The Daily Worker Newspaper, March 29, 1924, Page 11

The Struggle Within the Russian Party Being the continuation of the re- port given by Comrade Gregory Zinoviev, chairman of the Commun- ist International, at the city meet- ing of the Collective Bureaus of the Leningrad Communist Party Organization, u | THE resolution passed at our conference, I made use ot the expression: The struggle between two fractions within a party which is governing the state contains the germ of two governments. And at the beginning of the year 1918 the germs of two governments existed. At the present time everybody smiles at the idea that Bucharin and Ooritzky could ever have seriously contemplated deposing Comrade Lenin and replacing him by Pyata- kov. But at that time the situation was such that this plan could be brought up in the party of the left social revolutionaries hostile to us. We were a hair’s breath removed from the most appaling disaster. The cause of the revolution hung by a hair. I shall never forget meet- ing Comrade Lenin in the corridor * * of the Smolny after we had received ) of the news that the Germans, utilizing our hesitation with regard to the conclusion of the Brest peace, had sent their troops against Pieskau. Comrade. Lenin said to me: “Kyvery- thing seems to be lost. For once in my life I gave way to people who were leading the Party on the wrong path, and now it seems as if the revolution is to be lost thru it.” . Danger of Situation. - When it is asserted that we should return to the times of the Brest peace, then we suy: No, the lesson which we learnea at that time shall not be in vain. It is not such a very great misfortune when the Party commits this or that error, so long as it is made wiser by the ex- perience. The errors committed at the time of the Brest peace have shown us that fractional struggle signifies the .decay of the prole- tarian dictatorship. Comrades, consider more atten- tively the atmosphere prevailing in Moscow. We hear that Leningrad is provincial. I take the liberty of believing that this is not quite the case. Leningrad is the central, which is developing more and more. Comrades Sapronoy and Preobra- zensky say: “To be sure, out there in the provinces they are behind- hand and have no comprehension for the attractions of freedom of frac- tion and discussion,” ete. Thus we are simply provincial - i : And look at what is going on in Moscow. Over every wire and by : wireless as well, in every commis- sariat and sub-commissariat, of which there are a million and one, the whole of the employes occupied in these commissariats and sub- commissariats are all buzzing with the same idea; there is something wrong in their Party, some rupture is preparing in the Party; let us see what is going to happen; let us wait and see how it will end. Fractions Cause Demoralization. The same subject matter is busy- ing bourgeois and “state officia:’” Moscow. It. is just as I safd on the occasion of the Brest peace. As soon as any “differences of opinion | arise in Party life these spread at lightning speed over the whole. state apparatus, and the state apparatus splits and begins to whisper ners instead of working. And the the whole * in the originated in its having parca er. t Pr Conmredét,” tihdre ta 0 Gabi aiele of truth in this. Formerly, before the Party took over power, and no such pressure was put upon it was not troubled with any of the state apparatus. Thus would appear that the wholo “mis- chief” arises from our taken power. We formed the Party for the special purpose of overthrowing the bourgeoisie and placing the power in the hands of the workers. About two weeks ago the discus- sion took such a turn that seme of us said; “The resolution passed at the Tenth Party Congress, prohibit- ing the formation of fractions, must be cancelled. Unless this is done, no workers’ democracy will be able to accomplish anything.” There are some less experienced and less dip- lomatic comrades who are still say- ing this. Thus, for instance, today’s Pravda publishes an article by Com- made Krylenko, attorney for the re- public. So far as I am aware, Com- rade Krylenko ‘does not belong to the fraction of “democratic central- ism,” but speaks solely as a jurist, from the viewpoint of legality, and says: ‘If you do not allow freedom of fighting from a definite platform, then the whole workers’ democracy | is abolished.” Wha, is a Fraction? I should like an exact definition of what a fraction or group is. If you do not want fractions, we shall course agree, as demanded by Party discipline. “But we are prepared to say that the workers’ democracy is again, as it was after the Tenth Party Con- gress, merely &@ proclamation upon paper. I do not know in which direction Comrade Krylenko tends at present, HE PARTY AT WORK |__ ae PARTY AT We but it seems to me that his pro- fession is leading him astray; he is anxious to have a neatly rounded juridicial formulation of what a fraction is, what a group is, and what a workers’ democracy is. In- stead of taking life as it is, he is looking for some “code? and stumbles over it. But we are confi- Comrade Krylenko. We believe that he will comprghend that tho it is difficult to draw up a code of crim- inal law under the conditions impos- ed by the new economic policy, the working out of a code on groups only requires the good will of a revolutionist who really understands the interests of the revolution, and ;does not put the question sophisti- cally, asking: “Can I, for instance, join Comrade Preobrazensky?” He receives the reply: “Yes, you can.” —“Can I speak in the same nu- cleus 7”—“Yes.”—"“Can one speak in five nuclei?”—“You can do that |too.”—“Then it seems to me that \this is the solution of the riddle, and j that you will have to admit freedom " fraction.” Speak Candidly. In my opinion, such a viewpoint \is unworthy of a revolutionist, No jone asks that anyone should not nuc No, join the nuclei if you please, but do not forget that we are the sole legal Party in this country, Central Committee of Workers Party Supports South Slavic Bureau Against Former Editors “The disruptive tactics of former opportunist editors of the South Slavic section of the Workers Party were condemned by the Central Executive Committee of the Workers Party in a statement which is published herewith: To the Members of the South Slavic Section of the Workers Party: Dear Comrades: The tral Executive Committee of the Workers Section and the Bureau, regarding the attitude of the Bureau toward Cvetkoy and Kutuzovich, former editors of the Party organ. ; On Feb. 24, members of the C. E. C. met with your Bureau, with Comrades Fisher, Jurich, Horvat, Znavor and Mirakovich also and went into length, i guments from hours. Since that time both sides have submitted written statements and translations of articles, all of which have been carefully taken into con- sideration by the C. E. C. We find all elements agreed that Cvetkov and Kutuzovich should not be taken back into the Party. The issue is between the Bureau, which insists that it nas been fight- ing for a’ Communist policy in its controversy with the ex-editors, and those comrades who have objections to the personalities and methods of the Bureau. Supports the Bureau. The Central Executive Committee most empha’ states that it sup- ports the general line of policy fol- lowed..by the Bureau of your Sec- tion in fight agains¥ the former editors, ; and Kutozovic who left the paper without the consent the Bureau, and who left the Party of their own accord, The Central Executive Committee de- that the fight of the Bureau these former editors and present, the situation at ts and ar- sides for eight Party, upon the request of the Bureau of your Section, has held an-extensive hearing on the controversy between certain members of the South Slavic a lectuals, but strong dislike for pro- letarian members of their own or- ganization who propagate the class struggie. They act in the capacity of provocateurs, by denouncing the Party in its relations to catalde ganizations, and in other ways. ° line, and held to their “rights” to write and say whatever they please, without re- sponsibility to _ organization, They published a very demoralizing article in the coal strike, parroting dent of being able to come to an agreement with such comrades as [Rocke "No, join the mice if you never passed that we are surrounded by enemies on all sides, and that we must not allow the formation of groups. Two weeks ago the question was raised as to whether we could cancel the resolution passed by the Tenth Party Congress, that is, Comrade Lenin’s resolution. Then we plung- ed into the fight. When these com- rades saw that it would be so easy to annul the resolution of the Party Congress, that altho Comrade Lenin ; is ill and unable to take part in the fight himself, he has schooled a number of other people during the course of thirty years, and these know how to defend his cause when he himself is chained to his bed (ap- plause), then they retired to the positions which they had ready, and put the question as follows: It is possible to manage without frac- tions, but allow us groupings. To this we replied that we were very will aware that these group- ings were nothing more ner less than the same fractions. Why hide behind pseudonyms? It is better to speak candidly on the matter, as Comrade Krylenko does. (To Be Continued Monday.) Page Mr. Fall! “That man says a dishonest dollar thru_his hands.” “Not if he could help it,” answer- ed Senator Sorghum; “he’s always held on to it.” ae only intellectuals are qualified to take a leading part in the move- ment and that workers should hold their tongues. This state of affairs, fostered: for years in the South Slavic section of the Party, is a very unhealthy one. “Intellectuals” Must Behave. Cultural activity, so long as it is based upon the class struggle and the Communist program, and does not degrade our Party from the position of fighting leader of the working class into a mere bourgeois educational sect, is to be encour- aged and developed. But the Party cannot agiree that this necessary cultural work can only be done by certain individuals who try to use their ability and training as a club to force their own direction upon ,the Party. Cultural work must be | developed by the proletarian ele- |ments themselves, with the assist- »ance of such “intellectuals” as are willing to subordinate themselves to the interests of the workers and the discipline of the Party. The | South Slavic: Section of the Work- | ers Party undoubtedly contains men They and women capable of developing | ia feature of your work who are at the same time tried and trusted comrades, with loyalty to the Party and to the Communist International. Every Good Comrade Welcome. The Central Executive Commit- the cheap arguments of the capital-|tee is not interested in supporting ist press and discouraging the strik-|or condemning any individual mem- ers, thereby proving that they had| ber of the South Slavic Section. not the most elementary knowledge | We want to draw every good Com- of the class struggle and how a! munist into active participation in Communjst should act. The Bureau acted according to its Communist duty when it took vigorous action against these and _ other ~ things, which are nothing less than the manifestations of opportunism. Good Comrades Misled. It is to be regretted that a few good proletarian comrades have been under the influence of Cvetkov and Kutuzovich, to such an extent that they have defended these un- Communist actions of theirs and have written in-the “Novi Swijet’” against the Bureau._ Party mem- bers cannot write for ‘non-party publications, except under the di- rections of Party committees; when non-P. papers are attacking the Party, is not permissable that Party members should assist in any manner; but to go into such a tile paper to air grievances of Party, is an act which the itself cannot allow to con oars . toed ie the Work upon every mem e Wo Party to cease writing for, or in way, the it ia gs eg dgis feilelct se E the work of the Section, including those comrades who, thru misun- derstanding, have been misled into supporting the enemies of our Party. In your coming Convention we hage that you will have a full and frank discussion which will result in the selection of a Bureau that will have the complete cooperation of every (meeunber and which will at the same time have the necessary understand- ing of Communist principles, Com- munist discipline, and loyalty to the Communist International. The Central Executive Committee will send a special representative to the Convention to assist in the solution of all problems confronting you, the liquidation of controversies, and the fraternal unification of all true fol- lowers of the Communist Interna- tional for the great struggles which lie before us. , We call upon every South Slavic Worker, members and ex-members of the Party, to return to the work of building up, strengthening and ecting our Party, to eliminate all old quarrels, to. join together in the most energetic participation in our general Party life and Party work in the American ciass strug- United to conquer the future for the Workers Party! With Communist greetings, ve Workers Party of Amefica,