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August 21, 1937 SOCIALIST APPEAL The Questions of Wendelin Thomas was on to the raising of the power of By Leon Trotsky volutionary sacrifice. The country State, non recognition of the The following letter man over nature and the liquidawas starving. The Kronstanders central power) corresponded to written in reply to questions put to the author by Wendelin man are good. In this broad his combine in the hounding of the desire to get privileged food add that the hatred of the city tion of the power of man over bureaucrats. all these factors demanded privileges. The up the spirit of this kulak cavalry dictated by a as nothing else could. should Thomas, who argued for the torical sense the means can only revolutionary Marxist. At view that there was a basic be justified by the end.
identity between same time the Messrs. Slander rations. The sailors had cannon and the city worker on th part Bolshevism Does not this mean, however, ers do not forget to be indignant and battleships. All the reaction of the followers of Makhno was and Stalinism, as shown by that falsehood, treachery, be at the amoralism of the Marx ry elements, in Russia as well as complemented by a militant antiLenin attitude towards opponents like he Mensheviks, trayal are permissible and justi ists. This hypocritical indignation abroad, immediately seized upon Semitism. At the very time when the Kronstadt insurgents and fied if they lead to the end. is nothing but a weapon of the this uprising. The white emigres we were carrying on life and All depends on the nature of the class struggle.
demanded aid for the insurrec death struggle against Denikin the independent Makhno bands in the Ukrane during the Ciaim. If the aim is the liberationists. The victory of this up and Wrangel, the Makhnovists, tion of manking then falsehood, Lenin Position rising could bring nothing but a attempted to carry vil War. Thomas is a former an inbetrayal, and treachery can in no victory of counter revolution, en dependent policy.
Communist deputy of the GerStraining at wise be appropriate means. The In the words quoted by you, tirely independent of the ideas the bit, the petty man Reichstag and now bourgeois member of the International Epicureans were accused by their Lenin merely wanted to say that the sailors had in their heads. kulak. thought he could dictate opponents of sinking to the ideals he no longer considers the Men. But the ideas themselves were his contradictory views to the Commission investigating the a pig when they advocated sheviks proletarian figthers and deeply reactionary. They reflect, capitalists on the one hand and Moscow Trials. Ed. happiness. To which the Epi that he inakes it his task to make ed the hostility of the backward to the workers on the other. This cureans, not without foundation, hateful in the eyes of the work peasantry to the worker, the kulak was armed, we had to Esteemed Comrade: replied: that their opponents ers. Lenin expressed his thought conceit of the soldier or sailor disarm him. This is precisely do not think that the ques. understand happiness. in a pig. with his characteristic passion in relation to the civilian what we did.
tions which you asked me have gish way.
and opened the possibilities for Petersburg, the hatred of the. a direct relationship to the in You make reference to Lenin ambiguous and unworthy inter petty bourgeois for revolutionary Stalin and the Bolsheviks vestigations of the New York words that a revolutionary party pretations. But on the basis of discipline. The movement there Your attempt to conclude that Commission and can have an in has the right to make its op the complete works of Lenin and fore had a counter revolutionary Stalin forgeries flow from the fluence on its conclusions. Never ponents hated and despised in his life work declare that this character and since the insur amoralism of the Bolsheviks is theless am fully prepared to the eyes of the masses. In these irreconciliable fighter was a nast gents took possession of the arms basically false. In the period reply to your questions in order words you see a principled de loyal opponent, for despite all in the forts they could only be when the revolution fought for to acquaint with my actual views fense of amoralism. You forget, exaggerations and extremes he crushed with the aid of arms.
the liberation of the oppressed all those who are interested in however, to point out where, in always strove to tell the masses No less erroneous is your esti masses it called everything by which political camp are the re What is. The struggle of the remate of Mahno. In himself he its right nome and was in no End Justifies Means presentatives of lofty morals. formists against Lenin, on the was a mixture of fanatic and need of forgeries. The system of My observations tell me that po contrary, was thoroughly penetra adventurer. He became the con falsifications Like many others, you see the litical struggle in general utiliz ted with hypocrisiy, falsehood, centration of the very tendencies fact that the Stalinist bureau source of evil in the principle: es widely exaggeration, distor trickery and forgeries under the which brought about the Krons cracy fights for the privileges of The end justifies the means. tion, falsehood and slander. The cover of universal truths.
tadt uprising. The cavalry in the minority and is compelled to This principle is in itself very revolutionists are always the Your evaluation of the Krons general is the most reactionary conceal and mask its real aims.
abstract and rationalistic. It most slandered in their time tadt uprising of 1921. is basically part of the army. The equestrian Instead of seeking for permits most varied interpreta Marx, Engels and their friends; incorrect. The best, most sacrific despises the pedestrian. Makhno planation in the material conditions. But am prepared to take later the Bolsheviks, Karl Lieb ing sailors were completely with created a cavalry of peasants tions of historical development, upon myself the defense of this knecht and Rosa Luxemburg; at drawn from Kronstadt and played who supplied their own horses. you create the theory of the formula from the materialistic the present time the Trotsky an important role at the fronts These downtrodden original sin. which fits the and dialectical viewpoint. Yes, ists. The hatred of the possessors and in the local Soviets through village poor whom the October church but not the socialist reI consider that there are no toward the revolution; the dull out the country. What remained Revolution først awakened, but public.
means that are good or bad in conservatism of the petty bour was the gray mass with big pre the strong and well fed peasants Respectfully yours, themselves or in connection with geoisie, the conceit and super tensions. We are from Krons who were afraid of losing what Trotsky.
absolute supra historical ciliousness of the intellectuals; tadt. but without political they had. The anarchist ideas of principle. Those means that lead the material interests of the labor education and unprepared for re Makhno (the ignoring of the Coyoacan, July, 6, 1937.
them.
were not some Once More: The Altman Thomas Finances Clarity Heads Oppose Independent SP Slate caucus on Girolamo Valenti, editor of La Stampa Libera, suggested at the August meeting that a committee be formed to approach the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union and the ILGWU Last week, the Appeal printed charge and will cite here for funds to finance the Altman Zam, Delson and the other we should withdraw our candithe story of the shady deal pro after my proof the following: group with the statement that leaders of the Clarity group in date and fight within the posed in the Altman Thomas That expulsions of the left he was certain that five to ten New York are carrying on a for Martin to adopt a program group by Girolamo Valenti for wing in mass were decided upon thousand dollars could be raised. campaign of protest against the and platform as befits a warking raising a slush fund from the in advance of the action.
This suggestion was unanimous right wing decision to withdraw class candidate.
bureaucracy of the International Authorization was given to ly accepted and Valenti appointed the regular socialist candidate Bob Parker (another Clarity Ladies Garment Workers Union raise a fund of from 5, 000. 00 to a committee of one to do the job. for mayor in favor of La Guar leader) supported Ben. Bill Kaufand the Amalgamated Clothing 10, 000. 00 to finance the Altman As to point 3: dia man, YPSL organizer here and a Workers for the purpose of caucus in a national expulsion Sam Dewitt and Valenti, Good, so far as it goes! Clarityite, took issue with the financing the split drive against drive.
along with several others, sugBut wherein is the city of Cle Parkers. On our motion to reafthe left wing. The tolerates gested that no more financial veland different from the city of firm our support of Dullea the This week we are printing the members who openly sabotage support be given to the Call, New York. Are socialist prin Clarityites split, Kaufman voting proof of our assertions. It is the publishing of the Socialist which would result in its collapse. ciples one thing in New York and with us, carrying the motion presented by comrade Robert Call and advocate that it cease The suggestion was also made another in Ohio?
through the Executive Committee.
Menaker, an officer of the League to be published.
that Norman Thomas withdraw Frank Stern, Labor Secretary The Parkers will issue a minority for Industrial Demcracy and As to point 1: his weekly article from the Call of the Socialist Party in Cleve report. The whole business is editor of its official periodical.
We have received it in the form man caucus that attended, in were voted against the people situation in that city. At every meeting of the Alt Though both of these suggestions land, writes as follows about the coming up at a general membership meeting Thursday night of a letter to the National Ex cluding the most recent one of who made them are still tolerated new problem has come up called for that purpose.
ecutive Committee of the Socialist key people held at Norman in the Party and in the caucus. here similar to the La Guardia Party, which we print in full. Thomas home Tuesday. Included aong those that at situation in New York, but with As we go to press, we receive The Menaker Letter August 3, all members of the tended this August meeting added complications.
the latest news about the situation caucus decided that the Trotsy were: Norman Thomas, Jack Comrade Robert Dullea, as in the Cleveland Party organi August 11, 1937. ists must be expelled in whatever Altman, Hal Siegel, Aaron Le you know, is the regular Socialist zation. At a membership meeting National Executive Committee, manner the action could be taken venstein, Rose and Morris Sha candidate for Mayor in Cleveland. of Cuyahoga County, the left Socialist Party, Before the meeting of the City piro, Sam De Witt, John Herling, weeks off. Last week, the o. Cuyahoga County reaffirms its Filing date for candidates is two wing motion that the SP of 549 Randolph Street, Executive Committee, which was Valenti and others.
endorsed for Mayor an Chicago, III.
held on Monday, August 2, it had already been announced to statement On the basis of the above pendent Democratic named Mar didate for mayor of Cleveland. Inde support of Robert Dullea as can Dear Comrades: a prior meeting of the Altman the leading body in the Socialist the SP then agreed to keep Dul ity. The Clarity group split in request the NEC, as tin. The Executive Committee of was carried by a decisive major. wish to call the attention of caucus by Hal Siegel that this party to intervene in the New lea in the field and to issue a two, with the YPSL comrades, the to the Party situ committee would take action to York situation. am ready to leaflet giving our position on the Bill Kaufman and Hy Weintraub, ation in Local New York.
expel 54 members of the Appeal appear at any time to substan Martin business. As a member of the Altman group at that City Executive tiate this statement.
supporting the left wing stand, caucus since its inception, have meeting. Last night, at a special Ex Highly interesting was the Fraternally yours, followed closely the conspiratorial Norman Thomas made the ecutive Committe meeting, Ben fact that Sam Baron, traveling actions of that body which feel statement at the meeting of (Sgd. Robert Menaker. Parker (a Clarity leader) caucus organizer for the Altman are against the best interests of August 3, which was held at his PS. In order to acquaint those brought the following matter up group, took the floor in complete the independent future of the home, that he had made a mis most affected by the actions of for discussion: that inasmuch as solidarity with the Parkers poParty. These actions, in my take approving the entry of the Altman caucus, am handing Bob Dullea is a supporter of the sition, showing that it was idenopinion, are a distinct corruption the Workers Party into the So Tyler, editor of the Socialist Call the to file for him because wing stand on La Guardia.
In of this letter to Gus Appeal, it would be wrong for tical with the New York right of Party principles.
cialist Party. have attended numerous Assurance was given to this and to Max Shachtman, repre he would not be in the party by his ings of the Altman caucus same group of key people at this sentative of the group against election day (September 28) and Parker declared: If Baron has including meetings of key peo same meeting by Jack Altman whom this expulsion campaign is the would be placed in the a good idea, am not ashamed position of filling for and sup of agreeing with him. don ple who number 25 or 30 and it that the City Central Committee beein organized.
was the last meeting of the latter would have two thirds majority The Socialist Appeal has only porting non party member think it a crime to agree with group which motivates me in fou expulsion of the Appeal this question to put: what does who would probably be busy at Baron. If agree with Baron on severing all relations with this members that had been brought the NEC intend to do about the tacking the the question of candidates, then group and informing the Party up on charges.
malodorous scandal diselosed by Second, that inasmuch as m willing to be called an Altas a whole as to the situation, As to point 2: the Menaker letter?
the has endorsed a man, manite.
a