The Daily Worker Newspaper, March 24, 1928, Page 5

— Boy f € THE DAILY WORKER, NEW YORK, SATURDAY, MARCH 24, bo Page Five. SIAXIM GORKY, TITAN aN WORLD OF LETTERS By SHACHNO EPSTE: "Translated from the Yiddish by A. B. Magil). (Note: On March 29th the 60th birthday of Maxim Gorky, who of Russian writers has been most iden- tified with the struggles of the revo- lutionary working class, will be cele- brated throughout the Soviet Union. Only a few weeks ago the thirly- fifth anniversary of his literary activity was observed, for which occasion Gor- ky returned to the land of his birth from his home in Italy, where he has been living because of ill-health. His lifelong devotion to the toiling masses and his frequent defense of the U. S. S. R. have raised Gorky to the pro- portions of a national hero.—A. B. M.) IL id the eighties of the last century the Russian intelligentsia passed through a profound inner crisis. This crisis came as @ result of the com- plete collapse of the Populist move- ment, which had raised the slogan of “going among the people.” It was the aim of the Populists to bring about a freer social order in Russia, The revo- lutionary - wing among them, with its party, Narod- naya Volya. (Freedom of the People), went out among the people in order to stir up the oppressed masses, par- ticularly the peasants, against the hated czarist despotism. The most heroic act of Narodnaya Volya was the assassinatio#” of Czar Alexander II in 1881. But instead of putting an end to the ezarist despotism, the as- sassination of Alexander II really put an end to the illusions that ter- rorism on the part of individual heroes: against individual representa- tives of the old order was the most. effective revolutionary weapon for the liberation of the masses. In ad- dition, it laid bare the essential uto- pianism: of the Populists’ belief that Russia could avoid the capitalist-par- liamentary development of the West- ern European countries and could, via the primitive peasant community, leap into the socialist paradise. The assassination of Czar Alexan- der II net only failed to alter the form of government or to institute a more liberal regime, but it strengthened the reactionary forces. .And the pea- santry, who were looked upon as the standard-bearers of socialism, did not awaken to a new life, but remained sunk in serfdom and darkness. All of which gave rise to a mood of de- pression among the Russian intelli- gentsia, a mood which was most vivid- ly reflected in the literature. Instead of the former optimism and assur- ance there arose a spirit of pessimism and despair. Secial themes of broad scope were ‘abandoned for narrow, in- trospective soul-probings; conscious- ness of aims was supplanted by a drifting instability, and from a sane of life, a rational approach to world and to man, the writérs sank into the bogs of mysticism. This period in Russian literature has been best characterized by its most distinguished representative, Anton Chekhov. Chekhov complained that he and his colleagues were feed- ing their readers with sweet lemon- ade, that in their works there was ‘something missing.” Discussing the writers of the generation before his, Chekhov pointed out that they seem to be always “going somewhere and urging us to go there too, and we feel, not with our reason alone, but with our whole beings, that they have some goal in view.” “Among us,” Chekhov wrote, “there are neither near nor i tt goals, and in our souls are ness- and desolation. no. part in polities and have no faith | in revolution.” This criticism of his age was made by Chekhov in the early. nineties of | the last, entury at a time when the | cloud off depression that had hung over the Russian intelligentsia was beginning to lift and a revival of Spirit was entering into the social life of Russia. This revival was brought about by the birth of the revolution- ary socialist movement; for above the growth of capitalism the disillusioned intelligentsia .was beginning to hear the footsteps of the young struggling proletariat. And like a sensitive ther- mometer of life, literature began to reflect the new mood so that even in Chekhov’s writing there sounded a more hopeful noite. But it was out of the work of Maxim Gorky that new themes of joy and exuberance burst clamorously forth. Il, Maxim Gorky appeared upon the literary scene in the early nineties of the last century just about the time that Chekhov was complaining about the purposelessness and pessimism of , Russian literature. In his very first | story, “Makar Tchudra,” Gorky called to sun and light and deeds of dar- ing. And in it was clearly revealed that an artist had come who was sat- urated with the joy of life. The old Gypsy, Makar Tchudra, who looked after a herd of horses on the stepfe close to the sea, related to Maxim his merry old legends about proud beauties and folk-birds who loved freedom more than life or love. Then followed other stories that Maxim heard in the mountains, at the sea or on the steppe before the open fire, There came legends GORKY We take | ‘and poems of the old Bessarabian woman, Izergil, or of the Tartar shep- herd, Rugim. And out of all these {stories, legends and poems there rise hymns to heroes and heroic deeds, hymns that call, life out in the spacious world. Be- jside the soft elegies of Chekhov and jthe gray monotonous melodies of wistful souls already stiffened in des- pair they sound like a dissonance. The pseudonym “Gorky,” meaning “bit- ter,” seems inappropriate for this buoyant, confident mood. More fit- ting would be “Radostny”—‘“the joy- ous one.” Gorky’s real name is Alexey Maxi- movitch Peshkov. A true son of the toiling masses, it was not mere chance that caused the young writer to eall himself Gorky. For with this pseu- donym he meant to characterize the bitter experiences that he had encoun- tered in life. While still little more than a child, Gorky had been compelled to go to work and to toil hard in order to earn his own living. He tried his hand at every conceivable trade, held scores of jobs and endured innumerable insults and humiliations, as well as hunger and want. He was thrown in the company of the worst elements of so- ciety, frequented the dark “dives” of the underworld and witnessed crimes and debauches of the most repulsive sort. At the same time he was tramp- ing about through the length and breadth of Russia, meeting with many adventures and encountering all sorts of people. More’ than once he was on the verge of catastrophe. Another in his place would perhaps have gone under completely or at best sunk down into the depths from which there is rarely a return. Gorky, how- ever, tore himself out of this morass and with his own body and brain beat out for himself a broad, shining path. He acquired a wide culture, de- veloped his talents to the full and be- came a commanding figure not only in Russian literature, but in the lit- erature of the entire world. (To Be Continued) The Brass Check Oh Display in the ‘Literary’ Market By SAM GARRISON. [MEERIALISM is still functioning at the old slave market. This time it has put on the block most boldly, for every one to see, that shameless old harlot, literature. This rare virgin of the fine, the “classless” arts, is up for sale again. We say this in reference to the “new $25,000 War Novel Competition” wmnounced by the Houghton Mifflin Company and the Americar Legion Monthly. (See the New York Times Book Review Section, March 11, 1928, where it is given a half-column of free advertising.) The statement an- nounces that: “The-sum mentioned sbove will be paid for the best novel dealing with the period cf the world war and having the war as its back- ground.” The judges, it is stated further in the article, will be Alice Duer Miller, trash producer par ex- cellence for the Saturday Evening Post; Major Gen. James G, Harboard, U. S. A., retired, prominent literateur who already has written his name at besides producing his masterful Gun- ners Manual; Richard Henry Little, columnist for the yellow Chicago Tri- bune; and, last but surely not least, John T. Winterich, editor of that soul- satisfring organ, the American Legion Monthly. That literature should prostitute it- self is no cause for shudders from Marxists. Those of us who remember the veritable deluge of war literature that flooded the country before the U. S. entered the world war will rea- lize that this shameless intellectual |prostitution is perfectly normal in a \capitalist society on the eve of anew imperialist war, But the thing that ‘is most significant about this war ‘novel competition is that it comes precisely at the time when the oil- soaked government is shouting ‘loud- ly for peace, is passing meanless treaties to France, and when the lib- erals are sitting back, content with tke great talk of peace and satisfied that they have managed to “slice” the navy bill. Ariother significant point is that this comes in the great tidal wave of war propaganda that has been sweeping the country for the last two years. Pictures like “Wings” and “West Point”, kept for long runs in the smaller moving pte- ture houses in the working class sec- tions of the cities, are part and parcel jof that propaganda. Another and ever more significant fact to note is that there is a direct connection between the imperialist- -militarists and the publishing houses here. What was prophesied in a !Daily Worker editorial a few months ago in connection with the merger of Doubleday ard Doran is coming true with a different concern, and will undoubtedly prove true about Double- day, Doran and Company. The above-mentioned form of intel- lectual prostitution presents to Amer- ican Communists and all honest revo- Jutionary intellectuals the task of building a more vigorous cultural ma- ehine that will help to organize the working class against the imminent imperialist war, for the smashing of imperialistm, and for the crushing of its miserable “literary” excrescences. |checks. that beckon to the} the bottom of a monthly pay check | ¥°! Class War By WALT CARMON. UE to their activity in the class | war, 42 innocent workers sit be- | hind prison bars. Some of them for months, seme for years—-some of them for life. Until the workers come to their rescue, they can only wait and think—and read. They read everything. In jail there is much time for this. While they were active in the labor movement there was little time .for study. They were usually busy fighting, organizing, working. But some of these men will come out of prison more valuable members of the labor movement. Men who have studied the history, principles and practice of revolutionary labor in the “workers university.” Many a noted figure in labor history in the last fifty years had received a good deal of his knowledge in prison. The International Labor Defense, looking after the comfor!s of these prisoners besides helping their families and supplying legal aid, has askeu the 42 prisoners what books they are reading or would like to read. The response was: books on sociology, economics, labor history, fiction. . . They have noted almost every new book of interest to workers that has been issued. They keep up with every new development in the labor move- jment. Many of the books have al- ready been sent to them. Tom Mooney, who has already spent twelve long years behind pri- son bars, writes: “I am returning a list of books that I would like to have if possible. I realize it will be diffi- cult for you to furnish all of these, but I would like to get some of them to make up for lost time in my read- ing.” His list of over forty titles includes: “Russia Today;” “Life and Death of Sacco and Vanzetti;” “Oil Imperialism;” “Foundations of Chris- tianity;” ‘“Marx-Engels” by Riaza- nov; “Education in Soviet Russia” by Scott Nearing; “Ten Days That Shook the world”; “Social Forces in American History,” and others. These have been sent to him by the Inter- national Labor Defense thru the con- tributions of workers “who have not forgotten.” The thanks of this cour- ageous fighter goes to all these work- ers in every letter he writes. Eugene Barnett, from Walla Walla (Wash.), prison, writes: “The books I have received were ‘Ten Days That Shook the World;’ ‘Russia After Ten Years;’ ‘Whither Russia;’ Whither England;* ‘Foundations of Christian- ity’ and the ‘Report of the First Rank; and ‘File Delegation to Soviet Rus- sia.’ The book ‘Russia After Ten Years’ is a dandy. Every worker in America should have one. I am read- ing it for the second time before I start on any of the others.” This an of the class war is himself ’ By JOSEPH The dim light dancing, a: Social Register of the Ministry Margaret Rowan, California evan-— gelist who predicted the world’s end | which did not occur a few years} ago, has been sentenced to serve 1 to 10 years in San Quentin for alleg- | ed attempt to kill Dr, Burt Fullmer, | a factional leader who left her| church, The son of Rev. Robt. H. Warren, Seattle, Green Lake district First Methodist church rector, has been arrested and charged with malicious injury to property which is said to have happened during a wild party which left E. M. Wheat’s house at 718 23rd Ave., N. a wreck. internally. Rev. J. A. L. Warren, Illinois Meth- odist, was tried by a conference of brethren on charges of a girl form- erly employed ds a domestic in War- ren’s parsonage and discharged. A Negro preacher and a deacon ed away their church after a con- troversy with congregation. They are charged with theft. Rev. W. H. Ray, Medford, Ore., Methodist was convicted of driving while intoxicated. Congregation fur- nished bail. W. M. Evans, ex-boy scout leader and ex-minister of International Falls, Minn., was arrested for pass- ing a worthless check in Tacoma. Robert Burns, church soloist of Marysville, Calif., is defendant on a warrant charging issuance of bed i® The little sudden pains, The patient and the weary hands; till, waking, At dusk, we tumble down the crazy stairs. Books for Prisoners of the in Jails of U.S. now writing a book of his life and activity in the labor movement based on the series already published in the “Labor Defender,” magazine of the class war prisoners. Warren Billings wants a few titles, too. Claude Merritt, also in San Quentin Prison writes: “I have not yet read ‘Russia After Ten Years’ and the others I have just received. ‘Bars and Shadows’ and ‘Russian Poetry’ are interesiing. But. thy ‘Craft of Literature’—there is a book! I know a few that I shall have to keep a check upon, as it is already in demand by several students. Thanks!” And he adds to those who have contributed funds to the Inter- national Labor Defense, “May your tribe increase!” Leo Ellis in San Quentin, writes for “Oil” by Upton Sinclair; “Chains” by Henry Barbusse; “Elmer Gantry” by Sinclair Lewis and others. All of Lenin’s works, all the series of “Voices of Revolt;” “Literature and Revolution”—almost every book of interest to a worker has been asked for and is now being read by class war prisoners in jails from Maine to California. Lines are asking for ever more books thru the I. L. D. to make them better fit for their coming ac- tivity in the labor movement. To supply these new and expensive books by the hundreds is a difficult task for the I. L. D. The organization has appealed to workers and friends to help them. Prison regulations allow books to be sent only thru an estab- Slaves FREEMAN. Again the grinding of the iron gods, The old-familiar fury of the wheels; Again the accustomed clamor of the rods, The giddy belting, and the room that reels; nd the shadows shaking, the mute despairs, International Press Correspondence Every worker should sub- scribe to th's weekly peri- odical for valuable material on important current events of world-wide interest. A Yenrly Sub. $6, Six Mo. $3.50 10 Cents a Single Issue. Sole Distributing Agen!s in America: Workers Librar ublisner + &. 125% St. NEW YORK AMER THE LOOTING OF NICARAGUA | conservat | By Rafael Nogales. Robert McBride Co. $2.50. Reviewed by HARRY FREEMAN. Wednesday afternoon (when this N 0 review was written) Senator Edge | of New Jersey introduced a bill pro- | viding for a survey to determine the | best route for a canal thru ragua. The proposal, he said, has the approv- jal of the State and Navy departments. Thé same afternoon a United Press| despatch from Managua reported that United States marine aviators had | bombarded the little town of Murra and killed more than three hundred Nicaraguans. the methods of United States imper- ialism in Nicaragua. The Ame! ican empire needs a canal thru United States marines indiscriminate- ly, slaughter three hundred men, wom- en and children in a Nicaraguan town. * * * The objectives of the United States in Nicaragua are well known. have been frankly stated by the gov- ernors.and proconsuls of the American empire. United States imperialism needs another trans-Isthmian canal to defend the empire which it has carved out in Latin America, to round out its militarist preparations for the strug- gle in the Pacific, to promote trade. In addition, United States bankers have found Nicaragua a small ‘but very lucrative field for investments, and discovered Nicaragua rich in min- erals, coffee, fruits and timber. The methods that the United States has used in attaining these objectives have been vividly told by Rafael de Nogales in this book. Nogales, him- self a Venezuelan, traces the ruthless exploitation of Nicaragua from the American-financed revolution against Zelaya in 1909 tc the American pur- chase of General Moncada in 1927. In attaining its ends, United States imperialism naturally murdered thou- sands of Nicaraguans, -financed a number of revolutions, sucked millions of dollars out of starving peons in the form of interest, low wages, etc., set up puppet governments, etc. Some- times the United States has openly used military force, at others it re- sorted to camouflage. The coming elections will not be the first to be “supervised” by United States ma- rines. American marines guarded the polls in 1912 when pie Diaz was elected president. In that election only 80 of the 50,000 inhabitants of Leon were permitted to vote. The betrayal of the Nicaraguan struggle against American imper- ialism by General Moncada and to a lesser degree by Juan B. Sacasa is described by Nogales. In relating the beginning of the most recent struggle of the “liberals” against the Se lished publisher. Individuals cannot send books direct. Any funds sent to the International Labor Defense at 80 E. llth St., New York, will help to supply. forty-two class war prisoners with material to better fit them for the struggle when they are with us again. These words or appreciation from some of the prisoners for books re- ceived will indicate the gratitude of our comrades behind prison bars. Claude Merritt writes: “It strength- }ens one’s determination for the better things of life knowing that the work- ers do not forget those who have made a struggle and are paying for their protest against conditions.” Leo Ellis, I. W. W. prisoner at San Quentin, adds: “I wish to express my gratitude to the noble work the I. L. D. is doing among class war pri- soners and for supplying them with reading material that is worth-while. I hope you will receive the support of the masses that you deserve.” These are words from the men be- hind prison bars because of their activity for labor. A book to these men, as Joe Neil writes from Lan- sing, Kansas, Prison, is “worth more than all the gold in the world.” | The Paris Commune Album A splendid pictorial record of the “eight bloody days of May.” ||| i Striking photos of the famous “Women’s Battalion,” the heroic ruthless massacre by the bourgeois troops. REDUCED |, from 50 cents to 25 cents WORKERS LIBRARY PUBLISHERS 89 East 125TH STREET New York City These events express the aims and | They | f3 street battles, the |||. sa remained in ngton one month after humbly adminis ration which ‘jollied’ along (and Sacasa well knew it by prom to exercise moral pre sure on Chamorro, something extri ordinary happened. The Nicara- guan constitutionalists, tired at last cf Sacasa’s ‘begging’ took the law into their own hands and, headed by Genera! Luis Beltran-Sendoval, city of Bluefields on the Atlantic Coast.” . * . Nogales takes the story of the loot- ing of Nicaragua thru the “sur- render” of the liberal forces to Stim- son and the beginning of the strug- gle of the genuine. nationalist ele- ments under General Sandino against the marines. He presents a good deal of material, available for the first time in English, which sheds much on the situation in Nicaragua. Nogales, however, is naive in cer- tain respects. He is extremely sur. prised, for instance, that a number of cables sent by Nicaraguan labor lead- | «rs to Sam Gompers five or six years ago desc ing the loot of Nicaragua and urging a protest against the im- rerialist policy of the United States, did not receive any answers. Publishers on Trial The trial of Horace B. Liveright | and his firm, Boni ahd Liveright, ing “Replenishing Jessica,” by Max- today. Bodenheim and Thomas R Smith, literary advisor to the pub- | lishers, have been acquitted. The | case is being tried in Judge Knoth’s court. MONCADA SACASA | rose in arms on May 2, 1926 and took possession of the important charged with “obscenity” in publish well Bodenheim, is expected to end | gICAN EMPIRELife, Writings - (CRUSHES NICARAGUA and Speeches | of Ruthenberg YTERNATIONAL PUBLISHERS} | 381 Fourth Avenue, New York, have just published a selection of the ims |portant writings and _ Speeches of | Charles E. Ruthenber; their series | of “Voices of Revolt,” ($.50) which ins |clude volumes on Lenin, Debs, Bebely jthe Liebknechts (father and son), nton, ete. Beginning with the cone ribution of R berg in the “Chi- |cago Daily So ” on August 8th, }3910 to the last words uttered on his death-bed on March 2nd, 1927, the volume contains all the important tterances w portray the develops nent of Ruthenberg as an organizer roparandist, and a fighting workings lass leader. Jay Lovestone, executive secretary f the Workers (Communist) Party, vritten a cri intreduction for he volume, in which the variou® hases of Ruthenberg’s life and active ities in the labor movement are anal yzed. Alexander Trachtenberg has jited the volume d Will Herberg. he Young Workers League has Ined with the assembling of ma- terial. The material in this attractively | published volume is arranged chrons logically and is drawn from files of newsparer, magazines, and other pubs tions to which Ruthenberg con- {tributed during his many years of service in the labor vement, from court records of trials in which Ruth- enberg figured, as well as from ré= |ports of speeches delivered on such cecasions, li The following are the headings of the various items included in the volg ume which show the variegated chars acter of Ruthenberg’s activities and intellectual interest: The Need for Social Insurance, Cap- italistie Chaos, Exalting the Party, |The Rasis of Our Faith in Socialismy The Fight for a Teacher’s Unio The Meaning of Company Unionismy Fight the War, ring Power? by the Ballot, jalism and the World War, War and Revolution, The Development cf Communism in the |United States. 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