The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1921-05-21
9th Installment)
NIGHT SITTING OF AUGUST 8.
(Petrograd Prayda, Aug. 5, i920.)
DEBATES ON TRADE UNIONS.

kTetrOgrdu TfdVud, Aug. y, i0zVj
DEBATES ON TRADE UNIONS.
AT the night sitting debates are continued
on the report of Comrade Radek relating to
the role of the trade-unions in the Commun-
list movement.
Comrade Walter takes the floor and calls
attention to the fact that before the begin
ming of the World War every attempt to re-
volutionize the trade-unions was considered
utopian: eat present the political situation
of the whole world has changed SO consider
ably that we can undertake, it seems, the
most intricate problems. The state of mind
of the masses is excellent. And all that is
necessary is to remove from the trade-union
movement those elements which are leading
the movement along the opportunistic and
even counter-revolutionar path. 1t is ne
cessary above all, to remove the bureaucracy
of the trade-unions and to replace the former
leaders with new ones who will be able to
lead the trade-union movement in genuinely
revolutionary direction"
Comrade Bilan points out the difference
between the trade-union movement of Amer
lea and that of Europe, inferring that the
tactics of the Communist Party within the
trade-union movement in America and in
Europe must be different.
Comrade Bombacci states that the theses
propounded by the resolution have really one
fundamental idea, as expressed in the ten
Nf +bn artia of
proletariat by trade-union organizations.
Bombacci finds this tendency unacceptable,
and expresses the opinion that revolu-
tionary role is unnatural to the trade-union
organizations.
The next speaker is Comrade Lozovsky,
who devotes his speech mainly to the defense
of the trade-unionS against accusations re-
garding their negative political activity Com
rade Losovsky does not agree with the opin-
ion of Bombacci that the trade-unon move
ment always will be outside the Communist
and revolutionary influences: IF we shah
hold to the oponion that the trade-unions are
bound to be either reactionary or opportun-
istic, then who will conduct the revolution?
For revolution is possible only when it has
behind it the large popular masses and main-
ly the working class If this is not SO, then
the Communist movement will produce no
results. To take this attitude toward the
working masses, and particularly to those or
ganized in trade-unions, is impossible"
Similarly" states Comrade Lozovsky, siS
would be unacceptable to consider the propo-
sition of postponing the acquisition of in
fluence in the trade-union organizations un-
til happy future. This happy future-tlat
is the realization of the dictatorship of the
proletariat and the organization of national
economy upon Communist foundations will
be impossible if we shall not find support for
our struggle in the organized working clas-
ses."
A resolution is introduced in the name of
the bureau to conclude the discussion. AS
the reason for this resolution it is stated
that the question of trade-unions and factory
committees has been discussed three times
in detail by the executive committee, that
six debates of special committee were de.
voted to this question, and at plenary sit
ting one official speaker, two additional
n