THE TENTH COMMUNIST PARTY CONVENTION

EARL BROWDER WM. Z. FOSTER ALEX BITTELMAN JAMES W. FORD AND OTHERS

LSO RTICLE ON J LY FOl' RT H T HE TR l T OR BVKHARI H . LeYy' A Philo ojJh • for n M odern Man R eviewed

TWENTY CENTS THREE NEW BOOKS OF INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

THE PEOPLE•s FRONT By Earl Browder The authoritative statement by the leader of the Communist Party on the Communist position on national and international affairs, including the constitutional crisis, the Supreme Court, intervention in Spain, the Soviet Union and world peace, trade union unity, the Negro ques­ tion, and many other problems. 354 pages. $2.25 • THE UNITED FRONT PROBLEMS OF WORKING CLASS UNITY AND THE PEOPLE'S FRONT IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST FASCISM AND WAR By Georgi Dimitroff This book presents the position of the Communist International on the basic issues of our time. It covers all important internationa_11 develop­ ments since 1935. One of the special features of this book is an analy­ sis of the nature of fascism and a program for combatti~·~t. tis. pages. $2.00 • .l FRANCE oF the PEOP~ES FRONT AND HER MISSION IN .fFIE WORLD

By Maur~ Thorez The brilliant report of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of France to its Ninth Congress, held in Aries, France, December 25th to 29th, 1937. In it Maurice Thorez indicates the path to victory over fascism and war, and toward the final objective, socialism. 128 pages. $.20 • Order from your local bookshop or from WORKERS LIBRARY PUBLISHERS P. 0. Box 148, Station D, New York City VOL. XVII, No. 7· 7he COMMUNIST

A MAGAZINE OF THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF MARXISM-LENINISM PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE U.S.A. EDITORS: EARL BROWDER, ALEX BITTELMAN, Y. ]. JEROME

CONTENTS

Review of the Month A. B. 579

Summation Speech at the Tenth National Convention EARL BROWDER • 594

Win the We~. ern Hemisphere for Democ- racy and PC eel WILLIAM Z. FOSTER • 600

Forging the Negro l?eople's Sector of the Democratic Front JAMES w. FORD • 615

Some Problems Before the Tenth Conven- tion of the Communist !'arty ALEX BITTELMAN 624

July 4th-Birthday of American Df'mocracy FRANCIS FRANKLIN 630

Bukharin-The Path of a Traitor v. J. JEROME 642

Problems of Building the Democratic Front HALL, ROSS, FRANKFELD, SCHNEIDERMAN 652

Book Reviews PHILIP CARTER R. W. TURNER

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By By EARL EARL BROWDER BROWDER

A A MESSAGE MESSAGE TO TO CATHOLICS CATHOLICS

Distribute Distribute Among Among Your Your Catholic Catholic Friends Friends and and Neighbors Neighbors

Also-

Party Party in in the the spirit spirit of of the the glorious glorious revolutionary revolutionary traditions traditions of of America. America.

on on common common interests, interests, and and with with the the building building of of a a mass mass Communist Communist

tive tive peace peace policy, policy, with with the the question question of of cooperation cooperation with with the the Catholics Catholics

in in the the 1938 1938 elections, elections, with with the the problem problem of of winning winning America America for for a a posi­

building building of of the the democratic democratic front, front, with with organizing organizing victory victory for for progress progress

sively, sively, in in this this brilliant brilliant report, report, with with the the offensive offensive of of reaction reaction and and the the

problems problems confronting confronting the the people people of of America America today. today. He He deals deals exten­

In In this this historic historic report, report, Earl Earl Browder Browder makes makes clear clear the the main main political political

Communist Communist Party, Party, U.S. U.S. A. A.

Report Report to to the the Tenth Tenth National National Convention Convention of of the the

96 96 Pages. Pages. Price Price I I Oc. Oc.

By By EARL EARL BROWDER BROWDER

FOR FOR JOBS., JOBS., SECURITY, SECURITY, DEMOCRACY DEMOCRACY AND AND PEACE PEACE

The The DEMOCRATIC DEMOCRATIC FRONT FRONT

Every Every American American Should Should Read Read This This Pamphlet Pamphlet REVIEW OF THE MONTH

Tenth Communist Convention Disturbs Reactionary Camp. Rediscovering America's Great. Better Americans Because Better Communists. Commu­ nists Are Maturing Together With Their Class and People. Browder's Report. Fighting for Democracy and Fighting for Socialism. Becoming a Vanguard Party. Are We Sugar-Coating Communism'! Are We Merely Continuing jefferson'! Guard Against All Vulgarizations. Landon Lets the Cat Out of the Bag. Can Big Business Give Us Normal Recovery'! On Special Kinds of Recovery. The Way of Hitler or the Way of the Democratic Front. Congressional Lessons and Coming Elections. How Shall We Fight Hague and Hagueism'! Apply Fully Demo­ cratic Front Policy. Who Are the "National Rededicators"'! The Struggle for National Health. A Thomas-Lovestone Affair Be­ comes Exposed. The Dave Doran Youth Drive. A Party Branch Builds Daily Worker Circulation.

HE reactionary and pro-fascist democratic tradition as Jefferson, T camp in the United States is Jackson and Lincoln. For isn't it a visibly distu11bed by the successful new fact that Hooverism is the very oppo­ approaches of the Communist Party to site of these traditions, that monopoly the broad masses of our people. The reaction is the worst enemy of the enemy fears these new approaches and democracy which Jefferson and Lin­ is trying to deS'troy them. But we will coln stood for? Isn't it a fact that these not permit diem to do that. And we traditions can be preserved and car­ will accomplish our aims best by ried forward today only in the most bringing to the widest masses the great bitter struggle ag·ainst the Hoovers message of our Tenth National Con­ and Landons? Yet these people pre­ vention expressed so convincingly in tend to resent our "appropriating" the report of Comrade Browder. Jefferson and Lincoln. It is truly a sight for the gods to What distu11bs and worries the watch the spokesmen of monopoly re­ enemy is, of course, not our "appro­ action, the fountain-head of fascism priation" but something else. It is our in this country "defend" Americanism determination to join the people in and democracy "against" the Commu­ "rediscovering these great ones of nists. It is really amusing, in a way, America," as Browder said; to make to see the Hoovers, Landons, and these heroes of the past come back to Hearsts grow indignant at the at­ life in the struggles of the people tempt of the~ Communists "to appro­ today; to carry forward in the new priate" such heroes of the American world, in the world where fascism is 579 580 THE COMMUNIST the main enemy, the gteat objectives speaking their language, sharing their and democratic ideals for which these joys and sorrows, fighting the same heroes fought in their time. This is enemy and moving toward the same what worries the enemy: the resurrec­ objectives; and that, in consequence, tion of Jefferson and Lincoln among they are in a position to serve more the masses; the potency of the revived effectively than before as the advanced democratic traditions in the life and sector of their class and people, as the death struggle against the Tories and vanguard of the mass struggle against reactionaries of today. And the enemy fascism and capitalism. attacks and slanders our Tenth Con­ Yes, we want it to be known very vention precisely because it made such definitely that we have become better an effective contribution toward Americans although not exactly over­ strengthening the potency of these night. Unevenly and through many traditions ·among the masses; because setbacks, we were moving in that di­ it showed clearly how to carry these rection for quite a while. Certainly, traditions forward, hammering them since the Eighth Party Convention in out into sharp weapons against the 1934, we were moving in that direc­ offensive of finance capital, for block­ tion more consciously and consistent­ ing the road to fascism in ~his country. ly. Recall ·the Party manifesto on When some of our opponents say American traditions that issued from that the Communists "have gone that convention. And why was that so? American" all of a sudden, or that the Because we were becoming better Communist Party "has dressed itself Communists. Because we were becom­ up in American clothes," they unwit­ ing true Marxists-Leninists, shedding tingly pay us a tribute although in a our sectarianism and coming closer to rather vulgar fashion. Surely, we are the masses. Because, guided by the de­ more American today, and better cisions of the Seventh World Congress Americans, than we were in the past. of the Communist International, we And we want everybody to know it be­ have been learning to integrate the cause, we believe, it is good for our­ mass popularization of the revolution­ selves and it is good for our people. ary and democratic traditions of our We should like to have it proclaimed people with the propaganda of the from the housetops that, together with teachings of Marx, Engels, Lenin and the American working class and its al­ Stalin. lies among the farmers and middle As already indicated, the Commu­ classes, as a working class political nist Party was growing to political party, the Communist Party of the maturity not just by itself, not in a United States has come to political vacuum, but in the midst of the maturity. We should like it to be masses and with them. The working known far and wide that the Ameri­ class was growing in political matur­ can Communists are today more con­ ity and also its allies. And so did we scious of their American roots than as the advanced detachment. Under­ ever before; that they have become an lying all of which, of course, were, on inseparable part o£ their class and of the one hand, the great changes in their people, thinking their thoughts, the world situation: the coming of fas- REVIEW OF THE MONTH

cism as the main enemy, the rise of "R ECOSTUMED"- comJ:I?.ents the broad ai;Iti·fascist and democrati.c peo­ New York World-Telegram on ple's movements with the all-around the Communist Party as it emerges strengthening of the Soviet Union as from its Tenth National Convention. the home of socialism and strongest "Dimitroff's · Trojan horse"""- adds fortress of peace and democracy. On heavily The New York Times. "Men­ the other hand, the accumulated ex­ tal acrobatics"...:....shouts the New York periences of the last two decades-two Herald Tribune. "He would embrace decades of the epoch of the general us the better to choke us" -says the crisis of capitalism-the lessons learned Catholic Dr. Edmund A. Walsh, vice­ by the masses of our people through president of Georgetown University, their advances as well as blunders and trying to ward off the effect of Com­ setbacks, the lessons learned by our rade Browder's moving appeal to the class and its coming forward a.s a class, Catholic masses. "Being embraced by the lessons learned by ourselves. All a bear"-writes the liberal Nation, of this, the changed situation and the which promptly echoes most of the accumulated experiences have con­ slanders of the Trotsky-fascist agent, tributed to this end that our people, Max Eastman. And in the espionage our class and our Party are becoming nests of the Trotsky-Lovestoneites gen­ progressively better equipped to meet erally there is to be noticed a panicky effectively the tasks of the present commotion. period, the task of defeating the offen­ Combining all of the foregoing into sive of finance capital in the develop­ an inimitable product of true ing crisis and of blocking the road to Thomasism, Norman Thomas pre­ fascism. tends to dismiss it all as "changes that This, in brief, is the why and where­ Stalin dictates to the Comintem." fore of our having become better Laughable but characteristic. Communists and hence better Ameri­ Worthy of note are the main chan­ cans. This, inferentially, is also the nels and methods by which pro-fascist why and wherefore of the develop­ reaction seeks to counteract the ment of monopoly capital from a powerful effects of the Tenth Com­ source of political reaction to the munist National Convention upon the. mainspring of fascism. This is why further development of the working the most reactionary circles of finance class and of the democratic front. capital have be~ome the betrayers of Such channels and methods, there are America and of Americanism. This is many: openly reactionary, so-called how the defense of the democratic "liberal," Thomas-"Socialist," Love­ traditions of Jefferson, Jackson and stoneite, Trotskyite. All of these are Lincoln has become identified with in motion. And the central task of all the present-day central struggle of them, their "unifying idea," seems against the fascist menace-the politi­ to be to try to construct in the minds cal and economic offensive of the re­ of the people some sort of irreconql­ actionary monopolies. able contradiction between the ulti-

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certain certain among among prejudices prejudices Communist Communist Herald Herald the the and and Hearst Hearst (say (say tion tion

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COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE THE REVIEW OF THE MONTH and middle classes into the common mean-can't mean-that there is any­ democratic front against reaction and thing in common between them and fascism, ·in the first instance, for the Jefferson. Being smart guys and great coming elections this fall. It is further on maneuvering, the Communists. are to obstruct the firmer establishment of merely sugar-coating their pills to our Party in the camp of democracy ' make it easier for the people to &wal­ as its most unifying and advanced low their real stuff." force. It is, finally, to hamper the fur­ This we reject unqualifiedly as a ther spread of Communist ideology complete vulgarization and distor­ among the masses. tion of our position. This can be seen What is our answer to this attack? plainly by a consideration of the fol­ It is to carry the message of the Tenth lowing points: Convention (Browder's report, the 1. It is an established historic resolutions, the Constitution, our de­ truth, of which we ourselves were not liberations) to the widest masses. It is always fully conscious, that commu­ to make its message a living reality in nism, as the most advanced social the life and struggles of the masses philosophy of our time, embodies and and their organizations everywhere. It carries forward all the revolutionary is to prove by deeds that the Tenth and democratic traditions of the past. Convention has made us all, individ­ Let our "friendly" insinuators. con­ ually and collectively, better and sult the writings of our teachers (for more effective fighters for the interests example, Lenin's famous letter to the of the people and its working class, American workers) and, in this light, has made us more useful and indis­ restudy Browder's report to the con­ pensable for the building of the pro­ vention and the convention decisions. gressive organizations of the masses, 2. The struggle for socialism is a for the building of the common struggle for democracy. It is so his­ democratic front. It is to prove by torically. It is so dialectically. It passes deeds that our Tenth Convention has through various stages, assuming va­ helped us to become a bigger and rious forms, but it is a struggle for better vanguard party for our class the development of democracy to the and people. very end, thus reaching the point of • • • transition to the highest form of de­ socialism. ULGARIZATION of our position is a mocracy, V danger that must be guarded 3· The task of blocking the road to against. We have already tried to fascism, which means defending and show in the foregoing that, when pre­ extending democracy, is no maneuver selllted correctly to the masses, our or "sugar-coating," as any person in position is invulnerable. That's why his senses can see. It is, in the present the enemy first vulgarizes our policies world situation, an inescapable stage and then proceeds to attack. in the struggle for socialism. He who Already we hear from various has not understood that will under­ sources the "friendly" insinuation stand nothing. that "the Communists really don't 4· Nor is our conception of transi- THE t:OMMUNIST tional forms a mere maneuver or of Jefferson, as developing into some "sugar-coating.'~ . This conception is sort of a Left current in the New rooted in the Leninist theory of the Deal. fundamental laws of all great revolu­ This is obviously a caricature. And tions. Already at the Seventh World this too one can see plainly by exam­ Congress of the Communist Interna­ ining the following: tion, Comrade Dimitroff discussed the 1. The distinction

mocracy. Yet with us, it is a funda­ too will be needing more relief. And mental principle. It is everything. We the crisis is still continuing. see the working class taking the initi­ As to the attitude of Big Business, ative in bringing together the forces it continues on strike and makes no of the democratic front (workers, bones about it. At the present time, farmers, middle classes), and we work it banks mainly on the fall elections for it. We see the working class and (while steadily undermining wage working class unity as the most de­ standards) in the hope of returning cisive and eventually the leading a Congress that will sabotage more force in the democratic front, as the ·effectively the will and needs of the main guarantee of its victory over re­ people. Listen to former Governor action and fascism, as the eventual Landon as reported by Clapper in the liberator of all the people from the New York World-Telegram (May oppression of monopoly capitalism. 24): And for this we work. These little "innocent" vulgariza­ "Landon says tha.t business will be mate­ tions are precisely the openings for rially improved only if there is an increase which the Trotsky-Lovestone agents in Republican representation in Congress. of fascism are looking: They them­ 'Everything is going to be held back,' Gov­ ernor Landon says, 'until the people see how selves are trying to create such open­ many Republicans go back this year.' The ings in order to weaken the effects of 1936 Republican Presidential candidate made our powerful and correct line as em­ that statement in New York. He is on tour bodied in Comrade BrowP.er's report, and has been talking with a great many in the Party Constitution and in the business men. ·He apparently gathered that they were in no mood to go ahead until the resolutions. Hence, the need of guard­ Roosevelt administration is tamed down.'' ing against all vulgarizations and dis­ tortions, the need of exposing and In other words, if you want Big correcting them as we go along. Business to go to work, you niust give . them a Republican Congress, oz: one • • • made up of a coalition of reactionary W ITH the passage of the Presi­ Democrats and standpat Republicans. dent's relief and recovery pro­ And will this give us "normal" re­ posals a significant gain has been covery? Landon says it would. But it made by the people, and an impor­ wouldn't. tant victory achieved against the sab­ More cautiously, and camouflaged otage and opposition of Big Business in "economics," the same Landon reaction. Yet it must be emphasized view is expressed by the National again that the measure is woefully inadequate even for purposes of im­ City Bank in its June bulletin. As­ mediate relief, let alone for effectively serting that business improvement stimulating recovery. The Labor Re­ must be looked for in the general eco­ search Association estimates unem­ nomic situation, it proceeds: ployment in March at 16,456,ooo, "When inventories are cut down, costs re­ including the 3,462,ooo on W.P.A., duced [read: wage cuts], prices brought into P.W.A. and C.C.C. rolls. The farmers line and profits restored [what about monop- THE COMMUNIST oly prices?] and business men have more in­ "These views expressed by Comrade Stalin centive to go ahead with plans and projects, amaze one at their sharp penetration, and business will pick up: demand for commod­ give us the key to a correct estimation of the ities will resume, and price recovery will developing new crisis of capitalist economy :·• begin in a normal and healthy way." This crisis has special characteris­ Healthy for Big Business, perhaps. tics and so will have the coming re­ ·But a5 to "normal," that is very, very covery which cannot be an ordinary questionable. one. This idea seems to have ·begun It is absolutely necessary to explode penetrating the minds even of some of once and for all the myth that Big the more intelligent apologists of mo­ Business (and the Republicans) will noply reaction. For example, Walter give us normal recovery-jobs for all Lippmann, having been struck by the and good wages-once it is given a fact that New Deal. spending and "free hand" to do as it pleases. Let other policies seem to be doing some­ us recall once more that our previous thing to the national economy, wrote recovery wasn't "normal" either. And as follows: not because of the New Deal, as Hoover wants it; the New Deal was "The success of this system produces a at that titne (1932-33) still enjoying situation in which in an important degree the politicians take over the role formerly the full "confidence" of Big Business. played by private bankers and private invest­ The trouble was with the general ors. The party in power does the lending and crisis of the capitalist system. And it the spending and the investing and with that still is-aggravated by the economic power it also fixes farm prices and industrial and political sabotage of the monop­ wages. To ask for a normal recovery is to ask these entrenched politicians to abdicate, olies. to give back to private interests a power Speaking of the special character­ which the politicians have acquired, and in istics of our previous recovery, Com­ giving it back to surrender the most per­ rade Stalin said in 1934: fect device ever invented for winning elec­ tions and staying in oJfice.'' (New York Her­ "Apparently what we are witnessing is the ald Tribune, May 19.) transition from the lowest depth of the in­ dustrial crisis to a depression, not an ordin­ Lippmann senses something about ary depression, but to a depression of a the difficulties of a fully ''normal'' re­ special kind which does not lead to a new covery, about the appearance of "spe­ boom and flourishing industry, but which, on the other hand, does not force it back to cial kinds" of recovery. But he does the lowest point of decline." • not fully understand the matter or purposely distorts it. Let's hang on that because here is The truth is this: no matter who the key to an understanding of the would be in power today, there present crisis and also to the next re­ couldn't be, hardly likely to be, an covery. Very correctly, therefore, ordinary, fully normal recovery. By Comrade Manuilsky writes in connec­ this we mean the ordinary phase of tion with the present crisis: recovery of capitalist economy from • Joseph Stalin, "Report to Seventeenth Congress of the Communist Party of the So­ • D. Z. Manuilsky, "How to Prepare a Re­ viet Union," in Socialism J'ictorious, Interna­ port on the International Situation," in The tional Publishers, New York. Communist International, March, 1938. REVIEW OF THE MONTH a cyclical crisis where the expansion to subsidize the private "enterprise" of heavy industry exclusively by pri­ of Big Business. Again we would have vate investment serves as the lever for spending and lending •but only for the raising the entire economy out of the trusts. Again we would have politi­ crisis. Reasons for the small likeli­ cians, lackeys of monopoly reaction, hood, of such a normal recovery are: spending to enrich a small clique of the general crisis of the capitalist sys­ finance capitalists and holding the tem, and the sabotage of Big Busi­ mass of the people in a huge concen­ ness. A world war would make a dif­ tration camp at starvation levels. ference. But then we would have a The choice therefore is not between capitalist war economy, not an ordi­ normal recovery and no-recovery. Nor nary or normal recovery. is it a choice between normal recov­ Suppose monopoly reaction should ery and un-normal. The choice is be­ get into power a government fully tween a sort of recovery that would subservient to its wishes, or is given a be beneficial to the mass of the people "free hand" by the present adminis­ and which would further strengthen tration, would we have a normal re­ and develop democracy; and another covery? Not at all. We wouldn't have sort of "recovery," one that would de­ the sabotage of Big Business but ex­ stroy all our present standards of liv­ cess productive capacity and narrow ing, destroy in the process democracy markets would remain. In fact, mar­ and enthrone fascism, making the . kets would narrow down still further agonies of dying capitalism well nigh because the monopolies would at intolerable for the people. once proceed to enforce a most dras­ It is the first sort of recovery that tic reduction of the standard of living we are dutybound to fight for. The of the majority of the people. This program of the democratic front, sup­ would still further reduce mass pur­ ported by the majority of our people, chasing power, thus narrowing the which the Tenth Communist Con­ home market for industry. But in the vention pledges our Party to support attempt to enforce such a reduction with all its might, is the onJy road of the standard of living of the of struggle for a recovery in the in­ masses, the monopolies would have to terests of the American people. break the resistance of the people. We therefore fight for two things: Hence, destruction of democratic relief and recovery. rights and most ·likely a fascist coup Is it possible? Can we be successful? d'etat. Then we would have a Hitler­ Of course, we can. "recovery": a ·big jail with penal ser­ Writing on the probable conse­ vitude for -the masses. But no "nor­ quences of this crisis as compared mal" recovery. with 1929, Comrade Manuilsky says: Furthermore, monopoly reaction in "You set yourself the que!ltion as to-· full control of the government would whether the consequences of the p~t at once help itself very liberally from crisis will be the sa!De in the life of the peoples (as in 1919). Of (:Oune, the lllODOp· the public treasury. It woul¢1 merci­ olist trusts in the U.S.A. will uUiize the c:riais lessly rob the people and the treasury to attack bourg_eois democracy. Of coune. 5ss THE COMMUNIST the entire international situation will be­ secure their realization, reaction was come still more acute and the war danger riding high, .almost completely par­ will grow to a tremendous degree, yet the alyzing Congress in the matter of consequences of the crisis beginning in the U.S.A. will be, of course, somewhat different progressive legislation. But when the from the social and political consequences of people began to speak up, resorting the 1929 crisis." • to organized struggle and pressure, What will these be? especially when labor was achieving a certain degree of united action " ... there will be an increase in the power (primitive though it was), the reac­ of resistance of the masses to fascism; this tionary offensive was beaten back and will be the case because the masses, on the basis of the bitter experience in Germany certain modest advances made. Hence, and Austria, have become clearer as to the the united action of labor and its in­ real capitulatory meaning of the policy of itiative in rallying all the people the reactionary leaders of Social-Democracy. against reaction, rallying them in It will no:w be more difficult for the reac­ tionary leaders of Social-Democracy to de­ struggle for the people's demands­ ceive the masses, who will make use of the this is the chief lesson. This means lessons of the past crisis, the lessons of the building the democratic front, and for heroic struggles in Spain and China, the ex­ its immediate task-the coming elec­ perience of France. . . ." • tions. · And with all these experiences, Congress has also helped to clarify diey- further the central issue. Progress against reaction. Democracy against " ... will wage a victorious struggle against the attempt to place the consequences of the fascism. Peace against war. Make the crisis on their shoulders, and achieve new monopolies pay for the crisis and vi·ctar:ies over · fascism.''• . work for a recovery in the interests The approaches in our country to of the people. The election platform this sort of victorious struggle lie adopted by the Tenth Communist through the present fight for relief, Convention rests upon these main is­ recovery, democracy, peace. And. this sues and lists specifically the practical is what our Tenth Convention pro­ demands of the majority of the peo­ poses as the program of the demo­ ple. Carry it to the masses. Organize cratic front. them for struggle. Now, with the adjournment of • • • Congress, the election struggle for the T HAS already been observed by sev­ coming fall is entering a more active I eral progressive commentators that and intense phase. The past session • one of the chief weaknesses in the has significance in two ways. It has fight against Hague and Hagueism is taught the people lessons and has de­ the fact that ·the masses ofJersey City fined more clearly the issues. As to the and New Jersey generally have not lessons: as long as the masses of the yet been sufficiently aroused. They people, and in the first instance or­ have not yet really entered the fight. ganized labor, thought that merely But this is not the only weakness. presentii]J demands is sufficient to Another one is that the character of • Ibid. the fight has been somewhat distorted,

' REVIEW OF THE MONTH rather seriously, by confining it to an and to organize the workers to enforce "old-time" free speech fight. And the that law by their own power, using main responsibility for that rests upon this achievement to obtain more ad­ those who are separating the fight for vanced union conditions. With this free speech from the economic inter­ kind of a fight, the reactionary trai­ ests of the people in Jersey City and tors in the top A. F. of L. leadership in the State of New Jersey; who are . in Jersey would soon be exposed and separating the free speech fight from eliminated by their own rank and file. the broad political interests of the But this is not all. The fight in masses of that city and state; and who Jersey is to break the Hague machine. are persisting in turning the free And it is foolish to suppose that this fight in Jersey City into a fight against can be done in any other way except the New Deal and the Roosevelt ad­ in accord with the general political ministration. It is this distortion of realignment in the country, namely, the fight which militates against the democratic front against reaction. bringing the masses into it and which If this policy is correct and necessary helps Hague to solidify or, at least, in the country as a whole, in Jersey keep together his reactionary and pro­ it is absolutely indispensable. The fascist machine. policy must be, and this is the policy The fight against Hague and Ha­ of our Party organization, to assist by gueism is a much more serious busi­ all possible means the progressive ness than an old time free speech forces in both major parties to come fight. Just because we are dealing here together, to organize, and to strive for with incipient fascism, it should be common action against the Hague obvious that the meaning of this fight machine which is in coalition with must be made crystal' clear to the the Republican reactionaries. And in widest masses of Jersey City and New the first place, the job is especially to Jersey. And this demaHds that the encourage the coming forward of the masses be enabled to see the vital im­ liberal and progressive elements in mediate economic interests and the the Democratic Party, because that is broad political interests which are at the party in which Hague has his stake for them in this fight. In fact, machine. this is how the fight began. It began Now, when in view of the above, as a fight against the misery of sweat­ an attempt is made to turn the fight shops for the right of the workers to against Hague into a fight against organize into unions to improve their Roosevelt and against the Democratic conditions, for the right of collective Party as· such, is it not clear that this bargaining. This is how the fight must tends to force all Democrats (with be continued in one of its main few exceptions), even Hague"'s pro­ phases: as a fight to organize the un­ gressive opponents, into rallying to organized, in which both C.I.O. and their party, which means in practice, A. F. of L. are vitally interested. With to Hague? Plain common sense would the passage of the Wages and Hours dictate here a policy of encouraging Bill, the fight must be made to real­ the New Deal Democrats to come for­ ize the provisions of that law in Jersey ward, to assert themselves, to unite 59° THE COMMU:~IST with other progressive forces, among Landon and Hoover and Matthew the Republicans, labor, fanners, etc. Woll when this too very obviously The contrary policy of making it a helps Hague to capitalize on Demo­ war against the Democratic Party only cratic Party discipline and attach­ helps Hague because there he is in ment while frightening the progres­ control of the party machine. The sive forces in that party from the fight policy of making it a fight against against Hague? the New Deal, fundamentally wrong The national Democratic Party has in itself, frightens the progressive ele­ plenty to answer for in its failure to ments in the Democratic Party in combat Hague. We must help mobil­ Jersey and paralyzes their efforts ize the widest mass demand that the against Hague. investigation of Hague by the Depart­ We can well understand that Lan­ ment of Justice be started at once and don is fishing for in Jersey City,· or with the greatest publicity. Since the Herbert Hoover; or John W. Davis, President continues the "hands-off" or Matthew Woll. These people are policy, thus damaging his own stand­ plainly carrying forward the policy of ing,· we must urge upon the progres­ the coalition of the Republicans and sive Democrats in Congress and out­ reactionary Democrats, the strategy of side to assume responsibility for Big Business, which is to destroy the breaking Hague's hold upon their New Deal's influence in the Demo­ party in Jersey and, above all, to cratic Party and to bring to power bring to life and active struggle the Republican Party, if necessary, by against Hague the progressive Demo­ giving it a "liberal" face. Big Busi­ crats in jersey itself. ness still wants to be entrenched in In short, the fight against Hague is both major parties. Landon, Hoover, a fight against one of the spearheads Davis, and Woll are monkeying with of Big Business pro-fascist reaction in the Jersey situation precisely for that this country. And it must be handled purpose. That also seems to be the as such-in accord with the general purpose of the "National Rededica­ policy of the democratic front which tion outfit" -an outfit which will bear is the policy of our Party organization watching although it could hardly in Jersey. It certainly must not be withstand a close examination. handled in such a way as to help But what are the broader political Hague and Hoover and Landon. purposes of Norman Thomas in • • Jersey? Of course, he fights for civil HE NATIONAL HEALTH CONFERENCE liberties and such fights we always T to be held July 18-20 in Wash­ support. But how does he fight? Why ington, D.C., under the direction of is he persistently separating the free the President's Interdepartmental speech issue from the material inter­ Committee to Coordinate Health and ests of the masses? Why does he seek Welfare Activities, may prove an im­ to turn it into a fight against Roose­ portant stage in the developing strug­ velt and the Democratic Party when gle for the preservation and improve­ this so obviously plays into Hague·s ment of the people's health. · hands? Why does he associate with Miss Roche, chairman of the Inter- REVIEW OF THE MONTH departmental Committee, estimated shop organizations, Communists can that there were fifteen million persons do most valuable work to promote in rural areas, with incomes under this health program. $1,000 a year, who did not have "basic public health service, additional medi­ * * cal and nursing personnel and hos­ HE Thomas-Lovestone "Congress" pital facilities," and that another T fraudulently waving the banner fifty million with incomes between of "Keep America Out of War," did $1,ooo and $2,000 require "public aid one good thing. It showed up the in the medical care of certain illnesses whole business for what it really was: in which treatment is extremely cost­ an agency for rendering aid and com­ ly because of their long duration or fort to the fascist aggressors. This their demand for specific facilities for clearly does not refer to the inten­ diagnosis or care." (R. Duffus, The tions of everyone present there. Of New York Times, June 12.) course, not. Some trade unionists This only gives part of the picture (most of whom came there as indi­ yet it is serious enough to call for viduals, not as elected delegates) may the most drastic measures. have come there by mistake, simply Comrade William Z. Foster, as is being deceived by the slogan and ac­ known, has done a great deal to make tually believing that this was going us conscious of the importance of this to be a gathering to try to keep problem. And the Tenth Communist America out of war. These, we hope, · Convention has adopted a guiding have learned by now that they were line for our Party to participate in deceived. For a gathering, claiming to and promote the struggle of the be opposed to war and the fascist war­ masses for the people's health, for a makers, which today refuses to help workers' health program. We quote Republican Spain, such a gathering, from Comrade Browder's report the whatever the intentions of some dele­ following: gates, is rendering aid to Franco, "The people's health question is a political Hitler and Mussolini. issue of major importance. Trade unions, It is the plain fact that this "Con­ fraternal societies, women's clubs, youth or­ gress" refused even to consider a pro­ ganizations, as well as the progressive wing posal demanding that the embargo Medical Association and the of the American against Republican Spain be lifted. Roosevelt administration, are increasingly becoming interested in it.... We must par­ Such a proposal was adopted by the ticipate in all these progressive movements trade union delegates. And it is safe and fight for better mass health conditions, to assume that most of these delegates, especially for city and rural health centers excepting the Thomas-Lovestoneites, free and adequate medical care, to furnish Congress to adopt this and also to have the government include wanted the health insurance in the social security legis­ proposal. Otherwise what was the lation. The people's health movement pro­ need of having a congress if the pur­ vides an important means for building the pose was to work for peace and democratic front." against the fascist war-makers. Through their neighborhood and The Thomas-Lovestoneite "engi-

try-

York, York, New New Bronx, Bronx, the the in in branch branch Japan. Japan. and and Mussolini Mussolini Hitler, Hitler, Franco, Franco,

Party Party a. a. of of example example an an is is Here Here of of interests interests the the in in aggressors, aggressors, fascist fascist

aim. aim. the the of of interests interests the the in in function function special special

our our accomplish accomplish will will we we systematically, systematically, a a performing performing is is Trotskyites-that Trotskyites-that the the

it it about about go go we we papers. papers. daily daily our our If If of of plus plus group-this group-this the the is is this this for for again, again,

circulation circulation mass mass the the press, press, our our of of ing ing try try doubt doubt no no will will They They main. main. the the in in

build­ the the convention: convention: our our of of cision cision failed, failed, and and tried tried They They uncombinable. uncombinable.

de­ another another earnest earnest true true in in ward ward the the combine combine to to tried tried who who brokers brokers the the

for­ carry carry also also us us Let Let it. it. do do us us Let Let were were These These Thomas-Lovestoneites. Thomas-Lovestoneites.

the the

affair, affair, the the to to party party "third" "third" date." date." above above

the the is is this this for for explanation explanation the the And And the the by by 25,000 25,000 to to 2o,ooo 2o,ooo from from League League munist munist

Com­ Young Young the the of of membership membership the the crease crease "Congress." "Congress." a a such such was was there there said, said,

in­ help help can can we we Party Party the the of of efforts efforts concerted concerted

be be will will it it But, But, shouldn't. shouldn't. there there and and

the the through through that that but but qpestion qpestion no no is is there there

can't can't there there is: is: answer answer plain plain The The

Party, Party, the the of of building building the the to to give give to to learned learned

Congress? Congress? a a them, them, for for have have we we guidance guidance systematic systematic same same the the with with

ground ground meeting meeting common common a a be, be, there there matter matter this this to to attention attention our our turning turning "By "By

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gether? gether?

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to­ get get

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and and

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government? government?

Spanish Spanish

the the against against

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proposal proposal a a for) for)

vote vote

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con· con· even even wouldn't wouldn't who who people people and and

a a hero, hero, a a of of name name the the in in drive drive A A

Spain Spain Republican Republican help help to to wish wish who who

unionists unionists trade trade between between common common in in democracy." democracy." for for fighting fighting Spain, Spain, of of

battlefields battlefields the the on on life life his his gave gave there there is is who who then, then, Doran, Doran, What, What, category. category. that that to to

Dave Dave of of name name the the in in conducted conducted is is drive drive The The close close pretty pretty them them put put to to as as coloration coloration

War. War. Against Against Struggle Struggle of of Day Day ternational ternational

political political such such of of been been have have must must they they

In­

August, August, by by

League League Communist Communist Young Young

then then some), some), been been have have may may there there (and (and

the the into into members members new new 5,000 5,000 recruit recruit to to drive drive

Franco Franco of of agents agents outright outright weren't weren't membership membership a a undertake undertake to to decided decided erly erly

prop­ Party Party our our of of Convention Convention Tenth Tenth "The "The they they delegates? delegates? If If "other" "other" these these were were

then-who then-who proposal, proposal, a a such such of of tion tion

quote: quote: we we 10), 10), Qune Qune Party Party

considera­ mere mere a a allow allow

than than rather rather

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F

away away split split would would they they that that Spain Spain

National National the the of of statement statement a a ROM ROM

Republican Republican to to opposed opposed much much so so were were

• •

delegates delegates other other those those thing. thing. whole whole If If

peace. peace. for for fight fight to to ing ing the the exposes exposes itself itself in in this this But But away. away.

desir­ sincerely sincerely people people deceive deceive again again split split will will delegates delegates other other the the gress," gress,"

may may War" War" of of Out Out America America "Keep "Keep ''Con­ the the at at pressed pressed is is Spain Spain lican lican

banner banner the the of of use use fraudulent fraudulent the the Repub­ off off embargo embargo the the lift lift to to posal posal

that that remembering remembering unionists, unionists, trade trade the the pro­ the the if if that, that, argument argument phony phony the the

among among especially especially machinations, machinations, these these with with unionists unionists trade trade resentful resentful the the fy fy

expose expose to to continue continue therefore therefore must must We We paci­ to to sought sought business business this this of of neers" neers"

592 592 THE THE COM~fUXIST COM~fUXIST REVIEW OF THE MONTH 593 ing to do the job. We quote from the class, paired off in five committees of two June issue of the Party Organizer, a comrades each, a man and a woman. Each committee chose a particular house. Then little itein by Comrade Philip Quart. several copies of the Daily Worker were dis­ "We had a Daily Worker Training School tributed among us. We went out to canvass for the purpose of developing comrades to for home delivery subscriptions. An hour organize the pr9motion of the circulation of later we came together to report." the Daily Worker in the sections~ units and And what did they report? branches. One session was devoted to a prac­ tical study of canvassing for the Daily "From the sixty families we had time to Worker." see. we received nineteen subs. Eight others were regular readers of the Daily Worker and A pretty good beginning, we should Sunday Worker which they bought at news­ say. Then- stands. Four names were brought in of peo­ ple who are prospective recruits to the Party "We drew up a leaflet, linking up the and three nanies for Y.C.L. membership." Daily Worker with the immediate problems facing the people of the neighborhood: jobs, This is only one of many similar relief, the housing and rent problem and experiences. This is quoted, not as a Negro discrimination. This leaflet was dis­ tributed Sunday morning, May 1." blueprint, but to show what can be done once we set ourselves earnestly The further you read, the more and planfully to do it. interesting it becomes. This is now the job. "The next evening ten comrades of the A.B.

594 594

Party, Party, U.S.A., U.S.A., in in New New York, York, May May 31, 31, 1938. 1938. benefit benefit of of the the words words and and the the opinions opinions

National National Convention Convention of of the the Communist Communist

this this convention convention has has not not only only had had the the

• • Closing Closing address address delivered delivered at at the the Tenth Tenth

thusiastic thusiastic unity. unity. I I think think everyone everyone in in

lems lems merely merely as as spectators, spectators, as as people people est est and and most most complete complete and and most most en­

We We were were not not examining examining these these prob­ the the instrument instrument for for obtaining obtaining the the full­

ple. ple. And And the the fate fate of of the the entire entire world. world. most most complete complete democracy democracy is is precisely precisely

the the fate fate of of the the whole whole American American peo­ the the whole whole world world that that the the fullest fullest and and

everything everything here, here, was was the the problems problems of of convention convention was was a a demonstration demonstration to to

above above everything everything and and determined determined one one of of the the outstanding outstanding features features of of this this

this this convention, convention, that that which which stood stood out out plete, plete, democratic democratic organization, organization, and and

pathizers. pathizers. The The dominating dominating theme theme of of only only be be carried carried out out by by thorough, thorough, com­

to to our our Party Party or or its its immediate immediate sym­ A A great great democratic democratic program program can can

problems problems that that are are of of interest interest only only teachers, teachers, Lenin Lenin and and Stalin. Stalin.

dividuals dividuals or or groups, groups, or or with with the the small small ing ing of of collective collective work work from from our our great great

tion, tion, with with the the wranglings wranglings between between in­ work work as as we we have have learned learned the the mean­

details details of of our our inner inner Party Party organiza­ but but the the living living democracy democracy of of collective collective

concerned concerned in in this this convention convention with with the the certain certain rules rules inherited inherited from from the the past, past,

political political life. life. Our Our Party Party has has not not been been racy, racy, not not a a mere mere surface surface observance observance of of

to to maturity maturity of of our our Party Party in in American American racy-not racy-not a a mere mere conventional conventional democ­

this this convention convention registered registered the the coming coming this this convention convention on on the the basis basis of of democ­

degree degree of of assurance. assurance. We We can can say say that that that that we we have have conducted conducted the the work work of of

about about our our convention convention with with a a certain certain broad, broad, clear, clear, democratic democratic program, program, is is

A A few few things things we we can can already already say say our our convention, convention, in in keeping keeping with with our our

states states and and cities. cities. A A second second thing thing we we can can say say about about

close close our our work work to to go go back back to to our our States. States.

judgments judgments upon upon our our convention convention as as we we Communist Communist Party Party of of the the United United

ourselves ourselves must must begin begin to to form form our our to to a a full, full, mature, mature, political political life life of of the the

in in evaluating evaluating of of our our the the convention. convention. growing growing maturity, maturity, We We the the coming coming

ica ica will will be be engaged engaged in in the the next next weeks weeks That That is is what what I I mean mean when when I I speak speak

whole whole thinking thinking population population of of Amer­ to to America America and and to to the the whole whole world. world.

throughout throughout the the entire entire country. country. The The something something to to say say about about what what happens happens

the the working working class class of of America America and and the the understanding understanding that that we we will will have have

vention vention has has been been registered registered examining examining its its message message these these problems problems in in with with

our our work work will will America America bear bear and and fruit. fruit. to to Our Our the the world. world. con­ We We have have

for for five five out out days, days, what what and and is is I I going going think think that that to to happen happen to to C

with with an an intellectual intellectual curiosity, curiosity, we we to to find find have have worked worked hard hard OMRADES, OMRADES,

By By EARL EARL BROWDER BROWDER

NATIONAL NATIONAL CONVENTION,.r CONVENTION,.r

SUMMATION SUMMATION SPEECH SPEECH AT AT THE THE TENTH TENTH SUMMATION SPEECH AT wTH CONVENTION 595

of others; every man and woman in the importance of the participation in this convention has had opportunity this convention of our delegations provided· in an organized fashion to from the Southern state and the sig­ make his or her contribution to the nificance this has for all of America, whole convention. And it is this great the significance this has in the further collective contribution of more than maturing of the Negro liberation 7oo delegates from all over the Union movement. that has 1been the power behind this The South in America has for gen­ great Tenth Convention. erations been the stronghold of reac­ I do not think there is another or­ tion, the one place in America where ganization of any kind in the United modern capitalism was fused-in its States that could point to so complete most parasitic aspects-with remnants an example of the practical working of feudalism, of pre-capitalist society; out of democracy as this convention and on the basis of that fusion of has shown. I do not think there is a parasitic capitalism and pre-capit~list single delegate in this hall who came survivals, the South has played a· to this convention with something on deadly role in the political life of all his heart, with something on his America. mind, that he needed to clear up with But that old "solid South" is melt­ the cooperation of all his fellows, who ing away. We see the signs of it not is going to go away from this con­ only in those great political develop­ vention unsatisfied. I do not think ments I spoke of in my report, but there is anyone who came here with we know how to evaluate the signifi­ something he felt must be said, who cance of the appearance of even a will go away feeling that his thought small Communist Party. We know was not adequately expressed. Am I the enormous significance of the ap­ correct on that? (Thunderous ap­ pearance at this convention of a dele­ plause-"yes-yes.") gation from the states of the South, I could speak at great length upon which took place right along side by this subject, a subject that is nearest side with the delegations from all over to my heart-the mastering of this America, and dealt with the problems great problem of how to make democ­ of the South in exactly the same way racy work. By learning how to make and with the same perspective that democracy work in our. Party and how our Party is dealing with the prob­ to make democracy work in the mass lems of all America. organizations of the people, we are We must draw a certain conclusion going to master the lesson of how to from that for the political perspective make democracy work in the govern­ for all America. I want to speak about ment of the United States. a certain phase of our work which is There is just one more feature of of the most burning significance for our convention I want to speak about, the people of every part of the coun­ and I know very well that I am ignor­ try-that is, the organization of the ing very many important and out­ Negro liberation movement to in­ standing features of this many-sided volve the whole mass of the Negro convention. But I want to speak about people. This movement embraces the

its its own own history. history. I I always always want want to to say say when when I I speak speak of of

cation cation of of our our derstand derstand Party Party in in what what the the it it lessons lessons has has done. done. of of But But again, again,

sary sary of of our our Party Party how how a a much much period period we we of of appreciate appreciate the the edu­ it it and and un­

from from now now to to the the twentieth twentieth anniver­ to to the the Workers Workers School, School, to to show show t~on t~on

anniversary anniversary to to and and give give make make a a fitting fitting the the anniversary anniversary period period celebra­

let let us us focus focus over over our our eyes eyes our our on on country. country. the the twentieth twentieth We We should should prepare prepare

ica, ica, and and going going from from this this convention, convention, of of schools schools that that are are growing growing up up all all

session session of of every every Communist Communist in in Amer­ has has blazed blazed the the way way for for the the great great crop crop

Party Party must must be be made made the the living living pos­ such such a a convention convention as as this this possible; possible; it it

past past of of our our Party. Party. The The history history of of our our has has played played quite quite a a role role in in making making

streaming streaming into into our our Party, Party, from from the the portant portant institution, institution, the the work work of of which which

the the new new of of thousands thousands that that are are ten~ ten~ Workers Workers School, School, a a tremendously tremendously im­

cal cal lessons lessons that that must must be be learned learned by by all all marks marks the the fifteenth fifteenth anniversary anniversary of of our our

we we don't don't forget forget the the tremendous tremendous politi­ study study and and school school work. work. This This year year

tracted tracted childhood. childhood. I I want want That That to to emphasize emphasize is is past. past. But But very very briefly­

tory tory and and has has passed passed through through a a pro­ which which brings brings me me to to another another point point that that

Party Party has has had had quite quite a a checkered checkered his­ That That is is the the great great task task before before us, us,

be be twenty twenty years years old old in in 1939. 1939. Our Our theories theories of of Marxism-Leninism. Marxism-Leninism.

tieth tieth birthday birthday party. party. Our Our Party Party will will we we can can do do that that is is to to master master the the basic basic

Next Next year year we we will will have have our our twen­ we we are. are. And And the the only only way way in in which which

for for the the democratic democratic front. front. history history and and how how we we came came to to be be what what

Party Party has has the the task task to to win win the the South South Party Party with with the the knowledge knowledge of of its its own own

Southern Southern comrades, comrades, but but the the entire entire discipline discipline our our great great and and growing growing

our our eyes eyes on on the the South. South. Not Not only only our our discipline discipline is is knowledge, knowledge, and and we we must must

practical practical politicians, politicians, we we must must keep keep even even become become dangerous. dangerous. The The basis basis of of

reaction reaction and and fascism, fascism, if if we we are are really really siasm siasm which which is is not not disciplined disciplined may may

to to block block once once and and forever forever the the road road to to siasm siasm alone alone is is nothing, nothing, and and enthu­

nomic nomic masters masters of of our our land, land, who who want want a a very very necessary necessary thing. thing. But But enthu­

that that is is charted charted out out for for it it by by the the eco­ Enthusiasm Enthusiasm is is a a splendid splendid thing, thing, and and

turn turn our our country country ties ties away away that that from from it it has has that that taken taken path path upon upon itself. itself.

course course of of our our to to meet meet country, country, the the who who tremendous tremendous want want to to responsibili­

And And we we who who necessary necessary want want if if to to we we change change are are to to equip equip the the our our Party Party

on on the the land land in in of of the the the the Southern Southern Communist Communist states. states. Party. Party. This This is is

the the main main mass mass servance servance of of the the of of Negro Negro the the twentieth twentieth people people anniversary anniversary

nels nels to to reach reach and and organize organize and and rouse rouse kind kind of of fruits fruits from from our our coming coming ob­

importance importance because because it it gives gives us us chan­ United United States. States. We We can can draw draw the the same same

forget forget that that this this anniversary anniversary work work gets gets of of the the its its Constitution Constitution main main of of the the

the the Negroes Negroes in in the the North, North, let let us us never never vance vance of of the the one one hundred hundred and and fiftieth fiftieth

Important Important as as our our work work is is among among out out of of our our campaign campaign of of the the obser­

down down South. South. the the great great political political fruits fruits that that we we got got

feet feet upon upon the the ground, ground, on on the the land, land, from from our our experiences. experiences. You You remember remember

there, there, where where the the Negroes Negroes have have their their which which we we draw draw most most profound profound lessons lessons

brace brace the the main main masses masses of of the the Negroes Negroes taking taking and and revaluation revaluation periods periods from from

North. North. It It is is only only beginning beginning to to em­ things. things. They They are are periods periods of of stock­

great great majority majority of of the the Negroes Negroes in in the the Anniversaries Anniversaries are are very very valuable valuable

596 596 THE THE COMMUNIST COMMUNIST SUMMATION SPEECH AT wTH CONVENTION 597 schools, that schools are mainly im­ of our comrade from France, who by portant as places that teach people his presence here is restoring the old how to study outside of school, and traditional association of the French the task of each and every one of us and the American peoples that we is to study, study, study. want to develop more and more. Anyone who gets so deeply involved Especially is this true of our com­ in detailed work that he never finds rades from the Latin American coun­ the time to study will quickly find he tries, whose peoples are rising in has lost his way in the details of his growing movements in the same di­ work. You cannot properly direct any rection in which the democratic detailed work unless you are constant­ masses of the United States are going. ly increasing your knowledge and We know very well that the United mastery of theory. States cannot take this path success­ The next point I want to speak fully, unless we help these forces in about is the significance of this con­ the Latin American countries to draw vention of the appearance of the fra­ their peoples onto the same ·path, ternal delegates from some, I believe hand in hand with us. And their pres­ eight, countries. Our comrades from ence here among us is a sign that we other lands, by their presence here, are going to succeed in welding the have added something of inestimable continental unity of the democracies value to all of our work. Their being of the Americas. here has permeated this convention It would be impossible to close this from beginning to end, with the convention without a special word for spirit of international solidarity, of our Filipino brothers. They are here international brotherhood of the from half way around the world, to be workers of all lands. I don't have to with us in this convention, and they use our time, as we are prepared to represent a Party which, though small, close this convention, to send flowery is one of the classical examples of the bouquets from us to our leading self-sacrifice and heroism that lays the comrades in all the various Parties. foundation for a Communist Party. That is important also. And this con­ The crimes of American imperialism vention has already recognized the in the past has bound our fate with importance of that. that of the Filipino people, and the But in speaking of the enormous struggle for Filipino freedom and in­ significance of the number of dele­ dependence becomes an organic part gates from our brother Parties here, of the struggle for democracy in the I only want to try to give some ex­ United States. pression to the fact that we have real­ We have missed very much from ized something out of this. It has our sessions here the face of our good, deepened all of our thought and all old-time friend, Tim Buck, from of our work, it has welded this con­ Canada; but we have been very glad vention together and steeled its unity that we had four of Buck's closest col­ even more than would have been laborators with us. Our Canadian possible without their presence here brother Party is facing the opening among us. And especially is this true of a Central Committee Plenum in THE COMMUNIST a few days, and right at this same every committee and every branch of time Comrade Buck was called to the the Communist Party of the United capital of Canada to give advice to States. the Royal Commission that is re­ Our Young Communist League, examining the Constitution of the that is, the youth delegation in this Dominion. convention, has very properly and One other features of our delibera­ fittingly proposed that the Party tions, something that has colored all should assume a special task in help­ our thoughts and feelings, something ing to build up the Y.C.L.; our Party that has served further to steel us for should engage in a recruiting cam­ the tasks and struggles to come, was paign for young people in the League the sad news about our dear Comrade in honor of the memory of Dave Doran, who symbolized the hundreds Doran. A Party that recruited 25,000 and hundreds of the best boys Amer­ members in the course of its recruit­ ica ever produced, the boys who have ing drive, if it would tum its hand to written one of the most glorious pages the matter-a little more energetic­ of all history on the battlefields of ally, could bring 5,ooo members into Spain. the Y.C.L. in the next few weeks. We must from this convention go Finally, just a word about the per- out with a great crusade to assure spective of building our Party. A year that America as a whole is going to ago if we got in 5,ooo new members justify . the sacrifice of these boys, by in a chunk, it looked like a great big· throwing the power of American be­ number, didn't it? But today 5,ooo hind the cause of democracy, repre­ doesn't look so big. Before the month sented by Republican Spain. And as of June is over, I am sure that we we do this great political task, as we shall have passed the hundred thou­ take up that enormous task of helping sand mark, counting Party and Y.C.L. the Chinese people move more quick­ The first hundred thousand is the ly towards their inevitable victory, hardest. The second hundred thou­ let's also remember that in the weeks sand should come in easy. immediately before us, all friends of I don't want to set any quotas for Republican Spain have a special task you, but I wonder, if we would all in making a great drive to enable the tum some serious attention to the Friends of the Lincoln and Washing­ question, how many months it would ton Brigade to meet their growing re­ take for us to get that second hun­ sponsibilities. There are a number of dred thousand. And we have the per­ American boys wounded and inca­ spective before us now of growing in pacitated who are preparing to come terms of hundreds of thousands. home. Some of them are already in But again, we have to check .bur France. The Friends of the Lincoln­ enthusiasm a little bit and discipline Washington Brigades must and will it in order to remind ourselves that take care of these boys. And I hope we are not going to get the hundreds that when their special appeal goes of thousands of new members in our out in the next few days it will Party until we first learn to do some­ find a hundred per cent response from thing we haven't yet learned; we SUMMATION SPEECH AT 10TH CONVENTION 599 haven't learned how to circulate in this Tenth Convention to go to our hun4reds. of thousands our. Daily places of work throughout the coun­ Worker, Midwest Daily Recora and try, we are going with a feeling that People's World. This is the weakest behind us is a tremendous power, that spot in all of our work, the circula­ we represent a power of the growing tion of our daily press, something mass movement coming from the which we cannot congratulate our­ people. By our work, and by the mes­ selves on at all. This is one of the sage that we will take from this con­ things that we must keep in our vention to the workers, the broadest minds as we go away from our con­ vention. And unless this is in your masses of the American people, we are minds, the convention has failed in going to strengthen that mass move­ one of its central tasks. ment of the people, give it organiza­ There isn't much more to say ex­ tional form and consciousness, and cept this: I think that we all agree, lead it to the victory, the final victory and I am only speaking what you all of democracy in America, which have been thinking. As we turn fro~ means the victory of socialism. WIN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE FOR DEMOCRACY AND PEACE!*

By WILLIAM Z. FOSTER

PART I ly since the rise of Hitler and the formation of the Berlin-Rome-Tokio THE PROBLEM AS A WHOLE alliance, the danger of fascism and war has grown strong and menacing (A) THE FASCIST-WAR THREAT throughout the Western Hemisphere. In Canada the reactionaries are con­ HE danger ·Of fascism and war, solidating their forces, especially in T precipitated by the offensive of Quebec, and to a lesser extent in On­ the Germany-Japan-Italy fascist alli­ tario, ·where, under the leadership of ance, hangs over the whole Western Duplessis and Hepburn, the two pro­ Hemisphere, as over the rest of the vincial governors, open fascist activi­ world. To defeat this menace there is ties are being carried on. And in the the most urgent necessity for all the United States we are well aware of democratic peoples of North, Central the fascist danger, with the intense of­ and South America, comprising 22 fensive of \Vall Street against the toil­ countries with some 25o,ooo,ooo peo­ ing masses, the bitter attack against ple, to cooperate against the universal Roosevelt and the New Deal, the war-making fascist enemy. This joint openly fascist agitation of Hearst action by the American peoples should and Co. have the two-fold object of assuring But when we turn towards the democracy and peace throughout our Latin American countries to the south continents from Hudson Bay to we· find the fascist-war danger extreme­ Tierra del Fuego and of bringing the ly acute. In nearly every country below united power of all the nations of the the Rio Grande there are active and Western Hemisphere into collabora­ malignant fascist movements. In tion with the peace-loving peoples on other continents to quarantine the fas· Brazil, a country larger than the cist war aggressors and to maintain United States and containing 47,ooo,­ world peace. ooo inhabitants, the Vargas fascists During the past few years, especial- have succeeded· in setting up the first fascist dictatorship in this hemisphere. • Based on a speech delivered at the Tenth In Mexico the fascist General Cedillo, Convention of the Communist Party, U.S.A., New York, May 28, 1938. instigated by German fascism and 6oo WIN WESTERN HEMISPHERE FOR DEMOCRACY AND PEACE 601 counting on the help of the British Latin America by the three allied fas­ oil monopolists, took up arms against cist powers is economic, political, mili­ the Cardenas government, with the tary, and "cultural." In their drive fm aim of suppressing the growing na­ markets the Germans, Japanese and tional liberation movement of the Italians, f:r:om 1929 to 1936, succeeded people and of turning Mexico into a in raising their proportion of imports second Spain. In Argentina, the fas­ into Latin America from 17 to 28 per cist Uriburistas and the followers of cent, while that of British and Ameri­ Governor Fresco in the Province of can imperialisms declined accordingly. Buenos Aires are endeavoring to Everywhere the fascist powers are swing the reactionary Ortiz govern­ carrying on active propaganda, one of ment to their fascist policies. In Chile, the many sinister developments being the notorious N acistas Party and the the so-called Pan-Latinism movement, fascist elements led by Gustavo Ross financed by Italy, which seeks to make are conspiring to stop the progress of Rome the cultural center of the whole the People's Front by civil war. Simi­ Latin world. Likewise, General lar fascist movements, in varying de­ Franco of Spain is trying to exploit grees of development, are to be found the old Mother Country tradition to in all other Latin Amercan countries. further his fascist propaganda in The fascist-war danger in Latin Latin America. The fascist bloc of America comes chiefly from the mili­ powers is also openly collecting stores tant drive of German, Japanese and of arms and establishing air bases. All Italian imperialism to seize the rich its activities aim at the overthrow of resources of Central and South Amer­ the existing governments and the set­ ica-oil, iron, copper, manganese, ting up of European-controlled fascist nickel, nitrates, rubber, timber, sugar, dictatorships. The recent unsuccessful grain, meat, tobacco, etc.-that the Nazi-Integralista uprising in Brazil in­ fascist dictatorships need so badly in dicates where the Berlin-Rome-Tokio their plans of world conquest. The policy leads to. subjugation of Latin America has be­ The German-Italian-Japanese fas­ come a central part of the general cist triangle is the main force endeav­ plan of the allied fascist powers for oring to foist fascism upon Latin world imperialist domination. America. The ultra-reactionary ele­ The three fascist world powers have ments of British and American finance strong groups of nationals in Latin capital also have a hand in promoting America, as bases of operation. Thus, this fascist game. For many years past in Brazil there are 1,5oo,ooo Italians, these imperialist sharks have been 8oo,ooo Germans, and 27o,ooo J apa­ manipulating the governments of nese. In Argentina and other coun­ Latin America and robbing the peo­ tries of South America there are also ple. In this spirit the Guggenheim in­ large population blocks of Italians, terests are now vigorous supporting Germans and Japanese, and their the Ross fascist presidential ambitions numbers are being steadily increased in Chile, the American meat packing by organized, selected colonization. companies are helping organize the The penetration offensive into fascists in Argentina, American con- THE COMMUNIST cerns are aiding Vargas in Brazil, The rise of the fascist danger in :.he American sugar interests are the main­ Americas signifies also an increasing stay of the tyrant Batista in Cuba. menace of war, because fascism and Similar activities are being carried on war are inseparable. Fascism cultivate> by the Bond and Share, the United antagonisms between the Latin Ameri­ Fruit Company, and ·other powerful can governments and is fomenting a American enterprises in various coun­ renewal of the Bolivia-Paraguayan tries. In Mexico, British and also cer­ war. We have also seen that foreign tain American Tory interests are plot­ fascist influence was mainly responsi­ ting to overthrow t):_le advanced demo­ ble for many Latin-American coun­ cratic Cardenas government. Signifi­ tries supporting Mussolini's murder­ cantly, many airplanes of Cedillo, the ous incursions into Ethiopia and the fascist bandit in Mexico, were of Hitler-Mussolini invasion of Spain. American make and delivered by Moreover, the militant offensive of American aviators, resulting in con­ German, Japanese and Italian fascism demnation by President Roosevelt. in Latin America vastly sharpens the The development of fascism in danger of war between these imperial­ Latin .America is facilitated by the ist powers and the United States. A prevailing latifundia, or big land-own­ new world war may easily begin in ing system, and the relative weakness Latin America. of the working class numerically and organizationally. The great land-own­ (B) THE ANTI-FASCIST, ANTI-WAR ers and the Catholic hierarchy, long MOVEMENT basic sources of the traditional Latin American dictators, readily join forces If, under the Rome-Berlin-Tokio with one or another of the several im­ drive, the fascist-war forces are grow­ perialist powers fighting like wolves· ing in the countries, making up the over the resources and destinies of the \Vestern Hemisphere, the forces of de­ Latin American peoples. More and mocracy and peace, as a reaction to more their activities assume a fascist the fascist offensive, are also increas­ character. ing rapidly. The struggle of the great Further feeders to fascism in Latin­ majority of the American peoples America are the Trotskyites and other against the fasciskwar menace con­ "Left" adventurists. Throughout stantly becomes more acute, wide­ Latin America there are present Trot­ spread, and effective. sky agents (let it not be forgotten In South and Central America .there that Trotsky himself is in Mexico are many broad popular anti-fascist City), and with their opposition to the movements. These have the character People's Front, their demagogic of national liberation struggles to pre­ "Left" proposals, and their splitting serve the .national independence and tactics, they help the fascist bar­ freedom of the people in the face of barians. The vigorous condemnation the attempts of fascist imperialists to of Trotsky by the Mexican General subjugate these countries. In Chile, a Confederation of Labor shows the country of 3,5oo,ooo inhabitants and alertness of the workers to this danger. rich resources, there is a strong Popu- WIN WESTERN HEMISPHERE FOR DEMOCRA.CY AND PEACE 603 lar Front movement, the first to be West, and the growth of the Commu­ organized .in Latin America, consist­ nist Party which, with its almost 20,­ ing of the Radical Party, the Socialist ooo members, is, population consid­ Party, the Communist Party, the trade ered, numerically stronger than the unions, and other organizations; it is Communist Party in the U.S.A. a real political power, with· a chance In the United States, as we know, to win the presidency next year. Ir the democratic groupings of the peo­ Argentina, despite the repressions of ple are powerful and are on the for­ the Ortiz government, there are the ward march. They are expressed by beginnings of a strong Popular Front the development of the progressive movement among its 13,0oo,ooo peo­ forces around the Roosevelt adminis­ ple. In Brazil, the anti-fascist forces tration and the growth of the C.I.O., suffered a setback by Vargas' defeat of the expansion of the youth, women's, the National Liberation Alliance, the peace, Negro and other popular move­ arrest of Prestes and the establishment ments and, not least, the recent rapid of a fascist dictatorship; but this de­ growth of the Communist Party and feat can be only temporary as the pres­ Young Communist League to a total ent mood of the Brazilian people evi­ of over go,ooo members. dences. In Cuba the People's Front In Mexico, a land of rich resource:, movement expands rapidly. In such and 18,ooo,ooo people, the forces ot countries as Uruguay, Venezuela, Co­ democracy and peace are even further lombia, Ecuador, Peru, Puerto Rico advanced, with the progressive Car­ (and also in the far-off Philippines) denas government relying on the Peo the anti-fascist national liberation pie's Front, the establishment of the movement is also growing. It is all broad revolutionary party of Mexico, being given a powerful stimulus by the building up of the militant Mexi­ the victories of the People's Front in can Confederation of Labor, the Mexico, which is serving as an inspira­ growth of organization among the tion to all the American peoples. In peasants, and the rise of the Commu­ none of the Latin American countries nist· Party, embracing 25,000 mem­ could the present-day dictators, nat­ bers, to a position of decisive political ural tools of the fascists, be elected by importance. an honest popular vote. North America, despite the pres­ In North America, the forces of ence of a serious fascist menace with­ democracy and peace are much in its confines, constitutes a strong stronger and better organized than in fortress of democracy. In its three Central and South America (for defi­ main countries, the United States, nite historical reasons). In Canada, Mexico and Canada, we see .that the with its IO,ooo,ooo people, the Peo­ democratic-peace mass organizations ple's Front movement is making steady of the people are strong and flourish­ progress. This is expressed by the ing, while the Communist Parties are maintenance of cooperative unity be­ a swiftly growing force. All of which tween the C.I.O. and the A. F. of L. places a great responsibility upon the in the Trades Congress, the expansion democratic nations and organizations of the Social Credit movement in the of North America to lend a helping THE COMMUNIST

hand to the peoples of Central and of all the governments of the two con­ South America, who have less organ­ tinents through various pacts and· ization and are harder pressed by the agreements directed against fascist at­ fascist-imperialist barbarians. tempts to destroy the liberties and peace of the peoples of the New (c) THE INTER-CONTINENTAL World, and also against the fascist­ DEMOCRATIC FRONT war makers on a world scale. The states of this hemisphere, even The development of cooperative though under pressure of imperialist action between all the peoples of the domination, have frequently acted to­ three Americas for democracy and gether on various matters. As long as peace and against the common men­ a century ago a congress of all Latin ace of fascism and war is imperative­ American nations, proposed by the ly necessary. Such cooperation is facili­ celebrated patriot of Latin America, tated by a whole series of favorable Simon Bolivar, was held in Panama. conditions, mainly: the scores of In 18go the Pan-American Union was countries constitute one great geo­ organized, and it has, from time to graphical unit stretching from the time, drawn into joint activity every Arctic Ocean almost to the Antarctic government in our hemisphere. It has Ocean; they are bound together by a become a sort of Pan-American ·network of economic, political and League of Nations. cultural relationships, and they, have From the outset, however, the Pan­ a long record of working jointly for American Union has been dominated various purposes; they have a com­ by the United States and used in the mon pioneer heritage of having carved past largely as an instrument to fur­ their various countries out of the ther the interests of American impe­ primeval wilderness; they are not so rialism. This must be changed. The inflamed against one another by in­ democratic-peace demands of all the tense national hatreds and clashing American peoples must be made to imperial interests as are the European prevail in the Pan-American Union. states (for the most part the countries Steps in the right direction were the have unfortified frontiers); they all proposal of President Roosevelt and have the republican form of govern­ Secretary Hull at the Buenos Aires ment, except Canada, which is never­ conference in December, 1936. The theless a democratic country; and, Pan-American Union will hold its lastly, they have the common national next conference in Lima, Peru, in De­ tradition of having set up their inde­ cember of this year. At that time the pendent governments in revolution­ united forces of the democratic move­ ary struggles against feudalistic Euro­ ments of the three Americas should pean monarchies. come forward unitedly against fas­ We should seek to develop West­ cism and war. em Hemisphere cooperation for de­ A problem in this general respect is mocracy and peace along three prin­ to draw Canada more into the cooper­ cipal channels: ative efforts of the peoples of this The first way is by common a<.:tion hemisphere. Hitherto Canada has WIN WESTERN HEMISPHERE FOR DEMOCRACY AND PEACE 6o5 stood somewhat apart, because British izations of Mexican workers and farm­ imperialis!ll fears that Canadian par­ ers. Then there is the World Youth ticipation in such activities would Congress, soon to be held in the weaken Canada's bonds to the Empire United States, which will draw to­ and throw that country dangerously gether the young people from many wivhin the orbit of the United States. countries of the Americas. These va­ Despite these imperialistic fears, the rious conferences offer a valuablt> Canadian people should bring the means to knit the mass democratic or­ strong support of their democratic ganizations of our hemisphere closer country actively into the struggle of together, to intensify ·the struggle the peoples against fascism and war against fascism in the several coun­ throughout these two vast continents. tries, to support the advanced demo­ The second type of hemisphere­ cratic government of Mexico, to bring wide collaboration for democracy and pressure upon the various American peace should be developed directly governments for common democratic between the mass organizations of .the action, . and to increase the specific toiling, progressive peoples, th'at is, gravity of the American republics in between their political parties, trade the world scales of peace. All steps unions, farmer organizations, coopera­ should he taken to bring the fullest tives, peace societies, student bodies, possible mass representation to these cultural organizations, etc., etc. Such vital inter-continental gatherings. cooperation of mass organizations alsu A basic phase of inter-continental corresponds with the experiences and cooperation of mass democratic organ­ tendencies of the peoples in our two izations against fascism and war is continents. From time to time · for along trade union lines. This is also many years past, there have been in harmony with well-established tra­ various conferences and conventions ditions.. But there are great difficulties. for economic, political, educational, In 1918, upon the initiative of the and social purposes which have drawn A. F. of L., the Pan-American Federa­ together representatives from many of tion of Labor was formed. This body, the countries. These gatherings have whose principal Latin American sup­ come to be considered natural and port came from the reactionary Mo­ normal expressions of the growing rones and the now superseded bonds between the many nations of C.R.O.M. • in Mexico, was influenced the Western Hemisphere. by American imperialism and never Several such broad· mass conferences gained the confidence of Latin Ameri­ are now being organized on the two can organized labor. It still exists on continents. Among these is the Demo­ paper, and William Green is trying to cratic Continental Congre~s, called by revive it. The situation is further the Batllista Party of Uruguay, to be complicated by the C.I.O.-A. F. of L. held soon in Montevideo. There is split and by the fact that many Latin also the projected World Labor Con· American trade unions have to work gress Against Fascism and War in under illegal conditions. It is timely, Mexico, which is indorsed by the Car­ • Confederation Regional Obrera Me~i­ denas government and various organ- cana,

as as pronounced pronounced more more becomes becomes masses masses democracy democracy Parties-for Parties-for Communist Communist

American American Latin· Latin· the the of of nature nature tion tion and and organiza·tions organiza·tions mass mass governments, governments,

libera­ national national The The outsiders. outsiders. these these collaboration-between collaboration-between all-American all-American

by by to to dictated dictated are are governments governments their their of of forms forms various various these these furthering furthering In In

and and imperialists imperialists by foreign foreign by cipally cipally

prin­ owned owned are are AVOIDED AVOIDED BE BE industries industries TO TO basic basic DANGERS DANGERS their their (D) (D)

semi-colonial; semi-colonial; largely largely are are countries countries

several several The The sibility. sibility. movement. movement. liberation liberation

respon­ heaviest heaviest the the hears hears national national a a of of hemisphere, hemisphere, character character the the on on takes takes

this this in in Parties Parties our our of of America America strongest strongest the the Latin Latin in in struggle struggle mass mass the the

C.P.U.S.A., C.P.U.S.A., the the that that and and much, much, conscious conscious very very do do fully fully be be can can also also must must We We

disaster. disaster. of of America, America, pain pain Latin Latin on on in in mind, mind, in in position position borne borne strategic strategic

its its by by Party, Party, Mexican Mexican constantly constantly the the be be must must operation, operation, facts facts These These

co­ Communist Communist this this all all for. for. fight fight to to developing developing In In willing willing now now are are and and

etc. etc. delegations, delegations, want want and and masses masses the the conferences conferences things things Pc.:rty Pc.:rty the the are are These These

inter­ more more for for rights. rights. center, center, democratic democratic information information elementary elementary most most the the

two-continental two-continental a a masses masses for for the the need need for for great great a a is is achieve achieve to to insurance; insurance;

There There social social beginning. beginning. a a adequate adequate just just and and is is this this all all conditions; conditions; But But living living

and and countries. countries. working working American American better better South South in in organize, organize, to to Parties Parties right right

the the among among the the cooperation cooperation workers workers the the some some for for also also win win to to countries; countries;

is is There There States. States. the the of of United United life life the the and and industrial industrial pines pines the the on on rialists rialists

Philip­ the the impe­ the the Cuba, Cuba, of of grip grip Rico, Rico, the the Puerto Puerto smash smash to to ada, ada, overs; overs;

Can­ hang­ Mexico, Mexico, of of feudalistic feudalistic Parties Parties many many their their Communist Communist liquidate liquidate

the the among among and and together together control control working working good good a a poiitical poiitical is is their their abolish abolish

There There respect. respect. this this in in estates, estates, done done landed landed been been great great ready ready the the up up break break

al­ has has to to is, is, that that Considerable Considerable scale. scale. revolution; revolution; hemisphere hemisphere democratic democratic

a a on on bourgeois­ the the collaboration collaboration dose dose complete complete to to throug·h throug·h dition dition

is is Front Front People's People's the the of of policy policy pre-con­ a a as as correct correct menace menace fascist fascist the the defeat defeat

our our with with forward forward and and off off come come can can stave stave to to Parties Parties our our primarily primarily is is toilers toilers the the

way way only only the the and and before before task task difficult, difficult, the the and and cated cated countries, countries, these these In In

compli­ extremely extremely is is countries countries America. America. these these South South and and Central Central

in in war war and and of of fascism fascism countries countries agaimt agaimt the the in in struggle struggle acute acute especially especially

The The Americas. Americas. is is three three danger danger the the of of The The countries countries demagogues. demagogues. Trotskyite Trotskyite

several several the the of of fascist­ Parties Parties the the of of Communist Communist machinations machinations the the to to

the the between between is is them them necessary necessary expose expose and and cooperation cooperation masses masses these these from from off off

inter-continental inter-continental us us of of split split type type would would third third This This The The for. for. fight fight to to ready ready

yet yet not not are are continents. continents. two two masses masses the the the the that that l'logans l'logans

in in country country every every of of advanced advanced raise raise movements movements to to is, is, union union that that r.haracter; r.haracter;

trade trade the the between between Left Left too too a a of of cooperation cooperation real real demands demands of of forth forth put put to to is is

formation formation now now the the make make can can towards towards we we step step error error first first a a be be political political ous ous

should should This This sevi­ conference. conference. most most The The unity unity union union Left-Sectarianism. Left-Sectarianism. 1. 1.

trade trade American American Latin Latin following: following: a a the the are are summon summon

to to steps steps taken taken has has these these of of Toledano, Toledano, important important bardo bardo most most the the Among Among

Lom­ by by headed headed against. against. Labor, Labor, of of guarded guarded be be eration eration must must that that dangers dangers

Confed­ serious serious Mexican Mexican many many the the are are that that there there therefore, therefore, peace, peace, and and

COMMUNIST COMMUNIST 6o6 6o6 THE THE WIN WESTERN HEMISPHERE FOR DEMOCRACY AND PEACE 6o7 the German-Italian-Japanese offensive danger, they are insidiously spread­ grows more intense. ing a smokescreen for fascist domina­ The peoples of Latin America are tion of Latin America. And in so do­ fighting for democracy, national inde­ ing, they demonstrate themselves to pendence and for control over their be real agents of fascism. own industries and national resources While stressing the main "Left" as the economic basis of freedom. The sectar-ian danger, we must also com­ question of socialism is still in an bat the Right opportunist danger, agitational stage among them. Any which assumes a variety of tendencies tendency on our part to forget this by -surrender of the vanguaro role of the coming forward with premature pro­ Communist Party, trailing behind posals for confiscation of imperialist­ petty-bourgeois and progressive bour­ owned industry, or by failing to fight geois allies in the popular front and for the toilers' daily demands, or to national liberation movements, hid­ defend the people's national indepen­ ing the face of the Party, and even dence, would constitute an attempt to tendencies to liquidate the Commu­ leap over the stage of the bourgeois­ nist Party. democratic revolution, and would 2. Hemisphere Isolation. This is an­ alienate us from the masses and result other danger that has to be fought. in disaster. It would open wide the Throughout the three Americas, but door to fascism. especially in the United States, there Trotskyism leads towards just such is a strong body of opinion which, a debacle. The Trotskyites and semi­ faced by the deepeniQg crisis of capi­ Trotskyites play down the democratic talism and its consequent menace of demands of the workers and peasants; fascism and war, says: "Let us save the they fight against the People's Front Western Hemisphere and let the rest and all inter-continental cooperation of the world go to the devil if it wants that would realize the urgent needs of to." This idea is to be found not only the masses; they ignore the cry of the in designing predatory circles of Amer­ peoples for national independence; ican imperialists who want to guam they demagogically raise all sorts of their interests from German-Italian­ adventurist demands for the imme­ Japanese fascist attack,· but it also pre­ diate seizure of industry and the es­ vails among many confused liberals. tablishment of socialism. Thus, in the These people would draw a cordon name of socialism, they confuse and around our two continents and try to disorganize the toilers, sabotaging isolate them from the rest of the their struggle on every front. They world. are endeavoring to obscure the peo­ This is American isolationism ple's democratic developments in the raised to a hemisphere scale. It is United States that are responsible for false and injurious and must be com­ President Roosevelt's Good Neighbor batted. Fascism and war are world policy, and that are creating the pos­ questions and must be finally settled sibilities for a broad Pan-American on a world basis. The winning of the anti-fascist front. In raising the slogan Western Hemisphere for peace and of Yankee imperialism as the main democracy within its own coasts can-

American American example, example, for for Labor, Labor, of of tion tion upon upon look look to to trusts trusts big big American American

Federa­ Pan-American Pan-American the the In In scurely. scurely. the the of of policy policy the the reflects reflects that that subtle, subtle,

ob­ and and

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many many in in itself itself manifested manifested also also has has

struggle struggle must must We We America. America. Latin Latin

domination domination American American America. America. Latin Latin

towards towards

superciliousness superciliousness

and and ority ority

in in struggle struggle

liberation liberation

national national the the

superi­ of of attitudes attitudes American American teristic teristic

stifle stifle to to and and interests interests imperialistic imperialistic own own

charac­ the the combat combat must must We We izations. izations.

its its advance advance to to systematically systematically control control

organ­

mass mass of of equality equality nations, nations, of of ity ity this this used used has has and and formation formation its its since since

equal­ the the of of principle principle the the on on based based ever ever Union Union Pan-American Pan-American the the ated ated

be be must must policy policy Our Our movements. movements. can can domin­ has has States States United United the the Thus, Thus,

danger. danger. serious serious this this of of sight sight lose lose not not Pan-Ameri­ all all control control "Americans" "Americans" to to

course, course, of of must, must, we we powers, powers, fascist fascist the the of of tendency tendency strong strong this this against against ly ly

by by

domination domination of of danger danger main main the the resolute­ fight fight must must States, States, United United the the

mind mind in in bearing bearing While While hemisphere. hemisphere.

ot ot Communists Communists the the especially especially We, We,

our our of of peoples peoples various various the the among among

ideology. ideology.

place place take take that that movements movements operative operative

domination domination same same the the of of expression expression an an

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is is States States United United the the of of people people the the by by

control control to to try try to to opportunity opportunity an an slip slip

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very very The The America. America. Latin Latin all all control control their their defend defend to to alert alert always always are are they they

to to mission mission (imperialistic) (imperialistic) divine divine a a of of and and America, America, Latin Latin in in invested invested lars lars

dol­ billion billion five five s01pe s01pe have have trusts trusts big big sort sort some some has has States States United United the the that that

American American Domination. Domination. American American 3· 3· assuming assuming by by tendencies tendencies domination domination

continents. continents. two two our our in in war war and and similar similar expressing expressing Party, Party, Progressive Progressive

fascism fascism of of menace menace the the liquidate liquidate sibly sibly

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pos­ can can policy policy world world a a such such of of short short

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Nothing Nothing

countries. countries.

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so so was was which which America, America, Latin Latin in in ary ary

on on and, and, Lithuania, Lithuania, Czechoslovakia, Czechoslovakia,

revolution­

and and

progressive progressive

everything everything Austria, Austria, China, China, Spain, Spain, -Ethiopia, -Ethiopia,

against against war war a a on on carried carried Americans, Americans, victims victims intended intended and and actual actual their their to to

by by controlled controlled L., L., completely completely of of F. F. P. P. aid aid active active give give to to and and aggressors aggressors cist cist

the the activity, activity, its its Throughout Throughout States. States. fas­ the the restrain restrain to to countries countries ocratic ocratic

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Secre­ "Spanish "Spanish its its Even Even Americans. Americans. Western Western the the of of peoples peoples the the between between

Lord-all Lord-all Jim Jim treasurer, treasurer, its its Murray; Murray; pact pact security security collective collective great great a a for for be be

John John secretary, secretary, its its Gompers; Gompers; Sam Sam was was must must aim aim general general The The fascism. fascism. enemy, enemy,

president president Its Its Washington. Washington. in in quarters quarters common common the the defeat defeat to to world world old old the the

head­ its its had had and and Texas, Texas, Laredo, Laredo, in in of of those those with with forces forces their their join join must must

formed formed L.) L.) was was of of F. F. (P. (P. Labor Labor of of tion tion world world new new the the of of nations nations peace-loving peace-loving

Federa­ Pan-American Pan-American The The phrases. phrases. democratic, democratic, associated associated The The abroad. abroad.

labor labor of of mask mask a a with with covered covered though though from from threat threat fascist fascist deadly deadly the the is is

al­ effective, effective, and and definite definite was was control control there there as as long long so so accomplished accomplished be be not not

COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE THE 6o8 6o8 WIN WESTERN HEMISPHERE FOR DEMOCRACY AND PEACE 6og

Latin America as their own God-given American and French revolutions and hinterland. was viewed sympathetically by Jeffer­ son and other American revolution­ PART II aries. It was when this whole new system THE ROLES OF AMERICAN IMPERIAL· of democracies was threatened with ISM AND AMERICAN DEMOCRACY invasion and destruction by the re-, actionary so-called Holy Alliance of (A) THE MONROE DOCTRINE Powers ruling Europe after Napo­ Although German-Italian-Japanese leon's fall that the Monroe Doctrine imperialism is the main fascist-war was enunciated by the United States. danger in Latin America, it is never­ It constituted a notice to European theless necessary to make a somewhat monarchies to keep hands off the detailed analysis of the specific parts Americas. Jefferson had, said: "Our being played by American imperial­ hemisphere should be one of free­ ism and also American democracy in dom," and it was in this spirit that the complex struggle now going on Monroe declared: "The American among the five imperialist powers and continents, by the free and indepen­ the peoples of the three Americas dent condition they have assumed and around the issue of fascism and war. maintained" ... are not, "subjects for Such an analysis, supplementing our future colonization by any European foregoing general statement 'Of the power." He warned the Holy Alliance situation, demands in first line a that the United States would consider proper estimate of the Monroe any invasion of Latin America an un­ Doctrine. friendly act, "dangerous to its peace The Monroe Doctrine, :formulated and safety," and that this country by President Monroe in a message to would defend the young Latin Ameri­ Congress in 1823, was primarily, in its can democracies from attack. This beginning, a measure in defense of firm attitude, which was generally en­ democracy throughout the Western dorsed by the Latin American democ­ Hemisphere. The Republic of the raCies, put a halt to the colonizing United States was still young, and plans of the Holy Alliance. many new nations, nearly all repub­ Thus, the Monroe Doctrine, in its lics, had just been born in Latin initial stage, was a progressive policy. America. From 1810 on, Haiti, Vene­ Undoubtedly it helped to save many zuela, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, of the new and weak Latin American Brazil, Uruguay, Peru, Colombia, and republics from being reduced again other countries, by a series of revolu­ to colonies of European powers. But tions, had freed themselves irom the there was definitely a predatory capi­ heavy colonial yokes of Spain and talist element in the Monroe Doctrine. Portugal. This vast revolutionary The bankers and shipowners of the movement, involving almost all of time looked with covetous eyes upon South and Central America and one­ the vast markets of Latin America, third of North ,America, was pro­ and the slave-owning planters and foundly influenced by the preceding land speculators hoped to conquer 610 THE COMMUNIST

Brazil and Mexico. (They seized half (B) ROOSEVELT AND THE FASCIST­ of Mexico's territory in 1848.) These WAR DANGER anti-democratic capitalist forces all President Roosevelt's Good Neigh­ sought to use the Monroe Doctrine as bor policy facilitates the anti-fascist a weapon to ·advance their plans of and anti-war ends of the peoples of exploitation and territorial expansion. the Americas. It gives clearer recog­ With the growth of American capi­ ni•tion to the sovereign rights of the talism, and especially with the devel­ Latin-American republics, and also opment of American imperialism, the makes an effort to draw together all Monroe Doctrine, under S\].ch reac­ these countries into a joint peace al­ tionary pressure, gradually lost its liance with the United States against original progressive significance and the fascist-war menace to the three became more and more an instrument Americas created by the militant pene­ for American subjugation and ex­ tration of the Berlin-Tokio-Rome ploitation of the Latin American peo­ powers. tThe Good Neighbor policy ples. Pan-Americanism, the ~an­ also fits in with Roosevelt's declara­ American Union, become a codifica­ tion in favor of quarantining the fasl tion of domination by the United cist aggressor powers on a world scaltj States. Especially from McKinley to The Good Neighbor policy, enun­ Hoover, every American President, in­ ciated in the Montevideo Pan-Ameri­ cluding the liberal, Wilson, constant­ can Conference (1933) and the ly used the Monroe Doctrine imperial­ Buenos Aires Peace Conference istically. In 1904, Theodore Roose­ (1936), is the expression in Latin velt correctly expressed the American America of Roosevelt's New Deal pro­ government'S' policy when he called gram in the United States. It is a re­ the Monroe Doctrine an "interna­ flection in American foreign policy of tional police power" of the United the great mass democratic upsurge in States. The seizure of Cuba and the United States. Puerto Rico (as well as the Philip­ The Good Neighbor policy has its pines), the grabbing of the Panama historical precedent in the protective, Canal strip, the armed invasion of anti-aggressor features of the original Mexico, Haiti, Nicaragua, etc., the fo­ Monroe Doctrine. We have,seen how menting of insurrections in many that policy was formulated at a time Latin American countries, the setting when the score of young Am(!rican re­ up of puppet dictators, and the exer­ publics were threatened. by the reac­ cising of direct economic, financial, tionary Holy Alliance of European monarchies, with the United States political, cultural and military p_res­ taking ~e lead in the joint defense sure in the most brutal forms agalhst against the common enemy. And now, the Latin American peoples, were all the many countries of these two con­ carried on under the imperialist flag tinents are again faced with a deadly of the Monroe Doctrine, which final­ threat to their democracy and national ly became a symbol of oppression independence, this time from .the far throughout Latin America. more sinister and dangerous "unholy WIN WESTERN HEMISPHERE FOR DEMOCRACY AND PEACE 611 alliance" of German, Italian and Jap­ Tokio alliance, but we have to be on anese fascist imperialist powers; the alert to prevent the preda:tory big wherefore,· once more, the United trusts in the United States from foist­ States government calls upon them to ing their oppressive policies upon the urihe to repel the common foe. We Latin American peoples. The great have also seen how the Monroe Doc­ American banking, oil, mining, meat trine came to be .used to oppress the packing, utilities, fruit, and shipping Latin American peoples. We must companies are still deeply entrenched guard against allowing the Good in the economic and political life of Neighbor policy to become an agency the countries of Central and South for continuing that oppression. This America, and they are as ruthlessly can only be done by the united demo­ determined as ever to exploit and op­ cratic efforts of all the American press these peoples. The Good Neigh­ peoples. bor policy has by no means abolished. Roosevelt's Good Neighbor policy this American imperialist domination, (plus his New Deal in this country) but it has, nevertheless; through its has undoubtedly provided a stimula­ democratic and peace features, put a tion in Latin America for the struggle certain check upon the brutal oppres­ of the peoples against fascism and sion of American imperialism in war. It has at the same time given Latin America. added strength to the national libera­ This development is in harmony tion movements in the several coun­ with Roosevelt's attitude towards tries. Roosevelt is thoroughly hated by finance capital in the United States. reactionaries and fascists throughout Roosevelt is no Socialist and he does the three Americas, and by the same not aim at the abolition of capitalism. token, his prestige is great among the But his New Deal, although support­ toiling masses everywhere, in that he ing the capi•talist system, also gives is increasingly responsive to the anti­ · some protection to many elementary fascist pressure of the people. interests of the workers, farmers and The Monroe Doctrine, even in its lower middle classes. The New Deal early, progressive stage, contained the thus lays various restrictions upon the germ· of hegemony by the United ruthless rule of the big banks and in­ States which later grew into imperial­ dustrialists. It has forced these vora­ ist domination. Such hegemony ten­ cious exploiters to make certain mini­ dencies in the application of the Good mum concessions to the toiling masses, N eigh,..,bor policy must be combatted. including the right of trade union or­ The Good Neighbor policy must be ganization, some measure of unem­ based upon a free association of all ployment and farm relief, various ele­ the American peoples, each possessing mentary kinds of social legislation, etc. full national sovereignty. Under the same American democrati< mass pressure, plus that of the masses (c) ROOSEVELT AND AMERICAN of Latin Americans, the Yankee im· IMPERIALISM perialists are now being compelled The present main danger of fascism also to modify considerably their ex­ and war comes from the Berlin-Rome- ploitation policies in Central and 612 THE COMMUNIST

South America. The old-time brutal rialist rivals and against the Latin suppression methods in Latin Amer­ American peoples. This imperialist ica are being changed. This is seen, pressure must be offset by democratic among other manifestations, by the pressure upon Roosevelt by the masses abolition of the Platt Amendment, by in the United States and Latin the withdrawal of American troops America. The fate of the Good Neigh­ from Latin America, and, lately, by bor policy in Latin America will be the attitude of the United States gov­ directly dependent upon the degree to ernment toward the recent Mexican which the Roosevelt Administration oil nationalization. Although consid­ resists this imperialist pressure and erable pressure has been brought develops the Good Neighbor policy as against Cardenas by the reactionaries one of real peace and democracy. in the U. S. State Department; but The conflict between the policies of were these the days of Coolidge­ Roosevelt and finance capital is de- Hoover rampant imperialism Ameti-· __cisive in determining the attitude of can troops would have been long since t:P.e Latin American masses towards sent to Mexican territory to compel American activities in their countries. the Cardenas government to reverse Thus, · these masses should oppose its action. every economic and political machina­ In the United States the Tory inter­ tion of tHe American imperialistic ests make bitter war against Roose­ trusts who are now preying upon velt's New Deal, and in Latin America them, but at the same time they these same imperialists will fight (and should support Roosevelt's Good are increasingly fighting) against the Neighbor peace policy insofar as it is democratic and peace tendencies of honestly applied. The American colo­ Roosevelt's Good Neighbor policy. nies, the Philippines and Puerto Rico The American imperialists dread the should be guided by the same prin­ growth of a great mass democratic, ciple, coupling with their demands for peace, national liberation movement national independence, proposals for in Latin America, and they do not cooperative relations with the U.S. hesitate to cooperate with local fascist There is no contradiction in this elements and also with their worst two-sided policy. It is only a recogni­ imperialist rivals (Great Britain, Ger­ tion in practice that imperialist many, Italy and Japan) in order to United States now has a government crush the growing revolt of the masses. with a strong democratic trend.. This They seek to make the Good Neigh­ two-sided policy is essentially the pol­ bor policy an instrument of American icy followed by the Cardenas govern­ imperialism, as they did the old Mon­ ment in Mexico, which, while it seizes roe Doctrine, and they are thus bring­ the wells of the big American oil com­ ing the_ greatest pressure (often too panies, at the same time seeks to main­ successfully as in the case of Mexican tain friendly relations with the Roose­ silver) upon Roosevelt to make the velt administration. It is also in line American government aggressively with the policy of the Communist support their capitalist interests by Party in the United States, which mili­ violent measures against their impe- tantly struggles against reactionary \

WIN WESTERN HEMISPHERE FOR DEMOCRACY AND PEACE 613 monopoly capital, but simultaneously over American imperialism, of accept­ supports the progressive features of ing Roosevelt's Good Neighbor policy Roosevelt;s program, including his as a sort of blanket to cover up the re­ Good Neighbor policy in Latin Amer­ actionary role of the American trusts ica, and fights for their energetic ap­ in Latin America. This would be just plication. another way of surrendering the na­ The fight against fascism and war tional liberation slogans to the Hitler­ in Latin America is inseparable from Mussolini fascists; for they (with the the fight against the ultra-reactionary help of the Trotskyi•tes) would be able sector of American finance capital. to appear demagogically as the peo­ But in this fight (against British im­ ples' champions against the ruthless perialism as well) it is of basic impor­ American corporations. It is necessary tance to realize clearly that the main to insist upon a true application of enemy to be fought at this time is the the Good Neighbor policy, which Berlin-Rome-Tokio fascist powers. It must include opposing the American is the drive of these malignant forces trusts in Latin America. that creates the present acute danger Under no circumstances shall the of fascism and war in Latin America, fascists be allowed to capture for their as in the rest of the world. Hence, the demagogic use the national liberation main fire of the democratic masses slogans of the people. This would give must be directed against these aggres­ them the masses and it would be a sors. This is all the more urgently sure road to disaster for the demo­ necessary because the German-Italian­ cratic-peace forces. Such an outcome Japanese fascists and their local fas­ can be avoided only by the toiling cist tools, capitalizing upon the justi­ masses conducting a fight against all fied, long-time hatred of American imperialist influences in Latin Amer­ imperialism by the Latin American ica, not indiscriminately against im­ peoples, and the latter's determina­ perialism in general, but with the tion to secure control of the basic in­ main attack overwhelmingly aimed dustries in their countries, have against the central menace, the basic adopted as their central slogan "Down source of the present fascist-war dan­ With Yankee Imperialism." Under ger, the chief threat to the lives, lib­ cover of a demagogic use of this slo­ erties, prosperity and national inde­ gan, they are seeking to hide their pendence of the Latin American peo­ own fascist designs, thus to ride into ples, the Berlin-Rome-Tokio fascist power with their program of oppres­ alliance. sion and war. This maneuver must be (n) IN CONCLUSION exposed and the Berlin-Tokio-Rome fascist combination fought as the chief Throughout the three Americas the enemy of the people. Grave disaster fascist-war danger is acute and full of will result if this is not done. menace: the great drive of the Berlin­ On the other hand, while fighting Rome-Tokio powers to conquer rich German-Japanese-Italian fascism as Latin America; the rapid growth of the central danger, the mistake must fascism in a number of countries from not be made of ignoring or glossing Canada to Chile; the intensiied THE COMMUNIST

"ganging up" of the fascist powers among the popular mass organizations and the ultra-reactionaries of Great and among the Communist Parties. Britain and the United States against The fascist foe, wherever it raises its the popular masses when these make head, must be met by the united forces determined resistance; the pro-fascist of democracy, peace and freedom. activities of the Trotskyites; the Our great hemisphere can and must open bid for power by the various l?!! won for democracy and peace. . \ imperialist fascist elements in a num­ Smash fascism through the Western ber of countries-all go to show the Hemisphere! seriousness of the threat of fascism and Down with all imperialist oppres­ war in our hemisphere. sion in the Americas; for full national But the picture is by no means one­ independence of the Latin American sided. We have seen briefly how -th~ peoples! democratic ~asses of the people Defeat the Berlin-Tokio-Rome fas­ throughout the three Americas are or­ cist alliance, chief enemy of the dem­ ganizing to defeat the fascist forces: ocracy and peace of all the peoples of the strong popular democratic-peace­ the Americas! national liberation movements in For a democratic application of many Latin American countries and Roosevelt's Good Neighbor policy! the strong democratic fronts in Can­ For the all-American people's co­ ada and the United States; the grow­ operation of Jefferson and President ing collaboration between the trade Roosevelt, not the Pan-Americanism unions and other mass organizations of Hoover and Wall Street! of the two continents; the enunciation Full support for the Cardenas gov­ of the Good Neighbor policy and the ernment of Mexico in its defense of tendency of the many American re­ democracy and its struggle against the publics to cooperate together for peace financiers of fascism, the oil monopo­ -all indicate tlie powerful reaction of lies and the Tory Chamberlain gov­ the masses against the fascist offensive ernment! and their determination to fight . for For concerted action by the allied democracy, peace and national inde­ democratic peoples of the American pendence. continents with the Soviet Union and It is obviously the task of all the all other peace-loving peoples of the democratic forces in our hemisphere world to quarantine the fascist war to strengthen their ranks and to draw aggressors! closer in aid of each other against the Keep the Americas out· of war by common enemy. Cooperation for keeping war out of the world! For a peace and democracy must be intensi­ great democratic front from Canada fied among the several governments, to Cape Horn! FORGING THE NEGRO PEOPLE'S SECTOR OF THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT*

BY JAMES W. FORD

HAVE the honor of being elected a ing more and more accepted by large I delegate to this convention from sections of the American people as a the state of Califomia, although ac­ guide in political thought and action tively working in New York, in Har­ in our time? lem, in particular. You may expect me Certain people, however, recognize to speak about Califomia; but since this fact with regret. I feel sure that Comrade Schneiderman, state secre­ certain sections of the American capi­ tary of the Califomia Party organiza­ talist press are forced to refer to tion, has just preceded me on the Browder's contribution to political platform, I needly hardly do so. I thought in America not out of kind­ want, however, to express my appre­ ness to Browder and our Party, but be­ ciation to the Califomia delegation cause our Party has produced a leader for my election to this convention. who answers every question that faces the people, and shows a way out. • • • They are therefore concemed with Comrades, in the immediate future, Browder and our Party for fear the large sections of the American people people's aroused interest forces them will recognize and hail Comrade to be concerned. Browder's report not only as a con­ I listened the other night to an tribution to this convention, but as a address by Comrade· Browder over a document of the greatest interest to national radio hookup, as no doubt the entire American people. all of you did. You will recall that Comrade Browder's report, so bril­ at the conclusion of the speech the liant and illuminating, shows the po­ announcer became very apologetic. litical maturity of our Party- and its It was an odd conclusion, to the effect growing leadership among wide sec­ that the broadcasting company had tions of the American people. What allowed the time because the Commu­ American political party has pro­ nist Party asked for it. The real fact duced, or can produce, a leader such is that our Party has produced a as Browder-a lea4er who is becom- leader who is demanded by the public because he is able to answer the ques­ "Speech delivered at the Tenth National tions that disturb the people. Convention of the Communist Party, U.S.A., May 29, 1938. This is because our Party' is based THE COMMUNIST on Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin, rade Bittelman this morning, which whose teachings offer answers to ques­ was a further elaboration of economic tions for all mankind. And who better problems and of the task of Marxist­ than Browder can give to the Ameri­ Leninist training for our entire Party can people the Marxist-Leninist an­ membership; or if we review the work swer to their questions? of our Central Committee since the There are people in our country last convention-what do we find? We who boast of knowing its history. But find the collective work of Comrades these people again and again show Stachel, Krumbein, Hudson, Wortis, that they neither know, nor care to any many other comrades who have understand, the true traditions of participated in molding and building Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln. that leadership, expressed in Comrade They certainly know nothing of Jef­ Browder. fersonianism as continued and Let me tell you what I have already brought to higher levels in Marxism­ heard about Comrade Browder's re­ Leninism. Browder understands our port. I had occasion to speak to a history and our traditions and has prominent Negro leader who accepted developed them for present-day con­ our invitation to hear Comrade Brow­ ditions. Browder has pointed out the der's report at Carnegie Hall. His re­ amalgamation of Jeffersonian teach- · marks show how our work is spread­ ings with those of Marx and Lenin ing. This man said that one could see and carried them into the program of that the leading committees of our the Communist Party in the United Party had worked together on the States today. No one else in America ideas expressed by Comrade Browder. has done this. Yet, he said, the report was given with The second point which I wish to such freshness and originality that develop is this: the Tenth Convention there was rapt attention by all the of our Party shows the oneness, the leaders, as well as by the entire con­ homogeneity of our Party, the collec­ vention. He said the report was some­ tive work and leadership existing in thing new in American political life. our Party. If you followed carefully He himself was thrilled by it. He is a the speech o,f Comrade Foster yester­ man of great authority among the day, you found in it a continuation Negro people and in American life of Comrade Browder's report, express­ as a whole. ing our position on fascism in the The report shows how to develop Western Hemisphere. The speech a movement of all progressive forces dovetailed with Browder's; it showed to preserve and extend democracy and the relationship of our problems with democratic rights, in the democratic those of all progressive forces on: this front. Comrade Bittelman developed continent, and indicated the where­ the point: How our Party must act to fores and the means of uniting all pro­ make the working class conscious of eressive forces of Latin America, the its own role in rallying all those Carribean, Canada, and the United forces capable, able and destined by States, against international fascism. history and by the traditions of our Or if we take the speech of Com- country to make the country serve all FORGING THE NEGRO SECTOR OF DEMOCRATIC FRONT 617 the people. The N eg1;o people are one ciation for the Advancement of Col­ of the important allies of the working ored People. This shows the possibili­ class, and now a great force for the ties for the Negro people in the democratic front. developing democratic front in our What has the democratic front to country today. offer the Negro people? Well may this question be asked, in the light of the past, as well as in the urgency of the In the filibuster against the Anti­ present. In the light of the past: The Lynching Bill, the reactionary forces Republican Party has always lavished -both the Republican Party and the sweet words upon the Negro, but not reactionary Southern Democrats-tried since Reconstruction has it done any­ to find a new way, as they put it, of thing effectively to solve the burning solving the question of the Negroes problems of the Negro people. in the South. Among these proponents The Democratic Party has been was Senator Bilbo of Mississippi. We traditionally based upon a so-called have the Congressional Record of "Solid South"; but there are differen­ May 24, 1938, in which Mr. Bilbo pro­ tiations taking place in the Demo­ poses to solve the question by the de­ cratic Party in the South that are portation of twelve million Negroes making it possible for the Negro peo­ back to Africa. Mr. Bilbo goes back ple to find the way toward alliance to Jefferson to justify this! He says with the progressive forces. All demo­ there are already two million signa­ cratic issues of the Negro people come tures of Negroes who are willing to to the fore in the democratic front. go back to Africa. Here is a man who·· These are: the fight against discrim­ distorts the history of our country in ination; for full civil rights and citi­ the. interests of the Bourbons. zenship; the right to vote; the right There were proposals during that to sit on juries and hold public office; time to deport the Negroes to Africa, the enforcement of the 13th, 14th, in order to solve the question of and 15th Amendments; the passage of slavery; but slavery was not solved the Anti-Lynching Bill; and the de­ that way. Slavery was solved by the feat of all the reactionary forces. The progressive democratic forces, in a democratic front will take up these revolutionary way, by civil war. We issues. hope, however, that in the present In the recent struggle for the pas­ period it will not be necessary to have sage of the Anti-Lynching Bill, the civil war, civil strife, to solve the progressive forces nationally began to Negro question in the South: the re­ rise to an understanding of the rela­ lationship of the Negro people and tionship of the Anti-Lynch Bill to the the white toilers. We propose rather progressive forces as a whole: Labor's that the Negroes will solve their prob­ Non-Partisan League, the C.I.O., and lems through the growing democratic other labor, liberal, and progressive front by joining together with the ma­ forces. These were rallied by the N a­ jorty of the people to defeat the re­ tiona! Negro Congress in support of actionary forces, and to make this the campaign of the National Asso- country a democratic country for all

their their during during others others and and Bilbo, Bilbo, der, der, pro- entire entire the the and and Jefferson Jefferson of of tions tions

Ellen­ Senators Senators of of lies lies slanderous slanderous The The tradi­ these these follow follow to to task task our our is is It It

publicized. publicized. have have stage stage the the and and movies, movies, forces. forces. democratic democratic the the

Hollywood Hollywood radio, radio, the the press, press, capitalist capitalist against against minority, minority, reactionary reactionary the the for for

the the which which Negro Negro the the of of conception conception but but toilers, toilers, Southern Southern of of masses masses the the for for

historic historic the the for for basis basis the the as as feriority, feriority, not not speak, speak, who who others others and and Bilbos Bilbos the the

in­ national national of of doctrine doctrine the the asserts asserts despite despite today today traditions traditions our our of of part part a a

brazenly brazenly conception conception this this First, First, gro. gro. it it made made has has Browder Browder Comrade Comrade dence. dence.

Ne­ the the of of super-exploitation super-exploitation nomic nomic Indepen­ of of Declaration Declaration the the wrote wrote

eco­ and and oppression oppression and and segregation segregation and and framed framed he he when when understood understood

social social of of justification justification the the as as used used and and meant meant Jefferson Jefferson what what really really is is

is is It It race. race. inferior inferior an an is is people people Negro Negro That That idea. idea. Jeffersonian Jeffersonian the the is is That That

the the that that idea idea the the on on based based is is ception ception

· · mine-J.W.F.) mine-J.W.F.) (Emphasis (Emphasis

expressed." expressed."

con­ false false This This people. people. Negro Negro the the

of of

democratically democratically majority, majority, the the of of will will the the upon upon

psychology psychology the the falsely falsely influence influence which which

based based be be therefore, therefore, must, must, government government cion; cion;

and and

class, class,

middle middle Negro Negro the the of of certain certain coer­ governmental governmental through through people people the the of of

by by masses masses accepted accepted the the upon upon been been have have imposed imposed are are minority minority which which a a class, class, of of ests ests

inter­

private private selfish selfish the the where where society society a a in in ress ress ruling ruling white white the the by by fostered fostered been been

prog­ and and health health social social no no be be can can "There "There

have have which which traditions traditions these these of of tions tions

concep­ false false away away report: report: clear clear his his to to in in said said necessary necessary Jeffersonianism Jeffersonianism

is is them. them. of of extend extend to to and and speaking speaking It It in in country, country, our our Browder, Browder, Comrade Comrade

in in struggle struggle present present the the of of part part a a bly bly minority. minority. reactionary reactionary the the of of speaks speaks

insepara­ traditions traditions these these make make to to and and really really He He teachings. teachings. and and principles principles

Douglass, Douglass, Frederick Frederick Lincoln, Lincoln, of of period period Jeffersonian Jeffersonian real real the the country, country, our our

War War Civil Civil the the through through down down on on of of history history the the slanders slanders Bilbo Bilbo Mr. Mr.

Washington Washington and and Jefferson Jefferson of of period period

1938.) 1938.) 24, 24,

revolutionary revolutionary the the from from people, people, Negro Negro

Record, Record, May May (Congressional (Congressional man." man." white white the the

the the of of traditions traditions the the out out dig dig and and of of exclusively exclusively interest interest the the in in conceived conceived are are

down down both both delve delve and and to to man, man, work, work, white white a a by by Negro Negro of of framed framed was was field field States States

United United the the of of Constitution Constitution the the man, man, white white a a the the in in necessary, necessary, is is it it country, country, our our

by by written written was was Independence Independence of of Declaration Declaration

of of traditions traditions the the of of speak speak we we When When

The The man. man. white white the the with with equality equality perfect perfect

question. question. of of terms terms upon upon Negro Negro the the recognizing recognizing of of tion tion

Negro Negro the the on on Jefferson Jefferson by by ment" ment" posi­ false false the the assume assume to to thereafter, thereafter, time time any any

or or Independence, Independence, of of Declaration Declaration the the writing writing docu­ "lost "lost a a masses masses popular popular wide wide

when when Jefferson Jefferson Mr. Mr. to to occurred occurred never never "It "It the the of of attention attention the the to to brought brought be be

to to yet yet is is There There forces. forces. reactionary reactionary and and Jefferson: Jefferson: to to alluding alluding

monopolies monopolies the the against against country country the the of of in in following, following, the the says says Bilbo Bilbo people. people.

unification unification national national for for sections sections other other Negro Negro the the with with jointly jointly problems problems their their

the the with with join join to to South, South, in in mocracy mocracy t~e t~e solve solve to to able able be be will will they they them; them; for for

de­ of of question question the the solve solve to to people; people; out out way way the the not not are are tactics tactics these these that that

Negro Negro the the and and population population toiling toiling understand understand to to beginning beginning are are South South

white white forces-the forces-the democratic democratic basic basic two two the the of of masses masses white white toiling toiling the the today today

those those South, South, the the in in and, and, people, people, the the But But way. way. another another in in problem problem the the

all all unify unify to to traditions; traditions; these these continue continue solve solve to to proposes proposes however, however, Bilbo, Bilbo, Mr. Mr.

country-to country-to our our of of heritage. heritage. gressive gressive together. together. white white and and Negro Negro people, people,

COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE THE FORGING THE NEGRO SECTOR OF DEMOCRATIC FRONT 619 filibuster against the Anti-Lynch Bill Negro slave conspiracies and revolts were no more than a flagrant distor­ between 1663 and 1865." In the post­ tion of ·the spirit of the Negro. Civil War and Reconstruction periods there is anothe:r neglected chapter of LET US REVIVE THE TRADITIONS history relating to the story of the OF NEGRO CULTURE struggle of the newly-freed slaves for The American Negro has been land and for the fulfilment of the popularly represented as comic; as a other promises of the bourgeois-demo­ humble, long-suffering character to be cratic revolution. pitied-Rastus and Uncle Tom. The This continuous tradition of pro­ Negro has been forced to play the test is reflected in the poetry, songs, clown. From the pre-Civil War min­ tracts, and addresses of the Negro. strel show to today's radio comic skit There was Jupiter Hammon, the first the Negro has played the role of a American Negro poet of whom there happy-go~lucky, ponderously ignorant is record, whose poetical broadsides buffoon-a "natural"' liar, a "nat­ appeared in 1760. There was George ural" coward, '.'naturally" lazy. Horton, the slave poet, whose The The American Negro's culture can­ Hope of Freedom was published in not be dissociated from his struggle 1827. And there was Frances Harper, against slavery, and against the acute whose poems the Abolitionists found economic exploitation and attendant useful for their cause. Also, there was evils which have their source in the that body of anonymous slave songs survival of the plantation economy in and shouts, the authentic voice of the the South. The tradition of the people. Negro has been the tradition of revolt David Walker's Appeal Addressed against his oppressors. The complete to the Colored Citizens of the World, story of the slave insurrections led by 182g, was a fiery protest against such men as Cato, Gabriel, Denmark slavery. The pamphlets were confis­ Vesey, and Nat Turner during the cated and destroyed wherever found. eighteenth and early nineteenth cen­ There were many others whose work turies is one of the chapters of Amer­ was in one way or another directed ican history which yet remains to be toward the overthrow of slavery: studied adequately. Historians in the Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, past have greatly discounted both the Ruggles, James McCune Smith, Pat­ number and importance of these rick Reason, Miffiin Gibbs, James slave insurrections and have in gen­ Forten, Robert B. Elliott. But great­ eral written from a prejudiced point est of all was Frederick Douglass, of view; many works on Negro his­ whose speeches and writings still hold tory by Negroes echo these same de.:­ a powerful inspiration for the Negro fects. It has been recently declared by masses. a student of Negro revolutionary tra­ Prior to the Civil War the Negro dition, Herbert Aptheker, writing in church was the only institution in that notable periodical Science and which Negroes were permitted to or­ Society, that "there were at least one ganize. As a consequence, religious hundred and sixty reported American zeal was frequently a part of the THE COMMUNIST

struggle for freedom and liberty, as present position in American history. in the case of Nat Turner, and re­ In art, in music, in the theater a ligious services were often the screen similar awakening to the recognition for plotting against the slave masters. of the true role of the Negro in Among the first organizations to take American life is taking place. Signifi­ up the fight for Negro rights was the cant of this trend is Paul Robeson's American Missionary Association, recent statement, upon quitting the which developed out of the defense of fashionable West End stage, for the the Negroes who revolted on the high Workers' Unity Theatre in London: seas in 1837 and captured the slave ship Amistad, which was carrying "When I sing 'Let My People Go,' I want it in the future to mean more than it has them into slavery. before. It must express the need for freedom Following the Civil War there de­ not only of my own race. That's only part veloped a hierar~y of middle-class of a bigger thing. But of all the working leadership in t:b.e church, which was class-here, in America, all over. I was born interested in its own advantage rather of them. They are my people. They will know what I mean." than in the struggle of the race for freedom, and the Negro church be­ In general we must aim to bring came in large part an agent of reac­ about the recognition of the fact that tion-a buffer between the class of ex­ the cultural tradition of the American· ploiters, both black and white, and Negro is basically of the same pattern the , Negro masses. In recent years, as the tradition of American democ­ however, under the stress of the eco­ racy in general. nomic depression, the Negro church I want to express publicly the high­ . is resuming its original role of mili­ est appreciation of our Negro com­ tant social leadership. rades and the Negro people of the It is the life, the work, the struggles splendid contributions of Richard of the Negro masses-in the cotton Wright and Langston Hughes, and fields, on the wharves, on the rail­ other artists and musicians of our roads, in the factories-which consti­ people. tute the essence of the authentic cul­ It is the reactionary filibustering ture of the American Negro. More Senators, the Ellenders and Bilbos, and more the younger writers, artists, who are trying to distort our contribu­ and musicians among the Negro peo­ tions to real culture, and to the ple are coming to recognize this fact. political and social and economic life The revolutionary tradition, the true of our country. They began to be folk experiences of the race, are being frightened by the prospects of N e­ newly appraised and utilized in all groes in the Congress of the United the arts. Langston Hughes and Ster­ States, as Governors of States, and in ling Brown have done outstanding State Legislatures. The Communist work in reinterpreting this folk ex­ Party is bringing to life the true role perience in poetry. Richard Wright, of the Negro people in American poli­ Frank Davis, and others make up a tics and is leading them in a concrete group of younger writers who are fasliion. Who has cause to fear the keenly aware of the Negro's past and role of the Negro in American life? FORGING THE NEGRO SECTOR OF DEMOCRATIC FRONT 621

The reactionaries. They it is who The State Legislators from the Har­ fear that a new type of Negro will lem area, twenty or more, came to­ emerge and come into Congress, and gether to talk things over. Four State we in Harlem have already given very Legislators-two Negroes, one Puerto serious consideration to this question, Rican, and one Irish Catholic-held and we say, "Yes, we will have out­ an informed banquet with Vito Marc­ standing Negroes in Congress!" In the antonio, former Congressman from the Harlem Legislative Conference this 2oth Congressional District, as spon­ has been placed as a central point. sor. They discussed the question of We aim to bring to the Congress of "the next steps before the people of the United States a Negro who will Harlem." speak for his people, and for all the They decided to call together their progressive forces in his community. constituents and ask them what they The Harlem Legislative Conference wanted the legislators to do in the is concerned, not only with sending to Legislature. The next step was to Congress a Negro Congressman, but issue, in the name of the legislators, with defeating the present Tammany a statement to civic leaders throughout anti-progressive Congressmen of the Harlem. At the first meeting of the 20th Congressional District and re­ Harlem Legislative Conference nearly placing him with an outstanding pro­ every representative appeared. Tliey gressive who will be a tremendous listened to the people on the questions addition to Congress, who can unite of housing, unemployment, discrimi­ the progressives that we hope to send nation against the Puerto Ricans, dis­ to Congress. crimination against the Negroes, yes, It is on this basis that the power of and even discrimination against the the Legislative Conference was organ­ Italians. They listened to the people ized. Spade-work was done by the demanding better schools, raising all Communists over a period of years. burning questions-the question of How was this done? What were the democratic freedom. steps taken? The State Legislators pledged them­ In the first place, the spade-work selves to go to the State Legislature over a period of years resulted in the and fight for these things. And they 1937 municipal elections around the did. They fought for the principal is­ American Labor Party in the election sues of the Negro people, and of the of a true progressive to the State Legis­ working class. That is not all. They lature. launched a campaign to replace the This was assisted actively by' the present reactionary leader in the 2oth Communist Party and was aided by Congressional District by a progres­ all progressive forces in Harlem, in sive. Organization has been set in lower Harlem particularly, which is motion for political action. Forces are composed largely of Negroes, Puerto working in the trade unions and the Ricans, and Italians. American Labor Party to develop a This victory laid the basis for the united front of all forces, to elect a first practical steps taken following the progressive. election. The question of a Negro Congress- 622 THE COMMUNIST man was much more difficult. A ma­ forces, bringing forward old and new jority of the Negro people in Harlem Negro forces, giving them systematic live in the 21st Congressional District. training, so that they will be able to There are nearly 2oo,ooo voters, but carry out in practice and in life the the Negroes are only about 25 per Leninist-Stalinist approach to our cent of this. total, even though the ma­ work, so clearly mapped out by Com­ jority of the people living there are rade Browder. Negroes. In the upper section of the We have splendid new Negro com­ district, mostly white people live: pro­ rades coming forth. We must train gressives, trade unionists, etc. them in the teachings of Marx, En­ This now presents the possibility gels, Lenin, and Stalin, on how to of working for the nomination of a make contact with the Negro masses, Negro ~n the primaries, and the con­ how to lead the work in their com­ sideration of an outstanding Negro munities, how to lead branches and who is acceptable to all progressive po­ make them a part of the life of the litical groups to run in the primaries Negro people. for the nomination for Congressman We have just concluded a National in the 21st Congressional District. Negro Training School, a school deal­ There are possible individuals com· ing specifically with Negro problems. ing forward on the basis of a program We had twenty-four Negro and white in the interests of the people. What comrades, from all parts of the coun" is required is one who is acceptable try. We made the beginning, in an to all progressive forces, one who organized way, in giving serious atten­ .agrees to the progranx of the demo­ tion to the training of our Negro per­ cratic front for the people of Harlem sonnel. Then we had Negro comrades -Negroes, Irish Catholics, Puerto in the general National Training Ricans, Italians. School. Pettis Perry is one of these These are some of the practical as­ students. He spoke to you this morn­ pects in our approach to the election ing. We have Negro comrades in our of a Negro to Congress-one who will state, county and section schools. We be an outstanding progressive in the must give more attention to systematic Congress of the United States. I can­ training. We must bring forward not speak about all our problems in these new comrades in the light of the our Negro work. We have a similar present situation. They must under­ situation in Chicago. There we have stand the tactics of the present situa­ the question of the Negro Democratic tion: how to bring the Negro people reactionary, Mitchell, who is a United as a democratic force into· the demo­ States Congressman; and the fact that cratic front as a whole in our country. a· progressive Negro Republican has This is not an easy task. I think been endorsed against him. We have our Party has been making splendid a delicate situation in Pennsylvania, advances in that direction. But we also, which perhaps Comrade Toohey must continue to bring the problem will speak about. forward, to bring it to the trade union Finally, I think our next task should organizations and industries · where be confined to training our Negro Negroes are not employed, to raise FORGING THE NEGRO SECTOR OF DEMOCRATIC FRONT 623 their specific problems and learn how a period of years in a manner that to direct these struggles in Negro com­ premotes the work of our Party in munities· against the big monopolies, Harlem; These comrades know how and against those people who try to to approach the Negro problem be­ stir up anti-Semitism. We have that cause they have worked in Harlem, problem in Harlem, and in the South and gained experience there. Side of Chicago, as had already been Comrades, with this splendid union reported by Comrade Childs. That of white and Negro workers which is one of the problems we will have to our comrade~ are helping to promote, consider in the near future. The dis­ the work of cementing the forces of tricts are now beginning to under­ the Negro people and of achieving stand and work in the Negro field, their alliances with the white working in Chicago and other places, in the class and with the vast progressive trade unions and among the white movement in the land is bound to comrades who are organizers in the succeed. Let us go back to our various Negro communities. territories from this convention re­ l want to conclude with a remark solved to assist vigorously in develop­ on the contribution of leading white ing the democratic front through the comrades in Harlem, of the many National Negro Congress, among Ne­ splendid forces we have there. Here gro men, women and youth. If we our white comrades, such as Comrade develop this work, we shall unite the George Blake, are organizing and Negro people for the democratic front helping to develop the movement. and we shall advance onward the great Likewise, our white comrades in the historic movement of struggle for trade unions have been working over Negro national liberation. SOME PROBLEMS BEFORE THE TENTH CONVENTION OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY*

BY ALEX BITTELMAN

OMRAI'>ES, like the many other working class, revolutionary ideas are C speakers, I should like to begin very important. Without them we by expressing my admiration for the can do nothing. But these ideas be­ magnificent and masterly report of come a power for doing things only Comrade Browder. I noticed in the when they get hold of the masses. New York Times this morning that From which the conclusion is obvious. the reporter was especially struck by We have to take this report and make the unparalleled length of the report. it the property of literally millions of Yet somehow I have the feeling that the American people. The masses are were the reporter free to express what ready for it. They want it. Let us he really thought, he would have said bring to them this message of our something else in addition. He Party convention. couldn't help then but say that this Now on some of the points which report was unparalleled not only be­ I intend to touch on very briefly. One cause of its length-that is a detail­ is about the democratic front. Here but because of its political significance I should first like to utter a word of in the life of our country, for today caution. We should guard against as well as for the future. permitting our discussions on impor­ We shouldn't, of course, restrain tant political questions, which neces­ ourselves in the expression of the feel­ sarily means theoretical discussion, to ings which this report has inspired in degenerate into meaningless hair­ all of us. But we should realize that splitting or to assume such abstract in this document we have a powerful forms that nobody outside of our own weapon for the promotion of the fight circles can understand it. This, how­ against reaction and fascism. We ever, does not in the least signify that should remember what Karl Marx we should abstain or restrict ourselves said many years ago: that correct from serious thoroughgoing discus- sions of our political tasks and prob­ lems at this convention. I mean thor­ "Speech delivered at the Tenth National Convention of the Communist Party, U.S.A .. oughgoing in the sense of linking up May l!g, 1938. the practical political problems of the 624 PROBLEMS BEFORE THE 10TH CONVENTION day with the fundamental principles tries you find powerful movements of of our theory and practice. the people rising against the offensive It is from this angle that I propose of fascism, fighting to destroy fascism, to discuss just one phase of the ques­ to preserve and extend democracy. tion of the democratic front. 'I'he This in broad outline is the thing that democratic front, like everything else is common to the mass struggles in in life, has a past, a present, and a all of these countries. Yet there are future. Viewing the democratic front certain things that are not common, from the angle of its past, of its his­ that differentiate them and among the tory, the thing that strikes one im­ things that differentiate the democra­ mediately is this: that the democratic tic movements of the people in these front of toda:y is organically connected three countries there are two: one, with all the great democratic tradi­ the relative position of the working tions of our country and people. In class in the camp of democracy, and, · this sense, it is a continuation, in a two, the degree of anti-fascist con­ new world, under new circumstances, sciousness in these movements. with new slogans and methods, but a Take for instance the development continuation nevertheless, of all the of the democratic forces in Spain and great fights which this country has France. There we find the People's gone through in the past-fights for Front movements greatly conscious of democracy, for the democracy of the their anti-fascist nature and, secondly, people and against its enemies. we find the working class plays in. This is the democratic front when these movements not only a decisive you look at it backwards. Now how but a leading role. On the other hand, does the democratic front look when examine the situation in the United viewed from the angle of its present States. Here we see various powerful development? You see the same demo­ forces of the people gathering together cratic struggle but on a wider scale, into a common democratic front more powerful, but also (and this is against the offensive of finance capital ·essential) that it is a struggle of an and for blocking the road to fascism anti-fascist nature. You notice also in this country. Yet the bulk of these that the working class is playing a forces is not yet cl!'!arly conscious of most decisive part in the democratic the anti-fascist nature of the struggle camp, beginning to take the initiative and the working class, while playing a in rallying the democratic forces into very decisive role, is not yet the lead­ a common front against fascism. It ing factor in the democratic camp. It is with this latter angle, with the role is just beginning to take the initiative of the working class, that I shall con­ in rallying the forces of the democratic cern myself especially in the rlext few front. minutes. Therefore, in discussing the build­ When you compare the develop­ ing of the democratic front in this ment of the democratic forces today country, with the orientation of devel­ in such three countries as France, oping it towards a real People's Front, Spain and the United States, what do it seems to me we will make no mis­ you find? In all three of these coun- take if we keep our eyes firmly fixed THE COMMUNIST

on this fundamental fact-the relative country (speaking for a moment only position. and role of the working class about our own country) has been in in the democratic camp. In terms of a condition of virtually continual practical policy, this means: encour­ crisis. It is true that we had two sep­ aging and strengthening the initiative . arate crises, the one of 19.29-3.2 and of the working class for bringing to­ the present one. In between, we had gether all the democratic forces of the a spell of depression, a special kind of people in a common front, making the depression, and then a recovery of a working class conscious of the fact that k~nd ..But taking the last ten years it is the decisive force in the struggle as a whole, the masses of the people against fascism. By following this pol­ cannot help but feel that things have icy, we are helping to consolidate the been going wrong for practically the democratic front today and are pro­ whole of these ten years. Things have moting its development inevitably to­ not been normal, not as they have wards a real People's Front. been in the past. It was crisis, it was As pointed out by Comrade Brow­ relief, it was taxation-it was emer­ der, there are two main things to gency right along. keep in mind. We want to rally Why is it so important to keep in around the working class in America mind these feelings of the people? Be­ today all forces, all social groups­ cause the reactionaries and the fascists especially the fanners and the middle are. trying and they will continue to classes-capable of fighting in one way try to derive some comfort from this or another against reaction and feeling of the masses. The reaction­ against the oncoming of fascism. And aries are already trying to appear as we want to do it in such a way as will those whose policies would be in a continually and systematically raise position to tum this country back to the consciousness of the working class normal conditions; normal, that is, of its ,liberating role in the struggle that factories would be running at against capitalism, of its duty to build capacity, workers would be employed, the democratic front and become the getting their normal wages, farmers leader of it. This is the meaning of would be growing on their soil all that our message. This is the meaning of can be grown, selling their products the message that Comrade Browder at prices they received twenty and brought to this convention. more years ago. I do not believe that the reaction­ • • • aries can get very far with this dema­ A second point on which I should gogy. I don't think that they can like to say a few words is the strug­ really convince a substantial section gle to make the monopolies pay for of the people that the policies of mo­ the crisis and the fight for recovery. nopoly reaction are really able to Here there is one angle to which we bring this about. Nonetheless, such must pay very much attention. That demagogy tends to confuse the people is: how the masses themselves feel and, should the crisis continue to about the crisis. Remember, comrades, deepen as it well may, because of the that it is already ten years that this sabotage of the monopolists, and PROBLEMS BEFORE THE wTH CONVENTION 627

should the democratic camp fail to put and already is, a central political is­ forward a real militant struggle for sue in the developing election cam­ · its complete program, there is no tell­ paign. ing but that reaction may make cer­ tain headway among the people even • • • with this demagogy. That is why we Lastly, on some of the methods and must have among the masses the wid­ approaches for ·bringing Marxism to est possible discussion on the possibili­ the masses and also o~ some methods ties of normal, fully normal, recoveries of Party education. at the present time. It was, I believe, on the second or The fact of the matter is that such third day after May 1 that The New fully normal recoveries simply cannot York Times had a long editorial on be had. If, for example, the reaction­ the lessons of May Day. The conclu­ aries should through some freak of sions of this editorial ran something fortune, or the weaknesses of the like this: It is true that the people in democratic camp, get into power, they America are very much dissatisfied will not give us a normal recovery. with conditions and are looking for Not by a long shot! What they might new ways out. But the people are not give us is some form of a Hitler "re­ turning to Marxism as a solution to covery," a Mussolini "recovery," or their problem, because Marxism is "Japanese-Mikado "recovery," that is, alien to the American mind. The a huge concentration camp for the American mind refuses to grasp it. It people, starvation as well as unem­ abhors the theories and ideas of ployment, imperialist war, with plenty Marxism. of comfort and riches for the reaction­ All this, of c.JOurse, is sheer nonsense. ary monopolies, and with the com­ and I will not burden you at .this time plete destruction of democracy. This with any long discussions on the mat­ is what they might be able to give us ter. Except to say this, that, in our if we allow them to get into power. midst there may be found attitudes But that is not the normal type of on this question which are not so very recovery that the American masses are good. I heard it expressed, not too looking for. On the other hand, if the often, that the reason yve do not make democratic forces consolidate them­ more headway with spreading Marx­ selves into a common front, pushing ism among the American masses (al­ forward their complete economic and though we are making considerable political program-the p~ogram of headway) is that the American people ·jobs, security, democracy, and peace­ still have a contempt for all theory. that also ·wouldn't give us the old­ I also heard it expressed, not so very time normal recovery, but it would clearly, that the reason we do not . give us a new kind, a new type of make more rapid progress with Marx­ recovery, one in the interests of the ist-Leninist education in our own people, and with the preservation and Party is again because of this in­ extension of democracy. It is for this grained resistance of the American sort of recovery, comrades, that we ·mind to Marxist theory. I wish to must fight. This will no doubt be. challenge that. I also want to chal-

our- asked asked having having And And approaches? approaches? some some just just but but say, say, to to glad glad am am I I all all

our our with with wrong wrong something something is is there there be be not not comrades, comrades, the the of of some some often, often, too too

All All education. education. May­ Party Party in in method? method? our our experience experience of of with with wrong wrong thing thing

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COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE THE PROBLEMS BEFORE THE wTH CONVENTION selves this question, we must proceed object lesson of how to take our Marx­ to correct our methods along the lines ist-Leninist theory, from the simplest of our general guiding principle. ideas to the most complicated ones, To conclude. Nowadays there is no and to bring them to the American longer even the semblance of excuse worker, to the American farmer, to that it is difficult to spread Marxism the American middle class person, so and Marxist education. Our Party that he can recognize in these ideas has already demonstrated that it is something of his own and in this way possible. Comrade Browder has given bring Marxism closer to the masseo; us object lessons. He has given us the and the masses closer to our Party. JULY 4th-BIRTHDAY OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

BY FRANCIS FRANKLIN

ULY FOURTH is the anniversary of dence by imposing upon us all the Jthe coming to manhood of the evils of Big Business fascism. American nation. The Declaration of Independence indicated the conscious EVENTS LEADING TO THE DECLARATION maturity of the movement for na­ OF INDEPENDENCE tional unification and for the self­ Great Britain in the seventeenth determination of the American peo­ and eighteenth centuries was dominat­ ple. ed by merchant capitalists. The All the tasks so boldly enunciated theory of mercantalism, in operation by this Declaration have still not been during these two centuries, expressed realized. Therefore, July Fourth can the class interests of the merchants, be celebrated truly only by renewed and led to all the tyrannical acts declaration of the effort to realize in against which our forefathers fought. their entirety its aims of freedom and This theory was that the prosperity of equality. The Communist Party, in­ the Empire depended upon having an heritor of the revolutionary democra­ excess of gold coming into the mother tic tasks of the great molders of the country over the amount leaving the American people, proudly proclaims country. In order to insure a favorable its determination to fulfil these tasks balance of trade, the state power was in its major slogan: Communism Is used to force the colonies to buy Twentieth Century Americanism! British goods in British ships and to The "long train of abuses and usur­ prevent competitive manufacturing in pations, pursuing invariably the same the colonies. Only raw materials were Object ... to reduce them under to be produced in the colonies, and absolute Despotism," from which our these were to be shipped to Britain forefathers suffered, is not altogether for British manufacturers. Thus, the dissimilar from the "long train of English government seriously hamper­ abuses and usurpations" which we ed the economic development of the have been suffering from the sixty American nation. In order to enforce families who now dominate our coun­ this policy, the merchant capitalist try and who; in one way or another, class greatly strengthened the power are seeking to undermine the prin­ of the state. Great Britain likewise ciples of the Declaration of Indepen- sought to restrict Westward expansion 630 JULY 4TH-BIRTHDAY OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY 631. in order to protect her fur trade and democratic constitution. The British to make. rebellion more difficult. Americans of 1776 were inheritors of Heavy taxes were imposed upon the that tradition just as the settlers from Americans to help pay for all these Ireland, Germany, France, and other acts of restriction. Thus began the lands inherited the revolutionary long succession of acts of "taxation struggles of their peoples. without representation." The earliest inhabitants of the By one despotic act after another, British Isles showed their sturdy love the government of George III sought for independence by their strong re­ to enforce its colonial legislation. sistance to the conquest of Julius British ships were stationed in Ameri­ Caesar. Subsequently, the Anglo­ can ports. Standing armies were sent Saxons fiercely fought against their to America, and laws were passed to conquest by William of Normandy. force Americans to give the British The Norman conquerors never suc­ soldiers free lodging in their houses. ceeded in shackling the institutions of When colonial legislatures protested feudal serfdom on all the hardy Eng­ against the tyrannical acts of the lish yeomen. In the forests of "merrie British government, they were dis­ England" dwelt many a band of out­ solved repeatedly by the royal govern· laws like the legendary Robin Hood, ors. When the citizens demonstrated who preferred to "rob from the rich against the presence of these hostile and give to the poor" than tg live troops, fights developed, and in 1770 under feudal oppression. the British soldiers fired at Boston The long fight for constitutional de­ citizens, killing five, among them the mocracy commenced under the rule Negro, Crispus Attucks. This "Boston of that worst of British tyrants, the Massacre" more than nearly any other unspeakable King John. It was under act helped intensify the hatred of the his despotism that the British people American people for their British won their first great charter of human tyrants. freedom, the famous Magna Charta, When the citizens of Boston in 1773 which granted to the English people protested against the tax on tea by the right of representative govern­ dumping a boatload of British tea ment. This was the foundation of the into the ocean, the British govern­ British Constitution, developed and ment replied by closing the Boston extended throughout the long history port. This oppressive act rallied the of England. American colonies in closer unity as There followed the struggles of a means of aiding their sister colony John Ball and the peasants; the battles in distress. of the Scotch Presbyterians; and the Great Rebellion of 1648, in which THE LIBERTY-LOVING TRADITIONS Oliver Cromwell and his "Ironsides" OF THE BRITISH AMERICANS overthrew and executed Charles I and The English have always been a established the Commonwealth. liberty-loving people. Their whole During this revolutionary period in history has been a long record of English history, the famous philos­ struggle against tyranny and for a opher John Locke answered the argu- THE COMMUNIST

ments of those who claimed that the last, there comes the time when the monarch had absolute authority over "long train of abuses" reaches the his subjects, and propounded the breaking point, and the spirit of revo­ theory, later set forth in the Declara­ lution which has been maturing so tion of Independence, that men are by slowly suddenly flares up in a flame. nature born free and equal; that they Then, as Lenin says, populations learn establish governments in order to in weeks or even days what formerly safeguard the possession of life, lib­ they could learn only in decades. And erty, and property; that for the pub­ the revolution is on. lic welfare governments must not be So it was in America. America had changed for light or frivolous causes, been at war with Great Britain for but that when a long train of abuses more than a year before she declared indicates that government has ceased her independence. When the war com­ to fulfil its function and has become menced it was merely a rebellion a despotism, then it is the right and against the Navigation Acts, the cur­ duty of the people to throw it off. tailment on industry and Westward Locke was the champion of religious expansion, taxation without represen­ and civil liberty. Thomas Jefferson tation, the quartering of troops in was steeped in these theories of John America, the closing of the Boston Locke, and it was Locke's Second port, the dissolving of the Colonial Treatise on Civil Government which Assemblies. was the fountainhead for the doctrines The outbreak of actual war was enunciated by the Declaration of In­ preceded by a long series of protests. dependence. There were the Stamp Act Riots, peti­ tions to the King and to Parliament, THE GROWTH OF THE MOVEMENT refusal to pay salaries to local gover­ FOR INDEPENDENCE nors, agitation and pamphleteering by Revolutionary sentiments do not such men as Samuel Adams and Pat­ arise all at once. They are always rick Henry, the organization of me­ slowly amf painfully developed. It i5 chanics and artisans into such groups only "a long train of abuses" which as the Sons of Liberty, the holding of by their accumulated impact finall}' protest meetings. But few were they, arouses them. There are always the like Samuel Adams, who throughout revolutionary pioneers who see further all these events cherished the aim of than the masses, who see in what di­ independence. Even after the war had rection events are leading, but who commenced, the Continental Congress know how to bid their time and how addressed humble letters to "his ma­ to organize and educate the masses jesty, George III," petitioning him as for the immediate struggle for which "faithful and obedient servants." they are ready, thus preparing the The ground was prepared by acts way for the really decisive struggle to­ of protest from the local Colonial ward which events are leading. Such Assemblies or township meetings or pioneers of social change are never by the convocation of local conven­ Utopian dogmatists, but always prac­ tions; just as today the ground is be­ tical revolutionary politicians. At ing prepared for the democratic front JULY 4TH-BIRTHDAY OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY 633 by the local and state elections. Final­ under which Americans suffered, he ly, through the efforts of men like declared: Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, "By an act passed in the fifth year of his and Patrick Henry these local move­ late majesty King George II, an American ments began to be coordinated subject is forbidden to make a hat for him­ through the formation of Committees self of the fur he has taken perhaps on his of Correspondence. At length, the own soil; an instance of despotism to which n!l parallel can be produced in the most time was ripe for beginning to unify arbitrary pages of British history." the colonies through the convocation of the First Continental Congress, to Further, he wrote: which delegates were elected by the "Can any one reason be assigned why colonial legislatures or by special con­ 16o,ooo electors in the island of Great Britain ventions. should give law to four million in the states The past may always be learned of America, every individual of whom is equal to every individual of them, in virtue, best by reading the actual words of in understanding, and in bodily strength? the men who helped make history. Were this to be admitted, instead of being In preparation for the Virginia Con­ a free people, as we have hitherto supposed vention to elect delegates to the First arid mean to continue ourselves, we should Continental Congress, Thomas Jeffer­ suddenly be found the slaves, not of one, but of one hundred and sixty thousand· tyrants, son wrote a series of resolutions, distinguished too from all others by this sin­ which he mailed to the Williamsburg gular circumstance, that they were removed Convention, from which illness pre­ from the reach of fear, the only restraining vented his presence. These resolu­ motive which may hold the hand of a tyrant." · tions, then considered too radical by most of the delegates, were published Showing that Jefferson applied his in a booklet entitled A Summary democratic theories to the slaves, he View of the Rights of British America. declared: Speaking of the overthrow and "The abolition of domestic slavery is the execution of Charles I, Jefferson great object of desire in those colonies, where wrote: it was unhappily introduced in their infant state. But previous to the enfranchisement "A family of princes was then on the [Note that Jefferson calls not only for the British throne, whose treasonable crimes freedom, but the enfranchisement of the against their own people brought on them slaves-F.F.) of the slaves we have, it is neces­ afterwards the exertion of. those sacred and sary to exclude all further importations from sovereign rights of punishment reserved in Africa; yet our repeated attempts to effect the hands of the people for cases of extreme this by prohibitions have been hitherto de­ necessity, and judged by the Constitution un­ feated by his majesty's negative: thus pre­ safe to be delegated to any other judicature." ferring the immediate advantages of a few African corsairs to the lasting interest of the Showing that he had some concep­ American states, and to the rights of human tion of the class struggle, he wrote: nature, deeply wounded by this · infamous practice.'' "History has informed us that bodies of Denouncing landed privileges, men, as well as individuals, are susceptible of the spirit of tyranny." which he claims were forced on Eng­ land only by the Norman Conquest, Denouncing the oppressive acts Jefferson angrily deClared, ''America THE COMMUNIST was not conquered by William the Not until after a year did it become Norman, nor its lands surrendered to a war for independence. Even lead­ him, or any of his successors." ers such as Washington were not then Speaking proudly as an American, ready for complete separation from Jefferson wrote: England. The real revolutionists used the utmost tact and diplomacy, and "These are our grievances, which we have made no effort to force slogans upon thus laid before his majesty, with that free­ dom of language and sentiment which be­ the masses for which they were not comes a free people claiming their rights, as then ready to fight. They united the derived from the laws of nature, and not as masses around the slogans for which the gift of their chief magistrate: let those they were ready. And in the process Hatter who fear; it is not an American art." of the war, the patriots learned from The First Continental Congress con­ their experience that they must go all sisted of many debates over proce­ the way and fight for complete sever­ dure. A Declaration of Rights was ance from the British Crown. adopted, and a petition was sent- to The writing of Thomas Paine the King. After debate from the con­ helped to crystallize . the growing servative Dickenson, this was couched sentiment for independence. Hh in the most humble terms. Finally, a Common Sense came like an electric resolution for the non-importation shock to the colonists. For six months and non-consumption of British goods before the signing of the Declaration was adopted. of Independence, it was read through­ In order to enforce these decisions, out the entire country. Committees of Safety were established Paine declared: in all the colonies. These developed into local organs of the Revolution. "Volumes have been written on the strug­ On April 18, 1775, the war com­ gle between England and America ... but menced. The patriots in Massachu­ the period of debate is closed. Arms as the last resource decide the contest, the appeal setts received word that the British was the ch.oice of the King, and this Conti­ troops were to attempt to seize their nent has accepted the challenge. . . . military supplies in Concord that "The sun never shined on a cause of night. During the night, riders went greater worth. 'Tis not the affair of a City, throughout the countryside, inform­ a Country, a Province or a Kingdom; but of a Continent-of at least one-eighth part of ing the population to be ready and the habitable Globe. 'Tis not the concern of mobilizing the "minute men," sturdy a day, a year, or an age; posterity are vir­ farmers who had been training to be tually involved in the contest . . • even to ready for action at a moment's notice. the end of time. When the British began to proceed "We have boasted the protection of Great Britain. She did not protect us from our along the highway to Concord, they enemies on our account, but from her ene­ found themselves under fire from mies on her own account . ... America would patriots in ambush. Behind every tree have flourished as much, and probably much was a sniping "minute man." There more had no European power taken any followed the battles of Lexington and notice of her. . . . France and Spain never were nor perhaps ever will be our enemies Concord. The war was on. as Americans but as our being the subjects of However, it was a war of rebellion. Great Britain. JULY 4TH-BIRTHDAY OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY 635

"Britain is the parent country, say some. "It is not difficult ... to see how the great Then the more shame upon her conduct...• principles of Jefferson's life-absolute faith Europe and not England is the parent in democracy-came to him. He was the prod­ country of America. This new world hath uct of the first West in American history. been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of Jefferson loved his backwoods neighbors, and civil and religious liberty from every part he, in turn, was loved by them." of Europe.... We claim brotherhood with every European Christian.... Not one-third The young Jefferson was sent to of the inhabitants, even of this province William and Mary College, where he [Pennsylvania-Ed.] are of English descent. came in contact with the liberal and Wherefore, I reprobe the phrase of parent or revolutionary thought of the period mother country applied to England only as being false, selfish, narrow and ungener- and where he could listen to the fiery ous ....". speeches of Patrick Henry in the Virginia House of Burgesses in the THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE adjoining town of Williamsburg.. On June 7, 1776, the resolution for Shortly after completing his study of independence was introduced into the the law, Jefferson was sent to repre­ Second Continental Congress by Rich­ sent his county in the House of ard Henry Lee of Virginia. At that Burgesses. There he soon won the time, some of the delegations were not reputation of a radical. He introduced ready for the decision, so the support· resolutions against slavery and landed ers of independence decided not to privilege, and began to win the hatred press for an immediate vote. A com­ of the planters around Williamsburg. mittee of five was appointed to draft He was ever in the thick of the fights a declaration of independence to be with the royal governor. So intent was brought back to the Congress. This · he in carrying out reforms in his own Committee consisted of Franklin, state that, after the passage of the Adams, Sherman, and Livingston. Jef­ Declaration of Independence, he left ferson was made chairman and was the Continental Congress to return to asked to write the Declaration. the Virginia House of Burgesses to There could have been no more continue the fight for the breaking up suitable person to draft this famous of tlie big ·estates and for a more document than Thomas Jefferson, equitable distribution of land. Like then thirty-three years of age. J effer­ most Virginians, he. was intensely de­ son's father was a sturdy independent voted to his own state, even though farmer in the Piedmont section of an internationalist. Virginia, which was then the frontier, The modesty and simplicity of Jef­ considerably removed from the big ferson were revealed by his utter con­ plantations of the Tidewater. From tempt for all offices or positions of his father, Jefferson came naturally to honor. In his epitaph, which he wrote his independent, democratic · prin­ himself, he never mentioned that he ciples. As William E. Dodd declared had been Governor of Virginia, Sec­ in his Statesmen of the Old South: retary of State, and President of the United States; but mentioned simply • "COmmon Sense," Thomas ·paine, Selec­ that he was author of the Declaration tions From Hia Writings, pp. 28·29, Interna­ tional Publishers, New York. of Independence, author of the Vir- THE COMMUNIST gtma Statute of Religious Liberty, pressing every legislative attempt to prohibit and Founder of the University of or to restrain this execrable commerce. And Virginia. Jefferson had the most in­ that this assemblage of horrors might want no fact of distinguished die, he is now ex­ tense faith in education, which he citing those very people to rise in arms wanted to be scrupulously separated among us, and to purchase that liberty of from the church. Concerning slavery, which he has deprived them, by murdering he wrote in his Autobiography: the people on whom he also obtruded them: thus paying off former crimes committed "Nothing is more certainly written in the against the liberties of one people, with book of fate than that these people (the crimes which he urges them to commit slaves) are to be free." against' the lives of another."

He always spoke of the enslaved Ne­ This passage, however, was too groes with the utmost respect, speak­ strong for the rich planters, many of ing of them, as we do today, as a whom were themselves profiting from people, and showing by his speech the African slave-traffic; and much to that he regarded them as equals. the disgust of Jefferson, it was deleted Learning from his own experience from the final text. that their freedom and enfranchise­ Jefferson's draft, after considerable ment were not to be obtained in his discussion and some rephrasing, wa~ own day, he looked to the young gen­ adopted on July 2, 1776, and was eration to take up the fight for their finally signed hy the delegates on emancipation. His Notes on Virginia July 4· contained biting att~s on slavery. On July 8, it was first announced He was anxious to get this book into to the people. The citizens of Phila­ the hanks of the young men in the delphia were called together by the schools, writing: ringing of the Liberty Bell in Inde­ "It is to them I look, to the rising gen· pendence Hall. The Declaration was eration, and not to the one now in power, read to the joyous group by Colonel for these great reformations." John Dixon. Immediately thereafter, the crowds rushed to the State House, The longest paragraph in Jefferson's tore down the king's coat of arms, original draft of the Declaration of and burned it. Bells rang and bon­ Independence was a burning attack fires burned till midnight. Through­ on the African slave traffic. The out the land, the Declaration was read passage follows: everywhere. In NewYork, the crowds "He has waged cruel war against human tore down the leaden statue of George nature itself, violating its most sacred rights III, and its lead was cast into bullets of life and liberty in the persons of a dis­ tant people who never offended him, cap­ ''to assimilate with the brains of the tivating and carrying them into slavery in enemy." . another hemisphere, or to incur miserable When Earl Browder spoke recently death in their transportation thither. This at the University of Virginia, he was piratical warfare, the opprobrium of infidel asked how he could compare the Bol­ powers, is the warfare of the Christian King of Great Britain. Determined to keep open sheviks, who killed the Tsar, to our a market where men should be bought and American revolutionists. Browder's sold, he has prostituted his negative for sup- reply came readily: "It was a lucky JULY 4TH-BIRTHDAY OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY 637

thing for George III that he was on regal stile. He did not talk of our seas, our the other side of the ocean." These coasts, our towns, and our people." deeds of the American patriots show Indignant at the boldness of the the truth of this remark. Americans, he declared: The Declaration of Independence, "Had an Angel· descended from Heaven together with the Bill of Rights, is with terms of accommodation, which of· the very heart of true Americanism. fered less than independence, they would These documents form the American have driven him back with hostile scorn." Magna Charta. After dealing with the particular

REPLY TO THE DECLARATION OF charges, this spokesman of George III turned to the preamble: INDEPENDENCE BY BRITISH TORIES "In this preamble however it is that they Shortly after the signing of the attempt to establish a theory of government; Declaration of Independence, there a theory, as absurd and visionary, as the sys­ appeared . the official reply of the tem of conduct in defense of which it is British throne, presented as though established, is nefarious. Here it is, that coming from a mere subject. This maxims are advanced in justification of their enterprises against the British government. volume was entitled An Answer to the To these maxims, adduced for this purpose, Declaration of the American Congress it would be sufficient to say, that they are by Jonathan Lind. repugnant to the British Constitution. But· It opened by declaring, beyond this they are subversive of every ac­ tual or imaginable kind of government. "Ill would it become the dignity of an in­ "They perceive not, or will not seem to sulted sovereign to descend to altercation - perceive, that nothing which can be called with revolted subjects. That would be ·to government ever was, or ever could be, in recognize that equality and independence, to any instance, exercised, but at the expense which subjects, persisting in revolt, cannot of one or other of those rights.... [i.e., of fail to pretend. . . . life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.] "Easy as it were, and fit as it may be, to "That men who are engaged in the design refute the calumnies contained in that auda­ of subverting a lawful government should cious paper, it could not be expected that endeavor by a cloud of words, to throw a his Majesty or his Ministers should conde- veil over their design; that they should en­ / scend to give it any answer." deavor to beat down the criteria between tyranny and lawful government is not at all The reply sought to answer each surprising." of the charges leveled by the Declara­ tion against the king. In answer to the He proceeds to ask how the Ameri­ charge, "He has plundered our seas, cans can invade Canada, how they ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, can deprive the Tories of life and lib­ and destroyed the lives of our people," erty and force them to flee from their Jonathan Lind declared that the homes: Americans could complain as easily "In these tenets they have outdone the of such "just punishments" as could utmost extravagance of all former fanatics. the pirate, Captain Kidd. The German Anabaptists indeed went so far as to speak of the right of enjoying life as a "One difference there is," declared this re­ right unalienable. To take away life, even in ply, "between the present rebels and the the Magistrate, they held to be unlawful. ancient pirate: the latter did not adopt the But they went no further, it was reserved 6g8 THE COMMUNIST for an American Congress, to add to the without economic security. Thus he number of unalienable rights, that of en­ fought for land for the small farmers, joying liberty and pursuing happiness." for breaking up of the big estates. He Were subjects to be allowed to pur­ secured the repeal of the laws of entail sue any kind of happiness, asked and primogeniture, which prevented Lind. Were penal codes contrary to this. Through the Louisiana Pur­ the laws of God and the unalienable chase, he secured vast tracts of land rights of man? Were thieves, mur­ for distribution to homesteaders. derers, rebels not to be restrained? The battles for free or cheap land, for universal suffrage, for free public TASKS OF THE DECLARATION OF education, for security for the poor, INDEPENDENCE LEFT UNFULFILLED were continued after Jefferson by the BY THE REVOLUTION rugged Tennessee farmer, Andrew Even after the end of the war, the Jackson. fight for the prinCiples of the Declara­ Subsequently, when the wealthy tion of Independence was by no means planters of the South had captured over. For many years, the "economic the Democratic Party, which they had royalists" of that day under the Ham­ hated so bitterly, the new Republican iltonian Federalists sought to subvert Party of Abraham Lincoln took up the democracy in the broad terms in fight for Jeffersonian democracy. Lin­ which it was conceived by Jefferson. coln declared that since Jefferson's The majority of the framers of the party had betrayed the principles of Constitution were not revolutionary Jefferson, it became necessary for a Democrats of the type of Jefferson, new party to continue his fight. The Patrick Henry, and Samuel Adams. early Republican Party first put into Jefferson heartily approved of the practice Jefferson's program for the Constitution, as framed, with its guar­ abolition of slavery. antee of representative government, The task of securing freedom and but was greatly disturbed by the ab­ equality for all Americans was no­ sence of a Bill of Rights. He helped where more flagrantly denied than by organize the demand for the inclusion the continuance of slavery, as Jeffer­ of such democratic guarantees through son fully realized. It remained for the first ten amendments. four years of bloody Civil War to wipe Throughout the rest of his life, he out this stain- upon American democ­ devoted himself to the defense of the racy. The enactment of the 13th, 14th principles of this Magna Charta of and 15th Amendments to the Con­ American democracy. lri opposition stitution further applied the prin­ to the counter-revolutionary Federal­ ciples of the Declaration of Indepen­ ists, he founded the Democratic Party dence and further extended the Bill as a party of small farmers and all the of Rights. oppressed. He clamored for extension "THE EARTH BELONGS TO THE LIVING of the right to vote, for a:bsolute free­ GENERATION" dom of speech, press, and assembly, for universal education. He realized New times and conditions· impose that democracy was of Hide value new tasks upon the battle for demor- JULY 4TH-BIRTHDAY OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY 639

racy. Jefferson, who fully realized Relations Board as a means of enforc­ this, wrote: ing this right mean that, in our day, labor is, by growing strength and "No society can make a perpetual consti­ unity, actualizing significant aspects tution or even a perpetual law. The earth belongs to the living generation." of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, applying those The question of land as an eco­ fundamental principles of American nomic base for democracy is just as democracy to the new conditions of burning tOday as it was in the time of our own day. Jefferson for the vast farm population Under the influence of labor, the of our country. The enormous growth progressive wing in the Democratic of farm tenancy has made it even more Party has now advanced a broad legis­ burning. The recommendations of lative program which would consider­ the President's Committee on Farm ably supplement labor's recent Tenancy have begun to tackle this achievements. This program, some of problem in true Jeffersonian style. which has begun to be enacted into However, since Jefferson's day, the de­ law, stands for social security legisla­ velopment of capitalism has brought tion, minimum wages and maximum about a thoroughgoing industrial hours, price stabilization, tax reform revolution in our country. America to remove the burden from the poor, is now predominantly industrial. The abolition of farm tenancy, regional majority of our people no longer live planning such as the T.V.A., soil con­ in the country. Capitalism has reached servation, judicial reform, educational its peak and fallen into general crisis. reform, recovery through work-relief The last economic crisis gave way to projects, etc. chronic depression, and now a new Against this program, the "sixty crisis has commenced before we have families," who play the same role as fully recovered from the latter. The that played by the "160,000 British most burning problems of our era are, tyrants" in Jefferson's day, are gird­ therefore, industrial problems. Obtain­ ing for battle. In the very name of the ing economic security for the millions Declaration. of Independence and the of industrial workers in our country Constitution, Big Business is today . is a prime necessity for giving a base undermining the principles of these to democracy. American documents by seeking to The unprecedented growth of the curb labor's civil liberty to organize, labor movement since the full force by seeking to discredit Roosevelt and of th,e crisis of 1929-33 fell 11pon us organized labor through intensifica­ has resulted in new gains for labor, tion of the new economic crisis, by and these are at the same time new conniving with foreign fascist powers, gains for democracy. The right of la~ and seeking a way to ~stablish Big bor to· organize and bargain collective­ Business fascism in America. ly through the union of its own The "sixty families" are not only choice, as officially recognized in the working through the Republican Wagner Labor Relations Act, and the Party. They are also seeking to utilize establishment of the National Labor the reactionary Democrats as a means THE COMMUNIST of preventing the Democratic Party minded reactionaries hope to aid from becoming a party of progress. their worldwide assaults on democ­ That is why the present Democratic racy, Jefferson was most outspoken, as primaries are so important. indicated by his unqualified support Similarly, the reactionari.es hope to to the young French republic when it confuse the issue through such move­ was under attack from all the feudal ments as that of the LaFollette Na­ powers of old Europe. tional Progressive Party, whose will­ Throughout the world, the inde­ fully vague program says nothing pendence of the small, "backward," a!bout the burning problems of the or democratic nations is being threat­ day, but which contains an attack ened. Ancient China is fighting a war upon the one burning need of Roose­ for independence as we did in 1776, velt's Recovery Program, and which although on a far vaster scale. thus coincides with the program of Ethiopia in Africa has not given up the fascist-minded reactionaries. the fight for freedom. Austria is now The growth of the democratic confronted with the same task. front today continues the battles of Czechoslovakia must defend herself Jefferson and his followers for free­ from the fate of Austria. In all these dom and equality and for the rights assaults upon democracy by the mod­ of man. Through the legislative pro­ ern monster of fascism the British gram, outlined above, it seeks to ap­ Tories under Chamberlain are play­ ply the principles of the Declaration ing the same reactionary role which of Independence and the Bill of they played under George III. Rights to America of the twentieth Schooled in methods of colonial op­ century with its huge industrializa­ pression throughout centuries of rule, tion and dominance by sixty families they are aiding and abetting the new of monopolist finance capitalists. menace of fascism in every possible These struggles today are world­ way. wide even as were the struggle of The crying need of the hour is for 1776. Spain's present efforts to main­ all who have faith in democracy to tain its republic are meeting with the unite in a solid worldwide coalition furious resistance of the fascists as did of all democratic forces to prevent the the American Republic at the hands fascist finance capitalists of the world of the "fascists" of 1776, as Roosevelt from destroying the fruits of whole recently called. the supporters of centuries of popular struggles for George III. Americans, however, must democratic rights. hang their heads in shame that, while Meanwhile, the growth · under the monarchist France came to the aid new Stalinist Constitution of the So­ of our young republic, democratic viet Union of a democracy hitherto America has so far failed to come to unequalled in the history of man­ the aid of the young Spanish re­ kind has indicated that, under mod­ public. ern conditions, only socialism can af­ Against such isolationism as that ford an economic base capable of giv­ through which the modern fascist- ing permanent support to the funda- JULY 4TH-BIRTHDAY OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY 641

mental principles of Americanism as solidate the American people and will contained in the Declaration of Inde­ pave the way for the achievement of pendence· and the Bill of Rights. complete democracy through the es­ Just as in Jefferson's day all those tablishment of socialism. who were ready for struggle against We celebrate July Fourth, for on British tyranny were not ready all at .that day a challenge was hurled at once to go the full length of the international tyranny; a challenge struggle for independence, so today which was given scientific precision all those who are ready to struggle for by the greatest teachers of democracy democracy have not yet drawn the of the nineteenth and twentieth cen­ logical conclusion that they can win turies: Marx, Engels, Lenin and their goal completely only through Stalin. Fortified with their teachings socialism. Just as in Jefferson's day and applying them to the present con­ the struggle for immediate reforms ditions of American life, the Commu­ strengthened and consolidated the nist Party, under the leadership of American forces and helped pave the Earl Browder, sets itself the aim of way for the fight for complete inde­ giving body and form to the princi­ pendence, so today the building of the ples of the July Fourth Declaration c democratic front will unite and con- in the America of today. BUKHARIN-THE PATH OF A TRAITOR

BY V. J. JEROME

[The first part of this article appeared presents us with the same kind of rub­ in the june number of The Commu­ bish.... "The question is important. It is a vital nist. It is concluded in this issue.] question. It is linked inseparably with the question of annexations: one of the most Bukharin fought the Leninist-Stalin­ burning questions of the day." (Letter to ist teachings and policy on the national A. G. Shlyapnikov, Zurich, March, 1916.)• question. In April, 1916, Lenin published his theses, "The Socialist Revolution and B UKHARIN together ~i~ Pyatak~v the Right of Nations to Self-Deter­ published a thesis m 1915 m mination" • • directed at the anti­ which they proved themselves at vari­ Marxist position on the national ques­ ance with the basic tenets of Leninism tion adopted by Bukharin and Pyata­ in regard to the national question. kov as well as the Polish Section of . In keeping with its general policy the Left Zimmerwaldists, headed by of surrendering · the struggle for de­ Karl Radek. In these theses, Lenin mocracy in the epoch of imperialism, refuted the opposition to the right of the Bukharin group rejected the prin­ nations to self-determination, showing ciple of the right of nations to self­ that such opposition meant capitula­ determination, maintaining that this tion to the propaganda of the oppress­ principle was not realizable under ing bourgeoisie for holding weaker capitalism, while under socialism it nations in subjection. As to the real­ was superfluous. Thereby, the Bukha­ izability of self-determination under rinites set themselves against the lib­ capitalism, he pointed to the secession eration movement of the oppressed of Norway from Sweden in 1905 and nations and colonies, and manifested indicated the eventuation of Poland's again their denial of the very prin­ independence. While as to its "super­ ciple of the dictatorship of the pro­ fluity'' under socialism, he demon­ letariat, which cannot be established, strated that the complete democracy and of the victory of socialism, which which the socialist society sets itself to cannot be achieved, save on the achieve must therefore, "not only premise of the right of nations to self­ determination. ---;-:z:-he Letters of Lenin, translated and ed­ Shortly afterwards Lenin took sharp ited by Elizabeth Hill and Doris Mudie. Harcourt, Brace and Co., New York. issue with Bukharin: ""Printed in Vorbote (The Herald), the theoretical organ of the Zimmerwald Left, "On the question of self-determination he Issue No. 2 •. BUKHARIN-THE PATH OF A TRAITOR

bring about the complete equality of not have been defeated, unless the Russian nations, but also give effect to the proletariat had had the sympathy and sup­ port of the oppressed peoples througheut right of oppressed nations to self-de­ the area which was formerly the Russian em­ termination, i.e., the right to free po­ pire. But to secure their sympathy and sup­ litical secession." port, the Russian proletariat had, first of all, His trenchant words cut at the core to break the chains that had been imposed on of the anti-Marxism of Radek-Bukha­ these peoples by Russian imperialism, to free rin-Pyatakov: them from the tsarist yoke. Otherwise it would have been impossible to consolidate the So­ "Socialist Parties which fail to prove by all viet power, to inculcate true international­ their activities now, as well as during the ism, to create' that remarkable organization revolution and after its victory that they will for the collaboration of the peoples which is free the enslaved nations and establish rela­ known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Re­ tions with them on the basis of a free union publics and is the forerunner of the coming -and a free union is a lying phrase without union of the nations to form a world-wide right to secession-such parties are commit­ economy." (Leninism, Vol. I, p. I4ll-) ting treachery to Socialism." (Lenin, Selected Bukharin conducted his struggle ~orks, Vol. V, p. 267, International Publish­ ers, New York.) against Lenin, Stalin, and the Central Committee by means of unprincipled Bukharin and Pyatakov set them­ anti-Party factionalism, subversion, selves against Lenin and Stalin at the and splitting tactics. Eighth Party Congress (March, 1919), Very early, during the World War, also on the national question. In this, Lenin had characterized Bukharin as they proceeded from the basic identity "devilishly unstable in politics." (Let­ of their position with that of Trotsky ter to Shlyapnikov, cited place.) in attempting to cut off the proletariat At the 1915 conference of the for­ from its natural and historical allies eign section of the R.S.D.L.P. (Rus­ and reserves, and to thwart the exer­ sian Social-Democratic Labor Party) cise of its role of hegemony. This po­ Bukharin, with his "Boggi group" sition gave definite aid to the nation­ (named after a town in Switzerland), alist forces of counter-revolution. In endeavored to set up an "indepen­ declaring, at the Eighth Congress, that dent" center, against Lenin. the right of nations to self-determina­ Bukharin and Pyatakov further tion was in contradiction to the prin­ showed their baseness by the fact that ciple of the dictatorship of the pro­ they sought to use their control of the letariat, that he was for "self-determi­ Party's financial resources and the nation of the toilers," Bukharin was means, therefore, of subsidizing its of­ characteristically flourishing phrases ficial organ, as a whip-hand to demand of revolution in the interests of coun­ of Lenin that he publish all articles ter-revolution. setting forth the anti-Party views of """ Comrade Stalin, who, together with their grouping. Excoriating their un­ Lenin, fought at the Eighth Congress principled · conduct, Lenin wrote: for the decisive defeat of Bukharin's "This is not discussion hut the depth disastrous policy, later wrote: of intrigue and baseness." (Collected "The Russian revolution would not have Works, Vol. XXIX, p. 239, Russian been victorious, Kolchak and Denikin would edition.) THE COMMUNIST

Their factional control of the Mos­ In the ensuing years, many of the cow Regional Party Bureau and the "Left Communists" identified them­ Moscow and Petrograd Party Commit­ selves with new opposition factions, tees, and the anti-Party struggle which particularly Sapranov's Group of they waged against Lenin and Stalin "Democratic Centralism" of 1920-2 1. in regard to the Brest-Litovsk peace and the Trotskyite opposition of 1923- negotiations have already been re­ 24 and 1926-28, finally landing in the ferred to. camp of counter revolution and fas­ Steadily, the influence of "Left cism. Communists" waned, until it prac­ tically disappeared from the Party Bukharin fought Lenin and Stalin ranks. In the middle of May, 1918, on the trade union question. the Moscow Regional Conference In 1920-21, Bukharin again came adopted Lenin's theses On the Im­ forward with an opportunistic pro­ mediate Tasks of the Soviet Govern­ gram in opposition to Lenin and ment, thus ending the control of the Stalin, this time on the trade union "Left" factionalists. The Urals Re­ question. This opposition, launched gional Committee likewise went over by Trotsky, brought discord into the to the side of Lenin and Leninism. Party at a time when all its forces were Bukharin and Co. continued their op­ needed to cope with the difficult con­ position, threatening a split, unless a ditions at the beginning of 1921. special congress of. the Party would be The transition from the period of convened. Some months later they War Communism to the stage of the admitted their guilt and (outwardly) N.E.P. and Reconstruction demanded liquidated their faction-with what that the trade unions come vitally into sincerity time later showed. play as a factor in schooling the This step was taken only to deceive masses and drawing them into the the Party and the masses; for we now work of building socialism. To this know that these confessions and the end, Lenin and Stalin, realizing the "dissolution"' of the faction were un­ imperative necessity of the N.E.P. as dertaken only as a cover for carrying the means of initiating the .economic on illegal work. It was at this time reconstruction of the Soviet Republic, that they planned, together with the as the stage from which to advance to Left Socialist-Revolutionaries and socialist construction, stressed the Trotsky, to arrest and kill Lenin, need for instituting in the trade Stalin, and Sverdlov, and to install unions workers' democracy and edu­ their own government with Pyatakov cation; for bringing the trade unions at the head. to concern themselves with the cul­ As the trial of Bukharin has shown, tural and social, as well as the eco­ they knew and approved of-in fact, nomic, advance of the working were to a great extent responsible for masses; for realizing in all its fullness -the attempt to kill Lenin by Dora Marx's conception of trade unions as Kaplan, Left Socialist-Revolutionary, a school of socialism. Against this program of the Party, / who inflicted the bullet wound that shortened his life. Trotsky advanced his own platform. BUKHARIN-THE PATH OF A TRAITOR

Not democracy, but intensified com­ is a complete rupture with communism and a transition to the position of syndicalism." pulsion ~n the trade unions. Not con­ cern with the economic, cultural and (Selected Works, Vol. IX, p. 35·) social interests of the millions of With Bolshevik foresight Lenin workers, with schooling the masses warned: for socialism - this is an affair ot the state alone. (Note how the op· "The more Comrade Bukharin defends his position of Trotskyism to the victory deviation from communism, which is ob· viously wrong theoretically and deceptive of .socialism is here reflected!) The politically, the more deplorable will be the trade unions, Trotsky contended, fruits of his obstinacy." (Ibid., p. 79·) would have to become state organs, with their main function the direct Lenin pointed out that Bukharin's administration of economy. "Nation· position meant an essential repetition alization. of the trade unions!" was of Shlyapnikov's slogan "Unionize the the central slogan that Trotsky ad­ state"; it meant transferring the ap­ vanced in that struggle against the paratus of the Supreme Council of Party-the proposal to coalesce the National Economy to the correspond­ trade unions with the state: in other ing trade unions; it means annulling words, an inverted form of syndical­ the Marxian conception of the trade ism. (Let it be borne in mind that in unions as schools of Communism and seeking to transfer the administration concentrating in the hands of the of industry from the proletarian state trade unions the entire management to the trade unions, Trotsky hoped of the national economy; it thus thereby to deny any governmental denied the guiding role of the Party participation to the peasantry, whose and the historic tasks of the proleta­ revolutionary alliance with the pro­ rian state. (This follows logically letariat, and the dictatorship of the from Bukharin's anarchistic position proletariat based on that alliance, he on the state.) Lenin, therefore, con­ had set himself to destroy-however demned Bukharin's stand as being devious and foul the means.*) anti-Communist and Anarcho-Syndi­ Bukharin, with Serebryakov and calist. Preobrazhensky, organized the "buffer Lenin stated in thi'S connection: group," ostensibly a group to concili­ "The political errors committed by Com· ate between the Central Committee rade Trotsky, and aggravated, made more and Trotsky; but in actuality Bukha­ profound, by Comrade Bukharin, distract our rin served only as an ally of Trotsky Party from economic problems, from 'pro· and an .opponent of Lenin. duction' work, and unfortunately compel us to waste time on rectifying these errors, on Lenin roundly condemned this arguing against the syndicalist deviation buffer group: (which leads to the fall of the dictatorship of the proletariat), on arguing against a " ... the theses of Bukharin & Co. are the wrong approach to the trade union movement acme of ideological disintegration . ... This (an approach which leads to the downfall of the Soviet government), on arguing about general 'theses,' instead of engaging in busi· ~ Note the rese~blance of Trotsky's trade un~on program with Mussolini's corporative nesslike, practical 'economic' argument... ," umons and Hitler's Gleichschaltung. (Ibid., p. 57.) THE COMMUNIST

Bukharin fought the Party's pro­ Party and was compelled to repudiate gram for socialist construction. the slogan. But it indicated Bukha­ Proceeding from liis position in re­ rin's conception-which later found gard to "organized capitalism" and open expression in the opposition of his essential denial of the general the Rights to the socialist program of crisis of capitalism, Bukharin exag­ industrialization and collectivization gerated the relative and partial stabi­ -as that of the development of Soviet lization of capitalism (1923-29). Deny­ economy along capitalist lines. ing the possibility of building social­ During the period of socialist re­ ism in the U.S.S.R. and being funda­ construction Bukharin, Rykov, Tom­ mentally opposed to the dictatorship sky and Uglanov again set them­ of the proletariat, denying also the selves in opposition to the Party line. revolutionary capacities of the peas­ This grouping, in the period of so­ antry, he set himself against the pro­ cialist reconstruction, dropped its gram of industrialization and fann earlier "Left" phrases and operated as collectivization-against the path of a Right camp, entering into a struggle . advance to socialism. At a time when against the central resolutions the proletariat had to ·strengthen its adopted by the Communist Party at alliance with the middle peasantry for its Fifteenth Congress, in Decembt;r. intensifying the struggle against the 1927. At this Congress, Comrade kulak class, Bukharin, holding, Stalin advanced as the historic task against Leninism, that after the estab­ confronting the Communist Party lishment of the dictatorship of the and the Soviet people: proletariat, the class struggle dies "To expand and strengthen our socialist down, issued, in 1925, the notorious commanding heights in all branches of na­ slogan to the kulaks, "Enrich your­ tional economy in city and village, maintain­ selves!" Thereby he grouped the ku­ ing the course of liquidation of capitalist laks together with the poor and elements in the national economy." middle pea.Santry, rejecting the Party's Resolvetil to overcome completely historically imperative policy of de­ the resistance of class enemies in this cisively defeating the kulak resistance period of the sharpening of. the class to the building of socialism. conflict, the Party and the Soviet Ostensibly Bukharin's slogan was masses now launched the decisive addressed to the whole peasantry. But struggle for the attainment of social­ at a time when, with the exception of ism. The Right opposition thereupon very few experimental communal and began a new series of attacks, which collective farms, agriculture was car­ they continued unceasingly, against ried on on the basis of individual the Leninist. Central Committee, now holdings, this slogan expressed the under the leadership of Comrade kulak interests and encouraged their. Stalin, the closest co-worker of Lenin resistance to the proletarian policy of during his lifetime, and his best restricting the kulaks through meas­ disciple. ures of state regulation, taxation and In the autumn of 1928, Bukharin limitation of free trade. Bukharin was came out with an attack upon indus­ immediately called to order by the trialization, voicing his slogan of BUKHARIN-THE PATH OF A TRAITOR

sabotage: "Out of the bricks of the the counter-revolutionary wreckers of future yo~ cannot build factories now." the Industrial Party (Ramzin At a time ·when the Soviet govern­ and Co.). ment was setting out to eradicate the In October, 1928, the Plenum of very roots of capitalism· in the land, the Moscow Committee of the Party, the Right opportunists, headed by by a decisive majority, defeated and Bukharin, Tomsky and Rykov-three routed the Right-opportunist anti­ members of the Central Committee­ Leninist forces represented of late by set themselves against the program of the Secretary of the Committee, Ugla­ industrialization (ostensibly on the nov, who had the backing of Bukha­ issue of "tempo"), against the develop­ rin, Rykov and Tomsky. In place of ment of collective farms; and came Uglanov, Comrade Molotov was then forward with defenses of the kulaks chosen as Secretary of the Moscow (contentions that the kulaks really Committee. were poor peasants), opposing the At that Plenum, which completed government's emergency measures for the ideological shattering of the Right grain collections, opposing the gen­ opportunist line, Comrade Stalin de­ eral line for creating a socialist clared: economy, for the socialist transforma­ "There cannot be the slightest doubt that tion of agriculture, for the victory of the triumph of the Right deviation in our socialism over kulakism. In this, Party would release the forces of capitalism, Bukharin, as the "ideological head" would undermine the revolutionary position of the Right deviation, was translat­ of the proletariat, and increase the chances for the restoration of capitalism in our coun­ ing into life his "theory" (deriving try." (Leninism, Vol. II, p .. 145.) from his mechanistic materialism) of the termination of the class struggle Early in 1929, it was discovered under the dictatorship of the prole­ that Bukharin had been instructed by tariat, with the corollary that ·the the Right Center, through Sokolni­ kulak would grow into socialism. kov, to carry on secret negotiations In the words of Comrade Stalin: with Kamenev who, after admission of his errors, had recently been re­ "The abolition of classes by means of the admitted into the Communist Party. bitter class struggle of the proletariat-such is Lenin's formula. Kamenev and Bukharin had discussed "The abolition of classes by means of the the formation of a bloc for intensified dying down of the class atruggle and the struggle against the Central Commit­ capitalists growing into socialism-such is t~e and the Five-Year Plan of socialist Comrade Bukharin's formula." (Leninism, construction. Vol. II, p. 124.) It thus became apparent that the Bukharin and Co., hence, became Rights were prepared to form a bloc spokesmen and agents of kulakism; with the Trotskyites, that in their they aided and abetted the counter­ struggle against the Party they were revolutionary circle of kulakist apolo­ prepared to coalesce with the Trot­ gists, headed by Kondratiev and skyites. Chayanov; the slogans of the Right The Rights leveled against the opportunist camp were takfln up by Five-Year Plan accusations of "mili-

me"? me"? trial trial in in November, November, 1930. 1930.

smug smug saying: saying: "Bukharin "Bukharin is is good good enough enough for for was was one one of of the the chief chief conspirators, conspirators, brought brought to to

a a professor professor at at the the Moscow Moscow Technical Technical College, College, • • • • Who Who does does not not remember remember Lovestone's Lovestone's

power power through through

armed armed

intervention. intervention.

Rarnzin, Rarnzin,

English English edition, edition,

p. p. 381. 381.

ing ing

activities activities

and and the the overthrow overthrow

of of Soviet Soviet

of of Rights Rights and and

Trotskyites," Trotskyites,"

Moscow, Moscow,

1938, 1938,

as as foreign, foreign,

capitalists, capitalists,

with with

regard regard to to wreck­

ceedings ceedings in in the the

Case Case of of the the Anti-Soviet Anti-Soviet

"Bloc "Bloc

organizations organizations of of

former former

Russian, Russian,

as as well well

the the proletariat proletariat

itself." itself." (Report (Report

of of Court Court

Pro­

on on

the the

instructions instructions

of of the the international international tile tile to to the the proletariat, proletariat, but but on on the the leaders leaders

of of

of of industry industry into into one one organization. organization. It It acted acted class class struggle, struggle, not not on on the the class class which which was was hos­

separate separate sabotage sabotage groups groups of of various various branches branches that that is, is, I I put put the the blame blame for for the the costs costs of of the the

tionary tionary organization organization which which united united all all the the military-feudal military-feudal exploitation exploitation of of the the peasantry, peasantry,

• • The The Industrial Industrial Party, Party, a a counter-revolu­ self self in in 1928 1928 invented invented the the formula formula about about the the

• • Bukharin Bukharin testified testified at at the the trial: trial: "Yet "Yet I I

my­

misfortune, misfortune, Stalin Stalin interfered, interfered, and and all all our our

Bukharin, Bukharin, Zinoviev Zinoviev and and Kamenev. Kamenev. To To our our

cept cept the the proposition proposition and and cooperate cooperate with with Presidium Presidium of of the the E.C.C.I. E.C.C.I. In In Novem-

"We "We [Kerensky [Kerensky admitted) admitted) were were ready ready to to ac­ year year Bukharin Bukharin was was removed removed from from the the

the the Soviets: Soviets: Rykov Rykov and and Tomsky. Tomsky. In In July July of of that that

work work together together for for the the overthrow overthrow of of tunist tunist factional factional activity activity of of Bukharin, Bukharin,

Paris Paris as as early early as as 1927 1927 with with a a plan plan to to mittee mittee condemned condemned the the Right Right oppor­

aries aries had had been been laid laid before before him him m m 1929, 1929, Plenum Plenum of of the the Central Central Com­

with with these these three three counter-revolution­ In In a a special special resolution, resolution, the the April, April,

told told that that a a proposal proposal for for cooperation cooperation den, den, Jilek Jilek and and Co. Co. in in Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia.

him him through through emissaries emissaries in in 1927. 1927. He He U.S.A.,** U.S.A.,** the the Kilboom Kilboom group group in in Swe­

were were carrying carrying on on negotiations negotiations with with many, many, the the Lovestoneites Lovestoneites in in the the

-Bukharin, -Bukharin, Kamenev, Kamenev, and and Zinoviev, Zinoviev, Brandler-Thalheimer Brandler-Thalheimer camp camp in in Ger­

1938), 1938), the the admission admission that that the the traitors traitors nist nist elements elements in in the the Comintem-the Comintem-the

Carnegie Carnegie Hall, Hall, New New York, York, April April 9, 9, the the rallying rallying point point of of all all the the opportu­

own own mouth mouth (speech (speech delivered delivered at at tion tion of of capitalism. capitalism. Bukharin Bukharin became became

And And now now we we ly ly have have the the temporary temporary from from Kerensky's Kerensky's and and partial partial stabiliza­

ized ized capitalism," capitalism," they they

magnified magnified great­

helped helped the the Center Center to to confirm confirm similar similar plans." plans."

basically basically from from the the theory theory of of "organ­ with with the the Right Right Communists, Communists, which which greatly greatly

organs, organs, created created an an original original bloc bloc in in the the Center Center or or revolutionary revolutionary struggle. struggle. Proceeding Proceeding

minima minima plans plans through through the the State State Planning Planning denied denied all all perspectives perspectives of of revolution revolution

the the carrying carrying through through of of artificially artificially lowered lowered

Bukharin, Bukharin, Rykov Rykov and and

their their

camp camp

in in the the Communist Communist Party, Party, and and explained explained why why

In In regard regard to to the the capitalist capitalist world, world,

cided cided with with the the position position of of the the Right Right deviation deviation

to to capitalism. capitalism. ment ment of of the the national national economy. economy. This This line line coin­

artificial artificial decrease decrease of of tempo tempo in in the the develop­ proposed, proposed, in in short, short, a a policy policy of of retreat retreat

"The "The basic basic method method of of sabotage sabotage was was the the nomic nomic policy policy on on free free trade. trade. They They

1930: 1930: they they proposed proposed to to base base the the entire entire eco­

slogan slogan of of "normalizing "normalizing ary ary Industrial Industrial the the Party,* Party,* market," market," in in November, November,

agriculture. agriculture. the the Under Under leaders leaders the the of of the the demagogic demagogic counter-revolution­

opment opment of of attested attested the the individual individual to to by by Ramzin Ramzin sector sector at at of of the the trial trial of of

Soviet Soviet farms, farms, they they proposed proposed the the devel­ Bukharin-Rykov Bukharin-Rykov platform platform were were thus thus

in in industry). industry). In In place place of of collective collective and and talist-restorationist talist-restorationist character character of of the the

(coupled (coupled with with diminished diminished investment investment counter-revolution, counter-revolution, and and the the very very capi­

for for grain grain collections collections opportunists opportunists from from rendered rendered the the kulaks kulaks to to the the camp camp of of

importation importation of of The The wheat wheat aid aid and and from from comfort comfort abroad abroad that that the the Right Right

antry."* antry."* They They Bureau. Bureau. proposed proposed to to substitute substitute

tary-feudal tary-feudal exploitation exploitation of of the the peas­ ber ber he he was was removed removed from from the the Political Political

THE THE COMMUNIST COMMUNIST BUKHARIN-THE PATH OF A TRAITOR plans were wiped out." (Daily Worker, April and revealed the miserableness of the 12, 1938.) various camps of opposition to com­ From unprincipled opposition to munism. counter-revolution and fascism. The Right counter-revolutionary In 1928-29, the Rights organized center (Bukharin, Rykov, Tomsky, surreptitious conferences and set up Uglanov, Yenukidze) took the step an illegal tenter. from which there was no return. The launching of the Five-Year Bukharin related in his testimony: Plan saw a great intensification of the class struggle. The kulaks met the "About the autumn of 1932 the next stage program of the Party with sabotage, in the development of the Right organization began, namely the transition to tactics of a hoping with resistance to halt the forcible overthrow of Soviet power. . . . policy of collectivization. Bukharin, "Proceeding to the tactics of forcible over­ Rykov and Tomsky aided their efforts throw in general, I make note of the time through their illegal counter-revolu­ when the so-called Ryutin platform was for­ tionary organization. Bukharin, in his mulated.... It was called the Ryutin plat­ form for reasons of secrecy, as an insurance testimony at the trial, stated: against exposure; it was called the Ryutin platform in order to conceal the Right cen­ "The inception of the idea of the coup ter and its top leadership. . . . d'etat among us Right conspirators relates "At the end of 1932 the bloc of Rights, approximately to the years 1929·30.... At Trotskyites and Zinovievites was formed on that period we were already discussing the the basis of the Ryutin platform. By that question of the overthrow of the Soviet gov­ time terrorist sentiments had already begun ernment by force, with the aid of a group of to develop among the participants of the military participants in the plot. . . . counter-revolutionary organization of the "In 1931-32, in connection with the changed Rights. They were to be marked among my political situation, the main stress was laid so-called disciples, in the Matveyev group on the development of the insurrectionary surrounding Uglanov, among Rykov's sup­ movement, and the counter-revolwtionary porters and among certain trade union func­ Right organization, headed by the center of tionaries, as was at one time disclosed in the the Rights, provoked several kulak re· press. The formation of the group of con­ volts. . . ." (Report of Court Proceedings, spirators in the Red Army relates to that pp. 394· 395·6.) period." (Ibid., pp. 388, 393·)

The year 1932 brought the success­ The Ryutin program, accordingly, ful completion of the first Five-Year showed the bloc of Rights and Trot­ Plan in four years. Capitalist stabiliza­ skyites as one conspirative camp for tion had ended, and world capitalism the destruction of the Soviet power. was in crisis; the masses in all lands There were: Ryutin himself, a Right were following the road of open opportunist during 1928-30, expelled struggle. Against the dark clouds of from the C.P.S.U.; the remnants of capitalist crisis, shone the sun of vic­ the old "Workers' Opposition," torious socialist construction in the headed by Shlyapnikov; the closest U.S.S.R.; and the authority of com­ pupils of Bukharin-Slepkov, Maret­ munism grew among the masses in all sky, Petrovsky; and active collabo­ lands. History confirmed the correct­ rators within the Trotskyite counter­ ness of the Leninist-Stalinist policy revolutionary organization. The lead- THE COMMUNIS'! ers were Bukharin, Tomsky, Rykov, restoration of capitalism on Soviet soil on the one hand, and Zinoviev and threw them into active collusion with Kamenev, on the other-with Trotsky the would-be invaders of ·soviet terri­ as the "guiding genius." tory for the dismemberment of the In 1932; the Presidium of the Cen­ Soviet Union. tral Committee exposed the Ryutin Bukharin arid Rykov at the trial group as trying to create a kulak or­ took responsibility for Karakhan's ganization with the design of restor­ secret negotiations with Nazi German ing capitalism in the U.S.S.R. There­ circles. Rykov stated: sistance of the kulaks to socialization "The characteristic thing is that Karakhari was reflected in the Ryutin program. reported that the German fascists were, of Another counter-revolutionary un­ course, very well disposed towards the pros­ derground organization was the Eis­ pects of the Rights coming into power and mont-Tolmachev group, a branch of would welcome it very much. • . . He said that the Germans insisted on the national re­ the counter-revolutionary organiza­ pubiics receiving tbe right freely to secede tion of the Rights, discovered in 1932. from the Union." (Ibid., p. •79·) The Rights had resorted to terrorism. The trial has definitely established Rykov, Tomsky, and Schmidt were that, acting under the direct orders caught having relations with the Eis­ of Trotsky, Bukharin and Rykov, the mont group and others. Again these "leaders" tried to deceive the Party, members of the bloc of Rights and denying their crimes, trying to cover Trotskyites were engaged in espionage up the traces of their criminal activi­ against . the U.S.S.R. in accordance ties and underground links, by "con­ with plans worked out in the General fessions" of error. Staffs of Japan, Germany, Great At the trial Bukharin testified: Britain, and Poland. Trotsky is the arch-enemy of the Soviet people, and has been exposed as having conducted "I sent Slepkov to prepare a kulak revolt in the Kuban. Rykov sent Eismont to the espionage for the Foreign Intelligence Caucasus, and he entered into connections Service of Germany since 1921 and for with the Right-winger Pivovarov and the the British Intelligence Service since Trotskyite Beloborodov; ... In addition ... 1926. I· was informed by P. Petrovsky and Zaitsev The anti-Soviet bloc of Rights and of kulak sabotage as a sort of preliminary stage preceding sharper forms of struggle." Trotskyites planned and carried (Ibid., p. 3g6.) through the assassination of Kirov; they planned attempts upon the lives But the steady march of the Soviet of leaders of the Bolshevik Party and millions building socialism spelled the Soviet government. With the help doom for the plans of Bukharin and of corrupt physicians blackmailed by his "pals." Their real support could the fiendish Yagoda they put to death no longer be the kulaks, now liqui­ Kuibyshev, Chairman of the Supreme dated. They had to rely for aid with Council; Menzhinsky, People's Com­ increasing feverishness upon the missar for the Interior; and the world­ spearhead of the anti-Soviet forces beloved literary genius, Maxim abroad-fascism. Their hope for the Gorky, intimate of Lenin and Stalin, BUKHARIN-THE PATH OF A TRAITOR loyal adherent of the Communist with bourgeois-nationalists in a num­ Party. ber of Soviet republics. The Trotsky-Bukharin gang prom­ The bloc of the Rights and Trot­ ised their imperialist allies to work skyites set itself the task of restoring from within as the "Fifth Column" capitalism in the Soviet Union and by the "opening of the front" through the military intervention of bring about the defeat of the Red fascist armies. Army. To this end they worked, as The Soviet court-'-and the judg­ revealed in the testimony, in collusion ment of all who hold dear the cause with Tukhachevsky, Yakir and the of socialism, of all who stand for other traitor generals. To this end peace, democracy, and human ad­ they promised to secure the dis­ vancement~have meted out to this memberment of the Soviet Union and traitorous band the full measure of prepared for this dismemberment proletarian justice. PROBLEMS OF BUILDING THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT

(From the Convention Discussion on Earl Browder's Report)

LESSONS OF THE POPULIST Southern states for one of its big MOVEMENT IN THE SOUTH gatherings. The movement was called a revolution. Certainly, it enlisted the BY ROBERT F. HALL burning spirit and enthusiasm of the Southern masses; it brought forward District Organizer, District 17 (in the South) new forces, new leaders from the OMRADE FOSTER pointed OUt in an masses, all eager to take up the fight C article in The Communist a year for the freedom of the common peo­ ago that we have People's Front tradi­ ple from the strangling grip of the tions in the old Populist Party move­ corporations. ment of the 18go's. This is certainly The Populist movement showed true of the South. The democratic that the unity of labor and the farm­ front movement will be made ers is not an impossibility in the South. stronger through an understanding Today, when Father Coughlin and and appreciation of these traditions. the fascists are making a desperate The Populist movement was a effort to drive a wedge between the movement of the common people C.I.O. and the farmers, it is well to against the crushing power of the remember that. The Alliance amend­ railroads, banks and monopolies. It ed its Constitution to take in work­ was primarily a movement of the ers as members, and its St. Louis plat­ small farmers, but it included such form was a platform adopted in unity labor organizations as existed in the with the Knights of Labor. South at that time. It achieved, in a Tom Watson, the leading Southern large measure, even though brief, a Populist, declared: unity with the Negro people. The Farmers Alliance, the organ­ "Our statute books are filled with legisla­ izational base of the Populist move­ tion in behalf of capital, at the expense of ment, began in the South, and by labor. If we must have class legislation, we 18go had three million members. In have always had it, what class is more en­ titled to it than the largest class, the work­ Georgia it had one hundred thousand ing class?" members, and organization in 134 of her 137 counties. Twenty thousand The unity of Negro an:d white delegates crowded into Atlanta from which existed during the days of BUILDING THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT

Populism is still a subject for amaze­ our minds in the South that the con­ ment among the bourgeois historians stant building and strengthening of of today. Although the Farmers Alli­ the labor movement, the building of ance began as a strictly white organ­ the C.I.O. and achieving unity with ization, it soon became obvious that the Railroad Brotherhoods and the the white farmers needed the Negroes, A. F. of L. are our basic, day-to-day and a parallel Alliance was organized task. in which a million and a quarter But the Populist movement should Negro sharecroppers, tenants and awaken us, at the same time, to the small owners were members. To the need for more attention to organiz­ Negro and white farmers, the Popu­ ing the small farmers in the South. list movement said, in the words of We must think of farm organization, Tom Watson: not in terms of two or three or five thousand farmers in a state, but of "You are kept apart that you may be sep­ tens of thousands, and of hundreds of arately fleeced of your earnings. You are made thousands and millions throughout to hate each other because upon that hatred the South. It is in this light that we is rested the arch of financial despotism must take up the problem of building which enslaves you both: You are deceived and blinded that you may not see how this the Farmers Union. We have seven race antagonism perpetuates a monetary sys­ and a half million people in our dis­ tem which beggars both." trict, of whom five and a half million live in the rural districts. We have The Populist movement was deter­ thirty million people in the South, of mined, he said, to make lynch law whom two-thirds, twenty-one million, "odious to the people." In Georgia are farmers who with their families county two thousand armed white are rural dwellers. A democratic front farmers swarmed into a town in 1892 movement in the South cannot afford to prevent the lynching of a young to overlook this. Negro Populist leader. In the South, especially, we must We need not go into the confusions realize how inadequate has been the of Populist economics here. I do wish, New Deal program insofar as it affects however, to examine some of the the small farmers, white and Negro. other reasons, more important at the We must bring forward and popu­ time, for the failure of the Populist larize our program of amendments to movement. the A.A.A., which will protect the in­ The most basic is the fact that the terests of the small farmers. We must labor movement was not strong. In work on our program for amendments the South, the working class was only to the Bankhead-Janes Act to liberal­ beginning, and orgl\Ilization hardly ize and democratize the Act to enable existed. But today we have a large tenants and sharecroppers to secure working class and strong organiza­ the ownership of the land on which tions in the South. We have a base they toil. If we are to build a demo­ for the building of a progressive cratic front in the South, we must people's movement which our fathers win the farmers, and we must teach did not have. Let us keep clearly in the Southern trade union movement THE COMMUNIST to this end. This is a basic lesson of stone in the building of the demo­ Populism. cratic front in the South. We must Another reason for the failure of demonstrate to the C.I.O. in the the Populists was that, despite their South, to the Farmers Union, and to desire for unity with the Negro peo­ the progressives, that the fight against ple, despite the fact that they ad­ lynching, for the right to vote, the mitted Negroes as m~mbers, they did right to sit on juries, and all the civil not make the fight for Negro rights rights of the Negro people must be the keystone. of their program in the a day-to-day task. It cannot be pushed South. This should be a wa~ing to into the background or ignored. Jim­ those labor leaders in the South who Crow practices must be fought con­ think that it is enough to open their stantly, and we must teach this to the membership rolls to the Negro work­ white workers and the leaders of the ers, that it is enough to fight for C.I.O. better wages and shorter hours for Today, when fascist elements are Negro workers as well as white engaged in disseminating pro-J ap­ workers. anese propaganda and anti-Semitism The reactionaries split the Populist among the Negro people, we must not movement and destroyed the Alliance torget this important lesson from the by two methods. They appealed to history of Populism. the Negro people with demagogy, · And let me utilize this example to exaggerating every incident in which urge that our Party, especially in the a Populist leader or politician had South, shall revive immediately the failed in his duty to the Negro people. campaign for the enactment of the They pointed out that the organiza­ Anu-Lynchmg Bill. Ten days ago a tional policy of the Alliance was a. young Negro was shot down in the Jim-Crow policy. On the other hand,. corridor of the Birmingham court they waved the bloody shirt before house, a crime committed with the the whites and raised the cry of Negro connivance and aid of law enforce­ domination, the trick they had ment authorities. Let us use this issue learned in Reconstruction days. to build the Southern Negro Youth This was possible because the Congress, the N.A.A.C.P., and also to Populist leaders did not have a thor­ arouse the white workers in the ough understanding of the Negro .unions to the need for solidarity with question and because they did not the Negro people. educate their white membership to its The Democratic Party gobbled up importance. the Populist movement by borrowing No, comrades, it is not enough that portions of its program and nominat­ the C.I.O. or the democratic front ing the commoner William Jennings shall open its rolls to Negroes. It is Bryan. In the South, it is essential not enough that the general economic that we concentrate on the election of demands of the Negroes shall be progressives in the Democratic pri­ served along with those of the white maries, on a platform of progressive workers or farmers. The fight for legislation. Our Immediate program Negro rights must be made the key- can be summarized as "Bring the New BUILDING THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT 655

Deal to the South." But we must re­ THE PROBLEM OF WINNING member that reactionaries have capi­ THE YOUTH FOR THE talized on the inadequacies and short­ DEMOCRATIC FRONT comings of the New Deal. They have been partially successful with the BY CARL ROSS ' farmers. We must not forget the fact National Executive Secretary of the that the reactionary wing of the Young Communist League Democratic Party has been the con­ trolling wing in the South for many WISH to discuss the practical steps years. Despite the large number ·of I steps for the Party and Young progressive victories in the South, ac­ Communist League in working complished through the Democratic through the existing broad progres­ primaries, h!t us not forget that the sive youth movement for winning the mass of Southern common people are masses of youth for the democratic far from contented with the Demo­ front. The great majority of young cratic Party. Which is as it should be. people in every state of the Union If we cannot show them in the im­ are already organized into, or directly mediate future 'that progressive action influenced by, large mass organiza­ can be achieved through the Demo­ tions. Millions of these young people cratic primaries, they will turn else­ have been drawn into the stream of where for relief. the progressive movement through That is why Governor Phil LaFol­ the influx of young workers into the lette considers the South a fertile labor movement and particularly by the establishment of the American field for the promotion of his third Youth Congress, the Southern Negro party. If he succeeded, that would be Youth Congress, and many other serious business in the South. broad progressive youth movements. All of which requires that we as These developments ~reate favorable Communists, as the Communist Party, conditions for winning large sections must make our own independent of youth for active participation in position completely clear to the peo­ the democratic front; to defeat reac­ ple. In supporting progressives in the tion in the 1938 elections. Democratic primaries, we must guard What are these specially favorable against being identified with the conditions? First, the existence of a Democratic Party as such. We must broad American youth movement in­ demonstrate that the Democratic Party volving close collaboration on a num­ ber of minimum issues between con­ is not today a party in the old sense scious supporters of a People's Front but a battleground on which progres­ policy and broad masses of young sives and reactionaries are fighting for people. The existence of such unity control. Our own goal of a Farmer­ paves the way for entrance by ever Labor Party as the American expres­ larger sections of the movement into sion of the People's Front must con­ an active political struggle to defeat stantly be before us. reaction. THE COMMUNIST

Second, this unity of youth has and hours legislation, measures to de­ been developing around legislative fend the rights of labor and to defeat measures, such as support for the the monopolies, ~ program of specific American Youth Act, the Wages and youth measures must also be devised Hours Bill, the Anti-Lynching Bill, by all progressive forces, and, there­ and, therefore, is tending to arouse fore, by our Party. and develop the political conscious­ Such a program is in the main em­ ness of the movement as a whole. The bodied in the points of cooperation next logical step for the more mature adopted by the American Youth Con­ sections is the support of progressive gress and in the specific youth meas­ political platforms and candidates. ures proposed by Roosevelt. The Third, the large mass organizations specific youth points of such a pro­ of young people like the Y's, which gram for the democratic front are: have taken a traditionally non-parti­ san and neutral position in relation to A. The extension of the National politics, are now experiencing a Youth Administration as a permanent change in attitude. The great interest agency to provide jobs and education in politics now developing in organ­ to the youth. izations like the Y.M.C.A. and Chris­ tian youth groups indicates a trend B. The extension of the C.C.C. pro­ among these youth which makes them gram under a civilian administration huge potential reserves for the demo­ with the inclusion of a democratic cratic front. program of education and vocational What is the program upon which training. the forces of the democratic front among the young people can be gath­ c. Coordination of National Youth ered? First and foremost, youth can be Administration, C.C.C., and other rallied to the democratic front around youth aid programs under a single the slogan our Party has raised for youth administration as proposed by "Jobs, Security, Democracy, and the President's Advisory Committee Peace." Concretely, this means mobil­ on Education. izing youth to support the election n. A program of federal aid to program that Comrade Browder has education as proposed in the report outlined, because all of these meas­ of the President's Advisory Commit­ ures vitally concern the majority of tee on Education. youth whose problems can only be solved together with those of the peo­ E. These efforts should be directed ple as a whole. We do not limit our­ toward realizing the principles of the selves to a narrow conception that American Youth Act, which remains only so-called youth issues and youth the most comprehensive and adequate candidates can win youth's support­ measure of youth legislation. for the young people are above all in­ terested in these central problems of F. To wipe out, once and for all, the whole people. At the same time, to declare unconstitutional, the shame in addition to measures such as wages of child labor in America. BUILDING THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT

These proposals have already met pression to the youth within the trade with the approval of the majority of unions. This should be extended to youth and their organizations. They include an entire system of education should be regarded as the specific and cultural activities throughout the points for solving the problems of trade union movement. youth through which the general pro­ This activity in the unions should gram of the democratic front can be be our Party's and League's first re­ elaborated. sponsibility among the working class Our main objective is to gather to­ youth. Unfortunately, some of our gether and organize the democratic comrades in the Party are not yet thor­ front forces among the youth in the oughly convinced that a Young Com­ 1938 elections on the basis of such a munist League must be built in every program. We must help to unite all industry in order to perform this progressive youth behind a single pro­ task. The building of a large Young gressive candidate for each elective Communist League, among the in­ office. Naturally, the forms for devel­ dustrial youth is a prerequisite for de­ opment of this movement will vary veloping a strong working class base from state to state and from locality and core within the whole youth to locality in line with the specific movement. This is particularly true electoral and political conditions. for such important regions where However, I would like to discuss a large numbers of youth are employed, number of the most concrete tasks of in the steel, mining, auto, and marine our Party among certain sections of industries. the youth in connection with these Actually, more people are re­ coming elections. First, of course, our cruited into the Party from these in­ Party must concern itself with organ­ dustries than into the League. This, izing the forces of the working class in itself, indicates the possibilities be~ youth as the basis for the democratic fore our Party in helping to organize front among the young people. The a Young Communist League among basis of a mass movement of working those young workers that will educate class youth exists among those hun­ them for socialism and guide them in dreds of thousands of young people their trade union activities. A Young who have joined the trade unions in Communist League of this type in in­ the recent period, especially through dustry can grow even more rapidly the C.I.O., in which these young peo­ than our Party, and can be a tremen­ ple are receiving, not only trade dous force in developing the progres­ union, but also political education. sive labor movement, and in drawing Special methods must be utilized for working class youth into the general organizing these young people in the youth movement. unions so that they can become an The trade unions should also be effective force within the democratic convinced to pay special attention to front. The Labor Sport Leagues the defense of the immediate interests which have recently developed in of the young workers in industry. Cleveland, New York, Minnesota and Youth have been more seriously af­ other states, are giving organized ex- fected by unemployment in the recent THE COMMUNIST months than any other section of the organizations of farm youth in every working people. Layoffs among the state. The 1,ooo,ooo members of the youth have been accentuated even 4H clubs, the 400,000 members of the further by the application of the prin­ Future Farmers of America, and the ' ciple of seniority rights in such indus­ large youth organizations developed tries as steel and auto. Reactionary around the Farmers Union, Grange, anti-union elements are taking ad­ and Farm Bureau are a tremendous vantage of this situation by attempt­ potential force for progress. Already ing to place the blame for unemploy­ the first steps have been taken in the ment among youth on the trade direction of national cooperation be­ unions. This reactionary drive is in­ tween these powerful farm organiza­ tended to weaken the influence of tions. In a number of states some of trade unionism among the youth and these farm youth organizations have to divide the older from the younger been involved in the American Youth workers. It should be the first concern Congress. Unity between these organ­ of our comrades in trade unions izations of young farmers could have where there are large numbers of tremendous influence on bringing the youth to meet this attempt on the entire organized farm movement into part of reaction to' weaken and de­ the democratic front. In many in­ stroy the unions. stances the development of unity be­ Consolidation of the trade unions, tween these large farm organizations and especially the maintenance of around the youth problems can be the their influence over the youth, de­ first steps to cooperation between the pend upon special attention to the farm organizations and other progres­ needs of unemployed young workers. sive forces. Therefore, in the prepara­ Trade unions must fight to secure for tions for the coming elections, our the young unemployed jobs on Party should give special attention to W.P.A. and public works, or relief. bringing the farm youth into the pro­ They should oppose all the discrim­ gressive movement and particularly to inatory measures against youth such strengthening the Farmers Union as state or local relief regulations junior organizations which already which prevent single young workers have approximately 15,000 members. from securing relief. They should Third, our Party should recognize popularize the Roosevelt recovery and the increased possibilities of support jobs program and win the support of among Negro youth for a democratic young workers to these measures. If front. The Southern Negro Youth the unions take up these economic Congress has become the movement needs of the youth and at the same which best represents the democratic time develop a widespread system of aspirations of the Negro young people trade union education and activity, it of the South. Its recent conference, will be possible to crystallize the defi­ representing 385,000 Southern Negro nite progressive working class youth youth, raises the issue that is of most movement through the trade unions. vital concern to the Negro people­ Second, our Party should carefully the question of the right to vote. The study possibilities for work among the building of the Southern Negro BUILDING THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT

Youth Congress would strengthen operation with progressive groups tremendously all of the forces of the among the young Democrats and in democratic front among the Negro sharpening the fight against the people of the South and help to de­ Tories in the movement. feat the Southern Tories. A similar In Minnesota, tremendous possi­ growth of progressive Negro youth bilities for organizing the democratic movements in other parts of the coun­ front among the youth exist. Al­ try indicates the growing d~termina­ though the Farmer-Labor youth tion of Negro young people to gain movement numbers only slightly better living conditions and equal more than a thousand, a Youth Con­ rights. gress movement, embracing tens of Further, our Party must help to thousands, has developed. While mobilize the rapidly growing student working to strengthen and build the movement for concrete support to the ·Farmer-Labor youth movement, our democratic front in the 1938 elections, Party and League must find ways and especially under the leadership of the means to unite these Farmer-Labor American Students Union, which per­ youth with young people who follow mits its local chapters to endorse and . the progressive wing of the Demo- support progressive candidates for cratic Party and with the large masses ·office. of youth in the Youth Congress, for The sharp division that has devel­ support of the candidates of the oped within the Democratic Party has Farmer-Labor Party. In the State of also seriously influenced develop­ Washington, where appro~imately ments within the younger Democrats 1 ,ooo young people are organized in and among all youth who support the youth section of the Common­ the Democratic Party. Progressive wealth Federation, our Party and trends are expressed especially in the League must also emphasize the need support the younger Democrats have for the closest collaboration between given to the progressive measures of the Commonwealth Federation Youth Roosevelt and in their participation in Section and the progressive young the American Youth Congress move­ Democrats in support of progressive ment in a number of states. candidates on the Democratic Party The development of a strong New ticket. Deal wing in many states indicates the need for the closest collaboration of all progressive groups with the pro­ WORK AMONG CATHOLICS­ gressive sections of the younger A KEY QUESTION IN Democratic movement. In the South, MASSACHUSETTS where a large progressive movement BY PHIL FRANKFELD does not yet exist· among the white young people, it can find expression State Secretary of the Communist Party through the New Deal wing of the of Massachusetts younger Democrats. In the Southern HERE is one important phase of states our Party should give particular T Comrade Browder's report that I attention towards developing the co- want to deal with. For us, in New 66o THE COMMUNIST

England generally, and in Massachu­ religious affiliations were reported as setts in particular, the problem of Catholics, while Fall River had 86 working among the Catholics is the per cent reported as Catholics. key question. Without the Catholic Comrade Browder spoke about the masses in Massachusetts, there cannot "exceptional social organization of be any successful democratic front the Catholic community." To grasp established. Unless we succeed in fully the significance of this statement, breaking through the wall of preju­ let me cite the following facts: dice that divides our Party from the In 1929, there were 693 Catholic Catholic workers, especially the Irish Churches and 1,708 priests. There Catholics, and recruit hundreds and were 264 parochial schools, 79 high thousands into our Party, we shall schools, 26 academies and six colleges never become a real mass Party in the in Massachusetts. The Church has a state. We are confident that this can great network of charitable institu­ be done. It is indicated for us by such tions, including eighteen orphan asy­ attitudes as that of Dr. James T. lums, sixteen hospitals, nineteen Gillis, who writes in the Catholic homes for the poor and aged, etc. It World: is second only to the state itself in the magnitude of its charitable and social "I .et us not delude ourselves in thinking activities. that, because the Pope says no Catholic can Following the guidance of our Po­ ~e a Socialist, we are b~und hand and foot litical Bureau and the speech of Com­ to the present capitalistic system. The accu­ sation that Christianity is revolutionary is rade Browder in Baltimore, our State not altogether unfounded." Committee has proceeded to make a special study of the Catholic question. In Massachusetts, there are over At our recent State Convention, it 1,8oo,ooo Catholics out of a popula­ was the very heart and center of our tion of approximately 4,ooo,ooo. deliberations. We have made a small The Catholics constitute the basic beginning in starting serious work sections of the working class. There among the Catholic people and a se­ are hundreds of thousands of Catholic rious study of Catholicism in the workers in the textile, shoe, trans­ state. portation, mantime, shipbuilding, In studying the history of the Cath­ building, garment and other indus­ olic Church in Massachusetts in the tries and trades. In the trade union eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, movement of the state, the Irish and we feel that this very history and the Italians predominate in membership traditions of the Church can become and leadership. In the political life of a powerful factor in winning the the Commonwealth the Catholics, es­ Catholic people to the democratic pecially the Irish, play a most de­ front. The Catholics have had to cisive role. carry on a consistent, stubborn and Over 71 per cent of the Church self-sacrificing struggle for religious members in the state are Roman freedom. The Catholics have faced Catholics. In cities like Boston, 73·5 bitter persecution from intolerant per cent of the population reporting and bigoted groups attempting to BUILDING THE DEMOCRATIC FRO~T 661 curtail their democratic liberties. ing un-American and subject to for­ Catholics have had to fight not only eign domination." for religi.ous freedom but for political representation as well. 2. Catholics "took orders from Periodically, there have been re­ Rome." curring strong anti-Catholic move­ ments in the state. In the 183o's, the 3· Catholics "were alien, ignorant, so-called Nativist movement was at deceitful, and cruel." its height. This was the darkest pe­ riod in the history of the Church. 4· "Catholics constitute a menace Persecution of Catholics was intense. to our free institutions." Mob violence was stirred up. This found its acutest expression in the 5· "America has to be saved from burning of a convent in Somerville, · the Romish peril." by a disguised and drunken mob of fifty men. With these traditional charges In the 185o's, the well-named enunciated time and again against Know-Nothings were in the midst of Catholics, we can realize the potency their indecent, inglorious activities. In of Comrade Browder's remark about 1855, a Know-Nothing Administration the fact that ''some of the Catholic in the State House passed a resolve to clergy try to wield this double-edged conduct an investigation of all Catholic sword against the Communists, oblivi­ institutions. The work of that "smell­ ous of its dangers to the Catholic ing commission," as it was branded, community in America." was very similar to the present Know­ One point must be definitely un­ Nothing Commission that completed derstood by us in dealing with these its labors only Friday, "investigating" attacks of the various anti-Catholic Communism and other "isms." Com­ movements. These attacks were car­ rade Browder has already referred to ried on by an insignificant number the American Protective Association, of prejudiced Protestants. Enlight­ which had its strongest base of sup­ ened members of . the Protestant port in Massachusetts. This organiz~­ Churches resented and objected to tion was conducting its vicious anti­ these outbursts of bigotry. In the Catholic agitation in the 18go's. More three periods mentioned above, there recently, the hooded order of night­ were profound economic and social shirted cowards had active groups op­ forces at work causing realignments erating in our state. In fact, this year, in the political field. These forces five fiery crosses of the K.K.K. were made it possible for such movements found burning in Needham. to develop. It is interesting to note the charges As a result of our discussions and made by all of these anti-Catholic study, we have come to realize sev­ movements in their literature and eral other important aspects of Cath­ compare them to the charges leveled olicism. Here I wish to make special against our Party today. mention of the role played by our 1. Catholics were accused of "be- Catholic comrades in Boston who have THE COMMUNIST helped our Party considerably in ar­ From the earliest days of the re· riving at a correct understanding of public, the Catholics (especially the the Catholic question, and are help­ Irish) in Massachusetts, have lined ing us greatly in working out a con· up on the side of democracy as crete approach to the Catholic masses. against special privilege. The Irish played an outstanding role in the • • • American Revolution against British In the early life of the Catholic tyranny. The Irish lined up almost Church, it fulfilled a great social solidly behind the party and program function for the newly arrived immi­ of Je~erson in opposition to the Fed­ grants from Ireland, France, Poland, eralists. In the American Civil War, Italy, and other Catholic countries. two companies of Boston Irish won These immigrants were without friends. They were (and still are) high honors for their heroism. In poorly paid and highly exploited. every textile, shoe, and longshore There were no unions to speak of to strike the Catholic workers were in protect their economic interests. They the forefront of the battle. In the fa­ turned to the Church as their haven. mous Lawrence strike of 1912, a They found social contact with their Catholic priest granted the use of his fellows. The Catholic workers' deep Church to the strikers at a time when religious feelings are therefore not all other halls were denied to the only a matter of tradition and train­ strikers. ing, but one of gratitude as well to It has been traditional for the their Church. This fact must be al­ ways borne in mind. Catholics to line up instinctively We Communists can also under­ against die merchants and bankers of stand why the Catholics in Massachu­ State Street, Boston. The Catholic setts honor the name of the Catholic masses never had any use for the blue­ Bishop de Cheverus. His life was a bloods and Brahmins who control the shining example of real Christian Republican Party. Class divisions self-sacrifice and justice, which is not have always been strong-and still are. too common today. He tended with The Catholic workers and middle his own hands a friendless and poor class, almost as a whole, lined up Negro suffering from disease (at a solidly for Roosevelt in 1936. With time when the Negroes were still en­ slaved). He trundled a wheel barrow proper work by the progressives and at the head of his flock working to ourselves, we can look forward to build fortifications in Boston in 1812, the Catholic people to line up solidly when a British attack was expected­ again behind the democratic front in at a time when Boston Tories were Massachusetts in 1938-against the conniving with the British and selling reactionaries and Tories in the Re­ out their country. Cheverus stood for democracy and opposed discrimina­ publican Party, as well as those in the tion against Negroes. Democratic Party. BUILDING THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT

THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT in the labor and progressive move­ IN CALIFORNIA ment, and the progressive forces are beginning to appreciate and under­ stand the role we are playing in the BY WM. SCHNEIDERMAN building of the democratic front. State Secretary of the Communist Party During the past year, the first be­ of California ginnings of a democratic front showed its outline, growing up around the ALIFORNIA has for 42 years been a progressive bloc in the State Legisla­ C traditionally Republican state. ture and the California progressives But in spite of the war-cry of the in Congress, in the struggle for social Republicans to "save California from and labor legislation. This movement Communism," today the overwhelm­ spread down below through the or­ ing sentiment of the people against ganization of hundreds of Democratic Tory reaction is reflected in the vo- clubs throughout the state, develop­ . ters' registration figures, which show ing a wide range of activity and in­ a 6oo,ooo majority for Democratic itiative during the election campaign. registration over Republican. It is Today this movement is gathering predicted that this majority will reach around the support of Senator Olson, 8oo,ooo when registration closes. In the. leading progressive candidate for Los Angeles County, the former Epic the Democratic nomination for Gov­ stronghold, the Democrats show a ernor in the August primaries. majority of almost two to one. There, Another important development is the progressive forces in the Demo­ the part that the labor movement is cratic Party have reached a relatively beginning to take in political st!ug­ advanced stage in support of a pro­ gles. Labor's Non-Partisan League has gram of the democratic front. For in a few months' time become a pow- instance, two weeks ago, the Demo­ . erful political instrument of the trade cratic County Central Committee of unions, embracing about 200 unions Los Angeles County, representing with approximately equal propor­ three-quarters of a million Demo­ tions from the A. F. of L. and the C. cratic voters, adopted a resolution de­ 1.0. The fight of L.N.P.L. for politi­ manding of President Roosevelt the cal unity of labor is exceptionally im­ lifting of the embargo on Spain. portant in California, because the Pa­ But the organization of the demo­ cific Coast has been the scene of the cratic front for victory in the elections most bitter warfare between the A. F. is not an easy and simple task, due to of L. and the C.I.O. Nowhere in the the extremely complicated political nation has the criminal splitting pol­ situation and the many factors which icy of the A. F. of L. leadership had still stand in the way of the unifica­ such disastrous results as on the West tion of the democratic forces. We Coast, where they have adopted a Communists are keenly aware of the policy of a "war to the finish" against responsibility we bear to bring about the C.I.O. The longshoremen and this unity. We have become an im­ agricultural and the lumber workers. portant factor and a recognized force backbone of the C.I.O., have borne

move- progressive progressive and and labor labor entire entire the the the the both both for for suicidal suicidal be be will will it it policy, policy,

mobilize mobilize to to difficult difficult more more it it make make will will sectarian sectarian narrow, narrow, a a following following of of take take

which which politics, politics, mis­ the the California California makes makes it it in in record record League. League. the the If If from from

unsavory unsavory extremely extremely withdraw withdraw an an to to have have ordered ordered dent, dent, when when ground ground

Presi­ the the their their support support stood stood Congress Congress and and in in attack attack which which every every stood stood

forces, forces, McAdoo McAdoo with­ the the have have they they that that course, course, although although ranks, ranks, its its in in

unions unions of of F. F. of of A. A. true, true, the the is is of of It It L. L. minority minority a a "reactionary." "reactionary." as as Deal, Deal,

pro-New pro-New main main only only the the has has in in is is League League which which fornia, fornia, Non-Partisan Non-Partisan Labor's Labor's

forces. forces. democratic democratic Cali­ in in and and leadership leadership progressive progressive Party Party Democratic Democratic

the the of of shoulders shoulders the the the the of of on on talking talking tasks tasks still still cult cult are are they they that that

diffi­ extremely extremely places places extremes, extremes, This This such such to to primaries. primaries. resentment resentment their their

the the in in Democrat Democrat Deal Deal carried carried New New have have servative servative progressives progressives The The contest. contest.

con­ and and Republican Republican Senatorial Senatorial the the in in reactionary reactionary a a McAdoo McAdoo of of also also but but

both both endorse endorse to to it, it, forces, forces, with with away away get get progressive progressive can can the the of of only only not not

they they try, try, even even may may victory, victory, if if They They the the for for California. California. dangers dangers greatest greatest the the

of of League League Political Political carries carries of of F. F. elections, elections, A. A. 1938 1938 the the the the L. L. into into ried ried

formed formed and and car­ if if candidates, candidates, split, split, That That possible possible its its Merriam. Merriam. publican publican

Re­ the the of of all all and and election election the the League League and and Sinclair Sinclair Non-Partisan Non-Partisan Labor's Labor's

of of defeat defeat the the on on for for war war declared declared responsible responsible have have largely largely They They cans. cans.

was was machine machine McAdoo McAdoo the the when when 1934, 1934, Republi­ the the to to helpful helpful extremely extremely be be

to to back back goes goes to to seen seen Party Party are are Party Party Democratic Democratic the the Democratic Democratic the the in in

in in split split The The tactics tactics their their Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania. in in than than administration, administration, Merriam Merriam

intense intense more more even even is is Republican Republican the the which which Party, Party, support support openly openly not not

dare dare but but machine, machine, Democratic Democratic the the Republican Republican the the within within to to struggle struggle tional tional

tied tied been been time time fac­ long long a a for for bitter bitter the the have have is is leaders leaders forces forces democratic democratic

the the by by faced faced of of F. F. A. A. problem problem the the of of Another Another L. L. many many that that members members

re­ one one When When reaction. reaction. tions. tions. of of hands hands the the

into into plays plays which which elec­ policy policy a a November November the the followed followed of of far far outcome outcome the the

thus thus has has leadership leadership advance advance in in of of F. F. A. A. determine determine The The well well L. L. may may adopt adopt

they they decisions decisions the the and and weeks weeks few few elections. elections.

next next the the within within League League Political Political the the win win to to L. L. hope hope forces forces Tory Tory the the

of of F. F. A. A. the the and and can can way way League League this this in in only only Non-Partisan Non-Partisan because because field, field, cal cal

Labor's Labor's both both of of conventions conventions state state politi­ the the on on split split this this aggravate aggravate and and

coming coming The The unity. unity. labor labor for for fight fight continue continue to to hope hope They They unions. unions. all all on on

the the strengthen strengthen will will which which stand stand firm firm but but C.I.O., C.I.O., the the on on only only not not attack, attack, an an

a a taken taken also also have have launch launch to to split split Brotherhoods Brotherhoods this this road road use use to to attempted attempted

Rail­ The The have have leadership. leadership. forces forces top top reactionary reactionary reactionary reactionary the the because because

the the of of policies policies one, one, the the urgent urgent with with exceptionally exceptionally dissatisfied dissatisfied an an is is unity unity

are are that that of of forces forces leading leading problem problem the the among among But But even even own. own. their their held held

of of F. F. A. A. the the in in L., L., repercussions repercussions wide wide than than more more have have they they main, main, the the in in

had had has has which which labor, labor, of of unity unity litical litical that that longshoremen, longshoremen, militant militant the the cially cially

po­ for for campaign campaign energetic energetic an an ducted ducted espe­ and and forces, forces, C.I.O. C.I.O. the the to to tribute tribute

con­ has has League League Non-Partisan Non-Partisan The The a a is is It It lockouts. lockouts. and and strikes strikes in in end end

elections. elections. final final the the often often as as well well which which as as struggles struggles primaries primaries daily daily almost almost

in in resulting resulting the the attack, attack, in in this this of of victory victory brunt brunt the the progressive progressive a a of of success success

COMMUNIST COMMUNIST THE THE BUILDING THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT ment for the support of some of their the fact that Haight has filed for the candidates. Republican and Democratic nomina­ The progressive forces in the tion as well as of his own progressive Democratic Party have not yet learned party, with the avowed purpose of all the lessons from previous defeats, splitting the progressive vote in the nor the full implications of the meth­ primaries, with the fantastic idea that ods of establishing a unified demo­ Haight can win the elections if he cratic front for the defeat of reaction. faces in the finals a reactionary Re­ They have not yet fully learned that publican and conservative Democratic the democratic front cannot be lim­ candidate for governor. The Demo­ ited only to the most advanced pro­ cratic forces see this danger, and rec­ gressive elements, that to defeat reac­ ognize that such a policy can only tion in the present relation of forces, result in the election of the Repub­ it must also include all the hesitating lican candidate; and a victory for re­ and confused elements, and all the action all the way down the line. If vacillating elements who follow the there is any doubt anywhere in the middle of the road and sometimes country about the dangerous impli­ retreat before the pressure of reac­ cations of the LaFollette adventure, tion. We Communists have been car­ let them look to California for its con­ rying on a struggle against a Leftist crete manifestations, and it will fully sectarian approach in this connection, bear out the correctness of the an­ and the results already obtained con­ alysis made by our Central Com­ vince us that unity of all the New mittee. Deal forces can and will be estab­ But LaFollette and Haight are not lished before it is too late. the only ones to "pull a Lemke," as Another threat to the unity of the Comrade Browder aptly put it. Town­ democratic front exists in the forma­ send is trying to pull another Lemke, tion of an abortive third-party ticket. as he did in 1936, through the organ­ Raymond Haight, the Progressive ization of a new Townsend Party Party candidate in 1934, who held which would be closely allied with the the balance of power in voting Republican machine. But the Town­ strength between Sinclair and Mer­ send voters repudiated this policy in riam, is again in the field for the 1936 when they voted for Roosevelt, governorship. Our Party played a big and we are confident that they will re­ part during the past year in isolating pudiate this policy again in 1938. Our his group from the progressive Demo­ Party has the responsibility to take a crats, whom he tried to win to a leading part in the struggle for old­ third party ticket. But now a new age pensions and win the Townsend­ threat has arisen, in the rise of the ites to the democratic front. LaFollette adventure, and the possi­ One of the weakest sectors of the bility that LaFollette will make Cali­ democratic front in California is the fornia one of his chief stamping rural agricultural sections, the strong­ grounds in support of Haight. hold of the Republican Party, of The adventurous and reckless char­ the reactionary, pro-fascist Associated acter of his policy can be seen from Farmers, an organization of the big 666 THE COMMUNIST growers, and other anti-labor forces. the most devastating influence on the Labor neglected the toiling farmers interests of the working farmers and and their problems and is now reap­ the disfranchised agricultural workers. ing the results, and the Communist Our Party's recent state convention Party shares this responsibility. Unless made this one of the major questions this gap is overcome, it constitutes a in its discussions; it adopted for the threat to the victory of the democratic first time a concrete program and a front. There is increasing evidence special legislative platform, and re­ among the labor and progressive solved to use all its resources to pene­ forces that they are aware of it, but trate the rural areas and to convince not enough has been done as yet to the broad labor and progressive move­ win the rural areas, the small and ment in the industrial centers that it middle farmers, away from the influ­ must take up the fight for the farm­ ence of the Republican Party, al­ ers' interests and demands, if they are though its farm policies have had to be won to the democratic front. BOOK REVIEWS

PROFESSOR LEVY'S APPROACH TO " ... with each epoch-making discovery in MARXISM the department of natural science (not to speak of the history of mankind), it (mate­ rialism) has been obliged to change its form." A PHILOSOPHY FOR A MODERN MAN, These recollections are of some importance By H. Levy, Knopf, New York, zg;8, $2.50. in approaching the new book of Professor Levy, for in the Western world today posi­ HE philosophy of Ernst Mach, which tivism, idealism, religious reversions and ir­ T achieved widespread popularity in bour­ rationalism have taken on in many quarters gois circles throughout Europe at the begin­ a new vogue. ning of the century, made great inroads in In Lenin's time it was the discovery of Russia in the reaction which followed the radioactive substances which gave excuse for 1905 Revolution. Would-be Marxists such as pessimistic conclusions regarding science and Bazarov, Bogdanov, et al., became enthralled rational solutions. Today it is the Quantum by this un-Marxian philosophy and eagerly Theory and the Principle of Indeterminacy. seized upon all the agnostic, idealistic and Moreover, the positivist and skeptical ideas defeatist ideas which gained currency at the of Hume and Mach, which were rife in tgo8, time under the renowned name of Mach­ have recently gained a new vogue; while the ideas which were natural enough in the rising pragmatism which Lenin decisively bourgeoisie, which looks backward in time, rejected has achieved great influence in cer­ but incongruous and exceedingly dangerous tain bourgeois circles, paralyzing scientists in proletarian revolutionists, who look ahead. everywhere by its teaching that the scientific In his great polemical work, Materialism mind is tentative, unpartisan, reluctant to and Empirio-Criticism, Lenin showed that organized social action. Machian positivism is only idealism in dis­ There is a further point of comparison. guise, that it exposes the socialist movement Lenin's time was marked by great discover­ to the inroads of religion, scientific retro­ ies of the sort which he and Engels believed gression and reaction, and that it under­ would oblige materialism "to change its mines the scientific ground on which the pro­ form," and the same is true of the present. letariat must march to socialism. He accord­ The General Theory of Relativity, the Quan­ ingly upheld space, time, history, causation tum Theory, and the development of atomic and matter, as the fundaments of the world analysis amount to a revolution in physics. and refuted the arguments which denied But the extension of probability and statis­ their objectivity or importance. Does matter tics to so many fields of science, even to disappear if it is proved to be nothing but mechanics, though less sensational, is no less electricity? Lenin replied that such a de­ important. Here precisely is the contribution velopment of science would disprove only of Levy's book. Approaching the teachings metaphysical materialism which insists upon of Marxism from the point of view of statis­ immutable elements, not dialectical material­ tics, and with a technical competence which ism which emphasizes the gradual progreiS no one doubts, he demonstrates that even the of our knowledge of matter. What material­ working scientist, busied with his restricted ism insists upon is the objective character of problems, can, if he is consequent in his matter and its reflection in the mind. In so thinking, advance a great way in the direc­ far as it is dialectical, it encourages every tion of dialectical materialism. Although in­ revolutionary advance in understanding. As complete, and needing correction in this par­ Lenin quotes Engels with approval: ticular or that, Levy's approach will doubt- 668 THE COMMUNIST

less exert a salutary influence on his fellow Indifference. This principle states that if the scientists and the general public and prompt evidence for and against a given event is them to further study of the subject. equal, or if no evidence is available, the Certainly no general theory is more in probability of its occurrence is one-half. But need of Marxian analysis than the philo­ this, as is often pointed out, is simply an sophical foundations of probability. At pres­ argument from our ignorance and tells us ent, two schools, neither one of them satis­ nothing about the material world. The fact factory, hold the field. The "objective" prob­ that we have no evidence of the existence of ability theory reduces predictions to mere life on a distant planet in the Milky Way classifications. That a man will probably die does not mean . that we know that the prob­ in twenty years means only that he belongs ability of its containing life is one-half. It to a class of men who have died with a cer- means that we know nothing about it. This . tain frequency in the past. Here the predic­ illustrates the kind of subjectivism into tion disappears. An assertion about the fu­ which Keynes' theory, in its various develop­ ture is identified with an assertion about a ments, so often collapses. class of men who have lived in the past. Although Levy does not, by any means, This "relative frequency theory," as it is resolve all the philosophical difficulties sur­ called, tends to reduce prediction to mere rounding probability theory, he does make a classification, and the calculus it develops is new start which is full of promise. The basic so abstract that it is difficult to assign con­ term of his analysis is the "isolate" which crete values, or to connect theory with prac­ may be understood as any part of the uni­ tice. It is likewise loaded on the side of verse which is taken as a subject of study. A "empiricism." That is, it is inclined to sub­ molecule, an apple off the tree or a fish out stitute sensations or experiences for the facts of water are atomic isolates. The isolate, of the material world. In its account of the however, is not nearly as isolated as the way in which the probability of an asser­ mechanists suppose. "Indeed, it is precisely tion is calculated, it therefore confines itself through the so-called 'theory of errors' of far too much to the experiences of the inves­ experiment that allowance is made for the tigator in connection with this particular linkage between the supposed isolate and the assertion; and thereby neglects the coherence rest of Nature." The atomic isolate is seen of knowledge and the material, historical to be an item in a larger statistical isolate context of assertions or events. It is as if a (or group isolate), but any atomic isolate, in man in calculating the probability of a strike its turn, can be viewed as a statistical isolate in a certain industry should confine himself with respect to the atomic isolates which to the strike frequency in this industry in compose it. previous years. Finding that in a period of "In general any isolate can be analyzed twenty years, ten strikes had occurred, he down into atomic isolates and qualities re­ might conclude that the probability of the lating them." Here the discussion carries over strike in the coming year was one to two, or Engels' emphasis on the relatedness of things one-half. This, of course, would be an incor­ and the interpenetration of diverse depart­ rect conclusion, because he has failed to take ments of science. to the plane of statistics, into account the political, industrial and which is fast becoming the language of the trade union developments, many of which sciences; and systematically corrects the lie outside of the industry in question. No mechanistic fallacies into which the proba­ competent investigator would make such a bility theory falls when it restricts itself to simple mistake. But the example nevertheless part-processes taken as independent. What illustrates a danger which continually haunts Levy fails to do is to describe with sufficient the "frequency" theory of probability-the concreteness the specific dialectical interplay danger of falsely isolating a subject under between particular sciences. This is due in investigation. part to his almost exclusive preoccupation The other theory of probability, that de­ with the passage of quantity into quality and veloped by J. M. Keynes in his Treatise on his neglect of the other two laws of dialec­ Probability, is also objectionable. For exam­ tics. It is also due in part to his unnecessarily ple, it rests upon the so-called Principle of abstract method which arranges all isolates- BOOK REVIEWS 66g

apples, men, scientific laws, strike frequen­ through the lenses of materialism and in­ cies, stars and melodies-on levels which complete dialectic and with the help of his differ only' in the degree of their complex­ own original scheme of the isolate, Levy turn ity. The general discourse about isolates to the social sciences. In the second part of often obscures their irreducible differences the book he traces the outlines of the Marx­ and makes it appear that the sciences differ ian socio-economic theory (with certain mis­ from one another, not by their specific quali­ conceptions which we shall mention later on) tative differences, but only in the complexity in his own individual manner. Possessing a of their subject matter. Thus, in combatting high order of social awareness, he apparently mechanism, Levy himself unwittingly falls experiences no difficulty, in spite of Profes­ into a certain mechanical simplification. sor ·Dewey's warning, in blending social in­ This is not always the case. His clear in­ dignation and partisanship with mathemat­ sistence that statistical isolates are every bit ical calm and integrity. Indeed, one suspects as objective as the atomic isolates cuts a that his partisanship is responsible in no broad highway over many of the confusions small part for his clear-headedness and real­ and futilities of the mechanists. ism which Professor Dewey lacks. One in­ In Anglo-American philosophical and sci­ stance of his social analysis is his contention entific circles, where empiricism and logical that under socialism statistics reaches a new atomism have made such headway, where phase. Here for the first time the atoms or classes and statistical groups are commonly individuals within the statistical group con­ regarded as fictitious or dubious, there has sciously and purposively determine the sta­ been a tendency to regard assertions of tistical results (cf., the Five-Year Plans) probability as subjective and inexact because which they predict and to which their lives they relate to classes which are distrusted and are subject. not to individuals which are accepted as the Levy does not pretend that his book is a only realities. As a counteraction of this ten­ full account of dialectical materialism, and dency, we must welcome Levy's contention his mistakes should be judged in that light. that the atomic isolate is only relatively He is an eminent scientillt working toward atomic and only relatively isolated, that sta­ the full Marxist position from the very dif­ tistical properties of groups such as the mor­ ficult and very illuminating vantage point tality rate, or the strike frequency, of a of his own profession, a procedure which certain city are just as real as the properties Engels thought desirable and necessary for of individuals, that statistics is not, therefore, the development of ·dialectical materialism. a kind of inexact knowledge, but simply the His emphasis upon technological factors in best method of measuring certain types· of socio-economic evolution at the expense of objectively changing properties. the class struggle is, of course, misleading. The supposition that knowledge of prob­ Technological considerations, like geographi­ abilities is inexact or subjective will now be cal ones, have immense importance, but only seen to rest upon a mechanistic habit of in relation to socio-economic developments. thought, and in part, upon the exigencies of Inventions which mean prosperity in the so­ the mathematical calculus, which falsely iso­ cialist economy, entail unemployment in the lates the isolate, the coin which is tossed­ capitalist. Great natural resources, which lie from the mint, the city in question-from fallow in Canada, are exploited in the So­ other cities. With all its over-simplification, viet Union. Levy, of course, would agree. Levy's scheme of isolates performs good serv­ Yet his preoccupation with technology often ice against mechanist and empiricist trends gives the impression that he regards it as of thought in the field of probability. The an independent agent in development. same can be said for his defense of the Other shortcomings of Levy's analysis objective reality of matter, space, time, and could be cited. Although he has given an causality. Challenged by the attack of Brit­ interesting statement of the passage of quan­ ish philosophers, Levy rescues the furniture tity into quality in terms of modern physics and indispensable appointments of the mate­ and statistics, he fails to make use of the rial world. full Marxist analysis of motion and change, After. exploring the physical sciences and his attempt to boil down the three laws THE COMMUNIST

of motion into one basic law is decidedly un­ of one thing to other things is also wrong. successful. and leads, if carried out, to the absurd ideal­ istic conclusion that only the Absolute exists "Consider," he says, "a given st.ate or situ­ (cf; Bradley, Appearance and Reality). For, ation-S, in which there resides a certain if the qualities of things are only relations llualily Q which is undergoing intensifica­ to other things, everything has its nature in tion. S has an internal structure or composi­ tion of such a nature that the intensification everything else and, therefore, exists only as of Q arouses in it or intensifies in it a struc­ a distorted fragment of tlie Absolute. Every­ tural quality Q. The quality Q is recognized thing less than the Absolute. is therefore by the fact that its intensification is inimical appearance, only the Absolute is real. This, to the continued existence of the given state S. Accordingly at a critical stage of Q the of course, is mystical nonsense. What Marx state S is transformed by it into a new says in Capital is not that a property of a qualitative state T. The transformation is thing consists in its relations to other things, made manifest by the fact that what was but only that ii reveals itself in them, or given for the state S no longer has relevance. The immediate cause of this intensification through them, as for example, through the of Q to its critical value is Q; the immedate senses. cause of the transformation is Q. A change­ But these mistakes, and a number of over brought into being by an internally others could be listed, are, in the opinion aroused agency such as Q is referred to as a dialectieal change .. _ the actual quantitative of this reviewer, far less notable in a book point of Q at which the dialectical change addressed not primarily to Communists, but occurs is referred to by dialectical material­ to a wide general public, than its positive ists as the point at which 'quantity passes achievements. It is highly likely that the into quality,' or more shortly as the dialec­ tical point." (P. 117.) present trend toward dialectical materialism on the part of distinguished British (and In criticism of this statement it must be American) scientists will continue and that said that it plainly does not apply to all theoretkal shortcomings will be ironed out cases of change. Indeed, the statement itself in the process. refers to change taking place before the PHILIP CAR. TER "dialectical change." Furthermore, the pas­ sage of quantity into quality does not ex­ haust dialectical change. All change is dia­ AMERICAN LABOR'S COMING lectical, even the movement of bodies in OF AGE space. In his effort to fuse together into one law the passage of quantity into qualily, the LABOR ON THE MARCH. By Edward interpenetration of opposites, and negation Levinson. Harper rl:t Brothers. New York. of negation, Levy has weakened and dis­ )25 pp. $;. torted the latter two principles and con­ fined their operation to a single phase, which ANY are by now generally familiar he wrongly calls, "the dialectical point." M with workers' conditions in the mass Every point is a dialectical point. Every production industries which gave rise to the phase of motion is a unity of opposites. This successful industrial union movement led by principle is as old as Heraclitus (sixth cen­ the C.I.O. tury B.C.) and it is a pity that Levy did not Less familiar, at least to the general make full use of it. Engels and Lenin put reader, are the stratagems and antics of the the principle very clearly. Lenin, for exam­ A. F. of L. high command which dis­ ple, remarks in a famous · section of his couraged the earlier birth of an industrial notebeoks that "the condition of the knowl­ union movement in the labor upsurge of edge of all processes of the world as in 'self­ 1933-34· movement,' in spontaneous development, con­ Because it traces in detail and documents ceived in its vital and living form, is the the steps by which the craft union leaders knowledge of the unity of their opposites. smothered the labor militancy of the N.R.A. Development is 'struggle' of opposites." days, Levinson's book is in this respect one (On Dialectics.) of the best exposures of the A. F. of L. Exec­ Levy's definition of "quality" as a relation utive Council.which has appeared in any of BOOK REVIEWS the recent books dealing with the labor tive Council to suspend the C.I.O. unions movement. for fear that, should they remain, the next It will be remembered that there were convention would see the craft leaders de­ growing A. F. of L. unions of auto, steel, feated. He traces the strategy and growth rubber, electrical, aluminum and other of the C.I.O., its victorious struggles in the workers in the mass production industries auto and rubber industries, and its conse­ in 1933-34, before the C.I.O. had even been quent tremendous influence. The author thought of. leaves no doubt that the guilt for the split But defeatism and ineffectiveness char­ in the labor movement lies squarely with -: acterized the "efforts" of A. F. of L. organ­ the leaders of the A. F. of L. izers assigned to these fields by Bill Green. But in his final chapter, Levinson's bias This is not to mention their downright fears leads him to deliberate misrepresentation of of the militancy and enthusiasm of these the role of Communists in the trade unions. new recruits to the labor movement. ("Rub­ One has by now been accustomed to such bish" is how one craft leader contemptuously actions on Levinson's part inasmuch as he described the. newly-won mass production has in recent months been exploiting his workers.) The new unions continued to make labor editorship of the New York Port open­ headway despite all the handicaps placed in ly to electioneer against rank-and-file slates their way by the Executive Council. They in certain New York unions by means of progressed until they struck the snag of nar­ Red-baiting, for the purpose of advancing row craft unionism. the interests of the Socialist-Lovestoneite; The steel workers, for example, had long Trotskyite blocs in these same unions. had jurisdiction over that industry, thanks Despite the fact that Levinson's book pre­ to the leadership of William Z. Foster in tends to decry Red-baiting, he himself re­ 1919, which forced the A. F. of L. craft peats the choice slanders of the despicatile unions to waive their paper claims over Stolberg. "Communists," Levinson declares, various crafts in the steel industry. The "shape their labor union policies from a steel workers' union grew to 100,000 in the Party line dictated by the needs of Soviet days when the workers accepted Section 7a Russia in the field of international relations at its face value. But craft claims, long for· and from a belief in the infallibility of gotten, again cropped up as the Whartons Stalin." and Tracys saw a chance to cash in on juicy By the Soviet Union's international rela­ per capita payments for which they had not tions policy, the author, no doubt, has refer­ extended themselves an inch. They simply ence to the policy of collective security, aid asked that workers organized into the Amal­ to Spain and China, etc. Yet Communist gamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin advocacy of these policies in the trade unions Workers be transferred te their own re­ has as its basis the interests of the American spective unions, without regard to the fact and world labor movements. It is to the that this would cause a fatal weakening of everlasting credit of the Soviet Union that the steel workers in their struggle to union­ it champions this cause. For while the ize this basic industry. isolationism of Mr. Levinson and his Labor on the March relates this and scores Socialist-Trotskyite-Lovestoneite friends may of other examples-the attempts to relegate not be "dictated" by the Party line of Com­ lumber and electrical and radio workers into munism, it dovetails very well with the line a class B status; Green's foisting of "leaders" of Hitler and Mussolini. on the auto and rubber workers in their Another Levinson gem: early stages. (This arbitrary and undemo­ cratic appointment of leaders from the top by Green himself ought to give the final "In New York within 24 months they (the Communists] denounced certain racketeers answer to those who believe his false cry within a group of A. F. of L. restaurant that the C.I.O. is "undemocratic.") unions, then denouncing District Attorney Levinson reviews the forces at work in the Thomas E. Dewey for prosecuting them, A. F. of L. conventions since 1934, the formed a united front with racketeers. When Dewey succeeded in jailing the racketeers, the illegal delegation of authority by the Execu- Communists reemerged as their critics, took THE COMMUNIST

over their jobs and ended up with both feet in this country, who urged that the fight be on the Dewey bandwagon." not dropped with the Atlantic City conven· tion, but be carried on into action. True, Levinson cannot plead ignorance to the the Communists did not support the prema­ libel that the Communists in the New York ture breaking away of some A. F. of L. unions food unions cooperated with the racketeers. to join the C.I.O. because they had the in­ He knows as well as anyone that it was the terests of a united labor movement at heart, Communists who fought the racketeers in as they have today in urging trade union the unions for years, that they were expelled unity. from these unions for their pains, and that Were this not so, the Communists .would when they returned while the racketeers were not be held in the high regard which is · in control, they won over many of the rank theirs for the "good organizing job" they and filers and succeeded in helping to clean did in "some unions" as Levinson grudging­ the fakers out. The tremendous growth of ly admits. Levinson's bias leads him also these same unions since that time attests to to the remark that the sympathies of Lun­ the correctness of such tactics in the inter­ deberg of the Sailors Union of the Pacific­ ests of the unions. ·what would Mr. Levinson whom the Socialists and Trotskyites were have had the Communists do, retire from the backing-are "clearly with the C.l.O. rather unions and leave the racketeers in undisputed than the A. F. of L ...." How ridiculous · control, with the workers at their mercy? this is can be seen from the fact that Lun­ Levinson utters another slander when he deberg destroyed the Sailors Union votes reports that "the Communists . . . did not which overwhelmingly favored C.I.O. affilia­ attempt to hitch their wagons to the C.I.O. tion and has since 'sent pickets against the star until the spring of 1937." As one who C.I.O.'s National Maritime Union, and other­ was present at the 1935 A. F. of L. conven­ wise played into the hands of Joe Ryan and tion in Atlantic City which saw the birth the A. F. of L. bureaucracy. of the C.I.O., Levinson knows that Socialists It is these typically malicious . and lying and Communists as well as other progressives statements in Levinson's last chapter which conferred together and were the staunchest mislead the unwary reader and vitiate what supporters of the industrial union bloc. might otherwise have been for the most part More, it was the Communists, champions of an accurate history of labor's coming of age; industrial unionism since the Party's birth R. W. TURNER Read More About MARXISM-LENINISM

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