THE MILITANT Saturday May 17, 1930.
The Socialist Party and the Prospects for Communism tion.
In various sections of the country the By ARNE SWABECK within the fear that it is not basing Socialist Party las during the last few itself sufficiently upon winning specific months been unfolding a greater activity last year as demonstrated particularly in tensity and pressure of the crisis, may be working class influence to strengthen the than hitherto. It is attempting, and with the New York municipal elections. Un. diverted into social reformist channels by cause of reformism and thus more effective.
some success, to plant its roots in the doubtedly a goodly section of the vote gaia the Socialist Party acquiring an ever more ly preventing the masses from marching to present favorable soil of mass unemploywas furnished by the working class. Se solid organizational basis once more at a revolutionary position. It is evident ment. In inverted form it becomes a testicondly, it is noticeable in extended influ the expense of the Communist movement, that such elements are weather cocks of the monial to the fact that among the American ence and control in certain trade unions, Particularly does that danger become appressure upon the workers but is otherworkers there are now visible trends mainly through the re establishment of the parent when the oflicial Communist Party wise with the workers themselves who are toward the shaping of a class movement.
subject to the pressure.
Right wing leadership in the needle trades advances slogans, which at this time Those workers The Socialist Party is very consciously unions at the expense of the formerly pow entirely abstract and devoid of any revoluwho have taken the first step away from radicalizing in phraseology its general erful Left wing under Communist Party tionary content, such as the slogan of their capitalist ideology and are going toslogans and platform demands, although the leadership. In these unions, where the political general strike. The same is true ward the as well as those who are fact that all references to the class struggle workers are generally further politically of its refusal to broaden the actual organclass conscious but temporarily disappoint.
have long since been obilerated from its advanced, the role of socials union off ization of the unemployment movenient ed by set backs experienced, precisely program is momentarily glossed over. The cials has also developed to a higher boyond what can be gathered in under the ones the Communist Party must win for object is clearly to head of the working stage. Hence the more outspoken auto tutelage of the revolutionary inlons. the the revolutionary struggle. Whenever Lell class movement, to prevent its natural decratic control; more outright, unconcealed and the Party itsell.
oppositions develop within the Social Dem.
velopment towards a revolutionary position Co operation with the bosses and their gor That the Socialist Party will not even ocracy the ground becomos more favorable and to harness it within safe reformist ernment in the anti Communist offensive for that task.
seriously struggle for its own reform dechannels, in order ultimately to strike the as well as in the severer suppression of But above all the Communls instead blows of defeat. The capitalist political the rank and file workers. More recently, mands has been anpli demonstrated by experience here and elsewhere. In the Eurof lumping together all organizations and strategists of the somewhat moderate type, through the the Socialist Party opean countries as the Social Democracy groups, based on social reformiem, leadera will not be slow in taking advantage, for is making inroads into other union fields, and rank and file members, to be combatted grew in mass influence and bourgeois retheir own purposes, of this situation and for example, in the miners union of the as social fascists, must make clear the role help push the forward to extend its spectability and in several places became Howat Walker Germer Tishwick combinainfluence and thus enable it to fulfill that the government, its upper hierarchy became of the Socialist Party. That is, to sizow the tools of capitalism to curtail the social that in a period of beginning radicalization role. These are ominous signs for the fuSeemingly there is a paradox in the reform legislation already gained, to use of the workers, the or sections of it ture. But firstly, success for such designs fact that in such unions, when compared will take on a more radical appearance and the state machinery of suppression to carry have to count with the tempo of growing to the needle trades, the Socialist Party it through and to crush ile revolutionary make a pretense of fighting for the needs working class consciousness which may elements appear in a more progressive of the workers illustrated now by its deopposition. The social democratic goversbecome so accelerated as to confine the reposition. However, it is a very natural mands for the six hour day and for social ments pursued exactly the same imperialist formist ideology to a rather brief period.
phenomenon completely in harmony with policies as their capitalist predecessors in (unemployment. insurance. When the radSecondly, much depends upon the degree to its flagrantly opportunist policy of winning ical wave rises to higher stages and the office.
which the Communist tnorement can esmass influence and control and accordingly One notable case in point jus now worker move forward, actually pressing tablish its mass influence, change its methods and phraseology when is the MacDonald government of Great Bric for their necas, the will become The and the Middle Class ever found advantageous. In these unions even more of an open brake upon the movetain and it attitude to the rebellion is Whom does the Socialist Party repre of more distinct of type a pro Yndia. MacDonald has decided to carry ment. When the workers go over to revsent and of whom are its ranks composed?
gressive front makes more rapid advance olutionary action for their needs the more openly the imperialist policies and In the United States it has by no means possible. Secondly the Socialist leaders do will finally reveal itself in the open as a crush the Indian rebellion. He does it conestablished the traditional influence upon not as yet consider Communist sentiment most ardent defender of capitalism, using scious of the fact that it will seriosly stimyorking class ideology or the broad mags there of sufficient strength to warrant a ulate the rebellion going on within the all the means of force of the capitalist organization enjoyed by the social democ violeat attack. Such, however, will be labor party against the reactionary leaders, state to suppress the workers action. This racy is the foremost European cuntries. the course as soon as sufficient mass in a rebellion now already growing in mc.
is the history of Social Democracy and In fact it became almost obliterated by the fluence has been gained or in the event there can be no other role for a Pa y 1100 mentum. This is inevitable. It is in 1919 split which resulted in the founding of of rapid growth of revolutionary sentiment based upon the proletarian revolution.
the very nature of things flowing from and the Communist movement. Ever since, its among the workers. The whole record of becoming the expression of further inFor Correct Policy Towards Socialists existence has been a rather obscure one, the socialist needle trades union officialcresved economic pressure upon tite The ebb and flow of the movement are finding scant support largely from the low dom testifies to this.
workers and growing inability of the so part of the natural laws cf motion whic. in er middle class strata with a sprinkling of The Socialist Party now claims a gain cial system of wage slavery to feed the Marxists will not fail to understand. Ilowimmigrant trade union officialdom. Today of 6, 000 new members since September last, masses of the workers.
ever, to continue shutuing their eyes to this the ad pressed middle class, in its lower the founding of two new weekly papers Within the American Socialist Party and the failure to apply correct policies in sections, the small business and profession. on the Pacific Coast strengthening of its can now be noticed some faint ripples. this respect by the Stalinized Communist al man, becoming radicalized by bank general press, greater leaflet distribution, expressed in New York in proposals for Party, can in a large measure be respon.
ruptcies, are undoubtedly the first to hark revival of branch units in several sections more progressive trade union policy sible for any additional lease of life given en to the message of the But there of the country and more preparations marie and for opposition to the black reactionary to social reformism and for the strengthen.
are also evidences of its penetration into for publicity, for participation in the Fall policy of the Daily Forward. Iven the ing of the role of the as an instrument working class ranks through trade unions, congressional elections, etc. In the unem is not immune from the economic to attempt to suppress the proletarian revothrough gaining labor votes at election imes ployment situation not only does it put pressure upon the workers. But the prelution.
and otherwise. It is quite understandablo forward demands for social insurance sent stupid attitude of the Stalinized Com It becomes quite evident that precisely that among American workers, now devel and the shorter workday but in New York munist Party blankly characterizing it so today, in the unemployment crisis in the oping radical thoughts nourished by the and a couple of other points attempts have cial fascism strangles all possibilities of United States, the most effective method of unemployment crisis and consequent dis been made to create broad unemployment taking advantage of such developments and concretely and practically demonstrating illusionment with Republicans and Demo conferences, These conferences had, of plays directly into the hands of the Right to the working masses exactly what the crats, there should be many whose first course, no actual contact with the unei wing reformists. There could of course, position of the is, would be for the steps are directed towards support for the ployed masses and were safely controlled be no reason whatever to place any reliance Communist Party to make all efforts to Socialist Party.
for the bureaucrats, nevertheles they upon the leaders of the oppositions with win socialist workers for a united front In the United States the Socialist Party gathered quite a substantial representain Social Democracy, unless they were on unemployment demands.
Moreover, has as yet no governmental responsibilities. tion from the trade unions and other workready to break with that ideology and ac broad united front with all workers, includIt can therefore still afford to appear as an ing class organizations.
cept the revolutionary position. In England ing those of the socialist ideology is an opposition party and keep a gentle rythm Communists and Unemployment at this moment, for example, the Left op. imperative necessity.
in accordance the throbbing vibraOnly the Communists have actually dramaposition leaders take that fearing The leaderhip would not accept tions of the class struggle. With the cun. tized the unemployment issue and begun to that the rapid swing to the Right, to the this, which would only aid in clarifying ning adroitness, which for a long time set masses into motion through the March full employment of the imperialist forces reformist workers. With the struggle going distinguished the more experienced Eur.
6th demonstration and subsequently. That by the MacDonald government will too seri forward, their exposeure could be facilitated opean social democrats their American alone is a distinct service to the working. ously compromise the cause of reformism. and the influence of social reformism limitcounterpart has, since the beginning of the class cause and has increased Communist Hence they sound the alarm to save it. ed accordingly. However, it is hardly rcapresent crisis given much more front page influence. But there are now serious In the United States, in a less developed sonable to expect that the present Compublicity to demands for social insurance in dangers that this motion, despite the in. stage, Left opposition leaders who appear munist Party leadership would be able to general and unemployment insurance in pursue such a policy, which would have particular. It is now inaugаrating a sort real revolutionary content. At least not of a Lational campaign for the six lour until the third period gymnastics have day slogan, Naturally this is designed to been eliminated.
catch the mass sentiment and gain influThe end of this month will see the good opportunity for the strengthening of It is perhaps well once more to emence among such workers just casting off first meeting in the national tour now be the Opposition phasize what comrade Trotsky has already from their old moorings of capitalist ideNew Haven, Fri, May 80. Philadelphia, in the are now such that the class pointed out that conditions of development ology. Having had little experience in a ing organized by the Communist League proletarian movement such workers do not branches throughout the country to hear Saturday, May 31. Boton, Sun. Mon. June struggle may become sharply intensified to immediately distinguish the objective role of report by Max Shachtınan on the Communist 2. Montreal, Tues. June 3, Toronto, Wed.
Thurs. June 5. Hamilton, Frl, June What will it bring to the workers? Victory, quick tempo, with turbulent upheavals the Socialist Party nor the fact that its movement in Europe, the International Conleadership has not the slightest intention ference of the Left Opposition that was Detroit, Sat San, June 8. Chicago, Mon, in the sense of marking a step forward to a of ever fighting for these demands. They held in Paris a month ago, and his visit Tues. Wed, hurs. June 9, 10, 11, 12. Minstronger position from which more effecdo not as yet notice that the methods of the to Leon Trotsky in Turkey. Comrade neapolis. St. Paul Saperfor, Fri Sat Sun.
tively to continue the struggle, or defeat, are not at all those of class struggle Shachtman has just come back from an Mon, Tues. June 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, Kansas in the sense of giving the movement an but merely of giving lip service to social extended slay in Erope and the comrades City, Thurs. Fr. Sat. June 19, 20, 21 St. actual setback? This in a large measure reforms in order to gain the mass influence from all parts of the country have already Louis, Sun. Mon. June 22 28. Springheld, depends upon the ability of the Communist necessary to play its ordained role.
written in asking for dates on which mass Taes. June 24. Cleveland, Wekls Thurs.
Party to prevent the extension of the influr Growth of the ig noticeable to meetings can be arranged in their localities. Jane 25 26. Pittsburgh, Frl. Sat June 27 28 ence of social reformism upon the werkers day in three main directions: First in in. This is the first national tour organized For further information on the tour and to Aggemble them, instead under creased votes obtained at local elections by the Communist League, and it offers a prite to 25 Third Avenue, New York, Communist banner. National Tour for the Communist League