The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-01-26
By SIMON FELSHIN

and France as well as Of the revoIu-
tionary trade unions to devise ways
and means to launch a common ac-
ton against the invasion Of the
Ruhr. The Conference of Essen
gave vitality to the Committees of
Action. The Conference Of Essen
was a historical conference. 1t
brought to mind Zimmerwald and
Kienthal, but il was more than that,
for it did not represent insignificant
minorities of isolated militents. II rep
resented masses of workers. The cap
italists grasped its significance and
raised an uproar in their press. Only
doctrinaires, stiffnecked dogmatists
who worship hollow formula, a
dead abstraction could have failed to
realize the meaning of the Confer
ence of Essen.
General Strike to Aid German
Revolution.
The minority even showed that Il
is opposed to a general strike in
France as an aid to the German revo-
luton, for the speakers Of the minor
ity got up and accused the ma
jority Of having decided for an insur-
rection, whereas the truth is that it
was decided to prepare the general
strike which win be called according
as revolutionary developments in Ger
many require it.
The minority showed itself to be
sterile, confusion Of dogma and op-
portunism, devoid of a viii for re-
volution, lacking in the international
viewpoint, hating revolution.
Oratory Plus.
The debate that took place at the
Congress of BouTges was marked by
the usual French eloquence, but it
was not simply display of oratory.
1T was highly interesting and highly
valuable discussion of ideas, Of theo-
ries, principles, tactics; it was an
analysis of conditions and facts, it
was thoro examination Of programs,
Of proposed measures
Besnard, leader Of the Anarchists,
in his speech glorified the Berlin
Workers international as the true,
the pure, the undefiled international
which would have nothing to do with
these criminal" Communists. He
spoke of the Berlin international as
being an immense organization, tho
ordinary human beings arc hardly
aware of its existence. Certainly it
has not reached the point where it
can be taken seriously. He made
charges of broken faith, of betrayal,
of hobnobbing with Communists. az
am against everything which strikes
at the autonomy and independence of
the French trade unions" cried Bes-
nard, and that was the refrain that
ran throughout his speech. This
sacred autonomy must not be touch
ed.
Semard made brilliant reply to
Besnard. ain this revolutionary
work., he said, "the trade unions,
placing the revolution above all sys-
tenn and all theory declare themselves
ready to accept the aid Of all other
revolutionary forces"
Monmousseau's Eloqusnee.
But it was Monmousseau who rose
above all the rest by his impassion-
ed, brilliant 0ratory, his logic, his
truth. "Permit me to be more ortho-
dox than Pierre Semard," Monmous-
seau said to the Congress. II am a
defender of the Communist Interna-
tional." "Will you please tell u.s."
he cried turning to the Syndicalists,
what would you oppose to the regu-
lar and irregular troops of the Ger
man reaction which held in check the
armies of the Entente for so many
years? Will you please present to
US your scholarly and well-wishing
formula, your positive program, rot
only of revolutionary defense, but Of
revolutionary action. Where there
is no red army, where there is no die
tatorship of the proletariat, the same
thing must happen as happened in
Italy"
No Issues Evaded.
The Congress Of the C. G.. T. u. left
no pressing question undecided, no
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