The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-02-27
By 81 GERSON.


This article is in the nature of discus
sion article 1t dwells especially on our or
ganizational shortcomings. 1t is written as
a result of seven months experience in our
work in the South, among native-American
workers. who for the most part are recent
recruits in the class struggle. 1t is with
this qualification that the article is written.
Nevertheless, it is my opinion that most of
the points made here Valid possibly in
varying degree, in every section of the coun-
try.-S.G.)
A VERY necessary and very important note
II was struck by Comrade Oehler in his ar
ticle on our Shortcomings in Handling of
Mass Struggles" This note was the criticism
of our Organizational shortcomings.
Any comrade who is now engaged in any
mass struggles of any sort will readily admit
that the political line of the Comintern and
Party are correct. The orientaton of the
Party on the basic masses of unskilled and
semi-skilled workers and the Negro masses has
been proven correct by mountains of facts.
But what every comrade sees and what the
Comintern and our Party Plenum pointed out
is that there is a tremendous gap between the
political influence of our Party and the var
ious mass revolutionary organizations and
their organzational strength. The basic rea-
son for this is that the Party has not paid
sufficient attention to the organizational ques-
ton. This very underestimation of the or
ganizatonai question: it might be pointed out,
is in itself, serious political shortcomings
Comrade Oehler's remark that "often lead
ing committees hand down policies without
any ways and means of execution is only too
often true. The roots of this go far back into
the history of the Party. The sharp ideolo-
gical war that went on in the ranks of the
left wing of the old Socialist Party and which
was continued in the various parties and
groups that went to make up the present Com
munist Party, the immigratonist sectarianism
of our Party, the lack of practical work among
the basic masses of native-American workers.
these were factors that made for theological
but sterile correctness land that not alwaysD,
but organizational chaos. Theses that were
correct did not find any reflection in organiza-
tional correctness and influence among the
masses.
This was increased hundred-fold by the
Lovestone leadership. This opportunist group
which was paralyzed by the might of Amer
lean imperialism never built organizations
among the masses for serious struggle. "Yes,"
said Mr.. Lovestone when he was at the helm
of the Party, 'We will write correct theses,
even lifting pages bodily from Comintern docu-
mentS, Dut Wnen II comes 10 OTSdnlZdClOu, we
will follow the line of least resistance" Thus
it was that we had Party and Leagusespits
mainly among certain language groups, the
mass work consisting for great part of gain
ing control of cooperatives, etc. And since
there had to be bluff at work, often
organizations were launched that had only a
nominal existence and that were in actually
small duplicates of the Party. The meantime
by this fakery Mr.. Lovestone rewarded some
of his caucus agents. They were placed at
the head of some of these organizations or in
some other place where the interests Of the
Lovestone group could be guarded.
This typical feature of Lovestone's fakery
left the Party in a serious position when the
Party threw Lovestone and his opportunist
followers overheard. While the political line
and leadership was radically changed and while
the Party is now on the. high road to leader
ship over the great masses of American work
ers the South, Illinois, ETC., are only the be-
defects in the organizational side of our work
still remain. 1t is especially necessary for
us to examine our organizational weaknesses
ruthlessly at this loment for, given the cor
rect unified political line-which the Party
undoubtedly has-there is no subjective factor
that bars our constant and speedy progress
other than the factor of organization.
Present Defects.
One of the most serious of our organiza-
tional shortcomings is the handling of our