The Daily Worker Newspaper, September 26, 1925, Page 10

Communist Work in Co-operative Mass Organizations By W. HANKA R the Communist co-operative work of the Comintern sections there are ‘two contlusions to be drawn from the estimate made of the politi- cal situation, and from the lines laid down for the development of Bolshe- vist mass parties, by the enlarged ex- ecutive of the Comintern (April, 1925) First of all it..is of the utmost im- portance fo recognize the necessity of devoting {intense attention, in the Communist Parties, to the work of the co-operatives, “All Communists, with- out exception, must become members of the co-operatives, and must take active part, and in an organized man- ner, in all events relating to the co- operatives, and in the solution of the daily questigns arising in co-opera- *tive life. A second and! no less im- portant aspect of the question relates to the methods and starting points of our practical activities in the co- operatives, the tactics by which we *% are to wih over the millions, organiz- ed in the) co-operatives for revolution- ary class;warfare.” “At the III, IV, and VY. World Congress’ it was already pointed out that it is the duty of the Communist Parties to devote adequate attention to the co-operatives, and during the present period of Bolshe- vization, and of systematic building up of our parties as real leaders of the masses, this duty is placed more emphatically in the foreground. N the theses issued by the execu- tive, work among the existing mass organizations is designated as the most essential prerequisite of Bolshe- vization. Besides the trade unions, with regard to which the enlarged executive categorically declares that the Communists have to work in them even when they are in the hands of arch-reactionary leaders, there are in all countries huge co-operative organ- izations, again mass organizations of the proletariat. The International Co-operative Alliance ~ (London) alone comprises 100,000 co-operative organizations belonging to 32 coun- tries, affiliated “tothe -alliance’ thru their central.unions.. This involves the enormous number of 50 million members. We must wrest these many millions from the hands of the re- formist leaders! The slogan: “To the masses!” must be realized in the " co-operative movement with our maxi- mum of intensity, energy, and per-, severance. We must endeavor to en- list this gigantic organization of the exploited, created in the course of de- cades, in the united proletarian fight- ing front against capital. An intense fractional activity with- in the co-operative organizations gives us Communists the opportunity of” contact with strata of the working class which we encounter neither in the trade unions nor in the factories. Thus, for instance, work in the co- operatives offers the best possibility, or may even be regarded as the first premise, for really useful party work among the proletarian housewives. MAX* proletarian housewives, hav- ing learned by bitter personal experience the necessity of organized opposition against the profiteering in food - practiced by the ~capitalists, agaihst high prices and speculation, join the co-operatives. But the so- cial reformist managers of the co- operative-societies exert their utmost endeavors to paralyze the fighting will of these masses by the propagation of illusions as to the possibility of overcoming capitalism on peaceful lines with the aid of the co-operatives only, without the necessity of the re- volutionary class. struggle. To bring light re this obscurity with the torch of Leninism, to show, the proletarian housewives, gathered together in these organizations in compact mass* es and who are otherwise inaccessible to us, the real task and means in the struggle against capitalism, and to lead them forward in this struggle— this is a duty imperatively incumbent on the Bolshevist parties, and, one which can no longer be postponed. Besides the main masses of prole- tarian members, we find in the co-op- erative societies of today various groups from those strata of the petty bourgeoisie which may be regarded as possible allies of the proletariat in the revolutionary struggle, tho at the moment they may still be vacillating t . irresolutely to and fro. The Leninist tactics of recruiting allies for the de- cisive revolutionary struggle of the proletariat, culminating in the. Soviet Union in the magnificent success of the unshakeable alliance between the proletariat and the peasantry, will have to be applied in a much higher degree to the city population in coun- tries where this is of greater decisive importance. We find all these petty state and municipal officials, private employes, artisans, technicians, etc., in the co-operatives. TARTING with their most primitive needs; with their daily cares, we find here the opportunity of gaining for the first time the ear of these strata of the population for the voice of the revolutionary proletariat, and of convincing them that, in the strug- gle between capital and labor, it is to their own interest not to take part against the proletariat, but to support the working class, or at least not to place obstacles in the way of the rev- olutionary overthrow of capitalism. Conditions are similar with respect to the small farmers. The wide- spread network of farmers’ co-opera- tives is the main type of those eco- nomic organizations of the peasantry to which the Enlarged Executive has directed the attention of the Commun- ist Parties. The setting up of con- crete Communist demands regarding questions of taxes and credits, in questions Pelating to the regulation of land ownership, and in all questions dealing with the daily vital interests of the peasantry—questions which are invariably on the agenda of these peasants’ co-operative organizatiéns or can be placed on it—forms the best possible opportunity of proving to the largest strata of the rural population the immensity of the antagonism be- tween their real interests and the pol- icy pursued by the capitalist big agrarian state. Here, too, a consist- ently carried out co-operative activity affords the suitable opportunity, and is the suitable medium, for the influ- ence of the big land owners and the even pap By Working Women’s Organizer. T is 6.a. m., it is dark. I wake up as if electrified. What is the matter? Then the thought comes to me in a flash. This morning we see our com- rades off who are going to the front —48 of our best, dearest and most ac- tive comrades, who, full of enthusi- asm, had volunteered to work for the party which is\near and dear to them. They include also three youths of 15 and 14 years and three women. Just as a mother parts reluctantly with one child after another when necessity demands, we considered long and carefully the case of every- one of these comrades—either mem- ber of the factory committee or active educationalist, or good agitator, or much valued. expert—but it did not occur to. us that the best shoiild be kept back. No, we were determined to give up those who were dearest to us for Work over there where they were needed more than here. ERY solemn was the moment when selection and deliberations of the comrades had ended, and the chair- man of the nucleus said the last part- ing words to them. With shining eyes and burning cheeks they went on their errand, united and full of enthusiasm. How determined and joyful sounded our “Onwards comrades, onwards.” I start running along the frozen ground oblivious of my age, quicken- ing my pace moved. by the thought, “I want to be, I must be with them.” A horse is statiding outside the club laden with various baskets and sacks.. In the club there were already a good few, workers and comrades full equip- ped for their journey, and also those. who have come to see them off. Seven a. m. was the hour appointed for the meéting. Soon everyone will be there, T the refreshment bar tea is ready for those who are going away staidard of living among the people, A PAGE FROM THE JOURNAL OF A WOMAN COMMUNIST IN 1919 “. They went a priests, and for converting them into the conscious allies of the proletariat. HE first prerequisite for the thoro utilization of the whole of these advantageous possibilities for our pro- letarian class struggle offered by the co-operative ‘societies is, it need scarcely be said, for us to have ac- cess to the co-operative meetings, con- ferences, etc. The entry of Commun- ists into: the co-operative societies, and the formation of fractions within these societies, is thus an urgent duty. With regard to the methods to be pursued in Communist co-operative work, the decisions of the Enlarged Executive show the fundamental lines laid down by the resolutions passed by the organization bureau, and by the co-operative section of the E. C. C. I., in October, 1924, to be entirely correct and in no need of alteration. The conditions of the present general political situation, and the prospects adduced to by the Enlarged Execu- tive of a diminished speed of revolu- tionary development, render it the more urgently incumbent on the Com- munist Parties to apply the principle of devoting attention to the current questions of practical daily life to work in the co-operatives. If we put forward definite Commun- ist demands and propositions with ref- erence to the daily questions arising in the co-operative movement, and in its local, national and international organizations, we shall be able to make use of the immediate interests of the co-pperative societies for show- ing the masses of the members how the gigantic apparatus of the co-op erativés could be developed into an effective means of defense against the exploitation and starvation practices of capital, and how the organization of the workers’ consumers must work hand in hand with the other organs of revolutionary ¢lass war towards the overthrow of the capitalist system, if this organization is actually to fulfill its purpose: The.,raising of the and for those who are seeing them off. Everyone is in an elated mood. All are there. The tea drinking is at an end. The order to start is given and the ranks are being formed in the foyer. of the club. They are drawn’ up ina line, the chairman of the nu- cleus appears on the platform where the band used to play and all eyes are turned towards him. And then he spoke with emotion and yet powerfully and firmly: If there were ever in Communist ranks waver- ers or timid people, this speech would ave made heroes of them. But here we had no waverers or timid people. everyone was aflame with courage and enthusiasm, ee JN the dim morning light-the snow < which the sun rays tinged with red and the Communist banner made spec- ially for the comrades seemed in uni- son with the feelings and frame of mind of all those present. Such im- pressions and experiences are worth many a dull and: colorless life. The speeches and parting words had come to-an end. The International was sung, the banner was unfolded and floated majestically in the air. # gpa came the presentation or the banner, the: Communist swearing allegiance, the parade atid the band march, music, » Proud, bold and erect. The whole crowd followed them to the station. There—méte Speeches and oyations from all the organizations, The train~is in sight. The band plays the International, No tears in the eyes of those who have come to see them off. No tears, and yet there was'no one dearer to all our hearts than these comrades who were going away. We accompany them as far as Moscow. . is broad daylight. There is some joking, but on the quiet, and we all continued to be in a solemn mood. We formed ourselves into a column 4 and the bridling of the greed of the usurious capitalists, who force up prices. ASING our criticism on an accur- ate knowledge and analysis of the general economic situation, and of the practical business conditions in the co-operatives, we must, ini our criticism ‘of the leadership, show: the members that the reformist co-operar tive society interests which they pro- fess to represent; that this. bureau- cracy, by working: together with the bourgeoisie during and after the world war, is driving the co-operatives to ~ ruin, and delivering them over into the hands of banking capital!) «"* - The quéstion of ‘combatting’ usury ‘' and high prices, acute in almost every ° country at the present time, should be specially raised in the co-operatives. In place of co-operation with the bour- geoisie,/-we must demand a fighting aHiance, with the trade unions and factory councils. For in the first place the economic power of the co- operative is directly dependent upon the purchasing powers of the work- ing class, and in the second place help form the trade unions and factory councils is necessary if the co-opera- tive societies are to succeed in hav- ing their demands (freedom from tax- ation, credit—control of private trade) acceded to in a capitalist state. « HE necessary conclusions to be . drawn for Communist co-operative work from the decisions of the Ex- ecutive are therefore as follows: Join the co-operative societies! To the masses of co-operative so- ciety members! Organize participation in the daily life of the co-operatives! Exercise expert criticism and make definite demands! Use the fight against high prices and the struggle for existence as starting points! Get into contact with the trade unions and factory councils! ~ _Go forward from the current de- mands of the co-operatives to the rey- olutionary mass struggle, oe Weer” and went to the other station. It is difficult to distinguish the women from the men: the same brand new fur caps, the same kind of boots and knapsacks on their backs. Those who came to see them off keep pace with them. Friends are wondering if our comrades were given enough provis- ions to last them for the journey, for -here is scarcity everywhere. . ; The big family, which we really are was worrying about its dear.ones, but. finally ‘decided that everything that was possible had been done. Then came the final good byes and parting words, the last sound of ‘music, and the train has gone. ee the feeling of having done their duty those who stayed be- hind vowed to keep the promise made to those who had gone to the front— | to work hard for the reconstruction of our devastated economy. 1905 Rebels Plan Reunion Celebration at 20th Anriiversary [: ee celebration in memory of the 20th anniversary of the Russian revolution. of 1905 is being planned in Chicago by old-tebels of the 1905 revolution, |. The revolution of that year-awaken- | od the masses, it s e che ezar, but it was not: st ‘to overthrow czarism and. capitalism, As, a.result of that, a hecshid nade acre broke out, killing thousands” of | workers, Many were exiled to Si- beria; some were more fortunate and fled to other countries. A conference of the old rebels who are living in Chicago is being called to organize a monster celebration for the occasion. Old rebels are request- ed to send their names and addresses to the Chicago office of the Novy Mir, 1113 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, Minois, That worker next door to you may not have anything to do to- night. Hand him this copy of the DAILY WORKER. Le ees 5