The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-05-01

LlLuuo that was taken ana developed
against the Communist Interna-
tional. The socialists met the prob
lem of international relations, after
the organization of the Communist
Party in 1919, by declaring that they
must build up a strong socialist
party in this country, out of Ameri-
can conditions, before considering
the question Of International afilia-
ton. It was argued that strong
party could be built on this basis.
But the socialist organization has
continued to dwindle. 1t passed up
the Vienna (21s) International and
finally retired into the arms Of the
Second International, where it sup
posedly reclines at the present time.
But the socialists could never
elude the Bolshevik revolution. It
was the Russian victory of 1917, as
we'll as the new conditions resulting
from the world war, that gave i'm
petus to the militant left wing in
the American labor movement. AS
socialist strength faded in the politi-
cal field the socialists struggled
harder to maintain their equally dis
appearing strength in the trade
unions. 1t was not a struggle against
the right wing. It was an open al
lance with the right wing against
the left wing, in which bitter oppo-
cs1ffNn INuAiNn1I - - IL.
world trade union unity, recognition
Of the Union of Soviet Republics and
even efforts to organize the labor
party. One of the high lights of
the working out of this policy was
the discharge Of militant from en-
ployment in the Amalgamated Cloth
ing Workers Union, his only crime
being the espousal of left wing meas
ures at the Atlantic City convention
Of the American Federation of La
Dor. Socialist labor officials went
even further, in this case as in 9TH
ers, than William Green, the presi-
dent of the A. F. of L.
This only gives an indication of
the path the socialist party has
taken thru its adoption of Cahan-
ism. The convention will have to
decide whether the party is longer
to continue as an instrument in the
hands of this red-baiter, who even
denounces the New York Times as
Communist because it occasionally
publishes a truthful news item con-
corning conditions within the Soviet
Union.
The April oath issue of The Amer
lean Appeal, the official organ of the
socialist party, gives no indication
that this matter will come before
the convention. 1t does not appear
in the convention program. The
four columns devoted to discus
sion Of convention issues do not
breathe a word about it. Instead
the three contributions appear UNI
der the headings Socialist Remedy
for Prohibition" "Fraternal Insur-
ance as a Party Cement" and WAR
Debts or What-Which Sail 1t Be-"
1t is argued in these articles that if
the socialists want hearing during
the 1928 presidential campaign they
must have a stand on the wet and
dry question. Insurance. is offered
as an excellent method of getting
and holding party members. Both
are efforts to breathe life into the
party. The third contribution urges,
in harmony with the desires of the
Wall Street bankers, that the war
debts be wiped out. The surprising
claim is made that this will make
impossible another war.
This is only a hasty review Of the
socialist party as its chosen spokes-
men meet in convention in Pitts
burgh, the center of bitter class
struggle. The discussions during
the convention will reveal the whole
picture in a much clearer light, for
the working class Of the whole ma
ton to gaze upon. ,..,..., ...........