The Daily Worker Newspaper, July 18, 1925, Page 13

The Reformist Leaders in'a Dilemma = determined attitude taken by the English trade unions in the question of trade union unity has em- barrased the reformists of all shades. They can now no longer repeat that the proposals for trade union unity are only a manoetvre of Moscow, that the leaders of the English organiza- tions have been deceived by these Bolshevist devils, that we are sowing dissention in the trade union move- ment etc. The workers of all coun- tries are beginning to understand clearly, that our fight for unity is by no means a manoeuvre, that the rea] splitters of the trade union movement are the reformists, and that it is ex- tremely naive, not to use a stronger expression, to imagine, that responsi- bie trade unionists such as the mem- bers of the English delegation, who have been active members of the la- bor movement for many years, would have allowed themselves to be de- ceived by the communists during their stay in the Soviet Union. Y cong resolutions which were passed by the Anglo-Russian Trade Union Conference in April, have still further increased the confusion in the ranks of the reformists. The leaders of the Amsterdam International who have always proclaimed the right of the Na- tional Executives in different countries to freedom of action, are now aston- ished at the unprecedented boldness of the English trade unions who are acting on their own initiative and have come to an agreement with the Russian trade union organization. And to what purpose? The object is to unite the workers of all countries who are organized in trade unions in a single International which will be able to combat the capitalist offensive. This is why the right group of Am- sterdam is opposing this initiative with so much energy, for its realisa- tion would be a death-blow to inter- national reformism. As this reform- “H* you ha@ any replies from the powers to your suggestion that an international conference be held on the question of reconsidering extra-territorial laws and other mat- ters,” asked Kal of Kell as*the two leading flunkies of Wall Street, walk- ed on the lawn of White Court, in Swampscott, Mass. “I might as well have sent out a circular jetter calling for a meeting of the ku klux klan in Dublin, Ireland, or asked France for a payment on ac- count, for all the notice was taken of it,” grunted Kell. Kal—iIf things keep on going as they are now, you and I will get the devil. You muffed the Mexican sit- uation, by lettng Calles pose as a hero slapping a bully, and I am afraid no- body will take any notice of either one of us in the future. They'll think we're a pair of fourttushers. Kell.—What can a fellow do, when he gets instructions and strict orders to carry them out, no matter what the consequences to himself are? My note did the job in Mexico. You see, Calles is doing alright now. Kal.—That is all very well for those who are on the inside, but tho we don’t usually pay much attention to the common people, what they think of a politician counts at the polls, and until we get ready to drop the ballot box as Mussolini did, we have got to consider their feelings. The nation had a strong attack on us and the nation has considerable influence, Kell.—Don’t worry about the na- tion. That bunch of pacifists are easily fooled. In fact I think they are very willing to be fooled. If you or I say something nice about China next week, Villard, Rev. Norman Thomas and the rest of them will be falling all over each other praising us. The Communists are the only people we can’t fool. Kal.—I thought they were on the run. That's what Mr, Green of the A F. of L, told the department of justice when he called to renew the contract they had with Mr. Gompers, Kell.—I have an idea it would be better for us to hire a couple thou- sand stoolpigeons than to depend on Green, If we had a lot of fellows to — ism is closely allied with capitalism, for which a split amongst the workers is essential, it is quite natural that the reformists are enemies of unity and use all means in their power to sabotage it. The office of the Amsterdam Inter- national has not yet replied officially to the last letter of the Russian trade union council. But two eminent lead- ers, Ooudegeest and Mertens, the sec- retary and the vice-chairman of the International have made some state- ments. There was a time when Ou- degeest enjoyed a certain reputation as a diplomat. The secretary of the Amsterdam International is in danger of losing this reputation. Since the English and Russian trade unions came to an agreement, he has written nothing but nonsense. 'E recall the article which he wrote during the visit of the Einglish delegation to Russia and which was commented on at the time. In a new article on the last Anglo-Russian Con- ference which was published in the “Bulletin of the L F. T. U.”, Oudegeest confides a new and important discov- ery tous. According to him, the lead- ers of the Russian trade umions are fine fellows, honest fighters, with whom Amsterdam could quite well come to an agreement. But there is an obstacle, and that is the Commun- ist Party which binds the hands of Tomski (“who is our friend”), and above all there are Zinoviev and Loz- owsky, who terrorize the Russian trade unions and force them to remain in the Red International of Labor Un- ions and to submit themselves to the instructions of the Communist Party! As long as the Russian trade unions do not break off these connections, is about what Oudegeest says, our “in- stinct of self-preservation” will pre- vent us coming to an agreement with them. These are fine explanations! It is difficult to imagine greater intel- lectual modesty. bad faith? Not only the Russian workers but those of all other countries know the close connections which bind the Rus- sian trade unions, the most solid foundation of the dictatorship of the proletariat; to the Communist Party which is the advance guard of the labor movement and the leader of the revolution. The reformist leaders are not ignornat of the fact that it is impossible to separate the Russian trade unions from the Communist Par- ty, and they are quite well aware that Tomski, the so-called defender_ of trade union independence, the poor “victim of Communist tyranny” is one of the most influential members of the party and of the political bureau. ERTENS, the well-known sepa- ratist, the originator of a kind of trade union exceptional law against the Communists in Belgium, less easily loses his head but his perturba- tion is quite transparent. He under- stands the whole immense significance of the agreements concluded between the Russian and English trade unions, This accounts for his compaints and protests against the boldness of the English trade unions. In “Le Mouve- ment Syndical Belge” (The Belgium Trade Union Movement) of May 9 he writes: “What right have the English com- rades to interfere in the internal life of the trade unions of other coun- tries? Why do they wish to force their views, their opinions, on other organ- izations? Do they not understand that just this is one of the numer- ous Obstacles which separate us from the Russians who also, under the pre- text that they have brotight the state o fthe future into actual being, want to force their policy, their methods of action and their way of thinking on to other countries?” Mertens is trying to side-track the Is it ignorance or fight the Communists in the unions, we'd be doing better. Kal.—But the D. of J. tells me that the socialists are doing that, and they don’t cost much. Kell.—Like hell they are. Why there aren’t enough socialists left all over the country to make a decent funeral, And see what they have done in New York, in the Internation- al Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union. Kal—What the blazes have they done? Kell.—Instead of pretending to fight the manufacturers they came out openly on their side and tried to make the workers accept an agreement that the workers did not like. Then they preferred charges against their op- ponents. and removed them from of- fice. The result is that the rank and file are now in sympathy with the Communists and saying: “By god they are right. The socialists are dirty dogs.” Kal.—At that rate it looks as if the Communists were growing. They tell me they are behind this trouble in China, ; Kell,—-That's good stuff for the pub- lic and Morgan tells us to spread it 7 out thick, but between you and me and the hobby horse, we are to blame for the situation in China. By the way the last time I saw the Big Fel- low, he was breaking his sides laugh- ing over the predicament our British cousins were in. Kal.—Is he satisfied with the way we are handling the Chinese situa- tion? Kell.—He said Borah saved the day for us. The trouble now is that the Chinamer think Borah is president, and if later on you say something crit- ical about them, they may laugh it off thinking you are only the gover- nor of Rhode Island or dog catcher in Wolf Point, Montana. Kal.—I don’t think I talk enough. What do you think? Kell.—I don’t think. I gave up that long ago. Say Kal, when I used to think for myself I looked as seedy as a hobo after making a tour of Scot- land. You know I was a progressive once. There is nothing in it Kal, and as for you talking too much. Better leave well cnough alone, Kal.—Just the same it’s tough to have people kidding you and saying you don’t know nothing. ee eerie cnelentlanstsititateneenishs re ee a ey By ANDRES NIN question. Who has ever talked of forcing the peculiar Russian or Eng- lish points of view on other coun- tries? Our aim is quite limited. It is merely a question of establishing the unity of the international trade union movement and, in order to ar- rive at this goal, we impose no pre- liminary conditions. We are prepared to submit to the will of the majority of workers, which the reformists do not seem inclined to do. HIS is why they revolt against the idea of a world congress thru which unity might be achieved. We, how- ever, shall not cease to propagate this slogan, and we are convinced that we are reflecting the wish of the over- whelming majority cf the workers. E movement in favor of unity is pursuing its path in spite of the reformist sabotage. The report of the English delegation has met with a tremendous response in all countries, even among the reformist workers, The cause of unity is gaining ground every day. In Germany, delegations of trade unions which are affiliated to the reformist General Federation of Trade Unions, are preparing to visit the Soviet Union; many local or- ganizations are speaking in favor of unity. In France, more than a hun dred of the trade unions affiliated to the reformist C. G. T. have assumed a similar attitude. In Italy, workers of all parties are declaring their solidarity with the Communists, whom the reformists have excluded. In Belgium hitherto the stronghold of reformism, a trade union left group has been formed, which is prepared to fight for unity. These are only a few of the most important facts. The movement for unity will gain in significance from day to day. We are convinved that the will of the working masses of all countries will finally carry the day in spite of the sabotage of the reformists. Kell—wWell, if you talked they know you know. less,,,.Amyhow, it's some consolation to know that most of the voters know even less than we do. You had luck on your side. If Harding ate less and drank lesa it is more than likely that you woo)d now be prosecuting bootleggers in Ver- mont instead cf posing as i? you were running the United States. Kal.—But, we started out to talk about China. What's going to come out of it anyhow? Kell—From what I can see the Chinese are going to kick us all out and the best thing we can do is to hold on to the market. That’s what the Big Fellow said, tho there is a difference of opinion in Wall Street. Some of them want to line up with England, but the Chief says that we are not interested in pulling England's chestnuts out of the fire, Kal.—But it is reported that Brit- ain is making a deal with Japan. Kell.—The Chief thinks that’s only a bluff to force us to come across and help beat down the Chinese so that they will quit. Even if it is genuine he thinks that New-Zealand and Aus- tralia won't like a renewal of the Anglo-Japanese agreement, and that they will come over to us. Kal.—According to that Britain is almost as helpless as an armless para- lytic in a scratching contest, Kell.—Pretty soon England will be as much out of place in a fight as the pope of Rome at a leg show. Kal—0Or as the president of the Anti-Saloon League at the annual pic- nic of the Vermont Hard Cider Growers’ Association, Kell—Have you anything on the hip, Kal? I didn’t have a good drink since the last cabinet meeting, Kal.—Alright, I'll send for my pro- hibition agent. He just held up a con- signment of Scotch, the best I have sampled for a long time. Kell.—After we have a few drinks we may be able to throw some light on the Chinese question, Kal.—After we have a couple of shots we will curse Morgan to our heart's content and think we're two some bodies, a LLL LC TCC a, Siete al a ne si — pen = otal cid! eee. Fe a te a le ill RE lt cll a ant i tO tt nt SAAR SE ERIC PE ART A