The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-12-29
BY JOHN J. BALKAN,

/ J
~ old. We are quite lusty, much
given to chatter, as is most natural,
and to playing of pranks which give
the Communist International some
concern lest we do ourselves some
permanent injury.
But, on the whole growing, running
about, and gaining our education thru
our own experiences and the examples
of our older sister parties of other
countries.
In our early infancy, we developed
a bad case of "left sickness" which
was protracted by the fact that we
were compelled to stay indoors on
account of the Palmer raids which de-
prived us of the proper nourishment
furnished by the Grass struggle and
contact with the masses which is the
very breath of our nostrils.
Any trained observer might now
know that something is the matter
with our young party. OF late we have
become pale and lifeless. Our united
front food" does not seem to agree
with us-we have slight indigestion
together with some hysteria.
DR.. Foster has showed his finger
down our throats and made us throw
up the farmer-labor party slogan be-
cause Dr. Foster thinks the stuff is
ndigestible and will kill us if we are
given any more Of it.
Our quack doctors on the central
executive committee are shaking
their heads ominously and are all for
putting us to bed and closing the win
dows and keeping us indoors for a
long time, or until we get strong en-.
ough to play with the farmer-labor
party again. The chief rabbi claims
that it all came about thru playing
with the unclean gentle masses in the
farmer-labor party and the medicine
men of the central executive com.
mittee majority say that if this con-
tinues it will not only kill Ciquidate)
us but, will spell death and destruc-
ton to the Communist movement in
America" What horrible prospect
When the Communist International
specialists take our temperature and
diagnose the case am sure that they
will find developing another incipient
case of left sickness" complicated by
a little right wing sectarianism and
syndicalistic idiosyncrasies. Let us
examine the symptoms.
When | read the majority thesis
was struck with the similarity of its
slogans and it's arguments with
those of the '1eftists" of 1921. Those
who were with me in the fight against
the L. P. P. illegal political party will
recognize many of our old arguments
in the majority thesis. We were moi
opposed to the L. P. P. ain principle"
We declared that nevertheless, the
Il. P. P. would 'liquidate" our party
Tread faction). We branded everyone
who favored the L. P. P. as liquid
ators, reformers, opportunists, cen
trists, social-democrats, etc. We raised
the cry of Save the Party" We pro-
posed something just as good" in
place of the L. P. P.-The United
Toilers of America (see Fosters LA.
Dor CONGRESS). We announced the
crushing policy" to "relentlessly com.
bat it and stamp it out" But at least
we were honest, we were not horse
traders"-we had homogeneous
group-we refused to trade or COM
promise with any one who did not ac-
cept our point of view. We main
tanned discipline within our own ranks
and because of this we were able
to accept the discipline of the G. l.
We recognized our mistakes and open
ly avowed them like the Leninists that
we are. We are now totally immune
from left sickness" We can no lon
ger be caught with the catch phrases
Of bastard leftism-especially when
these emnate from the mouths of our
Bittelmans and Cannons.
The majority thesis is so filed with
nconsistancies-it is such a hodge
podge-that I cannot believe that il
was presented for any but fractional
uARcoOcs ~ 6PPCoAo W AlO W UC uG-
signed to befuddle and confuse the
membership and to form a basis upon
which to unite every divergent ele.
ment in the party from Katterfeld tc
Lore, and in order to maintain fac.
tional group in power.
On the Horns OF Dilemma
The central executive committee
majority finds itself poised upon the
horns of dilemma. 1t is interesting
to note how they attempt to extricate
themselves from it. The majority
thesis says;
"At the time when the farmer
labor movement was developing a
mass character, moving in the direc-
ton of an INDEPENDENT PARTY,
II was correct for our party to raise
the slogan of a farmer-labor party
and participate actively in the move
ment for It,"
TN - T,.l., 1904 ths. ..olgox~ -....