December 13th, 1919.
THE COMMUNIST Page Sever The Party Organization Ruthenberg, Executive Secretary, 1219 Blue Island Avenue, Chicago, III.
Help Defend your Comrades! HE ruling class oi this country is making a desperate cffort to disrupt the Communist Party. It believes that if it can put the officials of the organization in prison the party will disintegrate. To accomplish this end charges are being placed against practically every active party official.
Several weeks ago Comrades Kowalsky. Stankovich. and Friedman, translator secretaries. were arrested and held for deportation. The bond was fixed at 10, 000 in order to keep them in prison while the cases were pending Comrade Stoklitsky, another translator secretary, had previously been arrested upon deportation warrant.
Now these attacks on the Federation representatives have been followed by attempts to imprison the officials oi the national organization. Comrades Ferguson, Fraina, Cohen, and Ruthenberg, all members of the Central Executive Committee oi the party, have been indicted in New York on account of their activities as members of the National Council of the Leit Wing. Comrades Ferguson and Fraina are the editors of the official party paper. Comrades Ballam and Cohen edit local Communist organs.
and Comrade Ruthenberg as Executive Secretary has charge oi the organization and propaganda work oi the party, It is clear that the indictments against these comrades are intended to remove them. irom their work of building up the party organization. The charges against them are flimsy, but in the meantime the bond is fixed at the outrageous figure ai S15, 000 in order to make sure that they will be kept in prison while the cascs are pending What is the answer of the party organization? Are we to per mit the ruling class to sweep these comrades from our midst and remove them from their work of building up our organization?
The decision lies with the party membership. It can keep them out of prison while the cases are pending and also help to win their freedom.
Two things must be done. The bonds must be arranged for and a Deiense Fund created.
There are liity thousand members of our organization. Many our contrades were compelled to purchase Liberty Bonds during the war, They can now make eiiective use of these bonds by Ioaning them to the party for use as bail to free our comrades.
There is nothing to be lost by this action. The party receipts for the bonds and return them as soon as the cases are disposed of.
Other party members can loan cash to the organization to be used to secure bail.
The party calls upon every member who can loan either bonds or cash to send them to the national oiiice at once.
li we lose tliese cases it means the end of our open existence as an organization.
They involve the fundamental principles of our organization and we must fight them to a linish. The propaganda importance of these cases cannot be overstated. For this purpose the party must have a Defense Fund. Each branch is urged to at once make contribution irom its treasury and to take up the work of collecting funds.
The ruling class is testing our organization, comrades. Is it weak and easily destroyed? Or shall we prove ourselves powerful and unyielding? We have boasted that ours is a fighting organization LET US FIGHT!
Send in the bonds and money to be used as bail to keep these comrades out of prison. Send in your contribution to the Deiense Fund. We must have quick action.
Let us take up the challenge which the ruling class hurls at tis and deiend our comrades to the limit!
Organization Progress Bulgarian Branch Joins Charters issued by the Communist Party up to Buttons December 1, totaled 631. The membership of the branches to which these charters were issued If you can wear the party button any o was 30, 311. In addition to these 631 branches way, you ll want one to put on your vest or u!
The revolutionary elements in the Socialist there are over 400 branches of Federations your coat lapel. The buttons are now read: Labor Party are gradually beginning to realize affiliated with the party which had not secured shipment. The button shows the outline their charter that they can no longer remain in that organIf the average membership of carth in the centre with a red flag cove ization, and are severing their connection and these branches is the same as that of those which most of it. prophes of the days to con joining the Communist Party. The latest organhave already been chartered the total member with a red margin on which the words ization to take this step is the Bulgarian Branch ship of the party will go well over the 50. 000 Communist Party of America. The Commu of Detroit. This branch has issued the followmark International appear. On the red flag cov ing statement to other Bulgarian branches in ing the earth are the words All power to the Workers! Celluloid buttons are 3e in lots Charter Applications Must Be In More than one third of the members of the or more. Cilt 50 per dozen.
Bulgarian Branch of the of Detroit By January have forever severed their connection with Leaflet No. In order to secure a charter from the Com.
the and joined the Commun Party munist Party as an organized branch the applicaof America.
Leaflet No. 3, You must Unite, Workingmes tion for charters of such branches must be sent These members took this action because which appeared on the front page of the la to the National Headquarters by Jan.
they were dissatisfied with the inactivity and issue of The Communist is now being prin The provision of the constitution of the party anti revolutionary attitude of the and and will be ready for shipment by the time ord under which charters are being granted to organits conservative and pro capitalist tactics.
reach us. This leaflet covers a very import ized bodies leads as follows: Over forty members answered the call of question the unification of the strikes a the Third International and joined the ComAny branch of the Socialist Party or Social should have a big circulation. Send in your ord munist Party.
ist Labor Party which endorses the program at once.
Being isolated from the Bulgarian workand constitution of the Communist Party ers throughout the country we are appealand applies for a charter before Jan. 1, 1920. The Communist International ing to the Bulgarian workers who are conshall be accepted as a branch.
nected with the Communist Party to come in Organized branches which do not send in their ON ACCOUNT OF VARIOUS INcontact with the Bulgarian Communist applications before the date mentioned will have TERRUPTIONS IN THE EDITORBranch of Detroit. The branch is printing to make application as new organizations and IAL WORK. THE FIRST ISSUE the Manifesto and Program, Constitution and cach member will be obliged to pay the initiation Report to the International in Bulgarian, fee of fifty cents.
OF THE PARTY MAGAZINE HAS which will be ready in two weeks.
Branches which desire to have a continuity of BEEN REPEATEDLY POSTThose who wish to communicate with the membership and have not yet applied for a PONED. PRACTICALLY ALL OF branch may do so through the National of charter should do so at once.
THE FIRST ISSUE IS NOW COMtice of the Communist Party.
PLETED AND EVERY EFFORT Radeks Pamphie: Now Ready WILL BE MADE TO ISSUE THE kisl: and an imenian Drancio ap Hans fruitie: wie: printre care MAG pliei for charters as branches of the Communit IND REGULARLY BEGIN NING WITH JANUARY FIRS NURDER Parts convention of the German Ferrari the Communist Party will be held during the morth of December, which will be attended by representatives of all the branches which have joined the which have a membership of over 2, 500. e tu sction by Kui Teich, choti most valuable recent contributions to the literature of the movement. It is now off the press however, and shipments are being made. Prices are the same as for pampalet No. Pamphlet No. The Communist Party and the a Debate will be printed at a very early date.
Co operatias requested tow prompt distribution by sending in ers at once.
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