The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-12-17

The Crocodile Turns
By JORGE


Red Sparks has received a letter In fact we
receive so many that we are unable to answer
them, But this particular letter has special in
terest. The crocodile turns upon his MASTER
beginning as follows:
Il am informed that you conduct column in
the Daily Worker which from time to time criti-
cizes the shortcomings of certain Party MEM
berS who deserve it. I am also informed by your
Unit Buro that you are eight weeks behind in
dues and that you irregular to complains
able degree in regards to your attendance AT
unit meetings"
There is more, but no more charges the rest
being the effort of the Section Organization
Secretary to do himself proud in proving that
what we once said about mechanical carrying
out of rules and regulations is thoroughly APP
plcable to him.
AS to the offenses there's no question We
are even more behind in dues than stated We
are not behind in contributing a large part of
our wages to the Party of course, matter the
Unit Bureau fails to take into account And
we shouldn't be behind-and wouldn't be were
it not for committing the other offense of 'ir-
regular attendance at unit meetings. Also cir
regular is too mild word, and rare" would
be nearer the truth But before we put on any
hair shirt, we believe it needful to examine not
only part of the truth, but the whole truth
And that is just where the rub comes in. This
Tovarish who writes us does not, it seems, live
in this world, among the realities of life which
flaunt the best laid plans of mice and men, not
to say those of section organization secretaries,
Hence he refuses to take into account the fact
which is known to him and to the Unit Buro,
that our time is, firstly, at the disposal of the
Central Committee instead of the unit; and,
secondly, that such national work is so plenti-
fully heaped upon us that if there is anyone
ryit1p
don't know them. And it is invariably in haste,
one task piled on another. Thirdly that this
same difficulty limits, almost to- prohibition the
Unit attendance of practically all comrades we
know of who charged with important ma
tional work
Hence refusing to take account of reality, this
comrades further lines, in which threat of pro-
per action" is mixed with offciousness, serves to
accent the stupid mechanical viewpoint upon
which the correct and just rules of the Party are
drawn in caricature. One would think from his
letter that we deliberately avoid Unit meetings,
in fact any Party activity outside Unit meetings
which he apparently thinks are the quintessence
of activity" A view which matches the form
alism SO prevalent in our Party and foor which
Conrade Kuusinen recently gave the Party a
scolding.
But there is one thing which this comrade in
common with many others who ought to know
better, is everything but Journalist 1t is that
pernicious personal and subjective attitude which
holds crouch personally Cor personal appre-
citation etherD toward the conductor of this
column, rather than regarding the fact that the
column expresses Party policy.
These Genossen seem to think that the Party
has given Jorge column to play around with
after his own whim, to write for the Party or
against it. So, to this cock-eyed viewpoint the
conductor of the column is personally respon-
sble to any coplrade who feels grieved at being
bitten by the crocodile.
We, of course can bear the swollen and near
bureaucratic language of the Section Org. Secy
in question. But we have consideration for those
unknown soldiers" who may have to swallow
unjustifed browbeatings of such Top Kicks.
Hence this comment.
All of which should make clear that the croc-
odile is business-like animal He neither leases
nor wishes to be leased. Going about as he does,
ground of realities