The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-09-24
Continued from page u

establish mass labor party Until this is done the
labor movement must founder helplessy in the
grip of reaction.
The rejection of the general class collaboration
policy Of the bureaucracy and the initiation of
militant program to resist wage cuts, to increase
wages, and to shorten the workday and work
week, is fundamental This carries with it a repu-
diation of the B. & o. Plan and similar schemes for
speeding-up of the workers in industry. It also
means the rejection of trade union capitalism and
the illusions connected Herewith, and the severance
of the labor banks from the trade unions.
Finally to indicate only the basic lines of policy
necessary for the regeneration of the trade union
movement the convention were it awake to the
necessities of the workers, would launch system
attic struggle against American Imperialism 1t
would condemn the growing campaign for the mill
tarzation of the workers. the workers to the
danger of a new world war, and join hands with
the workers of the world for defense Of the Chinese
and Russian revolutions and for the establishment
of world trade union unity.
These are the burning necessities of the move
ment. They are indispensable in order to equip the
workers politically and ndustrally to struggle
against powerful American capitalism. progress
sve convention would inevitably build upon these
general lines
What the Convention VIII Do.
1t is not hard, however, to forecast very differ
ent line for the A. F. of L. convention. 1t is prac-
tically certain that the ultra-reactonaries in
troll of the trade union movement, corrupt to the
core, will do nothing of their own voltion to change
the course of the labor movement from defensive
retreat to victorious advance. And the mass pres
is not at present great enough to force them
along the line of progress. The convention bids
fair to be one of the most reactionary yet held by
the A. F. of L., despite the growing alarm amcng
the bureaucrats at the manifest failure Of their
disqualification policies.
Doubtless the convention will cling to the main
line of Green and his co-reactionaries. 1t will
seate us with appeals to the employers to join with
the labor leaders to company unionize the trade
unions and to turn them into mere adjuncts of the
profit-making machinery of the capitalists. 1t will
smear over the scandalous corruption in the labor
movement exemplified recently by the B. of L. F.
and New Jersey Federation situations, and will pour
out its euogies upon the corrupt politicians with
whom the bureaucrats stand in illicit alliance all
the country. 1t will waste its time in the
never-ending futile jurisdictonal disputes. 1t will
adopt the customary empty crop of resolutions
garding the organization of the unorganized 1t
will be the usual joy-ride, mutual admiration affair
for the upper leadership and it will wind up by
electing the old gang to power.
The convention instead of beginning to orentate
the labor movement towards definite struggle
against American imperialism, will doubtless mark
still abect surrender of the bureaucrats to
the plans of the employers for world conquest The
growing capitalist attack upon the Soviet Union
instead of being condemned will be glorified and
supported. The Communists will be held up as the
authors of all the troubles and difficulties of the
working class. Such in the MAN, will be the con-
venton. If any progressive actions to be taken
they are not yet discernable to the naked eye.
The Perspective.
The foregoing would seem a somewhat dismal
analysis to one not acquainted with the labor move
ment in this country. The American Federation of
Labor convention is not representative of the work
ing class, nor of the currents of protest surging
through its ranks. 1t is gathering of high-paid,
reactionary officials. In no country is the central
body of the labor movement undemocratically
structed. At the A. F. of L. convention the rank
and file is conspicuous by its absence The only
way stray worker gets to the convention as a
delegate is by coming from obscure central
body or federal union
Although the A, F. of i. convention may create
the appearance that all is serene deep in the ranks
of the working class vast currents of discomfort
surge. The great masses of workers are exploited
bitterly. They work for impossibly low wages, as
the general national average of $4,000 per week
for male adult workers amply proves. PassaIc IN
dicated what happens when this discomfort finds