The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-11-11
PRE-PLENUM DISCUSSION
Young Communist League, U.S.A.
On Collective Leadership

Collective leadership will make easier the full
est use of personal leadership instead OF circular
as heretofore. When we have whole commit
tee carrying out one task, then it can mobilise
all its comrades to go down to the units and sub
committees and help them work. They can
speak to individual comrades who are to carry
out the task and explain to them how to work
But even this is not enough, Each comrade IN
charge of some work. member of a committee
ETC., must spend much time in the carrying out
of the tasks set by his committee so that he may
show the membership by his personal example
how to do the work An agitprop director should
not only instruct others to speak at open air
meetings or at forums to get out shop papers
and wall papers, but should himself help do this
work in the units Besides this each leading
comrade must spend as much time as possible
among the young workers In this work as in all
other work, the leading comrades should take
others with them and show them how to speak
to young workers. what to say, ETC., etc. Lately
political education is altogether neglected. Above
all we must develop classes and circles. Current
problems must be discussed and explained (not
just spoken of All new comrades must be en-
couraged to read. Each League unit should make
available to the new comrades at least the ele-
mentary pamphlets and books. Periodical dis
cussions should be organized and comrades
financially possible the National Committee
should issue handbook outline on political edu-
cation for functionaries and for the League
generally.
The Shock Troops, too, can do much to build
leadership. Each Shock Troop that has carried
through its task must have contributed to the
development of understanding and initiative of
all of its comrades. The Shock Troops should
generally include at least one more experienced
comrade who will help lead the Shock Troop
into activity
Task of Building New Leadership.
Each League member must become a leader
OF the young workers in his or her shop and
organization. The present leadership from top to
bottom, must leave the League equipped with
able developed comrades when we go into the
Party We had our lessons. If now we boldly
advance comrades from the SHOPS and HELP
them work and work with them, we will succeed
In laying firm foundation for further work.
If however the National Shock Troops every
where as well as the leadership everywhere will
not do this, then the entire work will fall apart
again
We must not be afraid of drawing in new
comrades into work BUT once we have done
this we must work with them ALL the time IN
TILL they can do the same with other new COM
rades We must smash all remnants of indiv-
dual leadership. Communist leadership means
leadership by the best more experienced COM
rades working together and the constant develop
ment OF less experienced comrades to become
better. Each District Committee should discuss
this question and see whether in each unit. in
each committee comrades are being developed
Tor leadership and new proletarian comrades are
constantly being advanced and taken care Of