The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-11-18
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Against Bashfulness
By JORGE

.e1+ bonnens - writes Comrade S. S. T., with
some reason that there exists very peculiar
brand of bashfulness in the ranks OF reVolu-
tionary trade unionists. Mention the y. r III
their presence link it DIP somehow With ther
activities, and note the flutter of uneaslness-
This delicate reaction is even EXTENDED 10
spheres not directly under their guidance
"As for instance their attitude toward the A
N L. c.. in whose behalf once conducted an
open air meet. I had the temerity to utter the
words: The C. P, in conjunction with the A. NJ
L. c. is carrying on campaign against lynch
ing and, To- the acting chairman and commits
tee, all T. U. U. L. dgnitaries, shivered dis
approvingly at such insinuation.'
"At several open-air meets of the Office Work
ers' Union, of whose dainty Unemployed Coun-
Gil 1 am member, my avowed declaration of
allegiance to the G. P. almost Melted me sound
thrashing at the hands of o. w. U. Junction.
aries 1 was let off with private lecture on
the psychology of approaching office workers
(unemployed) by studiously emitting any sort OF
connection which might indicate that that Or
ganization is red or revolutionary.
He says some more which we will deal with
later. But in general we can't say anything IN
general Because there are two evils. One OF
them we mentioned recently on the question of
who are comrades?"
That evil is the making of red union into a
duplicate of the Communist Party, making 1t
so to the point where any worker not a Com.
nlunist Party member feels out of place or I'M
welcome, where the Party members conduct
themselves as above the non-Party workers.
as an exclusive inner circle whose interests ara
separate from those of the general membership.
Then there is this absurd fear that the work.
ers too delicately reared to hear anything
about the Party that it will brighten" the
workers. Which is roland Right Wing rot at
that. Both are based on the same opportunist
conception of a distinction between the inter-
ests of the and the interests of the Party.
If these interests are harmonious, we need not,
in the first case, be afraid ourselves that if
Party workers flood the red unions that sonne-
thing dreadful will happen if we do not impress
on each and every one of them that the Com
munists are running things and demand forth
with endorsement of each and every Conlmu-
mist article of faith Such endorsement is won
by deserving it in practical struggle for the
workers daily and simple demands
In the second case, if the interests of the
workers and the Party are in harmony, upon
what basis can objection be made that they will
not recognize this harmony-if properly pre-
sented?
Communist does not conceal his revolutions
airy beliefs, but does not make the acceptance Of
them by others prerequisite for participation
in the struggle for immediate demands. On the
contrary he takes the lead in such struggle in
vites all to join it, confident that in the strug-
gle they will learn. But he consciously points
out at appropriate times the lessons of the strug-
gle and does not allow the Learning" to result
in mere confusion.
To fail to do so, to fail to draw from concrete
| struggle, Communist conclusions for the work
ers consideration, is not to keep politics out"
| LtYf f0 111%
| There is never a political vacuum.
Marx said and Lenin seconded him, that trade
unions are schools for socialism" We must
have teachers who know their business, yes.
But if we are not to follow Marx we are not
| Communists