The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-10-30

I
/. w. w. convention, the following
communication was delivered in writ
ing to the convention by the represen-
tative Of the Red International Of La
Dor Unions (the R. /. L. u.
To the delegates assembled at the 18th
General Convention Of the /. w. W.,
and to the membership Of the !. w. W..
FELLOW Workers: The Red In
ternational Of Labor Unions greets
with fraternal good will the revolu-
tionary workers organized in the 1. w.
w. and expresses it's pleasure that
the 1. w. w. united after overcoming
the recent danger, faces with stout
heart the power Of capital.
The Red international of Labor Un.
ions regrets that its message Of May
s, addressed to the whole l. w. w.
through your then general officers, re-
mains without other reply than an
acknowledgement of its receipt. The
acknowledgment dated May 9-stated
that our communication was turned
over to the general executive board.
Perhaps internal difficulties interior
red with or prevented executive CON
alteration. In any event we hope the
convention viii hear from the ON
CiAls upon the matter, as not only has
later inquiry gone unanswered, but
we note that our communication, or
even the notice Of its receipt, has
never been given to the membership
Misunderstanding Has Arisen
It naturally follows, by reason OF
the membership not being permitted
access to this or any other commun.
ication to them from the r. /. L. U.
in explanation Of its principles and
its invitation to afiliate, that the
members are scarcely in a position to
act. The convention is consequently
handicapped, however, informed it's
personnel may be. But as the conven.
ton does have both the power and
the duty of providing the members
with full information on both sides
Of any question so vital as interna.
tional afiiliation. the executive bureau
Of the R. I. L. U. asks your consider
alton Of some important points. briefly
stated, upon which we feel that mis-
understanding has arisen that can be
and should be removed.
# 1t is an inevitable result Of the in.
ternational organization of capitalist
production that the working class
seeks, in fact is compelled, to organize
itself internationally. Nevertheless,
some members Of the I. w. W. taking
too limited a view, have questioned
the necessity Of International affilia-
ton. This would be comprehensive
IL it came from workers with no rev.
dictionary tradition, or from the trait
orous labor takers Of the Gompers type
who teach submission to capitalist in
terests. But we are astonished when
such expression comes from workers
whose foundation reason for organiza-
ton is summed up in the words of
Marx-"Workers Of the world, unitel"
Nor does international afIiliation ex.
clude intensive organization in the
national field, in fact it would i'm
mensely assist the l. w. w. to create
organization.
Granted, then, that there should be
the closest possible international or
ganization of revolutionary Industrial
unionists, there has been some ques-
ton as to the method of attaining it.
i AfflIation Healthy Move
Labor union centers on a national
scale naturally united sectional un-
ions. The /. w. w. itself was formed
by the amalgamation and affiliation Of
existing organizations. Just so, on the
international field the healthy and ma
tural method of extending organiza-
ton is by afiliation. But some voices
in the l. w. w. say: Let the world
come to us. Unions across the seas,
the I. w. w. will not unite with you,
but will fight you, and take away
your members one by one and absorb
the ruins of your once proud organiza-
tons" This is the policy of absorption
oufOSoSCu W oOAhC wiz nave uCAu BCu-
eral administrative office.
This method is even being put to
trial. And what is the verdict? The
verdict is written in the "Open Letter
to the Membership of the 1. w. W."
dated from Hamburg, Germany, on
August 80, 1924, and signed by ele-
ven members of the /. w. w. And
from the verdict Of these members the
lesson is drawn that the policy Of aft
liation should prevail instead of the
policy which is politely termed "ab.
sorption," and which is proven to be
, both shameful to attempt and impos-
sible to accomplish.
There remains the question as to
what existing international center
best represents the cardinal principles
OF the /. w. w. Is there one which
approximates the |. w. w. in struc.
ture, method and revolutionary spirit
and goal? Yes, there is only one, al