The Daily Worker Newspaper, April 19, 1924, Page 7

a li » INTERNAL PARTY PROBLEMS & Statement of the Central Executive Committee of Workers Party of ‘America, To the membership of the Party. Comrades: We are on the eve of big developments. The succesful con- sumation of the June 17th Conven- tion will mean a gigantic stride for- ward in the life of the American Labor movement. It will also in- crease manifold the prestige and in- fluence of Communist ideaseand con- sequently of the Workers Party. And yet it is only gradually and slowly that-our membership is awak- ening to the realization of these im- mense possibilities. This statement and appeal to the party is issued in the hope that it will accelerate this process and thereby enable the party to mobilize all its resources and ener- gies for the impending task and carry it out. Internal Conditions for Our Success: The Central Executive Committee fully realizes the conditions that must _ prevail in the party in order that our present labor party campaign may be crowned with success, These internal conditions are: 1) The membership of the party _ Maust be fully conscious of the nature of our task as well as of the strategy and tactics to be employed in the realfzation of these tasks. ; 2) The membership, or at least its overwhelming majority, must have complete confidence in the ability and competency of the-C. E. C. 3) The entire party membership and party organization must give whole-hearted and unstinted support to the leadership of the CEC. _ Actual Situation in the Party. The CEC is glad to say that our membership has reached a pretty thoro understanding of the general nature of our immediate task and ob- jectives regarding our labor party campaign. The thing, however, that is yet to be achieved by our member- ship is just as a thoro a grasp of our strategy and tactics. This is just as important as a clear understanding of our objective. To define at any given moment the im- mediate objective of a Communist Party is hard enough to be sure. But when this objective has been defined correctly, then the entire success of the struggle to attain it depends upon the. correctness of the strategy and the tactics applied. On this point, on the point of strate- gy and tactics in our labor party campaign, we still find in the party a lack of sufficient clarity and under- standing, with the result that the party organization does not respond readily and quickly enough to the leadership of the CEC, and that in a few instances party units have actual- ly deviated from the established party policy. We also find in the party at present a clear manifestation of an organized factional opposition. Irrespective of the merits or demerits of its case, the harmful effect of such organized opposition upon the fighting ability of the party cannot be successfully disputed. The Study of Strategy and Tactics. The Central Executive Committee wishes to impress upon the party membership the vital necessity of studying party policy with particular regard to the strategy and tactics in- volved. We have already become ac- customed and pretty well trained to analyze party policy always from the point of view of the fundamental Communist principles. This is a great achievement indeed, But we have yet to learn to analyze the means and methods for the realization of our im- mediate objective; that is, the art of strategy and tactics. Toward this end we recommend a critical and careful study of the last thesis of the C. BE. C., also the thesis of comrade Lore and Olgin and the reply thereto by comrades Cannon recent published letters of the C. B. ©. to the District Executive Deviations From Party Policy. In recent weeks the C. E. C, had oc- casion to deal with the following de- viations from party policy: 1) Failure by some of our mem- bers to consider and treat our policy in regard to the Third Party move- ment as an integral part of our ge- neral labor party policy. Altho the final decision in the matter of “the Third Party’ movement rests now with the Comintern; nevertheless, it must be accepted as established party policy that our attitude toward the third party movement cannot be treated as something separate and apart from our general labor party policy. A. certain portion of our membership, particularly in the East, has not as yet accepted this point- of-view. 2) An inclination by some of our members, when engaged in united front campaigns, not to make known the fact that they are Communists, and members of the Workers Party. This inclination manifested itself re- cently in Minnesota. 3) An exaggerated anxiety to avoid conflicts with so-called progressive labor leaders to the point hesitating to fight openly and promptly the idea of Labor organizations supporting candidates on the old party tickets. This manifestation took place recent- ly in Detroit. Thése deviations from correct Com- munist policy, have their origin in two different sets of circumstances. The incorrect treatment of the third party movement reflects a conception of Communist tactics and policy which Comrade Lenin described as “Leftism.” In our case this concep- tion is motivated mainly by the fact that some sections of our party have not yet fully entered the daily strug- gles of the workers, have not actual- ly engaged in united front campaigns on a large scale, and therefore have failed to realize the -intricate and complicated nature of Communist strategy and tactics. It is by no means accidental that these leftist ideas prevail in the East where our party organization, so far, has not en- gaged in large scale united front campaigns. Nor is it accidental that the devi- ations manifested in Minnesota and Michigan are rather of an opportunist character. It is these places (the West generally, and particularly in Minnesota) that our united front campaign have assumed the biggest proportions. It is there that we have made our greatest practical achiev- ments. _ No wonder, therefore, that some of our most active comrades in these districts have become over-sensitive to the requirements of expendiency, practical advantage and - immediate success. Deviations from Communistic policy of an opportunist nature are mostly the result of practical success, just as deviations of a leftist nature are the result of isolation and pacivity. Both must be guarded against con- stantly and carefully. The C. HB, C. lost no time in cor- recting the mistaken ideas of * our comrades in the districts referred to above. We are glad to report that the instructions and corrections of the C. E. C. have in all cases been ac- cepted in proper Communist spirit. Organized Opposition to the C. E. C. At the membership meetings re- cently held in Philadelphia and New York, an attempt was made by some of our comrades to raise factional is- sues and, by indirect means, to crys- these meetings, calling upon the C. E. C. to do the following: 1) To combat and stamp out Consider the facts: 1) At both of these meetings Com- rade Ruthenberg appeared in the name of the C. BE. C. and delivered au extensive report on the policies and activities of the C. BE. C. From his report, as well as from the party press, it should have been obvious to everyone that the C. E. C. is perfectly alive and alert to every situation in the party, and that opportunistic ten- dencies—wherever and whenever they made their appearance—were prompt- ly dealt with by the C. E. C. in a proper Communist way. In fact, it was only from this report of the re- presentative of the C. EB, C., and the published letters of the C. E. C. to Detroit and Michigan, which were de- signed to point out and combat oppor- tunist deviations, that the comrades could have learned of their existence. Then why did the comrades find it necessary to introduce resolutions “calling upon” the C. B. C. to take action which had already been taken —— case, promptly and decisive- ly 2) These meetings were called by the C. E. C. for the express purpose of clarifying some of the issues of our labor party policy before our membership, and of mobilizing them for the June 17th Convention. 8) The C. E. C. considered the case of comrade Lore some five weeks ago. After thoro deliberation, the C. E. C. decided that the articles of com- rade Lore in question give rise to misconceptions regarding the history of the Comintern. It decided, there- fore, to call upon Comrade Lore to submit for the approval of thé C. B. €. a draft of a statement correcting the impression that might have been }created by his article, and that this statement, upon approval by the C. EB. C., should be published as an edito- rial in the Volkszeitung. Comrade Lore ‘agreed to this decision. 5) In the course of the membership meetings in New York and Philadel- phia comrade Ruthenberg related all these facts. It appears from the above facts, that the C. E. C. took prompt and Proper action in the case of comrade Lore, and, also, that the C. E. C. need- ed no reminder in the matter of com- Room 303, 166 W. SUH | ‘in Penetrating Analysis! Burn . “Here are described every political, the war, between with special rate 1113 Washington Blvd. ‘Workers Party. PROCEEDS FOR GERMAN RELIEF. 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FIFTY CENTS PER COPY, Bundle orders of ten or more, 35 cents pach, Trade Union Educational A special edition of this book has also been published for the Branches and members of the party are expected place their orders with the literature depa Pat th ne nlivonn bating opportunist deviations in those sections of the party where they arise. And yet some of our comrades in New York and in Philadelphia found it necessary to introduce resolutions of a sort which could have no other purpose than to sow doubt and suspi- cion in the party ranks against the C. E. C. and thus, by indirection, to undermine its authority, crystallize opposition to its leadership, and gen- erally demoralize the party organiza- tion, ' Aside from this, the introduction of these resolutions was bound to divert the attention of the membership from the main purpose of these meetings, thereby sertously interfering with our campaign for the June 17th conven- tion. We Need a United Party. The success of our work, particu- larly on the eve of the June 17 con- vention, demands a united party. The C. E. C. appeals to the party mem- bership for unity and action. We also appeal to the comrades involved in the opposition to lay aside for the present their factional ‘differ- ences, and to give the C. EB. C. and the party the necessary support and cooperation to make the labor party campaign a success. The C. E. C. is fully in favor of freedom of discussion within the party organization and in the party press of all new problems and difficul- ties arising out of our activities. But at the same time the C. E. C. feels in duty bound to insist that once a matter has been stttled by the proper party authorities, and a call for ac- tion issued, the party ranks must close, and every party member must render the C. E. C. the utmost sup- port and cooperation. Close the ranks, Comrades! Strengthen the party organization!, Forward to the June 17 Conven- tion! , To a Class Farmer-Labor Party! To a Workers and Farmers govern- ment in the U. S. and thence to the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, C..E. Ruthenberg, Secretary. SPU tee cnvneanaeteeystanencit A Tale Of Two Republics RUSSIA AND GERMANY ming To ‘ _ Orchestra Hall, May 14, 1924--at 7 & 9 p. m. —ONE NIGHT ONLY— Under the auspices of a The Friends of Soviet Russia and Workers’ Germany Washington Street ing Criticism! Sound Logic! economic, and organizational force on larger orders. League, Chicago, Ill. rtment at the same address,