The Daily Worker Newspaper, March 22, 1924, Page 10

— be aad ' The English Labor Government and the Communist Party NOTE:—When the British La- bor Party assumed the task of forming a government ‘and with the consent of the Tory and Liber- al parties took upon itself the re- sponsibility of guiding the desti- nies of the mighty British Empire the historic development was the oecasion for much speculation on the probable course the British La- bor Party government would take. The Executive Committee of the Communist International in a res- olution published below states the causes that brought the British La- bor Party into office and sets forth the issues confronting the British workers which will test the metal and the “socialism” of the Ram- say MacDonald government. Resolution of the Executive Commit- tee of the Communist International HE entry into office of the English Labour Party represents an event of great significance. It announces the awakening of grow- ing masses of workers to class con- sciousness, and to the knowledge that both bourgeois parties are only rep- resentatives of = class oo earner of the possessing and exploiting or- ity. At the same time, the policy of the Labour government in England is the touchstone for the masses of workers of the whole world, as well as the oriental races, whether the principles of the Second Interna- tional concerning the way to Social- ism are correct. Therefore, the atti- tude of the Communist International and of the Communist Party of Eng- land to the policy of the Labour gov- ernment has the deepest significance for the development of the Commun- ist movement. This. attitude will be decided by the following fundamen- tal facts: Must Define Issues. 1. The Labour government is the result of the economic and poli- tical distintegration of England re- sulting from the severe burdens and violent shocks of the world war. The fact that the Labour Party combined four million votes in the elections is not the result of its obstinate, ener- getic and consistent work for the liberation of the proletariat from the influence of the bourgeoisie. The very fact met the Labour ~_ posseses only one press organ for *the whole of the English proletariat speaks against that. It proves how little this party has succeeded in awak- ening in the mass of the workers the eapacity to make sacrifices for the struggies against the bourgeoisie. The Labour Party could not and would not set the interests of the working class clearly, irreconciliably state system by reforms and—as a substitute for the class struggle—by the class peace. Nevertheless it finds itself te a certain extent dependent upon the proletariat and its class in- terests. If, contrary to our expecta- tions, proletarian class movements are successful in driving the Labour government into a struggle with cap- ital, this will sharpen the domestic erisis in England to a very high de- gree. If, however, as is te be ex- pected, the Labour government be- trays the interests of the proletariat, it will in that way give the prole- tariat the very best object lesson for its liberation from the illusions of eapitalist democracy, and will in this way greatly accelerate the revolu- tionizing of the working class. Already the composition of the “Labour cabinet, which is a block of Right Labour parliamentarians and trade union officials, with radical in- tellectuals, and even pseudo-radical representatives of the old civil serv- ice, permits of no hope that the La- bour Party will pursua the way of struggle. On the contrary, it is to be feared that it will go the way of compromise with the enemies of the working class, with Lloyd George ERE a dick, there a dick: “Den- nie” Sullivan’s court is full of dicks. If we let them worry us, we would never have peace. But one learns to accept these employers’ dummies decorating the stage of la- bor war. One sees how indispensable they are in the court-room seencs. These lay- figures are distributed among the girls who are awaiting their hearings. Their dumbness does not make them deaf, however, and their wax minds register whatever sounds impress them, The dicks and their fellow lackeys, the sluggers, are never shooed out of the court when the room becomes too erowded. A word to the bailiff is sufficient, if he doesn’t recognize them, They must be kept for their cues to witness whatever the prose- cutor demands. When he is ready, Attorney Tay- lor presents his pal, Judge “‘Dennie,” ithe affidavits of the alleged “attor- jney” working with him, of the sher- iff’s deputies, of the chief of the 'sluggers, of the various scabs, and \of course, of the employers, Andy Smith’s Mistake. Andy Smith, “captain of the guard,” has made so many affidavits ithat he doesn’t always remember and energetically against the class! what each contains. interests of the bourgeoisie. A large “This is your affidavit?” Taylor part of the working class still fol-|shows the paper to Andy, giving him lows the Liberals and the Conserva- tives, and the Labour Party itself, in fits leading’ elements, represents s kind of bourgeois fraction rather than a party of the proletarian class struggle. It has taken over the goy- @rnment as a party of the minority ef the population, partly with the consent of he bourgeois parties, and partly thanks to the lack of unity in the ranks of the bourgeoisie and ita inability to overcome this lack of unity in the face of the terrific tasks and difficulties which have been left over by the war. Election Victory Not Eonugh, 2. The whole of the Communist International knows that the working | the class cannot free itself from its eco- nomic slavery and political, yoke without conquering the bourgeoisie in a revolutionary struggle, without | the: destroying the apparatus of the bour- geois state and creating its own state-form which is supported by the mags organizations of the proletariat. Therefore the English Communist Party cannot hope that the liberation of the English working class will be the result of an election victory, or the parliamentary tactics of the La- bour Party. But the majority of the ish working class still possess democratic ae which — especially propaga among the masses by the leaders of the Labour Party. regime of the Labour government now opens the way to experience for the English wo elass the value bourgeois democracy. Illusions of Democracy, The Labour.government is not a government of class struggie, but on the deavors to strengthen mtrary, it ens} him. ample time to refresh his memory by glancing over the details. Andy hesi- tates no longer. Later he may have to look at Taylor for confirmation on a hazy date. LeBosky interviews the thugs and dicks outside: “You are employed by—?” He gets them all straightened out so that he won’t call the wrong witness in a case, tho any one of the boys would have “presence of mind” enough to give the proper answers in emergen- cy or error. Employers and their sons sit familiarly and almost affectionately among the most obvious bruisers. The less known dicks are assigned among girls. The bosses beam with trust in God and their lawyers, who will surely put on a good play with a happy ending. The puppets dance ir jigs so well. The Rogue’s Gallery. Most of, the sluggers are left out on the lies. Their chief talent is Court ess requires a more adaptable automaton. The dicks re- spond better on the stand. Some of them slink in the older mode most of them are confidently at home and affable. One looks as tho might have been taken other side of the bars for his job. Some are short and some are but they all cock their ears alike, an their eyes don’t miss much. of their mouths show the same z i i with his abraised unluckily wasn’t fractured little striker defended herself The. scratch on his looked like a streak of dirt. Dennie’s Farce and Asquith, that its principles will consist in pleasing these leaders of capital and forming with them a bleck against the working class. Communist Party Tasks. In view of this danger it is the task of the Communist Party to do all that is ible in order to achieve the following: a) The broadest masses of the English proletariat are to be mobil- ized in order te exert pressure upon the Labour government, so that it earnestly follows the path of conflict with the capitalist class. b) The majority of the class must be supported in this so that they convince themselves by their own experience of the complete futility of the leaders of the Labour Party, of their petty bourgeois and treacherous nature, and of the inevi- tability of their bankruptcy. For this purpose the English Com- munist Party must carry out the fol- lowing immediate tasks: 1. The Communist Party must at once pen a big campaign for the car- rying out of the promises of the leaders of the Labour Party as well as for other actual solutions which are suited to mobilize the class con- scious part of the mass of the work- By ESTHER LOWELL “This is no vaudeville!” proclaims the court. No, indeed, serious enough drama The bailiff takes his cue and clears the room of all stand- ing. Dicks may stay but girls and their parents must leave, if they can- not find seats, Most of defense Attorney Siss- man’s objections are’ over-ruled. “Dennie” is so polite, so very Chris- tianly tolerant. But why should he grant the defense anything more than a short hearing. The case is obviously against them. All these ers for common action. These solu~ tions which must contain demands which are simple and clear and which lie close’ to the hearts of the revolu- tionary workers, are to be laid down in a program of action of the Com- munist Party of England. Demand Decisive Policy. On the basis of this program, the English Communist ty must win the mass of the workers, to demand a decisive courageous policy from the government. This policy must serve the interests, not only of the work- ing people of England, but also of the peoples who are under the yoke ef English imperialism, including the Irish. It must be specially demand- ed, even if the government is over- thrown by the combined parliamen- tary blocks of the capitalist frac- tions, the Liberals and Conservatives, that the Labour government shall de- cide in favour of the following de- mands: a) For the purpose of combating unemployment, the goverrment must take effective meesures for the tax- ation of the capitalists as well as for the carrying out of the control by the state and the workers over the pro- ductive ustries that have been closed down by the capitalists. b) The government must take the initiative in the nationalization of the railways and mines which are to he administered with the assistance of the labor organizations. ¢) The government must under- take energetic measures for the li- beration of the workers and peas- ants of Ireland, India and Egypt nase yoke of English imperial- d) The government must take the lead ® the struggle against the war peril in Europe and in the conclu- sion of an alliance with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. e) The Labour Party must make use of these measures of its govern- ment in order to awaken, new groups of the English proletariat, as well as good gentlemen of his own class and , workers and peasants of the colonies, clubs say so. Let’s get this business in rise up to struggle against the over with as soon as we can; and “won’t you help?” “There are others here—” who want to get out to wine and dine. : Bailiff Gets a Smile. Every once in a while the bailiff goes into the back room and returns much refreshed. He reels about the court-room winking and chaffing with the girls. He warns them: “Be sure to stay until I say you ean go.” One. ust play even a minor part up “to. its fullest. And the bailiff gan afford to be genial. The clerk wags his jaw over the oath each time. ..One young boss is eager to testify that he nods and says “I do” several times before the clerk finishes. But why do this same young fellow’s eyes look shamedly down during his statements? _ It doesn’t take a machine to detect liars. The heart effect is all to read- able on faces. The little scab isn’t borator scarcely understands the! questions put to her and replies with nods more than words. “Dennie” Plays the Martyr. “Dennie” assumes his role well. He is the martyr. He didn’t ask these workers in, his manner says, Possibly the law will have more con- sideration for them than they havé for the law. It is nothing to him whether they obey or not. He ac- tually feels sorry for them! (He would certainly pity himself if théy were all meek and “law”-abiding and brought him no business). He tries to support his conclusions from the prosecution English bourgeoisie. Working Class Leaders. Farther, it mist be demanded that if the bourgeois cliques in — parlia- ment unite in order to overthrow the parliamentary labour party govern- ment, the Labour Party must enter the election campaign as the defend- er and leader of the. working class, in order to awaken the slumbering strength of the English proletariat and in this way prepare for its fu- ture victory. 2. The’ Communist Party must preserve its ideological, tactical and organic independence and carry on an active propaganda for its histori- cally justied conviction that the pro- letarian, revolution and the dictator- ship of the proletariat are the only guarantees for the emancipation of the working class. The Communist Party must turn with its propositions to every group and organization of the working class which demands that the Labour gov- © ernment shall carry on a determined struggle with the bourgeoisie. It must propose to them the summon- ing of joint meetings, the holding of joint demonstrations, andthe send- ing of joint delegations and so on. For these joint actions the Party must endeavor to»make agreements also with the “Left” poiltical organi-- zations of the Labour Party. The Communist Party of England must be conscious that the objective preliminary conditions are now aris- ing for its expansion into an .influ- ential revolutionary mass party. Therefore it must make every effort to implant fits organization every- where, deep in the mass of the rev- olutionary workers and above all in the centres of production. Don’t be a “Yes, But,” supporter of The Daily Worker. Send in your sub- scription at once. RUBBER STAMPS AND SEALS IM ENGLISH AND IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES INK, PADS, DATERS, RUBBER TYPE.Ere, | NOBLER STAMP & SEAL CO. HEA