The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-08-30
By JACK TOMBSTONE.

involved IN the question OF organ
izing the unorganized is the whole
question of building the Trade
Union Unity League. 1t is not a
separate campaign or detached from
the other campaigns of the T. U.
E. L. The war danger, defence of
the Soviet Union, the struggle
against reformism, for social insur-
ance, the defense of the Gastonia
victims, for social equality for the
Negro, is as much part of the
campaign to organize the morgan
lied as is the struggle against ra-
tionalization, against speed-up, the
struggle for wage increases, better
working conditions, the shorter
work day, equal pay for youth wom-
en- and adults doing the same work.
Organizing the unorganized in
this period of tremendous trustified
industries in this period of hectic
imperialist war preparation, and
growing class antagonism, brings
out clearly the tightness of the class
lines, exposes. bourgeois democracy,
class collaboration, the impotency of
the company union and numerous
welfare schemes, and brings out
clearly the tremendous role of the
A. F. of L. bureaucracy. 1t imme-
diately brings the workers into
strike struggle, and even though the
demands may be of the most ele-
mentary character, the workers find
themselves in open conflict with all
the repressive measures of the bour-
geois state, developing mass class
conscious activities at rapid rate,
which is one of the surest guaran-
tees of the building of unions based
on the class struggle.
New Period.
In the United States we have en-
tered upon a new period, period
Of developing class struggle, and
while we have the old world as a
wonderful school to draw lessons
from, the application of the pro-
gram of the R. I. L. U. has its
peculiar American features in which
we have no set precedent. A small
aristocratic labor movement, still
too Heterogeneous working class, a
large section of foreign-born work.
ers mainly of peasant stock, heavy
migration of poor farmers and agri-
cultural workers to the city, grow
ing army of unemployment in spite
of increased production, which will
become more acute as winter draws
near; heavy influx of women and
youth into industry and an indus
trial turnover, especially in basic
industries that changes the compost
ton of the workers in many of these
industries every few years.
Clash With Many Foes.
Organizing the unorganized in this
period into revolutionary unions is
inseparable from sharp class strug-
gle. This does not mean, however,
that preparatory organization work
cannot be done; it can and must be
done. 1t means that we come into
conflict with all forces that are
opposed to class struggle: the A. F.
of L., the so-called progressive con-
ference for labor action, the social
list party, THE employer and the
government. They will not allow
any peaceful period or perfection Of
organization. Struggle will start
the moment campaign to organize
the unorganized has begun and the
only breathing spell that will be al
lowed will depend on the struggle
and power of the workers.
In organizing the unorganized we
must consider the world situation.
The United States is not working
in a vacuum. The sharpening of
class terror, Gastonia, Tennessee,
New Orleans, Chicago, New York,