The Daily Worker Newspaper, May 17, 1924, Page 12

THE MAKING OF LENIN (Continued from page 1) a difference in approach in decisive- ness, in readiness to go to the end. It can be said, returning to the rela- tions of Lenin and Martov, that even before the split and the convention, Lenin was known as “hard” and Mar- toy as “soft.” And both of them knew it. * * * NE Sunday I went with Lenin and Madame Lenin to the Socialist church in London, where a Social- Democratic meeting was intermingled with the singing of revolutionary- pious psalms, The speaker was a typesetter who returned home from Australia. Lenin translated to us in whispers his speech, which sounded quite revolutionary—at least for those days. Then all rose and sang: “Al- mighty God, make that there be no kings and no rich people,” or some- thing like that. “There is a multitude of revolu- tionary and Socialist elements scat- tered in the English proletariat,” Le- nin said on that occasion when we left the church, “but it is all combined with conservatism, religion, supersti- tion, and absolutely cannot break thru and spread.” — It is interesting to observe that @a- sulich and Martov both .lived apart from the English labor movement, en- tirely absorbed in the spark and in their environment. Lenin, on the other hand, undertook from time to time independent investigations in the field of the English labor movement * * 7 T is unnecessary to say that Lenin, Mme. Lenin and her mother lived more than modesty. Returning from the London Social Democratic church, we dined in the little kitchen-dining room in their two-room flat. I re- member, as if it just happened, the tiny slices of fried meat served in the small pan. We drank tea. We jested, as usual, on the subject whether | would find my way home alone. I was poor at getting my bearings in the streets, and being inclined to sys- tematize. I called this quality of mine “topographical vege eh * "THE date ‘aa ie the second con- vention was approaching and it was finally decided to move the “Sparkist” center to Geneva, Switzer- land. There living was incomparably cheaper and connection with Russia easier. Lenin grudgingly agreed to this. I was sent to Paris with the un- derstanding that I come to Geneva from there together with Martov. In- tense preparations were going on for the convention. * * * FTER a short time Lenin also ar- rived in Paris. He was to read three lectures on the agrarian ques- tion in the so-called High Insti- tute, organized in Paris by professors exiled from Russia. I remember how Lenin was very agitated before his first lecture, but upon reaching the stage he at once mastered himself— at least externally, Professor Gam- barov, who came to hear him, ex- pressed his impression to Deutsch in these words: “A real professor.” The kindly fellow thot that he was’ ex- pressing the highest praise in that way. * * * ENIN was given to such agitation at public appearances much later, too, and the less his audience was of his own followers, the more formal the occasion for speech, the stronger his agitation grew. Externally Lenin always spoke impetuously and rapidly, so that his speeches were a cruel test for the stenographers. When ill at ease, his voice sounded unnatural, had a reverberating and impersonal sound resembling an echo. But when Lenin felt that the particu- lar audience which he was address- ing strongly needed that which he had to say, his voice acquired extraordi- nary vivaciousness and elastic per- suasiveness, not oratorical in the pro- per sense, but conversational, except that it was increased to stage propor- tions. ‘HIS was not oratorical art, but something greater than oratory. At the conclusion of the third lec- ture in Paris, Lenin made a political speech on the agrarian question. I think in Rue Choisy 110, organized not by the High Institute, but by the Paris group of “Sparkists.” The hall was packed. After the speech the “Sparkists” went with the lecturer, ac- cording to custom, to a cafe, Every- body was extremely satisfied and the lecturer himself was joyfully excited. The treasurer spoke with satisfac- tion of the receipts netted from the lecture of the treasury of the Spark. It was in all probability something like 75 to 100 francs—a sum not to be jeered at! All this happened in the beginning of 1903. * * * T was during that sojourn of Lenin that it was decided to show him an opera. N. I, Sedova, a member of the “Sparkist” group, was commissioned to arrange it. Lenin went to and from the Opera Comique carrying the same brief case which he took with him to the lectures in the High Institute. Charpentier’s opera “Louise” was pre- sented—very democratic in theme. Our group sat in the gallery. In ad- dition to Lenin, Sedova and myself, I think Martov was present. Challenge “By OSKAR KANEHL. to Strike. Let rest the hammers. Let stop the wheels. Let burn down the fires. Put out the light. Disturb the idlers’ comfort. Shut off the supplies of their lardets. Harvest, which doesn’t nourish you, may rot. Cool, which doesn’t warm you, may vanish underground. Chimney that doesn’t smoke for you, may collapse. Look here. The bourgeois builds upon your labor’s ground. His bed is soft. By your labor’s favor he feeds his belly. By your labor’s favor his wife dresses. By your labor’s favor his children grow up. industrious, brought up to master over you. His house is rich. Poisoned to hate you. By your labor's favor. And you? Prolets?—Labor-creatures? And your hired barracks?—-Hunger-towers? And your wives?—Bearing-machines? And your children?—Misery-brats? Curse upon every slag for bourgeois-pack. Curse upon every step into their slavery. Curse upon their traitor’s wages. Curse upon their thanks. Yours is the Earth. Out of the workshops! On the street! we FOSTER’S REPLY TO NEARING (Continued from Page 4.) greater in the United Stated than in almost any other country. Here the masses are utterly bankrupt of lead- ership. The Socialists have nothing whatever to offer them. Likewise, the “progressives,” who with unex- amples, cowardice and weakness, have trotted back to Gompers’ camp in the face of the bitter struggle now go- ing on to revolutionize the labor move- ment. The left wing must take the lead. There is no one else to do so. To the extent of its power it must wrest the control of the masses from *thoir misleaders and throw them into the struggle against the exploiters. This is exactly what it is doing in the great campaigns for the labor par- ty, amalgamation, recognition of Sov- iet Russia, organization of the unor- ganized, etc. Such campaigns, in- stead of being a weakness to us, are our greatest strength. They give us control over great masses af work- ers who can thus be gradually pre- pared for more important revolution- ary tasks. If properly exploited, they offer the best possible means for edu- cation and organization. S the struggle goes on, the revolu- A tionary organizations must as- semble all the proletarian elements made sympathetic. It must aim to build a mass party. And in doing this care must be taken not so much with the workers themselves but as with their erstwhile leaders. Of course, the left wing must avoid a de- cisive struggle with capitalism at this time. That goes without saying. Like- wise, it must not extend its battle line over too long a line. But I fail to see the point of the steel strike il- lustration, as it has no bearing. HE left wing must have a balanced program with education, organiza- tion and action going hand in hand complementing and vitalizing each other. The heart of the whole move- ment must be militant action. This is the program of the W. P. and T. U. E. L. You say it is based upon Russian experience, but this is an error. It is in line with Communist tactics and experience all over the world. Your program of peaceful edu- eation and organization will not do. It would make of the left wing a schol- astic, sectarian, non-militant group. The program of the W. P. and the T. U. E. L. would. make of it a genuine fighting organization, able to lead the workers in their struggles now and bearing with it the promise of event- ually heading them in their final clash with the capita.... system, Fraternal- ly yours, WM. Z. FOSTER. re | @tae 7 Transl. Paul Acel. SMALL, absolutely unmusical event was connected with this visit to the opera which, however, I firmly retain in my memory, Lenin had bought himself in Paris a pair of shoes. They turned out too tight for him. After several hours of torment he decided to get rid of them. As if for spite, my shoes loudly demanded a change, I received his shoes, and at first they seemed to be just the right size, (Continued next Saturday.) THE RAIC what people think of it— “I am very glad to observe | the progress you are making. . Your corporation is serv- ing a very useful purpose and I wish it success.” C. A. 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