J. P. Cannon's Speech On End Of Comintern See page 2
VOL. V II— No. 24 NEW YORK. N. Y„ SATURDAY. JUNE 12, 1943 367 PRICE: FIVE CENTS COAL BARONS BLOCK CONTRACT AS
CONGRESS RUSHES NO-STRIKE(?) BILL N.A.A.C.P. CONVENTION Labor Unity Can Operators Turn To WLB; Lewis Denounces FLAYS GOVT. JIM CROW Stop No - Strike Bill Owners’ Stand ‘As Insult To Coal Miners’ Delegates Hail Firm Stand of UAW Against An Editorial U. S. Steel Corporation Takes Lead in Breaking Union Agreement Bosses' Attempt to Divide Workers With Illinois Operators Granting $1.50 Portal-to-Portal Pay The Connally-Smith anti-strike bill supported a cowardly policy of grovelling before the Roose DETROIT, June 6. — Climaxing its four-day Emergency by Byrnes and the Roosevelt administration, is velt administration. Because the leadership of The coal barons have again deadlocked negotiations with the United Conference on the “ Status of the Negro in the W ar for Free headed for final passage by both bouses of Con the AFL and CIO has permitted the labor move Mine Workers of America. Following the policy that they adopted three dom,” an overflow crowd of rqore than 23,000 meeting here gress. ment to be subverted into a miserable pppendage in the Olympia Stadium w ildly cheered the statement of R. J. If the bill is permitted to become law, it will of the war machine. Because the labor movement months ago, when the coal controversy first began, they have continued mak Thomas, president of the U. A. W., that his union “ would con be a criminal offense to “coerce, instigate, induce, is divided. Because the labor movement does not ing a mockery of collective bargaining negotiations with the union. Refusing tinue to fight for equal rights for all workers regardless of color.” agree with or encourage” a person to strike. have its own political party and has no voice in to grant any decent concessions to the union the operators have again tossed The Conference opened on June® This bill is the most vicious union-busting piece the halls of Congress. 3, the same day that the Packard of legislation to come out of Congress. It proposes Labor has plenty of strength to smash the the mine case into that “ graveyard of grievances,” the War Labor Board. Motor Co. had been closed down attempt to thrust the workingman back into con by a strike, which began when Delegates Reject to drive the knife deep into the heart of the Lewis correctly described the negotiations as “ a farcical proceeding in American labor movement. ditions of slavery and to roll back this projected white production workers in the Move Against Miners every respect. A stultification of collective bargaining. The sullen, morose at aircraft engine division walked The Congressional jackals and time-servers of anti-labor offensive. The problem is to mobilize titude of the operators is an insult to the coal miners. . . .” off the job after three Negro An attempt to insert a sec the billion-dollar corporations have been scared the strength of the labor movement and to use workers had been promoted to tion in the N.A.A.C.P. “ State out of their wits by the Mine strike. They see it effectively. Under the ruling of the p- machine jobs. Thomas pointed out ment to the Nation,” praising the growing power of organized labor and they Let the miners, the AFL, CIO and Railroad W ar Labor B oard in the bound by its Litt,e steeI Formula- portal-to-portal allowance. Moses that the U.A.W.. from the begin the “no strike policy of the Brotherhoods call a great labor conference in ^ . Throughout the three months of announced that his company, ning, had defended the rights of want to cripple it. They want to frighten the U.A.W.-CIO” and attacking Washington right now. Let them issue a united miners' case," issued on the coal crisis, it has consistent- which employs 27,000 men in its Negro members, and charged strikes, “inimical to the war labor movement out of its militancy and fighting call to every local union in the country to par May 25, both the union ly ignored the Board and its rul captive mines of Illinois, Penn C.E. Weiss, company industrial efforts of our country and its spirit. They want to make it possible to jail every ticipate in a m ilitant national campaign to smash ings. The miners, of course, w ill sylvania, West Virginia and relations officer, and other Pack allies,” was defeated after a labor leader, every shop committeeman or steward and the mine operators Alabama, would not be bound by this strike-breaking bill. continue this policy. ard Co. officials with urging heated debate. Grace Carlson, who possesses the-courage and manhood to fight are instructed to report back to this .agreement, and might with white employees to refuse to delegate from the St. Paul for the rights of labor. They want to crush every Faced with the united protest of labor Roose The coal barons, under the the board on June 9 the result of draw from the Illinois Operators’ work with Negroes. Walter Branch of the N.A.A.C.P., voice of protest against the criminal looting of velt will never dare permit this bill to become leadership of the steel corpora Association. White, Executive Sec., of the made the motion to strike out their collective bargaining nego tions, remain adamant. They are the public treasury by the war profiteers. law. N.A.A.C.P. opened his keynote this section. She pointed out tiations. The results of course determined that the miners shall WLB—OPERATOR’S ALLY address to the Conference on June th a t th is m ig h t easily be in Why do these Congressmen dare to propose Self-defense is the first law of life. Labor must are nil. The miners’ union, as receive no quarter. Their aim is The coal barons are full of con fidence that they can continue ta 3 with the same charge against terpreted as an attack on the such union-busting legislation in the face of a fight now when it has the strength and ability to from the first, refused to recog to inflict a decisive defeat to the the Packard officials. hold the coal miners at bay. Under United Mine Workers Union labor movement 13 million strong? Because the fight. The Smith-Connally bill must not be nize the authority of this corpora miners’ union, at present the The .crowd attending the Olym which was fighting in the in vanguard of American labor. By their barrage the Roosevelt Gov leadership of the AFL and CIO has been pursuing permitted to become law. tion-dominated body, or to be pia mass meeting was electrified terests of thousands of Negro this action, they hope to teach all ernment has buckled and taken by Thomas’ further declaration m iners. American labor the lesson that over the job of unabashed agent that he has “absolute evidence” Clarence Sharpe of Cleve its -wage standards are due to be of the mine operators. The War that the Packard strike was pro land, James Anderson of Los driven down while war inflation Labor Board has acted through moted by agents of the Ku Klux Angeles and several other continues and that there is nothing out the mine crisis as the faith Klan. The U.A.W. was turning Miners In The Second W alk-Out that labor can do about it. ful ally of the operators. It ran delegates-took the floor in op the evidence over to the F.B.I., position to the “no-strike” By JAMES COOK that you can’t even sen the ceil A lot of us would be getting® Harry Moses, the representative interference for the coal barons be stated, and would demand a clause. Only one Stalinist ing anymore. My wife had to buy more from the government for of the H. C. Frick Coal and Coke when it instructed the operators (Special to The M ilitant) Congressional investigation. delegate spoke in support of some rotten vegetables in order our families then we do now for Company, a subsidiary of the to break off negotiations with the The firm stand taken in defense the inclusion of this section. By PITTSBURGH. June 1. — All to get a small amount that was working in the mines. And, be Budd Strike Sign U. S. Steel Corporation, has taken union as the mine workers of the Negro U.A.W. members at common consent, the Com the miners around here have good. That’s the way the whole sides it is a lot safer in the army the lead in blowing up the joint walked out of the coal pits the the Packard Co., not only by mittee which had prepared the stopped digging coal. Speaking salers in Pittsburgh force the re than going down to dig coal every Appalachian Conference negotia second time on June 1 at the Thomas, but by other U.A.W. of Statement agreed to its with to a group of miners today, one tailers to buy. Why don’t the day.” Of Wide Unrest tions at the very time that the expiration of the second mine ficials who spoke to the delegates government do something about * * * drawal after hearing the of them said to me: “ The govern UMW reached an agreement with truce. On June 3, Roosevelt per at earlier sessions of the Con that instead. of trying to make weighty arguments made ment is supposed to have taken The impression the miners give the Illinois Operators Association sonally threatened to call out ference was one of the most us work for starvation wages so In Labor’s Ranks against it. over the mines, but as far as any to an outsider in this fight is for payment of $1.50 per day as troops if the mine workers did effective demonstrations of soli that the coal mine owners can Special to THE MILITANT o f us can see we are s till w o rkin g one of complete solidarity. To not return to work by Monday, darity between white and Negro get richer from the war con for the same operators. And it a man they are behind their of June 7, and stated that all miners workers which the majority of elected on the floor of the Con tra c ts !” DETROIT, June 1. — 2,000 makes no difference to us; we ficials and are confident that More Unions Aid of draft age who refused to the N.A.A.C.P. delegates had ference was far more represen members of Budd local 306, can’t dig coal when we can’t buy they will carry the fight through (Continued on page 4) ever seen. tative of the desire of the de to a victory for them. enough to eat.” UAW-CIO voted to return to Postal Defense Fund Seven hundred and forty-three legates for militant action Miners Take * * * A $50 donation to the Kelly delegates from 39 states attended against Jim Crowlsm than the * * * work at a special meeting on The Militant In to Pits From the workers around here Postal Defense Fund was re Taking ‘the Profits the Conference — the largest con cautious speeches of most speak One of the m in e r’s wives said in the steel mills and defense M ay 30. 6,000 workers of the ceived this week from Local 1981 vention of the N.A.A.C.P. for many ers on the prepared program. to me. "The government run the ‘ PITTSBURGH, June 2. — Out of War’ plants there has been no adverse Budd Company here in Detroit of the United Steelworkers of years. mines? It don’t look like they From the start of their strug STATEMENT DEMANDS criticism of the miners. They are America, Maywood, Calif., an “ The Treasury has estimated The “Statement to the ,Na- want, to do it for the benefit of gle against the coal operators struck on Thursday morning, ACTION all in sympathy with the miners nounced the Civil Rights Defense that the total net income of tion,” prepared by a Committee the miners, If they ever are real and the administration The "The N.A.A.C.P. and its mem and for them in their fight. May 27 in protest over the re corporations. . . w ill be about ly gonna take over the mines to Militant lias supported the Committee this week. In response bers are appalled at the wide Many of the miners stated to fusal of the company to grant $25,000,000,000 this year as run. Why, they lifted (he ceiling miners in their demands for to the appeal by the Los Angeles discrepancy between our profes me that although they recognize compared with $19,500,000,- on the $25,000 salary. $25,000, — a living wage. The paper has a wage increase for a small CRDC representative, the winner sed war aims of democracy and that they themselves started the 000 last year. that would be enough to pay the been widely distributed in of the $5.00 door prize spoke for freedom and the treatment meted group of “ headers” in the shell “Even after Federal Taxes Dobbs Speaks yearly wage of fifteen miners." the Pittsburgh area covered ball rolling in the present fight the motion to contribute, and out to Negroes in nearly every department. have been taken, corporation by our correspondents. against the high cost of living added his prize to the local’s part of our national life." the * # * The miners’ reaction to The they are grateful to the rubber Although the grievances which donation. net income is estimated at statement opens. “The issues s lig h tly over $9,000,000,000 From the Pittsburgh area down M ilitant has been reported to workers and auto workers who by precipitated the strike were minor, Large contributions have also To Workers with which we are concerned must as compared w ith $7,800,000,- to Uniontown in the Western us as follows: “You’ll be their action demonstrated that they provided rank and file union been received from United Steel be raised now. We refuse to lis 000 last year.”—N. Y. Times, Pennsyl vania district there pleased to know that the they are in sympathy with the members with an opportunity to workers of America Local 2172, ten to the weak-kneed of both June 4. wherever I have been and talked miners are now taking The miners’ fight and are ready to protest against the stalling of the Los Angeles, and UAW - CIO races who tell us not to raise In Seattle to miners it is exactly the same Militant down into the pits carry their own share of it. company and the WLB on their Briggs Local 212, Detroit Mich. such controversies during the * * » story. “ No contract, no-work. No w ith them and passing i t on contract which expired December On M ay 28 Farrell Dobbs, w ar.” two dollars a day, no contract.” to their fellow workers. In "Let me tell you after the 1942. So com pletely spontaneous Labor Secretary of the Socialist Charging that the government some places they read it while way our Union has kicked in to was the strike that the local union \Vofkers Party, spoke in Seattle itself sets the pattern of discrim on the main trip down. They help all of these unions get start leadership was unable to give a GPU ASSASSIN REWARDED ination and segregation by the The feelings of the miners to oh the need of an Independent all like it.” ed it leaves you with a pretty sick reasonable explanation for it. By WALTER O’ROURKE "continued ill-treatment of Ne day are mingled with anger and Labor Party. The meeting was feeling in your stomach the way The daily papers could only say MEXICO CITY, M ay 25. — ed. H is body groes in uniform,” the N.A.A. C.P sullen determination. “Who did was discovered attended by 25 enthusiastic these union ‘leaders’ are giving us that the strike was caused by buried in a shallow grave next to statement calls upon President the operators think they were I asked one of the miners what According to a dispatch pub workers, of whom eleven were dirty kicks in the face. Yes! We “general unrest.” Once out, no a cabin that Siqueiros hired and Roosevelt as Comniander-in-Chief kidding with all of this stalling would happen if the gov’t decided friends and sympathizers. know that the membership is amount of persuasion by the local lished on M ay 23rd. in the Eng used as a studio; the caretaker of the armed forces to use his behind the War Labor Board and to draft them now because they with us. Ours is the same fight A pledge o f $286 was made by leadership, the International of lish section of the Mexicart arrested at the time testified that power to end the government’s the flag waving? Prices have were on strike. “You got some as theirs, and we’re going to win the branch for the labor party ficers, or U. S. Conciliation Serv he was paid by and took orders shameful treatment of Negro cit- gone so sky hig h on eve ryth in g thing there. Let them draft us. this fight!" daily Novedades, David Alfaro campaign; and it is expected that ice would get the men to return. from Siqueiros. zens. When this demand upon After sitting for three hours Siqueiros will paint a mural additional sums1 will be raised Roosevelt was read at today's SIQUIEROS SKIPS bringing the total well over $500 listening to the International representing the struggle of closing session, it. was applauded When arrested, Siqueiros ad for Seattle. representative Weaver, UAW Re Cuba for freedom and democ vociferously. mitted he had organized the spy On June 7 and 10 Comrade Generals Rule Argentina gional Board member Melvin racy. This mural, says the re Among other demands is one Bishop, an army captain and a ing and participated in the actual Dobbs spoke in Minneapolis and By TERENCE PHELAN The immediate reason for the port, “will be financed by the that “representatives of the Ne for long. This was promptly re speaker from the U. S. Concilia attack. This was corroborated by St. Paul.. . overthrow of the Castillo regime Coordinator’s Office in Wash gro press be given equal press A junta of Argentine army flected in the fact that, the junta, tion department, denouncing, other, witnesses. However, he in His scheduled tour dates follow. was apparently the report that ington and donated to the Cu privileges in attending and report once it had the power, did not cajoling and threatening, a mo sisted that he knew nothing about D A T E P L A C E leaders last week toppled the Paraguay had signed a military ban government by the recently ing Congressional hearings as know what to do with it. The tion was made to return to work the murder of Harte and said June 14— M ilwaukee alliance with Brazil. Argentina, well as Presidential and other of Castillo government in a blood only two civilians it could get for and hold another membership set up Cuban-American Cul that the machine - gun bursts June 15, 18— Chicago though standing in a semi-colonial ficial press conferences." The less coup d’etat. The Argentine “ministers" were two “illustrious meeting the following Sunday to tural Institute of Havana." The fired from three directions into June 19, 20— St. Louis relation to advanced capitalist nobodies." General Arturo Raw- government is also asked to live , .. „ he attended only by members of article concludes by saying that Trotsky’s bedroom were fired for bourgeoisie finds itself con countries, has herself long held June 23, 24—Flint up to the Constitution in ils em sons attempt to form a. govern- ( j ocaj g^g after finishing the mural, Si “psychological purposes.” The June 25, 27—Detroit fronted with the need of re a dominating position in Para ployment policies by guarantee ment fell through In 48 hours. j ' The ’ low poin(’ in thp lh re a )f. queiros will visit Mexico City. judge, for some reason or other, June 28—Toledo ing equal opportunity .for work orienting its foreign policy in guay. Now. another General, Ramirez, thrown at the men came from As anyone acquainted with the chose to accept this absurd story. June 29, July 1—Cleveland for all regardless of “race, creed, the light of recent Allied vic The hasty seizure of power by has formed a government which, | Melvin Bishop when he said: “ I Civil War in Spain can testify, Siqueiros’ crime was thus reduced July 2, 4—Akron color or national origin.” tories. They face the prospect the Generals was a barracks-over for the moment, appears accept- don’t know who caused this strike Siqueiros served as a G.P.U. to housebreaking and damage to July 5, 7— Youngstown Although the majority of the of seeing Argentina, most pows turn. The Argentina people were able to the badly divided Argen but I predict there will be more agent in Loyalist Spain. After another’s property. July 8, 10— Buffalo N.A.A.C.P. delegates attending the erful nation in Latin America, neither consulted nor did they tinian bourgeoise, whose rival fac strikes and we will find out who the defeat, he returned to Mexico W ith such minor charges against J u ly 11, 12— Rochester Conference were not industrial being m ilita rily isolated, sur participate in the "revolution." tions are struggling for power be is behind them. I will personally and organized the preparatory him, he was allowed to go free J u ly 14, 15— Boston hind the military facade and a workers, and therefore not closely passed, even potentially threat see that they are fired, that the espionage and then the machine- under bail. Within a week he J u ly 16, 17— N ew Haven BOURGEOISIE BADLY stifling censorship. aligned w itli the trade union move ened by Lend-Lease equipment management, the FBI, and the gun attack of May 24th which skipped bail and later turned up July 18— New- York ment, the statement calls upon DIVIDED The likelihood is that if the army knows about them.” was the G.P.U’s first attempt on in Chile. Legally, therefore, in Dates have not yet been an Negro workers “to become full poured into Brazil and other There is, however, a compar Generajs attempt for long to main The motion to hold a meeting Leon Trotsky’s life. One of Mexico he is a fugitive from nounced for meetings in Newark, fledged members of organized la nearby territory, while Argen-1 atively strong bourgeoisie in Ar tain a purely military dictator a t w hich o n ly members o f 306 Trotsky’s guards, Robert Sheldon justice and, upon return to Mexi Philadelphia, Reading and Bay bor on a basis of equality with tin a herself cannot buy any gentina which is unlikely to al ship, they will have a genuinely could attend was passed unanim Harte, was kidnapped during this can territory, he should be onne. all other workers.” arms in the United States. low any military junta to rule popular revolt on their hands. ously. attack and subsequently murder- arrested. [H W o - THE MILITANT SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1943 The End Of The Comintern And The Prospects Of Labor Internationalism
Text of Speech by James P. Cannon Delivered in New York, M ay 30, 1943 Comrade Chairman, Comrades: nationalism were propounded in the Communist Manifesto and of corresponding action. The nationally limited, narrow to their first realization in 1864 in the First International, up minded trade union reformists of England and other places The formal dissolution of the Communist International until the present time, the conflict within the labor move renounced the idea of internationalism. W ith the idea of gain is undoubtedly an event of great historical significance, even ment between revolutionists and reformists has revolved ing small favors for the day at the expense of the interests though everybody understands that it is simply the formal around this fundamental question. At the heart of every dis of the class as a whole and of the future, conservative trade certification of a fact that was long since accomplished. Some pute, socialist internationalism on the one side has been con unionism, even in Marx’s day, took a nationalistic form and of the bourgeois commentators and politicians may exaggerate trasted to nationalistic concepts on the other. ■ had a nationalistic outlook. In the first World War of 1914- a bit when they speak of the dissolution of the Communist In We can see in the whole period down to the present day 18 the great resounding struggle which took place between ternational as the greatest political event since the beginning the deadly parallel between revolutionary internationalism, the revolutionary wing headed by Lenin and Trotsky on the of the war. But, in any case, there is no question of its trans pointing the way to the socialist future, and opportunistic one side, and Kautsky & Co. on the other, had as its great cendent importance. This is recognized on every side, and adaptation to the decaying order of capitalism. Marx and criterion, its touch-stone, the question of international or the,event has called forth discussion from every quarter. Engels were the champions of this idea of internationalism ganization. There are two ways to view the question. One is from the standpoint of the ruling capitalist powers in the countries allied with the United States in their war against the Axis powers, and their general struggle to maintain the capitalist The Four Internationals system of oppression of the workers in the home countries Lenin, the Russian, living as an emigre in Switzerland, sity and urgency of international revolutionary organization and enslavement of the great masses of the colonial world. with no more than a dozen or two followers that he could were a thousand times more apparent than in the case of the The other standpoint from which the dissolution of the Co name and place, rose up against the whole so-called Second First International. mintern can be discussed is from the standpoint of the libera International and the Social-Democratic German parties in The Third International was born of war and revolution tion struggle of the workers which has had a conscious expres the war. Me rose up against the bourgeois world, and an and struggle against nationalism in March 1919, twenty-four sion now for 95 years, since the publication of the Communist nounced the necessity for the T hird International in 1914. years ago. This International, too, died ignominiously from Manifesto in 1848. Similarly, in the period of the decline and eventual'decay and a lalse theory, from capitulation and betrayal, and is buried The discussion has all been one-sided so far. A ll the dis death, up to the formal burial of the Communist International, in 1943, without honors, without regrets. cussion outside our ranks begins from the premise of its effect the great dividing line between the real inheritors of Marx As far as the revolutionary vanguard of the proletariat upon the fortunes'of American imDerialism. with particular and Lenin on the one side, and Stalin and his cohorts on the are concerned, the formal event was anticipated and nobody reference to the war. It is remarkable how so many people, other, has been this principle we are discussing here tonight — was taken by surprise. We have been struggling against the in so many supposedly different camps, take this as their start the principle of internationalism. national degeneration of the Comintern for a long time. This ing point in analyzing the burial of the Comintern. It was Since it was first proclaimed nearly a century ago, in struggle, as a matter of fact, began in 1923. That is twenty to be expected that the bourgeois press would take this point the historic ebb and flow, the idea of internationalism and years ago. It is startling in these days, in contemplation of of view because all their interests lie in that direction. But we the organization of the international workers have suffered this final ceremony of burying the non-existent Comintern, to notice also that such labor leaders as have pronounced them JAMES P. CANNON National Secretary, Socialist Workers Party three great defeats. The organizations have been destroyed, read the polemics of Trotsky written twenty years ago in selves show the same bias. They inquire, with straight faces, but always the idea rose again after each defeat, correspond Russia, A t the very first signs of national degeneration, whether Stalin’s action is sincerely meant as a gesture of help defend the burial of the Comintern Without reference to its ing to historical necessity, and found the necessary organiza Trotsky, lik£ a physician, put his finger on the pulse of the and cooperation w ith our war leaders in Washington and effect on the struggle of the workers for better conditions and tional form on higher ground. organization and detected the fever of nationalism and pointed London, or whether it is a mere maneuver. No other aspects eventual liberation — the original aim of the Comintern — The First International, that is the International of , out what it was and what it would lead to. Me began a struggle of the question seem to concern them. but solely from the point of view of the interests of the Ameri Marx and Engels, was founded form ally in 1864. Seven years twenty years ago in the name of internationalism against The same thing is true of the Social-Democratic press. You can ruling class. Browder writes a letter to the New York later came the tragic defeat of the Paris Commune. Along the theory of socialism in one country, against the conception might think that people who used to have an International Times and attempts to reassure this extremely perspicacious with that great defeat and the great impetus it gave to reaction that the workers could find any other way to salvation except of their own would have something to say about the unburied organ of America’s Sixty Families that the action taken in on the continent of Europe, there was the unprecedented rise through international organization and joint struggle against corpse of the Second International, but they passed that over Moscow is in good faith and in their interests, and that it is and expansion of capitalist industry. The productive forces capitalism on a world scale. as a matter of no interest. Perhaps they are right in this res not quite sporting of them to raise a questioning eyebrow began to expand and develop on a capitalist basis at an This fight began in the factional and ideological disputes pect. They sagely discuss the recent events in Moscow and about the fact. unprecedented rate. This temporarily weakened the revolution of 1923. The fight took international form in 1930 in the put seriously to themselves — these “ Socialists” — the ques So far nobody has discussed the question from the point ary movement. It was the expansion of capitalism still reach organization of the International Communist League shortly tion : W ill this help America in the war or not? of view which brought the Communist International into exist ing toward its apex of development which decreed the end of after 1 rotsky was exiled from Russia and began, from his re Even the Stalinists, who up to a few days ago were the ence, that is, of organizing and furthering the worldwide the First'International by its formal dissolution in 1876. But fuge in Turkey, to communicate with co-thinkers on a world adherents and representatives — even if not formally, owing struggle of the proletariat for emancipation from capitalism. the First International didn’t die like the Second or like the scale. In 1938, the unceasing struggle of Trotsky and his to the Voorhis Law — of the Communist International, so But it is this point o f view which I want to bring to the discus Comintern. It was dissolved with its honor unsullied. It re disciples was climaxed by the W orld Congress of the Fourth lemnly discuss the action like imitation Congressmen. They sion here this evening. mained an inspiration and an ideal which still continued to International in 1938. work in the vanguard circles of the workers and in time bore Trotsky, the unfailing champion of internationalism, in good fruit. the uncompromising struggle against every form and trace Internationalism Indispensable The Second International followed. It was formally of nationalist degeneration, was finally assassinated by an launched in Paris in 1889, thirteen years after the formal agent of Stalin. But his imperishable ideas are incorporated Of course, the announcement of the formal dissolution Workers of the W orld Unite! — Stalin has announced a motto end of the First International, and died as a revolutionary in the new international organization of the communist work of the Comintern is simply the news account of a burial that of his own: Disband your international organization; give up organization on the 4th of August, 1914. The 4th of August ers, the Fourth International. is ten years overdue. It serves a certain purpose in that it all thought of international collaboration; support your own was the day when the Social-Democratic deputies in the Reich Stalin’s action, formally dissolving the Comintern, was puts an end to a fiction and clears the air of illusions and mis imperialists, and confine your activities to the national frame stag voted for the war credits of German imperialism. But taken in the midst of the Second W orld War, an appropriate understandings, to say nothing of very bad odors. work of the country in which you are enslaved. between the manner and form of the end of the Second time. The international organization which was presumably This belated burial of the “corpse of the Comintern is a Internationalism was not a dogma invented by Marx and International and that of the First, there is a great contrast formed to enable the workers to take advantage of the d iffi climax, we might say, to a long sequence of events which have Engels, but a recognition of the reality of the modern world. that we should not forget. The First International succumbed culties of national capitalist states to promote the interna extended over two decades. These events, in their high-lights, It proceeds from the fact that the economy of modern society to external conditions, to the defeats, the spread of reaction tional revolution, is dissolved with a cynical explanation that can be noted as: the death of Lenin; the promulgation for the is a world unit requiring international cooperation and divi and the expanding development of the capitalist productive it doesn’t fit the conditions of the war. Kautsky, in 1915, first time in 1924 of the theory of socialism in one country; sion of labor for the further development of the productive system. It went down gloriously. The Second International, explaining the collapse of the Second International when the the bureaucratization of the Comintern and all of its parties; forces. The class struggle arising from the class division be on the contrary, ended as n result of the betrayal of the war started, said that the International is an instrument of the expulsion of the Bolshevik-Leninist opposition, first in tween workers and exploiters within the countries requires leadership in a period when capitalism had already long passed peace, not of war. Kautsky was the originator of this mon the Russian party and then in the other parties of the Co class unity of the workers on an international scale. From its peak and had entered into its decline and bankruptcy. strous theory. Stalin simply repeats it, nearly th irty years mintern; the capitulation of the Communist Party of Ger the beginning the program of scientific socialism has called The Second International capitulated at a time when the neces later when it is th irty times more false. many, with its 600,000 members and its 6 m illion voters, w ith for the international collaboration of the workers and op out a struggle and without a fight to H itler fascism in 1933; pressed peoples in the different countries, with all their d if the organized, systematic betrayal of the proletariat of the ferent levels of development, in order that each might con world in the interest of the diplomatic policy of the Krem lin; Lenin’s Program tribute their strength as well as their weakness to a upified the murder of the old Bolsheviks; the assassination of T ro t world program and world cooperative action. The Com Lenin said in 1914: " Because of the war, we must build international scale, but that they must base this reorganization sky; the betrayal of the proletariat in the second world war, munist Manifesto called for common efforts of the workers in the Third International in order to coordinate the activities on an international program and not on the sum of national first to H itler and then to Roosevelt and Churchill. all countries for the common goal of workers' emancipation. of the workers in struggling against the war and in all that programs. Since the beginning of the war the Comintern, the un After the downfall of feudalism, the national states play will follow from it.” Stalin says to the workers of the world Thus, the war of 1914, which signalized the bankruptcy buried Comintern, was silent as the grave. Now it is form ally ed a progressive role as the arena for the development and in 1943: "Became of the war, dissolve international organiza of the national capitalist states, was, in the eyes of Lenin buried, and that, at least, is a good thing. It is somewhat late, expansion of the forces of production in the heyday of capi tion and confine yourselves to the framework of your own and Trotsky, the greatest motivation for an .extension of the but the old proverb says, “better late than never.” By the talism. But these very national states, whose sanctity is pro bourgeois fatherland.” In this contrast between the words of idea of internationalism in program as well as in form of formal burial of the Comintern, Stalin, for once on the inter claimed by Stalin in 1943, became obsolete long ago. They Lenin, who thought the war was a means of underscoring and organization. Now, a quarter of a century later, when the national arena, has unconsciously performed a progressive act. have become barriers to the full operation of the productive emphasizing the necessity for an international organization bankruptcy of capitalism has developed into its death agony, The bourgeois press and public generally, the political forces and the source of inevitable wars. The whole pressure of workers, and the words of Stalin, who says the war is a when an explosion takes place in the Second W orld War leaders and spokesmen, are very well pleased with the recent of historic necessity is for the breaking down of the artificial sufficient reason to disbarjd international organization — in in even more tragic loss in human life and material culture pronouncement, even if they understand that it is only a for national barriers, not for their preservation. this contrast you have the measure of the two men and of — now, after this, Stalin and his traitor gang, have the cynical mality. They have good reason to be pleased. The dissolution Just as the petty states and principalities and arbitrarily what they represent in history. effrontery to tell the workers that there is no need of interna of the Comintern, and the cynical repudiation of internation divided sections of the old countries under, feudalism had Already in 1914, the First W orld W ar had demonstrated tional cooperation and international organization. alism and the international proletarian organization, is an to give ‘way to the consolidated, centralized national states beyond all question that the bourgeois national states, as an There isn’t a shadow' of logic or reason, if you proceed ideological victory of vast importance for capitalism and 1 in order to create a broader arena for the development of the arena for the development of the productive forces of man from the point of view of socialism and the cause of the reactionary nationalism. They have been quite true to their productive forces, so, in the same way, the artificially divided kind, were already outlived and had to give way to a broader proletariat, in any of the explanations given by the Stalinists interests in hailing this action and pushing aside the quibblers national states have to give way to the federation of states. basis. National capitalism had already entered into its bank for renunciation of internationalism. The explanation given who wonder if, after all, it isn’t another maneuver. In the future course of development this must lead eventually ruptcy in that time,' more than twenty years ago. The most by the bourgeois press and bourgeois political leaders is more They have good reason to applaud the action of Stalin, to a world federation operating world economy as a whole tragic expression of the bankruptcy of capitalism was the fact correct and honest because it frankly proceeds from the point taken through his puppets in the so-called Executive Com without class and nationalistic divisions. From this it follows that it could find no other way out of the conflicts between of view thdt is of interest to them, that is, to the capitalist mittee of the non-existent Comintern, because the renunciation irrevocably that such an order can be created only by the out-lived national states than in the explosion of the terrible w'orld order, and they can see in it a very good thing. But that of internationalism is a renunciation of the basic premises of international collaboration and the joint struggle of the work war that cost ten m illion lives and crippled and maimed it is no good for the workers is quite obvious. scientific socialism'. It is a renunciation of the cardinal doc ers in the various countries against their own bourgeoisie at twenty million more. Even the bourgeoisie recognize internationalism in their trine which has guided and inspired the struggle of the workers home and against capitalism as a world system. So preached And it was precisely the demonstration, by the terrible own w'ay. The bankruptcy of national limitness has become for generations, since M arx’s day. The modern movement of and so practiced the great founders of socialism, Marx and fact of the war; it was precisely the war, that caused Lenin so clear to the bourgeosie that all their most perspicacious international socialism began with the Communist Manifesto Engels; so preached and practiced their great continuators, and Trotsky, and such as they, to realize that even the Second leaders have been compelled to renounce the idea of national in 1848, 95 years ago, w ith its battle of cry: Workers of the Lenin, and Trotsky. International as it had existed before the war, as a rather isolation altogether. Isolationism as a political tendency World Unite! The Communist Manifesto proclaimed the The immortal achievement of Marx as a revolutionist, loose federation of national parties, could not be rebuilt. stands discredited in bourgeois politics. And in this situation, doctrine that the emancipation of the workers could be achie side by side with his monumental work on Capital, will al .Trotsky expressed it, that the war sounded the .death knell of in this terrible war that is caused by the artificial prolonga ved only by their common actions on an international scale. ways stand his creative labor in the building of the first inter national programs for workers’ parties. They drew the lesson tion of the life of national states as separate economic units, Against the cardinal principle and battle cry of Marx and national organization of the workers, the International Work from the experience of the last W orld War, 1914-18, not only Stalin and his puppets tell the workers: “ Confine your ef- Engels, and of all revolutionary socialists since that time: ing Men’s Association. From the time that the ideas of inter that the workers must reconstitute their organization on an (Continued on page 3) SATURDAY, JUNE 12,1943 THE MILITANT -THREE
The Third International Is Dead - - Arguments For The Long Live The Fourth International! Comintern Dissolution (Continued on page 2) upon occurred in Russia, a little surprise — merely a revolu four years — produced documents which are the basic pro By M. Morrison forts to the national lim its in which you find yourselves. Sup tion. The revolution that first overthrew the Czar in February gram of the movement that we uphold today. In dissolving the Communist Comintern came from Stalin or port one set of bandits against another set of bandits.” That, and then overthrew the bourgeoisie in October was one of And, in addition to that, out of the Third International, International, the Presidium, anyone else at that time. under the orders of Stalin of If the victory of fascism workers o f the world, heirs of Marx and Engels, heirs of those unheralded events of the past W orld W ar which upset before it died and long before it was buried, came the initiating course, felt compelled to furnish brought a new factor into the Lenin and Trotsky and the Russian Revolution, that is your all calculations. cadres of the Fourth International. Thus, looking at the some reasons for such an un situation, it could only be of a expected and drastic measure. destiny in 1943, pronounced by Stalin and his gang. We do not see any mention of that in the order of dissolu thing always from the standpoint of the international prole nature which would make all the This was necessary not only to tariat and disregarding no elements in the whole survey, more necessary the existence of This treacherous advice not only defies Marxist doctrine tion, as we may call it. There is no talk about revolution. justify the dissolution before an International. For the victory and tradition but it violates thj? most fundamental features There is no talk about socialism. There is no talk about whether they are positive or negative, we have a right to public opinion but to furnish a of fascism in one country ‘line’ for the puppet leaders of strengthens the fascist movement of the prevailing world situation. It betrays the workers in anything except winning the war against Hitler. Lenin’s steps, the Stalinist parties to follow. in all other countries. Fascism is the metropolitan centers and even omits any mention of the from 1914 on, led through these events I have mentioned to W ithout such a line there was the an international danger and, far many m illion masses in the colonies and the semi-colonies the Russian revolution, the conquest of power by the proleta danger that the little bureaucrats from einbg a factor leading to would give various and contradic who were awakened by the Russian Revolution and the Com riat of Russia, supported by the peasantry and led by the Bol the dissolution of an Interna tory reasons and thus make con tional, should be the cause of its munist International to the struggle for life and freedom. shevik party of Lenin. That didn’t end Lenin’s fight against fusion worse confounded. Natu building and strengthening. I think that the frankest and most heartfelt expressions the theory of Kautsky that internationalism is an instrument rally there was no danger that * * * the petty bureaucrats would of opinion by the chosen leaders of the democratic world bour of peace, not of war. In view of the collapse and bankruptcy Stalinist stupidity and eras- disagree with the decision to dis sness have no limits. It is almost geoisie — Mr. Churchill and Roosevelt — really were o ff the of capitalism, as well as in anticipation of another war, Lenin solve the C. I. There was only impossible to believe that the danger that they would not all record. They didn’t have the heart to put down in public and his party sponsored in 1919 the formation of the Comin “growth and political maturity agree upon the explanation for print what they really think of Stalin and his order dissolving tern. of the Communist parties” should the dissolution. be adduced as one of the reasons the Comintern. That could only make fun of the explanation So, you see, throughout the whole course of Lenin’s work, It was out of the question for fo r (the dissolution o f th e C. I. the heads of the Comintern to that the time has come in 1943 to go back to the national his manifesto after the betrayal of the German Social Demo But there it is. right in the an give the real reasons for the dis boroughs and forget the world arena at the, very moment nouncement of the dissolution cracy, his participation -in the conferences at Zimmerwald solution. Stalinist leadership ex and .one m ust deal even w ith (the when they, the leaders of the bourgeoisie, are looking over and Kienthal, in the revolution of 1917, and the formation ists -by virtue of deceit as well stupidest of arguments. Does it as of violence. To state the truth the whole world and talking only in global terms. Stalin’s of the Comintern in 1919 — every act of Lenin from first mean that an international is or would mean to disillusion the explanation, intended to cleceive trusting workers, can cause ganized solely for training im to last took place under the banner of internationalism. The followers of the Stalinist system. mature parties? To be sure, only the most cynical amusement to Churchill and Roosevelt, premises of the Third International were that the dissolution How could Stalin possibly state that is one of the functions of that the C. I. was founded for the tinged with contempt plus a little appreciation for a very and collapse of the capitalist world order made necessary the an International. But its reason purpose of promoting the world valuable favor. They at least have no illusions about national for existence does not cease be organization of the proletariat for the seizure o f power in the revolution, that this purpose had cause immature parties have be limitations either of economy or of politics, and certainly capitalist states’, the federation of the socialist states into long ago been given up and that come mature and small parties its only function was to control not of war. They have as little illusion on that score in a world federation, and the inauguration of the world so have become large. Since an In the various sections so that they their own way and from their own point of view, as Lenin ternational is organized for the cialist order. would remain loyal servants of purpose of common action on a had in this way, which was not the same way, and from his Lenin saw the Russian revolution as only the beginning the Stalinist bureaucracy? How world scale, it would follow that could he state that, since it was point of view which, needless to say. was not the same as that of this world-wide process. Lenin and Trotsky and the Bolsh the stronger and the more mature possible to control the Communist of Churchill or Roosevelt, or of Stalin. the parties are the greater the evik party as a whole understood that Russia.could not stand parties without the apparatus of justification for the existence of If you take down from the bookshelf that imposing li isolated in a capitalist world; it could not remain as a na the Comintern, it was well worth an International. It is only when while to abolish it in order to brary of polemics, manifestos, appeals, analyses, written by • tional utopia. They saw it as a fortress of the world pro this happens that an Interna create a better atmosphere for tional organized for the purpose Lenin from the 4th of August, 1914 on, you see running letariat. Their policy was to unite the Soviet Union, repres present and future bargaining of world revolution could hope to through the whole’ collection, like a red thread, the idea of enting the fortress of the world proletariat, with its allies with the capitalist states? say that the balance sheet of the Communist International, consummate its purpose. Stalin had to present reasons internationalism. His manifesto, the manifesto of the Bolsh in the world. And who were the allies of the Soviets as in spite of everything, shows a great historical credit balance. If the growth and maturity of which give the appearance of a the Communist parties constitute evik Central Committee against the war, raised the demand Lenin and Trotsky saw them? Not Churchill. And not even Stalin can bury the dead organization but he cannot bury theoretical approach. This kind of a reason for dissolving the C. I., already in 1914 for the creation of the new Third Interna Roosevelt. Their allies were the world proletariat in the capi an approach is best in order to the great progressive work the Comintern accomplished in its then it should have been dissolved deceive his followers who are tional. 11 is attitude led him and the Bolsheviks to the Zim - talistically developed countries and the colonial peoples. Under first years. He cannot bury the Fourth International which before the German, French and unable to see through the flimsy Czech parties were annihilated merwald Conference in 1915, to Kienthal in 1916, and then this leadership the workers of the war-torn countries lifted their has risen, phoenix-Ifke, from the ashes of the Third. We know character of the theory. and reduced to a small group of to the revolution in 1917 in Russia. heads again. They were reinspired with socialist ideas. They ’■very well and we don’t try to conceal the fact that the numbers # * * bureaucrats functioning in Mos Now, in all the plans of the Social Democrats, to say reorganized their ranks. They formed new revolutionary par of the Fourth International are small. But its ideas are cor The organizational form chosen cow. Those parties were many nothing of the imperialists, in 1914 — in all their plans to ties. They made heroic attempts at revolution in Europe. The rect, its program represents historical necessity, and, there •by the First Congress of the Com times larger than the American munist International has been, do away with international organization, to harness the work fore, its victory is assured. Its program consciously formu party, today the largest party of colonial masses were awakened for the first time to political outgrown by the growth of the the C. I. ers to the war machine of their respective capitalist masters life, to revolt against age-old slavery, and inspired to throw lates the instinctive demands of the workers and the colonial movement. This is the basic By “growth and political matu in the different countries, the one thing that was not counted o ff the imperialist yoke altogether. peoples for -emancipation from capitalism, fascism and war. reason advanced to justify the rity” Stalin must mean such a Even today, striking workers who never even heard of dissolution. The ntr.te—'-rt -f dis bureaucratization and degenera solution does not show how the tion of the Communist parties the Fourth International, are denounced as “ Trotskyists” organizational form has been that he can be certain of their whenever they stand up for their rights, just as the workers outgrown. And even assuming support without guiding and Stalin's Treachery that the organizational form has watching them. It is quite true and soldiers in Russia in 1917 under Kerensky were denounced Such was the course of development"under Lenin’s leader goal. His work and struggle bore fru it in the creation of an been outgrbwn, why is it not that the Stalinist parties will on every side as “ Bolsheviks” and heard then, for the first possible to change that form to support the Stalinist bureaucracy ship of the Comintern. Under Stalin’s leadership, which international nucleus of revolutionary fighters, and eventually time in the denunciations, the word “ Bolshevik.” Trotsky conform with the growth of the no matter what its policies are. was tainted from the start with narrow-minded nation in the formal organization of the Fourth International, in the relates in his "H istory of the Russian Revolution” how they organization-? All the arguments propounded in alism, the world movement was betrayed; the Soviet W orld Congress in 1938. The dissolution of an organiza the Soviet press will be faithfully began to say to themselves, “ If what they are accusing us of tion founded for the purpose of Union was isolated; the services of the Comintern and its copied by the Stalinist press in A t the time it was formed the great politicians of the is Bolshevism, then we had better be Bolsheviks." achieving a political and social the rest of the world. This does parties were sold like potatoes on the market to the various mass parties of the Social Democracy used to sneer at Trotsky’s So it will be again wherever workers stand up for their objective is justified either by the not mean that Stalin is ready to camps of imperialists for dubious pacts, for dribbles of material little handful and his insignificant Fourth International. The gaining of the objective or the permit the Stalinist parties to rights, express their instinctive will to struggle for a better impossibility of carrying on any aid, at a very cheap price. Lenin and Stalin — the creator decide for themselves what to do heroes of the London Bureau, the centrists who, if they could future, and are denounced as Trotskyists. In good time they work under the given circum on important questions, especially of the Third International and its grave digger — these tw'o not organize mass parties could, at least, talk about them, used w ill learn the name of the Fourth International, its mean stances. Marx and Engels found, those in v o lv in g .the S ta lin is t themselves compelled to dissolve' represented ideas and actions which are in polar opposition to argue against Trotsky that he didn’t have many followers. ing, its program, and ally themselves with it. bureaucracy. Stalin is not the the First International because of one to take chances on his to each other. They can in no way be reconciled. 1 notice And the Stalinists, backed by the limitless material resources the second situation. To justify henchmen. that while they had the effrontery to refer to Marx, in the of the Soviet Union, with money, tremendous apparatus, a the dissolution of the Third In * * * order dissolving the Comintern, they left unmentioned its subsidized bureaucracy, and GPU murder machine at their Long Live the Fourth International! ternational Stalin must neces Not a single plausible argu sarily falsify the reason for the ment is advanced in the state founder. That at least was a wise omission, because Lenin's disposal — with all this tremendous weight at their side, they No one can dissolve the Fourth International. It is the real Comintern and it w ill keep the banner unfurled in the .dissolution of the First Inter ment of dissolution justifying name would have been out of place there, as M arx’s was also. hounded; persecuted and derided Trotsky and the Fourth In national. throwing the Comintern over faces of all traitors and renegades. And we assert confidently In the course of twenty years, from 1924, when the fatal ternational. Another reason advanced for, board. Naturally a revolutionary that it w ill be strengthened and grow and triumph until the dissolution is the differences Marxist is the last one to weep theory of socialism in one country was first promulgated, to But in the brief period since the Founding Congress of the its organized ranks merge with the whole mass of humanity. in conditions existing in the coun over the dissolution of an orga the sorry, dishonorable end of the Comintern in 1943; in Fourth International, in a brief five years, every other inter tries of the world. No one will nization which is in reality an The song which no Stalin can render obsolete ends its chorus that whole tragic degeneration, we can see above everything national organization of the workers has been hurled down to deny the existence of those dif obstacle to the revolutionary with the words: “ The International shall be the human race.” ferences but why did not Stalin, movement. If Stalin had furnish else the decisive role of theory in political action. Stalin didn’t ruin as Trotsky predicted they would be, without one stone And this chorus has a profound political meaning. It is not who lived at the time of the ed the world with the real reason begin with the dissolution of the Comintern. He began with left standing on another. This was the fate of the Second In founding of the International, ob for the dissolution of the C. I., it merely a poetical expression. the theory of socialism in one country. From this false theory ternational of Social Democracy, of the London Bureau of the ject to its being organized on the would have constituted the only The peoples of the world in the various countries, through ground that conditions in the progressive thing he did since the everything else has followed — the betrayal of the world centrists, and now it is the fate of the Stalinists, admitted and coordinated international effort, will pass over, in their great various countries were different? Stalinist bureaucracy began the proletariat, the isolation of the USSR behind her national bar acknowledged by themselves. They have all been destroyed No one would have argued that historic march, from capitalism to socialism through the struggle against revolutionary riers, the purges, the Moscow trials, the mass murders, the by the war, as Trotsky said they would be. But the Fourth conditions were the same all over Marxism. In dissolving the transitional period of the dictatorship of the proletariat. As the w orld. ■Comintern, Stalin has presented assassinations, and, finally, the dissolution of the Comintern. International remains. And with it lives the principle of they progress toward the complete classless socialist society, The International was organiz the world with reasons that are internationalism which alone can show the tortured masses ed on the basic premise that, in There 'is a profound lesson in this terrible sequence of all the various workers’ organizations which have been instru not only false but extremely events for all the generation of the young proletariat awaken of the world the way out of war and slavery to the socialist spite of the differences of condi reactionary in their implications. ments and mechanisms of the class struggle, that is, the tions existing in the various The Statement of dissolution ing to political interest and political life. Trotsky explained future of humanity. parties, the unions, the cooperatives, the soviets, w ill gradu countries, the world as a whole frees the sections of the Comin In this past period since 1864, each international organ it in 1928 in his book, which was hfcre referred to by the ally lose their original functions. As the classes are abolished was united by the growth of the tern from their obligations aris chairman. In “The Criticism of the Draft Program of the ization of the workers in passing from the historical scene, productive forces and the world-, ing from the statutes and resolu and class struggles consequently ended, all these instruments wide system of exchange. If one Comintern” he explained to the commuhist workers of Russia left something accomplised, left something behind upon which tions of the Congresses of the of class struggle, w ill tend to coalesce into one united body. were to consider differences in Communist International. A com its successor could build for the future. and the world that precisely this theory of socialism in one And that one united body w ill be the organized world society conditions as an obstatole to the pletely superfluous statement. country, with its inevitable nationalistic implications, would The First International left an imperishable ideal, an organization of an International, For Stalin freed the sections of of the free and equal. The International shall really be the then no International would have inevitably lead to the degeneration and downfall, of the unsullied record, as an inspiration for the workers from that the statutes and resolutions of human race. ever been organized. the Congresses long ago. For Comintern.- When this was written 15 years ago, the great day to this, a glorious memory. We disciples of Marx, Lenin and Trotsky, we partisans The Stalinists may argug that many years his policies have m ajority of communists considered this a great exaggeration The Second International died ignominiously through a new factor has arisen since the been contrary to the resolutions of the Fourth International, retain undimmed that vision of organization of the Comintern, and even an insult to Stalin and his co-workers in the Russian betrayal in 1914. Nevertheless, in the period from 1889 to of the first four Congresses. The the future. To see that vision even now, to see it clearly sharpening the differences be sections of the Comintern have party. But Trotsky, who did not impute design but only that fatal day in August, 25 years later, it built great mass through the fire and the smoke of the war, is simply to be tween the countries. That factor been instruments of the foreign ignorance to these people at that’ time, explained that good in organizations of the workers, and handed on experience in could be only the victory of policy of the Stalinist bureauc in accord with historical development, to foresee the inevitable tentions cannot help you in politics if you proceed from a organization of incalculable value, upon which the Third fascism in Germany. Fascism, racy. They will continue that march of events and to prepare for them. To fight for this however, came on the scene when same role until Stalin decides it false theory. It is like a mariner setting a false course which International was able to build. Also, the initial cadres of vision of the socialist future, to hasten its realization, is the Lenin and Trotsky led the Third will best serve his interests to can only lead the ship to an unintended destination. the Third International didn’t fall from the sky. They came Intemational. Mussolini came into do away with the Stalinist highest privilege and the greatest happiness for a civilized man The struggle against the theory of socialism in one country right out of the heart of the Second International. Thus, power before Lenin died. No sug parties altogether. or woman in the world today. gestion for the dissolution of the (To be continued) was conducted in the name of internationalism. And in the in spite of everything, the Second International left a great name of internationalism Trotsky and his disciples struggled heritage. against its disastrous consequences, as they began to reveal The Third International, which has ended now in shame themselves in life. As the tragic course of events unfolded; and disgrace, has nevertheless left behind the richest treasures Trotsky, step by step, analyzed, he explained, he threw the for the future. Its founders. Lenin and Trotsky belong to us; Marxist light on all the great events as they happened, before nobody can dissolve the tie that binds the new generation of they happened, and afterwards he drew the necessary conclu revolutionary workers to Lenin and Trotsky, to their teachings, sions. He was not deterred by persecution; he was not dis their example, their beautiful memory. The record of the mayed by the few numbers that surrounded him, nor by the long internal struggle from 1923 to this date, the struggle of renegacy of others, nor by the sneers of philistines. Trotsky and his co-thinkers and disciples, belongs to the Trotsky did not consider in the first place numbers, popu proletariat of the world. The record of that struggle is the larity, success of the moment, any more than did Marx and basic literature upon which the whole new generation v'hich Engels and Lenin. He considered historical necessity. He con is destined to lead the world w ill be educated and trained. sidered the task of formulating for the proletariat the program The first four Congresses of the Comintern, held under Lenin’s showing the shortest road to the realization of its historical leadership in 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922 — four congresses in SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1943 FOUR TH E MILITANT
in defense of the legitimate interests of its mem bers. It would prevent one union from supporting Important UAW Locals another, and the officers of an international union Coal Operators Block from aiding its constituent locals. This ax placed in the hands of the administration can be wielded Back Labor Party not only against the miners but against any union Agreement With UMW ------By JO H N S A U N D E R S ------which fights for its rights. DETROIT, June 4.—The strikes of the miners, the heads of the top officialdom of grievances and that the mine (Continued from page 1) rubber workers of Akron, the auto workers of Detroit, The uninterrupted attacks upon the labor move the AFL and CIO. From the first strikes arose as a result of the action of one Individual. They and the series of lesser strikes throughout the coun ment emanating in the past few months from the comply with his strike-breaking days of the coal controversy they have given the lie to this slander try, make clear that the apathy which has for so long Democratic-Republican coalition have demonstra orders would be reclassified by have acted as the waterboys for again in the battle they waged permeated the ranks of labor is beginning to disap their local draft boards. Roosevelt. They have supported ted again and again that the trade-unions cannot against calling off The second The Policy Committee of the his his attempts, to isolate' the pear. In the course of these strikes the workers have get along under present conditions without a poli mine strike and granting another UMW, in ordering the coal miners miners and to break the unity of run headlong against the entire governmental machi tical part}' of their own. Such an Independent La to return to work on Monday, their ranks. truce. nery which has forced them back on the job without Even as late as Wednesday bor Party could not only ward o ff the blows of June 7, made clear that this ac Both the AFL and CIO Ex securing the many demands or settling the grievances June 9, thousands of miners in the ultra-reactionary Democratic-Republican union tion was only another truce “up ecutive Boards, meeting in the Pennsylvania, W. Virginia, Ohio, which have been piling up since Pearl Harbor. This to and including June 20.” The m idst o f the coal crisis, saw’ fit wreckers in Washington but could press for pro and Kentucky refused to return has at least given the workers sufficient food for Policy Committee directive stated to condemn the miners’ strike labor. tax, price and other legislation which would to work until the operators signed thought. To help along their thinking process both that “this action was taken to and to take that occasion to a satisfactory contract with the houses of Congress have been pushing through anti- benefit the working people instead of the coupon- protect your union and its mem reiterate their determination to union. clippers and union-hating industrialists. bership.” keep the' labor movement in the strike and anti-union legislation. The miners may not have many The lackeys of the coal and chains of the no-strike pledge. These events have squarely posed before the rank How much the capitalist Congressmen and poll- friends among the top officialdom steel barons in Congress, how This treacherous conduct was and file workers of Detroit, the absolute necessity of taxers fear this prospect of independent labor poli of the AFL and CIO. But the ever, are busy right now, trying climaxed on June 2 w’hen the rank and file of the most progres forming an Independent Labor Party. The sentiment tical action is evidenced by the fact that the Con to protect their masters against AFL and CIO representatives sive unions of both labor federa in the ranks was best expressed by a worker on the nally bill prohibits labor unions from making con the eventuality of another gen joined with labor-hating indu tions have demonstrated that floor at the last meeting of Hudson Local 154-UAW eral miners’ strike. Both the strialists and their professorial tributions to political parties. This is one more they are back of the miners and on May 28 when he stated: “We are sick and tired House and Senate have passed lackeys of the WLB in denounc good reason for opposing the bill. It is another their heroic fight. The problem of versions of the Smith-Connally ing the second miners’ strike and of the ‘friends of labor.’ What