The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1921-07-02
PROCEEDINGS OF THE P. NATIONAL
CONVENTION AT DETROIT.
CONTINUED from page ~

Continued from page -
presence of Kruse and Engdahl. In
fact Algernon Lee later made clear,
with smile on his face, that even
Kruse and Engdahl were not at one.
Of the two, Engdahl made the more
virile opposition, Kruse, after his
usual, anaemic manner, showed little
sign of fight. The truth was that Eng
dahl came flat-footedly for uncondi-
tional affiliation with the Third In
ternational. But when his motion was
beaten, he voted for non-affiliatiop.
The only saving grace of the fiasco
was the gallery. 1t was plainly CON-
munist. And it showed it vigorously.
It caused the Chairman and Papa
Berger considerable annoyance.
"Where Do We Belong"
The speeches on international affi-
liation ranged all the way from revo-
lutionary exhortations to downright
-guardism. There were four mo-
tions submitted covering every pos
sible position. The first, supported by
Engdahl, asked for complete accept
ance of the twenty-one points of af-
filiation. The second, supported by
Kruse, demanded that the S. P re-
new its application for admittance to
the Third with the reservation that It'll
accept no binding formulas for the
"attainment or organization of the
Socialist Society,"" and that complete
autonomy should obtain in matters
of membership, organization and tao
tics. In other words, it wanted the
Third international to affiliate with
the Socialist Party. The third motion,
supported by Hoen of st. Louis, re-
quired affiliation with the Intema-
tional Working Union of Socialist
Parties, The Vienna two-and-a-half
international, The fourth, sponsored
by Hillquith and Berger, provided for
non-affiliation.
Engdahl Opens Debate.
Engdahl opened the debate. He
pointed out, quoting Hillquit, that if
the party needed rebuilding it must
have a firm foundation, this was to
be found in the Third International
We must draw strength from our in
ternational affiliations and get right
on socialist philosophy. There are on
ly two sides to the question, either
we are for the Third international
or we are against it. We could dis
cuss the twenty one points separately.
But what's the use? Either we swal-
low them whole or reject them. In
commenting on the other motions, he
remarked that the second was mere
repetition Of the one submitted by
Hillquit last year. Speaking on the
third, he showed that Vienna was
merely trying to gather sufficient
elements to be able to demand better
conditions of admission to the Third
International. The fourth places US
where we were and means only the
continuation of the struggle. 1t would
mean a victory for those who are
fighting the Third International at
remains for us to decide whether or
not we shall take our place by the
side Of the only international move
ment that is able to function, that
has programme and can carry on the
struggle for Socialism," Engdahl con-
cluded. Uproarious APPLAUSE from the
gallery, none from the delegation.
For the 1.-TWO and Half"
Hoen, an unquestioned disciple Of
Scheidemannism, spoke for the third
motion. Engdahl had spoken of the
achievements of the Third Internatio.
nal and mentioned incidentally, the
risks taken by comrades going tt
Moscow. Hoen opened with the quer
les, Where is the risk of going Il
Moscow, are not the Communists il
control? What has the Third Inter
national accomplished the last tw
years? The Third international is no
a concentrating force, it is only
movement for splitting. When Zinc
viev made his four hours speech be
fore the German Independents, did h
appeal for solidarity? No. He aske
that the movement in Germany b
broke up.
The Third International tried t
break up the movement in Italy, bu
the Italian Socialist Party is as stron
now as ever before. Sam Gomper
and Zinoviev go hand in hand, Sal
from one side zinoviev from the othe
The Third International belongs
the same category as the Sam Con
pers' International. Much applaus
from delegates, none from gallery
IL willnot accept a single point, eve
If there were three hundred"
Thus is shown the true temper {
the Socialist Party.
Hillquit.