How Far Will The Stalinists Go?
Confusion Marks Stalinist Policy on Fight Against War SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1933 THE MILITANT PAGE CE with any political party. Anked specifically whether this candidate was a communist, the committee emphatically deClose observation of the recent zigcame zaws in the party unted front policy The Swing to Opportunism Petely forget to raise a concrete Issue Tuwed to give his signature. The tol(Continued from last issue)
would lead of ed fundamentals above ing conclusions: That the Staliniste in Chicago congress to work out an anti war PRO to see him about signing for the same We pointed out that it was im The surprise of the GRAM with the socialists and pacifists. candidate. They behaved in exactly the have set themselves the task of devitalThe result of course was that no units same manner as the first committee, and possible for the students to play any with the presentation of the main road izing the united front tactic; That the was achieved on any point. Like its again did not receive the man signa Independent role, but that it must lend lution.
mad zig zag results from utter confu the customary fervor was lacking. Certainly the Leninist leader. up its ghost as soon as the last session members of his acquaintance, was the This statement made a good impression tude of the leaders of the congress, the sion; That they are caught in the connoticeably deceased progenitor, this Congress gave ture Only after inquiry among party its support to the revolutionary workers. the pre congress preparations, the atti tradiction of a fundamentally wrong ship could not afford to have its infal was adjourned. The silence of the secret finally divulged to this man that upon the Communist delegates and threw early sessions of the congress, was a course hitherto pursued. Discounting the libility the leaders of the congress into a state complete surprise because it marked a questioned. Sell preservation Stalinist press on the the candidate is a Communist. achievements first which would be true only if Stalin still remains the first law of nature of this Congress, of horror. The corridor remarks on the decisive change in the right direction.
more eloquent than To such depths of parliamentary op: activity of the goddamn Trotskyltes It must be said that in general (we are ism had already severed its weak bonds politically as well as biologically.
with the working class one must accept Subsequent events seem to point how ment in the whole affair. From our dragged the party to united Laboring the Opposition delegates the bum practical points contained at the end of any words in proving their disappoint. portunism has the stalinist leadership began. The stalinists considered giv not concerned at the moment with the the second and third explanation. ever to the possibility that the first step standpoint, quick death is the best thing ticket forsooth. in vain it seems, dia rush out of the congress. We have no the resolution upon which the oppostwe in Chiengo, are rather fortunate in away from the below policy in Chicago that could happen to an unnatural mon the Second Congress of the elabor doubt as to the discomfort of the Stalin. tion did not vote) this resolution was having been able to watch and in some has resulted in a national turn. The restrosity of this sort.
ate a thesis on Communist parliamentists. Our presence was unquestionably correct. It was correct in analyzing the cases participate in every shade of united cent call for a united front in New York ary tactics. In vain all the writings of The Aldermanke Elections front conference, from the ultra Left sec. seems to point in that direction. It is Lenin, Luxemburg they would question of war as the product of cap tarian, vest pocket, united front from quite possible that the Stalinists have llaving stumbled over thet antwed against the parliamentary opportunism But in attempting to make the congress with the revolutionary overthrow of capand Liebknecht a thorn in their side have preferred to refuse us admission. italism, the solution of which will come below species, to the ultra Right oppor (lecided to scrap at least part of the nasco on the Right, does not seem to of the Second International. It is all extremely broad (it could hardly have italism and the establishment of a classtunist policy in the present aldermanic below policy secretly and without the have dampened their spirits. On the lost on the Stalinists.
But after all the present tactics in been broader) they could not very well less society. It was correct in establish tune lies, perhaps, after all in being able start a turn to the right. If this be so to careen madly further to the Right, Chicago differ from Here tactics clins the raise the question of the admission of ing (for the first time, that the students to participate in the genuine united front then we have much to fear. Under the plunging into the swamp of opportun. com presidential election campaign only a strugxle on the Hoor. The Opposition must join hands with the working class; movement which defeated the threatened Stalinist leadership the party proceeds up to the neck. Bourgeoisie tradition de gree. Whereas in the presidental elec. was represented by thirteen regular de it stressed the need of the defense of 50 percent cut in unemployed relief. in its turns in a very similar fashion would have it, that in Chicago, Aldertions the revolutionary alm of the party The Change in Chicago who, in attempting to make progress, tickets. In actual practise this dietos laid on six badly chosen reformist de delegates. This small group was the tion immediately arises. how is it that to that of the proverbial drunken sailor manic candidates do not run on party were carefully avoided and all emphasis legates, three sympathizers who were the Soviet Union; it came out against quesThe Oct. 16th conference marked the first faltering step of the party, away one side of the road reels and staggers from the wall on the course not followed and all candidates mands; the Chicago campaign has gone clearest political section of the the ditch the from the below policy. Suddenly, out other. The results of the 1928 29 tarn But suddenly the Communist party has clear mention of the party. And having con the resolution was written in this man pported by one party or the other.
the extent of avoiding the open and gress.
ner, one which marked a complete right of the clear sky, amid the loud chanting The first act of the Opposition cau. about face? believe that the NSL was of ultra Left hymns from below the are still fresh in our minds. There is voluntarily become the dupe of this par gone to the Right to this extent, who was a proposal made to the NSL dominated by two factors: had the deHo telling to what opportunist extremes liamentary subterfuge.
knows where they will stop?
party found itself faced with the dilemma the present Right turn will carry the Instead of running candidates on its of either participating in the united All the greater is the responsibility of and the YCL for a joint caucus of the legation of the pacifists and socialist front movement together with other OR in Chicago are rather indicative.
party. In this respect recent experiences own ticket in the various party has resorted to other measures the Left Opposition at this moment. Left wing delegates to agree upon polley been larger or equal to the Communist GANIZATIONS and thus deviate from the line thus far followed, or boycott the Students Congress against War United front conference were called in the greater must be our efforts to swing and presenta united action against paci delegation the resolution would have conimpending united front of the Workers League and the Workers Committee and turn out to be a great farce was er front of workingmen organization and Bigantic task no doubt. The coarse mock alomatsumos ti bet for the acceptance of tions, it would have been an opportun thus disgrace itself completely It wise dent from the start. In sheer despair ate a workers candidate. At these is heard across the years: Just imagine the NSL delegates first and then to pro le delegation of Communists and Com.
ly chose to participate and later tried over the utter impossibility of creating a conferences, any worker regardless of a small bont which can hardly float on pose such a polley for adoption by the aunist sympathizers, the organizers of to justify itself by a process of ration. single below united front, the Inter his organizational aliation who agrees the surface of the sea. and imagine a congress. Our proposal for a joint left the congress felt at ease in the presen alization. All at once the Stalinists de national Stalinist Icadership conceived to the proposed platform and received sustendid steamer which majestically cutsists on the excuse that it was decided addition, the Lett Opposition, which simon parlty and sat at the same table er flickered up than it went up in smoke. present, would stand as the candidate full confidence. What would you say if ot to hold any caucus. This congress had its material in the hands of all the the with reformist leaders whom it but a but not before begetting the Chicago mis that the party would support. Unfor this small boat should come to save this will not be run by any caucuses Ac. delegates and put pressure upon tually of course, refusal was a.
The efforts of the leaders of the NSL ists. The victory won by this unity gross Engineered by the young Stalin. of minimum immediate demands on asinine humor. Laughter of officials who cause they would have nothing to do to laugh off the influence of the Opof action proved the correctness of the ists, this Congress carefully segregated which a socialist orang bourgeois dem. had ignorantly and bureaucratically sent with the opposition The congress divided into gronpinga position faits miserably when it is re working class agogne could run just as well as a Comaway the trained helmsmen and navigatted front. But in no way can the suc youth. The YCL with its formally munist.
ors in a small boat together with the at once (as if this was unavoidable. called how insistent they were in makcess of the united front be credited to Communist anti war program was very In one ward on the South Side this charts and compass. And this in the The outstanding tendencies were repreing clear that no resolutions were prethe party. The fact is that the party conspicuous by not having even a single almost came to pass. It happened that name of the passengers Interests.
The sented by Communism, socialism and red beforehand, and in defending the leaders were forced into the united front delegate in spite of the fact that it was a bank clerk of a decidedly bourgeois advance with full confidence hus now pacifism. At times the struggle between whole pre congress period. One must congress leaders. And it must also be remember thing. Instead they preferred to mastion. Had that happened, the Communist shoats. Only the intervention of the toward the close of the congress threat alongside a copy of the Opposition resoed that it anyone came near wrecking the querade behind small boat can prevent political dis ning on split. The important day of lution to see how on the political questhe Students League party would other have had to keep its the congress was the second and final tions, the similarity is marked. We inConference, it was none other than the which, proceeding along pacifist lines to promise and support a bourgeoisie candlaster on the reefs of opportunism.
party representative, Williamson, with the last moment, was planning to ordate or break its pledge and place a Chicago, Ill. SATIR.
day, since at this session actual reso sist that the resolutions committee which lutions, program and organization would had no resolution of its own, plagiarized his provocative speech, previously com sanize a permanent anti war organiza Communist rival in the field. One may mented on in the Militant.
tion using the Anti Imperialist League well shudder at the consequences of a take place. The Opposition caucus in the resolution of the Opposition which THE MILITANT So great was the force of this united as a model.
consistent policy flowing from the session the night before prepared a gen was not read to the congress. The resofront that it shook the party out of The intervention of the Left Opposi party premise.
Entered as second class mail matter eral resolution (See Militant No. 2, Vol. lution did not contain every point of the its political lethargy and resulted in the tion youth was the intervention of the Moreover, the policy seems to be to November 28, 1928, at the Post Omce at. on the struggle against war and ap Opposition resolution, but the main ones Verblin Williamson polemic in the Dec subjective factor which prevented down hide the face of the party as much as New York, Under the act of pended to it one on the defense of the were present in it. Because of the man ember Communist. For the first time in right degeneration into pacifism and possible in the present campaign.
In March 3, 1879.
Soviet Union. We reiterated our positionner in which the congress was proceedyears, were the pages of the Communist forced the adoption of a formally cor this connection, the following anecdote.
Published weekly by the Communist as embodied in the statements and adding the Opposition delegates felt that it invaded by heterolox opinion. Verblin rect though still treacherously ambigu related to the writer by a party symLeague of America (Opposition)
ed to it the practical proposals also. was well nigh impossible to read our at 126 East 16th St, This resolution was presented to the actually succeeded in setting forth his ous resolution in the end. But our in pathizer is of interest. This sympathresolution from the floor, and because of EDITORIAL BOARD resolutions committee.
views which, while not drawing 100 per terrention was insufficient to make some izer was one night visited by a comsimilarity of the main political views cent political conclusions, nevertheless thing decisive out of this Congress. In mittee which requested him to sign a Martin Abern James Cannon The most important session of the expressed in the congress resolution it presented an essentially correct position their haste to record another withhold the struggle paper petition for a workers candidate for Mar Shachtman Maurice Spector congress was the report of the resoluwas decided on the united front. While Williamson achievement, the young Stalinists and alderman. Upon inquiry as to the party Arne Swabeck tions committee. Here the congress was from the floor. However, several amand other party sages labored to refute the old ones to for that matter, for affiliation of the candidate, the commitVol. 6, No. Whole No. 152 presented with a number of minor re endments were made by us. Our amSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1933 solutions that carried without any dimendment to include Verblin and justify their own position, got to do a very simple thing: they com tee replied that he was not connected unconditional deculties. Because no resolutions were fense of the Soviet Union in the main Senessere di prepared in advance, no program was resolution was defeated primarily classic land of divorce. The reason for The soldier workers and peasants must worked up prior to the congress: all of through the active intervention of the this is the wretched position of the be fore warned particularly against their that was done on the congress floor in YCL delegates who feared that this woman in the home. Signs are not lack use as tools to set up a Bonapart to the midst of the session. At this session would create unnecessary schisms in the ing that the working women of Japan stave of the revolution. The military the resolutions were run of the mimeocongress. But a lengthy amendment preare learning to throw in their lot with clan in Japan, the dictators to both the graph and discussed simultaneously sent by one of the Canadian delegates Its Rise from Feudalism to Capitalist Imperialism that of the organized workers. But or Emperor the Shadow government with such organization no serious dis. Canadian Students league) taken from ganization of women kept in dormitories ever since the Restoration, is ready to cussion could be held. resolution sup the resolution of the Opposition (See and the Development of the Proletariat is necessarily difficult. All unions can proclaim army rule at a moment no porting the pledge of Amsterdam car Militant, No. 2, Vol. 6, The present surely be united in the Aght against this tice. The generals are ot lacking in ried. The Opposition delegates did not world crisis. who alone can overthrow By Jack Weber Vicious system which has actually been Bonapartist aspirations. The Machia rote on this in line with the general capitalism. was accepted by the con(Continued from last issue)
Amsterdam. gress. On the resolution calling for the sighted analysis of each situation, it utilized on occasion to starve women vellian role of the military clique in position of the Opposition It is a far cry from the peaceful, agi must carefully choose the proper wea into subjection where they have bad the keeping workers and peasants under the Similarly with the resolution on prac recognition of the Soviet Union, an amcourage to strike.
heavy yoke of exploitation by using a tical activity, we were prepared at aendment introduced by an Opposition tational phase of the Japanese labor pons for the struggle movement at the time of the Russo Jap THE GREAT OBSTACLE special (armed) part of the working genuine conference to propose a minimum delegate for the issuance of the slogan THE ETA anese War to the necessarily stern and The vanguard must know above all The second special task of the Com class and peasantry, must be emphasized program of activity. For this congress of economic collaboration with and the virilo movement of the present time. At how to unite and rally the workers for munists is to secure the cooperation of in soldier propaganda. Not Fascism is our chief alm was to get the congress extension of long term credits to the that time the Japanese Social Democrats the march to power. This road remains the outcaste Etas of Japan. The three the danger in Japan but Bonapartism to adopt a correct resolution and to Soviet Union was rejected, once again, the YCL dele wrote their famous greetings to the Rus blocked and impassable so long as the million or so Etas have an organization (military mediation between the class recognize that by itself it could do nothly the interference sian comrades despite the reality of the majority of the working class remain of their own, the Suiheisha or Equality es) due to the special historic status of ins: that it must follow the working gates (the YCL delegates referred to the National Students imperialist war into which both govern under the deadening influence of the Society. This society with its 200, 000 the generals. Bourgeois democracy has class and adopt a program in accord represented ments had plunged the two nations. reformists and opportunists. Mere de members played an important role in never been established in reality and ance with revolutionary principles. There League. The hence need not be swept aside.
is no other way out on the question of (To be continued)
The Japanese workers, struggling against nouncing of these misleaders as social organizing the first labor party.
war. That is why our resolution stress ALBERT GLOTZER.
nationalist jingoism and capitalist Im Fascists, not only does not accomplish Etas, rough tollers, not afraid of viol THE PERMANENT REVOLUTION.
erstood clearly the inter anything, but tends to alienate the mass ence, took a most active part in the rice It is unthinkable that the present crisis national aspect of their movement. Yetes still under the yoke of the reformists. riots of 1918. They live in separate in Japan can pass without profound they had not advanced beyond stage Surely the Japanese Communists, the villages generally shunned by the forces changes. It is the extreme instability of where they could say: We are neither vanguard of a movement that has from of law and order. The Communist Japanese economy that forces the army nihilists nor terrorists, but we are 80 the first shown itself sensitive to the must see to it that these sturdy outcasts into Manchuria in search of desperate cial Democrats. We object absolutely bitter lessons of the international pro are not misled into dissipating their en remedies. The war of conquest threat This is a period of abrupt turns, says stand well the burning desire on the part to using military force in our fighting. letariat, have learned from the expert orgy entirely in a fight for social equal ens to precipitate world war at any mo comrade Trotsky in the Strategy. of everyone who reads it to have oversWe have to light by peaceful means, byence in China with Chiang Kai Shek, the ity, important as such a fight is. The ment, on the one hand with the That is true in our publishing plans too one else read it too. That will have to reason and speech. Lenin replied to need for a separate, unified Communist tas are inevitably part of the working on the other with the USSR. To the We were driving along the road of get wait now until we get it out in pamthese historie greetings in Iskra and his party. But surely also they have learned class and must be taught the importance revolutionist, it is utterly out of the ting sovlet Economy out next. Now phlet form. There are no more of the words stand out today, the day of open from a study of the German situation of struggling for the interests of the question to think of helping to precipi comes the German developments. The issue left.
violence and organized terror against for the past several years, the danger ontire working class. At the same time tate an imperialist war between the line of march must be changed. First the Japanese on have you done the ness and with striking applicability: es, the aid given to the reformist lenders ingness to nccept the Etes into their tack on the Soviet Union, as has been All efforts now must be bent to get opportunity this speech created to get Amid the Jingoistic chorus of both coun by the Stalinist blunders in united front organizations on an equal footing. in the minds of some. Just as ineoncely it out without delay. Already we have subs on the club plan? Not enough, actries, their voice sounds as a herala tactics. In Japan the acuteness of the THE ARMY able is it to think of any alliance be waited too long. That is not because of cording to the results that have come to from that better world, which, though crisis, the crushing of workers and pen Conscription makes of the Japanese tween the and the USSR against choice. Money was lacking. But in hand. Lack of space forbids us from ser It exists today only in the mind of the sants under the heels of the imperialists, army essentially a peasant army with Japan. Imperialism must be fought ou view of the burning urgency of the Germonizing on this theme. Let the records class conscious proletariat, will become a offers can woexampleder opportunity to the recentment eveholde strehet a rengastat tropfronts, more especially on the home man situation the money must be raised. Deow Seak for themselves to the carda We, cry country, the immediate demands must weakness of Japanese imperialism. The the Japanese workers long ago set an that tomorrow will come. But comrades who have improved their re 50 is the sum necessary. And it must cords are noted in bold type.
the Social Democrats the world over be for relief for the unemployed and the peasants are not suddenly metamorphose example of solidarity for all the world be raised in the shortest possible time are all working to bring it nearer and starving, then the workers must be ral. In the army, they remain the potential (of workers) to follow.
Not next month, or at some vague future THE RECORD BY CITIES: nearer. We are dising a grave for the insurance. But particularly in Japan, at the contrast between the misery and through the proletarian revolution. Jence the course of the party in this de The revolutionary way out is only time but now! It is our duty to influ.
NEW YORK der. We are organizing the forces which the struggle for bread can be linked di starvation in the homes they have just Japan the situation is a rapidly changing sperate situation. We must act with de Chicago will finally bury it. Force against force, rectly with the struggle for peace, heltand the care taken of their health one Under mass pressure, the capital cision and speed. That is why we ask Minneapolis 22 PITTSBURGH ing this we speak neither as nihilist peasants starve while the government fodder they are evidently worth far tempt to lead the workers and peasants make the necessary sacrifice to get the against the militarists. The Communist book out quickly.
nor as terrorists. What is important Wastes huge sums to maintain an army more than as tollers on the land.
Montreai The army is the armed peasantry and must know in advance how to act in for us is the feeling of solidarity, which of conquest. Remember the rice riots!
16 Let the donations pour in. Let them workers. It is in this sense that com such an eventuality. If the capitalists take whatever size and form our comToronto the Japanese comrades have expressed SPECIAL TASKS OF THE Boston in their message to us. We send them a munists must propagandize the army, are permitted to place themselves undisBut let them come New Castle, Pa.
bringing home the meaning of the con putedly at the head of the peasants, the rades can manage hearty greeting. Down with militarism! JAPANESE PARTY Youngstown Act quickly Hail to the international social demtrasts between clvlllan and military life, revolution is doomed to fallure. The quickly. Speed is vital.
The Japanese face the task, as in no showing that the starvation at home la Communists at the head of the proletar. Bast 10th Street, New York, Send funds to Pioneer Publishers, 84 Lynn, Mass.
ocracy. other country, of liberating women the direct result of the use of the army lat must teach the peasants to carry out So. Bend, Ind.
THE EPOCH OF WARS through organization, first in unions, abroad. The Chinese comrades have in in actuality their real demands to seize St. Louis AND REVOLUTIONS then in the Party. Young girls and this respect a duty whose fulallment may the land, to refuse to pay renta, to reDes Moines Ours is a stormy epoch, an epoch of women form the majority of factory prove decisive. They must aid their pudiate debts and thus assure the dem Militant Builders profound upheavals. Capitalist civiliza workers, the overwhelming majority of Japanese comrades to spread Commun. ocratie phase of the revolution. Tut tion, its contradictions lald bare before textile workers, Japanese women, like ist propaganda among the troops. It the proletariat must not stop there, it the entire world, its component parts all women of the East, have been kept may well be that if the next phase of must, with the aid of the poor, over THE COPENHAGEN SPEECH IN THE NEXT ISSUE warring against each other, is bankrupt in virtual slavery in the home as well the Chinese revolution, resulting from burdened pets the proletariat. The in comrade Trotsky speech to the social contain a report by comrade Oannon of Do you know that the issue containing and threatens chaos unless the vanguard as in the shops and factories. Theirs the Japanese aggression, once The next issue of the Militant will of the workers leads the proletariat has been the duty of unquestioning brings the Chinese proletariat in the ternational proletariat, beginning along the only road out. But leader obedience. It is of utmost significance arent of struggle. The red heat of the the Russians, must help in this tremenda political sensation? Requests for add Comrade Cannon was the principal speak with democratic students at Copenhagen was the Gillesple conference of trade unions.
ship is not a mechanical process, it is that divorces in Japan are three times Chinese revolution will communtonte its ous task.
dynamic and creative and, after clear as great in number as in America, the intensity to the Japanese army.
tional coples are coming in. We want to er at the conference and a mass meeting THE END.
inform our comrades here that we under which followed it.
JAPAN Pioneer Publishing Fund 65 36 Philadelphia 20 16 10 10 5 more dictatorshipetty bourgeoisie, establish the