The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-12-24

III, Sec. Lab. Sec. 2, Sec. 3-a and b.
An Example Of Confusion.
One would expect in a referendum
ballot to find this clearly indicated
and a general, internally coherent sub
stitute for the whole provided, thus
minimizing the possibility of internal
conflicts resulting from the adoption
of only part of the provision for g
return to the old order. This was not
done.
The provisions for return to the
old style Of the G. E. B. are contained
in eight separate questions on the
referendum ballot, numbered 10 to 10
inclusive, each a substitute for some
single part of the present constitu
ton. except for questions No. IS and
No. 10, which provide new features.
The result is that if "12" is carried
and "15" is not, there will be con.
siderable conflict, for "15" repeats a
section which provides for general
organizer and an assistant secretary
and "1S" excludes these officials from
the general administration!
The same is true for No. IL. II No.
IL and No. Is are carried, and No. 16
or No. IL is voted down, Philadel.
phia lawyer will be required to tell
just what will happen, for No. Is
says: "Shall Art III, Sect. (a) and
(b) be stricken out, and the follow.
ing substitutes adopted?" This is
voted on, Eyes" or NO." and then the
substitutes are made in Nos. 16 and
II into separate questions, each OF
which is to be voted upon, Eyes" or
mo-! There are numerous others
which we will not deal with for lack
of space.
A Heritage Of Socialist Rubbish.
This social democratic theory that
manifold ballots and many refer.
endums can take the place Of leader.
ship, courage and revolutionary theory
has resulted in democracy" only for
a small minority and shut of genuine
membership rule.
True democracy demands central
ization and leadership, responsible
leadership. 1t demands that members
have an opportunity thoroly to dis
cuss every important problem that
faces the organization both in press
and in meetings. 1t demands that
general policies be thrashed out in
this manner, voted upon only after
being understood, and experienced,
able and revolutionary officials elected
and held responsible for carrying them
out in detail.
For Real Conventions.
Instead of long and fruitless con.
ventions, such as the 25-day one just
endured, composed of timid and color.
less members chosen like jurymen be.
cause they have no opinion or ex-
perience, unwilling to take stand
and unable to frame their suggestions
lntelligently, we. should have large
representative conventions made uu
Of delegates from every branch
especially job branches-with full
power to act decisively on major mat
tiers. On questions that have been
thoroly discussed, these delegates
would stand instructed, and business
be thus greatly expedited and really
settled.
OF the rs questions submitted only
9 have Importance vital enough to
consider. The r. l. A. C. has con-
sidered these 9 questions very care
fully. The others are unimportant or
trivial, two referring to clauses Of the
constitution which do not exist.
No Sitting Of Issues.
Question No. % shows laudable
desire to limit the length of the an
nual convention, and to systematic
work. But by the form in which the
question is put the G. E. B. is given
power to arrange the agenda and to
limit debate on any matter. This is
plain dictatorship by the G. E. B.
Any faction in control of the G.. e.
B. can cut off all debate on any i'm.
portant question, or keep it off the
floor entirely by confusing it with
nonsensical variations of it. Ten DAYS
is long enough for a convention
There should be an order of business
But the only sensible, fair and dem
ocratic way to make 1t up is for the
the convention itself to draw up the
order Of business when it first meets
One move in the right direction
and a very encouraging sign is ques
ton No. IA, designed to get a little
efficiency in the general headquarter,
by permitting officials to succeed
themselves in office.
Decentralization and Petty BouraeoI
Proposals.
No. As provides that an already i'm
poverished general administration Il
made still more feeble by having ii
income slashed in two. Reduction O
the per capita tax from Is cents I,
seven and half cents is decentraliza
ton and was intended as such.
Along with it goes question No. z
providing for striking out the con