THE GREAT AU TOMOBILE STRIKE BY \1\IILLIAM WE INSTONE Lessons of the Maritime Strikes ROY H UDSOJ\' The Rubber Front in Akron JAMES KELLER Party Mobilization in Ohio JOHN WILLIAMSOJ\' Trial of Trotskyite Agents of Fascism I. AMTER Trotskyism in the United States C. A. HATHAWAY Struggle Against Criminal Syndicalist Laws ANNA DAMON <<<<~<<<<<<<<<~(((~((((((~(( TWENTY CENTS Looming on tile Horizon! Tile Big Steel Strike of 1937! WHAT MEANS A STRIKE IN STEEL BY WILLIAM Z. FOSTER A brilliant exposition on strike tactics and strategy by the leader and master strategist of the great steel strike of 1919, ana­ lyzing the present favorable outlook in the giant industry which today constitutes the fountainhead of American imperialism, the vital issues at stake, affecting the lives and welfare of millions, and the political significance and probable effects of the gigantic strike which is looming in steel. What Means a Strike in Steel covers in detail the problems of strike preparation and organiza­ tion, democratic strike leadership, strike relief, strike defense, strike publicity, strike forces and reserves, and the steps neces­ sary to consolidate the victory when won. It is not only an indis­ pensable handbook on strike strategy but an inspiring guide to action in the big struggles which lie ahead. OPINIONS "Whenever Foster writes a new "We should distribute 100,000 copies pamphlet one can be sure he has an of this pamphlet." important message. But when Foster -Jack Johnstone. writes on steel, no active worker or student of labor problems can afford "Foster's pamphlet emphasizes the to miss it." important role of the Negro worker in -Jack Stachel. the steel industry, and the necessity "Foster's new pamphlet is one more of drawing the Negro masses into ac­ powerful weapon in the hands of the tive support of the steel workers when steel workers in their forward march they go on strike. It is indispensable to better conditions through unioniza­ tion and struggle." to every trade unionist." -Bill Gebert. -James W. Ford. Order in quantity from your bookshop or from WORKERS LIBRARY PUBLISHERS P. 0. Box 148, Sta. D New York. N. Y. VOL. XVI, No. 3 MARCH, 19!7 7he COMMUNIST A MAGAZINE OF THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF MARXISM-LENINISM PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE COMMUNIST PARrY OF THE U.S.A. CONTENTS Review of the Month A. B •• 195 The Great Auto Strike WILLIAM WEINSTONE 201 Lessons of the Maritime Strikes ROY HUDSON 229 The Rubber Front in Akron ·JAMES KELLER Party Mobilization in Ohio JOHN WILLIAMSON The Trial of the Trotskyite Agents of Fascism. 1. AMTER • Trotskyism in the United States c. A. HATHAWAY The Struggle Against Criminal Syndi- calist Laws ANNA DAMON • Book Reviews JOHN KURTZ Entered a second cltJSS matter November 2, 1927, tJt the Post Oflice tJt New Yorl, N. Y., under the Act of MtJrch J, 1879· Send chech, money orders tJnd correspondence to THB CoMI\IUNUT, P.O. Box 148, SttJ. D (Jo E. rJth St.), New Yorl. Subscription f'tJtes: $2.DO a year; lr.DO for six months; foreign end Canada $2.,o a year. Single copiu :w cents. ~2011 TO COMBAT THE MENACE OF TROTSKYISM Read and Distribute These Pamphlets To Defend Assassins Is to Help Fascism By Georgi DimitroD . 2c Trotskyism Against World Peace By Earl Browder • lc Why I Resigned from the Trotsky Defense Committee By Mauritz Hallgren . lc At the Moscow Trial By p. N. Priu, K.C., M.P. 5c Trotskyism and Fascism By P. Lang . lOc Trotskyism: Counter-Revolution in Disguise By M. /. Olgin . 15c Trot:sky, the Traitor By Alex Bittelman 3c Trotskyism in the Service of Fascism Against Socialism and Peace By A. Y. Vyshinsky • 5c Traitors Accused Indictment of the Piatakov-Radek Trotskyist Group 5c Stalin on the New Soviet Constitution 2c Molotov on the New Soviet Constitution . Sc Lenin and Spain By Earl Browder . lc Complete Catalogue on Request Order from your local bookshop or from WORKERS LmRARY PUBLISHERS P. 0. Box 148, Sta. D New York City REVIEW OF THE MONTH General Motors Can Be Licked • Labor Wins Important Victory • Contrasts With Green's Truce • Industrial Unionism and the New Strategy • Com­ mon Action for Auto, Steel and Coal • Sit-Down Strikes as a New Weapon • Valuable Experiences of General Motors Struggle • Monopolies Prepare Civil Warfare • Protecting Jobs of Striking Workers • Labor Views Roosevelt Critically ·• From Common Feelings to Political Alliance With Middle Classes • Faster Political Tempo • Victm-y of Maritime Workers • Stamp Out Labor Spying • A Significant Manifesto on Foreign Policy • Proposals Need Amendments • Roosevelt's Judicial Proposals and Certain Liberal Opposition • Struggle Against Trotskyism Is Affair of Progressive Mankind • Young Communist League Prepares Convention. ABOR. has won a most important agers but with the national officials of L position in the struggle against the corporation. General Motors and the economic After General Motors double-crossed royalists. It has won a position from the "Lansing agreement", and the which it will now be possible to wage union thereupon refused to evacuate the battle for collective bargaining and the plants, Sloan's formula was: no better conditions in the automotive negotiations until the sit-down strikers industry on a wider front and with in­ leave the plants. Morgan, du Pont finitely greater effectiveness. and the entire capitalist press raised Labor has taken a great step for­ the issue of the "sacredness of prop­ ward. It has scored a victory on one of erty" and declared for no compromise the most decisive sectors of the class on this issue. On this, too, General struggle front. It has scored a victory Motors had to back down completely. for all genuinely democratic and anti­ They had to draw in their tails and fascist forces in the country. start negotiation while the sit-downers At the beginning of the strike, Gen­ held the plants. eral Motors refused to negotiate with General Motors had to back down the union altogether. Sloan's formula also on another of its fundamental de­ was: if the workers have grievances, let mands. It said it will under no circum­ them speak to the plant managers. On stances grant the right of "exclusive this issue, General Motors was beaten bargaining" to the Auto Workers' completely. Negotiations are carried Union; it will not "surrended" its on by the union, not with plant man- workers to Lewis' "bondage". From THE COMMUNIST this position General Motors had to done all they could to help General retreat a considerable distance. It was Motors defeat the strikers. Together forced to recognize in effect the Auto with the "Flint Alliance", a vigilante Workers' Union as the exclusive bar­ creature of General Motors, William gaining agency in the twenty plants on Green and John P. Frey concentrated strike. It was forced to assume this obli­ their fire upon the demand of the gation for a period of six months in Auto Workers' Union for exclusive its letter to Governor Murphy, which bargaining rights, branding the strike letter is part and parcel of the agree­ as an "outlaw", and indirectly encour­ ment. aging violence against the strikers. But Finally, General Motors "agreed to Green and Frey have failed. They consent" to the dismissal of the in­ were licked together with their masters junction proceedings against the sit­ -General Motors. downers and the union officials as well The auto workers will undoubtedly as of the contempt proceedings insti­ compare the victory they achieved in tuted by the corporation. this strike, which resulted in the agree­ Does this agreement meet all the de­ ment of February II, with the terrible mands of the workers for union recog­ defeat imposed upon them by Green nition in General Motors? Of course in the infamous "truce" of I934· As a not. The union is fighting for its recog­ result of the Green truce, the young nition as the only genuine bargaining auto workers' union was nearly wiped agency of the workers in all the plants out while the company unions were of General Motors. By the agreement given a new lease of life and a most of February II, the union has won such powerful impetus for growth. A good exclusive recognition for six months deal of the difficulties confronted by in those twenty plants that were actually the present strike, from the company on strike, and the right to bargain unions and the "Flint Alliance", was collectively in the name of its mem­ due in large measure to the conse­ bers in all other General Motors plants. quences of Green's truce in I934· The fight for collective bargaining in In contrast to the Green truce, the General Motors is therefore not fin­ present strike and the agreement of ished. The workers and the union fully February II have delivered a fatal understand this. But they also realize blow at company unionism in the auto that, through the glorious 44-day industry and have established the Auto strike, they have advanced a great step Workers' Union in a most advan­ forward toward the realization of full tageous position-the first time in the union recognition; that they have won history of the industry-for continuing highly advantageous positions for con­ the fight for the full realization for its tinuing the fight for the complete es­ rights and the other demands of the tablishment of the union and for the workers. other economic demands of the workers. • • • William Green shouts "Defeat". Yes, HE FIGHT in General Motors con­ it was a defeat for Green as well as for T tinues-this goes without saying. General Motors. Green and Frey have It continues in the negotiations begun REVIEW OF THE MONTH 197 on February 16 between the union and itself up as the only recognized bar­ General Motors on the demand of the gaining agency of all General Motors workers in the matter of hours, wages, plants and of the entire industry.