Reds in America R M Whitney 1924 288pgs COM

8/3/2019 Reds in America R M Whitney 1924 288pgs COM

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REDS in AMERICAT h e p r e s e n t S t a t u s o f t h e R e v o l u t i o n a r y

M o v e m e n t i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s b a s e d o n

d o c u m e n t s s e i z e d b y t h e a u t h o r i t i e s i n

t h e r a i d u p o n t h e C o n v e n t i o n o f t h e C o m -

munist Party at Bridgman, Michigan,Aug. 2 2 , 1 9 2 2 , t o g e t h e r w i t h d e s c r i p -

t i o n s o f n u m e r o u s c o n n e c t i o n s a n d a s s o -

ciations of the Communists among the

Radicals, Progres sives and P i n k s .

1924Or jrtkw1* yrtmw . 7ararparut,b

New Yo rk C it y



Op u s N o . E i g !

Copyright, 1924

THE BECKWITH PRESS, INC .

R. M, Whitney, director of the WashingtonBureau of the American Defense Society . w a s b o r n

in 1875. He graduated from Harvard in 1897 and

has been a newspaper reporter and editor in St .

L o u i s , B o s t o n , C h i c a g o , S a n F r a n c i s c o , L o s A n g e l e s

San Diego and during the war covered the State

D e p a r t m e n t f o r t h e A s s o c i a t e d P r e s s . He has been

a correspondent in Mexico, Central and South

America for many papers. He is the author of

n u m e r o u s p a m p h l e t s o n p a t r i o t i c s u b j e c t s ,



CONTENTSP a g e

I n t r o d u c t i o nThe Raid a t Bridgman 1 9

I n P o l i t i c a l F i e l d s . . 3 9

Schools and Colleges . 5 5

R a d i c a l P u b l i c a t i o n s a n d L i t e r a t u r e 7 1

" L e g a l " O r g a n i z a t i o n s . . . . 85

R e l i e f D r i v e s ; The Agrarian Program . . 1 0 3

A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n 1 1 7

The Industrial Program2 7

The Stage and the Movies4 1

Army, Navy, and the Government5 5

The Labor Defense Co uncil-Women's Clubs 1 7 1

The Negro Program-Future Plans of Co mmunists . . . . 1 8 9

P r e s e n t S t a t u s o f t h e B r i d g m a n C a s e s . 207

The Short comings o f Our Laws 2 1 1

APPENDIX A.

T h e s i s o n C o - o r d i n a t i o n o f C o m m u n i s t A c t i v i t y i n t h e A m e r i c a s 219

APPENDIX B .

Thesis on " Relation s of One and Two"25APPENDIX C .

"Adaptation of the Communist Party of America to American

C o n d i t i o n s "3 1

APPENDIX D.

" N e w s L e t t e r S e r v i c e " m a r k e d " R u s h O n e t o E a c h G r o u p " . . 2 3 7

APPENDIX E .

T h e W o r k e r s ' P a r t y o n t h e U n i t e d F r o n t4 1

APPENDIX F .

N e x t T a s k s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y i n A m e r i c a4 7

APPENDIX G"Our Bolshevist Mo les"57



ILLUSTRATIONS" T a k e , e a t ; t h i s is m y bo d y . " . . . F r o n t i s p i e c e

F a c i n g p a g e

Cablegrams from Mo scow in code 36

The Red Napoleon4C o m m u n i s t p u b l i c a t i o n s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s6S c h e m a t i c d i a g r a m o f t h e B o l s h e v i k p r o p a g a n d a o r g a n i z a t i o n 74

Anti-Christian carto on fro m Max Eastman's Masses . . 79

The Young Comr ade 98

C a p t a i n P a x t o n H i b b e n a t t h e g r a v e o f J o h n R e e d 1 0 7

" T h e J e s u s - T h i n k e r s , " b y M i c h a e l G o l d1 9"Communism and Christianism" 1 3 5

C o m m u n i s t l e a f l e t s 1 6 1

A p p e a l o f L a b o r D e f e n s e C o u n c i l . 1 7 3

Max Eastma n and Claude M cKay . 1 9 0



INTRODUCTION" B e t t e r t o be d e s p i s e d f o r t o o a n xi o u s a p p r e h e n s i o n s , t h a n r u i n e d by

t o o c o n f i d e n t s e c u r i t y . "

" T h e e f f e c t o f l i b e r t y t o i n d i v i d u a l s is, that they may do what they

p l e a s e : we ought to see what it will please them to d o, before we risque

c o n g r a t u l a t i o n s , w h i c h may soon turn into c o m p l a i n t s . Prudence would

d i c t a t e t h i s i n t h e ca s e o f s e p a r a t e i n s u l a t e d p r i v a t e m e n ; b u t l i b e r t y , w h e n

m e n a c t i n b o d i e s , i s power . C o n s i d e r a t e p e o p l e , b e f o r e t h e y d e c l a r e t h e m -

s e l v e s , w i l l o b s e r v e t h e u s e w h i c h i s m a d e o f power ; a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y o f s o

t r y i n g a t h i n g a s n e w power in new p e r s o n s , o f w h o s e p r i n c i p l e s , t e m p e r s ,

a n d d i s p o s i t i o n s t h e y h a v e l i t t l e o r n o e x p e r i e n c e , a n d i n s i t u a t i o n s w h e r e t h o s e

w h o a p p e a r t h e m o s t s t i r r i n g i n t h e s c e n e m a y n o t p o s s i b l y b e t h e r e a l m o v e r s . "

The Rt. Hon . EDMUND BURKE . R e f l e c t i o n s o n t h e R e v o l u t i o n i n F r a n c e ,

and o n the Pro ce e dings in C e rtain S o cieties in Lo ndo n Re lative t o t h a t

Event . In a letter intended to have been sent to a Gentleman in Paris .

( P u b l i s h e d i n O c t o b e r , 1 7 9 0 . )

T u r n i n g o v e r t h e p a g e s o f B u r k e ' s Reflections, t h e t h o u g h t i s c o n s t a n t l y

d o m i n a n t - e v e n i f n o o t h e r s o u r c e s o f i n f o r m a t i o n w e r e a t h a n d - t h a t t h e

p o i n t s o f s i m i l a r i t y b e t w e e n t h e F r e n c h R e v o l u t i o n a n d t h a t w h i c h r e c e n t l y

o c c ur r e d i n R u s si a f a r o u t n u mb e r t h o se o f d i s s i m il a r i t y . T h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s

of France were as much adepts at the disse mination of catchwords and

s l o g a n s a s t h e i r R u s s i a n p r o t o t y p e s o f a l a t e r d a y . Some of the rallying

c r i e s , a s f o r i n s t a n c e " L i b e r t y , E q u a l i t y , F r a t e r n i t y , " h a v e p e r s i s t e d i n t h e i r

p s y c h i c m a l f e a s a n c e e v e n t o t h e p r e s e n t , a n d t h e l i t e r a t u r e o f t h e F r e n c h

R e v o l u t i o n a b o u n d s w i t h p h r a s e s w h i c h c r o p o u t i n t h e w o r d y e x u d a t e s o f

L e n i n a n d T r o t s k y . T h e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e o f J e a n B a p t i s t e C a r r i e r , h a s b e e n

r e c e n t l y p u b l i s h e d , a n d i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o r e a l i z e t h a t t h e s c e n e s o f t e r r i b l e

c r u e l t y w h i c h C a r r i e r d e s c r i b e s a r e n o t t h o s e i n w h i c h t h e c e n t r a l f i g u r e i s

a D z e r z h i n s k y o r a M o g h i l e v s k y o r t h a t C a r r i e r ' s l o a t h s o m e s a c r i l e g e i s n o t

t h a t o f a B u k h a r i n .

T h e m a c h i n e r y o f o r g a n i z e d r e v o l u t i o n w h i c h p r o d u c e d s u c h a change

i n F r a n c e h i s b e e n w e l l d e s c r i b e d b y M r s . N e s t a W e b s t e r , 2 and the most

s t a r t l i n g t r u t h i s c l e a r l y b r o u g h t o u t t h a t t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n through which

t h e c h i e f c o n s p i r a t o r s a c c o m p l i s h e d t h e i r p u r p o s e s o f d e s t r u c t i o n w a s m a -

n i p u l a t e d t h r o u g h Minoritie s, secretly organized, and working in secondary

and tertiary minorities, also secretly organized, ultimately influencing vast

numbers of people who knew not the ob jective and cared less . T h e d i r e c -

, E. H. Carrier-Correspondence o f J e a n B a p t i s t e C a r r i e r . (John Lane Co . )

$ Mrs . Nesta Web ster-World Revolution . ( S m a l l , M a y n a r d & C o . )

1 5 1



REDS IN AMERICAtion of the movement, therefo re, always came from the top . It must be

a d m i t t e d t h a t t h e R e v o l u t i o n w a s i n s m a l l p a r t o n l y , a r e a c t i o n a g a i n s t a b u s e s

w h i c h w e r e r a p i d l y i n p r o c e s s o f a b a t e m e n t , a n d w h i c h , s u c h a s t h e y w e r e ,

f u r n i s h e d t a l k i n g p o i n t s t o t h e c u r b s t o n e a g i t a t o r s . Mr. Theodore Roose-

v e l t s h o w e d h i s k e e n h i s t o r i c a l i n s i g h t a n d f r e e d o m f r o m t h e i n f l u e w c e o f

Carlisle's Prussianized history when he wrote to Mr . F e l i x F r a n k f u r t e r ,

o n e o f o u r m o d e r n r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s :

" R o b e s p i e r r e a n d D a n t o n a n d M a r a t a n d H e r b e r t w e r e j u s t a s e v i l a s

t h e w o r s t t y r a n t s o f t h e o l d r e g i m e , a n d f r o m 1 7 9 1 t o 1 7 9 4 t h e y w e r e t h e

m o s t d a n g e r o u s e n e m i e s t o l i b e r t y t h a t t h e w o r l d c o n t a i n e d . "

T h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n o f d i s o r d e r i n F r a n c e c a r r i e d i t s f i g h t i n g f r o n t i n t o

f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s a n d c o u n t e d u p o n r e v e r b e r a t i o n s a s a p a r t o f i t s p o l i t i c a l

capital at home . Friends of the Revolution in England, many of them

fanatical in their devotion to the cause of democracy as pictured by its

p h i l o s o p h e r s , o r g a n i z e d , a g i t a t e d , a s s e m b l e d , t a l k e d , a n d r a i s e d m u c h m o n e y

t o h e l p t h e c a u s e a l o n g ; s o m u c h s o t h a t m a n y w e r e o f t h e b e l i e f t h a t i t w a s

British government gold upholding the hands of the pro testing party . A s

clearly defined but with less intensity, the same organized movement ap -

p e a r e d i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . Its advent caused George Washington and his

c o w o r k e r s c o n s i d e r a b l e a n x i e t y f o r t h e y e v i d e n t l y c o u l d n o t u n d e r s t a n d i t s

t r u e s i g n i f i c a n c e . I t c a n b e s a i d v e r i l y t h a t t h e s c a r s o f t h a t a g i t a t i o n a r e

s t i l l a p p a r e n t i n o u r p o l i t i c a l l i f e . T h e y a r e t h e f i r s t d e v i a t i o n s f r o m t h e

standard of a representative repub lican government as conceived by the

f r a m e r s o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n , w h o w e r e a t t e m p t i n g t o b u i l d s o m e t h i n g w h i c h

c o u l d p r o t e c t m i n o r i t i e s a g a i n s t t h e l i q u i d r u l e o f a m o b .

It was i n c o n t e m p la t i o n o f s u c h t h i n g s t h a t Edmu n d B u rke was

p r o m p t e d t o w r i t e h i s R e f l e c t i o n s . The times furnished an opportunity for

a b i t o f w i s e p o l i t i c a l p h i l o s o p h y , j u s t a s a p p l i c a b l e t o - d a y w i t h o u r e y e s

t u r n e d t o w a r d s t h e n o r t h - e a s t , a s i t w a s i n t h e d a y s o f B u r k e w h e n h e w a s

v i e w i n g e v e n t s f r o m t h e s a f e s i d e o f t h e E n g l i s h C h a n n e l . The lessons are

a l l w o r k e d o u t , r e a d y f o r s t u d y . As this b ook will show, we have with us

a group of p eople numbering about 30,000 at the most, ninety percent of

w h o m a r e a l i e n s a n d c a n n o t v o t e , w h o a r e c l o s e l y b o u n d b y t i e s o f a h a r s h

d i s c i p l i n e , f e a r o f t r e a s o n , h o p e o f l o o t , a n d a n e a s y f u t u r e . They are

r u l e d b y a c l e v e r , m o r e o r l e s s s e c r e t l y o r g a n i z e d m i n o r i t y . As a minority,

t h i s p a r t y h o p e s , o r r a t h e r i t s m i n o r i t y l e a d e r s h o p e , t o d o m i n a t e a n i n -

a r t i c u l a t e a n d u n o r g a n i z e d m a j o r i t y . I t i s t h i s l a t t e r m a s s , i n w h i c h i t i s s o

d i f f i c u l t t o s t i m u l a t e r e a c t i o n s b u t w h i c h o n c e s t i m u l a t e d a r e s o d i f f i c u l t t o

s t o p , t h a t w a s f i n a l l y r o u s e d i n b o t h F r a n c e a n d R u s s i a . The revolutionary

leaders themselves know it for we find William Z . F o s t e r t e l l i n g h i s f e l l o w

conspirators in the conventio n of Communists at Bridgman, Mich . :

"The fate of the Communist party depends upon the control of the

m a s s e s , t h r o u g h t h e c a p t u r e o f t h e t r a d e u n i o n s , w i t h o u t w h i c h r e v o l u t i o n i s

i m p o s s i b l e . "

T h e r e i s a c e r t a i n c a n d o r a b o u t t h i s w h i c h i s r e f r e s h i n g e v e n i f s p o k e n

[ 6 ]



INTRODUCTIONt o f e l l o w C o m m u n i s t s a n d i n a s e c r e t s e s s i o n . F o s t e r a l s o s a i d i n t h e s a m e

s p e e c h :

" W e n o l o n g e r m e a s u r e t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y o r g a n i z a t i o n s

b y t h e i r s i z e . "

F o s t e r h a s e v i d e n t l y s t u d i e d t h e h i s t o r y o f r e v o l u t i o n s a n d t h e p s y -

c h o l o g y o f m i n o r i t y c o n t r o l . T h e n a g a i n F o s t e r s a i d :

" C o m m u n i s t s g e t t h i n g s d o n e a n d p a i d f o r b y o t h e r s . "

Q u i t e s o . S o m e o f u s h a v e b e e n w a t c h i n g t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t

f o r y e a r s , a n d w i t h F o s t e r , t h e o p i n i o n i s u n a n i m o u s t h a t i f t h e f o l l o w i n g

t h r e e t h i n g s h a p p e n e d , t h e m o v e m e n t i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w i l l c o l l a p s e i n

a h u r r y . 1 . C e s s a t i o n o f g o v e r n m e n t a l s u p p o r t t o s o c i a l i s t i c p r o j e c t s , w h i c h

a r e o n t h e p e r i p h e r y o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p r o g r a m . 2 . W i t h d r a w a l o f a d -

v e r t i s i n g s u p p o r t o n t h e p a r t o f t h e s e v e r a l l a r g e c o r p o r a t i o n sf r o m q u a s i -

B o l s h e v i k m a g a z i n e s a n d o t h e r s i m i l a r p u b l i c a t i o n s . 3 . I t i s a l s o s u g g e s t e d

t h a t b e n e v o l e n t o l d l a d i e s a n d g e n t l e m e n (some of them not so very old

e i t h e r ) c l a m b e r o f f t h e B o l s h e v i k b a n d w a g o n a n d s t a n d o n a r e a l r o c k - r i b b e d

A m e r i c a n p l a t f o r m , g i v i n g t h e i r f u n d s t o a s s i s t i n m a i n t a i n i n g t h e b e s t

g o v e r n m e n t o n e a r t h a s i t w a s o r i g i n a l l y c o n c e i v e d . I t i s t o b e g r a n t e d t h a t

t h e g i v i n g o f m o n e y f o r a n o b j e c t t h o u g h t w o r t h y s t i m u l a t e s a s a t i s f i e d f e e l i n g

w h i c h i s q u i t e d e s i r a b l e , b u t i t i s e q u a l l y t r u e t h a t s t a r v i n g c h i l dr e ni n R u s -

s i a a r e n o t f e d b y t h e a b s e n t d o l l a r - n o t a t a l l . U p t o t h i s p o i n t a t l e a s t ,

i t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o d i s a g r e e w i t h M r . F o s t e r .

B u t w e m u s t t u r n a s i d e f o r a m o m e n t a n d d e t e r m i n e j u s t w h a t k i n d o f

a n o r g a n i z a t i o n t h i s r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y i s . A l i n e o f t h o u g h t i s s u g g e s t e d

b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s t h e m s e l v e s . T h e B r i d g m a n C o n v e n t i o n a d o p t e d a " T h e s i s

o n t h e R el a t i on s o f N o . O n e ( i l l e g a l b r a n c h ) a n d N o . T w o ( l e g a l b r a n c h ) . "

I t w a s w r i t t e n b y a c o m m i t t e e o f w h i c h J . L o v e s t o n e w a s c h a i r m a n , a t t h a t

t i m e e x e c u t i v e s e c r e t a r y o f t h e C o m m u n i s t party of America, and must

t h e r e f o r e b e a c c e p t e d a s a u t h o r i t a t i v e .

" T h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y c a n a v o i d s u p p r e s s i o n i n t o a c o m p l e t e l y s e c r e t

existe nce * * * by taking advantage of the pretenses of `democr atic

f o r m s ' w h i c h t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e i s o b l i g e d t o m a i n t a i n . By this means the

Communists can maintain them selves in the open with a restricted program

w h i l e e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e m s e l v e s w i t h m a s s s u p p o r t . "

I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y a s s u m e s t h e p r e t e n s e o f d e m o -

c r a ti c f o rm s i n or d e r t o s e cu r e t h e s u p po r t o f th e m a ss e s a nd t h is p re te ns e

i s a s s u m e d o n l y d u r i n g t h e t r a n s i t o r y p h a s e w h i c h p r e c e d e s t h e c l i m a x o f

a p r o l e t a r i a n d i c t a t o r s h i p . Things are said so metimes which do not work

o u t i n p r a c t i c e - e s p e c i a l l y w i t h t h e B o l s h e v i k s . T h e r e f o r e , i t b e h o o v e s u s

t o e x a m i n e t h e m a c h i n e r y o f w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n a n d s e e f o r o u r s e l v e s w h e t h e r

i t i s a s s u m i n g t h e " p r e t e n s e s o f d e m o c r a t i c f o r m . "

A u t h e n t i c e v i d e n c e i s f o r t u n a t e l y r i g h t a t h a n d . Ho n . Henry Cabot

L o d g e o f M a s s a c h u s e t t s a d d r e s s e d t h e S e n a t e o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s J a n u a r y

7 , 1 9 2 4 a n d g a v e a c l e a r i n s i g h t i n t o t h e w o r k i n g s o f w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n r i g h t

a t i t s , c e n t e r i n M o s c o w . T h e n f o l l o w e d t h e h e a r i n g s b e f o r e a S u b - C o m -

m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m i t t e e o n F o r e i g n R e l a t i o n s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s S e n a t e

u n d e r t h e c h a i r m a n s h i p o f S e n a t o r B o r a h " p u r s u a n t t o S . R e s . 5 0 , d e c l a r i n g

[ 7 1



REDS IN AMERICAt h a t t h e S e n a t e o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s f a v o r s t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e p r e s e n t

S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t i n R u s s i a , " a r e s o l u t i o n w h i c h w a s introduced by Mr .

B o r a h h i m s e l f . M r . R o b e r t F . K e l l e y a n d M r . A . W. K l i e f o t h , b o t h o f t h e

D i v i s i o n o f E a s t e r n E u r o p e a n A f f a i r s , D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e , t e s t i f i e d , a n d

p l a c e d o n r e c o r d v o l u m i n o u s d o c u m e n t s t o b a c k t h e i r c o n c l u s i o n s .

The Russian Communist pa r t y-Th i s b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n h a s n e v e r

n u m b e r e d m o r e t h a n 7 0 0 , 0 0 0 o u t o f a g e n e r a l p o p u l a t i o n o f 1 2 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 00 a n d

a t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e h a s a b o u t 3 8 7 , 0 0 0 me m b e r s , l a r g e l y c o n f i n e d t o t h e u r b a n

c e n t e r s . T h e p a r t y i s h i g h l y d i s c i p l i n e d , t h o r o u g h l y o r g a n i z e d , a n d i s a l s o

a f i g h t i n g a s w e l l a s a p o l i t i c a l u n i t . I t s m e m b e r s m a y b e c a l l e d u p o n t o

g o a n y w h e r e , e i t h e r s i n g l y o r i n n u m b e r s , i n s o m e r e s p e c t s r e s e m b l i n g o u r

o w n m i l i t i a . New members are recruited after a probationary period of

a t l e a st o n e y e ar , o f te n e xt e n di n g t o f iv e y e ar s , d ur i n g wh i ch e a c h c a n di d a t e

i s s u b j e c t e d t o t h e m o s t r i g i d o b s e r v a t i o n a n d t r i a l . A t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e ,

n o o n e c a n jo i n w h o i s n o t o f t h e p r ol e t a r i a t ( u r b a n i n d u s t r i a l wo r k e r s ) .

" A t t h e p a r t y C o n g r e s s h e l d i n A p r i l , 1 9 2 3 , i t w a s d e c i d e d t h a t f o r o n e

y e a r , o n l y i n d u s t r i a l l a b o r e r s w e r e e l i g i b l e t o b e e n r o l l e d i n t h e p a r t y , a n d

they must be seconded b y two party members . A l l o t h e r a p p l i c a n t s , i t w a s

d e c i d e d , a r e t o r e m a i n c a n d i d a t e s f o r a n o t h e r y e a r . " l

P o l i t i c a l r e a s o n s f o r l i m i t i n g t h e m e m b e r s h i p t o i n d u s t r i a l w o r k e r s

a r e o b v i o u s .

" A f t e r a d m i t t a n c e i n t o t h e p a r t y , t h e n e w m e m b e r s m u s t s u r v i v e p e r i o d i c

c o m b i n g s o f t h e p a r t y r o s t e r , d u r i n g w h i c h t h e i r r e p o r t s a s p r a c t i c i n g p a r t y

m e m b e r s a r e m i n u t e l y s c r u t i n i z e d . * * * The ob ject of these cleansi ngs

i s t o e l i m i n a t e a l l t h o s e w h o a r e n o t s i n c e r e c o m m u n i s t s . " s

M e m b e r s a r e p e n a l i z e d f o r t h e s l i g h t e s t i n f r a c t i o n o f r u l e s , l i g h t e r o f .

f e n s e s b e i n g f o l l o w e d b y s u s p e n s i o n o r e x p u l s i o n from the party while

g r e a t e r t r a n s g r e s s i o n s a r e p u n i s h e d b y t h o s e h e a v i e r p e n a l t i e s i m p o s e d under

t h e s t a t u t e s d e s i g n e d t o d i s c o u r a g e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n . Each memb er is

p l e d g e d t o p r o p a g a n d i z e a g a i n s t r e l i g i o n a n d i s n o t a l l o w e d t o e n t e r a p l a c e

of worship . Church marriage is a frequent cause for d i s c i p l i n e . TheI z v e s t i a , o f f i c i a l o r g a n o f t h e A l l - R u s s i a n C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e , pub .

l i s h e d a n a r t i c l e M a r c h 3 1 , 1 9 2 1 , i n w h i c h , 9

"a notice [was given] to all members of the Russian Communist party

i n r e g a r d t o t h e s t r i c t f u l f i l l m e n t o f A r t i c l e 1 3 o f t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e

Russian Communist par ty, which compels all membe rs to carry on anti-

r e l i g i o u s p r o p a g a n d a . "

I n r e t u r n f o r s u c h f e a l t y t o t h e p a r t y , m e m b e r s a r e c a r e f u l l y c a r e d f o r

in many ways .S h o r t l y a f t e r t h e r e v o l u t i o n w h e n f o o d w a s s c a r c e , m e m b e r s

o f t h e p a r t y w e r e f i r s t i n l i n e d u r i n g t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e f o o d p a c k a g e s .

T h e y a l l h a v e j o b s u n d e r t h e g o v e r n m e n t :

" S e n a t o r P e p p e r , I u n d e r s t a n d y o u t o s a y t h a t y o u d i d n o t k n o w o f a n y

case where there was a member of the Communist party who is not also an

o f f i c e h o l d e r o f t h e S o v i e t g o v e r n m e n t ?

" M r . K e l l e y . Y e s , s i r . " 4

I S p e e c h o f S e n a t o r Lodge, C o n g . Rec . , J a n 7 , 1 9 2 4 , p . 6 7 9 .

4 Lo c . c i t .

Hearings of the Borah Sub-Committee, p . 1 4 .4 Ibid., p . 1 6 .

1 8 1



INTRODUCTIONN a t u r a l l y , t h i s w o r k s b o t h w a y s .

"There is not known a case of a single member of the higher govern-

m e n t a l o r g a n s , e i t h e r i n t h e F e d e r a t i o n o r i n t h e s o - c a l l e d R u s s i a n S o v i e t

Republic, who is not a member of the Russia n Communist part y . " l

T h e n , t h e r e i s t h e g o o d o l d - f a s h i o n e d T a m m a n y m e t h o d o f g e t t i n g t h e

p a r t y h e e l e r s o u t o f t r o u b l e . A n o f f i c i a l r e p o r t $ o f t h e C e n t r a l C o n t r o l

Committee of the Russian Communist party, made a t t h e l a s t C o n g r e s s ,

s t a t e s : * * * A l l o u r w o r k i s c a r r i e d o n i n c o n t a c t w i t h t h e c o u r t s a n d

w i t h t h e s t a t e p o l i t i c a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , i n v i e w o f t h e f a c t t h a t o f t e n i n t h e

c o u r t s t h e r e a r e p e n d i n g c a s e s o f m e m b e r s o f t h e p a r t y . T h e j u d i c i a l o r g a n s

i n f o r m u s a b o u t t h e c o m r a d e s i n r e g a r d t o w h o m t h e r e i s j u d i c i a l e v i d e n c e .

We acquaint ourselves with this evidence, as not infrequently there have

b e e n c a s e s w h e r e c o m r a d e s h a v e b e e n p u t i n t o t h e d o c k s o l e l y a s t h e r e s u l t

o f pe r s o na l in t r i gu e s . I n s u c h c a s e s , * * * w e h a v e r a i s e d t h e q u e s t i o n

o f t h e e x p e d i e n c y a n d a d v i s a b i l i t y o f a p u b l i c t r i a l i n c o u r t l e s t w e u n d e r -

m i n e t h e p a r t y a u t h o r i t y o f o u r c o m r a d e s . "

The party also has a "monopoly of legality" and no other p o l i t i c a l

a s s o c i a t i o n s a r e a l l o w e d u n d e r h e a v y p e n a l t i e s . e

" I r e f e r t o t h e f a c t t h a t w e a r e t h e o n l y l e g a l p a r t y i n t h e c o u n t r y , a n d

h a v e , i n t h i s w i s e , a s i t w e r e , a m o n o p o l y o f l e g a l i t y * * * . Let uss p e a k c l e a r l y - w e h a v e a m o n o p o l y o f l e g a l i t y . We do not grant our oppon-

e n t s p o l i t i c a l f r e e d o m . W e d o n o t g i v e t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f l e g a l e x i s t e n c e t o

t h o s e w h o p r e t e n d t o c o m p e t e w i t h u s . " Z i no v i e v , Pravda, A p r i l 2 , 1 9 2 2 .

T h e A l l - R u s s i a n C o n g r e s s o f t h e R u s s i a n C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m e e t s , p e r -

h a p s , o n c e a y e a r , t h e l a s t h a v i n g b e e n t h e t w e l f t h . I t w a s h e l d i n M o s c o w ,

A p r i l , 1 9 2 3 , a n d a n o t h e r i s s c h e d u l e d f o r M a r c h , 1 9 2 4 . T h e d e l e g a t e s a r e

a l l h a n d - p i c k e d . ,

" M r . K e l l e y . * * * [Exhibi t] No . 2 1 i s a t r a n s l a t i o n f r o m Pravda,

M a y 1 2 , 1 9 2 3 , a s p e e c h o f Z i n o v i e v , i n w h i c h h e p o i n t s o u t t h a t t h e d e l e g a t e s

to the party conference [Congress] w e r e c a r e f u l l y s e l e c t e d . * * * Se -lected by a small group of individuals . * * * Selected by the Central

[ E x e c u t i v e ] C o m m i t t e e . "

T h e s e l e c t i o n s , w e m a y b e s u r e , a r e s a f e o n e s . Not much voting is

d o n e a t t h e s e C o n g r e s s e s . T h e b u s i n e s s c o n s i s t s l a r g e l y i n l i s t e n i n g t o t h e

r e p o r t s o f t h e " b i g c h i e f s , " e x p l a n a t i o n s o f w h y t h i n g s d o n o t a l w a y s h a p -

p e n j u s t s o , a n d e x h or t a t i o n s t o r e m a i n s t e a d f a s t i n th e fa i t h . The same

i n d i v i d u a l s a l w a y s d o t h e t a l k i n g , u s u a l l y m e m b e r s of the Central Com-

m i t t e e , o r i m p o r t a n t m e mb e r s o f t h e S o v i e t g ov e r n m e n t . I n t u r n t h e C e n t r a l

C o m m i t t e e i s e l e c t e d b y t h e C o n g r e s s : s

"According to the statutes of organization of the party, the supreme

p o w e r i n t h e p a r t y i s e x e r c i s e d b y t h e A l l - R u s s i a n C o n g r e s s o f t h e R u s s i a n

Communist pa rty, which elects an executive organ called the Central Com-

m i t t e e o f f o r t y m e m b e r s , w h o , i t i s s t a t e d , s h o u l d b y p r e f e r e n c e b e ` l a b o r e r s

m o r e c l o s e l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e p r o l e t a r i a n m a s s . " ' Pravda, A p r i l 2 8 , 1 9 2 3 .

1 Speech o f S e n a t o r L o d g e , l o c . c i t . , p . 6 7 8 .

' The Central Control Committee of the Russian Communist party has the function

o f s u p e r v i s i n g a n d c o n t r o l l i n g t h e m a c h i n e r y o f t h e p a r t y a n d o f t h e S o v i e t g o v e r n -

ment of Russia . Hearings of the Borah Sub-Committee, p . 1 0 .

I Hearings of the Borah Sub-Committee, p . 1 5 .

• Hearings of the Borah Sub-Committee, p. 1 4 .

S p e e c h o f S e n a t o r L o d g e , p . 680 .

1 9 1



REDS IN AMERICAT h e " l a b o r e r s c l o s e l y c o n n e c t e d with the proletarian masse s" a r e

s i m p l y " f r o n t s " f o r a s w i l l b e s e e n w h e n i t c o m e s t o t h e m a t t e r o f s e l e c t i n g

t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , t h e y a r e p r o m p t l y f o r g o t t e n .

T h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e m e e t s o n c e i n t w o m o n t h s , a n d b e t w e e n s e s s i o n s o f

t h e C o n g r e s s h o l d s s u p r e m e a u t h o r i t y . W i t h n u m e r o u s p r o l e t a r i a n s o n t h e

C o m m i t t e e , i t w a s , o f c o u r s e , d i f f i c u l t t o t r a n s a c t b u s i n e s s , s o a P o l i t i c a l

B u r e a u i s e l e c t e d b y t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e 1

"Attached t o [ e l e c t e d by] t h e C e n t r a l Committee . t h e r e i s a P o l i t i c a l

Bureau of seven members who have grown skilled in directing political and

econo mic work of our organ s * * * . I n t h e s e c o n d p l a c e , t h e n u c l e u s

within the Central Committe e, which has becom e expert in management, is

a l r e a d y g r o w i n g o l d a n d m u s t b e r e p l a c e d . " R e p o r t o f C o m r a d e S t a l i n , Pravda,

A p r i l 1 9 , 1 9 2 3 .

F o l l o w i n g a r e g i v e n a s m e m b e r s o f t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u :

Lenin Z i n o v i e v Tomsky

Rykov K a m e n e v T r o t s k y

S t a l i n

A l t e r n a t e s : R u d z u t a k , K a l i n i n , M o l o t o v , B u k h a r i n .

Lenin is no w dead . T r o t s k y i s r e p o r t e d m o r e o r l e s s i l l , a n d i n d i s -

a g r e e m e n t a s t o p o l i c i e s w i t h o t h e r m e m b e r s o f t h e B u r e a u . Tomsky and

S t a l i n a r e n o t r e g a r d e d a s h a v i n g p r e d o m i n a t i n g i n f l u e n c e o w i n g t o a g e a n d

p r e v i o u s p o l i t i c a l h i s t o r y , t h o u g h S t a l i n a p p e a r s t o b e m a k i n g r a p i d p r o g -

r e s s . Rykov is perhaps of next imp ortance be cause of his skill along

e c o n o m i c l i n e s . H e h a s b e e n r e c e n t l y e l e c t e d t o f i l l L e n i n ' s p l a c e . K a m e n e v ,

w h o s e c o r r e c t n a m e i s R o s e n f e l d a n d w h o m a r r i e d T r o t s k y ' s s i s t e r , i s c h i e f

o f t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l f o r c e s o f t h e B o l s h e v i k s , a n d i s a c l o s e s u p p o r t i n g s e c o n d

t o Z i n o v i e v ( b o r n , A p f e l b a u m ) . Z i n o v i e v i s u n q u e s t i o n a b l y , a t t h i s t i m e , t h e

dominating member of the Bureau . H e i s d e s c r i b e d a s " m o s t r u t h l e s s ; i t

i s h e w h o b y t h e o f f i c e s h e h o l d s i n t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y a n d t h e C o m m u n i s t

I n t e r n a t i o n a l i s a t t h e h e a d o f a l l p r o p a g a n d a i n f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s . " " P a r t y

d i c t a t o r s h i p , " s a y s Z i n o v i e v , " i s t h e l e v e r w h i c h w e c a n n o t l e t o u t o f o u r

h a n d s . "

T h e R u s s i a n C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , t h e R u s s i a n S o v i e t g o v e r n m e n t , a n d t h e

Third (Communist) International.- A r a t h e r l e n g t h y d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e

R u s s i a n C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m a c h i n e r y h a s b e e n a t t e m p t e d f o r t h r e e r e a s o n s :

i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e , t h r o u g h i t a s m a l l g r o u p o f m e n , i f n o t m e r e l y o n e o r t w o ,

r e s p o n s i b l e t o n o n e b u t t h e m s e l v e s , d o m i n a t e , p o l i t i c a l l y a n d e c o n o m i c a l l y ,

a l a r g e m a s s o f p e o p l e . T h e s t r u c t u r e i s t h a t o f m i n o r i t i e s , o p e n l y o r g a n -

i z e d b u t o f n e c e s s i t y s e c r e t . S e c o n d l y , t h e s t r u c t u r e i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f a l l

c o m m u n i s t i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s . F i n a l l y , b y a s y s t e m o f i n t e r l o c k i n g d i r e c t o r .

a t e s ; c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f r a d i c a l a n d l i b e r a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s e v e n i n t h e U n i t e d

States, the Communist party machine dominates b y i t s P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u

( P o l i t b u r e a u ) t h e R u s s i a n S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t ( i n c l u d i n g t h e F e d e r a t i o n o f

Soviet Republics) and the Third (Communist) I n t e r n a t i o n a l . "The func-

t i o n o f t h e S o v i e t g o v e r n m e n t i s t o g o v e r n R u s s i a ; t h a t o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l

t o c a r r y o u t t h e p o l i c y o f t h e p a r t y a b r o a d " b o t h i n t h e l a s t a n a l y s i s under

+ H e a r i n g s of the Borah Sub-Committee, A . 2 3 .

[ 1 0 ]



INTRODUCTIONt h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u . A description b y Lenin of the work

o f t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u i s e n l i g h t e n i n g i n m a n y r e s p e c t s . 1

" T h e p r i n c i p a l t a s k o f t h e O r g a n i z a t i o n B u r e a u w a s t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f

p a r t y f o r c e s a n d t h e t a s k o f t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u w a s t h e s o l u t i o n o f p o l i t i c a l

q u e s t i o n s .

" N a t u r a l l y t h i s d i v i s i o n i s t o a c e r t a i n e x t e n t a r t i f i c i a l , b e i n g u n d e r s t o o d

t h a t i t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o c o n d u c t a n y p o l i c y w i t h o u t m a k i n g c e r t a i n c l a s s i f i c a -

t i o n s . C o n s e q u e n t l y e v e r y q u e s t i o n o f o r g a n i z a t i o n a s s u m e s a p o l i t i c a l s i g n i f i -

cance and among us has grown up the practice that the o pinion of one

m e m b e r o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e i s s u f f i c i e n t i n o r d e r t o h a v e a n y p a r t i c u l a r

q u e s t i o n b y v i r t u e o f t h i s o r t h a t c o n s i d e r a t i o n h e l d t o b e a p o l i t i c a l q u e s t i o n .

"To attempt other wise to limit the activity of the Central Committ ee

would in fact hardly be of value and in practice cou ld hardly be possible .

• * * D u r i n g t h e y e a r m u c h o f t h e w o r k o f t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u h a s c o n -

s i s t e d o f t h e c u r r e n t s o l u t i o n o f a l l q u e s t i o n s a r i s i n g h a v i n g r e l a t i o n t o p o l i c y

u n i f y i n g t h e a c t i v i t y o f a l l s o v i e t a n d p a r t y i n s t i t u t i o n s , a l l o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f

t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s , u n i f y i n g a n d s t r i v i n g t o d i r e c t a l l t h e w o r k o f t h e S o v i e t

R e p u b l i c s , a l l q u e s t i o n s o f a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l , d o m e s t i c a n d f o r e i g n p o l i c y ,

• * * e a c h o f u s w o r k i n g i n t h i s o r t h a t p a r t y o r s o v i e t o r g a n i z a t i o n w a t c h e s

every day for any unusual developments in political questions, foreign or

d o m e s t i c .

" T h e d e c i s i o n o f t h e s e q u e s t i o n s , a s i t e x p r e s s e d i t s e l f i n t h e d e c r e e s o f

t h e s o v i e t p o w e r o r i n t h e a c t i v i t y o f p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s w a s a p p r a i s e d b y

t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e p a r t y . I t i s n e c e s s a r y t o s a y t h a t t h e q u e s t i o n s

w e r e s o m a n y t h a t i t w a s n e c e s s a r y t o d e c i d e t h e m o n e a f t e r t h e o t h e r u n d e r

c o n d i t i o n s o f g r e a t h a s t e a n d o n l y , t h a n k s t o t h e f u l l a c q u a i n t a n c e o f m e m b e r s

o f t h e c o l l e g i u m , t o t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e s h a d e s o f o p i n i o n , a n d c o n f i d e n c e

w a s i t p o s s i b l e t o c a r r y o u t t h e w o r k . Otherwise it would have been im pos-

s i b l e e v e n f o r a c o l l e g i u m t h r e e t i m e s l a r g e r . O f t e n i t w a s n e c e s s a r y t o d e c i d e

c o n f l i c t i n g q u e s t i o n s b y s u b s t i t u t i n g a t e l e p h o n e c o n v e r s a t i o n f o r a m e e t i n g . "

It is entirely conceivable that when the telephone was out of order,

Lenin took upon himself the resp onsibility of making the decision . T h i s

relation, however, is not o f so much intere st to us as that which exists

between the party and the Third (Communist) International . The organiza-

tion schemes of b oth are practically the same with slight differences in

terminology. The Third International is the creation of Lenin who worked

o u t t h e d e t a i l s i n p r a c t i c e b y u t i l i z i n g t h e m a c h i n e r y o f t h e R u s s i a n C o m -

munist party . Congresses are held at Moscow approximately every year,

the last (at the time this is written) having been held in Nov : D e c . ,

192 2 .C a l l s f o r i t s a s s e m b l a g e a r e i s s u e d b y t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e , w h i c h

h a s t h e p o w e r o f s e a t i n g t h e d e l e g a t e s a n d d e t e r m i n i n g t h e n u m b e r o f d e l -

egates which are to represe nt each country. In turn, the Executive Com-

mittee is nominally elected by the Congress, but the method of election

r a i s e s t h e q u e s t i o n a s t o w h e t h e r i t w a s n ' t l e a r n e d f r o m p o l i t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e

acqui red in the Lower East-side of New York. Zinoviev, chairman of the

Executive Committee, and unanimously elected president o f the Co ngress

speaking : a

1 Before the Ninth Congress o fthe Russian Communist Party . Hearings o f the

Borah Sub-Committee, p. 1 6 .

2 B u l l e t i n o f t h e T h i r d C o n g r e s s , No. 2 , p . 1 9 . Cited by Mr. K e l l e y b e f o r e t h e B o r a h

Sub-Committee, p . 41 .



REDS IN AMERICA"Unless there is objection, I will have the voting take place . I b e g t h e

comrades who understand German and sit alongside of the Russian comrades

to translate as well as the y can to the m . The voting will now take place .

H a s a n y o n e a n y o bje c t i o n t o t h i s l i s t? T h a t a p p e a r s n o t t o b e t h e c a s e . T h e

list is confirmed . "

a n d t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e , h a v i n g n o m i n a t e d i t s e l f , t o o k o f f i c e u n t i l t h e

next Congress . Objection would have be en futile, as the compo sition of

the Congress was dominated by the Russian Communist party elements,

v o t i n g u n d e r u n i t r u l e . The Congress agenda is pre pared in advance, and

c o n s i s t s l a r g e l y o f s p e e c h e s a n d r e p o r t s . The same persons appear, year

a f t e r y e a r . Voting is rarely attempted . , ,

"A nd af te r the v o te was take n, in which, o f co urse , the Russian mo ti o n

wa s c a r r i e d , Z i n o v i e v r e m a rks , ` C o m r a d e s , t h i s i s t h e o n l y v o t e d u r i n g t h e

whole Congress, and it is, after all, only a quest ion of such a little thing ."'

The Executive Committee of the Cominterna delegate s the absolute

a u t h o r i t y v e s t e d i n i t t o t h e P r e s i d i u m , w h i c h i t i n t u r n e l e c t s . At present,

the members of the Presidium of the Comintern, elected subsequent to the

L i t t l e a t t e n t i o n m a y b e p a i d t o t h o s e w h o a r e f o r e i g n e r s i n R u s s i a , a s

the Russian group dominates the organization and the foreigners are not

often in Mosco w anyway . Bukharin, Radek, and Kusinen are in immedia te

c h a r g e u n d e r Z i n o v i e v , t h e i r n a m e s a p p e a r i n g o n d o c u m e n t s s e i z e d a t B r i d g -

man, Mich . Kusinen signs the o rders which go out . Zinoviev is a member

o f t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , a n d B u k h a r i n i s a n a l t e r n a t e .

"The Communist International is the chief channel of communication,

o r g a n i z a t i o n , a n d a g i t a t i o n i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . "

The Communist party of America-This i s t h e A m e r i c a n S e c t i o n o f t h e

Third or Communist International . *

"It must always be remembered that the real revolutionary party-theAmerican Section of the Third International-is the Communist party ofAmerica and that the legal party [Workers' party] is but an instrumentwhich it use s to carry o n it s wo rk amo ng the ma sse s ."

1 Speech of Senator Lodge, p . 5 8 5 . The Congress has a lso a presidium of its own which

is in effect a "steering committee ."

2 Mr. K e l l e y b e f o r e t h e B o r a h S u b - C o m m i t t e e , p . 40 .

s Radicals ge ne rally hav e a habit o f abbre v iating the l o ng name s o f the ir o r ganiza-

tions. F o r i n s t a n c e , " G l a v i i t " r e f e r s t o t h e S u p r e m e L i t e r a t u r e a n d P u b l i s h i n g A d -ministration attached to the Commissariat of Education of the Russian SovietGovernment, the bureau which has charge among other things of the press censor-ship ; "Rosta" is the Russian Telegraph Agency which exchanges news with Reutersa n d t h e U n i t e d P r e s s ; "Tuel" is the Trade Union Educational League of William Z .

F o s t e r , a b r a n c h o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a t o wh i c h i s a l l o c a t e d t h e w o rk

o f p r o p a g a n d i z i n g a n d o r g a n i z i n g w i t h i n t h e t r a d e s u n i o n s . In the same manner,"Comintern" Is an abbreviation for Communist International . "Presidium of theC o m i n t e r n " i s a n e x p r e s s i o n wh i c h i s o f t e n u s e d a n d r e f e r s t o a s m a l l g r o u p o f m e nwi t h i n t h e Exe c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e wh i c h h a s u l t i m a t e a u t h o r i t y , a n d wh i c h d o m i n a t e s

the organization . The dominating group within the Presidium are members of theP o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o f t h e R u s s i a n C o m m u n i s t p a r t y ,

' S e e p . 2 0 4 ,

F o u r t h C o n g r e s s a r e a s f o l l o w s : $

Z i n o v i e v K a t a y a m a S h a t s k i n

C l a r a Z e t k i n Neurath Kolorav

Kusinen Bukharin Souvarine

Radek McManus T e r r a c c i n i



NT R 0 DU CT 10 NAnd again : 1

" T h e r u l i n g o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l m u s t b e a c c e p t e d a s o b l i g a t -

ing every member of the Communist party of A m e r i c a , m i n o r i t y o r m a j o r i t y ,

t o w o r k d i l i g e n t l y i n t h e i m m e d i a t e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a l e g a l p o l i t i c a l p a r t y ,

[ W o r k e r s ' p a r t y ] . "

T h a t t h i s s t a t u s i s a c c e p t e d b y t h e A m e r i c a n e l e m e n t s : a

"Even though the Communis t party shall have come aboveground and

acts as the section of the Communist I n t e r n a t i o n a l , t h e u n d e r g r o u n d o r g a n .

i z a t i o n r e m a i n s a s t h e d i r e c t i n g o r g a n of the open C ommunist party . This

s t a t u s i s t o c o n t i n u e u p t o a n d t h r o u g h t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t o t h e e s t a b l i s h -

m e n t o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t . "

S o t h a t t h e r e i s p r o v i s i o n m a d e f o r a n i l l e g a l p a r t y t o w o r k a s a s e c r e t

m i n o r i t y w i t h i n t h e o p e n l e g a l p a r t y . T h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e t w o a r e

c o n s i d e r e d i n g r e a t d e t a i l b o t h a t t h e h e a d q u a r t e r s o f t h e C o m i n t e r n i n M o s -

c o w a n d b y t h e l o c a l l e a d e r s . N o o t h e r r e l a t i o n s h i p i s t h o u g h t p o s s i b l e

f o r e f f e c t i v e l y c a r r y i n g o n t h e w o r k o f r e v o l u t i o n i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .

"The illegal Communist p a r t y must continue to d i r e c t t h e

whole communist work . "

"The whole op en work of all communists must be directed

by the Communist party . " s

"The entire membership of the underground party, the real Communist

p a r t y , m u s t j o i n t h e o p e n p a r t y [ W o r k e r ' s p a r t y ] a n d b e c o m e i t s m o s t a c t i v e

e l e m e n t * * * must at all times hold p o s i t i o n s o f l e a d e r s h i p in the

l e g a l p a r t y . " 4

And then again : s

"During the time when the Communist party operates, not under its own

name and program in the open, b u t t h r o u g h a ` l e g a l ' p o l i t i c a l party with

r e s t r i c t e d p r o g r a m a n d d i f f e r e n t n a m e , t h e s a m e p r i n c i p l e i s a p p l i e d b y h a v i n g

f u l l c o n t r o l o f s u c h l e g a l p a r t y i n t h e h a n d s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y .

" T h i s i s a c c o m p l i s h e d b y h a v i n g a m a j o r i t y o f a l l i m p o r t a n t c o m m i t t e e s

composed of Co mmunist party members, and by means of regular and com-

pulsory caucuses of all the Communist party members w i t h i n a n y l e g a l u n i t ,

b o u n d b y t h e u n i t r u le , a p r in c i p le w h i c h w i l l p r e v a i l i n s o m e e f f e c t i v e f o r m

w h e n t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i s i t s e l f i n t h e o p e n . "

"The convention of the Communist party must b e h e l d p r i o r t o t h e c o n -

ve ntio n o f the Labo r [ Worke rs'] party and de te rmine all p o l i c i e s f o r t h e

p a r t y a n d a l l i t s o p e n o r g a n i z a t i o n s . "

T h e a b s o l u t e d o m i n a t i o n o f t h e o p e n p a r t y b y t h e i l l e g a l p a r t y , t h e

c o n n e c t i o n s w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l a r e t h e r e f o r e s h o w n . The

W o r k e r s ' p a r t y h o w e v e r i s o n l y o n e f o r m o f a c t i v i t y w h i c h i s planned and

n o t e v e n d o e s t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y h a v e a m o n o p o l y i n t h e p o l i t i c a l f i e l d .

T h e p r e s e n c e o f W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r a t t h e B r i d g m a n c o n v e n t i o n p l a i n l y i n -

d i c a t e d t h a t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n , t h e T r a d e U n i o n Educational League was

d e s i g n e d t o w o r k i n t h e f i e l d o f l a b o r a s t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y w a s d e s i g n e d

t o w o r k i n t h e f i e l d o f p o l i t i c s

3 I n s t r u c t i o n s s i g n e d b y B u k h a r i n , R a d e k , and Kusinen, p . 249 .

2 T h e s i s o n R e l a t i o n s of No O n e ( i l l e g a l b r a n c h ) t o No. Two ( l e g a l b r a n c h ) , A p p e n d i x

B , w r i t t e n b y J . L o v e s t o n e , e x e c u t i v e s e c r e t a r y o f the Communist party o f Americaand adopted by the Bridgman Convention,Report o f the Adjustment Commit tee to the Convention, w r i t t e n b y R o b e r t M i n o r ,

a m e m be r of the Executive Commit tee, p . 28 .

A Appe ndix F .

• Appendix B , Thesis by J . L o v e s t o n e .

1 Resolutions adopted by the Bridgman convention, p . 28 .



REDS IN AMERICA" T h e g e n e r a l c o n t r o l o f t h e N o . One [illegal bra nch] within X [Trade

U n i o n E d u c a t i o n a l L e a g u e ] a s w i t h i n a l l o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s m u s t b e i n t h e

h a n d s o f t h e p a r t y , a n d n o t i n t h e h a n d s o f s p e c i a l c o m m i t t e e s . "

W i t h i n t h e r a n k s o f c o n s e r v a t i v e l a b o r u n i o n s a r e t o b e e s t a b l i s h e d

n u c l e i , h e r e a n d t h e r e g r a d u a l l y w i n n i n g o v e r t h e m o r e o r l e s s r a d i c a l a n d

d i s c o n t e n t e d t o a " r e d " p l a t f o r m a n d s e c u r i n g t h e b e n e v o l e n t n e u t r a l i t y o f

t h e c o n s e r v a t i v e s . T h e p l a n d o e s n o t c a l l f o r t h e a d h e s i o n i n a n o r g a n i c

s e n s e o f l a r g e r n u m b e r s o f t h e l a b o r u n i on m e m be r s b u t f o r s e c r e t ly o r g a n -

i z e d m i n o r i t y g r o u p s . A c t i n g t h r o u g h t h e l a b o r u n i o n o r g a n i z a t i o n s , t h e

Communist nuchi exercise an influence which r e a c h e s f a r b e y o n d t h e i r

immediate membership . 1

" T h e p a r t y m u s t u s e i t s i n f l u e n c e a n d s t r e n g t h i n t h e t r a d e u n i o n s t o

f o r m d e l e g a t e d c o n f e r e n c e s o f l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s . S u c h c o n f e r e n c e s d e c i d e

on a g e n e r a l p o l i t i c a l c a m p a i g n i n c l u d i n g a l l f o r m s o f p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n .* * * O u r m e m b e r s s h o u l d i n i t i a t e s u c h a c t i o n t h r o u g h t h e u n i o n s . "

" I n c r e a t i n g a u n i t e d f r o n t f o r t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s f o r t h e i r e c o n o m i c s t r u g -

g l e s , t h e e x i s t i n g l a b o r u n i o n s m u s t r e m a i n t h e i n s t r u m e n t s o f t h e s e s t r u g g l e s

while the members of the Workers' party must be the instrum ents to unify

t h e s e e c o n o m i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s . "

T h e s a m e m e t h o d s o f c o n t r o l a r e e x t e n d e d t o t h e C o m m u n i s t p r e s s . As

F o s t e r e x p r e s s e s i t , " o n e o f t h e s e c r e t s o f c o n t r o l i s m o n o p o l y o f t h e p r e s s , "

a n d p r o v i s i o n i s m a d e t h a t , i n s o f a r a s p o s s i b l e , a l l e d i t o r s o f t h e W o r k e r s '

p a r t y o r g a n s s h a l l b e m e m b e r s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y .

The convention of the Co mmunist party at Bridgman w a s o r g a n i z e d

a n d c a r r i e d o n i n t r u e B o l s h e v i k s t y l e . L i t t l e v o t i n g w a s a l l o w e d , c a r e b e i n g

t a k e n t o i n s u r e h e a l i n g i n t h e p a r t y d i s s e n s i o n s e a r l y i n t h e c o n v e n t i o n .

O n l y t r u e a n d t r u s t e d d e l e g a t e s w e r e p r e s e n t , h a n d p i c k e d a s i t w e r e . The

p r o g r a m c o n s i s t e d p r i n c i p a l l y o f r e p o r t s o f c o m m i t t e e s , orders from Mos-

c o w t o w h i c h t h e d e l e g a t e s t h e m s e l v e s l i s t e n e d o n t h e w h o l e w i t h o u t m u c h

d i s c u s s i o n . T h e c o n v e n t i o n h a d i t s p r e s i d i u m !

"Throughout the Communist movem ent of the world, the system of

' p r e s i d i u m s ' p r e v a i l s , b y w h i c h m a t t e r s o f n e c e s s a r i l y s e c r e t n a t u r e a r e k e p t

in the hands of the most reliable and most trusted members of the party .

T h i s i s a n e c e s s a r y f e a t u r e o f a r e v o l u t i o n a r y o r g a n i z a t i o n : '

S e c r e c y o f c o u r s e i s n e c e s s a r y t o c o n t r o l , a n d t h e c a u t i o n t o o b s e r v e i t

came from Moscow-the result of extended experience-emphasized b y t h e

l o c a l l e a d e r s . $

"While coming out in the open, the Com munist party must n ot make the

m i s t a k e o f b e i n g t r a p p e d i n t h e o p e n b y e x p o s i n g i t s n a t i o n a l o r d i s t r i c t

C o m m u n i s t p a r t y h e a d q u a r t e r s , r e c o r d s , o r i l l e g a l m a c h i n e r y , i t s u n d e r g r o u n d

p r i n t i n g a r r a n g e m e n t s o r t h e p e r s o n n e l o f i t s C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e . "* * * * The identity of members o f No . O n e [ i l l e g a l b r a n c h ]

w o r k i n g i n o f f i ce s o r u p o n c o mm i t t e e s o r i n u n i t s o f N o . T w o [ l e g a l b r a n c h ]

a s w e l l a s t h e i r r e l a t i o n s t o N o . One, must not be exposed . * * * Get

u s e d t o s p e a k i n g i n t e r m s t h a t w i l l n o t i n a n y w a y r e v e a l c o n n e c t i o n s w i t h

No . One . " 4

1 Appendix E, i n s t r u c t i o n s f r o m Moscow . V i d e , Chapter 1 1 .

∎ T h e s i s b y Lovestone . Appendix B , p . 2 2 1 .

a Vide, p . 1 9 9 .

• C o n f i d e n t i a l b u l l e t i n w r i t t e n by Lovestone and sent to Communist groups through-o u t t h e c o u n t r y , p . 3 8 .



INTRODUCTIONT h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f c o u r s e h a s i t s E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e a n d p r e -

s u m a b l y i t i s e l e c t e d i n a b o u t t h e s a m e f a s h i o n a s t h o s e e l e c t e d i n M o s c o w .

While the Bridgman raid on the p arty conventio n was a staggering blow

t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n i s t s , t h e l a t t e r h a v e r e c o v e r e d t h e i r e q u i l i b r i u m r a p i d l y a n d

h a v e t r a n s f e r r e d a p a r t o f t h e i r w o r k t o t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n .

T h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y i s n o w c o m p o s e d o f

A l e x a n d e r B i t t l e m a n

Ear l R . B r o w d e r

F . Burman

J . P . Cannon

William F . Dunne

J . L . E n g d a h l

I t a l s o h a s i t s P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u :

F o s t e r Browder Cannon

Pepper L o v e s t o n e Dunne

Ruthenberg

A n d i t i s p e r f e c t l y s a f e t o a s s u m e t h a t t h i s i s t h e i n s i d e r i n g i n

t h e s e U n i t e d S t a t e s . J o h n P e p p e r o f f i c i a l l y r e p r e s e n t s t h e T h i r d I n t e r n a -

tional of Mosco w in the Committe e and in the Bureau . P e p p e r ' s c o r r e c t

n a m e , i . e ., the one under which he was born, is Poga ny and his Com-

m u n i s t p a r t y n a m e i s L a n g .

T h i s p i c t u r e i s c o m p l e t e . F o r t h e t i m e i t i s p o s s i b l e f o r t h e a v e r -

a g e m a n t o g a i n a c o n c e p t i o n o f t h e , g r e a t p o l i t i c a l m a c h i n e w h i c h c o n t r o l s

t h e d e s t i n i e s o f s o m a n y i n d i v i d u a l s i n E u r o p e a n d w h i c h w o u l d e x t e n d i t s

o p e r a t i o n s t o t h e w h o l e w o r l d . T h e l i n e s o f a c t i v i t y a n d t h e c h a n n e l s o f

t h o u g h t a r e n o w a n o p e n b o o k . T o a n e x t e n t n e v e r b e f o r e d r e a m e d o f , t h e

p r i n c i p l e s o f s e c r e t , i r r e s p o n s i b l e , m i n o r i t y c o n t r o l h a v e b e e n b r o u g h t t o

a m a g n i f i c e n t p e r f ec t i o n . Y e t , i n t h e v e r y p e r f e c t i o n o f i t s d e v e l o p m e n t

l i e s t h e v e r y d a n g e r t o w h i c h i t s u b j e c t s s o c i e t y a t l a r g e , t h e c a n c e r - l i k e i n -

f i l t r a t i o n i n t o u n t o u c h e d f i e l d s . If one minority can build up and sway

s u c h a m a c h i n e , w h y n o t a n o t h e r ? T h a t t h e l e a d e r s t h e m s e l v e s h a v e r e c o g -

n i z e d t h i s d a n g e r i s a p p a r e n t . 1

" T h e T h e s i s a d o p t e d b y t h e T h i r d W o r l d C o n g r e s s o n t h e s u b j e c t o f

o r g a n i z a t i o n e x p l i c i t l y p r o h i b i t e d t h e f o r m a t i o n o f c l o s e d f a c t i o n s w i t h i n

C o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s . "

O f c o u r s e ; t h e d a n g e r i s m u c h t o o r e a l. Another minority might grab

the machine .

I t b o r d e r s o n t h e s i l l y t o s a y t h a t t h i s p o n d e r o u s o r g a n i z a t i o n h a s b e e n

e r e c t e d f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f b r i n g i n g a b o u t a p r o l e t a r i a n d i c t a t o r s h i p . That

s o r t o f a s l o g a n m a y b e s u f f i c i e n t t o k e e p t h e p r o l e t a r i a n b u s y w i t h h i s

t h o u g h t s w h i l e t h e l e a d e r s t w i s t h i s n o s e , f o r " i t i s n e c e s s a r y f o r v i c t o r y

t o b r i n g a b o u t c o m m o n ` m a s s a c t i o n ' o f w o r k e r s w h o a r e n o t y e t c o m m u -

n i s t s . " T h e c l i m a x o f a p r o l e t a r i a n d i c t a t o r s h i p i s s o m e w h e r e e l s e . Th e

1 T a k e n f r o m a n e w s l e t t e r s e r v i c e s e n t , o u t b y B r o o k s , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e C o m -

m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l i n t h i s c o u n t r y , p . 2 3 2 .

William Z . F o s t e r

Benjamin Gitlow

Ludwig Lo re

J . L o v e s t o n e

John Pepper

C . E . R u t h e n b e r g



REDS I N AMERICAp r o b l e m i s t o l o c a t e i t , e v a l u a t e i t , a n d s e e t o w h o s e i n t e r e s t t h e m o v e m e n t

c o n t r i b u t e s .

I f w e t a k e a g l a n c e o v e r t h e f i e l d o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l p o l i t i c s , w e f i n d b o n d s

of sympathy between world revolution w h i c h i s i n t e r n a t i o n a l , a n d m o r e

p a r t i c u l a r l y G e r m a n y w h i c h i s n a t i o n a l . I n t e r n a t i o n a l i s m h a s n e v e r b e e n

a n t i - G e r m a n f o r t h e r e a s o n t h a t G e r m a n y h a s n o w b e e n " b o i s h e v i s e d " t h e s e

many years . I t h a s b e e n a n d i s n o w b e i n g r u l e d b y a n i r r e s p o n s i b l e m i n o r -

i t y . A c o n s t a n t w a t c h o n t h e e v e n t s o f t h e p a s t f e w y e a r s d i s c l o s e s t o o

m a n y p o i n t s o f s y m p a t h e t i c c o n t a c t b e t w e e n t h e leaders of Mos cow and

B e r l i n . P o l i c i e s a r e s h a p e d t o c o n f o r m t o c o m m o n o b j e c t i v e s . U n d e r p r e s -

e n t c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h e r e c a n b e n o c o m m u n i s t r e v o l u t i o n i n G e r m a n y , n o m a t -

t e r h o w m a n y t i m e s i t m a y b e w a l k e d o u t a s a t h r e a t . U n d e r t h e n e w e c o n o m i c

p o l i c y i n R u s s i a , c o m m u n i s m i s - a b a n d o n e d a n d t h e r e h a s g r a d u a l l y s u p e r -

c e d e d a s o c i a l i s t i c f o r m o f g o v e r n m e n t w h i c h i n g e n e r a l l i n e s i s t h e e x a c t

d u p l i c a t e o f t h a t w h i c h e x i s t s i n G e r m a n y . I s t h a t t h e r e a l o b j e c t iv e o f t h e

w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t , t h e s t r u g g l e f o r a p r o l e t a r i a n d i c t a t o r s h i p ?

T h e t e m p t a t i o n t o b e l i e f i s g r e a t w h e n t h e " s t r e a m o f t h o u g h t " a m o n g t h e

r e v o l u t i o n a r ie s i s a l l i n o n e d i r e c t i o n . 3 L

"The German s t e a m hammer and Soviet wheat will conquer the entirew o r l d . "

I t s e e m s t h a t t h e t i m e h a s c o m e t o s e r i o u s l y c o n s i d e r t h e q u e s t i o n : d i d

t h e E n t e n t e w i n t h e w a r o n l y t o l o s e t o t h e s n e a k e r y o f a b a c k - s t a i r s t h i e f ?

T h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f t h e m a t e r i a l f o r t h i s b o o k h a s b e e n o f a b s o r b i n g

i n t e r e s t . S i n c e m u c h o f i t a p p e a r e d i n t h e B o s t o n E v e n i n g T r a n s c r i p t o v e r

a y e a r a g o , t h e r e h a v e b e e n m a n y b i t t e r a t t a c k s a n d w i t h a l m u c h p r a i s e .

T h e a t t a c k s g i v e l i t t l e c o n c e r n b e c a u s e o f t h e i r s o u r c e , f r o m r a d i c a l s o f

e v e r y h u e , f r o m R e d s t o p a r l o r p i n k s , f r o m t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s

Union, a most subversive organization, to me mbers of C ongress who

pretend to b e patriots and while hiding under the c l o a k o f " p r o g r e s s -

i v e i s m " a r e i n r e a l i t y p l a y i n g t h e g a m e o f t h e w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . The

p a c i f i s t s h a v e b e e n p a r t i c u l a r l y v i r u l e n t , a s i f t h e y b e l i e v e d i n f i g h t i n g t o

o b t a i n p e a c e . P r a i s e h a s c o m e f r o m l a b o r l e a d e r s a m o n g o t h e r s , w h o b e l i e v e

i n t h e o p e n p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e t r u t h r e a l i z i n g t h a t i t h i t s n o n e w h o a r e s t i l l

l o y a l t o t h e t e n e t s o f t h o s e w h o f o u n d e d t h i s R e p u b l i c .

There are many to whom credit should be given for assistance and

a d v i c e a n d w i t h t h e m I w o u l d s h a r e t h e h o n o r s . T h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f Reds

i n A m e r i c a i n t h i s f o r m w o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n p o s s i b l e w i t h o u t t h e m a t e r i a l

c o o p e r a t i o n o f t h e A m e r i c a n D e f e n s e S o c i e t y , a n d i t s B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s .

U n d e r t h e g r e a t e s t d i f f i c u l t i e s t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n i s a t t e m p t i n g t o p r e s e r v e t o

o u r s u c c e e d i n g g e n e r a t i o n s a n A m e r i c a s u c h a s w e f o u n d i t , a n d t h i s book

1 S l o g a n s f o r t h e s i x t h a n n i v e r s a r y c e l e b r a t i o n o f t h e Oc t o b e r r e v o l u t i o n wr i t t e nby C o mrade S talin and pub l ishe d in the Pravda, Oct . 27, 1923 . H e a r i n g s o f t h e B o r a hSub-Committee, p . 64 .



i s o n e o f m a n y e v i d e n c e s o f i t s w o r k . I a m a l s o g r e a t l y i n d e b te d t o M r . W i l l -

i a m E . B r i g h a m , W a s h i n g t o n c o r r e s p o n d e n t o f t h e B o s t o n E v e n i n g T r a n s c r i p t ,

who has been o f much aid and comfort b ecause of his d e t e r m i n e d s t a n d

f o r A m e r i c a n i s m a n d h i s i n s i s t e n c e t h a t t h e A m e r i c a n peop le shall know

t h e t r u t h o f t h e r a d i c a l s i t u a t i o n . M y a p p r e c i a t i o n i s ' a l s o e x p r e s s e d t oMr. F r e d M a r v i n , e d i t o r o f t h e S e a r c h l i g h t d e p a r t m e n t o f t h e New Yor k

Commercial who wrote the chapter concerning the trials of the Com-

m u n i s t s a t S t . J o s e p h , M i c h . , f o l l o w i n g t h e r a i d a t B r i d g m a n . Thanks are

a l s o e x t e n d e d t o D r . H a r r i s A . Hou ghton of New York, who has given me

m a n y v a l u a b l e s u g g e s t i o n s a n d w h o , a t m y r e q u e s t , c o r r e c t e d t h e f i n a l p r o o f s .

T h e o f f i c i a l s o f t h e B u r e a u o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f J u s t i c e ,

e s p e c i a l l y M r . W i l l i a m J . B u r n s , M r . John Edgar Hoover and Mr . G e o r g e

F . Ruch, have also been p a r t i c u l a r l y h e l p f u l in advice and friendly

c r i t i c i s m .

M y e a r n e s t h o p e i s t h a t t h i s b o o k w i l l b e h e l p f u l t o t h o s e s t u d e n t s o f

t h e s c i e n c e o f g o v e r n m e n t w h o a r e s t i l l b e f o g g e d i n t h e t r a c t l e s s s e a o f

" l i b e r i s m " a s n o w d e f i n e d a n d t h a t i t w i l l u l t i m a t e l y p r o v e t o b e a p e r -

m a n e n t c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e b i b l i o g r a p h y o f l o y a l t y t o A m e r i c a n i n s t i t u t i o n s .

R. M . WHI TNEY

Washington, D. C

.

F e b r u a r y , 1 % 2 4 .

INTRODUCTION



CHAPTER ONETHE RAID AT BRIDGMAN

T h e m o s t c o l o s s a l c o n s p i r a c y a g a i n s t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i n i t s h i s t o r y

was unearthe d at Bridgman, Michigan, A ugust 22, 1922, when the secr et

Convention of the Co mmunist party of America was raided by the Michigan

C o n s t a b u l a r y , a i d e d b y c o u n t y a n d F e d e r a l o f f i c i a l s . Two barrels full of

documentary proof of the conspiracy were seized and are in possession of

t h e a u t h o r i t i e s . Names, records, checks from promine nt peop le in this

c o u n t r y , i n s t r u c t i o n s f r o m M o s c o w , s p e e c h e s , t h e s e s , q u e s t i o n n a i r e s - i n d e e d ,

the whole machinery of the underground organization, the avowed aim of

w h i c h i s t h e o v e r t h r o w o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t , w a s f o u n d i n s u c h

s h a p e a s t o c o n d e m n e v e r y p a r t i c i p a n t i n t h e c o n v e n t i o n .

It is now known and can be made public to what extent this mo vement,

inspired f rom Moscow and directed by Lenin and Trotsky, has grown since

t h e f i r s t s e e d s w e r e s o w n a f e w y e a r s a g o . The seriousness of the menace

may now be measured fo r the first time . The ramifications of the organ-

ization are now known . I t c a n b e s t a t e d w i t h a u t h o r i t y t h a t t h e W o r k e r s '

p a r t y o f A m e r i c a i s a b r a n c h o f t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n , p l a c e d i n t h e f i e l d b y

orders direct from Moscow and supported by the illegal branches of the

Communist party . It is known that age nts of the Co mmunists are working

s e c r e t l y , t h r o u g h " l e g a l " b o d i e s , i n l a b o r c i r c l e s , i n s o c i e t y , i n p r o f e s -

s i o n a l g r o u p s , i n t h e A r m y a n d N a v y , i n C o n g r e s s , - i n t h e s c h o o l s a n d b o l -

leges of the country, in banks and business concerns, among the farmers,

i n t h e m o t i o n p i c t u r e i n d u s t r y - i n f a c t , i n n e a r l y e v e r y w a l k o f l i f e .

These agents are no t "lowbrows," but are keen, clever, intelligent,

e d u c a t e d m e n a n d wo m e n . T h e y a r e e x p e r t s i n t h e i r s e v e r a l l i n e s . T h e i r

programs , which are no w known, show that their p lans for inc iting the

n e g r o e s , t h e f a r m e r s , t h e c l e r k s , t h e w o r k m e n i n i n d u s t r y , m e m b e r s o f C o n -

g r e s s , e m p l o y e e s i n G o v e r n m e n t d e p a r t m e n t s e v e r y w h e r e , t o v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t

t h e c o n s t i t u t e d a u t h o r i t i e s , h a v e b e e n d r a w n w i t h a l m o s t u n c a n n y a p p r e c i a t i o n

o f t h e p s y c h o l o g y o f e a c h g r o u p , w i t h f a c t s a n d f i g u r e s s o m a n i p u l a t e d a s

t o a p p e a l t o t h o s e a p p r o a c h e d , w i t h f a l s e p r e m i s e s s o c l e v e r l y d r a w n a s t o

fool almost anyone .

The names of perso ns interested directly or indirectly in this move-

ment are astounding . They range from bricklayers to bishops, and include

many prominent official and society peop le . It must be understood that

by far the greater number of these peop le do not know to what they are

lending the use of their names and influence or to what they are giving

their money . T h e y h a v e b e e n a p p r o a c h e d t o g i v e a i d t o t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y ,

[ 1 9 1



REDS I N AMERICAo r t o t h e m a n y r e l i e f o r g a n i z a t i o n s w h i c h h a v e s p r u n g u p d i s g u i s i n g C o m -

m u n i s t i c a c t i v i t i e s , o r t o t h e f o r w a r d - l o o k i n g , " a d v a n c e d " s c h o o l s o f p o l i t i c a l

t h o u g h t . They do n ot know that the ir names are on what are known i n

t h e s e c r e t c i r c l e s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s a s " s u c k e r l i s t s " c o m p r i s i n g t h e n a m e s

o f p e o p l e w h o h a v e g i v e n t o o n e o r a n o t h e r o f t h e v a r i o u s " c a u s e s " which

a r e m a n i p u l a t e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s a n d w h o c a n , i f p r o p e r l y a p p r o a c h e d ,

b e i n d u c e d t o g i v e a g a i n .

T h e s e a r e n o t i d l e w o r d s . The plans and programs of the Communists

c o n t a i n t h e p r o o f s . B u t f o r t h e l e n g t h o f t h e d o c u m e n t s t h e y m i g h t a l l

b e p r i n t e d i n f u l l . T h e y a r e w o r t h t h e s t u d y o f a l l t r u e A m e r i c a n s , f o r

b y s u g g e s t i o n a n d i n n u e n d o , t h e y a r e d e s i g n e d t o b r i n g a b o u t t h e m o r a l a n -

n e x a t i o n o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t o R u s s i a , a n d b y d i r e c t w o r d s t h e y s h o w t h a t

Lenin and Trotsky with their pre cious group in Mo scow, control the

s e c r e t a s w e l l a s t h e o p e n w o r k o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s o f A m e r i c a i n a l l i t s

r a m i f i c a t i o n s . T h e c o a l a n d r a i l r o a d s t r i k e s o f 1 9 2 2 a r e s t r i k i n g e x a m p l e s

o f t h e o p p o r t u n i t i e s a f f o r d e d t h e C o m m u n i s t s f o r m a k i n g a n d a b e t t i n g d i s -

o r d e r . F o r t h e C o m m u n i s t s t h r i v e o n d i s o r d e r . T r o u b l e i s a r a l l y i n g c r y

f o r t h e m . T h e y d e l i b e r a t e l y " p l a n t " t h e i r a g e n t s i n l a b o r u n i o n s f o r t h e

p u r p o s e o f i n s p i r i n g d i s o r d e r . T h e i r c r e e d i s t o m a k e c a p i t a l o u t o f s t r i k e s ,

r i o t s , a n d e v e r y o t h e r f o r m o f p o p u l a r u n r e s t . T h e i r p l a n s f o r t h e c o a l a n d

r a i l r o a d s t r i k e s , w h i c h w e r e s o e x t e n s i v e a f e a t u r e o f 1 9 2 2 , w e r e l a i d i n 1921 .

T h e i r s y m p a t h i z e r s a t t e n d c h u r c h m e e t i n g s f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f p r e s e n t i n g

a r g u m e n t s t o w e a k e n t h e f a i t h o f m e m b e r s o f t h e c h u r c h . T h e y p r e a c h f r e e

l o v e , t h e n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f w o m e n a n d c h i l d r e n , a n d o p e n l y p r o c l a i m t h a t

t h e b r e a k i n g u p o f t h e h o m e t i e s i s a n a d v a n c e i n c i v i l i z a t i o n .

M a n y o f t h e l e a d e r s o f t h i s m o v e m e n t i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e sa r e f o r -

e i g n e r s w h o c a n n o t s p e a k t h e E n g l i s h l a n g u a g e . I n t h e r a n k s a r e l a r g e

g r o u p s o f n o n - c i t i z e n s w h o s e s o l e r e a d i n g i s t h e r a d i c a l p a p e r s p r i n t e d

in their native language . Communist l i t e r a t u r e i n c l u d e s . t h o u s a n d s

o f b o o k s , p a m p h l e t s , m a g a z i n e s a n d n e w s p a p e r s p r i n t e d i n v a r i o u s e d i t i o n s

t o m e e t t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r t h e i r f o r e i g n r e a d e r s ; f u l l y a h a l f s c o r e o f

l a n g u a g e s o t h e r t h a n E n g l i s h a r e f o u n d i n t h i s l i t e r a t u r e . Much of the

s c h e m i n g i s d o n e b y t h e s e f o r e i g n e r s , b u t a p a r t o f i t , a n d p r a c t i c a l l y

a l l t h e p u t t i n g i n t o e f f e c t o f t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e c o n s p i r a c i e s , i s t h e w o r k

of native Americans .

The raid at Bridgman will go down in history as one of the most

important e vents in the war against Radicalism and World Revolution.

S e v e n t e e n d e l e g a t e s t o t h e c o n v e n t i o n w e r e a r r e s t e d o n t h e s p o t a n d o t h e r s

w e r e l a t e r a p p r e h e n d e d i n d i f f e r e n t p a r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y . All who were

t h e r e h a v e b e e n i d e n t i f i e d b y t h e r e c o r d s w h i c h w e r e c a p t u r e d and whicha n s w e r a n y p l e a s o f a l i b i s . T h e p l a c e o f t h e c o n v e n t i o n w a s a n i d e a l o n e .

I t w a s i n a w o o d e d v a l l e y o n t h e e s t a t e o f K a r l W u l f s k e e l , l e s s t h a n a

mile from Bridgman and ab out twelve miles each from S t . Joseph and

Benton Harbor . Small hills surrounded the meeting place from which

l o o k o u t s c o u l d k e e p w a t c h a n d g i v e w a r n i n g o f t h e a p p r o a c h o f s t r a n g e r s .

T h e g r o v e i n w h i c h t h e c o n v e n t i o n w a s h e l d i s c l o s e b y a f e w c o t t a g e s ,

which the owner was accustom ed to rent t o summer cam pers and which



THE RAID AT BRIDGMANs e r v e d t o h o u s e t h e s e v e n t y - o d d d e l e g a t e s t o t h e c o n v e n t i o n . The spot

c o u l d b e r e a c h e d o n l y b y a w a g o n r o a d , n o t i n g o o d r e p a i r , s o t h a t s w i f t

a u t o m o b i l e s c o u l d n o t t r a v e l w i t h s u f f i c i e n t s p e e d t o p r e v e n t f l i g h t .

Watchers were also stationed in the town of Bridgman to note and

report the p resence of any strangers and on August 21, this foresight

y i e l d e d i t s r e w a r d s . Word was also received from Chicago of a r a i d

i n t h a t c i t y o n t h e o f f i c e s o f W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r , w h o w a s i n a t t e n d a n c e

o n t h e B r i d g m a n c o n v e n t i o n , i n h i s o f f i c i a l c a p a c i t y a s h e a d o f t h e T r a d e

Union Educational League . Foster and some of the higher-ups from

R u s s i a a n d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s e s c a p e d d u r i n g t h e r a i d b u t l a t e r s e v e n t e e n

w e r e c a u g h t . F o s t e r h i m s e l f w a s a r r e s t e d t h e n e x t d a y i n C h i c a g o , and

denied that he was at Bridgman-but the authoriti es had t h e m i n u t e s o f

t h e m e e t i n g s , i n c l u d i n g r o l l c a l l s t o w h i c h F o s t e r a n s w e r e d " p r e s e n t , " a n d

t h e t e x t o f t h e s p e e c h d e l i v e r e d b y F o s t e r . D e n i a l w a s u s e l e s s .

P r e p a r a t i o n s h a d b e e n m a d e , a s i s a l w a y s t h e c a s e a t t h e i l l e g a l m e e t -

i n g s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s , t o s e c r e t e t h e r e c o r d s I n c a s e o f d i s c o v e r y . I n

t h i s i n s t a n c e a h o l e h a d b e e n d u g b a c k o f o n e o f t h e c o t t a g e s i n t o w h i c h

were dumped type writers, mimeo graph machines , adding machines, the

p r i v a t e p a p e r s o f t h e d e l e g a t e s a n d t h e o f f i c i a l r e c o r d s o f t h e c o n v e n t i o n

w h e n t h e a u t h o r i t i e s s w o o p e d d o w n u p o n t h e c o n s p i r a t o r s . T h e y a r e c a l l e d

c o n s p i r a t o r s a d v i s e d ly , f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f the Communist party of America

i s t o o v e r t h r o w t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s b y v i o l e n c e , b y a r m e d

r e v o l u t i o n , a n d t o m a k e t h i s c o u n t r y l i k e p r e s e n t - d a y R u s s i a .

I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t e v e r y m e m b e r o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y

h a s w h a t i s k n o w n a s a " p a r t y n a m e , " b y w h i c h a l o n e h e i s k n o w n t o t h e

other members . Rule No . 1 2 o f t h e r e g u l a t i o n s g o v e r n i n g t h e m e e t i n g s

a t B r i d g m a n s t a t e s t h a t " n o o n e s h a l l d i s c l o s e o r a s k f o r t h e l e g a l name of

a n y p e r s o n p r e s e n t . " The identity o f many memb ers is unknown, a l-

t h o u g h t h e p a r t y n a m e o f p r a c t i c a l l y e v e r y m e m b e r i s n o w o n r e c o r d .

T h e d e l e g a t e s w h o w e r e i n a t t e n d a n c e a t t h i s i l l e g a l a n n u a l c o n v e n t i o n

of the Communist party of America came from all p a r t s o f t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s . There were also prese nt honored g u e s t s ( a l b e i t i n a n o f f i c i a l

c a p a c i t y ) f r o m M o s c o w , b e a r i n g i n s t r u c t i o n s f r o m t h e i r c h i e f s , L e n i n e ,

T r o t s k y , e t a l . , a n d t h e y g a v e e x p l i c i t o r d e r s a s t o w h a t should be done

i n t h i s c o u n t r y l o o k i n g t o i t s o v e r t h r o w . There were present besides

F o s t e r , C . E . R u t h e n b e r g , t h r e e t i m e s c a n d i d a t e f o r m a y o r o f C l e v e l a n d ;

Ben Gi tlow, the New York labo r leade r ; E l l a R e e v e Bloor, who says

she has been arrested more than a hundred times f o r r a d i c a l a g i t a t i o n

among workers ; Robert Minor, J . L o v e s t o n e , W a r d B r o o k s , d i r e c t r e p r e -

s e n t a t i v e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l , o f M o s c o w ; B o r i s R e i n s t e i n ,

r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e R e d T r a d e U n i o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l of Moscow ; R o s e P a s t o r

S t o k e s , w h o s e s p e c t a c u l a r r a d i c a l c a r e e r i s w e l l - k n o w n ; William F. D u n n e ,

c a n d i d a t e f o r g o v e r n o r o f N e w Y o r k o n t h e t i c k e t o f t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y ,

a " l e g a l " b r a n c h o f t h e " i l l e g a l " C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , a n d m a n y o t h e r s . The

seventeen arrested at or near Bridgman were Thomas Flaherty of New

York ; Charles Erickson, Charles Krumbein, Eugene Bechtold and Caleb

Harrison of Chicago ; Cyril Lembkin, W . R e y n o l d s , D e t r o i t ; William F .

[ 2 1 1



REDS IN AMERICAD u n n e of Butte, Mont ., and New York ; J . M i h e l i c , K a n s a s C i t y ; Alex

B a l l , P h i l a d e l p h i a; Francis Ashworth, Camden, N . J .

; E. M c M i l l i n , T . R .

Sullivan and Norman H . T a l l e n t i r e , S t . L o u i s ; M a x L e r n e r , S e a t t l e , a n d

Z e t h N o r d l i n g , P o r t l a n d , O r e g o n .

T h e c o n v e n t i o n w a s c a l l e d t o o r d e r o n t h e a f t e r n o o n of A ugust 17

by Comrade J . L o v e s t o n e , S e c r e t a r y t o t h e C e n t r a l Executive Commi ttee .

Lovestone, whose party name is L . C . W h e a t , h a d j u s t r e t u r n e d from . a

t r i p t o G e r m a n y w h e r e h e s e c u r e d $ 3 2 , 0 0 0 f r o m t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l P r o p a -

ganda Bureau . A t t h e h e a d o f t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n i s K a r l R a d e k , t h e n o -

t o r i o u s B o l s h e v i k w h o h a s b e e n i d e n t i f i e d w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t movement

s i n c e t h e t i m e o f t h e B r e s t - L i t o v s k T r e a t y a n d w h o s e r e a l n a m e i s T o b i a c h

S o b e l s o h n ' . T h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Propaganda Bure au was o r g a n i z e d f o r

t h e s p e c i f i c p u r p o s e o f p o o l i n g a n d d i s t r i b u t i n g a l l propaganda funds so

that the money co uld be quickly placed where most n e e d e d . A d e f i n i t e

p r o p o r t i o n o f t h e f u n d s c o l l e c t e d i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i s s e n t t o t h i s b u r e a u

i n B e r l i n , a d e f i n i t e p o r t i o n b e i n g r e t a i n e d f o r direct prop aganda work

h e r e .

The conventio n was quickly organized, committees appointed, and

the work beg un . William Z . F o s t e r f i g u r e d l a r g e l y i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n ,

h e h a v i n g b e e n s e a t e d a s a f r a t e r n a l d e l e g a t e b y v i r t u e o f h i s p o s i t i o n

as head of the Trade Union Educational League . Comrades Ben Gitlow

a n d C a l e b H a r r i s o n w e r e c h o s e n c h a i r m e n b y t h e " P r e s i d i u m , " o r g o v e r n -

i n g b o d y , o f t h e c o n v e n t i o n .

T h e r e g u l a t i o n s g o v e r n i n g t h e c o n v e n t i o n , d r a w n b y t h e g r o u n d s com-

m i t t e e , i l l u s t r a t e t h e e f f o r t s m a d e t o p r e v e n t a n y k n o w l e d g e o f t h e p r o -

ceedings b ecoming known outside the s e c r e t c i r c l e . All persons were

f o r b i d d e n t o l e a v e t h e g r o u n d s w i t h o u t p e r m i s s i o n of the grounds com-

m i t t e e , a n d i f g r a n t e d t h i s p e r m i s s i o n t h e y m u s t r e g i s t e r w h e n l e a v i n g

and report when returning . "No person shall mingle with strangers,"

reads Rule No. 4 , a n d t h e n e x t o n e p r o v i d e s t h a t n o p e r s o n s s h a l l b e a l -

l o w e d t o s e n d m e s s a g e s o r m a i l l e t t e r s . Rule No . 6 r e a d s , " N o i n c r i m i n -

a t i n g l i t e r a t u r e o r d o c u m e n t s s h a l l b e k e p t i n b a g g a g e o r in rooms. All

such matter must be turned over to the committee e v e r y e v e n i n g . The

g r o u n d s c o m m i t t e e m u s t a r r a n g e f o r t h e s a f e k e e p i n g o f t h i s m a t t e r . "

T h e r u l e s p r e s c r i b e d t h e t i m e l i g h t s s h o u l d be out, what time the

d e l e g a t i o n s h o u l d g e t u p i n t h e m o r n i n g , a n d w h e n t h e y s h o u l d b a t h e and

t h a t " a l l p e r s o n s g o i n g i n b a t h i n g m u s t w e a r b a t h i n g s u i t s ." Lest some

t r a c e o f t h e i r p l a n s b e c o m e k n o w n i t w a s f o r b i d d e n t o w r i t e o n t a b l e s ,

s e a t s , o r a n y p a r t o f t h e p r e m i s e s , a n d a l l w e r e p r o h i b i t e d f r o m " t h r o w i n g

away pap ers or written matter of any kind ; " i t w a s p r o v i d e d t h a t " a l l

w r i t t e n n o t e s , n o t l o n g e r r e q u i r e d , m u s t b e h a n d e d t o t h e c o m m i t t e e f o r

d e s t r u c t i o n . " Roll calls were held thre e times a day to guard against

s p i e s g e t t i n g i n o r l e a v i n g , a n d a l l g r a n t s t o l e a v e t h e grounds must be

r e p o r t e d a t e v e r y r o l l c a l l .

F o l l o w i n g t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e c o n v e n t i o n a n d t h e a d o p t i o n o f t h e

' Webster, Karlen, Beckwith-Socha and Bolshevik, p . 2 7 (Be ckwith) .

[ 2 2 1



THE RAID AT BRIDGMANr u l e s and regulations, Comrade Ward Brooks, of Moscow, a d d r e s s e d t h e

c o n v e n t i o n i n G e r m a n . Notes taken in English by Co mrade Max Bedacht,

a member of the Central Executive Committee, were fou nd among the

b u r i e d r e c o r d s . At the outset of his address Co mrade Brooks a d m i t t e d

t h a t " f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e s i n c e t h e T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l " t h e p a r t y w a s f a c e d

b y r e a l l y s e r i o u s p r o b l e m s . He said :

" T h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s i t u a t i o n i m m e d i a t e l y f o l l o w i n g t h e R u s s i a n Revo-

l u t i o n g a v e i t s i m p r e s s o n t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l . I t w a s t h o u g h t

t h a t w e w e r e r e a l l y a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n . Some eay

t h a t t h i s c r i s i s w i l l b e t h e f i n a l o n e . O t h e r s t h a t i t w i l l b e f o l l o w e d b y

a p e r i o d o f p r o s p e r i t y . "

E v i d e n t l y p r o s p e r i t y i s n o t t o b e d e s i r e d , f o r t h e C o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t

t h r i v e s o n t h e d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n o f t h e m a s s e s . T h r o u g h o u t t h e i r l i t e r a t u r e a n d

i n a l l t h e i r s p e e c h e s t h e C o m m u n i s t s s t r e s s " c l a s s s t r u g g l e , " p r e a c h i n g

a l w a y s t h e n e e d o f c r e a t i n g c l a s s c o n s c i o u s n e s s a s a s t e p t o w a r d t h e" s t r u g -

g l e . " C o m r a d e B r o o k s ' s e x p l a n a t i o n o f t h e p r e s e n t s i t u a t i o n f o l l o w s i n

the next two paragraphs :

" T h e s i t u a t i o n i s r e a l l y t h a t a l t h o u g h t h e e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n i s b e t -

t e r i n g , s t i l l t h e p o l i t i c a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e a r e s h a r p e n -

i n g . C a p i t a l i s m h a s n o w a y o u t t o r e g a i n c o m p l e t e h e a l t h . T h e s i t u a t i o n

i n t h e E n t e n t e i s s u c h t h a t E n g l a n d a n d F r a n c e a r e c o n s t a n t l y a t o d d s .

America is at o dds with the rest o f the world . T h i s l e a d s t o a g r e a t

c o m p l i c a t i o n o f i n t e r e s t s . T h u s t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t i s s o l i d i f y i n g .

I r e l a n d e n d a n g e r s t h e p o s i t i o n o f G r e a t B r i t a i n o n t h e C o n t i n e n t .

" G e r m a n y i s t h e g r e a t e s t p r o l e t a r i a n power, with seventy p er cent

u r b a n p o p u l a t i o n . The bourgeoisie cannot for any length of time hold

power . The slogan of a proletarian government by the G e r m a n C o m -

m u n i s t p a r t y i s n o t a r t i f i c i a l , b u t i s b a s e d o n t h e d e s i r e s o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t .

G e r m a n y i s t h e s e e d o f E u r o p e . F r a n c e i s s o c l o s e l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h G e r -

m a n y t h a t a n u p r i s i n g i n G e r m a n y w o u l d u l t i m a t e l y l e a d t o a r e v o l u t i o n

in France . "

C o m r a d e B r o o k s w e n t o n t o r e p o r t o n c o n d i t i o n s i n I t a l y , Hungary,

C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , P o l a n d , F i n l a n d , J a p a n a n d R u s s i a , p a i n t i n g t h e p i c t u r e

i n b r i l l i a n t c o l o r s f o r h i s A m e r i ca n h e a r e r s , t u r n i n g e v e r y d e f e a t o f C o m -

m u n i s t p l a n s t o v i c t o r y b y t w i s t i n g t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t s

w h i c h l e d t o t h e d e f e a t a n d c l a i m i n g t h e r e s u l t s a s s a t i s f a c t o r y t o t h e

Communists . Among oth er wild claims he made was that Russia herself

h a d c o n t r i b u t e d n i n e t y - n i n e p e r c e n t t o t h e r e l i e f o f t h e f a m i n e s u f f e r e r s

o f t h a t c o u n t r y . Then he turned to America .

"The American situation . What has happened? Much and better .

T h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i n A m e r i c a s e e s m o r e c o n c r e t e l y , m o r e d e f i n i t e l y , i t s

goal and also sees the methods . T h e t a c t i c a l q u e s t i o n s w e r e n e v e r s o

i n t e n s i v e l y d i s c u s s e d a s d u r i n g t h e l a s t y e a r . T h i s w i l l f i t t h e m t o t a k e

t h e l e a d i n t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e. A s f a r a s r e s u l t s g o n o t h i n g i s t o b e s e e n

a s y e t . A r e w e b e t t e r o r w o r s e o f f t h a n w e w e r e l a s t y e a r ? B e t t e r , b e -

c a u s e t h e p a r t y e x i s t s a n d k n o w s w h y i t e x i s t s . I t i s m o r e f i t f o r t h e

p u r p o s e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y t h a n i t w a s l a s t y e a r . "

[ 2 3 ]



REDS IN AMERICAInasmuch as they were among themselves at Bridgman t h e r e w a s n o

n e e d o f p r e t e n d i n g t h a t t h e w o r k o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s w a s l e g a l . T h e d i f f e r -

e n t i a t i o n o f t h e l e g a l a n d i l l e g a l b r a n c h e s w a s m a d e c l e a r , a n d t h e f a c t

t h a t t h e i l l e g a l b r a n c h i s r e g a r d e d a s t h e m o r e important and the con-

t r o l l i n g b r a n c h i s p l a i n l y s t a t e d . F o r i t i s i n t h e w o r k o f t h e i l l e g a l

b r a n c h o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t t h e v i o l a t i o n s o f t h e l a w s o f t h e c o u n t r y

a r e c o m m i t t e d , t h e c o n s p i r a c i e s f a t h e r e d b y M o s c o w a n d i m p o s e d u p o n t h e

p a r t y i n A m e r i c a a r e c a r r i e d o u t . The report of the Adjustment Com-

mittee, of which Robert Minor was chairman and of which Brooks and

R e i n s t e i n o f M o s c o w w e r e a m o n g t h e m e m b e r s , c o n s i s t e d o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y

r e s o l u t i o n s , w h i c h w e r e a d o p t e d , a s f o l l o w s :

" 1 . T o m u l t i p l y t e n f ol d t h e a c t i v i t ie s of the whole membersh ip of

t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i n t h e t r a d e s u n i o n s i s n o t o n l y a q u e s t i o n o f t h e

l i f e a n d d e a t h o f t h e p a r t y , b u t , a l o n g s i d e o f a n o t h e r form of the work

a m o n g t h e m a s s e s , t h e b e s t c o u n t e r b a l a n c e a g a i n s t c o n t r o v e r s i e s t h a t t e a r

t h e p a r t y t o p i e c e s .

"2 . T h e r o a d t o r e v o l u t i o n i n A m e r i c a l e a d s o v e r t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f

t h e p o w e r o f t h e y e l l o w l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r .

This aim can be accomplished o nly through work within t he Am erican

F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r f o r t h e c o n q u e s t o f t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h e r e f o r e i t i s

the main task of the Commu nists to work in the Amer ican Federatio n of

Labor .

" 3 . T h e m a i n g o a l o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s i n t h e i r t r a d e s u n i o n w o r k i s

t h e u n i f i c a t i o n o f a l l o r g a n i z e d l a b o r i n t o o n e f e d e r a t i o n .

"4 . T h e w o r k i n t h e i n d e p e n d e n t u n i o n s m u s t b e c a r r i e d o n i n t h e a b o v e

s p i r i t . The necessary and right amalgamations ( n o t a r t i f i c i a l o n e s ) o f

i n d e p e n d e n t u n i o n s w i t h i n a c e r t a i n i n d u s t r y o r i n l o c a l c o u n c i l s s h o u l d

b e i n f l u e n c e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s s o t h a t t h e y a r e n o t c a r r i e d t h r o u g h i n

a s e p a r a t i s t s p i r i t a g a i n s t t h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r b u t a s a s t e p

t o w a r d t h e g e n e r a l u n i f i c a t i o n o f l a b o r a n d i n s u p p o r t o f t h e w o r k w i t h i n

the American Federation of Labor .

" 5 . T h e t e n d e n c y f o r t h e f o r m a t i o n o f a n a t i o n a l f e d e r a t i o n o f i n d e -

p e n d e n t u n i o n s o r t h e a m a l g a m a t i o n o f l o c a l c o u n c i l s i n t o a c o m p e t i n g

f e d e r a t i o n a g a i n s t t h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r i s harmful .

"6 . T h e e x i s t i n g c o u n c i l s w i s h i n g t o a f f i l i a t e w i t h t h e R e d T r a d e s Union

I n t e r n a t i o n a l s h o u l d n o t b e d i s c o u r a g e d b u t s h o u l d b e a t t r a c t e d u n d e r

t h e c o n d i t i o n t h a t t h e y s u p p o r t t h e t r a d e s u n i o n p r o g r a m o f t h e p a r t y . "

ILLEGAL PARTY MUST CONTINUE" 1 . The illegal Communist party must continue to exist and must

c o n t i n u e t o d i r e c t t h e w h o l e C o m m u n i s t w o r k .

" 2 . T h e o p e n w o r k i n a l l f o r m s a n d e s p e c i a l l y i n N u m b e r T w o ' i s t h e

m a i n t a s k o f t h e p a r t y .

"3 . A legal Communist party is now impossi ble . S h o u l d c o n d i t i o n s

c h a n g e , o n l y a c o n v e n t i o n c a n c h a n g e t h e p a r t y ' s p o l i c y . "

' The legal branch .



THE RAID AT BRIDGMANRELATIONS OF ONE AND TWO'

" I . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e t h e s i s o f t h e S e c o n d W o r l d C o n g r e s s o f t h e C o m -

m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l t h e r o l e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i n t h e P r o l e t a r i a n

R e v o l u t i o n i s , ` T h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i s t h e o r g a n i z e d p o l i t i c a l l e v e r b y

m e a n s o f w h i c h t h e m o r e a d v a n c e d p a r t o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s l e a d s a l l t h e

p r o l e t a r i a n a n d s e m i - p r o l e t a r i a n m a s s . '

" 2 . The Communist p arty in its revolutionary outlook does in no

c o u n t r y f e e l i t s e l f b o u n d b y t h e e x i s t i n g l a w s f o r c e d u p o n i t b y t h e b o u r -

g e o i s c l a s s s t a t e; n o t o n l y i n t h e h i s t o r i c r e v o l u t i o n w h i c h i t s t r i v e s t o

b r i n g a b o u t a n d w h i c h n a t u r a l l y c a n n o t b e c a r r i e d o u t l e g a l l y , b u t a l s o

i n i t s a c t i v i t y i n t h e p e r i o d o f p r e p a r a t i o n d o e s t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y a n d

t h e f i g h t i n g p r o l e t a r i a t c o m e i n o p e n c o n f l i c t w i t h b o u r g e o i s j u s t i c e a n d

t h e o r g a n s o f b o u r g e o i s s t a t e a p p a r a t u s . W h e t h e r i n s p i t e o f t h e s e f a c t s

t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y c a n e x i s t a s a n o p e n p a r t y , t o l e r a t e d b y t h e e n e m y

a s a s o - c a l l e d l e g a l p a r t y , o r w h e t h e r i t m u s t e x i s t a s a n i l l e g a l p a r t y d e -

p e n d s u p o n a n u m b e r o f c i r c u m s t a n c e s w h i c h d i f f e r i n v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s

and from time to time . Even an open Co mmunist party must be armed

f o r t h e e v e n t u a l i t y o f e x c e p t i o n a l l a w s a g a i n s t i t a n d a l s o f o r t h e c a r r y i n g

o u t o f m a n y p e r m a n e n t t a s k s i t m u s t m a i n t a i n a n i l l e g a l a p p a r a t u s . The

present situation in A merica makes the existence of a legal Communist

p a r t y , a s i t e x i s t s i n G e r m a n y , F r a n c e , I t a l y , e t c . , i m p o s s i b l e . I n s p i t e o f

a l l d i f f e r e n c e s A m e r i c a b e l o n g s i n t h e c a t e g o r y o f c o u n t r i e s l i k e F i n l a n d ,

P o l a n d , R o u r n a n i a , J u g o s l a v i a w h e r e t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t b e i l l e g a l .

I n s p i t e o f t h e f a c t t h a t l a t e l y a n e x t e n s i o n o f t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f l e g a l

a c t i v i t i e s h a s t a k e n p l a c e , p r o s p e c t s f o r t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f a n o p e n C o m -

m u n i s t p a r t y w i t h i n a r e a s o n a b l e l e n g t h o f t i m e d o n o t e x i s t. Th e A m e r-

i c a n i l l e g a l C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , t h e r e f o r e , i s a n d r e m a i n s T h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y , t h e o n l y s e c t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l i n t h i s c o u n t r y .

" 3 . T h e c e n t r e o f g r a v i t y o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y l i e s i n i t s o p e n a c -

t i v i t i e s . The whole op en work of all Communi sts in the legal p olitical

f i e l d , i n t h e t r a d e s u n i o n s a n d a l l o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s , a n d i n t h e p r e s s ,

must be directed by the Communist party . The directio n of this whole

o p e n w o r k w i l l n o t l e a d t o a n e g l e c t o f t h e i l l e g a l p a r t y w o r k b u t , q u i t e

t h e c o n t r a r y , w i l l i n s t i l l t h e p a r t y w i t h r e a l l i f e a n d g i v e i t s w o r k p o l i t i c a l

s i g n i f i c a n c e . I t w i l l d i r e c t i t s a t t e n t i o n t o t h e g r e a t p r o b l e m s o f t h e

s t r u g g l e o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t . I t w i l l e s t a b l i s h t h e r e a l c o n n e c t i o n s b e t w e e n

t h e p a r t y a n d t h e m a s s e s a n d t h e i r s t r u g g l e . If in the future Number

Two should beco me a revolutionary mass p arty which can ope nly and

unrestrictedly operate as and call itself a Communist party, then the

p r e s e n t u n d e r g r o u n d o r g a n i z a t i o n w i l l b e c o m e a n i l l e g a l a p p a r a t u s w i t h i n

t h a t p a r t y a n d m u s t b e a d a p t e d t o t h e n e w s i t u a t i o n a n d n e w ' f u n c t i o n s .

F o r t h e p r a c t i c a l c a r r y i n g o u t o f t h e s e p o l i c i e s t h e f o l l o w i n g r u l e s m u s t b e

o b s e r v e d :

" A . I n a l l t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s t h e C o m m u n i s t s a r e s u b j e c t t o t h e d i r e c t i o n s

a n d d i s c i p l i n e o f t h e p a r t y .

1 Ineaal and LegaL



REDS IN AMERICA"B . Every member of the Communist party is in duty bound to be

active in Number Two .

"C . T h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e w i l l s e e t o i t t h a t t h e d i r e c t i n g

b o d y o f N u m b e r T w o w i l l b e s u b j e c t t o i t s g u i d a n c e i n t h e c o m p o s i t i o n o f

i t s m e m b e r s h i p a s w e l l a s i n t h e e x e c u t i o n o f t h e p o l i t i c a l d i r e c t i o n s o f

t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e . All meetings o f the Number Two must

be p repared for b y the Number One . T h i s i s e s p e c i a l l y i m p o r t a n t f o r t h e

c o n v e n t i o n s o f t h e N u m b e r T w o w h i c h , u n d e r p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n s must be

prece ded by a conventio n of the Number One .

" D . T h e s a m e h o l d s t r u e f o r l o c a l p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s .

"E . T h e m e e t i n g s o f p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s o f N u m b e r O n e a s w e l l a s t h e

o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d g r o u p s o f N u m b e r O n e m u s t b e d e v o t e d , a l o n g w i t h i n n e r

o r g a n i z a t i on a l q u e s t io n s , m a i n l y t o di s c u s s i o n s o f p l a n s o f a c t i o n i n t h e

open work . T h e s e m e e t i n g s m u s t n o t d u p l i c a t e a n d t h u s h i n d e r t h e open

w o r k b u t m u s t b e c o m e t h e d r i v i n g f o r c e o f t h e o p e n a c t i v i t i e s .

` F . T h e N u m b e r T w o s h a l l b e r e c r u i t i n g g r o u n d f o r t h e N u m b e r On e

a n d m u s t b e t h e c o n s t a n t s o u r c e o f n e w f o r c e s .

" G . No membe r of the Number One is allowed to negle ct Number One

w o r k b u t m u s t b e i n c o n s t a n t t o u c h w i t h t h e i l l e g a l o r g a n i z a t i o n . This

m u s t g i v e t h e m e m b e r s b a c k b o n e a n d d i r e c t i o n f o r t h e open work .

" H . T h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e p u b l i s h e s m o n t h l y a n i l l e g a l

o r g a n f o r t h e d i s c u s s i o n o f i m p o r t a n t p a r t y q u e s t i o n s t o b e d i s t r i b u t e d

among party members and sympathizers . B y a c t u a l w o r k t h e C e n t r a l E x -

e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e m u s t k e e p i n c o n s t a n t t o u c h w i t h the membership so

t h a t i t s d e c i s i o n s a r e n o t c a r r i e d o u t b y purely mechanical means, but

also and more important, by a thorough understanding o f p a r t y p o l i c y

a n d t e c h n i q u e o n t h e p a r t o f t h e m e m b e r s h i p .

" I . T h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f i l l e g a l p r o p a g a n d a a n d a g i t a t i o n a l l i t e r a t u r e

f o r m a s s d i s t r i b u t i o n s h a l l b e a d a p t e d t o p o l i t i c a l n e c e s s i t y w h e n e v e r t h e

l e g a l p o s s i b i l i t ie s a r e e x h a u s t e d . "

TO PROLETARIAN DICTATORSHIP" 1 .-The program of the Number Two must b e short . A manifesto

w h i c h i n s h o r t , c o n c i s e s e n t e n c e s , n o t in the form of a narrative or a

s y l l o g i s m , c o n t a i n s t h e d e c l a r a t i o n o f p r i n c i p l e s .

" 2 . - T h e r e d t h r e a d o f t h e p r o g r a m i s t h e i d e a a n d t h e p r a c t i c e o f t h e

c l a s s s t r u g g l e . I n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n m a s s - a c t i o n s s h o u l d be de alt with .

This part must be American ; i t m u s t d e a l w i t h p a r t i a l s t r u g g l e s o f t h e

A m e r i c a n m a s s e s a s w e l l a s w i t h t h e g e n e r a l s t r u gg l e o f t h e t h i r t y m i l l io n

of American workers . I n t h i s p o r t i o n m u s t b e s t a t e d t h e b a s i c e l e m e n t s

o u t o f w h i c h o u r t r a d e u n i o n t a c t i c s a r e d e v e l o p e d . The fundamentals of

t h e U n i t e d F r o n t s h o u l d b e h e r e e x p r e s s e d .

" 3 . - T h e p o l i t i c a l p a r t m u s t l e a d u p t o t h e c l i m a x o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n

d i c t a t o r s h i p . T h i s f o r m u l a a p p e a r s i n c o n t r a d i s t i n c t i o n t o t h e d i c t a t o r -

s h i p o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s . American democracy must be analyzed . Rule of

t h e t h i r t y m i l l i o n f o r t h e o v e r t h r o w o f c a p i t a l i s m a s a g a i n s t r u l e o f W a l l

S t r e e t f o r t h e c o n s e r v a t i o n o f e x p l o i t a t i o n . S o v i e t r u l e a s t h e h i s t o r i c

f o r m o f a p r o l e t a r i a n r e g i m e i n t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n p e r i o d .

[ 2 6 ]



THE RAID AT BRIDGMAN" 4 . - O n e o r t w o s e n t e n c e s m a y b e i n s e r t e d i n a f i t p l a c e d e a l i n g w i t h

t h e y e l l o w s a n d r e f o r m i s t s a n d a g a i n s t t h e p o l i c y o f c o m p r o m i s e . "

CENTRI S T S I N THE WORKERS' P A RTY .

" T h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y w a s o r g a n i z e d t o c o m p r i s e n o t o n l y C o m m u n i s t s

b u t a l s o s y m p a t h i z e r s w h o , a l t h o u g h n o t y e t cl e a r - c u t C o m m u n i s t s , g r a v i t a t e

toward Communism and accep t the moral and political l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e

C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l a n d t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a . F r o m t h a t

point of view the decided non-Comm unists and anti-Communists ( t h a t i s ,

o p p o n e n t s o f t h e e x i s t i n g C o m i n t e r n ) , e s p e c i a l l y w h e n t h e y b e l o n g t o t h e

c a s t e o f l e a d e r s , a r e n o t a d e s i r a b l e e l e m e n t i n t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y , b u t

a r e a d i s t u r b i n g a n d a t t i m e s e v e n a d a n g e r o u s e l e m e n t . Even tho ugh at

a certain period of development we are fo rced t o a c c e p t s u c h e l e m e n t s

o n a c c o u n t o f t h e i r i m p o r t a n t f o l l o w i n g , w e m u s t do everything in our

p o w e r t o w i n t h i s f o l l o w i n g f o r u s a s q u i c k l y a s p o s s i b l e a n d t o d e s t r o y

t h e i n f l u e n c e o f t h e n o n - C o m m u n i s t s . * * T o t h e q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r i t

w o u l d b e b e t t e r f o r u s i f t h e y g o s o o n e r o r i f i t w e r e b e t t e r t h e y g o l a t e r ,

we answer : a t t h e p r e s e n t m o m e n t a n o p e n b r e a c h w o u l d m e a n a s p l i t , a

weakening and co mpromising o f the as yet extremely weak p a r t y . They

m a y t h e r e f o r e r e m a i n ; but even no w already our Communist work with in

t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y m u s t b e d o u b l e d a n d t r e b l e d a s w e l l a s o u r p r o p a g a n d a

f o r t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y .

" E s p e c i a l l y d a n g e r o u s a r e t h e p o s i t i o n s o f p o w e r o f t h e ce n t r i s t s a n d

h a l f - c e n t r i s t s i n t h e d a i l y p a p e r s . This condition must be remedied im-

m e d i a t e l y . F i r s t b y o r g a n i z a t i o n a l m e a s u r e s t o g e t t h i s p r e s s a b s o l u t e l y

i n o u r c o n t r o l ; s e c o n d l y , b y t h e o p e n c r i t i c i s m o f t h e i r m i s t a k e s i n t h e

o f f i c i a l o r g a n o f t h e W o r k e r 's p a r t y w h i c h l a t t e r o r g a n m u s t b e a b s o l u t e l y

i n o u r c o n t r o l ; t h i r d l y , b y t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t a s s o o n a s p o s s i b l e o f a n

E n g l i s h d a i l y p a p e r 1"T h e " C o o r d i n a t i o n o f C o m m u n i s t A c t i v i t y i n t h e A m e r i c a s " - w a s d i s -

c u s s e d a t l e n g t h a s a t h e s i s p r e s e n t e d t o t h e c o n v e n t i o n . T h e c h i e f p o i n t

m a d e i n t h i s t h e s i s w a s t h a t t h e C o m m u n i s t s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s m u s t t a k e

t h e l e a d i n a l l C o m m u n i s t a c t i v i t y i n t h e L a t i n A m e r i c a n r e p u b l i c s b e c a u s e

t h e y b r a n d t h e L a t i n s a s b a c k w a r d , l a c k i n g i n i n t e l l i g e n c e and in n o way

s t r o n g e n o u g h t o a c c o m p l i s h a n y t h i n g w i t h o u t t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e o r g a n -

i z a t i o n i n t h i s c o u n t r y . T h e c a p i t a l i s t s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w e r e c o n -

d e m n e d u t t e r l y b e c a u s e t h e y h a v e i n v e s t e d s o m u c h m o n e y i n L a t i n A m e r i c a ,

b u t n o c r e d i t , n a t u r a l l y , i s g i v e n f o r t h e w o r k o f a i d i n g t h e c ou n t r i e s t o

t h e s o u t h o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s b y g i v i n g e m p l o y m e n t t o t h e p e o p l e and by

d e v e l o p i n g t h e n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s . T h i s e x t e n s i o n o f c a p i t a l f o r u s e i n

L a t i n A m e r i c a i s c a l l e d " i m p e r i a l i s m " b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e warning

i s s o u n d e d t h a t t h e A m e r i c a n c a p i t a l i s t s a r e t h u s e x t e n d i n g t h e i r i n f l u e n c e

for the purpose of finding labor to import into the United States to

b r e a k s t r i k e s . I t i s a l s o s t a t e d i n t h i s t h e s i s t h a t :

" T h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f a n e x o t i c c a p i t a l i s m i n t o L a t i n A m e r i c a n c o u n t r i e s

1 T h i s d a i l y C o m m u n i s t p a p e r w a s r e c e n t l y e s t a b l i s h e d i n C h i c a g o .See Appendix A .

[ 2 7 1



REDS IN AMERICAh a s o p p o s e d t o a b a c k w a r d a n d u n r i p e p r o l e t a r i a t t h e h i g h l y d e v e l o p e d b o u r -

g e o i s i e o f t h e m o s t p o w e r f u l c a p i t a l i s t i c n a t i o n i n t h e w o r l d , w i t h t h e

military resources of the United States at its command . T h e f i g h t i s

unequal . Isolated , the Latin American workers can not hope to d efend

t h e i r i n t e r e s t s s u c c e s s f u l l y a g a i n s t t h e i r m i g h t y a d v e r s a r y . Th e y n e e d

u s a s w e l l a s w e n e e d t h e m . A p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n a n y w h e r e i n L a t i n

A m e r i c a i s w e l l n i g h i m p o s s i b l e u n t i l t h e r e i s a r e v o l u t i o n i n t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s . W a l l S t r e e t , w i t h i t s b i l l i o n s o f d o l l a r s i m p e r i l l e d , w o u l d c r u s h

i t i m m e d i a t e l y . American imperialism, economic and political, is the

i n s t r u m e n t o f e x p l o i t a t i o n t h r o u g h o u t t h e w e s t e r n w o r l d . I n L a t i n A m e r i -

c a , a s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d C a n a d a , t h e C l a s s S t r u g g l e i s a s t r u g g l e

a g a i n s t W a l l S t r e e t . "

T h r o u g h o u t t h e m i n u t e s o f t h e c o n v e n t i o n , a n d a l s o i n a l l C o m m u n i s t

l i t e r a t u r e , t h e l e t t e r " X " i s u s e d t o r e f e r t o t h e T r a d e U n i o n E d u c a t i o n a l

L e a g u e , o f w h i c h W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r i s t h e h e a d a n d o r g a n i z e r . T h i s i s d o n e

i n o r d e r t o a i d F o s t e r i n h i s e f f o r t s t o a v o i d c o n f l i c t w i t h t h e a u t h o r i t i e s

and to make the American peo ple and his oppo nents in labor union

circles believe that it is not connected with the Co mmunist movement .

F o s t e r w a s a m e m b e r o f t h e c o m m i t t e e w h i c h d r e w u p t h e r e s o l u t i o n s o n t h e

R e l a t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y t o t h e T r a d e U n i o n E d u c a t i o n a l L e a g u e ,

adopted by the convention . T h e s e r e s o l u t i o n s p r o v i d e s p e c i f i c a l l y t h a t

t h e i l l e g a l b r a n c h o f t h e p a r t y m u s t a l w a y s b e i n c o n t r o l o f t h e L e a g u e .

T h e y r e a d a s f o l l o w s :

"I . - T h e p a r t y r e c o g n i z e s t h e ` X ' a s o n e o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r s

f o r t h e r e v o l u t i o n i z i n g o f t h e t r a d e a n d i n d u s t r i a l u n i o n s a n d t h e r e f o r e

w i l l t a k e a l l t h e n e c e s s a r y m e a s u r e s i n o r d e r t o d e v e l o p a n d s t r e n g t h e n i t

t h r o u g h t h e a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e m e m b e r s h ip o f t h e p a r t y t o i t s w o r k .

"2 . - T h e f o r m u l a t i o n o f t h e t r a d e u n i o n p o l i c i e s b y t h e p a r t y m u s t b e

b a s e d u p o n t h e c l o s e s t c o n t a c t o f t h e p a r t y w i t h t h e e x p e r i e n c e s o f t h e

t r a d e u n i o n n u c l e i .

" 3 . - T h e g e n e r a l c o n t r o l o f t h e N u m b e r O n e n u c l e i w i t h i n X a s w i t h i n

a l l o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s m u s t b e i n t h e h a n d s o f t h e p a r t y a n d n o t i n t h e

h a n d s o f t h e s p e c i a l c o m m i t t e e s .

"4 . - C o n t a c t m u s t b e e s t a b l i s h e d b e t w e e n t h e e x e c u t i v e c o m m i t t e e s o f

t h e p a r t y a n d t h e e x e c u t i v e c o m m i t t e e s o f t h e X .

" 5 .-Number One nuclei within the X must be made to functio n

r e g u l a r l y . "

T h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t e v e n t , i n t h e e y e s o f t h e d e l e g a t e s , w a s t h e s p e e c h

o f F o s t e r h i m s e l f b e f o r e t h e c o n v e n t i o n . H i s h o s t i l i t y t o S a m u e l G o m p e r s

and to the American Federation of Labor, of which Foster is a memb er,

w a s s h o w n i n h i s a d d r e s s . H e t o l d o f t h e w o r k d o n e a m o n g t h e r a i l r o a d

w o r k e r s a n d t h e m i n e r s l e a d i n g u p t o t h e s t r i k e s o f 1 9 2 2 . H e c o u n s e l l e d

v i o l e n c e i n o v e r t h r o w i n g t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . H e t o l d o f

h i s d e a l i n g s i n p e r s o n w i t h t h e a u t h o r i t i e s i n M o s c o w a n d h o w t h e l e a d e r s

i n R u s s i a u n d e r s t o o d t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h i s c o u n t r y . His speech in part

f o l l o w s



THE RAID AT BRIDGMAN" T h e f a t e o f t h e p a r t y d e p e n d s u p o n i t s c o n t r o l o f t h e m a s s e s . The

t r a d e u n i o n w o r k i s o n e o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t t h i n g s i n o r d e r t o g e t c o n t r o l

o f t h e m a s s e s . T h e i n f l u e n c e o f t h e m a s s e s c a n b e m e a s u r e d b y t h e a m o u n t

o f c o n t r o l w e h a p p e n t o h a v e i n t h e t r a d e u n i o n w o r k i n a l l c o u n t r i e s . Weh a v e s e e n t h e S o c i a l i s t p a r t y h e r e g o t o p i e c e s , m o r e s o t h a n i n a n y o t h e r

c o u n t r y o f t h e w o r l d . T h e S o c i a l i s t p a r t y i n G e r m a n y s u f f e r e d , b u t n o t

l i k e t h e S o c i a l i s t p a r t y h e r e . I t i s p r a c t i c a l l y o u t s i d e t h e l a b o r m o v e -

ment . T h e r e i s n o t h i n g l e f t o f i t .

" O n e o f t h e p r i m e r e a s o n s i s t h a t t h e S o c i a l i s t p a r t y i n t h i s c o u n t r y

n e v e r u n d e r s t o o d t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f i n d u s t r i a l w o r k ; n e v e r h a d a n i n d u s -

t r i a l p o l i c y . I t s e e m e d t o g o a l o n g o n t h e i d e a t h a t t h e S o c i a l i s t p a r t y

s h o u l d b e a n o r g a n i z a t i o n o f c i t i z e n s i n g e n e r a l , a n d d i d n o t r e a l i z e t h a t

t h e f o u n d a t i o n h a d t o b e t h e w o r k e r s , a n d n o t o n l y t h e w o r k e r s b u t t h e o r -

g a n i z e d w o r k e r s . T h e S o c i a l i s t p a r t y n e v e r r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e k e y t o t h e

w o r k i n g c l a s s l i e s t h r o u g h o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h a t c a r r y o n b r e a d - a n d - b u t t e r ,

e v e r y - d a y s t r u g g l e s . The consequ ence was that the Socialist party h a s

w a v e r e d e v e r s i n c e i t w a s f o r m e d . T h e S o c i a l i s t p a r t y n e v e r c r y s t a l l i ze d

i t s e l f . I t f e l l i n t o t h e h a n d s o f D e b s , a n d D e b s h a s b e e n a m a n w h o h a s

n e v e r r e a l l y g r a s p e d t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f m a s s o r g a n i z a t i o n s . As a con-

s e q u e n c e , t h e S o c i a l i s t p a r t y d e v e l o p e d a w i n g t h a t s t o o d f o r d u a l o r g a n -

i z a t i o n s , a l e f t w i n g .T h e r i g h t w i n g s t o o d f o r w o r k i n g i n t r a d e u n i o n s

in mild milksop fashio n . They used the trade unions merely as vote-

g e t t i n g m a c h i n e s . T h e y d i d n o t a t t a c h f i r s t - r a t e i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e m . Th e

l e f t w i n g , l e d b y D e b s , H a y w o o d a n d o t h e r s , h a d t h e i d e a o f d u a l o r g a n i -

z a t i o n s , t h e r i g h t w i n g h a d a n i d e a o f g o i n g a l o n g i n t r a d e u n i o n w o r k

m i l d l y .

" T h e r e s u l t w a s a c o m p r o m i s e b e t w e e n t h e t w o p o s i t i o n s . They en-

d o r s e d t h e p r i n c i p l e o f i n d u s t r i a l u n i o n i s m b u t f a i l e d t o d i r e c t t h e a c t i v e

w o r k o r a t t e m p t t o p u t i t i n t o p r a c t i c e . T h e S o c i a l i s t p a r t y h a d a n i n -

d u s t r i a l p r o g r a m , b u t t h e y f a i l e d b e c a u s e o f l a c k o f o r g a n i z e d e f f o r t .

W h e n t h e w a r c a m e a l o n g , t h e S o c i a l i s t p a r t y t o o k a s t a n d a g a i n s t t h e wa r .

T h e r e s u l t w a s t h a t G o m p e r s b y c o n t r o l l i n g s t r a t e g i c p o i n t s w a s n o t o n l y

a b l e t o s w a y t h e m a s s e s i n f a v o r o f t h e w a r , b u t t h e w h o l e w o r k i n g c l a s s

a s w e l l , a n d t h e S o c i a l i s t p a r t y f a i l e d t o r e a l i z e t h e n e c e s s i t y o f i n t r e n c h i n g

i t s e l f i n t h e s e m a s s e s a n d f o u n d i t s e l f a t t h e e n d o f t h e l i m b , a m o u n t i n g

t o n o t h i n g . The whole working class turned against i t b e c a u s e i t w a s

f o o l i s h e n o u g h t o a l l o w t h e i r u n i o n s t o r e m a i n i n t h e h a n d s o f t h e b u r e a u c -

r a c y . T h e s p l i t t h a t c a m e a l o n g c o m p l e t e d t h e j o b b e c a u s e o f t h e i r f a u l t y

i n d u s t r i a l p o l i c y . T h e y c o u l d h a v e w i t h s t o o d s o l i d l y b u t , b e c a u s e t h e y

h a d n o b a c k i n g o f t h e w o r k e r s , t h e y c o l l a p s e d .

"The Commun ist party is not going to make the same mistake . T h i s

l a y i n g s o m u c h s t r e s s o n t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e t r a d e u n i o n w o r ki s o n e o f

t h e m o s t h e l p f u l f e a t u r e s o f t h e m o v e m e n t . W h e n w e l a y s t r e s s o n t h e i m -

p o r t a n c e o f t h i s w o r k , w e r e a l i z e t h a t w e m u s t c a p t u r e t h e t r a d e u n i o n s i f

w e w a n t t o g e t a n y w h e r e . D i f f e r e n t C o m m u n i s t s d i f f e r a s t o t h e i m p o r t a n c e

o f c a p t u r i n g t h e u n i o n s i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e . Some say that the

t r a d e u n i o n , d o e s n o t a m o u n t t o a n y t h i n g ; t h a t i t i s j u s t a n e u t r a l o r g a n -



REDS IN AMERICAi z a t i o n a n d w i l l n e v e r b e c o m e a r e v o l u t i o n a r y u n i t . O t h e r s s a y t h a t i t

i s o n e o f t h e r e a l l y r e v o l u t i o n a l i n s t r u m e n t s o f t h e w o r k e r s a n d w i l l f u n c t i o n

a s s u c h i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e . S y n d i c a l i s t s t a k e t h e p o s i t i o n t h a t

t r a d e u n i o n w o r k i s t h e o n l y t h i n g . Although we may differ as to the

p o s i t i v e v a l u e o f t h e t r a d e u n i o n w o r k , w e m u s t a g r e e w i t h t h e n e g a t i v e ,

n a m e l y , t h a t i t i s a b s o l u t e l y impossible to have a revolution in the

c o u n t r y u n l e s s w e w i l l c o n t r o l t h e m a s s t r a d e u n i o n s . T h i s f a c t a l o n e

s h o u l d j u s t i f y t h e p o l i c y t h a t t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

i s w o r k i n g o u t . I f w e w i s h a r e v o l u t i o n , w e m u s t h a v e t h e i r s u p p o r t .

"Afte r our delegatio n came back from Moscow last year, i t b r o u g h t

with us a program which we thought was a good p ractical program for

t h i s c o u n t r y , a n d w e w a n t t o t e l l y o u t h i s - a l o t o f p e o p l e s a y t h a t t h o s e i n

Moscow do not understan d the situation . I want to dispute that . I

f o u n d i n t h e R e d T r a d e s U n i o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l a n d i n t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r -

n a t i o n a l a n d g e n e r a l l y i n M o s c o w , a k e e n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e f u n d a m e n t a l s

o f o u r s i t u a t i o n in t h i s c o u n t r y . I c a n s a y t h a t I f o u n d a b e t t e r u n d e r -

s t a n d i n g o f t h e g e n e r a l f u n d a m e n t a l s i t u a t i o n i n A m e r i c a t h a n w e c a n b o a s t

o f h e r e . I t w a s a p e c u l i a r t h i n g t o f i n d m e n l i k e R a d e k a n d L e n i n t e l l i n g

American revolutionary o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h a t t h e i r i n d u s t r i a l p o l i c y w a s

wron g . R a d e k s a i d , ` Y o u r d e l e g a t i o n t h a t y o u h a d h e r e a t t h e p r e v i o u s

c o n g r e s s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l s e e m e d t o b e t o o a n x i o u s t o g e t

away from the trade unio ns .' They do not know details but understand

b a s i c p r i n c i p l e s o f t r a d e u n i o n i s m , a n d t h e s e f e l l o w s w e r e t o o a n x i o u s t o

f i n d e x c u s e s t o r u n a w a y .

"Radek knew that the se f ellows were wrong b e c a u s e o f h i s g e n e r a l

k n o w l e d g e o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l s i t u a t i o n and fundamentals of the labor

movement . R a d e k s t a t e d t h a t e v e r y p o l i c y t h a t w e a r e n o w u n d e r t a k i n g

w e s h o u l d p u t i n t o e f f e c t . E v e r y l e a d i n g m a n i n R u s s i a t o o k t h a t p o s i t i o n .

T h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g i s t h a t w e f i n a l l y a r r i v e d a t a p r a c t i c a l f o u n d a t i o n

f o r a t r a d e u n i o n p o l i c y i n t h i s c o u n t r y . We came b ack with this policy

a n d s t a r t e d t o p u t i t i n t o e f f e c t . I t w a s l a i d b e f o r e t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e

Committee aid endorse d and also before the Number Two and endorsed,

a n d w e w e r e i n s t r u c t e d t o u n d e r t a k e t o o r g a n i z e t h e T r a d e Union League .

We began in February . The program initiate d was to simultaneously

s e t u p g r o u p s i n a l l p a r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y . I t w a s a v e r y g o o d c o n c e p t i o n

a n d s h o u l d h a v e w o r k e d o u t b e t t e r t h a n i t d i d , b u t u n f o r t u n a t e l y most of

t h e p e o p l e w e r e n o t c l e a r a n d d i d n o t g e t a s g o o d r e s u l t s a s s h o u l d h a v e

b e e n g o t t e n .

"However, we succeede d in establishing branche s of the League in

p r a c t i c a l l y a l l i m p o r t a n t c e n t r e s o f t h e c o u n t r y . S o m e o f t h e s e b r a n c h e s

a r e s m a l l , b u t I t h i n k w e h a v e r e a c h e d t h e p o i n t o f d e v e l o p m e n t w h e r e we

n o l o n g e r m e a s u r e t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y o r g a n i z a t i o n s b y s i z e .

I n s o m e p l a c e s w h e r e t h e r e a r e o n l y o n e o r t w o m e n , m o r e r e s u l t s a r e o b -

t a i n e d t h a n w h e r e t h e y h a v e l a r g e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s w h i c h s p e n d t i m e f i g h t -

i n g a n d n o t d o i n g r e a l w o r k . W e f o r m e d t h i s l e a g u e , b u t i n f o r m i n g i t

we were under a gre at disadvantage . We did not dare to say it was a

Communist organization . It was necessary to camo uflage to a certain

[ 3 0 1



THE RAID AT BRIDGMANe x t e n t , a n d f o r t h a t r e a s o n i t had t o s t a r t d i f f e r e n t l y . The ide al way

t o h a v e s t a r t e d t h i s l e a g u e , w a s t o c a l l a n a t i o n a l c o n f e r e n c e a n d t h e r e

adopt a program, endorse the Red Trades Union Internati onal program

a n d s e n d i t o u t b r o a d c a s t . We were unab le to do that b ecause it would

immediately have been labeled Communist . T h e a l t e r n a t i v e w a s t o s t a r t

i t ' a n d h a v e t h e C h i c a go l e a g u e f u n c t i o n a s t h e n a t i o n a l o r g a n i za t i o n u n -

t i l i t h a d u n i o n c o n n e c t i o n s e s t a b l i s h e d a n d c o u l d c a l l a n a t i o n a l c o n -

f e r e n c e . That has been the p roposition up t o t h e p r e s e n t t i m e . The

C h i c a g o L e a g u e s e r v e d a s t h e n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n . We picked its ex-

e c u t i v e b o a r d w h i c h m a p p e d o u t a p o l i c y a n d s e r v e d a s a n a t i o n a l o r g a n -

i z a t i o n . We now- have reached the stage where we can call o u r n a t i o n a l

c o n f e r e n c e .

" B e f o r e I t o u c h o n t h e c o n f e r e n c e , I w o u l d l i k e t o s a y t h a t w e s t a r t e d

t h i s L e a g u e w i t h a n i d e a t o m a k i n g i t a p a y i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n , b u t w e h a d t o

a b a n d o n t h i s i d e a . I n s p i t e o f t h e f i n a n c i a l l o s s , w e h a d t o g i v e i t u p , b e -

c a u s e t h e A m e r i c a n l a b o r m o v e m e n t i s i n s u c h a s t a t e a n d t h e b u r e a u c r a c y

i s s o r u t h l e s s a n d s o w e a k t h a t w e r u n a g r e a t d a n g e r o f e x p u l s i o n f o r d u a l

u n i o n i s m , a n d i t w a s n e c e s s a r y t o h a v e a n o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t d i d n o t c a r r y

c a r d s b u t m o r e o f a d i f f u s e p r o p o s i t i o n s o t h a t t h e y c o u l d n o t p u t a f i n g e r

o n i t a n d c l e a n i t o u t .

" I n F r a n c e t h e y s t a r t e d o u t w i t h a p o l i c y o f a c c e p t i n g a f f i l i a t i o n from

o r g a n i z a t i o n s e n d o r s i n g i t s p r o g r a m . I t w a s a l e f t b l oc k o r g an i z a ti o n . T h e

p r o g r a m w a s v e r y g e n e r a l i n c h a r a c t e r , t o o v e r t h r o w t h e y e l l o w b u r e a u c r a c y .

T h e a f f i l i a t i o n s f r o m l o c a l a n d n a t i o n a l u n i o n s a n d s y m p a t h e t i c o n e s e v e n -

t u a l l y r e s u l t e d i n f a c t t h a t t h e b u r e a u c r a c y w a s a b l e t o charge them with

having a dual labor movement, and convinced the rank a n d f i l e a n d t h e

F r e n c h t r a d e u n i o n s t h a t t h e R . S . C . 1 w a s i n r e a l i t y a d u a l l a b o r m o v e m e n t ,

a n d n o t o n l y c o n v i n c e d a g r e a t p o r t i o n o f t h e m t h a t t h a t w a s t h e c a s e , b u t

a l s o c o n v i n c e d t h e l e a d e r s o f t h e R . S . C . t h e m s e l ve s t h a t i t w a s a n u n a d -

v i s a b l e t h i n g .

" T h e r e a s o n u r g e d f o r t h e s p l i t w a s t h a t i t w a s a d u a l o r g a n i z a t i o n .

B e f o r e t h e s p l i t o c c u r r e d , t h e R . S . C . a b o l i s h e d t h e p r o p o s i t i o n o f a c c e p t i n g

a f f i l i a t i o n s a n d t h e r e f o r e t h e i r o r g a n i z a t i o n , t o s o m e e x t e n t , w a s o n t h e s a m e

b a s i s a s t h e T r a d e U n i o n E d u c a t i o n a l L e a g u e , b u t i t w a s t o o l a t e . The

f i g h t w a s m a d e a n d e v e n b y s t o p p i n g t h e a f f i l i a t i o n s i t d i d n o t h a v e t h e

d e s i r e d e f f e c t o f t a k i n g a w a y t h e u n i o n s . W h e n t h e R . S . C . was formed

i t i n m a n y r e s p e c t s w a s a n a l o g o u s t o o u r o w n l e a g u e e x c e p t t h a t i t w a s d o m -

i n a t e d b y s y n d i c a l i s t s , a n d t h e C o m m u n i s t s w e r e i n a m i n o r i t y , w h e r e a s i n

t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t h e l e a g u e i s i n t h e h a n d s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s . They paid

n o a t t e n t i o n t o e xc e p t i n g d u e s w h e n d i s c u s s i o n o n f u n d a m e n t a l p o l i c y w a s

adopted . A f t e r w a r d s t h e y f o u n d o u t t h a t i t w a s a g r e a t h a n d i c a p . We de-

c i d e d t o a c c e p t n e i t h e r a f f i l i a t i o n s n o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s w i t h o u t d u e s , b u t r a t h e r

f u n c t i o n i n a m o r e a d v a n c e d m a n n e r , a t l e a s t u n t i l w e w e r e w e l l i n t r e n c h e d

o n a f i r m e r b a s i s w i t h o u t d a n g e r o f e x p u l s i o n . W e h a v e s u c c e e d e d i n m a k i n g

a n i n r o a d i n t o a n u m b e r o f o r g a n i z a t i o n s . I n f a c t , I f i n d t h a t t h e A m e r i c a n

1 R e v o lu t i o n a r y S o c i a l i s t C o m m i t t e e ( F r a n c e ) .



REDS I N AMERICAt r a d e u n i o n m o v e m e n t ' i s v e r y r e c e p t i v e t o a g r e a t d e a l of the program .

" T h e s i t u a t i o n o n t h e r a i l r o a d s : we have carried on work not o nly

i n t h e m i n i n g d i s t r i c t s , b u t w e r e p a r t i c u l a r l y s u c c e s s f u l i n t h e r a i l r o a d

t r a d e s . T o s h o w t h e r i p e n e s s o f t h e A m e r i c a n t r a d e u n i o n s f o r t h i s k i n d

o f p r o p o s i t i o n , t o c o n c e n t r a t e o n e x p l a i n i n g t h e s i t u a t i o n w i l l b e a s g o o d

as any . W e s t a r t e d o u t w i t h t h e r a i l r o a d s w i t h a p r o g r a m o f i n d u s t r i a l

unionism . T h e r e a r e s i x t e e n o r g a n i z a t i o n s o n t h e r a i l r o a d s . W e s t a r t e d o u t

w i t h l a y i ng s t r e s s on t h e p r o po s i t io n o f i n d u s t r ia l i zi n g t h e s i t u a t i o n , a n d

started a movement for amalgamation . T h e t r a d e u n i o n s c o n n e c t e d w i t h

t h e T r a d e U n i o n E d u c a t i o n a l L e a g u e w e r e i n s t r u m e n t a l i n s e n d i n g o u t s e v e r a l

t h o u s a n d l e t t e r s t h r o u g h l o c a l u n i o n s . I n t h e f a c e o f t h e c o n v e n i n g o f t h e

r a i l w a y e m p l o y e e s ' c o n v e n t i o n , w e s e n t o u t a l e t t e r w i t h t h e i d e a o f i n d u s t r i a l

o r g a n i z a t i o n t o t h e r a n k a n d f i l e a n d d e l e g a t e s t o t h a t c o n v e n t i o n ( 5 0 0 ) ,

n i n e t y - e i g h t p e r c e n t b e i n g h i g h l y p a i d o f f i c i a l s g e t t i n g from $400 to $700

a m o n t h , m o r e t h a n t h e p r e s i d e n t s . When the convention came together,

K n u d s o n a n d I s p o k e t o a s m a n y d e l e g a t e s a s w e c o u l d a n d t h e r e s u l t w a s

t h a t b e t w e e n s e n d i n g o u t t h e s e l e t t e r s a n d o n e m e e t i n g , w e s e t u p a s t a m p e d e

a m o n g t h e d e l e g a t e s o f t h e c o n v e n t i o n a n d h a d a m a j o r i t y o n r e c o r d f o r

our program .

" T h i s s h o w s c o n d i t i o n s a s t h e y w e r e a t t h e c o n v e n t i o n . Samuel Gompers

c a m e t o C h i c a g o f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f s p i k i n g t h e l e a g u e a n d p r e v e n t i n g i t

f r o m h a v i n g a n y e f f e c t o n t h e c o n v e n t i o n , a n d h e h e l d a p u b l i c m e e t i n g

a n d a d v a n c e d t h e l e a g u e a s b e i n g f i n a n c e d b y M o s c o w a n d o u t t o d e s t r o y

t h e u n i o n s . H e s e n t a m a n t h e r e t o a d d r e s s t h e w o r k e r s . He was denie d

t h e r i g h t t o s p e a k t o t h e c o n v e n t i o n , b u t i n s p i t e o f a l l t h a t , w e s u c c e e d e d

i n s t a m p e d i n g t h e s e u n d e r - o f f i c e r s f o r t h a t m u c h of the program . C o ul d

t h a t h a p p e n i n F r a n c e o r a n y o t h e r c o u n t r y w h e r e a l o t o f f e l l o w s c o u l d

s t a m p e d e a c o n v e n t i o n o f h i g h - p a i d o f f i c i a l s ? I t c o u l d n o t b e d o n e . In

n o o t h e r m o v e m e n t i n t h e w o r l d i s t h e r e s u c h a t h i n g . I f w e w e r e a b l e t o

s t a m p e d e t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h i s c o n v e n t i o n , w h a t c a n w e d o w i t h t h e r a n k a n d

f i l e ? T h e p r e s i d e n t o f t h e r a i l w a y e m p l o y e e s ' d e p a r t m e n t i s s u e d a c h a l l e n g e

t o m e t o t h e e f f e c t t h a t t h e s e p e o p l e w h o t a l k i n d u s t r i a l u n i o n i s m s h o u l d

h e l p t h e m g e t d o w n t o s o m e t h i n g c o n c r e t e a n d s o m e t h i n g d e f i n i t e .

" W e d r a f t e d a p r o g r a m f o r i n d u s t r i a l u n i o n i s m a n d s e n t o u t 1 1 , 0 0 0

c o p i e s t o e v e r y t r a d e u n i o n i n A m e r i c a . T h i s c o s t t h e p a r t y a b s o l u t e l y

n o t h i n g . I t w a s s o o r g a n i z e d a s t o p a y f o r i t s e l f . T h e t r a d e u n i o n s i n

M i n n e a p o l i s a n d S t . P a ul r a is e d th e m on e y a nd ci r c u la r i z ed a l l t h e r a i l ro a d

u n i o n s i n t h e c o u n t r y . W e k n e w t h a t t h e s t r i k e w a s c o m i n g a l o n g a n d t r i e d

t o b e o n t h e j o b . T h e s t r i k e o c c u r r e d w i t h t h e r e s u l t t h a t t h e r e w a s t h e g r e a t

o b j e ct l e s s o n o f b o s s e s u s i n g o n e s e c t i o n t o d e f e a t t h e o t h e r . T h e l e a d e r s

w e r e c o w a r d s a n d d i d n o t d a r e t e l l t h e m e n t h a t t h e b r o t h e r h o o d s w e r e a t

wor k . I t f e l l u p o n o u r l e a g u e t o s h o w t h e m e n t h i s . We were the only

e l e m e n t i n A m e r i c a t o p o i n t o u t t h e l e s s o n s o f t h i s s t r i k e . T h e l e a d e r s d i d

n o t d a r e t o m e n t i o n i t a n d w e d i d i t . T h e r e s u l t h a s b e e n t h a t o u r p r o p a -

g a n d a h a s r u n l i k e w i l d f i r e t h r o u g h t h e r a i l r o a d m e n o f t h e c o u n t r y .

" S o f a r i n t h e r a i l r o a d s i t u a t i o n w e h a v e m e r e l y t a l k e d i n d u s t r i a l u n i o n -

i s m t o t h e m . W e h a v e n o t r a i s e d t h e i s s u e o f t h e R e d T r a d e U n i o n I n t e r -



THE RAID AT BRIDGMANn a t i o n a l a n d v a r i o u s o t h e r i s s u e s . I f w e h a v e n o t r a i s e d t h e m o u r e n e m i e s

h a v e a n d i n t h e c a m p a i g n s w h e r e v e r t h e o f f i c i a l s h a v e t a k e n a h a n d i n i t ,

t h e y s a i d t h a t t h e T r a d e U n i o n E d u c a t i o n a l L e a g u e i s p u r e l y a C o m m u n i s t

o r g a n i z a t i o n , a n d t h e r a n k a n d f i l e k n o w d e f i n i t e l y w h o m i t s p r o g r a m h a s

come fro m and what is involved . I n s u c h a d e s p e r a t e s t a t e , a n d d e s t i t u t e

o f l e a d e r s h i p o n t h e p a r t o f a n y o f t h e o f f i c i a l s , t h e y a r e a c c e p t i n g i t a n y -

ho w . D u r i n g t h e s t r i k e I c o u l d g o b e f o r e t h e m a n d t a l k a n y t h i n g a t a l l . T h e

w a l l h a s b r o k e n a n d w e h a v e s u c c e e d e d i n g e t t i n g a g r i p i n t h e s e o r g a n i z a -

tions and have got them comi ng our way . We have got to break the mo-

n o p o l y o f t h e p r e s s .

" T h e b u r e a u c r a c y o f t h e t r a d e u n i o n s h a s g o t t h e p r e s s w h i c h i s o n e

o f t h e s e c r e t s o f c o n t r o l , a n d w e m u s t t r y t o a i m a t t h a t - t h e b r e a k i n g o f t h e

m o n o p o l y o f t h e p r e s s , a n d w i t h t h e g r e a t v o l u m e o f s e n t i m e n t w e c o u l d

s u c c e e d .

" I a m n o t t r y i n g t o o v e r s t r e s s t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f i n d u s t r i a l t r a d e u n i o n -

i s m . T h e w o r k e r s o f A m e r i c a a r e r e a d y f o r n e w i d e a s . T h e r e i s n o t h i n g t o

b e g o t f r o m t h e o l d m a c h i n e a n d i f w e w i l l g o t o t h e m , t h e y w i l l l i s t e n t o

w h a t w e h a v e g o t t o s a y . I n o u r c o n f e r e n c e w e s h o u l d b e v e r y c a r e f u l a b o u t

t h e p r o g r a m t h a t w e a d o p t . As far as I am concerned, we should adopt

a c l e a r - c u t r e v o l u t i o n a r y p r o g r a m . A d o p t a p r o p o s i t i o n i n d o r s i n g R u s s i a

a n d i n d o r s i n g t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t i n R u s s i a . A d o p t a r e s o -

l u t i o n c a l l i n g f o r t h e a f f i l i a t i o n w i t h t h e R e d T r a d e U n i o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l

w i t h o u t q u a l i f i c a t i o ns . A d o p t a p r o g r a m c a l l i n g f o r i n d u s t r i a l o r g a n i z a -

t i o n s , a n d a d o p t a r e v o l u t i o n a r y p r o g r a m a s a b a s i s o f o u r w o r k . P o pu l a r i ze

i t a n d l e t i t b e s p r e a d b r o a d c a s t . I t i s a s t r a n g e t h i n g t h a t s o m e o f o u r

m e n w h o a r e m o s t e x t r e m e r a d i c a l s l e f t u s a n d a d v o c a t e d t h e i d e a t h a t w e

g o c a r e f ul o n t h e i n du s t r i a l f i e l d . I t i s a s t r a n g e s i t u a t i o n , b u t n a t u r a l . "

T h e r e l a t i o n s o f N u m b e r O n e a n d N u m b e r T w o , t h a t i s t h e i l l e g a l a n d

l e g a l b r a n c h e s o f t h e p a r t y , t o e a c h o t h e r w a s s e t f o r t h i n a t h e s i s t h a t w a s

a d o p t e d b y t h e c o n v e n t i o n .1 L I t w a s p r e p a r e d w i t h g r e a t c a r e b y a n i m p o r t a n t

c o m m i t t e e o f w h i c h J . L o v e s t o n e , e x e c u t i v e s e c r e t a r y o f t h e p a r t y i n A m e r -

i c a , w a s c h a i r m a n . I t p r o v i d e s f o r t h e p e r m a n e n c y o f t h e i l l e g a l b r a n c h s e t -

t i n g f o r t h e x p l i c i t l y t h a t e v e n a f t e r t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y b e c o m e s s t r o n g

e n o u g h t o c o m e o u t i n t h e o p e n t h e i l l e g a l b r a n c h w i l l b e n e c e s s a r y t o

d i r e c t t h e co n s p i r a c i es o f t h e p a r t y . I t s a y s a t t h e o u t s e t , i n di s c u s s i n g t he

"necessity of a Communist party" : " a l l e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e m o d e r n c l a s s

s t r u g g l e p r o v e s t h a t t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s c a n , e m e r g e v i c t o r i o u s o n l y a f t e r d e -

v e l o p i n g a n o r g a n o f l e a d e r s h i p i n t h e f o r m o f a h i g h l y d i s c i p l i n e d C o m -

m u n i s t p a r t y , t h o r o u g h l y c o n s c i o u s o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y p r i n c i p l e s a n d t a c t i c s .

T h e f i r s t t a s k o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s i s , t h e r e f o r e , t o d e v e l o p s u c h a p a r t y . "

T h e a u t h o r s o f t h i s t h e s i s p o i n t o u t t h a t w h i l e e d u c a t i o n a n d p r o p a -

g a n d a a r e n e c e s s a r y i n p r e p a r i n g f o r t h e f i n a l g r e a t a r m e d r e v o l u t i o n , i t i s

m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a t a l l C o m m u n i s t s h a v e a m a j o r t a s k i n t h e " p a r t i c i p a t i o n

i n a l l t h e s t r u g g l e s o f t h e w o r k e r s a s t h e m o s t a c t i v e f o r c e . " T h e i n c i t i n g

" m a s s e s , " n o t i n d i v i d u a l s o r e v e n s m a l l g r o u p s , t o v i o l e n c e i s h e l d t o b e

i See Appendix B .

[ 3 3 1



REDS IN AMERICAt h e c h i e f e f f o r t t o w h i c h t h e C o m m u n i s t s s h o u l d l e n d t h e m s e l v e s . I t h o l d s

t h a t " t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f ' t h e m a s s e s o f t h e e x p l o i t e d c a n h e a t t a i n e d o n l y by

d i r e c t l y e n g a g i n g i n a l l t h e i r s t r u g g l e s t o g e t h e r with the masse s of the

w o r k e r s . " I t i s t h e n u r g e d t h a t p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s a r e n e c e s s a r y and

s t a t e s t h a t " i n A m e r i c a i t h a s b e c o m e t h e m o s t u r g e n t , i m m e d i a t e t a s k o f t h e

C o m m u n i s t s t o s e c u r e a p u b l i c , o p e n , s o - c a l l e d ` l e g a l ' e x i s t e n c e a s a n o r g a n -

i z a t i o n . " T h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h e f o l l o w i n g p a r a g r a p h s i s o b v i o u s .

" A t r u l y r e v o l u t i o n a r y ( i . e . C o m m u n i s t ) p a r t y c a n n e v e r b e ` l e g a l ' i n

t h e s e n s e o f h a v i n g i t s p u r p o s e h a r m o n i z e w i t h t h e p u r p o s e o f t h e l a w s m a d e

b y t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e , o r i t s a c t s c o n f o r m w i t h t h e i n t e n t o f c a p i t al i s t l a w .

H e n c e , t o c a l l a C o m m u n i s t p a r t y ` l e g a l ' m e a n s t h a t i t s e x i s t e n c e i s t o l e r a t e d

b y t h e c a p i t a l is t s t a t e b e c a u s e o f c i r c u ms t a n c e s w h i c h e m b a r r a s s t h e c a p i -

t a l i s t s t a t e ' s e f f o r t s t o s u p p r e s s i t . T h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y c a n a v o i d s u p -

p r e s s i o n i n t o a c o m p l e t e l y s e c r e t e x i s t e n c e o n l y b y o n e o r b o t h o f t w o m e a n s :

" a . B y t a k i n g a d v a n t a g e o f t h e p r e t e n s e s o f ` d e m o c r a t i c f o r m s ' w h i c h t h e

c a p i t a l i s t i c s t a t e i s o b l i g e d t o m a i n t a i n . By this means the Communists

c a n m a i n t a i n t h e m s e l v e s i n t h e o p e n w i t h a r e s t r i c t e d p r o g r a m w h i l e e s t a b -

l i s h i n g t h e m s e l v e s w i t h m a s s s u p p o r t .

"b . ( L a t e r s t a g e ) B y c o m m a n d i n g s u c h m a s s s u p p o r t a m o n g s i d e m a s s e s

o f w o r k e r s t h a t e n a b l e t h e m t o p r o c l a i m p u b l i cl y t h e i r f i n a l o b j ec t i n t h e

r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e a n d m a n o e u v r e o p e n l y t o a t t a i n t h i s o b je c t r e g a r d l e s s

o f t h e d e s i r e o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e t o s u p p r e s s i t . I t i s n e c e s s a r y a t t h e

p r e s e n t t i m e ( a n d c i r c u m s t a n c e s m a k e i t t h e m o s t u r g e n t i m m e d i a t e n e e d )

t o r e s o r t t o t h e f i r s t o f t h e b e f o r e - m e n t i o n e d m e t h o ds o f o p e n c o n t a c t w i t h

t h e w o r k i n g m a s s e s ; w h i c h m e a n s t o m a i n t a i n a n o p e n p o l i t i c a l p a r t y w i t h

a m o d i f i e d n a m e a n d a r e s t r i c t e d p r o g r a m . "

T h e t h e s i s c o n t i n u e s :

" A l e g a l p o l i t i c a l p a r t y w i t h s u c h r e s t r i c t i o n s c a n n o t r e p l a c e t h e C o m -

m u n i s t p a r t y . I t m u s t a l s o s e r v e a s a n i n s t r u m e n t , i n t h e c o m p l e t e c o n t r o l o f

t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , f o r g e t t i n g p u b l i c c o n t a c t w i t h t h e m a s s e s . I t m u s t

m o b i l i z e t h e e l e m e n t s o f t h e w o r k e r s m o s t s y m p a t h e t i c t o t h e C o m m u n i s t

c a u s e , w i t h a p r o g r a m g o i n g a s f a r t o w a r d t h e C o m m u n i s t p r o g r a m a s p o s -

s i b l e w h i l e m a i n t a i n i n g a l e g a l e x i s t e n c e . I t m u s t , w i t h a c o u r s e o f a c t i o n

i n d a i l y p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e w o r k e r s ' s t r u g g l e , a p p l y C o m m u n i s t t a c t i c s a n d

p r i n c i p l e s , a n d t h u s w i n t h e t r u s t o f t h e m a s s e s , a n d p r e p a r e t h e m f o r t h e

l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y . "

A g a i n i t i s d e c l a r e d t h a t :

" T h e o v e r t h r o w o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m c a n only come through the

o v e r t h r o w o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e . "

" T o a c c e p t t h i s v i e w i s t o a c c e p t t h e c e r t a i n t y t h a t t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e

w i l l f i n d i t s e l f i n v i o l e n t c o n f l i c t w i t h t h e m a s s e s led by the Communist

p a r t y . W h i l e t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e r e t a i n s t h e g o v e r n m e n t a l m a c h i n e r y , and

a s t h e s t r u g g l e g r o w s s h a r p e r i n a p p r o a c h i n g t h e f i n a l s t r u g g l e , t h e c a p i t a l i s t

s t a te w i ll i n ev i t ab l y st r i k e a g a in a n d a g ai n a t t h e re v o lu t i o na r y p a r t y i n t h e

e f f o r t t o d e s t r o y i t . A f t e r t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y s h a l l h a v e e s t a b l i s h e d i t s e l f

i n t h e o p e n , i t m u s t b e p r e p a r e d f o r a n d m u s t e x p e c t t o b e d r i v e n o u t o f a

` l e g a l ' e x i s t e n c e f r o m t i m e t o t i m e . T h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t a t a l l t i m e s

[ 3 4 ]



THE RAID AT BRIDGMANb e s o o r g a n i z e d t h a t s u c h a t t a c k s c a n n o t d e s t r o y i t . I t m u s t p e r f o r m i t s

f u n c t i o n s o f l e a d e r s h i p i n t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e n o m a t t e r w h a t t a c t i c s t h e r u l i n g

c l a s s a d o p t s - o p e n a s f a r a s p o s s i b l e , s e c r e t l y a s f a r a s i t m u s t . "

F o r t h i s r e a s o n , i t a r g u e s , t h e u n d e r g r o u n d m a c h i n e r y o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y , t h a t i s , t h e i l l e g a l m a c h i n e r y , i s n o t m e r e l y a t e m p o r a r y d e v i c e , b u t

i s f o r p e r m a n e n t u s e .

"There i s n e v e r a t i m e , " i t s t a t e s , " p r e v i o u s t o t h e f i n a l o v e r t h r o w o f

t h e c a p i ta l i s t s t a t e , w h e n a t r ul y r ev o l u t io n a r y p a r t y d o e s n o t h a v e t o p e r -

f o r m a c o n s i d e r a b l e a m o u n t o f w o r k f r e e f r o m p o l i c e k n o w l e d g e a n d i n t e r -

f e r e n c e . T h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y w i l l n e v e r c e a s e t o m a i n t a i n i t s u n d e r g r o u n d

m a c h i n e r y u n t i l a f t e r t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t

i n t h e f o r m o f t h e W o r k e r s ' S o v i e t R e p u b l i c . "

I t i s h e l d t o b e n e c e s s a r y f o r a l l m e m b e r s o f t h e l e g a l p a r t y t o b e c o m e

m e m b e r s o f t h e N u m b e r O n e , o r i l l e g a l p a r t o f t h e p a r t y , a n d i t i s i m p r e s s e d

u p o n a l l m e m b e r s o f t h e N u m b e r O n e t o b e s u p p o r t e r s o f t h e l e g a l p o l i t i c a l

p a r t y . T h e n t h e t h e s i s u r g e s a c t i v i t y i n t h e w o r k o f C o m m u n i s t p a r t y c a u -

c u s e s , i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e t r a d e u n i o n s , c o n s t a n t l y s t r i v i n g t o a l i e n a t e c o n -

s e r v a t i v e m e m b e r s o f t h e u n i o n s f r o m t h e i r c o n s e r v a t i v e i d e a s , t h u s i n c r e a s -

i n g t h e s p h e r e o f i n f l u e n c e o f t h e r a d i c a l s i n t h e u n i o n r a n k s u n t i l t h e y

b e c o m e a l l - p o w e r f u l .

T h e P i t t s b u r g h D i s t r i c t p r e s e n t e d a t h e s i s c o m p l a i n i n g o f l a c k o f a c t i o n

a t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e . T h i s t h e s i s s a i d t h a t t h e p a r t y w a s n o t t h i n k i n g e n o u g h

o f i t s i m m e d i a t e w o r k i n A m e r i c a , w a s r e l y i n g t o o m u c h o n i n s t r u c t i o n s a n d

o r d e r s f r o m a b r o a d ( m e a n i n g R u s s i a ) , a n d t h a t i t w a s a n d a l w a y s m u s t b e

l a r g e l y i n c o n t r o l o f f o r e i g n e l e m e n t s b e c a u s e t h e E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g workers

a l w a y s g e t t h e e a s i e s t j o b s . I t s a y s : " T h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i s n o t o r g a n i z e d

f o r i t s e l f a n d f o r t h e s a t i s f a c t i o n o f i d e a l i s t s , b u t w e a r e a r o u g h f i g h t i n g

o r g a n i z a t i o n , a i m i n g t o b r i n g a b o u t a m a s s m o v e m e n t i n t h i s c o u n t r y l e d by

US. "

C o m r a d e L o v e s t o n e a l s o p r e s e n t e d " a b r i e f s t a t e m e n t o f t h e p r o g r e s s a n d

a i m s o f t h e A f r i c a n B l o o d B r o t h e r h o o d " w h i c h c a l l s f o r a l i b e r a t e d r a c e ,

" l i be r a t ed n o t m e r e l y fr o m a li e n p o li t i ca l r u l e, b u t a l s o f r om t h e c r u s h i ng

w e i g h t o f c a p i t a l i s m " ; a b so l u t e r a c e e q u a l i ty , " p ol i ti c al , s o ci a l a n d e c o-

nomic" ; t h e f o s t e r i n g o f r a c e p r i d e , " f e l l o w s h i p w i t h i n t h e d a r k e r r a c e s a n d

w i t h t h e c l a s s - co n s c i o u s n e s s a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y wh i t e w o r k e r s " ; h i g h e r w a g e s

a n d l o w e r r e n t s . T h e e n t i r e p r o g r a m i s i n t e n d e d t o i n c i t e t h e n e g r o e s t o

a t t a i n b y v i o l e n c e t h e e n d s s p e c i f i e d .

The work of T h e W o r l d W a r V e t e r a n s was also highly commended b y

L o v e s t o n e , w h o p r e s e n t e d t o t h e c o n v e n t i o n t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a n d b y - l a w s o f

t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d a d e c l a r a t i o n o f p r i n c i p l e s w h i c h h a s m a n y r e v o l u t i o n -

a r y f e a t u r e s . I t d e c l a r e s i t s u n a l t e r a b l e o p p o s i t i o n t o a n y f o r m o f c o m p u l -

s o r y m i l i t a r y t r a i n i n g , a n d t o " a n y i n t e r f e r e n c e , o f f i c i a l o r u n o f f i c i a l , w i t h any

r i g h t s e c u r e d b y u s b y t h e f i r s t a m e n d m e n t t o t h e F e d e r a l C o n s t i t u t i o n . "

I t a l s o e x p r e s s e s s y m p a t h y w i t h a n d s t a t e s t h a t t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a r e s t h e

a s p i r a t i o n s o f " t h e p e o p l e o f I n d i a , E g y p t , I r e l a n d a n d R u s s i a . "

T h e s p l i t i n t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a i n D e c e m b e r , 1 9 2 1 , w h e n

three memb ers of the Central Executive Committe e broke away from th e

[ 3 5 1



m a j o r i t y m e m b e r s a n d c o n t i n u e d p u b l i s h i n g t h e i r i l l e g a l p a p e r u n d e r t h e

s a m e n a m e a s t h a t u s e d o f f i c i a l l y b y t h e p a r t y , T h e C o m m u n i s t , w a s t a k e n

t o M o s c o w f o r s e t t l e m e n t . E a c h f a c t i o n s e n t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s t o M o s c o w , a n d

t h e a u t h o r i t i e s t h e r e d e c i d e d i n f a v o r o f t h e m a j o r i t y , o r d e r i n g t h e m i n o r i t y

f a c t i o n t o r e t u r n a t o n c e t o t h e f o l d a n d t h e m a j o r i t y f a c t i o n t o r e c e i v e t h e m

w i t h o u t p r e j u d i c e . T h i s i n e x p l a n a t i o n o f t h e f o l l o w i n g m e s s a g e s r e c e i v e d

f r o m M o s c o w a n d r e a d t o t h e c o n v e n t i o n . T h e f i r s t , a c a b l e g r a m , r e a d s :"BOTH SALESMEN RETURNING HOME WITH FULL IN-STRUCTIONS FROM BOARD DIRECTORS STOP POSTPONESTOCKHOLDERS MEETING UNTIL THEY ARRIVE STOP AC-KNOWLEDGE RECEIPT . "

This cablegram was signed "Block and Company" and appare ntly re-

l a t e s t o b u s i n e s s m a t t e r s . "Block and Company" are Comrades Jake Cannon

a n d B i t t l e m a n , a g e n t s f o r t h e m a j o r i t y f a c t i o n s e n t t o M o s c o w . T h e y , o f

c o u r s e , a r e t h e " s a l e s m e n . " T h e " b o a r d o f d i r e c t o r s " i s t h e c o m i n t e r n o r

g o v e r n i n g b o d y o f t h e C o m m u n i s t T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l , a n d t h e " s t o c k h o l d e r s

m e e t i n g " i s t h e c o n v e n t i o n a t B r i d g m a n . I f i t h a d b e e n p o s t p o n e d t h e r a i d

m i g h t n o t h a v e t a k e n p l a c e . T h e s e c o n d m e s s a g e w a s a r a d i o g r a m , a l s o a p -

p a r e n t l y a b u s i n e s s m e s s a g e , w h i c h r e a d s :"HENRY CURTIS DOW COMPANY INSTRUCTED QUITUSE OUR FIRM NAME AND TRADEMARK STOP THEY MUSTDISSOLVE AND REJOIN OUR COMPANY IMMEDIATELY ORLOSE THEIR STOCK S TOP JOHN I S WIRI NG THEM TO QUITCOMPETING AND ATTACKING OUR BUSINESS STOP YOUMUST ACCEPT THEM WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND POST-PONE SHAREHOLDERS CONFERENCE SO THEY CAN PAR-TIC IP A TE . "

"Henry Curtis Dow" are the party names of the minority members

who secede d from the Centr al Executive Committ ee ; the "firm name and

trademark" are the Communist organ . " J o h n " i s J o h n J . Ballam of Win-

t h r o p , M a s s . , w h o w a s s e n t b y t h e m i n o r i t y l e a d e r s .

C o m r a d e L o v e s t o n e t h e n r e a d f r o m t h e " n e w s l e t t e r " 1 s e n t o u t f r o m t h e

p a r t y h e a d q u a r t e r s w i t h i n s t r u c t i o n s t o " r u s h t o e v e r y g r o u p " t h e i n f o r m a -

t i o n t h a t " C o m r a d e C o o k , m e m b e r o f t h e P r e s i d i u m o f t h e C o m i n t e r n a n d

t h e P r e s i d i u m o f t h e R e d T r a d e U n i o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l , h a s b e e n o r d e r e d t o

return home (fro m Moscow) immediately, with full i n s t r u c t i o n s f r o m t h e

C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l , " a n d u r g i n g a l l d i s t r i c t s t o h o l d t h e m s e l v e s i n

r e a d i n e s s t o c a l l h u r r i e d m e e t i n g s t o h e a r t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s . H e s a y s i n t h i s

n e w s l e t t e r t h a t t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e , b y a v o t e o f f i v e t o f i v e ,

h a d d e c i d e d n o t t o p o s t p o n e t h e B r i d g m a n C o n v e n t i o n i n s p i t e o f i n s t r u c -

t i o n s t o d o s o . T h i s w a s d o u b t l e s s b e c a u s e o f t h e p r e p a r a t i o n s a l r e a d y

m a d e f o r h o l d i n g t h e m e e t i n g s a n d t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s o f d i s s e m i n a t i n g t h e n e w s

o f t h e p o s t p o n e m e n t w i t h o u t l e t t i n g t h e s e c r e t b e k n o w n .

T h e i m p e r a t i v e n e e d o f a " u n i t e d f r o n t " o f t h e w o r k e r s w a s a l s o p r e -

s e n t e d b y C o m r a d e L o v e s t o n e i n a t h e s i s o n p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t y . a A f t e r s t a t i n g

1 S e e A p p e n d ix D .

1 S e e A p p e n d ix E .

REDS IN AMERICA

[ 3 6 1



d a t

STOP YOU MUST ACCEPT THEM WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND PiCONFERENCE SO THEY GAN PARTICIPATE

N NT I ?E_ v R ;2V VE

H NEWYORKHENRY CURTIS DOW COMPANY INSTRUCTED QUIT USING OUR FIRM NAME AND TRADEMARKSTOP THEY MUST DISSOLVE AND RLJOIN OUR COMPANY IMMEDIATELY OR LOSE THEIRSTOCK STOP JOHN IS WIRING THEM TO QUIT COMPETING AND ATTACKING OUR EUSINESS

Cablegrams sent by the Executive Committee of the Third (Communist) Inter-

natio nal to the co nv e ntio n o f the C o mmunist Party o f A me rica in se ssio n at Bridgman,Mich. The messages have been decoded in the text (p . 32 6 )



THE RAID AT BRIDGMANt h a t " a u n i t e d f r o n t o f l a b o r , a s o l i d p h a l a n x o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s d r a w n u p

i n b a t t l e a g a i n s t t h e f o r c e s o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t c l a s s a n d t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e i s

t h e p r e r e q u i s i t e o f t h e v i c t o r y o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , " h e d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e g r o u p s

of workers alre ady i n the labor organizations and independent groups

of workers must unite to attain this e nd . Without mentioning names,

h e r e f e r r e d r e p e a t e d l y t o t h e " t r e a c h e r o u s l e a d e r s " o f o r g a n i z e d l a b o r w h o

h a v e f o u g h t t h e i d e a o f t h e l a b o r p a r t y , a n d c a u t i o n s t h a t b e c a u s e o f t h i s

t h e w o r d " l a b o r " m u s t b e k e p t o u t o f t h e n a m e o f t h e n e w p a r t y . He ap-

p r o v e s t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s w h e n t h e y h a v e u n i t e d o n a n

i n d e p e n d e n t c a n d i d a t e f o r o f f i c e , b u t w a r n s a g a i n s t l e n d i n g s u p p o r t t o t h e

l a b o r u n i o n s w h e n t h e l a t t e r a r e s u p p o r t i n g t h e c a n d i d a t e s o f a n y o t h e r

p a r t y .

T h e b a s i s f o r a u n i t e d p o l i t i c a l f r o n t , " h e s a y s i n a n n o u n c i n g t h e

p r o g r a m f o r t h e c o m i n g e l e c t i o n s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , " w h i c h w i l l e m b r a c e

t h e w o r k i n g m a s s e s , h a s n o t y e t b e e n c r e a t e d i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . To enter

i n t o a p o l i t i c a l f e d e r a t i o n w i t h e x i s t i n g p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , n o n e o f

w h i c h h a s t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e m a s s e s o f t h e w o r k e r s , w o u l d b e t o n e g a t e

t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f c r e a t i n g a r e a l u n i t e d f r o n t o f t h e w o r k e r s p o l i t i c a l l y .

T h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y w i l l , t h e r e f o r e , a s a r u l e , n o m i n a t e i t s o w n c a n d i d a t e s

i n t h e c o m i n g e l e c t i o n s a n d c a r r y o n i t s c a m p a i g n s i n d e p e n d e n t l y . "

I n r e f e r r i n g t o t h e p l a t f o r m , h e s a y s : " T h e p l a t f o r m m u s t r a i s e a s t h e

i s s u e s o f t h e c a m p a i g n i m m e d i a t e q u e s t i o n s o f t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e s u c h a s

u n e m p l o y m e n t r e l i e f , t h e o p e n s h o p , t h e u s e o f t h e i n j u n c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e

w o r k e r s , o p p o s i t i o n t o i n d u s t r i a l c o u r t s , e t c . " H e a l s o s a y s t h a t s p e c i a l p e r -

m i s s i o n m a y b e s e c u r e d f r o m t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e t o p l a c e a

c a n d i d a t e o n t h e t i c k e t o f a n e x i s t i n g w o r k i n g c l a s s p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n i f

i t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o l a u n c h a n i n d e p e n d e n t t i c k e t .

A n e x h a u s t i v e r e p o r t o f t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e p a r t y , e s p e c i a l l y i n r e l a -

t i o n t o t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n i t s e l f , f o l l o w e d . T h i s r e p o r t b i t t e r l y a s s a i l e d t h e

m i n o r i t y t r o u b l e - m a k e r s , a n d p r e c i p i t a t e d a s c o r c h i n g d e b a t e , b u t d o c u -

m e n t s f o u n d b y t h e a u t h o r i t i e s s h o w t h a t t h i s t r o u b l e w a s s e t t l e d b y t h e r e s i g -

n a t i o n o f t h e t h r e e t r o u b l e - m a k e r s a n d t h e e l e c t i o n o f R o b e r t M i n o r , A .

Wagenknecht and E . B r o w d e r i n t h e i r p l a c e s . T h i s w a s i n o b e d i e n c e t o t h e

m a n d a t e f r o m M o s c o w , a n d r e s u l t e d i n t h e u n i f i c a t i o n o f t h e p a r t y i n A m e r -

i c a . T h i s s e t t l e m e n t o f f a c t i o n a l f i g h t i n g w i t h i n t h e p a r t y w a s f o l l o w e d b y

t h e i s s u a n c e o f a " s p e c i a l b u l l e t i n , " o n e c o p y t o b e s e n t t o e a c h g r o u p i n

t h e c o u n t r y , w i t h t h e i n j u n c t i o n t o " r e a d t h i s c a r e f u l l y : s t u d y e a c h p o i n t

t h o r o u g h l y ; a n d t h e n m a k e s u r e t h i s i s p u t i n t o a c t i o n . " T h e b u l l e t i n d e a l s

w i t h t h e r e l a t i o n s o f t h e m e m b e r s i n l e g a l a n d i l l e g a l w o r k o f t h e p a r t y , a n d

s t a t e s t h a t t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n i s e n l a r g i n g i t s s c o p e o f w o r k , a n d t h a t n e w r e s p o n -

s i b i l i t i e s a r e i m p o s e d o n e a c h m e m b e r . T h e f e a t u r e s o f t h e c o n s p i r a c y l a i d

b a r e i n t h i s d o c u m e n t , w i t h t h e i n j u n c t i o n o f s e c r e c y a r e f o r e i g n i n n a t u r e

t o t h e A m e r i c a n m i n d , b u t a r e a p a r t a n d p a r c e l o f t h e c o m m u n i s t w o r k .

" A l l m e m b e r s o f t h e N u m b e r O n e , " s a y s t h e b u l l e t i n , " m u s t j o i n t h e

N u m b e r T w o , a n d a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e l a t t e r a r e t o b e b r o a d e n e d a s e x t e n s i v e l y

a s p o s s i b l e. W e h a v e n o r o o m f o r a n y o n e w h o d o e s n o t p a r t i c i p a t e w h o l e -

h e a r t e d l y . Number One must be strengthened by all possible means . No

[ 3 7 ]



REDS IN AMERICAl i q u i d a t o r s w i l l b e t o l e r a t e d a n d a l l r i g h t s m u s t b e w a t c h e d . Every mem -

ber of Number One must submit to an icon disci pline in b oth Number One

a n d Num b e r Two . I f a n y o n e i s c a l l e d u p o n t o d o a c e r t a i n t a s k , h e o r

s h e m u s t c a r r y i t o u t u n f l i n c h i n g l yA l l a d d r e s s e s o f c o n n e c t i o n s o f N u m b e r O n e m u s t b e k e p t i n c o d e , a n d

a l l i n c r i m i n a t i n g m a t e r i a l i s t o b e k e p t a b s o l u t e l y s a f e ; i f p o s s i b l e o u t -

s i d e o f t h e p l a c e w h e r e y o u l i v e . All record s of Number One must be kept

safely and the identity of the membe rs of Number One working in offi ces

or upon committees or in units of Number Two, as well as their relations

to Number One must not be e xposedll groups are to havea l t e r n a t e c a p t a i n s . A l l b r a n c h e s a r e t o h a v e a l t e r n a t e b r a n c h o r g a n i z e r s . . .

"We must endeavor to have a majority of our members on all impor-

t a n t c o m m i t t e e s , a n d a l l o u r m e m b e r s t o f i l l t h e o f f i c e s o f N u m b e r T w o . . . .

Use nothing but the Real Names in Number Two . Get used to sp eaking in

t e r m s t h a t w i l l n o t i n any way reveal conne ction s with Number One . Do

n o t d i s c u s s a n y o f t h e s p e c i f i c a f f a i r s o f N u m b e r O n e i n m e e t i n g s o f N u m b e r

T wo . "

U n d e r t h e h e a d o f I n d u s t r i a l A c t i v i t i e s t h e b u l l e t i n s a y s :

"The proper conduct of this line of activities is dependent upo n the

alertness and understanding of our forces, and must be controlled and

guided by Number One-the same princip le applie s here as was laid down

b e f o r e , t h a t a l l d e c i s i o n s a s t o p o l i c i e s a n d f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e s , a s w e l l

a s t a c t i c s , a r e t o b e d e c i d e d u p o n b y N u m b e r O n e b e f o r e b e i n g c a r r i e d o u t

in Numbe r Two . We must organize nuclei of members of Number Two,

a n d w o r k a s a u n i t w i t h i n t h e s e n u c l e i , a n d b e c o m e a l i v e f a c t o r i n a l l t h e

activities ; b u t a t a l l t i m e s k e e p o u r f o r c e s i n t a c t . W e m u s t e n d e a v o r t o

c r e a t e l e f t w i n g m i l i t a n t g r o u p s w i t h i n t h e l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n w h i c h w e

must also become the leading factor . "

T h e e n d o f t h i s i l l e g a l , s e c r e t , m y s t e r i o u s c o n v e n t i o n c a m e s u d d e n l y .

O n t h e a f t e r n o o n o f A u g u s t 2 0 , W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r s a w o n t h e g r o u n d s a m a n

whom he recognized as a Government official . Wi thi n a ha lf ho ur h e was

on his way to the railroad station at Bridgman with several of the other

d e l e g a t e s . H e d i d n o t w a r n h i s c o m r a d e s b u t p r o m i s e d t o s e n d m o r e w a t c h e r s

from Chicago . T h e n e x t d a y t h e w a t c h e r s i n t h e t o w n o f B r i d g m a n r e p o r t e d

t h e p r e s e n c e o f C h i c a g o d e t e c t i v e s a r r i v i n g i n t o w n . I n v i e w o f t h e s e f a c t s

t h e P r e s i d i u m d e c i d e d t o e n d t h e c o n v e n t i o n t h a t d a y a n d s o n o t i f i e d C o m r a d e

C a l e b H a r r i s o n , w h o w a s p r e s i d i n g . T h e P r e s i d i u m c a l l e d a s p e c i a l m e e t i n g

f o r t h e f i n a l p r o c e e d i n g s w h i c h w e r e r u s h e d t h r o u g h w i t h m a c h i n e - l i k e s p e e d .

I t w a s t h e n n i g h t , a n d n o r a i d h a d c o m e , b u t t h e d e l e g a t e s w e r e w a r n e d o f

their danger, the grounds committee advised everyo ne to leave, and the

r e c o r d s , p r i v a t e p a p e r s , e t c . , w e r e b u r i e d i n t h e h o l e a l r e a d y p r e p a r e d f o r

such an emergency . But there was no train they c ould take from Bridgman

b e f o r e m o r n i n g s o m a n y o f t h e d e l e g a t e s d e c i d e d t o s t a y i n t h e g r o v e . D u r -

ing the night several made their way carefully out of danger, and in the

m o r n i n g t h e o f f i c e r s g a t h e r e d i n t h o s e w h o w e r e l e f t .

[ 3 8 1



CHAPTER TWOIN POLITIC AL FI ELDS

E x i s t i n g p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a r e m o r e l o o s e l y o r g a n i z e d

t h a n e v e r b e f o r e i n t h e i r h i s t o r y . T h e r e i s l i t t l e p a r t y d i s c i p l i n e a n d p o l i t i c a l

c o n s c i o u s ne s s w h i c h i n v o l v e s d e l i b e r a t e c o n s i d e ra t i o n o f p a r t yp r i n c i p l e s i s

n o n - e x i s t e nt o r a t a l o w e b b . T h e r e f o r e , p o l i t i c a l c o n t e s t s r e s o l v e t h e m s e l v e s

i n t o p e r s o n a l c o n t e s t s , a n d t h e t e n d e n c y i s t o w a r d s a government of men

r a t h e r t h a n g o v e r n m e n t o f l a w s . Many causes have contributed to bring

a b o u t t h i s s t a t e o f a f f a i r s b u t t h e r e h a s b e e n n o m o r e p o t e n t o n e t h a n t h a t o f

t h e C o m m u n i s t - r a d i c a l m o v e m e n t i t s e l f . T h e o b j e c t i v e i s b e s t i l l u s t r a t e d

b y t h e p r e s e n t p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n i n E n g l a n d , w h e r e p a r t y l i n e s a r e m o r e o r

l e s s c o m p l e t e l y o b l i t e r a t e d a n d t h e r e h a s r i s e n a w o r k e r s ' p a r t y , c o n t r o l l e d b y .

a s e c r e t l y o r g a n i z e d m i n o r i t y , w i t h M o s c o w a l w a y s i n t h e b a c k g r o u n d g i v i n g

m o r a l a i d a n d f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e . I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e r e a l i g n m e n t h a s

b e e n a l o n g c l a s s l i n e s . I n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h i s r e a l i g n m e n t i n t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s , t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s h a v e a p p r o a c h e d t h e o b j e c t i v e b y b o t h d i r e c t and

i n d i r e c t m e t h o d s . T h e r e h a s b e e n t h e f o r m a t i o n o f a d i r e c t a c t i o n p o l i t i c a l

p a r t y , c a l l e d t h e " W o r k e r s ' p a r t y " w h i c h i s a b s o l u t e l y dominated by the

i l l e g a l C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , a n d i n t u r n b y t h e T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l a t M o s c o w .

With the capture of the documentary evidence at Bridgman, Mich . , t h e

p o l i t i c a l m a n i p u l a t i o n s o f t h i s a l i e n g r o u p a r e n o w t h o r o u g h l y u n d e r s t o o d .

T h e r e c a n b e n o f u r t h e r d o u b t e i t h e r o f t h e o b j e c t i v e o r t h e m e t h o d s which

a r e b e i n g e m p l o y e d .

B u t o f t h e i n s i n u a t i n g m e t h o d s u s e d u n d e r t h e c o v e r o f r e s p e c t a b i l i t y

a n d r e g u l a r i t y , m e t h o d s o f w h i c h s e c r e c y i s a p r i m e r e q u i s i t e f o r s u c c e s s

a n d w h i c h w i l l e v e n t u a ll y b r i n g a b o u t r e v o l u t i on b y l eg i s l a t i ve e n a c t m e n t ,

o r p a v e t h e w a y f o r r e v o l u t i o n b y f o r c e , o n l y t o o l i t t l e i s g e n e r a l l y u n d e r -

s t o o d . O n e d i f f i c u l t y w h i c h r e t a r d s u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h i s a n g l e o f t h e p r o b -

l e m i s t h e n e c e s s a r i l y c o m p l i c a t e d m a c h i n e r y w h i c h h a s b e e n s e t i n m o t i on

t o a c c o m p l i s h t h e r e s u l t . F e w p e o p l e s t o p t o s q u a r e d e t a i l s w i t h g e n e r a l

p r i n c i p l e s . T h e f a c t t h a t t h e r e i s n o w i n C o n g r e s s a bloc w h i c h i s b e n t o n

c a r r y i n g o u t t h e d e t a i l e d b e h e s t s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , r e p u d i a t i n g a t t h e

s a m e t i m e t h e n a m e b y w h i c h t h e m o v e m e n t s h o u l d b e d e s i g n a t e d , a n d t h a t

t h i s bloc i s i t se l f bu i l t up o n cl a s s l i n e s , i s n o t a n a cc i de n t bu t t h e b es t

e v i d e n c e o f d e s i g n .

U n t i l t h a t t i m e h a s a r r i v e d w h e n a w o r k e r s ' o r l a b o r p a r t y h a s b e e n

b u i l t u p w i t h s u f f i c i e n t s t r e n g t h t o c a r r y e l e c t i o n s u n d e r i t s o w n n a m e , t h e

g r a d u a l d i s a p p e a r a n c e o f t h e r e g u l a r p a r t y l i n e s m a y b e e x p e c t e d . I t i s a

s i t u a t i o n w h i c h p r e s e n t s v e r y l i t t l e n a t u r a l o p p o s i t i o n to thos e who would

u s e t h e m a c h i n e r y o f p a r t y g o v e r n m e n t f o r s u b v e r s i v e p u r p o s e s . I n f a c t ,

[ 3 9 ]



REDS I N AMERICAi t f a v o r s t h e e n t r a n c e o f r a d i c a l s i n t o t h e p o l i t i c a l f i e l d t h r o u g h r e g u l a r l y

e s t a b l i s h e d c h a n n e l s . T h e r a d i c a l s h a v e a p o s i t i v e p r o g r a m a s o p p o s e d t o

t h o s e m o r e c o n s e r v a t i v e w h o e i t h e r h a v e n o p r o g r a m o r o n e t h a t i s m o r e

o r l e s s n e u t r a l . T h e y h a v e a p o s i t i v e a d v a n t a g e w h i c h i s d i f f i c u l t t oo v e r -

c o m e , a n d a l l o f w h i c h i s q u i t e i n h a r m o n y w i t h r e c o g n i z e d p s y c h o l o g i c a l

l a w s .

W h e n a r a d i c a l , h a v i n g r e c e i v e d t h e a p p r o v a l of the Republican or

D e m o c r a t i c p a r t y m a c h i n e r y , i s p r e s e n t e d t o t h e e l e c t o r a t e , t h e c i t i z e nmust

v o t e i n t h e l a s t a n a l y s i s f o r o r a g a i n s t t h e F l a g w h i c h i n t i m e s p a s t h a s s t o o d

f o r c e r t a i n d e f i n i t e p r i n c i p l e s . T h e r e i s n o m i d d l e g r o u n d . T h e c h o i c e i s

u s u a l l y m a d e w i t h n o s u c h t h o u g h t i n m i n d , f o r t o m a k e i t a c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t ,

there would be req uired a knowledge of m en and events, a g r a s p o f t h e

p r i n c i p l e s a n d s c i e n c e o f g o v e r n m e n t a n d t h e u s e o f c a r e f u l a n a l y t i c a l p o w e r s

s u c h a s f e w p o s s e s s . C o n s e q u e n t l y , m e r e i n a p t i t u d e f o r p o l i t i c a l t h o u g h t

w h i c h i s a c o m m o n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c , f a v o r s t h e e l e c t i o n o f t h e m o r e d r a m a t i c

f i g u r e o r t h a t o n e w h i c h h a s a p o s i t i v e p r o g r a m n o m a t t e r h o w f a n t a s t i co r

o p p o s e d t o s o u n d p r i n c i p l e s t h a t p r o g r a m m a y b e .

The Communist party of America has presented candidates f o r o f f i c e

m a n y t i m e s t o d i f f e r e n t e l e c t o r a t e s , u n d e r t h e l e g a l e m b l e m o f t h e o p e n p o l i t -

i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n k n o w n a s t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y . I n t h e r a i d u p o n t h e i l l e g a l

c o n v e n t i o n a t B r i d g m a n , W i l l i a m F . D u n n e w h o a t t h a t v e r y t i m e w a s a c a n d i -

d a t e o f t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y f o r t h e g o v e r n o r s h i p o f N e w Y o r k S t a t e , w a s

a r r e s t e d . He was a membe r of the C entral Executive Committ ee o f t h e

Communist party of America, and by virtue of such membership, he was

o n e o f t e n w h o c o n t r o l l e d t h e C o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t i n t h i s c o u n t r y u n d e r

d i r e c t o r d e r s f r o m t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l a t

M o s c o w . H e i s s t i l l ( 1 9 2 4 ) a m e m b e r o f t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e

W o r k e r s ' p a r t y . I t i s n o t a t a l l l i k e l y t h a t D u n n e c o u l d e v e r b e e l e c t e d a s

gover nor o f New York on any t icket . The Communist party of America

does not number more than 30,000 persons throughout the whole of the

U n i t e d S t a t e s , a n d a m a j o r i t y o r m o r e a r e a l i e n s n o t n a t u r a l i z e d . To hope

t h a t a s a p a r t y w i t h t h i s n u m e r i c a l s t r e n g t h t h e C o m m u n i s t s c o u l d c a r r y

a n e l e c t i o n i s f a t u i t o u s e v e n t o t h e m . T h e d a n g e r d o e s n o t l i e i n t h i s d i r e c -

t i o n . A p r o p e r c o n c e p t i o n o f t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i n t h e

p o l i t i c a l f i e l d c a n b e a t t a i n e d o n l y b y r e c o g n i z i n g t h e f a c t t h a t a l a r g e n u m b e r

o f p e o p l e a n d t h e i r p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s a r e b e l i e v e r s i n p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c

p r o j e c t s w h i c h a r e a p a r t o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y p r o g r a m , d e v e l o p e d b y

t h e T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l a t M o s c o w b u t w h i c h i n d e t a i l a r e n o t r e c o g n i z e d

b y t h e m a s a p a r t o f a d e f i n i t e a n d i n c l u s i v e p r o g r a m . I t i s n o t p e r m i s s i bl e

t o c a l l s u c h p e r s o n s " C o m m u n i s t s , " n o m a t t e r h o w c l o s e l y t h e i r i d e a l s a p .

p r o x i m a t e t h o s e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y . O n e m a y i n c l u d e t h e m w i t h i n t h e

d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e w o r d " r a d i c a l " b u t t h a t w o r d i n r e a l i t y m e a n s l i t t l e . The

m e a n i n g o f " p r o g r e s s i v e " h a s b e e n u t t e r l y p e r v e r t e d , a n d i t s u s e t o c o v e r

a s o c i a l i s t i c - c o m m u n i s t i c p o l i t i c a l m o v e m e n t c a n b e s t b e e x p r e s s e d " b y a

s h o r t e r a n d u g l i e r w o r d " f a m i l i a r t o e v e r y b o d y .



IN POLITICAL FIELDST h e o bj e c ti v e o f t h e C o mm u n i s t p a r t y is p o l i t ic a l a nd e c o n o m i c c on t r o l

o f t h e c o u n t r y t h r o u g h m a n i p u l a t i o n o f a n u n e d u c a t e d m i n o r i t y , u s i n g t h e

i d e a o f c o m m u n i s m a s a m e a n s t o a n e n d . T h o s e w h o a r e c l e v e r l y d i r e c t i n g

t h e p o l i c i e s a r e c e r t a i n l y a w a r e o f t h e f a c t t h a t a l l h i s t o r y s h o w s t h e f u t i l i t y

o f c o m m u n i s m a s a p o l i t i c a l s y s t e m , a n d t h i s r a i s e s i m m e d i a t e l y t h e q u e s -

t i o n s a s t o t h e i r s i n c e r i t y . B u t i n t h e a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f t h i s o b j e c t i v e , t h e

l e a d e r s a r e q u i t e r e a d y t o u s e m a n y t h i n g s a n d p e o p l e a t t h i s t i m e w h i c h ,

a s t h e i r p l a n s d e v e l o p , w o u l d b e o f l i t t l e o r n o u s e t o t h e m l a t e r . T o t h e

C o m m u n i s t s , p r e s e n t u s e f u l n e s s o f a p r o j e c t m i g h t d e p e n d o n m a n y f a c t o r s

s u c h a s t h e s i m p l e t e n d e n c y t o u p s e t e s t a b l i s h e d c u s t o m s o r i n s t i t u t i o n s ,

i n h e r e n t p o s s i b i l i t i e s o r v a l u e f o r a g i t a t i o n o r t h e p r o m o t i o n o f u n r e s t ,

v i o l e n c e a n d c r i m e , t h e b r e a k i n g d o w n o f f a m i l y l i f e , o r t h e d e c r e a s e o f t h e

a u t h o r i t a t i v e i n f l u e n c e o f r e l i g i o n . A l l o r a n y w o u l d c o n t r i b u t e t o a s t a t e

o f f l u x o r a n i n s t a b i l i t y o f w h i c h w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s w o u l d t a k e f u l l

a d v a n t a g e . T h e t i m e f o r r a d i c a l c h a n g e i n a n y t h i n g i s n o t n o w .

T h e r e f o r e , t h e p o l i t i c a l i n f l u e n c e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y e x t e n d s f a r

b e y o n d t h e c o n f i n e s o f i t s o w n m e m b e r s h i p , p e r m e a t i n g t h e m i n d s a n d c o n -

t r o l l i n g t h e t h o u g h t o f l a r g e n u m b e r s w h o w o u l d v i o l e n t l y r e s e n t t h e i m p l i -

c a t i o n t h a t t h e y w e r e C o m m u n i s t s . The subversiveness of the Communist

p a r t y d o e s n o t l i e s o m u c h i n t h e v i o l e n c e w h i c h i t t h r e a t e n s b u t i n t h e

i n s i n u a t i o n o f i d e a l s a n d i d e a s w h i c h a r e u n d e r m i n i n g o u r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e

r e p u b l i c a n f o r m o f g o v e r n m e n t . W h e n t h e s e f a c t s a r e t a k e n i n t o c o n s i d e r a -

t i o n , t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i n p o l i t i c a l f i e l d s i m m e d i a t e l y

a s s u m e s a t r e m e n d o u s a s p e c t . U n d e r o u r p r e s e n t d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e w o r d

" r a d i c a l " w e a r e j u s t i f i e d i n r e g a r d i n g r a d i c a l s a s c o n s c i o u s o r u n c o n s c i o u s

t o o l s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , h e l p i n g i n t h e c a u s e o f w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n ,

b r u s h i n g a s i d e t h e q u e s t i o n a s t o t h e w i l l i n g n e s s w i t h w h i c h t h e t o o l s m i g h t

a c c e p t s u c h a d e s i g n a t i o n .

The warning has gone forth from the headquarters of bo th major

p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s t h a t t h e r e i s d a n g e r o f r a d i c a l i s m i n t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e r a n k s .

T h e w a r n i n g w a s e n t i r e l y j u s t i f i e d . T h e v o t e r h a s n o p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t

t h e i n s i n u a t i o n o f p e r s o n a g e s o n p o l i t i c a l t i c k e t s w h o s e i d e a l s d o n o t

square with those who were the fo unders of the Rep ublic . I n s i n u a t i o n s

o f t h i s s o r t , o p e r a t i n g t h r o u g h t h e f o r m a t i o n o f n u c l e i , a r e n o t c o n f i n e d

t o t h e p o l i t i c a l f i e l d . Agents are planted in labor unions, s o c i a l a n d

s o c i e t y c i r c l e s , a n d i n e l e e m o s y n a r y o r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f

g r a d u a l l y s e c u r i n g t h e a d h e s i o n o f d i s s a t i s f i e d i n d i v i d u a l s a n d f a c t i o n s

for the support of the Communist cause or at least t o s e c u r e t h e n o n -

o p p o s i t i o n o f t h e m o r e c o n s e r v a t i v e . T h i s i s d o n e c o n c i s e l y a n d w i t h d e -

s i g n a s a p a r t o f a p l a n . A g a i n , i n t h e f i e l d o f p o l i t i c s , s o m e c a n d i d a t e s

f o r o f f i c e r u n n i n g o n " r e g u l a r " t i c k e t s h a v e t h e d i r e c t a n d s e c r e t s u p p o r t o f

t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y a n d i t s f r i e n d s , t h e b a c k i n g of whom results from

d e f i n i t e p r o m i s e s . O t h e r c a n d i d a t e s , h o w e v e r , b e i t s a i d t o t h e i r c r e d i t ,

s t a n d s q u a r e l y f o r h o n e s t A m e r i c a n i s m a n d a g a i n s t t h e c o h o r t s u n d e r t h e

Red banner which would destroy t he American Government, home and

c h u r c h .

[ 4 1 1



REDS IN AMERICAI n f o r m u l a t i n g a j u d g m e n t a s t o t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e f o r

P r o g r e s s i v e P o l i t i c a l A c t i o n , d u e r e g a r d m u s t b e p a i d t o a l l t h a t h a s b e e n

p r e s e n t e d a b o v e . As an organization, it has chosen to assume a name

w h i c h m i s r e p r e s e n t s i t s p o l i t i c a l o b j e c t i v e . It has made the gesture of

r e f u s i n g t o s e a t d e l e g a t e s f r o m t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y w h i c h i s t h e l e g a l b r a n c h

o f t h e i l l e g a l C o m m u n i s t p a r t y . I t s p o l i t i c a l p r o g r a m p a r a l l e l s t h a t l a i d

down by the . M o s c o w o v e r l o r d s i n t h e " n e x t t a s k s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y .

o f A m e r i c a " ( A p p e n d i x F ) , a n d c a r r i e d t o i t s l o g i c a l c o n c l u s i o n , w o u l d

l e a d t o " w o r k e r s ' c o n t r o l . " T h e p r o g r a m , t h e r e f o r e , i s s i m p l y a m e a n s t o

an end . Even the Executive Co mmittee of the Third Inte rnational at

Moscow, has no word of criticism for the Conference for Progressive

P o l i t i c a l A c t i o n , f o r i n d i s c u s s i n g t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n i n i t s t h e s i s o n

t h e " W o r k e r s ' p a r t y o n t h e U n i t e d F r o n t " ( A p p e n d i x E ) , i t s a y s i n e f f e c t

t h a t i n t h e f i e l d o f g e n e r a l p o l i t i c s n o w c o v e r e d b y t h e C o n f e r e n c e , t h e

m e t h o d s u s e d a r e n o t a p p l i c a b l e i n t h e f i e l d o f l a b o r . From a technical

standpoint it may not be possible to designate the Conference for

P r o g r e s s i v e P o l i t i c a l A c t i o n a s a n i m p o r t a n t " f r o n t " f o r t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y , o r t o p l a c e i t a l o n g w i t h t h e F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a a s a n o p e n

l e g a l b r a n c h o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a . A s a m a t t e r o f f a c t , t h e

"Conf erence " is doing exactly the work which the Communi st leaders at

Moscow have evidently allocated to it, whether the p ersonnel of the

" C o n f e r e n c e " i s a w a r e o f t h a t f a c t o r n o t .

T o c a l l i t a s o c i a l i s t o r g a n i z a t i o n a s o p p o s e d t o c o m m u n i s t i s s p e c i o u s ,

f o r i n a t h e s i s o n t a c t i c s a d o p t e d b y t h e T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l , t h e M o s c o w

g r o u p r i g h t l y s a y : " t h e r e a l i z a t i o n o f s o c i a l is m i s t h e f i r s t s t e p t o w a r d s t h e

communis t commonwealth . "

F o l l o w i n g i s s o m e t h i n g o f t h e h i s t o r y a n d p e r s o n n e l o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e

f o r P r o g r e s s i v e P o l i t i c a l A c t i o n , w h i c h h a s s u c c e e d e d i n a t t r a c t i n g t h e

a d h e r e n c e o f a p a r t o f t h e f o l l o w i n g o f t h e l a t e T h e o d o r e R o o s e v e l t .

Townley and the Non-Partisan League, having stolen the machinery

o f t h e R e p u b l i c a n p a r t y i n N o r t h D a k o t a , w e r e f i n a l l y d r i v e n f r o m p o w e r

t h r o u g h o p e r a t i o n s o f t h e r e c a l l . I n J u l y 1 9 2 1 , N o n - P a r t i s a n l e a d e r s l e f t

o v e r f r o m t h i s d e f e a t a n d S o c i a l i s t p a r t y l e a d e r s o f t h e m o r e r a d i c a l t y p e s ,

m e t i n D e t r o i t a n d p a s s e d t h e f o l l o w i n g r e s o l u t i o n :

"Be it Resolved : That the incoming national executive committee be in-

s t r u c t e d t o m a k e a c a r e f u l s u r v e y o f a l l r a d i c a l a n d l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n

this country with a view of ascertaining th eir strength, disp osition and

r e a d i n e s s t o c o o p e r a t e w i t h t h e s o c i a l i s t m o v e m e n t o n a p l a t f o r m n o t i n c o n -

s i s t e n t w i t h t h a t o f t h e p a r t y ."

"This survey was made an d it was found, as ever y one knows, that

t h e r e w a s a v a s t a m o u n t o f u n r e s t , d i s t r u s t , i l l f e e l i n g a n d c l a s s c o n s c i o u s -

n e s s ; t h a t t h e f ar m e r s we r e d i s gr u n t l e d at t h e f a l l in p r i c e s ; t h a t t h e w o r k .

m e n w e r e s o r e a t t h e c u t i n w a g e s ; t h a t t h e c o n s u m e r w a s o f t h e b e l i e f

t h a t s o m e w h e r e a l o n g t h e l i n e h e w a s n o t g e t t i n g a s q u a r e d e a l ; t h a t b u s i -

ness was in a ba d way ; t h a t t h e p e r s i s t e n t u s e o f t h e t e r m p r o f i t e e r h a d

c a u s e d t h e p e o p l e t o b e l i e v e e v e r y b u s i n e s s m a n d i s h o n e s t a n d u n f a i r ; t h a t

t h e r a i l r o a d s , a f t e r b e i n g r e t u r n e d t o t h e i r o w n e r s , w e r e h a v i n g a h a r d

s t r u g g l e t o f u n c t i o n p r o p e r l y ; t h a t m o n e y w a s t i g h t , e t c . In other w o r d s ,

[ 4 2 1



IN POLITICAL FIELDSt h e y f o u n d t h e v e r y f o u n d a t i o n u p o n w h i c h t h e y h o p e d t o l a y t h e i r c a m -

p a i g n f o r p o l i t i c a l c o n t r o l m o s t f a v o r a b l e . The only questi on was how

t o p r o c e e d t o g a i n t h a t p o l i t i c a l c o n t r o l . " -

" C o m m i t t e e m e e t i n g s w e r e h e l d i n N o v e m b e r , 1 9 2 1 , a n d i t w a s a g r e e d

t h a t a n y c o n f e r e n c e o f a l l r a d i c a l s c a l l e d b y t h e s o c i a l i s t p a r t y w o u l d f a i l

o f i t s p u r p o s e . I n c o n s e q u e n c e t h e c a l l w a s n o t i s s u e d a t t h e i n s t i g a t i o n o f

r a d i c a l l e a d e r s o f s o m e l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s , w h i c h h a d b e e n d r a f t e d i n t o

t h e g r e a t s o c i a l i s t s c h e m e t o n a t i o n a l i z e t h e r a i l r o a d s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ,

u n d e r t h e n a m e o f t h e P l u m b P l a n . T h e a c t u a l c a l l w a s b e a d e d b y W i l l i a m

J o h n s t o n o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l M a c h i n i s t s ' U n i o n , t h e l e a d i n g u n i o n i n t h e

1 9 2 2 r a i l r o a d s t r i k e a n d b o r e t h e n a m e o f L a F o l l e t t e ' s o r g a n i z a t i o n , t h e

P e o p l e ' s L e g i s l a t i v e S e r v i c e o f W a s h i n g t o n ; o f w h i c h J o h n s t o n i s s e c r e -

t a r y a n d t r e a s u r e r . J o h n s t o n i s a s o c i a l i s t a n d a n a r d e n t a d v o c a t e o f t h e

p r e s e n t R u s s i a n f o r m o f g o v e r n m e n t . "

I t i s o b v i o u s t h a t , t o b e e f f e c t i v e , t h e i n t e r e s t o f t h e r a d i c a l f a r m e r

m u s t b e a r o u s e d . T o t h i s e n d , i t w a s n o a c c i d e n t t h a t B e n M a r s h w o r k i n g

w i t h T o w n l e y f r o m t h e l a t t e r ' s headquarters in Washington on the day

t h a t J o h n s t o n s e n t o u t h i s c a l l f o r d e l e g a t e s f r o m a l l r a d i c a l movements to

m e e t i n C h i c a g o , F e b . 2 0 a n d 2 1 , 1 9 2 2 , s e n t o u t a c a l l t o t h e k n o w n r a d -

ical farmer movements to have delegates meet in Chicago on Saturday,

Febr uary 18, 1922 .

B o t h c o n f e r e n c e s m e t a c c o r di n g t o p l a n . T o w n l e y w i t h h i s N o n - P a r t i s a n

L e a gu e , t h e La F o ll e t t e o rg a n iz a t io n o f f a r m e r s i n W is c o n s i n , M a r s h' s o r g a n -

i z a t i o n k n o w n a s t h e F a r m e r s ' N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l , a n d a f e w r a d i c a l Granges

a n d f a r m e r s ' u n i o n , h a d d e l e g a t e s p r e s e n t . Marsh and Townley dominate d

t h e m e e t i n g . " T h e y p r o c e e d e d w i t h t h e u s u a l s o c i a l i s t h a r a n g u e o f d a m n -

i n g c a p i t a l i s m , a n d c h a r g e d a l l d e f e c t s i n farming from short crops to

g r a s s h o p p e r s t o W a l l S t r e e t . T h e s o c i a l i s t s c h e m e o f s t e a l i n g p a r t y o r g a n -

i z a t i o n s w a s e n d o r s e d . The name adopted for the amalgamation of a l l

radical farmer mo vements was The United Farmers National Bloc . Ap r o n o u n c e d r a d i c a l w a s m a d e p r e s i d e n t , a n d t h e p r e s e n t v i c e - p r e s i d e n t o f

t h e N o n - P a r t i s a n L e a g u e m a d e v i c e - p r e s i d e n t . T h e n t h e d e l e g a t e s t o t h i s

c o n v e n t i o n i n b o d y m o v e d o v e r M o n d a y , t o t h e r a d i c a l c o n v e n t i o n c a l l e d

b y Jo h n s t on , in k ee p i n g w i t h t h e so c i al i s t r e s o l ut i o n t o wh i c h r e f e r en c e h a s

been made . 2

" I n t h i s M o n d a y c o n v e n t i o n , F e b r u a r y 2 0 , 1 9 2 2, w e r e t o b e f o u n d d e l e -

gates from every radical movement in the United S t a t e s , a n d w h i l e t h e

n e w s p a p e r r e p o r t s s a i d t h e I . W. W . a n d t h e C o m m u n i s t w e r e e x c l u d e d , y e t

i t w o u l d a p p e a r f r o m l a t e r a r t i c l e s i n t h e Ne w Y o r k C a l l , t h e l e a d i n g

d a i l y S o c i a l i s t p a p e r i n t h i s c o u n t r y , t h a t t h e y w e r e n o t e x c l u d e d , b u t w e r e

p r e s e n t .

" H e r e a g a i n t h e s y s t e m e m p l o y e d i n t h e a l l e g e d f a r m e r s ' m e e t i n g was

a d o p t e d . F i e r y s p e e c h e s w e r e m a d e b y r a d i c a l s o f a l l k i n d s . C a p i t a l i s m

w a s b l a m e d f o r a l l h u m a n i l l s . S o v i e t R u s s i a w a s l a u d e d . T h e m a n w h o

I Fred R . Marvin, "My Country, 'tis of Thee" (Beckwith) p . 8 .

' Marvin-vide supra .



REDS IN AMERICApays the wages was condemn ed as tyrannical . T h e p l a n o f t h e s o c i a l i s t s

to unite under o ne common he ad all radical movements in the land was

approved . But no party name was adopted since it was not prop osed to

a c t a s a p a r t y , b u t r a t h e r t o a d o p t t h e T o w n l e y s c h e m e o f ` s t e a l i n g ' p a r t y

n a m e s t h r o u g h g o i n g i n t o t h e p r i m a r i e s o f o n e o f t h e o l d p a r t i e s - t h e p l a n

so successfully employed in North Dakota and Wisconsin . T h e n a m e s

` r a d i c a l , ' ` s o c i a l i s t , ' ` l a b o r , ' ` f a r m e r , ' ` i n d u s t r i a l , ' e t c ., which had been

used in the past were dropped, and there emerged an o rganization

k n o w n a s ` T h e C o n f e r e n c e f o r P r o g r e s s i v e P o l i t i c a l A c t i o n , ' t o b e d i r e c t e d

u n t i l t h e n e x t c o n v e n t i o n t o b e h e l d a f t e r e l e c t i o n t h i s f a l l , b y a c o m m i t t e e

o f f i f t e e n .

" T h i s c o n f e r e n c e a g r e e d t h a t i n t h e S t a t e s w h i c h w e r e t o b e a t t a c k e d

t h r o u g h t h i s s y s t e m o f s t e a l i n g p a r t y n a m e s , l o c a l c o n d i t i o n s s h o u l d g o v e r n

a c t i o n - t h a t i s , i n o n e S t a t e i t m i g h t b e t h e D e m o c r a t i c p a r t y , i n a n o t h e r i t

m i g h t b e t h e R e p u b l i c a n p a r t y ; i n o n e S t a t e it m i gh t o p e ra t e u nd e r t he n a m e

o f ` T h e P e o p l e ' s R e c o n s t r u c t i o n L e a g u e ' a n d i n a n o t h e r u n d e r s o m e o t h e r

n a m e , o r i t m i g h t o p e r a t e w i t h o u t a n y a c c e p t e d n a m e - j u s t w o r k t o ` s t e a l '

o n e o f t h e p a r t y n a m e s . "

" T h i s i s t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t i s , t o d a y , d i r e c t i n g s o c i a l i s t a n d r a d i c a l

a c t i v i t i e s i n a l a r g e n u m b e r o f s t a t e s , i n c l u d i n g C o l o r a d o . The dropping

o f e v e r y n a m e e m p l o y e d i n t h e p a s t a n d a d o p t i n g t h e t e r m p r o g r e s s i v e , i s

d e c e i v i n g a l a r g e n u m b e r o f l o y a l p e r s o n s . * * *" T h a t t h e m o v e m e n t i s o f r a d i c a l o r i g i n a n d n o t f o r t h e g o o d o f t h e

p e o p l e , t h e S t a t e o r t h e n a t i o n , i s c l e a r . F i r s t , r e f e r r i n g b a c k t o t h e r e s o -

l u t i o n a d o p t e d b y t h e s o c i a l i s t c o n v e n t i o n u p o n w h i c h r e s o l u t i o n t h e c a l l f o r

the conference that forme d the Conference for Progre ssive Action was

b a s e d - a n d r e m e m b e r a s i m i l a r c a l l i n 1 9 0 7 b y t h e s a m e e l e m e n t s r e s u l t e d

i n t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e I . W. W . F u r t h e r , f r o m t h e t i m e o f t h e i s s u a n c e o f

t h i s c a l l s o c i a l i s t a n d r a d i c a l p a p e r s h a d m u c h t o s a y o f t h e g o o d t h a t w o u l d

r e s u l t . J o h n s t o n w a s l a u d e d i n t h e s o c i a l i s t p a p e r s f o r h i s a c t i o n a n d t h e

purp ose was unanimously endorsed . F o r s e v e r a l w e e k s p r e c e d i n g t h e c o n -

v e n t i o n , t h e New York Ca ll, a t t h a t t i m e t h e l e a d i n g s o c i a l i s t p a p e r i n t h e

country, contained much laudatory comment of the proposed gathering . "

A t t h a t t i m e t h e c o n f e d e r a t i o n k n o w n a s t h e C o n f e r e n c e f o r P r o g r e s s i v e

P o l i t i c a l A c t i o n c o n s i s t e d o f t h e f o l l o w i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n s :

1 . T h e " B i g F o u r " R a i l r o a d B r o t h e r h o o d s .

2 . Railroad crafts which are a part of the American Federation of

Labor and which include the United Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way

Employees and Railway Shop Laborers, the International Asso ciation of

M a c h i n i s t s , t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l B r o t h e r h o o d o f B l a c k s m i t h s a n d H e l p e r s , t h e

S h e e t M e t a l W o r k e r s , t h e B r o t h e r h o o d o f R a i l w a y E l e c t r i c a l W o r k e r s , t h e

B r o t h e r h o o d o f R a i l w a y C a r M e n , t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l B r o t h e r h o o d o f B o i l e r .

m a k e r s , t h e O r d e r o f R a i l r o a d T e l e g r a p h e r s , t h e B r o t h e r h o o d o f R a i l w a y

C l e r k s , t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l B r o t h e r h o o d o f S t a t i o n a r y F i r e m e n a n d O i l e r s , a n d

the Brotherhood of Railroad Signa l Men .

3 . T h e U n i t e d M i n e W o r k e r s , a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n

o f L a b o r .

4 . T h e A m a l g a m a t e d C l o t h i n g W o r k e r s , a n o p e n , l e g a l b r a n c h o f t h e

Communist party .

[ 4 4 1



T h e R e d Na p o l e o n

Jo s e ph P o ga n y, known i n theHungarian Communist party as

Schwartz, his alias in t h e United

States being John Pepper and hisA m e r i c a n p a r t y n a m e , J o s e p h L a n g ,

is the re pre se ntativ e o f the Third

( C o m m u n i s t ) I n t e r n a t i o n a l o f M o s -cow on the Executive Committeeof the Communist party of Amer-i c a . He was pre se nt at the ill e gal

c o n v e n t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t yat Bridgman, Mich., but succeededi n e s c a p i n g c a p t u r e. A check for$ 2 5 .00 signed by Bishop WilliamM Brown of Galion. Ohio (Epis-copal) made payable to "JosephLang" and similarly endorsed wasfound on the grounds after ther a i d.

P o g a n y wa s o r i g i n a l l y a n H u n -

g a r i a n j o u r n a l i s t , a n d h a s a l o n g

c a r e e r i n p r o m o t i n g w o r l d r e v o l u -

tio n to his cre dit . The followinghas been written of him by an~ ~ e witness . "He is still suspectedof having been the ringleader ofthe gang which murdered CountStephen Tisza ; he was re spo ns ibl e

for the agitation which, during the

K d r o l yi r e g i m e , m a d e t h e r e o r g a n -

ization of the army impossible ; a n dit was he who led the demonstra-tion against the War Ministers,C o unt Fcste tich and Barta, which e nde d in the re signatio n o f tho se 'last shadows o fthe ancie nt re gime .' It was Pogany who protested against the proposed preventivemeasures against the Communists in February and March, 1919 ; and it was he whol e d t h e ' n a v a l ' d e t a c h m e n t w h e n i t l i b e r a t e d B e l a K u n - C o h e n f r o m h i s c o n f i n e m e n t

in the barr acks o f the First Ho nv e d R e gime nt in Uil o i-f it, an d who late r o n, af t e r

the f ight in C o nti-utca, he l pe d to pre pare the way, bo th activ ely and passiv e ly, f o r

the f inal 'triumph' o f March 21 . His share in the work of demoralizing the armyp r e d e s t i n e d h i m f o r t h e p o s t w h i c h h e o b t a i n e d , t h a t o f C o m m i s s a r f o r W a r . "

Under Bela Kun-Cohen's regime, Pogany in the space of four short monthsb e c a m e s u c c e s s i v e l y C o m m i s s a r f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s , C o m m a n d e r - i n - c h i e f o f t h e R e dArmy and Commissar of Education. He was known to be heartily in sympathy withthe reign of terror as instituted and maintained by Szamuelly and his army of"Lenin boys ."

During this period, there was an enforced production of Pogany's play"Napoleon" in Budapest. T h i s w i t h h i s p o n d e r o u s p h y s i o g n o m y a n d n i m b l e m e n t a l i t y

secured for him the sobriquet of the "Red Napoleon" or the "Bolshevik Napoleon ."

W h e n H u n g a r y wa s f i n a l l y l i b e r a t e d f r o m a l i e n r u l e , P o g a n y e s c a p e d t o R u s s i a a n dwith Bela Kun-Cohen presumably remained there for the following two years .

Pogany-Schwartz-Pepper- Lang was known to have arrived in America a fewweeks before the Bridgman Convention, with orders from Moscow for AmericanC o mmunists and with instructio ns to take charge o f the re v o lutio nary f o rce s in thisco untry . How he entered is not known, and for that reason his presence here isillegal-an alien revolutionary . H i s f i r s t a p p e a r a n c e w a s a t a m e e t i n g o f a r a d i c a lJewish Federation in the Bronx from which there was a hasty exit . It appearst h a t d u r i n g t h i s s e c r e t m e e t i n g , a b l u n d e r i n g p o l i c e m a n e n t e r e d t h e h a l l wa y o f t h ebuilding and be gan to ask inno ce nt que stio ns . The janitor, knowing what was goingon, gave the alarm and those present disappeared down the fire escapes to meetagain in another place. After the Bridgman raid Pogany disappeared, but wasknown to be in correspondence with Communists as late as December, 1923, whenit was variously stated that he was in Canada with Bela Kun-Cohen or in Chicago

Pogany speaks Hungarian, German and Russian but no English . His articl e sin the Communist party publications are forceful and it has been said that whenhe write s, it is with an autho rity and knowle dge o f the te chni que o f re v o lutio n andwith an e ye singl e to f uture e v e nts that is no t e q ual e d . A c r i t i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n o fhis literary work gives plain evidence that it is usually deleted of its mor e radical

thought to avoid conflict with the authorities .



IN POLITICAL FIELDS

5 . T h e N o n - P a r t i s a n L e a g u e , c o m p o s e d l a r g e l y o f f a r m e r s i n t h e N o r t h -

western States, which has received the sympathetic endorsement of the

C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a .

6 . T h e F a r m e r s ' N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l .

7 . T h e F a r m L a b o r p a r t y , l a t e r m e r g i n g i n t o t h e F e d e r a t e d F a r m - L a b o r

p a r t y .

8. Wo m e n's Tr a d e Un i o n Le ague .

O f t h e o r i g i n a l N a t i o n a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e f o r P r o g r e s s i v e

P o l i t i c a l A c t i o n , W i l l i a m H . J o h n s t o n w a s t h e c h a i r m a n a n d W a r r e n S .

S t o n e t h e t r e a s u r e r . S o m e o f t h e p e r s o n a l h i s t o r i e s a n d c o n n e c t i o n s o f t h e

C o m m i t t e e a r e h e r e g i v e n : ,

William H . J o h n s t o n , W a s h i n g t o n ; p r e s i d e n t , I n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n

o f M a c h i n i s t s ; l e c t u r e r , R a n d S c h o o l o f S o c i a l S c i e n c e ; N a t i o n a l A d v i s o r y

C o m m i t t e e , N a t i o n a l L a b o r A l l i a n c e f o r T r a d e R e l a t i o n s w i t h a n d R e c o g -

n i t i o n o f R u s s i a ; National Council, League for Industrial Democrac y ;

s e c r e t a r y - t r e a s u r e r a n d m e m b e r o f t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f L a F o l l e t t e

P e o p l e ' s L e g i s l a t i v e S e r v i c e ; v i c e - p r e s i d e n t , P e o p l e ' s R e c o n s t r u c t i o n L e a g u e ;

B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s , L a b o r P u b l i c a t i o n S o c i e t y ; E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e A m e r -

i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n . H a s b e e n a c cus e d o f s a y i ng t h a t h e " s e e s

g r e a t a d v a n t a g e i n t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a s o v i e t g o v e r n m e n t i n t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s . "

W a r r e n S . S t o n e , g r a n d c h i e f , B r o t h e r h o o d o f L o c o m o t i v e E n g i n e e r s ;

m e m b e r o f t h e N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l , P e o p l e ' s L e g i s l a t i v e S e r v i c e ; member of

C o m m i t t e e o n P r i m a r i e s o f s a m e o r g a n i z a t i o n ; organizer of Labor Banks

in Cleveland and New York . A s g r a n d c h i e f o f t h e B r o t h e r h o o d , h e i s

r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t i es o f i t s o f f i c i a l j o u r n a l a n d i t s u l t r a -

r a d i c a l e d i t o r , A l b e r t F . C o y l e .

William Green, Indi anapolis ; s e c r e t a r y , Un i t e d Mi n e Wo r k e r s o f

Am e r i c a .

Sidney Hillman, New York ; president of t he Amalgamated Clothing

Wor k e r s ; h a s v i s i t e d S o v i e t R u s s i a a n d o b t a i n e d c o n c e s s i o n s f o r t h e r e -

e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e c l o t h i n g i n d u s t r y i n t h a t c o u n t r y , c a p i t a l i z i n g t h i s b y

s e l l i n g s t o c k t o w o r k e r s i n t h i s c o u n t r y ; Defence Committee I . W. W . T h e

A m a l g a m a t e d h a s b e e n s h o w n t o b e a n o p e n , l e g a l b r a n c h o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y o f A m e r i c a . O f t h e d o c u m e n t s s e i z e d a t B r i d g m a n , t h e r e w a s a r e p o r t

t o M o s c o w o f t h e w o r k o f o r g a n i z i n g n u c l e i i n t r a d e s u n i o n s b y t h e C o m -

m u n i s t s i n w h i c h i t w a s s t a t e d : " A t b e s t t h e p r o s p e c t s o f o u r i n f l u e n c i n g

t h e l a b o r m o v e m e n t ( i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ) a r e m a i n l y i n t h e p r e d o m i n a n t l y

J e w i s h o rga n i z a t i o n s l i k e t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l La d i e s' G a r m e n t Wo r k e r s ,

A m a l ga m a t e d C l o t h i n g W o r k e r s , H a t , C a p a n d M i l li n e r y W o r k e r s , e t c . "

( S e e p . 1 3 6 . )

J o s e p h A . F r a n k l i n , K a n s a s C i t y , K a n s a s ; p r e s i d e n t , I n t e r n a t i o n a l

B r o t h e r h o o d o f B o i l e r m a k e r s , I r o n S h i p B u i l d e r s a n d H e l p e r s o f A m e r i c a ;

m e m b e r , N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l , P e o p l e ' s L e g i s l a t i v e S e r v i c e ; m e m b e r , E x e cu-

t i v e C o m m i t t e e , P e o p l e ' s R e c o n s t r u c t i v e S e r v i c e .

E . J . M a n i o n , S t . L o u i s , M o . ; p r e s i d e n t , O r d e r o f R a i l r o a d T e l e g r a p h -

e r s ; c h a i r m a n , N o m i n a t i o n s C o m m i t t e e , C o n f e r e n c e f o r P r ogr e s s i v e P o -

l i t i c a l A c t i o n ; m e m b e r , N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l , P e o p l e ' s L e g i s l a t i v e S e r v i c e .

E d w a r d K e a t i n g , W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . ; e d i t o r , L a b o r , o f f i c i a l o r g a n o f

t h e C o n f e r e n c e f o r P r o g r e s s i v e P o l i t i c a l A c t i o n ; f o r m e r m e m b e r o f C o n g r e s s

from Colorado . Of L a b o r , i t h a s b e e n s a i d : " I t i s o n e o f t he m o s t r a di c a l

a n d u n t r u t h f u l p u b l i c a t i o n s p u b l i s h e d . I t s a d v o c a c y o f v i o l e n c e i s p e r s i s t -

e n t . T h e r e i s n o t h i n g t o o s c u r r i l o u s a n d e v e n d e f a m a t o r y f o r i t t o p r i n t

r e g a r d i n g p u b l i c o f f i c i a l s a n d e v e n t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . I t s

u n t r u t h f u l c a m p a i g n a g a i n s t t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t c o u l d n o t b e e q u a l l e d e v e n

I Vi d e , R a il w a y R e v i e w ( C h i c ago ) , J a nua r y 2 7 , 1923 .



REDS IN AMERICA

i f o p e n l y p r e s e n t e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l a n d i t s w e l l t r a i n e d

c o r p s o f p r o p a g a n d i s t s. I n d e e d , t h e l a n g u a g e a p p e a r i n g i n L a b o r and in

f o r e i g n C o m m u n i s t p a p e r s , i m p e l s o n e t o b e l i e v e t h e w r i t i n g i s t h a t o f o n e

a n d t h e s a m e p e r s o n . " ' K e a t i ng w a s f o r m e r l y P lum b P l a n m a n age r .

Morris Hillquit (Misca Hilkowitz), New York ; n a t i o n a l s e c r e t a r y ,

S o c i a l i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a ; j o i n t p u b l i s h e r o f t h e N e w Y o r k C a l l , S o c i a l i s t

a n d p r o - S o v i e t d a i l y p a p e r , n o w d e f u n c t ; i n s t r u c t o r a n d l e c t u r e r , R a n d

S c h o o l o f S o c i a l S c i e n c e ; n a t i o n a l c o u n c i l , L e a g u e f o r I n d u s t r i a l D e m o c -

r a c y ; N a t i o n a l C o m m i t t ee , A m e r ic a n C i v i l Li b e r t i e s Un i o n ; o n e o f t h e

o r i g i n a l f o u n d e r s o f t h e I n t e r c o l l e g i a t e S o c i a l i s t L e a g u e ; c o n t r i b u t i n g e d i t o r ,

L a b o r A g e ; c h a i r m a n , C o m m i t t e e o n O r g a n i z a t i o n a n d F i n a n c e , C o n f e r e n c e

f o r P r o g r e s s i v e P o l i t i c a l A c t i o n . ( V i d e a l s o L u s k C o m m i t t e e R e p o r t . )

B e nja m i n C . Marsh, Washington, D . C . ; m a n a g i n g d i r e c t o r , F a r m e r s '

N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l ; managing director, People's Reconstructi on League ;

p u b l i c i t y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , P l u m b P l a n L e a g u e ; a d v o c a t e o f S i n g l e T a x , a n d

n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f p u b l i c u t i l i t i e s .

Jay G . B r o w n , C h i c a g o ; n a t i o n a l s e c r e t a r y , F a r m - L a b o r p a r t y ; f o r m e r l y

s e c r e t a r y o f t h e N a t i o n a l C o m m i t t e e f o r O r g a n i z i n g I r o n a n d S t e e l W o r k e r s ,

a p o s i t i o n o n c e h e l d b y W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r . H e w a s a l s o a f o r m e r I .W. W .

o r g a n i z e r a n d w a s a d i r e c t o r i n F o s t e r ' s T r a d e U n i o n E d u c a t i o n a l L e a g u e ,

a b r a n c h o f t h e C o m mun i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a ; F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a ,

l e g a l b r a n c h o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a .

G e o rge H . G r i f f i t h s , M i n n e a p o l i s ; N a t i o n a l N o n - P a r t i s a n L e a g u e .

F r e d C . Ho w e , Ne w Yo r k Ci t y ; N a t i o n a l C o m m i t t e e , A m e r i c a n C i v i l

L i b e r t i e s U n i o n ; s p e c i a l w r it e r , F e d e r a te d P r e s s ; B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s , C o -

o p e r a t i v e L e a g u e o f A m e r i c a ; f o r m e r C o m m i s s i o n e r o f I m m i g r a t i o n ( u n d e r

P r e s i d e n t Wil s o n ) a t t h e p o r t o f N e w Yo r k , " a p o s i t i o n f r o m w h i c h h e

r e s i g n e d f o l l o w i n g a c o n g r e s s i o n a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o h i s a l l e g e d n e g l e c t o f

d u t y a n d r a d i c a l a c t i v i t i e s b e c a u s e o f h i s u n a u t h o r i z e d a c t i o n i n r e l e a s i n g

a l i e n r a d i c a l s h e l d f o r d e p o r t a t i o n b y t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f J u s t i c e ( C o n g r e s -

s i o n a l R e c o r d o f 6 6 t h C o n g r e s s , p a g e s 1 5 2 2 , 1 5 2 3 ) ;" chairman, Committee

o n r e s o l u t i o n s a n d m e m b e r o f N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l , P e o p l e ' s L e g i s l a t i v e S e r -

v i c e ; c o n t r i b u t i n g e d i t o r , L a b o r A g e ; D e f e n s e C o m m i t t e e , I . W. W . ; o r g a n -

i z e r , S c h o o l o f T h o u g h t , S i a s c o n s e t , N a n t u c k e t , M a s s .

Miss Agnes Nestor, Chicago, Women's Trade Union League, an organ-

i z a t i o n w h i c h i s r e g a r d e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a a s a p a r t o f

i t s u n i t e d o p e n f r o n t a g a i n s t c a p i t a l i s m ; a s s i s t a n t d i r e c t o r , B r y n M a w r

S u m m e r S c h o o l f o r W o m e n W o r k e r s i n I n d u s t r y , B r y n M a w r C o ll e g e ;

Advisory Committee, Workers' Education Bureau of America . A m o n g h e r

o t h e r r a d i c a l a c t i v i t i e s d u r i n g t h e p a s t t w e n t y o r m o r e y e a r s , M i s s N e s t o r

w i t h M r s . Raymond Robins organized an agitative parade in Chicago

d e s i g n e d t o s t i m u l a t e p u b l i c i n t e r e s t i n t h e r e l e a s e o f B i g B i l l H a y w a r d ,

o n t r i a l f o r m u r d e r . T h e C h i c a g o T r i b u n e a t t h e t i m e c a l l e d i t a n " a n a r -

c h i s t p a r a d e . "

Basil M . M a n l y , W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . ; f o r m a n y y e a r s a r a d i c a l l o b b y i s t ;

d i r e c t o r , P e o p l e ' s L e g i s l a t i v e S e r v i c e ; a u t h o r o f p u b l i c a t i o n s d i s t r i b u t e d

b y t h e R a n d S c h o o l o f S o c i a l S c i e n c e ; c o n t r i b u t i n g e d i t o r , L a b o r A g e , a

w e e k l y r a d i c a l p a p e r w h i c h i s t h e s u c c e s s o r o f t h e S o c i a l i s t R e v i e w , o f f i c i a l

o r g a n o f t h e I n t e r c o l l e g i a t e S o c i a l i s t S o c i e t y ; former member of the War

L a b o r B o a r d a n d o f t h e N a t i o n a l I n d u s t r i a l C o n f e r e n c e B o a r d u n d e r P r e s -

i d e n t T a f t ; D e f e n s e C o m m i t t e e , I . W. W .

The a bo v e li s t c o m p r i s e s t h e n a m e s o f t h o s e w h o d i r e c t e d t h e d e s t i n i e s

o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e f o r P r o g r e s s i v e P o l i t i c a l A c t i o n a s o r i g i n a ll y m a d e u p .

T h e r e h a v e b e e n s o m e r e s i g n a t i on s a m o n g t h o s e w h o r e g a r d t h e m s e l v e s

1 T h e " S e a r c h l i g h t D e p a r t m e n t " e d i t o r i a l p a g e o f t h e "Ne w Yo r k Co m m e r c i al", byF r e d M a r v i n , J a n u a r y 4 , 1 9 2 4 .

[ 4 6 1



IN POLITICAL FIELDS

as among the more conservative, a nd the following ones have been added :

D B . R o b e r t s o n , Ohio ; p r e s i d e n t , B r o t h e r h o o d L o c o m o t i v e F i r e m e n

a n d Engi n e m e n ; m e m b e r C o m m i t t e e o n R e s o l u t i o n s , P e o p l e ' s L e g i s l a t i v e

S e r v i c e .

J a m e s H . M a u r e r , H a r r i s b u r g , P a . ; p r e s i d e n t , P e n n s y l v a n i a S t a t e F e d e r -

a t i o n o f L a b o r ; p r e s i d e n t , L a b o r P u b l i c a t i o n S o c i e t y o f C h i c a g o , p u b l i s h e r

o f Labor Age ; m e m b e r , N a t i o n a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e , S o c i a l i s t p a r t y ,

1 9 2 1 - 1 9 2 2 ; chairman, Workers' Education Bureau of America ; member,

N a t i o n a l A d v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e , N a t i o n a l L a b o r A l l i a n c e f o r T r a d e R e l a t i o n s

w i t h a n d R e c o g n i t i o n o f R u s s i a ; l e c t u r e r , R a n d S c h o o l o f S o c i a l S c i e n c e ;

m e m b e r , N a t i o n a l C o m m i t t e e , A m e r i c a n C i v i l Li b e r t i e s Un i o n ; member,

( a l t e r n a t e ) B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s , C o - o p e r a t i v e L e a g u e o f A m e r i c a .

Benjamin Schlessin ger, New York ; p r e s i d e n t , I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a d i e s '

G a r m e n t W o r k e r s o f A m e r i c a , s u b s i d i a r y t o t h e A m a l ga m a t e d C l o t h i n g

W o r k e r s , o p e n , l e g a l b r a n c h o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a .

H. F . S a m u e l s , I d a h o ; f a r m e r a n d m e r c h a n t .

D. C . D o r m a n , M o n t a n a ; f a r m e r ; m e m b e r , N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l , P e o p l e ' s

L e g i s l a t i v e S e r v i c e ; member, Executive Committee, People's Reconstruc-

tion League ; national manager, Non-Partisan League ; s e c r e t a r y - t r e a s u r e r

o f t h e M o n t a n a S t a t e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e C . P . P . A. " D o r m a n s w o r e t h a t

h e d i d n o t b e l i e v e i n t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n a n d w a s o p p o s e d t o t h e F l a g o f t h e

U n i t e d S t a t e s ; t h a t t h e Fl a g w a s n o t h i n g b u t a r a g , o r wo r d s t o t h a t e f f e c t ,

a n d t h a t t h e G o v e r n m e n t w a s n o G o v e r n m e n t a t a l l a n d s h oul d b e d e s -

t r o y e d . " A f f i d a v i t o f J u d g e L . J . P a l d a , c a s e o f R a y M c K a i g v s . F r a n k

G o o d i n g , New York Commercial, Oct . 2 0 , 1 9 2 3 .

J . B . L a u g h l i n , B o x c h i t o , O k l a . ; president, Oklahoma Farm Labor

Un i o n o f A m e r i c a .

Alice Lorraine Daly, South Dakota ; Non-Partisa n League .

J o h n M . B a e r , W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . ; f o r m e r m e m b e r o f C o ngr e s s f r o m

N o r t h D a k o t a ; c a r t o o n i s t f o r Labor a n d o t h e r r a d i c a l p u b l i c a t i o n s ; member

N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l , P e o p l e ' s L e g i s l a t i v e S e r v i c e .

Here, then, is a group of people, some of whom are known Communists

a t h e a r t i f n o t i n f a c t , o t h e r s h a v i n g d i r e c t c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y o f A m e r i c a b o t h t h r o ugh p e r s o n a l c o n t a c t a n d b y v i r t u e o f t h e i r

l e a d e r s h i p i n o r g a n i z a t i o n s , r e c o g n i z e d a s a p a r t o f t h e u n i t e d f r o n t o f t h e

Moscow cohorts in the United States . T h e c o n s t i t u e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e

C o n f e r e n c e f o r P r o g r e s s i v e A c t i o n c o m p r i s e a m e m b e r s h i p o f a b o u t t w o

m i l l i o n m e m b e r s , i t i s c l a i m e d , a n d i t i s c e r t a i n t h a t Labor, i t s o f f i c i a l o r g a n ,

r e a c h e s r e a d e r s t o t h e n u m b e r o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y a m i l l i o n a n d a h a l f . T h a t

i t i s w e l l f i n a n c e d i s s h o w n b y t h e f a c t t h a t , a s a p a p e r , L a b o r c o s t s m u c h

m o r e t h a n i t b r i n g s i n , t h a t t h e W a s h i n g t o n o f f i c e e m p l o y e e s o f t h e C o n f e r -

ence number more persons than are employed in the headquarters of either

t h e R e p u b li c a n o r D e m o c r a t i c N a t i o n a l C o m m i t t e e s , a n d t h a t i t h a s j us t

purchased a plot of ground in Washington on which to er ect a four story

marble and limestone building . A publicity fund has been raised for the

p u r p o s e o f f u r n i s h i n g s p e a k e r s a n d d i s s e m i n a t i n g l i t e r a t u r e , a n d f o r

s u p p o r t i n g t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s , w h i c h i s s o c l o s e l y a l l i e d t o t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y o f Am e r i c a a s t o b e r ega r d e d b y t h e Co m mun i s t s a s t h e i r o f f i c i al

p r e s s a s s o c i a t i o n . S e v e r a l o f f i c i a l s o f t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s a r e k n o w n t o b e

active Communists . It supplies radical news and propaganda to more tha n

t w o hun d r e d d a il y a n d w e e kl y n e w s p a p e r s i n t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s , a c c o r d i ng

t o s t a t e m e n t s b y i t s o f f i c i a l s .

[ 4 7 ]



REDS I N AMERICA

T h e C o n f e r e n c e f o r P r o g r e s s i v e P o l i t i c a l A c t i o n i s n o w r a p i d l y o r g a n -

i z i n g t h r o u g h t h e m i d - a n d f a r W e s t f o r t h e 1 9 2 4 c a m p a i g n . I n a s mu c h a s

s t e a l i n g p a r t y n a m e s w a s e n d o r s e d a t t h e s e c o n d C l e v e l a n d c o n v e n t i o n , i t

i s c e r t a i n t h a t i t s f u t u r e a c t i v i t i e s w i l l i n c l u d e " b o r i n g f r o m w i t h i n " t h e

o r g a n i z a t i o n o f w h a t e v e r p a r t y h a p p e n s t o b e t h e s t r o n g e s t l o c a l l y . I n

s t a t e s t h a t a r e R e p u b l i c a n , b e c a u s e m o s t o f t h e v o t e r s h a v e t h e R e p u b l i c a n

h a b i t , t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n s e e k s t o c o n t r o l R e p u b l i c a n n o m i n a t i o n s . I n s t a t e s

w h e r e t h e D e m o c r a t i c h a b i t p r e v a i l s , t h e a i m i s t o m a k e t h e n o m i n a t i o n s

r a d i c a l . I n s h o r t , t h e w o r d s "Re publi c a n" a n d "D e m o c r a t i c" h a v e n o

s i g n i f i c a n c e t o t h e s e p o l i t i c a l p i r a t e s . F o r i n s t a n c e , i n c o u n t i e s , c o n s e r v a -

t i v e s a r e s a t i s f i e d w i t h n o m i n a t i o n s f o r s t r i c t l y l o c a l o f f i c e s a n d g i v e

i n t r a d e f o r s u c h s u p p o r t h e l p t o r a d i c a l c a n d i d a t e s f o r C o n g r e s s a n d o t h e r

l e g i s l a t i v e p o s i t i o n s .

T h e m e t h o d o f o r g a n i z a t i o n i s a b o u t a s f o l l o w s : a county chairman

i s s e l e c t e d i n e a c h c o u n t y , b e i n g p i c k e d b e c a u s e o f h i s a b i l i t y t o o r g a n i z e

a spread propaganda . T h e c h o i c e i s m a d e b y t h e l e a d e r s a n d n o t b y t h e

l o c a l m e m b e r s o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h i s c h a i r m a n t h e n s e l e c t s f o u r v i c e -

c h a i r m e n , o n e a w a g e - e a r n e r , o n e a f a r m e r , o n e a n e x - s e r v i c e m a n , a n d o n e

a w o m a n . I f t h e c o u n t y i s s t r o n g l y u n i o n i z e d , t h e n t h e f i r s t v i c e - c h a i r m a n

m u s t b e a m e m b e r o f a l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t h a s i n n o w i s e a n t a g o n i z e d

t h e p e o p l e . T h e e x - s e r v i c e m a n i s t o b e a m e m b e r o f t h e L e g i o n i f p o s -

s i b l e , a n d i f n o t p o s s i b l e , o n e i s p i c k e d f r o m t h e S p a n i s h - A m e r i c a n W a r

V e t e r a n s .

T h e f a r m e r v i c e - c h a i r m a n i s s e l e c t e d f r o m t h e l e a d i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n o f

f a r m e r s . I f t h e F a r m B u r e a u i s t h e m o s t i n f l u e n t i a l , t h e n h e i s s e l e c t e d

f r o m t h i s . I f h e h a s b e e n p r o m i n e n t i n t h e d o m i n a n t p o l i t i c a l p a r t y , t h a t

f a c t i s a n a d d e d q u a l i f i c a t i o n i n c o n s i d e r i n g h i s f i t n e s s . If he has been

p r o m i n e n t i n t h e o p p o s i t e p a r t y , h e c a n g i v e a s a r e a s o n f o r c h a n g e t h e

f a c t t h a t h e h a s n o h o p e f o r t h e s a l v a t i o n o f t h e f a r m e r t h r o u g h t h e a c t i o n

o f t h e p a r t y t h a t h e i s l e a v i n g . T h e f o u r t h v i c e - p r e s i d e n t i s a l w a y s a

w o m a n , p r e f e r a b l y s o m e o n e p r o m i n e n t i n l o d g e o r c h u r c h w o r k w i t h

e x t e n s i v e a c q u a i n t a n c e a n d o r g a n i z i n g a b i l i t y . She must be inte lligent

e n o u g h t o g r a s p a t a l k i n g a c q u a i n t a n c e w i t h t h e s l o g a n s o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e ,

o n e w h o c a n m a k e a h a n d y s p e e c h a n d w h o b e c a u s e o f h e r p e r s o n a l i t y a n d

a c t i v i t y h a s a p e r s o n a l f o l l o w i n g .

I n t h e t w o y e a r s o f i t s e x i s t e n c e , t h e C o n f e r e n c e f o r P r o g r e s s i v e P o -

l i t i c a l A c t i o n , w i t h f r a n k l y c o m m u n i s t i c c o n n e c t i o n s a n d w i t h a p r o g r a m

w h i c h p a r a l l e l s i n m a n y r e s p e c t s t h a t o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a ,

h a s s u c c e e d e d i n a c c o m p l i s h i n g t h i s :

I t h a s c r y s t a l l i z e d t h e s m a l l a m o u n t o f r a d i c a l s e n t i m e n t t o b e f o u n d

i n t h e n a t i o n a l l e g i s l a t u r e a t a l l t i m e s ; f u r n i s h e d t h i s nucleus with aid

and comfort ; g i v e n i t a s t a n d i n g b y f o r c i n g u p o n i t a p o s i t i v e p r o g r a m ;

d i s c i p l i n e d i t , t h e r e b y g i v i n g i t a d v a n t a g e s w h i c h a r e t o a c c r u e from such

m e a s u r e s .

I t h a s b a c k e d t h i s e l e m e n t i n i t s h o m e d i s t r i c t s a n d s e c u r e d r e e l e c t i o n s ;

a d d e d t o i t s s t r e n g t h b y i n f l u e n c i n g t h e e l e c t i o n o f o t h e r r a d i c a l s a n d

b r o u g h t t h e w h o l e g r o u p t o a p o i n t where by vot ing EN BLOC on certai n

[ 4 8 ]



IN POLITICAL FIELDS

m a t t e r s , i t e x e r c i s e s t h e f u n c t i o n s o f a m a j o r i t y p a r t y n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e

f a c t t h a t i t s m e m b e r s w e r e e l e c t e d ( w i t h t w o e x c e p t i o n s ) o n r e g u l a r p a r t y

t i c k e t s .

In 1 9 2 2 , t h e Conference for Progressive Political Action en-

d o r s e d a m o n g o t h e r s f o r s e n a t o r s h i p s , t h e f o l l o w i n g :

McKellar o f Ten n e s s e e Ralston of Indiana

Fra zi er o f Nor th Dak ot a S w a n s o n o f Vi r gi n i a

K e n d r i c k o f W y o m i n g How ell o f Nebr a s k a

I n 1 9 2 3 , t h e C o n f e r e n c e e n d o r s e d :

Dill o f Was h i ngto n

W h e e l e r o f M o n t a n a D e m o c r a t s

A s h u r s t o f A r i z o n a J

La Follette of Wisconsin

B r o o k h a r t o f I o w a Republicans

N o r r i s o f N e b r a s k a

Shipstead of MinnesotaF a r m - L a b o r p a r t y

J o h n s o n o f M i n n e s o t a

A l l , o f t h e a b o v e n a m e d w e r e e l e c t e d . , I n a d d i t i o n t h e C o n f e r -

e n c e c l a i m s t o h a v e s e c u r e d t h e e l e c t i o n o f G o v . Sweet of Coloradoa n d G o v . Wa l t o n o f O k l a h o m a , b o t h D e m o c r a t s . Pr e p a r a t i o n s f o r

t h e 1 9 2 4 c a m p a i g n a r e b e i n g e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y p u s h e d .

L i t e r a t u r e o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n i s s e n t i n t o e v e r y s t a t e w h e r e t h e r e a r e

t o b e e l e c t i o n s , a d v o c a t i n g t h e c h o i c e o f s e l e c t e d candidates and

d e c l a r i n g i t s a d h e r e n c e t o c e r t a i n r a d i c a l p o l i c i e s . I n m a n y i n s t a n c e s i t

i s k n o w n t h a t t h e s u p p o r t e r s s w i t c h e d f r o m o n e p a r t y t o a n o t h e r , v o t i n g

f o r o n e c a n d i d a t e i n t h e p r i m a r i e s a n d a n o t h e r a t t h e e l e c t i o n s . T h i s i s

e x a c t l y w h a t w a s d o n e i n P e n n s y l v a n i a ; t h e r a d i c a l e l e m e n t , b a c k e d b y t h e

C o n f e r e n c e , w a s s o l i d l y b e h i n d B u r k e i n t h e p r i m a r i e s , a n d i t s f o l l o w e r s

w e r e l a t e r i n s t r u c t e d t o v o t e f o r t h e D e m o c r a t i c c a n d i d a t e a t t h e e l e c t i o n .

I n t h e d e c l a r a t i o n o f p r i n c i p l e s t h e r e i s a p p e a l f o r a c t i o n w i t h m a n y

a r g u m e n t s t a k e n f r o m t h e c o d e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s . I t i s a p a r t o f t h e C o m -

m u n i s t w o r k h e r e t o m a k e s i m i l a r a p p e a l s t h r o u g h l e g a l c h a n n e l s w i t h

t h e i n t e n t o f a l i e n a t i n g A m e r i c a n s f r o m t h e F l a g a s a s t e p t o w a r d t h e p r o -

l e t a r i a n d i c t a t o r s h i p t o b e e s t a b l i s h e d h e r e f o l l o w i n g t h e e x a c t p a t t e r n o f

t h a t n o w e x i s t i n g i n R u s s i a . T h i s d e c l a r a t i o n r e f e r s , o n C o m m u n i s t l i n e s ,

t o " a l o n g r e c o r d o f i n j u r y a n d u s u r p a t i o n , " a n d s a y s i n p a r t :

" T h e h i s t o r y o f r e c e n t y e a r s i s a h i s t o r y o f r e p e a t e d i n j u r i e s a n d u s u r -

p a t i o n b y t h e s e r v a n t s o f t h i s o l i g a r c h y i n b o t h t h e d o m i n a n t p a r t i e s ; a l l

h a v i n g a s t h e i r d i r e c t o b j e c t t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a n a b s o l u e t y r a n n y a n d

p l u t o c r a t i c d i c t a t o r s h i p w i t h i n t h e s e U n i t e d S t a t e s . L i f e , l i b e r t y a n d h a p -

p i n e s s a l l h a v e b e e n s a c r i f i c e d u p o n t h e a l t a r o f g r e e d . T o p r o v e t h i s l e t

f a c t s b e s u b m i t t e d t o a c a n d i d w o r l d .

" T h e y h a v e s t i f l e d f r e e s p e e c h , t h r o t t l e d f r e e p r e s s , a n d d e n i e d t h e s a c r e d

r i g h t o f a s s e m b l y . T h e y h a v e u s e d t h e F e d e r a l R e s e r v e S y s t e m , c o n t r o l l i n g

t h e l i f e b l o o d o f t h e n a t i o n ' s c r e d i t , a s a n i n s t r u m e n t t o d e f l a t e a n d c r u s h

[ 4 9 1



REDS IN AMERICA

f a r m e r s a n d i n d e p e n d e n t b u s i n e s s m e n a n d c a u s e n a t i o n - w i d e u n e m p l o y m e n t .

T h e y h a v e o b s t r u c t e d e v e r y h o n e s t e f f o r t t o r e l i e v e t h e d i s t r e s s o f a g r i c u l t u r e

t h u s c a u s e d a n d h a v e u s e d e v e r y i n f l u e n c e t o s e c u r e b e t r a y a l o f t h e f a r m e r s '

i n t e r e s t s .

" T h e y h a v e c o n s c r i p t e d 4 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 m e n a n d b o y s w h i l e t h e y p e r m i t t e d

c o r p o r a t i o n s a n d i n d i v i d u a l s t o e x t o r t u n c o n s c i o n a b l e w a r p r o f i t s a n d h a v e

s a c r i f i c e d t h e s o l d i e r s ' j u s t d e m a n d s f o r e q u i t a b l e c o m p e n s a t i o n t o t h e d i c -

t a t e s o f M e l l o n i s m a n d t h e s e l f i s h i n t e r e s t s o f t a x - d o d g i n g c a p i t a l i s t s a n d

p r o f i t e e r s . T h e y h a v e a b o l i s h e d t h e t a x e s u p o n e x c e s s p r o f i t s o f c o r p o r a -

t i o n s a n d h a v e r e d u c e d t h e t a x e s u p o n i n c o m e s o f m i l l i o n a i r e s . They have

u s e d t h e a r m y a n d t h e t r o o p s a n d p o l i c e f o r c e s o f S t a t e s a n d c i t i e s t o c r u s h

l a b o r i n i t s s t r u g g l e s t o s e c u r e r i g h t s g u a r a n t e e d b y t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n . "

P l a y i n g d i r e c t l y i n t o t h e h a n d s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s i n a g i t a t i n g r a d i c a l

l e g i s l a t i o n , t h e C o n f e r e n c e f o r P r o g r e s s i v e P o l i t i c a l Action puts forward

a s i t s p l a t f o r m s t a r t l i n g p r o p o s a l s a f f e c t i n g t a x a t i o n , c o u r t p r o c e e d i n g s a n d

G o v e r n m e n t o w n e r s h i p w h i c h a r e w o r t h y o f t h e e f f o r t s o f t h e c l e v e r l y t r i c k y

C o m m u n i s t s , w h o s e m e t h o d o f p r o c e d u r e i s t o a d v a n c e a n y k i n d o f t h e o r y

t o e f f e c t c h a n g e s , i n t h e b e l i e f t h a t t h e m o r e c h a n g e s m a d e , t h e e a s i e r i t w i l l

b e t o b r i n g a b o u t t h e g r e a t c h a n g e , t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e D i c t a t o r s h i p o f

t h e P r o l e t a r i a t . A m o n g t h e p r o p o s a l s i n t h i s r e m a r k a b l e p l a t f o r m i s o n e

p r o v i d i n g t h a t a n y d e c i s i o n o f t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s m a y

b e r e v e r s e d b y a v o t e o f C o n g r e s s . T h u s , d i s t a s t e f u l c o u r t d e c i s i o n s m a y

b e n u l l i f i e d a s s o o n a s t h e R a d i c a l s c a n g e t c o n t r o l o f C o n g r e s s - a n d t h e

f i g h t f o r t h i s i s n o w b e i n g w a g e d .

A n o t h e r p r o v i s i o n i s t h a t a l l d w e l l i n g s , f a r m h o u s e s , f a r m m a c h i n e r y ,

f a r m i m p r o v e m e n t s , h o u s e h o l d f u r n i t u r e a n d t a n g i b l e p e r s o n a l p r o p e r t y b e

e x e m p t e d f r o m S t a t e a n d l o c a l t a x a t i o n , a n d t h a t a l l f u n d s b e r a i s e d b y

t a x e s l e v i e d o n i n c o m e s a b o v e a c e r t a i n a m o u n t , b u s i n e s s p r o f i t s a n d c o r -

p o r a t i o n s . Unemployme nt and old age pensions and a Fede ral workmen's

c o m p e n s a t i o n i n s u r a n c e f u n d a r e a l s o a d v o c a t e d . T h i s w o u l d r e s u l t , t h e y

b e l i e v e , a s d o t h e C o m m u n i s t s , i n b r e a k i n g u p w h a t t h e y l o v e t o c a l l t h e

" c a p i t a l i s t S t a t e . " The Plumb plan of Government ownership of railroads

a n d o t h e r p u b l i c u t i l i t i e s i s n a t u r a l l y i n c l u d e d i n t h e p l a t f o r m a n d t h e

C o n f e r e n c e i s n o w p r a c t i c a l l y t h e o n l y s o u r c e o f p r o p a g a n d a i n t h i s c o u n t r y

f o r n a t i o n a l i z i n g o f t h e r a i l r o a d s .

N o t s a t i s f i e d w i t h t h e p l a n t o n u l l i f y d e c i s i o n s o f t h e Su p r e m e C ou r t

b y v o t e o f C o n g r e s s , t h e p l a t f o r m o f t h i s g r o u p o f r a d i c a l s a d v o c a t e s S t a t e

l e g i s l a t i o n p r o v i d i n g t h a t n o a c t o f a n y S t a t e L e g i s l a t u r e s h a l l b e d e c l a r e d

u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i f a n y o n e m e m b e r o f t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t c a s t s h i s v o t e i n

f a v o r o f t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y o f t h e m e a s u r e . T h i s , o f c o u r s e , w o u l d t e n d t o

w e a k e n t h e s a f e g u a r d t h a t t h e c o u r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y g i v e t o a l l c i t i z e n s a n d

w o u l d b r i n g t h e e n t i r e j u d i c i a l s y s t e m o f t h e c o u n t r y i n t o d i s r e p u t e , s o t h a t

t h e c o m i n g o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n d i c t a t o r s h i p w o u l d b e m a d e m o r e e a s y . N e w

b a n k i n g f e a t u r e s a r e a l s o a d v o c a t e d w h i c h w o u l d t e n d t o c o n c e n t r a t e t h e

s a v i n g s o f w o r k e r s i n a w a y w h i c h w o u l d p e r m i t o f t h e i r b e i n g u s e d m o r e

r e a d i l y a n d i n g r e a t e r a m o u n t s f o r t h e p r o v o c a t i o n o f u n r e s t a n d o t h e r

u n w i s e p u r p o s e s . T h i s i s i n c l u d e d i n t h e p r o p o s a l a d v a n c e d f o r t h e o r g a n -

[ 5 0 1



IN POLITICAL FIELDS

i z a t i o n u n d e r g o v e r n m e n t c h a r t e r o f c o o p e r a t i v e b a n k s w i t h f u l l b a n k i n g

p o w e r s d e s i g n e d e s p e c i a l l y t o e n a b l e f a r m e r s a n d f a c t o r y w o r k e r s t o m o b i l -

i z e t h e i r o w n r e s o u r c e s .

A p r o v i s i o n i s a l s o a d v o c a t e d t h a t l a w s b e e n a c t e d p r o h i b i t i n g i n t e r -

f e r e n c e b y C o n g r e s s e i t h e r w i t h i n j u n c t i o n s o r i n a n y o t h e r w a y w i t h t h e

r i g h t o f l a b o r t o o r g a n i z e , s t r i k e , p i c k e t , b o y c o t t a n d o t h e r w i s e " t oc a r r y o n

i n d u s t r i a l c o n t r o v e r s y b y p e a c e f u l m e a n s . " The Communists include vio-

l e n c e i n s t r i k e s a s a c a r d i n a l p r i n c i p l e , a n d n o w t h i s a l l e g e d C o n f e r e n c ef o r

P r o g r e s s i v e P o l i t i c a l A c t i o n s e e k s t o r e s t r a i n t h e G o v e r n m e n t f r o m t h e u s e

o f t h e o n l y j u d i c i a l m e a n s o f p r e v e n t i n g v i o l e n c e i n l a b o r w a r f a r e a i m e d a t

the Government .

C o n s t i t u t i o n a l a m e n d m e n t s i n a l l S t a t e s a n d F e d e r a l l e g i s l a t i o n a r e a l s o

a d v o c a t e d p e r m i t t i n g c i t i e s a n d o t h e r u n i t s o f G o v e r n m e n t t o o w n a n d o p e r -

a t e a l l c l a s s e s o f p u b l i c u t i l i t i e s , i n c l u d i n g m a r k e t s , c o l d s t o r a g e p l a n t s , c o a l

a n d f o o d s u p p l i e s ; a n d a u t h o r i z i n g c i t i e s , c o u n t i e s a n d o t h e r u n i t s o f G o v -

e r n m e n t t o i s s u e b o n d s t o r a i s e t h e m o n e y t o p u r c h a s e t h e s e p u b l i c u t i l i t i e s

a n d s u p p l i e s . T h i s i s j u s t w h a t t h e C o m m u n i s t s a r e w o r k i n g f o r i n t h e i r

i l l e g a l p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s a s a p r e l i m i n a r y s t e p t o t h e o v e r t h r o wo f t h e

G o v e r n m e n t b y f o r c e o f a r m s .

T h e n e x t s t e p t a k e n b y t h i s g r o u p o f r a d i c a l s i s t o c a t e c h i z e e v e r y n o m -

i n e e t o C o n g r e s s . A q u e s t i o n n a i r e i s p r e p a r e d a n d s e n t t o a l l c a n d i d a t e s

f o r c o n g r e s s i o n a l e l e c t i o n w i t h o u t r e g a r d t o p a r t y a f f i l i a t i o n s b e f o r e e a c h

e l e c t i o n . A c o p y o f t h i s q u e s t i o n n a i r e i s s e n t t o e v e r y l a b o r u n i o n m e m b e r

a n d e v e r y o t h e r p e r s o n i n s y m p a t h y w i t h t h e l a b o r u n i o n a n d r a d i c a l m o v e -

m e n t s , w i t h t h e r e q u e s t t h a t t h e l o c a l u n i o n s a n d a l l l o c a l r a d i c a l a n d s o -

c a l l e d p r o g r e s s i v e o r g a n i z a t i o n s t a k e t h e m a t t e r u p i n t h e i r m e e t i n g s a n d

b e s i e g e t h e c o n g r e s s i o n a l n o m i n e e s w i t h t h e q u e s t i o n s . T h e s e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s

a r e h e a d e d w i t h t h e p e r e m p t o r y d e m a n d , "An s w e r mu s t be Ye s o r N o! "

I n s u b s t a n c e , t h e y r e a d a s f o l l o w s :

1 . I f e l e c t e d t o C o n g r e s s w i l l y o u w o r k a n d v o t e t o r e p e a l t h e E s c h -

C um m i n s r a i l r o a d l a w ?

2 . I f e l e c t e d t o C o n g r e s s w i l l y o u w o r k a n d v o t e a g a i n s t t h e s h i p s u b -

s i d y a n d s u b s i d i e s o f a l l o t h e r s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t s ?

3. Do you believe that five men on the Supreme Bench who h ave not

b e e n e l e c t e d b y t h e p e o p l e , a n d w h o c a n n o t b e r e j e c t e d b y t h e p e o p l e , s h o u l d

b e p e r m i t t e d t o n u l l i f y t h e w i l l o f t h e p e o p l e a s e x p r e s s e d b y t h e i r r e p r e -

s e n t a t i v e s i n C o n g r e s s a n d t h e E x e c u t i v e i n t h e W h i t e H o u s e ?

4 . I f e l e c t e d , w i l l y o u w o r k a n d v o t e f o r a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a m e n d m e n t

r e s t r i c t i n g t h e p o w e r o f t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t t o n u l l i f y a c t s o f C o n g r e s s ?

5 . I f e l e c t e d , w i l l y o u w o r k a n d v o t e a g a i n s t c o m p u l s o r y a r b i t r a t i o n

a n d a l l a t t e m p t s t o d e s t r o y a n d r e s t r i c t t h e r i g h t s o f l a b o r t o o r g a n i z e ,

b a r g a i n c o l l e c t i v e l y , a n d s t r i k e ?

6 . W i l l y o u w o r k a n d v o t e f o r a c l e a n - c u t F e d e r a l s t a t u t e p r o h i b i t i n g

F e d e r a l j u d g e s f r o m i s s u i n g i n j u n c t i o n s i n i n d u s t r i a l d i s p u t e s ?

7 . W i l l y o u w o r k a n d v o t e t o r e i n s t a t e t h e t a x e s o n e x c e s s p r o f i t s a n d

m a i n t a i n t h e t a x e s o n b i g i n c o m e s ?

8 . W i l l y o u w o r k a n d v o t e a g a i n s t a s a l e s t a x o n t h e f o o d a n d n e c e s -

s i t i e s o f t h e p o o r ?

9. W i l l y o u w o r k a n d v o t e t o r e d u c e a p p r o p r i a t i o n s f o r t h e A r m y a n d

N a v y t o a p r e - w a r b a s i s ?

10 . W i l l y o u f a v o r i n c r e a s e d F e d e r a l a p p r o p r i a t i o n s f o r e d u c a t i o n ?

[ 5 1 ]



REDS IN AMERICA

1 1 . W i l l y o u w o r k a n d v o t e f o r a s p e c i a l t a x o n w a r g r a f t e r s a n d

p r o f i t e e r s t o p a y t h e s o l d i e r s a j u s t c o m p e n s a t i o n ?

1 2 . W i l l y o u w o r k a n d v o t e f o r a l a w t o t a k e t h e p r o f i t o u t o f w a r b y

m a n u f a c t u r i n g b a t t l e s hi p s , m u n i t i o n s a n d o t h e r i m p l e m e n t s o f w a r i n G o v -

e r n m e n t p l a n t s o n l y ?

1 3 . W i l l y o u w o r k a n d v o t e f o r a c l e a n - c u t c o r r u p t p r a c t i c e s a c t w h i c h

w i l l p u t a n e n d t o N e w b e r r y i s m ?

14 . W i l l y o u w o r k a n d v o t e f o r t h e a b o l i t i o n o f c h i l d l a b o r a n d a c o n -

s t i t u t i o n a l a m e n d m e n t f o r t h a t p u r p o s e i f n e c e s s a r y ?

The public exposure of the Workers' Party of America as a branch of

t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y r e s u l t e d i n t h e r e f u s a l o f t h i s C o u n c i l t o s e a t d e l e g a t e s

from the Worke rs' Party in the Cleveland conve ntion (1922) but the Coun-

c i l ' s w o r k i s g r e a t l y f a v o r e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s b e c a u s e o f i t s e f f o r t s t o

disturb the functioning of the Governme nt .

I t i s f r e q u e n t l y d i f f i c u l t t o l i n k i n d i v i d u a l s a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s w i t h t h e

a c tual illegal Co m mun i s t m a c h i n e , but i t i s k n o w n t h a t m a n y m e m b e r s o f

t h e v a r i o u s l a b o r u n i o n s , a s w e l l a s o f t h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r ,

a r e m e m b e r s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y . The B r o t h e r h o o d o f L o c o m o t i v e

Engineers, whose president, Warren S . S t o n e , i s t r e a s u r e r o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e

f o r P r o g r e s s i v e P o l i t i c a l A c t i o n , i s s u e f r o m i t s h e a d q u a r t e r s a t C l e v e l a n d ,

0., a publication called "Brotherh ood of Locomotive Engineers Journal,"

o f w h i c h A l b e r t F . Coyle is "acting editor and publicity manager . " OnJ u l y 1 8 , 1 9 2 2 , C o y l e , w h o i s a Y a l e m a n , w r o t e t o R o b e r t M i n o r , a t p r e s e n t

a m e m b e r o f t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f

A m e r i c a , a l e t t e r b e g i n n i n g " D e a r C o m r a d e M i n o r , " i n w h i c h h e s t a t e s t h a t

h e i s t r y i n g t o m a k e t h e J o u r n a l " a r e a l v o i c e o f t h e p r o d u c i n g c l a s s e s , i n -

t e r p r e t i n g t o t h e m t h e b i g s o c i a l , p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c m o v e m e n t s o f t h e

d a y , " a n d r e f e r s t o a m e e t i ng w i t h Mi n o r a t t h e 1920 Co n v e n t i o n o f t h e

I n t e r c o l l e g i a t e S o c i a l i s t S o c i e t y .

T h i s ' i s b ut o n e o f m a n y s u c h c o n n e c t i o n s t h a t u n i t e i n d i v i d u a ls

prominent in labor union circles with the Communists . The principles of

m a n y o f t h e u n i o n l e a d e r s , a s e x p r e s s e d i n t h e i r p u b l i c a n d p r i v a t e s t a t e -

m e n t s , c o i n c i d e w i t h r e m a r k a b l e f i d e l i t y w i t h t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f C o m m u n i s m .

I t i s , i n d e e d , n o s e c r e t t h a t t h e r a d i c a l w i n g o f t h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f

L a b o r , l e d b y W i l l i a m Z . Foster, is allied with the Communist party of

A m e r i c a a n d i s c o n t r o l l e d b y t h e " u n d e r g r o u n d " o r i l l e g a l o r g a n i z a t i o n o f

t h a t p a r t y . The f igh t b e t w e e n S a muel G o m p e r s a n d Fo s t e r f o r l e a d e r s h i p

o f t h e Am e r i c a n Fe d e r a t i o n o f Lab o r i s t h e r e a s o n a s c r i b e d b y m a n y f o r

G o m p e r s ' a l l e g e d c o n s e r v a t i s m - t h e o n l y m e a n s b y w h i c h h e c o u l d r e t a i n

p e r s o n al i n d e p e n d e n c e b y c o m b a t i ng t h e p r o n oun c e d r a d i c al i s m o f Fo s t e r .

The la t t e r's Tr a d e Un i o n E duc a t i o n al Le ague age n c i e s t h r ough w h i c h t h e

i l l e g a l p a r t y w o r k s i s c o n t r o l l e d a b s o l u t e l y b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s .

D i r e c t l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s c o m p r i s i n g t h e C o n f e r e n c e

f o r P r o g r e s s i v e P o l i t i c a l A c t i o n i s t h e N a t i o n a l F e d e r a t i o n o f F e d e r a l E m -

p l o y e e s , w h i c h i s a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r a n d i n

w h i c h a r e a n u m b e r o f C o m m u n i s t s . T h e s e C o m m u n i s t s a r e k e e p i n g w e l l

under cover and their membership in t he Communist party is not known to

t h e r a n k a n d f i l e o f t h e F e d e r a l E m p l o y e e s ' o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h i s f e d e r a t i o n

[ 5 2 1



I N POLITICAL FIELDS

i s c o m p o s e d o f v a r i o u s u n i o n s m a d e u p e x c l u s i v e l y o f F e d e r a l e m p l o y e e s

w h o a r e m e m b e r s o f t h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r. I t i s t h e i r b o a s t t h a t

n o m e m b e r o f C o n g r e s s d a r e s g o a g a i n s t t h e w i s h e s o f t h e F e d e r a t i o n i f

h e d e s i r e s t o h o l d h i s p o s i t i o n i n C o n g r e s s .

T h e s e u n i o n s a r e c o m p o s e d n o t o n l y o f p o s t a l c l e r k s , r u r a l l e t t e r c a r -

r i e r s a n d r a i l w a y m a i l c l e r k s , w h i c h a r e t h e b e s t k n o w n o f F e d e r a l e m p l o y e e s '

u n i o n s , b u t t h e y h a v e o r g a n i z e d c o u n t y a g e n t s , e n g a g e d i n a g r i c u l t u r a l e x t e n -

s i o n , a l l e m p l o y e e s i n p u b l i c l a n d o f f i c e s , e m p l o y e e s i n i r r i g a t i o n , r e c l a m a -

t i o n , f o r e s t r y a n d l i k e w o r k , a l l t h o s e c o n n e c t e d w i t h I n d i a n w o r k , p a r t i c u -

l a r l y w i t h I n d i a n s c h o o l s , a n d e v e r y o t h e r l i n e o f a c t i v i t y i n w h i c h Govern-

m e n t e m p l o y e e s a r e i n t e r e s t e d .

T h e F e d e r a t i o n o f F e d e r a l E m p l o y e e s h a s s h o w n i t s s t r e n g t h a n d i n f l u -

e n c e o n m o r e t h a n o n e o c c a s i o n . I t i s e v e n a b i t b o a s t f u l o f i t s p o w e r w i t h

C o n g r e s s a n d i t w a s t h i s b o a s t f u l n e s s t h a t a t t r a c t e d t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e

Communist party and led to the "planting" o f C o m mu n i s t s i n F e d e r al

e m p l o y f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f g e t t i n g c o n t r o l o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n . The Federa-

t i o n h a s s u c c e s s f u l l y r e s i s t e d a l l a t t e m p t s a t a n y r e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f F e d e r a l

b u r e a u s t h a t w o u l d r e s u l t i n t h e d e c r e a s e o f t h e n u m b e r o f e m p l o y e e s . I t

s u c c e e d e d i n f o r c i n g t h e H o u s e o f R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s t o r e j e c t a r e p o r t b y t h e

C o m m i t t e e o n A p p r o p r i a t i o n s a g a i n s t t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n o f a $240 a n nu al

bonus to Government employees . T h i s b o n u s w a s f i r s t a l l o w e d e m p l o y e e s

d u r i n g t h e w a r t o o f f s e t t h e i n c r e a s e d c o s t o f l i v i n g . T h e A p p r o p r i a t i o n s

C o m m i t t e e r e p o r t e d i n 1 9 2 2 i n f a v o r o f a r e d u c t i o n o f t h i s b o n u s u p o n t h e

g r o u n d t h a t t h e c o s t o f l i v i n g w a s l o w e r a n d t h e r e w a s n o l o n g e r a n e e d o f

g i v i n g e m p l o y e e s a b o n u s o v e r a n d a b o v e t h e i r f i x e d s a l a r y . The Am e r i c a n

Federation of Labor immediately got behind t h e F e d e r a t i o n o f F e d e r a l

E m p l o y e e s a n d s u c c e e d e d i n f o r c i n g t h e H o u s e t o r e j e c t t h i s a t t e m p t e d e c o n -

o m y , r e s t o r i n g t h e b o n u s f o r t h e f i s c a l y e a r a n d a p p r o p r i a t i n g f o r i t $ 3 6 , -

2 8 7 , 0 0 0 .

Man y bo d i e s w h i c h a p p e al t o "f o r w a r d lo o k i n g" i n d i v i d u a l s , o r t o

p h i l a n t h r o p i s t s , o r t o t h e s y m p a t h i e s o f r i g h t - t h i n k i n g p e o p l e , a r e i n t h e

f i e l d i n d o r s i n g c a n d i d a t e s f o r o f f i c e . O s t e n s i b l y t h e i r p u r p o s e i s t o a i d s u f -

f e r i n g o r t o u p l i f t t h e d o w n - t r o d d e n ; b u t i n r e a l i t y t h e i r w o r k i s i n f u r t h e r -

ance of the work of the Communist party in America . Among t h e m a r e

o r g a n i z a t i o n s w i t h h i g h - s o u n d i n g n a m e s l i k e t h e A l l A m e r i c a N a t i o n a l C o u n -

c i l , t h e N o n - P a r t i s a n R e l i e f C o m m i t t e e , the Society f or Medical Aid to

R u s s i a , t h e L e a g u e f o r I n d u s t r i a l D e m o c r a c y , t h e A m e r i c a n L e a g u e t o L i m i t

Armaments, and the American Union Against Militarism . A l l t h e o p e n l y

p a c i f i s t o r g a n i z a t i o n s , w h i c h s p o n s o r s u c h m o v e m e n t s a s " N o M o r e W a r

D a y , " a n d w h i c h a r e t r y i n g t o i n f l u e n c e c o n g r e s s m e n a n d c a n d i d a t e s f o r

C o n g r e s s , a r e d i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t l y b r a n c h e s o f t h e i l l e g a l C o m m u n i s t p a r t y

r a n d t h e i r w o r k i s b e i n g c o n t r o l l e d , t h o u g h s o m e o f t h e m m a y n o t k n o w i t ,

b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s i n s e c r e t a n d i l l e g a l m e e t i n g s . T h e l i s t o f s u c h o r g a n -

i z a t i o n s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i s s o l o n g t h a t a m e r e e n u m e r a t i o n o f t h e m

w o u l d f i l l s e v e r a l p a g e s .

T h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y o f A m e r i c a i s t h e o p e n p o l i t i c a l branch of the

( 5 3 1



REDS IN AMERICA

C o m mun i s t p a r t y o f Am e r i c a , a n d e v e r y m e mbe r o f t h e o f f i c i a l W o r k e r s '

p a r t y i s a m e m b e r o f t h e i l l e g a l b r a n c h o f t h a t o r g a n i z a t i o n . B u t t h e C o m -

m u n i s t s a r e c l e v e r e n o u g h t o k n o w t h a t t h e y c a n n o t y e t w i n e l e c t i o n s t h r o u g h

t h e i r o w n p o l i t i c a l p a r t y . A c c o r d i n g l y t h e y h a v e i n s t r u c t e d t h e i r m e m b e r s

t o s u p p o r t o t h e r c a n d i d a t e s w h e n n o W o r k e r s ' p a r t y t i c k e t i s i n t h e f i e l d ;

a n d t h a t p a r t y h a s n o o p e n c a n d i d a t e s a s y e t ( 1 9 2 2 ) i n C o n g r e s s i o n a l e l e c -

t i o n s . B u t t h e s e w o r k e r s a r e a l s o i n s t r u c t e d t o " m a k e t h e m s e l v e s f e l t " i n

o r d e r t o a c q u i r e p r e s t i g e i n t h e m i n d s o f t h e c a n d i d a t e s t h e y s u p p o r t . I n

t h i s w a y t h e y b e l i e v e t h e y w i l l g a i n m o r e s t r e n g t h i n t h e c a m p a i g n s . B u t i t

must be borne in mind that at all times every member of the Communist

p a r t y i n A m e r i c a i s b o u n d t o o b e y t h e o r d e r s o f t h e i l l e g a l p a r t y a n d t o b e

e n t i r e l y c o n t r o l l e d i n h i s p o l i t i c a l a s w e l l a s i n d u s t r i a l a c t i v i t y b y i t .

B o t h C o m m u n i s t s a n d e v e r y o t h e r b r e e d o f r a d i c a l s w e r e r e a d y t o m a k e

c a p i t a l o u t o f t h e b o n u s q u e s t i o n , h o w e v e r i t m i g h t b e d e c i d e d b y t h e G o v e r n -

m e n t . I f t h e b o n u s w e r e a p p r o v e d , t h e y w o u l d a t t a c k t h e a c t i o n a s a n i m -

p o s i t i o n u p o n t h e p e o p l e o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d a n e f f o r t o f t h e " c a p i t a l i s t "

s t a t e t o r o b t h e p o o r . I f d i s a p p r o v e d , t h a t a c t i o n w o u l d b e a t t a c k e d a s a

c a p i t a l i s t i c e f f o r t t o d e f r a u d t h e e x - s o l d i e r s o u t o f t h e i r j u s t d u e s . Th e

" C o n f e r e n c e , " l i k e t h e C o m m u n i s t s a n d a l l o t h e r r a d i c a l s , m a k e s f r i e n d s

w i t h a l l d i s s a t i s f i e d p o r t i o n s o f s o c i e t y . I t t a k e s t h e l o s i n g s i d e o n e v e r y

p u b l i c q u e s t i o n i n o r d e r t o m a k e c a p i t a l o u t o f t h e f a c t t h a t t h e s i d e l o s t ,

a n d i t s s u p p o r t e r s , t h e r e f o r e , a r e b e l i e v e d t o b e h o s t i l e t o t h e a u t h o r i t i e s .

T h o s e w h o a r e f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e w o r k i n g s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s a r e a w a r e

t h a t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i s i n j e o p a r d y . T h e y a r e n o t f e a r f u l i f t h e p e o p l e

o f t h i s c o u n t r y a w a k e t o t h e d a n g e r . B u t t h e e n e m i e s o f c i v i l i z a t i o n , b o t h

those in the Communist party and those on th e fringe, who are playing

w i t h f i r e i n t h e i r s u p p o r t o f C o m m u n i s t t h e o r i e s , a r e a t w o r k t o e f f e c t t h e

overthrow of this Government . T h e y a r e w o r k i n g c l e v e r l y , i n s i d i o u s l y ,

a n d a r e w i l l i n g t o t a k e p l e n t y o f t i m e t o a c c o m p l i s h t h e i r e n d s , b u t t h e i r

m a i n p u r p o s e , t h e g o a l t o w a r d w h i c h t h e y a r e s t r i v i n g , i s t h e d e s t r u c t i o n

o f c h u r c h , h o m e a n d s t a t e i n A m e r i c a a n d t h e r a i s i n g o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f

t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , c o n t r o l l e d b y Z i n o v i e f f a n d h i s g a n g i n M o s c o w , t o t a k e t h e

p l a c e o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .

[ 5 4 1



CHAPTER THREE

SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

" G i v e u s o n e g e n e r a t i o n o f s m a l l c h i l d r e n t o t r a i n t o m a n h o o d a n d

w o m a n h o o d a n d w e w i l l s e t u p t h e B o l s h e v i s t f o r m o f t h e S o v i e t G o v e r n -

m e n t . "

Thi s s t a t e m e n t , m a d e i n 1919 by Mr s . Mar i o n E . S p r o u l , a B o s t o n

s c h o o l t e a c h e r , h a s b e c o m e t h e g u i d i n g l i g h t o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f

A m e r i c a , h a s b e e n a d o p t e d o f f i c i a l l y a s a s l o g a n o f t h e p a r t y , a n d i s b e i n g

u s e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s b y t h e s e c r e t , i l l e g a l o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r t h e

p u r p o s e o f a l i e n a t i n g t h e A m e r i c a n y o u t h f r o m t h e p r e c e p t s o f t h i s c o u n t r y

a n d t h e t e a c h i n g s o f a c e n t u r y a n d a h a l f o f d e m o c r a t i c g o v e r n m e n t . P u b l i c

a n d p r i v a t e s c h o o l s , c o l l e g e s a n d u n i v e r s i t i e s a r e t h e f e e d i n g g r o u n d o f t h e

" i n t e l l e c t u a l C o m m u n i s t s " a n d t h e a g e n t s o f t h e p a r t y h a v e b e e n d e l i b e r -

a t e l y " p l a n t e d " i n t h e e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s f o r t h e

purpose of making converts of t he young . E v e n i n gr a m m a r s c h o o l s o f

t h e l a r g e r c i t i e s o f t h e c o u n t r y t h e c h i l d r e n h a v e " n u c l e i " o f C o m m u n i s m

f r e q u e n t l y e n c o u r a g e d b y r a d i c a l - t h i n k i n g t e a c h e r s .

D r . W i l l i a m B . B i z z e l l , p r e s i d e n t o f t h e T e x a s A g r i c u l t u r a l a n d M e c h a n i -

c a l C o l l e g e t o l d t h e D a l l a s C o u n t y T e a c h e r s ' I n s t i t u t e i n 1 9 2 2 t h a t " R e d

r a d i c a l i s m i s s t a l k i n g o v e r t h e p r a i r i e s o f T e x a s , " l i t t l e k n o w i n g t h a t a t t h a t

i n s t a n t t h e C o m m u n i s t s w e r e s u p p o r t i n g s t u d e n t s i n h i s o w n a n d o t h e r c o l -

l e g e s o f t h a t S t a t e . The Soviet Government of Moscow paid the expenses

o f s i x t y - f i v e R u s s i a n s t u d e n t s i n a s i n g l e c o l l e g e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s-a n d

t h e i r f i r s t d u t y i s t o t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l w h i c h s p e c i f i c a l l y p r o v i d e s

t h a t t h e y s h a l l m a k e u s e o f e v e r y o p p o r t u n i t y t o m a k e c o n v e r t s o f a s m a n y

o f t h e i r a s s o c i a t e s a s p o s s i b l e . O n e o f t h e c h i e f f e a t u r e s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y ' s p r o g r a m i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i s t o s e n d p r o m i s i n g y o u n g m e n a n d

w o m e n t o t h e i n s t i t u t i o n s o f h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n t o f i t t h e m f o r f u t u r e w o r k i n

t h e R e d m o v e m e n t a i m e d a t t h e d e s t r u c t i o n b y v i o l e n c e o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t

o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d t h e s u b s t i t u t i o n f o r i t o f a d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e

p r o l e t a r i a t , s u b o r d i n a t e t o t h e M o s c o w r e g i m e .

R a d i c a l i s m i n c o l l e g e s i s n o t h i n g n e w . I t h a s e x i s t e d s i n c e s u c h i n s t i -

t u t i o n s h a v e b e e n k n o w n . I t h a s a l w a y s t a k e n o n e f o r m o r a n o t h e r , u s u a l l y

o n r e l i g i o u s l i n e s , f o r a d o l e s c e n c e l i k e s t o b e l i e v e t h a t i t s m i n d i s untram-

m e l e d b y c o n v e n t i o n s . F o r g e n e r a t i o n s e d u c a t o r s h a v e b e e n f a m i l i a r w i t h

t h a t p e r i o d o f m e n t a l r e v o l t i n t h e c o l l e g e y o u t h w h i c h m a d e h i m p r o c l a i m

h i m s e l f a n a t h e i s t , o r a n a g n o s t i c - s o m e k i n d o f a " f r e e - t h i n k e r . " I t i s

a s t a g e t h a t h a s b e e n s o c o m m o n a s n o t t o b e a l a r m i n g . F o r w h e n c o l l e g e

d a y s p a s s e d a n d t h e y o u t h e m e r g e d i n t o a s a n e , p r a c t i c a l w o r l d w h i c h i s

[ 5 5 1



REDS I N AMERICA

n o t p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t e d i n r e l i g i o u s t e c h n i q u e a s l o n g a s r i g h t l i v i n g

g o v e r n s t h e p e o p l e o f t h e e a r t h , t h i s p e r i o d p a s s e d a n d t h e c o l l e g e - b r e d y o u t h

t o o k h i s p r o p e r p l a c e . B u t t o d a y , w h e n t h e C o m m u n i s m - f e d s t u d e n t l e a v e s

c o l l e g e h e d o e s n o t s t e p o u t i n t o a s a n e w o r l d , b u t i n t o t h e r a n k s o f t h e

Communist movement which is watching him and waiting for his arrival

t o a s s i g n h i m t o d e f i n i t e w o r k f o r t h e p r o p a g a t i o n o f t h e w o r k o f t h e p a r t y .

A s i d e f r o m t h e r e c o g n i z e d s c h o o l s a n d c o l l e g e s every city now has

C o m m u n i s t c l a s s e s , a t t e n d a n c e u p o n w h i c h i s c o m p u l s o r y o n t h e p a r t e v e n

o f l i t t l e c h i l d r e n , w h o a r e f o r c e d b y l a w t o a t t e n d p u b l i c s c h o o l a c e r t a i n

n u m b e r s o f h o u r s e a c h d a y . T h e s e c l a s s e s u s u a l l y m e e t a t n i g h t a n d a l l t h a t

is taught is Communism . A t t e n d a n c e i s u s u a l l y a l l t h e " h o m e w o r k " t h e

children have to do . A c t i v e C o m m u n i s t s , f r e q u e n t l y c o l l e g e g r a d u a t e s ,

c o n d u c t t h e m . T h e r e i s a b i t o f f u n m i x e d w i t h t h e s e s t u d i e s , s o t h a t , f o r

t h e y o u n g s t e r s , t h e w o r k w i l l n o t b e c o m e i r k s o m e . R i d i c u l e i s h e a p e d u p o n

r e l i g i o n , h o m e t i e s , a n d e s p e c i a l l y u p o n t h e G o v e r n m e n t , i n t h e f o r m o f

C o m m u n i s t s o n g s w h i c h a r e t a u g h t t h e c h i l d r e n . A sample of such son gs

w i l l s h o w t h e n a t u r e o f a l l o f t h e m . A t y p i c a l v e r s e r e a d s :

A p a t r i o t i c c h u r c h m a n i n h i s d e n , i n h i s d e n ,

A - f i s h i n g a f t e r g o l d a n d m e n - R e d f l a g c o m e s a l o n g ,

H i s h o l i n e s s h e c o c k s h i s e y e , l e t s o u t a s n o r t , a n d t h e n , O h m y !

G o l l y , g o l l y , w h a t a r o a r ! B l o o d a n d g o r e ! H o w h e t o r e !

G o l l y , g o l l y , h o w h e s w o r e , a t t h e C r i m s o n R a g !

A n o t h e r s o n g t a u g h t t h e c h i l d r e n c o n c l u d e s w i t h t h e v e r s e s :

I ' v e g o t r e b e l l i o n i n m y h e a r t ,

I t ' s b r e d i n f l e s h a n d b o n e .

A r e b e l I w i l l b e

A s l o n g a s m e n s h a l l m e n e x p l o i t

O n e i t h e r s i d e t h e s e a .

W h i l e r i g h t u p o n t h e s c a f f o l d l i e s ,

And wrong upon the thron e,

I ' l l b e a b l o o m i n g r e b e l , s i r ,

A r e b e l t o t h e b o n e .

T h e d r i f t f r o m l i b e r a l i s m t o r a d i c a l i s m a n d f i n a l l y t o C o m m u n i s m i s

g r a d u a l a n d e a s y . M a n y c o l l e g e p r o f e s s o r s , w h o w e r e l i b e r a l i n t h e i r v i e w s

a n d t e a c h i n g s b e c a m e r a d i c a l s a l m o s t w i t h o u t i t b e i n g k n o w n , and some of

t h e m , d o u b t l e s s , w i t h o u t k n o w i n g i t t h e m s e l v e s . O t h e r s , h o w e v e r , a n d i n th i s

g r o u p m u s t b e l i s t e d s o m e o f t h e l e a d i n g " l i b e r a l " l i g h t s o f t h e g r e a t e s t

u n i v e r s i t i e s i n t h e c o u n t r y , k n o w i n g l y p r e a c h a n d t e a c h r a d i c a l i s m w h i c h

is seized upon by the Communists for ammunition with whicht o f u r t h e r

t h e i r e n d s . M e n l i k e F e l i x F r a n k f u r t e r a n d Z a c h a r i a C h a f f e e , o f H a r v a r d ;

Frederi ck Wells Williams and Max Solomon Mand ell, of Yale ; a n d m a n y

o t h e r s i n d i f f e r e n t s c h o o l s a n d c o l l e g e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y - t h e s e m e n

a r e t o o w i s e n o t t o k n o w t h a t t h e i r w o r d s , p u b l i c l y u t t e r e d a n d e v e n u s e d

i n c l a s s - r o o m s , a r e , t o p u t i t c o n s e r v a t i v e l y , d e c i d e d l y e n c o u r a g i n g t o t h e

[ 5 6 1




C o m m u n i s t s . I t i s o f m e n l i k e t h e s e t h a t J a m e s H . C o l l i n s w r o t e i n t h e

S a t u r d a y E v e n i n g P o s t :

" T h e s p r e a d o f r a d i c a l i s m i n o u r c o l l e g e s i s p e r h a p s m o s t m a r k e d o f

a l l . T h e c a r t o o n t y p e o f r a d i c a l , w i t h h i s w h i s k e r s a n d b o m b , h a s a v e r y

l i m i t e d f i e l d o f a c t i v i t y - a n y p o l i c e m a n w o u l d a r r e s t h i m o n s i g h t . The

c o l l e g e r a d i c a l , o n t h e c o n t r a r y , c a n m o v e i n e v e r y c i r c l e . I t i s n o t e a s y

t o e x p l a i n h i m . S o m e t i m e s h e i s a s e l f - s e e k e r a n d l o v e s n o t o r i e t y . Again ,

h i s h o s t i l i t y t o s o c i e t y i s b a s e d o n e n v y . A m b i t i o u s b u t l a c k i n g e n e r g y , h e

h a t e s p e o p l e w h o s u c c e e d t h r o u g h e n e r g y , a n d s o u r s o n l i f e . S o m e o f t h i s

i n t e l l e c t u a l r a d i c a l i sm i s a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e m a t e r i a l i s m o f t h e a g e , S o c i a l i s m

a n d s i m i l a r p h i l o s o p h i e s b e i n g b a s e d o n t h e m a t e r i a l c o n c e p t o f h i s t o r y .

O t h e r o b s e r v e r s c h a r g e i t u p t o s l i p s h o d t e a c h i n g o f h i s t o r y a n d e c o n o m i c s ,

s t u d e n t s l a c k i n g t h e s o l i d g r o u n d i n g t h a t w o u l d p u t s u p e r f i c i a l r a d i c a l t h e o -

r i e s i n p r o p e r p e r s p e c t i v e . . . T h e t e a c h i n g s o f a r a d i c a l c o l l e g e

p r o f e s s o r m a y h a v e g r e a t i n f l u e n c e . I n o n e c o l l e g e r e c e n t l y s o m e o f t h e

s t u d e n t s m a d e a d e m o n s t r a t i o n w h e n a r a d i c a l p r o f e s s o r w a s d r o p p e d f r o m

t h e f a c u l t y . . . . N e v e r h a v i n g w o r k e d w i t h h i s h a n d s , n o r m i n g l e d w i t h

w a g e e a r n e r s , n o r b e e n c r e a t i v e o r c o n s t r u c t i v e i n a n y w a y h i m s e l f , t h e i n -

t e l l e c t u a l r a d i c a l s e e s n o t h i n g d i f f i c u l t i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p r o g r a m o f f i r s t

tearing everything down and then building from the ground u p , e n t i r e l y

n e w . "

I n a L o s A n g e l e s H i g h S c h o o l o n e o f t h e t e a c h e r s c o n s t a n t l y t a u g h t

h a t r e d o f c a p i t a l a n d t o o k t h e s i d e o f l a b o r i n a d e f i n i t e a t t e m p t t o i n s t i l l i n

t h e m i n d s o f h e r p u p i l s t h e p r o p r i e t y o f s u c h h a t r e d . F i n a l l y , w h e n s h e

o p e n l y d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w a s b e h i n d R u s s i a , G e r m a n y a n d

I t a l y a s p r o g r e s s i v e c o u n t r i e s , o n e o f t h e p u p i l s p u b l i c l y p r o t e s t e d , b e c a u s e ,

a s h e p o i n t e d o u t , " t h e r e i s r e v o l u t i o n o r c i v i l w a r i n e a c h o f t h e s e c o u n -

t r i e s . " B u t t h a t t e a c h e r c o n t i n u e d f o r s o m e t i m e a f t e r t h i s i n c i d e n t e x -

p o u n d i n g h e r t h e o r i e s t o t h e y o u t h u n d e r h e r c h a r g e .

T h e s p r e a d i n g o f p r o p a g a n d a i n r u r a l d i s t r i c t s h a s b e e n a s u b j e c t o f

s t u d y b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s s i n c e t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e p a r t y . I n c e r t a i n

p a r t s o f , t h e c o u n t r y w h e r e t h e r e a r e c o l o n i e s o f f o r e i g n e r s g a t h e r e d u n d e r

C o m m u n i s t i c i n f l u e n c e r a d i c a l p l a y s a r e p u t o n i n s c h o o l h o u s e s b y a m a t e u r ,

h o m e - t a l e n t p e r f o r m e r s . O c c a s i o n a l l y t r o u b l e a r i s e s w h e n a p a t r i o t i c

s c h o o l t e a c h e r d i s c o v e r s t h a t m e e t i n g s o f w h a t h a d b e e n t h o u g h t t o b e c l u b s ,

o r s o c i e t i e s f o r s o c i a l i n t e r c o u r s e , w e r e i n r e a l i t y C o m m u n i s t m e e t i n g s under

t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l t h r o u g h t h e C o m mu n i s t p a r t y o f

America . O n e s u c h i n c i d e n t m a y b e c i t e d a s a n e x a m p l e .

A c o l o n y o f F i n n s , t h i r t y - t h r e e f a m i l i e s i n all, of whom only three

f a m i l i e s w e r e A m e r i c a n c i t i z e n s , i s l o c a t e d a b o u t t w e l v e m i l e s n o r t h o f D e e r

R i v e r , M i n n . T h e c o m p a n y w h i c h l o c a t e d t h i s c o l o n y c o n f i n e d i t s e f f o r t s

e n t i r e l y t o F i n n s a n d m a d e p a r t i c u l a r l y a t t r a c t i v e o f f e r s t o t h e c o l o n i s t s .

F i f t y d o l l a r s s e c u r e d a f a r m f o r e a c h f a m i l y a n d s u b s e q u e n t p a y m e n t s w e r e

t o b e n o m i n a l . T h e t h i r t y n o n - A m e r i c a n f a m i l i e s a r e C o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e y

u n d e r t o o k t o g i v e a p l a y a t t h e r u r a l s c h o o l h o u s e f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e F r i e n d s

o f S o v i e t R u s s i a . T h e t e a c h e r , M r s . G . M . S m i t h , l e a r n e d o f t h e n a t u r e o f

t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n , c a l l e d t h e S u o m a R a a t a g e n C l u b , u n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s o f

[ 5 7 )



REDS IN AMERICA

w h i c h t h e p l a y w a s t o b e g i v e n . S h e d i s c o v e r e d t h a t t h e p l a y w a s s i m p l y

R e d r a d i c a l p r o p a g a n d a a n d r e f u s e d t o a s s e n t t o t h e u s e o f t h e s c h o o l h o u s e

f o r t h a t p u r p o s e ; b u t t h e F i n n s o v e r - r o d e h e r b y g e t t i n g p e r m i s s i o n f r o m

t h e c o u n t y s c h o o l s u p e r i n t e n d e n t . Mr s . S m i t h a t t e n d e d t h e e n t e r t a i n m e n t

a n d f o r c i b l y p r e v e n t e d t h e g i v i n g o f t h e R e d p l a y o r t a k i n g u p a c o l l e c t i o n

f o r t h e F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a . Singlehanded she drove them from the

s c h o o l h o u s e w h e n t h e y b e g a n t o s h o u t , " W e a r e R e d s ! W e - a r e B o l s h e v i k s ! "

T h e C o m m u n i s t s a r e c o n s t a n t l y g r o o m i n g s o m e o f t h e i r s h i n i n g s t a r s

f o r p o s i t i o n s i n t h e f a c u l t i e s o f o u r c o l l e g e s . T h e p a y o f t h e t e a c h e r s i n

a l l p a r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y , b o t h i n pu b l i c a n d p r i v a t e i n s t i t u t i o ns , i s s o s m a l l

t h a t m a n y a b l e m e n a r e u n a b l e t o a c c e p t p o s i t i o n s a s t e a c h e r s . B u t t h e

s m a l l s a l a r y i s n o d e t e r r e n t t o t h e C o m m u n i s t , o r t h e r a d i c a l o f a n y s t r i p e ,

w h o j o y f u l l y a c c e p t s p l a c e s w h e r e h e m a y e l a b o r a t e h i s v i e w s a n d t e a c h

r e a l r a d i c a l i s m t o t h e i m p r e s s i o n a b l e y o u t h i n h i s c l a s s e s . H i s s a l a r y i s f r e -

quently supplemented by funds from the Communist treasury, s o m e t i m e s

c a m o u f l a g e d u n d e r t h e c l o a k o f " c o n t r i b u t i o n s " a s a t e s t i m o n i a l t o h i s c l e a r

t h i n k i n g a s e x p r e s s e d i n h i s l e c t u r e s .

T h e d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f r a d i c a l , o r a s t h e y t e r m i t , l i b e r a l p r o p a g a n d a i n

i n s t i t u t i o n s o f l e a r n i n g , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n u n i v e r s i t i e s a n d w o m e n ' s c o l l e g e s ,

h a s b e e n a p e t s c h e m e o f t h e r a d i c a l s a n d t h e i r f r i e n d s f o r y e a r s . T h e r e i s

h a r d l y a n y u n i v e r s i t y o f s i z e i n t h e c o u n t r y t o d a y w h i c h d o e s n o t h a v e a t

l e a s t a b r a n c h o f t h e N a t i o n a l S t u d e n t F o r u m , o r i t s p r e d e c e s s o r , t h e I n t e r -

c o l l e g i a t e L i b e r a l L e a g u e , o r t h e L e a g u e f o r I n d u s t r i a l D e m o c r a c y . T h e s e

a r e d i r e c t d e s c e n d a n t s o f t h e I n t e r c o l l e g i a t e S o c i a l i s t L e a g u e w h i c h w e n t

o u t o f e x i s t e n c e w h e n " S o c i a l i s m " b e c a m e t o o m i l d a t e r m t o s a t i s f y t h e

r a d i c a l t e n d e n c i e s o f m a n y m e m b e r s . The frequent changes in name are

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f a l l o r g a n i z a t i o n s a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t s , w h o a l t e r

t h e i r n a m e s a n d a d d r e s s e s i n a n e f f o r t t o h o o d wi n k t h e a u t h o r i t i e s , a n d f o o l

t h e p u b l i c , a p r o c e e d i n g i n s t r i c t a c c o r d w i t h t h e o r d e r s o f N i c o l a i L e n i n .

T h e I n t e r c o l l e g i a t e L i b e r a l L e a g u e w a s b o r n a t H a r v a r d , A p r i l 2 , 1 9 2 1 , a n d

i t w a s a r e s u l t o f t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e S o c i a l i s t a n d l a t e r t h e L i b e r a l L e a g u e

t h a t d e v e l o p e d t h e " m o d e r n i n t e l l e c t u a l s , " o r a s t h e y a r e b e t t e r known, the

" p a r l o r B o l s h e v i k i . " T h e r e i s s o m u c h i n t h e t e a c h i n g o f r a d i c a l i s m t h a t

a p p e a l s t o t h e m e n t a l p r o c e s s e s w h i c h i n v a r i a b l y a c c o m p a n y c e r t a i n p e r i o d s

i n t h e l i f e o f e v e r y s t u d e n t , t h a t i t i s n o t s u r p r i s i n g t h a t t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y , a s a b u s i n e s s p r o p o s i t i o n , a n d t h e m a n y i n c o n s p i c u o u s i n d i v i d u a l s

w h o a r e s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e y s h o u l d b e l e a d e r s a n d h a v e n o b e t t e r m e a n s o f

a t t a i n i n g n o t o r i e t y , h a v e g r a s p e d t h e o p p o r t u n i t i e s o f f e r e d , a s t h e S o c i a l i s t s

d i d b e f o r e t h e m . M a n y a r e r e a l l y c a p i t a l i s t s , w h i l e o t h e r s a r e p l a i n p a r a s i t e s .

I t i s s a f e t o s a y t h a t n o i n s t i t u t i o n o f l e a r n i n g i n t h e c o u n t r y h a s b e e n

s o t h o r o u g h l y s a t u r a t e d w i t h t h e " l i b e r a l " a c t i v i t y a s H a r v a r d U n i v e r s i t y .

T h i s i n s t i t u t i o n h a s s t i m u l a t e d s u c h a s p i r i t o f d e m o c r a c y a m o n g t h e s t u -

d e n t s o f t h e p a s t g e n e r a t i o n t h a t t h e r a d i c a l s h a v e h a d a m o r e f e r t i l e f i e l d

i n w h i c h t o w o r k a t H a r v a r d t h a n i n a l e s s l i b e r a l e s t a b l i s h m e n t . Th e

p r o f e s s o r s t h e m s e l v e s h a v e n o t b e e n i n a c t i v e i n t h e e n c o u r a g e m e n t o f t h e

movement, and the names of several of them appear p r o m i n e n t l y i n t h e

r o s t e r r o l l o f A m e r i c a n l i b e r a l s a n d a r e k n o w n i n t h e " i l l e g a l " c i r c l e s o f t h e

[ 5 8 1




C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a . T h e s e p r o f e s s o r s , a s w e l l a s t h e p r o f e s s o r s

o f m a n y o t h e r c o l l e ge s , n u m b e r k n o w n C o m m u n i s t s a m o n g t h e i r p e r s o n a l

f r i e n d s , a n d a r e f r e q u e n t l y f o u n d s p e a k i n g f r o m t h e s a m e p l a t f o r m e v e n w i t h

m e m b e r s o f t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f

Ame r i c a . I t i s i m p o s s i b l e t h a t m e n o f t h e i r i n t e l l i g e n c e s h o u l d n o t k n o w

that they are advocating what the Communist party desires but cannot use

in public propaganda because their own w ords would be discounted . P r o m -

i n e n t r a d i c a l s p e a k e r s h a v e b e e n b r o u g h t t o ' s p e a k a t m e e t i n g s o f t h e H a r -

v a r d l i b e r a l s f r o m a l l s o r t s o f o r g a n i z a t i o n s , a m o n g t h e m m e n w h o a r e a c t u -

a l l y p a i d a g e n t s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y .

Prominent in the organization of th e Intercollegiate Liberal League

w e r e m e n n o t o r i o u s a s r a d i c a l s , a s w e l l a s m e n w h o s e p a t r i o t i s m , a n d

Am e r i c a n i s m c a n n o t b e que s t i o n e d . The latter of course, did no t realize

t o w h a t t h e y w e r e l e n d i n g t h e i r a i d . It is inconceivable that De an Briggs

w o u l d i n a n y w a y p e r m i t h i m s e l f t o b e i d e n t i f i e d w i t h a m o v e m e n t t h e c h i e f

o b j e c t o f w h i c h i s t o o v e r t h r o w t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s b y f o r c e

o f a r m s . An d y e t De a n B r iggs w a s o n e o f t h e s p e a k e r s a t t h e m e e t i ng t o

o r g a n i z e t h e I n t e r c o l l e g i a t e L i b e r a l L e a g u e , i n w h i c h t h e C o m m u n i s t s w e r e

i n t e r e s t e d . R o g e r N . B ald w i n , h e a d o f t h e Am e r i c a n Ci v il Lib e r t i e s Bu-

r e a u , " c o n s c i e n t i o u s o b j e c t o r " w h o s e r v e d a p r i s o n t e r m a s a " d r a f t d o d g e r "

d u r i n g t h e w a r , a n d i n t i m a t e f r i e n d o f t h e m o s t r a d i c a l o f C o m m u n i s t s , w a s

o n e o f t h e o r g a n i z e r s . A n o t he r w a s t h e R e v . J o h n H a y n e s H o lm e s , w h o s e

anti-American act ivities during the European War were so pronounced that

h i s N e w Y o r k c h u r c h h a d t o b e w a t c h e d b y o f f i c e r s o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t ,

a n d w h o s e w r i t i n g s w e r e u s e d b y t h e G e r m a n s a s p r o p a g a n d a w i t h w h i c h

t h e y s o u g h t t o b r e a k d o w n t h e m o r a l e o f t h e A l l i e d s o l d i e r s .

H a r r y W . L. D a n a , k n o w n i n C o m m u n i s t c i r c l e s a s o n e o f t h e m o s t

e f f e c t i v e r a d i c a l a g i t a t o r s , w a s a l s o a c t i v e i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e I n t e r -

c o l l e g i a t e L i b e r a l L e a g u e . P r o f e s s o r D a n a , w h o w a s d i s m i s s e d f r o m C o l um -

b i a U n i v e r s i t y b e c a u s e o f h i s r a d i c a l i s m , s a i d a s f a r b a c k a s 1 9 1 8 t h a t h e

would be glad to aid howe ver he could in furthering the cause of Soviet

Russia in America, and from that time on has been issuing pronouncements

o n t h e " c l a s s w a r . " Y e t h e i s c o n s i d e r e d a l e a d e r i n t h e r a d i c a l c o l l e g i a t e

g r o u p . A m o n g t h e o t h e r s p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h i s l e a g u e

w e r e A u g u s t u s D i l l , o f T h e C r i s i s ; F r a n c i s N e i l s o n a n d W a l t e r F u l l e r , of The

F r e e m a n ; Do n al d Wi n s t o n , o f Y o u n g D e m o c r a c y , and r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m

a n u m b e r o f o t h e r c o l l e g e s . D e a n B r i gg s a n d P r e s i d e n t H . N. Ma c C r a c k e n

o f V a s s a r C o l l e g e w e r e a m o n g t h e s p e a k e r s , a n d b y t h e i r p r e s e n c e l e n t a i d

t o t h e m o v e m e n t . T h e R e v . J o h n H a y n e s H o l m e s , i n h i s s p e e c h o n t h a t

o c c a s i o n , u r g e d t h e s t u d e n t s t o " i d e n t i f y t h e m s e l v e s w i t h t h e l a b o r w o r l d

and there to martyr them selves by preaching the gospel of free souls and

l o v e a s t h e r u l e o f l i f e . " H e p r e d i c t e d a r e v o l u t i o n , a n d s a i d : " I f y o u w a n t

t o b e o n t h e s i d e o f f u n d a m e n t a l r i g h t y o u h a v e g o t t o l i n e u p o n t h e s i d e

o f l a b o r . "

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e L i t e r a r y D i g e s t t h e r e w e r e , i n 1 9 2 1 , o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f

t h e I n t e r c o l l e g i a t e L i b e r a l L e a g u e i n 2 5 0 c o l l e g e s a n d u n i v e r s i t i e s i n t h i s

c o u n t r y . At a b out t h e t i m e w h e n t h e H a r v a r d Lib e r al Club's a p pl i c a t i o n

[ 5 9 ]



REDS IN AMERICA

f o r m e m b e r s h i p i n t h e A s s o c i a t e d H a r v a r d C l u b s w a s r e j e c t e d b e c a u s e o f

i t s r a d i c a l i s m , a t h o r o u g h i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f t h e c l u b a n d t h e l e a g u e w a s m a d e .

In the report it was shown tha t some outside agency w a s f i n a n c i n g t h e

establishment of th e league and the v a r i o u s c l u b s a n d t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s .

F r o m t h e r e p o r t o f t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n i t i s p o s s i b l e t o q u o t e o n e p a r a g r a p h ,

w h i c h r e a d s a s f o l l o w s :

" I t w o u l d a p p e a r t h a t t h e H a r v a r d L i b e r a l C l u b , H a r v a r d S t u d e n t s '

L i b e r a l C l u b a n d t h e I n t e r c o l l e g i a t e L i b e r a l League m a y be t h e m e a n s

d e v i s e d a n d a b o u t t o b e u s e d a s p r o p a g a n d a a g e n c i e s b y r a d i c a l m o v e m e n t s

n o t y e t d i s c l o s e d . T h e R u s s i a n t h e o r y o f i n s t i l l i n g s y m p a t h e t i c i d e a s i n t h e

y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n w h i l e t h e y a r e s t i l l i n s c h o o l i s w e l l k n o w n , a n d a f t e r

a b r i e f e x a m i n a t i o n . . . i t a p p e a r s m o r e t h a n l i k e l y t h a t t h e s y s t e m

i s b e i n g p u t i n t o e x e c u t i o n a m o n g c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s i n t h i s c o u n t r y . Such a

p l a n o f r a d i c a l a c t i v i t y i s m o s t p a t e n t l y d a n g e r o u s , a s t h e s t u d e n t s a t t h a t

a g e , w h i l e m e n t a l l y k e e n , a c t i v e a n d a l e r t , h a v e n o t y e t f o r m e d t h e i r p e r -

m a n e n t c h a r a c t e r s a n d a r e a t a f o r m a t i v e p e r i o d i n t h e i r m e n t a l d e v e l o p m e n t ,

d u r i n g w h i c h t h e y a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y s u s c e p t i b l e t o t h e i n f l u e n c e o f o l d e r

m i n d s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e o f t h e i r m a s t e r s w h o m t h e y a r e a c c u s t o m e d t o l o o k

u p t o a s f o u n t a i n s o f a u t h o r i t y , w i s d o m a n d g u i d a n c e . U n d e r t h o s e c i r c u m -

s t a n c e s , w i t h m e n l i k e F e l i x F r a n k f u r t e r , R o g e r B a l d w i n a n d o t h e r s b e h i n d

s u c h a m o v e m e n t , i t s p o t e n t i a l i t i e s f o r e v i l a t o n c e a p p e a r t o b e t r e m e n d o u s . "

T h e r e t e n t i o n o f P r o f e s s o r F r a n k f u r t e r a t H a r v a r d h a s c a l l e d f o r t h a

g r e a t d e a l o f c r i t i c i s m f r o m m e n i n p u b l i c a f f a i r s , H a r v a r d g r a d u a t e s a n d

o t h e r s . W h e n h e w a s c o u n s e l f o r P r e s i d e n t W i l s o n ' s M e d i a t i o n C o m m i s s i o n

i n t h e M o o n e y c a s e , i n C a l i f o r n i a , h e h a d t h e t e m e r i t y t o t r y t o i n f l u e n c e

T h e o d o r e R o o s e v e l t i n t h e w o r k h e w a s d o i n g i n t h e e n d e a v o r t o a i d M o o n e y .

T h i s d r e w f r o m t h e e x - p r e s i d e n t , w h o s e A m e r i c a n i s m h a s n e v e r b e e n q u e s -

t i o n e d b y f r i e n d o r f o e , t h e f o l l o w i n g l e t t e r , t h e e x i s t e n c e o f w h i c h f e w

p e o ple k n o w :

" I t h a n k y o u f o r y o u r f r a n k l e t t e r . I a n s w e r i t a t l e n g t h b e c a u s e y o u

h a v e t a k e n a n d a r e t a k i n g . . . a n a t t i t u d e w h i c h s e e m s t o m e t o b e

f u n d a m e n t a l l y t h a t o f T r o t s k y a n d t h e o t h e r B o l s h e v i k i l e a d e r s i n R u s s i a ;

a n a t t i t u d e w h i c h m a y b e f r a u g h t w i t h m i s c h i e f t o t h i s c o u n t r y .

" A s f o r t h e c o n d u c t o f t h e t r i a l , i t s e e m s t o m e t h a t J u d g e D u n n e ' s

s t a t e m e n t w h i c h I q u o t e d i n m y p u b l i s h e d l e t t e r c o v e r s i t . I h a v e n o t b e e n

a b l e t o f i n d a n y o n e w h o s e r i o u s l y q u e s t i o n s M r . D u n n e ' s c h a r a c t e r , j u d i c i a l

f i t n e s s a n d a b i l i t y , o r s t a n d i n g . M o r e o v e r , i t s e e m s t o m e t h a t y o u r o w n

l e t t e r m a k e s i t p e r f e c t l y p l a i n t h a t t h e m o v e m e n t f o r t h e r e c a l l o f F i c k e r t

w a s d u e p r i m a r i l y , n o t i n t h e l e a s t t o a n y r e a l o r g e n e r a l f e e l i n g a s t o t h e

a l l e g e d s h o r t - c o m i n g s o n h i s p a r t , b u t t o w h a t I c a n o n l y c a l l t h e B o l s h e v i k i

s e n t i m e n t . T h e o t h e r a c c u s a t i o n s a g a i n s t h i m w e r e m e r e c a m o u f l a g e . Th e

a s s a u l t w a s m a d e u p o n h i m b e c a u s e h e h a d a t t a c k e d t h e m u r d e r o u s e l e m e n t ,

t h e d y n a m i t e a n d a n a r c h y g r o u p o f l a b o r a g i t a t o r s . The movement against

h i m w a s e s s e n t i a l l y s i m i l a r t o m o v e m e n t s o n b e h a l f o f t h e M c N a m a r a s , a n d

on behalf of Moyer and Haywood . S o m e o f t h e c o r r e s p o n d e n t s w h o a t t a c k e d

m e f r a n k l y s t a t e d t h a t t h e y w e r e f o r M o o n e y a n d B i l l i n g s j u s t a s t h e y h a d

be e n f o r t h e McN a m a r a s a n d f o r Mo y e r a n d Ha y w o o d . I n v i e w o f J u d g e




D u n n e ' s s t a t e m e n t i t i s p e r f e c t l y c l e a r t h a t e v e n i f J u d g e D u n n e i s i n e r r o r

i n h i s b e l i e f a s t o t h e t r i a l b e i n g s t r a i g h t a n d p r o p e r , i t w a s a n e r r o r i n t o

w h i c h e n t i r e l y h o n e s t m e n c o u l d f a l l .

" B u t t h e q u e s t i o n o f g r a n t i n g a r e - t r i a l i s o n e t h i n g . T h e q u e s t i o n o f

t h e r e c a l l i s e n t i r e l y d i s t i n c t . E v e n i f a r e - t r i a l w e r e p r o p e r t h i s w o u l d

n o t i n t h e l e a s t j u s t i f y a r e c a l l - a n y m o r e t h a n a s i n g l e g r a v e e r r o r o n y o u r

p a r t w ould just i f y y our i m p ea c h me n t , o r t h e i m p e ac h m e n t o f Pr e s i d e nt

W i l s o n f o r a p p o i n t i n g y o u . F r e m o n t O l d e r a n d t h e I . W. W . a n d t h e d i r e c t

a c t i o n a n a r c h i s t s a n d a p o l o g i s t s f o r a n a r c h y a r e n e v e r c o n c e r n e d f o r j u s t i c e .

T h e y a r e c o n c e r n e d s o l e l y i n s e e i n g o n e k i n d o f c r i m i n a l e s c a p e j u s t i c e ,

p r e c i s e l y a s c e r t a i n b i g b u s i n e s s m e n h a v e i n t h e p a s t b e e n c o n c e r n e d i n

s e e i n g a n o t h e r k i n d o f c r i m i n a l e s c a p e j u s t i c e . T h e g u i d i n g s p i r i t s i n t h e

m o v e m e n t f o r t h e r e c a l l o f F i c k e r t c a r e d n o t a r a p w h e t h e r o r n o t M o o n e y

a n d B i l l i n g s w e r e g u i l t y ; p r o b a b l y t h e y b e l i e v e d t h e m g u i l t y ; a l l t h e y w e r e

c o n c e r n e d w i t h w a s s e e i n g a r e b u k e a d m i n i s t e r e d t o , a n d a n e v i l l e s s o n

t a u g h t a l l p u b l i c o f f i c i a l s w h o m i g h t t a k e a c t i o n a g a i n s t c r i m e s o f v i o l e n c e

c o m m i t t e d b y a n a r c h i s t s i n t h e n a m e o f s o m e f o u l a n d v i o l e n t p r o t e s t a g a i n s t

s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n s . M u r d e r i s m u r d e r , a n d i t i s r a t h e r m o r e e v i l w h e n c o m -

m i t t e d i n t h e n a m e o f a p r o f e s s e d s o c i a l m o v e m e n t . I t w a s n o m e r e a c c i d e n t ,

i t w a s t h e n a t u r a l s e q u e n c e o f c a u s e a n d e f f e c t t h a t t h e a g i t a t i o n f o r t h e

r e c a l l o f F i c k e r t , b e c a u s e h e f e a r l e s s l y p r o s e c u t e d - t h e d y n a m i t e r s ( a n d o f

c o u r s e n o h u m a n b e i n g d o u b t s t h a t B i l l i n g s a n d M o o n e y w e r e i n s o m e s h a p e

o r o t h e r p r i v y t o t h e o u t r a g e ) s h o u l d h a v e b e e n a c c o m p a n i e d b y t h e d y n a -

m i t e o u t r a g e a t t h e g o v e r n o r ' s m a n s i o n . T h e r e a c t i o n a r i e s h a v e i n t h e p a s t

b e e n a g r e a t m e n a c e t o t h i s R e p u b l i c , b u t a t t h i s m o m e n t i t i s t h e I . W . Wt h e G e r m a n i z e d S o c i a l i s t s , t h e a n a r c h i s t s , t h e f o o l i s h c r e a t u r e s w h o a l w a y s

p r o t e s t a g a i n s t t h e s u p p r e s s i o n o f c r i m e , t h e p a c i f i s t s a n d t h e l i k e , u n d e r t h e

l e a d o f t h e H e a r s t s a n d L a F o l l e t t e s , a n d B e r g e r s , a n d H i l l q u i t s , t h e F r e m o n t

O l d e r s a n d A m o s P i n c h o t s a n d R u d o l p h S p r e c k e l s w h o a r e t h e r e a l l y g r a v e

d a n g e r . T h e s e a r e t h e B o l s h e v i k i o f A m e r i c a , a n d t h e B o l s h e v i k i a r e j u s t a s

b a d a s t h e R o m a n o f f s , a n d a r e a t t h e m o m e n t a g r e a t e r m e n a c e t o o r d e r l y

f r e ed o m . Robe s p i e r r e a n d D a n t o n a n d Ma r a t a n d He rbe r t w e r e just a s

e v i l a s t h e w o r s t t y r a n t s o f t h e o l d r e g i m e , a n d f r o m 1 7 9 1 t o 1 7 9 4 t h e y w e r e

t h e m o s t d a n g e r o u s e n e m i e s t o l i b e r t y t h a t t h e w o r l d c o n t a i n e d . W h e n y o u

a s r e p r e s e n t i n g P r e s i d e n t W i l s o n , f i n d y o u r s e l f o b l i g e d t o c h a m p i o n m e n

o f t h i s s t a m p y o u o u g h t , b y u n e q u i v o c a l a f f i r m a t i v e a c t i o n , t o m a k e i t e v i d e n t

t h a t y o u a r e s t e r n l y a g a i n s t t h e i r g e n e r a l a n d h a b i t u a l l i n e o f c o n d u c t .

" I h a v e j u s t r e c e i v e d y o u r r e p o r t o n t h e B i s b e e d e p o r t a t i o n . One o f

t h e p r o m i n e n t l e a d e r s i n t h a t d e p o r t a t i o n w a s m y o l d f r i e n d J a c k G r e e n -

way, who has just been commiss ioned a major in the Army by P r e s i d e n t

Wilson . Y o u r r e p o r t i s a s t h o r o u g h l y m i s l e a d i n g a d o c u m e n t a s c o u l d b e

w r i t t e n o n t h e s u b j e c t . N o o f f i c i a l w r i t i n g o n be h alf o f t h e P r e s i d e n t

i s t o b e e x c u s e d f o r f a i l u r e t o k n o w , a n d c l e a r l y t o s e t f o r t h t h a t t h e

I . W. W . i s a c r i m i n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n . To ignore the fact that a move-

ment such as its members made into Bisbee is mad e with c r i m i n a l i n t e n t

i s p r e c i s e l y a s f o o l i s h a s f o r a N e w Y o r k p o l i c e m a n t o i g n o r e t h e f a c t

t h a t w h e n t h e W h y o g a n g a s s e m b l e s w i t h g u n s a n d k n i v e s i t i s w i t h c r i m -



REDS IN AMERICA

i n a l i n t e n t . T h e P r e s i d e n t i s n o t t o b e e x c u s e d i f h e i g n o r e s t h i s f a c t ,

for of course he knows all about it . N o h u m a n b e i n g i n h i s s e n s e s

doubts that the men deported from Bisbee w ere bent on destruction and

murd e r . I f t h e P r e s i d e n t t h r ough y ou o r a n y o n e else had any right

t o l o o k i n t o t h e m a t t e r , t h i s v e r y f a c t s h o w s t h a t h e h a d be e n r e m i s s

i n h i s c l e a r d u t y t o p r o v i d e a g a i n s t t h e v e r y grave danger in advance .

W h e n n o e f f i c i e n t m e a n s a r e e m p l o y e d t o g u a r d h o n e s t , u p r i g h t and well

b e h a v e d c i t i z e n s f r o m t h e m o s t b r u t a l k i n d o f l a w l e s s n e s s i t i s i n e v i t a b l e

t h a t t h e s e c i t i z e n s s h a l l t r y t o p r o t e c t t h e m s e l v e s . That is as t rue when

t h e P r e s i d e n t f a i l s t o d o h i s d u t y a b o u t t h e I . W. W . a s w h e n t h e p o l i c e

f a i l t o d o t h e i r d u t y a b o u t g a n g s l i k e t h e W h y o g a n g ; and when either

t h e P r e s i d e n t o r t h e p o l i c e , p e r s o n a l l y o r b y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , r e b u k e t h e

m e n w h o d e f e n d t h e m s e l v e s f r o m c r i m i n a l a s s a u l t , i t i s n e c e s s a r y s h a r p l y

t o p o i n t o u t t h a t f a r h e a v i e r b l a m e a t t a c h e s t o t h e a u t h o r i t i e s w h o f a i l

t o g i v e t h e n e e d e d p r o t e c t i o n , a n d t o t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r s w h o f a i l t o p o i n t o u t

t h e c r i m i n a l c h a r a c t e r o f t h e a n a r c h i s t i c o r g a n i z a t i o n a g a i n s t w h i c h t h e

d e c e n t c i t i z e n s h a v e t a k e n a c t i o n .

"He r e ag a i n y ou a r e e ng ag ed i n excu s i ng men precisely like the

B o l s h e v i k i i n R u s s i a , w h o a r e m u r d e r e r s a n d e n c o u r a g e r s o f m u r d e r , w h o

a r e t r a i t o r s t o t h e i r a l l i e s , t o d e m o c r a c y a n d t o c i v i l i z a t i o n , as well

a s t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , a n d w h o s e a c t s a r e n e v e r t h e l e s s a p o l o g i z e d f o r

o n g r o u n d s , m y d e a r M r . F r a n k f u r t e r , s u b s t a n t i a l l y l i k e t h o s e w h i c h y o u

a l l e g e . I n t i m e s o f d a n g e r n o t h i n g i s m o r e c o m m o n a n d n o t h i n g m o r e

d a n g e r o u s t o t h e R e p u b l i c t h a n f o r m e n t o a v o i d c o n d e m n i n g t h e c r i m i n a l s

w h o a r e r e a l l y p u b l i c e n e m i e s b y m a k i n g t h e i r e n t i r e a s s a u l t o n t h e s h o r t -

c o m i n g s o f t h e g o o d c i t i z e n s w h o h a v e b e e n t h e v i c t i m s or opponents of

t h e c r i m i n a l s . T h i s w a s d o n e n o t o n l y b y D a n t o n a n d R o b e s p i e r r e , b u t b y

m a n y o f t h e i r o r d i n a r i l y h o n e s t a s s o c i a t e s i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h , f o r i n s t a n c e ,

t h e ` S e p t e m b e r m a s s a c r e s . ' I t i s n o t t h e k i n d o f t h i n g I c a r e t o s e e w e l l

m e a n i n g m e n d o i n t h i s c o u n t r y .

" S i n c e r e l y y o u r s ,

"Theodore Roosevelt . "

T h e w r i t i n g s o f L e n i n , T r o t s k y o r o t h e r h i g h p r i e s t s o f C o m m u n i s m ,

a s w e l l a s t h o s e o f M a r x a n d E n g e l , h a v e b e e n a n d u n d o u b t e d l y s t i l l a r e

u s e d a s t e x t - b o o k s , o r a s p r e s c r i b e d r e a d i n g , i n c l a s s e s o r c l u b s i n W e l l e s l e y ,

V a s s a r , S m i t h , Y a l e a n d m a n y o t h e r c o l l e g e s , a n d t r o u b l e i s c o n s t a n t l y

o c c u r r i n g i n v a r i o u s S t a t e u n i v e r s i t i e s i n t h e W e s t w h e r e r a d i c a l i s m i s b ei n g

t a u g h t , o r s t u d i e d . I n a l l t h e s e c o l l e g e s , a l s o , C o m m u n i s t p r o p a g a n d a p r e -

p a r e d w i t h a v i e w t o b e i n g p l a c e d i n t h e h a n d s o f s t u d e n t s , i s s e c r e t l yc i r -

c u l a t e d a m o n g t h e s t u d e n t s . From time to time this secret work of the

C o m m u n i s t s b e c o m e s k n o w n p u b li c l y through the indignation of some

thoroughly American student into whose han ds the propaganda falls by

m i s t a k e . However, this does not often happen, for the Communists a r e

v e r y c a r e f u l t o p l a c e s u c h l i t e r a t u r e o n l y i n " s a f e " h a n d s .

U p t o n S i n c l a i r m a d e , i n 1 9 2 2 , a t o u r o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , l e c t u r i n g

w h e r e v e r h e c o u l d o n r a d i c a l i s m , o s t e n s i b l y g a t h e r i n g m a t e r i a l for a new

[ 6 2 1




b o o k o n e d u c a t i o n . B e f o r e h i s d e p a r t u r e f r o m h i s h o m e i n P a s a d e n a , C a l i f . ,

h e w a s e n t e r t a i n e d a s g u e s t o f h o n o r a t a d i n n e r g i v e n b y M r s . Kate Crane

G a r t z a n d P r i n c e H o p k i n s , k n o w n a s r a d i c a l s , a l t h o u g h s t a n d i n g h i g h i n

P a s a d e n a s o c i e t y . R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s w e r e p r e s e n t o f a l l c l a s s e s o f r a d i c a l i s m

f r o m C o m m u n i s m t o t h e o r e t i c a l S o c i a l i s m , s o c i e t y m e n a n d w o m e n , a n d

m o t i o n p i c t u r e s t a r s a n d p r o d u c e r s . I t w a s e n t i r e l y r a d i c a l i n i t s p e r s o n n e l

a n d i n t e n d e d t o b e . I n t e l l i n g o f h i s t h e n p r o j e c t e d t r i p , S i n c l a i r s a i d

t h a t t h e r e w e r e " c a p i t a l i s t s p i e s " i n p r a c t i c a l l y e v e r y s c h o o l a n d c o l l e g e

i n t h e c o u n t r y r e p o r t i n g a n y t e a c h e r e x p r e s s i n g l i b e r a l t h o u g h t . " T h i s

p e r f e c t n e t w o r k o f s p i e s , " h e s a i d , " h a s c r e a t e d s u c h a f e a r a m o n g s c h o o l

a n d u n i v e r s i t y t e a c h e r s " t h a t n e a r l y a l l h i s l e t t e r s o f i n q u i r y r e m a i n e d

u n a n s w e r e d , t h u s f o r c i n g h i m t o v i s i t t h e i n s t i t u t i o n s i n p e r s o n i n o r d e r

t o g e t i n f o r m a t i o n f o r h i s b o o k i n w h i c h h e p r o p o s e d t o t e l l a l l a b o u t t h e

s i n i s t e r i n f l u e n c e a n d d o m i n a t i o n o f t h e r e a c t i o n a r i e s a n d o f W a l l S t r e e t

f i n a n c e a n d c a p i t a l o v e r t h e e d u c a t i o n a l system of this country . Th e

r a d i c a l s p r e s e n t a p p e a r e d t o b e l i e v e a l l t h a t S i n c l a i r t o l d t h e m a n d t h e r e

w a s m u c h i n d i g n a t i o n e x p r e s s e d b e c a u s e o b j e c t i o n w a s b e i n g made to the

t e a c h i n g o f r a d i c a l i s m i n t h e s c h o o l s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . A n d y e t t h i s

r a d i c a l t e a c h i n g i s b a c k e d b y t h e i l l e g a l C o m m u n i s t p a r t y of America and

by the Russian Soviet Government of Moscow .

Judge J . H . Ryckman was another speaker. He dwelt upon the "te r-

r i b l e p e r s e c u t i o n " o f t h e I . W. W . r a d i c a l s i n C a l i f o r n i a a n d s a i d t h a t

b u t f o r t h e a s s i s t a n c e g i v e n b y s o m e w e a l t h y r a d i c a l s , m e n t i o n i n g M i s s

Fanny Bixby Spencer an d Miss Esther Yarnell, well known in C a l i f o r n i a

society, who have given bail for many of the r a d i c a l s a r r e s t e d i n t h e

W e s t , t h e s y n d i c a l i s t m o v e m e n t , s p o n s o r e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s , w o u l d h a v e

b e e n w i p e d o u t i n t h a t S t a t e . G a y l o r d W i l s h i r e , a p r o m i n e n t L o s A n g e l e s

radical who boasts of his connections w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t ,

d e l i v e r e d a n u l t r a - r a d i c a l s p e e c h , f u l l o f s a r c a s t i c a n d s c a t h i n g v i n d i c t i v e -

n e s s a g a i n s t A m e r i c a n d e m o c r a c y , s a y i n g t h a t a m i x t u r e o f s y n d i c a l i s t i c

p r i n c i p l e s a n d C o m m u n i s t t a c t i c s w a s t h e o n l y s a l v a t i o n f o r t h i s c o u n t r y .

T h e s e s p e a k e r s a r e m e n t i o n e d f o r t h e r e a s o n t h a t t h i s w a s t h e a m m u n i t i o n

t o b e u s e d b y U p t o n S i n c l a i r o n h i s t o u r o f A m e r i c a n c o l l e g e s in making

a d d r e s s e s t o s t u d e n t s .

A f t e r S i n c l a i r h a d s t a r t e d h i s t ou r h e w r o t e f r i e n d s f r o m S a n

F r a n c i s c o s a y i n g t h a t H e a r s t's Magazine h a d a c c e p t e d h i s l a t e s t n o v e l

" Mo bl an d ," a n d as c ri b in g t h is g oo d f o r tun e t o t h e f a c t t h at N o r m an

H a p g o o d , k n o w n f o r h i s r a d i c a l t e n d e n c i e s , a n d c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e A m e r i c a n

C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n h a d s h o r t l y b e f o r e b e e n m a d e e d i t o r o f t h a t m a g a z i n e .

On May 21, 1922, a small pri vate meeti ng of a number o f r a d i c a l a n d

` . p r o g r e s s i v e " p u b l i c s c h o o l t e a c h e r s o f P a s a d e n a w a s h e l d , a t w h i c h l e t t e r s

f r o m S i n c l a i r w e r e d i s c u s s e d . H e h a d w r i t t e n f r o m C h i c a g o t h a t a t M a d i s o n ,

Wi s . , h e w a s r e c e i v e d i n a v e r y f r i e n d l y s p i r i t a n d h a d h e l d s e v e r a l s u c -

c e s s f u l m e e t i n g s . At the University of Chicago, he wrote, he had been

g i v e n a s m a l l a u d i t o r i u m i n w h i c h t o l e c t u r e , a n d s o m a n y s t u d e n t s c o u l d

n o t g e t i n t o h e a r h i m t h a t t h e m e e t i n g w a s a d j o u r n e d t o o u t - o f - d o o r s , s o

t h a t a l l c o u l d h e a r . " G e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g , " h e w r o t e , " I a m v e r y m u c h

[631



REDS IN AMERICA

p l e a s e d t o f i n d s o m a n y S o c i a l i s t s a n d a d h e r e n t s o f o t h e r a n t i - c a p i t a l i s t i c

s y s t e m s a m o n g t h e c o l l e g e p r o f e s s o r s , a n d I a m q u i t e s ur e t h a t i f w e

could only make these men feel reasonably sure of economic independence

there would be a great wave of ra dical thought sweeping through all our

s c h o o l s . "

On this tour Sinclair was entertained by and addressed several local

clubs a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e In t e r c ollegi a t e Lib e r al Le ague, a n d a t o t h e r

p l a c e s h i s m e e t i n g s w e r e h e l d u n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s o f t h e " C o s m o p o l i t a n

Club" o f t h e c ollege . Th e C o s m o p o l i t a n C l u b m o v e m e n t i s o n e w h i c h

h a s b e e n i n v e s t i g a t e d a n d f o u n d t o b e e n g a g e d i n s p r e a d i n g r a d i c a l p r o p a -

g a n d a i n p r a c t i c a l l y a l l i n s t i t u t i o n s i n w h i c h i t h a s b e e n i n t r o d u c e d . There

are branches in Harvard, Yale, the Universities of California, C hicago,

I l l i n o i s , M i c h i g a n , M i s s o u r i , N e b r a s k a , K a n s a s , O r e go n , P e n n s y l v a n i a ,

Wi s c o n s i n a n d In d i a n a , Columb i a a n d Co r n ell, Dr a k e College , Io w a S t a t e

C o l l e g e , M a s s a c h u s e t t s I n s t i t u t e o f T e c h n o l o g y , O b e r l i n , O h i o S t a t e C o l l e g e ,

Ohio Wesleyan College, Purdue, Syracuse, Union College, Vanderbilt Uni-

v e r s i t y , W i l l i a m J e w e l l C o l l e g e , W o r c e s t e r U n i v e r s i t y , C o e U n i v e r s i t y a n d

R a d c l i f f e C o l l e g e .

The s e clubs i n clud e a c t i v e Co m mun i s t s a s w ell a s r a d i c al s o f o t h e r

t y p e s a n d a r e u n q u e s t i o n a b l y s u p p o r t e d , a t l e a s t i n p a r t , b y t h e C o m -

mun i s t p a r t y . I n t h e i r m e m b e r s h i p a r e m a n y f o r e i g n e r s , t h e o s t e n s i b l e

o b j e c t o f t h e c l u b s b e i n g t o f o s t e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l f r i e n d s h i p . I n s o m e c a s e s

r a d i c a l p r o f e s s o r s a r e t h e a c t i v e l e a d e r s i n t h e s e c l u b s , a l t h o u g h u s u a l l y

a c t i v e C o m m u n i s t s w h o a r e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s a r e t h e l e a d e r s . They frequently

h a v e a s s p e a k e r s m e m b e r s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a w h o n e v e r

miss an opportunity to make converts .

A s U p t o n S i n c l a i r m a d e h i s t o u r o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d w o r k e d e i t h e r

d i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t l y f o r C o m m u n i s m , s o L i l l i a n R e i s e r o f f , o f C a m b r i d g e ,

M a s s ., m a d e h e r w a y f r o m E a s t t o We s t , w o r k i ng d i r e c tl y f o r t h e Co m mu-

n i s t s , a n d o r g a n i z i n g i n s c h o o l s a n d c o l l e g e s , a m o n g h e r o t h e r a c t i v i t i e s ,

b r a n c h e s o f t h e Y o u n g W o r k e r s ' L e a g u e o f A m e r i c a , a p a r t o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

o r g a n i z a t i o n s u p p o r t e d a s o n e o f t h e " l e g a l " p o r t i o n s o f t h e r a d i c a l p a r t y .

M i s s R e i s e r o f f m a d e h e r w a y t o t h e P a c i f i c C o a s t a n d a t S e a t t l e f o u n d

S i d n e y E . B o rge s o n , w h o w h il e a t t e n d i n g t h e sum m e r s c h o ol a t t h e Un i-

v e r s i t y o f W a s h i n g t o n , w a s v e r y a c t i v e a s a m e m b e r o f a n u m b e r o f

l o c a l r a d i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s . These two worked together in college circles

a n d l e f t t o g e t h e r f o r M i n n e a p o l i s , w h e r e B o r g e s o n s a i d h e w a s t o b e

e m p l o y e d a s a n i n s t r u c t o r a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M i n n e s o t a , a n d w h e r e

Miss Reiseroff was to engage actively in organization work for the Young

W o r k e r s ' L e a gu e .

The Communists have not been slow to seize upon the fact that prac-

t i c ally n o e f f o r t s a r e m a d e , out s i d e o f t h e publi c s c h o ol s y s t e m , w i t h

i t s m o r e o r l e s s l a x l a w s r e l a t i n g t o a t t e n d a n c e a t c e r t a i n a g e s , t o f u r n i s h

c h i l d r e n o f f o r e i g n b i r t h a n d c h i l d r e n o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s w i t h e d u -

c a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s . T h i s l a c k o f a t t e n t i o n o n t h e p a r t o f t h e A m e r i c a n

p u b l i c h a s g i v e n t h e C o m m u n i s t a n e x c e l l e n t o p p o r t u n i t y t o o r g a n i z e n i g h t

s c h o ols f o r t h e t e a c h i n g o f C o m mun i s m . A m o n g t h e d o c u m e n t s f o u n d

[ 6 4 3




a t B r i dgm a n , Mi c h . , w e r e m a n y r e f e r r i n g t o t h e w o r k o n t h e e d u c a t i o n a n d

e a r l y t r a i n i n g o f t h e y o u t h o n C o m m u n i s t i c l i n e s . M uc h o f t h i s w o r k

is done by the Young Workers' League, which has bee n organized all over

t h e c o u n t r y i n a r e m a r k a b l y s h o r t t i m e .

A single example of how the Communists work in t he schools and col-

l e g e s w i l l s u f f i c e t o e x p l a i n m a n y r e c e n t a c t i v i t i e s i n s u c h i n s t i t u t i o n s .

I n 1 922 s i x t y - f i v e R u s s i a n m e n a n d w o m e n a p p l i e d f o r a d m i s s i o n t o t h e

U n i t e d S t a t e s f r o m M e x i c o a s s t u d e n t s . They said they wished to matricu-

l a t e a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a f o r s t u d y . Th e Un i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n -

m e n t p e r m i t t e d t h e m t o e n t e r , b e l i e v i n g t h e m a n x i o u s t o a t t e n d t h e U n i v e r s i t y

o f Cali f o r n i a f o r e duc a t i o n al pur p o s e s o nl y . As a m a t t e r o f f a c t t h e

s i x t y - f i v e w e r e s e n t b y t h e R u s s i a n S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t t o M e x i c o t o f a c i l i t a t e

t h e i r e n t r a n c e t o t h i s c o u n t r y . Th e y w e r e f i n a n c e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s i n

Mos c o w a n d c a r r i e d o n a w ell o rg a n i z e d C o m mu n i s t p r o p ag a n d a o n t h e

P a c i f i c C o a s t u n d e r d i r e c t i o n o f t h e T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l o f M o s c o w . T h e y

m a d e a n u m b e r o f c o n v e r t s a m o n g t h e s t u d e n t s o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y , a c c o r d i n g

to a well informed visitor to the Coast . Th e y al s o a c t e d a s a d v i s e r s t o

t h e o rga n i z e r s o f t h e Young Wo r k e r s' Le ague i n Pa c i f i c Co a s t S t a t e s .

T h e Y o u n g W o r k e r s ' L e a g ue i s a n o u t g r o w t h o f t h e Y o u n g P e o p l e ' s

C o m m u n i s t L e a gu e a n d t h e Y o u n g P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t L e a gu e , a n d w a s o r -

g a n i z e d f o r " l e ga l " p r o p a g a n d a p u r p o s e s . T h e r e - o r g a n i z a t i o n w a s e f -

f e c t e d b y t h e Ex e cut i v e Co m m i t t e e o f t h e Wo r k e r s' p a r t y a n d t h e i n s t al-

la t i o n o f t h e v a r i ous c i r cl e s w a s i n c h a rge o f t h e Na t i o n al S e c r e t a r y ,

Oliver Carlson, alias E . C o n n e l l y , a l i a s E d w a r d s . H e i s a m e m b e r o f

t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a , o f w h i c h t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y i s t h e

open or "legal" political branch . T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e Y o u n g Wo r k e r s '

L e a g u e i s " t o e d u c a t e t h e m e m b e r s , t h e y o u n g w o r k e r s , t o u n d e r s t a n d

t h e i r p o s i t i o n i n c a p i t a l i s t s o c i e t y , t o s h o w t h e m t h e s t u p i d i t y o f s e e k i n g

t o cl i m b h igh e r , a n d t o m a p a c our s e o f a c t i o n f o r t h e i r e m a n c i p a t i o n . "

A m o n g t h e o r g a n i z e r s o f t h e L e a g u e w e r e s u c h p e r s o n s a s W a l t e r B r o n s t r u p ,

M r s . Margaret Prev y, Mrs . S a d i e A m t e r , M a x K a m i n s k y a n d D . E . E a r l y ,

all well known in Communist circles .

The headquarters of this League is, at the time of this writing, at

N o . 208 E a s t Tw elf t h S t r e e t , Ne w Yo r k , a n d t h e c oun t r y i s d i v i d e d i n t o

d i s t r i c t s w i t h a n o r g a n i z e r i n e a c h d i s t r i c t . C l a s s e s a r e h e l d i n m a n y

c i t i e s f o r t h e i n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e y o u n g p e o p l e a n d t h e i r e l d e r s a l o n g

Co m mun i s t i c l i n e s . T h e f o l l o w i n g i s q uo t e d , a s a n e x a m p l e , f r o m a

report of the organizati on in Roxbury, Mass . :

"Me e t i ngs a r e h el d e v e r y Sun d a y e v e n i ng . C l a s s e s h a v e b e e n o p e n e d

i n e c o n o m i c s a n d p s y c h o l o g y a n d a r e a t t e n d e d . Harry W. L. D a n a a n d

M r s . Antoine tte F . K o n i k o w , o f N o . 5 2 C h a m b e r s S t r e e t , B o s t o n , a r e

l e c t u r e r s a t t h e s e c l a s s e s. Le o G o l o s o v , o f D o r c h e s t e r , w a s f o r m e r l y i n

c h a r g e o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d h e h a s s i n c e b e e n i n R u s s i a . L o u i s M a r k s ,

o f D o r c h e s t e r , i s n o w a t t h e h e a d . Re c e n tl y c o p i e s o f Y o u t h , a C o m -

m u n i s t p a p e r , w e r e d i s t r i b u t e d a t o n e o f t h e m e e t i n g s . "

T h i s i s o n l y a s a m p l e o f t h e w o r k d o n e i n m a n y l o c a l i t i e s i n a d .

d i t i o n t o t h e w o r k a m o n g t h e c h i l d r e n . Th e C o m m u n i s t s a r e u s i n g t h e



REDS IN AMERICA

schools regularly as places of meeting for older students of Communism,

a s w e l l a s f o r c h i ld r e n o f t e n d e r y e a r s . I n t h e c l a s s e s s uc h s t u d i e s

a s t h e " A . B . C . o f C o m m u n i s m , " " F u n d a m e n t a l P r i n c i p l e s o f C o m m u n i s m , "

" T h e s e s a n d R e s o l u t i o n s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l " a r e r e a d a n d

s t u d i e d . Y ou th , t h e p ub li c a ti o n ju st m e n t io n e d, w a s t h e o f fi c i al o r ga n

o f t h e L e a g ue u n t i l M a r c h , 1 9 2 2, w h e n t h e Y o u n g W o r k e r b e c a m e t h e

o f f i c i a l o r g a n .

From a convention call issued by the national secretary of the Young

Wor k e r s' Le ague, t h e a i m o f t h e o rga n i z a t i o n i s gi v e n i n t h e f ollo w i ng

w o r d s : " O ur a i m i s t o b e t h e a b o l i t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m b y m e a n s o f t h e

W o r k e r s ' R e p ub l i c , a g o v e r n m e n t f u n c t i o n i n g t h r o u g h t h e p o w e r o f t h e

p r o l e t a r i a t t o t h e e x c l u s i o n o f a l l o t h e r c l a s s e s , a s t h e f i r s t s t e p t o w a r d

t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l c l a s s l e s s s o c i e t y , f r e e f r o m a l l p o l i t -

ical and economic slavery ." International Liebknecht Day was first cele-

b r a t e d b y t h e Y o u n g W o r k e r s ' L e a gu e o f A m e r i c a i n J a n u a r y , 1 9 22 , w h e n

i n t e r n a t i o n al m e e t i ngs w e r e h el d i n al m o s t e v e r y i m p o r t a n t c i t y o f t h e

U n i t e d S t a t e s . A joi n t c o n v e n t i o n w a s h eld i n N e w Y o r k i n Ap r il . I t

w a s a n n o u n c e d t h a t a l l o r g a n i z a t i o n s s u b s c r i b i n g t o t h e c o n v e n t i o n c a l l a n d

s e n d i ng d elega t e s , mus t agr e e t o m e r ge i n t o t h e Young Wo r k e r s' Le ague .

C o n v e n t i o n s w e r e a l s o h e l d i n B r o o k l y n i n M a y , a n d i n C h i c a g o i n J uly

o f t h e s a m e y e a r .

B e a r i n g i n m i n d t h a t t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n i s c h i e f l y i n t e r e s t e d i n e d u c a t i n g

f i r s t t h e y o u n g a n d t h e n t h e i r e l d e r s i n C o m m u n i s t i c l i n e s o f t h o u g h t , a n d

t h a t a n e f f o r t h a s b e e n m a d e t o l e a d t h e p u b l i c t o b e l i e v e t h a t t h e

Y o u n g W o r k e r s ' L e a gu e i s n o t c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t ,

i t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o r e a d t h e f o l l o w i n g c o m m u n i c a t i o n , d a t e d M o s c o w , J u n e

2 7 , 1 92 2, a n d a d d r e s s e d " t o t h e N a t i o n a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e s o f t h e

C o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s , " w h i c h w a s f o u n d w i t h o t h e r d o c u m e n t s a t B r i d g m a n ,

M i c h . , w h e n t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y c o n v e n t i o n w a s r a i d e d :

" D e a r C o m r a d e s : I n a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e

Comintern, the Executive Committee o f the Young Communist International

d e c i d e d t o l a u n c h a n e n e r g e t i c c a m p a i g n o f t h e y o u t h f o r t h e u n i t e d

front of the proletariat . F o r t h i s p u r p o s e i t d e c i d e d t o c o n v e n e a

World Co ngr e s s o f Juv e n ile Lab o r .

"I n o r d e r t o p r e p a r e t h e p r ol e t a r i a n y out h f o r our c a m p a ign , i t i s

of utmost importance that the Communist parties with their press support

u s i n t h e m o s t e x t e n s i v e m a n n e r . Th i s i s e s p e c i ally n e c e s s a r y b e c aus e

t h e w h o l e a c t i o n i s c l o s e l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e u n i t e d f r o n t p o l i c y o f

the Comintern in the ne xt (near?) future .

" W e h a v e a l r e a d y i n f o r m e d t h e N a t i o n a l E x e c u t i v e s o f o u r L e a g u e

i n o r d e r t h a t t h e e d i t o r s o f t h e p a r t y o r g a n s m a y s u p p o r t u s . With consid-

e r a t i o n t o t h e i m m e n s e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h i s f o r t h c o m i n g a c t i o n a n d i t s e f f e c t

o n t h e S o c i a l D e m o c r a t s a n d C e n t r i s t s , w e a s k y o u , t h e N a t i o n a l E x e c u t i v e

C ommittees, to instruct the editors of your organs to grant sufficient

s p a c e t o t h e p u b l i c a t i o n s o f t h e N a t i o n a l L e a g u e s a s w e l l a s t o t h e i n t e r -

[ 6 6 1



hua~-Jut,,, t922

THE

YOUNG WORKERIt 111 0 t) & g A t i OF T H E T O F N Q W O R K E R S 1 X A ( , ` V E

Mw, .

l t f t e c n 0 : 1 1 t

I p ~ t ? 7 , i

~C 7 t r I L +SS

I ~ ~

Ta i cl t o R 1 ~

u

A group of Communist publications in t he United States . S o v i e t R u s s i a , T h e

Labor Herald, an d The Young Worker, on the right William Z . Foster of Chicago ;

o n t h e l e f t , R o b e r t M i n e r .




n a t i o n a l p u b l i c a t i o n s . With Communist greetings of the Executive Com-

m i t t e e o f t h e Y o u n g C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l . "

I n a c i r c u l a r m a r k e d " s t r i c t l y c o n f i d e n t i a l , " s e n t f r o m M o s c o w J u n e

24, 1922, the National Executive Com mittee s of the Communist pa rties

i n t h e v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s o f t h e w o r l d w e r e t o l d t h a t " r e c e n t e v e n t s i n t h e

i n t e r n a t i o n a l l a b o r m o v e m e n t r e n d e r n e c e s s a r y a r e v i s i o n o f o u r t a c t i c s

i n t h e p r o b l e m o f ` t h e p r o l e t a r i a n u n i t e d f r o n t a n d j u v e n i l e l a b o r .'" I t

i s t h e n s t a t e d t h a t t h e y o u t h m u s t n o t b e m a d e t o c a r r y o n t h e i r f i g h t

f o r t h e u n i t e d f r o n t a l o n e b u t t h a t a l l b r a n c h e s of the Communist party

i n e a c h c o u n t r y m u s t w o r k t o g e t h e r f o r t h e u n i t e d f r o n t u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n

o f t h e N a t i o n a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y . " T h e s l o g a n

o f t h e u n i t e d f r o n t w i l l f o r a l o n g t i m e , " t h e c i r c u l a r s a y s , " b e t h e u n d e r l i n e d

p r i n c i p l e o f a l l a c t i v i t i e s . "

T h e " r e c e n t e v e n t s i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l l a b o r m o v e m e n t " r e f e r s t o

t h e r e f u s a l o f t h e S o c i a l i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l s t o s u r r e n d e r t o t h e C o m m u -

n i s t s i n t h e m a t t e r o f c a l l i n g a w o r l d l a b o r c o n g r e s s , t o i n s i s t u p o n a l l

labor working with the united front movement f o r t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f

t h e p r o l e t a r i a n g o v e r n m e n t o f t h e w o r l d . B e c a u s e o f t h i s o p p o s i t i o n t h e

m a t t e r w a s d r o p p e d f o r t h e t i m e a n d t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e Y o u n g

C o m m u n i s t s L e a g u e , i n M o s c o w , u p o n d i r e c t i o n f r o m t h e i r s u p e r i o r s i n

the Soviet Government, shifted the m o v e m e n t t o t h e v a r i ou s n a t i o n al

o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n s t e a d o f t r y i n g t o m a k e i t a s o l i d w o r l d m o v e m e n t .

I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h e c a r e w i t h w h i c h t h i s w o r k i n Am e r i c a ,

a s i s t h e c a s e i n a l l o t h e r c o u n t r i e s , i s m a p p e d o u t i n M o s c o w . One o f

t h e d o c u m e n t s f o u n d a t B r i d g m a n c o n t a i n s t h e p r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e Y ou ng

Communist International at Moscow, when, under t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f Z i n -

o v i e f f , p r o g r a m s f o r t h e f u t u r e w e r e a r r a n g e d a n d t h e w o r k s p e c i f i e d f o r

t h e b r a n c h e s a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d . In each country the youngsters must

be instructed as to the form of government in that country and given

p o i n t s f o r a r g u m e n t a g a i n s t i t s m a i n t e n a n c e . C a r e m u s t b e t a k e n t h a t t h e

s t u d y a n d w o r k s h a l l b e i n t e r e s t i n g t o t h e y o u t h . A f e w p a r a g r a p h s o f

t h e s e p r o c e e d i n g s w i l l b e i l l u m i n a t i n g .

" I n v i e w o f t h e f a c t t h a t a l m o s t a l l o f t h e p r a c t i c a l a r r a n g e m e n t s

o f t h e L e a g u e s h a v e a n e d u c a t i o n a l c h a r a c t e r (evenin gs of groups,

l e c t u r e s , d i s c u s s i o n s a n d e n t e r t a i n m e n t e v e n i n g s , e x c u r s i o n s , e t c . ) a n d t h a t

i n a l l o t h e r d e p a r t m e n t s o f w o r k a n i n c r e a s e o f t h e e d u c a t i o n a l e n d e a v o r s

i s n e c e s s a r y ( t r a i n i n g o f o f f i c i a l s ) , t h e systematic improvement of this

s p h e r e o f a c t i v i t i e s m u s t b e p a i d g r e a t a t t e n t i o n t o . T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f

t h i s w o r k ( e l a b o r a t i o n o f p l a n s , d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e a c t i v e w o r k e r s p r o v i d i n g

o f n e w f o r c e s a n d m a t e r i a l ) m u s t i n a n y c a s e b e t r a n s f e r r e d t o a s p e c i a l

d e p a r t m e n t o f t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e a n d t h e b r a n c h c o m m i t t e e s .

"The performance of the task imposed by the Second Congress-that

o f b a s i n g e d u c a t i o n a l w o r k o n t h e p r o b l e m s o f t h e d a y - i s o n l y p o s s i b l e

i f t h e a c t i v e m e m b e r s o f t h e l e a g u e s k n o w t h e e l e m e n t a r y p r i n c i p l e s o f

the Marxian theory . I n o r d e r t o e n a b l e t h e m e m b e r s t o a c q u i r e t h i s

k n o w l e d g e , p o l i t i c a l e l e m e n t a r y i n s t r u c t i o n m u s t b e g i v e n . All y oung



REDS IN AMERICA

w o r k e r s e n t e r i n g t h e L e a g u e s m u s t a s f a r a s p o s s i b l e d u r i n g t h e f i r s t y e a r

o f t h e i r m e m b e r s h i p b e p r o v i d e d w i t h e l e m e n t a r y p o l i t i c a l k n o w l e d g e. "

T h e n t h e w o r k i s m a p p e d o u t i n d e t a i l , t a k i n g t h e m t h r o u g h g r a d e s ,

much as is done in our public school system, u n t i l t h e y a r e d e v e l o p e d

f u l l C o m m u n i s t s w h e n t h e y a r e a d m i t t e d t o a c t i v e m e m b e r s h i p i n t h e p a r t y

a n d a s s i g n e d t o w o r k . A p a r t o f t h i s f u t u r e w o r k i s g i v e n a s " a g i t a t i o n

and propaganda" among youth not of Communist families .

" T h e p a t i e n t , p e r s i s t e n t a n d s y s t e m a t i c enlightenment of the broad

m a s s e s o f j u v e n i l e l a b o r o n t h e c h a r a c t e r o f o u r o p p o n e n t s , a l o n g t h e p r a c -

t i c a l l i n e s o f t h e i r d a i l y a c t i v i t i e s , m u s t b e c o m e t h e b a s i s o f t h i s a g i t a t io n

a n d p r o p a g a n d a w o r k , " r e a d s a p o r t i o n o f t h e p r o c e e d i n g s . "So far as

t h e b o u r g e o i s y o u t h o r g a n i z a t i o n s a r e c o n c e r n e d , i t i s t h e t a s k o f t h e Y o u n g

C o m m u n i s t L e a g u e s t o e x p o s e t h e i r c l a s s c h a r a c t e r , t o f i g h t t h e C h u r c h , t o

c a r r y o n a s t r o n g , e l a s t i c a n t i - r e l i g i o u s p r o p a g a n d a , t o l e a d a r u t h l e s s

f i g h t a g a i n s t m i l i t a r i s m a n d t o u n v e i l n o t l e s s r u t h l e s s l y p a c i f i s m a n d

p o l i t i c a l n e u t r a l i t y . T h e y m u s t , f u r t h e r m o r e , b e a b l e t o s h a r p e n t h e c l a s s

a n t a g o n i s m i n t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s w h e r e p r o l e t a r i a n a n d s e m i - p r o l e t a r i a n

e l e m e n t s a r e o r g a n i z e d . "

I n t h e r e s o l u t i o n s a d o p t e d b y t h e f i r s t n a t i o n a l c o n v e n t i o n o f t h e

Young Workers' League of America, organized by the Young C o m m u n i s t

League pursuant to instructions fro m Moscow, a n d w h i c h w a s h e l d i n

M a y , 1 9 2 2 , i t i s d i s t i n c t l y s t a t e d t h a t " i n t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s

a g a i n s t t h e c a p i t a l i s t c l a s s t h e l a b o r i n g y o u t h d o e s n o t h o l d a n y s p e c i a l

p o s i t i o n ; t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e i s a conflict between but two c l a s s e s - t h e

w o r k i n g c l a s s a n d t h e c a p i t a l i s t c l a s s . " T h e r e s o l u t i o n s a t t h i s c o n v e n t i o n

e n d o r s e d S o v i e t Ru ss i a a n d "d e m a n d e d" i t s r e c o g n i t i o n b y t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s , a p p r o v e d t h e s t a n d o f t h e W o r l d W a r V e t e r a n s a g a i n s t " t h e a v o w e d

f o e o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s , t h e A m e r i c a n L e g i o n , " a n d e n d o r s e d t h e f r i e n d s

o f S o v i e t R u s s i a a n d a l l o t h e r C o m m u n i s t b r a n c h e s a n d e f f o r t s .

T h e c a l l f o r t h i s c o n v e n t i o n w a s o f f i c i a l l y e n d o r s e d b y f o u r b r a n c h e s

of the Young Women's League, Chicago, Detroi t, Boston a n d N e w Y o r k .

A s i n g l e p a r a g r a p h f r o m t h e r e s o l u t i o n o n e d u c a t i o n , a d o p t e d b y t h e Y o u n g

C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l a n d a p p r o v e d b y t h e c o n v e n t i o n i n A m e r i c a , t e l l s

t h e e x t e n t o f t h e w o r k o f t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n

" W i t h t h e c h a n g e i n t h e c h a r a c t e r a n d i n t e n s i t y o f t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e

must come about a change in our method of agitation . T h i s f i e l d m u s t

be subd i v i d e d u n d e r t h e s e t w o h e a d i ng s : f i r s t , e d u c a t i o n w i t h i n t h e

o r g a n i z a t i o n ; s e c o n d , p r o p a g a n d a a n d e d u c a t i o n a m o n g t h e m a s s e s . "

It has been seen that the machin ery of the Communists f o r g a i n i n g

converts and trained workers embraces all stages and degrees of ed u-

c a t i o n f r o m t h e p o o r y o u n g s t e r w h o h a s t o w o r k s e l l i n g p a p e r s , r u n n i n g

errands, or in any way, th rough the night Communist s c h o o l s , t h e p u b -

l i c s c h o o l s , c o l l e g e s a n d u n i v e r s i t i e s , e v e n t o p r o f e s s o r i a l c h a i r s i n t h e

h i g h e r i n s t i t u t i o n s . I n a d d i t i o n t o t h i s , t h e n a m e s o f a l l r a d i c a l s w h o , b y

w o r d o r d e e d , l e n d e n c o u r a g e m e n t o r e n d o r s e m e n t t o t h e C o m m u n i s t move-

m e n t , a r e u s e d i n t h e p r o p a g a n d a w o r k o f g a i n i n g r e c r u i t s t o t h e C o m m u n i s t

[ 6 8 1




a r m y . W h e n e v e r a c o l l e g e p r o f e s s o r , a G o v e r n m e n t o f f i c i a l , a b i g b u s i n e s s

m a n , o r a n y i n d i v i d u a l w h o s e n a m e c a r r i e s d i s t i n c t i o n i n a n y l i n e o f

e n d e a v o r , c a r e l e s s l y o r w i t h i n t e n t e x p r e s s e s a n o p i n i o n w h i c h c a n b e

c o n s t r u e d a s f a v o r i n g , e v e n i n a l i m i t e d s e n s e , t h e a i m s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s ,

such words are seized upon and used for propaganda purposes, especially

i n e n d e a v o r i n g t o w i n o v e r y o u n g m e n a n d w o m e n , i n c o l l e g e o r o u t , t o

t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y . T h us i t i s t h a t c o r r e s p o n d e n c e b e t w e e n t h e l a t e

Ch a rl e s P . S t e i n m e t z , t h e el e c t r i c al ge n ius , a n d Le n i n w a s b r o a d c a s t e d

t h r oughou t t h e Englis h s p e a k i ng w o rld a n d w a s t r a n sla t e d i n t o m a n y

la nguage s f o r p r o p aga n d a pur p o s e s . It w a s gi v e n out b y Le n i n .

Steinmetz, who had for many years been known as an enthusiastic in-

t e l l e c t u a l s o c i a l i s t , e x p r e s s e d t o L e n i n h i s a d m i r a t i o n o f t h e R u s s i a n S o v i e t

government in "the building up of socialism and economi c reconstruction "

and offering his services "to assis t Russia in the technical sphere and

p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e m a t t e r o f e l e c t r i f i c a t i o n i n a p r a c t i c a l w a y a n d w i t h

a d v i c e . " L e n i n ' s r e p l y w a s a s t u d i e d a t t e m p t t o f u r n i s h m a t e r i a l f o r

p r o p a g a n d a , w r i t i n g o f " t h e n e c e s s i t y a n d t h e i n e v i t a b i l i t y o f s u p p l a n t i n g

c a p i t a l i s m b y a n e w s o c i a l o r d e r " a n d u s i n g o t h e r h a c k n e y e d p h r a s e s

familiar to those who study revolutionary literature . Le n i n a l s o t o o k

occasion to refer to the lack of recognition of the Soviet government by

t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a s a p r i m e d i f f i c u l t y i n t h e p a t h o f a c c e p t i n g t h e S t e i n m e t z

o f f e r o f a s s i s t a n c e .

1 6 9 1



CHAPTER FOUR

RADICAL PUBLICATIONS AND LITERATURE

T h e n u m b e r o f r a d i c a l p u b l i c a t i o n s i s s u e d i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i n -

c l u d i n g t h o s e p u b l i s h e d a b r o a d a n d c i r c u l a t e d i n t h i s c o u n t r y a l m o s t t r e b l e d

i n t h e y e a r 1922 . Thi s i s du e t o t w o f ac t s : t h e t r e m e n d ou s i n c r e a s e

i n t h e g r o w t h o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y a n d i t s " l e g a l " b r a n c h e s

i n A m e r i c a , a n d t h e f a c t t h a t a n u m b e r o f r a d i c a l p u b l i c a t i o n s s u s p e n d e d

a f t e r t h e r a i d s b y t h e a u t h o r i t i e s i n D e c e m b e r , 1920, an d Jan uary, 1921 .

T h e r e a r e k n o w n t o b e a t l e a s t 2 2 7 r a d i c a l p u b l i c a t i o n s p r i n t e d i n f o r e i g n

l a n g u a g e s a n d s e v e n t y - t h r e e i n E n g l i s h i s s u e d i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ; t h e r e

m a y b e o t h e r s , f o r m a n y o f t h e m a r e p r i n t e d s e c r e t l y a n d c i r c u l a t e d s u r -

r e p t i t i o u s l y , a n d i t i s m o r e t h a n p r o b a b l e t h a t s o m e s u c h p a p e r s f i n d t h e i r

way only into the hands of those whom they are intended to r e a c h . I n

a d d i t i o n t o t h e s e t h e r e a r e 2 6 9 p a p e r s p r i n t e d i n v a r i o u s l a n g u a g e s a b r o a d ,

i n c l u d i n g E n g l i s h , a n d i m p o r t e d i n t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i n l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s ,

a s w e l l a s f o r t y - t w o p a p e r s p u b l i s h e d i n A r g e n t i n e , C a n a d a , C h i l e , C u b a ,

M e x i c o , P o r t o R i c o a n d U r u g u a y , w h i c h a r e b r o u g h t i n i n c r e a s i n g l y l a r g e

q u a n t i t i e s t o t h i s c o u n t r y t o a i d i n t h e d r i v e o f r a d i c a l p r o p ag a n d a . T h i s

i s a t o t a l o f 6 1 1 p e r i o d i c a l s k n o w n t o b e c i r c u l a t e d a m o n g t h e p e o p l e

o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , d i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t l y a i m e d a t t h e o v e r t h r o w o f t h i s

G o v e r n m e n t .

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e d a i l y p a p e r s , w e e k l y m a g a z i n e s a n d m o n t h l y r e v i e w s ,

i n c l u d e d i n t h e a b o v e l i s t , b o o k s a r e p u b l i s h e d a n d c i r c u l a t e d f o r c h i l d r e n

a n d a d u l t s , a l l o f t h e m v e r y c l e v e r l y p r e s e n t i n g p r o p a g a n d a f o r t h e p u r p o s e

o f i n s t i l l i n g C o m m u n i s m i n t h e m i n d s o f t h e r e a d e r s . M o s t o f t h e s e b o o k s

a r e p r e p a r e d i n R u s s i a a n d m a n y o f t h e m a r e p r i n t e d a b r o a d , b e i n g b r o u g h t

t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s b y s m u g g l e r s . P i c t u r e p o s t c a r d s , s o m e o f t h e m o f

h i g h a r t i s t i c m e r i t , a r e a l s o s e c r e t l y b r o u g h t t o t h i s c o u n t r y a n d e f f o r t s

are constantly being made to give them wide d i s t r i b u t i o n ; b u t a s t h e s e

p o s t - c a r d s a r e u n m a i l a b l e , u n d e r t h e l a w s o f t h e c o u n t r y , t h e y a r e u s u a l l y

c o n f i s c a t e d . N o a t t e m p t i s m a d e , h o w e v e r , t o d i s t r i b u t e t h e b o o k s e x c e p t

f r o m h a n d t o h a n d , a n d t h r o u g h t h e u n d e r gr o u n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e

C o m mu n i s t p a r t y . T h e s u b t l e t y a n d e x c e l l e n c e o f t h e s e b o o k s a r e w o r t h y

of commendation but for the message they bear-that the Governmen t o f

t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s m u s t b e o v e r t h r o w n a n d t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e -

t a r i a t e s t a b l i s h e d . S e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t v o l u m e s o f f a b l e s , i m i t a t i n g t h e A e s o p

c l a s s i c s , e s p e c i a l l y d e s i g n ed f o r l i t t l e f o l k s , are widely read by Comm unist

c h i l d r e n a n d t h e c h i l d r e n o f r a d i c a l s o f o t h e r s t r i p e s .

M a n y o f t h e C o m m u n i s t b o o k s , a l s o , m a y b e o b t a i n e d a t p u b l i c book



REDS I N AMERICA

s t o r e s . C a r e i s t a k e n i n t h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f t h e s e b o o k s - t h i s r e f e r s s o l e l y

to the reading matter for mature people-to make them accord with the

la w s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s s o t h a t t h e p r o p ag a n d a m a y be m o r e w i d ely

d i s t r i b u t e d . T h e s e v o l u m e s a r e l a r g e l y , p h i l o s o p h i c a l a n d b e a r i n g o n i n -

d u s t r i a l c o n d i t i o n s . B u t t h e s i n g l e m o r a l p o i n t e d , t h e s i n g l e l e s s o n c o n v e y e d

i s t h a t a l l c a p i t a l i s t i c g o v e r n m e n t s m u s t b e o v e r t h r o w n b y v i o l e n c e a n d

S o v i e t g o v e r n m e n t s , p a t t e r n e d a f t e r a n d u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e c e n t r a l

S o v i e t g o v e r n m e n t a t M o s c o w , e s t a b l i s h e d .

A t f i r s t t h e C o m m u n i s t , a n a r c h i s t a n d o t h e r r a d i c a l p a p e r s p u b l i s h e d

i n t h i s c o u n t r y w e r e c r u d e a f f a i r s , f r e q u e n t l y p r i n t e d o n c o a r s e , b r o w n

p a p e r , a n d t y p o g r a p h i c a l l y b a r b a r o u s . B u t t o d a y t h e s e p a p e r s a r e e x c e l -

l e n t l y p r i n t e d , m a n y o f t h e m o n b e t t e r p r i n t p a p e r t h a n i s u s e d b y m o s t

m e t r o p oli t a n n e w s p a p e r s , a n d t h e m a k e-up a n d t y p og r ap h y o f a n a tu r e

t h a t w o u l d p l e a s e t h e m o s t e x a c t i n g j o u r n a l i s t . C o l o r s a r e f r e q u e n t l y

used-though this applies exclusively, perhaps, to magazines and pam-

p h l e t s . And whereas the reading matter in the early publications was

c r u d e l y p u t t o g e t h e r , u s u a l l y n o t h i n g b u t t h e m o s t b l a t a n t e x c o r i a t i o n o f

g o v e r n m e n t a n d p r a i s e o f t h e S o v i e t r e g i m e , a n d a l m o s t i n v a r i a b l y s h o w i n g

ignorance of composition and of English, the present publications are

e x c e l l e n t l y w r i t t e n i n b l a m e l e s s d i c t i o n , a n d p r e s e n t t h e i r p r o p a g a n d a i n

f a r m o r e i n s i d i o u s a n d i n t e r e s t i n g s t y l e . I n f a c t , s o m e o f t h e i r n e w s p a p e r s

a n d m a g a z i n e s a r e f a s c i n a t i n g i n t h e i r c l e v e r n e s s . T h e c h i e f p r o p a g a n d a

a r t i c l e s a r e l o g i c a l l y c o n s t r u c t e d ( o n f a l s e p r e m i s e s , t o b e s u r e ) a n d t h e

best American in the w orld would have to be on his guard to keep from

f a l l i n g i n t o a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e w r i t e r . T h e s e p u b l i c a t i o n s a r e w e l l i l -

l u s t r a t e d w i t h c a r t o o n s a n d p h o t o g r a p h i c r e p r o d u c t i o n s a n d h a v e v a r i o u s

d e p a r t m e n t s , e v e n c o l u m n i s t s a n d j o k e s , a l l c a r e f u l l y b u i l t t o f u r t h e r

C o m m u n i s t p r o p a g a n d a .

O n e e x c e l l e n t s e r i e s o f p a m p h l e t s i s e n t i t l e d " C h i l d r e n ' s S t o r i e s o f

S o v i e t R u s s i a " a n d i s i s s u e d b y " F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a F a m i n e S c o u t

Clubs of America . " T h i s i s p a t e n t l y a n e f f o r t t o m a k e u s e o f t h e b o y s '

and girls' scout organizations and the p amphlet is purely a Communist

organ for the dissemination of Communist propaganda through the Com-

m u n i s t " l e g a l " b r a n c h k n o w n a s F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a . I t i s p r o f u s e l y

i l l u s t r a t e d , w i t h c o v e r s i n c o l o r s , a n d c o n t a i n s a n u m b e r o f s t o r i e s a b o u t

a n d f o r c h i l d r e n . T h e b l o w a t c a p i t a l i s m i s s t r u c k a t t h e o u t s e t i n t h e

f o l l o w i n g p a r a g r a p h , a s a p r e f a c e t o t h e s t o r i e s :

" T h e r i c h c a p i t a l i s t s a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d t r i e d t o c r u s h t h e g o v e r n m e n t

o f t h e R u s s i a n w o r k e r s a n d f a r m e r s . T h e y b l o c k a d e d R u s s i a . They

c r i p ple d h e r f a c t o r i e s a n d d e s t r o y e d h e r f a r m i ng m a c h i n e r y a n d m a d e

R u s s i a f i g h t f o r h e r l i f e a t a t i m e w h e n s h e w a s b e g i n n i n g t o m a k e l i f e

h a p p y a n d f r e e f o r a l l w o r k e r s a n d t h e i r c h i l d r e n . Then came drouth,

s t a r v a t i o n a n d d e a t h f o r m i l l i o n s . "

R a d i c a l p e r i o d i c a l s a r e p u b l i s h e d f r o m B o s t o n t o L o s A n g e l e s , f r o m

S e a t t l e t o F l o r i d a . T h e p l a c e o f p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e m o s t r a d i c a l i s u n k n o w n ;

t h e y s i m ply a p p e a r . The y a r e p r i n t e d i n m a n y la nguages i n cludi ng ,

1 7 2 1




b e s i d e s E n g l i s h : R u s s i a n , I t a l i a n , J e w i s h , U k r a i n i a n , A r m e n i a n , B u l g a r i a n ,

C z e c h , C r o a t i a n , E s t h o n i a n , F i n n i s h , G e r m a n , G r e e k , H u n g a r i a n , L i t h u a n i a n ,

P o l i s h , S l o v a k , S p a n i s h , R o u m a n i a n , D a n i s h , L e t t i s h , S l o v e n i c a n d F r e n c h .

Many of the papers , such as T h e C o m m u n i s t , t h e o f f i c i a l - organ of

t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i n A m e r i c a , a r e p r i n t e d i n v a r i o u s l a n g u a g e e d i t i o n s .

T h e e d i t o r s o f t h e d i f f e r e n t e d i t i o n s a t t e n d a r e g u l a r r o u n d t a b l e a t w h i c h

t h e e d i t o r - i n - c h i e f d i c t a t e s t h e g e n e r a l p o l i c y t o b e f o l l o w e d i n e a c h a r t i c l e .

T h i s p o l i c y i s d i s c u s s e d b y t h e p o l y g l o t c i r c l e a n d t h e t r a n s l a t i o n s a r e

m a d e t o c o n f o r m , n o t i n w o r d s , b u t i n s e n t i m e n t , t o t h e p o l i c y d i c t a t e d .

T h e s a m e i s t r u e o f t h e b o o k s , p a m p h l e t s , c i r c u l a r s , p o s t e r s a n d m a g a z i n e s ,

w h i c h a p p e a r i n m a n y la nguages , d i r e c t e d t o br i ng i ng about t h e o n e

d e f i n i t e r e s u l t . Thi s p a r t o f t h e C o m mu n i s t p a r t y w o r k i s t h o r oughly

o r g a n i z e d a n d i s p r o g r e s s i n g w i t h o u t a h i t c h . T h e s e p u b l i c a t i o n s a r e p r a c -

t i c a l l y a l l t h e r e a d i n g m a t t e r t h e f o r e i g n e r i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s g e t s . They

a r e c a r e f u l l y p r e p a r e d t o k e e p h i s m i n d a l i e n t o t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s , a n d a r e d e v o t e d t o i n s p i r i n g a n d m a i n t a i n i n g i n t e r e s t i n t h e " c l a s s

struggle," which is preached to h im continuously from the time of his

a r r i v a l i n A m e r i c a . H i s o n l y c o m p a n i o n s , f r e q u e n t l y h i s o n l y a s s o c i a t e s ,

speak his language, and here is a newspape r, a weekly and a mont hly

m a g a z i n e , a n d e v e n b o o k s i n h i s n a t i v e t o n g u e . T h e r e i s l i t t l e i n r e a d i n g

m a t t e r t h a t f a l l s i n t o h i s h a n d s t o u r g e h i m t o b e c o m e A m e r i c a n b e c a u s e

e v e r y t h i n g h e w a n t s i n t h e w a y o f r e a d i n g m a t t e r i s f u r n i s h e d h i m i n h i s

own language . A n d t h e r e i n l i e s t h e s e r i o u s n e s s o f t h e f o r e i g n p r e s s s i t u a t i o n

i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . W i t h f e w e x c e p t i o n s t h e r e a d i n g m a t t e r t h a t c o m e s

to his hand i n his own language preaches e ither openly or by in nuendo

t h e " n e c e s s i t y " f o r t h e v i o l e n t o v e r t h r o w o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t .

T h e r a d i c a l p r e s s w a s l a r g e l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e s t r i k e s o f 1 9 2 2 ,

a s w a s t o b e s u p p o s e d . T h e r a d i c a l a n d l a b o r p r e s s w a s i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e

p e r i o d o f u n r e s t a s a n e x a m p l e o f t h e l a r g e r , b r o a d e r f i g h t b e t w e e n c a p i t a l

a n d l a b o r o f w h i c h t h e s t r i k e s w e r e r e g a r d e d a s b u t p r e l i m i n a r y , a l t h o u g h

v e r y i m p o r t a n t , b a t t l e s . C h a r a c t e r i s t i c i s t h e s e n t i m e n t e x p r e s s e d : " C a p i t a l

i s a d v a n c i n g ; L a b o r i s o n t h e d e f e n s i v e . " N o t i n p a r t a l o n e t h e f a u l t o f

t h e o w n e r s a n d o p e r a t o r s , a c c o r d i n g t o t h i s p r e s s , b u t t h e c o a l a n d r a i l

s t r i k e s w e r e e n t i r e l y s o - a n u n p r o v o k e d a s s a u l t u p o n t h e l i v i n g r i g h t s o f

t h e w o r k e r s . H e n c e , a l s o , t h e a l m o s t u n i v e r s a l p l e a f o r t h e u n i t e d f r o n t ,

t h e g e n e r a l s t r i k e , a s t h e o n l y h o p e a g a i n s t t h e u n i t y o f p u r p o s e a n d p o w e r

o f t h e e n e m y , t h e u l t i m a t e e n d , o f c o u r s e , b e i n g " t h e c o m p l e t e a b o l i t i o n o f

C a p i t a l i s m. " C e r t a i n o f t h e e d i t o r i a l s i n r e c e n t n u m b e r s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

a n d o t h e r r a d i c a l p r e s s o n t h e s t r i k e s i t u a t i o n a r e v e r y b i t t e r . " I f t h e y d o

n o t i n a c t u a l w o r d s u r g e m e a s u r e s o f d i r e c t a c t i o n , w o r d s a r e s c a r c e l y

n e e d e d i n t h e l i g h t o f t h e i n f l a m m a t o r y p i c t u r e p a i n t e d . T o a s s e r t , a s o n e

o f t h e m d o e s , t h a t " t h e b o u r g e o i s i e s t a n d s i n a f i g h t i n g l i n e - r e a d y t o s h o o t

you down like dogs", and then add that "To give in means -Death l To

struggle means-Life! Str uggle!" does not require mor e in th e way of

e x h o r t i o n t o f o r c i b l e r e s i s t a n c e .

A s M o s c o w i s t h e h e a d q u a r t e r s o f t h e e n t i r e C o m m u n i s t i c m o v e m e n t ,

[ 7 3 1



REDS I N AMERICA

a l l i m p o r t a n t o r d e r s a f f e c t i n g C o m m u n i s m t h r o u g h o u t t h e e n t i r e w o r l d

c o m e f r o m t h a t c i t y . B e r l i n i s o n e o f t h e c h i e f , i f n o t t h e c h i e f s u b o r d i -

n a t e h e a d q u a r t e r s , f o r i t i s i n t h e l a t t e r c i t y , t h a t t h e g o v e r n i n g b o d y o f t h e

p a r t i e s i n W e s t e r n E u r o p e a n d A m e r i c a s i t s a n d d i r e c t s t h e w o r k done in

t h o s e t w o i m p o r t a n t s e c t i o n s o f t h e w o r l d . The p r o p ag a n d a w o r k i n t h e

U n i t e d S t a t e s h a s i t s h e a d q u a r t e r s i n B e r l i n , a l w a y s , o f c o u r s e , u n d e r t h e

s u p r e m e a u t h o r i t i e s i n M o s c o w . E a r l y i n t h e s u m m e r o f 1 9 2 2 , J a y L o v e -

s t o n e , s e c r e t a r y o f t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y

o f Am e r ic a , br o ugh t f r om B e r li n $ 35 , 00 0 f o r p r o p ag an d a w o r k i n t h i s

c o u n t r y . L a t e r , A . A . H e l l e r , o f N e w Y o r k , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e S u p r e m e

S o v i e t o f P e o p l e ' s E c o n o m y i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , r e c e i v e d $ 4 8 ' , 0 0 0 f r o m

B e r l i n f o r t h e s a m e p u r p o s e . T h i s l a t e s t c o n s i g n m e n t o f g o l d w a s f o r

w o r k i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e d r i v e o f t h e F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a f o r a d -

d i t i o n a l f u n d s , t h e m a j o r p o r t i o n o f w h i c h g o e s i n t o S o v i e t c o f f e r s i n

M o s c o w .

B e a r i n g i n m i n d t h a t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , t h e n , i s f e d w i t h C o m m u n i s t

p r o p a g a n d a f r o m B e r l i n , i t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o know that this propa ganda

i s p r e p a r e d a t t h e B e r l i n h e a d q u a r t e r s i n E n g l i s h , p r i n t e d o n s h e e t s o n

o n e s i d e o n l y a n d t h u s d i s t r i b u t e d s o t h a t t h e E n g l i s h r a d i c a l p a p e r s c a n

r e p r i n t i t s i m p l y b y u s i n g s h e a r s a n d p a s t e i n i t s p r e p a r a t i o n . T h i s m a t e r i a l

i s a l s o f u r n i s h e d t h e f o r e i g n l a n g u a g e p r e s s h e r e i n w h a t e v e r l a n g u a g e i s

d e s i r e d , a n d i n t h e s a m e w a y . T h e B e r l i n o r g a n i z a t i o n i s n o s e c r e t a b r o a d ,

f o r t h e D e u t s c h e A l l g e m e i n e Z e i t u n g p u b l i s h e d a n e x c e l l e n t c h a r t o f t h e

r a m i f i c a t i o n s o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n g i n t e r e s t i n g a r t i c l e :

" T h e c h a r t s h o w s t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e B o l s h e v i k p r o p a g a n d a a s

s p r e a d t h r o u g h o u t E u r o p e . I t s m a n a g e m e n t i s b e i n g c o n d u c t e d b y t h e p r o p a -

g a n d a b u r e a u , w h i c h i s a d i v i s i o n o f t h e A l l - R u s s i a n C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e

Committee, having as its object the propaganda w i t h i n t h e c o u n t r y , i n

the army and abroad . T h e l a t t e r i s d i v i d e d i n t o t w o s e c t i o n s : t h e E a s t e r n

a n d t h e W e s t e r n . T h e E a s t e r n s e c t i o n c o n s i s t s o f e i g h t g r o u p s , t h o s e

o f C h i n a a n d K o r e a , J a p a n , I n d i a , A f g h a n i s t a n , T u r k e y , P e r s i a , C a u c a -

s u s a n d t h e N o m a d i c n a t i o n s . The Western section embraces, o u t s i d e

o f t h e E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s , t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a . T h e p r o p a g a n d a

b u r e a u i s h e a d e d b y t h e p r o p a g a n d a c o m m i t t e e , t h e m e m b e r s o f w h i c h a r e

Z i n o v i e v , R a d e k , C h i c h e r i n , L u n a c h a r s k y , K r a s s i n , L i t v i n o v a n d o t h e r s .

T h e c o m m i t t e e i s a g a i n d i v i d e d i n t o a n O f f i c i a l S e c t i o n , c o n t a i n i n g t h e

d i p l o m a t i c a n d c o m m e r c i a l d e l e g a t i o n s a b r o a d , t h e p r e s s b u r e a u , t h e n e w s

a g e n c y ' R o s t a ' a n d a n u m b e r o f w i r e l e s s s t a t i o n s a s w e l l a s t h e s e c r e t s e c -

1 Mr. H e l l e r w a s C o m m e r c i a l A t t a c h e i n L u d w i g Ma r t e n ' s " R u s s i a n S o v i e t E m b a s s y , "p r i o r t o M a r t e n ' s d e p a r t u r e f r o m t h i s c o u n t r y u n d e r p r e s s u r e . "Who's Who in NewY o r k , ' e d i t i o n o f 1 9 1 8 , s t a t e s : Heller, Abraham Aaron, Gen'l Mgr. I n t e r n a t . OxygenCo . ; b . M i n s k , R u s s i a , O c t o b e r 1 8 7 4 ; s . Lazarus and Sarah (Chautin) Heller ; e d .

P u b l i c s c h s. Moscow, Russia and New York ; m . E d i t h S p e c t o r s k y , D e c . 1 9 0 2 , N . Y .

C i t y . C h i l d r e n , A n n a , L y n d a l , M i r e i l l e . Organized in 1893 firm of L. Heller & Son( i m p o r t e r s o f p r e c i o u s s t o n e s ) a n d i n 1 9 0 6 o p e n e d E u r o p e a n o f f i c e a t P a r i s , F r a n c e .

Formed Internat. Oxygen Co . , i n 1 91 0 a n d i s n o w t r e a s u r e r a n d G e n ' l M g r . o f s a m e .

Mem. Executive Board Compressed Gas Mfrs . A s s ' n , D i r . Rand School of SocialS c i e n c e . R e c r e a t i o n s , f a r m i n g , g o l f . Clubs, Twilight, Inwood Country. R e s i d e n c e ,

9 W. 6 8 t h S t . , a n d B e r n a r d s v i l l e , N . J . Address 115 Broadway, N. Y. C i t y . TheInternational Oxygen Co. received large contracts during the War to supply theArmy and especially the Navy with oxygen and other chemicals .

[ 7 4 ]



Ury ealon d e r 6 o ~ c ~e w i 4 J ~i d c % e 2 o G r o w a r a -z c a

O f f i c i d l e a n d s e } s e i m e O r g a n i s a t i .o n e n . .

lakade Y e/ b ~ oV ~ . y r s L l a r

C a t r w

GFek,k/

N . B . A , , &W-/kuttrot - ,kwnn:wz-G:/-,AW"/!rte/run/,t1r/iqH < .~dn. + r / r :/ ..a4 ~h ./'LAfMfN~a/.Xe~han{ WntfuA.rrote

Schematic diagram of the Bolshevik propaganda organization taken from the D e u t s c h e

Allgemeine Zeitung o f B e r l i n . At that time the propaganda in America was directed largelyt h r o u g h t h e B e r l i n h e a d q u a r t e r s b u t l a t t e r l y o r d e r s h a v e b e e n r e c e i v e d d i r e c t f r o m M o s c o w .




t i o n s A a n d B , c o n d u c t i n g a s p e c i a l i n f o r m a t i o n a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n s s e r v i c e

under the management of a member of the Extraordinary Commiss ion, t h e

Che-Ka . T h e o f f i c i a l s e c t i o n i s c o n d u c t e d b y L i t v i n o v i n R e v a l . H e r e a r e

t h e p r i n t i n g o f f i c e s , t h e i n f o r m a t i o n b u r e a u s , a n d w a r e h ou s e s f o r g o o d s

t h a t w i l l b e r e q u i r e d , s h o u l d rapprochement w i t h o t h e r c o u n t r i e s b e p e r -

f e c t e d .

" L i t v i n o v a l s o h a s c h a r g e o f t h e C e n t r a l o f f i c e s i n H e l s i n g f o r s , R i g a ,

K o v n e , P r a g u e , V i e n n a , R o m e , S t o c k h o l m , C o p e n h a g e n , L o n d o n a n d B e r l i n .

T h e R u s s i a n m o n e y f o r t h e f e e d i n g o f t h e c h e s t o f t h e R u s s i a n m i s s i o n s

i s b e i n g f o r w a r d e d b y L i t v i n o v e i t h e r d i r e c t l y t o t h o s e o f f i c e s o r t o B e r l i n

f o r f u r t h e r t r a n s m i s s i o n . I t a l s o i s b e i n g u s e d f o r t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e

C o m m u n i s t g r o u p s , m a i n l y t h o s e i n V i e n n a , P r a g u e a n d B e r l i n .

" B e r l i n i s r a n k i n g f i r s t a m o n g t h e B o l s h e v i k c e n t r a l o f f i c e s . I t i s

o v e r r u n w i t h S o v i e t a g e n t s . I t s h e a d i s W i g d o r K o p p , w i t h h i s s e c r e t a r y ,

S t o mu n i a k . T h e m a i n o f f i c e s a r e l o c a t e d i n t h e M a s s e n s t r a s s e , N r . 9. With

t h i s t h e r e a r e c o n n e c t e d f u r t h e r s e p a r a t e b u r e a u s c o n s t i t u t i n g t o g e t h e r

a n e n o r m o u s a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a p p a r a t u s . T h e B e r l i n o f f i c e i s s u p p o r t i n g t h e

p a p e r , R o t e F a h n e , a n d i s c o n d u c t i n g t h e R e d p r e s s b u r e a u i n t h e M u e n z -

s t r a s s e , 2 4 , i s s u i n g r e p o r t s w h i c h a r e b e i n g s c a t t e r e d i n e n o r m o u s q u a n t i t i e s

t h r o u g h E u r o p e a n d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . T h e o f f i c e i s d i r e c t e d b y t h e G e r m a n

C o m mu n i s t , An n a G e i e r . T h e B e r l i n c e n t r a l o f f i c e d i s p o s e s o f v a s t f u n d s .

I t i s o b l i g e d t o m a i n t a i n , h o w e v e r , a n a r m y o f a g e n t s , i n f o r m e r s ,c o u r i e r s ,

c l u b s , n e w s p a p e r s , e t c . Kopp also is subsidizing a shipping company ;

h i s r e a l n a m e i s K o p e l e v i c h. H e p l a c e s g r e a t c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e o r g a n i z a -

tion `Peace and Work,' which is managed by P r o f . S t a n k e v i c h a n d t h e

j o u r n a l i s t G o l u b s o v , e n d e a v o r i n g t o r e c o n c i l e t h e R u s s i a n e m i g r e sw i t h t h e

Soviet Government .

" T h e ( s e c r e t s e c t i o n s a r e w o r k i n g b y m e a n s o f s t r i k e s , s a b o t a g e , p r o v o -

c a t i o n s a n d e c o n o m i c c r i s e s . T h e i r C e n t r a l O f f i c e i s a d m i n i s t e r e d f r o m

Mos c o w a n d i s u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f Z i n o v i e v , D z i e r z i n s k y , K a m e n e v ,

Kursky and others . E v e r y f o r e i g n c o u n t r y h a s t h e r e i t s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e .

A m o n g t h e m t h e r e i s t h e E n g l i s h m a n , M a c L e a n , w h o w a s a r r e s t e d r e c e n t l y

i n E n g l a n d d u r i n g t h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n s o f t h e u n e m p l o y e d . T h e m a i n a n d

s u b - a r t e r i e s a r e i n d i c a t e d o n t h e c h a r t . S e v e n o f t h e m a r e c o n n e c t i n g M o s -

c o w w i t h t h e c e n t r e s o f E u r o p e . [ T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s c o m e s d i r e c t l y u n d e r

B e r l i n - A u t h o r . ]

" T h e s e c o n d p l a c e a f t e r B e r l i n i s P r a g u e . I t i s t h e c o n n e c t i n g m a i n

between Moscow and Paris . T h e o f f i c e i n M i l a n i s d i r e c t i n g t h e I t a l i a n , t h e

S w i s s a n d t h e Y u g o s l a v D i s t r i c t s . O f f i c e s o f s i m i l a r i m p o r t a n c e a r e s i t u -

a t e d i n R o m e , Z a g r e b , B e l g r a d e , S o f i a , A d r i a n o p l e a n d C o n s t a n t i n o p l e ,a l l

o f w h i c h a r e d i r e c t e d f r o m A d r i a n o p l e . R o u m a n i a i s u n d e r s p e c i a l d i r e c -

t i o n o f R a k o v s k y i n K i e v . T h e w e l l - o r g a n i z e d W e s t e r n s e c t i o n s o f Z u r i c h

a n d L o n d o n u n d e r t h e m a n a g e m e n t o f R u b a ls k y a r e w o r t h y o f m e n t i o n .

L o n d o n i s a s u b d i v i s i o n o f t h e P a r i s s e c t i o n a n d i s r e c e i v i n g s p e c i a l a t t e n -

t i o n f r o m M o s c o w . T o u l o u s e i s c o n n e c t e d w i t h S p a i n , w h i l e B e l g i u m a n d

H o l l a n d a r e c o n n e c t e d w i t h P a r i s .

"This enormous organization could not be changed or overthrown i n

1 7 5 1



REDS I N AMERICA

a n i g h t . C h a n g e s o f i n d i v i d u a l s m i g h t t a k e p l a c e b u t t h e y c o u l d n o t d i s -

t u r b t h e e n t i r e s t r u c t u r e . The organization of the Bolshevik propaganda

a s o u t l i n e d h e r e i s w o r k i n g f o r t h e o n l y g r e a t g o a l f o r w h i c h i t h a s b e e n

c r e a t e d , w h i c h i s U n i v e r s a l R e v o l u t i o n . "

W h i l e t h e B e r l i n o r g a n i z a t i o n , w i t h t h e m u l t i t u d e o f t e n t a c l e s a s o u t -

l i n e d a b o v e , s e r v e s t o d i r e c t t h e a t t i t u d e o f t h e p a p e r s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

a n d v a r i o u s o t h e r c o u n t r i e s a s w e l l , a l o n g l i n e s f o r t h e g e n e r a l C o m m u n i s t

m o v e m e n t , e d i t o r s o f t h e r a d i c a l n e w s p a p e r s a r e p e r m i t t e d g r e a t f r e e d o m

i n h a n d l i n g t h e i r l o c a l s i t u a t i o n s a n d p r o b l e m s . E v e r y s t r i k e , e v e r y p o l i t -

i c a l d i s t u r b a n c e , e v e r y r a c i a l c l a s h i s s e i z e d u p o n t o p r o m o t e t h e c a u s e o f

r a d i c a l i s m a n d t o s e r v e a s a n a g e n c y f o r a n a t t a c k u p o n t h e " c a p i t a l i s t i c "

s t a t e a n d f o r m o f s o c i e t y . O n t h e s e l i n e s t h e r a d i c a l p r e s s i n t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s l e a d s t h e w o r l d , f o r t h e C o m m u n i s t s a b r o a d h a v e p a s s e d t h e s t a g e

of development where they have to be continuously a r o u s e d . T h e f o r -

e i g n e r i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , d e p e n d e n t i n l a r g e m e a s u r e f o r h i s i n f o r m a t i o n

a n d a l m o s t e n t i r e l y f o r h i s r e a d i n g m a t t e r u p o n t h e r a d i c a l p r e s s , n e e d s

t o h a v e h i s m i n d c o n c e n t r a t e d o n h i s " w r o n g s " i n o r d e r t o k e e p h i m a t t h e

p r o p e r p i t c h o f r e b e l l i o u s f e e l i n g .

T h e r e f o r e , t h e r a d i c a l p r e s s p u t s u e s i t s t i r e l e s s c o u r s e w i t h s t e a d i l y i n -

c r e a s i n g s k i l l i n f a s t e n i n g u p o n t h o s e i s s u e s i n t h e i n d u s t r i a l a n d p o l i t i c a l

l i f e o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w h i c h l e n d t h e m s e l v e s , o f t e n n e a t l y e n o u g h , t o

t h e c a u s e o f r a d i c a l i s m . T h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c f e a t u r e a b o u t t h i s a t t i t u d e o f

b l a m e , c o n t e m p t u o u s o r i r o n i c , a s t h e c a s e m a y b e , i s t h a t never by any

c h a n c e i s a f a i r o r g o o d w o r d , e v e n a n e x t e n u a t i n g w o r d , s a i d f o r t h e e x i s t .

i n g s t a t e o f t h i n g s . N e v e r , b y a n y c h a n c e , i s a n e f f o r t m a d e , n e v e r e v e n

a s u g g e s t i o n , t o i m p r o v e c o n d i t i o n s t h a t e x i s t ; t h e s o l e a i m a n d o b j e c t i s

u t t e r l y t o d e s t r o y t h e p r e s e n t s o c i a l s y s t e m b e f o r e c o n s i d e r i n g t h e m o v e s

t h a t w i l l h a v e t o b e m a d e i n e f f e c t i n g t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e D i c t a t o r s h i p

o f t h e P r o l e t a r i a t i n A m e r i c a . E v e r y t h i n g t h a t i s , i s w r o n g , t h e y s a y ; a l l

i s b l a c k , a n d t h e r e i s n o r e l i e f o r b e t t e r m e n t i n s i g h t b e c a u s e r e l i e f a n d

b e t t e r m e n t a r e n o t t o b e l o o k e d f o r i n a c e s s p o o l o f i n i q u i t y . Read their

p r e s s d a y a f t e r d a y a n d i t s i n f l u e n c e w i l l n o t b e d e n i e d . A b l a t a n t c h a u -

v i n i s m m i g h t b e p r o o f a g a i n s t i t . A n i n t e l l i g e n t a p p r e c i a t i o n o f i t , p r o a n d

c o n , i s n o t t o b e f o u n d b e l i t t l i n g i t . H o w a f u l l s y m p a t h y w i t h i t m u s t b e

n o u r i s h e d a n d s t r e n g t h e n e d , i t i s d i s c o n c e r t i n g t o t h i n k .

T h e p r o l e t a r i a t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , t h e C o m m u n i s t s a n d o t h e r r a d i c a l

l e a d e r s b e l i e v e , h a s p a s s e d t h e s t a g e w h e r e w i l d e x c i t e m e n t i s n e c e s s a r y t o

w a k e n w o r k e r s t o a p p r e c i a t i o n o f w h a t t h e y m u s t d o . A c c o r d i n g l y a c h a n g e

a p p e a r s i n t h e i r p r e s s . I n 1 9 2 0 t h e e f f o r t s o f p r e s s a n d a g i t a t o r s w e r e

d e v o t e d t o e x c i t i n g t h e w o r k e r s t o r a d i c a l i s m i n t h o u g h t a n d d e e d . Th e

m o s t i n f l a m m a t o r y a p p e a l s w e r e p r i n t e d a n d b r o a d c a s t e d b y e v e r y m e a n s t h a t

could be found in which t he law could be evaded . B u t t o d a y t h e p r o p a -

g a n d a i s f a r m o r e i n s i d i o u s . T h e m i n d s o f t h e w o r k e r s h a v e b e e n f i l l e d

with the necessity of overthrowi ng the Government by violence and now

t h e y a r e b e i n g t r a i n e d t o t h e w o r k w h i c h i s r e g a r d e d s o l e l y a s p r e l i m i n a r y

t o t h e g r e a t " m a s s a c t i o n " . T h a t i s w h y t h e u n i t e d f r o n t i s b e i n g p r e a c h e d

a n d s t r e s s e d o n e v e r y o c c a s i o n . Th e F r e i h e i t , t h e d a i l y o r g a n of t h e J e w i s h

( 7 6 1




F e d e r a t i o n o f t h e W o r k e r s ' P a r t y , t h e " l e g a l " p o l i t i c a l b r a n c h o f t h e C o m -

munist party of America, in discussings t r i k e s e d i t o r i a l l y , s a i d i n t h e

Au t u m n o f 1 9 2 2 :

"The 'right to wo rk' has no meanin g to them [the employers] when

t h e y l o c k o u t t h e w o r k e r s , r e o r g a n i z e t h e f a c t o r i e s , h a v e t h e w o r k d o n e

o u t s i d e ( i n o r d e r t o d e p r i v e t h e i r o w n w o r k e r s o f w o r k ) a n d d e m a n d f o r

t h e m s e l v e s t h e r i g h t t o d i s c h a r g e e m p l o y e e s . The w o r k e r i s t o t h e m o f

l e s s e r v a l u e t h a n a m a c h i n e .

" A m a c h i n e i s n o t t h r o w n o u t w h e n t h e r e i s n o t e n o u g h w o r k t o k e e p

i t g o i n g .T h e w o r k e r , h o w e v e r , w h o c r e a t e s a l l t h e w e a l t h f o r h i s e m p l o y e r

t h r o u g h t h e s w e a t o f h i s b r o w i s t h r o w n o u t i n t h e s t r e e t w h e n t h e r ei s n o t

enough work to keep him busy .

" W e a r e n o t d i s c u s s i n g t h i s w i t h t h e r a i l r o a d c o m p a n i e s o r o t h e r e m -

p l o y e r s . We do not want to preach morals to them . W e o n l y w a n t t h a t

t h e w o r k e r s t h e m s e l v e s c o n c e i v e f u l l y t h e ` s a c r e d r i g h t t o w o r k . '

" T h e p r e s e n t c r i s i s w i l l n o t l a s t f o r e v e r , a n d n o t a l w a y s w i l l t h e p r e s -

e n t m a s t e r s h a v e t h e u p p e r h a n d . The t i m e w ill c o m e w h e n t h e w o r k e r s

w i l l r e a l i z e t h e i r p o w e r a n d w i l l r e m i n d t h e m s e l v e s o f ` t h e r i g h t t o w o r k ' .

" T h e w o r k e r s w i l l a c q u i r e t h e r i g h t t o w o r k w i t h t h e a b o l i s h m e n t o f

t h e r i g h t s o f t h e e m p l o y e r s o v e r t h e i n d u s t r i e s a n d w i t h t h e s u b s t i t u t i o n o f

t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e m a s t e r s w i t h t h a t o f t h e w o r k e r s

. "A s a n e x a m p l e o f t h e r a d i c a l p r e s s ' e f f o r t s t o k e e p t h e s p i r i t o f t h e

w o r k e r s u p t o f i g h t i n g p i t c h , a c o u p l e o f p a r a g r a p h s f r o m a r e c e n t n u m b e r

o f Uj E l o r e , a H u n g a r i a n d a i l y C o m m u n i s t p a p e r o f N e w Y o r k , w i l l s u f f i c e ,

T h i s p a p e r , i n a n e d i t o r i a l p r i n t e d i n S e p t e m b e r , 1 9 2 2 , s h o w s t h e c h a r a c t e r -

i s t i c h o p e t h a t o u t o f t h e r a i l r o a d a n d c o a l s t r i k e s , o r a n y o t h e r s i m i l a r

s t r i k e s , m a y g r o w t h e m e a n s t o t h e g r e a t e n d , t h e t r i u m p h o f C o m m u n i s m

t h r o u g h t h e g e n e r a l s t r i k e . I n p a r t t h i s e d i t o r a l s a y s :

" Th e n e w f a c t o r o f t h e A m e r i c a n l a b o r m o v e m e n t i s t h e s p i r i t u a l

t r e n d w h i c h f i l l s w i t h r e v o l u t i o n a r y s o l i d a r i t y t h e a w a k e n i n g m a s s e s . S o o n

t h e r e w i l l a p p e a r , i n e v e r y f i g h t o f t h e w o r k e r s , t h a t f e e l i n g o f r e v o l u -

t i o n a r y s o l i d a r i t y w h i c h g i v e s t h e m a s s e s p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h e f i g h t a s t r o n g

p u s h , w h i c h m a k e s t h e m f e e l t h a t t h e y n o l o n g e r f i g h t o n l y f o r temporary

a d v a n t a g e s , n o t o n l y t o p r e s e r v e t h e a t t a i n e d r e s u l t s , b u t t h a t t h e y e n t e r t h e

f i g h t o n a w i d e r b a s i s , a f f e c t i n g t h e w h o l e w o r k i n g c l a s s . T h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y

a i m s t e p s t o t h e f o r e g r o u n d .

" T h e C o m m u n i s t s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f t h e w o r k e r s h a s b e c o m e a p o w e r -

f u l w e a p o n a g a i n s t c a p i t a l i s m w h i c h i s a l r e a d y s h o c k e d b y t h i s s t r e n g t h ,

a l t h o u g h t h e w o r k e r s h a v e n o t e v e n u s e d y e t t h e w e a p o n t h a t h a s be c o m e

h a r d e n e d ( a s s t e e l ) b y s o l i d a r i t y . What is this weapon?

" T h e t h o u g h t o f a G E N E R A L S T R I K E i s t h i s w e a p o n w h i c h h a s b e -

c o m e m a n i f e s t a m o n g b r o a d r a n k s i n s p i t e o f a l l t h e s o o t h i n g e f f o r t s o f t h e

t r a d e u n i o n p a s h a s . T h e w o r k e r s w a n t t o e m p l o y t h i s w e a p o n , t h e y d e m a n d

t h a t i t b e e m p l o y e d . . . T h e m a s s h a s i s s u e d t h e p a s s w o r d t h a t t h e t e r r o r

o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t m u s t b e a n s w e r e d b y a g e n e r a l s t r i k e . "

" T h e m a s s e s g r o w m o r e a n d m o r e i n f a v o r o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y f i g h t

a n d w i t h t h i s t h e y v o l u n t a r i l y a c c e p t Communist leadership . I n t r a d e

[ 7 7 ]



REDS IN AMERICA

u n i o n s t h e m e m b e r s k n o w a l r e a d y t h a t t h e b o u r g e o i s i e d o n o t r e p r e s e n t t h e

i n t e r e s t s o f t h e w o r k e r s a n d t h e c o u r t i n j u n c t i o n h a s m a d e e v e n t h o s es o b e r

who up to now supported the Gompers policy . "

" T h e p o w e r f u l w e a p o n f l a s h e d u p i n t h e h a n d s o f t h e w o r k e r s o f A m e r -

i c a ; t h e b o u r g e o i s i e i s l o o k i n g t r e m b l i n g t o w a r d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t s . I n t h e ,

s t r a i n e d s i t u a t i o n t h e s o b e r , e a r n e s t a n d c o n s c i o u s w o r d s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s

h a v e a c o m m a n d i n g e f f e c t . I t i s u p t o t h e w o r k e r s o f A m e r i c a w h e t h e r t h e y

w i l l p r o g r e s s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y f i n g e r - p o s t t o w a r d s v i c t o r y . "

T h e c l e v e r n e s s o f t h e e d i t o r i a l f o r c e s o f t h e v a r i o u s C o m m u n i s t a n d

o t h e r r a d i c a l p u b l i c a t i o n s i s f r e q u e n t l y s h o w n i n h i n t s o f v i o l e n c e w h i c h

l e a v e i n t h e r e a d e r s ' m i n d s t h o u g h t s o f p o s s i b i l i t i e s t h a t wi l l l e a d t o t h e

d e s i r e d e n d . E d i t o r i a l s w h i c h a r e a l m o s t a s " g e n t l e a s a s u c k i n g d o v e " a r e

m o r e o f t e n t h a n n o t w h o l l y i n i m i c a l t o t h e G o v e r n m e n t i n s p i r i t a n d a r e

b o u n d t o l e a v e i n f l a m m a t o r y i d e a s i n t h e m i n d s o f t h e r e a d e r s . A n d o f t e n a n

a p p a r e n t l y m i l d , b u t i n s i d i o u s l y t e r r o r i s t i c e d i t o r i a l w i l l c o n c l u d e w i t h a

s i n g l e p a r a g r a p h b r e a t h i n g v i o l e n c e ; a s f o r e x a m p l e , t h e f o l l o w i n g p a r a -

g r a p h f r o m a r e c e n t n u m be r o f L a i s v e , a Lithuanian Communist daily

published in Brooklyn :

" O n l y w h e n t h e w o r k e r s m a n i f e s t t h e i r s o l i d a r i t y a n d t h e i r c l e n c h e d

m a s s f i s t d o e s t h e G o v e r n m e n t b e g i n t o r e c k o n w i t h t h e m a n d s p e a k a b o u t

t h e i r c o n s t i t u t i o n a l ` r i g h t s - o n l y t h e n d o e s t h e G o v e r n m e n t a l l o w t h e p r o -

l e t a r i a t a c e r t a i n a m o u n t o f c o n c e s s i o n s . "

I t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o g i v e m o r e t h a n a h i n t o f t h e w o r k b e i n g d o n e by

t h e C o m m u n i s t a n d o t h e r r a d i c a l p r e s s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . Ev e r y o n e

o f t h e u p w a r d o f a h u n d r e d r a d i c a l d a i l y n e w s p a p e r s , n o t t o m e n t i o n t h e

w e e k l i e s , m o n t h l i e s , p a m p h l e t s a n d b o o k s , a r e f i l l e d w i t h m a t t e r b r e a t h i n g

d e f i a n c e t o t h e e s t a b l i s h e d o r d e r o f g o v e r n m e n t i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d

u r g i n g t h e w o r k e r s t o t a k e t h e r e i n s i n t h e i r o w n h a n d s , a s w a s d o n e i n

R u s s i a , a n d e s t a b l i s h t h e l o n g e d - f o r d i c t a t o r s h i p .

I n e v e r y c i t y i n t h e c o u n t r y t h e r e i s a c o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y o f A m e r i c a w h o s e d u t i e s a r e t o f i n d w a y s o f p r e s e n t i n g t h e i r p r o .

p a g a n d a t o n o n - C o m m u n i s t s t h r o u g h t h e m e d i u m o f w h a t i s c a l l e d t h e " c o n -

s e r v a t i v e " p r e s s . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e d e s i r e o f m o s t m e t r o p o l i t a n d a i l y

p a p e r s t o b e f a i r a n d p e r m i t b o t h s i d e s o f a n y q u e s t i o n w h i c h i s m e n t i o n e d

i n i t s c o l u m n s t o b e p r e s e n t e d , o f f e r s a n e x c e l l e n t o p p o r t u n i t y , o f w h i c h

t h e C o m m u n i s t s a r e q u i c k t o t a k e a d v a n t a g e f o r t h e d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f C o m-

munist propaganda through newspap ers which are d i s t i n c t l y l o y a l . F r e -

quently American publications are imposed upon and print letters and

s i g n e d a r t i c l e s w h i c h h a v e b e e n c o n t r i b u t e d u n d e r v a r i o u s g u i s e s and which

i n f a c t a r e m e r e l y c l e v e r d e s i g n s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s t o e s t a b l i s h a c o n n e c -

t i o n w i t h a r e p u t a b l e p u b l i c a t i o n f o r i m p r o p e r u s e i n t h e f u t u r e .

T h e c o l u m n s o f p e r i o d i c a l s l i k e T h e N a t i o n , T h e F r e e m a n a n d T h e N e w

R e p u b l i c h a v e b e e n f r e e l y a n d w i d e l y o p e n e d f o r C o m m u n i s t p r o p a g a n d a t o

a p p e a l t o t h e s o - c a l l e d " i n t e l l e c t u a l s " w h o r e a d t h o s e p a p e r s . T h i s i s n o t s o

s e r i o u s , f o r t h e p o l i c y o f t h o s e p u b l i c a t i o n s i s p l a i n l y e v i d e n t t o ' a n y o n e .

T h e y a r e c l a s s e d a s r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d m a k e n o d i s c l a i m e r t o t h e c h a r g e s

t h a t t h e y a r e e n g a g e d , p a r t i a l l y , a t l e a s t , i n s p r e a d i n g t h e d o c t r i n e s o f t h e

( 7 8 1



EDITOR CAP ITF\LIS i 1'0I . I T I G I H I V MINLS F_Ik

T h i s c a r t o o n , i l l u s t r a t i n g t h e a n t i - C h r i s t i a n c h a r a c t e r of the r e v o l u t i o n a r y

movement i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , was f i r s t p u b l i s h e d i n Max Eastman's p a p e r , T h e

M a s s e s , s up p r e s s e d d ur in g t h e war and r e v i v e d i n t h e p r e s e n t L i b e r a t o r . I t wasd r a w n b y t h e r a d i c a l c a r t o o n i s t , A r t Y o u n g a n d w a s c a p t i o n e d , " H a v i n g t h e i r F l i n g . "

S u b s e q ue n t l y i t w a s r e p r o d u c e d i n t h e n o w d e f u n c t s o c i a l i s t a n d p r o - B o l s h e v i k p a p e r ,

The New York Call .




r e v o l u t i o n i s t s . B u t w h e n a p u b l i c a t i o n l i k e t h e o f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e A m e r -

i c a n B a n k e r s ' A s s o c i a t i o n f a l l s i n t o a t r a p l a i d f o r i t , o n e m u s t e x p r e s s

s u r p r i s e . If any organization in th e country should be c o n s e r v a t i v e i t

i s t h a t o f t h e b a n k e r s ' . A n d w h e n a n u m b e r o f t h e o f f i c i a l o r g a n o f t h a t

o r g a n i z a t i o n c a m e f r o m t h e p r e s s w i t h a n a r t i c l e b y I v a n N a r o d n y ( a l i a s

M u e l l e r , a l i a s I v a n I v a n o v i t c h , a l i a s J a a n S i b o u l , a l i a s J a a n T a l u e ) a s u s -

p e c t d u r i n g t h e w a r , t h e r e w a s r e a s o n f o r s u r p r i s e . T h e a r t i c l e , t o b e s u r e ,

w a s a n o s t e n s i b l e a t t a c k o n t h e S o v i e t g o v e r n m e n ti n R u s s i a , b u t i t w a s

p l a n t e d f o r u l t e r i o r p u r p o s e s a f t e r a c o n s i d e r a b l e d i s c u s s i o n a n d c a r e f u l l y

laid plans by the Communists here, who h a d a q u i e t l a u g h a t t h e e a s e

w i t h w h i c h t h e y e f f e c t e d a n e n t r a n c e t o t h e b o u r g e o i s p r e s s . N a r o d n y h a s

s e r v e d t i m e f o r c o u n t e r f e i t i n g , h a s l o n g b e e n and admits that he is an

a c t i v e r e v o l u t i o n i s t , w o r k i n g f r o m R u s s i a , a n d h a s h a d a c a r e e r o f c r i m e

t h e d e t a i l s o f w h i c h w o u l d f i l l a b o o k .

A l l t h e r a d i c a l p r e s s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a r e c o n s i d e r e d o f f i c i a l o r g a n s

b y t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , f o r a l l t h e o f f i c i a l o r d e r s f r o m M o s c o w a r e g i v e n

t o e a c h p u b l i c a t i o n i n o r d e r t h a t t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s m a y r e a c h a l l m e m b e r s

o f t h e p a r t y . A s a n e x a m p l e o f t h i s t h e r e a p p e a r e d a p r o c l a m a t i o n

s i g n e d b y t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l ,

date d at Mosc ow July 22, 1922, calling upon "The Worki ngmen and Work-

i n g w o m e n o f A l l C o u n t r i e s " t o k e e p u p t h e f i g h t f o r h e l p f o r R u s s i a . R e -

f e r r i n g t o t h e d e m a n d s o f t h e s a n e c o u n t r i e s o f t h e w o r l d t h a t p r i v a t e

property be respecte d by the Soviet government before the question of

r e c o g n i t i o n w i l l b e c o n s i d e r e d , t h i s p r o c l a m a t i o n s a y s :

" A s r e g a r d s t h e f a c t o r i e s a n d m i n e s . . . Soviet Russia has

s t a t e d t h a t s h e w i l l n e v e r a n d a n n o a c c o u n t r e t u r n t h e m . . . . The Rus-

s i a n p r o l e t a r i a t w i l l n o t r e t u r n t h e m , b e c a u s e o t h e r w i s e t h e r i v e r s o f b l o o d

b y w h i c h i t h a s s a v e d t h e r e v o l u t i o n w i l l h a v e b e e n s p i l l e d i n v a i n . T h e

O c t o b e r r e v o l u t i o n w h i c h g a v e t h e f a c t o r i e s a n d t h e e s t a t e s i n t o t h e h a n d s

o f t h e R u s s i a n l e a d e r s , w a s t h e f i r s t s t e p m a d e b y t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r o l e -

t a r i a t t o w a r d s l i b e r a t i o n f r o m t h e c a p i t a l i s t i c y o k e . N o b a c k w a r d s t e p w i l l

b e t a k e n , c o s t w h a t i t m a y . "

T h e C o m m u n i s t a n d o t h e r r a d i c a l p a p e r s n o t o n l y h a v e t h e i r o w n c a r -

t o o n i s t s , o f w h o m A r t Y o u n g i s t h e m o s t p r o l i f i c a n d m o s t e f f e c t i v e , a n d

p o e t s a n d p a r a g r a p h e r s , w h o s e a b i l i t y c a n n o t b e q u e s t i o n e d , b u t t h e y h a v e

t h e i r o w n p r e s s s e r v i c e i n t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s . T h i s i s i n p a r t a c o -

o p e r a t i v e a s s o c i a t i o n o f l a b o r a n d r a d i c a l p a p e r s . I t s a i m h a s b e e n t o c o l l e c t

a n d d i s t r i b u t e a l l n e w s p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e l a b o r a n d r a d i c a l m o v e m e n t s . I t

e n d e a v o r e d t o g e t t h e s a n c t i o n o f t h e c o n s e r v a t i v e l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s , b u t

i t s r a d i c a l i s m w a s t o o w e l l k n o w n a n d i n t h i s t h e e f f o r t f a i l e d . T h e C o m -

m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a c o n s i d e r s t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s i t s o w n p r e s s s e r -

v i c e , o r g a n i z a t i o n , a n d i t i s c e r t a i n t h a t s e v e r a l o f t h e o f f i c i a l s o f t h e p r e s s

s e r v i c e a r e a c t i v e m e m b e r s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y . Upwards of two hun-

d r e d p a p e r s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a r e a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s .

Louis P . L o c h n e r i s E u r o p e a n d i r e c t o r a n d a c t i n g b u s i n e s s m a n ag e r , a n d

h a s a n o f f i c e i n B e r l i n , w h e r e h e i s i n c l o s e t o u c h w i t h t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l

Propaganda Bureau of the Communist International .

[ 7 9 1



REDS I N AMERICA

I n o r d e r t o f a c i l i t a t e t h e c o l l e c t i o n o f f u n d s f o r t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s

a n d t h r o u g h i t t h e d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f r a d i c a l p r o p a g a n d a , a F e d e r a t e d P r e s s

L e a gu e w a s o r g a n i z e d i n C h i c a g o o n F e b r u a r y 4 , 1 9 22 . B y t h i s L e ague

m e m b e r s h i p i n t h e ' F e d e r a t e d P r e s s i s stimulated, funds are collected

frequently from parlor Bolshevik circles and wealthy people who believe

they are giving to aid the 'down-trodden' to express themselves and make

t h e m s e l v e s h e a r d b y t h e r e s t o f hu m a n i t y . A n u m be r o f c h a i n p a p e r s h a v e

b e e n e s t a bli s h e d f r o m B o s t o n t o Lo s Angele s , a n d age n t s o f t h e Le ague,

who are really working for the cause of the Communist party of America,

a r e a c t i v e i n e v e r y c i t y i n t h e c o u n t r y . T h e o f f i c i a l s o f t h e L e a g u e , e l e c t e d

a t t h e C h i c a g o m e e t i n g w e r e : R o b e r t M o r s s L o v e t t , p r e s i d e n t ; Mrs . F r a n c e s

C. L i l l i e , v i c e - p r e s i d e n t ; G e o rg e B . H o o k e r , v i c e - p r e s i d e n t ; E . C . We n t-

w o r t h , t r e a s u r e r ; a n d C l a r k H . G e t t s , s e c r e t a r y .

I t i s e v i d e n t t h a t t h e C o m m u n i s t e l e m e n t i s g a i n i n g c o n t r o l e n t i r e l y o f

t h i s n e w s - g a t h e r i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n . B e s i d e s t h e B e r l i n o f f i c e , a n o f f i c e h a s

b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d i n M o s c o w a n d t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l u s e s t h i s

o f f i c e f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f s e n d i n g o u t m a n i f e s t o s a n d s t r o n g p r o p a -

ganda, to be published in this country . A c c o r d i n g t o R o b e r t M . B u c k ,

chairman of the Executive Board, who is connected with the Ne w Majo r i t y ,

a r a d i c a l p u b l i c a t i o n i n C h i c a g o , t h e c e n t r a l f i g u r e s i n t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s

a r e J a c k C a r n e y , e d i t o r o f t h e r a d i c a l V o i c e o f L a b o r ; Arul Swabeck, a Finn

and Editor of N y t i o w h o c o n t r o l l e d t e n v o t e s a t t h e C h i c a g o m e e t i n g ;

E d i t o r F e i n b u r g , o f S o l i d a r i t y ; W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r , h e a d o f t h e T r a d e U n i o n

Educational League and a delegate to the illegal convention of the Com -

m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a a t B r i d g m a n , M i c h ; C a r l H a e s s l e r , t h e c o l l e g e

p r o f e s s o r w h o s p e n t t w o y e a r s i n t h e p e n i t e n t i a r y ; M a b e l S e a r c h , o f

M i lw a uk e e ; C la r k H . Getts, who has serve d a jail term ; C a r r o l l B i n d e r ,

a c ollege ma n ; Loui s P . Lochner, the European repr esentati ve, and Maude

M c C r e e r y , t h e w o m a n a g i t a t o r w h o w a s a c t i v e i n t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f

c h a i n p a p e r s t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y - .

E. J . Co s t ello w a s m a n age r o f t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s u n t i l , b e c a u s e o f

a w r a n g l e i n t h e b o a r d , h e w a s d i s m i s s e d a n d C a r l H a e s s l e r , t o o k h i s p l a c e .

William Z . F o s t e r , w h o a m o n g h i s n u m e r o u s r a d i c a l a c t i v i t i e s i s a m e m b e r

o f t h e b o a r d o f t r u s t e e s o f t h e G a r l a n d F o u n d a t i o n , e x p e c t e d t o t u r n o v e r

$100,000 of the Foundation to the Fe d e r a t e d Pr e s s , a n d t o l d a n u m b e r o f

people that he was going to do so, but the row in the mana gement of the

o r g a n i z a t i o n u p s e t t h e s e p l a n s. A m o n g t h e p e o p l e t o w h o m F o s t e r m a d e

t h i s s t a t e m e n t w e r e Mr s . K a t e C r a n e G a r t z , t h e P a s a d e n a s o c i e t y p a r l o r

B o l s h e v i k , a n d C h a r l i e C h a p l i n , t h e m o t i o n p i c t u r e c o m e d i a n . F o s t e r

also told them that the Garland Foundation could be depended upon when-

e v e r a n y o n e g o t i n t o t r ouble be c aus e o f r a d i c al p oli t i c al o p i n i o n s .

I F o r t h e y e a r 1 9 2 3 , C a r l H a e s s l e r was managing editor, and Tom T i p p e t t , b u s i n e s s

manager . C . A . M o s e l e y , e d i t o r . The Executive Board w a s c o m p o s e d o f : Th o m a s

R . D o w n i e , c h a i r m a n , " L a b o r N e w s , " G a l e s b u r g , I l l . : J o s e p h S c h l o s s b e r g , v i c e - c h a i r -

m a n , " A d v a n c e " , N e w Y o r k ; E . B . A u l t , " U n i o n R e c o r d " , S e a t t l e ; R . D . C r a e m e r ,

" L a b o r R e v i e w " , M i n n e a p o l i s ; M a t t i T e n h u n e n , " T v o m i e s " , S u p e r i o r , W i s . ; W i l l i a m

Z . F o s t e r , " L a b o r H e r a l d " , C h i c a g o ; A r n e S w a b e c k , ' N v T id " , C h i c a g o ; J . A . L o c h -

ray, "Midwest Labor News", O m a h a ; A l b e r t F . C o y l e , " B r o t h e r h o o d o f L o c o m o t i v e

1 9 n g i n e e r e ' Jo u r n a l " , C l e v e l a n d

[ 8 0 ]




S e v e r a l o f t h e o r g a n i z e r s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y a n d i t s " l e g a l " p o l i t i c a l

b r a n c h , t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y , a m o n g t h e m W i l l i a m T h u r s t o n B r o w n , o f S a n

F r a n c i s c o , w e r e p r o m i s e d r e g u l a r m o n t h l y s a l a r i e s by Foster to be paid

f r o m t h e G a r l a n d F o u n d a t i o n .

A d e t a i l e d a c c o u n t o f h o w t h o r o u g h l y t h e w o r k o f o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d

e s p e c i a l l y o f c o l l e c t i n g m o n e y f o r t h e f u r t h e r a n c e o f t h e a i m o f t h e C o m -

m u n i s t p a r t y i s d o n e w i l l p r o v e i n t e r e s t i n g a s w e l l a s i l l u m i n a t i n g . Bruce

R o g e r s , a l e a d i n g C o m m u n i s t o f S e a t t l e , w e n t s e c r e t l y t o L o s A n g e l e s , a r -

r i v i n g t h e r e o n t h e n i g h t o f M a r c h 2 4 , 1 9 2 2 , t o r a i s e m o n e y f o r t h e F e d e r -

a t e d P r e s s L e a g u e a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e t o s p r e a d C o m m u n i s t p r o p a g a n d a .

T h e s e t w o o b j e c t s w e r e s p e c i f i e d i n h i s i n s t r u c t i o n s f o r t h e t r i p . A s e c r e t

c o n f e r e n c e w a s h e l d M a r c h 2 6 a t w h i c h R o g e r s m e t William Thurston

B r o w n , E l l a R e e v e B l o o r , w h o w a s a d e l e g a t e t o t h e i l l e g a l c o n v e n t i o n a t

B r i d g m a n , a n d A l f r e d B u s h . R o g e r s e x p l a i n e d t h e p u r p o s e o f h i s t r i p a n d

propo sed that small groups of "thoroughly grounded C o m m u n i s t s " w h o

a r e m e m b e r s o f c r a f t u n i o n s t r a v e l f r o m p l a c e t o p l a c e a n d j o i n t h e l o c a l

u n i o n s d u r i n g t h e i r s h o r t s o j o u r n s i n i n d u s t r i a l c e n t e r s f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f

u n i t i n g t h e r a d i c a l f a c t i o n s a n d s t a r t i n g C o m m u n i s t n u c l e i w i t h i n t h e c r a f t

u n i o n s . H e s a i d t h a t a g r o u p o f p r i n t e r s a n d s t e r e o t y p e r s h a d c o m e t o

S e a t t l e f r o m D e t r o i t a n d w o r k e d a l o n g t h o s e l i n e s .

T h o s e p r e s e n t a t t h i s c o n f e r e n c e e n d o r s e d t h e R o g e r p l a n a s h e o u t -

l i n e d i t a n d d e c i d e d t o \ g e t i n t o u c h w i t h S a n F r a n c i s c o , P o r t l a n d , S e a t t l e ,

S a l t L a k e C i t y a n d C h i c a g o f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f i n v i t i n g such groups of

m i l i t a n t , f o o t - l o o s e c r a f t u n i o n m e n t o g o t o L o s A n g e l e s a n d s t r e n g t h e n

t h e l o c a l r a d i c a l m o v e m e n t .

Rogers went t o the Labor Temple in Los Angeles, but h e l a t e r t o l d

f r i e n d s t h a t h e h a d a n y t h i n g b u t a c o r d i a l r e c e p t i o n t h e r e . He said the

F e d e r a t e d P r e s s h a d b e e n l a b o r i n g u n d e r a m i s a p p r e h e n s i o n w h e n t h i n k i n g

t h a t i t s n e w s r e p r e s e n t s t h e v i e w p o i n t o f t h e a v e r a g e A m e r i c a n - b o r n w o r k e r ,

w h o , h e s a i d , i s a s y e t w r a p p e d u p i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t i c i d e o l o g y . H e m a d e a

s h o r t t r i p t o S a n D i e g o b u t r e t u r n e d i n t i m e t o s p e a k a t a m e e t i n g o f t h e

o p e n f o r u m o f t h e S o c i a l i s t p a r t y . H e w a s i n t r o d u c e d a s t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e

o f t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s service and spoke on "The Origin of Newspapers

a n d t h e P r e s s S e r v i c e . " H e a f t e r w a r d s t o l d f r i e n d s t h a t h e w a s v e r y w e l l

s a t i s f i e d w i t h t h e w a y h i s C o m m u n i s t p r o p a g a n d a w a s r e c e i v e d . H i s h e a d -

quarters in Los Angeles were at the Van Winkle Hotel, N o . 349 South

O l i v e s t r e e t , k e p t b y a n I r i s h w o m a n , a n o l d - t i m e r i n t h e r a d i c a l m o v e m e n t ,

who has sheltered many Communists in her host elry .

O n t h e e v e n i n g o f A p r i l 6 a s e c r e t m e e t i n g w a s h e l d a t t h e h o m e o f a

M r . and Mrs . K as hub, a t w h i ch w e r e p r es e n t Ella Re e ve Blo or , Art hur

C o t t e r , a M i s s M o r a n , w e l l k n o w n a m o n g t h e p u b l i c s c h o o l t e a c h e r s b e c a u s e

o f h e r r a d i c a l i s m , R o g e r s , a M r s . M e l l e n t i n e , w h o i s a m e m b e r o f t h e S e v e r -

a n c e C l u b o f L o s A n g e l e s , a n d f i v e o t h e r s . T h e r e w e r e n o i n t r o d u c t i o n s

a n d t h e m e e t i n g w a s s h r o u d e d i n s t r i c t e s t s e c r e c y . A t t h i s m e e t i n g f u r t h e r

plans for the work of the Communist party were agreed upon, e s p e c i a l l y

a s t o R o g e r s ' w o r k o n t h e P a c i f i c C o a s t . Rogers was scheduled to speak

a t t h e M o d e r n S c h o o l o n t h e n i g h t o f A p r i l 1 7 , b u t c a n c e l l e d t h e l e c t u r e b e -

[ 8 1 1



REDS IN AMERICA

c aus e o f t h e s m all a t t e n d a n c e , f o r w h i c h h e bla m e d l a c k o f a d v e r t i s i ng .

M r s . Blo o r w a s s p e a k i ng t h e s a m e n igh t a t a w i d el y a d v e r t i s e d m e e t i n g

at the She lley Club under the auspic es of the Young People's Forum . T h i s

le d t o a n a r r a nge m e n t w i t h E m a nuel Le v i n t o e s t a bli s h a cl e a r i ng-h ous e

f o r r a d i c a l s p e a k e r s s o t h e r e w o u l d n o t a g a i n c o m e a b o u t a c o n f l i c t o f d a t e s .

R o g e r s w o r k e d h i s w a y i n t o p a r l o r b o l s h e v i k c i r c l e s , u s i n g h i s c o n n e c -

tion with the F e d e r a t e d P r e s s a s a n o p e n i n g w e dg e . H e w a s a f t e r b i g

game, planning to raise enough money from wealthy radica ls in Pasadena,

H o l l y w o o d a n d L o s A n g e l e s t o e s t a b l i s h a c h a i n o f p a p e r s i n t h e S o u t h w e s t

t o b e c o n t r o l l e d b y t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s . H e w a s t h e g u e s t o f t h e W r i t e r s '

C l u b i n H o ll y w o o d , w h e r e h e s a i d h e m e t a n u m b e r o f m e n w i t h r a d i c a l

i d e a s w h o s u p p o r t t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s . M r s . M a r t h a K a s h u b , M r s . G a y l o r d

W i l s h i r e a n d C o u n t e s s K o r z y b s k a ( L a d y E d g e r ly ) g a v e h i m v a l u a b le

l e a d s . On the night of April 12, he spo ke at the Shelley Club about the

n e c e s s i t y o f b u i l d i n g u p a r a d i c a l p r e s s s e r v i c e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . Mucho f h i s l e c t u r e w a s t a k e n f r o m U p t o n S i n c l a i r ' s " B r a s s C h e c k . "

Tos o m e o f h i s c l o s e s t f r i e n d s h e t o l d t h e r e a l o b j e c t o f h i s t r i p t o

Los Angele s . He t ol d t h e m t h a t t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s , w h i c h w a s t h e o n l y

r a d i c a l p r e s s s e r v i c e i n t h e c o u n t r y , c o u l d n o t e x i s t o n t h e s u p p o r t i t r e -

ceived from labor organizations for two reasons : f i r s t i t d i d n o t r e p r e s e n t

t h e v i e w p o i n t o f t h e g r e a t m a s s o f o r g a n i z e d l a b o r , b e i n g f a r t o o a d v a n c e d

a n d r e v olut i o n a r y f o r t h e c o n s e r v a t i v e Am e r i c a n -b o r n w o r k i ng m a n ; a n d

s e c o n d , t h a t n o e n t e r p r i s e w a s e v e r f i n a n c e d b y " p a s s i n g t h e h a t , " e x p l a i n -

i n g t h a t h e m e a n t t h a t t h e s m a l l c o n t r i b u t i o n s o f o r g a n i z e d l a b o r w e r e n o t

s u f f i c i e n t t o k e e p t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s g o i n g .

C o n s e q u e n t l y , h e s a i d , t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m B o s t o n

t o t h e P a c i f i c C o a s t h a d b e e n i n s t r u c t e d t o g o a f t e r t h e w e a l t h y l i b e r a l s

a n d g e t a s m a n y l i f e m e m b e r s f o r t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s L e a gu e a t $1 , 0 0 0

e a c h a s p o s s i b l e . "Do n o t o f f e n d t h e l ib e r al s a n d d o a n y t h i ng t o pl e a s e

t h e p a r l o r r e d s , " h e s a i d , i s t o b e t h e w a t c h w o r d o f t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s .

T h e i n t e r e s t i n g f e a t u r e o f t h i s i s t h a t R o g e r s a n d m a n y o t h e r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

o f t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s a r e C o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e i r p r o p a g a n d a a n d m o n e y -

raising activities pave the way for later penetration on the part of the

C o m mu n i s t p a r t y w h o s e o p e n e m i s s a r i e s f ollo w t h e le a d s a n d u s e t h e

"sucker lists" they get from men like Rogers .

Rogers was greatly pleased with the re sult of his visit to San Diego

a l t h o u g h i t w a s b r i e f . He reported that all the labor unions in San Diego

h a d v o t e d t o sup p o r t t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s , a n d a l t h o ug h i n n e a r l y e v e r y

i n s t a n c e t h e r e w a s a m o t i o n t o d i v i d e t h e m o n e y w i t h S o v i e t R u s s i a f o r

f a m i n e r e l i e f t h e t r i p p r o v e d a f i n a n c i a l s u c c e s s . H e s a i d t h a t s u p p o r t

from the "highbrow" radicals was also forthcoming in a generous manner,

a n d t h a t t h e T e m p l e t o n J o h n s o n s , a v e r y w e a l t h y f a m i l y o f S a n D i e g o , w e r e

t h e o n l y o n e s w h o h a d r e f u s e d h i m w h e n h e h a d a s k e d t h e m f o r a $ 1 0 0 0

donation, although formerly they had been among the chief supporters of

t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s . He mentioned as one who had given "very liberally"

L y m a n J . G a g e , f o r m e r l y p r e s i d e n t o f t h e F i r s t N a t i o n a l B a n k o f C h i c a g o ,

a n d S e c r e t a r y o f t h e T r e a s u r y u n d e r P r e s i d e n t M c K i n l e y a n d P r e s i d e n t

( 8 2 1




R o o s e v e l t . Of course Mr . G a g e , w h o w a s t h e n v e r y o l d a n d h a d f o r y e a r s

b e e n a r e s i d e n t a t K a t h e r i n e T i n g l e y ' s Theosophical Society colony on

P o i n t L o m a , h a d n o i d e a t h a t h i s m o n e y w a s t o b e u s e d t o f u r t h e r t h e p l a n s

o f a c o n s p i r a c y d i r e c t e d a t t h e o v e r t h r o w b y v i o l e n c e o f the Government

w h i c h h e h a d o n c e s e r v e d . I t s i m p l y s h o w s t h e e a s e w i t h w h i c h t h e C o m -

m u n i s t s f i n a n c e t h e i r w o r k .

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e s e w e alt h y p e o ple f r o m w h o m h e secured money,

R o g e r s a l s o t o l d o f f i n d i n g a t h r i v i n g c o l o n y o f p a r l o r B o l s h e v i k i i n S a n

D i e g o w h o p l e d g e d t h e i r a i d t o t h e c a u s e . I n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n h e s p o k e

o f a c e r t a i n D r . S t o n e a n d a D r . R i t t e r a s a m o n g h i s " p r o s p e c t s ." Rogers'

t r i p t o S a n D i e g o w a s n o t c a s u a l ; h e w a s o r d e r e d b y t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e

C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a t o g o t o t h a t c i t y d u r i n g t h e

c o n v e n t i o n t h e r e o f t h e C o n g r e s s o f S o c i a l W o r k e r s a n d t o s p r e a d p r o p a -

g a n d a a m o n g t h e m a n y r a d i c a l s a n d s e m i - r a d i c a l s i n a t t e n d a n c e .

R o b e r t M o m s L o v e t t , t h e n p r e s i d e n t o f t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s L e a g u e , w r o t e

R o g e r s w h i l e h e w a s i n L o s A n g e l e s , u r g i n g h i m t o c a n v a s s t h e m o v i e c o l o n y

a t H o l l y w o o d , g i v i n g h i m t h e n a m e s o f p r o m i n e n t a c t o r s who "helped us

b e f o r e a n d w i l l d o i t a g a i n . " L o v e t t h a s s i n c e d e n i e d h a v i n g w r i t t e n t h i s

l e t t e r , b u t h i s n a m e i s s i g n e d t o i t a n d a f f i d a v i t s a r e i n t h e p o s e s s i o n o f

p r o p e r a u t h o r i t i e s t e s t i f y i n g t o t h e f a c t s a s h e r e s t a t e d . T h i s l e t t e r , w r i t t e n

f r o m C h i c a g o u n d e r d a t e o f A p r i l 2 9 , r e a d s :

"D e a r B ru c e : M r . Getts and I just returned fr om Milwaukee a n d

f i n d y o u r l e t t e r o f t h e 1 5 t h i n w h i c h y o u i n c l o s e d $ 5 0 0 . A f o r m e r l e t t e r

a l s o r e c e i v e d w h i l e w e w e r e a w a y i n c l o s e d $ 7 0 0 , m a k i n g a t o t a l o f $ 1 2 0 0

s e n t i n t o t h e o f f i c e t h i s m o n t h .

" M r . G e t t s w i l l a n s w e r y o u r l e t t e r s h i m s e l f , b u t I w a n t e d t o t a k e u p

w i t h y o u t h e m a t t e r o f c a n v a s s i n g t h e M o v i e C o l o n y a t H o l l y w o o d . F i r s t

I w a n t t o t e l l y o u t h a t I h a v e p e r s o n a l l y w r i t t e n t o a b o u t f i f t e e n b i g p r o -

d u c e r s a n d p r o m i n e n t a c t o r s a t H o l l y w o o d , i n c l u d i n g Wm. C . D e M i l l e ,

A l l a n H o l l a b a r , V o n S t r o h e i m , P e r c i v a l T . G e r s o n , W i l l R o g e r s , C h a r l e s

R a y a n d C h a r l i e C h a p l i n . T h e s e m e n a r e w i t h u s . T h e y h e l p e d u s b e f o r e

a n d w i l l d o i t a g a i n . P r e s e n t t h e s i t u a t i o n s t r o n g a n d d o n ' t l e t t h e m g e t

off easy, for we need the mo ney and need it badly . Wor k t h r ough t h e

S e v e r a n c e C l u b a n d i t w i l l b e e a s y f o r y o u .

" I m a y j o i n y o u i n S a n F r a n c i s c o n e x t m o n t h , f o r w e m u s t p u t i t o v e r ,

a n d p u t i t o v e r b y A u g u s t o r w e w i l l b e o u t o f t h e o f f i c e .

"G o o d luck t o y ou , B ru c e . P l e a s e w o r k h a r d . Y o u r c o m m i s s i o n

s h o u l d b e i n L o s A n g e l e s b y t h e 4 t h o f M a y .

"Warmly yours,

"(Signed) Robert Morss Lovett . "

A f t e r r a i s i n g m a n y t h o u s a n d s o f d o l l a r s f r o m t h e w e a l t h y s u p p o r t e r s

o f r a d i c a l i s m i n L o s A n g e l e s , R o g e r s w e n t t o P a s a d e n a w h e r e t h e r e i s a

l a r g e g r o u p o f p a r l o r B o l s h e v i k i . O n S u n d a y , J u n e 1 1 , R o g e r s m e t a t t h e

home of a Mrs . E l l s w o r t h , i n t h e f a s h i o n a b l e O a k K n o l l D i s t r i c t , a n u m b e r

o f w e a l t h y r a d i c a l s , i n c l u d i n g M r s . K a t e C r a n e G a r t z , Mr s . G a y l o r d W i l -

s h i r e , M r s . V a n T o l l , P r i n c e H o p k i n s a n d o t h e r s . He addressed them on

b e h a l f o f t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s , s a y i n g f r a n k l y t h a t i t w a s t h e o n l y a v e n u e

[ 8 3 1



REDS IN AMERICA

t h r o u gh w h i c h t h e C o m m u n i s t s , t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y a n d t h e T r a d e U n i o n

E d u c a t i o n a l L e a g u e c o u l d r e a c h t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s a n d a l l t h o s e i n t e r e s t e d

i n t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s s t r u g g l e . H e s a i d t h a t t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s w a s i n d i r e

n e e d o f fun d s a n d t h a t h e h a d b e e n i n s t ruc t e d t o r a i s e $25 , 0 0 0 i n a n d

a r o u n d L o s A n g e l e s . After his address he talked pri vately with most of

t h o s e p r e s e n t .

Rogers left Los Angeles for San Franci sco June 15. The radical land-

l a d y a t w h o s e h o t e l h e l i v e d s a i d t h a t R o g e r s d i d m o r e f o r t h e r a d i c a l c a u s e

d u r i n g h i s t w o m o n t h s i n L o s A n g e l e s t h a n h a d e v e r b e e n d o n e b e f o r e . S h e

s a i d t h a t h e , u n d e r t h e p r e t e n s e o f r a i s i n g m o n e y f o r t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s ,

h a d c olle c t e d m o r e t h a n $20 , 0 0 0 f o r t h e Co m mun i s t s . Pa r t o f t h e m o n e y ,

h e s a i d , w i l l b e t u r n e d o v e r t o t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s b u t i t w i l l b e s p e n t f o r

the same purpose, for Rogers told her, she said, the F e d e r a t e d P r e s s i s

g r a d u a l l y g r o w i n g i n t o t h e o n e n e w s g a t h e r i n g a g e n c y w h i c h i s f i r m l y c o n -

t r o l l e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s . R o g e r s c o l l e c t e d m o n e y f r o m t h e L i b e r a ls

s a y i n g t h a t t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s was nothing more than an independent press

s e r v i c e i n t e r e s t e d s o l e l y i n g e t t i n g t h e t r u t h b e f o r e t h e p e o p l e ; a n d f r o m

t h e l a b o r u n i o n s s a y i n g t h a t i t w a s a b o u t t o b e c o m e t h e o f f i c i a l o r g a n o f

t h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r . Th e la t t e r s t a t e m e n t , h o w e v e r , d r e w

f o r t h a r e b u k e f r o m F r a n c i s D r a k e , e d i t o r o f t h e l o c a l A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n

o f L a b o r o r g a n , w h o s a i d t h a t t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s w a s s p r e a d i n g C o m m u n i s t

p r o p a g a n d a c o l o r e d i n t h e i n t e r e s t s o f d i s r u p t i o n i s t s l i k e W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r ,

Alexa n d e r Ho w a t t , a n d C u rle y G r o w .

1 8 4 1



CHAPTER FIVE

"LEGAL" ORGANIZATIONS

W h e n t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a w a s o f f i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d t o b e

a n i l l e g a l o r g a n i z a t i o n i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , i t s a v o w e d o b j e c t b e i n g t h e

o v e r t h r o w b y v i o l e n c e o f t h e e s t a b l i s h e d g o v e r n m e n t o f t h i s c o u n t r y

a n d t h e i n a u g ur a t i o n o f t h e D i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e P r o l e t a r i a t h e r e ,

i t i m m e d i a t e l y b u r r o w e d u n d e r g r o u n d - a n d c o n t i n u e d t o f u n c t i o n

w i t h e v e n g r e a t e r a c t i v i t y . B u t i n o r d e r t o c a r r y o n t h e p r o p a g a n d a f o r

t h e s o v i e t f o r m o f g o v e r n m e n t i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , a s i t w a s u n d e r o r d e r s

f r o m M o s c o w t o d o , i t b e c a m e n e c e s s a r y t o f i n d s o m e w a y o f " l e g a l e x p r e s -

s i o n " i n o r d e r t o r e a c h t h e p e o p l e o f w h o m i t h o p e d t o m a k e c o n v e r t s .

The r e w a s n o n e e d t o wa s t e t i m e , m o n e y a n d e n e rgy i n s p r e ad i ng Co m mun i s t

p r o p a g a n d a a m o n g C o m m un i s t s , b u t i t w a s h i g h ly i m p o r t a n t t h a t s o m e

means be found quickly to reach the hated bourgeoisie, to show them the

b e a u t i e s o f C o m m u n i s m a n d t o r a i s e t h e m t o t h e h i g h r a d i c a l e s t a t e o f

Russia .

It was also necessary to have organizations to secure funds from the

b o u r g e o i s i e t o b e e x p e n d e d i n f i g h t i n g t h e b a t t l e o f t h e u n i t e d f r o n t , f o r

mass action against the present order of church, home and state . For it

h a s b e e n f r o m t h e o u t s e t , a s e s t a b l i s h e d b y t h e R u s s i a n R e d s , t h e m e t h o d o f

the Communists to extract money from the rich to finance their overthrow .

T h i s m a t t e r w a s t h e s u b j e c t o f m u c h d e l i b e r a t i o n a m o n g t h e m e m b e r s o f

t h e i n n e r c i r c l e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y u n d e r g r o u n d , a n d e x p e r t s w e r e

s e n t f r o m M o s c o w t o a i d i n t h e s o l u t i o n o f t h i s i m p o r t a n t p r o b l e m . F i n a l l y ,

m e a n s w e r e f o u n d a n d t o d a y t h e r e a r e f o u r c h i e f o r g a n i z a t i o n s , c l a s s e d a s

"legal," b y w h i c h t h e f igh t aga i n s t t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t m a y b e

c a r r i e d o u t a n d f i n a n c e d . Th e r e a r e al s o a numb e r o f subo r d i n a t e b o d i e s

w o r k i n g t o a i d t h e c h i e f " l e g a l " b r a n c h e s a s w e l l a s n o n - C o m m u n i s t o r g a n -

i z a t i o n s t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f w h i c h d i r e c t l y l e n d a i d t o t h e w o r k " i n t h e o p e n "

o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s u n d e r g r o un d .

The legal o rga n i z a t i o n s a r e d e f i n i t el y c o n t r olle d b y t h e Co m mun i s t

p a r t y o f A m e r i c a w h i c h , i n t u r n , i s c o n t r o l l e d b y t h e i n n e r S o v i e t c i r c l e i n

M o s c o w . Th e p r ogr a m s f o r w o r k b y t h e l egal o rga n i z a t i o n s a r e d r a w n up

b y t h e Ce n t r al Ex e cut i v e Co m m i t t e e o f t h e Co m mun i s t p a r t y a n d a p p r o v e d

b y M o s c o w b e f o r e b e i n g p u t i n t o o p e r a t i o n b y t h e v a r i o u s b o d i e s w h o s e

a c t i v i t i e s a r e k n o w n t o t h e p u b l i c . I t w a s p a r t l y f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f e f f e c t i n g

the contact between the legal bodies, the Communist party of America and

t h e d i r e c t i n g h e a d a t M o s c o w t h a t t h e i l l e g a l c o n v e n t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y w a s h e l d i n B r i d g m a n , M i c h ., w h e n i t w a s r a i d e d b y t h e Mi c h iga n

S t a t e a u t h o r i t i e s . T h e d e l e g a t e s t o t h i s c o n v e n t i o n , w h i l e i n f l u e n c e d l a r g e l y

[ 8 5 1



REDS I N AMERICA

b y t h e w o r d s a n d a c t s o f t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e , w e r e r e a l l y t h e

authorized representatives of the party to decide on the best means for

putting into action the instructions from Moscow .

A n e x a m p l e o f t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e l e g a l b r a n c h e s o f t h e p a r t y i s t h e

dissemination of inform ation regarding the interest taken by the Moscow

Central Bureau of the Communist movement in the situation in the United

S t a t e s . Early in September, 1922, the Cen tral Executive Committee of the

C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a r e c e i v e d f r o m M o s c o w a n a p p e a l t o t h e

workers of England to aid the striking coal miners of the United States .

The Central Executive Committee immediately set to work translating this

d o c u m e n t a n d t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e t r a n s l a t i o n w a s m a d e t h r o u g h o u t

t h e c o u n t r y t o t h e l e g a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n o r d e r t h a t i t m i g h t b e m a d e

k n o w n t o a s m a n y w o r k i ng m e n a s p o s s i ble . B y t h i s i t w a s h o p e d t o a t t r a c t

n o n - C o m m u n i s t w o r k e r s t o t h e r a n k s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s , a s t h e a r gu m e n t

w a s u s e d t h a t t h e M o s c o w G o v e r n m e n t w a s f i g h t i n g f o r t h e A m e r i c a n w o r k i n g

m a n a n d w o m a n . Th i s d o cum e n t , c o p i e s o f w h i c h w e r e s e n t t o all Co m -

m u n i s t p a r t i e s i n t h e w o r l d , t r a n s l a t e d b y t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e ,

r e a d s a s f o l l o w s :

FOR THE AID OF THE STRIKING MINERS

OF AMERICA

" W o r k e r s o f E n g l a n d :

" I t i s n o w f o u r m o n t h s t h a t t h e f i e r c e s t r u g g l e o f t h e A m e r i c a n m i n e r s

w i t h t h e C oa l B a ro n s i s go i n g o n . F o r s e v e r a l m o n t h s h u n d r e d s o f t h o u .

sands of worke rs without regard to language or race are defending them-

s e l v e s a g a i n s t t h e a t t a c k s o f t h e A m e r i c a n F i n a n c i a l K i n g s . A n a r m y o f

h i r e d w o r k e r s f r o m t h e c a m p o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e , t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f m a r -

t i al la w , a w h ol e a r m y o f p r o v o c a t e u r s , h a v e b e e n un able t o b r e a k t h e i r

u n i t e d n e s s a n d c o m p e l t h e m t o w o r k f o r t h e e x p l o i t e r s f o r a f u r t h e r r e d u c e d

p a y .

"THEIR HEROIC DEFENSE IS BEGINNING TO BEAR FRUITS .

"THE COAL RESERVES ACCUMULATED BY THE CAPITALISTSFOR THIS STRUGGLE ARE EXHAUSTED. AMERICAN INDUSTRYIS BECOMING EXHAUSTED ; THE CAPITALISTS ARE FACING THEMENACE OF A GREAT DEFEAT .

" I t i s w e l l k n o w n t o t h e E n g l i s h c a p i t a l i s t s t h a t a d e f e a t o f t h e A m e r .

i c a n e x p l o i t e r s w i l l m e a n t h e i r o w n d e f e a t a n d a s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e

English wage slaves . T h e y h a v e r e a l i z e d w h a t c o n s t i t u t e s t h e i r c l a s s i n -

t e r e s t a n d a r e c o m i ng t o t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f Am e r i c a n m i n e o w n e r s . T h e y

a r e l o a d i n g a n d s h i p p i n g t o A m e r i c a a w h o l e f l e e t w i t h c o a l . Ev e r y s t e a m e r

with coal arriving in a North American harbor strengthens the forc es of

t h e F o a l b a r o n s a n d n u l l i f i e s t h e r e s u l t s w h i c h h a v e b e e n a t t a i n e d b y t h e

s t r u g g l i n g w o r k e r s .

"THERE EXISTS THE DANGER THAT THE STRUGGLE OF OURPROLETARIAN COMRADES, UNEXAMPLED IN ITS LENGTH AND




SELF-SACRIFICE, WILL BECOME LOST, THANKS TO THE INTER-NATIONAL UNION OF CAPITALISTS .

" T h i s m u s t b e c o u n t e r e d b y t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l u n i t y o f t h e w o r k e r s .

"ENGLISH TRANSPORT WORKERS, HARBOR WORKERS,MINERS! IT IS YOUR TURN NOW . Y o u m u s t u n d e r s t a n d t h a t e v e r y

l o a d i ng o f a s h i p w i t h c o al b e i ng s e n t t o Am e r i c a i s a blo w i n t h e b a c k

to the workers who are struggling there . Y ou must u n d e r s t a n d t h a t y ou

a r e r e n d e r i n g s u p p o r t t o t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t o t h e e x t e n t o f y o u r f a i l u r e t o i n -

t e r f e r e w i t h t h e d e l i v e r y o f c o a l t o A m e r i c a .

"You mus t un d e r s t a n d t h a t t h e d e f e a t o f t h e Am e r i c a n w o r k e r s w ill

i n e v i t a b l y r e a c t a g a i n s t y o u . The reduction of the wage scale and the in-

crease of the worki ng day in America will bring the same consequences in

England .

" I f y o u p r e s e n t a g a i n s t t h e u n i t e d f r o n t o f t h e e x p l o i t e r s t h e u n i t e d

front of the exploited, then yo ur aid will greatly increase the fighting

s t r e n g t h o f t h e A m e r i c a n p r o l e t a r i a n s , a n d w i l l h e l p t h e m t o a c h i e v e v i c t o r y .

A n d y o u , e q u a l l y w i t h y o u r A m e r i c a n b r o t h e r s , w i l l r e a p t h e f r u i t s o f t h i s

v i c t o r y .

"Th i s i s w h y w e c all up o n y ou t o :

"HASTEN TO THE ASSISTANCE OF THE AMERICAN STRUG-GLER!

"DO NOT LOAD COAL FOR AMERICA!"LONG LIVE THE UNITY OF THE ENGLISH AND AMERICAN

WORKERS !

"LONG LIVE THE WORLD SOCIAL REVOLUTION!"LONG LIVE THE COMMUNIST INTERNATIONAL!

" Z I N O VI E F F ,

" P r e s i d e n t o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l . "

Accompanying this appeal by Zinovieff were instructions to the Cen-

t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a t o p r o m o t e

a g i t a t i o n i n a n e f f o r t t o a r o u s e t h e s t r i k i n g m i n e r s t o a p o i n t o f a r m e d i n -

s u r r e c t i o n . No opportunity is ever lost by the leaders of the world Com-

mun i s t m o v e m e n t t o m a k e o f a n y t r ouble o r d i s o r d e r t h e s p a r k t o s e t o f f

a r m e d v i o l e n c e b y w h i c h t h e y h o p e t o a c c o m p l i s h t h e o v e r t h r o w o f t h e

g o v e r n m e n t . These instruction s are verbatim as follows :

"The Central Committee of the Communist party of America must direct

i t s p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n t o t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e s t r i k e o f t h e m i n e r s o f A m e r -

i c a .

"Agitators and propagandists must be sent to the strike regions .

" I t i s n e c e s s a r y t o s t r i v e t o a r o u s e t h e s t r i k i n g c o a l m i n e r s t o t h e p o i n t

of armed insurrection . L e t t h e m b l o w u p a n d f l o o d t h e s h a f t s . S h o w e r

t h e s t r i k e r e g i o n s w i t h p r o c l a m a t i o n s a n d a p p e a l s . This arouses the revo-

l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t o f t h e w o r k e r s a n d p r e p a r e s t h e m f o r t h e c o m i n g r e v o l u t i o n

o f A m e r i c a .

" Z I N O V I E F F ,

"President of the Communist International,"

[ 8 7 ]



REDS IN AMERICA

Wit h t h i s b a c kgr oun d i t i s p o s s i ble t o un d e r s t a n d s o m e o f t h e w o r k

t h a t i s b e i ng d o n e b y t h e "legal" o rga n i z a t i o n s t h r ough w h i c h t h e Co m -munist party of America is able to spread the propaganda looking toward

t h e o v e r t h r o w b y v i o l e n c e o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s u n d e r

o r d e r s f r o m M o s c o w . I t s h o u l d a l s o b e b o r n e i n m i n d t h a t t h e s e o r g a n i z a -

t i o n s f r e q u e n t l y c h a n g e t h e i r n a m e s i n o r d e r t o m y s t i f y t h e a u t h o r i t i e s a n d

f o o l t h e p u b l i c . Fi r s t , p r o b a bly , i n i m p o r t a n c e a m o ng t h e v a r i ous legal

o r g a n i z a t i o n s i s t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y o f A m e r i c a , o s t e n s i b l y a p o l i t i c a l p a r t y

o f t h e l a b o r e r s . T h e d o c u m e n t s f o u n d a t B r i d g m a n , M i c h . , d e m o n s t r a t e

b e y o n d t h e q u e s t i o n o f a d o u b t t h a t t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y c o n t r o l s a n d

d i r e c t s e v e r y a c t i o n o f t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y . B y ga t h e r i ng t h e l ab o r e r s o f

t h i s c o u n t r y i n t o a s i n g l e p o l i t i c a l p a r t y a n d k e e p i n g t h e m s t e e p e d i n C o m -

m u n i s t p r o p a g a n d a t h e l e a d e r s b e li e v e t h e y c a n m a k e c o n v e r t s o f t h e m .

The Workers' party o f America wa s born Dec ember 24, 1921, at a

convention ca lled by the American Labor Alliance, secretly organized by

t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y a s a " c o v e r ." The convent ion call invited delegates

f r o m s u c h o r g a n i z a t i o n s a s t h e F i n n i s h S o c i a l i s t F e d e r a t i o n , t h e H u n g a r i a n

Fe d e r a t i o n, t h e Ir i s h -Am e r i c a n Labo r Alli a n c e ; a n d t h e m ajo r i t y o f t h e

d e l e g a t e s t o t h i s c o n v e n t i o n w a s h a n d - p i c k e d b y t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m -

m i t t e e o f t h e C o m mu n i s t p a r t y o f Am e r i c a . Th e d el ega t e s r e p r e s e n t e d ,

b e s i d e s t h o s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s j u s t m e n t i o n e d , t h e I t a l i a n W o r k e r s ' F e d e r a t i o n ,

the Jewish Workers' Federation, the Jewish Socialist Federat ion and the

Wo r k e r s' E duc a t i o n al As s o c i a t i o n . T h e y c a m e f r o m M a s s a c h u s e t t s , N e w

York, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois , Minne-

s o t a , Vi rgi n i a , Ne w J e r s e y , Mi c h iga n , Colo r a d o a n d Ka n s a s . T h e r e w e r e

1 6 4 d e l e g a t e s b e s i d e s a b o u t o n e h u n d r e d f r a t e r n a l d e l e g a t e s . On e r e p r e -

s e n t e d t h e I n d u s t r i a l W o r k e r s o f t h e W o r l d a n d t w o t h e A f r i c a n B l o o d

B r o t h e r h o o d .

J . Loui s E ngd a hl, i n o p e n i ng t h e c o n v e n t i o n , s a i d t h a t i t h a d b e e n

c a l l e d f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f e s t a b l i s h i n g i n t h i s c o u n t r y a r e a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y

p o l i t i c a l p a r t y " t o w a g e s u c c e s s f u l c o m b a t a g a i n s t a n d f i n a l l y t o a c h i e v e

t h e o v e r t h r o w o f A m e r i c a n c a p i t a l i s m . " J . P . C a n n o n , a t t h a t t i m e a m e m b e r

o f t h e Ce n t r al Ex e cut i v e Co m m i t t e e o f t h e Ci n c i n n a t i Co m mun i s t p a r t y o f

A m e r i c a , t o l d t h i s f i r s t c o n v e n t i o n o f t h e g r e a t v i c t o r y t h a t h a d b e e n w o n

b y t h e w o r k e r s i n Rus s i a , e n d e a v o r e d b y i n fl a m m a t o r y s e n t e n c e s t o s t i r

t h e d e l e g a t e s t o r e v o l u t i o n a r y e n t h u s i a s m , a n d b i t t e r l y a t t a c k e d c a p i t a l i s m .

C a l e b H a r r i s o n , o n e o f t h e d e l e g a t e s t o t h e B r i d g m a n , M i c h i g a n , c o n v e n t i o n ,

w a s el e c t e d p e r m a n e n t c h a i r m a n o f t h e Wo r k e r s' p a r t y m e e t i ng ; Margaret

Prevey, vice chairman, and Elmer T . A l l i s o n , J . Louis Engdahl and W. W .

W e i n s t o n e , a n o t h e r B r i d g m a n d e l e g a t e , s e c r e t a r i e s .

C h r i s t m a s d a y w a s d e v o t e d t o d r a f t i n g t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e W o r k e r s '

p a r t y .E f f o r t s w e r e m a d e b y s o m e o f t h e ult r a - r a d i c als t o c all f o r i m -

mediate revolution, and much time was wasted by violent debates and vir-

u l e n t a t t a c k s u p o n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . B u t a s t h e i n n e r c i r c l e s o f t h e C o m -

munist party had prepared in advance the constitution these debates were

m e r e l y i n o r d e r t o g i v e t h e r a b i d r a d i c a l s a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o w o r k o f f t h e i r

h e a t . The following day William F . D un n e , t h e n o f M o n t a n a a n d n o w




of that State and New York, and candid ate for governor of New York i n

t h e 1 9 2 2 e l e c t i o n s o n t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y t i c k e t , m a d e a n i m p a s s i o n e d a d -

d r e s s o n t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e I . W. W . i n t h e W e s t . T h e S a c c o a n d V a n z e t t i

c a s e w a s a l s o t a k e n u p a n d c o n d e m n a t i o n o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w a s v o i c e d

i n r e s o l u t i o n s a d o p t e d . The convention delegates then stood while the

R e d F l a g w a s s u n g . The purpose of the Workers' party was described

a c c u r a t e l y i n a n e d i t o r i a l i n U j E l o r e , t h e H u n g a r i a n C o m m u n i s t p a p e r :

"For the last two years the great mass of the American p r o l e t a r i a t

s t o o d w i t h o u t a d i r e c t p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r . P e r s e c u t i o n h a s f o r c e d t h e o n l y

r e v o l u t i o n a r y p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n , t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , u n d e r t h e

g r o u n d a n d i t c o u l d c o n t i n u e i t s a c t i v i t y o n l ya s a n i l l e g a l o r g a n i z a t i o n

.

A s a n i l l e g a l o r g a n i z a t i o n i t c o u l d r e a c h t h e m a s s o n l y i n d i r e c t l y ; t h e r e -

f o r e i t c o u l d n o t e x e r c i s e u p o n t h e m a s s s u c h m o r a l e f f e c t a s i s a b s o l u t e l y

n e c e s s a r y i n o r d e r t o a s s e r t its leadership of the mass . T h e p a r t y

i t s e l f n e v e r c o u l d h a v e g a i n e d a b i g g e r m o r a l i n f l u e n c e o v e r t h e m a s s b e -

c a u s e w i t h i t s o r g a n i z a t i o n s i t n e v e r c o u l d s t e p t o t h e f r o n t r a n k o f t h e

mass . H o w e v e r , i n s p i t e o f t h e m o s t s e v e r e ` l e g a l ' p e r s e c u t i o n s , t h e C o m -

m u n i s t w o r k c a n n o t s t o p ; t h e r e f o r e , i t i s n e ce s s a r y t o p la c e a p a r t y a t t h e

head of the ma ss which, although revolutionary, c a n n o t b e p e r s e c u t e d .

T h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y w i l l f u l f i l l t h i s t a s k .

" T h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y w i l l m e e t t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e A m e r i c a n p r o -

l e t a r i a t . I t w i l l b e a p o w e r f u l w e a p o n f o r c l a s s s t r u g g l e w h i c h c a n n o t

b e k n o c k e d o u t o f t h e h a n d o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t w i t h t h e s l o g a n o f ` l a w l e s s -

n e s s . ' T h i s p a r t y w i l l t a k e i t s s t a n d a t t h e h e a d o f e v e r y m o v e m e n t o f t h e

p r o l e t a r i a t i n o r d e r t o l e a d i t w i t h r e v o l u t i o n a r y b r a v e r y a n d w i t h C o m -

m u n i s t r e a l i s m .

" T h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y w i l l b e b a s e d e n t i r e l y u p o n t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f t h e

T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l . T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y i s t h e f i r s t

s t e p t o w a r d a b i g a n d s t r o n g r e v o l u t i o n a r y m a s s m o v e m e n t .

" T h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h i s p a r t y p r o v e s , t o o , t h a t , i n s p i t e o f t h e p e r -

s e c u t i o n s o n t h e p a r t o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e , t h e p r o l e t a r i a t c a n s t i l l f i n d

m e a n s w i t h w h i c h t o c o n t i n u e i t s a t t a c k s a g a i n s t t h e c a p i t a l i s t i c o r d e r . There

i s n o w s u c h p e r s e c u t i o n a s t o m a k e i t i m p o s s i b l e f o r u s t o c o n t i n u e t h e f i g h t .

T h e w o r k i n g c l a s s l o o k s w i t h c o n f i d e n c e i n t o t h e f u t u r e ; i t w i l l b e l e d b y

a p o l i t i c a l p a r t y w h i c h u s e s t h e w e l l - t r i e d t a c t i c s o f t h e T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l ,

a p o l i t i c a l p a r t y w h i c h k n o w s n o c o m p r o m i s e . "

T h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y c o u n t s l a r g e l y o n s u p p o r t f r o m t h e w o m e n v o t e r s .

G r e a t c a r e w a s t a k e n i n e f f e c t i n g a n o r g a n i z a t i o n which would reach all

c l a s s e s o f w o r k i n g w o m e n , i n c l u d i n g , a s t h e p r o g r a m s t a t e s , " m i l l i o n s o f

w o r k e r s , a n d f a r m e r s ' w i v e s i s o l a t e d f r o m t h e g e n e r a l f i e l d o f t h e o r g a n i z e d

w o r k i n g c l a s s s t r u g g l e , " f o r i t w a s d e e m e d a n a b s o l u t e n e c e s s i t y t o " w i n

t h e w o m e n o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s t o t h e p a r t y ' s i d e a l " a n d t o " u n i t e t h e m f o r

a n d l i n k t h e m t o t h e g e n e r a l p r o l e t a r i a n s t r u g g l e . " Accordingly women's

b r a n c h e s w e r e s t a r t e d i n v a r i o u s p a r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y w i t h l e a d e r s w h o s e

d u t i e s i n c l u d e d s p r e a d i n g p r o p a g a n d a , t h e s u b s t a n c e o f w h i c h , s u b v e r s i v e o f

t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n , i s d i c t a t e d t h r o u g h t h e Workers' party by the Central

[ 8 9 ]



REDS IN AMERICA

Ex e cut i v e Co m m i t t e e o f t h e Co m mun i s t p a r t y o f Am e r i c a .

A t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e r a i l r o a d a n d c o a l s t r i k e s , w h e n i t w a s t h o u g h t

these troubles might lead to the longed-for General Strike which was to

effect the violent overthrow of the Government of the United States and

t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e D i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e P r o l e t a r i a t , i t w a s q u i c k l y s e e n

t h a t t h e w o m e n ' s c o m m i t t e e s o f t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y ` c o u l d d o s o m e e x c e l l e n t

a g i t a t i o n a l w o r k a m o n g t h e f a m i l i e s o f t h e s t r i k e r s . A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e

N a t i o n a l W o m e n ' s C o m m i t t e e , w h i c h i s a s e c r e t b o d y , o n A p r i l 1 , 19 22 ,

a d o p t e d a n d s e t i n m o t i o n a p r o g r a m f o r w o m e n ' s e m e r g e n c y w o r k i n t h e

m i n i n g d i s t r i c t s . A f o r m s e t o f r e s o l u t i o n s w a s s e n t o u t t o a l l w o m e n

Communists in the districts to be ado pted by the women committe es to be

formed, and specific instructions were given the Communists of which the

f o l l o w i n g a r e p o r t i o n s :

" B e f o r e b r i n g i n g t h i s r e s o l u t i o n t o a v o t e , t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e n u c l e i

[t h a t i s , t h e i n n e r c i r c l e s o f C o m m u n i s t s ] a n d t h e N u m b e r O n e w o m e n

[that is, the w omen members of t he illegal organizations of Communists]

s h o u l d d o a t h o r o u g h p i e c e o f a g i t a t i o n a l w o r k t o i n s u r e i t s e n t h u s i a s t i c

a c c e p t a n c e . "

" A s s o o n a s t h e v o t e i s t a k e n , a m e e t i n g o f w o m e n s h o u l d b e h e l d

u n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s o f t h e u n i o n . A w o r k i ng c o m m i t t e e s h ould b e a p p o i n t e d .

NUMBER ONE WOMEN SHOULD SEE TO IT THAT THEY ARE ONTHE COMMITTEE. T h e C h a i r m a n , h o w e v e r , s h o u l d b e t h e l o c a l w o m a n

w h o h a s t h e m o s t e x p e r i e n c e a n d b e e n m o s t a c t i v e i n p a s t s t r i k e s , i r r e s p e c -

t i v e o f h e r b e i n g a m e m b e r o f N u m b e r O n e . T hi s i s i m p o rt a n t .

"Oth e r w o r k i ng w o m e n i n t h e l o c ali t y , w h o a r e s y m p a t h e t i c , s h ould

b y a l l m e a n s b e e n c o u r a g e d t o a t t e n d m e e t i n g s a n d p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e w o r k .

" N u m b e r On e w o m e n m u s t n o t u s e t h i s c o m m i t t e e f o r p r o p a g a n d a

UNCONNECTED WITH THE STRIKE . T h e e f f o r t s o f N u m b e r O n e m u s t

b e t o c r e a t e s o l i d a r i t y a n d m o r a l e . Ple n t y o f o p p o r tun i t y f o r p r o p aga n d a

o n i s s u e s d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d t o t h e s t r i k e c a n b e f o u n d .

"Nu mbe r O ne w o m e n s h o uld sugges t t o t h e w o m e n' s c o m m i t t e e s t h e

f o r m i n g o f a l i t e r a t u r e c o m m i t t e e w i t h a v i e w o f p u b l i s h i n g a l e a f l e t f o r

h o u s e - t o - h o u s e d i s t r i b u t i o n . T h e t e x t o f s u c h a l e a f l e t w i l l b e b y t h e

N a t i o n a l W o m a n ' s C o m m i t t e e . THIS SHOULD BE PRESENTED AS THEWORK OF A LOCAL WOMAN . It m a y b e m o d i f i e d o r e nl a rge d t o f i t

l o c a l c o n d i t i o n s .

" T h e N a t i o n a l W o m e n ' s C o m m i t t e e u r ge n t l y r e c o m m e n d s t h a t t h i s

e m e r g e n c y p r o j e c t , u n a n i m o u s l y p a s s e d u p o n , S H A L L R E M A I N S E C R E T

AND NOT SENT OUT TO THE MEMBERSHIP AT LARGE . "

F i n a l l y , t h e l a s t p a r a g r a p h o f t h e " P r i n c i p l e s a n d A i m s o f t h e W o r k e r s '

p a r t y , " d e f i n i t e l y a n d p o s i t i v e l y l i n k s t h i s p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h t h e

C o m m u n i s t p a r t y . T h i s d o c u m e n t w a s f o u n d b u r i e d a t B r i d g m a n w h e n

the convention of the Communist party was raided, and the last paragraph


"The Workers' party declares itself in sympathy w ith the principles

of the Communist Int ernational and enter s the struggle against American

c a p i t a l i s m , t h e m o s t p o w e r f u l o f t h e n a t i o n a l g r o u p s o f c a p i t a l i s t s , u n d e r

1 9 0 1




t h e le a d e r s h i p o f t h e C o m mu n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l . I t r a l l i e s t o t h e c a l l ,

`Workers o f the World Unite . " '

T h e w h o l e w o r k o f t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y i s a i m e d t o e d u c a t i n g t h e w o r k -

i n g c l a s s a n d m a s s i n R e d T r a d e U n i o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l i d e a s t h r o u g h a c t i v e

p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e p o l i t i c a l l i f e o f t h e c o u n t r y . T h e s u b t l e t y o f t h i s

m e t h o d o f p r e p a r a t i o n f o r f u t u r e p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n i s c l e v e r l y c o n c e i v e d ,

a n d b u t f o r t h e f a c t t h a t t h e c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y a n d

t h e M o s c o w a u t h o r i t i e s i s n o w k n o w n , t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e m e t h o d s e m p l o y e d

w o u l d h a v e b e e n t h e s o u r c e o f m u c h t r o u b l e i n t h e f u t u r e . This may yet

r e s u l t .

N e x t i n i m p o r t a n c e , p r o b a b l y , i n t h e l e g a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e C o m -

m u n i s t p a r t y i s W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r ' s T r a d e U n i o n E d u c a t i o n a l L e a g u e . T h i s

i s a i m e d c h i e f l y a t t h e i n d u s t r i a l l i f e o f t h e n a t i o n a n d i s c o n s t a n t l y a t o p e n

w a r f a r e a s a m i n o r i t y o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h t h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r .

I t s m i l i t a n t a n d u n c o m p r o m i s i n g a t t i t u d e t o w a r d c a p i t a l a n d i t s p o w e r w i t h i n

t h e Am e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L abo r s h o w t h a t i t h a s l a r g e i n f l u e n c e i n

t h a t o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d i s c o n s t a n t l y m a k i n g g a i n s w i t h i n t h e F e d e r a t i o n

m e m b e r s h i p . I t w a s o r g a n i z e d b y F o s t e r i n 1 9 2 0 a n d e m b r a c e d a t t h e o u t -

s e t t h e m o r e r a d i c a l l y i n c l i n e d l a b o r u n i o n s . S h o r t l y a f t e r t h i s o r g a n i z a -

tion was forme d the Communist Internationa l promulgated t h e p o l i c y o f

" b o r i n g f r o m w i t h i n " t h e t r a d e u n i o n s w i t h a v i e w t o w r e c k i n gt h e t r a d e

u n i o n m o v e m e n t i n t h i s c o u n t r y . F o s t e r w a s a p p r o a c h e d by t h e C o m mu-

n i s t s a n d a s a c o n s e q u e n c e h e a t t e n d e d t h e C o n g r e s s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r -

n a t i o n a l a n d t h e f i r s t c o n g r e s s o f t h e R e d T r a d e U n i o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l h e l d

a t M o s c o w i n J u l y , 1 9 2 1 .

U p o n F o s t e r' s r e t ur n f r om Mo s c o w t h e Tr a d e U ni o n E d uc a t io n a l

League immediat ely became a propa ganda agency for the Communist In-

t e r n a t i o n a l a n d a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e R e d T r a d e U n i o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l . F o s t e r

h a s r e p e a t e d l y d e n i e d t h i s , a n d h a s d e c l a r e d t h a t n o c o n n e c t i o n e x i s t e d b e -

t w e e n h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d t h e C o m m u n i s t s . B u t , t h a n k s t o t h e B r i d g m a n

r a i d , a b s o l u t e p r o o f o f h i s c o n n e c t i o n i s n o w a v a i l a b l e . Th e L a b o r H e r a l d

i s t h e o f f i c i a l o r g a n o f t h e T r a d e U n i o n E d u c a t i o n a l L e a g u e . T h e p r i n c i p l e s

and program o f Foster's League were distributed widely th roughout the

c o u n t r y e a r l y i n 1 9 2 2 a n d t h e f o l l o w i n g s e n t e n c e s f r o m i t a r e s i g n i f i c a n t :

" T h e Tr a d e U n io n E d u ca t i o n a l Le a gue p ro p o se s to d ev e lo p tr a d e

u n i o n s f r o m t h e i r p r e s e n t a n t i q u a t e d a n d s t a g n a n t c o n d i t i o n s i n t o m o d e r n ,

p o w e r f u l l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s c a p a b l e o f w a g i n g s u c c e s s f u l w a r f a r e a g a i n s t

c a p i t a l . T o t h i s e n d i t i s w o r k i n g t o r e v a m p a n d r e m o d e l f r o m t o p t o b o t -

t o m t h e i r t h e o r i e s , t a c t i c s , s t r u c t u r e a n d l e a d e r s h i p . I n s t e a d o f a d v o c a t i n g

t h e p r e v a i l i n g s h a m e f u l a n d d e m o r a l i z i n g n o n s e n s e a b o u t h a r m o n i z i n g t h e

i n t e r e s t s o f c a p i t a l a n d l a b o r , i t i s f i r i n g t h e w o r k e r s ' i m a g i n a t i o n s a n d

r e l e a s i n g t h e i r w o n d e r f u l i d e a l i s m a n d e n e r g y b y p r o p a g a t i n g t h e i n s p i r i n g

g o a l o f t h e a b o l i t i o n , o f c a p i t a l i s m a n d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a w o r k e r s '

r e p u b l i c .

"The Trade Union Educational League groups the mi litants in two

ways ; b y l o c a l i t i e s a n d b y i n d u s t r i e s . I n a l l c i t i e s a n d t o w n s g e n e r a l g r o u p s

o f m i l i t a n t s o f a l l t r a d e s a r e f o r m e d t o c a r r y o n t h e w o r k o f e d u c a t i o n a n d



REDS IN AMERICA

r e o r g a n i z a t i o n i n t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e l o c a l i t i e s . T h e s e l o c a l g e n e r a l g r o u p s , t o

f a c i l i t a t e t h e i r w o r k , d i v i d e t h e m s e l v e s i n t o i n d u s t r i a l s e c t i o n s . . . . A l l t h e

l o c a l g e n e r a l g r o u p s a r e k e p t i n t o u c h a n d c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h e a c h o t h e r

t h r o u g h a n a t i o n a l c o r r e s p o n d i n g s e c r e t a r y . L i k e w i s e a l l t h e l o c a l i n d u s t r i a l

e d u c a t i o n a l g r o u p s a r e l i n k e d t o g e t h e r n a t i o n a l l y , i n d u s t r y b y i n d u s t r y ,

t h r o u g h t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e c o r r e s p o n d i n g s e c r e t a r i e s . E v e r y p h a s e a n d s t a g e

o f t h e t r a d e u n i o n m o v e m e n t w i l l h a v e i t s b r a n c h o f t h e l i f e - g i v i n g e d u c a -

t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n . "

T h e e n t i r e w o r k o f t h e T r a d e U n i o n E d u c a t i o n a l L e a g u e i s b a s e d u p o n

t h e f o l l o w i n g d e c i s i o n s o f t h e R e d T r a d e U n i o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l :

" 1 . - W o r k e r s ' C o n t r o l i s t h e n e c e s s a r y s c h o o l f o r t h e w o r k o f p r e p a r -

i n g t h e m a s s e s f o r t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n .

" 2 . - W o r k e r s ' C o n t r o l m u s t b e t h e w a r - c r y f o r t h e w o r k e r s o f e v e r y

c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r y a n d m u s t b e u t i l i z e d a s a w e a p o n t o d i s c l o s e f i n a n c i a l

a n d c o m m e r c i a l s e c r e t s .

" 3 .-Workers' Contr ol must be largely used for t h e r e c o n s t r u c t i o n

o f t h e o u t l a w t r a d e u n i o n s a n d t h e i n d u s t r i a l f a c t i o n s , the former being

h a r m f u l f o r t h e w o r k e r s ' r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t .

" 4 . - W o r k e r s ' C o n t r o l i s d i s t i n c t f r o m c a p i t a l i s t s c h e m e s , a n d t o t h e

d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t c l a s s i t o p p o s e s t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e w o r k i n g

c l a s s . I n t h e v a r i o u s a c t i v i t i e s w i t h i n t h e s h o p s t h e s o - c a l l e d r e v o l u t i o n a r y

n u c l e i p e r f o r m t h e v a r i o u s f u n c t i o n s p r o m u l g a t e d b y t h e T r a d e U n i o n

I n t e r n a t i o n a l . "

W h o i s W i l l i a m Z e b u l o n F o s t e r , f a m i l i a r l y k n o w n a s " B i l l " F o s t e r ?

T h e a u t h o r i t i e s h a v e k n o w n t h a t h e w a s a " r a d i c a l " f o r a l o n g t i m e , a n d h e

h a s b e e n a c c u s e d o f b e i n g " R e d , " b u t t h e r e h a s n o t b e e n m u c h p r o o f o f f e r e d

t h e p u b l i c o n t h e m a t t e r . F o s t e r h i m s e l f h a s d e n i e d r e p e a t e d l y t h a t h e

w a s a n y t h i n g b u t a n h o n e s t w o r k i n g m a n , d e v o t e d t o b e t t e r i n g t h e c o n d i -

t i o n s o f h i s f e l l o w - w o r k e r s . He has denied that he was a Communist, but

a t t i m e s h a s a d m i t t e d t h a t h e w a s a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t s . W h e n

h e w e n t t o M o s c o w h e a t t e m p t e d t o m a k e t h e t r i p i n s e c r e t , b u t i t b e c a m e

k n o w n , a n d a f t e r t h a t h e w a s a b i t m o r e f r a n k a b o u t h i s s y m p a t h i e s w i t h

t h e Re d m o v e m e n t .

N o w i t i s p o s s i b l e t o e s t a b l i s h d e f i n i t e l y t h a t F o s t e r i s a C o m m u n i s t ,

a paid employee of the Communist party of America, a n d t h a t t h e T r a d e

U n i o n E d u c a t i o n a l L e a g u e , o f w h i c h h e w a s t h e f o u n d e r a n d i s t h e h e a d ,

is a branch of the Communist party designed to "bore from w i t h i n " t h e

labor union branches of the American . F e d e r a t i o n of Labor and destroy

t h a t o r g a n i z a t i o n .

T h a t F o s t e r i s n o t o n l y a p a i d a g e n t o f t h e M o s c o w g o v e r n m e n t b u t

i s a l s o a p a y m a s t e r i s s h o w n b y t h e f a c t t h a t w h e n h e r e t u r n e d f r o m h i s

s e c r e t t r i p t o R u s s i a , h e b r o u g h t w i t h h i m , p r e s u m a b l y t o c a r r y o n C o m-

munist propaganda in this country t h e s u m o f $ 4 0 , 0 0 0 . O n a n o t h e r

o c c a s i o n , i n A p r i l , 1 9 2 3 , t h e T r a d e U n i o n E d u c a t i o n a l League, of whi ch

F o s t e r i s t h e o r g a n i z e r a n d h e a d , r e c e i v e d t h e s u m o f $ 9 0 , 0 0 0 f r o m M o s c o w .

I n A u g u s t , 1 9 2 2 , L o z o v s k y a t t e n d e d t h e s e c r e t i l l e g a l c o n v e n t i o n o f t h e

C o m mu n i s t p a r t y o f Am e r i c a a t B r i dg m a n , as a delegate from Moscow,

[ 9 2 1




and turned over to Foster for the use of the Trade Union Educationa l

L e a g u e t h e s u m o f $ 3 5 , 0 0 0 , m a k i n g a t o t a l o f $ 1 6 5 , 0 0 0 1 . I t i s n o t t o b e

i n f e r r e d f r o m t h i s t h a t t h i s i s a l l t h e m o n e y t h a t t h e M o s c o w government

o r t h e T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l h a s s e n t t o t h i s c o u n t r y f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f

f o r c i b l y o v e r t h r o w i n g t h i s g o v e r n m e n t , a s u n d o u b t e d l y m a n y s u m s h a v e

b e e n s e n t o f w h i c h n o n e b u t t h e i m m e d i a t e p a r t i e s c o n c e r n e d h a v e k n o w l e d g e .

F o s t e r h a s r e p e a t e d l y d e n i e d t h a t t h i s L e a gu e h a d a n y c o n n e c t i o n

w i t h t h e C o m mu n i s t p a r t y , bu t w e h a v e seen how he has discussed it

o p e n l y i n t h e i n n e r c o u n c i l s o f t h e p a r t y a t t h e i r c o n v e n t i o n a t B r i d g m a n ,

M i c h . Among the documents left buried on the Brid gman farm August 2 2 ,

1 9 2 2 , w h e n t h e c o n v e n t i o n w a s b r o k e n u p b y t h e r a i d o f t h e a u t h o r i t i e s ,

w e r e t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s , a n s w e r e d b y t h e d e l e g a t e s i n t h e i r o w n h a n d w r i t i n g

a n d t u r n e d o v e r t o t h e g r o u n d s c o m m i t t e e f o r s a f e k e e p i n g .

F o s t e r g a v e h i s a g e a s 4 1 , s t a t e d t h a t h e w a s b o r n i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

and was married-eac h in answer to questions submitted in mimeographed

f o r m . H e s a i d t h a t h e u s e d E n g l i s h " i n t h e m a i n , " b u t t h a t h e c o u l d s p e a k

German and French imperfectly . "When not in part y employ," he said ,

h i s o c c u p a t i o n w a s r a i l r o a d i n g . H e s a i d h e o n c e b e l o n g e d t o t h e S o c i a l i s t

p a r t y , a n d " h a s b e e n a c t i v e i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t" t w e n t y-o n e

y e a r s . H i s p r e s e n t p o s i t i o n , h e s a i d , w a s t h e o n l y o f f i c e h e h a d h e l d , how-

e v e r , i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t . H e h a d b e e n " a c t i v e i n t h e C o m m u n i s t

m o v e m e n t " o n e y e a r a n d w a s a t t h a t t i m e a p a i d e m p l o y e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y o f A m e r i c a , h i s o f f i c e b e i n g g i v e n a s " i n d u s t r i a l d i r e c t o r " .

I n r e s p o n s e t o t h e q u e s t i o n , " H o w m a n y t i m e s a r r e s t e d ? " h e a n s w e r e d ,

"many times in trad e union work", but gave two monthsa s h i s l o n g e s t

t e r m o f i m p r i s o n m e n t . He said he had never been deported an d was not

u n d e r i n d i c t m e n t . T h i s q u e s t i o n n a i r e h a v i n g b e e n f i l l e d o u t b e f o r e t h e

r a i d , h i s s t a t e m e n t t h a t h e w a s n o t u n d e r i n d i c t m e n t w a s t r u e a t t h a t t i m e .

H e s t a t e d t h a t h e w a s i n c l i n e d t o i n d u s t r i a l w o r k i n t h e p a r t y , a n d t h a t h e

h a d b e e n a m e m b e r o f a l a b o r u n i o n t w e n t y - o n e y e a r s. I t w i l l b e n o t e d t h a t

h i s l a b o r u n i o n e x p e r i e n c e c o i n c i d e s e x a c t l y w i t h h i s t i m e o f a c t i v i t y i n

t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t i n h i s o w n o p i n i o n . H e s a i d h e w a s s t i l l a

member of the Railway Carmen's Union, and was formerly a m e m b e r o f

t h e " S e a m e n , S t r e e t C a r m e n , I . W . W . e t c . , " a n d h a d h e l d t h e o f f i c e s o f

b u s i n e s s a g e n t , s e c r e t a r y a n d p r e s i d e n t i n u n i o n s . He a d m i t t e d t h a t h e

h a d p a r t i c i p a t e d i n s c o r e s o f s t r i k e s i n w h i c h h e h a d " h e l d a p o s i t i o n o f

l e a d e r s h i p . " A n d h e p r i n t e d i n c a p i t a l l e t t e r s , a s i f t o e m p h a s i z e h i s

r e p l y , t h a t h e h a d n e v e r b e l o n g e d t o t h e A r m y o r M i l i t i a .

S o m u c h f o r F o s t e r ' s o w n s t o r y o f h i s l i f e , a s t o l d b y h i m s e l f . I n

a d d i t i o n i t m a y b e s a i d t h a t h e w a s b o r n i n T a u n t o n , M a s s . , O c t . 2 5 , 1 8 8 ' 1 .

F r o m 19 06 t o 1911 h e w a s a r e p o r t e r o n t h e S o c i a l i s t C a l l , a n d w h e n

d e t a i l e d t o c o v e r t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e I . W. W . h e b e c a m e s o i n t e r e s t e d

i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t h e j o i n e d i t . I n 1 9 1 1 h e r e p r e s e n t e d t h e I . W. W .

a t t h e S y n d i c a l i s t C o n g r e s s i n T o u l o u s e , F r a n c e , a n d - a n n o u n c e d t h a t h e

1 S e e t e s t i m o n y o f A . W. K i i e f o t h , A s s i s t a n t C h i e f o f t h e E a s t e r n E u r o p e a n D i v i s i o n

of the State Department before the Senate Committee investigating Communistpropaganda in the United States (Jan . 1924) .



REDS I N AMERICA

w a s a s y n d i c a l - a n a r c h i s t . H e a l s o a t t e n d e d t h e a n a r c h i s t c o n f e r e n c e i n

B a r c e l o n a , S p a i n , o n t h i s t r i p a n d v i s i t e d G e r m a n y b e f o r e r e t u r n i n g t o

America . P r i o r t o t h i s , h i s f i r s t t r i p t o E u r o p e , h e t o o k a n a c t i v e p a r t i n

t h e f r e e s p e e c h f i g h t i n S p o k a n e , W a s h i n g t o n , a n d w a s a r r e s t e d a n d i m -

p r i s o n e d f o r a s h o r t t e r m f o r h i s p a r t i c i p a t i o n .

A t t h e B a r c e l o n a a n a r c h i s t c o n f e r e n c e t h e p o l i c y o f " b o r i n g f r o m

w i t h i n " w a s s t r e s s e d , a n d F o s t e r i m m e d i a t e l y a d o p t e d i t a s h i s o w n , t o b e

u s e d i n h i s f u t u r e b a t t l e s i n A m e r i c a . When the Russian Revolution came

a n d L e n i n a n d T r o t s k y t o l d o f t h e i r p l a n s f o r a g r e a t D i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e

P r o l e t a r i a t t o e m b r a c e t h e w h o l e w o r l d , Foster evolved his scheme for

" o n e b i g u n i o n. " T h e s e t w o e x p r e s s i o n s h a v e b e e n g r e a t f a v o r i t e s o f h i s ,

- h i s p e t s l o g a n s f o r y e a r s . T h e " b o r i n g f r o m w i t h i n " p o l i c y h e h a s a p -

p l i e d t o t h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r , p l a n t i n g m e n w i t h i n t h e o r g a n i -

z a t i o n t o a l i e n a t e a s m a n y m e m b e r s a s p o s s i b l e f r o m t h e s t r i c t l y l a b o r

f e a t u r e s o f t h e F e d e r a t i o n a n d c o n v e r t t h e m t o t h e i d e a o f " o n e b i g u n i o n . "

A s a m e m b e r o f t h e I . W. W . a n d t h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r ,

F o s t e r w a s a c t i v e i n t h e s t r i k e o f t h e S t a n d a r d S t e el C a r C o m p a n y , i n

B u t l e r , P a . H e w a s g e n e r a l s e c r e t a r y o f t h e S t e e l S t r i k e O r g a n i z i n g C o m -

m i t t e e , p r i n c i p a l o r g a n i z e r o f t h e s t e e l w o r k e r s i n P i t t s b u r g h , a n d i n 1 9 1 2

w a s a m e m b e r o f t h e H o m e C o l o n y o f A n a r c h i s t s i n t h e S t a t e o f W a s h i n g -

t o n . H e o r ga n i z ed t h e S t o c k Ya r d s La b o r C ou nc i l i n Jul y, 1917 , an d

e n d e a v o r e d t o u n i t e t h a t b o d y w i t h t h e I . W. W . T h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r h e

l e f t C h i c a g o f o r P i t t s b u r g h t o b e c o m e s e c r e t a r y - t r e a s u r e r o f a s p e c i a l

o r g a n i z i n g c o m m i t t e e o f t h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r i n t h e P i t t s -

b u r g h d i s t r i c t . H e r e p r e s e n t e d t h e E l e c t r i c a l W o r k e r s a t t h e c o n f e r e n c e

t o o r g a n i z e t h e I r o n a n d S t e e l W o r k e r s , i n W a s h i n g t o n , i n S e p t e m b e r , 1 9 1 9 ,

a n d i n J a n u a r y , 1 9 2 0 , h e p r o m o t e d t h e r a i l r o a d s t r i k e .

F o s t e r i s a b e l i e v e r i n d i r e c t a c t i o n , i n f o r c e i n s t e a d o f t h e b a l l o t t o

bring about changes in government, and in owners hip o f i n d u s t r i e s b y

Labor .H e i s s e c r e t a r y o f t h e S y n d i c a l i s t L e a g u e o f

N o r t h A m e r i c a , a

m e m b e r o f t h e N a t i o n a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n ,

o n e o f t h e t r u s t e e s o f t h e G a r l a n d F o u n d a t i o n , a n d i s a f r e q u e n t c o n t r i b u t o r

o f e x t r e m i s t a r t i c l e s t o t h e m a n y r a d i c a l p a p e r s i n t h i s c o u n t r y . H e i s t h e

a u t h o r o f s e v e r a l b o o k s i n t e n d e d t o i n c i t e t h e w o r k e r s t o v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t

s o c i e t y .

Before 1910 Foster wa s working to for m the greatest r e v o l u t i o n a r y

m o v e m e n t t h e w o r l d h a s e v e r s e e n , a n d s o t h e p l a n s o f L e n i n a n d T r o t s k y

f i t t e d i n e x a c t l y w i t h h i s p l a n s . T h e R u s s i a n s h a d a b e t t e r o p p o r t u n i t y

t o p u t t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y p l a n s i n t o e f f e c t , w i t h t h e aid of Germany , but

t h e y f o u n d a n a b l e a i d o n t h i s s i d e o f t h e w a t e r i n F o s t e r . B y 1919 h e

w a s wo r k ing t o o ve r t hr o w G om p e rs i n th e Am e r ic a n Fe d e ra t i on o f L abo r

a n t c o m p l e t e l y t o d e s t r o y t h a t o r g a n i z a t i o n . In Chicago, when members of

t h e I . W. W . were on trial he urged them not to attempt to f i g h t t h e

Government openly, but to join the American F e d e r a t i o n o f L abo r a n d

" b o r e f r o m w i t h i n . "

A f t e r b e c o m i n g a l e a d e r o f t h e I . W . W . a n d t o u r i n g E u r o p e a s t h e

r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h a t o r g a n i z a t i o n , h e b e c a m e s o p r o n o u n c e d i n h i s s t a n d

1 9 4 1




f o r t h e o v e r t h r o w o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t b y f o r c e a n d s o i n s i s t e n t a b o u t " b o r i n g

f r o m w i t h i n " a s a f i x e d p o l i c y o f a n y o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t c o u l d b e u s e d t o

f u r t h e r h i s a m b i t i o u s e n d s t h a t t h e I . W. W . disagreed with him and he

l e f t t h a t p a r t y . F r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g h i s p l a n s h a v e b e e n c o n s i s t e n t , w i t h

t h e o n e a i m o f d o i n g a w a y w i t h all o rga n i z e d g o v e r n m e n t a n d g i v i ng

L a b o r c o n t r o l o f t h e w o r l d . H i s i d e a s w e r e s o r a d i c a l t h a t t h e I . W. W .

paled by contrast, and even S o l i d a r i t y r e f u s e d t o p u b l i s h h i s a r t i c l e s .

L i t t l e b y l i t t l e h e h a s o r g a n i z e d t h e r a d i c a l s a n d R e d s i n a l l b r a n c h e s o f

i n d u s t r y , g a t h e r i n g t h e m i n t o t h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r , u n t i l ,

t h r o u g h t h e i r i n f l u e n c e a n d s u p p o r t , h e h a s p u t h i m s e l f i n t o a p o s i t i o n

o f i m p o r t a n c e r i v a l i n g t h a t o f G o m p e r s .

I n A u g u s t , 1 9 2 0 , F o s t e r m e t w i t h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t w e n t y - f o u r i n t e r -

n a t i o n a l s a t Y o u n g s t o w n , O h i o , t o v o t e ' f o r a p r o p o s e d g e n e r a l s t r i k e o f

s t e e l i n d u s t r y w o r k e r s . The strike wa s carried by 98 per cent, ch iefly

t h r o u g h t h e e f f o r t s o f F o s t e r . He has always been interested in negro

a c t i v i t i e s a n d i n 1 9 1 9 h e p r o m i s e d L e e F o r t W h i t m a n , t h e n e g r o r a d i c a l ,

t h a t h e w o u l d a i d h i m i n b r i n g i n g t h e n e g r o e s i n t o t h e s t e e l w o r k e r s ' u n i o n .

I t i s a l l e g e d t h a t h e w a s c o n n e c t e d w i t h a f r e e s p e e c h c a m p a i g n h a v i n g t o

do with the Inter-Church World Movement in April, 1920 . I n N o v e m b e r

o f t h a t y e a r h e l e f t t h e s t a f f o f T h e N e w M a j o r i t y , w i t h w h i c h h e h a d b e e n

identifi ed for some time, and organized the Trade Union Educationa l

L e a g u e f o r t h e a v o w e d p u r p o s e o f h a s t e n i n g t h e e v o l u t i o n o f l a b o r f r o m

c r a f t t o i n d u s t r i a l .

I n D e c e m b e r , 1 9 2 0 , a t a m e e t i n g o f t h e E x e c u t i v e B o a r d o f t h e M e a t

C u t t e r s ' U n i o n , h e l d i n N e w Y o r k C i t y , h e e x p l a i n e d t o t h e m e a t c u t t e r s

h o w t h e y c o u l d s t r i k e t o f o r c e t h e s u r r e n d e r o f a l l t h e c a p i t a l i s t s a n d

d e f e a t t h e w ag e r e du c t i o n a n d o p e n-s h o p m o v e m e n t . He attended the

f i r s t C o n g r e s s o f t h e R e d T r a d e U n i o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l , a t M o s c o w , i n J u n e ,

1 9 2 1 , a s a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e A m a l g a m a t e d T e x t i l e W o r k e r s o f A m e r i c a .

F o s t e r i s n o w a d v o c a t i n g o n a l l o c c a s i o n s , a s a p r e l i m i n a r y t o c e n t r a l i z a -

t i o n o f a l l p o w e r i n t h e w o r k e r s ' h a n d s , t h e a m a l g a m a t i o n o f a l l u n i o n s

i n t o t h e s a m e c r a f t . I n A p r i l , 1 9 2 2 , h e s t a t e d i n a s p e e c h i n C h i c a g o t h a t

i f t h e w o r k e r s r e c e i v e a l l t h e y w e r e e n t i t l e d t o i t w o u l d m e a n t h e e l i m i n a -

t i o n o f t h e e m p l o y e r c l a s s , a n d r e f e r r e d t o t h e c o m i n g s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n

c a p i t a l a n d l a b o r a s t h e m o s t b r u t a l w a r t h e w o r l d h a s e v e r k n o w n .

I n a d v o c a c y o f v i o l e n c e i n t h e f i g h t a g a i n s t c a p i t a l i s m F o s t e r h a s

w r i t t e n v o l u m e s . He w a s v e r y mu c h i m p r e s s e d w i t h t h e F r e n c h w o r k e r s'

s t r u g g l e s a n d t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f p r o p e r t y a c c o m p l i s h e d b y t h e m i n t h e i r

s t r i k e s . I t w a s d u r i n g o n e o f h i s v i s i t s t o E u r o p e t h a t h e h a d a n o p p o r -

t u n i t y o f s t u d y i n g s a b o t a g e a t f i r s t h a n d , a n d o n h i s r e t u r n t o A m e r i c a

h e w r o t e

" N e x t t o t h e p a r t i a l s t r i k e , t h e m o s t e f f e c t i v e w e a p o n u s e d b y t h e

S y n d i c a l i s t s i n t h e i r d a i l y w a r f a r e o n c a p i t a l i s m i s s a b o t a g e .

" P e r h a p s t h e m o s t w i d e l y p r a c t i s e d f o r m o f s a b o t a g e i s t h e r e s t r i c t i o n

b y t h e w o r k e r s o f t h e i r o u t p u t .

" T h e m o s t w i d e l y k n o w n f o r m o f s a b o t a g e i s t h a t k n o w n a s ` p u t t i n g

t h e m a c h i n e r y o n s t r i k e . ' I f h e i s a r a i l r o a d e r , h e c u t s w i r e s , p u t s c e m e n t

[ 9 5 1



REDS IN AMERICA

i n sw it c h e s , si g n a l s , e tc . , r u n s l o c o m o t i v e s i n t o t u r n t a b l e p i t s a n d t r i e s i n

e v e r y p o s s i b l e w a y t o t e m p o r a r i l y d i s o r g a n i z e t h e d e l i c a t e l ya d j u s t e d r a i l -

road system . I f h e i s a m a c h i n i s t o r f a c t o r y w o r k e r , a n d h a s n ' t r e a d y

a c c e s s t o t h e m a c h i n e r y , h e w i l l h i r e o u t a s a s c a b a n d s u r r e p t i t i o u s l y p u t

emery dust in the bearin gs of the machinery or otherwise disable i t .

O f t e n t i m e s h e t a k e s t i m e b y t h e f o r e l o c k , a n d w h e n g o i n g o n s t r i k e ` p u t s

t h e m a c h i n e r y o n s t r i k e ' w i t h h i m , h i d i n g , s t e a l i n g o r d e s t r o y i n g s o m e

s m a l l i n d i s p e n s a b l e m a c h i n e p a r t w h i c h i s d i f f i c u l t t o r e p l a c e .

"Another kind of sabotage widely practiced b y S y n d i c a l i s t s i s t h e

t a c t i c s o f e i t h e r r u i n i n g o r t u r n i n g o u t i n f e r i o r p r o d u c t s . T h u s , b y c a u s i n g

t h e i r e m p l o y e r s f i n a n c i a l l o s s e s , t h e y f o r c e t h e m t o g r a n t t h e i r d e m a n d s .

" S a b o t a g e i s p e c u l i a r l y a w e a p o n o f t h e r e b e l m i n o r i t y . I t s s u c c e s s f u l

a p p l i c a t i o n , u n l i k e t h e s t r i k e , d o e s n o t r e q u i r e t h e c o o p e r a t i o n o f a l l

t h e w o r k e r s in t e r es t e d . A f e w r e b e l s c a n , u n d e t e c t e d , s a b o t a g e a n d d e m o r a l i z e

an industry and force the weak or timi d majority to s h a r e i t s b e n e f i t s .

T h e S y n d i c a l i s t s a r e n o t c o n c e r n e d t h a t t h e m e t h o d s of sabotage may be

' u n d e r h a n d e d ' o r ` u n m a n l y . ' T h e y a r e v e r y s u c c e s s f u l a n d t h a t i s a l l t h e y

a s k o f t h e m . " (S y n d i c ali s m , p a g e s 1 5 , 1 6 , 1 7 a n d 1 8 . )

I n a d v o c a t i n g d i r e c t a c t i o n a s a g a i n s t p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n , F o s t e r w r o t e :

" T h e s u p e r i o r i t y o f d i r e c t a c t i o n t o p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n i n w i n n i n g c o n -

c e s s i o n s f r o m c a p i t a l i s m i s c l e a r l y s e e n i n a c o m p a r i s o n o f t h e a c h i e v e -

m e n t s t o d a t e o f t h e d i r e c t a c t i o n a n d p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n m o v e m e n t s .

" T h e c h i e f c a u s e f o r t h e g r e a t e r s u c c e s s o f t h e l a b o r u n i o n s t h a n t h e

p o l i t i c a l p a r t y i s f o u n d i n t h e s u p e r i o r e f f i c a c y o f d i r e c t a c t i o n t o p o l i t i c a l

a c t i o n . T h e f o r m e r i s a d e m o n s t r a t i o n o f r e a l p o w e r , t h e l a t t e r m e r e l y

a n e x p r e s s i o n o f p u b l i c s e n t i m e n t .

" T h e c a m p a i g n f o r ` l a w a n d o r d e r ' t a c t i c s t h a t i s c o n t i n u a l l y c a r r i e d

o n i n t h e u n i o n s b y v a r i o u s k i n d s o f l e g a l i t a r i a n s a n d w e a k l i n g s e x e r t s

a b a d i n f l u e n c e u p o n t h e m . I t m u s t c e a s e " (S y n d i c ali s m , p a g e s 2 0 , 2 2 , 2 3 ,

2 4 , 2 5 , 2 6 a n d 4 9 . )

R e g a r d i n g s o c i e t y i n g e n e r a l a n d h i s u t t e r d i s r e g a r d f o r i t , F o s t e r

w r i t e s i n S y n d i c ali s m , p a g e s 2 7 a n d 2 8 :

" T h e S y n d i c a l i s t t a k e s n o c o g n i z a n c e o f s o c i e t y . H e i s i n t e r e s t e d o n l y

i n t h e w e l f a r e o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s a n d c o n s i s t e n t l y d e f e n d s i t . H e l e a v e s

t h e r a g - b a g m a s s o f p a r a s i t e s t h a t m a k e u p t h e n o n - w o r k i n g c l a s s p a r t o f

s o c i e t y t o l o o k a f t e r t h e i r o w n i n t e r e s t s . It is immaterial to him what

b e c o m e s o f t h e m s o l o n g a s t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s a d v a n c e s . H e i s n o t a f r a i d

o f t u r n i n g t h e w h e e l s o f p r o g r e s s b a c k w a r d , i n t h u s c o n s t a n t l y c o n f i n i n g

h i m s e l f t o t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s , a s h e k n o w s t h a t b y f r e e i n g

t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s e n t i r e l y h e w i l l g i v e s o c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t t h e g r e a t e s t

s t i m u l u s i t h a s e v e r k n o w n . "

L a t e r o n , c o n d e m n i n g p a t r i o t i s m , F o s t e r w r i t e s :

" T h e S y n d i c a l i s t i s a r a d i c a l a n t i - p a t r i o t . H e i s a t r u e i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t ,

knowing no country . H e o p p o s e s p a t r i o t i s m b e c a u s e i t c r e a t e s f e e l i n g s o f

n a t i o n a l i s m a m o n g t h e w o r k e r s o f t h e v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s a n d p r e v e n t s c o -

o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e m , a n d a l s o b e c a u s e o f t h e m i l i t a r i s m i t i n e v i t a b l y

b r e e d s . " (S y n d i c ali s m , p a g e 2 9 . )

[ 9 6 1




A l l t h e d o c t r i n e s e x p r e s s e d i n t h e b o o k , S y n d i c a l i s m , F o s t e r u s e d i n

a b o o k p u b l i s h e d l a t e r a n d c a l l e d , T r a d e U n i o n i s m . T h i s l a t t e r b o o k h e

d i s t r i b u t e d b y t h e t h o u s a n d s o f c o p i e s w h e n h e w a s l i n i n g u p t h e f o r c e s

f o r t h e g r e a t s t e e l s t r i k e i n 1 9 1 9 . I n o n e p l a c e F o s t e r , a f t e r h a v i n g

p i c t u r e d t h e w o r l d w i t h t h e w o r k e r s i n c o n t r o l , h a s w r i t t e n :

" U n d e r t h e n e w o r d e r a s p i c t u r e d a b o v e , G o v e r n m e n t , s u c h a s w e k n o w

i t , w o u l d g r a d u a l l y d i s a p p e a r . I n a n e r a o f S c i e n c e a n d J u s t i c e , t h i s

m a k e s h i f t i n s t i t u t i o n , h a v i n g l o s t i t s u s e f u l n e s s , w o u l d s h r i v e l a n d d i e .

" T o d a y a l a r g e b r a n c h o f G o v e r n m e n t r e l a t e s t o w a r . , T h e a b o l i t i o n

o f t h e p r o f i t s y s t e m w o u l d r e n d e r t h i s u s e l e s s . I t w o u l d m a k e i m p o s s i b l e

t h e f a t a l r i v a l r y b e t w e e n t h e n a t i o n s o v e r m a r k e t s , a n d t h u s d e s t r o y t h e

v e r y f o u n d a t i o n s o f w a r . A f r i e n d l y , s p o n t a n e o u s , i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o o p e r a -

t i o n l i k e t h a t b e t w e e n t h e v a r i o u s s t a t e s i n t h e U n i o n w o u l d s u p e r s e d e t h e

p r e s e n t e l a b o r a t e w a r d e p a r t m e n t s .

" C r i m i n a l c o u r t s , p o l i c e , j a i l s a n d t h e l i k e w o u l d g o a l s o . C r i m e i s

due almost wholly to poverty . In a reign of plenty for all it would

p r a c t i c a l l y d i s a p p e a r . T h e f e w c r i m i n a l s r e m a i n i n g w o u l d b e s u b j e c t s f o r

h o s p i t a l s r a t h e r t h a n j a i l s . L i k e w i s e t h e c i v i l c o u r t s , w i t h t h e i r h o r d e s o f

o f f i c i a l s , w o u l d v a n i s h . P e o p l e w o u l d n o l o n ge r h a v e t o w r a n g l e o v e r

p r o p e r t y r i g h t s .

" T h e i n d u s t r i e s n o w i n t h e h a n d s o f n a t i o n a l , s t a t e a n d m u n i c i p a l

g o v e r n m e n t s w o u l d b e g i v e n o v e r c o m p l e t e l y i n t o t h e c a r e o f t h e w o r k e r s

engaged in the m . U n l i k e i n o u r d a y s o f g r a f t t h e s e w o r k e r s w o u l d t h e n

h a v e e v e r y r e a s o n t o g i v e t h e p u b l i c t h e b e s t p o s s i b l e s e r v i c e . T h e t e a c h e r s

w o u l d h a v e f u l l c o n t r o l o v e r e d u c a t i o n , t h e d o c t o r s o v e r s a n i t a t i o n , t h e

p o s t a l w o r k e r s o v e r t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n o f m a i l , e t c . T h i s w o u l d c e r t a i n l y

m a k e f o r e f f i c i e n c y , f o r n o o t h e r b o d y w o u l d b e s o c o m p e t e n t t o c o n t r o l

a n i n d u s t r y a s t h e w o r k e r s d i r e c t l y e m p l o y e d i n i t . S u r e l y n o m e r e l e g i s l a -

t i v e a s s e m b l i e s c o u l d h o p e t o b e i n p o s s e s s i o n o f s u f f i c i e n t knowledge to

e v e n i n t e l l i g e n t l y a d v i s e s u c h g r o u p s o f s c i e n t i f i c a l l y o r g a n i z e d p r o d u c e r s ,

m u c h l e s s c o n t r o l t h e m .

" W i t h w a r , c r i m e , c l a s s a n t a g o n i s m s a n d p r o p e r t y s q u a b b l e s o b l i t e r -

ated, and the management of industry taken from i t s c a r e , l i t t l e o r n o

excuse would exist for government . What few extraordinary occasions

a r o s e r e q u i r i n g l e g i s l a t i v e a c t i o n t o a r r i v e a t s o m e s o r t o f s o l u t i o n c o u l d

b e h a n d l e d b y t h e T r a d e U n i o n s , w h i c h w o u l d s t i l l c o n t r i v e t o h a v e m a n y

uses . " ( T r a d e U n i o n i s m , p a g e s 2 4 a n d 2 5 . )

As the Workers' party functions in politics and the Trade Union

E d u c a t i o n a l L e a g u e i n i n d u s t r y , s o t h e " F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a " i s t h e

" l e g a l " f i n a n c i a l b r a n c h o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a . A m e m b e r

of the Central Executive Committee of the C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i s k n o w n

t o h a v e s a i d t h a t b u t f o r t h e f u n d s c o l l e c t e d b y t h e F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a

f o r t h e o s t e n s i b l e p u r p o s e o f r e l i e f , t h e p a r t y would hardly be able to

f u n c t i o n i n t h i s c o u n t r y a s a g r e a t p o r t i o n o f t h e r e l i e f m o n e y n e v e r l e a v e s

t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s b u t i s u s e d f o r p r o p a g a n d a . T h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n w a s f o r m e d

in 1921 by the Central Executive Committee of the Communist p a r t y f o r

( 9 7 1



REDS I N AMERICA

t h e p u r p o s e o f s e c u r i n g f u n d s f o r t h e r e l i e f o f S o v i e t R u s s i a a n d a l s o " t o

e x p o s e a n d r e f u t e t h e l i e s w h i c h a r e c o n s t a n t l y b e i n g c i r c u l a t e d a b o u t h e r

i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t p r e s s a n d t o p r e s e n t t h e r e a l f a c t s a b o u t S o v i e t R u s s i a t o

t h e A m e r i c a n p e o p l e , a n d c r e a t e a d e m a n d f o r t h e l i f t i n g o f t h e b l o c k a d e

a g a i n s t h e r a n d t h e r e s u m p t i o n o f t r a d e . "

A r t i c l e o n e o f t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e s o c i e t y p r o v i d e s t h a t t h e f u n d s

c o l l e c t e d s h a l l b e s e n t " t o R u s s i a n S o v i e t a u t h o r i t i e s . " T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n

of this body was brought about by Caleb Harrison, o n e o f t h e o f f i c i a l

d e l e g a t e s t o t h e i l l e g a l B r i d g m a n c o n v e n t i o n , a n d D r . J a c o b W . Ha r t m a n .

T h e n a m e s o f t h e f i r s t e x e c u t i v e c o m m i t t e e a n d a d v i s o r y c o m m i t t e e w i l l

p r o v e i t s c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y . T h e f i r s t - n a m e d c o m m i t t e e

c o m p r i s e d D r . Ha r tm a n , C aleb Ha r r is o n , Edga r Owe n s , Alle n S . Broms,

D r . J . W i l e n k i n , D r . William Mendelsohn and Dr . L e o S . R e i c h e l . T h e a d -

v i s o r y c o m m i t t e e i n c l u d e d W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r , W i l l i a m F . D u n n e , R o s e P a s t o r

S t o k e s , C a l e b H a r r i s o n , R o b e r t M i n o r a n d E l l a R e e v e B l o o r , a l l o f t h e m

d e l e g a t e s a t B r i d g m a n ; D e n n i s B a t t , E l m e r T . A l l i s o n , J a c k C a r n e y , Ludwig

Lor e , Edg a r O we n s , Ma r y W . V o r s e , H u l e t M . W e l l s , M a x E a s t m a n , A l l e n

S . B r o m s , J o s e p h P . C a n n o n , D r . W i l e n k i n , D r . Mendelsohn and Dr . R e i c h e l .

T h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n h a v e s p r e a d r a p i d l y t h r o u g h o u t t h e

United States and Canada . Branches have been es tablished, propaganda

s p r e a d b y m e a n s o f p a m p h l e t s , m a s s m e e t i n g s a n d m o v i n g p i c t u r e s . A f f i l i a -

t i o n s w i t h l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s , s o c i e t i e s a n d a s s o c i a t i o n s h a v e i n c r e a s e d a n d

n e w r e l i e f b o d i e s h a v e b e e n o r g a n i z e d . A s u b s i d i a r y b r a n c h k n o w n a s t h e

"American-Federated Russian Famine Relief Committee" h a s b e e n o r g a n -

i z e d t o p u r c h a s e s u p p l i e s w i t h t h e m o n e y s e c u r e d b y t h e F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t

R u s s i a . S p e a k e r s f r o m r a d i c a l u n i o n s , I . W .W . a n d C o m m u n i s t o r g a n i z a t i o n s

a r e t o u r i n g t h e c o u n t r y i n t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h i s s o c i e t y . Among the organi-

z a t i o n s a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a a r e t h e f o l l o w i n g , a l l l e g a l

b o d i e s :

T h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y , S o c i e t y f o r T e c h n i c a l A i d t o S o v i e t R u s s i a , F i n n i s h

W o r k i n g m e n ' s A s s o c i a t i o n , S o c i a l i s t s C o n s u m e r s ' L e a g u e , R u s s i a n - U k r a i n i a n

W o r k e r s ' E d u c a t i o n a l S o c i e t y , L i t h u a n i a n R e l i e f C o m m i t t e e , A m e r c a n - L i t h u -

a n i a n W o r k e r s ' L i t e r a r y S o c i e t y , A m e r i c a n - H u n g a r i a n W o r k e r s ' F e d e r a t i o n ,

New England Workers' Association, Czecho-Slovak Workmen's C o u n c i l o f

A m e r i c a , N a t i o n a l C r o a t i a n S o c i e t y , W o r l d W a r V e t e r a n s , Toronto Trades

a n d L a b o r C o u n c i l , M o n t r e a l T r a d e s a n d L a b o r C o u n c i l , A m a l g a m a t e d C l o t h -

i n g W o r k e r s o f A m e r i c a , C h i c a g o F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r , D e t r o i t F e d e r a t i o n

o f L a b o r , S e a t t l e C e n t r a l L a b o r C o u n c i l a n d T a c o m a C e n t r a l L a b o r C o u n c i l .

T h e c o n t r i b u t i o n l i s t , a p r i n t e d f o r m u s e d b y t h e F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t

R u s s i a a t i t s i n c e p t i o n b o r e t h e i n t e r e s t i n g a n d i l l u m i n a t i n g l e g e n d , " E n -

d o r s e d b y t h e o f f i c i a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f L . C . A . K . M a r t e n s , " t h e o f f i c i a l

representative of the Moscow Communist Government who w a s o b l i g e d t o

l e a v e t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , t h r o u g h f e a r o f d e p o r t a t i o n , p a p e r s a l r e a d y h a v i n g

b e e n i s s u e d .

The next legal branch in importance in the work of f u r t h e r i n g t h e

i n t e r e s t s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i s p e r h a p s

t h e Y o u n g W o r k e r s ' L e a g u e , w h i c h i s o n e o f t h e p e t s o f R o b e r t M i n o r , t h e

1 9 8 1



OFFICIAL, ORGAN*JUNIOR S E C T I O N *` i OU N G W O R K E R S L E A G U E ° °A M E R I C A

V o l . 1. No

. 3.

T HE capitalists have

c r e a t e d t w o k i n d s o f

s c h o o l s . O n e f o r t h e i r

o w n c h i l d r e n , p r i v a t e

s c h o o l s , w h e r e t h e y a r e

t a u g h t t o r u l e o v e r t h e

w o r k e r s , a n d t h e o t h e r ,

public schools, w h e r e

t h e y t r y t o t e a c h t h e

children to be willing

w o r k e r s a n d s i l e n t s l a v e s

for those who are t aught

t o b e t h e r u l e r s .

I n t h e p u b l i c s c h o o l s ,

you, the children of the

workers, are taught that

this is the best govern-

m e n t i n t h e w o r l d . B u t

y o u a r e n e v e r t o l d t h a t

this government allows

l i t t l e c h i l d r e n o f 5 y e a r s

o f a g e t o w o r k u n d e r

terrible conditions in

JANUARY, 1924

W h y W e F i gh t A g a i n s t t h e P u b l i c S c h o o l s

a n d ' r i t h m e t i c t o m a k e

y o u a b l e t o c a r r y o n w o r k

f o r t h e b o s s w h e n y o u a r e

old enough to be dra gged

i n t o a f a c t o r y o r a m i n e .

I n y o u r r e l i g i o u s t r a i n -

i n g y o u a r e t o l d t h a t e v e n

i f t h i n g s a r e b a d o n t h i s

e a r t h , e v e r y t h i n g w i l l b e

wonderful when you die

a n d g o t o H e a v e n , f o r

t h e r e y o u w i l l b e i n P a r a -

d i s e

B u t w e d o n o t w a n t t o

w a i t u n t i l w e a r e a l l d e a d

t o g o t o a P a r a d i s e . T h a t

i s a l l a l i e . When you die,

you are dead and that is

G a l l t h e r e i s t o i t . Wew a n t o u r P a r a d i s e r i g h t

here and now . W e w o r k

h a r d a n d m a k e a l l t h e

beautiful things of life

m i n e s , f a c t o r i e s a n dThe World Belongs To Us!

a n d w e w a n t t o e n j o y

fields in order to get a t h e m n o w . A n d i f w e p u t

b i t e t o e a t . Y ou a r e t o l d t h a t t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f u p a g o o d , s t r o n g f i g h t f o r i t , w e c a n h a v e o u r

t h e w o r k e r s , l i k e t h e u n i o n s a n d t h e c o m m u n i s t h e a v e n o n e a r t h , w h e r e w e s h a l l l i v e l i k e h um a n

parties, are wicked organizations that are unjust beings and not like beasts in a hole .

a n d u n r e a s o n a b l e a n d b a d a l l a r o u n d . T h e c h i l d T h a t i s w h a t t h e J u n i o r S e c t i o n i s o rg a n i z e d

of the worker is ta ught to hate the working class for We want to get all the children of the work-

a n d t o s u p p o r t t h e c a p i t a l i s t s ._ They tell you that ers united into a s trong organization . W e w a n t

t h e y a r e g i v i n g y o u a n e d u c a t i o n , b u t i t i s n o t t r u e , t o f i g h t , a l l o f u s t o g e t h e r ! T h e o l d e r m e n a n d

T h e y o n l y t e a c h y ou e n ou g h w r i t i ng , r e a d i n g w o m e n w o r k e r s i n t h e W o r k e r s P a r t y ; the young

P r i c e 5 c e n t s

A c o m m u n i s t p a p e r f o r l i t t l e f o l k s . The Young Comrade, o f f i c i a l o rg a n o f t h e

J u n i o r S e c t i o n , Y o u n g W o r k e r s ' Le a g u e o f 2 m e r i c a .




a c t i v e C o m m u n i s t w h o w a s a d e l e g a t e t o t h e B r i d g m a n c o n v e n t i o n . M i n o r ' s

t r e a c h e r y d u r i n g t h e w a r w h i c h w o u l d h a v e r e s u l t e d i n h i s e x e c u t i o n b u t

f o r t h e i n f l u e n c e e x e r c i s e d i n h i s b e h a l f i s w e l l k n o w n . The aim of this

o r g a n i z a t i o n i s t o p l a c e t h e i d e a l s o f C o m m u n i s m b e f o r e t h e y o u t h o f t h i s

country in a most subtle manner so that when they a t t a i n m a t u r i t y t h e y

w i ll b e th o r ough C o mm un i st s r e ad y f or t h e w or k o f m o v i n g t o w a rd t h e

o v e r t h r o w b y v i o l e n c e o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t u n d e r w h i c h t h e y n o w l i v e . This

is an outgrowth of the Young People's Communist League and the Y o u n g

P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t L e a g u e . I t w a s r e c e n t l y r e o r g a n i z e d f o r " l e g a l " p r o p a -

ganda purposes by the Executive Committee of the Workers' p a r t y . Th e

i n s t a l l a t i o n o f t h e v a r i o u s c i r c l e s i s i n c h a r g e o f t h e n a t i o n a l s e c r e t a r y ,

O l i v e r C a r l s o n , a l i a s E . C o n n o l l y , a l i a s E d w a r d s . T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e

League is to educate the young workers to u n d e r s t a n d t h e i r p o s i t i o n i n

c a p i t a l i s t s o c i e t y , t o s h o w t h e m t h e s t u p i d i t y o f t r y i n g t o c l i m b h i g h e r ,

a n d t o m a p o u t a c o u r s e o f a c t i o n f o r t h e i r e m a n c i p a t i o n .

Among the organizers are a number of well-known Reds, members o f

t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a . W a l t e r B r o n s t r u p , M r s . M a r g a r e t P r e v e y ,

Mr s . Sadie Amter, Max Kaminsky and D . E . E a r l y a r e a c t i v e i n t h e o r g a n -

i z a t i o n . S o m e t h i n g o f t h e w o r k o f t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n w a s t o l d i n a p r e v i o u s

c h a p t e r o f t h i s c h r o n i c l e .

Associat ed with t he Young Worker s' League is a n e w o r g a n i z a t i o n ,

f u n c t i o n i n g a s a l e g a l b r a n c h , u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i n f l u e n c e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

party of America, and known as the Famine Scout Clubs . N o t o n l y i s i t

e a s y t o r a i s e m o n e y f o r t h e C o m m u n i s t s t h r o u g h t h e a p p e a l o f t h e c h i l d r e n

t h u s d r a w n i n t o t h e m o v e m e n t , b u t i t i s a l s o e x c e l l e n t t r a i n i n g i n C o m -

munism for them and a m edium through which the ra dical propaganda can

b e c i r c u l a t e d .

The Famine Scout Club movement was the brilliant thought of Rose

P a s t o r S t o k e s , o n e o f t h e d e l e g a t e s t o t h e u n d e r g r o u n d c o n v e n t i o n o f t h e

C o mm un i s t p a rt y o f A m er i c a w hi c h w a s r a id e d a t B r i dg ma n , M ic h . , a n d

an active Communist since the American beginning . The name selected

w o u l d a p p e a l t o t h o s e i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e e x c e l l e n t B o y S c o u t a n d G i r l S c o u t

o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e i t w o u l d o f f e r a n e x c e l l e n t b e g i n n i n g f o r

p l a n t i n g t h e s e e d s o f C o m m u n i s m i n t h e m i n d s o f t h e y o u n g w h i l e r a i s i n g

money for Communist purposes . Mr s . S t o k e s t r a v e l e d a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y

o r g a n i z i n g t h e s e F a m i n e S c o u t C l u b s . T h e m e m b e r s h i p i s n o t y e t l a r g e ,

but enough young people have become interested to f o r m a n o t h e r g r oup

o f n u c l e i f o r r a d i c a l p r o p a g a n d a . B u t m e m b e r s h i p i s n o t o n e o f t h e p r i m e

d e s i r e s o f C o m m u n i s t s ; t h e c h i e f f e a t u r e i s t o have a s m a n y n u c l e i a s

p o s s i b l e . F o r t h i s r e a s o n c l u b s a r e o r g a n i z e d w i t h f e w m e m b e r s t h r o u g h

w h i c h a p p e a l s a r e m a d e t o t h e p u b l i c t o a i d t h e f a m i n e s u f f e r e r s i n R u s s i a .

B u t t h e m o n e y c o l l e c t e d g o e s t o t h e R u s s i a n R e d C r o s s , w h i c h , a l t h o u g h

a s s o c i a t e d i n o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l R e d C r o s s , i s s o l e l y a n

organ of the Communist Soviet Government of Russia .

T h e Am e r i c a n C o m m i t t e e f o r R u s s i a n F a m i n e R e l i e f w a s o r g a n i z e d

b y W a l t e r W . L i g g e t t a t t h e i n s t i g a t i o n o f J o h n G . O h s o l , a m e m b e r o f t h e

R u s s i a n R e d C r o s s , w h i c h i s o f f i c i a l l y a p a r t o f t h e S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t i n

[ 9 9 l



REDS IN AMERICA

Mos c o w , f o r m e r a s s o c i a t e o f t h e L . C . A . K . Martens, Bolshevist "ambas .

s a d o r " t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s. He desired to extend Russian relief work i n

order to reach elements in the United States who would not contribute to

t h e a v o w e d l y s o v i e t i z e d R u s s i a n R e d C r o s s S o c i e t y . A contrac t was entered

i n t o b e t w e e n t h e R u s s i a n R e d C r o s s S o c i e t y w i t h D r . D a v i d Dubr o w s k y ,

O hs ol a n d D r . M i c h a e l M i c h a i l o v s k y l , a s p a r t i e s o f t h e f i r s t p a r t , a n d t h e

A m e r i c a n C o m m i t t e e f o r R u s s i a n F a m i n e R e l i e f , b y A . W . R i c k e r , L i g g e t t

a n d J a m e s H . M c G i l l a s p a r t i e s o f t h e s e c o n d p a r t . Th i s c o n t r a c t w a s i n

e s s e n c e a n un d e r w r i t i ng c o n t r a c t up o n t h e p a r t o f t h e Rus s i a n R e d Cr o s s

f o r t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e A m e r i c a n C o m m i t t e e f o r R u s s i a n F a m i n e R e l i e f.

T h i s u n d e r w r i t i n g c o n t r a c t w a s n o t g e n e r a l ly k n o w n a n d c e r t a i n l y

the character of the three Russians were unknown to the majority of per-

s o n s l e n d i n g t h e i r n a m e s t o t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e c o m m i t t e e . T h e o n l y

public indication appearing in connection with the Russian Red Cross was

that on the letter head of the American Committee, where was print ed in

s m a l l t y p e t h i s s t a t e m e n t : " Di s t r i but i ng Th r ough Rus s i a n R e d Cr o s s Un d e r

Am e r i c a n Sup e r v i s i o n . "

T h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n w e r e f i r s t d i r e c t e d t o h o l d i n g p u b l i c

m e e t i n g s f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f r a i s i n g f u n d s f o r R u s s i a n r e l i e f w o r k , b u t t h e y

q u i c k l y t o o k o n a p o l i t i c a l c h a r a c t e r s e v e r e l y c r i t i c i s i n g t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

a n d p r a i s i n g R u s s i a u n d e r t h e C o m m u n i s t s . I s a a c Mc B r i d e , f o r m e rly a

c l o s e a s s o c i a t e o f M a r t e n s a n d a n a c t i v e f r i e n d o f D u b r o w s k y , e a r l y i n 1 9 2 2

a d d r e s s e d a m e e t i n g i n C h i c a g o w h i c h o p e n e d w i t h c h e e r s f o r L e n i n ,

Trotsky and the Soviet Government of Russia as well as for the Communist

p a r t y o f A m e r i c a . I n M i l w a u k e e a m e e t i n g d e v e l o p e d i n t o a p o l i t i c a l

ga t h e r i ng f o r r e c ogn i t i o n o f t h e S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t b y t h i s c oun t r y . I n

M i n n e a p o l i s a r e s o l u t i o n w a s p a s s e d c a l l i n g u p o n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n -

m e n t t o e s t a b l i s h a t o n c e t r a d e r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e p r e s e n t R u s s i a n G o v e r n -

m e n t .

M c B r i d e s t a t e d : " W e a r e g o i n g t o m i l k t h e b o u r g e o i s i e o f t h i s c o u n t r y

and they will help us to keep up the struggle against themselves ." Mr .

Ricker, one of the parties t o the underwriting agreement, said that his

s y m p a t h i e s a n d t h o s e o f t h e c o m m i t t e e w e r e e n t i r e l y w i t h t h e S o v i e t r e g i m e .

M c B r i d e a l s o s a i d t h a t t h e A m e r i c a n C o m m i t t e e w a s f o r m e d a f t e r i t w a s

r e a l i z e d t h a t c e r t a i n o r g a n i z a t i o n s , o p e n l y r e c o g n i z e d a s h a v i n g S o v i e t l e a n .

ings, could not perform the same work . He s a i d :

" A n u m b e r w h o w e r e p r e v i o u s l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e A d v i s o r y C o u n c i l

h a v e b e e n el i m i n a t e d f o r f e a r t h a t t h e i r p r e s e n c e m igh t b e lo o k e d up o n

with suspicion by the genera l public . On e of t h os e e li m i na t e d i s Lo ui s

P o s t , f o r m e r A s s i s t a n t S e c r e t a r y o f L a b o r . "

The a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e Rus s i a n R e d Cr o s s i n t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s f i r s t

b e c a m e a p p a r e n t i n 1 921 w h e n D u br o w s k y , M i c h a i l o v s k y a n d O h s o l f o r m e d

t h e i r c o m m i t t e e f o r c a r r y i n g o n t h e w o r k . C h a r l e s R e c h t , l e g a l r e p r e s e n t a -

, Dr. M i c h a e l M i c h a l lo v e k y i s i d e n t i f i e d i n t h e N e w Y o r k S t a t e M e d i c a l D i r e c t o r y a s

having a n o f f i c e a t N o . 18 E a s t 4 1 s t S t r e e t , N e w Y o r k C i t y . He graduated from someRussian U n i v e r s i t y i n m e d i c i n e i n 1 8 9 7 , i s a m e m b e r o f t h e A m e r i c a n M e d i c a l A s s o .

elation and the New York Academy of Medicine, and is listed as visiting der-m a t o l o g i s t a n d u r o l o g i s t t o t h e S y d e n h a m H o s p i t a l .

( 1 0 0 )




t i v e o f t h e S o v i e t i n t e r e s t s i n t h i s c o u n t r y , s a i d t h a t t h e R u s s i a n R e d C r o s s

w a s o n e o f t h e t w o r e c o g n i z e d S o v i e t r e l i e f o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n N e w Y o r k i n

S e p t e m b e r , 1921 . The p e r s o n n el o f t h e c o m m i t t e e o f t h r e e Rus s i a n s w a s

the significant feature of the scheme to those who knew something of the

inside of the Communist party's work here .

D u b r o w s k y h a d b e e n a m e m b e r o f t h e s t a f f o f M a r t e n s a n d h a d b e e n

carried on the latter's payroll at $50 a week . Af t e r Ma r t e n's d e p a r tur e

D u b r o w s k y w a s r e c o g n i z e d i n r a d i c a l c i r c l e s a s t h e u n o f f i c i a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e

o f t h e S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t . He w a s p ar t i cula rly a c t i v e i n c o n n e c t io n w i t h

t h e J e w i s h P u b l i c C o m m i t t e e , a n d w a s t h e i n s t i g a t o r o f t h e p l a n t o t r a n s m i t

t o p e r s o n s i n R u s s i a s u m s o f m o n e y f r o m t h e i r r e l a t i v e s i n t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s . T h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h i s s c h e m e w a s n o t i c e d i n v i e w o f t h e e x c h a n g e

v a l u e p l a c e d u p o n t h e r u b l e b y D u b r o w s k y . Wh e n t h e e x c h a n g e r a t e

w a s n o t l e s s t h a n 4 0 0 0 r u b l e s t o t h e A m e r i c a n d o l l a r , D u b r o w s k y w a s

allowing but 250 rubles to the dollar, and charging $10 for transmiss ion

f o r m o n e y b y c a b l e a n d $ 1 b y m a i l . Dubrowsky's activities along this

l i n e w e r e s q u e l c h e d b y t h e F e d e r a l G o v e r n m e n t .

O h s o l w a s f i r s t c a l l e d t o t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e p u b l i c b y S e n a t o r W a t s o n

o f In d i a n a , i n 1919, w h e n h e w a s e m pl o y e d b y t h e Fe d e r al Tr a d e Co m m i s -

s i o n . H e w a s c h a r g e d w i t h b e i n g a t t h a t t i m e a p r o n o u n c e d S o c i a l i s t

of the most virulent type . Oh s o l w a s a l s o a m e m b e r o f M a r t e n ' s s t a f f ,

l o o k i n g a f t e r a l a r g e p a r t o f t h e l a t t e r ' s c o m m e r c i a l w o r k . H e i s a

c o n s p i cuous B ols h e v i k p r o p aga n d i s t . Mi c h a il o v s k y i s a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f

t h e C o m m i s s a r i a t o f P u b l i c H e a l t h , a n o f f i c i a l u n i t o f t h e R u s s i a n S o c i a l i s t

F e d e r a t e d S o v i e t R e p u b l i c .

S t r e nuous e f f o r t s h a v e b e e n m a d e t o i m p r e s s up o n t h e Am e r i c a n pub-

lic that the Russian Red Cross is not affiliated with, or supervised by,

the Russian Soviet Republic . This, how ever, is pro ved by an examin ation

of the ordinances of th e Soviet republic and the by-laws of the Russian

R e d C r o s s i t s e l f . On August 7 , 1918, " t h e S o v i e t o f t h e Co m m i s s a r i e s o f

t h e P e o p l e " i s s u e d a n o r d i n a n c e s i g n e d b y L e n i n a s m a n a g e r o f t h e a f f a i r s

o f t h e p e o p l e , a n d b y t h e s e c r e t a r y o f t h e S o v i e t s , d e a l i n g w i t h t h e R u s s i a n

R e d C r o s s S o c i e t y w h i c h s a y s s p e c i f i c a l l y , " T h e R u s s i a n R e d C r o s s S o c i e t y

i s u n d e r t h e h i g h p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e c e n t r a l i n s t i t u t i o n s o f t h e r e p u b l i c . "

T h i s o r d i n a n c e a l s o o r d e r s t h e r e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e s o c i e t y t o e f f e c t , a m o n g

o t h e r t h i n g s , t h e " i m m e d i a t e a d o p t i o n o f a l l p o s s i b l e m e a s u r e s f o r t h e

p u r p o s e o f a t t r a c t i n g t o t h e n u m b e r o f t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e s o c i e t y t h e

l a r g e s t p o s s i b l e n u m b e r o f p r o l e t a r i a n i n s t i t u t i o n s , o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d a s s o -

c i a t i o n s . "

I t w a s t h e R u s s i a n R e d C r o s s w o r k e r s i n t h e f a m i n e d i s t r i c t s o f R u s s i a ,

u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e S o v i e t g o v e r n m e n t , w h o g a t h e r e d s m a l l c h i l d r e n ,

suf f e r i ng f r o m hunge r , i n t o r o o m s d e c o r a t e d w i t h t h e ol d s y m b ols o f t h e

Russian religion, and commanded these starving children to pray to their

i k o n s f o r f o o d . Wh e n n o f o o d a p p e a r e d i n a n s w e r t o t h e i r p r a y e r s t h e y

were told to pray to the Soviets for food . T h e c h i l d r e n d i d s o a n d t h e

d o o r s f l e w o p e n a s i f i n a n s w e r t o t h e i r p r a y e r s a n d p l e n t i f u l f o o d a p p e a r e d .

T h e b y - l a w s o f t h e R u s s i a n R e d C r o s s S o c i e t y , w h i c h w e r e a d o p t e d

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REDS I N AMERICA

a t a g e n e r a l c o n f e r e n c e h e l d i n M o s c o w o n N o v . 20, 1921, contain the

f o l l o w i n g s t a t e m e n t s:

"Pa r agr a p h 3-Th e s o c i e t y s h all c o - o p e r a t e w i t h t h e m il i t a r y , n a v al

a n d c i v i l m e d i c o - s a n i t a r y i n s t i t u t i o n s o f t h e R u s s i a n S o c i a l i s t F e d e r a t e d

S o v i e t R e p u b l i c , c o n f o r m i n g t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s t o t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s o f t h e l a t t e r . "

In p a r agr a p h f i v e o f t h e s e b y -la w s a p p e a r s t h e s t a t e m e n t a s t o w h o

may become members of the Russian Red Cross Society . I t r e a d s a s f o l l o w s :

" P r o l e t a r ia n o r g a n i z a t i o n s m a y b e c o m e m e m b e r s o f t h e s o c i e t y , f o r

instance, Workers' Unions, factory and shop committees, medical aid so-

c i e t i e s a n d c i t i z e n s e n j o y i n g a c t i v e a n d p a s s i v e s u f f r a g e , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h

t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e R u s s i a n S o c i a l i s t F e d e r a t e d S o v i e t R e p u b l i c . "

I t w i l l t h u s b e s e e n t h a t o n l y c i t i z e n s o f t h e R u s s i a n S o c i a l i s t F e d e r a t e d

S o v i e t R e p u b li c m a y b e c o m e m e m b e r s o f t h e R u s s i a n R e d C r o s s . Theofficials of the Russian Red Cross are well known Communists, including

L i t v i n o v , h e a d o f t h e f o r e i g n p r o p a g a n d a d e p a r t m e n t o f t h e R u s s i a n S o v i e t

g o v e r n m e n t . Wh e n S e c r e t a r y H o o v e r o f f i c i ally w a r n e d t h e Am e r i c a n pub-

l i c a g a i n s t c o n t r i b u t i n g t o t h e s e v a r i o u s R u s s i a n r e l i e f b o d i e s t h e R u s s i a n

R e d C r o s s a n d t h e F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a b e c a m e v e r y b u s y c l e a n i n g t h e i r

b o o k s a n d r e c o r d s . T h e R u s s i a n R e d C r o s s h a d i s s u e d a b l a n k w i t h t h e

i n i t i a l s u p o n i t " R . S . F . S . R . " s t a n d i n g f o r R u s s i a n S o c i a l i s t F e d e r a t e d

Soviet Republic . The s e bla n k s w e r e qui c kly d e s t r o y e d i n o r d e r t h a t t h e

c o n n e c t i o n o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h t h e S o v i e t g o v e r n m e n t m i g h t n o t b e

d i s c l o s e d . The same policy was followed by the Friends of Soviet Russia .

I n v i e w o f t h i s i t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e , i n c o n c l u s i o n , t h e r e c e n t p r o .

nouncement of the executive committee of the Third International :

"We talk in two languages, that which we talk to the bourgeoisie we

fool them with, that which we talk to the world proletariat is the truth .

O u r p r o b l e m i s t h e w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n . We are going towards it . An d e v e r y -

t h i n g i s d i r e c t e d t o t h i s e n d . "



CHAPTER SIX

RELIEF DRIVES; THE AGRARIAN PROGRAM

M i l l i o n s o f A m e r i c a n d o l l a r s h a v e b e e n p o u r e d i n t o R u s s i a , o s t e n s i b l y

f o r t h e r e l i e f o f f a m i n e s u f f e r e r s . I t i s n o w k n o w n t h a t l i t t l e o f t h i s m o n e y ,

except such as was sent through the channels of the American Relief Ad-

m i n i s t r a t i o n , t h e o f f i c i a l o r g a n i z a t i o n d i r e c t e d b y H e r b e r t H o o v e r , S e c r e t a r y

o f Co m m e r c e i n t h e Ca b i n e t o f Pr e s i d e n t H a r d i ng, w a s us e d p r i m a r il y t o

a i d t h e f a m i n e s u f f e r e r s . It went first to the Communist Soviet Government

i n M o s c o w w h e r e i t s d i s p o s i t i o n w a s d e t e r m i n e d . Th e r e w a s t h e R e d Ar m y t o

f e e d , cl ot h e a n d equi p ; a n d t h e mult i tud e o f o f f i c i al s i n Mo s c o w t o b e

c a r e d f o r . It is known that occas ionally some of the American-contr ibuted

funds went to famine relief, but it is also known that much of it never

r e a c h e d a n y f a m i n e s u f f e r e r .

One o f t h e m o s t p r e t e n t i ous " d r i v e s " , w h i c h w a s i n t e n d e d t o s e cur e

thirty million dollars for the Russian Com munists, was that launched in

1 92 2 b y C a p t a i n P a x t o n H i b b e n , a c t i n g f o r t h e R u s s i a n R e d C r o s s , a n

i n t e g r a l p a r t o f t h e S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t i n M o s c o w . Th i s " d r i v e " w a s

d i r e c t l y u n d e r t h e s u p e r v i s i o n o f t h e S o v i e t r e g i m e . C a p t a i n H i b b e n i s a

P r i n c e t o n g r a d u a t e , r e c e i v e d a M a s t e r ' s d e g r e e a t H a r v a r d , a n d s t u d i e d l a w

for a year at the same University . H e i s a n e x - d i p l o m a t , e x - s o l d i e r , i s a

m e m b e r o f v a r i ous clubs , a n d h a s c o n n e c t i o n s w h i c h e n a ble h i m t o e n t e r

t h e h o m e s o f m a n y l o y al Am e r ic a n c i t i ze n s . Hi s pl e a w a s b a s e d up o n t h e

s u f f e r i n g o f t h e c h i l d r e n o f R u s s i a , a n d a p p e a l e d t o t h e w e l l - k n o w n g e n e r -

o s i t y o f A m e r i c a n s t o w a r d p e o p l e i n d i r e d i s t r e s s .1L

C a p t . Hi b b e n c a m e t o N e w Y o r k f r o m M o s c o w w h e r e h e h a d p e r -

f e c t e d h i s p l a n s f o r t h i s g r e a t r e l i e f d r i v e w i t h t h e S o v i e t a u t h o r i t i e s . T h e

A m e r i c a n p e o p l e , C a p t . H i bb e n k n e w , c o ul d n o t c l o s e t h e ir e a r s t o a n

a p p e a l t o s a v e i n n o c e n t c h i l d r e n f r o m s t a r v i n g . T h e A m e r i c a n R e l i e f A d -

ministration, which was, as has been said, the only organization through

w h i c h r e l i e f c o u l d b e s e n t d i r e c t l y t o t h e f a m i n e a r e a s w i t h o u t g i v i n g t h e

S o v i e t aut h o r i t i e s a n o p p o r tun i t y t o t a k e a s muc h a s m igh t b e n e e d e d t o

1 I n v i e w o f t h e s e f a c t s c o n c e r n i n g t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f Ca p t . H i b b e n i t w i l l n o t b e a m i s s

t o r e c o r d t h e f o l l o w i n g. Capt . H i b b e n h a s f o r s o m e t i m e h e l d a c o m m i s s i o n a s C a p t a i n

i n t h e A r m y o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , O f f i c e r s R e s e r v e C o r p s , a t t a c h e d t o t h e a r t i l l e r y

of the Third Army Reserve Corps . M a n y r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s a s t o h i s s u i t a b i li t y f o r

h o l d i n g t h i s c o m m i s s i o n h a v e b e e n m a d e t o t h e p r o p e r o f f i c i a l s o f t h e W a r D e p a r t -

m e n t , b u t a p p a r e n t l y I t w a s n o t p o s s i b l e t o s e c u r e s u i t a b l e a c t i o n . In May, 1923,Capt. H i b b e n a p p l i e d f o r p r o m o t i o n t o a m a j o r i t y , a n d s h o r t l y a f t e r , t h e S e c r e t a r y

o f W a r a p p o i n t e d a b o a r d o f t h r e e r e s e r v e o f f i c e r s t o d e t e r m i n e h i s f i t n e s s f o r r e -

t e n t i o n o r p r o m o t i o n . Capt. H i b b e n a p p e a r e d p e r s o n a l l y b e f o r e t h i s b o a r d O c t . 1 9 ,

1 92 3, t o t e s t i f y " i n r e g a r d t o c e r t a i n d o c u m e n t s a n d p a p e r s i n t h e p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e

War Department. " Th e w h o l e m a t t e r i s s t i l l p e n d i n g a t t h i s w r i t i n g .

[103)



REDS IN AMERICA

k e e p t h e R e d Ar m y w ell sup pli e d a n d t o s a t i s f y t h e n e e d s o f numb e rle s s

S o v i e t o f f i c i a l s , w a s u t t e r l y i g n o r e d i n C a p t . H i b b e n ' s s c h e m e t o r a i s e f u n d s

a n d s u p p l i e s t o b e d i s t r i b u t e d u n d e r t h e s u p e r v i s i o n o f t h e r e d M o s c o w a u -

t h o r i t i e s . C a p t . Hibben, besides being Chairman of the American Committee

f o r R e l i e f o f R u s s i a n c h i l d r e n , w a s s e c r e t a r y o f t h e m i s s i o n i n A m e r i c a o f

t h e Rus s i a n R e d Cr o s s , w h i c h , a s w a s s h o w n i n a p r e v i ous c h a p t e r , i s a

part of the Soviet government in , Moscow both by its own by-laws and by

the laws of the Comm unist regime now in control of Russia .

C a p t a i n Hibbe n w a s e m plo y e d by t h e Ru ss i a n Re d C r o s s i n Ma r c h ,

1922, takin g the place of V . V . C h i k o f f a s s e c r e t a r y o f t h a t o r g a n i z a t i o n .

In a c i r cula r w i d el y d i s t r i but e d b y t h e Fr i e n d s o f S o v i e t Rus s i a , w i t h

which he later became offic ially connected, Hibben is quoted in praising

t h e p r e s e n t g o v e r n m e n t o f R u s s i a , s a y i n g t h a t t h e y " h a v e f o u g h t t h e

g o o d f i g h t " . A p a r t o f t h i s s t a t e m e n t o f H i b b e n ' s r e a d s a s f o l l o w s :

" W h a t I a m i n t e r e s t e d i n , a n d w h a t w e a r e a l l i n t e r e s t e d i n , I t a k e i t ,

i s t h o s e p e o p l e o v e r t h e r e w h o h a v e f o u gh t t h e g o o d f i g h t ; w h o h a v e

e x i s t e d f o r f o u r y e a r s i n t h e f a c e o f a n e n e m y w o r l d . . . I d o n ' t w a n t t o s e e

t h e m l o s e t h a t f i g h t f o r l a c k o f f o o d o f w h i c h . y o u a n d I h a v e p l e n t y . . . a n d i f

m i l l i o n s o f w o r k e r s a l l o v e r t h i s c o u n t r y w a n t t o t a k e u p t h e j o b o f f e e d i n g

the starving of Russia, when t he supplies of the American Relief Admin-

i s t r a t i o n a r e e x h a u s t e d , a s w o r k e r s , t o h e l p t h e w o r k e r s o f t h e o n l y G o v e r n -

m e n t o f w o r k e r s , b y w o r k e r s , f o r w o r k e r s i n t h e w o r l d , i t i s n o b o d y ' s

b u s i n e s s t o i n t e r f e r e . "

T h i s w o u l d i n d i c a t e t h a t H i b b e n s u s p i c i o n e d t h a t t h e s u p p l i e s f u r n i s h e d

t h r ough t h e Fr i e n d s o f S o v i e t Rus s i a a n d t h r ough t h e Rus s i a n R e d Cr o s s

w e r e g o i n g f i r s t t o t h e S o v i e t a u t h o r i t i e s s o t h a t t h e y m i g h t n o t " l o s e t h a t

f i g h t f o r t h e l a c k o f f o o d , " a l t h o u g h w h a t w a s l e f t m i g h t f i n d i t s w a y e v e n t -

u a l l y t o t h e f a m i n e s u f f e r e r s . A n d h e i n t i m a t e d i n t h i s s t a t e m e n t t h a t t h e

American Relief Administration, under the direction of Secretary Hoover,

w a s a b o u t t o c e a s e i t s a c t u a l w o r k o f f e e d i n g t h e r e a l s u f f e r e r s i n t h e f a m i n e

d i s t r i c t s o f R u s s i a . N a t u r a l l y , i f t h e H o o v e r o r g a n i z a t i o n c e a s e d f u n c t i o n -

i n g t h e r e w o u l d b e a b e t t e r c h a n c e f o r t h e S o v i e t o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h w h i c h

H i b b e n w a s c o n n e c t e d t o r a i s e f u n d s i n t h i s c o u n t r y .

On July 1, 1922, Hibben sailed f or Berlin on the stea mship Hom eric

to be present as a delegate from the Russian Red Cross in America to the

I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n v e n t i o n o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l W o r k e r s ' F a m i n e R e l i e f C o m -

mittee which was to open July 9 and which was convened at the initiative

o f t h e S u p r e m e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e f o r F a m i n e R e l i e f . I t w a s

c a l l e d b y t h e f o r e i g n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h i s c o m m i t t e e , N i c h o l a s K r e s t i n s k y ,

f o r m e r p l e n i p o t e n t i a r y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t i n G e r m a n y .

B u t H i b b e n a r r i v e d i n B e r l i n t o o l a t e f o r t h i s c o n v e n t i o n . H e d i d , h o w .

e v e r , h a v e a n u m b e r o f t a l k s w i t h T c h i t c h e r i n a n d m a d e t h e s t a t e m e n t t h a t

he had conveyed information between Tchitcherin and L . C . A . K . M a r t e n s ,

the Bolshevist "ambassador" to the United States whose activities in aid

o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a l e d t o h i s d e p a r t u r e . O n July 19 ,

Hibb e n le f t B e rl i n f o r Mo s c o w , w h e r e h e s a i d h e w a s t o a c t a s a r e p r e -

s e n t a t i v e o f t h e S o c i e t y o f A m e r i c a n R e l i e f f o r t h e C h i l d r e n o f R u s s i a , o f

[ 1 0 4 1



RELIEF DRIVES ; THE AGRARIAN PROGRAM

w h i c h h e w a s a d i r e c t o r , a n d w h e r e he a c h i e v e d much p u b l i c i t y .

Hibben's work was fulsomely praised i n t h e Mo s c o w I z v e s t i a , t h e S o v i e t

official organ, o f August 11, 1922, which printed a n intervie w with him

in which he said that the American Relief Administrati on would drop its

w o r k i n R u s s i a a n d t h e n r e l i e f w o u l d a l l h a v e t o b e d o n e t h r o u g h t h e R u s -

s i a n R e d C r o s s . H e a l s o s p o k e o f h i s r e l a t i o n s w i t h D r . D a v i d H . D u b r o w -

sky whose activiti es here in behalf of the Communists have already been

t o l d . He mentioned the fact that the re were in Moscow at that time four

m e m b e r s o f t h e n a t i o n a l c o m m i t t e e o f t h e A m e r i c a n C o m m i t t e e o f R e l i e f

for Russian Children, Rev . Jo h n Ha y n e s Holm e s , F r a n k P . Wals h , Dr . M .

M i c h a i l o v s k y , a n d J o h n G . O h s o l. T h e r e c o r d s o f H o l m e s , M i c h a i lo v s k y

a n d Oh s ol i n a c t i v i t i e s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e Co m mun i s t r egi m e h a v e b e e n

t o l d i n p r e v i o u s c h a p t e r s . F r a n k P . W a ls h r e t u r n e d f r o m M o s c o w b y w a y

o f M o n t r e a l a n d i m m e d i a t e l y l a u n c h e d a c a m p a i g n o f bi t t e r c r i t i c i s m

a g a i n s t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t f o r f a i l u r e t o r e c o g n i z e t h e p r e s e n t

Rus s i a n G o v e r n m e n t , a n d s p r e a d p r o p aga n d a a s t o t h e w o n d e r ful p r ogr e s s

m a d e i n t h a t c oun t r y un d e r t h e Co m mun i s t r egi m e . He la t e r be c a m e c h i e f

c oun s el f o r t h e B r i dgm a n c o n s p i r a t o r s a t a n e n o r m ous f e e . T h e I z v e s t s

a r t i c l e s a y s i n p a r t :

" I n o u r i n t e r v i e w w i t h C a p t a i n H i b b e n h e d e c l a r e d t h a t A m e r i c a n s

a r e v e r y m u c h i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e w e l f a r e o f R u s s i a n c h i l d r e n , a n d t h a t c h i l -

d r e n w h o b e c a m e o r p h a n s i n c o n s e q ue n c e o f t h e w a r a n d f a m i n e c a n c o u n t

o n t h ous a n d s o f f r i e n d s i n t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s w h o w ill h elp t h e m t h r ough

the American Committee of Relief for Russian Children, which is now un-

d e r t h e c h a r g e o f M a r y L e n a W i l s o n . The activit ies of the American Re-

li e f Ad m i n i s t r a t i o n d e v el o p e d t o suc h a d egr e e t h a t m a n y p e o pl e f o rge t

t h e e x i s t e n c e o f o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n A m e r i c a a n d o t h e r c o u n t r i e s w h i c h

al s o c a r r y o n f a m i n e r el i e f w o r k i n t h e Volga r egi o n . "

Then, quoting Hibben, it says :

"Th e Rus s i a n R e d Cr o s s d e s e r v e s all p r a i s e f o r i t s r e m a r k a ble w o r k

d o n e w i t h t h e p e r f e c t l y i n s i g n i f i c a n t s u m a t i t s d i s p o s a l , g e t t i n g t h e p u b l i c

o f f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e r e l i e f o f R u s s i a n s u f f e r e r s . TheAmerican Relief Administration will, sooner or later, stop activities in

R u s s i a a n d w i l l l e a v e t h e c o u n t r y . But the work of the Russian Red Cross,

o f c o u r s e , w i l l c o n t i n u e a n d t r y t o c u r e t h e w o u n d s o f t h e R u s s i a n p e o p l e

caused by the famine and the blockade . . During the period Octo-

ber, 1921, to June, 1922, the Russian Red Cross in America shipped food

s u p p l i e s , c l o t h i n g a n d m e d i c i n e w o r t h $3 4 2 , 8 95 w h i c h w e r e c o n t r i b u t e d

in the United States and Canada. The collection of money and other kind s

o f d i s t r i b u t i o n i s s t i l l g o i n g o n . I have just received a ca blegram from Dr .

Dubr o w s k y , w h o i s h e a d o f t h e Rus s i a n R e d Cr o s s i n Am e r i c a a n d i s jus t

b a c k f r o m a t r i p t o M e x i c o; h i s c a b l e g r a m s a y s t h a t M e x i c o s h i p p e d 1 0 , 0 0 0

s a c k s o f c o r n a n d 5 , 0 0 0 s a c k s o f r i c e a n d a s h i p m e n t o f m e d i c i n e t o t h e

Rus s i a n R e d Cr o s s t o b e d i s t r i but e d a m o ng t h e s t a r v i ng . Thi s s h i p m e n t

is the second one from Mexico as a result of Dr . D u b r o w s k y ' s e f f o r t s . "

I t w i l l b e i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e h e r e b y w a y o f p a r e n t h e s i s t h a t t h e M e x -

i c a n o f f i c i a l s h a d n o i l l u s i o n s a s t o t h e d i s p o s i t i o n o f t h e s e s h i p m e n t s . They

[ 1 0 5 1



REDS IN AMERICA

w e r e a d m i t t e dly f o r t h e Re d Ar m y o f Ru ss i a be c aus e , a s E . Plutarch o

C a l l e s , p r e m i e r i n t h e M e x i c a n c a b i n e t , s a i d : " W e a r e w o r k i n g t o w a r d t h e

s a m e e n d , " v i z . , t h e D i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e P r o l e t a r i a t , a n d t h a t R u s s i a h a d t h e

b e t t e r o p p o r t u n i t y b e c a u s e s h e d i d n o t h a v e t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s h a n g i n g o v e r

h e r h e a d l i k e t h e D a m o c l e a n s w o r d . These are almost, if not quite, the

e x a c t w o r ds o f C a l l es t o D u b ro w s k y . T h e r e f e r e n c e s t o t h e " D a m o c l e a n

s w o r d " i s C a l l e s ' s p i c t u r e t o t h e R u s s i a n e m i s s a r y .

Hibben's praise of the Russian Red Cross in America, of which he was

a t t h e t i m e s e c r e t a r y , i n " g e t t i n g t h e p u b l i c o f f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s i n t e r e s t e d , "

h a s a d o u b l e s i g n i f i c a n c e ; f o r i t i s a p a r t o f t h e w o r k o f a l l a g e n c i e s o f t h e

S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t , a s o f f i c i a l l y p r e s c r i b e d , t o d i s s e m i n a t e C o m m u n i s t

p r o p aga n d a o n all p o s s i ble o c c a s i o n s . H i b be n w e n t o n , i n t h e I z v e s t i a

interview, to describe a new plan for subtle propaganda by means of "Red

C r o s s " s h o p s t o b e e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t o s h o w h o w i n d u s t r i o u s

the Russian people are under the Co mmunist rule and at the same time to

r a i s e m o n e y f o r t h e S o v i e t r e l i e f m o v e m e n t . He is quoted as sayin g :

"In the United States the Russian Red Cross intends to maint ain its

own existence quite independently and not to spend for administration a

s i n g l e c o p e k o u t o f t h e a m o u n t c o l l e c t e d f o r f a m i n e r e l i e f i n R u s s i a . N e c e s -

sary means for the realization of this intention will be given by a long

row of Red Cross shops in important cities of the United States in which

h o m e m a d e a r t i c l e s w i l l b e s o l d f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e o r p h a n s , v i c t i m s o f

w a r a n d f a m i n e i n Rus s i a . This enterp rise will be not only a new source

o f f u n d s f o r r e l i e f w o r k b u t w i l l g i v e t o R u s s i a n h o m e i n d u s t r y a n e w

m a r k e t , f o r t h r ough t h e s e s h o p s Am e r i c a w ill b e gi v e n a n o p p o r tun i t y t o

g e t a c q u a i n t e d w i t h a r t i c l e s m a d e u n d e r s u c h c i r c u m s t a n c e s. R i g h t n o w I a m

d e a l i n g w i t h t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e C e n t r o y u z ( t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e

of the Russian Soviet), Comrade Khinchuck, about methods to realize this

p l a n i n f a c t . WE ALSO ARE ANXIOUS TO ARRANGE A TRIP OFRUSSIAN DRAMATICAL ACTORS TO THE UNITED STATES, TO-GETHER WITH MUS I C I A N S A N D A R TI S T S , w h o w i l l u n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s

of the Russian Red Cross help to collect means for the relief of Russia

AND AT THE SAME TIME WILL PROVE TO THE AMERICAN PUBLICTHE HIGH STANDARD OF RUSSIAN ART REACHED DURING ATIME OF REVOLUTION . " -

I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t t h e r e a r e c o n s t a n t l y o f f e r e d f o r s a l e i n

this country by the Friends of Soviet Russia, litera ture and supplies to

r a i s e m o n e y f o r R u s s i a n r e l i e f. On circulars the public is urged to "buy

b o o k s , p a m p h l e t s , p i c t u r e s , p o s t a l s , l e a f l e t s , p o s t e r s , " a n d t h e o r d e r b l a n k

on which this appeal is made lists busts of Lenin for $3 and of Trotsky

f o r $ 2 , w h i c h a r e s a i d t o b e r e p l i c a s o f t h e wo r k o f C l a i r e S h e r i d a n. B o o k s

l i k e " C o m m u n i s m a n d C h r i s t i a n i t y , " b y B i s h o p W i l l i a m M o n t go m e r y

B r o w n , a r e a l s o o f f e r e d f o r s a l e i n t h i s a p p e a l , a s w e l l a s w r i t i n g s o f J o h n

Re e d , Albe r t Rh y s W illi a m s a n d I s a a c Mc B r i d e. C o m m u n i s t m a g a z i n e s

a n d R e d b u t t o n s a r e o n t h e s a m e l i s t .

Hibb e n's a c t i v i t i e s i n b e h al f o f S o v i e t Rus s i a m a k e i t i n t e r e s t i n g

t o n o t e t h a t h i s e x p e r i e n c e h a s b e e n v a s t a n d v a r i e d. H i s b r i l l i a n c e

[1061



C a p t a i n Paxton H i b b e n , O f f i c e r s R e s e r v e C o r p s , U n i t e d S t a t e s A r m y , a t t a c h e d

t o t h e a r t i l l e r y d i v i s i o n o f t h e T h i r d A r m y C o r p s , a n d c a n d i d a t e f o r a d v a n c e m e n tt o a m a j o r i t y , p l a c e s a w r e a t h o n t h e g r a v e o f t h e A m e r i c a n c o m m u n i s t , J o h n R e e d

w h o ( l i e d i n 1 9 2 0 a n d i s b u r i e d u n d e r t h e w a l l s o f t h e K r e m l i n . This photograph wast a k e n a b o u t a y e a r f o l l o w i n g R e e d ' s d e a t h w h e n H i b b e n v i s i t e d l t u s s i a a n d g a v e h i s

f a m o u s i n t e r v i e w t o I , - r e s t i a i n d i c a t i n g h o w m o n e y w a s t o b e r a i s e d f o r t h e " s t a r v i n g

r h i l d n • n u t ' R us s i a " o n h i s r e t u r n t o A m e r i c a . Hibben denies that this photograph

w a s t a k e n i n a n o f f i c e r ' s u n i f o r m o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s A r m y . (Wide World Photos1




of mind has never been questioned . H i s s c h o l a r s h i p , w h i l e a t c o l l e g e ,

quali f i e d h i m f o r P h i B e t a K a p p a , bu t h e w a s n o t a d m i t t e d . During

the war in Europe his anti-British and p ro-Germans e n t i m e n t s m a d e i t

s e e m a d v i s a b l e t h a t h e b e n o t u s e d f o r c e r t a i n p u r p o s e s i n F r a n c e . Th e

a u t h o r i t i e s h a v e d o c u m e n t s s h o w i n g t h a t h e w a s p a i d p r o p a g a n d i s tf o r t h e

G r e e k R o y a l i s t s b e f o r e t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s e n t e r e d t h e w a r .

H e h a s f r e q u e n t l y r e f e r r e d s l i g h t i n g l y t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t

a n d c r i t i c i s e d i t s e v e r e l y f o r i t s s t a n d i n r e g a r d t o C o m m u n i s t R u s s i a , t h i s

a t a t i m e w h e n t h a t s a m e Ru ss i a n G o v e r n m e n t w a s d i r e c t l y u s i n g e v e r y

m e a n s a t i t s c o m m a n d t o e f f e c t t h e o v e r t h r o w o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s b y a r m e d

r e b e l l i o n . H i b b e n h a d a t r o u b l o u s c a r e e r w h i l e h e w a s i n t h e d i p l o m a t i c

s e r v i c e o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , w h i c h c o v e r e d p r a c t i c a l l y s e v e n y e a r s i n R u s -

s i a, M e xi c o, C o lo m bi a , Ho ll an d , Lux e mb ur g a n d C h i le .

H i b b e n h a s s t a t e d t h a t h e w a s a l w a y s " p a s s i o n a t e l y F r e n c h " i n h i s

s y m p a t h i e s b u t t h a t d i d n o t p r e v e n t h i m f r o m c h a l l e n g i n g a F r e n c h c o r r e s -

p o n d e n t t o a d u e l i n A t h e n s o n o n e o c c a s i o n e a r l y i n t h e E u r o p e a n W a r

when a Frenchman made a sce ne in a hotel room where Hibben was enter-

t a i n i n g a G e r m a n c o r r e s p o n d e n t a n d h i s w i f e a t l u n c h e o n . The duel was

f o u g h t w i t h n o i n j u r i e s o n e i t h e r s i d e . H e w a s a g r e a t a d m i r e r o f J o h n R e e d ,

t h e b r i l l i a n t H a r v a r d a n a r c h i s t , l a t e r a C o m m u n i s t , a n d w h o s e s p e c t a c u l a r

c a r e e r w a s c u t s h o r t b y h i s d e a t h i n M o s c o w . A y e a r a f t e r R e e d ' s d e a t h

H i b b e n w a s i n M o s c o w , a n d i n Octobe r , 1921 , h e w a s p h o t og r a p h e d

placing a wreath on Reed's grave . R e e d ' s w i d o w , M r s . L o u i s e B r y a n t ,

w a s l a t e r a s s o c i a t e d w i t h H i b b e n i n h i s p r o - R u s s i a n w o r k .

Through his connection with the Russian Red C r o s s , H i b b e n ' s p l a n

r e c e i v e d t h e e n d o r s e m e n t o f t h e F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a a n d t h e Workers'

party, both Communist "legal" branches . T t i s i n t e r e s t i n g h e r e t o n o t e

t h a t t h e l a t t e r o r g a n i z a t i o n w a s i n d e s p e r a t e s t r a i t s b e c a u s e o f t h e r a i d a t

B r i d g m a n , M i c h ., in August, 1922, when William F . D u n n e , t h e p a r t y ' s

c a n d i d a t e f o r t h e g o v e r n o r s h i p o f N e w Y o r k , w a s a r r e s t e d w i t h a n u m b e r

o f o t h e r W o r k e r's p a r t y m e n f o r a t t e n d a n c e a t t h e i l l e g a l c o n v e n t i o n .

O f f i c i a l o r d e r s i s s u e d b y C . E . R u t h e n b e r g , E x e c u t i v e S e c r e t a r y o f t h e

W o r k e r s ' p a r t y o f A m e r i c a , c a l l e d f o r i m m e d i a t e a n d e f f e c t i v e a i d f r o m a l l

m e m b e r s o f t h e p a r t y b e c a u s e " w e a r e i n t h e m i d s t o f a g r e a t c a m p a i g n o f

s e l f - d e f e n c e . " H e u r g e d a l l f o r e i g n - b o r n t o b e c o m e c i t i z e n s , " n o t f o r p a t r i -

o t i c r e a s o n s b u t i n o r d e r t o d r a w t h e m i n t o t h e p o l i t i c a l l i f e o f t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s . " T h e s e o f f i c i a l o r d e r s w e r e s e n t o u t f r o m t h e " n a t i o n a l o f f i c e " o n

S e p t e m b e r 1 4 , a n d a n n o u n c e d t h a t a L a b o r D e f e n s e C o u n c i l w o u l d b e o r -

g a n i z e d a t o n c e a n d t h a t i t w a s n e c e s s a r y t o r a i s e " t e n s o f t h o u s a n d s o f

d o l l a r s " . Frank P . Walsh was retained and conducted the d e f e n s e o f t h e

Bridgman prisoners . R o b e r t M . B u c k , e d i t o r o f New Majority, o f f i c i a l

o r ga n o f t h e Ch i c ago F e de r a ti o n o f La b or , w a s c h a i rm a n o f t h e L a bo r

D e f e n s e C o u n c i l j u s t r e f e r r e d t o , a n d S a m T . Ha m m e r s m a r k , o n e o f

W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r ' s r i g h t - h a n d m e n w h o w a s a c t i v e i n t h e s t e e l s t r i k e

a n d t h e r e c e n t c o n v e n t i o n o f t h e T r a d e U n i o n E d u c a t i o n a l L e a g u e , w a s s e c r e -

t a r y - t r e a s u r e r o f t h e n e w l y f o r m e d o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h e a p p e a l w a s a d d r e s s e d

t o " D i s t r i c t O r g a n i z e r s , F e d e r a t i o n S e c r e t a r i e s , L o c a l S e c r e t a r i e s , D i s t r i c t

[ 1 0 7 1



REDS I N AMERICA

E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e s , F e d e r a t i o n E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e s and Local Execu-

t i v e C o m m i t t e e s , " a n d r e a d :

" C o m r a d e s : F o r y o u r g u i d a n c e t h e f o l l o w i n g s t a t e m e n t o f o u r p o l i c y

a n d i m m e d i a t e p l a n o f a c t i o n h a s b e e n f o r m u l a t e d b y t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e

C o m m i t t e e .

" W e a r e i n t h e m i d s t o f a g r e a t c a m p a i g n o f s e l f - d e f e n s e b y t h e w o r k i n g

m a s s e s a g a i n s t t h e r u t h l e s s c a p i t a l i s t o f f e n s i v e a n d t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e

C o m m i t t e e i n s t r u c t s a l l p a r t y u n i t s t o p u t t h e f o l l o w i n g i n t o a c t i o n .

" 1 . T o d a y o u r m a j o r c a m p a i g n i s t o b e d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t G o v e r n m e n t a l

a u t h o r i t i e s w h o a r e a t t a c k i n g u s r a t h e r t h a n a g a i n s t t h e y e l l o w s o c i a l i s t s

a n d t r a d e u n i o n b u r e a u c r a t s . T h e i m m e d i a t e s t r u g g l e s o f t h e w o r k e r s a r e

b e c o m i n g m o r e t e n s e a n d t a k i n g o n w i d e r s c o p e . We must develop to the

h i g h e s t p o i n t t h e r e s i s t a n c e o f t h e w o r k e r s t o t h e b r u t a l a t t a c k s o f g o v e r n -

m e n t a l a u t h o r i t i e s o n t h e f u n d a m e n t a l r i g h t s o f t h e workers . T h e s i t u a -

t i o n n e c e s s i t a t e s o u r f o l l o w i n g a p o l i c y w h i c h w i l l d r a w i n t o t h e c o n f l i c t

t h e g r e a t m a s s o f t h e w o r k e r s r e g a r d l e s s o f p o l i t i c a l d i f f e r e n c e s .

" 2 . W e m u s t e n e r g e t i c a l l y p r o p a g a t e t h e i d e a a m o n g t h e w o r k e r s t h a t t h e

o n s l a u g h t o n t h e C o m m u n i s t s a n d m i l i t a n t s i s a p a r t o f t h e a t t a c k l a u n c h e d

a g a i n s t t h e w o r k i n g - c l a s s . O u r a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e s t r i k e s a r e t h e b a s i s f o r

t h i s a t t a c k .

" 3 . O u r m a i n s l o g a n s i n t h i s c a m p a i g n s h o u l d b e ` W o r k e r s , F i g h t F o r

U n r e s t r i c t e d R i g h t t o O r g a n i z e , S t r i k e a n d P i c k e t . D e f e n d T h e s e - R i g h t s

By means of All the Political and Industrial Power at Your Command . '

O u r m e m b e r s m u s t u r g e t h e w o r k e r s t o d i s o b e y t h e S t r i k e I n j u n c t i o n a n d

t o c a r r y o n t h e s t r i k e i n d e f i a n c e o f t h e i n j u n c t i o n .

" O u r r a l l y i n g c r i e s a r e

"'Down with Government by Injunctions!'

" ` D o w n w i t h t h e u s u r p e d p o w e r o f t h e c o u r t s ! '

" ' D o w n w i t h t h e u s e o f a r m e d f o r c e a g a i n s t t h e w o r k e r s ! '

" 4 . I t i s o u r t a s k t o o r g a n i z e t h e w o r k e r s t o d e m a n d a n d t oa t t e m p t

to take the rights of the much vaunted American democra cy . T h e C o m -

m u n i s t s a n d a l l m i l i t a n t w o r k e r s a r e p a r t o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s , t h e r e f o r e ,

t h e C o m m u n i s t s a n d a l l m i l i t a n t s m u s t a l s o h a v e t h e u n r e s t r i c t e d r i g h t

o f f r e e s p e e c h , p r e s s a n d a s s e m b l a g e .

" 5 . W e m u s t f i g h t e n e r g e t i c a l l y t o s e c u r e f o r a l l t h e f o r e i g n - b o r n

w o r k e r s e q u a l c i v i l a n d e c o n o m i c r i g h t s . W e m u s t w a g e a n i n t e n s i v e c a m -

f o r r e m o v i n g r e s t r i c t i o n s o n c i t i z e n s h i p a n d a g a i n s t t h e a n t i - a l i e n

l a w s . We must demand that the fore ign-born workers have unrestricted

r i g h t t o w o r k . W e m u s t w o r k d i l i g e n t l y f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e s o l i .

d a r i t y o f t h e n a t i v e a n d f o r e i g n - b o r n w o r k e r s . The p a r t y mu s t m a k e t h e

f o l l o w i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n s t e p s t o w a r d c a r r y i n g o u t t h i s p r o g r a m o f a g i t a t i o n

a n d a c t i o n .

"(A) Our Federation s should wage a vigorous campaign to have the

f o r e i g n - b o r n w o r k e r s b e c o m e c i t i z e n s . N o t f o r p a t r i o t i c r e a s o n s b u t t o

d r a w t h e m i n t o t h e p o l i t i c a l l i f e o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .

"(B) Our Federations should wage a vigorous campaign to ha ve the

f o r e i g n - b o r n w o r k e r s j o i n t h e l a b o r u n i o n s .

( I O S I




" 6 . W e m u s t p e r s i s t e n t l y p r o p a g a t e t h e i d e a i n t h e u n i o n s a n d a m o n g

t h e w o r k e r s g e n e r a l l y o f i n d e p e n d e n t p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n by the workers and

t h e n e e d o f a w o r k i n g - c l a s s p o l i t i c a l p a r t y .

" F r a t e r n a l l y y o u r s ,

" C . E . R U T H E N B E R G ,

" E x e c u t i v e S e c r e t a r y . "

T h a t t h e r a i d o f t h e M i c h i g a n a u t h o r i t i e s o n t h e i l l e g a l , underground

c o n ve n t io n o f t h e Co m m un i s t p ar t y o f Am e r ic a a t B ri d gm a n up s et t h e

p l a n s o f t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y a s w e l l a s t h o s e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s , w a s e v i d e n t

f r o m a n o t h e r a p p e a l , a l s o s e n t o u t b y R u t h e n b e r g o n S e p t e m b e r 1 4 , 1 9 2 2 .

I t w a s d i f f i c u l t t o c o n d u c t a p o l i t i c a l c a m p a i g n w h e n t h e p a r t y ' s c a n d i d a t e s

were under arrest for conspiracy to overthrow the Governmen t by armed

f o r c e ; a n d i n t h i s c a s e t h e h e a d o f t h e p r i n c i p a l t i c k e t , t h a t o f N e w Y o r k

S t a t e , w a s c a u g h t a t B r i d g m a n . William F . D u n n e , c a n d i d a t e f o r g o v e r n o r

o f N e w Y o r k o n t h e W o r k e r s ' t i c k e t , c o u l d h a r d l y a p p e a l f o r a n y v o t e s o u t -

s i d e h i s t r a i t o r o u s p a r t y w h i l e i n j a i l o r o u t o n b a i l f a c i n g s u c h a c h a r g e .

This second appeal was addr essed "To All Branches, D i s t r i c t O r g a n i z e r s

a n d F e d e r a t i o n S e c r e t a r i e s , " a n d r e a d a s f o l l o w s :

" C o m r a d e s : T h e N a t i o n a l C o n v e n t i o n o f t h e p a r t y , w h i c h w a s t o h a v e

b e e n h e l d i n C h i c a g o , A u g u s t 2 8 t h , w i l l b e h e l d i n N e w Y o r k C i t y b e g i n n i n g

o n D e c e m b e r 2 5 t h .

" T h e i m m e d i a t e r e a s o n f o r t h e p o s t p o n e m e n t o f t h e c o n v e n t i o n w a s , a s

y o u k n o w , t h e a r r e s t o f t h e e x e c u t i v e s e c r e t a r y , a n u m b e r o f d i s t r i c t o r g a n -

i z e r s a n d o t h e r p a r t y w o r k e r s a s p a r t o f t h e c a m p a i g no f t e r r o r i s m w h i c h

t h e c a p i t a l i s t s a r e w a g i n g a g a i n s t the workers in connection with t h e

g r e a t s t r i k e b a t t l e s w h i c h h a v e s h a k e n t h e c o u n t r y d u r i n g r e c e n t m o n t h s .

" T h e f i r s t d e c i s i o n w a s t o p o s t p o n e t h e N a t i o n a l C o n v e n t i o n for two

w e e k s , i n t h e h o p e t h a t t h o s e s u f f e r i n g u n d e r t h e p e r s e c u t i o n o f t h e r u l i n g

c l a s s c o u l d b e q u i c k l y r e l e a s e d a n d t a k e t h e i r p l a c e s i n t h e r a n k s o f ' t h e

p a r t y .

" T h e p a r t y , h o w e v e r , f i n d s i t s e l f f a c e t o f a c e w i t h t h i s s i t u a t i o n :

" D u r i n g t h e n e x t m o n t h o r t w o w e m u s t m o b i l i z e a l l o u r f o r c e s f o r

defense work . We must raise ten s of thousands of dollars for b a i l s o

t h a t a l l o u r c o m r a d e s c a n b e f r e e d a n d c a r r y o n t h e i r p a r t y w o r kd u r i n g

t h e p e r i o d i n w h i c h t h e i r c a s e s a r e p e n d i n g . O n l y s i x w e e k s r e m a i n b e f o r e t h e

N o v e m b e r e l e c t i o n s . W e m u s t n o m i n a t e c a n d i d a t e s a n d c a r r y o n c a m p a i g n s

w h e r e v e r p o s s i b l e .

" T h e p r e s e n t i n d u s t r i a l s t r u g g l e s w i l l b e o v e r b y D e c e m b e r , t h e l e s s o n s

o f t h i s s t r u g g l e w i l l b e c l e a r a n d w e w i l l b e a b l e t o b a s e o u r n e w p o l i c i e s

u p o n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t s w h i c h t h i s s t r u g g l e h a s b r o u g h t to the American

labo r m o v e m e n t . The period from now on to December will be a period

o f p r e p a r a t i o n . T h e c o n v e n t i o n m u s t a n d w i l l b e a g r e a t e r d e m o n s t r a t i o n

o f s t r e n g t h t o o u r p a r t y . D e t a i l s a b o u t t h e c o n v e n t i o n s u c h a s a g e n t s ,

d e l eg a t io n s , f i n an c e s, e t c . , w i l l b e f o r w a r d e d l a t e r .

[ 1 0 9 3



REDS IN AMERICA

"Let us take up immediate tasks of the party w ith enthusiasm and

c o u r a g e . L e t u s b u i l d m o r e s t r o n g l y t h a n e v e r d u r i n g t h e c o m i n g m o n t h s ,

and make the December convention a demonstration of the power of our

m o v e m e n t .

" F r a t e r n a l l y y o u r s ,

" C . E . R u t h e n b e r g ,


D e t a i l s o f t h e p l a n s f o r t h e L a b o r D e f e n s e C o u n c i l w e r e a l s o a n n o u n c e d

o n t h e s a m e d a t e b y R u t h e n b e r g . T h i s a n n o u n c e m e n t s t a t e d t h a t t h e C e n t r a l

E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y i n i t i a t e d t h i s p l a n a n d w o u l d

c a r r y o u t t h e w o r k , b u t c i t y c e n t r a l c o m m i t t e e s a n d b r a n c h e s w e r e i n s t r u c t e d

t o o r g a n i z e l o c a l l a b o r d e f e n c e c o u n c i l s , t o f u n c t i o n u n d e r t h e n a t i o n a l

o r g a n i z a t i o n , a n d t o i n v i t e o t h e r w o r k i n g c l a s s o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o s e n d d e l e -

g a t e s t o t h e l o c a l c o u n c i l s . B u t i n o r d e r t h a t i t m i g h t a p p e a r t o b e a s p o n -

t a n e o u s m o v e m e n t o f a l l w o r k e r s , i n s t e a d o f a c a r e f u l l y e n g i n e e r e d s c h e m e

b y t h e C o m m u n i s t i c W o r k e r s ' p a r t y , t h e o r g a n i z e r s w e r e c a u t i o n e d t o s e n d

t h e s e i n v i t a t i o n s " i n t h e n a m e o f t h e p r o v i s i o n a l c o m m i t t e e a s a p r o v i s i o n a l

commit tee of the Labor Defe nce Council and NOT [capit als are Ruthen-

b e r g ' s ] i n t h e n a m e o f t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y . " T h e i n s t r u c t i o n s s p e c i f i e d :

" T h e l o c a l D e f e n c e C o u n c i l s h o u l d a t o n c e b e g i n a c o m p a i g n o f a g i t a -

t i o n a n d m o n e y r a i s i n g . I t s h o u l d h o l d p u b l i c m e e t i n g s , s e n d s p e a k e r s t o

t h e u n i o n s , h a v e r e s o l u t i o n s i n t r o d u c e d i n t h e u n i o n s a n d i n e v e r y w a y

p o s s i b l e s t i r u p t h e w o r k e r s t o t h e n e e d o f a u n i t e d s t a n d a g a i n s t t h e

c a p i t a l i s t a t t a c k . "

A part of the plans of the drive of Captain Hibben for funds and

s u p p l i e s w a s d i r e c t e d a t t h e s m a l l f a r m e r a n d f a r m w o r k e r s , w h o a r e a l -

ready being assiduously cultivated by the Communist party of America .

C a p t a i n H i b b e n ' s i d e a w a s t h a t t h e f a r m e r s h a d e x c e l l e n t c r o p s , b u t a p o o r

m a r k e t , i n 1 9 2 2 , a n d t h a t , t h e r e f o r e , t h e y w o u l d b e r e a d y t o c o n t r i b u t e

o u t o f t h e i r s u r p l u s p r o d u c t s t o f e e d t h e R u s s i a n s. T h i s a p p e a l w a s s t a r t e d

b y t h e C o m m u n i s t - c o n t r o l l e d F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a a n d w i t h t h e l a u n c h -

i n g o f t h e n e w d r i v e b y t h e H i b b e n o r g a n i z a t i o n t h e s m a l l f a r m e r s a n d

t h e i r h i r e d h e l p w e r e f l o o d e d w i t h c a r e f u l l y p r e p a r e d p r o p a g a n d a d e s i g n e d

t o a p p e a l t o t h e i r h e a r t s f o r s u f f e r i n g h u m a n i t y a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e c o n v e y

t o t h e m u n s o u n d i d e a s r e g a r d i n g " c a p i t a l i s t " s o c i e t y .

T h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y ' s a g r a r i a n p r o g r a m w h i c h i s n o w b e i n g p u t i n t o

effect throughout the United States and which is admittedly a program

w h i c h w i l l r e q u i r e t i m e a n d p a t i e n c e t o c a r r y o u t t o i t s f u l f i l m e n t , i s o n e

o f t h e m o s t c l e v e r l y p r e p a r e d a n d t h o u g h t - o u t p r o g r a m s t h u s f a r p r o d u c e d .

I n i t s p r e p a r a t i o n i s s h o w n s u r p r i s i n g a p p r e c i a t i o n o f t h e p s y c h o l o g y ,

conditions and sympath ies of the small farmer and farmhand . T h e p r o .

g r a m c o n t a i n s m a n y p a g e s o f c a r e f u l l y p r e p a r e d s t a t i s t i c s , m a p s a n d c h a r t s ,

s h o w i n g " p o p u l a t i o n - d i s t r i b u t i o n , " " j o b s o f t h o s e e n g a g e d i n a g r i c u l t u r e , "

"farm wages and farm income," "farms and farm te nure," "comparison of

E a s t a n d W e s t , " " c r o p s - p r o d u c t i o n , d i s t r i b u t i o n , c o n s u m p t i o n , " " t h e a g r i -

c u l t u r a l p r e s s , " " f a r m e r s ' o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , " " t h e n e g r o

f a r m e r , " " f a r m p r o p a g a n d a , " e t c . ; m a p s s h o w i n g y i e l d s , i n m i l l i o n b u s h e l s ,

[ 1 1 0 1




o f c o r n , w h e a t a n d o a t s ; p r i m a r y m a r k e t s , e x p o r t m a r k e t s , c o t t o n a r e a ;

f a r m o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d a g r a r i a n p r e s s c i r c u l a t i o n .

F o l l o w i n g o u t t h e p r o g r a m o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a s t u d e n t s

h a v e b e e n " p l a n t e d " i n v a r i o u s a g r i c u l t u r a l s c h o o l s i n t h e c o u n t r y , w h o s e

d u t y i s t o b e c o m e p r o f i c i e n t a s f a r m l a b o r e r s p r i m a r i l y . They are also

s u p p o s e d t o i n c u l c a t e a s m u c h o f t h e C o m m u n i s t d o c t r i n e i n t h e i r f e l l o w

s t u d e n t s a s m a y b e d o n e w i t h o u t c r e a t i n g t r o u b l e ; b u t t h a t i s n o t t h e i r

f i r s t d u t y a s s t u d e n t s . A f t e r h a v i n g b e e n p r e p a r e d a t t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l

s c h o o l s t h e s e s t u d e n t s a r e s e n t t o v a r i o u s p a r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y a s c o u n t y

a g e n t s t o s e e k e m p l o y m e n t a s f a r m h a n d s , w h i c h i s e a s i l y f o u n d , o w i n g t o

t h e s h o r t a g e o f f a r m l a b o r i n t h e s e d a y s . Then their re al work for the

p a r t y b e g i n s . T h e y a r e o r g a n i z e r s a n d p r o p a g a n d i s t s , f i r s t , l a s t a n d a l l

t h e t i m e . They form nuclei wherever they are-two or three companions

being enough at any one place . This movement, according to the plans

o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s , w i l l h a v e t h e g r o u n d p r e p a r e d b y t h e t i m e t h e g r e a t

g e n e r a l s t r i k e c o m e s a n d t h e C o m m u n i s t s t h e m s e l v e s w i l l b e a b l e t o s u p p l y

t h e n e c e s s a r y f o o d f o r t h e f i g h t e r s o n t h e s i d e o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t .

N o t e s a m o n g t h e p a g e s o f t h e s t a t i s t i c s c o n t a i n s u c h s e n t e n c e s a s t h e s e :

" T h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f i n d u s t r y i n t h e E a s t e r n h a l f o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

m a k e s a c o m p a r i s o n f r o m a n ag r a r i a n p o i n t o f v i e w i m p o r t a n t be c au s e

i t s e e m s t o m e t h e c i t y p r o l e t a r i a t w i l l a p p r o a c h r e v o l t m o r e r a p i d l y w h e r e

concentrated and would, therefore, become more dependent upon the im-

m e d i a t e f a r m s t h a n u p o n t h o s e a t g r e a t d i s t a n c e s . "

" T r u e p r o l e t a r i a n o r g a n i z a t i o n s a m o n g f a r m l a b o r e r s a r e p o s s i b l e i n

a l i m i t e d w a y o n l y w h e r e l a r g e n u m b e r s o f w o r k e r s a r e e m p l o y e d t o g e t h e r

a s t h e y a r e d u r i n g h a r v e s t i n t h e w h e a t a n d f r u i t l a n d s o f t h e W e s t . These

h a r v e s t w o r k e r s a r e e n t i r e l y d i s t i n c t i n t y p e f r o m t h e g r e a t m a s s o f f a r m

l a b o r e r s . T h e ` h a r v e s t s t i f f ' m i g r a t e s f r o m f a r m t o f a r m w i t h n u m b e r s

o f h i s f e l l o w s s p e c i a l i z i n g i n o n l y o n e f a r m o p e r a t i o n . H e c o m e s f r o m

t h e c i t y a n d d r i f t s b a c k t o i t f o r t h e w i n t e r . He is more nearly of the

c i t y . T h e f a r m l a b o r e r i s a n a l l - r o u n d f a r m e r . H i s p o i n t o f v i e w i s m o r e

l i k e t h a t o f h i s e m p l o y e r ; h e i s p a i d b y t h e m o n t h , e a t s w i t h t h e b o s s , a n d

h e i s i s o l a t e d f r o m o t h e r w o r k e r s . All these combined make wi de-spread

o r g a n i z a t i o n s a m o n g t h i s s t r a t a o f t h e a g r a r i a n p o p u l a t i o n i m p r a c t i c a b l e

i f n o t i m p o s s i b l e u n d e r a s y s t e m o f c a p i t a l i s t a g r i c u l t u r e . "

T h e p r o g r a m o p e n s w i t h a d i v i s i o n o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i n t o s e c t i o n s

i n w h i c h t h e C o m m u n i s t s a r e w o r k i n g . T h i s p o r t i o n o f t h e p r o g r a m r e a d s :

"The American problem is not composite ; i t c o n s i s t s o f s e v e r a l d i s -

t i n c t p r o b l e m s . T h i s i s t r u e b e c a u s e o f t h e d i f f e r e n c e s i n h i s t o r i c a l b a c k -

grounds and developments whi ch have followed separate courses, deter-

mined mainly by geographical conditions .

" T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s s h o u l d b e d i v i d e d i n t o f o u r g e o g r a p h i c a l d i v i s i o n s

. . . a n d e a c h s e c t i o n s t u d i e d s e p a r a t e l y . F i r s t , i t s r e a c t i o n t o t h e

c o m m o n c a p i t a l i s t p r e s s u r e . S e c o n d , t h e p a r t i c u l a r p o l i c y a n d p r o g r a m s

w h i c h w i l l r e a c h t h e i n d i v i d u a l f a r m e r s p e c u l i a r t o t h a t s e c t i o n - t e a c h

h i m t h a t i n r e s i s t i n g c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t a t i o n h i s i n t e r e s t s j o i n t h o s e o f t h e

c i t y p r o l e t a r i a t .



REDS IN AMERICA

" S t u d i e d f r o m t h e p o i n t o f v i e w o f t h e P r o l e t a r i a n R e v o l u t i o n t h e

f o l l o w i n g c h a p t e r s o f s t a t i s t i c a l r e f e r e n c e s w i l l s h o w t h a t f o u r g e o g r a p h i c a l

s e c t i o n s h a v e a r e l a t i v e i m p o r t a n c e a s a g r a r i a n u n i t s o f t h e p r o b l e m .

" L e a s t i n i m p o r t a n c e i s t h e W e s t . I t i s t h e S i b e r i a o f A m e r i c a . Thi s

g r e a t a r e a , t h i n l y p o p u l a t e d , t h o u s a n d s o f m i l e s f r o m t h e g r e a t i n d u s t r i a l

c e n t e r s o f t h e c o u n t r y , i s t o o r e m o t e t o f i g u r e d e c i s i v e l y i n a n I n d u s t r i a l

P r o l e t a r i a n R e v o l u t i o n .

"Next in importance comes the New England section . A g r i c u l t u r a l l y

i t i s n o t s e l f - s u p p o r t i n g . I t i m p o r t s 7 5 p e r c e n t o f i t s f o o d s u p p l i e s , b u t

t h i s s e c t i o n i s i m p o r t a n t a b o v e t h e W e s t a s a u n i t i n t h e a g r a r i a n p r o b l e m

because New England farms adjoin the great industrial section of the

c o u n t r y .

"The South ranks above the West and New England for two reasons ;

f i r s t , i t i s d i s t i n c t l y a n a g r i c u l t u r a l c o m m u n i t y , w h o s e m a r k e t s a r e w i t h i n

e a s y r e a c h o f t h e g r e a t i n d u s t r i a l c e n t e r s ; a n d s e c o n d , b e c a u s e i t i n v o l v e s

race problems . S o m e o f t h e s t a t e p o p u l a t i o n s i n t h i s s e c t i o n a r e h a l f

n e g r o e s . T h e s e d e s c e n d a n t s o f t h e s l a v e s a n d t h e p o o r e r w h i t e s a r e c o m -

p e t i n g f o r t h e c r u s t s u n d e r t h e l a s h o f t h e L a n d l o r d S y s t e m .

" T h i s c o m p e t i t i o n h a s s h a r p e n e d t h e r a c e a n t a g o n i s m b e t w e e n t h o s e

m e m b e r s o f t h e s a m e e x p l o i t e d c l a s s , w h e t h e r s k i l l e d o r u n s k i l l e d l a b o r e r s

o r f a r m e r s .

"Thi s c o n d i t i o n mu s t be c o n s i d e r e d i n t h e p r og r a m f o r S ou t h e r n

f a r m e r s . I t h o l d s a m e n a c e t o t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n w h i c h w i l l b e

s e i z e d b y t h e b o u r g e o i s i e .

" A b o v e a l l t h e r e s t c o m e s t h e g r e a t p r o d u c i n g e m p i r e s t r e t c h i n g f r o m

t h e m i d d l e A t l a n t i c a n d i n c l u d i n g t h e M i d d l e W e s t , p r o d u c i n g m o r e f o o d

p e r m a n t h a n a n y o t h e r c o u n t r y i n t h e w o r l d . H e r e i n d u s t r y i s c o n c e n t r a t e d .

H e r e t h e c i t y p r o l e t a r i a t a n d a g r a r i a n a r e b u t a f e w h o u r s a p a r t . T h i s

s e c t i o n m u s t b e w o n o v e r t o t h e s i d e o f t h e c i t y p r o l e t a r i a n . A l l o t h e r s

a r e s e c o n d a r y t o t h e v i t a l i m p o r t a n c e o f t h i s s e c t i o n a s a f a c t o r i n t h e

s u c c e s s o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n . "

I t i s e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e s t a t i s t i c a l m a t e r i a l u s e d i n p r e p a r i n g t h i s

r e p o r t c o n t a i n i ng t h e "ag r a r i a n p r og r a m" h a s be e n c o m p ile d f r o m t h e

l a t e s t a v a i l a b l e s o u r c e s , G o v e r n m e n t , s t a t e a n d c o r p o r a t i o n f i g u r e s b e i n g

u s e d . A f t e r m a n y p a g e s o f i n t e r e s t i n g s t a t i s t i c s t h e r e p o r t t a k e s u p t h e

q u e s t i o n o f f a r m p r o p a g a n d a o f d i f f e r e n t . r a d i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , a s f o l l o w s :

` T h e N o n - P a r t i s a n L e a g u e i s a n o r g a n i z a t i o n o f f a r m e r s i n t h e W e s t

N o r t h C e n t r a l S t a t e s . T h e y h a v e g a i n e d c o n t r o l o f t h e S t a t e g o v e r n m e n t

o f N o r t h D a k o t a a n d s e v e r a l S t a t e o f f i c e s i n o t h e r S t a t e s ; a l s o c o n g r e s s i o n a l

r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m N o r t h D a k o t a .

` T h e i r p r o p a g a n d a t e a c h e s t h e f a r m e r t o ` F i g h t t h e C a p i t a l i s t ' b u t

i s s p o i l e d b y h o l d i n g t h e N o n - P a r t i s a n L e a g u e l e g i s l a t i v e p r o g r a m a s t h e

c u r e - a l l . The following is quoted from a summary of a histor y of the

League which was iss ued recently by them

" ' I t i s a t y p i c a l l y A m e r i c a n i n s t i t u t i o n d e d i c a t e d t o t h e p r i n c i p l e t h a t

t h e p e o p l e s h o u l d r u l e a n d t h a t t h e b a l l o t o f f e r s t h e r e m e d y f o r e c o n o m i c

a n d p o l i t i c a l w r o n g s . '

( 1 1 2 1 -



RELIEF DRIVES'; THE AGRARIAN PROGRAM

" A s a m a t t e r o f f a c t , t h e a c t i o n s o f t h e N o n - P a r t i s a n L e a g u e a r e m o r e

d i r e c t t h a n t h e i r p o l i c i e s i n d i c a t e . There is a Left and Ri ght struggle

w i t h i n t h e L e a g u e a t p r e s e n t . C o n n e c t i o n s w i t h t h e L e f t e l e m e n t s s h o u l d

b e m a d e a n d t h e y s h o u l d c o n t i n u e i n s i d e t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n . Some of their

f a r m p a p e r s h a v e a w i d e c i r c u l a t i o n ; i f c o n t r o l l e d t h e y c o u l d r e a c h o u t

i n t o m o r e i m p o r t a n t a g r i c u l t u r a l s e c t i o n s .

"The I . W. W . has based its farm propaganda on the mistaken as-

s u m p t i o n t h a t a g r a r i a n c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e w h e a t S t a t e s a r e t y p i c a l ; t h a t t h e

m i g r a t o r y ` h a r v e s t s t i f f ' i s t h e t y p i c a l f a r m l a b o r e r .

" I n t h e m o s t d e v e l o p e d r e g i o n s t h e s a m e r e l a t i o n s p r e v a i l u p o n t h e

f a r m s a s a r e f o u n d i n o t h e r i n d u s t r i e s . . . . Th e f a r m h a n d h a s b e c o m e

a m i g r a t o r y l a b o r e r , p o s s e s s i n g a l l t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f h i s i n d u s t r i a l

b r o t h e r .

"As the migratory workers specialize in only one farm operatio n,

s p e n d o n l y a p o r t i o n o f t h e i r t i m e o n t h e f a r m s a n d d r i f t b a c k t o t h e c i t i e s

i n t h e w i n t e r , i t s e e m s o b v i o u s t h a t t h e y a r e n o t t y p i c a l l y f a r m l a b o r e r s .

" T h e S o c i a l i s t p a r t y f a r m p r o p a g a n d a w a s c o n c e r n e d p r i n c i p a l l y i n

g e t t i n g v o t e s . S o m e o f t h e i r l e a f l e t s w e r e u n s c i e n t i f i c e n o u g h t o u s e m o d e r n

methods and machinery as a warning :

" ` M r . F a r m e r : T h e g r e a t m a c h i n e i s i n v a d i n g y o u r f i e l d o f l a b o r . The

c o m b i n e i s c o m i n g y o u r w a y . Wit h i t c o m e s t h e big m a c h i n e d r a w i ng

t h i r t y - t w o p l o u g h s w i t h i t s s e e d e r a n d h a r r o w e r , t h e s t e a m h a r v e s t e r a n d

t h r e s h e r o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s . W i t h t h e m a r e l e a g u e d t h e r a i l r o a d s a n d t h e

m i l l s . I n a f e w m o r e y e a r s t h e c a p i t a l i s t s w i l l h a v e y o u h u n t i n g a j o b

a s a d a y l a b o r e r b e c a u s e y o u c a n n o t c o m p e t e w i t h t h e c o r p o r a t i o n w h i c h

c o m b i n e s c a p i t a l , t h e l a n d , t h e r a i l r o a d s , m i l l s , e l e v a t o r s a n d f a r m m a -

c h i n e r y t h a t d o e s t h e w o r k o f f o r t y h o r s e s a n d e i g h t y m e n a t t h e s a m e t i m e . '

"Combined f arming should not be used as a bugbear ; i t i s a d e s i r e d

e n d . N e i t h e r s h o u l d t h e l e v e l f a r m s o f t h e M i d d l e W e s t w h e r e t h i r t y g a n g -

p l o u g h s c a n b e u s e d b e l o o k e d u p o n a s t y p i c a l . A t h i r t y - g a n g o u t f i t c o u l d

h a r d l y t u r n a r o u n d i n t h e a v e r a g e f a r m f i e l d . On the other hand, the

` s t e a m t h r e s h e r o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s ' w h i c h t h e y m e n t i o n i s u n i v e r s a l l y u s e d

w h e r e v e r c e r e a l s a r e g r o w n ; o p e r a t e d g e n e r a l l y b y a n e i g h b o r h o o d f a r m e r

a s a s i d e l i n e . F a r m p r o p a g a n d a s h o u l d a t l e a s t b e e d i t e d b y f a r m e r s . "

P a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t i n g i n t h i s r e p o r t i s " a n o u t l i n e o f p o l i c y " w h i c h

was adopted and is now being followed out by the agents and the Com-

m u n i s t p a r t y u n d e r d i r e c t i o n f r o m t h e a g r a r i a n s e c t i o n o f t h e p a r t y . I t


" 1 . Emphasize the - n e c e s s i t y f o r w o r k a m o n g t h e l a r g e s t e l e m e n t o f

t h e a g r a r i a n m a s s - t h e s m a l l f a r m e r s .

" 2 . U s e t h e c o m m o n . i n t e r e s t i n t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t c a p i t a l i s m w h i c h

e x i s t s b e t w e e n t h e s m a l l f a r m e r a n d t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a s a w e d g e t o s e p a r a t e

t h e m a s a c l a s s f r o m t h e c a p i t a l i s t a n d p e t t y c a p i t a l i s t e l e m e n t s .

" 3 . U s e t h e f a r m o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e s m a l l f a r m e r s a s a f i e l d f o r

p r o p a g a n d a , t e a c h i n g t h e m t o s t r i k e r a t h e r t h a n a r b i t r a t e . ,

" 4 . O r g a n i z e t h e a g r a r i a n p r o l e t a r i a t w h e r e v e r p o s s i b l e t o f u r t h e r t h e

w o r k o f p r e p a r a t i o n a n d s e p a r a t i o n o f t h e a g r a r i a n e l e m e n t s .

1 1 1 3 1



REDS IN AMERICA

" 5 . R e c o g n i z e t h e l i t e r a l n e c e s s i t y f o r t h e c i t y p r o l e t a r i a t t o g i v e up

s o m e o f i t s m e m b e r s t o a g r a r i a n w o r k .

" I b e l i e v e t h a t p r o l e t a r i a n s i n a n y o c c u p a t i o n w i l l r e a c t u n i f o r m l y

t o a p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n . T h a t i s , t h e y w i ll s u p p o r t t h e i n t e r e st s o f t h e i r

c l a s s . T h e r e f o r e , t h e a g r a r i a n p r o l e t a r i a t c a n b e e x p e c t e d t o s u p p o r t t h e

r e v o l u t i o n o f t h e c i t y p r o l e t a r i a t .

" A n a g r a r i a n p o l i c y m u s t r e c o g n i z e , h o w e v e r , t h a t c o n d i t i o n s t o d a y

p r e v e n t t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e t r u e f a r m p r o l e t a r i a t . N o t h i n g s h o r t o f

r e v o l u t i o n w i l l b r i n g t h e m t o g e t h e r a s a c l a s s .

" T h e p o l i c y m u s t b e d i r e c t e d t o a p r e p a r a t i o n o f t h e g r o u n d b y p r o p .

a g a n d a t o c l a r i f y t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e s e v e r a l s t r a t a w i t h i n t h e a g r a r i a n

p o p u l a t i o n .

" W h e n t h e c i t y p r o l e t a r i a t o v e r t h r o w t h e b o u r g e o i s i e , t h e a g r a r i a n

p o p u l a t i o n s h o u l d b e g i n a g r a d u a l p r o c e s s o f r e o r g a n i z a t i o n ; f i r s t , t h e t r u e

f a r m p r o l e t a r i a t m u s t b e o r g a n i z e d i n t o S o v i e t s ; t h i s w i l l b e s t r e n g t h e n e d

b y l a t e r a d d i t i o n o f t h e m o r e o p p r e s s e d s e m i - p r o l e t a r i a n s : g r a d u a l l y t h e

s m a l l f a r m e r s w i l l b e g i n t o d r i f t o v e r u n t i l o n l y t h o s e a r e l e f t w h o s e i n -

t e r e s t s a r e d i r e c t l y o p p o s e d t o t h e p r o l e t a r i a t .

" T h i s p r o c e s s w i l l b e c o m p l e t e d r a p i d l y a n d w i t h o u t f r i c t i o n o n l y i f

t h e a g r a r i a n p o l i c y d u r i n g t h e p r e - r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t a g e s i s d i r e c t e d m a i n l y t o

w o r k a m o n g t h a t e l e m e n t w h i c h m a k e s u p m o r e t h a n s i x t y p e r c e n t o f t h e

total farm population-the small farmer .

" T h e p r o l e t a r i a n a n d s e m i - p r o l e t a r i a n e l e m e n t s i n t h e f a r m p o p u l a t i o n

a r e c o m p a r a t i v e l y s m a l l. N o p r a c t i c a l a g r a r i a n p o l i c y c a n d i r e c t i t s e l f t o

t h e s e s m a l l u n o r g a n i z e d e l e m e n t s a s i t s d o m i n a n t p u r p o s e. T h e s e e l e m e n t s

w i l l o f n e c e s s i t y s u p p o r t t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n .

" O n t h e c o n t r a r y , a p r a c t i c a l p o l i c y m u s t b e d o m i n a t e d b y t h e p u r -

p o s e t o g u i d e t h e l a r g e s t e x p l o i t e d e l e m e n t s o f t h e a g r a r i a n t h e s m a l lf a r m e r s . T h e s e a r e o r g a n i z e d ; a n d t h e i r o r g a n i z a t i o n s a r e f o r m e d t o r e s i s t

c a p i t a l i s t p r e s s u r e . T h e s e f a r m e r s m u s t b e t a u g h t t h e d i r e c t i s s u e b e t w e e n

t h e m s e l v e s a s a c l a s s a n d t h e b o u r g e o i s i e .

" W h i l e t h e i r i n t e r e s t s a r e n o t e n t i r e l y t h o s e o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n c l a s s ,

i n s o f a r a s t h e y a r e t h e s a m e t h e y m u s t b e u n i t e d w i t h t h e p r o l e t a r i a n .

" F r o m a r e v o l u t i o n a r y p o i n t o f v i e w i t m u s t b e r e c o g n i z e d t h a t a s a

w h o l e t h e f a r m p o p u l a t i o n i s g e n e r a t i o n s b e h i n d . The overthrow of the

b o u r g e o i s i e w i l l b r i n g t h e a g r a r i a n s i n o n e j u m p t o t h e n e c e s s i t y o f c o n -

s i d e r i n g t h e r e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e v e r y b a s i s o f t h e i r e x i s t e n c e , t h a t i s , t h e

s m a l l f a r m u n i t - a f a r m o p e r a t e d b y t h e f a r m f a m i l y a n d o n e f a r m l a b o r e r .

T h e c o m b i n a t i o n o f t h e s e f a r m u n i t s i s a d e v e l o p m e n t w h i c h w i l l f o l l o w t h e

r e v o l u t i o n; w i l l c o m e , a s i t s h o u l d , g r a d u a l l y a s a r e s u l t o f t h e s e p a r a t i o n

o f t h e a g r a r i a n p o p u l a t i o n a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i r c l a s s i n t e r e s t s . W h e r e v e r

b i g f a r m s e x i s t t h e c o n f i s c a t i o n o f t h e s e l a n d s b y t h e f a r m p r o l e t a r i a t f o r

t h e s t a t e m u s t b e t h e f i r s t s t e p .

" T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e s h o u l d b e m u c h m o r e r a p i d i n A m e r i c a

t h a n i n a n y o t h e r c o u n t r y , b e c a u s e o f t h e w i d e - s p r e a d k n o w l e d g e o f t h e

a d v a n t a g e s o f m o d e r n m a c h i n e r y a p p l i e d t o t h e e f f i c i e n t u n i t o f a c r e s .

" C o m m u n i s m c a n n o t b e p r e a c h e d t o t h i s s m a l l f a r m e r e l e m e n t b e f o r e

[ 1 1 4 1



RELIEF DRIVES; THE AGRARIAN PROGRAM

t h e r e v o l u t i o n ; a n d o n l y b y d e m o n s t r a t i o n a f t e r t h e r e v o l u t i o n . B u t w h a t -

e v e r u n i t y o f i n t e r e s t e x i s t s w i t h t h e p r o l e t a r i a n m u s t b e t a u g h t ; a n d t h e

u s e o f e c o n o m i c w e a p o n s s u c h a s f o o d s t r i k e s b e a d v o c a t e d i n t h e i r o r g a n -

i z a t i o n s a s t h e o n l y e f f e c t i v e m e a n s t o g a i n a n y t h i n g f r o m t h e b o u r g e o i s i e .

" T h i s p o l i c y w i l l b e e f f e c t i v e o n l y w h e n w e l l - g r o u n d e d C o m m u n i s t s

c a n b e s p a r e d f r o m t h e r a n k s o f t h e c i t y p r o l e t a r i a t a c t u a l l y t o l i v e a n d

w o r k a m o ng t h e f a r m e r s . "

T h e p r o g r a m n o w i n e f f e c t c a l l e d f o r a b u d g e t o f $ 3 5 , 0 0 0 . I t i n c l u d e d

a s o u t l i n e d i n t h i s r e p o r t , t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f a " l e g a l A g r a r i a n B u r e a u " ;

b u y i n g o r e s t a b l i s h i n g a f a r m w e e k l y p a p e r ; t r a i n i n g o f c o u n t y a g e n t s ;

a n i n v e n t o r y o f a l l r a d i c a l s i n t h e a g r a r i a n p o p u l a t i o n ; a n d r e g u l a r c o n -

f e r e n c e s o f a g r a r i a n l e a d e r s . I n e l a b o r a t i n g t h e s u b j e c t o f t r a i n i n g o f

c o u n t y a g e n t s , t h e r e p o r t s a y s :

" B e l i e v i n g t h a t i t i s e a s i e r t o m a k e f a r m e r s t h a n t o m a k e C o m m u n i s t s ,

well-grounded young Communists who ar e physica lly strong and under-

s t a n d t h e s i t u a t i o n t h e y v o l u n t e e r t o e n t e r , s h o u l d b e g i n t r a i n i n g a t o n c e .

T r a i n i n g w i l l c o n s i s t o f f o u r m o n t h s i n t e n s i v e p r a c t i c a l w o r k o n s p e c i a l

f a r m s u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e b u r e a u . T h i s w i l l b e f o l l o w e d b y a w i n t e r ' s

c o u r s e i n a s c i e n t i f i c a g r i c u l t u r a l c o l l e g e . A f t e r t h i s t h e c o u n t y a g e n t w i l l

b e p l a c e d i n a n i m p o r t a n t a g r i c u l t u r a l s e c t i o n . He then becomes the out-

p o s t i n t h r e e l i n e s o f w o r k : d i s t r i b u t i o n o f p r o p a g a n d a , s o u r c e o f i n f o r m a -

t i o n , a g r a r i a n p a r t y o r g a n i z e r . "

I t w a s d e c i d e d t o s t a r t t e n y o u n g m e n a t o n c e o n t h i s c o u r s e o f t r a i n i n g .

T h e y m u s t b e s e l f - s u p p o r t i n g u n t i l t h e y e n t e r t h e i r s c i e n t i f i c t r a i n i n g i n

c o l l e g e , a n d $ 3 0 0 e a c h w a s a l l o t t e d f o r t h i s c o l l e g e w o r k . I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g

t o k n o w t h a t t h e " i n t e n s i v e p r a c t i c a l w o r k " i s n o w b e i n g d o n e o n o n e f a r m

i n C o n n e c t i c u t , o n e i n t h e S o u t h a n d o t h e r s i n t h e M i d d l e W e s t .

1 1 1 5 1



CHAPTER SEVEN

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

A t t h e s u g g e s t i o n o f F e l i x F r a n k f u r t e r o f H a r v a r d , t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l

L i b e r t i e s U n i o n d e c i d e d t o a s k W i l l i a m A l l e n W h i t e t o s e r v e o n t h e n a t i o n a l

c o m m i t t e e o f t h a t o r g a n i z a t i o n . F r a n k f u r t e r , W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r , w h o w a s

s e a t e d a s f r a t e r n a l d e l e g a t e t o t h e u n l a w f u l C o m m u n i s t c o n v e n t i o n a t B r i d g .

m a n , M i c h . ; E l i z a b e t h G u r l e y F l y n n , C r y s t a l E a s t m a n , R o g e r N . B a l d w i n ,

M o r r i s H i l l q u i t , S c o t t N e a r i n g a n d m a n y o t h e r r a d i c a l s , s o m e o f t h e m C o m -

m u n i s t s , a r e m e m b e r s o f t h e n a t i o n a l c o m m i t t e e o f t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n ; a n d

W h i t e ' s d e f i a n c e o f h i s f r i e n d , G o v e r n o r A l l e n , i n t h e 1 9 2 2 c o a l s t r i k e

t r o u b l e s i n K a n s a s w a s t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n f o r W h i t e ' s a v a i l i b i l i t y a s a

c o m m i t t e e m a n .

T h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n i s d e f i n i t e l y lin k e d w i t h C o m-

munism through the system of interlocking d i r e c t o r a t e s , s o s u c c e s s f u l l y

u s e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a i n p e n e t r a t i n g i n t o e v e r y p o s s i b l e

o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h a v i e w t o g e t t i n g c o n t r o l s o t h a t w h e n the time comes

f o r t h e g r e a t g e n e r a l s t r i k e w h i c h , t h e y b e l i e v e a n d h o p e , w i l l l e a d t o t h e

o v e r t h r o w o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t b y v i o l e n c e , t h e y w i l l a l r e a d y

h a v e t h e s e b o d i e s d e f i n i t e l y a l i g n e d w i t h t h e m . T h e p a r t y h a s s e v e r a l m e m -

b e r s i n t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n a n d t h e c o n s t a n t a c t i v i t i e s o f

t h a t b o d y a r e p r o v i n g o f g r e a t m o r a l a n d f i n a n c i a l b e n e f i t t o t h e C o m m u n i s t s .

R o s e P a s t o r S t o k e s , w h o w a s a d e l e g a t e t o t h e i l l e g a l B r i d g m a n c o n -

v e n t i o n , w a s o n e o f t h o s e r e p o r t e d p r e s e n t a t t h e m e e t i n g o f t h e E x e c u t i v e

C o m m i t t e e o f t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n , o n A u g u s t 2 8 , 1 9 2 2 , a t

t h e U n i o n ' s h e a d q u a r t e r s i n N e w Y o r k , a l t h o u g h s h e w a s n o t a m e m b e r o f

t h e c o m m i t t e e , w h e n t h e d e c i s i o n w a s r e a c h e d , a f t e r d i s c u s s i o n o f W h i t e ' s

d e s i r a b i l i t y a s a m e m b e r o f t h e N a t i o n a l C o m m i t t e e , t o e l e c t h i m t o t h e

C o m m i t t e e i f , u p o n i n q u i r y , i t w a s l e a r n e d t h a t h e w o u l d a c c e p t . A m o n g

t h e o t h e r s a t t h i s m e e t i n g w e r e E l i z a b e t h G u r l e y F l y n n , R o b e r t M o r s s L o v e t t ,

t h e n p r e s i d e n t o f t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s L e a g u e , t h e c o n n e c t i o n o f w h i c h w i t h

the Communist party has been shown i n a p r e v i o u s c h a p t e r . L o v e t t w r o t e

to the Com munist leader, Bruce Rogers, in Los Angeles, t o c a n v a s s t h e

m o t i o n p i c t u r e c o l o n y , g i v i n g t h e n a m e s o f s e v e r a l p r o m i n e n t m o v i e p e o p l e

w h o " a r e w i t h u s , " a n d w h o " h e l p e d u s b e f o r e a n d w i l l d o i t a g a i n " ; Nor-

m a n M . T h o m a s , W a l t e r N e l l e s , B . W . H u e b s c h , t h e w e l l - k n o w n p u b l i s h e r ,

a n d R o g e r N . B a l d w i n , t h e " s l a c k e r " d u r i n g t h e w a r w h o s e r v e d a s e n t e n c e

i n P r i s o n a n d w h o i s o n e o f t h e a c t i v e h e a d s o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n .

A t t h i s s a m e t i m e m e e t i n g o f t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e i t w a s a l s o d e -

c i d e d t o a r r a n g e a m e e t i n g f o r S e n a t o r B o r a h o n t h e a m n e s t y q u e s t i o n a n d

1 1 1 7 1



REDS IN AMERICA

t o s u p p l y f u n d s f o r t h e m e e t i n g . T h i s i s n o t t h e f i r s t t i m e t h a t S e n a t o r

B o r a h ' s n a m e h a s a p p e a r e d i n t h e m i n u t e s o f t h e m e e t i n g s o f t h e A m e r i c a n

C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n , f o r h e h a s a s k e d t h i s r a d i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n t o p r e -

p a r e b i l l s f o r h i m t o i n t r o d u c e i n t h e S e n a t e o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . T h e

m i n u t e s o f a m e e t i n g o f t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e , o n O c t o b e r 3 , 1 9 2 1 , r e c o r d

t h a t S e n a t o r B o r a h a s k e d , t h r o u g h A l b e r t D e S i l v e r (a m o ng w h o s e o t h e r

a c t i v i t i e s w a s t h a t o f b e i n g t r e a s u r e r o f t h e I . W .W . D e f e n s e F u n d ) t h a t t h e

U n i o n d r a f t b i l l s r e p e a l i n g t i t l e 1 2 o f t h e E s p i o n a g e A c t , u n d e r w h i c h t h e

p o s t a l a u t h o r i t i e s s t i l l c e n s o r e d t h e m a i l . I n c l u d e d a l s o w e r e t o b e a m e n d -

m e n t s t o t h a t s e c t i o n o f t h e o b s c e n i t y s t a t u t e w h i c h w o u l d e l i m i n a t e t h e

w o r d s " t e n d i n g t o m u r d e r , a r s o n a n d a s s a s s i n a t i o n " u n d e r t h e " i n d e c e n t "

d e f i n i t i o n . T h e m i n u t e s o f t h e f o l l o w i n g m e e t i n g , o n O c t o b e r 1 0 , s h o w t h a t

D e S i l v e r r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e t w o b i l l s h a d b e e n p r e p a r e d a n d f o r w a r d e d t o

t h e S e n a t o r . I n t h e m i n u t e s o f t h e A p r i l 1 7 , 1 9 2 2 m e e t i n g , w e r e a d : "The

m a t e r i a l f o r S e n a t o r B o r a h h a s b e e n s u b m i t t e d t o h i m a n d i t i s e x p e c t e d

h e w i l l m a k e h i s s p e e c h t o t h e S e n a t e i n a c o m p a r a t i v e l y f e w d a y s . " On

M a y 1 i t w a s r e p o r t e d S e n a t o r B o r a h w a s s t i l l c o n t e m p l a t i n g h i s s p e e c h .

C o m p l a i n t h a s f r e q u e n t l y b e e n m a d e t h a t t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s

U n i o n i s n e v e r e x e r c i s e d a b o u t p r e d i c a m e n t s i n w h i c h p o o r m e n , w h o a r e

n o t r a d i c a l s , f i n d t h e m s e l v e s . T h e i r i n t e r e s t s a n d a c t i v i t i e s a r e a l w a y s .

w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n , i n b e h a l f o f l a w b r e a k e r s o f t h e r a d i c a l c r i m i n a l c l a s s .

A s u r v e y o f t h e N a t i o n a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h i s . U n i o n s h o w s a t o n c e t h a t p r a c -

t i c a l l y t h e e n t i r e m e m b e r s h i p i s m a d e u p o f r a d i c a l s o f o n e s t r i p e o r a n -

o t h e r . T h e y s o l i c i t f u n d s f r o m e v e r y c l a s s , e x a c t l y a s d o t h e C o m m u n i s t s ,

t o b e d e v o t e d t o t h e d e f e n c e o r o t h e r a s s i s t a n c e o f c r i m i n a l s , n e v e r t o a i d

a m a n w h o s t e a l s a l o a f o f b r e a d f o r h i m s e l f o r h i s h u n g r y f a m i l y o r w h o

c o m m i t s a c r i m e o f t h i s n a t u r e . O f c o u r s e i n s o l i c i t i n g f u n d s f r o m t h e

p u b l i c i t d o e s n o t a l w a y s a d m i t t h a t t h e m o n e y i s t o b e t h u s u s e d ; m a n y

p e o p l e c o n t r i b u t e w i t h t h e h a z y i d e a o f u p l i f t i n g t h e d o w n t r o d d e n . T h i s

Uni o n bu sily sought a i d f or t h o se o f i t s ow n m e mbe rs a n d o th e r s wh o ,

c a u g h t i n t h e B r i d g m a n r a i d , w e r e a c t u a l l y e n g a g e d i n a c r i m i n a l c o n s p i r -

a c y a g a i n s t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t .

Th a t th e p e op le w h o a re d i r ec t in g th e f un c ti o ns o f t h e Am e ri c an

C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n h a v e b e e n l o o k e d u p o n f o r s o m e t i m e a s n o t o n l y

r a d i c a l s b u t a l s o i n s o m e c a s e s a s B o l s h e v i k s i s w e l l k n o w n . F e l i x F r a n k -

f u r t e r , o n e o f t h e s h i n i n g l i g h t s o f t h e U n i o n , a s h a s b e e n s e e n , o n c e d r e w

down upon himself a most scathing arraignment when he, a s c o u n s e l f o r

Presiden t Wilson's Mediation Commissi on in the Mooney case, had the

t e m e r i t y t o a t t e m p t t o i n t e r e s t T h e o d o r g R o o s e v e l t i n t h e w o r k h e w a s d o i n g .

E x - P r e s i d e n t R o o s e v e l t ' s A m e r i c a n i s m h a s n e v e r b e e n q u e s t i o n e d b y f r i e n d

o r f o e ; h i s l o y a l t y t o H a r v a r d , w h e r e F r a n k f u r t e r h a s l o n g b e e n t e a c h i n g ,

w a s f a m o u s a m o n g t h e s t u d e n t s a n d a l u m n i , a n d h e b l u n t l y c o m p a r e d F r a n k -

f u r t e r t o T r o t s k y a n d f o u n d l i t t l e d i f f e r e n c e .

A l l u s i o n i s h e r e m a d e t o R o o s e v e l t ' s l e t t e r t o F r a n k f u r t e r , q u o t e d i n

a p r e v i o u s c h a p t e r , b e c a u s e o f t h e f o r m e r P r e s i d e n t ' s e x p r e s s i o n o f o p i n i o n

i n r e g a r d t o t h e I . W. W . , t h e M o o n e y a n d B i l l i n g s c a s e s , a n d s i m i l a r i n d i -

v i d u a l s a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s ; i n t h e c a s e s m e n t i o n e d t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r -

[ 1 1 8 ]



t

Ee

evv e r e n d C h a r l e s t M Lathropp Executive S e c r e t a r yofT h e i 1 D e -

artment , o f S o c i a l S e r v i c e o f- th e N at io na l. (.tounril of t h e

piscopal Ghurcft :

V O u r go v e r n m e n t p a r t i c u l a t l y i n t h e a r r e s t of t h e a l l e g e dc o m m u n i s t s . - i n - M i c h i g a n ' s e e ms t o t a k e t h e p o s i t i o n t h a t i t i s a

c r i n l e , t o b e a - c o m m u r r i s t ; I c a n n o t h e l p b u t b e r e m i n d e d o f

t h e o r i g i n a l ' c o m m u n i s t s w h o w e r e t h e f i r s t c o n v e r t s t o t h eC h r i s t i a n f a i t h . - I f -

t h e - R o m a n G o v e r n m e n t i n t h e e a r l y d a y s o f

C h r i s t i a n i t y h a d t a k e n t h e s a m e a t t i t u d e . t h e e n t i r e A p o s t o l i cC o l l e g e w o u l d h a v e b e e n a r r e s t e d . S a i n t P e t e r , S a i n t J o h n a n dt h e r e s t o f t h e m . T h e y w o u l d h a v e b e e n i n t h e s a m e p o s i t i o n

as Mr . F o s t e r , M r. R u t h e n b e r g a n d t h e o t h e r s a r e t o - d a y . F o r -

t u n a t e l y t h e I m p e r i a l G o v e r n m e n t o f R o m e a t t h a t t i m e w a sn o t s o r e a c t i o n a r y . A s a n A m e r i c a n c i t i z e n a n d s p e a k i n g

f o rm y s e l f , I w a n t t o ' t a k e . m y s t a n d o n t h e b a s i c r i g h t f o r a n y .b o d f i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t o b e a c o m m u n i s t w h o w i s h e s t ob e o n e . "

1 1

type of super-being, but he makes the typical Jeeue-mistakeTheJesus-Thinkers o f r e f u s i n g admit that these am obstacle n the p ath of

such a world . T h e m a n g o x r n m e n i op o l i c e m e n , c a p i t a l i s t s ,

Mich

p o l i t i c i a n s , - armies, =visa,. g o o m e n , t h e s t a t e . To the Jeaus-

a e l G o l dthinker these count for nothing. It is necessary only to bey n o bl e a nd t o s a ve o t h e r s o u l s f o r - n o b i l i t y . I t

. i snotree

n a r y t o t h i n k o u t p l a n e f o r m e e t i n g t h e o p p o s i t i o n , f o r t h e r e

i s n o o p p o s i t i o n t o n o b i l i t y . It is not necessary to think

about what might happen if millions of the poor suddenly

r o s e a g a i n s t t h e r i c h ; and the rich turned machi ne guns on

t h e m . It is not necessary to think about what to do with

men who try to assassinate the lead ers of a free and fra-

ternal world, as they who sought to assassinate Lenin .

The Jesus-thinkers ran 'only for the nobility and purity

o f t h e i r o w n w i n s . 'they are ethical. a n t d o e s a d o c t o r

dream of ethics when he is cutting some rotten flesh out of

the side of a sick man? Does a drowning swimmer think of

n o w _ . - I t i sw a r d i c e , t o o , a n d m e a t b e e r t u p a t e d f r o m n o b i l it y a n d p u r i t y w h e n h e i s c a u g h t b y a n w o d e r t d w ? H e

o n e ' s s o u l w i t h a t e r r i b l e k n i f e i f o n e i s mb e c o m e a m\ in k s only o f o b j e c t i v e t h i n g s , o f t h e f o r c e o f t h e w a v e s . He

T h e s p i r i t o f J e s u s , . H i s l e g e n d i n o n e ' s b a wd , l e e "ck a c a r his own fone . . T h e d o c t o r t h i n k s s c i e n t i f l c a l l y ~ w h en

fusion, ineffectiveness, and despair in the ~ .~~ F P e r f o r m i n g a n o p e r a t i o n . Then is a science in human

E x a c t l y a s w e m u s tI s .- t o b r e a k ' - /

- , t o o ; that is what the Jesus-thinkers will ntvep ad-

f a t h e r s t o b e c o m e m e n , s o w e pQ e . They mistake their own longings for the move -

Father of Jesus, and v- - Lw 8ehumamty. They are egohats, worried about their

!0 '

-V$r t h . Just as w- A4ON~ a tb 1 T hep . r e f u s e t o b e o b j e c t i v e . It is an ethical

so d Ofbev eyesto acknowle dge that the majority' ofmar,-leg.9

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3- F I A

JESUS suffered and died for something he believed good ;

h e w a s n o t a v e r b o s e , t r i c k y j o u r n a l i s t , a w e e e s s f u l p a r -

e conoinp exploiter of labor, or even a politicia n, and

for this we"lauat respect him . F o r h i s a g e J e s s e w a s u n -

d o u b t e d l y a n i n n o c e n t a n d b e a u t i f u l ' p c e t i c a l v o i c e o f a l l t h a t

is beat iq the emotions o f the animal Man; we can love him

for that, as we love Shelley and Wlutatien . We have all of

us his tender child-hunger in ourveins, that makes us dream

of a simple and gentle world, where them is no strife, when

all is mild and fraternal, and where men on as little chil-

dren . I t i s a b e a u t i f u l w e a k n e s s t o t r y - t o l i v e i n t h a t w o r l d

R e v . H a r r y F . W a r d o f t h e A m e r i c a n Civil Liberties Union expresses hiso p i n i o n o f t h e r a i d up o n t h e C o m mun i s t C o n v e n t i o n a t B r i d g m a n i n t h e J a n . 1921i s s u e o f t h e S o c i a l S e r v i c e B u l l e t i n of the Methodist Federation f o r S o c i a l S e r v i c e .

A s i m i l a r e x p r e s s i o n f r o m R e v . Charles M . L a t h r o p , e x e c u t i v e s e c r e t a r y o f t h e D e p a r t -

inent of Socia l Service of the Nation al Council of the Episcopal Church, s a y s : " I

want to make my stan d on the basic right for anybody in the United St ates to be ac o m mun i s t w h o w i s h e s t o b e o n e . "

A p a g e f r o m M a x E a s t m a n ' s Liberator, S e p t . 1 9 2 2 , s h o w i n g t i t l e , "The Jesus-Thinkers" by Michael Gold . A m o ng o t h e r t h i ngs , G o l d s a y s : "Th e l ege n d o f Le n i ni s m o r e b e a u t i f u l t o m e t h a n t h e l eg e n d o f J e su s . * * * Th e Rus s i a n B o l s h e v i k sw i l l l e a v e t h e w o r l d a b e t t e r p l a c e than Jesus left it . "




t i e s U n i o n w a s p a r t i c u l a r l y a c t i v e , i n a n e f f o r t t o p r e v e n t t h e c r i m i n a l s

f r o m p a y i n g t h e p e n a l t i e s i m p o s e d b y t h e c o u r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y f o r t h e

crimes committed . I t w a s a l s o e x e r c i s e d o v e r t h e p r e d i c a m e n t s o f C o m -

m u n i s t s i n v a r i o u s p a r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y w h o w e r e s e n t e n c e d u n d e r t h e a n t i -

s y n d i c a l i s t l a ws o f d i f f e r e n t S t a t e s ; a n d i t i s n o t i n f r e q u e n t to f i n d n o t a t i o n

i n t h e m i n u t e s o f t h e i r m e e t i n g s t h a t a p p e a l t o t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t o f t h e

U n i t e d S t a t e s w i l l b e t a k e n i n a n e f f o r t t o s a v e t h e r a d i c a l s c o n v i c t e d o f

c o n s p i r a c y t o o v e r t h r o w b y v i o l e n c e t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .

T h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e U n i o n , h o w e v e r , d o n o t s t o p w i t h t r y i n g t o a i d

C o m m u n i s t s a n d o t h e r r a d i c a l s a n d c r i m i n a l s a f t e r they have been con-

v i c t e d o f c r i m e s , b u t i t c o n d u c t s p o l i t i c a l c a m p a i g n s i n v a r i o u s S t a t e s i n

a n e f f o r t t o b r i n g a b o u t t h e r e p e a l o f l a w s e n a c t e d t o p r o t e c t t h e G o v e r n -

m e n t f r o m c o n s p i r a c i e s d i r e c t e d f r o m Mo s c o w , a n d i t p r o v i d e s m o n e y

f o r t h e C o m m u n i s t s w i t h w h i c h t h e a n t i - A m e r i c a n f i g h t m a y b e c o n d u c t e d .

T h e m i n u t e s o f t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e m e e t i n g h e l d M a y 8 , 1922, sho w

t h e f o l l o w i n g e n t r y :

" A n a p p l i c a t i o n f r o m t h e N a t i o n a l D e f e n s e C o m m i t t e e f o r a l o a n o f

$ 5 0 0 f o r n i n e t y d a y s w a s n o t e d , a n d w a s r e f e r r e d t o M r . B a l d w i n t o n e -

g o t i a t e o n h i s p e r s o n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y w i t h t h e g e n e r a l a p p r o v a l o f t h e

C o m m i t t e e . "

I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t t h i s N a t i o n a l D e f e n s e C o m m i t t e e i s w h o l l y

C o m m u n i s t , c o n t r o l l e d f r o m M o s c o w , o n e o f t h e m a n y " l e g a l " o r g a n i z a t i o n s

d o i n g t h e w o r k o f t h e s e c r e t C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a . I t s m e m b e r s h i p

i s e n t i r e l y o f C o m m u n i s t s , m o s t , i f n o t a l l , o f t h e m i n a t t e n d a n c e o n t h e

i l l e g a l , u n d e r g r o u n d C o m m u n i s t c o n v e n t i o n a t B r i d g m a n . T h i s c o m m i t t e e

w a s m a d e u p o f M a x B e d a c h t , J . E . F e r g u s o n , L . E . K a t t e r f i e l d , E d g a r

Ow e n s a n d C . E . R u t h e r b e r g . A n d t h i s i s t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r w h i c h t h e

A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n a u t h o r i z e d t h e n e g o t i a t i o n o f a l o a n " w i t h

t h e f u l l a p p r o v a l " o f t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e .

T h e c h a i r m a n o f t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n i s H a r r y F . W a r d ,

t h e p r e a c h e r w h o s e u t t e r a n c e s i n t h e M e t h o d i s t Textbook on radicalism

c a u s e d a s c a n d a l . He was formerly connected with the Boston School of

T h e o l o g y , i s a t e a c h e r o f C h r i s t i a n E t h i c s a t U n i o n T h e o l o g i c a l S e m i n a r y

a n d h a s b e e n a l e a d i n g f a c t o r i n t h e I n t e r c h u r c h W o r l d M o v e m e n t a n d t h e

F e d e r a t e d C o u n c i l o f C h u r c h e s o f C h r i s t i n A m e r i c a . H i s s y m p a t h y a n d

c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h S o c i a l i s t s , I . W. W . , r a d i c a l a n d o t h e r a n t i - A m e r i c a n

m o v e m e n t s h a v e b e e n n o t a b l e . H e w a s a p a c i f i s t d u r i n g t h e w a r , a n d p r a c -

t i c a l l y a l l o f h i s a s s o c i a t e s i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n h a v e r e c o r d s a s p a c i f i s t s a n d

d e f e a t i s t s i n t h o s e t r o u b l e s o m e d a y s , s o m e o f w h o m w e r e i m p r i s o n e d f o r

t h e i r r e f u s a l t o f i g h t w h e n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w a s a t w a r o r f o r e n d e a v o r i n g

t o b r i n g a b o u t t h e d e f e a t o f t h i s c o u n t r y b y a c t i v e l y a i d i n g t h e e n e m y .

W a r d ' s a c t i v i t i e s a r e b e s t i l l u s t r a t e d b y c i t i n g a l e t t e r w h i c h w a s g i v i e n

o u t b y t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n i n A p r i l , 1922, and which was

a d d r e s s e d t o C o n g r e s s m a n M a r t i n B . Madden, chair man of the House Ap -

p r o p r i a t i o n s C o m m i t t e e . I n t h i s , h e a t t e m p t e d t o i n f l u e n c e C o n g r e s s m a n

M a d d e n f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f s e c u r i n g a c u t i n t h e a p p r o p r i a t i o n s i n t e n d e d

for the use of that executive branch of the Government whic h has most

[ 1 1 9 ]



REDS IN AMERICA

t o d o w i t h t h e s u p p r e s s i o n o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y r a d i c a l i s m a n d e m p h a s i z i n g

t h e s p e c i o u s c l a i m t h a t a t t h a t t i m e r a d i c a l i s m w a s o n t h e w a n e . War d' s

l e t t e r c o n t a i n e d t h e f o l l o w i n g :

" R a d i c a l a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s h a v e g r e a t l y d e c r e a s e d s i n c e

1 9 1 9 . . . T h e u n d e r g r o u n d p r o p a g a n d a . . . i s o b v i o u s l y t h a t

c o n d u c t e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . T h e f a c t t h a t p r o p a g a n d a

i s u n d e r g r o u n d i s d u e e n t i r e l y t o t h e r e p r e s s i v e m e a s u r e s d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t i t .

. . . T h e S o v i e t g o v e r n m e n t i s n o t r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h i s p r o p a g a n d a . I t

i s a p a r t o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l , r e v o l u t i o n a r y , w o r k i n g - c l a s s m o v e m e n t a f f i l i -

a t e d w i t h o n e o r a n o t h e r o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l b o d i e s w h i c h e x p r e s s i t s

programs and purposes . "

A s h a s b e e n s t a t e d , t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n , a p a r t o f t h e

o p e n , l e g a l m a c h i n e r y o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a , a n d of which

W a r d i s a n o f f i c i a l , i s t h e c e n t r a l o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r t h e d e f e n s e o f r a d i c a l s

a n d C o m m u n i s t s . U n q u e s t i o n a b l y , i t s f i l e s c o n t a i n l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s o f

i n f o r m a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g t h e r a d i c a l m o v e m e n t , a s t o g a t h e r s u c h i n f o r m a t i o n

i s a p a r t o f i t s a p p o i n t e d f u n c t i o n . I n 1 9 2 2 , e v e r y i n d e p e n d e n t i n v e s t i g a t -

i n g a g e n c y i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s h a d a r r i v e d a t a n o p i n i o n q u i t e t h e o p p o s i t e

f r o m t h a t e x p r e s s e d i n t h i s l e t t e r t o C o n g r e s s m a n M a d d e n . T h e c o n c l u s i o n i s

f o r c e d t h a t W a r d ' s o p i n i o n w a s f o r m u l a t e d a s a r e s u l t o f a d e s i r e t o c r i p p l e

t h e d e f e n s e m e c h a n i s m o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t i n i t s f i g h t a g a i n s t r e v o l u t i o n

e i t h e r b y v i o l e n c e o r l e g i s l a t i o n , a n d t o p r o t e c t t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h o s e w h o

w e r e h i s a s s o c i a t e s .

W a r d ' s s t a t e m e n t a s t o r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r C o m m u n i s t p r o p a g a n d a i n

t h i s c o u n t r y s o u n d s p u e r i l e ' i n v i e w o f t h e r e c e n t c o n t r o v e r s y b e t w e e n

S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e C h a r l e s E . Hughes and St eklov ( 1 9 2 3 ) , t h e s p e e c h o f

S e n a t o r L o d g e i n t h e S e n a t e ( J a n . 1 9 2 4 ) , o r t h e S e n a t o r i a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n

i n t o M o s c o w p r o p a g a n d a i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ( 1 9 2 4 ) . It stamps him as

o n e w h o s e a s s u m e d l e a d e r s h i p i s d e f e c t i v e i n t h a t h e i s e i t h e r u n a c q u a i n t e d

w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h h e a s s u m e s t o k n o w m o s t a b o u t o r i n t h a t h e h a s

a c o n s c i o u s o b j e c t i v e i n m i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f f a c t s .

T h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n o w e s i t s e x i s t e n c e t o t h e n o t o r i o u s

p a c i f i s t o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f w a r - t i m e f a m e , w h i c h w e r e p r e s u m a b l y f i n a n c e db y

G e r m a n ag e n t s i n t h i s c ou n t r y w o r k i ng d e s p e r a t e l y , a n d f o r a t i m e

s u c c e s s f u l l y , t o k e e p t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s f r o m e n t e r i n g t h e w a r . T o b e s u r e ,

i n i t s p r e s e n t f o r m i t h a s e x i s t e d o n l y s i n c e J a n u a r y 1 2 ,1 9 2 0 , when it was

formed as an outgrowth and w ith the merging of various organizations

which were developed during the World War, dating from October, 1914,

a n d t h e m e m b e r s o f w h i c h w e r e p a c i f i s t s , d e f e a t i s t s , G e r m a n a g e n t s , r a d i c a l s

o f m a n y h u e s , C o m m u n i s t s , I . W. W . a n d S o c i a l i s t s . A m o n g t h e o r g a n i z a -

t i o n s i n c l u d e d i n t h e m e r g e r w e r e s u c h p a c i f i s t b o d i e s a s t h e A m e r i c a n

L e a g u e t o L i m i t A r m a m e n t s , E m e r g e n c y P e a c e F e d e r a t i o n , F i r s tA m e r i c a n

Conference for Democrac y and Terms of Peace, People's Freedom U n i o n ,

P e o p l e ' s C o u n c i l o f A m e r i c a , A m e r i c a n U n i o n A g a i n s t M i l i t a r i s m , League

f o r A m n e s t y f o r P o l i t i c a l P r i s o n e r s , C i v i l L i b e r t i e s B u r e a u ,N a t i o n a l C i v i l

[ 1 2 0 ]



AMERICAN C I V I L LIBERTIES UNION

L i b e r t i e s B u r e a u , A m e r i c a n N e u t r a l C o n f e r e n c e C o m m i t t e e , a n d L e g a lF i r s t

Aid Bu r e au .

O f t h e s e - a n d t h e r e w e r e o t h e r s o f l e s s i m p o r t a n c e b u t w i t h e q u a l l y

i m p r e s s i v e n a m e s d e s i g n e d t o f o o l p a t r i o t i c A m e r i c a n s a n d l e n d a i d t o t h e

enemy-the Emergency Peace Federation was organized in Chicago i n O c -

t o b e r , 1 9 1 4 , b y R o s i k a S c b w i m m e r , a n A u s t r i a n J e w e s s b y b i r t h , o f F o r d

P e a c e S h i p f a m e , w h o i s n o w i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o n a l e c t u r e t o u r , a n d

L o u i s P . L o c h n e r , a S o c i a l i s t o f G e r m a n d e s c e n t a n d s y m p a t h i e s , w h o i s n o w

t h e B e r l i n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s r e g a r d e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y a s i t s o f f i c i a l p u b l i c i t y o r g a n i z a t i o n . Two months later the American

League to Limit Armaments was organize d in New York by the same p e r -

s o n s , f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f c o m b a t i n g m i l i t a r i s m a n d t h e s p r e a d i n g o f t h e

m i l i t a r i s t i c s p i r i t i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , o b v i o u s l y a n e f f o r t t o p r e v e n t t h i s

Government from entering the war against Germany .

A s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e s e p r o - G e r m a n a g e n t s i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e s e

a n t i - A m e r i c a n b o d i e s w e r e ; Mrs . P at ri ck La wr en ce o f En gla nd , J a n e

A d d a m s , R e v . J o h n H . H o l m e s , D a v i d S t a r r J o r d a n , D r . J a c q u e s L o e b , D r .

G e o r g e W . N a s m y t h , G e o r g e F . P e a b o d y , O s w a l d G . V i l l a r d , M o r r i s H i l l q u i t

( H i l k o w i c z ) , H a m i l t o n H o l t , E l s i e P a r s o n s , L i l l i a n D . W a l d , R a b b i S t e p h e n

S . W i s e a n d L . Hollingswor th Wood .

T h e g r a d u a l e v o l u t i o n o f t h e v a r i o u s a n t i - w a r a n d o t h e r s u b v e r s i v e

o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t o t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s Union brought quick re-

s u l t s . R a d i c a l s o f e v e r y s t r i p e f o u n d a h a v e n i n t h i s b o d y , e a c h where

b e c o u l d h e l p h i s p a r t i c u l a r f r i e n d s w h o w e r e i n t r o u b l e b e c a u s e o f i n -

f r a c t i o n s o f t h e l a w s o f t h e c o u n t r y . S o o n a f t e r t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e U n i o n

w e f i n d t h e n a m e s o f A m o s P i n c h o t , b r o t h e r o f G o v e r n o r G i f f o r d P i n c h o t

o f P e n n s y l v a n i a , a s v i c e - c h a i r m a n , a n d S c o t t N e a r i n g a n d M a x E a s t m a n o n

t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e . A n d i n t h e t w o y e a r s o f i t s e x i s t e n c e i t h a s b e e n

u s e d b y a l l r a d i c a l s t o f i g h t t h e e x i s t i n g G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .

T h e r a l l y i n g c r y o f " f r e e s p e e c h a n d f r e e p r e s s " b r o u g h t m a n y w e l l - i n t e n -

t i o n e d p e o p l e i n t o i t s r a n k s a n d h u n d r e d s o f o t h e r s t o p l a c e t h e i r n a m e s

o n t h e l i s t s o f c o n t r i b u t o r s . T h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n f r e e s p e e c h a n d t h e

c o n s p i r a c y t o o v e r t h r o w t h e G o v e r n m e n t i s n o t d r a w n b y t h e l e a d e r s o f t h e

m o v e m e n t . F r e e d o m t o t h e m m e a n s t h e l i c e n s e o f t r e a s o n a n d s e d i t i o n . Z a -

c h a r i a C h a f f e e , c o l l e a g u e a t H a r v a r d o f F e l i x F r a n k f u r t e r , w r i t e s , p r e a c h e s

a n d p r e s u m a b l y t e a c h e s t h a t t h e r e s h o u l d b e n o law against anarchy or

s e d i t i o n .

T h e d i r e c t o r s o f t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n h o l d t h a t c i t i z e n -

s h i p p a p e r s s h o u l d n o t b e r e f u s e d a n a l i e n b e c a u s e o f h i s r a d i c a l i s m , n o

m a t t e r o f w h a t d e g r e e . T h e y p r o f e s s t o b e l i e v e t h a t n o p e r s o n s s h o u l d

b e r e f u s e d a d m i s s i o n t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , e s p e c i a l l y r a d i c a l s , a n d t h a t

a l i e n s s h o u l d n o t b e d e p o r t e d f o r e x p r e s s i o n o f o p i n i o n o r f o r m e m b e r s h i p

i n r a d i c a l o r e v e n r e v o l u t i o n a r y o r g a n i z a t i o n s , even if they aim at the

d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t a n d s o c i a l s y s t e m o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .

T h e m e t h o d s t o b e e m p l o y e d i n s e c u r i n g c i v i l l i b e r t i e s b y t h i s U n i o n ,

t h e y c o n t e n d , i s t h r o u g h m a i n t a i n i n g a n a g g r e s s i v e p o l i c y . T h i s c a n b e

[ 1 2 1 1



REDS IN AMERICA

o b t a i n e d b y u n i o n s o f o r g a n i z e d l a b o r , f a r m e r s , r a d i c a l a n d l i b e r a l m o v e -

m e n t s , f r e e s p e e c h d e m o n s t r a t i o n s ( a s t h e y i n t e r p r e t f r e e s p e e c h ) , p u b -

l i c i t y t h r o u g h c i r c u l a r s a n d p o s t e r s , b u t m o r e p a r t i c u l a r l y t h r o u g h p e r s o n a l

i n f l u e n c e w i t h e d i t o r s o r s u b o r d i n a t e s o n r e p u t a b l e n e w s p a p e r s , w h i c h i s

a l s o t h e i r c h i e f m e a n s o f s p r e a d i n g s u b v e r s i v e p r o p a g a n d a , a n d l e g a l d e -

f e n c e w o r k . T h u s t h e U n i o n c r e a t e s i n t h e m i n d s o f C o m m u n i s t s , A n a r c h i s t s

a n d a l l c l a s s e s o f r a d i c a l s t h e i d e a t h a t i t i s i m p r o p e r f o r a n y o n e t o i n t e r f e r e

w i t h t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s a i m e d a t t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f A m e r i c a n i n s t i t u t i o n s .

T h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h i s o r g a n i z a ti o n a r e e x t e n s i v e . I t a s s i s t s a n y r a d i c a l

movement through publications of high standing in order to influence

p u b l i c s y m p a t h y t o w a r d t h e r a d i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , f u r n i s h i n g a t t o r n e y s

f o r r a d i c a l c r i m i n a l s , c o n s c i e n t i o u s o b j e c t o r s a n d r a d i c a l o r f o r e i g n s p i e s ,

" b o r e s f r o m w i t h i n " i n c h u r c h e s , r e l i g i o u s a n d l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s , W o -

m e n ' s C l u b s , s c h o o l s a n d c o l l e g e s ; a n d t h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r ,

i n o r d e r t o s p r e a d ; r a d i c a l i d e a s . T h e u n i o n m a i n t a i n s a s t a f f o f s p e a k e r s ,

i n v e s t i g a t o r s a n d l a w y e r s w h o a r e w o r k i n g i n a l l s e c t i o n s o f t h e c o u n t r y .

L a w y e r s a r e f u r n i s h e d o n s h o r t n o t i c e w h e r e v e r a r a d i c a l c r i m i n a l g e t s i n t o

t r o u b l e . A p r e s s c l i p p i n g s e r v i c e i s m a i n t a i n e d w h i c h k e e p s t h e o r g a n i z a -

t i o n i n c l o s e t o u c h w i t h e v e r y r a d i c a l c r i m i n a l o r g r o u p o f r a d i c a l c r i m i n a l s

i n t r o u b l e a n d i m m e d i a t e f i n a n c i a l a i d , p u b l i c i t y a n d c o u n s e l i s o f f e r e d .

A i d i n g i n t h i s s e r v i c e a r e s o m e 8 0 0 c o o p e r a t i n g l a w y e r s , a n d m o r e t h a n a

t h o u s a n d c o r r e s p o n d e n t s a n d i n v e s t i g a t o r s , r e p r e s e n t i n g 4 5 0 w e e k l y l a b o r ,

f a r m e r a n d l i b e r a l p a p e r s w i t h 4 2 0 s p e a k e r s a n d w r i t e r s .

T h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n w a s p a r t i c u l a r l y a c t i v e i n a i d i n g t h e

C o m m u n i s t s c a u g h t i n t h e B r i d g m a n , M i c h . , r a i d . I t w a s a c t i v e i n b e h a l f o f

t r o u b l e m a k e r s i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h , a n d p r o m i n e n t l y i d e n t i f i e d w i t h t h e c o a l

a n d r a i l r o a d s t r i k e s , t h e A m a l g a m a t e d T e x t i l e W o r k e r ' s s t r i k e i n P a s s a i c ,

N. J . , t h e N a t i o n a l C o m m i t t e e f o r o r g a n i z i n g I r o n a n d S t e e l W o r k e r s i n

Duquesne, Pa . , t h e S o c i a l i s t p a r t y a t M t . V e r n o n , N. Y . , a n d i n f i g h t i n g t h e

S t a t e S u p r e m e C o u r t ' s r u l i n g s o n f r e e s p e e c h d u r i n g 1 9 2 0 , a n d t h e S a c c o .

V a n z e t t i d e f e n s e i n 1 9 2 1 . A n o f f i c e i s m a i n t a i n e d i n W a s h i n g t o n w i t h t h e

F e d e r a t e d P r e s s o r g a n i z a t i o n t o h a n d l e m a t t e r r e q u i r i n g d i r e c t c o n t a c t w i t h

the Government . A s p e c i a l d r i v e w a s e n g i n e e r e d a n d d i r e c t e d b y t h e U n i o n

s e e k i n g a m n e s t y f o r s o - c a l l e d " p o l i t i c a l " a n d i n d u s t r i a l p r i s o n e r s , p e o p l e

who had been duly convicted of crime against the laws of the country .

T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n e s t a b l i s h e d b r a n c h o f f i c e s a n d b o d i e s w e r e f o r m e d u n d e r

o t h e r n a m e s . I t m a i n t a i n s s e p a r a t e f u n d s s u c h a s a n " a m n e s t y f u n d " a n d

a n " I . W. W . P u b l i c i t y F u n d . "

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e r e g u l a r s e r v i c e s a l r e a d y f u r n i s h e d , a n e x t r a p r o g r a m

w a s p u t f o r t h u p o n w h i c h s p e c i a l e f f o r t s w e r e d e v o t e d . T h i s p r o g r a m

i n c l u d e d : a m n e s t y f o r 1 5 0 " p o l i t i c a l p r i s o n e r s " o f w h o m 1 0 3 w l e r e

m e m b e r s o f t h e I . W. W . ; t e s t m e e t i n g s a s a b a s i s f o r g e t t i n g l a w s b e f o r e

t h e c o u r t s o n t h e q u e s t i o n o f f r e e s p e e c h ; a s p e c i a l c a m p a i g n a g a i n s t t h e

American Legion and the Ku Klux Klan ; c o m p l e t i n g s t u d i e s o n i n j u n c t i o n s

a n d a d v i s i n g t a c t i c s f o r l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s ; a campaign in schools and

c o l l e g e s f o r " a c a d e m i c f r e e d o m " ; a n d f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e N a t i o n a l

B i l l F u n d t o r e a c h a l l d e f e n d a n t s i n " c i v i l l i b e r t y " c a s e s . T h e p o l i c i e s o f

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AMERICAN C I V I L LIBERTIES UNION

t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a r e d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e N a t i o n a l C o m m i t t e e a n d t h e c a r r y -

i n g o u t o f t h e m i s l e f t t o t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e w h i c h meets weekly .

Rose Pastor Stokes , a delegate at the illegal Communist conventi on at

B r i d g m a n , i s i n c l o s e c o n t a c t a n d a t t i m e s s i t s w i t h t h i s e x e c u t i v e c o m m i t t e e .

T h e H a r v a r d L i b e r a l C l u b , t h e I . W. W . , the World War Veterans a nd

m a n y l o c a l " d e f e n s e l e a g u e s " a n d " c i v i l l i b e r t y " o r g a n i z a t i o n s a r e a f f i l i a t e d

w i t h t h e u n i o n . T h e d i r e c t o r s o f t h e u n i o n , w h o a r e m e m b e r s o f t h e e x e c -

u t i v e c o m m i t t e e , a r e R o g e r N . B a l d w i n a n d A l b e r t D e S i l v e r . Baldwin has

s t a t e d , i n s e t t i n g f o r t h t h e p u r p o s e s a n d p r i n c i p l e s o f t h e U n i o n , t h a t " t h e

advocacy of murder, unaccompanied by any act, i s w i t h i n t h e l e g i t i m a t e

s c o p e o f f r e e s p e e c h . " A n d i n t e l l i n g t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e

o r g a n i z a t i o n , h e s a y s :

" A l l o f t h e m b e l i e v e i n t h e r i g h t o f p e r s o n s t o a d v o c a t e t h e o v e r t h r o w

o f g o v e r n m e n t b y f o r c e a n d v i o l e n c e . W e w a n t t o , a l s o , l o o k l i k e p a t r i o t s

i n e v e r y t h i n g w e d o . W e w a n t t o g e t a l o t o f g o o d f l a g s , t a l k a g o o d d e a l

a b o u t t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n a n d w h a t o u r f o r e f a t h e r s w a n t e d t o m a k e o f t h i s

c o u n t r y , a n d t o s h o w t h a t w e a r e t h e f e l l o w s t h a t r e a l l y s t a n d f o r t h e s p i r i t

o f o u r i n s t i t u t i o n s . "

I t s h o u l d n o t b e f o r g o t t e n t h a t B a l d w i n r e f u s e d t o f i g h t f o r t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s d u r i n g t h e w a r a n d w a s s e n t e n c e d a n d s e r v e d t i m e f o r " s l a c k i n g. "

The above was the advice given by Baldwin to Louis P . L o c h n e r , r e p r e -

s e n t a t i v e o f t h e c o m m u n i s t i c F e d e r a t e d P r e s s i n B e r l i n , i n r e f e r e n c e t o t h e

methods to be emp loyed in carrying out the propaganda o f t h e P e o p l e ' s

C o u n c i l w h i c h w a s o r g a n i z e d t o i m i t a t e i n t h i s c o u n t r y t h e W o r k m e n ' s a n d

S o l d i e r s ' C o u n c i l s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a . A n d i t i s e v i d e n t t h a t t h e s e p e o p l e

s e e n o c r i m e i n t h e a d v o c a c y o f c r i m e a l o n e , e v e n w h e n t h a t c r i m e r e a c h e s

t h e s t a g e o f t r e a s o n a n d s e d i t i o n .

The following paragraphs from t he 1920 Lusk Committ ee report c o n -

c e r n i n g t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n , w i l l p r o v e i n t e r e s t i n g a t t h i s

p o i n t

" A n e x a m i n a t i o n , h o w e v e r , o f t h e p r o p a g a n d a a n d a g i t a t i o n w h i c h h a s

b e e n c a r r i e d o n i n f a v o r o f t h e f o r c e f u l o v e r t h r o w o f t h i s G o v e r n m e n t s h o w s

t h a t i t d o e s n o t c o n s i s t o f a m e r e e x p r e s s i o n o f o p i n i o n , b u t i n v a r i a b l y

a d v o c a t e s m e a s u r e s f o r i t s e f f e c t u a t i o n . I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y S o c i a l i s t s , C o m m u n i s t s , A n a r c h i s t s a n d o t h e r g r o u p s , s t a t e

t h a t b y d o i n g c e r t a i n a c t s t h i s G o v e r n m e n t m a y b e o v e r t h r o w n a n d i n e a c h

i n s t a n c e t h e a g i t a t o r u r g e s h i s h e a r e r s o r h i s r e a d e r s t o c o m m i t t h o s e a c t s .

I t i s a w e l l s e t t l e d p r i n c i p l e o f l a w t h a t a n y r e a s o n a b l e m a n i s r e s p o n s i b l e

f o r t h e l o g i c a l a n d r e a s o n a b l e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f h i s a c t s a n d u t t e r a n c e s .

" W h i l e t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e S t a t e o f N e w Y o r k g u a r a n t e e s t h e r i g h t

o f f r e e s p e e c h i t a l s o c o n t a i n s t h e w a r n i n g t h a t t h e c i t i z e n m a y e x e r c i s e i t

` b e i n g r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e a b u s e o f t h a t r i g h t . ' T h e e f f e c t o f t h e a c t i v i t i e s

o f t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n i s t o c r e a t e i n t h e m i n d s o f t h e i l l -

i n f o r m e d p e o p l e t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t i t i s u n - A m e r i c a n t o i n t e r f e r e w i t h

t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h o s e w h o s e e k t o d e s t r o y A m e r i c a n i n s t i t u t i o n s . They

s e e k t o i n f l u e n c e l e g i s l a t o r s a n d e x e c u t i v e s t o r e p e a l o r v e t o a n y a c t c a l c u -

[ 1 2 3 ]



REDS I N AMERICA

lated to protect the State or the Federal Government from the attacks of

a g i t a t o r s .

" I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t t h e a n x i e t y o f t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s

Union is shown only wher e the abuse of free speech is ca lled in question

b e c aus e o f a t t a c k s up o n p r o p e r t y o r G o v e r n m e n t . T h e c o m m i t t e e d o e s n o t

f i n d a n y t h i n g i n t h e i r l i t e r a t u r e w h i c h s e e k s t o p r e v e n t a m a n f r o m b e i n g

punished because of libel or slander or because of licent ious or immoral

speech or writing . These writings or utterances are penalized under our

i n s t i t u t i o n s b e c a u s e t h e y a r e d e e m e d t o b e a b u s e s o f t h e r i g h t o f f r e e s p e e c h

a n d t h a t t h e y w i l l t e n d t o d e s t r o y t h e r e p u t a t i o n o f a n i n d i v i d u a l o r t h e y

w ill t e n d t o c o r rup t publi c m o r al s . If the principles set forth in the

` S t a t e m e n t o f C i v i l L i b e r t y ' . . . w e r e c a r r i e d i n t o e f f e c t , l i b e l , s l a n d e r

a n d i m m o r al o r l e w d w r i t i ngs a n d s p e e c h c ould n o t b e pun i s h e d . "

A f t e r s o m e f u r t h e r a n a l y s i s t h i s r e p o r t s a y s :

"THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, IN THE , L A S T '

A N A L Y S I S , I S A SUPPORTER OF ALL SUBVERSIVE MOVEMENTS,AND ITS PROPAGANDA IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE INTERESTS OFTHE STATE . IT ATTEMPTS NOT ONLY TO PROTECT CRIME BUTTO ENCOURAGE ATTACKS UPON OUR INSTITUTIONS IN EVERYFORM . "

T h e u n i o n i s c l o s e l y i d e n t i f i e d w i t h g r o up s i n p r a c t i c a l l y e v e r y

c i t y i n t h e c o u n t r y k n o w n a s " p a r l o r B o l s h e v i k i ." S p e a k e r s a r e fur n i s h e d

for these dilett ante radic als whose influence would amount to little but

f o r t h e f a c t t h a t t h e y c a n b e c o u n t e d u p o n f o r f i n a n c i a l c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o

a n y m o v e m e n t t h a t p r o m i s e s t h e m a t h r i l l . I t h a s b e e n s a i d t h a t m a n y

idle men and women become identified with this parlor Bolshevik movement

through emotionalism and because it gives them som ething to think about .

W h a t e v e r t h e r e a s o n , t h e C o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n a g i t a t o r s

m a k e u s e o f t h e s e g r o u p s f o r f i n a n c i a l a i d a n d a s m e a n s o f s p r e a d i n g p r o p .

a g a n d a . .

J u s t a t p r e s e n t t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y o f A m e r i c a i s r e c e i v i n g t h e a t t e n -

t i o n o f t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n , a n d t h r o u g h t h a t o r g a n i z a t i o n

the aid of the parlor Bolsheviki . T h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y b e i n g t h e " l e g a l

e x p r e s s i o n " i n p o l i t i c s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a , a n d i t s s t a n d a r d -

b e a r e r i n N e w Y o r k , W i l l i a m F . Dunne, being charged with criminal con-

s p i r a c y f o r h i s p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e i l l e g a l B r i d g m a n C o m m u n i s t c o n v e n t i o n ,

the party is having a hard row to hoe . Among other attempted activit ies

a t t h i s t i m e i s s i t , a p p e a l f o r f u n d s f r o m a n y s o u r c e .

T h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y a s a b r a n c h o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , h a s a c c e s sto the "sucker lists" of people who have contributed to the finances of

t h e p a r t y i n v a r i o u s c i t i e s , a n d b e s i d e s h a s " s u c k e r l i s t s " o f i t s o w n w h i c h

a r e s h a r e d w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t s . Th e m o s t r e m a r k a b l e f e a t u r e o f t h e s e

lists is the number of names of prominent people upon them . F o r i n s t a n c e ,

t h e l i s t f o r Ph il a d elp h i a , w h i c h t h e Wo r k e r s' p a r t y h a s f o r us e o n t h e

g r o un d t h a t t h e p e o p l e h a v e c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e f u n d s o f t h e W o r k e r s '

party (and of course the information is d utifully passed on to the Com-

m u n i s t s ) c o n t a i n s a p p r o x i m a t e ly t w o h u n d r e d n a m e s , a l m o s t a l l o f t h e m

[ 1 24 ]




w e l l - k n o w n p e o p l e . The name of Mrs . G i f f o r d P i n c h o t , w i f e o f t h e G o v e r n o r ,

o f P e n n s y l v a n i a , i s t h e s e v e n t h n a m e o n t h e l i s t , w h i c h a l s oc o n t a i n s t h e

n a m e s o f a t l e a s t s i x m e m b e r s o f t h e w e l l - k n o w n a n d w e a l t h y B i d d l e f a m i l y .

I t i s n o t i n t e n d e d e v e n t o i n s i n u a t e t h a t t h e s e p e o p l e k n e w t h a t - t h e y w e r e

c o n t r i b u t i n g , i f t h e y d i d c o n t r i b u t e , t o t h e f i n a n c e s o f a n o r g a n i z a t i o n t h e

c h i e f a i m o f w h i c h w a s t h e o v e r t h r o w b y v i o l e n c e o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n -

ment ; t h e y h a v e u n d o u b t e d l y c o n t r i b u t e d f r e q u e n t l y t o c a u s e s w h i c h t h e y

w e r e t o l d w e r e f o r t h e u p l i f t o f t h e d o w n t r o d d e n o r t h e b e t t e r i n g o f t h e

c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s . T h o u s a n d s o f A m e r i c a n s i n o t h e r c i t i e s

h a v e , b y c o n t r i b u t i n g t o s i m i l a r f u n d s , p l a c e d t h e i r n a m e s o ns i m i l a r l i s t s .

W. W . W e i n s t o n e , e x e c u t i v e s e c r e t a r y o f t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y o f A m e r -

i c a i n N e w Y o r k , w a s i n h i d i n g f o r s o m e m o n t h s a f t e r t h e B r i d g m a n C o n -

v e n t i o n w a s r a i d e d , a n d t h i s h a d e m b a r r a s s e d t h e p a r t y , e s p e c i a l l y w i t h

D u n n e , t h e l e a d e r , i n j a i l , o r o u t o n b o n d . However, Weinstone, who is

a k n o w n C o m m u n i s t , s t i l l s e n t o u t o r d e r s f o r t h e c a m p a i g n f r o m h i s h i d i n g -

p l a c e . T h e p a r t y h a d d i f f i c u l t i e s i n o b t a i n i n g s i g n a t u r e s t o g e t t h e c a n d i -

d a t e s o n t h e b a l l o t , a s t h e m e m b e r s h i p , d i s m a y e d b y t h e p u b l i c i t y a t t e n d i n g

t h e c o n n e c t i o n o f t h e p a r t y w i t h t h e i l l e g a l C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , w a s u n w i l l i n g

t o f u r n i s h t h e s i g n a t u r e s t o t h e p e t i t i o n s . T h e y w e r e , t h e r e f o r e , c o m p e l l e d

t o p a y m e n t o d o t h i s w o r k a n d , b y o r d e r o f E . L i n d g r e n , w h o w a s h e l d b y

the State of New York for extradition to Michigan charged with having

p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e i l l e g a l B r i d g m a n C o m m u n i s t C o n v e n t i o n , w e r e a s k i n g

m e m b e r s f o r f u n d s t o g e t t h e p a i d s o l i c i t o r s b u s y . T h i s i s w h e r e t h e " s u c k e r

l i s t s " p r o v e t h e i r w o r t h . T h e a p p r e h e n s i o n f e l t b y W e i n s t o n e , i n h i s h i d i n g

p l a c e , w a s i n d i c a t e d b y t h e f o l l o w i n g l e t t e r w h i c h h e s e n t o u t u n d e r d a t e

o f S e p t e m b e r 2 5 , 1 9 2 2 :

" T o A l l B r a n c h e s o f t h e W o r k e r s ' P a r t y L o c a l , G r e a t e r N e w Y o r k .

" D e a r C o m r a d e s : O u r p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n , f o r o b v i o u s r e a s o n s , h a s

t h u s f a r f a i l e d t o f u n c t i o n e f f e c t i v e l y i n t h e c a m p a i g n . S o . f a r a s g e t t i n g

s i g n a t u r e s o n t h e p e t i t i o n s i s c o n c e r n e d w e h a v e f a l l e n d o w n m i s e r a b l y .

" T h i s m e a n s t h a t i f w e d e p e n d u p o n o u r p a r t y m e m b e r s h i p t o g e t s u f f i -

c i e n t s i g n a t u r e s t o p l a c e o u r c a n d i d a t e s o n t h e b a l l o t , o u r p a r t y w i l l n o t

b e o n t h e b a l l o t . I f w e d o n o t g e t o n t h e b a l l o t , i t w i l l b e a g r e a t b l o w t o u s .

" W e m u s t u n d e r a l l c i r c u m s t a n c e s g e t a p l a c e o n t h e b a l l o t f o r o u r

p a r t y . [ T h e i t a l i c s a r e W e i n s t o n e ' s . ] And since we shall not be on th e

b a l l o t , i f w e d e p e n d u p o n t h e p a r t y m e m b e r s h i p w e a r e c o m p e l l e d t o p a y

p e o p l e w h o w i l l g e t s i g n a t u r e s f o r u s .

"A few thousand dollars is necessary imm ediately . We m u s t r a i s e

t h a t m o n e y a t a l l c o s t s . The City Central Committee passed a motion to

t h e e f f e c t t h a t e v e r y b r a n c h m u s t c o n t r i b u e a s u m o f m o n e y f o r t h e c a m p a i g n

e q u a l t o f i f t y c e n t s p e r m e m b e r . I f a b r a n c h h a s t h i r t y m e m b e r s i t m u s t

s e n d i n t o t h e L o c a l O f f i c e , $ 1 5 ; i f i t h a s f o r t y m e m b e r s i t m u s t g i v e $ 2 0 ,

e t c . , e t c .



REDS IN AMERJCA

"C o m r a d e s-t h i s m a t t e r c a n n o t be d ela y e d .

"Hurry Comrades-by October 6th the Local must raise one thousand

d o l l a r s f o r t h e c a m p a i g n . S e n d i n t h e m o n e y i m m e d i a t e l y .

" L e t u s g e t o n t h e b a l l o t a n d b e g i n a r e a l c a m p a i g n .

" F r a t e r n a l l y ,

"W. W . W e i n s t o n e ,

" E x e c u t i v e S e c r e t a r y .

" P . S .-Branch Organizers . T h e l e a f l e t s f o r t h e R a t i f i c a t i o n M e e t i n g o f

S e p t . 2 9 t h a r e r e a d y . C o m e down and get them . Get some comrades to

d i s t r i b u t e t h e m . "

The Communist International at Moscow had originally planned to

h a v e t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a m a k e e v e r y e f f o r t t o s e c u r e t h e e l e c -

t i o n t o C o n g r e s s a n d t o o t h e r o f f i c e s o f p e r s o n s f r i e n d l y t o w a r d S o v i e t

R u s s i a , a n d f o r t h i s p u r p o s e p r o m i s e d t o g i v e t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n i n t h i s

country a quarter of a million dollars for a c ampaign fund . But the

i n a c t i o n o f c a n d i d a t e s i n w h o m t h e y h a d p l a c e d c o n f i d e n c e a n d t h e c a s u a l

activities of others, made the Moscow Reds, plotting on the internal

p o l i t i c s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d w i t h a n o r g a n t o c a r r y o u t t h e i r p l o t s ,

l o s e c o n f i d e n c e a n d t h e y d e c i d e d t o w i t h h o l d t h i s f u n d a t l e a s t u n t i l " t h e

g o o d s h a v e b e e n d e l i v e r e d . "

I n f o r m a t i o n r e a c h e d t h e C o m m u n i s t s o f A m e r i c a t h a t M o s c o w o f f i c i a l s

w e r e p a r t i c u l a r l y i n d i g n a n t a t t h e a c t i o n o f S e n a t o r F r a n c e , o f M a r y l a n d ,

i n i n t r o d u c i n g l e g i s l a t i o n t o h a v e t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t r a n s f e r s i x s t e a m e r s

t o P o l a n d a n d t h e M o s c o w p e o p l e s a i d t h a t t h i s a c t i o n s h o w e d t h a t

R u s s i a c o u l d n o t d e p e n d u p o n s u c h f r i e n d s . Whe n t h e C o m mu n i s t I n t e r .

n a t i o n a l w a s i n f o r m e d o f t h i s s t a t e o f a f f a i r s i t a b a n d o n e d i t s o r i g i n a l p l a n

a n d i n s t r u c t e d t h e p a r t y h e r e t o e x e r t a l l i t s e f f o r t s i n u s i n g t h e e l e c t i o n s

for propaganda purposes . The Communist Internationa l, however, did

a p p r o p r i a t e $ 3 0 , 0 0 0 f o r t h e c o n d u c t o f t h e e l e c t i o n c a m p a i g n b y t h e C o m -

m u n i s t p a r t y t h r o u g h t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y o f A m e r i c a .

11261



CHAPTER EIGHT

THE INDUSTRIAL PROGRAM

T h e p l a n e l a b o r a t e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f g a i n i n g a

f o o t h old a m o ng t h e w o r k i ng m e n o f v a r i ou si n d u s t r i e s i n c l u d e s t h e f o r -

m a t i o n o f a s e r i e s o f " n u c l e i " o r g r o u p s e a c h c o n s i s t i n g o f t e n m e m b e r s w i t h

a l e a d e r , w h o a r e p l e d g e d t o t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p r o g r a m . Only

t h e l e a d e r k n o w s t h e m e m b e r s o f h i s o w n g r o u p o r n u c l e u s , a n d a l i m i t e d

n u m b e r o f o t h e r l e a d e r s . B y t h i s m e t h o d i t w a s h o p e d t h a t b y g r a d u a l e x -

t e n s i o n o f t h e n u m b e r s o f n u c l e i t h r o u g h p r o p a g a n d a , f u r t h e ri n s i n u a t i o n s

o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y t h o u g h t w o u l d r e s u l t u n t i lf i n a l l y a s u f f i c i e n t m i n o r i t y

w o u l d b e u n d e r c o n t r o l t o i n f l u e n c e t h e p a s s i v e t h o u g h t a n d a c t i o n s o f t h e

m a j o r i t y . F o r i t m u s t b e r e m e m b e r e d t h a t t h e u l t i m a t e i n f l u e n c e s b e h i n d

the world revolutionary movement are by a developed i n s t i n c t , s p e c i a l i s t s

i n m i n o r i t y r u l e .

T h e r e a r e b u t f e w g r o u p s o f w o r k i n g m e n i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , e i t h e r

g e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g o r i n a s i n g l e i n d u s t r y t h a t d o n o t c o n t a i n t h e g e r m s

of Communism in the form of nuclei . In many places the work of prop .

aganda is being carried on more and more openly w i t h l i t t l e o r g a n i z e d

o p p o s i t i o n , e i t h e r f r o m t h e w o r k m e n o r t h e i n d i v i d u a l employers, where

i n p r e v i o u s y e a r s a t t e m p t s o f t h i s s o r t w e r e r e g a r d e d a s i l l e g a l a n d c a r r i e d

o u t i n a n u n d e r g r o u n d m a n n e r . D i s s a t i s f a c t i o n o f a n y s o r t i s a p r o d u c t i v e

f e r t i l i z e r f o r t h e g r o w t h o f t h e s e e d o f C o m m u n i s t i c p r o p a g a n d a . P l a n t e d

i n t h e f o r m o f n u c l e i , C o m m u n i s t s u n d e r d i r e c t o r d e r s o f t h e p a r t y l e a d e r s

t a k e e s p e c i a l a d v a n t a g e o f s t r i k e s t o c a r r y i g n o r a n t p a s s i o n s t o o p e n v i o l e n c e

a n d t o w i n a d h e r e n t s t o t h e i r c a u s e .

T h e r e a r e b u t f e w s t r i k e s o f a n y m a g n i t u d e i n w h i c h t h i s d i r e i n f l u e n c e

i s n o t f e l t . I t w a s e s p e c i a l l y a p p a r e n t i n t h e N e w E n g l a n d T e x t i l e s t r i k e

o f 1 9 2 2 , a n d l a t e r i n t h e c o a l a n d r a i l r o a d s t r i k e s o f t h e s a m e y e a r . Th e

h i s t o r y o f t h e s e a t t e m p t s t o u t i l i z e a b i g s t r i k e f o r t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f d i s -

o r d e r i s b e s t i l l u s t r a t e d b y g i v i n g a s h o r t a c c o u n t o f t h e c o a l s t r i k e . W h a t -

e v e r m a y b e s a i d a b o u t t h e u l t i m a t e c a u s e s o f t h e 1 9 2 2 c o a l s t r i k e , a n d c e r -

t a i n l y t h e a c t i o n s o f t h e U n i t e d M i n e W o r k e r s a n d i t s o f f i c i a l s w e r e n o t

a b o v e c r i t i c i s m , C o m m u n i s t l e a d e r s s a w t h e r e i n a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o

f u r t h e r t h e i r p r o g r a m . A g e n t s w e r e s e n t i n t o t h e P e n n s y l v a n i a f i e l d , a n d

v e r y s o o n h e r e a n d t h e r e n u c l e i w e r e o r g a n i z e d . T h r o u g h t h e i r l e a d e r s t h e

n u c l e i w e r e p u t i n t o t o u c h w i t h t h o s e g r o u p s w h i c h h a d b e e n i n e x i s t e n c e f o r

a l o n g e r p e r i o d . M o s t , i f n o t a l l o f t h e m e m b e r s w e r e e n r o l l e d i n t h e U n i t e d

M i n e W o r k e r s a n d t h r o u g h t h e i r l o c a l s n a t u r a l l y e x e r t e d a good deal of

i n f l u e n c e i n t h e p o l i c i e s o f t h e U n i o n a s a w h o l e , b e a r i n g i n mind that a

[ 1 2 7 ]



REDS IN AMERICA

w e l l - d i r e c t e d , s e c r e t l y o r g a n i z e d m i n o r i t y c a n a l w a y s c o n t r o l t o a g r e a t e r

o r l e s s e x t e n t t h e p o l i c i e s o f a p r e s u m a b l y d e m o c r a t i c o r g a n i z a t i o n .

The gradual amalgamation of union an d non-union w o r k e r s i n e a c h

l i n e o f i n d u s t r y i n t o a s i n g l e o r g a n i z a t i o n , f i r s t i n c i t i e s , t h e n i n S t a t e s a n d

t h e n i n t h e e n t i r e c o u n t r y , i s t h e f i r s t g e n e r a l step which is now being

t a k e n . Then will come, according to the schedule prepared by M o s c o w

and American communists, th e amalgamation of all workers of all in-

d u s t r i e s , f i r s t i n c i t i e s , t h e n i n S t a t e s a n d t h e n i n t h e e n t i r e c o u n t r y . W h e n

t h i s i s a c c o m p l i s h e d t h e s t a g e w i l l b e s e t f o r t h e g r e a t g e n e r a l s t r i k e , i f

i t c a n n o t b e d e v e l o p e d f r o m a l o c a l d i s t u r b a n c e b e f o r e t h a t t i m e . T h e c o m •

m u n i s t s p l a n t h i s a s t h e f i r s t g e n e r a l d i r e c t m o v e t o w a r d t h e o v e r t h r o w o f

t h e G o v e r n m e n t b y f o r c e o f a r m s .

Many more steps have been taken tow ard this goal than the g e n e r a l

p u b l i c r e a l i z e s . C o m mu n i s t s a t t e n d e d , a s m e mbe r s o f t h e Maintenance

o f W a y U n i o n o f t h e r a i l r o a d g r o up , t h e convention of that body in

Detroi t on the 5th of October, 1922, and showed t h e i r v i c t o r i o u s h a n d

w h e n f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e t h e y w e r e a b l e t o f o r c e a r e s o l u t i o n t h r o u g h c a l l i n g

for the amalgamation of all rail workers . W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r , o u t o f

j a i l u n d e r b o n d f o r h i s p a r t i c i p a t i o n in the "illegal" Communist party

convention at Bridgman, Mich . , w a s a c t i v e a t t h i s meeting of the Main •

tenance of Way Union . A n A s s o c i a t e d P r e s s d e s p a t c h f r o m D e t r o i t u n d e r

d a t e o f O c t o b e r 5 , t e l l s t h e s t o r y :

" T h e M a i n t e n a n c e o f W a y U n i o n , i n c o n v e n t i o n h e r e , w e n t o n r e c o r d

today as favoring a union of the chief r a i l r o a d w o r k e r s ' o r g a n i z a t i o n s

a s a s t e p t o w a r d m o r e c o n c e r t e d a c t i o n i n m a t t e r s r e l a t i n g t o l a b o r .

A r e s o l u t i o n i n s t r u c t i n g o f f i c e r s o f t h e b r o t h e r h o o d t o ` p r e p a r e f o r t h e

amalgamation of the unions' was adopted after s e v e r a l h o u r s o f h e a t e d

d e b a t e i n w h i c h f r i e n d s o f P r e s i d e n t E . F . G r a b l e c h a r g e d t h a t t h e p r o p o s a l

w a s p u t f o r w a r d b y ' a r a d i c a l g r o u p ' .

" O n e s p e a k e r d e c l a r e d t h a t i t w a s e v i d e n t t h a t ` r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f S o v i e t

Russia or the Industrial Workers of the World are secretly sitting in

t h e c o n v e n t i o n h a l l ' . T h e a f f a i r s o f t h e c o n v e n t i o n , t h i s s p e a k e r s a i d , a p -

parently were temporarily in the hands o f W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r , ` w h o i s

k n o w n w h e r e v e r l a b o r i s o r g a n i z e d a s a n u l t r a - r a d i c a l ' .

" F o s t e r a t t e n d e d o n e o f t h e s e s s i o n s o n T u e s d a y w i t h o u t c r e d e n t i a l s

a n d h a s s i n c e b e e n b a r r e d f r o m t h e f l o o r . "

T h i s i s t h e f i g h t t h a t a l l A m e r i c a n w o r k e r s , i n u n i o n s a n d o u t , a r e .

f i g h t i n g i n t h e i r o w n r a n k s . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , b e f o r e t h e y o r t h e A m e r i c a n

p e o p l e a p p r e c i a t e d t h e s e r i o u s n e s s o f t h e s i t u a t i o n o r u n d e r s t o o d t h e d e .

signs the Communist regime i n Moscow, through the Communist party of

Am e r i c a , h a d o n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t a n d i t s i n s t i t u t i o n s , t h e

C o m m u n i s t s h a d s u c c e e d e d i n p l a n t i n g m a n y m e m b e r s i n t h e d i f f e r e n t i n -

d u s t r i e s , i n t h e u n i o n s a n d a m o n g t h e n o n - u n i o n w o r k e r s , and had such a

f o o t h o l d t h a t t h e y c o u l d n o t b e e l i m i n a t e d . The s a n e , lo y al Am e r i c a n

members of the Maintenan ce of Way Union have just discovered t h e e x -

t e n t t o w h i c h t h e i r o r g a n i z a t i o n i s d o m i n a t e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s .

B e s i d e s t h e a c t i v e C o m m u n i s t s " p l a n t e d " i n t h e l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s

1 1 2 8 ]




o r c o n v e r t e d t o C o m m u n i s m b y t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s t h u s i n c l u d e d i n t h e m e m -

b e r s h i p , t h e r e a r e a n u m b e r o f a c t i v e " l e g a l " b o d i e s a i d i n g i n t h i s w o r k

o f a l i g n i n g a l l l a b o r f o r t h e u n i t e d f r o n t " p r e p a r a t o r y t o t h e G e n e r a l

S t r i k e . " A m o n g t h e s e a r e t h e S o c i e t y f o r T e c h n i c a l A i d t o S o v i e t R u s s i a ,

t h e W o r k e r s ' P a r t y o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a , w h i c h a r e

t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t . W h e n i t i s u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s a r e i n

f a c t o n e a n d t h e s a m e a s t h e C o m mu n i s t p a r t y o f Am e r i c a , i t i s e a s i l y

s e e n t h a t t h i s i s a n i m p o r t a n t m e a n s o f a g i t a t i o n w h i c h i s l e g a l l y u t i l i z e d

u n d e r t h e i n n o c e n t g u i s e s o f t e c h n i c a l , f a m i n e o r o t h e r k i n d s o f r e l i e f f o r

R u s s i a . In a recent report by the Central Bureau of the Society for

Technical Aid to Soviet Russia, s e n t t o t h e c o m m u n i s t a u t h o r i t i e s i n

M o s c o w , i t i s s h o w n t h a t t h e i n f l u e n c e o f t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n i s r a p i d l y e x -

p a n d i n g t h r o u g h o u t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d C a n a d a . A b r a n c h h a s a l s o b e e n

e s t a b l i s h e d i n P a n a m a .

I n t h i s r e p o r t i t i s s t a t e d t h a t t h e S o c i e t y f o r T e c h n i c a l A i d t o S o v i e t

R u s s i a h a d c o l l e c t e d i n 1 9 2 2 , $ 6 2 0 , 0 0 0 i n t h i s c o u n t r y f o r i t s w o r k i n b e h a l f

of the Communist movement here and in Russia . I n f a c t , b e c a u s e o f t h e

c o m p a r a t i v e p o v e r t y o f t h e r e s t o f t h e w o r l d , t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i s v e r y

l a r g e l y f i n a n c i n g t h e r u l i n g g r o u p i n R u s s i a , w h o s e o n l y A m e r i c a n p o l i c y

i s t h e d e s t r u c t i o n b y f o r c e o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . Of

t h e $ 6 2 0 , 0 0 0 c o l l e c t e d h e r e o n b e h a l f o f t h i s s e e m i n g l y e x c e l l e n t c h a r i t a b l e

m o v e m e n t $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 p a s s e d i m m e d i a t e l y i n t o t h e c o f f e r s o f t h e C o m mu n i s t

party of America . T h e r e s t w a s v a r i o u s l y e x p e n d e d , a c o n s i d e r a b l e s u m

going in gold to the Communist circle in Moscow . T h e b a l a n c e i s v a r i -

o u s l y u s e d i n b u y i n g t o o l s f o r R u s s i a a n d i n p r o m o t i n g i n d u s t r i e s i n t h a t

c o u n t r y , i n f i n a n c i n g m o v e m e n t s a n d s p r e a d i n g p r o p a g a n d a i n t h i s c o u n t r y .

T h i s s u m w a s c o l l e c t e d i n l e s s t h a n s i x m o n t h s , a n d s u s t a i n s the hope of

t h e C o m m u n i s t s t h a t m o r e t h a n $ 1 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 a y e a r c a n b e c o u n t e d o n f r o m

t h i s s o u r c e a l o n e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .

An as an example of the thoroughness with whi ch the work o f t h e

C o m m u n i s t s i n i n d u s t r i e s i s d o n e , c o r r e s p o n d e n c e i n A p r i l , 1 9 2 2 , b e t w e e n

J a m e s P . C a n n o n , n a t i o n a l c h a i r m a n o f t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y o f A m e r i c a ,

a n d T . R . S u l l i v a n o f S t . L o u i s , o n e o f t h e d e l e g a t e s t o t h e B r i d g m a n c o n -

vention of the Communist party, may be cite d . T h i s c o r r e s p o n d e n c e r e -

f e r r e d t o t h e w o r k o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s i n t h e s o u t h e r n I l l i n o i s c o a l f i e l d s ,

t h e s c e n e o f t h e H e r r i n m a s s a c r e . Under date of April 17 Cannon wrote

t o " D e a r C o m r a d e B o b " a s k i n g f o r " a l i t t l e r e p o r t o n t h e a c t i v i t i e s y o u

a r e c a r r y i n g o n i n t h e c o a l f i e l d s , s t a t i n g j u s t what is being done, and

w h e t h e r t h e w o r k i s b e i n g t u r n e d i n t o a c c o u n t f o r o r g a n i z a t i o n p u r p o s e s

o f t h e W . P . " ( W o r k e r s ' p a r t y ) . S u l l i v a n i s a l s o r e q u e s t e d t o " w r i t e

s o m e t h i n g f o r t h e W o r k e r a b o u t t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y a c t i v i t i e s i n t h i s s t r i k e

i n y o u r d i s t r ic t . "

T o t h i s l e t t e r f r o m t h e l e a d e r o f o n e C o m m u n i s t o r g a n i z a t i o n , S u l l i v a n ,

a s a C o m m u n i s t l e a d e r , r e p l i e d o n A p r i l 2 2 , i n a l e t t e r w h i c h t h r o w s n o

l i t t l e l i g h t o n t h e m i n e r s ' s t r i k e a n d s h o w s s o m e t h i n g o f t h e s t r e n g t h o f

t h e C o m m u n i s t s i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e c o a l m i n e r s . T h i s l e t t e r r e a d s

( 1 2 9 ]



REDS IN AMERICA

. " D e a r C o m r a d e : I n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h y o u r r e q u e s t f o r a l i t t l e r e p o r t

o n t h e w o r k b e i n g d o n e i n t h e I l l i n o i s c o a l f i e l d s , I w o u l d s a y t h a t t o d a t e

as a result of meetings which I ha d in Southern Illinois, together with

c o n s u l t a t i o n s w i t h o t h e r c o m r a d e s a c t i v e i n t h e m i n e w o r k e r s , t h e f o l l o w i n g

program has been formulated and adopted and is now in progress of being

put into effect by means of the organization of caucuses inside of many

l o c a l u n i o n s . T h e p r o g r a m i s f i r s t , t h a t a l l m e m b e r s o f t h e W o r k e r s '

p a r t y s h a l l g i v e t h e i r f u l l e s t a n d h e a r t i e s t s u p p o r t t o t h e a g g r e s s i v e c a r r y i n g

o n o f t h e m i n e r s ' s t r i k e . S e c o n d , t h a t w e s t a n d f o r n o s p l i t o r d u a l u n i o n s

a n d a r e p l e d g e d t o g i v e o u r u n d i v i d e d s u p p o r t t o f i g h t i n g a n y s u c h t e n d e n c y

in the mine workers' organization. Th i r d , t h a t w e s t a n d s ol i dly f o r t h e

b a s i s f o r s t a t e agr e e m e n t a n d w ill f igh t un c o m p r o m i s i ngly a n y m o v e f o r

s e p a r a t e s t a t e a g r e e m e n t s . Fourth, that we support in every w ay possible

t h e d e m a n d f o r a s p e c i a l n a t i o n a l c o n v e n t i o n t o r e i n s t a t e A l e x H o w a t t a n d

t h e K a n s a s m i n e r s .

"We are carrying on a systematic organized campaign, for the purpose

o f c a r r y i n g t h i s p r o g r a m i n t o e f f e c t , t h r o u g h o u t t h e S o u t h e r n I l l i n o i s c o a l

f i e l d s , a c t i v e w o r k i s b e i n g d o n e a l o n g t h e s e l i n e s i n Z e i g l e r , C h r i s t o p h e r ,

H e r r i n , V a l l e r , J o h n s t o n C i t y , C o l l i n s v i l l e , B e l l v i l l e , W . F r a n k f o r t , W e a v e r ,

O'Fallon, Sesser, Royalton, Buckner , Benton, Staunton, Livingston, Mary-

v i l l e a n d o t h e r t o w n s i n S o u t h e r n I l l i n o i s C o a l F i e l d s .

" O ur p l a n i s t o c a r r y o n t h i s w o r k o f o r g a n i z i n g t h e s e L e f t W i n g

c aucus e s a n d t o c i r cula t e e s p e c i ally a m o ng t h o s e i n t h e s e c aucus e s our

p a r t y l i t e r a t u r e . T h i s t o b e f o l l o w e d u p w i t h p e r s o n a l t a l k s a n d w h e r e

possible with mass meetings . T h i s w o r k , I b e l i e v e i s m o s t f u n d a m e n t a l

a n d i n a s h o r t t i m e w i l l r e s u l t i n o u r s e c u r i n g l a r g e n u m b e r s o f t h e m o s t

i n t ellige n t a n d aggr e s s i v e m e m b e r s o f t h e Un i t e d Mi n e Wo r k e r s i n t o t h e

r a n k s o f t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y .

"Needless to say, some of the work whi ch we are doing in the way of

build i ng a m a c h i n e i n s i d e t h e U n i t e d Mi n e W o r k e r s c a n n o t be g i v e np u b l i c i t y w i t h o u t b r i n g i n g d o w n u p o n o u r , a s y e t , i n c o m p l e t e o r g a n i z a t i o n

t h e a t t a c k s o f t h e p o w e r f u l r e a c t i o n a r y m a c h i n e . I c a n s a y , h o w e v l e r , t h a t

w e h a v e g o o d r e a s o n t o b e l i e v e t h a t b y n e x t w i n t e r w e w i l l h a v e a v e r y s t r o n g

p o s i t i o n i n t h e U . M . W . o f A . , D i s t r i c t 1 2 . W e a r e o f f w i t h a s p l e n d i d

s t a r t o n t h i s w o r k a n d t h e r e i s g o i n g t o b e n o l e t u p u n t i l w e h a v e

thoroughly entrenched ourselves . "

T h i s c o r r e s p o n d e n c e i s b u t a s a m p l e o f w h a t i s g o i n g o n d a i l y

t h r o u gh o u t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s b e t w e e n m e n w h o s e w o r k i s t o l a y t h e

f o u n d a t i o n f o r t h e o v e r t h r o w o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t . I t w a s

selected solely because of its part in the recent coal strike and shows,

f r o m t h e i r o w n r e c o r d s , w h a t t h e C o m mu n i s t s d i d t o br i ng abou t t h e

m a s s a c r e a t H e r r i n .

Amo ng t h e d o cu m e n t s aba n d o n e d a t B r i dg m a n , Mi c h . , w h e n t h e C o m -

mun i s t c o n v e n t i o n w a s r a i d e d b y t h e Mi c h iga n aut h o r i t i e s a n d t h e d el e-

gates fled or were arrested, were copies of two reports to Moscow on the

w o r k d o n e b y t h e o rga n i z a t i o n i n i n dus t r y i n t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s . T h e s e

reports cover the entire country, show the part taken by the Communists

[ 1 3 0 1




i n t h e a g i t a t i o n o s t e n s i b l y i n b e h a l f o f S a c c o a n d V a n z e t t i , b u t m o r e

i m p o r t a n t l y t o s e r v e a s a m e d i u m f o r c r e a t i n g u n r e s t a n d h o s t i l i t y t o w a r d

t h e G o v e r n m e n t , a n d p r o v e t h e s t a t e m e n t s f r e q u e n t l y m a d e t h a t t h e C o m-

munists are working inside the labor u n i o n s t o w a r d t h e e n d o f o v e r-

t h r o w i n g t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t b y f o r c e . E r a s u r e s i n t h e c o p i e s

o f t h e s e r e p o r t s i n d i c a t e t h a t a n e f f o r t w a s m a d e t o p r e v e n t by any chance

t h e p u b l i c l e a r n i n g t h a t F o s t e r ' s T r a d e U n i o n E d u c a t i o n a l League and t he

U n i t e d L a b o r C o u n c i l w e r e c o n t r o l l e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s .

T h e f i r s t o f t h e s e r e p o r t s r e a d s :

" T h e p e r i o d i c r e p o r t s r e c e i v e d f r o m o u r c o m r a d e s s h o w g r e a t a c t i v i t y

i n t h e i n d u s t r i a l f i e l d . Our comrades have taken leading parts in con-

s t r u c t i v e m o v e m e n t s ; a t a l l t i m e s p l a c i n g t h e l a b o r m o v e m e n t a s a w h ole

a b o v e s e c t s , p a r t y p o l i c i e s o r t h e o r i e s . W e a r e w e l l r e p r e s e n t e d a t t h e

Uni t e d Mi n e W o r k e r s' C o n v e n t i o n a n d t h e R a i l r o a d T e l e g r a p h e r s ' C o n -

v e n t i o n , d o i n g o u r s h a r e o f t h e p r e l i m i n a r y s p a d e w o r k w h i c h m u s t b e

d o n e b e f o r e b r o a d e r f i g h t i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n s c a n b e d e v e l o p e d .

j

"We h a v e o rg a n i z e d t h e [Tra d e U n i o n ] Educational League, w hich

h a s a l r e a d y e s t a b l i s h e d a B u r e a u o f R a i l r o a d W o r k e r s a n d w h i c h i s p r e -

p a r i n g t o e n t e r o t h e r i n d u s t r i e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y a m o n g t h e s t e e l , p a c k i n g

a n d b u i l d i n g t r a d e s w o r k e r s . As a step toward the unification o f i n -

d e p e n d e n t u n i o n s w e h a v e m a d e t h e [ U n i t e d L a b o r ] C ou n c il o f N e w Y o r k

a n d v i c i n i t y a l i v e b o d y a n d o r g a n i z e d t h e [United Labor] Council of

A m e r i c a , w h i c h i n i t i a t e d a c o n v e n t i o n o f a l l i n d e p e n d e n t u n i o n s t o b e h e l d

in New York in the first we ek in January, when a permanent f e d e r a t i o n

w i l l b e f o r m e d . U n d e r o u r l e a d e r s h i p t h e U n i t e d L a b o r C o u n c i l , i n c o n -

unction with the American Labor Alliance, W o r k e r s' L eague a n d o t h e r

o r g a n i z a t i o n s c o o p e r a t e d w i t h d e f e n c e o r g a n i z a t i o n s , a g i t a t i n g t h e c a s e s o f

S a c c o a n d V a n z e t t i . O u r c o m r a d e s i n u n i o n s t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y h a v e

l e d t h e m o v e m e n t s f o r t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f t h e s h o p d e l e g a t e s y s t e m , a f f i l i a -

t i o n w i t h t h e R e d T r a d e I n t e r n a t i o n a l , R e l i e f o f S o v i e t R u s s i a , D e f e n s e o f

Communists and other class conscious workers a n d h a v e d o n e m u c h t o

m a k e t h e u n i o n s f a c e t h e p r o b l e m o f u n e m p l o y m e n t a s a c l a s s i s s u e . I n

C h i c a g o w e h a v e m a d e t h e V o i c e o f L a b o r a n i n d u s t r i a l o r g a n . Everywhere

w e s u p p o r t t h e l a b o r p r e s s , u r g i n g u n i o n s t o s t a n d w i t h t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s .

NEW YORK

"Active in the United Hat and Cap Makers' campaign t o r e v i v e t h e

N e e d l e T r a d e s W o r k e r s ' A l l i a n c e f o r a l l u n i o n s i n t h e i n d u s t r y , nu mbe r i ng

4 0 0 , 0 0 0 w o r k e r s .O p p o s i t i o n b y P r e s i d e n t S c h l e s i n g e r o f t h e L L . G .W .U .

" A c t i v e i n c l o a k m a k e r s ' s t r i k e .

" A c t i v e i n L o c a l s 2 2 a n d 2 5 w h e r e w e f a c e d e x p u l s i o n b y t h e m a c h i n e .

" P r o p a g a n d a t o t u r n t h e I . W. W . t o w a r d t h e R e d T r a d e I n t e r n a t i o n a l

a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e s e e k i n g t o o v e r c o m e s t e r i l e d u a l i s m .

" I n i t i a t i n g a m a l g a m a t i o n o f f i v e s h o e w o r k e r s ' u n i o n s , i n c o n j u n c t i o n

w i t h o u r c o m r a d e s i n t h e U n i t e d L a b o r C o u n c i l .

" P r a c t i c a l l y c o n t r o l k n i t g o o d s w o r k e r s ' u n i o n .

[ 1 3 1 1



REDS I N AMERICA

"Active among Foodstuff Workers, Public Service O r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d

O f f i c e W o r k e r s .

" I m p o r t a n t c o n t a c t s w i t h e x - s o l d i e r s .

"After a long period of hard work we ha ve gained some s u c c e s s i n

d i r e c t i n g u n i o n a c t i v i t y t h r o u g h t h e U n e m p l o y m e n t C o u n c i l .

" I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a d i e s ' G a r m e n t W o r k e r s ' U n i o n , n i n e t e e n m e m b e r s i n

f o u r l o c a l s . I n d u s t r y n o t w e l l o r g a n i z e d . ` O p e n S h o p ' q u i t e e x t e n s i v e

i n d r e s s m a k i n g l i n e .

" A r r a n g e d a c o n f e r e n c e i n N e e d l e T r a d e s f o r r e v i v i n g N e e d l e T r a d e s '

A l l i a n c e .

CHICAGO"Amalgamated Clothing Workers, seventy mem bers in eleven locals .

Industry 100 per cent . o r g a n i z e d . M a n y s k i l l e d w o r k e r s u n e m p l o y e d .

O n e l o c a l o f 1 2 , 0 0 0 b e i n g w o n o v e r t o s h o p d e l e g a t e s s y s t e m . Op p o s e d

b o s s e s ' s c h e m e t o t u r n o v e r p l a n t m a n a g e m e n t t o w o r k e r s a s a m e a n s o f

s t r e n g t h e n i n g s p e e d i n g u p s h o p b e n e f i t s y s t e m . Faced expulsion for op-

p o s i t i o n t o m a c h i n e . V e r b l e n e x p e l l e d w i t h o u t f a i r t r i a l . I n s o m e l o c a l s

t h e o f f i c i a l s r e f u s e d t o h o l d m e e t i n g s f r o m M a y t o August . U n d e r p r e s -

s u r e f r o m u s t h e y f i n a l l y r e s i g n e d a n d o u r c o m r a d e s t o o k t h e i r p l a c e s .

"Railroad workers, 50 members in fo ur locals, 70 per cent . unem-

p l o y e d . D u a l u n i o n s i n a c t i v e . On e B i g U n i o n d e a d . W e h a v e c o m -

mence d our Trade Union Educatio nal League Railroad Bureau h e r e a s t h e

o n l y m e a n s o f d e a l i n g w i t h s o l a r g e a n i n d u s t r y .

" S i m i l a r l y i n t h e B u i l d i n g T r a d e s , w h e r e w e h a v e f o r t y - t w o m e m b e r s

i n t h i r t e e n l o c a l s i n s i x t r a d e s . W e l e a d t h e r a n k a n d f i l e m o v e m e n t

a g a i n s t t h e L a n d i s a w a r d , a n d a r e u s i n g t h e R . & F. committees to make

f o r u n i t e d a c t i o n o f c r a f t s a n d s c a t t e r e d l o c a l s . V e r y s t r o n g i n f i v e c a r -

p e n t e r s ' l o c a l s .

" W e h a v e f o r e i g n l a n g u a g e c o m r a d e s i n t e n s t e e l p l a n t s a n d a r e f a c e d

w i t h a g r e a t e d u c a t i o n a l p r o b l e m , t h e s a m e a s a m o n g t h e r a i l r o a d w o r k e r s

a l r e a d y r e f e r r e d t o , a n d a m o n g t h e s t o c k y a r d w o r k e r s , w h e r e w e a l s o h a v e

t h e p r o b l e m o f d u a l i s m t o c o n t e n d w i t h .

"Among the printers we are wor king with some success for a c l o s e r

a f f i l i a t i o n o f t r a d e s .

" A m o n g t h e m a c h i n i s t s w e s u c c e s s f u l l y r e s i s t e d a s p l i t w h e n t h e r e

w a s a m o v e t o t a k e a f a c t i o n o v e r t o t h e A m a l g a m a t e d M e t a l W o r k e r s .

" A t t h e I l l i n o i s S t a t e F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r Conven tion (Oct . 1 7 - 2 2 ,

1 9 2 1 ) , w e l e d s u c c e s s f u l f i g h t s f o r r e s o l u t i o n s e n d o r s i n g F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t

R u s s i a , p l a n n i n g s u p p o r t o f M o o n e y , D e b s , L a r k i n , G i t l o w a n d o t h e r c l a s s

w a r p r i s o n e r s , p l a n n i n g a c t i o n f o r a s h o r t e r day and union relief work

f o r u n e m p l o y e d , r e c o g n i t i o n f o r S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t o f R u s s i a , p l a n n i n g

u n i t e d a c t i o n b y a l l c r a f t s i n b u i l d i n g t r a d e s t o o p p o s e L a n d i s a w a r d .

( 1 3 2 1




BOSTON AND NEW ENGLAND

" A s f a r b a c k a s J u l y w e l e d m o v e m e n t t o u n i t e a s c o r e o f s h o e w o r k e r s '

u n i o n s , i n c l u d i n g s o m e s c a b u n i o n s . T h e j o b p r o m i s e s t o b e s u c c e s s f u l .

A l s o p l a n n i n g s h o p d e l e g a t e s y s t e m .

BALTIMORE" I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a d i e s ' G a r m e n t W o r k e r s , t w e n t y - f i v e m e m b e r s i n L a d i e s '

Waist Makers' Union . A c t i v e i n s t r i k e c o m m i t t e e s . Twenty-thr ee members

i n C l o a k M a k e r s ' L o c a l .

"Amalgamated Clothing Worker s, eight members.

" A l s o m e m b e r s i n P a i n t e r s , B u t c h e r s a n d B a k e r s , J o u r n e y m a n T a i l o r s ,

Ame r i c a n T oba c c o W o r k e r s , U n i t e d C lo t h Ha t a n d C a p W o r k e r s , G e r m a n

B a r b e r s , J e w i s h B a r b e r s a n d I . W. W . l o c a l s .

"Campaign among independent unions to send delegates to conven-

t i o n c a l l e d b y U n i t e d L a b o r C o u n c i l .

CLEVELAND, TOLEDO

"Active Unemployment Council .

" A c t i v e i n U n i t e d M i n e Wo r k e r s , I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a d i e s ' G a r m e n t

Workers, Painters, Carpenters, Br icklayers, Needle Trades, Food Stuff

W o r k e r s , E l e c t r i c i a n s , P a t t e r n M a k e r s , M a c h i n i s t s , M o u l d e r s .

DETROIT" A c t i v e i n I n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n o f M a c h i n i s t s , I . W. W . , J o u r n e y -

m a n T a i l o r s , A m a l g a m a t e d M e t a l W o r k e r s , C a r p e n t e r s ' U n i o n , P a i n t e r s .

" D e l e g a t e s t o F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r .

ST . LOUIS"Act i v e i n U n i t e d Mi n e W o r k e r s , B u ild i ng Tra d e s , Ra n k a n d F ile

Committee .

CALIFORNIAB u i l d i n g T r a d e s , S a n F r a n c i s c o a n d D i s t r i c t . Forced Building Trades

Council to support general strike made necessary by open shop drive .

F o u n d R a n k a n d F i l e C o m m i t t e e s i n b u i l d i n g a n d o t h e r t r a d e s . L e d o n e

o f t h e g r e a t e s t f i g h t s e v e r m a d e b y o r g a n i z e d l a b o r , a l t h o u g h o p e n s h o p

w o n . O p p o s e d d u a l i s m w h i c h s p r a n g u p f o l l o w i n g d e f e a t a n d a s a r e a c t i o n

a g a i n s t b u r e a u c r a t i c b e t r a y a l s .

SEATTLE"Formed commi ttee of 100 from Central Labor Council in order to

p r e v e n t u s e o f S e a t t l e U n i o n R e c o r d , f o r f u r t h e r i n g f i n a n c i a l s c h e m e s o f

t h e l a b o r l e a d e r s .

" T h e c o m m i t t e e o f 1 0 0 l e a d s a r e a l a n t i - c a p i t a l i s t m o v e m e n t a m o n g

organized workers, and has working captains in the following trades :

M a c h i n i s t s , b o i l e r m a k e r s , s h i p w r i g h t s , b u i l d i n g l a b o r e r s , o f f i c e e m p l o y e e s ,

[ 1 3 3 1



REDS IN AMERICAf o u n d r y e m p l o y e e s , i r o n m o l d e r s , p a i n t e r s , d y e r s , c l e a n e r s , p r e s s e r s , b l a c k -

s m i t h s , b u i l d i n g s e r v i c e e m p l o y e e s , a u t o d r i v e r s , l a d y b a r b e r s , m e t a l p o l -

i s h e r s , a u t o m e c h a n i c s , c i t y f i r e f i g h t e r s , s h i p - y a r d r i g g e r s a n d f a s t e n e r s ,

n e w s w r i t e r s , u n i o n w a i t e r s , b a k e r s a n d c o n f e c t i o n w o r k e r s , b a r b e r s , c a r -

p e n t e r s , s i g n p a i n t e r s , l a u n d r y w o r k e r s , T y p o g r a p h i c a l U n i o n , t a i l o r s , m u -

s i c i a n s , b a k e r y s a l e s g i r l s ' l o c a l .

BUFFALO" B r i d g e c o n s t r u c t i o n w o r k e r s , n e e d l e t r a d e s .

PITTSBURGH" D i f f i c u l t y i n m a k i n g e n t r y i n t o s t e e l w o r k e r s .

M I N N E A P O L I S , S T . P A UL , D U L UT H

"Minneapolis-Railroads, 6 m e m b e r s ; m a c h i n e s h o p s , 2 m e m b e r s ;

b u i l d i n g t r a d e s , 3 m e m b e r s .

" S t . Paul-Packing houses, 2 ; r a i l r o a d s h o p s , 4 ; machine shops, 2 ;

g a r m e n t i n d u s t r i e s , 2 .

"Duluth-Som e in iron ore an d logging . "

This report in Moscow could not fail to g i v e t h e R e d r i n g l e a d e r s

t h e r e a c o m p r e h e n s i v e i d e a o f t h e e x t e n t t o w h i c h t h e w o r k h a s b e e n

m o v i n g f o r w a r d i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . I t i s e v i d e n t t h a t t h e p r e l i m i n a r y

w o r k o f " p l a n t i n g " r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m e mbe r s h i p

i n t h e t r a d e s a n d i n d u s t r i e s h a s b e e n t h o r o u g h . I t m u s t b e b o r n e i n m i n d

t h a t t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e s e " n u c l e i " i s f o r a d e f i n i t e p u r p o s e : t o

s p r e a d p r o p a g a n d a b y w o r d o f m o u t h l o o k i n g t o t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n of Com-

m u n i s t g r o u p s i n e v e r y i n d u s t r y a n d g r a d u a l l y t o g e t c o n t r o l o f t h e w o r k e r s

i n t h o s e i n d u s t r i e s . O n c e t h a t i s a c c o m p l i s h e d i t w i l l b e e a s y , t h e y b e l i e v e ,

t o m a k e a c t i v e C o m m u n i s t s o f a l l t h e w o r k e r s , t h e n t o s e i z e t h e i n d u s t r i e s .

a n d w h e n t h e g e n e r a l s t r i k e c o m e s t o t u r n a l l t h e s e w o r k e r s a g a i n s t t h e

G o v e r n m e n t i n a r m e d i n s u r r e c t i o n .

I n t h e s e c o n d r e p o r t f o u n d a t B r i d g m a n , w h i c h d o e s n o t g o s o m u c h

i n t o d e t a i l a s t o m e m b e r s h i p i n v a r i o u s i n d u s t r i e s , i t i s s h o w n t h a t f o r t y

p e r c e n t . o f t h e a c t i v e C o m m u n i s t s a r e m e m b e r s o f u n i o n s a n d a r e w o r k i n g

as instructed to advance the cause of Communism . T h e r e m a i n i n g s i x t y

p e r c e n t . a r e w o r k i n g a m o n g n o n - u n i o n w o r k e r s . D i f f i c u l t i e s a r e e n c o u n t e r e d

b e c a u s e o f t h e f a c t t h a t s o m e o f t h e i r m e m b e r s c a n n o t s p e a k E n g l i s h . T h i s

r e p o r t a l s o g i v e s s o m e o f t h e i r p l a n s f o r t h e f u t u r e . I t r e a d s :

" I n j ud gi n g t h e a cc o m p li s h m en t o f t h e p a r t y i n t h e l a bo r un i o n

f i e l d t h e r e m u s t b e t a k e n i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n n o t o n l y t h e p e r i o d o f a m a l -

g a m a t i o n a n d c o n t r o v e r s y w h i c h s e r i o u s l y i n t e r f e r e d w i t h t h e c a r r y i n g o n

o f t h i s w o r k , b u t a l s o t h e f a c t t h a t a t l e a s t 6 0 p e r c e n t , o f o u r m e m b e r s a r e

not members of labor unions . Tha t f r o m t h e f o r t y p e r c e n t , w h o a r e

m e m b e r s o f l a b o r u n i o n s , a b o u t o n e - t h i r d b e l o n g t o u n i o n s o u t s i d e o f t h e

A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r , a n d t h a t e v e n o f t h o s e w h o d o b e l o n g t o

labor unions, there are a con siderable number w h o c a n n o t b e u s e d t o

[ 1 3 , 4 1



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B i s h o p William M. Brown of Galion, Ohio, member of the House of Bishopso f t h e P r o t e s t a n t E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h , r e s i g n e d a s F i f t h B i s h o p o f A r k a n s a s t o b e c o m e

a s e l f - s t y l e d " E p i s c o p u s i n p a r t i b u s B o l s h e v i k i u m e t I n f i d e l i u m." The cover of hisbook, "Communism and Christianism ." Checks given by Bishop Brown to C . E .

Ruthenberg, executive secretary of the Communist Party of America and to JosephL a n g , a l i a s J o s e p h P o g a n y t h e H u n ga r i a n R e v o l u t i o n i s t w h o i s n o w t h e p a r t y " b o s s "

sent from Moscow .




c a r r y o u r m e s s a g e t o t h e w o r k e r s i n t h e i r v a r i o u s r e s p e c t i v e o r g a n i z a t i o n s

d u e t o t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s o f l a n g u a g e .

" T h e r e s u l t s s o f a r s h o w t h a t i t h a s b e e n e s p e c i a l l y d i f f i c u l t t o g e t t h e

f o r e i g n c o m r a d e s t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h i s f o r m o f a c t i v i t y e v e n i n c a s e s

w h e r e m e t h o d s w e r e u s e d t o m a k e i t s p e c i a l l y s u i t a b l e f o r t h e m t o t a k e

p a r t i n n u c l e i w o r k .

" T h o s e a t p r e s e n t a c t i v e i n n u c l e i w o r k a r e p r i m a r i l y E n g l i s h , J e w i s h ,

a n d G e r m a n , a n d h e r e a n d t h e r e F i n n i s h c o m r a d e s . F r o m t h e o t h e r n a t i o n -

a l i t i e s t h e r e a r e v e r y f e w w h o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h i s w o r k .

" I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e f o r e g o i n g t r e m e n d o u s d i f f i c u l t i e s , t h e r e m u s t a l s o

b e t a k e n i n t o a c c o u n t t h e g e n e r a l s t a t e o f a f f a i r s i n t h i s c o u n t r y w h e r e t h e

b u l k o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n i s t s a r e n o t w i t h i n t h e l a b o r u n i o n s , b u t a r e o u t s i d e ,

e i t h e r n o t o r g a n i z e d a n d u n w i l l i n g t o j o i n t h e e x i s t i n g l a b o r u n i o n s , o r

o r g a n i z e d i n d u a l ` m o d e l ' u n i o n s .

" W e h a v e , t h e r e f o r e , a s i t u a t i o n w h e r e t h e b u l k o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y

e l e m e n t i n t h i s c o u n t r y , C o m m u n i s t s , s y m p a t h i z e r s , a n a r c h i s t s a n d S o c i a l i s t s ,

a r e n o t p a r t o f t h e o r g a n i z e d l a b o r m o v e m e n t . A s a r e s u l t o f t h i s f a c t ,

t h e i n f l u e n c e o f t h e f e w t h o u s a n d r e v o l u t i o n i s t s w h o a r e o r g a n i z e d i n t h e

C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a i s v e r y l i m i t e d . To t h i s m a y be a d d e d t h e

f a c t t h a t i n m a n y i n d u s t r i e s l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n sh a v e h a r d l y t a k e n r o o t ,

a n d i n o t h e r s t h e r e e x i s t c e r t a i n c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h m a k e i t i m p o s s i b l e t o

o r g a n i z e t h e w o r k e r s w i t h o u t m a k i n g g i g a n t i c e f f o r t s w i t h a b i g a p p a r a t u s

a n d a n e n o r m o u s t r e a s u r y b e h i n d i t . Man y o f ou r m e mbe r s a r e i n t h e s e

i n d u s t r i e s , w o r k i n g a s l a b o r e r s , w h i c h g e n e r a l l y m a k e s t h e m i n e l i g i b l e t o

membership in the American Federa tion of Labor .

" T h e o n l y f e a s i b l e m e t h o d s u i t a b l e t o t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e p a r t y w a s

t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e m a c h i n e r y f o r i n d u s t r i a l work which at the be-

ginning would function along the lines of the party . L a t e r a t t e m p t s

w e r e m a d e t o c e n t r a l i z e t h e a l r e a d y e s t a b l i s h e d p a r t y n u c l e i a l o n g t r a d e

l i n e s s o a s t o c o o r d i n a t e t h e w o r k i n t h e v a r a o u s l a b o r u n i o n s .

"The c o o r d i n a t i o n o f t h i s w o r k h a s b e e n m a d e e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t

t h r ough t h e u n d e rg r ou nd [ i l l e g a l ] o r g a n i z a t i o n , a n d m a n y o p p o r t u -

n i t i e s h a v e b e e n l o s t t h r o u g h l a c k o f c o n n e c t i o n s o r t h r o u g h t h e i m p o s s i b i l i t y

o f r e a c h i n g t h e c o m r a d e s i n p r o p e r i t i m e w i t h t h e p r o p e r a d v i c e .

" T a k i n g a l l t h e s e d i f f i c u l t i e s i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n , t h e w o r k a c c o m p l i s h e d

s o f a r b e s p e a k s t h e c o r r e c t n e s s o f t h e p o l i c y p u r s u e d b y t h e p a r t y a n d t h e

t r e m e n d o u s p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r t h e p a r t y b y c o n c e n t r a t i n g f u r t h e r u p o n t h i s

p a r t o f t h e p a r t y a c t i v i t i e s .

" T h e p r o g r e s s m a d e i n t h e v a r i o u s d i s t r i c t s , a s r e p o r t e d b y t h e d i s -

t r i c t i n d u s t r i a l o r g a n i z e r s , t h e r e p o r t s not being very complete, are as

f o l l o w s

" D i s t r i c t I , ( B o s t o n h e a d q u a r t e r s ) . N u c l e i i n n e e d l e t r a d e s , c i g a r

m a k e r s , b u i l d i n g t r a d e s , s h o e w o r k e r s , t e x t i l e w o r k e r s a n d r a i l r o a d s h o p

c r a f t s .

" T h e n u c l e i l a c k c e n t r a l i z a t i o n a n d h a v e b e e n l a r g e l y o r g a n i z e d b y

t h e i n d i v i d u a l e f f o r t s o f c o m r a d e s i n t h o s e u n i o n s . T h e i n d u s t r i a l d e p a r t -

[ 1 3 5 1



REDS IN AMERICA

m e n t i n t h e d i s t r i c t h a s n o t b e e n f u n c t i o n i n g . T h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f t h o s e

o r g a n i z e d i n t h e s e t r a d e s d o e s n o t e x c e e d o n e h u n d r e d . "

T h e c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e o t h e r e l e v e n d i s t r i c t s into which the United

S t a t e s i s d i v i d e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y w e r e t h e n s i m i l a r l y a n a l y z e d , a n d

t h e r e p o r t c o n t i n u e s :

" A t b e s t t h e p r o s p e c t s o f o u r i n f l u e n c i n g t h e labo r m o v e m e n t a r e

m a i n l y i n t h e p r e d o m i n a n t l y J e w i s h o r g a n i z a t i o n s l i k e t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l

Ladies' Garment Workers, Amalgamated Clothing Workers, H a t , C a p a n d

M i l l i n e r y W o r k e r s , e t c .

" T h e r e i s a s p l e n d i d c h a n c e f o r o u r p r o p a g a n d a , a n d a s t r o n g r e v o l u -

t i o n a r y e l e m e n t , a n d t h e r e a r e s t r o n g n u c l e i a m o n g t h e t e x t i l e w o r k e r s ; a l s o

t h e U n i t e d M i n e W o r k e r s .

" A m o n g t h e s h o e w o r k e r s t h e r e a r e g r e a t p o s s i b i l i t i e s for our work .

Also among the automobile workers . T h e r e i s a l s o a g o o d p o s s i b i l i t y f o r

s t r o n g l y e n t r e n c h i n g o u r s e l v e s i n t h e m a c h i n i s t o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d w e h a v e

s o m e g o o d w o r k i n g g r o u p s i n t h a t o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h e p r o s p e c t s , h o w e v e r ,

o f o b t a i n i n g d e c i s i v e i n f l u e n c e i n t h a t o r g a n i z a t i o n a r e r e m o t e .

" O u r a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e I . W . W . h a v e l e d t o t h e i r l i q u i d a t i o n i n a

n u m b e r o f E a s t e r n c i t i e s .

" I n t h e b u i l d i n g t r a d e s w e h a v e s t r o n g g r o u p s i n C h i c a g o , N e w Y o r k ,

S a n F r a n c i s c o a n d a l s o o t h e r l a r g e c e n t e r s . The more radical elements,

e s p e c i a l l y a m o n g t h e p a i n t e r s a n d p a p e r h a n g e r s , a s w e l l a s t h e c a r p e n t e r s ,

a r e j o i n i n g u s i n o u r w o r k .

" I n t h e i n d e p e n d e n t u n i o n s w e h a v e b e e n e s p e c i a l l y s u c c e s s f u l a m o n g

t h e A m a l g a m a t e d F o o d W o r k e r s , t h e M e t a l W o r k e r s , T e x t i l e W o r k e r s , a n d

Auto m obile W o r k e r s .

" O u r e x a c t i n f l u e n c e , h o w e v e r , i n t h e I . W. W . a n d t h e i n d e p e n d e n t

u n i o n s , c a n n o t b e d e f i n i t e l y k n o w n f o r l a c k o f r e p o r t s . "

T h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y o f A m e r i c a i n S e p t e m b e r , 1 9 2 2 , s e n t a n a p p e a l t o

a l l m e m b e r s a n n o u n c i n g t h e d e s i g n a t i o n o f O c t o b e r , 1 9 2 2 , a s a " r e d m o n t h "

i n w h i c h a c t i v e r e c r u i t i n g m u s t b e d o n e f o r t h e p a r t y . T h i s p a r t y b o a s t s

o f b e i n g t h e o n l y r e v o l u t i o n a r y p o l i t i c a l p a r t y e x i s t i n g l e g a l l y i n t h e

U n i t e d S t a t e s , a n d i n t h i s d r i v e f o r m e m b e r s h i p l e t d o w n t h e b a r s s o t h a t

i t w o u l d b e l e s s d i f f i c u l t f o r r a d i c a l s t o qualify for membershi p . Th e

a p p e a l s h o w e d v e r y c l e a r l y t h e r e a l n a t u r e a n d p l a n s o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n

w h i c h i s p e r m i t t e d t o f u n c t i o n o p e n l y a n d l e g a l l y , a n d t o h a v e c a n d i d a t e s

f o r o f f i c e o n t h e b a l l o t i n N e w Y o r k S t a t e . T h e a p p e a l w a s s e n t t o a l l

r a d i c a l p a p e r s w i t h i n s t r u c t i o n s t o p r i n t i t o n O c t . 1 . T h e a p p e a l t o t h e

s e c o n d d i s t r i c t , N e w Y o r k , r e a d i n p a r t a s f o l l o w s :

" P r o l e t a r i a n s o f a l l c o u n t r i e s - u n i t e !

" J o i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e W o r k e r s ' P a r t y o f A m e r i c a !

" M a n i f e s t o o f t h e D i s t r i c t C o m m i t t e e o f t h e S e c o n d D i s t r i c t R u s s i a n

F e d e r a t i o n W o r k e r s ' P a r t y o f A m e r i c a .

" T h e D i s t r i c t C o m m i t t e e , S e c o n d D i s t r i c t , R u s s i a n F e d e r a t i o n , W o r k e r s '

P a r t y o f A m e r i c a , w h i c h i n c l u d e s t h e S t a t e s o f N e w Y o r k , N e w J e r s e y a n d

C o n n e c t i c u t , h a s d e s i g n a t e d O c t o b e r a s a r e d m o n t h , a m o n t h o f r e c r u i t i n g




n e w m e m b e r s . The Di s t r i c t Co m m i t t e e Ap p e al s t o all c o n s c i ous w o r k e r s

o f t h e Ru ss i a n C olo n y t o be c o m e a cquai n t e d w i t h t h e p r og r a m o f t h e

W o r k e r s ' P a r t y a n d j o i n i t s r a n k s . Th e Wo r k e r s' Pa r t y o f Am e r i c a i s t h e

o n l y r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y e x i s t i n g l e g a l l y i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . I t n u m b e r s

i n i t s r a n k s t h e m o s t f o r w a r d , c o n s c i ous ele m e n t o f t h e w o r k i ng cla s s ,

d i s t i n g u i s h e d b y s e l f - d e n i a l a n d p r e p a r e d n e s s f o r b a t t l e .

" D u r i n g t h e m o n t h o f O c t o b e r e v e r y c o n s c i o u s w o r k e r o r g r o u p o f

s a m e c a n , w i t h o u t u n n e c e s s a r y d i f f i c u l t i e s o r f o r m a l i t i e s , j o i n o u r r a n k s .

W e c a l l t o o u r s e lv e s o n l y t h o s e w h o a r e r e a d y t o s a c r i f i c e t h e m s e l v e s

i n t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s .

" J O I N THEN THE RANKS OF THE WORKERS' PARTY!STRENGTHEN AND HELP THAT PARTY, WHICH WILL LEAD THEWORKING CLASS OF AMERICA TO COMPLETE LIBERATION FROMTHE CAPITALIST YOKE, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AWORKERS' REPUBLIC IN THE FORM OF A SOVIET GOVERNMENT . "

"Fo r m o r e d e t a il e d i n f o r m a t i o n a p ply t o I . Ya n i s h e v s k ay a , 20 8 E a s t

Tw elf t h S t ., Ne w Yo r k Ci t y . "

T h e n a m e a n d a d d r e s s g i v e n w e r e t h o s e o f t h e s e c r e t a r y o f t h e R u s s i a n

Federati on of the Workers' party . H e w a s a l s o a n e m p l o y e e o f t h e A l l -

Rus s i a n J e w i s h R eli e f Co m m i t t e e , " Idge s k o m . "

I n a n o f f i c i a l b u l l e t i n i s s u e d b y t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e

C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a s h o r t l y b e f o r e t h e B r i d g m a n c o n v e n t i o n t h e

f o l l o w i n g i n s t r u c t i o n s w e r e g i v e n t o a l l m e m b e r s , w h i c h s h o w s c o n c l u s i v e l y

t h a t t h e e n t i r e i n d u s t r i a l m o v e m e n t i s c o n t r o l l e d b y t h e s e c r e t , i l l e g a l ,

directing branch of the party . A ll m e m b e r s w e r e c a u t i o n e d t o r e a d t h e

b u l l e t i n c a r e f u l l y a n d t o s e e t o i t t h a t t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s w e r e c a r r i e d o u t t o

t h e l e t t e r a t o n c e . After stating that the party has launched on e nlarged

w o r k , i t h a d t h i s t o s a y u n d e r t h e h e a d o f " I n d u s t r i a l A c t i v i t i e s "

"The proper conduct of this line of activities is dependent upon the

a l e r t n e s s a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f o u r f o r c e s , a n d m u s t b e c o n t r o l l e d a n d

guid e d by N o . 1 [ i l l e g a l ] . Th e s a m e p r i n c i pl e a p pl i e s h e r e a s w a s l a i d

d o w n b e f o r e , t h a t a l l d e c i s i o n s a s t o p o l i c i e s a n d f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e s ,

as well as tactics, are to be dec ided upon by No . 1 b e f o r e b e i n g c a r r i e d

out in No . 2 [ l e g a l . ]

" W e m u s t o r g a n i z e n u c l e i o f m e m b e r s o f N o . 2, and work a s a unit

w i t h i n t h e s e n u c l e i , a n d b e c o m e a l i v e f a c t o r i n a l l t h e s e a c t i v i t i e s ; b u t a t

a l l t i m e s k e e p o u r o w n f o r c e s i n t a c t . We must endeavor to cre ate left wing

m i l i t a n t g r o u p s w i t h i n t h e l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s , i n w h i c h w e m u s t a l s o b e -

c o m e t h e l e a d i ng f a c t o r .

" T h e m a j o r i t y o f o u r m e m b e r s m u s t b e o n a l l i m p o r t a n t c o m m i t t e e s .

All o rga n i z e r s mus t b e c h o s e n f r o m our r a n k s , suc h a s Sub-Di s t r i c t In -

d u s t r i a l O r g a n i z e r s , o r g a n i z e r s f o r i n d u s t r i e s , t r a d e s a n d l o c a l u n i o n s .

"All nuclei connection s of No . One mus t b e k e p t s e p a r a t el y t h r ough

t h e v a r i o u s u n i t s , a n d b e h e l d i n r e a d i n e s s t o b e c a l l e d a t a n y t i m e b y t h e

o r g a n i z e r s .



REDS IN AMERICA

"All reports to th e lower units connectin g No . O n e w i t h t h e s e a c t i v i -

t i e s m u s t b e g i v e n v e r b a l l y , a n d n o t a p p e a r i n w r i t i n g o r i n p r i n t .

"In c a s e s w h e r e n e w nucle i o f No . T w o a r e o r g a n i z e d a n d a m e m b e r

o f N o . One c a n n o t b e pl a c e d a s o rga n i z e r , a m e m b e r o f No . One mus t b e

a s s i g n e d t o k e e p a l l c o n n e c t i o n s o f h i s m e m b e r s h i p ; hi s c o n ne c t io n i n

t u r n m u s t b e r e c o r d e d w i t h t h e D i s t r i c t I n d u s t r i a l O r g a n i z e r . "

W i t h t h e k n o w l e d g e o f m e t h o d s a n d p l a n s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s i t i s

e a s y t o s e e t h e p a r t s t h e y h a v e p l a y e d i n t h e s t r i k e s i n i n d u s t r y t h a t m a r k e d

the year 1922 . It has already been shown that they played leading parts

i n t h e r a i l r o a d a n d c o a l s t r i k e s , a n d i t i s k n o w n t h a t t h e y w e r e p a r t i c u -

l a r l y a c t i v e i n t h e t e x t i l e s t r i k e s i n N e w E n g l a n d . A ge n t s w e r e s e n t f r o m

various parts of the country to each of the New England cities where the

s t r i k e s w e r e d e c l a r e d , r e p o r t i n g r e g u l a r l y t o t h e h i g h e r o f f i c i a l s o f t h e

Communist party and were directed in their work by the Central Executive

C o m m i t t e e o f t h e p a r t y . T h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r f e l l i n t o a

simple trap set for it by the Communists, either kn owingly or in child-

l i k e i n n o c e n c e , w h e n i t p l e d g e d $ 2 0 0 0 a w e e k t o s u p p o r t t h e s t r i k e r s .

T y p i c a l o f t h e s e a g e n t s w a s o n e J o s e p h K o w a l s k i , a P o l e a n d a n a l i e n .

K o w a l s k i h a d b e e n d e p o r t e d a s h o r t t i m e a f t e r t h e s a i l i n g o f t h e B u f o r d f o r

p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n C o m m u n i s t e n t e r p r i s e s a n d g i v i n g v e n t t o s e d i t i o u s u t t e r -

a n c e s . I n D e c e m b e r , 1 9 2 1 , h e r e t u r n e d t o A m e r i c a u n d e r a f a l s e p a s s p o r t ,

and quickly came in contact with leaders of the Communist party in this

c o u n t r y . K o w a l s k i w a s a c t i v e b o t h i n t h e N e w E n g la n d T e x t i l e a n d t h e

c o a l s t r i k e s , m a k i n g f r e q u e n t t r i p s f r o m N e w Y o r k , w h e r e h e m a d e h i s h e a d -

quarters, to centers in New England and Pennsylvania . It is a matter of

r e c o r d t h a t f o l l o w i n g t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e c o a l s t r i k e u n t i l h i s a r r e s t i n

A u g u s t , K o w a l s k i h a d h i m s e l f o r g a n i z e d o v e r 2 , 0 0 0 s t r i k i n g m i n e r s i n n u c l e i

o f t e n m e m b e r s e a c h , a n d t h r o u g h t h e m v i o l e n c e w a s p r o m o t e d a n d t h e p o l i -

c i e s o f t h e u n i o n s a n d t h e i r m e m b e r s i n f l u e n c e d . K o w a l s k i w a s o n l y o n e o f

m a n y s u c h a g e n t s .

Kowalski's arrest led to his proper identification and a clue to his

a c t i v i t i e s w h i l e a b r o a d . I t w a s e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t a t l e a s t p a r t o f t h e t i m e ,

h e h a d b e e n i n flue n t i al a n d h ighly pla c e d m e m b e r o f t h e Ch e - k a , o r t h e

C o m m i s s i o n f o r t h e S u p p r e s s i o n o f C o u n t e r - R e v o l u t i o n o f t h e R u s s i a n S o v i e t

G o v e r n m e n t , a n d a s s u c h r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e c o n t i n u e d d e t e n t i o n i n j a i l o f

s e v e n A m e r i c a n c i t i z e n s . H e w a s c o n v i c t e d o f v i o l a t i o n o f t h e D e p o r t a t i o n

Act a n d s e n t e n c e d t o Atla n t a Pe n i t e n t i a r y f o r o n e y e a r a n d t o b e aga i n

deported .

A s a n e x a m p l e o f t h e c l e v e r n e s s w i t h w h i c h t h e C o m m u n i s t s w o r k ,

t h e t e x t i l e s t r i k e s a r e i l l u m i n a t i n g . I t w a s p r e t e n d e d t h a t i n t e n s e r i v a l r y

e x i s t e d b e t w e e n t h e Am alga m a t e d Tex t ile Wo r k e r s a n d t h e Un i t e d Tex t ile

W o r k e r s . Both were conducting strikes on similar lines, but they con-

t e n d e d t h a t t h e y w e r e n o t o n l y i n n o w a y c o n n e c t e d b u t w e r e a c t u a l ly

h o s t i l e t o e a c h o t h e r . Un d o u b t e d l y m a n y o f t h e r a n k a n d f i l e o f t h e

o r g a n i z a t i o n s b e l i e v e d t h i s . But the leaders knew the fact, that both were

[1381




absolutely controlled by the Red Trade Union International, a Communist

o r g a n i z a t i o n o f M o s c o w w i t h a c t i v e a g e n t s i n t h i s c o u n t r y.

T h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n h a s t h e s a m e p r i n c i p l e s a s a l l C o m m u n i s t b o d i e s , a i m -

i n g a t t h e t a k i n g o v e r b y t h e w o r k e r s o f a l l i n d u s t r i e s a n d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t

o f t h e D i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e P r o l e t a r i a t a f t e r a l l o r g a n i z e d g o v e r n m e n t h a s

b e e n o v e r t h r o w n b y f o r c e o f a r m s . Naturally, only the leader s of the

` ' r i v a l " t e x t i l e o r g a n i z a t i o n s k n e w o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h e t w o a s

t h i s a n d t h e o v e r l o r d s h i p o f t h e R e d T r a d e U n i o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l w a s k e p t a

p r o f o u n d s e c r e t .

[ 1 3 9 1



CHAPTER NINE

THE STAGE AND THE MOVIES

The Communist party of America was quick to see the excellence of

the stage and the screen as mediums through which Communist propaganda

c o u l d b e f e d t o t h e p u b l i c w i t h o u t c o n t r a v e n t i o n o f t h e l a w s . As soon as

t h e r e p o r t o n t h i s p h a s e o f e x t e n d i n g r a d i c a l i s m t o t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c w a s

explained to the high Communist authorities in Mos cow a plan was agreed

u p o n t o e n l i s t t h e m o v i e s a n d t h e s t a g e f o r t h i s p u r p o s e , a n d M o s c o w

s t o o d r e a d y t o s p e n d w h a t e v e r m o n e y w a s n e c e s s a r y t o f u r t h e r s u c h a m o v e -

m e n t . C h a r l e s R e c h t , t h e h i g h e s t S o v i e t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f C o m m u n i s t R u s s i a

i n A m e r i c a t o d a y , t o o k u p w i t h W i l l H . H a y s , a s h e a d o f t h e M o t i o n P i c t u r e

i n d u s t r y i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , t h e m a t t e r o f p r o d u c i n g r a d i c a l f i l m s t o c o s t

$8,000,000, the money to be furnished from Moscow . I t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o

s t a t e e x a c t l y h o w m u c h o f t h i s $ 8 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 , w a s r a i s e d i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

a n d s e n t t o M o s c o w , b u t i t i s s a f e t o s a y t h a t t h r e e - q u a r t e r s o f t h e a m o u n t

came from the pockets of citizens of this country, and the chief purpose

f o r w h i c h i t w a s s o l i c i t e d w a s t h e d e s t r u c t i o n b y f o r c e o f t h i s G o v e r n m e n t .

P u b l i c i t y a t t e n d i n g t h i s p r o p o s a l r e s u l t e d i n t h e f a i l u r e o f t h e s c h e m e t o

flood the United States with propaganda films ; t h e R e c h t s c h e m e f e l l

through .

U n f o r t u n a t e l y f o r t h e l o y a l A m e r i c a n m e m b e r s o f t h e l a b o r u n i o n s

of this country the Communists have linked labor with Communism in

t h e f i l m s e r v i c e t h a t i s s u p p l i e d t o m o t i o n p i c t u r e h o u s e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e

c o u n t r y . I n a d d i t i o n t o t h i s g e n e r a l s e r v i c e , a s p e c i a l c l a s s o f f i l m s i s

being used at union and non-union workers' meetings, picnics and other

g a t h e r i n g s . T h e s e p i c t u r e s a r e e s p e c i a l l y d e s i g n e d t o c r e a t e d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n

among the workers by showing exaggerated pictures of life among the rich

and the contrast of life among the very poor . In urging the use of these

p i c t u r e s t h e C o m m u n i s t s p o i n t o u t t h e f a c t t h a t m e s s a g e s m a y b e c o n -

veyed to the public by means of the scree n which would not be permitted

by law to be spoken from a public platform .

Many prominent "movie favorites," men and women, as well as stars

of the legitimate stage are involved, knowingly or unknowingly, in this

plan to sow the seed of Communism through entertainment for the public .

Isadora Duncan, the dancer, who expressed vitriolic indignation when it

w a s s u g g e s t e d t h a t s h e , o r h e r n e w R u s s i a n h u s b a n d , m i g h t b e t a i n t e d

with Communism, when they were held up for brief investigation at Ellis

Island, is quoted far and wide in Communist newspapers and maga z ines,

published in many languages, in her expression of favor for the Russian

[1411



REDS IN AMERICA

Communistic regime . I t c a n b e f o u n d i n b i g , b l a c k t y p e i n t h e s e C o m m u n i s t

p u b l i c a t i o n s a s f o l l o w s :

"The martyrdom which Russia is suffering w i l l b e a s f r u i t f u l f o r

p o s t e r i t y a s t h e m a r t y r d o m o f t h e N a z a r e n e . "

S h e h a s n e v e r d e n i e d h a v i n g m a d e t h e s t a t e m e n t , a s f a r a s i s k n o w n ;

she has preached Red Communism in this country, and she numb ers among

h e r i n t i m a t e f r i e n d s m a n y C o m m u n i s t s b o t h i n A m e r i c a a n d i n E u r o p e . Y e t

s h e w a s i n d i g n a n t w h e n t h e s u g g e s t i o n w a s m a d e t h a t s h e , o rh e r h u s b a n d ,

m i g h t b e a C o m m u n i s t .

I n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n i t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t a l l a r t i s t s - a c t o r s ,

s i n g e r s , d a n c e r s a n d t h e l i k e - c o m i n g t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s f r o m R u s s i a

a r e o b l i g e d t o s e c u r e p e r m i s s i o n f r o m t h e S o v i e t a u t h o r i t i e s b e f o r e t h e y a r e

p e r m i t t e d t o l e a v e R u s s i a . T h i s i n c l u d e s a l l , i n c l u d i n g t h e M o s c o w A r t

T h e a t r e C o m p a n y , w h e t h e r o f R u s s i a n o r i g i n o r o f a n y n a t i o n a l i t y . T h i s

p e r m i s s i o n i s g r a n t e d o n l y i f t h e a r t i s t s a g r e e i n w r i t i n g t o t h r e e c o n d i t i o n s

w h i c h a r e i n c l u d e d i n t h e c o n t r a c t w h i c h e n a b l e s them to leave Russia .

T h e s e t h r e e c o n d i t i o n s a r e :

1 . - T h e a r t i s t s a g r e e n o t t o c o n d u c t p r o p a g a n d a w h i l e i n t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s a g a i n s t t h e S o v i e t r e g i m e . S p e c i a l p r e f e r e n c e i s s h o w n t h o s e w h o

a g r e e t o c o n d u c t p r o p a g a n d a f o r t h e S o v i e t s .

2 . - T h e y a g r e e t o d e d u c t f r o m t h e i r e a r n i n g s f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e

S o v i e t S t a t e t w e n t y - f i v e o r t h i r t y - t h r e e p e r c e n t o f t h e i r e a r n i n g s w h i l e i n

t h i s c o u n t r y . ( T h e r e a r e e v i d e n t l y t w o f o r m s o f c o n t r a c t . )

3 . - T h e y a g r e e t o r e t u r n t o R u s s i a a t t h e e x p i r a t i o n o f t h e i r l e a v e .

I n o r d e r t o j u s t i f y t h e s e d e m a n d s a n d i n o r d e r t h a t c e r t a i n a r t i s t s w i l l

n o t be a l a rm e d a t t h u s s i g ni n g a w a y th e i r r e c ei p t s to t h e S o v i e t s , t h e So v i et

G o v e r n m e n t h a s a p p o i n t e d a " s p e c i a l c o m m i t t e e " w h i c h s u p e r v i s e s t h e t r i p s

a n d i n s t r u c t i o n s t o t h e a r t i s t . T h i s c o m m i t t e e c o n s i s t s o f r e l i a b l e m e m -

b e r s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , " b u t f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f d i s t r a c t i n g t h e a t t e n t i o n

o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t n a t i o n s f r o m t h e C o m m i t t e e , a l l o f f i c i a l p a p e r s a r e s i g n e d

b y K r a s s i n . I t i s b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e m o n e y t h u s c o l l e c t e d g o e s t o t h e I n t e r -

n a t i o n a l P r o p a g a n d a B u r e a u i n B e r l i n , w h i c h r e g u l a r l y s e n d s f u n d s t o t h e

C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a t o a i d i t i n i t s f i g h t a g a i n s t t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f

t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . I t m a y b e s t a t e d a u t h o r i t a t i v e l y , a t a n y r a t e , t h a t a

g o o d l y p o r t i o n o f t h i s m o n e y , c o l l e c t e d f r o m l o v e r s o f o p e r a , t h e s t a g e

a n d d a n c i n g i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , i s u s e d f o r p r o p a g a n d a o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

m o v e m e n t . T h e a r t i s t s a r e " r e m i t t e d " t h e a m o u n t o f t h e i r " t a x e s " , a c c o r d -

i n g t o t h e c o n t r a c t , i f t h e y d i s s e m i n a t e c o m m u n i s t p r o p a g a n d a i n t h e

U n i t e d S t a t e s .

S o m e o f t h e a r t i s t s c o m i n g f r o m R u s s i a a r e o p p o s e d t o t h e C o m m u n i s t s ,

b u t t h e y a r e n o t a l l o w e d t o l e a v e t h e c o u n t r y a t a l l u n l e s s t h e y a g r e e t o t h e

t e r m s s e t f o r t h a b o v e . I n o r d e r t o c o n t r o l t h e m a n d d i v e r t t h e i r a t t e n t i o n

f r o m t h e r e a l p u r p o s e o f t h e i r t r i p , a n d t o c o n c e a l f r o m t h e m t h e u s e o f

t h e m o n e y t h e y c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e C o m m u n i s t c o f f e r s , t h e " S p e c i a l C o m m i t t e e "

h i d e s b e h i n d t h e n a m e o f t h e C e n t r a l F a m i n e R e l i e f C o m m i t t e e . T h e s u p e r -

v i s i o n o f s u c h a r t i s t s a n d m o n e y i s t u r n e d o v e r t o i n n o c e n t - a p p e a r i n g S o v i e t

o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s , s u c h a s , f o r i n s t a n c e , t h e R u s s i a n ' R e d

[ 1 4 2 ]




C r o s s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . I n c i d e n t a l l y , i t s h o u l d b e m e n t i o n e d h e r e t h a t ,

a c c o r d i n g t o o f f i c i a l s t a t e m e n t s b y S o v i e t a u t h o r i t i e s , t h edanger of famine

i n R u s s i a i s p a s t ; c r o p s h a v e b e e n e x c e l l e n t , a n d t h e r e i s n o s t a r v a t i o n du e

t o f a m i n e . In fact g rain is now being exported to central European

c o u n t r i e s . T h i s a u t h o r i t a t i v e i n f o r m a t i o n s h o u l d b e s u f f i c i e n t a n s w e r t o

t h e h y s t e r i c a l p l e a s t o t h e A m e r i c a n p u b l i c t o " S a v e S t a r v i n g R u s s i a . "

T h e c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e t o u r s o f R u s s i a n a c t o r s a n d a r t i s t s a n d t h e

S o v i e t r i n g i n M o s c o w i s s h o w n i n t h e c e r t i f i c a t e f u r n i s h e d t h e R u s s i a n

Red Cross representative by the Communist a u t h o r i t i e s , w h i c h r e a d s a s

f o l l o w s

" R . S . F . S . R . ( R u s s i a n S o c i a l i s t F e d e r a t e d S o v i e t R e p u b l i c ) C e n t r a l

Famine Relief Committee . Special committee for the Organization o f

A r t i s t s ' T o u r s a n d A r t E x h i b i t s , o f t h e P e o p l e ' s C o m m i s s a r i a t f o r E d u c a -

t i o n .

"Dated at Moscow,192-, N o.-" T h e S p e c i a l C o m m i t t e e f o r f o r e i g n a r t i s t i c t o u r s a n d a r t e x h i b i t s

h e r e b y c e r t i f i e s t h a t t h e R e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e R u s s i a n R e d C r o s s i n A m e r i c a

i s g r a n t e d t h e r i g h t t o b e a n A g e n t o f t h e S p e c i a l C o m m i t t e e f o r a r r a n g i n g

i n A m e r i c a a p p e a r a n c e s o f R u s s i a n a r t i s t s a n d ' f o r t h e o r g a n i z i n g o f a r t

e x h i b i t s .

" T h e R e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e R u s s i a n R e d C r o s s i n A m e r i c a i s a u t h o r i z e d

t o c o n d u c t , i n t h e n a m e o f t h e S p e c i a l C o m m i t t e e , n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h i m p r e -

s a r i o s r e g a r d i n g t h e c o n d i t i o n s u n d e r w h i c h a r t i s t s w i l l a p p e a r a n d w i l l

c o n c l u d e i n i t s n a m e , c o n t r a c t s w i t h t h e i m p r e s a r i o - p r o m o t e r s w i t h t h e

s a n c t i o n o f t h e S p e c i a l C o m m i t t e e i n e a c h p a r t i c u l a r c a s e , ' i n a c c o r d a n c e

w i t h i n s t r u c t i o n s g i v e n t o t h e R u s s i a n R e d C r o s s .

"The Representative of the Russian Red Cross i s o b l i g e d t o r e n d e r

t o R u s s i a n a r t i s t s a i d i n t h e j u d i c i a l d e f e n s e o f t h e i r i n t e r e s t s i n t h e e v e n t

o f a v i o l a t i o n o f t h e c o n t r a c t o n t h e p a r t o f t h e i m p r e s a r i o .

"(Signed) B . KRASSIN,

"Acting Chairman of the Special Committee . "

Early in the movement the Communist ring in Moscow a w o k e t o t h e

f a c t t h a t t h e A m e r i c a n p e o p l e w e r e p r o f l i g a t e w i t h m o n e y s p e n t o n f o r e i g n

t h e a t r i c a l a n d o p e r a t i c t a l e n t . I t t o o k b u t a s h o r t t i m e f o r t h e m t o b e g i n

t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f c o m p a n i e s t o b e s e n t o n t o u r i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i n

order to get some more of that easy money for Moscow . I t h a s a l r e a d y

b e e n n o t e d t h a t a p a r t o f t h e p l a n s o f C a p t a i n P a x t o n H i b b o n , a s s e t f o r t h

i n a n i n t e r v i e w i n t h e M o s c o w I z v e s t i a , o f f i c i a l o r g a n f o r t h e C o m m u n i s t s

i n t h e S o v i e t r e g i m e i n R u s s i a , t o r a i s e m o n e y f o r R u s s i a w a s b y a r r a n g i n g

" a t r i p o f R u s s i a n a c t o r s t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , t o g e t h e r w i t h m u s i c i a n s a n da r t i s t s w h o w i l l u n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s o f t h e R u s s i a n R e d C r o s s [ w h i c h i s c o n -

t r o l l e d b y t h e R e d G o v e r n m e n t o f R u s s i a ] h e l p t o c o l l e c t m e a n s f o r t h e

r e l i e f o f R u s s i a a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e w i l l p r o v e t o t h e A m e r i c a n p u b l i c

t h e h i g h s t a n d a r d o f R u s s i a n a r t r e a c h e d d u r i n g a t i m e o f r e v o l u t i o n . "

The spoken word, however, even singing and dancing, d o n o t c a r r y

C o m m u n i s t i c p r o p a g a n d a a s f a r o r a s a d r o i t l y a s d o t h e f i l m s , w h i c h a c -

c o u n t s f o r t h e f a c t t h a t t h e C o m m u n i s t s a r e d e v o t i n g m o r e a t t e n t i o n t o t h e

[ 1 4 3 1



REDS IN AMERICA

f i l m s t h a n t o t h e l e g i t i m a t e s t a g e. T o b e s u r e , t h e s t a g e b r i n g s i n a s t e a d y ,

reliable income which the Moscow ring greatly needs and so this feature

o f t h e w o r k i s c o n t i n u e d . Every "artist" sent over from Russia under con-

t r a c t w i t h t h e S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t a l l o t s a d e f i n i t e p o r t i o n o f e a r n i n g s t o

the Government as is specified in the contracts. And the people of the

U n i t e d S t a t e s w h o p a t r o n i z e t h e s e p e r f o r m e r s m a y b e a s s u r e d t h a t t h e y a r e

s e e i n g t h e b e s t t h e r e i s i n Russia ; f o r t h e r e i s a b u n d a n t a n d r e l i a b l e e v i d e n c e

that instead of a "high standard of Russian art reached during a time of

r e v o l u t i o n , " t h e s t a g e a n d a l l t h e a r t s i n R u s s i a h a v e f a l l e n i n t o t h e l o w e s t

state of degradation reached in any country in modern times . With th e

t h e a t r e s p a t r o n i z e d e x c l u s i v e l y b y t h e p e a s a n t s a n d w o r k e r s t h e s t a g e h a s

been brought down to a new low level . The drama is now almost entirely

lewd and suggestive beyond anything ever seen in any country before .

Inasmuch as some controversy has arisen over the documented facts

stated above, concerning the relations between the Soviet government and

the Moscow Art Theatre, other evidence which clearly substantiates these

o f f i c i a l s t a t e m e n t s , i s p r e s e n t e d i n t h e f o l l o w i n g . During the winter of

1921-1922, M r . M o r r i s G e s t s u c c e s s f u l l y i n i t i a t e d " R u s s i a n " d r a m a t i c p r o p -

aganda in this country by presenting the Chauve-Souris at the Century

Theatre in New York . On August 28, 1922, most of the N ew York mornin g

papers carried announcements to the effect that Morris Gest and F . Ray

Comstock were bringing "Europe's foremost theatrical organization, the

Moscow Art Theatre" for a limited engagement to begin in January, 1923 .

T h es e a r ti c le s c o mp r is e d a bo u t a c ol u mn a n d a h a lf r e sp e ct i ve l y i n T h e

N e w Y o r k T i m e s and T h e H e r a l d and were identical in language and of a

s t y l e e a s i l y r e c o g n i z e d a s w r i t t e n b y a p r e s s - a g e n t . I n t h e c o u r s e o f a l u r i d

description of the histrionic abilities of the M oscow Art Theatre group,

t h i s p r e s s - a g e n t r e l e a s e s a i d , i t a l i c i z e d f o r e m p h a s i s :

"Permission of . t h e S o v i e t g o v e r n m e n t h a s b e e n o b t a i n e d f o r t h e A m e r .

ican tour under unusual circumstances . T h e c o m p a n y h a s a l e a v e o f a b -

s e n c e f r o m M o s c o w f o r s e v e n m o n t h s f r o m n e x t J a n u a r y . But under the

c o n d i t i o n s o f t h i s l e a v e o f a b s e n c e i t m u s t r e t u r n t o i t s h o m e s t a g e i n t i m e

t o c e l e b r a t e t h e s i l v e r j u b i l e e o f i t s f o u n d i n g i n t h e e a r l y a u t u m n o f 1 9 2 3 .

[ A s a m a t t e r o f f a c t t h i s t r o o p i s s t i l l i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ( J a n . 1 9 2 4 ) . ]

"The culmination of the negotiations in Mr . G e s t ' s i n v i t a t i o n a n d t h e

Moscow Art Theatre's acceptance marks the completion of one o f the most

i n t r i c a t e , p r o l o n g e d a n d c o s t l y p a r l e y s i n t h e a n n a l s o f t h e c o n t e m p o r a r y

t h e a t r e . Ever since last February, when Mr . G e s t m a d e t h e f i r s t o v e r t u r e s

to Moscow, following the enormous success which Balieff's Chauve-Souris

had scored, the cables have been kept busy . T h o u s a n d s o f w o r d s h a v e

p a s s e d i n b o t h d i r e c t i o n s , a n d i n J u n e , N i k o l a i R u m i a n t s e f f , b u s i n e s s m a n -

a g e r o f t h e t h e a t r e , a r r i v e d i n N e w Y o r k t o c o n d u c t n e g o t i a t i o n s i n p e r s o n . "

The M oscow Art Theatre evidently started for America promptly .

Cyril Brown, special correspondent of T h e N e w Y o r k T i m e s a t B e r l i n ,

c a b l e d h i s p a p e r u n d e r a d a t e o f S e p t . 2 , t h e f o l l o w i n g :

"The Moscow Art Theatre Argonauts will sail on their own ship from

[ 1 4 4 ]




S o v i e t R u s s i a o n S e p t . 1 0 w i t h t h e i n t e n t t o t o u r A m e r i c a a n d d i s p l a y R u s -

s i a n a r t , under a p l e d g e t o r e f r a i n f r o m a l l B o l s h e v i s t i c p r o p a g a n d a o r a n y

o t h e r p o l it i c al a ct iv it y, u n d e r t h e m a n a g e m e n t o f M o r r i s G e s t . The Soviet

government has placed a special ship at the Art Theatre's disposal for

transportation of scenery, properties and personnel from Petrograd to

S t e t t i n , G e r m a n y .

"The Soviet w a s f o r c e d t o t e n d e r shipping b e c a u s e t h e r a i l r o a d s e r v i c e

i s s u c h t h a t s p e c i a l t r a i n s c o u l d n o t b e s p a r e d t o t r a n s p o r t t h e A r t T h e a t r e

with its elaborate bag and baggage .

"Water transportation for the troup from Petrograd to Danzig costs

3 3 3 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 S o v i e t r u b l e s .

" I t t o o k a l o t o f r e d t a p e b e f o r e t h e Soviet government gave permis-

s i o n f o r t h e A r t T h e a t r e ' s j o u r n e y t o A m e r i c a . . . . "

The advance guard of the Moscow Art Theatre landed in New York on

t h e l a s t d a y o f 1 9 2 2 , a c c o r d i n g t o T h e N e w Y o r k T i m e s o f t h e f o l l o w i n g

m o r n i n g . T h e p a r t y i n c l u d e d S e r g e i B a r t h e n s o n , d e s i g n a t e d a s the manager .

A release by The American Defense Society, comprising the substance of

t h e d o c u m e n t a r y e v i d e n c e a b o v e g i v e n , h a d s o m e d a y s p r e v i o u s l y b e e n

b r o a d c a s t e d t o t h e A m e r i c a n p r e s s , a n d i t h a d c a u s e d v i g o r o u s d e n i a l s a n d

p r o t e s t a t i o n s o f d i s b e l i e f o n t h e p a r t o f m a n y i n t e r e s t e d p e r s o n s n o t w i t h -

s t a n d i n g i t s a u t h o r i t a t i v e c h a r a c t e r . Upon landing, a reporter asked Ber-

t h e n s o n :

" ` It i s sa i d t ha t 3 3 0/ c o f t h e p r o f i t s f r o m t h e A m e r i c a n t o u r w i l l g o t o

the Soviet government . '

" ' T h a t i s n o t t r u e , ' s a i d M r . Berthen son . ` T h e p r o c e e d s o f t h e f i r s t

f i v e p e r f o r m a n c e s w i l l g o t o t h e R u s s i a n R e l i e f A s s o c i a t i o n , w h i c h i s l i k e

the American organi zation now working in Russia . It will be devoted to

f e e d i n g a n d c l o t h i n g d e s t i t u t e R u s s i a n p e o p l e a n d e s p e c i a l l y t h e c h i l d r e n .

We do not pay any state tax to the government nor have we consulted the

Soviet in any way before coming to the United States . "

The players themselves landed Jan . 4 , 1 9 2 3 . I n t h e l a r g e p a r t y a t t h e

dock to greet the new arrivals was Sergei Rachmaninoff, the pianist, and

"Boris Anisfeld, who has done many of the scenic setting s at the Metro-

p o l i t a n O p e r a H o u s e . " Wh e n C o n s t a n t i n S t a n i s l a vs k y , " o n e o f t h e t w o

founders of the famous cooperative organization" was told that their en-

t r a n c e t o t h i s c o u n t r y h a d b e e n p r o t e s t e d b y T h e A m e r i c a n D e f e n s e S o c i e t y

on the ground that support of the Moscow Art Theatre would contribu te

either directly or indirectly to the support of Communist propaganda in

t h i s c o u n t r y , h e s a i d t h r o u g h a n i n t e r p r e t e r , s h a k i n g h i s h e a d:

" ' I t i s n o t s o . We have no connectio n with the Soviet government . " '

T h e n e x t r e e l i n t h i s " R u s s i a n " t h e a t r i c a l s c e n a r i o i s g i v e n b y Th e N e w

Y o r k W o r l d , September 15, 1922 . The article follows a "double head" and

i s i t s e l f " d o u b l e l e a d e d , " t h e r e b y p l a c i n g t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i t c o n t a i n s i n t h e

i m p o r t a n t o r " m u s t " c l a s s . The caption reads : " KA H r % , B A C K S R U S S I A N

ART THEATRES HERE . " "METROPOLITAN OPERA CHAIRMAN

[ 1 4 5 ]



REDS IN AMERICA

ALSO HELPED BRING BALIEFF'S CHAUVE-SOURIS TO AMERICA . "

T h e b o d y o f t h e a r t i c l e f o l l o w s :

" O t t o H . K a h n , C h a i r m a n o f t h e B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s o f t h e M e t r o -

politan Opera Company and liberal patron of the arts with many millions

i s t h e s i l e n t f i g u r e , s o m e t i m e s c a l l e d ` a n g e l , ' b a c k o f t h e R u s s i a n A r t T h e a t r e

movements in America, T h e W o r l d l e a r n e d f r o m a u t h o r i t a t i v e s o u r c e s y e s -

t e r d a y . Mr . K a h n , w h e n q u e s t i o n e d a s t o h i s c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h M o r r i s G e s t

of Comstock-Gest admitted he was instrumental in the New York presenta-

t i o n o f B a l i e f f ' s C h a u v e - S o u r i s a n d t h a t h e w a s s p o n s o r i n g t h e c o m i n g v i s i t

o f t h e M o s c o w A r t T h e a t r e C o m p a n y t o A m e r i c a .

" T h e f i n a n c i e r , o n e o f t h e b e s t k n o w n p a t r o n s o f t h e a r t s , d i d n o t g o

i n t o f i g u r e s r e g a r d i n g h i s s u p p o r t o f M r . G e s t , b u t w a s e n t h u s i a s t i c i n h i s

p r a i s e o f t h e p r o d u c e r w h o b r o u g h t t o t h i s c o u n t r y n e w a n d s t r i k i n g o r g a n -

i z a t i o n s . . . . "

T h e s a m e i s s u e o f The World c o n t a i n e d a s p e c i a l d i s p a t c h f r o m L o n d o n

i n w h i c h i t i s s t a t e d t h a t " F e o d o r C h a l i a p i n , f a m o u s R u s s i a n b a r i t o n e - b a s s ,

who sails for New York, Oct . 2 5 t h , a n d w h o i s t o f u l f i l a c o n t r a c t w i t h t h e

Metropolitan Opera Company, to-day sa id he is to receive 30% more than

C a r u s o e v e r g o t f r o m t h e M e t r o p o l i t a n f o r t h e s a m e n u m b e r o f p e r f o r -

m a n c e s . H i s c o n t r a c t i s f o r a m i n i m u m o f f i f t e e n a p p e a r a n c e s .

"Chaliapin told T h e W o r l d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e h e i n t e n d e d t o g o i n t o t h e

movies while in America and would play the leading part in a novel sce-

n a r i o i n w h i c h h e i s c o l l a b o r a t i n g w i t h M a x i m G o r k y . " T h e W o r l d , i n c o m -

ment following, places Chaliapin's sala ry at $4,000 for each appearance

a t t h e M e t r o p o l i t a n .

T h e b u s y M r . Gest then returns from Europe again in a gray to pper

a n d w i l l n e i t h e r a f f i r m n o r d e n y c a b l e d r e p o r t s t o t h e e f f e c t t h a t h e w o u l d

bring to America Lady Diana M anners or Ele onora Duse. He did say,

however, according to The Times of August 16th, 1923 that "he had now

g o t h i s p a r e n t s w i t h s e v e n b r o t h e r s a n d s i s t e r s l i v i n g i n B e r l i n , a f t e r s p e n d -

i n g f o u r y e a r s i n g e t t i n g t h e m s a f e l y o u t o f O d e s s a . They will remain in

t h e G e r m a n c a p i t a l , h e a d d e d , u n t i l h i s m o t h e r ' s h e a l t h h a s b e e n c o m p l e t e l y

r e s t o r e d . Then he will bring his family to America . "

Meanwhile, it is announced from Moscow through the medium of T h e

T i m e s , J u n e 2 9 , 1 9 2 3 , t h a t " t h e e x - I m p e r i a l b a l l e t o f P e t r o g r a d w i l l g i v e

a season in New York next winter, with full cast of two hundred artists

from the Petrograd schools and a selection of its unparalleled costumes

a n d d e c o r a t i o n s . I v a n V a s s i l i v i c h E k s k o s o v i c h , D i r e c t o r o f t h e S t a t e T h e a -

t r e , P e t r o g r a d , i n f o r m e d T h e N e w Y o r k T i m e s t o - d a y t h a t a u t h o r i z a t i o n

h a d j u s t b e e n r e c e i v e d f o r a n A m e r i c a n t o u r , w h i c h , u n l i k e t h e A r t T h e a t r e ,

will be unpreceded by performances in Europe . "

A f t e r r e c i t i n g t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s w h i c h b e s e t t h e c o m p a n y d u r i n g t h e t r y i n g

d a y s o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n w h e n " b u l l e t s f l e w i n s t r e e t s o u t s i d e , t h o u g h s t a g e

and dressing rooms were in arctic cold th rough lack of fuel," nothing

d a u n t e d , t h e s e R u s s i a n s t a g e - f o l k o f t h e P e t r o g r a d S t a t e T h e a t r e , " c a r r i e d

o n i t s b u s i n e s s a s u s u a l ." Then the story continues :

1 1 4 6 1




" N o w t h e r e h a s b e e n f o r m e d a m i x e d c o m p a n y w i t h t h e S t a t e t o r u n

t h e P e t r o g r a d S t a t e T h e a t r e i n R u s s i a a n d a b r o a d . "

T h e L a b o r F i l m S e r v i c e w a s t h e n a m e o f a n o r g a n i z a t i o n , a s u s u a l

using "labor" as a medium of appeal, formed for the express purpose of

presenting radical films for exhibition before American audiences . T h e

f i e l d d i r e c t o r o f t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n w a s , f r o m t h e s t a r t , J . D . Cannon, of

S e a t t l e , W a s h i n g t o n , a r a d i c a l l e a d e r w h o h a d b e e n a c t i v e i n i r o n a n d s t e e l

w o r k e r s ' s t r i k e s a n d a n o f f i c i a l o f t h e M i n e , M i l l a n d S m e l t e r s ' o r g a n i z a -

t i o n . Cannon carefully canvassed the United States, selling stock in the

Labor Film Service at $10 a share, chiefly to members of labor unions,

with the argument that he was going to present films to counteract the

c a p i t a l i s t f i l m s b e i n g s h o w n w h i c h p l a c e d l a b o r i n a f a l s e a n d u n d i g n i f i e d

p o s i t i o n . He made no secrecy of presenting radical films, although to

t h e u n i o n m e m b e r s h e d i d n o t a d m i t t h a t h e w a s w o r k i n g f o r C o m m u n i s m .

He announced that the pictures pres ented by his company would be propa-

ganda in behalf of radical and labor unions, motion pictures describing

w h a t h e c a l l e d t h e t e r r i b l e c o n d i t i o n s e x i s t i n g a m o n g t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s e s

i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . The pictures were designed to stir up antagonism

and hatred between workmen and their employers .

O n e o f t h e f i r s t p i c t u r e s p r e s e n t e d w a s T h e C o n t r a s t , b y J o h n W . S l a t o n ,

a w e l l - k n o w n r a d i c a l o f P i t t s b u r g h . O n e o f t h e p i c t u r e s i n t h i s m a s t e r p i e c e

portrayed a child taking food from a garbage can besides a dog belonging

to some rich person, and was entitled "To be seen in !any great city-it

c o s t s $ 1 0 a d a y t o f e e d t h i s d o g. " T h e a d v e r t i s i n g m a t t e r c o n c e r n i n g t h i s

picture proclaimed :

" T h e g i r l i n t h i s p i c t u r e w i l l b e s e e n c o m i n g a r o u n d a s t r e e t c o r n e r ,

seeking something to eat from a garbage can, acting as though she feared

d e t e c t i o n . Then a maid will be seen carefully leading this pedigr eed dog

into an elegantly furnished dining-room to partake of a tempting chicken

d i n n e r , b u t a l r e a d y s u r f e i t e d l i e d e c l i n e s t o e a t . "

C a n n o n h a r p e d o n h i s d e s i r e t o p r e s e n t " t h e t r u t h " t o t h e p u b l i c t h r o u g h

t h e m e d i u m o f t h e s e p i c t u r e s , a n d T h e C o n t r a s t m a y b e c i t e d a s a n e x a m p l e

o f h i s i d e a o f t h e t r u t h. I t w a s a l s o a d v e r t i s e d t h a t t h e f o l l o w i n g s u g g e s t i v e

q u e s t i o n s w o u l d b e s h o w n o n t h e s c r e e n i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h i s p i c t u r e :

"There were no labor unions in Egypt during many centuries . Why

d i d t h a t n a t i o n l o s e h e r c i v i l i z a t i o n t w o t h o u s a n d y e a r s a g o ? "

"There have been no strikes in China for six thousan d years . D o e s

that account for her long death-like sleep and submerged millions? "

"In view of these facts, what would happen in America if the labor

movement would be crushed? "

" I f i t i s d a n g e r o u s , t h e r e f o r e w r o n g , f o r l a b o r t o o r g a n i z e a n d s t r i k e ,

i s i t n o t e q u a l l y w r o n g f o r c a p i t a l t o o r g a n i z e a n d r a i s e p r i c e s ? "

"If wage workers should not organi ze solidly, why should lawyers,

d o c t o r s , b u s i n e s s m e n a n d m i n i s t e r s o r g a n i z e ? "

[ 1 4 7 ]



REDS I N AMERICA

A n o t h e r g r a p h i c b i t o f s c r e e n a d v e r t i s i n g s h o w n d u r i n g t h e p r o g r e s s

o f t h e p i c t u r e r e a d s :

" T h e n e x t s c e n e w i l l b e t h o u g h t - c o m p e l l i n g . I t w i l l s h o w a w o r k e r ' s

d i n i n g - r o o m t a b l e w i t h e m p t y d i s h e s . T h e w i f e e n t e r s f r o m k i t c h e n , b a b e

i n a r m s , l i t t l e g i r l c l i n g i n g t o m o t h e r ' s s k i r t s, a n d s h e w i l l s a y : `M a m m a ,

I am hungry . ' T h e m o t h e r w i l l b i d t h e m a l l t o s i t a t t h e t a b l e a n d w a i t f o r

p a p a , w i t h w h o s e c o m i n g s h e e x p e c t s f o o d . H e e n t e r s , b u t i s e m p t y h a n d e d .

W h e n t h e m o t h e r s e e s t h i s h e r h e a d b o w s , t e a r s s t a r t , t h e b a b e i s p r e s s e d

t i g h t l y t o h e r b r e a s t . T h e f a t h e r t h r o w s h i s c o a t a s i d e , l o o k s a t t h e e m p t y

t a b l e a n d h u n g r y f a m i l y , r e a d s t h e s p l e n d i d e x t r a c t f r o m t h e D e c l a r a t i o n

o f I n d e p e n d e n c e , f o l d s h i s a r m s a n d s h a k e s h i s h e a d . "

The American Federation of Labor made a report on Cannon in 1921

*i which it was pointed out that he had been a member o f t h e W e s t e r n

F e d e r a t i o n o f M i n e r s , a n d w h e n h e c a m e E a s t h e w a s a p p o i n t e d o r g a n i z e r

f o r t h e M e t a l l i f e r o u s M i n e r s o f w h i c h C h a r l e s M o y e r w a s t h e head . " J u s t

p r e v i o u s t o h i s a r r i v a l , " t h e r e p o r t c o n t i n u e d , " t h e l a t e J o h n M i t c h e l l

w a s h a v i n g a s e r i e s o f c o n f e r e n c e s w i t h t h e m i n e o w n e r s f o r t h e p u r p o s e

o f g e t t i n g r e c o g n i t i o n f o r t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n . The mine owners had prac-

t i c a l l y a g r e e d t o r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e u n i o n wh e n C a n n o n b e ga n m a k i n g

s p e e c h e s a d v o c a t i n g a c t i o n a l o n g t h e l i n e s o f t h e W e s t e r n F e d e r a t i o n o f

M i n e r s , w i t h t h e r e s u l t t h a t t h e m i n e o w n e r s b a c k e d u p o n t h e M i t c h e l l

p r o p o s i t i o n a n d n o t o n l y r e f u s e d r e c o g n i t i o n , b u t d e c i d e d t o g i v e a n y o r -

g a n i z a t i o n t h a t m i g h t b e f o r m e d a f i g h t .

" I n t h e t e r r i t o r y o f w h i c h M r . C a n n o n w a s i n c h a r g e , c o m p r i s i n g t h e

S t a t e s o f N e w Y o r k a n d N e w J e r s e y , t h e r e w e r e m o r e t h a n 4 0 , 0 0 0 m e n e n -

g a g e d i n t h i s i n d u s t r y . H e h a s b e e n v e r y a c t i v e i n a l l r a d i c a l m o v e m e n t s ;

h a s t a l k e d s y n d i c a l i s m a n d a p p r o v e d S o v i e t i s m . H e h a s t a k e n s i d e s w i t h

s e c e s s i o n i s t s a g a i n s t t h e l e g i t i m a t e t r a d e u n i o n o r g a n i z a t i o n , and has been

v e r y c l o s e t o M o r r i s H i l l q u i t a n d S y d n e y H i l l m a n a n d g r o u p s o f s i m i l a r

s t r i p e . H e i s n o w s e l l i n g s t o c k f o r t h e L a b o r F i l m S e r v i c e C o m p a n y , a n

o r g a n i z a t i o n i n w h i c h H i l l q u i t i s i n t e r e s t e d . "

I n o n e o f h i s l e t t e r s s e n t t o l a b o r u n i o n s t h r o u g h t t h e c o u n t r y Cannon

s t a t e d t h a t h i s c o m p a n y h a d s e c u r e d a n o t h e r p i c t u r e , The Jungle, b a s e d

u p o n U p t o n S i n c l a i r ' s n o v e l , w h i c h h e s a i d h a d b e e n m a d e f i v e y e a r s b e f o r e .

" I t w a s p r o d u c e d , " h e w r o t e , " b e f o r e t h e e v i l i n f l u e n c e n o w s o e v i d e n t i n

t h e m o v i n g p i c t u r e w o r l d g o t s u c h a h o l d o n i n d u s t r y . We are going to

r e v i s e t h e p i c t u r e a n d b r i n g i t up t o d a t e . " T h i s p r o c e s s , i t d e v e l o p e d ,

w a s t o m a k e t h e s c e n e s d e p i c t e d b y S i n c l a i r a p p e a r t o b e t r u e p i c t u r e s o f

t o d a y . An attempt was made to publish a L a b o r F i l m M a g a z i n e i n c o n -

n e c t i o n w i t h t h i s c o m p a n y , b u t t h e N e w Y o r k p o l i c e a u t h o r i t i e s r e f u s e d t o

g r a n t i t a p e r m i t . I t w a s p l a i n l y e v i d e n t t h a t a p a r t o f t h e w o r k p r o p o s e d

w a s t o t a k e m o v i n g p i c t u r e s o f a n y s i t u a t i o n r e f l e c t i n g a g a i n s t t h e G o v e r n .

m e n t i n i t s t r e a t m e n t o f w o r k e r s i n t h e e n f o r c e m e n t o f l a w a n d o r d e r , a n d

t h e n d i s p l a y t h e m a t r a d i c a l m e e t i n g s f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f i n c i t i n g c l a s s f e e l .

i n g . A n o t h e r o f C a n n o n ' s l e t t e r s , t h i s o n e a d d r e s s e d t o a r a d i c a l i n O a k -

l a n d , C a l i f . , c o n t a i n e d t h e f o l l o w i n g i n f o r m a t i v e paragraph :

[ 1 4 8 1




"Our enterprise bears the endorsement of such prominent leaders as

N o r m a n T h o m a s , R a b b i J u d a h L . Magnes, Scott Nearing, Louis Waldman,

I . M . S a c k i n , e t c . We a l s o h a v e e n d o r s e m e n t o f t h e C e n t r a l F e d e r a t e d

Union, United Hebrew Trades, Italian Chamber of Commerce and other

l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s . "

Robert C . Deming, director of the Connecticut Board of Education,

came into possession of some literature of the Labor Film Service as far

b a c k a s 1 9 2 0 , a n d i n r e f e r r i n g t o i t m a d e u s e o f t h e e x p r e s s i o n t h a t " L e n i n

a n d T r o t s k y a r e n o t s h o r t o f a g e n t s i n t h i s c o u n t r y . " I t i s a l s o k n o w n t h a t

a m o t i o n p i c t u r e p r o d u c e r , G u y H e d l u n d , o f H a d l y m e , C o n n . , h a d a t t h a t

time been approached with an offer to go to Germany for the purpose of

developing film publicity . This offer, it is understood, was refused,

a s i t w a s e v i d e n t t h a t t h i s p r o p a g a n d a w a s i n t e n d e d t o a i d t h e r a d i c a l s .

T he fi lm , T he Co nt ra st , w a s p r o b a b l y t h e m o s t s u c c e s s f u l p i c t u r e

presented by this company . It was shown, sometimes publicly and at other

t i m e s s e c r e t l y , i n p r a c t i c a l l y e v e r y i m p o r t a n t c i t y i n t h e c o u n t r y . I t s c o n -

nection with the Moscow Communists was plainly demonstrated, although

n o t f o r p u b l i c i n f o r m a t i o n , a t a m e e t i n g o f t h e C h i c a g o F e d e r a t i o n o f t h e

Friends of Soviet Russia, a Communist branch organi zation, at No . 2 2 0

West Oak Street , on March 2, 1922 . At that time a representa tive of the

Labor Film Company was present soliciting business for this film for use

b y t h e F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a . Morit z J . L o e b , o f t h e F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t

R u s s i a , t o o k o c c a s i o n t o s t a t e t h a t t h i s b o d y w a s n o t o n l y a r e l i e f o r g a n i z a -

tion but its members were really friends of Soviet Russia and used their

i n f l u e n c e t o p r o m o t e t h e e f f o r t s o f t h a t r e g i m e t o s e c u r e r e c o g n i t i o n . Hes a i d s p e c i f i c a l l y t h a t t h e r e a l f u n c t i o n o f t h e F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a w a s

to bring pressure on the capitalist governments, especially the United

S t a t e s , i n o r d e r t o f o r c e t h e m t o r e c o g n i z e S o v i e t R u s s i a o f f i c i a l l y .

- L o e b , w h o w a s t h e n s e c r e t a r y o f t h e C h i c a g o o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e F r i e n d s

o f S o v i e t R u s s i a , s a i d t h a t t h e f i l m c o u l d b e u s e d f o r p r o p a g a n d a p u r p o s e s

and shown in regular motion picture houses, and that through this propa-

g a n d a m a n y s y m p a t h i z e r s c o u l d b e r e a c h e d w h o w o u l d n o t b e w i l l i n g t o

s i t t h r o u g h o r e v e n a t t e n d a l e c t u r e o n t h e s u b j e c t . The representative of

t h e L a b o r F i l m S e r v i c e a s s u r e d t h o s e i n a t t e n d a n c e u p o n t h i s m e e t i n g t h a t

the film had been made in a most radical manner, showing things that a

speaker could not give utterance to on a public platform .

T h e C o o p e r a t i v e L e a g u e o f A m e r i c a , t h e A m e r i c a n b r a n c h o f a n i n -

ternational organi z ation which has in its membership a number of Com-

munists and radicals of other hues , officially indorsed the Labor Film

S e r v i c e a n d u r g e d a l l p e r s o n s i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e c o o p e r a t i v e o r t r a d e u n i o n

m o v e m e n t s t o p a t r o n i z e i t . I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t l a b o r u n i o n o f f i c i a l s ,

C o m m u n i s t s a n d " p a r l o r b o l s h e v i s t s " w e r e a l s o i n t e r e s t e d i n t h i s o r g a n i z a -

t i o n .

T h e C o m m u n i s t s a r e n e v e r a s l e e p o n m a t t e r s t h a t c a n b e t u r n e d t o t h e i r

advantage . When O rph an s o f the Storm, o n e o f D . W. G r i f f i t h ' s g r e a t

plays, was produced, the Communists discovered that it might be utilized

( 1 4 9 ]



REDS IN AMERICA

as excellent propaganda for their cause . A c c o r d i n g l y t h e w o r d w a s s e n t

out for all Communists to "press-ag ent the film as much as possible and

this was done . This is not meant to reflect, even by inference, that Mr .

Griffith was interested in aiding the Communists, but the Communists be-

l i e v e d t h a t h e w a s a i d i n g t h e m a n d a p p r e c i a t e d i t .

The attitude of the Communists is best explained by indicating the

"atmosphere" of the plot as sho wn by one of the captions . This read :

"Danton, the Lincoln of the French Revolution! " The film was afterwards

suppressed in France .

The success, much of it under cover, of the Labor Film Service Com-

p a n y , a l t h o u g h a f t e r a y e a r o r m o r e i t p r o v e d a f a i l u r e , r e s u l t e d i n o t h e r

e f f o r t s t o e n t e r t h e r a d i c a l f i l m f i e l d . In California the Mission Pictures

Corporation was organi zed and a Mrs . C l e w s , p r o m i n e n t l y i d e n t i f i e d w i t h

the Teachers' Council mo vement in Los Angeles, approached a number of

the wealthy radicals of that city and P asadena asking support for this

company, which had been recentl y formed, and the first picture of which

was Science o f God. This company at that time was preparing to start

work on another radical picture to be called Robinson Crusoe, a Social

Pioneer .

Bruce Rogers, the not orious West Coast Communist, who was in South-

ern California collecting funds for the Communist party of America and

t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s L e a g u e , s o l d a f i l m s c e n a r i o t o L a s k y . The real author

o f t h i s s c e n a r i o , i t i s s a i d , w a s i n A l a s k a , b u t R o g e r s d i s p o s e d o f t h e p i c t u r e

and enjoyed the proceeds .

In the Communist files are found mention of Charlie Chaplin, Will

Rogers, Norma Talmadge , Lila Lee, Allan Hollabar, Charles Ray, Percival

T . G e r s o n , R o b W a g n e r , E r i c V o n S t r o h e i m , J o s e p h S c h e n c k , W i l l i a m C .

de Mille and others connected with the motion picture industry . Someo f t h e m a r e k n o w n t o b e i n h e a r t y s y m p a t h y w i t h C o m m u n i s m a n d t o b e

c l o s e f r i e n d s o f C o m m u n i s t s , t o w h o s e c a u s e t h e y h a v e c o n t r i b u t e d l a r g e l y .

W h e n W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r , t h e s a l a r i e d i n d u s t r i a l d i r e c t o r o f t h e C o m -

m u n i s t P a r t y o f A m e r i c a , w a s i n L o s A n g e l e s s h o r t l y b e f o r e t h e p a r t y

convention at Bridgman, Mich ., which he attended as a delegate, he was

t h e g u e s t o f h o n o r a t a r e c e p t i o n g i v e n b y C h a r l i e C h a p l i n , t h e f i l m c o m e d i a n

a t w h i c h w e r e p r e s e n t m a n y r a d i c a l m e m b e r s o f t h e " m o v i e " c o l o n y a t

H o l l y w o o d a n d a n u m b e r o f p a r l o r b o l s h e v i k s . A m o n g t h e m w e r e W i l l -

i a m C . de Mille and Rob Wagner . On this occasion Chaplin is said to

h a v e t o l d F o s t e r t h a t n e i t h e r h e n o r a n y o f t h e s t a r s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h h i m

had any use for Will Hays . " We a r e a g a i n s t a n y k i n d o f c e n s o r s h i p , "

the comedian said, "particularly Presbyterian censorship . "

At this reception the great importance of motion pictures with their

educational and propagan dist appeal for the cause of the labor movement

and the Communist revolution was openly discussed and several instances

w e r e c i t e d o f t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f r a d i c a l i d e a s i n t o m o t i o n p i c t u r e s a n d o n

t h e l e g i t i m a t e s t a g e . Mrs. Kate Crane Gartz, a wealthy Pasadena societywoman who has many friends among the radicals, told those present at the

r e c e p t i o n t h a t s h e h a d r e c e n t l y b e e n a p p r o a c h e d b y a s c e n a r i o w r i t *

[ 1 5 0 ]




n a m e d " H o c h e i m e r , " a n d a s k e d f o r a l a r g e s u m o f m o n e y t o p u t r a d i c a l

Communist propaganda into scenarios "to do the greatest possible good

t o t h e c a u s e . " M r s . G a r t z w a s o n e o f t h o s e w h o g a v e l e t t e r s o f i n t r o d u c t i o n

to Charlie Chaplin appealing for funds to aid the strikers, to Comrade

P l o t k i n , a n o r g a n i z e r f o r t h e G a r m e n t W o r k e r s ' U n i o n i n t h e E a s t , w h e n h e

w a s s e n t b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s t o a g i t a t e a m o n g t h e r a i l r o a d s t r i k e r s i n

S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a .

A s a n i n s t a n c e o f r a d i c a l p r o p a g a n d a f i n d i n g i t s w a y o n t o t h e l e g i t i .

m a t e s t a g e t h e C o m m u n i s t s c a l l a t t e n t i o n t o The F ool, which was tried out

a t t h e M a j e s t i c T h e a t r e i n L o s A n g e l e s , p r e p a r a t o r y t o p l a c i n g i t o n B r o a d -

way . R i c h a r d B e n n e t t t o o k t h e p r i n c i p l e r o l e : t h a t o f a m i n i s t e r o f t h e

G o s p e l w h o u n d e r t a k e s t o s e t t l e a s t r i k e , f o r c e s t h e c o m p a n y t o a c c e p t t h e

s t r i k e r s ' t e r m s , r e s u l t i n g i n t h e l o s s o f m i l l i o n s t o t h e c o m p a n y , a n d d o e s

a number of impossible things in defiance of the present social system .

The Fool is s a i d t o h a v e t r a i t s o f J e s u s C h r i s t a s w e l l a s o f D o s t o e v s k y ' s I d i o t .

S i n c e H a u p t m a n n ' s D i e W e b e r , t h e d r a m a d e p i c t i n g t h e r e v o l t o f s t r i k i n g

w e a v e r s i n S i l e s i a , i t i s s a i d t h a t n o s t r o n g e r r a d i c a l l a b o r p r o p a g a n d a h a s

b e e n p r o d u c e d f o r t h e s t a g e . O n e o f t h e m o s t e f f e c t i v e s c e n e s i n The F ool,

i t i s r e p o r t e d , i s o n e s h o w i n g a P o l i s h l a b o r a g i t a t o r i n a f i e r y s o a p b o x

speech against the ten-hou r day and for better working conditions and

higher wages .

Foster, who is one of the Trustees of the Garland Foundation, told

Charlie Chaplin and Mrs . G a r t z o n h i s v i s i t t o L o s A n g e l e s , t h a t t h e G a r -

l a n d f u n d c o u l d b e d e p e n d e d u p o n t o b e u s e d i n a i d i n g a n y o f t h e r a d i c a l s

w h o g o t i n t o t r o u b l e w i t h t h e a u t h o r i t i e s . But Foster was especially pro-

l i f i c w i t h p r o m i s e s t o t h e e f f e c t t h a t t h e r e w o u l d b e m a n y u s e s f o r t h e f u n d s

p r o m i s e d b y t h e e c c e n t r i c N e w E n g l a n d H a r v a r d y o u t h . Foster said the

F ederated P r e ss w a s t o g e t $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 a n d a n u m b e r o f C o m m u n i s t w o r k e r s

o n t h e C o a s t w e r e p r o m i s e d s a l a r i e s .

Bruce Rog ers was the money-g etter for the Communists , to whom

Robert Morss Lovett, Harvard '92, as president of the Federated Press

L e a g u e , w r o t e u r g i n g h i m t o s e e a n d c o l l e c t m o n e y f r o m W i l l i a m C . d e

Mille, Allan Hollabar, and Eric Von Stroheim whose pro- Germanism made

h i m a p r o m i n e n t f i g u r e d u r i n g t h e w a r ; D r . Percival T . Gerson, Will

Rogers, Charles Ray and Charlie Chaplin . L o v e t t s a i d i n t h i s l e t t e r , w h i c h

w a s q u o t e d i n a n e a r l i e r c h a p t e r , t h a t h e h a d w r i t t e n t h e s e m e n , t h a t " t h e y

h e l p e d u s b e f o r e a n d w i l l d o i t a g a i n , " a n d a s s u r e d R o g e r s t h a t " t h e s e m e n

a r e w i t h u s." It may be of interest to "movie fans" to know that William

C, de Mille marrie d a daughter of Henry George and has been very acti ve

i n s i n g l e - t a x m o v e m e n t s .

I t h a s b e e n k n o w n f o r a l o n g t i m e t h a t C h a r l i e C h a p l i n h a s b e e n i n t e r -

e s t e d i n r a d i c a l m o v e m e n t s a n d a h e a v y c o n t r i b u t o r t o r a d i c a l f u n d s , m u c h

of which found its way into Communist channels . He and Lila Lee, a Fa-

mous-Player star ; and Raymond Griffith, playwright, motion pictu re pro-

ducer and actor, were among th e guests of Mrs . Gartz and Prince Hopkins

a t t h e n o w f a m o u s d i n n e r g i v e n i n h o n o r o f U p t o n S i n c l a i r , w h e n t h e r e w a s

a g a t h e r i n g o f r a d i c a l s o f e v e r y k n o w n h u e , o n A p r i l 5 , 1 9 2 2 . A m o n g t h e

[ 1 5 1 1



REDS I N AMERICA

s p e a k e r s o n t h i s m o m e n t o u s o c c a s i o n w a s t h e r e d o u b t a b l e C h a p l i n , w h o

t o l d w i t h g r e a t g u s t o o f h i s p r i d e i n h a v i n g g i v e n D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y W o o l -

wine, of Los Angeles, what he called "a good lesson rega rding the real

m e a n i n g o f s y n d i c a l i s t i d e a s ." Chaplin said that he had visited Woolwine

i n h i s o f f i c e a n d d i s c u s s e d w i t h h i m t h e s u b j e c t o f c r i m i n a l s y n d i c a l i s m .

H e a s k e d W o o l w i n e t o s h o w h i m o n e o f " t h o s e t e r r i b l e , c u t - t h o a t m u r -

derous I . W . W ' s , whereupon one of the I . W . W . p r i s o n e r s w a s b r o u g h t

' f r o m t h e j a i l f o r h i s e d i f i c a t i o n . C h a p l i n s a i d t h a t h e a n d t h e d i s t r i c t a t -

t o r n e y q u e s t i o n e d t h e p r i s o n e r a n d " w e r e m u c h i m p r e s s e d b y t h e i n t e l l i g e n c e

and enthusiasm of the clean cut young radical . "

It was in August, 1922, that Charles Recht, the New York lawyer who

d e f e n d e d L u d w i g C . A . K . M a r t e n s a n d s u c c e e d e d h i m a s h e a d o f t h e S o v i e t

R u s s i a n G o v e r n m e n t r e p r e s e n t a t i o n i n t h i s c o u n t r y , c o n d u c t e d n e g o t i a t i o n s

a s w a s s t a t e d e a r l i e r i n t h i s c h a p t e r , w i t h W i l l H a y s , a s h e a d o f t h e m o t i o n

p i c t u r e i n d u s t r y i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , r e g a r d i n g t h e o r d e r R e c h t r e c e i v e d

from the Moscow Government to purchase films to co st $8,000,000 . These

films were to be made in the United States and to be entirely for propa-

g a n d a p u r p o s e s . T h e y w e r e t o b e a n t i - C h r i s t i a n , a n t i - c a p i t a l i s t i c , a n d t o

show the great advantage of Communism over the present state of affairs

i n t h e r e s t o f t h e w o r l d .

Recht sailed for Europe early in September, 1922, with an appoint-

ment to meet N orma Talmadg e, the film star, and her husband Joseph

Schenck, a motion picture producer, on Sept . 25, at the Hotel Breslin

in Berlin whence they were to go to Moscow to conclude the negotiations

for an extensive picture propaganda campaign . Schenck and his wife, it

is understood, failed to get to Moscow because they could not get satis-

f a c t o r y g u a r a n t e e s f o r t h e i r p e r s o n a l s a f e t y . Will Hays may no t have had

t h e s l i g h t e s t i d e a o f w h a t R e c h t w a s d e l i b e r a t e l y a i m i n g a t d u r i n g t h e n e -

gotiations the two had and when the proposal was publicly exposed the

d e a l f e l l t h r o u g h .

The Friends of Soviet Russia undertook some time ago a nation-wide

motion picture campaign to aid in obtaining American gold for the Soviet

G o v e r n m e n t t o h a n d l e u n d e r t h e g u i s e o f r e l i e f fu n d s . T h e s e p i c tu r e s

were taken in Russia and were manifestly propaganda films . Censors i n

v a r i o u s p a r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y s o c u t t h e f i l m s , h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e y w e r e a t

l a s t r e d u c e d t o n o t h i n g b u t l a n t e r n s l i d e s . Automobiles were furnished to

t a k e e x h i b i t o r s o f t h e s e s l i d e s f r o m o n e c i t y t o a n o t h e r i n o r d e r t o g e t a s

e x t e n s i v e p u b l i c i t y f o r t h e p r o p a g a n d a a s p o s s i b l e .

Early in 1922 a number of prom inent New York peo ple allowed thei r

names to be used as patrons and patr onesses of a "Russian Fair and Cos-

tume Ball," g iven by the American Co mmittee for Relief of Russian

C h i l d r e n , u n d e r t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t t h e y w e r e r e a l l y l e n d i n g a i d t o f a m i n e

s u f f e r e r s . They did not know that their efforts were being given to aid

in the perpetuation, thro ugh the force of the Red ;Army, of the present

regime in Russia before any thoug ht was given to the starving children .

T h e n a m e s o f s o m e o f t h e m o s t p r o m i n e n t w r i t e r s , a r t i s t s a n d s o m e s o c i e t y

women misled by plausible appearances, were sandwiched in with the

[ 1 5 2 ]




names of Scott Nearing, Charlie Chaplin and Constance and Norma Talmadge .

In connection with the efforts to disseminate Communist propaganda

by means of public amusement -should be mentioned renewed activity on

the part of the Communists to capture the youth of the world for Com-

m u n i s m . In a circular "about the session of the Bureau of the Communist

Youth International, " marked "strictly confidential!" found in the mass

of documents captured by the M ichigan State authorities when they raided

the illegal Communist convention at Bridgman, the Executive Committee of

the Communist Youth International in Moscow gave specific instructions

t h a t t h e C o m m u n i s t s o f a l l t h e c o u n t r i e s o f t h e g l o b e m u s t m a k e a s p e c i a l

d r i v e t o g e t a t t h e y o u n g c h i l d r e n w h o a r e g a t h e r e d i n s u c h o r g a n i z a t i o n s

as the Catholic youth unions, the Y . M . C . A . organizations and the Boy

S c o u t s . This document was in German .

In passing, it should be mentione d that the Bridgman raid was the

greatest blow sustained by the Communist party of America, and therefore

b y a l l r a d i c a l s , i n t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . T h e M i c h i g a n a u t h o r -

i t i e s c a u g h t s e v e n t e e n o f t h e s e m e n a c t u a l l y c o n s p i r i n g ; to overthrow the

U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t b y f o r c e , f o u n d t h e r e c o r d s o f e v e r y d e l e g a t e t o

t h e c o n v e n t i o n , t h e f i n a n c i a l s t a t e m e n t s o f t h e p a r t y , " s u c k e r l i s t s " o f m a n y

c i t i e s , w r i t t e n i n s t r u c t i o n s t o t h e C o m m u n i s t s f r o m t h e d i r e c t i n g c i r c l e i n

Moscow of which Lenin and Trotsky are the active principals, and almost

c o u n t l e s s d o c u m e n t s w h i c h p r o v e t h e c o n s p i r a c y a n d t h e g u i l t o f e v e r y p e r -

s o n i n a t t e n d a n c e .

T h e d o c u m e n t p e r t a i n i n g t o c a p t u r i n g t h e y o u t h o f t h e ; world for

C o m m u n i s m c o n f e s s e s t h a t t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f y o u n g s t e r s c o n s t i t u t e t h e

"greatest obstacle to the development of Communist youth organizations,"

a n d s o s h o u l d s e r v e t o k e e p l o y a l c i t i z e n s o f a l l c o u n t r i e s f i r m l y b e h i n d

s u c h b o d i e s . I n o n e p a r t o f t h i s c i r c u l a r i t s a y s :

"There are four big groups of such unions [referring to organi za-

tions which `count big masses of young workers among their members ' and

which must be combated `with great energy']

"1 .-The Catholic youth unions (mainly in Latin countries and their

c o l o n i e s ) . 0

"2 .-The Protestant youth unions ( . . . in Central Europe and

S c a n d i n a v i a ) .

"3 .-The Young Men's Christian Association (in the Anglo-Saxon coun-

t r i e s ) .

"4.-The Boy Scouts . "

T h e f u l l t e x t o f t h i s c i r c u l a r , i n t e n d e d a s a g u i d e b o o k , o r h a n d - b o o k

to be used by those bent on debauching the youth of the world with

Communism, runs to upwards of ten thousand words . W i t h t h e s t r i c t c o n -

fidence enjoined by the Communist organization issuing it broken by the

o f f i c i a l s b e n t u p o n t h e e n f o r c e m e n t o f t h e l a w , t h i s d o c u m e n t n o w c o n s t i t u t e s

a challenge to loyal parents and Americans of maturity to lend aid and

s u p p o r t t o e v e r y m o v e t h a t s t r e n g t h e n s t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f y o u t h w h o s e

[ 1 5 3 )



REDS IN AMERICA

influence among young workers is so great that the world-wide Communist

o r g a n i z a t i o n f e a r s t h e m a n d m u s t o u t l i n e a c a m p a i g n o f b a t t l e t o a l i e n a t e

t h e m f r o m i d e a s o f r e l i g i o n a n d p a t r i o t i s m .

[ 1 5 4 1



CHAPTER TEN

ARMY, NAVY, AND THE GOVERNMENT

In the conspiracy to overthrow the Government of the United States

by "armed insurrection" the Communist party of America, coached specifi-

cally by the Communist In ternational of Moscow, aims first to undermine

t h e m i l i t a r y f o r c e o f t h i s c o u n t r y , i n c l u d i n g A r m y , N a v y a n d l o c a l p o l i c e

o r g a n i z a t i o n s . T h e h a n d l i n g o f t h e l o c a l s i t u a t i o n s i s l e f t - t o t h e C o m m u n i s t s

of the various cities, but the question of the Army and Navy is squarely

b e f o r e t h e n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n . The illegal Bridgman convention was 'to

have considered this feature of the Communist work, but as the conspira-

t o r s w e r e r u d e l y i n t e r r u p t e d b y t h e M i c h i g a n a u t h o r i t i e s t h e y d i d n o t g e t

t o t h i s p a r t o f t h e c o n v e n t i o n p r o g r a m . However, certain docume nts found

b y t h e a u t h o r i t i e s a f t e r t h e r a i d s h o w p l a i n l y w h a t t h e p l a n s w e r e .

I t s h o u l d b e m e n t i o n e d h e r e t h a t t h e c e l e b r a t e d B o s t o n p o l i c e s t r i k e ,

before the Communis t party of America was organized, was a part of the

Communist movement in this country . It was engineered by the Left Wing

of the Socialists, which had seceded from the Socialist party and was

awaiting the coming of organized Communism to the United States . These

Left Wing Socialist s, who later joined the Communi st party, boasted of

t h e i r s u c c e s s i n p r e c i p i t a t i n g t h e p o l i c e s t r i k e a n d t h e y w e r e o f f i c i a l l y c r e d i t e d

with this manifestation of their strength both at Moscow and by the Com-

munist party of America, when the question of amalgamation came up .

The incident has been cited more than once by the Communists as evidence

of the ease with which the police can be handled when the great gen eral

s t r i k e c o m e s w h i c h i s t o r e s u l t i n t h e o v e r t h r o w o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t .

T w o d i s t i n c t l i n e s o f a t t a c k , b a s e d u p o n t h e s u c c e s s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

organization in Russia when the Russian G overnment was overthrown,

are being used in the Army and Navy of the United States . These lines

of attack were dictated by the Moscow officials to be put in practice in

t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . The orders, issued from Moscow, are on record . T h e y

are subtle, as are all the metho ds of the Communists when subtlety is

n e c e s s a r y , b u t t h e p l a n s a n d t h e w o r k i n g o u t ' o f t h e p r o g r a m a r e k n o w n t o

the high officials in the Army and Navy department s of the Government .

First, all ideas of pacifism are to be encouraged . This includes

t h e u s e o f c i v i l o r g a n i z a t i o n s d e v o t e d t o p a c i f i s m , d i s a r m a m e n t , " n o m o r e

w a r " d a y s , a n d a n y m o v e m e n t w h i c h w i l l t e n d t o r e d u c e t h e m i l i t a r y f o r c e s

i n s i z e a n d a b i l i t y . In all such civil organizations the Communists are

interested and in many of them they appear as members, sometimes under

t h e d i s g u i s e o f r e p u t a b l e c i t i z e n s , i n o t h e r s o p e n l y a s r e v o l u t i o n a r y w o r k e r s .

[1551



REDS IN AMERICA

This is aided by propaganda, printed and circulated by word of mouth by

Communists within the ranks of the Army and N avy, full of references to

the "horrors" and "cruelty" of war, with many citations, some real and

o t h e r s i m a g i n a r y , o f h a r d s h i p s s u f f e r e d b y s o l d i e r s . The life led by the

o f f i c e r s i s a l w a y s p i c t u r e d a s o n e o f e a s e a n d l u x u r y , w h i l e t h e r a n k s a r e

d r i v e n t o a d o g ' s l i f e b y t h e s e o f f i c e r s , s o f a l s e l y p a i n t e d .

The second method is more difficult and more subtle, involving . t h e

enlistment of men in Army and Navy for the creation of nuclei of Com-

m u n i s m . G r e a t c a r e i s u s e d i n s e l e c t i n g t h e m e n f o r t h e s e i m p o r t a n t p o s t s

f o r t h e d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f d i s l o y a l a n d t r e a s o n o u s i d e a s a n d t h e o r i e s , f o r t h e

work must be handled with the greatest f i n e s s e . The duty of these men is

t o m a k e c o n v e r t s t o t h e c a u s e o f C o m m u n i s m w i t h i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e s o l d i e r s

a n d s a i l o r s , s o t h a t w h e n t h e g r e a t o c c a s i o n c o m e s t h e m e n w i l l r e v o l t b y

c o m p a n i e s , b a t t a l i o n s a n d r e g i m e n t s , a s t h e y d i d i n R u s s i a . The !example

o f R u s s i a i s a l w a y s c i t e d a s t o w h a t m a y b e a c c o m p l i s h e d i f t h e p r e l i m i n a r y

w o r k i s w e l l d o n e b y t h e m e n t o w h o m i t h a s b e e n e n t r u s t e d .

The Secretaries of War and Navy, in the cabinet of the Presi dent of

the United States, are aware of the efforts which are being made by the

Communists to undermin e the fighting forces of the nation and to make

t h e m e i t h e r r e a d y t o t u r n t h e i r w e a p o n s o n t h e i r o f f i c e r s o r t o d i s i n t e g r a t e

i n t h e f a c e o f d a n g e r . Both of these tactics were employed by the Com-

m u n i s t s i n d e s t r o y i n g t h e R u s s i a n a r m y a n d n a v y a s w e a p o n s o f . t h e G o v e r n -

ment, and with that experience in mind and always kept in the thoughts

o f w h o m e v e r c a n b e f o u n d t o l i s t e n , t h e C o m m u n i s t s a r e p a t i e n t l y . b u t

p e r s i s t e n t l y w o r k i n g w i t h i n t h e f o r c e s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . Secretary of

W a r J o h n W . Weeks, in 1922, after pointi ng out tha t army trai ning has

always been conducted with a view to "teaching loyalty, l ove of country

a n d a s p i r i t o f s a c r i f i c e , " s a i d :

"The War Department has been aware that the Communist program ha s

stressed the breeding of disloyalty among the Army and Navy personnel

a s w e l l a s a m o n g c i t i z e n s a t l a r g e . Though all opposition to the military

e s t a b l i s h m e n t i s n o t o c c a s i o n e d b y s u c h i n f l u e n c e s , u n d o u b t e d l y m a n y l o y a l

A m e r i c a n s h a v e l e n t t h e i r s u p p o r t t o m o v e m e n t s i n s p i r e d b y r a d i c a l o r g a n -

i z e r s . "

I n v i e w o f t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e N e a r E a s t a t p r e s e n t , i t i s i n t e r e s t i n g

t o n o t e t h a t s e c r e t i n s t r u c t i o n s w e r e s e n t o u t e a r l y i n 1 9 2 2 b y t h e B u r e a u o f

We s t e r n E u r o p e a n S e c r e t a r i a t o f P r o p a g a n d a u n d e r i n s t r u c t i o n s o f t h e

Third Communist International . The United States is subordinate to this

western European bureau, and the instructions were received by the Com-

m u n i s t p a r t y t o b e u s e d h e r e s u b s t i t u t i n g t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s f o r E n g l a n d o r

France where the names of those countries were used . These secret in .

s t r u c t i o n s w e r e l a r g e l y d e v o t e d t o w o r k .in the Army and Navy establish-

ments of all "capitalist" countries, because although Russia has a well .

t r a i n e d , w e l l - e q u i p p e d , w e l l - c l o t h e d a n d w e l l - f e d - R e d A r m y o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y

a million men, the Communist parties of other countries "possess but a

t r i f l i n g n u m b e r o f w e a p o n s , " s o r e a d t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s , a n d " o n e m u s t c o m e

1156]



ARMY, NAVY AND THE GOVERNMENT

t o t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e m i l i t a r y o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r -

n a t i o n a l l a c k s t h e f o r c e s w h i c h i t c o u l d l e a d t o a d e c i s i v e b a t t l e w i t h

c a p i t a l i s m , w i t h o u t w h i c h , o f c o u r s e , i t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o o b t a i n a v i c t o r y

o v e r c a p i t a l , a n d t h e W o r l d - W i d e S o v i e t R e p u b l i c . " T h e s e c r e t i n s t r u c t i o n s

c o n t i n u e :

" S u c h a c o n d i t i o n o f a f f a i r s h a s l o n g s i n c e p r o m p t e d - t h e n e c e s s i t y

o f d e v o t i n g a t t e n t i o n t o t h e a r m y a n d n a v y o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t i cS t a t e s , a n d

b y i n c r e a s e d a n d i n t e n s e w o r k u t i l i z i n g t h e e x p e r i e n c eo f , the decomposi-

tion of the Russian White Guard Army,t o a t t a i n s u c h a c o n d i t i o n o f

a f f a i r s t h a t i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t i c a r m i e s t h e r e would be Red sec-

t i o n s w h i c h w o u l d d e - c o m p o s e t h e A r m y a s a w h o l e a n d t u r n t h e i r b a y o n e t s

a g a i n s t t h e c a p i t a l i s t i c c l a s s . T h i s w a s c o n s i d e r e d b y b o t h t h e S e c o n d a n d

T h i r d C o n g r e s s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l i n c o m p i l i n gt h e t h e s i s o n

p r o p a g a n d a a n d w o r k , b u t u n f o r t u n a t e l y t h e w o r k i n t h i s r e s p e c t g a v e a b s o -

l u t e l y n o r e s u l t s . T h i s m u s t n o t s t o p t h e a c t i v e C o m m u n i s t f o r c e s f r o m c o n -

t i n u i n g t h e w o r k c o m m e n c e d i n t h i s r e g i o n . B u t , t o t h e c o n t r a r y , p a r t i c u -

l a r l y n o w , t h e p h a n t o m o f i m p e n d i n g c a p i t a l i s t i c w a r si s h o v e r i n g b e f o r e

t h e w o r l d a n d t h e a r m i e s a n d n a v i e s o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t i c S t a t e s , m a n n e d b y

c o m p u l s o r y , o b l i g a t o r y , o r v o l u n t a r y e n l i s t m e n t a r e a l m o s t e n t i r e l yc o n s i s t -

i n g o f t h e m o s t a n t i - m i l i t a r i s t i c y o u t h s i n c l i n e d t o adopt the Communistic

i d e a .

" T h e w o r k a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n i n t h i s s e c t i o n must be placed at the

h e a d o f a l l t h e f u t u r e w o r k o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l and its mem-

b e r s , a n d a l l i t s s t r e n g t h a n d m e a n s m u s t b e d e v o t e d t o i t .

" T h e p r i n c i p a l a t t e n t i o n i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e must be devoted to the

p e r s o n n e l o f t h e N a v y , w h e r e t h e s o i l i s p a r t i c u l a r l y f e r t i l e f o r a c t i v e

C o m m u n i s t p r o p a g a n d a a n d w o r k , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e E n g l i s h and French

n a v i e s . I t i s n e c e s s a r y t o w o r k u n d e r t h e f o l l o w i n g g e n e r a l c o n d i t i o n s :

" 1 . - A l l s a i l o r s , b y t h e m a n n e r a n d n a t u r e o f t h e i rl i v e s , a r e d e v o i d

o f n a t i o n a l i s t i d e o l o g y , a n d t h e y , a s a m a t t e r o f f a c t , a r ei n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t s .

"2. - T h e c o n d i t i o n s o f s e r v i c e o f s a i l o r s o n s u b m a r i n e s , c r u i s e r s a n d

i n g e n e r a l o n s h i p s w h i c h m a k e d i s t a n t t r i p s a r e e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t ; t h e y

e n j o y v e r y l i t t l e r e s t , t h e i r m a i n t e n a n c e i s v e r y u n s a t i s f a c t o r y , a n d t h e

s e r v i c e i s v e r y d a n g e r o u s t o l i f e .

"3 . - T h e w a r d i d n o t b r i n g t o s a i l o r s t h e m o r a l s a t i s f a c t i o n a n d p e a c e

w h i c h t h e y w e r e e x p e c t i n g , b u t t o t h e c o n t r a r y , i t i s b r i n g i n g o n t h e c o m i n g

m o n s t r o u s w a r o n t h e s e a s .

"In the final summary one shoul d not forget that s a i l o r s a r e l e a s t

o f a l l s u b j e c t t o s u b o r d i n a t i o n a n d are very much inclined to insub-

o r d i n a t i o n a n d d i s o r d e r s . In this respect the example of the Great

O c t o b e r R e v o l u t i o n [ B o l s h e v i s t ] where an honorable part was played by

the Kronstadt and Baltic Fleets, and the German R e v o l u t i o n , w h e r e t h e

p r i n c i p a l p a r t i c i p a n t s w e r e s a i l o r s , a r e c o n v i n c i n g f a c t s . On the basis

o f a l l t h i s t h e B u r e a u a n d t h e R u s s i a n b r a n c h e s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s

m u s t s t r i v e t o c r e a t e i n a l l t h e p r i n c i p a l p o r t s s p e c i a l n u c l e i o f o r g a n i z e r s

a n d a g i t a t o r s w h o m u s t s t r i v e w i t h a l l t h e i r e f f o r t s t o g e t i n t o c o n t a c t w i t h

(1571



REDS IN AMERICA

the personnel of naval vessels, to organize among them nuclei with their

own people in them, and to d i s t r i b u t e e n e r g e t i c a l l y s p e c i a l l i t e r a t u r e . Th e

n u c l e i o n t h e s h i p s m u s t m a i n t a i n a p e r m a n e n t c o n t a c t i n a c c o r d a n c e

with the movements of the ships with the port organizations of the Com-

munist party and the latter must regularly maintain the contact among

themselves and inform one another of the movement of ships, countersigns

a n d c o n d i t i o n s o f e n t r y . T h e p o r t n u c l e i m u s t n o t l i m i t t h e m s e l v e s t o t h e

e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f c o n t a c t a n d t h e t r a n s m i t t a l o f l i t e r a t u r e , b u t m u s t s t r i v e

also to the bringing together of the crews of ships and the proletarian

p o p u l a t i o n o f t h e p o r t s a n d t o t h e g e n e r a l i z i n g o f t h e i r i d e o l o g y , r e m e m b e r -

i n g a l w a y s t h a t t h e f i s h e r m e n p r i n c i p a l l y a r e t h e s o u r c e f o r t h e s u p p l y i n g

o f t h e p e r s o n n e l o f t h e f l e e t a n d t h a t t h e i r i n f l u e n c e c a n r e f l e c t v e r y m u c h

o n t h e a t t i t u d e o f t h e s a i l o r s n o w a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y d u r i n g p o s s i b l e m o b i l i z a -

t i o n s. Simultaneously the work already commenced in the occupied terri-

tory (on the Rhine, Upper Silesia and Constantinople) among the terri-

t o r i a l a r m i e s o f t h e E n t e n t e m u s t c o n t i n u e t o g r o w a n d t o s p r e a d i n t o t h e

d e t a c h m e n t s a l r e a d y i n E n g l a n d , F r a n c e , e t c . , p r o p e r .

" A t t h e p r e s e n t m o m e n t i t m u s t b e a r i n m i n d t h e y o u t h s w h i c h a r e

e n t e r i n g t h e A r m y o n t h e l a t e s t d r a f t s , a m o n g w h o m t h e r e i s a p a r t i c u l a r l y

f a v o r a b l e s o i l f o r Communist agitation and the propaganda o f pacifist

i d e a s . I n t h i s r e s p e c t i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o g i v e t h e F r e n c h , G e r m a n a n d E n g l i s h

C o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s f u l l i n i t i a t i v e i n t h e s e n s e o f d e t e r m i n i n g t h e t a c t i c s a n d

program of agitation obligating them to conform their work to local con-

d i t i o n s . W i t h t h i s i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o p o i n t o u t t h a t t h e i r a g i t a t o r s s h o u l d

s t r i v e t o u t i l i z e a s o f t e n a s p o s s i b l e t h e t h o u s a n d a n d o n e l i t t l e d e t a i l s o f

t h e d a i l y l i f e o f t h e s o l d i e r i n o r d e r t o u n d e r m i n e his obedience to the

o f i c e r s , t h e b o u r g e o i s d i s c i p l i n e a n d h i s d u t i e s i n d e f e n d i n g t h e b o u r g e o i s

peace . Along with this there must be conducted on a broad scale a n i n -

c r e a s e d propag anda o f p a c i f i s t i d e a s , i d e a s o f disarmament a n d t o p r o v e

t h a t i t i s o n l y f o r t h e i r o w n b e n e f i t t h a t t h e c a p i t a l i s t s a n d b o u r g e o i s i e

create big armies and are pre paring for their own game new conflicts of

peoples when they wish to live in peace .

" T h e g e n e r a l s l o g a n : O n l y i f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t be m a s t e r i n e v e r y c o u n t r y

w i l l t h e c a u s e f o r n e w c o n f l i c t s d i s a p p e a r . "

This secret document was signed by Zinoviev, chairman of the Central

C o m m i t t e e o f t h e T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l ; K a t a y a m a , t h e J a p a n e s e C o m m u n i s t

w h o w a s i n c h a r g e o f t h e p r o p a g a n d a s e c t i o n i n M o s c o w ; and Arngold,

t h e s e c r e t a r y . It was dated in Mo scow in Decem ber, 1921, and the official

c o p y r e a c h e d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s b y c o u r i e r e a r l y i n 1 9 2 2 . T h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y o f A m e r i c a , o b e d i e n t t o t h e " i r o n d i s c i p l i n e " o f t h e T h i r d I n t e r n a -

t i o n a l o f M o s c o w , b e c a m e a c t i v e a l o n g t h e l i n e s l a i d o u t i n t h e s e c r e t i n s t r u c -

t i o n s . T h e r e s u l t s w e r e s o o n a p p a r e n t t o t h e o f f i c e r s o f t h e A r m y a n d N a v y

a n d i n c o u r s e o f t i m e t h e h i g h e r o f f i c e r s o f b o t h m i l i t a r y e s t a b l i s h m e n t s

recognized the symptoms . T h e n i t w a s t h a t S e c r e t a r y W e e k s m a d e t h e s t a t e -

ment quoted above, and Secretary of the Na vy Denby issued the following

o r d e r s t o t h e e n t i r e s e r v i c e :

"1 .M y a t t e n t i o n h a s b e e n c a l l e d t o t h e f a c t t h a t t h e r e i s a s i n i s t e r

[ 1 5 8 1




p r o p a g a n d a b y s o c i e t i e s h a v i n g t h e i r o r i g i n i n f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s t o u n d e r -

mine the morale of the Navy and to insinuate into its personnel elements

o f d i s l o y a l t y a n d d i s o r d e r .

"2 . I have the most profound confidence in the loyalty and devotion

of commissioned and enlisted men of the United States naval forces . I

have no fear that men in any considerable number may at any time, any-

w h e r e , b e s e d u c e d f r o m t h e i r a l l e g i a n c e t o t h e i r c o u n t r y ' s f l a g . I t i s n o t ,

therefore, through any thought or suggestion that the United States Navy

i s i n t h e s l i g h t e s t d a n g e r f r o m t h i s p r o p a g a n d a t h a t I i s s u e t h i s w a r n i n g .

"3 . I fear only that some few of our men may be induced innocently

a t f i r s t , w h e n o n s h o r e , t o j o i n s o c i e t i e s h a v i n g f o r t h e i r p u r p o s e t h e a d -

vancement of ideas contrary to our form of government, or which may re-

s u l t i n l a w l e s s n e s s . T h e r e a r e , o f c o u r s e , i n a p e r s o n n e l a s l a r g e a s t h a t

o f t h e N a v y , s o m e d i s c o n t e n t e d m e n , a n d i n t h e h e a r t s o f d i s c o n t e n t e d m e n

f a l s e d o c t r i n e s f i n d r e a d y a c c e p t a n c e .

"4 . I am trying by this warning to save a few individuals who might

o t h e r w i s e a f f i l i a t e t h e m s e l v e s w i t h s o c i e t i e s t e a c h i n g t h o s e t h i n g s w h i c h

cannot be tolerated in an organization sworn to uphold the constitution

o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d t o o b e y a l l l a w f u l o r d e r s . S h o u l d t h e r e b e a n y

s u c h m e n i n t h e N a v y t o d a y , i t i s a l m o s t c e r t a i n t h a t i f t h e y d o n o t d i s e n -

t a n g l e t h e m s e l v e s f r o m a f f i l i a t i o n w i t h s u c h o r g a n i z a t i o n s , t h e y w i l l u l t i -

m a t e l y b e d e t e c t e d .

"5 .I am trying to lessen the number of prisoners in naval prisons .

I c o u l d n o t h o p e t o s h o w l e n i e n c y , h o w e v e r , t o a n y m a n w h o , i n c o m b i n a t i o n ,

or alone, in violation of his oath, committe d acts of disloyalty to his

c o u n t r y .

"6 . Because I have been one of you I know that all men have their

periods of unhappiness-of imagined ill-treatme nt, homesickness and dis-

c o n t e n t .Such periods come to civilians as well as to men in the naval

s e r v i c e . T h e y a r e a p a r t o f l i f e. We must not let them lead us into s uch

f o l l y a s d e s e r t i o n o r r e s i s t a n c e t o l a w f u l a u t h o r i t y n o r p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t o

revolt by word or deed against a form of government that has proven in

, t h e m a i n a g o v e r n m e n t o f l i b e r t y a n d j u s t i c e .

"7 . T h e w o r l d i s f u l l o f f a l s e t h o u g h t t o d a y . I w o u l d s a v e t h a t s e r -

v i c e o f w h i c h o u r c o u n t r y i s s o p r o u d , a n d o f w h i c h I h a p p e n t o b e a t t h e

m o m e n t t h e h e a d , f r o m t h e h u r t f u l i n f l u e n c e o f i m p r o p e r t h e o r i e s o f g o v e r n -

m e n t , o r f a l s e d r e a m s o f a b e t t e r S t a t e t o b e c r e a t e d b y a n a r c h y a n d v i o l e n c e .

I would go far to save any one man from the consequences of misdeeds,

whether such consequences take the form of physical punishment or only

o f t h e d e e p r e m o r s e w h i c h m u s t e v e r f o l l o w h i m t h r o u g h ' l i f e . So I appeal

t o t h e o f f i c e r s a n d m e n o f t h e s e r v i c e t o b e e v e r i n a l e r t i n g u a r d i n g t h e m -

selves ashore and afloat from the preaching of sovietism, communism and

anarchy

[ 1 5 9 1

( S i g n e d ) " E d w i n D e n b y

"Secretary of the Navy . "



REDS IN AMERICA

It was only three months after the secret instructions from Moscow

quoted above arrived in the United States, brought by Dr . Leo S . R e i c h e l ,

member of the Communist party and of the Central Bureau of the Society

f o r T e c h n i c a l A i d t o S o v i e t R u s s i a , a n d t h e r e f o r e a c o u r i e r t o b e t r u s t e d

with so important a document, that Secretary Denby found it necessary to

issue his warning, and Secretary Weeks to issue his statement regarding

radicalism in the Army . I t i s e a s y t o r e a d b e t w e e n t h e l i n e s t h a t t h e s e i n -

structions had been put into action promptly by the Communists and that

t h e e f f e c t h a d a l r e a d y b e e n f e l t i n t h e N a v y . L o y a l N a v y o f f i c i a l s h a v e b e e n

particularly watchful since the captain of an American ship in Pacific

w a t e r s a d o p t e d t h e S o v i e t i d e a o f p e r m i t t i n g t h e c r e w t o d e c i d e w h a t p o r t

to make for a holiday ashore . That occurred but a few years ago and the

c a p t a i n w a s q u i c k l y r e l i e v e d o f h i s r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s a t t h a t p o s t .

M i l i t a r y a u t h o r i t i e s a r e l o a t h t o s p e a k o f s u d d e n d i s m i s s a l s f r o m t h e

service in recent months of men who were acting as Communist agents in

the ranks of the Army and Navy . I t w a s t h o u g h t b e s t t o d i s m i s s t h e m w i t h -

o u t " m a k i n g a n o i s e a b o u t i t " i n s t e a d o f c o u r t - m a r t i a l i n g t h e m e n a n d s e n -

tencing them to prison which would be furnishing material for the Com-

m u n i s t s i n s t i r r i n g u p o t h e r s o l d i e r s a n d s a i l o r s t o r e s e n t m e n t a n d r e b e l l i o n .

By skilfully used propaganda and personal intercourse the Communists

succeeded in planting the seeds of Communism in the minds of many of the

American soldiers who saw service in Russia during the war and after the

armistice on the German frontier and in Germany . Officers were shocked

a t t h e C o m m u n i s t i c i d e a s i n o c u l a t e d i n t h e m i n d s o f t r o o p s w h o h a d s e r v e d

i n s u c h o r g a n i z a t i o n s o n t h e i r r e t u r n t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . I t i s n o t b e l i e v e d

p o s s i b l e t h a t a l l s u c h s e e d s h a v e b e e n e x t e r m i n a t e d , b u t m u c h h a s b e e n d o n e

t o w a r d w i p i n g o u t t h e e v i l i n b o t h b r a n c h e s o f t h e m i l i t a r y e s t a b l i s h m e n t .

All of which has made the Communists more de termined to push their work

w i t h g r e a t e r v i g o r .

Whenever police or soldiers are called out on strike duty the Com-

m u n i s t s b e c o m e v e r y a c t i v e i n t r y i n g t o a l i e n a t e t h e m f r o m t h e i r d u t y . C l e v e r

t a l k e r s a r e s e n t i n t o t h e s t r i k e d i s t r i c t t o t a l k w i t h s o l d i e r s a n d p o l i c e w h e n -

e v e r p o s s i b l e ; "under cover" men they are sometimes called, for they do

not let it be known that they are conne cted with the Communist party or

a n y r a d i c a l m o v e m e n t . They present their arguments, skilfully prepared,

s o l e l y w i t h t h e v i e w o f m a k i n g t h e s o l d i e r s f o r g e t t h e i r d u t y o r s y m p a t h i z e

w i t h t h e l a w v i o l a t o r s t o s u c h a n e x t e n t t h a t t h e y w i l l b e r e m i s s i n t h e i r

d u t y , a n d t h u s m o r a l e i s u n d e r m i n e d . T h e s e c a r e f u l l y s e l e c t e d m e n

n e v e r a p p e a r a m o n g t h e s t r i k e r s , n e v e r a d d r e s s s t r i k e m e e t i n g s , a n d t o a l l

a p p e a r a n c e s t h e y a r e n o t p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e s t r i k e e x c e p t f r o m

a humanitarian point of view .

Another group of Communist workers are also on duty at all strikes

w h e r e s o l d i e r s a r e s e n t t o k e e p t h e p e a c e . T h i s s e c o n d g r o u p d e v o t e s i t s e l f

t o k e e p i n g t h e s t r i k e r s a g i t a t e d b y s p e e c h a n d c i r c u l a r s a n d p o s t e r s d i s t r i b -

uted among the strikers . T h e y a d d r e s s s e c r e t o r o p e n m e e t i n g s o f t h e

s t r i k e r s , u r g i n g t h e m t o s t a n d f i r m i n t h e i r h o s t i l i t y t o w a r d t h e e m p l o y e r s

a n d i n g e n e r a l a d d i n g f u e l t o t h e f i r e b y c l a s s h a t r e d . A third group do-

[ 1 6 0 1



Stop Riot and Murder!

Worker .. men and women!

The Communist Party up-i.- o a a v e r y s e r i o u s i s s u e .

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D o n o t s h o o t y o u r b r o t h e r s , t h e r a i l w a y a n d m i n e a l e i k e r s '

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etrikeheeakera and be rdh e l p t h e p r o f i t e e r s l a k e t h e

the helpless women end ehie

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workers.

Gnnal

Leaflets distributed by t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e Committee of t h e Communist

p a r t y of America . Labor disturbances or conflicts of any kind always bring outs i m i l a r c i r c u l a r s s u i t e d t o t h e o c c a s i o n . I n t h e c e n t e r , a n a p p e a l t o t h e m e m b e r s o f

t h e m i l i t i a o n g u a r d o v e r p r o p e r t y d u r i n g t h e c o a l s t r i k e i n P e n n s y l v a n i a




v o t e s i t s e l f e n t i r e l y t o t h e s o l d i e r s , p l a c i n g i n t h e i r h a n d s a p p e a l s p r i n t e d

b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s u r g i n g t h e m n o t t o o p p o s e t h e s t r i k e r s . One such ap-

p e a l r e a d s :

" S O L D I E R S ! S O L D I E R S !

" D o n o t s h o o t y o u r b r o t h e r s , t h e r a i l w a y a n d m i n e w o r k e r s !

" T h e y a r e n o t y o u r e n e m i e s ! T o d a y t h e y a r e f i g h t i n g i n o r d e r t o o b -

t a i n a s c r a p o f b r e a d f o r t h e i r f a m i l i e s . T h e y a r e u s e f u l c i t i z e n s ; w o r k e r s

w h o h a v e p r o d u c e d m i l l i o n s o f d o l l a r s ' w o r t h o f w e a l t h f o r t h e w a r p r o f i -

t e e r s . Many of them fought on Flanders Field . They are now trying to

c o l l e c t s o m e o f t h a t d e m o c r a c y a n d f r e e d o m t h e y w e r e p r o m i s e d , j u s t t h e

s a m e a s t h o u s a n d s o f e x - s e r v i c e m e n a r e f i g h t i n g f o r t h e b o n u s t h a t w a r

p r o f i t e e r s a r e o p p o s i n g b e c a u s e i t w o u l d c o m p e l t h e m t o d i s g o r g e s o m e o f

t h e l o o t s t o l e n f r o m t h e w o r k e r s o f t h i s c o u n t r y .

" S o l d i e r s ! W h e t h e r y o u a r e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s A r m y o r t h e m i l i t i a s

o f t h e v a r i o u s S t a t e s , d o n o t s h o o t a t t h e s t r i k e r s ! Y o u d i d n o t e n l i s t t o

e n g a g e i n t h e i n f a m o u s o c c u p a t i o n o f s t r i k e - b r e a k e r s and scab herders .

R e f u s e t o d o i t ! D o n o t h e l p t h e p r o f i t e e r s t a k e t h e l a s t c r u m b f r o m t h e

m o u t h s o f t h e h e l p l e s s w o m e n a n d c h i l d r e n o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s .

" R e m e m b e r t h i s , t h e w o r k e r s a r e n e v e r y o u r e n e m i e s !

" S o o n y o u m a y b e i n t h e i r r a n k s a n d y o u w o u l d n o t w a n t t o b e c r u s h e d

b y a r m e d f o r c e !

" P e r h a p s e v e n n o w , i n s o m e o t h e r p a r t o f t h e c o u n t r y , y o u r f a t h e r o r

y o u r b r o t h e r m a y b e i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e s t r i k e r s ! W o u l d y o u w a n t t h e m

t o b e m u r d e r e d b e c a u s e t h e y a s k a m e r e e x i s t e n c e ?

" I t i s n o t t r e a s o n t o r e f u s e t o b e c o m e a n a s s a s s i n o f t h e w o r k e r s !

" C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a ,

" J . D a vi s ,


I n T r u t h , a c o m m u n i s t p a p e r , o f A u g u s t 4 , 1 9 2 2 , i s f o u n d a n a r t i c l e

w r i t t e n w i t h t h e a p p r o v a l o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y o f A m e r i c a , d e v o t e d t o t h e n e e d o f c o n s t a n t l y s t i r r i n g u p t r o u b l e

a n d i n e f f o r t s t o m a k e e v e r y o n e d i s s a t i s f i e d w i t h t h e e x i s t i n g s t a t e o f

a f f a i r s . I n t h i s a r t i c l e a p p e a r s t h e f o l l o w i n g s e n t e n c e : " I n s o l d i e r s ' o r g a n -

i z a t i o n s t h e b o n u s i s s u e m a y b e i n j e c t e d t o a l i e n a t e t h e m f r o m t h e G o v e r n -

m e n t " . While the bonus question was before Congress the Communists

prepared to use the bonus issue for its own ends, whichever way the

q u e s t i o n w a s d e c i d e d . I f i t w e r e p a s s e d b y C o n g r e s s t h e C o m m u n i s t s w e r e

p r e p a r e d t o l a u n c h a n a t t a c k o n t h e g r a n t i n g o f a b o n u s on the grounds

t h a t i t w a s a m o v e b y c a p i t a l i s m t o add m o r e t a x e s t o t h e p o o r w o r k i n g m a n ;

i f d e f e a t e d i t w a s t o b e u s e d t o s h o w t h a t c a p i t a l i s m w a s r e f u s i n g t h e

s o l d i e r " h i s j u s t r e w a r d . "

I n a n o t h e r _ C o m m u n i s t p a p e r i s a n e d i t o r i a l d e c l a r i n g t h a t t h e d e s e r -

t i o n s f r o m t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s A r m y w e r e a t t h e r a t e o f " o n e e v e r y f o r t y

m i n u t e s . " T h i s e d i t o r i a l s a y s : " T h e d e s e r t e r s a r e t o b e c o n g r a t u l a t e d .

I t w o u l d h a v e b e e n b e t t e r s t i l l i f t h e y h a d s h o w n t h e s a m e i n t e l l i g e n c e

[ 1 6 1 1



REDS IN AMERICA

b e f o r e t h e y e v e r e n t e r e d t h e a r m y , b u t p e r h a p s i t i s j u s t a s w e l l t h a t t h e y

l e a r n e d t h e i r l e s s o n b y b i t t e r e x p e r i e n c e . They know now what jackasses

t h e y w e r e . T h e y w i l l n o t b e c a u g h t i n t h e t r a p a g a i n . "

Among former soldiers, men who served in the Army during t he Euro-

p e a n W a r a n d h a v e s i n c e b e e n d e m o b i l i z e d , t h e C o m m u n i s t s a r e w o r k i n g

hard, with many agents . The American Legion as a whole has loyally with-

stood the efforts to win them over to the cause of Communism, and the

organization is unalterably aligned against them . But it is true that

secretly the Communists have many representatives in the ranks of this

loyal organiz ation and the fight will have to be kept up continually to

p r e v e n t i n c r e a s e s . Kn o w i n g t h a t t h i s f i g h t i s w e l l - n i g h h o p e l e s s t h e

C o m m u n i s t s h a v e d e v o t e d t h e i r a t t e n t i o n m o r e p a r t i c u l a r l y t o t h e W o r l d W a r

Veterans, an organization which is Communistic in principles and which

i s o p e n l y s u p p o r t e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y . Indeed, among the docu-

ments seized at Bridgman were official reports of the World War Veterans

which showed a close working arrangement between the two bodies . I t i s

g e n e r a l l y a c c e p t e d t h a t t h e W o r l d W a r V e t e r a n s i s o n e o f t h e " l e g a l "

expressions of the Communist party .

T h e S o l d i e r - W o r k e r , of Butte, Montana, official organ of the World

War Veterans of Montana, is as Communistic as the official organs of the

Communist party of America and boasts of its connection with Communist

movements . It prints with pride a letter of commendation from the Sec-

retary of the "International of Former Combatants," in France . It sup-

p o r t s a l l a m n e s t y a n d p a c i f i s t m o v e m e n t s , a t t a c k s c a p i t a l i n e v e r y i s s u e ,

a n d i s a p a r t o f a n a t i o n a l g r o u p o f s i m i l a r p a p e r s b a c k i n g t h e W o r l d W a r

Veterans and the Workers' party of America preaching the same doctrine .

A s a n e x a m p l e o f t h e k i n d o f i n f o r m a t i o n c o n v e y e d i n t h e s e p a p e r s , t o t h e

exclusion of news of opposite character, three short items from a single

i s s u e a r e p r e s e n t e d h e r e w i t h :

" A r e p o r t f r o m H e l s i n g f o r s s t a t e d t h e F r e n c h b a t t l e s h i p C u r a c a o

w h i c h w a s t h e f l a g s h i p o f t h e E n g l i s h B a l t i c F l e e t , w i t h a b a s e a t H e l s i n g -

f o r s , h a s r e t u r n e d h o m e , a f t e r a m i n o r e x p l o s i o n w h i c h p r o d u c e d s o m e

d a m a g e . Our correspondent, however, learns that there is a report in

F i n n i s h m i l i t a r y c i r c l e s t o t h e e f f e c t t h a t t h e C a u s e f o r s e n d i n g t h e C u r a c a o

h o m e w a s n o t a n e x p l o s i o n b u t a m u t i n y a m o n g t h e c r e w o n b o a r d , w h o

refused to operate against the fleet of the Russian Workers' Republic of

Kronstadt . A s t h e m u t i n y t h r e a t e n e d t o s p r e a d t o o t h e r s h i p s , t h e b a t t l e s h i p

was sent home . "

" R e p o r t s f r o m T i l s i t a r e t h a t t h e c r e w o f t h e F r e n c h s q u a d r o n a t

L i b a u r a i s e d t h e R e d f l a g . The crews of the warships demanded of their

o f f i c e r s t o b e r e t u r n e d t o F r a n c e i m m e d i a t e l y . The French vessels were

immediately sent home and an English squadron steamed in to occupy their

p o s i t i o n s a t t h e p o r t o f L i b a u . "

" A c c o r d i n g t o a S o v i e t w i r e l e s s m e s s a g e , m e n t i o n e d i n Avanti o f M a y

4, General d'Anselme admitted in a conversation with representatives of

the Odessa Soviet that the Bolshevik propaganda had `demoralized' 60 per

c e n t o f h i s s o l d i e r s . "

[ 1 6 2 ]




N o t c o n t e n t w i t h u s i n g e v e r y p o s s i b l e e f f o r t t o d e m o r a l i z e t h e A r m y

a n d N a v y o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , t h e C o m m u n i s t s h a v e b e e n r e c r u i t i n g f o r a

R e d A r m y o f A m e r i c a . R e g u l a r r e c r u i t i n g o f f i c e r s a r e s e n t o u t w i t h l i t e r a -

t u r e , e n l i s t m e n t b l a n k s a n d p r o g r a m s f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f e n r o l l i n g men to

f i g h t i n t h e R e d a r m y i n t h i s c o u n t r y . T h i s w o r k , n a t u r a l l y , h a s t o b e k e p t

e n t i r e l y s e c r e t , a n d b e c a u s e o f t h a t f a c t p r a c t i c a l l y n o t h i n g has been

p r i n t e d o r k n o w n p u b l i c l y o f t h i s p a r t o f t h e m o v e m e n t . I t i s i m p o s s i b l e

t o s a y h o w f a r t h i s i l l e g a l m o v e m e n t h a s g o n e . B u t i t i s k n o w n t h a t t h e

Communists have discussed a certain l o c a t i o n i n a n E a s t e r n S t a t e a s a

s u i t a b l e s i t e f o r t h e g a t h e r i n g a n d h i d i n g o f a r m s a n d a m m u n i t i o n t o

h a v e r e a d y w h e n t h e t i m e c o m e s f o r t h e a r m e d i n s u r r e c t i o n .

While the American troops were occupying portions of Germany a f t e r

the armistice they were flooded with propaganda from Communist p a r t i e s

o f E u r o p e i f i t e n d e d t o i n c i t e t h e m t o i n s u r r e c t i o n a n d t o p l a n t t h e s e e d

o f C o m m u n i s m t o b e b r o u g h t b a c k t o t h e A r m y i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . O n e

such bit of propaganda, which was furnished by a former soldier, who

b r o u g h t i t b a c k w i t h h i m f r o m E u r o p e , s i g n e d b y t h e " C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f

G e r m a n y , " r e a d s a s f o l l o w s :

" A m e r i c a n s o l d i e r s , d o y o u k n o w w h y y o u a r e h e r e ?

"Thousands of miles across the sea are your homes, your friends,

y o u r j o b a n d y o u r f u t u r e l i f e . Y o u r f a m i l y i s w a i t i n g f o r y o u r r e t u r n ,

y o u r m o t h e r o r y o u r w i f e , o r m a y b e y o u r s w e e t h e a r t i s a n x i o u s l y w a i t i n g t o

become your wife .

"Why can't you g o back now?

" W h y d i d y o u c o m e h e r e , i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e ?

"Your motive was an honest one, an honorable one . You came to

E u r o p e t o r i s k y o u r l i f e f o r d e m o c r a c y , t o d e s t r o y t h e b e a s t o f m i l i t a r i s m ,

a n d m a k e t h e w o r l d a b e t t e r p l a c e t o l i v e i n . Y o u f o u g h t b r a v e l y a n d y o u

w o n . P e r h a p s t h e G e rm a n wo r k i n g p e o pl e c o ul d n o t h a ve ma d e t h ei r

r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h r o w n o f f t h e K a i s e r i f y o u h a d n o t d e l i v e r e d s u c h d e a d l y

b l o w s a t t h e K a i s e r ' s m i l i t a r y m a c h i n e . You never had anything against

t h e G e r m a n p e o p l e - o n l y a g a i n s t t h e m i l i t a r y c l i q u e . W e k n o w t h a t a n d

a p p r e c i a t e i t .

" Y o u h a v e a c c o m p l i s h e d y o u r o b j e c t . Now you are lying about camp

a n d w a i t i n g . You want to go home .

" Y o u a r e n o t h e r e t o h e l p u s c o m p l e t e o u r r e v o l u t i o n , b u t t o p r e v e n t

i t . Your Government and all of the Allied governments a r e s u p p o r t i n g

t h e s a m e s c o u n d r e l s w h o h e l p e d t h e K a i s e r t h r o u g h o u t t h e w a r - t h e E b e r t -

S c h e i d e m a n n G o v e r n m e n t . T h e r e a l G e r m a n r e v o l u t i o n i s t s , t h e w o r k i n g

c l a s s , a r e f i g h t i n g a g a i n s t t h e E b e r t - S c h e i d e m a n n G o v e r n m e n t , b e c a u s e t h e

Ebert-Scheidemann Government helped the Kaiser a n d w i l l a l w a y s f i g h t

a g a i n s t t h e r i g h t .

" Y e t y o u r G o v e r n m e n t i s r e c o g n i z i n g t h e m a n d d e a l i n g w i t h t h e m , a n d

d o i n g e v e r y t h i n g i t c a n a g a i n s t t h e r e a l G e r m a n r e v o l u t i o n i s t s , t h e S p a r t a -

c u s p e o p l e , a s t h e y a r e c a l l e d , w h o h a v e a l w a y s f o u g h t a g a i n s t t h e K a i s e r

a n d h a v e r o t t e d i n t h e K a i s e r ' s p r i s o n s a n d b e e n s h o t b y t h e K a i s e r ' s f i r i n g

s q u a d s d u r i n g t h e w a r .

[ 1 6 3 1



REDS I N AMERICA

"Your officers won't let you talk to the people around you for fear

t h a t y o u m a y l e a r n t h e f a c t s a b o u t t h e r e v o l u t i o n .

"They make you dril l five to six hours a day for fear that if you

have time to think you may figure out for yourself why you are here .

" Y o u a r e b e i n g k e p t i n E u r o p e t o p r e v e n t t h e r u l e o f t h e w o r k i n g

people .

"You know that the working people always g et the bad . e n d o f i t

f r o m t h e c a p i t a l i s t s . Some of the American boys who have been d emob-

ilized have gone back home to ask for their j obs again . T h e b o s s e s a r e

welcoming the men as `heroes' and the n giving them back their old jobs-

but paying them starvation wages, around a dollar and a half a day .

T h e l o n g e r t h e y k e e p y o u h e r e , t h e b e t t e r a b l e t h e y w i l l b e t o c h e a t y o u o u t

of a job or cheat you on low pay when you get back .

"You came to Europe for democracy, but you are being kept here

for the big bankers of Wall Street and of Paris and London and Berlin .

You are being kept here to prevent the German revolution from overthrow-

i n g t h e j u n k e r s a n d b a n k e r s w h o s u p p o r t e d t h e K a i s e r , a n d y o u m a y b e

kept here to shoot down French working-men who rebel for real liberty,

and you may be sent to England to fight there some more years as strike-

breakers against the Engli sh working-people who are now trying to get

t h e l i b e r t y t h e y f o u g h t s o l o n g a n d b r a v e l y f o r . O r , y o u m a y b e s e n t t o

I r e l a n d t o s h o o t t o d e a t h t h e n e w I r i s h R e p u b l i c .

"You came for democracy, but y o u are not being kept here for it . "

As a part of the drive conducted by the Commu nist party of America

a g a i n s t t h e A r m y a n d N a v y r e c r u i t i n g f o r t h e m i l i t a r y e s t a b l i s h m e n t s , t h e

p a r t y c i r c u l a t e d a l e t t e r s a i d t o h a v e b e e n w r i t t e n b y a p r i s o n e r i n A t l a n t a

penitentiary to Eugene V . D e b s , a f t e r h i s r e l e a s e . The name of the writer

i s n o t g i v e n a n d i t i s n o t k n o w n w h y h e i s i n p r i s o n , a l t h o u g h t h e c i r c u l a r

s a y s t h a t " i t i s f r o m a m a n w h o s e r v e d a t e r m o f y e a r s i n t h e N a v y a n d h a s

b e e n r e w a r d e d f o r h i s p a t r i o t i s m b y a l o n g p r i s o n s e n t e n c e ." The circular

a l s o s t a t e s t h a t " i t i s a f i n e b o u r g e o i s r e f o r m a t i o n t h e y g e t a t t h i s w a l l e d - i n -

i n f e r n o . " A f t e r q u o t i n g t h e l e t t e r i n f u l l t h e c i r c u l a r a d d s t w o p a r a g r a p h s

i n t e n d e d t o c h e c k e n l i s t m e n t s . They read :

"This man who served the best years of his life in the United States

Navy and is now in penitentiary warns young men not to be deceived by

the fraudulent and alluring advertisements posted on city billboards and

t o s t e e r c l e a r o f t h e N a v y i f t h e y d o n o t w i s h t o e n t e r d e l i b e r a t e l y u p o n a

period of slavery under tyrannical ru les after having signed away their

r i g h t s a s c i t i z e n s , i n c l u d i n g t h e r i g h t t o m a k e a c o m p l a i n t .

"The warning voice of the imprisoned marine whose eyes are now

o p e n e d a n d w h o w o u l d s a v e o t h e r y o u n g m e n f r o m s h a r i n g i n h i s l a m e n -

t a b l e e x p e r i e n c e i s w e l l w o r t h y o f s e r i o u s c o n s i d e r a t i o n . "

T h e l e t t e r f r o m t h e p r i s o n e r , w h i c h i t i s b o a s t e d w a s s m u g g l e d i l l e g a l l y

o u t o f t h e p r i s o n , i s f u l l o f t h e c o m p l a i n t s f r e q u e n t l y h e a r d i n A r m y p o s t s

and among enlisted men in the N avy who have been punished for infrac-

t i o n s o f r e g u l a t i o n s . It recites punishment s for offences which are known

t o e v e r y o n e w h o k n o w s a n y t h i n g a b o u t m i l i t a r y d i s c i p l i n e a n d t h e n e c e s s i t y

[ 1 6 4 ]




f o r i t . I t c o n t a i n s n o c h a r g e o f a n y t h i n g e x c e p t w h a t i s c a u s e d b y c h a f i n g

u n d e r d i s c i p l i n e a n d r e s e n t m e n t a t p u n i s h m e n t f o r v i o l a t i n g t h e r u l e s . O n e

p a r a g r a p h , h o w e v e r , s a y s :

" T h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e o p p r e s s e d w i l l b e w o n i n t i m e and then your

n a m e s h a l l b e a h o u s e h o l d w o r d t o t h e n e w g e n e r a t i o n . "

The Communists have planted their agents in Government c i r c l e s , i n

d e p a r t m e n t s i n W a s h i n g t o n , i n b u r e a u s i n o t h e r c i t i e s , w i t h t h e i n t e n t i o n

of organizing nuclei of Communism wherever p o s s i b l e a n d o f s e c u r i n g

i n f o r m a t i o n a s t o w h a t t h e G o v e r n m e n t i s d o i n g . O n e o f t h e p l e d g e s e x -

a c t e d o f C o m m u n i s t s , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h r e g u l a t i o n s a d o p t e d b y t h e p a r t y

i n c o n v e n t i o n , i s t h a t n o C o m m u n i s t s h a l l a c c e p t a Government position

" e x c e p t u n d e r C i v i l S e r v i c e . " At first it was ruled that no Communist

s h o u l d w o r k f o r t h e G o v e r n m e n t i n a n y c a p a c i t y u n d e r a n y c i r c u m s t a n c e s ,

b u t t h i s w a s m o d i f i e d w h e n t h e l e a d e r s s o u g h t t o o b t a i n i n f o r m a t i o n o f

G o v e r n m e n t a c t i v i t i e s f r o m l o y a l e m p l o y e e s . T h e s a f e g u a r d o f C i v i l S e r v i c e

r e g u l a t i o n s , t h e y b e l i e v e , w i l l p r o t e c t C o m m u n i s t s in Government employ

b e c a u s e i f a n y a t t e m p t i s m a d e t o d i s m i s s t h e m t h e y c a n r a i s e t h e c r y o f

" f r e e s p e e c h " a n d h a v e s u f f i c i e n t f a n a t i c a l s u p p o r t i n C o n g r e s s t o s a v e t h e m

t h e i r j o b s .

I t i s s a f e t o s a y t h a t n o t a d e p a r t m e n t i n W a s h i n g t o n i s e n t i r e l y f r e e

from Communists . T h e s e m e n h a v e b e e n " p l a n t e d " d e l i b e r a t e l y a n d s p r e a d -

i n g o f p r o p a g a n d a i s a p a r t o f t h e i r d u t y t o t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y . In some

o f t h e d e p a r t m e n t s t h e r e h a v e b e e n s e v e r a l k n o w n C o m m u n i s t s a t v a r i o u s

t i m e s w h o w e r e p r o t e c t e d b y t h e i r s u p e r i o r s i n t h e i r p o s i t i o n s . T h e m o s t

n o t o r i o u s e x a m p l e o f h i g h G o v e r n m e n t o f f i c i a l s p r o t e c t i n g r a d i c a l s a n d e n -

couraging them by word and deed was when Louis F . P o s t w a s A s s i s t a n t

S e c r e t a r y o f L a b o r . P o s t ' s r a d i c a l a c t i v i t i e s w o n s t r o n g a p p r o v a l f r o m

t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f f i c i a l l y .

The Communist idea of g overnment and the theory upon w h i c h t h e

C o m m u n i s t s d e m a n d t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ,

i s b r o u g h t o u t i n t h e t h e s i s o n t h e R e l a t i o n s o f N u m b e r O n e a n d N u m b e r

T w o ( t h e i l l e g a l a n d l e g a l b r a n c h e s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y ) a d o p t e d a t

t h e c o n v e n t i o n a t B r i d g m a n b e f o r e i t w a s r a i d e d b y t h e M i c h i g a n a u t h o r -

i t i e s . T h i s t h e s i s , w h i c h w h e n a d o p t e d b e c o m e s a p a r t o f t h e r e g u l a t i o n s

o f t h e p a r t y , a n d w h i c h w a s a d o p t e d j u s t b e f o r e t h e r a i d , r e a d s l i k e a

t e x t b o o k , a s f o l l o w s :

" 1 . G o v e r n m e n t i s f o r c e o r g a n i z e d b y o n e c l a s s t o k e e p a n o t h e r i n

s u b j e c t i o n . W h e n t h e s u b j e c t c l a s s b e c o m e s c o n s c i o u s o f t h e o p p r e s s i o n

u n d e r w h i c h i t l a b o r s i t o r g a n i z e s t o o v e r t h r o w t h e c l a s s in power . T h i s

s t r u g g l e , o f n e c e s s i t y , d e v e l o p s i n t o a s t r u g g l e o f f o r c e a g a i n s t f o r c e - o f

t h e a r m e d f o r c e o f t h e o p p r e s s e d c l a s s a g a i n s t t h e a r m e d f o r c e o f t h e c l a s s

in powert h e G o v e r n m e n t .

"2 . T h i s b e i n g a n a c c e p t e d p h e n o m e n o n b a s e d o n h i s t o r i c a l f a c t , i t

i s t h e t a s k o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s t o p r e p a r e a n d o r g a n i z e t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s

f o r t h i s s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e m a s t e r c l a s s , t h e c a p i t a l i s t s , a n d a g a i n s t t h e i r

o r g a n i z e d A r m y f o r c e , t h e G o v e r n m e n t .

[16 5 1



REDS IN AMERICA

"3 . T h e g r e a t m a s s o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s c a n b e c o n s c i o u s l y o r g a n i z e d

f o r t h i s t a s k . Weighed with the burden of false education, prej udice and

terrorism of the master class and the Government, they cannot be formed

i n t o o r g a n i z a t i o n s , c o n s c i o u s l y u n d e r t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s .

"4 . It is the function of the Communists the refore, as a most con-

s c i o u s , m i l i t a n t , r e v o l u t i o n a r y s e c t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s , t o o r g a n i z e

t h e m s e l v e s i n t o a p a r t y a n d b y m e a n s o f t h i s p a r t y p r e p a r e t h e r e s t o f t h e

w o r k i n g c l a s s f o r t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m a n d t h e G o v e r n -

m e n t .

"5 . The nature of the struggle-the overthrow of one class by an-

other-makes it impossible, as history has shown, for a party with this

program to carry on its most essential work in the open . The conflict

w i t h t h e G o v e r n m e n t i s s o o p e n a n d s o f r e q u e n t t h a t t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y o r -

ganization working openly would be disrupted and ground to pieces by the

s u p e r i o r f o r c e o f t h e S t a t e . The Communists, therefore, are compelled to

function as an underground party-the Communist party .

"6 . Work in the underground limits activities, is very cumbersome

a n d d o e s n o t s u f f i c e f o r t h e o v e r t h r o w o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m . T h e C o m -

m u n i s t p a r t y i s o b l i g e d t o p e n e t r a t e a l l e x i s t i n g w o r k i n g c l a s s a n d s e m i -

w o r k i n g c l a s s o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o r e a c h t h e m a s s e s , u s i n g t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s

as tools and auxiliaries of the Communist party . One of these organs is

t h e o p e n p o l i t i c a l p a r t y , c o n s i s t i n g o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y w o r k e r s , n o t a l l o f

w h o m a r e r e a l C o m m u n i s t s . T h e p r o g r a m o f t h i s p a r t y , b y i t s v e r y n a t u r e ,

i s r e s t r i c t e d , i n t h a t i t m u s t a d a p t i t s e l f t o t h e l a w s o f t h e c o u n t r y .

"7 . T h i s l a b o r p a r t y c a n b y n o m e a n s r e p l a c e t h e r e a l C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e u n d e r g r o u n d p a r t y m u s t b e b u i l t e v e r s t r o n g e r

and firmer . It must guide and control the Labor party, through the in-

f l u e n c e o f i t s m e m b e r s h i p , t h r o u g h i t s o f f i c i a l o r g a n s a n d a l l o t h e r m e a n s o f

p r o p a g a n d a a t i t s d i s p o s a l .

"8 . To perform its function as the directing and controlling body

the Communist party must be made up of only the best, the most advanced,

t h e m o s t t r u s t e d , t r i e d a n d i n t e l l i g e n t s e c t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s . It must

exercise a rigid discipline, removing from its ranks all who merely com-

prehend the principles of Communism but fail to carry on the work of the

p a r t y . N o t u n d e r s t a n d i n g a l o n e , b u t a c t i v i t y , w i l l i n g n e s s t o s a c r i f i c e a n d

t o d o e v e r y k i n d o f d a n g e r o u s w o r k m u s t d e t e r m i n e m e m b e r s h i p i n t h e

Communist party .

"9 . The tasks of the Communist party and all the organizations that

i t c r e a t e s m u s t b e c l e a r l y d e f i n e d , i n o r d e r t h a t a l l m a y s e r v e t h e i r p u r p o s e

w i t h o u t c o n f l i c t a n d w a s t e o r d u p l i c a t i o n o f e f f o r t . T h e s p e c i f i c f u n c t i o n s

o f e a c h p a r t y m a y v a r y a t d i f f e r e n t s t a g e s o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e c l a s s

s t r u g g l e . At the present preparatory period undoubtedly a large part of

the work can be done i n m a n y p a r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y o p e n l y , l e a v i n g f o r t h e

u n d e r g r o u n d p a r t y f u n c t i o n s w h i c h , t h o u g h l i m i t e d i n q u a n t i t y n e v e r t h e l e s s

a r e o f e x t r e m e i m p o r t a n c e , w i t h o u t w h i c h n o r e a l C o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t

c a n b e c o n c e i v e d o f .

"10 . T h e m a i n t a s k o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i s t o o r g a n i z e u n r e -

[ 1 6 6 1




s t r i c t e d C o m m u n i s t e d u c a t i o n a n d p r o p a g a n d a , t h u s i n s u r i n g t h a t t h e f u l l

Communist message is made clear at all times . T h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y

m u s t c a r r y o n a l l s u c h w o r k a s c a n n o t b e d o n e o p e n l y ; i t m u s t b u i l d a n d

support the Labor party and other open organization s a n d d i r e c t t h e i r

a c t i v i t i e s .

" 1 1 . The Communist party must at least once a month issue its

o r g a n s , d e a l i n g t h e o r e t i c a l l y a n d a n a l y t i c a l l y w i t h a l l t h e p r o b l e m s o f t h e

c l a s s s t r u g g l e a n d o f t h e p a r t y . I t s h a l l g i v e d i r e c t i o n t o a n d f o r m u l a t e t h e

s l o g a n s f o r t h e w o r k o f a l l i t s o p e n o r g a n i z a t i o n s . T h e a t t i t u d e o f t h e

C o m m u n i s t p a r t y t o i t s o p e n o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d e s p e c i a l l y t h e L a b o r p a r t y

s h a l l b e a f a v o r a b l e a n d e n c o u r a g i n g o n e . I t m u s t , h o w e v e r , a l w a y s p o i n t

o u t t h e d e f i c i e n c i e s i n t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e L a b o r p a r t y . T h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y s h a l l d e v i s e w a y s a n d m e a n s o f r e a c h i n g t h e m e m b e r s h i p o f t h e L a b o r

p a r t y w i t h i t s i l l e g a l o r g a n i n o r d e r t o f u r t h e r t h e i r e d u c a t i o n . T h e C o m -

m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t a l s o i s s u e a l l s u c h l i t e r a t u r e a s cannot be published

l e g a l l y

"12 . T h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t i s s u e l e a f l e t s d e a l i n g w i t h , t h e

s t r u g g l e s o f t h e w o r k e r s i n a r e a l i s t i c m a n n e r , s o t h a t t h e m a s s e s w i l l

perceive that the Communist party u n d e r s t a n d s t h e s t r u g g l e , b u t i t i s

u n a b l e t o w o r k o p e n l y b e c a u s e o f t h e n a t u r e o f i t s o r g a n i z a t i o n .

" 1 3 . T h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t c o n s t a n t l y m a k e r e c r u i t s t o i t s

ranks from the membership of the Labor party, labor unions and other

w o r k i n g c l a s s o r g a n i z a t i o n s . I t i s o n e o f t h e m a i n t a s k s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y t o d e v e l o p a n d s t r e n g t h e n i t s o r g a n i z a t i o n .

"14 . T h e g r o u p s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t m e e t r e g u l a r l y a t

l e a s t o n c e a m o n t h .

" 1 5 . The Communist party is the sectio n of the Communist I n t e r -

n a t i o n a l i n t h i s c o u n t r y a n d i s t h e o n l y b o d y c a p a b l e o f s t a t i n g t h e o f f i c i a l

p o s i t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l .

"16 . T h e t a s k o f t h e L a b o r p a r t y i s t o p a r t i c i p a t e d i r e c t l y i n t h e e v e r y .

d a y s t r u g g l e s o f t h e w o r k e r s , e n d e a v o r i n g t o d e v e l o p t h e s t r u g g l e s f o r i m m e -

d i a t e n e e d s i n t o r e v o l u t i o n a r y m a s s s t r u g g l e s . I t m u s t c o n d u c t o p e n p r o p a -

g a n d a a n d e d u c a t i o n , p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e e l e c t i o n s , i s s u e p a p e r s a n d l e a f l e t s o n

t h e b a s i s o f i m m e d i a t e d e m a n d s , b r i n g i n g t h e m a s s e s m o r e a n d m o r e t o

t h e C o m m u n i s t p o s i t i o n . A s f a r a s p o s s i b l e a l l e d i t o r s o f t h e L a b o r p a r t y

organs must be members of the Communist party .

" 1 7 . T h r o u g h t h e L a b o r p a r t y m e m b e r s h i p t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y p e r -

m e a t e s a l l e x i s t i n g w o r k i n g c l a s s o r g a n i z a t i o n s a c t i n g a s n u c l e i w i t h i n t h e

o r g a n i z a t i o n . I n t h e l a b o r u n i o n s t h e L a b o r p a r t y m u s t f o r m a l e f t w i n g

a c t i n g a s n u c l e u s a n d t a k i n g t h e l e a d e r s h i p i n i t .

" 1 8 . T h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y s h a l l e n d e a v o r t o e s t a b l i s h t h e s a m e d i s .

c i p l i n e , w a g e s c a l e a n d r e g u l a t i o n s f o r a l l o f f i c i a l s o f t h e L a b o r p a r t y

a n d i t s o p e n o r g a n i z a t i o n s a s p r e v a i l i n t h e Communist party . It must

always be remembered that the real revolutionary party-the American

s e c t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l - i s t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a ,

e n d t h a t t h e L a b o r p a r t y i s b u t a n i n s t r u m e n t w h i c h i t u s e s t h e b e t t e r

to carry out the work among the masses . Only throug h membership in

[ 1 6 7 ]



REDS IN AMERICA

t h e American section o f t h e C o m m u n i s t International the Communist

p a r t y o f Am e r i c a - ca n t h e A m e r i ca n w o rk e r s b e c om e me m b er s of t h eC o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l .

"19 . As organs of the Communist party the Labor party and o t h e r

o p e n o r g a n i z a t i o n s m u s t b e u n d e r i t s d i r e c t i o n a n d c o n t r o l . T h e d i s c i p l i n e

of the Communist party is supreme for Communist party members . T h e

c o n v e n t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t b e h e l d p r i o r t o t h e c o n v e n t i o n

o f t h e L a b o r p a r t y a n d d e t e r m i n e a l l p o l i c i e s f o r t h e p a r t y a n d a l l i t s

o p e n o r g a n i z a t i o n s . I t i s t h e d u t y o f t h e c o m m i t t e e s a n d o f t h e m e m b e r -

s h i p t o c a r r y o u t t h e s e p o l i c i e s i n t h e L a b o r p a r t y a n d a l l o t h e r o r g a n i z a -

t i o n s . In order that the work of the Communist party and Labor p a r t y

may be conducted properly and the Communist party at the same time

b e s a f e g u a r d e d f r o m t h e c l u t c h e s o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t , t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m -

m i t t e e e l e c t e d a t t h e c o n v e n t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y s h a l l d i v i d e i n t o

t w o p a r t s , t h e m a j o r p a r t b e c o m i n g t h e N u m b e r O n e D e p a r t m e n t a n d d e v o t -

i n g i t s e l f t o t h e c a r r y i n g o u t i n t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f t h e p o l i c i e s l a i d

d o w n b y t h e c o n v e n t i o n a n d t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e , t h e m i n o r p a r t b e -

coming the Number Two Department and devoting itself t o c a r r y i n g o u t

in the Labor party the policies laid down by the convention and the

E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e .

"20 . T h i s p o l i c y o f d i v i s i o n o f w o r k s h a l l b e f o l l o w e d i n a l l s u b -

o r d i n a t e c o m m i t t e e s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y .

" 2 1 . T h e f u n c t i o n s o f o r g a n i z e r s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y a n d L a b o r

p a r t y b e i n g d i f f e r e n t , a n d t h e s a f e t y o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n m a k i n g i t i m p e r -

a t i v e , t h e o r g a n i z e r s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y s h a l l , a s a r u l e , n o t b e

t h e o r g a n i z e r s o f t h e L a b o r p a r t y .

"22 . T h e C o m m u n i s t s m u s t s e e k t o c o n t r o l a l l c o m m i t t e e s i n t h e L a b o r

p a r t y . B y b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f p r i n c i p l e s a n d m o r e a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n

i n t h e L a b o r w o r k , t h e y m u s t w i n o v e r t h e m e m b e r s h i p o f t h e L a b o r p a r t y

t o t h e r e a l C o m m u n i s t p o s i t i o n .

" 2 3 . M e m b e r s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t w o r k a s a n u c l e u s i n

t h e L a b o r p a r t y . A l t h o u g h a l l t h e p o l i c i e s a r e l a i d d o w n i n t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y , t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s i n t h e L a b o r p a r t y e v o l v i n g o u t

o f t h e s e p o l i c i e s m u s t b e l e f t t o t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g , b e t t e r o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d

generalship of the members of the Communist p a r t y .

"24 . Communist party members act as a caucus in the Labor party

n u c l e i i n t h e l a b o r u n i o n s . D e c i s i o n s o n a l l i m p o r t a n t m a t t e r s m u s t b e

m a d e i n c a u c u s m e e t i n g s .

"25 . A s t h e s i t u a t i o n b e c o m e s m o r e r e v o l u t i o n a r y , t h e L a b o r p a r t y ,

g a i n i n g t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e m a s s e s , w i l l b e c o m e m o r e r e v o l u t i o n a r y i n f o r m ,

c h a r a c t e r a n d a c t i v i t y . I n s u c h a s i t u a t i o n , t h e L a b o r p a r t y s h a l l f o r m a l l y

a m a l g a m a t e w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y a n d a s s u m e i t s n a m e .

"26 . T h e u n d e r g r o u n d C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , r e m a i n i n g a s a n o r g a n i z a t i o n

w i t h i n t h e o p e n p a r t y , m u s t c o n t i n u e t o b e t h e d i r e c t i n g a n d c o n t r o l l i n g

b o d y . I t re m a i n s i n t a c t a n d m u s t c o n t i n u a l l y b e s t r e n g t h e n e d . T h e re m u s t b e

a p e r i o d i c a l p u r g i n g o f i t s r a n k s a n d t h e d i s c i p l i n e m a d e m o r e r i g i d . N e w

[ 1 6 8 1




b l o o d f r o m t h e o p e n p a r t y a n d o t h e r o p e n o r g a n i z a t i o n s m u s t b e i n t r o d u c e d

i n t o t h e u n d e r g r o u n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s .

" 2 7 . E v e n t h o u g h t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y s h a l l h a v e c o m e a b o v e g r o u n d

a n d a c t a s t h e s e c t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l , t h e u n d e r g r o u n d

o r g a n i z a t i o n r e m a i n s a s t h e d i r e c t i n g o r g a n o f t h e o p e n C o m m u n i s t p a r t y .

A l l i m p o r t a n t p o l i c i e s m u s t f i r s t b e t a k e n u p b y t h e u n d e r g r o u n d o r g a n i z a -

t i o n a n d i t s d e c i s i o n s p u t t h r o u g h i n t h e o p e n p a r t y . T h e u n d e r g r o u n d

m u s t c o n t i n u a l l y b e r e i n f o r c e d , s i n c e e v e n w h e n f i g h t i n g i n t h e o p e n , t h e

activities of the open party will depend on the vigor, understan ding,

s t r a t e g y a n d g e n e r a l s h i p o f t h e u n d e r g r o u n d o r g a n i z a t i o n . The open party

being a mass party cannot have the discipline and understanding of an

underground organization and will respond to calls to action only in

p r o p o r t i o n a s t h e u n d e r g r o u n d m e m b e r s h i p i s d i s c i p l i n e d a n d e x e r t s i n -

f l u e n c e . T h i s s t a t u s w i l l c o n t i n u e u p t o a n d t h r o u g h t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t o

t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e D i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e P r o l e t a r i a t . "

T h e t h e s i s o n t a c t i c s a d o p t e d b y t h e T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l s e t s f o r t h ,

a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s , t h a t :

" T h e n e w i n t e r n a t i o n a l l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n i s e s t a b l i s h e d f o r t h e p u r -

p o s e o f o r g a n i z i n g u n i t e d a c t i o n o f t h e w o r l d p r o l e t a r i a t , a s p i r i n g t o w a r d

t h e s a m e g o a l : t h e o v e r t h r o w o f c a p i t a l i s m , t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e D i c -

t a t o r s h i p o f t h e P r o l e t a r i a t , a n d o f a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l S o v i e t r e p u b l i c , f o r

t h e c o m p l e t e e l i m i n a t i o n o f c l a s s e s a n d t h e r e a l i z a t i o n o f S o c i a l i s m , t h e

f i r s t s t e p t o w a r d t h e c o m m u n i s t c o m m o n w e a l t h . "

C o m m e n t i n g o n t h i s , t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a h a s o f f i c i a l l y

s t a t e d t h a t :

"This definition of the aims of the Communist International laid

d o w n i n t h e s t a t u t e s , d i s t i n c t l y d e f i n e s a l l t h e q u e s t i o n s o f t a c t i c s t o b e

s o l v e d . . . . T h e w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n , i . e . , t h e d e c a y o f c a p i t a l i s m a n d

t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y e n e r g y o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , i t s o r g a n i -

z a t i o n i n t o a g g r e s s i v e , v i c t o r i o u s p o w e r , w i l l r e q u i r e a p r o l o n g e d p e r i o d

o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e . . . . The Communists declared, while the

the war was raging, that the period of imperialism was making for an

e p o c h o f s o c i a l r e v o l u t i o n , i . e . , o f a l o n g s e r i e s o f c i v i l w a r s i n a n u m b e r

o f c a p i t a l i s t i c c o u n t r i e s , a n d o f w a r s b e t w e e n t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e s o n o n e

s i d e a n d p r o l e t a r i a n s t a t e s a n d e x p l o i t e d c o l o n i a l p e o p l e s o n t h e o t h e r s i d e . "

B e a r i n g t h e s e s t a t e m e n t s i n m i n d , w i t h p a r t i c u l a r e m p h a s i s o n t h e

plans of the Communist International, through the Communist party of

A m e r i c a , i t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o r e a d a s t a t e m e n t i n T r u t h , w h i c h s p e a k s o f f i c i a l l y

f o r t h e p a r t y , i n i t s i s s u e o f Au g u s t 4 , 1 9 2 2 , w h e r e i t s a y s:

" M e r e t a l k , r e g a r d l e s s o f i t s e l o q u e n c e o r v o l u m e , w i l l n o t e x p o s e

t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t o t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s . T h e C o m m u n i s t s m u s t p u t f o r w a r d

c o n c r e t e p r o p o s a l s . T a n g i b l e , i m m e d i a t e d e m a n d s i n l i n e w i t h t h e w o r k e r s '

i n t e r e s t m u s t b e m a d e o n t h e G o v e r n m e n t . O u r a c t i v i t y i n C o n g r e s s i s s u b -

sidiary to and dependent upon the mass struggle on the outside . T h e

b o u r g e o i s i e w i l l d o t h e i r b e s t t o k i l l a l l o u r p r o p o s i t i o n s. T h e y w i l l r e f u s e

( 1 6 9 ]



REDS I N AMERICA

even to consider the workers' problems . This will materia lly aid us in

e x p o s i n g t h e c a p i t a l i s t . T h i s w i l l h e l p u s t o g i v e a p o l i t i c a l c h a r a c t e r t o t h e

w h o l e s t r u g g l e . . . . W h e n w e m a k e t h e s e d e f i n i t e d e m a n d s o n

Government, when we put forward our immediate leg islative demands,

w e d o s o n o t w i t h t h e i d e a o f s o l v i n g t h e i n s o l v a b l e - t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s o f

c a p i t a l i s m - b u t i n o r d e r t o r a l l y t h e m a s s e s a r o u n d p r a c t i c a l c o n c r e t e p l a n s

o f c o m b a t w h i c h w i l l f u r t h e r d r a w t h e m i n t o t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e s t a t e

a n d e x p o s e i t s c l a s s c h a r a c t e r . "

E a r l y i n S e p t e m b e r , 1922, a d e l e g a t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f

A m e r i c a s a i l e d f o r E u r o p e a n d e s t a b l i s h e d i t s e l f , w h e r e i t d i s c u s s e d w i t h

the Russian Communist leader plans for an intensive campaig n among

Congressmen of the United States for the immedia te recognition of the

Soviet Government of Russia by this country . One of the American Com-

munist leaders stated that certain Senators are already in line for this

drive and are ail the time working toward securing such recognition . Hes a i d t h a t t h e s e S e n a t o r s a r e i n c o n s t a n t c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h C o m m u n i s t

leaders 'here and directly with the Commissariat for Foreign Affairs in

M o s c o w . He declared that the Moscow Government has dete rmined to spend

several millions of dollars on propaganda for recognition by the United

S t a t e s i f i t c o u l d b e a s s u r e d o f s u c c e s s a s a r e s u l t o f t h i s e x p e n d i t u r e .

The general plan to be adopted, thus, was discussed in Moscow with

A m e r i c a n c i t i z e n s s i t t i n g i n t h e c o n f e r e n c e . These Americans have already

a n n o u n c e d t o t h e C o m m u n i s t s t h a t t h e y m u s t d e v o t e t h e i r a t t e n t i o n t o c e r t a i n

p e o p l e " d u r i n g e l e c t i o n s b o t h N a t i o n a l a n d S t a t e . "

T h i s d e l e g a t i o n s a i l e d i n S e p t e m b e r , 1 9 2 2 . I n t h e l a t t e r p a r t o f A u g u s t

of that year Communist represent atives went to Washington and held con-

f c . e n c e s w i t h m e m b e r s o f t h e C o n g r e s s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .

[ 1 7 0 1



C IAPTER ELEVEN

THE LABOR DEFENSE COUNCIL-WOMEN'S CLUBS

The now historic Bridg man raid,-the spectacular capture by the

authorities of the State of Michigan of a group of Communists, with a

m a s s o f i n c r i m i n a t i n g d o c u m e n t s , w h o h a d m e t i n t h e w o o d s i n a n n u a l s e c r e t ,

i l l e g a l c o n v e n t i o n t o f u r t h e r t h e p l a n s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a ,

u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f L e n i n , T r o t s k y , e t a l . , t o o v e r t h r o w b y v i o l e n c e t h e

Government of the United States and destroy the American concept of home

and church,-had a galvanic effect upon the ring of arch-co nspirators in

M o s c o w . I t w a s i m m e d i a t e l y s u s p e c t e d t h a t s o m e o n e , o n o n e s i d e o r t h e o t h e r

of the factional fight within the party, had been guilty of divulging

s e c r e t s a n d r e v e a l i n g t h e f a c t o f t h e i l l e g a l m e e t i n g t o t h e a u t h o r i t i e s a s a

m o v e t o d e f e a t t h e r i v a l f a c t i o n . T h i s f a c t i o n a l f i g h t h a d b e e n a l m o s t e n -

t i r e l y s e t t l e d b e f o r e t h e B r i d g m a n c o n v e n t i o n m e t a n d o n e o f t h e r e p o r t s a t

t h e c o n v e n t i o n d e a l t w i t h t h i s f e a t u r e o f t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .

S o m e d e l a y i n t h e c a r r y i n g o u t o f t h e d e s t r u c t i v e p r o g r a m o f t h e p a r t y i n

t h i s c o u n t r y h a d b e e n c a u s e d b y t h i s d i v i s i o n i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n .

Immediately upon receipt of information regarding the raid a nd the

consequent breaking up of the convention before its work had been ac-

c o m p l i s h e d , M o s c o w s t a r t e d a c o u r i e r p o s t h a s t e t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s b e a r i n g

w i t h h i m p e r e m p t o r y o r d e r s f r o m t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m -

munist Internation al to both factions in the American party to unite at

once . The minority faction was ordered to submit without further delay

t o t h e w i l l o f t h e m a j o r i t y ; and the ma jority was ordered to admit the

minority without prejudice . Both factions were reminded of the " i r o n

discipline" clause in the regulations of conduct and membership in the

Communist organi zation . E x p u l s i o n f r o m t h e p a r t y a n d f r o m t h e e n t i r e

C o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t w a s t h e p e n a l t y o f a n y i n d i v i d u a l w h o r e f u s e d t o

obey this command to unite .

The courier by whom these orders were dispatched reached the United

States late in Septe mber, 1922, and on October 1 representati ves of the

majority and minority factions were called into secret conference in New

York to hear the orders from headquarters . There was nothing left to do,

for expulsion from the Communist party and the world-wide organi zation

l e f t n o p l a c e f o r s u c h r a d i c a l s t o m a k e t h e i r b e d . ' T h e y c o u l d n o t j o i n t h e

a n a r c h i s t s , s o c i a l i s t s o r a n y o t h e r r a d i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n , b e c a u s e o f t h e b i t t e r

f i g h t t h a t h a d b e e n m a d e o n a l l t h e s e b o d i e s b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s . C e r t a i n l y

t h e y c o u l d n o t b e c o m e c o n s e r v a t i v e s o f a n y s t r i p e . They were branded with

Communism, and if this brand were era sed it would leave a scar by which

they could always be recogni zed as "traitors" to Communism . A n d t h e



REDS I N AMERICA

r e c o rd s o f m i l l i o n s s l a in w i t h o ut t r i a l , b y a r b i t ra r y d i c t a, i n R us s ia t e l l t he

w h o l e t a l e o f t h e " t r a i t o r " t o C o m m u n i s m.

T h i s p a r t y d i v i s i o n h a v i n g b e e n h e a l e d t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n i m m e d i a t e l y

t u r n e d i t s u n i t e d a t t e n t i o n t o t h e n e e d s o f t h o s e a r r e s t e d a t t h e B r i d g m a n

r a i d . T h r o u g h t h e e n e r g e t i c e f f o r t s o f t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n ,

w h o s e r a d i c a l a c t i v i t i e s h a v e b e e n n o t e d i n a n o t h e r c h a p t e r , s o m e o f t h e

p r i s o n e r s h a d b e e n r e l e a s e d o n b o n d , b u t o t h e r s s t i l l l a n g u i s h e d i n t h e

M i c h i g a n j a i l , a w a i t i n g t r i a l . M oney was most urg ently needed to g e t

t h e s e m e n o u t o f j a i l , a n d t o p r e p a r e f o r t h e d e f e n s e o f t h e Communists,

w h e n t h e y c a m e t o t r i a l . I t w a s t h e n r e p o r t e d t h a t F r a n k P . W a l s h , j u s t

r e t u r n e d f r o m M o s c o w , w a s t o b e t h e c h i e f a t t o r n e y f o r t h e d e f e n s e . T h e

engagement of these men cost money, real money, and i t i s s a f e t o s a y

t h a t t h e y w o u l d n o t b e s a t i s f i e d w i t h c o n t i n g e n t f e e s . I t w a s c o m m o n r e p o r t

in Communist circles in N ew York that Walsh insisted upon a fee of

$ 5 0 , 0 0 0 f o r h i s s e r v i c e s ; o n e f o u r t h t o b e p a i d a t o n c e , o n e f o u r t h b e f o r e

t h e t r i a l o p e n e d a n d t h e r e m a i n i n g $ 2 5 , 0 0 0 b e f o r e t h e f i r s t c a s e w e n t t o

t h e j u r y .

N u m e r o u s c o n f e r e n c e s w e r e h e l d b y t h e l e a d e r s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s a s

t o h o w t h e s e f u n d s w e r e t o b e r a i s e d . M o s c o w c o u l d b e c o u n t e d u p o n

for certain amounts, but Moscow has been a bit wary of sending back

t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s m u c h o f t h e m o n e y i t g o e s t o s u c h p a i n s t o c o l l e c t

h e r e u n l e s s i t i s s h o w n t h a t i t i s a b s o l u t e l y n e c e s s a r y t o m a k e s u c h e x p e n d i .

t u r e . William Z . F o s t e r , o n e o f t h e d e l e g a t e s at Bridgman ; Roger N .

B a l d w i n , d r a f t d o d g e r , o f t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s Union ; Eugene V .

D e b s , n o w o u t o f j a i l a f t e r b e i n g p a r d o n e d f o r h i s a n t i - A m e r i c a n a c t i v i t i e s

d u r i n g t h e w a r ; E l i z a b e t h G u r l e y F l y n n , t h e a c t i v e w o m a n r a d i c a l , o f t h e

Workers' Defense Union ; a n d o t h e r s w e r e c o n c e r n e d i n t h e s e c o n f e r e n c e s .

F o r s e v e r a l w e e k s t h e s e c o n f e r e n c e s w e n t o n , c o m m i t t e e s w e r e n a m e d

i n a l l p a r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y , a n d p l a n s w e r e m a t u r e d f o r e s t a b l i s h i n g a l l

t h e c o n n e c t i o n s p o s s i b l e t o p r e s e n t a " u n i t e d f r o n t " o f " l a b o r " i n d e f e n d i n g

t h e s e m e n a c c u s e d o f c o n s p i r a c y . O n e i n t e r e s t i n g p h a s e w a s t h e w a y t h e

A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r w a s " h o o k e d " i n t h e p l a n . O n O c t . 7 , 1 9 2 2 ,

William Z. Foster was in N ew York, working on the plan of the Labor

D e f e n s e C o u n c i l . I t w a s s u g g e s t e d t o h i m b y a f e l l o w C o m m u n i s t t h a t i t

w o u l d b e p o s s i b l e t o g e t t h e e n d o r s e m e n t o f f r o m s i x t o t e n o r g a n i z a t i o n s

which were members of the American Federation o f Labor ; t h e s e e n d o r s e .

m e n t s c o u l d b e s e n t t o o t h e r m e m b e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s ; a n d w h e n a s u f f i c i e n t

n u m b e r h a d b e e n o b t a i n e d a l l t h e e n d o r s e m e n t s c o u l d b e p r i n t e d i n c i r c u l a r

f o r m a n d s e n t b r o a d c a s t u n t i l t h e e n t i r e F e d e r a t i o n c o u l d b e s a i d t o h a v e

j o i n e d i n t h e L a b o r D e f e n c e C o u n c i l . This plan was adopted and worked

l i k e a c h a r m .

The work of national organization was begun early in September

w h i l e a number o f t h e B r i d g m a n p r i s o n e r s w e r e s t i l l i n j a i l u n a b l e t o s e c u r e

t h e b o n d s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e i r r e l e a s e . B y ' t h i s t i m e i t h a d b e e n a g r e e d t h a t

i n a s m u c h a s t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a , w h i c h i s a n i l l e g a l a n d u n d e r -

ground organization, could not d i r e c t t h e f i g h t t o a i d t h e B r i d g m a n

p r i s o n e r s , t h e W o r k e r s ' P a r t y o f A m e r i c a , a s a l e g a l o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e

( 1 7 2 7



NATIONAL COMMITTEt

,RDGER N. BALDWIN, N . . Y..k C i t y

NORMAN B. BARR, Chic.,Use-- 0D., 1-H -

ELNNIS U. BATT, D , R D i t

Editor De-it L .bo, N 0. 0 .

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EUGENE J . BROCK,Chair.mpeni., V-'Lro 01 Mkki.. u

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MAX S . HAYES, CI ...bdFRANCIS FISHER RARE . P i d u d <l , h i .

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CO-OPERATING WITH COMMITTEEOF THE DEFENDANTS

EARL R . BROWDER, Chi-WILLIAM F. DUNNE, Ne. Y o r k C i t y

WILLIAM FOSTER . Chiu.,

C . E. RUTHENBERG CI-h.4NATIONAL OFFICERS

ROBERT M. BUCK. CkwnunEUGENE V. DEBS . Fur .C A .i.uwREV. JOHN A . RYAN D.D . ,

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LABOR DEFENSE COUNCILFRANK P. WALSH , Chief Coa n . . 1 f o r t h e D e f e a d . e t .

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WILLIAMZFOSTER

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A p r i l 6 , 1 9 23

T h e p r e s s h a s b r o u g h t y o u i n f o r m a t i o n o f t h e p r o g r e s s

o f t h e t r i a l o f t h e f i r s t o f t h e s o - c a l l e d M i c h i g a n c a s e s

at St . Jo s e ph . E v e r y d a y i t i s b e c o m i n g c l e a r e r t h a t

t h e i s s u e i n t h i s t r i a l i s t h e r i g h t o f f r e e s p e e c h a n d f r e e

a s s e m b l a g e i n A m e r i c a , a s w e l l a s s u c h d u e p r o c e s s e s o f

l a w , a s c o n s t i t u t e t h e j u s t b a s i s o f a n y d e m o c r a t i c s o c i e t y .

M r . F r a n k P . W a l s h , a t t o r n e y f o r t h e d e f e n s e , h a s s t a t e d

c l e a r l y t h a t t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e C r i m i n a l S y n d i c a l i s t

A c t s , u n d e r w h i c h F o s t e r a n d h i s a s s o c i a t e s h a v e b e e n

b r o u g h t t o t r i a l , v i o l a t e t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e s t a t e

o f M i c h i g a n a n d t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .

E v i d e n c e f o r t h i s c o n t e n t i o n i s f a s t b e c o m i n g a b u n d a n t .

A g r o u p o f m e n a n d w o m e n m e t t o g e t h e r p e a c e f u l l y t o

c o n s i d e r t h e b u s i n e s s o f t h e i r p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n , c o n -

t e m p l a t i n g n o a c t s o f v i o l e n c e a n d c h e r i s h i n g n o i n t e n t

t o p r o m o t e o r i n d u c e a c t s o f v i o l e n c e , w a s i t s e l f t r e a t e d

w i t h u t m o s t v i o l e n c e b y t h e o f f i c e r s o f t h e l a w . If e v e rt h e r e w a s a t r i a l i n v o l v i n g p e r s e c u t i o n a n d t y r a n n y , i t

i s t h i s o n e . I t c o m e s a s t h e l a s t e c h o o f t h e d i s g r a c e -

f u l m a n i a o f g o v e r n m e n t a l t e r r o r i s m , w h i c h w a s o n e o f t h e

p l a g u e s o f t h e w a r .

T h e d e f e n s e o f t h e s e m e n a n d w o m e n , n o w o n t r i a l ,

i s a n e x p e n s i v e o n e . L a r g e s u m s o f m o n e y m u s t b e r a i s e d

t o g ua r a nt e e t he m j u st i c e . T h i s m o n e y c a n c o m e o n l y

f r o m t h o s e w h o b e l i e v e i n t h e v i n d i c a t i o n o f b a s i c

d e m o c r a t i c r i g h t s i n t h i s c o u n t r y . W e a p p e a l t o y o u t o

h e l p u s i n t h i s c a u s e . R e a d t h e i n c l o s e d p a m p h l e t g i v i n g

t h e s t o r y o f t h e c a s e a n d t h e n s e n d y o u r c o n t r i b u t i o n

i n t h e i n c l o s e d e n v e l o p e .

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BS&AU 12646

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO THE LABOR DEFENSE COUNCIL

A c c o u M S a u d i t e d b y S t u a r t C h a t e , C . P . A .

C i r c u l a r l e t t e r s e n t o u t b y t h e L a b o r D e f e n s e C o u n c i l , o r g a n i z e d t o r a i s e f u n d s

f o r t h e d e f e n s e o f t h e c o m m u n i s ts a r r e s t e d a t B r i d g m a n , M i c h . F ac s i m i l e s i gn a t u r e s

of John Nevin Sayre, Freda Kirchwey, Roger Baldwin, Capt. Paxton Hibben, MaryHeaton Vorse, Rev. Norman Thomas, Rev. Percy Stickney Grant and Rev . J o h n

Haynes Holmes appear at the bottom. The name of Father John A. Ryan of Wash-i n g t o n a p p e a r s c o n s p i c u o u s l y i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l o n g w i t h t h a t o f W i l l i a m Z . Foster .



THE LABOR DEFENSE COUNCIL--WOMEN'S CLUBS

C o m m u n i s t s , s h o u l d a s s u m e t h e l e a d e r s h i p . T h i s w a s p a r t i c u l a r l y f i t t i n g

because William F . D u n n e , t h e p a r t y c a n d i d a t e f o r t h e g o v e r n o r s h i p o f

N e w Y o r k , w a s o n e o f t h o s e a r r e s t e d a t B r i d g m a n a s a d e l e g a t e t o t h e C o m -

m u n i s t c o n v e n t i o n . T h i s , o f c o u r s e , e s t a b l i s h e d t h e i m m e d i a t e c o n n e c t i o n

between the Communist party and the Labor Defence Council, for the

W o r k e r s ' P a r t y i s n o t a l l o w e d t o ke any steps on any matter without

h a v i n g t h e a p p r o v a l o f t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y . A c c o r d i n g l y , o n S e p t . 2 4 t h , C . E . Ruthenberg, a Communist and a

d e l e g a t e t o t h e B r i d g m a n c o n v e n t i o n , w h o w a s s e c r e t a r y o f t h e W o r k e r s '

p a r t y , s e n t o u t a n o f f i c i a l o r d e r t o " T o A l l P a r t y B r a n c h e s , D i s t r i c t O r g a n -

i z e r s a n d F e d e r a t i o n S e c r e t a r i e s , " w h i c h r e a d i n p a r t a s f o l l o w s :

" T h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e p a r t y h a s d e c i d e d t h a t t h e

p a r t y m u s t t a k e t h e i n i t i a t i v e i n b r i n g i n g i n t o e x i s t e n c e a n o r g a n i z a t i o n

w h i c h w i l l u n i t e t h e w o r k e r s i n t h e d e f e n c e s t r u g g l e .

' F o r t h i s p u r p o s e t h e L a b o r D e f e n c e C o u n c i l w i l l h e o r g a n i z e d .

'The Labor Defence Council will be a d e l e g a t e d b o d y w h i c h w i l l i n -

c l u d e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e T r a d e U n i o n s , t h e T r a d e U n i o n E d u c a t i o n a l

League (William Z . F o s t e r ' s C o m m u n i s t o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h i n t h e t r a d e u n i o n

m o v e m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d s o r e c o g n i z e d b y t h e S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t

o f R u s s i a ) t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y , t h e S o c i a l i s t p a r t y , t h e F a r m e r - L a b o r p a r t y ,

t h e S o c i a l i s t - L a b o r p a r t y , t h e I . W. W . , t h e P r o l e t a r i a n p a r t y , t h e U n i t e d

T o i l e r s , l i b e r a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d w o r k e r s ' s o c i a l , r e l i e f a n d c o o p e r a t i v e

o r g a n i z a t i o n s .

" T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e L a b o r D e f e n c e C o u n c i l w i l l b e :

" T o c o n d u c t t h e d e f e n c e o f t h e v i c t i m s o f t h e M i c h i g a n r a i d s a n d t h o s e

a r r e s t e d i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e M i c h i g a n c a s e i n o t h e r p a r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y

a n d t o d e f e n d o t h e r s i m i l a r c a s e s a r i s i n g o u t o f t h e p r e s e n t a t t a c k u p o n

t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s m o v e m e n t .

" T o b r o a d e n t h i s d e f e n c e s o a s t o d e v e l o p i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a m a s s

m o v e m e n t o f t h e w o r k e r s t o r e - e s t a b l i s h t h e r i g h t t o s t r i k e , t h e r i g h t t o

picket, the right of assemblage and freedom of press and speech . T o

make part of the defence campaign an attack upon criminal syndicalis m

l a w s a n d s i m i l a r l a w s d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s m o v e m e n t a n d t o

s e c u r e t h e i r r e p e a l .

" T o r a i s e t h e f u n d s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e l e g a l d e f e n c e a s w e l l a s f o r t h e

a g i t a t i o n a n d p r o p a g a n d a a g a i n s t i n f r i n g e m e n t s o n t h e r i g h t s o f t h e w o r k e r s .

" T h e i m m e d i a t e s t e p s t o b e t a k e n i s f o r e a c h c i t y c e n t r a l c o m m i t t e e

w h e r e s u c h e x i s t s a n d f o r e a c h b r a n c h w h e r e t h e r e i s n o c i t y c e n t r a l c o m -

m i t t e e t o :

" 1 . - E l e c t a c o m m i t t e e t o i n i t i a t e t h e w o r k o f o r g a n i z i n g a L a b o r D e -

f e n c e C o u n c i l .

" 2 . - T h i s c o m m i t t e e s h o u l d s e n d a n i n v i t a t i o n t o o t h e r l o c a l w o r k i n g

c l a s s o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o s e n d d e l e g a t e s t o t h e L a b o r D e f e n c e C o u n c i l . T h i s

i n v i t a t i o n s h o u l d n o t b e s e n t i n t h e n a m e o f t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y b u t b y t h e

provisional committee as a provisiona l committee of the Labor Defence

[ 1 7 3 1



REDS IN AMERICA

Council . If possible, some well-known trade unionist should be included

in this committee .

"3. - T h e L o c a l D e fe n c e C o u n c i l s h o u l d a t o n c e b e g i n a c a m p a i g n o f

a g i t a t i o n a n d m o n e y r a i s i n g . I t s h o u l d h o l d p u b l i c m e e t i n g s , h a v e r e s o l u -

t i o n s i n t r o d u c e d i n t h e u n i o n s a n d i n e v e r y w a y p o s s i b l e s t i r t h e w o r k e r s

t o t h e n e e d o f a u n i t e d s t a n d a g a i n s t t h e c a p i t a l i s t a t t a c k . "

T h e h e a d q u a r t e r s o f t h e L a b o r D e f e n c e C o u n c i l w a s e s t a b l i s h e d a t

166 West Washington street, Chicago, and the "P rovisional National C om-

mittee" was made up of the following membe rs : Roger N . Baldwin, Amer-

i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n ; Dennis M . B a t t , P r o l e t a r i a n p a r t y , D e t r o i t ; R o b -

e r t M . B u c k , e d i t o r N e w M a j o r i t y , Farmer-Labor party ; E u g e n e V . Debs .

Socialist party of America ; E l i z a b e t h G u r l e y F l y n n , W o r k e r s ' D e f e n c e

Union of N ew York ; M o r i t z J . L o e b , f o r m e r l y o f t h e C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n

of Chicago, now with the Workers' party of America . The "Cooperating

Committee of Defendants" of the Council includ ed Earl R . B r o w d e r , a s s i s t -

ant secretary of Foster's Trade Union Educational League ; W i l l i a m F .

D u n n e , l a b o r e d i t o r o f T h e W o r k e r , o f f i c i a l E n g l i s h o r g a n o f t h e W o r k e r s '

p a r t y , a n d c a n d i d a t e f o r g o v e r n o r s h i p o f N e w Y o r k ; Wi l l i a m Z . F o s t e r

h i m s e l f , a s s e c r e t a r y - t r e a s u r e r o f t h e T r a d e U n i o n E d u c a t i o n a l L e a g u e ; a n d

Charles E . R u t h e n b e r g , n a t i o n a l e x e c u t i v e s e c r e t a r y o f t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y ,

w h o s e n t o u t t h e o r d e r s q u o t e d a b o v e . F o s t e r w a s n a t i o n a l s e c r e t a r y o f t h e

C o u n c i l a n d L o e b , a s s i s t a n t s e c r e t a r y . The purposes of the organi zation

w e r e s e t f o r t h b y i t i n a s e c r e t r e p o r t i n a s i n g l e p a r a g r a p h a s f o l l o w s :

" T o u n i t e a l l r a d i c a l , l i b e r a l a n d c o n s e r v a t i v e o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o f o r m

the Labor Defence Council . The purpose of this council is to defend the

Reds arrested in Michigan, to raise bail money, to hold defence meetings

a n d t o c a r r y o n a g i t a t i o n i n t h e i r b e h a l f . "

O n e o f t h e f i r s t t h i n g s d o n e b y t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n w a s t h e a p p o i n t m e n t o f

a publicity department to flood the daily newspapers of the country with

propaganda for the movement . "Press releases" were issued and spread

b r o a d c a s t . Much of the material thus furnished was printed in reputable

n e w s p a p e r s i g n o r a n t o f t h e f a c t t h a t t h e y w e r e p r i n t i n g a p p e a l s f o r a m o v e -

ment aimed at the overthrow of the country . One such release, one of the

first sent out, was entitled, "Defence Is the N eed of the Hour!" It was

marked for "immediate release," and read as follows :

"Immediately upon the publication of the dastardly Daugherty injunc-

t i o n a n d t h e a r r e s t o f t h e s o - c a l l e d a g i t a t o r s a t B r i d g m a n , M i c h . , t h e p r o -

g r e s s i v e s e c t i o n o f t h e l a b o r m o v e m e n t u n i t e d i n a s t r o n g p r o t e s t a g a i n s t

t h e s e i n t o l e r a b l e a t t a c k s u p o n o u r f u n d a m e n t a l c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t s . L a b o r

bodies all over the country condemned the proceedings in no uncertain

t e r m s . ' S p e c i a l m a s s m e e t i n g s w e r e c a l l e d f o r S u n d a y , O c t . 1 . The Chicago

Federation of Labor denounced `the unlawful invasion of a meeting,' and

` t h e i n d i s c r i m i n a t e a r r e s t , w i t h o u t w a r r a n t s o r d u e p r o c e s s o f l a w , o f m e n

a n d w o m e n . ' T h e M i n n e a p o l i s T r a d e s a n d L a b o r C o u n c i l d e n o u n c e s t h e

a t t a c k ` o f c e r t a i n l a b o r - h a t i n g , l a b o r - b a i t i n g d e t e c t i v e s ' a s ` t h e e v e r - p r e s e n t

m e t h o d s a n d t a c t i c s o f t y r a n n y , a n d o f f i n a n c i a l t y r a n t s a n d e x p l o i t e r s i n

c o n t r o l o f ` G o v e r n m e n t . '

[ 1 7 4 ]




" N e w Y o r k w i l l t a k e i t s f i r s t d e c i s i v e a c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e s e a t t a c k s u p o n

t h e r i g h t s o f l a b o r a t t h e h u g e p r o t e s t m e e t i n g , a r r a n g e d b y t h e L a b o r D e .

f e n c e C o u n c i l , f o r F r i d a y e v e n i n g , O c t . 6 , a t t h e C e n t r a l O p e r a H o u s e , 6 7 t h

Street and Third Avenue . The speakers will include two of the arrested

m e n , W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r , t h e n o t e d s e c r e t a r y o f t h e T r a d e U n i o n E d u c a t i o n a l

League, and C. Ruthenberg, secretary of the Worker's party of America ;

Roger Baldwin, secretary of the Civil Liberties Union, and J . Louis Eng-

d a h l , e d i t o r o f T h e W o r k e r . "

The hand of William Z. F o s t e r c a n b e s e e n i n t h i s p u b l i c i t y . I t w a s

made to appear that this was a spontaneous movement o f the labor unions

and the citations from the Chicago and Minneapolis federations were pur-

posely designed as a trap, for both of these organizations are extremely

radical and have indorsed mu ch of the work of Soviet Russia, especial ly

i n t h i s c o u n t r y . The fact, however, that the Workers' party was back of

t h e w h o l e m o v e m e n t s h o w e d i t s c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f

America .

T r u s t e d C o m m u n i s t s w e r e i n c h a r g e o f t h e o r g a n i z i n g w o r k o f t h e

Labor Defence Council in the chief cities of the country . For example,

in Philadelphia the work was in the hands of Morris Kushinsky, whose p a r -

t y n a m e i s H o f f m a n a n d w h o w a s d i s t r i c t o r g a n i z e r o f t h e t h i r d d i s t r i c t o f

t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y . Immediately upon receipt of the instructions from

Ruthenberg, Kushinsky, alias Hoffman, called a meeting, on Sept . 1 9 , o f

t h e C i t y C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y t o b e g i n t h e w o r k o f o r g a n -

izing the Labor Defence Council of Philadelphia . O n e o f t h e f i r s t t h i n g s

done was to urge the foreign-born Com munist members of the party to be-

c o m e c i t i z e n s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t o s a v e t h e m s e l v e s f r o m p r o s e c u t i o n u n d e r

l a w s w h i c h a f f e c t o n l y a l i e n a g i t a t o r s . T h e fa m o u s P h i l a d e l p h i a " s u c k e r

l i s t " w a s b r o u g h t o u t a n d c h e c k e d o f f w i t h a v i e w t o s e e i n g h o w m u c h c a s h

c o u l d b e r a i s e d f r o m t h i s s o u r c e . T h i s i s t h e l i s t o f t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y a n d

c o n t a i n s n a m e s o f P h i l a d e l p h i a n s w h o , t h e y s a y , m a y b e c a l l e d u p o n f o r a i d .

I n t h e l i s t a r e t h e n a m e s o f M r s . G i f f o r d P i n c h o t , w i f e o f t h e g o v e r n o r o f

Pennsylvania ; David Wallerstein, promine nt lawyer and member of the

C i v i l L i b e r t i e s B u r e a u ; F r a n c i s F i s h e r K a n e , f o r m e r U n i t e d S t a t e s d i s t r i c t

a t t o r n e y ; T . H e n r y W a l n u t , f o r m e r a s s i s t a n t U n i t e d S t a t e s d i s t r i c t a t t o r n e y ;

D r . He l e n M u r p h y , a w e l l - kn o w n wo m a n p h y s i ci a n ; M r s. Walter Cope, a

sister of Francis Fisher Kane ; M i s s M a r g a r e t C o pe , n i e c e o f M r . Ka n e ;

M rs . George Burnham, o f the family which owns part of the Baldwin Loco-

motive Works ; six members of the wealthy Biddle family, which is con-

n e c t e d w i t h t h e D r e x e l i n t e r e s t s ; a n d A s a S . Wing, who was in charge of

t h e l o c a l w o r k o f r e l i e f f o r t h e N e a r E a s t . There are several hundred names

o n t h i s l i s t .

Foster and Ruthenberg, both defendants in the Bridgman cases, were

particularly active in organi zing the local Labor Defence Councils as

b r a n c h e s o f t h e n a t i o n a l b o d y , a n d t r a v e l l e d o v e r a g r e a t p a r t o f t h e E a s t

s p e a k i n g a t m e e t i n g s i n v a r i o u s c i t i e s . P r a c t i c a l l y a l l o f t h e s e m e e t i n g s w e r e

[ 1 7 5 1



REDS IN AMERICA

used to spread Communis t propaganda as well as to raise money for the

d e f e n c e o f F o s t e r , R u t h e n b e r g a n d t h e o t h e r s .

T h e q u e s t i o n o f f i n a n c i n g t h e d e f e n c e o n a s l a r g e a s c a l e a s w a s p l a n n e d ,

p r e s e n t e d a c o n s i d e r a b l e p r o b l e m . W i t h l a w y e r s ' f e e s o f u n u s u a l s i z e t o b e

p a i d , b a i l m o n e y t o b e f u r n i s h e d , a n t i c i p a t e d f i n e s a n d s u p p o r t o f t h e f a m -

i l i e s o f t h e p r i s o n e r s , a s w e l l a s t h e p r o v i d i n g o f a k i n d o f s i n k i n g f u n d

f o r t h e f u t u r e c o n t e s t s w i t h t h e a u t h o r i t i e s , t h e C o m m u n i s t s w e r e i n d i f f i c u l -

t i e s t o r a i s e t h e m o n e y r e q u i r e d . L a r g e s u m s i n t h e a g g r e g a t e w e r e r a i s e d

i n t h e m e e t i n g s h e l d a s o f t e n a n d i n a s m a n y p l a c e s a s p o s s i b l e . T h e A m e r -

i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n a l s o c o n t r i b u t e d l a r g e l y b o t h w i t h f u n d s a n d

l e g a l a d v i c e - t h e s e r v i c e s o f 8 0 0 l a w y e r s w e r e o f f e r e d b y t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n

- b u t i n a d d i t i o n t o t h i s a c a l l w e n t f o r t h t o M o s c o w f o r a d d i t i o n a l f i n a n c i a l

a i d . Moscow may be counted upon to provide money when necessary . But

i n t h e e n d t h e A m e r i c a n p e o p l e p r o v i d e t h e f u n d s . T h i s i s t h e r e s u l t o f

t h e c a r e f u l l y k e p t " s u c k e r l i s t s , " c o l l e c t i o n s t a k e n a t t h e m e e t i n g s , a n d t h e

funds which Moscow gets directly from the American public, includin g

s u m s c o l l e c t e d b y R u s s i a n a c t o r s , d a n c e r s a n d a r t i s t s i n t h i s c o u n t r y , w h i c h

w e r e r e f e r r e d t o i n a p r e v i o u s c h a p t e r .

There are many means by which the Communists have planned to se-

c u r e c a s h f r o m c i t i z e n s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , t h i s m o n e y t o b e u s e d e i t h e r

i n f u l l o r i n p a r t f o r t h e o v e r t h r o w o f t h i s G o v e r n m e n t b y v i o l e n c e . V a r i o u s

i n d u s t r i a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s a r e d i s g u i s e s f o r r a i s i n g s u c h f u n d s . T h e c o n n e c -

t i o n o f t h e F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a w i t h t h e M o s c o w G o v e r n m e n t i s t o o

w e l l k n o w n t o n e e d r e p e a t i n g . T h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n i s s u e d a c i r c u l a r w h i c h

i n d i c a t e d t h a t S y d n e y H i l l m a n ' s o r g a n i z a t i o n , t h e R u s s i a n - A m e r i c a n I n d u s .

t r i a l C o r p o r a t i o n , w a s i n v e r y c l o s e t o u c h w i t h t h e F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a ,

a n d a n i n t e r e s t i n g p a r t o f t h e s c h e m e w a s t o u s e t h e o l d p l e a o f s a v i n g

" s t a r v i n g " c h i l d r e n . T h e c i r c u l a r r e a d s :

" F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a s t a r t s b i g c a m p a i g n f o r R u s s i a n - A m e r i c a n

I n d u s t r i a l C o r p o r a t i o n a n d c h i l d r e n ' s h o m e s i n S o v i e t R u s s i a .

"The Friends of Soviet Russia, Local New York, has just opened a

j o i n t c a m p a i g n f o r t h e R u s s i a n - A m e r i c a n I n d u s t r i a l C o r p o r a t i o n a n d t h e

C h i l d r e n ' s H o m e s i n S o v i e t R u s s i a .

" T h e c o r p o r a t i o n , f o r m e d r e c e n t l y i n t h e A m a l g a m a t e d , h a s f o r i t s

p u r p o s e t h e p r o m o t i o n o f i n d u s t r i a l a c t i v i t y i n R u s s i a b y r a i s i n g s u f f i c i e n t

c a p i t a l t o s t a r t l a r g e f a c t o r i e s . A m i l l i o n d o l l a r s i s n e e d e d f o r t h e i n i t i a l

c a p i t a l , a n d t h o u s a n d s h a v e a l r e a d y p u r c h a s e d s t o c k , w h i c h s e l l s a t $ 1 0 a

s h a r e. Every worker who wishes to see Soviet Russia pros per must lend

h i s f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e t o t h i s p r o j e c t . F u r t h e r d e t a i l s w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e

c o r p o r a t i o n a n d t h e c a m p a i g n t o b e c o n d u c t e d w i l l b e p u b l i s h e d l a t e r.

" T h e s e c o n d b i g i t e m o n t h e p r o g r a m o f t h e F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a

i s t h e d r i v e t o r a i s e e n o u g h m o n e y t o s u p p o r t t e n t h o u s a n d s t a r v i n g c h i l d r e n

i n S o v i e t R u s s i a. A s a r e s u l t o f t h e t e r r i b l e f a m i n e m i l l i o n s o f l i t t l e c h i l -

d r e n h a v e l o s t t h e i r p a r e n t s a n d a r e n o w h e l p l e s s. T o s a v e t h e m f r o m s t a r -

v a t i o n , a n d d e a t h f r o m t h e f r e e z i n g b l a s t s o f w i n t e r , a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l d r i v e

i s b e i n g c o n d u c t e d t o r e s c u e t h e s e m i l l i o n s o f c h i l d r e n. T h e q u o t a a l l o t t e d

[ 1 7 6 1




to the Friends of Soviet Russia to support is ten thousand . T h e m e t h o d o f

raising money is as follows :

"Organiz ations interested in saving these childre n can do so by adopt-

ing one or more of them . Five dollars down and two dollars a month for

t w e l v e m o n t h s w i l l s u p p o r t o n e c h i l d f o r a w h o l e y e a r . T h i s m e a n s $ 2 90

for ten children per year . Those interested in adopting children should at

once communicate with the local office, 208 East Twelfth Street . T o c a r r y

both of these drives over the top the Friends of Soviet Russia will call a

general conference of labor organiz ations intereste d in Russian Relief and

Reconstruction . "

T h e " A m a l g a m a t e d " r e f e rr e d t o i n t h i s c o m m u n i c a t i o n i s t h e A m a l -

gamated Clothing Workers' Union of America, which is closely associated

with the Communists in the Russian regime . That fact, and the fact that

the Friends of Soviet Russia is a Moscow-controlled organi zation show

plainly enough the destination of funds raised in this way . In addition to

these facts, however, is the fact stated by L itvinov, among other Russian

o f f i c i a l s , t h a t t h e r e i s n o l o n g e r a n y d a n g e r o f f a m i n e i n R u s s i a .

In a document found at Bridgman at the time of the raid of the illegal

convention of Communists was one on Work Among Women, i n w h i c h i t i s

s e t f o r t h t h a t " t h e f a m i n e a p p e a l i s t h e m o s t p r a c t i c a l m e a n s f o r p e n e t r a t i n g

women's clubs, leagues, etc ." And already work has been directed by the

Communists to win support of their cause among women's organizations of

a l l c l a s s e s . A n e l a b o r a t e p r o g r a m f o r t h i s w o r k w a s a d o p t e d a t t h e B r i d g -

man convention, g oing into such det ail as the canvassing of cities, block

by block, and block org ani z a t ions for the Communists . The thesis adopted


"The interest of the working class demands the re cruiting of women

i n t o t h e r a n k s o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t f i g h t i n g f o r C o m m u n i s m .

"W herever the question of the conquest of power arises, the Communist

parties must consid er not only the g reat source of weakness to the prole-

tarian struggle of an uninformed mass of housewives, farmers' wives and

women workers in the industrial field, but also the fact that on the other

hand, proletarian women once awakened are among the most tenacious fig ht .

i n g e l e m e n t s i n t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e .

"The experiences of the Russian Soviet Republi c proved in practice the

i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n w o r k e r s a n d p e a s a n t s i n d e f e n c e

of the Republic as well as in other activities of Soviet construction .

This alone must serve as a lesson in all countries ; w h i l e h e r e i n A m e r i c a

we have recently had several thrilling examples ; notably in the part work-

i n g - c l a s s w o m e n p l a y e d i n t h e C h i c a g o p a c k i n g s t r i k e a n d t h e m i n e r s '

strug g le in Kansas, in P e n nsylvania and W est V irg inia .

"Communism, which alone affords women economic and social equal -

ity, and the necessary conditions for motherhood without conflicting with

woman's social oblig at ions or hindering her creat ive work for the benefit

of society, should be t he aim of all women fighting for emancipation . B u t

Communism is also the final aim of the entire proletaria t . Consequently,

the strug g le of the proletariat woman must he carried on in the interests

[ 1 7 7 ]



REDS IN AMERICA

o f b o t h t h e m e n a n d t h e w o m e n o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t u n d e r a u n i t e d l e a d e r s h i p

` o n e a n d i n d i v i s i b l e ' t o t h e e n t i r e p r o l e t a r i a n m o v e m e n t .

"With Karl Marx we affirm that there is no specific women' s question

a n d n o s p e c i f i c w o m e n ' s m o v e m e n t . But in present day society there are

h u n d r e d s o f t h o u s a n d s o f w o r k i n g - c l a s s w o m e n i n s e p a r a t e w o m e n ' s o r -

g a n i z a t i o n s a n d m i l l i o n s o f w o r k e r s ' a n d f a r m e r s ' w i v e s w i t h a l o w e r s t a t u s

t h a n a w a g e s l a v e ' s , i s o l a t e d f r o m t h e g e n e r a l s t r e a m o f o r g a n i z e d e n d e a v o r

who must be reached and drawn into the struggle for Commun ism by spe-

cific methods of approach .

" I t i s t h e r e f o r e i m p e r a t i v e t h a t w o m e n ' s c o m m i t t e e s b e c r e a t e d t o d e -

v i s e a n d c a r r y i n t o p r a c t i c e t h e s p e c i f i c m e t h o d s t h a t w i l l w i n t h e w o m e n

of the working class to the Communist ideal and that will unite them for

a n d l i n k t h e m u p w i t h t h e g e n e r a l p r o l e t a r i a n s t r u g g l e .

"Women's work that immediately presents itsel f may roughly be clas-

s i f i e d i n f o u r c a t e g o r i e s .

"(1) Work among the women organi zed in trade unions or organi za-

t i o n s a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t r a d e u n i o n s .

"(2) W o r k a m o n g u n o r g a n i z e d w o m e n .

"(3) W o r k i n w o m e n ' s o r g a n i z a t i o n s o t h e r t h a n t r a d e u n i o n s ;

m o t h e r s ' c l u b s , h o u s e w i v e s ' l e a g u e s , c o o p e r a t i v e s , n a t i o n a l i s t g r o u p s , w h e t h e r

s o c i a l o r c u l t u r a l , e t c .

"(4) Emergency work, such as work among strikers' wives, etc .

" I n t h i s f i e l d t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t w o r k p r e s e n t s i t s e l f . T h e Wo m e n ' s

T r a d e U n i o n L e a g u e p r o p o s e s t o r e o r g a n i z e t h e f o r m e r ` W o m e n ' s A u x i l i a r i e s '

o f t h e w i v e s o f t r a d e u n i o n i s t s i n t o i n d u s t r i a l h o u s e w i v e s ' l e a g u e s .

"The Women's Trade Union League is at present jogging along . W i t h

the introduction o f new blood it could be made a powerful weapon . M u c h

o f o u r f i r s t a c t i v i t i e s s h o u l d b e d i r e c t e d t o t h i s w o r k w h e r e v e r p o s s i b l e .

W e r e w e t o c a r r y o n a s u c c e s s f u l c a m p a i g n , e v e n t u a l l y c a p t u r i n g t h e l e a d -

e r s h i p , w e w o u l d b e i n a p e c u l i a r l y s t r a t e g i c p o s i t i o n f o r f u r t h e r i n g w o m e n ' s

work of all kinds, including emergency work .

'

"Some of our best women are fortunately already very active in the

o r g a n i z a t i o n .

"In order intelligently to lay the ground-work in trade unions and

other categories of women's organization s the questionnaire prepared by

the Women's N ational Committee shou ld be filled out with care and

thoroughness .

" T h e f a m i n e i n R u s s i a p l a c e s n o t a l o n e a s o l e m n d u t y u p o n u s b u ta l s o o f f e r s u s a n u n p a r a l l e l e d o p p o r t u n i t y t o r e a c h t h e g r e a t u n o r g a n i z e d

masses of proletarian women ; t o c r y s t a l l i z e t h e i r s e n t i m e n t a n d w i n t h e m

f o r t h e p r o l e t a r i a n s t r u g g l e .

" T o r e a l i z e p e r m a n e n t g a i n s f r o m t h e u s e o f t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y t h e b l o c k

s y s t e m i s p r o p o s e d f o r a d o p t i o n f o r a l l w o m e n ' s c o m m i t t e e s . The following

i s o f f e r e d a s a m e t h o d u p o n w h i c h t o p r o c e e d :

"(1) O r g a n i z e a w o m e n ' s b l o c k c o m m i t t e e o f n o l e s s t h a n t h r e e .

[ 1 7 8 1




" ( 2 ) S e l e c t a b l o c k f o r a c t i v i t y , o p e r a t i n g i n o n e b l o c k a t a t i m e u p o n

t h e f o l l o w - u p p l a n .

"(3) S e c u r e a s m a l l h a l l o r s t o r e s o l i c i t i n g i t s f r e e u s e f o r r e l i e f

work .

"(4) P r i n t s i m p l e , a t t r a c t i v e t i c k e t s a d m i t t i n g t w o t o h e a r s t o r i e s -

a n d s e e p i c t u r e s o f R u s s i a , p r o m i s i n g a l s o o t h e r e n t e r t a i n m e n t .

"(5) Make house-to-house canvass several consecutive days before

meeting, discovering the women sympathizers and leaving one or two

t i c k e t s i n e x c h a n g e f o r a p r o m i s e t o u s e t h e m .

"(6) I n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e c a n v a s s d i s c o v e r b l o c k t a l e n t i n c h i l d r e n

or gro wn folks . Arrange to utilize it, no matter how crude or untrained,

i n t h e b l o c k m e e t i n g s , t h u s p r o v i d i n g t h e p r o m i s e d e n t e r t a i n m e n t a n d

c r e a t i n g a b a s i s f o r l o c a l i n t e r e s t i n f u t u r e b l o c k m e e t i n g s o f a s i m i l a r

n a t u r e u n d e r t h e s a m e a u s p i c e s .

"(7) O n e - f i f t h o f t h o s e r e c e i v i n g i n v i t a t i o n s t o a t t e n d m a y b e r e l i e d

on to be present in a meeting . Tickets should be issued with the usual

r e s u l t i n m i n d .

"(8) S l i d e s a n d l a n t e r n s c a n b e s u p p l i e d b y l o c a l r e l i e f c e n t e r s o r

o b t a i n e d t h r o u g h a p p l i c a t i o n t o t h e B ( l e g a l b r a n c h o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y ) n a t i o n a l o f f i c e . I n s t r u c t i o n s f o r t h e i r u s e a r e s i m p l e . A n y m e m b e r

o f t h e b l o c k c o m m i t t e e w i s h i n g t o u s e t h e o u t f i t c o u l d l e a r n t o o p e r a t e i t

`straight', while the simple explanations of the pictures can be made by

a n y o n e , a s t h e r e i s a c e r t a i n e a s y s y s t e m t h a t a c h i l d c o u l d l e a r n , t h a t c o m e s

w i t h t h e s l i d e s .

"(9) At the meeting, which should be given a neighb orly, friendly

atmosphere, enlist the women as members of the block committee to help

the famine-striken mothers and children of Soviet Russia . A l l w h o j o i n

s h o u l d b e r e c o r d e d i n t h e W o m e n ' s D i v i s i o n o f t h e B .

"(10) T h e W o r k i n g C l a s s W o m e n ' s B l o c k C o m m i t t e e s s h o u l d b e

adopted as the official name of these groups throughout the country .

"(11) Arrange for the next committee meeting in the home of one of

the women where work, entertainment, collection of clothing, money, food

e t c . , s a l e o f l i t e r a t u r e , b l o c k m e e t i n g s a n d t a l k s m a y b e p l a n n e d i n h a r m o n y

w i t h l o c a l n e e d s , e t c .

"(12) I n t h e s e a c t i v i t i e s p r i d e i n l o c a l t a l e n t m u s t b e u t i l i z e d t o

k n i t t h e h o p e f u l e l e m e n t s m o r e c l o s e l y t o g e t h e r t h a t t h e c l a r i f y i n g p r o c e s s

may go on in a friendly, social atmosphere .

" I t i s n e c e s s a r y t o p o i n t o u t f u t u r e p o s s i b i l i t i e s . It should be clear

to all our comrades that the block committees can become a vital force

i n t h e g e n e r a l p r o l e t a r i a n s t r u g g l e .

[ 1 7 9 1



REDS IN AMERdCA

" T h i r d , w o r k i n w o m e n ' s o r g a n i z a t i o n s o t h e r t h a n t r a d e u n i o n s .

"Again, among the organized women generally, the famine a p p e a l i s

t h e m o s t p r a c t i c a l m e a n s f o r p e n e t r a t i n g w o m e n ' s c l u b s , l e a g u e s , e t c . These

w o m e n ' s o r g a n i z a t i o n s a r e v e r y n u m e r o u s .

" I t i s s u g g e s t e d t h a t w h e n o u r d a t a c o n c e r n i n g w o m e n ' s o r g a n i z a t i o n s

a r e r e t u r n e d w i t h t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w e c h o o s e t h o s e w h o s e p r o l e t a r i a n

c h a r a c t e r i s b e s t f i t t e d t o o u r a i m , g r a d u a l l y w i d e n i n g o u r a c t i v i t i e s a s w e

b u i l d u p o u r f o r c e s .

" F o u r t h , t h e W o m e n ' s N a t i o n a l C o m m i t t e e s h o u l d a t a l l t i m e s h a v e i t s

e y e s f i x e d o n t h e i n d u s t r i a l h o r i z o n . W h e n g r e a t i n d u s t r i a l c o n f l i c t s p r e s e n t

t h e m s e l v e s i t s h o u l d h a v e i t s p l a n s p e r f e c t e d f o r p r o m p t e m e r g e n c y work

a m o n g t h o s e w o r k i n g w o m e n m o r e c l e a r l y i n v o l v e d i n t h e c o n f l i c t s . With

t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e W o m e n ' s C o m m i t t e e s c o m p l e t e d , w o r k i n t h e i n -

d u s t r i a l d i s t r i c t s w i l l b e g r e a t l y f a c i l i t a t e d .

" T h e s e f o u r t y p e s o f w o r k w i l l b e a l l t h a t o u r p r e s e n t f o r c e s w i l l

b e e q u a l t o : the work in the Women's Trade Union League, organizatio n

o f t h e u n o r g a n i z e d , p e n e t r a t i o n o f o t h e r women's organizations through

f a m i n e r e l i e f a p p e a l s , e t c . , a n d emerg ency work . T h i s i s a n a m b i t i o u s

p r o g r a m .

"Sub-committees for each category could be named t o f a c i l i t a t e t h e

w o r k i n t h e f i r s t t h r e e t y p e s o f a c t i v i t y , w h i l e emergency work could be

assigned to a sub-committee appointed when a n e m e r g e n c y a r i s e s o r i s

a n t i c i p a t e d . "

I n a n i n t e r e s t i n g a r t i c l e , p u b l i s h e d M a y 1 , 1 9 2 2 , T h e W o m a n P a t r i o t

s a y s t h a t " t h e s o - c a l l e d ` P a n - A m e r i c a n C o n f e r e n c e o f W o m e n ' a t B a l t i m o r e

c a l l e d b y M r s . C a r r i e C h a p m a n C a t t , p r e s i d e n t o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l WomanS u f f r a g e A l l i a n c e a n d h o n o r a r y p r e s i d e n t o f t h e N a t i o n a l L e a g u e o f W o m e n

V o t e r s , w a s i n r e a l i t y " T h e W o m e n ' s T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l . " T h e a r t i c l e

i s t o o l o n g f o r q u o t a t i o n h e r e , b u t s e v e n s h o r t p a r a g r a p h s g i v e a l l l o y a l

A m e r i c a n s f o o d f o r t h o u g h t . I t i s n o t c h a r g e d h e r e t h a t t h e w o m e n i n t e r -

e s t e d i n t h i s m e e t i n g , t h e f i r s t o f i t s k i n d h e l d i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , a r e

w o r k i n g f o r C o m m u n i s m d i r e c t l y , b u t i t b e h o v e s a l l l o y a l A m e r i c a n w o m e n ,

and men as well to "watch their step" in t h e s e t i m e s s u r c h a r g e d w i t h

d a n g e r . These paragraphs read :

" T h e t w o f o r m e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l s w e r e h e l d i n Z u r i c h , i n 1 9 1 9 , a n d i n

V i e n n a , i n 1 9 2 1 , u n d e r t h e n a m e s , ` I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n g r e s s o f W o m e n ' a n d

` W o m e n ' s I n t e r n a t i o n a l L e a g u e f o r P e a c e a n d F r e e d o m . '

"'Frequent changes of name,' as advised by Nicol ai L e n i n , a r e r e -

s o r t e d t o b y t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l f e m i n i s t - p a c i f i s t b l o c a s o f t e n a s n e c e s s a r y , b u t

t h e e n t i r e m o v e m e n t o r i g i n a t e s w i t h t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Woman's Suffrag e

A l l i a n c e .

" T h e w o r k i s d i v i d e d u p , l i k e a n a r m y ' s a r t i l l e r y , c a v a l r y a n d i n f a n t r y ,

i n t o t h r e e m o b i l e d i v i s i o n s :

" T h e p o l i t i c a l , u n d e r M r s . C a t t a n d h e r ` I n t e r n a t i o n a l W o m a n S u f f r a g e

A l l i a n c e a n d ` L e a g u e o f W o m e n V o t e r s . '

[ 1 8 0 1




" T h e p a c i f i s t , u n d e r M i s s J a n e A d d a m s a n d h e r ` W o m e n ' s I n t e r n a t i o n a l

League for Peace and Freedom . '

" T h e i n d u s t r i a l , u n d e r M r s . R a y m o n d R o b i n s a n d h e r ` I n t e r n a t i o n a l

Leag ue of Working Women' and `Women's Trade Union Leag ue . '

" T h e t h r e e b r a n c h e s a r e e m p l o y e d p r e c i s e l y a s a w i s e g e n e r a l w o u l d

e n g a g e a r t i l l e r y , c a v a l r y o r i n f a n t r y ; u s i n g a l l t h r e e t o g e t h e r w h e r e v e r

n e c e s s a r y a n d e a c h o n e a l o n e f o r s p e c i a l o b j e c t i v e s . "

j

V o l u n t a r y o r g a n i z a t i o n s w h i c h a r e c a r r y i n g o n a g i t a t i v e p r o p a g a n d a o r

w h i c h h a v e o b j e c t i v e s t o a g r e a t e r o r l e s s e x t e n t i n h a r m o n y w i t h t h e p r o -

g r a m o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a a r e s o n u m e r o u s t h a t i t w o u l d h e

i m p o s s i b l e t o l i s t t h e m .T h e y m a y b e f o u n d i n e v e r y s t a t e i n t h e u n i o n ,

a n d s e v e r a l o f t h e l a r g e r o n e s w i t h h e a d q u a r t e r s i n m e t r o p o l i t a n c e n t e r s

a r e a c t i v e i n e v e r y s t a t e . I n s o m e i n s t a n c e s , t h e w o r k o f s u c h o r g a n i z a t i o n s

i s o f s o m u c h v a l u e t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y f o r c e s t h a t r e c o g n i t i o n i s f r e e l y

a n d o f f i c i a l l y a c c o r d e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s . I n o t h e r i n s t a n c e s , t h e o b -

e c t i v e s a r e p r a i s e w o r t h y , t h e p e r s o n n e l i s a b o v e s u s p i c i o n , a n d i t i s o n l y

o n p a u s i n g t o a n a l y s e t h a t t h e a d h e r e n c e t o c o l l e c t i v i s m a s o p p o s e d t o i n -

d i v i d u a l i s m , o r t h e t e n d e n c y t o w a r d d e p e n d e n c y o n t h e s t a t e w h i c h i s s o

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f s o c i a l i s m , b e c o m e s a p p a r e n t . Between the two extremes

a l l g r a d e s o f v a r i a t i o n s a r e t o b e f o u n d . A s a n e x a m p l e o f t h e m o r e r a d i c a l

type, the Women's Trade Union Leag ue may be me ntioned . The League

w a s o r i g i n a l l y s t a r t e d b y M r s . R a y m o n d R o b i n s , w h o w a s u n t i l q u i t e r e c e n t l y

a n d f o r m a n y y e a r s , i t s p r e s i d e n t . M i s s A g n e s N e s t o r a n d M i s s R o s e

S c h n e i d e r m a n f i g u r e p r o m i n e n t l y i n i t s a c t i v i t i e s , t h e l a t t e r o f w h o m i s

n o w p r e s i d e n t . I t s o b j e c t i s t o o r g a n i z e t r a d e s u n i o n s c o m p o s e d o f w o m e n ,

a n d t o f e d e r a t e t h o s e i n e x i s t e n c e . Its work is so much in ha rmony with

t h a t o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a t h a t a t t h e B r i d g m a n C o n v e n t i o n

t h e l a t t e r a d o p t e d a t h e s i s w h i c h o b v i o u s l y l o o k s u p o n i t a s o c c u p y i n g a n

i m p o r t a n t s t r a t e g i c a l p o s i t i o n i n t h e u n i t e d f r o n t o f i t s l a w f u l a n d o p e n

machinery . So far as is known the leaders of the Women's Trade Union

L e a g u e h a v e n e v e r r e p u d i a t e d t h i s o v e r t u r e o n t h e p a r t o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y b u t o n t h e c o n t r a r y f r o m t i m e t o t i m e i n i t s a n n u a l c o n v e n t i o n s ,t h e

L e a g u e h a s a d o p t e d r e s o l u t i o n s i n d i c a t i v e o f i t s s y m p a t h y w i t h t h e M o s c o w

S o v i e t g o v e r n m e n t a n d i n a c c o r d w i t h t h e p r o g r a m o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y ,

i t " d e m a n d s " a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s t h a t p u b l i c u t i l i t i e s n o w r u n b y t h e s t a t e

b e t u r n e d o v e r t o w o r k e r s ' c o n t r o l , I n v i e w o f t h e s e a n d m a n y o t h e r f a c t s ,

1 That the Woman's International League for Peace and Freedom is closely alignedw i t h t h e T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l i n i n t e r e s t a n d o b j e c t i v e i s c l e a r l y s h o w n i n a n a d v e r -

tisement which recently appeare d in "The World Tomorrow", and cited by TheWoma n P a t r i o t , i n w h i c h i t i s s t a t e d t h a t M i s s J a n e A d d a m s of H u l l H o u s e , C h i -c a g o , i s l i s t e d a s a s t o ck h o l d e r i n t h e R u s s i a n -A m er i c a n I n d u s t r i a l C o rp o r a t i o n

(Sidney Hillman) along with Nicolai Lenin, Eugene V . Debs, Charles P . S t e i n m e t z ,

and Congressman LaGuardia . The Woman's Patriot also quotes the Federated Press

Bulletin as stating that Anna Louise Strong, for many years Moscow correspondent

o f t h e F e d e r a t e d P r e s s , a n d f o r t h e o f f i c i a l A m e r i c a n C o m m u n i s t o r g a n , T h e W o r k e r ,

expects to fill numerous lecture engagements during the winter and can be reached

a t H u l l H o u s e , N o . 8 0 0 S . H a l s t e d S t . , C h i c a g o , I l l . Press dispatches from Moscowrecently indicate that some of the funds of the Russian American Industrial Cor-

p o r a t i o n i n R u s s i a h a d b e e n m i s a p p r o p r i a t e d .

( l o l l



REDS IN AMERICA

the Women's Trade Union League may be considered as a part of the united

front of the open and legal machinery of the Communist party of America,

r e g a r d l e s s o f w h e t h e r t h e L e a g u e o r i t s l e a d e r s w o u l d d e s i r e s u c h a d e s i g -

n a t i o n . On the other hand, it would be unjust to regard all individual

members of the League as communists . O b v i o u s l y , t h e y a r e n o t . M a n y o f

them have a purely nominal connection with the League, or though working

f o r i t s o r g a n i c i n t e r e s t s , a r e i g n o r a n t o f t h e u s e s t o w h i c h t h e L e a g u e i s

being put .

T h e s a m e i s f o u n d t o a p p l y o n a p p r a i s i n g t h e n a t u r e o f t h e a c t i v i t i e s

o f s o m e o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s . F r o m t h e s t a n d - p o i n t o f h y p e r s e n s i t i v e h u m a n -

i t a r i a n i s m , m a n y o f t h e m h a v e o b j e c t i v e s w h i c h a r e e x c e l l e n t a n d d e s i r a b l e ,

provided we do not take into consideration the cost either in money or

d e s t r u c t i v e n e s s t o t h e s t a t e . It should be noted, however, that in almost

e v e r y i n s t a n c e , s o m e i n d i v i d u a l o r g r o u p a m o n g t h e l e a d i n g s p i r i t s o f a n y

p a r t i c u l a r s o c i e t y , c a n b e f o u n d h a v i n g d i r e c t o r i n d i r e c t c o n n e c t i o n s w i t h

the Communist party of America, while the numerical maj ority are quite

a b o v e s u s p i c i o n . F o r i n s t a n c e i n s u c h a c l a s s u n d o u b t e d l y b e l o n g s t h e A m e r -

i c a n A s s o c i a t i o n f o r L a b o r L e g i s l a t i o n . I t b e s e e c h e s l e g i s l a t o r s f o r t h e a d o p -

t i o n o f s o c i a l i n s u r a n c e b y t h e s t a t e . T o i t w e o w e t h e p r e s e n t w o r k m e n ' s c o m -

p e n s a t i o n l a w s w h i c h a r e o n t h e s t a t u t e b o o k s o f t h e v a r i o u s s t a t e s . C o m -

p u l s o r y h e a l t h i n s u r a n c e i s a p a r t o f i t s l e g i s l a t i v e p r o g r a m b u t u p t o t h e

p r e s e n t , l a r g e l y o w i n g t o t h e b i t t e r o p p o s i t i o n o f p h y s i c i a n s a n d t h e . a d -

m i n i s t r a t i v e d i f f i c u l t i e s e n c o u n t e r e d i n E n g l a n d , t h e A s s o c i a t i o n h a s f a i l e d

t o a c h i e v e t h i s e n d h e r e . En passant, i t s h o u l d b e s a i d t h a t t h e s e m e a s u r e s

were born of revolutionary socialism in the de cade following 1860 . T h e

e f f e c t o f i t s a d o p t i o n m e a n s a l i g h t e n i n g o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o n t h e p a r t o f

l a b o r i n t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f a h e a l t h y w e l l - b a l a n c e d s o c i e t y , a n d q u i c k a d a p -

t a t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s e s t o t h e i d e a o f d e p e n d e n c y o n t h e s t a t e . Samuel

Gompers at one time a member of the A . A . L . L . r e s i g n e d , r e p u d i a t i n g a l l

its words and works . S o c i a l I n s u r a n c e l e g i s l a t i o n i s c l a s s l e g i s l a t i o n a n d

s o c i a l i s t i c . T h e S o v i e t g o v e r n m e n t o f R u s s i a h a s a t t e m p t e d w i t h a m o r e

o r l e s s s h o w o f s u c c e s s t o e s t a b l i s h a c o m p l e t e s y s t e m o f s o c i a l i n s u r a n c e .

The most conspicuous generalit y which could be deduced from a study

of the names of those connected with the manageme nt of the American As-

sociation for Labor Legislation is the fact that aside from Andrew Furu-

seth, radical president of the Seamen's Union, probably not one includes

i n h i s p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e a h i s t o r y o f h a v i n g w o r k e d c o n t i n u o u s l y f o r a n y

l e n g t h o f t i m e a t m a n u a l l a b o r , c e r t a i n l y n o t T h o m a s C h a d b u r n , i t s p r e s i -

dent, nor Adolph Lewisohn, its tr easurer (1923) .

There are doubtless many people who have contributed to the support

of the American Association for Labor Legislation who are far above the

charge of consciously desi ring the success of a subversive movement . I f

we subtract these from the membership and leaders of the organization,

t h e r e r e m a i n s a l a r g e n u m b e r w h o a r e p r o m i n e n t l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e

r a d i c a l m o v e m e n t a n d i n s o m e i n s t a n c e s i n d i r e c t l y w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t

party of America . I t i s s t i l l a n i n e x p l i c a b l e m y s t e r y , h o w t h e L u s k C o m -

m i t t e e f a i l e d t o g i v e t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n d u e c o n s i d e r a t i o n , A m o n g i t s c o n -

[ 1 8 2 1




s p i c u o u s o f f i c i a l s a r e o r h a v e b e e n i n t h e p a s t s u c h w e l l - k n o w n r a d i c a l s a s

M r s . Raymond Robins, org anizer and president of the Women's TradeUnion League, which has just been considered and which is an important

part of the lawful open machinery of the Communist party of America, and

her associates Miss Agnes Nestor and Miss Mary Anderson; t h e R e v . J o h n

Haynes Holmes, the radical pacifist, and his friend and co-worker, Rabbi

Stephen S . W i s e ; O w e n L o v e j o y , o f w h o m m o r e a n o n ; M i s s L i l l i a n W a l d , o f

t h e H e n r y S t r e e t S e t t l e m e n t k n o w n a s a m e m b e r o f t h e i n t e r l o c k i n g d i r e c t o r -

a t e o f r a d i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s ; Miss Jane Addams, famous for her interest in

the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom ; and a host of

o t h e r s o f l i k e t h o u g h t .

I n g e n e r a l , t h e r e i s a m u t u a l s y m p a t h y f o r t h e o b j e c t s w h i c h t h i s c l a s s

o f o r g a n i z a t i o n s d e s i r e t o a t t a i n , a n i n t e r l o c k i n g p e r s o n n e l i n t h e d i r e c t o r -

a t e s , a n d p r o g r a m s w h i c h d o v e t a i l i n t o e a c h o t h e r t h a t s u g g e s t c o m m o n i n -

s p i r a t i o n a n d m u t u a l f i n a n c i a l r e s o u r c e s . They present the appearance of a

u n i t e d f r o n t , a n d m i g h t b e d e e m e d t h e s h o c k - t r o o p s o f a n i n s i n u a t i n g a r m y

of borers, whose province it is to wedge ignorant inertia aside and make

room for advancing communism . T o c a l l s u c h o r g a n i z a t i o n s " s o c i a l i s t i c "

a s o p p o s e d t o c o m m u n i s t i c i s i n r e a l i t y a d i s t i n c t i o n w i t h o u t a d i f f e r e n c e .

T h e s e s y s t e m s d i f f e r i n d e g r e e a n d n o t i n p r i n c i p l e .

Among the papers uncovered by the raid on the convention of the Com-

munist party of America at Bridgman, was one entitled, "Next Task in the

Communist party of America", consisting of orders from Mosc ow, signed

by the Executive Committee of the Communist International, Bukharin, Ra-

dek, and Kusinen . It is given in full in Appen dix F . The careful reader

will be amazed at the progress which this program has already made, not

as the result of the open support of the Communist party of America, but

a s t h e r e s u l t o f c e a s e l e s s p r o p a g a n d a b y t h i s t y p e o f v o l u n t a r y o r g a n i z a -

t i o n . T h e , s c a r r e s u l t i n g f r o m t h e r e p e r c u s s i o n s o f t h e R u s s i a n B o l s h e v i k

r e v o l u t i o n o n A m e r i c a n s o c i a l a n d p o l i t i c a l l i f e i s a l r e a d y a p e r m a n e n t o n e .

A s o n e g l a n c e s o v e r t h e n a m e s o f t h o s e w h o m a k e u p t h e p e r s o n n e l o f t h e s e

non-communistic radical groups, there will always be found the name of

t h e i s o l a t e d i n d i v i d u a l , o r g r o u p o f i n d i v i d u a l s w h o s e c o n n e c t i o n s a n d f r i e n d s

may be classed as dubio us, or as having associations with those who are

k n o w n C o m m u n i s t s .

A s f o r t h e " p a l e g r a y " o r g a n i z a t i o n s , t h e k i n d w h i c h b e a r a l l t h e e a r -

m a r k s o f r e s p e c t a b i l i t y , i n n u m b e r t h e y a r e m u l t i t u d i n o u s . A l s o t h e c l e v e r

w a y i n w h i c h r e c o g n i z e d o r g a n i z a t i o n s , m a y b e u s e d b y t h e r a d i c a l s f o r t h e i r

purposes is in many instances instructive . T o a t t e m p t a n e n u m e r a t i o n

w o u l d b e o u t s i d e t h e s c o p e o f t h i s b o o k a n d t o d e s i g n a t e a n y d e f i n i t e o r -

g a n i z a t i o n a s a p a r t o f t h e u n i t e d f r o n t o f t h e l a w f u l p r o p a g a n d a m a c h i n -

ery of the Communist party of America by examination of its personnel

and objectives would in many cases only raise a debatable question . B u t

t h a t m a n y a r e m a d e u s e o f w i t h o r w i t h o u t t h e i r o f f i c i a l w i s h i n t h e m a t t e r

i s a p p a r e n t . Of such is "The National Informat ion Bureau" which will be

c o n s i d e r e d f o r a s p a c e i n t h a t i t h a s b e e n o f a s s i s t a n c e t o s o m e o f t h e d i s -

l o y a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s .

[ 1 8 3 1



C i v i c R e f o r m

A m e r i c a n i z a t i o n

Health Work

Religious Work

( n o n - s e c t a r i a n )

P r o p a g a n d a

( n o n - p o l i t i c a l )

Negro Schools

REDS IN AMERICA

A c c o r d i n g t o i t s l i t e r a t u r e , t h e N a t i o n a l I n f o r m a t i o n Bureau was es-

t a b l i s h e d i n 1 9 1 8 , a n d a t p r e s e n t h a s o f f i c e s a t N o . 1 M a d i s o n A v e n u e , N e wY o r k , t h e o f f i c e b u i l d i n g o f t h e M etropolitan Life Insurance Company .

" S p e c i a l r e p o r t s a r e i s s u e d t o m e m b e r s o n r e q u e s t , o n a n y o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h -

i n t h e f i e l d o f t h e B u r e a u ' s f o r m a l a p p r o v a l . T h e B u r e a u a l s o r e p o r t s t o

m e m b e r s , a s f a r a s p o s s i b l e , o n a n y e n t e r p r i s e i n s u c h r e l a t e d f i e l d s a s t h e

f o l l o w i n g

S o l d i e r M a g a z i n e s

Child Welfare Magazines

S e m i - f r a # e r n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , l a b o r

u n i o n s , e t c . , s e e k i n g s u p p o r t f r o m

non members .

Miscellaneous sem-commercia l e n t e r -

p r i s e s w i t h a g e n u i n e o r s p u r i o u s

h u m a n i t a r i a n a p p e a l .

" R e p o r t s a r e n o w a v a i l a b l e t o B u r e a u m e m b e r s o n a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 , 6 0 0

a g e n c i e s . New Investigations will be made promptly o n r e c e i p t o f i n .

q u i r i e s . " ( B u l l e t i n N o . 8 , 1 9 2 1 . )

" B y a r r a n g e m e n t w i t h t h e C h a r i t y O r g a n i z a t i o n S o c i e t y o f N e w Y o r k ,

t h e B u r e a u i s e n a b l e d t o s e c u r e , f o r i t s m e m b e r s o n l y , r e p o r t s o n l o c a l

New York agencies . " T h i s f a c t p l a c e s t h e N a t i o n a l I n f o r m a t i o n B u r e a u

i n d i r e c t c o n n e c t i o n w i t h w h a t i s g e n e r a l l y k n o w n a m o n g s o c i a l w o r k e r s

t h e c o u n t r y o v e r a s t h e " N e w Y o r k C h a r i t y T r u s t . "

" T h e B u r e a u a l s o i s s u e s e x c l u s i v e l y f o r i t s m e m b e r s a s p e c i a l c a u t i o n -

a r y b u l l e t i n . " ( I t a l i c i z e d f o r e m p h a s i s . )

" O r g a n i z a t i o n s a r e a p p r o v e d o n t h e b a s i s o f ( a ) c o m p l e t e i n f o r m a t i o n

s u p p l i e d b y t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h e m s e l v e s a n d s u p p l e m e n t e d b y n e c e s s a r y

investigation ; ( b ) c o m p l i a n c e w i t h t h e s t a n d a r d s a d o p t e d b y t h e B o a r d o f

D i r e c t o r s o f t h e B u r e a u . " ( I t a l i c i z e d f o r e m p h a s i s , )

T h e B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s h a s e s t a b l i s h e d a s e t o f s t a n d a r d s e x p r e s s e d

i n t e n i t e m s , m o s t o f w h i c h , i f n o t a l l , a r e e n t i r e l y l a u d a b l e . Two are here

r e p r o d u c e d t o s h o w t h a t i n t h e s e r e s p e c t s t h e s t a n d a r d s a r e s o f l e x i b l e t h a t

a p p r o v a l o r d i s a p p r o v a l , i n a n y p a r t i c u l a r i n s t a n c e , w i l l r e s t n o t s o m u c h

o n t h e s t a n d a r d a s o n t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e s t a n d a r d b y B u r e a u ' s B o a r d

o f D i r e c t o r s .

"2 . A l e g i t i m a t e p u r p o s e w i t h n o a v o i d a b l e d u p l i c a t i o n o f t h e w o r k o f

a n o t h e r e f f i c i e n t l y m a n a g e d o r g a n i z a t i o n .

" 3 . R e a s o n a b l e e f f i c i e n c y i n c o n d u c t o f w o r k , m a n a g e m e n t o f i n s t i t u t i o n s ,

e t c . , a n d r e a s o n a b l e a d e q u a c y o f e q u i p m e n t f o r s u c h w o r k , b o t h m a t e r i a l a n d

p e r s o n a l . "

T h e B u r e a u a l s o s t a t e s i t s e l f t o b e " a n i m p a r t i a l i n v e s t i g a t i n g a g e n c y ,

d o e s n o t e x p r e s s a j u d g m e n t c o n c e r n i n g t h e p u r p o s e s o f o r g a n i z a t i o n s w h e r e

t h e v a l u e o f t h e s e p u r p o s e s i s o p e n t o l e g i t i m a t e d i f f e r e n c e o f o p i n i o n , " p a l -

p a b l y a s t a n d a r d w h i c h h a s w i d e l a t i t u d e o f i n t e r p r e t a t i o n .

T h e B u r e a u a p p a r e n t l y s e e k s t o g a i n i t s f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t f r o m o r g a n i z a .

t i o n s , f i r m s a n d i n d i v i d u a l s w i l l i n g t o p a y f o r t h e s e r v i c e , w h o d e s i r e i n v e s t i -

[ 1 8 4 ]




g a t i o n s m a d e o f " n a t i o n a l , s o c i a l , c i v i c o r p h i l a n t h r o p i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s s o l i c i t -

i n g v o l u n t a r y c o n t r i b u t i o n s ." T h e r e a r e n a t u r a l l y m a n y p e op l e b o t h a m o n g

t h e w e a l t h i e r a n d t h e w e l l - t o - d o c l a s s e s w h o d e s i r e t o b e s a t i s f i e d t h a t a n y f u n d s

which they - c o n t r i b u t e w i l l b e p r o p e r l y d i s b u r s e d , a n d t h e N a t i o n a l I n f o r m a -

t i o n B u r e a u i s a p p a r e n t l y t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n , f r o m i t s p o i n t o f v i e w , w h i c h i s

a b l e a n d e q u i p p e d t o g i v e t h e m s a t i s f a c t i o n . Presumably, then, the Bureau

I s c o n s t a n t l y r e c e i v i n g a p p l i c a t i o n s f r o m s u c h p e o p l e , a n d i n t i m e w o u l d h a v e

l i s t e d l a r g e n u m b e r s o f t h o s e w h o a r e p h i l a n t h r o p i c a l l y i n c l i n e d . "Over 1700

i n v e s t i g a t i o n s h a v e b e e n m a d e ; f o r t y p e r c e n t s h o w u n d e s i r a b l e c o n d i t i o n s "

( 1 9 2 1 ) .

I n d e t a i l i n g t h e s c o p e o f t h e w o r k o f t h e N a t i o n a l I n f o r m a t i o n B u r e a u ,

a t t e n t i o n h a s b e e n c a l l e d t o c e r t a i n d a n g e r o u s p o t e n t i a l i t i e s , a n d i t r e m a i n s

to examine the personnel of its organi za tion as shown by its reports .

Mr. P a u l C r a v a t h w a s a p p a r e n t l y o n e o f t h e e a r l i e r o f f i c i a l s . He is widely

known in New York as an attorney, and it is a matter of common knowl .

e d g e t h a t h e h a d a c t e d i n a p r o f e s s i o n a l c a p a c i t y f o r t h e b a n k i n g f i r m o f K u h n ,

Loeb & Co . , o r f o r s o m e o f i t s p a r t n e r s a s i n d i v i d u a l s . He appeared for

Mr. Otto Kahn for instance, before the Federal Trade Commission at hear-i n g s a p p o i n t e d t o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e f a c t s a s t o t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f t h e e x i s t e n c e

o f a m o v i n g p i c t u r e t r u s t . L i t e r a t u r e d e s c r i b i n g t h e w o r k o f t h e B u r e a u i n

the year 1921, presents a list of names of the officers and directors,,

m a n y o f w h i c h a r e q u i t e a b o v e t h e s u s p i c i o n o f b e i n g c o n s c i o u s l y i n v o l v e d

i n a n y s u b v e r s i v e o r g a n i z a t i o n . There are two divisions of the Board o f

D i r e c t o r s , t h e f i r s t " r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e c o n t r i b u t i n g p u b l i c , " a n d t h e s e c o n d

" r e p r e s e n t i n g o r g a n i z e d s o c i a l w o r k . " O f t h e n a m e s i n t h e f o r m e r d i v i s i o n ,

that of Robert W . D e F o r e s t i s p e r h a p s t h e m o s t c o n s p i c u o u s . He is a well

k n o w n a t t o r n e y i n N e w Y o r k C i t y , a n o f f i c i a l i n t h e M e t r o p o l i t a n L i f e I n -

s u r a n c e C o m p a n y , a n d a t r u s t e e o f t h e S a g e F o u n d a t i o n , e t c . , e t c . , e tc .

Among radicals he is widely and favorably known because of the fact that

he is or was president of the corporation which publishes T h e . S u r v e y , a

magazine which the Lusk Committee Report very cons ervatively classifies

as "a Liberal paper, having the endorsement of Revolutionary Groups" .

I t s e d i t o r i a l p o l i c y e x h i b i t s a t e n d r e s s e for Soviet Russia which approaches

in an intellectual way near to that which is exhibited by wordy bras s

knuckles of Th e C o m m u n i s t . T h e L u s k C o m m i t t e e a l s o b r o u g h t o u t t h e

f a c t t h a t The Survey was "subsidized by the Russell Sage Foundation and

h a s b e e n r e c e i v i n g a t t h e r a t e o f $ 1 3 , 0 0 0 a y e a r f o r t h e p a s t n i n e y e a r s . "

T h e L u s k C o m m i t t e e R e p o r t a l s o r e c o r d s t h e f a c t t h a tF re ed om , a p ap er

p u b l i s h e d b y t h e F e r r e r g r o u p o f a n a r c h i s t s a t S t e l t o n , N . J . , a n d a d v o c a t i n g

t h e " p r i n c i p l e s o f a n a r c h i s t c o m m u n i s m , " h a d t h i s t o s a y e d i t o r i a l l y : " I t m a y

w e l l b e a s k e d , ` W h y a n o t h e r p a p e r ? ' w h e n t h e b r o a d l y l i b e r t a r i a n a n d r e v o -

l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t i s s o a b l y r e p r e s e n t e d b y S o c i a l i s t p u b l i c a t i o n s l i k e t h e

Revolutionary Age, Liberator, Rebel Worker, Workers World, a n d m a n y

o t h e r s , a n d t h e a d v a n c e d l i b e r a l m o v e m e n t b yThe Dial, Nation, The World

Tomorrow, a n d t o a l e s s e r d e g r e e , t h e N e w R e p u b l i c , and Survey . These

p u b l i c a t i o n s a r e d o i n g e x c e l l e n t w o r k i n t h e i r s e v e r a l w a y s , a n d w i t h m u c h

o f t h a t w o r k w e f i n d o u r s e l v e s i n h e a r t y a g r e e m e n t . "

[ 1 8 5 1



REDS IN AMERICA

The explanation which has been advanced in defense of Mr . D e F o r e s t

t o t h e e f f e c t t h a t a s a b u s y b u s i n e s s a n d p r o f e s s i o n a l m a n , h e h a r d l y h a s

t i m e t o g i v e d e t a i l e d a t t e n t i o n t o m a n y a c t i v i t i e s t o w h i c h h e l e n d s h i s n a m e ,

i s a s p e c i o u s o n e . H e a l o n e i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e u s e o f h i s n a m e .

Among those given as members of the directo rate of the National In-

formation Bureau "representing organized . s o c i a l w o r k " i s t h e f a m i l i a r o n e

o f O w e n R . Lovejoy, general secret ary of the National Child Labor Com-

m i t t e e o f N e w Y o r k . It should be noted that Lovejoy is secretary of the

Bureau (1921), presumably indicating his lively interest in the work . To

r a d i c a l s o f e v e r y h u e f r o m t h e A t l a n t i c t o t h e P a c i f i c , L o v e j o y ' s n a m e i s

a l w a y s h a i l e d w i t h s a t i s f a c t i o n . H e w a s f o r m e r l y a c t i v e i n t h e A m e r i c a n

Associat ion for Labor Legislati on . H e i s l i s t e d i n t h e L u s k C o m m i t t e e

Report as a member of the executive committee of the Civil Liberties Bu-

reau, of which Roger N . B a l d w i n w a s d i r e c t o r , t h i s B u r e a u a f t e r w a r d s m e r g -

ing into the American Civil Liberties Union, a part of the open or legal

machinery of the Communist party of America . T h e r o s t e r o f t h a t E x e c u t i v e

Committee reads more o r less like the membership of a New York Local,

among them being : Rabbi Stephen S . Wise, Dr . J a m e s P . Warbasse, R ev .

Norman M . T h o m a s , A g n e s B r o w n L e a c h , Zo n a G a l e , M a x E a s t m a n , E m i l y

G r e e n e B a l c h, O s wa l d G a r r is o n V i l la r d o w ne r of T h e N a ti o n, P r o f . S c o t t

N e a r i n g , J a m e s R . Maurer, Alice Lewisohn, Paul U . K e l l o g , e d i t o r o f T he

S u r v e y , R e v . J oh n H . H o l m e s , F r a n k B o h n a n d J a n e A d d a m s . Mr . L o v e j o y

also wrote the so-called "Dear Gene" letter to Debs at the time when the

l a t t e r w a s s e n t e n c e d t o A t l a n t a P e n i t e n t i a r y a n d i n w h i c h L o v e j o y a n a l y z e d

h i s f e e l i n g s a t t h i s e v e n t b y c o m p a r i n g t h e m w i t h t h e f a l l i n g s h a d e s o f n i g h t .

As general secretary of the National Child Labor Committee, he has

b e e n w e l c o m e d i n a t l e a s t o n e H i g h S c h o o l o f t h e C i t y o f N e w Y o r k , w h e r e ,

a f t e r m a k i n g a s p e e c h , h e s o l i c i t e d p e n n i e s f r o m t h e s t u d e n t s f o r t h e s u p -

port of the Committee .

I n B u l l e t i n N o . 8 i s s u e d b y t h e N a t i o n a l I n f o r m a t i o n B u r e a u , a l i s t o f

the societies approved (1921) is given, and am ong them are th e names of

two, The American Association of Social Workers and the National Child

Labor Committee , of which Lovejoy himsel f is an official .

I n t h i s a p p r o v e d l i s t t h e r e a r e o f c o u r s e m a n y s o c i e t i e s a n d o r g a n i z a -

t i o n s w h i c h a r e f a r a b o v e c r i t i c i s m b o t h a s t o t h e i r f u n c t i o n s a n d t h e p e r -

s o n n e l o f t h e o f f i c i a l s . T h e r e a r e h o w e v e r s o m e w h i c h a r e q u i t e t o t h e

c o n t r a r y . For instance, approval has been extended to the American Civil

Liberties Union, an important constituent organization in the open legal

machinery of the Communis t party of America, for all practical purposes

a c o n t i n u a t i o n o f t h e O l d C i v i l L i b e r t i e s B u r e a u o f w h i c h L o v e j o y h i m s e l f

was a member of the Executive Committee, and an organization which

caused so much anxiety to the Government during the war . Approval has

also been extended in a list of 1923 to the Women's Trade Union League

o f w h i c h , a s s t a t e d , M r s . Raymond Robins was the organizer and president,

and which was discussed with more than friendly spirit i n the documents

s e i z e d d u r i n g t h e r a i d o n t h e c o n v e n t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y a t B r i d g m a n .

A s h a s b e e n s h o w n t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n i s a p a r t a n d n o t a n u n i m p o r t a n t o n e o f

( 1 8 6 1




t h e u n i t e d f r o n t o f t h e o p e n l e g a l m a c h i n e r y o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r -

i c a . T h e A m e r i c a n A s s o c i a t i o n f o r L a b o r L e g i s l a t i o n h a s a l s o b e e n a p p r o v e d

i n t h e 1 9 2 3 l i s t , a n o r g a n i z a t i o n w h i c h h a s a l s o b e e n c o n s i d e r e d a n d o f w h i c h

Mr. Felix Warburg of the bankin g firm of Kuhn, Loeb & Co. , i s o r w a s a

v i c e - p r e s i d e n t , a l o n g w i t h M i s s L i l l i a n W a l d , E r n s t F r e u n d a n d R a b b i

Stephen Wise . I n t h e a p p r o v e d l i s t a r e a l s o s o c i e t i e s o f a l l s t r i p e s a m o n g

them the American Union Against Militarism ; (1921) the America n Jewish

C o m m i t t e e , ( 1 9 2 3 ) o r g a n i z e d t o " p r o t e c t a n d p r e v e n t t h e i n f r a c t i o n o f c i v i l

and religious rights of Jews throughout the world" ; the Federal Council

of the Churches o f Christ in America, (1923) of which whole books have

b e e n w r i t t e n ; the Foreign Po licy Associa tion, (1923) which stands for "a

l i b e r a l a n d c o n s t r u c t i v e A m e r i c a n f o r e i g n p o l i c y " ; the League to Enforce

P e a c e , " o r g a n i z e d t o p r o m o t e a n e f f e c t i v e L e a g u e o f N a t i o n s w i t h t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s a s a m e m b e r " , t h e N a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n f o r t h e A d v a n c e m e n t o f

Colored Peo ple, (1923) an agitative pro-Soviet orga nizatio n for propa-

g a n d i z i n g n e g r o e s ; the National Consum ers League, of which Mrs . F l o r e n c e

Kelly (formerly Wishnewetzky) is the General Secreta ry, and John R .

S h i l l a d y , a l s o o n t h e d i r e c t o r a t e o f t h e N a t i o n a l I n f o r m a t i o n B u r e a u , i s t h e

e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r ; the Voluntary Parenthood League, which specializes in

t h e p r o p a g a n d a o f b i r t h c o n t r o l , a n d w h i c h f r o m a n e x a m i n a t i o n o f i t s p e r -

sonnel and objectives may be regarded as in the periphery of the radical

m o v e m e n t ; the American Relief for Russian Women and Children of which

t h e p r o - s o c i a l i s t a n d p a c i f i s t , J a n e A d d a m s i s t h e c h a i r m a n ; the Committee

for the Rescue and Education of Russian Children ; the American Jewish

Joint Distribution Committee of which Mr . Felix Warburg is the chairman ;

a n d m a n y o t h e r s .

I f l e t t e r h e a d s a r e t o b e b e l i e v e d , t h e N a t i o n a l I n f o r m a t i o n B u r e a u h a s

e x t e n d e d w i t h i n t h e r e c e n t p a s t i t s s e a l o f a p p r o v a l t o t h e F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t

Russia, the open, legal branch of the Communist party of America . It has

a l s o s e t t h e s e a l o f i t s a p p r o v a l o n t h e m a n y c o n s t i t u a n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f

the Friends of Soviet Russia and also upon the American Commit tee for

t h e R e l i e f o f R u s s i a n C h i l d r e n o f w h i c h C a p t . P a x t o n H i b b e n i s t h e e x e c u -

tive secretary, of whom much has already been said .

Information of the type which the National Information Bureau co l-

l e c t s a n d c o r r e l a t e s i s l i f e b l o o d t o t h o s e w h o a r e a c t i v e l y e n g a g e d i n t h e

w o r k o f p r o p a g a n d a , g o o d o r b a d . "Sucker-lists" such as were uncovered

i n t h e r a i d u p o n t h e c o n v e n t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a a t

B r i d g m a n m u s t b e c o n s t a n t l y r e p l e n i s h e d a n d i f a m e c h a n i s m d o e s n o t

e x i s t c a p a b l e o f s u p p l y i n g t h e m , i t m u s t b e o r g a n i z e d .

[ 1 8 7 1



CHAPTER TWELVE

THE NEGRO PROGRAM

FUTURE PLANS OF COMMUNISTS

The Communists' earliest program in the United States included the

use of the negro masses in its cam paign to bring about the overthrow of

the Government of this country by violence . T h i s p r o g r a m r e c o g n i z e d

that the negroes had many grievances, that race hatred was strong among

them, and that they were easily inflamed to violence . Accordingly it

w a s d e c i d e d t o u s e t h e m i n t h e g r e a t c o n s p i r a c y . The Left Wing Socialists

a n d t h e I . W W . , f r o m w h i c h c a m e t h e n u c l e u s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y

of America, had drawn no color line and had urged the negroes repeatedly

t o m e e t v i o l e n c e w i t h v i o l e n c e , t o " f i g h t b a c k , " a n d t o d e m a n d t h e i r

" r i g h t s " o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t a n d o f i n d i v i d u a l w h i t e s w i t h t h r e a t s o f u p r i s -

ings unless these "rights" were granted . Thus it was that the negro

program became one of the prime vicious plans of the Communists .

During the first year of organized activity by the Communists in the

United States a great deal of attention was paid to the negro question .

A n u m b e r o f e d u c a t e d n e g r o e s , m o s t o f t h e m f r o m H a r v a r d , w e r e f o u n d

sufficiently discontented and sufficiently unbalanced to make good Com-

munists. They were enlisted in the work and from that time on have been

preaching violence on every occasion. The race riots of 1919 came at

the height of this radicalism among the negroes who were secretly sup-

p o r t e d a n d u r g e d t o g r e a t e r v i o l e n c e b y w h i t e C o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e

r a d i c a l n e g r o l e a d e r s . T h e C o m m u n i s t s m a d e c a p i t a l o f t h e s e r i o t s a n d

t h e c o i n c i d e n t r a c i a l f e e l i n g w h i c h w a s a r o u s e d . S o o n a f t e r t h i s , h o w e v e r ,

the Communist leaders turned to other features of the conspiracy against

the Government, and the interest of the mass of negroes waned . B u t m o r e

recently the Communist leaders, acting under instructions from Moscow ;

have again turned their attention to this question, and their activities

have resulted in renewed Communist expression by the negroes, through

their radical press and in committee work among them .

T h e n e g r o e s c a m e b a c k f r o m E u r o p e , a n d f r o m s e r v i c e i n c a m p s i n

t h i s c o u n t r y , w i t h r e n e w e d d e s i r e f o r b e t t e r m e n t . They had also, by their

experience in the Army, learned the use of organized force . The radicals

i n t h i s c o u n t r y w e r e q u i c k t o s e i z e u p o n t h i s f e e l i n g a m o n g t h e n e g r o e s t o

preach violence and urge them on to take by force what they wanted. By

every means this class consciousness was cultivated by the radicals, and .

later by the Communists . T h e d i s s a t i s f i e d n e g r o e s w e r e a i d e d i n s t a r t i n g

[ 1 8 9 )



REDS I N AMERICA

n e w s p a p e r s d e v o t e d t o u r g i n g t h e n e g r o e s t o j o i n t h e r a d i c a l s . W h e n t h e

Communist party appeared the prelimin ary missionary work among the

n e g r o e s h a d b e e n d o n e i n t h e n a m e o f " B o l s h e v i s m , " w h i c h b e c a m e a c o m -

m o n t e r m a m o n g t h e n e g r o a g i t a t o r s . I n f l a m m a t o r y c a r t o o n s a n d s k e t c h e s

a p p e a r e d i n t h e n e g r o r a d i c a l p r e s s a n d g r a d u a l l y b u t s u r e l y t h i s p r e s s

became Communistic, openly and avowedly . Many of the radical negro

p a p e r s a r e n o w o f f i c i a l l y r e c o g n i z e d b y t h e s e c r e t , i l l e g a l C o m m u n i s t p a r t y .

O n e o f t h e m o s t i n f l a m m a t o r y c a r t o o n s t h a t h a s a p p e a r e d i n t h e n e g r o

p r e s s , d e p i c t e d a n e g r o i n t h e u n i f o r m o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s A r m y s t a n d i n g

a r m e d w i t h s w o r d a n d r i f l e o n t h e s o i l o f F r a n c e , h i s f e e t u p o n a r o p e t h a t

l e a d s t o t h e b a c k g r o u n d o f t h e , p i c t u r e w h e r e t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a

i s p o r t r a y e d b y a t r e e , a g a i n s t w h i c h i s a S t a t u e o f L i b e r t y a n d b y w h i c h

i s a f i g u r e o f t h e d e v i l , e n t i t l e d " O b s t r u c t i o n . " A t t h e n e g r o s o l d i e r ' s f e e t

i s a l a r g e d e c a p i t a t e d h e a d o f a w h i t e m a n - " O b s t r u c t i o n " - w i t h l a b e l s o f

" J i m C r o w H i m " - " B u r n H i m " - " L y n c h H i m " - " K i l l " - " M o b " - " S t a r v e . "

T h e g e n e r a l c a p t i o n o f t h i s c a r t o o n i s , " M u s t H e C a r r y O n ? "

I n f l a m m a t o r y r e a d i n g m a t t e r i s a l s o f u r n i s h e d t o t h e b l a c k r e a d e r s .

A single paragraph from The Messenger, o n e o f t h e r a d i c a l p a p e r s f o r

n e g r o e s , r e a d s : " A s f o r s o c i a l e q u a l i t y , t h e r e a r e a b o u t 5 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 m u l a t t o e s

i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . T h i s i s t h e p r o d u c t o f s e m i s o c i a l e q u a l i t y . I t s h o w s

t h a t s o c i a l e q u a l i t y g a l o r e e x i s t s a f t e r d a r k , a n d w e w a r n y o u t h a t w e e x p e c t

t o h a v e s o c i a l e q u a li t y i n t h e d a y a s w e l l a s a f t e r d a r k . "

C o m m u n i s t a g e n t s c a r e f u l l y s o u g h t o u t t h e v a r i o u s n e g r o o r g a n i z a -

t i o n s i n t h i s c o u n t r y , c o n s u l t e d w i t h t h e l e a d e r s , a n d s t u d i e d t h e m o t i v e s

b e h i n d e a c h o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d l e a d e r a s w e l l a s t h e m e t h o d s u s e d t o a t t a i n

t h e d e s i r e d e n d. F o r s e v e r a l m o n t h s t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s w e r e w a t c h e d a n d

f i n a l l y , a c t i n g u p o n t h e r e p o r t s o f t h e s e a g e n t s , t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y f o r -

m a l l y g a v e a p p r o v a l t o t h e A f r i c a n B l o o d B r o t h e r h o o d . T h i s i s t h e m o s t

r a d i c a l o f t h e n e g r o o r g a n i z a t i o n s , a n d w h i l e t h e d o o r i s n o t b a r r e d t o o t h e r s

w h o m a y l a t e r p r o v e t h a t t h e y a r e r a d i c a l e n o u g h t o u n i t e w i t h t h e C o m -

m u n i s t s , t h i s i s t h e o n l y o n e t h u s f a r f o r m a l l y a p p r o v e d . A document

f o u n d a t B r i d g m a n , a f t e r t h e r a i d o f t h e i l l e g a l C o m m u n i s t C o n v e n t i o n ,

i n c l u d e d " a b r i e f s t a t e m e n t o f t h e P r o g r a m a n d A i m s o f t h e A f r i c a n B l o o d

Brotherhood . " T h i s b e g a n w i t h a n e n u m e r a t i o n o f t h e a i m s , e i g h t i n a l l ,

w h i c h i n c l u d e d " a l i b e r a t e d r a c e ; a b s o l u t e r a c e e q u a l i t y - p o l i t i c a l , e c o -

n o m i c , s o c i a l ; t h e f o s t e r i n g o f r a c e p r i d e ; organized and uncompromising

o p p o s i t i o n t o K u K l u x i s m ; rapprochement a n d f e l l o w s h i p w i t h i n t h e d a r k e r

m a s s e s a n d w i t h t h e c l a s s - c o n s c i o u s r e v o l u t i o n a r y w h i t e w o r k e r s ; i n d u s t r i a l

development ; h i g h e r w a g e s f o r n e g r o l a b o r , l o w e r r e n t s ; a u n i t e d n e g r o

f r o n t . " I n d i s c u s s i n g t h e s e a i m s t h i s s t a t e m e n t , w h i c h w a s i n t h e f o r m o f

a n o f f i c i a l r e p o r t , o r t h e s i s , t o t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , s a y s :

" A l i b e r a t e d r a c e - i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , A f r i c a a n d e l s e w h e r e . L i b e r -

a t e d n o t m e r e l y f r o m p o l i t i c a l r u l e , b u t a l s o f r o m t h e c r u s h i n g w e i g h t o f

c a p i t a l i s m , w h i c h k e e p s t h e m a n y i n d e g r a d i n g p o v e r t y t h a t t h e f e w m a y

w a l l o w i n s t o l e n w e a l t h .

" A b s o l u t e R a c e E q u a l i t y. I n t h i s q u e s t i o n a r e i n e x t r i c a b l y b o u n d t h e

[ 1 9 0 ]



Max E a s t m a n , e d i t o r o f L i b e r a t o r and C l a u d e McKay, the n e g r o poet, i n a t -

t e n d a n c e on th e Fourth C o n g r e s s of t he T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l a t M o s c o w , F e b r u a r y ,

1923 . Eastman, whose father and mother were both ordained in the Christianm i n i s t r y , e s p e c i a l l y r e p r e s e n t s t h e a n t i - C h r i s t i a n s e n t i m e n t a m o n g A m e r i c a n c o m -

m u n i s t s t h r o u g h t h e c o l u m n s o f t h e L iberator, specimen pages of which are repro-

d u c e d e l s e w h e r e . (Wide World Phctos I





REDS I N AMERICA

a h a n d f u l o f o f f i c i a l s ; (b) The African Blood Brotherhood d o e s n o t c o n -

s i d e r a n y c o m m e r c i a l e n t e r p r i s e g o o d e n o u g h t o b a s e t h e s e c o n d l i b e r a t i o n

m o v e m e n t u p o n t h e m e r e c h a n c e s o f i t s s u c c e s s o r f a i l u r e . N o m o v e m e n t

s o b a s e d c a n l o n g s u r v i v e t h e c o l l a p s e o f i t s c o m m e r c i a l e n t e r p r i s e s . Web e l i e v e i n f o s t e r i n g a n d e n c o u r a g i n g c o o p e r a t i v e e n t e r p r i s e s t h a t w i l l b e n e -

f i t t h e m a n y r a t h e r t h a n t h e f e w , b u t w i t h o u t b a s i n g t h e m o v e m e n t upon

t h e m .

" H i g h e r w a g e s f o r n e g r o l a b o r , l o w e r r e n t s . T o g a i n f o r n e g r o l a b o r

t h e f u l l r e w a r d o f i t s t o i l a n d t o p r e v e n t c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t a t i o n e i t h e r o n

t h e j o b o r a t t h e s o u r c e o f s u p p l i e s w e m u s t e n c o u r a g e i n d u s t r i a l u n i o n i s m

a m o n g o u r p e o p l e a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e f i g h t t o b r e a k d o w n t h e b a r r i e r s

w h i c h c a p i t a l i s t - s t i m u l a t e d p r e j u d i c e h a s c r e a t e d a g a i n s t u s i n t h e t r a d e

u n i o n s . T h e s e b a r r i e r s a r e a l r e a d y m e e t i n g t h e a t t a c k o f t h e r a d i c a l an d

p r o g r e s s i v e e l e m e n t a m o n g w h i t e u n i o n m e n a n d m u s t e v e n t u a l l y g i v e w a y

b e f o r e t h e u n i t e d o n s l a u g h t o f b l a c k a n d w h i t e w o r k e r s m a r c h i n g t o a t t a c k

w i t h t h e s t i r r i n g s l o g a n

" ' W o r k e r s o f t h e w o r l d , u n i t e ! You have nothing to lose but your

c h a i n s ! Y o u h a v e a w o r l d t o g a i n ! '

" A u n i t e d n e g r o f r o n t w i t h w h i c h t o o p p o s e t h e u n i t e d f r o n t o f t h e

w h i t e c a p i t a l i s t s o r g a n i z e d u n d e r t h e g u i s e o f c h a m b e r s of commerce, K u

Klux Klan, American Legion, Ameri can Defense S o c i e t y , e t c . T h i s c a n

b e d o n e o n l y b y b r i n g i n g a l l n e g r o o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t o a f e d e r a t i o n w i t h

a p r o g r a m t o w h i c h a n y d e c e n t n e g r o o r g a n i z a t i o n c o u l d s u b s c r i b e . T h e i r

i d e n t i t y c o u l d n o t b e l o s t . T h e i r a u t o n o m y p r a c t i c a l l y u n i m p a i r e d . "

T h i s i n t e r e s t i n g d o c u m e n t w a s r e a d t o t h e ' c o n v e n t i o n o n August 20,

a n d d i s c u s s e d . A s p e c i a l c o m m i t t e e h a d b e e n p r e v i o u s l y a p p o i n t e d t o c o n -

s i d e r t h e n e g r o q u e s t i o n ` a n d i t s w o r k a n d a f t e r d e l i b e r a t i o n d r e w u p o n a

s i n g l e p a g e a p r o g r a m f o r w o r k b y t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , w i t h o f f i c i a l a p -

p r o v a l , g i v i n g a n i n t e r e s t i n g l i g h t o n t h e m e t h o d s e m p l o y e d b y t h e i l l e g a l

o r g a n i z a t i o n i n s t i r r i n g u p s t r i f e a n d c e m e n t i n g r a d i c a l s . T h i s p r o g r a m


" V i c t o r y o f t h e w o r k e r s c a n b e a c h i e v e d o n l y b y g e n i u n e a n d e f f e c t i v e

s o l i d a r i t y . S u c h s o l i d a r i t y i s i m p o s s i b l e o f a t t a i n m e n t a s l o n g a s r a c e

a n t a g o n i s m b e f u d d l e s t h e m i n d s o f t h e w o r k e r s , d i v i d i n g t h e m i n t o h o s t i l e

c a m p s , t h u s r e n d e r i n g t h e m a n e a s y p r e y t o t h e m a c h i n a t i o n s and tyranny

o f t h e i r c a p i t a l i s t o p p r e s s o r s .

" R a c e p r e j u d i c e i s a n e v i l a n d m e n a c e s t h e w o r k e r s ' c a u s e . I t m u s t ,

t h e r e f o r e , b e c o m b a t e d r e s o l u t e l y a n d p e r s i s t e n t l y i n a l l o f i t s b a n e f u lforms .

T h e l e a d e r s o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s m u s t w a g e a r e l e n t l e s s w a r a g a i n s t r a c e

s e g r e g a t i o n , d i s f r a n c h i s e m e n t , p e o n a g e a n d l y n c h i n g .

" T h e n e g r o m a s s e s s h o u l d b e l e d t o s e e t h e s i m i l a r i t y b e t w e e n t h e i r

r a c e s t r u g g l e a n d t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e e n t i r e w o r k i n g c l a s s. T h e w h i t e w o r k -

e r s , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , s h o u l d b e s h o w n t h a t t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e o f t h e w o r k e r s

r e g a r d l e s s o f r a c e i s o n e g r e a t b a t t l e a g a i n s t a c o m m o n e n e m y , a n d t h a t t o

w i n , t h e y m u s t s u p p o r t t h e o p p r e s s e d r a c e s i n t h e i r s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t r a c e

( 1 9 2 ]



THE NEGRO PROGRAM

p e r s e c u t i o n a n d a i d t h e m i n t h e i r f i g h t t o s e c u r e p o l i t i c a l , i n d u s t r i a l a n d

s o c i a l e q u a l i t y , w i t h o u t r e g a r d t o r a c e , c o l o r o r c r e e d .

" A t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e , a n o r g a n i z a t i o n i s g a i n i n g a f o o t h o l d i n t h i s

country whose avowed purpose is to keep the negro down, and whose un-

avowed object is to combat the revolutionary, radical and progressive

e l e m e n t s o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s . The Ku Klux Klan is a deci ded menac e to

t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s , a n d e s p e c i a l l y t h e n e g r o . T h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n i s r e c e i v i n g

o f f i c i a l r e c o g n i t i o n i n t h a t c a n d i d a t e s o p e n l y e s p o u s i n g i t s p r o g r a m a r e

r u n n i n g f o r p u b l i c o f f i c e . I t b e c o m e s i m p e r a t i v e , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t s t e p s b e

t a k e n t o e x p o s e a n d f i g h t t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n .

" I n o r d e r t h a t t h e n e g r o m a y b e r e a c h e d w i t h e d u c a t i o n a n d p r o p a g a n d a

a n d t h a t h e m a y b e o r g a n i z e d f o r a c t i v i t y , t h e f o l l o w i n g m e t h o d s a r e r e c -

o m m e n d e d :

" 1 . - N u c l e i s h a l l b e e s t a b l i s h e d i n a l l e x i s t i n g n e g r o o r g a n i z a t i o n s ,

s u c h a s f r a t e r n a l , r e l i g i o u s a n d l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s , c o o p e r a t i v e s , t e n a n t

f a r m e r s ' l e a g u e s , e t c .

" 2 . - C o l o r e d o r g a n i z e r s a n d s p e a k e r s s h a l l b e s e n t a m o n g n e g r o e s i n

o r d e r t o i n f o r m t h e m a n d w i n t h e i r c o n f i d e n c e .

" 3 . - N e w s p a p e r s a n d p u b l i c a t i o n s s h a l l b e e s t a b l i s h e d o r , w h e n t h i s

i s n o t f e a s i b l e , n e w s s e r v i c e s h a l l b e e s t a b l i s h e d b y f r i e n d l y c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h

c o l o r e d n e w s p a p e r s o f l i b e r a l t e n e t s .

"4. - F r i e n d s h i p o f l i b e r a l - m i n d e d n e g r o m i n i s t e r s s h a l l b e s o u g h t , a s

t h e s e m e n a r e a t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e t h e l e a d e r s o f t h e n e g r o m a s s e s a n d m a n y

o f t h e m a r e e a r n e s t b u t l a c k s c i e n t i f i c k n o w l e d g e .

"5 . - C o n f e r e n c e s o n t h e e c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n s a m o n g n e g r o e s s h a l l b e

h e l d f r o m t i m e t o t i m e w i t h t h e s e m i n i s t e r s , e d u c a t o r s a n d o t h e r l i b e r a l

e l e m e n t s , a n d t h r o u g h t h e i r i n f l u e n c e t h e p a r t y s h a l l a i m t o s e c u r e a m o r e

f a v o r a b l e h e a r i n g b e f o r e t h e n e g r o m a s s e s .

"6. - B y m e a n s o f i t s m e m b e r s h i p t h e p a r t y s h a l l p e n e t r a t e t h e e x i s t i n g

f o r u m s , l i t e r a r y s o c i e t i e s , l y c e u m s , s c h o o l s , c o l l e g e s , t e a c h e r s ' i n s t i t u t e s ,

e t c . , o f t h e c o l o r e d p e o p l e , a n d e s t a b l i s h f o r u m s o f i t s o w n f o r t h e e n l i g h t -

e n m e n t o f t h e n e g r o p o p u l a t i o n .

"7. - W h e r e o t h e r f o r m s o f a c t i v i t y a r e i m p o s s i b l e o r i m p r a c t i c a b l e ,

a s i n c e r t a i n S o u t h e r n d i s t r i c t s , c o o p e r a t i v e s m a y b e f o r m e d .

" 8 . - T h e p a r t y s h a l l p e n e t r a t e e x i s t i n g a n t i - K u K l u x K l a n o r g a n i z a -

t i o n s a n d s h a l l f o r m o r g a n i z a t i o n s w h e r e v e r n o n e e x i s t . A s t h i s i s o n e o f

t h e m o s t v i o l e n t f o r m s o f s u p p r e s s i o n o f t h e n e g r o a t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e ,

t h e f o r m a t i o n o f s u c h a n t i - K u K l u x K l a n o r g a n i z a t i o n s s h a l l . b e f o s t e r e d

w i t h a l l e n e r g y . "

A s a r e s u l t o f t h i s a t t i t u d e o n t h e p a r t o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f

A m e r i c a a n d t h e n a t u r a l d e s i r e o f t h e r a d i c a l n e g r o e s w h o s e e k l i m e l i g h t

a n d a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h w h i t e s , t h e r e h a s b e e n a m a r k e d i n c r e a s e i n a c t i v i t y

among the negro masses . T h e a g i t a t o r s a r e n o w t o u r i n g t h e c o u n t r y , n u c l e i

a r e b e i n g e s t a b l i s h e d i p w h a t e v e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f n e g r o e s a r e f o u n d , r e -

l i g i o u s , p o l i t i c a l o r s o c i a l , a n d t h e r e d g o s p e l o f C o m m u n i s m i s b e i n g

p r e a c h e d . A s i m i l a r m o v e m e n t h a d b e e n c a r r i e d o u t j u s t b e f o r e t h e r a c e

[ 1 9 3 1



REDS IN AMERICA

r i o t s t h a t s t a r t l e d t h e c o u n t r y a f e w y e a r s a g o . An A s s o c i a t e d N e g r o P r e s s

w a s s w u n g i n t o l i n e t o c a r r y i n f l a m m a t o r y r a c i a l a r t i c l e s t o t h e v a r i o u s

r a d i c a l n e g r o n e w s p a p e r s . S o m e o f t h e p a p e r s a r e n o t a c t u a l l y o r g a n s o f

t h e C o m m u n i s t s b u t a r e t r y i n g d e s p e r a t e l y , b y a s s u m i n g a r a d i c a l a t t i t u d e ,

t o b e c o m e t h e r e c o g n i z e d o r g a n s i n o r d e r t o r e c e i v e s o m e f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t

from the Communist funds . R e c e n t l y a n e d i t o r i a l w a s p r i n t e d i n o n e s u c h

p a p e r , w h i c h c o u l d h a v e n o o t h e r p u r p o s e t h a n t o s t i r u p s t r i f e e x a c t l y a s

the Communists wish . T h i s e d i t o r i a l w a s e n t i t l e d , " A n E y e f o r a n E y e , "

a n d r e a d i n p a r t :

" T h e t r u t h a b o u t c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e S o u t h i s c o m i n g o u t b i t b y b i t .

Lynching must g o . T h e n e w s a g e n c i e s d a r e n o t t e l l t h e t r u t h . B a c k o f

e v e r y l y n c h i n g , a s e x p e r t i n v e s t i g a t o r s o f l y n c h i n g s a n d r a c e r i o t s k n o w ,

i s a c a u s e t r a c e a b l e t o t h e c o r r u p t m o r a l a n d p o l i t i c a l s y s t e m o f t h e S o u t h .

There is hate and poison and venom in every one of us-and it is just

h a t e a n d p o i s o n a n d v e n o m ! . . W h a t S o u t h e r n n e g r o e s s h o u l d d o i s

t o r e p a y t h e c r a c k e r s i n t h e i r o w n b l o od y c o i n . A n e y e f o r a n e y e a n d a t o o t h

f o r a t o o t h ! F i g h t a n d a g i t a t e a n d l y n c h b a c k , i f n e e d b e ! "

A n o t h e r r a d i c a l n e g r o p a p e r p r i n t s a n a r t i c l e o n " T h e P a s s i n g o f t h e

W o r l d R o b b e r s , " r e f e r r i n g t o t h e C h r i s t i a n C a u c a s i a n r a c e s w h i c h a d o p t e d

" a t o p s y - t u r v y p h i l o s o p h y o f l i f e , o u t o f h a r m o n y w i t h n a t u r e , " n a m e l y ,

t h e C h r i s t i a n r e l i g i o n . A f t e r t w o t h o u s a n d y e a r s o f t h i s , t h e a r t i c l e s a y s :

" . . . T h e l o n g r o a d r e a c h e s a t u r n , a n d i n d i c a t i o n s a r e t h a t t h e

h i d e o u s n i g h t m a r e o f t w e n t y c e n t u r i e s i s d r a w i n g t o a c l o s e . F r o m t h e

e n d s o f t h e w o r l d t h e w h i s p e r r u n s t h a t t h e d a y o f E u r o p e a n v a n d a l i s m i s

n e a r i n g i t s e n d a n d t h e c h i l d r e n o f t h e F a r E a s t , t o g e t h e r w i t h s u c h o f

E u r o p e ' s s o n s a s a r e s u s c e p t i b l e t o r e f o r m , w i l l a g a i n a d m i n i s t e r t h e a f f a i r s

o f m a n k i n d a n d t h e c i v i l i z a t i o n t h a t w a s f o u n d e d u p o n f r a u d a n d d e c e p t i o n

w i l l b e o n e w i t h N i n e v e h a n d T y r e . B e y o n d t h e C a r p a t h i a n s , R u s s i a ,

mother of the N ew Day, sits nursing the Infant Era . . World

b r i g a n d s , h u m a n i t y g r e e t s y o u r p a s s i n g w i t h a s i g h o f r e l i e f . G o o d - b y e ,

good luck, Go u ! "Another paper prints a paragraph, readin g, "Hail the Revolution!

L o n g l i v e t h e p e o p l e ! D o w n w i t h t h e c a p i t a l i s t d o m i n a t i o n a n d e x p l o i t a -

t i o n o f A f r i c a a n d A s i a ! T h e d a w n ' s i n t h e E a s t ! "

A s a r e s u l t o f t h e B r i d g m a n r a i d t h e r e c a m e t o l i g h t a n i n t e r e s t i n g

document from Moscow, signed by the "Executive Committee of the Com-

m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l , " B u k h a r i n , R a d e k a n d K u s i n e n , e n t i t l e d " C o n c e r n -

i n g t h e N e x t T a s k s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a . " I t w a s c a r e f u l l y

m a r k e d " n o t f o r p u b l i c a t i o n . " I n t h i s d o c u m e n t t h e C o m m u n i s t s a r e i n -

s t r u c t e d t o s t i r u p r a c i a l s t r i f e , n o t o n l y a m o n g t h e n e g r o e s , b u t b e t w e e n

n a t i o n s . I t u r g e s t h e R e d s t o f o m e n t d i s t r u s t b e t w e e n t h e A m e r i c a n n a t i o n

and the British, the Japanese, the French, and between any two or all

f o u r , i n t h e h o p e t h a t t h i s w i l l l e a d t o w a r a n d t h u s t o d e s t r u c t i o n o f

capitalist nations which will open stil l wider the way for Communism .

T h e y o r d e r t h a t t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e b e c o n t i n u e d w i t h i n c r e a s i n g i n t e n s i t y

[ 1 9 4 1



THE NEGRO PROGRAM

i n o r d e r , a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s , t o r e l i e v e t h e p r e s s u r e u p o n S o v i e t R u s s i a .

They insist that new and more impossible d e m a n d s b e m a d e u p o n t h e

G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , n o t i n t h e h o p e o f t h e i rb e i n g g r a n t e d ,

b u t t h a t m a y f u r n i s h a d d i t i o n a l g r o u n d s f o r p r o p a g a n d a a n d a t t a c k s u p o n

t h e G o v e r n m e n t a n d t h u s i n t e n s i f y t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e . S u g g e s t i o n s a r e m a d e

o f s u b j e c t s u p o n w h i c h t h e d e m a n d s m a y b e b a s e d a n d t h e f i g h t w a g e d .

This document, smuggled by an authorized S o v i e t c o u r i e r i n t o t h i s

c o u n t r y f o r t h e g u i d a n c e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s h e r e a s c o m m a n d e d f r o m M o s -

c o w , i s c l e v e r l y c o n s t r u c t e d , f u l l o f s u g g e s t i v e h i n t s , o r d e r s t h e e s t a b l i s h .

ment of what has become the Workers' party,c o n t a i n s r e p r i m a n d s f o r

mistakes made by the Communists in the past, and plans f o r t h e f u t u r e .

I t w a s t a k e n t o B r i d g m a n b y J . L o v e s t o n e a n d r e a d s a s f o l l o w s :

"In the earlier stages, the Communist movement u s u a l l y l a c k s t h e

broad, directing viewpoint from which can be found t h e g u i d e - p o s t s f o r

i t s v a r i o u s s t e p s . I n e x p e r i e n c e d C o m m u n i s t s , f o r e x a m p l e , a t t a c k i m p e r i a l -

i s m o n l y i n g e n e r a l , i n i t s u n i v e r s a l a s p e c t , w i t h o u t e x a c t i n f o r m a t i o n

a n d m i n u t e a t t e n t i o n t o t h e u n i q u e m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f i m p e r i a l i s m w i t h i n

t h e g i v e n c o u n t r y . T h e y d o n o t i n a n y w a y d i r e c t t h e i r a t t a c k s f o r t h e

p u r p o s e o f p l a y i n g u p a g a i n s t e a c h o t h e r t h e a n t a g o n i s t i c i n t e r e s t s o f v a r i -

o u s i m p e r i a l i s t i c g r o u p s . A l s o , t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f f a l s e t e n d e n c i e s i n

the labor movement they attack i n g e n e r a l t e r m s , w i t h i n d i s c r i m i n a t e

b a t t l e c r i e s h a v i n g p e r h a p s t h e d e s i r e d a p p l i c a t i o n to some, but having

i n r e g a r d t o o t h e r s p e r h a p s t h e e x a c t o p p o s i t e o f t h e d e s i r e d r e s u l t . I n a

w o r d , t h e y s t r i k e a r o u n d w i t h t h e i r e y e s c l o s e d , a g a i n s t a l l o p p o n e n t s o f

Communism in the same manner as a g ainst all opponents of their own

narrow Communist g roups . T h e y f i g h t a s a l i t t l e s e c t f i g h t s a g a i n s t t h e

e n t i r e o u t e r w o r l d .

" S u c h p r i m i t i v e m e t h o d s o f b a t t l e , e v e n w h e n c o m b i n e d w i t h t h e

g r e a t e s t z e a l a n d h e r o i s m , a r e n o t d a n g e r o u s t o t h e e n e m i e s o f C o m m u n i s m .

" T h e C o m m u n i s t s b e g i n t o b e e f f e c t i v e i n t h e p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e o n l y

w h e n t h e y a d o p t c o n c r e t e s t r a t e g i c a i m s f o r t h e i r m o v e m e n t b a s e d u p o n

a t h o r o u g h e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e f a c t s . With a d e t e r m i n a t i o n , p u r p o s e f u l d r i v e

t o t h e s e a i m s , w i t h t h e s u b j e c t i o n o f e v e r y p h a s e o f o u r m o v e m e n t t o

t h i s p r i n c i p l e , o u r m o v e m e n t b e g i n s t o b e e f f e c t i v e .

In order to assist the American comrades in working out and for-

m u l a t i n g t h e i r l i n e o f a c t i o n , t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e of the Communist

I n t e r n a t i o n a l p r o p o s e s f o r t h e i r e x a m i n a t i o n t h e f o l l o w i n g m a i n p o i n t s :

" I . - A s t h e g r e a t e s t f o r c e o p p o s i n g t h e p r o l e t a r i a n w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n

a p p e a r s a t t h e p r e s e n t m o m e n t t o b e t h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y w o r l d a l l i a n c e

o f A m e r i c a n , E n g l i s h , F r e n c h a n d J a p a n e s e c a p i t a l i s m , i t i s o f v i t a l i n t e r -

e s t t o t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t t o w o r k a g a i n s t t h e e s t a b -

l i s h m e n t a n d c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f t h i s a l l i a n c e , t o a t t a c k i t s a d v o c a t e s m o s t

r u t h l e s s l y , t o c u t i t s t a p r o o t , i f p o s s i b l e , t o d i s t u r b i t s g r o w i n g u n c e a s i n g l y ,

a n d , a d r o i t l y t o m a k e u s e o f t h e c o n f l i c t i n g i n t e r e s t s w i t h i n i t . The narrow

n a t i o n a l i s m o f t h e A m e r i c a n J a p a n o p h o b e s a n d A n g l o p h o b e s i s n o t l i b e r a l

o r h u m a n i t a r i a n n o r f r i e n d l y t o l a b o r , a n d i s n o t i n t h e s l i g h t e s t d e g r e e

( 1 9 5 1



REDS I N AMERICA

m o r e a c c e p t a b l e t o u s t h a n w a s t h e a t t e m p t e d b o u r g e o i s n a t i o n a l i s m o f t h e

L e a g u e o f N a t i o n s . A n d y e t , t o t h e e x t e n t o f i t s o w n c u p i d i t y , i t r e a l l y

h i n d e r s a n d d i s t u r b s t h e p r o c e s s o f u n i t i n g t h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y f o r c e s

i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t w o r l d. T o t h e e x t e n t t h a t t h i s n a r r o w n a t i o n a l i s m ( J a p a n -

o p h o b i a a n d A n g l o p h o b i a ) a t t a c k s a n d t e n d s t o s m a s h t h e o u t s i d e w o r l d -

r o b b e r s ( a n d a l s o , l e t u s h o p e , t o s m a s h i t s e l f ) - t o t h i s e x t e n t i t i s d o i n g t h e

h i s t o r i c w o r k o f s e l f - d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t w o r l d s y s t e m ; a n d i n t h i s

w o r k i t m u s t n o t b e h i n d e r e d b y u s . T h e r e f o r e , t h o u g h w e w i l l n o t , i n t h e

r o l eo f s o c i a l - p a t r i o t s , h e l p t h e c h a u v i n i s t s i n t h e i r p r e d a t o r y v e n t u r e s ,

w e w i l l m a k e u s e o f c h a u v i n i s t i c b l i n d n e s s o n b e h a l f o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n

r e v o l u t i o n .

" 2 . - S o v i e t R u s s i a , a s t h e m a i n s p r i n g o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e v o l u t i o n -

a r y m o v e m e n t o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , m u s t b e s u p p o r t e d i n e v e r y w a y . I t m u s t

b e s u p p o r t e d w i t h e c o n o m i c h e l p t h r o u g h t h e s e l f - s a c r i f i c e o f t h e w o r k e r s

o f a l l c o u n t r i e s . A n d , m o s t o f a l l , i t m u s t b e h e l p e d t h r o u g h t h e c l a s s

s t r u g g l e o f t h e w o r k e r s i n a l l c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s a g a i n s t t h e i r o w n b o u r -

g e o i s i e s . T h e f i e r c e r t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e o f t h e A m e r i c a n p r o l e t a r i a t r a g e s ,

t h e l e s s w i l l b e t h e p r e s s u r e o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n u p o n

S o v i e t R u s s i a . I n t h i s r e s p e c t t h e C o m m u n i s t s m u s t l e a r n h o w t o m a k e u s e

o f t h e c o n f l i c t i n g i n t e r e s t s o f t h e v a r i o u s f a c t i o n s o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e , h o w

t o t u r n t h e g r e e d o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e f o r p r o f i t s , a n d h o w t o e x p l o i t t h e

v a r i o u s t e n d e n c i e s g r o w i n g o u t o f g r e e d y s p e c u l a t i o n , t o t h e a d v a n t a g e

o f t h e R u s s i a n R e v o l u t i o n , a n d t h u s t o t h e a d v a n t a g e o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n

w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n .

"3 . - T h e p r e r e q u i s i t e o f v i c t o r y f o r t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s i s t h a t t h e

w o r k i n g c l a s s u n i t e i t s e l f f o r t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e . To bring about this

u n i f i c a t i o n , i s o l a t e d a c t i o n p a r t i c i p a t e d i n s o l e l y b y C o m m u n i s t s w i l l n o t

s u f f i c e . It is necessary to bring about common mass action of workers

w h o a r e n o t y e t C o m m u n i s t s . F or this purpose the Communists must

p e n e t r a t e t h e w o r k i n g m a s s e s t o t h e u t m o s t , m u s t w o r k t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e m ,

must live and fight with them and lead them forward in both maj or and

m i n o r b a t t l e s . T h e u n i t i n g o f t h e w o r k e r s i n g e n e r a l c l a s s - s t r u g g l e o r g a n i -

z a t i o n s , a n d t h e j o i n i n g o f t h e v a r i o u s o n e s o f t h o s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t o c l o s e

relationships-t his and not merely to attain Communist purity and per-

f e c t i o n o f p r o g r a m - i s t h e t a s k n o w f a c i n g t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f

A m e r i c a . T h e c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f t h e w o r k i n g m a s s e s i s n a t u r a l l y v e r y u n -

c l e a r a t t h i s t i m e , h a l f - b o u r g e o i s , a n d u n d e v e l o p e d f r o m t h e s t a n d p o i n t

o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y v a n g u a r d . B u t , g e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g , i t w i l l d e v e l o p

m o r e c l e a r l y o n l y d u r i n g t h e p r o c e s s o f t h e s t r u g g l e i t s e l f a g a i n s t t h e

b o u r g e o i s i e a n d t h r o u g h e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e g e n e r a l c l a s s s t r u g g l e o r g a n i z a -

t i o n s .

" A s a m a t t e r o f c o u r s e , n o t a l l o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o w h i c h w o r k e r s b e l o n g

c a n b e u s e d a s i n s t r u m e n t s o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n c l a s s s t r u g g l e , j u s t a s n o t

e v e r y a c t i o n o f t h e w o r k e r c a n f u r t h e r t h e s t r u g g l e . B u t t h e q u e s t i o n o f

t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f g i v e n o r g a n i z a t i o n s m u s t b e e x a m i n e d a n d j u d g e d o n

i t s o w n m e r i t s i n e a c h c a s e . I t i s u n t h i n k a b l e , f o r i n s t a n c e , t h a t a c o l o s s a l

t r a d e u n i o n o r g a n i z a t i o n s u c h a s t h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r c o u l d

1 1 9 6 1



THE NEGRO PROGRAM

b e c o m p o s e d e n t i r e l y o f e n e m i e s o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s , a s a r e s u c h c a p i t a l -

i s t o r g a n i z a t i o n s a s t h e K u K l u x K l a n o r t h e v a r i o u s p r o f e s s i o n a l s t r i k e -

b r e a k i n g b o d i e s . Here a distinction must always be made between t h e

r e a c t i o n a r y , t r a i t o r o u s l e a d e r s h i p a n d t h e u n c o n s c i o u s l y p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s -

minded mass which we have to win . A n d j u s t s o , o n e m u s t n o t c o n s i d e r

a n y m a s s m o v e m e n t o f t h e u n e m p l o y e d , n o m a t t e r h o w p r i m i t i v e , f a l t e r i n g

a n d u n c l e a r , a s b e i n g h o p e l e s s l y a n d p e r m a n e n t l y u n d e r b o u r g e o i s i n f l u e n c e .

T h e g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n s , i n w h i c h h u n d r e d s o f t h o u s a n d s o f w o r k e r s t a k e p a r t ,

cannot be reject ed as being merely a peaceful movement with which the

C o m m u n i s t s w i l l h a v e n o t h i n g t o d o . F u r t h e r , c e r t a i n m a s s o r g a n i z a t i o n s ,

w h i c h n o t o n l y a r e n o t c o m m u n i s t i c , b u t a r e n o t p r o l e t a r i a n i n c o m p o s i t i o n ,

m u s t b e u t i l i z e d b y C o m m u n i s t s t r a t e g y f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n

c l a s s s t r u g g l e . A s , f o r i n s t a n c e , t h e e x i s t i n g m a s s m o v e m e n t s o f s m a l l f a r -

m e r s ( w h o a r e , i n a s e n s e , s e m i - p r o l e t a r i a n ) , and even movements of

m i d d l e - c l a s s f a r m e r s u n d e r s o m e c i r c u m s t a n c e s . A n o t h e r i n s t a n c e i s t h e

negro mass movement for racial betterment, which movement often at-

t e m p t s d e l i b e r a t e l y t o a v o i d p r o l e t a r i a n c l a s s c h a r a c t e r but must include

g r e a t m a s s e s o f t o i l e r s . C o m m u n i s t s t r a t e g y m u s t u t i l i z e t h e s e m o v e m e n t s

a s a u x i l i a r y f o r c e s , o r , a t l e a s t , m u s t w i n t h e m t o b e n e v o l e n t n e u t r a l i t y i n

t h e c l a s s w a r .

"4. - I n t h e p r e s e n t p e r i o d o f t h e d i s s o l u t i o n o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m ,

t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t t a s k s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s o f a l l c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s i s

t h e r e v o l u t i o n i z i n g o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n c l a s s s t r u g g l e . T h e f i g h t i n g p r o -

l e t a r i a t i s t o b e l e d f r o m o n e s t a g e t o a n o t h e r i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n i z i n g

p r o c e s s b y m e a n s o f s u i t a b l e s l o g a n s . T h e y m u s t h e l p t h e p r o l e t a r i a t t o f r e e

i t s e l f f r o m t h e i l l u s i o n s a n d f a l s e t r a d i t i o n s t h a t l i m i t i t s v i s i o n a n d f e t t e r

i t s a c t i v i t i e s a n d t o c o u n t e r a c t t h e f o s s i l i z i n g i n f l u e n c e o f t h e t r a d e u n i o n

b u r e a u c r a c y . O n e m u s t o r g a n i z e t h e p r o l e t a r i a t f o r t h e h i s t o r i c t r a i n i n g

s c h o o l , i n w h i c h i t w i l l l e a r n t o b e c o m e t h e c o n q u e r o r o f c a p i t a l i s m .

" O n l y t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y c a n d o t h i s . T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d t r a i n -

i n g o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y a s l e a d e r o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t i s ,

t h e r e f o r e , t h e f u n d a m e n t a l t a s k o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s .

" T h e C o m m u n i s t s m u s t n o w t a k e t h e l e a d i n t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e

r e d u c t i o n o f w a g e s . T h i s s t r u g g l e , i n i t s v a r i o u s f o r m s , i s e s p e c i a l l y

a d a p t e d f o r u n i t i n g t h e l a r g e s t m a s s e s o f w o r k e r s i n o n e o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r

the common struggle . T h e c o n s e r v a t i v e l a b o r l e a d e r s w i l l f i n d t h e m -

s e l v e s p l a c e d i n a m o s t d i f f i c u l t p o s i t i o n t h r o u g h t h i s s t r u g g l e , where they

w i l l s o o n b e f o r c e d p l a i n l y t o u n m a s k t h e i r c o w a r d l y w o b b l i n g a n d t h e i r

t r e a c h e r o u s r o l e , a n d w h e r e t h e y w i l l b r i n g u p o n t h e m s e l v e s t h e w r a t h o f

t h e s t r u g g l i n g w o r k e r s . In America almost nothing has been done so far

i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , b u t i t m u s t b e d o n e t h o r o u g h l y b e f o r e o n e c a n e v e r t h i n k

o f t h e v i c t o r y o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e .

" T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e u n e m p l o y e d i s a n e q u a l l y i m p o r t a n t a n d d i f f i -

c u l t t a s k . I n t h i s m o v e m e n t , j u s t a s m u c h a s i n a l l o t h e r m i n o r b a t t l e s , t h e

C o m m u n i s t s m u s t s e l e c t t h e i r s l o g a n s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , a n d

intensify them as much as possible, from the immediate needs of the

d a y t o t h e g e n e r a l w o r k e r ' s c o n t r o l o f c a p i t a l - i n d u s t r y . Right now they

[ 1 9 7 1



REDS I N AMERICA

m u s t m a k e a s p e c i a l d e m a n d f o r s t a t e s u p p o r t o f t h e u n e m p l o y e d o u t o f t h e

m i l i t a r y b u d g e t .

"The Communist party must remember that it is not its purpose to

r e f o r m t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e . T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t i s , o n t h e c o n -

t r a r y , t o c u r e t h e w o r k i n g m a s s e s o f t h e i r r e f o r m i s t i c i l l u s i o n s , t h r o u g h

b i t t e r e x p e r i e n c e . D e m a n d s u p o n t h e s t a t e f o r i m m e d i a t e c o n c e s s i o n s t o t h e

workers must be made, not after the fashion of the Social-Democratic

parties, which try to make those demands within the limits which the

s t a t e c a n g r a n t t h e m w h i l e r e t a i n i n g i t s s t r e n g t h i n t a c t . Communist demands

f o r i m m e d i a t e c o n c e s s i o n s t o t h e w o r k e r s a r e , f o r m u l a t e d , n o t t o b e ` r e a s o n -

able' from the point of view of capitalism, but to be reasonable from

t h e p o i n t o f v i e w o f t h e s t r u g g l i n g w o r k e r s , r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e s t a t e ' s

power to g rant them without weakening itself . T h u s , f o r i n s t a n c e ,

a demand for payment out of the Government treasury, of full union

s t a n d a r d w a g e s f o r m i l l i o n s o f u n e m p l o y e d w o r k e r s i s h i g h l y r e a s o n a b l e

from the point of view of the unemployed workers but damaging from

t h e p o i n t o f v i e w o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t i c s t a t e a n d t h e c a p i t a l i s t i c w a g e c o m p e t i -

t i o n w h i c h t h e s t a t e d e f e n d s .

" W e s u g g e s t a f e w e x a m p l e s o f t h e t y p e o f d e m a n d s t h a t m a y b e m a d e .

I t m u s t b e c l e a r l y u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h o s e a r e m e r e l y e x a m p l e s f o r i l l u s t r a -

t i o n , a n d a r e n o t b i n d i n g , n o r a r e t h e y t o b e c o n c r e t e l y r e g a r d e d e v e n a s

a d v i s e d b y t h e C o m i n t e r n .

" 1 . - T h a t a l l c o m b i n a t i o n s o r a g r e e m e n t s h a v i n g t h e p u r p o s e o f r e -

d u c i n g t h e r a t e o f w a g e s o r t h e p u r p o s e o f c o m m o n a c t i o n a g a i n s t l a b o r

o r g a n i z a t i o n s , s h a l l b e m a d e i n l a w a c r i m i n a l c o n s p i r a c y .

" 2 . - T h a t n o i n j u n c t i o n s h a l l b e i s s u e d a g a i n s t w o r k e r s f o r a c t i v i t i e s

t o w a r d r a i s i n g t h e r a t e o f w a g e s o r r e d u c i n g t h e h o u r s o f l a b o r .

" 3 .-A c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a m e n d m e n t f o r b i d d i n g s u c h l a w s a s t h e K a n s a s

I n d u s t r i a l C o u r t L a w .

"4.-A c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r o v i s i o n g u a r a n t e e i n g t h e u n l i m i t e d r i g h t o f

p e a c e f u l p i c k e t i n g .

"5 . - F o r d i s a r m i n g o f a l l p r i v a t e d e t e c t i v e c o p s i n s t r i k e r e g i o n s , o r

e l s e w h e r e . All organizations for the purpose of forming armed bodi es

t o e n g a g e i n a c t i v i t i e s a g a i n s t s t r i k e r s t o b e d e c l a r e d c r i m i n a l c o n s p i r a c y .

" 6 . - T h a t n o p r o c e s s o f l a w , c r i m i n a l o r o t h e r w i s e s h a l l b e a l l o w e d

f o r c i b l y t o d e t a i n a n y r e g u l a r l y e l e c t e d l a b o r u n i o n o f f i c i a l f r o m h i s

u n i o n d u t i e s d u r i n g t h e p r o c e s s o f a l a b o r d i s p u t e .

" 7 . - C o n s t i t u t i o n a l a m e n d m e n t f o r b i d d i n g t h e u s e o f m i l i t a r y o r n a v a l

f o r c e s i n a n y m a t t e r c o n n e c t e d w i t h a l a b o r d i s p u t e .

" 8 . - L e g a l p r o v i s i o n f o r t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f o r d e r i n s t r i k e r e g i o n s

b y t h e a p p o i n t m e n t o f m e m b e r s o f t h e l a b o r u n i o n s i n v o l v e d , s u c h m e m b e r s

to be nominated by the labor organizatio ns, and armed from the public

s u p p l i e s f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f m a i n t a i n i n g o r d e r d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d o f t h e

s t r i k e .

" 9 . - C o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r o v i s i o n a b o l i s h i n g t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s L a b o r B o a r d

a n d p r o h i b i t i n g t h e E x e c u t i v e t o i n t e r f e r e i n l a b o r d i s p u t e s .

" 1 0. - F av o r i n g a c l o s e a l l i a n c e o f t h e U n i t e d M i n e W o r k e r s o f

[ 1 9 8 ]



THE NEGRO PROGRAM

A m e r i c a w i t h t h e r a i l r o a d b r o t h e r h o o d s a n d a l l o t h e r u n i o n s , f o r c o m m o n

a c t i o n t o r a i s e t h e s t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g o f a l l w o r k e r s i n b o t h i n d u s t r i e s .

" 1 1 • - G e n e r a l a m n e s t y f o r a l l p e r s o n s i m p r i s o n e d a s a r e s u l t o f s t r i k e s

o r o t h e r i n c i d e n t s o f t h e l a b o r s t r u g g l e . G e n e r a l a m n e s t y f o r a l l p e r s o n s

c o n v i c t e d o f c r i m e i n a n y w a y r e l a t i n g t o t h e l a b o r m o v e m e n t , o r i n t o w h o s e

c r i m i n a l t r i a l a n y e v i d e n c e w a s o f f e r e d a g a i n s t t h e d e f e n d a n t r e g a r d i n g t h e

l a t t e r ' s v i e w s o f t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e o r p o l i t i c a l v i e w s . General amnesty for

a l l p r i s o n e r s c o n v i c t e d o f p o l i t i c a l o f f e n c e s .

"12.- F o r t h e P l u m b p l a n , a m e n d e d t o g i v e l a b o r a m a j o r i t y o f

d i r e c t o r s .

"13 . - I m m e d i a t e b o n u s o f $ 5 0 0 t o e v e r y s o l d i e r o r s a i l o r e n l i s t e d i n

the United States forces during the World War ; $1000 to those having

been granted wound stripes . A payment of $5 000 (in add ition to all

payments otherwise provided for) to the depende nt of every soldier or

sailor who died in the service durin g the war period . F u n d s f o r t h i s

p u r p o s e t o b e t a k e n f r o m m i l i t a r y a n d n a v a l b u d g e t s , r e s p e c t i v e l y .

"14 . - F o r t h e u n r e s t r i c t e d r i g h t s o f s o l d i e r s a n d s a i l o r s t o o r g a n i z e

i n u n i o n s . I m m u n i t y f o r a l l g r i e v a n c e c o m m i t t e e s o f p r i v a t e s o l d i e r s

o r s a i l o r s . N o p r i v a t e s o l d i e r o r s a i l o r t o b e j u d g e d b y a c o u r t - m a r t i a l

e x c e p t c o m p o s e d e n t i r e l y o f p r i v a t e s o l d i e r s o r s a i l o r s e l e c t e d f o r t h e p u r -

p o s e w i t h i n t h e m i l i t a r y u n i t c o n c e r n e d .

"15 .-Absolute prohibition of foreclosures upon farm property for

d e b t s .

"16 . - F o r n a t i o n a l c r e d i t , t o t h e f u l l v a l u e o f h i s f a r m , t o e v e r y

f a r m e r h o l d i n g l e s s t h a n $ 2 0 , 0 0 0 w o r t h o f f a r m p r o p e r t y , t h e m o n e y t o b e

a d v a n c e d o u t o f t h e n a t i o n a l t r e a s u r y a t i n t e r e s t t o c o v e r t h e c o s t o f

t h e l o a n t r a n s a c t i o n .

" 1 7 . - F o r n a t i o n a l c r e d i t , t o t h e f u l l e x t e n t o f t h e i r h o l d i n g s , t o

a l l f a r m c o o p e r a t i v e s , o n t h e s a m e b a s i s .

" 1 8 . - N a t i o n a l m o n o p o l y , a n d o p e r a t i o n a t c o s t , o f a l l g r a i n e l e v a t o r s

e x c e p t t h o s e i n t h e h a n d s o f b o n a f i d e f a r m e r s ' c o o p e r a t i v e s , o r w h i c h i n

f u t u r e m a y b e e s t a b l i s h e d b y s u c h o r g a n i z a t i o n s .

" 1 9 .-The liquidation of the Ku Klux Klan, invoking the criminal

c o n s p i r a c y l a w s i n p r o s e c u t i n g a l l p e r s o n s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n .

" 2 0 . - C o n d e m n a t i o n o f t h e W a s h i n g t o n C o n f e r e n c e a s a p r e p a r a t i o n f o r

a new World War . C o n d e m n a t i o n o f t h e i m p e r i a l i s t i c p a r t i t i o n i n g o f t h e

F a r E a s t a n d o t h e r r e g i o n s f o r e x p l o i t a t i o n .

" 2 1 . - W a r n i n g o f W o r l d W a r t o g r o w o u t o f s e c r e t a n d o t h e r a r r a n g e -

ments made in Washington Conference, condemnation of this in advance

a s i m p e r i a l i s t i c W a r .

"22. - F o r t h e i m m e d i a t e r e c o g n i t i o n a n d u n r e s t r i c t e d t r a d e w i t h S o v i e t

R u s s i a . F o r t h e r e - e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f p o s t a l a g r e e m e n t w i t h R u s s i a .

" T h e s e a n d o t h e r s i m i l a r d e m a n d s m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d o n l y a s s t a r t -

i n g p o i n t s f o r b r o a d e r , s h a r p e r , m o r e u n i v e r s a l s l o g a n s . I n t h e i r a g i t a t i o n

t h e C o m m u n i s t s m u s t p o i n t o u t t h a t t h e p r o b l e m s w i l l n o t b e s o l v e d t h r o u g h

t h e s e m e a s u r e s , b u t t h a t w e s u p p o r t t h e s e d e m a n d s o f t h e m a s s e s s o t h a t

t h e v e r y c o u r s e o f e v e n t s i t s e l f m a y u n m a s k t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e a n d ' t h e

[1 9 9

]



REDS IN AMERICA

o p p o n e n t s o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s , a n d p r o v e t o t h e m a s s e s t h e n e c e s s i t y o f

t h e f i n a l s t r u g g l e f o r p o w e r a g a i n s t t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e i t s e l f . In this

u n m as k in g p ro c e ss , t h e Co m m un i st m u s t m a ke u s e o f e ve r y d ev ic e t o

d i s c r e d i t t h e o p p o s i t i o n . A t t i m e s t h e y m u s t d e v e l o p a d i r e c t a t t a c k , b r a n d

e v e r y m i s t a k e , e v e r y c r i m e , e v e r y r e f u s a l o f t h e d e m a n d s o f t h e t o i l i n g

m a s s e s a n d c o n s t a n t l y d e m o n s t r a t e t h e s o l i d a r i t y a n d i d e n t i t y o f t h e c a p i t a l -

i s t c l a s s w i t h t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e .

"The Communists must participate a s r e v o l u t i o n i s t s i n a l l g e n e r a l

e l e c t i o n c a m p a i g n s , m u n i c i p a l , s t a t e a n d c o n g r e s s i o n a l , a s w e l l a s p r e s i -

d e n t i a l . Not in the same manner as the s o c i a l - t r a i t o r s a n d c e n t r i s t s ,

not in order to avoid violent r e v o l u t i o n a n d s u b s t i t u t e p a r l i a m e n t a r y

a c t i v i t y f o r r e v o l u t i o n , b u t , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i n o r d e r t o u s e e v e n t h e

e l e c t i o n c a m p a i g n s t o r e v o l u t i o n i z e t h e w o r k e r s and lead them forward,

t o s h a r p e n t h e i r c l a s s c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d t o b r i n g t h e m t o g e t h e r a n d u n i t e

them under Communist leadership . C l a s s c o n s c i o u s , c o u r a g e o u s a n d w i s e

C o m m u n i s t s , a s e l e c t e d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of the worker, can always find

t h e p o s s i b i l i t y i n t h e v a r i o u s i n s t i t u t i o n s o f t h e b o u r g e o i s s t a t e , i n o n e

w a y o r a n o t h e r , t o g i v e e f f e c t i v e o b j e c t l e s s o n s t o r e v o l u t i o n i z e t h e w o r k i n g

c l a s s . B e s i d e s t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y c a n c o n c e a l i t s u n d e r g r o u n d a p p a r a -

t u s a n d d e v e l o p i t v e r y e f f e c t i v e l y w i t h i n t h e o u t e r f r a m e w o r k o f t h e l e g a l

c a m p a i g n o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d t h e e l e c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s .

" I n a l l t h e s e m i n o r s t r u g g l e s , a s w e l l a s i n t h e f i n a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y

b a t t l e o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n m u s t b e t h e l e a d e r o f t h e

s t r u g g l i n g w o r k e r s .

" I t s w e a p o n s a r e m a n i f o l d a n d v a r y , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e s i t u a t i o n , from

e n t i r e l y l e g a l p r o p a g a n d a , f r o m e l e c t i o n c a m p a i g n s , f r o m m o d e s t m o v e m e n t s

f o r i n c r e a s e o f w a g e s a n d f r o m p e a c e f u l d e m o n s t r a t i o n s t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y

s t r i k e a n d t o t h e v a r i o u s f o r m s o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y c l a s s s t r u g g l e .

"In agitation and propaganda Communists c a n n o t b e s a t i s f i e d w i t h

m e r e d o g m a t i c p r e s e n t a t i o n o f C o m m u n i s t p r i n c i p l e s o f t h e p r o p a g a n d i z i n g

o f t h e a r m e d s t r u g g l e u n d e r a l l c i r c u m s t a n c e s . T h e y m u s t n o t p e r m i t t h e m -

s e l v e s t o a p p e a r t o t h e m a s s e s a s f a n a t i c b o m b e n t h u s i a s t s w h o k n o w n o t h i n g

a b o u t t h e r e a l i t i e s o f l i f e . T h e y m u s t u n d e r s t a n d h o w t o l e a d t h e w o r k i n g

m a s s e s f r o m t h e s t r u g g l e f o r t h e s a t i s f a c t i o n o f t h e i r f i r s t c o n c r e t e n e e d s

o n t o s u ch a b a t t l e th a t t h e st r u gg l i n g m as s e s th e m s el v e s w il l b e g i n t o b e l i e v e

i n s u c c e s s a n d v i c t o r y .

" T h e l e g a l p a r t y p r e s s i s u n d e r a l l c i r c u m s t a n c e s a most important

weapon to the Communist party . J u s t a s t h e p o l i t i c a l m o v e m e n t o f t h e

workers of America has remained very backward in regard to m a t t e r s o f

o r g a n i z a t i o n , s o t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y l a b o r p r e s s i s a l s o a s y e t v e r y w e a k .

I t s d e v e l o p m e n t i s a t t h e p r e s e n t m o m e n t t h e m o s t u r g e n t t a s k o f t h e p a r t y .

A s l o n g a s t h e p a r t y d o e s n o t p o s s e s s a t l e a s t o n e o r t w o l e g a l d a i l i e s i n

t h e E n g l i s h l a n g u a g e i t i s s t i l l c r a w l i n g a r o u n d o n a l l f o u r s . The party

m u s t d o e v e r y t h i n g i n i t s p o w e r i n o r d e r t o s e c u r e d e c i d e d i n f l u e n c e a n d

d i r e c t o r i n d i r e c t c o n t r o l o v e r a s m a n y e x i s t i n g p a p e r s o f v a r i o u s l a b o r

o r g a n i z a t i o n s a s p o s s i b l e . E s p e c i a l l y i t m u s t t r y t o w i n c o n t r o l o v e r t h e

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THE NEGRO PROGRAM

l a b o r u n i o n p r e s s . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e p a r t y m u s t p u b l i s h a n i l l e g a l o f f i c i a l

o r g a n .

" A l l g o o d p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f b o t h t h e l e g a l a n d i l l e g a l a c t i v i t i e s m u s t

b e u t i l i z e d b y t h e p a r t y e n e r g e t i c a l l y . He who wants to liquidat e the

i l l e g a l a c t i v i t i e s i s n o C o m m u n i s t a t a l l , a n d n e i t h e r i s t h a t t y p e o f c o n -

s p i r a t o r w h o d o e s n o t w a n t t o k n o w a n y t h i n g a b o u t l e g a l a c t i v i t i e s .

" U n d e r e x i s t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s i t i s i m p o s s i b l e f o r t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y

i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t o b e a l e g a l p a r t y . O f c o u r s e t h e p a r t y c a n d e v e l o p

o p e n l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s . I t c a n e v e n b u i l d a l e g a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y w o r k e r s '

o r g a n i z a t i o n . I t c a n e v e n a l s o l a u n c h a l e g a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y L a b o r p a r t y .

I t m u s t l a u n c h a l s o s u c h l e g a l p a r t y , w i t h t h e p u r p o s e t h a t t h e .Communists

c a n o p e n l y e n t e r i t s r a n k s w i t h o u t p e r m i t t i n g t h e p o l i c e t o k n o w w h i c h

of the members are Communists and which are not . But the underground

o r g a n i z a t i o n w h o s e m e m b e r s h i p c o n s i s t s e n t i r e l y o f C o m m u n i s t s m u s t n o t

b e l i q u i d a t e d . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , i t m u s t b e b u i l t e v e r f i r m e r a n d s t r o n g e r .

I t m u s t g u i d e a n d c o n t r o l t h e l e g a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y t h r o u g h i t s m e m -

b e r s . E v e r y C o m m u n i s t , t h a t i s , e v e r y m e m b e r o f t h e u n d e r g r o u n d p a r t y ,

must submit to an iron discipline and must act in accordance with the

d i r e c t i o n s o f t h e l e a d i n g o r g a n s o f t h e u n d e r g r o u n d p a r t y i n a l l l e g a l a s

w e l l a s i l l e g a l a c t i v i t i e s .

"As a matter of course, all real Communists in the United States

w i l l s u b s c r i b e t o t h i s . T h e E x e c u t i v e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l k n o w s

t h a t t h e M i n o r i t y o f t h e P a r t y E x e c u t i v e d o e s n o t d e n y t h e a d v i s a b i l i t y

o f t a k i n g a d v a n t a g e o f l e g a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s , a l t h o u g h t h i s M i n o r i t y o p p o s e s

t h e r a p i d a n d e n e r g e t i c p r o c e d u r e o f t h e M a j o r i t y i n f o u n d i n g t h e l e g a l

r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y . T h e d i s t i n c t i o n i s , i n t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e E x e c u t i v e

Committee of the Comintern, without good ground . T h e f a c t t h a t t h e

P a r t y E x e c u t i v e i s p r o c e e d i n g r a p i d l y a n d e n e r g e t i c a l l y w i t h t h e f o r m a t i o n

o f t h e l e g a l p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n i s n o t a f a u l t . I t w o u l d h a v e b e e n a f a u l t t o

w a i t w i t h t h e l a u n c h i n g o f t h e l e g a l p a r t y u n t i l t h e u n d e r g r o u n d o r g a n i z a -

t i o n h a d d e v e l o p e d ` s u f f i c i e n t s t r e n g t h . ' The development of the under-

g r o u n d o r g a n i z a t i o n c a n b e s t b e f u r t h e r e d t h r o u g h t h e s e v e r y a c t i v i t i e s

o f i t s m e m b e r s i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e l e g a l p a r t y . H i s t o r i c p r o g r e s s i s n o t

s u c h a s i m p l e m a t t e r a s t o l e a v e u s t h e l i b e r t y f i r s t t o c o m p l e t e t h e d e v e l o p -

ment of the underground party apparatus, and only then to begin the

b u i l d i n g o f t h e l e g a l p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n . In this manner the very best

o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r t h e l a u n c h i n g o f t h e l e g a l p a r t y w o u l d b e l o s t .

" T h e c e n t r i s t s w o u l d h a v e a f r e e f i e l d f o r t h e i r e f f o r t s a t f o u n d i n g

a n i n d e p e n d e n t o p p o r t u n i s t p a r t y . T h i s o p p o r t u n i t y m u s t n o t b e l e f t t o

t h e m . T h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t t a k e t h e i n i t i a t i v e i n t h e f o r m a t i o n o f

t h e n e w l e g a l p a r t y a n d m u s t t a k e t h e c o n t r o l f i r m l y i n t o i t s o w n h a n d s .

I t m u s t b e c a r e f u l t o a s s u r e i t s e l f t h e a c t u a l c o n t r o l o v e r a l l t h e l e a d i n g

o r g a n s o f t h e l e g a l p a r t y . F o r t h i s r e a s o n t h e l e g a l o r g a n i z a t i o n m u s t t a k e

t h e p e r m a n e n t f o r m o f a p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n . S o m e o t h e r l o o s e o r g a n i z a t i o n

f o r m w o u l d b e v e r y m u c h m o r e d i f f i c u l t t o c o n t r o l a n d t o g u i d e . F u r t h e r -

m o r e , t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a s o l i d l y o r g a n i z e d l e g a l p a r t y , i n w h i c h m e m b e r s

o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y h a v e a t l e a s t t h e m a j o r i t y o n a l l i m p o r t a n t c o m -

[ 2 0 1 1



REDS IN AMERICA

m i t t e e s , w i l l m a k e p o s s i b l e t h e c o n t r o l o f s t i l l o t h e r a n t i - c a p i t a l i s t i c o r g a n .

i z a t i o n s t h r o u g h t h i s l e g a l p a r t y .

" F o r t h e f o r e g o i n g r e a s o n s w e d r a w y o u r a t t e n t i o n t o t h e f o l l o w i n g

f o r y o u r g u i d a n c e :

" 1 . T h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a i s a s y e t f a r f r o m h a v i n g s a t .

i s f a c t o r y c o n n e c t i o n s w i t h t h e m a s s e s . T h e m e a n s o f c o n t a c t m u s t b e c o n -

s t r u c t e d w i t h t h e g r e a t e s t p o s s i b l e s p e e d .

" 2 . C o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e m a s s e s e s s e n t i a l l y i m p l i e s a p u b l i c o p e r a t i o n .

S e c r e t o p e r a t i o n s , e v e n w i t h t h e w i d e s t p o s s i b l e r a m i f i c a t i o n s , c a n n o t b e

s a t i s f a c t o r y m a s s o p e r a t i o n s . , T h e m e a n s o f p u b l i c c o n t a c t w i t h t h e m a s s e s

m u s t b e p r i n c i p a l l y :

" a .-A l e g a l p r e s s , i n c l u d i n g a t l e a s t o n e d a i l y E n g l i s h l e g a l n e w s -

p a p e r , a c t i n g w i t h t h e n e c e s s a r y d i s g u i s e a s a c e n t r a l p a r t y o r g a n .

"b . - O r g a n i z e d g r o u p i n g o f s y m p a t h i z e r s w i t h i n t h e t r a d e u n i o n s .

" c . - A n o v e r g r o u n d p o l i t i c a l p a r t y .

" 3 . C e r t a i n i n d i s p e n s a b l e a c c o m p a n i m e n t s t o t h e h i g h e s t d e v e l o p e d

c a p i t a l i s t f o r m o f s o c i e t y l e a v e s w e a k n e s s e s i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t r u c t u r e t h a t

have to be taken advantage of by a Communist part y of action . T h e

G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w i l l n o t n o w p e r m i t a ` C o m m u n i s t P a r t y '

t o e x i s t b u t i t i s c o m p e l l e d t o p e r m i t ` p a r t i e s ' t o e x i s t i n a n a l m o s t u n -

r e s t r i c t e d v a r i e t y , f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f i t s o w n p r e s e r v a t i o n . T h e c a p i t a l i s t

c l a s s b u i l d s i t s r e g i m e u p o n t h e r o c k f o u n d a t i o n t h e m a s s i l l u s i o n - t h a t

s o c i a l q u e s t i o n s a r e s o l v e d i n t h e s p h e r e i n w h i c h t h e s e p a r t i e s o p e r a t e .

T h e s t a t e a t t e m p t s , w h e r e v e r i t c a n , t o e x c l u d e a t r u l y p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u .

t i o n a r y p a r t y f r o m t h e p u b l i c f i e l d . I t a t t e m p t s f i r s t , t o e x t e r m i n a t e t h e

r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y i n t o s u b s e r v i e n c e t o c a p i t a l i s t l a w w h i c h m a k e s r e v o l u -

t i o n i m p o s s i b l e , o r t h i r d , a t l e a s t t o c o n f i n e t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y ' s

o p e r a t i o n s t o t h e n a r r o w s p h e r e t h a t c a n b e r e a c h e d s e c r e t l y .

" A C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t d e f e a t a l l t h e s e a t t e m p t s . I t m u s t n o t b e

e x t e r m i n a t e d . I t m u s t u n e q u i v o c a l l y r e f u s e t o o b e y c a p i t a l i s t l a w , a n d

m u s t u r g e t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s t o t h e v i o l e n t d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e e n t i r e l e g a l

machinery . I t i s e q u a l l y t h e d u t y o f a C o m m u n i s t p a r t y t o d e f e a t b y a n y

m e a n s t h a t m a y b e n e c e s s a r y , t h e c a p i t a l i s t g o v e r n m e n t ' s a t t e m p t t o c o n -

f i n e t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y t o t h e u n d e r g r o u n d c h a n n e l s i n w h i c h i t i s e v e n

m o r e c o n c e a l e d f r o m t h e m a s s e s t h a n i t i s f r o m t h e g o v e r n m e n t .

"4 . T h e p r o g r a m o f t h e l e g a l p a r t y w i l l h a v e t o b e s o m e w h a t

r e s t r i c t e d . Special measures and slogans which, while not stating the

i l l e g a l C o m m u n i s t p u r p o s e , w i l l o b j e c t i v e l y h a v e t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y e f f e c t

u p o n t h e m a s s e s , m u s t b e a d o p t e d . T h e L e g a l p a r t y m u s t a t a l l t i m e s , g o

a s f a r t o w a r d t h e C o m m u n i s t p r o g r a m a s p o s s i b l e w h i l e c o n t i n u i n g a l e g a l

e x i s t e n c e .

"5 . T h e e n t i r e m e m b e r s h i p o f t h e u n d e r g r o u n d p a r t y , t h e r e a l C o m -

m u n i s t p a r t y , m u s t j o i n t h e o p e n p a r t y a n d b e c o m e i t s m o s t a c t i v e e l e m e n t .

C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m e m b e r s m u s t , a t a l l t i m e s , h o l d t h e p o s i t i o n s o f l e a d e r -

s h i p i n t h e L e g a l p a r t y . I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e e n t i r e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m e m b e r -

s h i p , t h e L e g a l p a r t y s h o u l d a d m i t t o i t s r a n k s t h e m o r e a d v a n c e d w o r k e r s

[ 2 0 2 ]



THE NEGRO PROGRAM

w h o a c c e p t t h e p r i n c i p l e o f t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e , a n d t h e a b o l i t i o n o f c a p i t a l -

i s m t h r o u g h t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e w o r k e r s ' p o w e r . W o r k i n g c l a s s o r g a n -

i z a t i o n s t h a t s u b s c r i b e t o t h e s e p r i n c i p l e s c a n b e a d m i t t e d t o o r a f f i l i a t e d

with the Legal party, as a body, within the judgment of the central

e x e c u t i v e c o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y .

"6 . The Executive of the Communist International has resolved to

s u p p o r t t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e

o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A m e r i c a i n f a v o r o f t h e i m m e d i a t e c o n s t r u c t i o n

o f a l e g a l p o l i t i c a l p a r t y o n a n a t i o n a l s c a l e , w h i c h w i l l a c t a s a n i n s t r u -

m e n t o f t h e i l l e g a l C o m m u n i s t p a r t y f o r p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n l e g a l a c t i v i t i e s ,

s u c h a s e l e c t o r a l c a m p a i g n s , e t c . T h e e x e c u t i v e o f t h e C o m i n t e r n t a k e s t h i s

p o s i t i o n a f t e r h a v i n g b e e n i n f o r m e d t h a t t h e M i n o r i t y o f t h e E x e c u t i v e

C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a a c c e p t s ` i n p r i n c i p l e ' t h e

t a c t i c o f t h e l e g a l w o r k o f v a r i o u s s o r t s a t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e , b u t r e j e c t s t h e

t a c t i c o f t h e i m m e d i a t e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a l e g a l p o l i t i c a l p a r t y o n a n a t i o n a l

s c a l e w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m e m b e r s h i p a s i t s n u c l e u s . The ruling of

the Communist Internat ional must be accepted as obligating every mem-

ber of the Communist party of America, minority or majority, to work

d i l i g e n t l y i n t h e i m m e d i a t e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a l e g a l p o l i t i c a l p a r t y . As a

r u l e , p a r t y m e m b e r s w h o f a i l t o p a r t i c i p a t e w h o l e - h e a r t e d l y i n t h e l e g a l

w o r k , o r w h o s a b o t a g e t h a t w o r k m u s t l e a v e t h e p a r t y .

" 7 . B u t i n c a r r y i n g o u t t h e s e i n s t r u c t i o n s , t h e p a r t y m u s t g u a r d i t s e l f

a g a i n s t t h e t e n d e n c y t o r e p u d i a t e o r n e g l e c t t h e i l l e g a l w o r k - t h e t e n d e n c y

t o b e c o m e l e g a l i n f a c t a s w e l l a s i n o u t w a r d a p p e a r a n c e . This tendency

will be found especially among ìntellectual' party members who have

l i t t l e e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e b r u t a l p h y s i c a l p h a s e s o f t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e t o

w h i c h t h e r a n k a n d f i l e w o r k e r s a r e a l w a y s e x p o s e d , b u t f r o m w h i c h t h e

i n t e l l e c t u a l s e n g a g e d i n l e g a l p o l i t i c a l w o r k a r e s o m e t i m e s s h i e l d e d . U p o n

f i n d i n g t h e m s e l v e s i n t h e e a s i e r l i f e o f l e g a l a c t i v i t i e s , m a n y w i l l f o r g e t t h a t

n o m a t t e r w h a t m a n o e u v r e s m a y b e m a d e u p o n t h e p u b l i c s t a g e , t h e f i n a l

c l a s s s t r u g g l e m u s t b e , u n t i l i t s e n d , a b r u t a l f i g h t o f t h e p h y s i c a l f o r c e .

A c e r t a i n e l e m e n t o f t h e p a r t y m e m b e r s h i p w i l l i n e v i t a b l y f o r g e t t h i s f u n d a -

m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e ( w h i c h n o h u m b l e w o r k e r i n t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e i s a l l o w e d

to forget) and will come forward with n a i v e p r o p o s a l s f o r l i q u i d a t i n g

t h e i l l e g a l m a c h i n e r y o f t h e p a r t y . S u c h t e n d e n c y i s v e r y d a n g e r o u s t o a

p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y . T h e a c t u a l l i q u i d a t i o n o f t h e u n d e r g r o u n d

p a r t y w o u l d m e a n t h e l i q u i d a t i o n o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t . P a r t y

members who persist in such a view must be ruthlessly expelled from

t h e i l l e g a l p a r t y .

"8 . The underground organizati on of the Communist party must not

s i n k i n t o d i s u s e , b u t , o n t h e c o n t r a r y , m u s t c o n s t a n t l y e x t e n d i t s i l l e g a l

m a c h i n e r y f u r t h e r a n d f u r t h e r , i n p r o p o r t i o n t o t h e g r o w t h o f t h e i l l e g a l

p a r t y . W h i l e c o m i n g o u t i n t h e o p e n , t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t n o t m a k e

t h e m i s t a k e o f b e i n g t r a p p e d i n t h e o p e n b y e x p o s i n g i t s n a t i o n a l o r d i s -

t r i c t C o m m u n i s t p a r t y h e a d q u a r t e r s , r e c o r d s o r i l l e g a l m a c h i n e r y , i t s u n -

d e r g r o u n d p r i n t i n g a r r a n g e m e n t s o r t h e p e r s o n n e l o f i t s C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e

Committee . T h e c e n t r a l e x e c u t i v e c o m m i t t e e h e a d q u a r t e r s ( o f t h e p a r t y

(2031



REDS I N AMERICA

p r o p e r ) m u s t c o n t i n u e t o b e g u a r d e d i n s e c r e c y ( a n d e v e n t h e p r o b l e m o f

r e d o u b l i n g i t s s e c u r i t y f r o m d i s c o v e r y s h o u l d b e c o n s t a n t l y s t u d i e d ) . T h e

underground machinery of the Communist party is not merely for emer-

g e n c i e s , b u t f o r c o n s t a n t a n d p e r m a n e n t u s e . Down to the lowest unit-

the group of ten-every branch and stem of the party structure must

c o n t i n u e t o k e e p i t s s e c r e t a d d r e s s e s a n d m e e t i n g p l a c e s a n d t o u s e t h e s e i n

c o n s t a n t u n d e r g r o u n d f u n c t i o n i n g . E v e r y m e m b e r , n o m a t t e r w h a t h i s w o r k

i s i n t h e l e g a l p a r t y , m u s t a l s o p e r f o r m h i s d u t i e s i n t h e u n d e r g r o u n d

o r g a n i z a t i o n .

" 9 . T h e p a r t y u n d e r g r o u n d p r e s s m u s t c o n t i n u e . The means . o f p u b -

l i s h i n g u n k n o w n t o a n d i n s p i t e o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t a u t h o r i t i e s m u s t b e a l w a y s

kept in hand and in use . U n d e r b o u r g e o i s r u l e , n o m a t t e r h o w ` l i b e r a l '

i t m a y b e , a C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t n e v e r r e l i n q u i s h i t s f a c i l i t i e s f o r u n d e r -

g r o u n d p r e s s a n d , u n d e r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s n o w p r e v a i l i n g i n t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s , t h e a c t i v e f u n c t i o n i n g o f t h e u n d e r g r o u n d p r e s s c a n n o t b e a b a t e d . B u t

i t w o u l d b e f o o l i s h t o p r i n t a n y c o n s i d e r a b l e a m o u n t o f l i t e r a t u r e u n d e r -

g r o u n d t h a t c o u l d b e p r i n t e d l e g a l l y . T h e l e g a l p o l i t i c a l p a r t y w i l l b e a b l e

t o t a k e u p o n i t s e l f t h e p r i n t i n g o f a l a r g e p o r t i o n o f t h e l i t e r a t u r e t h a t i s

n o t d e f i n i t e l y i l l e g a l . I t m a y a l s o b e m a d e s p o n s o r f o r a g r e a t m a n y l e g a l

Communist newspapers . Legal newspapers must form a very large part

o f t h e w o r k o f a m a s s p a r t y . T h e i l l e g a l p r e s s m u s t c a r r y t h e p r o p a g a n d a

t h a t t h e l e g a l p r e s s c a n n o t c a r r y , t h u s m a k i n g s u r e t h a t t h e f u l l C o m m u n i s t

m e s s a g e i s m a d e c l e a r a t a l l t i m e s .

"10 . T h e i n t e l l e c t u a l w o r k e r s i n t h e s e l e g a l i n s t i t u t i o n s o f t h e p a r t y

m u s t b e s u b j e c t t o t h e s a m e d i s c i p l i n e , w a g e s c a l e a n d r e g u l a t i o n s a s u n d e r -

g r o u n d p a r t y w o r k e r s . I t m u s t a l w a y s b e r e m e m b e r e d t h a t t h e r e a l r e v o l u -

t i o n a r y p a r t y - t h e A m e r i c a n s e c t i o n o f t h e T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l - i s t h e C o m -

munist party of America and that the Legal party is but an instr ument

w h i c h i t u s e s t o b e t t e r c a r r y o n i t s w o r k a m o n g t h e m a s s e s . Only throug h

membership in the American Section-the Communist party of America-

can American workers become members of the Communist International .

" D e a r C o m r a d e s : I t w o u l d b e e n t i r e l y u s e l e s s t o q u a r r e l o v e r t h e q u e s -

t i o n w h e t h e r e x t e n s i v e o r i n t e n s i v e m e t h o d s a r e p r e f e r a b l e i n y o u r C o m -

m u n i s t w o r k . Y o u m u s t l e a r n h o w t o m a k e a p r a c t i c a l c o m b i n a t i o n o f b o t h

o f t h e s e m e t h o d s u n d e r a l l c i r c u m s t a n c e s . U n i t e f o r y o u r c o m m o n w o r k , n o t

f o r t h e l i q u i d a t i o n o f e i t h e r ' t h e l e g a l o r i l l e g a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y a c t i v i t y b u t

f o r t h e l i q u i d a t i o n o f t h e r e a l l y d a m a g i n g l i q u i d a t i o n t e n d e n c i e s o f t h e

labor movement .

" I t i s , a s a m a t t e r o f c o u r s e , v e r y n e c e s s a r y t h a t you m a k e a l l p r e p a r a -

t i o n i n y o u r u n d e r g r o u n d p a r t y c o n v e n t i o n f o r t h e p u b l i c c o n v e n t i o n a t

w h i c h t h e l e g a l R e v o l u t i o n a r y P a r t y i s t o b e l a u n c h e d . B u t b e f o r e a s w e l l

a s a f t e r t h e p a r t y c o n v e n t i o n t h e m i n o r i t y m e m b e r s o f t h e p a r t y e x e c u t i v e

m u s t s u b m i t t o t h e d e c i s i o n o f t h e m a j o r i t y l o y a l l y a n d w i t h o u t q u e s t i o n .

W i t h o u t t h i s p a r t y d i s c i p l i n e , C o m m u n i s t p a r t y a c t i v i t i e s a r e i m p o s s i b l e .

T h e P a r t y C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e m u s t , o f c o u r s e , u n d e r s t a n d h o w t o t r a i n t h e

p a r t y m e m b e r s h i p s e n s i b l y a n d p r a c t i c a l l y f o r t h e o b s e r v a n c e o f t h e p a r t y

[ 2 0 4 1



THE NEGRO PROGRAM

d i s c i p l i n e a n d , g e n e r a l l y , f o r t h e c e n t r a l i z a t i o n o f p a r t y a c t i v i t i e s . I t m u s t

u n d e r s t a n d a n d i t m u s t c o n s t a n t l y l e a r n s t i l l b e t t e r h o w t o l e a d t h e e n t i r e

o r g a n i z a t i o n . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i t i s t h e d u t y o f e v e r y m e m b e r t o s u p p o r t

t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e p a r t y e x e c u t i v e . I t i s f o o l i s h a n d h a r m f u l , f o r i n s t a n c e

i f f a c t i o n a l o p p o s i t i o n a c c u s e s t h e p a r t y e x e c u t i v e o f o p p r e s s i n g t h e f o r e i g n

l a n g u a g e o r g a n i z a t i o n s . You must make an end of such accusations, com-

r a d e s .

" W e h o p e t h a t i n y o u r c o m i n g p a r t y c o n v e n t i o n , a l l o f y o u w i l l g i v e

e v i d e n c e , i n y o u r r e s o l u t i o n s a n d a c t i o n s , o f f i r m , o r g a n i c u n i t y , a n d t h a t

y o u r p a r t y w i l l p r o v e i t s a b i l i t y t o m e a s u r e u p t o t h e g r e a t r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s

t h a t s t a n d b e f o r e i t .

" W i t h C o m m u n i s t g r e e t i n g s ,

" E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l .

"(Sig ned) N . B U K H A R I N ,

K. R A D E K ,

O. W. KU S I N E N ,

S e c r e t a r y . "

[ 2 0 5 1



CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

PRESENT STATUS OF THE BRIDGMAN CASES

A f t e r a n u m b e r o f d e l a y s a n d p o s t p o n e m e n t s t h e f i r s t o f t h e c a s e s a r i s i n g

o u t o f t h e B r i d g m a n r a i d , t h a t o f W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r , w a s c a l l e d a t S t . J o s e p h ,

Mich igan, M arch 12, 1923 . N e a r l y t h e f i r s t w e e k w a s d e v o t e d t o s e c u r i n g

a j u r y . T h e t r i a l e n d e d o n A p r i l 6 t h . A f t e r b e i n g o u t a l i t t l e o v e r 3 1

h o u r s , t h e f o r e m a n a d v i s e d t h e c o u r t i t w o u l d b e i m p o s s i b l e t o a r r i v e a t a

d e c i s i o n a n d t h e j u r y w a s d i s c h a r g e d . I t h a d s t o o d s i x t o s i x f r o m t h e f i r s t

b a l l o t .

T h e s e c o n d c a s e , t h a t o f C h a r l e s E . R u t h e n b e r g , w a s c a l l e d f o r t r i a l

A p r i l 1 6 t h . L e s s t i m e w a s r e q u i r e d t o s e c u r e a j u r y a n d l e s s t i m e , i n t h e

t r i a l o f t h e c a s e . T h e j u r y a f t e r b e i n g o u t f o r a f e w h o u r s r e t u r n e d a v e r -

d i c t o f g u i l t y . T h e d e f e n d a n t f i l e d n o t i c e o f - a n a p p e a l a n d p e n d i n g d e c i s i o n

o f t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t , w a s a d m i t t e d t o b a i l . The main contention upon

w h i c h a p p e a l w a s b a s e d w a s t h a t t h e c r i m i n a l s y n d i c a l i s t l a w o f M i c h i g a n ,

u n d e r w h i c h R u t h e n b e r g w a s f o u n d g u i l t y , i s u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l . U p t o t h i s

time, (Februa ry 1st, 1924) the Supreme Court has not handed down its

d e c i s i o n .

The question has often been asked "Why was conviction s e c u r e d i n

t h e c a s e o f R u t h e n b e r g a n d n o t i n t h e c a s e o f F o s t e r ? "

T h e S t a t e p r o b a b l y h a d t h e w e a k e s t c a s e a g a i n s t F o s t e r t h a n i t d i d

a g a i n s t a n y o f t h e d e f e n d a n t s . I n t h e f i r s t p l a c e , F o s t e r w a s n o t a r r e s t e d

o n t h e g r o u n d b u t w a s a r r e s t e d l a t e r i n h i s C h i c a g o o f f i c e s . H e i n s i s t e d

t h e n , a n d o n t h e w i t n e s s s t a n d , t h a t h e w a s n o t a m e m b e r o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y a n d R u t h e n b e r g , w h o w a s o n t h e s t a n d a s a w i t n e s s i n F o s t e r ' s d e f e n s e ,

swore Foster was not a member of that organizati on . I t w a s s h o w n b y

evidence that while Foster was at the Bridgman con vention held by the

S t a t e t o h a v e b e e n a n i l l e g a l g a t h e r i n g u n d e r t h e l a w , a n d t o o k p a r t i n t h e

p r o c e e d i n g s b y m a k i n g a n a d d r e s s , h e l e f t t h e c o n v e n t i o n b e f o r e t h e a d o p -

t i o n o f t h e r e s o l u t i o n w h i c h t h e S t a t e l a r g e l y d e p e n d e d u p o n t o s h o w t h e

c h a r a c t e r a n d p u r p o s e o f t h e m e e t i n g .

T o u n d e r s t a n d t h e c o n t e n t i o n s o f t h e p r o s e c u t i o n , t h e f o l l o w i n g from

the open statement of Hon . 0 . L . S m i t h , a s s i s t a n t a t t o r n e y g e n e r a l f o r

M i c h i g a n w h o h e a d e d t h e S t a t e ' s c o u n s e l i s a p r o p o s . M r . S m i t h s a i d :

" T h a t t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e j u r y m a y h a v e c l e a r l y i n m i n d a t t h e o u t s e t

o f t h i s c a s e , t h e f a c t i s s u e s i n v o l v e d i n t h e p r o s e c u t i o n , I d e s i r e t o m a k e a

s t a t e m e n t , a s s h o r t a s p o s s i b l e , o f t h e f a c t s u p o n w h i c h t h e p r o s e c u t i o n

w i l l a s k t h e c o n v i c t i o n o f t h e d e f e n d a n t , W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r . I w i s h t o c a l l

a t t e n t i o n t o t h e s t a t u t e u n d e r w h i c h t h i s p r o s e c u t i o n i s b r o u g h t . C r i m i n a l

[ 2 0 7 1



REDS IN AMERICA

s y n d i c a l i s m i s d e f i n e d a s t h e d o c t r i n e w h i c h a d v o c a t e s c r i m e , s a b o t a g e ,

v i o l e n c e o r o t h e r u n l a w f u l m e t h o d s o f t e r r o r i s m a s a m e a n s o f a c c o m p l i s h .

i n g i n d u s t r i a l o r p o l i t i c a l r e f o r m s . A d v o c a c y o f t h i s d o c t r i n e i s t h e c r i m e

p r o h i b i t e d b y t h e s t a t u t e . U n d e r t h e s t a t u t e i t i s o u r c o n t e n t i o n t h a t t h i s

p r o h i b i t e d d o c t r i n e m a y b e a d v o c a t e d :

" F i r s t , b y w o r d o f m o u t h o r w r i t i n g ;

" S e c o n d , b y p r i n t i n g , p u b l i s h i n g , e d i t i n g , k n o w i n g l y c i r c u l a t i n g , b o o k s ,

p a p e r s , d o c u m e n t s o r w r i t t e n m a t t e r i n a n y f o r m c o n t a i n i n g a n d a d v o c a t i n g

t h e p r o h i b i t e d d o c t r i n e ;

" F o u r t h ; b y o r g a n i z i n g , h e l p i n g t o o r g a n i z e , b e c o m e a m e m b e ro f , o r

v o l u n t a r i l y a s s e m b l i n g w i t h , a n y s o c i e t y , g r o u p o r a s s e m b l a g e o f p e r s o n s

f o r m e d t o t e a c h a n d a d v o c a t e t h e p r o h i b i t e d d o c t r i n e .

" I t i s u n d e r t h e f o u r t h m e n t i o n e d o f a d v o c a c y o f t h i s p r o h i b i t e d i l -

l e g a l d o c t r i n e , t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r , i s c h a r g e d w i t h v i o l a t -

i n g t h e M i c h i g a n l a w . "

T h e d e f e n s e t o o k t h e p o s i t i o n a n d b r o u g h t e v i d e n c e t o s u s t a i n t h a t

p o s i t i o n , t h a t F o s t e r , w a s n o t a m e m b e r o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y of Amer-

i c a w h i c h t a u g h t t h e p r o s c r i b e d d o c t r i n e ; t h a t h e w a s n o t a d e l e g a t e t o t h i s

c o n v e n t i o n ; t h a t h e w a s t h e r e a s a n i n v i t e d g u e s t a n d t o m a k e a n a d d r e s s ;

a n d t h a t t h e r e a s o n f o r h i s a c c e p t i n g t h e i n v i t a t i o n a n d m a k i n g t h ea d d r e s s

w a s t o s e c u r e t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e g a t h e r i n g f o r h i s m a g a z i n e L a b o r H e r a l d .

F u r t h e r , t h a t F o s t e r ' s w h o l e w o r k w a s i n t h e i n t e r e s t o f t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e ;

t h a t h e h a d b e e n r e c o g n i z e d a s a n a b l e l e a d e r o f t h e w a g e - e a r n e r s ,a n d t o

s u s t a i n t h i s , c o n s i d e r a b l e s t r e s s w a s l a i d o n t h e f a c t t h a t h e h e a d e d t h e

o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e s t e e l w o r k e r s f o r t h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r

a n d w a s p u t i n c h a r g e o f t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h a t o r g a n i z a t i o n w h e n t h es t r i k e

w a s c a l l e d .

A g a i n , t h e S t a t e u p t o t h e t a k i n g o f t e s t i m o n y , w a s d e c e i v e da s t o t h e

p r o b a b l e n a t u r e o f t h e d e f e n s e .F o r s o m e w e e k s p r e v i o u s t o t h e c a l l i n g o f

t h e c a s e , t h e d e f e n s e h a d t a k e n a l a r g e n u m b e r o f d e p o s i t i o n st h r o u g h o u t

t h e c o u n t r y , a l l o f w h i c h w e r e t o s u s t a i n t h e a l l e g a t i o n t h a t t h e r a i d a n d

f i n d i n g o f t h e i l l e g a l a n d i n c r i m i n a t i n g d o c u m e n t s w a s a " f r a m e - u p "o n t h e

p a r t o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t a n d p r i v a t e d e t e c t i v e a g e n c i e s . M u c h p u b l i c i t y w a s

g i v e n t o a l l t h e s e d e p o s i t i o n s . H o w e v e r , w h e n t h e c a s e w a s c a l l e d , n o s u c h

d e p o s i t i o n s w e r e o f f e r e d i n e v i d e n c e , a n d t h e d e f e n c e b a s e d i t s w h o l e c a s e

o n t h e g r o u n d s t h a t F o s t e r w a s n o t a m e m b e r o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y t h a t

e v e n i f h e w a s , t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y w a s n o t a n i l l e g a l o r g a n i z a t i o n b u t

w a s m e r e l y a g r o u p o f p e o p l e w h o b e l i e v e d i n c a r r y i n g g o v e r n m e n t o w n e r -

s h i p t o i t s u l t i m a t e c o n c l u s i o n , t h a t i s , t h e " s o c i a l i z a t i o n " o f a l l i n d u s t r i e s .

T h e d e f e n s e t o o k s p e c i a l c a r e t o l e a v e t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t i n t h e " s o c i a l -

i z a t i o n " ' p r o c e s s , t h e l a n d s o f t h e s m a l l f a r m e r s w e r e n o t t o b e i n v o l v e d .

T h i s w a s d o n e b e c a u s e a m a j o r i t y o n t h e j u r y w e r e f a r m e r s . T h e d e f e n s e

l a i d g r e a t s t r e s s o n t h e f a c t t h a t t h e p r o s e c u t i o n w a s o n l y " p e r s e c u t i o n o f a

well known labor leader . " T h e c o n t e n t i o n , n o d o u b t , h a d g r e a t w e i g h t

w i t h a n u m b e r o f t h e j u r o r s .

Then again there was a woman on the jury . T h i s i s n o t t o q u e s t i o n

[ 2 0 8 1



PRESENT STATUS OF THE BRIDGMAN CASES

t h e h o n e s t y o r i n t e g r i t y o f t h i s w o m a n j u r o r b u t s h e w a s e v i d e n t l y m o r e o r

l e s s e m o t i o n a l . H e r s y m p a t h i e s w e r e s u c c e s s f u l l y a r o u s e d . S h e w a s m a d e

t o b e l i e v e t h a t F o s t e r w a s a h i g h - m i n d e d p e r s o n , w o r k i n g a t g r e a t p e r s o n a l

s a c r i f i c e , t o a i d t h e " s t r u g g l i n g m a s s e s . " F r o m h e r t r a i n i n g , h e r e n v i r o n -

m e n t , h e r s u r r o u n d i n g s , h e r i n n a t e h o n e s t y o f p u r p o s e , s h e w a s u n a b l e t o

g r a s p f r o m t h e m a s s o f t e s t i m o n y t h a t F o s t e r w a s h e a d i n g a g r e a t c o n s p i r a c y

a g a i n s t c i v i l i z a t i o n a n d C h r i s t i a n i t y . B e c a u s e o f h e r th i g h - m i n d e d n e s s , s h e

w a s w h o l l y i n c a p a b l e o f g r a s p i n g t h e f a c t t h a t ` h e r e c o u l d b e s u c h a c o n -

s p i r a c y .

The prosecution was not as well versed in commu nism, i t s p u r p o s e s ,

m e t h o d s p l a n s a n d i d e a s , a s w a s t h e d e f e n s e . T h i s e n a b l e d t h e d e f e n s e ,

o f t e n s k i l l f u l l y , t o s t e e r s h y o f d a n g e r o u s g r o u n d s a n d a v o i d t h e i n j e c t i o n

o f d a n g e r o u s u t t e r a n c e s . The rather verbose and weighty language em-

ployed by the average communist writer went over the h e a d s o f a l a r g e

n u m b e r o f t h e j u r o r s . O n e m u s t n o t o v e r l o o k t h e f a c t t h a t t h e j u r y w a s

c o m p o s e d o f t w e l v e h o n e s t , s i n c e r e , l o y a l p e r s o n s w h o s e c o n t a c t w i t h t h e

w o r l d h a d n o t b e e n s u f f i c i e n t l y e x t e n s i v e t o e n a b l e t h e m t o g r a s p t h e s e r i o u s -

n e s s o f t h e p l a n s p r o p o s e d b y C o m m u n i s m . B e i n g h o n e s t t h e m s e l v e s , b e i n g

l o y a l a n d p a t r i o t i c , t h e y c o u l d n o t b e m a d e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e u t t e r d i s -

h o n e s t y a n d d i s l o y a l t y o f t h o s e w h o w e r e g u i d i n g t h e d e s t i n i e s o f t h e C o m -

m u n i s t p a r t y a n d a l l o f i t s a l l i e d m o v e m e n t s .

I n v i e w o f t h e s e f a c t s , t h a t t h e r e w a s a " h u n g j u r y " i n t h e F o s t e r c a s e ,

i s n o t s u r p r i s i n g . I t h a d n o t p r o g r e s s e d t w o d a y s i n t h e t a k i n g o f t e s t i -

m o n y , u n t i l i t w a s t h e u n a n i m o u s b e l i e f a t t h e p r e s s t a b l e that a "hung

j u r y " w o u l d r e s u l t .

W i t h b u t a w e e k i n t e r v e n i n g t h e c a s e o f C h a r l e s E . R u t h e n b e r g wa s

c a l l e d . H e r e t h e e v i d e n c e w a s s t r o n g e r f o r t h e p r o s e c u t i o n . Ruthenberg

w a s a r r e s t e d o n t h e g r o u n d s . He admitted he was not only a member but

a n o f f i c i a l o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a , a n d w h i l e h e d i s c l a i m e d

any purpose to change the government by " f o r c e , v i o l e n c e a n d a c t s o f

t e r r o r i s m " h e c l e a r l y i n d i c a t e d b y h i s r a t h e r f r a n k m e t h o d o f t e s t i f y i n g ,

t h a t h e b e l i e v e d a " r e v o l u t i o n " w o u l d b e n e c e s s a r y t o e s t a b l i s h c o m m u n i s m .

T h e j u r y c o m p o s e d l a r g e l y o f f a r m e r s w a s a m o s t i n t e l l i g e n t b o d y o f

m e n . T h e y w e r e a l e r t; were not swayed by emotions and were ready t o

r e n d e r t h e i r d e c i s i o n o n t h e f a c t s a s t h e y g a i n e d t h e m f r o m t h e e v i d e n c e , a n d

i n a c c o r d w i t h t h e l a w a s l a i d d o w n b y t h e j u d g e .

I n t h e R u t h e n b e r g c a s e t h e S t a t e w a s a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e c h a r a c t e r o f

t h e d e f e n s e . I t h a d f o u n d t h e w e a k p o i n t s o f t h e d e f e n s e i n t h e F o s t e r

t r i a l , a n d t h r o u g h m o r e c o m p l e t e e x a m i n a t i o n of the documents secured

i n t h e r a i d , w a s a b l e t o p r e s e n t t h i s i n c r i m i n a t i n gevidence in a manner

w h i c h w a s m o r e i n t e l l i g i b l e t o t h e j u r y . A s s t a t e d , t h e r e s u l t w a s a c o n -

v i c t i o n o f R u t h e n b e r g a f t e r a f e w h o u r s .

I n b o t h c a s e s t h e S t a t e w a s a b l y r e p r e s e n t e d b y H o n . O . L . S m i t h ,

A s s i s t a n t A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ; C h a r l e s W . G o r e , C o u n t r y P r o s e c u t i n g A t t o r n e y ;

C h a r l e s B o o k w a l t e r , A s s i s t a n t C o u n t y P r o s e c u t i n g A t t o r n e y , a n d M a x B u r g e r ,

a government expert on the doctrines of Communism, and whose knowl-

e d g e o f t h i s s u b j e c t w a s a m a t e r i a l a i d t o t h e S t a t e . C r e d i t s h o u l d a l s o

[ 2 0 9 1



REDS IN AMERICA

be given to the government agents who took part in the raid and were

c a l l e d a s w i t n e s s e s f o r t h e S t a t e . S p e c i a l c r e d i t s h o u l d g o t o F r a n k M o r r o w ,

known as "K 97," whose cleverness e nabled him to become an accr edited

d e l e g a t e t o t h i s C o n v e n t i o n a n d w h o w a s a b l e t o c o n v e y i n f o r m a t i o n t o t h e

g o v e r n m e n t t h a t t h e m e e t i n g w a s t o o c c u r . The raid and prosecutions

f o l l o w e d .



CHAPTER FOURTEEN

THE SHORTCOMINGS OF OUR LAWS

An effort has been made to show, from documents of the Communist

p a r t y o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e " l e g a l " b r a n c h e s o f t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n , i n w h a t

manner the Communist Internatio nal of Moscow i s e n d e a v o r i n g t o b r i n g

a b o u t t h e o v e r t h r o w o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s b y f o r c e o f

a r m s , a n d t o w h a t e x t e n t t h i s c o n s p i r a c y h a s p r o g r e s s e d . There can be

n o m i s r e a d i n g t h e a i m s a n d o b j e c t s o f t h i s c o n s p i r a c y , f o r t h e documents

t h e m s e l v e s f r e q u e n t l y r e f e r t o t h e n e c e s s i t y f o r u s i n g " a r m e d f o r c e , " t o

" a r m e d i n s u r r e c t i o n , " a n d t o " v i o l e n c e " a s t h e o n l y m e a n s o f a t t a i n i n g t h e

end at which the Communists aim • The endeavor has also been made to

show that many non-Communist organizations and individuals have aided

a n d a r e a i d i n g t h e m o v e m e n t t h r o u g h a g i t a t i o n , t h r o u g hc o n t r i b u t i o n o f

f u n d s , t o w a r d s u p p o r t i n g t r o u b l e - m a k e r s a n d i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h e f f o r t s t o

s u p p r e s s r a d i c a l i s m .

T h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a h a s b e e n d e c l a r e d o f f i c i a l l y t o b e a n

i l l e g a l o r g a n i z a t i o n . B e c a u s e o f t h i s i t h a s b e e n n e c e s s a r y f o r t h i s p a r t y t o

h o l d i t s a n n u a l c o n v e n t i o n s i n s e c r e t , h i d i n g i n t h e w o o d s , a s w a s t h e c a s e

a t B r i d g m a n , w i t h l o o k o u t s p o s t e d t o g i v e w a r n i n g o f t h e a p p r o a c h o f o f -

f i c e r s o f t h e l a w . I t h a s b e e n n e c e s s a r y t o u s e c o d e s f o r c o m m u n i c a t i n g w i t h

o n e a n o t h e r i n o r d e r t o e s c a p e d e t e c t i o n , a n d f o r e a c h m e m b e r o f t h e i l l e g a l

o r g a n i z a t i o n t o h a v e a n d u s e a f i c t i t i o u s n a m e i n o r d e r t h a t i d e n t i t i e s m a y

not be known . I n v i e w o f t h e f a c t s a s t h e y a r e k n o w n a n d p r o v a b l e w i t h

u n i m p e a c h a b l e e v i d e n c e , t h e q u e s t i o n h a s n a t u r a l l y a r i s e n , w h y d o e s n ' t t h e

G o v e r n m e n t w i p e o u t t h i s n e s t o f v i p e r s ? T h e a n s w e r i s s i m p l e , t h e G o v e r n -

m e n t h a s n o p o w e r t o d o s o .

T h e C o m m u n i s t s a n d r a d i c a l s o f e v e r y h u e , s e e k r e f u g e u n d e r t h e v e r y

l a w s t h e y d e r i d e ; t h e y a p p e a l t o t h e l a w s t h e y a r e t r y i n g t o o v e r t h r o w f o r

p r o t e c t i o n f r o m p u n i s h m e n t f o r v i o l a t i o n s o f t h o s e l a w s . C e r t a i n s e n a t o r s

a n d m e m b e r s o f C o n g r e s s , c e r t a i n j u d g e s o n t h e b e n c h , e v e n o n t h e F e d e r a l

b e n c h , a n d c o u n t l e s s c i t i z e n s o f n o o f f i c i a l p o s i t i o n , o b s e s s e d w i t h t h e t h e o r y

o f " f r e e s p e e c h , " a r e u n a b l e , o r u n w i l l i n g , t o r e c o g n i z e t h e d i f f e r e nc e b e -

t w e e n f r e e s p e e c h a n d a c o n s p i r a c y t o o v e r t h r o w t h e G o v e r n m e n t b y a r m e d

r e v o l u t i o n . B i l l s i n t r o d u c e d i n C o n g r e s s a r e k i l l e d b y a n o p p o s i t i o n w h i c h

suddenly develops when any proposal is made t o give the o f f i c e r s o f t h e

l a w a d e q u a t e a u t h o r i t y t o p r o t e c t t h e G o v e r n m e n t f r o m c o n s p i r a c i e s t o e f f e c t

i t s d o w n f a l l . The Communists boast that they have members of Congress

w o r k i n g f o r t h e m a n d t h a t t h e y c a n p r e v e n t t h e p a s s a g e o f l a w s d e s i g n e d t o

c u r b r a d i c a l a c t i v i t i e s . S e n a t o r s a r e t h r e a t e n e d w i t h b e i n g r e p o r t e d t o

[211]



REDS IN AMERICA

M o s c o w u n l e s s t h e y a c t t h u s a n d s o . A n d k n o w n C o m m u n i s t s g o t o

W a s h i n g t o n w i t h p e r f e c t i m m u n i t y a n d c o n s u l t w i t h s e n a t o r s a n d c o n g r e s s -

m e n i n t h e i r o f f i c e s a t t h e C a p i t o l .

M e m b e r s o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t a t W a s h i n g t o n a n d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e

people in both branches of Congress ha ve known of the i n a d e q u a c i e s o f

t h e l a w s e v e r s i n c e R e d R a d i c a l i s m f i r s t r a i s e d i t s h e a d i n t h i s c o u n t r y .

L o y a l o f f i c i a l s a n d e a r n e s t c o n g r e s s m e n h a v e m a d e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s a n d

i n t r o d u c e d b i l l s l o o k i n g t o t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f l a w s o f t h e c o u n t r y i n o r d e r

t h a t t h i s i n t e r n a t i o n al b l i g h t m i g h t b e p r e v e n t e d f r o m f i n d i n g r o o t i n t h e s o i l

o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . And these recommendations have been ignored and

t h e s e b i l l s h a v e b e e n k i l l e d .

I t w i l l b e a s u r p r i s e t o m o s t l o y a l A m e r i c a n s t o k n o w t h a t a n y o n e , p r o -

v i d e d h e b e a n A m e r i c a n c i t i z e n , m a y m a n u f a c t u r e a b o m b i n t h e c i t y o f

W a s h i n g t o n , ( o r i n a n y o t h e r F e d e r a l t e r r i t o r y ) , t a k e t h a t b o m b a n d w a i l k

d o w n P e n n s y l v a n i a a v e n u e a n n o u n c i n g t o a l l w h o w i l l h e a r , t h a t h e i n t e n d s

t o b l o w u p t h e C a p i t o l a s a p a r t o f a p r o j e c t l o o k i n g t o w a r d t h e o v e r t h r o w

o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t , a n d h a v e c o m m i t t e d _ n o c r i m e b e y o n d

d i s t u r b a n c e o f t h e p e a c e , a m u n i c i p a l F o l i c e r e g u l a t i o n . What is more, he

m a y a c t u a l l y b l o w c p t h e C a p i t o l a n d d e s t r o y i t , a l l t h e w h i l e p r o c l a i m i n g

h i s p u r p o s e a s a m e a n s o f v i o l e n t l y o v e r t h r o w i n g t h e G o v e r n m e n t - a n d a l l

h e c a n b e a r r e s t e d o r p r o s e c u t e d f o r i s d e s t r u c t i o n o f G o v e r n m e n t p r o p e r t y.

T h i s i s l e g a l l y t h e s a m e o f f e n s e t h a t m a y b e c o m m i t t e d b y a n y b o y t h r o w i n g

a stone through the window of a Government buildin g . F o r t h e r e i s n o

F e d e r a l l a w w h i c h w i l l t o u c h a n A m e r i c a n c i t i z e n w h o j o i n s t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y a n d e n d e a v o r s t o c a r r y o u t t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h a t o r g a n i z a t i o n - t h e

o v e r t h r o w o f t h i s G o v e r n m e n t b y f o r c e a n d v i o l e n c e .

I f a n a l i e n d o e s t h e s a m e t h i n g h e m a y b e d e p o r t e d u n d e r t h e e x i s t i n g

l a w s . O r r a t h e r , t h e l a w p r o v i d e s f o r h i s d e p o r t a t i o n , b u t b y a c u r i o u s

t w i s t o f t h e l a w e v e n t h e a l i e n i s s a v e d f r o m p u n i s h m e n t . F or the same

l a w t h a t p r o v i d e s f o r h i s d e p o r t a t i o n a l s o s p e c i f i e s t h a t b e f o r e b e i n g d e -

p o r t e d h e m u s t b e p r o v i d e d w i t h a p a s s p o r t a p p r o v e d b y t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e

i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f t h e c o u n t r y t o w h i c h h e i s t o b e d e p o r t e d . A n d a s

n o c o u n t r y w a n t s r a d i c a l s w h o a i m a t t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f a l l s o - c a l l e d " c a p -

i t a l i s t " c o u n t r i e s , t h e s e c u r i n g o f a p a s s p o r t f o r t h e a c c u s e d a l i e n i s d i f f i c u l t

a n d o f t e n i m p o s s i b l e . For example, England and France have refused to

p e r m i t t h e i r n a t i o n a l s , t h o s e w h o a r e C o m m u n i s t s , t o b e d u m p e d u p o n t h e i r

s h o r e s b y t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ; a n d e v e n R u s s i a , a f t e r a h e c t i c e x p e r i e n c e w i t h

t h e s h i p l o a d o f R e d s d e p o r t e d o n t h e B u f o r d , r e f u s e s t o a c c e p t a n y m o r e o f

t h a t b r a n d . S o , i t i s s e e n , t h e l a w w h i c h p r o v i d e s f o r t h e d e p o r t a t i o n o f

a l i e n s a l s o f o r b i d s , i n e f f e c t , t h e i r d e p o r t a t i o n .

T h e l a w u n d e r w h i c h t h e G o v e r n m e n t f u n c t i o n s i n t h e h a n d l i n g o f t h i s

s i t u a t i o n t o d a y i s S e c t i o n 6 o f t h e C r i m i n a l C o d e , w h i c h r e a d s :

" I f t w o o r m o r e p e r s o n s i n a n y S t a t e o r T e r r i t o r y , o r i n a n y p l a c e

s u b j e c t t o t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , c o n s p i r e t o o v e r t h r o w , put

d o w n , o r t o d e s t r o y b y f o r c e t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , o r t o

l e v y w a r a g a i n s t t h e m , o r t o o p p o s e b y f o r c e t h e a u t h o r i t y t h e r e o f , o r b y

f o r c e t o p r e v e n t , h i n d e r o r d e l a y t h e e x e c u t i o n o f a n y l a w o f t h e U n i t e d

( 2 1 2 1




S t a t e s c o n t r a r y t o t h e a u t h o r i t y t h e r e o f , t h e y s h a l l e a c h b e f i n e d not more

t h a n f i v e t h o u s a n d d o l l a r s , o r i m p r i s o n e d n o t m o r e t h a n s i x y e a r s , o r b o t h . "

T h i s l a w w o u l d s e e m , a t a c a s u a l r e a d i n g , t o b e s u f f i c i e n t t o e n a b l e

t h e G o v e r n m e n t t o c r u s h t h e c o n s p i r a c y o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s , f o r e x a m p l e ,

w h i c h a i m s a t t h e d e s t r u c t i o n " b y f o r c e " o f " t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s . " B u t m a n y t i m e s c o u r t s h a v e i n t e r p r e t e d t h i s s e c t i o n o f t h e C r i m i n a l

C o d e t o m e a n t h a t a n o v e r t a c t a g a i n s t t h e G o v e r n m e n t m u s t b e c o m m i t t e d

b e f o r e a n y o f f e n c e h a s b e e n p e r p e t r a t e d . T h e r e f o r e , t h e c o n s p i r a t o r s i n t h e

woods at Bridgman, Mich . , w h o w e r e m e t i n s e c r e t c o n v e n t i o n t o p l o t t h e

overthrow of the Government would be considered, u n d e r t h e s e i n t e r p r e -

t a t i o n s o f t h e l a w , t o h a v e b e e n e n t i r e l y w i t h i n t h e i r r i g h t s . F o r t u n a t e l y ,

h o w e v e r , a n u m b e r o f S t a t e s , a n d M i c h i g a n i s o n e o f t h e m , h a v e s t r i n g e n t

a n t i - s y n d i c a l i s t l a w s t o p r o t e c t t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w h i c h

s e e m s u n a b l e t o g e t a l a w t h r o u g h C o n g r e s s t o p r o t e c t i t s e l f .

S o m e o f t h e m e n a r r e s t e d i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e B r i d g m a n s e c r e t , i l -

l e g a l c o n v e n t i o n , n o t a b l y R u t h e n b e r g a n d F o s t e r , h a v e r e p e a t e d l y r e f e r r e d

t o t h e t y p e w r i t e r s a n d m i m e o g r a p h m a c h i n e s a s t h e w e a p o n s t h e M i c h i g a n

a u t h o r i t i e s c a p t u r e d a t B r i d g m a n a n d s l u r r i n g l y a s k e d i f i t w e r e t h o u g h t

they were planning to overthrow the Government with those "weapons . "

A n d y e t o n e o f t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e l a t e w a r i n E u r o p e w a s t h e t r e m e n d o u s

i n c r e a s e i n t h e u s e o f p r o p a g a n d a a s a w e a p o n . I t w a s u s e d b y t h e C o m -

m u n i s t s t o d e s t r o y t h e e f f i c i e n c y o f t h e a r m y o f R u s s i a u n d e r t h e C z a r , a n d

i s b e i n g u s e d t o d a y b y t h e C o m m u n i s t s t o i n f l u e n c e e v e n t h e h i g h e s t o f f i c i a l s

o f t h i s G o v e r n m e n t s o t h a t t h e d a n g e r o f C o m m u n i s m w i l l n o t b e u n d e r s t o o d

o r a p p r e c i a t e d . P r o p a g a n d a i s n o w r e c o g n i z e d b y m i l i t a r y a u t h o r i t i e s a s

a d i s t i n c t a n d v e r y p o t e n t m i l i t a r y t a c t i c . O u r o w n m i l i t a r y a u t h o r i t i e s

a s s i g n i t a d e f i n i t e p l a c e i n t h e c a t e g o r y o f w a r f a r e , b e s i d e g a s , l i q u i d f i r e

a n d o t h e r m e t h o d s w h i c h h a d t o b e c o m b a t e d i n t h e W o r l d W a r . T h e I t a l i a n

c a m p a i g n , t h e r e t r e a t o f t h e d e m o r a l i z e d I t a l i a n a r m i e s , w a s t h e d e f i n i t e r e -

e u l t f i r s t o f a w e a k e n i n g o f m o r a l e a f f e c t e d b y c a r e f u l l y p l a n n e d a n dc l e v e r -

l y p l a c e d p r o p a g a n d a .

O n e o f t h e f e a t u r e s o f t h e o p e r a t i o n o f t h e l a w s u n d e r w h i c h t h e G o v -

e r n m e n t i s s t r i v i n g t o c o u n t e r a c t o r c r u s h t h e C o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t i s t h e

c o n f u s i o n o f a u t h o r i t y . T h e i m m i g r a t i o n q u e s t i o n c o m e s u n d e r t h e D e p a r t -

ment of Labor ; u n d e r s i r a b l e a l i e n s m a y b e k e p t o u t b y t h e i m m i g r a t i o n

a u t h o r i t i e s l e g a l l y , a n 4 a f e w a r e s o k e p t o u t . T h e p a s s p o r t p r o b l e m i s i n

t h e h a n d s o f t h e S t a t e D e p a r t m e n t , w h i c h m a y r e f u s e t o g r a n ta p a s s p o r t

t o w h o m e v e r i t p l e a s e s ; a n d i t s o m e t i m e s d o e s r e f u s e p a s s p o r t s . T h e T r e a s -

u r y D e p a r t m e n t h a s t o d o w i t h s m u g g l i n g , a n d t h e P o s t O f f i c e D e p a r t m e n t h a s

t o d o w i t h t h e m a i l s a n d t h e i r m i s u s e b y r a d i c a l s . T h e D e p a r t m e n t o f J u s -

t i c e i s t h e l e g a l b r a n c h o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t , t o b e c a l l e d u p o n f o r a d v i c e

a n d i n f o r m a t i o n . B u t t h e r e i s n o l a w t h a t c o m p e l s o n e d e p a r t m e n t t o a s k

f o r t h e r e c o r d s o f t h e R e d s , n a t i v e a n d f o r e i g n , b e f o r e t h e y a r e a d m i t t e d ,

o r g r a n t e d p a s s p o r t s , o r t r i e d f o r t h e m i s u s e o f t h e m a i l s o r f o r s m u g g l i n g .

I nf a c t , i t h a s h a p p e n e d f r e q u e n t l y t h a t A m e r i c a n s a n d a l i e n s h a v e b e e n

p e r m i t t e d t o g o f r e e l y a b o u t t h e i r p l o t t i n g a g a i n s t t h e G o v e r n m e n t , armed

w i t h p a s s p o r t s , a d m i t t e d f r e e l y b y t h e i m m i g r a t i o n a u t h o r i t i e s , w h e n i n t h e

1 2 1 3 1



REDS IN AMERICA

v a r i o u s f i l e s o f t h e d i f f e r e n t d e p a r t m e n t s w a s e n o u g h e v i d e n c e , i f c o l l e c t e d

a n d u s e d , t o c o n v i c t t h e m a n o r w o m a n a f f e c t e d o f n e a r l y e v e r y c r i m e s h o r t

o f m ur de r- an d so me ti me s ac tu al ly o f m ur d e r . Communist s have no

t r o u b l e g e t t i n g p a s s p o r t s t o u s e g o i n g b a c k a n d f o r t h t o M o s c o w . These

p a s s p o r t s a r e f r e q u e n t l y f o r g e d a n d u s e d b y o t h e r m e s s e n g e r s o f t h e C o m -

m u n i s t s . T h e D e p a r t m e n t o f J u s t i c e m u s t h a v e a v a s t a m o u n t o f i n f o r m a t i o n

r e g a r d i n g t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f i n d i v i d u a l s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y

o f A m e r i c a a n d i t s i n f o r m a t i o n i s a v a i l a b l e t o o t h e r d e p a r t m e n t s o f t h e

G o v e r n m e n t i f a s k e d f o r ; b u t t h e r e h a v e b e e n c a s e s , i t i s r e p o r t e d , w h e r e

e v e n a f t e r i n f o r m a t i o n h a s b e e n f u r n i s h e d u p o n s u c h r e q u e s t i t h a s n o t b e e n

r e g a r d e d .

M a n y t i m e s e f f o r t s h a v e b e e n m a d e t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e l a w s o t h a t t h e

G o v e r n m e n t c o u l d h a n d l e t h e R e d m e n a c e e f f e c t i v e l y w i t h o u t w a i t i n g f o r

b o m b s t o b e e x p l o d e d o r p e r s o n s s l a i n . A l m o s t i n v a r i a b l y s u c h e f f o r t s h a v e

c o m e t o n o u g h t b e c a u s e o f o p p o s i t i o n i n C o n g r e s s a n d b e c a u s e o f t h e a c t i v i t y

o f t h e p r o p a g a n d i s t s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y a n d o f t h o s e w h o s e w o r k d i -

r e c t l y p l a y s i n t o t h e h a n d s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s . L a w y e r s l o v i n g l i m e l i g h t

h a v e a h a b i t o f a p p e a r i n g a n d d e f e n d i n g " f r e e s p e e c h " which with them

m e a n s n o t h i n g b u t u n r e s t r a i n e d l i c e n s e . H u n d r e d s o f p e o p l e r a l l y t o f i g h t

a n y b i l l t h a t h a s a p a t r i o t i c m o t i v e b a c k o f i t , s u c h a s a m e a s u r e d e s i g n e d

t o p r e v e n t t h e o v e r t h r o w o r t h e a t t e m p t t o o v e r t h r o w t h i s G o v e r n m e n t b y

v i o l en c e . S u c h w a s t h e f a t e o f t h e S t e r l i n g b i l l , w h i c h p a s s e d t h e S e n a t e b u t

w a s d e f e a t e d i n t h e H o u s e . T h e w r i t e r h o l d s n o b r i e f f o r t h i s p a r t i c u l a r

b i l l , b u t m a n y l o y a l l a w y e r s h a v e s t u d i e d i t c a r e f u l l y t r y i n g t o f i n d a r e a s o n

w h y a n y r e a l r e d b l o o d e d A m e r i c a n w o u l d o p p o s e i t . B u t i t w a s o p p o s e d s o

s t r e n u o u s l y t h a t i t w a s d e f e a t e d i n t h e H o u s e o f R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s . I t w a s

e n t i t l e d , " A b i l l t o p r o h i b i t a n d p u n i s h c e r t a i n s e d i t i o u s a c ts a g a i n st t h e

G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d t o p r o h i b i t t h e u s e o f t h e m a i l s f o r

t h e p u r p o s e o f p r o m p t i n g s u c h a c t s , " a n d r e a d a s f o l l o w s : ,

` B e i t e n a c t e d b y t h e S e n a t e a n d H o u s e o f R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a i n C o n g r e s s a s s e m b l e d , T h a t i t s h a l l b e u n l a w f u l f o r a n y

r e a s o n t o a d v o c a t e o r a d v i s e t h e o v e r t h r o w , o r t o w r i t e , o r k n o w i n g l y t o

p r i n t , p u b l i s h , u t t e r , s e l l , o r d i s t r i b u t e a n y d o c u m e n t , b o o k , c i r c u l a r , p a p e r ,

j o u r n a l , o r o t h e r w r i t t e n o r p r i n t e d c o m m u n i c a t i o n , i n o r b y w h i c h t h e r e i s

a d v i s e d t h e o v e r t h r o w , b y f o r c e o r v i o l e n c e , o r b y p h y s i c a l i n j u r y t o p e r s o n

o r p r o p e r t y , o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o r a l l g o v e r n m e n t , o r

a d v i s e o r a d v o c a t e a c h a n g e i n t h e f o r m o f G o v e r n m e n t o r t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n

o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o r r e s i s t a n c e t o t h e a u t h o r i t y t h e r e o f b y f o r c e o r v i o -

l e n c e o r b y p h y s i c a l i n j u r y t o p e r s o n o r p r o p e r t y ; a n d i t s h a l l b e u n l a w f u l

f o r a n y p e r s o n b y f o r c e o r v i o l e n c e t o p r e v e n t , h i n d e r o r d e l a y t h e e x e c u -

t i o n o f a n y l a w o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o r t h e f r e e p e r f o r m a n c e o f a n y o f i t s

o f f i c e r s , a g e n t s , o r e m p l o y e e s , o r o f h i s o r t h e i r p u b l i c d u t y , o r t o a t t e m p t

b y f o r c e o r v i o l e n c e t o o v e r t h r o w t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .

"Sec . 2 . T h a t t h e d i s p l a y o r e x h i b i t i o n a t a n y m e e t i n g , g a t h e r i n g o r

p a r a d e , p u b l i c o r p r i v a t e , o f a n y f l a g , b a n n e r , o r e m b l e m i n t e n d e d b y t h e

p e r s o n o r p e r s o n s d i s p l a y i n g o r e x h i b i t i n g t h e s a m e t o s y m b o l i z e o r i n d i c a t e

[ 2 1 4 1




a p u r p o s e t o o v e r t h r o w b y f o r c e o r v i o l e n c e o r b y p h y s i c a l i n j u r y t o p e r s o n

o r p r o p e r t y , t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o r a l l g o v e r n m e n t , i s h e r e -

b y d e c l a r e d t o b e u n l a w f u l .

" S e c . 3 . T h a t e v e r y d o c u m e n t , b o o k , c i r c u l a r , p a p e r , j o u r n a l , o r o t h e r

written or printed communication in or by which there is advocated or

a d v i s e d t h e o v e r t h r o w b y f o r c e o r v i o l e n c e o r b y p h y s i c a l i n j u r y t o p e r s o n o r

p r o p e r t y o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o r a l l g o v e r n m e n t , o r i n

o r b y w h i c h t h e r e i s a d v o c a t e d , o r a d v i s e d t h e u s e - o f f o r c e o r v i o l e n c e o r

p h y s i c a l i n j u r y t o o r t h e s e i z u r e o r d e s t r u c t i o n o f p e r s o n s o r p r o p e r t y a s

a m e a n s t o w a r d t h e a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f e c o n o m i c , i n d u s t r i a l , o r p o l i t i c a l

c h a n g e s , i s h e r e b y d e c l a r e d t o b e n o n - m a i l a b l e a n d t h e s a m e s h a l l n o t b e

c o n v e y e d i n t h e m a i l s o r d e l i v e r e d f r o m a n y p o s t o f f i c e o r b y a n y l e t t e r

c a r r i e r ; p r o v i d e d , T h a t n o t h i n g i n t h i s A c t s h a l l b e s o c o n s t r u e d a s t o

a u t h o r i z e a n y p e r s o n o t h e r t h a n a n e m p l o y e e o f t h e D e a d L e t t e r O f f i c e d u l y

a u t h o r i z e d t h e r e t o o r o t h e r p e r s o n u p o n a s e a r c h w a r r a n t a u t h o r i z e d b y l a w

t o o p e n a n y l e t t e r n o t a d d r e s s e d t o h i m s e l f : P r o v i d e d f u r t h e r , T h a t a n y

a u t h o r , p u b l i s h e r , o r p a r t y a f f e c t e d o r a g g r i e v e d b y t h e a c t i o n o f t h e P o s t -

m a s t e r G e n e r a l i n e x c l u d i n g m a t e r i a l s f r o m t h e m a i l s u n d e r t h i s s e c t i o n

s h a l l , u p o n f i l i n g a b o n d t o c o v e r t h e a c t u a l c o s t o f s u c h p r o c e e d i n g , b e

e n t i t l e d t o a h e a r i n g de novo b e f o r e a j u d g e o f t h e F e d e r a l d i s t r i c t o r c i r -

c u i t i n w h i c h t h e p a r t y a f f e c t e d o r a g g r i e v e d r e s i d e s . T h e c o u r t s h a l l h a v e

p o w e r d u r i n g t h e p e n d e n c y o f p r o c e e d i n g s i n c o u r t t o s u s p e n d t h e o r d e r o f

t h e P o s t m a s t e r G e n e r a l ; P r o v i d e d f u r t h e r , T h a t n o s u c h c o u r t p r o c e e d i n g

s h a l l b a r o r i n t e r f e r e w i t h a n y c r i m i n a l p r o s e c u t i o n u n d e r t h e t e r m s o f t h i s

A c t . "

" S e c . 4 . T h a t i t s h a l l b e u n l a w f u l t o i m p o r t o r c a u s e t o b e i m p o r t e d

i n t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o r a n y p l a c e s u b j e c t t o i t s j u r i s d i c t i o n a n y m a t t e r

d e c l a r e d b y s e c t i o n 3 o f t h i s A c t t o b e n o n - m a i l a b l e o r t o t r a n s p o r t o r c a u s e

t o b e t r a n s p o r t e d a n y s u c h m a t t e r f r o m o n e S t a t e t o a n o t h e r o r i n t o a n y

p l a c e s u b j e c t t o t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s.

"Sec . 5 . T h a t w h o e v e r s h a l l u s e o r a t t e m p t t o u s e t h e m a i l s o r t h e

P o s t a l S e r v i c e o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s f o r t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n o f a n y m a t t e r d e -

c l a r e d b y s e c t i o n 3 o f t h i s A c t t o b e n o n - m a i l a b l e o r w h o s h a l l v i o l a t e a n y

o t h e r o f t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h i s A c t s h a l l b e f i n e d n o t m o r e t h a n $ 5 0 0 0 o r

i m p r i s o n e d n o t m o r e t h a n f i v e y e a r s , ' o r b o t h , a n d i f a n a l i e n , s h a l l b e , u p o n

t h e e x p i r a t i o n o f h i s s e n t e n c e , d e p o r t e d f r o m t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d f o r e v e r

b a r r e d f r o m r e e n t e r i n g t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o r a n y T e r r i t o r y u n d e r i t s j u r i s -

d i c t i o n .

"Sec . 6 . That every foreign-born person who has become a natural-

i z e d c i t i z e n o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w h o s h a l l c o m m i t a n y o f t h e a c t s f o r b i d d e n

b y t h i s A c t s h a l l , u p o n c o n v i c t i o n t h e r e o f , f o r f e i t h i s c i t i z e n s h i p i n t h e

U n i t e d S t a t e s ; a n d a n y f o r e i g n - b o r n p e r s o n w h o h a s d e c l a r e d h i s i n t e n t i o n

t o b e c o m e a c i t i z e n s h a l l , u p o n h i s c o n v i c t i o n o f a n y o f f e n c e u n d e r t h i s A c t ,

f o r f e i t h i s r i g h t t o b e c o m e s u c h c i t i z e n , a n d a l l p r o c e e d i n g s h a d i n t h e

m a t t e r o f n a t u r a l i z a t i o n o f a n y s u c h p e r s o n s h a l l b e c a n c e l l e d a n d b e c o m e

n u l l a n d v o i d , a n d h e s h a l l t h e r e a f t e r b e i n e l i g i b l e f o r n a t u r a l i z a t i o n i n t h e

[2151



REDS IN AMERICA

U n i t e d S t a t e s , a n d s h a l l b e s u b j e c t t o d e p o r t a t i o n a s i n t h e c a s e o f o t h e r

a l i e n s , a s p r o v i d e d b y l a w. "

T h e r e w a s l i t t l e o p p o s i t i o n t o t h i s p r o p o s e d a c t w h e n i t w a s b r o u g h t

o u t o f t h e S e n a t e J u d i c i a r y C o m m i t t e e a n d p r e s e n t e d t o t h e S e n a t e . B u t

w h e n i t c a m e u p i n t h e H o u s e , t h e o p p o s i t i o n w a s a c t i v e b o t h o n t h e f l o o r

a n d o n t h e p a r t o f l o b b y i s t s a g a i n s t i t . P e r h a p s t h e m o s t a c t i v e o p p o n e n t

a t t h i s s t a g e w a s J a c k s o n H . R a l s t o n , a W a s h i n g t o n a t t o r n e y w h o r e p r e -

s e n t e d t h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r a n d w h o h a d a l s o a c t e d a s c o u n s e l

f o r L o u i s F . P o s t , f o r m e r A s s i s t a n t S e c r e t a r y o f L a b o r , a t a h e a r i n g b e f o r e

a Congressional Committee on charges a g a i n s t P o s t a r i s i n g o u t o f h i s

a c t i o n s a n d p o l i c i e s i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h d e p o r t a t i o n p r e c e e d i n g s . And yet

t h e p a s s a g e o f t h i s a c t o r o n e o f s i m i l a r i m p o r t i s n e c e s s a r y , and is known

t o b e n e c e s s a r y , i f t h e G o v e r n m e n t i s t o b e a b l e a d e q u a t e l y t o h a n d l e s u c h

i n d i v i d u a l s e n g a g e d i n C o m m u n i s t i c a c t i v i t i e s d i r e c t e d t o w a r d t h e o v e r t h r o w

o f t h i s G o v e r n m e n t b y f o r c e a n d v i o l e n c e .

A certain group of lawyers, not always the same p e r s o n n e l b u t i n -

v a r i a b l y w i t h m a n y o f t h e s a m e i n d i v i d u a l s , s e e m s a l w a y s t o b e s e e k i n g

w a y s t o e m b a r r a s s t h e G o v e r n m e n t a n d i n t e r f e r e w i t h i t s f u n c t i o n i n g when

i t a t t a c k s r a d i c a l i s m i n a n y o f i t s f o r m s . T h e s e l a w y e r s d o n o t s e e m t o c a r e

a s t o t h e m e r i t s o f t h e i r c a s e , a s w a s s h o w n w h e n t h e y b r o u g h t c h a r g e s o f

i l l e g a l p r a c t i c e a g a i n s t t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f J u s t i c e , c h a r g e s w h i c h w e r e

q u i c k l y s h o w n t o b e u t t e r l y w i t h o u t f o u n d a t i o n , a f a c t t h a t t h e v e r i e s t

tyro would have known upon cursory examination of the "evidence" t h e y

p r e s e n t e d . T h e m a k e u p o f t h i s p a r t i c u l a r g r o u p o f l a w y e r s , w h o s e a c t i v i t i e s

s e e m t o h a v e b e e n d i r e c t e d t o h i n d e r i n g i n s t e a d o f h e l p i n g t h e G o v e r n m e n t

i n i t s f i g h t , a r i g h t i n h e r e n t i n e v e r y G o v e r n m e n t , t o p r o t e c t i t s e l f , i s i n -

t e r e s t i n g .

T h i s s e l f - a p p o i n t e d c o m m i t t e e o f l a w y e r s , w h i c h s i g n e d t h e c h a r g e s

a g a i n s t t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f J u s t i c e , i n c l u d e d F e l i x F r a n k f u r t e r , E r n s t Freund

and Frank P . W a l s h , w h o w e r e i d e n t i f i e d w i t h t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s

U n i o n , a n o r g a n i z a t i o n , a s h a s b e e n s h o w n , w h i c h i n c l u d e s k n o w n C o m -m u n i s t s o n i t s c o m m i t t e e s w o r k i n g d i r e c t l y a n d c o n s t a n t l y f o r t h e o v e r -

throw of the Government of the United State s by force and violence .

F r a n k f u r t e r , f r o m h i s c h a i r a t H a r v a r d , b e c a m e s o a c t i v e i n h i s w o r k i n

b e h a l f o f t h e r a d i c a l s t h a t T h e o d o r e R o o s e v e l t wrote that he had taken

" a n a t t i t u d e w h i c h s e e m s t o m e t o b e f u n d a m e n t a l l y t h a t of Trotsky and

t h e o t h e r B o l s h e v i k i l e a d e r s i n R u s s i a . "

T h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n w a s a l s o a c t i v e i n t h i s m o v e m e n t

w i t h w h i c h i t s m e m b e r s w e r e i d e n t i f i e d . O f t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n , a s h a s b e e n

s e e n , i t h a s b e e n s a i d t h a t t h e e f f e c t o f i t s a c t i v i t i e s " i s t o c r e a t e i n t h e

m i n d s o f t h e i l l - i n f o r m e d p e o p l e t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t i t i s u n - A m e r i c a n

t o i n t e r f e r e w i t h t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h o s e w h o s e e k t o d e s t r o y A m e r i c a n i n -

s t i t u t i o n s . T h e y s e e k t o i n f l u e n c e l e g i s l a t o r s a n d e x e c u t i v e s t o r e p e a l o r

v e t o a n y l a w c a l c u l a t e d t o p r o t e c t t h e S t a t e o r t h e Federal Government

f r o m t h e a t t a c k s o f a g i t a t o r s . "

F r a n k P . W a l s h i s t h e l a w y e r w h o , o n h i s r e t u r n f r o m M o s c o w , wa s

r e p o r t e d i n C o m m u n i s t c i r c l e s t o h a v e b e e n r e t a i n e d f o r a f e eo f $ 5 0 , 0 0 0

( 2 1 6 ]




t o d e f e n d t h e B r i d g m a n c o n s p i r a t o r s . Z e c h a r i a C h a f f e e , J r. , a c o l l e a g u e

o f F r a n k f u r t e r ' s a t H a r v a r d , t h e m a n w h o a d v o c a t e d i n p r i n t a n d i n p u b l i c

d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t t h e r e s h o u l d b e n o l a w a g a i n s t s e d i t i o n and anarchy, was

a l s o o n e o f t h e l a w y e r s i g n e r s o f t h e s e c h a r g e s . Another was Francis

F i s h e r K a n e o f P h i l a d e l p h i a , w h o s e n a m e i s o n t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y " s u c k e r

l i s t " a n d w h o w a s f o r m e r l y U n i t e d S t a t e s d i s t r i c t a t t o r n e y i n h i s d i s t r i c t .

A S e n a t e c o m m i t t e e r e p o r t d e c l a r e d t h a t K a n e ' s s t a t e m e n t b e f o r e t h e c o m -

m i t t e e " g i v e s t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t h i s t e n d e n c i e s a r e s t r o n g l y S o c i a l i s t i c . "

S w i n b u r n e H a l e , o f N e w Y o r k , w h o r e s i g n e d a s c a p t a i n i n t h e A r m y i n t h e

M i l i t a r y I n t e l l i g e n c e S e c t i o n w h e n o f f i c i a l i n f o r m a t i o n w a s s o u g h t r e g a r d -

ing Ludwig C . A . K . M a r t e n s , t h e " B o l s h e v i k A m b a s s a d o r , " w a s o n e o f t h e

s i g n e r s .

D e a n T y r r e l l W i l l i a m s , o f t h e W a s h i n g t o n U n i v e r s i t y L a w S c h o o l , o f

S t . L o u i s ; J a c k s o n H . R a l s t o n , m e n t i o n e d a b o v e ; R . G . Brown, of Memphis ;

A l f r e d S . N i l e s , o f B a l t i m o r e ; Roscoe Pound, another Harvard p r o f e s s o r ;

a n d D a v i d W a l l e r s t e i n , o f P h i l a d e l p h i a , w e r e t h e o t h e r m e m b e r s o f t h i s

p a r t i c u l a r g r o u p . S o m e o f t h e m a r e a l m o s t i n v a r i a b l y f o u n d o n t h e s i d e

o f t h e c r i m i n a l w h o s e a c t i v i t i e s t h e G o v e r n m e n t i s t r y i n g t o c u r b .

[ 2 1 7 ]



APP END I X A

T H E S I S ON COORDINATION OF COMMUNIST A C T I V I T Y I N THE AMERICAS

" I f t h e w o r k e r s o f t h i s c o u n t r y w o u l d f i g h t A m e r i c a n c a p i t a l i s m o n a l l

f r o n t s t h e y m u s t m a k e c o m m o n c a u s e w i t h t h e L a t i n - A m e r i c a n m a s s e s . I n

M e x i c o , C u b a , C h i l e t h e e x p l o i t e d m a s s e s a r e f i g h t i n g o u t a c l a s s s t r u g g l e

w h i c h i s p a r t a n d p a r c e l o f o u r o w n . T h e r e i s a f u n d a m e n t a l i n t e r r e l a t i o n

b e t w e e n t h e p r o l e t a r i a n m o v e m e n t s o f t h e W e s t e r n H e m i s p h e r e . The sooner

t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , a s w e l l a s o f L a t i n - A m e r i c a , b e c o m e s

c o n s c i o u s o f t h i s i n t e r r e l a t i o n , t h e m o r e q u i c k l y w i l l i t b e a b l e t o u t i l i z e

t h e p o w e r a r i s i n g f r o m i t .

American Imperialism

" T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i s n o l o n g e r a n a t i o n a l S t a t e : I t i s a n e m p i r e , i n

w h i c h t h e c h i e f f o r e i g n f i e l d f o r e x p l o i t a t i o n i s L a t i n - A m e r i c a . T h e c a p i t a l

w i t h w h i c h L a t i n - A m e r i c a i s e x p l o i t e d i s A m e r i c a n c a p i t a l . The Standard

O i l C o m p a n y , t h e H a r v e s t e r T r u s t , t h e C o p p e r T r u s t , t h e U n i t e d F r u i t Com-

p a n y a n d o t h e r c o m b i n e s h o l d e n o r m o u s f i e f s i n M e x i c o , C e n t r a l A m e r i c a ,

t h e W e s t I n d i e s a n d S o u t h A m e r i c a . B a c k o f t h e s e i s t h e M o n e y T r u s t .

" O f t h e $ 5 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 t h a t A m e r i c a n c a p i t a l i s t s h a v e i n v e s t e d a b r o a d ,

$ 3 , 1 8 8 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 i s i n L a t i n A m e r i c a . T h i s h a s g i v e n t h e A m e r i c a n c a p i t a l -

i s t s t h e p o w e r t o i n s p i r e o r f r u s t r a t e C e n t r a l A m e r i c a n r e v o l u t i o n s , s e i z e

c o n t r o l o f c u s t o m s , i s s u e c u r r e n c y a n d c o m p l e t e l y d o m i n a t e t h e p o l i c i e s o f

n a t i o n a l g o v e r n m e n t s i n m a n y L a t i n - A m e r i c a n s t a t e s .

" W h e n d i r e c t p r e s s u r e f a i l s , t h e c a p i t a l i s t s h a v e a l w a y s a t t h e i r d i s -

p o s a l t h e s e r v i c e s o f t h e S t a t e D e p a r t m e n t a n d t h e m i l i t a r y f o r c e s o f t h e

U n i t e d S t a t e s . U n i t e d S t a t e s m a r i n e s m a i n t a i n ` l a w a n d o r d e r ' i n H a i t i

and Santo Domingo for the National City Bank . In Nicaragua, American

t r o o p s p a t r o l t h e s t r e e t s a n d t h e A m e r i c a n f l a g f l i e s o v e r t h e N a t i o n a l P a l a c e .

G e n e r a l C r o w d e r , a s t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t , i s

forcing upon the National Governmen t of Cuba a loan of $50,000,000 i n

d e f i a n c e o f b o t h h o u s e s o f t h e n a t i o n a l l e g i s l a t u r e . T h e r e i s n o t a c o u n t r y

in Central America of the West Indies over which does not hang con-

s t a n t l y t h e t h r e a t o f A m e r i c a n i n v a s i o n .

W a l l S t r e e t E x t e n d i n g I t s S w a y

" W i t h a l a r g e p a r t o f L a t i n - A m e r i c a a l r e a d y i n i t s g r a s p , A m e r i c a n

c a p i t a l i s s t e a d i l y f a s t e n i n g i t s g r i p u p o n w i d e r a n d w i d e r a r e a s .

" B e f o r e t h e w a r t h e i n t e r e s t s o f A m e r i c a n c a p i t a l i s t s i n S o u t h A m e r i c a

[ 2 1 9 1



REDS IN AMERICA

w e r e n e g l i g i b l e . I n 1 9 1 6 t h e y i n v o l v e d $ 2 8 5 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 ; t o d a y t h e i n v e s t m e n t

in municipal and government bonds alone exceeds $ 6 0 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 . Wall

S t r e e t h a s a l r e a d y b e c o m e m a s t e r o f t h e d e s t i n i e s o f V e n e z u e l a , C o l o m b i a

and Peru . N a t i v e L a t i n - A m e r i c a n c a p i t a l h a s n e v e r b e e n a f a c t o r i n a n y

o f t h e L a t i n - A m e r i c a n c o u n t r i e s . I t i s t r u e t h a t b e f o r e t h e w a r E u r o p e a n

c a p i t a l , p r i n c i p a l l y B r i t i s h , p r e d o m i n a t e d i n A r g e n t i n a and Urug uay, and

w a s a s e r i o u s c o m p e t i t o r i n o t h e r S o u t h A m e r i c a n c o u n t r i e s . B u t t h i s h a s

a l l b e e n c h a n g e d . T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s n o w l e a d s t h e f i e l d a n d i s i n c r e a s i n g

i t s i n v e s t m e n t s , w h i l e E u r o p e a n i n v e s t m e n t s f a l l o f f .

D a n g e r t o A m e r i c a n W o r k e r s

" L a t i n - A m e r i c a s u p p l i e s a n o u t l e t f o r s u r p l u s c a p i t a l a n d e n a b l e s

A m e r i c a n c a p i t a l i s t s t o d e r i v e a d d e d s t r e n g t h to resist the demands of

w o r k e r s i n t h i s c o u n t r y . T h e o i l , c o p p e r a n d f i b r e s o f M e x i c o , t h e c o p p e r

o f C h i l e , t h e b e e f a n d g r a i n o f A r g e n t i n a a n d t h e m a n y o t h e r r a w m a t e r i a l s

of Latin-America constitute a fund on which American c a p i t a l i s t s c o u l d

d r a w i n a n e m e r g e n c y , a s i n c a s e o f s t r i k e s .

"At present gangs of Latin-American workers a r e b r o u g h t i n t o t h i s

c o u n t r y o n a s y s t e m o f c o n t r a c t l a b o r , o r e n g a n c h o , t o w o r k i n s c a b i n d u s -

t r i e s . W i t h t h e s p r e a d o f A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , t h i s s y s t e m i s b o u n d t o

g row .

" M o r e o v e r , t o h o l d i n s u b j e c t i o n t h e e v e r i n c r e a s i n g m a s s e so f L a t i n -

American workers that are falling under American e x p l o i t a t i o n a s t r o n g

m i l i t a r y m a c h i n e w i l l b e b u i l t u p , w h i c h w i l l b e u s e d a g a i n s t t h e A m e r i c a n

w o r k i n g c l a s s .

S t r i k e - B r e a k i n g i n L a t i n - A m e r i c a

"A short time ago there was a general strike i n C u b a . American

b a t t l e s h i p s s a i l e d i n t o H a v a n a h a r b o r a n d u n d e r t h e t h r e a t o f a r m e d i n t e r -

v e n t i o n , t h e s t r i k e w a s b r o k e n . I n V e n e z u e l a , t h e b r u t a l d i c t a t o r s h i p o f

J u a n V i c e n t e G o m e z , b a c k e d a n d s u p p o r t e d b y t h e a p p r o v i n g U n i t e dS t a t e s

G o v e r n m e n t , c r u s h e s e v e r y l i b e r a t i n g i m p u l s e o f t h e t o i l i n g m a s s e s . As i m i l a r c o n d i t i o n p r e v a i l s i n G u a t e m a l a , w h e r e t h e a m i a b l e

O r e l l a n a r u l e s .

A t t h e p o i n t o f t h e b a y o n e t , A m e r i c a n m a r i n e s c o m p e l H a i t i a n and Domini-

c a n l a b o r e r s t o t o i l i n c h a i n g a n g s o u t o n t h e h o t r o a d s . The method of

t h e e x p l o i t a t i o n o f t h e r a g g e d M e x i c a n worker by American industrial

m a g n a t e s i s m o r e a k i n t o t h e s y s t e m p u r s u e d h e r e a n d i n a d d i t i o n i t c o u n t s

w i t h t h e w h o l e h e a r t e d c o - o p e r a t i o n , s o m e t i m e s m o r e o r l e s s d i s g u i s e d , o f

the Obregon Government .

The Latin-American Workers cannot Fight Alone

" T h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f a n e x o t i c c a p i t a l i s m i n t o L a t i n - A m e r i c a nc o u n -

t r i e s h a s o p p o s e d t o a b a c k w a r d a n d u n r i p e p r o l e t a r i a t t h e h i g h l y d e v e l o p e d

b o u r g e o i s i e o f t h e m o s t p o w e r f u l c a p i t a l i s t i cn a t i o n o f t h e w o r l d , w i t h

a l l t h e m i l i t a r y r e s o u r c e s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a t i t s c o m m a n d . T h e f i g h t

[ 2 2 0 1



THESIS ON COORDINATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITY I N THE AMERICAS

i s u n e q u a l . I s o l a t e d , t h e L a t i n - A m e r i c a n w o r k e r s c a n n o t h o p e t o d e f e n d

t h e i r i n t e r e s t s s u c c e s s f u l l y a g a i n s t t h e i r m i g h t y a d v e r s a r y . They need us

as well as we need them . A p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n a n y w h e r e i n L a t i n -

A m e r i c a i s w e l l - n i g h i m p o s s i b l e u n t i l t h e r e i s a r e v o l u t i o n i n t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s . W a l l S t r e e t , w i t h i t s b i l l i o n s o f d o l l a r s , i m p e r i l l e d , would crush

i t i m m e d i a t e l y . A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l , i s t h e i n -

s t r u m e n t o f e x p l o i t a t i o n t h r o u g h o u t t h e w e s t e r n w o r l d . I n L a t i n - A m e r i c a ,

a s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d C a n a d a , t h e C l a s s S t r u g g l e i s a s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t

W a l l S t r e e t .

A U n i t e d F r o n t A g a i n s t W a l l S t r e e t

" W h a t t h e w o r k e r s o f t h i s c o u n t r y k n o w f r o m c o n t a c t w i t h c a p i t a l i s m

m u s t b e s u p p l e m e n t e d b y t h e a c t u a l e x p e r i e n c e s o f t h e w o r k e r s w h o h a v e

endured these hardships to which colonial p e o p l e a r e s u b j e c t e d . T h e

p r o l e t a r i a t o f a l l t h e A m e r i c a s m u s t b e w e l d e d i n t o a f i g h t i n g u n i t t o

c o m b a t A m e r i c a n c a p i t a l w h e r e v e r i t s i n f l u e n c e e x t e n d s .

" T h e o b j e c t i v e f o r c e s o f t h e s t r u g g l e h a v e a l r e a d y c a l l e d f o r t h s e v e r a l

rather inadequate attempts at common action, and both in Mexico and

Arg entina there have been repeated moves toward All-American unity .

H o w e v e r , t h e o n l y r e a l o r g a n i z a t i o n c l a i m i n g t o s p e a k f o r t h i s c o u n t r y

and Latin America is the Pan-American Federation of Labor . B e i n g i n

r e a l i t y a b a r e f a c e d e f f o r t o n t h e p a r t o f S a m u e l G o m p e r s a n d h i s machine

t o e x p l o i t t h e i m p u l s e t o w a r d s o l i d a r i t y , t h e P a n - A m e r c i a n F e d e r a t i o n o f

L a b o r h a s n e v e r w o n t h e c o n f i d e n c e o f t h e L a t i n - A m e r i c a n m a s s e s , w h o , i n

f a c t , r e g a r d i t s u s p i c i o u s l y , a s a n o t h e r i n s t r u m e n t o f t h e M o n r o e D o c t r i n e .

It has been used by the Gompers machine to thwart the L a t i n - A m e r i c a n

w o r k e r s i n t h e i r e f f o r t s t o c o m b a t t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m .

" T h e P a n - A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r h a s f a i l e d , h i t h e r t o , b e c a u s e

i t d i d n o t t r u l y v o i c e t h e a s p i r a t i o n s o f t h e L a t i n - A m e r i c a np r o l e t a r i a t .

There can be no successful joint movement except on the basis of the

C l a s s S t r u g g l e a n d a m i l i t a n t f i g h t a g a i n s t A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m . A n

o r g a n i z a t i o n m u s t b e b u i l t u p t h a t w i l l fight American imperialism at

e v e r y s t e p , a s w e l l a s c a r r y o n t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t c a p i t a l i s m , t h r o u g h

j o i n t s t r i k e a c t i o n , i n t e r n a t i o n a l a g r e e m e n t s , e t c . , u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f

t h e R e d L a b o r U n i o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l . T h i s m e a n s t h a t t h e m i l i t a n t m i n o r i t i e s

i n t h e f e w l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h a t n o w b e l o n g t o t h e P a n - A m e r i c a n F e d e r a -

t i o n o f L a b o r m u s t t r y t o w i n o v e r t h e i r s e p a r a t e n a t i o n a l b o d i e s t o s u c h

a p r o g r a m a s w i l l a s s u r e t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e g r e a t m a s s o f L a t i n -

A m e r i c a n w o r k e r s n o w o n t h e o u t s i d e . I n t h i s w o r k t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s

o f t h e v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s m u s t t a k e t h e l e a d i n g p a r t .

The Communist Parties

" B u t t h i s i s o n l y o n e p h a s e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t t a s k . T h e s t r u g g l e i s

p o l i t i c a l a s w e l l a s e c o n o m i c . T h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s w i l l h a v e t o e d u c a t e

the workers to an understanding of their common interests, give them



REDS IN AMERICA

p o l i t i c a l d i r e c t i v e s , p r e v e n t t h e m fro m w a s t i n g t h e i r e n e r g i e s i n f u t i l e

p s e u d o - r e v o l u t i o n s e n g i n e e r e d b y p o l i t i c a l a d v e n t u r e r s , a n d m a r s h a l t h e m

f o r t h e o v e r t h r o w o f c a p i t a l i s m a n d A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m . T h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t i e s o f a l l A m e r i c a s s h o u l d b e i n c o n s t a n t t o u c h w i t h o n e a n o t h e r . T h e y

must formulate an all-American program a n d f u n c t i o n a s a u n i t i n i t s

s u p p o r t . The Communist Internationa l is and must remain the head a n d

c e n t e r o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p r o l e t a r i a n m o v e m e n t i n a l l c o u n t r i e s , b u t t h e

n e e d s o f t h e u n i f i e d s t r u g g l e i n t h e A m e r i c a s r e q u i r e s u p p l e m e n t a r y c o n -

t a c t w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s d i r e c t l y i n v o l v e d . This does not imply

a u t o n o m y , b u t i s m e r e l y a n a d m i n i s t r a t i v e m e a s u r e m a d e n e c e s s a r y b y t h e

u n i t y o f c a p i t a l i s m i n t h e w e s t .

W h y A m e r i c a n W o r k e r s M u s t L e a d

" T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i s t h e r a d i a t i n g c e n t e r o f w e s t e r n c a p i t a l i s m a s

w e l l a s i m p e r i a l i s m , a c i r c u m s t a n c e w h i c h g i v e s the American working

c l a s s t h e a d v a n t a g e o f a c e n t r a l p e r s p e c t i v e . F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e f o r c e s o f

capitalism not being so highly developed i n L a t i n - A m e r i c a , t h e L a t i n -

A m e r i c a n p r o l e t a r i a t , w h i l e o f t e n f i n e l y m i l i t a n t i n t e m p e r , i s i n e x p e r i e n c e d

a n d i m m a t u r e a s a c l a s s . T h e f r e q u e n t r e v o l u t i o n s i n C e n t r a l a n d S o u t h

A m e r i c a h a v e o f t e n l i t t l e t o d o w i t h t h e C l a s s S t r u g g l e , a l t h o u g h t h i s c r y

i s r a i s e d a t t i m e s b y p o l i t i c a l o p p o r t u n i s t s w h o s e p u r p o s e i s t o g a i n p e r -

s o n a l s u p p o r t b y p l a y i n g u p o n t h e f e e l i n g s o f t h e t m a s s e s . S o c i a l i s t p a r t i e s

a p p e a r t h a t a r e s o c i a l i s t o n l y i n n a m e . A l t h o u g h t h e r e d o e x i s t s p l e n d i d

r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t i e s i n L a t i n - A m e r i c a , the proletarian movement is in

m a n y r e s p e c t s p e r v e r t e d a n d d i s t o r t e d , beyond anything we know in the

U n i t e d S t a t e s . W i t h s o m e n o t a b l e e x c e p t i o n s , t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s a r e

n u m e r i c a l l y i n s i g n i f i c a n t a n d a l l h a v e b e e n o u t o f c o n t a c t w i t h t h e s t r e a m

of the world movement .

" T o a c h i e v e a l l - A m e r i c a n C o m m u n i s t u n i t y , i t f a l l s n a t u r a l l y u p o n t h e

C o m m u n i s t s o f t h i s c o u n t r y t o t a k e t h e l e a d .

All-American Communist Conference

" T h e f i r s t s t e p i s f o r t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t i e s o f a l l t h e Americas to

g e t t o g e t h e r i n c o n f e r e n c e . The Communist party of America should send

o u t a c a l l f o r a c o n f e r e n c e t o b e h e l d i n M o s c o w f o l l o w i n g t h e F o u r t h

C o n g r e s s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l .

" T h e c o n f e r e n c e m u s t n o t b e i n t e r p r e t e d t o m e a n m e r e l y a g a t h e r i n g

o f t h e s e c o m r a d e s w h o h a p p e n t o b e d e l e g a t e s t o t h e F o u r t h C o n g r e s s , b u t

a s e r i o u s e f f o r t s h o u l d b e m a d e t o s e c u r e a f u l l r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f a l l C o m -

m u n i s t p a r t i e s i n t h e W e s t e r n H e m i s p h e r e , e v e n i f i t i s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e

C o m i n t e r n t o p a y t r a v e l i n g e x p e n s e s .

" T h e f o l l o w i n g i s p r o p o s e d a s a t e n t a t i v e a g e n d a :

" ( 1 ) R o l e o f t h e a l l - A m e r i c a n p r o l e t a r i a n i n t h e W o r l d R e v o l u t i o n .

"(2) United action against American imperia lism .

[ 2 2 2 ]



T H E S I S O N C O O R D I N A T I O N O F C O M M U N I S T A C T I V I T Y I N T H E A M E R I C A S

"(3) T h e P a n - A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r a n d t h e R e d L a b o r

U n i o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l .

"(4) T h e t e m p o o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t i n t h e A m e r i c a s .

"(S) S p e c i a l t a s k s o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t i n e a c h c o u n t r y .

"(6) The united labor front in the Americas .

"(7) C o - o r d i n a t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t a c t i v i t i e s .

"(8) An all-American technical committee, for translation and dis-

t r i b u t i o n o f l i t e r a t u r e , e t c . "

[ 2 2 3 ]



APPENDIX BTHESIS ON "RELATIONS OF ONE AND TWO "

" I .-NECESSITY OF A COMMUNIST PARTY

" A l l e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e m o d e r n c l a s s s t r u g g l e p r o v e s t h a t t h e w o r k i n g

c l a s s c a n e m e r g e v i c t o r i o u s o n l y a f t e r d e v e l o p i n g a n o r g a n o f l e a d e r s h i p

i n t h e f o r m o f a h i g h l y d i s c i p l i n e d C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , t h o r o u g h l y c o n s c i o u s

o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y p r i n c i p l e s a n d t a c t i c s . T h e f i r s t t a s k o f C o m m u n i s t s i s ,

t h e r e f o r e , t o d e v e l o p s u c h a p a r t y .

" I I - A C T I O N O F M A S S E S

" W h i l e t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i s t h e o r g a n o f l e a d e r s h i p a n d b e a r s t h e

h e a v i e s t b r u n t o f t h e f i g h t , t h e r e v o l u t i o n i s a n a c t i o n o f b r o a d m a s s e s

o f t h e e x p l o i t e d s e c t i o n s o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n e x t e n d i n g f a r b e y o n d t h e , l i m i t

o f t h e n u m e r i c a l s t r e n g t h t o w h i c h a h i g h l y c o n s c i o u s d i s c i p l i n e d p a r t y

can be developed . T h e f i n a l s t r u g g l e f o r p o w e r b y t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s i s

n o t t h e r e s u l t o f a r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f t h e m i n d s o f t h e m a s s e s t h r o u g h

m e r e l y t h e o r e t i c a l p r o p a g a n d a , a g i t a t i o n a n d e d u c a t i o n . I t d e v e l o p s o u t

o f t h e i r r e c o n c i l a b l e c o n f l i c t o f t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e c l a s s e s . T h i s c o n -

f l i c t i s f i r s t s h o w n i n t h e m i n o r s t r u g g l e s o f t h e w o r k e r s f o r t h e i r e x i s t e n c e .

T h e m i n o r s t r u g g l e s c l a r i f y t h e f u n d a m e n t a l c o n f l i c t o f c l a s s i n t e r e s t s , t h u s

b r i n g i n g c l a s s c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d l e a d i n g t o w a r d t h e m a j o r s t r u g g l e f o r

power . E d u c a t i o n a n d p r o p a g a n d a , t h o u g h n e c e s s a r y t o b u i l d t h e r e v o l u -

t i o n a r y p a r t y , w o u l d , i f t a k e n a l o n e , b u i l d a s t e r i l e s e c t , u t t e r l y i m p o t e n t

t o d e a l w i t h m a s s a c t i o n . T h e m a j o r t a s k o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y i n

r e g a r d t o t h e b r o a d m a s s e s o f w o r k e r s i s , - t h e r e f o r e , n o t a b s t r a c t p r o p a g a n d a

a n d a b s t r a c t t h e o r e t i c a l e d u c a t i o n , b u t p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n a l l t h e s t r u g g l e s o f

t h e w o r k e r s a s t h e m o s t a c t i v e f o r c e .

" I I I - C O N T A C T W I T H T HE M A S S E S

" T h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e m a s s e s o f t h e e x p l o i t e d c a n b e a t t a i n e d o n l y b y

d i r e c t l y e n g a g i n g i n a l l t h e i r s t r u g g l e s , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e m a s s e s o f t h e

w o r k e r s . I n a c o u n t r y w h e r e p o l i t i c a l c o n d i t i o n s p e r m i t t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f

m a s s p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s , t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y

c a n n o t s e c u r e l e a d e r s h i p w i t h o u t s e c u r i n g a p o w e r f u l , a n d f i n a l l y d o m i n a n t

p o s i t i o n a m o n g s u c h m a s s p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e w o r k e r s . T h i s

e s s e n t i a l l y i m p l i e s a P U B L I C c o n t a c t w i t h t h e m a s s e s . I n A m e r i c a , i t h a s

[ 2 2 5 1



REDS I N AMERICA

become the most urg ent immediate task of the Communists to secure a

p u b l i c , o p e n , s o - c a l l e d ` l e g a l ' e x i s t e n c e a s a n o r g a n i z at i o n.

"IV-A LEGAL PARTY

" A t r u l y r e v o l u t i o n a r y ( i . e . Communist) p a r t y c a n n e v e r b e ` l e g a l '

i n t h e s e n s e o f h a v i n g i t s p u r p o s e h a r m o n i z e w i t h t h e p u r p o s e o f t h e l a w s

m a d e b y t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e , o r i t s a c t s c o n f o r m w i t h t h e i n t e n t o f c a p i t a l i s t

l a w . H e n c e , t o c a l l a C o m m u n i s t p a r t y ` l e g a l ' m e a n s t h a t i t s e x i s t e n c e i s

t o l e r a t e d b y t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e b e c a u s e o f c i r c u m s t a n c e s which embarrass

t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e ' s e f f o r t s t o s u p p r e s s i t . T h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y c a n

a v o i d s u p p r e s s i o n i n t o a c o m p l e t e l y s e c r e t e x i s t e n c e o n l y b y o n e o r b o t h o f

two means :

" a . B y t a k i n g a d v a n t a g e o f t h e p r e t e n s e s o f ` d e m o c r a t i c f o r m s ' w h i c h

t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e i s o b l i g e d t o m a i n t a i n . By this means the Communists

c a n m a i n t a i n t h e m s e l v e s i n t h e o p e n w i t h a r e s t r i c t e d p r o g r a m w h i l e e s t a b -

l i s h i n g t h e m s e l v e s w i t h m a s s s u p p o r t .

"b . ( La t e r st a g e ) B y c o m ma n d i ng s u ch m a s s s u pp o rt a mo n g s i de

m a s s e s o f w o r k e r s t h a t e n a b l e t h e m t o p r o c l a i m p u b l i c l y t h e i r f i n a l o b j e c t

i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e a n d m a n o e u v r e o p e n l y t o a t t a i n t h i s o b j e c t

r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e d e s i r e o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e t o s u p p r e s s i t . I t i s n e c e s s a r y

a t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e ( a n d c i r c u m s t a n c e s m a k e i t t h e m o s t u r g e n t i m m e d i a t e

n e e d ) t o r e s o r t t o t h e f i r s t o f t h e b e f o r e - m e n t i o n e d m e t h o d s o f o p e n c o n t a c t

w i t h t h e w o r k i n g m a s s e s ; w h i c h m e a n s t o m a i n t a i n a n o p e n p o l i t i c a l p a r t y

w i t h a m o d i f i e d n a m e a n d r e s t r i c t e d p r o g r a m . The second of these two

c o n d i t i o n s m u s t b e r e a c h e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a . We seek

t o h a v e a n o p e n C o m m u n i s t p a r t y a s s o o n a s t h i s c a n p o s s i b l y b e a t t a i n e d .

" A s t o w h e t h e r a l e g a l C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i s p o s s i b l e t h e t e s t i s w h e t h e r

the Communist party program including the advocacy of the p r i n c i p l e o f

m a s s a c t i o n a n d v i o l e n t o v e r t h r o w o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e t o g e t h e rw i t h a f f i l i a -

t i o n t o t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l c a n b e p u b l i c l y a d v o c a t e d w i t h o u t b e i n g

s u p p r e s s e d .

"V-NUMBER TWO

" A l e g a l p o l i t i c a l p a r t y w i t h s u c h r e s t r i c t i o n s can not replace the

Communist party . I t m u s t a l s o s e r v e a s a n i n s t r u m e n t i n t h e c o m p l e t e

c o n t r o l o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , f o r g e t t i n g p u b l i c c o n t a d t w i t h t h e m a s s e s .

I t m u s t m o b i l i z e t h e e l e m e n t s o f t h e w o r k e r s m o s t s y m p a t h e t i c t o t h e Com-

m u n i s t c a u s e , w i t h a p r o g r a m g o i n g a s f a r t o w a r d t h e C o m m u n i s t p r o g r a m

a s p o s s i b l e w h i l e m a i n t a i n i n g a l e g a l e x i s t e n c e . I t m u s t , w i t h a c o u r s e

o f a c t i o n i n d a i l y p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e w o r k e r s ' s t r u g g l e , a p p l y C o m m u n i s t

t a c t i c s a n d p r i n c i p l e s a n d t h u s w i n t h e t r u s t o f t h e m a s s e s a n d p r e p a r e t h e m

f o r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y . I t m u s t o r g a n i z e t h e s y m p a -

t h e t i c w o r k e r s i n t o a f r a m e w o r k t h a t w i l l l a t e r b e c o m e t h e framework of

a n o p e n C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , t a k i n g c a r e s y s t e m a t i c a l l y t o e d u c a t e t h e w o r k e r s

h 6 l



THESIS ON "RELATIONS OF ONE AND TWO"

i n t h e ` l e g a l ' p a r t y i n p r i n c i p l e s , t a c t i c s a n d d i s c i p l i n e , s o a s t o f i t t h e m t o

b e c o m e m e m b e r s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y . Thus the building of a legal

political party with a modified name and program will prepare the field

for an open Communist party strong enough to stand in the open and cap-

able of leading in the revolutionary struggle .

"VI-FUTURE SUPPRESSION

"The overthrow of the capitalist system can only come through the

v i o l e n t o v e r t h r o w o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e . T o a c c e p t t h i s v i e w i s t o a c c e p t

t h e c e r t a i n t y t h a t t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e w i l l f i n d i t s e l f i n v i o l e n t c o n f l i c t w i t h

the masses led by the Communist party . While the capitalist state r etains

the governmental machinery, and as the struggle grows sharper in approach-

i n g t h e f i n a l s t r u g g l e , t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e w i l l i n e v i t a b l y s t r i k e a g a i n a n d

a g a i n a t t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y i n t h e e f f o r t t o d e s t r o y i t . After the Com-

munist party shall have established itself in the open, it must be prepared

f o r , a n d m u s t e x p e c t t o b e d r i v e n o u t o f a ` l e g a l ' e x i s t e n c e f r o m t i m e t o t i m e .

The Communist party must at all times be so organized that such attacks

c a n n o t d e s t r o y i t . It must perform its functions of leadership in the class

struggle no matter what tactics the ruling class adopts-open as far as pos-

s i b l e , s e c r e t l y a s f a r a s i t m u s t .

"VII-UNDERGROUND

"The underground machinery of the Communist party is not merely a

temporary device, to be liquidate d as soon as the Communist party with

its full prog ram can be announced in the open . The underground machinery

is for permanent use . I t i s n o t a m a c h i n e r y t o b e u s e d o n l y a s e m e r g e n c y

occasions . I t i s f o r c o n s t a n t u s e . It must continu e to operate not only while

the legal party operates under a restricted program, but also at all times,

before and after the Communist party, with a full Communist program and

s h a l l n o t e x i s t i n t h e o p e n . T h e r e i s n e v e r a t i m e , p r e v i o u s t o t h e f i n a l o v e r -

t h r o w o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e , w h e n a t r u l y r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y d o e s n o t h a v e

to perform a considerable amount of work free from police knowledge and

i n t e r f e r e n c e . T h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y w i l l n e v e r c e a s e t o m a i n t a i n i t s u n d e r -

g round machinery until after the establish ment of the dictatorship of the

proletariat in the form of the W orkers' Soviet Republic .

"VIII-CONTROL

" T h r o u g h o u t t h e C o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t o f t h e w o r l d , t h e s y s t e m o f

` P r e s i d i u m s ' p r e v a i l s , b y w h i c h m a t t e r s o f n e c e s s a r i l y s e c r e t n a t u r e a r e

kept in the hands of the most reliable and mos t trusted members of the

party. This is a necessary feature of a revolutionary organiz ation . A s t h e

C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a g r o w s t o d i m e n s i o n s c o n t a i n i n g m a n y t h o u -

sands of members, it will be necessary to maintain this principle . At times

when the Communist party as such maintains itself in the open, the member-

[ 2 2 7 1



REDS I N AMERICA

ship which constitutes the present Communist party within the N umber Two

[the legal branch-Ed . ] w i l l , w i t h s o m e v a r i a t i o n s , c o n s t i t u t e t h e o l d e r a n d

best known, and most disciplined membersh ip, to be entrusted with the

m o r e c o n f i d e n t i a l m a t t e r s a n d t h e i l l e g a l w o r k o f t h e p a r t y g e n e r a l l y . T h i s

does not mean that the whole party membership will not be required to do

w o r k t h a t c o n f l i c t s w i t h t h e c a p i t a l i s t l a w , b u t t h a t t h e w o r k o f t h e m o s t

s e c r e t n a t u r e m u s t b e k e p t i n t h e m o s t t r u s t e d h a n d s .

"During the time when the Communist party operat es, not under its

own name and program in the open, but throu gh a `legal' political party

w i t h r e s t r i c t e d p r o g r a m a n d d i f f e r e n t n a m e , t h e s a m e p r i n c i p l e i s a p p l i e d

by having full control of such legal party in the hands of the Communist

p a r t y . This is accomplished by having a maj ority of all important com-

m i t t e e s c o m p o s e d o f C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m e m b e r s , a n d b y m e a n s o f r e g u l a r

and compulsory caucuses of all the Commun ist party members within any

l e g a l u n i t , b o u n d b y t h e u n i t r u l e , a p r i n c i p l e w h i c h w i l l p r e v a i l i n s o m e

effective form when the Commun ist party is its elf in the open . A s t h e

m e m b e r s h i p d e v e l o p s l o y a l t y t o t h e p a r t y a n d r e s p e c t f o r i t s d i s c i p l i n e i t

w i l l b e p o s s i b l e t o l e s s e n t h e p u r e l y m e c h a n i c a l c o n t r o l a n d a v o i d t h e s m a l l

f r i c t i o n t h a t i s i n e v i t a b l e f o r t h e p r e s e n t . T h e r e i s a n u n s a t i s f a c t o r y f e a t u r e

i n t h e p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n . Committee members, persons in responsible posi .

t i o n s , a n d a l l e s p e c i a l l y a c t i v e m e m b e r s o f s u c h l e g a l p a r t y s h o u l d b e , p r a c -

tically without exception, members of the Communist party . T h e p a r t y

m u s t m a k e s y s t e m a t i c e f f o r t s t o b r i n g t h i s a b o u t . D e f i n i t e e f f o r t s m u s t b e

made to bring every member of such legal party who shows himself to be

equipped with Communist understanding and ca pable of leadership, into

t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y . Every such active member must be tested as to his

readiness to accept the Communist party program and discipline, and the

d e c i s i o n s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l , a n d u p o n p a s s i n g t h e t e s t s , m u s t

be brought into membership of the Communist party .

"IX-EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES

" T h e p a r t y m u s t e n d e a v o r t o r e a c h a t t h e e a r l i e s t r e a s o n a b l e t i m e t h e

condition where all members of responsible committees of Number Two [the

leg al branch-Ed . ] s u c h a s t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e , D i s t r i c t E x -

e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e , s u b - D i s t r i c t E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e , e t c . , s h a l l b e m e m b e r s

of Number One (the illegal branch-Ed . ) . The personnel of committees of

Number Two should consist of its majority of the personnel of the corre-

sponding committees of Number One . The remainder of the personnel of

t h e N u m b e r T w o c o m m i t t e e s s h o u l d g e n e r a l l y b e N u m b e r O n e m e m b e r s

w h e r e v e r p o s s i b l e . The organizers and officials of Number One and Number

Two committees shall generally not be the same .

[ 2 2 8 1



THESIS ON "RELATIONS OF ONE AND TWO"

"X-INDUSTRIALI l l l

" W e m u s t h o l d b e f o r e o u r s e l v e s a s a g o a l t o b e a t t a i n e d a t t h e e a r l i e s t

p o s s i b l e t i m e t h e f u n c t i o n i n g o p e n l y o f C o m m u n i s t p a r t y c a u c u s e s i n t h e

t r a d e u n i o n s , k n o w n a s s u c h i n s i d e t h e r e s p e c t i v e t r a d e u n i o n m e e t i n g s .

" K e e p i n g t h i s i n m i n d a s a g o a l , a n d t h a t t h e f r a m e w o r k a n d h u m a n

m a t e r i a l b e i n g o r g a n i z e d i n t o a n o p e n p a r t y , a t p r e s e n t e x i s t i n g l e g a l l y ,

i s i n t e n d e d u l t i m a t e l y t o b e w e l d e d i n t o a n o p e n C o m m u n i s t p a r t y , i t i s a

l o g i c a l c o u r s e t o f o r m n o w w h e r e v e r p r a c t i c a b l e n u c l e i o f N u m b e r T w o

i n t h e t r a d e u n i o n s , o n e o f t h e p u r p o s e s t o b e t h e t r a i n i n g o f t r a d e union

m e m b e r s o f N u m b e r T w o i n t h e p r i n c i p l e o f d i s c i p l i n e .

" H o w e v e r , i t i s n o t a l w a y s p r a c t i c a b l e t o operate by the method of

N umber One and N umber Two nuclei in t he unions meeting r e g u l a r l y a s

t w o d i s t i n c t s y s t e m s . A n d i n a l a r g e p r o p o r t i o n o f c a s e s , t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s

o f a c t u a l l i f e c o m p e l t h a t :

" ( a ) Caucuses of Number Two can no more be ann ounced openly in a

union than could be caucuses of Number One, and that :

"(b) I n s o m e c a s e s t h e e x i s t e n c e i n a u n i o n o f a s u b s t a n t i a l n u m b e r

o f u n i o n i s t s w i l l i n g t o g o a l o n g w a y w i t h u s b u t h o l d i n g a n a r c h i s t o r s y n -

d i c a l i s t v i e w s , m a k e s i t n e c e s s a r y t o h o l d t h e g r e a t e r number of caucuses

W I T H s u c h e l e m e n t s u n d e r a n a m e o t h e r t h a n t h e n a m e o f a p o l i t i c a l p a r t y ,

f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f d e f e a t i n g t h e ` r i g h t w i n g e r s ' a n d f o r t h e a d d i t i o n a l p u r -

p o s e o f t r a i n i n g s u c h a n a r c h i s t a n d s y n d i c a l i s t e l e m e n t s i n t h e p r i n c i p l e

o f d i s c i p l i n e d a c t i o n a s a f i r s t s t e p t o w a r d m a k i n g C o m m u n i s t s o f t h e m ; a n d

" ( c ) I n o t h e r c a s e s w h e r e t h e g e n e r a l c o n d i t i o n s i n a u n i o n m a k e i t

n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e N u m b e r T w o m e m b e r s t o o p e r a t e t o g e t h e r w i t h n o n - m e m -

h e r s y m p a t h i z e r s a s a d i s c i p l i n e d c a u c u s u n d e r a n a m e o f A N O T H E R l e g a l

i n s t r u m e n t o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y .

" T h e s e c o n d i t i o n s m a k e n e c e s s a r y a n a d j u s t m e n t o f t h e c a u c u s s y s t e m ,

w h i c h w i l l g e n e r a l l y a s s u m e t h e f o l l o w i n g c o u r s e o f d e v e l o p m e n t . While

the machinery of N umber One nuclei i s b e i n g e s t a b l i s h e d , t h e i r c a u c u s

m e e t i n g s t a k e p r e c e d e n c e o v e r a l l o t h e r s . After the Number One nuclei

h a v e b e e n f i r m l y e s t a b l i s h e d a n d t h e m e m b e r s h a v e l e a r n e d t o f u n c t i o n u n i t -

e d l y , t h e y w i l l b e g i n t o g i v e m o r e a n d m o r e a t t e n t i o n t o N u m b e r T w o c a u -

c u s e s , a n d N u m b e r O n e c a u c u s m e e t i n g s w i l l t a k e p r e c e d e n c e o n l y w h e n n e w

i s s u e s o r c r i s e s a r i s e a n d a r e t o b e c a l l e d a s f r e q u e n t l y a s t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s

make necessary. Between such meetings the Numb er One nuclei function

through the Number Two by means of a steering committee .

" T h e s t a n d a r d o p e n c a u c u s o f t h e l e f t s e c t i o n of the union must be

h e l d u n d e r n a m e s a n d s l o g a n s o f i m m e d i a t e s i g n i f i c a n c e , w h i c h w i l l w i n

t h e g r e a t e s t p o s s i b l e m o b i l i z a t i o n o f t h e l e f t s e c t i o n o f t h e u n i o n a g a i n s t

r e a c t i o n a r i e s , o n i s s u e s o f t h e d a i l y s t r u g g l e . "

[ 2 2 9 1



APPENDIX C .

"ADAPTATION OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF AMERICA

TO AMERICAN CONDITIONS."

"As you look at our party (both Number One and Number Two) you

c a n e a s i l y o b s e r v e t h a t s o m e t h i n g i s w r o n g . I t d o e s n o t f u n c t i o n a s i t o u g h t

t o . I t d o e s n o t f u n c t i o n a s a p a r t y m u s t i n o r d e r t o f u l f i l l i t s a i m o f l e a d -

i n g , o r i f n o t s t r o n g e n o u g h , p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n e v e r y p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c

s t r u g g l e o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s o f t h i s c o u n t r y . I n s h o r t , o u r p a r t y a s i t i s

t o d a y i s a m e c h a n i c a l i n s t r u m e n t w h i c h w i l l f u n c t i o n a s a d e a d m a c h i n e

a t a n y t i m e , b u t i t i s u n a b l e t o c a r r y o n a n y a c t i v i t y w h i c h n e e d s l i f e ,

t h o u g h t a n d i n t e r e s t a n d a r o u s e s t h e e n t h u s i a s m s o f t h e c o m r a d e s s o t h e y

w i l l c o m e a s k i n g f o r a c h a n c e t o w o r k w h e t h e r e a s y o r h a r d.

" I f y o u g o t h r o u g h t h e h i s t o r y o f o u r p a r t y a n d e s p e c i a l l y i f y o u

s t u d y i t s f u n c t i o n i n g i n t h e r e c e n t p a s t y o u w i l l f i n d t h a t e v e r y s t e p w h i c h

h a s b e e n t a k e n w a s a m e c h a n i c a l p r o c e d u r e . Any instruction coming from

a n y w h e r e t h a t i n b e i n g c a r r i e d o u t n e e d e d t o b e s p i r i t u a l i z e d w i t h t h e f i r e

o f r e a l s i n c e r i t y w a s o n l y e x e c u t e d i n a t e c h n i c a l m a n n e r . T o s e e t h a t

c l e a r l y t a k e t h e i n s t a n c e o f t h e e l e c t i o n c a m p a i g n i n N e w Y o r k o r t h e i n -

s t r u c t i o n c o n c e r n i n g t h e o p p o s i t i o n . I n b o t h c a s e s t h e r e i s n e e d e d l i f e

i n t e r e s t i n t h e w o r k , a n d w h a t d o w e s e e ? I n b o t h c a s e s t h e c o m r a d e s d i s -

t r i b u t e d t h e l e a f l e t s ( i f t h e y d i d ) w i t h o u t p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n a n y o f t h e c a m -

p a i g n . T h i s c l e a r l y s h o w s t h a t t h e m e m b e r s h i p o f w h i c h o u r p a r t y i s c o m -

p o s e d i s a c t u a l l y s t r a n g e r t o t h e v i t a l f u n c t i o n i n g o f t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n .

" A f t e r a l o n g p e r i o d o f o r g a n i z a t i o n w o r k , a f t e r c l e a r i n g u p o u r m a i n

t a c t i c a l d i f f e r e n c e s ( t h e l a t t e r b e i n g a c c o m p l i s h e d b y t h e f e w c o m r a d e s w h o

u n d e r s t a n d t h e A m e r i c a n s i t u a t i o n a n d w h o r e a l l y s t r i v e t o f i g h t i n A m e r i c a

which the general membership does not) we arrived at the point where

e v e r y o u n c e o f o u r e n e r g y s h o u l d b e c o n c e n t r a t e d t o s t a r t o u r a c t i v i t i e s ,

t h a t i s t o f i g h t i n t h e o p e n A m e r i c a n c a p i t a l i s m a n d p a r t i c i p a t e i n e v e r y

s u c h s t r u g g l e o f t h e w o r k e r s . I f w e d a r e t o f a c e t h e f a c t s w e f i n d t h a t w e

a r e u n a b l e t o d o s o a n d a l t h o u g h w e g o f o r w a r d i n o u r d e c i s i o n s a n d a l -

t h o u g h a v e r y s m a l l g r o u p o f c o m r a d e s d o a l l i n t h e i r p o w e r t h e m e m b e r s h i p

i n g e n e r a l d o e s n o t m o v e a n d d o e s n o t u n d e r s t a n d a n d C A R E , a b o u t t h e d e -

c i s i o n s . What the membership in gener al does is to obey an imaginat ive

m i l i t a r y d i s c i p l i n e ( w h i c h s a t i s f i e s t h e i r r o m a n t i c i s m ) a n d c a r r y o u t e v e r y

d e c i s i o n w it h o u t m e n t al l y t a k i n g p a r t in i t . T h a t i s t h e s i t u a t i o n i n g e n e r a l

a n d i f w e w e r e t o g i v e a f e w m o r e f a c t s t h e m a t t e r w o u l d b e c l e a r f o r f u r -

t h e r s t u d y . ,

[ 2 3 1 ]



REDS IN AMERICA

" M a n y c o m r a d e s s a y t h e c h i e f r e a s o n f o r t h i s s i t u a t i o n i s b e c a u s e t h e

v a s t m a j o r i t y o f t h e p a r t y a r e f o r e i g n s p e a k i n g c o m r a d e s . If we would

a c c e p t t h a t w e w o u l d s a n c t i o n t h i s s i t u a t i o n as unchangeable unless we

w o u l d g e t e n o u g h E n g l i s h c o m r a d e s i n t h e p a r t y. T h e c a u s e o f t h i s s i t u a -

tion is not that we are composed of foreign speaking comrades bu t the

r e a s o n i s t h a t O U R M E M B E R S H I P I S N O T M E N T A L LY P R E S E N T I N

AMERICA . T h e y d i d n ' t j o i n t h e p a r t y , o r b e t t e r t h e y d i d - n o t c r e a t e t h e

p a r t y a s a w o r k i n g c l a s s d e f e n s e a n d f i g h t i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n , b u t t h e y c r e a t e d

i t u n d e r t h e s t r a n g e i n f l u e n c e o f E u r o p e a n h a p p e n i n g s . The party mem-

b e r s h i p g e t s i t s s p i r i t a n d i t s h o p e , n o t f r o m A m e r i c a w h e r e t h e y o u g h t t o

f i g h t , b u t e x c l u s i v e l y f r o m E u r o p e a n d i t i s t h i s f o r e i g n s p i r i t a n d h o p e t h a t

k e e p s t h e m i n t h e p a r t y . O n c e l o s i n g t h a t , t h e p a r t y w o u l d n o t b e a b l e t o

k e e p t h e m t o g e t h e r . T h e p a r t y i t s e l f i s a s t r a n g e t h i n g t o t h e m . T h e y j o i n

i t l i k e t h e y w o u l d j o i n a n y o t h e r c l u b . T h e y d o n ' t h a v e t h e c o n c e p t i o n t h a t

t h e p a r t y b e l o n g s t o t h e m a n d t h a t t h e p a r t y ' s i n t e r e s t i s t h e i r i n t e r e s t , b u t

o n t h e c o n t r a r y t h e y h a v e n o i n t e r e s t i n t h e p a r t y s o f a r a s t h e f i g h t i n

A m e r i c a i s c o n c e r n e d . T h e y p a y t h e i r d u e s t o b e e n t i t l e d t o c a l l t h e m s e l v e s

C o m m u n i s t s . T h e i r c o n c e p t i o n i s a n a b s t r a c t o n e , w h i c h s a t i s f i e s i t s e l f i n

being purely a Communist . L a t e r , t h a t m e a n s t h a t m e n w i t h s u c h c o n c e p -

t i o n a r e i n d i v i d u a l i s t s a n d s o w e d a r e t o s t a t e t h a t o u r p a r t y i s c o m p o s e d i n

a g r e a t m a j o r i t y o f m e m b e r s w i t h s u c h a n i n d i v i d u a l i s t i c c o n c e p t i o n . T h em e m b e r s d o n ' t u n d e r s t a n d t h e p o l i t i c a l s t r u c t u r e o f t h e A m e r i c a n s t a t e a n d

s o t h e y d o n ' t u n d e r s t a n d t h e p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n i n A m e r i c a . A s a m a t t e r o f

f a c t t h e y a r e n o t i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e t h i n g s t h e y d o n o t u n d e r s t a n d .

" T h i s , t h e n , i s o u r p a r t y m e m b e r s h i p . Must we say that the party

w h i c h i s c r e a t e d ( a s T r o t s k y s a y s ) ` b y t h e p r o l e t a r i a t f o r i t s d e f e n s e a n d

s t r u g g l e f o r e m a n c i p a t i o n ' c a n n o t a n d w i l l n o t f u l f i l l t h i s a i m , u n l e s s t h e

c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e p a r t y ( t h e c o n c e p t i o n s o f t h e p a r t y m e m b e r s ) a r e c h a n g e d ?

T o d a y w e h a v e r o m a n t i c a l l y i n c l i n e d m e m b e r s i n t h e m a j o r i t y w h o d o e v e r y -

t h i n g m e c h a n i c a l l y t o j u s t i f y t h e m s e l v e s a s C o m m u n i s t s , b e c a u s e t h e y h a v e

n o t b e e n s h o w n h o w t o f u n c t i o n a s a l i v e p a r t o f t h e A m e r i c a n m o v e m e n t .

B e c a u s e o f t h i s c o n c e p t i o n t h e m e m b e r s d o n ' t s e e a n y c h a n c e f o r f i g h t i n g

A m e r i c a n c a p i t a l i s m a n d t h e y w a i t f o r t h e c o m i n g o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n from

a b r o a d .

" O u r p a r t y i s n o t a b l e t o l e a d a n d t o i n f l u e n c e t h e m a s s e s . T h e s e a r e

r a t h e r h a r d w o r d s b u t t r u e , n e v e r t h e l e s s . The influence we have and we

w i l l g a i n , w i l l b e t h e i n f l u e n c e o f o u r p r o g r a m i n g e n e r a l a n d w e , t h e p a r t y ,

w i l l n o t b e a b l e t o m a k e a n y u s e o f i t .

" E v e r y o n e o f u s f e e l s t h i s s i t u a t i o n b u t i t s e e m s w e w a i t f o r s o m e u n -

k n o w n f o r c e t o b r i n g a b o u t a c h a n g e . We know that our party members hip

i s n o t c a p a b l e o f l e a d i n g t h e m a s s e s a n d i s n o t c a p a b l e o f c a r r y i n go u t t h e

p a r t y ' s p r o g r a m w i t h s p i r i t u a l p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n i t . Those of us who are

w a i t i n g f o r t h e c o m i n g o f t h e E n g l i s h e l e m e n t s i n t o t h e p a r t y a r eo v e r l o o k -

i n g t h e f a c t t h a t i f t h e p a r t y a s i t i s c o m p o s e d t o d a y i s n o t c a p a b l e o f a c t i o n

t h e n i t w i l l a l w a y s b e ( u n l e s s i t i s c h a n g e d ) a d e a d p a r t o f o u r b o d y w h i c h

w i l l h i n d e r u s i n o u r w o r k . T h e f a c t i s t h a t o u r p a r t y w i l l a l w a y s h e c o m -

p o s e d o f a m a j o r i t y o f f o r e i g n s p e a k i n g c o m r a d e s . Why? B e c a u s e t h e

[ 2 3 2 ]



A D A P T A TI O N O F C O M M U N I S T P A R T Y T O A M E R I C A N C O N D I T I O N S

basic industries of our country are operated by foreign speaking workersa n d a s t h e s e w o r k e r s a r e t h e m o s t o p p r e s s e d e l e m e n t s o f t h e A m e r i c a n w o r k -

i n g c l a s s t h e y a r e n e a r e s t t o u s . On the other hand, the Engli sh speaking

population of the country compose the middle class and among the workers

t h e y a r e i n t h e e a s i e r i n d u s t r i e s . S o w e c a n n o t b a s e o u r f u t u r e o n t h e

c o m i n g o f t h e E n g l i s h e l e m e n t b u t w e h a v e t o u s e e v e r y e f f o r t t h a t o u r p a r t y

a s i t i s c o m p o s e d t o d a y s h a l l b e a b l e t o f u n c t i o n .

" A t t h e t i m e o f t h e o u t b r e a k o f t h e v a r i o u s r e v o l u t i o n s i n E u r o p e t h e

party developed rapidly and after the passing away of the revolutionary

w a v e t h e p a r t y l o s t i n i t s i n f l u e n c e a n d l o s t i n i t s m e m b e r s h i p . T h i s i s

clearly shown in the case of the Hungarian movement . At the time of the

revolution in Hungary the Hungarian Federation in America had 4000 mem-

b e r s a n d t h e p a p e r 1 5 , 0 0 0 s u b s c r i b e r s . Today the federation has 600 mem-

b e r s a n d t h e p a p e r h a s b u t 7 , 0 0 0 s u b s c r i b e r s , a l t h o u g h t h e r e a d e r s w e r e n o t

r a i d e d .

"As our party membership has no political aim in this country, they

t a k e w i t h o u t a n y i n t e r e s t t h e p o l i t i c a l m o v e s o r p r o g r a m o f t h e p a r t y , a n d

w i t h o u t a n y s o u n d f i g h t i n g o r a i m a n y l o o s e n e s s o f m e m b e r s h i p i s j u s t i f i e d .

" T h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i s n o t o r g a n i z e d f o r i t s e l f a n d f o r t h e s a t i s f a c -

t i o n o f i d e a l i s t s b u t w e a r e a r o u g h f i g h t i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n , a i m i n g t o b r i n g

about a mass movement in this country led by us . Can we do that with our

f o r c e s ? Y e s , i f w e f i r s t d e v e l o p c h a n g e i n t h e m e n t a l a t t i t u d e i n t h e m i n d s

o f t h e g e n e r a l m e m b e r s h i p t o w a r d t h e p r o b l e m s a s t h e y e x i s t h e r e i n A m e r -

i c a . Today, we are merely a propaganda organization without functioning

even as a propaganda organi zation should . We h a v e o n l y e x t e n d e d o u r

propaganda to those who have come to us, but have not reached out to the

great masses awaiting the message . T h e s l o g a n ` T O T H E M A S S E S ' w a s

c a r r i e d o u t b y u s o n l y b y t a k i n g a s t e p n e a r e r t o t h e m a s s e s a n d w e a r e n o w

s t a n d i n g g a z i n g a t t h e m .

" T h e a c t i v i t i e s o f o u r m e m b e r s h i p a r e t h e u n c o n s c i o u s r e f l e x o f E u r o -

p e a n i n f l u e n c e s .

"The main cause of this situation in our party is that our members

h a v e n o t t h e s l i g h t e s t k n o w l e d g e o f t h e p o l i t i c a l s t a t e a n d i n d u s t r i a l m a -

c h i n e r y . Yet no one has told them that to be a real Communist means to

f i g h t t h e r e w h e r e y o u a r e ; t h a t t h e y m u s t g e t a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o n s

p r e v a i l i n g t h e r e .

SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM

"The most important step in the solution of the problem is a correct

and thorough understanding of the problem itself by the membership . W i t h -

o u t a c l e a r k n o w l e d g e o f t h e d i f f i c u l t y b y t h e r a n k a n d f i l e i t w i l l b e i m p o s -

s i b l e t o a c c o m p l i s h t h e s o l u t i o n . T h e c o m r a d e s m u s t m a k e u p t h e i r m i n d s

t o t a c k l e t h e g r e a t o b s t a c l e s a n d m a s t e r t h e m . They must see clearly the

fact that the revolutionary movement and its development in this country

depends on them and that means that their policy should not be to wait

until we have enough English comrades and l et them do the work . Rather

[ 2 3 3 ]



REDS IN AMERICA

t h e v e r y f a c t t h a t t h e y a r e h e r e c o m p e l s t h e m e m b e r s , a s C o m m u n i s t s t o a s -

s u m e f u l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e m o v e m e n t h e r e i n A m e r i c a t h a t m e m b e r s h i p

i n t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i n t h e o t h e r p l a c e s o f t h e w o r l d d e m a n d s .

" T h e s e c o n d s t e p s h o u l d b e t o d i s s o l v e t h e f e d e r a t i o n o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d

h a v e n o t h i n g e l s e t h a n p r o p a g a n d a c o m m i t t e e s .

" T h e k i n d o f f e d e r a t i o n o r g a n i z a t i o n s w e h a v e t o d a y w a s t h e r e s u l t o f

a c o m p r o m i s e b e t w e e n t w o g r o u p s a t t h e U n i t y C o n v e n t i o n , , o n e of which

h a d n o f e d e r a t i o n w h a t e v e r a n d t h e o t h e r w i t h f e d e r a t i o n s h a v i n g a u t o n o m y .

I t w a s h o p e d b y t h i s c o m p r o m i s e t h a t t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e f e d e r a t i o n m e m b e r s

( t h a t i s , p a r t y m e m b e r s ) w o u l d b e t a k e n o u t o f t h e h a n d s o f f e d e r a t i o n

l e a d e r s , a n d t h e f e d e r a t i o n o r g a n i z a t i o n w o u l d s e r v e simply as language

p r o p a g a n d a o r g a n s o f t h e p a r t y . B u t t h i s h a s n o t b e e n t h e r e s u l t .

" W h a t a r e t h e f a c t s c o n c e r n i n g t h e c o n t r o l of the members? Whor e a l l y c o n t r o l s t h e m e m b e r s h i p , t h e p a r t y o r t h e F e d e r a t i o n Bureaus?

" T h e m e m b e r s o f t h e v a r i o u s f e d e r a t i o n s a r e e n t i r e l y i n a c t i v e e x c e p t

w h e n t h e y g e t i n s t r u c t i o n s f r o m t h e B u r e a u c o n c e r n i n g s o m e w o r k i n t h e i r

o w n l a n g u a g e o r g a n i z a t i o n o r c o n c e r n i n g w o r k i n s o m e o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s

o f t h e i r o w n l a n g u a g e .

" B e i n g o r g a n i z e d f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s i n l a n g u a g e f e d e r a t i o n s , t h e y k n o w

l i t t l e o r n o t h i n g a b o u t t h e p a r t y l e a d e r s . While their ignor ance of the

p a r t y l e a d e r s c a u s e s a t e r r i b l e i n d i f f e r e n c e t o w a r d t h e s e l e c t i o n o f p a r t y

o f f i c e r s , t h e m e m b e r s e n g a g e i n b i t t e r f a c t i o n a l f i g h t s i n s i d e t h e f e d e r a -

t i o n s o v e r t h e s e l e c t i o n o f f e d e r a t i o n o f f i c e r s .

" M o s t o f t h e f e d e r a t i o n s h a v e l a r g e p r o p e r t y i n t e r e s t s w h i c h s e r v e a s

a s t r o n g m e a n s o f c o n t r o l i n t h e h a n d s o f t h e f e d e r a t i o n l e a d e r s i n t h e c o n -

t r o l o f t h e f e d e r a t i o n m e m b e r s h i p .

" R e f l e c t o n t h e s e i m p o r t a n t f a c t s a n d c o n s i d e r t h e m c a r e f u l l y a n d s e e

w h a t t i e s t h e r e a r e t h a t b i n d t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e f e d e r a t i o n t o t h e p a r ty .

" T h e f o l l o w i n g a r e t h e t i e s t h a t b i n d t h e m e m b e r s h i p t o t h e p a r t y :

" L T h e f e d e r a t i o n s b e l o n g t o t h e p a r t y .

"2 . T h e i r i n t e r e s t i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l m o v e m e n t .

"We do not wish to make a detailed argument r egarding t h e s e f a c t s

b u t w e f e e l t h a t e v e r y o n e w h o r e a d s t h i s , r e a l i z e s t h a t t h e f e d e r a t i o n s have

m u c h s t r o n g e r c o n t r o l o v e r t h e m e m b e r s h i p t h a n t h e p a r t y . As our party

i s c o m p o s e d o f s e v e r a l f e d e r a t i o n s a n d i n a s m u c h a s t h e y h a v e g r e a t e r c o n t r o l

o v e r t h e m e m b e r s t h a n t h e p a r t y , t h e p a r t y t h e r e f o r e h a s n o d i r e c t m o r a l

control of the membership but can only e x e r c i s e i t s c o n t r o l i n d i r e c t l y

t h r o u g h t h e f e d e r a t i o n b u r e a u s . T h a t i s w h a t w e c a l l a h i g h l y c e n t r a l i z e d

p a r t y .

" F o r t h e s u c c e s s f u l p r o s e c u t i o n o f t h e w o r k o f a r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y ,

i t i s n e c e s s a r y t h a t t h e m o r a l c o n t r o l o f t h e m e m b e r s h i p ( w h i c h a f t e r a l l

i s t h e o n l y r e a l c o n t r o l ) m u s t b e i n t h e h a n d s o f t h e c e n t r a l e x e c u t i v e b o d y

o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n , w h i c h i n t h e l i g h t o f t h e f a c t s i s n o t t r u e o f o u r o r g a n i -

z a t i o n a t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e .

" T h e f u n c t i o n o f t h e l a n g u a g e f e d e r a t i o n b u r e a u s s h o u l d b e o n l y t o

a c t a s a m e a n s of c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e c e n t r a l e x e c u t i v e b o d y o f t h e

[ 2 3 4 ]



ADAPTATION OF COMMUNIST PARTY TO AMERICAN CONDITIONS

p a r t y a n d t h e m e m b e r s h i p i n t h e l a n g u a g e t h e y u n d e r s t a n d a n d t o c a r r y o n

p r o p a g a n d a t o t h e m a s s e s i n t h e t o n g u e t h e y k n o w . T h e r e i s n o o t h e r g o o d

r e a s o n f o r t h e i r e x i s t e n c e .

" I n p r o p o s i n g t h e d i s s o l u t i o n o f t h e f e d e r a t i o n o r g a n i z a t i o n w e a d v o c a t e

t h e d i s s o l u t i o n o f e v e r y p h a s e o f t h e i r o r g a n i z a t i o n ( w h i c h g i v e s t h e m

d i r e c t c o n n e c t i o n a n d l e a d i n g p o w e r ) . T h i s m e a n s a l s o t h e t r a n s f e r o f a l l

i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d p r o p e r t y b e l o n g i n g t o t h e f e d e r a t i o n s o v e r t o t h e p a r t y .

" W e o f fe r i n t h e p l a c e o f f e d e r a t i o n o r g a n i z a t i o n s , p r o p a g a n d a c o m -

m i t t e e s a n d e d i t o r i a l b o a r d s a n d a n a d v i s o r y c o m m i t t e e . The function of

t h e l a s t n a m e d i s t o p r e p a r e p l a n s f o r t h e w o r k t o b e d o n e i n t h e i r l a n g u a g e

i n o r g a n i z a t i o n s l ik e S i ck a n d B e n ef i t , e t c . We propose no national propa-

g a n d a c o m m i t t e e s b u t o n l y d i s t r i c t p r o p a g a n d a c o m m i t t e e s w h i c h s h a l l c a r r y

o n t h e w o r k a c c o r d i n g t o p a r t y i n s t r u c t i o n s , a s a s u b - c o m m i t t e e i n t h e

district, adapted to the conditions in the various districts . T h e t r a n s l a t i o n

o f p a r t y i n s t r u c t i o n s c a n b e d o n e b y t r a n s l a t i n g s e c r e t a r i e s i n t h e n a t i o n a l

o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d s e n t d o w n t h r o u g h p a r t y c h a n n e l s .

" T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i s s o l a r g e t h a t t h e r e a r e w h o l e s e c t i o n s w i t h p r o b -

l e m s p e c u l i a r t o t h e m s e l v e s t h a t s e r i o u s l y i n t e r f e r e w i t h t h e e f f i c i e n t o p e r -

a t i o n o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d w h i c h i t i s n e x t t o i m p o s s i b l e t o s o l v e f r o m

t h e n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f d i s t r i c t p r o p a g a n d a c o m -

m i t t e e s w o u l d s o l v e t h i s p e r p l e x i n g q u e s t i o n . T h e r e a r e m a n y o t h e r r e a s o n s

t h a t f a v o r t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e s e c o m m i t t e e s a n d i n s u r e a m u c h m o r e

e f f i c i e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a n c o u l d e v e r b e t h e c a s e u n d e r l a n g u a g e f e d e r a t i o n

b u r e a u s .

SUMMARY" I n c l o s i n g w e c a n e m p h a t i c a l l y s t a t e t h a t t h e f u t u r e o f t h e p a r t y i s

h o p e l e s s u n i e s Q t h i s s i t u a t i o n i s c h a n g e d . T h e q u e s t i o n o f t a c t i c s c a n b e

d e c i d e d u p o n b y a f e w c o m r a d e s w h o a r e a t t h e c o n v e n t i o n , b u t t h e y w i l l

n o t h a v e t h e b a c k i n g o f t h e m e m b e r s . This is so vital that we can not expect

a n y r e a l r e s u l t s f r o m o u r w o r k i n t h i s c o u n t r y u n t i l i t i s s o l v e d . A Com-

m u n i s t p a r t y , n o t e v e n i n p o s s e s s i o n o f i t s o w n m e m b e r s , c a n n o t h o p e t o

ex e r t t h e s l i g h t e s t i nf l u e n c e ov e r t h e m a s s e s .

" I n t h e c o u r s e o f d i s c u s s i o n t h e r e m i g h t a r i s e s o m e o t h e r p r o b l e m s

f o r s o l u t i o n , b u t e v e r y o n e o f u s m u s t a g r e e t h a t t h i s o n e i s t h e m a i n

p r o b l e m c o n f r o n t i n g t h e S e c o n d C o n v e n t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y a n d t h e

C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i t s e l f .

" F i n a l l y , t h e s o l v i n g o f t h i s p r o b l e m w i l l n o t b e a c c o m p l i s h e d s i m p l y

b y d i s s o l v i n g t h e f e d e r a t i o n o r g a n i z a t i o n s . The members must realize andf e e l t h i s p r o b l e m i n a l l i t s s e r i o u s n e s s , a n d w i t h t h e d i s s o l u t i o n o f t h e

f e d e r a t i o n o r g a n i z a t i o n s m u s t b r e a k t h e m e n t a l t i e s w i t h o t h e r p a r t s o f t h e

world and become rooted and grounded in the movement in A m e r i c a . "

[ 2 3 5 1



APPENDIX D .

" N E W S LE T T E R S E R V I C E " M A R K E D " R U S H O N E T O E A C H G R O U P , "

SENT OUT AUGUST 4 FROM THE "NATIONAL OFFICE,

COMMUNIST PARTY OF AMERICA, S E C T I O N

OF THE COMMUNIST INTERNATIONAL. "

"The Executive Committee of the Communist I n t e r n a t i o n a l h a s i n -

formed us that Comrade Cook, member of the Presidium of the Comintern

a n d t h e P r e s i d i u m o f t h e R e d T r a d e U n i o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l h a s b e e n o r d e r e d

to return home immediately with full instructions from the Communist

I n t e r n a t i o n a l r e g a r d i n g t h e v a r i o u s problems confronting the American

p a r t y . A l l d i s t r i c t s a r e s t r o n g l y u r g e d t o h o l d t h e m s e l v e s i n c o m p l e t e

r e a d i n e s s f o r i m m e d i a t e a r r a n g e m e n t s o f m e e t i n g s t o l i s t e n t o t h e r e p o r t

f r o m t h e C o m i n t e r n .

" T h e s p e c i a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e C o m i n t e r n , C o m r a d e B r o o k s , i s n o w

w o r k i n g a c t i v e l y w i t h t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e a n d i s p r o v i n g o f

g r e a t a i d t o u s .

" R e p o r t s f r o m e v e r y d i s t r i c t a r e v e r y f a v o r a b l e r e g a r d i n g t h e r e t u r n o f

o p p o s i t i o n m e m b e r s t o t h e p a r t y . W e m u s t n o t l o s e s i g h t o f t h e f a c t t h a t i t

i s t h e d u t y o f e v e r y p a r t y m e m b e r t o d o h i s u t m o s t t o h e l p l i q u i d a t e t h e

o p p o s i t i o n a n d g e t t h e m b a c k i n t o t h e p a r t y .

" T h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l h a s i n -

s t r u c t e d u s t o p o s t p o n e h o l d i n g t h e c o n v e n t i o n u n t i l t h e a r r i v a l of Comrade

C o o k w i t h i t s i n s t r u c t i o n s . T h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e a c t e d o n t h i s

m a t t e r a n d b y a v o t e o f f i v e t o f i v e d e c i d e d not to delay holding the

c o n v e n t i o n . All efforts are being exerted to have Comrade Cook a r r i v e

h e r e o n t i m e s o t h a t a t l e a s t t h e d e l e g a t e s m a y h a v e a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o

l i s t e n t o t h e r e p o r t a n d i n s t r u c t i o n s f r o m t h e E x e c u t i v e Committee of the

C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l .

"On the recommendation of Comrade Brooks, the Central Executive

Committee elected the following new s p e c i a l c o m m i t t e e s : ( 1 ) A c o m -

m i t t e e t o p r e p a r e a r e p o r t o n t h e p r e v a i l i n g p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c c o n d i -

t i o n s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . (2) A committee to prepare a new thesis on

t h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n O n e a n d T w o . ( 3 ) A c o m m i t t e e t o r e v i s e t h e a g e n d a

f o r t h e c o n v e n t i o n .

" A f t e r l i s t e n i n g t o t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e d i s c u s s i o n o n t h e

postponement of the convention, Comrade Brooks, S p e c i a l R e p r e s e n t a t i v e

o f t h e C o m i n t e r n t o t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A m e r i c a , p r o p o s e d t h e f o l l o w -

[ 2 3 7 1



REDS IN AMERICA

ing resolution to the Central Executive Committee : `The thesis ado pted

by the Third World Congress on the sub ject of organi zation explicitly

prohibited the formation of closed factions within Communist parties . I

h a v e a s c e r t a i n e d h e r e i n A m e r i c a t h a t t w o e x i s t i n g t e n d e n c i e s i n t h e C o m -

m u n i s t p a r t y h a v e a l r e a d y c r y s t a l l i z e d i n t o d e f i n i t e f a c t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e s

which are waging against each other war to the knife on questions big or

s m a l l . I a m c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e a c t u a l l y e x i s t i n g d i f f e r e n c e s o f o p i n i o n d o

not by any means justify such factional formations and merely represent

t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n o f t h e w o r s t t r a d i t i o n s w i t h i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e A m e r i c a n

C o m r a d e s , t r a d i t i o n s w h i c h a r e r e p e a t e d l y c o n d e m n e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t

i n t e r n a t i o n a l . I am convinced that this situation can lead to complete

p a r a l y s i s o f t h e p a r t y ' s a c t i v i t y a n d t o n e w s p l i t s , f a t a l t o A m e r i c a n C o m -

m u n i s m .

" `Basing myself on the above mentioned thesis of the Third Congress

a n d a c t i n g i n t h e s p i r i t o f a l l t h e d e c i s i o n s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l

b e a r i n g o n t h e A m e r i c a n q u e s t i o n , I c a l l o n t h e c o m r a d e s o f b o t h f a c t i o n s

immediately to take proper steps for the factional re gime and to create

real guarantees for party unity which is so extremely endangered . F o r

t h i s w o r k I a m e n t i r e l y a t y o u r d i s p o s a l .

( S i g n e d ) " ' B r o o k s , S p e c i a l R e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e

o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l . '

"A motion to approve this declaration was carried unanimously . Fur-

t h e r m o r e , a c o m m i t t e e o f s e v e n , t h r e e m e m b e r s o f w h i c h a r e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

o f t h e C o m i n t e r n i n v a r i o u s c a p a c i t i e s , w a s c h o s e n t o p r e s e n t p l a n s f o r t h e

u n i f i c a t i o n o f t h e p a r t y t o t h e c o n v e n t i o n a n d r e c o m m e n d m e t h o d s a s t o t h e

s e l e c t i o n o f C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e m a t e r i a l . This committee is now

b u s i l y e n g a g e d i n i t s w o r k .

"Comrades, this declaration must be accepted in letter and spirit by

e v e r y m e m b e r o f t h e p a r t y . Apropos o f t h i s s i t u a t i o n i n t h e p a r t y t h e

District Executive Committee of District 4 [the Cleveland District-Ed . ]

h a s s e v e r a l w e e k s a g o u n a n i m o u s l y p a s s e d t h e f o l l o w i n g r e s o l u t i o n s i n t h e

`National Caucus,' commonly called the `Goose Caucus' .

"The District Executive Committee of District 4 has been informed of

t h e e x i s t e n c e o f v a r i o u s c a u c u s e s a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y o f t h e s o - c a l l e d N a t i o n a l

C a u c u s a n d t h e n a t u r e o f p r o p a g a n d a t h e y a r e c o n d u c t i n g . T h i s p r o p a g a n d a

i s n o t b a s e d o n a n y g r o u n d o f p r i n c i p l e s b u t p u r e l y o n p e r s o n a l i t i e s , a n d

c o n f i n e s i t s e l f t o a t t a c k s o n t h e p a r t y ' s C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e a n d t h i s

not even intended to bring any g ood to the movement as a whole .

"From all their communications and theses, only one conclusion

can be drawn which is at the same time their only argument, viz . ,-The

C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e d o e s n o t t h i n k t h e w a y i t a c t s , w e a r e t h e o n l y

o n e s w h o f o r c e i t s h a n d i n t h e p r o p e r d i r e c t i o n . S u c h a r g u m e n t s c a n o n l y

c o m e f r o m p o s i t i v e l y m i s g u i d e d a n d i n s i n c e r e p e o p l e w h o h a v e n o c o n s i d e r a -

t i o n f o r t h e w e l f a r e o f t h e m o v e m e n t b u t s e e o n l y t h e i r o w n e g o a n d c a l c u -

l a t e h o w t o a s p i r e t o p o w e r .

" ' T h a t s u c h r u b b e r n e c k , b a c k s t a i r s s t u f f i s i n j u r i o u s t o t h e m o v e m e n t

[ 2 3 8 1



"NEWS LETTER S E R V I C E " MARKED "RUSH ONE TO EACH GROUP"

t h e r e i s n o d o u b t i n t h e m i n d s o f t h e C o m m i t t e e . I t l o w e r s t h e m o r a l e o f

t h e m e m b e r s h i p a n d w e a k e n s t h e d i s c i p l i n e i n t h e p a r t y .

" ` F u r t h e r m o r e , t a k i n g i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h e c a l l o f t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u -

t i v e C o m m i t t e e t o s u g g e s t a n d c r i t i c i s e t h e t h e s e s a n d p r o p o s i t i o n s o f t h e

C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e a n d a s t h e s e c a u c u s e s r e f u s e d t o h a v e t h e i r

h a n d i n t h i s w o r k a n d s o r e j e c t t h e i n v i t a t i o n o f t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m -

m i t t e e t o h e l p b u i l d t h e m o v e m e n t t h r o u g h t h e r e g u l a r p a r t y c h a n n e l s ;

" ' T h e D i s t r i c t E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f D i s t r i c t 4 g o e s o n r e c o r d c o n -

d e m n i n g t h e s e c a u c u s e s a s h a r m f u l t o t h e m o v e m e n t a n d w i s h e s t o remind

t h e s a m e n o t t o w a s t e t h e i r t i m e l o o k i n g f o r s u p p o r t i n t h i s d i s t r i c t w h e r e

y o u w i l l n o t f i n d i t .

"'We advise those caucuses not to squander their m oney i n m a i l i n g

t h e i r s t u f f t o t h e m e m b e r s i n t h i s d i s t r i c t w h e r e i t w i l l b e a r n o f r u i t , b u t

r a t h e r t o u s e t h e r e g u l a r p a r t y c h a n n e l s a n d s o r e a l l y h e l p b u i l d t h e o r g a n -

i z a t i o n i n t h e o n l y w a y t h i s c a n b e d o n e .

" ' W e c a l l u p o n o u r m e m b e r s t o m a i n t a i n t h e d i s c i p l i n e o f t h e p a r t y ;

w i t h o u t d i s c i p l i n e w e c a n n o t b u i l d a n o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y

w o r k e r s . '

" T h e N a t i o n a l O f f i c e w i l l m a k e e v e r y e f f o r t p o s s i b l e t o k e e p the mem-

b e r s h i p f u l l y i n f o r m e d a s t o t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e p a r t y a n d t h e Comintern .

A l l d i s t r i c t s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o s e n d d i s t r i c t n e w s p r o m p t l y a n d r e g u l a r l y t o

t h e N a t i o n a l O f f i c e o f t h e p a r t y .

" L. C . Wh ea t [Lo ve st on e' s pa rt y na me -E d . ] , E x e c u t i v e

S e c r e t a r y , C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a , S e c t i o n o f t h e

C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l . "

[ 2 3 9 1



APPENDIX ETHE WORKERS' PARTY ON THE UNITED FRONT

"L A United Front of Labor, a solid phalanx of the working class

d r a w n u p i n b a t t l e l i n e a g a i n s t t h e f o r c e s o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t c l a s s a n d t h e

c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e i s t h e p r e r e q u i s i t e o f a v i c t o r y o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t . T h e c r e -

a t i o n o f t h i s p h a l a n x i s t h e t a s k o f t h e h o u r. Groups of workers organized

i n v a r i o u s o r g a n i z a t i o n s a s w e l l a s g r o u p s o f h i t h e r t o u n o r g a n i z e d w o r k e r s

m u s t b e u n i t e d i n s u p p o r t o f a c o m m o n a i m a n d i n c o m m o n a c t i o n . M a n y

o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f l a b o r t h o u g h o s t e n s i b l y f o r m e d t o f i g h t t h e b a t t l e s o f l a b o r

a r e t i e d u p b y t h e i r t r e a c h e r o u s l e a d e r s t o t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s

t h u s b r e a k i n g t h e u n i t e d f r o n t o f l a b o r a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e f r o n t o f c a p -

i t a l . T h e p r o b l e m i s t o b r e a k t h e s e g r o u p s o f w o r k e r s a w a y f r o m t h e a r m y

o f c a p i t a l a n d l i n e t h e m u p w i t h t h e a r m y o f l a b o r t h u s e s t a b l i s h i n g a u n i t e d

f r o n t o f l a b o r a g a i n s t c a p i t a l .

"2. T h e w o r k i n g c l a s s a s a w h o l e i s n o t c o n s c i o u s o f h a v i n g c l a s s

i n t e r e s t s i n i r r e c o n c i l a b l e c o n f l i c t w i t h t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s . T h e y

a r e c o n s c i o u s , h o w e v e r , o f i m m e d i a t e p r o b l e m s t h a t d e m a n d s o l u t i o n a s a

c o n d i t i o n f o r t h e i r e x i s t e n c e , q u e s t i o n s o f w a g e s , w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n s , e t c .

T h e s e q u e s t i o n s m u s t f o r m t h e b a s i s f o r a U n i t e d F r o n t o f t h e w o r k e r s , f o r

u n i t e d a c t i o n . I t i s t h r o u g h t h e s e s t r u g g l e s a n d o n l y t h r o u g h t h e m t h a t t h e

w o r k e r s c a n l e a r n t h e p o l i t i c a l c h a r a c t e r o f t h e i r s t r u g g l e . I t i s i n t h e s e

s t r u g g l e s t h a t t h e b e t r a y e r s o f t h e w o r k e r s i n t h e p o s i t i o n o f l e a d e r s h i p m u s t

b e e x p o s e d i n t h e i r t r u e c h a r a c t e r a s e n e m i e s o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e t o o l s

o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s . I t i s i n t h e s e s t r u g g l e s a n d o n l y i n t h e m t h a t t h e C o m -

m u n i s t s c a n e s t a b l i s h t h e i r l e a d e r s h i p i n t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e a n d d e v e l o p t h i s

s t r u g g l e i n t o a r e v o l u t i o n a r y b a t t l e f o r t h e o v e r t h r o w o f c a p i t a l i s m a n d t h e

e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n d i c t a t o r s h i p a s a n i n s t r u m e n t o f C o m m u n i s t

r e c o n s t r u c t i o n .

" 3 . I n p u r s u i n g t h e p o l i c y o f u n i t i n g l a r g e r a n d l a r g e r m a s s e s o f t h e

w o r k e r s o n t h e b a s i s o f a c o m m o n s t r u g g l e t h e e x i s t i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f

the workers must be made more and mo re effective instruments of these

s t r u g g l e s . T h e e x p e r i e n c e t h e w o r k e r s w i l l g a i n i n t h e s e s t r u g g l e s w i l l h e l p

u s t o g r a d u a l l y e l i m i n a t e a l l d u a l i s m i n t h e f i e l d o f e c o n o m i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s

o f t h e w o r k e r s . T r a d e l i n e s m u s t b e g r a d u a l l y e l i m i n a t e d a n d s t e p b y s t e p

t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e w o r k e r s m u s t b e w e l d e d t o g e t h e r i n t o i n d u s t r i a l

u n i o n s c l o s e l y u n i t e d i n o n e g r e a t b o d y .

" 4 . W h i l e t h e c r e a t i o n o f t h e U n i t e d F r o n t c a n b e a c c o m p l i s h e d o n t h e

f i e l d o f e c o n o m i c o r g a n i z a t i o n t h r o u g h a m a l g a m a t i o n o f e x i s t i n g b o d i e s ,

i t m u s t b e a c c o m p l i s h e d o n t h e f i e l d o f p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e w o r k e r s

[ 2 4 1 ]



REDS IN AMERICA

by elimination of the influence of such parties and groups whose program

a n d a c t i o n m i s l e a d t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s . T h e e c o n o m i c s t r u g g l e s o f t h e w o r k e r s

a r e c a r r i e d o n b y o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n c l u d i n g i n t h e i r r a n k s m o s t o f t h e p a r t i c i -

p a n t s o f t h e s t r u g g l e . W o r k i n g - c l a s s p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s c a n n o t o r g a n i z e w i t h -

i n t h e i r r a n k s a m a j o r i t y o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s . T h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s s e r v i e

r a t h e r t o g i v e l e a d e r s h i p t o t h e w o r k e r s ' p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e s . Those parties

misleading the workers must be eliminated from such leadership . On the

b a s i s o f i m m e d i a t e i s s u e s t h e w o r k e r s m u s t b e l e d i n t o p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e s i n

w h i c h t h e C o m m u n i s t s p r o v e t h e s u p e r i o r i t y o f t h e i r t a c t i c s , t h e i r s l o g a n s ,

t h e i r a i m s a n d t h e i r l e a d e r s h i p a s c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e t a c t i c s , s l o g a n s , a i m s

a n d l e a d e r s h i p o f o t h e r p o l i t i c a l g r o u p s o r p a r t i e s c l a i m i n g t h e s u p p o r t o f

t h e w o r k e r s . T h u s t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y w i l l g r a d u a l l y w i n a w a y t h e m a s s e s o f

p o l i t i c a l l y a c t i v e w o r k e r s f r o m t h e p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h a t b e t r a y t h e

workers . It will discredit and destroy them and win complete leadership

i n t h e p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e s o f t h e w o r k e r s .

"5 . I n c r e a t i n g a u n i t e d f r o n t f o r t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s f o r t h e i r e c o n o m i c

struggles, the existing labor unions must remain the instrument of these

s t r u g g l e s w h i l e t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y m u s t b e t h e i n s t r u m e n t s

to unify these economic organizations .

"The plans for the general campaigns are formulated after consider-

ation of recommendations by party members in the unions . The Central

E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e p a r t y f o r m u l a t e s t h e s l o g a n s a n d s e n d s i t s c o r -

responding instructions through the industrial department to the member-

s h i p . At the same time all means of publicity are u sed by the party for

p r o p a g a t i o n o f t h e a c t i o n c o n t e m p l a t e d . T h e u n i t y o f a c t i o n m u s t b e e s t a b -

l i s h e d o n a b a s i s t h a t c a n b e r e a l i z e d i m m e d i a t e l y a n d t h e a c t i o n m u s t t h e n

b e d e v e l o p e d a n d l e d o n s t e p b y s t e p t o t h e c l i m a x . I n t h e p r o c e s s o f t h e

s t r u g g l e t h e w e a k n e s s o f t h e e x i s t i n g c r a f t u n i o n f o r m o f o r g a n i z a t i o n w i l l

b e c o m e a p p a r e n t . T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f s u c h s t r u g g l e s , d e v e l o p i n g t h e s e w e a k -

n e s s e s m u s t b e u t i l i z e d t o d r i v e h o m e t h e c r i t i c i s m o f t h e p r e s e n t f o r m o f o r -

g a n i z a t i o n a n d a d v a n t a g e m u s t b e t a k e n o f t h e s i t u a t i o n t o a d v a n c e c o n s t r u c -

t i v e p r o p o s a l s s e e k i n g t o e l i m i n a t e t h e s e w e a k n e s s e s . Thus the amalgamation

o f c r a f t i n t o i n d u s t r i a l u n i o n s b e c o m e s a n i s s u e d i c t a t e d b y t h e n e c e s s i t i e s

o f t h e s t r u g g l e s a n d c e a s e s t o b e a n a b s t r a c t t h e o r e t i c a l b o n e o f c o n t e n t i o n .

T h e m a i n c r i t i c i s m o f t r e a c h e r o u s o r i n e f f i c i e n t l e a d e r s a n d t h e f i g h t a g a i n s t

them must be based on their shortcomings in the actual struggl es . T h u s

t h e a b s t r a c t a n d i n v a r i a b l y i n e f f e c t i v e c r i t i c i s m o n t h e b a s i s o f d i f f e r e n c e s

i n t h e t h e o r e t i c a l c o n c e p t i o n o f t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e o r t h e s t a t e w i l l g i v e

way to concrete issues on the basis of which an alignment of the workers

c a n b e e f f e c t e d .

"6 . In cases where dual industrial organizations are involved in a

s t r u g g l e t h e p a r t y m u s t n o t o n l y t a k e t h e i n i t i a t i v e t o o f f e r i t s s e r v i c e s f o r t h e

c r e a t i o n o f a u n i t y o f p u r p o s e , u n i t y o f t a c t i c s a n d a u n i t e d f r o n t i n a c t i o n ,

b u t a l s o t h e c r e a t i o n o f o r g a n i z a t i o n a l u n i t y . W h i l e i n s u c h c a s e s t h e p a r t y

a d d r e s s e s i t s e l f t o t h e l e a d e r s , t h e e x e c u t i v e s o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n , i t a l s o

propagates the membership of such bodies to the same so that the leader-

ship that stands in the way of unity will be discredite d and eventually

[ 2 4 2 )



THE WORKERS' PARTY ON THE UNITED FRONT

e l i m i n a t e d . B u t i n a l l s u c h c a s e s , e l i m i n a t i o n i s n o t t h e s o l e o b j e c t o f

t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e t a c t i c s o f t h e U n i t e d F r o n t o f L a b o r , b u t o n l y o n e o f

i t s p u r p o s e s .

"7 . N o t o n l y t h o s e w o r k e r s w h o h a v e i m m e d i a t e i n t e r e s t s i n a s t r u g g l e

s h o u l d c o m p o s e t h e U n i t e d F r o n t . A l l i s s u e s o f i m p o r t a n c e m u s t b e m a d e

c l a s s i s s u e s a n d t h e w o r k i n g m a s s e s r a l l i e d t o t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e w o r k e r s

immediately concerned . Only by thus broadening the struggl e will the

working masses become class conscious .

"8 . S e p a r a t e d e l e g a t e d b o d i e s , c o u n c i l s , e t c . , f o r t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d

d i r e c t i o n o f t h e u n i t e d w o r k i n g c l a s s a c t i o n o n t h e e c o n o m i c f i e l d m u s t b e

o r g a n i z e d o n l y i f t h e r e i s n o d a n g e r o f s e r i o u s c o n f l i c t w i t h e x i s t i n g b o d i e s

o f t h e s a m e c h a r a c t e r . I n a l l c a s e s w h e r e s u c h d i r e c t i v e b o d i e s a r e c r e a t e d

t h e y s h o ul d b e f o r m e d , i f a t a l l p o s s i b l e , o n t h e i n i t i a t i v e a n d b y a c t i o n o f

t h e u n i o n s i n v o l v e d . O u r p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n w i l l s u p p l y t h e i n i t i a t i v e w h e r e

t h e f o r m i n g o f s u c h b o d i e s b e c o m e s n e c e s s a r y . N o b a s i s f o r e v e n a s h a d e

o f s u s p i c i o n o r d u a l i s t i c i n t e n t i o n m u s t b e g i v e n .

" 9 . T h e c r e a t i o n o f a U n i t e d F r o n t o f L a b o r o n t h e p o l i t i c a l f i e l d i n

t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i s t h e p r o b l e m o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f i n d e p e n d e n t p o l i t i c a l

a c t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s . T h e w o r k i n g c l a s s o f E u r o p e h a s f o r a l o n g

t i m e p a r t i c i p a t e d i n d e p e n d e n t l y i n p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t i e s . N o t s o i n t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s . H e r e ' t h e p r o b l e m i s n o t t o u n i t e e x i s t i n g p o l i t i c a l g r o u p s a n d o r -

g a n i z a t i o n s f o r c o m m o n a c t i o n , b u t t o a w a k e p o l i t i c a l c l a s s c o n s c i o u s n e s s

among the workers . T h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e h a s r e a c h e d s u c h a d e g r e e o f i n t e n -

s i t y h e r e t h a t e v e r y b a t t l e o f t h e w o r k e r s r e v e a l s t h e p o l i t i c a l c h a r a c t e r o f

t h e s t r u g g l e s t h a t i s t e a c h i n g t h e p r o l e t a r i a n m a s s e s t h e n e c e s s i t y f o r c l a s s

c o n s c i o u s p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n . T h e n u m e r o u s e f f o r t s o f a l l k i n d s o f l a b o r o r -

g a n i z a t i o n s t o f o r m a l a b o r p a r t y i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i s e v i d e n c e o f t h i s

f a c t . T h e s e s t r u g g l e s i n d i c a t e a s t e p f o r w a r d i n t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e c l a s s

s t r u g g l e t o w a r d r e v o l u t i o n a r y w o r k i n g c l a s s a c t i o n . T o o p p o s e t h i s t e n -

d e n c y t o w a r d t h e f o r m a t i o n o f a l a b o r p a r t y w o u l d b e f o l l y .

"10. T h e c a p i t a l i s t s r e a l i z e t h e p o t e n t i a l i t i e s of even a tame and not

i n t h e l e a s t r e v o l u t i o n a r y i n d e p e n d e n t l a b o r p a r t y f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f

t h e c l a s s c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f t h e w o r k e r s . T h e i r t o o l s i n t h e l a b o r m o v e m e n t

h a v e , t h e r e f o r e , c o n s i s t e n t l y o p p o s e d i t s f o r m a t i o n . B u t w h e n i t s f o r m a t i o n

c a n n o l o n g e r b e p r e v e n t e d t h e s e c a p i t a l i s t t o o l s w i l l a s s u m e t h e l e a d e r s h i p

o f t h e m o v e m e n t f o r a l a b o r p a r t y a n d w i l l e x e r t e v e r y e f f o r t t o r e d u c e s u c h

a p a r t y t o a m e r e m a c h i n e f o r t h e i r e l e c t i o n , a n d t o p r e v e n t i t f r o m b e c o m i n g

a r e a l w e a p o n f o r t h e w o r k e r s i n t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e . T o m a k e t h e l a b o r

p a r t y a n i n s t r u m e n t o f t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n t h e p a r t i c i p a -

t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s i s a n i m p e r a t i v e n e c e s s i t y . I t i s n o t i n t h e i n t e r e s t

o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n n o r c a n t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y a s s u m e r e s p o n s i -

b i l i t y f o r t h e l a r g e s t p o l i t i c a l p o w e r o f t h e w o r k e r s r e m a i n i n g d o r m a n t . T h e

p a r t y m u s t n o t o p p o s e t h e c o m i n g t o l i f e o f t h i s p o w e r b e c a u s e i t h a s n o t

y e t t h e s t a n d i n g a n d i n f l u e n c e a m o n g m a s s e s t o s e t i t a t w o r k i n t h e n a m e

of and for the purpose of Communism .

" 1 1 . T o p r o m o t e t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g

c l a s s i n t o r e v o l u t i o n a r y a c t i o n t h e C o m m u n i s t s m u s t b e c o m e a f a c t o r i n t h e

[ 2 4 3 1



REDS IN AMERICA

L a b o r p a r t y t h a t m a y b e f o r m e d . W e c a n a c h i e v e t h i s e n d o n l y i f w e a n t i c i -

p a t e t h e f o r m a t i o n o f s u c h a p a r t y a n d n o w a d o p t a p o l i c y t h r o u g h which

w e w i l l b e c o m e e s t a b l i s h e d a s a f o r c e i n t h e p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e o f t h e w o r k e r s

a n d t h u s a n i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r i n t h e l a b o r p a r t y . T h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n a

U n i t e d F r o n t i n l o c a l p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e s w i l l g i v e u s a s t r o n g p o s i t i o n

i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e l a b o r p a r t y .

"12 . A t t e m p t s t o m i s u s e t h e n a m e o f L a b o r p a r t y i n t h e f o r m a t i o n i n

s o m e s o r t o f a ` w o r k e r s ' n o n - p a r t i s a n l e a g u e ' m u s t b e g u a r d e d a g a i n s t . Such

a p a r t y w o u l d m e r e l y e x p l o i t t h e g r o w i n g d e s i r e f o r i n d e p e n d e n t working

c l a s s p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n t o g e t e n d o r s e m e n t s f o r s o m e m i s l e a d e r s o f l a b o r o n

c a p i t a l i s t p a r t y t i c k e t s , o n t h e p r i n c i p l e o f G o m p e r s : ` R e w a r d o u r f r i e n d s

a n d p u n i s h o u r e n e m i e s . ' I t i s t h e w o r k o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s t o a l s o g u a r d

a g a i n s t t h e f o r m a t i o n o f s u c h a l a b o r p a r t y a s i s f o r e c a s t i n the work of

t h e C o n f e r e n c e f o r P r o g r e s s i v e P o l i t i c a l A c t i o n . T h i s c o n f e r e n c e i n c l u d e s

n o t o n l y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f l a b o r , b u t p r o g r e s s i v e s a n d l i b e r a l s o f e v e r y

s h a d e . A p a r t y s u c h a s f o r e c a s t b y t h i s c o n f e r e n c e w o u l d n o t m o b i l i z e t h e

p o l i t i c a l p o w e r o f t h e w o r k e r s f o r t h e i m m e d i a t e s t r u g g l e s a g a i n s t t h e c a p i t -

a l i s t s b u t w o u l d d i s s i p a t e t h a t p o w e r i n e l e c t i o n c a m p a i g n s f o u g h t o n t h e

b a s i s o f p e t t y a m e l i o r a t i v e r e f o r m s a n d o f s c h e m e s f o r m i n o r c h a n g e s i n

t h e f o r m o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t g o v e r n m e n t . S u c h a p a r t y w o u l d b e m e r e l y a

l a r g e r b u t w e a k e r e d i t i o n o f t h e S o c i a l i s t p a r t y , w h i c h h a s f o r t w o d e c a d e s

m i s d i r e c t e d t h e p o l i t i c a l e n e r g i e s o f t h e w o r k e r s s u p p o r t i n g i t t h r o u g h i t s

p r o g r a m o f r e f o r m s a n d l i m i t a t i o n s o f t h e p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e o f t h e w o r k e r s

t o m e r e p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n e l e c t i o n c a m p a i g n s . The Communists must fight

t o m a k e t h e l a b o r p a r t y a r e a l i n s t r u m e n t o f t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e , f i g h t i n g t h e

i m m e d i a t e b a t t l e s o f t h e w o r k e r s o n t h e p o l i t i c a l f i e l d a n d e n g a g i n g i n

p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n , f r o m e l e c t i o n c a m p a i g n s t o m a s s s t r i k e s w i t hp o l i t i c a l o b -

j e c t i v e s a n d t h e i r l o g i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t s i n r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e s .

" 1 3 . T h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y m u s t n o t a r t i f i c i a l l y f o r c e t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f

a l a b o r p a r t y . I t m u s t t h r o u g h e d u c a t i o n a l w o r k w i n s u p p o r t o f t h e m a s s e s

o f t h e w o r k e r s f o r t h e m o v e m e n t o f t h e l a b o r p a r t y .

" 1 4 . T h e w o r k o f e d u c a t i o n c a n b e s t b e c a r r i e d o n t h r o u g h e s t a b l i s h -

m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d F r o n t o n t h e b a s i s o f p o l i t i c a l i s s u e s g r o w i n g o u t o f t h e

i n t e n s e e c o n o m i c s t r u g g l e s o f t h e w o r k e r s . T h e p a r t y m u s t u s e i t s i n f l u e n c e

a n d s t r e n g t h i n t h e t r a d e u n i o n s t o f o r m d e l e g a t e d c o n f e r e n c e s o f l a b o r

o r g a n i z a t i o n s . S u c h c o n f e r e n c e s d e c i d e o n a g e n e r a l p o l i t i c a l c a m p a i g n

i n c l u d i n g a l l f o r m s o f p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n . T h r o u g h t h e s e t a c t i c s t h e C o m -

m u n i s t s h e l p t o a w a k e n t h e p o l i t i c a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n m a s s e s ,

b r o a d e n t h e c o n c e p t i o n o f t h e s e m a s s e s a s t o t h e m e a n i n g o f p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n

a n d e s t a b l i s h t h e m s e l v e s a s a f o r c e i n t h e p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e w o r k e r s .

T h e p a r t y m u s t b e t h e m o s t a r d e n t c h a m p i o n o f a l l s u c h a c t i o n a n d m u s t

i d e n t i f y i t s e l f w i t h a l l i t s p h a s e s . O u r m e m b e r s s h o u l d i n i t i a t e s u c h a c t i o n

t h r o u g h t h e u n i o n s . T h e p o s i t i o n w h i c h w e w i l l t h u s g a i n f o r o u r p a r t y

w i l l a t t r a c t t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y f o r c e s o f t h e w o r k e r s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

a n d t h e y w i l l r a l l y a r o u n d o u r b a n n e r . T h e s e t a c t i c s w i l l m a k e u s a f o r c e

w h i c h w i l l h a v e t o b e c o n s i d e r e d i n t h e e v e n t o f t h e f o r m a t i o n o f a l a b o r

[ 2 4 4 ]



THE WORKERS' PARTY ON THE UNITED FRONT

p a r t y a n d w e w i l l b e a b l e t o i n f l u e n c e i t s c h a r a c t e r a n d i t s a c t i v i t i e s a n d

w i n l e a d e r s h i p i n i t .

" 1 5 . T h e U n i t e d F r o n t t a c t i c s c a n n o t b e i n t e r p r e t e d t o m e a n o r g a n-

i z a t i o n u n i t y w i t h a n y o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y m u s t e x i s t

a s a d i s t i n c t o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h a d i s c i p l i n e d , e d u c a t e d m e m b e r s h i p a c t i n g

u p o n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y p l a t f o r m t o g i v e l e a d e r s h i p t o t h e s t r u g g l e s o f t h e

w o r k e r s . I n a l l i t s a c t i v i t i e s t h e p a r t y r e t a i n s i t s f u l l i n d e p e n d e n c e , i t s r i g h t

o f c r i t i c i s m a n d i t s f r e e d o m o f a c t i o n . T h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y m u s t b e t h e l e f t

a n d t h e m o s t a c t i v e s e c t i o n o f t h e l a b o r m o v e m e n t o n b o t h t h e e c o n o m i c a n d

p o l i t i c a l f i e l d . B y i t s un c e a s i n g a c t i v i t i e s , b y i t s c o r r e c t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f

p r o b l e m s a n d s i t u a t i o n s a n d b y i t s q u a l i t i e s o f a f i g h t i n g a d v a n c e g u a r d o f

t h e w o r k e r s , i t m u s t g r a d u a l l y e l i m i n a t e a l l o t h e r p a r t i e s a n d g r o u p s c l a i m -

i n g t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e w o r k e r s a s a f a c t o r i n l e a d e r s h i p . I t w i l l w i n l e a d e r -

s h i p i n a l l t h e p h a s e s o f t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s a n d l e a d t h e s o l i d

p h a l a n x o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t i n t o t h e l a s t d e c i s i v e b a t t l e a g a i n s t t h e c a p i t a l i s t

c l a s s , t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e a n d t h e c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m .

PROGRAM FOR COMING ELECTIONS

" 1 . T h e U n i t e d P o l i t i c a l F r o n t e m b r a c e s p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n f r o m e l e c t i o n

c a m p a i g n s , m a s s d e m o n s t r a t i o n s t o m a s s s t r i k e s w i t h p o l i t i c a l o b j e c t i v e s a n dt h e i r l o g i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t i n r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e s . T h e b a s i s f o r a U n i t e d

P o l i t i c a l F r o n t w h i c h w i l l e m b r a c e t h e w o r k i n g m a s s e s h a s n o t y e t b e e n

c r e a t e d i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . T o e n t e r i n t o a p o l i t i c a l f e d e r a t i o n w i t h e x i s t -

i n g p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , n o n e o f w h i c h h a v e t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e m a s s e s

o f t h e w o r k e r s , w o u l d b e t o n e g a t e t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f c r e a t i n g a r e a l U n i t e d

F r o n t o f t h e w o r k e r s p o l i t i c a l l y . T h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y w i l l , t h e r e f o r e , a s a

r u l e n o m i n a t e i t s o w n c a n d i d a t e s i n t h e c o m i n g e l e c t i o n s a n d c a r r y o n i t s

campaign independently .

" 2 . However, wherever the Central Labor body of a city votes for

i n d e p e n d e n t p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n b y t h e o r g a n i z e d w o r k e r s , t h u s i n d i c a t i n g t h a t

t h e m o v e m e n t h a s t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e o r g a n i z e d w o r k e r s , o r t h e f a c t t h a t

t h e m o v e m e n t f o r i n d e p e n d e n t p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n h a s t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e m a s s e s

i s o t h e r w i s e i n d i c a t e d , t h e W o r k e r s p a r t y w i l l s u p p o r t t h i s a c t i o n b y j o i n -

i n g , a s a n a u t o n o m o u s b o d y , i n t o a f e d e r a t i o n t o c a r r y o n t h e s t r u g g l e . I t

w i l l t a k e t h e i n i t i a t i v e i n t h o s e c a s e s w h e r e i t c o n s i d e r s c o n d i t i o n s r i p e f o r

s u c h a c t i o n . T h e c o n d i t i o n s f o r s u c h p a r t i c i p a t i o n a r e t h e f o l l o w i n g :

"(a) A l l w o r k i n g c l a s s o r g a n i z a t i o n s r e a d y t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e U n i t e d

F r o n t c a m p a i g n m u s t b e a c c e p t e d a s p a r t o f t h e f e d e r a t i o n .

" ( b ) T h e p l a t f o r m m u s t r a i s e a s t h e i s s u e s o f t h e c a m p a i g n i m m e d i a t e

q u e s t i o n s o f t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e s u c h a s u n e m p l o y m e n t r e l i e f , t h e o p e n s h o p ,

t h e u s e o f t h e i n j u n c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e w o r k e r s , o p p o s i t i o n t o i n d u s t r i a l

c o u r t s , e t c .

" ( c ) The United Front federation should adopt a s t h e n a m e u n d e r

w h i c h t h e c a n d i d a t e s a r e p l a c e d o n t h e b a l l o t a n d t h e c a m p a i g n c o n d u c t e d ,

a n a m e o t h e r t h a n t h a t o f a n e x i s t i n g p o l i t i c a l p a r t y , i f t h e n a m e ` W o r k e r s '

p a r t y ' a n d i t s c a n d i d a t e s a r e n o t e n d o r s e d .

[ 2 4 5 ]



REDS IN AMERICA

"Pe r m i s s i o n t o pl a c e c a n d i d a t e s o n t h e b a l l o t u n d e r t h e n a m e o f a n

e x i s t i n g w o r k i n g c l a s s p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n m a y b e g r a n t e d b y t h e C e n t r a l

E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e w h e n t e c h n i c a l c o n d i t i o n s m a k e t h a t n e c e s s a r y ; i n s u c h

instances, however, the campaign must be conducted under the name of the

United Front Federation .

"3 . I n s u c h p o l i t i c a l d i v i s i o n w h e r e i t d e v e l o p s t h a t a c a n d i d a t e o f

a n o t h e r p a r t y c l a i m i n g t o b e a w o r k i n g c l a s s p a r t y w i l l b e d e f e a t e d t h r o u g h

v o t e s c a s t f o r t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y c a n d i d a t e a n d a c a p i t a l i s t p a r t y c a n d i d a t e

e l e c t e d , t h e W o r k e r s ' p a r t y w i l l f o l l o w a p o l i c y a p p r o p r i a t e t o t h e s i t u a t i o n .

The unsound principles and tactics of reform parties can be demonstrated

i n a c t i o n .Also, the Workers' party can best gain the confidenc e of the

m a s s e s o f t h e w o r k e r s w h o s u p p o r t c a n d i d a t e s o f t h e s e p a r t i e s i n d i s t r i c t s

w h e r e t h e r e i s p r o s p e c t o f t h e i r s u c c e s s , b y n o t c a u s i n g d e f e a t a n d t h e e l e c -

tion of capitalist candidates, but advocating their election and proving

t h r o u g h t h e i r e l e c t i o n t h e f u t i l i t y o f t h e i r p a r t y p r o g r a m i n a c t i o n . T h e

W o r k e r s ' p a r t y i n s u c h i n s t a n c e s m a y w i t h d r a w i t s c a n d i d a t e s p r i o r t o t h e

e l e c t i o n , a t t h e s a m e t i m e i s s u i n g a m a n i f e s t o m a k i n g i t s c r i t i c i s m o f t h e

c a n d i d a t e s i n w h o s e f a v o r i t w i t h d r a w s a n d s t a t i n g t h e g r o u n d f o r i t s a c t i o n .

[ 2 4 6 1



APPENDIX F

NEXT TASKS OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY IN AMERICA

" I n t h e e a r l i e r s t a g e s t h e C o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t u s u a l l y l a c k s t h e b r o a d ,

d i r e c t i n g v i e w p o i n t f r o m w h i c h c a n b e f o u n d t h e g u i d e p o s t s f o r i t s v a r i o u s

s t e p s . I n e x p e r i e n c e d c o m m u n i s t s , f o r e x a m p l e , a t t a c k i m p e r i a l i s m o n l y i n

g e n e r a l , i n i t s u n i v e r s a l a s p e c t , w i t h o u t e x a c t i n f o r m a t i o n a n d m i n u t e a t t e n -

t i o n t o t h e u n i q u e m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f i m p e r i a l i s m w i t h i n t h e g i v e n c o u n t r y .

T h e y d o n o t i n a n y w a y d i r e c t t h e i r a t t a c k s f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f p l a y i n g u p

a g a i n s t e a c h o t h e r t h e a n t a g o n i s t i c i n t e r e s t s o f v a r i o u s i m p e r i a l i s t i c g r o u p s .

" A l s o , t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f f a l s e t e n d e n c i e s i n t h e l a b o r m o v e m e n t

t h e y a t t a c k i n g e n e r a l t e r m s , w i t h i n d i s c r i m i n a t e b a t t l e c r i e s h a v i n g p e r h a p s

t h e d e s i r e d a p p l i c a t i o n t o s o m e , b u t h a v i n g i n r e g a r d t o o t h e r s p e r h a p s t h e

e x a c t o p p o s i t e o f t h e d e s i r e d r e s u l t . I n a w o r d , t h e y s t r i k e a r o u n d w i t h t h e i r

e y e s c l o s e d a g a i n s t a l l o p p o n e n t s o f t h e i r o w n n a r r o w c o m m u n i s t g r o u p s .

T h e y f i g h t a s a l i t t l e s e c t f i g h t s , a g a i n s t t h e e n t i r e o u t e r w o r l d .

" S u c h p r i m i t i v e m e t h o d s o f b a t t l e , e v e n w h e n c o m b i n e d w i t h t h e g r e a t e s t

z e a l a n d h e r o i s m , a r e n o t d a n g e r o u s t o t h e e n e m i e s o f c o m m u n i s m .

" T h e C o m m u n i s t s b e g i n t o b e e f f e c t i v e i n t h e p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e o n l y

w h e n t h e y a d o p t c o n c r e t e , s t r a t e g i c a i m s f o r t h e i r m o v e m e n t , based upon

a t h o r o u g h e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e f a c t s . W i t h a d e t e r m i n e d , p u r p o s e f u l d r i v e

t o t h e s e a i m s , w i t h t h e s u b j e c t i o n o f e v e r y p h a s e o f o u r m o v e m e n t t o t h i s

p r i n c i p l e , o u r m o v e m e n t b e g i n s t o b e e f f e c t i v e .

" I n o r d e r t o a s s i s t t h e A m e r i c a n c o m r a d e s i n w o r k i n g o u t a n d f o r m u -

l a t i n g t h e i r l i n e o f a c t i o n , t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s tI n t e r -

n a t i o n a l p r o p o s e s f o r t h e i r e x a m i n a t i o n t h e f o l l o w i n g p o i n t s :

" 1 . A s t h e g r e a t e s t f o r c e o p p o s i n g t h e p r o l e t a r i a n w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n

a p p e a r s a t t h e m o m e n t t o b e t h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y w o r l d a l l i a n c e o f

A m e r i c a n , E n g l i s h , F r e n c h a n d J a p a n e s e c a p i t a l i s m , i t i s o f v i t a l i n t e r e s t

t o t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t t o w o r k a g a i n s t t h e e s t a b l i s h -

m e n t a n d c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f t h i s a l l i a n c e , t o a t t a c k i t s a d v o c a t e s m o s t r u t h -

l e s s l y , t o c u t i t s t a p - r o o t , i f p o s s i b l e , t o d i s t u r b i t s g r o w t h u n c e a s i n g l y , a n d

a d r o i t l y t o m a k e u s e o f t h e c o n f l i c t i n g i n t e r e s t s w i t h i n i t .

"The narrow nationalism of the American Japanophobes and Anglo-

p h o b e s i s n o t l i b e r a l o r h u m a n i t a r i a n n o r f r i e n d l y t o l a b o r , a n d i s n o t i n

t h e s l i g h t e s t d e g r e e m o r e a c c e p t a b l e t o u s t h a n w a s t h e a t t e m p t e d b o u r g e o i s

i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s m o f t h e L e a g u e o f N a t i o n s , a n d y e t , t o t h e e x t e n t o f i t s o w n

c u p i d i t y , i t r e a l l y h i n d e r s a n d d i s t u r b s t h e p r o c e s s o f u n i t i n g t h e c o u n t e r -

r e v o l u t i o n a r y f o r c e s i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t w o r l d . T o t h e e x t e n t t h a t t h i s n a r r o w

nationalism (Japanophobia and Anglophobia) a t t a c k s a n d t e n d s t o s m a s h

[ 2 4 7 ]



REDS IN AMERICA

t h e o u t s i d e w o r l d r o b b e r s ( a n d l e t u s h o p e , s m a s h i t s e l f ) t o t h i s e x t e n t i t

i s d o i n g t h e h i s t o r i c w o r k o f s e l f - d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t w o r l d s y s t e m ;

a n d i n t h i s w o r k i t m u s t n o t b e h i n d e r e d b y u s . T h e r e f o r e , t h o u g h w e w i l l

n o t , i n t h e r o l e o f s o c i a l - p a t r i o t s , h e l p t h e c h a u v i n i s t s i n t h e i r p r e d a t o r y

v e n t u r e s , w e w i l l m a k e u s e o f c h a u v i n i s t i c b l i n d n e s s o n b e h a l f o f t h e p r o -

l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n .

"2 . S o v i e t R u s s i a , a s t h e m a i n s p r i n g o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y

m o v e m e n t o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , m u s t b e s u p p o r t e d i n e v e r y w a y . I t m u s t b e

s u p p o r t e d w i t h e c o n o m i c h e l p t h r o u g h t h e s e l f - s a c r i f i c e o f t h e w o r k e r s o f

a l l c o u n t r i e s . A n d , m o s t o f a l l , i t m u s t b e h e l p e d t h r o u g h t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e

o f t h e w o r k e r s i n a l l c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s a g a i n s t t h e i r o w n b o u r g e o i s i e s .

T h e f i e r c e r t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e o f t h e A m e r i c a n p r o l e t a r i a t r a g e s , t h e l e s s w i l l

b e t h e p r e s s u r e o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n u p o n S o v i e t R u s s i a .

I n t h i s r e s p e c t t h e c o m m u n i s t s m u s t l e a r n h o w t o m a k e u s e o f t h e c o n f l i c t i n g

i n t e r e s t s o f t h e v a r i o u s f a c t i o n s o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e , h o w t o t u r n t h e g r e e d o f

t h e b o u r g e o i s i e f o r p r o f i t s a n d h o w t o e x p l o i t t h e v a r i o u s t e n d e n c i e s g r o w i n g

o u t o f g r e e d y s p e c u l a t i o n , t o t h e a d v a n t a g e o f t h e R u s s i a n r e v o l u t i o n ,

a n d t h u s t o t h e a d v a n t a g e o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n .

" 3 . T h e p r e r e q u i s i t e o f v i c t o r y f o r t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s i s t h a t t h e w o r k -

i n g c l a s s u n i t e i t s e l f f o r t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e . T o b r i n g a b o u t t h i s u n i f i c a t i o n ,

i s o l a t e d a c t i o n , p a r t i c i p a t e d i n s o l e l y b y c o m m u n i s t s , w i l l n o t s u f f i ce . I t

i s n e c e s s a r y t o b r i n g a b o u t c o m m o n ` m a s s a c t i o n ' o f w o r k e r s who are not

y e t c o m m u n i s t s . F o r t h i s p u r p o s e t h e c o m m u n i s t s m u s t p e n e t r a t e t h e w o r k -

i n g m a s s e s t o t h e u t m o s t , m u s t w o r k t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e m , m u s t l i v e a n d f i g h t

w i t h t h e m a n d l e a d t h e m f o r w a r d i n b o t h m a j o r a n d m i n o r b a t t l e s .

" T h e u n i t i n g o f t h e w o r k e r s i n g e n e r a l c l a s s s t r u g g l e o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d

t h e j o i n i n g o f t h e v a r i o u s o n e s o f t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t o c l o s e r e l a t i o n s h i p s

- t h i s a n d n o t m e r e l y t o a t t a i n c o m m u n i s t p u r i t y a n d p e r f e c t i o n o f p r o g r a m

- i s t h e t a s k n o w f a c i n g t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a . T h e c o n s c i o u s -

n e s s o f t h e w o r k i n g m a s s e s i s n a t u r a l l y v e r y u n c l e a r a t t h i s t i m e , h a l f b o u r .

g e o i s , a n d u n d e v e l o p e d f r o m t h e s t a n d p o i n t o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y v a n g u a r d .

B u t , g e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g , i t w i l l d e v e l o p m o r e c l e a r l y o n l y d u r i n g t h e p r o -

c e s s o f t h e s t r u g g l e i t s e l f , t h r o u g h t h e c o m m o n s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e b o u r -

g e o i s i e a n d t h r o u g h e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e g e n e r a l c l a s s s t r u g g l e o r g a n i z a t i o n s .

" A s a m a t t e r o f c o u r s e n o t a l l o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o w h i c h w o r k e r sb e l o n g

c a n b e u s e d a s i n s t r u m e n t s o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n c l a s s s t r u g g l e , j u s t a s n o t

e v e r y a c t i o n o f t h e w o r k e r s c a n f u r t h e r t h e s t r u g g l e . B u t t h e q u e s t i o n o f

t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f g i v e n o r g a n i z a t i o n s m u s t b e e x a m i n e d a n d j u d g e d o n i t s

o w n m e r i t s i n e a c h c a s e . I t i s u n t h i n k a b l e , f o r i n s t a n c e , t h a t a c o l o s s a l

t r a d e u n i o n o r g a n i z a t i o n s u c h a s t h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n of Labor could

b e c o m p o s e d e n t i r e l y o f e n e m i e s o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s , a s a r e s u c h c a p i t a l i s t

o r g a n i z a t i o n s a s t h e K u K l u x K l a n o r t h e v a r i o u s s t r i k e b r e a k i n g b o d i e s .

H e r e a d i s t i n c t i o n m u s t a l w a y s b e m a d e b e t w e e n t h e r e a c t i o n a r y t r a i t o r o u s

l e a d e r s h i p a n d t h e u n c o n s c i o u s l y p e t t y b o u r g e o i s m i n d e d m a s s w h i c h w e

h a v e t o w i n .

" A n d j u s t s o o n e m u s t n o t c o n s i d e r a n y m a s s m o v e m e n t o f t h e u n e m -

p l o y e d , n o m a t t e r h o w p r i m i t i v e , f a l t e r i n g a n d u n c l e a r , a s b e i n g h o p e l e s s l y

[ 2 4 8 1




m e r e l y a p e a c e f u l m o v e m e n t w i t h w h i c h t h e c o m m u n i s t s w i l l h a v e n o t h i n g

a n d p e r m a n e n t l y u n d e r b o u r g e o i s i n f l u e n c e . T h e g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n s , i n w h i c h

h u n d r e d s o f t h o u s a n d s o f w o r k e r s t a k e p a r t , c a n n o t b e r e j e c t e d a s b e i n g

m e r e l y a p e a c e f u l m o v e m e n t w i t h w h i c h t h e C o m m u n i s t s w i l l h a v e n o t h i n g

t o d o . F u r t h e r , c e r t a i n m a s s o r g a n i z a t i o n s w h i c h n o t o n l y a r e n o t c o m -

m u n i s t i c b u t a r e n o t p r o l e t a r i a n i n c o m p o s i t i o n , m u s t b e u t i l i z e d b y c o m -

m u n i s t s t r a t e g y f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n c l a s s s t r u g g l e .

" A s , f o r i n s t a n c e , t h e e x i s t i n g m a s s m o v e m e n t s o f s m a l l f a r m e r s ( w h o

a r e , i n a s e n s e , s e m i p r o l e t a r i a n ) , a n d e v e n m o v e m e n t s o f m i d d l e c l a s s

farmers under some circumstances . A n o t h e r i n s t a n c e i s t h e n e g r o m a s s

m o v e m e n t f o r r a c i a l b e t t e r m e n t , w h i c h m o v e m e n t o f t e n a t t e m p t s d e l i b e r a t e l y

t o a v o i d p r o l e t a r i a n c l a s s c h a r a c t e r b u t m u s t i n c l u d e g r e a t m a s s e s o f t o i l e r s .

C o m m u n i s t s t r a t e g y m u s t u t i l i z e t h e s e m o v e m e n t s a s a u x i l i a r y f o r c e s o r ,

a t l e a s t , m u s t w i n t h e m t o b e n e v o l e n t n e u t r a l i t y i n t h e c l a s s w a r .

"4. I n t h e p r e s e n t p e r i o d o f t h e d i s s o l u t i o n o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m ,

t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t t a s k s o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s o f a l l c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s i s

t h e r e v o l u t i o n i z i n g o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n c l a s s s t r u g g l e . T h e f i g h t i n g p r o l e -

t a r i a t i s t o b e l e d f r o m o n e s t a g e t o a n o t h e r i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n i z i n g p r o c e s s

b y m e a n s o f s u i t a b l e s l o g a n s . T h e y m u s t h e l p t h e p r o l e t a r i a t t o f r e e i t s e l f

f r o m t h e i l l u s i o n s a n d f a l s e t r a d i t i o n s t h a t l i m i t i t s v i s i o n a n d f e t t e r i t s

a c t i v i t i e s a n d t o c o u n t e r a c t t h e f o s s i l i z i n g i n f l u e n c e o f t h e t r a d e u n i o n b u -

r e a u c r a c y . O n e m u s t o r g a n i z e t h e p r o l e t a r i a t f o r t h e h i s t o r i c t r a i n i n g s c h o o l

i n w h i c h i t w i l l l e a r n t o b e c o m e t h e c o n q u e r o r o f c a p i t a l i s m .

" O n l y t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y c a n d o t h i s . T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d t r a i n i n g

o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y a s l e a d e r o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t i s t h e r e f o r e

t h e f u n d a m e n t a l t a s k o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s .

" T h e c o m m u n i s t s m u s t n o w t a k e t h e l e a d i n t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e

r e d u c t i o n o f w a g e s . T h i s s t r u g g l e i n i t s v a r i o u s f o r m s i s e s p e c i a l l y a d a p t e d

f o r u n i t i n g t h e l a r g e s t m a s s e s o f w o r k e r s in one organization for the

c o m m o n s t r u g g l e . T h e c o n s e r v a t i v e l a b o r l e a d e r s w i l l f i n d t h e m s e l v e s p l a c e d

i n a m o s t d i f f i c u l t p o s i t i o n t h r o u g h t h i s s t r u g g l e , w h e r e t h e y w i l l s o o n b e

forced to plainly unmask their cowardly wobbling a n d t h e i r t r e a c h e r o u s

r o l e , a n d w h e r e t h e y w i l l b r i n g u p o n t h e m s e l v e s t h e w r a t h o f t h e s t r u g g l i n g

w o r k e r s . I n A m e r i c a a l m o s t n o t h i n g h a s b e e n d o n e s o f a r i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n ,

b u t i t m u s t b e d o n e t h o r o u g h l y b e f o r e o n e c a n e v e n t h i n k o f t h e v i c t o r y o f

t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e .

" Th e o rg a ni z a ti o n o f th e u n em p lo y ed i s a n e qu a l ly i m po r t an t a n d

d i f f i c u l t t a s k . I n t h i s m o v e m e n t , j u s t a s m u c h a s i n a l l o t h e r m i n o r b a t t l e s ,

t h e c o m m u n i s t s m u s t s e l e c t t h e i r s l o g a n s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d

i n t e n s i f y t h e m a s m u c h a s p o s s i b l e f r o m t h e i m m e d i a t e n e e d s o f t h e d a y

t o t h e g e n e r a l w o r k e r s ' c o n t r o l o f c a p i t a l i s t i n d u s t r y . Right now they must

make a special demand for state support of the u n e m p l o y e d o u t o f t h e

m i l i t a r y b u d g e t .

"The C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t r e m e m b e r t h a t i t i s n o t i t s p u r p o s e t o

r e f o r m t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e ! T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s i s , o n t h e

c o n t r a r y , t o c u r e t h e w o r k i n g m a s s e s o f t h e i r r e f o r m i s t i c i l l u s i o n s t h r o u g h

b i t t e r e x p e r i e n c e . D e m a n d s u p o n t h e s t a t e f o r i m m e d i a t e c o n c e s s i o n s t o t h e

w o r k e r s m u s t b e m a d e n o t a f t e r t h e f a s h i o n o f t h e S o c i a l - D e m o c r a t i c p a r t i e s

[ 2 4 9 1



REDS IN AMERICA

w h i c h t r y t o m a k e t h o s e d e m a n d s w i t h i n t h e l i m i t s i n w h i c h t h e s t a t e c a n

g r a n t t h e m w h i l e r e t a i n i n g i t s s t r e n g t h i n t a c t .

"C o m m u n i st d e m a n d s f o r i m m e d i a t e c o n c e s s i o n s t o t h e w o r k e r s a r e

f o r m u l a t e d n o t t o b e ` r e a s o n a b l e ' f r o m t h e p o i n to f v i e w o f c a p i t a l i s m ,

b u t t o b e r e a s o n a b l e f r o m t h e p o i n t o f v i e wo f t h e s t r u g g l i n g w o r k e r s ,

r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e s t a t e ' s p o w e r t o g r a n t t h e m w i t h o u t w e a k e n i n g i t s e l f .

T h u s , f o r i n s t a n c e , a d e m a n d f o r p a y m e n t o u t o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t t r e a s u r y

o f f u l l , u n i o n , s t a n d a r d w a g e s f o r m i l l i o n s o f u n e m p l o y e d w o r k e r s i s h i g h l y

r e a s o n a b l e f r o m t h e p o i n t o f v i e w o f t h e u n e m p l o y e d w o r k e r s , but damag-

i n g f r o m t h e p o i n t o f v i e w o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e a n d t h e c a p i t a l i s t w a g e

c o m p e t i t i o n w h i c h t h e s t a t e d e f e n d s .

" W e s u g g e s t a f e w e x a m p l e s o f t h e t y p e o f d e m a n d s t h a t m a y b e m a d e .

I t m u s t b e c l e a r l y u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h o s e a r e m e r e l y e x a m p l e s f o r i l l u s t r a t i o n

a n d a r e n o t b i n d i n g , n o r a r e t h e y t o b e c o n c r e t e l y r e g a r d e d e v e n a s a d v i s e d

by the Committee .

" 1 . T h a t a l l c o m b i n a t i o n s o r a g r e e m e n t s h a v i n g t h e p u r p o s e o f r e -

d u c i n g t h e r a t e o f w a g e s f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f c o m m o n a c t i o na g a i n s t l a b o r

o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a l l b e m a d e , i n l a w , a c r i m i n a l c o n s p i r a c y .

" 2 . T h a t n o i n j u n c t i o n s h a l l b e i s s u e d a g a i n s t w o r k e r s f o r a c t i v i t i e s

t o w a r d r a i s i n g t h e r a t e o f w a g e s o r r e d u c i n g t h e h o u r s o f l a b o r .

" 3 . A c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a m e n d m e n t f o r b i d d i n g s u c h l a w s a s t h e K a n s a s

i n d u s t r i a l c o u r t l a w .

"4 . A c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r o v i s i o n g u a r a n t e e i n g t h e u n l i m i t e d r i g h t o f

p e a c e f u l p i c k e t i n g .

"5 . F o r t h e d i s a r m i n g o f a l l p r i v a t e d e t e c t i v e c o p s i n s t r i k e r e g i o n s

o r e l s e w h e r e . A l l o r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f f o r m i n g a r m e d b o d i e s

t o e n g a g e i n a c t i v i t i e s a g a i n s t s t r i k e r s t o b e d e c l a r e d c r i m i n a l c o n s p i r a c y .

"6 . T h a t n o p r o c e s s o f l a w , c r i m i n a l o r o t h e r w i s e , s h a l l be allowed

f o r c i b l y t o d e t a i n a n y r e g u l a r l y e l e c t e d l a b o r u n i o n o f f i c i a lf r o m h i s u n i o n

d u t i e s d u r i n g t h e p r o c e s s o f a l a b o r d i s p u t e .

" 7 . C o n s t i t u t i o n a l a m e n d m e n t f o r b i d d i n g t h e u s e o f m i l i t a r y o r n a v a l

f o r c e i n a n y m a t t e r c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e l a b o r d i s p u t e .

" 8 . L e g a l p r o v i s i o n f o r t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f o r d e r i n s t r i k e r e g i o n s

b y t h e a p p o i n t m e n t o f m e m b e r s o f t h e l a b o r u n i o n s i n v o l v e d , s u c h m e m b e r s

to be nominated by the labor organizations and ar med f r o m t h e p u b l i c

s u p p l i e s f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f m a i n t a i n i n g o r d e r d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d o f t h e

s t r i k e .

" 9 . C o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r o v i s i o n a b o l i s h i n g t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s L a b o r B o a r d

a n d p r o h i b i t i n g t h e e x e c u t i v e t o i n t e r f e r e i n l a b o r d i s p u t e s .

"10 . F a v o r i n g a c l o s e a l l i a n c e o f t h e U n i t e d M i n e W o r k e r s o f A m e r -

i c a w i t h t h e r a i l r o a d b r o t h e r h o o d s a n d a l l o t h e r u n i o n s , f o r c o m m o n a c t i o n

t o r a i s e t h e s t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g o f a l l w o r k e r s i n b o t h i n d u s t r i e s .

"11 . Ge n e r a l a m n e s t y f o r a l l p e r s o n s imprisoned as a result of

s t r i k e s o r o t h e r i n c i d e n t s o f t h e l a b o r s t r u g g l e . G e n e r a l a m n e s t y f o r a l l

p e r s o n s c o n v i c t e d o f c r i m e i n a n y w a y r e l a t i n g t o t h e l a b o r m o v e m e n t

o r i n t o w h o s e c r i m i n a l t r i a l a n y e v i d e n c e w a s o f f e r e d a g a i n s t t h e d e f e n d a n t

[ 2 5 0 ]




r e g a r d i n g t h e l a t t e r ' s v i e w o f t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e o r p o l i t i c a l v i e w s . General

a m n e s t y f o r a l l p r i s o n e r s c o n v i c t e d o f p o l i t i c a l o f f e n s e s .

"12 . F o r t h e P l u m b p l a n , a m e n d e d t o g i v e l a b o r a m a j o r i t y o f d i r e c -

t o r s .

"13 . Immediate bonus of $500 to every soldier o r s a i l o r e n l i s t e d

i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s f o r c e s d u r i n g t h e w o r l d w a r ; $ 1 , 0 0 0 t o t h o s e h a v i n g

b e e n g r a n t e d w o u n d s t r i p e s . A p a y m e n t o f $ 5 , 0 00 ( i n a d d i t i o n t o a l l

p a y m e n t s o t h e r w i s e p r o v i d e d f o r ) t o t h e d e p e n d e n t s o f e v e r y s o l d i e r o r

s a i l o r w h o d i e d i n t h e s e r v i c e d u r i n g t h e w a r p e r i o d . F u n d s f o r t h i s p u r -

p o s e t o b e t a k e n f r o m t h e m i l i t a r y a n d n a v a l b u d g e t s , r e s p e c t i v e l y .

"14 .F o r t h e u n r e s t r i c t e d r i g h t s o f s o l d i e r s a n d s a i l o r s t o o r g a n i z e

u n i o n s . I m m u n i t y f o r a l l g r i e v a n c e c o m m i t t e e s o f p r i v a t e s o l d i e r s o r s a i l o r s .

N o p r i v a t e s o l d i e r o r s a i l o r t o b e j u d g e d b y c o u r t - m a r t i a l e x c e p t c o m p o s e d

e n t i r e l y b y p r i v a t e s o l d i e r s o r s a i l o r s e l e c t e d f o r t h e p u r p o s e w i t h i n t h e

m i l i t a r y u n i t c o n c e r n e d .

" 1 5 . A b s o l u t e p r o h i b i t i o n o f f o r e c l o s u r e s u p o n f a r m p r o p e r t y f o r

d e b t s .

"16 . F o r n a t i o n a l c r e d i t , t o t h e f u l l value of his farm, to every

f a r m e r h o l d i n g l e s s t h a n $ 2 0 , 0 0 0 w o r t h o f f a r m p r o p e r t y , t h e m o n e y t o

b e a d v a n c e d o u t o f t h e N a t i o n a l T r e a s u r y a t i n t e r e s t t o c o v e r t h e c o s t o f

t h e l o a n t r a n s a c t i o n .

"17 . F o r n a t i o n a l c r e d i t , t o t h e f u l l e x t e n t o f t h e i r h o l d i n g s , t o a l l

f a r m c o - o p e r a t i v e s , o n t h e s a m e b a s i s .

"18 . N a t i o n a l m o n o p o l y , a n d o p e r a t i o n a t c o s t , o f a l l g r a i n e l e v a t o r s

e x c e p t t h o s e i n t h e h a n d s o f b o n a - f i d e f a r m e r s ' c o o p e r a t i v e s , o r w h i c h i n

f u t u r e m a y b e e s t a b l i s h e d b y s u c h o r g a n i z a t i o n s .

" 1 9 . The liquidation of the Ku Klux Klan, invoking t h e c r i m i n a l

c o n s p i r a c y l a w s i n p r o s e c u t i n g a l l p e r s o n s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n .

"20 . C o n d e m n a t i o n o f t h e W a s h i n g t o n c o n f e r e n c e a s a p r e p a r a t i o n

f o r a n e w w o r l d w a r . C o n d e m n a t i o n o f t h e i m p e r i a l i s t i c p a r t i t i o n i n g o f

t h e F a r E a s t a n d o t h e r r e g i o n s f o r e x p l o i t a t i o n .

" 2 1 . W a r n i n g o f w o r l d w a r t o g r o w o u t o f s e c r e t a n d o t h e r a r r a n g e -

ments made in Washington conference . C o n d e m n a t i o n o f t h i s i n a d v a n c e

a s i m p e r i a l i s t i c w a r f a r e .

"22 . F o r t h e i m m e d i a t e r e c o g n i t i o n a n d u n r e s t r i c t e d t r a d e w i t h S o v i e t

R u s s i a . F o r t h e r e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f p o s t a l a g r e e m e n t w i t h R u s s i a .

" T h e s e a n d o t h e r s i m i l a r d e m a n d s m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d o n l y a s s t a r t i n g

p o i n t s f o r b r o a d e r , s h a r p e r , m o r e u n i v e r s a l s l o g a n s . I n t h e i r a g i t a t i o n t h e

c o m m u n i s t s m u s t p o i n t o u t t h a t t h e p r o b l e m s w i l l n o t b e s o l v e d t h r o u g h

t h e s e m e a s u r e s , b u t t h a t w e s u p p o r t t h e s e d e m a n d s o f t h e m a s s e s s o t h a t

t h e v e r y c o u r s e o f e v e n t s i t s e l f m a y u n m a s k t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e a n d t h e

o p p o n e n t s o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s , a n d p r o v e t o t h e m a s s e s t h e n e c e s s i t y o f

t h e f i n a l s t r u g g l e f o r p o w e r a g a i n s t t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e i t s e l f . I n t h i s u n -

m a s k i n g p r o c e s s t h e c o m m u n i s t s m u s t m a k e u s e o f e v e r y d e v i c e t o d i s c r e d i t

t h e o p p o s i t i o n . A t t i m e s t h e y m u s t d e v e l o p a d i r e c t a t t a c k , b r a n d e v e r y

m i s t a k e , e v e r y c r i m e , e v e r y r e f u s a l o f t h e d e m a n d s o f t h e t o i l i n g m a s s e s a n d

[ 2 5 1 1



REDS IN AMERICA

c o n s t a n t l y d e m o n s t r a t e t h e s o l i d a r i t y a n d i d e n t i t y o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t c l a s s w i t h

t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e .

" T h e c o m m u n i s t s m u s t p a r t i c i p a t e a s r e v o l u t i o n i s t s i n a l l g e n e r a l

e l e c t i o n c a m p a i g n s , m u n i c i p a l , s t a t e a n d c o n g r e s s i o n a l , a s w e l l a s p r e s i -

d e n t i a l , n o t i n t h e s a m e m a n n e r a s t h e s o c i a l t r a i t o r s a n d c e n t r i s t s , n o t

i n o r d e r t o a v o i d v i o l e n t r e v o l u t i o n a n d s u b s t i t u t e p a r l i a m e n t a r y a c t i v i t y

f o r r e v o l u t i o n , b u t , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i n o r d e r t o u s e e v e n t h e e l e c t i o n

campaigns to revolutionize the workers and lead them forward, to sharpen

t h e i r c l a s s c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d t o b r i n g t h e m t o g e t h e r a n d u n i t e t h e m u n d e r

c o m m u n i s t l e a d e r s h i p .

"Class conscious, courageous and wise communists, as elected repre-

sentatives of the worker, can always find the possibility in the various

i n s t i t u t i o n s o f t h e b o u r g e o i s s t a t e , o n o n e w a y o r a n o t h e r , t o g i v e e f f e c t i v e

o b j e c t l e s s o n s t o r e v o l u t i o n i z e t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s . B e s i d e s , t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y c a n c o n c e a l i t s u n d e r g r o u n d a p p a r a t u s a n d d e v e l o p i t v e r y e f f e c t i v e l y

w i t h i n t h e o u t e r f r a m e w o r k o f t h e l e g a l c a m p a i g n o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d t h e

e l e c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s .

" I n a l l t h e s e m i n o r s t r u g g l e s , a s w e l l a s t h e f i n a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y b a t t l e

o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n m u s t b e t h e l e a d e r o f t h e s t r u g g l i n g

w o r k e r s .

" I t s w e a p o n s a r e m a n i f o l d , a n d v a r y , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e s i t u a t i o n , f r o m

e n t i r e l y l e g a l p r o p a g a n d a , f r o m e l e c t i o n c a m p a i g n s , f r o m m o d e s t m o v e -

m e n t s , f o r i n c r e a s e o f w a g e s , a n d f r o m p e a c e f u l d e m o n s t r a t i o n s t o t h e

r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r i k e a n d t o t h e v a r i o u s f o r m s o f a r m e d r e v o l u t i o n a r y c l a s s

s t r u g g l e .

"In a g i t a t i o n a n d p r o p a g a n d a , c o m m u n i s t s c a n n o t b e s a t i s f i e d w i t h

mere dogmatic presentation of communist principles of the propagandizing

o f t h e a r m e d s t r u g g l e u n d e r a l l c i r c u m s t a n c e s . T h e y m u s t n o t p e r m i t

themselves to appear to the masses as fanatic bomb enthusi asts who know

n o t h i n g a b o u t t h e r e a l i t i e s o f l i f e . T h e y m u s t u n d e r s t a n d h o w t o l e a d t h e

w o r k i n g m a s s e s f r o m t h e s t r u g g l e f o r t h e s a t i s f a c t i o n o f t h e i r f i r s t c o n c r e t e

n e e d s o n t o s u c h a b a t t l e t h a t t h e s t r u g g l i n g m a s s e s t h e m s e l v e s w i l l b e g i n t o

b e l i e v e i n s u c c e s s a n d v i c t o r y .

"The legal party press is, under all circumstances, a most important

w e a p o n t o t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y . J u s t a s t h e p o l i t i c a l m o v e m e n t o f t h e

w o r k e r s i n A m e r i c a h a s r e m a i n e d v e r y b a c k w a r d i n r e g a r d t o m a t t e r s o f

organization, so the revoluti onary labor press is also as yet very weak .

I t s d e v e l o p m e n t i s a t t h e p r e s e n t m o m e n t t h e m o s t u r g e n t t a s k o f t h e p a r t y .

A s l o n g a s t h e p a r t y d o e s n o t p o s s e s s a t l e a s t o n e o r t w o l e g a l d a i l i e s i n

t h e E n g l i s h l a n g u a g e i t i s s t i l l c r a w l i n g a r o u n d o n a l l f o u r s . T h e p a r t y

must do everything in its power in order to secure decided influence and

d i r e c t o r i n d i r e c t c o n t r o l o v e r a s m a n y e x i s t i n g p a p e r s o f v a r i o u s l a b o r o r -

g a n i z a t i o n s a s p o s s i b l e . E s p e c i a l l y i t m u s t t r y t o w i n c o n t r o l o v e r t h e l a b o r

union press . I n a d d i t i o n t h e p a r t y m u s t p u b l i s h a n i l l e g a l o f f i c i a l o r g a n .

" A l l g o o d p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f b o t h t h e l e g a l a n d i l l e g a l a c t i v i t i e s m u s t

b e u t i l i z e d b y t h e p a r t y e n e r g e t i c a l l y . H e w h o w a n t s t o l i q u i d a t e t h e

i l l e g a l a c t i v i t i e s i s n o c o m m u n i s t a t a l l , a n d n e i t h e r i s t h a t t y p e o f c o n -

[ 2 5 2 1



`NEXT TASKS OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY IN AMERICA

s p i r a t o r w h o d o e s n o t want t o k n o w a n y t h i n g a b o u t l e g a l a c t i v i t i e s .

" U n d e r e x i s t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s i t i s i m p o s s i b l e f o r t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y

i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t o b e a l e g a l p a r t y . O f c o u r s e t h e p a r t y c a n d e v e l o p

o p e n l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s . I t c a n e v e n b u i l d a l e g a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y w o r k e r s '

o r g a n i z a t i o n . I t c a n e v e n a l s o l a u n c h a l e g a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y l a b o r p a r t y .

I t m u s t l a u n c h a l s o s u c h a l e g a l p a r t y w i t h t h e p u r p o s e t h a t t h e c o m m u n i s t s

c a n o p e n l y e n t e r i t s r a n k s w i t h o u t p e r m i t t i n g t h e p o l i c e t o k n o w w h i c h o f

t h e m e m b e r s a r e c o m m u n i s t s a n d w h i c h a r e n o t . But t h e u n d e r g r o u n d

o r g a n i z a t i o n , w h o s e m e m b e r s h i p c o n s i s t s e n t i r e l y o f c o m m u n i s t s , must not

b e l i q u i d a t e d . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , i t m u s t b e b u i l t e v e n f i r m e r a n d s t r o n g e r .

I t m u s t g u i d e a n d c o n t r o l t h e l e g a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y t h r o u g h i t s m e m -

b e r s . E v e r y C o m m u n i s t , t h a t i s , e v e r y m e m b e r o f t h e u n d e r g r o u n d p a r t y ,

m u s t s u b m i t t o a n i r o n d i s c i p l i n e , a n d m u s t a c t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e

d i r e c t i o n s o f t h e l e a d i n g o r g a n s o f t h e u n d e r g r o u n d p a r t y i n a l l l e g a l a s

w e l l a s i l l e g a l a c t i v i t i e s .

" A s a m a t t e r o f c o u r s e , a l l r e a l c o m m u n i s t s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w i l l

s u b s c r i b e t o t h i s . T h e e x e c u t i v e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l k n o w s

t h a t t h e m i n o r i t y o f t h e p a r t y e x e c u t i v e s d o e s n o t d e n y t h e a d v i s a b i l i t y o f

t a k i n g a d v a n t a g e o f l e g a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s , a l t h o u g h t h i s m i n o r i t y o p p o s e s t h e

r a p i d a n d e n e r g e t i c p r o c e d u r e o f t h e m a j o r i t y i n f o u n d i n g t h e l e g a l r e v o l u -

t i o n a r y p a r t y . T h i s d i s t i n c t i o n i s , i n t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m -

m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s , w i t h o u t g o o d g r o u n d .

" T h e f a c t t h a t t h e p a r t y e x e c u t i v e i s p r o c e e d i n g r a p i d l y a n d e n e r g e t i -

c a l l y w i t h t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e L e g a l p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n i s n o t a f a u l t . I t

w o u l d h a v e b e e n a f a u l t t o w a i t t h e l a u n c h i n g o f t h e l e g a l p a r t y u n t i l t h e

u n d e r g r o u n d o r g a n i z a t i o n h a d d e v e l o p e d s u f f i c i e n t s t r e n g t h . T h e d e v e l o p -

m e n t o f t h e u n d e r g r o u n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s c a n b e s t b e f u r t h e r e d t h r o u g h t h e s e

v e r y a c t i v i t i e s o f i t s m e m b e r s i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e l e g a l p a r t y . H i s t o r i c p r o g -

r e s s i s n o t s u c h a s i m p l e m a t t e r a s t o l e a v e u s t h e l i b e r t y f i r s t t o c o m p l e t e

t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e u n d e r g r o u n d p a r t y a p p a r a t u s a n d o n l y t h e n t o b e g i n

t h e b u i l d i n g o f t h e l e g a l p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n . I n t h i s m a n n e r t h e v e r y b e s t

o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r t h e l a u n c h i n g o f t h e l e g a l p a r t y w o u l d b e l o s t .

" T h e c e n t r i s t s w o u l d h a v e a f r e e f i e l d f o r t h e i r e f f o r t s a t f o u n d i n g a n

i n d e p e n d e n t o p p o r t u n i s t p a r t y . T h i s o p p o r t u n i t y m u s t n o t b e l e f t t o t h e m .

T h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t t a k e t h e i n i t i a t i v e i n t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e n e w

l e g a l p a r t y a n d m u s t t a k e t h e c o n t r o l f i r m l y i n t o i t s o w n h a n d s . I t m u s t

b e c a r e f u l t o h o l d i t s e l f t h e a c t u a l c o n t r o l o v e r a l l t h e l e a d i n g o r g a n s o f t h e

l e g a l p a r t y . F o r t h i s r e a s o n , t h e l e g a l o r g a n i z a t i o n m u s t t a k e t h e p e r m a n e n t

f o r m o f a p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n . S o m e o t h e r l o o s e o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r m w o u l d

b e v e r y m u c h m o r e d i f f i c u l t t o c o n t r o l a n d t o g u i d e . F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e d e v e l -

o p m e n t o f a s o l i d l y o r g a n i z e d l e g a l p a r t y , i n w h i c h m e m b e r s o f t h e C o m -

m u n i s t p a r t y h a v e a t l e a s t t h e m a j o r i t y o n a l l i m p o r t a n t c o m m i t t e e s , w i l l m a k e

p o s s i b l e t h e c o n t r o l o f s t i l l o t h e r a n t i - c a p i t a l i s t i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h r o u g h t h i s

l e g a l p a r t y .

" F o r t h e f o r e g o i n g r e a s o n w e d r a w y o u r a t t e n t i o n t o t h e f o l l o w i n g f o r

y o u r g u i d a n c e :

" 1 . T h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a i s a s y e t f a r f r o m h a v i n g s a t i s -

( 2 5 3 )



REDS IN AMERICA

f a c t o r y c o n n e c t i o n s w i t h t h e m a s s e s. T h e m e a n s o f c o n t a c t m u s t b e c o n -

s t r u c t e d w i t h t h e g r e a t e s t p o s s i b l e s p e e d .

"2 . C o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e m a s s e s e s s e n t i a l l y i m p l i e s a p u b l i c o p e r a t i o n.

S e c r e t o p e r a t i o n s , e v e n w i t h t h e w i d e s t p o s s i b l e r a m i f i c a t i o n s , c a n n o t b e

s a t i s f a c t o r y m a s s o p e r a t i o n s . The means of public contact with the masses

m u s t b e p r i n c i p a l l y :

"(a) A l e g a l p r e s s , i n c l u d i n g a t l e a s t o n e d a i l y E n g l i s h l e g a l n e w s -

p a p e r , a c t i n g w i t h t h e n e c e s s a r y d i s g u i s e a s a c e n t r a l p a r t y o r g a n .

"(b) Organized grouping of sympathizers within the trade unions .

"(c) A n o v e r g r o u n d p o l i t i c a l p a r t y .

"3. C e r t a i n i n d i s p e n s a b l e a c c o m p a n i m e n t s t o t h e h i g h e s t d e v e l o p e d

c a p i t a l i s t f o r m o f s o c i e t y l e a v e s w e a k n e s s i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t r u c t u r e t h a t h a s

t o b e t a k e n a d v a n t a g e o f b y a C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f a c t i o n . T h e G o v e r n m e n t

o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w i l l n o t p e r m i t a C o m m u n i s t p a r t y t o e x i s t , b u t i s c o m -

p e l l e d t o p e r m i t p a r t i e s t o e x i s t i n a n o t h e r w i s e a l m o s t u n r e s t r i c t e d v a r i e t y

f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f i t s o w n p r e s e r v a t i o n . T h e c a p i t a l i s t c l a s s b u i l d s i t s r e g i m e

u p o n t h e r o c k f o u n d a t i o n - t h e m a s s i l l u s i o n t h a t s o c i a l q u e s t i o n s a r e s o l v e d

i n t h e s p h e r e i n w h i c h t h e s e p a r t i e s o p e r a t e . T h e s t a t e a t t e m p t s , w h e r e v e r

i t c a n , t o e x c l u d e a t r u l y p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y f r o m t h i s p u b l i c

f i e l d . I t a t t e m p t s f i r s t t o e x t e r m i n a t e t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y , i f p o s s i b l e , o r

s e c o n d , t o t e r r o r i z e a n d c o r r u p t t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y i n t o s u b s e r v i e n c e t o

c a p i t a l i s t l a w w h i c h m a k e s r e v o l u t i o n i m p o s s i b l e , o r t h i r d , a t l e a s t t o c o n f i n e

t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y ' s o p e r a t i o n s t o t h e n a r r o w s p h e r e t h a t c a n b e r e a c h e d

s e c r e t l y .

"A Co m m u n i s t pa r t y m u s t d e f e a t a l l t h e s e a t t e m pt s . I t m u s t n o t b e

e x t e r m i n a t e d . I t m u s t u n e q u i v o c a l l y r e f u s e t o o b e y c a p i t a l i s t l a w a n d m u s t

u r g e t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s t o t h e v i o l e n t d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e e n t i r e l e g a l m a c h i n e r y .

I t i s e q u a l l y t h e d u t y o f a C o m m u n i s t p a r t y t o d e f e a t b y a n y m e a n s t h a t m a y

b e n e c e s s a r y t h e c a p i t a l i s t g o v e r n m e n t ' s a t t e m p t t o c o n f i n e t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y

p a r t y t o t h e u n d e r g r o u n d c h a n n e l s i n w h i c h i t i s e v e n m o r e c o n c e a l e d f r o m

the masses than it is from the government .

"4 . T h e p r o g r a m o f t h e l e g a l p a r t y w i l l h a v e t o b e s o m e w h a t r e s t r i c t e d .

S p e c i a l m e a s u r e s a n d s l o g a n s w h i c h , w h i l e n o t s t a t i n g t h e i l l e g a l c o m m u n i s t

p u r p o s e , w i l l o b j e c t i v e l y h a v e t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y e f f e c t u p o n t h e m a s s e s , m u s t

be adopted . T h e l e g a l p a r t y m u s t a t a l l t i m e s g o a s f a r t o w a r d t h e c o m m u n i s t

p r o g r a m a s p o s s i b l e w h i l e c o n t i n u i n g a l e g a l e x i s t e n c e .

"5 . Th e e n t i r e m e m b e r s h i p o f t h e u n d e r g r o u n d pa r t y , t h e r e a l Co m m u -

n i s t p a r t y , m u s t j o i n t h e o p e n p a r t y a n d b e c o m e i t s m o s t a c t i v e e l e m e n t . C o m -

m u n i s t p a r t y m e m b e r s m u s t a t a l l t i m e s h o l d t h e p o s i t i o n s o f l e a d e r s h i p i n

t h e l e g a l p a r t y . I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e e n t i r e c o m m u n i s t p a r t y m e m b e r s h i p , t h e

l e g a l p a r t y s h o u l d a d m i t t o i t s r a n k s t h e m o r e a d v a n c e d w o r k e r s w h o a c c e p t

t h e p r i n c i p l e o f t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e a n d t h e a b o l i t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m t h r o u g h

t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e w o r k e r s ' p o w e r . W o r k i n g c l a s s o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h a t

s u b s c r i b e t o t h e s e p r i n c i p l e s c a n b e a d m i t t e d t o o r a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e l e g a l

p a r t y a s a b o d y w i t h i n t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e c e n t r a l e x e c u t i v e c o m m i t t e e o f

t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y .

"6 . T h e e x e c u t i v e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l h a s r e s o l v e d t o s u p .

[ 2 5 4 1



'NEXT TASKS OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY IN AMERICA

p o r t t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e

C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a i n f a v o r o f t h e i m m e d i a t e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a

l e g a l p o l i t i c a l p a r t y o n a n a t i o n a l s c a l e , w h i c h w i l l a c t a s a n i n s t r u m e n t o f

t h e i l l e g a l C o m m u n i s t p a r t y f o r p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n l e g a l a c t i v i t i e s s u c h a s e l e c -

t o r a l c a m p a i g n s , e t c . T h e e x e c u t i v e o f t h e C o m i n t e r n t a k e s t h i s p o s i t i o n a f t e r

h a v i n g b e e n i n f o r m e d t h a t t h e m i n o r i t y o f t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e

C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a a c c e p t s i n p r i n c i p l e t h e t a c t i c s o f t h e l e g a l w o r k

o f v a r i o u s s o r t s a t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e , b u t r e j e c t s t h e t a c t i c s o f t h e i m m e d i a t e

c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a l e g a l p o l i t i c a l p a r t y o n a n a t i o n a l s c a l e w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y a s i t s n u c l e u s . T h e r u l i n g o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l m u s t b e a c -

c e p t e d a s o b l i g a t i n g e v e r y m e m b e r o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a , m i n -

o r i t y o r m a j o r i t y , t o w o r k d i l i g e n t l y i n t h e i m m e d i a t e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a l e g a l

p o l i t i c a l p a r t y . A s a r u l e , p a r t y m e m b e r s w h o f a i l t o p a r t i c i p a t e w h o l e -

h e a r t e d l y i n t h e l e g a l w o r k o r w h o s a b o t a g e t h a t w o r k m u s t l e a v e t h e p a r t y .

" 7 . B u t i n c a r r y i n g o u t t h e s e i n s t r u c t i o n s , t h e p a r t y m u s t g u a r d i t s e l f

a g a i n s t t h e t e n d e n c y t o r e p u d i a t e o r n e g l e c t t h e i l l e g a l w o r k-t h e t e n d e n c y

w i l l b e f o u n d e s p e c i a l l y a m o n g i n t e l l e c t u a l p a r t y m e m b e r s w h o h a v e l i t t l e

e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e b r u t a l p h y s i c a l p h a s e s o f t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e t o w h i c h t h e

r a n k a n d f i l e w o r k e r s a r e a l w a y s e x p o s e d , b u t f r o m w h i c h t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l s

e n g a g e d i n l e g a l p o l i t i c a l w o r k a r e s o m e t i m e s s h i e l d e d . U p o n f i n d i n g t h e m -

s e l v e s i n t h e e a s i e r l i f e o f p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t i e s m a n y w i l l f o r g e t t h a t n o m a t t e r

w h a t m a n e u v e r s m a y b e m a d e u p o n t h e p u b l i c s t a g e t h e f i n a l c l a s s s t r u g g l e

m u s t b e u n t i l i t s e n d a b r u t a l f i g h t o f p h y s i c a l f o r c e . A c e r t a i n e l e m e n t o f

t h e p a r t y m e m b e r s h i p w i l l i n e v i t a b l y f o r g e t t h i s f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e

( w h i c h n o h u m b l e w o r k e r i n t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e i s a l l o w e d t o f o r g e t ) a n d

w i l l c o m e f o r w a r d w i t h n a i v e p r o p o s a l s f o r l i q u i d a t i n g t h e i l l e g a l m a c h i n e r y

o f t h e p a r t y . S u c h a t e n d e n c y i s v e r y d a n g e r o u s t o a p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n -

a r y p a r t y . T h e a c t u a l l i q u i d a t i o n o f t h e u n d e r g r o u n d p a r t y w o u l d m e a n t h e

l i q u i d a t i o n o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t . Party members who persist in

s u c h a v i e w m u s t b e r u t h l e s s l y e x p e l l e d f r o m t h e i l l e g a l p a r t y .

"8 . T h e u n d e r g r o u n d o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t n o t s i n k

i n t o d i s u s e , b u t , o n t h e c o n t r a r y , m u s t c o n s t a n t l y e x t e n d i t s i l l e g a l m a c h i n e r y

f u r t h e r a n d f u r t h e r , i n p r o p o r t i o n t o t h e g r o w t h o f t h e i l l e g a l p a r t y . W h i l e

c o m i n g o u t i n t h e o p e n , t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t n o t m a k e t h e m i s t a k e o f

b e i n g t r a p p e d i n t h e o p e n b y e x p o s i n g i t s n a t i o n a l o r d i s t r i c t c o m m u n i s t

p a r t y h e a d q u a r t e r s , r e c o r d s o f i l l e g a l m a c h i n e r y , i t s u n d e r g r o u n d p r i n t i n g

a r r a n g e m e n t s o r t h e p e r s o n n e l o f i t s C e n t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e . T h e C e n -

t r a l E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e h e a d q u a r t e r s ( o f t h e p a r t y p r o p e r ) m u s t c o n t i n u e

t o b e g u a r d e d i n s e c r e c y ( a n d e v e n t h e p r o b l e m o f r e d o u b l i n g i t s s e c u r i t y

f r o m d i s c o v e r y s h o u l d b e c o n s t a n t l y s t u d i e d ) .

" T h e u n d e r g r o u n d m a c h i n e r y o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i s n o t m e r e l y f o r

e m e r g e n c i e s , b u t f o r c o n s t a n t a n d p e r m a n e n t u s e . D o w n t o t h e l o w e s t u n i t -

t h e g r o u p o f t e n - e v e r y b r a n c h a n d s t e m o f t h e p a r t y s t r u c t u r e m u s t c o n t i n u e

t o k e e p i t s s e c r e t a d d r e s s e s a n d m e e t i n g p l a c e s a n d t o u s e t h e m i n c o n s t a n t

u n d e r g r o u n d f u n c t i o n i n g . Every member, no matter what his work in the

l e g a l p a r t y , m u s t a l s o p e r f o r m h i s d u t i e s i n t h e u n d e r g r o u n d o r g a n i z a t i o n .

"9 . T h e p a r t y u n d e r g r o u n d p r e s s m u s t c o n t i n u e . T h e m e a n s o f p u b -

[ 2 5 5 1



REDS IN AMERICA

l i s h i n g u n k n o w n t o a n d i n s p i t e o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t a u t h o r i t i e s m u s t a l w a y s b e

k e p t i n h a n d a n d i n u s e . U n d e r b o u r g e o i s r u l e , n o m a t t e r h o w l i b e r a l i t m a y

b e , a C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t n e v e r r e l i n q u i s h i t s f a c i l i t i e s f o r u n d e r g r o u n d

p r e s s a n d , u n d e r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s n o w p r e v a i l i n g i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , t h e

a c t i v e f u n c t i o n i n g o f t h e u n d e r g r o u n d p r e s s c a n n o t b e a b a t e d . B u t i t w o u l d

b e f o o l i s h t o p r i n t a n y c o n s i d e r a b l e a m o u n t o f l i t e r a t u r e u n d e r g r o u n d t h a t

c o u l d b e p r i n t e d l e g a l l y . T h e l e g a l p o l i t i c a l p a r t y w i l l b e a b l e t o t a k e u p o n

i t s e l f t h e p r i n t i n g o f a l a r g e p o r t i o n o f t h e l i t e r a t u r e t h a t i s n o t d e f i n i t e l y

i l l e g a l . It may also be made sponsor for a great many legal communist

newspapers . L e g a l n e w s p a p e r s m u s t f o r m a v e r y l a r g e p a r t o f t h e w o r k o f

t h e m a s s p a r t y . T h e i l l e g a l p r e s s m u s t c a r r y t h e p r o p a g a n d a t h a t t h e l e g a l

p r e s s c a n n o t c a r r y , t h u s m a k i n g s u r e t h a t t h e f u l l c o m m u n i s t m e s s a g e i s

m a d e c l e a r a t a l l t i m e s .

" 1 0 . T h e i n t e l l e c t u a l w o r k e r s i n t h e s e l e g a l i n s t i t u t i o n s o f t h e p a r t y m u s t

b e s u b j e c t t o t h e s a m e d i s c i p l i n e , w a g e s c a l e a n d r e g u l a t i o n s a s u n d e r g r o u n d

p a r t y w o r k e r s . I t m u s t a l w a y s b e r e m e m b e r e d t h a t t h e r e a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y

p a r t y - t h e A m e r i c a n S e c t i o n o f t h e T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l - i s t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y o f A m e r i c a a n d t h a t t h e l e g a l p a r t y i s b u t a n i n s t r u m e n t w h i c h i t u s e s

t o b e t t e r c a r r y o n i t s w o r k a m o n g t h e m a s s e s . Only through membership in

t h e A m e r i c a n s e c t i o n - t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f A m e r i c a - c a n A m e r i c a n

w o r k e r s b e c o m e m e m b e r s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l .

" D e a r c o m r a d e s , w e h o p e t h a t , i n y o u r c o m i n g p a r t y c o n v e n t i o n , a l l o f

y o u w i l l g i v e e v i d e n c e , i n y o u r r e s o l u t i o n s a n d a c t i o n s , o f f i r m , o r g a n i c u n i t y

a n d t h a t y o u r p a r t y w i l l p r o v e i t s a b i l i t y t o m e a s u r e u p t o t h e g r e a t r e s p o n -

s i b i l i t i e s t h a t s t a n d b e f o r e i t .

" W i t h c o m m u n i s t i c g r e e t i n g s .

" E x e c u t i v e c o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l .

" N . B U K H A R I N,

" K . R A DE K ,

" 0 . W . K U S INEN,

" S e c r e t a r y . "

[ 2 5 6 1



APPENDIX G

"OUR BOLSHEVIST MOLES"

( U n d e r t h i s c a p t i o n t h e L o n d o n M o r n i n g P o s t p u b l i s h e d i n D e c e m b e r ,

1 9 2 2 , a n d J a n u a r y , 1 9 2 3 , a s e r i e s o f a r t i c l e s s h o w i n g f r o m a u t h e n t i c d o c u -

m e n t s t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s i n G r e a t B r i t a i n . B y s p e c i a l p e r -

m i s s i o n o f t h e e d i t o r o f t h e P o s t t h e s u b s t a n c e o f t h e a r t i c l e s i s h e r e w i t h

r e p r i n t e d t o i l l u s t r a t e t h e s i m i l a r i t y o f t h e C o m m u n i s t w o r k i n f o r e i g n

l a n d s w i t h t h a t i n A m e r i c a a n d a s e v i d e n c e o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c h a r a c t e r o f

t h e g i g a n t i c c o n s p i r a c y t o b r i n g t h e e n t i r e w o r l d d o w n t o t h e l e v e l o f t h e

w o r k e r s w h e n t h e " d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t " s h a l l h a v e b e e n e s t a b -

l i s h e d .

J u s t as t h e M os c o w Co m m un i s ts h o pe d t o ma k e of t h e c o al m i n e r s '

s t r i k e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t h e f i r s t s t e p t o w a r d a r m e d i n s u r r e c t i o n a g a i n s t

the Government in the summer of 1 9 2 2 , s o t h e s a m e g r o u p p l a n n e d t o u s e

t h e B r i t i s h c o a l s t r i k e a t t h e s a m e t i m e . F o l l o w i n g i s f i r s t a n e d i t o r i a l f r o m

the London Morning Post of December 2 8 , 1 9 2 2 , t h e d a t e o f t h e b e g i n n i n g

o f t h e s e r i e s . T h e n , i n s e q u e n c e , a r e t h e a r t i c l e s . )

W e a r e a b l e t o b e g i n t o d a y t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f a s e r i e s o f a r t i c l e s d e -

s c r i b i n g i n d e t a i l t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d t h e m e t h o d s o f w h a t , w e s a y d e l i b e r -

a t e l y , i s o n e o f t h e m o s t d a n g e r o u s r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o n s p i r a c i e s with which

t h i s c o u n t r y h a s e v e r b e e n c o n f r o n t e d . T h e i n f o r m a t i o n w e s h a l l p u b l i s h

i s d r a w n f r o m t h e s e c r e t d o c u m e n t s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y . T h a t p a r t y

i s n o w t h e d o m i n a t i n g f o r c e o f t h e L a b o r p a r t y , w h i c h i s n u m e r o u s l y r e p -

r e s e n t e d i n P a r l i a m e n t . T h o s e m e m b e r s o f t h e L a b o r Pa r t y w h o a r e n o t

e i t h e r , o v e r t l y o r s e c r e t l y , C o m m u n i s t s n o l o n g e r e x e r t a n y i n f l u e n c e , n o r

d o t h e y p o s s e s s a c o h e r e n t p o l i c y . U n a b l e t o c h e c k t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s i n

t h e p a s t , t h e m e n w h o a r e f o n d o f d e s c r i b i n g t h e i r v i e w s a s m o d e r a t e a n d

w h o d e p r e c a t e m e t h o d s o f v i o l e n c e , a r e n o w d r a g g e d i m p o t e n t l y i n t h e w a k e

o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s . I n t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s , t h e o l d - s t y l e L a b o r

l e a d e r i s n o l o n g e r w o r t h c o n s i d e r a t i o n , and accordingly the order has

g o n e f o r t h f r o m M o s c o w t h a t h e i s t o b e s u p e r s e d e d b y t h e g e n u i n e r e v o l u -

t i o n a r y. I t m u s t n o t b e i m a g i n e d t h a t C o m m u n i s m i s a c c u r a t e l y r e p r e s e n t e d

i n t h e H o u s e o f C o m m o n s b y t h e f e w n o i s y p e r s o n s w h o h a v e a l r e a d y e a r n e d

t h e c o n t e m p t a l i k e o f t h e H o u s e a n d o f t h e p u b l i c . M e n m u c h m o r e f o r m i -

d a b l e a r e d i r e c t i n g t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i n t h i s c o u n t r y , w h i c h , a s w e s h a l l

p r o v e , t a k e t h e i r o r d e r s s t r a i g h t f r o m M o s c o w . W e s h a l l s h o w , a l s o , t h a t

t h e C o m m u n i s t s a r e f o r m e d i n t o a v a s t s e c r e t s o c i e t y , w i t h i t s c e n t e r s i n

e v e r y t o w n a n d d i s t r i c t , a n d i t s a g e n t s i n e v e r y w a l k o f s o c i e t y . T h e r e i s

h e r e d i s c l o s e d n o o r d i n a r y m a n u f a c t u r e d p o l i t i c a l a g i t a t i o n , s u c h a s t h e

[2571



REDS IN AMERICA

elder Socialist movement, for which the Communists express the liveliest

c o n t e m p t .

In the documents from which we shall draw indisputa ble evidence, it

i s c l e a r l y s h o w n t h a t t h e g r e a t m i n i n g s t r i k e w a s i n i t i a t e d a n d d i r e c t e d b y

t h e C o m m u n i s t s a s t h e f i r s t s t e p t o w a r d s r e v o l u t i o n ; a n d t h e f a i l u r e o f t h a t

t r e a s o n a b l e c o n s p i r a c y w a s t h e s u b j e c t o f s e v e r e r e b u k e o n t h e p a r t o f t h e

notorious Russian Bolshevik, Karl Radek . I t w a s , i n d e e d , b y r e a s o n o f t h e

defeat of the Communist plot on that occasion that the new Communist or-

g a n i z a t i o n , o f w h i c h w e s h a l l g i v e a f u l l a c c o u n t , w a s i n s t i t u t e d . I t w a s d i c -

t a t e d f r o m M o s c o w , a n d i t i s b a s e d t h r o u g h o u t , a s w e s h a l l s h o w , o n w h a t i s

called the Theses of the Communist Internationale . T h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y

i n G r e a t B r i t a i n i s r e c o g n i z e d b y M o s c o w , a n d a s a c o n d i t i o n o f t h a t r e c o g -

n i t i o n e v e r y m e m b e r o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t a c c e p t a n d c a r r y i n t o

e x e c u t i o n t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s o f t h e T h e s e s . M e m b e r s a r e b o u n d t o p e r f o r m

work both legal and illegal when they are ordered to do so . T h o s e w h o

fail in obedience "must be excluded from the party ." T h e T h e s e s o f t h e

Second Congress of the Communist Internationale contain definite and mi-

n u t e i n s t r u c t i o n s f o r t h e d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f B o l s h e v i s t d o c t r i n e s , n o t o n l y

among the "proletariat," but in every grade of the community . E v e r y c o n -

v e r t t o C o m m u n i s m b e c o m e s a p o t e n t i a l o r a c t i v e a g e n t o f r e v o l u t i o n , w o r k -

i n g u n d e r s t r i c t a n d d e t a i l e d i n s t r u c t i o n s. Groups or "nuclei" are consti-

t u t e d i n a l l d i s t r i c t s , w h i c h a r e u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f r e g i o n a l c o m m i t t e e s ,

w h i c h i n t h e i r t u r n a r e g u i d e d b y t h e c e n t r a l b o d y , w h i c h i s a l w a y s i n

s e s s i o n i n L o n d o n . T h e s c h e m e o f o r g a n i z a t i o n h a s b e e n e l a b o r a t e d , a s o u r

readers will perceive, with consummate ability . I t s m a i n p u r p o s e i s t o

e n s u r e i n c e s s a n t a c t i v i t y i n e v e r y b r a n c h o f r e v o l u t i o n , f r o m t h e t e a c h i n g

o f c h i l d r e n t o t h e p r e p a r a t i o n f o r a r m e d i n s u r r e c t i o n . T h e T h e s e s d e m a n d

p r a c t i c a l r e s u l t s . T h e l e a d e r s o f r e v o l u t i o n i n M o s c o w a r e n o l o n g e r c o n t e n t

w i t h m e r e d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f d o c t r i n e o r t h e i s s u i n g o f m a n i f e s t o s . T h e

central authority in this country is the Executive Committee of the Com-

m u n i s t pa r t y ; w h i c h , a s w e h a v e o b s e r v e d , i s t h e m o s t a c t i v e f o r c e i n t h e

L a b o r p a r t y ; and the Executive Committee in this country is responsib le

to the Executive of the Communist Internationale at Moscow, and is bound

b y t h e d e c i s i o n s g i v e n b y M o s c o w .

Such is the outline of the very dangerous revolutionary organization

whose workings we shall expose . It should be remembered that we are here

d e a l i n g , n o t w i t h t h e w i l d p r o j e c t o f a f e w h a l f - c r a z e d v i s i o n a r i e s , b u t w i t h

t h e w o r k o f b o l d , c u n n i n g , a n d u n s c r u p u l o u s m e n , w h o h a v e n o t o n l y

p l a n n e d t h e r e v o l u t i o n i n t h i s c o u n t r y b u t w h o , w i t h t h e h e l p o f t h e L a b o r

p a r t y p r o p e r , o r a t l e a s t w i t h t h e i r c o n n i v a n c e , h a v e a c t u a l l y c a r r i e d i n t o

execution the first measures of the revolutionary campaign . I n d e e d , s o

serious is the menace that we hope none of our readers will dismiss the

i n f o r m a t i o n w i t h t h e c o m f o r t a b l e t h o u g h t t h a t t h e B r i t i s h p e o p l e h a v e t o o

m u c h s e n s e t o e n g a g e i n r e v o l u t i o n. D o u b t l e s s t h a t c o n s i d e r a t i o n i s g e n e r -

a l l y a c c u r a t e , b u t t h e B o l s h e v i k s , w h o r u l e t h e L a b o r p a r t y , h a v e p r o v i d e d

a g a i n s t t h a t c o n t i n g e n c y a l s o b y f o r m u l a t i n g t h e p r i n c i p l e t h a t , g i v e n t i m e

and opportunity, a resolute minori ty can always "stampede the majority. "

( 2 5 8 1




T h a t i s p e r i l o u s l y t r u e . T h e d a n g e r , s o m e o f w h o s e s e c r e t s - b u t b y n o

m e a n s a l l - w e u n m a s k , i s a p r e s e n t a n d a n a c t i v e d a n g e r . I t d e m a n d s n o t

o n l y t h e s t r i c t a t t e n t i o n o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t b u t t h e l i v e l y c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f

e v e r y h o n e s t c i t i z e n . T h e C o m m u n i s t i s t h e s w o r n a n d d e a d l y e n e m y o f

s o c i e t y . D e s t i t u t e a l i k e o f m o r a l s a n d o f n a t u r a l s c r u p l e , h e i s n o m o r e t o

b e t o l e r a t e d t h a n a w i l d b e a s t ; a n d f o r t h e s a m e r e a s o n s .

A t a s p e c i a l C o n f e r e n c e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f G r e a t B r i t a i n , h e l d

i n L o n d o n l a s t M a r c h , a C o m m i s s i o n w a s a p p o i n t e d " t o r e v i e w t h e o r g a n i -

z a t i o n o f t h e p a r t y i n t h e l i g h t o f t h e T h e s e s ( o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a -

t i o n a l ) . . . a n d t o m a k e d e t a i l e d r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s t o t h e E x e c u t i v e

C o m m i t t e e a n d t o t h e A n n u a l C o n f e r e n c e f o r t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e T h e s e s . "

T h e m e m b e r s o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n w e r e M e s s r s . R . Palmer Dutt ( e d i t o r o f

t h e L a b o u r M o n t h l y ) , M. I n k p i n , a n d M . P o l l i t t ( e d i t o r o f A l l P o w e r , a n

o r g a n o f t h e R e d I n t e r n a t i o n a l o f L a b o r U n i o n s ) . T h e f o l l o w i n g w e r e t h e

t e r m s o f r e f e r e n c e :

( 1 ) T o d r a f t s u c h r e v i s i o n o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n a s m a y s e e m n e c e s s a r y

t o b r i n g i t i n t o a c c o r d w i t h t h e T h e s e s .

( 2 ) T o e x a m i n e a n d r e p o r t o n t h e e x i s t i n g d i v i s i o n s , a r e a s a n d o t h e r

u n i t s .

( 3 ) T o d r a w u p a f u l l s c h e m e f o r t h e c o - o r d i n a t i o n a n d d i r e c t i o n o f

g r o u p s a n d n u c l e i i n t h e T r a d e U n i o n s a n d o t h e r w o r k i n g - c l a s s o r g a n i z a -

t i o n s , a n d t o m a k e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s a s t o t h e f i r s t s t e p s t o b e t a k e n i n t h e

p r a c t i c a l o p e r a t i o n o f t h e s c h e m e .

( 4 ) T o c o n s i d e r t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e p a r t y c e n t r e a n d m a k e r e c o m -

m e n d a t i o n s .

( 5 ) T o b r i n g u n d e r r e v i e w t h e p a r t y p r e s s a n d o t h e r f o r m o f p r o p a -

g a n d a i n o r d e r t o m a k e p o s s i b l e a m o r e e f f e c t i v e f u l f i l l m e n t o f t h e T h e s e s

i n t h e s e r e s p e c t s .

T h e R e p o r t o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n h a s b e e n r e p r e s e n t e d t o t h e p a r t y ,

and was adopted by the annual Conference, held at the Battersea Town

Hall on October 7 . I t i s a r e m a r k a b l e d o c u m e n t , a n d i s w o r t h y o f v e r y

c a r e f u l s t u d y b y e m p l o y e r s , T r a d e U n i o n i s t s , C o - o p e r a t o r s , G o v e r n m e n t

d e p a r t m e n t s a n d b y a l l w h o a r e f i g h t i n g B o l s h e v i s m . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e

r e p o r t i s o n l y f o r m e m b e r s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y . I t i s , t h e r e f o r e ,

n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e w r i t e r t o d e s c r i b e t h i s d o c u m e n t i n d e t a i l , s o t h a t t h o s e

w h o m a y b e d i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t l y a f f e c t e d b y t h e u n d e r g r o u n d b u r r o w i n g s o f

o u r B o l s h e v i s t m o l e s w i l l b e f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e i r m e t h o d s a n d p l a n s . T h e r e -

p o r t f i l l s n e a r l y s e v e n t y - n i n e p a g e s , a n d i t m u s t b e a d m i t t e d t h a t t h e p l a n o f

r e o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d t h e n e w m e t h o d s o f w a g i n g t h e B o l s h e v i k w a r o n s o c i e t y

a r e d i a b o l i c a l l y c l e v e r .

T h e n e w o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d m e t h o d s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y a r e , a s

t h e r e p o r t i n d i c a t e s , f o u n d e d o n t h e T h e s e s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l .

T h e s e w e r e i s s u e d i n A u g u s t , 1 9 2 0 , a n d i n D e c e m b e r , 1 9 2 1 . E x t r a c t s f r o m

t h e T h e s e s h a v e b e e n p u b l i s h e d i n t h e M o r n i n g P o s t . E v e r y o r g a n i z a t i o n

r e c o g n i z e d b y M o s c o w m u s t a c c e p t a n d c a r r y o u t t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s o f t h e

T h e s e s ; a n d " m e m b e r s o f t h e p a r t y w h o r e p u d i a t e t h e c o n d i t i o n s a n d t h e s e s

[ 2 5 9 1



REDS IN AMERICA

adopted by the Communist International must be excluded from the party . "

M e m b e r s m u s t b e p r e p a r e d t o u n d e r t a k e b o t h l e g a l a n d i l l e g a l w o r k w h e n

required to do so by the party leaders or by the Communist International .

Th e f o r m o f o r g a n i z a t i o n w h i c h h a s h i t h e r t o b e e n g e n e r a l l y a d o pt e d

b y t h e S o c i a l i s t p a r t i e s d o e s n o t l e n d i t s e l f t o t h e k i n d o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y

a c t i v i t y d e s i r e d b y t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l . A f t e r t h e m i n e r s ' s t r i k e

last year the British Communists were severely criti cized by Karl Radek

b e c a u s e t h e y h a d f a i l e d t o o b t a i n f r o m t h e s t r i k e r e v o l u t i o n a r y r e s u l t s . T h e

f a i l u r e w a s e x p l a i n e d a s b e i n g d u e m a i n l y t o d e f e c t i v e o r g a n i z a t i o n o n t h e

p a r t o f t h e C o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t i n t h i s c o u n t r y . T h e n e w o r g a n i z a t i o n

s c h e m e t o b e d e s c r i b e d i n t h e s e a r t i c l e s i s t h e s e q u e l t o t h e c r i t i c i s m s o f

t h e M o s c o w C h i e f s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y .

Before describing the scheme of organization recommended by . t h e C o m -

mission-and now in process of development-it is necessary to look at the

Theses of the Communist International, on which the new organization of

t h e Co m m u n i s t pa r t y o f G r e a t B r i t a i n i s t o b e b a s e d . T h e T h e s e s o f t h e

S e c o n d C o n g r e s s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l , M o s c o w , A u g u s t , 1 920 ,

c o n t a i n t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s t h a t a r e o f i m m e d i a t e i n t e r e s t . C l a u s e 8 c a l l s

u p o n t h e C o m m u n i s t s t o r e p l a c e " t h e o l d l e a d e r s b y C o m m u n i s t s i n a l l

k i n d s o f p r o l e t a r i a n o r g a n i z a t i o n s , n o t o n l y p o l i t i c a l , b u t i n d u s t r i a l , c o -

o p e r a t i v e , e d u c a t i o n a l , & c . " C l a u s e 9 s t a t e s t h a t : " T h e r e f o r e , t h e p r e p a r a -

t i o n o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t m u s t b e b e g u n i m m e d i a t e l y a n d

i n a l l pl a c e s b y m e a n s o f t h e f o l l o w i n g m e t h o d , a m o n g o t h e r s" :

I n e v e r y o r g a n i z a t i o n , u n i o n o r a s s o c i a t i o n - b e g i n n i n g w i t h p r o l e t a r i a n

o n e s f i r s t - a n d a f t e r w a r d s i n a l l t h o s e o f t h e n o n - p r o l e t a r i a n w o r k e r s a n d

e x p l o i t e d m a s s e s ( p o l i t i c a l , p r o f e s s i o n a l , m i l i t a r y , c o - o p e r a t i v e , e d u c a t i o n a l ,

s p o r t i n g , & c . ) m u s t b e f o r m e d g r o u p s o r n u c l e i o f C o m m u n i s t s - m o s t l y

o p e n o n e s , b u t a l s o s e c r e t o n e s , w h i c h b e c o m e n e c e s s a r y i n e a c h c a s e w h e n

t h e a r r e s t o r e x i l e o f t h e i r m e m b e r s o r t h e d i s p e r s a l o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n i s

t h r e a t e n e d . These nuclei, in close contact with one another and with the

C e n t r a l p a r t y , e x c h a n g i n g e x p e r i e n c e s , c a r r y i n g o n t h e w o r k o f p r o p a g a n d a ,

c a m p a i g n , o r g a n i z a t i o n , a d a p t i n g t h e m s e l v e s t o a l l t h e b r a n c h e s o f s o c i a l

l i f e , t o a l l t h e v a r i o u s f o r m s a n d s u b d i v i s i o n s o f t h e w o r k i n g m a s s e s , m u s t

s y s t e m a t i c a l l y t r a i n t h e m s e l v e s , t h e p a r t y , t h e c l a s s , a n d t h e m a s s e s b y s u c h

v a r i o u s w o r k .

T h e m a s s e s m u s t b e a p p r o a c h e d w i t h p a t i e n c e a n d c a u t i o n , a n d

w i t h a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e p e c u l i a r i t i e s , t h e s p e c i a l p s y c h o l o g y o f e a c h

l a y e r o r p r o f e s s i o n .

T h i s e x t r a c t f r o m t h e T h e s e s i s a s a m p l e o f t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s o f M o s c o w ,

a n d t h e s t u d y o f t h e r e po r t o f t h e Co m m u n i s t Co m m i s s i o n s h o w s t h a t t h e

o r d e r s h a v e b e e n o b e y e d i n e v e r y d e t a i l . T h e r e i s s c a r c e l y a n y o r g a n i z a t i o n

or branch of social life to escape the open and secret attentions of our

B o l s h e v i k s w h e n t h e i r n e w pl a n o f a t t a c k o n So c i e t y i s c o m pl e t e a n d i n

w o r k i n g o r d e r . T h e s c h e m e o f o r g a n i z a t i o n t o b e d e s c r i b e d i n t h i s a n d t h e

s u b s e q u e n t a r t i c l e s i s m o s t i n t r i c a t e , e l a b o r a t e a n d c o s t l y ; i t p e n e t r a t e s

e v e r y p h a s e o f s o c i a l l i f e .

[ 2 6 0 7




THE NEW SCHEME

I n t h e n e w o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t f o r c e s , e v e r y m e m b e r o f t h e

p a r t y " h a s h i s o w n s p e c i a l w o r k a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . " T h e r e a r e n o i d l e

o r p a s s i v e m e m b e r s ; e a c h o n e w i l l h a v e h i s a l l o t t e d t a s k a n d w i l l w o r k u n d e r

s t r i c t o r d e r s a n d b e s u b j e c t e d t o t h e m o s t r i g i d d i s c i p l i n e . " T h e m e t h o d

o f s h a r i n g o u t t h e w o r k a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i s b y m a k i n g e v e r y m e m b e r a

m e m b e r o f a w o r k i n g g r o u p ; t h a t i s t o s a y , e i t h e r o f a s p e c i a l c o m m i t t e e

i n c h a r g e o f s o m e s p e c i a l a c t i v i t y u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e D i s t r i c t o r

C e n t r e , o r o f a n u c l e u s w h i c h i s c a r r y i n g o u t p a r t y p o l i c y i n s o m e w o r k i n g -

c l a s s o r g a n i z a t i o n . " T o u n i f y t h e w o r k o f t h e s e g r o u p s t h e r e i s a s y s t e m o f

r e p o r t s , " e a c h g r o u p r e p o r t i n g r e g u l a r l y t o t h e d i r e c t i n g a u t h o r i t y i n

c h a r g e o f t h e w o r k . " I t i s f u r t h e r p r o v i d e d t h a t :

E v e r y a c t i v i t y h a s i t s l e a d i n g c o m m i t t e e o r d i r e c t i n g a u t h o r i t y , a p -

p o i n t e d b y a n d s u b j e c t t o t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e , w h i c h s u p e r v i s e s t h e

a c t u a l w o r k a n d g i v e s d a y - t o - d a y i n s t r u c t i o n s ( n o t g e n e r a l i n s t r uc t i o n s ) o n

w h a t t o d o a n d w h a t i s t h e c o r r e c t p a r t y l i n e t o f o l l o w .

T h e t h r e e g o v e r n i n g p r i n c i p l e s o f t h e s c h e m e a r e :

( 1 ) C e n t r a l i z e d D i r e c t i o n . - T h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f s t r o n g d i r e c t i n g

c e n t r e s i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e p a r t y c e n t r e .

( 2 ) D i v i s i o n o f W o r k . - T h e a l l o c a t i o n o f m e m b e r s t o w o r k i n g g r o u p s

f o r s p e c i a l t a s k s a n d t h e d r a w i n g o f e v e r y m e m b e r i n t o t h e w o r k b y t h i s

m e a n s .

( 3 ) ' O r g a n i z e d I n f l u e n c e i n t h e W o r k i n g C l a s s a s t h e A i m .-The con-

c e n t r a t i n g o f a l l a c t i v i t i e s o f o u r g r o u p s , w i t h a view to building up a

n e t w o r k o f i n f l u e n c e t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s a n d i t s o r g a n i z a t i o n s .

T h e C e n t r a l A u t h o r i t y i s t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

p a r t y . T h i s E x e c u t i v e i s , a s w e s h a l l s e e l a t e r , r e s p o n s i b l e t o t h e E x e c u t i v e

of the Communist International at Moscow, and must r e p o r t t o M o s c o w

a t r e g u l a r i n t e r v a l s t h e r e s u l t s o f i t s w o r k i n G r e a t B r i t a i n . T h i s w i l l b e

u n d e r s t o o d b y c o n s u l t i n g t h e n e w " S t a t u t e s a n d R u l e s" o f t h e p a r t y .

R u l e 1 s a y s : "The Communist Party of Great Britain i s a s e c t i o n o f t h e

C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l , a n d i s b o u n d b y i t s d e c i s i o n s . "

THE IMMEDIATE AIM

T h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y E x e c u t i v e i n L o n d o n i s n o w f o r m i n g D i s t r i c t

P a r t y C o m m i t t e e s . T h e s e D i s t r i c t s a r e n o t t h e o l d g e o g r a p h i c a l d i v i s i o n s

o f t h e c o u n t r y i n t o w h i c h t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n h a s h i t h e r t o b e e n d i v i d e d .

T h e n e w D i s t r i c t s a r e t o b e g i n w i t h t h o s e i n d u s t r i a l a r e a s i n w h i c h t h e

m e m b e r s h i p o f t h e p a r t y i s m a i n l y c o n c e n t r a t e dh e R e p o r ts t a t e s t h a t " t h e D i s t r i c t i s t h e p i v o t o f C o m m u n i s t o r g a n i z a t i o n , " a n d i t

q u o t e s t h e f o l l o w i n g f r o m t h e M o s c o w T h e s e s o n O r g a n i z a t i o n ( p a r a . 4 4 )

" T h e t h i n g t o b e a i m e d a t i s t h a t e v e r y l o c a l i t y f o r m i n g a n e c o n o m i c ,

p o l i t i c a l , o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n c e n t r e s h o u l d s p r e a d o u t a n d f o r m a n e t o f

[2611



REDS IN AMERICA

o r g a n i z a t i o n s w i t h i n a w i d e a r e a o f t h e s u r r o u n d i n g s o f t h e g i v e n l o c a l i t y

a n d t h e e c o n o m i c p o l i t i c a l d i s t r i c t s a d j o i n i n g i t. "

BUREAUS AND DEPARTMENTS

T h e D i s t r i c t O r g a n i z a t i o n B u r e a u c o n t a i n s , l i k e t h e O r g a n i z i n g B u r e a u

a t H e a d q u a r t e r s , s e v e n d e p a r t m e n t s . T h e f o l l o w i n g d e p a r t m e n t s , w i t h t h e i r

n u m b e r s a s g i v e n i n t h e R e p o r t , a r e o f p u b l i c i n t e r e s t :

( 1 ) R E G IS T E R O F M E M B E R S , w i t h t h e i r q u a l i f i c a t i o n s a n d t h e

w o r k t o w h i c h t h e y a r e a l l o c a t e d . T h i s r e g i s t e r w i l l e n a b l e t h e C o m m i t t e e

t o k e e p u n d e r r e v i e w t h e d i s p o s i t i o n o f m e m b e r s ' a c t i v i t i e s , a n d t o d r a f t

m e m b e r s f o r n e w w o r k a s n e e d e d . There will be a general register of

individual members, with party record, record in working-class movement

a n d pe r s o n a l r e c o r d . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e r e w i l l b e s e p a r a t e r e g i s t e r s o f t h e

d i f f e r e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r e a c h a c t i v i t y ; T r a d e U n i o n n u c l e i , f a c t o r y n u c l e i ,

Trades Councils, and local Labor party fractions, propaganda committees,

d i s t r i b u t i o n g r o u p s , & c . F i n a l l y , t h e r e w i l l b e t h e s p e c i a l r e g i s t e r s o f

m e m b e r s w i t h c e r t a i n q u a l i f i c a t i o n s a n d f u n c t i o n s ( s p e a k e r s , i n s t r u c t o r s ,

l i n g u i s t s , & c . ) .

( 4 ) DISTRIBUTION. Ma i n t e n a n c e a n d c o n t r o l o f t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n

a p p a r a t u s o f t h e p a r t y , t h r o u g h t h e g r o u p s i n t h e l o c a l i t i e s a n d t h e f a c -

tories, both for the sale of literature and for the rapid distribution of

l e a f l e t s , E x e c u t i v e c a b l e s , & c .

( 5 ) TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION. O r g a n i z a t i o n o f w a y s

a n d m e a n s o f s e n d i n g , r e c e i v i n g , a n d , i f n e c e s s a r y , o f a c c o m m o d a t i n g l i t e r a -

t u r e , m e s s a g e s , i n d i v i d u a l s , & c . , a n d o f m a i n t a i n i n g l i n e s o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n

with the Centre and also between localities and betwe en workshops .

( 6 ) INFORMATION . O r g a n i z a t i o n o f a l l n e c e s s a r y i n f o r m a t i o n c o n -

cerning the District through the local information groups and collection

a n d t r a n s m i s s i o n o f i n f o r m a t i o n t o t h e C e n t r e .

T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e D i s t r i c t C o m m i t t e e s i s t a b u l a t e d a n d c l a s s i -

fied by the corresponding departme nts of the Organization Bureau at the

Centre . T h e D i s t r i c t P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u a l s o c o n s i s t s o f s e v e n d e p a r t m e n t s

w h i c h c o r r e s p o n d t o t h e d e p a r t m e n t s o f t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u a t t h e C e n t r e .

T h e s e i n c l u d e t h e f o l l o w i n g :

( 1 ) INDUSTRIAL COMMIT TEE . F o r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e n u c l e i i n

t h e u n i o n s a n d t h e w o r k s h o p s a n d t h e f r a c t i o n s o n T r a d e s C o u n c i l s a n d

L o c a l L a b o r P a r t i e s , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e l i n e s l a i d d o w n b y t h e C e n t r a l

Industrial Committ ee .

( 2 ) ELECTIONS AND MUNICIPAL COMMITTEE. F o r e l e c t i o n

work (Parliamentary and municipal) and direction of municipal represen-

t a t i v e s .

(3) LABOR AND CO-OPERATIVE COMMITTEE . For co-ordination

o f w o r k i n s i d e C o - o p e r a t i v e S o c i e t i e s a n d G u i l d s , L a b o r c l u b s , a n d m i s c e l -

l a n e o u s l o c a l L a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s , a n d u n d e r m i n i n g a n d pr o pa g a n d a w o r k

i n l o c a l S o c i a l D e m o c r a t i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s .

[ 2 6 2 1




( 4 ) EDUCATION COMMITTEE . F o r a r r a n g i n g t h e t r a i n i n g c l a s s e s

o f c a n d i d a t e s f o r p a r t y m e m b e r s h i p , s p e c i a l t r a i n i n g o f p a r t y ' s w o r k e r s , o r •

g a n i z e r s , & c . , a n d i n s t r u c t i o n s o f w o r k e r s o u t s i d e t h e p a r t y .

(7) POLITICAL AND SUPPLEMENTARY COMMITTEE. For prop-

a g a n d a a n d u n d e r m i n i n g w o r k i n G o v e r n m e n t a n d b o u r g e o i s i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d

s p e c i a l i n t e l l i g e n c e .

A REPORT TO MOSCOW

T h e p u r p o s e o f t h i s e l a b o r a t e m a c h i n e r y o f o r g a n i z a t i o n i s i n d i c a t e d i n

t h e a b o v e e x t r a c t s . T h e m a i n p u r p o s e i s t o o b t a i n c o n t r o l o f t h e i n d u s t r i a l

o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e w o r k e r s . B e f o r e t h i s s c h e m e o f o r g a n i z a t i o n h a d b e e n

d e v i s e d , t h e E x e c u t i v e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f G r e a t B r i t a i n r e p o r t e d t o

M o s c o w t h a t " t h e P a r t y h a s 2 0 0 p r o p a g a n d i s t s o f C o m m u n i s m , " a n d t h e p a r t y

h a s n u c l e i a l m o s t i n e v e r y t r a d e u n i o n , a n d e f f o r t s a r e b e i n g p u s h e d f o r w a r d

t o b r i n g t h e s e i n t o t o u c h w i t h e a c h o t h e r a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i n d u s t r i e s , i n t h e

t e r m s o f t h e T h e s e s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l . . . . A l l t h e m e m -

b e r s o f t h e p a r t y a r e b o u n d t o t a k e a n a c t i v e p a r t i n t h e u n e m p l o y e d a g i t a -

t i o n; i t i s v e r y a c u t e , a n d w h a t e v e r h a s b e e n d o n e t o t u r n t h e s i t u a t i o n t o a c -

c o u n t i n a C o m m u n i s t s e n s e i s d u e t o t h e w o r k o f t h e p a r t y . ( T h e C o m m u n i s t

I n t e r n a t i o n a l , N o s . 1 6 - 1 7 . )

T h e m e m b e r s o f t h e p a r t y i n a l o c a l i t y a r e c o m b i n e d i n s m a l l g r o u p s .

T h e s e g r o u p s c o r r e s p o n d t o t h e Ge r m a n Ze h n e r g r u p p e n, or "Tens," and

" a r e c o m p o s e d o f m e m b e r s l i v i n g w i t h i n e a s y w a l k i n g d i s t a n c e o f o n e

a n o t h e r . " W h e r e t h e p a r t y i s s t r o n g " t h e s e g r o u p a r e a s m a y c o v e r a s t r e e t

o r a b l o c k ; i n o t h e r w o r d s , a w a r d . " T h e r e i s a G r o u p L e a d e r , w h o w i l l b e

r e s p o n s i b l e f o r h i s g r o u p a n d m u s t s e e t h a t t h e m e m b e r s a r e c a r r y i n g o u t

t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s r e c e i v e d f r o m t h e L o c a l P a r t y C o m m i t t e e . This Committee

d i r e c t s a n d c o - o r d i n a t e s t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f a l l t h e g r o u p s ( a l s o n u c l e i a n d

f r a c t i o n s ) i n t h e + , l o c a l i t y , a n d r e p o r t s t o t h e D i s t r i c t P a r t y C o m m i t t e e . No

s l a c k n e s s i s a l l o w e d ; e v e r y m e m b e r i s u n d e r s t r i c t s u p e r v i s i o n . H e m u s t

b e a w o r k i n g m e m b e r , " s i n c e h e c o u l d n o t b e a m e m b e r o f t h e p a r t y a t a l l

u n l e s s h e w e r e a m e m b e r o f a w o r k i n g g r o u p . T h i s i s t h e v i t a l s e c r e t o f t h e

T h e s e s . . . . E v e r y m e m b e r h a s s o m e s p e c i a l q u a l i f i c a t i o n , w h i c h c a n

b e u s e d i n s o m e s p h e r e o f t h e p a r t y ' s w o r k . I t w i l l b e t h e b u s i n e s s o f t h e

P a r t y C o m m i t t e e s o t o o r g a n i z e t h e g r o u p s t h a t t h e y a r e c o m p o s e d o f t h e

m e m b e r s b e s t s u i t e d t o t h e w o r k i n h a n d . " F o r t h i s r e a s o n p e r s o n s j o i n i n g

t h e p a r t y m u s t s e r v e a p e r i o d o f p r o b a t i o n b e f o r e b e i n g a d m i t t e d t o m e m -

b e r s h i p .

THE COMMUNIST PRESS

B e f o r e c o m i n g t o t h e a c t u a l n a t u r e o f t h e w o r k w h i c h t h e C o m m i t t e e ' s

g r o u p s a n d n u c l e i o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y w i l l h a v e t o d o , i t i s n e c e s s a r y

b r i e f l y t o s u m m a r i z e t h e p l a n s f o r t h e e n t i r e r e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e C o m-

m u n i s t p r e s s . The report of the Commission states that the main p a r t y

o r g a n mist b e " a m a s s o r g a n , i . e . , a n o r g a n o f w o r k i n g - c l a s s l i f e a n d s t r u g -



REDS IN AMERICA

g l e . I t s o b j e c t i s n o t o n l y t o a g i t a t e , b u t t o o r g a n i z e a n d t r a i n . " T h e C o m -

m u n i s t " s h o u l d b e t h e n e w s p a p e r o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s , and not a small

m a g a z i n e o f m i s c e l l a n e o u s a r t i c l e s w i t h a C o m m u n i s t b i a s ." It must ' ; r e -

p o r t w o r k i n g - c l a s s l i f e a n d s t r u g g l e i n s u c h a w a y a s t o g i v e e v e r y i t e m a n

a g i t a t i n g a n d o r g a n i z i n g v a l u e . "

We now come to the vital part of the Communist organization . A l l

t h e e l a b o r a t e a n d e x p e n s i v e m a c h i n e r y o f o r g a n i z a t i o n i s f o r a d e f i n i t e

purpose . This purpose has been shown in the extract s from the Moscow

T h e s e s a n d b y t h e r e p o r t o f t h e B r i t i s h C o m m u n i s t s t o t h e M o s c o w H e a d -

q u a r t e r s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l . W h a t f o l l o w s i s c o n c e r n e d w i t h

t h i s B o l s h e v i s t m a c h i n e a t w o r k . C h a p t e r 4 o f t h e R e p o r t o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

C o m m i s s i o n i s h e a d e d " P a r t y A c t i v i t i e s , " a n d s e c t i o n 1 o f t h i s c h a p t e r

d e s c r i b e s t h e w o r k " i n t h e T r a d e U n i o n s . " I t s t a t e s t h a t ( p . 3 6 )

" T h e w o r k o f t h e p a r t y i n t h e T r a d e U n i o n m o v e m e n t a n d i n t h e w o r k -

s h o p s ( f a c t o r i e s , m i n e s , d o c k s , r a i l w a y s , s h i p y a r d s , o r o t h e r p l a c e s o f

w o r k ) i s t h e p r i n c i p a l a c t i v i t y b e f o r e t h e p a r t y i n t h e p r e s e n t p e r i o d . I t

i s h e r e t h a t w e m u s t b u i l d u p t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e p a r t y i n t h e a c t u a l d a y -

t o - d a y s t r u g g l e o f t h e w o r k e r s i n o r d e r t o h a v e t h e s o l i d b a s i s t o p r o c e e d

t o f u r t h e r s t r u g g l e s . T h a t l e a d e r s h i p w i l l n o t b e a c h i e v e d b y t h e i s s u e

o f m a n i f e s t o s , b u t o n l y b y s y s t e m a t i c a n d o r g a n i z e d w o r k o v e r t h e w h o l e

f i e l d .

" T h e f i e l d i s e x t r e m e l y c o m p l i c a t e d , a n d o n l y t h e h i g h e s t d e g r e e o f

o r g a n i z a t i o n w i l l s e c u r e r e s u l t s . . . . W e m u s t n e v e r l e t t h e " i n d u s t r i a l

s i d e , " i . e . , o u r a c t i v i t y i n e c o n o m i c m o v e m e n t , b e c o m e s e p a r a t e f r o m " p a r t y

w o r k , " s i n c e t h e w h o l e d i r e c t o b j e c t o f o u r a c t i v i t y i n t h e e c o n o m i c move-

m e n t i s n o t t h e s e p a r a t e e c o n o m i c s t r u g g l e , b u t t h e c o m m o n p o l i t i c a l

s t r u g g l e , i . e . , t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e f o r p o w e r u n d e r t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p

o f t h e p a r t y . T h e r e f o r e a l l o u r w o r k i n t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s m u s t b e p r i -

m a r i l y d i r e c t e d t o w a r d s s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e p a r t y ' s h o l d ; i f w e f o r m a n y i n d e -

p e n d e n t m o v e m e n t i t m u s t b e o n l y a s a v e h i c l e f o r t h e p a r t y ' sa c t i o n , a n d

a l l o u r w o r k m u s t b e u n d e r t h e d a i l y d i r e c t i o n o f t h e p a r t y . "

T h e Co m m i ss i o n e xp l a in s t h a t t h e w o rk o f t h e p ar t y i n t h e T ra d e

U n i o n s , " d e s p i t e i t s v o l u m e , " h a s f a i l e d t h r o u g h l a c k o f c o m m o n d i r e c t i o n .

T h ey h a d n o "h o l d on t h e m e m be r s hi p , " a n d n o c ha n n el t h ro u gh w h ic h

t h e n e c e s s a r y r e p o r t s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n c o u l d b e o b t a i n e d . T o o v e r c o m e

t h e s e d i f f i c u l t i e s t h e r e m u s t b e o r g a n i z e d a n d d i r e c t e d d a y - t o - d a y w o r k i n

t h e U n i o n s , a n d " i t s a i m m u s t b e t o b r i n g i n c r e a s i n g n u m b e r s o f w o r k e r s

u n d e r t h e d i r e c t l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e p a r t y . F o r t h i s r e a s o n ` n u c l e u s w o r k ' i s

n o t s i m p l y t h e c r e a t i o n o f c e n t r e s o f a g i t a t i o n , b u t o n e o f t h e m o s t h i g h l y

o r g a n i z e d f o r m s o f t h e p a r t y ' s w o r k . "

T h e a i m i s t o t r a n s f o r m t h e U n i o n s " i n t o m a s s o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e

r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e p a r t y . T h i s p l a n i s

n o t a m e c h a n i c a l p r o c e s s o f ` c a p t u r i n g ' the Unions . . . The process

i s o n e o f a c t u a l l y o r g a n i z i n g t h e w o r k e r s a r o u n d t h e p a r t y , a n d b y o u r

o r g a n i z a t i o n f r o m t o p t o b o t t o m o f t h e U n i o n , e s t a b l i s h i n g a r e a l and not

m e r e l y a f o r m a l , h o l d u p o n i t , " T h i s i s t o b e a c c o m p l i s h e d b y f i r s t o r g a n -

[ 2 6 4 1




i z i n g " o u r m e m b e r s i n t h e i r ` n u c l e i ' o r g r o u p s o f p a r t y m e m b e r s i n e a c h

Trade Union branch . " T h e s e n u c l e i m u s t b e " f i r m l y w e l d e d t o g e t h e r o v e r

t h e w h o l e c o u n t r y , " a n d m u s t a c t u n d e r " c e n t r a l d i r e c t i o n . " T h i s d i r e c t i o n

w i l l c o m e f r o m t h e H e a d q u a r t e r s o f t h e p a r t y a n d t h e D i s t r i c t C o m m i t t e e s

w i l l " o n l y a c t a s t r a n s m i t t i n g c e n t r e s f o r n a t i o n a l l y d e c i d e d p o l i c i e s i n

e a c h U n i o n t o t h e n u c l e i a f f e c t e d i n t h e i r d i s t r i c t . "

MANIPULATING THE UNIONS

A t t h e C e n t r a l I n d u s t r i a l D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e p a r t y in London there

w i l l s i t a m a i n I n d u s t r i a l C o m m i t t e e , a s s i s t e d b y " S p e c i a l A d v i s o r y C o m -

m i t t e e s f r o m e a c h o f t h e p r o v i n c i a l U n i o n s o r g r o u p s o f U n i o n s . The ad-

v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e o f a g i v e n T r a d e U n i o n w i l l c o n s i s t o f o u r b e s t m e m b e r s

i n t h a t U n i o n . . . i t w i l l r e c e i v e t h e r e p o r t s o f o u r n uc l e i t o t h e U n i o n

e i t h e r d i r e c t l y o r t h r o u g h l o c a l o r d i s t r i c t c o m m i t t e e s , a s a l s o r e p o r t s o f

a n y o f f i c i a l s , e x e c u t i v e m e m b e r s , & c . , w e m a y h a v e i n t h e U n i o n . " T h i s

m a i n I n d u s t r i a l C o m m i t t e e a t t h e C e n t r e w i l l d i v i d e i n t o s e c t i o n s f o r ( 1 )

Trade Unions ; ( 2 ) T r a d e C o u n c i l s ; ( 3 ) W o r k s h o p s ; ( 4 ) P r e s s . Similar

C o m m i t t e e s w i l l m e e t a t t h e D i s t r i c t C e n t r e s " t o r e c e i v e i n s t r u c t i o n s f r o m

t h e m a i n I n d u s t r i a l C o m m i t t e e s , w o r k t h e m o u t f o r t h e D i s t r i c t , and pass

t h e m o n t o t h e U n i o n n u c l e i c o n c e r n e d i n t h e i r D i s t r i c t . " A nucleus must

b e f o r m e d i n a n y T r a d e U n i o n b r a n c h w h e r e t h e r e a r e o n e o r m o r e m e m b e r s

o f t h e p a r t y .

A Tr a d e U n i on n u cl e u s i s a p a rt y o rg a n iz a t io n w or k i ng i n a T ra d e

U n i o n b r a n c h , a n d c o n s i s t s o f p a r t y m e m b e r s a n d c a n d i d a t e s i n t h a t b r a n c h .

A n u c l e u s o n l y e x i s t s w h e n i t h a s b e e n o r g a n i z e d b y o r r e p o r t e d i t s e l f t o

i t s L e a d i n g C o m m i t t e e , a n d i s m e e t i n g , w o r k i n g , a n d r e p o r t i n g r e g u l a r l y .

T h e n u c l e u s w i l l r e c e i v e f u l l i n s t r u c t i o n s a s t o i t s w o r k a t t h e t i m e w h e n i t

i s f o r m e d b y t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e L e a d i n g C o m m i t t e e a c c r e d i t e d f o r t h e

p u r p o s e , a n d t h e r e a f t e r w i l l r e c e i v e p a r t i c u l a r i n s t r u c t i o n s o v e r a n y i s s u e

o r c a m p a i g n a s o c c a s i o n a r i s e s .

ESPIONAGE

I t w i l l b e s e e n , a n d T r a d e U n i o n i s t s s h o u l d n o t e , t h a t t h e s e n u c l e i i n

T r a d e U n i o n b r a n c h e s a r e a n o r g a n i z e d s y s t e m o f e s p i o n a g e , d i r e c t e d f r o m

t h e H e a d q u a r t e r s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y . T h e a v e r a g e T r a d e U n i o n m e m-

b e r i s t o b e s u r r o u n d e d b y t h e o r g a n i z e d s p i e s o f M o s c o w , a n d h i s U n i o n

i s t o b e s e c r e t l y " w a n g l e d " i n t o t h e a c c e p t a n c e o f p o l i c i e s d e v i s e d b y t h e

c h i ef s of t he Co m mu n i st pa r t y a n d i n t ro d uc e d i n t o th e U n io n s b y t h eu n d e r g r o u n d a g e n t s o f t h e p a r t y .

T h e n u c l e i i n s e v e r a l b r a n c h e s o f a U n i o n i n a l o c a l i t y a r e t o f o r m

" a L o c a l C o m m i t t e e f o r t h a t U n i o n " i n o r d e r t o c o - o r d i n a t e t h e w o r k o f t h e

n u c l e i i n i t s l o c a l b r a n c h e s . I n t h e s a m e w a y t h e n u c l e i i n a l l t h e l o c a l

T r a d e U n i o n b r a n c h e s , w o r k s h o p s , a n d t h e f r a c t i o n s i n t h e T r a d e s C o u n c i l s ,

&c . , a r e t o b e c o m b i n e d i n a L o c a l G e n e r a l C o m m i t t e e . T h i s C o m m i t t e e

t a k e s u p a n y s u b j e c t o r a g i t a t i o n o n w h i c h a l l t h e n u c l e i s h o u l d c o n c e n -

( 2 6 5 1



REDS IN AMERICA

t r a t e . Communists on District Committees or the Executiv e of a U n i o n

w i l l " b e o r g a n i z e d i n d e f i n i t e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s ( F r a c t i o n s ) , w h i c h w i l l

m e e t a n d r e p o r t r e g u l a r l y , a n d r e c e i v e t h e i r i n s t r u c t i o n s f r o m t h e L e a d i n g

C o m m i t t e e . " M e m b e r s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r t y w h o a r e o f f i c i a l s i n a U n i o n

w i l l b e s e p a r a t e l y o r g a n i z e d f o r p a r t y p u r p o s e s , a n d w i l l h a v e t o f u r n i s h

t h e i r o w n r e p o r t s r e g u l a r l y o n t h e w o r k , t o g e t h e r with any information

o b t a i n e d , a n d w i l l r e c e i v e t h e i r d i s t i n c t i n s t r u c t i o n s .

A L o c a l I n d u s t r i a l O r g a n i z e r w i l l b e a p p o i n t e d " t o t r a n s m i t i n s t r u c -

t i o n s t o t h e v a r i o u s n u c l e i " a n d t o s u p e r v i s e t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s . T h e w o r k o f

a n u c l e u s i n a T r a d e U n i o n b r a n c h c o v e r s a w i d e f i e l d . I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e

r o u t i n e d a y - t o - d a y w o r k i t w i l l :

O r g a n i z e t h e L e f t W i n g o p p o s i t i o n i n a l l b r a n c h e s a r o u n d a l l c u r r e n t

q u e s t i o n s . . . i t w i l l b e p r e p a r e d f o r e a c h b r a n c h m e e t i n g w i t h r e s o l u -

t i o n s , m o v e r s o f r e s o l u t i o n s , d i s c u s s i o n s , &c . . . . i t w i l l e n d e a v o u r

t o w e a k e n t h e p o s i t i o n o f r e a c t i o n a r y o f f i c i a l s a n d l e a d e r s b y p r e s s i n g i s s u e s

which force them to take up an unpopular stand ; . . . i t w i l l w o r k

f o r t h e e l e c t i o n o f a c c r e d i t e d C o m m u n i s t c a n d i d a t e s a s o f f i c i a l s a n d d e l e g a t e s

t o c o n f e r e n c e s , & c . ; d u r i n g s t r i k e s i t s m e m b e r s w i l l b e a c t i v e i n t h e f o r e -

f r o n t a n d p r e s s i n g f o r e x t e n s i o n o f t h e d i s p u t e , a n d g r e a t e r s o l i d a r i t y ;

a n d i t w i l l b e w a t c h f u l t o k e e p t h e L e a d i n g C o m m i t t e e i n f o r m e d o f a l l d e -

v e l o p m e n t s , a n d t o f o l l o w c a r e f u l l y t h e l e a d g i v e n i n o r d e r t o a c h i e v e

u n i f o r m i t y i n t h e p a r t y ' s a c t i o n .

CONTROL OF INDUSTRY

M o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n t h e n u c l e i i n t h e T r a d e U n i o n b r a n c h e s a r e t h e

n u c l e i i n t h e w o r k s h o p s . T h e R e p o r t d e c l a r e s t h a t :

" T h e f a c t o r y o r w o r k s h o p i s t h e r e a l u n i t o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s , a n d

s h o u l d b e t h e m a i n f i e l d o f o u r a c t i v i t y . H e r e , f a r m o r e t h a n i n t h e l o c a l -

i t i e s , i s t h e b a s i s o f t h e P a r t y ' s o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e w o r k e r s , a n d c o n t a c t

w i t h t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s a s a w h o l e , w h e t h e r o r g a n i z e d o r u n o r g a n i z e d . T h e

T r a d e U n i o n s o n l y b r i n g u s i n c o n t a c t w i t h a p o r t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s

a n d o n l y a m i n o r i t y o f t h o s e w h o t u r n u p a t b r a n c h m e e t i n g s , & c .

T h e w o r k s h o p b r i n g s u s i n t o c o n t a c t w i t h a l l t h e w o r k e r s o n t h e s p o t . . .

T h e T r a d e U n i o n s c a n o n l y i n i t i a t e t h e s t r u g g l e . O n c e t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y

s t r u g g l e b e g i n s t h e w o r k s h o p b e c o m e s t h e c e n t r e . . . U p o n o u r o r g a n -

i z a t i o n i n t h e w o r k s h o p s w i l l d e p e n d t h e s u c c e s s o f t h e w o r k e r s i n t h e

f i r s t p h a s e o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e a n d t h e i r r e a d i n e s s f o r o r g a n i z a t i o n

u n d e r t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t . "

Whenever members of the party are employed in a factory o r w o r k s ,

" t h e y m u s t b e o r g a n i z e d a s a r e s p o n s i b l e p a r t y body or rwcleus . " T h e

f o r m s a n d a c t i v i t i e s o f a w o r k s h o p n u c l e u s a r e " m a n i f o l d a n d v a r i e d , " a n d

t h e d u t i e s i n c l u d e t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f " t h e p a r t y p a p e r a n d l i t e r a t u r e , "

d i n n e r - h o u r d i s c u s s i o n s , formation of social and sports o r g a n i z a t i o n s ,

t a k i n g u p o f g r i e v a n c e s , & c . T h e s e a r e , o f c o u r s e , t h e g e n e r a l p r o p a g a n d a

d u t i e s . T h e i r s p e c i a l t a s k i s " t o a g i t a t e f o r t h e f o r m a t i o n o f f a c t o r y c o w -

[ 2 6 6 1




m i t t e e s , " e s p e c i a l l y d u r i n g a c r i s i s , a s t h e s e c o m m i t t e e s t e n d t o " d e v e l o p

i n t o t h e c o n s c i o u s s t r u g g l e o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s f o r p o w e r . "

B U S I NE S S S E C R E T S

I f a F a c t o r y C o m m i t t e e i s f o r m e d , o r i f o n e a l r e a d y e x i s t s , " t h e n u c l e u s

m u s t c o n c e n t r a t e i t s e f f o r t s o n s e c u r i n g a n d m a i n t a i n i n g c o n t r o l o f i t . O u r

m e m b e r s m u s t p u t b e f o r e t h e F a c t o r y C o m m i t t e e t h e o b j e c t i v e o f t h e c o n t r o l

o f i n d u s t r y , a n d s e e k t o d e v e l o p t h e s t r u g g l e f o r t h e c o n t r o l o f i n d u s t r y

i n t o t h e s t r u g g l e f o r t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t . "

T h e r e a l p u r p o s e o f t h e s e f a c t o r y c o m m i t t e e s i s r e v e a l e d i n a w a r n i n g

t o t h e n u c l e u s . T h e y a r e r e m i n d e d t h a t " w o r k e r s ' c o n t r o l " i s n o t "our

o b j e c t i v e . " I t i s o n e o f m a n y d e m a n d s " t o d e v e l o p t h e s t r u g g l e a n d s o c a r r y

f o r w a r d o u r p r o p a g a n d a . "

BREAKING NEW GROUND

T h e f o l l o w i n g i n s t r u c t i o n i s g i v e n b y t h e C o m m i s s i o n f o r c a s e s where

t h e C o m m u n i s t s w i s h t o a t t a c k a w o r k s i n w h i c h t h e y h a v e n o m e m b e r s :

" S p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n w i l l b e n e e d e d i f t h e p a r t y w i s h e s t o g a i n a f o o t h o l d

i n a l a r g e a n d i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r y o r w o r k s w h e r e w e h a v e a s y e t n o m e m b e r s .

I n s u c h c a s e s , w h e n a d e c i s i o n h a s b e e n t a k e n t o m a k e t h e a t t e m p t i n r e g a r d

t o s o m e p a r t i c u l a r f a c t o r y , a s p e c i a l c a m p a i g n w i l l h a v e t o b e d e v e l o p e d

f o r t h e p u r p o s e , a n d m i l i t a n t g r o u p s w i l l b e n e e d e d t o s t a r t t h e a s s a u l t . A s

a f i r s t s t e p t h e r e s h o u l d a p p e a r i n t h e p a r t y o r g a n s o m e report or news

b e a r i n g o n t h e f a c t o r y q u e s t i o n . A t t h e s a m e t i m e m e e t i n g s s h o u l d b e a r -

r a n g e d o u t s i d e t h e f a c t o r y w h i c h w o u l d c o n c e n t r a t e o n m a t t e r s o f p a r t i c u l a r

i n t e r e s t t o t h e w o r k e r s i n t h a t f a c t o r y . "

L e a f l e t s , m a n i f e s t o s , & c . , w i l l b e d i s t r i b u t e d , a n d t h e p a r t y o r g a n

p u s h e d . " T h e n u m b e r o f r e a d e r s o f t h e p a p e r o b t a i n e d w i l l i n d i c a t e t h e

m e a s u r e o f o u r s u c c e s s . O n c e w e h a v e o b t a i n e d o u r c o n t a c t s i n d i v i d u a l

r e c r u i t i n g p r o c e e d s . "

S p a c e w i l l n o t p e r m i t o f m o r e d e t a i l s c o n c e r n i n g t h e s e w o r k s h o p n u -

c l e i . B u t i t m u s t b e u n d e r s t o o d t h a t n o n e o f t h e g r o u p s , n u c l e i a n d l o c a l

c o m m i t t e e s w h i c h h a v e s o f a r b e e n d e s c r i b e d , i s a l l o w e d t o a c t o n i t s o w n

i n i t i a t i v e . E v e r y t h i n g i s d o n e b y o r d e r a n d u n d e r c a r e f u l d i r e c t i o n . E a c h

g r o u p o r n u c l e u s h a s i t s a p p o i n t e d l e a d e r , w h o acts under orders from

i t s L o c a l C o m m i t t e e . T h i s C o m m i t t e e i s r e s p o n s i b l e t o t h e D i s t r i c t C o m -

m i t t e e a n d t h e D i s t r i c t C o m m i t t t e e i s a c t i n g o n t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s o f t h e E x -

e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e a t t h e C e n t r e ; a n d t h i s E x e c u t i v e i s c a r r y i n g o u t t h e o r d e r s

o f t h e E x e c u t i v e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l a t M o s c o w .

T h e C o - o p e r a t i v e m o v e m e n t , w i t h i t s l a r g e f u n d s , h a si n r e c e n t y e a r s

a t t r a c t e d t h e S o c i a l i s t s , a n d n o w t h e C o m m u n i s t s i n t e n d t o p e n e t r a t e t h i s

m o v e m e n t . T h e R e p o r t w e a r e c o n s i d e r i n g e x p l a i n s t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e

C o - o p e r a t i v e s t o t h e B o l s h e v i k s . I t p o i n t s o u t t h a t " v e r y a c t i v e p r o p a g a n d a

i s b e i n g c a r r i e d o n b y t h e L a b o r P a r t y a n d I . L . P . members to o r g a n i z e

t h e i r i n f l u e n c e i n t h e c o - o p e r a t i v e s . " C o m m u n i s t s m u s t b r i n g t h e C o - o p e r -

[ 2 6 7 1



REDS IN AMERICA

a t i v e s i n t o " t h e c u r r e n t s t r u g g l e , " a n d " f i n a l l y t o w o r k t o s e c u r e c o n t r o l -

l i n g p o s i t i o n s i n t h e m f o r o u r m e m b e r s ." For this purpose every Communist

w h o i s e l i g i b l e m u s t " j o i n h i s l o c a l c o - o p e r a t i v e s o c i e t y . "

LOCAL GOVERNMENT FRACTIONS

C o n s i d e r a b l e a t t e n t i o n w i l l b e g i v e n b y t h e n e w o r g a n i z a t i o n t o " w o r k

in local government . " T h i s i s " a n i m m e d i a t e t a s k b e f o r e t h e p a r t y . " T h e

g u i d i n g p r i n c i p l e i s s t a t e d i n t h e f o l l o w i n g t e r m s :

T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e p a r t y ' s w o r k o n L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t b o d i e s i s c l e a r l y

s t a t e d i n t h e T h e s e s . The Communist party does not enter on Local Govern-

m e n t b o d i e s t o h e l p i n t h e i r w o r k , b u t t o e x p o s e a n d d e s t r o y t h e m a s p a r t

o f t h e b o u r g e o i s m a c h i n e r y a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . For this purpose the work

o n t h e m m u s t a l w a y s b e s u b o r d i n a t e t o t h e o b j e c t s a n d t a c t i c s o f t h e m a s s

s t r u g g l e o u t s i d e . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e w o r k o n t h e m m u s t n e v e r b e

m e r e l y n e g a t i v e , b u t m u s t a l w a y s h a v e p o s i t i v e p r o p a g a n d a v a l u e . "Wes h o u l d n o t m e r e l y o p p o s e d e m a n d s , b u t s h o u l d f o r m u l a t e d e m a n d s t h e

s t r u g g l e f o r w h i c h w i l l c l e a r l y e x p o s e t h e c l a s s c h a r a c t e r o f l o c a l g o v e r n -

ment and lead to open conflict with the Central Authority . "

The policy and tactics on local government bodies depe nd on whether

the majority is (a) Communist, (b) Labor, (c) Bourgeois . I n a l l c a s e s t h e

a i m o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s i s t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e m a c h i n e r y o f l o c a l g o v e r n -

m e n t . Du r i n g s t r i k e s " t h e l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t m a c h i n e r y " m u s t b e u s e d

" t o s e r v e t h e p u r p o s e o f t h e s t r i k e . " " I n t h e a c t u a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e

a n y h o l d o n l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t s h o u l d b e u s e d t o s t o p i t s o p e r a t i o n a n d r e -

p l a c e i t b y r e v o l u t i o n a r y w o r k e r s ' c o u n c i l s . " A s e c t i o n o n t h i s s u b j e c t i s

devoted to the dangers of reformism . " T h e a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e a d -

ministrative detail of a Local Governing body has a tendency to cool the

r e v o l u t i o n a r y a r d o u r o f t h e C o m m u n i s t s , a n d m a n y r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a r e a f r a i d

o f t a k i n g p a r t a t a l l f o r f e a r o f c o m i n g r e f o r m i s t s . "

PREJUDICES OF WOMEN .

C h a p t e r 6 o f t h e B o l s h e v i s t R e p o r t i s d e v o t e d t o t h e w o r k o f t h e C o m -

m u n i s t a m o n g w o m e n . I t b e g i n s b y d e c l a r i n g t h a t " T h e r o l e o f w o m e n i n

t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e c a n n o t b e i g n o r e d b y C o m m u n i s t s i n a n y c o u n t r y . .

T h e s e i z u r e s o f p o w e r b y t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e s u b s e q u e n t a c h i e v e m e n t o f

C o m m u n i s m c a n o n l y b e a c c o m p l i s h e d w i t h t h e a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f

t h e w i d e m a s s e s o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n a n d s e m i - p r o l e t a r i a n w o m e n . " I t i s

a d m i t t e d t h a t t h e t a s k o f w i n n i n g t h e s u p p o r t o f w o m e n f o r B o l s h e v i s m

i s v e r y g r e a t . There are many strong prejudices to overcome- The starting

p o i n t m u s t b e i n t h e w o r k i n g - c l a s s o r g a n i z a t i o n s w i t h w o m e n m e m b e r s .

These include Trade Unions, the Co-operative Societies, and Guilds . O n e

of the prejudices to combat is the prevailing prejudice against the par-

t i c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n i n t h e t h i c k o f t h e f i g h t . "We shall have to fight re-

l e n t l e s s l y a g a i n s t a g r e a t d e a l o f p r e j u d i c e o f t h i s k i n d i n o u r o w n r a n k s .

M a n y c o m r a d e s d i s c o u r a g e t h e i r w i v e s , s i s t e r s , a n d w o m e n f r i e n d s f r o m a t -

( 2 6 8 ]




t e n d i n g p a r t y m e e t i n g s o r f r o m t a k i n g a n y p a r t w h a t e v e r i n o u r w o r k .

T h i s a t t i t u d e m u s t b e o v e r c o m e . "

The women will be separately organized, a n d t h e W o m e n ' s P r o p a -

g a n d a C o m m i t t e e w i l l o r g a n i z e " p r o p a g a n d a a n d a g i t a t i o n a m o n g p r o l e t a -

r i a n w o m e n , s u c h o r g a n i z a t i o n t o r e m a i n c o m p l e t e l y u n d e r p a r t y c o n t r o l . "

A t h e a d q u a r t e r s t h e r e w i l l b e t h e " C e n t r a l W o m e n ' s P r o p a g a n d a C o m m i t t e e , "

w i t h a G e n e r a l O r g a n i z e r . T h e R e p o r t g o e s o n t o t a b u l a t e t h e d u t i e s o f

t h i s C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , o n e o f w h i c h w i l l b e t h e " m a i n t e n a n c e a n d c o n -

t i n u o u s c o n t a c t w i t h t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l S e c r e t a r i a t o f C o m m u n i s t W o m e n "

(MOSCOW) .

T h e w o r k , o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e a n d a l s o o f t h e D i s t r i c t a n d L o c a l

C o m m i t t e e s w i l l b e d i v i d e d i n t o s e c t i o n s i n t h e m a n n e r d e s c r i b e d i n c o n -

n e c t i o n w i t h t h e P a r t y E x e c u t i v e a n d t h e D i s t r i c t P a r t y Committees . T h e

R e p o r t s t a t e s t h a t :

"Thorough division of the work among members of the Committee i s

m o s t e s s e n t i a l . One member should have charge of the work among house-

w i v e s a n o t h e r o f t h a t i n t h e c o - o p e r a t i v e m o v e m e n t , a n d s o o n . "

FUNCTIONS OF WOMEN'S GROUPS

T h e lo c a l w or k w i l l b e d i s tr i b u te d "a m o n g v a ri o us s m al l wo r k in g

g r o up s w i t h d i f f e r e n t f u n c t i o n s o r f i e l d s o f a c t i v i t y ( s u c h a s C o - o p e r a t i v e

G u i l d G r o u p s , L i t e r a t u r e D i s t r i b u t o r s ' G r o u p s , H o u s e t o H o u s e P r o p a -

ganda Groups, &c . ) . " C o m m u n i s t w o m e n i n T r a d e U n i o n s w i l l j o i n t h e

p a r t y n u c l e u s ( w h e r e s u c h e x i s t s ) a n d w i l l a c t " o n t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s f r o m

t h e N u c l e u s M a n a g e m e n t C o m m i t t e e o r l e a d e r . " T h e y w i l l g e t i n t o p e r s o n a l

c o n t a c t w i t h t h e w o m e n m e m b e r s o f t h e T r a d e Union branch, and will

e n d e a v o r t o g e t t h e m " t o a t t e n d c l a s s e s o r i n s t r u c t i o n g r o u p s . " C o m m u n i s t

w o m e n a r e t o j o i n t h e L o c a l L a b o r P a r t i e s " i f i n d i v i d u a l m e m b e r s h i p o f

t h e L a b o r p a r t y i s a l l o w e d . " T h e s e w o m e n m e m b e r s m u s t r e p o r t t o t h e C o m -

m i t t e e u n d e r w h o s e d i r e c t i o n t h e y a r e a c t i n g . T h e p r o c e d u r e i s t h e s a m e a s

t h a t a l r e a d y g i v e n i n o t h e r c a s e s .

O t h e r a c t i v i t i e s o f w o m e n C o m m u n i s t s a r e t h e h o l d i n g o f s t r e e t c o r n e r

m e e t i n g s i n " p r o l e t a r i a n s h o p p i n g c e n t r e s " t o d i s c u s s " t h e c o s t o f living-

b r e a d m e e t i n g s - o r t h e c a r e a n d e d u c a t i o n o f c h i l d r e n , " & c . S p e c i a l a t t e n -

t i o n m u s t b e g i v e n t o l i t e r a t u r e f o r w o m e n . " A s e r i e s o f v i v i d , a r r e s t i n g

s h o r t s t o r i e s , w i t h a s t r o n g a g i t a t i o n a l b i a s , w o u l d a l s o b e u s e f u l . " E n t e r -

t a i n m e n t s l i k e l y t o a t t r a c t w o m e n w i l l b e p r o v i d e d , b u t " p r o p a g a n d a s h o u l d

b e j u d i c i o u s l y m i x e d w i t h e n t e r t a i n m e n t s . "

THE MONEY MYSTERY

M a n y p r o p o s a l s a n d t e c h n i c a l d e t a i l s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t r e o r g a n i z a t i o n

s c h e m e , f o r l a c k o f s p a c e , h a v e b e e n o m i t t e d , s u c h a s t h e r e l a t i o n s w i t h C o m -

m u n i s t S c h o o l s f o r t h e y o u n g a n d t h e s p e c i a l f e a t u r e s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t

S a tu r da y s an d S un d a ys w h en m e mb e rs w i ll b e c al l e d u p on t o d o s o m e

[ 269 )



REDS I N AMERICA

s p e c i a l w o r k f o r t h e P a r t y . B u t t h e g e n e r a l f e a t u r e s o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n

h a v e b e e n g i v e n , a n d i t i s s c a r c e l y n e c e s s a r y t o r e m i n d t h e r e a d e r t h a t t h e

a d m i n i s t r a t i v e e x p e n s e s o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n w i l l b e h e a v y . W h e r e t h e

m o n e y w i l l c o m e f r o m i s n o t e x p l a i n e d i n t h e R e p o r t - t h e s u b s c r i p t i o n s o f

m e m b e r s a r e q u i t e i n a d e q u a t e t o m e e t t h e c o s t o f s u c h a n e l a b o r a t e s c h e m e .

B u t a s t h e p l a n o f o r g a n i z a t i o n i s b a s e d o n t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s o f t h e M o s c o w

I n t e r n a t i o n a l , i t i s n o t u n r e a s o n a b l e t o s u g g e s t t h a t M o s c o w m a y b e f i n a n c -

i n g i t .

"The final and culminating campaign, " says the Report, "to which

t h e w h o l e o f t h e P a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n l e a d s u p i s t h e o p e n f i g h t f o r p o w e r . "

( p . 7 4 ) . W i l l t h i s c l e v e r l y d e v i s e d p l a n o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s s u c c e e d ?

N o t i f t h e i n t e n d e d v i c t i m s a r e m a d e a w a r e o f t h e i n t e n t i o n s a n d m e t h o d s

o f t h e c o n s p i r a t o r s . Now we know the plans and policy of the Communist

p a r t y a n d i t s p r e c i o u s I n t e r n a t i o n a l o f B a n d i t s a t M o s c o w , i t w i l l n o t b e

d i f f i c u l t t o f r u s t r a t e t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y d e s i g n s u p o n s o c i e t y .



INDEX



A

A d a p t a t i o n o f C. P . A . t o A m e r i c a n2 3 1

c o n d i t i o n sd d a m s , J a n e183A. A . L. Lm e r i c a n R e l i e f f o r R u s s i a n W o m e na n d C h i l d r e n8 3 , 1 8 7

C i v i l L i b e r t i e s B u r e a u8 6

S t o c k h o l d e r , R us s - A m e r . I n d u s . C o r p o -

r a t i o n

8 1

A d j u s t m e n t C o m m i t t e e , B r i d g m a n C o n -

v e n t i o n A d r i a n o p l e , p r o p a g a n d a c e n t e r a t5Advance, a p u b l i c a t i o n0A f g h a n i s t a n , p r o p a g a n d a i n4A f r i c a9 4

A f r i c a n B l o o d B r o t h e r h o o d

A p p r o v e d o f b y C . P. A90P r o g r a m a n d a i m s o f5 , 1 9 0 , 1 9 1

Agrarian program

C o s t o f1 5

L e g a l A g r a r i a n B u r e a u1 5

O f C . P . A0 3 , 1 1 0

A g r i c u l t u r a l S c h o o l s

S t u d e n t s p l a n t e d i n1 5

A l l - A m e r i c a n N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l82 2 3All-American Technical Committee1 7

A l l e n , G o v . ( K a n s a s )8

Allison, Elmer Td v i s o r y C o m m . , F r i e n d s o f So v i e t9 3

R u s s i a . . . . . .2 9 8

A l l P o w e r , a p u b l i c a t i o n' 7 4A l l - R u ss i a n C e n t . F x . Coml l - R u s s i a n J e w i s h R e l i e f C o r n3 7

Amalgamated Clothing Workers' UnionA f f i l i a t e d w i t h F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a

9 8

C h i l d r e n ' s H o m e s i n S o v i e t R u s s i a . . . . 1 7 7

C o n f e r e n c e f o r P r o g r e s s i v e P o l i t i c a l A c -

t i o n4 4

P r e d o m i n a n t l y J e w i s h o r g a n i z a t i o n . . 4 5 , 1 3 6

Q u o t i n g r e p o r t t o M o s c o w3 2

Raising money for7R e p o r t o n , i n B a l t i m o r e8 3

Am a l g a m a t e d Me t a l Wo r k e r s3 2

Am a l g a m a t e d Te xt i l e Wo r k e r sP r e t e n d e d h o s t i l i t y t o C l o t h i n g W o r k -

e r s3 8

R e p r e s e n t e d b y W . Z . F o s t e r5S t r i k e o f , a i d e d b y A . C. L . U22America

C o m m u n i s m i n3I n c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y a l l i a n c e . . . 1 9 5 , 247

A m e r i c a n A s s o c i a t i o n f o r L a b o r L e g i s l a -

t i o n8 2

A p p r o v e d b y N a t . I n f . B u r e a u87P e r s o n n e l o f o r g a n i z a t i o n8 3

American Association of Social Workers 1 8 6

American Capitalism, * * * *.**232

A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n

1 6 , 4 5 , 4 6 , 4 7 , 1 1 8 , 1 8 6

Aids arrested Communists2 2 , 1 7 2

A p p r o v e d b y N a t . I n f . B u r e a u86Contributions to Labor Defense Coun-

c i l7 6

Ea r l y h i s t o r y o f2 0 , 1 2 1

F u n d s o f2 2

L a b o r De f e n s e C o u n c i l.l7 4

L i n k e d w i t h C o m m u n i s m1 7

INDEX

M e m b e r s f i l e c h a r g e s a g a i n s t D e p t . o f

J u s t i c e1 6

O pi n i o n s o f2 1

A m e r i c a n C o m m i t t e e f o r t h e R e l i e f o f

R u s s i a n C h i l d r e n0 6

A p p r o v e d b y N a t . I n f . B u r e a u8 7

F o u r Na t i o n a l Co m m i t t e e Me m b e r s i nMo s c o w0 5

R u s s i a n F a i r a n d C o s t u m e B a l l5 2

Represented by Capt. Paxton Hibben . . 1 0 4

American Committee for Russian Famine

R e l i e f

A c t i v i t i e s a n d p r o p a g a n d a00O r g a n i z e d b y W. W. L i g g e t t9

American Defense Society6Opposition of Negro Communists to . . . 1 9 2

P r o t e s t s l a n d i n g o f M o s c o w A r t T h e a t r e 1 4 5

American-Fede rated Russian Famine Re-

l i e f Co m m i t t e e8Am e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r9 6 , 2 4 8

A i d s C o m m u n i s t s72C o m m u n i s t s h a v e d i f f i c u l t y i n g a i n i n g

membership3 5

C o m m u n i s t s w o r k i n g i n4 , 5 2 , 1 3 4

Co n f . f o r P r o . P o l i t . A c t4F e d e r a t e d P r e s s c l a i m e d a s o r g a n f o r . 8 4

F o s t e r h e a d s s t e e l w o r k e r s08Report on J. P . C a n n o n4 8

Represented by J . H . R a l s t o n16T r a p p e d b y C o m m u n i s t s3 8

American-Hungar ian Workers' Federation 98Am e r i c a n Je w i s h Co m m i t t e e87A m e r i c a n - J e w i s h J o i n t D i s t r i b u t i o n C o m -

m i t t e e8 7

A m e r i c a n L a b o r A l l i a n c e8 , 1 3 1

American League to Limit Armaments5 3 , 1 2 0 , 1 2 1

American Legion22A g a i n s t C o m m u n i s m62Di s a ppr o v e d b y Wo r l d Wa r V e t e r a n s . 6 8

Opposition of Negro Communists t o . . . 1 9 2

A m e r i c a n - L i t h u a n ia n W o r k e r s ' L i t e r a r y S o -

c i e t y8A m e r i c a n M e d i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n00American Neutral Conference Committee 1 2 1

A m e r i c a n R e l i e f A d m i n i s t r a t i o n0 3 - 1 0 4

American Relief for Russian Women and

C h i l d r e n87American Union against Militarism5 3 , 1 2 0 , 1 8 7

A m e r i c a n W o r k e r s

Danger to2 0

Must lead Pan-American Revolution . . 2 2 2

A m n e s t y f o r p o l i t i c a l p r i s o n e r s9 9 , 2 5 0

A m t e r , M r s . S a d i e5 , 9 9

A n d e r s o n , M i s s M a r y83Anglophobes9 5 , 1 9 6 , 2 4 7

A n i s f e l d , B o r i s45A r g e n t i n e1 , 2 2 0 , 2 2 1

Armed insurrection11A r m y -

Communists and the55N u c l e i i n56A r n g o l d5 8

A s h u r s t , S e n a t o r ( A r i z o n a )9A s h w o r t h , F r a n c i s2A s i a94. . . . . . . . . . . . .

A s s o c i a t e d N e g r o P r e s s94A t l a n t a P e n i t e n t i a r y3 8 , 1 8 6

A u l t , E . B0A v a n t i , a p u b l i c a t i o n62



B

B a e r , J o h n M7B a t c h , E m i l y G r e e n . . . • . • . . . . • • • • • 1 8 6

B a l d w i n L o c o m o t i v e Wo r k s7 5

B a l d w i n , R o g e r N7 3 , 1 8 6

A. C . L . A1 7 , 1 2 3

A p p l i c a t i o n f o r l o a n r e f e r r e d t o19I n c o n f e r e n c e s t o h e l p a r r e s t e d C o m -

m u n i s t s7 2

Labor Defense Council7 3 , 1 7 4

O r g a n i z e r , I n t e r c o l l e g i a t e L i b e r a l

League 5 9

R e f u s e s t o f i g h t i n w a r• . 1 2 3

Spe a k s i n Ne w Y o r k• 1 7 5

B a l i e f f4 4

B a l l , A l e x a n d e r• 2 2

Ballam, John J• 3 6

B a l t i c I t l e r t5 7

B a l t i m o r e , Co m m u n i s t r e po r t o n l a b o r

c o n d i t i o n s i n3 3

B a r c e l o n a ( S p a i n ) a n a r c h i s t c o n f e r e n c e . . 9 4

B a s s , N o r m a n B . .•13Batt, Dennis. . . • • • • • . 9 8 , 1 7 3 , 1 7 4

B a t t e r s e a ( E n g l a n d )5 9

B e a r d s l e y , S . F L• • • 1 7 3

Bechtold, Eugene. . 2 1

B e d a c h t , M a x3 , 1 1 9

B e l g i u m , p r o p a g a n d a i nbB e l g r a d e , p r o p a g a n d a c e n t e r5B e n n e t t , R i c h a r d 1 5 1

Benton Harbor (Michigan)0B e r g e r 6 1

B e r l i n , H7 3

B e r l i n ( G e r m a n y ) c e n t r a l o f f i c e o f p r o p a -

g a n d a i n5B e r m a n , N e r m a7 3

B e r n a r d s v i l l e ( N . J . )4B e r t h e n s o n , S e r g e i4 5

B i d d l e f a m i l y o f P h i l a d e l p h i a1 2 5 , 1 7 5

B i g F o u r R a i l r o a d B r o t h e r h o o d s4B i n d e r , C a r r o l l0B i s b e e d e p o r t a t i o n1B i t t l e m a n , A l e x a n d e r5 , 3 6

B i z z e l l , D r . William B5B l o c c o n g r e s s i o n a l9Block and Co6B l o o r , E l l a R e e v e s1 , 8 1 , 8 2 , 9 8

Both and Bolshevik2B o h n , F r a n k• . • . 1 8 6

B o l s h e v i k p r o p a g a n d a , o r g a n i z a t i o n o f . . . . 7 4

B o l s h e v i k sBolshevism among negroes9 0

B o n u s , s o l d i e r s '

A s a p r o p a g a n d a s l o g a n6 1

C a p i t a l i z a t i o n b y r a d i c a l s4D e m a n d f o r , b y C o m m u n i s t s9 9 , 2 5 1

B o o k w a l t e r , C h a r l e s0 9

B o r a h , S e n a t o r W i l l i a m E• . . 7 , 8

And A C. L . U1 8

An d t h e Am n e s t y Q u e s t i o n1 7

B o r a h S u b - C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m i t t e e o n

F o r e i g n R e l a t i o n s o f t h e U S .

S e n a t e, 8 , 9 , 1 0 , 1 1 , 1 2Borgeson, Sidney E4B o r i n g f r o m w i t h i n1 - 9 2B o s t o n E v e n i n g T r a n s c r i p t6B o s t o n

Communist report on labor conditions1 3 3 , 1 3 5

P o l i c e s t r i k e55School of Theology19B o y Sc o u t s5 3

B r a s s C h e c k b y U p t o n S i n c l a i r2B r e s t - L i t o v s k T r e a t y2B r i d ( M i c h .) Convention of

P. A, 7 , 2 1 3

C l o s i n g s c e n e s8INDEX

[ 2 7 4 1

Presidium of4Proposed postponement of6P u r po s e o f5Raid and prisoners taken9 , 2 0

R u l e s o f C o n v e n t i o n2S e i z u r e o f p a p e r s a t2V o t i n g a t4B r i d g m a n c a s e s ,

P r e s e n t s t a t u s o f07Briggs, Dean (Harvard)9B r i g h a m , W i l l i a m E7B r i t i s h c a p i t a l2 0

Brock, Eugene J7 3

Broms, Allen S8B r o n s t r u p , W a l t e r5B r o o k h a r t , S e n a t o r ( I o w a )9Brooks, Ward1

A d d r e s s e d B r i d g m a n C o n v e n t i o n i n G e r -

m a n3Member, Adjustment Committee4M a n i f e s t o t o C . P . A3 8

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers . . 4 5 , 6 2

B r o t h e r h o o d o f L o c o m o t i v e E n g i n e e r s '

J o u r n a l , a p u b l i c a t io n2Brotherhood Locomotive Firemen and En-ginemen7Brotherhood of Railway Carmen4

B r o t h e r h o o d o f R a i l w a y C l e r k s4B r o t h e r h o o d o f R a i l w a y E l e c t r i c a l W o r k -

e r s4B r o t h e r h o o d o f R a i l r o a d S i g n a l m e n4B r o w d e r , E a r l R7 3

C e n t . E x . C o m . , C . P . A5Convention Committee7L a b o r D e f e n s e C o u n c i l7 4

B r o w n , C y r i l4 4

B r o w n , B i s h o p Wi l l i a m Mo n t g o m e r y . . . . 1 0 6

P o r t r a i t o f3 6

B r o wn , R . G17B r o w n , W i l l i a m T h u r s t o n1B r o w n , J . G6 , 1 7 3

Brownstein, H7 3

Bryant, Mrs . L o u i s e ( M r s . J o h n R e e d ) . . 1 0 7

B r y n M a w r S u m m e r S c h o o l f o r W o m e nWorkers in Industry6

B u c k , R o b e r t M0 , 1 0 7 , 1 7 3 - 1 7 4

B u f f a l o , C o m m un i s t r e p o r t o n l a b o r c o n d i .

t i o n s i n3 4

B u f o r d , H3 8

B u k h a r i n- 1 9 4

A l t e r n a t e , P o l i t b u r e a u0I n s t r u c t i o n s s i g n e d b y4 9 , 2 5 6 , 1 3 , 1 8 3

Presidium of Comintern2B u g e r , M a x0 9

$ u r n h a m , M r s . G e o r g e7 5

B u r k e , R t . H o n . E d m u n d, 6

B u r m a n , F5Burns, William J7Bush, Alfred1C

C a b l e g r a m s f r o m M o s c o w t o B r i d g m a n

C o n v e n t i o n6C a l i f o r n i a3 3

C a l l ( N e w Y o r k ) , a p u b l i c a t i o n

L a u d s Co n f . f o r P r o g . P o l i t . A c t i o n . . 4 4

P u b l i s h e d b y M o r r i s H i l l q u i t6Quoted3C a l l e s , E . P l u t a r c h o0 6

Ca n a d a , r a d i c a l p a p e r s i n1C a n n o n , J . P. ( a k e )

A d v i s o r y C o m . , F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s .

s i a8A g e n t , m a j o r i t y f a c t i o n , C . P . A6A p p r o v e s S o v i e t i s m4 8

C e n t . E x . Com. a n d P o l i t b u r e s u , C . P .



A6Ce n t . E x . Com. , C i n c i n n a t i C o m . P a r t y 8 8

Correspondence with T . R . S u l l i v a n . . 1 2 9

Labor Film Service4 7

M i n e , M i l l a n d S m e l t e r s ' O r g a n i z a t i o n . 147

M e t a l l i f e r o u s M i n e r s4 8

Western Federation of Miners4 8

C a p i t a l , American, invested i n S o u t h

A m e r i c a2 0

C a p i t a l i s m , d e c a y o f6 9

C a p i t a l i s t s , i n v e s t m e n t s i n L a t i n - A m e r i c a 2 7

C a r l i s l e , T h o m a s , P r u s s i a n i z e d H i s t o r y . . 6

C a r l s o n , O l i v e r ( E . C o n n e l l y , E d w a r d s )

N a t i o n a l s e c r e t a r y , W o r k e r s ' P a r t y . . . . 6 6

O r g a n i z e r , Y o u n g Wo r k e r s ' L e a g u e . . 8 5 , 9 9

C a r n e y , J a c k0 , 9 8

C a r p a t h i a n s 194C a r r i e r , J e a n B a p t i s tCaruso4 6

C a t c h w o r d s , r e v o l u t i o n a r y , s e e S l o g a n s .

C a t h o l i c w o r k e r s

T o b e o r g a n i z e d a g a i n s t K , K . K9 1

C a t h o l i c y o u t h6 8

C a t t , M r s - C a r r i e C h a p m a n8 0

C a u c a s u s , p r o p a g a n d a i n 7 4

C e n t r a l A m e r i c a1 9

Central Control Committee, see Commu-

nist Party of Russia .

C e n t . E x . C o m . , C P . A .

M u s t g u i d e i l l e g a l b r a n c h6P u b l i s h e s a n i l l e g a l o r g a n6

C e n t r a l F e d e r a t e d U n i o n ( C h i c a g o ) ,

E n d o r s e s L a b o r F i l m S e r v i c e49Central Famine Relief Committee . . . . 1 4 2 , 143Central Women's Propaganda Committee . 269Ce n t r i s t s i n Wo r k e r s ' P a r t y . . . . 2 7 , 2 0 1 , 2 5 3

Ce n t u r y Th e a t r e (Ne w Y o r k )4 4

C h a d b u r n , T h o m a s8 2

C h a f f e e , Z e c h a r i a6 , 1 2 1 , 2 1 7

C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e9 2

C h a l i a p i n , F e o d o r4 6

C h a p l i n , C h a r l i e

E n t e r t a i n s W i l l i a m Z . P o s t e r5 0

I n C o m m u n i s t f i l e s5 0

I n t r o d u c e d t o C o m r a d e P l o t k i n6 1

S p e a k s a t a d i n n e r5 2

S t a t e m e n t t o0R u s s i a n F a i r a n d B a l l5 2

W r i t t e n t o , b y R. M

. L o v e t t3C h a p p e l l , W i n i f r e d1 9

C h a r i t y O r g a n i z a t i o n S o c i e t y ( N e w Y o r k ) 1 8 4

C h a u v e - S o u r i s4 4

Ch e - Ka , Co m m i s s i o n f o r Su ppr e s s i o n o fC o u n t e r - R e v o l u t i o n6 , 1 3 8

C h i c a g o , C o m m u n i s t r e p o r t o n l a b o r c o n -

d i t i o n s i n8 2

C h i c a g o F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r8 , 1 7 4

C h s c a g o T r i b u n e , a p u b l i c a t i o nh i c h e r i n . 7 4 , 1 0 4

C h i k o f f , V V0 4

C h i l d r e n , s t a r v i n g i n R u s s i aC h i l d r e n ' s H o m e s i n S o v i e t R u s s i a

R a i s i n m o n e y f o r7 6 , 1 7 7

C h i l d r e n s s t o r i e s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a2C h i l e

Co ppe r o f2 0

R a d i c a l p a p e r s i n1 . 2 1 9

C h i n a ,

N o s t r i k e s i n4 7

Propaganda in4C h r i s t i a n r e l i g i o n9 4

C i v i l L i b e r t i e s B u r e a u2 0 , 1 8 6

C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n ( C h i c a g o )7 4

C i v i l S e r v i c e R e g u l a t i o n s6 5

C l a s s h a t r e d6 0

C l a s s s t r u g g l e2 1

Clay, John C7 3

INDEX

[ 275 ]

C l e v e l a n d , C o m m u n i s t r e p o r t o n l a b o r c o n -

d i t i o n s i n3 3

C l e w s , M r s5 0

Code to be used by Communists8Cohen, Bela4C o l l e c t i v i s m 181

C o l l i n s , J a m e s H7C o l o m b i a$0C o m i n t e r n o f T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l e . . 1 2 , 3 6 , $ 3 7

Commissaria t of Public Health, SovietR u s s i a , r e p r e s e n t e d i n N e w Y o r kC i t y0 1

C o m m i s s i o n f o r t h e s u p p r e s s i o n o f C o u n -

t e r - R e v o l u t i o n , s e e C h e - k a

Co m m u n i s m a n d Ch r i s t i a n i s m0 6

C o m m u n i s m

A m o n g t h e N e g r o t p8 9

A s a p o l i t i c a l s y s t e m1I n A m e r i c a, 2 0

T h r i v e s o n d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n3Communist, The, a p u b l i c a t i o n8 5

O f f i c i a l o r g a n , C . P. A3Published by a minority6C o m m u n i s t , d e f i n i t i o n o f0Communist activity in America

C o o r d i n a t i o n o f7S i z e o f0C o m m u n i s t a c t i v i t y i n L a t i n - A m e r i c a . . . . $ 7

Sworn enemy to society59C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l e , s e e T h i r d I n -

t e r n a t i o n a l e

Communist movement, early days of . . 1 9 5, 2 4 7

Co m m u n i s t P a r t y o f Am e r i e a

A d a p t a t i o n t o A m e r i c a n c o n d i t i o n s31Agrarian program of1 0

A p p e a l f r o m M o s c o w t o , f o r c o a l m i n e r s 8 6

B u l l e t i n b y C e n t . E x . C o m . o n i n d u s -

t r i a l a c t i v i t i e s37C o l l e c t i n g m o n e y f o r1C a n d i d a t e s o f , f o r p o l i t i c a l o f f i c e s . . . . 4 0 , 4 1

C o n c e a l m e n t o f u n d e r g r o u n d a p p a r a -

t u s0 0 , 2 5 2

C o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e m a s s e s0 2 , 2 6 3

C o n t r o l o f l a b o r u n i o n p r e s s . . . 2 0 0 , $ 5 8 , 2 5 3

C o n v e n t i o n o f ; s e e B r i d g m a n C o n v e n .

t i o n

D e l e g a t i o n s a i l s f o r E u r o p e70E l e c t i o n o f E x . C o m6F i n a n c e s o f29Follows orders from Moscow58F a t e o f , d e p e n d i n g o n m a s s e s9F u t u r e s u p p r e s s i o n27H e a d q u a r t e r s o f , t o b e s e c r e t0 4 , 2 5 5

I n c r e a s e d a c t i v i t y a m o n g n e g r o e s93I n f o r m a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g1 4

Lawful propaganda machinery of8 8

L e g a l i t y o f . 2 5 , 3 4 , 8 5 , 2 0 1 , 2 0 2 , 2 1 1 , 2 2 6 , 3 6 3

M a s s e s , r e l a t i o n t oM a j o r i t y a n d m i n o r i t y i n0 1 , 2 6 $

N e c e s s i t y o f2 5

N e x t t a s k o f9 6 , 2 4 7

N o t t o r e f o r m c a p i t a l i s t s t a t e9 8 , 2 4 9

Not bound by laws6O b j e c t i v e1O r d e r s t o r e u n i t e7 1

R e l a t i o n s o f i l l e g a l ( N o . 1 ) t o l e g a l

( No . 2 ) b r a n c h e sR e p r e s e n t a t i o n s t o , f r o m M o s c o w3 7

Reports to Moscow$ 1

S e c r e t c o n f e r e n c e o f71S u b v e r s i v e n e s s o f1S p l i t i n5S o l e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y i n A m e r i c a . . . 1 2

T h i r d ( C o m m u n i s t ) I n t e r n a t i o n a l e

13 25, 254, 266, 208

Trade Union Educational League8T a s k t o s e c u r e l e g a l e x i s t e n c e o f4



Workers' Party2 , 3 9

U n d e r g r o u n d w o r k o f3 , 2 2 7

Co m m u n i s t P a r t y o f G e r m a n y

Ma n i f e s t o b y63Co m m u n i s t P a r t y o f G r e a t B r i t a i n . . 2 5 8 , 2 5 9

Bureaus and departments6 2

B u s i n e s s s e c r e t s o f6 7

C o n t r o l o f I n d u s t r y6 6

Functions of Women's Groups6 9

Local Government Fractions6 8

O b j e c t i v e6 1

P r o p a g a n d a a m o n g w o m e n68Report to Moscow63

Communist Party of Russia

A l l - R u s s i a n C o n g r e s s o f 1 9 2 3, 9

A n t i - r e l i g i o us c h a r a c t e r o fC e n t r a l C o n t r o l C o m m i t t e e, 1 1

C o m p o s e d o f p r o l e t a r i a n sD e s c r i p t i o n o fD e l e g a t e s t o A l l - R u s s i a n C o n g r e s sM e m b e r s o f , a n d S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t

j o b sM o n o p o l y o f l e g a l i t yP r o t e c t i o n o f p a r t y m e m b e r s i n c o u r t s . 9

Russian Soviet Government0T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l e0C o m m u n i s t P a r t i e s , P a n - A m e r i c a n2 1

C o m m u n i s t p r o p a g a n d a i n r u r a l d i s t r i c t s . 5 7

C o m m u n i s t s c h o o l s f o r t h e y o u n g i n E n g -

l a n d6 9

Communist songs5C o m m u n i s t t r i a l s ( S t . J o s e p h s )7Communist Youth Internationale5 3

Communists and Disorder0C o m m u n i s t s , e x c l u d e d f r o m C o n f . P r o .

P o l i t . A c t i o n3Co m m u n i s t s i n Mo s c o w5 7

C o m m u n i s t s , r a i s i n g m o n e y f o r4C o m m u n i s t s s t r e s s c l a s s s t r u g g l e3C o m m i t t e e f o r t h e R e s c u e a n d E d u c a t i o n

o f R u s s i a n C h i l d r e n8 7

C o m p u l s o r y h e a l t h i n s u r a n c e8 2

C o m s t o c k , F . R a y4 4

C o n f e r e n c e f o r P r o g r e s s i v e P o l i t i c a l A c -

t i o n

Ac c o m pl i s hm e n t s o f8C o m m u n i s t s m u s t g u a r d a g a i n s t4 4

C o n s t i t u e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s4Does work allocated by Moscow2Designation a misnomer2Endorses Plumb plan0E x c l u d e s I . W . W . and Communists . . 4 3

L a u d s S o v i e t R u s s i a3M e t h o d o f o r g a n i z a t i o n8N o t a " f r o n t " f o r C . P . A2O r g a n i z a t i o n o f4P o l i t i c a l p r o g r a m o f2 , 4 4

P r o p o s a l f o r l e g i s l a t i v e v e t o o f c o u r t

d e c i s i o n s0Q u e s t i on n a i r e o f1S i z e o f7S t e a l i n g p a r t y n a m e s4W o r k e r s ' p a r t y d e l e g a t e s , t o2

Congress, U . S .

Consulted by Communists1 2

Free speech and1 1

Members of, work for Communism1 1

Soldiers' bonus and6 1

C o n g r e s s o f S o c i a l W o r k e r s ( S a n D i e g o ) . 8 3

C o n n e c t i c u t , C o m m u n i s t A g r a r i a n s c h o o l

i n1 5

Connelly, E . , s e e O l i v e r C a r l s o n .

C o n s e r v a t i v e p r e s s , p r o p a g a n d a i n8C o n s p i r a c y

I n E n g l a n d5 7

To overthrow government1 1

C o n s t a n t i n o p l e5 , 1 5 8

C o n s t i t u t i o n o f U . S . AINDEX[ 2 7 6 ]

C o n t r a s t , T h e , a f i l m4 7 , 1 4 0

Co n v e n t i o n o f C . P . A ., see Bridgman

C o n v e n t i o n

C o o k , C o m r a d e37Cooper, Lenetta M78C o o p e r a t i v e L e a g u e o f A m e r i c a . . . . 1 4 9 , 4 6 , 4 7

C o o p e r a t i v e m o v e m e n t , i n E n g l a n d6 7

C o o p e r a t i v e s , f a r m , s t a t e c r e d i t f o r . . 1 9 9 , 2 5 1

C o o p e r a t i n g c o m m i t t e e o f

Defendants, Labor Defense Council . . . 174

C o o r d i n a t i o n , T h e s i s o n1 9 , 2 2 8

Cope, Miss Margaret75Co pe , Mr s . W a l t e r7 5

Copenhagen55Copper Trust19C o s m o p ol i t a n C l u b s .

U n i v e r s i t i e s w h e r e o r g a n i z e d4C o s t e l l o , E . J0C o t t e r , A r t h u r1C o y l e , A l b e r t F5 , 5 2 , 8 0

Cr a m e r , R . D0 , 1 7 3

Cravath, Paul8 5

C r e d i t , s t a t e , t o f a r m e r s9 9 , 2 5 1

Crowder, General1 9

C u b a , r a d i c a l p a p e r s i n1 , 2 1 9 , 2 2 0

C u r a c a o , a b a t t l e s h i p6 2

C z e c h o - S l o v a k W o r k m e n ' s C o u n c i l o f

America8C z e c h o - S l o v a k i a , r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o n d i t i o n s

i n3D

D a l l a s C o . ( T e x a s ) T e a c h e r s ' I n s t i t u t e . . 5 6

D a l y , A l i c e L o r r a i n e7Dana, Prof . H a r r y W . LO r g a n i z e r , I n t e r c o l l e g i a t e L i b e r a l

League9Lecturer, classes of Young Workers'League6d ' A n s e l m e , G e n e r a l6 2

Dan t o n, 6 1 , 6 2 , 1 6 0

Davis, J61D e b s , E u g e n e V3 2 , 1 6 4 , 1 7 3

I n c o n f e r e n c e s t o a s s i s t a r r e s t e d C o m -

m u n i s t s 1 7 2

L a b o r D e f e n s e C o u n c i l7 4

M i s t a k e s o f9S t o c k h o l d e r , R us s - A m e r . I n d u s . C o r p o -

r a t i o n8 1

D e e r R i v e r ( M i n n . ) F i n n i s h r a d i c a l i s m . . 5 7

De Forest, Robert8 5 , 1 8 6

De F r a n k , N7 3

d e M i l l e , W i l l i a m C3 , 1 5 0 , 1 5 1

D e m i n g , R o b e r t C4 9

Democracy, a Study in Applied9 0

Democracy, pictured by French Revolu-

t i o n i s t sDemocratic formsDen b y , E d w i n , Se c 'y . o f Na v y5 8 , 1 5 9

D e p a r t m e n t o f J us t i c e7 , 4 6

D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e, 2 1 3

D e p o r t a t i o n Act3 8

D e p o r t a t i o n o f A l i e n s12D e S i l v e r , A l b e r t1 8 , 1 2 3

D e t r o i t , M i c h .

C o m m u n i s t r e p o r t o n l a b o r i n3 8

F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r8, D e u t s c h e A l l g e m e i n e Z e i t u n g , a p u b l i c a -

t i o n4D i a l , T h e , a p u b l i c a t i o n8 6

D i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e P r o l e t a r i a t , s e e P r o l e -

t a r i a n D i c t a t o r s h i p

D i l l , S e n a t o r ( W a s h i n g t o n )9D i r e c t o r a t e s , i n t e r l o c k i n g , s e e i n t e r l o c k i n g

d i r e c t o r a t e s .

D i s a r m a m e n t , e n c o u r a g e d i n A r m y a n d

N a v y6 6



D i s c i p l i n e , p a r t y , d e c l i n e o f8D i s t r i c t I n d u s t r i a l O r g a n i z e r3 8

D o r m a n , D . C7D o s t o e v s k y5 1

D o w n i e , T h o m a s R0Drake, Francis4D r e x e l7 5

Dub r o w s k y , Dr . D a v i d

C a p t . Paxton Hibben and0 5

I n t e r v i e w s C a l l e s , M e x . p r e m i e r0 6

J e w i s h P u b l i c C o m m i t t e e0 1

O n M a r t e n ' s p a y r o l l0 1

O r g a n i z e s R u s s i a n r e l i e f00D u l u t h r e p o r t o n l a b o r i n3 4

Duncan,

r e jr t l a b o r

1 4 1

Dun n e , Wi l l i a m F .

Address to Workers' Party Convention 8 9

A r r e s t e d a t B r i d g m a n , M i c h1 , 2 2

C. P . A . , c o n n e c t i o n s6 , 4 0

C a n d i d a t e , G o v e r n o r o f N e w Y o r k , 4 0 , 8 9 , 1 0 9

C h a n g e d w i t h c r i m i n a l c o n s p i r a c y2 4

F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a8I n p r i s o n 128

L a b o r D e f e n s e C o u n c i l7 3 , 1 7 4

D u q u e s n e ( P e n n s y l v a n i a )22Duse, Eleonora46Dutt, R . P a l m e r5 9

D z e r z h i n s k y, 7 5

E

E a r l y . D . E5 , 9 9

E a s t s i d e ( N . Y . ) p o l i t i c a l m e t h o d s i n M o s -

c o w1E a s t m a n , C r y s t a l17E a s t m a n , M a x

A m e r . C i v . L i b . U n i o n2 1

C i v i l L i b e r . B u r e a u8 0

E d i t o r , T h e L i b e r a t o r9F r i e n d s S o v i e t R u s s i a8W i t h C l a u d e M c K a y90E b e r t - S c h e i d e m a n n Government ( G e r -

m a n y )6 3

E d e l s t e i n , M o r r i s . . 17373

E d g e r l y , L a d y , s e e C o u n t e s s K o r z y b s k a .

E g y p t5E k s k o s o v i c h , V a s s i l i v i c h46E l e c t i o n s , p r o g r a m f o r , C . P . A2 4 5

E l l i s I s l a n d4 1

E l l s w o r t h , M r s3Emergency Peace Federation2 0 , 1 2 1

Engancho2 0

E n g d a h l , J . L o u i s

At Convention of Workers' Party . . . . 8 8

E x . Co m . , C . P . A5Spe a k s i n Ne w Y o r k7 5

E n g e l2England

Address to workers of6At odds with France3C o m m u n i s t s i n5 7

D i s t r i c t o f9 4

I n c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y a l l i a n c e . . . 1 9 5 , 247

R e f u s e s t o a c c e p t d e p o r t e e s12E n t e n t e6Episcopal Church19E r i c k s o n , C h a r l e s1E s p i o n a g e , l a b o r . i n England65Executive Committees28E x p e n d i t u r e s , e x c e s s i v e , d a m a g i n g t o t h e

S t a t e9 8 , 2 5 0

FF a m i n e i n R u s s i a

No danger of4 2 , - 1 7 7

F a m i n e S c o u t C l u b s9INDIttX[ 2 7 7 1

F a m i n e R e l i e f8S e e a l s o A g r a r i a n .

F a r m e r s , S t a t e C r e d i t t o9 9 , 2 5 1

Appeal to wives of7 7 , 1 7 8 , 8 9

F a r m s , f o r e c l o s u r e s o n9 9 , 2 5 1

Farm-Labor Party

C . P. A6Labor Defense Council7 3 - 1 7 4

F a r m e r s N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l5 , 4 6

F e d e r a l C o u n c i l , C h u r c h e s o f

C h r i s t i n A m e r i c a1 9 , 1 8 7

Federal Reserve Banking System9Federal Trade Commission0 1 , 1 8 6

F e d e r a t e d P r e s s .

F. C . H o w e , a c o n t r i b u t o r t o6O f f i c e s i n B e r l i n a n d M o s c o w0O r g a n o f t h e Co m m u n i s t s9Promised $100,0005 1

R a i s i n g m o n e y f o r2 - 8 4

S u p p o r t e d b y C o m m u n i s t s31Supported by Conf . P r o . P o l i t . A c t i o n 4 7

U s e d b y T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l eOF e d e r a t e d P r e s s B u l l e t i n81Federated Press League

O b j e c t s0B r u c e R o g e r s r a i s e s m o n e y f o r50Federation of Federal Employees3F e i n b e r g0F e r r e r g r o u p o f a n a r c h i s t s85F e r g u s o n , J . E19F e s t e t i c h , C o u n t . . .4F i c k e r t1F i n l a n d

Legality of Communist Party in5R e v o l u t i o n a r y c o n d i t i o n s i n3F i n n i s h S o c i a l i s t F e d e r a t i o n8F i n n i s h W o r k i n g m e n ' s A s s o c i a t i o n8F i r s t Am e r i c a n Co n f e r e n c e f o r De m o c .

r a c y a n d T e r m s o f P e a c e20First Legal Aid Bureau2 1

Flaherty, Thomas1F l o r a , Jo h n C7 3

F l y n n , E l i z a b e t h G u r l e y

A m e r . C i v . L i b . B u r e a u1 7

I n c o n f e r e n c e t o a s s i s t C o m m u n i s t s . . . 1 7 2

Labor Defense Council7 3 , 1 7 4

F o o l , T h e , a f i l m6 1

F o r d ( H e n r y ) P e a c e S h i p2 1

F o r e i g n P o l i c y A s s o c i a t i o n8 7

F o r e i g n R e l a t i o n s C o m m i t t e e

U. S . S e n a t eF o r e i g n e r s ,A m o n g C o m m u n i s t s0D e p e n d e n t o n r a d i c a l l i t e r a t u r e6F o s t e r , W i l l i a m Z e b u l o n, 7 , 1 2 , 1 5

A i d s s t r u g g l i n g m a s s e s0 9

A m e r . C i v i l L i b . Union4 , 1 1 7

A r r e s t e d a t C h i c a g o3A t t e n d s S y n d i c a l i s t C o n f e r e n c e3Attends Anarchist Conference4At t e n d s R e d Tr a d e U n i o n In t e r -

n a t i o n a l e1 , 9 5

At B r i d g m a n Co n v e n t i o n2C a l l e d a d i s r u p t i o n i s t4C h a r g e d w i t h v i o l a t i o n o f M i c h i g a n

l a w s 2 0 8

C h a r l i e C h a p l i n ' s g u e s t o f h o n o r50C o n v e n t i o n o f M a i n t e n a n c e o f W a y

E m pl o y e e s2 8

D e f e n s e a t S t . J o s e p h s , M i c h08D e s c r i p t i o n o f2 , 9 3

F e d e r a t e d P r e s s , E x e c . Board4F r i e n d s o f So v . R u s s i a8Helps arrested Communists7 2

H o s t i l i t y t o G o m p e r s8



J o i n s I . W. W8L a b o r D e f e n s e C o u n c i l7 3

L e a v e s B r i d g m a n Co n v e n t i o n8L e a d e r r a d i c a l w i n g , A. F . L2Le a v e s I . W. W5Member, Home Colony of Anarchists . . 9 4

M e m b e r , A . F . L8N o t a m e m b e r o f C . P. A0 8 , 2 1 3

Paid agent of Moscow2P o r t r a i t o f6R e l a t i o n s w i t h Mo s c o w8S e c u r e s s u p p o r t f o r L ab o r H er a l d . . . . 2 0 8

S e c r e t a r y , S y n d i c a l i s t L e a g u e o f

No r t h Am e r i c a4Speaks in New York City7 5

Succeeded by Jay G . B r o w n6T r i a l o f , a t S t . J o s e p h s , M i c h0 7

Trustee, Garland Fund0 , 1 5 1

FranceAt o d d s w i t h E n g l a n d3C o m m u n i s t i c p r o g r a m i n t r a d e u n i o n s . . 8 1

D i s t r u s t o f9 4

I n C o u n t e r - R e v o l u t i o n a r y A l l i a n c e . . 1 9 5, 2 4 7

Legality of Communist party in5R e f u s e s t o a c c e p t d e p o r t e e s1 2

R e v o l u t i o n i n , b r o u g h t o n b y a G e r m a n

r e v o l u t i o n3R e v o l u t i on a r y S o c i a l i s t i c C o m m i t t e e . . . 8 1

F r a n c e , S e n a t o r ( M a r y l a n d )2 6

F r a n k f u r t e r , F e l i x

A Mo d e r n R e v o l u t i o n a r yAmerican Civil Liberties Union1 7

C o l l e a g u e o f Z e c h a r i a C h a f f e e21C o u n s e l i n M o o n e y c a s e0C r i t i c i s m o f , a t H a r v a r d0F i l e s C h a r g e s a g a i n s t D e p t . o f J u s t i c e . . 216

L e t t e r t o , b y R o o s e v e l t18R e p r e s e n t s P r e s i d e n t W i l s o n1F r a n k l i n , J o s e p h A5F r a z i e r , S e n a t o r ( N . D . )9F r e e d o m , a p u b l i c a t i o n8 5

F r e e l o v e0F r e e m a n , T h e , a p u b l i c a t i o n8F r e e p r e s s a n d f r e e s p e e c h6 5 , 1 2 1 , 2 1 1

F r e i h e i t , a p u b l i c a t io n

O r g a n o f J e w i s h F e d e r a t i o n o f W o r k e r s

P a r t y6F r e n c h R e v o l u t i o n, 6

F r e n c h a n d R u s s i a n R e v o l u t i o n s c o m -

p a r e d, 6

F r e u n d , E r n s t8 7 , 2 1 6

F r i e n d s o f S o v i e t R u s s i a

Approved by the Nat . I n f . B u r e a u . . . . 187A c t i v i t i e s o f8B r a n c h o f C . P . A2C h i c a g o F e d e r a t i o n o f4 9

C i r c u l a r c o n c e r n i n g Ru s s . - A m e r . I n d us .

C o r p o r a t i o n7 6

D i s p o s i t i o n o f f u n d s8Dissemination of Communist propa-

g a n d a2E n d o r s e d b y I l l i n o i s S t a t e F e d e r a t i o n o f

L a b o r3 2

Famine Scout Clubs2F i n n i s h s u p p o r t i n D e e r R i v e r8F o r m e d b y C . P. A8Going into the movies5 2

M o n e y c o l l e c t e d b y7S e l l s l i t e r a t u r e0 6

F u r u s e t h , An d r e w8 2

GG a g e , L y m a n J2 , 8 8

G a l e , Z o n a8 6

G a r l a n d F o u n d a t i o n

INDEX

[27g 1

F e d e r a t e d P r e s s e x p e c t s u p p o r t f r o m . . 9 6

P o s t e r , t r u s t e e o f4 , 1 6 1

Poster promises funds of1G a r t z , M r s . K a t e C r a n e . . . 6 3 , 8 0 , 8 3 , 1 5 0 , 1 5 1

Geier, Anna5G e n e r a l S t r i k e , s e e s t r i k e

G e o r g e H e n r y5 1

G e r m a n y

American troops in6 8

And world revolution8B o l s h e v i z at i o n o f6C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i n3L e g a l i t y o f C o m m u n i s t p a r t y i n5R e v o l u t i o n i n3 , 1 8 7

W a r w i t h2 1

G e r s o n , P e r c i v a l T3 , 1 5 0

G e s t , M o r r i s

F i n a n c e d b y O t t o Ka h n4 6

I n i t i a t e s "Russian" d r a m a t i c p r o p a -

g a n d a4 4

L e a v e s p a r e n t s a n d s e v e n b r o t h e r s a n d

s i s t e r s i n B e r l i n4 6Leaves Odessa 146Ma n a g e s R u s s i a n Ar t Th e a t r e4 5

Getts, Clark H0 , 8 3

G i t l o w , B e n j a m i n

At Bridgman, Mich1Ce n t . E x . Com. , C . P. A6Chairman Presidium2I l l i n o i s F e d . o f L a b o r32

G l a v l i t2G o d l e s s , T h er o n t i s p i e c eG o l d , M i c h a e l1 9

G o l o s o r , L e o6G o l u b s o n , B e r l i n p r o p a g a n d a o f f i c i a l . . . . 7 5

G o m e z , Ju a n V i n c e n t e20G o m pe r s , Sa m u e l2 1

H a t r e d o f W . Z . F o s t e r f o r8 , 5 2

H o s t i l i t y o f , t o T r a d e U n i o n E d u -

c a t i o n a l L e a g u e2P o l i c y o f8Resigns from A. A . L . L . 1 8 2

S w u n g l a b o r t o w a r9G o o d m a n , L e n a7 8

Goose Caucus3 8

Gore, Charles W0 9

G o r k y , M a x i m46G o v e r n m e n t o f U . S . A .

Communists and the5 5

Destruction demanded6 5

O v e r t h r o w b y v i o l e n c e1 2 , 2 1 8

R e p r e s e n t a t i v e R e p u b l i c a nGrable, E . F2 8

G r a i n e l e v a t o r s9 9 , 2 5 1

G r a n g e s , r a d i c a l8G r a n t , R e v . P e r c y S t i c k n e y73G r e e n , W i l l i a m5G r e e n w a y , J a c k1G r i f f i t h s , D. W4 9 , 1 5 0

G r i f f i t h s , G e o r g e H6G r i f f i t h , R a y m o n d5 1

Grow, Curley4Guatemala20

H

H a e s s l e r , C a r l0H a i t i19Hale, Swinburne1 7

H a m m e r s m a r k , S a m u e l T07H a p g o o d , N o r m a n

A c c e p t s S i n c l a i r ' s " M o b l a n d . .8Am . C i v i l L i b . U n i o n3E d i t o r , H e a r s t ' s M a g a z i n e8



H a r r i s o n , C a l e b

A r r e s t e d a t B r i d g m a n1Chairman Presidium2F r i e n d s S o v i e t R u s s i a8N o t i f i e d o f a r r i v a l o f d e t e c t i v e s8Worker's Party Convention8H a r t m e n t , Dr . Ja c o b W8H a r v a r d U n i v e r s i t y

A s a c e n t e r o f r a d i c a l i s m8A s s o c i a t e d c l u b s o f0C o s m o p o l i t a n C l u b o f4Negroes from8 9

H a r v a r d L i b e r a l C l u b

A f f i l i a t e d A m e r . C i v . L i b . U n i o n . . 1 2 3

H a r v e s t s t i f f1 1 , 1 1 3

H a r v e s t e r T r u s t1 9

Hat, Cap and Millinery Workers5 , 1 8 6

H a u f f b r a u e r , L e o7 3

H a u p t m a n5 1

H a v a n a2 0

H a y e s , M a x S7 3

H a y e s , W i l l4 1

N o t p o p u l a r w i t h C h a r l i e C h a p l i n . . . . 1 5 0

N e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h C h a r l e s R e c h t 1 5 2

H a y w o o d , W i l l i a m D . , ( B i g B i l l ) . . 2 9 , 4 6 , 6 0

H e a l t h I n s u r a n c e8 2

Hearst, William R1H e a r s t ' s M a g a z i n e , a p u b l i c a t i o n3H e d l u n d , G u y4 9

H e l l e r , Ab r a h a m Aa r o n

R e c e i v e s $ 4 8 , 0 0 0 f r o m B e r l i n4H e l s i n g f o r s5 , 1 6 2

H e n r y C u r t i s D o w C o m p a n y6H e n r y S t r e e t S e t t l e m e n t8 3

H e r a l d , Ne w Y o r k4 4

H e r b e r t , F r e n c h r e v o l u t i o n a r y, 6 1

H e r r i n M a s s a c r e s2 9 , 1 3 0

Hibben, Captain Paxton0 6 , 1 0 7 , 1 8 7

Acts for Russian Red Cross0 3

B o a r d o f U . S . A r m y a p p o i n t e d t od e t e r m i n e f i t n e s s0 3

Endorsed by friends of Sov . R u s s i a . . 1 0 7

G o e s t o M o s c o w0 3 , 1 0 4

O r g a n i z e s r e l i e f d r i v e0 3

P r a i s e d b y I z v e s t i a0 5 '

P e r s o n a l h i s t o r y0 3

P l a c e s a w r e a t h o n J o h n R e e d ' s g r a v e . . 1 0 7

P l a n s a n a p p e a l t o f a r m e r s1 0

S a i l s f o r B e r l i n0 4

Soc . o f A m e r i c a n R e l i e f f o r t h e

C h i l d r e n o f R u s s i a0 4

V i s i t s o f a r t i s t s t o U . S . , p l a n n e d b y . . 1 4 3

H i l l m a n , S i d n e y ,

A m e r . C o m . R e l i e f R u s s . C h i l d0 4

C l o s e t o J . P. C a n n o n4 8


P r e s . , A m a l . C l o t h . Wo r k e r s5Russian-Amer . I n d u s . C o r p8 1

Russian Red Cross0 4

S t a t e m e n t c o n c e r n i n g S o v i e t R u s s i a . . 1 0 4

H i l l q u i t , M o r r i s

( M i s c a H i l k o w i c z ) . . 4 6 , 6 1 , 1 1 7 , 1 2 1 , 1 4 8

Hocbheimer5 1

Hoffman, see Morris Kushinsky .

H o l l a b a r , A l l e n3 , 1 5 0

H o l l a n d5Hollywood movie colony

c a n v a s s e d f o r f u n d s8H o l m e s , R e v . Jo h n H a y n e s


A n t i - A m e r i c a n o r g a n i z a t i o n s2 1

A A . L. L8 3

I n t e r c o l l e g i a t e L i b e r a l L e a g u e9I n M o s c o w0 5

INDEX

[2791

R e l i e f f o r R u s s i a n C h i l d r e n0 5

C i v i l L i b e r t i e s B u r e a u8 6

H o l t , H a m i l t o n 1 2 1

H o m e Co l o n y o f An a r c h i s t s4H o m e , d e s t r u c t i o n o f0Hooker, George B0Hoover, Sec'y of Commerce02H o o v e r , J o h n E7Hopkins, Prince3 , 8 3 , 1 5 1

Houghton, Dr . H a r r i s A7H o u s e o f C o m m o n s57H o u s e w i v e s7 7

Howatt, Alexander4 , 1 3 0

H o w e , F r e d ' k C .

A m e r . C i v L i b . U n i o n6H o w e l l , S e n a t o r ( N e b r a s k a )9H u e b s c h , B . W1 7

H u g h e s , H o n . C h a s . E . , S e c ' y o f S t a t e . .1 2 0

H u l l H o u s e , Ch i c a g o8 1

Hungarian Federation in America3 3

H u n g a r i a n C o m m u n i s t P a r t y4H u n g a r i a n S o c i a l i s t F e d e r a t i o n8H u n g a r y ,R e v o l u t i o n a r y c o n d i t i o n s i n3R e v o l u t i o n i n 2 3 3

I

r d g e s k o m , s e e A l l - R u s s i a n J e w i s h R e l i e f

Committee .

I d i o t , T h e , a p l a y5 1

I l l e g a l ( N o . 1) Branch, C . P. A .

M u s t c o n t i n u e , v i o l a t i o n s o f l a w u n d e r

c o v e r o f , e t c4N o t t o b e e x p o s e d4P e r m a n e n c y o f5R e l a t i o n s t o l e g a l ( N o . 2 ) b r a n c h . . . . 2 5

To control Communist forces3 7

I l l i n o i s c o a l f i e l d s2 9

I l l i n o i s S t a t e F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r . . 1 3 2

I m p e r i a l i s m , A m e r i c a n1 9 , 2 2 1

C a p i t a l i s m i n L a t i n - A m e r i c a7I n d i a5 , 7 4

I n d u s t r i a l A c t i v i t i e s

Co m m u n i s t s i n8 , 1 2 7 , 2 2 9

Industrial Communism and the I . W . W . 1 6 1

I n d u s t r i a l C o u r t ( K a n s a s )8 9 , 2 5 0

I n d u s t r i a l U n i o n i s m2Industrial Workers of the World

A c r i m i n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n1A m e r i c a n C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n2 3

C h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n b y C o m m u n i s t s1 3

Def e n s e Co m m i t t e e5Excluded from Conf . P r o . P o l i t . A c t i o n 4 3

F o r m a t i o n o f4L i q u i d a t i o n o f b y C o m m u n i s t s3 6


N o t c o n c e r n e d i n j u s t i c e1R e p r e s e n t a t i o n a t U n i o n C o n v e n t i o n . . 1 2 8

R e d T r a d e s U n i o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l e3 1

R e p r e s e n t e d i n W o r k e r s ' P a r t y8W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r r e s i g n s5

I n s i n u a t i o n s , i n t o p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s

b y C. P. A1I n s u r a n c e , s o c i a l , b y t h e S t a t e8 2

I n s u r a n c e , c o m p u l s o r y h e a l t h8 2

Inter-church World Movement5 , 1 1 9

I n t e r - c o l l e g i a t e L i b e r a l L e a g u e

Branches addressed by Upton Sinclair 6 4

Or g a n i z a t i o n o f8 , 5 9

P e r s o n n e l o f9I n t e r - c o l l e g i a t e S o c i a l i s t L e a g u e6 , 5 8

I n t e r l o c k i n g d i r e c t o r a t e s0I n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n o f M a c h i n i s t s . . 4 4 , 4 5



I n t e r n a t i o n a l B r o t h e r h o o d o f B l a c k s m i t h s

a n d H e l pe r s4I n t e r n a t i o n a l B r o t h e r h o o d o f B o i l e r -

m a k e r s4I n t e r n a t i o n a l B r o t h e r h o o d o f S t a t i o n a r y

F i r e m e n a n d O i l e r s4I n t e r n a t i o n a l e o f F o r m e r C o m b a t a n t s . . . . 1 6 2

I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n g r e s s o f W o m e n . . 1 8 0

In t e r n a t i o n a l L a d i e s G a r m e n t Wo r k e r sU n i o n7 , 1 3 1 , 1 3 2

A s a J e w i s h o r g a n i z a t i o n5 , 1 3 6

C o n d i t i o n s i n B a l t i m o r e8 8

International League of Working Women 1 8 1

International Propaganda Bureau of the

T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l e2 , 7 9

International Secretariat of CommunistW o m e n ( M o s c o w )6 9

I n t e r n a t i o n a l e , T h i r d , s e e T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l e .

I n t e r n a t i o n a l T r a d e s U n i o n , s e e T r a d e s

U n i o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l e .

I n t e r n a t i o n a l O x y g e n C o4I n t e r n a t i o n a l R e d C r o s s 9 9

I n t e r n a t i o n a l W o r k e r s ' F a m i n e R e l i e f

Co m m i t t e e0 4

I n t e r n a t i o n a l W o m e n ' s S u f f r a g e A l l i a n c e . . 1 8 0

I n t e r n a t i o n a l i s m a n d W o r l d R e v o l u t i o n . 1 6

In w o o d Co u n t r y Cl u b4I r e l a n d3 , 3 5

I r i s h - A m e r i c a n L a b o r A l l i a n c e8Italian Chamber of Commerce49I t a l i a n W o r k e r s F e d e r a t i o n8I t a l y3 , 2 5

I v a n o v i t c h , I v a n , s e e I v a n N a r o d n y .

Izvestia, a p u b l i c a t i o n, 1 0 5 , 1 4 3

J

J a p a n3 , 7 4 , 1 9 4 , 1 9 5 , 2 4 7

J a p a n o p h o b i a47J e s u s C h r i s t1 9 , 1 6 1

J e s u s - T h i n k e r s1 9

Jewish Public Committee0 1

Jewish Barbers3 3

J e w i s h S o c i a l i s t F e d e r a t i o n4 , 8 8

J e w i s h W o r k e r s , t o b e o r g a n i z e d a g a i n s t

K K. K9 1

J e w i s h W o r k e r s ' F e d e r a t i o n8Jews, Active in Nuclei Work3 5

J o h n s o n , S e n a t o r ( M i n n e s o t a )9J o h n s o n , T e m p l e t o n2Jo h n s t o n , Wi l l i a m H .

C a l l e d a S o c i a l i s t3Co n f . P r o g . P o l i t . A c t i o n5I n t e r . M a c h i n i s t s U n i o n3L a u d e d b y S o c i a l i s t p a p e r s4 , 4 5

P e o p l e s L e g i s . S e r v i c e3J o r d a n , D a v i d S t a r r2 1

Journal of the American BankersA s s o c i a t i o n

u g o - S l a v i au n g l e , T h e , a f i l mu r y i n t r i a l o f W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e ru s t i c e , D e p t . o fK a h n , O t t o H .

B a c k s R u s s i a n A r t T h e a t r e4 5 ,Backs Chauve-Sourisacks Morris Gestm pl o y s P a u l Cr a v a t haiser, Thealinin, Mem . P o l i t . B u r e a uamenev, Rosenfeld

I n c h a r g e o f p r o p a g a n d aINDEX

7 9

2 5

1482 0 9

213

1461 4 6

1 4 5

1 8 5

183

1 0

M e m b e r , P o l i t . B u r e a u0W i f e o f , s i s t e r o f T r o t z k y0

K a m i n s k y , M a x6 , 9 9

K a n e , F r a n c i s F i s h e r7 3 , 1 7 5 , 2 1 7

K a r o l y i4K a h u b , M r s . M a r t h a1 , 8 2

K a t a y a m a2 , 1 5 3

K a t t e r f i e l d, I ,. E1 9

Ke a t i n g , E d w a r d5 , ' 4 6K e l l e y , R o b e r t F, 9 , 1 1 , 1 2

Kellogg, Paul U8 6

K e l l y , M r s . F l o r e n c e ( W i s h n e w e t z k e y ) . . 1 8 7

Kendrick, Senator (Wyoming)9K h i n c h u c k , P r e s i d e n t o f C e n t r o y u z 106Kirchwey, Freda78K l i e f o t h , A . W, 9 3

K n u d s o n2K o l o r a v2K o n i k o w , M r s . A n t o i n e t t e F5K o p p , W i g d o r ( K o p e l e v i c h )6Ko r e a4K o r z y b s k a , C o u n t e s s ( L a d y E d g e r l y ) 8 2

K o v n e 7 5

K o w a l s k y , J o s e p h38K r a s s i n , B4 , 1 4 3

K r e s t i n s k y , N i c h o l a s0 4

K r o n s t a d t , F l e e t5 7

Krumbein, Charles1K u h n , L o e b & C o8 5 , 1 8 7

K u K l u x K l a n

I n f i l t r a t i o n o f , b y C o m m u n i s t s9 3

L i q u i d a t i o n o f . demanded9 9 , 2 5 1

M e n a c e t o w o r k i n g c l a s s1 9 3

O p p o s i t i o n t o n e g r o e s2 2 , 1 9 2

S t r i k e b r e a k i n g b o d y9 7 , 2 4 8

K u n , B e l a , s e e B e l a C o h e n .

K u r s k y5Kushinsky, Morris (Hoffman)75Kusinen2 , 1 3 , 1 8 3 , 1 9 4 , 2 4 9 , 2 5 0 , 2 5 6

L

Labor, Department of13L a b o r , a p u b l i c a t i o n . :5 , 4 7

Labor Age, a p u b l i c a t io n6 , 4 7

Labor Banks5L a b o r B o a r d , U . S9 8 , 2 5 0

Labor Defense Couneil7 1 , 1 7 6

Co o pe r a t i n g Co m . D e f e n d a n t s7 4

H e a d q u a r t e r s o f7 4

P u r p o s e o f7 8

P r o v i s i o n a l N a t . Co m7 4

L a b o r F i l m Ma g a z i n e4 8

Labor Film Service4 7 , 1 4 9

Labor Film Service Co4 8

L a b o r - H e r a l d , T h e , a p u b l i c a t i o n

Edited by William Z . F o s t e r0F o s t e r s e c u r e s s u p p o r t f o r0 8

T r a d e U n i o n E d u c a . L e a g u e8 , 9 1

L a b o r M o n t h l y , a p u b l i c a t i o n5 9

Labor News, a p u b l i c a t i o n0Labor Party (England)6 7 , 2 6 7

L a b o r P u b l i c a t i o n S o c i e t y5 , 4 7

L a b o r R e v i e w , a p u b l i c a t i o n0L a b o r T e m p l e , ( L o s A n g e l e s )1L a b o r U n i o n P r e s s , c o n t r o l o f0 0 , 2 5 2

Ladies Waist Makers Union3 3

L a F o l l e t t e , S e n a t o r ( W i s c o n s i n )61L a G u a r d i a , Co n g r e s s m a n (N . Y . )8 1

L a i sv e , a p u b l i c a t i o n8L a n d i s a w a r d , ( C h i c a g o )3 2

L a n g , J o s e p h , s e e J o s e p h P o g a n y .

L a pp . D r . J o h n A7 8

7 5 L a r k i n3 8[ 2W]



L a s k y , J e s s e5 0

L a t h r o p , R e v . C h a r l e s M . 1 1 9

L a t i n - A m e r i c a2 1 - 2 2 2

C o m m u n i s t a c t i v i t y i n7 , 2 8

I n v e s t m e n t s a n d s t r i k e b r e a k i n g i n . . . . 220

Masses of19L a t i n - A m e r i c a w o r k e r s c a n n o t f i g h t a l o n e 2 2 0

L a u g h l i n , J . B7L a w r e n c e , Mr s . P a t r i c k21L a w s , s h o r t c o m i n g s o f o u r1 1

L a z a r d , J u l i u s7 3

L e a c h , A g n e s B r o w n 1 8 6

L e a g u e f o r A m n e s t y f o r P o l i t i c a l

P r i s o n e r s2 0

L e a g u e f o r In d u s . Democracy . . 4 5 , 4 6 , 5 3 , 5 8

L e a g u e o f N a t i o n s9 6 , 2 4 7

L e a g u e t o E n f o r c e P e a c e8 7

L e e , L i l a5 0 , 1 5 1

Legal Branch, (No . 2) C . P . A . . . . 2 2 6

S e e a l s o i l l e g a l b r a n c h ( N o . 1 ) .

B u l l e t i n c o n c e r n i n g r e l a t i o n s7F i n a n c i n g o f5R e l a t i o n s o f b r a n c h e s4 , 1 6 5 , 2 2 5

L e m b k i n , C y r i l1L e n i n , N i c o l a i, 1 0 , 1 1D i r e c t s C . P. A . p o l i c i e s0L e t t e r t o S t e i n m e t z9W r i t i n g s o f2Orders by0 1

Lenin boys4L e r n e r , M a x2Levin, Emanuel2L e w i s o h n , A d o l p h8 2

L e w i s o h n , A l i c e86L i b e r a t o r , a p u b l i c a t i o n . . 7 9 , 1 1 9 , 1 8 5 , 1 9 0

L i b e r t y , E q u a l i t y , F r a t e r n i t yLiebknecht day 66Liggett, Walter W9 , 1 0 0

L i l l i e , F r a n c i s C73L i l l i e , M r s . F r a n c i s C0L i n d g r e n , E25Linville, Henry R7 3

L i q u i d a t o r s , n o t t o b e t o l e r a t e d8Literary Digest, a p u b l i c a t io n9L i t e r a t u r e , C o m m u n i s t0L i t h u a n i a n R e l i e f C o m m i t t e e8L i t v i n o v

C o n d u c t s p r o p a g a n d a s e c t i o n i n R e v a l 7 5

Member, All-Russ . C e n t . E x . C o m . . . 7 4

" N o d a n g e r o f f a m i n e i n R u s s i a "77R u s s i a n R e d C r o s s o f f i c i a l0 2

L o c h n e r , L o u i s P9 , 8 0 , 1 2 1 , 1 2 3

L o c h r a y , J . A0L o d g e , H o n . H e n r y C . ( M a s s . )

7 , 8 , 9 , 1 2 , 1 2 0

Loeb, Dr . J a c q u e s2 1

Loeb, Moritz J4 9 , 1 7 3 , 1 7 4

L o n d o n , c e n t e r o f p r o p a g a n d a i n5L o d e , L u d w i g5 , 9 8

Los Angeles (CaL) radical teaching in

s c h o o l o f7L o v e jo y , O w e n

A A. L. L8 3

Child Labor Committee8 6

D i r e c t o r , N a t . I n f . B u r e a u8 6

W r o t e `Sh a d e s o f Ni g h t " L e t t e r t o

Debs8 6

L o v e s t o n e , J . (L . C . W h e a t )At B r i d g m a n , Mi c h1 , 2 2

A u t h o r o f T h e s i s o n R e l a t i o n s3A f r i c a n B l o o d B r o t h e r h o o d5Brought $32,000 from Germany2 , 7 4

C o n f i d e n t i a l b u l l e t i n b y1 4

C e n t . E x . Cow . , C . P . A5INDEX

[ 2 8 1 ]

E x e c . s e c t y . , C . P . A3N e w s l e t t e r r e l e a s e6 , 2 3 9

L o v e t t , R o b e r t M o r s s ,

A m e r . C i v i l . L i b . Union1 7

Fed . P r e s s L e a g u e0L e t t e r t o B r u c e R o g e r s3Lozovsky2Lu n a c h a r s k y4L u s k C o m m i t t e e ( N . Y . L e g i s l a t u r e )

R e p o r t6 , 1 2 3 , 1 2 4 , 1 8 2 , 1 8 5 , 1 8 6

M c

M c B r i d e , I s a a c0 0 , 1 0 6

M c C r e e d y , M a u d0Mc G i l l , Ja m e s H0 0

M c K a y , C l a u d e 1 9 0

M c M a n u s . : . . . . 1 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

M c M i l l a n , E2McKellar, Senator (Tenn . )9M c N a m a r a s , T h e0MM a c L e a n5Ma d d e n , Ma r t i n B1 9

Ma i n t e n a n c e o f Wa y U n i o n2 8

M a j e s t i c T h e a t r e , L o s A n g e l e s5 1

M a n e s , R a b b i J u d a h L .

Endorses Labor Film Service4 9

Mandel, Benjamin 1 7 3

M a n d e l l , M a x S o l o m o n6M a n i o n , E . J5Manly, Basil M6Ma n n e r s . L a d y D i a n a4 6

M a r a t , F r e n c h r e v o l u t i o n a r y, 6 1

Ma r k s , L o u i s 6 5

M a r r i a g e , c h u r c h , b y C o m m u n i s t s i sR u s s i aM a r t e n s , L u d w i g C . A . K .

7 4 , 9 8 , 1 0 0 , 1 5 2 , 2 1 7

Ma r x, Ka r l2 , 1 7 8

8 7

4 6

4 6

2 8 3

7 9

186

9 5

6 0

8 1

9 8

190

1 4 8

Methodist Fed . f o r S o c i a l S e r v i c e 1 1 9

M e t r o p o l i t a n L i f e I n s u r a n c e C o . . . 1 8 4 , 1 8 5

Me t r o po l i t a n O pe r a H o u s e (N . Y . ) 1 4 5

Me xi c o1 , 1 0 5, 2 1 9 , 2 2 0 , 2 2 1

M i c h a i l o v s k y , D r . M i c h a e l . . . . 1 0 0 , 1 0 1 , 1 0 5

M i c h i g a n , A n t i - S y n d i c a l i s t l a w s o f . . 2 0 8 , 2 1 3

M i d w e s t L a b o r N e w s , a p u b l i c a t i o n . . . . 8 0

M i h e l i c , J2M i l i t a r y I n t e l l i g e n c e S e c t i o n , U . S .

A r m y1 7

M i n e r s , i n f i l t r a t i o n o f C o m m u n i s m

a m o n g 3 2

M i n n e a p o l i s

R e p o r t o n l a b o r c o n d i t i o n s i n3 4

T r a d e s u n i o n s o f , r a i s e m o n e y2Trades and Labor Council74

M i n o r , R o b e r t

A d v . Co m . F r i e n d s S o v . R u s s i a8A t B r i d g m a n , M i c h1C o n v e n t i o n c o m m i t t e e7Ma r xi a n t h e o r y

a r s h , B e n j a m i n C3 ,M a r v i n , F r e d R7 , 4 3 ,Ma s s e s , Th e2 5 ,Masses, The, a p u b l i c a t i o na u r e r , J a m e s H7 ,

Meat Cutters Union of New York City . .

Mediation Commission in Mooney case . .

M e l l e n t i n e , M r sendelsohn, Dr . W i l l i a me s s e n g e r , T h e , a p u b l i c a t i one t a l l i f e r o u s w o r k e r s



C h a i r m a n , Adjustment C o m4E x . C o m . , C. P. A3L e t t e r b y A l b e r t F . C o y l e t o2P o r t r a i t o f6W a r r e c o r d9M i n o r i t i e s , s e c r e t l y o r g a n i z e d, 1 0 , 1 6

M i s s i o n P i c t u r e s C o r p o r a t i o n5 0

M i t c h e l , J o h n4 8

M o b l a n d , a n o v e l8M o b r u l eMoghilevskyM o l e s , O u r B o l s h e v i s t57M o l o t o r0M o n o p o l y o f l e g a l i t yMo n r o e Do c t r i n e2 12 1

Montreal Trades and Labor Council .

.

. .

.

. 9 8

M o o n e y c a s e3 2

M o r a n , M i s s1M o r r o w , F r a n k , " K 9 7 "10M o s c o w

C . P. A . , r e p o r t s t o3 1 e t s e q .

S e t t l e s f a c t i o n a l f i g h t6U n d e r s t a n d s s i t u a t i o n i n U . S . A . . . . 3 0

W o r l d r e v o l u t i o n i nM o s c o w A r t T h e a t r eM a n a g e d b y M o r r i s G e s t4 5

P e r m i s s i o n f o r A m e r i c a n t r i p4 2

R e l a t i o n s w i t h S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t . . . . 1 4 4

Mo s e l e y , C . A0M o u n t V e r n o n , N . Y2 2

M o v i e s , C o m m u n i s t s a c t i v e i n4 1

M o v i n g p i c t u r e t r u s t8 5

Moyer, Charles0 , 1 4 8

Mueller, see Ivan Narodny .

Mulattoes in U . S9 0

M u r p h y , D r . H e l e n7 5

NNames,

C h a n g e o f , t o h i d e p u r p o s e8Secret Communist party1

N a p o l e o n , R e d o r B o l s h e v i k , s e e P o g a n y ,

J o s e p h4N a r o d n y , I v a n ; a l i a s , M u e l l e r , I v a n I v a n -

o v i t c h , J a a n S i b o u l , J a a n N a r o d n y . . 7 9

Na s m y t h , Dr . G e o r g e W2 1

Nation, Th e, a p u b l i c a t i o n8 , 1 8 5 , 1 8 6

N a t i o n a l A s s o c . f o r A d v a n c e m e n t o f

C o l o r e d P e o p l e8 7

N a t i o n a l C h i l d L a b o r Co m m i t t e e 1 8 6

National City Bank (N . Y . )19N a t i o n a l C i v i l L i b e r t i e s B u r e a u2 0

National Committee for Organizi ng Iron

and Steel Workers2 2

N a t i o n a l C o n s u m e r s L e a g u e8 7

N a t i o n a l C r o a t i a n S o c i e t y8N a t i o n a l D e f e n s e C o m m i t t e e1 9

N a t i o n a l F e d e r a t i o n o f F e d e r a l

Employee s2 , 5 3

N a t i o n a l I n d u s t r i a l C o n f e r e n c e B o a r d 4 6

N a t i o n a l I n f o r m a t i o n B u r e a u . . . 1 8 3 , 1 8 4 , 1 8 5

National Labor Alliance for Trade Re-l a t i o n s w i t h R u s s i a5 , 4 9

National League of Women Voters8 0

Na t i o n a l St u d e n t F o r u m8National Women's Committee, C . P . A . . 9 0

N a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f w o m e n a n d c h i l d r e n . . 2 0

N av y , U . S .

Co m m u n i s t s a n d t h e55N u c l e i i n5 6 , 1 5 8

N e a r F a s t s i t u a t i o n i n5 6

N e a r i n g , S c o t t . . . 1 1 7 , 1 2 1 , 1 4 9 , 1 5 2 , 1 8 6

N e e d l e T r a d e s W o r k e r s ' A l l i a n c e3 1N eg r o a n d Co m m u n i s m ,

INDEX

[ 2 8 2 1

Instructions concerning, from Moscow 189O p p oses K . K . K9 1

O r g a n i z a t i o n o f d a r k e r r a c e s9 1

O r g a n i z a t i o n o f9 1

R a c e s t r u g g l e9 2

R a c e e q u a l i t y a n d p r i d e9 0 , 1 9 1

N e l l e s , W a l t e r1 7

N e s t o r , M i s s A g n e s0 , 1 8 1 , 1 8 3

Neurath2Ne w b e r r y i s m2New Economic Policy (Nep)6New England Workers Association . . 9 8

New M a j o r i t y , T h e , a p u b . . . . 8 0 , 9 5 , 1 0 7 , 1 7 4

Ne w R e p u b l i c , T h e , a p u b l i c a t i on8 , 1 8 5

N e w Y o r k A c a d e m y o f M e d i c i n e . . 1 0 0

N e w Y o r k C i t y , e l e c t i o n s i n8 1 , 2 8 1

N e w Y o r k C a l l , a p u b l i c a t i o n9N e w Y o r k C o m m e r c i a l , a p u b l i c a t i o n . . . . 1 7 , 4 6

Ne w Y o r k Ch a r i t y Tr u s t84N i c a r a g u a1 9

N i l e s , A l f r e d S17Nineveh9 4

N o M o r e W a r D a y3Non-Partisan League2 , 4 7

A n d C . P . A5 , 1 1 2

In Da k o t a1 2

N o n - P a r t i s a n R e l i e f C o m m i t t e e3N o r d l i n g , Z e t h 2 2

N o r r i s , S e n a t o r ( N e b r a s k a )9N u c l e i

Communist report to Moscow3 1 e t s e qI n c o n s e r v a t i v e l a b o r u n i o n s4I n G o v e r n m e n t b u r e a u s6 5 -

I n E n g l i s h o r g a n i z a t i o n s60I n i n d u s t r y2 7

I n A r m y a n d N a v y5 6 , 1 5 8

I n N e g r o o r g a n i z a t i o n s9 3

In England6 8

Nv. Tid, a p u b l i c a t i o n 8 0

Nytio, a p u b l i c a t i o n00

O b e r m e i e r , M7 3

Obregon (Mexico) 220O h s o l , Jo h n G0 1

C o n t r a c t f o r o r g a n i z e d R u s s i a n r e l i e f 1 0 0

Russian Red Cross9Society of Amer . R e l i e f f o r C h i l d , o f

R u s s i a0 5

O k l a h o m a F a r m L a b o r U n i o n7Older, Fremont1O n e B i g U n i o n4 ,4 , 1 8 2

O r d e r o f R . R . T e l e g r a p h e r s4O v e l l a n a ( G u a t e m a l a )20O r g a n i z a t i o n , m e t h o d s o f8 7

O r g a n i z a t i o n o f d i s o r d e rO r p h a n s o f t h e S t o r m , a f i l m49O w e n s , E d g a r8 , 1 1 9

P

P a c i f i s t o r g a n i z a t i o n s3 , 1 8 1

P a c i f i s m , e n c o u r a g e d i n a r m y a n d n a v y . . 1 5 5

P a c i f i s t s , f i g h t t o g e t p e a c e6P a l d a , Ju d g e L . J7P a n - Am e r i c a n Co m m u n i s t Co n f e r e n c e 2 2 2

Pan-American Fed . o f L a b o r2 1 , 2 2 3

Pan-American Communist Parties2 1

P a n - Am e r i c a n Co n f e r e n c e o f Wo m e n . . . 1 8 0

P a r i s ( F r a n c e )5P a r l i a m e n t , E n g l i s h57P a r s o n s , E l s i e2 1



P a r t y n a m e s , s t e a l i n g o f4P a r t y g o v e r n m e n t9P a s a d e n a , ( C a l i f . ) r a d i c a l m e e t i n g a t . . 8 3

P a s s a i c ( N . J . )2 2

P e a b o d y , G e o r g e F2 1

Peace and Work, a p u b l i c a t i o n5P e n n . S t a t e F e d . o f L a b o r7P e o p l e s C o m m i s s a r i a t f o r E d u c a t i o n . . . . 1 4 3

P e o p l e s C o u n c i l s1 2 3

P e o p l e s C o u n c i l o f A m e r i c a2 0

Peoples Freedom Union2 0

P e o p l e s L e g i s l a t i v e S e r v i c e3 , 4 5 , 4 7

P e o p l e s R e c o n s t r u c t i o n L e a g u e4 , 4 5 , 4 6

Pepper, John, see John Pogany .

P e r s i a4Peru20P e t r o g r a d S t a t e T h e a t r e4 7

P i c k e t i n g , p e a c e f u l9 8 , 2 5 0

P i n c h o t , Am o e1 , 1 2 1

Pinchot, Hon . G i f f o r d . . 1 2 1

P i n c h o t , M r s . G i f f o r d2 5 , 1 7 5

P i t t s b u r g h ( P e n n . )3 4

P l o t k i n , C o m r a d e5 1

P l u m b P l a n L e a g u e . . . . . 4 6

L a b o r a m a j o r f a c t o r i n . . . 1 9 9 , 2 5 1

S c h e m e f o r n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f R . R . . . 4 3

P og an y, J os ep h, a li as S ch wa rt z, J o hn

P e p p e r , J o s e p h L a n g , R e d o r B o l s h e -

v i k N a p o l e o n .

E x . Co m . , C . P A5G e t s c h e c k f r o m B i s h o p B r o w n 4 4 , 1 3 5

J e w i s h S o c i a l i s t F e d e r a t i o n (The

Bronx)4P o r t r a i t o f4P a c i f i s t a c t i v i t i e s i n H u n g a r y4Point Loma (Cal . )3P o l a n d ,

L e g a l i t y o f C o m m u n i s t p a r t y5R e v o l u t i o n a r y c o n d i t i o n s i n3

P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u , C e n t . E x . C o m . ,

C o m . P a r t y o f R u s s i a ( P o l i t . b u r e a u ) 1 8 , 1 1

P o l i t ic a l p a r t i e s i n U . S .

L o o s e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f9Wa r n i n g s f r o m1

P o l i t i c a l p r o g r a m o f C o m m u n i s t s7P o l i t i c s , C o m m u n i s t a c t i v i t y i n5 , 3 9

P o l l i t t , M59P o r t o R i c o1Post, London5 7 , 2 5 9

P o s t , L o u i s F0 0 , 1 6 5 , 2 1 6

P o s t O f f i c e D e p a r t m e n t1 3

P o u n d , R o s c o e17P r a g u e5P r e s b y t e r i a n c e n s o r s h i p o f t h e m o v i e s . . 150

Presidium of Congress of Third Inter-n a t i o n a l e2P r e s i d i u m s , s y s t e m o f4 , 2 2 7

P r e s s ,

C o m m u n i s t s a c t i v e i n t h e5E n g l i s h C o m m u n i s t s a n d6 3

M e t h o d s o f c o n t r o l4P r e v y , Mr s . M a r g a r e t88, 99P r og r es s i v e, d e fi n i t i on o f 4 0

P r o l e t a r i a n d i c t a t o r s h i p, 1 3 , 2 6 , 2 2 7

C l a s s s t r u g g l e9 7 - 2 4 9

In E n g l a n d5 7 , 2 6 0

N o t o b j e c t i v e o f r e v o l u t i o n5O b j e c t o f c l a s s s t r u g g l e6P r o l e t a r i a n p a r t y7 3 - 1 7 4

P r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n2 1

The farmers in1 1

P r o l e t a r i a t o f U . S6O f P a n - Am e r i c a2 3

P r o p a g a n d a i n U . S6P r a v d a , a p u b l i c a t i o n, 1 0

INDEX

[2831

RR a c e p r e j u d i c e•12R a c e r i o t s8 9 , 1 9 8

R a c h m a n i n o f f , S e r g e i 1 4 6

R a d e k , K a r l

A l l - R u s s i a n C e n t . E x . C o m m4D i r e c t s C . P . ' A . 8 0

I n t e r n a t . p r o p a g a n d a b u r e a u 2 2

Member, Presidium of Comintern . . 1 2

Orders signed by8 , 1 8 3 , 1 9 4 , 2 6 6

R e b u k e s s t r i k i n g m i n e r s5 8 , 2 6 0

R a d i c a l p u b l i c a t i o n s a n d l i t e r a t u r e1R a d i c a l s , d e f i n i t i o n o f1R a d i c a l i s m

A m o n g n e g r o e s89I n s c h o o l s a n d c o l l e g e s6

R a k o v s k y6R a i l r o a d B r o t h e r h o o d s 4 4

P r o po s e d Al l i a n c e w i t h U n i t e d Mi n eWr k e r s9 9

R a i l r o a d t e l e g r a p h e r s 1 3 1

R a i l r o a d W o r k e r s , C o m m u n i s m a m o n g . . 8 2

R a i l w a y C a r m e n ' s U n i o n8Railway Review, a p u b l i c a t i o n6R a l s t o n , J a c k s o n H1 6 , 2 1 7

R a l s t o n , S e n a t o r ( I n d i a n a ) 4 9

R a n d S c h o o l o f S o c i a l S c i e n c e . . 4 5 , 4 6 , 4 7 , 7 4

R a y , C h a r l e s8 , 1 6 0

R e b e l W o r k e r , a p u b l i c a t i o n8 5

R e c h t , C h a r l e s0 0

Appo i n t m e n t w i t h No r m a Ta l m a d g e . . 1 5 2

A t t e m p t s p r o p a g a n d a i n m o v i e s4 1

N e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h W i l l H a y s5 2

R e c o g n i t i o n o f S o v i e t R u s s i a ,

8 , 6 8 , 1 3 2 , 1 7 0 , 1 9 9, 2 5 1

R e d A r m y0 3 , 1 0 4 , 1 5 2 , 1 5 6

R e d A r m y o f A m e r i c a63Red Flag, a song9R e d m o n t h36R e d N a p o l e o n4R e d T r a d e s U n i o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l e ,

R e

2 4 , 8 0 , 3 6 , 1 3 1 , 13 9 , 2 2 1 , 2 2 3 , 2 3 7

e d , J o h n0 6

R e i c h e l , D r . Leo S . • . • . 9 8 , 1 6 0

R e f l e c t i o n s b y E d m u n d B u r k e • . . . . • 6 , 6

R e i n s t e i n , B o r i s1 , 2 4

R e i s e r o f f , L i l l i a n 84

R e l i e f D r i v e s 1 0 8

R e l i e f o r g a n i z a t i o n

D i s g u i s i n g C o m m u n i s t a c t i v i t i e s . . . 2 0

Reports to Moscow3 1 e t s e q

R e u t e r s2R e v a l ( E s t h o n i a ). . .7 5

R e v o l u t i o n ,

B y l e g i s l a t i v e e n a c t m e n t9F r e n c h , s e e F r e n c h r e v o l u t i o n , i n t h e

A m e i i c a s28In U . S . A0P r o l e t a r i a n , a n d t h e f a r m e r11R u s s i a n , s e e R u s s i a n R e v o l u t i o n .

U n i v e r s a l , t h e g o a l o f t h e B o l s h e v i k s . . 7 8

R e v o l u t i o n a r y A g e , a p u b l i c a t i o n8 5

R e v o l u t i o n a r y S o c i a l i s t C o m m i t t e e

( F r a n c e )1R e y n o l d s , W1Rhine River (Germany)6 8

R i c k e r , A . W0 0

R i g a5R i t t e r , D r. . . 8 3

R o b e r t s o n , D . B. - 4 7

R o b e s p i e r r e F r e n c h r e v o l u t i o n a r y . . . . 6 , 6 1 , 6 2

Robins, Mrs . R a y m o n d6 , 1 8 1 , 1 8 3 , 1 8 6

Robinson Crusoe 1 5 0

R o g e r s , B r u c e

L e t t e r r e c e i v e d b y 1 1 7

Money getter for Communists5 1



INDEX

[ 2 8 4 ]

R a i s e s m o n e y for Federated P r a s s

L e a g u ee l l s s c e n a r i o t o J e s s e L a s k y

R o g e r s , W i l l3 ,

Romanoffso m e ( I t a l y )o o s e v e l t , T h e o d o r e,F o l l o w e r s o f , i n C on f . f o r P r o g . P o l i t .

A c t i o n1160150

6 1

7 5

216

4 2

6 0

7 4

7 6

7 5

6 5

7 5

1 7

1 4 4

1 6

2 3

7

3 5

1 7 6

S c h e n c k , J o s e p h6 0 , 1 6 2

S c h l e s s i n g e r , B e n j a m i n7 , 1 3 1

S c h l o s s b e r g , J o s e p h0S c h n e i d e r m a n , R o s e8 1

S c h o o l o f T h o u g h t6S c h o o l s

Co m m u n i s t , f o r y o u n g60S c h o o l s a n d C o l l e g e s

G e n e r a l c o n d i t i o n s6N u c l e i o f C o m m u n i s t s i n5S u p p o r t o f s c h o l a r s i n5Schwimmer, Rosika2 1

S c i e n c e o f G o d , a f i l m5 0

Se a m e n 's U n i o n 1 8 2

S e a r c h , M a b e l0S e a t t l e C e n t r a l L a b o r C o u n c i l8 , 1 8 3

S e c r e c y ,

E n j o i n e d o n C o m m u n i s t s4 , 3 7

O f h e a d q u a r t e r s , C . P . A04Se c r e t a r y o f Wa r6 6

S e n a t e o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s, 8

S e p t e m b e r m a s s a c r e s2S e v e r a n c e C l u b , L o s A n g e l e s1 , 8 3

S h a t s k i n2S h e e t m e t a l w o r k e r s4S h e l l e y C l u b ( L o s A n g e l e s )2S l o g a n s, 1 6 , 1 9 9 , 2 5 1

L e t t e r t o F e l i x F r a n k f u r t e ro s t a2 ,R o t e F a h n e , a p u b l i c a t i o no u m a n i a

R o x b u r y , ( M a s s . ) , M e e t i n g o f Y o u n gWo r k e r s ' L e a g u e

u b a l s k yuch, George Fu m i a n t s e f f , N i k o l a iu s s i a ,

A n d G e r m a n ye v o l u t i o n a r y c o n d i t i o n s i no v i e t G o v e r n m e n t o f , s e e S o v i e t

G o v e r n m e n t .

S t a r v i n g c h i l d r e n o f

S y m p a t h y f o r p e o p l e o f , b y W o r l d W a r

V e t e r a n su s s i a n - A m e r i c a n I n d u s t r i a l C o r p o r a t i o n

R u s s i a n A r m y

R u s s i a n C o m m u n i s t P a r t y , s e e C o m m u n i s t

P a r t y o f R u s s i a .

R u s s i a n F a i r a n d C o s t u m e B a l lu s s i a n a n d F r e n c h r e v o l u t i o n s c o m p a r e d

R u s s i a n R e d C r o s s

A m e r i c a n a c t i v i t i e sn o f f i c i a l S o v i e t o r g a n i z a t i o ny - l a w s o fa p t . P a x t o n H i b b e no n t r a c t w i t h D r . Dubrowskyoneys from Art Theatre, toe l a t i o n s w i t h S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t

Supported by Famine Scout Clubs

R u s s i a n R e l i e f A s s o c i a t i o nu s s i a n R e v o l u t i o n , i n f l u e n c e i n

America,R u s s i a n S o v i e t E m b a s s yu s s i a n S o v i e t R e p u b l i c,

Russian Telegraph Agencyu s s i a n - U k r a i n i a n W o r k e r s ' E d u c a t i o n a l

S o c i e t yu t h e n b e r g , C . E2 1 3

1 5 2

5

1099 9

1 0 2

1 0 3

1 0 0

1 4 2

1 0 1

9 9

1 4 5

1 8 3

7 4

177. 1 2

9 8

2 1 31 3

S t e l t o n , ( N e w J e r s e y )85S h e r i d a n , C l a i r e0 6

S h i l l a d y , J o h n R8 7

S h i p s t e a d , S e n a t o r ( M i n n e s o t a )9S i b o u l , J e a n , s e e I v a n N a r o d n y .

S i c k a n d B e n e f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n s3 5

S i n c l a i r , U p t o n2 , 6 3 , 8 2 , 1 4 8 , 1 51

Slaton, John W4 7

S m i t h C o l l e g e2Sm i t h , O . L . , D i s t . A t t y0 7 , 2 0 9

Sm i t h , Mr s . G . M7 , 5 8

S o b e l s o h n , T o b i a c h , s e e K a r l R a d e k .

S o c i a l - D e m o c r a t i c p a r t i e s9 8 , 2 4 9

S o c i a l S e r v ic e Bu l l e t i n, a p u bl i c a t i o n . . . . 1 1 9

S o c i a l i s m ,

First step towards Communism 4 2

S o c i a l i s t p a r t y9 , 4 2 , 4 7 , 1 7 3 , 1 7 4

S o c i a l i s t - L a b o r p a r t y7 3

S o c i a l i s t R e v i e w , a p u b l i c a t i o n6S o c i a l i s t i c p r o j e c t s , g o v e r n m e n t s u p p o r t

o fS o c i a l i s t s , l e f t w i n g a n d B o s t o n p o l i c e

s t r i k e55. . . .t Bridgman Conventiona b o r D e f . C o u n7 3 ,Na t . D e f . C o m .

P a r t y h i s t o r y5 , 1 0 7 , 1 0 9 ,

S p e a k s i n N Y. C i t yr i a l o f , a t S t . J o s e p h s , M i c h . . . 2 0 7 ,

2 1

1741 1 9

1 1 0

1 7 5

2 0 9

1 7 8

6 3

1 0

1311 4 9

1 8 5

251

2 0

1 3 3

1 3 4

4 7

8 2

219

57

1 7 3

S o c i a l i s t s C o n s u m e r s L e a g u e8S o c i e t y f o r M e d i c a l A i d t o S o v i e t R u s s i a 5 3

S oc i e t y f o r T e ch n i ca l A i d t o S o v i e t

R u s s i a8 , 1 2 9

S o f i a5S o l d i e r - W o r k e r , a p u b l i c a t i o n6 2

S o l d i e r s ' U n i o n s9 9 , 2 5 2

S o l i d a r i t y , a p u b l i c a t i o n0 , 9 5

So n g s , Co m m u n i s t6South America1 9 , 2 2 0

S o u v a r i n e2S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t o f R u s s i a

A b a n d o n m e n t o f Ne p6L a u d e d b y Co n f . P r o . P o l i t

. A c t i o n . . . .4 3

R e l i e v i n g p r e s u r e o n9 5 , 1 9 6 , 2 4 8

R e l a t i o n s t o T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l e 1 0

R e f u s e s t o a c c e p t d e p o r t e e s1 2

S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t

E s t a b l i s h m e n t o f i n t h e U . S5S o v i e t R u s s i a , a p u b l i c a t io n6S p a i n5S p a r t a c i s t s6 3

S p e c i a l C o m m i t t e e o f S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t

T o c o n t r o l i m m i g r a n t a c t o r s4 2

S p e c t o r s k y , E d i t h4R y a n , F a t h e r Jo h n Ay c k m a n , J u d g e J . Hy k o v

S a c c o a n d V a n z e t t i9 , 12 2 ,

S a c k i n , I . Ma g e F o u n d a t i o n s u b s i d i z e s Th e Su r v e y . .

S a i l o r s ' U n i o n s9 9 ,S t . J o s e p h ' s ( M i c h i g a n )t . L o u i s ( M i s s o u r i )t . Paul (Minn . )2 ,

Samuels, H . Fa n D i e g o ( C a l i f o r n i a )a n D o m i n g oa t u r d a y E v e n i n g P o s ta y r e , J o h n N e v i n



S p e n c e r , M i s s F a n n i e B i x b y3S p r e c k e l s , R u d o l p h

8 1

S p r o u l , M r s . Ma r i o n E5Stage, Communist activities concerningt h e4 1

S t a l i n0Standard Oil Co . 219

St a n d a r d St e e l Ca r Co4S t a n i s l a v s k y , C o n s t a n t i n e 1 4 5

S t a t e D e p a r t m e n t , s e e D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e .

S t a t e U n i v e r s i t i e s , r a d i c a l i s m i n2S t e e l S t r i k e O r g a n i z i n g C o m m i t t e e4S t e i n m e t z , C h a r l e s P .

L e t t e r t o L e n i n9S t o c k h o l d e r , R u s s . - A m e r . Indus. Corp . 1 8 1

S t e k l o v 120S t e r l i n g b i l l ( C o n g r e s s i o n a l )

1 4

St o c k h o l m (Sw e d e n ) 7 6

S t o k e s , R o s e P a s t o r

At Bridgman, Mich . 2 1

A m e r . C i v . L i b . U n i o n2 3

F r i e n d s S o v . R u s s i a8Stomuniak 75Stone, Dr3St o n e , Wa r r e n S . 4 5

S t r i k e s3 8

A n d C o m m u n i s t s2 7

B o s t o n P o l i c e5 5

C h i c a g o p a c k i n g 1 7 7

C o a l a n d r a i l r o a d ( 1 9 2 2 ) 2 0

G e n e r a l s t r i k e s7 , 1 2 9

M i n i n g , i n E n g l a n d2 9 8

S t r i k e b r e a k i n g i n L a t i n - A m e r i c a20Strong, Anna Louise

Mo s c o w Co r r e s . , F e d e r a t e d P r e s s . . . . 1 8 1

S t u d e n t s , R u s s i a n

F i n a n c e d a t U n i v . o f C a l i f . b y M o s c o w 6 5

S u c k e r l i s t s . . 2 0 , 8 2 , 1 2 4 , 1 7 5 , 1 7 6 , 18 7 , 2 1 7

S u l l i v a n , T . R2,129Su o m a R a a t a g e n Cl u b 5 7

Su pr e m e Co u r t , U . S .

Appeals to, by Amer . C i v i l L i b . U n i o n 1 1 9Supreme Soviet of Peoples' Economy in

t h e U . S4Supreme Literature and Publishing Ad-

m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h e R u s s i a n S o v i e t

G o v e r n m e n t2S u r v e y , T h e , a p u b l i c a t i o n8 5

S w a b e c k , A r n e0S w a n s o n , S e n a t o r ( V i r g i n i a )9S w e e t , G o v e r n o r ( C o l o r a d o )9S w i t z e r l a n d 7 5

Sy d e n h a m H o s pi t a l (Ne w Y o r k )00S y n d i c a l i s m )

B y W i l l i a m Z . F o s t e r6E m p h a s i z i n g t r a d e u n i o n i s m0O p p o s e d t o p a t r i o t i s m6

S z a m u e l l y4T

Tacoma Central Labor Council8T a c t i c s , t h e s i s o n o f 8 r d I n t e r n a t6 9

Taft, Ex-Pres William6" T a k e , e a t ; t h i s i s m y b o d y . " . . . ' . F r o n t i s p i e c e

Tallentire, Norman H2Talmadge, Constance5 3

T a l m a d g e , N o r m a

Appointment with Charles Recht . . . . 1 5 2

G o i n g t o M o s c o w9 2

Name in Communist files50R u s s i a n F a i r a n d B a l l53

T a l u e , J a a n , s e e I v a n N a r o d n y .

Taylor, John T . 1 7 3

INDEX

[ 2 8 5 1

T e a c h e r s C o u n c i l o f L o s A n g e l e s6 0

Tenhunen, Mattie0T e r r a c c i n i2Te xa s A g r i c u l t u r a l and M e c h a n i c a l

C o l l e g e5T h e a t r e , C o m m u n i s t a c t i v i t i e s i n4 1

T h e o s o p h i c a l S o c i e t y3T h i r d ( C o m m u n i s t ) I n t e r n a t i o n a l e37A c t i v a t e s p o l i t i c s i n U S . A2 6

A p p r o p r i a t e s $ 3 0 , 0 0 0 f o r p r o p a g a n d a i n

U. S2 6

Control of Pan-Amer . C o m . P a r t i e s . . . 2 2 2

C o n t r o l s B r i t i s h L a b o r P a r t y58Dominates C. P . A9E l e c t i o n o f E x . C o r n2F o u r t h C o n g r e s s o f a n d M a x E a s t m a n

a t9 0 , 2 2 2

L e a d e r s h i p o f N e g r o m o v e m e n t9 1

Organized by Lenin1O r g a n i z e s c o n s p i r a c y i n E n g l a n d5 8

P r o c l a m a t i o n o f E x . Co m . o f9R e l a t i o n s t o S o v i e t g o v e r n m e n t0R e l a t i o n s t o C . P . A3S e c t ' y o f W a r W e e k s a n d5 6

S e c o n d w o r l d c o n g r e s s o f5T h om a s , R e v . N o r m a n

A m e r . C i v i l L i b . U n i o n17C i v i l L i b . B u r e a u8 6


L a b o r F i l m S e r v i c e 1 4 9

T i m e s , N e w Y o r k4 4 , 1 4 5

T i n g l e y , K a t h e r i n e3T i p p e t t , T o m4T i s z a , C o u n t S t e p h e n8 3

T o l e d o ( O h i o )0T o m s k y

T o r o n t o ( C a n a d a ) Trades and L a b o r

C o u n c i l 9 8

T o u l o u s e ( F r a n c e ) 7 6

To w n l e y

Dr i v e n f r o m po w e r2Non-Partisan League3

Trade Union Educational League . . . 1 2 , 1 3 , 4 6

As a Communist organization3A v o i d i n g i l l e g a l a c t s8B u r e a u o f R . R . w o r k e r s3 1 , 1 3 2

E s t a b l i s h m e n t o f b r a n c h e s0Endorsed by Red Trades Union Inter-n a t i o n a l 3 1

G e n e r a l d e s c r i p t i o n o f1Labor Defense Council7 3 , 1 7 4

Organized by William Z . F o s t e r5R e l a t i o n s w i t h i l l e g a l b r a n c h4R e p r e s e n t e d a t B r i d g m a n C o n v e n t i o n . . 2 1 , 2 2

R e c o g n i z e d i n t r a d e u n i o n w o r k8T ra d e U n io n is m b y Wi l li a m Z . F o s t e r . . 9 7

Tr a d e U n i o n s

A s v o t e - g e t t i n g m a c h i n e s9Ca pt u r e o f b y Co m m u n i s t sC o m m u n i s t p o l i c y c o n c e r n i n g0C o m m u n i s t s a c t i v e i n4 , 2 5

U n i f i c a t i o n o f4T r i a l s , C o m m u n i s t , s e e C o m m u n i s t T r i a l s .

T r o t z k y , L e o n ( B r o n s t e i n ) 5 , 1 0 , 6 0 , 6 2 , 2 3 2

A g e n t s i n U S4 9

T r u t h , a p u b l i c a t i o n6 1 , 1 6 0

T u e l2T u l s a , m a s a c r e a t 1 6 1

Tu r k e y4Tvomies, a p u b l i c a t i o n0T w i l i g h t C l u b4Tyre9 4



UUnderground branch, C . P . A . .

. 2 0 3 , 2 5 6

U n i o n R e c o r d , ( S e a t t l e ) a p u b l i c a t i o n 8 0 , 1 3 3

U n i o n T h e o l o g i c a l S e m i n a r y19U n i t e d B r o t h e r h o o d o f Ma i n t e n a n c e o f

W a y E m p l o y e e s a n d R a i l w a y S h o p

L a b o r e r s 4 4

U n i t e d F r u i t Co1 9

U n i t e d M i n e W o r k e r s4 4 , 1 2 7 , 1 8 0 , 1 3 1 , 1 3 6 , 1 9 8

U n i t e d p o l i t i c a l f r o n t 8 7

U n i t e d F a r m e r s B l o c8U n i t e d F r o n t

Against Wall St2 1

Fundamentals of6O f L a b o r4 3

T a c t i c s o f t h e4 5

Workers' Party on the4 1

United Hat and Cap Makers' Union . . . . 1 3 1

U n i t e d H e b r e w Tr a d e s4 9

U n i t e d L a b o r C o u n c i l o f A m e r i c a3 1

United Labor Council of New York . . . . 1 3 1

United Press2United States Army, see Army .

U n i t e d S t a t e s

C e n t e r o f w e s t e r n c a p i t a l i s m2 2

D i v i d e d i n t o p r o p a g a n d a s e c t i o n s . . . . 1 3 6

D e m a n d s u p o n9 5

I n w e s t e r n p r o p a g a n d a s e c t i o n4M o r a l a n n e x a t i o n t o S o v i e t R u s s i a 2 0

U n i t e d T o i l e r s73U n i o n s , L a b o r

C o n t r o l o f , i n E n g l a n d6 5

F e d e r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n t4U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a4U n i v e r s i t y o f C h i c a g o3 , 6 4

U n i v e r s i t y o f I l l i n o i s4U n i v e r s i t y o f M i c h i g a n4U n i v e r s i t y o f P e n n s y l v a n i a4U n i v e r s i t y o f W i s c o n s i n3 , 6 4

U r u g u a y1 , 2 2 0

Uj $lore, a p u b l i c a t i o n6V

V a n T o l l , M r s3Van Winkle, Hotel, Los Angeles1V a s s a r C o l l e g e2V e n e z u e l a20V e r b l e n3 3

V i e n n a6 , 1 8 0

V i l l a r d , O s w a l d G a r r i s o n2 1 , 1 8 6

V i o l e n c e1 1

Voice of Labor, a p u b l i c a t i o n0 , 1 3 1

Vo lun ta ry Par en th oo d Lea gu e 187

V o n S t r o h e i m , E r i c ,3 , 1 5 0

V o r s e , Ma r y H e a t o n8 , 1 7 3

WWa l n u t , T. H e n r y7 5

W a g e n k n e c h t , A7W a g n e r , R o b6 0

W a l d , L i l l i a n D21,183 , 1 8 7

W a l d m a n , L o u i s4 9

W a l l S t r e e t6 , 2 8 , 4 3 , 1 6 4 , 2 2 1

W a l l e r s t e i n , D a v i d7 5 , 3 1 7

W a l s h , F r a n k P . 1 0 5 , 1 0 7 , 1 7 2 , 1 7 3 , 2 1 6

W a l t o n , G o v e r n o r ( O k l a h o m a )9War

H o r r o r s o f5 8

N o - Mo r e - W a r d a y s55W a r L a b o r B o a r d6W a r b a s s e , Dr . J a m e s P8 8

INDEX

[ 2 8 6 1

Warburg, Felix 1 8 7

W a r d , R e v . H a r r y F .

A m e r . C i v i l L i b . Union1 9

L e t t e r b y2 0

W a s h i n g t o n c o n f e r e n c e99 . 2 6 1

W a s h i n g t o n , G e o r g e , a n d t h e i n f l u e n c e o f

t h e F r e n c h R e v o l u t i o n i n A m e r i c a . . 6

Washington University Law School . . . . 9 1 7

W a t s o n , S e n a t o r ( I n d i a n a )0 1

D i e W e b e r , a p l a y6 1

Webster, Mrs . N e s t sW e e k s , H o n . J o h n W5 6

W e i n e r , M7 3

W e i n s t o n e , W . W8 , 1 2 5

W e l l e s l e y C o l l e g e 6 2

W e l l s , H u l e t M8 , 1 7 8

W e n t w o r t h , E . C0We s t , G e o r g e P . . . 1 7 8

W e s t e r n F e d e r a t i o n o f M i n e r s48West Indies1 9

We s t e r n H e m i s ph e r e2 9

W h e a t , L . C . , s e e J . L o v e s t o n e .

Wheeler, Senator (Montana)9W h i t e , W i l l i a m A l l e n1 7

W h i t e G u a r d A r m y6 ?

W h i t m a n , L e e F o r t6Wh i t n e y , R . Mopyright pageW h y o G a n g1W i l e n k i n , D r . J8W i l l i a m s , A l b e r t R h y s0 8

W i l l i a m s , F r e d e r i c k W e l l s6W i l l i a m s , D e a n T y r r e l l 217

W i l s h i r e , M r s . G a y l o r d2 , 8 8

W i l s h i r e , G a y l o r d3Wi l s o n , Ma r y L e n a0 5

W i l s o n , W o o d r o w6 , 6 1

W i n g , A s a F7 6

Wise, Rabbi Stephen S .

A. A . L . L8 3 , 1 8 7

C i v i l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n . . . . . . 1 8 8

Wishnewetzky, see Mrs . F l o r e n c e K e l l y .

W o m a n P a t r i o t , a p u b l i c a t i o n8 0 , 1 8 1

W o m e n , w o r k a m o n g7 7 , 1 7 8

Women's block committee7 8

W o m e n ' s C l u b s7 1

Women's International League for Peacea n d F r e e d o m8 0 , 1 8 1 , 1 8 3

Wo m e n 's Na t i o n a l Co m m i t t e e7 8 , 1 8 0

W o m e n ' s P r o p a g a n d a C o m m i t t e e6 9

Women's Third Internationale80W o m e n ' s T r a d e U n i o n L e a g u e5O r g a n i z e d b y Mr s . R a y m o n d R o b b i n s . . 181

O b j e c t i v e8 1

W o r k a m o n g w o r k i n g w o m e n78Work of penetration80Approved by National Information Bureau 186

W o o d , L . H o l l i n g s w o r t h2 1

W o o l w i n e , D i s t . A t t o r n e y5 1

W o r k e r , T h e , a p u b l i c a t i o n2 9Wr k e r s ' C o n t r o l2Wo r k e r s ' De f e n s e U n i o n7 4

Workers E d u c a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n8Workers' Education Bureau6 , 4 7

W o r k e r s ' L e a g u e 1 3 1

Workers Party of AmericaAn n o u n c e s a r e d m o n t h9 6

A d i s t i n c t o r g a n i z a t i o n64A f f i l i a t e d w i t h F r i e n d s o f S o v . R u s s . . . 9 8

B r a n c h o f C. P. A4B r a n c h o f T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l e9C e n t r i s t s i n7C o n t r o l l e d b y C . P . A8D a n g e r o u s e l e m e n t s i n7D i r e c t p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n o f0



INDEX

Documents

Reds in America R M Whitney 1924 288pgs COM