The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-04-03


In spite of the raging white terror,
the Red trade Unions still exist, not
openly but secretly. The old Shang-
hal General Labor Federation, the
Canton Workers Assembly, the Han
kow General Labor Union, the Human
General Labor Unions, all the in
dustrial unions, and the assemblies in
he big cities-all still exist and func-
ton, but now in secret. All are in
close touch with the center, the All
China Labor Federation, and hold full
authority over the workers.
But Of course, the technical work is
in very chaotic condition. 1t is i'm
possible now to keep a register Of
members; that is too dangerous. Dues
are not paid regularly, because col
lectors are Immediately shot when
caught. Therefore it is impossible
for me to give figures on the present
strength of the organizations, which
had 100000 members last June. We
have been dispersed and reorganized
many times in our history, so it is
not an entirely new experience for
us. Our immediate task is to
strengthen the trade unions organi-
nationally.
Organization Problem.
Our first task is to root our trade
unions more deeply in the masses.
Any superficiality in this respect will
be a fatal weakness. Formerly we
had grown accustomed to legal con-
ditions. a fact which has made more
difficult the present period; but we
are quickly learning how to adjust
ourselves. Already we are more de-
veloped, and approached our tasks in
a more sure businesslike fashion. In
Canton the greatest advance has been
made in this respect, for there we
had more trained, experienced leaders.
In Hankow tn trade unions are
younger; they began in 1923, but were
Immediately suppressed, and only
worked as mass organs for the six
months of our participation in the
Wuhan Government; therefore, in
Hankow the movement faces more
difficulties. Shanghai has had long
experience in illegal struggles, like
Canton. But everywhere the organi-
cation problem is acute.
A scend task of our movement is
the general creation of self-defense
forces, to resist the white terror, to
protect the existence of the trade
unions, and to prepare for bigger ac-
tions which must come.
The third most important task is to
improve and consolidate our relations
with the peasants, who are marching
forward in their revolutionary move
ment. The peasant movement cannot
gain stable successes without the
leadership and assistance of the work
ers, who in turn require the support
of the great peasant revolution.
Therefore closer connections must be
built up; the good working relations
that exist in Kwantung must be
spread everywhere.
Work Among Troops.
Fourth, is work among the soldiers.
Even at present the work of breaking
up the militalist forces is very i'm
portant. Unless this work is success
full, the revolution will be in very
difficult position. But this work is
not so hard as it seems at first
glance; the soldiers have no interest
in the objects for which the generals
use them, they live lives of the most
terrible hardships while the generals
roll in luxury, they are mostly land
less peasants or unemployed work
ers who only want job. They
would all have a better living under
workers and peasants government
and it is not so hard to show them
that this is so.
During the Canton rising we TOOK
many prisoners from the old armies
whole troops and regiments; we first
disarmed them, then at once sent
propagandists to explain things tc
them; almost all Immediately asked
for arms to fight with US against the
militarists. We had not single case
of treachery among these forces, ever
a, the end after we were beaten. This
experience shows clearly that the
soldiers are not bound to the Koumin.
tang or to the generals. We must
| further carry on the disintegration Of
| the armies.
| Must Destroy Kuomintang Tools
Our fourth task is to finally de
stroy the reactionary tools of tbs
Kuomintang and generals among tht
workers, the Qualification Commit
tee" the Reorganization Commit
tees" the Labor Federation" etc.
Finally, our comrades must know
hat we not only prepare for the ris
ing against the militarists, but also
we fight daily for the small immediate
needs of the workers; any neglect Of
this basic work of the trade unions
/ i L. Il ha,