:ttlllllllllltllllllllllllltlllltlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!l!llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllltiiiiiiUIIIIII/IIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll:ltlllllllllllll THE World Antiwor Actions MILITANT Calletllor April 2 7 Published in the Interest of the Working People
Vol. 32 - No. 8 Monday, February 19, 1968 Price 10¢ - See Editorial, Page 3 -
,~ 111111111111111111111111111!1111111111111111!!1 HHill 111111111 !UilU 1111111 tllllllllll IIIII !IIU!UIIIUIIIIIIIU Ill 1111111 II II !J 1111111 I I I I I!Ill IIIII II II 1111111111 lllllllll ttlllll !J 11111111111111111111111111111 II 111111111111111111 11111UUUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIW IIIUIIUU!Hilllllllll tlllllllllll r' II War Crisis Deepens; More Gls Sent Over By Dick Roberts FEB. 13 - Late this afternoon, Lyndon Johnson responded to the critical setback of Washington's military and political situation in South Vietnam by ordering 10,500 more Gis to the battlefield. These forces will probably be drawn from troops already trained but not previously scheduled for duty in Vietnam. This will bring the total U.S. troop strength to 510,500. In the first two weeks of bloody fighting against the National Lib eration Front offensive in the main cities and towns of South Viet nam, 1,113 American soldiers were reported killed, 5,540 wounded. The total American casualties in the war as of Feb. 3, the fourth day of the NLF attack, were Photo by Hermes ¥SA CONVENTION. Lew Jones, national chairman of Young 17,296 killed, 108,428 wounded and 997 missing. Socialist Alliance, addresses seventh national convention of youth gt·oup. See page 8. At the beginning of the third week of the revolutionary offen· sive, the guerrillas continue to hold sections of both Hue and Saigon. Where the rebel forces have withdrawn, whole sections of cities have been bombed to rubble by the U.S. and its Saigon pup Cops Murder pets. In three years, the U.S. devasta tion of the countryside has driven about two million peasants into refugee hovels in the cities. That number has been increased by a quarter in the last 12 days. Over 1 C Students 500,000 Vietnamese have fled from ByLes Evans the city bombing, according to latest estimates. And these figures A mass rally of black people SNCC and the Aframerican are based on "sketchy informa in Orangeburg, S.C., Feb. 11 de- News Service have issued reports tion." manded the immediate withdrawal based on the eyewitness accounts of the National Guard occupation of the students at South Carolina A typical report came from New York Times of that city in the aftermath of State College, where the shootings correspondent Ber the brutal killing of three black took place, and nearby Claflin nard Weinraub in the Mekong Del students and the wounding of 50 College, both black schools. These ta provincial capital Bentre, Feb. others by racist cops, guardsmen accounts have been ignored by 7. "We're still not too sure of the and state troopers Feb. 8. the daily press, which has pre- casualties," a U.S. military officer The rally uf more than 800 from ferred to get its information from told Weinraub. "We figure 1,000 the Orangeburg black community white racist cops and state offi dead and 1,500 wounded. We're declared a boycott of all white cials. still digging them out." Saigon scene An AP dispatch from Bentre businesses in the city until their The actions leading up to the the same day quoted a U.S. major: demands are met. Orangeburg police and national guard attack guerrillas two weeks ago would air, it becomes even tnore apparent "It became necessary to destroy County is 62.9 percent black. began with demonstrations Feb. still be held by revolutionary than from the ground that these the town to save it." That is the forces. They would not be devas are incredibly jammed at·eas. Orangeburg at this writing is 5 by students from S.C. State Col Orwellian logic of Washington's tated by bombs. Without the sup still under semi-martial law, oc- lege to desegregate Orangeburg's "The rooms overlap like play invasion of Vietnam carried to a port of U.S. troops, the South Viet ing cards in a fanned deck. It is cupied by more than 600 national only bowling alley, the All-Star new and deadlier stage. guardsmen and 120 highway pa- Bowling Alley, which has refused namese forces would have col sometimes impossible even to de· The character of this stage has lapsed in Hue and Saigon. trolmen, in addition to local cops. to admit black students. teet the twisting alleys, because been made crystal clear in the last Charles Mohr, New York Times they are so closely hemmed and Eleven black youth are still in On the second day of the dem· two weeks: Even in the cities, only jail and Student Nonviolent Co- onstrations 20 students were ar bureau chief in Saigon, underlined constricted by shanties ... 'I have U.S. forces can be counted on to the situation in his front-page dis always thought of this whole area ordinating Committee Field Sec- rested. More than 600 students make South Vietnam safe for the retary Cleveland Sellers is being from the college went down to patch, Feb. 10: as a Vietcong combat hamlet,' said landlord regime. one military policeman." held for $50,000 bail. the shopping center where the Without the U.S. air attack, most "The arrival of [U.S.] combat bowling alley is located, demand· of the 36 <;ities occupied by the troops [in Saigon] - there were Confronted with this situation rrJwurrurruuuHrrrrurrurrrrrrrrurrrmumrrnrHrrrl'llfl11!,:1trH111111· 'lrrrurt ing that those arrested be re· already many American support in other cities, the Pentagon's an· troops and security and military swer has been ''bomb them." "AI· fThe delegates to the YSA con leased. The crowd was attacked 'lllllllllll\llilllllllllllllllll!lllllll!lllllllll1111tllltttltttlllltt!llttllflllllllllllll!il vention unanimously voted to by cops who clubbed students to policemen in the city - was graph though firepower has certainly break up the demonstration. Twen "The Front does not burn ic evidence of American dissatis been used in Saigon and its sub· send the following telegram to cities, rather it is content to Cleveland Sellers, SNCC worker ty students we.-e treated at the faction, previously expressed by urbs," Mohr continued, "it has not push back the attacks on its now in jail in Orangeburg, S.C.] college infirmary afterward for informed sources, at the slow pace been used as strongly as it was The seventh national convention injuries. sectors. We are committing no taken by South Vietnamese forces in some provincial towns, which of the Young Socialist Alliance The Aframerican News Service criminal acts. driving guerrilla forces out of were half flattened. Any Govern· condemns the racist killing of reports that on the evening of "Now look at the destruction town." ment is naturally reluctant to de· three black students and the Feb. 7, "whites began driving by the adversary in the cities. Stripped of doubletalk, Mohr's stroy its own national capital." wounding of many others by South through campus shooting at stu The Americans have bombed us message is South Vietnamese sol Christia:n Science M cmitor cor· Carolina national guardsmen. This dents and campus policemen. with antipersonnel bombs, with diers won't do the dirty work of respondent Beverly Deepe de brutal repression underlines the Three black students were shot napalm, with rockets. All this mauling the cities. Mohr described scribed guerrilla tactics in Saigon. necessity of black people to vigor in the legs." Students began to sections of Saigon held by guer Feb. 9: "Large sections of Cholon destruction is the work of the ously exercise their constitutional defend themselves by hurling rillas, Feb. 10: are barricaded off by the Viet Americans. The people are con right to bear arms and to use any bricks and bottles at the white "The great majority of Saigon's namese Government with puffballs and all means necessary in the marauders. Governor Robert Mc vinced of this."- Statement by residents live in tortuously twist of concertina wire and stop signs. pursuance of basic elementary Nair called out the National National Liberation Front lead ed alleys, many of which end in "But now the Communists have human rights. Guard, who moved into the cam- ers in Saigon, Feb. 8. cui-de-sacs and most of which started to barricade smaller alleys
W!lll!!lllllllllllllllllllltltllllllllllllliiiiiii!IIIHIIIII•ttlltllill~'illtlllilllllllllllt (Continued on Page 3) 1111111111111Jtllllttllllltlllllllllllllll[lllllllltllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll have no formal names. From the (Continued on Page 3) Page Two THE MILITANT Monday, February 19, 1968 NATIONAL PICKETLINE Anibol Escalante Cose: , N.Y. Sanitati,onmen's Strike bulance drivers to cart away gar More Detoils from Cuba NEW YORK, Feb. 13 - After a nine-day strike, the city's sanita bage around the hospitals, but Vic By Harry Ring tion workers are back on the job, tor Gotbaum, executive director HAVANA, Cuba, Feb. 12 - The longer a situation in which a under a proposed plan by Gov. of District Council 37, American victories of the South Vietnamese whole group of functionaries, Rockefeller to have the state tem Federation of State, County and guerrillas are the center of the members of socialist organizations porarily take over the operation Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, political news here now, but pre and parties, are working against of the sanitation department. The which bargains for the drivers, viously the main focus was on the the interests of the Cuban Revolu agreement followed a threat by said, "We don't want our people case of Anibal Escalante and 34 tion here and in their own coun New York City's AFL-CIO Cen being scabs." He threatened a others. After a five-day closed tries." strike if Lindsay attempted to en tral Labor Council, representing trial at La Cabana, a military Fidel Castro made a 12-hour more than one million workers, to force the order, and suggested that fortress here, they were found Lindsay collect the garbage him speech on the question of the stage a general strike if the na guilty Feb. 1 of crimes against Escalante group at the Central tional guard was called into the self. the Revolution. On Feb. 7, Lindsay gave the Committee meeting, but this has city as strikebreakers. Escalante was given 15 years not yet been published. Rockefeller is asking the state union an ultimatum. He mapped in prison. The others received out three courses that the union The published material-Raul's legislature to allow a temporary sentences ranging from two to 12 report, Rodriguez' speech and the state take-over of the sanitation could follow: 1) continue negotia years. Two of those indicted re tions and arrive at a settlement by presentation of the prosecutor - department on Thursday, Feb. 15. main to be tried. was followed with intense interest Until a contract is negotiated be the morning of Feb. 8; 2) submit Escalante, a long-time leader of the dispute to fact-finding; or 3) here. During the time the material tween the city and the union, the the old Popular Socialist (Com was being presented in the daily men would be paid at the rate of have a membership vote of the munist) Party, was charged with union to vote on proposals to be press, people could be seen read a $425 per year increase. Mayor organizing a "microfaction" for ing and discussing it on buses, in Lindsay had previously rejected submitted by a mediator. He made the purpose of opposing the polit it clear that whichever of these restaurants, everywhere. this wage increase, and it is not ical line of the Revolution and From what I have been able clear at this point whether the recommendations the union fol with seeking to impair Cuba's lowed he expected the men to be to gather, the general public re governor's recommendation will relations with the USSR and other action seems to be that Escalante pass the legislature. LINDSAY. Mayor in drive back 'at their jobs by morning, countries of the anticapitalist bloc. Feb. 8. If they were not, he said, was deserving of punishment and Lindsay has attacked Rockefel against union. In 1962 Escalante had been he would ask Gov. Rockefeller for that action against him was over ler's plan as a threat to "home ousted as organization secretary due. There seems to be a feeling assistance, and implied that he of the Integrated Revolutionary rule " and charged that the gov union was held outside city hall would ask for the National Guard that the problems relating to the ern~r was "rewarding" the sanita on Feb. 2. Seven thousand work Organization, predecessor to the Escalante group have been re to break the strike. The union im present united Communist Party tion workers for what the Taylor ers heard a mediator's proposal mediately rejected this ultimatum. sponsible for some of the diffi Law brands an "illegal strike." that their wages be raised $300 a of Cuba. He was publicly de culties here and that the present Lindsay, at the same time, or nounced at that time by Fidel That antilabor law, which was year retroactive to last July 1, dered 3,000 city employes, mem action will help clear the atmo sponsored by Rockefeller as w.ell with an additional $100 raise re Castro for sectarian and bureau sphere. bers of AFSCME, transferred to cratic abuses of his position. as prominent Democrats, forb1ds troactive to this Jan. 1. This pro the sanitation department to col Some, I am told, have considered New York public employes to The present trial came after a the fact that he was convicted for posal was rejected by the city and lect garbage. The 3,000 refused, to strike. Today, the union was fined the union. special meeting of the Central the promotion of ideas, as well as a man and Gotbaum again threat Committee of the party presented for action, as evidence of great $80,000 and lost its dues check-off The 7 000 rank-and-file members ened ~ strike if Lindsay tried to privileges for 18 months, under present ' denounced union Presi charges against Escalante and the foreign pressure on Cuba. But. enforce the order. the Taylor Law. dent John DeLury, threw eggs at others. The committee acted on it is explained, it is felt that The Mayor then declared a state the basis of a report submitted Escalante's principal offense was Lindsay is also concerned with him taunted him and demanded of emergency and formally asked an immediate settlement by Raul Castro. trying to take Cuba's policies into the effects that a settlement in this eith~r Gov. Rockefeller for aid. Rocke So far the only part of the trial strike could have on other public with significantly improved con his own hands by maneuvering feller set up a mediation panel to proceedings that have been made behind the back of the party and employe unions and he charges tract provisions or an immediate arrive at a solution, and refused work stoppage. DeLury responded public is the presentation of the the public. that the sanitation agreement for the time to call out the Na prosecutor. This largely took the would cause them to raise their by suggesting a mail ballot to de tional Guard, although he made it form of a polemic against the demands "to an unmanageable termine whether there would be a clear that he didn't rule out that political positions advanced by strike, but the pressure from the level." course. Escalante. union ranks was so intense that, Gu~errillas Blast The 10 000 members of the Uni These included support of the formed Sanitationmen's Associa after speaking to Lindsay, De Lindsay Rejects Proposal leaders of the Venezuelan Com tion have been without a contract Lury said that he favored a strike. On Feb. 9, the mediation panel munist Party and other Latin Guate:malan CP since July 1 of last year. The high The main demand of the union was a $600 across-the-board wage recommended a settlement of $425 American CPs that oppose the HAVANA, Cuba- The general est wage a sanitation worker can a year across-the-board wage in strategy of armed struggle against get is $7,956 a year. The work is increase, and a one-year contract. command of the Guatemalan guer The strike was 100 percent ef crease which the Mayor rejected. imperialism, the claim that the rilla movement, the Rebel Armed hazardous, and there were more The Mayor also rejected a media leaders of the Cuban Revolution than 3,000 accidents in the past fective from the start. On Feb. 6, Forces (FAR), issued a declara DeLury was sentenced to 15 days tion proposal the next day for are "petty bourgeois," that they tion Jan. 10 assailing the Guate year because of faulty equipment, compulsory arbitration. The union are "anti-Soviet" and that there as well as from some of the gar in jail and fined $250, under the malan Workers (Communist) Par antilabor Taylor Law. was willing to have arbitration of is one-man rule in Cuba. ty. The text was published here bage the men have to handle. wages with a floor of $400, but A membership meeting of the Lindsay then ordered am- Venezuelan CP Statement in the Feb. 12 issue of Granma. the city insisted on a floor of $375. The FAR has been generally This attitude by the city created The prosecutor declared that viewed as in political solidarity an impasse in negotiations. the positions taken by the Esca with the CP, but signs of a rift In the meantime, there were im lante group coincided with those have been evident for some time. Popular Songs in Khesanh portant responses from the city's of the imperialists and Latin Recently FAR has moved toward labor movement. Teamsters Local American "pseudorevolutionaries." Marines at Khesanh are among that has been particularly hard fraternal relations with the other hit, Company B, Third Recon 813, which hauls garbage from pri He cited the example of a state Guatemalan guerrilla movement, the chief victims of Washington's vate establishments, refused to naissance Battalion, that "In three ment by the leaders of the Vene MR-13. The CP has been hostile unjust war. cross sanitation picket lines, and weeks more than half the company zuelan CP attacking the Cubans to MR-13. The National Liberation Front its members either did not carry which was reprinted by counter and North Vietnamese forces, was killed or wounded." The FAR declared that the CP garbage at all, or else haule~ it revolutionaries in Miami and also "has ceased to be a revolutionary fighting for their country, have "A blank stare," the dispatch to New Jersey or Connecticut by the "microfaction" here. rained down a steady barrage of said "is not uncommon at Khe· force" and predicted that the real dumps, instead of to those in New The charge of attempting to revolutionary vanguard party rocket and mortar fire on the sanh, where the enemy has fired York City. camp. A Feb. 12 Associated Press as many as 1,500 rounds of rock impair Cuba's relations with other would emerge from the guerrilla The Social Service Employees countries had been elaborated on movements. The FAR repeated the dispatch said of one marine unit ets artillery and mortar shells in Union and the International Ladies a day. The stare is called at the Central Committee meet need for unity of action by these ~Ingle Garment Workers Union warned ing by Carlos Rafael Rodriguez, the 1,000 yard stare. It can be a movements, and charged that for against the use of national guard the only leader of the old Cuban the CP leadership armed struggle sign of the beginning of combat troops, and at an emergency meet CP now playing a central role in fatigue." has been only "a tactical neces Ha~lstead Giv~es ing Feb. 10, the Central Labor the party and government. sity, an instrument of negotia The conversations of the marines Council announced plans for a In his speech bitterly assailing tions ..." Ta~lk at lndia~na were very revealing. All that the general strike if the guard was Escalante for having poisoned re The declaration explains how men talked about was going home, sent in. The council declared that By Russell Block lations between the old CP and the CP has served as an obstacle getting out of the war. One cor it would "not tolerate the use of the Fidelistas, Rodriguez described to the development of armed strug BLOOMINGTON, Ind. :- Fred poral said, "Man, it'll be really militia against any workers." the virulent anti-Cuban sentiment gle and bares CP negotiations and Halstead, Socialist Workers Party decent to go home and never hear It was after this threat was he said he had found in Czecho attempted deals with capitalists, candidate for President, spoke to words like incoming shells, mor made that Rockefeller came up slovakian government circles on including an offer to one of the an audience of approximately 275 tars, rifles and all that stuff." with his temporary solution, which a recent visit there. He said the right-wing parties to act as inter students at Indiana University A lieutenant speculated on the the union agreed to, and Lindsay anti-Cuba campaign there was pro mediary for the sale of coffee to here Feb. 8. Halstead's speech, outcome of the battle that is tak opposes. However, the men, al moted by the man responsible for countries of the Soviet bloc. billed as "Vietnam: Socialist Al ing shape: "When I get back to though back at work, are still Cuban affairs to the Central Com ternatives " was well received by California, I'm going to open a bar without a contract. a largely' sympathetic audience. mittee of the Czech party. Ro especially for the survivors of -Howard Reed driguez held Escalante responsible Those who came to scoff left with Khesanh. And any time it gets for this. deeply troubled expressions on Fidel Castro's two deep at that bar, I'll know Sncker Bait - A man who took He also referred, as had RaUl their faces. Most of the questions someone is lying." were aimed at bringing out SWP a couple of minutes to do some Castro, to meetings between the positions on other issues of im In the evening one of the ma simple arithmetic, recently wrote Escalante group and the second Tribute to portance, such as the Arab-Israeli rines played guitar and the others to Consumer Reports: "Pity the secretary of the Soviet embassy conflict. sang. The favorites were "500 poor young husband who takes here. Rodriguez declared that the Che Gu~evara The meeting began on a trium Miles," a mournful ballad about the Alpine cigarette advertisement attitude of the Soviet officials was phant note, when we introduced being far from home; and "Where seriously. Among the 'quality gifts "intolerable." Text of address to Havana Have AU the Flowers Gone?" - the "Bloomington Three," Ralph free with new Alpine Dividend Rodriguez told the Central Com memorial meeting Levitt, Tom Morgan and Jim an antiwar song. Coupons' is an 'Autumn Haze mittee that "the problem of rela Bingham, the three I.U. students The AP reports that there was Mink Stole by Renoir' (47,185 tions with foreign functionaries 20 cents and Young Socialists who were a "hard emphasis" on the part coupons). If our young friend from other socialist countries must indicted in 1962 in the infamous that goes, "Where have all the switches to Alpine cigarettes when be discussed frankly and openly MERIT PUBLISHERS "sedition" case. We distributed soldiers gone? To the graveyard he is 26 and smokes a pack a day with the parties of those coun 873 Broadway over 200 campaign brochures and every one. Oh, when will they ever thereafter, he can get that stole tries. took up a collection of $50 for the learn? Oh, when will they ever for his wife when he is 155 years "I don't think," he said, "that New York, N.Y. 10003 campaign fund. learn?" old ..." it is possible to prolong much Monday, February 19, 1968 THE MILITANT Page Three
... Murder of S.C. Students THE MILITANT (Continued from Page 1) Editor: BARRY SHEPPARD Business Manager: BEVERLY SCOTT pus area. Published weekly, except durlne July and August when published biweekly, by The Mllltan& Publishing Ass'n., 873 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10003. Phone Protests continued on the cam 533-6414. Second-class postage paid at New York, N.Y. Subscription: domestic, $3 n year; Canada and Latin America, $3.50; otho!r foreign, $4.50. By first claa pus during the day, Feb. 8. Stu mall• domestic and Canada, $9.00; all other countries, $14.00. Air printed matter: dents staged a "prayer-in" during domestic and Canada, $12.50; Latin America, $23.00; Europe, $27.00, Africa, Australia, Asia (including USSR), $32.00. Write for sealed air postage rate.. the early evening and later held Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily represent The Militant'• viewa. These are expressed In editorials. a meeting in a ball park near the campus. After the meeting stu Vol. 32 - No. 8 Monday, February 19, 1968 dents lit a bonfire on the campus. A SNCC press release recounts what happened next: "National guardsmen, claiming lnternation·al Antiwar Actions that they were fired upon, charged The National Mobilization Committee to End the Warin Viet into the crowd of students, firing nam has called for massive demonstrations in every city in the at random. The students, seeking cover, fell to the ground. The world on April 27 against the war in Vietnam. guardsmen continued firing. Prac The mass demonstrations will dovetail with plans already tically all students shot were lying announced by the Student Mobilization Committee and Students on the ground, face down, and were shot in the back." for a Democratic Society for 11 days of campus action against The Aframerican News Service the war April 20-30. The Student Mobilization Committee and added that "Although the S.C. the National Black Antiwar Antidraft Union have called for an National Guard and white author ities have complete control of COPS RIOT. South Carolina highway patrolmen stand over bodies international student strike the day before the mass actions, on their local press and have tried of two students gunned down when police and national guard April 26. to blame the students for provok attacked campus. The April actions come at an important time for the antiwar ing the attack, national TV news· movement. The lies Washington has been feeding the American men have verified that the stu· also shot in the back, but racist Governor McNair and other people about the war have been exploded by the recent events in dents were unarmed and no shots came from the students. S.C. news state officials hastily "disputed" racist officials are trying to blame South Vietnam. It is more clear than ever before that Washing men and National Guard have the undertaker's findings. their victims for the criminal actl:l ton is waging a war against the vast majority of Vietnamese, also tried to lay blame on SNCC SNCC charges that Henry Smith of the police. Cleveland Sellers and that the administration intends to keep sending American Field Secretary Cleveland Sellers, was beaten after he had fallen to has been charged with inciting to men to be killed and maimed in an unjust and immoral attempt riot, arson, assault with intent to who was shot and injured along the ground, mortally wounded. to impose Washington's will on Vietnam. The governor is maintaining a kill, and damaging property. with the students." The danger that the war will escalate into a nuclear war was According to all the press re· 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in Orange In a frame-up attempt to shift ports, not a single cop or guards burg during which only cops and the blame from the cops, the gov underscored by the recent rumors that swept the capital to the man was shot during the so-called guardsmen are allowed . on the ernor now claims that Sellers was effect that the U.S., in its panic at the stunning losses it has riot. streets. Both South Carolina State responsible for "the trouble." received at the hands of the Vietnamese in recent weeks, was con The dead black students were College and Claflin College have Orangeburg's white mayor, E.O. sidering using atomic weapons in Vietnam. The fact that these Sam Hammond and Henry Smith, been closed indefinitely and most Pendarvis, declared, "We don't rumors could be taken seriously by senators and congressmen, 1both 18 and both students at of the students were ordered to have a problem with our Orange and by British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, demonstrates the burg Negroes." South Carolina State College, and leave town. The night of the shoot very real danger, ever present in the Vietnamese conflict, that it Delano Middleton, a 17 -year-old ing many of the wounded stu Contributions and letters of sup· can escalate into a nuclear war - a war in which the American high school student. The New dents were refused medical treat port are urgently needed and people would be guaranteed percent losers. York Times verified Feb. 13 that ment in Orangeburg and had to should be sent to: The Orangeburg 100 Sam Hammond was. shot in the drive to nearby towns more than Defense Fund, c/o SNCC, 100 All who are opposed to the war must begin now to organize back. An undertaker told news an hour away to have their Fifth Avenue, Rm. 803, New York, and build the April actions into the most massive demonstrations men that Delano Middleton was wounds tended. N.Y. 10011. to bring our Gls home that the world has yet seen. ... More Gls Sent to Vietnam Battl,efields (Continued from Page 1) ral areas for years." Times reporter John Randolph, gone over to the side of justice to the path of struggle for free and side streets with water jugs, Cholon is honeycombed with Feb. 10: and the fight for freedom? How dom. rain barrels, and the charred re "local guerrilla and political cadres "Just before the shooting start many more are to come? And the Pentagon's answer is mains of tin roofing from previous who know the neighborhoods and ed, Saigon presented a picture Meanwhile in northwestern the same in any case: At Khesanh, bombing raids near An Quang pa the people." Much of their activity that, for the capital of a small, South Vietnam, some 40,000 North just as in the cities occupied two goda. These home-made Com consists of knocking on doors at poor, weak country in its ninth Vietnamese troops, according to weeks ago, the only ''defense" will munist barricades become a fluid night and talking with people. But year of war for national survival, Pentagon figures, stand poised to be massive air bombardment. That frontline of resistance warfare. they also carry out reprisals could only be described as disgust attack a U.S. marine post of 5,000, is what is different between the "At night government forces be against officers of the Saigon gov ing. in turn backed by some 35,000 French battle at Dienbienphu and come island fortresses behind ernment forces. "At a time when the country is additional U.S. forces in the area. the present buildup at Khesanh. barbed wire and pill boxes. The Contrast the descriptions Mohr desperately short of doctors, hos On Feb. 7, a U.S. special. forces And that is what the Pentagon vast sea of population living be and Deepe give of the Saigon pitals, clinics, schools, teachers - post at Langvei, three-and-a-half tween posts are living virtually at working-class sections held by the is counting on no matter how and almost everything else - the miles southwest of Khesanh, fell many American soldiers may be the mercy of the Communists - guerrillas with this story by Phila roar of idiotic firecrackers to cele· under North Vietnamese attack. hit by the bombs directed at close reminiscent of warfare in the ru- deLphia Inquirer and Los Angeles brate Tet, the lunar new year, was When the survivors of the base fire on the attackers. A few U.S. costing Saigon at least tens of reached Khesanh, only U.S. sol officers have already been dec thousands of dollars per day .... diers were admitted. Interviewing orated in the White House for ''Combined with this was a New the U.S. commander of Khesanh calling the bombs in on their own Year's buying ,spree for gifts of Feb. 12, the New York Times ex positions. the most luxurious nature. There plained the decision: It shows you what the war is is much poverty in Saigon, but like and who is fighting on what much prosperity, too. Vietnamese They All Look Alike side. The way to end this war is were either badgering their Amer· "Fearing that the civilians precisely the opposite of the one ican friends to pick up choice Johnson is following, and there is items in the post exchange, or estimated at 2,000 to 6,000 - and the men who said they were sur only one way: Withdraw the U.S. failing that, were paying triple forces, bring the troops home now! prices for legally imported, tax· vivors of Langvei might include exempt luxuries. Vietcong infiltrators, the marines turned the refugees out into the 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 Only the Best countryside." "In towns such as Hue, Vinh "Genuine luxuries, too - Paris Whichever way you turn it, the long, Bentre and Mytho, appall perfumes, cognac, choice Scotch, meaning is the same: the battle ing destruction was wrought rich materials, TV sets, cameras, is beween U.S. invaders and Viet when encircled allied forces watches - and only the very best, namese - Vietnamese who might took the decision to destroy the too, no second-rate merchandise be North Vietnamese troops, "Viet attacking Vietcong forces by de cong infiltrators," or just South wanted." stroying the places they had The contrast speaks volumes. Vietnamese government soldiers who some few hours earlier were occupied. On one side stand the rich and "As a result, one American well-to-do neighborhoods of Sai· fighting side-by-side with U.S. spe gon, still largely untouched by cial forces men at Langvei. They official who has worked in the two weeks of battle. On the other all look the same. Mekong Delta for three years stand the ghettos of the poor, some It is another of many ironies of has submitted his resignation in already bombed, the rest occupied the war that U.S. military experts a letter to Secretary of State Photo by Hermes by revolutionary guerrillas await· have been pondering whether the Dean Rusk. He said that what AT PRESS CONFERENCE. UPI, ABC, NBC and other press inter ing invasion. attack on the cities was a diver he believed to be the unneces view Socialist Workers Party presidential candidate Fred Halstead In its Feb. 5 appeal to the peo· sion from Khesanh, or whether sary killing of civilians in the the concentration at Khesanh was (right) and vice-presidential candidate Paul Boutelle. Both can ple, the National Liberation Front name of defeating the Vietcong asked South Vietnamese soldiers a diversion from the attack on didates announced plans to take campaign to Gls in coming pe had made him decide he no in the government army to "turn the cities. riod. Halstead later deplored Pentagon's consideration of the use longer wanted to be associated your arms" against officers who Vietnamese revolutionaries stand of nuclear weapons in Vietnam at a campaign rally held coincident with the United States effort. with the national convention of the Young Socialist Alliance in refuse to go over to the revolution. ready to oppose U.S. occupational It does not have to be asked forces at any time and in every "Several other American field Detroit. Other speakers at rally were: Paul Boutelle, Pfc. Howard why the Saigon regime's army is place these forces are posted. That workers have spoken of the pos Petrick, the GI who faced court-martial last spring for discussing incapable of crushing the rebel is what happens when colonial sibility of resigning." - Charles his antiwar views with other Gls, and Socialist Workers Party occupation. The question is how armies invade a country that is Mohr, Feb. 14 New York Times National Secretary Farrell Dobbs. many Saigon troops have already turning in ever greater numbers IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!IIlllllllll Pag~ F~o~u~r~------~T~H~E~~~ILrT~~Alfr~~------~~~o~n~d~ay~·~F~eb~r~u~a~r~y__ 19~,~19~6~8 Headed for Problems I Peace and Freedom Party By Tom Kerry nominate some kind, any kind, of in which problems were dealt "peace" candidate they could sup with pragmatically, with no at· The organizer~ and promoters port as a lesser evil to the Repub tempt to think through all the im Three yea.n; ago. on Feb. 21, I don't profess to have a politi Pre~irknt of the United States And this is what the oppressor he died. The only reason that the 1965 Malcolm X wa.s murdered. cal, economic or social solution to alone, but he has to be acceptable doesn't realize. In his position of present gcner;;tion of white Ameri Just' three months before that, on a problem as complicated as the to every area of the world where power he takes things for granted cans are in the position of eco Nov. 23. 1964, he had' addressed one which our people face in the the influence of the United States and he takes it for granted that nomic strength that they are is a meeting in Paris on "The Black States. but I am one of those who reaches. everybody uses his yardstick. because their fathers worked our Struggle in the United States." is willing to try any means neces If Johnson had been running all Well, today for a long time, we, fathers for over 400 years with no The excerpts that follow are sary to bring an end to the in by himst'lf, he wouldn't have been the oppressed people, not only in pay. For over 400 years we worked Ma.lcolm X's replies to some of the justices our people suffer. acceptable by himself. The only America but in Africa, Asia and for nothing. We were sold from questions asked by the audience One of the reasons why I »a:-· thing that made him acceptable elsewhere, had to use someone plantation to pl;;ntation like you at that meeting. They are taken it's difficult to come up and say to the world was the shrewd cap else's yardstick. When they said sell a horse, or a cow, or a chicken, from a bilingual issue of the ''this is the solution" or "that is italists. The shrewd imperialists "fast," what was "fast" to them or a bushel of wheat_ It was your French magazine Presence Afri the solution" is that a chicken knew that the only way that you was "fast" to us, but nowadays fathers that did it to our fathers caine.. Cultural Review of the cannot produce a duck egg and it will voluntarily run to the fox is the yardstick has changed. We got and all of that money that piled Negro World, No. 62, 2nd quarter, can't produce a duck egg because to show you a wolf. So they creat our own yardstick. And when you up from the sale of my mother 1967, and are reprinted here in the system itself was produced by ed a ghastly alternative and had say a long time this assimilation, and my grandmother and my honor of the fallen revolutionary. a chicken egg and can only re the whole world, even the so-called or a long time this solution, the great-grandmother is what gives produce what produced it. intellectuals who call themselves thing you don't realize is that the present generation of Ameri Questitm No. 1: How is it pos The American system was pro Marxists and other things, hoping other generations used a differ can whites ... to walk around the sible that some people are still duced from the enslavement of the that Johnson would beat Gold- ent yardstick. earth with their chest out - you preaching nonviolence? They had patience and you could know. like they have some kind Malcolm X: That's easy to un tell them a long time and they of economic ingenuity. Your fa derstand - shows you the power would sit around a long time, but ther isn't here to pay his debts. of dollarism. The dollar makes the young ones that's coming up My father isn't here to collect. But anything possible. In 196- (I for now are asking, "Why should he I'm here to collect and you're here get what year it was when the wait? Why should he have to wait to pay .. Sharpeville massacre took place for what other people have when Question No. 21: What I want in South Africa) if you read the they're born? Why should he to say is that you're right in say testimony of Mandela in court, he have to go to a Supreme Court or ing that the spotlight that you give brought out the fact that at that to a Congress, or to a Senate, or on Africa is very important from point the brothers in South Afri to some kind of legislative body the psychological point of view, ca had begun to realize that they to be told he's a man when other but during the 400 years of depor had to go into action, that non people don't have to go through tation of the blacks in America violence had become outdated; it that process to be told that they're there was true militancy in the only helped the enemy. a man?" So you have a new gen black p0ople because there were But at the same time the enemy eration coming up . . . necessary 156 reYolts and there were fa knows that once 11 million people to let the world know right now mous people' like Sojourner Truth ~top being confined to a non that they're going to be men or or Frederick Douglass. Do you not violent approach against three mil there just won't be a human being think that it would be important lion. you're going to have a dif· anywhere else. for the new black generation to ferent situation. They had to use Question No. 12: Is there a Ne know, from the historical point of their new modern tricks, so they gro movement in the United States view, the militancy of Negroes in ran down and got one of the that wishes to form a Negro State America~ Africans and gave him a glorious with the Africans? Malcolm X: Yes, it's important, peace prize for being nonviolent Malcolm X: Yes, they are im but it's even more important for and it lent strength to the non· portant. There are an increasing us to be reestablished and con Yiolent image to try and keep them number of Afro-Americans who _nected to our roots. Douglass was a little nonviolent a little while want to migrate back to Africa. great. I would rather have been longer. And it's the same way in Now if it were to take place to taught about Toussaint L'Ouver- the States. The black man in the morrow you would probably have ture. We need to be taught about States has begun to see that non· a limited number. So, in my opin people who fought, who bled for violence is a trick that is put upon ion, if you wanted to solve the freedom and made others bleed .... him to keep him from even being problem you would have to make So when you select heroes about able to defend himself. the problem more digestible to a which black children ought to be And so there's an increasing gr~ater number of Afro-Ameri taught, let them be black heroes number of black people in Amer cans. The idea is good, but those who have died fighting for the ica who are absolutely ready and who propagated the idea in the benefit of black people. We never willing to do whatever is neces past put it to the public in the were taught about Christophe or sary to see that their lives and black man. This political, eco water. wrong way and because of this Dessalines. It was the slave revolt their own property are protected nomic, and social system of I have to say this. Those who didn't get the desired result. The in Haiti when slaves, black slaves, by them. America was produced from the claim to be enemies of the system one who made the greatest impact had the soldiers of Napoleon tied So you have again your im· enslavement of the black man, were on their hands and knees was the honorable Marcus Garvey. down and forced him to sell one perialists, and whatever else you and that particular system is ca waiting for Johnson to get elected And the United States govern half of the American continent to call them, come along and give pable only of reproducing that out because he's supposed to be a man ment . . . put him in prison and the Americans. They don't teach out another peace prize to again of which it itself was produced. of peace; and he has troops in charged him with fraud. us that. This is the kind of history try and strengthen the image of The only way a chicken can pro vading the Congo right now and A spiritual "Back to Africa." If we want to learn. _ . . nonviolence. This is their way of duce a duck egg -- you have to invading Saigon. And places where our people would try to migrate (Very lengthy speech in French doing things but everybody doesn't revolutionize the system. other countries have pulled their back to Africa culturally, first try from somebody in the audience) always accept those peace prizes.... Question No. 5: The history of troops out, Johnson is sending his to migrate back culturally and Malcolm X: I would like to Question No. 4: Many black the United States has. clearly troops in. I'm just telling you philosophically and psychological thank all of you who have been Americans are hoping you will be proved that none of the previous what I think of him. He sends ly. They would stay where they so patient this evening and have their leader. Do you have a de presidents has been able to solve Peace Corps to Nigeria and mer are physically, but this psycholog remained here for so long. I hope termined political program and 1 integration. Now I'd like to know, cenaries to the Congo. ical, cultural, philosophical migra that no one will get the impres would like to know, if you do have Mr. Malcolm, your position insofar Question No. 6: As a solution to tion would give us bonds with our sion that because I raise my voice a political program which has al as the last election is concerned this problem can one envisage the mother continent that would from time to time that it is out of ready been set up, would you join and what do you think in par creation of an independent Black strengthen our position in the disrespect. It's not. It's just that this with a new organization which ticular of developments in the fu· State in the United States? country where we are right now, it's the only way I can emphasize is called "Freedom Now [Party]"? ture under President Johnson? Malcolm X: No! I wouldn't say and then we'd be in a position to how deplorable the situation, Malcolm X: First, I don't pro Malcolm X: It's the same sys "No, No." I wouldn't close the door influence that government's poli which has continued so long, real fess to be anybody's leader. I'm tem. It's not the President who to any solution. Our problem in cies and keep them from support ly is; and one of the best ways one of 22 million Afro-Americans, can help or hurt. And this system the States is so deplorable, we are ing men like Tshombe.... you can help us in the States is all of whom have suffered the is not only ruling us in America - justified to try anything - ANY Question No. 18: Malcolm, in the to watch the problem very close same things_ And I probably cry it's ruling the world. THING. Other independent states same way you said that there were ly. And when they grab us and out a little louder against the suf Nowadays when a man is run have been set up. They set up certain Negroes who had helped arrest us, let them know, well, fering than most others and there ning for President of the United Israel and they weren't called and assisted in the sale of their that they shouldn't have done it. fore, perhaps, I'm better known. States, he's not running for the separationists. But when we start own brothers . . . talking about setting up some thing wherein we can rule our Malcolm X: I didn't say that selves, we're labeled separation like that. Before you get into that, ists. But we are not separationists, I want to remind you of some If YOU SUPPORT: nor are we integrationists. We're thing. Joseph forgave his brothers. NOW AVAILABLE human beings . . . Nothing in there where they for Question No. 8: Are you against gave Pharaoh who purchased him • The Anti-Vietnam-War Movement the love between a black person - enslaved him. The country that • The Colonial Revolutlo11 and a white person? bought him and enslaved him was 1967 Bound Volume Malcom X: How can anyone be destroyed. • Socialist Candidates against love? Whoever a person Question No. 19 (same question wants to love, that's their business er): If it was our white ancestors • The Cuban Revolution - that's like their religion.... who bought you and enslaved you, THE MILITANT Question No. 11: Do you fore we are their children. We are the $10.00 • Black Power see a total assimilation with equal new generation. Why don't you call • The Socialist Transformation of America rights of the Afro-American into us your brothers? the white community of the United Malcolm X: A man has to act States in many, many years to like a brother before you can call come? him a brother. You made a very Join the Young Socialist Alliance Ma.lcolm X: No! Nobody! Who's good point, really, that needs some THE MILITANT going to wait many years? I'm clarification. If you are the son of 873 Broadway, If you are interested in joining or learning about the YSA glad you asked the question like a man who had a wealthy estate New York, N.Y. 10003 that because, you see, the op and you inherit your father's es write to: YSA, P.O. Box 471, Cooper Station, New York, N.Y. 10003. pressed never uses the same yard tate, you have to pay off the debts stick as the oppressor. that your father incurred before Page Six THE MILITANT Monday, February 19, 1968 LETTERS FROM PRISON New Book by James P. Cannon Socialists and students of the opposition to an important lever attempted by a tendency which radical movement in the United of Roosevelt's manipulation of the would soon evolve into the Mor States will welcome this week's labor movement - the reactionary row-Goldman faction. This was a announcement by Merit Publish leadership of the Teamsters' un belated echo of the greater struggle ers that it is bringing out a new ion. For this they were railroaded precipitated by the outbreak of book by James P. Cannon, the Na to prison in a trial at which the the war. At that time a faction tional Chairman of the Socialist prosecution's "evidence" consisted led by James Burnham and Max Workers Party, in the main of the writings of Shachtman, panicked by the out Entitled Letters From Prison, Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Trotsky. break of the war, abandoned rev the book consists of Cannon's let In the wartime abrogation of civil olutionary Marxism. In its sec ters to his wife and comrade, Rose liberties, the U.S. Supreme Court tions on the Morrow-Goldman Karsner, during his 1944-1945 im repeatedly refused even to hear an tendency, Cannon's new book is a prisonment at the federal peniten appeal of the convictions. valuable continuation and supple tiary in Sandstone, Minnesota. When Cannon and his comrades ment to his earlier Struggle for a The letters are unique in prison entered prison on New Year's Day Proletarian Party and Trotsky's correspondence in that, while af 1944, the smokescreen that had In Defense of Marxism, the classic fording glimpses of the writer's cloaked the imperialists' real war works produced in the struggle personal relations and containing motives from the people was against Burnham-Shachtman. moving vignettes of prison life, already beginning to be dispelled. Equal in importance in Cannon's they concentrate upon the political Cynicism about the U.S. ruling prison letters is the attention paid and organizational problems fac class's real attitude to fascism - to the need of reassembling the ing revolutionists and their party. when that fascism did not hold scattered forces of the interna One gets grim satisfaction from power in a competitor imperialist tional movement, so many sections the realization that, despite prison country - had grown as allied of which had suffered terrible regulations and censorship, a num policy displayed itself in deeds. losses in the course of the war, ber of these letters reached their The "equality of sacrifice" pro occupations, and persecutions by intended destination at the time gram on the home front revealed Hitler's Gestapo, Stalin's GPU, as articles in The Militant, polem itself in practice as a swindle pro and the police agencies of the ics in the SWP's internal discus viding gargantuan profits for the "democratic" capitalist govern sion bulletins, and points on the corporations, and wage controls ments. agendas of committees directing and a no-strike pledge for the A feature of the book that will party work. workers. The growing anger of be of particular interest and use The preponderantly political black people - present in in fulness to the younger generation creased numbers in the factories Photo by Hermee character of the letters resulted is Cannon's practical proposals for AT YSA CONVENTION. Hot off the presses, James P. Cannon's and unions - against the hypoc the improvement of the party's in part from the fact that inmates new book was a best seller at Young Socialist Alliance gathering. of federal prisons are permitted to risy of official declamations work. These proposals cover a write only to "approved" cor against Hitler's racism, while U.S. wide range of subjects from the Over 200 copies were sold there. respondents. Thus frequently Can racism at home and in the armed readability of the newspaper and non was in fact addressing not forces continued unabated, was education of cadres to a system at his record: he joined the IWW struggle for a true revolutionary only Rose Karsner, his "approved" converting the ghettos into powder for electing a more representative in 1911, later the Socialist Party line. correspondent, but also the new, kegs of revolutionary energy. national committee. left wing, was a founding mem The formal publication date of unjailed leadership of his party To prepare the SWP for the Cannon's proposals, which are ber of the American Communist Letters from Prison has been set, and its membership. mass radicalization which he saw as pertinent today as when they movement and a leader in its first fittingly enough, for May Day. He and 17 other leaders of the shaping up was Cannon's prin were written, are not drawn from decade, led the fight against Sta The clothbound book will sell for SWP and the Minneapolis truck cipal concern. All his letters are abstract reasoning but from a vast linism and was expelled from the $5.95. But from now until May drivers' union had been sent to devoted to one or more aspect or store of experience, and his argu CP, and founded the American Day readers of The Militant may prison following a celebrated trial detail of this preparation. ments· are studded with concrete Trotskyist movement in 1928. He purchase it at the special pre marked by the government's first First and foremost the prepara examples. Indeed, no figure on the has served as helmsman for 40 publication price of $3.95. Orders use of the notorious Smith Act. tion meant preserving the party's American scene can match him in years. As important as the extent with payments should be sent to Their real offense was twofold: revolutionary program and atti experience in the labor and so of this experience is its quality - Merit Publishers, 873 Broadway, opposition to World War II and tude from a revision then being cialist movements. Here is a glance it was all acquired in consistent New York, N.Y. 10003. In Memory of Harold Swanson Early on the morning of Feb. were no jobs, and the craft unions American radicals, as later events Harold's final, and most recent, sky's ideas was such that Marx 1, Harold M. Swanson, age 56, were then closed tight. For a while were to prove. Since Harold would contribution was undertaken with ism was not to be viewed as an lost a valiant three-year fight the future looked dismal. His mar not join the Stalinists in support little regard to the increasing phy end in itself but as an applied sci against cancer. riage to our mother, then Pauline ing U.S. imperialism in the war, ence, a method, which evolves and A bolshevik is gone. He might Johnson, in 1934, was a happy but instead took the road of op sical pain he endured, as he served is formulatt!d anew in relation to still be alive today to carry on event in those troubled times. posing all imperialist ventures, in on the negotiating committee dur each new crisis. the fight if it were not for the Harold's radicalization, how cluding the role of the United ing the 1966 bitter 10-week strike His loved ones remember Ha greed of capitalism, which squand ever, enabled him to see that this States, he thus became one of the against Thermo King. rold as a thoroughly likable and ers wealth created by labor on was a period of unprecedented 29 defendants in the infamous One of his party comrades and cultured gentleman who loved mu instruments of death and destruc progress, as millions of workers, Minneapolis sedition trial of 1941, a long time friend remembers sic, the performing arts, and the tion. Many realize that the bil armed with only their solidarity where 18 of the 29 were framed Harold best as a cheerful and op beauty of nature. He was uncon lions spent on armaments could and determination, battled the and imprisoned under the Smith timistic person. This characteris cerned with human perfection, as better be spent on medical re bosses and their stooges to build ("gag") Act. Harold was one of tic, added to his calm, articulate he felt vicariously the pain of search to conquer the dread dis today's powerful unions. those acquitted. Shortly there· speech, enabled him to reach out anxiety and alienation in others. ease of cancer, among other hu Considering our father's strict after he left Minneapolis to find to various types of people and a It was his own source of inner man ailments. religious and sectarian back employment in the converted war wide variety of militant CO'Work strength which provided for him Although he knew there was no ground, we had always been industries of Detroit, Mich. ers. He seemed able to sense an the ability to bring out in others hope for recovery, he was not de amazed at his early turn to Marx In 1942 Harold took a job as an other's immediate capacity to ab their own sources of hidden terred from the purpose and prin ist ideas and the socialist move assembler at General Motors and sorb ideas, and he was careful not strength and personal identity. ciples of Marxism, which had in ment, as envisioned then by Leon soon joined Fleetwood Local 15 to exceed that point all at once, Thus friends often commented spired him all his adult life. He Trotsky. But the young Harold of the UAW. He later became the but rather to build upon it grad that "he would really listen" to -continued to read and concern was kind and compassionate; and editor of its paper, the Fleetwood ually. Despite many of their ideol them, and that he made them feel himself with the problems of this fortunately he had been born with Organizer. He and his wife were ogical differences with him, the important as in,dividuals. world, such as Vietnam and black the ability to think clearly in the also active in party work at the workers called upon him time and again to shoulder responsibilities Harold showed that he had the liberation and, particularly, the abstract. The next few years of Detroit branch of the SWP, help utmost trust and confidence in IJ.abor movement. personal hardship, devoted to the ing to recruit many UAW work with which they knew he could be trusted. Above all, they knew the workers; thus they in turn Also, our mother's courage and building of the unions, were to ers. reinforced his confidence in him selfless devotion to him through forge his lifelong identity as a After the war, Harold took his he was honest and principled, and they admired and respected him self. By learning to accept the the long vigil deserves the highest worker-intellectual and a bolshe family, then of four children, back faults in others he further cement praise. vik. to Minneapolis and a succession for it. Harold was not a forceful lead ed that bond of vital communica Harold was born Sept. 7, 1911, During the middle and late thir of jobs. In 1950 he went to work tion with his fellow human beings, in Bradford, Pa., son of a Pro ties, Harold found himself on at Thermo King Corp., where he er. His temperament was that of a philosopher and diplomat. He so necessary to the work of a testant minister. As a small boy WPA, and soon became active in remained until he could work no Marxist and a revolutionary. he moved with his family to Buf Federal Workers' section of Team longer. True to form, he soon be was an avid and excellent reader falo, N.Y.;. Alberta, Canada; Little sters Local 544, as an organizer. came active once again in trade whose broad knowledge of science Even as Harold struggled for Falls, Minn.; and finally to Min His open-minded eagerness to learn union work. During that period and world affairs lent an agree his last few breaths during the final battle, he seemed to be pained neapolis, where he was to spend enabled him to see that the fun of almost 18 years he seldom able flavor to his many arguments more by the daily announced ra most of his life. damental forces brutally oppress missed an opportunity to try to against bourgeois morality and the Harold became an excellent stu ing the workers were of an econ radicalize workers while serving various forms of organized super vages of war than with his own dent who wrestled with that typi omic class nature. This observa in numerous capacities - shop stition. He never seemed to run condition. His last few words cal problem of the bleak depres tion led him to the conclusion steward, on strike and grievance short of disarming illustrations for were: "No more war - no more sion years - whether to go on that the workers must build their committees, and finally on the emphasis, for he loathed all forms war - Someday this will be a wonderful world - everybody, to college or try to enter a trade. own independent political party negotiating committee. of indoctrination. Of course, a lack of funds helped to take state power out of the Before and during the Cuban He was also considered by some love each other - no more hate form his decision. After graduat hands of the capitalist class. missile crisis, he almost lost his an authority on Leon Trotsky, the - no more war." ing from Little Falls High School, Harold thought the Trotskyist job because of the unrelenting man and his thoughts. He firmly Left to mourn his passing are: he came to Minneapolis only to movement would one day achieve stand he took in defense of the believed the day would come when Pauline, his wife and comrade, witness college graduates in search that goal of workers' power; and Cuban Revolution. Obviously he the "Old Man" would capture the three sons, two daughters, eight of work. He therefore entered in 1938 he joined the Socialist was in a minority; but when he imagination of the majority of this grandchildren, three sisters, and Dunwoody Industrial Institute to Workers Party. faced dismissal by the bosses, the planet's youth. Harold seemed numerous friends and fellow work learn the electrical trade. He grad The outbreak of World War II more astute workers and union completely free of dogmatism. In ers. uated two years later. But there became a testing ground for activists rallied to his defense. his opinion, the essence of Trot- -David and Richard Swanson Monday, February 19, 1968 THE MILITANT Page Seven considered the ultimate cause of all the other " ills which .,,plague Thought for the Week human society, e.g., war, racism, "CIA director Richard Helms told members of the House Ap ethnocentricity, and ultra-nation propriations Committee in secret that the recent Communist attacks alism. Just as your Austin reader were a severe setback for the allies, according to one committee pointed out [Jan. 15 Militant] that member. the Israeli-Arab conflict cannot be "At present rates of progress, Helm.~ reportedly told the CO'I'l't classed as a struggle between reac mittee, the war could last 100 years."- Robert S. Boyd in the Feb. tionary and progressive economic 14 New York Post. systems (it was, in fact, another ex ample of conflict between differ ent religious and ethnic groups), nearly all) of what is said in your Communist Party until it itself Letters I feel bound to point up the divi paper is valuable and contains was overthrown. siveness which characterizes any truth that the wide-circulation The Sukarno regime also was given class (particularly the reli mass media do not care to discuss. in "confrontation" with imperial· gious, ethnic, racial and other un You provide important indictments ism just as much as Nasser sup From important conflicts among the of the ills prevalent in American posedly is today. Yet you de American lower class) as well as society and a much needed "new nounced the opportunism of Mao any given society. outlook" on the events which most and Khrushchev in cottoning up of our news media forcefeed us in No Marxist society, existing or to the former regime, while you Our the same dry, mundane manner. denounce as Zionists and pro-im· illusory, can hope to achieve any perialists those who criticize a measure of a utopian society with M.D. out throwing off the shackles of parallel lining up on your part Readers with the Nasser regime. dogma in favor of flexibility. The Anti-Nasser moral ideals underlying socialism What is it about Nasser that I wish to ask you if you are makes him more "anti-imperial· are good minus the rigidity of their still of the opinion that Nasser is exercise. No society can hope to ist" than Sukarno ever was? At in confrontation with the imperial least under Sukarno a three-mil· be progressive if civil liberties ists now that he is being financed [This column is an open forum Everyone was in danger in all are prostrated to unity of action. lion member Communist Party by the Saudi Arabian oil sheiks flourished, more than you can say for all viewpoints on subjects of of industry, but teachers and civil And here lies the greatest con and after his having pulled his general interest to our readers. servants were extremely vulner tradiction in contemporary Social about Egypt today or for the past troops out from under the Yemen 15 years. Please keep your letters brief. able. The Taft-Hartley law was ist thought, and practice. The Republican government. Where necessary they will be passed in 1947. It was surely the United States, for all the ills and I know I and many other of your Abridged. Writers' tnitials will be most vicious law passed against evils wreaked by the capitalist I would also appreciate a dis readers would appreciate an ex· used, names being withheld unless labor. system, still affords greater civil cussion of the following point: In planation of this apparent neo asmuch as the Arabs were and Stalinist opportunism on your Authorization is given for 'L.~~.j Now we have the Taylor Law liberty than any of the "progres sive" socialist states lauded by continue to be the world's chief part. which replaced the Condon-Wadlin slave traders and that an Arab Israeli Injustice Law and which has been used your paper. And for all the short Granted that the present regime regime continues to slaughter in Israel is a creature of the im· Bronx, N.Y. against the school teachers first comings and unfairness in the pro in New York City only this past tection of these liberties in this blacks by the thousands in the perialists, nevertheless Jewish na In The MiUtant of Jan. 15 there Sudan, how is it that radical summer. country of which you and I are tionalism has as much right to was a letter signed "M.C." The equally aware, true individual blacks look to the Arab world for exist as any other nationalism in head of the letter was "Not a Zion It's an extremely vulnerable anti-imperialist allies? the world today. Granted that only situation in Asia as well. The freedom is more a reality here ist." I am not a partisan of The than in any of the socialist coun May I also suggest to you that socialist-minded regimes in both Militant's politics, just a humble Vietnam war has kept the nation your political support of a regime Israel and Egypt can make real from a steep depression. Now a tries. True Socialism can only come believer in Socialism. when the outmoded and self-con which has jailed all communists peace in the area, support for a new Korean war may be in the bourgeois-fasdst regime in Egypt The creation of the Israeli state making. They've been inviting the tradictory ideal of economic free and has more Nazi advisers and brought the exile of two million dom is replaced by "economic jus functionaries than the West Ger is wrong for socialists, even UN to take part in the situation. though that regime may be tem· peasants. Until this day, they are The UN is a big fraud in replace tice" and the greatest possible de man government itself seems bi· not allowed to return to their gree of civil liberty, even where it zarre in the light of your correct porarily supported by the Soviet ment of the League of Nations Union, just as wrong as laying off homes, nor compensated. Instead, in 1945. is