The Daily Worker Newspaper, February 26, 1927, Page 5

Toe New Macazine Section of THE DAILY WORKER Second Section: This Magazine Section Appears Every Saturday in The DAILY WORKER. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1927 EDITOR’S NOTES HERE was a time, not very long ago, when to speak of American imperialism was tantamout in the eyes of the rulers of our land to insulting the national flag. These days are fast disappearing. The phrase “American Imperialism” is coming to be accepted even by apologists of capitalism as a perfectly proper expression of present day capi- talism in the United States. ‘ And along with this goes a comparatively frank defense of the extension of American imperialism. Says the Michigan State Journal: “Never before in the history of America did we have such a grand total of investments abroad as we have at present. The chances are the tendency is now merely under way and that capital and our enterprise will go abroad in an increasing way.” Which is quite fair though not a complete state- ment of the case. And further in the same paper: “This condition is bound to be expressed in international relations. It is being so expressed. (You betch your life it is—A. B.) Our little difficulty in Mexico and in Nicaragua are sym- toms. From now on, America, whether it will or not, is bound to expand its influence. We may as well begin to think straight about such expansion.” “Our LITTLE difficulty in Mexico and in Nica- ragua” . .. Isn’t that a peach of a statement? o * a” Senator Borah, being more inclined to champion the interests of the smaller independent manufac- turer rather than those of trustified industry and banking, which are primarily responsible for the imperialist policies of the American government, takes a different though not very consistent view of American imperialism. Speaking before the American Jewish Congvess the other day, he said: “China, Syria, Nicaragua and Mexico all pre- sent the same problem and reveal the same sin- ister policy. It is not war between the great powers, but spoilation of the weak nations. Are we to adopt such methods and such means of adjusting the controversies as will insure settle- ment upon the basis of justice rather than upon the basis of force?” We, too, like justice-—justice to the oppressed and weak nations. We admire very much the justice practised by the Soviet Union in this matter. And we are particularly strong believers in the justice which is being put into effect by the oppressed nations themselves when they rise against their ’ oppressors. What we mean is some such justice expedition like the one at present engaged in by the Chinese revolutionary armies. But at the same time we are firm adherents of the policy of struggle right here, at home, against the imperialist rebbery of our “own” capitalists. But we demand real, energetic struggle and not mere words. Call it justice, if you must, but get the American military forces out of China, Nieara- gua, Haiti,.the Philippines, ete., compel the Amer- ican government to keep its hands off these weak nations, do something about it that will bring re- sults instead of creating the illusion that by talking about justice one can make our imperialists behave’ in a just manner. ° * * » While Senator Borah is philosophizing on justice, the American imperialists, who are not philosophers, but men of action, are establishing themselves in full control, of Nicaragua. They call it a protecto- rate, but we all know what it means, What is the conclusion? Juiberal senators and kind-hearted opponents of imperialism generally should give this matter just a little bit of thought. * * * UPER-POWER is fast revolutionizing industry and is preparing the basis for a still more radical revolution in social relations. The recent Midwest Power Conference at the Coliseum in Chicago is very instructive from this point of view. Engineer Kane of Swift & Co., spoke with great enthusiasm on the prospects of super-power and its possibilities. He said: “I prophesy that the meat-packing plant of the future will operate every power-driven piece of machinery, whether it be for manufacturing, pumping, refrigeration, transportation, lighting, or heating, from the monster-turbine of a super- nower station. This is no dream, although the vested interests of monopolistic capital will continue to resist effec- tive technical progress whenever and wherever the latter comes into conflict with its control ef mar- kets and prices. : But assuming for the moment that Kane’s pro- phesy will come true under capitalism, what will it mean in terms of the well-being of the masses and society as a whole? Of this speke another engineer, W. Sykes, consulting engineer of the In- land Steel Company. According to him, here is what is happening as a result of super-power de- velopment: “With each great improvement in power de- velopment and distribution there has come an increase in production of the steel industry, improvement of working conditions (?) and standard of living of its 470,000 employes.” We fully agree as to increase in production, but PICKET LINE, Three hundred men and women Boys and girls Stamping their feet upon an ice-clad side- walk To keep their bodies warm And their toes from freezing; Circle in kaleidoscopic motion Around the entrance of . The brick colored textile mill, And shout Solidarity forever! And the vapor coming from their mouths Is like sky-writing to the other workers Who take it up And answer Solidarity forever! © And three blue cops With deformed faces Wield their night-sticks And shout Break it up! And three hundred men, women, Boys and girls lift their voices And shout Solidarity forever For the union. makes us strong. —MAX GELTMAN. ALEX BITTELMAN, Editor By ALEX BITTELMAN demand proof for the alleged “improvement of working conditions and standard of living” of the half-million steel workers. In the last ten years production in the stecl industry had increased 36 per cent per man, but how about the real wages for the overwhelming majority of workers? How about the speed-up and squeeze-out methods that are mak- ing life a misery for the workers, and the growing cppressive weight of centralized capitalist govern- ment, imperialist rivalries and the ever present danger of new wars? The further development of super-power holds out incalculable possibilities for the improvement of conditions and the raising of the standard of living of the masses. But these possibilities will not be realized under capitalism. It will require a pro- letarian revolution to make super-power serve hu- manity instead of a small clique of capitelist mono- polists. * * * 1° commenting upon Coolidge’s proposal for “fur- ther” limitation of naval armaments (New Maga- zine, Feb. 19, Editor’s Notes) we advanced the idea that the whole business was a piece of brazen hypo- crisy which will result not in decrease but in IN- CREASE of naval armaments by American capi- talism. Only, thanks to Coolidge’s offer, which, as was known ‘beforehand, was going to be and has been rejected by the European powers, now we can blame the other fellow. This is actually happen- ing. The Army and Navy Journal, a government publication, carries an editorial on the matter in which it says the following: “Obviously without the participation of France and Italy in the proposed naval disarma- ment conference, there is but one course for - the United States to pursue. That is to proceed instantly (mind you, INSTANTLY—A. B.) with the construction of a sufficient number of . cruisers and: fleet submarines to place our coun- try upon the same level of strength as other nations signatory of the Washington treaties. ’ This is a great game. It would appear on the surface as if the right hand did not know what the left one was doing. But in the center. of it all stands the Big Boss of the show. Big monopolistic business is his name, and it is him who is directing the whole affair for the greater power and glory of American imperialism. ; * * * Sie: labor organizations of Shanghai, China, have declared a general strike. The masses of work- crs have responded to the call in a splendid man- ner, and the strike is growing daily. It is a great strike with great objectives. It represents the mobili- ° zation of working class power in Shanghai against the reactionary rule of Marshal Sun Chuan-F ang, against the oppression of foreign imperialists and for the victory of the Chinese revolutionary move- ment. The forces of Marshal Sun are seizing strike pickets and beheading them right on the streets of the city. Which is supposed to be part of the “humane” campaign of British imperialism against Polshevism. Capitalist culture and civilization served to the Chinese workers on the swords of Sun’s mercenaries. * But the Chinese workers—the real backbone of the revolution.—are learning fast how to fight and conquer. Despite the loss of many and many valu- able heads and lives that the revolutionists will suffer in the course of the struggle, the CAUSE that will be beheaded eventually will be that of et imperialist oppressors and their Chinese flun- keys. * * * W247 was it that Queen Marie said about her American hosts and entertainers? Vulgar ‘Servile. . .Flock of swine. . .Anything else? Well, let the American aristocracy defend its honor if it feels offended. Our wealthy and power- ful did all they could to make themselves look cheap and ridiculous in the eyes of every honest American worker. And if there is anything to be said to the noble queen, let the ruling class of our land do the saying. We spoke our minds when the delicate crea- ture was in our midst. Now—nothing to add or subtract. *