The Daily Worker Newspaper, August 14, 1931, Page 4

; hed by Page Four the Comprodaily reet, New York City, N ss and mail all Co., Ine ne Algo Worker, 50 East e New York, N. F , at 50 Bast DAIWORK.” vey rker: Jeiet Party US.A By mi “How the Capitalist Press Calls tor War Against the USSR. By M. L. THE list countries are preparing for war agi t the Soviet Union. The economic crisis 3 driving them at an accelerated pace towards an imperialist war. The whole of capitalist-im- perlalism is torn in conflicts. First, there ex- ists the antagonisms among the imperialist coun- tries, England-U.S.A., France-Germany, France- Italy, etc.; then there is the antagonism between the capitalist countries and the Soviet Union, which is more fundamental and sharper and ; s the approaching revolutionary crisis in Germa Never before have the capi- talist nations been in such. a whirlpool of crisis, conflict and antagonism as they are today. The coming “disarmament” conference at Ge- neva in 1932 is a plan to line’up the imperialist countries for war against the Soviet Union. This conference like all the previous ones is essen- tially a scheme for diplomatic jockeying, for alliances, for seeking allies in preparation for war. Take the London naval confereyce as an example. What happened at this much heralded conference concluded last year? Here is what the Journal of Commerce wrote on April 12th, 1930, in an editorial entitled “Last Rites at London’ “Thus the conference closes with mugual sus- picions heightened and.but thinly concealed by the generalities to be embodied in the document that all five powers are expected to sign. The causes of the failure lie in the absence of international confidence combined with a will to peace!!! As a result the conference has been throughout a struggle for strategic advantage animated by the same spirit that has in the past- led to international rivalries and wars.” In: other words it was a struggle for military advantages. Frank H. Simonds writing in the New. York Evening Post in an article entitled “Parley in Peace’s Name Gives Heritage of War,” last year, said “The London Conference is going to result in.the adjustment of the fleets of the five great sea-powers in accordance with the necessities of the next war, as experts in all countries see the technical nature of that conflict. By 1936, when the -Treaty of London will expire, all the fleets | Will be reorganized and reconstructed on this basis.” He concludes thet “if the ‘unthinkable’ war should come in 19386 the naval officers of all to be grateful for what Palace in the peace, par- order to dupe erish preparat zs have alread heir fail s ig More n talk to the ros- sibility of another world war in the immediate future growing out of the threatened utter and eco: of Germany, if not averted, must inevitably lead to overthrow of orderly government and resultant political chaos. The danger lies in Communism sweeping Europe, with Soviet Russia marching its Red across frontiers to make actuality of the Boils: ik dream of ‘world revolution.’ Civ- iization would then have to defend its very ex- mee with united force — there would be no (Business Chronicle, Seattle, Wash., Now on U.S.S.B. und Europe today and id War is over, Poland ia not onl: ers eve! where b unicipal police bear bayonets. . Something must be done The best minds ef America must marsha] themselves into ac- tion. The best minds of England must be commanded to likewise enlist. Likewise in France, in Germany and in Italy, We must deal with Russia — the greatest menace of them all. A menace ’not because of Communism but because of militarism. The largest and most efficient fighting force in the world today has been built by the Russian people who went to Sovietism to. repudiate the frightfulness of militarism.” (Tulsa, Okla. Tribune, July 19.) The capitalists want to make it appear that they are on the defensive; that the Soviet Un- ion is the aggressor and menace. They say that the Soviet Union is a menace to “our homes, our civilization, and government.” These slo- gans will give the war a “holy purpose.” Just as they said in 1914 that the war was a war to “crush militarism,” “a war to defend small nationalities,” “a war to make the world safe for democracy,” “a war to end war,” etc. Such inventions of the imperialist countries will give @ war the character of a religious crusade. The war-Riongers smoke-screen ihe war preparations by singling out the Soviet Union as the sole menace to peace and prosperity. : How They Prepare The capitalist press is preparing the minds of the masses for war against the Soviet Union. Below. we will give excerpts from editorials in the American capitalist press. In reading these, ‘we will understand better the phrases which lib- erals, pacifists and socialists spout about public opinion preventing war. They serve no purpose save to chloroform the worker and lull him to sleep. What is public opinion? It is controlled, molded and managed by the capitalist state. Its | press, schools, church, movies, radio and other | avenues of propaganda poison the minds of the people. This public opinion is capitalist propa- ganda emanating from all its sources. Percival P. Baxter writing in the Portland Sun- day Telegram, June 28, says. “The protest and threats of the Soviet should matter not for every nation has the inherent right of self-defense, both in militaty and eco- mic war. “If matters continue on as they are now drift- ing, the Soviets are likely to sweep their eco- nomic way westward as well as eastward and no-one can predict the outcome. “Itis well to remember that if America really wants to overcome Bolshevism it must take pos- itive’action to fight that menace.” (deg “A Virtual State of War” THS-New Eedford, Mass. Times, July 20, sheet cf the texte barons, demands the return of ngineers working in the Soviet Union. 1 says, “Any American who was serving one of the central powers during the World War would certainly have been awarded nothing less than immediate loss of citizenship. But between Rus- sia and the U. S. a virtual state of war (their emphasis) is constantly existent today.” re Menevece Charlottesville, Va. July 1éth. And the capitalist press | in no uncertein terms. reprints an article, a part of which reads as fol- lows: “Don't let anybody fool you into think- ing a war is not brewing against the Soviet Un- ion. It will begin as an embargo, with a view of creating insurrection in Russia, and then go- ing in to establish peace.” The Star, Meridian, Miss., July 8, prints an editorial headed “War!” “The Russian trade war on the world is bringing war in kind... . Russia has seb out to paralyze the world-wide economic scheme of things.” “Only a fool decries potential danger in the Russian economic war.” Gerard for War Gerard in a recent radio address remarked that “Russia is waging a war on the rest of the world.” “Sooner or later we are going to have to face this Russian situation and we must face it squarely.” (New York American, July 30.) The New Haven, Conn. Register, July 30, picks up Gerard’s words and regards them as a “call to arms.” His words ring “as did the cry of Paul Revere in his historic ride” and they “should have far-reaching effect.” The editorial con- cludes, “the time is surely here when this coun- try must take an advanced stand against Rus- sia.” Paul Revere Gerard will gloat over this From General Holbrook Free Press, Detroit, Mich. July 28, referring to General Holbrook’s prophecy that Germany will be “our ally” in the coming war with Rus- sia, says, “a growing belief that in case Russian complications arise, Germany must be depended upon to act as an outer bulwark szainst Red inroads, has likewise been providing a practical if not particularly elevated reason for commenc- ing to think in terms of friendliness where Ber- lin is concerned. The good will of Germany may easily prove valuable to this nation and the rest of civilization in time to come; and it is the way of the world to be inclined to line up with those who can return help for help.” Commenting on Holbrook’s speech, The Ten- nessean, Nashville, Tenn., July 30, says, “Such public statements as the one General Holbrook made at Camp Dix will not prolong the day " such @ war will break if it is not in the brewing Holbrook think, Morristown,. N. J.. Jerseyman, July 29, in an editorial entitled, “Russia Preparing for War,” Says that. Holbrook’s speech confirms its view that.the great plants now being constructed i Russia with such frantic haste are not i dustrial plants at all, but plants for the manu- facture of munitions of war.” It concludes thus, ‘talking disarmament while a nation of near 200 millions of people is preparing for a war designed to overthrow the governments of the world may be fine idealism, but it does not seem practical pregram for the United government is thé great- rmment in the world and as or later come under attack General besides such it will. sooner frem Russia.” How to Restore “Normal Conditions” How to Restore “Normal Conditions.” The Portland Press Herald, Maine, July 18, in an editorial “Russia Causes All the Trouble,” discussing the danger from Russian Communism says that “here is a problem for the considera- tion of the world leaders. America must play its part in the undertaking. What President Hoover has done has afforded a breathing place. . Another step must be taken before a firm foundation can be established. It is not dis- armament which the world needs so much as the restoration of normal conditions, and this cannot be brought about so long as a great na- tion like Russia devoting all its resources to creating trouble for the rest of the world.” It evodent from the: editorials that the press is attempting to play up Russia as the chief protagonist. or a Goliath which is menacing all the David capitalist, countries. They picture Russia -as the aggressor and that the other na- tions, will have to unite to stave off her attack. This is the excuse the capitalist dipiomats will offer for increasing armaments. And they are saying it now. Here is a dispatch which appeared in the Bal- timore Sun August 7 from Washington, “The chief thing the State Department is interested in...is Russia's stand on disarmament... the State Department has taken note of the re- peated statements of France that there can be no disarmament as long as the Russian Army remains as a threat to the French Allies—Po- jand, Rumania and Czecho-Slovakia.” Concerning the French attitude in Europe the Dallas, Texas, Times, July 14, writes as follows: “The French are undoubtedly determined to gain indisputable supremacy in Europe... . “But Soviet Russia is an obstacle to French supremacy that may force France to call upon the United States and the British Empire for assistance. The French are operating on the theory that both this country and Britain re- gard Soviet Russia as a menace. “It is not unlikely that some French statesmen feel that a struggle with Russia is inevitable and that it should be started before the Communists are ready for-it and while assistance of England and the United States could be reasonably ex- pected, On the occasion of the celebration of Bastile Day in France, the Paris Nouvelles wrote: “Our army today is the best, if not the only guarantee of peace in Europe. What man of common sense at an hour when Germany may perhaps founder in chaos does not realize that it would be crim- inal for France to carry disarmament any fur- ther?” N. Y. Times, July 15 New Bedford,Mass. ,Times, July 15, stated: “Eventually, as the Nazi leader sharply out- ines, Europe must face the problem of making itself a unit in defence against Communism in- vading from Russia. “The sooner that truth is grasped and means taken to cope with it the better. “For the eventual defence of the better things in our western civilization against communist world-concuest aimed from Russia, the Hitler doctrine must be wisely appreciated and applied; namely western civilization must regard itself as a unit in necessity... .” (Support and ask- ing for Fascism.) Newark, N. J., Ledger, July 14, wrote: “If the Reds should dominate Germany, we hesitate to p: whet the future may have in store for our present social and governmental Structures. We must join with Great Britain and France in saying Germany from becoming a victim to Godless Sovietism.” Why are the capitalist countries preparing so feverishly for war against the USSR? The ex- istence of the USSR and the successful upbuild- ing of socialism, which finds its expression under the Five Year Plan, magnifies the crisis and i HOOVER PREPARES FOR WINTER ELITE DS LUBS ANDO G&TS TO GE U (ss S ONLY ON UNEMPLOYED anp NOTICE Gai WORKERS! — BY Qnroer oF Goverrimeny, of Manhattan and Bronx, New York. City. et se SED SUBSCRIPTION RATES: % By BURCK The “Communist” for August ‘The August issue of THE COMMUNIST pre- sents an unusually rich array of material for Suidance of the class conscious workers and léadérs of thé working class in their struggles against unemployment, increasing terrorism. war preparations, and for higher wages, short- er, hours, and better conditions of life and labor, Read éver the table of contents, CONTENTS A New Bid for World Domination by Alex Bittelman Putting the XI Plenum Decisions Into Life by Earl Browder Factors Governing Our Tactical Lins Next Steps in the Coal Strike by William Z. Foster Some Major Lessons from a Minor Strike by I. Amter The Young Communist League Turn: to Struggle by Gil Green The Significance of August 23—Anti-Im- perialist Day by John Bell Economic Forms in Southern Agriculture by Tom Johnson The National Problem in the Soviet Union by Meilach Epstein The 100th Anniversary of the Nat Turner Revolt by N, Stevens First Congress of the Communist Party of Philippines Lenin on Economic and Political Struggle of the Working Class Baltimore and Geneva 1866—A Paraflel Editorial Note by Alexander Trachtenberg Book Reviews The table of contents speaks for itself and no class-conscious worker or Party member should permit himself or herself to be without it, Also they must become regular subscribers if they wish to keep abreast of the developing revolutionary movement. The subscription price is $2 per year and single copies are 25c. Send your subscription to THE COMMUNIST, P.O. Box 148, Station D, New York City. bankruptcy of capitalist economy. The USSR. accentuates the inherent contradictions in capi- talist society, and shows clearly that the only solution to the muddle of capitalism, that 1s, crisis, anarchy, war, etc., lies in the overthrow of the bourgeoisie, and the establishment of a Soviet government, The tremendous achieve- ments of the Soviet Union stands as an in- spigation to the workers the world over. The capitalist world fears the consequences of the success of the Five Year Plan. Their indignant remarks of the impossibility and fantasy of the Plan have disappeared and turned into their opposite. Now they yell about the menace of the Five Year Plan, of Soviet dumping, forced labor, about the challenge of Soviet Russia, These hypocritical ravings of the capitalists have the purpose of preparing an anti-Soviet bloc. Behind these lying phrases a rew war is being forged against the USSR. The capitalist world is afraid of the success of the Five Year Plan. They fear the doom of their civilization. A spectre is haunting them, socialist construction in the Soviet Union. In order to crush this, they are projecting their forces towards destroying the plan, by attacking the foreign trade of the So- viet Union, as weil as the USSR itself. Under the hypocritical pretext of “defense”, of Protecting itself against communism, cepttalism is getting ready to strike. ‘The workers must be awakened to the plans of the bourgeoisie, destroy the poisonous prop- aganda of the capitalist press and defend the Soviet Union How Unemployed Council Block Committees are Organized By A. GERLACH (Detroit, Mich.). INCE the March, 1930, démonstration 6f the Unemployed in Detroit, where over 166,000 workers participated, wé havé triéd to build Un- employed Councils in 3 or 4 different nsigh- borhood sections. Until 4 months ago, we did not succeed in getting a real council under way. Leaflet form calls were issued for meetings and distributed; some workers would comé, listen tO our speek- ers (and there were plenty and long drawn- out ones) sign applications, join the councils, at- tend 2 or 3 meetings and drop out. This fluc- tuation of members hascontinued for months. ‘There was no real life in the Unemployed Coun- cils. With the election of Mayor Murphy, the tlop houses were establish¢d. Groups were organ- ized on the inside, good demonstrations were held, and at one time, we succeeded in having our demands for management of the flop house Granted. The flop house was managed for a few days by a committee of workers living in- side, but for the lack of continuous attention by the comrades in charge (when the demands were granted, we thought that this was all that was needed) the city welfare commission thru its agents, succeeded in getting the workers or- ganized against their own management com- mittee and» voted that the management be turned back to the administration. This was the end of our organized group in the flop house. On the fight against evictions, we nave been able to mobilize thousands of workers, especially in the Negro workers’ neighborhoods, as they were the hardest hit. The reasons for our suc- cesses were that here we had something con- érete to fight for, but still the membership in the Unemployed Council was dropping out rapidly. After continuous attempts to organize coun- cils by leaflet calls, some comrades got dis- gusted and started a new form of work among the unemployed. “Blanks were made by the TUUL office (Unemployed Section) for inves- tigation of the starving families of workers. This was one step forward, because it gave us @ clear picture of the sufferings the workers-are actually confronted with. In a given block, in the “black belt,” a work- er was visited and permission gotten to hold a-meeting in his home. After the workers in the block were visited, unemployment discussed with them, and they were invited to the meet- ing. At the meeting, individual cases were dis- cussed, a number of families picked out, a com- mittee elected and with the names of the fam- ilies, the welfare department was visited. At the welfare department, demands were made for food, rent, coal and all other necessities. In most cases, demands made by the committee were granted. This was the laying of the basis of the organization of block committees. The block committees were springing up like mush- rooms, committees, 17 of these are functioning well with an average membership of from 15 to 60 mem- bers in one neighborhood. The total number of block committees at present in Detroit is 45, with a membershij of over 2,500, although not all members of the block committee are in the Unemployed Council proper, but work under the guidance of same. i Each block committee has a captain, who is in contact with the membership and at the same time with the comrade in charge of the Un- employed Council. Through this system, we are able to organize from 3 to 7 thousand workers in 2 or 3 hours. The block committees are the most effective weapon in the fight against evic- tions. If an eyiction takes place in a certain neivhborhood ‘especially Negro neighborhood wl 31 block committess are organized) a worker would call up the TUUL office or the Unemployed Council headquarters, and report the place of the eviction, from where contacts would be made with the captains of the block At the present tim>. ~- have ** block’ extent of fighting it out with the police. Two incidsnts are especially important to mention. An eviction took place 3 weeké agé, 6n & cer- tain street. The block committess were mob- ilized and 2,000. workers in the time of 2 hours came to put the furniture bock into the house. The police came. ‘One cop on a motorcycle tried to ride through the crowd of workers on the sidewalk. The result wad, thé cop had « fractured skull, leg broken and wés taken to the hospital; 30 workers were arrested after @ fight and some were railroaded to 10 days in jail, others receiving suspended sentence. Another eviction took, place 3 days later. The block committees mobilized in 3 hours time over 3,000 workers at 7 p. m., and by 11 p. m. over 7,000 wo€ers were at the scene. A squad of Policeme. the black hand squad, were lined up on the sorch of the house, from where the worker «as evicted with drawn gums, keeping the crond of workers from putting the furni- ture back into the house. Boos; cat-calls, etc., could be heard during the time of the presence of the police, 18 workers were arrested at this eviction. The crowd of 3,000 stood around until 3 a.m. All this was a positive contributing factor to the mobilization of our Scottsboro and also August ist demonstrations. These block committees of the Unemployed. Countiils’ are very effective in our, fight against the liberal Murphy administration, both onthe relief and eviction cases, because the workers can see and feel the leadership of our Party. Many good working class fighters from these block committees are joining the Party. This is the good side of our work among the unem- ployed. Now we will bring out the bad side All of this work, of the organization of block committees was carried on by 7 or 8 comrades. In Detroit, we have now 5 unemployed council branches functioning well with a membership of about 3,000 workers, then we have 4 or 5 Un- employed Councils just beginning to function with a small membership. In not a single coun- cil did we have a Party fraction functioning (until a week ago) and in the block commit- tees, not only do we have no fractions func- tioning but in many of the block committees we don’t have a single member, or if we have one or two, they are very new and_ inexperienced workers, es far as the Communist movement is concerned. Many an old Party member is will- ing to pay 10 cents @ues a week in order not to be considered “unemployed” and to get away from attending meetings of the Unemployed Councils or the Block Committees. While the comrades who are new in the Party, and joined through Unemployed Council activities, are doing unemployed work only (only naturally so) but have no experience in the work of how to carry on Communist activities in the Un- employed Council. This is one danger—the danger of the Unem- ployed Council getting a real mass basis—slip- ping away and getting. under control of our enemies, rue i Another danger is, that the Unemployed Coun- cils in the “black belt” become jim-crow or- Banizations. In the 31 block committees we have only 3 or 4 white workers working active- the meetings of the Unemployed Councils who are attacking the Communist Party as an or- ganizetion of “white men” who want to “use te Negro” for their ewn political purposes.” This is not effective yet, but will be, if our lead- everywhere: One year, $6; six months, $8; two months, $1; excepting Boroughs Foreign: one year, $3; siz months, $4.50, [AFL Fakers of San Jose Dealt a Blow (This article was written before the militant strike of the San Jose cannery work broke! out.—Ed.) et ie By A.N. N bie Agricultural and Cannery Workers Induse trial Union, under the leadership of the TUUL, have been organizing the workers in these industries for the last two months, in aration for a struggle against the miserable wages and speed-up imposed upcn mese worker by the cannery bosses and big landowners (rick, farmers). The cannery bosses have fired some of the militant workers for their activity in the plants. In one cannery one of the organizers was chased off the place with gas pipes after he covered the plant with our bulletin. But in aa of the terror the cannery workers are rallying te the revolutionary union, The cannery bosses, becoming frantic at seeing the workers organize (in spite of them) have turned as usual, to their old friends, the officials of the A. F. of L. for support. Tuesday, July 21, the kept press (to our “astonishment”) ran an article advertising a mass Meeting of agricul- tural and cannery workers, to be held under the auspices of the Santa Clara County Building Trades Council, and the District Labor Council. With phraseology about poverty, low wages, etc., the article stated ‘that no radicalism would be tolerated, that the new organization will be formed entirely in conformance with the rules of government, and will seek better conditions in a diplomatic manner, and wound up by saying— An extensive publicity program for the move is being planned through newspapers, handbills and radio. After studying the contents of the article, we were satisfied that the boss and A. F. of L, offi- cials had been sitting around the round-table. We decided immediately to get out a leaflet for distribution at the door of their meeting, expos ing this move as an attempt by the bosses to smash our revolutionary union with the aid of the A. F. of L. fakers. At the meeting we distributed 306 Ipaflets, reaching every worker. We had also ourselves for the meeting. We let the fakers un- load all their deceitful bunk to the workers, when Comrade Noral asked for the floor. But the fakers tried to adjourn the meeting until the following Sunday, as this was only @ préliminary meeting. The workers demanded the floor for Noral and the fakers were compelled to give way. ‘Taking the floor Noral let loose, exposing the treachery of the A. F. of L. officials as agents of the bosses, who had called this meetitig for no other purpose than to fool, divide and sell out the workers. Nora! pointed out that these work- ers have always worked for starvation wages, and under the most miserable conditions, end that it was no accident that for fourteen years these fakers had made no attempt whatever to Organize thé workers, that just now, when a rea! fighting union rallies the workers to struggis, these fekers all of a sudden find out that the Wworkérs are fiving in poverty. ‘Noral also riddled their statements that no radicalism would be tolerated. He exposed their conformanee to the government and their dema- eogy. Séveral times during Noral’s talk the fakers tried to stop him, but the workers yelled, “You gave him the floor, now let him speak.” Ths workers’ protest against the fakers was so strong that one of them told Noral that he didn't mind him speaking, but didn’t like what he was say- ing. At this juncture, Noral turned te the workers and said: “They will let me speak if I say whet they want me to say, and the only way we can finish this meeting is by every worker leaving these fakers here to speak to themselves, and go over to the revolutionary union hall and sign up in a real fighting union. The workers poured out of the hall and marched over to the TUUL hall, leaving only about fifteen workers with the fakers. The fek- ers decided to hold another meeting the follow- ing Sunday for organizational purposes, and guaranteed that no radicals would penetrate it. But on Sunday night we had the cannery wor- ers themselves go to the meeting, at which in alt there were only about 80 workers, this including about 40 of our own. In the meantime the ‘chairman of the other meeting. (who was to be the organizer pro tem) had come to us and repented. He was only a fruit worker being used by these fakers. He made a declaration before the workers themselves that he was with us. We sent him to the Sunday meet- ing to make the same statement, which he did, and was followed by several workers, who expressed their opinion as opposed to two unions, as this was what the bosses wanted, and suddenly it was put to a vote (through a motion made by @ work- er) that we all go and join the TUUL union. ‘This vote was 100 per cent carried, and the workers again left the fake A. F. of L. officials hall and signed up with the revolutionary union. Leaving the A. F. of L. to stand the-expense of advertising and hall rent. ‘This has popularized our union beyond any- thing that had been done before, and has drawn closer to us more hundreds of workers, After the first meeting the kept press said that the wobblies had disturbed the (fakers’) meeting and that only a few left the hall, while out of the 300 we took 280. But after the second meet- ing in the Labor Temple the press sald the new union had amalgamated with us. By the time this story reaches the Daily Worker, we will be involved in a strike of cannery workers number- ing 6,000 here in San Jose. The struggle will be under the banner of the Agricultural and Can- nery Workers Industrial League, affiliated to the. Trade Union Unity League. members. There is a real actual danger of the. block committees and some branches. of the Unemployed Council becoming tools in the hands of our enemies. ‘The main reason for the non-functioning of our fractions lays in the fact that our leading committees of the district have underestimated when there is an actual danger of losing control of the Unemployed Councils and the Block Com- mittees, did we wake up and start a real drive for the organization of the fractions in the Unemployed Councils and Block Committees. A strict check-up on every individuai mem- ber every nucleus is being carried on at the next unit meeting. Drastic steps are being taken to have every unemployed Party momber (1¢- gerdices of his dues payments!) attend fraction meetings and the mectings of the block com- mittees and the Unemployed Council branches,