The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-05-26
By H. kORETZ.

THE articles that have appeared in the May
issues of the Daily Worker and the Morning
Freiheit constitute, in the main, except few
incorrect assertions, the first real attempt Tor
a searching analysis of what is wrong with
the Needle Trades Industrial Union. There
were attempts at criticism made in the past,
under the old Lovestone right wing regime,
but these were designed to cover up the op-
portunst line pursued by the leadership rather
than to clarity the mistakes committed and
hammer out a clear cut policy for militant
left wing union The mere mention Of names
in parenthesis as responsible for such mistakes
has aroused bitter animosities and was looked
upon as a mere fractional maneuver for the
sole purpose to dscredit them in the eyes OF
the masses.
No wonder the Lovestone renegades are so
panic stricken and yell murder: What will
the yellow Forward and the impartial Tam
many organ, the Day, say?" Communists, rev.
outionsts, have no interests of their own, but
that of the working masses, Consequently we
want them and only them be the sole judges
of our past mistakes.
"The masses have an healthy revolutionary
instinct" Lenin said, and we can very well
depend upon them, provided they are given
the proper leadership. We not at all con-
cerned what the social-fascists of the Forward
and the A.FL. will say about our mistakes.
The question we are to ask ourselves is this
Does the policy projected lay the basis for the
building up of the Industrial Union, that is to
lead the thousands of needle trades workers
into struggle or not?
Anyone attempting to switch the discussion
from this line and concentrate only on one or
two points of the article, which taken by them
selves are meaningless, will either show ignor-
ance and unprincipledness or will work con-
sciously in alliance with the right wing Love-
stone opposition in union whose policies
mean capitulation before difficulties, giving up
of our union and leading back the masses into
the camp of the enemy.
A thorough analysis of our past mistakes
is the first prerequisite for correct orienta-
ton. Mistakes are not an accident and partic-
ularly those mentioned in the article flow es-
sentially from wrong analysis of the industry
upon which our policies were based. Unless
we recognize our mistakes, admit them, make
the workers understand them, all talk about
a new orientation will amount to nothing.
Some Costly Mistakes.
The Joint Action Committee struggle of 1925
was the rallying point of the masses around
the program of the Trade Union Educational
League for the needle trades industry. The
effects of the naturalization process of indus
hand, the enormous increase of output of pro-
duction with a corresponding decrease of men
power employed in the industry and on the
other hand the perfection of the class coabo-
ration policy by the corrupt socialist bureau
crazy with its wide network of arbitration
schemes and governors commissions as sub
stance for strikes, all these gave impetus to
the growing revolt of the needle trades workers
whose mood for struggle has reached the high
est point. The left wing program, organiza-
tional as well as economic was the only solu-
ton for the needle trades workers and was
accepted by them such by an overwhelming
majority.
Philadelphia Convention First Debacle.
Overestimation of the strength of the right
| wing which was on the verge of complete ami
| hilation on one hand, and the underestmation
| of the fighting mood of the masses on the
| other hand, led to the first grave mistake
that of concluding peace with Sigman's right
wing clique at the Philadelphia convention. The
bureaucrats of the various needle trades were
| shivering in their boots in face of the rising
| tide in favor of the left wing. Being in COM
! plete control of the most strategic local of
| the International comprising the majority of
| the membership there was no need for the left
| wing to reckon with the right wing. 1t had
the absolute power to seal for good the faith
of the old corrupt socialist leadership.
| Left Wing Fails to Carry Out It's Program
When in Power.
Once in control over the New York Joint
Boards of the Furriers, Cloakmakers and Dress