The Daily Worker Newspaper, October 11, 1924, Page 11

The Shop Nucleus and the Branch In reorganizing the Workers Party from its present territorial branch foundation to the work shop or shop nucleus basis, one of the big prob- lems to solve is the relation of the shop nucleus to the branch. The re- lations between them will not be of a single or everlasting type. We have to consider: 1. The relations of the shop nucleus to the present territorial branch, and 2. The relation of the shop nucleus to the shop nucleus branch, or the branch composed of shop nuclei. The former is the big transitional problem; the latter takes up the re- lations between the shop nucleus and the branch when the party has been more or less completely reorganized, and somewhat definite relationships and activity have thereby developed. In America, it must be said, the problem of the shop nuclei organiza- tion is more difficult than in other countries, due chiefly to the existence of the many language organizations or federations in our party. The only other country which really approaches America in this particular difficulty is Czecho-Slovakia. But even there, after many attempts to side-step and evade the reorganization of the party into shop nuclei, the Czecho-Slovak Communist, party is (the Young Com- munist League of Czecho-Slovakia al- ready has) now proceeding to organ- ize shop nuclei. Shop Nuclei Will Aid Work Among Foreign Workers We must face the issue of the-lan- guage branch and try to find means of reorganizing the entire Workers Party on the shop nuclei basis, at the same time not hurting the Commun- ist propaganda among the foreign language speaking workers. On the contrary, that must and will be ex- tended when the shop nuclei work is really started and understood. It is very likely that many other practical suggestions and methods will be evolved in making and experiment- ing with the change and work: How- ever, to begin with, some forms of relation must be set up. ' First, Organize the Shop Nucleus. Assume that a shop nucleus has been formed from a branch or a num- ber. of English and language terri- torial branches. What shall be the connection, then, of the members of the shop nucleus toward their former English or language branch? (Here the relationship to the language branch is mainly considered; the Eng- lish branch question is much easier of solution). In the shop nucleus, as mentioned in previous articles, the a* member pays his dues, carries on the economic and political work, and has full power as a party member, that is, with voice and vote dn all matters. The shop nucleus member, however, is not removed entirely from his territorial (or old style) branch. He still remains a member of his former English or lamguage territorial branch. To be realistic in reorganizing the Workers Party, the most feasible me- thod, at present, is to have the mem- bers of the shop nucleus remain also members of their former territorial branches. What shall be the powers and du- ties ofthe member of the shop nu- cleus in his territorial‘branch? Does he have the full powers of a party member in the territorial branch? To give him also full powers in the territorial branch would mean that he has more rights than a party mem- ber who as yet does not belong to a shop nucleus but only to a branch. It would give him two votes, one in the _ shop nucleus and one in the terri- torial branch, on all matters. There- fore, in his territorial branch, the shop nucleus member should be given a voice only on all matters, but not a vote. The question arises: What, about the activity of a shop nucleus member in his territorial branch? Is he re- sponsible in any way to it? Shall he be active in it? Yes; nattrally. If the members of the shop nucleus were _ to lose all contact, during the transi- tion period, with the language terri- in all probability, f erly established. It would be very dif- ficult to carry on propaganda work among the foreign workers. This is especially so because the shop nu- cleus,members are, in most instanc- es, the comrades who were most ac- tive in their language branches. Shop Nucleus Work Effective Because Planned ‘The shop nucleus with few exceptions, meetings will, (perhaps in some places among the needle trades) be carried on in English. Yet that does not and cannot do away with language propaganda work in the work shop. Members of the shop nu- ‘cleus, who speak foreign languages, can carry on work in the shop in the languages that the workers under- stand. For example, in a large shop, clothing, textile, machine, etc., if there are workers employed who speak Ital- ian, Russian, South Slav, Jewish, Lith- uanian, English, etc., and if the shop nucleus has comrades speaking these languages, it is expected that each comrade does some part of his shop nucleus work in other languages in order to reach the other workers with our propaganda, literature, etc. The formation of shop nuclei, hence, in- stead of interfering’ with the work of the foreign-speaking comrades, helps to broaden and extend their ac- tivities. This is plainly so, because the WORK OF THE SHOP NUCLEUS FOR EVERY ACTIVITY IN THE SHOP IS PLANNED AND THEN CARRIED OUT. Since the fundamen- tal problem of the language member in the shop nucleus is the matter -of continuing language propaganda activ- ity among the foreign workers, we can already see that the language work will continue and increase in the shop nucleus. We should, however, see what technical or organizational ties there will be between the shop nuc- .jleus members and the language terri- torial branch in the transition period. As a measure} the following is~pos- sible. Shop Nucleus Member Continues Work In Language Territorial Branch. The shop .nucleus member, as pointed out before, has full wers in his shop uncleus and carries on his main activities there. In the language terirtorial branch, he is subject to carrying on propaganda work assigned to him, such as raising funds for the language press, educational activity, ete. All the members of the shop nucleus must regularly and continu- ously participate in the work of the territorial branch: visit its meetings work in the educational — groups. classes, and carry thru the various tasks of the branch. A transitional relationship in thus actively entered into between the shop nucleus and the language or English territorial branch. Participating, as he does, in the ter- ritorial branch, while primarily active in the shop nucleus, the matter of th powers of shop nucleus members in the teritorial branch must be settled. The following, onthe basis of activi- ties of the members, can be satisfac- tory to all. The shop nucleus member shall have voice and vote on all Federation or- ganizational matters, that is, on press, internal Federation problems, such as means of conducting the work among the foreign workers. But the shop nucleus member has voice only in the territorial branch on Party political matters, sluch as the right to send delegates to higher bodies, the C. C. C., conventions, political issues in the Party and so on. Those latter and other rights he has in the shop nuc- leus. It can be said, then, inversely, that ‘the Federation or language branch still has power over the shop nucleus member on Federation mat- ters, but not on direct Party organiza- tional and political matters. It follows too, that even as there are active relations between the mem- bers of the shop nucleus with the branch, there is need also of commit- tee relations between the shop nuc- leus and the branch in order to out- line and co-ordinate the work, A few points which are accepted are: 1. The ‘shop nucleus, during the transition period, is subordinated to the existing (old style) teritorial branch; By Martin Abern Funds Available for Propaganda Among Foreign Workers. On the matter of finances the shop nucleus secretary collects the dues from the members, keeps a record of those members who belong to a lan- guage branch and reports same to the higher bodies. The national office takes care that the federations are reimbursed. This is in order not to hinder language propaganda activity. However, this is not a permanent situation. It is only put forward as a temporary, transitorial ‘remedy. In another article the matter of the kind of language activity and organization which will remain during and after the shop nuclei-form of organization is established can be taken up. AUTOMATISM IN EDUCATION (Continued from Page 2.) him by marking his do we mahage so successfully to weed 2. The shop nucleus executive com- mittee meets regularly with the terri- torial branch executive committee; 3. The shop nucleus members par- icipate in the arrangements and work of the branch; 4. There shall be representatives of the shop nucleus on the branch (old style) executive committee and vice versa. This necessary for working purposes;*even tho the shop nucleus members are already attached to var- ious branches. Every effort and chance must be given to the shop nucleus members to influence the work in the territorial branch. Other transition steps will be found, but carrying out these will help toward that end. personality down. out non-conformists—that is, persons} The constant aim throughout is to who can, and do, think for them-|educe our vast educational system to sélves—and to weed in meek con-|@ Smooth-working mechanism. Obe- formists? The answer is amazingly|dience, quietism, conventionality, simple. No matter what excellence agreement, are the guarantors of a candidate may attain in the written | “efficiency.” examination; no matter what excel-| Automatism in education (the great- lence he may achieve in the oral test] eSt mechanical efficiency with the (as far as knowledge can epitomize | least human friction) is the ideal. The excellence); no matter how deep and] Personality test is the imminent sincere his love of teaching; we|threat to oust non-conformists. Why reserve the precious right to mar his| Marvel that the educational system destiny and his natural ambition, if of America turns out countless we find his personality “deficient.” | “educated” persons whose one ambi- Inasmuch as: personality is as tion in life is to advance not one step various, as changing, as indeterminate |f@tther than their socially myopic a concept as goodness or wickedness | SUPeTiors”? itself, we arrogate to ourselves a| Education Somenatety hampers marvelous prerogative; as a court of | °Tiginality—deliberately! last resort (plaintiff, judge and jury,| A Steat secret transpires. The ex- aminer, who is coerced by his posi- tion of super-dignity to assume the pose of omniscience and to play the clairvoyant to a credulous public (he is supposed to read your soul or per- sonality within seven minutes or so, depending upon his vision), is really in no need of ample knowledge of wisdom or insight. His mask is shockingly simpte. He must be of all sweet accord with his superior, and prove his loyalty by weeding out non-conformists. That task is not onerous. Thinking is mini- mal; obedience maximal. The ma- chine works beautifully. sitting like a holy trinity), we inter- pret personality arbitrarily to fit in with our ideal of the meek conform- ist. Hence (within the limits of ex- aminer’s omniscience) we weed out unconventional persons, unique indi- vidualities, eccentric thinkers, frank talkers, dissentients in general; and we weed in quietists, kow-towers, conventionally dressed and conven- tionally mannered and conventionally subordinate personalities. We make mistakes, to be sure. However, we can easily rectify our misjudgmertits by later and recurrént checks upon “personality.” If a lion in sheep’s garb is hunted down, or a thinker in gentleman’s dress, it is easy to oust| W Building Bolsheviks—the D. 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