The Washington times., 1920-08-24
SOVIET FACES
FERMENTATION
Cachin Starts Party to Over
throw Bourgeoisie
Be Second lenin.

PARIS. Aug. IA Communist
party, frankly devoted to the violent
overthrow OF bourgeois civilization
according TO the doctrine OF the Third
Internationale and allied with the
extremist element in labor unions. Is
in process of organization, according
to a special dispatch to the New York
World.
Marcel Cachin, who since his re-
turn from Russia has gained the
leadership of an open revolutionary
faction in French Socialism, has
| thrown down the gauntlet TO his as
sociates OF the unifed Socialist party.
Cachin means to become the Lenin
OF France. with l.. o. Fossard. his
companion on the Russian trip, as "a
French Trotzky.
CALL TO RED BANNER.
As a first step In this direction he
has notified the moderate leaders
among Socialists and labor unions
that on his return from a fortnights
vacation in the country, whittier he
departed yesterday, he would split the
Socialist party wide open unless they
rallied to the red banner OF Moscow
without delay.
Since moderates like Albert Thomas,
Renaudel and Ernest Lafont, the last
named OF whom was expelled from
Russia at Trotzky's behest. have no
intention of subscribing to Cachin's
radicalism. there Is no longer doubt
that in the near future French So
cialists, like those OF America and
Great Britain. will form two warning
groups. one pledged to attain consti-
tutional attainment of ideals. the
other committed to revolution by vio-
lence.
In the Socialist representation in
the Chamber OF Deputies, the former
group would undoubtedly prove the
stronger. OF sixty-odd Socialist depu-
ties scarcely more than a dozen would
be likely to follow Cachin into the
communistic fold. What the attitude
OF the rank and file would be is less
easy to forcsee.
LURED BY BOLSHEVIkI.
The younger militants. virtually
without exception, are Bolshevik.
They not only demand affiliation with
the Third Internationale, Lcnin's
chief instrument of world revolution,
but even clamor for the immediate es-
tablishment OF dictatorship Of the
proletariat in France--or at very
least for the preparation OF definite
plan for revolutionary action.
Hitherto--a fact which was recog
nized with bitterness in Moscow
there has been no leader in France
able or willing to undertake this
perilous task. Today. however. Cachin
appears to be not only willing but
absolutely determined to serve as
standard bearer in the open. and II
need be bloody warfare against the
bouregoisie.
To this end he has strenuously
struggled to effect an alliance with
the Central Conferation of Labor. thus
far. however, without success. The
confederation. which unites all French
trades unions, was quite ready to sec
ond Cachin's campaign against the
governments support Of Poland. Like
the British council of action. it Is
prepared to oppose with a general
strike any attempt to involve France
In a war against the Soviets.
LABOR PAPERS ARE WARY.
But it Is still far from convinced
Of the wisdom of adopting the revolu-
tionary program urged by the Socialist
envoy to Moscow. Socialist and labor
papers are full of warnings to the
proletariat against the warlike
schemes Of the capitalistic holy alli-
ance." But they are noticeably chary
OF proposing dictatorship of the
proletariat as a remedy Immediately
applicable to ills caused by capital
ism.
The labor confederation's policy
probably will be defined at the con-
gress to be held in Orleans early next
month. Meanwhile, at a general meet
ing Of state Railroad Workers Union,
Just adjourned. the moderate element
scored a considerable victory. The
radicals held responsible for the un-
popular strike OF last May were cen
sured and voted down. Dunmoulin.
one of the railroad mems leaders. said
that the general confederation, OF
which he is assistant secretary, was
coveted by host of newborn
groups. Soviets. Communists. An
archists. Socialists"-but that France
syndicalism must and would retain its
allegiance to the principle OF striving
without political bias for the better
ment of labor.
That an alliance with any political
group would prove source OF weak
ness to the unions Is the often-ex-
pressed opinion of Leon Jonhaux, head
of the confederation, as well as Of such
powerful leaders as Mersheim, chief
Of the great metallurgical workers
syndicate.