The Daily Worker Newspaper, May 2, 1933, Page 11

“ed front By P. BART Since the Communist Internation- al issued the call for the devclop- ment of the united front, of the workers against the capitalist of- fensive, a large volume of -discus- sion on this, vital question has start- ed. We will deal here mainly with the position of the Socialist Party. The Socialist and renegade press (Lovestonites and Trotskyites) are shouting with glee “at, last the Communist.Internattonal has adopt- ed a new line towards united front action.” Is it correct that we have adopted a “new line?” The Communist International from’ its inception has pursued a policy of developing united strug- gles of the toiling masses. All re- solutions of its congresses and plen- ums are permeated with this idea. The Communist parties in their respective countries have carried out this policy adopting their tac- tics to the specific situations that they are faced with. United Front Is Not Manouver To the Communist Parties the united front is not a manouvre. It is a policy of welding together the forces of the workingclass. of bringing into motion the workers to struggle against the capitalist at- tacks. In the course of these strug- gles to raise the revolutionary ac- tivity of the workers to higher levels. It is in light of this primary need—to fight back the dark reac- tion of fascism, against the program of hunger and war, that the problem of the united front becomes a cen- tral point. | The Communist International in its call reminds again of the treach- erous role of social-democracy. But says “In spite of this, however, the Executive Committee of the Com- munist International, in view of Fascism which is unchaining all the forces of world reaction against the working class of Germany, calls upon all Communist Parties to make yet another attempt to set up the unit- ed front of struggle with the Social-Democratic workers through the medium of the Social-Demo- eratic Parties.” (Emphasis mine— P. BL). 9 Rejected By Socialist Leaders To make another attempt in this crucial period in the struggle against fascism, to set up the unit- “of struggle with the Social-Democratic workers through the medium of the Secial-Demo- cratic Parties.” But what has been the response of these parties? ‘The German Social-Democratic Party has not only rejected the propdsal for a united front, but in its stead has gone under the wing of fas- cism for protection—has been trans- forming itself into Hitler’s. “social- ism.” The parties of the second international have rejected the pro- posal to Set up a united front to struggle against fascism and the whole capitalist offensive. In spite of the official opposition by the Socialist parties, the call of the Communist International has found a welcome response in the ranks of the workingclass. It was well received by large sections of the membership of the Socialist Daily Worker—May Day Supplement, 1933 THE COMMUNIST PARTY | AND UNITED FRONT: It Is Not a Manouvre But a Program of Action for the Working Class their living standards, against the | growing bloody fascist terror, and against the acute danger of war.” But what is the position of the leadership of the Socialist Party. Following the path laid out by the | second international, it has raised every obstacle towards «hindering |@ united front. Nay, even more, they have rejected the united front with workers. But in connection with the situation in Germany, they united with the Jewish Con- | gress of bankers and manufacturers. Why The Rejections But why éses the Socialist Party reject the united front proposals of the Communist Party? Says Mr. Hilquit in the “New Leader” of April 22, the “past offers of the Communist Party have been insin- cere and treacherous and the recent one bristles with gratuitous sland- ers of our party.” The Communists are “insincere” and “slander” this is why they cannot form a united front. But what kind of a slander? The Communist Party exposes the crook- ed connections between the Socialist leaders and tammany politicians. The “Daily Worker” prints the letter of Gerber, secretary of the Social- ist Party in New York. In this letter, Gerber, gives advice to the police how to hinder the May Day demonstration. : Do you wish Mr. Hilquit that we should stop such “slander.” Do you expect us to connive with you against the workingclass. But then this would not be a united front— this would be treachery to the work- ingclass. A united front can never become a secret agreement behind closed doors, Our Party in its statement said: “The Central Committee in line with the proposal of the Communist In- ternational advises all . districts, locaf bodies, and the workingclass generally, that the Communist Party is ready to sincerely agree to with- hold all attacks upon Socialist, A. F. of L. or other workingclass bodies which sincerely enter into mutual agreements for united . struggles around agreed upon issues and loyally carry through the agreement into practice.” | To withhold attacks while carry- | ing out unitedfront struggles for the interests of the workingclass. But not to become a partner to the crimes against the interests of the workingclass, Socialist Argument Another argument of the Social- ist Party is that the Communists are splitters. The united front is only a “maneuver.” But who are the splitters and manouverers? At the Socialist Party state con- vention in Illinois, Ben Larks, pro- posed splitting as a definite policy. he urged to “capture the Unem- ployed Councils” and make them socialist organizations. If this is impossible then the next step to split them by taking out the soci- alists. The Unemployed Councils are or- ganizations comprising thousands of workers with various opinions united to fight against hunger. But this means very Tittle to the Social- ist leaders. Therefore, split or destroy them, if Socialists cannot control them. Workers Desire for Unity But from all sides come increased desires for a united front of the workers, Let us take a few ex- amples, Im Chicago the member- * |nections with the membership. Our | upon. ship. of the Young People’s Social- ist League supported many strug- gles of the unemployed. For favor- ing a united May Day they were even expelled from the Socialist Party. In Detroit the Socialist Party par- ticipated in the provisional Free Tom Mooney conference, though the Congress was placed on the black list by the national leaders. In the Southern Illinois mining towns seven locals elected delegates to the Mooney Congress. In Camden, N. J. and Richmond, Va. there is unit- ed May Day demonstrations of the Communist and Socialist Parties to- gether with many other organiz- tions, These and numerous other examples show that a united front of labor organizations involving large masses of workers can and must be built. While taking up the united front with leading bodies of organizations, this by no means implies that we for one moment stop our activities among the membership of these or- ganizations. The renegades from the Communist Party set as a con- dition that there must be only agreements with the top leader- ship before a united front can be established, This means only nego- tiations from the top without con- line must be, yes, we will negotiate with you leaders to form on a} united front, but the workers must be aware of the questions raised and thereby participate fully in carrying out the program agreed Through our press, meetings and discussions to take up the basis! around which the united front ac- tion is developed. So that the work- erg are on guard against any hind- erances that may be set up. Especially dangerous at this time becomes the “left oppositions” which laration of the Communist Interna- the Death of Karl Marx. There of the working class, there can be no two kinds of Marxism—is the keynote of the concluding para- graphs of the C, I. declaration: * : * Think carefully, Social-Democratic workers and you proletarians who belong to the reformist trade unions! Is it possible that Marxism means wages, for unemployment relief and organization of struggles against the oppression of capitalist rationaliza- wage-cuts and reduction of unem- ployment relief, and support and encouragement for capitalist ra- tionalization and compulsory labor? Is it possible that Marxism means for one party revolutionary readi- ness for sacrifice in the struggle against the bourgeoisie, imprison- ment, shooting, hanging, as was the case with Liebknecht and Rosa Lux- emburg and thousands, tens of thou- sands of revolutionary proletarians throughout the capitalist world— while for the other party—minis- terial posts in bourgeois govern- ments, posts of police chiefs, hang- men of the revolutionary prole- tarians, as was the case with Noske and Zorgiebel? Is it possible that Marxism means in one party proletarianism, deter- mined revolutionary struggle against imperialist war—while in the other party it means defense of the bour- geois fatherland, Pacifist deception in order to cover up imperialist war preparations, and slander of the So- viet Union, the only fatherland of the international working class? Is it possible that Marxism in one country led by the Communist Party to the dictatorship of the prole- tariat, to the expropriation of the means of production of the capi- it is leading to the growth of capi- talist enslavement under the elead- Party? Is it possible that Marxism in one other country—to Fascism? Think it over, proletarians! Can there be two kinds of Marxism? Give your answer to the first Com- munist, to the. first revolutionary proletarian—the fighter for teachings of Marx, Engels and Lenin—you come across. : Think it over and decide whether or not we are right when we de- clare that Marx belongs to the Communists, To us, the Communisis, who, at the head of the millions of prole- tarlans im the daily uncompromis- ing class struggle against all forms of exploitation and oppression, are carrying out his great teachings. To us, Communists, who, in the Soviet Union are the master build- ers of the Socialist society, who, in the imperialist and colonial coun- tries are defending and protecting with our life’s blood Marxism-Len- inism, defending Socialism; which has been carried out in the Soviet Union. To us, Communists who are struggling for the liberation of all those who are oppressed by capi- talist exploitation from the slavery of capitalism, struggling for the in one party struggles for higher | talists, to the rise of proletarians. to | heads of gigantic Socialist enter- | prises—while in the other country | ership of the Social-Democratic| strengthen the united front of all | workers, the | We are publishing below the con- | world d |cluding paragraphs from the dec-|for wor tional on the 50th Anniversary of | can be only one revolutionary party | country led to Socialism and in the | Page 7 There Can Be Only One torship of the proletariat Communism. Marx Belongs to the Communists, Ss who hayé carried Marxisn m to the countries of the ar and Far East, to China and India, to Indo-China, to Arabia, to colonial Africa, and to the semi-colonial countries of South and Central America and who have extended the fighting front of the proletariat for Social- ist society by drawing the op- pressed peoples into the fight against the common enemy, against the imperialist bourgeoisie. Marx Belongs to the Communists! To us, the class-conscious tevolu- | tionary workers in imperialist and tion—and in the other: support of | colonial countries, who are organ- izing and leading strikes against wage-cuts and against dismissals, organizing the struggle of the un- employed for relief and social in-, surance. Marx belongs to us, the fighters against reaction, Fascise?, terror and imperialist war, to us, who through our revolutionary struggle against all forms of exploitation and oppression, are organizing the tolling peasants and the oppressed peoples. To us young working men and working women, for whom capital- ism has taken away our means of livelihood and the possibility of vo- cational training. To us, who are struggling courageously and with determination, in order to avoid the fate of our fathers, and not to be- come cannon fodder in imperialist wars; to us, who are not willing to live the life of exploited wage- slaves. Marx belongs to the revolutionary proletarian fighters, for Marx above all was a revolutionist, and the teachings of Marxism-Leninism are the teachings of the organization and leadership of the revolution against capitalism. Marx belongs to those who are carrying out his teachings in prae- tice. Proletarians! Make his teachings yours! Bear them to all corners of the earth! Strengthen the class- consciousness of the working class. under the leadership of the international of Marx, Engels and Lenin, the international @& struggle for the proletarian dicta- torship, for Socialism, carry into practice the teachings of Marx. The victorious movement of revo- lutionary Marxism cannot be held back by the Fascists, the followers of the collapsing capitalist system! The dying capitalist system cannot be saved either by the vile provoca- tions against the working class by the bloody terror of Fascist gangs. Workers of the world, unite! Executive Committee of the Communist International. Workers, Join the Party of Your Class! Communist Party, U. 8. A. P. O, Box 8, Station DB, New York City: Please send me more information em the Communist Party. GCOUPATION .. Ce ed Mail this to the Contenl Ofice, Commanist Pasty, U. 5. A. B. ©. Box 87, Statten D, New Week City y Party ~The Communist Party! ~