The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-01-19

the alignments in the convention it.
self have brought out The fact clear
ly that there are at the present
time three tendencies developing
within the party. 1t is important
that the members of the party I'M
derstand what these tendencies are.
1t is only thru frank discus
sion of these tendencies and repu-
diation of false policies that the
party can be kept on the road, which
during the past year, enabled it to
make the great progress which was
so signally recognized in the greet
lngs of the Communist international
to the third convention.
The First Tendency
The majority of the members of
our party came into the Communist
Movement from the Socialist PARTY.
1t is not at all surprising that some
of these members carried with them
into the Workers Party some of the
Ideas which dominated their think
ing while in the Socialist Party.
1t was from the Left Wing of the
Socialist Party that we inherited
our membership and this Left Wing
sprang up in part from the former
'impossibilist" group of The Socialist
Party. This group was, quite cor
rectly, opposed to the Immediate
demands" of the Socialist Party.
1t argued that it was impossible to
achieve anything for the workers
under the capitalist system and
therefore the role of party should
be to carry on propaganda and edu-
cation for the revolution. 1t offered
no program Of revolutionary strug-
giles in opposition to the reformist
campaign of the dominant faction of
the Socialist Party. It's viewpoint
was well characterized as "impos-
sibilist," for in effect it's attitude
was: Nothing can be achieved before
the revolution, so our task is merely
the educational work Of preparing
as many workers as possible for the
revolution thru educational work
along the line of MARKHAM science.
Actually this group was afraid
of struggle in any form. Even the
reformist struggles of the Socialist
Party were an indication of life.
The ''impossibilists" preferred to at
tend branch meetings and discuss
the fine points of the theory of sur
plus value or the materialist con-
ception of history than to mix into
the actually fighting. IN the worst
form this "impossibilist" viewpoint
manifested itself in the "spittoon
philosophers" who infested most
Socialist headquarters discussing
the coming revolution but never
turn their hand to help build up the
force which would bring that revo-
luton.
1t is this same tendency which
manifests itself today in our party
in the group which argues that we
are in the period of educational and
propaganda work and that our
most important task is to build up
our party, not thru participating
in the actual class struggles in this
country, but by winning workers
for our party thru the method of
propaganda and education.
This group was or is opposed to
the united front policy. 1t was, or
is, opposed to the labor party poll
icy of the party. 1t made up the
opposition to the Third Party policy
proposed by the c. e. C. It is
afraid of policies which mean actual
participation in the rough and tum-
BILE fighting of the class struggle. 1t
is so much nicer to have a party
with educational forums and lectures,
with stupid papers discussing the
fine points of MARKHAM science and
branch meetings which are taken up
with similar discussions.
This group is afraid of venturing
out into the stormy sea of reality.
On chat sea there are great waves
dashing here and there. One is apt
to get knocked about bit if one
cannot steer a straight course, if
one is not entirely certain Of the
way one is going and does not have
a firm hand on the rudder. Why
venture upon that stormy sea when
one can have nice standardization
society in the form Of a party Of
propaganda and educationl 1t calls