The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-03-24

Fall"
The next step in industrial evolu-
ton, the historical order of the day
for trade unionists to consider, is the
development of our present organiza-
tions from craft to industrial unions,
based on the present industrial and
economic development of society
(such as the United Mine Workers of
America). The present condition
where union fights union, instead of
fighting the bosses, we declare as
Communists will destroy organized
labor unless it is checked; and
against this tendency we raise the slo-
gan: Amalgamate the Unions Before
the Amalgamated Organizations Of
the Bosses Destroy the Unions.
Thinking workers, we submit, must
all admit that the day has come, when
we should create and build a labor
movement, able and fit to cope with
the industrial problems of the middle
of the twentieth century, instead Of
relying on the forms of organization
that were developed to fit the condi-
tions of the middle OF the last cen
tury-the conditions out of which
craft unionism was born. Stagnation
spells death, life means progress. The
labor movement must move with the
times if it is to prove of real service
to the workers. as a class.
Future VIII Communism.
These are two points in the Com
munist program on which we are well
aware, many members disagree with
us. But insofar as we have not pro-
posed to expel them for their ideas,
we deny them the right to censure
us for our political opinions. And in
answer to the charge that these Com
munist ideas disrupt the labor move
ment, we affirm on the contrary that
such ideas put into practice will save
the labor movement. Not the pro-
gressive ideas of Communism, but the
out worn forms of craft union organ
ization-a relic from a long dead CEN
tury-together with the modern cen
tralized organizations Of the bosses
are breaking up and wrecking our la
Dor movement
We maintain that the future will
confirm the program of the Commun-
lists. Industrial unions will be the
unions of tomorrow. Independent po-
litical parties of class character will
be the parties of tomorrow; and in
standing today for these new ideas
of labor we declare to you, fellow
delegates, that social and industrial
evolution is with us; that history it.
self fights on our side, that the ideas
we fight for today land for holding
which you may tonight expel us from
this counciD are the principles on
which the labor movement of the
whole world will be based in years
to come.
We are fully aware, however, that
any new idea is always opposed by
conservatism, but looking back across
history we see that all attempts to
destroy ideas which were based upon
real social factors (no matter how
such ideas have been fought have
resulted in the final victory Of said
ideas. 1t has been said that the
blood Of the martyrs was the seed
of the church." and we declare to you
that instead of killing Communism by
attacking us, you are building the
Communist movement, and making
Communists by your action.
Will Continue Struggles.
Furthermore, as Communists we
declare to you that our reading of
history shows us that the liberties
and rights of the people have been
won thru hundreds of years of strug-
gle and suffering. We see pioneers
of new thought and of new ideas, in
all ages, hailed to prison, drawn and
quartered, broken on the wheel, and
even burned at the stake or lynched
for fighting for the rights that we
now enjoy, as a free gift from the
struggles of these fighters in years
gone by. We say to you that we
would be renegades and traitors to
the workers cause if, believing as
we do, we permitted you to censure
our convictions without a protest.
We fully realize that we are in
the minority, that we may be hope
lessly outnumbered in this fight;
nevertheless if expelled from this
council tonight, we will be COMPEL to
carry our protest to the members of
those local unions who sent us here
as delegates, and to the organized
labor movement Of Seattle and the
state of Washington generally. Fail
ure to do this would render us moral
towards and mental prostitutes; be-
lieving as we do. that our opinions as
set forth above have real value for
the organized labor movement.
Hence our appeal from your deci-
sion (if you expel us tonight) to the
body of organized labor. If expelled,
we must try by all means in our
power to vindicate our right TO hold
opinions contrary to those in this