The Daily Worker Newspaper, December 2, 1924, Page 4

eter as Page Four PROPAGANDA OF A Criticism of the Minority Thesis. By ALEXANDER BITTELMAN. The fact that the minority thesis'is replete with beautiful phrases, about “action” and “struggles” and, ‘united front from below,” and such likeydoes not mean anything &o fat ad’ the’ basic outlook of the minority is coricerned. Substantially and basically the minor- ity thesis is nothing more than a grandiloquent call for the propaganda of pure abstraction. We shall see later that’ these ab- stractions do not possess even the vir+ tue of being Communist: ‘What’ the minority want us to do is to preach to the masses the abstract: proposition of an ideal class-party, not the Work- ers Party but the image of.a farmer- labor party. We shall also see that the advocacy of this “ideal” farmer- labor party means in effect, irrespec- tive of the pious wishes of the minor: ity, killing faith in the Workers’ Party and preventing its growth into a mass Communist Party. “No Class Political Action Without a_| Farmer-Labor Party.” This is the basic idea of. the minor- ity, that class political action is im- possible without a farmer-labor party. Here is what they say in the thesis; “If we abandon the united front pol- icy politically by abandoning the slo- gan ‘For a Class Farmer-Labor Party,’ we will surrender the most effective agitational weapon.” Now, mark the meaning of that sen- tence. It says, if we abandon the farmer-labor party slogan we thereby abandon the united front on the poli- tical field. This means, according to the minority, that the only way open to the Workers Party to arouse the masses to independent political action is thru a campaign for a farmer-la- bor party. This is interesting. It shows a yery peculiar (for Communists) conception of political action. Just consider the following: Up until now we were all laboring under the idea that a cam- paign against injunctions is political action. Now we find that it isn’t be- cause there is no labor party. So says the minority. Last year when we attempted, with quite some success, to arouse the masses for the protection of the for- eign-born workers, we thought we were arousing them for independent Political action. Now we are told that we were all wrong, because no poli- tical action is possible without the magic slogan “For a Class Farmer- Labor Party.” During the past two years we were also conducting a wide united front * eampaign for the defense of the Mich- igan prisoners. We thought that it was political action and of the “pur- est” kind such as to satisfy even such puritan abstractionists as Comrades Lovestone and Ruthenberg. Now we find that we were laboring under a de- lusion, because the only way to arouse the masses to independent political action is thru a farmer-labor party! Another Pearl. And here is something which is even more stunning than that. I quote from point seven (7), summary of mi- nority thesis. It reads: “The slogan of a class farmer-labor party is such a slogan. It tends to develop politic consciousness amongst the masses,” Please, digest the deep reasoning of the above phrase. It says that the farmer-labor party slogan tends to de- velop the political consciousness of the masses’ This being so, we are Party Activities Of Local Chicago Tuesday, Dec. 2. Roumanian Branch, 2250 Clybor Czecho-Slovak Town of Lak: ee Work: ers’ Home, 5lst and Whipple St T. U, EB. L. meeting, . Group, Northwest Hall, and Western Aves. rt on F. of L. convention by William F. Dunne. Wednesday, Dec. 3. C. C. C. meeting, Workers’ Hall, 722 Blue Island Ave. Itallan Cicero, Circolo Giovanile Hall, 14th St. between 5ist and 50th Ct. Douglas Park Jewish, 3420 W. Roose- velt Road. ‘ ¥ * Italian Terra Cotta, 2475 Clybourn Ave. Englewood English, 5414 S. Halsted St. Europe Will Speak _ At Protest Meeting ‘YORK, Deo. 1—Israel Am- has just returned from Buor- ope \here he had spent two years in a tri 1 Soviet” Russia “and Ger- many, speak at a meeting ar- ranged by the Workers Party and the International Workers’ Aid in a pro- test against the. terror and -persecu- tions against revolutionary workers in Germany, | i » Comrade Amter has first hand ‘infor- mation regarding conditions in Ger- many where he has witnessed the mass demonstrations of German work- ers against the Dawes slave plan, The meeting will take at Labor Temple, 243 EB. 84th st , on Friday, December 6th, at 8 P, M, In addition to Comrade Amter, other speakers who will address the meet- ing will be Ludwig Lore, Benjamin Gitlow and William Weinstone, bat Migrants pik flan bound to conclude that we were all wrong again. Look here. We have a program for the unemployed. “It.calle for:the or- ganization of the’ unemployed work- ers for a struggle against the capital- ists and their government on the basis of concrete immediate demands to relieve the sufferings of the unem- ployed. We thought this. was.a good way of developing the political con- sciousness of the unemployed masses. Why? Because we were laboring un- der the idea (accepted by Marx, Len- in, and the whole Communist Inter- national) that the best, if not the only way of developing the political consciousness of the masses is to bring these masses into motion and struggle on the basis of their most ele- mentary economic needs and thereby bringing them into conflict with the capitalist state. We thought that when a Communist Party arouses the masses to strike for higher wages and shorter hours; when it succeeds in leading the mass- es to fight against child-labor exploit- ation or the high cost of living, it is thereby setting on foot a movement which tends to bring the masses into conflict with the agents of the capi- talist state, thereby developing the po- litical consciousness of the . masses. We thought also that it was the busi- ness of a Communist Party to see to it that these elementary mass-move- ments arising from the burning eco- nomic needs should produce‘ the maxi- mum of ‘politicalunderstanding in the minds of the workers. Now we find that we were all wrong. And so were Marx, Lenin, and the Communist Internatignal.. Why? , Be- cause the slogan “For a Class. Farmer- Labor Party” is the only way of de- veloping the political consciousness of the masses. So says the minority. Still Another Great Idea. The “prilliancy of the minority ‘is blinding! The depth of; their analysis is unfathomable. Just read Comrade Ruthenberg’s article in the December issue of the Workers’ Monthly. You will find this: 7 “The réason why-the slogan (For a Mass Farmer-Labor Party.—A. B.) re- mains a potent slogan for our party to use as the basis of its united front maneuvers on the political field is be- cause capitalism and the intensifica- tion of the Up a Wrage) ap td Read it ‘Please. : Memorize it. And then ask yourself, what does it all mean? It means that because cap- italism in the United States remains in existence (a gteat discovery!) and |) because the class struggle is intensi- fying, therefore . Long live the Farmer-Labor Party! Strange, very strange. We know (unless we are wrong in this, too) that in Germany.also,capitalism remains in existence, and in ance and in a few more countries in the world. We also know that in some of the coun- tries where capitalism still remains in existence the class struggle is much more intense than in the United States. And yet? The Communist Parties over there do not seem to feel the burning need for a farmer-la- bor party slogan. How do you ex- plain it? The Missing’ Link. '”’ Yes, yes, we know. There is one link missing heré. We go back to the minority thesis and we find it. It is this: The only “way the masses in the United States’can enter into inde- pendent political action is thru a farm- er-labor party. © By inserting this missing link we hay ‘ed the logic, merely the form- CHICAGO SOGIETY FOR TECH. AID TO RUSSIA CELEBRATES SATURDAY The Chicago Society for Teehni- cal Aid to Soviet Russia will cele- brate its fifth anniversary on Satur- day, Dec. 6, at 8 p.m. in the. as- sembly hall of the Soviet School, 1902 W. Division St., Chicago. Rus- we labor organizations are invited send their represe: to the celebration. An phn mans Baa is being prepared. Dancing by Rus- sian children in costumes, a musical Program, in which the Y. W. L. orchestra will participate.. Dancing after the program. Workers of all nationalities are invited to partici- pate in the celebration. Admission will be 35 cents. n The Heavy Debts of the Farmers The al logic, of Comrade Ruthenbere’s ar- ticle, but not its Communist logic. The minority ‘has still to prove that no working class struggle is political un- less connected with the slogan or ex- pressed thru the organization of a farmer-labor, party. “When ‘they suc- ceed in proving the correctness of this, they will have succeeded in prov- ing that Marx, Lenin, and the Commu- nist International were all totally wrong. Now to conclude. The potency (the Communist potency) of the. slogan “For a Farmer-Labor Party,” depends neither upon the existence of capi- talism (the beast is around in some other countriés and yet they do not chase it with a slogan for a farmer. labor party), nor upon the general in- tensity of the class struggle. It de- pends upon a combination of second- ary factors which produce an actual movement of masses towards a new party. This situation prevailed in the United States until about May, 1924, but it does not prevail now. The mass- es which are dissatisfied with the two old capitalist parties—as parties— have now found their haven in the LaFollette movement. As far as build- ing a new party is concerned, the masses are now at rest. The way to set these masses again in to motion is thru their immediate economic and political needs. The tactic to be pursued toward this end is. the tactic of the united front from below. This is the correct Commu- nist position. | We must weave the need of a City... eee securely into the woof of our the thought of danger to it will be yeh We MUST hold fast to what we've to come every friend of our pay “meet expectations—YES, MUST BEAT T You like that. Therefore, pen in hand and fill this blank: > THE DAILY WORKER, 1113 W. Washington Bivd., Chicago, Ill. What | believe in is worth GIVING for. WORKER FOR 1926. THe OATLY WORKER OUR FARMER-LABOR POLICY By SYLVAN A. POLLACK In the Central Executive Commit- tee statement on the results of the elections, appearing in the Nov. 7th issue ofthe DAILY WORKER, we read: “A general agitation campaign by the Workers Party .under the slogan of ‘For a Mass Farmer-Labor Party,’ would not be profitable. The policy of apply the united front tactic by attempting to form a mass farmer- labor party of which the Workers Party would be a part, is not adapt- able to the present period.” In plain language, the majority of the C. BE. C. of our party’ feel that the time has ‘arrived to dump overboard our united front tactic of the farmer- labor party, and as they say latter, in the statement: “Our chief task of the immediate future is not building of such a farmer-labor party but the strenthening and developing of the Workers Party ...” No one can find fault with that part of the statement which calls for the strengthening and development of our party, but when it is claimed that it must be at the expense of our united front tactic of the farmer-labor party, I must disagree. It is not difficult to state that we are going to come before the Amer- ican workers and poor farmers with a “pure” Communist program. To shout, “Forward to the Soviets!” all | | In this campaign to make the DAILY WORKER safe for the year | SIGN AND SEND! You understand the need of a labor press. You know that this daily 8 the habit of landing stiff blows upon the beaks of all the buzzards you like you should have hat. What Send me a ; (Check which denomination) $10 | $5 | $1 INSURANCE POLICY for which | enclose remittance herewith. | ot and clinch it. taut! Not an inch in retreat. FORWARD! 1 want to INSURE THE DAILY State.. that is necessary is aloud voice. But that does not solve the question which ia not quite so simple, Are we, with our small influential party able to suc- cessfully come out with such tactics and successfully rally the workers to our standard. Another thing, is the farmer-labor party movement so dead at the present period of our existence that we can completely forget about it? Have those who in the past be- lieved in it,.given up the ghost? Have the masses of the workers and poor farmers who had hopes of a national farmer-labor party being born before its embryonic parts were swallowed by the LaFollette movement forgotten all about their aspirations? I believe not. And furthermore, I feel that a large part of the masses could tell the difference between a bona- fide farmer-labor party on the one hand and a so-called third party on the other. As proof, let us examine the vote in Minnesota, and we find that Magnus Johnson, running as a farmer- labor candidate polled a much larger vote than’ LaFollette, who while ac- cepting the support of the farmer- labor party, yet ran as an independent While our C. E. C. may not realize it, L feel confident that a large part of the workers could tell the differ- ence between real independent work- ing class political action, as represen- ted by a farmer-labor party and inde- n English daily RED paper so arty, being and activity that even an utter impossibility. The DAILY WORKER is an INTERNATIONAL MONUMENT symbolizing the Communist understanding, determination and activity of the American revolutionary proletariat. Shall its RED LIGHT continue to blaze forth, shall we increase it in power, so that the millions of slaves still groping in the dark may at last see and understand? Rope rand ae A eh comrade must We must hold fast to what we've got! INSURANCE POLICIES WILL DO IT! Make it your policy to buy a policy! lenty of. pendent heterogenous third partyism as represented by LaFollette, let us not forget that we were comparatively successful in the farmer labor party movement considering that the major- ity of it supported LaFollette. We have only to look ‘at the large |vote polled by: comrades Youngdahl and Emme in Minnesota, who ran as farmer-labor party candidates and at the same time proclaimed that they were Communists, added the election of Comrade A. C. Miller, who was elected to the North the opposition of the official heads of the farmer-labor party movement. Does that look as though the farm- er-labor party tactics of -our party have outlived their usefulness? The fact that two large unions brought in resolutions in favor of the formation of a labor party, (not a liberal or third. party) before the A. F. L. Convention at El Paso, Texas, is another important feature that must not be overlooked. The writer, was an active particip- an out door speaker and every place WITH THEY CONDUCTED - BY TH Comrades :— vention of the Young Workers Leagu league has grown immeasurably and unions; a children’s been built up which is starting to en- gage in the school struggle; our anti- militarist work has begun to take a clearly defined form; and we have knit more closely than ever, the struggles, liscussions and activities of our party, the Workers Party, with the work of our own organization. Our mass activity has placed us plainly. on the road towards. becoming, a Young Leninist League. In the course of the time between the last convention and the present been confronted with new problems. This, together with the growth of our league and the necessity of greater clarification and unified action in the face of the coming great struggles against the oppressing ruling class, has impelled your national committee to issue this call for a national con- vention of the Young Workers’ League of America. Our national convention will be con- fronted with serious and .important tasks. American imperialist. capital- ism is preparing itself for greater and more bitter onslaughts against the working class, the first victims of which are the unorganized working youth, New imperialist slaughters menace the proletariat of this coun- \try. The horrors of unémployment threaten to increase in the future months. The exploitation of working class children grows in volume and brutality. Wage cuts, longer hours, wars, unemployment, greater miseries face the workers and théir weakest section, the youth. In this situation our young Communist league must outline its future tasks .on the basis of its past program in order to go ahead more unitedly and firmly in our work of rallying the masses of young warkers to our banner. The exact date of the convention ‘yas not yet been set, but it will take lace immediatcly after the conven- ion of the Workers Party. The Work- ars Party is to. hold its convention shortly. The Fourth Bureau Session nd the Fourth World Congress of the Young Communist International have j already been held. Our convention nust take place in the immediate ‘uture. Comrades thruout the country are wged to immediately begin the dis- cussion of the problems that will some up before our convention. In a short time the exact date of the con- vention will be issued together with the basis of representation “of dele. gates and the agenda, Discussion should be guided by the resolution on the subject passed by the national executive committee of.the league. As soon as the exact date of, the con- vention is issued, alk preparations |should be made for the holding ot city and district conventions to elect delegates to the national convention. All together for the convention of the Young Workers League of Amer- ica! Join for the work towards a young Leninist League! . With Communist Greetings, The National Executive Committee, Young Workers League of America. John Williamson, Executive Sec'y. READ THE DAILY WORKER. To. this can be| Dakota state legislature in spite of | ant in the past election campaign as} day, we have gained greatly in experi- | ence, rectified our mistakes, and have | Tuesday, December 2, 1924 Discussion of Our Party’s Immediate Tasks PURE ABSTRACTION where he spoke and threw the méeét- ing open for question a desire for a farmer-labor party was noticed. The masses have been confused by LaFollette, but if we continue to ex plain and educate them, they will see the difference. At the present we should proclaim our willingness to engage in a real united front thru a farmer-labor par- ty. We would show that we are dif- ferent than the socialist party, the Mahoneys and the local farmer-labor parties that dropped the idea of a farmer-labor party at the call of a La- Follette. That our oranization is one that the masses can really rely upon; that stands for a united front, for independent political action of the working class. We would keep the banner of a |farmer-labor party unfurled to rally |the masses to us, the Workers Party, which in the final conflict is the only organization to lead the workers to the dictatorship of the proletariat and the Soviet Government. But at the present period we must rally the workers to us with the slogan: “We stand for a Farmer-Labor Party!” WORKERS NG WORKERS LEAGUE CALL FOR THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE YOUNG WORKERS LEAGUE OF U. S. To All Nuclei and Branches of the Young Workers League of America: More than a year and a half has elapsed since the last national con- e in 1923. In that period of time our its influenced has been increased. its work has been broadened towards a mass basis. The first important steps have been taken towards the total reorgani- zation of the league on the basis of shop nuclei; our press has become greatly improved in character and circulation; we have definitely participated in a number of struggles of the young working class, in strikes and in trade movement has+— YOUNG WORKERS LEAGUE ACTIVITIES. LOCAL NEW YORK. The membership campaign which |the District Executive Committee has jinstituted has opened with the forma- tion of four new branches in a period of less than two weeks. If the rest of the campaign runs at this rate the district will have doubled its mem- bership before the campaign is over. The new branches organized are, Lower Bronx, Yorkville and Yonkers, jall English and Newark Jewish comrades living in this territory should at once communicate with the district office and we will supply them with the time and place of meet- ing of these new branches. New branches are now in the pro cess of formation in the following |places; Newark, Astoria, Ridgéwood \E New York and West Side. All ‘these are to be English branches. Respond to Shop Nucleus Work. | Great enthusiasm has also de veloped for the nucleus work. Aside from the many fractions being formed, fractions that will surely be real nue lei before the next two months are over, there has been organized the Rosa Luxemberg shop nucleus a8 & basic unit of the organization. The nucleus is at the present time carry- ing on a strong campaign in the shop where many young workers ate em- ployed making garments for the para- sites, to increase its membership. The nucleus had recently collected $50 for the Paterson strikers in the shop. On the industrial field we. have greatly intensified our work. Many of our comrades are joining the unions and getting into activity. Youth frae- tions are being formed in the needle rades and the building trades, The campaign for the fund to make the Young Worker a weekly by Jan, 1 has aroused a great deal of enthus- iasm.- Money is coming in and all the branches will surely raise their quota. One branch, Bronx Jewish, has set the example by raising its quota from the amount set by the district committee, $30.00, to $100.00. The league has already opened its training school, where a selected num- ber of comrades will be given a fun- damental training in Marxism-Lenin- ‘sm and organizational subjects to prepare them for leadership in the Communist movement. In additior the district committee has arranged a class in the fundamentals of Com- munism in every branch, The district committee has just is sued the first number of the Bulle- tin, the official organ of the district committee edited by Comrade Herbert Zam. This Bulletin is devoted to or ganizational questions within the dis- trict only, and has for its aim &- closer relation between the members of the league and the District Bxedu- tive Committee, so that there may | a better understanding of the and the best methods of perfo them, 4 The activities of the New York | trict show that the comrades in York know how to carry into life: decisions of the Y. C. 1. and that are building a mass league in district No, 2, | \