The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-10-31

NNN~@-S e~A @ASOoA - PUT Va eAAO R0AN
In our meetings, we have discussed
mainly our social and entertainment
affairs. Sociological, political and
party discussions have become minor
matters and often have been left out
altogether from the order of business
of the branch meetings. And to the
extent that we have discussed party
matters, we have done that at the end
Of the meetings, when the greater
part of the members had already left
the meetings. Our Finnish district
committees have had only in casual
cases contact with the party district
committees, not to speak of having
continual relations.
We have spent so much of our
time and energy for the maintenance
of our halls and social affairs that our
part in various campaigns Of the party
has been very insignificant Even in
the financial campaigns where we
have considered ourselves as the lead
ers, the Finnish section membership
has often taken small part compared
to its membership strength. In the
Soviet Russia and DAILY WORKER
foundation campaign in which we took
conspicuous part, we we're not able to
fill our quota. 1t is true that many
comrades and many branches disting-
uished themselves in these cam
paigns, but in proportion to our big
membership we were not able to do
our share in the campaign to organ
ize The DAILY WORKER. Some
other language sections, especially the
South Slavic section, did better. In
the Labor Defense campaign we have
been trying to do our share.
But in the political campaigns of
the party and also in the trade union
activities the membership of the Finn
ish section has been very Indifferent,
and has been taking very small part
in spite of the fact that these activi-
ties constitute the main work of the
party. Indifference to these most i'm
portant activities of the Communist
party is in itself living example Of
how we have been ideoIogically, as
well as in action, fully in accord with
social-democratic Indifference and in
activeness.
Federation autonomy is deeply
rooted in our membership. They
look upon a party campaign as if it
did not concern them. OF course there
are many exceptions. There are To-
calities and branches where our Finn
ish comrades are in close contact with
the party organs, but the general
situation is as above mentioned.
Responsibility for the existence of
this condition of affairs falls upon the
leading comrades of the language Sec
lions. / will quote a letter from a
certain well-known comrade of the
New York district, which he sent me
the other day. After making a reor-
ganization tour turnout the district,
he writes the following:
II met so much hesitation and fall
tering among the membership that the
situation looks much more gloomy
than J expected. We have been too
negligent since we left the socialist
party. We have not emphasized enuf
IN our propaganda in our press and
speeches the necessity for the Com
munist organization forms and activi-
ties. And now when we have to
start to build up a Communist form
OF organization and to get more clear
ness of the theological views of the
party we find the masses, that have
been under our influence and VINO
should now become the best elements
OF our party, unripe. Even those com
rades whom we have considered the
vanguard of our federation, we find
hesitating and faItering; not to speak
OF the masses who have been with us
only for social purposes This same
comrade writes that in his second
meeting in the New York Finnish
branch whan he mos oI.ho-otf. o...r |