The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-04-29
COOPER UNION
SCENE OF BIG
N. Y. may DAY
Ruthenberg and Dunno
Are Speakers

always the day in which the working
class reviews its successes and fail
ures Of the past year and pledges it,
self for future struggles. This year,
May Day assumes peculiar sienific-
ance because it is the 10th anniversary
OF the first May Day struggle-188e-
1926. These 40 years are also the 40
years of the domination of Gompers
over the American labor movement.
May Day 1885,
In 1886, the American working class
was so far advanced in the traditions
of class struggle that its May Day
strikes not only spread all over the
country but set an example to the rest
Of the world which made May Day not
merely an American but an interna-
tional labor day. Then followed the
long period of class collaboration in
place of class struggle and of the do
mination of Gompersism In this res
pect, 1926 no doubt marks the end of
an epoch. The new current of strug-
gle against class collaboration policies
is beginning to turn the tide and the
spirit of 1886, that put the American
labor movement well in the forefront
of the worlds working class, is begin.
ming to revive.
Ruthenberg and Dunno.
When G. E. Ruthenberg, VIM. r.
Dunno and the other speakers at the
big May Day mass meeting TO be held
in Cooper Union this Saturday at 2
p. m. make their balance sheet of the
last year, they will also have-to make
their balance sheet Of the last 40
years.
The Debit Side.
The debit side or unfavorable deve-
lopments of the last year were many.
They include the growth Of class col
Elaboration to an officially recognized
policy; the acceptance of the B. & 0.
plan; the unparalleled development of
trade union capitalism in the form of
banks, insurance companies, realty
and investment companies; the sane
tiOning of the Monroe Doctrine of la
Dor which placed the official labor
movement at the disposal of the state
department and American imperial
ism; the acceptance of a $4,000 bride
by the Workers Education Bureau
from the Carnegie corporation; be-
trayal of the miners; the retreat from
a policy of Independent political ac-
tions; and explosions in the l. L. G.
w. U. the Machinists, the Carpenters,
etc.
The Credit side.
But on the credit side, the speak
ers will sum up favorable develop
ments of even greater significance.
The growth of a class struggle policy
shows itself in the Passaic strike with
it's organization of the unorganized.
its victory for militant tactics and
militant leadership, its lesson in mass
plcketing and it's demonstration that
the combined forces, of government,
mill owners, police and a portion of
the labor bureaucracy cannot break
the workers ranks when they are
united and militant
The expulsion policy has in large
measure ended in complete victory for
trade union unity. The midely herald
ed campaign of explosions in the
Machinists has ended. The expulsions
Of New York locals OF the l. L. G.
w. U. terminated with complete vic
tory for the left, and the Furriers. and
to lesser extent, the Capmakers,
also have victory for militant left
wing policies and leadership to show
in the balance sheet Of last year. The
Furriers strike, like the Passaic strike,
is a triumph of militant tactics, OF
mass picketing and another demons
tration that when the workers ranks
are solid, no combination of hostile
forces can break them or cheat them
of victory.
Workers Education.
In the field of workers education.
the last year has marked an unparal-
leled growth OF the Workers School;
developments OF a left wing IN the
Workers Education Bureau and re-
action against the acceptance OF =
$4,000 bride from the Carnegie cor
poration which reaction took the form
OF a unanimous resolution OF condem
nation at the Washington birthday
conference Of teachers in workers
education.
In addition TO the big Cooper Union
meeting, many other hall meeting are
being held In various parts of the city,
morning open air meeting in Union
Square and evening open air meetings
In all neighborhoods.