The Daily Worker Newspaper, November 20, 1926, Page 12

bs The Communist Movement in Iceland By GUNNLAUGUR BJORNSON In order to threw some light on the prospects of the Commanist Party in Teeland, it would be desirable to note the historle development of the coun- try and its relationship to the outside world, This, however, is no mean task; justice to it could not be ac complished in a short article of this kind. But there are some main fac- tors we must ioach upon if there is to be any comparison drawn between the Communist movement in Iceland amd the rest of the world. One might say that this is “much ado” about an insignificant country. The answer is that rothing is too small for a Com- mimist point of view if it widens our knowledge. Ta Iceland there is no industrial pro- letariat to speak of. Industries are few and have no possibilities of devel- oyanent beyond a certain amount of hema production, excepting the fishing Industry and dairy farming, which form the principal exports of the country. The population of approxi- _ ately 100,000 is scattered over an area larger than that of Scotland or Ireland, an area of which probably four-fifths in uninhabitable. Transportation is mainly by horse- back riding, automobiles and small coastal steamers, under municipal or government ownership. Roads are good, but costly of building and up- keen, Simce 1906 a network of telephone lines connect the remotest villages in %t im daily contact with the whole world. As alreatty mentioned, the majority of the population is engaged in the tocrat” who gets enough to eat with- out working for it himself—usually the mumicipal representative of the community. Not so with the sea man, He is the big brother of the “land crab” wage worker, and, like him, is organized into one of the strongest unions, These union men have a score or two marked on the buit of their arms, indicating victories over the bosses. The building trades, com- mon jaborers and harbor workers form another main section of the working class, part of which is comprised of mers, and back again to the towns in the fall and winters, Common education in the island per- mits of any comparison. The lan guage is one. And illiteracy is un- known. arly in the year 1916 the workers j- of Ieeland created their own political party for the first time in history. This is now a mass party, capable of a real opposition to the old parties and, in fact, the only adversary to be reckoned with by the conservative party in power. Unlike other labor parties, or perhaps it is the only one of a kind that serves the double pur pose of a federation ‘of labor and a political party at the same time. The unions are members by affiliation, and are the backbone.of the party. An auxiliary committee to the gen- eral party apparatus heads the afir jated unions in a capacity of a federa- tion executive, which has the power to call and terminate strikes, formu- late the general policy, etc. At the present tima one-third of the votes om thig commitiee are Communist. The general executive committee of the labor party is dominated by the He was Iceland’s representative in entire police force of the capital Frid- rikason and some other comrades were taken prisoners, with arms in thelr hands defending the place, Special citizens’ militia was established and guards were thrown around'the state prison. For months the papers gave their front pages to anti-Communist propaganda, The labor union “Dawn” in Reyk- javik js the oldest union in the land. It is over 20 years old. It has a mem- bership of about 700 to 800, of mostly unskified laborers. In the beginning this union was not what the namo im- plied, having in its ranks many con- iractorg and employers, who in later years have gradually been weeded ont of it. Tho union published 4 weekly called “Dawn,” which at the founda- tion of the labor party was taken over by it, In 1919 the name of the paper was changed to “Workers News.” It is a daily, . Everything went smoothly with the party policy until 1921, when differ- ences between the Communists and the social democrats took a sharp turn, and in the fall of 1922, when Comrade Fridriksson, editor of the Workers News, was to be sent to Rus- sia, the general executive committee immediately threatened him with the loss of the editorship, and while he was away in Moscow a new editor was appointed. But in spite of all this there has always existed a unity of a po Cd action in election campaigns, and in strikes, The labor party holds bi-annual con- ventions, to which are elected one del- egate from each affiliated organiza- tion, and one delegate for every 100 members or a major fraction thereof. The convention elects a general exec- utive committee of nine members for a term of two years. : The party is sprinkled with* bour- geois intellectuals, professionals and misfits of the trading classes. These elements, with the social democrats, have the upper hand in the leader- ship. But on real issues the Commu- nists lead the rank and file workers. The policy of the social democrats is and has been to look for an oppor- tunity to force a split in the party and try to isolate the Communists from all contact with the movement, but all signs indicate that they will fail in their aims, Z The Communist movement in Ice- land is older than it is in the United States. On a miniature scale (com- pared with the great nations), this Communist group is going thru the same internal struggles that seem to be a necessary process in cleansing and steeling all Communist parties for the great struggles ahead. The prob- AAS ees rentiaegen Se esnes the ee ene lems facing the Icelandic Communist Party are in a measure the. samo- as in all the others—there is a division onthe line of policy and tactics with- in a mass movement—there are oppor tunist tendencies forming a mincrity faction, willing to make political deals with the social democrats for a few crumbs in the leadership, who have lost faith in their own ability to fight and to lead. And on the other hand, the group that fights on policy and believes it will win the masses for that policy in the end, NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS Please address Sil matter in- tended .for publication New Magazine to: in the The Editor, New Magazine, Daily Worker Publishing Co., 1113 W. Washington Bivd., Chicago, Hl. Will Appear In December. A Glimpse of the Youth Movement | in Soviet Russia By ROSE KATZ. I was invited to address a mass meeting held under the auspices of the Moscow Health Workers’ Club in celebration of International Women’s day on March 8th. They were eager to know about the activities of the women workers of America. At the end of my address many questions -were asked of me about the youth movement as well_as about the women’s activities in America’ °f was Obliged to promise the large group of Young Cémmunists and Pioneers who were presént that I would attend another meeting with them and endeavor to answer all they wanted to know about the Youth Movement of America. Two weeks later I attended a meeting of the Young Communists, I told them of the difficult task confronting the Young Workers League of America in building up their organization, in combatting the capitalist propaganda in the schools, the churches, the movies and many other agencies of the capital- ists which mold the mind of the youth of America. Slowly but surely the Young Workers League was learning how to work, within the masses, how to build up shop nuclei, how to organize workers’ sport clubs as opposed to capitalists’ sport clubs, how to build up the Young Pioneers, to combat the activities of the Boy and Girl Scouts and how to counteract the militarist propaganda and overcome the religious and racial prejudices that keep the workers divided. I told them that the Young Workers League of America was playing a significant part in the task now confronting the Communist movement of Amer- ica in building up the unions. In the textile centers, in the mine fields and steel districts members of the Young Workers League are often found playing an _heroic and Jeading part in these epic struggles of the American workers. I mentioned the begintings that have’ been made in building up of Communist educational institutions, ' I did not try to paint too rosy a picture. I spoke of the many blunders and mistakes that have been made, of the many times rebuilding was necessary because of faulty construction, But the Young Workers League of America was Communist in spirit, able to profit from their mistakes and unafraid to face difficulties, It would surely be a worthy part of the Young Communist International to whom they look for inspiration and guidance in the task confronting them in the United States, They listened to me with the closest attention and from the many questions that were asked of me ft was evident that they were by no means uninformed. of what was going on in America, The following are some of the many questiong that wero ‘What were the American workers dotng to help the British miners? Was the Young Workers League now organized on the shop nuclej Mexico, Haiti and other yicitms of American impor falism? Would Mooney and Billings soen be freed? i Would the workers ‘succeed in saving the lives of Sacco and Vanzetti? Do the unions still prevent col- ored workers from joining? What was being done to protect the interests of young workers? At the end of the meeting a resolution was passed conveying the greetings of those assembled to the <workers of America and expressing confidence that the American movement would succeed in breaking ‘the capitalist shackles and building up a workers’ .- and farmers’ government ‘in America! Through my work with the Moscow Health De- partment I came in constant contact with the Young Communists and Pioneers. Children born since. the October revolution ara known as October- ists. They are organized and participate in parades under their own banners. Their ages are from five to eight and are under the guidance of the Pio- neers. : From ages of eight to fifteen the children belong to the Pioheers. Though it is not compulsory to belong, most children are eager to join its ranks. Branches of the Pioneers’ are in every school. Be- sides their regular school work the Pioneers them- selves conduct classes in economics, The school period is about seven years, at the end of which time they have completed the prescribed courses in eco nomics and are now eligible to join the Young Communists, The Pioneers also conduct summer camps and participate in all kinds of outdoor and athletic activities. They have their own newspapers and periodicals. Their motto is, “always ready.” The young Communist League is responsible for the welfare of the Pioneers. Not all the Pioneers become members of the Membership in the of them to at all times guard the interest of the young workers and peasants. Besides themselves : i B 53