ ing to put pressure on the congregation to make them more responsive to the voice in the use of the building. The United States; that is why we chose needs of the Chicano people. issue is one of having a voice in what that name. We ran for those reasons. goes on in the community, to control We refused to be identified with the po­ activities, to talk about community con­ litical system that teaches oppression CAMEJO: What is the basic philoso­ trol. and hypocrisy and the like. Now we phy behind the takeover of the Church? are pushing a political party, or sys­ By ANTONIO CAMEJO COMPEAN: The basic thing is that tem, that is responsive to our needs, there are people in the community who but is also controlled by those people CAMEJO: Does MAYO project the The following interview with Mario need the building, who need the ser­ who are asking it to be responsive. concept of community control to deal Compean, national chairman of the vices, and no one was giving these with other institutions such as welfare Mexican American Youth Organization services to the people. I'm talking about offices, hospitals, schools etc.? (MAYO), was obtained for The Mili­ welfare recipients and the like, people COMPEAN: Yes. We have been de­ tant by Antonio Camejo, formerly an veloping this concept in terms of activ­ instructor in the Chicano studies pro­ ity, and we have now declared war on gram at Merritt College in Oakland, the Catholic Church. We are confront­ and now the Socialist Workers Party ing them so that we can get, in essence, candidate for Superintendent of Public reparations for the Chicano people. Instruction in California. The interview Most of the Chicanos in Texas are took place on March 7, 1970, during cato­ The Catholic Church has grossly the Texas Chicano Conference in Hous­ licos. ton. ignored the fact that we have certain needs that must be met, and they have * * * misled us on a path of passivity and an ANTONIO CAMEJO: When was attitude of not asking for, or demand­ MAYO founded and what is its purpose? ing what is rightfully ours. The Church MARIO COMPEAN: MAYO cameinto is very much at fault. existence in 1967, in early spring, and Politically we are moving toward in­ we have been in operation since then. dependence from both political parties On the west side of San Antonio we Most of our work is concentrated in in the U.S., Democrats and Republi­ comprise 95 percent of the population, Texas and then you can say South cans, toward the concept of an inde­ yet up till now the people have not Texas, but we now have chapters in pendent political force, a viable political chosen their own government represen­ three other states: Minnesota, Illinois, force which is the .only one I can see tatives. The political structure does not and Michigan. We had our state con­ for Chicanos. In Texas, the only viable lend itself to the kind of system where vention two months ago and became who can't make a reasonable living political strategy is to form an inde­ we could choose our own representa­ national in scope at that time. When we for themselves. Christian philosophy pendent Chicano party. It has to be a tives and really have a voice. first started the purpose of MAYO was says that the church should render so party that is responsive to Chicanos In that election last year our purpose to go about the Chicano community in many services to the community and only. In essence, we are pushing an was twofold. We wanted to destroy all Texas, specifically South Texas, and when the church and the congregation independent political party to lead us the myths that are propagated about organize Raza groups. Once they were failed to render these services, MAYO to community control of those political Chicanos - like the myth that they organized, had a direction, knew where felt it was their responsibility to see institutions in areas where we predom­ didn't come out to vote because they they wanted to go and what they wanted that the people of the community got inate. Educationally, we. are pushing are lazy and unconcerned with civic to do, we would leave. In essence, we the use of the building. those school districts toward commu­ affairs, that all they care about is to were to function as organizers, to set nity control. Traditionally, school dis­ go and drink, that they are uncon­ up groups that would later be able to It goes beyond that also, to the broad­ tricts have been run by gringos, a small cerned with political affairs. Also we organize around the concept of self­ er, more fundamental concept of com­ percentage of gringos controlling every­ had to educate our people to the po­ determination. munity control of institutions. An insti­ thing. litical system, how oppressive it is, how tution or agency that is in the commu­ In the field of social work we have, it functions, so that we could turn it CAMEJO: I understand that MAYO nity has to be operated according to for the last six months, been hitting around, change it, manipulate it, so has been involved in two recent actions, the wishes of the community. those community centers known as set­ that in the end Chicanos could have a one involving the takeover of a church. tlement houses that render so many viable political force. COMPEAN: Just three weeks ago The history of the church is that a services in the Chicano community to It was a tremendous experience in there was a takeover, an occupation if congregation comes in from anywhere Chicanos, but whose staff is appointed that we accomplished all our goals. you want, in Houston, Texas. The and ignores the community around it. from the outside by congregations, We tore down all the arguments and chapter of MAYO there had been ne­ It is just the clique of the small congre­ by denominations, because they are we ran on a strictly Chicano power gotiating with the local Presbyterian gation that belongs to the church that church-affiliated religious institutions. platform. The people responded to it Church. For a year they had been ne­ receives the services and benefits of We are pushing them to turn over com­ when all the experts said they would gotiating for use of the building as a whatever facilities they have. The com­ plete control of the centers to the com­ not respond. We were able to increase community center where they could munity may attend services or become munities which they serve. the Chicano voters by 30 percent. We have programs for the people of the members of the congregation if they were able to educate the people suffi­ area, Northside Houston, and finally want, but they have no authority or ciently so that they can now pose cru­ CAMEJO: I understand you ran for cial questions to the political parties Now available (Publication date, May 19) office as an independent in SanAntonio. and the officials. Any candidate who COMPEAN: Last year I ran against is now running has to really put his the incumbent mayor, Walter McAllister name and himself on the line as to Ill, in San Antonio. I ran on a plat­ what he is going to do, and he will au Anu form which essentially said what I just be held to it next time around. "Last enumerated: community control, this time you promised this, this and that. independent political strategy that we Means are talking about. Up until then, politicians of all kinds had been unresponsive to the needs of Necessaru the Chicano. Always, they have given us false promises, and always they Malcolm's speeches were first pre­ have appointed whomever they thought sented to the public in Malcolm X should be the leader of the Chicanos. Speaks, collected and edited by They would go around saying, ''You George Breitman from material then will be the leader of the Chicanos, you (1965) available. By Any Means will be the spokesman for the Chicano Necessary, also collected and edited community." So that we had not had a by Breitman, is a companion vol­ chance to choose our own representa­ ume and presents new material, not tive to any body. The city council of previously available or even known San Antonio has had three Chicanos on to exist. These speeches constitute important source material for the it for six years or so. But only one of study of the black liberation move­ those is even close to our philosophy ment and provide documentation of being Chicano. of the development of Malcolm's So we chose to experiment with this ideas and program of struggle. political strategy of laying the ground­ work for an independent Chicano po­ 192 pp., cloth $5.95 litical party, which we have come to paper $1.95 call La Raza Unida Party (see The Militant, Feb. 27). La Raza Unida(The United Chicano People) is the concept 873 BROADWAY NEW YORK, N.Y. 10003 PATHFINDER PRESS behind the Chicano movement in the Friday, March 27, 1970 THE MILITANT Page 9 groundwork for the future in terms of this independent political strategy, form­ ith MAYO chairman ing our own party. So we've used that experience as a model. We're putting that now into a four county thing. We're testing it on the county level this time around, in the primary elections in May :>uth leader's and the general elections in November. We have organized La Raza Unida Party in four counties and it has taken some work to get it legally established, and it has taken a lot of work to get the people oriented toward this kind of outlook philosophy. Very soon it is possible that we will have control of three city governments, two school boards, and four county governments. The county ::l~ governments will come in November, You did not deliver. We will not sup­ immediate electoral victory a defeat for but the others will be in a month. This port you this time around." independent political action? is in the area of Crystal City and then LA RAZA In terms of the three candidates we COMPEAN: No. We don't consider it in Rio Grande Valley and Hidalgo were running, we got a combined total a defeat because all the goals we set County. vote of 56,000 out of 165,000. So we for ourselves for that particular cam­ were getting 30-33 percent of the vote paign we won. We had never said we UN IDA whereas the experts predicted a vote of were out to win. If the victory came as CAMEJO: What do you think the re­ COMPEAN: He's a great believer in only 3,000 for us. The most significant part of it, we would have taken it. But sponse of the Democratic Party will be, the idea that some people have to work victory came in my campaign. I was we had never expected to win, because considering that they control the state on the outside and some people have to running against the incumbent mayor it was not our desire to win at that time. of Texas. work on the inside. And he says, "I'm who had been in office eight years. He We wanted, most importantly, to edu­ COMPEAN: Their reaction will be, on the inside, so I can take and give a was the richest man in town. He owned cate the people and destroy the myths naturally, in keeping with their pater­ little bit here and there, but in the long just about everything. Everybody said propagated against us. nalism, that Mexicans are being very run I'll be getting benefits for la Raza." there was no way he could be beaten. ungrateful. Historically and tradition­ But the one thing that is wrong with There was no way you could even get Politically that was our experiment. ally the gringos, especially the Demo­ that is that history shows you are even­ close to him. So again, we sensed the What we had in mind was laying the crats, have looked upon us, in a pater­ tually absorbed and sell out. That is political winds right, that he was vul­ nalistic way: "Just remain quiet, we'll what happened. He interacted more and nerable, in fact, the most vulnerable of take care of everything for you." more with the party structures and even­ all the nine men the opposition ticket We are not supposed to act on our tually got absorbed. was running. own, so naturally they're very uptight about this thing. We are breaking away CAMEJO: Do you forsee this Chicano People wouldn't believe it. But we from them so they don't like it at all. proved it in that I was just 200 votes political party developing on a national The Democrats are the ones that will scale throughout the Southwest and in short of a runoff. A combination of be hurt the most initially, but beyond him getting 100 votes less and me get­ other cities where there is Raza? that it is conceivable that not only the COMPEAN: I haven't given that ting 100 votes more would have put us Democrats will be hurt, but also the in a runoff with supposedly the most much thought, but there are efforts un­ Republicans will have to deal with the der way right now to try to form a powerful man in San Antonio. So in reality of an independent Chicano po­ that sense it was a tremendous victory national· Chicano party. And, of course, litical force. for Chicanos and the movement. I'm all for it myself, and I think it is a very viable thing. In the future I CAMEJO: How do you view Demo­ think it is very possible that we will CAMEJO: So you don't consider the cratic liberals like Congressman Henry be able to mold an independent po­ fact that you were not able to gain an B. Gonzalez? litical force on a nationwide basis. Houston LOMAS is host Texas Chicano students hold conference

By CANDIDA McCOLLAM upcoming Denver Chicano conference Two very important contributions part: "Recognizing that self-determina­ HOUSTON, Texas-The third an­ to be hosted by the Crusade for Justice, concerning antiwar action and women's tion is the crux of the Chicano move­ nual Texas statewide Chicano student March 25-29. Corky Gonzales of the liberation were introduced for the frrst ment, we resolve that women's rights conference, held here Mardi 7-8, drew Crusade, who had arranged to lead time since the Chicano student conference be included in the demands that La more than 300 particiants under the this workshop, was unable to attend was founded three years ago. Sentiment Raza is making. And that these de­ banner "1970: Year of the Chicano." the conference because of an incident in favor of these two issues was en­ mands be accepted as they are pre­ Sponsored by the Houston LOMAS involving the brutal beating of a Brown couraging and enthusiastic. Discussion sented by the women (not drafted by (League of Mexican-American Stu­ Beret by Denver police. from the floor of the general assembly the men), as your women present them, dents), the conference had delegations Formed two years ago in southern enforced the unanimous vote in favor respecting the right of self-determina­ from as far away as Oakland, Calif. Texas, Raza Unida parties have now of these resolutions. tion for women as well as for men . . . For two days students, barrio ac­ begun to make an impact in local, so­ We don't want to liberated by men. tivists, professors and parents took part called "nonpartisan" elections. This year A Houston representative from Just don't stand in the way!" in a wide range of workshops. These four southwest Texas counties - Za­ LOMAS presented the Chicano antiwar The conference concluded with the in­ included: Brown-Black Relationships; vala, Hidalgo, Cotulla and La Salle­ resolution to the general assembly. Not­ troduction of a formal resolution to La Raza Unida Party; Cultural Con­ are running Chicano candidates in lo­ ing the relationship between the strug­ support the formation of an independent tributions of theMexicanAmerican; Bar­ cal elections on La Raza Unida tickets gle against the Vietnam war and the Chicano political party. Pointing to the do Politics; The Mexican-American (see The Militant, Feb. 27). fight for self-determination, the antiwar long record of the Democratic and Re­ Child in Anglo School Systems; Chi­ Froben Lozada, Socialist Workers resolution went on to state: 'We must publican parties in "betraying the hopes canismo-A New Philosophy; and Rad­ Party candidate for attorney general actively participate in building the anti­ and aspirations of our people and of ical Students in Chicano Movements. in California, spoke in favor of an war movements where they exist. Where perpetuating racist gringo rule and the A workshop on La Raza Unida Par­ independent Chicano party: "We cannot they do not exist we must become the oppression of our people," this resolu­ ty served to unite Chicanos around the wait until white workers create their builders of such movements. We must tion concluded: "Let it be declared that concept of independent Chicano politi­ own political party. The grape strike further be the most active participants these two parties of our oppressors will cal action and prepare them for the would have been ended a long time in actions against the war. The time not and cannot represent us or serve ago in Cesar Chavez had broken with has long passed for mere verbal sup­ our people, and that therefore we should the Democratic Party and run for gov­ port of the antiwar movement. To say break all ties to these parties and pro­ ernor against both parties. We must that you are against the war is not mote the formation of a nationwide stop playing in the ball park of the enough. The time is now to become Independent Chicano Political Party to capitalist ruling class and start mak­ Chicano antiwar activists. Ya basta! fight for our needs under our leadership ing our own rules." Bring all the carnales [brothers] home for self-determination and the complete Lozada said that the call for inde­ now!" social, economic, cultural and political pendent political action is a serious The Merritt College delegation drafted liberation of La Raza." threat to the ruling class of this coun­ an addition to the antiwar resolution The conference issued a call for a try and that it is up to the Chicano calling for all organizations to partici­ full mobilization of Chicanos to attend to make that threat a reality. He em­ pate in the 5 de Mayo Chicano Mora­ the March 25-29 Denver conference phasized the need for such an indepen­ torium. It was decided that the Texas where the formation of a national, in­ dent Chicano party to be based on po­ Chicano Moratorium would be held in dependent political party of La Raza litical principles and program rather Austin. Olga Rodriguez, a member of will be discussed. than on reliance on "good" individuals LOMAS and the Young Socialist Al­ who claim to be for the Chicano. He liance, urged the substitution of action r----A Merit Pamphlet ---- quoted Zapata's famous saying, "I will for the verbal support that Chicanos die a slave to principles, never to men." have previously given to the antiwar LA RAZAI Speaking on the resolution to unite movement. Why a Chicano Party? all the organizations present at the con­ Although no workshop had been orga­ ference under the name MAYO (Mexi­ nized around the question of Chicana Why Chicano Studies? can American Youth Organization), Ma­ participation in the Chicano movement, A Symposium 30c rio Compean, national chairman of a group of Chicano women met in­ MAYO, stated that this act affirmed dependently to draft a women's libera­ Pathfinder Press, Inc. the existence of a unified Chicano move­ tion resolution that was enthusiastically 873 Broadway, NYC 10003 ment with diverse participation. accepted by the conference. It stated in Page 10 THE MiliTANT Friday, March 27, 1970

Answer to the Daily World: The ant1war• movement and Third World struggles

By DERRICK MORRISON entitled "Third World People and The better than, his white counterparts. Talk that they are workers and human Fight Against the War.") to Ahmed Evans about that. beings rather than whites. But the real intent of Victoria Mis­ In a debate with Syd Stapleton, the The mass mobilizations against the In the Feb. 28 edition of the Daily sick's article was to lash out at the SWP candidate for mayor of Cleveland war in Vietnam by the people in the World, voice of the American Commu­ allegedly "racist and anti-working class last year, Stokes had this to say about U.S., the international antiwar move­ nist Party, there appeared an article bias of the YSA" for its "vicious attack Ahmed: "Ahmed Evans and some men ment, and the Vietnamese themselves, by Victoria Missick entitled, "Student on Black Mayors Richard Hatcher of with him took rifles and shot down po­ have accelerated and heightened the Mobe hampered by racism of Trotsky­ Gary and Carl Stokes, Congresswoman licemen under situations in which we struggles of the oppressed Third World ist faction." The author attended the Shirley Chisholm, and other Black are not talking about any defense. We're national minority groups in the U.S. SMC national conference in Cleveland members of government." The "vicious not talking about any aggression from and the workers as a whole. But this last month and participated in the attack" that she is referring to came out the police. . . There is no way in the is the result of being able to mobilize Third World workshop as a representa­ of a conversation she had with YSAers world for me in good conscience to try the maximum number of people against tive of the Young Workers Liberation in which Stokes and Hatcher were to make a hero out of him. He had no the war in this country. League. called "handkerchief heads running to justification for it under those circum­ Students initiated and entered the an­ Victoria Missick purports to explain massas." Victoria Missick was terribly stances ... You cannot have that kind tiwar movement on the basis of just that the reason the SMC conference upset by this remark. She contends that of occurrence happen in a society ... being opposed to the war. It was very didn't deal with the "struggle against this "is not political criticism, it is a without everyone resorting to the ani­ easy for the student antiwar committees white supremacy and racism" was due racist insult." mal-like way of adjusting their griev­ to crack through Young Americans for to the domination "from the steering ances by violence and gunfire." Freedom and bypass the National Stu­ committee by the Trotskyite Young So­ Such a reaction throws into sharp So, Stokes considers Black self-defense dent Association in convincing the mass cialist Alliance." relief how the CPUSA fights war and "animal-like." of students to move against the war. Now in the first instance, to talk racism: by supporting the Democratic We'll have to look to the next issue of But it will require much more time and about "domination" is to substitute the Party, the party of imperialist and ra­ the Daily World to see how the CPUSA effort before Black people and other question of organization for that of cist rule. The CPUSA has been involved wiggles out of that one. But by support­ oppressed national minorities break politics. Policy, reports, general line, in "lesser-evil" capitalist politics from ing men like Stokes it is clear that the through the government-funded and whatever, were all discussed and ap­ the time of FDR in 1936 on down to CP is not so concerned with fighting financed leaderships to move massively proved in plenary sessions of the whole LBJ in 1964 and HHH in 1968. Be­ for Black liberation as with preserving on the issue of Vietnam. conference. The YSA's leadership role cause the CPUSA supports the Soviet the Democratic Party and increasing Just as the trade-union movement is in SMC is explained by YSA's political Union's policy of peaceful coexistence Black faces among the representatives weighted down by the lead-bottomed line on building the antiwar movement. with imperialism, it is compelled to lend of the capitalist rulers. bureaucrats with numerous ties to the The majority of people at the confer­ support to the liberal wing of the Dem­ In another vein, as part of Victoria government, you have the same thing ence supported the YSA's position be­ ocratic Party as the best bargaining Missick's attack on the YSA, she plays operating in the Black community. cause it coincides with theirs. To judge partner for the Soviet bureaucrats. Con­ on the notion that somehow Black peo­ The Black community is not a mono­ a political position not on its merits sequently, over the decades it has at­ ple don't participate in the struggle lith. There are the masses and then but on the basis of whether it's the tempted to help keep the liberal Demo­ against the war because the antiwar there is the "neo-colonial" upper crust YSA's position, is to red-bait-which crats in power and tried to break the movement refuses to deal with racism. that exercises tight control over the com­ is where the conference disagreed with back of any movement, whether it be The Feb. 7 Guardian expressed a sim­ munity. Types like those who direct Victoria Missick. on the part of labor, Black people, or ilar point of view when it talked about the NAACP, CORE, SCLC, Urban In respect to the alleged refusal of the whatever, that threatened to escape how the "white" antiwar movement must League, and the Democratic Party con­ conference to deal with racism and "the from this party, thereby weakening its lend "concrete support to the struggle stitute this consciously reformist stra­ murders and jailings of Black libera­ ability to win elections. for the liberation of the oppressed tum. They have numerous connections tion fighters and peace activists," Mis­ Thus, back in 1963 the CPUSA chose Blacks" in order "to experience a po­ with the city, state, and federal gov­ sick's statement is simply a lie. There to fight racism not by encouraging the tential growth of millions from Black ernments. With the help of the govern­ was a report at the conference by Jeff growing independent and revolution­ America." ment, big business, and the wealthy Shero on the Conspiracy trial and a ary-nationalist sentiments but by say­ foundations, they run an assortment of demonstration after the conference in ing, "The Muslim organization in gen­ Although the Guardian didn't de­ antipoverty (pacification) programs in solidarity with Ahmed Evans. Evans eral, and Malcolm X, in particular, scribe what this "concrete support" the community. These "community lead­ is a local Black militant being railroad­ are ultra-reactionary forces operating should consist of, both it and the CP ers" will issue press statements and proc­ ed to the electric chair by the city of in the orbit of the Negro people's move­ err considerably in labeling the antiwar lamations against the war, just like Cleveland and the stare of Ohio. ment ... Malcolm X in no sense of movement a ''white" movement. By def­ some of their employers in the govern­ The Third World workshop, attended the word can be considered a leader of inition, tradition, and heritage any ment, but they will not seek to mobilize by over 100 people- making it the the Negro people, he is an agent of movement just about white people in the antiwar sentiment in the community. largest Third World turnout for an an­ their enemies and consequently an op­ America is racist. Movements are de­ Because that means confronting the tiwar conference to date and five times ponent of their progress." This appeared fined by their program. An antiwar government, biting the hand that feeds as large as what Missick's article in­ in the July 7, 1963, edition of The movement is an antiwar movement. It you, so to speak. dicated- decided to campaign on be­ Worker, forerunner to the Daily World. reflects the interests of the majority of half of the Black Vietnam war referen­ And today, the CPUSA "fights racism" people in the country- the majority of On the other end of the spectrum, the dum slated for March 22-29. Missick by trying to derail the Black movement those in the white oppressor nation revolutionary-nationalist stratum has didn't mention the referendum, or the for self-determination, to turn it back and everybody amongst the oppressed been remiss in its responsibility to the decision of the workshop adopted by toward the Democratic Party. The quest Third World national minority groups. Vietnamese: Back in the early part of the conference to "carry out defense cam­ for self-determination threatens to break For the latter, participation in the anti­ 1968, SNCC attempted to form a Black paigns for Third World Gis who are Black people out of the Democratic war movement is objectively an exten­ united front on the issue of the war. The being victimized in the Army and for Party, but Black pawns such as Stokes sion of the struggle for self-determina­ shape that this effort assumed was the any Third World organization or indi­ and Hatcher, whom the CP openly sup­ tion here at home. For the former, to National Black Anti-War Anti-Draft vidual who becomes the object of polit­ ports, facilitate the job of propping up move against the Vietnam war is to Union, NBAWADU. It was able to get a couple of actions off the ground but ical repression, in particular the Black the rule of that party in the Black com­ objectively diminish the power of the faded away when some of the leaders Panther Party." (From the position pa­ munity. Stokes defends the rule of pri­ oppressor white nation, meaning that per in the Feb. 8 Student Mobilizer vate property just as well as, if not people are relating more to the fact (Continued on page 11) Friday, March 27, 1970 THE MILITANT Page 11 standard industry wages. The books of out demonstrating that our union repre­ The national picket line these railroad companies ought to be sents each and every member with com­ opened for public inspection. plete justice and equality." The Association of American Rail­ roads reports increases in freight traf­ Westinghouse signs pact fic right along. For example, the vol­ Baltimore paper cracked ume for the week ending March 7 was 5.1 percent above that of a year ago. The 10-week news tie-up in Baltimore Despite increases in carloadings, the ended when the three major daily news­ Unions representing workers in the Fringe benefits include hospital in­ railroads do not hire more workers. papers there agreed to a settlement with sprawling Westinghouse complex have surance and sick pay, and the contract They only look for ways to cut back the unions. brought this company to terms estab­ language was strengthened. the work force. Profits climb according­ The Web Pressmen's union Local 31 lished by the 1 02-day strike of a 13- The success of the 13-union coalition ly. voted March 13 to accept a new con­ union coalition against the General Elec­ strike against GE was reflected in the tract which provides a $48-a-week raise, tric Company which dominates the in­ Westinghouse settlement. Albert J. Fitz­ up from $178, to be paid over a three dustry. gerald, president of UE (second largest "D on 't st n"k e, b oys ..." year period. Also included in the pack­ The United Electrical workers (inde­ of the 13 unions represented in the age were improved medical and other pendent) reached agreement with West­ electrical industry), said, ''Westinghouse A series of wildcat strikes on the rail· fringe benefits. inghouse Feb. 28, in line with the gen­ workers have smashed a pattern fol­ roads last March 6 and 7, after Con­ The publishers had an insurance fund eral pattern. lowed by the company for 10 years gress passed "emergency legislation" or­ which paid them $20,000 a day for 50 Workers throughout the industry have of chiseling even on the inferior con­ days. They cracked when their insur­ now won a straight 20 cents-an-hour tracts gotten from the General Electric dering further negotiations of railroad shopcraft wages and working condi­ ance ran out. across-the-board increase. In addition, Co. with its notorious take-it-or-leave-it tions, elicited a sharply worded tele­ Several hundred printers collected they have a "capped" escalator clause substitute for collective bargaining." gram from J. W. O'Brien, general vice­ weekly strike benefits from the Inter­ which allows wages to rise with prices president, Sheet Metal Workers Inter­ national Typographical Union of about up to an eight cent yearly limit. The $110 each. Pressmen collected less. In 40-month contract also calls for 15 cent Admits first mistake national Association, which reads in part: the case of Newspaper Guild, Mailers, increases in March 1~71 and May 1972. "Our only hope at this date of getting and Teamsters members there were no When a union bureaucrat admits to union benefits. a mistake, that's news. Walter Reuther, fair treatment will be in Congress­ permitting us to present our story. Rash All nonstriking workers were refused president of the United Auto Workers, state unemployment insurance, and the told the UAW skilled-trades conference actions taken by locals tend to destroy our chances of getting justice in this Maryland & District of Columbia AFL­ ... answer to in Atlantic City on March 12 that he CIO lobby in Annapolis, Md., did noth­ was wrong to agree in the 1967 auto situation. I cannot urge too strongly you do everything possible to convince ing to help the strikers. negotiations to an eight-cent-an-hour per The workers' determination and stay­ year limit on the cost-of-living increase. our membership unauthotized strikes in no way help, but are very detrimen­ ing power broke the antiunion plans Reuther now says that auto workers of the publishers. Daily World are entitled to 21-26 cents per hour tal to the very thing we hope to accom­ in addition to any new wage raise, just plish." to make up for what was lost in the Many railroad workers reacted to (Continued from page 10) 1967 contract. O'Brien's telegram by condemning him Washington High got caught up in Peace and Freedom The UAW rank-and-fJ.le United Na­ for causing the trouble in the first place. and Democratic Party politics. This de­ tional Caucus says every union mem­ They contend that 0' Brien himself vio­ mise has to be coupled with SNCC's ber lost $1,000 over the three-year pe­ lated the Sheet Metal Workers constitu­ 1n New York hit inability to make the transition from riod because of Reuther's mistake. tion which prohibits any officer from reliance upon the spontaneous ghetto Even though Reuther says he is now giving away union jurisdiction over work performed in the past. rebellions to the level of conscious or­ willing to take full responsibility, he student strike ganization. hastily adds it was a "collective decision" by The organization that did make that and the UAW leadership failed to ac­ What union should stand for transition, the Black Panther Party, curately judge the inflation. By .JOSEPH HARRIS wound up in an electoral coalition with The auto corporations insisted on A rank-and-fJ.le Painters Caucus pa­ NEW YORK-George Washington the opportunist and reformist Peace and "capping'' the escalator clause. They per in the San Francisco Local 4 of high school students struck on March Freedom Party while pursuing rhetoric must have judged the inflationary pro­ that union hopes to restore union goals. 16 after a parent-manned complaint about urban guerrilla warfare. This cess more accurately than Reuther did. It calls for "a return to the highest prin­ table had been forced out of the school ruled out participation in the antiwar Both have the same statistical infor­ ciples of trade unionism- a true broth­ by a board of education court injunc­ movement (which was thought to be mation on the nature of capitalist econ­ erhood of painters." tion. reformist) because of the imminent, fi­ omy. This appeal is directed against an The table-to receive complaints and nal confrontation they foresaw between entrenched bureaucracy. It says, "We give out information and counseling to the masses and the government. "Never had it so good ..." cannot continue turning our backs on the students-has been the focus of an Late last year, a couple of articles the injustices done our Black, Latin and intense struggle over whether students by Huey P. Newton appeared in the The railroads say they cannot afford older brothers -any brother who gets and parents have the right to change Black Panther Community News Ser­ to pay shopcraft wages comparable to the dirty end of the stick. An injury the many injustices and malfunction­ vice on the importance of the peace those in the building trades, and they to one is the concern of all. We cannot ings in the school. movement. But the BPP was not in a refuse to pay the operating crafts the hope to organize the unorganized with- After weeks of futile meetings, dis­ position to do anything because of gov­ cussions, and broken promises by the ernment assaults on the organization. administration, student strikes finally Thus, the crisis of leadership in the forced the board to grant permission Black community - not the supposed for the table. Then, after a one-day "racism of the antiwar movement"­ teacher boycott of the school to pro­ has stymied efforts to organize the mass test the absence of "safety and order" antiwar sentiment. Recently, the Nation­ caused by the table, classes resumed al Committee of Black Churchmen has as normal on March 10 with the table sought to give expression to this rising in the lobby of the school. sentiment by sponsoring a Black refer­ On Fri., March 13, the first real calm endum on the proposition of immediate in the school for weeks was broken by withdrawal of troops from Vietnam. the hypocritical board's court injunc­ However, those most likely to initiate tion. Many students then walked out mass action against the w.ar are the of the school in protest. Black college and high school students. The injunction was asked for on The Third World student organizations, March 10, the very day that teachers which SMC has oriented toward, are returned and classes resumed. This more independent of the government means that the board and the United than those in the community. Further­ Federation of Teachers had alreadx put more, the high school and college youth together their scheme to get rid of the have participated in mass actions be­ table. fore, mass actions not only for Black On Mon., March 16, about 450 chant­ studies but also in the demonstrations ing students sat in the lobby and then and strikes that have occurred against marched through the halls. Later, dur­ the war. ing a short rally on the athletic field, It is the students who will be in the students burned an American flag and best position to mobilize the people skirmished with a TV cameraman. around the referendum and April 15. Fires were started and windows were In December, 1969, Chicano students broken throughout the school. led over 1,000 Chicanos in an East Students were forced off campus by Los Angeles demonstration against the club-swinging police. Surging onto the war. On Feb. 28, some 2,000 Chicanos main avenue, the police chased the stu­ participated in a similar demonstration. dents as more windows were broken. Almost 500 Asian-American youth dem­ Four students were arrested and beaten onstrated in Los Angeles this past Jan­ by the cops. School was suspended the uary. next day. So as the impact of the war deepens The incidents at George Washington on the Third World communities, the characterized the board's blatant dis­ sentiment for antiwar action will begin respect of the students, parents, and to surface. Notwithstanding the CP­ community. which has abstained from building the On March 20, the High School Stu­ antiwar movement-it is the SMCwhich dent Rights Coalition has called for has done more than any other antiwar a demonstration at the board's offices organization to lend support to and in support of the GW students and par­ work with the growing Third World ents and to demand rights for high antiwar movement. Student Mobilizer school students now! Page 12 THE MILITANT Friday, March 27, 1970

all Mexican-Americans have had no schooling whatsoever. We are aware of the misuse of the Stanford-Binet and other so-called I. Q. tests which, though Fight for Chicano control not geared for native unilingual speak­ ers (Spanish), are deliberately used by school administrators to funnel Chi­ canos into "mentally retarded" class­ • es ... erupts 1n schools "We are aware that our Chicanos don't L.A. drop out of our schools but are indeed pushed out by racist counselors, dis­ couraged by teachers from getting By DELLA ROSSA We tried to keep the kids calm, but they through school so that they will end LOS ANGELES- The demand for ran and the police chased them, break­ Froben Lozada up being used as cannon fodder in Chicano control of Chicano schools led ing heads. Vietnam. Finally, we are aware that students and parents to set up a Chi­ "The people along the street opened pledges support Chicano students have seen through cano-controlled school at Euclid Cen­ their doors to the kids to protect them this sham called an educational system ter in East Los Angeles March 13 after from the police. The students were fol­ The following statement was released and are, therefore, legitimately exercis­ a week of demonstrations, vicious beat­ lowed onto the lawns and the porches. by Froben Lozada, California Social­ ing their democratic right to protest ings by police and the arrest of over The people there know Fourth and Mott ist Workers Party candidate for state against these gross inequities and mak­ 250 students and adults. is part of an armed camp." attorney general and head of the Latin ing just demands in an effort to correct The demonstrations began at Roose­ Reports at Euclid Center indicated American Studies Department at Mer­ these ills. velt High School on March 6, the sec­ that as many as 1,000 students boy­ ritt College in Oakland, Calif. He de­ "Along with other candidates of the ond anniversary of the Chicano high cotted classes on March 11. At least manded the immediate release of those SWP, I support the list of demands school blow-outs. The students were 58 people were arrested. Chicanos arrested in the demonstra­ made by the students which includes the protesting miserable conditions which Community meetings with high tions at Roosevelt High School in Los demand for self-government and the were forcing from 40-60 percent of the school and college students supported Angeles, and the dropping of all charg­ right to form and organize their own students to drop out of school. About by parents and community people were es. He also added: UMAS chapter in their school. In ad­ 82 percent of the Roosevelt students held throughout the week at Euclid Cen­ ''We are aware that in this so-called dition to that, we call for the removal are Chicano and the remainder are ter. Typical of the meetings was one Golden State, at least 14.6 percent of of all cops from the schools." predominantly Oriental and Black. March 11 when 600-700 people jam­ An estimated 80 police were called to med the meeting hall and were packed the school and attacked eight people tight out to the sidewalk. in the process of arresting 31 students None of the basic demands eoming and six adults. A leaflet protesting the out of the 1968 blow-outs, when as attack said one girl's arm was broken. many as 3,000 Chicano students Jorge Rodriguez, chairman of the walked out of their schools, have been United Mexican American Students at fulfilled two years later. Roosevelt, said that the demands of the By Fri., March 13, school adminis­ students were for a special class period trators admitted that nearly 1,000 for Chicano history; more Chicano lit­ Roosevelt High students had boycotted erature; the right to distribute leaflets classes while about 150 people demon­ on campus on Chicano social, political strated in front of the school. and educational issues; abolition of Sympathy boycotts and demonstra­ I. Q. tests based on English and the tions continued at Huntington Park, Anglo culture; and a special reading Garfield and Lincoln High schools and program. Preparation for college edu­ spread to South Gate High School and cation rather than vocational training Excelsior Junior High. A round of ap­ was also demanded. plause burst out when word was re­ Over 200 people, mostly young Chi­ ceived late in the afternoon at Euclid canos, marched on two sides of Hol­ Center that students at Beverly Hills lenbeck Police Station on March 7 to High School, an Anglo upper-middle­ protest the brutal arrests. There was class school, had gone out, with over both anger at the brutality and a strong 200 students boycotting classes for an spirit of carnalismo [brotherhood]. hour. Marlin Foxworth, an English instruc­ By March 13 the indications were tor at Roosevelt, said at the demon­ that the following week would. bring stration, "What happened yesterday was continued demonstrations and school just like the last 20 years there. The boycotts and the continuance of an in­ schools are racist and try to perpet­ dependent Chicano school at Euclid uate the existing structure and keep Center, where the first session had as the Chicano down. Some teachers on many as 100 students. the staff still tell 'nigger' jokes." Roberto Elias, one of the organizers On Mon., March 9, over 400 stu­ of the school, said that they would teach dents out of a student body of around "Chicano history, from the Aztec revolu­ 3,000 at Roosevelt High demonstrated tion to the present revolution." He em­ in protest of the March 6 arrests. They phasized that what was needed was Chi­ chanted "Chicano Power" and carried cano control of Chicano schools, wheth­ EAST HARLEMPROTEST. Puerto Ricans in New Yorkdemonstrated signs reading "Chicano Control of er it was a matter of using the city's March 14 in support of Puerto Rican students persecuted for oppo­ Roosevelt." A large contingent of po­ facilities or falling back on the Chi­ sition to the draft. Protest was called by MPI (Pro-Independence lice attempted to intimidate the demon­ cano community's own facilities. Movement). stration. Students at Huntington Park High School demonstrated to protest the harassment and arrests at Roose­ velt. A fact sheet issued out of Euclid Cen­ ter said that on March 10 "600 students, U of Arizona moves against Starsky mothers and community [people] dem­ onstrated. Police were called for the third straight time. They harassed stu­ By LINDLEY GARNER Prof. Starsky is highly regarded by Starsky's reputation as an asset to the dents and chased, beat and arrested 12. his colleagues and students as a stim­ academic community. Prof. Starsky's Students demonstrated again at Hunt­ PHOENIX - The president of Ari­ ulating teacher and a competent philos­ political victimization for his commit­ ington Park, 100 students held a rally zona State University has set March opher. He is well known in the pro­ ment to socialist principles is being giv­ at Lincoln High [also predominantly 24 as the date of a dismissal hearing fession, and has the support of many en widespread coverage in the local Chicano] and there was student unrest for philosophy professor Morris J. Star­ leading academic philosophers across news media. He has made several ap­ at Garfield High." sky. The hearing was ordered by the the country. pearances on local TV interview pro­ Nena Huffsteter, a member of Arizona Board of Regents, who over­ grams. As a result of the principled MECHA, an organization of Chicano ruled an ad hoc faculty committee rec­ A broad-range legal and political de­ defense being waged on his behalf, the college students, reported that on March ommendation that no faculty dismissal fense has been initiated on Prof. news media have retreated from their 11 she and other Chicano college stu­ action be taken against Prof. Starsky Starsky's behalf. Alan Kyman, a prom­ editorial endorsement of the demands dents were marching with the Roose­ (see The Militant, Feb. 13). The action inent Phoenix attorney, plans a vig­ for his dismissal. One local newspaper velt students very peacefully. of the regents was a direct result of orous legal defense on both the pro­ even demanded an open hearing on ''We had been marching since about political pressure by several right-wing cedural and the substantive issues in­ the matter. 10 a.m. About 1 p.m., the police be­ legislators who want Starsky fired be­ volved. The political defense is being In a related development, AFT locals gan to jeer the students and gun their cause of his socialist political views conducted both by the students and have been established at both AS U and motors to get us to make a move. and his antiwar activities. Demands for the faculty-community Committee to the University of Arizona. It is clear About 1:55 we heard glass crash across Starsky's dismissal became a daily oc­ Defend Academic Freedom at Arizona that Arizona professors are not going the street and a bottle hit a police car. currence on the floor of the legislature State University. to be intimidated by the attacks on Then the police went toward the stu­ last month after he cancelled a class The student group has already col­ Prof. Starsky. They are responding in dents, not toward the bottle-thrower. to speak at an antiracism rally in lected more than 2,000 signatures for the best tradition of the working class: Tucson. a petition on Prof. Starsky's behalf. "A blow against one is a blow against ..----just out ------. For the past several years, Prof. Star­ The faculty-community committee has all." sky h11s been subjected to administra­ received 250 signed support statements Defense funds for Prof. Starsky are Life in an Auto Plant tive reprisals for his political views and from a mailing to faculty members and urgently needed. Please send contribu­ activities. Although recently invited to teaching assistants. tions to Prof. Marcus Whiffen, College By Tom Cagle 25c appear on the program of the American Support for Prof. Starsky in Arizona of Architecture, ASU, Tempe, Arizona, Philosophical Association meetings in is along broadly divergent political 85251. Send letters of protest to Pres­ Pathfinder Press, Inc. Berkeley, Prof. Starsky was denied lines, because of the civil liberties char­ ident Harry K. Newburn, Arizona State 873 Broadway, NYC 10003 travel funds to attend the meetings. acter of the defense effort and Prof. University, Tempe, Arizona. · Friday, March 27, 1970 THE MILITANT Page 13

...-.... L. .. THE RISE AND FAll OF THE CITY OF "_...'~~c~~___ Find lung disease rate • • •

THE RISE AND FALL OF THE CITY thor's intentions and text quite faith­ 1s soar1ng New York OF MAHAGONNY. Text by Bertolt fully, does introduce a few minor in­ Brecht. Music by Kurt Weill. Produced novations. Thus, for instance, a few and directed by Carmen Capalbo. With songs were cut. Barbara Harris as Jenny: Estelle Par­ More daring, though, is the fact that sons as Leocadia Begbick: and Mort a rock band takes over from the orches­ Shuman as Jimmy Mallory. tra to render the theme song through­ Exactly 40 years ago Bertolt Brecht out the entire "Dare do it!" section of and Kurt Weill's musical play The Rise the opera when Mahagonny, miracu­ and Fall of the City of Mahagonny lously spared from (well-merited) de­ first opened to a scandalized bourgeois struction by the hurricane, plunges in­ audience in Leipzig. And now it can to a bourgeois orgy of Eating, Loving, be seen in a fine new American produc­ Fighting and Drinking. tion currently previewing at ~ew York's The theatricality of these scenes is Anderson Theatre. And although the well-exploited. The Eating scene was audience is different (New York's bour­ an especially big hit with the audience. geoisie has graduated to plays like Oh! The men of Mahagonny, seated at a Calcutta! whose capacities for stimula­ banquet table with a six-foot-long plat­ tion are not primarily mental), Maha­ ter laden with a roasted calf, evoke gonny's portrayal of capitalist society a tableau of Rembrandt's Last Supper, still packs a wallop. (Who today could with fat John Hancock Schmidt in the sit through the court scene without be­ leading role. Schmidt dies while eating ing reminded of "Judge" Julius Hoff­ his third calf, and, falling, rolls onto man's handling of the Conspiracy trial the platter on which he is then carried or the trial of the Panther 21 ?) away with appropriate pomp and a Brecht depicts bourgeois society as bright red apple in his mouth. a frontier town (bordering on a desert somewhere in Alabama- a 20th Cen­ Skillful use, too, is made of camera tury no man's land) in which every­ techniques, particularly during the anti­ thing (evil and in excessive quantities) inflation demonstration of the closing By ROBERT LANGSTON lake and river waters would be sig­ is permitted. The only crime in this scene, in which parts of the ongoing Pulmonary emphysema, a lung dis­ nificantly less than in any method now paradise is to not have any money. stage action are flashed onto an over­ order, is now the fastest growing cause used. And the process is about 50 per­ It is for this that the hero, Jimmy Mal­ head screen. In an earlier scene, the of death in New York City. According cent more efficient than the most ef­ lory, a lumberjack from Alaska, is sen­ same technique is utilized to give the to the New York Tuberculosis and ficient coal-burning generating methods tenced to death. (His name has been audience a stylized but dramatic view Health Association, the mortality rate mow employed. changed from Mahoney to make it work of a cardboard replica of a modern from this disease has risen 500 percent Yet, until very recently, the utilities better in English. For the same rea­ city going up in flames. It looked so during the past 10 years. In the same have been totally uninterested in the son, Herr Jakob Schmidt becomes John much like New York that it was hard period, deaths from chronic bronchitis MHD. Even now, according to Richard Hancock Schmidt. ) to suppress a cheer. have risen 200 percent. Air pollution H. Gilluly's article, "How Much, How Mahagonny is ruled by the screw-or­ The New York production does have is a major factor in the toll of life both Soon for Antipollution?" in the Jan. 24 get-screwed morality which has been its weaknesses, though some may be take, though it is not known exactly New Republic, the industry has only both capitalism's hallmark and source overcome before the play officially how. "indicated ... that it will make some of the bourgeois moral hypocrisy Brecht opens. Occasionally, the actors seem The second greatest source of air pol­ contribution to MHD, at least for re­ is so good at ridiculing: to be trying overly hard (through voice lution- second only to automobile- are search into 'peaking' or emergency inflection especially) to convince the the fuel-burning industries, and among plants." As you make your bed so you lie in it, audience of the credibility of their lines. these, the electric-power industry is the From the social point of view, noth­ But who tucks you in when you do? And the already short play within a largest contributor. The electric utilities ing more irrational could be conceived. And if someone steps up, I'm that one, play about God in Mahagonny is cut not only produce power (though not The utility monopolies spend tens of And if someone gets stepped on, that so short that it hardly captures any of very efficiently or reliably); they also millions of dollars each year to try to one's you. the sacrilege of the intended parody of produce emphysema and bronchitis and convince the public that they are per­ the Eucharist and might have better death. forming the greatest scientific feats in If the prostitute-heroine Jenny is been left out altogether. It is not written in the skies that peo­ the history of the world to improve ser­ right- and of course she is-in explain­ Marxist formalists have criticized Ma­ ple have to die for electricity to be pro­ vice and eliminate pollution, while in ing that "When you act like the beasts hagonny for its essentially anarchist duced. Basic research needs to be done fact they are killing people and doing in the jungle you come out alive," it view of social change and its negative to determine just what waste elements almost nothing either to find out what is not without Brechtian pathos since view of human beings ("Lumberjacks returned to the environment and just needs to be known or to utilize what she says it while turning over her lover are workers and workers should be por­ what places are injurious, harmless or is already known. Jimmy to the executioner. And Jimmy trayed optimistically"). It is for this helpful. New technologies need to be But from the standpoint of these really does have to be eliminated be­ reason, despite its virulent anticapital­ developed to make maximum use ofthis monopolies, nothing could be more ra­ cause his generosity with other people's ism, that it has never been popular knowledge, and already existing, rela­ tional. Their owners get richer. That is money and his inability to pay his in the Stalinized workers states. (To tively nonpolluting, technologies need the real "scale of priorities" governing debts make him anintolerablyhuman­ my knowledge, it has not even been to be installed. All of this can be done. capitalist society. and in this play, anarchist- monkey­ performed there.) But little of it is being done. wrench iu which is supposed to be a Yet anticapitalist it is. And brilliant The nation's 212 major electric utili­ money-making proposition. theater it is too. For both, this new ties, according to Sen. Lee Metcalf (Con­ Seek Mich. law Brecht purists may not like it but production will be hard to beat. gressional Record, Jan. 28, E 431 ), this production, while following the au- - DAVID THORSTAD took in $19.4-billion in 1968. Their to sue polluters after-tax rate of profit was 15.4 per­ cent. Yet, in the same year they report­ By MICHAEL SMITH ed spending just a little over $38-mil­ DETROIT- Legislation which would lion on research and development, and make it easier for individuals to sue only a small portion of these expendi­ corporations for polluting won strong tures, of course, were related to pollu­ approval at a public hearing here spon­ tion control. sored by the state house Conservation In the same year, though, these Committee. monopolies reported spending close to The hearing, attended by over 300 $274-million - almost eight times as persons, heard representatives from the much- on advertising and other sales Sierra Club and the UAW, among and public relations programs. As Met­ others, testify in favor of the bill. calf points out, these expenditures were Paul Lodico, SWP candidate for U.S. really considerably larger; they are hid­ Senate, cautioned the audience on ac­ den in other balance-sheet items, includ­ cepting legislation as sufficient. Citing ing "research and development." (One the need for mass actions, like those "research and development" item thesen­ of the antiwar movement, he pointed ator reports was a consultant fee to a out that the mere passage of legisla­ professor of marketing who recommend­ tion has done little to curb poverty ed that his electric-utility client spend or the oppression of Blacks. more on-market research.) The proposed law seeks to put the There are promising new power-pro­ burden of proof on the polluter to show duction technologies that are both more that he has not harmed the plaintiff, efficient and less polluting than existing thus making it harder for a corpora­ ones. One, called the magnetohydro­ tion to get a suit dismissed. dynamic process (MHD), almost direct­ "The bill will make every citizen a ly converts the energy released by burn­ Ralph Nader crusading against pollu­ ing fuel into electricity without the inter­ tion," said Representative Thomas An­ mediaries of boilers, turbines, and gen­ derson, a Republican and committee erators. Because the waste from the pro­ chairman who sponsored the bill. cess contains constituents essential to Countering this, Lodico stated, "Plac­ keep the process going, the waste has ing the resources of a single individual to be processed anyway, and all air up against those of a giant corporation pollutants can be removed from it at within the confines of a courtroom has Design by Caspar Neher for first production of Mahagonny the same time. Thermal pollution of its obvious limitations." Page 14 THE MILITANT Friday, March 27, 1970 Marxism vs. individual terrorism

By HARRY RING convinced are the victims of violence. The belief that the movement for so­ A key reason for the deep opposition cial change can be advanced by indi­ to the Vietnam war is that it has be­ vidual acts of violence - bombings, come clear to millions that the mighty sabotage, arson, assassination- held U.S., not tiny Vietnam, is responsible fairly wide sway in pre-1917 Russia for the terrible violence being visited and other European countries but has upon that country. been a relatively isolated phenomenon The capitalists and their politicians in this country. Now, however, the issue have always understood this attitude has been brought into public focus by of the masses toward violence. That is recent events. why they always try to shift responsi­ It became front-page news with the bility onto the adversary. Every war devastating explosion March 6 in the every one of them has ever fought has New York home belonging to the par­ always been a "defensiv•e" one. ents of Cathy Wilkerson, an SDS ac­ Revolutionaries must do likewise­ tivist associated with the Weatherman with the important difference that they faction. Of the three bodies found in have no need for lyilng demagogy. It the rubble so far, one has been identi­ is, in fact, the opponents of capitalism fied as that of Ted Gold, a leading who are opposing violence and seeking Weatherman, and another as Diana to lead humanity to a world that is Oughton, also reportedly associated free of violence. How incredibly foolish with the Weathermen. A third body re­ for people fighting for such a goal to mains unidentified as of this writing. needlessly. permit the perpetrators of Cathy Wilkerson and another woman violence to put the onus on them. thought to be Kathy Boudin, both of Elitism whom are also associated with the Those who turn to the philosophy of Weathermen, reportedly escaped the individual terror in its various forms, building as the blast occurred. Again, thereby express a terrible sense of frus­ as of this writing there is no knowledge Columbia University Daily Spectator/ LNS tration and despair. They fall victim of their whereabouts. WAS STRIKE LEADER. Photo of Ted Gold addressing a rally to the very elitism they set out to op­ The bomb issue was further drama­ near the Columbia University campus during the 1968 struggle there. pose. And it is elitist to believe that a tized March 12 when explosions erupted well-placed charge of dynamite can in three Manhattan buildings headquar­ less War Against the Socialist-Revolu­ ed mass effort involving decisive sec­ substitute for the action of the masses. tering Mobil, IBM and General Tele­ tionaries." tors of the population. All socialist strat­ It is particularly sad to see such a phone and Electronics. Such opposition was needed, Lenin egy and tactics must be geared to and development within the radical move­ Following these events, there were declared, "Because the Socialist-Revolu­ in consonance with that mass perspec­ ment at a moment when the prospects press roundups on a reported rise in tionaries, by including terrorism in tive. All concepts that go counter to it for the revolutionary forces are brighter bombings across the country during their program ... are thereby doing must be ideologically opposed as vigor­ than they have been in a long, long the past year. These roundups lumped the most serious harm to the movement ourly as Lenin opposed the SRs. time. together a variety of acts including . . . Among the masses of the Russian The prerequisite. for successful mass After the World War II years of "na­ those fairly well established as com­ workers this advocacy simply sows anticapitalist action is the building of tional unity" and nearly two decades of mitted by Cuban exiles and other right harmful illusions, such as the idea that a political vanguard, a revolutionary cold war and McCarthyism, there is wingers. In some cases, however, as in terrorism 'compels people to think po­ Marxist party capable of developing, significant political motion in America. several attacks on draft boards, it is litically, even against their will' . . . or coordinating and directing the struggles Consider the various forces- the anti­ not unwarranted to assume that oppo­ that 'more effectively than months of of the oppressed toward the socialist war movement, the Black and Brown nents of the war and draft may have verbal propaganda it is capable of goal. The concept of individual terror liberation r.wvements, the growing been involved. changing the views of thousands of must be opposed because it goes coun­ wave of high school and college rebel­ In the bombing of the three New York people ... '" ter to both the process of assembling lion, the entrance onto the arena of buildings, United Press reported it re­ Despite different times and circum­ the revolutionary vanguard and that struggle of the women's liberation ceived a message signed "Revolutionary stances, Lenin's analysis of the terrorist of winning the mass of the people to movement. Force 9" which took credit for the ideology retains its full validity today. a socialist program. And, yes, there is also the beginning action. The need for a mass movement and Marxist opposition to individual ter­ of motion among the white workers. While it remains to be established as a mass-based revolutionary party is ror springs from revolutionary consid­ The victorious GE strike, the begin­ to just what forces were involved in dictated by the very power of American erations and, of course, has nothing in nings of labor participation in the anti­ these actions (and keeping in mind the capitalism. Nothing less than such a common with that of the capitalist pol­ war movement, are symptomatic ex­ role of police agents) the fact remains force can accomplish so mighty a task. iticians who wring their hands in hor­ pressions of the fact that the white work­ that the revolutionary movement must Yet, curiously, it is invariably those ror over the explosion of a dozen sticks ers are not immunized against the radi­ address itself to this issue. who are convinced that the job is so of dynamite while abetting the dropping calization that continues to spread An old concept big that the party will never be built, of millions of tons of TNT on an in­ across the country. The concept of individual terror as or the masses ever won, who resort to nocent Vietnamese people; who are It has been argued that regardless of a force for social change is as old as a substitute for· this process that in "shocked" by the "violence" of opponents the efficacy of their efforts, recognition the revolutionary movement itself and terms of long-range effect can only be must be given to the dedication of those in considering the issue it is well worth­ of the system but quite philosophical about the immeasurably greater vio­ characterized as futile. who engage in acts of terror on behalf while to go back to the classic Marxist Further, such activities are counter­ lence of its upholders. of the oppressed. But this is not the writings on the issue, particularly those productive in that they invariably in­ Nor does the Marxist opposition to issue. Dedication is required of revolu­ of Lenin and Trotsky. vite needless added victimization for individual terror have anything in com­ tionaries. The problem is how best to In the process of building the Bol­ the movement, with the authorities using mon with that of such reformists as the utilize it. In our view, Marxism has shevik Party that led the victorious Rus­ such actions as the justification for in­ Socialist and Communist parties who correctly generalized from a whole sian revolution, they had to wage a tensifying their attacks. (How quickly preach the treacherous notion of a body of political history that the best merciless ideological battle against the the Lindsay administration tried to use contribution that revolutionaries can proponents of terror, first the Narod­ "peaceful" or "parliamentary" road to socialism. Our opposition flows from the New York bombings to compound make to the struggle for human emanci­ niks, then the Socialist Revolutionaries their frame-up of the Panthers, with pation is to help build the kind of party (SRs). entirely different considerations and principles. attacks on the Young Lords and anti­ that is capable of leading that struggle A currently accessible source of Trot­ war movement thrown in for good to victory. sky's views on the question is found Violence and capitalism Violence is a central reality of cap­ measure.) in The Case of Leon Trotsky, the tran­ Acts of individual violence are even italist society and revolutionaries can­ script of his testimony before the Dewey more costly in that they also needless­ not afford to shrink from that reality. commission of inquiry into the charges ly offer the capitalist rulers and their A serious socialist perspective demands made against Trotsky during the Mos­ propagandists the opportunity to pro­ recognition that the ruling class daily CALENDAR cow frame-up trials (Pathfinder Press, mote the big lie that it is the opponents uses violence against those who resist $7.95). of the system who are responsible for their oppression and that it is utterly Many of Lenin's slashing political violence, not the system. ATLANTA attacks on the concept of individual utopian to expect that this ruling class, unlike any previous one, will peacefully The masses and violence YOUNG SOCIALIST CANDIDATES SPEAK: PROGRAM terror are to be found in his collected FOR THE RED UNIVERSITY. Speakers: Yaung Socialist works, principally in his polemics yield its power on majority demand. The importance of this point cannot be overemphasized. One of the great candidates for the Georgia State Student Government against the SRs. Workers, oppressed minorities, all vic­ tims of capitalist violence, have the full promises for the future is precisely the Executive Offices: Ginny Osteen, Teresa Blount, Sam He entitled one such polemic, written Manuel and Philip Lambert. Fri., March 27, 8 p.m. right- and duty- to defend themselves fact that the mass of the people want in 1920, "Why the Social Democrats 1176· 1\2 W. Peachtree (At 14th). Ausp: Militant Book· against capitalist violence. And, as they to live in peace. They try to avoid con­ Must Declare a Determined and Relent- store. reach the stage of the abolition of cap­ flict and they abhor violence. They will italism, they have the right and obli­ be won to socialism when they become NEW• YORK gation to anticipate and prepare for convinced that capitalism is responsible THE HIGH SCHOOL RIGHTS STRUGGLE. A symposium Bound volume 1969 self-defense against the capitalist for the varieties of violence visited upon of activists from the High School Rights Coalition, violence that will be unleashed in an people today and that a socialist reor­ George Washington High School and the Young So· attempt to thwart the majority will. ganization of society offers the great cialist Alliance. Fri., March 27, 8:30 p.m. 873 Broad­ THE MILITANT But there is a fundamental difference promise of cleansing society of violence. way (nr. 18th St.). Coni: $1; h.s. students 50c. Dinner: $10 between such socially organized self­ The abhorrence of violence by the 6:30p.m. $1.25. defense and individual acts of violence. great bulk of the population is not to • Send check or money order to For Marxists, the keystone of their rev­ be viewed as some kind of philosophy SAN FRANCISCO 1OOTH CENTENNARY- ROSA LUXEMBURG. Speaker: The Militant, 873 Broadway, olutionary perspective is that this vio­ of nonviolence. People will almost in­ Sylvia Weinstein. Fri., March 27, 8p.m. 2338 Market. New York, N.Y. 10003 lence-ridden capitalist society will be stinctively support and, in the right cir­ eliminated only by a powerful, concert- cumstances, join with those they are Donation: $1. Ausp.: Militant Labor Forum. Friday, March 27, 1970 THE MILITANT Page 15

The Great Society IN PASSING. • • Gaping credibility dep't-"SAIGON, a woman? All he needs is $99.50 for South Vietnam, March 14 ( UPI)- The a no-touch Friskem Electronic Nitestick. United States command indicated today "Just pass the end of it near suspected Portnoy's Complaint has, of course, that plane losses over Laos had been areas in a person," a Police Chief ad been widely praised and damned. No included in figures of accidental air­ assures. "Any iron or steel object will one thinks that Philip Roth's story of craft losses in Vietnam." cause a meter located near the handle the anguish of a boy growing up with to jump." overbearing Jewish parents isn't enor­ $100 misunderstanding-A George mously funny, but the larger than life Washington University student paid Pig-poor image?- The Wisconsin satiric portrait of Alexander Portnoy's $100 at a campus fund-raising auction Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Associa­ parents has been found to be anti­ for the privilege of lunch and an inter­ tion objected to a Chrysler TV commer­ Semitic by some (including the always view with Martha Mitchell, wife of the cial which portrays a sheriff as not illuminating Marxist literary critic, An­ attorney general. Since then he has been giving a girl a speeding ticket after nette Rubinstein, in a review in Jewish interviewed by the Justice Department she points out the features of her car Currents). and faces a possible FBI quiz. Mrs. and the fact that her uncle's a judge. I strongly disagree with this evalua­ Mitchell didn't realize the student was The ad, the sensitive sheriffs protested, tion of Portnoy's Complaint. Three considering selling the interview. She "portrays the sheriff as being more ani­ things may be said in Roth's defense: thought he paid the $100 just to talk mal than human, and thus squares with ( 1 ) The narrative is a first person to her. the intended goals of the violent mem­ confession by Alexander Portnoy on bers of our society." a psychiatrist's couch and is therefore With the foamy head- The monthly neurotically one-sided. magazine Police Chief does a brisk ad­ Security item- Roughly $70-million (2) Alexander Portnoy is portrayed vertising business for a broad range of as a very sympathetic character and tools of the trade, ranging from riot a year, the Wall Street Journal esti­ mates, is about what it costs to keep his cultural Jewishness is likewise sym­ guns to "throw away" nylon handcuffs. pathetically explored. A current Smith & Wesson special, the the president "staffed, housed, protected, transported, rested and in touch wher­ (3) Philip Roth's mother, when asked Wall Street Journal reports, is the Mighty how she felt about her son's book, re­ Midget, a kit including 12 tear-gas gre­ ever he is. It includes everything: staff salaries, postage, heat, laundry, state plied, "All mothers are Jewish mothers." nades and a grenade revolver. Slogan Taking this last remark with some for the kit is, "Two six-packs to go!" dinners for 200, flower arrangements, the Secret Service, Air Force One and seriousness, it may be pointed out that the shark net off of Mr. Nixon's bay­ Roth's book illustrates an interesting Image-builder-After finishing off his analytical problem. Namely, that Alex­ double six-pack, a solicitous cop can side house at Key Biscayne, Fla." For such a president, that sounds very rea­ ander Portnoy feels himself to be op­ citizen-have been reported in every reach for his "TGA," a tear gas anti­ pressed by women (especially and orig­ large northern city, the average white dote in a spray can. TGA, a Police sonable. Our only question is whether that net is to keep them in or out. inally his mother). man or women still thinks of physical Chief ad promises, will flush tears and This phenomenon is general. Male danger from the police as a remote gas from victims' eyes. "TGA does more supremacist society places men in the exceptional phenomenon. But as report­ than relieve human suffering," the ad Understatement of week -"Laos position of oppressing women, yet at ed in Political Science Quarterly for explains. "It provides your department Deaths Hurt Nixon's Credibility"­ the same time it gives men the strong June 1968: with an important public relations plus." Lead headline in Columbus, Ohio belief that women are somehow op­ '"Of the southcentral Los Angeles resi­ Citizen-Journal. pressing them. dents [a Black neighborhood] inter­ Quick charge- Does a cop have to I think this is probably rooted some­ viewed by the U. C. L. A Institute of get excited when he's required to search -HARRY RING where in the structure of the family Government and Public Affairs, 4 7 per­ system, but that it is an important and cent had seen police brutality, 43 per­ real thing cannot be doubted. It is one cent knew someone so mistreated, and reason why so many otherwise rev­ 9 percent had themselves been victims. olutionary-minded men pooh-pooh or According to data gathered by the Amer­ Meet Socialists in Your Area fear the women'sliberationmovement­ ican Civil Liberties Union, the situation they think it is either irrelevant or will is just as bad, if not worse, in Boston, intensify men's problems with women. Chicago and New Orleans."' ARIZONA: Phoenix: YSA, c/o David Murphy, P. 0. MISSOURI: Kansas City: YSA, c/o Paul Schmidtlein, The pamphlet also gives at some This is, of course, mistaken, but it Box 750, Tempe, Arizona B5281. 4409 Virginia, K.C., Mo. 64110. Tel: (816) 561-0872. length what is, in my opinion, a po­ is a problem that deserves to be ex­ CALIFORNIA: Berkeley: SWP and YSA, 2519-A Tele­ St. Louis: YSA, c/o lorry Swingle, 5817 Waterman, litical misassessment of the work of plored. graph Avenue, Berkeley, Calif. 94704. Tel: (415) 848- St. louis, Mo: 63112. the Panthers and the reasons that the Portnoy's Complaint is one work 9334. NEW JERSEY: Newark: YSA, P. 0. Box 627, Newark, government has instituted its repression which does explore this question and Hayward: YSA, Gerald Clark, c/o Student Union N.J. 07101. Tel: (201) 678-6005. against them. it deserves to be read on this level, also. Building, California State College at Hayward, 25800 NEW YORK: Albany: YSA, c/o Bill O'Kain, 313 State More importantly, the pamphlet is in­ (Portnoy's Complaint, Bantam Hillary St., Hayward, Calif. 94544. Tel. (415) 537-3656 St., Albany, N.Y. 12210. tended to raise money for the defense or (415) 537-3657. Books, $1.50 paperback.) Annandal•or>-Hudson: Red Hook (Bard Cal lege) YSA, of the New York 21. Los Angeles: SWP and YSA, 1702 E. 4th St., los c/a Lorenza Black, P. 0. Box 497 Bard College, Annan­ (Write to Charter Group for a Pledge Angeles, Calif. 90033. Tel: (213) 269-4953. dole-on-Hudson, N.Y. 12504. * * * San Francisco: SWP, YSA, Militant labor Forum, and Binghamton: YSA, c/o Peter Gellert, Box 1389, Her­ of Conscience, P. 0. Box 346, Cathedral Station, N.Y., N.Y. 10025. Individual Pioneer Books, 2338 Market St., San Francisco, Calif. pur College, Binghamton, N.Y. 13901. The Black Panther Party and the 94114. Tel: (415) 626-9958. New York City: SWP and YSA and bookstore, 873 Case of the New York 21 outlines the copies cost $1. The bundle order rate San Diego: Alan Stancliff, 4143 Georgia, San Diego, Broadway, N.Y., N.Y. 10003. Tel: (212) 982-6051. case of the 21 and the history and pol­ is 25c each- the cost of production.) -MALACHI CONSTANT Calif. 92103. NORTH CAROLINA: Chapel Hill-Durham: YSA, c/o itics of the BPP generally. Turlock: Valley YSA, Michael Klein, c/o Associated Brian Buxton, Rt. 2, Box 125, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27514. The pamphlet, prepared by Annette Students, Stanislaus State College, 800 Monte Vista OHIO: Athens: YSA, P. 0. Box 899, Athens, Ohio T. Rubinstein, Robert Rhodes, Lili Solo­ ...----A New Merit Pamphlet -----. Ave., Turlock, Calif. 95380. 45701. mon and Janet Townsend, points out COLORADO: Boulder: YSA, c/o lyle Fulks, 2233 Cleveland: SWP and YSA, 2921 Prospect Ave., that the repression of the Panthers is Pine, Boulder, Col. 80302. Cleveland, Ohio 44115. Tel: 861-3862. set within the racist context of the "nor­ Leon Trotslcy FLORIDA: Gainesville: YSA, Box 13157, University Columbus: YSA, P.O. Box 3006, Columbus, Ohio mal" every day repression of the people Sta., Gainesville, Fla. 32601. 43210. Tel: (614) 294-2047. of the Black ghettoes: Tallahassee: YSA, c/o Jack Lieberman, 509 W. Jeffer­ Kent: YSA, P.O. Box 116, Kent, Ohio 44240. Marxism in Our Time son, Tallahassee, Fla. 32301. Oxford: YSA, c/o Pat Ducey, P. 0. Box 321, Oxford, "Despite the increasing frequency with GEORGIA: A~anta: Militant Bookstore, 1176 1/2 Ohio45066. which, for the past few years, instances of police homicide- shots fired at flee­ West Peachtree St., SWP and YSA, P. 0. Box 7817, Yellow Springs: YSA, c/o Duncan Williams, Antioch 48pp 6Sc Atlanta, Ga., 30309. Tel: (404) 876-2230. Union, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387 ing ghetto youngsters, the shooting of ILLINOIS: Carbondale: YSA, c/o Bill Mollett, P. 0. Box OREGON: Por~and: YSA, c/o Tonie Porter, 6770 S. Black men by drunken police in bars, 166, Carbondale, Ill. 62901. Tel: (618) 549-6214. W. Taylors Ferry Rd., Portland, Ore. 97223. Tel: (503) deliberate murder in the course of a Pathfinder Press, Inc. Champaigr>-Urbana: YSA, P. 0. Bax 2099, Sta. A, 246-9245. private traffic altercation between an 873 Broadway, NYC 10003 Champaign, Ill. 61820. Tel: (217) 359-1333. PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: SWP and YSA, 686 off-duty policeman and a Black civilian Chicago: SWP, YSA and bookstore, 180 N. Wacker N. Broad St., Philadelphia, Penna. 19130. Tel: (215) Dr., Rm. 310, Chicago, Ill. 60606. Tel: (312) 641-0147. CE 6-6998. DeKolb: YSA, Student Activities Center, Northern RHODE ISLAND: Providence: YSA, c/o Jell Powers, Illinois Univ., DeKalb, Ill. 60115. 15 Creighton St., Providence, R.I. 02902. INDIANA: Bloomington: YSA, c/o Marilyn Vogt, Uni­ versity Apt. 3-E, Bloomington, Ind. 47401. TEXAS: Austin: SWP and YSA, P. 0. Box 5586, West KANSAS: Lawrence: YSA, c/o Fred Murphy, 1510 Austin Station, Austin, Texas 78703. Kentucky, Apt. G. lawrence, Kansas 66044. Houston: YSA, Campus Activities, University Center, KENTUCKY: Lexington: YSA, P. 0. Box 952, University University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77004. Sto., lexington, Ky. 40506. UTAH: Logan: YSA, c/o Sterne McMullen, 763 E. 9th MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: SWP and YSA, c/o Militant North, logan, Utah 84321. labor Forum, 295 Huntington Ave., Rm 307, Boston, WASHINGTON, D.C.: YSA, 1319 F. St. NW., Rm. Moss. 02115. Tel: (617) 536-6981 (HQ), 547-8557. 1010, Wash., D.C. Tel: (202) 638-0610 or 965- 1943. 3 months for $1.. 00 Worcester: YSA, Box 406, Clark U., Worcester, Moss. WASHINGTON: Cheney: E. Wash. State YSA, Sub $4 for 1 yr. regular subscription/For Gls: $1 for 6 mo. 01610. Box 1040, EWSC, Cheney, Wash. 99004. Tel: 235- MICHIGAN: Ann Arbor: YSA, P. 0. Box 408, Ann 6749. ------l'rarne ______Arbor, Mich. 48108. Seaffle: Militant Bookstore, 5257 University Way Detroit: SWP and YSA, Eugene V. Debs Hall, 3737 N. E., SeaHie, Wash. 98105. Hrs. II a.m.-8 p.m., Mon.­ Address ______Woodward Ave., Detroit, Mich. 48201. Tel: (313) TE 1- Sat. Tel: (206) 523-2555. 6135. Tacoma: YSA, c/o John Neubert, P. 0. Box 309, Ta­ City------Ypsilanti: YSA, Box 156 Charles McKenny Union, coma, Wash. 98401. Tel: l04-3765. State ______Zip ______Ypsilanti, Mich. 48197. Tel: (313) 482-7348. WISCONSIN: Madison: YSA, 202 W. Gilman, Madi­ MINNESOTA: Minneapolis-St. Paul: SWP, YSA and son, Wise. 53703. Tel: (608) 256- 0857. Make checks payable to The Militant, 873 Broadway, New York, lobar Bookstore, 1 University N. E. (at E. Hennepin) Milwaukee: YSA, c/o Seater, 1620 Park St., Apt. 4, 2nd fl., Mpls. 55413. Tel: (612) 332-7781. Milwaukee, Wis. N.Y. 10003 Page 16 TH£ MILITANT Friday, March 27, 1970 Why the administration 'promises' not to send more Gls into Laos By DICK ROBERTS MARCH 19-In the past three days, Secretary of State William P. Rogers has asserted and then qualified his as­ sertion that Washington will not use combat troops in Laos even "if it is overrun" by Communist forces. The statement undoubtedly falls in the category of a number of lies that have emanated from the Nixon admin­ istration in respect to its war plans for Laos. Nevertheless, it is extremely sig­ nificant. Rogers implicitly revealed that the administration is totally conscious of the profound opposition of American people to the Vietnam war despite all its allegations to the contrary. Just imagine Nixon one year ago telling his "Great Silent Majority" that he would not use U.S. forces to "pro­ tect a country from being overrun by Commies." In effect, that is exactly what Rogers said. As revolutionary forces have steadily gained ground in the Laotian civil war despite Nixon's escalation of U.S. bombing, the overwhelming response of Americans has been: "Don't get in­ volved in another war. Don't take steps that will prolong the Vietnam war. Above all, don't send our boys into Laos." The Gallup poll, which leaves much to be desired in the way of scientific antiwar movement succeeds in rally­ ing capitalist partieS. They want to keep sampling techniques, nevertheless reg­ stration on a platform side-by-sidethose ing only a fraction of those who op­ U.S. troops in Vietnam and they want istered further deepening of antiwar sen­ who have been in the forefront of every pose Nixon's policies, it can stage the to defeat the revolution in Vietnam and timent since last December. Gallup re­ anticapitalist battle: fighters for Black, largest demonstrations so far against neighboring Laos. And this means that ported March 14 that those people he Chicano and other Third World lib­ the war, April 15. whatever ''liberal" rhetoric they use, they interviewed who favored immediate eration struggles, the leaders of the The Democratic Party has begun to cannot co-opt the antiwar program of withdrawal of all U.S. troops had in­ women's liberation struggles, high make moves towards exploiting the immediate withdrawal. creased from 18 percent to 21 percent school students demanding their rights, antiwar sentiment of these masses of Massive demonstrations, organized as since mid-December. Those favoring revolutionary socialists battling to end American people, to regain grm:nd lost they have been since the beginning of the capitalist system once and for all­ withdrawal within 18 months increased in the 1968 elections. They have at­ the antiwar movement, by nonexclu­ these forces united in the struggle to from 22 percent to 25 percent. tacked Nixon's "Vietnamization" poli­ sionary antiwar committees, outside and win self-determination for the Viet­ According to Gallup, then, 46 per­ cies. independent of the Democratic and Re­ cent of Americans oppose Nixon's pol­ namese people and to get U.S. troops This does not mean that the Demo­ publican parties, do not help the am­ icies and want faster withdrawal. The out of Vietnam. A McCarthy is not on crats favor immediate withdrawal from bitions of the capitalist politicians. They same poll showed only 38 percent sup- that platform because he supports this Vietnam. The.y do not favor immediate hinder these ambitions. revolutionary movement. withdrawal and they have said so over It is precisely this mass independent He is there because he is desperately and over again. What they favor is antiwar movement, which includes trying to ward it off. That is his contra­ N.Y. Senate winning votes. And this poses prob­ within its ranks the full range of views diction, not ours, and the job of the lems, as well as offering new potential, of those who oppose the war, that the antiwar movement is to turn that con­ to the antiwar movement. capitalist politicians hope to choke off. tradiction against the war makers. adopts reform The problem is that a wing of the The forces of the left should certainly And that can be done by continuing Democratic Party mounts tremendous not help them in this regard. to build the antiwar movement the way pressure on the antiwar movement to On the contrary they should follow it has been built in the past: massive, of abortion law deflect it into the channels of electoral an old rule of thumb: that is, giving nonexclusive, independent, on the NEW YORK, March 18- politics and into supporting Democratic their class enemies the political rope streets, for immediate withdrawal. That Under pressure of the growing Party "peace" candidates. That is a prob­ to hang themselves. movement cannot be side-tracked by the abortion law repeal movement, lem the antiwar movement must meet A Senator McCarthy, who opposes ruling class and its agents. It can, with the New York state senate ap­ head-on. immediate withdrawal from Vietnam, sufficient forces, ultimately turn the tide The whole lesson of 1968, and it who wants continued capitalist property of public opinion decisively against proved the most liberal abor­ relations in Vietnam, who has voted for tion law in the country today, should be reviewed and studied by anti­ Washington and for the immediate, un­ war forces, is that "peace" campaigns war appropriations bills over and over conditional withdrawal of all U.S. legalizing all abortions per­ again, speaks at a mass antiwar demon- troops from Vietnam. formed by licensed doctors. The succeeded in temporarily derailing many bill must now go to the House, of the forces of the antiwar movement. where approval is anticipated. It succeeded to a certain extent in do­ ing just what Senator McCarthy said This significant victory for he wanted to do-"take the antiwar the anti-abortion law forces will movement off the streets." not alter plans for the March But from this it does not at all fol­ 28 demonstration in New York IEL~~:}!!!.$!0~~~ p:~:~!. :.~~J low, as some sections of the left have people attended an antiwar GI rally retary of the Army. This federal court called by People to Abolish argued, that the antiwar movement in McKelligon Canyon park. Well over action will seek a declaratory judg- Abortion Laws. Demonstrators should narrow itself, exclude "liberals," half of those who attended in the course ment from the court that Gls have the will demand prompt approval and shun mass demonstrations whose of the day were Gls from nearby Ft. right to distribute their literature on of the bill and press for the list of speakers includes one or another Bliss. One indication of the spirit the post. Attorneys for the suit include Mi- immediate establishment of capitalist politician. rally generated was the appearance of chael Mendelson of El Paso and Leon- state-financed free abortion This amounts to seizing on a secon­ a PX ice cream truck which catered the ard Boudin of New York in association clinics. dary issue in a sectarian way. If such affair. with the GI Civil Lil>E!rties Defense Com- a narrowing tactic was actually carried The rally was organized by Gls for mittee. The suit will also ask that the out by the antiwar movement, instead Peace at Ft. Bliss. Speakers included court enjoin the Army from utilizing port for his "Vietnamization" policies of confronting the capitalist political Ron Withem, chairman of the Ft. Bliss unconstitutional post or Army regula- as long as they seem to mean de-es­ challenge and defeating it, the antiwar Gis for Peace, ex-Gl Allen Myers, ed- tions which deny distribution rights. calation of the war. movement would be retreating and sur­ itor of the GI Press Service, .John Wor­ Within the category of those favoring rendering them the field. cester, a Gl and the MC for the pro­ Gis for Peace has been publishing immediate withdrawal, Gallup found The correct tactics for the antiwar gram, and Phil Langford of the Uni­ Gigline on a monthly basis, and grade school students and women to be movement flow from fully recognizing versity of Texas at El Paso Student Ac­ has requested and been denied on-post the most adamant: 25 percent of grade what the Democratic Party maneuvers tion Committee and Young Socialist distribution rights by Ft. Bliss author­ school students and 26 percent of wom­ really mean. They mean that there is Alliance. ities. en favored getting out now. High school massive and deepening antiwar senti­ Music was provided by Stanley and A similar Ft. Bragg injunction suit, students scored 21 percent for imme­ ment in this country that is directed to­ the Steamers and McKatush. filed by GICLDC attorneys on behalf diate withdrawal. wards getting U.S. troops out of Viet­ The occasion for the rally was to of 18 soldiers at that North Carolina You don't need a sliderule to see nam. build support for the suit that Gis for base, is on appeal from an unfavor­ the implications of these figures. If the That prospect is opposed by the rul- Peace is filing against the Command- able decision at the district court level.