The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-03-16

issues Ceveand capitalist newspapers of many years
ago Here the memories of his early days in the
revolutionary movement when he had written letters
the capitalist Sheets that they had published stating
the socialist position the issues before Clevelands
workers at that time. These leters" covered multi
tude Of subjects but they always struck at something
that was engaging the attention of labor at that par
ticuar moment and they brought results.
Ruthenberg's scrap book also contained numerous
clippings from the socialist publications of that tme
English and foregn-language but especially the Chi
cago Daily Socialist. Some of them announcements
of meetings Others told Of routine party activities But
most OF them told Of party campaigns That were pelng
waged in the Ohio metropolis, and attracting attention
1t was no accident that Ruthenberg clashed with the
capitalist state in the streets of Cleveland Ruhenberg
the "Agtator, word that has often been translated
into soap boxer in the vocabulary of the revolutionary
movement developed the open air demonstration against
capitalism to high level
Cleveland has a giant public square that is supposed
to be dedicated to free speech At least this claim
made a monument erected in memory of Tom john
son, former liberal mayor of the city.
Ruthenberg learned that agitators tolerated In
peace times. But when capitalism has big job to put
over like the world war, when the hostility Of the
becomes mighty disturbing factor then it shows its
teeth. That is the capitalism showed its bitter
hatred of and hostility to the message that Ruthenberg
had deliver labor. 1t put the agitator in jail
Ruthenberg tolerated up to the time that he made
his speech against the Since then capitalism has
made bitter against the Communist agitator fearing
him while dead.
war days the agitator not looked upon with great
favor among big sections of the Party. The warn
ing repeatedly issued was, Don't go too far 1t was
urged that the Socialist Party be considered respectable
the that Ruthenberg tried to show the barred
knuces of the working class to the capitalists to
that he anathema among many socalled
leading Socialists"
1t was argued that the revoutonst scares the votes
away" 1t declared that eff you 60 too far" you
can't elect anybody.
The state of Ohio especially Cleveland, was con
sdered one Of the reddest spots the American
cialist map. Yet at time Ohio had mayors and
city councmen in than dozen Cities while ultra
social democratic Wisconsin could claim only Milwaukee
When the broke there both aldermen and a
member Of the school board in office chosen So
cialiss TIC be they all expelled by the 100
per cent pay-trots. But that was only tribute to
the fact that Ruthenberg leading section of the
party that maintaining its loyalty to socialist prin
ciples.
When Karl Liebknecht came to the United States in
191011 speaking in different sections of the country
he also spoke in Milwaukee. 1t on the eve of an
election Victor Berger nearly expired in fit OF hys-
terra at hearing the revolutionary message that Leb
knecht delivered to Milwaukees workers He furiously
charged that the chances of socialist electoral
tory had been spoiled
The Milwaukee social-democratc leaders spurned
Karl Liebknech in 1910, just he fought by the
German social-democrats in the days at home.
But Cleveland Ohio, gave to the revolutionary move
ment of this country American Liebknecht in Ruth
enberg the agitator. Liebknecht defed German CAPT
taism in the of Berlin So did Ruthenberg in
the streets of Cleveland.
Capitalism tries to bette the influence of the Com
munst agitator. The New York Times declares, in
speaking of what terms the Exaggerated notion of
the strength of Communists in the United States" that
"the events of the last few years have shown that
their (he Communists) power has waned, despite the
skiful efforts of Ruthenberg to fan well as
class hatred"
This editorial utterance is out of harmony with the
previous declarations of The Times, in practically the
same column. 1t The Times that ridiculed the
guments of James Oneal appearing in his most recent
attack the Communist movement, that the forces
of Communism had been considerably weakened Oneal
had arrived at his conclusion by the of arth
metic Although mathematics is exact science The
Times, in its previous issue, argued that even figures
may lie and replied to oneal accordingly.
Onea had compared the membership of the Com
munist Party with the numbers that paid their dues
into the socialist party which mounted to than
$4,000 previous to the But The Times said the
Communists, the members Of the Workers (Communist)
Party skilled energetic and jealous in carry
ing the work for Communism than had previously
been the with the membership Of the socialist
party. Members of the Workers (Communist) Party,
therefore, it pointed out count for than the type
of membership that had been enlisted under the pre-
war banners of the socialist party.
This is merely saying that the spirit OF Ruthenberg
the agtator is the spirit Of the great percentage of
the membership Of the Workers (Communist) Party,
whereas that same spirit had been bitterly opposed in
the socialist ranks, wherever it expressed itself
It is that spirit that develops and grows within
the broadening left wing Of the American labor move
ment.
Ruthenberg, the agitator successful in his strug
gle for Communism. This is shown in part by the
fact that the reaction denounces practically every left
wing and opposition movement matter in what or
ganization Of the workers it is found Communist
and Boshevik. II is admission by labor's enemy
that the class struggle is developing and growing on