davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-05
Our Wayward Majority Shouts Stop Thief

the members to justify their abandon
ment of the F. L. P. campaign, SO
we suddenly discover that we are
much better off if we don't bother
with it.
The members of the majority sud
denly made the discovery that we
were organizing a rival to the Work
ers Party. That it is nom Communist,
ic to engage in building a reform.
istic" movement and that we must
build the Workers Party.
If it were not that l know that
Comrade Cannon is one of the leaders
of the present majority, if it were not
for the fact that / have had previous
experience with this comrades me.
thod of pre-convention polemi, !
would be as amazed as are many
members of our party at present, at
the questionable methods used to in
duce our members to abandon a ma
jor policy and fundamental concept
Of Communism. Knowing this com.
rade as do, am not amazed. l am
simply more determined than ever
to help remove such comrades from
positions of responsibility.
To brand a policy approved by the
Comintern and ratified by two party
conventions as -Communistic. To
have comrade who according to the
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-05
discussion of Our Party's Immediate Tasks

tactics and strategy and the comrades
who do the active industrial work,
do not side with you, Comrade Foster,
they are with the minority.
This letter is merely to put you
right, Comrade Foster-and to call
your attention to a few facts that
are pertinent and very striking. AS
long as the American question Is to
come before the Communist Interna-
tional once more, it will be good also
that the Communist International
should know the lineup in the Ameri-
can party and recognize that it is not
merely struggle that is taking place
in the G. E. G. of the party, but a
struggle going on turnout the party,
owing to the divergence Of opinion,
as to what constitutes Communist
work on the political and Industrial
fields.
We should like to hear your side,
Comrade Foster. We Of the minority
stand by the above, fraternally yours,
Israel Amter.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-05
FARMER-LABORISM IN MASSACHUSETTS,

ton.
Comrade BALKAN was quite innocent
of the fact that there is only one pol
icy which is that Of the G. E. c. ex.
pressed by a majority vote. He had
to be reminded of this elemental
point by telegram from the central
executive committee, that the G. e.
c. statement was the policy of the
party. Now in a more favorable DO
sition to his interests, he could have
told under-studies just what the pol
icy of the party was. AS everyone
expected, Chose who understood the
structure of a Communist organiza-
tion) in accordance with the election
statement of the central committee,
the instructions were against pene-
tration of the third party. Then Com
rade BALKAN, overcome by. this "un-
usual" instruction of the c. e. c.,
made insinuations about disruptive
tactics. He wanted to create the i'm
preston to the comrades that the G.
E. G. was out to kill even labor party
sentiment where it existed in mass
character.
Who wanted a labor party? Some
party members of the minority, lin
this particular situation). They work
ed hard in our familiar sympathetic
organizations to get such resolution
passed. The only union to my knowl-
edge, was p local Of the A. c. w. Of
A., after our members fought to put
it over.
Somehow or another, BALKAN was
unable to attend personally such a
responsible, and delicate affair. &C.
P. P. A. conference). 1t reminds one
of the generalship of Wicks in Mime
sofa who was everywhere, but where
he should be. The whole affair ended
up by the few comrades who were
delegates to this conference splitting
away in a disorderly manner. Some
comrades who were elected by frat
ernal sympathetic organizations never
showed up to the conference. WHERE
is THE SENTIMENT FOR A FARM
ER-LABOR PARTY IN MASSACHU-
SETS?
If the other examples "of strong
undercurrent of sentiment for the
building of an independent political
party of the worker and exploited
farmer-a class farmer-labor party
in the ranks of the mass" are as truth
full as the one in Massachusetts, then
the policy Of the minority rests on
quicksand.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-05
THEC.E.C.ECORRECT

stone, Bedacht, Engdahl and Gitlow
go among the working masses and
preach their gospel and see how much
Of a following they will get. 1t is
true that they will get a few who
will follow them mot taking into con-
sideration Of the farmer-laborites in
our party. These few who have ar
rived at such a political maturity, as
to recognize that the LaFollette move
ment is a petty-bourgeois movement,
also recognize the existence of class
es. Then will Ruthenberg G. Co. try
to build up a class farmer-labor par
ty, with these elements, in competi-
ton with our party?
II is true that the progressive de-
cline of capitalism will cause a more
acute separation of the workers with
the Electromagnetic even in the La
Toilette movement, but there are no
indications, in the LaFollette move
ment, at present or in the immediate
future that any such class conflicts
will arise because LaFollette did not
have the chance to show his betrayal
to the working class. His repudia-
ton of the June IL farmer-labor con-
vention was not sufficient to create
a separate mass movement.
It is only after the LaFollette move
ment shows itself to the working
class as a middle class movement will
the workers form separate mass
movement and not before.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-05

with the program of the Workers
(Communist) Party.
We do not share the opinion of the
majority of the c. K. G. to the Effect
that LaFollettism killed the farmer
labor movement. as stated in the
majority thesis that "The farmer.
labor party is dead" We believe that
this question is alive today and cannot
be dead" We believe that the major.
ity of the c. e. c., instead of encou-
raging the use of the slogan of a
farmer-labor party, in their work are
killing it.
We maintain that the majority of
the c. e. c., has not fulfilled or car
ried out:
a. The program adopted at the last
national convention of the Workers
(Communist) Party, declared that the
@. e. c. of the Workers (Communist)
Party shall use all of its energy to
organize a farmer-labor party.
b. The majority of the G. e. c.. has
ignored the twice expressed demand of
the Executive Committee of the Com
munist international to form farm
er-Labor Party.
The Esthonian Bureau approves the
theses of the minority Of the G. Il. c.,
as the most practical theses by which
we may form strong united front in
the class struggle against capitalism.
The Esthonian Bureau directs every
Esthonian branch OF the Workers
(Communist) Party carefully to dis.
cuss the theses OF the majority and
the minority OF the c. Il. c., SO that
every members of the Esthonian
branches Of the Workers (Communist)
Party may take a correct position on
the party policy.
This resolution was adopted by q
vote Of six against one.
A. KobeI
Member OF the Esthonian
Bureau OF the Workers
(Communist) Party.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-05
THE RIGHT TO LEADERSHIP;
WHAT "A COMMUNIST PARTY?

proletariat to strike its enemy the
main blow required for the attainment
Of certain aims, established by the
program.
To accelerate or retard the move
ment, to facilitate or hinder it-this
is the sphere of tactics and political
strategy.
Tactics are a part of strategy and
subordinate to II. Tactics are not
occupied with the war as whole,
but with its separate episodes and
battles. At no time must tactics en-
danger our strategic plan. Tactics
must not look only to the temporary
interests of the moment; they must
not desert the solid ground and build
castles in the air-tactics must adapt
themselves to the tasks and possibili-
ties OF strategy.
The views set forth above are not
original; they belong to Comrade Len
in and Stain. II is surprising to
note that comrades Of the minority
who have in the past had regulations
as Marxists, should completely for
get Lenin, the strategist. It is also
surprising to note what little atten-
ton these comrades attach TO slogans
and directions.
Speaking Of slogans, comrade
Stain says: "In the sphere Of poll
ties slogans are OF great import
ance, for we deal with tens and
hundreds Of millions OF human be.
lnas, with manifold demands.
"The slogan 10 the concentrated
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-05
English Branch of
Washington, DC, Is
For Majority Thesis

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 1. (By
Mail 1.-The English Branch Of the
Workers Party discussed the party
task on Dec. 20 and continued the
discussion January 1. At the conclu-
sion vote was taken, resulting in 8
votes for the c. e. c. majority thesis
and votes for the thesis of the
minority. Several members did not
vote.
The leaders Of the minority were
Comrades Irvine and Powell, while
Comrade Macintosh led for the MAORI.
ty. A general discussion followed the
chief speakers.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-05

Comintern, failed to maintain a Com
munist position" stigmatize the very
comrades who fought against his devil
ations, as Communists, is carry
ing things altogether too far.
To have comrades adopt the policy
Of one who has been declared by the
C. |. to be a left wing social-demo-
crat, form an alliance with him, and
attempt to prove that the group op-
posing them is right wing group, is
depending too much on the gullibility
of the membership.
To declare that we must abandon
the farmer-labor party campaign be-
cause there is no sentiment for it
among the masses, and then propose
as a substitute labor congresses,
shows that the proponents have a
very rich imagination, but are by no
means practical.
The present majority have without
doubt, done great injury to our party.
They have already delayed consider
able activity in furtherance of our
major campaign. They have cast re-
Elections upon the integrity of many
of our most able and trusted COM
rades. But they cannot succeed in
covering up their errors by. shouting
stop Thief"
The party convention and the Com
intern will decide who the real Ii.
quidators, right wingers, opportunists
and non Communists are.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-05
BY BARNEY MASS.

IN going over carefully the "cats-
| chism" conducted jointly by Com
rades Lovestone and Bedacht, in the
Dec. 20 issue Of the DAILY WORK.
Err, was particularly interested in
their strenuous efforts to overwhelm
the majority by showing the tremen'
dous sentiment for a farmer-labor
party in this country.
They began by stating "Now for
some outstanding facts showing the
strong undercurrent of sentiment for
the building Of an independent politi-
cal party-in the ranks Of the mass
es." No. 2, under the question five,
they quote: ain the conference for
progressive political action of Massa-
chusetts, the minority demand for a
farmer-labor party as against fraud
ulent liberal third capitalist party was
strong and clear cut. Had our cen
trail executive committee given the
party members in Massachusetts
proper guidance instead of an over
dose of phrases in a tape-worn mani
festo, the party could have struck
an effective blow against LaFollette
and could have established our lead
ership amongst an increased mass of
workers in the Bay State"
One in Frisco would imagine from
this product of Communist research
that the textile workers land Incl
dentally there were no textile work
ers presently wanted a class farmer
labor party even more strongly than
the northwestern farmers in the pea
SAINT revolt Of 1923. But not one who
was on the spot as l happened to
be. The implications of the minority
are false The facts are as follows;
ASSOCIATED from any blind faith in
telepathic catechisms.
The committee of progressive poll
teal action recently held confer.
ence in Boston. To this conference
some comrades succeeded to get elect
ed from sympathetic fraternal organ
izations, and one or two progressive
locals of the Amalgamated Clothing
Workers of America. At a meeting
Of the party delegates, the comrades
wanted to know just what our proceed
ure would be in the committee for
progressive political action? Com
rade BALKAN suddenly suffered lapse
of memory as to what the policy of
our party was in situation of this
kind, and sent telegram to the ma
tional office asking for this informa-
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-05

but can't we at least use the slogan
for a "class" F. L. p? The only
reason for the use Of the slogan at
present, that Comrade Ruthenberg
can give is that in view of the fact
that the class struggle is becoming
more intensified; therefore, let's tell
the workers to form "class" F. L. p.
Comrade Ruthenberg is not con-
cerned with the Illusion in that slogan,
or the effect of that slogan, neither
does he recognize the role or pos
sibility of F. L. p, but he wants one
at any cost or at least the slogan.
Comrade Lovestone, the leader of
the minority, is very good at figures
and percentage and in his research to
justify F. L. P. or the #. L. P. tactic
his reason is that Magnus johnson re-
ceived more votes in Minnesota than
LaFollette. Very good! How will
Comrade Lovestone explain that one
of our comrades in Massachusetts re-
ceived more votes than Foster?
The above reason is supposed to
prove the potency Of continuing the
F. L. p. tactic. Now we come to the
necessity of F. L. p. and Comrade
Lovestone is of the same opinion as
the other disappointed Communists in
the minority: that the Workers (Com-
munist) Party is not the political lever
Of the proletariat in this country, but
the F. L. p. is. Yes, the Comintern is
wrong. MI
The minority has no confidence in
the Workers (Communist) Party.
They are ready to hand the role of
our party, the Communist Party, to
the f. l.. p. This is outright liquida-
ton.
This also proves that some Of our
comrades do not understand the
flexibility of Communist strategy and
tactics. To them a slogan or tactic
once adopted must stand regardless
Of the objective or subjective condi.
tons.
II we claim to be MARKHAM dilectic.
ians then we must subscribe to this
THE practice OF the class struggle is
fortified by theory and in its turn
becomes the fruitful soil for theo-
retical study"
The tactic Of the majority OF the
G. e. G. is correct in the light of con.
ditions and experience. and the com.
fades who believe that the role OF
leadership of the proletariat belongs
to a revolutionary Communist Party,
should help break the "farmer-labor
party" fetishism in our party.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-05

and por farmers in a political party,
under the slogan of "farmer-labor
party"
The reasons that impelled the
Esthonian Bureau to adopt the minor
ity theses are as follows:
l. In our opinion, it is necessary to
carry on campaign under the slogan
of a "farmer-labor party" We I'M
derstand that If we organize such a
party, it will be the best means of
bringing the organized and the unor.
ganized workers and the poor farmers
into political action. This will increa-
Sc their class consciousness and also
make 1t possible later to draw the best
elements into the Workers (Com-
munist) Party. The winning over of
these revolutionary elements by the
Workers (Communist) Party will help
to make the party strong and well
crystalized party capable of conducting
the class struggle in the United States
a party that at the time of the proleta.
rian revolution can lead the workers
and poor farmers to take the power
into their hands and establish the
proletarian dictatorship.
2. The farmer-labor party, there.
fore, is an organization in which the
workers and poor farmers will be
united in one party. so as to help the
class struggle. Comrade Lenin, the
leader OF the world revolution, said
that IF should not be possible for
us to win over the peasants, the Rus
sian revolution will be lost" The
main function of the Russian Com
munist Party now is ito unite the city
with the village" which means ito
unite the workers with the farmers"
This kind Of work must be begun in
the Workers (Communist) Party so
that the day OF the proletarian revo.
luton will not find the American
farmers unprepared.
3. The minority theses, therefore,
comply with the requirements OF the
Communist international and also
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-05
By HERRERT BENJAMIN.

nNIoTHING has contributed so
IN much to develop our party
from sectarian group to recogniz-
ed political force in the life of the la
Dor movement of this country than
our maneuvers in relation to the
farmer-labor party. II is thru this
campaign that we have established
our leadership and prestige among the
masses of workers and farmers. The
campaign for the farmer labor
party must be continued as a major
campaign of our party in the future.
The above is summary of state
ment published by our c. E. G. some
time last August. 1t was part of the
program of immediate work which
was handed to us by our present ma
jority of the G. E. c. This part at
least must have had the unanimous
Endorsement Of the G. E. c.. (Per-
haps Lore did not indorse it, but then
there are some doubts even in the
c. l. as to whether he belongs on
the c. e. c.
l venture to say that at the time
this statement was written, not a
single active member of our party
could have been found thruout the
country who would take issue on the
question. Every member of our party
felt confident that our farmer-labor
party campaign was a correct esti-
nation of the situation in the United
States. Altho l travelled over a con-
siderable part Of the country in the
interim, did not find single COM
rade anywhere who thought that we
were liquidating the w. p, that we
were building reformist party; that
we were opportunists, or any other
one of the many terrible things that
an advocate for this policy is called
today. What produced the miracu-
lous change?
If we study carefully the thesis Of
the majority and the articles which
are written by it's supporters, we
learn that this change results from
the fact that the majority never I'M
derstood the purpose of the F. L. P.
campaign, feels unable to conduct it
towards it's proper objective, and at
tributed their failings to others.
The majority cannot openly deny
that we gained from the F. L. P. cam
paign those advantages which they
claimed for it. They are now very
anxious to go in round about way
and disparage our gains, but they
dare not deny that what they wrote
in August was untrue. That they are
not very enthusiastic about the pol
icy is to put it mildly. The reason
for this 10 to me very apparent. The
reason is that in the year 1924 we did
not gain anything thru the =. L. P.
campaign. The advantages gained
for our party thru the r. l.. p, cam
paign were gained up to the time
when the present C. e. G. assumed
leadership of our party and not since
then. Because the present majority
of the c. E. G.. does not understand
how to apply the campaign to the
advantage of our party. This tho
would be a poor reason to offer to
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-05
Remember These Dates.

THE entire New York organIza.
i tion is expected to cooperate
in the following affairs. All affIIIat-
ed and sympathetic organizations
are requested not to arrange con-
fIIctlng dates. !.
Jan. II, Sunday afternoon and
evening, DAILY WORKER Jubilee,
New Star Casino.
Feb. I, Sunday afternoon, LenIn
Memorial, Madison Square Garden.
Feb. 11-14, Defense Bazaar, The
Lyceum, 65th street.
March Is, Sunday afternoon and
evening, Press Pageant and Paris
Commune Celebration, Madison
Square Garden.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-05
BY MORRIS cHILoFsKY.

THE Communist Party is part OF
l the working class, namely: its
most advanced, intelligent, self-sacri-
ficing, and therefore, most revolution
airy part. The Communist Party diff
fers from the general mass of the
workers in that It takes a general
view Of the whole historical march of
the working class, and at all turns
and events 1t defends the interests OF
the working class and is the leader
of the working class.
The Communist Party is the organ
lied political lever by means OF which
the more advanced part Of the work
ing class leads all the proletarian and
semi-proletarian mass.
The Communist Party is to the
working class, what the head is TO
the body. II separated, they cease
to function.
The class war is not casual cpl
sode. 1t is war as any other war.
The Communist Party is the general
stan which guides and pushes forward
the proletarian battalions in its strug.
gle against capitalism.
Strategy and Tactics.
In war we lay out strategic plans
and tactics which are valid for the
whole period OF war, or only for q
part OF that period. The most Inn
portant task Of strategy is TO ascer-
tain that main line to be followed
by the working class movement, the
line most advantages for enabling the
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-05
CENTRAL BUREAU OF ESTHONIAN
I SECTION is WITH THE MINORITY

The (Commun
is Party its meeting
presented by the majority Executive
mitee, following
The Eshonian
the minority theses
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-05
Yonkers Hungarian
Branch Is Unanimous
For Majority Thesis

At the last meeting, held on Dec.
30, the Younkers Hungarian Branch
No. 16 discussed the c. e. c. and also
the minority theses and decided un-
animously 10 to in favor of the
majority thesis.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-05

Subscribe for "Your Daily"
Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1925-10-03
Bessemer and Hurley Highs
Play This Afternoon.

The Bessemer and Hurley high
school foot ball teams will clash in
the opening game of the season on
the home grid this Saturday after
noon. The game will be called at
2:3O.
Each team has already played a
game this season, hence the contest
this afternoon will see them fairly
well seasoned. Bessemer played its
initial game on their own diamond
last Saturday, defeating the Iron
River high school eleven SO to z.
Hurley played at Park Falls, but did
not fare as well as Bessemer did, the
Falls boys holding Hurley scoreless,
at the same time piling up Is points
for their side.
The Bessemer and Hurley Highs
always play a good article of foot
ball, and there is every reason to
believe that the game today will
prove just as thrilling as those in the
past. A good attendance is
anticipated.
Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1925-10-03
Pioneer Gle ReAidsnt Dies.

Funeral services We're conducted
Monday morning at St. Mary's
church for Mrs Barney Quigley, of
Gle, whose death occurred last
Friday, after long illness.
Mrs. Quigley was one of the older
residents of Gle, having resided
there thirty-five years. Besides
her husband, she is survived by one
daughter, Mrs. Louis Fassetti, of
Iron Belt, one son, James, living at
home, and two sisters, Mrs. J. Tocci,
of Gle and Mrs. Nj. Sandretti, of
Cary.
Among those who came from out
of town to attend the funeral were
Miss Dora Toeci, from Minneapolis,
and Albert Tocci, from Milwaukee,
niece and nephew of the deceased.
Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1925-10-03
knights of Columbus Officers.

f. j. Gibbons was elected grand
knight of Hurley Council, Knights of
Columbus, at the regular meeting
held last week. Other officers were
elected as follows: Lyle Slender,
deputy grand knight; j. f. Murphy,
chancellor; VIM LaFave, recording
secretary; F. NJ. Hunt, financial
secretary; Joseph LaFave, treasurer;
Geo. W. Sullivan, lecturer; A. J..
Mayhem, advocate; f. j. Dresely,
warden; Rev, John Klopp, chaplain;
A. f. Erspamer, inside guard /;
Walter Zuhowski, outside guard.
Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1925-10-03
Elected Treasurer of Bankers
Association.

f. s. Hagen, cashier of the Iron
Exchange bank, was elected trea-
surer of the Gogebic Range Bankers
association at an organization meet
ing held at Ironwood Tuesday even
ing.
Other officers chosen were F. r.
Burrell, of Ironwood, president; Sam
Williams, of Bessemer, vice-pre-
sident; George O'Connor, Of IRON
wood, secretary.
The object of the organization is
to promote the interests Of the banks
on the range.