The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-06-03
Issues in the Needle Trades
Convention
By FRED ELLIS

Disagreements over minor matters in revo-
lutionary union is quite natural, they are ham
mered out in committees, conventions and IN
activity. When dsagreements on fundamental
questions develop as it has in the N.T.W1.U.
then it reflects itself in political opposition,
the opponents demand fundamental change
in the program. of the union Only one kind
of organized opposition can develop in union
that has a program based upon the principle
of the class struggle and that is one that is
opposed to a class struggle program counter
revolutionary opposition.
There are two trade union centers in the
U.S.A., the T.U.U.L, the revolutionary trade
union center the A. F. of L. the company
union center. internationally there is Amster-
dam and the R.LLU. Between the R.IL.U.,
the T.U.U.L. Amsterdam and the A. F.. of L.
goes on an uncompromisng struggle to ex-
pose these agents of imperialism within the
ranks of the workers. struggle against class
betrayal for class struggle for leadership of
the workers in struggle. Any organized oppo-
sition that appears within the ranks of the
TU.U.L. (Gitlow, Zimmerman, Gross, etc. are
in opposition to class struggle program of
the T.U.U.L. and are linked up politically and
organizationay with the international counter
revolutionary group which is fighting against
the policy and program of the world revolu-
tionary trade union leader, the RIL.U. and
it is such that they must be treated. Con-
citation or temporizing with this group is CIV
ing objective support to their program. They
cannot be confused with the revolutionary mi
norities that fought in the old right wing
unions, against the bureaucrats, against the
company unonizing of the organization These
T.U.U.L. revolutionary minorities fought for
the winning over of the workers for the T.U.
U.L program of class struggle for the pro
gram of the R.IL.U. as against the tratorous
class collaboration program of Amsterdam.
The self-styled minority opposition of the
G.E.B." is carrying on struggle against the
u, against the class struggle program
of the N.T.WI.U., and for the workers to
enter the company unions. The endorsement
of the harrington Howat company union as
against the National Miners Union by Love-
stone and company, the application for REIN
statement into the company unonized Anal
gamated Clothing Workers by Gitlow and 9TH
ers, the open advocacy of Zimmerman, Gross
and company for the organizing of cleft wings"
in all the locals of the company unions as
a substitute for the N. T. w. l. u, the
program of this group, internationally which
calls for the liquidation of the RIL.U. and
for readmittance to Amsterdam, shows the
rapid degeneration of this group of one time
leaders, from leaders of left wing in right
wing union to being leaders of a very small
but nevertheless counter revolutionary group
in revolutionary union.
The very healthy reaction of the workers
was to refuse to re-elect some of these in
dviduals to office, this they call removals.
Yes, it is removals by the rank and file that
demands struggle and not retreat and it has
not yet been sufficient for the health of the
union. The N.T.WLU. organizes all workers
irrespective of race, creed color, political
affiliations on the principle of the class strug-
gle, the rank and file elects its committees and
officers to carry out this program. To elect
Gitlow, Zimmerman, ct al to leading positions
in revolutionary union is in line with policy
that would elect Zigman in charge of strike
committee. The convention must complete this
process and elect to the G.E.B. only those who
accept the program of the union and pledge
to carry it out.
In the convention discussion there is one
point that has not yet been mentioned which is
good guarantee against the development of
opportunism and that is democratic centraism.
Democratic Centralism.
While it is true that the N.TW.LU. has es-
tablished broad shop delegate council in
New York City, and whole series of rank
and file block organizing committees, thus max
ing start in putting into practice democratic