The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1920-06-25

OUC9 u VIZ NNA
that there might be new division ON
the issues to come up, but the old
party division was gone.
A bolt of nine or ten of the G. P.
delegates was started. Klein CLIP }
re.introduced the motion to proceed
with the discussion of the Program
and Peace was restored.
The opening debates were sparring
matches, with strong undercurrent Of
nervousness. Threescore persons, en-
gagged in a criminal conspiracy, spent
two hours to decide whether capital
ism breaks down in that it fails to
"produce" the needs of life, or
whether the collapse is due to the
failure to "provide". After consider
able uncertainty the argument prevail
ed that capitalism, in spite of all its
equipment, stultifies production; the
wheels of industry turn only at the
call of profit, regardless of all cap
abilities for production; crisis or no
crisis, capitalism has never functioned
to "provide" the needs of the Masses.
In the playfulness of this debate
was expressed relaxation and the fore
stalling of another premature clash.
This was the safe way Of getting
acquainted the suppressed form Of
the struggle for unity.
Restrained resentment and suspicion
broke loose into furious storm during
the next session. At the first state
ment in the Program concerning the
overthrow of the capitalist system it
was insisted that the word "foreible" "
be added. Likewise, at the first men
ton of conquest of political power"
it was demanded that there be added
"by the use of armed force" One
amendment was piled upon another-a
veritable "foree" panic.
In vain was it argued that this part
of the Program contained only pre-
liminary definitions, statements of the
goa! to be achieved; that the Program,
under appropriate subdivisions, gave
full attention to the methods of action;
stand by itself but is the inevitable
that the item of armed force does not
eliminating aspect of "mass action ~;
that this tactic must be presented in
its developmental, character-armed up.
rising as the unavoidable sequence of
the advancing class conflict.
The c. /. P. delegates, for the
most part, were ready for test of
strength against the c. P. "irrecon-
cilables" They were conscious that
this minority would have to accept
defeat, since the point to be voted
was only on what page something
should be stated in the Program. Others
sensed too much danger of misunder.
standing behind such vote, too much
anger where agreement could easily be
reached. CaxtOR moved to recommit
this part Of the Program, then to ad
iourn. There were some protests, but
the motion prevailed. Meanwhile the
tension was relaxed by the brilliant
SdJlTlCdl SpetSn VI CueIWoouj Wnoo'
Yankee wit was the perfect antidott
for passionate argument on an art
ificially stimulated issue.
The c. P. night caucus which follow
ed, the amendments proposed by thu
Joint Committee, and decision to dis
pose first of the section on "Mas'
Action" gave the convention smootl
sailing the next morning.
A spirited debate ensued on the
proposition to limit nominations t.
legis lative officers, according to the
clause of the G. P. program
The issue was not clear.cut
since the anti-parliamentarians took the
side of limiting nominations as one
way of expressing opposition to al
nominations. Brown &C. L. P0 aDt
some Of the G. P. speakers argue(
directly against nominations of any kind
Damon &C. P) contended that this