The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-07-18

propose the same solution for the
same problem in Germany.
Mr.. Music correctly understands
the bureaucrats aversion for organ
izing the unorganized youth, but at
tempts to rationalize it by saying:
eve are afraid of that thing in young
people to which at the present time
we usually apply the term Bolshe-
vism That is to say, afraid of their
Righteousness, their willingness to
even smash what already exists in
order to get at something that seems
better. All of these difficulties are
perfectly real" in the first place it
IS necessary to understand the forces
at work that makes for this rebellious-
ness. They are the greater degree of
exploitation of the youth. The low
wages, and long hours of work. The
fact that the young worker is left I'M
protected, and is at the mercy of the
employer. The young workers are
passive today, but already we see de-
finite signs of movement in the direc-
ton of struggle towards lettering
their conditions. The elemental forces
of work will produce more BeIlvilles,
Bellaires, Plumbers Helpers organi-
cations, breaker-boy strikes, etc. The
working youth in America, even to-
day, when passive, are not an inert
mass.
The direct and open sabotage by
the trade union officialdom of this
basic necessity for the labor move
ment, that of organizing the young
workers, is effectively cloaked by
Mr.. Music behind the slogan of Gus
old folks are afraid of the young"
1t is not exactly this kind of fear
that makes the bureaucrats hesitate,
but because of the new n1ilitancy that
the youth will bring into the trade
unions, the new trade unionism that
will sweep out the old fogies who
have been in office for decades and
clean the Augean stables of the
American labor movement. it is that
fear which prevents the officialdom
of the A. F. of L. from organizing
the youth, and instead William Green,
president of the A. F. of L. calls on
the working youth to go to the G. M.
I. C.'s. And they are correct, for
witness the activities of Pat Toohey
Joe Angelo, and Tony Minerich in
the Miners Union, Passaic, Gold in
the furriers, etc. Their fears are very
well founded indeed.
To cap the article, the new Ten
Commandments are handed down by
Mr.. Music from the Mount. The ten
doht's for the youth, when in the
labor youth leagues, we presume.
They are:
~. Don't be a somebody who is
going to do something to the labor
movement. Be somebody who is GO
ing to do something in the labor
az. Don't get the Messiah
or Moses-lead-the-m ovement- out-of
the-wilderness complex; ~. Don't be
in hurry; az. Don't be cry baby;
~. Don't become a clever fellow
who plays the game from the side
lines; (6). Don't be nut; ~. Don't
play for the limelight all of the time;
(8) Play for a chance to do work
not chance to exercise power; (9). |
Don't be afraid of being called names,
and 10). Don't become a cynic.
Some very good dont's and some
very bad ones. Again, however, Mr..
Music issues ten commandments in I
order to make the officials feel Sc
cure if ever they decide to organize
the youth. Even when he advices fear.
Iessness in facing barrage of names
paradoxically enuf he pro-
vides long enuf list-he forewarns
The youth to use their heads, not fall !
prey to words, deal with realities and |
not slogans. So even that bold, in |
trepid commandment is rendered in |
nocdous by the new Moses of the suf- |
fering youth.
Instead of issuing ten command
nents to the working youth that is
not yet organized, nay, not even in
he youth sections that Music pro-
loses, it would have been more pro-
fitable to have suggested ten ways of
with organization. We
Will not go into great detail for that
would require another article, but
'ather make some general suggestions
and remarks.
In the first place, we must recog-
lize the differences in degree of or
in the given industries.
For instance, in the light metal and
there is the I. A. of NJ,
Ehich is in very weakened condi-
ion, today. However, an organiza-
ion does exist, and in the two above
there are many thousands
IF young workers employed. It is
different in radio, which is some.
hing entirely new, and where the
'irst semblances of an organization
must be built. In the union, spe-
,ial youth organization committee
should be established. This commit