SOCIALISTPublished Weekly as the Organ of the Socialist Party of APPEAL New York, Left Wing Branches. V o l. I. - No. 12. 401 Saturday, October 30- 1937 5 Cents per Copy; High Court Rejects Scottsboro Appeal — ——— ------® Secret Paris Meeting Decides for ‘Liberal’ Black Early Liquidation of Comintern Ducks Opinion; Trotskyists To "Collective Securlty" Youth Faces 75 Be Annihilated Year Sentence The appeal of Haywood Pat­ terson. leading defendant in the six and a half year old .Scotts­ Is Main Slogan boro case, was rejected last Tuesday by a unanimous deci­ By Liston M. Oak sion of the United States Su­ On April 21, 1937, there preme Court. The newest Associate Justice, was an historic conference Hugo L. Black, apparently dis­ of the representatives of the qualified himself from participa­ 17 leading Communist Par­ ting in the decision of the Court, ties of the world, in Paris. according to the announcement Such conferences have dis­ made in the formal orders, placed the Congress of the Comintern, which met every Faces 75-Year Term year or two until 1928, after Patterson, one of the nine which it was seven years young Negroes framed-up by the before the Seventh Congress Alabama reactionaries and Negro- haters on the charge of rape, has which threw Leninism over­ been convicted on that charge board and adopted Menshev- four times, has been condemned ism as its guiding philoso­ three times to die, and is now phy. under sentence to serve the bar­ baric term of seventy-five years ... Earl Browder—that "great and in prison. beloved leader’’ of the CPUS A His appeal against the decision who assures Roosevelt that "he of the lower courts, whipped up has nothing to fear from the to a frenzy of Negro-baiting, Communists ’’— was present at the was based on having been de­ Paris conference. I was in Bar­ prived of the constitutional celona at the time, and know that guarantee of due process of law, the representative of the Ameri­ because he was refused permis­ can CP in Spain attended. Later sion to be tried in a Federal in­ Julian Gorkin, POUM leader stead of a State court and be­ now in a Spanish Stalinist jail, cause the jury was instructed by showed me a full report of the the judge to find him guilty even proceedings. (I presume Mike if he had not committed iape but Gold w ill cite this fact to prove had only "conspired” to do so. liis charge that I am a spy!) That the Supreme Court should cover up the reactionary South­ To Dissolve Comintern ern bearers of "white suprema­ There were two main items on Convention Postponed for W ider Discussions cy”, is not very surprising. the agenda for discussion—or rather, for instruction from the W ith the publication of the first provide adequate time for dis­ are to follow in rapid order. Pro­ “Liberal” Black Ducks Kremlin, for even among the big issue of the internal bulletin this cussion by the membership, the vision is being made throughout Of considerable significance, shots of the CP there is no longer week an animated discussion in convention, originally called for the party for the full and free however, is the position adopted any discussion, except on how to the ranks of the left wing social­ the last week in November, has presentation of all points of view by Justice Black, ex-K)ansmant. carry out orders. These two ques­ ist branches, in preparation for been postponed until Friday, De­ in the oral discussion at branch highly-touted "liberal " and self- tions were: the national convention, got into cember 31 at Chicago. and membership meetings and asserted friend of the Jews and 1. The physical liquidation offull .swing. The original plan The first internal discussion for the representation of minori­ Negroes. He had an opportunity the POUM and other revolution­ for the convention—to draw an bulletin, comprising 70 mimeo­ ties in the convention on a pro­ to express himself clearly against ary opposition to the Spanish organizational balance of the ex­ graphed pages, is now being portional basis. Unlike the prac­ the loathsome frame-up. Black People’s Front, and the cam­ pulsion campaign of the La studied by the membership. It tices of the fraudulent "democ­ ducked the issue in order not to paign against the “Trotskyite Guardia socialists and their cen­ contains theses and counter­ racy” followed by Altman-Tyler offend h i s Southern-cracker agents of fascism” internation­ trist lickspittles — has been theses and discussion articles & Co., who know no way of meet­ friends. ally; and 2. The possible liqui­ broadened into a decision to put from various points of view on ing argument and criticism but The Communist Party is doubly dation of the Comintern, and all the fundamental problems of the problems of the civil war by "gag Laws” and expulsions, guilty, by virtue of its suppres­ the necessity of finding a sub­ the labor movement, national and in Spain. Other internal bul- the discussion in our ranks is a sion in recent years of the mass stitute for it as a weapon of international, on the agenda. lletins on American perspectives real discussion and the democ­ protest movement, and the sur­ the Soviet foreign office. Owing to the additional time ’and revolutionary tasks, on the racy is a real democracy. By this render of the case to the Tam­ The secretaries of the 17 lead­ required to elaborate the main j trade union question, on a basic method of internal democracy many attorney, Leibowitz. It is ing Communist Parties were in- political resolutions on these declaration of revolutionary prin- the collective opinion of the high time to revive the mass (Continued on page 3) basic questions, and in order to Iciples and on the Soviet Union membership can be recorded movement. 2 SOCIALIST APPEAL October 30, 1937

provisional confessions of the alleged members of the right Swiss Police Arrest Assassins opposition (Rykov-Bukharin) are aimed to' break down the two most important defendants and to oblige them to play their role Of Murdered G.P.U. Man, Reiss according to the script of the G.P.U. in a new trial. A characteristic detail concern­ near future. ing Gertrude Schildbach, who Documents Reveal Tortures Used To Get The G.P.U. made and is mak­ organized the assassination of ing all efforts to stage a Rykov- Reiss: She remains a German Confessions from Innocent Victims of Bukharin trial in order to count­ citizen born in Alsace. She asked eract hostile public opinion with for a substantial sum of money new confessions. In May, Rykov, from the G.P.U. in order to be­ Moscow Purges and Framed-Up Trials the former head of the Soviet come a French citizen. She re­ government, and Bukharin, the ceived the money but she never former head of the Comintern, took corresponding steps before By Leon Trotsky were brought from prison to a the French authorities. I have already described the assassi nation of Ignace Reiss, an important foreign meeting of the Central Commit­ That is enough for today. Other tee of the party. They refused things not less important will agent of the G.P.U. and the Comintern, near Lausanne, Switzerland. The assassina­ to confess to alleged treason, follow. In spite of our sufficiently tion was plotted by another G.P.U. agent stationed at Rome, Mrs. Gertrude Schild- terrorism, and so on. Stalin turbulent times, the question of bach. The reason for the assassination: Disgusted by the Moscow trials, Ignace Reiss shouted out, “Back to prison the activities of the G.P.U. gang with them! Let them defend merits, I believe, some attention. wrote a letter on July 17, 1937, to the Central Committee in Moscow, proclaiming his themselves there!” A series of October 19, 1937. definite rupture with them. When I gave you this information, it must have seemed to the causal onlooker to<& to write about the Trotskyite This same Slutzky, in the pre­ consists of unwarranted as- “terrorists.” sence of witnesses, described the sertions impossible of proof. In the next period we w ill thus questioning of Mrachkovsky, a Group Denounce Now the whole matter has have in Switzerland a trial of famous general of the civil war and one of the defendants shot become public. On October a G.P.U. gang, one of the most sensational trials of our time. I in August 1936, as having lasted 2, two of the assassins of suppose that Mrs. Reiss, the ninety hours without interrup­ The Kidnapping Reins were arrested in Paris. widow of the assassinated, w ill tion. This was one of the methods of extracting confessions. The Swiss police, which is appear before the court as a w it­ ness. There is no doubt that a not tied by diplomatic interests, powerful light w ill be thrown on Challenges Fischer Of Wolf, Rein ahem to have done a good job. the Moscow trials. The police have established that In connection with the assas­ The search of the police in the the Chevrolet car in which Reiss home of Rakovsky (former head sination of Ignace Reiss and the Men and women prominent in American liberal and was killed had been rented to a of the Ukrainion government, Swiss woman, Renata Steiner. discovery of his assassins, I dis­ labor circles issued a statement today, protesting the ab­ close very important information member of the Central Commit­ She was immediately arrested and tee, ambassador to London and duction of Erwin Wolf, well-known labor journalist and coming fo r. the most part from after several days questioning, to Paris) lasted eighteen hours the papers of Reiss himself but fomer secretary of Leon Trotsky, by Stalin’s G. P. U. she confessed to have been an without food or rest for the sixty- also from other sources. It would in Spain. The statement, signed by such outstanding agent of the G.P.U. for some seven year old man. The wife of be premature to make it all pub­ years. She named all the mem­ Rakovsky tried to serve him tea. figures as James T. Farrell, Ernest Sutherland Bates, bers of the G.P.U. gang. Of the lic at the present time but I can communicate some of it to you. The G.P.U. opposed this on the Anita Brenner, L o r i n e two arrested in Paris, one is a pretext that she might poison ^zen, was in Spain as the repre­ White Russian, Dmitry Smirens- I must warn the G.P.U. that new Pruette among others, di­ sentative of the London News assassinations w ill not prevent him. It was the preparation of ky, and the other a French phot­ Rakovsky for the first question­ rects its protest to the Cata Chronicle. He was Trotsky’s ographer, Pierre Ducommet. this exposure, since the documents Ionian Generalidad, the Va­ secretary at the time of Piata- are at different points and in ing. The story is well known by Mr. Louis Fischer, the semi­ kov’s alleged airplane trip to see safe hands. lencia Government, Ambas­ Assassins Arrested official Soviet spokesman. I am Trotsky, when the latter was in (1) You know that a part of sador De Los Rios and the Norway. Wolf published many The identities of others have wondering if he w ill try to deny my archives was stolen in Nov­ it. Czechoslovakian Ambassa­ statements since the second Mos­ been established. They are: a ember 1936 from a scientific ins­ cow trial (the trial of Radek, The G.P.U. has an order from dor. former White Russian officer, titute in Paris. There is no doubt Piatakov) regarding this trip in Stalin to organize Trotskyist Kondratieff, and another White that the theft was committed by the course of his testimony and Russian, Pierre Schwarzenburg, the G.P.U. in connection with the trials abroad at any price in H it Rein Abduction was an important witness in the order to confirm before world and an enigmatic person named Moscow trial. Now it seems more investigation of the charges public opinion at least a part of “Rossi.” It is possible that as than probable that one of the It protests not only the action against Trotsky. The motives of the accusations in the Moscow I relate this, they have already organizers of the theft was the taken against Wolf, but the si­ the abduction are thus quite ob­ been arrested. Gertrude Schild- arrested Smirensky. It appears trials. The most important agents m ilar action taken by the G.P.U. vious. bacb is also being hunted by the jthat he was living in the house are engaged in this work. Tre­ in the case of Mark Rein, cor­ Rein, in his capacity as editor police. In her hotel room a box mendous sums of money are respondent of the Copenhagen next to the one where my son, of Sozialdemokraten, had made of chocolates, which is now in the being spent for this purpose, Sozialdemokraten and son of the Leon Sedov, lived, with the pur­ sensational relations concerning bands of the Swiss police, was especially in Spain, France, Russian Menshevik leader, Ra­ pose of having him under his the activities of the Stalinists in found treated with strychnine. Mexico, United States, but also phael Abramovich, a member of close surveillance. I don’t doubt Spain and in the Soviet Union. Even the French press is now in Czechoslovakia and Austria. the Executive Committee of the that Smirensky and company The sour.ce of his information, forced to recognize that the as­ I hope to give you more detailed Second International. were preparing to assassinate it appears, was someone high in sassination was committed on Leon Sedov, who is inscribed information about this in the Wolf, a Czechoslovakian citi- orders from Moscow. the councils of the Communist with red ink on the list of the Party of the U. S. S. R. The active utilization of White G.P.U. Guard officers has become a gene­ Demand Investigation ral method of the G.P.U. abroad. Denounced to Police The White m ilitary organization An Emergency "As supporters of the Spanish is almost entirely in the hands of (2) On August 26, scarcely forces us to make this urgent So far because of the help of a workers and peasants in their the G.P.U. The kidnapping of more than a week before the as­ appeal for funds. The whole pro­ handful of comrades, we have fight against fascism”, the state­ General Mueller was committed sassination of Reiss, the French ment concludes, "and as friends police received an anonymous gram of revolutionary socialism been able to publish on time. But in order to replace him with of democratic rights, we, authors, denunciation from Switzerland in the United States is being se- these few comrades cannot con­ General Skoblin, an old agent of fellow-journalists, including mem­ against Reiss, alleging him to irously handcapped by the fact tinue to bear the burden and un­ the G.P.U., and in this way to bers of the American Newspaper be an international financial that the Socialist Appeal has not less all comrades and sympath­ have the free disposition of the Guild, protest against the secret swindler. A ll the names under yet been in a position to finance izers make a special effort to yvhole Union of the White Army. seizure of Erwin Wolf and which he lived in Europe were its own expansion. Now it is not get subscriptions and contribu­ The arrested and the hunted Mark Rein, demand that the indicated and these names were only a matter of expansion—but tio n s a t Mice, there m ay be a sad lire professional murderers in the Czechoslovakian Consul and the known only to the G.P.U., which ordinary weekly printing and story to tell in this column next service of the G.P.U. A series of Spanish governmental authorities fabricated false passports for overhead expenses which must be week. crimes w ill be disclosed. Not w ith­ immediately investigate their him. On an international scale paid. We plead—beg—demand—in­ out interest is the fact that in whereabouts, and accord to these the bloody Chevrolet abandoned the denunciation of political ad­ You do not want the Appeal sist that you help before it is iby he assassins on the road, the versaries to foreign police with delayed. You know as well as we too late. Use the blank and send for*« n journalists sympathetic false accusations is one of the do how important it is to get the it in with your new subscription 1struggle against Fascism, police found a new overcoat with - - - - - 'all the necessary legal guarantees preferred methods of the G.P.U. Appeal out on time each w ee k.' o r d M ia tiM i and don’t delay. a Madrid label. It seems very for their personal safety. We (3) The G.P.U. thus denounced r ~ ------■ probable that the owner parti­ hold the officials of the Spanish cipated in the kidnapping and as an agent of the Gestapo an Socialist Appeal old German revolutionary Gry- 116 University Place Date ...... government responsible for their assassination of Andres Nin, security. ” Erwin Wolf, and other revolu­ lewicz, now an emigree in Czecho­ New York City tionaries in Spain and was, as a slovakia. The affair was directed The fu ll list of signers to date, follows: Ernest Sutherland high specialist in this work, ur­ by Yezhov, the new chief of the I enclose $ ...... for which please send me the G.P.U. Slutzky, the representative Bates, Anita Brenner, James P. gently summoned by Schildbach Socialist Appeal. One year— ($2.00); Six Months— of the G.P.U. in France, express­ Cannon, James Casey, Eleanor fo Switzerland. ed many times his indignation at ($1.00). Clark, Max Eastman, James T. the slowness of the Czechoslo­ I enclose $ ...... as my contribution toward Farrell, Charles Yale Harrison, Stalinist Press Silent vakian police. Finally, Slutzky building the Socialist Appeal. Sidney Hook, Eugene Lyons, The European “communist” and his collaborators succeeded I Dwight MacDonald, Felix Mor- in securing the arrest of Gryle- Nam e . ! row, George Novack, Liston M. press, as for example the French wiez, but after several months of Oak, Arthur Pincus, Lorine L ’Humanite and Ce Soir, seem to imprisonment the authorities gave Address j be totally paralyzed. They seem Grylewicz his freedom because j Pruette, Meyer Schapiro, Clara ‘to have lost the use of their the denunciation proved to be C ity . . |G. Stillman, Carlo Tresca and B. tongues: it is not easy for them false. j J. Widick. October 30, 1937 SOCIALIST APPEAL 8

Words Out Of the Past Which the Stalinists Want to Forget

“it is difficult to forecast the lineup in the next imperialist war. tional working class. The hindering and crippling of the war But is is very probable that such a war would start either as an machinery of all capitalist governments is among the most important attack upon the Soviet Union or, as Stalin said, would be rapidly tasks confronting the world proletariat. The fight against the war transferred into a united attack of the imperialists against the preparations of the imperialists is an integral part of the figth against U.S.S.R. capitalism, and if pushed with sufficient force, can assure the estab­ “But whatever the exact circumstances in which the hostilities lishment of Soviet power before the outbreak of an imperialist would begin, the French Communist Party would continue to wage slaughter. The anti-war struggle by its very nature is a defense of its relentless and unceasing struggle against French capitalism and the Soviet Union and an advancement of the struggles of the working their own imperialists. It would raise Lenin’s slogan of turning im­ class against capitalism. It should be emphasized that under all perialist war into a revolutionary civil war. A Soviet France would circumstances the main task of the working class is the overthrow be the best and only genuine ally of the Soviet Union. of the capitalists of its own country. The struggle in this direction “At the moment the immediate interests of French imperialism makes for peace, the defense of the Soviet Union, and the furtherance require friendly relations with the Soviet Union. But the defense of of the interests of the international proletariat.” Daily Worker, A p ril the Soviet Union ultimately depends upon the efforts of the interna­ 3, 1935. Reprinted in the Daily Worker, May 11, 1935.) Secret ParisMeet Plans Roy Burt 'Lifts’ Minnesota’s To WipeOut Comintern Charters; Left Has Membership By Arthur Hopkins / . ' — i— ------1 • 1 ■ 1------. ! i... ' — — 'v I News from France and Spain indicates that Likewise in Spain, Pasionaria and Diaz and MINNEAPOLIS.—Roy E. Burt, Educational Association, but like "progress" is being made toward organic unity Hernandez join with Prieto and Negrin and Azana national secretary of the Socialist Burt, he has found no time to of Communist and Socialist Parties. No basic in the repressive drive against all revolutionary Party (Right wing) skulked into devote to the revolutionaries in differences on political principles divide them; organizations—against even the left social dem- the Twin Cities on October 11 to this state. However, he found Ithe Socialists are only concerned by the question ocratic wing of the UGT and SP led by the re- nvestigate the party siuation, and time, between whirlwind cam­ of control. Many of them object to domination formist Caballerol as a result of his findings, Locals paigns to convert liberals and from Moscow; many demand greater national Does the approach to organic unity, and the Austin:, St. Paul, and Minneapolis, dilettantes to become as “ liberal” comprising a membership of over as himself and his group, to issue autonomy and more party democracy; and many unity in action already achieved, foresehadow 200 le ft wing socialists, have had a statement to the capitalist press are honest and decent enough to abhor Stalinist the capture of the Second International by the their charters revoked. During which reads: "Under the leader­ GPU methods of terrorism. Third? Does it mean the eventual liquidation of his brief stay here Burt failed ship of James P. Cannon, Max Thorez and Cachin join with Blum and Chau- the Comintern? The revolutionary principles to meet with the State Executive Shachtman of New York and temps in outlawing sit-down strikes and in de- upon which the Comintern was founded are long Committee, which had informed Vincent R. Dunne of Minneapolis,, manding the suspension of the 40-hour-week law, since liquidated so far as it is concerned. W ill Burt that it was ready to meet followers of Trotsky have split so as to ensure capitalist recovery and prosperity this ideological liquidation be followed by or- with the him at the St. Paul off from the Socialist Party and without which the People’s Front cannot survive, ganizational dissolution? headquarters to discuss the Min­ have announced their intention of nesota situation. While the State founding a new American Trots­ (Continued from page 1) butcher” for his mass execution revolutionists to accept the estab­ Commitee awaited Burt, he was kyist party in Chicago this No­ meeting with six people, two vember. ” The statement reads, formed that the time had come of Chinese workers and peasants lished fact—the Cominem is to stop half-way measures against at Canton and Shanghai in 1937: nothing whatever today but the of whom being Appealites, and further that “party locals in St. Paul, Austin and Minneapolis the “Trotskyite bandits and un­ Chiang Kai-shek who for ten years instrument of the Stalinist bur­ one not a party member. A t this had been ousted and all officers controllable extremists"; they has led armies against the Chi­ eaucracy misruling the USSR. small meeting plans were laid for must be ruthlessly smashed as an nese Soviets instead of resisting This ruling caste of Russia has the expulsion of the revolution­ dismissed,” Herman Erickson of Obstacle to People’s Frontism and the encroachments of Japanese the jitters. It has staked every­ ists in Minnesota. Minneapolis is appointed state the foreign policy of the Krem­ imperialism. The Chinese Soviets thing upon forming an alliance representative of the party, and lin; they were also informed that have been liquidated and the Red with the democratic capitalist Ask “Loyalty Oath” “moves to form a new state unit w ill be .made in December.” Erick­ if British, French and American Army is part of the “People’s powers against Germany, Italy Letters have been sent all com­ son is well known as a non activ­ imperialism demanded, as the Army”; the CP has pledged it­ and Japan, and hopes for the only rades in the affected Locals ap­ is t. price of a m ilitary alliance against self not to carry on any revolu­ action that the Stalinists believe prising them of the revocation of Germany, Italy and Japan, that tionary activity whatever, just as can stop these aggressive, “have- the three Locjal charters for Members Solid the Comintern be eliminated from Earl Browder has made a similar not” powers seeking re-division “giving aid and support to a the international arena, that must pledge to Roosevelt in more of the world—war. WAR. group dual to the Socialist Party. ” This act of the National Ex­ be done. cautious language. Mao Tse-tung Thus the Third International The letter goes on to state that ecutive Committee in attempting Soviet Russia, since Stalin has and Chiang Kai-shek, Browder repeats the betrayal of the Second “members of the Local are in­ to disorganize one of the banner eliminated all opposition from the and Roosevelt, the Red Virgin In te rn a tio n a l in Id 14. The acid formed that they stand suspend­ left by mass executions and im­ Paisionaria and Azana, are com­ test of every revolutionist is his ed and expelled under the deci­ state organizations of the Party, prisonment, is ready if necessary, rades and pals—or at least the attitude on war. The test proves sion of the National Executive a section firm ly grounded in the to pay the final price for m ilitary “ Communists” seek such friend­ that the Stalinists are not Committee, but any member who trade union movement of the aid, for “'collective security”, for ship. “against your ‘own’ imperialist so desires to disavow his rela­ state, which was one of the an entente with all “good”, The Chinese People’s Front, government”, that they do not tionship with a dual organization twelve state organizations which “peaceful, democratic, progress­ which failed so disastrously in seek to turn imperialist war into may, upon application and sub­ ive" capitalist powers against the 1927, is resuscitated — why? civil war. The patriotism of the ject to regulations laid down by completed its campaign quota in bad, war-like, aggressive fascist Browder and Gannes and Pollit social-democrats in 1914 and since the N.E.C., be transferred as the 1936 presidential race, is of powers threatening the USSR. and Strachey advise American and is mild compared with the social members at large and so maintain the same criminal nature which But the Stalinist bureaucracy patriotism of the Stalinists with British imperialists to take ad­ continuous membership in the finds this group of liquidators w ill not readily surrender a power­ vantage of the generous offer their “twentieth-century Ameri­ Socialist Party.” first flirtin g with the class colla­ fu l weapon—one which no other extended by Mao Tse-tung and canism”, their nationalism in Norman Thomas, leader of the nation possesses—an international Chiang Kai-shek — that those Spain and France and China. In expulsionists, has been in Min­ borationists, social patriots and apparatus with influence out of nations which help China in her every country they drape the flag nesota, speaking in Bemidji be­ liberal bourgeoisie and ultim ately all proportion to its numerical our of need and win her friend­ —and not the red flag — about fore the Northern Minnesota embracing them. strength capable of aiding the ship w ill be given concessions— them and shout for collective ac­ ruling class in each democratic tion, for sanctions, for measures markets, resources—to develop. But it is the inescapable logic, and France and fascist Turkey, country in mobilizing the masses which they know full well will Stalinists are on their knees be­ the inevitable consequence, of its People’s Front policy and its for war. An alternative must be lead to war—in defense of the fore the capitalist class of the Stalinist bureaucratic degenera­ defense of the status quo, are^aU found in case the British Tories status quo, in defense of their democratic countries, begging for tion flowing. from the futile ef­ logical steps from its abandon­ refuse to shake the hand of friend­ own c a p ita lis t governhents aid for Soviet Russia, assuring fort to build “socialism in one ment of Lenin’s position that the ship proffered by Stalin. As long against the fascist menace, in de­ them they need fear no revolu­ country”, and that country a League of Nations is, and by its as there is any danger, real or fence of the national interests of tion in China, in Spain, in France, backward agricultural country; very nature has to be, “a league imaginary, that the Comintern the Soviet bureaucracy. in the U. S. A. or anywhere, as­ the destruction of inner party of imperialist brigands”. may change its line again and suring the British and French take another leap to the left, democracy and of the le ft opposi­ I f today Russia is tied hand and imperialists that the Spanish The Logic of a Policy tion, the disastrous defeats during foot to Anglo-French Imperial­ even the liberal capitalists hes­ People’s Front is the best de­ itate to align themselves with The political line of the old in­ two decades suffered by the ism, if Russia is a planet moving fender of their interests in Spain working class, the ascendancy of in the orbit of the British Em­ Russia. against the threat of German and ternationals converge. Stalinists This alternative is the capture and social democrats may argue a clique in the USSR devoted pire, if today the American C.P. Italian imperialism, and against basically to its own perpetuation endorses the candidates of capital­ of the Second International. Fail­ the threat of proletarian revolu­ about details but that doesn’t stop them from reaching an ac­ and the defense of its interests— ist parties and the Spanish and ing that, the organization of a tion. Why this disgraceful spec­ cord—and always on a social- these factors only can explain the French and Chinese parties enter People’s Front International. tacle ? In line with this perspective, democratic, reformist, opportun­ most terrible betrayal in history, into class collaboration govern­ ments, it is not surprising..Stalin­ negotiations were pushed more Drive Towards War ist program, far to the right of accompanied by shocking atroci­ energetically for organic unity of the left wing of the Second In­ ties against revolutionists. ism could lead nowhere else. the French, Spanish and Italian The answer is simple, but the ternational. This complete capi­ The present line, the Stalinists The demise of the Third Inter­ CP and SP. In China the CP re­ Comintern has so long enjoyed tulation to a political philosophy claim, is not a new line, but an national w ill cause no heartaches entered the Kupmirvtang which a reputation as a revolutionary that has been proven utterly application of the old line to new among revolutionists. I t w ill o n ly it had characterized for a decade organization, has so long posed bankrupt, that led in a series of conditions. In a sense that is true. remove the greatest barrier to as a “counter-revolutionary, as the inheritor of the traditions European countries, with the aid The Soviet Union went into the the formation of a new Interna­ fascist organization, an agency of Marx and Lenin, that it is of “third period” ultra-leftist League of Nations; its collabora­ tional—and thousands of sincere of Japanese imperialism”. Mao difficult for many comrades to Stalinism, straight to fascist tion with imperialist powers in revolutionists still deluded by Tse-tung again clasps hands with believe that its degeneration has triumph,—this surrender. I say, the Non-Intervention Committee, Stalinism w ill join in this historic Chiang Kai-shek, called a “fascist gone so deep. It is hard for many is amazing. its alliance with Czecho-Slovakia task. 4 SOCIALIST APPEAL October 30, 193?

fying commentary it is on the police regime pre­ SOCIALIST APPEAL vailing in the Third International that opposition i | to a political line should be answered by im­ V o t I. - No. 12. Saturday, Oct. 30, 1937 prisonment! In Lenin’s time, Kun was in real and Roosevelt Regime IsMain Published every week by the very active, open opposition to the Comintern SOCIALIST APPEAL PUBLISHING ASS’N. policy on more than one occasion; and not Kun Published at 116 University Place, N. Y. alone. Whoever would then have brought a warden Subscriptions: $2.00 per year; $1.00 for 6 or a firing squad to answer the opponents with, Prop of Brazil Oligarchy months. Foreign: $2.50 per year. Bundle order would have been driven out of the revolutionary movement with a bullwhip, or sent to an asylum 3 cents per copy. Single copies 5 cents. By Bernard Ross AU" checks and money orders should be made “Nous avons change tout cela,” Stalin says now— we have changed all that.—iWe have no political For the second time since the November 1935 rebellion, the Otit to the Socialist Appeal. arguments for our critics, but we do have the G.- Vargas government in Brazil has decreed a “state of siege". It Application for entry as second class matter P. U., the police the executioner. means the re-establishment of the death penalty, the annulment of is pending. For Bela Kun, a revolutionist can hold no brief. home inviolability, a strict m ilitary censorship not only of the press He was in the forefront of that blackguard crew but of the private mails, and the removal of legislative, judicial Tell Me Who Your Friends Are headed by Stalin who, since 1923, worked sys­ tematically to drive the knife deeper into the and gubernatorial immunity. The government justifies such drastic There is an old saw: “Tell me who your friends heart of the Russian revolution and the Com­ action by maintaining that a 1 are and I’ll tell you who you are.” munist International. While the genuine prole­ “vast communist plot” fabricated per cent, of the national income^ The Communist Party and the Thomas-Tyler tarian revolutionists were being slandered, ex­ with the aid of Moscow gold is is controlled by a handful of wing of the Socialist Party are both supporting pelled, imprisoned, framed-up, deported and shot, a foot. opulent feudal “fazandeiros”. the Little Flower, LaGuardia—one of them braz­ he never opened his lips save to yell louder than The Im perialist Hand The clearest expression of Bra­ enly and shamelessly, the other cravenly and his neighbor for the blood of the “Trotskyists”. zil’s economic backwardness lies shamefacedly. La Guardia in turn supports that Only, it is not for his crimes that the police What lies behind the action of in the fact that in spite of it> eminent guardian of people’s liberties, George U. regime has arrested and imprisoned him; other­ Vargas? Does a communist plot larger land surface it only has H arvey. wise, Stalin and Yezhov would head the list of really exist? Unfortunately, ge- 17.000 miles of. railroads to the The candidate of the American Labor Party for the arrested. Kun’s arrest is but a link in the Inuine communist activities and 250.000 of the United States. Mayer is the same La Guardia. But to even things ideas play an insignificant role chain with which Stalin is strangling the world Labor Conditions up, LaGuardia endorses that paladin of labor’s revolutionary movement. in Brazil today. It is not threat­ rights, advertizing tycoon and admirer of Mus­ As w ill be seen elsewere in this issue, the order ening “communist” activities that The economic condition of the determined Vargas’ action but solini, Bruce Barton, for Congressman in the 17th has come from the Kremlin to prepare the official rural and industrial workers is the sinister forces of interna­ District, who is running against the A. L. P. can­ dissolution of the Comintern. Sinking deeper into pathetic. According to Brazilian didate, George Backer, the distinguished prole­ tional imperialist rivalries jockey­ la b o r office statistics the the swamp of his own creation, Stalin must every ing for positions. The govern­ tarian who is a millionaire real estate man on average daily wage of the rural day give a new gage of his respectability, of his ment decree has as its fundamen­ th e side. hostility to revolution, to the world bourgeoisie. worker is 10 cents, (American) tal purpose the perpetuation of and that of the industrial work­ A ll these Knights of the People’s Front in New To the capitalist class, Bela Kun has for a long American im perialist hegemony. York acclaim the chief weed in the garden of the er is 70 cents. The cultural state time symbolized the “subversive agitator,” speed­ As a fresh imperialist carnage Little Flower, Thomas E. Dewey, Jr. Here indeed of the poverty-stricken Brazilian ing conspiratively from one land to another, light­ becomes more imminent with masses is equally deplorable, w ith in the People’s choice. More than that, he is the ing the flames of insurrection. Wherever the each passing day, Yankee imperi­ over two-thirds of the 47,000,000 beloved of the labor chieftains. That is why the the class straggle raged fiercely, the frightened alism exerts greater efforts to population illiterate. Public health' Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union contributed reptile press reported that the “Hungarian dic­ assure its economic hegemony in reflecting the economic misery of $5,000 to his campaign. The same amount was tator, Bela Kun” was on the scene. the western hemisphere so that the people, is at a wretched level contributed to Dewey by the International Ladies Now, Stalin, who has murdered all the old Rus- j in the coming war Latin-Ameri- with tubercolosis and venereal Garment Workers Union. We do not know how sian revolutionists in order to prove how little the ■ c a ’ s immeasurable resources w ill diseases the highest in Latin- much Browder has chipped in, but to judge by bourgeosie need fear him, is saying to his im- ^ a* Wall Street’s disposal. Ar- Am erica. his enthusiasm for comrade Dewey, he couldn’t perialist allies: “You are afraid of such people as man<^° ®a^[es Oliveira, ex- What has been the attitude of have been tight-fisted about it. They are all the Kun, just because of his old reputation for making R°v®f®°r or Sao Paulo, is the Roosevelt, the great “humanitar­ friends of Dewey, who is a friend of LaGuardia, trouble for you? Well, you need be afraid no ca“ dida*e of British imperialism ian" and “lover of democracy” i . , „ _ which dominates the economic who is a friend of Harvey, who is a friend of the longer. And Kun is not the last of non-Russian m of that gtat holdi in to owards the dictatorial govern­ rubber-hose and the lamp-post. ment of Vargas? The administra­ communists I intend taking care of. hands the coffee plantations, But Dewey has other friends, no less enthusias­ tion, hypocritically designating This is how the Gengis Khan of the Kremlin railroads and the tramway and tic, no less generous. John D. Rockefeller 2nd has the western hemisphere as a keeps adding to those dreadful crimes for which electric power industries. Ostens­ given him $2,500. Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rocke­ “bulwark of democracy", haa he shall yet render an accounting to a re-awak­ ibly being used against commun­ been giving its unwavering sup­ feller, Jr. kicked in with $2,500 a piece. Nelson ened world proletariat. ism, the state of siege, by pro­ A. Rockefeller (same tribe), who hasn’t been port to Vargas. Do we not recall hibiting any criticism of the how Roosevelt lauded Vargas one doing so well lately, gave only $1,500, which is The Government of Defeat government, w ill be used to ham­ year ago at Rio de Janeiro? The certainly a hell of a paltry contribution for a per and intimidate the Oliveira support of the Roosevelt govern­ People’s Fronter to make. It may be safely as­ The fall of Gijon at the hands of the Fascists opposition. That opposition pre­ ment has not been purely moral. sumed -that if old man Rockefeller were still alive, tragically serves to underscore the real nature tends to stand for more “democ­ A few months ago Washington the campaign fund would have been enriched by of the People’s Front regime in Spain. racy” but it should not be for­ rejuvenated tottering Brazilian another dime. Mrs. Daniel Guggenheim, of the The main argument used by its partisans gotten that when Vargas carried finances by setting aside 100 through his coup in 1930 against Guggenheims, only gave Dewey $1,000, but that against the struggle for proletarian power in million dollars for the stabiliza­ the British puppet, Washington was evened out by Harry F. Guggenheim’s $2,500. Spain has been that a “ democratic People’s Front tion of that country’s currency. Luis, the former employed the John Hay Whitney, of the Whitneys, who runs a And just a week ago, an agree­ regime" would be a government of victory against same liberal terminology in his People's Front brokerage at 2 Wall Street, raised ment was signed to rent out to Fascism. Naive souls drew solace from the efforts to win popular support. the ante with a trifle of $1,000, which was im­ thought that if we did not have a working class Brazil six warships. Since 1930, Brazil has been mediately doubled by C. V. Wihitney who runs in power, at least the Fascists would be defeated. An unholy alliance exists bet­ living through one of the most ween Yankee imperialism and the an exclusive People’s Front Penthouse fo r Popular But with its vacillation, its toleration of treason, dictatorial periods of its potet- Politicians at 230 Park Avenue (not to be con­ Brazilian feudal satraps, support­ its vicious suppression of proletarian organiza- revolution history. Vargas has ed by an impotent national fused with the W all Street Whitney). ions, the People’s Front has accumulated nothing ruthlessly surpressed every de­ The party and the candidates that are good bourgeosie, and it is this alliance but defeats—inevitable consequence of its course. mocratic, anti-imperialist mani­ which retards the economic, po­ enough for the Rockefellers and the Guggenheims Early in September 1936, Iran fell, for lack of festation of the Brazilian people, litical and cultural development (to say absolutely nothing about the Whitneys, ammunition supplied by the government. In the in the revolutions of October of Brazil. This alliance is res­ the William Nelson Cromwells, the Thomas D. middle of that month, fe ll San Sebastion, surren­ 1931 and J u ly 1932. The g re a te s t ponsible for the black reign of Thachers, the Harry Payne- Binghams and other dered intact by the traitorous chiefs of the de­ mass explosion against Vargas, terror which since 1935 has cast the November 1935 rebellion, was Lumpen-millionaires), may be good enough for fense. In the month that followed, Franco was 17,000 political opponents into drowned in a sea of blood. the Twentieth-Century Americans on 13th Street. allowed to march straight east from Badajoz, concentration camps and media­ But that’s just what makes these parties and through Talavera de la Reina, to Toledo, and then Brazil is the most backward of eval dungeons. all the Latin-American nations, (candidates no good at all for the working class. to the very gates of Madrid. On February 10, A ll revolutionists, every anti­ with feudalism supreme. Coffee, Let the workers of New York show their class 1937, Malaga was lost, .betrayed by socialist min­ imperialist, must raise their the economic foundation of Bra­ voices in protest against tha solidarity at the elections by w riting in the name ister Prieto, who deprived it of the navy, and by zilian economy, accounting fo r 70 present reign of terror in Brazil. of James P. Cannon, the revolutionary socialist under-secretary of war Asensio, only now openly candidate for mayor. denounced as a traitor. On June 19, Bilbao was Irving Place, Sunday, October surrendered intact, despite the heroic insistence 20th ANNIVERSARY 31, at 1 P. M. Bela Kun in Prison of the revolutionary militiamen that only ruins The Socialist Party of New It is now established by the official Stalinist be left for the Fascisas, York (Left wing) and the Young People’s Socialist League w ill “CHALLENGE’’ OUT press that Bela Kun, chairman of the Council of The famous June “offensive” on the Aragon hold a 20th Anniversary Russian People's Commissars of the short-lived Hungarian Front, left without artillery or airplanes, w*as The second issue of the Chal­ Revolution meeting at the Irving lenge of Youth is now off tha Soviet Republic, has been arrested and imprisoned. used to wipe out the anarchists and the POUM, Plaza, Irving Place and 15th St., press! Brimming with news, and the collectivized farms. The much-touted July The formal charges, on the basis of which he on Monday, November 8, 1937, at cuts, features, and articles, it offensive on the Madrid front proved to be a was arrestefi, are, if we are to believe the ap­ 8 p. m. Adm ission w ill be 25 represents a new high in a revo­ parently authenticated (and in any case, undeni­ fiasco. The great victories of the People’s Front cents and prominent speakers lutionary youth paper, an organ ed) press dispatches -quoting the official state­ are two: the destruction of the famous Aragon w ill address the audience. Re­ with which we can reach the ment in the Communist International magazine, Council (the collectives of the peasants) by the serve the date! young workers in offices, shops, perfectly monstrous. Stalinist Lister Brigade, and the employment of and factories throughout tha “The magazine said,’’ reports the United Press 10,000 Assault Guards in punitive expeditions country. from Moscow on October 20, “Kun was charged throughout Catalonia against the anarchist and N. Y. MEMBERS! We appeal to the party mem­ with Trotskyist activities which undermined the POUM workers and peasants in June and July. The New York local, in addi­ bers for subscriptions in line popular front in Hungary, Such charges," adds The People’s Front government, like class col­ tion to regular discussion at the with our new special offer, a the report casually, “usually mean the death laboration in general, is equivalent to surrender, weekly branch meetings, has ar­ cloth-bound copy of "Behind tha ranged also for three weekly p e n a lty .” capitulation, treachery, defeat. Victory is pos­ Moscow Trials" by Max Shacht- general membership meetings to man which w ill be given absolute­ If we assume for a moment that Bela Kun— sible only by the most widespread mobilization of discuss the convention problems. ly free with every year’s subscrip­ known for anything but a critical attitude to­ the proletariat and peasantry—on a working class The first of these general mem­ tion. In each branch throughout wards the Stalin regime and its policies— did op­ line, with working class methods, with working bership meetings w ill be held at the country we expect party pose the People’s Front line, then what a horri­ class objectives. Irving Plaza, 15th Street and members to subscribe October 30, 1937 SOCIALIST APPEAL 6 Stalin on His Own Frame-Ups The Real Prosecuting Attorney Finally Presents Another Explanation of the Moscow Trials with Arguments That Do Not Discredit Those Fighting Against the Despotism Of the Bureaucracy, but Which Are a Merciless In­ dictment of the Political Regime of the Bureaucrcy Itself ======____ By Leon Trotsky ______

With his habitual boastful al differences but also transi­ innocent and patriarchal a ring as liars not Yagoda, Vyshinsky tember 12, i.e., three weeks after cynicism Hitler gives away the tional nuances. Marxism in part­ to be applied to this moralist, and himself but Zinoviev and Radek’s article, Pravda unex­ secret of his political strategy. icular has always opposed the who compelled his victims to give Kamenev whom they had shot. pectedly proclaimed in an editor­ He writes: “A great leader’s treatment of all political oppo­ obviously false testimony, mur­ But is is precisely here that the ial that the defendants had genius also consists in the fact nents 'as “a single reactionary dered them on an obviously false master of frame-ups allows him­ “ ... trie d to hide the tru e goal Of that he always depicts even the mass”. The difference between accusation, and then proclaimed self to be caught red-handed. their struggle. They circulated the most widely divergent adversar­ Marxist and Fascist agitation is story that they had no program. ies as belonging to the same the difference between scientific Why the Prosecution Completely Changed the In reality, they did have a pro­ category, because an inkling as education and demagogic hyp­ Charges in the Indictment gram. It is the program of batter­ to the difference between the nosis. In its method, Stalinist ing down socialism and restoring enemies very readily becomes for politics, which received its most The point is that at the first motive” of the Trotskyists was capitalism.” Pravda, of course weak and unstable characters a finished expression in the judicial trial in January 1935, Zinoviev “their striving to seize power.” did not offer the slightest fact te source of doubt as to their own frame-ups, coincides completely together with all the other de­ For the sake of this they alleged­ corroborate these words. What correctness.” (Mein Kampf). This with H itler’s prescription, while fendants confessed, according to ly resorted to terror. facts could there have been! principle is diametrically opposed in its sweep it leaves Hitler far the official reports, that he and But this new version, on the Thus, the new program of the to the principle of M arxist politics behind. Anyone who refuse to his friends had been guided in basis o f which Zinoviev, Kamenev defendants was not arrived at on as well as scientific knowledge in bow before the Moscow ruling their activity by a “secret inten­ et al, were shot, did not produce the basis of documents, facts or general, for science begins by ar­ tion to restore the capitalist re­ the expected results. Neither confessions of the accused, nor ticulating, counterposing and clique is henceforth a represent­ gime)”. That is how the goal of workers nor peasants had any even of the logical deductions of laying bare not only fundament­ ative of “a single Fascist mass.” the alleged “Trotskyites” was special cause to rail against the prosecution. No, it was estab­ Stalin Finally Comes Forward to Explain Away than formulated in the indict­ “Trotskyites” for wanting to lished by a pronunciamento from ment. Does his mean that the seize power. In any case, the Stalin over Vyshinsky’s head, The Moscow Trials ccused told the truth at the time ? “Trotskyists” could not prove after the execution of the accused. During the Moscow trials Stalin form. As early as the latter part But sad to say, no one would be­ worse than the ruling clique. In Evidence? That was to be sup­ withdrew demonstratively to the of 1927,the G.P.U. linked Trotsky­ lieve his officially established order to terrify the population, plied after the event by the side-lines. It was even reported ists—lesser known ones, to be “truth”. That is why in prepar­ they found it necessary to add G.P.U. in the sole obtainable guise—the guise of “voluntary that he left for the Caucasus. sure—with White Guards and fo­ ing the second Zinoviev-Kame- that the Trotskyists wanted to This is wholly in harmony with reign agents. My exile abroad was nev trial (August, 1936) they return the land to the landlords confessions”. Vyshinsky imme­ diately proceeded to execute the his style of procedure. Vyshinsky officially motivated by the alleg­ decided to discard the program nd the factories to the capitalists. latest instruction :to alter Radek’s and Pravda received their instruc­ ed fact that I was engaged in of restoration of capitalism as Moreover, the bare accusation of tions from behind the scenes. preparations for an armed up­ something too absurd, and to boil terrorism in the absence of ter­ formulation from the hysterical However, the miscarriage of the rising. It is also true that Stalin the whole matter down to “a lust rorist acts placed too great res­ into the juridical, from the pat­ trials in the eyes of world public did not then dare to make public for power.” A philistine would trictions on future possibilities hetic into the criminal. But the opinion, and the growth of alarm the fantastic decision of the be more readily inclined to be­ of annihilating adversaries of the new schema—and this Radek did and doubt within the U.S.S.R. G.P.U. Already in 1929, to justify lieve this. The new indictment was regime. To widen the circle of the not foresee!—was applied by forced Stalin to come out into the shooting of Blumkin, Silov made to read that it was “estab­ accused it become necessary to Vyshinsky not to the sixteen de­ the open. On March 3, at a plenary and Rabinovich, Pravda printed lished beyond doubt that the only include saboatge, wrecking and fendants (Zinoviev et aL)—they session o f the Central Committee, reports of train wrecks organized motive for organizing the Trots- espionage in the case. But sabo­ were no longer among the living he delivered a speech, which after by Trotskyists. In 1930 a number kyite-Zinovievite bloc was their tage and espionage could be in­ —but to the seventeen defendants, painstaking correction was pub­ of exiled oppositionists were striving to seize power at all vested with even a semblance of and therewith the author of the lished in Pravda. It is beyond charged w ith espionage because costs....” The existence of any meaning only by establishing a schema, Radek, proved one of the human prowess to speak of the they were corresponding w ith me. kind of special “ platform ” among connection between the Trotsky­ first victims. theoretical level of this speech. In 1930-1932, the G.P.U. made the Trotskyists was at the time ists and the enemies of the It is beyond not only theory but several attempts to extort from denied by the State Prosecutor U.S.S.R. Neither Germany nor A Sinister Reality also politics in any serious sense Oppositionists, again little known himself. The especial degeneracy Japan, however, would give of the Trotskyists consisted pre­ Trotskyists support solely for the A nightmare? No, this is the of the term. It is nothing more ones, “voluntary confessions” of reality. The chief defendants in than a fiat on the utilization of preparing terrorist attempts. Do­ cisely in this fact! It is immate­ sake of their “lust for power.” rial whether the hapless defend­ Nothing else remained therefore the new tria l resemble those pious frame-ups already perpetrated and cuments pertaining to these early collaborators of the Inquisition the preparation of new ones. and rough sketches of future ants had lied or not. The Stalin­ but to order a hew group of de­ ist judiciary itself had established fendants to return to the program who went about zealously digging Stalin begins with a definition amalgams were presented by me graves, making coffins and pre­ “beyond doubt” that the “only of “restoration of capitalism”. of Trotskyism: “From a political to the American Commission of paring maledictory epitaphs for Inquire. However, the thing is tendency in the working class, Stalin Sets the Pace and the Comintern Follows others and then discovered that that seven to eight years ago the Inquisitor intended to enter which it was seven to eight years Stalin had not as yet smashed All His Zig-Zags their own names into the text of ago, Trotskyism has become the resistance of the party or This supplementary frame-up is zig-zags of the Comintern only the epitaphs and to measure the transformed into an avowed and even of the bureaucratic tops and so instructive that it is worth reflected the gyrations of Vysh­ coffins for them. Once this pro­ unprincipled gang of wreckers, was therefore compelled to con­ while dwelling on. Any literate insky who, in his turn, aligned cedure was concluded, Stalin diversionists, spies and assas­ fine himself to intrigues, poison­ person, by equipping himself himself in accordance with emerged from the shadow and in sins ... ” The author of this defini­ ous slanders, arrests, exiles and with a file of any of the Comin­ Stalin’s successive orders. the character of an infallible tion has forgotten, however, that occasional “ experimental” shoot­ tern newspapers, could without The pattern of the final “syn­ judge issued a declaration about “seven to eight years ago" he ings. Thus he gradually educated difficulty trace three stages in thesized” indictment was suggest­ Zinoviev and Kamenev: “They raised the very same accusation his agents—and himself. For it is the evolution of the accusation. ed by Radek, unwittingly. On both lied.” Nothing more sinister against Trotskyism as he is doing a mistake to think that this man A Hegelian triad of frame-up August 21,1936 his article against has yet been conceived by human today, only in a more cautious was born an accomplished Cain. sui generis, w ith its thesis, anti­ the “Trotskyite-Zinevievite Fas­ fa n cy! (Concluded in the next issue)) Accusations That Discredit the Regime and Not thesis, and synthesis! In the peri­ cist Gang” appeared. The hapless od after January 1935, the author set himself the task of Those Who Fight It hirelings of Moscow the world digging between himself and the ELECTION RALLY over ascribed to the executed defendants as deep a moat as pos­ “ The principal method of Trot- people to sacrifice their lives for Upper West Side Branch chairman of the Comintern, on sible. In his attempt to draw from kyite work nowadays,” continues the sake of these views. The the basis o f his own “ confession”, the alleged “crimes” the most 9L2 NINTH AVE. 2nd Floor Stalin, “ is not an open and honest speech together with its author a program or restoration of cap­ fearsome internal and interna­ Friday Oct. 29, - 8:90 P. M. propaganda of its views among rests completely on the plane of italism. Pravda, the private tional consequencec, Radek had the working class but the camou­ the reactionary press which has Come and Bring Your Friend* organ of Stalin, set the pace. ;he following to say about the de- flage of its views.... a perfidious always insisted that Stalin’s But upon command issued by endants, especially m yself: “ They / ------trampling in the mud of its own struggle against “Trotskyism” INGERSOLL FORUM Pravda itself, the press of the mow that ... by undermining the views.” Already ten years ago, was of a spurious nature; that in Pythian Temple Comintern jumped from the confidence in the Stalin leader­ those who were initiated avoided reality we were mutually bound thesis over to the anti-thesis ship they bring. .. only grist to 70th St. E. of Broadway looking at each other when Stalin by a secret conspiracy against the and during the tria l of the sixteen, the m ill of German, Japanese, Sundays 8 P. M. A ll Welcome used to indict his opponents on capitalist order, and that my ex­ in August 1936, branded the Polish and all other kinds of — Admission - 25 cents — the grounds of a lack of “ sincer­ ile abroad was merely a cloak Trotskyists as murderers, bereft Fascism. All the more so are ity” and “honesty”! In those to cover our collaboration. Indeed, October 31 - “Have the Mos­ of any kind of program. Pravda they aware that the assassination days the sublime principles of is it not really true that Stalin cow Trials Discredited the and the Comintern kept to this of the gifted leader of the Soviet morality were being grafted by executed Trotskyists and seeks to Soviet Government?” new version for only about a peoples, Stalin, implies working Yagoda.... Stalin refrains, how­ trample their views “in the mud” RICHARD BOYAJIAN month, up to September 12. The directly for a war... ” ever, from explaining how “ open” in order better to hide his VS* propaganda could be carried on in complete solidarity with them? Radek Fails to Foresee MOTTIS TALPALAR a country where criticism of the The orator exposes himself most Send fo r season program card. “Fuehrer” is punished far more glaringly on the question of the Later on, Redek went one step juridical accusation but only po­ ______beastially than in Fascist Ger­ program of the Opposition. He farther along the same road. He litical rhetoric. Heaping horror many. The urgent need to hide says: “You w ill recall that in the wrote: “It is not a question -of on horror, Radek did not foresee, The Newark Yipsels from the G.P.U. and carry on pro- 1936 tria l, Kamenev and Zinoviev destroying ambitious men who of course, that he would have to HALLOWEEN ganda secretely compromised flatly denied having any kind of stooped to the greatest of crimes. pay for them himself. In the self­ MASQUERADE t the revolutionists but rather It is a question of destroying same spirit and with the self­ political platform. .. There can be Saturday, Oct. 30, t Bonapartist regime. no doubt that they both lied in agents of Fascism, prepared to same consequences Piatakov and E at 248 Market Street On the other hand, Stalin like­ denying that they had a plaform.” set ablaze the conflagration of Rakovsky wrote. wise refrains from explaining how In point of fact they had a plat­ war and facilitate victory for In preparing the new trial Games-Refreshments-Prizes it is possible to “trample one’s form. It was the “platform of Fascism even if to receive from Stalin seized upon the journalistic — Admission: 25 cents — ■dews in the mud” and at the the restoration of capitalism.” its hands only a wraith of power.* productions of the mortally (Unemployed free) same time inspire thousands of The word “cynicism” has far too These lines constitute not a frightened capitulators. On Sep­ S ...... J 6 SOCIALIST APPEAL October 30, 1937

sign its own agreements. d. The rights of the member­ ship to referendum votes on the question of calling strikes; both B ill's West Coast Seamen to on and off. e. The right of the member­ Column ship to determine the name of the National Organization. f. A guarantee that we w ill N. Y. Election Campaign Continue Struggle for not be assessed for any political purpose. “ It’s the same old issue—Good g. The right to elect our of­ Government vs. Bad"—LaGuar- ficials on referendum vote. dia’s campaign slogan. Yes, the same old—but in larger buckets. h. We are told that there ..."Laidler has gathered around Militancy, Autonomy is grave danger of the “check­ him a group of progressive and o ff” system of deducting dues, forward looking men"—Socialist By Glen Trimble f assessments, fines, etc., from the Call, Election Issue. Heading the tion in Portland attempted to I concerned this must be on an in­ sailors’ pay by the shipowners ‘■progressive” and “ forward- (Concluded from last issue) stampede the delegates into an dustrial basis; by that we mean who turn them over to a Top lookingi" group are Paul affiliation vote. The question was that the various seamen’s divi- Committee of some seafaring So long as Executive Coctncil’s Blanchard, a renegade who desert­ referred to a referendum vote of sions, for instance, sailors, fire- Union. In other words, that the quarrel with the CIO was one ed the S.P. for the flesh pots of the unions composing the Federa- men, etc., must be organized in Shipowners would act as financial over workers the A. F. of L. had City Hall four years ago and tion. Brophy’s answer to ques­ a National Organization which secretaries for the Unions, under failed to organize, the average John Haynes Holmes, who was tions revealed a curious hedging w ill guarantee the rank and file this system. We would expect a unionist sided with the CIO or expelled from the S.P. for attack­ on questions of autonomy and membership control of their union guarantee that such a system at least forced a hands-off policy ing the Debs Column in the capi­ democratic control. Immediately from the bottom up—and not would not be attempted in the on his officials. Today the CIO talist press and for an "inform- after the convention Lewis show­ from a top executive board or seafaring Unions.” campaign is of direct ana imme­ ed his real hand by arbitrarily top committee, which never has it ’s” letter to the State Depart­ diate concern. Every established appointing a Maritime Executive and never w ill work out for the Decision is Sound ment in Washington. Laidler, “ the union is confronted with an, u lti­ which gave no representation best interests of the seamen. This distinguished graduate of an un­ matum to go CIO or face !a cam­ whatever to the S. U. P., one was proven in the case of the The effect of this decision is distinguished college," is certain­ paign to split away sections of lone representative to the seafar­ ISU; and is again being at­ to put the major questions of ly in good company! John D. its membership. ing crafts and a clear majority tempted on the East Coast by progressive trade union principle Rockefeller donates $1,000, stain­ This is the real root of the to the Bridges-Stalinist crew who the N M U . ahead of the tactical one of affi­ ed with the blood of Ludlow, to Teamsters-Longshoremen ‘'beef." had been defeated on every major “Would you be willing to liation. This is sound and genu­ LaGuardia’s campaign fund. The Bridges CIO is -actively issue at the convention of the consider the following: ine progressivism. It provides People’s Front, yes, and such Working to bore from withhrarid federation. To clinch the matter (In the letter to the A. F. cfL.: a real basis for democratic deci­ fine pipple—it’s a pleasure! break off sections of the Team­ Marvin Rathbome, B r i d g e s’ Wind up the affairs of the de­ sion by seamen on all coasts. sters Union. Teamster leadership stooge and chairman of Lewis’ funct ISU completely and cancel In the meantime the SUP is ‘Counter-revolutionists’ here is largely of the reaction­ committee, emerged from its first its charter.) cooperating with the seasgoing ary old line A. F. of L. type.'They Bela Kun joins the long lis t. session to announce that any 1. O ffe r the SUP a n atio na l Firemen and Cooks in an aggres­ ta ke care o f the -boys and them ­ “Stalin", Trotsky predicts, “w ill West Coast unions which refused charter covering the unlicensed sive drive toward completing in­ selves and know nothing and care yet be shot as a Trotskyist.” to accept its program would be personnel, the offer to embody dustrial organization on the West less about class solidarity. Never­ Antonov-Ovseyenko recalled from immediately reorganized. these guarantees: Coast by amalgamating the three theless the Teamsters are solidly Spain to head the Commissariat The CIO program was not or­ a. Complete autonomy in the crafts. Success in this w ill pro­ organized, have relatively good of Justice found that commis­ ganization of the unorganized determination of policies, and vide a nucleus for rallying the scales and conditions. A split can sariat ready to behead him. .. East, Gulf and Lakes but “reor­ the conduct of its own business. entire Maritime Federation of only serve to break down these Troyanovsky is “happy to be ganization" of the solidly organ­ b. Absolute control of funds, the Pacific and, in turn, the sea­ conditions. The answer of the back in America." You're telling ized West Coast. This could only property, without possibility of men nationally to a progressive me! leadership to CIO raiding is mean a CIO blessing for the confiscation by anyone. program and for solid, industrial counter-attack on the CIO and Stalinists’ consistent policy of c. The lig h t to negotiate and organization. the membership back up ;heir trying to oust all (independent leaders. This was demonstrated by progressive leaders on the West “If you hear of a communist a solid turnout on the Sart" Fran­ Coast. If any doubt were left advocating force and violence, cisco waterfront. Longshoremen it was dispelled by Bridges ap­ mark him down as a .-tool pi­ Walked through teamster picket pointment as West Coast CIO N.Y. Election geon"—Browder. Well, well! lines; teamsters called th£"“iruce” Director. The Sailors and Fire­ What a lot of stool pigeons were With the frank threat that long­ men immediately voted to destroy knocking around in the "Third shoremen would find their pre­ the affiliation ballots because the Period" days of “ battling for the cedent followed when teamster conditions had been misrepre­ Drive Notes stre e ts.” respect for longshore picket lines sented and were now the reverse “ Oh say can you see by B row ­ was asked. der’s new lig h t, of those originally advanced. In a straw vote of City Col­ ed to the ALP’s double tail. That This threat is no idle one, for “ What so proudly we hailed, Stalinists Seek Control lege students, James P. Cannon, makes quite a procession of tails. “In the third period’s last teamsters can virtually make or Socialist Party, Left Wing) * * * break a maritime strike, and g le am ing ." The refusal of the seamen to candidate for mayor showed sur­ The ALP can’t understand w ith the continuation of the pres­ buy a pig in a poke has brought prising strength by running Ma­ why labor-loving Senator Wagner ent provocative Bridges polrcy"the Antidotes for Reformism a strong fire from the Stalinists honey a close third. The vote was should take the stump fo r labor- reactionary teamster officials, are and they have made repeated at­ LaGuardia, 1,320; Mahoney, 72; hating Judge Mahoney. Despite The best antidote for Alfred almost certain to win member­ tempts to pack and capture the Cannon, 62. Incidentally, Norman the fact that the Senator has Baker Lewis’ and Browder’s ship support for the latter alter­ Sailors’, Firemen and Cooks and Thomas, the surreptitious can­ been severely taken to task for belly-crawling testimony before native. The Sailors’ Union was Steward locals. Completely un­ didate of the conscience-stricken this indiscretion, it seems almost the Massachusetts Legislative wise in taking a neutral position successful with the Sailors and C la rity ite s , g o t 15 votes. certain that the ALP w ill support Committee, can be found in Gene in this ugly squabble, but it. is with the Portland, Seattle and * * * him when he runs for re-election Debs Canton, Ohio, speech deli­ equally plain that unless the CIO San Pedro branches of the other next year. vered in the midst of the 1918 abandons its present policy the Election day this year w ill w it­ unions, they have been able by * * * war hysteria. Said Debs, "It is Sailors and the entire labor move­ ness not only the close of one liberal use of longshore permit extremely dangerous to exercise ment will be victimized by in­ of New York’s filthiest election Senator Wagner blasted the men and beached Stalinist ex­ campaigns but also the culmina­ “ insinuating whisper” that relief the constitutional right of free creasing civil war. speech in a country fighting to seamen to hold the San Francisco tion of the biggest People’s Front might be cut if Mahoney were The case of the Sailors’ Dftion make the world free for demo­ headquarters of the Firemen and yet on a municipal scale. La elected. Said the Senator, “ That and the Maritime Federation of the Cooks. Though the unity of Guardia expressed this when, in fiction is inconceivable to anyone cracy... I would rather a thousand the Pacific is the mast flagrant, the Maritime Federation of the a fit of enthusiasm, he declared, who knows—as I know—how times be a free soul in jail than yet typical, example of CIO poli­ Pacific has proven the only “ In 1937 I’ll be elected, supported Jeremiah Mahoney’s heart beats a sycophant and coward in the cy reversal. The CIO long ago weapon to defeat the shipowners, by the greatest combination of in sympathy with the needy, how streets... They tell us that we recognized that the Federation its majority is not under the groups ever seen in American it quickens at the thought of live in a free, great republic; that was pivotal both because of prin­ Stalinist thumb, so a deliberate politics—conservatives, liberals, civic improvement.” That ought our institutions are democratic; cipled agreement and outstand­ campaign is under way to under­ standpatters, progressives." He to bring in the votes. that we are a free self-governing ing prestige and strength. ..Their people. That is too much even mine and wreck it with a Stalin- forgot to add fascists, “social- * * * original attitude was consistent ized CIO as alternative! “ communists”. for a joke.” But not too much w ith their generally correct poli­ For the first time in history the for such jokers as Browder and The Sailors’ decisions on affi­ * * cy. The waterfront and .seago­ Citizens Union, an influential Lew is. liation and amalgamation are Norman Thomas, in a generous capitalist “good government” out­ ing workers were to maintain likely to prove effective answers economic unity with the general mood last week, passed out some fit, gave its qualification to a Questions to these maneuvers. The demand compliments to the head of the CP candidate. The individual in labor movement. They were to for a public and open reply from undertake national organization People’s Front ticket. He remark­ question is Isidore Begun whom To A1 H a m ilto n , Secretary o f both CIO and A. F. of L. on affi­ ed that “the Mayor’s action were the Citizens’ Union praised as the Thomas-Tyler Youth: “Is the unifying East and West Coasts, liation terms forces both to show the Gulf and Great Lakes..-.-Any often better then his words” and a man of moderation.” That YCL a ‘rival’ organization to the their hands. The Sailors are that the LaGuardia administra­ shows a keen political insight of Yipsels or to the American possibility of creating a ..dual plain-spoken in their own state­ union situation in the maritime tion had made some “real pro­ which we didn’t think the CU Legion ? ” ment addressed to Lewis and gress in honesty.” Since the S.P. capable. To Norman Thomas: “ Do yeti industry was to be avoided. Au­ Green and printed in the West tonomy, rank and file control and expelled the revolutionary social­ * * * think that ‘my good friend Dr. Coast Sailor. It reads in part: Laidler’ plus renegade Blanchard and West Coast conditions«were ists it seems to have adopted The S.P. certainly drove a hard plus informer H’olmes w ill build the only possible basis for the new political standards. bargain with the ALP. In ex­ Sailors Reply Socialism in our time?" National organization. As*-the change for withdrawing the S.P. one real organized force,- - the “The question of national affi­ Thomas also took exception to candidate for Mayor and for To F.D.R.: “ Do you recall your West Coast Seamen were to take liation, as far as the Sailors’ his being quoted in the press as Borough President of the Bronx campaign speech on ‘returning the initiative in national organ­ Union of the Pacific is concerned, having said that the ALP was as well as several assembly presperity’?” “ Wte planned it just isation of the sea going workers is a practical question. still the tail of a kite. He said, candidates (to say nothing of like this.” Did you also plan the and their amalgamation ia ^a n “ As an organization of seamen “I held that view of it in 1936 giving up its very soul), the ALP present Hooverish days? industrial union. These terms we are interested in uniting the but not of, it in 1937.” We have merely “endorsed” one or two were definitely and repeatedly seamen in one strong National to disagree with Norman. The S.P. candidates for City Council. Contrast stated by John L. Lewis and pther Seamens’ Union, organized under ALP’S ta il this year has branch­ Since Councilmen are elected by “ Thru democracy to socialisiri" responsible CIO leaders. a structure most beneficial to the ed out so that now it follows a preferential vote and the ALP —communist election campaign •In rapid succession these terms seamen. both the Republican and Demo­ has its own candidates, the en- slogan. “The road to socialism were violated. John Brophy at “Past experience has proven c ra tic Kites. The C.P. and S.'P. dorsment mean practically noth­ lies thru the proletarian dicta­ the Maritime Federation Conven­ th a t as fa r as the seamen are also have their little tails attach­ ing. torship”—'Lenin’s slogan. October 30, 1937 SOCIALIST APPEAL 7

Sugar, which was 3.50 f. a kilo, has gone to 4,60 f. “Other food products, clothing, shoes, transportation, postal INTERNATIONAL NOTES 'France for the rates, all are going up. .. Who is responsible for the High Cost of L ...... 1 ’ ^ — Living?” Follows an attack on the “big capitalists” who attack The Coming Elections in Russia the franc, the "powerful trusts” French!’Is Now who "decree the rise in prices to The official date for the first election under Stalin’s Constitution increase their already exaggerat­ has been finally set for Sunday, December 12. The electoral campaign ed profits” and the "large, all was officially opened on October 11. The ruling clique is uneasy, powerful food handling companies if not panic-stricken, by the newly aroused political activity among -T-the Maggi & Co.—who collect the masses, and is mobilizing its forces onr an unprecedented scale Stalinist Call milk, butter etc. at prices insuf­ against any unpleasant surprises. The press, especially Pravda, has ficient for the producers in order been concentrating for weeks on the elections, issuing one “alarm to sell them at exaggerated prices signal” after another. By Charles Orr to the consumers, thus realizing There once was a time when the cry of the French fascists, scandalous profits.” (Note the Says Pravda: "Only a political blockhead can suppose that the election campaign, as well as preparations for it, w ill go by without “ La France aux Francais” (France for the French) was vigorously bait to the small shop keepers). “The rise of prices can be rabid attempts on the part of the enemies of Soviet power to cause contested by the cry of the revolutionary Parisian workers, "Les stopped by putting a quick end to injury and do dirt to our Fatherland.” (Septemberl8,1937). soviets parteuts" (Soviets everywhere). Tat was before thePeople’s capitalist oligarchs . , by sub- This theme is constantly harped on, with especial stress on Front. W ith the signing of the People’s Front pact the more revolu­ m ittig the trusts to the control the rural population as the source of greatest danger. Thus on tionary slogans of the Communist Party, to which adhere the elite and effective watch of the state October 8, Pravda editorializes: “Elections to the Supreme Soviet in order to reduce their mons­ constitution the continuation of the struggle with the class enemy, of revolutionary France, the Paris workers, were immediately trous profits, by limiting the who w ill not let the opportunity slip to_ befuddle the most back­ hushed up in order not to injure profits of the great food compa­ ward section of the collective farmers, and lead them astray.” thoir compact with the Radicals the sacred heritage of our fathers. nies.” For the first time in many moons, the press refers not only and various anti-fascist and anti­ The French intend to remain the And the climax to this expose, to the “Trotskyist-Bukharinist agents of Fascism” and bourgeois clerical allies. But still, no one masters of their own house. They which does not even do credit to nationalists, but also to the Mensheviks and Social-Revolutionists thought that, while the workers intend to take care of their own a reformist, is another parody of settled into a mood of bewildered business between themselves and “Frenchmen, Unite!” as enemies to guard against and “root out”. Column after column discontent, the leaders of their give themselves whatever reforms P.S. The CP recently brought is devoted to admonitions to agitators t&at it is essential for them “ vanguard’’ party would actually may be fitting. To keep the out a special paper, “ Le Consent” to keep their ears sharply cocked as 1& what is being said and take up the fascist slogans of peace, liberty and independence written for the conscripts in the what is being complained of” — and immediately to inform the “La France aux Francais”, etc. of France, the Republic must do! army. The front page is adorned authorities. away with this shady army of with words and music to a song Komsomolskaya Pravda fo r October 5 asserts that reports from Showing True Colors provocateurs. . . ” The poster ends entitled, “La Belle France”. the provinces provide ample proof that, as the elections draw closer, with the logans: “Long live the Many people,' to whom the Among the other counsels ad­ “with every passing day, the hostile elements are mobilizing, often the union of the French nation!” People’s Front was only a tem­ dressed to the “ soldier of France” skulking behind a mask of loyalty and devotion to the Soviet power. ” we find the command: “ No illegal porary plot of the C.P. to lure Living Costs H igh The enemies, it asserts,resort largely to the weapon of “poisonous the middle class into a revolution work!.... Do not edit clandestine rumors, slander and gossip, anti-Soviet anecdotes, jokes and quips” by the back door, find these latest The extraordinary rise in papers. Fight to get the papers calculated to undermine confidence in the government. To combat of the Popular Front admitted extremes inexplicable. But fo r the prices, which has long since this “flood”, all the teachers of prim ly,?and secondary schools—r Marxists, who have watched the wiped out the gains of the work­ into the barracks.”!!! A comment on Popular Frontist illusions of 900,000 in number—have been mobilized by a special decision of the w ord of the Communist Party ers from their June, 1936 strikes changing the nature of the capi­ party and the Komsomol. Each teacher is expected to send in a and the People’s Front in Loyalist and the Popular Front social written pledge of the work he or she binds himself or herself to Spain, this last painful develop­ talist state. “ Attitude toward the laws, is embarassing the Com­ do before the elections to combat these “ anti-governmental rumors, ment is only logical. It was pre­ munists, as- the most ardent sup­ under-officers: Do not hold them responsible for everything that anecdotes, etc.” cisely in such a revolutionary porters of the. Front. They re­ goes wrong. They are only ex­ Over and above this, there has been an unmistakable growth equation as Spain, where political cently felt called upon to bring ecutive agants.” Other articles parties and organizations show out a poster on this subject. It in influence of the priests. The organ of the trade unions, Trud, has describe the glorious history of their true colors most clearly, proclaims, in part: • “Everything been reporting for months the growth of religious tendencies even that the People’s Front broke is going up! the French army, explain how among miners and factory workers, especially in the Dea Basin. down to the point of excluding “the Communist deputies defend Responsible for it are, of course, the Trotskyists, who “have pen­ “ Bread which was 1.80 f. a kilo, an d oppressing its revolutionary the soldiers (the under-offiicers etrated into the Atheist Alliance to undermine the anti-religious has gone to 2.60 f.—M ilk, which and officers, it explains below) elements—and the "new type of front” (Trud, August 27). was 1.20 f. a kilo, has gone to democracy” to be introduced by in the Chamber,” and give other 1.80 f.—Butter, which was 16.00 f. The apparatus is banking a great deal on the co-operation of it is rapidly approching the most songs to sing while marching and the “non-party Bolsheviks”, the entire new labor aristocracy, the repressive toryism. a kilo, has gone to 25.00 f.— w o rkin g . Stakhanovists, the badge and decoration wearers, the various office In France the test has not yet and record holders, especially "the rurahfntelligentsia, chairmen of been put to the C.P., but each kolkhozes,, brigade leaders, tractor and combine operators, etc.” day it moves further to the right. Bucks County Local With Left Wing After And yet Pravda reports that "preparation for elections iu the vil­ Towards the end of September a lages are unsatisfactory”. big yellow poster, announcing a speech by Marcel Thorez, "the Hearing Cannon Debate Felix and Sandwick The fear of oral propaganda, great as it is, is overshadowed young Communist chief”, begins by the ruling clique’s panic lest its press fail it in the emergency. With this super-patriotic slogan, By John F. Dwyer The ruthless purge of the newspaper editorial staffs was calculated France for the French" and calls to guard precisely against this contingency. The havoc this has. •11 Frenchmen to the defense of QUAKERTOWN, Pa'. — Local National Office approved or not. created seeps through the editorials of Pravda. "It is an absolutely, Bucks County, Pa., comprising Calling upon Charles Sand- their country which is being intolerable fact that a great number of regional newspapers are the branches in South Langhorne, wick, Clarity alternate to the threatened by dirty foreigners— without editors” (Pravda, Oct. 5). Not only does Pravda warn cons­ Quakertown, and Perkesie, issued NEC, to speak his piece, the who put bombs in the headquart­ tantly that the newspapers, especially the regional ones, are “not ers of steel magnates, who steal a call for all groups of the Social- the meeting was opened. Sand- ist Party to come and present wick, in a replica of Felix’s pepared for the campaign”—incidentally the trade unions have submarines and who kidnap been especially under fire and their central organ Trud, it is charged .White Russian generals. (This is their point of view at a county speech declared that it was not “has printed almost nothing about the^elections during the entire completely in line with the go­ membership meeting on Sunday his intention to speak on the in- vernment campaign against for­ October 24. The Secretary of the temal situation. Felix and Sand- month of September"—but it keeps harping on the fact that “among eigners which is heartly endorsed Local, comrade Nicely, received wick then slid out of the meeting, the personnel or regional editorial boaftis hostile elements are still by the fascists and reactionaries an acceptance from the Appeal The entire audience remained thriving who utilize the sloppiness and illiteracy of the editors to as a way of cleaning the country group. Jack Altman wrote back seated and comrade James Can- carry on anti-party anti-Soviet propaganda . (Oct. 5). "Many editors of the thousands of German, that s:nce there was no Appeal non was given the floor for the of regional, provincial and autonomous., republican papers have not Italian, Polish, Balkan and group within the party that it was Appeal group. In a brilliant talk passed the test of loyalty” (September 17). In fact Prartifa goes Spanish political refuges.) An­ impossible for him to speak, and Cannon reviewed the past year so far as to charge that the Soviet press nationally is being utilized asked that his expenses be paid in the s R and the role of the other big C.P. poster appearing as a tribune for the propagation of anti-Soviet agitation in the if he came. Clarity did not even Appeal group in crystallizing the the first week in October screams, guise of “exposing enemy ideas”, in the guise of deliberate “typo­ rePly- revolutionary elements within the “Enough! For a long time now graphical errors”, "slips of the pen”, “awkward formulations ”, etc. our country has been the theatre When the meeting started, S.P. Says Pravda, "Among the basic methods of enemy work in the of aggressions and provocations... David Felix of Philadelphia ask- During Cannon’? talk Sand­ press is, above all, the propagation of enemy ideas under the guise ed for permission to address the wick had sneaked back to his seat “The French want to work in of condemning them” (October 5). group as a representative of the and now asked and was given, peace and conserve their liberties, National Office of the Socialist the floor to speak for the “ Social- Everything indicates that repressions, far from decreasing Party, present only to investigate ist Party”. His talk was a distor- during the electoral campaign under the "most democratic constitu­ TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2 the situation in the Local. He was tion of the facts of the case as tion in the world”, w ill become intensified. at 8:45 P. M. given the floor and after a windy was shown by comrade Cannon EUGENE LYONS attack on the Appeal group, dec- who tore every argument pre- The Purges Continue European Correspondent w ill lared that since there were mem- sented by Sandwick to shreds, Pravda for Oct. 3 verifies the rumored arrest of Vareikis, sec­ talk about his new book bers of an "enemy party” present A discussion followed in which retary of the Far East party district.- Together with him, the “Assignment in Utopia” he could not discuss matters con- questions were asked of both entire editorial board of the Pacific Star was likewise arrested. cerning the inner life of the S.P. speakers of such a nature as to (Soviet Russia) * * * He declared that Local Bucks, demonstrate again Sandwick’s Discussion — Adm ission 50c. County was acting in violation of inability to make a clear defense THOMAS PAINE SOCIETY the rulings of the N.E.C. by even of his position. Although no ac- The Cost of Living in France 88 Seventh Avenue South listening to Appeal speakers, tion was taken at the meeting it The cost of living is sky-TOcketing. Taking the prices for 3® In Old Manhattan N. Y. C. The chairman of the meeting, was clear that the revolutionists staple commodities as 100 for the yeSf 1914, the prices in July (7th Avenue Subway— comrade Ruth, who has been in of Bucks County w ill not stand of this year rose to 600, in August to 613, in September to 640. the Socialist Party since 1905, for the violation of the best Christopher St.) Unemployment, which has been dropping slowly, is again on the Admission 40 cents with this declared that as long as he had S.P. traditions and convention come to hear the different points decisions. They w ill support the increase. The figures for the week of October 2 indicate a rise Ad. or mention Socialist of more than 2,000 unemployed, fo r a total of 370,512. Strikes, illegal A ppeal. of view he was going to hear convention Call of the left wing them and he did not care if the in Chicago in November. under the Popular Front regime, are beginning to flare up again. 8 SOCIALIST APPEAL October 30, *937 Arrest of 3 Loyalist Generals Shows Treason in People’s Front Regimes

2. The very much pro-People’s lencia on behalf of Nin. When Front Madrid bureau of the New the Stalinists showed him the Stalinist Pogrom Against POUM Intensified to Cover Betrayal of York Times, which avidly repeats alleged documentary proof— re­ most Stalinist slanders, makes ferences to “N ” in a “document” Northern Front by Basque Bourgeoisie in the Valencia Government no mention of POUM members —M iravittles burst out laughing, in the arrests (October 24 issue). by his own account, and declared 3. All the POUM leaders of that nobody would take it serious­ By Felix Morrow Barcelona are dead, jailed or— ly. As a matter of fact, only the very few—have fled from the Stlalinists reiterate the prepos-j A few hours after the fall of Gijon, the Negrin government announced the forth­ co un try. terous charge against the POUM coming trial of three generals for treason leading to the fall of Malaga. Thereby laaders. Even Prieto told the ILP hangs a tale. j Laugh at Charges French delegation that he did not Malaga fell on February 8. Immediately the CNT presented proofs that the de­ believe the POUM leaders had 4. Apart from the Stalinists, any relations with fascists. The the Catalan government is cons­ fense had been directly,. deliberately betrayed. liberal bourgeoisie and the right tituted by President Companys The first move of the bourgeois—Stalinist bloc was to attempt to make the CNT wing socialists are prepared to and his Esquerra colleagues, who the scapegoat. Francisco Maroto, anarchist military leader, was arrested and not prosecute the POUM as “insur- have publicly protested against rectxmaries”, i.e., as revolution­ released for over a month. <5> the slander that the POUM ists! The Stalinists cannot be as But—as the Italian anarchists, in jail since June 16. Why are leaders are Franco agents. Com­ The CNT had the goods, honest as Prieto, and must trans­ Camillo Berneri, in a letter attack­ they not tried, even under the panys sent the head of the Com­ however, aad as a result, on ing the collaboration of the CNT ex poet facto decree of June 23 missariat of Propaganda, Jaime form the revolutionists into February 21, Under-Secre­ w ith the bourgeoisie, pointed out which provides secret trials ? Miravittles to intervene in Va­ fa scists! tary of war General Jose —Prieto’s deliberate disuse of the A fter four months, the Stalinists Asensio, his chief of staff, fleet was part of bourgeois- are still trying to sweat someone Stalinist policy of Anglo-French into a confession. To cover up Cabrera, and Colonel Vil- orientation. “The great democ­ this fiasco, and to provide the Bureaucracy Adopts Barbaric Penal Code lalba whom Asensio had sent racies” feared that a loyalist atmosphere for shooting them to Malaga on the eve of its clash in the Mediterranean would without trial, stories continue to to Punish Smallest Offenses in Russia hurt their imperialist interests, appear about “new discoveries” fall were imprisoned await­ and therefore persuaded Prieto to of FOUM-Franco plots. The Daily ing trial. The Caballero hang tip the navy at Cartagena Worker’s latest (October 25) By Victor Serge cabinet soon gave w ay to for the duration of the war! from Valencia reports that an Barbarism. Is there a \qprd this crime and that as a result, more correct to characterize this some 35, in two groufte, have Furthermflge, in December a ssasination - sabotage - espionage Negrin. Now, nearly six fr ig h tfu l social back-sliding ? been shot. Crimes ascribed to decree had established the Sup­ plot “was frustrated by the arrest months after the Negrin ca­ Judge for yourself. “hoodlums” or hooligans,” are reme War Council, in which the last night of a gang of Franco regarded in every other country binet came in, a trial is again bourgeois-Stalinist bloc had a spies, including leaders and mem­ Tass, the official newspaper as minor offenses usually punish­ announced. majority as against the CNT- bers of the POUM, the Catalo­ agency, announces from Moscow ed with short jail sentences or UGT ministers. Where was the nian Government announced to that long terms at forced labor fines. From the social point of Reason For Trial Council while Malaga was being the press last night.” A ll that’s have been re-established by de­ view, they are due to a lack of betrayed? false in Joe North’s story is: cree for the “wreckers”. This Why such a trial should be education, or improper supervision Furthermore, such a tria l would L. Not the Catalonian govern­ type of penalty was abolished at spotlighted now, is quite clear. A the beginning of the revolution. of adolescents, alcoholism and have to air the story of Antonio ment, but the police chief of series of open betrayals has The dictatorship of the protelar- p overty. Guerra, Stalinist delegate in the tripped out the northern front. Barcelona, announced the arrests. Soviet penal law is thus becom­ Malaga M ilitary Command. His iat made remarkable advances in The masses demand action against This distinction has this signif­ the field of labor legislation even ing the most inhuman in exis­ whereabouts, had remained a the traitors. But a trial of those in the very midst of the civil war. tence. It is the only penal law in mystery until a fierce controversy icance: The police chief is a direct associated with the fa ll of Bilbao, The Council of People’s Com­ the world which applies the death between the Stalinist and CNT appointee of Valencia, which missars, presided over by Lenin, penalty to minors, the death Santander, Reinose, Gijon, would leaders provoked the latter (CNT under the Catalan autonomy sta­ decreed that that the longest penalty for theft, the death pen­ lead directly to the doors of the Boletin, Valencia, August 26, tute’s provision, took over control present government. Desperately penalty depriving a defendant of alty for crossing the frontier 1937) to remind the C.P. that of public order in Catalonia on his liberty shall not extend be­ without a passport; the obligatory seeking a way out of this pre­ Guerra had stayed behind with May 5 and despite the lapse of yond five years. The absurd and deportation of the families of dicament, the government turns the fascists. Moreover, the Stalin­ six months still keeps that con­ degrading inhumanity of perpet­ those condemned to heavy sen­ to the Malaga affair, which ist, War Commissar Bolivar, had trol, thus wiping out any real ual or qu&si-perpetual penalties tences; imprisonment for inverts. happened during Caballero’s mi­ been with Villalba at the Com­ Catalan autonomy. Furthermore, in civilized society, was thus n is try . mander’s Headquarters and had the director-general of police for abolished. Later on, the maximum KARAKHAN Certainly, it would be possible deserted with him, two days be­ all Spain is the Stalinist, Moron, penalty was increased to ten in such a trial to compromise fore the city fell—the undoubted and his Barcelona chief is the From a personal source I have years. Beginning with October 3, Caballero’s M inistry of War. The betrayal for which Villalba is to Stalinist, Burillo. Burillo is be­ been informed with certainty that it has been extended to twenty- CNT can testify that twice, in be tried. These are but a few loved of the masses, notably for Karakhan, who was one of the five years! October and November, delega­ of the facts which make extreme­ being an ex-member of the firs t Soviet diplomats, serving as tions vainly urged Caballero to ly doubtful a real court airing. Spanish Monarchical Union and Dispatches on the same day ambassador in China and in Tur­ strengthen the defense of Malaga. for having, as chief of operations apprise us that the Siberian key, has been shot. Previously, it The Stalinist, Colonel Romero, POUM Trial Fiasco at Toledo, surrendered intact to authorities, in order to combat had been ascertained that he had can tell the story of fascist air the fascists the important muni­ “hoodlumism”, have decided to disappeared. My informants are attacks at w ill because no anti­ The POUM leadership has been tions factory there. institute the death penalty forcategoric on this subject. aircraft guns were provided. Asensio’s subsequent refusal to supply arms to Malaga and his A POPULAR HANDBOOK OF THE TACTICS AND STRATEGY OF REVOLUTION! appointment of the traitor Vil- lalba—who had been previously A CRUSHING INDICTMENT OF THE STALIN FRAME-UP REGIME! arrested by ONT troops on the Aragon front as a fascist— They say: certainly reflect on his superior, Caballero. In a carefully managed "He marshals his evidence and argument with tria l, the government might make such mastery and cumulative force that the reader Caballero the scapegoat and thus w ill probably regard this testimony not so much seek: to turn attention away from as a defense as an indictment. It is an indict­ the northern betrayals and the “The Case Of ment more powerful than any penned by Zola dur­ cold and plain fact that in six ing the Dreyfus affair.” months the government has pro­ Sidney Hook, in the vided only; defeats. New York Herald-Tribune Nevertheless, I predict that, if the trial is held at all, it will "This book is most readable. It contains Trots­ be a secret one, on the pretext Leon Trotsky” ky’s final speech of summation which w ill, most that m ilitary secrets are involved. likely, go down in history as one of the greatest For if the CNT militiamen go indictments of all time. It contains Trotsky’s re­ on the witness stand and are not The Verbatim Record of the Hearings of the Dewey cord of his life, his relationship with Lenin, with muzzled either by the judges or Commission in Mexico City Stalin and the defendants at the trial, his story by the CNT leaders “in the name of the oppositional fight with Stalin. And it con­ of unity”, they can add a number tains a closely reasoned and brilliant analysis of of highly embarassing facts lead­ 617 Pages every aspect of the Moscow trials. ing straight to the doors of the —James T. Farrel, in the present cabinet. Saturday Review of Literature. Prieto and Navy SPECIAL PRICE DURING THIS CAMPAIGN SALE: $1.50 Above all. they can point to Prieto, then as now head of the navy. Malaga is the nearest port The Labor Book Shop to Franco’s communications lines with Morocco. It was the obvious Rush all orders to place for the loyalist fleet to be, 28 EAST 12th Street New York, N. Y. and the Italians and Moors could then never have taken Malaga.