NOVEMBER 19, 1976 25 CENTS VOLUME 40/NUMBER 44

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY/PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE

STEEL UNION INSURGENT RIPS WITCH­ HUNTING AS Mass outcry against 'THE BOSSES GAME.' death penalty needed PAGE 4 as execution dates near -PAGES 10, 13

Militant/Harry Ring PROP.14 FARM WORKER INITIATIVE DEFEATED BY AGRIBUSINESS BLITZ. PAGE 7. come to national DElVER CRUSADE BROADENS anliracisl conference THREATS AGAINST MOVEMENT ACTIVISTS. PAGE 14. BOSTON/NOVEMBER 19-21 -PAGE 5 DEVLIN IRISH SOCIALIST OPENS TOUR OF U.S. PAGE 15. ERGS WHY WON'T WASHINGTON OPEN ITS FILES? PAGE 18. DEFEND SOVIET DISSIDENTS FRENCH CP JOINS PLYUSHCH AT PARIS RALLY. PAGE 20. ISRAEL I S. AFRICA PARTNERS II RACISM -PAGE 12 In Brief

THIS WILMINGTON TEN HEARING: Attorneys for the HOUSTON UNIONISTS WIN FREE SPEECH FIGHT: Wilmington Ten argued in Raleigh, North Carolina, On October 26, Danny Laird and David Rossi, employees at November 5 that the recantation of a star witness against a Houston Westinghouse plant, were threatened with arrest WEEK'S the framed-up civil rights activists be admitted as evidence if they continued distribution of Socialist Workers party in their appeal in federal court. campaign material outside the factory. MILITANT Prosecution attorneys, hoping to stall freedom for the ten, The two socialists, members of International Brotherhood 4 Sadlowski rips countered that the recantation should instead be rerouted of Electrical Workers Local 716, decided to fight this attack red-baiting through state-level appeals courts-an unnecessary and on the rights of union members to distribute literature time-consuming process. outside the plant. A shop steward who is not a socialist 5 Co~~ to national According to an October 12 affidavit, the witness, Alan supported their protests and offered to distribute the union's antiracist conference Hall, admitted that he had been pressured by the prosecu­ newsletter alongside the socialists next time they cam­ 6 A message from tion into giving false testimony against the defendants. The paigned outside the gate. Wilmington Ten-nine Black men and one white woman­ Camejo & Reid The socialists also complained to the U.S. Justice were convicted in 1972 on trumped-up riot charges stem­ Department about the company's illegal interference in a 7 How Calif. growers ming from their defense of school desegregation. presidential election campaign. When the unionists, along beat Prop. 14 with other socialist campaign supporters, took up Westing­ house's threat on November 1, the company made no effort 8 Mass discontent behind to interfere. Puerto Rican election Iran protest attacked 'FASCINATING AND SCHOLARLY BOOK': "This is a 9 FBI official testifies As the Militant goes to press, we have learned that fascinating and scholarly book; useful in sociology and in socialists' lawsuit Houston police brutally attacked a peaceful demonstration anthropology courses and to any woman needing encour­ 12 Israel & S. Africa: by Iranian students. The attack came November 9 during agement about the contributions of her sex to history." This partners in racism the second day of a vigil outside the Iranian consulate. is Margaret Human's evaluation of Evelyn Reed's book Organized by the Iranian Student Association, the vigil was Woman's Evolution in a review printed by the American 13 Three states move called to protest the arrest of two Iranians in France on Association for the Advancement of Science. Reed's Marxist toward executions charges that they assassinated an agent of the shah's secret interpretation also draws some criticism from Human. But, 14 Crusade broadens threats police. she writes,_ Reed "validly illustrates some of the difficulties with anthropological data produced by males... and against activists Fifty Iranian students were injured and 125 arrested by Houston cops. interpreted through the blinders of our patriarchal society." 15 Irish socialist Reza Baraheni, honorary chairperson of the Committee The AAAS review reflects the growing recognition of begins U.S. tour for Artistic and Intellectual Freedom in Iran, denounced the Reed's book. The AAAS is one of the world's largest and attack as a "violation of the rights of Iranian students to most prestigious scientific organizations. 16 How FBI red-baited protest. women's movement "Are demonstrations illegal in this country?" he asked. MESSAGE FROM JAPANESE PEACE MOVEMENT: The October 29 reported a mock reenactment of the "If they are not illegal, then there's no excuse for the police Militant 18 Why Washington is afraid atomic attack on Hiroshima during a benefit show for a to open Rosenberg files to beat these people." Baraheni urged widespread protests, warning that Houston police have already threatened to Texas air museum. 23 'Guardian' lining up repeat their outrageous action. The Japan Congress Against A- And H-Bombs (Gensui­ in China faction fight kin) has issued a protest against this outrageous act. "We Japanese," the appeal says, "do not want to repeat 28 Behind the vote TRIBUTE TO IRISH FREEDOM FIGHTER: A memor­ .... the misery and destruction under that atomic bomb for Carter ial meeting for Noel Jenkinson will be held in New York mushroom cloud. At that moment more than 200 thousand City November 14. Jenkinson, an active member of the Irish people were killed instantly, the whole town was made into 2 In Brief Civil Rights Association in London, was found dead in his a ruin and more than 300 thousand people were burned and British prison cell October 9. He had been sentenced to life eJ,Cposed to a large amount of radioactivity, which was just a 1 o In Our Opinion imprisonment on charges that. he participated in the hell." Letters bombing of a British military base in Aldershot in 1972. Gensuikin urged the people of the United States to 11 By Any Means Necessary Jenkinson maintained his innocence. "acknowledge properly the tragedy that happened under the Women in Revolt His defense committee reports that the forty-six-year old atomic bomb mushroom cloud. We demand that they should Jenkinson, though subjected· to ill-treatment in prison, had know the fact that 350 thousand people exposed to WORLD OUTLOOK been in good health until his sudden death. radioactivity have been living still with [the] curse [ofthe] 19 Britain's impasse: Attorney Frank Durkin will address the 12-2 p.m. meeting atomic bomb." -Peter Seidman why pound is falling at the Irish Institute, 326 West Forty-eight Street, New York. For more information call (212) 265-3305. 20 French CP hits Kremlin's treatment of dissidents GAY TEACHER FIGHTS SCHOOL BOARD: Shortly after high school English teacher John Gish became 21 World News Notes president of the New Jersey Gay Activists Alliance in 1972, 22 India: liberals fear he was ordered to undergo a psychiatric examination by the antirepression upsurge Paramus School Board. On November 4, a New Jersey appeals court rejected Gish's bid to overturn this reactionary order. Denying that THE MILITANT Gish's right to free speech was at the center of the case, the 16,116 judges said that by submitting to an examination, Gish VOLUME 40/NUMBER 44 would be losing nothing "except his time." NOVEMBER 19, 1976 Gish's attorney says he will appeal the decision. CLOSING NEWS DATE-NOV. 10 NAACP NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Editor: MARY-ALICE WATERS Benjamin Lawson Hooks, a memb.er of the Federal Managing Editor: NELSON BLACKSTOCK Communications Commission, was elected November 6 to Business Manager: HARVEY McARTHUR succeed Roy Wilkins as executive director of the NAACP. Southwest Bureau: HARRY RING Washington Bureau: NANCY COLE Hooks was elected by a unanimous vote of the NAACP board. He will take office January 1. Published weekly by The Militant Publishing Ass'n., HELP SAVE COLEGIO CESAR CHAVEZ: The first 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. Telephone: Editorial Office (212) 243-6392; Business Office four-year, independent Chicano college has been ordered to (212) 929-3486. Southwest Bureau: 1237 S. Atlantic close its doors by the U.S. Department of HouSing and Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90022. Telephone: (213) Urban Development. 269-1456. Washington Bureau: 2416 18th St. NW, SUDCRIBE TODAY Washington, D.C. 20009. Telephone: (202) 265- For the seventh time, HUD bureaucrats are trying to use 6865. financial technicalities to foreclose on the school's mort­ 10 weeks lor 81 Correspondence concerning subscriptions or gage. changes of address should be addressed to The Administrator Celedonio "Sonny" Montes urges Colegio Militant Business Office, 14 Charles lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. supporters to protest before HUD puts the school up for Second-class postage paid at New York. N.Y. auction December 15. Letters should be sent to HUD, Room Subscriptions: U.S., $7.50 a year; outside U.S., 10,000, 451 Seventh Street SW, Washington, D.C. 2Q024. 0 $1 for ten weeks $13.00. By first-class mail: U.S., Canada, and Mexico, Send copies to Colegio Cesar Chavez, Mount Angel, Oregon 0 $7.50 for one year $35.00. Write for surface and airmail rates to all other 97362. countries. Name ______~------For subscriptions airmailed from New York and then posted from London directly to Britain, PROTEST CIA IN LEXINGTON, KY.: Thirty people Address ------Ireland, and Continental Europe: £1.50 for eight City ______issues. £3.50 for six months, £6.50 for one year. picketed outside an October 27 speech by former CIA Send banker's draft or international postal order Director William Colby in Lexington's Memorial Coliseum. State iP·------­ (payable to Pathfinder Press) to Pathfinder Press. The picket line, organized by the University of Kentucky Ad Make checks payable to 'The Militant,' 14 Where 47 The Cut, London, SE1 Sll, England. Inquire for Hoc Committee to Protest the CIA, demanded an end to CIA air rates from London at the same address. Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014 weare Signed articles by contributors do not neces~arily crimes at home and abroad and the opening of all agency represent the Militant's views. These are expressed files. in editorials.

2 'Militant' subscrigtion drive Interest in S. Africa, steel union spurs sales By Harvey McArthur "Hello, my name is Andy Rose and heads in disgust. "Why bother? With 1two weeks remaining in the Pittsburgh this is Ruth Robinett. We're from the They're all the same." subscription drive, we are right on Militant newspaper and we're out here "What did you think about the out­ schedule with 16,116 sold. This is 80.6 today to talk to people about our paper come?" percent of the goal. steel sales and what it stands for. Did you vote in Again, most are at least mildly Socialists in Toledo have already By Andy Rose the election Tuesday?" pleased that Carter was elected. No gone over their goal of 100. The Young CLAIRTON, Pa.-The road where Most did. Some, however, shake their Continued on page 26 Socialist Alliance chapter at Kent we park is steep, narrow, and potholed. State University in Ohio has more It leads down to the Monongahela than doubled its goal of 30. River and the sprawling Clairton Coke Many other areas are ahead of Works of U.S. Steel. Subscription scoreboard schedule and are planning to go over Every few minutes a cloud of black Sent their goals before the drive ends on smoke erupts from one of the giant St. Louis 425 301 70.8 Goal in % Houston 900 636 70.7 ovens that bake coal into coke, an Kent, Ohio November 20. 30 65 216.7 Atlanta 600 415 69.2 essential ingredient for making steel. Toledo "We have learned a lot about Rox­ 100 116 116.0 Champaign, Ill. 25 17 68.0 Newark, Del. 5 5 bury," reports Reba Williams from the Other times it's a cloud of steam­ 100.0 San Diego 400 267 66.6 Phoenix new Socialist Workers party branch in white and clean-looking from a dis­ 50 48 96.0 Miami 80 53 66.3 Salt Lake City Roxbury, Massachusetts. "Canvassing tance, full of coke particles close up. 50 46 92.0 Madison, Wis. 100 66 66.0 Berkeley for subscriptions helped us meet people The coke works is rarely out of sight 400 367 91.8 Cleveland 450 295 65.6 Portland, Ore. 350 318 where we had never been before and in this mill town of 15,000, rarely out of 90.9 Albany, N.Y. 55 36 65.5 Richmond, Va. 125 113 90.4 mind. Around us most of the houses Denver 600 391 65.2 find out what's on their minds. San Jose 300 268 89.3 Sarasota, Fla. 25 16 64.0 "Now, we are using the subscription are old and run-down. Despite sup­ Louisville 150 134 89.3 New York 2,000 1,261 63.1 campaign to help publicize protests posed efforts to clean up the coke Tacoma, Wash. 115 101 87.8 Bloomington, Ind. 50 31 62.0 against U.S. involvement in southern plant, it still seems to cast a sooty pall Newark, N.J. 400 347 86.8 Minneapolis 775 480 61.9 over the whole town. Washington, D.C., Area 750 646 86.1 Africa. One person goes door-to-door Lexington, Ky. 50 29 58.0 Indianapolis 100 85 85.0 holding a large poster for the National Four of us in the car split into teams St. Paul 175 100 57.2 New Orleans 225 189 84.0 Student Conference Against Racism, of two. They'll work their way down Buffalo, N.Y. 25 14 56.0 Boston BOO 663 82.9 which will be launching protests the hill, we'll go up. We pick a side­ Kingston, R.I. 25 13 52.0 Dallas 150 120 80.0 around southern Africa. street at random and knock on the first Tallahassee, Fla. 25 12 48.0 Kansas City, Mo. 150 120 80.0 door. Boulder, Colo. 20 8 40.0 "He explains that the Militant is the Baltimore 325 259 79.9 It's Sunday, November 7. The first Knoxville, Tenn. 10 3 30.0 paper to read to find out about South Pittsburgh 450 357 79.3 Arlington, Tex. 30 8 26.7 Africa and about the work the Student day of a mobilization effort by the Ithaca, N.Y. 50 39 78.0 Coalition Against Racism and other Pittsburgh Socialist Workers party to Philadelphia 650 506 77.8 groups are doing to protest the apar­ sell the pamphlet The Fight for Union Oakland, Calif. 375 290 77.3 Campaign teams theid regime." Democracy in Steel, along with Mili­ Cincinnati 150 115 76.7 New Mexico 85 85 100.0 Roxbury socialists have gotten an tant subscriptions, at mill gates and in Chicago 900 689 76.6 Ohio 400 293 73.3 excellent response so far. They've sold working-class neighborhoods. San Antonio 175 133 76.0 California 300 178 59.3 221 subscriptions, 103 percent of their A middle-aged Black man opens the Seattle 475 360 75.8 Northeast 400 209 52.3 Detroit goal of 215. door. He buys a ten-week subscription 800 605 75.6 Rocky Mountain 215 75 34.9 for a dollar. Allentown, Pa. 20 15 75.0 Michigan-Indiana 400 129 32.3 Last week's scoreboard listed Alba­ Los Angeles 1,000 At the next door, another Black man 746 74.6 Southeast 250 36 14.4 ny's and Milwaukee's goals incorrect­ Edinboro, Pa. 30 22 73.3 Upper Midwest 165 21 12.7 ly. They both raised their quotas two buys both a subscription and a pam­ State College, Pa. 30 22 73.3 General 1,691 weeks ago-Albany to 55 and Milwau­ phlet. By now our initial nervousness Milwaukee 650 471 72.5 Total 20,00016,116 80.6 kee to 775-which should have been has worn off. These people are interest­ San Francisco 800 577 72.1 Should be 16,000 80.0 noted on the chart. ed in what we have to say. Rhodesia raids guerrilla bases in Mozambique By Ernest Harsch the Rhodesians had massacred 618 made estimates of the Smith regime's [The following is from the news persons, most of whom were Zimbab­ chances of survival. "The only differ­ analysis section of Intercontinen­ wean refugees, including •women and ence among them," Legum reported, tal Press.] children. "was in their estimates of the time The war has also stepped up within before Rhodesia's security and econom­ Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Zimbabwe itself. In the two weeks ic position finally collapsed." Smith, for years the chief representa­ following Smith's September 24 speech It was the fear of such a collapse­ tive of white supremacy in that coun­ promising majority rule, about 120 and the impact it could have through­ try, now claims that he favors a persons were killed in armed clashes, a out the rest of southern Africa-that transition to Black majority rule with­ steep increase in the rate of fatalities. prompted the Americ;;m, British, and in two years. But at the same time that In addition to the Zimbabwean South African regimes to pressure he was meeting in Geneva with Zim­ freedom fighters killed by Smith's Smith into making some concessions babwean nationalist leaders, ostensi­ forces, many Black civilians have also before it was too late. bly to discuss the details of the been gunned down, allegedly either for Although Smith was forced to agree transition, he issued orders for a sharp violating the curfew or aiding the to Black majority rule within two escalation of the war against the guerrillas. Civilians have been routine­ years, he is still maneuvering to retain Zimbabwean freedom struggle. ly tortured by Rhodesian troops to as much white control as possible. On October 31, just three days after extract information on guerrilla move­ In his proposals for the transition to the formal opening of the Geneva ments and to terrorize the population majority rule, Smith called for the talks, armored Rhodesian units, as a whole. About 200,000 Blacks in establishment of a "multiracial" inter­ backed up by helicopter gunships and N.Y. Times rural areas have been forced into im regime in which the military and other air support, crossed the eastern Map shows location of Rhodesian prison-like "protected villages." police forces would continue to be border to strike at seven Zimbabwean attacks in Tete and Gaza provinces of Despite the Smith regime's brutal controlled by whites. Whites moreover camps located in Mozambique. The Mozambique. repression, the Zimbabwean freedom would have veto power ov~r all deci: Rhodesian forces, raiding about sixty struggle is on the rise.· sions of the council of state, the miles into Mozambique, penetrated the One indicator of the sentiment supreme body in the interim regime, provinces of Tete in the north and rilla bases and fifty tons of war among Blucks was the enthusiastic and would be able to block any Gaza in the south. materials had been destroyed. Other reception given to Bishop Abel Muzore­ unfavorable clauses in a new constitu- The Mozambique regime condemned Rhodesian sources said that hundreds wa, one of the major Zimbabwean tion. · the military action as an invasion of of Zimbabwean guerrillas were killed. leaders, when he returned from exile to "an independent, sovereign state." In According to the regirp.e in Mozam­ Salisbury October 3. More than 100,000 The four main Zimbabwean this, they have the support of all bique, at least eighteen Mozambican Blacks poured into the streets, chant­ leaders-Robert Mugabe, Joshua Nko­ freedom-seeking organizations and in­ civilians were killed when Rhodesian ing "Black power!" A week later, mo, Abel Muzorewa, and Ndabaningi dividuals. troops fired on a passenger train in another Zimbabwean leader, Joshua Sithole-were willing to go to Geneva The Mozambican press agency re­ Mapai. Nkomo, organized a reception of a for secret talks with Smith and the ported that heavy attacks continued Edden warned that Rhodesian forces similar size in Bulawayo. In addition, British government. Although none of through November 1, and that Mozam­ would "continue to foray across the Rhodesian officials estimate that there the four leaders demanded immediate bican troops had resisted Rhodesian border." are now 3,000 Zimbabwean guerrillas independence under Black majority "tanks, cannon, mortars, infantry, This was the second major raid into operating within the country, twice the rule, they turned down a British fighter-bombers and cavalry." Mozambique within three months. In number in July. proposal for independence in March After the Rhodesian forces had early August, a mechanized unit of the 1978, stating that it must be sooner. withdrawn, Assistant Commissioner Rhodesian army attacked a Zimbab­ According to a report by Colin Under increasing pressure from the Mike Edden said at a news conference wean camp at Nyazonia. Salisbury Legum in the September 27 Washing­ Zimbabwean masses, the four also in Salisbury November 3, "It was claimed that it had killed 300 Zimbab­ ton Post, the U.S. Defense Intelligence rejected Smith's proposals, demanding simply a military operation designed wean guerrillas, 30 Mozambican Agency, the Intelligence and Research that any interim regime be dominated to sort out people on our immediate troops, and 10 civilians. The Mozam­ Bureau of the State Department, and by Blacks, and that Blacks control the border." He claimed that several guer- bique regime charged, however, that the Central Intelligence Agency all military and police forces in particular.

THE MILITANT/NOVEMBER 19, 1976 3 Sadlowski speaks to steelworker rally, blasts red-baiting as the bosses, game, By Stu Singer tion.'' The audience broke out in laugh­ HOUSTON-Speaking before an ter. enthusiastic meeting of 100 Houston­ "I'm asking you;" Clowers contin­ area steelworkers November 7, Ed ued, "why did that guy even bring your Sadlowski delivered a scathing rebut­ name up? He's not a steelworker.'' tal to the red-baiting and violence that "You'll have to ask him," Sadlowski have been directed against his cam­ said. "I've never met the dude in my paign for president of the United life." ' Steelworkers of America. "I've heard a lot of innuendos made Jane Fonda, Ramsey Clark by a lot of people," the insurgent Clowers went on to accuse Sadlowski candidate said, "and especially and of also being supported by Jane Fonda, very tragically in this particular area. actress and antiwar activist, and That Ed Sadlowski is a communist, Ed Ramsey Clark, liberal Democratic Sadlowski's a radical, Ed Sadlowski's politician and former U.S. attorney out to destroy this union. general. It was a convincing demon­ "But I have yet to see one of these stration that anyone who opposed the individuals make that type of state­ war in Vietnam or who speaks out for ment to Ed Sadlowski's face .... civil liberties is suspect in the eyes of "We're not going to be intimidated if the steel union bureaucracy. we come to Houston," Sadlowski de­ Clowers pressed on. "Are the commu­ clared. "We've been paying our dues a nists or any guys like that supporting long, long time. I've been paying my you?" dues for twenty years into this organi­ Sadlowski: "I don't ask people how zation. they vote or what their political affilia­ "And if you think you're going to tions are, as long as they pay dues into kick us around and make us roll over this organization. What do you allude and play dead, some of you have got to?" another thought coming." Clowers: "This gentleman over here Right-wing forces in USWA District asked if you were a communist." 37 have sought to intimidate Sadlows­ Sadlowski: "And what did I answer ki supporters from campaigning. Last him?" summer Sadlowski leafleters were Clowers: "You said no." beaten up at the gates of Armco Steel Sadlowski: "That good enough for you?" and U.S. Steel. Ben Corum, an activist Militant/Glenn Campbell Clowers: "Well, are you a socialist?" from Illinois, was shot while leafleting ED SADLOWSKI: 'I don't ask people how they vote or what their political affiliations at Hughes Tool Company here. are, as long as they pay dues into this organization.' Sadlowski: "In the sense of Eugene Unsigned leaflets have been circulat­ Debs, yes. You carry that answer back ed in the plants branding individual with you. Get a handbill out-get it Sadlowski supporters as "commu­ just exactly as I quoted it now.'' nists." And most Houston-area local Sadlowski paused and added, "I union presidents signed a red-baiting Sadlowski and his running mate Clowers continued. "He gave all don't know if you even know who Gene leaflet being distributed across the Marvin Weinstock, candidate for his political rhetoric. And Tom Snyder Debs was." country in the name of SMART­ USWA vice-president for administra­ asked him, do you really expect to win "No, I don't," Clowers admitted. The "Steelworker Members Against Radi­ tion, each addressed the meeting the election with this philosophy. crowd again burst into laughter. cal Takeover." briefly. Then Sadlowski fielded ques­ "And he says, no, I don't. And then Sadlowski went on to point out the tions for an hour and a half. he says, to us that's not the most irony that Debs, the most famous 'That's the bosses' game' One leading local red-baiter-Bob important election in 1976 anyway. leader of the early Socialist party in "If you let red-baiting break you up, Clowers, president of Local 7756 at The most important election in 1976 is this country, is still given token respect that's the bosses' game," Sadlowski U.S. Steel's Baytown plant-'-provoked the United Steelworkers presidential by the labor officialdom because of his told the Houston meeting. "If you let a heated verbal confrontation. election, and our guy Sadlowski is prominent role as a union organizer. race hatred break you up, that's the going to win." "LW. Abel just received the Eugene bosses' game. There's no place in the Tom Snyder show "Now let me tell you something," V. Debs award," Sadlowski said. "And _ American labor movement for that "Here about two weeks ago on the Sadlowski replied. "You just commit­ I'm sure Debs will turn over in his kind of conduct. Tom Snyder show [on national NBC ted a very brazen act. Because let me grave a few times." "What we have to do is restore full television]," Clowers said, "this guy tell you-that's out of context and not democracy in this union, and that's Cameeo-" a quote. 'Union should be a cause' not my concept of democracy. Clowers could not pronounce the "I've got the transcript [of the TV Sadlowski's strong stand against "Booing, and shouting, and heck­ name of Socialist Workers party candi­ show]. He did not say, 'our guy red-baiting, and his rejection of the .. ling, and bullets, and beating up­ date Peter Camejo correctly. Someone Sadlowski.' See, that's the innuendo notion that socialists should be ex­ that's the bosses' game. That's the in the audience corrected him. I'm talking about. That's the same cluded from union politics, are espe­ goddamn Texas Rangers' game. That's "-and his vice-president, Willie Mae kind of innuendo that I called you a cially . significant in Houston. This the National Association of Manufac­ Reid, running for president and vice­ liar on. He did not say that." should mark a big step toward ending turers' game. . . . president from the Socialist party-" ClowE:rs asked, "Well, what did he the climate of right-wing intimidation "I'm telling you it don't belong. And Sadlowski broke in, "That's the say?" here. if you don't realize that, then you don't Socialist Workers party." "You tell me what he said!" Sadlow­ Sadlowski's views on other vital belong." "-some form of socialism, anyway," ski retorted. "You're asking the ques- issues also came through clearly: for union democracy and the right of all members to vote on their contracts, against the no-strike agreement in basic steel and all other procompany McBride clobbered in early local voting policies. In an article in that day's Houston By Ed Heisler Sadlowski is clobbering "official 2265 and 1157 at Republic Steel by Post, both Bob Clowers and E.L. · Ed Sadlowski is off to a flying family" candidate Lloyd McBride in margins of up to three to one. Jones, president of Local 2708 at start in his drive to win the presiden- · basic steel locals. Another significant vote came at Armco Steel, were quoted as blaming cy of the United Steelworkers union In Local 1397 at 'U.S. Steel's Local 67 in Granite City, Illinois. layoffs at those plants on competition in next February's election. Homestead Works-a key local in Granite City is part of District 34, from Japanese steelmakers. Sadlowski On November 8 union locals the Pittsburgh area-Sadlowski where Lloyd McBride is district was asked to comment. began nominating candidates for piled up 687 votes to McBride's 338. director. He rejected the union bureaucracy's president, four other international In northwestern Pennsylvania at While this local may be under line of protecting "our" industry offices, and directors of the USW A's Sharon Steel, members of Locall197 McBride's jurisdiction it certainly against foreign competitors. "Hold the twenty-five districts. Nominating gave Sadlowski a landslide victory isn't under his thumb. He lost and i.lldustrialists to blame for unemploy­ meetings will continue until De­ of 198 votes to McBride's 21. The top lost big. The score: Sadlowski 127. ment," . Sadlowski insisted. "Don't cember 7. officers of both locals are staunch McBride 22. blame the American worker or the To win a spot on the ballot in the McBride backers. Japanese worker." February 8 election, a candidate for A high turnout is discouraged by Sadlowski commented: "I think it Sadlowski also praised the United international office must win the rules barrin"' plant-gate voting. is important that a local which Farm Workers union and its president, nomination of about 150 locals. Members usually must cast their knows McBride so well should vote Cesar Chavez. "What we need to do is Steelworkers vote at nominating votes at union meeting halls, which so heavily against him. develop the union as a cause. People meetings of their local. Whoever in some cases are miles away. "These steelworkers are sending a organize around causes. I think the receives the most votes is nominat- In Cleveland, Sadlowski has al­ message to their brothers and sisters farm workers will still win in Califor­ ed. • ready won the nominations of Local across North America that is quite nia in spite of the setback they just In the· first two days of voting 185 at Jones & Laughlin and Locals clear." had," Sadlowski added, "because they represent a cause.''

4 Boston, Nov.19-21 Come to the national antiracist conference By Susan LaMont Atkins, president of the Boston Protests will be March 21, the anniver­ BOSTON-On November 19-21, NAACP; and Elsie Franklin from the sary of the Sharpeville massacre. On hundreds of student activists from Black Caucus of the Boston Teachers that day in 1960, scores of South around the country will be coming to Union. African Blacks were killed for demon­ Boston University to participate in the Also, Imani Kazana from the strating against the hated pass laws. third National Student Conference National Wilmington Ten Defense The campaign and day of protests Against Racism. The conference was Committee; Joe Madison, president of will involve teach-ins, demonstrations, initiated by the National Student the Detroit NAACP; Robert Allen, picket lines, forums, and other Coalition Against Racism, a multirac­ editor of Black Scholar magazine; Tom activities aimed at mobilizing the ial student organization actively Turner, president of the Detroit Metro broadest possible opposition to involved in the movement for Black AFL-CIO; Mrs. Juanita Tyler, mother continued U.S. support for the white rights and the struggles of other of Louisiana frame-up victim Gary minority regimes in southern Africa. oppressed national minorities. Tyler; and Luis Fuentes, former school On Saturday afternoon there will be The past two years have seen a superintendent from School District two sets of workshops, nearly forty in stepped-up racist offensive: the growth One on New York's Lower East Side all. (See accompanying list.) These of the racist "antibusing" movement, and a leader in the struggle for smaller meetings will provide anti­ government backsliding in enforcing community control of the schools racist activists an opportunity to and extending school desegregation, there. discuss the various action proposals the reinstitution of the death penalty, Saturday's session will begin with a and to share experiences. attacks on affirmative action, and panel discussion on "The Struggle On Saturday evening and Sunday, hysteria whipped up against so-called Against Apartheid in Southern Africa there will be plenary sessions where all illegal aliens from Mexico. NSCAR has and the Role of the United States." the action proposals will be discussed Militant/Joanne Murphy been active in fighting these injustices. Panelists include: Courtland Cox, and voted on by conference partici­ In addition, the new rise of the Black delegate to the Sixth Pan-African pants. The conference is open to all freedom struggle in southern Africa Congress; Jeff Baqwa, member of the opponents of racism, and everyone has has highlighted the international char­ executive committee of the South Africa, focusing on a National Day of voice and vote. acter of the struggle against racism. African Students Organization, who is Student Protests Against U.S. A number of films will also be shown This will add an important dimension now touring the United States; Herbert Complicity With Racist Regimes in during the conference, as well as a new to conference discussions. Vilakazi; Sinos Mangazza, chairperson South Africa, Namibia, and NSCAR slide show documenting the "No to racism from Boston to South of the Zimbabwe African National Zimbabwe. history of the civil rights movement Africa" -the theme of the conference­ Union in North America; and August This proposal was adopted at and the struggle for school desegrega­ sums up the wide range of national Nirritz, professor of political science NSCAR's October 23 national steering tion in Boston. and international issues to be at the University of Minnesota and committee meeting, and will be pre­ For more information on the confer­ discussed during the three days of member of NSCAR. sented to the conference for discussion ence, contact: National Student workshops, panels, and plenary ses­ This panel will initiate discussion and vote. Coalition Against Racism, 612 siOns. around the major action proposal to be According to NSCAR national Blue Hill Avenue, Dorchester, The conference will open Friday discussed at the conference: launching coordinator Maceo Dixon, the proposed Massachusetts 02121. Telephone: evening at 7:00 p.m. with a public rally a national campaign around southern date for the National Day of Student (617) 288-6200. in Hayden Hall at Boston University. The speakers include: Prof. Herbert Vilakazi, a Black South African (now a U.S. citizen) who was an eyewitness in June to the first Soweto uprising in South Africa; Bernadette Devlin Student conference workshops McAliskey, a leader of the Irish free­ The following workshops will take place • Combating police brutality. lyah Rashed from the Paul X Moody dom struggle; Clyde Bellecourt of the on Saturday, November 20, at the third • Ending discrimination in housing, led Defense Committee. American Indian Movement; Tom National Student Conference Against Ra­ by Joe Madison, president of Detroit • J.B. Johnson defense. cism. NAACP. • The ongoing struggle for school dese­ • Organizing opposition to U.S. support • Defending Gary Tyler, led by Mrs. gregation. to apartheid, led by Mike Fisher, coordina­ Juanita Tyler. • Bilingual-bicultural education. tor of the Atlanta Coalition Against Re­ • Teachers and desegregation, led by • Wilmington Ten defense, led by lmani · pression in Southern Africa; a representa­ Elsie Franklin of the Boston Teachers Kazana of the Wilmington Ten Defense tive from the Boston Coalition for the Union Black Caucus and Bob Pearlman, Committee. Liberation of Southern Africa; Jimmy also from the BTU. • The labor movement and desegrega­ Garrett from the June 16th Coalition in • Hurricane Carter defense. tion. Washington, D.C.; Paul Pumphrey, nation­ • The movement for prisoners' rights, al organizer of the Anti-Apartheid Move­ led by John Boone, former corrections • Gays and the fight against racism, led ment based in Washington, D.C.; and commissioner for Massachusetts and head by Ken Withers and NSCAR. Vince Eagan of the National Student of the Campaign Against Prisons; John • Defending the NAACP. Coalition Against Racism. Taylor, president of the Massachusetts • Cointelpro and the Black movement, • Defending affirmative action, led by Coalition to Help Prisoners and Their led by Robert Allen, editor of Black Ed Kennedy, vice-president of the National Families; a representative of the Prisoners' Scholar. Student Association. Rights Organization from the University of • The struggle for community control in • Building the movement against the Massachusetts. New York School District One. death penalty, led by Prof. Herbert Bedau • Defending the five Puerto Rican of Tufts University, and Derrick Alphran, • Ella Ellison defense. nationalist political prisoners. coordinator of the Georgia Committee to • Stanton Story defense. • .Black women and the fight against Abolish the Death Penalty. • The myth of white flight, led by Prof. racism. • Fighting against cutbacks. Christine Rossell of Boston University. • The American Indian Movement, led • The movement to stop racist deporta­ • How to organize a SCAR chapter. by Clyde Bellecourt. Militant/Joanne Murphy tions. • Paul X Moody defense, led by Doa- • Fundraising for NSCAR. MACEO DIXON

By Jose G. Perez and thirty-two community school dis­ September 1975. A federal judge has found New York tricts, each with an elected board. Instead of implementing the decree, Judge hits City school authorities in contempt of The city-wide authorities run the central school authorities stalled and court for failing to provide bilingual high schools directly. They also set missed deadlines, without even notify­ education to Spanish-speaking child, general policy guidelines and allocate ing the court. stalling on ren. money for the community school By December 1975, statistics com­ The school system was required to do boards. The community boards in turn piled by the board showed that more this under a 1974 court· order known as administer• junior high schools and than half of the 85,000 students it the Aspira Consent Decree. Aspira, a elementary schools in their neighbor­ considered eligible were receiving no bilingual social service agency set up to help hoods. bilingual education. Puerto Rican and other Latino stu­ In addition, it was clear that some dents, initiated the original court In the October 22 contempt ruling, local boards were consciously sabotag­ education action in September 1972. Judge Marvin Frankel cited "nonper­ ing the program. In Community The judge said school authorities formance, inadequate performance, or School District 30, for example, not one had "violated their obligations under outright defiance" by the community student was receiving the benefits of in NYC the decree." He ordered the schools to school boards. the program. pay Aspira's legal costs in the con­ The judge found that authorities of tempt action, and warned them that the city-wide school system were guilty Aspira then flied a motion with the the Aspira decree "remains in full force of "extravagantly long and benign court to find the school system in and effect." tolerance of outright defiance as well contempt. After this motion was filed, The judge hinted that if sabotage of as foot-dragging and evasion in the the board of education began to move the program continued, he would place districts." toward complying with the decree, but the school system under receivership. The order setting up the current still at a slow pace. New York City schools are adminis­ bilingual program was signed in Au­ By the end of last school year, only tered through a federated system. gust 1974. It specified a timetable, with 75 percent of the eligible students were There is a city-wide board of education full implementation to be completed by receiving the full program.

THE MILITANT/NOVEMBER 19, 1976 5 A message to all our supporters

Dear Friends, We want t9 extend our thanks to everyone whose support helped make this the biggest and most successful presidential campaign the Socialist Workers party has run. The issues our campaign addressed-unemployment, inflation, cutbacks, racism, the second-class status of women-were not resolved on election day. Working people and students will have to keep fighting to win jobs, school' desegregation, bilingual-bicultural .education, ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, and freedom for Gary Tyler and other prisoners on America's death rows. Our party will continue to be in the forefront of these struggles. We hope all of you who supported our campaign will join us as active participants in the movements for social justice and equality. An important place to be on November 19-21 is in Boston at the third National Student Conference Against Racism. The conference is open to all opponents of racism and will discuss national activities in defense of Black majority rule in southern Africa, school desegregation, and abolition of the death penalty. If you believe as we do that a society that puts human needs before profits-a socialist society-is a realistic and necessary goal, we urge you to join the Socialist Workers party. Write to us at 14 Charles Lane, New York, New York 10014, or call the SWP branch or Young Socialist Alliance chapter nearest you (see Socialist Directory on page 27). We look forward to hearing from you soon. In solidarity,

Some vote returns in for SWP, other parties By Steve Wattenmaker of New Mexico's Rio Arriba county, lost aJ). important race for county the Libertarian party registered gains. Unofficial vote totals for the Social­ polled 11 percent of the vote. Andres sheriff. In 1972 the Libertarians were on the ist Workers party, Communist party Torres, running on the RUP ticket for Eugene McCarthy, who ran as an · ballot in only two states. This year (see box), and other opposition parties state assembly in California's Thirty­ independent capitalist candidate, was their presidential candidate, Roger have begun filtering in from a number ninth District, captured 4.5 percent. on the ballot in twenty-nine states, McBride, was on the ballot in thirty-· of states. Five Raza Unida candidates won averaging about 1 percent of the two states and ran a well-financed While the Democrats' and Republi­ local posts in Zavala County, Texas, of popular vote. campaign. Preliminary results show cans' up-to-the-second vote totals are which Crystal City is the seat. RUP Among right-wing and conservative McBride with a higher vote than any the only fare for election-night televi­ candidate Crespin Trevino, however, challengers to Ford and Cart.er, only other opposition candidate except sion viewers, smaller parties are often McCarthy. forced to wait a month or more for The remnants of George Wallace's their results. once sizable American Independent New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Below are the currently available vote Minnesota 4,000 1,000 party, and its American party split-off, and New Jersey are among the large ·totals for the Socialist Workers and Mississippi 2,213 continued their decline in this election. states withholding the SWP vote until Communist party presidential tickets. N. Hampshire 161 Wallace himself backed Carter. the election is declared "official" at the New Mexico 2,339 American party candidate Thomas end of this month. Ohio 5,346 8,470 Rhode Island 454 323 Anderson and American Independent SWP CP Texas 11,456 party candidate Lester Maddox man­ The independent Chicano Raza Uni­ Arizona 906 Utah 258 242 aged to gather only an insignificant da parties in New Mexico, California, California 17,083 12,791 Washington, D.C. 476 187 fraction of the Wallace movement's Colorado, and Texas ran local and Indiana 3,529 Washington 852 731 1968 and 1972 vote. Even in a Deep statewide candidates. In at least sever­ Kentucky 334 421 Wisconsin 1,546 649 South state such as Mississippi, the al important races, RUP candidates Massachusetts 7,590 combined AP and AlP vote was only made impressive showings. Michigan 1,948 Total to date 60,491 24,814 9,500. The SWP polled 2,213 in Missis­ Moises Morales, candidate for sheriff sippi. D.C. activist finds party he was looking for By Cindy Jaquith well acquainted with the party before Political Repression, attending its alternative he was really looking for, WASHINGTON-Tony Grillo, twen­ joining. national convention last year in Pitts­ he decided-a party that champions ty-nine, has lived in this city :1ll From early in life Grillo came to burgh. the women's liberation struggle, fights his life. For the last thirteen years, he expect racist abuse from the U.S. Grillo was especially interested in uncompromisingly against racism, has lived in the Adams-Morgan com­ government. His father is Cuban and the Wilmington Ten case. In 1972, ten and campaigns for the rights of all· munity, which is predominantly Black his mother Dominican'. civil rights fighters were framed up on working people. · and Latino. Grillo's draft notice, for example, arson charges in Wilmington, North Adams-Morgan is a hub of political arrived just two weeks after he gradu­ Carolina. Grillo is currently active in activity, with many radical bookstores, ated from high school. "They were the National Wilmington Ten Defense defense committee offices, and com­ drafting us by the busload," he said, Committee. munity organizations. This summer, recalling his ride to the induction He is a1so a partisan of the women's the Socialist Workers party opened a center. Only four whites were on the liberation movement. And this was a bus; the rest were Black. major reason for his joining the SWP. The racism of the armed forces Prior to learning about the SWP's opened his eyes to radical ideas. election campaign, Grillo had attended Stationed at Fort Knox in Kentucky, meetings for the Communist party's Grillo began reading about Vietnam. candidates. He did not know that the He became convinced that the war was CP vehemently opposes the Equal unjust and he began contributing Rights Amendment. articles to antiwar newspapers put out Grillo described his reaction when he bookstore here, along with a campaign by Gls. found out about the CP's anti-ERA headquarters. "Just as soon as I got out of the stand: "I said to myself, damn! This is When the socialists began petition­ army," Grillo said, he went on his first a leftist group? How can they not ing to put their candidates on the antiwar demonstration. That was the support the ERA when they see STOP ballot, Grillo was an active petitioner. January 1969 "counter-inaugural" ERA leader Phy His Schlafly and how A few weeks ago, he decided to join the march in Washington. she's connected with those antibusing SWP. He is now a provisional member He also became active in local D.C. groups in Boston?" of the Northwest branch here. This politics and in the fight to free political It was at an ERA teach-in last three-month 'provisional period gives prisoners. He worked closely with the spring, in fact, that Grillo first ran into M prospective members a chanct> to get National Alliance Against Racist and the SWP campaign. This was the TONY GRILLO

6 How Calif. growers beat Prop. 14 By Arnold Weissberg ty,r out of the legislature" and allow the LOS ANGELES-Proposition 14, the · '" · state government to deal with "more California farm labor initiative, was important" matters: defeated by a vote of 4.4 million to 2.9 Carter concluded his campaign at a million. rally in downtown Los Angeles the day The measure, which was strongly before the elections. UFW supporters $20,000 backed by the United Farm Workers went out of their way to build the union, would have strengthened laws event. giving farm workers the right to vote Yet, UFW leader Cesar Chavez, who Camejo for the union of their choice. It lost in was announced as one of the speakers the face of a massive agribusiness at the rally, never got to say a word. campaign of lies and distortions that Mayor Thomas &adley spoke. Senator succeeded in diverting attention from Tunney spoke. Governor Brown spoke. &Reid the real issues. Carter spoke. Newspaper, radio, and television But not one of them said a single commercials were designed to frighten word about Proposition 14. campaign voters into opposing the ballot initia­ tive. Business interests called on voters to "protect private property rights." Temporary setback Advertisements went so far as to raise Throughout the fall, Leo McCarthy, the specter of "strangers" entering the powerful Democratic speaker of the fund California living rooms to organize California assembly, urged a "no" vote baby sitters! on the measure. McCarthy is a close The growers' arguments carefully ally of Governor Brown and managed avoided the real question-the right of Brown's campaign for the Democratic Proposition 14 would have strengthened farm workers to organize in the union presidential nomination earlier this farm workers' right to vote for union of of their choice. year. their choice. The employers claimed Proposition UFW support for Carter, Brown, and Last week Socialist Workers other Democratic politicians left the 14 violated private property rights campaign supporters sent in because it would have guaranteed It was these huge corporations that union unable to answer another grow­ $1,931 to the Camejo & Reid union organizers the right to talk to fueled the "No on 14" campaign. er charge: that since there was already the workers on the ranches for an hour Superior Farming, owned by Superior a farm labor law on the books in fund. Contributions came from before and after work and during Oil, kicked in $5,000, and the president California, Proposition 14 wasn't ne­ rallies held in Atlanta, Berkeley, lunch breaks. of the firm contributed the same cessary. New York's Lower East Side, Such access is already permitted amount. It is true that there is a farm labor Phoenix, and New Orleans. under rules established by the Califor­ Money also came from Getty Oil, law in California. But the fact is that This means we still have to nia Agricultural Labor Relations Standard Oil, Union Oil, and the the growers and their friends in the raise $2,365 to reach our goal Board and upheld by the California Southern Pacific Land Company. legislature-including Leo McCarthy­ of $20,000 by next week. and U.S. Supreme Courts. In response, the UFW worked hard scuttled it after the UFW won a Election day is over. But we Proposition 14 would simply have and stubbornly for passage. The union majority of the union representation still have to pay bills for travel, written the board's rules into law. proved it has a wide popular base of elections. telephone, and printing. We Access is crucial. If union organizers support in this state. Hundreds of Although Proposition 14 failed, polls are not permitted on the farms, it is volunteers worked full time and more showed that the measure was favored need this money so the 1976 often impossible to reach the workers. than a million dollars was raised to by a majority of Chicanos, Blacks, and campaign can finish free of In many cases, the migrant workers finance the campaign. young people-the groups most alie­ debt. live in camps right on the farm. In The effort, as impressive and inspir­ nated from two-pjlrty politics and least If you can help, any amount other .cases, the workers live over a ing as it was, proved insufficient to likely to vote. will be appreciated. widely scattered area. defeat the entrenched agribusiness The defeat of Propostion 14 is a interests and their massive big-lie setback for the union. But the UFW 'Family farms'? campaign. has survived many earlier blows. The growers also issued demagogic The biggest factor in the defeat was Because its strength is derived from pleas to protect California's "family the reliance of the UFW leadership on the farm workers themselves, and the. farms" from invasion by "strangers"­ the Democratic party to win passage of broad public support they have been read UFW organizers. Proposition 14. able to win. How we're doing This argument, too, is completely In exchange for their formal backing "Our experience in this movement is without any basis. of the proposition, Jimmy Carter and that we never lose," Cesar Chavez told $20,000 According to the Los Angeles Times, California senatorial candidate John a Los Angeles election night rally of fewer than 10 percent of California Tunney won the endorsement, and 800. "There may be temporary set­ 18,000 November 10 growers employ more than 75 percent active support, of the UFW. backs, but we never lose. The work on $17,635 of the farm workers. In return, Carter and Tunney gave Proposition 14 was an investment." 16,000 The UFW is concerned with organiz­ nothing. Gov. Edmund Brown did Referring to the agribusiness inter­ 14,000 ing where the workers are-on the big prepare a TV commercial and signed a ests that had defeated Proposition 14, ranches. Most of these are controlled newspaper ad for the "Yes on 14" Chavez added, "There's more time 12,000 committee. But he simply urged a by the largest corporations in the than money, and there's more of us 10,000 country, not by small family farmers. "yes" vote "to get the farm labor issue than them." 8,000

6,000

4,000 Socialists win '78 D.C. ballot spot 2,000 By Nancy Cole for the ballot on the basis of votes won. realize that these problems· [facing 0 WASHINGTON -Socialist Workers Election laws are designed to allow Washingtonians] are due to the politics party candidate Dorothy Hawkinson only the Democrats and Republicans and policies of the two major parties," garnered more than 10,000 votes in the automatic ballot "privileges." said Butler in a statement congratulat- city council election here, ensuring her Hawkinson's preliminary tally is ing the SWP. "They want change." party a ballot slot for the 1978 election. 10,256 votes, 5 percent of the total cast That D.C. ~esidents have little loyal- Make checks payable to the This is the first time the SWP for two city council at-large spots. By ty for the two big capitalist parties is Socialist Workers 1976 National anywhere in the country has qualified D.C. law, any party receiving at least shown by the turnout November 2 of Campaign Committee, 14 Charles 7,500 votes is permitted to hold a only 29.6 percent of eligible voters. Lane, New York, New York 10014. primary the next time, thus bypassing That was far below the national record 0 Enclosed is my contribution of the burdensome signature-gathering low of 53.3 percent. $---- procedure. Democratic registration this time 0 Please send me more information This year socialists here collected around dropped below 200,000, and on the SWP campaign. 5,300 signatures to add Hawkinson's D.C. Republicans are dpwn to 28,000. name and party affiliation to the Voters registering independent grew to Name ballot. more than 32,000. Statehood party The D.C. Board of Elections has also registration more than tripled since Street ------­ tentatively agreed to add the party's 1972. Voters writing in the name of City ------name to the voter registration card, their party under "other" grew from State _____ Zip ____ along with the Democrats, the Republi- 492 to more than 1,200. cans, and the Statehood party, which "With the Statehood party and the Occupation ------first surpassed the 7,500 requirement smaller parties thus steadily growing, in 1971. and independents increasing more Business address ______"The SWP did very well," comment- slowly the importance of what might ed an amazed legal assistant in the be called a third force is becoming A copy of our report is on file with the Federal Election Commission and is available board's office. "Ten thousand votes is much more significant," concluded the for purchase from the Federal Election a good showing." Washington Star, even before the elec- Commission. Washjngton, D.C. Chairperson, Statehood party candidate Josephine tion. Linda Jenness; treasurer, Arthur Hughes. Butler won 23,598 votes, or 12 percent. That's one election forecast the SWP DOROTHY HAWKINSON "The voters are saying that they intends to make good on.

THE MILITANT/NOVEMBER 19, 1976 7 IndeP-endence vote grows Behind election in Puerto Rico: mass discontent By Jose G. Perez eight mumcipalities, including the Although it had lost the governorship The November 2 elections in the U.S. largest cities. in 1968, this is the first time it has colony of Puerto Rico produced a Although preelection surveys pre­ been defeated so thoroughly. victory for the pro-statehood New dicted that proindependence parties The Popular Democrats are support­ Progressive party. would win up to 12 percent of the votes, ers of the so-called commonwealth With the bulk of the votes for their final total was just half that. relation to the United States-the· governor counted, the results were: Nonetheless, these parties won 87,700 present setup. Under this agreement, Carlos Romero Barcel6 (New votes, a big increase from the 52,000 Puerto Ricans elect a local government Progressive)-671,837; Rafael Hernan­ polled in 1972. with very limited authority, while dez Col6n (Popular Democratic)- Final results of the elections will not Washington retains all important 635,798; Ruben Berrios Martinez be known for several weeks. But it powers. Puerto Ricans have no vote for (Independence)-77,125; and Juan appears almost certain that the Puerto U.S. president, and they elect only one Mari Bras (Socialist)-10,615. Rican Independence party will have at nonvoting representative to Congress. Barcel6's New Progressive party also least one member in· the Puerto Rican The outcome of the Puerto Rican won Puerto Rico's nonvoting observer House of Representatives. voting received wide publicity because seat in the U.S. Congress, control of The big loser was the Popular the island's colonial status had become both houses of the legislature, and Democratic party-the island's main a major international issue, debated control of a majority of the seventy- political force for close to four decades. each year at the United Nations. One of the main arguments the United States uses to justify its domi­ nation of the island is that the Puerto Down These Mean Streets Rican people support the common­ By Piri Thomas. paper $1.25 wealth. They cite election results as their primary evidence. U.S. newspa­ Puerto Rico: Freedom and pers declared this fall's election "an Power in the Caribbean indirect plebiscite on the Puerto Rican By Gordon K. Lewis. paper $6.95 preference for statehood, common­ ROMERO BARCELO: Won with Seven Long Times wealth or independence." promises of jobs and end to corruption, By Piri Thomas. paper $1.75 "Puerto Rican voters decide­ not support to U.S. rule. strongly-to stay with U.S.," pro­ We, the Puerto Rican People claimed the headline in the November By Juan Angel Silen. paper $2.75 4 Christian Science Monitor. The New frame-ups against labor leaders and York Times said in a November 5 government use of the national guard La conciencia nacional to break strikes. puertorriqueii.a editorial, "Well over 90 percent of Puerto Rico's voters have supported Pleas for more self-government have (selecci6n, introducci6n y notas de gotten nowhere in Washington. Manuel Maldonado Denis) the parties that favor permanent union with the United States." In addition, the Popular Democrats Por Pedro· Albizu Campos. nistica have been rocked by scandals, ranging $1.25 More realistic, however, was the assessment of former Popular Demo­ from crooked land deals to massive El emigrante puertorriqueii.o cratic Gov. Roberto Sanchez Vilella. illegal wiretapping. Por Luis Nieves Falc6n. nistica "Puerto Ricans are voting negatively," Romero Barcel6 capitalized on this $4.25 he said. "They're voting against bad sorry record. He placed ads headlined "All the Governor's Men" in newspa­ Lolita Lebron-la prisionera candidates rather than for good ones." PUERTO RICO: pers a few days before the election. Por Federico Tovar. rustica $4.95 And the New Progressive's Luis U.S. COLONY IN Ferre agreed: "The people showed . . . He blasted "the type of economic THE CARIBBEAN N arcisco descubre su trasero: that status cannot be used as an issue: progress that benefits 300 multimillio­ El negro en la cultura puertorrique­ when government doesn't govern well, naires at the expense of three million iia the people will reject it." Puerto Ricans." BY JOSE G. PEREZ Por Isabelo Cenon Cruz. 2 tomos. And he effectively defused the one 'Nothing could be more ironic for nistica $10.00 And it isn't hard to see why. issue that could have cost him the Puerto Ricans than the celebration Puerto Rico, libertad y When Popular Democrat Rafael election: his support for Puerto Rico of 200 years of American independ­ Hernandez Col6n beat incumbent Luis becoming the fifty-first state. He said ence. . . . To understand the eco­ poder en el Caribe Por Gordon K. Lewis. rustica $9.50 Ferre by a landslide four years ago, he status wasn't an issue, and that, if nomic crisis and political ferment on relied on several issues. He promised elected, he would take no steps toward the island, the recurring debates Puerto Rico: una interpretacion economic progress, deescalation of statehood during his term. over Puerto Rico in the United hist6rico-social repression against independistas, and "Undoubtedly, a great majority of Nations, and the maneuvers in the Por Manuel Maldonado Denis. nisti­ more self-government for Puerto Rico. the electorate chose to support the New U.S. Congress, it is necessary to ca $3.75 Instead, unemployment climbed to Progressive party as a protest against begin from one simple fact: Puerto an official rate of 20 percent. This all the corruption, antiworker mea­ Rico is a colony of the United Order today from Pathfinder Press, translates to 40 percent when discour­ sures, and bad administration" of States.' 410 West Street, New York, N.Y. aged workers who are no longer even Hernandez Col6n, said Juan Mari 24 pp., 35 cents 10014. Write for a free catalog. looking for jobs are counted. Bras, the socialist candidate for gover­ Repression has been extended, with nor. Puerto Rican Trotskyists urged vote for PSP ·By Jose G. Perez "The workers cannot continue voting tained a special six-page election insert A subscription to the paper can be The Liga Internacionalista de los for the parties of the bosses," the with the LIT's "Program of struggle obtained for three dollars from: La Trabajadores (LIT-Internationalist article stated. "We have to break with against unemployment, the high cost Verdad, Post Office Box 22699 U.P.R. · Workers League), the Trotskyist orga­ them. We have to create our own of living, and for our democratic Station, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico nization in Puerto Rico, urged a vote organizations." rights." 00931. for the candidates of the Puerto Rican Although the Puerto Rican Indepen­ Socialist party in the November 2 dence party calls itself sociaUst, the elections. article said, "it does not clearly say The LIT said the slate headed by which class should govern Puerto PSP General Secretary Juan Mari Rico." Cops attack socialist leader Bras was "the only electoral alterna­ "The PIP pretends to be the party of Alexis Irizarry, a founding leader "When I asked for an explanation, tive" for working people. the middle class and the workers. But of the Puerto Rican Internationalist they proceeded to beat me with The LIT was founded about two one of its candidates is no one less Workers League, was assaulted and clubs, hitting me in the face, which years ago by a group of students and than Pete Martinez, former president beaten by Puerto Rican cops October caused me to vomit blood." young workers. It publishes a newspa­ of the Association of Industrialists." 27. Irizarry said one cop reached for per, La Verdad, which comes out six The article continues, "The PSP A press release signed by Irizarry his gun and "wanted me to run­ times a year. The October-November ,.-presents the need to organize a party described the attack. "I was return­ ... probably to shoot me claiming I issue is devoted largely to the elections. of the workers independent from the ing from our offices in Las Monjas, was trying to escape." In an article on "The International­ parties of the bosses. . . . The PSP Hato Rey, October 27 at 12:30 a.m. "When I refused to run, they ist Workers League and the Elections," poses the necessity of independence when I was savagely attacked by continued beating me, shouting the LIT blasted the Popular Democrat­ and socialism." two members of the police, who had 'dirty student' at me," he said. ic and New Progressive parties as For these reasons, and despite dis­ taken off their badges. . . . Irizarry linked the attack to a "parties based on so-called freedom of agreements with the program of the "They shouted that I was a 'dirty strike by workers at the University enterprise, which is nothing more than PSP, the article urged a vote for PSP student' and that they were going tc of Puerto Rico. The LIT has actively the so-called freedom to exploit the candidates. kill me," Irizarry stated. supported the strike. -J.G.P. workers." The same issue of La Verdad con-

8 SWP challenges gov't informers FBI official testifies in socialists' lawsuit By Diane Rupp lawless acts, you are going to have NEW YORK-James Adams, deputy your name revealed.' " associate director of the FBI, testified November 4 at a court hearing in the What's in files? Socialist Workers party lawsuit Judge Griesa said that the in­ against government harassment. formers' files are "crucial" to the Adams is in charge of all the lawsuit. agency's investigations, both the crim­ "They may disclose things that inal and so-called domestic security nobody has even thought of asking or cases. In his testimony, Adams was talking about," he said. supposed to explain the FBI's refusal It was only after FBI informer to turn over twenty-five file drawers of Timothy Redfearn's complete file was material about nineteen informers turned over for the lawsuit, for exam­ assigned at one time or another to the ple, that burglaries by informers be­ Socialist Workers party. came public. Until then the govern­ The SWP is demanding these files so ment had denied that informers did it can prepare to question the nineteen anything illegal. under oath. The socialists want to Griesa called the socialists' request document how the government uses for only nineteen informers' files informers not just to spy, but to disrupt "sparing." After all, the government and carry out illegal 'operations has admitted that over the last four against political groups. decades it has used an army of 1,300 Adams was questioned about a informers against the socialists. sworn statement he had earlier submit­ The judge said that it may be ted for the lawsuit. In that statement James Adams of FBI (right) answers Judge Thomas Griesa. Courtroom drawing by necessary to make all 1,300 files Adams had written that "informants 'Militant' artist Caryl Loeb. available for the lawsuit. But Griesa throughout the country have expressed said he could not make a ruling yet. concern over the possible disclosure of their identities.... " undercover. Five or six named the In reply the socialists submitted a High interest On the witness stand, Adams tried to SWP lawsuit as the reason for their sworn affidavit. "In the entire history The courtroom was filled for the back up his claims. The FBI had sent worry. of the SWP, since it was founded in hearing. Among those attending were out a teletype order to Special Agents Were these worried informers work­ 1938, and of the [Young Socialist Ralph Schoenman, former director of in Charge (SACs in bureau lingo) of ing on criminal or political cases? the Alliance], since it was founded in 1960, the Bertrand Russell Foundation; Wal­ the fifty-nine field offices, Adams judge asked. Adams did not know. there have been no cases of such ter Schnier, coauthor with Miriam explained. This order had gone out "Five out of thousands of informants attacks, harassment or physical retali­ Schnier of Invitation to an Inquest, a specifically to prepare the FBI's argu­ ...," marveled Leonard Boudin, the ation against informers," stated the ments for the SWP lawsuit. It told socialists' attorney. "Five of them have affidavit. SACs to report informers' fears. allegedly told FBI agents, who have As for the public disapproval in­ Adams neglected to bring the SACs' allegedly told the Special Agents in formers fear, it is simply a fact that answers to the court hearing to be Charge, who have then sent teletypes informers disgust most people. That is examined. But the G-man did recall to headquarters, have said they are no reason to keep .their files secret. some details. concerned. . . . It is an infinitesimal number." At the hearing Adams did not try to Five out of 6, 700 defend his previous claim that the Adams claimed the FBI uses about In his written statement Adams had SWP is dangerous. Instead, he em­ 600 or 700 people for political spying. claimed informers are afraid of being phasized that informers in other cases The bureau has another 6,000 m­ killed or physically attacked. He said might be scared. formers assigned to other cases, he they also endure "fear of peer group Boudin asked Adams what makes said. disapproval of acting as an 'informer,' informers so nervous. This 'is not the Forty to fifty informers had "ex­ which activity has always held an first time the government has tried to pressed concern" about remaining unsavory connotation." use informers' fears as an excuse for secrecy. · Adams explained that "the whole trend toward government disclosure" 'Some bad communication' bothers informers. He pointed to the The government has had a recur­ stories." congressional committees that probed ring problem ever since the Socialist If Brandt's claim were true, it FBI crimes last year, the Fred Hamp­ Workers party and Young Socialist would be a serious charge against ton case in Chicago, the Freedom of Alliance filed their lawsuit against the socialists. The government law­ Information Act, and occasional leaks the FBI and other political police yer said he could document the to newspapers. agencies three years ago: charge from the informer's testim­ Actually, as an affidavit by the It just can't seem to get its facts ony. socialists explains, "The plummeting straight. But that testimony-when the credibility of the FBI-and the result­ FBI lawyers assured the socialists informer was questioned by the ing drop in morale of its agents and that G-men had never done any socialists' attorney Herbert Jordan­ informers-is not the result of disclo­ burglaries, for example. Then secret goes like this: sure of FBI files in the abstract. It is LEONARD BOUDIN files about ninety-two burglaries .of Jordan: Did any harm ever come the result of FBI wrongdoing that is the SWP national office turned up. to you fr"om any mem her of the YSA shown in these files." book about the trial of Julius and Ethel Then the government said that these following your disclosure of being an black-bag jobs were all over. But on Rosenberg; attorneys Marshall Perlin informant? . ~ . Political informers and Bonnie Brower, who are working July 7, 1976, an FBI informer Informer: Not to my knowledge, burglarized the Denver SWP office. Th"e hearing was a unique legal for release of the Rosenberg files. that I can think of. challenge. This is the first time the The high interest in the hearing William Brandt, the government Jordan: ... you testified earlier lawyer working on the case, told the government's right to use political highlights the importance of the in­ that you made untrue statements in agents has been contested in the former issue. An editorial in the judge at a recent court hearing that the interview [to YSA members] courts. November 6 issue of the Nation put it this had all heE:n "some bad com­ because you were afraid of what the "Where they have investigations this way: munication." FBI might do to you; is that correct? into political activities of law-abiding "Fascinating skirmishes in court­ Informer: Yes. I was afraid of But later that same day, Brandt organizations by lawless police," Bou-· which may lead to landmark decisions what the FBI would do. I was scared came up with some more "bad com­ din said, ". . . the informants who on the scope of civil liberties in the of what I had done the night before. munication." engage in lawless acts have to have United States-continue to take place Jordan: You mean your disclosure Brandt was trying to explain why their names revealed." that you were working for the FBI? in the three-year suit of the Socialist the government refuses to turn over Boudin pointed to the examples of Informer: Right. Workers Party against the FBI. The files about FBI informers. SWP or Gary Rowe and Howard Godfrey, FBI Jordan: . . . Were you afraid of latest involves the use of 'informers,' YSA members, he claimed, might try informers in the Ku Klux Klan and the what the YSAers might do to you if those government spies the FBI has to take revenge and physically right-wing Secret Army Organization. you didn't tell them what they sprinkled so liberally among political threaten or punish informers. Rowe had helped beat up Black civil groups whose opinions the G-men wanted to hear? Brandt described a case: ". . . it rights Freedom Riders in the 1960s. dislike.'' Informer: I was afraid of what happens that one of the informants Godfrey had tried to assassinate an Mter describing the FBI excuses for the-I believe at that point in time I [that's FBI communication for in­ antiwar leader in San Diego. not releasing the files, the Nation was afraid of what the FBI would do formers] was interrogated under "Those informants who knew they concluded, " ... the rest of us can only to me if I didn't have somebody questionable circumstances while he were engaging in violence have no backing me up. be pleased that fearful informers are was intoxicated for several hours right to be protected," Boudin insisted. dropping out of circulation, thus ham­ and forced to testify concerning his "It may require an educational pering the bureau's repellent work as a activities as an SWP informant by * * * campaign," the attorney suggested. political police force. And a court members of the SWP and he said he The government has trouble com­ "The FBI may have to tell informants, decision to unveil all the Timothy was so scared he had to lie oo the municating its case, it appears, be­ 'If you are engaged in informing in Redfearns within the SWP would be a SWP and tell them all sorts of cause it has no case. -D.R. lawful organizations and you yourself giant victory for everyone who cares have engaged in burglaries and other about the Constitution."

THE MILITANT/NOVEMBER 19, 1976 9 In Our Opinion Letters

Stop the executions! It's their government working conditions for women." As the Militant went to press November 10, the Utah Although I am a member of the The commission empowered to Supreme Court had reconsidered its stay of execution granted Socialist Labor party, I wish to express regulate wages and working conditions earlier in the week to Gary Mark Gilmore (see article on page my total support for your fight against had announced a new set of rules in government spying and disruption of 1974 supposedly giving women 13). Gilmore is scheduled to face a firing squad at 8:00 a.m. the Socialist Workers party along with workers equal job rights with men. Monday, November 15. the Black movement and the left in However, the AFL-CIO filed a court Gilmore has spent most of his life behind bars and has twice general. case against the new rules because - been committed to state mental hospitals. He says he'd rather The continuing revelations of FBI they had taken away benefits for face the firing squad than serve out a life sentence. repression exposed by your suit women instead of raising wage and Georgia and Texas officials are also moving ahead with plans constitute an invaluable social studies work standards for all workers. The lesson on how this government runs regulations were then revamped in for their first executions in a decade. Their hands have been their present form. untied by recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions legalizing and who runs it. Undoubtedly many Americans now realize that the real In addition to gaining a place to rest, reinstitution of the death penalty throughout the country. subverters of the Constitution and its men workers now must be paid Appeals, legal moves, and requests for pardons have so far democratic guarantees are the various overtime after eight hours of work per postponed all scheduled executions. But state officials are ruling-class politicians sworn to day or forty hours per week and must pressing to clear away the obstacles to what can only be called uphold it. But then it is their be given lunch and rest periods. a bloodbath. More than 600 people are on America's death rows government-not ours, the working Of course, there are many loopholes built into the rules, and the standards today, the majority of them Black. majority. Finally, it is important to realize are inadequate. But certain gains have Of course, every possible legal channel must be tried. Yet that no matter how many promises the been won-primarily as a result of the opponents of the death penalty must not be lulled into a false FBI makes about ceasing all stubborn fight of women for equal security by temporary victories. The Utah Supreme Cpurt's harassment of social activists, all such rights. reversal of its stay of execution is a grim reminder. promises are as trustworthy as the This new situation in California, Time won in the courts must be used to mount a massive people making them. The state which has a state Equal Rights public outcry against each and every planned execution. remains the executive committee of Amendment, is another good argument for passage of the federal Equal Rights Right now the NAACP and American Civil Liberties Union those who own industry, and it will continue to do whatever it deems Amendment. are fighting the battle in the courts. They have also joined with necessary to preserve the status quo, Evelyn Sell other civil rights and civil liberties organizations, churches, including violating the rights of those Los Angeles, California social groups, and many others in coalitions to stop legalized seeking to change it. murder. As the great American Marxist and The Georgia Committee Against the Death Penalty is a good founder of the Socialist Labor party, example. Initiated by the ACLU after last July's Supreme Court Daniel DeLeon, pointed out, it matters decision, the committee has sponsored picket lines, debates, :riot what laws are on the books, it's a Steel pamphlet sells well matter of what class is in charge of rallies, and petition campaigns. When Georgia officials set the Recent issues of the Militant have enforcing them. So long as capitalism urged supporters to sell the pamphlet first execution date, the coalition immediately responded with a rules, we can be sure that the Bill of The Fight for Union Democracy In news conference, campaign of protest messages, and redoubling Rights and all democratic liberties will Steel at plant gates and meetings. In of its efforts to publicize a previously scheduled rally. be so much poetry without any reality. an initial experience, I found this isn't Supporters of Black rights have a special stake in the struggle James Frederic Brinning hard to do. against the death penalty. As Texas legislator Lou Nelle Sutton New York, New York With 125 people attending the recent put it, "When the first Texan dies in the electric chair-be he Los Angeles meeting for Ed Sadlowski, Black, Brown, or poor white-Jim Crow will have his hand on three of us sold twenty-one copies very easily. the switch." 'We Almost Lost Detroit' In addition, thirteen copies of the There is no time to lose. Every second is precious, because Readers of the Militant will be Militant were sold, plus two human lives hang in the balance. Five days from today Gary interested to know that We Almost introductory subscriptions. Mark Gilmore may become the first victim of this barbaric relic Lost Detroit is available in paperback The Socialist Workers platform, "A of the Dark Ages. A powerful action campaign is needed now to from Ballantine Books, 201 East Bill of Rights for Working People," demand: Fiftieth Street, New York, New York was also well received. Stop the executions! 10022. One young Chicano steelworker Abolish the death penalty! The book is a factual and quite mentioned he had seen Peter Camejo frankly frightening account of a on TV and said he intended to vote for near disaster at an atomic energy him. plant just thirty miles from the fifth Incidentally, in connection with the largest city in the United States. elections, there was an interesting CP & Soviet dissent It seems ludicrous that the ruling aspect to the meeting itself. Many A letter from Soviet political prisoners was made public last class spends so much on deadly union meetings in the period before the year. Addressed to the Communist parties of other countries, it sources of energy such as nuclear elctions were devoted to exhorting the said:· power while doing next to nothing members to get out the vote for Carter and other Democratic candidates. "We Soviet communist political prisoners are sure that now about developing solar and wind energy. I hope that the Militant will In the Fightback meeting, which that you Communists of Europe and the United States know the analyze this situation in a future issue. lasted more than three hours, I didn't true situation in the Soviet Union you will do everything in Carl E. Rennhack hear a single mention of Carter or your power to change it." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania other Democrats. Communist parties in France and Italy, which for many These steelworkers seem to be years were silent on Moscow's crimes, have recently made looking to themselves and their union public statements criticizing the suppression of dissenters in the for solutions to their problems, not to Democratic politicians. Soviet Union. ERA benefits all workers When women began to demand Chris Hildebrand Whatever the motives behind these statements, they have not equal job rights, we were told we would Los Angeles, California gone unnoticed in Moscow. Last winter, for example, publicity lose the special "privileges" created to given by the French CP to the case of Leonid Plyushch aided "protect" us. We argued that so-called the worldwide effort that led to his release from a Soviet protective legislation, in actuality, "mental hospital." prevented us from better-paid jobs and More recently, on October 21 thousands of people heatd a promotiops. We said that instead of Freedom of speech leader of the French CP speak on the same platform with women losing anything worthwhile, Recently, a woman worker who was men should gain from rules granting Plyushch at a Paris rally to defend political prisoners in Chile, running for union office was given a overtime pay, rest periods, etc. letter of reprimand for having leaflets Bolivia, Uruguay-and in the Soviet Union. A headline in the October 17 Los in her possession that advocated her The Soviet news agency TASS criticized the French CP for Angeles Times proved that our fight to candidacy. The company felt that any taking part in what it called "a-dirty project." erase double standards on the job kind of literature on company property Similarly, the American CP has slandered critics of Moscow's benefits all workers. "Men's Room to had to have their prior approval. In repressive policies, calling them "anti-Soviet" and "anti­ Have Couch, Too, Under State's New blunt terms, they felt that when a Work Rules," the article stated. "For worker sells his or her labor power, he socialist." the first time in California history, or she has also sold a soul. · In its own defense, the French CP has had to answer such male workers will receive a variety of Unfortunately for the company, they charges. "Freedom and socialism are inseparable," it wrote in privileges previously granted only to found that the rights supposedly its newspaper in response to TASS. women and minors, including a guarded by the Bill of Rights don't "Criticizing those aspects of Soviet reality that require it is requirement that a couch or chair for stop at the plant gates. Some co­ not anti-Sovietism." resting be provided in men's rooms, in workers of the woman didn't agree All defenders of democratic and human rights should an area separate from the toilet with the company. So they went to the facilities." local university law library and looked challenge the American CP to quit covering up for Moscow's The new regulations, according to at the Labor Law Reporter. crimes and join with its sister organizations in France and Italy the article, "grew out of efforts to The case that they found was the in repudiating the suppression of Soviet dissenters. provide better job opportunities and National Labor Relations Board v.

10 By Any Means Necessary Baxter Smith Magnavox Company of Tennessee, U.S. Supreme Court, October Term. When this worker was given her reprimand, the company was also About those promises ... given a letter informing them of the Er, gimme a Bromo. And coffee-black, please. It's Carter, a New York Times editorial. said, "would legal precedents and that their action time to take a sober look at what Black America can have almost certainly not been elected at all without was clearly illegal. The company was expect, post November 2. the overwhelming support of black voters in both surprised and unhappy. When other No cracks or cliches this week. I won't tell you I plan North and South." leaflets relating to union business were to rush out and pay ,down on a .new car to put in the Carter's deputy state coordinator in Texas, who is handed out at the plant gate on garage of the new home I plan to buy with the money Black, said the Black vote margin will force Carter to company property, they still tried to from the new job I'll get now that the Carter go beyond "paying homage to Black voters . . . Blacks threaten the person handing out the administration will be righteously taking care of Black are going to demand to sit in council with the leaflets. But they took no action folks. president, to advise him as to where Black people against him. Nope, this week and next you're getting the should be going." The courts have ruled that any unprettied, Plains truth. But the question is: Will he go beyond "paying material relating to union affairs may Jimmy Carter owes his victory to the Black vote on homage" to really do something about the problems of be handed out on company time and November 2. Analysts say he got 93 percent of Black property so long as such activity does Black Americans? not interfere with production. The votes. Carter has several promises to keep. One of his first material does not have to deal solely "In every state where he squeaked through, it was acts in office should be to free the Wilmington Ten, if with union matters, and it does not Blacks who made the difference," said C. Delores he intends to keep his word. During the campaign one have to have union approval. Tucker, Pennsylvania's Black secretary of state. of C~er's chief aides said, in reply to whether he The union's next grievance "The Black votes in Philadelphia alone gave him would act to free the ten, that Carter "will give the committee meeting took up the matter 178,000 votes. He carried the state by only 123,000 Wilmington Ten case the attention it deserves." That and decided to take the grievance. votes." has to mean freedom. Even if the union hadn't backed the In the weeks up to election day the Black community grievance, an immediate appeal to the was barraged by the largest ever "get out the vote" The aide added that Carter "will not tolerate· the NLRB would have been possible. campaign. kind of racist injustice that has so often put civil Presently, the grievance is at the pre­ There had been predictions that the Black vote rights leaders in prison." arbitration stage. How long we have would follow the pattern of recent years and be · TJ'lat must mean that Carter will free other victims these rights is an open question, and dismally low. Consequently, two national projects to of racist injustice such as the Charlotte Three, Gary won't definitively be decided until stimulate voter participation-Operation Big Vote and Tyler, Delbert Tibbs, Paul X Moody, Lewis 17X these petty despots called capitalists Wake Up Blaek America-were set into motion. The Dupree, Stanton Story, J.B. Johnson, Hurricane are replaced by workers who can then Black media carried constant appeals, and Black Carter, John Artis, and others. assure our rights. celebrities went on a city-by-city tour to turn out the It must mean that Carter will also set free the many Randy Erb vote-for Carter. unjustly accused Puerto Rican, Chicano, and Indian Houston, Texas Preliminary figures show that the effort paid off, leaders. somewhat. About 44 percent of voting-age Blacks went That's just for starters. At his Harlem campaign to the polls, compared with 34 percent of voting-age rally, Carter pledged to Black people his "commitment Blacks in the 1974 congressional elections. Neverthe­ to equal justice that [has] been so often lacking for A socialist America less,· the percentage of registered Blacks who voted eight years." Recently when I was interviewing November 2 declined by five points from the figure for Next week's column will discuss what that promise Young Socialist Alliance team the 1972 presidential election. has to mean. members for a Militant article, a point was made to me several times that I did not have space for in the article. "People are ta:king our proposals for socialism very seriously," the touring Women in Revolt campaigners said, "but these people want to know concretely what a socialist America will be like. We very much need literature on this." Cindy Jaquith Dick Roberts New York, New York Woes of a CP candidate It takes a strong stomach to be a candidate on the The women staffers didn't even mention the Apthek­ Communist party ticket. er campaign. Kind words for Camejo Consider the elections that just ended. If you were a / But the letters column that week had another letter Edgar Wallace, president of the CP candidate, your platform was to the right of Gerald that did mention Aptheker. It was written by the New Kentucky state conference of the NAACP, is a Carter supporter, but that Ford's on the question of the Equal Rights Amend­ York CP campaign manager, Jose Ristorucci. didn't prevent him from having a few ment. The CP opposed the ERA. Ristorucci was upset by Stokes's article, which kind words for the campaign of Peter Your party upheld the persecution of Soviet dissi­ he implied was an unjust description of Aptheker's Camejo. dents. It also backed the oppression of gay people. platform. "Dr. Aptheker has told me that not one In response to a question from a As a candidate, you weren't supposed to say much position attributed to him in the article was discussed campus newspaper reporter about the about women's right to abortion. In fact, you weren't by your reporter. He was never asked about homosexu~ campaigns of Gene McCarthy and supposed to say much about women period. ality, the ERA, women, or anything else that appeared Peter Camejo, he said that he had You were allowed to talk about the war budget, as in the article. stayed up the night before to watch long as you made it clear the CP only wants to cut it "In short, the material referring to Aptheker was Camejo on the "Tomorrow" show. by 80 percent. And you were allowed to criticize Carter, phony as well as malicious," Ristorucci complained. Wallace said the socialist candidate as long as you didn't criticize the "antimonopoly" Stokes replied: "Alert readers will notice· that this represented himself very well and that Democrats running for lesser seats. letter doesn't deny the accuracy of the repressive there weren't any of his ideas that he All this led some reporters to give the CP what it positions I attributed to Dr. Aptheker.... If Aptheker didn't agree with. However, he considered unflattering coverage. Take the article by wishes to dissociate himself from the official Stalinist continues to support Carter because he Geoffrey Stokes in the October 25 Village Voice, a New position on gays, women, and Soviet dissidents, he's feels that Carter can be elected and York weekly, on the race for U.S. Senate in New York picked a rather odd way to do it." thus has more of a chance to do some State. Stokes aptly characterized the CP. candidate, It's hard to tell what the CP found most "malicious" good for Black people. veteran Stalinist Herbert Aptheker, as "stuck with about the article. Was it the public airing of the The NAACP president went on to believing that homosexuality is bourgeois decadence, Stalinists' reactionary stand on the ERA, a position say, "I don't think the FBI has a right that the ERA is a capitalist ploy, and that the Russian that is unpopular with many of the CP's own to harass this party, they [the SWP] suppression of dissident writers and artists is keen." members? Was it Stokes's observation that genuine have a right to do their own thing like Stokes's conclusion: "One could vote for him only in socialism has nothing in common with Stalinism's any other political party." terminal desperation." Bronson Rozier antigay, antiwoman, antidemocratic policies?~Or was Lexington, Kentucky it the article's endorsement of Marcia Gallo? The Voice writer then added: "Such desperation is It certainly was not that the CP's rotten platform avoided by the presence of the Socialist· Workers was misrepresented by Stokes. Nowhere in his letter candidate, Marcia ·Gallo. . . . the SWP serves as a does Ristorucci even suggest that the CP has changed The letters column is an open salutary reminder that it is possible to be a socialist its line on any of these questions. Instead he asks that forum for all viewpoints on sub­ without being a Stalinist." Aptheker "be judged on his own merits, and not on the jects of general interest to our In the next issue of the paper, eleven of its women basis of factional spite." readers. Please keep your letters staff members concurred with Stokes's assessment In my opinion, Aptheker has been judged on his brief. Where necessary they will and signed a letter endorsing Gallo's campaign. "Our merits. If he wants to get all those "spiteful" women, be abridged. Please indicate if right to choo.se abortion is too recently acquired for us gays, and supporters of democratic rights off his back, your name may be used or if ~ou to be sure we will keep it," they wrote. "The Equal why doesn't he take some distance from the Phyllis prefer that ·your initials be used Rights Amendment has still to be ratified by enough Schlaflys, the Billy Grahams, and the Kremlin secret instead. states to become part of the Constitution." police agents?

THE MILITANT/NOVEMBER 19, 1976 11 Israel. €:1 South Afriea: partners in rae1sm•

By Peter Seidman . and collaborate with South African brass on Corporation. Since March, scenes of brutal attacks by Israeh counterinsurgency and other warfare techniques. Iskoor distributes steel in Israel. The new venture cops and troops on massive and peaceful Palestini­ For example, on April 3, 1976, the Johannesburg is now building a steel processing plant at Kirjat, an protests have occurred both inside Israel and in correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph near Gaza in Israeli-occupied Arab territory. its occupied Arab territories. These scenes have reported that Israeli officers had closely collaborat­ reminded many people of the racist attacks on ed with the South African army in planning its Zionism Blacks that were common during civil rights invasion of Angola. This-as in the case of Israers This partnership between South Africa and Israel demonstrations in the United States. raid on Uganda last July-shows how the Zionist presides over the barbaric exploitation of Black The Israeli brutality has convinced many suppor­ regime serves as a military club against the Africans and Palestinian Arabs. Both regimes are ters of the Zionist regime to take a second look at its freedom struggle in Africa. bulwarks of reactionary opposition to the struggles claims to be a haven for democracy in the Middle of oppressed majorities for national self­ East. Trade and investment determination. In April an official visit to Israel by South Stepped-up military collaboration has been Relations between the Zionists and the racist Africa's Prime Minister John Vorster highlighted paralleled by a growth of trade and investment white settlers of South Africa are not new. They go the racist nature of Zionism. between the two countries. back to the friendship and cooperation between This fall the United Nations Special Committee The table on this page shows the jump in trade Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann and South Africa's against Apartheid released a report on "Relations following the June 1967 and October 1973 wars. first prime minister, Gen. Jan Christian Smuts. between Israel and South Africa." The report was The balance of trade has recently been shifting in Smuts, a member of the Imperial War Council of issued to call attention to Vorster's visit. It South Africa's favor. This heightens the importance the British empire during World War I, was one of documents the stepped-up collaboration between the of the Israeli market to the apartheid regime. the chief architects of the Balfour Declaration, Zionist state and the hated apartheid regime. One Israeli import from South Africa is not which codified Britain's support for Zionist coloni­ included in the figures in the table-raw diamonds. zation in Palestine. During the 1960s Israel adopted a public stance of Israel buys these through the London-based Central It was only the backing of British and then U.S. opposition to apartheid. This was dictated by its Selling Organization of the De Beers Corporation of imperialism that allowed the white South African diplomatic efforts to achieve support from African South Africa. Israel, which is one of the world's and Zionist minorities to subjugate and maintain states. This led to a chilling of Israel's relations leading diamond processors, reportedly buys almost their domination over native peoples. with South Africa, which had recognized the newly half of its raw diamonds this way, an amount The resurgence of the Palestinian and African established Zionist state in 1948. exceeding $100 million annually. freedom struggles has now led to a growing During the June 1967 Mideast war, however, the In April 1975, South Africa was d~gnated a isolation of the Israeli and South African regimes. South African government suspended all its regula­ "preferred export target" by the Israeli Ministry of By attempting to suppress these struggles, Israel tions limiting the flow of funds to Israel. Trade and Industry. and South Africa stand as props of capitalist rule in Die Burger, organ of the ruling National party in The two countries have also stepped up mutual two key sectors of the world revolution. Because of Cape Province, stated its reasons for supporting investments. The former Israeli consul-general to their role, both regimes are favored recipients of this policy shift: "Israel and South Africa have a South Africa explained the motivation: "With South protection from Washington. common lot. Both are engaged in a struggle for Africa's abundance of raw materials, and Israel's Almost nothing exposes the reactionary character existence. . . . Both are reliable foci of strength know-how, we can really go places if we join of Zionism so clearly as its ties to South Africa. within the region, which would, without them, fall forces." Zionist organizations in South Africa have given into anti-Western anarchy. It is in South Africa's The Johannesburg Star of April17, 1976, reported full support to apartheid in order to win their interest that Israel is successful in containing her another reason. According to the Star, the Israeli government's support for Israel. enemies.... The anti-Western powers have driven trade consul pointed out that South Africa is rich in In a speech to the Eighth International Confer­ Israel and South Africa into a community of low-paid Black labor. Exploitation of these Black ence of the World Union for Progressive Judaism in interests which had better be utilized than denied." workers boosts profits on investments there-as July 1953, Rabbi Dr. M.C. Weiler said, "TheJewsas Nonetheless, Israeli diplomatic objectives in does the poorly paid Arab labor inside Israel. a community had decided to take no stand on the Africa still strained relations between the two Direct investment has taken place primarily native question.... The community could not ask regimes. through joint undertakings by private and public for the government's permission to export funds After its diplomatic ties with many African states corporations. and goods and at the same time object to the were broken during the October 1973 war, however, This has proved especially useful for South government." Israel shifted its stance toward the apartheid Africa. By establishing a manufacturing base In making themselves allies of the apartheid regime. inside Israel, joint investment ventures provide regime, South Africa's Zionists have dealt a severe Since then, Israel has abstained or been absent South Africa a way to evade the international blow to the real interests of Jews. for votes on every anti-apartheid resolution intro­ boycott against it. The apartheid regime also uses Rabid anti-Semitism was a key feature of South duced in the United Nations. Israel as a springboard to circumvent high tariffs Africa's National party until, for its own reasons, it This improvement in relations has greatly heart­ on its products by the European Economic Com­ recognized Israel and put on a smiling mask toward ened South Africa's racists. An editorial in the munity and the United States. South African Jews. Johannesburg Rand Daily Mail hailed Vorster's Koors Industries, a major industrial investment This move was not made out of any sudden recent Israeli visit. South Africa, the editorial said, company owned by the Histadrut-Israel's trade­ cl}.ange of heart, but out of a desire to bolster white "has, in fact, acquired . . . a public friend, an union organization-controls 51 percent of Iskoor, a solidarity and to head off any migration of Jewish avowed ally, at a time when this country confronts partnership with the South African Iron and Steel capital and skills from South Africa. an increasingly hostile world and an increasingly Zionism, in its claim to speak for South Africa's aggressive Black Africa." . 118,000 Jews, puts them on the wrong side of the Israel's trade with South Africa struggle for Black majority rule. Clearly there can Military collaboration (in millions of U.S. dollars) be no salvation for Jews in going down with the Israel has played an important role in equipping sinking ship of South African racism. South Africa with military technology and counter­ Exports to Imports from Can anyone believe the Zionists' claim that insurgency skills. The Israeli-designed Uzi machine South Africa South Africa Israel-where the stormy waves of the Arab gun is now standard equipment in the South 1965 2.7 4.3 freedom struggle have not yet risen as high as in African army. The UN report cites news accounts 1966 2.3 4.5 southern Africa-will be any more secure a vessel in that Israel might supply its Gabriel sea-borne 1967 4.0 3.4 the long run? 1968 missile to South Africa. 5.7 5.2 The policies of South African and Israeli Zionists 1969 8.2 According to press reports, one of the items 5.8 separate the Jewish people from their real allies. 1970 10.7 10.2 discussed during the Vorster visit was a possible Their real allies are not racist minority regimes 1971 9.4 8.1 exchange of South African uranium for sales of the armed to the teeth against those they oppress. The new and highly advanced Israeli jet fighter, the 1972 8.8 11.6 1973 12.0 34.3 real allies of the Jews are the masses fighting Kfir. In August 1976, Israeli radio announced that against these regimes and against U.S. imperial­ 1974 28.7 43.1" Israel was building two long-range gunboats armed ism, which backs them up. with missiles for the South African navy. SOURCE: "Relations Between Israel and South Africa," UN It is these capitalist governments that, as the In addition, the UN report notes the disclosure by Special Committee against Apartheid, page 17. Based on Israeli crisis of their system deepens, have resorted time Gen. Meir Ainit, former head of Israel's intelligence government statistics. and again to anti-Semitism as part of their drive to services, that Israeli military leaders regularly visit smash the struggles of all the oppressed.

12 Three states move closer to executions By Jose G. Perez ninety-day stays in all cases so Texas ACLU, Smith is a twenty­ protest the death penalty. Most of Three states took steps this month officials can consider commutations. eight-year-old Black Vietnam veter­ the participants were Blacks. They to carry out the first executions. in Opposition to capital punishment an. When he left the service, he got a came from a broad array of com­ this country since 1967, as oppo­ there is -being organized by the job with Texas Instruments in Dal­ munity forces, including representa­ nents of the death penalty continued Georgia Committee Against the las, but then was arrested on mari­ tives of the Catholic Diocese of Death Penalty, which held a rally of juana charges. Dallas, the Greater Dallas Council of more than 300 people in Atlanta Churches, the Elks, the Knights of A rally to "End the Death A judge sentenced Smith to proba­ October 23. tion, but Texas Instruments fired Pythias, and the ACLU. Smith's Penalty-Free Gary Tyler" has Mayor Maynard Jackson declared him. No one else would hire him. So sister, ex-wife, and two sons-ages been scheduled for Wednesday, October 23 abolish the death penalty Smith took part in a robbery. eight and eleven-were also present. November 17, at 8:00p.m. at New day and urged "all Atlantans to join Smith's accomplice shot the store­ The meeting, initiated by People York University, Main Building, in a public campaign to abolish the keeper. United for Justice to Prisoners, 100 Washington Square Park death penalty." In Texas, taking part in a robbery unanimously agreed to form the East, Room 703. In Utah, the state supreme court where someone is killed can get you Dallas Coalition Against the Death Speakers include Juanita Tyler, has stayed the execution of Gary electrocuted, especially if you aren't Penalty. It scheduled a demonstra­ Gary Tyler's mother; Michael Mark Gilmore, who was to face a white. tion for November 21. Meyers, assistant national execu­ firing squad November 15. State The Dallas Black community was There have also been steps toward tive director of the NAACP; Clyde affiliates of both the American Civil outraged by the setting of the forming coalitions in other parts of Liberties Union and the NAACP November 22 execution date, espe­ Texas. Henry Schwartzchild, direc­ Bel/ecourt of the American Indian spoke out against the execution. cially since Smith's lawyers have tor of the ACLU's national cam­ Movement; and Maceo Dixon of In Texas last month, a judge set a until December 11 to appeal his case paign against the death penalty, the National Student Coalition January 19 date for the execution of to the U.S. Supreme Court. The spoke to two protest meetings in Against Racism. Jerry Lane Jurek. Dallas judge was so trigger-happy Austin and San Antonio at the end The following morning, a Dallas he didn't want to wait. But Supreme of October. to organize to stop such legalized judge set November 22 as the execu­ Court Justice Lewis Powell stayed State ACLU officials say a Texas murders. tion date for Ernest Benjamin the execution. Coalition Against the Death Penalty In Georgia, judges have set four Smith. Smith's case drives home the Fifty people attended a November is being formed. They expect initial execution dates. But Gov. George real meaning of the death penalty. 5 meeting at the Martin Luther King efforts to focus on the case of Jerry Busbee has announced he will grant According to John Duncan of the Community Center in Dallas to· Lane Jurek. What's at stake in United Parcel strike By Ed Heisler UPS workers who reach retirement age Eighteen thousand Teamster union will ever see that money is questiona­ members, on strike against United ble. The graft-ridden Teamsters pen­ Parcel Service since September 15, sion funds are well known for risky have shown they can shut down the investments, loans to criminal figures, company's East Coast operations and and other shady dealings. cripple UPS nationally. The strike is having a major nation­ But their chances of winning their al impact. Thousands of plants, mail­ demands are being undercut by the order firms, and other businesses that treachery of federal mediators and top rely on UPS to get their goods out to Teamster officials. retailers are being hurt badly. The strike involves seventy-four In an act of desperation bordering on Teamster locals in fifteen Eastern suicide, frantic shippers are turning to states from Maine to South Carolina. the U.S. Postal Service for deliveries. These locals represent all UPS drivers Shippers complain, however, that and inside workers who sort and goods are lost, delayed, or destroyed by handle the packages at company the post office, which uses a new warehouses and terminals. computerized package sorting machine UPS is offering union members a 33 nicknamed by postal workers "the percent pay increase spread out over masher." Since the post office doesn't three years plus a limited cost-of-living have enough workers to handle the clause. load, packages are piling up-waiting In return for this badly needed wage to be mashed, bashed, and smashed. increase, the company demands major Despite the militancy displayed by concessions on union work rules, the union ranks, the Teamster bureau­ cracy is liable to make major conces­ including reduction or elimination of UPS strikers picket in Ale~andria, Virginia higher pay for night work and gradual sions to UPS. James Scearce, director replacement of fuli-time inside workers of the Federal Mediation and Concilia­ with part-timers. The main concern of the Teamster union's depleted pension funds for tion Service, tipped off the membership The main issue in this strike is the union officialdom, however, is not the every part-timer hired. on what to expect when he said: "Both preservation of full-time union jobs. As jobs or working conditions of the union Since most part-timers are college sides have demonstrated a willingness full-time workers are fired, resign, die, members. They have already signed students who work only two to four ... to be flexible in their approaches." O!" retire, the company wants to replace contracts in other areas of the country years, they'll never collect a cent of the In the language of federal mediators, them with part-time workers to handle agreeing to the replacement of full­ employer's contributions into "their" "flexible" means the union gives in. sorting and loading during peak peri­ timers. pension fund. And Teamster President Frank Fitz­ ods. The part-timers are paid two Strikers believe the union brass is Big money is involved here-not for simmons has demonstrated many dollars an hour less and receive fewer far more interested in forcing UPS to the part-time workers, but for the times that in that sense he's a very fringe benefits. make monthly payments into the union officialdom. Whether even those "flexible" guy. Protest frame-up of electrical union organizers By Sally Rees defend themselves against these phony zine and Sidney Peck, a professor and after the Worthington strike had al­ SPRINGFIELD, Mass.-Chanting charges have won support from all political activist from Clark Universi- ready been won! "No frame-up, no jail, the ATF's the regional and local units of the UE, ty. • There were no violent incidents or one to nail," more than 300 people along with the Pioneer Valley Central This widespread support shows a explosions during the strike, and marched here October 30 to the local Labor Council, the Springfield Central growing awareness in the labor move­ charges were not filed until eight offices of the Federal Alcohol, Tobacco, Labor Union, and the Holyoke Central ment of the need to join with Black, months later. and Firearms Bureau (A TF). They Labor Council. Altogether these unions antiwar, and socialist activists in the ATF agents held Markley for twelve were protesting government attempts represent some 52,000 workers. struggle against government secret- hours after his arrest. During that time to victimize two local labor organizers, U.S. Rep. Silvio Conte (R-Mass.) has . police operations. they interrogated him about the affairs Alex Markley and Antonio Suares. called for the dropping of charges and of his and other union locals. They Markley has been an organizer for the opening of a congressional investi­ Markley was arrested July 8. He was pressured him to become a paid in­ the United Electrical, Radio and Ma­ gation into undercover ATF activities. accused of giving a cardboard toilet­ former. If he did so, they offered to chine Workers of America (UE) in paper tube with black powder and a intercede for him during his trial. western Massachusetts for seven A defense committee meeting held firecracker wick to an ATF provoca­ As Markley explained in the October years. Suares is a member of the October 28 at the University of Massa­ teur named O'Riley. O'Riley had per­ 13 Valley Advocate, he was given "the International Brotherhood of Electri­ chusetts at Amherst was addressed by sistently approached Markley during a choice of selling out my friends for the cal Workers. speakers from the Washington Post three-month strike last year carried out rest of my life or taking the chance The two unionists were indicted for press operators union-fifteen of by UE Local259 against the Worthing­ that the public will get mad when they "conspiracy to damage and destroy by whose members are also under indict­ ton Compressor Company. He had learn about it and say 'enough' to this means of an explosive, vehicles us~ in ment for strike activity. Also speaking offered to help stop scab trucks. police state stuff." interstate commerce." at the campus meeting were Margaret Suares is accused of giving O'Riley Markley and Suares's trial date is Markley and Suares's efforts to Van Hoover from Counterspy maga- three more such tubes-two weeks expected to be set in early February.

THE MILITANT/NOVEMBER 19, 1976 13 Denver Crusade for Justice broadens its threats a ainst movement activists By Olga Rodriguez many Chicanos. Last spring Baca, Baca was later elected chairperson of · The latest issue of El Gallo, publica­ along with more than forty other the Metro MECHA chapter on a slate tion of the Denver Crusade for Justice, Chicano students from three Denver not supported by the Crusade. This is contains threats of violence against campuses, signed a petition that stat­ the source of the vendetta against movement activists who signed an ed: Baca. appeal calling on Crusade leader, "We understand that Cinco de Mayo In September Baca was physically Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales to renounce activities were to be a mutual tri­ threatened by Ernesto Vigil, a Crusade violence as a way to settle differences campus endeavor of concerned Chica­ leader. Two hours later, at a regular within the movement. no students wanting to create an MEChA meeting and without previous The "Declaration Against Violence effective and useful presentation of an notice, the Crusade launched an at­ in the Movement" was circulated event of historical significance to the tempt to impeach Baca as chairperson. following an unprovoked assault on Chicano people. Therefore all monies The attempt failed and the atmosphere SWP leaders Fred Halstead and Steve utilized to carry out the activities for was tense. Chainey in the Crusade's headquarters this event were to have the approval of Because of the physical threats in early October (see the Militant, all concerned and not any one particu­ against Baca, SWP leaders Fred Hal­ October 15, 1976). It has been signed lar group. stead and Steve Chainey, at the by more than forty prominent move­ "The decision to grant $1,000 to one requests of the YSA, went to the ment activists, including many in the speaker by MECHA, Metro State Crusade's headquarters October 1 to Denver Chicano community. College with 13 voting yes and 6 try to speak to Gonzales and ease In addition to the threats in El Gallo, voting no, did not represent our mutual tensions. There they were physically there have been acts of vandalism and agreement of cooperation with all assaulted. further threats against the Socialist campuses taking part in the decision­ Workers party and Young Socialist making process. The fate of this issue Refusal to condemn violence Alliance in Denver. should have been voted on with all The Crusade leadership uses the Bookshelves· were overturned and three campuses participating, which September issue of El Gallo to reaffirm Militant bookstore vandalized pamphlets scattered in October 23 did not take place. . . . its refusal to do the one and only thing On October 23, book displays were attack on Denver SWP headquarters. "The issue was not even a topic of the signers of the "Declaration upset and the glass door kicked in at discussion on MECHA' s agenda and Against Violence in the Movement" the Militant Bookstore and SWP head­ was brought out and voted on before call on them to do: to state clearly ani quarters in Denver. On October 26, the tion Against Violence in the Move­ the official meeting began. We the unequivocally that the Crusade and its tires on the car of YSA organizer Bruce ment." undersigned feel this maneuver is not leaders are "in favor of the simple Farnsworth were slashed while his car Five out of twelve pages in El Gallo in keeping with the principles of democratic right to express a point of was parked near the building where are devoted to articles and "letters" of consideration and respect between view without fear of physical reprisal the Metropolitan State College YSA this type. Included in the paper is a peers,_and is an obstacle to the spirit of from anyone, including those who may office is located. large cartoon on page 2 labeling the cooperation." disagree within the movement." There were no witnesses to this YSA, the Mafia, CIA, and FBI as Nowhere did the petition object to On the contrary, the entire issue of incident. However, witnesses to the "Birds of a Feather." Gonzales as a speaker, but simply to the paper is an attempt by the Crusade vandalism at the SWP' s offices said A "letter" on the same page accuses the procedure by which a very large leadership to justify the slanders and the man who kicked in the door the YSA of being "pig apparatus speakers fee was decided upon. Continued on page 26 shouted that SWP and YSA members organizations," and talks about "the would be attacked again if they contin­ opportunity" the "Chicano movement" ued to associate with Elfego Baca. The now has to "rid ourselves of these pests man has not been identified. and parasites." (The cartoon and letter Crusade threats are reprinted elsewhere on this page of A member of the YSA, Baca has message to the workers there. We as been threatened by Crusade members. the Militant.) The same kind of verbal violence is Chicanos do not need their help but they The issue of El Gallo (dated Sep­ need ours. They can accomplish nothing tember, but printed in late October) is directed at signers of the "Declaration on their own. - filled with outrageous and irresponsi­ Against Violence in the Movement," a Now that they have staged this confron­ ble slanders against Baca, the SWP, number of whom are nationally known tation with the Chicano movement it will the YSA, and signers of the "Declara- leaders of the Chicano, Black, Puerto give the Chicano movement the opportuni­ Rican, and peace movements. They are ty to rid ourselves of these pests and labeled "poverty parasites," "agents of parasites. Historically their involvement in the system," supporters of informers, the Chicano Labor movement has always and "people who will go jack up led to disruption and temporary stagna­ Declaration .another Chicano over a dime bag of tion . weed." To those people who gave their names in support of the petition I address the against following questions and remarks. Some of Threat to signers you are individuals who are actually The "letter" concludes by addressing poverty parasites. You have never done violence in the following threat to signers of the anything more than dispense tranquilizers declaration: and aid the system by confusing issues movement "Maybe we have been too occupied and diverting constructive progress. Sure Disturbing reports of the use of physi­ in facing the fascists and have neglect­ [This cartoon and letter appeared to­ you are agents of the system why don't cal violence by members of the Crusade ed those within our own circles who gether on page 2 of the September issue you petition the pigs to quit inflicting for Justice have come to our attention. are as dangerous as the criminals of El Gallo, newspaper of the Crusade for violence on your Chicano brothers and This underlines the urgent need for against who we are struggling. Justice.] sisters? Why don't you petition your decisive action to deescalate tensions In · "Violence? As revolutionists we are government to stop inflicting violence on the movement and to ensure that physi­ oppressed people throughout the world? cal Intimidation does not Interfere with working toward the day when violence To those brothers who gave their names the free exchange of political views. will be a negligent part of human I recently read a petition addressed to to the petition I ask why do you support Recent public revelations about the activity but until that day we will Corky Gonzales and the Crusade For informers and divisionists? And why all of FBI have shown that fomenting violent continue to be ready to confront the Justice. The petition requested that the a sudden are you so anti-violence. You are conflicts within the movement is one of enemies of the people and the enemies Crusade be nice and non-vio.lent. I would the same people who will go jack up the government's favorite disruptive of the progressive movement of our like to make a few comments about that another Chicano over a dime bag of weed. tactics. This is all the more reason for us people. petition, the Young Socialist Alliance, the When it comes to confrontation based on to work to bring such incidents to an "If you can't do anything for the Socialist Workers party and those who principle you suddenly become ignorant end. movement," the . writer concludes, support the petition. and confused. When it comes to confron­ We hope you will take a stand In favor "don't do anything against it because Are the Y.S.A. pig apparatus organiza­ tation based on character you suddenly of the simple democratic right to express tions? They claim to have been around for become self-righteous and become a a point of view without fear of physical ..." The closing dots are in the _many years and yet they seem to have judge. When it comes to confrontation reprisal from anyone, including those original. never ~ncountered the legal hassles Chi-. based on political and philosophical who may disagree within the movement. In an obvious attempt to provide cano movement people have encountered. position you run to the man, to alien self Taking such a stand certainly does not themselves some cover, the editors of Why are both organizations so infiltrated proclaimed leaders and protectors of the mean repudiating the right of self­ El Gallo print this threat under the with provacateurs and informers? When Chicano people. defense against violent attacks. It means heading "Letters/Cartas." There is no have they ever been in the front lines of making clear that differences among signature on the "letter," which is confrontation or police attacks? Theirs is a In reality maybe the Chicano movement those fighting for social Justice cannot be prominently laid out to occupy almost history of spreading confusion, division has been too lenient with divisionists resolved by fists or other weapons. Any a full page. and attempts to gain influences and disrupters y habladores. Maybe we have attempt to do so simply provides open­ leadership of tl)e Chicano movement in been too occupied in facing the fascists Ings for pollee and other enemies of the Baca slandered the Southwest. If they as they claim, have and have neglected those within our own movement to tear us apart. Another article in the paper contains been so active for so many years where is circles who are as dangerous as the Further, It certainly does not help us a series of slanders directed at Elfego the progress and produqt of their work? criminals against who we are struggling. oppose the government's use of violence Baca, against whom the Crusade has a Their condescending and patronizing Violence? As revolutionaries we are against us if some of us use It against attitude towards Chicanos indicates their working toward the day when violence will people who may not agree with our point particular vendetta. An example of lack of appreciation for the fact that be a negligent part of human activity but of view. the accuracy of these tales is the Chicanos are fully capable of understand­ until that day we will continue to be ready - The forces opposing progressive social following claim that last spring Baca ing economic and social sciences and fully to confront the enemies of the people and change In the United States are very "tried unsuccessfully to have a petition capable of developing and directing our the enemies of the progressive movement powerful. The unity necessary to over­ signed to prevent Rodolfo Corky Gon­ own revolutionary struggle. If the Y.S.A. of our. people. come these forces can only be achieved zales from speaking at La Alma Park, and S.W.P. want to help in the world-wide If you can't do anything for the move­ If we respect each other's democrl!ftlc Cinco de Mayo." struggle for liberation let them go to Gates ment, don't do anything against it because rlghts. Cinco de Mayo (May 5) is a tradition­ Rubber Co. or Coors and spread the al Mexican holiday also celebrated by

14 Issues aP-P-eal for condemned cou~ Irish socialist begins tour of United States By Claire Moriarty The Murrays are a young couple In April 1969 Bernadette Devlin was convicted of killing an off-duty police- elected to the British Parliament. She man during a bank robbery. They were was Irish. She was a woman. And she tried, without a jury, before Ireland's was only twenty-one. Special Criminal Court, which was set She scribbled the notes for her up to handle political cases. maiden speech in parliament on the "I think the reason the government back of a telegram, then threw it away has its mind set on executing the to deliver a blast at the British Murrays is to establish a precedent so occupation of Ireland. Bernadette Dev- the death penalty can be introduced for lin became famous. political offenses," she told reporters. So it was no surprise when she The press conference opened Dev- arrived in New York this week to find lin's two-week tour of major U.S. cities. a crowd of reporters from the major She will speak on the struggle in dailies waiting for her at the Overseas Ireland and circulate petitions de- Press Club. They wanted to hear what manding that the Irish government she would say next. stop the execution of the Murrays. (See "We're in a position," she began, ad for details.) "where within twenty days Noel and In answer to a reporter's question Asked about the widely publicized since the civil rights movement has Marie Murray are going to be hanged about the current situation in Ireland "peace movement" there, Devlin ex­ been-through experience with the by the Irish Republican government. Devlin replied, "The first prerequisite plained, "I think that many of the struggle in Ireland-to move further And one of the purposes of my visit to for achieving peace in Ireland is the people who follow the peace women and further left until I now accept-not America is to attract support for them withdrawal of Britain from Irish have done so out of a genuine and from emotionalism, but from personal from the large element of American affairs-in practical terms, the imme- sincere desire to see an end to the experience-that I am a revolutionary society which is opposed to the death diate withdrawal of British troops sectarian assassination, an end to the socialist." penalty." from Ireland." complete upheaval of their social and I asked her how she became a family lives. But they are being led socialist. She thought a minute and along a garden path toward ultimately then answered, "Most people, like accepting whatever Britain has to myself, are on the bottom, and-in the offer-peacefully." struggle to break even-begin to under­ In an interview before the press stand the forces that control our conference, I asked her about the society. Their experience makes them women's movement. "Many people in look for answers. And for me the only [the U.S.] see the peace movement as a logical answer was socialism. I think women's movement and therefore most people come to socialism that progressive," she said. "But I think the way." peace movement is the greatest indict­ ment of the failure to politicize women in Ireland." "Given the nature of Irish society, MUST THEY HAnG? there is a need to deal specifically with questions which affect women. I be­ lieve the question of women's liberation-of equal rights for women-is part of the socialist strug­ gle for equality." IRE Later we discussed the fight for civil rights by Catholics in Ireland and by iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii ~ Blacks in the United States. Devlin Monday, Nov. 15, Berkeley and San Francisco. (415) 653-7156 or 285- MARIE AND NOEL MURRAY, SENTENCED TO DIE thought that "the more the struggle BY HANGING. ON THE 9th JULY, IN THE. 4686 SPECIAL CRIMINAL COURT, BY JUDGES PRINGLE, sharpens, the more clearly we see it's MARTIN AND CARROLL Tuesday & Wednesday, Nov. 16-17, Minneapolis and St. Paul, (612) not only a question of civil rights-of 332-7781 or 222-8929 equality within the system for Cathol­ THEY WERE SENTENCED TO DEATH WITHOUT A Thursday, Nov. 18, Chicago. (312) 939-0737 or 427-0280 JURY - THE ONLY EVIDENCE WAS STATEMENTS, ics or Blacks. It's a question of the EXTRACTED UNDER TORTURE BY THE POLICE.. Friday, Nov. 19, Boston. (617) 262-4621 system itself. Saturday, Nov. 20, New York City. (212) 982-8214 or 741-0690 THE ACCUSED WERE NEITHER PRESENT NOR "We see it internationally as one LEGALLY REPRESENTED DURING 1WO THIRDS National tour sponsor: struggle. It's the system itself which OF THEIR 'TRIAL'. VIEWPOINT SPEAKERS BUREAU necessitates the grouping of people POLICE PERJURY HAS CONDEMNED THEM TO DEATH A division .of Pathfinder Press, Inc. according to religion or the color of 410 West St., New York, NY 10014 their skin. Leaflet circulated by Murray Defence "My own personal development Committee. FBI connections? Suspect freed in 1975 L.A. bombing of SWP By Harry Ring be a full-scale investigation of possible She said the police had considered this as a fact. LOS ANGELES-Eleven felony links between Masche and the FBI. He the Tommasi outfit suspect in the The information on which the war- charges were dropped November 1 cited a number of recent revelations bombing from the outset. rant was based apparently was not against Serge Masche, a suspect in the establishing complicity of the FBI and In seeking the actual suspect, she obtained recently. The judge, in find- February 4, 1975, bombing of the. other governmental agencies with said, police used a composite drawing ing insufficient grounds for issuing the Socialist Workers party headquarters right-wing terrorist attacks on the developed on the basis of a description warrant, said the information was "too here. Police had found an arsenal in SWP and others. of the bomber provided by Lew Jones, stale." Masche's apartment September 9 when At the time of the bombing of the then SWP Los Angeles organizer. Asked how the police would dispose they had gone there with a warrant. SWP hall, the Nazi Liberation Front Jones had stepped onto the stairway of of the arsenal seized in Masche's Municipal Judge Elwood Lui dis- took credit for the attack. the party offices just as the bomb was apartment, Blanke said that not all of missed the charges "in the interest of The late Joseph Tommasi, leader of hurled. it was illegal. justice." He asserted that there was the group openly boasted of the "sue- Asked why it took more than a year Those items that are illegal, such as "insufficient probable cause" for issu- cess" of the attack in an interview with and a half to apprehend the suspect, the machine guns, would be destroyed, ing the warrant under which Masche the Los Angeles Free Press in March Blanke said that initially police had she said. was arrested. 1975. Tommasi was later gunned down sought out known members of the Nazi The rest of the arsenal would be The Los Angeles County district by a member of a rival Nazi faction. group. They then recalled that in his checked to see if it was illegally attorney's office said they do not In an effort to determine more fully interview with the Free Press Tommasi obained or if it had been used in the intend to refile charges. why the charges were dismissed, I had asserted that the fascist gang had commission of any crime. In Masche's home, police had found spoke with the district attorney's of- members and sympathizers who were If not, it will be returned. six machine guns, a grenade launcher, fice. not known. Police then began search- In his interview with the Free Press an infrared sniper scope, and a tear- After apparently consulting with ing for people in that category, she Tommasi had asserted, "We know the gas gun, plus thousands of rounds of someone directly involved in the prose- said. cops aren't interested if we bomb the ammunition. cution, a representative, Carol Blanke, She did not say when or how it left." They also found a Nazi flag. offered the following information. became known that Masche was a It might not have been unwarranted Dismissal of the charges against Masche was arrested because he was supporter of the Nazis. if he had added, "And neither are the Masche points up the validity of the a sympathizer of the Nazi group. Apparently reading from the text of courts." demand made by the SWP at the time Blanke said Masche had shown up at the order for the search warrant, she Especially if it looked like the sus- of his arrest. ' • city hall demonstrations in Nazi uni- said it appeared to indicate that an pect might start talking about possible SWP senatorial candidate Omari form and was known to have tried to informer had led police to the suspect. ties with the FBI or other police Musa had then demanded that there recruit people to the Nazi group. But, she then added, she did not know agencies.

THE MILITANT/NOVEMBER 19, 1976 15 By Cindy Jaquith he wrote: "She talked about birth control, and the In the spring of 1972, while women were march­ right to control her own body. ing in the streets for the right to abortion, a secret Bow FBI "Judging from the looks of her body, no one else document was circulating behind their backs to would want to control it." sabotage their struggle. The FBI's attacks were part of the general anti­ Its title: "Exploitation of Women's Movement by red-baited abortion offensive being waged at the time by the Socialist Workers Party." Catholic church hierarchy and the government. Its author: the FBI. Richard Nixon took a personal lead in this fight, Four years later, this scurrilous document has women's preaching about the "sanctity of life" for fetuses come to light through the lawsuit against govern­ while he poured bombs on Vietnam. ment spying filed by the Socialist Workers party The FBI's "Exploitation" document was appar­ and Young Socialist Alliance. movement· rently handed out to government officials, journal­ "Exploitation of Women's Movement by Socialist ists, potential contributors to the women's move­ Workers Party" is the most extensive single FBI ment, and sponsors of feminist events. The target of document yet released on the women's struggle. A EXPLOITATION of this slander sheet was of course far broader than few other, highly censored files on FBI surveillance WOMEN'S MOVEMENT the SWP and YSA. Its purpose was to discredit all of women's groups have also come out, alerting the fighters for legal abortion on the one hand, and on movement as a whole to the fact that feminists by SOCIALIST WORK_EH$ PARTY the other, to sow distrust within the movement have been a target of government attack. and thus prevent women from uniting in a common One of the groups spied on was the National struggle. Organization for Women (NOW), which is currently seeking access to its files through the Freedom of Lessons from civil rights movement Information Act. Secret files on the FBI's "Cointelpro" operations This new document on the SWP and women's reveal that red-baiting and other ways of dividing liberation confirms that the U.S. government has movements are standard FBI techniques. waged a persistent war against the struggle for In the civil rights movement, for example, J. equal rights. Edgar Hoover gave personal orders to "expose, It also confirms that a central weapon in the disrupt, misdirect, or otherwise neutralize the FBI's arsenal against feminism has been red­ activities of black nationalist, hate-type organiza­ baiting. tions and groupings ...." The purpose of red-baiting is to cast suspicion on How was this to be done? "Where possible an the motives of socialists, or anyone labeled a effort should be made to capitalize upon existing socialist. Socialists are alleged to use "manipula­ conflicts between competing black nationalist H.lltRAl BUR(AU OF INVfSTIGATIOiill tive" tactics to gain control of organizations, which ~.~ ... IJNIIH~ STAlES OEFARTMfNT OF JUSTICE organizations," the FBI chief ordered. they then supposedly use to further their own, "Prevent the coalition of militant black national­ ulterior motives. ist groups. In unity there is strength.... " Over the years, the government has branded FBI documents on the SWP, disclosed through the trade unions, Black organizations, antiwar commit­ socialists' lawsuit, show that the government tees, and other organizations as "socialist­ I!ITRODUCTIOli routinely tried to create conflicts between the SWP dominated" in order to drive away potential sup­ With \11 flr:dbllity of apt-r:atlons hr e•eeedtna and other political groups. In 1962, for example, it that of thco CO•aunht Party, USA, the Soc:l:alht Workers rarty (SWr) an6 ita routh &rour, the Youna S01d1llst Alliance porters. lYSA), IF;tYc salnl"ll ar~:at hpetus in the rast drc:ule by oraaniz­ sent a phony letter to NAACP head Roy Wilkins, in.: oiOJ:J:Cdly aro1•:•J issues with •ass appcoal. The antiwar The same charge is used in this new FBI 110\"l:•cont, 'tuJent protrst, black llbcrnion, Chicano struJalo-­ charging that the SWP was misusing funds in the all hove !lorvetl u bulldin& bla~ks •ith whl~h the SI(P/YSA, wlth •'o~k hu•anharianh.a, haYe tried to ercu a political founda­ document. Its introduction states that the report is tion for their "1oclallst" reYolutlon. To the other hsul'l Committee to Aid the Monroe· Defendants, a used 110 e:.;pe-diently hy the-se two aroups, we nov 11dd waae-n•s "a penetrating look at the strategy and tactics llhcrrotlan. · · prominent civil rights case. The letter falsely Altha111h tho quostlon of "·oaen•s rl&hts a:roae with thC' Q11aLcrr• In Colonial AaC"orlco., ole11:snds on bt'llalf of the being utilized by the SWP /YSA to influence and re-ainillt aa,·eat'llt dtd nat bealn In eornnt until the flrat charged that the committee was "set up, dominated, hdf of 'the- '19th ~enturr. Throus:h the rears, the aoyeaent _, vlth considerable success, .openln~ tho doo" to hiJher and controlled by the Socialist Workers Party." control the Movement." education, •~hleviiiJ wider eaployael\t opportunities, ancl obtainlna s11ffraae-. The aOYt'aen.J: subsisted, rtsin& and fall­ loa In aoaenf11a with historical ~lrc:uasun~e,, What follows is a "history" of the SWP's - . . During the abortion struggle, unfortunately, red­ The ~·outh-orlentcd, antlestablish•ent trend that, participation in the feminist movement arid, in aaon1 Other acc:t, ·s,•awned the chronic protcstoTs and "ltTeot baiting was employed not only by the anti-abortion ptopllll'"' of thC' 1960.5,. did •uch to jeopardl:a estabUshed MOTals and dlatntsh lona-prc-\·alUn& ~on~epts of feaininity. particular, the leading role socialists played in the It =also actiYattll a aore· aiUtant era of the feainiat ..Ye­ forces trying to destroy the movement from the lll'nt, .5tl•ulated bJ' woaen froa nuaerous radical and ll:aw Left Women's National Abortion Action Coaliton (WO­ ,roups. .. · outside, but also by some activists within the Slno::c early 1959. the JTove10ent, no,; c:alh•d t."OBen•s Liberation ~lo\·r~cnt, ~cnterina its attention on issues pur­ movement. Sharp debates occurred in the move- NAAC). The FBI asserts that the SWP and YSA portedly offt>rJn~: peraonal and econo•it frt'elic " ... their propaganda machinery, although ao"rct>so shows the perspectiYe in "hich llio•en•s Liberation These were vital political questions that could 1• held hJ' tht'lt' co••unht 1roups and the- ltratt'IIY and tactica · that haYe ht>fOJistfd the-ir trua palltlc:al •otivat1on, with a coated with the oil of social betterment, is geared· aeaaurc of success. only be resolved through open, democratic discus­ toward enlisting as many thousands of Americans sion by all those active in the movement. There as possible into a revolutionary force to achieve the were women who disagreed with the SWP's perspec­ SWP's political objectives," the document claims. tive of building a mass, independent campaign in "The antiwar movement, student protest, black the streets, focused against the government. Unfor­ liberation, Chicano struggle-all have served as .W!JIMC CONVENTION tunately, rather than discuss the differences openly, On the eveDliiJ of Fabruary 11, 1112. a rally at some of these women resorted to red-baiting charges building blocks with which the SWP/YSA, with lostoa Unlve:rslty, loaton, Na.5aachusetu, offic:ially opened tho 1972 ICOICAAC Convention held to plan 1 strateJy to wia mock humanitarianism, have tried to erect a repeal for all laws that restrict abortioa. The the- of against the socialists. SWP members were accused the rally, attended by about 500 ladlvl•uals, wss "How To ll'h Abortion L.., Appeal." A W.OHAAC: notlo•al ataff aeabe:r political foundation for their 'socialist' revolution," aad aelllter of the< SWP was 0111 of the rally aodorators. a•• of "infiltrating" the movement, of "manipulating" llua01'0UI SWP/YSA aeabors participated ia the COIIIYCIItion. which, aCcordiaa to fto lliltto•t• was attended bJ' 1,300 "••••· the document charges. "To the other issues used so A proposal "'' preseated and adopted fo:r an Abonloa Act lea struggles, and of "dominating" coalitions. Other Weelr. to "o hold Hay 1~1, 1172, to laclulle educational pro~ · sraas, lesh\atlv• support, JudicJal ac:tioo. and local or expediently by these two groups, we now add realenal doaonstratlons deaaadtna repeal of all anthbortloa women who shared the SWP's perspective in the aad tllltlcontraceptlon laws and all end to forced s'lerilizatioa. Durtaa the pTOCeodlass. aeabera of another socialist faction · abortion fight were accused of being "duped" by the women's liberation." pteseate• a aotlon to exclude aU politldaas In tho Do111ocratlc and lt'publlcaa parties fro• speaki111 oa li'ONAAC: platforas. Tho proposal "" ••feated. The literature tables sot up ltJ' tbe socialists, as if these women had no independent SWP/YSA alleaedl)' aol.d 1400 vortb o~ publlcatloas. What socialists stand for S!!PJYSA !!Nl!;EII)IJS REWLIITIOIIARY Gr.IUI'S . thinking abilities of their own! Tho SWP's basic atret•&Y Ia. connection with Woaon •s The accusation that socialists participate in the Lillerotloa II built arodd tha precept that the allollt.ton of. The feminists who made these charges had fallen !::!!~It;:~ I :r:.:!:c:::~!!;a 0 :•:.::, :•!:!.:~:::~::: 1::.:' c-' feminist movement with no interest in ending the be iaduced ltlto Uaila1 objective• with "soclollst• aroupa. · into the government's trap. Their red-baiting­ tb.e aoro e:~ttellslva Will be the COYerase effordod SWP/YSA oppression of women, but only in "enlisting p1'opaJanda aad the close1' will be tile attalnaellt of coaauaht virtually identical to charges in the FBI's recruits," is an outrageous lie. Anyone who has -L With a auabor of dedicated "soclalht" woaaa. "eta document-only obscured the real political ques­ the Job," the SWP/YSA 'Pe:-slst Itt thdr tactical nsneuverinl to penet~ate, participate, coll=aborate, contribute, and.• "he:1 been active in the feminist movement knows that eapedl.ent, cepitulate. The "soelallat" ealssarlas ara uraell tions at stake and divided the movement, to the to llacoao dooply eabedded ln. the eatlre aoYeaeat, whaTe ue p$ -•• of OtiP PeePuite and to work toward forcla& the members of the SWP have been among the most synea--throu&h a JITIO dhs•nthiJ force--to caapi)' with . advantage of women's enemies. "•h:runcls" that viii s:rsdually and "democratically" dhdnhh GoYernaent strenatb. ThrouJhout all their propaaanda, the dedicated, consistent fighters for women's libera­ laplied thToat of strcaatll in nualters· and tlle aer11•1 of tb.e One of the clearest examples of how destructive Neveaoftt with otb.or lsauea are neurroat. tion. Wuaerous sincere aad lealtlaato aroups aa);e up tile this red-baiting became is a report submitted to the aooroaeat called wo ..a•a Llberatloa, aad aaay aora llaYa JIVOJI SWP members do not hide our socialist views in their syapethy aad eftdorseaeat to tllo abortloa c•apataa. It national board of NOW during the abortion would boboavo these sroups to e-aaalne aoH closely the e:~~pressod the movement. On the contrary, we actively urge struggle. It urged NOW to have nothing to do with other women to join the fight for .socialism to help -12. activities also supported by the SWP. This was the rid this society of the inequalities that breed sexism, "Confidential Report to the N.O.W. Governing racism, and war. Front cover and two sample pages from FBI's secret Board on the Activities of the Socialist Workers Many of us were active in the feminist movement 1972 document. Claiming to be 'frlend' of women, Party and the Young Socialist Alliance," compiled before becoming socialists. We joined the SWP government used this slander sheet in· attempt to by a NOW member named Lucy Komisar. because it was the only party that saw the need to destroy struggle to legalize abortion. "The SWP/YSA conception is not one of joining build the independent women's movement and at women's groups on the same basis as other[s] do, the same time to unite -women, Blacks, and workers but one of 'working in' those groups to 'radicalize' in a common struggle against our enemy, the "Numerous sincere and legitimate groups make up women, put forth their point of view and recruit capitalist system. the movement called Women's Liberation," they them to the Party," stated the report. And the FBI? The American people have learned state. Their purpose is apparently to protect these Although this was a period of intense attacks by through Watergate just how "humanitarian" this "innocents" from the menace of socialism. anti-abortion forces, those in the leadership of NOW outfit of gangsters, burglars, and hit men is. Their decided at the time to hold the organization back "strategy and tactics" have been to incite violence FB l's true face from active involvement in the abortion rights against antiwar demonstrators, to infiltrate student But the FBI is certainly the last place feminists movement and from supporting the activities of groups, to hound socialists out of their jobs, and to would turn to for protection! These government WONAAC in particular. The excuse offered for this shoot down in cold blood fighters for Black libera­ thugs are notorious for their sexist, racist prejudi­ abstention was "SWP domination" of WONAAC. tion. ces. Their true attitudes were summed up by one of NOW went so far with this boycott policy as to Now these "humanitarians" have the nerve to their own kind, Timothy Redfearn, who was schedule a national board meeting in a different write about the "exploitation" of the women's recently exposed as an informer in the Denver YSA. city the same day as the first national march on movement •by socialists! In one of Redfearn's regular reports to the FBI, Washington for abortion rights, November 20, 1971. To cover their tracks, the FBI uses a tone in its he displayed his hatred for women and the women's We will come to the full story of how red-baiting document to sound conciliatory toward women. movement. Describing a speech by a local feminist, hurt the abortion fight in our next article. 16 ... abortion ri hts: Where the Janu- Continued from back page slaJ!~ttq~;~x unwanted children. But these laws ary 22, 1976-the third anniversary of didn't stop countless others from the Supreme Court ruling-18,000 anti­ having abortions. The laws simply abortion demonstrators filled the drove women to risk their health and streets of Washington, D.C. Last June lives at the hands of back-alley in Boston anti-abortion forces gathered butchers. for a national conference of 3,000. Official statistics estimate that 300 Picket lines are stationed regularly women died each year from botched at clinics in Milwaukee, Cleveland, abortions during the 1960s. We have Newark, and other cities. Placards no way of knowing how many other reading "Abortion is Murder" dogged abortion mortalities were merely re­ Jimmy Carter along his campaign ported as deaths due to "severe hemor­ trail. October 3 was "Respect Life rhaging" or "miscarriage." Sunday" in churches across the coun­ We also don't know how many try, where priests sermonized for active women before 1973 managed to obtain support for the fight against abortion. and survive illegal abortions. We do This barrage of activities has had its know, however, that in 1974, 900,000 impact on the hospital policies, laws, women had legal abortions, an in­ and court rulings now restricting abor­ crease of 53 percent over legal abor­ tions. tions performed in 1972. Meanwhile, the pro-abortion rights Black and Puerto Rican women movement has been less active. As especially benefited from the legaliza­ Ellen Leitzer of the American Civil tion of abortion. Before legal abortions Liberties Union put it, "We're losing in were available in New York City, 80 the legislatures and Congress because percent of the women who died from of the poisoned political atmosphere. illegal abortions were Black or The anti-abortionists have the upper Spanish-speaking. Now Black, Puerto hand because everyone-including the Rican, and other nonwhite women Militant/Ellen Lemisch feminists-think that if abortion's receive 63 percent of the legal abor­ Black women fought to legalize abortions and have benefited most from 1973 victory legal, they can, relax." tions in New York. Nationally, Black If it was not evident before, the Hyde women account for about 30 percent of amendment makes it frighteningly legal abortions. • A prohibition on the use of federal abortion forces are ready for a fight. plain: our right to legal abortion is in funds by legal services lawyers for any Even though this movement is a danger. The women's movement and Along with the dramatic increase in matter connected to abortions; minority, it is remarkably well orga­ its allies cannot relax. legal abortions, there has been a • A ban on foreign assistance funds nized and well financed, and it has Our side can have an even more corresponding decrease in abortion used to teach foreign medical person­ plenty of friends in high places. powerful impact on the courts, legisla­ mortalities. In 1974, forty-eight women nel abortion procedures; and President-elect Jimmy Carter is among tures, and Congress than anti-abortion died from abortions; five of them had • An exemption allowing any doctor those who oppose women's right to forces, because we are the majority. had illegal operations. or nurse to refuse to perform abortions abortion. For starters, he calls for Support for abortion rights has grown Clearly any restrictions on legal, on "moral" grounds. It also exempts ending state and federal funds for to 81 percent, according to a Knight­ medically performed abortions would federally funded religious hospitals. abortions. The Hyde amendment Ridder newspaper survey taken this mean a return to agony and death for States have also adopted anti­ shows that Congress has also jumped year. many, with minority women suffering abortion measures, including laws on this bandwagon. ' But this majority cannot afford to the most. · that: The Catholic church hierarchy has stand on the sidelines. If the Hyde • Require parental consent to abor­ not disclosed how many millions it has amendment is upheld, it will wipe out Unmet need tions for unmarried women under poured into its crusade against women. the right to legal abortion for hundreds Even though abortions are now eighteen; But we do know that during 1973, it of thousands of women. In doing this, legal, existing services in no way meet • Require a husband's consent; spent $400,000 alone on lobbying in it can open the flood gates to sweeping the needs of the 1.3 to 1.8 million • Restrict who may perform an Washington, D.C. away abortion rights for all women. women seeking abortions each year. In abortion and the facilities and tech­ More important than its money, the We must build a human dam against 1975 as many as 770,000 women niques to be used; Catholic hierarchy has persistently this. We need to alert women, and all couldn't get abortions. • Prohibit advertising or publishing mobilized anti-abortion actions. other supporters of women's rights to One reason for the unmet need is information advocating abortion; To help coordinate this c~paign, the seriousness of these attacks. And hospital policies. • Require the doctor to do every­ the National Conference of Catholic we must begin to organize a powerful In a study on abortion needs and thing possible to sustain life in an Bishops issued a battle plan last counteroffensive to turn back the anti­ services in the year after the Supreme aborted fetus; November to organize committees in abortion tide. Court ruling, the Allen Guttmacher • Deny women custody if an abor­ Institute concluded that the response tion results in a live birth; and of hospitals to the ruling was "so • Curb the use of state money for limited as to be tantamount to no abortions. response at all." In addition, the courts have ha­ The study found that only 15 percent rassed doctors for performing abor­ of public hospitals and 29 percent of tions. Dr. Kenneth Edelin, a Black non-Catholic voluntary and private physician in Boston, was convicted of hospitals were performing abortions. "manslaughter" for performing a legal Those doing so were mostly clustered abortion in 1973. This was an attempt in cities in a few states. In 1974, not a to intimidate doctors-and women single woman was able to get an seeking abortions-by branding them abortion in Louisiana or North Dako­ as murderers. ta. If you lived in Mississippi, West Virginia, or several other states, your Some victories chances weren't much better. Last summer the Supreme Court Special abortion clinics have sprung overturned some of these restrictive up to fill the void. But many of these laws. These rulings, on a Missouri profit-making outfits demand dollars anti-abortion law, marked an impor­ in advance-more than most women tant victory for a woman's right to can afford. choose. Even without the Hyde amendment, The court voided laws requiring a money is a huge barrier to poor women husband's consent. exercising their right to abortion. It overturned laws with blanket Statistics available for 1973 indicate prohibitions on abortions for minors that Medicaid supplied funds for as without parental consent. However, little as one-third of the low-income the court didn't rule out all restrictions women needing abortions. for young women. The justices also knocked down Legal restrictions restrictions in the Missouri law prohib­ Federal and state laws have bol­ iting saline abortions. This law, in stered restrictive hospital policies and effect, had denied most abortions after added a host of other measures to the twelfth week of pregnancy. In hamstring the Supreme Court ruling. addition, the court said a doctor is not The most widely publicized attempt required · to sustain the life of an to topple the ruling is a proposed aborted fetus. constitutional amendment outlawing The Supreme Court will soon hear all abortions by guaranteeing fetuses three cases dealing with state efforts to constitutional protection from the deny Medicaid funds for abortions. It moment of conception. Last spring, the may also hear the case on the Hyde Senate rejected this reactionary amendment. amendment by a slim vote of forty­ seven to forty. Anti-abortion movement But Congress has quietly slipged No one can predict how the court will through other anti-abortion measures. rule in these important cases. But one These include: thing is for sure-the reactionary anti- Repeated anti-abortion demonstrations influence politicians and judges

THE MILITANT/NOVEMBER 19, 1976 17 Rosenbergs' conviction. June Green has ordered the FBI to search the files of its Biased judge: Irving Kauf­ fifty-nine field offices for man was the judge in the records of the Rosenberg case. 1951 trial. FBI files show he The G-men are refusing, how­ held secret meetings with ever, to look for files of the R05EDBERii5 prosecution lawyers, decided 100 government witnesses at to impose the death sentence the 1951 trial. before the trial was con­ cluded, and "raised hell" with Accomplishments Why is Washington another judge who heard an Even though full release of appeal of the case. the Rosenberg files has not It is no wonder that since yet been achieved, the case the files came to light, 102 has won important victories. law professors and attorneys First, the lawsuit and pub­ so afraid to open its have demanded a probe into lic attention have prevented Kaufman's misconduct. A the government from destroy­ petition initiated by Dr. Vern ing the records of the Rosen­ Countryman of the Harvard berg case. files after 25 years? Law School demands that the The U.S. attorney's office in House and Senate judiciary New Mexico had already committees investigate Kauf­ destroyed its file on David By May Cramer had a . special console table try in the interests of the man's record. Greenglass when the lawsuit The government has tried from the Soviet Union for Soviets." Thought-control cam- began. One of the first deci­ to bury th~ history of its photographing microfilmed But before the trial, Green­ paign: The files show that sions the Meeropols won was murder of Julius and Ethel notes. But when the table was glass told the government Kaufman also conspired with a court injunction ordering Rosenberg along with the found years later, it turned lawyers a different story. A ex-FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover victims. But the fight to make out to be an ordinary twenty­ transcript of Greenglass's to suppress all criticism of the records of that case public one-dollar table from Macy's interview with the prosecu­ Rosenberg trial. and prove the Rosenbergs' department store. tors reads this way: In 1965 writers Walter and innocence is continuing. In 1975 Michael and Robert "Government: Was Ethel Miriam Schnier challenged In 1951 Ethel and Julius Meeropol, the Rosenbergs' present in any of these occa­ the verdict in their book Rosenberg, along with Mor­ sions [when atomic bomb Invitation to an Inquest. An ton Sobell, were convicted of secrets were supposedly dis­ FBI memo went out ordering giving the "secret of the atom cussed]? agents to have the book bomb" to the Soviet Union. In "Greenglass: Never. "smothered and forced out of reality, the Rosenbergs and "Government: Did Ethel the public eye." Sobell were victims of the talk to you about it? 1950s witch-hunt, on trial for "Greenglass: Never spoke Fighting the truth their political beliefs. about it to me, and that's a The Meeropols' case has When the Rosenbergs were fact. Aside from trying to shown, above all, how fright­ put on death row, millions of protect my sister, believe me, ened the government is of people around the world ral­ that's a fact." releasing the truth about the MORTON SOBELL lied to their defense. Even the Rosen bergs. Informer: The FBI used pope appealed to President When the government made the government not to shred, Jerome Tartakow, a prisoner­ Eisenhower for mercy for the the 29,000 pages of files pulp, alter, or dispose of any Rosen bergs. Julius Rosenberg met at the public, they tried to charge of the files. New York House of Deten­ But Washington went the Meeropols $20,000. Only Another victory was Mor­ ahead with its murder plans. tion, as a spy. When T_artak­ the public outcry prevented ton Sobell's release from pa­ Ethel and Julius Rosenberg ow was released from prison the government from collect­ role restrictions last June. were executed June 19, 1953. he offered to help the Rosen­ ing this ransom. sons, filed suit to get all the Sobell served nineteen years The government tried to pres­ bergs. For example, he drove Moreover, the released files of a thirty-year sentence and sure the couple into a phony files from the case through Emanuel Bloch, the Rosen­ are heavily censored. About the Freedom of Information was to be on parole until1981. last-hour confession. But the bergs' lawyer, to the prison 60 to 70 percent of the mate­ But two weeks after the FBI Rosenbergs died declaring Act. for meetings. Tartakow then rial is deleted. In response, the govern­ files about Judge Kaufman their innocence. reported on Bloch's conversa­ The government has used }.Vere made public, Sobell was There were good reasons to ment released a small part of tions with the Rosenbergs. - all kinds of excuses to avoid the record. The Meeropols' suddenly given full freedom. believe them. The evidence Had this interference with a releasing more files: national Most importan't, of course, used to frame the Rosenbergs lawyers estimate that the client-attorney relationship security, the need to protect 29,000 pages of files made has been the spotlight thrown and Sobell was flimsy .. been known at the time, it informers, privacy. on government crimes. For example, the govern­ public are only 6 percent of could have overturned the U.S. District Court Judge the material. The Rosenberg trial, the ment claimed the Rosenbergs execution, and the twenty­ What files show five-year cover-up that fol­ Yet even this small glimpse lowed have not been a vendet­ into the real record points to a ta against just Ethel and frame-up. The files document: Julius Rosenberg. Rather, it is an example of how far the Coached witness: The government will go to intimi­ government had to help its date all political activists and star witness, David Green­ hide its secret dealings from glass, get his story straight. the public. At the trial, Greenglass­ The fight to make all the Ethel Rosenberg's brother­ files public, being coordinated swore that she had typed up by the National Committee to espionage reports. Reopen the .Rosenberg Case, Or, as a government prose­ is ·important to everyone cutor put it, Ethel Rosenberg fighting government secrecy had "struck the keys, blow by t.: ~' and attacks on democratic JULIUS ROSENBERG blow, against her own coun- nternational protest to save Rosenbergs rights. Iranians condemn violence in movement By Peter Seidman Daniel Ellsberg; Reza Baraheni, the cal surveillance in the United States. will be disguised as muggings. The Five supporters of the Committee for noted Iranian poet and exile; and On October 29, nationally syndicat- obvious targets would be Iranian dissi- Artistic and Intellectual Freedom in others to their campus for the meeting. ed columnist Jack Anderson reported dents." Iran were physically attacked No- CAIFI activists say their attackers that "most of SAVAK's dirty tricks are CAIFI is circulating a petition de- vember 1 at the University of Houston. were Iranian. They recognized some of directed against Iranian students who manding that the university ensure The five were eating in the cafeteria them as members of the· Iranian oppose the shah's imperial rule." protection for its Houston supporters when they were surrounded by twelve Student Association, Iran House fac- On October 26, Anderson wrote that and that it cooperate with plans for to fifteen people screaming insults and tion. he has "documentary evidence that their projected meeting. Mohammad physical threats. On the advice of While no one was seriously hurt in SAV AK agents also commit burglar- Falsafi, a CAIFI spokesperson, says campus security, the CAIFI supporters the attack, CAIFI views this incident ies, forgeries and other crimes in that his group will press charges went to a hallway outside the cafeteria as particularly alarming in light of behalf of the shah." against the attackers. to wait for help. It was there that they recent revelations of activities in the The columnist cited a report from CAIFI, Falsafi said, opposes vio- were assaulted by the thugs who had United States by SAVAK, the shah's ·university of Pittsburgh Prof. Richard lence and believes that whatever surrounded them. secret police. The use of violence to Cottam based on a "trusted State political disagreements may exist Among those attacked was Bahram settle disputes within the Iranian Department source" that "Iranian hit among Iranian students, everyone Atai, national CAIFI field secretary. student movement can only help squads are on their way to the United should unite in defense of political Atai was helping CAIFI's local affil- SAVAK do its dirty work of disrupting States." Cottam says that CAIFI's prisoners. "This is the best way," he iate with preparations for a March and dividing the movement. honorary chairperson, Reza Baraheni, explained, "to counter the shah's terror 1977 meeting to protest political repres- The shah told CBS News interviewer is a likely target of these squads. at home and dirty tricks designed to sion in Irah. • Mike Wallace on October 12 that his Anderson said, "The guess within discredit and divide his opponents The students were planning to invite secret agents regularly carry out politi- the government is that any executions abroad."

18 utlook A WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE MILITANT BASED ON SELECTIONS FROM INTERCONTINENTAL PRESS, A NEWSMAGAZINE REFLECTING THE VIEWPOINT OF REVOLUTIONARY SOCIALISM

NOVEMBER 19, 1976

British economic impasse: why the pound is falling By William Gottlieb 1974 level and stagnant. On top of this, interest rates have' The dramatic fall of the pound, reached astronomical levels. The Bank which reached an all-time low of of England is lending money at a US$1.57 on October 28 before rallying record rate of 15%. Large firms are somewhat the following day, indicates paying a 14.5% rate of interest for that the long drawn-out sickness of short-term loans. Government bonds British capitalism is reaching the have a yield of 16%. point of acute crisis. Various theories have been ad­ Danger signals include unemploy­ vanced on how Britain got itself into ment, which according to official this impasse. Eric Heffer, a prominent figures has reached 1.3 million; infla­ leader of the left wing of the Labour tion, now again approaching 14%; an party, sees a massive political plot. He expected decline of real wages of 10% is quoted in the October 26 issue of the over the next year, and a level of New York Times as follows: "Many of overnment austerity measures aimed at saving industrial prod\J.ction below the early us are now convinced there is a pound risk head-on clash with working class. conspiracy on the other side of the house and by certain press barons trying to force this Government out." Two costly imperialist world wars between 1970 and 1975 averaged 3.1% If Heffer is right, Watergate would be accelerated this process. per year, it increased at a rate of 3.4% a small potatoes indeed. For a time after World War II this year in France, and 5.4% a year in In reality, the cause is to be found in process was cushioned by the general Germany and Japan. Monthly close In dollars the intersection of two historical expansion of the world capitalist And things apparently are not get­ trends, the general decline of the world economy. But even during these ting better. According to a report in the capitalist economy as a whole and the prosperity years, ominous warning October 16-22 London Economist, Bri­ relative decline of Great Britain within signals of approaching crisis were felt. tain's manufacturing investment from it. Growth was slow, recessions fre­ April to June of this year was only one­ The roots of this relative decline are quent, and recurrent balance-of­ third its 1970 peak. Since growth of to be found in the last century when payments crises ever more threaten­ labor productivity depends largely on Britannia ruled not only the waves but ing. Worst of all, Britain continued to continued investment, this figure indi­ the world of capital. Its industry could lag behind in the growth of labor cates that British productivity is lag­ produce commodities with less human productivity. For example, between ging behind at an accelerating rate. labor-that is, cheaper-then any of its 1955 and 60 Britain's output per hour The British capitalist economy can rivals. of labor grew at an annual rate of only be compared to a high-cost firm which As a result, Britain enjoyed a monop­ 2.3%, compared with 3.6% for France has been falling behind the c'Ompeti­ oly of world markets. But monopoly and 5.9% for Germany. tion for many years. As long as breeds decay. British industrialists, This trend continued in the 1960s. In business remains brisk it can manage sure of their markets and profits, 1965 British labor productivity was at to hang on, but once business turns preferred to do things as they had an index of only 115 (1960=100) com­ sour and competition intensifies the always done them. Gradually Britain pared with 125 for France, 129 for West high-cost firm finds itself in an in­ 1975 1978 began to lag behind its most dynamic Germany and 147 for Japan. creasingly untenable position. rivals, first the United States and The 1970s reveal the same trend. As the long-term boom of postwar New York Times Germany, and later Japan as well. While Britain's growth in productivity Continued on next page Racist attacks on nonwhites increase in Britain By Jo O'Brien shops owned by Asians. also urging action against the immi­ white racist violence became most The National Front demands the grant community in Britain. William clear with the massive police attack on LONDON-There has beell an in­ expulsion of the immigrant population Whitelaw, the deputy leader of the Black youths at the Notting Hill crease in racist attacks on immigrants from Britain, and on October 4 the Conservative party, recently demand­ Carnival in London at the end of and Black people in Britain in recent same demand was raised by Enoch ed that the Labour government provide August. A force of 1,500 police went on weeks. One such attack resulted in the Powell, the leading racist in Parlia­ figures on the number of immigrants a rampage that broke up the festival death of Mohan Devi Gautam, a ment. In a speech before the Monday entitled to come to Britain, establish a and led to numerous injuries. seventy-six-year-old Asian woman who Club, an organization of right-wing register of the dependents of immi­ The immigrant population has re­ was found by her grandson lying on Tories, Powell threatened that massive grants, and reduce the number of sponded to the attacks on it by forming the floor of her living room. violence would break out if nonwhite immigrants allowed into the country self-defence groups and demonstrating Gautam was suffering from burns immigrants were not sent back to their by about 8,000 a year. for-its rights. On September 11, 5,000 over 77 percent of her body and died countries of origin. Meanwhile, the National Front has persons. attended an antiracist demon­ after sixteen hours in a hospital. While figures like Powell openly declared that it will field 318 candi­ stration in Blackburn, in the north of Before she died, however, she gave the encourage the racist thugs in the dates in the next general election. England, that was held in opposition police a sworn statement describing streets, more "respectable" leaders are During local council elections this May to a National Front demonstration. how two white youths in masks and the National Front put forward 176 Among the participants in this action gloves had entered her home. They candidates in wards with large immi­ were the International Marxist Group collected newspapers, bundled her into grant populations. In addition to (the British section of the Fourth a garden shed, and set fire to the making physical attacks on Black International), the Labour party newspapers which they had placed people, the Front publicizes its racist Young Socialists, and the Internation­ around her. program by producing leaflets such as al Socialists. Contingents also came It was clearly a racial attack, since one they distributed in Bolton, warn­ from the Indian Workers Association, the youths left money and jewelry ing that "British people will be re­ the National Union of Public Em­ untouched. Nevertheless, the police placed as owners of the British Isles by ployees, the Merseyside Dock Labour­ have refused to admit the racial nature half-caste mongrels." ers, and the Ford plant in Halewood. of this and other attacks. In July the House of Lords made its The growing confrontation between The immigrant community in Lea­ contribution to the ;ttack on immi­ the immigrant population and its mington, where Gautam lived, has grants, ruling that they could no racist opponents shows no sign of suffered other attacks in recent weeks. longer appeal for an extension of their decline. As the economic crisis in One Asian was standing outside his stay in the country if their visas had Britain deepens, the immigrant and home when a car stopped and a group already expired. This means that Black communities more and more of white men piled out and beat him thousands of immigrants are now fmd that they are the scapegoats for up. Bricks wrapped in leaflets put out liable to imprisonment, fines, and the problems of capitalism. This is a by the racist National Front have been rae deportation. question that has begun to take on a thrown through the windows of four in Nolting Hill last August. The growth of an atmosphere of central political significance.

19 World Outlook

CP leader at rallY. with Pl:t.ushch and Pelikan French CP scores Kremlin's treatment of dissidents By Gerry Foley man, a psychiatrist jailed for exposing the "diagnosis" on the basis of which The French Communist party has dissident leader Pyotr Grigorenko was been sharply rebuked by the Kremlin locked up in a "hospital"; J. Muller, a for participating in a rally in Paris leader of the Prague student move­ October 21 in defense of six victims of ment, now serving the fourth year of a political repression, including two in six-year sentence; Jose-Louis Massera, the USSR and another in Czechoslova­ a noted mathematician and member of kia. the Uruguayan CP imprisoned by the The meeting made a considerable military regime; Miguel Enriquez, impact in France, and a crowd of leader of the Chilean Movimiento de thousands packed Paris's La Mutualite Izquierda Revolucionara (MIR­ to overflowing to hear the French CP Movement of the Revolutionary Left), representative speak alongside an who has disappeared in Argentina, exiled Soviet dissident and a former where he was in exile; and Lopez member of the deposed Dubcek leader­ Arias, an imprisoned Bolivian mine­ ship of the Czechoslovak Communist workers leader. party. Jiri Pelikan, an exiled member of the CP representative Pierre Juquin (left) greets former Soviet political prisoner Leonid In an October 23 statement, the Central Committee of the Czechoslov­ Plyushch at October 21 Paris rally. Soviet news agency TASS denounced ak Communist party under Dubcek, the meeting as "a provocative attempt spoke on the Muller case. to mix up real fighters for freedom and Plyushch, for whom a similar r,ally social progress imprisoned in fasci-st had been organized a year ago, was French CP's identification with Stali­ Moscow's protests. In the October 23 jails with spiteful anti-Sovieteers fight­ strongly applauded when he spoke, the nist dictatprship in Eastern Europe. issue of its daily newspaper l'Human­ ing against the socialist system." French Trotskyist daily Rouge report­ The Kremlin bureaucracy recognizes ite, it said: "The French CP's participa­ The statement concluded: "Soviet ed in its October 24 issue. He de­ the French CP's political needs and is tion in the Mutualite meeting testifies public opinion does not understand nounced the repressive regime in the prepared to accept gestures of "inde­ to its determination to act in defense of how representatives of the French USSR and urged support for the case pendence," if they pay off at the polls. freedoms. From its standpoint, free­ Communist party could participate in of the Crimean Tatar Mustafa Dzhe­ This is shown by Brezhnev' s praise of dom and socialism are inseparable. such a dirty project." The "Soviet milev, imprisoned for demanding the the Italian CP at the conference of "Criticizing those aspects of Soviet public opinion" referred to could only right of his people to return to their European CPs in late June in East reality that require it is not anti­ be the reaction of the Kremlin tops. historic homeland, from which they Berlin. However, the Kremlin's re­ Sovietism. We pointed this out clearly The TASS statement itself was not were expelled by Stalin. sponse to the French CP's taking part at our Twenty-Second Congress." published in the Soviet press, nor still in the October 21 meeting in Paris Furthermore, the French CP an­ less any account of the meeting and A representative of Amnesty Inter­ indicates that it can find the price for nounced that it was going to print six what the representative of the French national spoke on behalf of the three improving the. image of the West million copies of Juquin's speech at the CP said. Latin American victims of repression. European CPs an extremely painful October 21 rally to publicize "the The Kremlin's statement denounced An appeal on behalf of the Polish one to pay. Communists' fight for democratic free­ the organizers of the rally as "well­ workers jailed for taking part in the The French CP publicly rejected dom." known for their anti-Soviet and anti­ strikes and demonstrations against Communist views." In reality, the food-price hikes in late June was read meeting was sponsored by the Interna­ from the platform. It was signed by tional Committee of Mathematicians, Jacek Kuron and Adam Michnik, which played the leading role in prominent opponents of the Stalinist Paris rally won wide backing building a worldwide campaign to win regime in Poland. Kuron was impri­ The rally in the Paris Mutuahte International Movement of Catholic the release of Leonid Plyushch, a soned for three years in the mid-1960s organized by the mathematicians Jurists; the Bertrand Russell Peace Ukrainian antibureaucratic fighter for coauthoring a Marxist critique of committee was supported by the Foundation; and others. imprisoned in a "psychiatric hospital" the bureaucratic system in his country. following organizations: Amnesty in the Soviet Union. The French CP representative, Ju­ International; International Com­ A large number of prominent The fact that the mathematicians quin, seemed mainly interested in mittee Against Repression; League individuals also sponsored the meet­ committee was able to get the French gaining cover for his party against the for Human Rights; French Demo­ ing. They included Simone de Beau­ CP to make a public protest against attacks of Social Democrats exploiting cratic Confederation of Labor; Force voir, Jean-Paul Sartre, Noam the victimization of Plyushch was an the issue of bureaucratic dictatorship Ouvriere, a conservative French Chomsky, Alfred Kastler, Arthur important factor in forcing his release in the USSR. labor organization; National Educa­ London, Charles Tillon (veteran of in January. At the October 21 meeting, As the possibility approaches of an tion Federation; Committee for a the sailors' revolt in the French fleet Pierre Juquin, who spoke for the electoral victory by the bloc of the CP, Union of French Students; Union sent to the Black Sea to support the French CP, greeted Plyushch, who also the SP, and bourgeois liberals, the Action Movement; National Union forces fighting the Red Army in the spoke there, in a very friendly way. French Stalinists are more and more of Students of France, Trade Union Russian civil war), Jean-Marie Do­ The meeting focused on defending anxious to establish "democratic" Unity faction; Committee Against menach, Daniel Mayer, Paul Ri­ Vladimir Eukovsky, who is now spend­ credentials. In particular, they need to the Special Psychiatric Hospitals in coeur, Jean Daniel, and Vercors. ing his thirteenth year in a Soviet do so in order to meet the competition the USSR; January 5 Committee for The rally was chaired by'Laurent prison camp for denouncing the impri­ of the SP, which has attracted wide a Free and Socialist Czechoslovakia; Schwartz, a Nobel-Prize-winning sonment of political dissidents in support from sections of the population Young Friends of the Ukraine; scientist. "psychiatric hospitals"; Semyon Gluz- moving to the left but repelled by the

However in the final analysis it is "incomes· policy" or the current "soci~l Britain was applying for a new loan not the rate of exchange of the curren­ contract." from the International MonetaryFund cy that determines international com­ But British wages are not high that would total $3.9 billion. This petitiveness, but the comparative lev­ relative to Britain's competitors. For would boost Britain's foreign borrow­ els of labor productivity. example they are only about half those ing to $24 billion. ... Britain As the pound was devalued, British of West Germany. The fact is that the But the bankers, after all, want some Cc" 'nued from preceding page capitalists tended to raise prices in British. workers have been sacrificing, assurance that the money will be paid capitalisn >egan to slow down in the terms of those devalued pounds and but these sacrifices have not prevented back. They are demanding that the late 1960> md international competi­ thereby increasingly offset the benefits the situation from growing worse. British government slash social servi­ tion incn .ed, it became harder and of devaluation. These price rises were a Actually the British workers desperate­ ces, hold down wages, and restrict the harder to 'lance Britain's traditional response both to the higher cost of ly need a massive across-the-board domestic money supply. These mea­ trade de .. As the markets of the imported materials and to growing wage increase to protect themselves sures are designed to reduce domestic world be ne increasingly saturated, deficit expenditures by the govern­ from the effects of the worsened demand and lower the standard of each cm ry began to look more ment, especially for arms. The result­ inflation the latest decline of the pound living, with the aim of forcing British aggressiv for new markets abroad. ing inflation occurred despite the is sure to unleash. firms to export and thereby raise Britain found itself being flooded with existence of industrial stagnation and The fate of the pound has produced a enough money to pay back the loans. a mass of more cheaply produced mass unemployment. worldwide wave of concern in the Of course, the economic stagnation foreign commodities. Of course, the bourgeoisie and their ranks of the bourgeoisie. To allow the that these measures would reinforce Faced h this worsening situation, lieutenants in the labor movement pound to continue to fall could not only would further depress investment, and the Briti. bourgeoisie sought a cure have tried to· blame this inflation on mean a massive social crisis in Great the root cause of Britain's difficulties by devak .. tg the pound. A lower value the workers. The cry from these quar­ Britain. It would also involve other would be increased. But at this point of the pou•;d would mean lower export ters is that wages are too high, social currencies and perhaps lead to a chain­ the world bourgeoisie is less and less prices in terms of foreign currencies, benefits are too liberal, the workers reaction world financial crisis. interested in root causes. It is forced to and higher import prices in terms of must sacrifice. This logic has led both For this reason world bankers have concentrate on saving the immediate the pound. Britain's balance-of­ Wilson and Callaghan to do every­ lent huge sums to Britain. On Sep­ situation, even at the risk of precipitat­ payments deficit would thereby be thing in their power to hold down tember 29, Chancellor of the Exche­ ing a head-on clash with the working corrected. wages, whether under the guise of an quer Denis Healey announced that class of Britain.

20 Mexico: peso devaluation World news notes

Irish Republican leader murdered slashes buying power Twenty thousand people marched through the Catholic neighbor­ hoods of Belfast November 1 in a funeral demonstration for Irish · [The following article appeared in crowned by the country's huge foreign Republican leader Maire Drumm. the September 20-0ctober 1 issue of debt. Along with Brazil, Mexico has Drumm, a former vice-president of Provisional Sinn Fein, was shot Clave, a fortnightly newspaper reflect­ the honor of occupying first place to death October 28 by three terrorists as she lay in her bed in Belfast's ing the point of view of the Bolshevik among those indebted to North Ameri­ Mater Hospital recovering from eye surgery. She was fifty-three years Leninist Faction of the Liga Socialista can private banking interests. Accord­ old. The hospital is located on the predominantly Protestant Crumlin (Socialist League), a sympathizing ing to Henry Reuss, chairman of the Road. organization of the Fourth Internation­ Banking and Currency Committee of Maire Drumm was well known as a fiery and moving republican al in Mexico. The translation is by the U.S. House of Representatives, the speaker. She was a fervent believer in the republican tradition of Intercontinental Press.] Mexican government owes North personal sacrifice for national freedom. She was frequently imprisoned American private banking interests a in the brutal Northern Irish jails for her outspoken support of a free * * * cool $5.5 billion (approximately 112 and united Ireland and for her refusal to recognize the legal billion pesos according to the current The flimsy barrier of economic institutions established by the imperialists. exchange rate). controls and measures the government She defied the repressive forces almost alone in the years before the There is not enough money in the erected to prevent a monetary catas­ rise of the civil rights movement, when the oppressed Catholic budget "to repay this sum. To pay its trophe has broken. On August 31, one community was intimidated and atomized. Her family shared her debt, the only recourse the government day before the traditional annual convictions, and her. husband and children have also been imprisoned has is to inflate the money supply by for their support of the republican cause. report by the president of the republic, printing currency not backed by re­ it was announced that the Mexican serves and by issuing bonds without Repression in Paraguay peso would be allowed to "float." On funds. Inflation, which in previous An inkling of what life is like in Paraguay under the despotic regime September 1, the press reported that years rose to more than 20 percent, has of President Alfredo Stroessner was given in a fifty-eight-page report the peso had fallen to less than half its leveled off at -around 15 percent in former exchange rate measured issued in September by the International League for Human Rights. 1976. The report, written by Professor Robert Alexander of Rutgers against the dollar. But it is not only the government University and former U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia Ben Stephansky, The official explanation for taking that is responsible for our currency described mass arrests and torture, ongoing repression of the country's this step has very little to do with being in such a precarious state. The reality. For example, Finance Minister Indians, the use of a twenty-two-year state of siege to make all civil Mario Ram6n Beteta, in his official liberties subject to the whim of the dictator, and the pervasiveness of announcement of the float, said that corruption within the government. this step was absolutely normal, that Attached to the report was a list of about 200 of the regime's more than fifty countries were exercis­ estimated 500-1,500 political prisoners. ing "controlled floats." President Luis The most recent wave of repression reached a peak in April and May Echeverria explained in his annual of 1976, the report stated. report to Congress that the step would benefit the country because it would Spanish adultery law attract tourism and foreign invest­ New attention has been focused on Spain's reactionary legal code by ment. the case of Maria Inmaculada Benito, a twenty-two-year-old medical Explanations like these tend to hide student who narrowly escaped a five-year prison term for adultery. She what is behind the move, that is, the was acquitted October 9, thanks to the wide publicity won by her case existence of a grave economic situation in the Spanish press and the active support of women's groups. in the country. However, many other women are not as lucky. Many are convicted A rise in prices unlike any seen in under the law, which is written in a way that makes it much more decades followed the "float" of the difficult to convict a man than a woman. peso. Entire chains of big department Divorce is illegal in Spain, but, Inmaculada asked, "How can I stores were closed, supposedly to pre­ reconcile with a husband who has just tried to put me in jail for five vent unjustified price hikes. What years?" actually was involved was a step taken to prevent a spell of panic buying by Portuguese regime arrests Carvalho Clave the public, and to assure that when ' Maj. Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho was arrested October 23 and ordered these stores opened their doors again, Mexican president-elect Jose Lopez Portillo to serve twenty days in prison. A Portuguese military official said the prices of the merchandise would Carvalho had been arrested for "expressing political views at a public have been changed. meeting." Although no official statistics are Carvalho ran for president last June with the consent ofthe military trade deficit has increased with the available yet, the daily papers an­ hierarchy. Since then, however, he has been barred from political "stagflation" [simultaneous inflation nounced that the rise in prices in the activity. His arrest, which provoked widespread protest, came after he and stagnation]. As a result of buying Federal District fluctuated between 60 had spoken at a rally called by the Movement for Popular Unity (a more from abroad-especially from the and 100 percent. For those who live group formed by Carvalho's supporters after the presidential cam­ United States-than is exported, the from their labor, the devaluation paign). trade deficit reached $729 million in means that the pay they bring home "Putting Otelo in prison is like sending 800,000 Portuguese there the first three months of 1976 alone. has been markedly reduced. too," said Pagina, a left-wing newspaper, in a front-page editorial that The ventures known as "private initia­ The devaluation is simply a reflec­ alluded to Carvalho's 16.5 percent of the vote in the presidential race. tion of the grave economic situation. tives" are also in debt and the country According to the August 8 issue of has to suffer the consequences of it. Mexican editor harassed Excelsior, the president of the Asocia­ Private banking, through loans and ci6n Nacional de Consultores en Mer­ credits that are not backed up, has Julio Scherer Garcia, the former editor of the Mexican daily cadotecnia [National Association of made its contribution to the inflation. Excelsior, told reporters October 25 that the government of President Marketing Consultants] said that 47 Neither the businessmen nor the Luis Echeverria Alvarez is trying to block publication of a new percent of Mexican industry was government are willing to pay for the political weekly under his editorship. Scherer was ousted from his post "idle." This means that industry is economic situation. Beteta, who speaks at Excelsior in July by right-wing members of the staff, who were producing at 53 percent of its capacity; as if he were the spokesman for backed by the government. it is a sign of the stagnation affecting President-elect J. L6pez Portillo, has After the rightist takeover, the new editors of Excelsior charged the economy. said that the budget they are preparing Scherer with embezzling $650,000. Scherer charged that a sudden Another sign of the stagnation is the for the coming six years will be an interest by the government in his case was "undoubtedly of a political unemployment and "underemploy­ "austerity budget." nature," and was aimed at "intimidating us and impeding the ment" affecting 40 percent of the But the workers and the people who execution of our editorial project." economically active population. The live from their labor are not responsi­ economist Luis R. Casillas, whose ble for the economic situation, and Soviet Jews protest in Moscow conservatism is shown by the fact that thus have no reason to pay for it. A week of actions by Soviet Jews in Moscow was ended October 25 he won the economics prize of the An immediate wage increase of 60 when police arrested about thirty Jewish dissidents. The protests Banco N acional de Mexico [National percent and a sliding scale of wages began with a sit-in at the reception offices of the Supreme Soviet, Bank of Mexico] in 1975, estimated-in and hours are the only measures that demanding an end to delays for those seeking visas to leave the USSR. statements that appeared in the Au­ can protect their standard of living On October 19, after a two-day sit-in, a dozen Jews charged that they gust 24 issue of Excelsior-that by the from the consequences of the devalua­ had been taken to a forest outside Moscow and been beaten by end of 1976 there would be 2.5 million tion. plainclothes police. unemployed in Mexico. Casillas did Naturally, we can expect the bosses Following the beating, which received widespread publicity in the not mention the number of "underem­ and the government to resist granting international press, Gen. Nikolai A. Shchelokov, the Soviet minister of ployed" who survive without jobs and such measures. The course they have internal affairs, agreed to meet with a delegation from the protesters. earn their living in many different chosen runs contrary to granting However, Shchelokov refused to investigate the beating or to agree to ways. But he did mention what he progressive reforms that will lessen the say in writing how long the protesters would have to wait for their called the "external strangulation" of blows delivered to the purchasing emigration visas. the economy, that is, that the pace of power of wages. But they do not have In response, twenty-five Jews marched through Moscow wearing [foreign] investment in Mexico hal} the final say on this. It is within the large yellow stars of David similar to those Jews were forced to wear dropped substantially. power of the workers to force these under the Nazis. Meanwhile, sit-ins at the offices of the Communist This situation of stagnation is measures out of them. party's Central Committee had also been initiated.

21 World Outlook

Warnings not welcomed by Gandhi India's liberals fear upsurge protesting repression By Pankaj Roy expenditures for his ministry from Rs. 3 crores [thirty million rupees, or about NEW DELHI-Since June 26, 1975, US$3.42 million] to Rs. 160 crores [1.6 India has lived under Prime Minister billion rupees, or about US$182 mil­ Indira Gandhi's "emergency." Normal· lion]. bourgeois-democratic political pro­ "We push in a lot of money to the cesses have been suspended and all states to assist them to modernise the avenues for the ventilation of grievan­ police force," the home minister said ces have been closed, as has all access on April 2. He pointed to the newly to accurate information about the organised Central Reserve Police and country. The population is fed rosy the Border Security Force as examples news about the supposed benefits of where the money is going. made possible by the declaration of According to a report on Reddy's emergency. plans in the April 5 Times of India, the But the suspension of democratic 23,964-member Central Industrial Se­ rights has some inherent dangers for curity Force will also be expanded. the bourgeoisie in India. Some shrewd This industrial police force is currently capitalist politicians have begun to being used against workers in eighty­ warn that if Gandhi's dictatorial two state-owned enterprises, and there regime is maintained for a prolonged is demand for its services in many period, the inevitable eruption of grie­ others. vances among the masses may assume Even those bourgeois figures who a violent and uncontrollable form. have called for an end to Gandhi's This point was made in an editorial emergency and have protested the in the July 26 issue of Seminar, a supercentralization and growing arbi­ liberal academic journal based in New trariness of the government are agreed Delhi. After detailing Gandhi's record on the need to keep the workers in of repression the editorial stated, check. "Censorship creates the official myth Kothari, for example, does not plead of political silence and acceptance. Congress has become the main party ers. They never went ·beyond the for a return to the bourgeois­ Who knows if the silence may not be a of the Indian bourgeoisie and Gandhi framework of bourgeois opposition democratic regime that prevailed in deliberate cover for turbulence?" its unrivaled leader. politics in the parliamentary system. India prior to June 26, 1975. He In the same issue of Seminar, Rajni At the present time, these parties opposes strikes, bandhs (general Kothari, a well-known liberal political No alternative have become virtual nonentities. They strikes), and demonstrations, calling scientist, argued that the emergency For the moment, therefore, the emer­ cannot freely propagate their views, them the "culture of confrontation." has become a liability even for the gency has imparted a certain stability and even the speeches of their parlia­ He says they should be replaced by a rulers and called for its repeal. to bourgeois rule in India and put an mentarians cannot be printed in the "culture of consensus"-a scheme for Countering the regime's claims end to the centrifugal tendencies that newspapers or reported in the mass arbitration of disputed issues. about the gains made under the were so evident during 1974 and 1975. media. Only the CPI, by completely emergency, Kothari pointed out that: Gandhi's success reflected the fact that subordinating itself to the regime, has Indian Trotskyists • Many of the changes promised by the bourgeois opposition parties like been allowed some latitude to speak in The Trotskyists of the Communist Gandhi under the emergency remain Jan Sangh, BLD (Bharatiya Lok Dal), its own name. League of India (the Indian section of on paper. and Congress (0) (Organisation Con­ In the ruiing Congress party itself, the Fourth International) have coupled • Those that have been implement­ gress) had no viable alternative for the effects of the dictatorial regime are the demand for repeal of the emergen­ ed did not require the use of emergency salvaging Indian capitalism. Their felt. All are expected to eugolize Gand­ cy with the demand for complete powers, and frequently came about as main aim was removal of Gandhi and hi, and every rung of leadership has to restoration of democratic rights, the a result of factors that had nothing to her party from power, to be replaced by hail the "dynamism" of Sanjay Gand­ release of all political prisoners, the do with the regime's policies under the them. Developing mass movements hi, Indira Gandhi's son and her chosen removal of the ban on political parties, emergency. were subordinated to this supreme heir. and the repeal of the repressive Main­ • Many of the steps taken by the goal. tenance of Internal Security Act and regime have involved repression and As for the parties of the left such as Rule by fear the Defence of India Rules. intimidation of the most vulnerable the Communist party of India (CPI), The character of the regime was Gandhi, meanwhile, is in the process sectors of the population, which in turn the Communist party of India (Marx­ indicated when K. Brahmananda Red­ of pushing through a wide-ranging has produced resentment and violence. ist) [CPI(M)], and the Revolutionary dy, Gandhi's union minister for home series of amendments to the constitu­ This is the case with actions relating Socialist party, they were completely affairs, told parliament that "fear tion in order to institutionalize her to compulsory sterilization and the bogged down in the mire of parliamen­ could be a potent motivating factor dictatorial powers. She demagogically forced eviction of the poor from the tary cretinism. They subordinated when all other means failed." This claims that the changes are necessary cities. extraparliamentary struggles to the need to rule on the basis of fear led because the constitution is holding up needs of their parliamentary maneuv- Reddy to call for an increase in her "war on poverty." Censored Both the CPI and the CPI(M) have Kothari argued that the price paid published their views on the proposed for rather limited gains was far too changes, and both have failed to heavy, "namely, complete loss of protest Gandhi's proposal to remove personal freedoms, an atmosphere of New amendments tighten Gandhi's grip legal safeguards against arbitrary fear and insecurity, ruthless use of On November 2, the Indian Parlia­ president to amend the constitution arrest, detention, and other police police and para military forces and ment passed a series of constitution­ by executive order in any way that actions. Both speak in terms of ab­ MISA [Maintenance of Internal Securi­ al amendments that further tighten will further these "directive princi­ stract democracy, refusing to explain ty Act] and DIR [Defence of India the grip of Prime Minister Indira ples." Gandhi's regime in class terms. Rules] for the suppression of political Gandhi's dictatorship. While these amendments must Finally, both have succumbed to opponents and the muzzling of not By a vote of 366 to 4-with most still be approved by a majority of Gandhi's ploy of making the only the press but all forms of political opposition members boycotting and state legislatures, the parliament's judiciary-and judicial guarantees of expression and normal channels of more than two dozen in prison-the upper house, and India's figurehead democratic rights-the scapegoat for articulation, including within the rul­ lower house of the Gandhi-controlled president, these are not expected to the inability of the bourgeois regime ing party itself." parliament approved revisions in the present 'an obstacle to passage. over the last twenty-seven years to These warnings, however, were not constitution to: ameliorate , the conditions of the appreciated by the regime, and soon • Permit the Parliament to amend Gandhi's new powers were rubber masses. It was left to former judges of after this issue Seminar was forced to the constitution as it sees fit and stamped by the lower house only two the Supreme Court and High Courts, cease publication under precensorship enact legislation banning "antina­ days after she ordered the postpone­ and other politicians of the right, to rules. tional" activities and associations. ment for another year of national point out that there was nothing to In an interview given in June, after • Remove the power of judicial parliamentary elections. This Octob­ prevent the regime from undertaking the completion of one year of the review over ordinary laws from the er 30 edict was the second such delay progressive measures if that had been emergency, Gandhi stated that opposi­ lower courts and require India's this year. its intention. tion parties had been subdued but not Supreme Court to muster a two­ The Gandhi regime has ruthlessly While pointing out the limitations of vanquished, and insisted that the thirds majority before it can declare attacked democratic rights and re­ the current constitution,·. which was emergency would continue indefinitely a law unconstitutional. pressed all opposition forces. None­ framed by a body that was a creature since its gains were still to be consoli­ • Subordinate previously guaran­ theless, the prime minister justified of British imperialism and that was dated. teed individual rights in the consti­ her postponement of elections with not democratically elected, the Com­ In fact during her emergency rule tution to the so-called directive the claim that the "forces of disrup­ munist League has also stressed the Gandhi has routed all opposition principles of government economic tion and subversion" are "more antidemocratic nature of the proposed parties that used to play a role in and social goals. dangerous" now than they were changes. It calls for the convening of a parliament, from the extreme right­ • Permit the prime minister-for sixteen months ago, when the state democratically elected constituent as­ wing Jan Sangh to reformist groups the next two years-to order the of emergency began. sembly that should discuss all propos­ like the Socialist party. The ruling als on the constitution.

22 Purge victims on 'caP-italist road'? liGuardian!l lining up in China faction fight By Les Evans 1 severely reprimanded during the cultu­ The New York Maoist weekly ral revolution. Among them was Teng Guardian, after two weeks of evident Hsiao-ping, vilified second only to Liu indecision over the current purge in Shao-chi during the antiright upsurge. China, has stifled its qualms and is Premier Chou brought Teng back to lining up behind the Chinese Commu­ power as his deputy in mid-1973." nist party's new chairman, Hua Kuo­ If these people were the "bourgeoi­ feng. sie," then weren't Mao and Chou Managing Editor Jack Smith makes selling out the Chinese workers state this clear in the third article of his by bringing them back to office? If not, continuing series on developments in then weren't Mao's accusations in 1966 China, which appears in the November a frame-up and a lie? 10 Guardian. Smith writes: Smith extricates himself rather awk­ "Chairman Hua evidently decided to wardly from this dilemma. He writes: galvanize the middle forces and defeat "The chairman evidently figured the party left before China was turned that if Teng was sincerely self-critical upside down again without a Chair­ for his past rightist deviations and man Mao or Premier Chou to set promised (as he reportedly did) not to SIGNS OF THE TIMES: Hua Kuo-feng seeks to foster his own personality cult while things straight once more." introduce practices that would restore unleashing slanders against his factional opponents. This speculation, of course, is com­ capitalism, his old enemy might be a pletely at variance with what Hua good transitional leader for China Kuo-feng is telling the Chinese people. after he and Chou died ...." The official explanation for the purge For years, the Guardian has denied both Liu Shao-ch'i and Mao had the Are we seriously asked to believe of Chiang Ch'ing, Mao's widow, and that the internecine battles in the same relationship to the means of that a "communist" leadership would three other top leaders of the CCP is Maoist hierarchy are purges or even production. Until 1966, nobody outside invite the top leader of the defeated that they "are typical representatives the result of tactical disputes over of the Politburo of the Chinese Com- "bourgeoisie" to take over a workers of the bourgeoisie in the party. Their government policy. It has accepted munist party even knew they had any state on the basis of a private promise coming to power would mean the ,Peking's word that these battles are disagreements about anything. Then not to restore capitalism? coming to power of the bourgeoisie, of great "class struggles" between the Mao announced that Liu's faction, revisionists and fascists and would "proletariat" and the "bourgeoisie," in which nobody knew had existed, was mean the restoration of capitalism in which the stakes were nothing less the Chinese capitalist class. Two frameworks China" (Hsinhua, October 22, 1976). than a choice between socialism and How does the Guardian know this Smith's method is to use two mutual­ The Guardian's version is intended the restoration of capitalism. allegation was tri.H;;? Because Mao said ly exclusive frameworks to describe to sound more plausible to American so. (Liu never said anything in public events within the CCP. On one hand, Maoists, who have been thrown into 'Capitalist-roaders'? again after Mao denounced him and when he wants to point to the wise and confusion by the arrest and vilification Not the smallest fly in this ointment nobody knows whatever became of orderly administration of his heroes, of four of Mao Tsetung's best-known is the fact that the group that comes him.) Mao, Chou, and now Hua, he refers to followers and interpreters. Smith un­ out on top always describes itself as In 1971, Mao went on to denounce "left," "right," and "center" factions of doubtedly seeks his own rationaliza­ the proletarian "left wing" and invari­ Defense Minister Lin Piao and other a party with a p.resumably common tion for endorsing the victors in the ably brands its defeated opponents in top leaders of the "proletarian left program and class foundation. Peking power struggle because few the party hierarchy as "capitalist­ wing" as yet additional secret leaders But when he seeks to justify the among the Guardian's readers are roaders." As Smith's reconstruction of the "bourgeoisie" in the party. Even repellent frame-up system in which prepared to believe that the "gang of inadvertently shows, these labels are the Guardian remains dubious about yesterday's heroes are today's "dog­ four" were "fascists" plotting the shifted around from person to person the truth of this claim. Smith writes in turds" and "maggots" -when was restoration of capitalism. within the Chinese bureaucracy with a his latest article, "Later called a such debasing language ever used by His version has some obvious de­ speed so dizzying as to belie any rightist, he [Lin Piao] has always been real revolutionists!-he applies a total­ fects. In trying to make the issues in possible real social or "class" content. identified in the public mind as a left ly different yardstick. The factions are the purge seem more reasonable-the In the early 1960s, Smith writes, the associate of Chiang Ching et al." miraculously transformed into con­ party "middle forces" had to quiet party "right led by Liu Shao-chi came The alleged existence of this "bour­ tending "classes" between which the down a disruptive "left wing" -he calls close to taking power." Had Liu geoisie" is the justification for outlaw­ methods of class war prevail. all the more attention to the undemo­ succeeded, Smith says, "China would ing factions, suppressing dissent, and By Smith's own rendition, Chou En­ cratic methods and the ferocity of the be on the capitalist road today." using police-state measures within the lai was the leader of the faction to anti-Chiang Ch'ing campaign. In defeating Liu Shao-chi and Teng party and against the nonparty which Teng belonged. When he refers What are we to think of a "commu­ Hsiao-p'ing, Smith says, Mao set "a masses. to Chou this is only the rightist faction nist" leadership that arrests its opposi­ revolutionary example throughout the Yet as time goes by we see this of the Communist party, but when he tion over a tactical disagreement, world that the masses had a right to "bourgeoisie" identified interchange­ mentions this same group in connec­ frames them up on false charges, and rebel against the bourgeoisie even ably with the party's "right wing" and tion with Teng, it is the capitalist then carries on a campaign of charac­ within a socialist state." its "left wing." Isn't it strange that class. ter assassination, branding them as What "bourgeoisie"? For Marx, so­ unlike every other bourgeoisie in the "maggots" (Hsinhua, October 25) and cial classes are groups of people with world, the "bourgeoisie" in the Chinese But if Smith is going to stay in the "dog-turds" (Far Eastern Economic definite, identifiable relationships to Communist party has policies so Maoist camp he still has some way to Review, November 5)? the means of production. The "bour­ identical to those of the "communists" go. Peking does not accept his version In his previous articles, Smith had geoisie" is a class that owns the •that no one eyen suspects who its that Lin Piao and Chiang Ch'ing were remained carefully neutral, declaring factories and other means of produc­ representatives are until they are leaders of a "left" faction in the CCP. that "a frank exposition of the political tion. It accumulates capital and in­ pointed out by the party leader and Hua Kuo-feng uses Mao's "theory" .as differences between the party center vests it to realize profits. No faction of arrested? it was really intended to be used. The· and Chiang Ching et al has not been the Chinese Communist party answers Moreover, unlike every other known "bourgeoisie" does not refer to any revealed." On the basis of what new to that description. bourgeoisie, the one in China periodi­ specific group, set of policies, or social facts does he now conclude that Hua Smith simplistically identifies "pro­ cally reforms itself and becomes trans­ class. It means anybody who is "swift­ represents the "middle forces" or duction" with "capitalism" and alleges formed into part of the "proletariat." ly on their way to political oblivion." Chiang Ch'ing the "left" or that the that the "bourgeoisie" in China is that In the early 1970s, says Smith, "One It is not a theory at all. It is just an purge is justified to prevent the coun­ wing of the party one-sidedly con­ of the compromises was the restoration epithet used by the totalitarian, privi­ try from being "turned upside down"? cerned with production at the expense to positions of power of a number of leged, bureaucratic caste to read its Smith cites only one new piece of of the party's ideological control over officials who had been purged or victims out of the human race. information: the masses. Insofar as there is a social grouping Political oblivion in China hostile to the working class "The 'gang of four'-the leftist lead­ and endangering the planned econo­ ership within the top ranks of the my, it is the bureaucracy as a whole Communist Party-is swiftly on its and has nothing whatsoever to do with way to political oblivion." the emphasis placed on industrializa­ This, however, is hardly a cogent tion by this or that official. It is not reason for taking sides in a political because the regime carries on "produc­ fight. Without waiting to find out what tion" that it is a bureaucratic caste Mao's associates are supposed to have alien to the workers, but because it done or where the new leadership is extorts special privileges and excludes going, Smith provides his readers with the masses from real decision-making a "theoretical" explanation of why it is power. correct to support the winners. But these two features are common Smith tries to use Mao's theory of to all factions of the bureaucracy, Mao the "continuing class struggle under and Liu included. They do not justify the dictatorship of the proletariat" to calling the bureaucracy a "capitalist reconstruct the events leading up to class," much less singling out one of the latest leadership crisis. His effort is its factions for such a label and giving During previous factional battles Mao accused even ongtime collaborators and instructive for what it shows about a clean bill of health to others. Chinese CP leaders of trying to restore capitalism (from left): Liu Shao-chi, Lin Piao, this Maoist "theory." As leaders of the same ruling party, and Teng Hsiao-p'ing.

THE MILITANT/NOVEMBER 19, 1976 23 As with the labor vote, Carter wooed Blacks and infamous Scottsboro frame-up. Hispanics from the beginning. At the close of the Of course, the shift in stance on this issue is only Democratic party national convention, Carter, relative. In general, both Carter and Ford tried to Mondale, and the other party hacks joined hands pretend in their campaigns that Blacks do not exist. with Coretta Scott King, the widow of Martin They avoided discussion of the problem of racism in Luther King, Jr.; Black congressman and former American society. Carter is now talking about civil-rights activist Andrew Young; United Farm putting Blacks in his cabinet; but aside from such ••• Workers President Cesar Chavez, and others. They possible gestures he will continue the basic econom­ • all sang "We Shall Overcome," the song made ic and social policies that breed racism and give famous by the civil-rights movement. encouragement to ultrarightist forces. With double the unemployment rate of whites, In this context, it is interesting to note that the Blacks were even more responsive to Carter's 1976 election saw a virtual standstill in the number promises about the economy. Moreover, cutbacks in of Black elected officials. This is different from I government spending in everything from child care 1974, when the largest number of Blacks since the and school lunches to welfare and job training have post-Civil War Reconstruction were elected to state hit the oppressed minorities the hardest. · legislatures in the South. Seeing no alternative, those of the oppressed The 1976 campaign was also very different from national minorities who went to the polls backed the 1968 and 1972 campaigns, when Nixon's Carter-and their votes, like those of the trade "Southern strategy" was based on winning the unionists, were essential to Carter's victory. South by appealing to the racist vote. The ruling In Pennsylvania, for example, Carter won by only class now has to worry much more about keeping 123,000 votes. Blacks in Philadelphia alone gave Blacks inside the two-party system because of the him 178,000 votes. economic downturn and the general crisis of In Ohio, where Carter's lead was only 7,500 votes, confidence in the Democratic and Republican Representative Louis Stokes of Cleveland noted parties. Also, a "law-and-order" campaign would that "the margin can be attributed to the large not have gone over very well after Watergate. black vote.... " Massive leads for Carter in the heavily Chicano Silence on key issues areas of South Texas gave him his overall 2% edge Watergate and the whole web of government in that state. crimes connected with it was another underlying Nationwide, only 48% of white voters gave their issue in the election. The Democrats and Republi- support to Carter. In fact, even in Carter's home base in the South, the majority of white voters backed Ford. Carter won 54% of the overall vote in the South, and every Southern state except Virgi­ nia, because he won the Black vote. This point should be noted. Despite the claims by various commentators that Carter has reconstruct­ ed the Democratic party coalition forgerl by Frank­ lin D. Roosevelt during the 1930s, the 1976 election gave convincing proof that the Roosevelt coalition is dead. That coalition rested on the votes of white workers and Blacks in the North, and on the white­ supremacist Dixiecrat machine in the South. The masses of Blacks were not allowed to vote in the South during the 1930s and 1940s. Carter can't deliver what masses of people expect Wallace movement from his administration. When the old white-supremacist machine began to be broken down in the 1960s by the force of the civil-rights movement, the Democratic party in the South split. The Dixiecrat wing that had been cans handled it by putting up two candidates not dominant in the days of the Roosevelt coalition was involved in Watergate who stressed their own represented by George Wallace. In 1968, when honesty and avoided discussing the issues. Most Wallace ran on the American Independent party people saw no difference between Ford and Carter ticket against both Nixon and Democratic party on Watergate. nominee Hubert Humphrey, he won 13BJ1o of the Eugene McCarthy did run as a reformer against total vote. ·both capitalist parties, which he correctly charged Wallace's 10 million votes were concentrated in with responsibility for government attacks on the South, where he carried the states of Alabama, democratic rights. But McCarthy had no solutions Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. In for the economic problems worrying the electorate, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, he and tended to downplay them in his campaign. lost to Nixon, but won a bigger vote there than Overall, because of his. commitment to capitalist Humphrey. politics, McCarthy's campaign did nothing to help In 1972, the remnant of Wallace's movement, open a way forward for the masses. without Wallace, polled slightly more than one McCarthy managed to pull about 650,000 votes, or million votes. This year it received only 168,000 1% of the total, and prevented Carter from winning votes. in four states. Thus, in the electoral arena, the 1976 campaign The rights of women was another issue avoided sealed the defeat of the diehard segregationists. The by the candidates of the two-party system. Neither racist, reactionary vote had no place to go but to Ford nor Carter had much to say about the Ford or Carter. The collapse of the Wallace movement and its rehbsorption into the two-party system reflect the changing economic reality-particularly the urbani­ zation and industrializatic;m of the South, and the Continued from back page shift among Blacks from being agricultural laborers ranks that a change was needed. NBC estimated and sharecroppers to industrial workers. It is also a that 64% of trade unionists voted for Carter, while result of the gains won by the Black liberation CBS gave the figure of 62%. movement over the last two decades. Without the votes from labor, Carter could not The reactionary objective of pushing Blacks back have won. Trade-union support provided the margin to their status prior to the mass civil-rights of difference for Carter in Pennsylvania and New movement is no longer realistic. 'such an objective York, for example. The loss of either one of these could be attained only through the victory of a mass states would have cost him the election. Ohio, fascist movement. another key industrial state, was also won by The need of the American ruling class for a class­ Carter. It was a convincing demonstration of the collaborationist relationship with reformist Black potential political power of the American trade­ leaders was reflected in the course of the presiden­ union movement-and of how that power remains tial campaign by incidents such as Carter's rapid harnessed to the service of the Democratic party, retreat on his "ethnic purity" slur and the resigna­ instead of to the independent labor party that is so tion of Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz after a racist badly needed. joke of his was publicized. Carter himself got his start in the 1976 presiden­ 'We Shall Overcome' tial primaries as the candidate assigned by the Even more impressive than the labor vote for Democratic party machine to block Wallace. Even Carter was the Black vote. NBC estimated that 92% Wallace has been trying to prove that he has had a of Blacks who voted cast their ballots for Carter, change of heart on the race issue. He recently while CBS put the figure at 83%. The Joint Center ordered the flag of the Confederate slavocracy for Political Studies, a Washington-based group flown underneath, instead of above, the American that follows Black voting patferns, reported that flag on the Alabama statehouse. He also gave D. Fradon Carter took 93% of the Black vote. approval to the pardon of a Black defendant in the

24 has never ended ·for the unemployed, for those suffering from the cutbacks, and for those fearing new layoffs. Nor does Carter have a lot of time before people begin demanding results. The extent of confidence in Carter-or the lack of it-was reflected in the NBC poll taken on election day. Only 40% of those queried upon leaving the voting booths said they would trust him to do the right thing most of the time, and only 30% chose the words "honest man" as an accurate description of Carter. There is no feeling that Carter is a savior. He is simply seen as offering a better chance than Ford to get the country out of the economic crisis. How good are Carter's chances of delivering? In that regard, his situation should be compared to that of Lyndon Johnson, who campaigned in 1964 on the slogan of the "Great Society." When Johnson took office expanding industries were creating jobs; inflation was not a pressing problem; and real wages were rising. Today, American ELECTION DAY: Turnout at polls was lowest since l948 corporations are still laying workers off, real wages remain lower than they were in 1965, and the threat of a renewed economic downturn and sharp inflation is a constant preoccupation. question, aside from their repeated statements living conditions are inevitable. The only alterna­ Moreover, Carter has fewer political excuses than opposing the right of women to abortion. Where tive would be to make the capitalists rather than his predecessors. He has a Democratic party voters did get a chance to express their views on the the workers pay, and Carter is not about to do that majority of 62-to-38 in the Senate and 290-to-145 in question of women's rights, they came out massive­ unless the capitalist class as a whole decides that the House of Representatives. Thirty-seven of the ly in favor. such a course is necessary because of massive fifty state governors in the United States are also State referendums on the Equal Rights Amend­ resistance from the working class and its allies. Democrats. ment to the U.S. constitution were on the ballot in Wall Street's expectations were summed up by Colorado and Massachusetts, and voters in both Leonard Silk in an article in the October 28 New states backed the ERA by a three-to-two margin. York Times. Although Carter has been talking * * * Particularly significant was the fact that in about stimulating the economy to produce more The 1976 presidential election showed two basic Massachusetts the ERA was worded to include a jobs, Silk noted, "In the realm of monetary facts about American politics. First, the masses of prohibition against discrimination .on account of policy . . . there are unlikely to be enough changes workers and the oppressed nationalities remain tied race as well as sex. Boston has been the scene of ... to make much difference." to the capitalist two-party system. There is no mass one of the fiercest battles in the country over Carter is also talking about reinstituting the type break yet from the Democratic party. But at the busing. of wage controls that led to a sharp drop in real same time the American people are growing As with Blacks, both the Democratic and Republi­ wages under the Nixon administration. "Mr. Carter increasingly restive within the confines of the two­ can parties put forward few women candidates. The and his advisers have made clear that they would, party system. They are becoming increasingly number of women holding elective office remained in the words of Walter W. Heller, 'maintain and impatient and dissatisfied with the choices being basically unchanged, although in the 1974 election unchain' the Council on Wage and Price Stability, offered them. there was an increase of about 27%. which has been deprecated during the Ford admin­ From this point of view, it is important to note istration." that although there appears to have been no 'Ford to city: drop dead' Silk concludes: "Many businessmen and stock­ appreciable increase in the socialist vote this year­ Aside from the role of Black voters and the trade market investors are apparently prepared to be partly because much of the protest vote went to unions in Carter's victory, the most significant upset over the possibility of a Carter victory. McCarthy-the idea of an alternative to the factor was probably the crisis in the cities. CBS However, as one corporate executive said, 'Business Democratic and Republican parties has begun to estimated that 60% of the voters in cities with prefers Republican Presidents but growls all the gain a wider hearing than ever before. The fact that populations of more than 500,000 cast their ballots way to the ~ank under Democrats.'" Michael Harrington, the best-known Social Demo­ for Carter. cratic leader in the United States, and a Carter The problems facing the city poor, of course, 'Drop dead' in politer tone? supporter, felt it necessary to debate Socialist dovetail with racial discrimination and the overall What about Mayor Beame's confidence that what Workers party presidential candidate Peter Camejo state of the economy. Ford's attitude was summar­ has been happening to New York City is "not going on this topic on the eve of the election was an ized in a headline in the New York Daily News last to happen under Carter"? indication of the growing sentiment for a better year: "Ford to city: drop dead." "The Carter campaign in New York City sees the alternative to the perennial two capitalist parties. New York City's financial crisis has resulted in two candidates as day and night," the editors of the tens of thousands of layoffs, the closing of hospi­ Wall Street Journal commented October 25. "Yet Two-party system tals, libraries, and schools, and the slashing of beyond a difference in rhetorical tones, and wishful The ruling class, of course, is not about to social services, including garbage collection and fire thinking in City Hall, we can't see why. Chances abandon the two-party system that has worked so protection. But the situation facing New York is not are that when New York returns to Washington in well for them for more than a century, but among unique. January with its plea for more help, it will get about broad layers of the population, the idea of some­ As Business Week warned in a July 12 editorial, the same reception, regardless of who is in office." thing superior is gaining in attractiveness. " ... New York City's troubles are harbingers of a Carter may agree to stretch out the time period Finally, it must be stressed once again that the broader problem. Every major city in the U.S. is over which the cuts in the New York City budget oppressed minorities and the American labor going to have serious financial distress in the next must be made, but he is in complete agreement with movement expect that because of the way they three to five years." Ford that the cuts must be put into effect. There is voted they are entitled to responsiveness from the The day after Carter's election, New York Mayor every reason to believe that Carter, too, will tell the incoming administration. Looking ahead to reelec­ Abraham Beame, a fellow Democrat, pulled out a millions who depend on city services to drop dead. tion in 1980, Carter may try to consolidate his copy of the "Ford to city" headline, which had been However, as the Wall Street Journal editors noted, position by granting some concessions. But his issued as a campaign leaflet by the Carter organiza­ he will probably do it with a different rhetorical margin for maneuver is severely restricted. Most tion in New York. Beame ripped the leaflet apart as tone. importantly, he cannot solve the basic problems television cameras filmed the scene. "I'll tell you But the masses of people who voted for Carter did that the masses expect him to solve. one thing," he said. "It's not going to happen under not vote for rhetorical tone. They voted for a In light of all these factors, it is safe to predict Carter." difference in their lives; they tried to vote their way that the next four years are not going to be easy out of the depression, out of the economic crisis that ones for Carter or for the class he represents. Prospects under Carter Which brings us to the question of the prospects under a Carter administration. An editorial in the November 15 issue of Business Week came right to the point. "One of the first things that Carter must learn as President," it said, "is that he cannot deliver on his many domestic promises so long as international economies are out of control." It would be surprising indeed if Carter did not make any gestures to the constituency that elected him. He knows that if he wants a second term in office he will again have to win the votes of Blacks, trade unionists, Chicanos and Puerto Ricans, and the population of the big cities. But the extent of the concessions that a Carter administration is willing to make will be deter­ mined by the overall problems of, the world capitalist economy. The fact is that the economic recovery in Europe, even more than in the United States, has bogged down. The imperialist regimes are squabbling over which will capture the largest share of a shrinking world market, and in this situation new attempts to hold down wage!' and

THE MILITANT/NOVEMBER 19, 1976 25 tead have sold thirty pamphlets, twenty-one subscriptions, and seven by George Novack. History of the Chicano people, ... steel single copies. by Laura Garza. History of the American labor Continued from page 3 It's a good total for a brief afternoon, movement, by David Jerome. Democracy and Calendar socialism, by Harry Ring. All sessions held at King great hopes, but "he can't be worse and dispells any idea that pamphlets BALTIMORE Hall, Cal State Los Angeles. Donation: $1 per day or than what we've got now." and subscriptions can't be sold togeth­ MOTHER. V.I. Pudovkin's classic Russian film. "We've got a different viewpoint, and $1.50 for conference. Ausp: SWP and YSA. For er. On the contrary, the two seem Fri., Nov. 19. Two showings-7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. more information call (213) 732-8197. you can read in the Militant about complementary. 2117 N. Charles St. Donation: $1.50. Ausp: Militant what Carter really has in store for For the rest of the subscription drive, Forum. For more information call (301) 547-0668. ST. LOUIS: WEST END working people. AFTER MAO'S DEATH, WHICH WAY FOR everyone agrees, door-to-door teams DENVER "But you know there's another should take both pamphlets and Mili­ CHINA? Speaker: Jim Levitt, master's degree SOCIALIST EDUCATIONAL WEEKEND. Fri., candidate in Chinese history, SWP. Fri., Nov., 19, 8 election going on now, and we think it tants. Beyond that, the pamphlet sales Nov. 19, 8 p.m.-What next for China? Speaker: p.m. 6223 Delmar. Donation: $1. Ausp: Pathfinder will mean more for working people campaign-which continues until the Mary Maisel. Sat., Noy. 20, 4 p.m.-Political rights Forums. For more information call (314) 725-1571. than the one last Tuesday. _union election next February-should and the fight for socialism. Speaker: Betsey Stone, member of SWP National Committee. 7 p.m.­ ST. PAUL, MINN. "Do you know about Ed Sadlowski? keep on bringing in more subscrip­ Feminism and socialism. Speaker: Betsey Stone. All He's running for president of the BERNADETTE DEVLIN SPEAKS ON IRELAND. tions. sessions at Metro State College, Elati ·Center Wed., Nov. 17, 8 p.m. Marian Lounge, St. Joseph United Steelworkers union, saying It's a good start. Tomorrow we hit (corner Elati and 14th St.). Donation: $1 per Hall, 2004 Randolph Ave., College of St. Catherine. that the union should be democratical­ the plant gates. session; $2 for all three sessions. Ausp: SWP and Ausp: Irish Republican Club, May Day Bookstore, ly run by the workers. That it can do a YSA. For more information call (303) 837-1018 or St. Paul Tenants Union, SWP. For more information 893-3506. lot more to get jobs, wages, safer call (612) 222-8929. conditions, and pensions you can live LOS ANGELES TACOMA, WASH. on. He's saying the labor movement A SOCIALIST VIEW OF AMERICAN HISTORY. SOCIALIST EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE. Fri., should start really fighting for a better ... Crusade Educational conference. Fri., Nov. 19,8 p.m.-1776- Nov. 19, 8 p.m.-Does America need another life for all working people." Continued from page 14 1976: Reform and revolution in American history. revolution? Speaker: Stephanie Coontz, author. Less than half of those we talk to Speaker: George Novack, author and Marxist Sat., Nov. 20, 11 a.m.-Black liberation and social­ threats against Baca as well as the scholar. Sat., 1 p.m.-Introduction to dialectical ism. Speaker: Carmen Maymi, SWP. 2 p.m.­ already know about Sadlowski. beating of Halstead and Chainey. method, by George Novack. Rise and fall of Feminism and socialism. Speaker: Margaret Trowe, "This pamphlet tells about the Sad­ For example, the paper also reprints reconstruction (1865-1877), by Sam Manuel. Histo­ member of Washington Coalition for the ERA. lowski campaign and its background. the open letter by Maria Serna, the ry of women's figHt for equal rights, by Sara Baird. Library D Conference Room, Bldg. I, Tacoma It tells how the union was first secretary of the Denver Chicano Liber­ Prospects for socialism in America, by Steven Community College. Ausp:. YSA and SWP. For more Fuchs. Sat., Nov. 20, 3 p.m.-Historical materialism, organized, some of the struggles steel­ ation Defense Committee, who was information call (206) 627-5821. workers have been through, and the present in the Crusade headquarters issues in the campaign today. when Halstead and Chainey were "It's based on articles that first assaulted. (See the Militant, November hands of Crusade leaders? struggles of the oppressed nationali­ appeared in the Militant. And you can 5, 1976). The message is clear. Those with ties, the women's movement, and the read news every week in the Militant In her letter Serna does not even whom the Crusade leaders have differ­ student movement, is the concern of all about the Sadlowski campaign and claim that the two SWP leaders initiat­ ences are warned· to keep their mouths who are fighting for social progress. many other struggles-for school de­ ed the violence that occurred. She shut or they too will be subject to the This is the stance taken by the segregation, for ratification of the simply accuses them of making "intim­ vilest slander and physical intimida­ "Declaration Against Violence in the Equal Rights Amendment.... " idating threats" as they were on their tion. And those who come to the Movement." Because we're getting into conversa­ way out of the office. defense of anyone who is slandered or That is the stance we hope the tions with people-and not just talking "It is true a physical confrontation assaulted will also become targets. Crusade for Justice will adopt. at them-it quickly becomes evident resulted," she states, "and that both The use of such methods by forces whether a person is more interested in Steve Chainey and Fred Halstead were who are fighting for social justice and the paper, the pamphlet, both, or ousted from the Crusade premises­ progress represents a cancer. If it is Correction neither. again not because they are members of not halted it can only lead to the total The article "The left & the elections" It turns out the neighborhood we've the SWP, again not because of the isolation and eventual destruction of in the October 29 Militant incorrectly picked is racially mixed, mostly Black. political differences, but because they any group that employs such methods. identifies Beverly Stewart as co­ We find we can't hit all that many were intolerably insultive, pompous, But more than the groups that resort president of the National Organization houses in a couple of hours, because so and obtrusive in their conduct." to slander, violence, and physical for Women (NOW) chapter in Pitts­ many people invite us in to talk more. Leaving the accuracy of the descrip­ intimidation are affected. It becomes burgh. Stewart is co-president of the One man describes at great length tion aside, it is clear that the Crusade the concern of every organization and First Pittsburgh chapter of NOW. what a bunch of crooks and liars all leadership considers it justified to individual in the movement. Everyone politicians are. He shakes his head. "If physically assault anyone they think has a responsibility to speak out only there were more people who think is insulting, pompous, or obtrusive. against it, to try to halt its destructive like you all do and like I do ...." The seriousness of this stance can be spread. One Black woman works in a super­ judged from another article printed in Violence against political opponents Issues in market and belongs to the retail clerks this current issue of El Gallo, an open opens the movement wide to exploita­ union, not the· steelworkers. "But I letter from Corky Gonzales to all those tion by government provocateurs who know what you're saying about these who signed the "Declaration Against ljke nothing better than the opportuni­ Boston unions. It'~ the same in ours." She Violence in the Movement." In it ty to ply their trade while covering THE RACIST OFFENSIVE buys a subscription. Gonzales states, "By your presumptu­ their tracks and attributing responsi­ AGAINST BUSING: The Lessons We run into some people who just got ous chest pounding and self­ bility to some social movement they of Boston; How to Fight Back, by back from church. There they'd heard righteousness you are joining hands are trying to discredit. Willie Mae Reid, Peter Camejo, and rumors of big layoffs coming soon. with those biased and reactionary Anyone who has read the story of others. 50 cents Preacher said it's because the govern­ forces who are no doubt pleased by the FBI's Cointelpro operation against WHO KILLED JIM CROW? The ment is forcing the company to install your attempts to create divisionism, the Black Panther party and other Story of the Civil Rights Mq_vement pollution controls. factionalism, disunity and confusion Black organizations can easily draw and Its Lessons for Today, by Peter The two hours seem to have passed with the Chicano Movement.... You the lessons. Camejo. 60 cents in a rush. Ruth and I have sold six pompously have become judge, jury Only by unequivocally rejecting the subscriptions, six pamphlets, and two and prosecutor based on misinforma­ use of slander and physical intimida­ FROM MISSISSIPPI TO BOS­ single copies of the Militant. Of the tion, ignorance, spite, guilt, or provoca­ tion against opponents within the TON: The Demand for Troops to people we've talked to, more than half tion." movement can an atmosphere be Enforce Civil Rights. An Education have bought some piece of socialist Are those who "pompously" signed a created in which political alternatives· for Socialists publication, 8lj2 x 11 literature. declaration condemning violence with­ can be discussed and decided on their format, 75 cents In late afternoon all the teams get in the movement targets for the same merits. Establishing and maintaining back together. We find that twelve kind of treatment the "pompous" those most elementary norms of demo­ Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 people going to Clairton and to Homes- Halstead and Chainey received at the cracy in the workers movement, the West Street, New York, N.Y. 10014

ChicagQ, Dec. 31-Jan. 2 Young socialists prepare f<;>r nat'l convention By Nancy Rosenstock There's plenty to do. As Camejo and abortion rights, school desegregation, against the attacks on our rights and "Help! I just finished voting. It was a Reid campaigned on college campuses, and Latin American political prison­ living standards. The convention will most horrible ordeal. Neither candi­ they urged their supporters to join the ers; supporting th~ Equal Rights discuss and vote on this document. date was what I wanted, sort of a Young Socialist Alliance-a student Amendment, Puerto Rican indepen­ We are urging all young people better of two evils. Please send me organization active year-round in the dence, and Chicano liberation; fighting interested in socialism to come to the some information on your organiza­ struggles championed by the SWP the death penalty, CIA and FBI convention. tion." campaign. crimes, and cutbacks. A special con­ This letter to the Socialist Workers The best way to find out about the vention event will be the socialist rally If you attend college or high school party national campaign office was YSA is to come to our national conven­ on Friday night, December 31. in the Chicago area, you may run into postmarked Bozeman, Montana. In tion in Chicago, December 31 through In preperation for the convention, a team of socialists publicizing the that state, restrictive election laws kept" January 2. YSA chapters are discussing a resolu­ convention. Suzanne Haig, who just presidential candidates Peter Camejo There, college and high school stu­ tion drafted by the YSA National ran for governor of Illinois on the SWP and Willie Mae Reid off the ballot. dents from across the country will Executive Committee, "Socialist Stra­ ticket, is a member of this special Another letter received after election discuss reports on the fight tegy for 1977-Perspectives for the traveling team. day said: against racism in this country, the Young Socialist Alliance." You can get more information on the "I could write pages on my political struggle in southern Africa, and how The resolution examines the roots of convention by writing to the YSA feelings, but basically they would all to win more people to the socialist today's economic crisis and how it National Office, Box 4 71 Cooper Sta­ be in agreement with what you ~~Ptand movement. affects working people and students. It tion, New York, New York 10003. Send for. Please let me know what I can do Activists will also participate in proposes a strategy for the YSA's along forty cents and we'll send you a to help after November 2." panels and workshops on defending continued participation in struggles copy of "Socialist Strategy for 1977."

26 Come to the YSA convention Socialist policy in the trade unions Class Struggle Policy in the Rise of the Labor Movement by Tom Kerry. 24 pp., 75 cents Selected Docum·ents on SWP Trade Union Policy. Resolutions and statements of the Socialist Workers party. 24 pp., 40 cents Recent Trends in the Labor Movement by Farrell Dobbs. 32 pp., 50 cents Education for Socialists publications, 8 x 11 format. Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 West Street, New York, N.Y. 10014.

The Young Socialist Alliance national convention will take place December 31-January 2 at the Sheraton-Chicago Hotel in Chicago. The convention is the perfect place to find out more about the socialist movement. NOW AVAILABLE FROM THE To find out more about the convention or to join the YSA, contact the YSA chapter nearest you (listed on page 31), or fill out the coupon below. Revolutionary Marxist Committee

0 I want to join the YSA. REVOLUTIONARY MARXIST PAPERS 0 I want to attend the YSA convention. Number 7 - Problems of the Portuguese Revolution $2.00 0 Send me more information. Number 8- Lenin and the Bolshevik Party: A Reply to Tony Cliff and the International Socialists Name ______$1.00 Number 9- Marxism and the National Question: South Africa and Address ______the Middle East $1.00 In preparation: City ______State ______Number 10 •• Black Uberation: Integration and Busing Complete list of Revolutionary Marxist Papers available upon requtJSt ZiP'------Phone ------­ Mail orders and checks to: RMC PRESS, Box 134, Detroit, Michigan Clip and mail to: YSA, P.O. Box 471 Cooper Station, New York, N.Y. 10003. 48221, USA Add $.30 mailing for each document Socialist Directory ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, P.O. Box 10772, Phoenix, 0737; YSA-(312) 427-0280. North Minneapolis: SWP, P.O. Box 11245 Highland PENNSYLVANIA: Edinboro: YSA, Edinboro State Ariz. 85064. Tel: (602) 956-1181. Chicago, North Side: SWP, Pathfinder Books, 1870 Sta., Mpls., Minn. 55411. Tel: (612) 378·9678. College, Edinboro, Pa. 16412. Tempe: YSA, Box 1344, Tempe, Ariz. 85281. Tel: N. Halsted, Chicago, Ill. 60614. Tel: (312} 642- Southeast-West Bank Minneapolis: 15 4th St. SE, Philadelphia, Germantown: SWP, Militant Book­ (602) 277-9453. 4811. Mpls., Minn. 55414. store, 5950 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. Tucson: YSA, SUPO 20965, Tucson, Ariz. 85720. Chicago, South Chicago: SWP, Pathfinder Books, Southside Minneapolis: 23 E. Lake St., Mpls. Minn. 19144. Tel: (215) Vl4-2874. Tel: (602) 795-2053. 9139 S. Commercial, Room 205, Chicago, Ill. 55408. Philadelphia, West Philadelphia: SWP, 218 S. 45th CALIFORNIA: Berkeley: SWP, YSA, Granma Book­ 60617. Tel: (312) 734-7644. St. Paul: SWP, Labor Bookstore, 176 Western Ave., St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19104. Tel: (215) EV7-2451. store, 3264 Adeline St., Berkeley, Calif. 94703. Chicago, South Side: SWP, Pathfinder Books, 1515 St. Paul, Minn. 55102. Tel: (612) 222-8929. Philadelphia: City-wide SWP, YSA, 218 S. 45th St., Tel: (415) 653-7156. E. 52nd Pl., 3rd Floor North, Chicago, Ill. 60615. MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA, P.O. Box Philadelphia, Pa. 19104. Tel: (215) EV7-2451. East Los Angeles: SWP, YSA, Pathfinder Bookstore, Tel: (312) 643-5520. 27023, Kansas City, Mo. 64110. Tel: (816) 531- Pittsburgh: SWP, YSA, Militant Bookstore, 5504 1237 S. Atlantic Blvd., East Los Angeles, Calif. Chicago, Uptown-Rogers Park: SWP, Pathfinder 2978. Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15206. Tel: (412) 441- 90022. Tel: (213) 265-1347. Books, 1105 W. Lawrence, Room 312, Chicago; St. Louis: City-wide SWP, YSA, 6223 Delmar, St. 1419. Echo Park: SWP, P.O. Box 26581, Los Angeles, Ill. 60640. Tel: (312) 728-4151. Louis, Mo. 63130. Tel: (314) 725-1571. State College: YSA, c/o Lynda Joyce, 169 W. Calif. 90026. Chicago, West Side: SWP, Pathfinder Books, 5967 Northside St. Louis: 4875 Natural Bridge Rd., St. Prospect, State College, Pa. 16801. Tel: (814) 234- Long Beach: SWP, YSA, Pathfinder Bookstore, 3322 W. Madison, Second Floor, Chicago, Ill. 60644. Louis, Mo. 63115. Tel: (314) 381-0044. 2240. Anaheim St., Long Beach, Calif. 90804. Tel: (213) Tel: (312) 261-8370. Westend St. Louis: 6223 Delmar, St. Louis, Mo. RHODE ISLAND: Kingston: YSA, c/o Box 400, 597-0965. INDIANA: Bloomington: YSA, c/o Student Activities 63130. Tel: (314) 725-1570. Kingston, R.I. 02881. Los Angeles, Crenshaw District: SWP, YSA, Path­ Desk, Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind. NEW JERSEY: Newark: City-wide SWP, YSA, 403 TENNESSEE: Knoxville: YSA, P.O. Box 8344 Univ. finder Books, 4040 W. Washington Blvd., Los 47401. Chancellor Ave., Newark, N.J. 07112. Tel: (201) Station, Knoxville, Tenn. 37916. Tel: (615) 525- Angeles. Calif. 90018. Tel: (213) 732-8196. Indianapolis: YSA, c/o Student Activity Office, 923-2284. 0820. Los Angeles: City-wide SWP, YSA, 4040 W. Wash­ IUPUI, 925 W. Michigan St., Indianapolis, Ind. Newark, Broadway: SWP, 256 Broadway, Newark, TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Student Activities, Texas ington Blvd., Suite 11, Los Angeles, Calif. 90018. 46202. Tel: (317) 631-3441. N.J. 07104. Tel: (201) 482-3367. Union South, Austin, Tex. 78712. Tel: (213) 732-8197. Muncie: YSA, Box 387 Student Center, Ball State Newark, Weequahlc: SWP, 403 Chancellor Ave., Dalla~: SWP, YSA, Pathfinder Books, 2215 Cedar Oakland: SWP, YSA, 1467 Fruitvale Ave., Oakland, University, Muncie, Ind. 47306. Newark, N.J. 07112. Tel: (201) 923-2284. Crest, Dallas, Tex. 75203. Tel:· (214) 943-6684. Calif. 94601. Tel: (415) 261-1210. KENTUCKY: Lexington: YSA, P.O. Box 952 Uni­ NEW YORK: Albany: YSA, c/o Michael Kozak, 395 Houston, Northeast: SWP, YSA, Pathfirder Books, Pasadena:. SWP, YSA, Pathfinder Bookstore, 226 N. versity Station, Lexington, Ky. 40506. Tel: (606) Ontario St., Albany, N.Y. 12208. Tel: (518) 482- 2835 Laura Koppe, Houston, Tex. 77093. Tel: El Molino, Pasadena, Calif. 91106. Tel: (213) 793- 266-0536. 7348. (713) 697-5543. 3468. Louisville: SWP, YSA, Box 3593, Louisville, Ky. Binghamton: YSA, c/o Andy Towbin, Box 7120, Houston, North Side: SWP, YSA, Pathfinder San Diego: SWP, YSA, Militant Bookstore, 1053 40201. SUNY-Binghamton, Binghamton, N.Y. 13901. Bookstore-Libreria Militante, 2816 N. Main, Hous­ 15th St., San Diego, Calif. 92101. Tel: (714) 234- LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA, Pathfinder Ithaca: YSA, c/o Ron Robinson, 528 Stewart Ave., ton, Tex. 77009. Tel: (713) 224·0985. 4630. Bookstore, 3812 Magazine St., New Orleans, La. Rm. 13, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850. Tel: (607) 272-7098. Houston, South-Central: SWP, 4987 South Park San Fernando Valley: SWP, P.O. Box 4456, Panora­ 70115. Tel: (504) 891-5324. New York, Bronx: SWP, P.O. Box 688, Bronx, N.Y. Blvd. (South Park Plaza), Houston, Tex. 77021. ma City, Calif. 91412. Tel: (213) 894-2081. MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA, 2117 N. Charles 10469. Tel: (713) 643-0005. St., Baltimore, Md. 21218. Tel: (301) 547-0668. New York, Brooklyn-Willlamsburgh: SWP, Militant Houston: City-wide SWP, YSA, 3311 Montrose, San Francisco: City-wide SWP, YSA, 3284 23rd St., College Park: YSA, c/o Student Union, University of Bookstore, 57 Graham Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. Houston, Tex. 77006. Tel: (713) 526-1082. San Francisco, Calif. 94110. Tel: (415) 285-4686. Maryland, College Park, Md. 20742. Tel: (301) 11206. Tel: (212) 387-5771. San Antonio: SWP, 1317 Castroville Rd., San San Francisco, Ingleside: SWP, 1441 Ocean Ave., 454-4758. New York, Brooklyn-Crown His.: SWP, Militant Antonio, Tex. 78237. Tel: (512) 432-7625. YSA, San Francisco, Calif. 94112. Tel: (415) 333-6261. Prince Georges County: SWP, 4318 Hamilton St., Bookstore, 220-222 Utica Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. P.O. Box 12110, Laurel Heights Sta., San Antonio, San Francisco, Mission District: SWP, 3284 23rdSt., Rm. 10, Hyattsville, Md. 20781. Tel: (301) 864- 11213. Tel: (212) 773-D250. Tex. 78212. San Francisco, Calif. 94110. Tel: (415) 824-1992. 4867. New York, Chelsea: SWP, Militant Bookstore, UTAH: Logan: YSA, P.O. Box 1233, Utah State San Francisco, Western Addition: SWP, 2762A Pine MASSACHUSETTS: Amherst: YSA, c/o Mark Cer­ Libreria Militante, 200% W. 24th St. (off 7th Ave.), University, Logan, Utah 84322. St., San Francisco, Calif. 94115. Tel: (415) 931- asoulo, 13 Hollister Apts., Amherst, Mass.01002. New York, N.Y. 10011. Tel: (212) 989-2731. Salt Lake City: YSA, P.O. Box 461, Salt Lake City, 0621. Boston: SWP, YSA, 510 Commonwealth Ave., New York, Lower East Side: SWP, YSA, Militant Utah 84110. San Jose: SWP, YSA, 957 S. 1st St., San Jose, Calif. Boston, Mass. 02215. Tel: (617) 262-4620. Bookstore, Libreria Militante, 221 E. 2nd St. VIRGINIA: Richmond: SWP, 1203 A W. Main St., 95110. Tel: (408) 295-8342. Boston: City-wide SWP, YSA, 510 Commonwealth (between Ave. B and Ave. C), New York, N.Y. 2nd Floor, Richmond, Va. 23220. Tel: (804) 232- East San Jose: SWP, 1192 E. Santa Clara. San Jose, Ave., Boston, Mass. 02215. Tel: (617) 262-4621. 10009. Tel: (212) 260-6400. 3769. Calif. 95116. Tel: (408) 295-2618. · Cambridge: SWP, 2 Central Square, Cambridge, New York, Queens: SWP, YSA, Militant Boo'

THE MILITANT/NOVEMBER 19, 1976 27 THE MILITANT

GREAT EXPECTATIONS, HARD TIMES Behind· the vote for Jimmy Carter

By David Frankel 1948, when 51% of the eligible voters cast ballots. $8,000 a year gave Carter 62o/o of their votes. One thing came through clearly in the presiden­ This year, the turnout was 53.3%, continuing the The vote in the $12,000 to $20,000 bracket divided tial election: In the end, the voters had a hard time steady decline in voter participation since 1960, half and half between Ford and Carter, while those deciding who was worse, Ford or Carter. "I don't when 63% of the eligible voters came out. The 1976 in the $8,000 to $12,000 category gave Carter a 57% think the people liked either one of the candidates turnout dropped two percentage points from the majority. (That the race was so close despite these all that much," admitted a Republican party leader 55.4% figure for 1972. statistics reflects the fact that the percentage of in Cleveland when the election was over. A prime goal of the ruling class in the 1976 those who vote rises with income.) At the close of the first of the so-called great election was to restore trust in the government, debates between the two capitalist candidates, Ford which was badly shaken by Johnson and Nixon's The American workers sought to advance their summed up by saying: "I think the real issue in this intervention in the Vietnamese civil war and by the own interests within the capitalist two-party trap. campaign ... is whether you should vote for his Watergate scandal. This becomes even clearer if the Black vote and the [Carter's] promises or my performance in two years But it remains to be seen whether Carter can trade-union vote are singled out. in the White House." restore the confidence undermined by his predeces­ A bare majority chose Carter's promises over sors. Labor bureaucrats go all-out Ford's record. They voted, above all, for Carter's The program that Carter ran on was not substan­ Carter made a strong appeal to the labor vote in promise to do something about unemployment and tially different from Ford's. Each insisted that he his speech accepting the Democratic party nomina­ restore prosperity. would maintain the stronger military establish­ tion. "Our party," he said, "was built out of the The choice, however, was not made enthusiasti­ ment. Both men opposed the right of women to sweatshops of the old Lower East Side, the dark cally. Polls estimated that 20o/o of the voters were abortion. Both supported the death penalty. And mills of New Hampshire, the blazing hearths of still undecided in the last week of the campaign. neither promised ·any new initiatives regarding Illinois, the coal mines of Pennsylvania, the hard­ The remark of one Massachusetts voter who told Black rights. On help to victims of the economic scrabble farms of the southern coastal plains, and reporters, "I'm not that hot for Carter, but I like the crisis, Carter hedged in his promises. the unlimited frontiers of America." other guy less," was typical. The trade-union bureaucracy went all-out for However, Carter was elected on a program Carter. Lowest since 1948 different from the one he ran on. In their attempt to Unions distributed more than 80 million pieces of The American ruling class was delighted that find some difference between the two candidates, literature backing Carter's bid for the White House. peOple bothered to vote at all. "Voters Jam the and in their dissatisfaction with the way things are Shop stewards and union officers were instructed to Polls," said the main headline of one New York going under Ford, the low-income voters singled out put the arm on local members during lunch breaks daily. And Chemical Bank, one of the country's Carter's vague promises for a change and his and on the job. Union newspapers functioned as largest, took out a full-page advertisement in the insistence that he would "put America back to campaign leaflets for the Carter-Mondale ticket. November 5 New York Times that proclaimed: work." "Protect Your Jobs! Vote Carter-Mondale," the "America: 79,000,000 Carter was elected to bring jobs and stop the Michigan AFL-CIO News urged in its final issue "Apathy: 0 cutbacks in social programs. before the election. "More than 79 million Americans proved that the The statistics on how people voted show how "WE NEED CARTER!" said the headline of the predictions of voter apathy were largely un­ dominant the economic issue was in deciding the New York Public Employee Press. A quote from founded." election. An NBC News poll found that 87% of those union leader Victor Gotbaum was displayed: "The Chemical Bank, however, overstated its case. who pulled the lever for Carter gave jobs as a stakes are enormous for City workers; jobs, pen­ About 67 million voters abstained, and it is clear reason. A CBS News poll found that only one sions, and the future of our City are on the line." that millions of those who finally did vote still felt income group-voters from families earning more The campaign of the union tops in behalf of resentment and dissatisfaction over the lack of a than $20,000 a year-gave Ford a majority (62%) of Carter met with success because of the feeling in the real choice. The actual turnout was the lowest since its votes. In contrast, families earning less than Continued on page 24 Abortion rights: where they stand today By Dianne Feeley Welfare (HEW). This amendment tunately, the Supreme Court rejected ment would be an increase in forced Until 1973 laws in most states would cut off federal Medicaid funds this request November 8. sterilizations. It would restore the pre- denied women safe, legal abortions. In for abortions except those necessary to While this ruling keeps the Hyde 1973 conditions that enabled hospitals January of that year, the Supreme save a pregnant woman's life. amendment from going into effect to wrest "consent" for sterilizations Court threw out these laws for uncon- The vote in Congress sparked immediately, the danger remains that from poor Black, Puerto Rican, and stitutionally denying women their protest picket lines, debates, and ral- it, or a similar measure, could become Chicano women in exchange for per- right to privacy. In the first six months lies by pro-abortion forces. On October law. forming abortions. of a woman's pregnancy, the court 22 a federal judge in New York The amendment would deny up to The 1973 Supreme Court decision said, the government cannot interfere declared the measure unconstitutional 300,000 women access to safe, legal was the most important gain for with her right to choose abortion. and placed an injunction on it. The abortions each year. Even conserva- women's rights since suffrage. It freed This landmark ruling officially legal- government, however, is preparing to tive estimates of what could be in store millions of women from unwanted ized abortion in every state. appeal the ruling. for these women are chilling. pregnancies. It set the historic prece- Now, almost four years later, Con- In addition, three anti-abortion A December 1974 HEW report esti- dent that it is a woman's right to gress has voted to take back this right members of Congress tried to get the mated that without federal funds, 125 decide for herself whether to have an from thousands of women. In Sep- Supreme Court to place a stay on the to 250 women would die from kitchen- abortion. tember it passed the Hyde amendment injunction. This would have cut off table abortions each year. In addition, For millions the old anti-abortion as part of a bill including funds for the Medicaid funds immediately until the 25,000 would be hospitalized. laws meant f~rced motherhood and Department of Health, Education and government completed its appeal. For- Another upshot of the Hyde amend- Continued on page 11