The Daily Worker Newspaper, February 3, 1925, Page 4

Page Four T HE DAILY WORKER SOVIET RUSSIA ly om AND MEXICO HAVE Lenini MUCH IN COMMON So Says “the Mexican Minister to Moscow (By Rosta News Agency) MOSCOW, Feb. ——“The same causes lie at the root of the Russian and the Mexican revolutions, and the aims and ideals pursued by both of them seem to me to be very much the same,” according to Prof. Vadillio, the newly-arrived Mexican minister at Moscow. “Like the Union of Soviet Repub- lics, Mexico is a socialistic state. Therefore, what the two countries have in common will certainly exer- cise an influence on their present and future mutual relations.” In the statement made to Soviet press representatives, Mr. Vadillio made in brief an interesting survey of economic conditions actually pre- vailing in his country. “The Mexican revolution,” said he, “has changed the former system, un- der which nearly all me land was in the hands of a comparatively small group of big landlords, while a large majority of the people were landless, “Now the new constitution fully safeguards the interests of the pea- sants and workmen. New labor legis- lation has been enacted, introducing the eight hours’ working day, pro- tection of labor, allowances for in- valids of labor and destitutes, the official right of strikes, and so forth. The law also entitles the workmen to a share in the profits of enterprises. Generally speaking, the new laws reg- ulate normal conditions of labor. “The effects of the Mexican revolu- tion on the agrarian construction of the country are still more far-reach- ing. It has restored the former rights of the native Indians, who number about 8 million of a total Mexican population of some 15 million people, to engage in farming on a communal basis. Another law limits private land ownership, making it illegei for any private individual landlord to own more than about 135 acres of land. The land, which, according to another new law, has become national prop- erty, has been equally partitioned be- tween the white people and the In- dians wishing to till it with their own labour. The state has also become the owner of the underground mineral re- sources of the country (such as oil, various metals, etc.), and royalities must be paid to the state by anyone wishing to exploit the same.” The Mexican minister further point- ed out that the reason why the revo- lution in his country was so deeply rooted lay in the fact that it was in the main directed against the prop- ertied classes. For this reason, too, the country was plunged for a long time into civil war caused by counter- revolutionary attempts. However, the revolution emerged victorious, as it had the backing of the entire proletar- iat and all the peasants. Echoes of Revolution in Mexico. “The Russian revolution,” declared the Mexican statesman, “found a live echo in the hearts of all the Mexican people, and the latter are quite famil- jar with the names of the Russian rev- olutionary leaders and the ends pur- sued by them. As for external policy, the people and government of Mexico fully endorse the political creed of the Soviet Union, namely the respect for the sovereignty of so-called small nations‘and the abandonment of im- perilalistic policy. Indeed, how could it be otherwise, since the Mexican people, having fought for the inde- pendence of their country, cannot but deeply respect the aspirations of all the peoples striving for national free- dom.” Regarding the prospects of the re- sumption of normal relations between the Union of Soviet Socialist Repub- Nes and the republican countries of, South America, the minister stated that, in his opinion, this development was to be expected within a very short time. “Mexico”, he remarked “wields great authority with these states and her move in restoring nor- mal diplomatic relations with the U. 8. 8. R. will certainly be taken into consideration and is bound to. influ- ence the decision of the various South American governments.” Danish Bosses Forming Fascisti On German Border (Special to The Daily Worker) BERLIN, Germany, Feb. 1—Thou- sands have been reported enrolled in tascisti corps which are being formed in Danish territory which borders German. The organizations resemble the Italian fascisti, and are made up of reactionaries who are opposed to <a working class organizations and radical and liberal political parties. The fascisti leader Arrildskovo is making a house to house canvass along the Danish-German frontier ask- ing for fascisti recruits. The move is said to be nationalistic, aimed against Germany, but as was the case of the Italian fascisti, it is primarily aimed at both the Danish and German work- ers. Jobless Man Attempts Suicide Max Schorr, an unemployed worker, living at 1443 So. Trumbull Ave., at- temped to commit suicide at his home Speech by Comrade Stalin. At the Plenary Meeting of the Com- munist Section of the Central Trade Union Council on Nov. 19, 1924, OMRADES! I will confine myself to unmasking a few legends which have been spread by Comrade Trotsky and others of the same opinion as to the October revolution, the part played by Comrade Trotsky in the revolution, as to the party and the preparations for October, etc, In doing so I shall treat Trotskyism as a singular ideology which is quite irreconcilable with Len- inism, and speak of the duties of the party in connection with the recent li- terary undertakings of Comrade Trot- sky. The Facts as to the October Revolution. First of all as to the October revolu- tion. Strong rumors are being spread among the members of the party, that the C. C. as a whole is said to have been opposed to the insurrection in October, 1917. The tale usually goes that on Oct. 10, when the C. C. passed a resolution regarding the organiza- tion of the revolt, the majority of the C. C. pronounced against the revolt, but that just then a workman forced his way into the committee and said: “You have passed a resolution against the revolt, but I tell you that it will take place in spite of everything.” The C. C, is said to have been alarmed by these threats, to have discussed anew the question of the revolt, and to have decided to organize it. This is no simple rumor, Comrades. The well-known i Reed, who was not connected wif@our party and na- turally could not Know the history of our conspirative meeting on Oct. 10, so that he fell into Mr. Suchanov’s trap, writes about it in his book “Ten Days That Shook the World.” Thi tale is printed and repeated in a whole series of brochures which originate from the pens of Trotsky’s adherents, among others in one of the latest bro- chures about October written by Com- rade Syrkin. These rumors are supported in an increased degree by the latest literary enterprise of Comrade Trotsky. It is hardly necessary to prove that all these and similar “Arabian Nights” do not correspond to the facts, that nothing of the sort happened or could have happened at the meeting of the Cc. C. We might therefore pass over these rumors, for indeed many un- founded and silly rumors are manufac- tured in the studies of persons in op- position or not connected with the par- ty. We have, as a matter of fact, done so until recently, for instance, by paying no attention to the mistakes of John Reed and not troubling to cor- rect them, But after the recent enter- prises of Comrade Trotsky, it is really impossible to pass over these legends for efforts are being made to educate the youth on the lines of these legends which have unfortunately already met with some success. I feel therefore, compelled to confront these silly ru- mors with the actual facts. Let us take the minutes of the meet- ing of the C. C. of our party from Oct. 10-23, 1917. Present: Lenin, Zin- oviev, Kamenev, Stalin, Trotsky, Swerdlov, Uritsky, Dzershiasky, Kol- lantay, Bubnov, Sokolnikov, Lomov. The question to be discussed is the situation at the time and the insurrec- tion. After the debate, a resolution of Comrade Lenin’s as to the revolt, is put to the vote. The resolution was passed with a majority of 10 votes against 2. It seems therefore perfectly clear that the C. C. resolv- ed by a majority of 10 against 2 votes to proceed immediately with the prac- tical work for the organization of the insurrection. At this meeting, the C. C. chose a political central committee with the title of a political bureau, consisting of Lenin, Zinoviev, Stalin, |Kamenev, Trots#y, Sokolnikov and | Bubnov to lead the revolt. These are the facts. These minutes immediately destroy several legends. They destroy the legend that a majority of the C. C. pronounced against the insurrection. They also destroy the legend that the C. C. was faced by a split on the ques- tion of the insurrection. It is evident from the minutes, that the opponents of immediate revolt—Comrades Kam- enev and Zinoviev, joined the organ for the political direction of the revolt, just as did those who were in favor of it. There was not and cannot be any question of a split. Comrade Trotsky asserts that in the persons of Comrades Kameney and Zinoviev we had in October a right wing, almost a wing of social demo- crats, in our party. In view of this it seems difficult to understand how it could happen that the party escaped a split; how it could happen that, in spite of the differences of opinion, the comrades in question were placed by the party at the most important posts, were elected to the political central committee of the insurrection, etc. Lenin’s intolerance of social demo- crats is well known in the party; the party knows that he would not for a moment have agreed to have comrades with social democratic leanings in the party, let alone in the most import- ant posts. How is it to be explained that the party yon es asplit? It is explained by the fact that these comrades were old Bolsheviki who stood on the gen- eral foundation of Bolshevism. In what did this general foundation con- sist? In a conformity of views as to the fundamental questions, the ques- tions as to the character of the Rus- sian revolution, as to the driving force of the revolution, the role of the pea- sants, the principles of party leader- ship, ete. Without such a general foundation, a split would have been inevitable. No split took place and the differences of opinion only lasted a few days, and that because Com- rades Kameney and Zinoviev were Leninists, were Bolsheviki, Let us now pass on to the legend by takifg gas. He is in a serious con-| ag to the special part played by Com- rade Trotsky in the October revolu- atk SLE macau ES aaeEEReeEEEERERAT -64-PAGE PAMPHLET ON LENINISM OR TROTSKYISM NOW IN PREPARATION This installment is part of a pam- phiet“Leninism or Trotzkyism” now in preparation, It includes articles by three outstanding figures in the Russian Communist Party: G. Zinoviev, 1. Stalin and C. Kamen- ev, to form a most timely and im- portant contribution to a discussion of world interest. The pamphlet will be. of 64 pages, selling at 20 cents and will be ready at the con- clusion of this serial publication. tion. Comrade Trotsky’s partisans vi- gorously spread rumors that the inau- gurator and the only leader of the Oc. tober revolution was Comrade Trot- sky. These rumors are specially spread by Comrade Lenzner, editor of Trotsky’s works. By the fact that Comrade Trotsky systematically ne- glects to mention the party, the C. C. and the Petrograd committee, and is silent as to the leading part played by these organizations in the work of the revolution, putting himself in the foreground as its central figure, he himself, intentionally or uninten- donally, promotes the spread of the cumor as to the special part played by him in the reyolutino, I am far from denying the undoubt- edly important part played by Com- rade Trotsky in the revolution. I must however say, that Comrade Trotsky neither did nor could play any special part, that he, as chairman of the Pet- rograd Soviet only carried out the will of the party authorities in question who supervised everyone of his steps. To member of the petty bourgeoisie, such as Suchanoy, all this may appear strange, but the facts, the actual facts completely confirm my statement. Let us take the minutes of the fol- lowing meeting, of the 16th of Octo- ber. Present: the members of the C. C. plus representatives of the Petro- grad committee, plus representatives of the military organization, of the fac- tory committees of the trade unions, of the railwaymen. Among those pres- ent were, besides the members of the Cc. C., “rylenko, Schotman, Kalinin, Volodarsky, Schlapnikov, Lazis and others. The question for discussion is the insurrection from the purely prac- tical point of view of organization. Lenin’s resolution as to the insurrec- tion was passed by a. majority of 20 votes against 2, 2 refraining from vot- ing. The practical central committee for the organizing direction of the re- volt was elected. Five comrades were elected to this committee: Sverdlov, Stalin, Dsherhinsky, Bubnov, Uritzky. The duties of the central committee consisted in directing all the practical organs of the, insurrection in accord- ance with the instructions of the C. C. As you see, something “terrible” hap- pened at this meeting of the C. C., i. e. the “inaugurator,” the “central figure,” the “only leader” of the insurrection, Comrade Trotsky, was not elected a member of the practical central com- mittee, who duty it was to direct the insurrection. How can this be reconciled with the opinion in general circulation as to the special part played by Comrade Trotsky? It is indeed somewhat “strange” as Suchanow or Comrade Trotsky’s adherents would say. Strict- ly speaking, there is however, nothing “strange” in it, for Comrade Trotsky, a comparatively new man in our party at the time of October, neither did nor could play a special part, either in the party or in the October revolution. He, like all the responsible function aries, was only an agent of the will of the C. C. Anyone who knows the me- chanism of the party leadership of the Bolsheviki will understand without much difficulty, that it could not have been otherwise, for had Comrade Trot- sky begun to act contrary to the will of the C. C., he would have been de- prived of his influence on the course | of things. All the talk about the spe- cial part played by, Comrade Trae is a legend which is spread by offi i “party” gossips. This, of course, does not mean that the October revolution did not have its instigator and leader. But this was Lenin and no other—the same Lenin whose resolutions were accepted by the central committee in deciding the question of the revolution, the same Lenin who was not hindered by ille- gality from becoming the instigator of the revolution in spite of the asser- tions of Comrade Trotsky. It is fool- sh and ridiculous to endeavor by gos- siping about illegality to erase that in- dubitable fact that the leader of the praty, V. I. Lenin, was the instigator of the revolution. These are the facts. Granted, they say, but it cannot be denied that Comrade Trotsky fought well in the October period. Yes, it is true, Comrade Trotsky really fought bravely in October. But in October, not only Comrade Trotsky fought bravely, so did even the left social re- volutionaries who at that time stood side by side with the Bolsheviki. Al- together it must be said that it is not difficult to fight bravely in a period of victorious insurrection, when the enemy is isolated and the insurrection is growing. In such moments even the backward ones become heroes. But the battle of proletariat is not al- ways an attack, not always exclusive- ly a chain of successes. The fight of the proletariat has its trials, its de- feats. A true revolutionary is one who not only shows courage in the period of victorious insurrection, but who fights well.in a victorious attack of the revolution, and the same tim shows courage at a moment of retreat of the revolution, in a period of defeat of the proletariat; who does not lose his head nor fall out, if the revolution fails and the enemy succeeds; who, in the period of the retreat of the sm or Trotskyism J] volution, does not fall a victim to pa- nic and despair. The left social revolutionaries did not fight badly in the October period when they supported the Bolsheviki. Who however, is not aware that these “brave” warriors were seized with panic in the Brest period when the attack of German imperialism threw them into despair and hysterics? It is a sad but indisputable fact that Com- rade Trotsky, who had fought well in the October period, lost his courage in the Brest period, the period of tem- porary failure of the revolution, to such an extent that in this difficult moment he was not steadfast enough to resist following in the footsteps of the left social revolutionaries. There is no doubt that the moment was a very difficult one, that it waS neces- sary to display an iron self-possession so as not to be worn out, to give way at the right moment and to accept peace at the right moment, to protect the proletarian army. against the thrust of the German imperialism, to preserve the peasant reserves.and, af- ter having in this way attained a breathing space, to strike out at the enemy with renewed force. But alas, Comrade Trotsky did not display such courage and such revolutionary stead- EVEN HARVARD STUDENTS REBEL ~ AGAINST BIG BIZ Lampoon theMethods of New Commercialism : (Special to The Dally Worker) BOSTON, Mass., Feb. 1.—Hven stu- dents of America’s champion snob university, Harvard, are rebelling against the business methods capital- ism is forcing on them. The “Harvard Lampoon,” the col- lege humorist paper, has come out with a “Business School Number” in which they lambast, with cartoons, the new graduate ‘school of busines; administration, founded with’ $5,000,000 donated by George F. Baker, former partner of the owner of the United States and many: European. countries, J. P. Morgan. Donham May Supplant Lowell. The dean of the new school is W. B. Donham, who, many say, is expect- ed to supplant the present president Lowell. In‘ one cartoon composed of fastness at this difficult moment. In Comrade Trotsky’s opinion, the chief lesson of the proletarian revolu- tion of October is “not to run off the rails.” This is wrong, for the asser- tion of Comrade Trotsky containe only a small part of the truth as to the lessons of the revolution. The whole truth as to the lessons is to avoid “running off the rails,” not only in the days of the revolutionary attack, but also in the days of retreat of the revolution, when the enemy has gain- ed the upper hand and the revolution is suffering defeat. The revolutior is not exhausted with October. Oc- tober is only the beginning of the pro- letarian revolution. It is bad to run off the rails when the revolution is in the process of development, it, is worse when it happens in the hour of severe trial of the revolution, after power has been seized. It is no less important to hold fast to the power on the day after the revolution, than to seize it. Since Comrade Trotsky ran off the rails in the Brest period, the period of sever trial for our revo- lution, wheh it was almost a case of yielding up the power, he ought to understand his pointing out the mis- takes made by Kamenev and Zinoviev in October, is entirely out of place. The Party and the Preparations for October. Let us now pass on to the ques- tion of the preparations for October. If one listens to Comrade Trotsky, one is tempted to think that the Bolshevist Party during the whole period of Oc- tober only did just what turned up, that it was devoured by internal dis- sensions, and that it hindered Lenin in every possible way and that, had it not been for Comrade Trotsky, no one knows how the revolution might have ended. It is rather amusing to hear these strange statements of Comrade Trotsky about the party, who in the same “preface” to volume III. states that “the chief weapon of the prole- tarian revolution is the party,” that “without party, beyond the party, in- dependently of the party, by a substi- tution of the party, the proletarian re- volution cannot win,” from which ar- gument Allah himself could not un- derstand how our revolution could have been victorious, since “its chief weapon” was inadequate and yet no victory is possible “independently of the party.” It is not however, the first time that Comrade Trotsky serves us up such strange fare. We must take it for granted that the en- tertaining speeches about our party belong to the usual peculiarities of Comrade Trotsky. Let us glance briefly at the preparations for October according to the various periods. (To be continued.) C. M. & St. Paul Rail- road That Killed Ten Is Given Jury Whitewash The January grand jury, in bringing in a yerdict éf “no recommendation” 41 the train-trolley wreck at North Ave. and Kingsbury st, reversed the judgement of the coroners jury, which held the employes of the Chicago, Miiwaukee and St. Paul railroad re- sponsible for the death of ten persons. The coroners inquest brought out the fact that the railroad had violated several Chicago city ordinances and state laws, including the city ordinance that tracks must be elevated above street car crossings and that trains within the city must not be more than 35 cars long, The jury, in the face of the evidence showing the responsibility of the Chi cago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad for the wreck, declined to hand down indictments in the case, declaring, that “While i apparent more care and caution should have prevailed at the crossing, successful prosecution of any individual or individuals on the evid- ennce at hand was too doubtful to warrant true bills.” SEATTLE MACHINISTS GWE TEN DOLLARS TO MICHIGAN DEFENSE (Special to The Daily Worker) SEATTLE, Wash. Feb, 1—The Hope Lodge No, 79, of the Interna- tional Association of Machinists, dollars to the Labor Defense Council. The resolution, signed by Vice-presi- dent Vincent Brown, declared that the money was to be “used in aid of the defense of C. BE. Ruthenberg and other class Wat prisoners victims of the infamous ‘criminal syndicalism Jaw of the state of Michigan.” unanimously voted to contribute ten two pictures the former president, Charles W. Bliot, is shown: with-two boods under his arm and:the label of this side of. the picture is “The Uni- versity President: of Yesterday.” Dean Donham is shown in. the other side of the cartoon as, “The. University President of Tomorrow,” . yearing a nifty business suit and holding a -sta- tistical chart. in-one hand to denote the new times of efficiency and busi- ness setting in at Harvard. Another cartoon shows “Johnny. Harvard” holding a lion cub, labeled “The Business School.” The cub is again shown but this time as a full- grown lion, and’ “Jimthy Harvard's” hat is the only thing remaining of the old university. The legend asks the reader to guess where little Johnny Harvard college is now. It Shows the Leaven, The opening page’ has a picture of the new business school library. The central dome is an immense stock ticker. Dollar signs frésco the walls, while on the cornices are the namer of Ponzi, Arnstein, Doheny and Shy lock. It is not much but shows the leaven is working a trifle and maybe Ameri- can students will some day wake up to what their country is becoming under capitalistic ethies- and busines: administrations. Pasure Ge att, Voorker pr M25 Weg ada te a pr “= OUR A. D. DISTRICT IS NOT YET PD. BUT IT IS PLOUGHING DEEPLY ORTH and South Dakota have put their hands to the plough with the spirit to be expected from the agricultural district of the Work- ers’ Party. In some fields real digging has been done for the DAILY WORKER. Two superactive branches In Frederick, S. D., the Finnish and the English, harvested $80.00 almost over night. From Mandan, N. Dak., $25.00 are to come in installments of $5.00 before February 15. Considering the fact that the agricultural district Is the “baby” district of the party, its showing Is to be commended. Eight branches, besides fighting LaFolletteism at home, have helped fight It on a bigger scale by supporting the DAILY WORKER. 7 We ask the nine backward branches, “How do you expect to carry on against LaFolletteism without the DAILY WORKER'S generalship?” And again, “How do you expect the DAILY WORKER to earry on with- out your re-enforcement?” y It’s a fifty-fifty proposition. If the agricultural district filps a coln and it turns up “tails,” the DAILY WORKER loses as well. If the DAILY WORKER'S ooin turns up “heads,” the agricultural district wins, too. Only our drive to insure the DAILY WORKER isn’t a gamble—It’e a mathematical certainty. If thé branches fail to raise their quotas, the campaign is lost. So far just a little over half the quota In the agricultural district has been raised, $138.00 out of a minimum set at $273.00, The record reads as follows: They Put Their Hands to the Plough: Frederick, S. Dak., Save Platt, English, Dougla Belden, N. Dak., English Fargo, N. D., English.. Frederick, S. Dak., Englist Mandan, N. Dak.,. Englis! Wilton, N. D., English. Wing, N. Dak.. Total.....cisus No Digging Done by These Branches: NORTH DAKOTA BRANCHES—Boretrall, Carrison, Douglas, Wil- liston. R i "aoutH DAKOTA BRANCHES—Centerville, Inland, Marion, enice Mitchell. New York Daily Worker Builders’ Corner Conducted by KATTERFELD. T a special meeting of New York DAILY WORKER Bullders Tuesday evening, Feb. 3, at 208 East 12th street, 8. T. Hammersmark, adver- tising manager of the DAILY WORKER, will give a “Business Talk on The DAILY WORKER,” and J. O. Bentall, editor of the New York edition, will speak on “Workers’ Correspondents.” In addition to the official DAILY WORKER agents and correspondents all party members interested in developing the New York edition of the DAILY WORKER are invited to attend thie meeting. PULMOTOR WANTED. The following branches either have not elected any DAILY WORKER agents yet, or their agents show no sign of life. Wideawake members of these branches are asked to act as pulmotors to revive them. Come to the DAILY WORKER Builders’ meeting Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 208 East 12th street and learn how. This Is a special invitation to the members of the following New York branches: Armenian; English, Boro Park; Finnish, Harlem; Hungarian No. 45, Astoria; Itallan Downtown, West Side, Harlem, Astoria, Corona, So, Brooklyn; Jewish, Brownsville, Bath Beach, Coney Island; Lithuanian No. 32, Bronx, Great Neck; Orlental; Russian, Harlem; Ukrainian, Dowrtown, Staten Island, Bronx. 1 Ready! The February issue of The Workers Monthly Edited by EARL R. BROWDER “The Left Wing in Trade Union Elections” By WM. Z. FOSTER. A vital and timely pen picture of today’s struggles of the trade union militants. Including: “From Anarchism to Com- munism” By JAY FOX. A most interesting article by a leader ef the American anarchist movement for thirty years. and another generous installment of that Communist classic The History of the Russian Communist Party By GREGORY ZINOVIEV, President of the Communist International. Chas, E. Johnson Bertram Wolfe Joseph Manley Other splendid contributions by: } wee Robert Minor Alexander Bittelman Louis Zoobock T. J. J: W. Johnetons Thurber Lewis Wm. Gropper, J. de Miskey and Hay Bales. PHOTOGRAPHS INTERNATIONAL REVIEW EDITORIALS A subscription will bring such an issue to you each month. Single Copy 25 Cents $1.25 Six Months THE WORKEARS MONTHLY, ; 1118 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, Ill. | Enclosed $. 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