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August 2, 1919 THE COMMUNIST Page Three Why the New Party?
The Left Wing has recently, through By Oakley Johnson That Stolen Platform!
its official organ, the Revolutionary Age, As to the contention of the left that viciously attacked the project of organ they are what count over to the old of izing a Communist Party in America.
we appropriated their platform, it is a fieialdom for another year, bound hand piece of petty argument. The minority Incidentally, they have attacked with and foot, thus betraying the proletariat of the Left Wing Conference did make even greater vehemence the persons at in its present struggle for a clarified use of a part of the work of the Conferpresent acting as organizers of the move movement.
ence, but this part was the common work ment, and have freely hurled the epi Fourth, a period of two or three thet menshevik. The latter point, how months, although it may seem a small of all the delegates, insofar as they could agree at the time, and the Minority has ever, we can afford to ignore, for, as Fra matter to the procrastinating left, is as much right to it as the Majority. FurElbertus once said: If your opponent nevertheless an important period, for thermore, the Minority expended its best defeats you in an agrument, all is not what is done in this time will vitally afefforts in attempting to get the Conferlost; you can still call him names. We fect the progress of socialism for the ence as a whole to take a revolutionary leave this last resort of the debater to next decade. This is the psychological stand, and only near the close of the sesour friends of the left.
moment, and to delay two months might sion, worn out by the strain, did they at But these would be revolutionists mean indefinite delay. Moreover, it last draw up a call and manifesto. In shout All power to the Left Wing! would give the National Executive Com this call they made use of such portions What a miserable paraphrase of the mittee an undue advantage, which they of their common work in combination Russian slogan All power to the Sovwould be sure to utilize. It is of utmost with original material as would best iets! The comrades now organizing the importance that machinery for communserve as a working basis for the calling Communist Party prefer to be something ist party organization be set in motion of an organization convention, and as a more than a mere wing. At a time immediately, so that the crisis that is tentative outline for its work. True, the such as the present, when a most mobound to come in the affairs of the Socall may not be a perfect one, but it is a mentous turning point in the world hiscialist Party of America on August 30 basis for getting something done, and tory is before us, we cannot dilly dally may not find revolutionary socialists unthe September 1st convention will give ample opportunity for its amplification.
along as a mere faction within a party prepared.
We cannot longer handicap ourselves in Can We Do It?
is a Split Necessary?
such a way, but must build up NOW an The final question is, What chance Now some comrades, we are aware, organization which shall function efficihave we for success in organizing a new will regret that the Socialist Party ently as the most advanced and resolute party? Is there sufficient support?
should split, and they will especially desection of the working class parties There is, without question, practically piore our split with the Left Wing. It is unlimited support for a But, remonstrates the left, why not Communist indeed regrettable that working class Party. The election returns which rewait two or three months, try to capture ranks should not be firmly united, but if sulted in the first series of expulsions by the convention on August 30, they were, capitalism could be immedi the show that the Socialist Party and THEN, we can capture it, organ ately abolished without further argu of America officialdom has scarcely a ize a new party. This sounds very log ment. What is needed is a revolutionary shred of power remaining. Only a deical on paper. But the facts show how party, smail if need be, bui united upon finite move in the direction we are takfallacious is such a proposal.
Marxian principles, thus forming a nu ing is needed to shake down their house Note the following: cleus around which the working class of cards. As for the left wing, it reWhat the Facts Are can unite. It is impossible efficiently to presents only a small clique in New York First, it would be practically impos unite conflicting programs, to harmonize and Boston. The vast majority of the sible to capture the old party, for at the in harmonious principles. The only party Left Wing still remaining nominally with time of the Left Wing Conference the that can function in a social crisis is one them are simply waiting to see what will National Executive Committee had al absolutely united on principle and meth happen. The Minority of the Left Wing od. The old Socialist Party, of course, is ready expelled one State (Michigan)
Conterence numbered thirty one deleand suspended seven language federanot even revolutionary, and the Left gates, a good third of the entire number.
Wing at its conference in New York City tions, and has since expelled MassachuFurthermore, this Minority were more setts, as well as suspended or expelled exhibited the most diverse aims and ten widely representative of the entire coundencies. The left, as represented by try than the Majority, for in the Minorvarious isolated Locais and Branches its present leaders, is merely a hetro ity were delegates from all the importthroughout the country. None of these geneous mass held together by a mere organizations could elect delegates to ant socialist centers, including Chicago, name and by a few revolutionary catchthe August 30 convention with any real New York, Detroit, uffalo, Rochester, words. The outstanding fact of the Minneapolis, and Milwaukee.
The enhope of being seated. There would, therefore, be scant chance of captur events of the past few weeks is, that the tire State of Michigan, whole Federaing the old party.
Left Wing is not a unit in any proper tions (including the Russian. and Locals Second, even if it were possible to sense of the term.
and Branches all over the country joined capture the old Socialist Party of Amer it was neceseary, therefore, to split in a body. The Ukrainian Federation ica, it would be inadvisable, to say the not only from the old party but aiso from has lateiy voted to join the Communists, least, for such a capture would gain nothe dilatory left. No matter how le and an expelled Bulgarian branch from the Socialist Labor Party has also apthing but the reputation the Socialist grettable, this splitting up is historically Party has built up in the last few yearsa necessary process. The same thing has plied for admission. With the communist movement growing daily, there is no not a very useful asset to any revolu happened in most of the countries of danger of lack of support.
tionary group. So reactionary has that Europe, notably in Russia. In the latter party been, that it was not even invited country the Social Revolutionaries split All Power to the Communists!
into Maximalists and Minimalists, and to attend the Communist International at Moscow, although many other groups in the Social Democrats into Bolsheviki and LETTISH BRANCH TO HOLD PICNIC this country, most of them not over Mensheviki. Out of these four (and Some weeks ago, guardians of liberscientifie, received such invitation. more) socialist parties in Russia, the Bolty raided the Lettish printing plant in Third, we don need to remain in the sheviki finally emerged triumphant. This Boston. The plant was set aflre, and old party to reach the rank and file with same process of splitting, which precedmuch of the equipment destroyed. The ed the formation of a real socialist party Lettish comrades are holding picnics and our message, for most of them have already heard in Russia, is now taking place in the mass meetings to raise money to purchase an United States. The question is not, How new equipment to replace that destroyed.
is needed now is not continued procrasshall we stop the split? but, Which facComrades wishing to assist in this tination, but the stirring call for action, the work, and desiring a good time, will In order that the Socialist Party member. tion is historically correct from join with them in their picnic at White Ship may awaken to its needs and its standpoint of scientific socialism? The to are with us. What Sensibilities. To do otherwise would be communist Party calls for endorsement Eagle Grove, Berwin, Ill. on Sunday,