The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-08-21
.Thalheimer Urges World Communist Program

Then another point which is Of a
certain amount of Importance among
Social Democrats. You are aware
that among the Social Democrats the
antagonism which exists between the
urban worker as purchaser, and the
peasant as seller of food, has been
made much of in the last. years. And
the stress laid upon this antagonism
was means towards uniting the ur-
ban worker with the bourgeoisie
against the smaller peasantry. What
have we to say about this? OF course
we have to admit that antagonism
between the worker and the peasant
does exist, where the price of food is
concerned. But the difference between
the worker as purchaser and the pea
SAINT as seller of food is nothing in
comparison to that antagonism be-
tween the workers and the peasants
together on one side and the great
capitalists and big landlords together
on the other. Thus far we can sub
NIT false views Of the Social Demo
Gratis, to thoro revision.
Raise Land Naturalization.
The question of land nationalist
ton, and the part it should play in
our program was also discussed.
With regard to the naturalization of
large estates there is nothing to be
discussed. The only question that
arises is as to how far the principle
of naturalization should be extended.
Should it be extended to small and
medium-sized properties? On this
question the commission decided to
leave the matter open, and not to
mention the naturalization of small
and medium-sized properties, but to
indicate in the program that profit
eering and speculation in land should
be prohibited by law. To elucidate
this further, let me point out that
with regard to small and medium-sized
properties, one can exercise the same
control by different legal methods.
One can extend the principle of ma
tionalization by law to the small and
medium-sized properties, and declare
that the peasant is not the owner of
his land, but is permitted to enjoy on
ly the use of it, thus limiting his pow
ers of selling it or giving it away.
Or one can say just the opposite, as
in the German agrarian program, l. e.
that the possessions Of these poor
and middle peasantry, will not be
touched, and the one can add all sorts
of legal restriction preventing buying,
selling, giving away, or inheriting
land. We have indicated the latter
method as the most suitable one in
general, because in the west of Eu-
rope the conception which the small
and middle peasantry have of prop
erty is far more deeply rooted than
was the case in Russia.
Then, comrades, there is still the
national question. The features of
the national question were also ex-
planned by Lenin and cleared up in
the theses of our International con-
crosses. will not mention the points
thus settled; will mention only the
points which were discussed in the
Program Commission. There were
two essential points. First, how far
shall the Communist Parties of OPP
pressed nationalities make use of the
right which our program gives them
for national self-determination even
to the point Of secession; that is, how
far or under what circumstances shall
they apply this program slogan prac-
tically and politically? Well, COM
rades, the point of view which must
serve as our criterion can only be a
general point of View-that the ma
tional points of view must be entirely
subjected, under all circumstances. to
the point of view Of the International
class struggle. All these various ques-
lions must be concretely solved from