davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-28
BY CHARLES ASHLEIGH.
written Specially for the Daily
Worker.)

HE last few weeks have witnessed
4 definite and encouraging revival
of the left-wing spirit among the
rank and file of the British labor I'M
ions. 1t will need all of the best tao
tical and organizational efforts Of the
British militants to give this new
spirit a direction, capitalization,
so that it does not uselessly expend
itself, and thus leave the movement
where it was before.
There have been attempts before
at the organization of a minority
movement in the British labor I'M
ions. For some years, there existed
various local organizations, Industrial
Leagues, ETC., which drew, in great
measure, their inspiration from the
industrial unionist propaganda in
America. Members of the British
Socialist-Labor Party played a con-
siderable part in these early organ
izations. They did not, however,
share the dualist conceptions which
prevailed, at that time, in the Unit
ed States, and sought to bring about
industrial unionism thru educational
and agitational work within the ex-
listing unions.
Syndicalist Agitation.
Then, with the return of Tom
Mann to Britain, there came a devel-
opment of Syndicalist agitation. A
number of militants were grouped
around Tom Mann, and the "Indus-
trial Syndicalist," was published as
their organ. These British Syndical-
lists owed far less to the Anarchist
tradition, however, than did their
conferes in the Latin countries. Their
point of view was strongly MARKHAM,
altho their position regarding parlia-
mentarianism was that of our An
archo-Syndicalist friends. It was be-
fore the Russian revolution, when the
revolutionary conception of the ma
ture and historical functions Of the
capitalist state had not clarified in
such marked degree as it later did,
thru the clear and scientific teaching
of Lenin.
Still later, during the war, there
came the Shop-Stewards' Movement,
the first real attempt to create, on a
national scale, left-wing industrial
movement. This was in the time of
the shop committees, the period of
the heroic struggles of the workers
of the Clyde, led by their shop stew
ards. This movement, however, laid
special emphasis on the creation Of
shop committees, at the expense of
the other necessary tactics-the PEN
etration Of the trade unions, the con-
version of the Trades Councils into
organs of militant action. For this
reason, partly, and also probably be-
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-28
The Minority In the British Trade Unions

cause of the great slump after the
war, the shop committee movement
lapsed.
The Red International.
And then, for long dreary time,
during which the offensive of capital
had its own predatory way with
wages, hours and shop conditions,
and the unions lost hundreds of thou
sands of members, there were but
sporadic, scattered attempts at the
bnilding-up of a real nationwide
movement within the trade unions.
Nevertheless, preparations were
being made. The Communist Party
of Great Britain had come into being,
with it's definite policy of trade un-
ions work, along the linps laid down
by the International. A British Bur-
eau of the Red international of Labor
Unions had been established in the
United Kingdom. And slowly the
forces of the left began to reassem-
BILE.
The problem in Great Britain is
somewhat similar to that in America.
Inc British workers have Been iso-
lated from the currents of European
Socialism. Their economic position.
for years, was better than that of the
workers of all other great European
powers. The colonial empire of Bril-
tain enabled certain sections of the
British proletariat to be maintained
by the employers in comparative
comfort-at the expense of the toll
ing millions of India, Egypt and other
lands. The workers leaders, there
fore, and wide strata of the workers
themselves, were saturated in the
theology of the small bourgeoisie. It
has required the disconcerting sud
denness Of the reduction of their
standard of living, since the war, to
bring them to some realization of the
necessity of vital changes in trade
union structure and tactics. Now,
however, the soil is prepared; the
objective conditions for the revoIu-
tionizing of the British trade union
movement are present. What is now
need9d is the perfection of the me-
chanism by which the revolutionists
may take advantage Of these condi-
tions.
The Gigantic Task.
And, slowly, this mechanism. APP
pears to be evolving. It is slow work,
and all due account must be taken
Of the special traditions and psyche
logy of the British organized, work
ers. The launching of euridly worded
manifestoes, the calling of enthusiasts
tic conferences-at which splendid
speeches are made, but no definite
plans for future work are formulated
are not enough. Laboriously and
laid, in the great key industries, for
carefully, the groundwork must be
a real vital rank-and-file movement,
q movement which will not be some
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-28

in the ports During the recent dock
ers' strike, the militants organized
National Transport Workers Soli-'
darity Committee, which is now to be7
come a permanent body, and is to
initiate the minority movement
among the transport workers.
Left-Wing Conferences.
Left-Wing conferences have been
called, also, for the metal trades.
These conferences are not of the
earlier type--mainly propagandist-
but are definitely for the purpose Of
setting up machinery for the organi-
cation of the minority movement.
Thus, there appears to be new
and refreshing movement at work
within the ranks Of the British or
ganized workers. The building up Of
minority movements in the great
unions of the key industries, the or
ganized attempt to bring Left-Wing
influence to bear upon the Trades
Councils-these are the tasks con-
fronting the militants of Britain.
Especially important is such work at
the present juncture, when there
rules, in Britain, a new kind of gov
ernment--a government, not of labor,
but of labor leaders. The immense
political Importance of a Left-WingS
movement in the trade unions-which
are all affiliated to the Labor Party
will be obvious.
After the organization of actually
functioning minority organizations
within the trade unions-really func-
tioning organizations, / say, and not
merely committees on paper-there
will be the task Of bringing the rep
resentatives of these various move
ments together in a national con-
ference of the militant elements in
the labor organizations. And, out
of this conference, will probably be
born the national organization which
will coordinate and further the work
Of establishing a solid, active and
growing Left-Wing movement.
Team Work Necessary.
But this means an immense amount
of hard work. 1t means efficient
teamwork among the militants, and
an adoption of the best organizational
technique. And, as | have said, the
means at the disposal of the impov-
erished British workers are but small.
Nevertheless, the task must be ae-
complished; and, eventually, it will be.
A good beginning has been made.
1t must be actively followed up. There
is ferment Of discomfort among the
masses. 1t is now the task of the
militants to use every effort to di-
rect this discomfort along the organi-
rational channels which will lead the
revolutionary British workers to con-
troll over their mighty industrial or
CARNATIONS, and thus to victory in
the struggle against the capitalist
class.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-28

thing superimposed upon the workers,
but which will answer their immedi-
ate needs, and will grow up out Of
their own efforts. In this task, the
duty of guidance and leadership falls
upon the Communists and the adher-
ents of the Red International Of La
Dor Unions.
There are already signs that the
British minority movement is at last
getting on to an organized basis.
There is at present, for example,
discomfort among the miners. Nego-
tiations are proceeding with the mine
owners, and there is definite likeli-
hood of a great industrial struggle
in the mining industry. And it is
precisely among the miners that the
militant left-wing movement is grow
ing apace. On February 16, the first
issue of "The Mineworker" appeared,
the fortnightly official organ of the
National Miners Minority movement.
Already two issues of this journal
have appeared, and its reception
among the miners has been most en-
couraging. After the publication Of
the first number, letters and articles
literally poured into the Office, signi-
flying the intense interest which the
miners are taking in the movement.
Miners Active.
There have recently been held dis
trict and national conferences of the
militant, progressive miners, with the
result that movement, on an or
ganized national scale, has now been
started. A program of demands has
been drawn up, which the rank-and-
! file is pressing upon the Executive of
the Miners Federation of Great Bril-
tain, urging them to make it the
basis Of their demands in their nego-
tiations with the employers. The
program includes such demands as:
| a. Wages to be based on the cost of
living, the basis of which shall be
the wages paid in 1914; (2) A week
ly wage to be guaranteed to all
workers; (3) The six-hour day; (4)
An allowance of one-fifth shift, to be
paid on all afternoon and night work.
The growth of the miners minority
movement is full of encouragement.
1t would be swifter if only the mill
tant miners were in the position to
finance organization campaigns. But
the recent long period of unemploy-
ment, and the extremely low wages
they now receive, make it hard for
them to pay the expenses of putting
organizers into the field.
Among the transport workers, al
so, there are signs of an awakening.
The international Seafarer," organ
of the seamen's section of the Inter-
national Propaganda Committee Of
Transport Workers, of the R. I. L. u,
lis being published in London, and is
widely circulated among the workers
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-28
Capitalist Nationalisn1

One of the stock-in-trade arguments of the
capitalist apologists liberal and conservative,
progressive and reactionary alike, in behalf of
the present economic system is that it permits
and fosters the growth of nationalism, of the
existence of independent national groups en-
abling the various peoples to develop their
peculiar spirits cultures and other obscure
virtues
AS usual the objective facts give the lie to
the high-sounding claims of the capitalist
champions. The present system, breeding
wars and national strife, is decimating the
various peoples occupying the continent of
Europe. Capitalist customs BARRIERS employ
ing class tariffs complicated money system,
oppressive profiteers' taxes to maintain huge
armies to suppress the workers and peasants
and perpetuate capitalism, are only few of
the inherent capitalist forces at work, under
mining the very existence of the nations whose
independence is supposed to be so sacred to
the League of Nations.
The attempt to apply the fraudulent formula
OF capitalist nationalism has given the coup de
grace to the heralded efficient economic system
it took two generations to build up. On the
ruins of the Austro- German machinery of pro-
duction there have risen many so-caled
nationalites that are the very antithesis of the
principle of self-determination and national
freedom. Poland, Czecho-Slovakia, Jugo-
Slavia, and the Baltic countries are only pup
pets in the hands of the French and British
imperialists The governing cliques Of these
countries are the very ones drowning these
various national peoples in blood and misery
The only country in the world where nation
al independence is a reality and not a sham
behind which there hide the imperialist hang
men of the masses of all peoples, is Soviet
Russia, the implacable foe Of capitalism and
the vanguard OF Communist Internationalism.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-28
'The Story of John Brow"

ed. "To Kansas" replied John
Brown. "Where from?" asked the
old man. From New York."
answered John Brown.
We Will Not Die Alonel
"You won't live to get there
the old Missourian said, grimly.
owe are prep ared," John
Brown answered. mot to die
alone" Before that spirit and
that eagle eye the old Missourian
qualied; he turned and left.
1t was in October, after an ar
duous trip, that John Brown and
his party reached the family
settlement at Osawotamie. They
arrived weary and all but desti-
tute, with about sixty cents be-
tween them. And they found the
settlement in great distress; all of
the Browns, except the wife of
John, Jr., completely Frustrated
with fever and ague, gotten from
the rough conditions. They were
living in tent exposed TO The
chill winds, and were shivering
over little fires on the bare
ground. All the food left was
small supply of milk from their
cows, some corn and a few pota.
toes. 1t was an unusually cold
winter that year; on October 26
John Brown saw the hardest
freezing he had ever witnessed
south of his bleak farmhouse in
the Adirondacks; and all the
Kansas pioneers in it as did the
Browns.
Nobody in Kansas that first
winter knew what comforts were.
While the Browns paid the PEN
atty for living on low ground in
a ravine and in tents, their bitter
experience with sickness and
hunger was not as bad as that
of many other Northern families.
Starvation and death looked in at
many a door where parents lay
helpless, while famished children
crawled about the dirt floors cry
ing for food, and shrieking with
fear if any footstep approached,
lest the conner be a border ruffian
(as the Southerners were called),
instead of a friend. For pure
misery and heart-breaking suf-
fering these pioneer tales of Kan
sas are not surpassed by any in
the whole history Of the winning
Of the West.
Puts New Life Into Sons.
But old John Brown was in
domitable; he put new life and
energy into his six sons; by No
vember two shanties were we'll
vanced and the food problem had
been lightened. They were get
ting into good shape for the win
ter, and preparing to take up
their share in the settling Of
Kansas, when the hot breath Of
war scorched all these plans, as
It did many another Northern
settlers.
There would be little time for
growing corn for the Browns
thereafter, or for the other set
tiers; the slavery question de-
manded an answer irsr.
One dread that had worried the
Browns before leaving home prov
cd unnecessary. It was their fear
Of the Indians. The Browns were
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-28
OUR BOOK REVIEWS

Woman and the Labor Movement.
By Alice Henry. Published by
Geo. H. Doran.
Alice Henry in her book, woman
and the Labor Movement" traces
the role of woman in industry from
the early days of our ancestors to
the present day.
In the course of the development
of this subject the author deals with
such problems as industrial legis-
lation, minimum wage, extent Of
woman labor during the war and
the Negro woman in industry.
Legislation as the cure for all
ills has been practiced to a greater
or lesser degree thruout the United
States in remedying unfavorable con-
ditions of the workers. The dis
heartening experience of the Amer
lean workers in this regard justi-
fies the secondary importance of this
phase of work as expressed in the
following statement: "Altho men
have in this country mostly depend
ed upon organization to win i'm
provement in their working stand
ards, they have not hesitated to
make use of legislation when that
seemed the better plan"
The author also considers, in her
treatment of "Women and the Labor
Movement" the organizations that
are working for the betterment of
women in industry. Among these
organizations is the National Wo-
mems Trade Union League which
Stands for placing industry upon
such a basis that the long and ex-
hausting strikes of which we have
had so many, shall be made un-
necessary thru such organizations
Of the workers that industry can be
placed upon an equitable basis and
the collective agreement and NOT
force or individual profit be the de-
Gliding factor in any industrial ar
rangement or re-arrangement." The
author might we'll have stressed the
fact that it is impossible TO attain
this end under a system which lives
ana tnrives on profit by exploiting
the labor Of the workers.
Turnout the book, the author
brings out that the problems
OF women in industry are only a
part Of the many problems facing
the labor movement today. Thev
should therefore not be treated as
separate problems in which onIv
women are interested but one in
which men and women must unite
in order to achieve results.
The book is well written, easy to
read and understand and should
prove Of value to those who are
working in the labor movements
JULIA SCHULNER.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-28
The Race For Ruin

Representatives of the armed air forces OF
the United States and Great Britain are racing
around the world and here we have clear
example of the prostitution OF sclentlnc as
coveries and mechanical advances to the
service of imperialism.
Not only has purely scientific project been
given a competitive national character, but
the entire expedition is Of military nature
handled by national militaristic groups whose
interest in the experiment is to determine the
relative efficiency of military aircraft OF both
nations.
From the public statements of the aviators
it is easily seen that the expeditions are mere
" mimic warfare. The British announce that
they intend to beat the Americans and the
Americans are equally determined to humble
the Britishers; each group of contestants will
use the experience gained in the fight to make
improvements in their fighting machines.
Almost the entire field of aircraft develop
ment is in the hands of capitalist governments
which means that it is available principally for
warfare-offensive warfare because the air
plane is not defensive, but an offensive
weapon whose major function, according to
the admissions of the aircraft experts, will be
laying waste to territories inhabited by non
combatants Destroying the civilian morale
Of the enemy is the euphemistic phrase used
to decrbe the bombing and gassing of towns,
cities and countrysides by the enthusiastic ex-
ponents of military aircraft technique.
Modern capitalism mobilzes for the purpose
Of war and loot, for the subjugation of the
workingclass of it's own and enemy nations,
the scientific discoveries that, properly used,
would make this globe paradise by eliminat-
ing heartbreaking toll and linking the world
peoples together in one huge family.
Communism proposes to do this and upon
the heads of the Communists therefore is
poured the bitterest denunciation by those who
see nothing incongruous in using the wonder
Of air-navigation to bring death and misery in
stead of a fuller and happier life to the toiling
millions.
But idealism and a vision of better future
accomplshes little against tho destructive tech
nique of modern capitalism, so Communists, in
addition to urging the workers to organize and
concentrate their power against the capitalist
state, urge likewise the acceptance of every
opportunity by the workers to master the in
tricate machines of modern industry and war
fare so that in the struggle for power that will
come the workers may also use them. The
lackeys of capitalism must be deprived of
monopoly of the state power thru the breaking
Of their monopoly on mechanical means of
suppression as we'll as by the destruction of
their monopoly of the press and other avenues
Of information and education.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-28

terrified when the first big band
of Sacs and Foxes in war paint
surrounded their tent, whooping
and yelling, but they had the good
sense to ground their arms, and
the Indians did likewise. There
after both sides were great
friends, John, Jr., went often
to visit their old chief; once, when
in the following summer, the In
dams came to call again, they
were fought" with gifts of
melons and green corn. "That,"
said Jason Brown, twas the incest
party I ever saw"
John Brown, Jr., used to ask
the old chief questions, as, "Why
do you Sacs and Foxes not build
houses and barns like the Ottawas
and the Chippewas Why do you
not have schools and churches like
the Delawares and Shawnees?
Why do you have no preachers
and teachers?" And the chief
replied in a staccato which sum-
med up wonderfully the bitter,
century-long experience Of his
people: 1--WE want no houses and
barns. We want no schools and
churches. We want no preachers
and teacher. We bad enough
now"
Indians We're Good Friends.
No, the Indians were, friends.
The men really to be feared were
not long in putting in their APP
pearance. One night six or seven
heavily armed Missourians rode
up to the door, and asked whether
any stray cattle had been seen.
The Browns replied in the mega
tive; and then, as newcomers,
they were asked, in the border
slang, how they were ION the
goose"
"We are Free State" was the
answer, land what is more, we
are Abolitionists."
The men rode away, but from
that moment the Browns were
marked for destruction. They did
not shrink from danger, however.
They nailed their flag to the
mast; armed themselves, and
plunged into the thick Of all the
political battles then raging. In
a short time their settlement was
to become known as a center Of
fearless, and If necessary, violent,
resistance to all who wished to
see human slavery slavery intro
duced into the territory. John
Browns life work had begun.
Ito Be Continued Saturday,
(The Border Ruffans Hold An
EIeetion).
norst 4. . eve. u,eS ..,~~.~.~
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-28
The Situation in Kansas.

The Situation in Kansas.
a S JOHN BROWN left for Kan
4 a sas, he turned to his wife and
the remaining members of his
family and said: eff it is so pain
full for us to part with the hope of
meeting again, how must it be with
the poor slaves, who have no
hope?"
John Brown was always san
guine in his ventures; but the
events before him would have
tried the hope of a superman;
they were to be bloody, exacting,
terrible. It was what he needed,
however for John Brown went to
Kansas with a greater project IN
his mind, the attack on Virginia
and the South, and Kansas was to
be for him the rough, harsh school
in which he could train himself
for that supreme effort.
Evolution From Paciist to Warrior.
With his youngest son, Oliver,
then about eighteen years old,
and son-in-law, Henry Thomp-
son, John Brown left Chicago in
August. The party had heavily
loaded wagon drawn by a mice,
stout, young horse" that was
stricken with distemper when they
reached Missouri, and could bare
ly drag himself along. Their
progress was therefore slow; a
scant seven or eight miles a day.
But it gave them an opportunity
to see and hear things in Mis-
souri,, then fiercely pro-slavery,
and the reservoir from which
were drawn most Of the border
rufiians who were raiding Kan
sas, and trying to force it into
the phalanx of slavery states.
Companies Of armed men were
constantly passing and re-passing
on the route to Kansas, and they
were continually boasting "of
what deeds Of patriotism and
cmvalry sthey had performed
there, and Of the still more
mighty deeds they were yet to
do" As Brown wrote home in
letter, mo man Of them would
blush when telling of their cruel
treading down and terrifying de-
fenseless Free State men; seem
ed to take particular satisfaction
in telling of the fine horses and
mules they had killed in their
numerous expeditions against the
damned Aboditionists."
John Brown was reused by all
this; already he was changing
from the peaceful patriarch to the
fearless warrior in the field. One
incident illustrates this. When the
little party reached the Missouri
River at Brunswick, Missouri,
they sat themselves down to wait
for the ferry. There came to
them an old man, frankly Mis-
sourian, frankly inquisitive after
the manner Of the frontier.
"Where are you going?" he ask
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-28

This is "The Story of John
Brown" by Michael Gold. Pub
lished by the DAILY WORKER
thru arrangement with Haldeman-
Julius Company, of Girard, Kans.
Copyrighted, 1924, by Haldeman-
Julius Company.