The Daily Worker Newspaper, April 5, 1929, Page 4

Four _DATLY WORKER, NE FORWARD TO A MASS COMMUNIST YOUTH LEAGUE! | SW YORK, IDAY, AERIL 5 5, 1929 Sone The Draft Thests of the National Executive Committee of the Y:W.C.L. of America — Vv. ORGANIZING YOUNG WORKERS, YOUTH SECTIONS, ECONOMIC YOUTH ASSOCIATIONS (Continued from Yesterday) (43) The evercreasing number of young workers in industry, particularly in heavy industry, and their growing importance; the conversion of the youth into the main source of unskilled labor; the orientation of our movement to unskilled and semi-skilled workers in the basic industries; make the task of organizing the young workers, in connection with the organization of the unorganized generally, the central task of the league in its mass activities among the young workers, and the fundamental task upon which all of its economic trade union work is based. The A. F. of L., which has become narrowed to the labor aristo- cracy alone, will only fight against the organization of the young workers. This work must be conducted by the Communists and Left wing upon the elementary understanding of the role of the young workers as the most unprivileged section of the working class, as the most exploited, as the most stubborn fighter when once it is set in motion. This work can only be conducted successfully if it is undertaken with the view of struggling against the miserable conditions of the young workers, and their double exploitation, not only in the form of direct discrimination, low wages, long hours and absence of any form of trade union or state protection; but also in the form of discrimination through division of occupations; the existence of the helper, learner and “apprentice” system; specially heavy exploitation of the youth in mechanized sections of industry which is as a rule not yet highly mechanized (needle); heavy employment of youth labor in “auxiliary industries” (in mining and steel territory); the existence of a whole series of “youth industries.” These conditions make it essential that the work of organizing the young workers be carried on on a program of special youth de- mands, economic, political and cultural. The idea that the youth prob- Jem exists in some industries and not in others must be ruthlessly com- batted, as it prevents work of organizing the young workers. The youth problem is general and exists in all industries, differing only in the form it assumes, but going essentially the same, in that it is an expression of the particularly heavy exploitation of the young workers. The demands of the young workers are in the direction of our final goal—the socialist re-organization of youth labor, and to attain for the young workers a position necessitated by their age, degree of training and experience. SPECIAL FORMS OF ORGANIZATION. (44 The same reason necessitates the adoption of special forms } for the organization of the young workers, which will appeal to the f particular needs of the young workers and promote the greatest possible self-activity, at the same time assuring the fight for protec- tion of the interests of the young workers. Youth sections of trade unions, particularly of the new unions formed on a class struggle basis, are the best instruments for this, providing that they are per- mitted to develop, that no restrictive impediments are placed upon them, and that their formation does not eliminate the young workers 5 from the most active participation in all the affairs of the union, but on the other hand facilitate such participation on a basis of equality, and further provide the means for drawi ‘ing the large masses of young workers from the industry into the union. Where no unions exist, or where the young workers are not ad- mitted into the existing unions, economic youth associations serving as transition organs for the citionteation of the young workers are to be formed, which shall also “struggle against the economic hardships £ the proletarian youth.” In addition to defending the economic in- sts of the young workers, the youth sections and the economic nssociations shall adopt other methods of work particularly appeal- ing to the youth, including sports, cultural activities, etc. The youth sections and economic youth associations also have political and general tasks, particularly the struggle against the war The youth sections should be drawn into the anti-war im- t movement, participate in election campaigns and in other ys develop the political understanding of their membership. t By PIONEER ROLE IN NEW UNIONS. (45) In view of the economic situation of the young workers, and in view of the fact that they form a link between the foreign and American workers, and are further the articulate section of sections of the proletariat in some of the basic industries, the organization of the young workers will sometimes proceed at a faster pace than that of the adult workers. The formation of youth sections and economic associations can serve as a starting point for the organization of the unorganized generally. The youth sections and economic associations can play a pioneer role in the development of new unions, From this point | of view, it is necessary to condemn and combat such points of view as were expressed in Pittsburg that the formation of youth sections (in the miners union) can only proceed after the union itself without the youth section—has become stabilized. It is further necessary to erat the remnants of narrow craft ideology (expressed particu- larly in the needle industry) which would limit the unions to the workers in certain crafts as in the old union. The new unions, through the youth sections, must include ‘all the workers in a particular industry, without regard to craft divisions, or previous trade union divisions. Our struggle for youth sections in reactionary unions is primarily a struggle against the bureaucracy and wherever they are organized or exist, our aim shall be to utilize them for this purpose linking them up with the Left wing. 5 TUEL CENTER. " (46) Since the task of organizing the young workers can be achieved only by the Communists and Left wing, upon the initiative _ of the league, it is necessary that the TUEL be the coordinating os - eenter for this work, through its youth department, to which shall be a ~ connected youth sections, economic youth associations, shop commit- tees and other bodies serving the purpose of organizing the young workers. The TUEL and the new unions must assign organizers for youth work, devote space in their organs, and in every other way promote the activities of the young workers in its work. (47) The above task can be carried out successfully only if the _ league assumes it with the full responsibility and knowledge that it is a\task in which the league must play the role of initiator. The slogan “organize the young workers” cannot be a slogan of agitation or propaganda, but must be a slogan of action for the league, one around which all other activity of the League is built up. STRIKE AND FACTORY WORK. (48) The building up of the youth sections and the economic youth associations can best be accomplished through the actual de- fense of the interests of the young workers during strikes, and in the every-day activity in the shops and factories. The economic de- mands of the young workers are not demands formulated for propa- ganda purposes, but are to be adopted by the unions as part of its struggle demands, and to be fought for with the fullest vigor. Any other course would in actuality be a denial of the special role of the young workers, and would lead to the alienation of the 1 workers from the new union movement. In this connection it is necessary to note that in recent wage struggles in which the new unions were engaged, the demands of the young workers were not included in the strike demands. This contributed appreciably to lessen- ing the activity of the young workers in the strike and did not serve peaanct young workers from other sections of the industry to the (49) The building of the youth sections and the economic asso- ‘ciations can only proceed from the bottom up, based on the young vorkers in the shops. Therefore work in the factories, the formation factory committees, factory clubs, the issuance of shop papers, be intensified. Above all must the work for the establishment ie nuclei in the shops be strengthened, and the entire work e orientated toward the shops. UGGLE AGAINST RIGHT DANGER IN COMINTERN AND IN AMERICAN PARTY The present international situation makes the Right e main danger in the American Party and the World Com- g existence of strong social reformist of capitalism, and the failure of sec- | tions of our movement to see the sharpening of the contradictions of capitalist stabilization and rationalization, the leftward swing of the working class, particularly the most important section of the working class in the basic industries and the continual move to the right of the labor aristocracy, the trade union bureaucracy and the social-democracy. The new line which the Comintern has adopted in the most im- portant countries, including the United States, represents the adapta- tion and mobilization of the Party membership and masses of work- ers to the changing situation and their preparation for struggle. The right elements and conciliators (Germany, U. S. S. R., ete.), r this change, fail to draw the cenclusions for a sharp struggle ag: social democracy and trade union bureaucracy, become the bearers social-democratic influence within the Party and consequently tend to adopt a liquidatory point of view regarding the role of the Party in the present situation. In view of this, the struggle against the Right and the conciliators must be a necessary condition of the reorientation of the Communist Parties. (51) In the U. S. S. R., the Right danger is represented by those elements who want to slow up the tempo of the processes of industrialization, subordinate the industrialization process to agri- culture and capitulate before the kulaks. In Germany, the Right wing, which has already separated from the Party organizationally as well as politieally, represents a capitulation to social democracy. RIGHT ERROR (52) Because the American Communist Party did not place itself on guard soon enough, against the Right danger and because it did not see quickly enough the changes in the situation, because it did not have clearly before it the revolutionary perspective which the present, third period necessitates, it committed a series of Right mistakes (Panken case, Open Letter to S. P., etc.). The Party as a whole was responsible for these mistakes and not any single group. No group can lay claim to monopoly of the cor- rect line or accuse the other group of having a Right wing line. Within all of the groups there exist right elements and right tend- encies. The League shared and participated in the Right mistakes of the Party, maintaining an uncritical attitude on these errors. For this the N. E. C. as a whole was responsible. (58) And just as the Comintern rejected the charge against the Central Committee of the Party of representing a Right line, so the Communist Youth International also rejects such a charge against the National Executive Committee of the League. Neither side can claim the title “real left” or accuse the other of being “right.” (C. Y. I. Letter). This does not mean that right errors were not committed. The general line followed by the National Executive Committee was correct, and was based on utilizing the process of radicalization of the young workers for sinking the roots of the League more deeply into the masses of the young workers, for par- ticipation in every struggle of the young workers and for developing these struggles to a higher level in the class struggle. Vil. DEFEAT OF TROTSKYISM (54) In addition to the Right danger, the Party and League have to fight against another danger which made its reappearance in our ranks after the Sixth Congress—Trotskyism. Appearing sim- ultaneously with the Right danger, and confused by the fact that Trotskyism was rallying around it such outspoken opportunists and renegades as Lore, Eastman, as well as the extreme Right wing in our Party—Askeli, Sulkanen, Minnesota Right wing, Basky, the Party and League did not at first understand the necessity of the struggle on two fronts—against the Right danger and against counter-revolu- tionary Trotskyism. It linked the two as one danger and thought to conduct a common struggle against them. This failure to differentiate between the Right danger and Trotskyism, which is in fact opportunism covered with left phrases, which is openly counter-revolutionary, might have resulted in a neg- lect of the struggle against the Right had it not been promptly cor- rected by the Comintern and CYI. Trotskyism in the League crystal- lized around these elements who maintained a pessimist, defeatist, cynical attitude to the League and its work, and whose activities were limited to internal intrigue and manipulaiion and separated from mass work. The energetic struggle conducted by the NEC resulted in win- ning the whole League membership to the Leninist line and in isolating and eliminating the small group of Trotskyites. This is an achieve- ment in view of the low political level of the League, and of the fact that a large section of the former leadership of the League (Abern, Carlson, Edwards, Borgeson, Mass) and also some leading figures in the recent past (Angelo, Shachtman, Glotzer, Allard, ete.,) went over -to counter-revolutionary Trotskyism. VII. STRUGGLE AGAINST RIGHT DANGER IN LEAGUE. (55) “For the struggle against the Right danger, the Leagues must not limit themselves to the Parties. They must struggle against the Right danger in the first place in their own ranks.” (Fifth Congress resolution). (56) The struggle against the Right danger in the League is part of the process of making the turning point in its development. The tasks outlined above based upon the process of the crys- tallization of class-consciousness among the young workers, and their development in the direction of class struggle, constitute this turning point in the activities of the Communist Youth League. The turning point marks the road to mass development, thru utilizing the process of radicalization for sinking the roots of the League more deeply into the masses of young workers, for participation: as the leader of the young workers in all their struggles, and for de- veloping thes€ struggles to a higher level in the class struggle. “The League stands before the mighty task of placing itself at the head of the young workers who are getting ready to take their rightful places in the class struggle of the American working class. The League is confronted with the problem of accelerating the de- velopment of class consciousness among the young workers. Only by doing this can the League become a revolutionary mass youth League. But in order to accomplish this task, it is necessary that the League break with the traditions of the past, strike out in a new path, accomplish a change in its entire orientation.” (The Right Danger). In the League today a great danger exists that the League will not see, not understand, the necessity for this change. There will be passivity and skepti ism, and even open resistance to accom- plishing this change. This is the expression of the Right danger in the League. The Right danger is based on “objective Right ob- stacles which will be in your way in the form of old traditions and old methods of work, underestimation of the degree of activiza- tion of the working youth and of the role of the Communist Youth League, overestimation of the opponents strength and of the inertia existing among the working youth.” (CYI Letter). To really accomplish the change in orientation of the League, it will be necessary to educate and train the membership, and carry on a vigorous struggle against the Right danger in the League, against a!l Right deviations and errors, and against all conciliatory attitudes or acts toward the Right danger. The Right danger in the League has already expressed itself in the form of pacifism and underestimation of the war danger; wrong attitude to the YPSL and other reformist organizations; in a liquidatory attitude to the League in struggles (hiding the face of the League and refusal to recruit); building other organizations (clubs) in place of the League; failure to appreciate the revolutionary role of the Negro youth and to carry on regular work among the Negro youth, based on the still existing white chauvinism in our ranks. PACIFIST ERRORS. (57) “In the field of the struggle against the war da: there have been a whole series of pacifist errors, culmin fd in the formation of the pacifist A. I’. of Y. in New York, which has already been sharply condemned by the CYI. But even after this we have witnessed the pacifist anti-conference in California, the “Welcome Lindy” slogans in a whole series of districts; “Wel- come the Fleet” in California; and in the refusal to work in the CMTC and armed forces by comrades in Philadelphia, In field of trade union work, there exists a pessimistic attitude on organiz- ing the youth sections in the mining industry and the propagation of a theory which denies the role of the young miners and the possibility for organizing them at the present time.” (NEC Right danger resolution.) (68) he ot recent and glaring expressions of the Right x he League are the anti-strike leaflet in Pitt hool “citizenship” leaflet in Los Angel at the Right danger in the League is not 1 al shortcomings only, The Right danger is strengthened t that the Longue has a very poor social composition, ber of members who are non-prol no deep roots in the factories and ba ely isol t D; ic indus- d from the ma: tr Resolution). Fifth Congress of the CYI, ha: the League develoning as a r ion of the Fifth Coner against the Rie’ 1 sks een be accomplished only if the entire mem ed and unity is established. (61) “For the struggle ag: must mobilize the League as a whole. It must not all ow the mation of unprincipled groupings in the stragele for | Pp, on such grounds or under this cloak. i condemn the revival of gronn s: ¢ Communist League.” (Fifth Cor The factional struggle arose out of the strutgle , the CYI on the it wing A contributing factor was the fact that the unity which existed up to the Fifth Congress was “marred by an uncritical attitude of the NEC toward mistakes committed by the Party and particularly s CEO.” In its efforts to reestablish unity in the I lish the proper relationship with the Party, the NEC had the apport of the overwhelming majority of the League’s m hi UNPRINCIPLED. FIGHT. (63) The whole factional struggle in the League cipled and unnecessary. There have not been, and are real differences in the League on youth work. This was demon- strated by the complete unity which was established at the last con- vention and which existed until the Fifth Congress. The Party sit- uation cannot be a source of differences after the Open Letter of the Comintern, which has been unanimously accepted by the last Party convention and which liquidates all Party diffe s Open Letter provides the basis for the complete un League. All questions of the Party convention itself are before the Comintern for decision, (64) The Open Letter calls upon the Party to liquidate all groups and establish unity in its ranks. This is the policy of the Communist Youth International as well and it must become the line of the entire Party and the entire League. was unprin- not now any MINORITY PLATFORM. Instead of accepting the Open Letter and the unanimous convention declaration as a basis for unity in the League, the League Minority has attempted to distort this letter into a platform for a new factional struggle, refusing to give up their old slogans and adopting in addition new ones (struggle against the convention deci- sion, charge against CEC of being anti-Comintern, accusation against CEC and NEC of Ruth Fisherism), and has attempted to mobilize the League members for a new factional struggle on this platform. (66) All attempts at the revival of the factional struggle must be rejected by the entire League membership. A continuation of the factional struggle will have the gravest consequences for the League. The tremendous tasks which the League Macca necessitate Bolshevik unity and iron discipline. The possibilities for unity exist. The membership has expressed a most determined will to unity. (65) On the basis of the Open Letter, on the basis of the line of the CI and CYI, the convention of the League must finally and determinedly liquidate the factional struggle and accomplish the unification of the League. X. FOR IMPROVEMENT OF LEAGUE'S WORK. (67) The central task of the League is to accomplish the de- velopment to a mass youth organization, This task will be accom- plished thru the widest mass activity of the League, thru establish- ing close contact with the young workers, participating in all their struggles, pushing the League forward in all the struggles, thru the proletarianization and dctivization of the entire League member- ship. A number of concrete tasks which have received insufficient emphasis must be particularly stressed. (68)a.—The membership of the League must be thoroughly proletarianized. The orientation of the League to basic industry must be accompanied by drawing the most advanced young workers into the ranks of the League. At the same time the League must stimulate the promotion of members from basic industry into lead- ership in the League, and organize systematic methods to train proletarian American functionaries. The League’s work should be centered in the factories, mines and mills and the League must pursue a determined course for the organization of shop nuclei and to accomp the complete reorganization of the League on this basis. ACTIVIZATION. (69)b.—The initiative and activity of the entire League, and par- ticularly of the local organizations must be strengthened in order to insure the proper reaction to and active participation in all strug- gles of the young workers in the locality. The participation of the membership in the work of the League can be improved, greater at- tendance at meetings secured and general improvement in the or- ganizational and political functioning of the League brought about by develéping the independent activity of the units, by enlivening the methods of work and by building up locsl and district leader- ships. MORE OF A YOUTH CHARACTER. (70)¢e.—-A more pronounced youthful character. of the entire work of the League is necessary. This includes the activities of the League to be based on the everyday interests and needs of the young workers as well as the adoption of “new methods” of work for liven- ing up the internal life of the League, making it more interesting and attractive for the young workers, thus eliminating the large fluctuation and improving its recruiting power. This also includes the improvement in our agitation and propaganda methods, making them more understandable by the young workers, more attractive to them, and more suitable to youth psychology. (71)d.—A broad utilization of “bridge” organizations, by the establishment of youth sections and youth commitices in tradé unions, economic associations of the youth, energetic work in sports and cul- tural organizations of the youth, youth sections of farmers’ organ- izations. The aim of the League should be to convert such organ- izations into organs of struggle, and draw the best elements from them into the League. COLONIAL WORK. (71)e.—Fullest assistance to the revolutionary youth movement in the colonies, the establishment of youth Leagues where none exist, and putting into practice the system of patronage with the Leagues in the American colonies and in Latin America. (78)f,—While the Young Pioneers have developed along the lines of participation in the struggles of the workers, and has drawn the childven of the workers into these struggles, it has beon limited by poor direction and guidance from the League, which has also failed to supply a sufficient cadre of leaders and has given insuf- ficient material assistance. This must be immediately overcome thru supplying 10 per cent of the League membership for leaders among the Young Pioneers, establishment of proper relations with all the Pioneer committees and organs, as well as with the leaders, and thra more careful and systematic guidance of the passing of Pioneers into the League. It is also necessary to revive the idea of the creation of parents’ councils as a means of help to the Young Pioneers, particularly at the present time when there is an onslaught on the Pioneers by the reactionary school and municipal authoritics. The Young Pioneers together with the League must take up a vigorous position in defense of the working class children, against child ey, and more par- ticularly pret guile ahs siete IMPROVEMENT OF APPARATUS. g.—The apparatus and its functioning must be improved. The j national departments should be revitalized and cleared of bureau- | cratic tendencies, The leadership in the dist must be strength- ened. The League must make a beginning h the many fields which it has hitherto neglected—opponents, agrarian. (75)h.—The League must finally a real beginning in work among the masses of ex ited Ne: The Negro youth is being drawn more and more into the tem of capitalist exploitation. It is feeling and reacting to the pr e of list rationalization. | There have been many evidences that the con for work among ; the ‘© youth are ripe. Further neglect important field of activity will be an indication that the League is not really willing | to do this work, to ca on the necessary activities for development into a mass organization, RELATIONS TO PARTY. (76) It is necessary to adjust and improve the relations between the League and the Party. While there must be more guid e of the League’s activities by the Party, and greater material assistance, the League must maintain a critical attitude against all . kes in the Party, particularly against all deviations to the Right. The system of relationship must be strengthened, the Party kernel m be in sed to fifteen per cent. The Party must be tively into the work in the joint fieldss of activity (anti- .). All liquidatory tendencies in the Party regarding the its role must be ruthlessly combatted and overcome. Young Workers League must not be led by any of in the Party, its members must fight on ions of the Comintern and the Communist ion of factionalism and fac- tional groupings both in the League and in the Party.” (Open letter). and the development of the political under- hip can be achieved only with proper and ed self-criticism, which is an essential of Bolshev' In the past, there has been very little self-critic and to o much factional criticism. The factional situation has particularly served to interfere with and sometimes prevent critical examination of the League’s ex- periences in struggles, and the clarification of the membership he tasks of ‘the League in the present situation. Instead ical attitude towards the work of all sections of the League, ment of factional protection prevented the correction and tion of serious errors committed, The attitude tow: these errors very frequently became a source for further fac’ Incapable functionaries, and functionaries who resisted the applica- tion of the correct line of the League were maintained in their posi- tions purely on a factional basis. The need for clarity, the need for League unit require a decisive break with these methods and the on of the broadest self-criticism. FORWARD TO MASS COMMUNIST YOUTH LEAGUE. (78) In the present period the League has possibilities for loping into the real leader of the young workers, to win them for the struggle against the capitalist s m under its banner. The concrete ks enumerated above are but expre: of the road the League has to travel—the road to mass organization. Not alone the individual task, but a new orientation among all the mem- bers is necessary to accomplish the development of the League. Under its own banner as a Communist Youth organization, as an organization that fights for the young workers in the front trenches, whose every member is a leader among the masses; on the basis of the unreserved acceptance and execution of the decisions of the CI and CYT, and the unrelentless struggle against all deviations that line; in the struggle against the Right danger and* 3 with Bolshevik unity and iron discipline guiding its’ actio our League develop into a Mass Communist Youth League of the toiling youth of the United States, a fighting seetion of the Com- munist Youth International. « (The End) end Greetings Special May Day Edition DAILY WORKER] Have your name and the names of your shopinates printed in the Red Honxor Roll. See that your organ- ization has a greeting printed in the Spec ial Edition.