The Daily Worker Newspaper, October 3, 1928, Page 3

” AMAR ES OREERBOMA Ree rs Page Three THE DAILY WORKER, NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1928 —— - ~ Mobilization of the Party and Working Masses for the Red Election Campaign Letter of the Central Executive Committee of the Workers (Communist) Party to All District, City, and Section Committees, and to All Party Units toms The election campaign is entering its last decisive stage. It is necessary to take stock of the results accomplished by the Party and the tasks facing the Communists. The first stage of the election campaign has been a big achievement for the Workers (Communist) Party. The big National Nominating Convention, held on May 25-27, with its 446 delegates coming from 39 states, was a true cross section of the exploited and oppressed masses of this country and was a powerful prelude to our national election campaign. The platform of the Party, “The Platform of the Class Struggle,” is—as even spokesmen of the bourgeoisie are forced to admit—the most concrete of all platforms and meets in a straightforward, uncompromising manner every public issue. It presents our Party as the only party of the working class. The relentless systematic fight our Party conducted for putting the Party on the ballot constitutes already a very big achievement. Newesections of the country, new sections of the working class, of the Negro masses and exploited farmers, have been reached by the Party—sections which knew nothing or very little about Communism before. In 1924, the Party was on the ballot in only 14 states. Today we are already on the ballot in 27 states; we have definite guarantee that our emblem, the Hammer and Sickle, will appear on the ballots of not less than 32 states; and there are good possibilities that we can increase this number to 35. The capitalist parties are spending money lavishly. Our Party has conducted its fight with very little money but at great sacrifice for every Party organization and every Party member. We can register with pride that in the struggle to get on the ballot we have collected nearly 100,000 signatures; and we can add: these signatures were obtained on the basis of clear-cut, revolutionary Communist propaganda. The first task is already accomplished The Party will be on the ballot in the most important industrial, southern, and agricultural states. Now we have to mobilize the Party and the working masses to fulfill the second task: to rally broad masses of working class voters for the Communist presidential candidates, for the Platform of the Class Struggle. Only a few weeks are left until Election Day, November 6th. It is imperative now that the Party should concentrate on the election campaign, that it should throw all its forces into the struggle. November 6th must prove that the Workers (Communist) Party of America is no longer a sect, that it is the political party of the working class, that it has roots among the broad masses of the toilers of this country. Survey of the Election Situation Both capitalist parties, republican and democratic alike, are openly kept-organizations of big business. Both—as never before, even in the history of American capitalist democracy—try to prove that they are safe and sane for capital- ism. Unprincipled deals, corruption, hypocrisy, cheap demagogy, speculation on the lowest instincts of medieval religious sects, and, most important of all, unlimited campaign money—these are the outstanding features of the election campaign of the capitalist parties. Unlike 1924, there is no capitalist third party in the field this year, but there are many signs of fomentation and disintegration in the old capitalist parties. There is a large-scale migration of the so-called “progressive” forces of the agricultural states, which were the backbone of the LaFollette campaign of 1924, from the republican to the democratic party. The “progressive” republican senators—Blaine, Norris and LaFollette—have come out openly against Hoover. The farmers of Iowa have disavowed Brookhart, who tried to win them over for Hoover, and have answered his eloquency with Smith’s campaign song, “The Sidewalks of New York.” The so-called “progressives” are proving clearer than ever before that they have. nothing to do with progress, that their only function in the political game of American capitalist democracy is to deliver the masses of workers and exploited farmers now to the republican, now to the democratic party. The liberals and “radicals,” of the ilk of the Nation and New Republic, are divided between the “efficiency expert” Hoover, the “good Governor’ Smith, and the “devoted pacifist’? Norman Thomas. These liberals and radicals, who claim to be the intellectual leaders of the country, are today more like Balaam’s ass than political leaders, are not able to make Mobilization of the Party and the Masses A general mobilization of the whole Party is necessary. Every Party member without exception must participate in the election campaign. Only the most active, vigorous par- ticipation of the whole membership can secure the mobiliza- tion of the masses. District committees must meet at once. Meetings of functionaries must be called everywhere. All Party units, all trade union fractions, all fractions in frater- nal‘and other labor organizations, all language fractions must meet and take up the tasks of the election campaign. The Central Executive Committee has decided to apply the following ways and means and methods to intensify and vitalize the election campaign: ~ 1, The publication of 1,000,000 leaflets “Why Every Worker Should Vote Communist.” 2. The publication of 1,000,000. special leaflets on the war danger, on unemployment, to the Negro masses, to the miners, textile work- ers, farmers, working women. 3. The publication of 1,000,000 copies of a special election issue of the Party press (Daily Worker, Young Worker, language dailies, Negro and women papers). 4, The publication of ten pamphlets. 5. Special approach to 100 additional large factories of the basic industries with one-quarter of a million workers. 6. The mobilization of 1,000 Red Volunteers, who will give their full time for the election campaign. “ 7, The organization of four Red Election Sundays between now and Election Day. & 8. The canvassing of trade unions, fraternal, and othér organi- zations for the Communist candidates. 9. Organization of a house-to-house canvass throughout the country} 10. Intensification of the organization of factory-gate and gen- eral open-air meetings. 11. Propaganda for the registration of workingclass voters. 12. Building the Party organization and the Party press. ~ Red Election Sundays The Central Executive Committee calls upon the Party membership to organize four Red Election Sundays on the following dates: October 14, 21, 28, and November 4. It is obligatory that every Party member shall consider it a mat- ter of Party discipline to participate in these Red Election Sundays. These Sundays should spread our ideas and litera- ture to the broadest possible masses. Regarding the Red Election Sundays the following should be observed: 1. On the first Red Election Sunday the party membership shall distribute the general leaflet, “Why Every Worker Should Vote Com- munist.” On the second Red Sunday the hundreds of thousands of the special election issue of the Daily Worker and the Young Worker and special leaflets will be distributed. On-the third Red Sunday the hun- dreds of thousands of copies of the special eléction issues of the language papers of the Party and special leaflets should be dis- tributed. On the fourth Red Election Sunday the general leaflet and sample ballot stickers should be distributed by the Party membership. 2. The Red Election Sundays should be organized in the follow- ing way; a. In the larger cities it is necessary to divide the territory ac- cording to the Party sections. The territor), of the section should be divided for squads. In such cities where no sections exist, the territory of the city should be divided for squads of Party members. b. Each squad should consist of about six comrades under a cap- tain. The captain should be appointed by the section or city organizer. ¢. The whole organizational work of the Red Election Sundays of each section or city must be directed by the city or section organizer. d. The Party members in each city or section of city will gather eary on Sunday morning in the headquarters of the section or city to receive literature and final instructions. e. A meeting of captains in each section or each city shall be called by the section or city orgemizer at least one day, before each Sunday, at which meeting literature should be apportioned and terri- tory finally mapped out. 3. Everywhere possible special automobile divisions should be organized to help carry out the work of the Red Election Sundays. 100 Factories of a Quarter Million Workers The basic task facing our Party is to reach the workers of the huge plants of the basic industries. In the Red Elec- tion Campaign we have to concentrate first of all on these large factories. A special list of 100 factories has been pre- pared by the Central Executive Committee, and will be sub- mitted to the district organizations. The following steps should be carried out in approaching these large factories: 1. In factories where we haye a Party nucleus, or at least a few members, these comrades should devote their major time to election work in these factéries, their work should be strengthened by assign- ing a number of outside comrades to carry out Communist work in the factory until after election. In those factories where we have no party members we must assign from nearby street nuclei and from those working in nearby factories a group of comrades to carry out election work in the most important largest factories. To every large factory a number of housewives and Pioneers must be assigned for election work, 2. Every attempt must be made to hold factory-gate meetings regularly. 8. Regular distribution of campaign literature, leaflets, plat- forms, special issues of the Party press, pamphlets, etc. 4, The local organizations shall issue special leaflets (printed or mimeographed) dealing with the special conditions in the factory, linking them up with the election campaign. 5. If a shop bulletin is published in the factory, it must be pre- pared to run a special campaign issue and print it in large quantities. 6. Discussion circles should be organized during lunch hours, taking up the principal issues of the election campaign. 7. Stickers should be pasted all over the inside.of the factory by party members or by sympathizers, if we have no party members there. 8. We must aim, as a permanent result of the election campaign, at the strengthening of our nucleus and shop bulletins, if such exist, and at initiating them, where they do not exist. Canvassing Trade Union and Other Labor Organizations The trade unions, fraternal,organizations, singing so- cieties, sport organizations etc., etc., must be thoroughly canvassed for the Red Election Campaign. It is the duty of the district, city and section committees to mobilize the Communist fractions in all these organizations. To this end the following measures should be carried out: 1, Lists of trade unions and other labor organizations in a given territory shall be made available to the sections by: the district or city organizer. 2. The Communist fractions must map out, the best methods of approach to their respective organizations. In those organizations where we have no members, special comrades should be assigned to visit these organizations. 3. A special resolution to endorse the Communist candidates (a model resolution will be sent out by the Cential Executive Committee to the districts) should be mailed out by the districts to all organiza- tions. 4. Where possible, the resolution should be introduced from the floor. The comrades must demand the reading of the resolution. Even in those cases where favorable action is not possible, the comrades should ask for a speaker to explain the resolution. 5. Where favorable action has been secured, discussion carried out, or a large minority achieved, the Party press should be notified immediately. 6. Where the resolution has been adopted, a move should be organized for donations for the Communist election campaign. 7. Tbe members of the organization should be circularized with our election literature on the night the resolution cames up before the body. House-to-House Canvass One of the most important features of our election cam- paign in the next period must be a thorough-going, wide- spread house-to-house canvass. In view of our limited forces this should be concentrated on voters and especially on the proletarian sections of the cities and towns. The Red House-to-House Canvass should be carried out jn the follow- ing way: 1, The house-to-house canvass must be conducted every night. It Comrades: The time is short; our forces are limited. The capitalist parties are strong and have huge machines and un- limited funds. The socialist party is getting everywhere small favors from its big capitalist brothers. The election campaign is utilized by all the forces of big and small business to deceive and subdue the working class, to make the main- tenance of the capitalist oppression and exploitation possible. The only force fighting capitalism is the Workers (Communist) Party, the only party of the working class. The Com- munists must utilize the election campaign to mobilize as broad masses as possible against bourgeois democracy, against imperialism. A large Communist vote will be a powerful demonstration against bloody United States imperialism. A Jarge Communist vote will be the most effective demonstration against capitalist prosperity and capitalist unemploy- up their minds, and have as their sole political program hesitation and puffed and empty phrases. The official labor movement of the American Federation of Labor and the railroad brotherhoods, which supported, in the main, LaFollette in 1924, is today not an independent force at all. Part of them are supporting Hoover; part of them are in Smith’s camp. There is no other country in the world in which the official labor movement—and organized labor still counts three million members—plays such an insignificant role in a major political battle as these organizations under the ‘domination of the labof aristocracy and the corrupt labor bureaucracy. If it is true—and it is—as Comrade Bukharin said in the World Congress of the Comintern, that the American working class is the most conservative working class in the world, then, first of all, these organizations of the labor aristocracy are responsible for the world historic shame that the 17 million industrial workers of this country are today the coat-tail of the capitalist parties, and cannot be thrown into + the scales of the political battle as a class force against the master class. The Farmer-Labor movement, which played a significant political role in a series of agricultural states in the past, is today politically bankrupt. The Farmer-Labor parties, which are a bloc of various classes, have proved—and, if all signs are not misleading, definitely and forever—that they are not instruments of revolt but of pacification of the toiling masses, and that only out of the breAk-up of these Farmer-Labor parties can a genuine Labor Party emerge. The Socialist Party is today the younger brother of the republican and democratic parties, and looks up to its “big brothers” for inspiration in fulfilling its function of defending capitalism. In 1920 the socialist party was still an independ- ent force, which was able to rally around Eugene Debs one million votes. Today it is definitely and finally transformed from a party of the workers into a party of small businessmen and pacifist intellectuals. Progressives whose main characteristics is “marking time,” radicals who don’t dare to change anything, labor lead- ers who are mercenaries of capitalism, Farmer-Laborites who betray labor as well as farmers, socialists who have nothing in common with socialism—these are the so-called opponents of the two big capitalist parties. Facing this situation, the Workers (Communist) Party and all members of our Party must recognize clearly the great historic role of our Party in the present election campaign: to be the spokesman of the working class, the champion of the class struggle, the exposer of capitalist democracy and social-democracy treachery. The Workers (Communist) Party of America is today the only anti-capitalist party in the election campaign. We are the only party which has as its aim the overthrow of capitalism, the end of wage slavery, the emancipation of the working class, and the establishment of a Communist society. fe The whole Party membership must see clearly the big issues of the campaign. aa War and war danger is the central issue. The capitalist parties are openly for war, and the socialist party helps them in hiding the war danger through its pacifist propaganda. The fight against capitalist militarism and imperialist wars must be the central Communist issue in the present election campaign. “Prosperity” is the issue of the ruling republican party. The task of the Communists must be to expose capitalist pros- perity, which means the poverty of the masses, unemployment, wage-cut offensives by the employers, government by injunction, the whole force of the state power against the organization of the unemployed masses. Against the “gentleman’s agreement” between the two capitalist parties (and the socialist party and the labor bu- reaucracy are partners to this agreement) to maintain the virtual slavery of the Negroes of the South, the Workers (Com- munist) Party must come out as the fearless champion of the Negro people. The big mass struggles of the miners, the textile and needle trades workers must be linked up with the election campaign. The whole sham fight of Wets and Drys must be exposed, and the Communist position on prohibition must be made clear to the masses. It is essential that the Communists should face the issues of religion (Remember Marx’ words: “Religion is the opium of the people”, and unmask the political role of the churches in this campaign. Social insurance, housing, the issues of tariff and taxation, and demands for the farmers and agricultural workers must be brought home to the toiling masses of the factories and on the land. is obligatory for every party member. Every comrade must participate in this work at least two nights a week. By housewives and un- employed comrades who are not bound by factory hours canvass should be conducted in the daytime also. 2. The best method of canvassing is to send out comrades by twos. 8. Oral discussion with the canvassed workers is the most im- portant means of propagandizing them for our platform and candi- dates. In these discussions the every-day struggles and demands of the workers must be emphasized and linked up with our Communist prin- ciples. At the same time comrades canvassing working-class homes should always carry literature along. 4. The territory of the city should be so divided that within three weeks at the most the whole territory of the proletarian sections of the city should be covered. 5. In addition to the general canvass, the language fractions must organize a special canvass to cover those territories where the workers cf their language reside. The special canvass on language lines should be conducted in the week from October 28th to November 4th; in other words the week following the distribution of the special election issue of the Party language papers. 1,000 Red Volunteers The Central Executive Committee calls upon the Party membership to muster at least 1,000 Red Volunteers who will spend full time on the election campaign. Such com- rades should be especially considered who can take a leave of absence from their job or give it up temporarily, and un- employed and young comrades who have free time. The aim of the mobilization of the 1,000 Red Volunteers is to reach out from the big cities and cover those important industrial towns (steel mill towns, textile towns, rubber towns, mining camps, company towns, etc.) where we have no Party organ- ization or where only a weak Communist organization exists. Hundreds of thousands of workers of the basic industries live in these industrial*towns, and must be reached by the Communist election campaign. The tasks of the Red Volunteers are the following: 1. To hold open-air meetings at the factory gates. 2. To speak before labor organizations of the town. 3. To sell literature and distribute leaflets. 4. To carry on a house-to-house canvass. 5. To try to get publicity in the local press. 6. To build the Party, the Party press, and the Young Workers League. In the mobilization and organization of the Red Volun- teers the following should be observed: f 1. The districts should give their contacts in the respective indus- trial towns to the Red Volunteers. 2. The best way to send out the Red Volunteers is in twos. 3. The districts shall give a small sum to the Red Volunteers to help to get them started, and the National Office of the Party will extend literature credit (platforms, Acceptance Speeches, pamphlets, etc.), so that by selling literature they will be able to maintain them- selves. Everywhere possible Red automobiles should be mustered, with posters and signs, and should be manned by two to three comrades. Registration of Voters It is necessary to push the registration of working class voters with all forces. It is necessary to carry out agitation for registration on as broad a scale as possible. This agita- tion should be carried out as follows: 1. It is necessary to ascertain the exact dates of registration in your city and state. The Party press must be notified of the dates of registration in every state, so that it should be able to carry out propaganda. 2. It is one of the tasks of the Red Election Sundays and house- to-house canvass to carry on propaganda for registration of working- class voters and to see to it that all members of the Party and sympa: thizers should be registered at once, 3. All local literature published must urge the workers to register immediately. 4, Special stickers should be printed locally urging immediate registration, giving the date and asking support for the Party and its candidates. Meetings of Party Units, Trade Union Fractions, and Language Fractions The prerequisite for the mobilization of the broad masses is the quick and efficient mobilization of the Party machinery. The following steps must be carried out throughout the whole Party: 1. All Party units must meet-every week during the remaining period of the election campaign. The first Party unit meeting must take place between the 8th and 13th of October. The order of business of this first Party unit meeting should be the following: a) This letter of the Central Executive Committee, “Mobilization of the Party and the Working Masses for the Red Election Campaign.” b) Paying up for the Election Campaign Assessment Stamp. The discussion should concentrate on the organization of the Red Election Sundays, reaching the large factories, the house-to-house canvass, the campaigning in the trade-union and labor organizations, and the mustering of the Red Volunteers. The second, third and fourth Party unit meetings during the last stage of the election campaign must have as the central point of their order of business the election campaign, reports on work previously done, and preparations for the next Red Sunday, discussions of ex- periences and lessons, and assignments for work. 2. The trade-union fractions must meet as soon as possible. All Party organizations must do their utmost to make these meetings suc- cessful. The trade-union fractions are responsible for the introduction in the trade unions of resolutions to endorse the Communist candi- dates. 3. All language fractions meet during the week of October 22-27. The order of business of this meeting should be as follows: a) The organization of the distribution of the special election issue of the language papers. b) The special house-to-house canvass on language lines, which will take place from October 28th to November 4th. c) Distribution of special language leaflets and the election plat- form of the Party in the various languages. Building the Party Organization and the Party Press All phases and activities of the election campaign must be utilized to the utmost to strengthen the Party and its influence among the masses. The Red Election Sundays, the house-to-house canvass, the canvassing of all labor organiza- tions, the covering of the 100 large factories must be util- ized for the following purposes: 1. To increase the Party membership. 2. To build new factory nuclei in the basic industries. 3. To increase the circulation of the DAILY WORKER and the entire party press. 4. To strengthen and increase the membership of the Young Workers League. During the whole election campaign every Party mem- ber must carry with him application cards, appropriate lit- erature, and must recruit new Party members: 1. Through our factory nuclei and individual members in the factories, utilizing to the fullest extent the factory bulletins. 2. Through street nuclei in the neighborhood and nearby factories. 3. At all mass, factory-gate and open-air meetings and forums, 4, Through our trade union fractions in trade unions and other mass organizations. ie: 5. Through canvassing readers of the entire Party press. 6. Through the house-to-house canvass. , 7. From sympathetic and auxiliary organizations, such as the T. U. E. L., the I. L. D., the W. I. R., the American Negro Labor Con- gress and the Women’s Councils. 8. By visiting former members who have dropped out of activity, In this drive we must make special appeal to recruit: 1. Negro workers. 2. Workers in large factories in the basic industries. 3. Working women. 4. Members for the Young Workers League and the Pioneers. ment. A large Communist vote will be the best proof that even in the most powerful imperialist country there is a mass Communist Party, there is a force of the proletarian class struggle which carries on a relentless fight to overthrow capi- talism for the international solidarity of the working class, for the emancipation of the oppressed Negro people, for the prole- tarian revolution, for a Workers’ and Farmers’ Government. Our slogan to the masses is: Vote Communist, but to mobilize the hundreds of thousands of workers to Vote Com- munist we have to mobilize first the Communists themselves! With Communist greetings. Central Executive Committee of theWorkers (Communist) Party of America..