The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-08-18
RUHR WAR

The subsequent occupation of the
Ruhr by French troops last January
indicated direct continuation of the
imperialist war: the victor gave the
vanquished one last kick. The occu-
patton of the Ruhr was a new blow
for the economic life Of Europe, and
became, above all, the means Of fur
Their terrific ruin of Germany and Of
the pauperization of her people. But
this very occupation flung France in
to the abyss and proved that her
economic power is not strong enough
to maintain military dictatorship
over the heavy industry Of Europe.
But how could the French bour-
geoisie, after all the crimes with
which it glorified itself during the
war, again swing it's troops into ac-
ton for the crime Of the Ruhr? How
is it possible that the working masses
of France and of all Europe did not
rise up to prevent this new robbers
attack? Workers, think this question
over, and it will become clear to you
that only the support which the
socialists in France, as well as in
Germany, gave to the bourgeoisie,
made possible the militarist enter
prises in the Ruhr district and, sub
sequently, the further ruin of Europe.
Again we repeat: had the working
masses Of France and Germany de-
cided to give to a revolutionary
uprising the sacrifices that the occu.
patton of the Ruhr, alone, demanded.
the bourgeoisie would have been
overthrow, the power of militarism
shattered, and peace and labor could
celebrate their triumph in Europe.
But just at such critical moments,
when it is a question of the life or
death of the bourgeoisie and the des-
tiny Of the workers, the social demo-
Gratis maliciously destroy the united
front Of the proletariat, create a spirit
Of uncertainty among the workers, fos-
ter feeling of dependency, isolate
the various Communist Parties, and
set the pace for capitalist reaction.
"Trusted Mensheviki."
AS if in recognition Of the great
services which the social-democrats
rendered capitalism in the years that
have just passed, the European bour-
geoisie, as the bloody jubilee draws
near, place their tried. trusted and
experienced Mensheviki at the helm,
now with partial authority, soon with
complete power.
In England, at the present time. a
government of the so-called Labor
Party stands at the helm; in France
there is cabinet of the left bloc,
which can survive only with the sup
port Of the social-democrats. In Ger
many the Social-Democratn Party is
making itself the mainstay OF a bour-
geois regime. In Denmark Staun.
ing's social-democratic cabinet is in
complete control. In Belgium it is
not impossible that the party of Van
dervelde, who is zealously hewing
out path for himself, may come to
power. Even in Italy the bourgeoisie
begins to tire of Mussolini's gang and
prepare for reformist relief.
Fascism, in the meantime, has
made its exit; It has done its full
measure Of evil. In the most critical
times, when the proletariat was ham
mering at the very foundations of the
capitalist order, when the scepter of
power was falling from the hands OF
the leaderless bourgeoisie, the Fascist
bands saved the situation, in that
they created substitute for the dis
credited state power, sent all parlia-
mentary and legal conventions to the
devil, and took up service under the
bourgeoisie to murder, to shoot and
to pillage Fascism is the chief tool
of the capitalist system In the hour Of