DISCUSSION ARTICLES more relor de contre care contre le lorowe to release presure The Meaning of the American Crisis SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 1931 THE MILITANT PAGE vanguard right or wrong policy alters as to enter movements which are or cruits from the farm, unable to stand doing. This involves it in a major conthe problem.
ganizationally part of the enemy forces the burden of mortgages and taxes with tradiction to maintain profits it cuts The Communist Task (Parliamentary action charity organiza their low technical level of efficiency as wages, and as it cuts wages it reduces Can we, the Communists, lay down tions, etc. the latter will not be iso compared with giant corporations, and purchasing power and hence the possidefinite plans to prevent our action from lation from numbers but will be isola unable to exist on 50 cent wheat. bility of profits, whence follow further following the reformist camp? We can tion from the role of the Communist as Increased crops in the future, even if wages cuts, less profits, more wage cute, Reforms and Immediate Demands lay down principles general, but it the vanguard toward revolution. possible, will not mean increased purete. Eat this is only the reverse of the is impossible to lay down a line of march has not the Militant time and again chasing power for farmers, but merely ascending spiral of capitalism in its take advantage of an incorrect for hearts or the bosses and their flunkeys that is fool proof. Each concrete strug pointed out through dozens of strus an increased export surplus for large stage of growth and stability more mulation in the thesis in order to raise We know they are granted from above sle must have its tactics formulated on cles, the action of the Stalinite Cen tarming corporations to dispose of in wages, more profits, more wages, etc.
vital questions dealing with its ecause the class pressure from below the basis of Marxian analysis. liue trist and Lovestone Right wingers which competition with Russia, Canada, Aus Wages were not seriously cut in past content. The thesis labels the practical compels them to relinquish this material of demarcation between reformist action was a reformist and not a Marxian actralia and the Argentine. This way out crises, not even in the 1921 crisis after needs of the day, reforms. It says, It gain for our class in order to stem the (reforms) and revolutionary action can tion of class struggle? These are facts of the crisis is closed.
commodity prices had fallen 40 percent, is the Communists who are the most tide and check the growing opposition. be made in every struggle but every de and correct aamarcations between re Capitalism, to protect its profit and bourgeois economists were shouting ardent and willing defenders not only It is more profitable to kill with kind veloping struggle will have forces and forms and sparks, which the theses, in margins (or surplus value. unable to the necessity of adjusting wages to of their broad historical futerests (the ness thun to kill through white terror action of both. It is up to the Com. its formulation, does not live up to extend its markets and conseqently its prices. At that time prices had risen social revolution) but of most narrow, providing the position of the bosses en munist to move these struggles out of our relation to the is reform production in the immediate, will extend sharply. During the boom period, and limited and practical needs of the day ables them to carry out the former. The the channels of REFORM into the chan and to American Imperialism it is rev and deepen its assaults on wages. From wages with them. In the 1920 boom. reforms. It is in this way of linking degree of class pressure determines, in nels of deeper class struggles. simon. olation but the road to revolution does the international viewpoint, capitalism neither prices nor wage levels rose to the struggles for daily needs with the the majority of cases If the practical pure struggle (made in the office of the not lead through reforms.
in one country under Hoover is as fall anything like the extent of the 1919 20 final aim, of having the former pave needs will be direct from the bosses or bureaucrats) is just as wrong (Isolatiou. HUGO OEHLER. acious a slogan as socialism in one coun boom, but the crisis has already resulted the way for the latter, that the strug from their lunkeys or from the class ittry under Stalin. With increasing tech in sharp wage cuts, and more and deepnical and economic development, bother ones are likely to follow.
revolutionary sense that is it can be can be said to result from class pressure must become ever more deeply involved From this standpoint, we have further directed against the reformists. Not but class pressure without, or lack of, The thesis for the pre conference dis ists, of goods of large capital value in inextricable ties with the outside reason to believe that the century long only is it improper to use the word or or wrong pressure of the class vanguard upward curve of American capitalist deimpression Aghting for reforms but the means a disproportion in the relation of cussion states that the American crisis which are only slowly used up houses, world. High tariffs and State control of way the problem is formulated the reclass and party.
may show a decisive upward swing some railroads, industrial plants mine devell foreign trade do not alter this situation. velopment has passed its peak and tlust lation of Immediate demands with ulti The growth and decky stage of capital time after 1982, and that whether or opments, even automobiles. capitalist. In relation to wager, capitalism can the present crisis is distinguished from mate demand, is wrong.
Can we Marxists use the word reform proportion. In the growth stage of capil reach the peak it attained toward ials and labor are all cheap. constructs American standard, which is a futile planetary character, as the thesis states, in this sense? No, think we have been talism, the objective factors favor the the end of the last decade cannot be a house, a railroad or a factory out of dream, Elven the nature of capitalism, but by the fact that it is the first of playing with this word long enough and capitalist and naturally reforms while determined in advance. The vast re capital, not income, anticipating a compra. Cu toardown American wages the crises on the downward swing of it is time we start a thorough dis the decay stage gives the objective factors sources of the Unted States. it saya, titive advantage because of low constructoward European standards, which is American capitalism. Its unique post war position its gradu tion costs and financing charges.
what capitalism is actually engaged in FIELD.
cussion in the Left Opposition, not on to the revolutionist to a far greater de al displacement of England as the lead At the present time, this solution of the word reform, but is more imre. This brings to the fore the subjec portant and behind it the understand tive factor, the vanguard as the vital de Ing factor in world economy and politics the crisis is not available. Railroad Shortcomings in the Youth Thesis Ing of immediate demands and practical termining factor of the problem as Trol. are still effective enough to war mileage has shown no significant increase rant its ability to extricate itself out for thirty years; because of speed up and needs of the class.
sky points out, not only in revolution of its present crisis by shifting the burrationalization the record railroad the whole treats the problem well. How with the members and sympathizers of The thesis on the youth question on discuss the problems of the movement The Position of Negation but also in the struggle for immediate den of it not only upon the working traffic of 1920 amounting to 447 billion ever, in trying to be concise and to the the whom we find in the youth All working class organizations clain demands.
ing to fight for the class have stumbled of things were olther groups. Another way of boring from The degree of class pressure does not class at home, but upon the nations of ton miles against 330 billions in 1922 point, number within is to send our youth members ou this problem to a greater or lesser alwaya determine the success of rurope. Nevertheless it sets forth was huuled by 56, 936 locomotives and omitted or insufficiently explained.
degree. Outstanding in the Marxian formism, as the above will indicate the ing class movement of rapid develop 64, 140 locomotives and 293, 389 freight though, because of the special charac it. This of course depends a great deal We must always remember that all who do not come from the League into camp are De Leon and the stage capitalism we live in as well ment and the prospect of struggles cars in 1922. In the first six months ofteristics of youth, we approach the youth upon not only the external conditions, which, unable to find a way out, just as its ebbe and flows, and also its un threw the whole thing overboard and even capitalist development, is no ab. depth and militancy. The long range ght cars in service, compared with 49. with special issues, they nevertheless of the comrade. But wherever it is denied it all. But since practical needs atraction in the class struggle. In the political conclusion does not follow from 208 in the first half of 1930. and on July form an important part of the working found possible, this method of colonizaof the class today are material things growth stage of capitalism, crumbs in and not ghosts their denial was to Do respond to clases pressure were the least the economie premise; we believe it to 1, 1931, had on order 8, 963 new freight class as a whole. Our aim is always not tion should be followed. Thirdly, we avail. The to this day, is follow evil for the bosses, because the very ex of the economie premise will prove it date last year. It is therefore clear that ing class on their particular problems as draw in members and sympathizers or be sound and believe that a restatement cars compared with 24 649 on the same only to appeal to the youth of the work should make a very serious attempt to ing the footsteps of the P. on pension and new markets more than it is not enough to state an immediate additional demand for capital goods by young workers, but also to link their the into our classes. The classer held in New York were attended for organizations have taken a negative reforms are bitter concessions from the prospective of strukkle: It must be in the railroads is not tending to bring struggles with those of the whole class, tegrated into a longer term perspective about recovery.
to bind together the young and the old the most part by members of our own position while the swinging to the capitalist, koit to a higher degree not of political activity.
In industry, most branches are over. This the thesis fails to take cognizance branch. In addition, of course we should opposite direction, has transformed every only to the class pressure but more sol The thesis nowhere indicates that the equipped not by standards of the crisis of treating the youth as though it were follow the usual methods of approaching struggle for immediate demands into re to the policies of the vanguard.
present crisis of American capitalism is alone, but even on the basis of actual some queer product of society complete communists and Communist sympathiforms of the worst kind. In the ComWhen Bosses Grant Reform to be understod in any different light demand in 1929 and the years imme in itself, and having no relation to any Izers in general. We should issue leaflets.
munist currents, sad to say, we find them If capitalism grants reforms (beats us from such past crises as those of 1893. diately preceding. The soft coal indas thing else.
from time to time expressing our views handling the question with kid gloves. to our point of advantage) this has its 1907 or 1921, from which American capi. try is equipped to produce 500 million Equal Pay for Equal Work on current problems.
The three main currents of Commun ideological influence upon our class or talism in each case rose to new heights. to a billion tons a year, against actual fsm take a correct abstract position on section of the class as well as a nega To understand the present crisis mechan output of 567 million tons in the best An excellent slogan that has its More emphasis should be placed on the need of our group to carry on the question of immediate demands but tive organizational result, scattering our ically, as the bourgeois economists of year in its history. The automobile in appeal for both the young and the old, experience has proven that the right forces and at the same time driving the Susiness cycle do, to regard it asdustry can produce 8, 000, 000 cars a year that can help cement their cooperation education for the youth. Of course, the wing and Stulin Centrist are muddled these class forces into some form of capl. a mere repetition of a pattern of rise against 5, 800, 000 in 1929, the record year in the class struggle, is the slogan that and ulter Communists are certainly not to and confused when the question descends talist controlled organization.
to the sphere of practical life.
Such prevents the crystallization of our idity of the dialectical method of his capacity of 62, 000 000 tons against for equal work. We see over and over often need Just as much education as the youth. Especially becanse of the Experience has shown that the left class ideology and unless the vanguard torical materialism. For Marxist the production of 56, 000, 000 in the boom again the displacement of older workOpposition understands what is meant by is wide awake and capable we lose even question must be posed as an alterna year 1929, 5, 000, 000 tons more than the ere, better pald, by young workers who failure of the to supply elemenimmediate demands and its relation to the possibility of retrenching ourselves tive: Have the developing contradie previous record and this year for pure are still further speeded up and given a for the Opposition to conduct a funda the social revolution. Events which for the next struggle. In this sense, as tions within capitalism reached a new. competitive reasons, is adding an ad lower wage. The fight for equal pay rementale education among and sound colm have followed the programs tactics and a class problem and not as an abstract stage, or are there still forces of growth ditional 000. 000 tons of capacity, know gardless of age means a fight against We cannot approach the greatbattles vindicate our current; but the Icarns by experience, has lost by the will enable it to overcome these contra Copper mines, producing at an average playing off of one section of the working este number teref omnes Communists with way the thesis handles the question does bosses coup and with it the vanguard dictions and prolong the period of pre cost of 63 cents a pound against a mar. class against the other, a relative secureleent international questions and szet loses. Do not material gains even void revolutionary capitalist stabilization. ket price of and a half cents, are not ity for the older workers, a material them to support our platform because they lack the necessary background of We Marxists cannot borrow many dicthese above mentioned factors, gains and New Baets As kase adding to their productive facilities advantage for the younger workers.
Marxian understanding. We must, where tionary words and use them to define a step toward revolution. No.
The answer to the question will deter least of all in the face of an imminent The promote thon se is the course based ever our forces permit. institute actiones things and conditions in the class strug With the capitalist coup in reforms, mine the correctness of the political and and eventual increase of 200, 000 tons the actual ble. The word reform is olte such word. the class line re forms with the bosses strategic departure, and therefore this per year from Canada and 400, 000 tons on the actual activities of the Commun Considering how the word is used in the at a more advantageous position than answer must be based ascertainable from South Africa to the record 1920 Ists young and old, in industrial and strukcle, but also of the most elemeatthesis and not what you mean) can before. material gain given by capi lact. It cannot be based on a general production of 2, 000, 000 tons. In scores trade union life. The reason why the ary Communist education. We must atadd, the bigger and better and more re power controlled by capitalism) spent talism, in the American or in the world. production facilities are too large for that they have not prepared the ground deal largely with such education. We forms we fight for and gain the closer as it would be spent on the battlefield sphere, or on mere impressions or hunch even a boom time demand, and will certamente se rolkindng bilograma enterbrigadnes must bear in mind that in order to judge facts prove this is far from the truth, shells and ammunition. But the com ractors in the economie outlook is no electrle refrigerators, washing machines Is there any difference in the material person does not hold water. Because Justification for a Marxist to avold the cigarettes, moving picture studios andclass. The worker is not held by the platform a certain minimum of Communwe must therefore help to spread and propre our class given by the bosses or their capitalist is just so much spent, in re many of the known factors, but places scale Industry has had its all of expan are not given the education essential for mental form among the members or die struggle? To every Marxist (and the rain. Let us see. If the vanguard of proving the existence, direction and to Young writers of the thesis have snid such time the workers moves up and intrenches the strength of the sustaining and stabilly the crisis.
one isolated slogan may happen to be, Communist League. All this a chance to and again. we know there is a funda class behind the material gain (reforming forces of capitalism.
Building construction has been notor the general approach to the young work establish nuclet within the ice ce But the expression in the thesis does not PROBLEM and especially a total der of the thesis quoted above, this article mental difference for our class position and not a spark) it is already a NEW In contradistinction to the statements fously overdone throughout the United ers makes even the correct slogan worthStates, following on the post 1922 boom, Our work is not restricted only to say this. Only by understanding the ent struggle if the capitalists try to re will present facts leading to the tol and this industry began having its own youth comrades should Join the union work, our youth work takes place in the It is important that our Opposition the Just as with all other class forces and causes for the way our take it. If the capitalists try to retake lowing conclusions private crisis as early as 1928. It is clasy receives these material gains from what they guve, and not what we The best that American capitalism still in the early stages of readjusting and there carry on the fight for equal ticipation in trade unions in youth clubs.
of their trade, take part in its activities, class as well as in its vanguard. Par. day to day can we (after explaining) won, it is no longer question of re can hope for as the outcome of the pre its rents and financial burden to the pay for equal work. The thesis cor spreading of the first steps of Commun use it in a revolutionary sense. This form in the sense of immediate demand sent erlals is a temporary stabilization on and is in no position to attract addition young Communists in the unlons the one ply the formulation of the role of the understanding enables us to label the Coffensive struggle) but a problem of a lower plane.
kind of material gain to denote reform defensive struggles of our class. While the economic contradictions ist or revolutionary action in the strug How many material galns (regardless of capitalism will in all probability lead began in 1922 to make up for constructions for the young and the old this also le point this gle for immediate demands.
cussion article) and transof how they came) were retaken and to the classical solution of imperialist high interest period up to 1922 was one tion deferred during the war the includes the youth of the opposition. late it into terms of youth work. Our False Abstractions are being retaken by the capitalist in conquest of markets the unique position given by the bosses or their govern er can answer this fairly well. In this older imperialist powers, will not enable crisis of 1920 21, but is not in the per various organizations (1.
If the practical needs of the day are the present crisis? Any thinking work of America, as distingulshed from the off the potent factors that ended the the formation of youth auxlliaries to the because of the lack of kufreleme protein forces. But youth work is not earried ment they are reforma; if they come case if the vanguard does not measure it to obtain the unmixed benefits of im spective now, etc. is not only superfluous, but actu on only by the young. The general ac.
from the bosses labor One great force that ended pest crises ally harmful to the League. With this tivity of the Opposition is calculated to leaders trade up to standards we can say, the greater perialism as did England in the nineteenunion or political, they are social re the number of these gains through reth century. Therefore imperialist war is therefore not available to end the pre disagree. Even as the auxiliaries are affect not only the party but the league.
forms and if these gains are won by forms and social reforms, the easier it while a logical outcome of the crisis, sent one the favestment of large am conducted now absolutely controlled by our class in struggle led by its vanguard is for capitalism to retake them and the will not solve the crisis, but will mere variable capital) in producers goods young workers who would not otherwise ounts of constant capital (not income or the party and the L, they attract Youth Clubs they are sparks for revolution. Prac. numbers that come to us as materialſ shift the center of gravity of American youth club should not be at tical needs of the day for our class gains sparks toward revolution the capitalism increasingly to foreign coans (not consumers goods. be brought to the Properly contempted until there is a basis for it.
cannot be abstracted from the class harder it is for the capitalist to retake. tries, while aggravating the crisis at The Agrarian Crisis ducted, these youth auxiliarles should be That means we must carry on the activstruggle and the organizational and kleo One only has to look at the sick coal home. The increasing sharpness of the come a recruiting field for the Young itles indicated above, and when suffelent logical position of the class. If we coula industry (favorable to the capitalist) Theories of Self Cure agrarian crisis constitutes another die Communist League. The young worker following has been gained, both among abstract these immediate demands or with past gains primarily through class As to Some bourgeois economference between past crises and the pre who enters the League is ready to asso Young Communists and sympathizers.
gains from the position of battle of the struggle and compare it with other heal ists, and we regret to say, some Com sent one. An alleviating factor in past clate himself with a Communist organ and among workers influenced directly class forces we could say all these gains thy capitalkt Industries (favorable to munists, have advanced the theory that crises was the ability of the farmers to ization under the direct leadership of the from the shops, schools, etc. their enda are reforms. But such an abatraction is the workers) where gains were mainly this crisis like preceding ones, will cure raise their purchasing power through communist party, he is ready to accept then only should we launch such a group false while other abstractions, such as reforms and realize the diference be itself when stocks of consumption goods increasing the size of the crop. Since the policies of the party, and is anxious The group will concern itse it with sporta are explained in Capital are not falsetween the two. comparison will show shoes, shirts, hats) in the hand of 1919 this has no longer been the case. to train himself to take his place in it. and cultural activities but should be a We know that reforms or social rereforms are relinquished easier than the consumers and retailers decline to a In that year, the total agricultural out. The auxiliary organizations will draw recruiting ground for members of sur forms do not come from the big kind gains through class battles unless the point where replacement demand is great put was no larger than in 1915, but the in young workers in whom the first faint classes, should be a training and recruiter than the reduced volume of produc higher average prices created the lars stirrings of class consciousness are felting field for Communists and Opposition ton prevailing at the bottom of a crisis. est crop values in American history. In but who would not come to the Ists. Most likely New York will be the This will cause greater manufacturing 1926 the crops were larger than in 1919. direct, who are not ready to declare only section for a long time to come activity, more jobs, and the beginning of but the contradictions of the world agra themselves Communists. The nucleus of that can offer real possibilities for such the recovery. Ths theory is incorrect rian crisis had reached a point where Leaguers in these various youth groups a group. Youth comrades should be de(1) because the demand itselt keeps the declining prices caused by the larger these nuclet should of course always Anitely assigned to take part in it, this With the militant now appearing weekly there should be excellent possiwage cuts, and the mere necessity for output and resulted in lower crop values. perlenced and trained young Communists being just as important a task as ang other.
bilities for all of our supporters to enlist new subscribers. If you agree with a worker to buy a pair of shoes by no In the same way the bumper crops of should serve as the recruiting officers us you will want to extend the Militant circulation. You will want to keep means guarantees that he will be able 1928 brought in less purchasing power for the League.
We cannot set any definite time for your own subscription paid up to date. If the number the wrapper of this to pay for them the appetite does not than the smaller crops of 1927. At the the finance of a youth paper. This Nucleus in the League make the dinner. 2) More important present time 50 cent wheat has brought The thesis set forth as one of our have for it. When we have really begun issue is less than 75, it means that you should renew your sub. Next you should also depends entirely on what basis we consumption goods are purchased out the question of farm mechanization de immediate tasks the formation of a nuc endeavor to get other workers to become subscribers. For convenience use the of income, not out of capital. The crisis cisively to the foreground. One author leus in the Young Communist League. to do youth work, and have some ground blank below.
is a crisis of capital and its most skni its estimates that 1, 000, 000 farm families But we have always been advocating to lose our paper on, then only should ificant feature is the inability of capital will be displaced within the next few that, as well as the building of nuclei THE MILITANT, to find markets which permit it to ex years hy meehunized farm corporations the prty. The question has been, and ever, the suggestion for an internal youth ploit labor at a profit. Crises historical able to raise 20 bushels to the nere and remains, how is this to be done? We bulletin is a good one, and should be 84 East 10th Street, New York City.
ly have been solved by the increased pro having a present nerenge of 10, 000, 000 can gain contact with members of the put into effect as soon as our finances Please enter me for a subscription one year, 00; six months, 00. duction of capital goods, not consumpton acre, that is nhle to turn out 20 per. Young Communist League by participat permit. LILLIAN BORI. Name Address goods In Marxlan terminology, by an ocent of the biggest whent crop ever made ing in these yonth anxillary groups by creased outlay of constant capital not in Amerlen taking up the tasks of an active member City of variable enpital. In the past, this the permanent army of the unemploy of the group, and meanwhile attempting READ AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE MILITANT has meant the construction, by capital ed will be incrensingly swelled by re to get our policies across, especially to follow it to the logical conclusion and talism as a reform is just so much labor belief in the power of survival of capt ot other industries the story is the samel has made no headway with it tempt to issue pamphlets on the latter less.
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