The Daily Worker Newspaper, February 23, 1924, Page 9

\o Ree discussions at party con-| agitation and organization. ventions and membership meet- ings have evidenced some differences of opinion as to the functions of a communist party; differences which relative emphasis placed upon the or- ganizational and political aspects of party work, and therefore has a special bearing upon the subject of this article. Om the one side we find a group of comrades who stress the need of building the party organization itself, maintaining that at the present stage in the development of the communist movement we should concern our- selves principally with-methods of strengthening the existing forces of the party. . Believing communist education to be by far the most im- portant. method,. these comrades stand out as the chief agitators with- in the party for educational work amongst the membership. Before we engage ourselves in combat, they |. say, let us be sure our battalions have been given intensive training be- hind the trenches. It is therefore our first duty to furnish members of the party. with that knowledge of communist principles and tactics with- out which we cannot develop efficient fighters and so assume leadership of the working class, The Other Positien. Opposed to this point of view are those comrades who, in their eager- ness to show that communists do not fear the realities of the class struggle, have become absorbed in the politi- cal problems of the party, and at- tach primary importance to the science of political tactics. To map out plans of strategy, to enter into large campaigns—these are aims and tasks besides which the problems of party organization are decidedly of secondary consequence. Such ques- tions, therefore, as the intensification of educational work thruout our ranks, from the lowest to the highest units, are relegated to the back- ground. For we do no want a party that spends its time discussing the theory of surplus value, and prides itself on educational forums and lectures; we want a party of action. Now the impression has often been created by comrades arguing on one side or the other that these two views are mutually exclusive. . And each group appears to be equally con- vinced that to follow the policies of the other means the deterioration of the party. The fact is, however, that the real growth of the movement de- pends not on either policy alone, or on a compromise between them, but upon an effective utilization of both. Emphasis on Organization. Those Who harp constantly upon organization, who maintain that only a policy of systematic education of the party membership along the lines of Marxist science, can build the party, fail to grasp the significance of communist tactics—that “the de- velopment of the Communist parties ean only be achieved thru a fighting policy.” That is, not thru mere cdu- cation and propaganda, but thru participation in the struggles of the masses, thru taking the lead in or- ganizing them on the industrial and political field, thus gaining their con- 4 fidence. Besides, soldiers become good fighters not alone thru training behind the trenches, but by actual combat—which for a communis? movement means practical activity. It is true, however, that the im- phy of educational work has underestimated by some of those whose care is the formulation of political and industrial policies. Only a party sound in theory can be sound in action. We may not be afraid, as has been expressed, to venture out into the stormy sea of reality; but if we are to steer a straight course, then we “must be entirely certain going and have a firm hand on the ora a the , this certainty, -firmness, can ac- — largely thru a knowledge of principles und the move- ment, and an un g of their - ware se vogpagee It oye not = orgo' a communist party not an entity in itself, but is com- posed of individuals. Their job as to put thru the party policies, n- sidering that, it is without question one of he main tasks of the party to see that the membership is trained to carry on the work of communist of our movement, and must be reme- ,died if we are to reap gains in mem- Need For Trained Workers, | bership and communist control. Com- Never in the history of the com- | munist educational work should be an munist movement in this country integral part of the general activities has the need for such education been of the party. The Central Commit- ; : So apparent as now. The party has tee of the party should adopt a clear- | express themselves primarily in the | initiated and partidpated in cam- cut educational policy. It should paigns which, during the last year, recognize that to train comrades for extended its influence considerably. special functions such as executives, The left wing movement in the trade organizers, speakers, etc., and to unions has been appreciably strength- make the membership at large effec- ened thru our industrial policy. On tive communist propagandists in their the political field as well, thru our contact with other workers, is as general labor party agitation, we much the task. of a party of action have gained ground. But this very as participation in the Labor Party absorption in making the communist campaign. To appreciate this task party of action has produced this -merely in theory, however, is not situation—that we are not fully pre- enough. The Central Executive pared to take control of the militant Committee should give the problem forces our work developed. We lack practical consideration and, indeed, [erained-comrades to undertake execu- consider the furtherance of educa- ‘tive offices. We lack even com--tional work an essential item in its rades who have a theoretical back- budget. It should.also actively sup- ground sufficient to do the minimum ‘port and encourage local educational of communist. propaganda necessary ventures. amongst. those whose sympathy we have aroused thru our campaigns. | A few months ago there appeared A Conerete Situation. ‘in The Worker a plan for the estab- This has been particularly evident lishment in Chicago of a Lenin Col- in certain local unions in New York, lege for the training of party mem- lwhere a left wing sentiment had de- bers, Such a project, tho very de- | Beginning Made. Morgan’s Library if Communist Education--A Pressing Need iy ResEcca GREcaT , tors is working on the details of re- organization, Must Be Centralized, | With all the enthusiasm and en- |ergy that the District itself may put |into the venture, however, its success idepends to quite an extent upon the |Support given by the Centrai Execu- |tive Committee. We must recognize that education is an essential phase of party organization and develop- ment. Inténsive educational pre- paration of our members must there- | fore proceed concomitantly with the practical work of the party. One does not exclude but rather comple- ments, reinforces, the other. We do not become a party of theory by emphasizing educational training. On the contrary, such emphasis increases the possibilities for activity because jit puts more qualified comrades inte the field. Having developed a left wing sentiment, we must train men and women to guide and organize it, To the extent that our movement is young and inexperienced, this task becomes more significant. We are confronted with its need at every step in our work. Every worker who is a member of the party is in a way a pioneer. He is blazing the trail that will lead ultimately to the seizure of power by .an organized, class-con- scious body of workers. To equip him, to arm him, is a pressing duty. And that must be the function of our educational efforts. Education For Activity. Let those comrades who dread a return to the old aimless, unprodue- tive theoretical spouting lay aside their fears. We are not concerned with education for the sake of educa- tion. In recognizing the inter-de- pendence of educational training with practical activity we infuse life and purpose into the teaching of com- munist scence and world history. The party, it is true, cannot grow merely ‘by establishing classes in_ historical materialism and the development of \the American labor movement. But | neither can it be built exclusively |thru political manoevres unless those | wth whom we carry on our work are ‘able to plant the seeds of communist ‘principles and aims in the ground we ‘plough. In other words, education lof the party membership must be imade an instrument for increasing |party activity and strengthening our ‘influence as a party of deeds, not of | words. . veloped strong enough to put us in power, but where we were unable to take advantage of this in several instances simply thru lack of trained comrades. The complaint is fre- quently heard that our comrades do not know how to take the floor at union meetings to discuss union pro- blems; that they do not have even such elementary knowledge as is necessary for the taking of minutes: Undoubtedly a similar condition ex- ists in other party centers, as is often impressed upon us when such cen- ters as Boston, Cleveland, Philadel- phia are compelled to turn to the National Office for speakers. In other words, we, have not enough skilled party workers to consolidate our political gains by organization. Such conditions hinder the growth Gente geen cereale renee aR SS SD wo eree testes inate ste Postedtes® Soitentonteds F the bombardment of the Teapot investigation would only permit any- resound thruout thing else to be heard, there would about a scandal The Tariff sirable, is yet a scheme for the fut-| ure. What we need is a plan that | Pastoral can be put into effect right now. And By WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS at the present time we must look to When I was younger local centers to start educational work | It was plain to me with the assistance of the national or- | I must make something of myself. ganization. ; ; The New York District has already made a promising beginning. Early last fall a school was organized and several classs started in history, Marxism, English, etc. For a while these ran along with some degree of success, but to make the school more effective it was found necessary to reorganize it, systematizing its work and placing it more directly under the control of the District Executive Committee. This was done, and at the present writing a Board of Direc- POOH S ROTTEN TO THE COR the country a barrage afflicting the President’s Tariff Commission. Commission is now in the midst of a controversy among of the way we are |" its own members. This row has reached a serious stage. The fear entcr- tained by some of the personnel because of the recent disclosures in Wash- ington, has inspired several members to insist that one of their number immediately quit “sitting in a hearing that relative to the sugar duties”. The charge is made that this tariff expert’s wife owns shares in a Louisiana sugar company. President Coolidge who has been 2 vgpigerone Boa vociferously to punish the guilty wherever found, has not made a single move to force the resig- tion of Com Glassie from the Tariff Coolidge has not even found it advisable to urge Mr. Glassie. to ‘y himself during the determination of the effect of the tariff on sugar. Mr. Glassie is showing no signs if willingness to withdraw and vigorously contends for his right to continue as an expert on sugar duties. It is only the Senate’s preoccupation with the Teapot stem] that has prevented a sensational expose of condition in the ff Commission. Tari rouge ap sap hay vn aera yheryeen SE ally Pend vdren pipet say Son of by Smoot in the Senate, that had secured a raise on the t on sugar from $1.60 to $1.84 a 100 pounds the Cuban growers refused to reduce their crops. The Fordney-McCumber Tariff Act thus enabled the suger capitalists to clean up close to $100,000,000. The principal significance of this conflict in the Tariff Board is simply another straw indicating that the whole capitalist system of government fn the United States is rotten to the core and that the governmert in all its subdivisions is owncd body and soul by the employing class. — Older now I walk back streets Admiring the houses Of the very poor: Roof out of line with sides, ‘The yards cluttered With old chicken wire, ashes, Furniture gone wrong; The fences and outhouses Built of barrel-staves And parts of boxes, all, If I am fortunate, Smeared a bluish green That properly weathered Pleases me best Of all colors, No one Will believe this Of vast importance to the nation. Street Windows By CARL SANDBURG. The pawn shop man knows hunger, And how far hunger has eaten the Of one who comes with ah old keep- > Here are wedding rings and baby bracelets, Scarf pins and shoe buckles, jeweled garters, ] Old fashioned knives with inlaid handles, Watches of old gold and silver, Old coins worn with finger-marks. They tell stories. “It is self-evident that the basis dialectic consists in this, that all boundaries in nature and in macys Sede conditioned and mobile.” “As long as the shame of war will remain, we will be forced to trace in blood the road of the fu- ture.”—Trotsky. pti