The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-03-04

tasm received its one of the several trials in which
first clear cha he appeared a witness for Com
lenge that made munism.
it sit up and take notice.
There was Ruthenberg the champion of Communism,
and Judge Weeks the spokesman, at the time the
jury judge and prosecutor of capitalism, facing each
other in the capitalist court room Thus did
rade Ruthenberg, suddenly taken from US, appear
as of the first symbols of the conscious strug
gle of the American working class against its capitalist
oppressor
Ferguson is lawyer and throughout the acted
as of the Communist counsel 1t was ne who asked
Ruthenberg the question:
81 would like to ask you explain the phrase there,
When the workers take possession of the Of pro-
ductiqn,' you have now used it?"
Ruthenberg answered, eyes. The view of the social
st the left wing socialist that, with the establish
ment of working class state, that state would proceed
appropriate the present of industry and es-
tablish social ownership Of industry.
Then Judge Weeks referred to "The Court" in the
record of the trial, hurriedy interjected;
"You use unusual word there, the word 'expropri
ate What do you understand to be the meaning OF
that word and what is the meaning of it you it
Ruthenbergs 81 understand the meaning
of the word appropriate to be the taking by the state
the existing government of certain property necessary
for the whole of society," and transferring the ownership
from individuals to that state government"
Further extracts from the record show that Comrade
Ruthenberg and Judge Weeks fought it out this way
"By the Court:
90 Does that mean with or without compensation to
the present owners? A. 1t would mean without COM
pensaton.
90 So that when the word appropriate is used in
the socialist program, you, a student of socialism,
understand to take private property without
compensation? A. Yes.
60 Does that view Of yours that theory of yours,
contemplate the person from whom it taken with
out compensation and VINO is not himself worker,
should become part should have the full powers in
connection with the state Of voting IN that new state
of voting and holding office? A. My personal view
would be that during the transition period that those
who did render service to society in the form Of
hn ol7dod from fho
suffrage although that is not necessarily condition to
the existence of that transition period
90 You say that is your view. Isn't that the view
that is exploited by the socialist party? A. 1t is not
the view exploited by the socialist party.
&c. BY the left wing Of the socialist party? A. The
general position Of the left wing the Communists is
that during the transition period there would exist
dictatorship Of the prolearat, with the exclusion from
the suffrage of those who refused to participate in the
new society by rendering useful service However, that
is not necessarily condition to the existence OF the
dictatorship Of the proetariat for such authority on
the subject Lenn has stated that it is not necessary
to exclude the expoter from the suffrage in order that
a dictatorship might exist.
30. But they are excluded from the suffrage under
the Soviet form of government in Russia? A. They are.
Then Ferguson asked Ruthenberg what he meant by
the dictatorship Of the proetariat to which our com
rade replied;
a mean the domination and the control of the gov
eminent by the working class as it is now dominated
and controlled by the capitalist class.
Which excited Judge Weeks some more. He asked;
90 You say domination and control of the government
What government? If the dictatorship of the proletarat
is in control Of the government, they controlling an
existing government government? A. 1t is
my view that the working class will establish govern
ent in form that will be suitable to the exercise OF
the working power; that is, the form of govern
ment will very likely be the Soviet form of govern
ment
Thus Ruthenberg, the Communist, courageously set
forth the theories and practices that the leaders OF the
socialist party had turned their backs on during the
whole history o the American socialist movement This
was the program Of greater American working class
struggle in harmony with the triumphant Bolshevil
revolution It is the program that American labor VII
adopt to achieve its victory,