The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-03-08
Ruthenberg Told How The
Socialist Parties Failed
In Face Of World War
BY ]. LOUIS ENGDAHL.


w movement in the United States, following the war
and the triumphant workers revolution in Russia, the
American capitalist class behed Communism not alone
a spectre that haunted it night and day, but as
flesh and blood foe to be bitterly fought and overcome
This became very apparent in the numerous red
raids that have continued sporadcay to the present
time in different sections Of the country It also mani
Tested itself in the vicious prosecutions launched against
Communists who had been arrested.
Just as he was one of the first to suffer in the
cialist party as a result of the attacks by the
government this organization, so c. E. Ruthenberg
also in the forefront of those to receive the first
blows from the capitalist state in its attack against the
Communist Party, first inaugurated war on the
left wing in the socialist party the left wing that
ganized the forces Of Communism into American
section Of the Communist international.
It was at the trial Of Comrade Ruthenberg in New
York City that capitalist justice garngy revealed its
class nature Judge Barlow S. Weeks arrogated to him
self all the powers of court jury and prosecutor In
this he had eager ally in the prosecutor himself
Assistant District Attorney Alexander l. Rorke. When
Ruthenberg was on the witness stand they both con-
Quoted double-barreled attack against him. This
clearly be through the re-readng of the court
testimony by those who not fortunate enough to
have been present at the trial itself.
These Judicial ackeys of the enemy capitalist class
especially anxious to bring out that Ruhenberg
was in favor of invoking civil war to overthrow the
present American government not when the time would
be deemed propitious but during the late world
and the period Immediately following to which the in
dictment applied.
The district attorney carefully led up to his point
by going the history of the development of the
First and Second Intemationals. He based his main
attack on the anti-war manifesto of the special anti
war congress of the Second (Socalist international
This declaration against and militarism
sidered socialist classic at the time. 1t remained
paper document however, being grossly betrayed with
the breaking out of the when every European
ciais party with the exception of the Italian,
its support to the imperialist struggle.
D.. a., ;..,;.4 ..,,4. .; NJ, Wi. Cr+ nos
interested in how the European socialist parties
really acted in the face of the war; but how Ruthen-
berg thought they should have acted
Thus the prosecutor declared, "What we are inter-
ested is the in which the socialist parties of
the various countries to act against the
What the act against the war tha' the socialists
failed to carry out when declared?"
And the judge chimed in with, What acts were not
taken BY the socialists that he (2uthenberg) under
stands required by the Second International agree
ment Cat Basle)."
Ruthenberg carefully explained that opposition to the
might take various forms, it might take the form
Of demonstrations, it might develop into the action
taken by the British Council of Action, when Great
Britain threatened to attack the Soviet Union"
what action" demanded the court
Ruthenberg answered. "The Council of Action threat
ened general strike if England declared Soviet
Russia. Such action, I believe, required by the
Basic resolution against any government that entered
imperialist war;"
Court and prosecutor then began applying the gen.
eral strike theory to the United States.
"Let me see if understand you" said Judge Weeks
You that compliance with the Basic resolution
would require declaration of general strike in the
United States after the declaration of by the United
States?"
Ruthenberg answered "If there was an organization
Of sufficient strength and power to call a general
strike, yes"
Then the prosecutor Rorke, took up the questioning
las follows:
% The Basic resolution spoke about the desirabity
o. civil in the event that the nations went to
didn't it? A. I do not think those are the words Of
the BRse resolution It states that the imperalist war
should be turned into civil war
3D. Should be turned into what? A. Into a civil war
- You mean by that, that if the governments go
to var with another, that the proetariat should
take advantage of the situation, and change it into
civil war in the country, that the proetariat might
succeed in conquering the government? A. Ny view of
that statement is that if it required any action the
par of the organized workers in opposition to the
to the extent Of overhrowing the existing
and establishing working class government in its
place, in order to stop the
20. And is what I stated one of the acts
"The Court: And if necessary to accomplish that by
a civil revolution?
'The Witness (Ruthenberg): If the conditions were
such that the prOetaran strength and the development
of the situation in any particular country made that
possible it happened in Russia through the break
down of the existing government, THEN THE BASLE
RESOLUTION REQUIRED SUCH ACTION.
20. If they (the workers) are strong enough to do
it, you believe the Basic resolution requires them to
do it, is that it? A. The Basic resolution requires the
working class to use all it's power end the capitalist
20. As part of its power, if it strong enough to
bring civil war, to conquer the government? A.
If II was necessary to overthrow the existing
ment and set up working class state in its place.
O. Did you believe it necessary to overthrow the
existing government by those means? A. / do not
believe that the overthrow Of any government be
brought about by anyone saying or planning that it
should be done at certain time l believe that all
capitalist governments will be overthrow through the