The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-04-27
Editor. The DAILY WORKER:

Editor, The DAILY WORKER:
S. A. de Witt in this weeks Leader
sneers at those enthusiastic indi-
viduals who, fired by the Russian
Revolution and Disguised with the
Socialist Party, withdrew and joined
the Communist Party. He deplores
the activities of the latter, especially
when they picture the S. P. as group
of renegades who are known to the
world at large as socialists only be-
cause they kept their old label--the
Socialist Party of America. Mr.. de
Witt phrases it differently-the at
tempt by the Communists to destroy
the effectiveness of the laboring
groups in this country. He admits
the existence, in the SIP, of several
officials who are in it, not for the good
of the movement but for their own
good. He goes ON to say that to
destroy a perfectly good radical or
ganization in order to get rid of some
| tabor lieutenants" is absurd. And
he is right. Just because there are
Communists in Russia who are not
really Communists is not reason to
condemn the system. The test is to
see how the movement as a whole
works. And that is why the SIP.
must be condemned. Whereas, the
Socialist Party, not content with per-
hitting the sabotageurs to remain
within the organization, actually al
1Orrr- 10 4..1lo 1,o 70
dictate its policies, the Communist
Party of Russia not only elects these!
but executes them. The Sigmans
and Schactmans would not last long
in that country.
1t is well to remember that when
Socialist organization comes under
the control of certain individuals it
becomes not only worthless but
dangerous, insofar as a. it deludes
the workers. into joining their party
instead Of the one that honestly sets
out to accomplish its purpose. (2) 1t
sets out, as a defense mechanism to
destroy the group that is sincere and
(3) the party confronted by the Left
Wing veers sharply to the Right
carrying with it many who other
wise might have been won over to a
policy of militancy. To these more
could be added.
These men may be so entrenched
in power that it is impossible to up
root them. And, in the meantime,
they continue their mischief. In that |
case it is better that the party suffer
destruction than to permit it to remain
as a cloak about these men. Those
who stay within the party in an at
tempt to reform the leaders will end |
by being corrupted by the leaders.
Mr.. H. G. Wells who, after his first /
enthusiasm for the League of Ma |
tions said, it would be better for
humanity if the League disappeared
since it's actually causes many peo-
pie to believe that the problem of
how to end war has been solved and |
so lulls them into a false sense of |
security, causing them to withdraw
from actual participation in the
fight.
When we examine the names and
policies of the SIP and its approach
ing ally, the A. f. of L., we see that
here is one organization that ought
to die. Their names: Sigman,
o'Neal, Hillquit; those of there
near-allies Vol, Green, Frayne and
Grady need no introduction and no
comment. Their policies support of
Chang in China, Of the Right Wing
in the needle trades dispute, shows
their nature cleary.
One other point: Mr.. de Witt, sar-
castically, points out the undoubted
fact that many former fiery "lefts"
have became reactionaries. Rinaldo |
Capellini is case in point. But this
is a phenomenon not peculiar to the !
Communists--the Socialists also
have their full share: John Spargo,
Walling, Russell and others.
Those who live in glass houses
should build protecting walls Of
granite. Robert Julien Kenton.
Sends SIT to the DAILY WORKER.