The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-01-17
By P. FRANkFELD.

MARX, in the 18th Brumaire, stated the fol-
Hi lowing: "The traditions of the past weigh
like an Alps on the minds of the living.
This correct Characterization applies very
strongly to our Party. At the present time
our. Party is breaking with its past methods
of work. Yet the ties, the traditions of the
past weigh quite .eavily on the minds of many
Party Numbers. The old methods are not
simply done away with by mere gesture,
wave of the hand or merely saying so. 1t Is
process, it is a struggle that our Party must
conduct against these old methods of work. the
old traditions of conducting Party work. For
n. eason it is simply lack of understanding
on the part of any Party member who thinks
that the whole fight against the right danger
is being exaggerated" bit. On the contrary,
we must say, that the struggle is still in its
first stages because our Part is still seeped
through and through with strong right-wing
elements and tendencies (not organized, of
course. since the expulsion of the Lovestone
rjght-wing leaders,.
Struggle Against Opportunism.
From ne to time, we catch such glimpses
at the persistence of the old methods of work,
that it must be brought to the attention of
the whole Party. It is simply unbelievable, in
our Party at this time, that such things are
possible. And it is such expressions of the
Partys past that must necessarily awaken
every conscious Party member to the fact that
the right danger is deeply rooted in the ranks
of our Party.
As Party Subj. 0, visited certain unit
Of the Party in the anthracite. What struck
NE fore " when l first arrived in the meet
ing room was the fact that the Party unit
located right in America-was conducting its
business in the Lithuanian language. The Party
abo1i LAM branches VIII
ceorganized the Party in 1925, but in this unit,
he reorganization of the Party apparently
made no visible impression or change. The
init went right on conducting its Party work
n Lithuanian.
| spoke on the line of the Party, the new
period in which we are living and working,
and pointed out to the comrades that the Party
Inits must conduct their work in English, and
explained the reasons for this. One comrade,
alter on during the discussion, argued against
his He said: 81 have been in S............
ever since 1921. We have not taken in one
English-speaking worker since that time. So
Why should conduct our meetings in Eng
ish'' This comrade did not see that it
mposc. to get any single English-speaking
worker Cor any non-Lithunian-speaking worker
or that matter) if the Party spoke in Lithu-
lian But the significant thing is, however.
he complete isolation of our Party unit from
he masses of American, and non-Lithunian
workers..
Some OF the comrades had objections to the
rev dues system One comrade asked for
referendum vote on the dues system. He
lsked what right did the Gee. have to make
UGH decision without consulting the men,
,ership." The demand for referendum vote
hows the fact that some Party comrades have
aiken over hook, line and sinker the social
democratic traditions CT the socialist party with
hem, ard have never gotten rid of these trad-
ions yet.
Vote by Secret Ballots.
Lassy, cleo. ons of / functionares was
ield | was simply swept off my feet when
aw the comrades vote by secret ballot. Appa
emily, these 'nrades have not yet learnt to