The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-08
The General Member
ship Meeting
Duties of Party Members in Soviet
Union Factories
BY KARL REEVE.

MOSCOW.-betore examining the tasks OF the various
IVA parts of the apparatus of the party organization in
Soviet factory let take up definitely the tasks
Of the party nucleus in the factory whole and the
general tasks of every member of the party We may
take examples from the Moscow River" Factory
textile factory located in Moscow which employs be-
tween 400 and 1900 workers This factory numbers lat
members and candidates in the party 81 being candi
dates, and 1870 members and candidates in the Kom-
somols young Communist League). OF the latter, all
are full members excepting Is, who candidates Of
the thirteen persons who joined the party in this nucleus
recently twelve workers, and office clerk.
The admission of members is first approved by
bureau of the factory nucleus then at the general
bershp meeting of the nucleus, and is finally approved
by the rayon (secton county, party committee Mem
bers of the Young Communist League who transfer
red to the party are received in the same manner
THE general membership meeting in this nucleus
twice a month"; meetings being "closed"
when only party members and candidates present.
and others open" when party workers invited.
In this factory there approximately twenty meet
ings during the year. about half Of them being open
meetings The attendance good in spite of the fact
that the factory is working two shifts 10 per cent
of the membership being present the In adj
dton to the matters touched in the last article the
following questions taken up among others,-or-
ganization of important campaigns, discussion of the
collective agreement to be entered into between the trade
union and the administration the work among the Young
Pioneers and in addition the usual reports from the bu
reau and the various committees Political and educa-
tional questions discussed. present at one
meeting where the question Of the international stua-
world imperialists taken up and many questions
were asked Of course in these discussions after the
report of qualified comrade and after the questions,
the members freely express themselves in short speeches
Then the reporter Of the evening up and suitable
resolution is passed by the meeting.
In the Moscow River Factory referred to above dur
ing the months of March, April and May Of this year,
the following general membership meetings of the nu-
ceus among others, hed:March 16th subject,
ducon of prices in the Soviet Union; April 49, Report
of the party fraction in the Factory Committee of the
trade union; April TO- a) Report of the factory
men (Red Director) (b Results and Prospects of Work
Among Women; May 49, report Of the nucleus bureau,
and reelection of bureau (taken from the months
plan of work carried out by the nucleus).
THE bureau of the Kamovni Rayon (section) in Mos
last fall issued instructions the duties of
bers and candidates of the c. P of the Soviet Union
which also gave direction the rational of the
time budget This resolution points out the Importance
of economizng the time of the individual party member
and of the organization 1t directs the equal distribution
of the party duties, far is possible, and declares
that the work must be conducted painfully. "It is
essay to combat exaggerated plans the tendency to dis
cuss and solve in month the greatest possible
Der of questions and hold the greatest possible number
of meetings The plans of the lower and the leading
bodies must be coordnated in detail The leading organ
izatons must refrain from pling campaign upon
pagn which should be distributed evenly throughout the
year."
THE work of the party must be strictly differentiated
from the work of the trade union cooperative and
other non-pary organizations the resolution continues
THE party organizations must refrain from preparing
and carrying out all the campaign. While giving the
general political line the party organizations he rayon
committees and the nucei) must demand from the Com
munist fractions in the nonparty organizations greater
initiative and independence" AS many active nonparty
workers must be drawn into the campaigns possible
Those comrades failing properly carry out their party
work must be disciplined
QUESTIONS should not be discussed at party meet
Y ings which may be discussed at non-party meet
ngs The agendas should be carefully planned in ad-
vance, but they must be worked collectively the pre-
lminary preparation of the questions and the time
budget must not suppress the initiative of the members
Wide discussion of the questions prepared be al
lowed The following suggestions given for reducing
the duration of the general membership meetings, and
thus economizing the time of the workers-to limit the
agenda, to carefully prepare it, to allow reporters be-
tween Is and As minutes to limit the meetings to two or
maximum of three hours, to post agenda announce
ments beforehand enabling the workers to prepare for
the meetings, to open the meetings on time.
OTHER recommendations that where person can
handle the work, committees should not be appointed
There should not be number of bodies deciding one and
the question Questions already decided in practice
should not be dealt with again. Long, tedious reports
must not be written The public opinion of the party
organization must be focused upon this question Sc
self-critcsm, exchange of opinions, maximum
of initiative, criticism in the press exposal Of defects
the popuarzaon of achievements and the resolute car
yng out of the decisions adopteda this is necessary
(This resolution quoted above, adopted after a
study of the manner in which the party nuclei Of the
Kamovnh rayon carrying out the decision of the
rayon convention the question of economizing the
workers time and developing rational time budget)
Note.-Artcle will describe the structure and func-
tons of the departmental nuclei.