Page THE MILITANT Saturday, Marcn 29, 1930 The Labor Party and the Tasks of the Communists With ever increasing signs of deepBy ARNE SWABECK Role of Labor Fakers and Socialists going changes facing the American workers, which are partly already beginning, But was not already in 1922 the role nings of militancy indicative for the It is of the utmost importance to recognize became a party in reality, the tide rapidly of the Socialist party, petty bourgeois libfuture.
turned toward the fiction of the La Fol erals, etc. not only indicated but appearing the present actual level of development to Nevertheless, all be able to prepare correctly for the next factors considered, lette alliance. This fallacy became de in all its maturity; it not here, then at least steps. Proceeding from that point it bethe most elementary steps toward a class cisively exposed only after the direct elsewhere? Was it not then clearly recogcomes clear that the movement toward movement of the American workers are yet intervention of comrade Trotsky, then not nized that, although Socialist party leaders, conscious class position will of necessity to be taken. The response given in several yet exiled from the Comintern.
labor fakers and labor party leaders will first pass some stages of rather elementary instances to the unemployment demonstra But with the intensified Centrist struggle cunningly and violently betray the workers expression. Will the reformist labor party tions on March 6th, led by Communists, al. against the Russian Communist Opposition, when the latter can no longer be fooled by stage be one, and if so what should be the though not yet signifying a conscious class headed by Trotsky, the rapidly Stalinized reformist illusions, nevertheless the sepattitude of revolutionists?
basis, 19 however, one of the definite indic Comintern became intoxicated with these aration from the bondage of the capitalist ations of the accelerating speed of develThe practically complete allegiance of entirely false farmer labor practices of the parties would mean an important step foropments in this present epoch.
the workers, in so far as they give any American Communists. This was best exward for the workers? Was it not recog.
political expression, to the capitalist parBut proceeding from the actual level pressed in the report of the Comintern ponized that in that process the Communiste ties has almost become proverbial in the of the working class organizationally, po litical secretary, comrade Kolaroff, to the must move with the masses and always enUnited States. There is no reason tur11tically and ideologically, it is hardly posdeavor to extend its revolutionary influFifth Congress, running in part as follows: sible that the political reformist stage can ence?
ther to elaborate on this, except to add that Of course it was, although the The small farmers in the United particularly here parliamentary elections be avoided as a definite part of future de third period had not yet been invented.
States have organized a farmer labor can only be a partial indication of working velopments. In the main European IndusBut despite all this well known history, party, which becomes constantly more class sentiments. But in the field of ectrial countries this stage has assumed Its Bedacht, by theoretical magic, constructs a and more radicalized, comes closer to onomic organization there is no less backdefinite place, embracing almost the enJumping off board designed to make the the Communists and is saturated with wardness shown by the vast number of tire working class and is in most instances the idea of the establishment of a leap over the political reformist stage in workers in the manufacturing and basic yet at its height. The forces which will one easy jump. That is to be the political farmer labor government in the United united front.
industries. They are almost entirely un.
initiate and furnish leadership to it in this Staes. Pravda, July 6, 1924. An elegant expression, organized.
whatever it may mean. He solves it very The Handbook of American country can already be discerned.
Nothing more and nothing less.
simply by basing it upon the Communist Trade Unions claims a total membership Perspectives in the of today in all unions of 4, 331, 251. It was The Sectarian Party Policy nuclei in the factories. Unfortunately, this From the upper hierarchy of the leap will most likely never get beyond the never higher at the peak figures in 1920 of the mildest labor reformist movement With the American party leadership the stage of their theoretical dreams and the than 5, 110, 800, thus clearly informing us that the groat majority of the working class has met decided opposition in the past.
zig zag still continued at dizzying speed. penalty for such false conclusions spells Its political policy is a natural reflex At the Cleveland convention have not had experience in any kind of further party isolation from the masses.
of its own position as part of the employ.
last summer a most ridiculous resolution unionism. Here we must also record the The conclusions and formulations ot ers industrial staff. This is important bewas adopted providing for the establisitfact that within these unions there is tothe Stalin bureaucracy would be more nearcause of the strategic role of the organized ment of a labor party walch would be ly correct it we were in an immediately day practically no organized left wing in section, even if relatively small in numbers, against the left social democrats, the Mus revolutionary period. That is just the little existence.
in the course of labor developments.
But teites, etc. where no reformist elements thing which is yet missing States of the New Unions with a continued radicalization of the could sneak into its ranks. Finally the party leadership has adopted a standThe Labor Party. Perspectire Would it be correct to say that these workers in general, the very pressure will unorganized workers are ready for organbe furnished from below which may easpoint rejecting any labor party perspective, The correct way to put the question is while the Sixth Comintern Congress still that all indications and historical experization but have been denied the opporily strike a response among certain strata of the lower union officialdom and impel adheres to one organized from below. But tunity because of the reactionary and craft iences indicate that the labor political rethen, changes to the exact opposite are formist stage is quite unavoidable also in ideology of the present unions? Undoubt them forward to give leadership to a breakedly that is so in the case of a good many away from the traditional two party sys simple matters today under the Stalin the United States, with possibilities of some form of a labor party; and that such thousands; but one must not lose sight of tem toward a labor party. More surely 18 leadership.
realities. Nowhere have the workers as this so since it will simultaneously afford must be our perspective. It will surely of late, the labor party question has yat begun in the unorganized industries to the opportunity to ward off the masses, been discussed in the party press. Joseph produce leaders as reactionary as those move toward elementary forms of shop or at least for a period, from any inclination Zack in articles in the December and produced in any other country who will ganizations.
toward the revolutionary movement, and to betray, and help Imperialism butcher the January Communist, takes the position workers, as well as endeavor to use the How does the case then stand with the steer it into the safer channels of political that reformism has already run its course new industrial unions sponsored by the reformism. Thus, such breakaways may labor party for that very purpose. But dein the United States through the period of Trade Union Unity League. Healthy become closely associated with a revolt spite these leaders, it will also help to the labor aristocracy organized in the set the masses into motion against their growth here would naturally be a very against the policies and class collabora of although not appearing here in the strong indication of rapid ideological ad tion practices of the of hierarchy. European clothes of a class enemy. The worker will suffer bitter social democratic severe The Unforminers disappointments and experience vancement of the working class.
insurgent convention in or a labor party. He seems further to contunately that is not so. These unions have Springfield, 111. held March 10th, may be tend that while labor parties were possible struggles both of a political and industrial remained at a very small membership and come one classical illustration of just such in this country in the pre monopolistic era, character in the process. But with the although the future holds good possibilities revolts. Although not yet breakaway, present rapid developments, the reformist now, under monopoly capitalism, they are 11 correct policies are formulated for their still through the working class forces it illusions will possibly be of a very short out of the question because of the sharduration. Hence our conclusion is: The function, the fact remains that a swing tosets into motion, it can become rich in popened class struggle. Of course, Zack has ward mase support for the new unions canCommunists must remain in the most intitentialities. The radicalization already always shown aptitude in building up not yet be recorded.
manifest, the begluning of a stir within mate contact possible with the working a series of arguments based upon seemingThere are other means of gauging the trade unions, all speeded on by the masses in all their experiences and strugly perfect logic but entirely forgetting the working class development, for instance, general critical conditions, present a seem dialectical process from gles in order to help draw the proper which working through its press. However, compared to ing paradox: defensive struggles, containlessons and lead the fight against the reace class developments are not immune or septhe capitalist dailies mounting into many ing explosive material, with mass demontionaries; to proudly unfurl the revolutionarated.
millions of issues per day throughout the strations and possibly open violent outary banner of Communism through the laIt is somewhat different with the ar bor reformist stage and through the labor country the press representing labor is bursts, yet politically only the reformist ticle of Max Bedacht in the December issue.
limited indeed.
party, from within and without; utilize all Its revolutionary section stage of a labor party approaches. Upon He appears to recognize the correctness of reaches only some thousands of readers. closer investigation, however, it will be seen means most speedily to help elevate the the Party position arrived at in 1922 and Many former labor papers of a somewhat that this seeming paradox is but an exact American working class to its final revoreflex of the dialectical process.
subsequently approved at the Fourth Comprogressive tinge have disappeared, sold lutionary position.
intern congress. Remembering his sinful out or exist as a shadow of their former Some Labor Party History past as an important cog in the Lovestonestrength.
It would hardly be an exaggeration to Pepper Right wing faction, and not underThe Labor Struggles in Recent Years state that no issue has manifested so much estimating the weakness of the flesh, he CHICAGO Perhaps, despite all these facts, the confusion within the revolutionary move rushes in ahead of Zack and proclaims: PARIS COMMUNE COMMEMORATION field of actual working class struggle by ment during the last few years as has the Me for the left too. He discovers that labor party issue. In 1922, after a sharp Dow in the third period matters stand way of strikes, organized or unorganized, Satarday, March 29th, p.
struggle within the Workers Party, the diferently than way back in 1922, gives a different impression of the level of The at Flelner Hall, 1638 Halsted St.
development. As yet, that cannot be said correct conception of the possible growth social fascist Socialist party, the petty bourgeois liberals and the sections of the Banquet. Recitations. Entertainment to be the case. While latest figures are ot a labor party as an elementary expression of political development of the Amer labor aristocracy bribed by imperialism, Short talk on the Lessons of not available it remains a well known fact the that since 1922 the number of actual strikes ican workers and the duty of the Commun will be in the labor party too and hence he Paris Commune by John Mihelic and workers participating in them has concludes: ists to function as a revolutionary factor shown steady decline. Only, and that in these developments, was adopted. But Under the present conditions, when Auspices: Chicago Branch is important as a trend of recent events, Communist League of America (Opposition)
soon, digressions into adventurism and op the reality of the labor party does no there has been a healthy sign of militancy portunism took the upper hand, making a longer represent independent political Admission 50c displayed in such strikes, as among the caricature of a correct conception. The action of the working class (30. but textile workers in Passalc, New Bedford, Communists, regardless of forces available represents open Imperialist policies unGastonia and Marion; in the 111 fated Illin and of the tempo of development, embarked der cover of an anti imperialist firm, MILWAUKEE propaganda for a labor party can no COMUNISTS ols miner strike; in the New Orleans APPEAL upon the building of a labor party. It had street carmen strike and at present it its beginning in the August thesis, whose longer represent propaganda for indeWORKHOUSE SENTENCES the Pittsburg taxicab strike and the Phila author was John Pepper. This thesis vis pendent political action but becomes MILWAUKEE. FP) Appealing from delphia Aberlo mill strike.
ualized each group within the labor move propaganda for an under cover instru prison sentences for alleged rioting, 37 un.
This is how matters stand just now ment the Socialist party, the trade union ment of imperialiem. My conclusion employed and their communist leaders are with the working class, the actual level group and the Communists with its own therefore is that it is impossible at this demanding jury trials. The riot occurred from which changes will proceed; and they labor party. Two classes in one party, moment to use the labor party slogan March 6th when a Hearst reporter started a are not the conditions of pre war America, the farmer labor party, became the accep and the labor party movement unqual counter demonstration for the sake of a but of today, under a highly developed ted thing and from there it was just a iftedly in the campaign for the devel Sensational story. Mounted Milwaukee capitalist Imperialism. On the other hand, short step to the formation of the Feder opment of fadependent politioul action police rode into the crowd in the best manwe note the extremely important begin ated Farmer Labor party. As it nevar of the warkara ter of veteran ennsylvania sacks.