The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-09-05

is not to be blamed for this; we are
all to blame. We gave very little
assistance to the League, we did not
supply the League with adequate
forces. Our parties did not suffi-
GENTLY cooperate with it. Such are
the unembellished facts, on the basis
of which we must draw our conclu-
sions.
The problem of mass organiza-
lions rs one of the most important
problems and the next Plenum will
have to work out series of prac-
tical measures for it's correct solu-
ton. The line is clear, but our ex-
perience is inadequate. We have al
ready adopted many resolutions on
this question and have debated on
it many times. We have resolutions
to show but our deeds do not CORE
spond with these paper resolutions.
This is a fact.
Unemployment.
The unemployment problem was
touched upon, and quite rightly. Sew
eral comrades spoke on the question
and particularly Comrade Hanning-
ton from Great Britain. This ques-
ton must be elaborated in the theses
and the most serious attention must
be paid to it.
The unemployment problem was
discussed here yesterday in connec-
ton with the special problems ap-
pertaining to America. Comrade
Lominadze raised several objections
to- the case presented by Comrade
Varga. He said on the one hand
that Varga revises the fundamental
principles of Marx by speaking of a
decline in the number of workers
employed in industry. He thinks
this is not the case nor can it be.
On the other hand Comrade Lomin-
adze says that he does not agree
with me when l say that this is the
first time anything of this kind has
occurred, for Marx has given num-
erous examples of such cases.
think one must choose one of
these two propositions. Either
something of the sort has existed
and exists now or nothing of the
kind can exist. (Lominadze: There
is no law of development).
Quite right. There is no law OF
DEVELOPMENT. (Lominadze: | said
this against Varga). But you are
arguing also against me.
The second proposition excludes
the first. But Comrade Lominadze
wants to have it both ways.
How does the matter actually
stand? Is reduction in the mum,
Der of workers employed in industry
possible or not? It is possible. II
is possible as were the various cases
which Marx cited in volume l OF
capital" Not a certain" but a
fairly we'll known French economist
Ganil to whom Comrade Lominadze
referred, developed whole theory
on this subject as follows: as capt.
talism develops, the number of work
ers employed declines, and the num-
Der of capitalists increases. Hence,
the workers become capitalistsl
Marx said that this was nonsense.
that it was a ridiculous and worth
less theory. But is this the point
involved in the american" case !
Did Varga express his agreement
with Carver land Ganil)? Did Var
ga say that the workers become cap
italists? God forbid! Varga said
that they become unemployed. There
is nothing in this to suggest Ganils
theory. Hence, Ganil must be left
to lie in peace. Further, Marx cites
several cases of individual factories
in which the number of workers en-
ployed declined, Is 1t possible for
the same thing to happen now (for
the first timely in a whole country
at least for a certain period OF time
I think it is possible. A certain
country may occupy an exceptional
position in world economy, may be
distinguished by certain specific fea-
lures of development just as certain
individual factories or districts OF
Great Britain were distinguished in
the DAVIS of Marx. 1t would be i'm
prudent and wrong to advance new
natural law" of capitalist develop
ment at the present time. Firstly
we have too little empirical material
with which to make such generaliza-
tons, but it is quite permissible to
speak of positive facts. There is q
country that occupies an exceptional
position in world economics and that
country is the United States. 1t is
quite reasonable to suppose that q
country with such enormous eco
nomic resources and where technical
progress has made such rapid
strides should not develop along the
general, average line but should de-
velop in leaps. That is exactly what
is happening in America.
What does that mean? For our
analysis as a whole 1t means the
following: We see various process
es giving rise to growing unemploy-
ment. These are-growing unem-
ployment caused by depression and
crisis; growing unemployment as a
result of naturalization, and finally
a spasmodic reduction in the abso-
lutte number Of workers employed in
industry due to the very rapid tech
meal development that is taking
place in the United States.