The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-03-07
Ruthenberg, in 1920, Told
Why U. S. Marines Would
March in Shanghai in 1927
BY ]. LOUIS ENGDAHL.

1900 American marines from the ships Of war, Chaumont
and Pecos marched brazenly and batantly with blast
of bugle corps and lingo Of brass bands thru the
streets of the great Chinese seaport one of the largest
in the whole world.
In Chicago, there another march, the quiet tread
of thousands of workers past the bier of c. E. Ruthen
berg paying their tribute TO who had only srug
ged but led in the struggle for their release from
oppression. They had come to do him honor
There is some connection between the two professions
The march of the workers in Chicago is the counter
march "The Parade" in Shanghai, staged Amer
lean imperiast threatening gesture against the work.
of the Orient The strength of the line of march Of
workers who looked Ruthenberg for guidance spells
the weakness of Wall Streets militarist display against
the peoples that American imperialism would subject to
its exploitation.
The kept press argues for China as in Mexico, Mica
ragua and other lands that many batteshps and thou
sands marines are ordered their posts protect
American lives and defend American interests" 1t is
demanded that the heartbeat of frantic paytrotism be
perfectly attuned to the rolling drumbeat of roaring
All else is treason. Boldly and bravely Ruthenberg
mtted that treason to American imperialism Concretely
it for trying to halt the march of the American
dollars marines in Shanghai in 1927, that Ruthenberg
ordered to prison in New York City, in 1920.
In the spirit of Leninsm Ruthenberg had analysed be-
fore astonished jury vicious prosecutor and harlot
redbaiting Judge the development of Imperialism, where
it leading and why. 1t the clearest explanation
of the Communist position that had been made up to
that time under similar conditions in this country
The capitalist overords must needs hide the truth from
the people, that would be possible to send marines
into every foreign land to support the aggressons of
the dollar. That was why they sent Ruthenberg to
prison But that did still his voice. Nor will death
silence it. For his voice takes added volume new
masses of workers rally to the cause which he cham
pioned
"What is imperialism or imperialist capitalism"
asked / E. Ferguson on trial with Ruhenberg before
the notorious Judge Barlow s. Weeks. Ferguson is
lawyer and acted of Communist counsel. Ruthen
berg before capitalist judge and prosecutor and in face
of hostile jury, gave clear answer:
Imperialism is that stage of the development of cap
itasm when the state becomes the agent of the cap
itast class in seeking of investment of
exploitation, materials and in any other form of
capitalist action. It is that period of capitalism when
thru the development Of the capitalist system the per-
lection of the machinery of production the surplus in
country has taken certain character that of the
poration of steel iron and making the requirement
to markets for the of this material for the
disposal of this material.
I'm this effort to markets for the sale of these
materials unexpected territories sought and the gov
enmens become the agents of the capitalists in securing
concessions securing opportunities for investment which,
in turn create the market for the sale of these products
Then the court record contains the following Ferguson
questioning Ruthenberg:
90 viii you explain the statement, at what stage such
development occurs? A. The development of capital
ism itself brings about the perfection of the machinery
of productions the drawing of the workers from agrcu
tura pursuits into industry the tending toward the pro-
ducon of certain character Of commodity and that is
iron and steel goods.
20 Railroads? A. The material for railroads
20 Is that stage in which the surplus cannot be in
vested in the whole country? A. Yes, the tendency of
capitalist production is that with the creation of greater
and greater surplus the of capital invested in
the home industry become less and necessarily the cap
itasts seek other of investment where the
turns will be greater They seek the unexpected terri
tory They seek the countries which have been de-
veloped such Mexico China part of South Amer
ica and nvesseek concessions there and invest their
capital for larger and quicker returns and these invest
mens take the form Of the development of that territory
thru the building of railroads which the market
for the sale of the products of the home country.
60 What is the essential element that makes this
process imperialistic you the term? A. The in
PREVENTION of the government the state agency
Of the capitalist class to these concessions and to
protect their investment.
20 Can you make that more specific? A. Well, we
have had illustration in relations with Mexico
where millions Of American capital invested and
where have been in constant conflict with the various
Mexican governments the protection of these in
vestments.
eve find az the beginning of the in 1914, that
there had developed during the preceding decades the
imperalist policy in all the great capitalist nations;
notably in England and in Germany
"The struggle for Concessions the struggle for what
might call mandatories, colonies, had been
going for long term Of years We found repeatedly
that the governments in conflict with each other
for instance France and Germany Morocco The
questions at stake questions which country
shouldahave the right to exploit this unexploed unde
yeloped territory These conflicts in which the govern
ments fought the battles, thru diplomacy, Of the cap
itast class reflected the imperials process the devel
opment Of Imperialism the securing Of these concessions
for the benefit Of the home capitalist.
1T is OUT or THIS PROCESS THAT THE WAR
DEVELOPED. 1T Is OUT OF THIS PROCESS THAT
FROM THE STANDPOINT or SOCIALIST ANAL
YsIs."
Let American labor take note Of this warning now
WIN he hat