The Daily Worker Newspaper, February 2, 1924, Page 6

that furnished the nucleus Political Ac Toe lack of a working class politi- cal viewpoint apparent in the American trade union movement, to say nothing of revolutionary political vision and tactics, is a source of great concern to everyone who realizes the important part the trade unions must play in the tremendous changes that are taking place in the capitalist world. Disgusted with the reactionary char- acter of official trade union policies, the belief has gained ground among the revolutionary elements that the American trade union movement is generally anti-political, and that where it is not, its activities serve only to strengthen the hold of the capitalist class on industry and gov- ernment. Two Points In this article, I want to prove two thin as- First, that the American trade un- ion movement, as represented by the American Federation of Labor, in- stead of being anti-political, or even non-political, conducts intensive and very complicated political activities. Second, that, while judged by revo- lutionary standards, these activities are either of a mild reformist or pos- itively reactionary nature, théy are not entirely the result of the conspira- torial machinations of evil geniuses in the form of trade union bureau- crats, but are also conditioned by the social, economic and political milieu, in which the trade unions have de- veloped. Early Political Thinking The earliest protest movements of which American history advises us, conducted by the feeble trade unions of that day, were against executive and judicial tyranny, and took on a politieal form. The right, first to combine for protection and then to strike, was gained by the early un- ions only thru political agitation and action, as McMaster clearly shows. The campaign for free and compul- sory education resulting in the estab- lishment ,of our public schoo] system was an early movement in which the trade unions of that time formed ihe most active section. The Owenite agitation again at- tracted the support-of the trade un- ions and it was these organizations of the movement, The Knights of Labor was more a political than an indus- trial organization and in every wave of protest that has swept the nation since that time the trade unions have taken a leading part. : No Anti-Political Tradition There is, therefore, no anti-political tradition so far as the trade unions of the United. States are concerned. There is a plentitude of confusion of thought and a disposition to follow what appears to be the line of least resistance, such as the’ support of liberal candidates on the capitalist party tickets, but this is no evidence of any anti-political bias. Reasons for Present Methods It seems to me that one of the . principal reasons for the ineffective and non-working class. character of the present political activity of the trade unions is to be found in the fact that in the United States, owing to conditions which can not be detailed in an article of this length, the trade unions never \have been able to convince the ruling elass that they have a right to exist; that they are a permanent part of our so- cial structure, and must be recog- nized as such; this fact is made clear during every period of stagnation in industry bringing widespread unem- ployment. The national associations of employers no sooner see an over- stocked labor market than the cry of “wipe out the unions” is raised, In no other great capitalist nation is this condition found. The recent open shop drive is only the most recent evidence of this attitude. It is a little too much to expect that such an extremely feeble trade union movement should develop a powerful] the political movement. American Ideology . aes a vent one agen of union members! of foreign birth and extraction, ce citizens of the United States, the tivity in the Trade Unions ter struggle that even the most con- servative unions are forced to con- duct, combined with -this typical American viewpoint, makes the lead- ership hesitate to place in the hands of the employers what they, the lead- ers, believe to be an effective weapon ability to charge and prove radical tendencies, Demanding, as American citizens, a mythical, but, to them, very real thing known as the American stand- ard of living, these officials view with a holy horror, absolutely incompre- hensible to the average revolutionist, any act or utterance that would make it difficult to defend their loyalty to American institutions. Cenerete Rewards _ In many sections of the trade un- ion movement favorable working con- ditions, high wages and job control are obtained quite as often by politi- cal deals and trades as they are by the economic strength of the unions. _ To the building trades in many cit- ies the appointment of bui ng, plumbing, electrical and health in- spectors favorable to the unions is a matter of vital importance. In mu- nicipal elections such issues ag these will arouse the greatest interest in the unions and any form of political activity that would alienate the un- ion’s friends in either the democrat able or hostile measures, and many times finds it necessary to secure the passage of resolutions for or against wertain measures and even to organize demonstrations against them. Last year in New York the labor unions sent a veritable army of representa- tives to Albany to protest against the enactment of bil's menacing labor or- ganizations, Ease of Betrayal The officials entrusted with the re- sponsibility of passing on laws or candidates for labor to oppose or sup- port develop a high degree of skill in political maneuvering; they often be- tray the interests of the labor move~- ment and certainly nothing could be easier with the present level of po- litical consciousness among the rank and file; the wonder is that it does not occur more often. Progress To one familiar with the lack of cohesion and common program in trade union political activities, the or- ganization of the Conference for Pro- gressive Political Action, was an ad- vance step for the trade union move- ment. , It has no class character—quite the reverse—its program is hopelessly inadequate, but for the first time thou- sands of local unions, scores of cen- or republican parties is frowned upon.tral bodies and dozens of state fede- The labor union government of San rations of labor, found themselves Wait Until He Wakes Up. | A GOMPERS’ DREAM | Francisco, under Abe Ruef and P. H.} unitin, McCarthy, is a case in point. Defensive Activity There is again the necessity for se- curing neutrality from the police “spring” arrested strikers, immunity from prosecution from various neces- sary activities a hostile administra- tion could make much of, ete. Much of the political activity that secures the Be se mentioned is al valueless, much of it - it is, none the less. of Political ression The state federations of labor and central labor bodies—city central political matters they are considerable latitude. basis of trades union organization is|only bodies thru which the labor American citizenship. The right of| unions, as such, find organized polit- franchise is considered the guarantee] ical expression and are important of political and economic equality and, in a this becomes for the trade unions, a hostility to any form of po- litieal activity based on the class struggle. Effect of Weakness The weakness ‘of the trade union movement and the constant and bit- because of this fact. Constant Activity In many cities the political activi- ties of these two bodies are of an in-} For tively harmful, but political activity | } j eaeyeem Se on a program that gave them a national political viewpoint and a commen program, mild and ineff: tive as it was and is. ) By WILLIAM F. DUNNE italist class, and there is no more im- portant task for the Communists in the trade unions than to assist this development by activity based on knowledge of the strength and wéak- nesses, the ignorances and prejudices of the membership of the American labor movement. Of Strategic Importance : There is no better starting point than propaganda for a wholesale de- sertion of the parties of the employ- ers, based on a wealth of concrete instances of betrayal, both by ecandi- dates and labor officials, for a farmer- labor party controlled by the unions and farmer organizations. With this idea of a class party every honest unionist is in sympathy, altho he may be held from work for it and participation in it by fear of losing some immediate advantage. In addition to these fears he must reckon with the bureaucracy which now has abandoned all pretense of ruling by consent of the rank and file. Control of the unions today is a ma- chine-like process comparable only to the manner in which the capitalist state maintains power. The bureau- eracy in) no way expresses the desire of the membership for expansion of political activity, but opposes it. Great Opportunities With this as a beginning, however, and with the growth of the move- ment itse’f, the bars are down for po- litical agitation of a far more funda- mental character—for Communist propaganda—impossible when the only political issue discussed is the extent of the friendship of republi- can or democrat candidates Extension of Party Activity Party activity in the trade unions from now on must take on more of a Communist character—it must be more political. We have won the sympathy of the left wing with our slogan of amalgamation and the work for this objective now is largely of an organizational -character—the mob- iliza of our sympathizers in the fights against the sabotage and ter- ror of the bureaucracy, Our Task The defeats of the railway men in particu'ar, on the industrial field, has given impetus to political thinking. The shopmen know that it was the capitalist government that beat them, To drive this lesson home with all its corollaries is the task of the Com- munists, mag de —_—s our previous campaigns have not easy, but possible. ms Lenin and American Films “The art of the cinema is the most important of all arts for the Russian people,” wrote Premier Lenin not long before his death. So great was the value he placed on the film as a direct appeal and an education for Russia’s backward masses that at one end of his work ke on h sides paratus in the opposite corner. 732 E Z +i88 Be 3f* Fz i ; : #3 i : af : F Fr = 8 = | iE 28 i i i F i fi BEE a 2 3 | E : gE f i a sae ff ; i F F Hs 7 Z u ia57