The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-05-23
Left Wing Only Hope of Needle Trades

ito long record of achievements for
the international, Of self-sacrifcing
devotion to the interests of the work
ers in their industry. Without these
militant elements the union cannot
hope to strengthen itself and offer
resistance to the onslaught Of the en-
ployers.
The International stands at a turn
ing point in it's history The proceed
ings Of the convention have given suf-
flcient evidence Of the incompetence
of the administration. More than that,
however, they have proven the fail
ure of the theology which governs
that leadership.
Right Wing Socialist Bankruptcy.
The convention was in reality test
Of strength between the left" mil
itants within the union and the bu-
reaucratic administration with it's re-
dictionary following. Tho individuals
were involved on both sides, it was
in reality battle of principles. In the
final analysis the great significance Of
the convention lies in this-that it
demonstrated the bankruptcy of the
socialist theology and methods of
struggle which rule the International
and against which the revolutionary
elements are battling
The International Ladies' Garment
Workers Union differs from other in
lternational unions in that it has revo-
lutionary traditions, and was regarded
as one of the main props in the social
list movement in this country. 1t was
! founded by workers imbued with the
spirit of class consciousness. 1t gained
strength thru the efforts of men and
women whose eyes were turned to the
distant goal of a free workers COM
monwealth. The preamble to the old
constitution stated explicitly that the
purpose in organizing the union was
ito bring about a system of society
wherein the workers shall receive
the full value of their product" thru
the abolition of the capitalist sys-
tenn"
Drop Revolutionary Preamble.
Under its social-democratic leader
ship, however, the international has
gradually abandoned the revolutions
airy principles of class struggle in
favor of policy of class collaboration.
The most striking proof of the Interna-
tional's swing to the right is the elimi-
nation of the revolutionary preamble
from the new constitution adopted by
the convention. The object of the or
ganization. as stated in Article l, is
now to obtain just and reasonable con
ditions of work thru collective agree
ments with the employers. There is
no mention of the class struggle, of
any aim for a cooperative common
wealth.
"A Fair Days Wage"
The International has adopted
Gompers' goal for trade unionists--a
fair days wage for fair days work.
1t goes Gompers even one better, for
the constitution does not even speak
Of industrial democracy"
This Reputation of its position as
revolutionary labor organization and
its definite alignment with Gompers,
this absolute return to the comfort
able shelter of safe and sane unionism
which was the keynote of the conven-
ton, has aroused the opposition Of
the revolutionary elements within the
union. The battle in the International
is but a reflection, in a trade union
dominated by social democrats, of the
bigger struggle going on everywhere
between social-democracy with its
policy of class collaboration on the
one hand and, on the other, the revolu-
tionary forces with the policy Of class
struggle.