The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-05-12
Ry JosERA.lMANLEY.

DY sitting in the sessions of the
- capmakers' convention one can
readily see the steady and rapid prog
ress being made by the left wing in
the trade union movement. Fifty-eight
delegates are present in the con-
vention from the principal cities and
cap and millinery centers of the coun-
try. A number of these delegates
from some of the principal cities are
the left wing block in the convention.
This left wing block is responsible
for progressive resolutions and con-
crete proposals for the strengthening
of the organization in its struggles
with the employers. The reactionary
officials have, as is to be expected, a
majority of the delegates in the con
vention, but the left wing block is on
it's toes fighting intelligently and per-
sistently for the measures so neces-
sary to the welfare of the organiza-
ton against the machine control of
President zaritsky, who presides at
the convention.
In watching the sessions of this con-
vention, one can easily see, dramatic
ally enacted, the whole struggle in the
labor movement between the right
wing that stands for class collabora-
ton, and the left wing, which fights
for class struggle At one of these
sessions, the financially we'll estab-
lished voice of the right wing, Abe
Cahan, editor of the Forward, ad-
dressed the convention. His speech
was carefully chosen in its avoidance
Of a direct attack upon the left wing
1t was a popular appeal to muddle-
headed thinking, Tor all its well chos-
en- phrases. Cahan said he was
waited into the labor movement thru
dreams, rather than reality"
However, unless a man is backed
by reality he amounts to nothing.
Your union must provide for material
istic wages, hours and working condi-
tions and it must also provide for the
religious or idealistic side" Cahan
cited the conquest by the materialistic
emphasis in the trade union move
ment of Germany, and hailed as a
great triumph for socialism and the
trade union movement, the eight mil
lion, who voted for arepublic against
a monarchy
"All this he said, was accom-
plished thru them becoming practic-
al" In closing he made a yelled
criticism of the left wing saying, Gin
this country, in the various cities we
have on the one hand, Tammany Hall
politicians, and on the other hand,
those who are dreamers. A combina-
ton of practical and idealistic things
is necessary, so that you can come
to the synagogue on Sunday-the So
cialist synagogue"
A sharp struggle between the right
and left wing is developing and will
occur over questions such as endorse
ment by the convention of the DAILY
WORKER and the Freiheit. But, the
big struggle of the convention will be
on the subject Of budget providing
for the activities of the union for the
coming two years. The first item,
namely, the endorsement of the
DAILY WORKER has already been
disposed of after a stiff round be-
tween the right and left wing, in the
midst of which Zaritsky lost complete
control of himself and almost lost con-
troll of the convention.
The educational committee reported
to one of the sessions of the conven-
ton, three members in favor of en-
dorsement of the DAILY WORKER,
and three opposed. The Zaritsky ma
jority, on finding itself confronted
with this deadlocked committee add
ed another delegate, one of its own
faction, to this committee. Later the
committee reported back, this time
three in favor Of the DAILY WORK
Err, and four against. On the report
of this committee, a sharp clash &C.
Cured between the right and left
wing. Delegate Surin of Los Angeles,
argued in favor of the endorsement