The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-01-25
Betray Masses in Cruiser Program in Ruhr
Strikes and With Coalition Cabinet

the social democratic leaders had
asked their followers not to press the
demand for the resignation of the
social democratic ministers, for by
the control of the state apparatus
much economic and social gains
could be made for the working class.
The Ruhr lockout and its SUISSE
quent development proved that as
members of a coalition government
the social democratic leaders do not
acquire the least power to defend
or promote the interests of the
working class. On the contrary, they
act as the administrators of the
Bourgeois state at the orders of the
bourgeoisie, to protect and advance
capitalist interests.
Socialists Took Orders.
The lockout continued for five
weeks. The coalition government
was in ridiculous position. For
practical purposes, it did not exist.
The representatives of the bour-
geoisie on the government dictated,
and the social democrats acted on
their orders. 1t was not coalition,
but purely bourgeois government.
The bankruptcy of the theory of
coalition could no longer be con-
cealed. A government under parlia-
mentary democracy can never be
anything but an instrument of CAPT.
talist dictation. Representatives of
ia working class party can enter it
only to serve the interests of the
bourgeoisie and betray the workers.
Finally, the peoples party, repre-
senting the Ruhr magnates, threat
ened to break up the coalition, I'M
less the social democrats would liqui-
date the resistance of the workers.
The social democrats were in des-
perate condition. Not only their pol
icy of coalition, but the very political
existence of their party was at stake.
The debacle of their theory and prac-
tice of coalition would liberate the
masses from their influence. The
rank and file of the social demo-
cratic party would go over to the
Communist Party en- masse.
Bulwark Against Communism.
To save the coalition government
was, therefore, the main concern of
the social democratic leaders. When
the Ruhr conflict had brought the
coalition on the verge of breakup,
Stresemann, speaking in the Reich
stag, said that coalition was the bull
wark against Communism. In other
words, in the period of sharpening
class struggle, coalition of the social
democrats with the bourgeoisie is
useful weapon against the working
class striving towards Socialism. In
the critical moment the most authori-
tative spokesman Of the German
bourgeoisie reminded the social
democratic leaders of this quintes-
sence Of their theory of coalition.
Severing Acceptable.
After a conference with the social
democratic chancellor, Herman Muel-
Ter, the employers declared their
readiness to accept the arbitration
of the social democratic minister Of
the interior, Severing. Obviously,
they made this declaration upon
Severing's having undertaken to ar
bitrate on their terms. Severing's
record in the Ruhr struggle of 1921
is alone sufficient to inspire the con-
fidence of the capitalists.
At that time, Severing, as the
Prussian minister of the interior, CO.
operated with counter-revolutionary
militarists in suppressing the work.
ers. He was so ruthless against the
workers that the monarchist leader
Kapp desired to have him as mem.
Der Of his counter-revolutionary cab.
met.
In the revolutionary year of 1928
Severing also played a role which
made him favorite of the bour.
geoisie. When the record of Sever
ing is known, it can be understood
how the employers accepted the ar
bitration Of one social democrats
ts4AtI . . =.