The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-03-01
By ALEX BITTELMAN.

NJ the many CONTRADICTIONS InAI
~ have been disturbing the socialist
party Of America since and after the
imperialist war, one particular con-
tradiction is coming to forefront Of
late with ever increasing intensity.
This is the conflict between general
pre-war philosophy Of the socialist
party based on the principle of the
class struggle and its actual prac-
tees during the same period which
constitute a betrayal of the class
struggle and surrender to capital
ism.
This contradiction between the class
struggle theory (however confused it
may be) and class collaborationist
practice of the American socialist
party is demanding a solution. This
demand had been voiced on several
occasions by various elements in the
party: right wing, center and So
called left wing. But no solution had
been found up to date, except that
the reformist practices of the socialist
party are becoming ever more domin-
ant while it's theory of pre-war days
is receeding farther and father into
the dim past. Even cursory glance
at the symposium ran in the New
Leader Socialist weekly, New York;
on the task and future Of the socialist
party would be sufficient to prove
our contention. A detailed analysis
Of this symposium would undoubtedly
prove very instructive even to many
of the members Of the socialist party,
particularly its few proletarian ele-
ments, and for this reason we shall
yet come back to this symposium at
some future date. Here we shall deal
only with one of the articles in the
symposium, the one by Louis Francis
Eudenz on the socialist party and the
trade unions New Leader, February
2, 1920.
Wants S. p. to Penetrate Unions.
Louis Budenz criticizes the socialist
party for ignoring the industrial
struggles of the workers and the trade
unions. He says:
IF one comes to a survey OF the
position and activities of the social
list party in America from the view
point of furthering the industrial
struggle plenty of facts can be
mustered to show that the party
has not done all that it should have
done. Lost in the mazes of par.
liamentarism, it has all too long
neglected the obvious fact that the
primary struggle of the American
workers for control of industry is
still on the industrial field rather
than in the halls of congress, and
probably always viii be.
Hence. Budenz concludes, the social
list party must turn its attention away
from parliamentarism and toward in
dustrial action and trade unionism.
Concretely, he proposes that the So
cialist party begin to penetrate the
trade unions, which he considers "the
chief hope Of the workers." promote
The struggles of the unions which
should include the specialization of in
dustry with workers control cas- the
full fruition of the workers hopes"
and also to work for a labor party.
He holds out before his party the in
dependent labor party in Great Brit
ain and urges the S. P. of A. to at
tempt to play the same role in Amer
lea.
What kind of penetration is it that
Budenz is urging upon the S. P? He
explains as follows:
"Now, it is perfectly clear that
this is plea not for the CAPTURE
of the unions by certain socialists
or radical groups or leaders, pol
icy doomed to complete defeat
but for a PENETRATION of the
unions by a radical philosophy,
based on a sympathetic desire to
attain victory for the workers now
and in the future.
Fine Sentiments and Poor Reasoning.
1t seems to US, from the article
under consideration, that Budenz is
being moved to his reflections by
something which is both basic and
vital for the workers and the labor
movement. But his reasoning is
deeply confused showing lack Of
clear understanding as to what he
really wants.
Take his criticisms of the socialist
party. Not only are they incomplete
with regard to presenting a true pic
ture Of everyday socialist practices
but they fail totally to expose the
basic reasons for these non-working
class practices.
Is it true. as Budenz says, that the
S. p. got lost in the "mazes Of par
liamentarism" Yes, it is. But is
that the whole truth? No, it is not.
To make Budenz's statement reflect
the whole truth, one must formulate
lit this way; The socialist party got
hopelessly lost in the mazes Of petty
bourgeois, middle-class parliamentar-
ism. This is what happened to the
socialist party. 1t abandoned the po-
sition of class struggle political &C.
ton, including the revolutionary use