T h e Kennedy Uses Berlin Crisis MILITANT To Step Up H-Bomb Race Published in the Interests of the Working People By P a u l Abbott head of the Democratic party called for an immediate increase Kennedy’s threat to plunge the in the Marine Corps, souped-up United States into a nuclear war Vol. 25 - No. 29 Monday, July 24 & 31, 1961 Price 10c reserves and more bombers. “W e if the Pentagon’s m ilitary occupa­ must have sea and airlift capable tion “rights” in the western sec­ of moving our forces quickly and tor of Berlin should be under­ in large numbers to any part of mined by a peace treaty between the world.” That’s what the man the Soviet Union and East Ger­ Mass Action Brings Victory said, “any part of the world.” many is being hailed by the cap­ In addition he “requested” that italist press as great statesman­ the standing professional army be ship. increased from 875,000 troops to Over 2 Jim-Crow Holdouts But the gist of Kennedy’s July 1,000,000. To supply the needed 25 reply to Khrushchev’s peace- conscripts, “ I am ordering that our By Alex Harte treaty moves was: “We w ill bury draft calls be doubled and tripled.” ourselves!” The antisegregation movement ers have now been integrated. As for funds, Kennedy upped The burial is to take place in has scored notable victories in the military spending budget by The NAACP reported that the fall-out shelters. “In the event of Atlanta, Ga., and Oklahoma City. $3,454,000,000, bringing the total antisegregation campaign had im ­ an attack, the lives of those fam­ O kla. for the year to $47,500,000,000, an portant by-products including an ilies which are not hit in a nuclear The national office of the increase in Negro voter registra­ increase of $6,000,000,000 since last blast and fire can still be saved,” January. NAACP announced July 21 that tion, the hiring for the first time said Kennedy; “— if they can be Kennedy said he was not calling the Negro community of 60,000 in of two Negro bus drivers, removal warned to take shelter and if that for an immediate boost in taxes Atlanta has resumed shopping in of Jim Crow signs from buses, shelter is available.” ADENAUER: Approves Ken­ to pay for this increase in w hat the downtown stores of that city and NAACP members seating “Tomorrow,” the President said nedy’s “clear stand.” might well turn out to be Amer­ after a 15-month boycott in pro­ themselves in the front of buses reassuringly, “I am requesting of ica’s funeral expenses, “B ut I am test against segregation. The “no­ without incident. the Congress new funds” to be survive for a year or so before certain that every American wants buying” drive was launched after The victory in Oklahoma City used “to identify and mark space sending out suicide squads to test to pay his fair share, and not leave several Negro students were ar­ is particularly gratifying since it in existing structures — public and the radioactive level of the land­ the burden of defending freedom rested for staging sit-ins at Jim- was the scene of the nation’s first private — that could be used for scape, but simply basements in entirely on those who bear arms,” Crow lunch counters. These count- lunch-counter sit-ins and did fall-out shelters . . .” existing buildings equipped to No specifications were made as to much to help spark the south- These “shelters” will not be serve as atom ic barbecue pits. what constitutes a “fair share” for wide drive that followed. newly dug caverns where a small As further preparation for workers and for millionaires lik e percentage of the population might doomsday, the “peace-loving” ISR Prints 'Secret' Began With 14 Kennedy. Naturally the President blamed Organized by the NAACP Youth Khrushchev for th is new spurt in Khrushchev Letter Council, the first sit-ins were held the nuclear arms race. The truth there in A u g u st 1958. T he yo u th FBI Cooks Up Hijack ‘Plot’ is something else again. The text of a confidential letter council, which had but 14 mem­ Two days before Kennedy’s about the dispute with Mao Tse- bers at the time, now has a report­ ominous speech, James Reston, tung, which is said to have been ed 3,000. As m an y as 1,500 — ran g­ Washington correspondent of the sent by Khrushchev to the lead­ ing in age from six to 17 — were To Witch-Hunt U.S. Cubans New York Times, w ro te : erships of various Communist involved at the peak of the lunch- “Long before Khrushchev began parties, has been printed in full in The Kennedy administration has CIA and FBI, which have been counter actions and picket lines. tossing out his thunderbolt the the summer issue of International seized a new pretext to whip up organizing the systematic hijack­ During the three-year drive by majority of President Kennedy’s Socialist Review. anti-Cuban hysteria and to inten­ ing of Cuban government planes the NAACP youth, 117 stores were advisers estimated that the ground sify its persecution of pro-Castro and the attachment of Cuban gov­ The letter discusses alleged fac­ integrated throughout the city. forces of the United States should Cubans in this country. Immedia­ ernment property in the United tionalism of the Chinese Com­ The major holdout was John A. be increased to around 1,000,000 tely after an Eastern Air Lines State [would] cease their danger­ munist party in seeking adherents Brown’s, a huge department store men and reorganized and equipped passenger diverted a Florida plane ous policy.” to its views. The Chinese leaders which covers a block and a half. to deal quickly with everything to Havana, the FBI “leaked” in­ He pointed out that more than are accused of violating the Dec­ from guerrilla to nuclear wars. Last September the Youth formation to the press via the New half a million dollars worth of laration of the Eighty-one issued “They wanted a minimum of Council organized a boycott cam­ York police department that mem­ Cuban property, not including in M oscow in N ovem ber 1960, A t thirty divisions facing th e Russians paign against the store. While it bers of the 26th of July Move­ planes, has been seized and sold at the same time the letter argues on the German front instead of was slow in getting off the ground, ment in this country were plan­ auction in the United States. An strongly against the views of the the eighteen they have there now. it grew steadily until an estimated ning to grab U.S. planes and fly example of this was the attach­ Chinese Communists on such is­ They wanted more missiles, larger 78 per cent of the city’s Negro them to Havana. Castro Hijack ment and sale at auction for sues as the possibilities of peace­ atomic weapons in Europe, more community was participating. Plot Bared, bellowed a New York $121,000 of the S.S. Mar Caribe, ful coexistence with imperialist strategic A ir Force bombers in the World Telegram headline. Other seized last January when it put in countries and relations with Yugo­ Capitulated air twenty-four hours a day, fas­ papers followed suit. at a Texas port for repairs. slavia and Albania. Complaints ter development of the West G er­ Feeling the pressure where it In addition, the U.S. has refused are lodged against the French According to the FBI’s “inside man Army, more French divisions to return to Cuba seven of its Communist leaders; and their really hurts, the store’s owner, dope” the hijack plot was mapped transferred from Algeria to Eur­ equivocal attitude toward Khru­ Frank Wade capitulated last at a meeting of Cubans July 23 planes that were grabbed when ope, more financial aid from G er­ passengers forced pilots to land shchev’s revelations about Stalin’s month. As a result Jim Crow has at Casa Cuba, a social club here. many to bring other British divi­ crimes is recalled. The charge was denied cate­ here. been eliminated in the lunch room, sions into Europe. gorically by José Sanchez, coor­ According to Sanchez, hundreds “Khrushchev’s belligerent moves Revealed by Deutscher soda fountains and rest rooms of dinator of the 26th of July Move­ of thousands of dollars worth of toward Berlin have now made all The existence of the letter was the store. ment in the New York area. Cuban exports and imports have these things politically possible.” revealed by Isaac Deutscher, the When this ground-breaking Sanchez pointed out that while been attached in the United States, In other words, the efforts Of well-known specialist in Soviet mass action was launched, a front­ the supposed meeting was alleged­ despite Washington’s stated policy the Soviet government to take the affairs, in an article in the July ly being held at Casa C uba th e that foods and medicines are not page editorial in The Militant, smoldering fuse out of the German 2 London Tim es. This was reprint­ hall was actually closed. His or­ included in its embargo list. powder keg were deliberately con­ ed in the July 5 Washington Post. Sept. 1, 1958, declared: “ W e h a il ganization happened to be holding “The latest evidence of this de­ verted by the White House into an Deutscher’s revelations created these Oklahoma youth and the a large public meeting at another liberately provocative policy,” excuse for putting over a long- an international sensation. A num­ NAACP Youth Council which has hall to celebrate July 26. Sanchez Sanchez declared, “ was the seizure contemplated build up in war ber of columnists have speculated organized them. What an inspira­ declared the charge was “ridi­ last month in Florida of one con­ preparations. on the meaning of the document, tion they are to us . . . What a culous — the FBI’s informants signment of an 18-month supply including Joseph Barry, Paris cor­ portent their daring and deter­ seem to be as inacurate as the of lard bought by the Cuban gov­ respondent of the New York Post, mination is of the victories that C IA ’s.” ernment and already paid for in C. L. Sulzberger, European cor­ lie ahead.” The present victory in He added that the interests of American dollars, which occa­ Group in St. Louis respondent of the N ew Y o rk Oklahoma City shows that optim­ improved U.S.-Cuban relations sioned a loss to the Cuban people Tim es, and the well-known liberal ism was not unfounded. would be better served if “the (Continued on Page 3) journalist I. F. Stone. Fights for Needy Some of the commentators have ST. LOUIS — A group of work­ expressed doubt about the authen­ 'Tell Them About a Cuban Who Went Back' ers and housewives here have ticity of the letter, others are con­ built a fighting organization to vinced that it is genuine. How­ By D ella Rossa she emphasized. “From Los An­ do.” (Gabriela was secretary and press for jobs and general assist­ ever, the International Socialist LOS ANGELES — Gabriela geles alone in the past months, a founding leader of the Los An­ ance for the unemployed and the R e view is the first English-lan­ particularly since the invasion, needy. Huesca has returned to Cuba. She geles Fair Play chapter.) guage publication to make the wants to defend and help develop there have been hundreds of Known as the Committee of the complete text available to its read­ the Cuban revolution that over­ Cubans who have returned to W h a t does she see as the gre a t­ People of St. Louis of th e H ills ers. As the basis for its transla­ threw the hated Batista tyranny. Cuba w ith their families. We know est danger to the Cuban Revolu­ Chapel Church, the group w o n its tio n the ISR utilized the text pub­ She became an exile from that ty­ we w ill be happy there now.” tion? The policies of the U.S. State first big victory last winter when lish e d b y L a V é rité des T ra v a il­ ranny shortly after the birth of What w ill she do when she gets Department, came the reply. And it forced the city administration leurs, a Paris Trotskyist news­ her daughter, who is now eight. back to Cuba? “First I’ll join the whom does she consider the to speed distribution of federal paper. Just before Gabriela left for m ilitia,” she said. Beyond that she strongest supporters of the rev­ surplus foods. This was won after “Since all the chancelleries of Cuba, I interviewed her for The isn’t sure. But she w ill not be a olution? The Soviet Union and the committee maintained a picket the world, and all the editorial M ilita n t. Gabriela, whose vibrant dancer, which once was her career. conscious elements everywhere — line in front of City Hall through­ writers of the big dailies have the smile and personality make her Nor will she take a comfortable in Mexico, Brazil, all over the out the worst winter weather and text of the highly controversial warmly attractive, said: “The office job, as she had here. world. “I hope we can win sup­ succeeded in getting wide publicity document on their desks,” declares commercial papers here are full “I want to make up for what port from the American union in the daily press and in the Negro the ISR, “ we see no reason w h y of lies and misleading stories about I didn’t do before,” she explained. movement,” she said. “This is very papers. socialists and all those interested Cuba. They are full of stories I asked if she didn’t feel she important to us.” After the publicity around this in programmatic issues should not about Cubans who are leaving could be of greater help right here, Gabriela remembers vividly the successful fight, many people be able to read it too.” Cuba because of the revolution. telling the American people the corruption, the killings, the gam­ began coming to Mrs. Delores A copy of the issue containing Please tell them about me. Tell truth about Cuba. bling and the prostitution under Richardson, leader of the commit­ the letter can be obtained by send­ them I am a Cuban who is going “Perhaps,” she replied. “But Batista. “Women were given no tee, for help in fighting their par­ ing fifty cents to the International back to defend and build the rev­ since the Fair Play for Cuba Com­ respect and had no security. Nar­ ticular battles. For instance, the Socialist Review, 116 U n iv e rs ity o lu tio n . mittee is doing such a good job, I cotics were sold over the bar like committee become active in- help- Pl., New York 3, N.Y. “And I am not the only one,” feel they are doing what I could (Continued on Page 2) ( Continued on Page 2) THE MILITANT Monday, J u ly24 & 31, 1961 P a g e T w o New Challenge Faces NAACP Leadership

By Frances James the proposed resolution attacking convention. We would simply ers, including Mayfield and civil- the Muslims and other separatist warn them that if they do not get rigfcts attorney Conrad Lynn, were In a recent article in C om m en­ groups. A rejec ted amendment up and get moving or get out of launching a drive in Harlem for ta ry magazine, Julian Mayfield would have eliminated specific the way of these young folks they aid tip th e M onroe, N.C. N egro writes: “For some time now it has condemnation of the Muslims. may not be so lucky next time . . .” community which has been the (seen apparent that the traditional Feelings of the delegates on this The question of self-defense target of racist violence. The July leadership of the American Negro question most likely flow from the against racist violence was not 22 Afro-American reported: “ Cash community . . . is in danger of fact that the Muslims are at pre­ openly raised at this convention contributions and pledges totalling losing its claim to speak for the sent outspokenly opposed to the as i t was in 1959 b y R o b e rt W il­ $260 were raised here Monday at masses of Negroes.” In his opin­ tim id policies of the middle-class liams and his supporters. But that an unprecedented public meeting ion, the challenge to present mid­ Negro leadership. does not end the challenge to in Harlem called to buy rifles for dle-class Negro leaders “is in­ The convention registered the Negro leadership on this question. Robert F. Williams, the embattled herent in the rapid growth of the desire of the NAACP leadership to At the time of the NAACP con­ freedom fighter of Union County, m ilitant white-hating Muslim whitewash the Democratic admin­ vention, Williams and his support- N.C.” movement and can be heard in istration. More than a thousand the conversations of black intel­ delegates participated in the lectuals and students from the “Freedom Train” lobbying trek to South who regard the efforts of visit government officials in Wash­ the NAACP, the Urban League, ington, D.C. The New York State Sherry Mangan etc., w ith either disdain or despair, Conference delegates proposed to in the belief that they are doing picket the White House while in too little, too tim idly and too late.” By George Lavan movements. Subsequently he went Washington, demanding civil- to London during the Blitz and Mr. Mayfield poses the possi­ News has come from Italy of rights legislation. W ilkins threat­ then, upon the Allied take-over of bility that the increasingly dy­ the death of Sherry Mangan at ened expulsion from the NAACP Paris, returned again to that city namic civil-rights struggle will the age of 57. He suffered a heart of anyone participating in such a as head of the Time-Life-Fortune necessitate replacement of present attack in Rome on June 2 i. picket line. No picketing occurred. bureau. leaders by other young men and In the civil-rights struggle in Since most of Sherry’s life from women, like Robert Williams of In the postwar period he parted general it is the youth who are the late 1930’s on was spent Monroe, N.C., “who have con­ ways with the Luce publications. the most dynamic force challeng­ abroad he was not generally known The growing atmosphere of reac­ cluded that the only way to win a ing the present leaders. Likewise, to newer members of the Socialist revolution is to be a revolution­ Roy W ilkins tion in the U.S. made his report­ it is the NAACP youth who are Workers Party. But those seamen a ry .” ing even more annoying than demanding a change in policy of and G I’s who met him in England usual to his employers. Moreover, Events during the recently con­ port to methods of direct action. the organization. A July 22 New or France during World War II, he found himself devoting more cluded NAACP national conven­ In his closing speech he stated the Y o rk Amsterdam News editorial and those who were fortunate tion in Philadelphia confirm Mr. NAACP will “use all types of and more time to what he con­ on the convention states: “ . . . some enough to meet him on his few sidered the really important work Mayfield’s point of view. Rank- weapons” in the civil-rights strug­ of the people who have been op­ trips back to the states, w ill be and-file delegates at the conven­ of his life—the work of the inter­ gle. posing the advances of young peo­ saddened along with the old- tion demonstrated that there exists national socialist movement. Lengthy floor debate also oc­ ple in the NAACP narrowly avert­ timers at the news of his death. within the organization itself After another tour of Latin curred around a motion to amend ed getting run over by them at the Strong support for a program of Sherry was one of a group of America, he went to Bolivia for action far more m ilitant than the Harvard intellectuals and poets a year to write a novel about the legalistic, passive proposals pushed who came into the revolutionary tin miners. It was there that one through the convention by the of­ . . . ‘A Cuban Who Went Back’ socialist movement in the depres­ of the great tragedies of Sherry’s ficials. In the course of a lengthy sion days of the 1930’s. Their lit­ life occurred—the death of his and heated floor debate on sup­ (Continued from Page 1) be there,” Gabriela said. “My erary and social consciences had wife Margaret, a remarkable wo­ led them to a basic examination port to the Freedom Riders cam­ a cocktail. Gambling was every­ place is there, with my people. man who had shared his life and of the causes of the misery and paign to end racial segregation in w h e re . And I feel confident the Fair Play devotion to socialist ideals ever public transportation facilities, can do good work here.” ugliness of capitalist society. The since they had entered the move­ “My father was the Chief En­ delegates expressed disagreement cause of the disease of modem ment together in Boston. gineer and Architect of Havana. I asked how she felt about Cas­ w ith the official resolution saying society having been determined Plagued with ill health, Sherry When he died my mother had to tro’s May Declaration that the that it was “too wishy-washy” by them, they then embraced the nonetheless continued his socialist go to w o rk and got a jo b as a Cuban revolution was “democratic and equivocal in its support “in curative social movement em­ activity, principally in Europe, secretary. Then after Batista and socialist.” “I loved it,” was principle” of the Freedom Riders. bodied in the SWP. Never in the until his death. took power she got fired as a re­ her immediate response. By the end of the convention remainder of his life did Sherry In the course of the past decade sult of the political corruption. “I have a middle-class back­ Roy Wilkins, executive secretary, waver in his conviction of the cor­ Sherry and the SWP found them­ ground,” she commented, “but I found it necessary, under pressure “So we went to Mexico to settle rectness of that decision or in the selves in disagreement on ques­ recognize the needs of the people from the delegates, to give sup- there. I intended never to go back devotion of his considerable tal­ tions of perspective and program as a whole and I think Cuba w ill to Cuba. Never! But that was the ents to the world movement for for the revolutionary socialist be a stronger nation under a so­ wrong thing. I should have stayed socialism . movement. Such disagreements, cialist government based on the and opposed Batista. But there Poets in America do not earn however, never altered the respect workers and campesinos. was no sign of opposition to him their living by writing poetry. or affection in which his Amer­ Weekly Calendar “ I fe e l lik e so m an y Cubans,” th a t I cou ld see. Sherry was a highly skilled book she added. “I have a guilt about ican comrades held him. “Then in Mexico I met some designer for a large publishing not having done anything about DETROIT Cubans who had been with Fidel company in Norwood, Mass. As an Cuba as it used to be. There was in the little ship, G ranm a, and I authority on typography he gave Black Nationalism — W hat It Offers. a ‘barrio de las yeguas’ — a neigh­ A symposium with Dawud Ahmad and heard Fidel speak from the Sierra lectures on that subject to profes­ borhood of dirt-floor, palm- ... St. Louis George Breitman. Fri., Aug. 4, 8 p.m. Maestra over short wave. sional bodies and technical in­ thatched shacks — right in Ha­ (Continued from Page 1) Friday Night Socialist Forum, 3737 “But then my husband, who stitutes. Woodward. (Forum every Friday night vana, but we never went there, we was a musician, died here in Los But above these specialties he ing people get necessary medical at 8 p.m. throughout August.) ignored it. Angeles after a lung operation. I was a person of true erudition, care at city hospitals. • “Fidel has not only changed the Right now the committee is put­ stayed here because I could sup­ system, he has changed the people. imagination and wit. As a compa­ LOS ANGELES ting up a fight against plans to port my child better here than in The Cuban revolution has made nion he was unequalled—a master Earl Browder, former Communist Party shut down Homer G. Phillips Hos­ M exico. us into a different people. Now of story-telling and argument on general secretary, debates Theordore pital, a city hospital located in the “I felt dead for about a year we are concerned about each the one hand, an interested lis­ Edwards, Southern Calif, chairman, So­ tener and penetrating questioner Negro community and staffed cialist Workers Party, on America's Road and a half. Then the revolution other. on the other. His natural high largely by colored personnel. to Socialism — Reform or Revolution. won and I began reading B ohem ia, “Cuba is my country,” she con­ The committee has thrown an­ Sat., Aug. 19, 8 p.m. at Park Manor from Cuba. I read the newspapers tinued, “and it’s in danger but spirits and love of good food and other picket line around City Hall Auditorium, 607 South Western. C ontrib. here, with the filthy lies, and I I’ve come to understand I can’t drink made good fellowship almost to publicize its fight and has al­ $1.25. Students and unemployed, 50 knew they were lies because I really do something about making synonymous w ith his presence. ready gathered more than 9,000 cents. Tickets available a t Los Angeles read the Cuban press and had let­ Cuba really safe unless I do some­ I t was, I believe, in la te 1937 or School of Social Sciences 1702 West signatures on a petition demand­ ters from home.” thing about the whole world. early 1938 that Sherry left the Fourth St. A N 9-'4953 or W E 5-9236. ing the hospital be kept open. Gabriela plunged into the work That’s why I’m going to study Boston branch of the SWP to go of building the Fair Play Com­ Marxism and socialism when I get to France. He earned his living Mrs. Richardson has been asked MINNEAPOLIS m ittee. back to Cuba.” there working as Paris corres­ to help organize maids in private The Cuban Revolution in Its World “I like the way the committee Gabriela bitterly critized the pondent for the Luce publications homes into a union. When asked Setting. Four Friday evening sessions at works,” she said. “We want to U.S. ban on travel to Cuba. “It (Time, Life, F o rtu n e ). Events soon how it’s possible to fight on so 8 p.m. beginning Aug. 4 Twin Cities bring the truth to the American shows what a lack of real free­ made him a war correspondent. many fronts at one time she re­ Labor School. 704 Hennepin, H all 240. people, and we don’t care what dom we have here,” she said. “We He reported the Nazi occupation plied: “When people want some­ • political opinions the members should be permitted to go any­ of Paris, and, since the U.S. was thing done we try to get them to N E W YORK have as lo n g as th e y w a n t to fig h t where on our own responsibility. still neutral, remained as the Luce act for themselves. Two women Cuba Si Lakeside Picnic. Sat., Aug. 5, for a policy of friendship with I feel like I’m in prison here.” correspondent there. are now working actively to help near Peekskill, N.Y. Swimming, boating, Cuba and are at least objective Gabriela is out of prison now. Not only his dispatches, but his organize the maids.” entertainment. Contrib. $1. (children about what is going on in Cuba.” She’s in Havana, helping to build known sympathies and connec­ Asked if the maids didn’t face under 10, 25 cents.) Round-trip trans­ Then came the April invasion. the “democratic and socialist rev­ tions with the persecuted anti- the risk of losing their jobs when portation $1.50 (children, 75 cents.) “I felt that as a Cuban I had to o lu tio n .” Nazi and socialist movements, their employers learn about the Make your reservations with Fair Play for made him persona non grata to organizing drive, she said: “They Cuba Committee, 799 Broadway, New York 3. Phone OR 4-8295. the Nazis and Vichy and—since can do what I did when I had this was the period of the Stalin- trouble with my boss when I was Hitler pact—to the French Com­ a maid. I told her that if she SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA The New Left and the Views of C. Wright Mills munist Party and the GPU. None­ didn’t treat me right I would pass Socialist news commentary, Theodore theless Sherry was the last Amer­ the word around and none of the Edwards, Chairman, Southern Calif. In an article entitled, Who Will Change the World?, ican reporter to leave Paris, final­ maids would work for her.” SW P. Fri., Aug. I I , 7:45 p.m. FM Sta­ ly getting out by way of Spain. The committee is becoming the tion KPFK, 90.7 on your dial. William F. Warde discusses from a Marxist viewpoint the But Sherry’s finest reports and • thesis o f C. Wright Mills and the New Left that it is the center for action in defense of analyses of war-torn and betrayed their rights by some of the most WEST COAST young intellectuals and not the working class who w ill bring France were not for L ife o r Tim e. poorly paid and exploited people Socialist Educational Encampment at about revolutionary social transformations in the world. They appeared in the magazine of St. Louis. Many of them have Big Bear Lake, Calif. Aug. 25 to Sept. Featured in the summer issue of International Socialist Re­ Fourth International (n o w In te r­ recently left the Deep South in 4. Educational theme: Cuba and Latin view which is just off the press. Send 50 cents for a copy to: national Socialist Review ) un de r search of better conditions. America. Lectures and seminars on his pen name, Terence Phelan. Marxism. Swimming, recreation and good The committee has made con­ food at low rates with special discounts INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST REVIEW Sherry’s job as correspondent tinuing efforts, without too much for students. For reservations or brochure 116 University Place then took him to Latin America success so far, to get the unions to address West Coast Vacation School, New York 3, N. Y. where he became thoroughly fa­ lead, or at least help, in these 1702 East 4th St., Los Angeles 33. Phone m iliar with the problems of These fights -which affect the welfare of A N 9-4953 or W E 5-9238. countries and with their socialist all the working people in the city. M o n d a y, J u ly 24 & 31, 1961 THE MILITANT Page Three Why I’m Running for Mayor of New York B y Richard Garza the race, are you running as can­ the siren song of the machine between Wagner and Tammany Socialist Workers Party didate for mayor on the ticket of politician is intended to beguile Hall, an opportunity of feathering the Socialist Workers Party? To the people into accepting the sham their own nests by weaning “His Candidate for Mayor which I can honestly reply: battle of capitalist party politics Honor” away from De Sapio and There will be no lack of can­ None of the major candidates— as a genuine conflict over issues Company. They hope thereby to didates running for office this I repeat, not a single one — can vital to the welfare of working supplant the discredited Tammany year in the New York mayoralty truthfully lay claim to the right people. bosses with their own set. election. On the contrary, if for to represent the working people All are creatures of the pro­ This tricky business goes by the no other reason, the campaign w ill of this city. And the workers pertied interests who dominate name of “power politics.” The be distinguished by a m ultiplicity are in the majority. and control the major capitalist leaders of the Liberal party have of candidates and parties such as Is there really a choice, aside political parties. Yet all profess to become adept at this game. They New York has seldom seen. from political labels, between a be “im partial” in their devotion to view their role as that of “balance Does this mean that, at long Wagner, a Levitt, or a Lefkowitz? the interests of the rich and poor of power” in the struggle between last, the people of New York w ill A ll are backed by big money and alike. How could it be otherwise? the major party political ma­ be given a genuine choice between big machines. A ll are beholden to If they told the truth they could chines. The deals they make have the major contenders for public their backers. never be elected! no relation to the interests of the office? IT DOES NOT! Siren Song As candidate of the Socialist working people whom they pro­ People ask: Why, in view of the As the proverb puts it: “Whose Workers Party I do not and w ill fess to serve. not resort to the hypocritical pre­ number of major candidates in bread I eat, his song I sing.” And, Every really important problem tense of claiming to represent the confronting the American work­ interests of ALL the people. The ing class today is in its very es­ cloak of im partiality is a disguise sence a political problem. Yet, the to mask the inequality and in­ A Labor Administration Could heads of the organized labor justice that is a hallmark of the movement, have clung tenacious­ social system under which we live. ly to its bankrupt policy of sup­ Provide Decent Homes for All I AM NOT IMPARTIAL! porting capitalist candidates — I am partial to the fight of the mostly Democrats — for public B y Clarence Franklin workers for job security and a de­ Socialist Workers Party Candidate office. The result has been a se­ cent standard of living. To the For Manhattan Borough President ries of defeats on the legislative eternal shame of our community Richard Garza front that has seriously weakened is the fact that New York City is I live in a one-and-a-half-room and undermined the strength and one of the lowest wage-scale areas I think I have made my point apartment in a crowded tenement power of the unions. in Manhattan and I have to pay among the cities of this country. although I have far from ex­ Instead of counterposing to the 40 percent of my total monthly As candidate of the Socialist hausted the list of those things candidates and parties of the boss- wage for rent. I know that hun­ Workers Party I support the de­ and people to which I am frankly class a political party of labor, run­ dreds of thousands of other New mand of union members for a and openly partial. There can be ning its own candidates on a labor Yorkers are in pretty much the shorter work week at no reduc­ no such thing as impartiality in program, the union leaders have same fix or worse. Human suffer­ tion in take-home pay—advanced anything that concerns the wel­ ing is bad enough when there is under the slogan of 30 for 40. fare of the working people. surrendered the political fate of the working people to treacherous nothing that can be done about it, Thirty hours work at forty hours You cannot have it both ways. “friends” in the camp of the class but when it is completely un­ pay. Either the interests and welfare enemy. The result — disillusion, necessary, like this miserable of the people takes precedence frustration and apathy. housing situation in New York Jobless Compensation over that of private property— City, then it is a crime to let it that is, of the bankers, industrial I am partial to the demand of Momentary Hope go on. the unemployed for full and ad­ tycoons, stockjobbers, utility mo­ Any good, honest architect w ill equate compensation for the en­ nopolies, real estate speculators— When the announcement was tell you it is perfectly possible to tire duration of their unemploy­ or the other way around. made that the AFL-CIO Central house more people than the slum ment and the removal of all puni­ The question is posed in all Labor Council of the city of New areas now do, in the same area tive restrictions on unemployment areas of social life. In the matter York intended to form a new the slums now take up, and to do Clarence Franklin compensation claims. of housing, transportation, schools, party to participate in the mayor­ it comfortably and attractively, if I am partial to the demand that health and welfare, police brutality alty elections this year, there was the buildings were well planned The solution is to have the city severe criminal penalties be im­ against minorities, racial discrim­ a momentary spark of hope that and the projects were undertaken collect all rents. These should go posed on any and all, no matter ination, graft and corruption. labor was at last coming forward on a large enough scale. The rent in to a special fund to be used how highly placed, who practice Whose interests are being served? to champion the aspirations of the money now being paid in New exclusively for regular taxes, new discrimination against their fellow So long as the major capitalist working people. York City would be enough to building (all low-rent projects men because of race, color or na­ parties and candidates retain their The New York AFL-CIO claims finance such projects, w ith enough until the slums are replaced), and tional origin. Jim Crow must go— monopoly in the political domain a membership of approximately left over to provide adequate maintenance; except for a small in all its forms, guises and dis­ the answer will always be the one m illion workers. Counting the maintenance on the existing amount to provide a reasonable guises, in New York as well as same. The rich get richer and the families of its members, together buildings that are worth saving. income to small landlords and Jackson, Mississippi. working people get it in the neck! with its friends and potential al­ small investors who had their As against the gouging slum­ In the past several years of the lies among the large minorities No Parasites honest savings tied up in real lords and real estate sharks, I am Wagner administration the stench concentrated in this city, an in­ Provided—and here’s the catch estate. Maintenance should be partial to the middle and low- of corruption has pervaded the dependent party of labor running —all the profits were eliminated supervised by elected committees income tenants, fleeced under a body politic. There is scarcely a its own candidates on a labor pro­ from the non-productive groups of tenants, which could also or­ rent control law full of built-in department of the city adminis­ gram could command the support that now control real estate in the ganize the tenants to keep the loopholes, evicted by money- tration that has not been rocked of a solid majority. city—the large landlords, so-called neighborhood spruced up. People grabbing speculators to make by a major scandal. Tammany But the “spark of hope” has management agents, real estate owning their own homes would room for high-priced, exclusive, Hall, that stinking cesspool of been all but extinguished by the syndicates, leasors, speculators, continue to do so, b u t m ortgages luxury apartments. graft and corruption, has polluted formal announcement that the bank and mortgage houses, certain should be taken away from the the wellsprings of public life, AFL-CIO’s new Freedom party building, maintenance, and estima­ finance companies and banks and Title 1 Fraud thanks to the intimate collabora­ does not intend to run its own tion contractors that charge huge interest on them reduced to two The sum and substance of the tion of the Wagner regime. candidates but w ill name Wagner fees for little or no work, and as­ percent. Title 1 public housing code is to Wagner is a product of Tam­ as its “reform” candidate. It is sorted public and private grafters. As an immediate measure, all line the landlords pockets and to many Hall. He was elected in both admitted by promoters of the The simple fact is that most of rents in slum tenements should be create slums faster than they can of his terms by the De Sapio ma­ scheme that the rank and file are the rent money now paid, includ­ cut in half, and in no case should be demolished. I am decidedly chine. For the greater part of his disenchanted with both Wagner ing the millions of dollars paid by a working person have to pay partial to the demand for un­ tenure in office, he proved a faith­ and Tammany Hall and would re­ slum tenants, does not go toward more than one fourth his monthly segregated public housing for low- ful retainer and obliging bene­ fuse to vote for him on the line building or maintaining housing. income for rent. income families based upon the factor to the machine, whose of the Democratic party. It goes to these profiteers, who are That’s the housing program of need of the people and not on the greedy henchmen fed with in­ stacked up five or ten deep on the Socialist Workers Party. It is interests of the real estate lobby. satiable appetite at the public Illusion most pieces of real estate in the practical, reasonable, and just. It troug h. The object, therefore, is to pro­ city. And each one takes a juicy could be carried out by a labor When scandal after scandal ex­ vide a “Freedom” party line on profit (10 to 12 percent is not un­ administration, but obviously not ploded with the force of an atomic the ballot so that workers could usual) which is spent on luxurious by any political party which is id Like to Help chain reaction, Wagner was be induced to vote for Wagner on living or reinvested in relatively controlled by the bankers and real blasted into making a few timid that line under the illusion that useless projects. estate sharks. Please let me know what I and half-hearted gestures to­ they were thereby voting for ward curbing the Tammany Tiger. can do to help in the New labor. He was running out of scapegoats. York mayoralty campaign of This hoary fraud first saw the Each succeeding wave of scandal light of day in New York 25 years il- the Socialist Workers Party. lapped at his own coat tails. In a ago when the founders of the last ditch effort to save his politi­ American Labor Party practiced Send me campaign literature □ cal hide, Wagner now comes for­ this deception to get the socialist- t h e ward as a political reformer—no MILITANT N o tify me of meetings □ minded garment workers to vote jo k in g ! I want to make a contribution □ for Roosevelt on the ALP line be­ (enclosed) cause they would have no part of Tammany Puppet Special Introductory Offer Tammany Hall. What are his credentials? It A four-m onth trial subscription to The M ilitant for only Nam e...... If for no other reason, I would seems that more than seven years feel amply justified in running for 50 cents. Send this coupon w ith payment to: The M ilitant, service as puppet for the Tam­ mayor on the Socialist Workers 116 University Place, New York 3, N. Y. Street...... many political bosses qualifies Party ticket, to give the working him as champion of the Democra­ people of this city an opportunity tic party “reform” group in the | N a m e ...... | C ity ...... Zone...... to vote for a genuine alternative fight against “political bossism.” to the boss-controlled candidates One would have to be a political of the major parties. | S tre e t...... I State...... moron to fall for this shell game. There w ill be no better way to Send to: Yet, there are those who know register a protest against the bra­ better, who have volunteered their zen swindle being perpetrated | C ity ...... Z o n e ...... I Socialist Workers Party services in creating the new Wag­ upon the people of this city than I I 116 University Place n e r image. by casting your vote for the can­ S ta te ...... „ ...... ^ New York 3, N. Y. Some of our more cynical po­ didates of the Socialist Workers litic a l prom oters see in the “ s p lit” P a rty . Page F o u r THE MILITANT M onday, J u ly 24 & 31 1961 Labor Needs Own Ticket, Lift Ban on Travel to Cuba Not Capitalist Politicians By Fred Halstead Socialist Workers Party candidate for New York Controller Says Candidate for Council

The leaders of the AFL-CIO By Sylvia Weinstein Central Labor Council have an­ Socialist Workers Party Candidate For President nounced the formation of a new of New York City Council party, tentatively called the Free­ dom Party. But instead of mak­ As president of the City Council, government is able to strictly en­ ing a clean break with the Dem­ one of my first actions would be force anti-discrimination meas­ ocrats and the discredited Wagner to move that the Council use its ures. administration, they announce sup­ influence on the White House to Job Discrimination port for Wagner and say they w ill lift the present ban on travel to Take the problem of discrimina­ put his name on the ballot on the Cuba. Freedom Party line. tion in employment. The federal In the past, the Council has employment offices in New York I have for years been advocat­ adopted many resolutions express­ are supposed to send people out ing that the unions should organ­ ing the views of its members on on jobs without regard to color ize their own party, both here and general political problems not di­ or national origin. But last year, nationally. The organized labor rectly related to municipal affairs. the papers revealed that code movement could be the most pow­ But I can’t think of any that notes are made on the cards of erful political force in the city or would be of better service to the employers who don’t want to hire nation, and it is the only large, people of New York than the one certain nationalities or colors and well organized group that is not I am proposing. such people are simply not sent controlled by the big-business in­ My reasons are very concrete. out on these particular jobs. terests which put their profits I think that if New Yorkers were In Cuba today, people are listed above human welfare. These in­ permitted to travel to Cuba they at the employment offices by num­ terests have to be opposed if the Fred Halstead would learn a great deal about ber and sent out on jobs by strict Sylvia Weinstein living standards of the working how to solve some of the major rotation, without regard to color. people are to be improved and if the nation’s big industrial centers. problems that we face in our own As a result Cuban Negroes are we are to advance toward equal­ comfortable low-cost housing for The city’s biggest union — the city. holding jobs today that they never ity, freedom, peace and plenty. th e poor. ILGWU — has the most responsi­ dreamed of before. E xam ples Y o u see, w h en the go vernm ent By putting Wagner on the Free­ bility in this matter and yet seems Another example. We have a These are some examples: Ra­ is not in the vest pocket of the dom Party line, the labor leaders powerless to stop the trend. To State Commission Against Discri­ cial discrimination is rampant in real-estate interests, it’s entirely are simply misdirecting labor’s a large degree, this weakness is mination. But it only has the New York. Before the revolution, practical to solve the housing strength behind the same political due to the dissipation of the un­ power to “persuade” Jim Crow hacks who have been running the ion’s political strength through Cuba, too, suffered from this so­ problem . cial evil. Yet in the two-and-a- public establishments to change city in the interest of the real the Liberal Party course. their policies. In Cuba any pub­ half years since the revolution, Iron Curtain estate sharks and financiers. This is in addition to the obvious lic place that discriminates is discrimination has been rooted out To justify this, the argument is failure of the Liberal Party to im ­ promptly shut down. These are some of the reasons made that labor w ill be able to get prove the morals of the city’s in Cuba. Wouldn’t it be a good why Washington put an iron cur­ significant concessions from the politicians or to have any signifi­ idea for New Yorkers to go down H o u sing tain around Cuba by imposing the different factions of capitalist cant effect on improving housing, there and find out how they did New Yorkers could learn a few travel ban. If, instead of reading politicians by getting its own line eliminating job discrimination, or it? other things in Cuba. In the cities the lies in the daily papers, people on the ballot and then wielding defending civil liberties. The major factor in the solution there, housing was even worse could go to Cuba and see fo r its bloc vote as a “balance of is no secret. The new Cuban gov­ than in New York and rents even themselves what’s really happen­ power.” That’s why the Central Canadian Example ernment is not controlled by bank­ higher. One of the first actions of ing there, they might come back ers, employers and landlords who the Castro government was to cut with some sound ideas about what Labor Council intends to nom­ A far better example for the profit from discrimination, so this rents in half and to start building to do here. inate Wagner instead of running Freedom Party to follow is that genuine labor candidates. of the AFL-CIO unions in Canada who are setting up an independent “ A u c tio n ” labor party which will run its As a member of the Interna­ own candidates in opposition to tional Ladies Garment Workers the parties of the big money bags. 4 Working-Class Candidates Union, which for years has fol­ Unionists here are coming to lowed this policy through the recognize this need. For example, The most important question lives with his wife and three chil­ Council, was born in Lexington, Liberal Party, I am familiar with a letter in the July 2 issue of The about people running for public dren in Manhattan’s lower east K e n tu c k y in 1926. H e r forebearers what’s wrong with this game. It’s Record, newspaper of the Retail, office is “Whose side are they side. were Kentucky pioneers who in­ also known as “auction” — or Wholesale & Department Store on?” The four Socialist Workers termarried with the Cherokee In­ selling out to the highest bidder. Union, by Leroy Streeter, a New candidates in this election are on For Borough President dians. They fought for indepen­ The catch is that the union York member of the union, says: the side of the honest, productive Clarence Franklin, candidate for dence in the Revolution, against members’ votes are handed to “Mayor Robert Wagner has people of the city, particularly the Manhattan Borough President is slavery in the civil war, and were capitalist politicians oyer whom been of assistance to labor only poor and the humble, and against a stock clerk and a member of coal miners and union people they have no control. Leaders of when he was forced to by his own the exploiters; against all those District 65 of the Retail, Whole­ from way back. At the age of 13 the Liberal Party may obtain political enemies. Louis Lefkowitz who insist on enjoying privileges sale and Department Store W ork­ she participated in a strike at the some personal favors or even and the Republican ticket don’t at other people’s expense. These ers Union. He was bom in 1932 P. Lorillard Tobacco Co. with a public prestige in return for this care a hoot for organized labor; candidates are all devoted to the in Wayne County, Mississippi, grandmother who was helping to service, but they can’t possibly the Liberal Party’s recent en­ liberating ideal of socialism: a where his family were sharecrop­ organize the CIO. When she was get what their members need — dorsement of Wagner shows that society of abundance, individual pers. A t the age of ten, he moved 18 she moved to Brooklyn where the political means to break the the so-called liberals who head human freedom, and the end of to New York w ith his mother, who she married and has lived ever stranglehold of the special inter­ that party are more devoted to exploitation of man by man. They w o rke d as a housecleaner. He since. their own advancement as a power are also hard-headed realists who ests over civic, economic and went to work at 14 setting pins in She is a member of the Brook­ group at the fringe of the Demo­ know the problems of working political life. a b o w lin g alley, and then as a lyn branch of the NAACP, and cratic Party than to any other ob­ people first hand, and have prac­ Just look at the results of the dishwasher, porter and construc­ participated in the March on tical experience in fighting for Liberal Party’s “balance-of-pow- je ctive . tion laborer. He was active in or­ Washington and the Brooklyn “None of these three major civil liberties, civil rights, and er” policy. The ILGWU is poten­ ganizing the picket lines around demonstrations in support of the parties considered labor in nomi­ immediate improvements in work­ tially the most powerful organiza­ Woolworth’s here during the sol­ sit-ins. She is active in the Brook­ nating candidates; it is imperative ing and living conditions for tion of any kind in the city. Yet idarity demonstrations with the lyn Fair Play For Cuba Commit­ themselves and their fellows. the relative position of the aver­ that we present our own candi­ S outhern s it-in m ovem ent in 1959. tee. A w aitress as w e ll as a house­ date, backed by the votes of our age garment worker has steadily “I became a socialist putting wife, she has two teen-age daugh­ one million AFL-CIO members F o r M a yo r deteriorated in the past 20 years. two and two together,” he says. ters. here in New York.” Richard Garza, Socialist Work­ This is reflected in the fact that “There just isn’t any good reason I agree. That’s one idea we so­ ers candidate for Mayor is a sea­ since 1947 average fa c to ry wages why life has to be so hard on poor For Controller in New York City have fallen from cialists are trying to spread in man by trade, bom in Manhat­ people. Hundreds of thousands of Fred Halstead, candidate for first place to last place among this election. tan’s Mercy Hospital 32 years ago. Raised in Harlem and the East people in New York can’t find Controller, was born in Los An­ jobs and hundreds of thousands Bronx, he learned to speak Eng­ geles 34 years ago. His mother more have jobs paying far less lish in the city schools, since was a Debs socialist and his fath­ than even the city welfare de­ Spanish was the language of his er a member of the Industrial home. He went to work as a floor partment says is enough to provide Workers of the World, a leader of Special Package Offer boy in a garment shop at the age a minimum standard of decency the unemployed movement in the of 14, but continued his schooling, in liv in g . On Pamphlets and Books and became interested in socialism “The Democrats and Republicans Southwest in the 1930’s and an while at Stuyvesant High School. let all that go on while they dip early member of the Socialist A fte r g ra d u a tio n he w e n t to sea, their hands into the graft and pro­ Workers movement. Fred has de­ America's Road to Socialism (79 pp.)...... 35c joining the National Maritime tect the big real estate interests voted his energies to the labor and Why Can't Everyone Have a Job (16 pp.) ...... 10c. Union, and got his first experience and the private employment agen­ socialist movements since he was cies and all the others who live How Cuba Uprooted Race Discrimination (16 pp.)...... 15c in the organized labor movement 20 and has participated in union as a p ic k e t captain in the 1946 off of honest workers. People vote organizing campaigns and strikes The Truth About Cuba (46 pp.)...... 25c seaman’s strike. for them because there doesn’t among garment, agricultural, auto, In Defense of the Cuban Revolution (32 pp.)...... 25c He has devoted himself to the seem to be any alternative. But and electrical workers. He has there can and should be an alter­ Negroes on the March (192 pp.)...... -...... 50c Labor and socialist movements liv e d in N ew Y o rk since 1955, is native. That’s why I’m running on a s ta ff w rite r fo r The Militant Anti-Negro Prejudice: When It Began, How It W illEnd (16 pp.)...... 10c ever since, and has served as the organizer of the New York local the Socialist Workers ticket.” and teaches classes in socialism of the Socialist Workers Party, Franklin has a wife and a ten- and economics. O rd e r all seven for $1.50 was an active participant in the year-old son, and lives in a Har­ He is a garment cutter by trade, Independent-Socialist campaign in lem apartment. a member of the International the 1958 state elections and was Ladies Garment Workers Union, For Council President PIONEER PUBLISHERS . New York Chairman of the So­ and lives with his wife and three- 116 U niversity Place, New York 3, N. Y. c ia lis t W orkers P a rty 1960 p re si­ Sylvia Profitt Weinstein, can­ year-old daughter in lower Man­ dential election campaign. He didate for President of the City hattan. P a ge F iv e Monday July 24 & 31, 1961 THE MILITANT SWP Convention Records Gains t h e MILITANT Discussion of all aspects of the of expanding press and publica­ tiona| Socialist R eview . Copies can be obtained by writing the ISR at Editor: JOSEPH HANSEN Cuban revolution and its impact tions projects. 116 University Place, New York 3, Managing Editor: GEORGE LAVAN Business Manager: KAROLYN KERRY on world events occupied the The report and resolution on major attention of delegates at­ the world situation pinpointed N . Y .] Published weekly, except from July 10 to Sept. 4 when published biweekly, tending the Nineteenth National the major changes which have The political report on recent by The Militant Publishing Ass’n., 116 University PI., New York 3, N.Y. Phone Convention of the Socialist W ork­ developments in this country sup­ CH 3-2140. Second-class postage paid at New York. N.Y. Subscription: $3 a year: taken place in the struggle against Canadian. $3.60; foreign, $4.60. Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily ers Party in a four-day session capitalism in the past 15 years. It plemented by the report on unem­ represent The Militant’s views. These are expressed In editorials. held the latter part of June. noted the growing strength of the ployment and union policy, took The convention attendance, in­ Soviet bloc, the irrepressible ad­ note of the structural changes in Vol. 25 - No. 29 345 Monday, July 24 & 31, 1961 cluding delegates, visitors and vances of the colonial revolution, the American economy due to the members was the largest recorded and the declining prestige and rapid acceleration of automation in recent years. It reflected the power of U.S. imperialism. and mechanization of industry. growth in numbers and influence It hailed the Cuban revolution Chronic unemployment has be­ Victory in Raptis-Santen Case registered over the past several as the opening step in the socialist come a permanent feature of years by the Socialist Workers revolution in the Western Hemis­ American industrial life. As work­ After being imprisoned for thirteen months without bail, the Party through more extensive po­ phere. It stressed the central role ers continue to be squeezed out of trial of the European Trotskyist leaders, Michel Raptis (Pablo) litical and electoral activity. of the workers movement in the the productive process, twenty- advanced capitalist countries in five million young men and wom­ and Sal Santen, was finally held in Amsterdam from June 21- A crowded agenda included re­ ports and resolutions on the world breaking the power of world capi­ en w ill enter the labor market in 28. On July 12 they were given fifteen-m onth sentences. situation, the Cuban revolution, talism. The resurgence of their the next decade, looking for jobs. The verdict was regarded as a victory for the defense and unemployment and union policy, revolutionary activity provides the The economic squeeze w ill give a setback for the imperialist forces which had tried to frame up domestic political and organiza­ indispensable condition for break­ rise inevitably to political reper­ tional proposals and the develop­ ing the present deadlock and lift­ cussions. The reports noted thè the Trotskyist leaders for their assistance to the Algerian rebels. ing socialist youth movement. ing the world revolution to a change in mood occurring among The court apparently set the sentences at fifteen months to save In addition, special panel ses­ higher stage. the masses which is a forerun­ face for the police by “justifying” the unusually prolonged deten­ sions dealt with the Negro strug­ [The complete text of the res­ ner of the stormy period of strug­ tion of the political prisoners without trial. gle for equality, the movement in olution on the world situation gle ahead in defense of the living adopted by the convention appears standards and working conditions Raptis and Santen were victims of a conspiracy by the Dutch, this country in support of the Cuban revolution and the matter in the summer issue of In te rn a - of American labor. West German and French secret police who used provocateurs in The greatest internal obstacle their pay to try to implicate the accused in alleged crimes- of to overcome is the conservative counterfeiting currency, forging French passports and identity union bureaucracy which stands papers. Raptis and Santen admitted belonging to a group of peo­ Communist Party Tops Back athwart the path of struggle for a m ilitant solution to the economic ple with diverse religious and political views, Catholic and and social needs of the working Protestant, Jews, Moslems, liberals, socialists and Trotskyists, Wagner in New York Election people. which aided Algerian freedom-fighters hounded by the French The central problem of the city affairs is essential.” (Here fascists and police and provided them with cards of identity. By Harry Ring youth, as posed by the convention, the emphasis is added to underline is to find a link with the working- During the trial the British Labor Party M. P. John Baird re­ The old saying about history the key point: Blast the Republi­ class struggle for socialism. The called that in the Second W orld War his own countrymen had repeating itself first as a tragedy cans and DeSapio Democrats while and then as a farce certainly ap­ fight for Negro equality is an in­ done the same for Dutch resisters against the Nazis. “critically” supporting Wagner.) plies to the present decision of tegral part of this struggle. In the W o rk e r article, Betty Many prominent leaders of the European liberal and radical the Communist Party leadership Defense of the Cuban revolu­ Gannett makes clear her remark­ movement testified on behalf of the defendants in this important to support Robert F. Wagner’s bid tion against the threat of Ameri­ able determination not to be un­ for re-election as mayor of New can imperialist invasion was the political trial. In addition to Baird, Labor M.P.’s Konni Zilliacus, duly hasty in evaluating Wagner’s Y o rk . central theme of the discussion Stephen Swingler and W illiam G riffiths were on hand. record. She concedes that “The W ith a few exceptions, like the at the convention. Despite impor­ Wagner administration, after eight From France came Claude Bourdet, editor of France-Obser- ill fated Progressive Party ad­ tant theoretical and tactical dif­ years in office, has failed to meet venture in 1948, the CP tops have ferences, all tendencies were unit­ v a t e u r, Laurent Schwartz, Professor of Mathematics at the Sor­ the critical needs of the people,” tail-ended the Democrats for the ed on the question of uncondi­ bonne, and Michel Leiris. Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de but quickly adds: “ . . . to what past quarter of a century. The tional defense of the revolution. degree this was due to Wagner’s Beauvoir sent telegrams demanding freedom for the defendants. tragedy came at the beginning The convention resolution on policy of carrying out the bidding The noted historian Isaac Deutscher praised the character, (the mid-1930’s) when the CP Cuba hailed the defeat of the of the banks, the utilities, the real wielded impressive influence in April 17 invasion, organized by integrity and dedication to socialism of Michel Raptis. Natalia estate and banking interests re ­ the labor movement and used the Kennedy administration, as a Trotsky, widow of the assassinated Russian revolutionist, ad­ mains to be seen.” (Emphasis that influence, in combination glorious chapter in the developing added.) dressed a letter to the court in support of the accused. with the Social Democrats, to de­ Cuban revolution. It noted the Latin-Am erican supporters included such figures as Clotario rail the then significant sentiment Supporting a Wagner would be May Day proclamation of Fidel scandalous enough even if there Blest, general secretary of the Workers Central of Chile; Juan for independent labor political Castro that the revolution had wasn’t going to be a meaningful Palacios León, general secretary of the Fertisa Union of Peru; action. entered the stage of the socialist The bitter farce comes today alternative to him on the ballot. transformation of Cuba. Benito Romano, general secretary of the Tucumana Workers Fed­ But there w ill be and Betty Gan­ when a badly shrunken Commun­ The resolution advocated the nett knows this. In the P o litic a l eration of the Sugar Industry (Argentina); José Gutiérrez, general ist Party—hounded and persecut­ establishment of institutionalized A ffa irs article, she stresses the secretary of the National Refrigeration of Uruguay; etc. ed by the Democratic cold war­ forms of workers democracy and need to convince radicals of the riors—strains itself trying to prove the formal organization of a mass During the trial, Dutch socialist youth and members of the vote-Wagner policy and adds: there’s something to be gained revolutionary party, with “all committee for defense of Algeria staged demonstrations in the “This is also vital in order to help by supporting such thoroughly tendencies supporting the revolu­ prevent sincere socialist-minded streets of Amsterdam demanding freedom for Raptis and Santen discredited Democratic politicians tion [to] be guaranteed full free­ and Leftward-moving forces from and for the Algerian people. These culminated in clashes with as W agner. dom of expression and associa­ being influenced by the Trot- the police near the courthouse. Manifestations of this kind had not The decision to rally the CP be­ tio n .” hind Wagner is outlined by Betty skyites (who have already pro­ been seen for many years in this city. Gannett in two articles—one in the jected their mayoralty candidate) The men were defended by the Dutch Socialist Senator July issue of the magazine P o liti­ whose ‘socialism’ has nothing in Cammelbeck. Jurists came from Belgium and France to observe cal Affairs, the other in the July common with Marxism, and . . . Hijack ‘Plot’ whose diversionary and disruptive the proceedings and testify. 16 issue of the W o rke r. Since this policy of supporting tactics separate advanced forces (Continued from Page 1) Claude Bourdet pointed out the political foresight displayed capitalist candidates is now bad­ from the very people who must be of $600,000, according to Premier by Raptis-in discussions in which he-predicted that the develop­ ly discredited in the radical move­ p u t in m o tio n . . .” Fidel Castro, and forced his gov­ ment of “the dirty war” would strengthen the fascist threats to ment, neither article states the Betty Gannett’s support of capi­ ernment to institute rationing oi the French people and urged that the entire left unite behind the vote-Wagner line openly and talist party candidates lends a this commodity. certain irony to her observations Algerian fight for independence. frankly. But regular readers of “It would appear from the pat­ both publications w ill be able to about people who “have nothing Raptis concluded his summary remarks with the following terns established by the hijacking, discern that they’re supposed to in common with Marxism.” What seizure and sale of Cuban govern­ declaration: “In prison I was strongly fortified by the powerful get busy helping Wagner win in she is really objecting to is the in­ ment property in the United voice of solidarity from men, not only from free Algeria on the the Democratic primary and then sistence of the Socialist Workers States, a procedure which has been march, but from all of Africa on the march. These men, I was in the general election. Party on the Marxist principle of repeatedly sanctioned by Amer­ T he Political Affairs a rtic le running socialist candidates in certain, would not forget us, these men of Africa whom Europe ican courts, that there is a con­ gives the cue by laying down an every possible election in order to spiracy to which different depart­ christianized and civilized and for centuries ferociously oppressed order of political priorities: give the voters an alternative to ments of the American govern­ and exploited, selling their children by the m illions into slavery, “First and foremost it should be the anti-labor and anti-Negro pro­ ment are a party. plundering their natural resources and even today massacring a prime objective of all progres­ grams of the two big-business “In every one of these in­ parties. Betty Gannett is apparent­ the sons of Africa in atrocious colonial wars, like the war in sive forces to head off the realiza­ stances,” Sanchez continued, tion of a coalition of the right, i.e., ly concerned by this since in re­ “where Cuban government prop­ Algeria and that now blazing forth in Angola . . . of a Rockefeller-instigated ticket.” cent elections a growing number erty has been seized and sold at “The Dutch people can have no interest in showing the least (I’ve added the emphasis for the of radicals have ignored CP ap­ auction in the United States, the accommodation to the oppressive imperialism which is repressing untutored. The statement means, peals to vote Democratic and American courts have refused to men like ourselves who have struggled in modest measure for defeat the Republicans by sup­ chosen instead to support SWP recognize the right of the Cuban porting the Democrats.—H. R.) candidates. government to sovereign immuni­ Africa’s liberation. It now appears that our trial is ended and “ Second, it is necessary to con­ It should be added that the CP ty, a right recognized by all civil- the curtain falls on an episode which is after all insignificant tribute toward the defeat of the decision to back Wagner is not ized governments. compared to the colossal drama being enacted on the world o ld -lin e Democratic bosses, res­ a “local” aberration. In the July Sanchez concluded: “These lat­ are n a . ponsible for the corrupt machine 16 W orker, CP general secretary est slanders voiced by the FBI Gus Hall calls in effect for con­ “Let our conviction, our penalty, serve as an example to the entrenched in the city administra­ and the New York City Police De­ tion.” (Again, I’ve added the em­ tinued support to the Kennedy partment against sympathizers of European workers to bestir themselves all the more actively in phasis to help indicate the second administration despite its invasion Fidel Castro in the United States solidarity with the combat of their colonial brethren. For the in­ order of priority—within the of Cuba, its stepping up of the are nothing but a cowardly at­ terests of all workers are essentially the same and the struggle framework of supporting the cold war against the Soviet Union tempt by the real aggressors to for socialism is one and indivisible.” Democrats against the Republi­ and its determination to carry place the blame for their own cans, help the Wagner machine de­ through the Supreme Court’s reac­ provocations on innocent Cuban Unquestionably the broad international campaign of protest feat the De Sapio machine in the tionary ruling outlawing the Com­ working men and women to try against the political frame-up was. responsible for the light sen­ Democratic primaries.) munist Party. I’ll discuss this in­ and crush their undying devotion tence given the Trotskyist leaders. Since they served thirteen “ C ritic is m of Wagner’s u n in ­ credible statement in a subsequent for the Revolution of Cuba and months before trial, they should be released shortly. spired and lu m b e rin g conduct of issue. Latin America.” P age S ix THE MILITANT Monday, July 24 & 31, 1961

BOOK REVIEW Letters from Our Readers Biography of Cuban Revolution News From India needy may live like human beings. M -26 , t h e B i o g r a p h y o f a R e v ­ ernment are “subject only to their Let us hope that more and more Tamilnad, India o l u t i o n , by Robert Taber. Lyle own integrity and their own in­ leaders in religion, labor and po­ I acknowledge with thanks the Stuart, Publisher, 226 Lafayette terpretation of the popular re­ litics w ill join w ith the people (to receipt of The M ilitant and In te r­ St., N e w Y o rk 12, N .Y . 348 pp. sponse to what is said and done quote poet Don West) in “build­ national Socialist Review. In I n ­ 1961. $4.95. in the name of the Cuban people.” ing new bridges on the road to the This raises the question of the dia, the entire press is mostly con­ rich green valleys of the new Robert Taber, today the head orderly transmission of power, a trolled by the monopolists and it earth” and thus help to forever of the Fair Play for Cuba Com- line of inquiry opened particularly is impossible to get any news at banish poverty, discrimination and mittee, was the Columbia Broad­ b y C. W rig h t M ills . all about the important develop­ war from this planet. casting System’s radio-television ments taking place in Cuba and “No one who has honestly stu­ Harry Koger reporter who managed to get into Algeria, for example. They are died present-day Cuba can ques­ the Sierra Maestra mountains in particularly averse to publishing tion that the Revolution is doing Revolutionary Tradition A p r il 1957 and b rin g back a sen­ news about the workers’ move­ what the overwhelming majority sational telecast of Fidel Castro’s ment. Since we are bringing out Glens Falls, N.Y. of Cubans need and wish to have Regarding the recent Supreme guerrilla fighters. He later covered our Tamil weekly shortly, the reg­ done,” Taber declares. “But the Court decision upholding the con­ the Second Front, which was ular receipt of your paper w ill help truth is that as yet no political stitutionality of the law declaring opened against the Batista dicta­ us to keep the workers here in­ forms have emerged through it a crime to be a member of a torship under command of Raúl formed about these developments. which the authority now vested party advocating “violent over­ Castro. During the April 17 inva­ At the same time I would like in the revolutionary leadership throw” of the U.S. Government. sion this year, he was the only to see you publish more news shall be transmitted to others. As has been pointed out many American correspondent at Playa about India which occupies an im ­ Cuba has been living in a per­ times, several of the revolutionary Girón where the counterrevolu­ portant place seen from a revolu­ manent state of emergency — and American patriots believed that tionaries were defeated. In the in­ tionary perspective. The grip of of social and economic transition the people had the right to over­ tensive fighting, he was wounded Nehru and his government over Robert Taber — since the firs t day o f 1959. I t throw a corrupt and iniquitous by a machine gun. the masses is loosening and the is too soon to demand clearly de­ government. Abraham Lincoln in The author of M-26 is thus able perhaps 500 m ore unarm ed v o l­ Congress Party’s prestige has been fined political forms. They must his first inaugural address said: to bring his own considerable per­ unteers in training. sharply curtailed. Heavy increases arise from the needs of the coun­ “This country, with its institu­ sonal experience into play in tell­ in direct taxes and workloads, sky­ Raúl Castro set out in that try and develop naturally in a tions, belongs to the people who ing the story of the insurrection rocketing prices of essential com­ month with just sixty-five men to manner consistent with their so­ inhabit it. Whenever they shall that toppled Batista and won modities, inflation, non-imple­ open the Second Front. Of these, cial and economic base; they can­ grow weary of the existing gov­ Cuba’s national independence. mentation of land reforms, etc., 54 were armed. “Juan Almeida not be artificially or arbitrarily ernment they can exercise their This is particularly evident in his have made the workers and peas­ was setting out toward Santiago, imposed. The whole experience of constitutional right of amending graphic account of the guerrilla ants revolt against the capitalists and subsequently received orders the Cuban Republic, an unsuccess­ it, or their revolutionary right to War that began w ith Fidel Castro’s and their institution, the govern­ to capture that key garrison city, ful American graft on a foreign dismember or overthrow it.” landing at the Playa de las Colo­ m ent. w ith seventy men, of whom just culture, demonstrates that. A substantial number of indi­ radas in 1956. T abe r fo llo w s the During the past decade the gov­ twenty-eight had m ilitary weapons viduals in this country long ago, campaigns in some detail, includ­ “What forms will evolve re­ ernment has adopted more laws —rifles or submachine guns.” evidently taking their Declaration ing anecdotes by participants and mains to be seen. The best as­ of a repressive nature and work­ Finally, at the hour of Batista’s of Independence ‘ seriously, did extracts from his reporter’s note­ surance for the future comes from ers have been shot. The discontent flight, “Fidel had, of armed and overthrow the existing govern­ book. the observation that the base is and dissatisfaction of the workers disciplined fighters in all of Cuba, ment with much force and vio­ Besides the main stream of the being constructed solidly. The culminated in the, July, 1960 strike not more than fifteen hundred.” lence, and these overthrowers revolutionary forces which cen­ economic democracy, the social of two million government work­ have ever since been held in he tered around the M o vim ie n to That such small forces^ could justice, the equality before the law ers. Though thè strike did not end highest esteem and respect. Revolucionario 26 de J u lio , headed succeed in conquering a highly which any notion of democracy in victory it made Nehru confess K.M.G. by Castro, the author recounts the trained army backed by the Unit­ demands have been established that if it had won his government Heroic, if often suicidal, actions of ed States testifies to the depth of beyond all question in Cuba. One would not be here. I’m sorry you Other sections of the anti-Batista the discontent in Cuba and the sees no reason to do ub t th a t the did not publish much about this Anti-Test Action Needed forces. One of the most gripping is ripeness of the revolutionary sit­ political forms of the future w ill strike., Boston, Mass. his. description of the unsuccessful uation. Another significant indica­ be equally democratic and just. To I take this opportunity to con­ The June 26 article on the re­ attempt by the Directorio Revolu­ tion of how the social scales tipped ask whether they will be ‘Com­ gratulate you for the heroic strug­ sumption of the bomb tests by cio n a rio under the student leader in favor of the revolution at the munist’ is at this point meaning­ gle you are waging in your coun­ Harry Ring was the best that I’ve José Antonio Echevarria to assas­ end was the state of the treasury. less cant.” try in defense of the Cuban rev­ read in a long time. W ritten very sinate dictator Batista. When the rebel march began on This view undoubtedly reflects olution. To tell the workers the simply and full of facts, how can Among the significant facts re­ Havana, “the Movimiento 26 had the main tendency of the Cuban truth about Cuba, to educate them anyone interested in peace fail to ported by Taber, which students three million dollars in hand, as Revolution. Revolutionary social­ on the need to solidarize them­ understand and act at this crucial w ill find of special interest, is yet unspent.” ists w ill agree that it is not only selves with the Cuban revolution, period in history? his confirmation of the small Among the topics Taber dis­ correct in principle but it conforms to mobilize them in defense of the The bomb-happy politicians and number of active militants in the cusses in the final chapter of his with the most imperative needs of revolution is something that you m ilitary men are doing everything July 26 Movement. In March, book is working-class democracy the defense of the inspiring gains are doing and is something that in their power to renew the test­ 1958, the rebel forces in the Sierra (as opposed to bourgeois democ­ made by the Cubans in their costly deserves emulation by every ing regardless of the consequences, Maestra numbered not more than racy) . A t present, he observes, the struggle. M a rx is t. It is so unfortunate that the peace 400 adequately armed men with members of the provisional gov- Joseph Hansen We highly appreciate your tire­ movement in this country is so less work in defense of the rev­ weak, split and confused. olution and we convey to you our Here in Massachussetts both of revolutionary greetings. the U.S. Senators, Smith (D.) and N. Arumugan Saltonstall (R.) have come out in favor of the bomb testing. Sena­ It Was Reported in the Press Backing for Farm Workers tor Leverett Saltonstall who once flirted with SANE in this state did San Antonio, Texas Unimpressed — “WASHING­ Connecticut drew a suspended sen­ time by ten seconds because it not fool any of the old-time rad­ A joint statement relating to TON, July 12 (UPI) — President tence for beating a pupil with a gives them more time to get a icals at the time. farm workers and believed to be Kennedy took 60 N.A.A.C.P. del­ switch for forgetting to wear his beer from the refrigerator, kiss What is essential at this time is the first of its kind signed by rep­ egates to see Abraham Lincoln’s rubbers. However he was fined the kids goodnight empty ash dramatic action on the part of the resentatives of the three major bed in the White House today. A $50 for putting a second pupil in trays, etc. Kaselow adds: “Mr. peace groups to arouse the Amer­ woman member of the group Persson left out one rather impor­ religious bodies — Catholic, Pro­ a clothes dryer and turning on ican people to the danger in re­ yelled: ‘We don’t want to see Lin­ tant benefit. The one that put a testant and Jewish — was sub­ the gas for a few seconds. The suming the bomb testing. coln’s bed. We want to see our heavy demand on water companies mitted to the Senate Committee judge said “moderate punishment” Those of us in the peace move­ children go to school in Missis­ the country over at station-break on A g ric u ltu re on J u ly 12, 1961. was necessary but felt the gas ment are grateful to The M ilitant sip p i.’ ’’ tim e .” The statement urged minimum chamber deal was “ a serious error for such a comprehensive and in­ reforms to Public Law 78 which of judgment.” Key Latin-American Issue — formative article. Fashion Note — Leonard Barrat, now permits almost unlimited im ­ a London tailor who specializes in The Manhattan Borrough presi­ A New Reader The Corporate State — The portation of Mexican farm work­ bullet-proof vests, reports an en­ dent’s office in New York reports Delaware State Senate voted to ers (braceros), even into poverty- couraging spurt in business fol­ that there have been several bills Why They Hate Castro direct the State Police to show the stricke n areas such as B exa r lowing the sudden demise of to change the name of the Avenue San Francisco, Calif. film , Operation Abolition, in a ll County (San Antonio) where Dominican dictator Trujillo. Most of the Americas back to Sixth Just read the June 26 M ilita n t public schools in the state. A thousands of resident workers are of the new orders came from A f­ Avenue, but action has been and particularly got a bang out of crudely doctored version of the chronically unemployed — and rican and Latin-American coun­ thwarted because “The federal “We’d Ask Him, How Come?” San Francisco student demonstra­ where many employed hardly tries that are focal points of social government is afraid of offending which was a June 8 speech by tions against the House Un-Amer­ make a subsistence living because Fidel Castro in Havana. unrest. the people of Latin America.” ican Activities Committee, the of the prevailing starvation wages. Castro’s speech of June 8 ranks Touchy Question — Singer Ed­ film depicts the demonstrations as Love That Legion — American Indicating that the joint state­ with the best I have heard or read die Fisher, visiting Moscow, left “communist-inspired.” A July 1 Legion commander William R. ment is not aimed at our poverty- by F. D. Roosevelt, and it was, his Intourist interpreter “almost editorial in the Wilmington, Dela., Burke thinks there’s a good chance stricken neighbors to the South, moreover, very funny in parts. speechless,’’ reported the AP J u ly Morning News declared the Senate we’ll be at war with the Soviet one of its chief sponsors, Arch­ There is no question about it, this 13, when he was shown the Lenin- action “shocking — police-enforced Union by the end of the year and bishop Robert E. Lucey of San man Castro is a great salesman Stalin Tomb. “Where’s Trotsky?” political propaganda in the public suggests we ought to smash the Antonio, recently stated that peo­ for socialism. He is a great man, asked Fisher. The guide reportedly schools.” Castro government to force the ple of great wealth in Latin-Am er­ period. replied that Trotsky had been Soviet hand. He says: “Any so­ ican countries “must share their No wonder the reactionary seg­ Another Alibi Exploded — killed with a bottle in a drunken ciety whose members are afraid blessings with their fellow coun­ ment of the American capitalists Washington claims it can’t agree brawl in “some other country.” to die for it is a dead society.” trymen who are becoming restless want to liquidate him and turn Trotsky was assassinated in Mex­ to a nuclear test ban without a and w ill not much longer patient­ the clock back on human progress ico by Ramón Mercader, a secret “foolproof” detection system in­ Cold-War Casualty — A Denver ly endure the poverty and and well-being. If every American side Soviet borders. The United police agent of Stalin. dairy ran a newspaper ad advis­ wretchedness to which they have could read just this one speech Kingdom Atomic Energy Author­ been condemned.” The archbishop of Castro it would gain millions of ing that the Soviet stand on Berlin Blue Chip Deal — The president ity reports that it’s possible to de­ called for the creation of a just rooters and friends. of the Kansas Cemetery Associa­ tect explosions in space at a dis­ is “virtually a declaration of war” social order in which the poor and H.E. tion says he’s sure most people are tance of more than a m illion kilo­ and urged housewives to “estab­ meters. That’s about 625,000 miles. w illing to pay the cost of keeping lish a regular order of m ilk” be­ graveyards maintained attractive­ Thought for the Week ly because “grave space is one of The Pause That Comforts — Jo­ fore it’s too late. The Better Busi­ seph Kaselow reports in the N.Y. "It is reprehensible for man to be the first experimental animal on the most permanent investments a ness Bureau was flooded with Herald Tribune that Walter Pers- which toxicity tests are run, simply because by-passing toxicity tests family w ill ever make.” complaints and the dairy said it son of McGraw-Hill assured him on laboratory animals saves time and money.” —Dr. Louis Lasagna of Spare the Rod-Wielder — The that TV viewers appreciate ex­ had suffered “some cancellations” Johns Hopkins University, testifying in Washington on practices of headmaster of a private school in tending station-break commercial of orders. profit-hungry drug corporations.