The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-10-11
By A. B. MAGIL

by "A. ID. mAUlL
Nine years after John Reed died
in a cold room in Moscow, his life
burnt up in the service of the first
Workers and Peasants Republic,
the John Reed Club, an organiza-
ton of revolutionary writer's and
artists, was founded in the country
of John Reeds birth, United States,
and in the city where he had spent
so much of his early life, New York.
The mighty socialist upbuilding
of the Soviet Union and the growth
of the revolutionary movement in
this country stimulated and crystal
lied the tendencies that in October,
1929, gave birth to the John Reed
Club. The club set for itself the
aim of furthering revolutionary cul-
tural activities among the Amer
lean working class and of aiding the
revolutionary movement in what
ever way might be necessary. In
the year since its inception it has
fulfilled this twofold task. 1t has
shown itself worthy to bear the
name of that heroic revolutionist
whose ashes lie under the Kremlin
Wall.
:. In February and March, 1880,
at the instigation of that sanity
nan, the Pope of Rome, a vast
hue and cry went up concerning
religious persecution in the So
Wet Union. Behind the yelp of
the clerical watch dogs was their
masters voice-intenartional fin
ance-capital itching for an oppor-
tunity to lay hands on the first
Workers Republic and crush it
together with the revolutionary
movement in the capitalist coun-
tries.
The Club issued an appeal to
writers, artists, educators and scien-
lists throughout the country, urg.
ing them to protest against the holy
crusade. More than eighty Joined
this protest, including Theodore
Dresser, John Dos Passos, Lloyc
Dell, Waldo Frank, Jim Tully
Professor Franz Boas and Board.
man Robinson. In cooperation with
the F.S.U., the club also arranged
a big protest meeting in Central
Opera House which adopted mill.
tant resolution demanding hands off
the Soviet Union.
The club has also undertaken to
join with the LID. in its struggles
against the wave of legal terror
that was sweeping worker after
worker into Jail for the crime Of
fighting for his class. In response
to an appeal by the club, about sc
American writer's, artists, educators
and scientists, including H L. Men.
ken, Sherwood Anderson, and many
of the writer's mentioned above, Join.
ed in protest against these per.
secutions.
The club also sponsored the or
ganization of an Emergency Com
mittee for Southern Political Pris
oners with Theodore Dresser a.
chairman and John Dos Passos (wh,
is a member of the club), as treas
urer. This committee is collectins
defense contributions and carrying
on a publicity campaign. March
found the members of the Johl
Reed Club out on Union Square
they were in the May Day and othe
Working class demonstrations a
participants, nos as spectators il
the class struggle.
On the cultural field the John
Reed Club has made many i'm
pOrtant contributions. 1t has or
gained art exhibits and sympo-
Sums at workers clubs; it held
a successful Red Art Night; and
cooperated with the W.I.R. in or
ganizing and directing art and
music schools for workers chill
dren. Three of its members,
Emjo Basshe, Edith Segal and
Paul Keller, have directed pa
geants at mass meetings and dem