The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-06-06

~ exhausted. A second variety of
the revolutionary phrase is the cease
less employment Of Communist slo-
gans without any internal connection
with actual events in the eyes OF the
workers. Frequently the simple mar
ration Of facts is more effective than
the artificial and wearisome repetition
Of Communist slogans. More faith in
the thinking powers of the reader!
Less intellectual talk, closer contact
with life!" (Lenin.)
THE Communist newspaper must
\ have inexhaustible reserves of love
and care at its disposal II it is to exer-
else an influence over the masses.
There are many journalist devices at
the disposal of sensational press sup
ported by the bourgeoisie and by So
cial-democracy, means by which they
attract the backward masses, but
which cannot and must not be employ
ed by the Communist newspaper aim
ing at effective press agitation. But a
correct principle may be transformed
into its reverse if it is falsely applied.
Contempt of the methods of bourgeois
journalists has led to a neglect of
language and style in a section of our
party press, and under certain condi-
tons this may become a political dan
ger. In a great number of Commun-
ist newspapers we find a crude mix
ture Of intellectual" Technology al
ternating with an express hostility
against any clear sustantiation and ex-
position of clear Communist slogan.
1t is perfectly evident that such or
gans will never command the interest
of the masses. Among the lesser but
none the less treachereus enemies of
Communist press agitation we may
for instance name the Unnecessary use
Of foreign terms.
Il must admit that the needless use
Of foreign words annoys me, for this
hinders our influence upon the mas
ses." Thus wrote Lenin in 1890, at
the session of the political bureau OF
the G. G. of the Russian G. P. when
discussing the Communist press with
Comrade Bucharin.
The foreign word binders our in
fiuence upon the masses, because the
masses do not understand it, and ex-
perience shows this lack of under
standing to form an immediate bridge
to indifference, or even to actual anti
pathy against the revolutionary party.
Just at the present moment, when re-
action rules, and bourgeois influence
is exercised upon the working class in
the thousand different forms of jour
nalistic agitation land it is an unfor-
tunate fact that the bourgeoisie has
a much better idea of agitation among
the workers than we Communists),
the utmost importance must be attach
ed to the removal of an elements
hampering our influence upon the
masses, and thus to the selection of
suitable language.
THE character Of a newspaper de-
4 ponds not only on the careful or
negligent preparation of the different
articles and notes, and on good or
bad editorship, but also to a great
extent on the technical make up. In
technical respects, as in many others.
the Communist press is still hampered
by the remnants Of bourgeois and so
cial-democratic traditions. Is It really
an unalterable law that every news
paper must consist Of headline. a
leading article. chronicle Of events,
etc? Many Of our Communist news
papers have emancipated themselves
from this troublesome inheritance. But
the greater part still feel themselves
bound to enter into competition in this
respect with the bourgeois and social
democratic press.
The technical make up OF a paper
should be determined by the purport
Of the contents. by the aims Of the agi-
tation pursued. This applies especial
ly to the first page of the paper. Tho