The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-12-11
ARTY PRE-CONVENTION DISCUSSION SECTION

in connection with other inner con-
tradictions of American capitalism
9.-Failure to understand the
processes of naturalization, the
menacing nature of the movement
designated as capitalist-engineering-
efficiency-socialism, and the inte-
grafton of the labor aristocracy and
bureaucracy into the imperialist
machine of American capitalism.
10.--Failure to understand the full
effects of the naturalization drive
upon the workers particularly as
represented by the large extent of
wage cuts, especially piece rates.
11.-Assuming that the course of
American imperialism will proceed
mainly along the lines of develop
ment of British capitalism and fail
'ure to understand the basically diff
ferent present world situation.
The totality of these characteris-
tics make for dangerously oppor-
tunist conception of present day
American capitalism and for a grave
overestimation of its reserve powers.
This tendency of the Lovestone
group finds it's expression in the
original draft of the February
thesis, the Geo plenum resolution
of May /, 1927, and in the writings
and speeches of Comrades Lovestone,
Pepper, Wolfe, Nearing, etc.
ii. Underestimati0n of the Leftward
Drift of the Masses.
The murderous effects of the ra-
tionalization drive of American capt.
talism upon the masses 100000
unemployed, speed-up, wage cuts,
etc. the sharpening imperialist ag-
gression of the American ruling
class Nicaragua, China, Philippines
etc., the success of socialist con-
struction in the U. S. S. R. the sys-
tematically breaking down the G.
fects of capitalist and reformist
propaganda, are all producing a
widespread Leftward drift of the
masses in the United States.
There is a general growth of dis
content, militancy and readiness to
struggle among the semi-skilled and
unskilled workers (the bulk of the
American proletariat). A process of
widespread and general radicaliza-
ton is taking place in all industries
among the most exploited sections of
the workers.
This Leftward or rehabilitation
drift of the masses came to most &C
tive expression in the struggles of
the mining, textile and needle trades
workers, and in the widespread TO-
ment and prospects for struggle in
automobile, shoe, oil, meat packing,
rubber and other industries.
The April letter of the ECCI to
our Party characteristics this general
Leftward drift as "a rapidly grow
ing participation of the workers in
mass struggles" aa
Similar signs of foment and Left
ward development are shown among
the working farmers who continue to
suffer under the effects of the agri-
cultural crisis which though some
what retarded, has not been liqui-
dated.
This Leftward drift means a
definite break in the mood of the
American masses. A break from
passivity and retreat to increasing
militancy and struggle.
The Lovestone group does not
share this point of view. It's cdncep-
ton of the mood of the American
masses is marked by the following
characteristics:
Failure to see the break in the
mood of the American masses and
the coming of a turning. point in the
class struggle.
2.--Denial of the existence of a
widespread and general Leftward or
rehabilitation drift among the bulk
of the American workers, covering
it up with a demagogic and false
charge against the minority that it
believes in a deep;going "revolu-
tionary" rehabilitation of the "en-
tire" American working class.
3.-Carrying over the question of
the mood of the masses the bour-
geois "theory of spottiness," insist
ing upon the "spotty" nature Of
rehabilitation in the sense that it is
found only among the workers in
the mining, textile and needle in
dustries.
4.-Failure to recognize Left
ward drift among the working farm
ers. Failing to develop an effective
agrarian programme. Failure to
treat the agricultural workers as
part of the proletariat.
5.-Instead of taking advantage
of the obvious manifestations Of the
rehabilitation drift of the masses,
the Lovestone group underestimate
it, and continually and systematic
ally lin speeches, articles, resolu-
tions, etc. issues warnings and Son-
centrates it's attack against those
who are seeking to attract the
Party's attention and orientate its
policy on the growing favorable con-
4 4. L 4