LENIN ON NATIONAL SECURITY ROBERT 7\ff:\OR

LIMA-AN ANSWER TO MUNICH R . A.. MARTil\Ei'. tllld H.-\RR Y ROB INSON

POLITICAL MASS ORGANIZATION ·wiLLIAM Z. FOSTER

U TE fPLOYMENT A D ·w.P.A. by FLETCH ER and VANCJ:. HARRISON GEORGE- CLASS FORCES IN CA LI FORN IA FAR MING CLASS CO FLICTS IN THE SOUTH . 185o.6o by H ERBERT B IEL

John D ewey>s L ogic R eviewed by Philip Ca1'ter

TWENTY CENTS Another Notable Number! NATIONAL ISSUES A SURVEY OF POLITICS AND LEGISLATION

FEBRUARY CONTENTS Editorials: The President's Message; Roosevelt's Jackson Day Speech; The Coster Case; The Lima Conference; Tom Mooney is Free; An Un-American Award for Mr. Dies.

The 1940 Budget . Alan Max Tory Politics and W.P.A. John Page National Defense Adam Lapin Old-Age Pensions: "Sixty After Sixty" W. D. C. Rehabilitating the Railways Robert Stark Undermining the Wagner Act Frank Peterson Anti-Lynching Legislation H. W. The State of the Union H. B. And Other Features

Published monthly by the National Committee, Communist Party, U.S.A. Editor: GENE DENNIS • Single copies 15c, yearly subscription $1.25

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Name Address City State . VOL. XVIII, No. 2 FEBRUARY, 1939 'Jhe COMMUNIST A MAGAZINE OF THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF MARXISM-LENINISM PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE U.S.A. EDITORS: EARL BROWDER, ALEX BITTELMAN, V. ]. JEROME

CONTENTS

Review of the Month A. B. 99 Lenin-His Meaning for Us Today ROBERT MINOR 114 Lima-An Answer to Munich R. A. MARTINEZ and HARRY ROBINSON 128 New Methods of Political Mass Organi­ zation . WILLIAM Z. FOSTER 136

Unemployment and the \Vorks Program in 1939 CHARLES FLETCHER and JOHN VANCE 147 Class Forces in California Agriculture HARRISON GEORGE I 56 Pitfalls of Pragmatic Logic PHILIP CARTER 163 Class Conflicts in the South-185o-I86o HERBERT BIEL 170 Notes on Two Economic Cycles . GEORGE WALLACE !82 From the World Communist Press 188

Book Reviews CHARLOTTE TODES 190

Entered as second class matter November 2, I927, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the Act of March 3, I879· Send checks, money orders and correspondence to THE CoMMUNIST, P. 0. Box I48, Sta. D (5o E. I]th St.), New York. Subscription rates: $2.00 a year; $I.oo for aix months; foreign and Canada $2.50 a year. Single copies 20 cents. PRINTED IN U.S.A. ,.!'~"' 209 "Labor with a white skin cannot be free while Labor with a black skin is branded."-KARL MARx. The NEGRO and the DEMOCRATIC FRONT by JAMES W. FORD $1.75 "Comrade Ford's book is a real achievement in the forward march of the Negro people. Here, in simple terms, concrete experience and prac­ tical policies, is the democratic front program that will eventually put the Negro masses on the way to freedom. Every member of our Party should familiarize himself with its invaluable contents." William Z. Foster • The CIVIL WAR in the UNITED STATES by KARL MARX and FREDERICK ENGELS $2.50 All of Marx's and Engels' writings on the American Civil War-which they termed "the first grand war of contemporaneous history"-are gathered in this volume. Their contributions to the New York Tribune and to the Vienna Presse as well as a voluminous correspondence pre­ sent

Congressional Outlook and Struggle of the Masses. Anti-Spending Cry Is Cover for Monopoly Sabotage. Can People's Gains Be Preserved Without Ad­ vancing'! Road to Recovery Lies Through Curbing Big Business. Dying Capitalism and Monopoly Profits. Business Can Still Earn a Dollar. How to Fight for jobs. Capital Investments and Nationalization of Banks. Dangers of Reactionary Demagogy on Economic Issues. john Garner Builds a New Middle. Lima Conference Made Important Beginning. Our Economic Relations With Latin America Present Many Problems. United States Must Orientate on Democratic Forces in Latin America. Imperialist Contradictions and Anti-Fascist Policies. Trotskyism in Latin America. Mooney's Freedom Is a Victory for the People. His Future Plans. The Daily Worker on Its Sixteenth Year.

UDGING by the looks of things dur­ talist system continues to deepen, J ing the first few weeks of the when within it an economic crisis con­ Seventy-sixth Congress, the conclusion tinues to develop, and when out of . is inescapable that the masses of the it all grows and spreads an offensive people and their progressive organ­ of international fascism abroad and a izations will have to fight, and fight revitalized offensive of pro-fascist re­ hard, to protect what they have, and action at home. to consolidate the gains already made, Within such a national and inter­ using these as a basis for further ad­ national setting, no progressive gains vances. Moreover, as we shall try to are likely to have much permanence prove further on, the question of ad­ or security unless followed up with vancing further the progressive cause consolidation and advance. In plainer of the people is not a matter of language, it would mean that to stand luxury or general desirability. It is a still is to be . forced back; and to be matter of life. forced back in the present world situ­ Many of the gains won by the ation is to be forced onto the path of masses in the p;,tst years, on the eco­ fascism and .:war. Whatever else the nomic and political fields, will be ex­ majority of.the American people may tremely hard to maintain without still lack complete unity on, or clarity, thorough consolidation; and such con­ this majority is definitely opposed to solidation will prove nearly impos­ the path of fascism. It remains there­ sible without further advances. This, fore to be demonstrated to the masses it might be said, is true with respect of the people that, in order to avoid to all gains made by the masses under th~ path of fascism and war, they must capitalism. But it becomes most de­ fight for the consolidation and ad­ cisively true in a period like the pres­ vance of the progressive gains. It is ent when the general crisis of the capi- the task and duty of the forces of the 99 100 THE COMMUNIST democratic front to unite their efforts business improvement which took and to rally and lead the masses in place. Big business reaction, notwith­ this sort of fight. Only thus will be standing all this, beats the old drums, achieved a united action for social and and insists that it alone can give the national security, for the struggle country recovery and employment. against the fascist aggressors and the Continuing with the demagogic pro-fascist monopolies. tricks of the last elections, Joseph W. For the outstanding fact of the Martin, minority leader of the House, situation is that big business reaction, declares in the name of the Republi­ represented politically by the leader­ can delegation: ship of the Republican Party and by "The paramount objective is to restore the the reactionary Democrats, not only solid prosperity of the country-to put our refuses to learn, not only fails to show w,ooo,ooo unemployed back to work. Perma­ the slightest readiness to abide by the nent jobs at American wages are the only will of the majority of the people, but index of recovery." (The New York Times, January 3·) -following the November elections­ is unfolding an even wider offensive This is presented in a fashion as against the people. Trying to cover up though it were something new, or that its continued and persistent sabotage his party was the first to discover it. of the nation's economic recovery as He said, of course, nothing on how well as its opposition to the nation's this is to be accomplished. Nor did democracy and security, big business he mention the fact that the Repub­ reaction once more beats the drums of lican Governor of Michigan, Frank D. opposition to government "spending Fitzgerald, was recommending to the and regulation," fraudulently blam­ state legislature (at about the same ing these for the economic crisis and time as Mr. Martin spoke) "a labor unemployment. relations act" which aims to prevent It matters little to the spokesmen labor from fighting for precisely this of reaction that these cries have been objective-"for permanent jobs at exploded and discredited many times American wages." This is only one before. It apparently also matters recent example of Republican Party little to them, though it may be caus­ sincerity. And here is another. ing them some slight worry, that con­ Commenting on the President's siderable sections of smaller and even opening message to Congress, the New middle business are becoming dubious York Herald Tribune, the Republican of the genuineness and honesty of the paper which says it is for progress but reactionary cry against government against liberalism, undertakes to en­ spending and regulation. Certainly, it lighten its readers on the problem of couldn't escape the attention of many recovery as follows: of these business men that the gov­ "The truth of recovery is so obvious that ernment's relief and recovery program, the President has difficulty in concealing it adopted by the Sev.enty-fifth Congress beneath his bright new words. Capital and manpower can be brought together by main last summer, against the opposition of force (under a dictatorship) or by encour­ the reactionaries in both parties, had agement (in a democracy). There is no other a good deal to do with the temporary way, and the most ominous fact in the REVIEW OF THE MONTH 101

President's speech is that he refuses to face There is not the slightest doubt that this dilemma, and, while decrying the evils "enormous uncertainties" overhang of dictatorship, does nothing to lessen the capital. But these do not result from enormous uncertainties overhanging capital as the result of uncontrolled government government spending. More real and spending, now to be renewed and expanded." more enormous uncertainties over­ (January 5·) hang labor, the farmers, the middle classes, all of whom are robbed and This is really enlightening, especial­ exploited by big capital, though these ly the Herald Tribune's conception of are in part beneficiaries of govern­ democracy. In a democracy, says this ment spending. Therefore, all of these progressi~e-but-not-liberal Republican "uncertainties," which affect variously mouthpiece, capital and labor power different classes, must stem from some aie brought together "by encourage­ other source. They stem in fact from ment." Fine. By encouraging labor? the crisis of capitalism as a system. By offering it permanency of job, And all of these uncertainties are security from unemployment, ade­ made more painful for the nation pre­ quate wages, reasonable hours, free­ cisely by the offensive of the reaction­ dom of organization and collective ary monopolies at home and by the bargaining, insurance against disabil­ offensive of international fascism ity and old age, a voice in the affairs abroad. of the nation? No, not at all. This is not the Republican conception of en­ couragement. Labor, according to this OTING the fact that "business conception, needs no encouragement, N seeks security in these times presumably on the assumption that, rather than being venturesome," the when there are over eleven million Business Bulletin of the Cleveland unemployed in the country, the Trust Company thinks it has found worker will be forced to take any old the explanation for it in "two job, under any conditions. And shoula changes" which have taken place since he perchance refuse to do so, he can 1930. They are: be "encouraged" by the police and ". . . the chance of success in business is militia the way Hoover was encourag­ only about 50 per cent as great as it used ing the bonus marchers to give up the to be, while the rewards of the successful demand for the bonus. are about So per cent as great as they were By encouraging perhaps both labor formerly." (December 15, 1938.) and capital, as President Roosevelt is Which probably indicates a real trying? No, that is not the Republican downward trend for business chances Party idea either. When it comes to as a whole. But this lumping together encouragement, it is capital alone-big of big business with medium and little capital-that is in need of it. Poor, business creates a distorted picture. suffering big capital. But if this is And in these important respects that, what democracy has to do to bring while little business is doing much capital and labor together, what and worse than the above analysis indi­ where is the difference between it and cates, big business is doing much fascism? better. The latter point is demon- 102 THE COMMUNIST strated convincingly by an analysis of reactionary drive comes to reduce still the earnings data for an identical further the standard of living of the group of 168 industrial corporations masses and to force them into it by the collected by the Federal Reserve terroristic methods of fascism. Bank of New York since 1928. On the According to Leon Henderson, basis of such an analysis Mr. Leigh S. former W.P.A. economist, there were Plummer reaches the following con­ in this country during October, ·1938, clusions: -1o,569,ooo unemployed. In the same "Earnings of these concerns dropped at a month, the Federal Reserve Board's rate of $26,goo,ooo per point of decline of index of industrial production the Federal Reserve Board's readjusted index reached 96 per cent of the 1923-25 of industrial production from 1929 through average. That is, while production was 1932. Earnings of the same companies in­ only 4 per cent below what is now creased at a rate of $23,950,000 for each considered "normal," there were still point gain in industrial production from 1932 through 1937. The difference between nearly eleven million workers unable the drop per point of industrial production to find jobs in private employment. change and the gain per point on the up­ In November the production index side of the depression was $2,950,000 or reached 103 of this "normal," but un­ approximately 11 per cent." (Wall Street employment remained practically sta­ journal.) tionary. Why does not big business, Not so bad, is it? And this seems which controls the nation's economy also to be the opinion of Mr. Plummer and dominates directly the heavy in. in the Wall Street journal, stated in dustries, go to work and provide em­ these words: ployment for the jobless? The Wall "Ability of large industrial corporations to Street journal says that big business earn a dollar has been bent a bit, but not is still able "to earn a dollar" despite broken by events of the last six years." heavier taxation. Why not go ahead (Ibid.) and earn it? And forgetting what the editors say Comparing 'the average yearly in­ editorially to the contrary, this spokes­ vestments in capital goods between man of Wall Street gives Mr. Plum­ the two four-year periods, 1926-29 and mer's article the following head: "In­ 1932-35, The New York Times (an­ dustry Still Has Strong Earning Abil­ other spokesman of big business) la­ ity Despite Handicaps of Heavier Tax ments the fact that in the latter: Burdens, Uneven Labor Conditions " ... the expenditures on capital goods had Imposed Since 1929." fallen, in other words, to less than a third Remember: it is the large industrial of the previous level, making a difference of corporations that this refers to. It is almost $1o,ooo,ooo,ooo a year." (December the opportunities of finance capital 30, 1938.) which even this defender of its privi­ The explanation for this fact is not leges describes as only "bent a bit" but difficult to find. The years 1926-29, by no means "broken." And, we during which capital investments in should add, a very tiny bit. And yet America were approaching a yearly it is precisely from the reactionary cir­ average of about nineteen billion cles of finance capital that the main dollars, were years of relative capital- REVIEW OF THE MONTH 103 ist stabilization. That's why the re­ all imperialist contradictions, and the covery phase of the economic cycle unfolding of the anti-fascist struggles had reached the proportions it did. of the masses. The drop of ten billions But already in 1927-28, as Comrade in the average yearly capital invest­ Stalin had pointed out at the time, ment during 1932-35 as compared the very growth of capitalist produc­ with 1926-29 .is largely a reflection of tion and investments during the sta­ the fact that the former four years bilization years was immensely sharp­ were years of a special kind of depres­ ening all the inherent contradictions sion followed by a special kind of re­ of the system, thus preparing the covery; We say, largely but not total­ ground for the break-up of this stabil­ ly. Because a serious contributing ization and for a deep-going economic factor to this drop in capital invest­ crash. In fighting against Lovestone­ ments, especially since 1935, was the ism, the Communist Party was seeking growing economic and political sabo­ to prepare itself as well as the Amer­ tage of big business. It was this sabo­ ican people for this coming change. tage that hastened the outbreak of the What happened since the 1929 economic crisis in 1937 and which is crash is perhaps more widely remem­ retarding the development of the busi­ bered. We had over three years of ness improvement that started in the deep (the deepest) economic crisis summer of 1938. lasting until around the middle of The New York Times advises the 1932, with Hoover in power, and administration to try to answer the then the beginning of the depression question "why are the nation's enter­ phase of the cycle (a leveling out of prisers not spending an average of the decline). The years 1932-35, which $19,ooo,ooo,ooo a year, with a view to the Times chooses to contrast with the their future benefit, as they used to?" years of "prosperity," were years of de­ Well, we don't know exactly what the pression, the depression phase of the administration would answer. Very economic cycle. Quite naturally, pro­ likely, it will overlook the basic causes duction and capital investments and will almost certainly shrink from would be in a very depressed state. drawing all the conclusions from But that is not all. The depression of these causes. Yet this has 'to be done. these years was not an ordinary one, The basic causes are the general crisis not a normal one. It was, as Comrade of the capitalist system, its inability Stalin pointed out in 1934, "a depres­ to work as of old in the "normal" and sion of a special kind which does not "ordinary" way, and the sabotage of lead to a new boom and flourishing in­ big business which is part of the gen­ dustry." eral reactionary and pro-fascist offen­ The reasons for this are the deepen­ sive. And, to draw only the immedi­ ing of the general crisis of the capital­ ate practical conclusions from that, it ist system (while socialism in the So­ is now fully evident that special and viet Union was growing and gaining), extraordinary measures are necessary the break-up of the temporary capital­ to protect the masses and to enable ist stabilization, the rise of the world them to live. It means fighting for offensive of fascism, the sharpening of jobs, security, democracy and peace. 104 THE COMMUNIST

It is the struggle of a united people, Pro-fascist reaction figures like this: headed by the working class, for social the democratic front forces seem to and national security. hesitate to press for the nationaliza­ Can this struggle be promoted effec­ tion of the banks and railroads. As tiyely without curbing the economic long as that hesitation prevails, the and political power of the monopolies, democratic forces will not be able to of finance capital, of big business? No, provide a recovery satisfactory to the it cannot. The solution of the eco­ people. Hence, the people will grow nomic problems of jobs, decent wages, confused and demoralized. In such an a secured income for the farmers and envisioned situation, pro-fascist dema­ middle classes, calls at the present gogues (or fascist) will step in and time for large-scale capital invest­ take charge and precisely by promis­ ments. But finance capital, which con­ ing recovery, "normal" and "ordi­ trols the flow. of capital investments, nary," and dangling before the eyes directly and indirectly, not only con­ of the masses all sorts of nationaliza­ tinues to sabotage, but is now unfold­ ing a new offensive against the people tion schemes. A foretaste of this dema­ and against the government. There­ gogy we already have in the cham­ fore, to open the flow of capital in­ pionship of normal recovery by the vestments, it is absolutely necessary to Republican Party as against the relief loosen the hold of finance capital and scarcity economy of the New upon the sources and instruments of Deal. such investments. This means the na­ We had this demagogy in the tionalization of the banking system attempts of Phil LaFollette, which of the country as well as the national­ demagogy, though dormant, is not ization of the railroads and the muni­ dead. We have it in the demagogic tions industries. ravings against the bankers by the fas­ These are not reforms for reforms' cist priest, Coughlin, which must not sake which can be postponed until re­ be ignored. We have it growing on all covery is achieved and everybody has sides and we must not let it come to a job at decent wages. No, that is not fruition. the case now at all. If jobs, recovery, It should be clear, therefore, that democracy and peace-if the struggle in order to preserve the gains already for these objectives within the confines made in the vital matters of relief, of capitalism could be promoted effec­ public works, farm legislation, bank­ tively without nationalizing the banks ing regulations, etc., these must be and railroads, there might be no rea­ made more adequate and consolidated. son why we should advocate such But it must also be made clear that measures. But the truth is it cannot be only a policy which is consciously done in the present world. The last several years have amply demon­ orientated towards the nationalization strated that fact. And pro-fascist reac­ of the banks, railroads and munitions tion in this country appreciates this industries can make more adequate fact perhaps better than certain ele­ and consolidated the progressive gains ments in the democratic front. now held by the American people. REVIEW OF THE MONTH

OHN N. GARNER, Vice-President of find it difficult to accept the current J the United States, has been talked gossip about Mr. Gamer's "middle­ about in the press a good deal lately, of-the-roadedness." For it is well although he has not been much before known that Mr. Garner has consis­ the public eye himself. What he really tently vacillated away from democracy thinks of public issues, the people and toward pro-fascist reaction, vacil­ have to infer indirectly from signs and lating only one way. gestures. But it seems to be pretty It is quite possible, therefore, that well established that he is now en­ we are dealing here with a tactical gaged in considerable political activ­ attempt on the part of the Vice-Presi­ ity. On which, we should like for the dent to construct artificially a new moment to make only this comment. "middle." We say, artificially, because If a Vice-President has to be politically it cannot be done in any other way. active, it would be desirable that the The intent of this tactic would seem people be given a chance to learn the to be to take away from the President nature of these activities in a more di­ his present virtual monopoly of the rect way. Say, the Vice-President him­ "middle-of-the-road," thus forcing self speaking out every now and then. him eithet to capitulate to the Gamer We are told, for example, that Mr. elements in the Democratic Party or Gamer is really not a reactionary die­ else abandon the "middle." hard but a mild and agreeable "mid­ But this is more easily said than dle-of-thecroader." This is certainly done. It rests upon a false and non­ strange news. It somehow does not fit realistic evaluation of the meaning of with the prevailing and well-substan­ the results of the last elections in No­ tiated impression that Mr. Garner has vember. It wrongly assumes that the been and is an opponent of President people's verdict in those elections was Roosevelt's New Deal policies, which, in favor of moving to the Right. by the President's own definition, are Hence, it concludes that the road of "middle-of-the-road." Or, does Mr. government policy has to be shifted Gamer believe that the President is to the Right. Which would mean, if no longer in the middle? we grant these assumptions, that the Of course, the "middle-of-the-road" middle too must be shifted to the is not and cannot be always fixed and Right and that there is real political stationary. One reason is that the po­ basis for constructing such a line. But litical road itself is not fixed and sta­ these assumptions are largely wishful tionary. When the road turns to the and muddled thinking. The incon­ left, the "middle," if it wants to re. testable fact is that the farmers, mid­ niain a middle, must also shift in the dle classes and old people who voted same direction. Another reason is that Republican in November, voted in the political meaning of "middle-of­ their mass against, not the New Deal the-road" at the present time is a posi­ objectives, but the inadequate and in­ tion of vacillation between pro-fascist consistent realization of these objec­ reaction and consistent anti-fascist tives. Let this sink into the minds of democracy. Vacillating, so to speak, the constructors of new "middles." Be­ both ways. This being the case, we cause it gives the lie squarely to all 106 THE COMMUNIST assertions that the mass of the people regulated or that bank deposits are want to move to the Right, and ex­ really and permanently secure. Which poses clearly the fact that there is no is nonsense because none of these basis among the people and in their problems can be solved with any de­ desires for any new "middles" in the gree of thoroughness without nation­ direction of the Right. alizing the banking. system. What we In the Republican Party too there have today in the reforms that are al­ are plenty of tacticians trying to con­ ready on the statute books is just a struct such a "middle." Representa­ beginning, an approach. Therefore, tives Barton from New York, for ex­ these reforms are today just as vital ample. Speaking recently before a political issues as they ever were. And New York County Republican Com­ this is true also because the workabil­ mittee meeting, Mr. Barton had this ity and perfection of these reforms to say: demand that they be extended, deep­ ened, further developed. And this "In so far as the reforms of the past six years are sound, they have ceased to be po­ means advancing forward on the road litical issues. We, no less than the Demo­ of progressive legislation, not stand­ crats, are determined to maintain the rights ing still and being pushed backward. of collective bargaining, social security, in­ This has to be done precisely for surance of bank deposits and the proper the purpose of making the existing re­ regulation of the security exchange. These measures should be administered and can forms (which, Barton claims, are no be administered, so as to achieve what our longer political issues) achieve "steady opponents have failed to achieve-steady em­ employment and an expanding na­ ployment and an expanding national in­ tional income." Not by giving the come." monopolies more leeway than they al­ But is it true that these reforms ready have, but by curbing their have ceased to be political issues? To powers economically and politically, say that it is true would mean to as­ can the American people move effec­ sume that, for example, the right of tively towards steady employment, an collective bargaining is already fully expanded national income, security, secure and that there is nothing fur­ democracy and peace. ther to be done to protect that right This is the central political issue in and to make it real for all workers. which all the other more specific issues But this is manifestly not so. Big busi­ are tied up. In the last analysis, the ness reaction is continually plotting to position of various political groups undermine and destroy the National and tendencies in the country will be Labor Relations Act and is doing so determined not by what they arbi­ in Congress with the help of Barton's trarily choose to call themselves but own party, at this very time. It would by their actual attitude on this issue. mean to assume further that social Judged from this standpoint, the new security is a reality for the mass of the Gamer "middle" is plainly an attempt American people. Which is manifest. to force the Roosevelt administration ly a bad joke, if not worse. It would and the Democratic Party to abandon mean additionally to assume that the the New Deal policies and objectives. securities exchange is already properly It is an attempt to make the govern- REVIEW OF THE MONTH ment capitulate to big business reac­ cist aggressors which is necessary and tion. And· from the same standpoint, desirable. Possibly, more could have Barton's "progressivism" amounts to been accomplished along these lines in the same thing, except that the latter Lima. But as much as has been maneuvers in the Republican Party achieved is of the greatest positive whereas Garner operates in the Demo­ value both for the unification of the cratic Party. Considering the different Americas against the fascist aggres­ relationships of forces in the two par­ sors and for the further promotion of ties, the inner-party tactics of the the movements of the Latin American Garner and Barton tendencies respec­ peoples for their national indepen­ tively are and will be different. But dence. their political essence as at present · There is much to substantiate this manifest would seem to be very much point of view on the results of Lima. alike. And the violent, almost hysterical, re­ President Roosevelt has indicated in action against the conference by fas­ his opening message to Congress, and cism everywhere, but especially Ger­ subsequently in his Jackson Day man fascism, is perhaps the most spec· speech, the central character of the tacular indication that the conference task of solving the economic problems was moving in the right direction. of the people hand in hand with re­ The task now is to follow it up, sisting fascist aggression. To make economically and politically. these messages a truly effective plat­ On the economic side, the United form of struggle for the social and na­ States faces a condition in Latin tional security of the American peo­ America which presents several seri­ ple, and to counter effectively the new ous problems. It is well known, for Garner "middle," this major idea example, that all our neighbors to the must underlie all practical policies: south are largely producers of agri­ the economic and political power of cultural and raw material products. the monopolies-the fountain head of As far as their exports go, many of pro-fascism at home and of capitula­ them are either mono or duo-cultural tion to fascism abroad-this power agrarian countries. Some of their ex­ must be curbed. portable goods, the United States The growing forces of the demo­ needs for its own economy; while with cratic front, and in the first place other of their products (wheat, cot­ labor, have the vital and serious task ton, cattle, meat), this country itself of uniting and leading the majority competes on the world market. This of the people along this path, the only condition is most outstanding in the path to jobs, security, democracy and case of Argentina. This, one might peace. say, is a contradiction inherent in capi­ • talist economy at its present stage, a • • contradiction made sharper and more T IS quite true that the Eighth Pan­ insoluble by the fact that the economy I American Conference did not pro­ of the United States is dominated by duce that complete consolidation and finance imperialist capital. Yet much unity of the Americas against the fas- can be done by the American people 108 THE COMMUNIST to meet these economic difficulties in a fight, the United States needs the col· democratic and anti-fascist way. Espe­ laboration of the Latin American cially so as there is another contradic­ countries and the Latin American tion operating at the present time, countries need ours. This is the true much sharper and much more domi­ democratic and anti-fascist basis upon nating in the situation. It is the con­ which Pan-American relationships tradiction between international fas­ must be built. cism, on the one hand, and the peo­ From such a basis, the economic ples-all peoples-of the Americas, on problems arising from our relations the other. with Latin America can find certain The central fact in the situation is mutually satisfactory solutions. It is, precisely this contradiction. It is the for example, generally understood fact that German fascism and its allies that this country stands ready to make are reaching out after the raw materi­ certain concessions to the Latin Amer­ al, food and strategic bases of Latin Icans in the matter of tariffs. This America for the second imperialist policy will have to be continued and war which they have already begun. further developed. But this is not all. This obviously carries the most seri­ The United States is vitally interested ous threat to the national indepen­ in the development of broad home dence of the Latin American countries markets in the Latin American coun­ and to the national security of the tries for the goods of their own indus­ United States as well as to the peace tries as well as ours. This may not and democracy of the world. This fact · be in the interests of our economic is incontestable and only the super­ royalists and monopolists who come clever Republican Herald Tribune down to those countries to squeeze out could see here a boxing "with shad­ of them all there is and take it away. ows." But then the interests of the monop­ For the Latin American peoples, it olies are not the interests of the Amer­ is the major task of the present time ican people and nation. Our nation to resist the penetration of the fascist wants prosperous and democratic aggressors in order to carry forward neighbors for the sake of its own their national liberation struggles, to prosperity and democracy. Specifically, establish and develop democracy in this means: we should help, certainly their countries, in order to save their not obstruct, all efforts of the Latin nations from destruction by fascism. Americans to diversify their agricul­ For the United States, it is the vital ture, which means helping them to task of protecting its national security carry through substantial agrarian re­ which is indissolubly tied up with the forms (land and implements to the promotion of the social security of the peasants); it means also helping them, American people. And this is where certainly not obstructing, to develop and how the interests of the Latin their native industries. So long as we American countries and of our coun­ pursue a truly democratic and anti­ try meet and coincide> making neces­ fascist policy in Latin America, a con­ sary and possible a common fight sistent good neighbor policy, the in­ against the fascist aggressor'\. For this dustries and agriculture of the United REVIEW OF THE MONTH 109

States will benefit greatly from assist­ peoples. And these are the forces that ing such progressive economic devel­ are resisting fascist penetration and opments in those countries. And, con­ are seeking the collaboration of the versely, only by following such an American people and of the United economic policy will we really suc­ States. On the other hand, the forces ceed in building the continental soli­ of reaction are the big landowners darity against the fascist aggressors. and slave drivers, al~o some of the The spokesmen of Wall Street, of native commercial and financial the reactionary monopolies, are nat­ agents of foreign monopolies, also the urally opposed to such a policy. They well-entrenched agencies of German say it is against the interests of the and Italian fascism, pro-fascist mili­ United States. But, then, these same tary circles and the reactionary ele­ monopolies tell us that social security ments of the higher church hierarchy. for the American people is also The picture is not the same in all against the interests of the United countries, of course, but such is the States. And so we find that it has be­ line-up in the main. come necessary to curb the powers From the standpoint of our na­ of these monopolies in order to tional interests, which demand the promote the well being of the masses successful working of our good neigh­ of the American people and of Amer­ bor policy, the question is: upon ica. Similarly with our relationships which of these forces in Latin Amer­ to Latin America. In order that we ica must the United States orientate? should be able to strengthen our good Clearly, upon the forces of the peoples neighborly ties with those countries of Latin America and their democ­ on a truly democratic basis, it has racy. Because: in many countries become necessary to curb the powers these forces are either in power or of the same reactionary monopolies are coming to power; in all Latin wherever they operate in the Latin American countries the future belongs American countries. The ways of these to them; they are the ones who want monopolies are imperialist and anti­ our collaboration and can be depend­ democratic. They run contrary to the· ed on to stand with us shoulder to interests of America. They must there­ shoulder against the fascist aggres­ fore be checked and curbed. sors. Basing itself upon these forces, From this follow certain political the American people will be able to policies. Just as in our own country, proceed with greater ease and success so similarly in the Latin American to rally all Latin American countries countries a great fight takes place in a strong continental solidarity between the forces of democracy against the fascist aggressors. Thus a and the fq,rces of reaction and fas­ tremendous power will be created for cism. The forces of democracy are the collaboration with all peace forces of peoples: the workers, peasants, intel­ the world for peace and democracy. lectuals and middle classes. These And this is what fascism fears. And are the forces that are struggling to because fascism fears these develop­ liberate their nations, to build up the ments, its Trotskyite and Lovestoneite well being and prosperity of their agents have been and are particularly

allying allying of of policy policy a a following following ulate, ulate, the the farmers, farmers, the the class, class, working working the the is is

capit­ "appease," "appease," "conciliate," "conciliate," retreat, retreat, other other the the On On side. side. one one on on is is This This

States) States) the the France, France, Unit~d Unit~d (England, (England, Deal. Deal. New New the the by by invented invented

countries countries opponent opponent the the of of circles circles was was it it that that says says Hoover Hoover while while ism ism

imperialist imperialist the the while while attack attack powers powers imperial­ American American of of invention invention an an is is

fascist fascist the the war: war: one-sided" one-sided" "a "a far far so so danger danger this this that that adds adds Hitler-Trotsky Hitler-Trotsky

is is it it that that others)- many many (and (and liarity liarity Only Only America. America. Latin Latin in in danger danger fascist fascist

pecu­ this this has has war war imperialist imperialist ond ond no no is is there there that that banner banner the the under under

sec­ this this But But States. States. United United the the and and marching marching are are (Hoover) (Hoover) States States United United

1 1 1 1 pan pan a a England, England, and and pan pan a a France, France, the the of of monopolies monopolies imperialist imperialist the the .of .of

.and .and Germany Germany France, France, and and Italy Italy spokesmen spokesmen authoritative authoritative most most the the by by

England, England, and and Italy Italy States, States, United United followed followed agents, agents, Trotsky-Lovestone Trotsky-Lovestone

the the and and Germany Germany England, England, and and many many its its with with together together fascism fascism national national

Ger­ between between powers: powers: imperialist imperialist big big inter­ line-up: line-up: this this have have we we so, so, And And

the the between between contradictions contradictions and and ries ries Deal. Deal. New New the the supporting supporting into into people people

Rival­ stage. stage. this this at at system system capitalist capitalist American American the the frighten frighten to to President President

the the of of contradictions contradictions imperialist imperialist the the the the of of invention invention an an is is thing thing whole whole the the

from from basically basically arises arises invention) invention) an an not not that that America; America; Latin Latin in in danger danger cist cist

reality, reality, a a (surely (surely war war imperialist imperialist -this -this fas­ no no is is there there that that says says too too Hoover Hoover

America America Latin Latin of of bases bases strategic strategic and and words. words. different different in in though though spies) spies) skyite skyite

food food materials, materials, raw raw the the of of hold hold get get Trot­ his his (and (and Hitler Hitler as as things things same same

to to seek seek powers powers fascist fascist the the the the says says extension extension Hoover Hoover Herbert Herbert as as nopolies nopolies

whose whose for for and and Ethiopia Ethiopia and and Spain Spain mo­ imperialist imperialist American American the the of of ests ests

China, China, in in waging waging already already is is fascism fascism inter­ the the of of defender defender staunch staunch a a such such

which which W<;tr, W<;tr, imperialist imperialist that that second second fact fact The The the the is is important important Equally Equally

this. this. is is today today Americas Americas the the stuff. stuff. in in and and same same the the use use they they wording: wording: the the

world world the the in in place place taking taking is is change change What What even even not not do do Trotskyites Trotskyites The The

evident. evident. fully fully is is It It waging? waging? imperialism." imperialism." American American of of invention invention

already already is is fascism fascism international international which which "an "an is is Americas Americas the the in in danger danger fascist fascist

war war imperialist imperialist second second the the the the that that against against trade; trade; "peaceful" "peaceful" except except ica ica

and and imperialism imperialism against against Amer­ struggle struggle of of Latin Latin on on designs designs no no have have they they

anti-fascism, anti-fascism, of of that that camp camp the the is is maintains maintains second second Japan) Japan) the the and and Italy Italy in in

that that equally evident evident equally not not it it (and (and is is And And Germany Germany in in press press fascist fascist The The

fascism? fascism? to to capitulation capitulation and and fascism fascism America. America. Latin Latin in in movements movements

of of war, war, imperialist imperialist and and anti-fascist anti-fascist imperialism imperialism the the of of elements elements weaker weaker

of of camp camp the the is is first first the the the the that that of of alone alone certain certain demoralize demoralize to to thus thus ing ing

this this from from evident evident not not it it Is Is hop­ forces. forces. masters, masters, fascist fascist their their shield shield to to ing ing

of of line-up line-up real real the the is is This This try­ are are mocracy. mocracy. Lovestoneites Lovestoneites and and Trotskyites Trotskyites

de­ develop develop and and promote promote to to nations, nations, the the enemy," enemy," main main the the is is imperialism imperialism

small small the the of of liberation liberation national national the the "Yankee "Yankee that that minister, minister, propaganda propaganda

promote promote to to peoples, peoples, their their of of Hitler's Hitler's security security Goebbels, Goebbels, of of catchword catchword the the

national national the the protect protect to to danger, danger, Under Under cist cist States. States. United United the the against against fight fight

fas­ real real the the resist resist to to together together getting getting a a to to fascism fascism against against fight fight the the from from

Americas­ the the of of forces forces progressive progressive them them divert divert to to seeking seeking movements movements

and and democratic democratic classes-all classes-all American American middle middle Latin Latin various various in in active active

COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE THE 110 110 REVIEW OF THE MONTH 111 themselves with the fascist aggressor to meet this imperialist war in a dem­ against their own peoples and nations ocratic and anti-fascist way. as well a8 against the smaller coun­ And this is also what is happening tries and the colonial and semi-colo­ in the Americas. It is happening thus nial peoples. These are facts which no because the class interests of the pro­ one can honestly dispute. But this is letariat of the Americas, the vital in­ not the only thing happening in the terests of the toiling masses of these world. Fortunately. countries and the national interests of As against the fascist offensive, and all their peoples merge and coincide the capitulation-alliance policies of in a common interest to resist the the imperialist circles of the bour­ fascist offensive. geoisie of the democratic countries, To achieve this common aim the there rises and develops a movement working people of the-Latin Amer­ of the peoples themselves-workers, engaged in the seri­ farmers, middle classes-resisting the ican countries are fascist offensive and combatting the ous task of eliminating fascism and capitulation policies of the reaction­ combatting the reactionaries in their ary imperialist circles of their own own countries. Similarly, the workers bourgeoisie. Spain and China have and all progressive forces in the given us the example. Whole peoples United States have the task of com­ and nations threatened by fascism batting reaction in our country and are moving towards resistance to fas­ of insuring the continuation and im­ cist aggression. The Soviet Union, by provement of the good neighbor pol­ its socialist power, peace policies and icy. firm dealing with the aggressors, is It is clear that the fulfillment of the greatest source of strength and these tasks requires a relentless strug­ encouragement to all anti-fascist fight­ gle against the Trotsky-Lovestone ers. agents of the fascist aggressors both Thus we have a second imperialist here and in Latin America. The more war waged by Germany, Italy and active fascism becomes, the more dan­ Japan threatening all nations and gerous become its Trotskyite spies. peoples. The imperialist circles of There is no doubt that the two the bourgeois-democratic countries national conventions of our brother against whose interests this war is Parties-the Communist Parties of directed and whose capitulation poli­ in their coun­ cies have enabled fascism to begin it Mexico and Cuba-'-held -these imperialist circles are now try­ tries during the month of January ing to meet the war by enterihg into will contribute materially toward the counter-revolutionary alliances with above ends. These parties, and our the fascist aggressors. This only en­ brother Party in Chile, to mention courages and strengthens the fascists only these, have already demonstrated for bigger aggressions. And so the im­ that they can contribute significantly perialist war continues "one-sided." to the national liberation of their But at the same time, the workers and peoples and to the strengthening of peoples and whole countries are rising anti-fascist continental solidarity. 112 THE COMMUNIST

OM MOONEY's freedom is of ican working class and people. And T course a victory and triumph for because of that, it is also serving our himself, for his courage, his unfalter­ Party better. A really indispensable ing devotion to the cause of the instrument for education, organiza­ masses, his unflagging faith in his tion and struggle. class and people. It is also a victory None of us will want to fall into and triumph for the working class of a mood of complacency. But a feeling America which has come to play such of pride is legitimate on the part of an important role in the life of the the Party and its numerous friends. nation. It is a victory for the whole After all it was-and still is-no easy camp of progress and democracy job. Great difficulties had to be met whose advance made the freeing of and overcome during the fifteen years Mooney possible. It is a promise of of the life of the Daily Worker. Diffi­ greater victories to come, victories for culties of all sorts: material, organiza­ the American people. tional, ideological. But the Party and Our Party has already expressed its its friends met these difficulties, es­ joy and happiness, together with all tablishing in these years an institu­ friends of labor and progress. And tion that is coming to be recognized this joy has been greatly enhanced by all progressive forces, not alone by by Tom Mooney's brief statement to our Party, as of the greatest value the press on his future plans. He said: and importance. An institution which "My plans, at the moment, are, first, to is also making its own special con­ seek the freedom of Billings, my co-worker, tribution to the rich store of pro­ co-defendant, and co-sufferer; secondly, to gressive American journalism. work for the unity of the A. F. of L., C.I.O. The people who in the course of and the railway brotherhoods; and, third, years have made the Daily Worker and to prevent fascism from taking hold in America." those who are making it today-the Daily Worker staff--deserve particular Nothing could say it better than recognition and this the Party has ex­ these few lines. It is a program of tended to them. work and life which is near and dear Yet the greatest recognition that can to the labor movement and its pro­ be given to the staff of our central gressive allies. It is a program whose organ is a greater and truly mass cir­ realization will make sure that the culation. This is still the unsolved American people and democracy will task, first, of the Communist Party win for good. organizations and then of all friends All power to you, Tom Mooney, in of the Daily Worker. The sixteenth the realization of these plans! year of the life of our paper should see a sizable addition to its readers, a more UR Daily Worker is now going systematic use of its material for the 0 on its sixteenth year. While educational and organizing campaigns growing more mature, as is natural, of our movements and a further im­ the Daily Worker is also becoming provement in the form and content of ever more vigorous, youthful and ef­ its own columns. fective in the great causes of the Amer- Our Party is growing and so is its REVIEW OF THE MONTH 113 press. In January there appeared the and the Daily Worker staff on the fif­ first issue of a new Party magazine, teenth anniversary of our central National Issues) devoted especially to organ, there is one idea that should political-legislative problems and ac­ be uppermost in our minds: Build the tivities. But we must grow faster. circulation of the Daily Worker. Therefore, in congratulating the Party A.B.

While the Year is Still Young

Have You Taken or Renewed Your Subscription to THE COMMUNIST '• Have You Introduced THE COMMUNIST to a New Subscriber '• Are You Doing Your Bit Toward the 25,000 Circulation Mark '• Cut along this line and mail to THE COMMUNIST Date ______19 ______P. 0. Box 148, Sta. D New York, N.Y. Please enter my subscription to THE COMMUNIST beginning with the ----···------___ . ______19 ______issue. Name------·------·------···------Address ------···------···------City ------State __ ------···------Regular subscription $2.00 per year for 12 monthly issues. For Canadian and foreign subscriptions add fifty cents. LENIN-HIS MEANING FOR US TODAY*

BY ROBERT MINOR

HE struggle against war is a mod­ at Basel in 1912 to fight with every T ern phenomenon. The possibility effective means against the oncoming of banishing war from the earth came world imperialist war-only one, the about only with the birth of the Bolshevik Party of Lenin and Stalin, movement for, and the perspective of, carried out that promise effectively, scientific socialism; for, prior to that, consistently and fully. This historic every form of society of which men fact is the proudest badge of honor had knowledge had contained war of Bolsheviks. within it as a historic necessity; and The success of the fight that Lenin dreams of enduring peace could then led against war was greater than any be hardly more than dreams of a other success ever yet attained by the heaven after death, or of a primitive democratic forces of civilization utopia almost equally unreal. against barbaric militarism. In all his­ The forces that could make pos­ tory there is no deed that was ever sible peace between nations were, and done for peace, equal to the Bolshe­ could be, organized only by the mod­ vik Party's leadership of the masses ern movement of labor guided by the in "disarming" the most barbarous Marxian perspective of socialism. militarist autocracy of the modern It is, therefore, not an accident that world through winning from tsarism the greatest leader of the first de­ and the imperialist bourgeoisie the cisive struggle for socialism-Lenin­ leadership of a twelve million strong was also the greatest leader of the army, stopping the imperialist war on struggle against war. the Eastern front and turning the It was Lenin who, on a world scale, huge force of 16o,ooo,ooo people to led, and led successfully, the fight the path of peace and socialism. against war in the greatest crisis and Upon this unexampled tradition slaughter the world ever knew, in we Communists stand, and we make 1914-1918. Among all the Socialist no concessions, nor do we retract or Parties of the world that had pledged weaken by one syllable that magnifi­ themselves at the International Social­ cent program of struggle against war; ist Congress at Stuttgart in 1907 and it stands for us, not as a dead page of history, but as a living guide by • This is the second and concluding sec­ which again and again, and yet again, tion of Comrade Minor's article, the first the victory of peace against war, of part of which appeared in the January issue. -The Editors. civilization against militarist barbar- LENIN-HIS MEANING FOR US TODAY

ism, of democracy against imperial­ and in China to aid the Japanese in­ ism, of socialism against slavery, will vasion-and foremost among these be won. provocateurs is the same corrupt ad­ We repeat the emphasis-that it is venturer Trotsky, now revealed as a a living guide, and not transformed police spy of the German government into a dead formula. for the past eighteen years! The magnificent struggle of the Lenin, with his Party, was the Bolsheviks against the war was not a organizer of the international opposi­ blind following of a dogma of opposi­ tion to the war, the international tion to all war in general. Let no man leader and teacher of those national imagine that the achievements of leaders who sprang up in all coun­ Lenin were made through the use of tries to rally the working class away a dead and "petrified orthodoxy" of from support of the imperialists. Karl dogma-by a set of rules (we might Liebknecht's voice rang out in the as well say incantations) which need Reichstag with the anti-war call of only to be learned by heart and ap­ revolutionary socialism, clarified best plied, come what may, to all situa­ of all by Lenin. The Russian name tions. For Lenin, "Marxism is not a of Lenin's Party became a word in the dogma, but a guide to action." And, languages of all nations signifying the using this guide to action, and bravest struggle against war. The old in accord with "the necessity of an fighter Eugene V. Debs was taken to historical study of each war individ­ prison with the words on his lips: ually," Lenin concluded that: "The "From the crown of my head to the present war is an imperialist war. soles of my feet-I am a Bolshevik!" This is its main characteristic." • Thus also were inspired Charles E. It was on the basis of this analysis Ruthenberg and Earl Browder, Wm. that the Party of Lenin and Stalin, D.Haywood and a host of others whose declaring that "a revolutionary class names are known as the leaders who in a reactionary war cannot but 'wish were imprisoned for their struggle the defeat of its government,' " began against war. the great action that produced the only permanently decisive results ON THE THEORY THAT "THERE CAN BE NO that came out of the World War. MORE NATIONAL WARS" Why is it necessary to recall this But among the leading figures of today? Because today the agents the revolutionary struggle against the provocateurs of Hitler and Mussolini war, there were many who made and the Japanese Hiders raise the errors which Lenin foresaw could cry "defeat your own governmentl"­ lead to disastrous consequences. not in Rome, Tokyo or Berlin, but in Among these errors notably was that Catalonia, to break the Spanish re­ of opposing the war blindly, on dog­ publican line for the fascist armies, matic grounds, and therefore leaving oneself and one's class open to manipulation and defeat by the war­ • V. I. Lenin, Collected Works, Vol. XVIII, International Publishers, New York p. 68. makers. This was the case of the ll6 THE COMMUNIST

famous "Junius" pamphlet against masses of the people over to the service of the war, which was written by Rosa their deadly enemy-imperialism." (My em­ phasis-R. M.) Luxemburg, using the name "Junius," and issued in Germany sec­ While rejoicing at the appearance retly in 1915. In this pamphlet, de­ "at last" of a revolutionary anti-war spite its fine spirit, Luxemburg made pamphlet in Germany, Lenin never­ the dangerous error of concluding theless sharply attacked the error con­ that in the imperialist epoch there tained in it, saying: could not be any wars other than wars "It is possible that the denial [in the imperialistic on both sides, as in the pamphlet] of national wars in general is case of the World War then raging. either an oversight or an accidental exag­ It was the continuation of an old geration in the course of emphasizing the quite correct idea that the present war is wrong attitude on Luxemburg's part, imperialist and not national. But, since the and that of her a~sociates, on the sub­ reverse is also possible, since an erroneous. ject of national struggles for libera­ denial of all national wars is to be noticed tion. Lenin saw instantly that in the among various Social-Democrats as a conse­ further development of the war and quence of the false presentation of the pre9ent war as national, therefore one can­ in a changed situation this error not let this mistake stand unchallenged. would lead to disastrous conse­ "Junius is quite right when he emphasizes quences. the decisive influence of 'imperialist condi­ What consequences? Very clearly, tions' in the present war, when he says that behind Serbia stands [Tsarist] Russia, 'be­ the consequences which the fascist hind Serbian nationalism stands Russian agents are striking for today, when imperialism,' that the participation of, for the hideous fascist reaction wages war example, Holland in the war would also be against Spain and China and Ethi­ imperialistic, because she, in the first place, opia, and the agents of fascism are not would be defending her colonies, and, in the second place, would be an ally of one of lacking who tell us-not as an honest the imperialist coalitions. This is indisput­ mistake, but as the work of well-paid able-in relation to the present war. And provocateurs-that we are in error in when Junius, in this respect, emphasizes defending Spain and China, that that which is for him of prime importance­ these republics are not engaged in the struggle against the 'phantom of national war' which at the present time dominates struggles for national liberation, but Social-Democratic policy, then it is impos­ are "imperialist" and that there is no sible not to recognize his reasoning as correct reason to fight for Ethiopia against and fully appropriate. fascist conquest, that "there are no "The ~istake would be only in the exag­ national wars" of liberation possible geration of this truth, in a departure from the Marxian requirement of being concrete, now. in the extension of the evaluation of the The error of the "Junius" pam­ present war to every possible war under phlet was contained in the following imperialism, in forgetting the national move­ passage: ments against imperialism.""

"In the era of this unbridled imperialism Among those who have surrounded there can no longer be any national wars. National interests serve only as an instru­ "V. I. Lenin, Collected Works, Vol. XIX, ment of deceit so as to give the toiling pp. 18o-81, Russian edition. LENIN-HIS MEANING FOR US TODAY and now have possession of Norman cannot under certain conditions become Thomas,. and whose transmission of transformed into its opposite. A national war Trotsky's virus has reduced the So­ may become transformed into an imperialist war and vice versa. An example: the wars of cialist Party from 30,ooo to 3,ooo the Great French Revolution began as na­ members and its press to the physical tional wars, and such they were. These wars character of a "throwaway" and to a were revolutionary; the defense of the Great political character much worse-there Revolution against a coalition of counter­ is an argument that runs this way: revolutionary monarchs. But when Napoleon set up the French empire with the enslave­ If the American or world working ment of a number of long-established, class were to support collective action powerful and vital national states of Europe, among bourgeois-democratic states then out of the national French wars came against the German-Italian-Japanese imperialist wars, generating, in their turn, wars of national liberation against the im­ axis; and if this were to lead to a col­ perialism of Napoleon. lective use of force against the war­ "Only a sophist would obliterate the dif.· makers-then, "No matter how it be­ ference between an imperialist war and a gan, it would be transformed into a national war on the ground that one may war against the Soviet Union." Since become transformed into the other. The this priceless argument is the only dialectic has often served-as in the history of Greek philosophy-as a bridge to sophism. present-day example of any solicitude But we remain dialecticians, struggling for for the "welfare" of the socialist state socialism, not by means of denying the pos­ on the part of these "Socialists" who sibility of all transformation in general, but otherwise are trying (as Norman by means of concrete analysis of the given Thomas shamelessly did at Yale Uni­ case in its conditions and in its develop­ ment."* versity) to persuade the world not to hate Hitler's regime more than the UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS ARE socialist state-let us see what Lenin NATIONAL WARS POSSIBLE? said about possibilities of the trans­ formation of a national war into im­ Lenin was then discussing, of perialist war, and vice versa. Continu­ course, not war in general, but con­ ing with his criticism of the "Junius" cretely the war of 1914-18, and his pamphlet where we left off, we quote argument is directed toward convinc­ Lenin again: ing the proletarian forces of the lack of any excuse whatsoever for support "The only argument in defense of the of that war. Social-chauvinists were thesis that 'there can be no more national appealing to the working class to sup­ wars,' is the one that the world is divided port the war on the ground that the amongst a handful of 'great' imperialist powers, that therefore every war, even one or the other imperialist side rep­ though it be at the beginning national, is resented the national independence transformed into an imperialist war, involv­ or national liberation of the particu­ ing the interests of one of the imperialist lar country. This raised the question powers or coalitions. of whether the war of 1914, even "The incorrectness of this argument is though it started as a war imperialist ollvious. Certainly a basic postulate of the Marxian dialectic is that every aspect of on both sides, might not be trans- nature and society is conditional and in flux, that there is not a single phenomenon which *Ibid., p. 181.

"Ibid. "Ibid. p. p. Ibid., Ibid., • • 182. 182.

exactly: exactly: words words Lenin's Lenin's quote quote Or, Or, to to

the the between between makes makes Lenin Lenin that that tion tion

Russia. Russia. in in lution lution

distinc­ the the note note to to interesting interesting is is It It

revo­ victorious victorious a a were were there there 4· 4· If If

France? France? threatening threatening and and Spain Spain war." war." Japanese-American Japanese-American a a of of

in in occurring occurring now now is is as as such such tence, tence, example, example, for for consequence, consequence, a a as as ism, ism,

exis­ their their preserve preserve to to wars" wars" tional tional social­ to to way way give give not not did did and and years, years,

"na­ in in resulting resulting peoples, peoples, of of series series twenty twenty about about for for out out held held place) place)

whole whole a a of of existence existence or or dependence dependence first first the the in in American American and and (Japanese (Japanese

in­ national national the the menacing menacing power power state state imperialism imperialism extra-European extra-European 3· 3· "If "If

ultra-reactionary ultra-reactionary an an of of rise rise the the in in states." states."

result result possibly possibly quite quite would would decades," decades," national national vital vital of of number number a a of of ment ment

some some by by backward backward Europe Europe of of opment opment enslave­ the the and and Napoleon's Napoleon's of of type type

"devel­ a a bringing bringing and and years" years" twenty twenty

the the of of "victories "victories were were there there If If 2. 2.

some some for for "powerless "powerless class class working working years." years." twenty twenty

the the rendering rendering International, International, ond ond some some for for powerless powerless be be to to proved proved

Sec­ the the of of opportunists opportunists the the by by class class Europe Europe of of proletariat proletariat "the "the that that

working working the the of of division division and and betrayal betrayal way way a a such such in in concluded concluded be be to to were were

of of consequence consequence

the the that that foresee foresee could could

1914 1914 of of war war imperialist imperialist the the If If 1. 1.

Lenin Lenin time-when time-when all all of of judgments judgments conditions: conditions: lowing lowing

phophetic phophetic most most the the of of one one not not it it Is Is fol­ the the under under possible possible be be would would wars wars

today. today. ities ities such such that that showed showed He He record. record. any any has has

real­ become become have have Lenin, Lenin, by by ago ago years years history history which which of of prophetic prophetic most most the the

twenty-three twenty-three forecast forecast hypothetically hypothetically among among are are words words His His probable. probable. were were

conditions, conditions, these these of of much much how how self self wars wars such such which which under under conditions conditions the the

him­ for for noting noting conditions, conditions, these these of of forecast forecast painstakingly painstakingly He He possible. possible.

each each on on reflect reflect should should reader reader Every Every were were Europe," Europe," in in war war national national great great

"a "a or or wars, wars, "national" "national" that that sisted sisted

untrue."• untrue."• theoretically theoretically

in­

forcefully forcefully and and

saw, saw, Lenin Lenin

But But unscientific, unscientific, undialectical, undialectical, is is backward, backward,

leaps leaps gigantic gigantic occasional occasional without without forward, forward,

bourgeoisie.''• bourgeoisie.''•

unwaveringly unwaveringly and and smoothly smoothly moving moving history history

reactionary reactionary

a a developed developed everywhere everywhere has has

world world of of conceive conceive to to for for impossible; impossible; not not

capital capital

finance finance international international and and other, other, the the

is is it it But But improbable. improbable. is is That That decades. decades. some some

of of that that

from from

differ differ materially materially very very not not does does

by by backward backward Europe Europe of of development development a a be be

coalitions coalitions

two two the the of of each each of of strength strength the the

would would

This This

emphasis--R.M.J emphasis--R.M.J [My [My possible. possible. be be

because because furthermore furthermore and and bourgeoisie; bourgeoisie; the the

would would

Europe Europe in in war war national national great great a a then then

against against war war civil civil into into it it transform. transform. to to strives strives

war, war,

Japanese-American Japanese-American a a of of example, example, for for

objectively objectively which which proletariat, proletariat, the the is is ment ment

consequence, consequence, a a as as socialism, socialism, to to way way give give not not

develop­ forward forward represents represents that that class class the the

did did

and and

years, years, twenty twenty about about for for out out held held

because because

improbable, improbable, degree degree highest highest the the in in is is

also also place) place) first first the the in in American American and and anese anese

war war national national a a into into transformed transformed be be will will 16, 16,

Oap­

imperialism imperialism if if extra-European extra-European states; states;

1914- of of war, war,

imperialist imperialist present present the the "That "That

national national vital vital of of number number a a of of enslavement enslavement

the the and and Napoleon's Napoleon's of of type type the the of of victories victories saying: saying: tion, tion,

with with

ended ended

war war if if the the years; years; p~ent p~ent twenty twenty

ques­ this this up up took took Lenin Lenin other. other. the the

some some for for powerless powerless to to proved proved be be Europe Europe

or or side side one one on on liberation liberation national national of of

if if of· of· proletariat proletariat the the impossibh: impossibh: formation formation

war war a a becoming becoming character, character,

in in

formed formed

trans­ a a such such declare declare cannot cannot one one "But "But

ll8 ll8 COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE THE LENIN-HIS MEANING FOR US TODAY 119

process of national unification (a pro­ to outstrip any example of a reaction gressive process), such as Germany of the past century when capitalism was experiencing in the first stage of still carried within it a capacity to the Franco-Prussian war of 187o, and, permit further development of eco­ on the other hand, the aggression by nomic forces. the same nation against other nations But in quoting the words of Lenin (a reactionary process), into which written twenty-three years ago, we the Franco-Prussian war was trans­ make clear that Lenin foresaw with formed at its end (in aiding the perfect accuracy the possibility that Versaillese in suppression of the Paris there might develop (under circum­ Commune, etc.). stances which he named precisely) the What process is the Germany of need for a world-wide struggle such as today going through? According to in defense of the present Spanish re­ Hitler (and some defenders of his, public, and of China, and of Ethi­ whom we will mention later), Nazi opia, and of a bold, aggressive leader­ Germany is going through the proc­ ship by the working class to form with ess of "national unification" in seiz­ all other democratic forces a single ing and strangling Czechoslovakia, in democratic front of nations to pre­ invading Spain with blood and iron, serve their national existence and in­ in encircling France so as to crush out dependence. democracy and democratic ideas from Lenin's comment on the conse­ Europe ("liquidating the results of quences of a COQtinuation of "extra­ the French Revolution of 1789" as European imperialism" (he speaks of Hitler calls it). Japan and America "in the first According to the views of all demo· place") in its effects upon Europe is crats, on the contrary, Nazi Germany, startling. The continuation of a re­ symbolized by its headsman's axe of actionary policy by Japan today (the the Middle Ages, with its deliberate bloody war of conquest in China, and slaughter, torture and robbery in support of Hitler reaction in the pogroms, represents the reactionary heart of Europe) does indeed (cou­ process-a "development of Europe pled with a reaction in the United backward by some decades"-such a States) make a "great national war in revival of forgotten primitive bestiali­ Europe" not only possible, but in­ ties, in new combinations, as to defy evitable. (Inevitable at least if the comparison. If we do not compare it United States does not soon act more to Bismarck's attempts to crush in accord with its President's declara­ French democracy, when he acted as tions and less in accord with the will the "gendarme of Europe," or to the of the anti-New Deal clique in the type of Napoleon's ."enslavement of a State Department and embassies series of vital national states" -it is abroad.) only because the present-day imperial­ And what of the United States? ism represents such a death-laden de­ What of our own imperialism? Is it cadence, and the orgies of Hitler's not evident that the failure of the ghouls such a death-like reversion as United States to coRduct a consistent

cember, cember, 1938, 1938, p. p. 1073. 1073. p. p. 183. 183. *Ibid., *Ibid.,

festo, festo, November, November, 1938," 1938," The The Communist, Communist, De­

""The ""The Communist Communist International International Mani­

might might take take the the character character national national of of

the the democratic democratic states states that that such such lies lies a~ a~

acter acter

of of

future future

wars; wars; that that such such wars wars

bring bring about about the the isolation isolation of of each each of of

other other things, things,

upon upon the the

possible possible char­

down down the the confidence confidence and and thereby thereby

lution lution

might might have have an an effect, effect, among among

is, is, of of course, course, in in the the effort effort to to break break

spoke spoke of of

the the

fact fact that that

a a socialist socialist

revo­

isolated isolated and and crushed crushed one one by by one. one. (It (It

fact, fact,

the the whole whole

world world

situation. situation.

Lenin Lenin

the the fascist fascist states states unless unless they they can can be be

European European

and and Asiatic Asiatic situation-in situation-in

cratic cratic states states cannot cannot be be conquered conquered by by

profound profound

change change

upon upon

the the

whole whole

strength strength of of the the U.S.S.R., U.S.S.R., the the demo­

Third Third

Five-Year Five-Year

Plans Plans

have have worked worked a a

Because Because of of the the existence existence and and

cies cies of of Stalin Stalin in in the the First, First, Second Second and and

makers. makers.

and and carrying carrying the the

through through

of of the the

poli­

tional tional extinction extinction by by the the fascist fascist war­

The The

establishment establishment of of the the U.S.S.R., U.S.S.R.,

threatened threatened with with war war and and with with na­

cratic cratic states states and and the the smaller smaller powers powers

very very 'hopeful.' 'hopeful.' "" ""

capacity capacity is is on on the the

side side of of the the demo­

of of revolution-can revolution-can render render a a 'hopeless' 'hopeless' war war

overwhelming overwhelming superiority superiority of of war­ in in the the 'giants'-for 'giants'-for example example the the beginning beginning

also also a a war; war; besides, besides, certain certain phenomena phenomena with­ has has been been fundamentally fundamentally altered. altered. The The

this this one one

must must remark remark that that a a hopeless hopeless war war is is

This This means means that that the the balance balance of of power power

against against a a gigantic gigantic one one is is hopeless, hopeless, then then about about

military military sense, sense, of of all all the the Old Old World. World.

argue argue superficially: superficially: A A war war of of a a small small state state

position position of of the the strongest strongest power, power,

in in the the

thing. thing. And And for for another another thing, thing, when when some some

and and Bukharin-have Bukharin-have placed placed it it in in the the not not realizable realizable under under all all conditions, conditions, for for one one

tions tions of of imperialist imperialist powers powers are are in in practice practice of of the the "Francos" "Francos" of of Messrs. Messrs. Trotsky Trotsky

victorious victorious ones, ones, are are fully fully possible. possible. Interven­

agents agents of of foreign foreign fascist fascist governments­

tion tion in in Russia, Russia, national national wars, wars, and and indeed indeed

purging purging of of the the army army to to rid rid it it of of the the

under under conditions conditions of of a a victory victory of of the the revolu­

tion tion of of the the U.S.S.R., U.S.S.R., plus plus the the

ruthless ruthless

of of the the 'great' 'great' powers powers in in the the present present war war or or

notwithstanding-the notwithstanding-the socialist socialist produc­ "And "And in in a a condition condition of of intense intense exhaustion exhaustion

Mussolini Mussolini and and Hitler Hitler to to the the contrary contrary

revolution revolution a a in in Russia! Russia! He He said: said: And-all And-all the the poker-game poker-game bluffs bluffs of of

tions tions of of war, war, that that would would be be made made by by ment."* ment."*

the the profound profound effect effect upon upon all all ques­ the the struggle struggle against against fascist fascist enslave­

foresaw foresaw what what we we must must all all see see now­ the the peoples peoples throughout throughout the the world world in in

of of the the war. war. And And sharply, sharply, dearly, dearly, he he ples," ples," an an "indestructible "indestructible bulwark bulwark of of

a a revolution revolution in in Russia Russia before before the the end end and and brotherhood brotherhood between between the the peo­

able able in in to to see see the the probability probability of of 1915 1915 become become a a "powerful "powerful buttress buttress of of peace peace

As As we we all all know, know, Lenin Lenin was was already already state. state. Inevitably Inevitably the the socialist socialist state state has has

America America struggle struggle as as a a world world war? war? Europe Europe and and all all of of Asia Asia is is a a socialist socialist

bly bly with with the the Japan-China Japan-China and and all­ The The most most powerful powerful state state in in all all of of

developing developing further, further, merging merging inevita­ ginning ginning is is this: this:

ready ready partly partly in in process process and and rapidly rapidly which which the the second second World World War War is is be­

"great "great national national war war in in Europe," Europe," al­ An An unprecedented unprecedented condition condition under under

the the main main factors factors leading leading straight straight to to a a to to be be true. true.

democratic democratic foreign foreign policy policy one one is is of of struggles struggles for for liberation. liberation. This This proved proved

THE THE COMMUNIST COMMUNIST 120 120 LENIN-HIS MEANING FOR US TODAY 121

Lindbergh's about the "weakness" of CAN CAPITALIST GREAT POWERS PAR· the U.S.S.R. are told.) TICIPATE IN A STRUGGLE . AGAINST REACTION? WHAT NATIONAL WARS ARE And here Lenin makes a most in­ INEVITABLE? teresting point, incidentally to estab­ lishing the inevitability of national While foreseeing the present Eu­ wars of colonial liberation. It is a ropean situation as "probable," clear answer to those whose way of Lenin's scientific method was also ap­ defending Hitler's, Mussolini's and plied to this study of Asia, where he Japan's conquests is to admonish the forecast the present situation as not working class that since the bourgeois­ only simply "probable" but "inevit­ democratic states (England, France, able." Writing in Igi6, Lenin was the United States) are also imperial­ able to trace with astonishing ac­ istic-it is therefore "imperialistic" curacy not only the struggles that oc­ and "reactionary" for the Commu­ curred later in Persia and Turkey, nists to call for a democratic front, but also the terrific national war, the including those states, in defense of present war of national liberation in peace and of China, Ethiopia and China. Continuing his criticism of Spain, against the fascist war-makers. "Junius," he said: We must, they say, do nothing to "Further. Not only probable, but inevita­ cause these powers to interfere with ble in the epoch of imperialism, are national Japan's murders m China, or Mus­ wars on the part of colonies and semi­ solini's and Hitler's butcheries in colonies. In the colonies and semi-colonies Ethiopia and Spain, because in oppos­ (China, Turkey, Persia) live nearly a thou­ ing those imperialisms we would be sand millions of people, that is, more than ''supporting British, French and half of the population of the world. The Yankee imperialism.'' national-liberation movements here are either already very strong or else they are · Lenin chooses an American histori­ growing and ripening. Every war is the con­ cal analogy, that of the "Seven Years' tinuation of politics by other means. The War," or, as America knows it, the continuation of the national-liberation poli­ "French and Indian War," of 1756- tics of colonies inevitably will be national 1763, saying: wars on their part against imperialism. Such wars may lead to imperialist war of the now "France was defeated and lost a part of 'great' imperialist powers, but may also fail her colonies. A few years later began the to lead to it; this depends on many cir­ national-liberation war of the United States cumstances. against England alone. France and Spain, who themselves continued to own portions of "An example: England and France fought the present United States, out of enmity to a seven-year war for colonies, i.e., conducted England, i.e., out of their imperialist inter­ an imperialist war (which is also possible ests, concluded a friendly treaty with the on the basis of slavery, and on the basis of states in insurrection against England. primitive capitalism, as well as on the mod­ French troops together with the Americans ern basis of highly developed capitalism)."" fought the English. We have here a national­ liberation war, in which imperialist rivalry • V. I. Lenin, Collected Works, Vol. XIX, is an incidental element, having no serious p. 182, Russian edition. significance-the reverse of what we see in 122 THE COMMUNIST the war of 1914-16 (the national element in 'epoch' does not at all exclude national wars, the Austro-Serbian War is of no serious sig­ for example, on the part of small (let us say, nificance in comparison to the .all-decisive annexed or nationally oppressed) states, imperialist rivalry). From this it is clear against imperialist powers, just as it does how absurd it would be to apply the con­ not exclude national movements on a large cept 'imperialism' in a stereotyped way, de­ scale in the East of Europe:·• ducing from it an 'impossibility' of national wars. A national-liberation war, for example, COLLECTIVE ACTION OF CAPITALIST of an alliance of Persia, India and China, POWERS FOR PEACE against some or other imperialist powers, is quite possible and probable, for it flows from But what did Lenin think of collec­ the national-liberation movements of these tive action for peace? A collective ac­ countries, in which case the transformation tion in which capitalist great powers of such a war into an imperialist war be­ would be participants-great powers tween the present imperialist powers would depend upon very many concrete circum­ themselves holding vast colonial em­ stances, and to guarantee their occurrence pires, but having, under the condi­ would be absurd."• tions of today, no interest in an im­ Here is the clear answer to those mediate war and whose national who want to find an excuse to avoid existence in some cases (as in the case effective help to China and Spain of France) is menaced by the fascist against the fascist butcher, and who war-makers? Is it true, as some are offer the excuse that, because of "rev­ saying, that adherence to the princi­ olutionary principles" (God save the ples of Lenin would require us to mark!), they cannot favor any help abstain from all coalitions of states in­ to China and Spain by nations which cluding that sort of state as well as the themselves hold colonies. True, Lenin socialist state, against the Berlin­ refers with great emphasis to the colo­ Rome-Tokyo axis now making war on nial struggle "against some or other Spain and China? Let us see what imperialist powers" -he wouldn't be Lenin said in the war of 1914. We Lenin if he didn't-but again he ap­ must remember that Lenin was then plies the subject sharply to the pos­ under the supreme necessity to apply sibility of eventualities in modern every energy he possessed to convince Europe. Furthermore, he sees in all of the duty of fighting tooth and "Eastern Europe," specifically, a scene nail against that war of 1914. Yet of possible "national wars." He con­ Lenin even in that extreme crisis tinues: (August, 1915), felt it would be im­ permissible to omit mention of other "In the third place even in Europe one possible conditions under which it cannot assume that national wars are impos­ sible in the epoch of imperialism. The would be the duty of Socialists to take 'epoch of imperialism' has rendered the sides definitely with one of the bellig­ present war imperialist, it inevitably gen­ erent parties in a war between im­ erates (as long as s

• Ibid., pp. 182-83. • Ibid., p. 183. LENIN-HIS MEANING FOR US TODAY 123

against Germany, demanding the liberation aspect of great importance, the theo­ and indemnification of Belgium. In this case retical error of "Junius" could cause the sympathy of the Socialists would natural­ a deep-going blunder ly be on the side of Germany's enemies." • even then. And this particular point touches close to This definite, clear statement he the question of armaments. Continu­ immediately followed up with the ing, Lenin said: warning that such a condition did not "But also in the exist in 1914-15, that "the war is practical-political aspect this mistake is very harmful; from it is de- • being waged not for the sake of Bel­ duced the absurd propaganda of 'disarma­ gium," etc., and that "it is impossible ment,' on the ground that there could be no to help Belgium without helping to wars except reactionary ones; from it is de­ throttle Austria or Turkey, etc." But rived the still more absurd and outright re­ actionary indifference he established beyond question his toward national move­ ments. Such indifference becomes chauvin­ own adherence to the line that his ism when members of European 'great' Party follows now. nations, that is, nations oppressing a mass of small and colonial peoples, announce. with . LENIN'S WARNING AGAINST VULGARIZA· a would-be learned air, 'there can be no more national wars!' "• TION OF THEORY CONCERNING WAR OPERATION OF THE "AXIS" IN The article on the "Junius" pam­ DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES phlet illustrates forcefully what Lenin meant in saying that-"Without a The consequences of confusion on revolutionary theory there can be no the question of war today, among the revolutionary practice." democratic masses and among honest In the article he explains that deep leaders of them, could literally be the concern which caused him even to death of civilization. pause in the most terrific moment of It is a great mistake when one war crisis to warn against a mistake thinks that fascism thrusts upon the of theory, the danger of which did not world only a belligerent militarist immediately apply to the situation of spirit. For, fascism has two sides: For that moment. Continuing his com­ their home country-the mood of ments on the "Junius" pamphlet he blood-and-iron; the belligerent, blood­ wrote: lusting feudal philosophy of the Sa­ murai; the sadist gun-thuggery of the "We dwelt upon the falsity of the proposi­ brown-shirts, tion that 'there can be no more national the degenerate spirit of wars' in detail because theoretically it is joy-through-murder of a Bruno Mus­ clearly erroneous. It would be profoundly soHni. sad indeed if the 'Lefts' began to exhibit an But-for other countries? indifference to the theory of Marxism just For China, for induction into the at the time when the creation of the Third International is possible only on the basis people of China, the philosophy ped­ of non-vulgarized Marxism." ""' dled by fascism is-non-resistance! In Ethiopia the Italian fascist message is But he showed that, in at least one of the virtue of submission; for Spain

• Lenin, The Imperialist War, p. 225. •• Collected Worka, Vol. XIX, pp. 183-184. • Ibid., p. 184. 124 THE COMMUNIST their export philosophy is best illus­ man fascism, The American Mercury, trated by their attempt to induce the for January, 1939, proclaims that:

Spanish people to believe that the " ... Hitler, when analyzed simply on the people's front government is "impe­ basis of historical fact, is not only the great­ rialist" and should be overthrown. est political genius since Napoleon, but also And here among us the goods they the most rational," sell are: and who agrees "100 per cent" with "Neutrality." "Isolation." "Pa- Chamberlain that: cifism." "Appeasement." " ... England could not afford to risk war What are these goods? and communism, and would do better to accept a Nazi hegemony over the Continent A. "Neutrality" is an alliance with of Europe.... " fascist aggressors. This is already rec­ ognized; it needs no argument. -this Mr. Dennis proposes a form of the "isolation" policy intended to be B. "Isolation" (so-called) is not in the least a real isolation, but a domi­ more seductive than the outright, all­ nation of the foreign policy of a series inclusive "put-up-the-shutters" kind of democratic countries by the fascist that is losing support so rapidly. Says states preparatory to their conquest. Dennis: In order to win a free hand for the "What is the rational American policy for slaughter of Spain, the wiping out of the post-Munich world? Clearly this world will be divisible into four areas of power: the French republic and of the Soviet the first, the Americans dominated by the Socialist State, the German govern­ United States; the second, Continental ment presents its case in America, Europe dominated by Germany in close part­ through one of its agents, in the form nership with Italy; the third, the Far East of a plea "that America stay out of dominated by Japan; and the fourth, the British Empire." European wars." Opposition to Hit­ ler's program is described as a cam­ Of course the only reality about paign "to manipulate the anti-war this schematic sophistry is its inherent sentiment of idealistic people, and proposal that fascist Germany be al­ particularly of the youth, in such a lowed to conquer all of Europe and way that it may easily by converted Japan be allowed to conquer China, into fighting loyalty to the Soviet which, in the world of reality, would Union," and the socialist state is de­ mean the completion of two-thirds of scribed as "a ruthless, bloody and in­ the task of conquering also South temperate personal tyranny." (The America if not all of Latin America. words quoted above are written by The very first stage-the fascist con­ Max Eastman in the fascist magazine quest of Spain-would be the accom­ Liberty.) plishment of one-third of the task. c. "Hemisphere isolation," to en- "Well lathered is half shaved." sure successful penetration of Through this stooge Dennis, Hitler America. holds out the inducement of the The fascist leader Lawrence Dennis, empty words: who, in the American organ of Ger- "In this world situation our only policy LENIN-HIS MEANING FOR US TODAY 125 is to uphold the Monroe Doctrine and aban­ army of a third of a million men-34 don entirely the Far East and Europe." divisions, and turned a part of this Czechoslovakian army to the use of Why mention, in an article on Hitler to enable him to make war Lenin's teachings, this curious exhibi­ against Europe. tion of the technique of Hitler's prop­ aganda in America? Because this for­ "Appeasement" has robbed, mur­ mula for capitulation to the fascist dered, mutilated, tortured and exiled conquest of the world is almost sure thousands of Jews of Germany in the to captivate certain confused persons, most brutal pogroms of history, in­ as it is intended, who will make it stigated by Hitler in agreement with another catchword with which to Chamberlain, helped by the sup­ hold back the haters of war from any posedly American Ambassador in effective opposition to war. (Norman London. Thomas thus far has never failed to By "appeasement" Chamberlain fall for such pretty, schematic formu­ will sell Hitler and Mussolini the lations; we do not forget that as long right to butcher the flower of the as three years ago he advanced as a population of heroic Spain, in order "socialist principle" the whole sub­ to place German and Italian guns at stance of the "neutrality" policy by the back of France and to sever which Spain and China are in des­ Europe from a French-African Em­ perate danger of strangling, . and two pire ear-marked for German-Italian years ago Thomas proposed the en­ conquest. tire "appeasement" policy, even in­ We repeat-not one single thing has cluding its extension to colonies!) been asked or given under the name The "export" brand of fascist mili­ and policy of "appeasement" except tarism is "pacifism" or "appease­ military objectives needed solely to ment." enable fascist Germany, Italy and "Appeasement" is another name Japan to open the second world war for the assurance of a second world with a chance to win it. war. "Appeasement" is a name for Without "appeasement" there equipping the fascist powers with could not now be a second world war. what they need for the conquest of Naturally enough, the open propa­ Europe and Africa. Not one single ganda of the point of view that Hitler thing has been given or asked under wants to instil into the Western hem­ the name of "appeasement" except isphere is being entrusted mainly to strategic military objectives. "Appease­ Hitler's anti-labor spy and organizer ment," thus far, has given war-seeking of sabotage, Trotsky, who sends it out Germany the equivalent of an addi­ from the center of Coyoacan, Mexico, tional one million men released from in simon-pure form. We all recall duty against the Sudeten fortifications vividly the central thesis of Hitler, of Czechoslovakia, and brought to the Mussolini and the Japanese fascists: West for use against France which that the present wars and approach­ does not want war. It has .. in addition, ing wars are due to a "disproportion cut off from support of France an of colonial possessions" as between THE COMMUNIST the fascist and the non-fascist nations. victorious side, and participate in a This is their thesis as opposed to the new dismemberment of Germany"!! democratic thesis that the war and He calls the Communists and the the menace of more wars come from democratic defenders of Czechoslo­ fascist aggression. Supporting the Hit­ vakia defenders of "the imperialist in­ ler thesis, Trotsky says: terests of the Czech bourgeoisie." But let's see what the gangster of the "The flagrant and ever-growing dispropor­ Gestapo has to say about the function tion between the specific weight of England of Hitler-since Hitler, he claims, is and France, not to mention Holland, Bel­ gium and Portugal, in world economy and more in the position of a victim of the colossal dimensions of their possessions "imperialist" Czechoslovakia than are as much the source of world conflicts and otherwise. Trotsky finds that what of new wars as the insatiable greed of the Hitler has accomplished in Germany 'fascist' aggressors." [Trotsky's quotation is "national unification"! "Bis­ marks around the, word "fascist."] [My em­ phasis.-R.M.] marck," says Mr. Trotsky, "only half fulfilled this task, leaving almost in­ Trotsky almost surpasses himself in tact the entire feudal and particular­ backing up Hitler in the lie that he ist rubbish," and failed, as well, to will "claim nothing more in Europe" centralize Germany. And, says Trot­ (until Lithuania?). For Trotsky calls sky, "Both these tasks fell to Hitler. the shameless rape of Czechoslovakia The leader of fascism came forward, "an episode on the road toward the in his own fashion, as the continuator struggle for colonies." In the midst of of Bismarck, ..." etc. the crisis' of Hitler's drive on Czecho­ So, according to this chief of Hit­ slovakia, this Gestapo agent blazoned ler's propaganda in the Americas, from his detective agency in Mexico Hitler is the progressive; Hitler is the "explanation" that, not Germany, the creator of German national unity, but Czechoslovakia was "imperialis­ and therefore the defender of a na­ tic," and was the aggressor against tional cause against the imperialism Hitler Germany! Said Hitler's Pin­ of-Czechoslovakia! And the cause of kerton: the second imperialist war is that Hit­ ler is denied his right to colonies! "A, war, even on the part of isolated So much for "Van der Lubbe" Czechoslovakia, would thus have been waged not for national independence but for the Trotsky. preservation and, if possible, the extension • • • of the borders of imperialist exploitation." [My emphasis.-RM.] The Communist Party calls for "Social and National Security." This Does the reader get this? Defending is the only possible course to follow Czechoslovakia against Hitler would in the complete application of the have been "imperialistic"! And to principles of Lenin. make doubly sure, we refer to Trot­ "The most important lesson of the recent sky's further words that it is possible events is precisely that unless the reactionary a war will break out "in which imperialist diques and capitulators in one's Czechoslovakia may be found on the own country are curbed, it is impossible to LENIN-HIS MEANING FOR US TODAY 127 curb the unbridled fascist brigands, it is im­ "To fight for peace means that in each possible to conduct a successful struggle in country the liberty of the people must be defense of the freedom and independence defended against the reactionary bour­ geoisie .... of the peoples and to defend world peace.''• "Only through the medium of an alliance These are the lessons of Leninism, of peoples conducting a self-sacrificing strug­ gle for the cause of peace is it possible to and in full accord with these lessons, thwart the criminal plans of the instigators the Communist International, led by of war. A defense cordon of armed peoples who have joined their forces with the great Stalin and Dimitroff, declares: Soviet people will doom fascism to impo­ tence and will hasten its defeat and ineVIta­ "He who does not fight for peace, cannot ble ruin."• avert war.

" Georgi Dimitroff, After Munich, p. 19, • "Communist International Manifesto," Workers Library Publishers, New York. The Communist, December, 1938, p. 1076.

"Marxist-Leninist theory is overcoming that long-standing split between thought and action, between theory and practice, which is one of the chief characteristics of bourgeois society. Capitalism separated the worker from his tools; our theory is the only instrument that shows the way to reunite them, on a higher plane. Capitalism separated the city from the country, industry from agriculture, and set them in antagonism one to the other; our theory alone promises to dissolve this disastrous contradiction. Capitalism sharply divides the population into classes, and sets them into struggle against one another; only our theory, guiding the masses of the people, leads to the classless society, to the brotherhood of man."-Earl Browder, Theory As a Guide to Action. LIMA-AN ANSWER TO MUNICH

BY R. A. MARTINEZ and HARRY ROBINSON

HEN the Eighth International ism; the feudal oligarchic cliques in W Conference of American States power in some Latin American states; opened at Lima, Peru, on December and the pro-fascist press of the con­ g, the eyes of an anxious world were tinent came out with a common cry: centered upon it. "There is no danger of fascist aggres­ With the consummation of the sion!" And the German and Italian Munich conspiracy, many things have fascist press, with their agents, the become clearer to wider masses. The Trotskyites, seconded them with full purpose and character of German, lung power. Italian and Japanese penetration in In this light the conference and its Latin America, in all phases (econom­ results should be judged. How did the ic, political, ideological) and by all democratic forces of the continent an­ means (military missions, control of swer Munich? What road towards the strategic ports, radio barrage, native unity of all forces internationally in fascist movements, etc.), are discern­ opposing aggression was pointed out ible as a serious, large-scale attempt to to an anxious world? How would the encircle the United States. Latin 'threats of fascism be answered, democ­ America, as a huge reserve of war ma­ racy upheld and stimulated in this terials, with its copper, nitrates, nickel, hemisphere? wheat, meats, coffee, is indispens­ When the picture is clearly seen, able to the fascists in their drive to there can be no question, despite the dominate the world. No longer does attempts of the reactionary, capitula­ Britain's navy constitute a barrier to tory press to tone down the confer­ foreigninvasion. After Munich, it was ence, that Lima achieved its main ob­ neutralized, giving the fascist axis a jectives. free hand. America's danger was open. UNITY GROWS AGAINST AGGRESSION How would it be met? There could be no severer test to The Lima Conference marked a reveal who were the true representa­ higher democratic unity in the United tives of American patriotism and the States and on a hemisphere scale. defense of the national interests of the In our country, even some of those American peoples. And those forces in circles of the bourgeoisie who suffer America which are anti-national, anti­ from fascist trade competition, barter democratic showed their true colors. agreements, discriminatory pacts and Herbert Hoover, representing the the live danger of the complete loss of pro-fascist wing of American imperial- investments, and who before Munich 128 LIMA-AN ANSWER TO MUNICH 129 were bitter enemies of the domestic Hull and other government represen­ and foreign policies of the administra­ tatives, delegates from the C.I.O. and tion, awakened to the threat of the the A., F. of L., prominent Catholics Munich conspirators. and Protestants, representatives of Does the fact that some of these women's organizations, and Alfred M. trading interests support the Good Landon. Regardless of their specific Neighbor policy mean that that policy approach to the solutions of the prob­ is nothing more than a defense of lems facing our hemisphere, all these their interests? Not at all! The opposi­ delegates were united in their will to tion of the gentlemen of the National prevent fascism from setting foot on Foreign Trade Council to fascist pene­ this continent. tration in Latin America coincides On the basis of this broad national with the most important and imme­ unity, State Secretary Hull was able to diate interests of the democratic move­ set the anti-fascist keynote of the con­ ment throughout the hemisphere. The ference in his opening speech. He defense of democracy today is at the made it clear that the conference was same time a fight against the most re­ confronted with the alternative of actionary circles of finance capital in "freedom or serfdom, order or anarchy, the United States who are the allies of progress or retrogression, civilization the German, Italian and Japanese· or barbarism," thus not only recog­ fascists and the feudal oligarchic nizing the fascist threat but character­ cliques in the Latin American coun­ izing it concretely in all its hideous­ tries. ness. To answer this threat he told the That the Good Neighbor Policy is delegates that they had the important not a defense of the interests of the duty: reactionary circles of American fin­ ance capital can be seen in the words " ... to ourselves and to humanity to main­ of President Roosevelt, in his speech tain and preserve inviolate our own institu­ tions and the beliefs on which they rest. ofOctober 26: It is imperative that the twenty-one re­ publics of the Western Hemisphere proclaim "We in the United States do not seek to unequivocally and unmistakably their pro­ impose on any other people either our way found belief that only the type of national of life or our internal form of government. organization and international relationship But we are determined to maintain and pro­ that we and the rest of mankind have been tect that way of life and that form of govern­ persistently and laboriously building up in ment for ourselves. And we are determined the course of recent generations can make it to use every endeavor in order that the possible for nations to advance materially Western Hemisphere may work out its own and culturally, and for men to be free." inter-related salvation in the light of its own inter-related experience." In a world with undeclared wars The alarm and sense of national raging, with bloody aggressors riding emergency, the necessity for national roughshod over the rights of entire unity, voiced in this statement reflect­ nations, such utterances cannot but ed itself in the composition of the advance the cause of international American delegation to the Lima Con­ law and popular determination to de­ ference, which included Mr. Cordell fend democracy. THE COMMUNIST

FASCIST STRATAGEMS AGAINST UNITY recent policy are official help to Re­ The first step of the fascist strategy publican Spain and the official recog­ to prevent continental unity against nition of the Communist Party as one the aggressors by denying the existence of the decisive democratic political of any threat of aggression was forces. The granting of a $5o,ooo,ooo squelched from the beginning by this credit to Cuba and the planned re­ determined stand. vision of the Reciprocity Treaty help They proceeded to develop their solve some of Cuba's economic difficul­ next step: to prevent unanimous de­ ties and thus counteract the fascist cisions at all costs, to show up the con­ sabotage of the island economy. ference as divided. They endeavored Fourthly, the Colombian government to distort and slander the healthy anti­ had demonstrated its anti-fascist atti­ imperialist sentiments of the Latin tude by giving aid to Spain and by re­ American peoples, trying to make it calling its Minister to Germany. appear that these were directed In all other countries the confer­ against the Good Neighbor policy and ence aroused the deepest hopes and a continent united against aggression. gave rise to the broadest united mass With insults, threats and general movements. In Argentina, a group of insolence, the fascist press reiterated outstanding political leaders, headed that the opposition to the penetration by Marcelo T. De Alvear, former of fascism in Latin America was noth­ president, and leader of the Radical ing but North American trickery. Party-the most powerful democratic The fascist correspondents who in­ party of Argentina-joined with repre­ fested Lima, the pro-fascist and Trot­ sentatives of other parties to consider skyite press followed the same line, "the serious danger that exists for the and it is unfortunate that certain independence and integrity of the democratic currents in Latin America American nations, and in order to were affected by this propaganda. effect joint action for continental de­ It must be seen that the conference fense and against fascist domination of was preceded by events of great demo­ any of our republics." cratic significance. First, the Chilean THE ROLE OF ARGENTINA People's Front had just won a tremen­ dous victory over the forces of fascism It is necessary, however, to explain and reaction in the presidential cam­ the part played by the representatives paign. Secondly, the controversy be­ of the Argentinian government at the tween the Mexican and U. S. govern­ Lima Conference. In the past as in mertts over land claims had ended. the present, Argentina has moved po­ Thirdly, the visit of Colonel Fulgen­ litically and economically within the cio Batista, outstanding figure in orbit of British imperialism. Cuban politics, to the United States Argentina is the most economically had served to place the relations of developed country in Latin America the two countries on the basis of the and historically has presented the democratic path taken by the Cuban most consequential opposition to government. Among the important American imperialism. True, its op­ features of the Cuban government's position has reflected the historical LIMA-AN ANSWER TO MUNICH contradictions between British and uniform sentiment of humanity and U. S. finance capital, but it has also tolerance and through their absolute reflected the attempts of the people to adherence to the principles of inter­ achieve independence from both im­ national law, of equal sovereignty of perialisms. Therefore, subtly, the Ar­ states and of individual liberty with­ gentine delegation, while pretending out religious or racial prejudice." It to stand for national rights and. capi­ "reaffirms their continental solidarity" talizing on the wholesome national while declaring that "the govern­ aspirations of its people, did all it ments of the American republics will could to bring the voice of Chamber­ act independently in their individual lain to the conference. First, it denied capacities as separate states." The the fascist threat and therefore the declaration also establishes the pro­ necessity for preparedness. Then, cedure of regular consultations and under the pressure of the powerful facilitates the holding of these con­ mass movement in Argentina, the sultations. delegation withdrew its objection and Perhaps one of the most important was forced to resort to more subtle documents of the Lima Conference, methods, namely, to tone down the ·which, incidentally, the American anti-fascist, anti-aggression content, of press has hardly played up, is the the Lima Conference. But while it did "Declaration of American Principles." not succeed, it must be noted that this This presents a program around opposition helped feed the "disunity" which all "interested in the preserva­ arguments of the fascists and also tion of world order under law, in made it more difficult for the confer­ peace with justice, and in the social ence as a whole to put even sharper and economic welfare of mankind" teeth in its resolutions. can rally. Part of this program, of de­ cisive importance to the semi-colonial THE LIMA PROGRAM countries of Latin America, is that The four major documents adopted, which states that "economic recon­ nevertheless, are landmarks in con­ struction contributes to national and tinental unity; the Declaration of the international well-being, as well as to Principles of Solidarity (Declaration peace among nations."· of Lima); the resolution against re­ The other decisions sum up the ligious bigotry and intolerance; the sentiments of the peoples against the resolution condemning the collective manifestations of fascist barbarism, political activities of alien groups; intolerance and cruelty. and the resolution on trade agree­ As Secretary Hull stated on his re­ ments, reflecting the anti-fascist senti­ turn, the conference abandoned all ments of the peoples of the hemi­ pretensions towards placing the Amer­ sphere. ican republics on a "shining but iso­ The Declaration of Lima is based lated plateau." The results of it on· the on the recognition of the "similarity development of a more consistent of republican institutions" of the democratic American foreign policy countries of this hemisphere, on were shown in Hull's open call to the "their unshakable will for peace, their British and French peoples to main- THE COMMUNIST tain "the rule of order under law In the Lima decisions and resolu­ rather than rule of force or threat of tions, the democratic forces in the force." countries where terroristic or semi­ Thus, a clear program for the active terroristic forces are in power have defense of our hemisphere was elabo­ been endowed with a banner around rated and the means necessary for that which the anti-fascist forces can rally. defense clearly indicated to all the Hull's speech on the achievements peoples. at Lima contained the following sig­ The fascists and their Trotskyite nificant words: henchmen are doing all they can in "The deliberations and declarations of this the interests of fascist penetration to conference prove that the influence of the discredit the achievements of the con­ American peoples is being thrown into the ference by pointing to a number of struggle on the side of international peace, justice and fair dealing, and that our nations anti-democratic governments in Latin stand for measures which have the welfare America, especially that of Benavides of peoples and not the interests of dominant in Peru. governing groups for their objectives." There is no question that the Bena­ The anti-fascist decisions of the vides government is a dictatorial re­ Lima Conference will bear fruit to gime which has closed down parlia­ the degree that the democratic forces ment and ruthlessly attacked the in each country and their govern­ democratic movement. Neither is ments are in a position to give them there any question that such terroristic life. Their application and the de­ governments, which lean upon foreign fense of our continent against fascism fascism and impede democracy, con­ are intimately related to the further stitute no guarantee of a real defense democratic development in the United of the hemisphere; that such countries States and the Latin American coun­ may be the enemy within the gates tries. upon whom fascism will depend to In this sense one cannot overlook strike against the democracies and the fact that the conference did not thus avoid the appearance of over­ take any anti-Communist position, de­ seas aggression. But how are we going spite the attempts of Landon, and the to help the Peruvian people, who do attempts, undoubtedly, of the dele­ not want fascism and who do not want gates from some of the undemocratic aggression, to change that situation? countries-Brazil and Peru. To have Comrade Browder's statement on the taken an anti-Communist position eve of the Lima Conference pointed would have meant in practice to at­ out: tack the unity of the people in those "We need have no illusions about the countries where the anti-fascist strug­ democratic character of many Latin Amer­ gle is furthest advanced. It would ican governments (including that of Peru have mearit attacking the national itself) but even so a Pan-American front unity of the Mexican people, where against the Munich powers and Japan is the first condition for raising Pan-American de­ the Communist Party has a place of mocracy to a higher and more effective honor; it would have been ·an affront level." to the newly elected Chilean govern- LIMA-AN ANSWER TO MUNICH 133 ment, where the vice-president of the and give to the Good Neighbor policy Popular Front is Carlos Contreras a more consistent democratic content. Labarca, Secretary of the Chilean FOR A CONSISTENT GOOD NEIGHBOR Communist Party; it would have been POLICY to put the Communist Party of Cuba, leading force in the Cuban democratic It is interesting to observe in this revival, in the same category as the connection how certain reactionary sugar magnates, bankers and pro­ forces attempt to pose the Good Franco Spanish merchants, who are Neighbor policy as against the Mon­ doing all in their power to obstruct roe Doctrine and thus attempt to give the determination of Colonel Batista the impression that the need for con­ to heed the democratic urgings of the tinental defense is an old story already Cuban people. taken care of by the Monroe Doctrine. Nonetheless, there were a number This is their subtle way of attempting of shortcomings at the conference. to cause disunity between the people No direct solidarity was expressed of the United States and of Latin with the cause of the Spanish repub­ America, where forty years of applica­ lic, despite the overwhelming sym­ tion of the Monroe Doctrine as an in­ pathy of the peoples of the hemisphere strument of imperialist domination for their struggle against fascist in­ has left a bitter, hateful taste. But the vasion. Good Neighbor policy, while retain­ But it must be understood that ing the defensive character of the these shortcomings were inherent in Monroe Doctrine, is distinct from it, the character of the delegations which in that it places all the progressive represented governments that in their elements on the basis of complete majority are not democratic. The re­ equality, as recognized in the Declara­ ports in The New York Times of the tion of Lima. Hemisphere defense has censorship, searches and fascist press become a multilateral obligation as barrage in Lima itself are an eloquent against the old unilateral policy of the example. Another is Chile, where, de­ United States. spite the election of the new Popular But Secretary Hull went further in Front government, the delegation rep­ his efforts to make the Good Neigh­ resented the pro-fascist Alessandri bor policy distinct from the past poli­ government which had just renewed cies of the United States when he its commercial treaty with Germany analyzed inter-American relationships for six months. • in his speech on the achievements of the conference, thus: The essential thing is that Lima created the instruments by which the "These American republics emerged as the democratic movement can forge great triumph of human rights, a conquest ahead, overcome these shortcomings of the idealists of this hemisphere. But the task was not finished. In a second stage thete was forged the conception of equality of American states, their absolute right as in­ "Pedro Aguirre Cerda, the new, Popular dependent nations, irrespective of military Front President of Chile, was not inaugu­ rated until December 25, 1938, when the strength, of territorial extent, or of number Lima Conference had ended. of population, to speak with equal voice. 134 THE COMMUNIST

"Yet even juridic equality, great though it the Mexican republic "communist is as a buttress for states, was not enough. chaos," and virtually calling for the There remained to be strengthened the bond breaking off of relations and for of friendship, of understanding, and of fair dealing-the bond of good neighborship. American intervention. The Herald "First we become free; then we acknowl­ Tribune subtly echoes the News and edge ourselves equal; than we unite in com­ warns against the sacrifice of American mon friendship." interests in Latin America (read: im­ perialist investment interests). l Pan-Americanism in Lima was also Thus reaction wishes to place ob­ placed on a new basis. In the past t~e stacles in the path of the development Pan-American Union was the docile of a consistent Good Neighborhood instrument of the imperialist aims of policy which would not only express the United States bankers and mer­ formal political recognition of the chants. It never offered as much as a equality of the Latin American states, semblance of opposition, even at but would give active help to democ­ times such as at the Sixth Conference racy by assisting the national aspira­ in Havana in 1928, when American tions of the peoples to regain their planes were bombing Nicaraguan national wealth, to improve their gen­ cities and several Caribbean countries eral economic, social and cultural were under the Yankee military boot. standards. But at Lima special attention was This is of immediate urgency for given to the right of each country to the two countries that stand at the solve its national problems as it saw head of the anti-fascist struggle in fit, repeating the basic principles of Latin America, Mexico and Chile. the Good Neighbor policy on non­ The United States market should be intervention, on abstention from the re-established for Mexican silver and use of force to collect pecuniary oil and all its export products. The claims, etc. The very careful attitude program of the Chilean Popular of the U. S. delegation in stimu­ Front for "national resurgence" lating complete and free discussion should be backed with all the re­ and avoiding any semblance of im­ sources at the disposal of the United position was a good example of the States. American recovery likewise de­ new and equal relationship which pends on the understanding that there now exists between the American could be no greater customer for U.S. states. products than a Latin America free Already the reactionary press, as of semi-feudal agricultural bondage, part of the fight against the New free of the super-exploitation of rapa­ Deal, is attempting to create an at­ cious imperialist enterprises. mosphere which would prevent the Extension of the Trade Agreement formation of the broadest national program; fuller use of the Import­ support to the Good Neighbor policy Export Bank; credits; revision of those and its consistent and democratic ap­ reciprocity agreements which pre­ plication. vent independent develop~ent, such The reactionary Daily News prints a as has taken place with Cuba, will all vicious article terming the situation in be steps toward economic reconstruc- LIMA-AN ANSWER TO MUNICH 135 tion in Latin America and therefore unemployed and hungry. Governor towards a fundamental popular de­ Blanton Winship, anti-democratic mocracy. military symbol of national oppres­ It is clear after Munich that only sion, violator of the attempts of the popular democratic governments can New Deal to extend social legislation constitute a guarantee against fascist and economic reform to Puerto Rico, penetration. The interests of national must be removed. A carefully planned defense of the United States are inti­ program which will lead towards the mately linked with a program which extension of democracy, economic re­ will encourage and aid the peoples of construction, and the well-being of the Latin America to take control of their Puerto Rican people, remains the re­ own destinies. sponsibility of a consistently applied A. consistently applied Good Neigh­ Good Neighbor policy. bor policy will help this. But a great That is why the American people deal depends on the men who are must remain alert and clear to see to charged with implementing it. One of it that such a consistently democratic the major tasks in cleansing the Au­ American foreign policy is continued gean stables of the Yankee imperial­ and applied. It depends on the growth ist past is to remove those gentlemen and vigilance of the broad democratic of the diplomatic and consular ser­ movement of our people to guarantee vice of the U. S. State Department that Lima will not be perverted. who would be pleased to find a com­ Thus will a united hemisphere be mon ground between their interpre­ built as envisaged by the Lima Decla­ tation of the Good Neighbor policy ration which, from Canada to Pata­ and the old predatory imperialist gonia, will constitute a formidable, policy. impenetrable bulwark to fascist ag­ Further, Puerto Rico, the direct gression and which, in unison with the colony of the United States, can be democratic forces throughout the no "cultural bridge" between the world, will put a stop to fascist pene­ Americas while half its population is tration and aggression. NEW METHODS OF POLITICAL MASS ORGANIZATION

BY WILLIAM Z. FOSTER

[This is the first of three articles by manifestly this dangerous develop­ Comrade Foster on the question of ment makes it imperative that the mass organization and struggle. The forces of democracy, on pain of disas­ next two will follow in consecutive ter, must also drastically improve their issues of THE CoMMUNIST and will be methods of mass work over those prim­ entitled respectively: "Mass Cam­ itive systems inherited from the two paigns," and "The Communist Party old parties. The democratic front­ and Mass Work."-The Editors.] the alliance of workers, farmers and lower middle class-needs to develop "The strength of the working class is or­ a modernized technique of mass or­ ganization. Without organization the mass ganization, corresponding to the new of the proletariat is nothing. Organized it political situation in which it oper­ is all."-Lenin. ates.

HE two traditional mass political The need for this organizational im­ T parties, Democratic and Repub­ provement is very urgent. Before us lican, have during the course of their stand the 1940 elections, which will long existence worked out certain defi­ doubtless decide whether the United nite organization techniques. In this States is to continue and expand its period of deepening capitalist crisis, present democratic trend or fall into however, American monopoly capital­ the hands of the reactionaries, with ists, heading in the general direction the consequent looming danger of fas­ of fascism, are departing from these cism and war. To confront the com­ old organization techniques, and are ing test of strength the democratic developing new and more sinister sys­ front will have to have not only a tems of confusing, terrorizing and sound political program, but also the regimenting the masses. Among these strongest possible organization. In­ are their ever-growing stranglehold on deed, in such a close and hard-fought the press, their increasing radio mo­ election as 1940 promises to be, the nopoly, their sit-down strike of big question of organization may well be capital and their hypocritical systems a decisive one. Time is short and the of demagogy. necessity is pressing. Without here analyzing at length It is the purpose of this article to the new capitalist political mass tech­ point out the general direction that nique, it is sufficient to state that the necessary organizational better- NEW METHODS OF ORGANIZATION 137 ments of the democratic forces should are especially exposed to the wiles of take, to indicate what progress is be­ reactionaries. Apathy is also indicated ing made ,in this respect, and to dis­ by the several millions of workers and cuss some of the principal organiza­ farmers who, from traditionalism or tional problems confronting us. political sluggishness, vote for the Re­ publicans. OUR GENERAL ORGANIZATIONAL TASKS It is of elementary importance, The great job before us is to therefore, to bring these huge masses strengthen and unite the scattered bat­ into active support of the New Deal. talions of the democratic front forces. Here good organization, as well as Many of the existing mass organiza­ correct political policies, is funda. tions-trade unions, farmers' coopera­ mental. Organization literally grips tives, women's organizations, etc.-con­ hold of the indifferent, the sluggards, tain only a fraction of their potential waverers, half-hearted and confused memberships. Moreover, they are only elements and swings them into action. loosely in touch with each other. They Winning even a small percentage of need strengthening in every direction these inactive ones may be decisive in and linking up into a solid and active the elections. This can surely be ac­ political movement. To do this re­ complished by better organization quires, in addition to practical politi­ methods. · cal programs, effective organization B. Reactionary demagogy. With work. And in carrying through this bad economic conditions prevailing organization work we have to over­ generally and with mass unrest and come three major obstacles: (a) the confusicm widespread, there is the widespread political apathy still prev­ acute danger of large masses of toil­ alent among the masses, (b) the ers being misled by the demagogy of demagogy of the reactionaries, and the Republican Party and its stooges, (c) the sabotage of the tory enemies the Coughlins, Townsends, Norman within the ranks of the democratic Thomases, etc. The first great steps front forces. against this menace are a good po­ A. Mass apathy. That, despite the litical program and an effective agita­ great mass awakening under the New tion in its behalf among the masses. Deal, there is still a great extent of po­ But the masses will not be adequately litical apathy 31nd inertia among the protected against demagogy until they masses is indicated by the fact that of are actually brought into the various the 67,288,952 eligible voters, accord­ organizations making up the demo­ ing to the 1930 census, only 39,816,- cratic front, or at least drawn closely 522 (58 per cent) voted in 1932, and under their immediate influence. To 45,647,117 (67 per cent) in 1936. Even defeat the Republicans, the demo­ when disfranchised Negroes, unem­ cratic front must know how to com­ ployed, etc., are discounted, there re­ bat their demagogy. In this connec­ main many millions that are politi­ tion, to underestimate the importance cally inactive. Very largely these non­ of solid organization would be fatal. voters are proletarians, farmers and c. Sabotage from within. The ques­ city petty-bourgeois. These millions tion of strengthening the organization THE COMMUNIST of the democratic front forces within oped around the vital needs of the the Democratic Party becomes a seri­ people. Vigorous strides need to be ous matter, in view of the firm grip taken towards liquidating political and sabotage of such elements as the illiteracy among the masses. This edu­ conservative A. F. of L. officials, the cational work should extend down Southern Bourbons, the Tammany re­ into the lowest units (')f these demo­ actionaries, the Hague clique and cratic front formations. Every ward, many similar groups. The warfare of club, or branch should be made a these elements, who are bitterly hos­ center of continuous mass education, tile to the New Deal, will become carried on with all the modern tech­ more acute and dangerous as 1940 nique of intense agitation and propa- approaches. The fate of the New ganda. . Deal election struggle will depend Patronage. The distribution of ap­ upon the extent to which these tories pointive jobs- municipal, county, are isolated from the masses who fol­ state and federal-has always been a low the Democratic Party. central foundation of the old parties' mass mobilization system. Whole OLD METHODS AND NEW groups of voters are clustered about In order to cope with these great each political job. Big machines are problems of apathy, demagogy and built on this basis, and the two par­ sabotage it is necessary to make radical ties are constantly torn with strug­ departures from the practices of the gles over the rich prizes. two old parties out of which the dem· To overcome this evil patronage ocratic front is very largely being practice will be a big but necessary born. Here let us briefly in<;licate what task in democratic front political for­ some of these changes are. mations. Appointive political jobs Political education. The two big will continue for an indefinite time parties have long based their mass yet, and the way to handle their dis­ organization upon systems of patron. tribution is for the democratic front age, "fixing," etc., rather than upon party to take firm responsibility, and political programs and discussion. not to leave them to the personal con­ Their agitation, besides being anti­ trol of political overlords. More and working class in character, has always more in this matter, the principles of been superficial and demagogic. In political reliability and efficiency, in­ the lower units of the parties, the dis­ stead of mere machine expediency, trict, ward and precinct organiza- · must be insisted upon. tions, where the "fixing" and "ma­ Political fixing. Political favoritism chine" practices rule supreme, there is another basic practice of conserva­ is ordinarily, outside of flurries tive Democratic and Republican around election times, virtually no Party mass organizations. It has in­ political discussion. numerable manifestations, such as fa­ All this should be drastically voring certain city contractors, facil­ changed in democratic front political itating the granting of questionable formations. Real political discussion building permits, interceding for ar­ must be-is beginning to be-devel- rested persons, bringing about civil NEW METHODS OF ORGANIZATION 139 service promotions, "fixing" auto­ make every public service in its local­ mobile tickets, securing naturalization ity function effectively for the masses. papers and peddling permits, chang­ This is a vital point in mass political ing birth certificates, effecting promo­ organization. tions in school, having people admit­ Vice and crime. The exploitation ted to city hospitals, getting workers of prostitution, gambling and crime jobs in industries and placing others generally has long been an important on relief rolls. All these practices are prop of the old party machines. This vote-getting devices and are highly is closely bound up with ballot-box conducive to graft. The whole "fix­ stuffing, vote-buying and repeating, ing" system is extremely important in and other such practices. Democratic old party machine-building, with lit­ front political formations will, of erally hundreds of thousa.nds of peo­ course, have to exclude all such cor­ ple, especially the foreign-born, being ruption. The democratic front party, affected by them yearly in all big nationally and locally, however, must cities. The Tammany, Hague, Kelly­ pay close attention to the administra­ Nash and similar old party organiza­ tion of justice-to see to it that the tions have such practices organized to masses get necessary legal advice, that a high degree. prison conditions are humane, that Democratic front political forma­ the parole system works properly, etc. tions must eradicate this pernicious It must especially take precautions to system. Political graft, great and petty, prevent the growth of juvenile delin­ must be stopped. The solution of the quency. problem of political fixing is for the Social activities. The old parties democratic front party to see to it that understand the political value of the various people's mass organiza­ cultivating social activities among the tions and the municipal departments masses. Hence, their many ward in the community work well, not for "chowders," picnics, dances, etc. The favored individuals, but for the wel­ democratic front organizations must fare of the community as a whole. surpass them by developing social Especially must this be the case with activities on a far greater and better the city welfare services. The new scale. Every ward club should not type of political mass organization only be a vital social center itself, will succeed, not by disregarding the but should also see to it that all the pleas of the masses for effective ser­ playgrounds, sports activities, etc., in vice, but by being even more respon­ its community are raised to the high­ sive to them than the old party ma­ est possible level of development. chines have been. Every ward club, Finance and organization. The old as well as higher party unit, will have parties are also bad mentors on these to be literally a grievance committee elementary matters. Their practices of the people. It must stimulate the of soliciting employers, demanding growth of trade unions and other "kick-backs" from government em­ democratic mass organizations in its ployees and other dubious methods locality; it must fight militantly of money raising need to give way to against city official bureaucracy and organized systems of dues-paying, per

try, try, nationally nationally workers workers organize organize into into the the trade trade millions millions uinons. uinons. Roosevelt's Roosevelt's

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must must also, also, upon upon administration administration a a scale scale and and has has with with aided aided a a in in the the or­

of of work work briefly briefly indicated indicated above, above, but but it it boards boards and and committees, committees, the the Roosevelt Roosevelt

cratic cratic front front adopt adopt through through the the the the new new operation operation methods methods of of various various

cessfully, cessfully, not not only only should should the the demo­ through through the the Wagner Wagner Act, Act, as as well well as as

To To combat combat the the political political National National reaction reaction Recovery Recovery suc­ Act Act and and later later

Labor. Labor. Through Through Section Section 7 7 (a) (a) of of A. A.

MASS MASS

ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATION

OF OF THE THE PEOPLE PEOPLE

major major instances instances of of this this general general trend. trend.

ernment. ernment. Let Let us us cite cite briefly briefly a a few few learned. learned.

tive tive character character to to the the Roosevelt Roosevelt gov­ ground ground up-and up-and its its practical practical lessons lessons

This This important important fact fact lends lends a a distinc­ studied studied carefully carefully in in detail-from detail-from the the

the the growth growth of of mass mass organizations. organizations. therefore, therefore, needs needs very very much much to to be be

has has followed followed a a policy policy of of stimulating stimulating mass mass political organization organization political work, work,

But But the the Roosevelt Roosevelt administration administration two two old old parties. parties. The The whole whole subject subject of of

overs overs from from the the bad bad practices practices of of the the people's people's organizations. organizations.

still still are are afflicted afflicted with with many many hang­ growth growth of of the the trade trade unions unions and and other other

ronage, ronage, "fixing," "fixing," vice, vice, etc. etc. But But they they were were careful careful not not to to facilitate facilitate the the

have have changed changed attitudes attitudes towards towards pat­ into into election election committees, committees, etc., etc., they they

activity activity and and organization. organization. They They also also drawing drawing their their conservative conservative top top leaders leaders

introducing introducing many many new new methods methods of of exploit exploit existing existing mass mass organizations organizations by by

systematic systematic education, education, ministrations ministrations and and in in the the they they past past are are were were alert alert to to

cal cal consciousness consciousness of of the the masses masses by by not not definitely definitely hostile hostile to to it. it. While While ad­

indicated. indicated. They They are are raising raising the the politi­ mass mass organization, organization, when when they they were were

new new lines lines of of political political work work that that I I have have been been at at best best only only tolerant tolerant of of popular popular

are are generally generally developing developing along along the the cities. cities. Previous Previous administrations administrations have have

tions tions of of the the Democratic Democratic Party, Party, etc.­ nationally, nationally, as as well well as as in in the the states states and and

Non-Partisan Non-Partisan League, League, progressive progressive sec­ aged aged such such organization. organization. This This is is true true

Commonwealth Commonwealth Federation, Federation, Labor's Labor's have have directly directly stimulated stimulated and and encour­

Farmer-Labor Farmer-Labor broadest broadest Party, Party, ranks ranks Washington Washington of of the the people people and and they they

the the American American Labor Labor Party, Party, Minnesota Minnesota this this new new necessity necessity to to organize organize the the

the the growing growing democratic democratic front-such front-such as as The The New New Deal Deal leaders leaders have have sensed sensed

ganizations ganizations that that are are characteristic characteristic of of ful ful reaction. reaction.

The The new new type type mass mass political political or­ struggle struggle against against militant militant and and power­

bodies. bodies. whole whole toiling toiling people people be be organized organized for for

lower lower units units should should tion tion today today actually actually demands demands be be mass mass that that literally literally the the

cliques cliques of of political political hacks, hacks, and and the the front front political political formations. formations. The The situa­

made made broad broad and and ions ions democratic, democratic, grouped grouped about about not not mere mere the the democratic democratic

tees, tees, from from top top and and to to demands demands bottom, bottom, and and must must their their be be solid solid battal­

present present skeleton skeleton forms. forms. The The commit­ around around their their own own specific specific programs programs

a a mass mass character, character, tion tion groups. groups. instead instead These These of of must must their their be be organized organized

cates cates and and other other democratic democratic democratic democratic front front popula­ must must take take on on really really

the the political political women, women, organizations organizations youth, youth, of of Negroes, Negroes, the the peace peace advo­

capita capita tax tax collection, collection, of of workers, workers, etc. etc. farmers, farmers, Likewise, Likewise, professionals, professionals,

THE THE COMMUNIST COMMUNIST NEW METHODS OF ORGANIZATION recent appeals to the A. F. of L. and February, 1937; Negroes were en­ C.I.O. to establish trade union unity couraged to participate in the big were also an unprecedented step in recent Southern Human Welfare the same direction of strengthening Conference in Birmingham, etc. the trade unions. F. National groups. Increasingly B. Farmers. Mass organization of these groups are being brought into the farmers has also been stimulated New Deal political activity on a mass by the legal recognition and encour­ scale, and thereby are stimulated to agement of marketing cooperatives; growth. A typical example was the big by establishing popular referenda to conference of Polish organizations determine marketing quotas of rice, during the recent Murphy election cotton, tobacco, corn and wheat; by campaign in Michigan. authorizing local farmers' committees G. Health. It was through the ad­ to regulate land conservation; and by ministration that the recent National directly organizing medical coopera­ Health Conference was held. It com­ tives in the West for emergency medi­ prised the representatives of many cal aid for farmers, etc. millions of people, and stimulated c. Youth. Besides constructing the the vast popular movement around Youth Administration, New Deal na­ this vital issue. tional and state leaders have repeat­ H. Peace. The New Deal leaders edly endorsed and participated in the have also encouraged mass organiza­ deliberations of such youth move­ tion around this central question. At ments as the American Youth Con­ the Pan-American Conference in gress, American Students Union, Buenos Aires, President Roosevelt World Youth Congress, etc. called for the organization of a great n. Women. Similar encouragement people's peace movement in the has been given to the mass organiza­ United States; since then administra­ tion of women, administration lead­ tion figures have actively participated ers having supported the conference in such broad, popular peace ·move­ of 1935 that created the Joint Com­ ments as the Committee for Con­ mittee for Women's Work. Also the certed Peace lj:fforts. Cause and Cure of War Committee, 1. The South. Roosevelt leaders, representing millions of women, has national and local, participated in had much support from Mrs. Roose­ organizing the very popular move­ velt and other prominent New Deal ment that produced the recent South­ figures. ern Conference for Human Welfare, E. Negroes. The administration which adopted a broad progressive policy has also stimulated Negro program embracing wide economic, mass organization. Secretary Ickes political, cultural and social needs of spoke at the recent National Negro the Southern masses. Congress regional meeting in Balti· The huge new and vigorous popu­ more; local New Deal leaders gave lar movements are full of the great­ active support to the Southern Negro est political significance in the fight Youth Congress in Richmond, in to preserve and expand American 142 THE COMMUNIST democracy. With utmost skill and into broad mass movements around energy they should be developed to urgent immediate demands the vari­ the maximum degree and extended to ous separate battalions of the toiling the most remote and undeveloped masses: trade unions, farmers' organ­ sections of the toiling masses. izations, peace societies, church The organizational and ideological groups, organizations of women, strengthening of the trade unions; the Negroes, youth, small taxpayers, na­ farmers', women's, youth, Negro, na­ tional groups, etc., etc. They build tional group organizations; old age solid mass foundations for the grow­ pension, health, peace, Southern and ing democratic front. other people's movements; and their People's legislative conferences have grouping solidly around the political recently been held on a state basis formations of the growing democratic in Washington, Tennessee, Montana, front i~ a decisive political question. Utah and Arkansas, and in a num­ The Roosevelt administration, while ber of cities and Congressional dis­ definitely favoring such mass move­ u:icts. Various others are in prepara­ ments, cannot be expected to (nor tion. The most important one so far would it be desirable that it should) was the big Southern Conference for carry through directly the job of or­ Human Welfare in Birmingham, ganizing them. That is the task of the Alabama, held in November, com­ masses themselves. The extent to posed of outstanding progressive dele­ which the latter rise to an under­ gates from every state in the South.* standing of this great work will large­ It is also reported that prominent ly determine whether the forces for progressive leaders will hold a peo­ progress or of reaction will be victori­ ple's legislative conference on a na­ ous in this country. tional scale this year.

PEOPLE's LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCES The people's legislative conferences are both specific and general. That is, A broad form of political mass or­ they may be built around either ganization of great significance is the single issues, such as peace, unem­ people's legislative conference. This ployment, health, or housing, or type of movement, like the mass or­ around broad legislative programs. ganizations we have just been consid­ The conference in the South had a ering, is not, strictly speaking, a program embracing the wide scope of novelty, but, also like them, its pres­ farm tenancy, constitutional rights, ent broad scope, key role, and deep labor relations, unemployment, political content lend it distinctly a prison reform, credit, housing, health, character of newness. New Dealers suffrage, race relations, youth prob­ and progressive forces generally are lems, freight rate differentials, etc. increasingly supporting this new and As Comrade Gene Dennis stated in significant form of organization.

People's legislative conferences, • For an analytical account of this confer­ local, state and national, are vitally ence the reader is referred to the article by Comrade Rob Hall, in the January, 19!19· important because they link together issue of The Communist.-The Editors. NEW METHODS OF ORGANIZATION 143 his report to the National Committee cal apathy, to immunize the people in December: against reactionary demagogy, to ren­ der ineffective the sabotage of tory "The essential points of the program for enemies from within and thus to de­ such a movement-a democratic front legisla­ tive movement for recovery, security, democ­ feat the forces of reaction, people's racy and peace-are, as we have emphasized legislative conferences possess vast po­ previously, already set forth in one form or tentialities. To what extent these pos­ another in the progressive features of the sibilities will be realized depends policies of President Roosevelt, in the legis­ upon the degree to which progres­ lative programs of the state Democratic Party platforms in Washington, California sive leaders generally come to under­ and Michigan; in the legislative program of stand the vital significance of this new the CJ.O., many State Federations of Labor, type of political organization and, L.N.P.L. and the Workers Alliance; in the more concretely, upon the measure programs of the Minnesota Farmer-Labor that the various conferences, through Party, the 'Vashington Commonwealth Fed­ eration, the American Youth Congress, the their permanent committees of action National Negro Congress and the Southern and continuations committees, vigor­ Human Welfare Conference in a number of ously extend their work of political peace organizations, such as the American education and organization, with League for Peace and Democracy and the every Committee for Concerted Peace Efforts, and modern device of propaganda are presented in a more rounded out and and mobilization, throughout the complete manner in the election platform of uttermost reaches of the toiling our National Com;mittee." masses.

The importance of the people's SOME NATIONAL PROBLEMS legislative conferences is manifold. In strengthening the growing They rouse the political conscious­ democratic front forces a number of ness of the masses and organize them new and urgent national problems for action; they offer a splendid means present themselves, of which the fol­ for the masses to formulate their polit­ lowing are among the most "impor­ ical demands and to bring pressure by tant: lobbying, election action, and other­ A. Increasing the political role of wise, upon the legislatures to enact labor. Organized labor, which is con­ them and upon officials to enforce stantly growing more active political­ them; they are a powerful instrument ly, must become the leading force and for strengthening all the mass organ­ very backbone of the democratic izations that go to make up the demo­ front. But in order to do this it is cratic front and to break down their necessary without delay to heal the individual narrownesses. People's split between the A. F. of L. and the legislative conferences are in no sense C.I.O. This break, criminally pro­ rivals of or substitutes for the mass voked by the A. F. of L. reactionaries, party, but are powerful supporters of dangerously weakens the whole cause it by grouping about it the organized of democracy in the United States by armies of the toilers. demoralizing both organized and un­ In the fight to organize the demo­ organized workers, and by alienating cratic front, to overcome mass politi- the farmers and middle class ele- THE COMMUNIST ments. If the split is not healed by the traditional trade union narrow­ cooperative movements between the ness on this question. The A. F. of L. two organizations around specific po­ is most afflicted with this spirit of litical issues and by eventual amalga­ aloofness towards the farmers, and mation it may well be the fatal means serious remnants of it are also to be· of handing the country over to re­ found even in the C.I.O., the A.L.P. action in 1940. and progressive sections of the Demo­ Organized labor must also develop cratic Party. much more organization and activity Such dangerous sectarianism should politically. The C.I.O. is leading the be speedily liquidated and every ef­ way towards this in Labor's Non­ fort made to bring the workers and Partisan League and, generally, by farmers together into active working greater participation of its unions in political alliance. The people's legis­ political action. Especially important lative conferences constitute a potent in this respect also is the American means to this end. They should be Labor Party and the technique it uses supplemented by the trade unionists for mobilizing Labor's forces indepen­ and farmers holding conferences to­ dently. A further striking example of gether on local, state and national the new political activity by Labor bases, so that they may become better was the $5oo,ooo donation of the acquainted with each other's prob­ United Mine Workers of America to lems, coordinate their programs and the Roosevelt 1936 election fund. liquidate the misunderstandings that Various A. F. of L. unions move more the common enemy is so assiduously slowly in the same general direction; cultivating between them. but there is great need to speed the c. The progressive Congressional tempo all along the line. Trade union bloc: The basic class realignment that unity is the key to this question, as is now going on in the United States well as to the advance of the whole reflects itself inside the two great democratic front. capitalist parties. Reactionary and B. The alliance between the work­ progressive wings are forming swiftly ers and farmers. This is basic to the within both of them, and they are political welfare of the people. Re­ generating sharp internal struggles. action uses every means to drive a Alert to this new situation, the reac­ wedge between the workers and farm­ tionaries, who have their main seat in ers, who are natural political allies. the Republican Party, are bending all This splitting tactic should be coun­ efforts to develop an alliance with the tered by energetic efforts to link these tory Democrats and to split the two great bodies of producers in Democratic Party. The progressives, cooperative political action and or­ who have their principal political ganization. Roosevelt and Lewis have stronghold in the Democratic Party, correctly stressed the necessity for this are countering this splitting tactic worker-farmer unity, and the urgency by isolating the reactionaries within of the political situation imperatively (or without) their own party ranks demands it. But a serious obstacle is and by developing a practical work- NEW METHODS OF ORGANIZATION 145

ing alliance with the nascent progres­ Party of New York. The great task is sive wing in the Republican Party. to coordinate all these various cur­ The progressive Democratic-Republi­ rents and organizations, so that the can bloc, built around the general ob­ whole movement may go forward jectives of the New Deal, begins to with ever greater unity and power. take form, not only in Congress, but But here the third party danger also in the various state legislatures enters in. This is the tendency to seek and city ·councils. Struggles around short-cuts to the establishment of a pending legislation in Congress and great party of toilers. This tactic is in the ·states provide an immediate much used by demagogues to split platform and the people's legislative and paralyze the people's forces. Fresh conferences facilitate the whole de­ in mind is the Coughlin-Townsend­ velopment. The extent to which this Lemke Union Party attempt to defeat progressive _bloc is developed may be Roosevelt in 1936. And now there is decisive in the 1940 elections and in the LaFollette National Progressive the Congress that will come out of Party to threaten the solidarity of the them. masses. The short-cut third party n. National coordination of the danger will become more acute with democratic front political forces. the approach of the 1940 elections, This necessity constantly becomes with their complicated political more urgent. The measures already lineups. , ' .. I indicated above-intensifying the po­ The traditional slogan "For a litical role of labor, cementing the Farmer-Labor Party" is proving his­ alliance between the workers and torically correct, as the masses are formers, and building the progressive now undoubtedly moving towards the Congressional bloc-are long steps in development of a great political com­ the right general direction. But they bination along these general lines. must be supplemented by get-together But this slogan must not be mechani­ movements on a still more inclusive cally applied. Its goal cannot be ar­ basis, such that will definitely link up rived at by the offhand launching of in program and action the various third party movements. At present, as political, economic and social mass we have seen, the course of the organizations of the people. people's political growth goes prin­ The people's political movement, cipally through the consolidation of the democratic front, is now develop­ the New Deal forces within the Demo­ ing mainly through the crystallization cratic Party. Whether this movement of the New Deal forces within the will result finally in rejuvenating the Democratic Party. There is also the Democratic Party into a great party progressive current inside the Repub. of the people, or culminate in a deep · lican Party, in addition to such inde­ third-party split remains to be deter­ pendent political formations as the mined by future events. In the mean­ Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party, the time, however, it is fundamentally Wisconsin Farmer-Labor Progressive necessary to avoid the launching of Federation and the American Labor artificial third parties, which can only THE COMMUNIST split the people's ranks and play into gressional bloc, and the third-party the hands of reaction. question. Finally, I have given at least an indication of the progress that is SUMMARY being made in developing the neces­ sary new organization technique by In the foregoing, I have pointed the various forces that go to make up out the fact that reactionary capital­ the democratic front. ism has developed new and effective From all this it is clear that we are means for enchaining the masses and witnessing a gradual transformation that this makes it imperative for the by the democratic front of the tradi­ democratic front also fundamentally tional methods and forms of political to improve its system of mass organ­ mass work. But the tempo of develop­ ization. I have also indicated the new ment is dangerously slow. The attitudes necessary towards such ques­ strength of reaction and the readi­ tions as political mass education, pat­ ness with which it grasps at new ronage, political "fixing," vice and means to confuse and mislead the crime, and local organizing and elec­ masses, render it imperative that the tion methods. Furthermore, I have democratic front forces make greater pointed out the problems of the mass haste in modernizing their own work­ organization of the people into trade ing methods. The whole matter of unions, farmers' organizations, etc., improving the system of political mass and I have touched upon the role of organization should be carefully the people's legislative conferences. I studied and its lessons applied dili­ have also dealt briefly with such ur­ gently and with dispatch. In this task gent national problems as strength­ the Communist Party, with its Marx­ ening Labor's political role, cementing ian training, militant spirit and wide the alliance between the workers and mass following, bears a great respon­ farmers, building a progressive Con- sibility.

"The present general movement throughout the world for the educational rearmament of the Communist Parties, and of the labor movement-the movement to master theory-is not disconnected from the world crisis. It is because the peoples of the world approach another great turning point in history that the working class vanguard, the international Communist movement; taking up the task of leading the popular masses through the threatening storms to victory, looks to its pre­ paredness, examines its equipment, begins systematic rearma­ ment. And our arms for the coming struggles consist first and last of our arsenal of theory, of Marxism-Leninism."-Earl Browder, Theory As a Guide to Action. UNEMPLOYMENT A.ND THE WORKS PROGRAM IN 1939

BY CHARLES FLETCHER and JOHN VANCE

ROM the first day of the 76th Con­ need for increased relief expenditures Fgress, the W.P.A. and the federal solely on the basis of the needs of the relief program have been a central unemployed masses. target for the attacks of the reaction­ This will involve a consideration of aries. The vicious reactionary cam­ the following factors: ( 1) The failure paign against the W.P.A. during the of employment to keep pace with the debate on the deficiency appropria­ rise in the general level of business tion was announced by Representative activity since 1932; (2) .The rise in Woodrum, leading W.P.A. opponent, the proportion of the unemployed re­ as a curtain raiser for the major re­ quiring relief simply to avoid starva­ actionary battle to cripple the W.P.A. tion with the continuance of mass un­ permanently. employment over several years; (3) President Roosevelt has indicated The dangerously low level of relief that the progressives have no inten­ budgets and W.P.A. wages which con­ tion of sacrificing the needs of the un­ stitute a menace to the health and employed to the reactionaries with­ morale of a large section of the popu­ out a battle. In particular, the C.I.O. lation; (4) The extent to which and the Workers Alliance are de­ monopoly capital has succeeded in manding substantial increases in the shifting the burden of unemployment W.P.A. appropriation. relief to the working class. The importance of relief expendi­ UNEMPLOYMENT AND PRODUCTION tures for recovery was indicated by the recession which followed the re­ The failure of unemployment to duction of governmental expenditures decline in proportion to the rise in in 1937 and the recovery during their business activity has been one of the resumption in 1938. However, it is outstanding characteristics of the re­ not the purpose of this article to dis­ covery period from 1933 to 1937. In cuss the relation of relief expendi­ the fall of 1937 business activity al­ tures to recovery, which has been most reached the 1929 level. But even treated elsewhere. • Rather, the pri­ at this peak of recovery there were mary purpose is to demonstrate the still 8,281,000 unemployed, according to A. F. of L. conservative estimates, or over four times as many unem­ • Roger Bacon, "W.P.A. and Recovery," National Issues (January, 1939), pp. 13-14. ployed as in 1929. 147

transmittal. transmittal. of of Letter Letter even even that that reported reported statisticians statisticians ment ment

Productivity, Productivity, Increasing Increasing and and employment employment

govern­ Thus, Thus, market. market. labor labor the the into into

Project, Project, Research Research National National Un­ W.P.A. W.P.A. • •

population population the the of of sections sections new new forced forced

has has pressure pressure economic economic because because and and

jobs. jobs. W.P.A. W.P.A. needing needing unemployed unemployed population population in in increase increase natural natural the the of of

of of number number the the in in reduction reduction nificant nificant because because both both 1929, 1929, since since increasing increasing ly ly

sig­ any any make make to to magnitude magnitude sufficient sufficient steadi. steadi. been been has has work work seeking seeking persons persons

of of business business in in improvement improvement an an be be can can of of number number the the Furthermore, Furthermore, 1929. 1929. of of

output output the the produce produce there there to to that that 1939 1939 in in unlikely unlikely quired quired extremely extremely seems seems

re­ are are workers workers fewer. fewer. that that ductivity ductivity it it future, future, immediate immediate the the For For mum. mum.

1955 1955 193'7 193'7 1936 1936

0 0 0 0

20 20 20 20

4o 4o

bo bo t--

bo bo --

---

__ __

......

......

Unemployment Unemployment of of Index Index 80 80

80 80

-----

__ __ ......

......

/ / .. .. __ __ 1 1 00 00 100 100 ---

~--

120 120 120 120

Relief Relief on on Households Households of of Index Index -

l4o l4o l4o l4o ~ ~

UnernploYlll"nt UnernploYlll"nt to to

lbo lbo I I

' ' 160 160

~ ~ Relief Relief of of Ratio Ratio of of Index Index ~ ~

~ ~

180 180 18() 18()

200 200 200 200

oo.o oo.o I9:tJ, I9:tJ, Average Average 1 1 Ind»:X Ind»:X Index Index

Averages Averages Yearly Yearly

UNEl\IPLOYMENT UNEl\IPLOYMENT TO TO RELIEF RELIEF OF OF RATIO RATIO

mini- a a at at unemployment unemployment keep keep to to der der pro- labor labor increased increased so so has has speed-up speed-up

or­ in in levels levels higher higher ever ever achieve achieve must must and and mechanization mechanization increased increased of of tion tion

production production then, then, capitalism, capitalism, Uuier Uuier combina­ a a First, First, know. know. to to want want really really

who who those those for for • • plain plain 1929." 1929." are are in in than than ployment ployment higher higher cent cent per per

unem­ of of level level present present the the for for approximately approximately be be reasons reasons to to have have would would 20 20

real real The The level. level. 1929 1929 services services the the and and to to goods goods decline decline of of to to output output nation's nation's

the the level, level, 1929 1929 the the to to recede recede to to 1937 1937 unemployment unemployment of of failure failure the the for for ble ble

in in unemployment unemployment for for order order "in "in 1937 1937 responsi­ fashion fashion mysterious mysterious some some in in

and and 1935 1935 between between labor labor of of ductivity ductivity were were policies policies Deal Deal New New that that prove prove to to

pro­ the the in in increase increase no no were were there there attempted attempted if if have have reactionaries reactionaries The The

COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND WORKS PROGRAM 149

THE INCREASE IN THE PROPORTION OF employed have been forced to turn to THE UN:Ji;MPLOYED REQUIRING RELIEF relief as all available resources of the unemployed themselves and of their At the same time, the proportion of friends and relatives have been the unemployed requiring relief is in­ squeezed out to pay the cost of the creasing steadily. The Emergency Re­ crisis. lief Bureau of New York City ex­ We will examine later the amount plains as follows a 40 per cent rise in of small savings and insurance policies the relief load between 1934 and 1935, although there was no decline in fac­ used up in this way to pay the cost of unemployment. For the present, we tory employment: want to indicate the number whose "At a given time not all of the unem­ resources were drained to pay this ployed are on relief. Many workers have re­ cost, and the result in terms of the sources in the form of insurance savings, small property or credit sufficient to support immediacy of the need for relief of themselves and their families for a consider­ those who become unemployed today. able period following the loss of employ­ In considering the effects of unem­ ment. Such assets become exhausted with the ployment, we must note first that a passage of time. Unless employment appears, the jobless worker whose resources have much larger number of workers are vanished must apply for relief. In a period affected in any given year than is in­ of static employment when there are no dicated by the figure for the average new job opportunities, the relief load is number of unemployed during that bound to rise because of the reservoir of unemployed not on relief." " year. For example, the A. F. of L. esti­ mate of the average number of un­ That this is also the experience employed workers during 1932 was throughout the ·country is indicated 13,182,ooo. But the number of indi­ by the increase in the ratio of unem­ vidual workers who experienced some ployed on relief to total unemploy­ unemployment during the year was ment. In 1933 there were 35 families from one and one-half to two times receiving relief for each 100 unem­ as .high. If we add to this the num­ ployed persons, while in 1937 there ber of workers who were employed were 65 families receiving relief for only part-time, it seems certain that each 100 unemployed persons. • • not less than 26,ooo,ooo workers,, or That is, as is illustrated in the chart 70 per cent of the total labor force, on page q8, between 1933 and 1937 sufft:red some unemployment in there was a rise of So per cent in the 1932·* number of families receiving relief in relation to the number of unem­ " This figure is based in part upon the ployed. Thus more and more the un- distribution of unemployment durations and indicators of the extent of partial unemploy­ ment derived from the following reports of surveys and censuses of unemployment: • The New York Times, November 14, Census Bureau: Census of Unemployment, 1938. rg;o (for the United States); Special Census •• Based upon A. F. of L. estimates of un: of Unemployment, january, rgp (for 19 of employment and number of unduplicated the largest cities); Census of Total and Par­ households on relief as reported in journal tial Unemployment, November, I937 (for of the American Statistical Association, the United States). June, 1937, p. 363. Pennsylvania State Emergency Relief Ad-

gives gives the the total total footnote. footnote. figure figure of of over over 26,000,000. 26,000,000.

had had been been re-employed re-employed surveys surveys and and before before censuses censuses December. December. noted noted This This in in the the foregoing foregoing

year year but but who who wB.re wB.re • • These These not not counted counted estimates estimates because because are are they they based based on on data data in in

been been unemployed unemployed at at some some time time during during the the

that that there there were were at at least least 5,5oo,ooo 5,5oo,ooo who who had had

the the month month of of December, December, 1932. 1932. is is estimated estimated It It

short short interval interval of of support support from from that that

But But that· that· number, number, 21,350,000, 21,350,000, is is only only for for

unemployed unemployed workers workers was was 21,350,000. 21,350,000. laws laws are are operating, operating, there there may may be be a a

ers; ers; and and the the total total of of completely completely and and partially partially

where where unemployment unemployment compensation compensation

about about 7,120,000 7,120,000 partially partially unemployed unemployed work­

unemployment unemployment of of 1932, 1932, then, then, there there were were mediately mediately to to relief. relief. In In those those states states

tially tially unemployed. unemployed. In In the the month month of of the the worst worst

strikes, strikes, workers workers must must turn turn almost almost im­

proximately proximately one-half one-half as as many many more more are are par­

mentioned mentioned above above uniformly uniformly indicate indicate that that ap­ ings. ings. Today, Today, when when unemployment unemployment

the the completely completely unemployed. unemployed. The The surveys surveys

any any substantial substantial volume volume of of new new sav­

ployed ployed in in a a single single month. month. But But these these are are only only

cate cate that that as as many many as as 14,24o,ooo 14,24o,ooo were were unem­ stable stable to to permit permit the the accumulation accumulation of of

was was 13,182,000, 13,182,000, the the A. A. F. F. of of L. L. estimates estimates indi­

and and 1937, 1937, has has not not been been sufficiently sufficiently

While While the the average average number number of of unemployed unemployed

during during the the period period of of recovery recovery in in 1936 1936 employment employment in in Philadelphia. Philadelphia.

P.: P.: Recent Recent Trends Trends in in Employment Employment and and Un­

Employment Employment

in in

recent recent

years, years, even even

dustrial dustrial Research Research Department Department of of the the U. U. of of

complete. complete. W.P.A. W.P.A. National National Research Research Project Project and and In­

Nos. Nos. 163, 163, 167, 167, 172 172 and and 179. 179. in in homes, homes, was, was, of of course, course, virtually virtually

Unemployment Unemployment in in Buffalo, Buffalo, Special Special Bulletins Bulletins

counts, counts,

insurance insurance

policies policies and and

equities equities New New York York State State Department Department of of Labor: Labor:

sources, sources, mainly mainly small small savings savings Employment Employment ac­ Survey. Survey.

Kentucky Kentucky

Department Department of of Labor: Labor: Louisville Louisville

workers workers the the exhaustion exhaustion

of of personal personal re­

search search Bulletin, Bulletin, Series Series I, I, No. No. 3· 3·

for for more more than than four four

years. years.

For For these these

Non-Relief Non-Relief Population Population in in Dayton, Dayton, Ohio. Ohio. Re­

Occupational Occupational Characteristics Characteristics of of Relief Relief and and 2,5oo,ooo 2,5oo,ooo who who had had been been unemployed unemployed

Federal Federal Emergency Emergency Relief Relief Administration: Administration:

ployed ployed for for more more than than two two years years and and

more more population. population.

ooo,ooo ooo,ooo workers workers who who had had been been unem­ Unemployed Unemployed Persons Persons in in Cities Cities of of II,ooo II,ooo or or

ministration: ministration: Occupational Occupational Characteristics Characteristics of of

also, also, that that in in 1934 1934 there there were were over over 4·­

Washington Washington

State State Emergency Emergency

Relief Relief Ad­

approximately approximately 6,ooo,ooo. 6,ooo,ooo. It It appears, appears, Unemployment. Unemployment.

mission: mission: Michigan Michigan Census Census of of Population Population and and than than a a year, year, in in 1934 1934 their their number number was was

Michigan Michigan State State Emergency Emergency Welfare Welfare Com­

continually continually unemployed unemployed for for more more

sachusetts. sachusetts.

about about 110,ooo 110,ooo persons persons who who had had been been Industries: Industries: Census Census of of Unemployment Unemployment of of Mas­

Massachusetts Massachusetts Department Department of of Labor Labor and and

that, that, while while in in 1930 1930 there there were were only only

(1934)· (1934)·

lengths lengths of of time.* time.* The The indications indications are are

in in Urban Urban and and Rural Rural Non-Farm Non-Farm Areas, Areas, I934 I934

ministration: ministration: Census Census of of Employable Employable Workers Workers of of workers workers unemployed unemployed for for various various

able able to to make make estimates estimates of of the the number number

ment ment made made since since 1930, 1930, we we have have been been

haustion haustion of of the the insignificant insignificant material material state state and and local local surveys surveys of of unemploy­

because because of of unemployment. unemployment. The The ex­ ment ment for for the the United United States States and and of of

use use up up all all or or part part of of their their resources resources basis basis of of the the 1930 1930 Census Census of of Unemploy­

labor labor force force have have been been compelled compelled to to employment employment for for long long periods. periods. On On the the

less less than than 30 30 per per cent cent of of the the nation's nation's of of course, course, those those who who were were without without

1932. 1932. And And in in each each year year since since 1932 1932 not not The The hardest hardest hit hit by by the the crisis crisis were, were,

total total or or partial partial unemployment unemployment in in on on average average unemployment. unemployment.

of of their their personal personal resources resources through through than than would would be be indicated indicated by by figures figures

employed employed suffered suffered a a loss loss of of all all or or part part larger larger proportion proportion of of the the labor labor force force

those those who who were were formerly formerly gainfully gainfully employment employment has has affected affected a a much much

Thus, Thus, a a substantial substantial majority majority of of resources resources of of the the workers workers through through un­

THE THE COMMUNIST COMMUNIST UNEMPLOYMENT AND WORKS PROGRAM

source before relief is necessary.* August, 1938.)* Similarly, the In Pennsylvania, the reports on un­ W.P.A. reports that in all recent employment compensation point months over 50 per cent of the work­ sharply to the immediacy of the un­ ers assigned to projects had never pre­ employed workers' need for relief. viously been employed by W.P.A. It There is a waiting period of three or is evident that the instability of em­ more weeks before one is eligible for ployment and the years of crisis are unemployment compensation. Fifty­ adding daily to the number without seven per cent of the workers who ob­ any resources whatsoever. tained relief in Pennsylvania after Thus, in 1939, the workers are their unemployment compensation much less able to withstand unem­ · ended had been forced to apply for ployment than at the beginning of relief before the receipt of the first un­ the crisis in 1929. Also, a much larger employment compensation check.** proportion of the unemployed re­ This shows that a substantial major­ quire relief than at any time in the ity of the workers were unable to exist past. Therefore, even if there is no on their own resources for the few increase in unemployment, there will weeks prior to the receipt of the first be a need for an enlarged appropria­ check. tion for W.P.A. and for relief to meet Another indication of the exhaus­ the increased dependence of the un­ tion of those resources which had pre­ employed on public relief. viously enabled a large part of the un­ employed to avoid application for re­ WHO HAS PAID THE COST OF lief is the large number of workers UNEMPLOYMENT? applying for relief who have never The extent to which the burden of before been on the rolls. (In Penn­ this cost of unemployment has fallen sylvania, these new applicants consti­ on those least able to pay has not been tuted 31 per cent of those certified for generally recognized even among pro­ relief in the months of June and gressives. It is safe to say that the unemployed themselves, relatives, and " The Communist Party pioneered in the campaign for unemployiii:ent compensa­ friends, have to date contributed the tion, and its adoption even m the yrese~t most, even in terms of actual money, unsatisfactory form represents a maJor ViC­ tory for progressives and the labor move­ toward paying the cost of supporting ment. However, the attempt to represent un­ the unemployed. employment compensation in its present form as a substitute for unemployment re­ However small the resources of the lief and W.P.A. is a deliberate distortion. workers, farmers and middle class may Its operation in twenty-eig~t ~enefit-paying states points, when operative m all ~tat~s, have been individually, and even col­ to a contribution of unemployment rehef m lectively, in relation to the national 1938 of approximately $6oo,ooo,ooo. Since part of this amount is paid. to ~~rkers. who wealth, the draining of. those resources would not be eligible for rehef, 1t 1s beheved to pay the cost of unemployment that approximately $4oo,ooo,ooo of unem­ ployment compensation will take the place probably constituted the principal of about so much relief. ' source of funds for "relief" through- ""For the months of February to August, 1938, Pennsylvania Public Assistance Statis­ " Pennsylvania Public Assistance Statis­ tics, August, 1938, p. 9· tics, June, 19118, p. 5; August, 19118, p. 6. THE COMMUNIST out the depression. The relief regula­ Insurance policies were another re­ tions are designed to make sure that source drawn on by unemployed the unemployed worker and his rela­ workers. Between 1930 and 1936, tives contribute the maximum pos­ about 6,ooo,ooo more ordinary poli­ sible amount toward the cost of his cies were lapsed and surrendered than unemployment. When the last of his would have been the case under the savings is used up, his insurance pol­ conditions existing in the 192o's. • icy surrendered for cash, in short, (Industrial insurance holders suf­ when the last slight vestiges of secur­ ity are gone, then, and only then, is fered far worse than ordinary policy­ the unemployed worker permitted to h.olders. In a single year, 1933, more receive governmental aid. than 2o,ooo,ooo industrial policies That the government's expenditure were lapsed and surrendered.) About for unemployment relief has run into $7,ooo,ooo,ooo was obtained from all several billion dollars is well known, surrendered insurance policies dur­ for the reactionary press is continual­ ing these years. • • Thus, it was the ly employing this fact as a bogey to workers, small farmers and the mid­ frighten its readers away from the dle class, not monopoly capitalists, New Deal. There are, of course, no who paid the cost of the crisis; paid records of the expenditures of the it out of small savings, from aban- people to place alongside the figure for the relief appropriations of the 1932 and early 1933 were so gloomy that government. We must be content many business men transferred a large vol­ with a few scattered facts which indi­ ume of demand deposits to savings accounts because banks specializing in the latter type cate the magnitude of the people's of deposits were generally safer. Funds ob­ direct monetary contribution to the tained from the liquidation of stock hold­ ings and withdrawals from business were also cost of aiding the unemployed. But placed in savings deposits because of the dif­ the systematic draining of the re­ ficulty in finding a safe field for investment during the depths of the depression. If these sources of the unemployed and their transfers had not occurred the reports of the relatives probably yielded more in Comptroller of Currency would doubtless have revealed the full amount of with­ actual money than was contributed drawals by the regular small savings de­ for formal relief by all the govern­ positors. Because of the same forces, the de­ cline in the number of savings accounts also ment agencies combined. is an understatement of the number of de­ The toll of savings during the years positors who closed their accounts. It is even greater here because the larger depositors which marked the full flowering of were compelled by savings bank regulations Hoovervilles and soup lines is shown to open accounts in two or more banks. Thus, the number of individual accounts in the Federal Reserve Bank reports. was considerably greater than the number They show that the number of sav­ of depositors. ings accounts declined by 16,ooo,ooo • Based upon statistics of lapses and sur­ renders as a per cent of the average number between 1929 and 1933 while the of policies in force of twenty-eight of the the amount of deposits shrank by largest life insurance companies as reported in Spectator, September 3, 1936. The percen­ $8,ooo,ooo,ooo. • tage for 1928-1929 was subtracted from each succeeding year and applied to the number • The $8,ooo,ooo,ooo mentioned is the de­ of ordinary policies in force. cline in the volume of savings deposits be­ •• spectator Insurance Year Book, 1938, tween 1929 and 1933. Banking prospects in pp. 418-19. These figures exclude loans based UNEMPLOYMENT AND WORKS PROGRAM 153 doned insurance policies and in fore­ here; but it must be emphasized that closed homes and farms. this tax policy is, also, a part of the It was the working class itself which method by which monopoly pressure furnished virtually the only "relief shifts the burden of unemployment agency" during the first years of the costs onto the masses. crisis. The New York City E.R.B. re­ We have spoken thus far of the port• says of this period: people's monetary contribution to the "The conditions of doubling-up that were cost of unemployment and we have found were shocking. There usually was one indicated the difficulties in measuring wage-earner supporting two families and the it. It is still more difficult to compute income and living standards were below even the cost of the crisis to the people in minimum subsistence relief budgets, the terms of broken homes; sickness and which meant that such families were eligible for home relief right along." disease; reduced educational skill, and training opportunities. The effect That the small farmer, laboring of unemployment on health is indi­ under a mountain of mortgages, also cated by the findings of the National contributed to this form of unnoticed Health Survey which show that rela­ is evi­ relief through doubling up tively twice as many persons among unprece­ denced by the return of the unemployed were suffering from dented millions to the farms and vil­ sickness and disease in 1936 as among lages during the depression. the employed workers. • In these obscure ways, the people, Thus, in hundreds of ways the not monopoly capital, bore the cost people have carried the major share of unemployment. Nor should it be crisis. The necessity overlooked that in so far as unem­ of the cost of the is for adequate relief appropria­ ployment relief has been forthcom­ now tions financed by taxes on the wealthy. ing from governmental agencies it has been financed to a considerable ex­ THE NEED FOR INCREASES IN W.P.A. tent from taxes on the people least WAGES AND RELIEF BUDGETS able to pay, through sales taxes, taxes on workers' homes and small farms, We have shown in the preceding etc. Since this aspect of the question discussion that relief appropriations is more generally recognized, it is not need to be increased even on the necessary to deal with it extensively basis of the present standards of re­ lief. However, it is impossible to con­ tinue at present standards of W.P.A. on policies which were later allowed to lapse. According to L. C. Parry, in a speech at the and general relief income without annual meeting of the American Economic permanently impairing the health and Association in December, 1932, some $2,000,­ ooo,ooo was loaned to policyholders in 1930, morale of millions of persons. The 19~1 and 1932. Part of this was probably re­ W.P.A. has made a number of studies paid and part later credited to surrenders, but one must expect a substantial part of the of the income necessary for the aver­ loans to result in ultimate lapses and there­ age family. The basic maintenance fore not be reported as payments to pol­ icyholders. Seven billion dollars, therefore, understates the amount drawn out in the depression. _"National Health Sun1ey, Bulletin No. 7. •The New York Times, November 14, 1938. P· 3·

ing ing was was less less than than $15 $15 it it per per month. month. quate quate diet diet at at moderate moderate cost, cost, $8oo; $8oo; adequate adequate

per per month month and and in in 25 25 of of the the 40 40 states states report­ 1929 1929 prices prices and and are are for for food food per per year; year; ade­

reporting, reporting, the the relief relief grant grant was was less less than than $10 $10 The The budgets budgets are are given given in in this this study study in in

on on general general relief. relief. In In one-quarter one-quarter of of the the states states pacity pacity to to Consume Consume (1929). (1929). p. p. 122. 122.

had had an an annual annual income income of of $48 $48 for for each each case case ••••• ••••• Brookings Brookings Institute, Institute, America's America's Ca­

adequate adequate diet. diet. In In Mississippi, Mississippi, relief relief recipients recipients Program, Program, December, December, 1937, 1937, pp. pp. 50-51. 50-51.

purchase purchase at at minimum minimum cost cost the the food food for for an an Report Report on on Progress Progress of of Works Works W.P~A., W.P~A., uu uu

yearly yearly amount amount established established as as necessary necessary to to p. p. Living, Living, 3· 3·

average average

yearly yearly income income

higher higher than than

$385, $385, the the

Maintenance Maintenance

and and

Emergency Emergency

Standards Standards of of

•• ••

In In only only one one

state, state,

New New York, York,

was was

the the

...... W.P.A., W.P.A., Quantity Quantity Budgeta Budgeta for for Basic Basic

P· P· 43· 43·

p. p. Ibid., Ibid., XIV. XIV. u u

• • Social Social Security Security Bulletin, Bulletin, August, August, 1938, 1938,

1935 1935 prices. prices.

tively. tively.

Living, Living, p. p. 124. 124. The The figures figures are are in in terms terms of of

figures figures

become become

$675, $675,

$385 $385 and and $270 $270

respec­

• • W.P.A., W.P.A., Intercity Intercity

Differences Differences

in in Cost Cost

of of

$350. $350. Adjusted Adjusted to to the the 1938 1938 price price level level these these

diet diet at at minimum minimum cost, cost, $5oo; $5oo; emergency emergency diet, diet,

food food alone alone to to provide provide an an adequate adequate

justed justed to to 1938 1938 prices,***** prices,***** the the cost cost of of

conservative conservative Brookings Brookings Institute, Institute, ad­ also also be be a a sharp sharp increase increase in in the the amount amount

vealing. vealing. According According to to figures figures of of the the wage wage of of W.P.A. W.P.A. workers. workers. There There must must

food food alone alone for for an an average average family family is is re. re. ects, ects, and and an an increase increase in in the the monthly monthly

budgets budgets and and estimates estimates of of the the cost cost of of place place all all of of the the unemployed unemployed on on proj­

However, However, a a comparison comparison between between relief relief expansion expansion of of the the Works Works Program Program to to

so so great great that that comparison comparison is is ridiculous. ridiculous. solution solution indicated indicated is is an an immediate immediate

the the necessary necessary expenses expenses of of a a family family is is large large section section of of the the population. population. The The

gets gets and and budgets budgets designed designed to to cover cover all all a a major major menace menace to to the the health health of of a a

The The disparity disparity between between relief relief bud­ of of these these standards standards of of relief relief constitutes constitutes

It It is is evident evident adequate adequate that that the the emergency emergency continuance continuance budget. budget.

emergency emergency diet.** diet.** per per year, year, about about one-quarter one-quarter of of the the in­

to to buy buy food food alone alone rural rural when when counties counties living living who who on on receive receive an an only only $252 $252

$270 $270 per per year, year, the the amount amount necessary necessary unskilled unskilled W.P.A. W.P.A. workers workers in in Southern Southern

So So per per cent cent of of the the states states was was less less than than vation vation income income of of such such groups groups as as the the

1937.**** 1937.**** This This ings ings average average Institute. Institute. hides hides The The the the star­ relief relief budget budget in in

mated mated by by the the economists economists annual annual income income of of the the Brook­ of of W.P.A. W.P.A. workers workers in in

gency gency budget budget for for food food alone, alone, as as esti­ 30 30 per per cent cent higher higher than than the the average average

family family was was about about equal equal to to the the emer­ fied fied in in the the emergency emergency budget budget is is over over

Thus, Thus, the the average average total total budget budget per per however, however, that that the the yearly yearly income income speci­

States States in in June, June, 1938, 1938, was was $278. $278. * * health health and and morale." morale." ** ** * * The The fact fact is, is,

lief lief per per family family per per year year in in the the United United budget budget may may prove prove harmful harmful to to both both

The The average average amount amount of of general general re­ practices practices called called for for in in the the emergency emergency

per per year. year. "followed "followed over over a a long long period, period, the the

for for use use in in emergencies emergencies "health "health only only and and decency" decency" was was $270 $270 level,'"* level,'"* and and that that

these these budgets budgets stricted stricted are are well well diet diet below below for for the the the the average average family family

Finally, Finally, the the these these cost cost in in estimates estimates 1938 1938 for for indicate indicate a a re­ that that both both of of

one one year year would would The The be be W.P.A. W.P.A. reduced reduced officials officials to to $385. $385. responsible responsible for for

for for an an income income of of $903 $903 per per year.* year.* cases cases at at minimum minimum cost, cost, the the cost cost for for

W.P.A. W.P.A. for for the the adequate adequate average average diet diet family, family, were were calls calls purchased purchased in in all all

$67 $67 5· 5· the the food food necessary necessary If If for for an an The The emergency emergency budget, budget, established established by by

quires quires an an income income if if purchased purchased of of $1,261 $1,261 at at per per moderate moderate year. year. prices prices is is

budget budget for for the the average average family family re­ diet diet for for an an average average family family for for one one year year

154 154 THE THE COMMUNIST COMMUNIST UNEMPLOYMENT AND WORKS PROGRAM 155 of relief for those actually unable to unemployed, is a rounded program of work on W.P.A. projects. measures that would realize the slo­ gan advanced by the Communist PUT AMERICA BACK TO WORK­ Party: Speed Recovery! Put America SPEED RECOVERY! Back to Work! This means using the wealth of the Thus, the plight of the unemployed monopoly capitalists to extend the masses itself requires an extension of W.P.A. and P.W.A. into a long-range relief, even without reference to the program of socially necessary public effect that such an extension would works, low-cost housing construction have upon recovery. Actually, al­ and cultural projects covering all the though we can speak separately of the unemployed, along with a vast exten­ problem of relieving the plight of the sion and improvement of unemploy. masses and the problem of recovery, ment compensation, old-age pensions they are part of the same problem,' and other forms of social insurance. and the solution of one dovetails with This program can be properly fin­ the solution of the other. What is re­ anced only by taxation based upon quired, in addition to the appropria­ ability to pay and especially by a tion of adequate funds to take care sharp increase of the income and cor­ of the urgent needs of relief to the poration taxes in the higher brackets.

"How many Americans, among them those who pride themselves upon their education, were thrown into panic and despair by the Munich betrayal! And the fascist powers counted upon just that as the main weapon for their further victories. But how quickly has the penetrating Marxist-Leninist theory enabled the international working class, and thereby the whole camp of world democracy, to begin gath­ ering its forces even more solidly and broadly all-inclusive, to dissolve all panic and despair, and prepare for the more decisive battles ahead. The very defeats inflicted .upon us by the Munich conspirators are transformed into weapons against them, the enemy is exposed before the eyes of the world in all his nakedness and is isolated from the masses of the people who, aroused as never before, begin to solidify their ranks for serious defense of democracy and peace."-Earl Browder, Theory As a Guide to Action. CLASS FORCES IN CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE

BY HARRISON GEORGE

,HE penetration of capital into STRUCTURE·OF CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE T [agriculture, whereby the "tradi­ tional" agrarian economy of the self­ It would be a mistake, of course, as sufficing family farm is changed into Lenin has noted, to regard intensive capitalist production for the market, capitalist development as a necessary or "commercial" farming, is more corollary to these extensive holdings. marked in California than in any The penetration of capital takes other section of the United States. places regardless of the size or form of Monopoly in land has become more land holdings. Indeed, intensive capi­ concentrated through outright owner­ talist farming began, as Lenin noted, ship, often by foreclosure, or through on comparatively small-area fruit control by debt; while at the same farms, and such small-area farms re­ time agrarian capital intensified ra­ main a factor. Also, much of the tionalization of production both by original large holdings was divided mechanization and by simple speed­ for sale to colonists from the East, up, in an attempt to overcome the though considerable part of this land "scissors" -the price handicap agri­ has reverted to large holders through cultural commodities suffer from in failure and foreclosure. And home­ market exchange with commodities of stead farms, though not so great in highly monopolized manufacturing proportionate number as in the Mid­ industry. \Vest, have also been a factor in Cali­ The expropriation of land as a fornia. Yet large-area farms, taken natural resource in California, which together with concentrated control by took place largely after its seizure finance capital of large areas in ap­ from Mexico, added to the large areas parently independent small-size farms, held under Spanish land grants, in dominate the state's agricultural econ­ addition to the great tracts later omy and have given rapid impetus to claimed by railroads (Southern Paci­ the development of commercialized fic) and grabbed by land thieves farming. (Miller & Lux), created a base for This predominance of large-area, land monopoly in big holdings not capitalized farm holdings has pro­ found elsewhere in American agricul­ duced the most far-reaching social ture. and political consequences, which CLASS FORCES IN CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE 157 have largely been ignored by the pro­ mythical "average farmer" is further gressive people's movement, including cultivated by the capitalist press, and our owri Party, and concealed on the if. an illusion spread by agrarian capi­ other hand by the interested finance talists, who take advantage of popular capital groups with which agrarian sympathy for the toiling farmer and capital is so closely welded that the the legal and social exemptions al­ two are practically identical. lowed the family farm (such as ex­ The predominance of the mass-pro­ emption from social security, work­ duction "outdoor factory" type of men's compensation and wage-hour farm, and the fading economic impor­ laws) to maintain the most barbarous tance of the self-sufficing "family exploitation in "outdoor factories." farm" are phenomena whose signifi­ Not only has California farming be­ cance is hidden, deliberately it would come predominantly a factory indus­ seem, by the statistics of the govern­ try, but this development has out­ ment census, which, as Lenin noted moded, technically, the small family in his Capitalism and Agriculture in farm, which can be maintained only the United States, were even in 1910 at the cost of technical degeneration given so stupidly that the most sig­ (delapidation of buildings, increas­ nificant factors were entirely omitted. ingly poor machinery, lack of fertiliza­ The 1910 census, however, was far tion, hand labor instead of power, superior to those more recent, which etc.) and human degradation in im­ omit the most vitally necessary data, poverished living standards for a ma­ such as capital investment per acre of jority of the farm population. Yet it improw·d land (wage labor used, im­ i~ precisely this impoverishment that plements, fertilizers, motor power, ir­ brings the farming question to life as rigation costs, etc.), while giving in one of the highest political impor­ great detail such trivialities as the tance. "number of mule colts under two Inadequate as the census statistics years of age." are, still some can be found to illus­ Not only does analysis become ex­ trate the process of change outlined tremely difficult when deprived thus above. Illustrative of the high capital of essential data, but such statistics values involved in California agricul­ serve the purpose of reaction by main­ ture are the following: taining, in this era of mechanical In 1935, the average value of Cali­ power, the "horse-and-buggy-days" fornia farm land per acre was $76.40, conception in the public mind of the compared to $31.16 for the United "typical" farm as the family farm, and States generally. California has 2.3 the "typical farmer" as one who per cent of the harvested crop land "climbs the ladder" from wage worker of the U.S.A.; but this represented on the farm to tenant farmer, then to 7 per cent of the value of all crop mortgaged owner, and then to full land in the nation. owner, and, after a period of bucolic Indicative of the completion of the abundance, retirement full of years colonization period is the steady re­ and contentment. duction of the average acreage per This wholly mythical picture of a farm, from 461.8 acres in 188o, to 202.4 THE COMMUNIST acres in 1935· At the same time, how­ per cent of the total number of farms, ever, it is significant that the number produce only 5·9 per cent of the total of latifundia (large acreage) holdings, crop value. in tracts of one thousand acres or Further analysis gives the remark­ over, rose from 2,531 in 188o, to 5,255 able fact that only two per cent of the in 1935; and that the number of hold­ farms control 25.4 per cent of the pro­ ing between five hundred and one ductive acreage, turning out 28.5 per thousand acres increased from 3,108 cent of the crop value, and (especially in 188o, to 4,913 in 1935. indicative of their capitalist character) Proof of the simple monopoly of pay 34.6 per cent of the total wages land in these big holdings is the fact paid to farm labor. that in 1935, the 5,255 farms of one The capitalistic nature of California thousand acres or over, while consti­ farming is shown by the fact that, of tuting only 3·5 per cent of the total all persons gainfully employed in agri­ number of farms, held 62.3 per cent of culture in California (1930), 57·3 per all farm land, 18,957,126 acres out of cent were wage workers, compared a total of 30,437,995 acres in all of with 26.1 per cent in the nation as a California's farms. That these large whole. And the growth of this capi­ holdings are not all mere livestock talist character, as well as the relative range, but are industrially important, decrease in family ownership and is seen in the fact that this 3·5 per cent operation, is shown by the fact that, of the farms· (of one thousand acres or out of every 1,ooo adult males in agri­ more) possessed 29.4 per cent of all culture there were 300 more farm the land used for crops in 1934. wage workers in 1930 than in 188o, The relative importance of Califor­ while there were 232 fewer owners and nia agriculture to the nation's is seen 68 fewer tenants. In cotton, less than in the fact that this one state produced 5 per cent of the state's cotton farms $66o,o'oo,ooo out of the $8,5oo,ooo,ooo are large-scale, but they pay 40.5 per gross farm income in 1937. Further cent of all wages paid to cotton labor. examination shows that, out of the Only 7 per ·cent of all truck farms 7,865 farms in the whole United States are large-scale, but they pay 56.4 per which produce values of $3o,ooo or cent of all wages for hired labor in more, 2,892, or 36.8 per cent, are lo­ truck crops. cated in California. In California, we thus see a large proportion of very small farms, with CAPITALIST NATURE OF CALIFORNIA a relatively very small number con­ AGRICULTURE trolling wlossal acreages, with a mo­ nopoly of the industrialized agricul­ Analysis of the internal character of ture steadily squeezing out the small the state's economy reveals the concen­ growers. tration of capital in few hands. Less The biggest "farmer" in California than one-tenth, to be exact, 9·9 per is "California Lands, Inc.," controlled cent of California farms, produce 53·3 by the Bank of America and Trans­ per cent of the state's total crop value, America. This "farmer" operates 50o,­ while the small farms, which are 41.4 ooo acres of land scattered throughout CLASS FORCES IN CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE 159 the state, in peaches, prunes, grapes, Inc., owned jointly by Crocker and potatoes, barley and hay. Its farm in­ Fleischacker (bankers). come in ig36 was $2,552,925. These "farmers" own, rent, lease, Among others of the 10 per cent of and operate through managers or "farmers" who control California agri­ tenants. As capitalistic "farmers" they culture are: Allan Hoover, son of operate large areas which they do not Herbert Hoover, owning and operat­ own, but lease. Thus, the question of ing the richest land in the Delta re­ tenantry is entangled with the small gion and in San Joaquin; Herbert family farmer who is a tenant, and the Fleischacker, banker and industrialist, status . of the latter is disentangled also operating in the Delta and San from statistics only with difficulty. The Joaquin; Balfour-Guthrie, a British relationship of these land barons, with interest; the Kern County Land Co.; the land itself, is very faint. It is hard H. P. Garin, operating "lettuce fac­ to discern where their "farming" tories" in Arizona, Salinas and Im­ operations leave off and their banking perial Valley; Spreckels, Holly and and industrial interests begin. Irriga­ Crystal sugar companies, monopolists tion and power companies; land de­ of beet acreages; the Tagus Ranch, velopment and land selling compa­ ostensibly owned and operated by the nies; canning, packing, and shipping Merritts (of Minnesota steel trust corporations; absentee land merchants fame) but reportedly controlled by such as the Security First National Libby, McNeil & Libby; California Bank, the California Equities Co., all Packing Corporation, which grows are part and parcel of one well-knit as well as cans; Borden's Milk Co.; chunk of finance capital, with its final the California Fruit Exchange; Roy control in Wall Street. Pike's "El Solyo Ranch" which is CLASS DIFFERENCES IN FARMING equipped with the most complete POPULATION private arsenal; the Hotchkiss Ranch, with thousands of acres in cotton and In the face of this vast combination a scheme of importing Negro labor of monopoly in land, banking capital from the Deep South; Harry Chand­ and marketing organizations, the ler of the Los Angeles Times; William small family farmer has all the disad­ Randolph Hearst, with his San Si­ vantages of the individual wage meon Ranch that grew from a modest worker, with no union protection, in 3o,ooo acre affair to 30o,ooo acres by a corporation factory. Except that in eviction of "squatters"; the Southern agriculture, the conflict of interests is Pacific Railroad, with 2,5oo,ooo acres disguised behind the formula that all in Southern California, much of which are "farmers" and the magic of statis­ has been sold and foreclosed repeat­ tical "averages" places them all on the edly; the Earl Fruit Company, owner same level. That the "average" Cali­ of the 25,000 acre. DiGiorgio Ranch fornia farm is 202-4 acres in extent which gave a barbarian banquet to the and has an "average" value of $15,466, now passe Governor Merriam (this tells one absolutely nothing as to the company also handles Eastern market­ class differences within the farming ing); and the California Delta Farms, population. 160 THE COMMUNIST

Yet these differences are vital to der" from owner to tenant, this vir­ understanding the social forces pres­ tually ceased by 1920, with the onset ent. And, to attain perspective, since of the agrarian crisis, and the trend the Associated Farmers recklessly talk of tenancy upward began. Hence, we of inciting "the country against the see the growth of tenancy beginning cities," it is well to calculate where in the 1925 farm census, when 14.7 these generals are going to obtain per cent of all farms were operated their armies. To begin with, in 1930, by tenants, to 18 per cent in 1930, and out of the state's total population of 21.7 per cent in 1935. We must re­ 5,677,251, 73·3 per cent or 4,160,596 member, of course, that capitalist were urban; only 26.7 per cent (it was "tenant" farms may account for some 32 per cent in 1920) or 1,516,655 was of this growth of tenancy, though the "rural" -though this includes the trend to tenancy of family farms seems smaller towns, and only 10 per cent, clear. Evidence, inconclusive but or 620,506, actual farm population. worth noting, of one phase of capi­ (It is doubtful whether the 2oo,ooo talist farming, is seen in the fact that, estimated farm migratory laborers· are in 1935, out of the 150,360 farms, included in the census at all.) More­ 14,119 were without dwellings. over, between 1930 and 1935, "farm But the growth of tenancy does not population" fell from 620,506 to 6o8,- exhaust the evidence of impoverish­ 838, narrowing the percentage ratio ment and dispossession of the family of that category. While this predomi­ farmer. Formal statistics would seem nance of population in urban centers to "prove" the opposite. For while i~ worth noting, it is not given here in 1930, 71,216 California farms were with any idea of minimizing the po­ mortgaged to a total of $573·452,000, litical importance of the farm popu­ this was "reduced" to only 67,444 lation. farms with a total mortgage debt of It is to be noted that, although the $497,148,ooo in 1935· It would appear "farm population" fell off in this five­ that "prosperity" has allowed 3,772 year period, the number of farms in­ farmers to pay off a mortgage debt of creased from 135,676 in 1930, to 150,- $76,3o4,ooo, or some $20,229 on the 360 in 1935. This would indicate a average. But we know that there was worsening of conditions for the family no such prosperity, and we must con­ farm which drove some population clude that these 3·772 farmers-and into the cities, while the number of from their average indebtedness one purely capitalist-operated farms on would conclude they were among the which wage labor, as distinct from middle class farmers to a marked de­ family labor, is engaged, markedly gree-lost their farms, that their debts increased. were liquidated by foreclosure. Dealing with farms according to ten­ Nor can we foresee any hope for ure, we must remember that, while the remaining 67,444 mortgaged Cali­ colonization from the East by fairly fornia farmers paying off their debts. moneyed settlers who purchased small Thus, to the 21.7 per cent of Cali­ farms held up the "normal" trend to fornia farmers who are tenants, we push the small farmer "down the lad- must add (though tenancy and mort- CLASS FORCES IN CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE 161 gage may overlap in certain instances) be squeezed, because the debts and the 44.1 per cent of mortgaged farmers interest charged remain the same, in the state, who to all practical pur. while income falls with the lowering poses have lost real ownership of the prices and shrinking market for farm land they farm to the banks and fi. products. The capitalist farmer may, nance companies. This leaves, roughly, if he wishes, avoid losses by simple only 34.2 per cent of California's curtailment of investment in current farmers actually owning their farms. crop production. The small farmer, Truly, we Communists may point at whose family living depends upon the capitalism as the thief that is steal­ market returning him his cost of pro­ ing the farm from the farmer. Indeed, duction for his entire acreage and it is reported that, in the great, rich crop, finds this impossible. Restricted San Joaquin Valley, the "fruit basket production, or what amounts to the of the nation," not over 150 farmers same thing, restricted marketing, actually own their farms. In the pres­ means to him a restricted living stand­ ence of the Bank of America, the ard. bogey of Bolshevism must lose its Marketing arrangements, therefore, terror. in addition to financing, are of grave importance. And here, again, as with FARM FINANCING AND MARKETING land itself, and with finance, the small Capital credit, without which the farmer confronts an array of parasit­ farmer cannot farm, relentlessly en· ical monopolies standing between him circles the small farmer in a web of and the consuming market, limited by debt, on which usury not infrequently the reduced employment and high at 28 per cent is charged in interest­ prices maintained by monopoly on in­ by connivance of bankers with the dustrial products. past Merriam administration, and is Basically, there is no real solution openly used by the Bank of America for the problem of so-called "sur­ to coerce small farmers into joining pluses" of farm commodities, or of the Associated Farmers, to compel commodities in general, under capi­ them to participate in vigilante ter­ talism. Only a socialist system, where­ rorism and finally to dispossess them in the purchasing power of the people and throw them into the ranks of equals their producing power, can wage workers. permanently guarantee a market. Nev­ Hence the importance of the ques­ ertheless, insofar as mass purchasing tion of farm financing, which was power can be increased, or its decline dealt with in detail in a resolution halted, which is the general aim of of the California State Convention of the New Deal-the market for farm the Communist Party, in order to products, and with it the income of mitigate the worst features of a sys­ the farmers, will improve. Which is a tem whose inherent evils can be ended vital reason why the small and middle only by socialism. These measures are farmers should support the New Deal of immediate importance, because, measures aimed at increasing purchas­ with any deepening of the present ing power, and all labor demands crisis, the small farmer is certain to tending to the same end. It is also the THE COMMUNIST

logical basis upon which the farming the agricultural industry for the big population can be won for such spe­ capitalist growers. Such is the inevit­ cific proposals as "food for Spain and able end of the California so-called China"-'-in addition to the political "Pro-Rate Act" enacted into law in reason to defend world democracy and 1933 and amended in 1938. oppose the Munich fascist conspiracy. The Pro-Rate Act carries out, with There is also the plan, which found a great deal of windy pretense, exactly wide favor among farmers when men- this policy. Its purpose is thus stated . tioned casually by Secretary Wallace, by the Act itself: of the "two price" system for consum­ "In the interests of the public welfare and ers, for it involves not only the govern­ general prosperity of the state, the unneces­ ment purchase of surpluses for relief sary and unreasonable waste of agricultural and low income distribution and thus wealth, hereinafter referred to as 'Agricul­ relieves the market glut and aids farm tural Waste,' involved in the harvesting or prices, but it would establish an ex­ preparation and delivery to market of agri­ cellent principle that people pay for cultural commodities for which there exists only a limited consumer demand, should be food according to their income, rather eliminated, while at the same time preserv­ than for what they get. Which is ing to all agricultural producers an equality precisely why the Wall Street gentle­ of opportunity in the available market." men so loudly protested Wallace's re­ This statement is false in premise, mark, and why he has become silent in argument and conclusion. The law on the question. In general, the pur­ established a process injurious to the chase by the government for relief dis­ small farmer far worse than the re­ tribution, and for shipment to demo­ striction of the federal A.A.A.-but cratic peoples besieged by fascism, of without the compensating benefits the huge farm surpluses, should domi­ such as the A.A.A. offers. It was admin­ nate our propaganda, as against argu­ istered, under the Merriam adminis­ ments in support of the "ever normal" tration, by a commision of nine big granary idea, the benefits of which are growers and processors, stooges of the limited by inherent features of capi­ banks and every one a big shot in the talist production and moreover are fascist Associated Farmers, all ap­ based on the anti-social idea of restric­ pointed by the governor, and its bu­ tion of production. reaucratic nature is topped off by pro­ It is most necessary that the small vision for $soo fines for violation­ California farmer, and others as well, if a farmer markets more than his be educated to the falsity of this il­ quota. Yet the same Republican ma­ lusion that restriction of either pro­ chine that put this over is loudest in duction or marketing is any solution its cries of "regimentation" and "dic­ for the "problem" of "surpluses." For tatorship" against the New Deal farm here we find a carefully schemed plan measures, while the Associated Farm­ by big growers to entrap the small ers rave against "interference with producers into such rigged-up market­ farmers marketing their produce"­ ing restrictions as are bound sooner by trade union organizations. or later to freeze the small farmer out entirely and thus further monopolize (To be concluded) PITFALLS OF PRAGMATIC LOGIC

BY PHILIP CARTER

OHN DEWEY is probably the best the fighting edge of his polemic. Log­ Jknown of American philosophers. ic: The Theory of Inquiry! Logic is His long career as a teacher, begin­ usually anything but that. Most books ning at the University of Chicago in on the subject emanating from our the frontier days and then at Colum­ universities emphasize the abstract, bia University in New York City until cut-and-dried formulae and neglect a few years ago, is remarkable not only the living process of inquiry, experi­ for the thirty or so influential books ment and discovery. The formulation he produced, but also for the direct of hypotheses indeed is often present­ influence he exerted upon thousands ed as a miracle or referred to genius, of students and teachers. while little effort is made to exhibit In the present book, Logic: The the social and industrial conditions Theory of Inquiry,"' Professor Dewey which motivate the advance of science. shows all his cumbersome, plodding, Formal logic, of course, has its value. dogged, unbrilliant but provocative It is important to know that if your originality. The unphilosophical read­ argument takes the form: If all M is er must be wamed, of course, that it P and no S is M, then ·no S is P, you is one of the most cautious and unsen­ are always wrong, no matter what you sational books ever written. If he are talking about; and it is something wants to find pragmatism stated in to know that if the form is different clear and unflinching terms, he must in certain respects your argument will go back to James. If he wants to find always be valid. Even Hegel admitted operationalism defined in a bald un­ the restricted value of formal logic. compromising manner he must tum But this formal logic is nevertheless to Bridgman or to other writers. Pro­ a poor substitute for a logic of in­ fessor Dewey's common sense is usual­ quiry, even if it is developed, as is the ly on guard to censor any extreme, new symbolic logic, into a branch of clear-cut statement of either position (or the foundations of) mathematics~ which would be assailable by the cus­ Professor Dewey, though he betrays tomary arguments. This is because no great intimacy with the special he is an erudite philosopher who technics of science, has written a logic knows the arguments of his adversa­ of inquiry remarkably rich in sugges­ ries and prepares for them in advance. tions. It has, however, many serious Yet the very title of the book shows defects, all of which arise, it could be • John Dewey, Logic: The Theory of In­ shown, from two theories which he quiry, Henry Holt, New York, $4. rides throughout the book. 163

their their which which in in ways ways special special science. science. the the of of of of vance vance ground ground

the the on on instituted instituted being being propositions propositions of of ad­ dialectical-materialist dialectical-materialist the the through through

forms forms of of distinction distinction further further material, material, and and

attained attained progressively progressively is is reality, reality, with with

means, means, procedural procedural as as contents contents their their of of tion tion

knowledge knowledge of of correspondence correspondence a a as as

func­ the the of of ground ground the the on on identified identified and and

truth, truth, that that recognizes recognizes which which Marxism, Marxism, differentiated differentiated to to be be are are Propositions Propositions ...... " "

by by shown shown clearly clearly been been has has view view a a

thus: thus: position position his his such such of of deficiency deficiency The The inquiries. inquiries. ular ular

states states Dewey Dewey isolated. isolated. not not are are tions tions partic­ of of purpose purpose the the for for relevant relevant

Proposi­ propositions. propositions. of of properties properties ir­ or or weak weak adequate, adequate, are are which which

not not are are falsity falsity and and truth truth that that follow follow proposltlons proposltlons only only but but truth, truth, no no

not not does does it it false, false, not not and and true true not not apparently apparently is is there there completed completed is is ess ess

are are propositions propositions isolated isolated that that fact fact the the proc­ endless endless this this Before Before 345). 345). (p. (p. it" it"

From From absurdity. absurdity. of of brink brink the the to to theory theory lim­ ideal ideal the the with with statement statement abstract abstract

his his pushed pushed has has he he that that clear clear is is it it an an of of "concordance "concordance a a is is It It inquiry. inquiry.

propositions, propositions, of of properties properties are are falsity falsity of of process process endless endless an an of of limit limit ideal ideal

and and truth truth that that deny deny to to and and (p. (p. 310), 310), an an is is Truth Truth it. it. of of taste taste a a having having ever ever

problems problems of of solution solution the the to to aid aid ical ical our our without without it, it, interprets interprets Dewey Dewey as as

log­ mere mere a a as as or or (p. (p. inquiry inquiry 191) 191) of of inquiry, inquiry, of of advance advance the the before before cedes cedes

stage stage mere mere a a as as proposition proposition universal universal re­ forever forever reality reality with with propositions propositions

a a describe describe to to on on goes goes Dewey Dewey when when of of correspondence correspondence the the as as Truth Truth itself. itself.

But But belong. belong. they they which which to to systems systems swallowing swallowing continually continually by by well well very very

and and series series the the from from apart apart false false nor nor lived lived which which snake snake the the like like is is it it esses, esses,

true true neither neither are are propositions propositions Isolated Isolated proc­ and and terms terms own own its its on on feeding feeding

truths-in-themselves. truths-in-themselves. Duhring's Duhring's of of cism cism Constantly Constantly inquiry. inquiry. same same the the of of stages stages

criti­ his his in in clelp"ly clelp"ly more more point point same same later later to to only only refer refer to to appears appears Inquiry Inquiry

the the made made Engels Engels admitted. admitted. be be might might picture. picture. the the of of out out drops drops reality, reality, of of

much much 3u). 3u). This This 297, 297, (pp. (pp. cance cance reflection reflection a a be be to to shown shown has has Marxism Marxism

signifi­ their their them them gives gives which which alone alone which which truth, truth, meantime meantime the the In In initely. initely.

inquiry inquiry of of process process this this is is it it for for cur, cur, indef­ on on so so and and proposition, proposition, another another

oc­ they they which which in in inquiry" inquiry" of of tinuity tinuity to to is, is, that that end, end, an an to to means means mere mere

"con­ the the of of fragments fragments mere mere to to sitions sitions are are propositions propositions be: be: can can pragmatism pragmatism

propo­ and and terms terms reduces reduces He He further. further. as as simple simple and and pure pure as as least least at at or or ple, ple,

much much goes goes however, however, Dewey, Dewey, inquiry. inquiry. sim­ and and pure pure pragmatism, pragmatism, is is This This

to to relation relation in in treated treated be be should should edge edge

knowl­ and and arguments arguments propositions, propositions, 287.) 287.) (P. (P. etc." etc." rigorous, rigorous, or or loose loose inadequate); inadequate);

invalid invalid (weak, (weak, or or valid valid effective) effective) (strong, (strong, are are judgments, judgments, terms, terms, as as such such logic, logic, al al

propositions propositions special special basis basis this this On On means. means. as as

form­ of of topics topics customary customary the the all all that that

connected connected are are they they which which with with consequences consequences

natural natural

is is it it

inquiry inquiry

of of

logic logic a a writing writing

the the in in

found found

being being

difference difference the the

for for

terion terion

is is he he Since Since "inquiry." "inquiry." term term the the of of use use

cri. cri. the the economical, economical, or or wasteful wasteful irrelevant; irrelevant;

Dewey's Dewey's consider consider us us let let means, means, this this or or pertinent pertinent ineffective; ineffective; or or effective effective either either

are are Means Means propositions. propositions. of of not not property property a a is is what what understand understand To To them. them. entangle entangle

truth-falsity truth-falsity false, false, nor nor true true neither neither are are such such

dis­ to to impossible impossible almost almost is is it it that that

as as means means since since that, that, note note to to pertinent pertinent is is

connected connected

intimately intimately

so so are are they they and and

it it point point this this at at But But

chapter. chapter. this this

of of

theme theme

subjectivism; subjectivism; resulting resulting the the and and tism tism

main main the the is is point point latter latter The The means. means. as as tion tion

pragma­ operationalism, operationalism, are are These These func­ subject-matters subject-matters characteristic characteristic respective respective

COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE THE PITFALLS OF PRAGMATIC LOGIC

Not only are terms, propositiOns, ism and pragmatism, even in the arguments and truth interpreted as chastened form in which he accepts strands or phases of the process of them, he totters continually on the inquiry. Objects, facts and qualities brink of subjectivism, and if he does of things appear to exist only in so not quite take the leap, it is his com­ far as they have been confirmed in mon sense and not these theories inquiry, and even then, perhaps, only which save him. Again and again we as fragments of this process. Objects read statements such as the following: "are means of attaining knowledge of Judgment "is a continuous process of something else" (p. ug). "An object, resolving an indeterminate unsettled logically speaking, is that set of con­ situation into a determinately unified nected distinctions or characteristics one, through operations which trans­ which emerges as a definite constitu­ form subject-matter originally given" ent of a resolved situation and is con­ (p. 283). And again, "inquiry effects firmed in the continuity of inquiry. existential transformation and con­ This definition applies to objects as struction of the material with which existential" (p. 520). it deals" (p. 159). Now as long as On the next page he speaks of Professor Dewey is talking of "judg­ realism (the view that objects can ment" and "inquiry" as experimenta­ exist independent of consciousness tion, we can have no quarrel with and inquiry) as a partially fallacious him. Experiments do transform the theory. Objects, it appears, are tools subject-matter. A cat, for example, of inquiry which we employ when may,lose a portion of its cerebellum they have been found useful. The fal­ in the course of an experiment, but lacy of realism is to suppose that this even here it is important to note that taking and using of objects is a case the subject-matter must not be trans­ of knowledge. But how, we may ask, formed except in one particular. If could tools or objects be used in in­ the cat loses too much blood, as well quiry unless they were known to some as its cerebellum, the experiment is a extent? And, again, cannot objects failure. But inquiry as such does not exist which have never been "insti­ transform its subject-matter. If it did, tuted" by inquiry? it could never arrive at knowledge. In Professor Dewey makes haste to re­ so far as inquiry involves physical assure us. He believes that stones, stars, manipulation of the subject-matter, trees, cats and dogs exist independent­ the subject-matter is of course ly of individual observers-but again, changed. But where such manipula­ only "as sets of existential distinctions tion does not occur, as in historical that have emerged and been tested studies, inquiry cannot in any sense over and over again ...." be said to transform its subject-mat­ Of course, we do not wish to say ter. that Professor Dewey does not be­ The whole matter is clarified if we lieve in the existence of unperceived read Marx's "Theses on Feuerbach."*' objects, but. only that he holds other views which are inconsistent with this " See Appendix to Ludwig Feuerbach, by Frederick Engels, p. 73· International Pub­ belief. Under the sway of operational- lishers, New York. 166 THE COMMUNIST

There Marx, in a compact aphoristic of steps necessary to verify "their" manner, states more clearly the de­ existence. Thus, Halley's Comet is pendence of theoretical knowledge identified with the observations and upon the practical activity• of men, calculations necessary to confirm its including of course, economic and po­ existence, and the only trouble with litical activity, than Professor Dewey this procedure is that it reduces Hal­ is able to do in his entire volume. ley's Comet and, indeed, the whole Indeed, Professor Dewey has a posi­ world, to the behavior of scientists. tive genius for obscure and dubious Dewey may perhaps not wish to ac­ formulation so that one is never sure cept such an extreme position. Start­ whether his words or his thoughts ing out with the perfectly true obser­ have betrayed him. Even his students vation that scientific laws are "func­ scattered throughout the country in tional" in the sense that "they are colleges and schools seem to have means of prediction," he jumps to caught more fire tlian light from him. the perfectly deplorable conclusion The principal objection to the term that they state only the conditions "inquiry," as to the other terms which under which phenomena can be ob­ Professor Dewey has given a highly served in the future. A prediction of eulogistic sense (such as "experience" an eclipse, he says, is an if-then prop­ and "intelligence"), is that it is, in osition. "If certain operations are per­ any ordinary sense, subjective. The formed, then certain phenomena hav­ process of inquiry is a mental and ing determinate properties will be ob­ behavior process of individual scien­ served. Its hypothetical character tists. But it is also an inquiry into the shows that it is not final and complete nature of the objective world of cat­ but indeterminate and instrumental" tle, stars, machines, Munich Pacts and (p. 456). This last sentence is true Spanish embargoes. If these are mere enough, in a certain sense. A predic­ fragments or incidents of the inquir­ tion is instrumental, but why under ing process, as Dewey seems to hold, the sun can't it be instrumental and what has become of the world toward yet describe with some degree of ac­ which the inquiry was originally di­ curacy a future state of affairs as well? rected? At times it appears that the Moreover, the declaration that a pre­ "continuity of inquiry" has swallowed diction is an if-then proposition is a the world. At times it is as if the more serious mistake than readers un­ world has evaporated entirely, noth­ familiar with logic would be apt to ing remaining but the inquiry into think. If a prediction of an eclipse the nature of the world, just as the says only that if you look through Cheshire cat disappeared in A lice in the telescope at a certain time in the Wonderland, leaving only its grin be­ future, you will have certain sensa­ hind. tions, then it says nothing at all about It is operationalism and pragma­ the future eclipse. Again, the real tism which make all the trouble. world of eclipses, stars, trees, class Operationalism, in its extreme form, struggle, the socialist society, begins is the theory that the objects of sci­ to recede, leaving behind only the ences should be defined as the series grin of the cat and a disquieting sense PITFALLS OF PRAGMATIC LOGIC

that the principal matter has been practical truth. Our ideas of things cannot omitted. be anything but symbols, natural signs for Operational descriptions are exceed­ things which we learn how to use in order to regulate our movements and actions. ingly important in science, but opera­ Having learned correctly how to read those tional definitions, called for by opera­ symbols, we are enabled to adjust our actions tionalism, are unnecessary and very so as to bring about the desired results.... " misleading. Let us describe the process by which an eclipse or a disease is Lenin replies: verified, by all means. But what good purpose is served by identifying the "This is not correct. Helmholtz is slipping eclipse or disease with these processes toward subjectivism, towards a denial of of verification by an arbitrary defini­ objective reality and objective truth." (P. tion which lands us directly in sub­ 196.) jectivism? We Marxists recognize the impor­ This is Lenin's attitude toward the tance of operations without being refined pragmatism and operational­ operationalists and we insist more ism of Helmholtz. The rest of his than anyone else upon the impor­ book defines the chasm of difference tance of practice without in any sense which separates the dialectical mate­ being pragmatists. Marx in the "Theses rialism of the Marxists from the "in­ on Feuerbach" criticized the old ma­ finite inventions of professorial scho­ terialism for its stress upon contem­ lasticism." plation (Anschauung) and its incom­ The attitude of Professor Dewey prehension of . "revolutionary," "of toward dialectics will naturally be of practical-critical activity," and he interest to the readers of The Com­ charged that Feuerbach "does not munist. He is often regarded as a conceive human activity itself as ac­ dialectician, but Marxists have rightly tivity through objects." Lenin, simi­ dissented. We find in his writings larly, recognized the decisive value of many passages affirming historical ma­ practical activity in the knowing -terialism, but no extended analysis of process, but nevertheless rejected prag­ the actual impact of developing ma- matism in no uncertain terms. terial forces upon developing social "Knowledge," he said, "may be bio­ institutions and thought. Here, a ref­ logically useful, useful in human erence to the influence of the strati­ practice, in the preservation of the fied society of Greece upon its science species, but it is useful only when it and there, a word or two about the reflects an objective truth indepen­ connection between capitalism and dent of man." (Materialism and Em­ atomic individua1ism, but no consis­ pirio-Criticism, p. 111.) Later he com­ tent portrayal of the material forces ments upon a passage by the distin­ in any one period, such as one would guished physicist, Helmholtz. be led to expect from a historical ma­ terialist. More important than this: Dewey admits no general theory of "Helmholtz says: In my opinion, there­ ~ore, there can be no possible sense in speak­ development, but chooses methods mg of any other truth of our ideas except eclectically here and th~re. The result 168 THE COMMUNIST is a perpetual tentativeness and ex­ knowledge is that it is, at least in the perimentalism busied with scattered long run, practically unworkable. Iso­ things; an attitude of being so intent lated hypotheses may be verified by on "listening to both sides," which is the operational pragmatic method really an inability to grasp what is but not complete theories, or sciences, decisive, that often he hears only let alone science itself. his wrong side; and, consequently, The shortcomings of Dewey's theory the rejection of the world view of of inquiry leave a deep imprint on Marxism, a complete inability to ac­ his social philosophy. His rejection of cept any positive program of decisive any unified effective large-scale plan action, and a skepticism with regard for solving the dilemmas of capital­ to comprehensive social planning and ism and "the machine age" that he construction, involving a determined delineates at such length, is not sur­ class struggle, such as has taken place prising, and could have been predict­ in the Soviet Union. ed. His enthusiasm for James' "plural­ In the present volume there is a ism" led him to prefer discrete and great deal of criticism of Aristotelian disjointed solutions, and to regard logic and some of it is very good. It anything else as dogmatism. His de­ is pointed, however, not in the direc­ votion to James' "open universe" tion of dialectic materialism, but prompted him to leave all the doors rather to the advantage of empiricism of the universe, or of human possibil­ and pragmatism. While Aristotelian ity, open, so that crackpots and even logic is denied any application to the fascists and Trotskyites were allowed world, no other logic is put in its to enter to disrupt any unified plan place, and we are left with the incred­ for social progress. ible conclusion that the world has no A present-day liberal who brings logic at all, and is simply a chaos. unjust charges against the Soviet Un. (Chaos ist wiedergekommen!) Logic ion, and gives aid to its enemies, can­ is nothing but a tool of inquiry, a not continue in the character of a purely psychological and individual liberal. The man who in 1928 warmly device to solve the problems of the praised the Soviet Union, ten years scientist. It does not, according to later joined the preposterous Trotsky Dewey, reflect the structure of the "commission," a set of men who pub­ world any more than experimental licly advertised their frantic enmity to apparatus does. Logic is simply a set the Soviet Union, which they pro­ of conventions adopted as a means of posed to judge "impartially." By this verifying this or that hypothesis. In act he has lost stature, not only in the meantime the coherence and in­ the eyes of American liberals and pro­ terdependence of scientific hypotheses gressives, but in the opinion of many is often lost to sight, and the proba­ of his former admirers abroad. Un­ bility which accrues to a theory due fortunately for him, and for his char­ to its coordination with other scien­ acter as a great liberal, his philosophy tific theories and laws is, in practice, could not safeguard him against the much neglected. The trouble with great blunder of his career. His prag­ this pragmatic interpretation of matism and pluralism did not permit PITFALLS OF PRAGMATIC LOGIC t6g him to see all the facts and values in jection of objective truth, and his fail­ relation. His lack of a historical ure to recognize the dialectic coher­ theory of development and his reli­ ence of evidence as a test of truth, ance on disjointed narrow-practical left him with a distorted perspective. methods left him no defense against Professor Dewey is known as the the deceptive arguments of designing philosopher of the practical, but his Trotskyites. But his failure to under­ philosophy is so impractical that it stand the Soviet treason trials is root­ cannot, by its very nature, accept the ed demonstrably in the unscientific consequences of far-sighted, relentless character of his philosophy. His re- struggle for democracy and socialism.

"The greatest contribution of all, which Marxist-Leninist theory has given to the masses, is the Party. The Communist Party is the organized theory, embodied in growing tens and hundreds of thousands of men and women, preserving and transmitting the experience and wisdom of past generations, enriching it by the experience of the present, transmitting it to the broadest masses, providing thereby the illumination, the guidance, the leadership, which will organize victory for the masses in their age-long struggle against the forces of darkness and reaction."-Earl Browder, Theory As a Guide to Action. CLASS CONFLICTS IN THE SOUTH-185o-1 86o

BY HERBERT BIEL

HE great attention given to the affection, shown in individual acts of T spectacular political struggles be­ "insolence" or terrorism, and in con­ tween the North and the South in the certed, planned efforts for liberation; decade before the Civil War has (2) numerous instances of poor white tended to befog the equally important implication in the slave conspiracies contests which went on during the and revolts, showing a declining ef­ same period within the South itself. ficiency in the divide-and-rule policy Writers have dealt at considerable of the Bourbons; (3) independent po­ length with the national scene, have litical action of the non-slaveholding demonstrated a growing conflict be­ whites aimed at the destruction of the tween an agrarian, slave-labor so­ slavocracy's control of the state gov­ ciety and an increasingly industrial, ernments. In the opinion of the writer free-labor society as to which should this growing internal disaffection is a direct public opinion, enact and ad­ prime explanation for the desperation minister the laws, appropriate the of the slaveholding class which drove West-in short, which should control it to the expedient of civil war. the state. In 186o the grip of the slave civilization upon the national govern­ WHY THE UNREST? ment was very considerably loosened Factors tending to explain the slave and clearly seemed destined to com­ unrest of the decade are soil exhaus­ plete annihilation. The . slavocracy tion, leading to greater work demands, therefore turned to bullets. improved marketing facilities, hav­ But there was more to it than that. ing the same result, and economic de­ The facts are that not only did the pression from 1854-56 throughout the slavocrats see their external, or na­ South, approaching, especially in tional, power seriously menaced by the 1855, the famine stage. These years Republican triumph of 186o, but they witnessed, too, a considerable increase also observed their internal, local in industrialization and urbanization power greatly threatened by increas­ within the South. These phenomenal* ing restlessness among the exploited were distinctly not conductive to the classes-the non-slaveholding whites and the slaves. There were three general manifes­ " All references to sources, indicated by superior figures, will be found at the end of tations of this unrest: (1) slave dis- this article.-The Editors. CLASS CONFLICTS IN THE SOUTH creation of happy slaves. As a slave­ tionists to go South and aid the slaves holder remarked,2 "The cities is no to flee, and by 1859 he was convinced4 place for niggers. They get strange that it was "the right and duty of the notions into their heads, and grow slaves to resist their masters, and the discontented. They ought, every one right and duty of the North to incite of them, to be sent back to the plan­ them to resistance, and to aid them." tations." As a matter of fact there was By November, 1856, Frederick Doug­ for this reason, during this decade, an lass was certain that the "peaceful attempt to foster a "back-to-the­ annihilation" of slavery was "almost plantation" movement. hopeless" and therefore contended5 It is also true, as Olmsted observed, a "that the slave's right to revolt is per­ that: "Any great event having the fect, and only wants the occurrence of slightest bearing upon the question of favorable circumstances to become a emancipation is known to produce an duty.... We cannot but shudder as unwholesome excitement" among the we call to mind the horrors that have slaves. The decade is characterized by marked servile insurrections-we such events as the 1850 Compromise, would avert them if we could; but the sensation caused by Uncle Tom's shall the millions for ever submit to Cabin, the Kansas War, the 1856 elec­ robbery, to murder, to ignorance, and tion, the Dred Scott decision, Helper's every unnamed evil which an irre­ Impending Crisis, Brown's raid, the sponsible tyranny can devise, because election of 186o. If to this is added the overthrow of that tyranny would the political and social struggles with­ be productive of horrors? We say not in the South itself (to be described ... terrible as it will be, we accept later), it becomes apparent that there and hope for it." were many occasions for "unwhole­ And while John Brown's work was some excitement." the most spectacular, he was by no Combined with all this is a signifi­ means the only Northern man to agi­ cant change in the Abolitionist move­ tate among the slaves themselves; ment. Originally this aimed at gradual there were others, the vast majority emancipation induced by moral unnamed, but some are known, like suasion. Then came the demand for Alexander Ross, James Redpath, and immediate liberation, but still only W. L. Chapiin.6 But this exceedingly via moral suasion. Then followed a dangerous work was mainly done by split into those favoring political ac­ Northern or Canadian Negroes who tion and those opposed. Finally, and had themselves escaped from slavery. most noticeably in this decade, there A few of these courageous people are arose a body of direct actionists whose known-Harriet Tubman, Josiah idea was to "carry the war into Henson, William Still, Elijah Ander­ Africa." son, John Mason. It has been esti­ The shift is exemplified in the per­ mated7 that, from Canada alone, in son of Henry C. Wright. In the 'for­ 186o, 500 Negroes went into the South ties he wrote the "Non-Resistant" to rescue their brothers. What people column for Garrison's Liberator, by can offer a more splendid chapter to 1851 he felt it was the duty of aboli- the record of human fortitude?

by by negroes, negroes, are are not not taken taken from from ser- ders ders among among the the slaves slaves in in New New Iberia Iberia

that that instruments instruments of of writing, writing, prepared prepared sidered14 sidered14 proper proper since since "Recent "Recent disor­

and and remarked, remarked, "Scarcely "Scarcely a a week week passes, passes, stop stop when when hailed hailed and and this this was was con­

"crime." "crime." It It urged urged severe severe punishment punishment Louisiana Louisiana killed killed a a slave slave who who did did not not

arrest arrest of of ninety ninety Negroes Negroes for for that that in in August, August, a a patrolman patrolman 1855, 1855, in in

read. read. A A paper paper of of reported reported 1858 1858 the the June, June, and and January, January, 1856, 1856, Again, Again, 1857. 1857.

slaves slaves caught caught in in the the act act of of learning learning to to happened13 happened13 in in the the same same region region in in

recur, recur, as as do do items items of of the the arrest arrest of of population." population." Precisely Precisely the the same same things things

with with slaves" slaves" of of harboring harboring runaways runaways gerous gerous insubordination insubordination of of the the slave slave

References References to to the the "common "common practice practice ample ample to to check check the the growing growing and and dan­

subordination subordination tive tive among among sense sense the the of of the the negroes."P negroes."P necessity necessity of of an an ex­

plaints plaints of of growing growing insolence insolence and and in­ telligence, telligence, and and acted acted from from an an impera­

observed observed "in "in the the newspapers, newspapers, com­ men men of of prudence, prudence, deliberation deliberation and and in­

years years later later a a traveler traveler in in the the South South men men constituting constituting the the meeting meeting were were

vant vant (slave) (slave) at at my my command." command." Three Three too, too, was was burned burned alive. alive. "The "The gentle­

and and declared, declared, "I "I have have not not a a single single ser­ mittee, mittee, boasted boasted of of his his deed. deed. This This slave, slave,

of of such such a a condition condition among among her her slaves slaves and, and, according according to to the the Vigilance Vigilance Com­

Carolina, Carolina, complained complained in in April, April, 1850, 1850, his his master master in in Mt. Mt. Meigs, Meigs, Alabama, Alabama,

A A lady lady of of larly, larly, Burke Burke a a slave slave County, County, in in August, August, North North killed killed 1854, 1854,

among among the the slave slave population. population. for for the the stability stability of of its its society.1 Simi­ 2 2

apart apart from from conspiracies conspiracies and and revolts, revolts, ly ly found found six six legal legal executions executions needed needed

insubordination insubordination defense." defense." and and The The disaffection, disaffection, same same community community short­

pointing pointing to to a a quite quite general general state state of of "means "means of of absolute, absolute, necessary necessary self­

There There is is considerable considerable evidence evidence paper paper as as justifying justifying the the lynching lynching as as a a

quotes quotes the the editor editor of of a a "liberal'' "liberal'' news­

TERRORISM TERRORISM AND AND INSUBORDINATION INSUBORDINATION

offense offense of of killing killing his his master master and and

slave slave near near Knoxville, Knoxville, Tenn., Tenn., for for the the dog." dog."

Olmsted Olmsted tells tells of of the the burning burning of of a a more more to to kill kill a a slave slave than than to to shoot shoot a a

their their justification justification are are enlightening. enlightening. they they misbehaved misbehaved ...... It It is is literally literally no no

Examples Examples of of such such retribution retribution with with own own negroes, negroes, men men and and women, women, when when

told told me me himself himself that that he he flogged flogged all all his his sort."11 sort."11

indignation indignation and and member member excitement excitement of of Southern Southern the the would would re­ Aristocracy, Aristocracy,

wrought wrought up up to to a a the the lawyer lawyer highest highest of of the the degree degree first first of of distinction, distinction, and and a a

the the form form to to which which only only a a people people scribed scribed ...... My My next-door next-door neighbor, neighbor,

the the perpetrators perpetrators slave slave with with holding holding dispatch dispatch must must and and be be in in seen seen to to be be de­

"retribution "retribution seems seems to to be be dealt dealt out out to to wrote, wrote, "The "The frightful frightful atrocities atrocities of of 8 8

killing killing their their owners. owners. added added that that at at Charleston, Charleston, It It in in a a private private letter, letter,

In In January, January, "alarmingly "alarmingly the the British British 1854, 1854, frequent" frequent" consul consul cases cases of of slaves slaves

paper paper of of commented commented 1859 1859 upon upon the the dicate dicate something something of of what what this this meant. meant.

ever ever known known before," before," give give but but and and one one a a piece piece Missouri Missouri of of evidence evidence to to in­

among among the the negro negro population population ...... than than indeed indeed dealing dealing with with slaves. slaves. We We will will

ported ported "more "more causes causes cases cases of of of of insubordination insubordination slave slave disaffection disaffection that that one one is is

A A Louisiana Louisiana paper paper of of re­ mind mind 1858 1858 when when trying trying to to discover discover the the

it it is is therefore therefore police." necessary necessary to to bear bear in in 10 10

The The obvious obvious vants vants is is at at times times (slaves) (slaves) elusive elusive in in the the and and streets, streets, by by the the

THE THE COMMUNIST COMMUNIST CLASS CONFLICTS IN THE SOUTH 173 had made it a matter of importance 1,011 slaves succeeded in escaping in that the ~aws relative to the police of 1850 and 803 succeeded in 186o. At slaves, should be strictly enforced." current prices that represented a loss A common method by which Amer­ of about $1,ooo,ooo each year. But ican slaves showed their "docility" was that is a very small part of the story. arson. This occurred with striking First, the census reports were poor. frequency during the ten years under The census takers were paid a certain scrutiny. For example, from Nov. 26, sum for each entrant and so tended to t •, 185o, to Jan. 15, 1851, one New make only those calls that were least Orleans paper reported slave burnings expensive to themselves. City figures of at least seven sugar houses. For a were therefore more reliable than similar period, Jan. 31, 1850, to May those for rural communities. More­ 30, 1851, there were seven convictions over, Olmsted found census taking in of slaves in Virginia for arson.15 the South "more than ordinarily un­ Burnings were at times concerted. reliable" and told of a census taker Thus the Norfolk Beacon of Sept. 21, there who announced that he would 1852, declared that the slaves of be at a certain tavern at a certain dav Princess Anne County, Va., had ex­ "for the purpose of receiving from the cited alarm and that an extra patrol people of the vicinity-who were re­ had been ordered out. And, quested to call upon him-the in~ formation it was his duty to obtainl"17 "On Sunday night last, this patrol made a descent upon a church where a large num­ According to Professor W. B. Hes­ ber of negroes had congregated for the pur· seltine, "Between 1830 and 186o as pose of holding a meeting, and dispersed many as 2,ooo slaves a year passed into them. In a short time, the fodder stacks of the land of the free along the routes one of the party who lived near were dis­ of the Underground Railroad," and covered on fire. The patrol immediately started for the fire, but before reaching the Professor Siebert has declared1B that scene it was discovered that the stacks of this railroad saw its greatest activity other neighbors had shared a like fate, all from 1850 to 186o. And this is but a having no doubt been fired by the negroes fraction of those who fled but did not for revenge. A strict watch is now kept over succeed in reaching a free land, were them, and most rigid means adopted to make every one know and keep his place." captured or forced to turn back. When people pay as high as $300 for The Federal Union of Milledgeville, one bloodhound19 the fleeing of slaves Ga., of March 20, 1855, told of incen­ is a serious problem indeed. diary fires set by slaves that month in It is also to be noted that the decade South Carolina and three counties of witnessed a qualitative as well as Georgia. Property damage was con­ quantitative change in the fugitive siderable and "many persons were slave problem, for now not only did seriously injured."16 more slaves flee, but more often than The fleeing of slaves reached very before they fled in groups; they, as great proportions from 18 50 to 186'o Southern papers put it, stampeded.2o and was a constant and considerable Another piece of evidence of the source of annoyance to the slavocracy. growing unrest of the slave population According to the census estimates is afforded by the figures for money

one one bag bag of of bullets, bullets, one one pound pound of of Bragg Bragg signed signed by by Richard Richard A. A. Lewis Lewis

carried carried a a knife, knife, of of Aug. Aug. a a sword, sword, 25, 25, 1856, 1856, a a revolver, revolver, to to Governor Governor Thomas Thomas

slave slave at at the the time time of of arrest, arrest, June June 13, 13, maroons maroons in in North North Carolina. Carolina. A A letter 23 23

the the police police to to difficulty difficulty the the slave slave of of Albert. Albert. the the year year The The was was caused caused by by

mediately mediately betrayed betrayed the the plot plot and and led led dinary dinary slave slave unrest. unrest. The The first first serious serious

Wright Wright did-verbally. did-verbally. The The year year He He 1856 1856 almost almost was was im­ one one of of extraor­

dom, dom, and and urged urged rebels rebels is is Wright Wright not not reported. reported. to to join. join.

aid aid the the Negroes Negroes in in their their bid bid for for free­ blood blood to to flow." flow." The The disposition disposition of of the the

one one hundred hundred whites whites had had agreed agreed to to the the jailer jailer in in which which he he caused caused "the "the

Dyson Dyson trusted trusted Wright, Wright, declared declared that that telling telling of of an an attack attack by by Albert Albert upon upon

to to Louisiana Louisiana in in 1840 1840 from from Jamaica. Jamaica. formation formation concerning concerning this this is is an an item item

by by the the name name of of Dyson, Dyson, who who had had come come and and restrictions. restrictions. The The last last piece piece of of in­

was was brought brought to to a a white white man, man, a a teacher teacher while while calling calling for for further further precautions precautions

volt.22 volt.22 He He declared declared mended mended his his the the interest interest swift swift action action and and of of the the police, police,

Albert, Albert, in in June, June, 1853, 1853, to to join join in in a a re­ guise guise of of philanthropy" philanthropy" and and com­

New New Orleans, Orleans, name name was was asked asked of of liberty-murderers liberty-murderers by by a a slave, slave, in in the the

A A free free Negro, Negro, fanatical" fanatical" George George whites, whites, Wright, Wright, "cutthroats "cutthroats of of in in the the

tant tant of of which which follow. follow. that that the the city city contained contained "malicious "malicious and and

witnessed witnessed many many minimize minimize more, more, the the the the most most trouble, trouble, impor­ but but did did declare declare

thought thought of of as as conspiracies. conspiracies. Tlie Tlie New New The The Orleans Orleans decade decade papers papers tended tended to to

or or in in Georgia Georgia in in 1855, 1855, may may perhaps perhaps be be arms arms and and disappeared. disappeared.

described, described, as as that that emerged. emerged. in in Virginia Virginia The The Negroes Negroes in in 1852 1852 were were given given the the

or or revolt. revolt. Some Some swamp swamp of of the the episodes episodes from from which which already already several several Negroes Negroes

tion tion of of slave slave disaffection: disaffection: ing ing what what he he conspiracy conspiracy thought thought were were arms arms to to a a

had had taken taken Dyson Dyson There There and and two two was was slaves slaves still still carry­ another another manifesta­

man, man, Michael Michael McGill, McGill, testified testified that that he he

REBELLION REBELLION

occurred occurred at at Bonnet Bonnet Clare. Clare. A A fisher­

rest rest of of one one white white man, man, a a cattle cattle driver, driver, of of $23g,ooo. $23g,ooo.

along along the the coast, coast, however, however, and and the the ar­ Virginia Virginia in in ten ten years years the the very very tidy tidy sum sum

mentioned. mentioned. Excitement Excitement was was great great ly ly dispossed dispossed of, of, cost cost the the one one state state of of

missing," missing," but but no no actual actual fighting fighting was was propriated. propriated. Thus Thus "bad" "bad" slaves, slaves, legal­

fled fled from from their their masters masters and and are are now now War, War, 185g-6o, 186o-61, 186o-61, 185g-6o, $3o,ooo $3o,ooo was was ap­

that that "a "a large large number number of of negroes negroes have have of of the the next next two two years years prior prior to to the the Civil Civil

the the arrest." arrest." It It was was indeed indeed reported reported same same high high level level for for 1858-59. 1858-59. For For each each

the the cause cause he he would would not not have have minded minded the the sum sum was was $35,000 $35,000 and and stayed stayed at at that that

like like soldiers. soldiers. he he had had shed shed blood blood If If in in duplicated duplicated the the next next year. year. For For 1857-58 1857-58

gone gone down down the the coast coast and and were were fighting fighting 56, 56, $22,000 $22,000 was was necessary necessary and and this this was was

he he declared declared that that "all "all his his friends friends had had same same for for 1854-55. 1854-55. For For the the year year 1855-

involved. involved. He He named named none. none. In In prison prison $1g,ooo $1g,ooo was was appropriated appropriated and and the the

Albert Albert stated stated that that .2,500 .2,500 slaves slaves were were 1852-53 1852-53 the the sum sum was was $15,ooo; $15,ooo; 1853-54, 1853-54,

1851-52 1851-52 the the sum sum arrested. arrested. equalled equalled $12,ooo; $12,ooo; for for

twenty twenty slaves slaves and and from from Dyson Dyson the the were were state. instantly instantly For For the the fiscal fiscal year year 21 21

the the city city guard guard were were strengthened, strengthened, legally legally executed executed and and or or banished banished

and and $86. $86. The The patrol patrol for for slaves slaves was was owned owned ordered ordered by by out, out, her her citizens citizens who who

appropriated appropriated powder, powder, by by the the state state two two boxes boxes of of Virginia Virginia of of percussion percussion caps, caps,

THE THE COMMUNIST COMMUNIST CLASS CONFLICTS IN THE SOUTH 175

and twenty-one others informed him hanged. One slave leader, Frank, was of a "very secure retreat for runaway not captured. negroes" in a large swamp betweeQ. Trouble involving some 300 slaves Bladen and Robeson Counties. There and a few white men, one of whom "for many years past, and at this was named James Hancock, was re­ time, there are several runaways of ported in October from two counties, bad and daring character-destructive Ouchita and Union, in Arkansas, and to all kinds of Stock and dangerous two parishes, Union and Claiborne, to all persons living by or near said across the border in Louisiana. The swamp." Slaveholders attacked these outcome here is not known. On No­ maroons August 1, but accomplished vember 7 "an extensive scheme of nothing and saw one of their own negro insurrection" was discovered in number killed. "The negroes ran off Lavaca, De Witt and Victoria Coun­ cursing and swearing and telling them ties in the Southeastern part of Texas to come on, they were ready for them and· very near Colorado County, seat again." The Wilmington journal of of the October conspiracy. A letter August 14 mentioned that these from Victoria of November 7 declared Negroes "had cleared a place for a that: "The negroes had killed off all garden, had cows, etc., in the swamp." the dogs in the neighborhood, and Mr. Lewis and his friends were "un­ were preparing for a general attack" able to offer sufficient inducement for when betrayal came. Whites were im­ negro hunters to come with their dogs plicated, one being "severely horse­ unless aided from other sources." The whipped," and the others driven out Governor suggested that magistrates of the country. What became of the call for the militia, but whether this slaves is not stated.25 was done or not is unknown. One week later a conspiracy was A plot involving over 200 slaves and disclosed in St. Mary parish, Louisi­ supposed to mature on Sept. 6, 1856, ana, It was believed26 that "favorite was discovered24 in Colorado County, family servants" were the leaders. Texas, shortly before that date. Many Slaves throughout the parish were ar­ of the Mexican inhabitants of the re­ rested. Three white men and one free gion were declared to be implicated. Negro were also held. The slaves were And it was felt "that the lower class lashed and returned to their masters, of the Mexican population are incen­ but the four others were imprisoned. diaries in any ·country where slaves The local paper of November 22 de­ are held." They were arrested and clared that the free Negro "and at ordered to leave the county within least one of the white men, will suffer five days and never to return "under death for the part taken in the the penalty of death." A white person matter." by the name of William Mehrmann And in the very beginning of No­ was similarly dealt with. Arms were vember trouble was reported27 from discovered in the possession of a few Tennessee. A letter of November 2 slaves. Every one of the two hundred told of the arrest of thirty slaves, and arrested was severely whipped, two a white man named Williams, in Fay­ dying under the lash. Three were ette County, at the Southwestern tip THE COMMUNIST of the state. It was believed that the Picayune of December g had itself ad­ plot extended to "the surrounding mitted that it had "refrained from counties and states." Confirmation of publishing a great deal which we re­ this soon came. Within two weeks un­ ceive by the mails, going to show that rest was reported from Montgomery there is a spirit of turbulence abroad County in the north central part of in various quarters." December 23 it the state, and across the border in the said the same thing about "this very iron foundries of Louisa, Kentucky. delicate subject" but did state that Again many slaves and one white man there were plots for rebellion during were arrested. Shortly thereafter plots the Christmas holidays "in Kentucky, were discovered in Obion, at Tennes­ Arkansas and Tennessee, as well as in see's western tip, and in Fulton, Ken­ Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas" tucky, as well as in New Madrid and and that recent events "along the Scott Counties, Missouri. Cumberland river in Kentucky and In December plots were reported, Tennessee and the more recent af­ occasionally outbreaks occurred, slaves fairs in Mississippi, approach very and whites were arrested, tortured, nearly to positive insurrection." banished and executed in virtually To this may be added Maryland, every slave state. The discontent forced Alabama, Virginia, North Carolina, its way through notwithstanding clear South Carolina, Georgia and Flor­ evidences of censorship. Thus a ida.29 Features of the conspiracies are Georgia paper confessed28 that slave worth particular notice. Arms were disaffection was a "delicate subject to discovered among the slaves in, at touch" and that it had "refrained least, Tennessee, Kentucky and Texas. from giving our readers any of the Preparations for blowing up bridges accounts of contemplated insurrec­ were uncovered. Attacks upon iron tions." mills in Kentucky were started but de­ The Washington correspondent of feated. At least three whites were the New York Weekly Tribune de­ killed by slaves in that same state. The clared on December 20 that: "The in­ date for the execution of four slaves surrectionary movement in Tennessee in Dover, Tennessee, was pushed ahead for fear of an attempt at rescue, obtained more headway than is known and a body of 150 men was required to the public-important facts being suppressed in order to check the to break up a group of about the same spread of the contagion and prevent number of slaves marching to Dover the true condition of affairs from be­ for that very purpose. ing understood elsewhere." Next week Free Negroes were directly impli­ the same correspondent stated that he cated as well as slaves in Kentucky, had "reliable information" of serious and they were driven out of several trouble in New Orleans leading to the cities as Murfreesboro, Tenn., Padu­ hanging of twenty slaves, "but the cah, Ky., and Montgomery, Ala. newspapers carefully refrain from any Whites, too, were often implicated. mention of the facts." Two were forced to flee from .Charles Indeed, the New Orleans Daily County, Maryland. One, named Tay- CLASS CONFLICTS IN THE SOUTH 177 lor, was hanged in Dover, Tenn., and publican Party stood for their libera­ two others driven out. One was tion and some felt that Colonel Fre­ hanged and another whipped in mont would aid them, forcibly, in Cadiz, Ky. One was arrested in Obion, their efforts for freedom. "Certain Tenn. The Galveston, Texas, News slaves are so greatly imbued with this of December 27 reported the frustra­ fable that I have seen them smile tion of a plot in Houston County and when they were being whipped, and stated, "Arms and ammunition were have heard them say that, 'Fremont discovered in several portions of the and his men can hear the blows they county, given to them, no doubt, by receive.' " One unnamed martyr, a white men, who are now living among slave iron worker in Tennessee, "said us, and who are constantly inciting that he knew all about the plot, but our slaves to deeds of violence and would die before he would tell. He bloodshed." therefore received 750 lashes, from A letter, passed along by whites as which he died.''31 well as slaves, found Dec. 24, 1856, on Of the John Brown raid nothing a slave employed on the Richmond may be said that has not already been and York Railroad in Virginia is in­ told, except that to draw the lesson teresting from the standpoint of white from the attempt's failure that the cooperation and indicates, too, a de­ slaves were ·docile, as has so often· been sire for something more than bare done, is absurd. And it would be ab­ bodily freedom. The letter reads:Bo surd even if we did not have a record of the bitter struggle of the Negro peo­ "My dear friend: You must certainly re­ ple against slavery. This is so for two member what I have told you-you must come up to the contract-as we have carried main reasons: first, Brown's raid was things thus far. Meet at the place where we made in the northwestern part of Vir­ said, and dont make any disturbance until ginia, where slavery was of a domes­ we meet and d'ont let any white man know tic, household nature and where any-thing about it, unless he is truth-worthy. slaves were relatively few; secondly, The articles are all right and the country is ours certain. Bring all your friends; tell them, Brown gave the slaves absolutely no that if they want freedom, to come. D'ont let foreknowledge of his attempt. The it leak out; if you should get in any difficulty slaves had no way of judging Brown's send me word immediately to afford protec­ chances or even his sincerity, and, in tion. Meet at the crossing and prepare for that connection, let it be remembered Sunday night for the neighbourhood- "P.S. Dont let anybody see this­ that slave stealing was a common Freedom-Freeland crime iq the Old South. Your old friend The event aroused tremendous ex­ W.B." citement. The immediate result is well Another interesting feature of the described in this paragraph: plots of November and December, "A most terrible panic, in the meantime, 1856, is the evidence of the effect of seizes not only the village, the vicinity, and the bitter Presidential contest of that all parts of the state, but every slave state in the Union.... Rumours of insurrections, year between the Republican, Fre­ apprehensions of invasions, whether well­ mont, and the Democrat, Buchanan. founded or ill-founded, alters not the proof The slaves were certain that the Re- of the inherent and incurable weakness and THE COMMUNIST insecurity of society, organized upon a slave­ excitement had somewhat subsided." holding basis." B2 Early in July, 186o, fires swept over Many of these rumors were un­ and devastated many cities in North­ doubtedly false or exaggerated both by ern Texas. Slaves were suspected and terror and by anti-"Black Republi­ arrested.s5 White men were invari­ can" politicians. Bearing this in mind, ably reported as being implicated, however, there yet remains good evi­ and frequent notices of their beatings dence of real and widespread disaf­ and executions together with slaves fection among the slaves. occur. Listing of the counties in which Late in November, 1859, there were plots were reported, cities burned, and several incendiary. fires in the neigh­ rebels executed will give one an idea borhood of Berryville, Virginia. Two of the extensiveness of the trouble slaves, Jerry and Joe, of Col, Francis and help explain the abject terror it McCormick were arrested on the aroused: Anderson, Austin, Dallas, charge of conspiracy and convicted. Denton, Ellis, Grimes, Hempstead, An effort was made to save these Lamar, Milam, Montgomery, Rusk, slaves from hanging for it was felt that Tarrant, Walker and Wood. The the evidence against them was not con­ reign of terror lasted for about eight clusive and that since "We of the weeks. South, have boasted that our slaves And before it was over reports of took no part in the raid upon Vir­ disaffection came from other areas. In ginia, and did not sympathize with August a conspiracy among the slaves, Brown,"33 it would look bad to hang again with white accomplices, said to two slaves now for the same crime. have been inspired by a nearby ma­ Others, however, urged their execu­ roon band, was uncovered and tions as justified on the evidence and crushed in Talladega County, Ala.s6 necessary as an example, for "there About 100 miles south of this, in Pine are other negroes who disserve just as Level, Montgomery County, of the much punishment." The slaves' sen­ same state, in that same month, the tences were commutted to imprison­ arrest of a white man, a harness ment, at hard labor, for life. maker, was reportedB'i for "holding In December Negroes in Bolivar, improper conversations with slaves." Missouri, revolted and attacked their Within five months serious difficulty enslavers with sticks and stones. A is reported from that region. few whites were injured and at least Meanwhile, still in August, plots one slave was killed. Later, 34 were uncovered in Whitfield, Cobb, and Floyd Counties in Northwest "A mounted company was ranging the Georgia. Said the Columbus, Ga., woods in search of negroes. The owner of of Aug. 29: "By a private letter some rebellious slaves was badly wounded, Sun, and only saved himself by flight. Several from Upper Georgia, we learnt that blacks have been severely punished. The an insurrectionary plot has been dis­ greatest excitement prevailed, and every man covered among the negroes in the was armed and prepared for a more serious vicinity of Dalton and Marietta and attack." great excitement was occasioned by it, Still later advices declared that "the and still prevails." The slaves had in- CLASS CONFLICTS IN THE SOUTH 179 tended to burn Dalton, capture a train and transportation out of the state, and crash on into Marietta some was the leaders' punishment. seventy miles away. Thirty-six of the In November plots were disclosed slave leaders were imprisoned and the in Crawford and Habersham Coun­ entire area took on a warlike aspect. ties, Georgia.40 In both places whites Again it was felt that "white men in­ were involved. In Crawford a white stigated the plot," but, since Negro man, described as a Northern tin­ testimony was not acceptable against smith, was executed, while a white im­ a white man, the evidence against plicated in Habersham was given five them was felt to be insufficient for hours to leave. How many slaves were conviction. Another Georgia paper of involved is not clear. No executions the same month, the Augusta Dis­ among them were reported. According patch, admitting: "We dislike to al­ to the Southern papers the rebels were lude to the evidences of the insurrec­ merely "severely whipped." tionary tendency of things ..." never­ December finds the trouble back theless did deign barely to mention again in the heart of Alabama, in Pine the recent discovery of a plot among Level, Autaugaville, Prattville and the slaves of Floyd County, about Hayneville. A resident of the region forty miles northwest of Marietta. declared it involved41 "many hundred In September a slave girl betrayed negroes" and that "the instigators of a conspiracy in Winston County, Mis­ the insurrection were found to be the sissippi. Approximately thirty-five low-down, or poor, whites of the slaves were arrested and yet again it country." It was discovered that the was discovered that whites were in­ plot called for the redistribution of volved.ss At least one slave was the "land, mules, and money." Said hanged as well as one white man de­ another source, the Montgomery, Ala., scribed as a photographer named G. Advertiser of Dec. 13: Harrington. "We have found out a deep laid plan Late in October a plot first formed among the negroes of our neighborhood, and in July was disclosed among the from what we can find out from our negroes, slaves of Norfolk and Princess Anne it is general all over the country.... We Counties, Virginia, and Currituck hear some startling facts. They have gone County, North Carolina.s9 Jack and far enough in the plot to divide our estates, mules, lands, and household furniture." Denson, slaves of a Mr. David Corprew of Princess Anne, were among the The crop of martyrs in this par­ leaders. Other were named Leicester, ticular plot numbered at least twenty­ Daniel, Andrew, Jonas and William. five Negroes and four whites. The These men planned to start the fight names of but two of the whites are for freedom with their spades and axes known, Rollo and Williamson. and grubbing hoes. And it was under· There is evidence42 of the existence stood, according to a slave witness, in December, 186o, of a widespread that "white folks were to come in secret organization of slaves in South there to help us," but in no way could Carolina, dedicated to ,the objective the slaves be influenced to name their of freedom. Said J. R. Gilmore, ~ white allies. Banishment, that is, sale visitor in the region: 180 THE COMMUNIST

" ... there exists among the blacks a secret And all you niggas hole your breafh, and wide-spread organization of a Masonic And do de white folks brown!" character, having its grip, password, and oath. It has various grades of leaders, who Or, in more sober prose, Scipio told are competent and earnest men and its ulti­ Mr. Gilmore that the South would be mate object is FREEDOM." defeated "'cause you see dey'll fight Gilmore warned a slave leader, Scipio, wid only one hand. When dey fight that such an organization meant mis­ de Nor£ wid de right hand, dey'll hev chief. No, said Scipio, "it meant only to hold de nigga wid de leff." Scipio's RIGHT and JUSTICE." parting words were a plea that Gil­ The slaves saw the impending war more let the North know that the between the states and sang: slaves were panting for freedom and that the poor whites, too, were victims "And when dat day am come to pass of the same vicious system. We'll all be dar to see! So shut your mouf as close as death, (To be concluded.)

REFERENCES

1 G. Johnson, Ante-Bellum North Carolina, 13 N.Y. Weekly Tribune, Sept. 16, 1854, Chapel Hill, 1937, p. 478; J. Redpath,The Apr. 19, 1856, Feb. 7, 1857, citing Montgomery Roving Editor, N. Y., 1859, p. 127. Journal. 2 J. S. C. Abbott, South and North, N.Y., 14 H. T. Catterall, Judicial Cases Concern­ 1800, p. 124. ing Slavery, Washington, 1932, Ill, p. 648. 3 F. L. Olmsted, A Journey in the Back 15 Louisiana Historical Quarterly (1924), Country, London, 186o, pp. 474-75· VII, p. 230, citing Daily True Delta; Docu­ ment No. 46, House of Delegates, 1852, Vir­ 4 The Liberator (Boston) Jan. 10, 1851; H. Wright, The Natick Resolution, Boston, ginia State Library, Richmond. 1859, passim. 16 For other examples see Executive Papers for Dec., 1859, and Jan., Nov., Dec., 186o, in 5 Quoted in W. Chambers, American Slav­ archives division, State Library, Richmond; ery and Colour, London, 1857, pp. 154-155· New Orleans Daily Picayune, Nov. 25, 30, 6 A. Ross, Memoirs of a Reformer, Toronto, Dec. 2, 1856. 1893; J. Redpath, op. cit.; A. Abel & F. Kling­ 17 Siebert, op. cit., p. 26; S. Mitchell, berg, A Sidelight on Anglo-American Rela­ Horatio Seymour, Cambridge, 1938, p. 482; tions, New York, 1927, p. 258. Olmsted, Seaboard, II, p. 150. 7 W. H. Siebert, The Underground Rail­ 18 Hesseltine, A History of the South, N. Y., road, N. Y., 1899. pp. 28, 152. 1936, p. 258; Siebert, op. cit., p. 44· 8 Journal of Southern History (1935), I, 19 Olmsted, Seaboard, I, p. 182. p. 33; see also R. Ogden, Life and Letters of E. L. Godkin, N. Y., 1907, I, pp. 122, 143; 20 Richmond Daily Dispatch, Sept. 17, 1856; Olmsted, op. cit., pp. 62, 82, 446. Annual Report of American Anti-Slavery So­ ciety ... for year ending May r, r859, N. Y. 9 Johnson, op. cit., p. 496; Olmsted, Journey 186o, p. 84. to the Seaboard Slave States, N. Y., 1904, I, 21 Citation in detail for these figures would p. 32· require too much space. They are taken 10 Richmond Daily Dispatch, Sept. 5, 1856, from the Acts of the General Assembly of Aug. 24, 1858; J. Stirling, Letters from Slave Virginia for each of the years mentioned. States, London, 1857, p. 295· 22 The sources used for this are the New 11 Liberator, Jan. 29, 1858, citing Franklin Orleans Daily Picayune, June 14, 15, 16, 23, Sun, and July 8, 1859, citing St. Louis Demo­ 1853; The Liberator, June 24, July 1, 8, 1853, crat. See also Freeman's Journal (Phila.) Aug. citing other Southern newspapers. 7, 1852, citing Fredericksburg Herald; Cham­ 23 Governor's Letter Book (MS.), No. 43, bers, op. cit., appendix; H. Trexler, Slavery pp. 514-15, Historical Commission,· Raleigh, in Missouri, p. 72. N.C. 12 Olmsted, Back Country, pp. 445-46. 24 Austin State Gazette, Sept. 27, 1856; F. CLASS CONFLICTS IN THE SOUTH

Olmsted, A journey Through Texas, N. Y., source show that the Governor in Dec., 1856, 186o, pp. 503-504, quoting other Texan pa­ received requests from and sent arms to fif­ pers. teen counties. 25 N. Y. Weekly Tribune, Nov. 15, 1856, cit­ 31 Letter from Montgomery County, Tenn., ing Ouchita, La., Register; Austin State Ga· originally in The New York Time11, in Lib­ zette, Nov. 15, 1856; New Orleans Daily Pica­ erator, Dec. 19, 1856; see also N. Y. Weekly yune, Nov. 16, 1856. Tribune, Dec. 20, 27, 1856, quoting local pa­ pers, and Atlantic Monthly (1858), II, pp. 26 New Orleans Daily Picayune, Nov. 27, 732-33· Dec. 2, 1856. 32Principia, N.Y., Dec. 17, 1859. -27 Liberator, Nov. 28, Dec. 12, 1856, citing local papers. 33 Letters quoted are to Governor Letcher from P. Williams, Jan. 5, t86o, and C. C. 28 Milledgeville Federal Union quoted in Larue, Jan. 17, 186o, in Executive PapeTs, U. Phillips, Plantation and Frontier, II, p. State Library, Richmond. 116. 34 Principia, N. Y., Jan. 7, t86o, quoting 29 Support for this and the following para­ Missouri Democrat. Karl Marx read reports graph will be found in Letter Books of the of this revolt. See his comment and Engels' Governors of North Carolina (MS.) T. Bragg, reply in The Civil War in the United States, No. 43, pp. 635, 636, 639. 653, 654, located in N. Y., 1937, p. 221. Raleigh; New Orleans Daily Picayune, Dec. 35 Austin State Gazette, July q, 28, Aug. 12, 13, 23, 24, 25, 26, 1856; Richmond Daily Dispatch, Dec. 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 1856; N. Y. 4, 11, 18, 25, t86o; John Townsend, The Weekly Tribune, Dec. 13, 20, 1856, Jan. 3· Doom of Slavery, Charleston, t86o, pp. 34-38. 1857; Liberator, Dec. 12, 1856; Ann. Rept. 36 ]oumal of Southern History, I, p. 47· Amer. Anti-Slavery Society 1857-58, pp. 76-77; 37 Liberator, Aug. 24, t86o. J. Stirling, op. cit., pp. 51, 59. 91, 294, 297- 98; Olmsted, Back Country, pp. 474-75; jour­ 38 St. Louis Evening Newli quoted in Lib­ nal of Southern History, I, pp. 43-44. An es­ erator, Oct. 26, t86o. caped German revolutionist, Adolph Douai, 39 1\-laterial on this is in Executive Papers, published an Abolitionist paper in San Nov., t86o, State Library, Richmond. Antonio, Texas, from 1852 until 1855, when he was driven out. See M. Hillquit, History 40 R. B. Flanders, Plantation Slavery in of Socialism in U. S., N. Y., 1910, p. 171. Georgia, Chapel Hill, 1933, p. 275· 41 N. Y. Daily Tribune, Jan. 3, May 29, 30 Copied by Richard H. Coleman in a letter, asking for arms, dated Caroline county, Aug. 5, 1861. Dec. 25, 1856, to Governor Henry Wise, in 42 Edmund Kirke (J. R. Gilmore), Among Executive Papers, archives division, State the Pines, N. Y., 1862, pp. 20, 25, 59, 89, Library, Richmond. Other letters in this go-91, 301. NOTES ON TWO ECONOMIC CYCLES

BY GEORGE WALLACE

HE table on pages 184-85 shows the New York Times, Business Week, T cyclical changes since 1929 as in­ Cleveland Trust Company and many dicated by the leading economic in­ others. All of them are based on a dexes. It is prepared in such a way combination of varying economic as to show by the use of indexes and series, considered of equal or greater their corresponding dates what hap­ importance, and thus are intended to pened during the last two crises-of reflect the economic situation as a 1929 and 1937. High and low points whole rather than in any limited in these two cycles are given in the field such as auto or steel production, table, together with their correspond­ car loadings or payrolls. ing dat.es. Thus we can see both the Instead of relating these business duration and the extent of rise and activity indexes to some base year, decline in the two crises. many bourgeois statisticians use the Although there are many columns misleading concept of a "normal" in the table, their significance becomes state. We know that this is misleading easily apparent if we follow through because it presupposes that there is the various columns in order. The first some (usually mathematically con­ index appearing in the table is that structed) trend which is independent of business activity prepared by the of any other change, be it cyclical, sea­ weekly financial paper, The Annalist. sonal, or "random," such as . war, The first two columns show that this famine, flood, etc. For the purpose of index reached its peak before the 1929 our table, it is important to note what crash in June of that year. It stood base is used in the given index. For then at u7.2. instance, most of the production in­ Taken alone, this infQrmation has dexes in this table are based on a 1923- limited value, except as it indicates 2 5 average as equal to 100. This the moment when the crisis was about period is used as a base by the Fed­ to send production, employment, eral Reserve Board in constructing sales, stocks, in fact all economic ac­ its various series. tivities, crashing down. It acquires an Thus, when we note the current. in­ added meaning, however, when con­ dustrial production index and find it sidered in relation to the base or unit to be 104, we must not forget that in which the index is expressed. The this figure is expressed in terms of the Annalist assumes as the base-"normal 1923-25 average, that is, in terms of = 100." There are many indexes of conditions existing 14 to 15 years ago. business activity in existence-The Our population since then has grown NOTES ON TWO ECONOMIC CYCLES by many millions, or by about 17 per a manifestation of the declining phase cent. of capitalist economy in the condition of the general crisis of capitalism. "Thus on a per capita basis," as pointed Instead of the new cycle rising to a out in Labor Research Association's Eco­ higher level than the preceding one, nomic Notes, December, 1938, "the level of it takes place on a lower level than production is much lower than fifteen Yfars before. ago. Certainly any 'normal' of production should take into consideration the growth Significant is the fact that the im­ of population and the increasing output provement which came to an end in therefore required to maintain even the low 1937 was not even from one series to standard of living of the early 'twenties." another. Very few of the series in our table rose above 1929. This was the 'Vhile the first two columns give the case with boot and shoe production high point and the date for the and cotton consumption; but they re­ period immediately preceding the flect elementary consumption needs 1929 crisis, the following two columns of the population and therefore might give the lowest point of that crisis be expected to regain their losses more period. The Annalist index, for ex­ quickly. If we had an index for bread ample, went down from 117.2 to 62.5 consumption, it would probably re­ in March, 1933-a drop of 47 per cent! main fairly stable and not be severely The columns following show the affected by a crisis. For a worker, in high point, in 1937, in the ensuing cutting down on his expenditures, recovery, and the low point in the new will economize first on · articles less crisis, with their corresponding dates. essential than bread. Thus, The Annalist index went up to Of the leading production indexes, 111.0 in August, 1937, still below the iron and steel is the only series which 117.2 high point of the preced­ surpassed the 1929 peak-and this ing cycle. The column, "% of 1929 only by less than 1 per cent. In the high" shows it clearly. It tells us that machine tools series we find a the high point before the 1937 crisis considerable rise. But the machine was 95 per cent of the 1929 peak, that tool industry-a very small factor in is, 5 per cent below that peak. total industrial production-is very · The improvement in economic con­ sensitive to any changes in production ditions continued from 1933 on technique, and in the 1933-37 recov­ through the middle of 1937· How­ ery period it responded quickly to em­ ever, the peak of 1937, as the per­ ployers' demands for greater rational­ centage column of the 1937 high in­ ization of plant in order to cut labor dicates, did not reach the peak of costs, as well as to the rising foreign 1929. This is clearly shown by those orders for armament tools. The most series which reflect the general eco­ weighty series, such as total industrial nomic situation. Thus, the indexes of production, manufacturing produc­ business activity, total industrial pro­ tion, employment and payrolls in duction, and manufacturing produc­ manufacturing industries, were lower tion, were, respectively, 95, 97 and than, although close to, the 1929 high, 98 per cent of the 1929 high. This is while a number of indexes were far LATEST MONTH CRISIS OF 19~9 - CRISIS OF 1 9 3 7 - AVAILABLE••

High point Low point High point %of Low point %of %of I929 I9J7 I9J7 Base or units Month Data Month Data Month Data high Month Data high Month Data high Annalist index of business ac- tivity ...... Normal=100 6J~9117-~ 3/33 6~.5 8/37 111.0 95 5/38 73·8 66 ll/38 95·0 86 Total industrial production ... 1923-25= 100 5/~91~6 7/3~56 5/37 1~2 97 _6j38 77 63 11/38 104 85 Manufacturing production ... 1g~3-~5=100 5/29 128 7/32 55 4/37 1~5 g8 6j38 75 6o ll/38 103 8~ M.ineral produc- uon ...... 1923-25=100 10/~9127 6/3~ 62 10 /37 125 g8 5/38 go 72 11/38 105 84 Au to produc- tion ...... 1923-~5=100 4/29 184 10/32 15 5/37 163 8g 9/38 ~6 16 ll/38 ll5 71 Boot and shoe

1 110 production ... 1g~3-25=100 9/~9126 1~/30 63 3/37 157 1~5 ~/3774 47 11/38 71 Iron and steel production ... 1g23-25=100 6j2g 145 8j32 23 5/37 146 101 12/37 43 29 ll/38 101 6g Steel ingot pro- duction (% of capacity) ..... percent 6j2g 100 3/33 15 5/37 go go 12/37 26 2g 11/38 61 68 Machine tools, new orders . . . 1g26=100 ~j2g 186 3/33 7 4/37 ~82 152 5/38 67 ~4 ll/38 ll2 40 Cotton con- (thousands of sumption .... bales) 5/29 66g 7/32 279 3/37 777 116 4/38 413 53 11/38 596 77 Construction (value of con- millions 5/28 667 2/33 53 7/37 322 48 2/38 119 37 11/38 302 94 tracts awarded) Freight car load- ings ...... 1923-25-100 9/29 123 3/33 48 9137 87 7• 4/38 55 63 11/38 70 So Unemployment (A. F. of L.)• .. millions 9/29 .6 3/33 15.6 9/37 7·5 1248 6j38 11.4 152 11/38 10.4 139 Employment - manufactures . 1923-25=100 9/29 110 7/32 61 8J37 109 99 6j38 82 75 11/38 91 83 Payrolls-manu- factures ...... 1923-25=100 9/29 114 3/33 38 5/37 110 g6 7/38 71 64 11/38 84 76 Cost of living . 1923=100 10/29 101 4/33 72 9/37 8g 88 8j38 86 96 11/38 86 97 Wholesale prices 1926=-IOO 10/1!8 99 2/33 6o 4/37 88 89 8/38 78 89 11/38 78 89 Department store sales .... 1923-25=-100 12/28 192 7/32 46 12/36 161 84 7/38 58 36 11/38 99 61 Exports (value, u.s. merchan- dise) ...... 1923-25=100 10j28 145 3/33 29 10/37 8g 61 7/38 6o 67 11/38 67 75 Imports (value, for consump- tion) ...... 1923-25=100 4/29 127 3/33 28 3/37 93 73 7/38 46 50 11/38 54 59 Share prices (Dow-Jones in- dust. average) . $ per share 9/29 365 7/32 46 3137 188 52 4/38 113 6o ll/38 152 81 • Figures used merely to show trend in unemployment. The A. F. of L. figures are considered to underestimate total unemployment in the opinion of Labor Research Association. Such series as unemployment are frequently referred to as "inverted series." They go up when others decline; their "high" points are really their low points and vice versa. ,.. Preliminary. Source: Survey of Current Business, Federal Reserve Board Bulletin, The Annalist and the American Federationist. THE COMMUNIST

below. Among the latter were such is still considerably below the peak important series as construction, of 1937. We note that The Annalist freight car loadings, foreign trade, index rose to 95, which was still 14 security stocks. Furthermore, unem­ per cent below its high point prior to ployment was twelve times as large as the 1937 crisis. in 1929 and department store sales, Characteristic of the present situa­ reflecting the public's purchasing tion is the fact that improvement power, were 16 per cent below the is uneven in the various series. The 1929 peak. very last column of the table shows how the present position com­ pares with the pre-crisis peak in 1937. The Annalist index is 14 per cent be­ What happened during the crisis of low. The index of industrial produc­ 1937-38 is seen from the columns giv­ tion, which had declined in June, ing the low point of this crisis, its 1938, to 77, a drop of over a third date, and the percentage this low from May, 1937, its highest point point was of the 1937 high. The de­ since 1929, stood in November at 104. cline in economic activities was one In other words, it recovered 27 points of the most precipitous in American but was still 18 points, or 15 per cent, economic history. The Annalist index below the 1937 peak. tumbled down from 111.0 to 73.8, Construction, measured by value of that is, to 66 per cent of the 1937 high contracts awarded, showed a marked point (a drop of about one-third). All improvement. Although in November this happened in the course of nine it was below the 1937 peak, due to the months. The dates in the table show seasonal nature of construction indus­ how little time it took for the crisis to try, it was well above it in October. develop and reach the bottom. The This improvement is no doubt due to percentage column brings out the the financing of construction by gov­ severity of the decline. The decline ernmental subsidies. (See L.R.A.'s in various production series ranged Economic Notes, January, 1939.) How­ from 28 per cent up to 84 per cent. ever, even the October level was but Unemployment went up 52 per cent. about 54 per cent of the peak prior Payrolls in manufacturing industries to the 1929 crisis. declined 38 per cent, while the cost of The sensitive indexes such as ma­ living went down only 4 per cent. chine tools, steel ingots, iron and Department store sales declined 64 steel, and the highly seasonal series per cent. such as freight-car loadings and auto­ The last two columns of the table mobile production, have all picked show how all these series stood at the up markedly from their respective low most recent date for which data are points; but they are still considerably available-in November, 1938. Al­ below the 1937 peak. though, with a few exceptions, they On the other hand, the index of show a marked improvement over wholesale prices, which reached 78 in conditions prevailing during the August, 1938, a decline of io points earlier part of 1938, the level attained from the 1937 peak, still remains NOTES ON TWO ECONOMIC CYCLES about the same level, indicating that After the 1929 crash, the economic stocks of accumulated goods are still curve was not one of continuous de­ large. cline, but was interrupted by several Unemployment in the United States temporary improvements. The im­ continues to remain at a high level provement in business activity since and in November it rose over October, the middle of 1938, following upon indicating that the influx of new the precipitous decline in the latter workers is greater than the absorp­ part of 1937 and first half of 1938, has tion of unemployed by industry. been continuous and relatively strong, Foreign trade is still considerably up to the last month for which data below its 1937 high point and only were available at the time of this about 45 per cent of the 1929 peak. writing. Payrolls in manufacturing industry However, in view of the deepening are 24 per cent below their 1937 peak, general crisis of capitalism, manifested while the cost of living is only 3 per particularly by the raging flames of cent below. war in several parts of the world and The farm situation is also a factor the unsettled international situation casting a shadow on recovery pros­ dominated by the threat of further pects. Cash income of farmers for fascist aggression, the recent improve­ 1938 was estimated at about $7,625,­ ment must be considered of too short ooo,ooo compared with $8,6oo,ooo,ooo duration, too uncertain and uneven the preceding year. The buying power to justify the conclusion that there of farm produce has also fallen below has been a basic shift for the better a year ago. In November a decline in presaging a sustained rise in business this index of 7 per cent below the activity. A slowing down of produc­ previous November was registered by tion or a pause in the recent upturn the U. S. Bureau of Agricultural may be in prospect for the months Economics. immediately ahead. FROM THE WORLD COMMUNIST PRESS

FROM "AN ANALYSIS OF THE Equal wages for equal work for em­ SITUATION" ployed women. Prohibition of piece-work and over­ BY THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE time for workers under the age of COMMUNIST PARTY OF GERMANY eighteen. No more collections, forced contri­ Die Rote Fahne, central organ of the butions and assessments. Communist Party of Germany, Set aside sums for unemployment 1938, No. 6. insurance. Cut down the contributions to the N ouR legal agitation, especially I among the masses influenced by Labor Front. fascism, we must "catch Hitler up" 4· Distribute the provisions hoard­ on his peace demagogy, his protesta­ ed by Goering! Fats and butter in­ tions of peace to all states (the stead of cannon! Sportspalast speech), his declaration 5· Reduce the exorbitant taxes on that Germany has no more territorial the masses. Tax the armament profi­ demands in Europe. We must de­ teers. velop a wide mass discussion of such 6. Drop the economic policy of slogans and demands as are sketched coercing the peasants. Establish free briefly here: marketing. Issue permits for import­ 1. "Peace?" Then stop the feverish ing stock feed; establish credits for war economy and armament, which reimbursement for the replacement of disastrously undermine the national livestock lost by disease. Stop the economy and standards of living. De· forcible collection of taxes. mobilize. Stop the construction of Stop the destruction of thousands fortifications. Put an end to forced of acres of farm land for war pur- labor. poses. , 2. Put industry on the basis of pro­ In answer to Hitler's preachment of duction for peace. Instead of squan­ "the right of self-determination" and dering wealth on armaments and for­ of "liberation," demand: tifications, produce for export, import The right of self-determination for raw materials necessary for consumers' the German people! goods, food; build dwellings; supply The right of self-determination for the trades with genuine materials. the Austrian people! 3· Use the means and materials Free election of delegates and rep­ thus freed for social improvements. resentatives in industry, in every or­ Stop speed-up and disgraceful wages. ganization, in every community; free Raise wages in all industries and re­ and secret balloting for popular rep­ turn to the eight-hour day. resentation on a nationwide scale. 188 FROM THE WORLD COMMUNIST PRESS 189

Freedom of assembly, speech and These slogans and demands must press. be popularized in the factories, in the Freedom of religion and conscience. mass organizations, on all possible oc­ Release the political prisoners from casions and in all possible forms, for jails, prisons and concentration instance, in discussions of the speeches camps. of Nazi leaders, of articles in Nazi Free Thaelmann, Mierendorf, Ros­ newspapers, by "the whisper press," saint, Niemoeller and all who fight by writing on walls, sidewalks, by for freedom and peace! leaflets and pamphlets.

"The Communist Party is the party of the working class. Its theory is founded upon the role of the working class in uniting and leading the masses of the people; it draws its main strength from the ranks of the working class. But our Party also draws into itself the best from all strata of society, regardless of their class, and gives them that which their own class cannot-a conscious and fruitful collaboration in the further progress of the human race. The bearers and defenders of culture, from all classes, are being drawn into or under the influence of the Party of Marxism-Leninism, as inevitably as iron filings are drawn to a magnet."-Earl Browder, Theory As a Guide to Action.

extending extending and and "a "a occurred occurred maintaining maintaining there there in in treated treated Alliance Alliance ers ers period period the the in in that that

Work­ the the of of role role the the on on and and situation situation relief relief out out point point Book Book Fact Fact the the of of editors editors The The

the the on on given given are are data data Important Important ployment. ployment. Deal. Deal. New New the the of of policies policies eral eral

Unem­ on on Census Census National National the the in in available available lib­ the the against against struggle struggle their their of of expression expression

is is than than situation situation unemployment unemployment the the of of ture ture concrete concrete a a as as sabotage sabotage of of policy policy conscious conscious a a

pic­ complete complete and and satisfactory satisfactory more more a a here here pursued pursued capital capital monopoly monopoly that that Dealers, Dealers, New New

find find We We rolls. rolls. relief relief work work on on those those including including advanced advanced by by held held and and Bittelman, Bittelman, Comrade Comrade of of

16,ooo,ooo, 16,ooo,ooo, about about at at unemployed unemployed of of number number analysis analysis the the in in developed developed position position the the force force

the the estimate estimate Book Book Fact Fact the the of of editors editors The The rein­ to to marshalled marshalled is is material material ample ample Yet Yet

act. act. the the in in changes changes coming. coming. its its hastened hastened have have may may business business big big

reactionary reactionary prevent prevent to to Congress Congress 1939 1939 the the of of sabotage sabotage the the which which to to extent extent exact exact the the

in in progressives progressives facing facing struggle struggle the the for for ing ing statistically statistically measure measure to to impossible impossible it it finds finds

understand­ necessary necessary the the provides provides act act the the to to Association Association Research Research Labor Labor the the depression, depression,

opposition opposition employers' employers' of of given given account account full full the the of of discussion discussion well-documented well-documented its its In In

The The act. act. the the of of provisions provisions the the of of pretation pretation peace. peace. for for struggle struggle

inter­ the the for for precedents precedents establish establish which which the the and and rights, rights, civil civil of of infringement infringement the the

cases, cases, outstanding outstanding in in made made decisions decisions the the and and against against fight fight the the problems, problems, farm farm fronts, fronts, litical litical

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REVIEWS REVIEWS BOOK BOOK BOOK REVIEWS

the provision of relief to the unemployed. of arguments against incorporation of trade Here, as in other chapters of the volume, unions and the text of the Mohawk Valley the Labor ·Fact Book contributes to an under­ formula should become part of the arsenal standing of social developments by its meth­ of every trade unionist and of those inter­ ods of relating the facts and statistics of a ested in labor's welfare. situation with the activities of those organ­ Although the book contains a good deal izations which provide leadership to effect on the rise of reaction in the last two years, progressive changes. the special significance of this tendency as The material on family income which ef­ manifesting the fascist offensive in this pe­ fectively describes the maldistribution of riod is not dealt with in the present volume. wealth and income in the United States This is to be regretted. It is probably ex­ would have been strengthened by the use plained by the fact that this tendency was of the recent National Resources Committee emphasized in the previous Fact Bopk and Report on Consumers Income in the United perhaps also by the space limitations of the States, but this report was unfortunately not present volume. It is to be hoped that the available until after the Fact Book went to topic of fascism and fascist formations will press. Some of the preliminary material for be given the full treatment it deserves in this report was used, however, in the excel­ the next volume. lently documented chapters on Farmers and This important handbook can be recom­ Farm Workers. Likewise, in view of the mended without reserve for use by all who widespread interest among progressive groups are active. in progressive organizations and in expanding health services for the masses, require ready, carefully documented mate­ it would have been desirable to include in rial for speeches, articles and pamphlets. The the section on public health more of the next volume should further enhance its material on the President's program which value for these purposes by including a led to the National Health Conference. bibliography of books and pamphlets as well Among the most effective sections of the as articles in periodicals, pertinent to each volume are the discussions on labor abroad section in order to supplement the resources and on trade unions in the U. S. with the referred to in the text, and thus enable fur­ valuable table of unions and of strike strug­ ther research. gles in 1936-37· The interesting presentation CHARLOTTE TODES.

ERRATUM

In the article "The Democratic Front and the Northwest Elec­ tions," by Morris Raport, which appeared in the January issue of THE CoMMUNIST, a typographical error occurred on page 74, line 2. The text should read: "Leftist errors which might alienate .. .-The Editors. LATEST BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED

AFTER MUNICH, by Georgi Dimitroff, thology, International Publishers, New Workers Library Publhhers, New York wc York...... 1oc

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What does the Munich Pact mean for the security of America? How can the American people meet the threat of reaction at home and fascist aggression from abroad? These questions are answered in the report by Earl Browder, General Secretary, to the December, 1938, meeting of the National Committee of the Communist Party, U.S.A. 48 pages; 5 cents

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THE UN-AMERICAN DIES COMtviiTTEE By Adam Lapin

This ace reporter of the Daily Worker presents irrefutable proof of the tie-up of the Dies Committee with the forces of reaction in the United States and abroad. Instead of investigating the Nazi spies in the United States, the arms arsenals piled up by Big BusinBss, the reactionary organizations financed and supported by mo­ nopoly capital, etc., the Dies Committee has concentrated on attacking the New Deal. tha trade unions, the Communist Party and everything progressive in our country. Price, 2c HITLER'S SPY PLOT IN THE U.S.A. By Lowell Wakefield

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THEORY AS A GUIDE TO ACTION By Earl Browder

A masterly speech by the leader of the Communist Party on the occaSion of the fifteenth anniversary of the Workers School, in New York. "Our theory," says Comrade Browder, "as the science of social develop­ ment, like all sciences universal in their validity, is alone able to provide an understanding of moments of change, to identify the forces involved and the law of movement of these forces, to pass over from explanation of past changes to foreseeing of future changes-and thereby to direct and shape these changes and the destiny of humanity that is involved." Price, 2c • WORKERS LIBRARY PUBLISHERS P. 0. Box 148, Station D New York, N. Y. _j Ready REVOLUTION IN SPAIN

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