The Daily Worker Newspaper, May 28, 1932, Page 11

The Revolutionary Unions in the NY DAILY WORKER, NEW YORK, SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1932 Struggle Against Imperialist War J. STACHEL We can state at the outset, that thus far the revolutionary unions have not played a very important role, either in mobilizing their own membership or the masses, for the defense of the Soviet Union against Japanese imperialist attacks in China, or against the policies of American imperialism in assisting Japanese imperialism and in pro- voking a war against the Soviet Union. So far all the activity of our organizations has consisted in merely passing resolutions and in participating in @ number of ac- tions and demonstrations organized by the Communist Party and other workers organizations, such as Anti- War demonstrations, May 1, etc., but we have carried through no independent activities. ._We have dot made the struggle against war fundamental hostility between re- presentatives of the two world sys- tems—the system of capitalism and the system of socialism, and this can be seen from the role of Japan, which long ago gave diplomatic re- cognition to the U.S.S.R. 5. Certain wrong opportunist conceptions which exist among re- volutionary workers that the sooner the war comes, the better, because that will end in revolution and everything will be solved. We must point out that this is completely wrong, that our task is to struggle against war and in this struggle against war, we are mob- ilizing the forces for the revolution- ary way out of the crisis, and in the event of war, we then are in a position to give blows to the im- perialists and to take steps to transform the imperialist war into ion, by exposing the shipment of munitions and supplies by the U. 8. government to Japan, show the active role of the U. 8. in the war against the Soviet Union, by de- manding Hands Off Ohina, the Withdrawal of All Troops, etc. b) We must undertake to issue literature, leaflets, material in all trade union papers, send in work- ers’ correspondence from the fac- tories, particularly where munitions are being made, from docks, ships, ete. They are to take the initiative to assist and organize the anti-war committees im the factories, con- nect them up with the anti-war committees in the respective unions and neighborhoods for thé struggle against imperialist war and for the Prespereus U. and for the defense Union a central task of our organ- izations, -n examining this situation we must come to the conclusion that at the root of this are certain po- litical weaknesses .and unclarities. We merely wish to cite these: 1, Underestimation of the actual danger of an attack against the Soviet Union, and the ~ possible nearness of such an attack. 2. Underestimation of the role that the working class can play in the struggle against war, in post- poning an attack against the Sov- ies Union, ete: Fear of developing sharp struggle against Japanese imperial- ism, and its agents in the U. S. on the ground that our duty is to fieht only U. S. imperialism, +. Pacifist illusions which have penetrated into our ranks and which, of course, are strong among large sections of our membership. These pacifist illusions particularly take the form of capitulation be- fore “péace’ manouvers and the “peace” offensive of United States imperialism. There is a feeling that ‘the con- tradictions between the U. S. and Japan, which are, of course, real and deep, are a factor in postpon- ing the attack against the Soviet Union. This is not only untrue, but on the contrary, U. S. impe- Fialism, because of these contra- dictions, is trying to provoke an attack against the Soviet Union and in this way weaken both its imperialist rival, Japan, and the common enemy of all imperialisms the USSR. in this connection, we must also mention the recognition propa- ganda carried on by some of the newspapers in capitalist circles, and by a number of prominent senators and congressmen. We must poitit out that this recognition propa- ganda which is part of the “peace” offensive of the U. 8. imperialism, is part of the Hoover-Stimson gov- ernment manouver against its rivals and for advantage in the attack on the Soviet Union. This campaign, tho it takes in- to account and tries to exploit for the interests of the bourgeoisie, the widespread sympathy among the toilers for the Soviet Union, tho it takes into account the admir- ation of the toilers for the only genuine peace policy of the US. S.R., and the fact that it cannot be denied that certain capitalists would like to profit by trade with Russia, this does not in any way mean that the U. S. isnot assist- ing Japan and is not trying to provoke war against the Soviet Union, We must point out that even if such recognition was given to the US.S.R. by the U.S imperialism, it would in no way change the 2 o. ¥ of the Sovietsocial revolution. That our task is to struggle a- ilize all forces now for the defense of the Soviet Union. | 6. Fimally, there is a complete | opportunist conception prevailing | in our ranks that by merely carry- jing on daily struggles against wage cuts, for unemployment relief, etc., jthat this in itself is sufficient to | mobilize the masses against. impe- | yialist war and for the defense of the Soviet Union, While it is true that we must {connect up the struggle against | war with the struggle against hun- ger, terror, Mass starvation and misery, and only on this basis can Such a struggle against war be suc- cessful, it is completely wrong to believe that only by carrying on struggle for economic demands, without a special mobilization a- gainst war, exposure of all pacifism, taking up special organizational measures to mobilize the masses, etc., that we can carry thru suc- cessfully a mobilization against the imperialist war and for the defense of the Soviet Union. And it is pre- cisely this wrong conception which is very prevalent in our ranks, that is most dangerous and paralyzés our ability to mobilize large massés in the struggle against imperialist war. Immediate Tasks 1, We must sét up anti-war com- mittees in all our union bodies, beginning with the National Com- mittees down to the locals. Thesé anti-war committees must also be organized in the factories, and we must take the initiative to organize them, in the A. F. of L. locals, op- position groups and in the Unem- ployed Councils. These anti-war committees must be given tasks. The tasks are for all unions, and are as follows: a) To carry thru an agitation and propaganda among the entire c membership of the unions, to ac- |* quaint them with our policy, and the struggle against imperialist war, with the nearness of war, etc. b) These committees are to take steps for the union mobilization of the entire membership, calling mass meetings of workers, meetings at factory gates, house to house can- vassing—in other words, to mobil- ize the workers in the industries workers will know not to trust thein. b 2. We must expose all the pro- paganda of the bourgeoisie that the imperialist war is a way out of the crisis. We must point out that this is no solution, that it may mean bread for one man, and bullets for thousands and millions. We must stress the peace policy of the Soy- iet Union, and demand that the funds appropriated for war pur-| ‘poses be us patil! relies; ‘ete, 1)! 551+! a) We must popularize the slog- 144 VIET | gainst imperialist,war and to meb-| used for the unemployed | . A. feeding its unemployed cn the garbage dumps. , defense of the Soviet Union. | Special attention must be given to reaching the young workers, the members of the National Guard, j the ex-servicemen, and the regular ; armed force. } ©) They must undertake the | struggle against all forms of jingo- | ism |struggle against the A. F. of L. |to the workers, so that we can ex- | pose them as mobilizers for the war against the Soviet Union, and the 3.. Special tasks must be worked out, particulafly in such unions and leagues as steel, railroad and mar- ine, to actually take up the question of demonstrations, struggles and strikes to stop the manufacture and shipment of munitions and supplies to Japan. The District TUUC's must select at ieast one important chemical plant in each industry, at least one munition plant, to con- centrate our best forces for work among these workers, mobilizing them as active forces in the strug- gle against imperialist war and for the defense of the Soviet Union. 4. We must go over from merely propaganda and 4gitation against war, to actual struggle. This means | demonstrations and actions against Japanese imperialist agents in the U: B: ans of the struggle against war and for the defense of the Soviet Un- |; and pacifism, with concrete, | bureaucracy, socialists, not only at | |the top, but in the district organ- | j izations, etc., those who are known} TAKE PART By HERBERT BENJAMIN. | National Secretary, Unemployed j Councils of U. S. Realizing that the millions of un- employed cannot be expected to sub- mit to death quietly by slow star- | vation, knowing that it is ¢ven more dangerous to attempt whole- sale extermination of the unemploy- ed by means of police and military mass murder, the ruling class is about ready to institute its most desperate measure for solving the worse economic crisis in its history. It is preparing and will now at any moment launch its plan to make the workers exterminate each other. The Hunger Government in Wash- ington and its agents everywhere as well aS smilar governments in other capitalist countries, are working feverishly on plans for a bloody im- perialist war. The munition plants are turning out with equal speed, new, efficient death dealing weap- ons. Almost any day now, we may expect to be urged and then driven | from the army of starvation into an army of mass murder. | ‘Weapons will be placed in our hands and into the hands of other workers in. other capitalist coun- tries and we will be ordered to | Slaughter each o-her. Of better yet, from the point of view of the cap- | italist master class, wé will be : nt off to slaughter our fellow-workers | who; have freed themselves from capitalist misery and are now working heroically for the freedom of the whole working-class by building socialism in the Union. | war which is already going {the Far East. and which expected to directly |; American workers, fany day. can be involve the any moment, No Unempleyment for Professional War Propagandists It is ebvious that the capitalist ruling class and its agents will not | frankly confess the aims of their rapidly approaching war. They | fully realize that they could never assemble enough force and terror to join in such a war of self-éxter- mination. It is for this reason, that profes- sional war-propagandists are not suffering from unemployment. On the country, every pen prostitute, every slick-tongued windjammer who can apply skill in the service of the war makers, is assured of profitable employment. These de- Spicable creatures are able to enjoy luxury as well as comfort by in- jecting war poison into the minds of the masses and thus preparing them to willingly participate in a new wholesale butchery. War is being frankly offered to the desperate masses of unem- ployed as a means of “solving un- employment.” Glowing pictures are SS me a ana ela TOO MUCH MILK—WHILE BABIES DIE Bosses dumping milk to keep up prices, SHALL THE JOBLESS SELF-EXTERMINATION? Soviet | } This is the meaning of the new | on in| to ¢oinrel the unemployed masses ; ‘| disarm ots | PAGE SEVEN INA WAR OF being painted to convince workers, whom the ruling class intends to murder by the millions, that they will be blessed by a return of prosperity through another war. The New York “Herald-Tribune” publishes on its editorial page, a letter from a clergyman (!) which urges, “leé us....build the ships, recruit the army and navy and take men out of the bread lines for patriotic service.” Otherwise, this typical representative of the “printe of peace” argues, we will “elminate all zest for trade in foreign markets, forget the race for commerce, blot out competition and sink to the dead level of monotony.” And, says this war monger in clerical garb, “What a world to live in! That is the world of Communism,” Father Cox—Imperialist War Organizer Less crude and outspoken, but | therefore all the more dangerous / are those demagogues who attempt | to place themselves at the head of ;the unemployed masses as their | champions, only that they may thus | be better able to corral them for | the imperia war. | It is no accident that the super- | demagogue, Father Cox, is on the ;pay roll of the ar Depart Be | Cox still receives a monthly ry jin return for ys ices to the Wall Street imperialists during the jlast war in the role of an army chaplain. Nor is it an accident that | the only demand which Cox makes jis for a “Five Billion Dollar ap- propriation” ostensibly to provide work. Actually the purpose is to mob- ilize the masses of unemployed | behind the huge war appropriations ; and to engage them as_ forced | laborers upon war projects. His flagwaving stunts; his Close alliance With the American Legion and other | jingo organizations; his march to | the tomb of the Unknown Soldier show clearly that his demagogic phrases and hypocritic pleas for the unemployed, aré but screens behind which he serves as an organizer for the imperialist war makers. Hunger and War—Two Points of One Program The capitalist class everywhere, is determined to preserve its priviléges and profits at the expense of the workingelass. It attacks the work- ing Class by imposing upon us mags Starvation and finally, war. The agents of capitalism, can be recog- nized by their attitude towards the struggles of the workers against both these measures of capitalist policy. The A. F. of L. Leaders The American Federation of La- bor misleaders, who «ppose with all Means at their command the struggle for unemployment insur- ance, show the same loyalty to their masters by supporting their war policy. Under guise of representing the interests of the workers, they plead for more appropriations for military and naval purposes. Under a similar pretense, they veno- mously attack unemployment in- surance as an “indignity” against ‘the self-respect of the American workers. With even more venom they lead in the attack against the Soviet Union. * Similarly the Socialist Party which urges the workers to refrain from struggle for unemployment insur- ance, prates pacifism in order to our struggle against war. The leader of the socialist party, Norman Thomas (another reve- rend!) joins with J. P. Morgan in support of the “block aid” racket for robbing the workers. He jus- tifies this treachery by explaining that under the circumstances, even | this is better than nothing. In the same manner, he supports war preparations and will support the war, as the only possible alterna-~ tive if capitalism is to be saved. Reject the Capitalist Alternative —On with War against Hunger The capitalist ruling class offers us the alternative of death by slow starvation. or death on its bloody imperialist battlefields. It offers us the choice of a bowl of soup in its slop kitchens or of beans in its army; ci a flop in a lousy mission or in an equally crummy trench. It seeks to bribe us into a war of self- extermination by promises of golden era of prosperity. a