The Daily Worker Newspaper, January 3, 1925, Page 11

LT Is Unity of the International Trade Union Movement Possitle? | By A. LOZOVSKY HAT unity is a very beautiful thing and therefore desirable is not disputed for a moment by the bit- terest disrupters. We are not faced with the question of unity “in gen- eral,” or of unity in “principle” or of unity in a very remote future, but with the question whether at the present time, in view of the actual interna- tional situation, of the existence of divided, parallel organizations, etc. it is possible to attain unity and how it is to be brought about. We must remark at the outset that the split does not exist in every coun- try.. In many countries the followers of the R. I. L. U. are within the organ- izations affiliated to Amsterdam. In these countries the followers of the R. LL. U. and the followers of the Amsterdam International are organ- izatorily united. On the other hand there are a number of countries where parallel organizations exist, and final- ly, a fairly large number of countries, the trade union movements of which are wholly affiliated to the Red Inter- national of Labor Unions. What obstacles stand in the way of unity? These obstacles can be divided -into two groups: 1. Organizatory; 2. political obstacles. The’ existence of parallel organizations inevitably leads to organizatory conservatism and to the effort to retain at all costs the existing forms of organizations. The reformist trade union movement clings with great tenacity to the old traditions and only adapts itself very painfully to the new forms of the class struggle. In the reformist trade union movement the narrow craft in- terests come before the interests of the workers of the country as a whole and the interests of the fatherland come before the interests of the inter- national proletariat. It would, how- ever, be a mistake to assume that or- ganizatory conservatism is only con- fined to the reformists. , There are revolutionary workers who suffer from _ organizatory conservatism and believe that it is best to follow the old Toad, not to make any sharp/turns, not to -unite the workers of different ten- dencies, as this could destroy the or- ganizatory structure. comparison with the political obstac- les. Many comrades ask: “Can we unite with the reformists when they are even against the class struggle?” These comrades desire to lay down conditions regarding unity (break with the bourgeois | coalition, fight against the Dawes plan, etc.) To de- mand from the reformists that they abandon the coalition with the bourge- oisie is to demand the impossible. To make unity dependent upon this im- plies a breach of unity, for the aban- donment of the coalition with the bourgeoisie means the end of reform- ism, On the other hand, the most bitter opponents of unity on the side of the reformists submit their conditions to the left wing of the trade union move- ment. This specially applies to the “Vorwaerts,” the organ of the Ger- man social-fascists. The “Vorwaerts” spits poison and gall against unity. It is of course in favor of unity, but desires that the Communists shall not organize any nuclei, that they shall not incite the workers against the leaders of the trade union movement, that they shall not “caluminate,” but faithfully carry out the policy of the black hundred which is conducted by the German social-democracy along with the German General Federation of Trade Unions. In this respect the “Vorwaerts” fully reflects the view re- garding unity which exists in the right wing of the Amsterdam International. The meaning of all this talk over this theme is that they turn to us and say: “Become reformists and then we shall unite with you!” This astute solution of the problem of unity is typical of the Second International, which leads, ideologically and politic- ally, the reactionary portion of the Amsterdam International. It must be said that all this kind of talk is mere waste of time. The Communists have not the lest reason for transforming themselves into reformist corpses, and whoever believes that the Com- munists will deviate even a hair’s breath from their principles in arriv- ing at unity does not understand any- thing of Communism or of the prob- lem of unity. If, however, the reformists main- tain their position“and the Commun- The organizatory obstacles are, of ists their, then the unity of the trade course, of secondary importance in’ union movement is” impossible !—the iaawatosstcaparosacencos occ ee ae aE RS SAL Lae TE MOOT Dc SE THE PARTY DISCUSSION CONTINUED COMRADE RUTHENBERG’S ESTIMATES By ARNE SWABECK. bers. Thirdly, although Pullman is In yescterday’s issue of the DAILY (industrially and geographically a part WORKER, under the eaption “The results of the first membership meet- ings,” Comrade Ruthenberg has the following to say: “Another factor which entered into the results last Sunday was the eleventh hour change in the rules cov- ering the meetings, which denied members not attached to the city cen- ‘tral committees in the cities in which the meetings were held the right to vote. This rule, disfranchising the party members from nearby cities was made in order to cut down the strength of the minority, particularly in the Chicago meetings. In Chicago even the members living in Pullman, which is industrially and geographic- cally a part of Chicago, who were over- ‘whelmingly for the minority position, were denied the right to vote in the Chicago membership meeting. The votes of the Pullman comrades alone would have changed the result in the Chicago meeting.” This may look quite convincing on paper, but what are the actual facts? First, the central executive commit- tee confining the vote at each meet- ing to the members actually attached to the respective city central commit- tees seems to have been a very ap. propriate one, at least as far as the Chicago meeting was concerned, in or- der to avoid duplication of the Pull- man membership vote which already on December 26 recorded itself 38 to 5 for the minority position. Secondly, it will be noted that this vote, already previously recorded in the DAILY WORKER, gives the lie to the conten- tion of disfranchising of party mem- of Chicago our membership there has for the last two years functioned thru their own separate C. C. C. The Chicago party membership is overwhelmingly for the majority posi- tion and the vote recorded at the membership meeting of 399 to 362 is by no means an accurate proportion. Out of eight English branches with ¢ total membership of 244 the minority has been able to carry one of the smaller branches while the number of the total who have expressed them- selves for the minority position amounts to 46—Quite significant. Isn’t it? Of the total number of language federation branches, the Italian, Let- tish, Lithuanian and South Slavic were practically unanimous for the minority, some of theif bureaus hav- ing been extreniely active in lining up the membership even to the extent of furnishing loads of resolutions favor- ing that position to their branches. In most of these branches it has not been possible to gain admittance for @ majority representative during the party discussion, in ‘others little or no discussion took place as it seems they were too preoccupied in preparing to bring out all members for the mem bership meeting to record their vote and these particular branches wer represented about 100 per cent. ~The minority vote was furnished almost wholly by these four big blocks. The other language federation branches except a small Hungarian branch are overwhelmingly for the majority posi- tion but they did not attend the meet- ing quite so well. reader will say. No, his would be a thoroughly erroneuos conclusion, In fact we do not submit demands to the reformists in order that they shall be- come Communists, and we do not pro- pose to the reformists that they shall occupy themselves with the futile task of debolshevizing the Bolshevikiy The revolutionary trade unions of all toun- tries which are in the R. I. L, U. pro- pose, in full agreement with the Com- munist International, a way which is acceptable to the most bitter oppon- ents of Communism in the Amsterdam International, if they only adopt a somewhat conscientious attitude re- garding the interests of the working class. » “We will not submit conditions to one another” says the R. I. L. U. “We will convene a conference of represen- tatives of both Internationals, we ‘will | jointly decide the time and place of the International Unity Congress, at which the organizations affiliated to the R. I. L. U. and to the Amsterdam International, as well as those trade union organizations which are outside both Internationals, shalk be represen- ted. We will discuss at the inter- national congress the concrete tasks of the struggle against the capitalist offensive and against the fascist reac- tion. At this congress we will create the United Trade Union International. Whoever has the majority at this congress will carry through their re- solutions and will have the majority on the executive body. The constitu- tion of the new international will be in accordance with the standpoint of the majority. At this unity congress the Red International of Labor Unions and the Amsterdam International will declare that they dissolve their or- ganizations and enter into the United International. We Communists and revolutionary workers of all countries declare through the Communist Inter- national and the R. I. L. U. that if we find ourselves in a minority, that we shall remain in the new international and submit to the discipline of the movement, whilst we shall carry on our fight for influence among the mas- ses. If the opponents of Communism make a similar declaration the ques- tion will be quite clear, ~~ Let the masses of workers pro- nounce judgment as to whose tactics— those of the Communists or those of | | | the reformists—are more consistent with the interests of the working class. We are not afraid of bringing our. tavtics before the court of the many millions of proletarians. May the op- ponents of Communism come forward in an equally open manner as the fol- lowers of the R. I. L. U. do and will continue to do. We ask, what is there in the pro- posal which can be unacceptable for an -honest proletarian, no matter to what tendency he may belong? If the leaders of the Amsterdam Interna- tional are convinced that they have behind them the overwhelming major- ity, why are they afraid to attend a congress of this sort? The majority will be with them, and the will of the majority of the congress’ will decide the political line of the United International. Everything is clear re- garding this proposal. We propose to those who everywhere make a great ery over their democratic principles, the most democratic way conceivable for uniting the divided international trade union movement. Meanwhile however, the opponents of the R. I. L. U. do not desire this proletarian- democratic solution of the question and hide their fear of proletarian democracy by means of the great out- cry over the craftiness of the Com- munists, To mobilize the masses for unity is the most important task at the present moment. The majority of the leaders of the Amsterdam International be- lieve that they will be able to evade this problem and to patch up the growing fissure in their own ranks which is consequent upon the inexorable radicalization of the work ing masses. If the Amsterdam Inter- national does not meet the wish of the majority of its own members it will simply collapse and. unity will be re- stored over the heads of the present leaders. This is the reason why we, although we are quite aware of the enormous difficulties which are lying in our path, reply to the question, whether the unity of the international trade union movement is possible: yes, it is possible and inevitable. gether with the leaders or without the leaders, the divided international trade union movement will in any event be welded together into a powerful anti-capitalist bloc. NEW YORK WORKERS’ SCHOOL FS Class in “A B C of Communism” at Workers’ School. In response to the demand for more classes in the “A B C of Commun- ism,” the Workers’ School in New York City now offers such a course at Its own headquarters, 208 E. 12th street. The classes will be conducted by Comrade J. C. Oblans, for many years an active party worker, and will meet every Thursday night, from 8 to 10 p. m. The first session will be held Thursday. Jan. 8. Comrades in lower Man- hattan particularly are urged to register and to get sympathizers also to enroll. * «¢ Educational Directors Meet Monday, Jan. 19. A special meeting of branch educational directors will be held on Mon- day, Jan. 19, at the headquarters of the Workers’ School, 208 E. 12th street, New York City. at 8 p. m. Branches which have not yet elected their educational director should do so at once, and send name and address to the secretary of the Workere’ School. All educational directors should take careful note of the date, Jan. 19, and make no other arrangements for that evening. at the door. , LIEBKNECHT MEMORIAL AND DAILY WORKER JUBILEE N Sunday, Jan. 11, the New York district of the Workers Party and the Young Workers League will join In an afternoon and evening affair at New Star Casino. Park Ave. and 107th St. The after- hoon program will be under the special auspices of the Young Work- ers League in memory of the revolutionary hero, Karl Liebknecht. In the evening the first anniversary of the DAILY WORKER will be celebrated with a concert and dance. A Joint ticket is issued at 50c which admits to either affair and is good for both if 25¢ extra is pald To-.