The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-07-16
adek Replies 10 Zinoyiey at World Communist Coeress

GEudW
millions of hearts of the Germans.
And you have not done that.
pass to a wider question, our work
in the trade unions. The central
question here is: shall we capture the
trade unions, shall we draw the
masses together, or not? That will
be decided by whether we are rad
ical party protesting in parliament, or
whether we are mass party prepar-
ing the revolution. beg Comrade
Losovsky. who perhaps knows the sub
ject better, and is officially obliged to
know about German trade union af-
fairs, to come up here and say what
he thinks about the direction our
work is taking in the trade unions.
There is, in the German party, a
terrible passivity. This is very strong
ly emphasized in an article by Ber-
lin comrade in the Funke (The
Spark. 1t is the one serious phenom-
enon which must be examined.
Comrades, you will say that the cap
italists throw our comrades out Of
work, they become unemployed, and
cannot pay their contributions; they
leave the trade unions. You will say
that Amsterdam is kicking us out
That is true. The question only is: if
we shall avoid everything which
would make that easier for them or
shall we do everything to make it i'm
possible for them.
Comrades, the resolution of your
party conference on the trade union
question clears the way for leaving
the trade unions.
And now, comrades, the factory
councils. Comrade Zinoviev has re-
ferred to a report by Comrade Varga.
do not know what is the date of this
report, and if it reviews the recent
period. The result of the elections
in recent weeks shows that in a num-
Der of towns we have suffered great
losses. The Congress had to examine
the direction of development of the
party. The direction of it's develop
ment which you accept on the basis of
your theoretical attitude, on the basis
Of your judgment with regard to the
ripeness of the situation with regard
to the relations Of force, is such that
you might cut the party away from
its basis. There is danger of the de-
termination of the party's circle Of in
fiuence in the near future. And that
is the greatest danger that can threat
en- us. The Communist International
has carried thru great struggles at al
most all it's Congresses. The novel
point now is, unfortunately, that dis
agreements have crept into the ranks
of the comrades who have hitherto
been common representative of the
Russian Party. At the end of his
speech, Comrade Zinoviev raised the
question of official or correct Com
munist discipline. If we, in the Com
munist International, rely only on off,
cial discipline, we would be an official
framework, but not living interna~
tional. This minority, whatever it is,
whatever direction it adheres to, must
not only submit to the resolution of
the Communist International, but has
also the duty, between Congresses, Of
carrying out the international revo-
lutions in organizing and agitation.
The Russian comrades, who very
often, like all of us, may make mis-
takes, are practical opponents of the
working class movement. And if
Comrade Zinoviev declares a thousand
times that he will never more make
a coalition with the social-democrats
he will come to the day when it will
be necessary; he will only declare
that the situation has changed, and
that it is only a maneuver, while the
other, the wicked one, has opportunis-
tic designs. The result of the discus
sion Of differences should still allow
every one, who may disagree with this
or that decision, to remain in the par
ty, subject to its discipline. We must
not hesitate at criticism, otherwise
we would be an organization of
cliques which carries on its business
behind the recess. But after we have
fought here, we have the duty and the
to work positively, wher.
ever the executive of cur party places
us, and to leave it to time and their
experience to show whether we have
erred in one respect and they in an,
other. applause in part of the
Congress)