The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-06-16
PLUNGES INTO WORK OF
APPLYINGCORRECTLINE
ESPECIALLY IN UNIONS
Nobody Wants To Be Opportunist But Some
Act So; Slow in Midst of Huge Opportunity
ITS Delegates From % Industries 1000 Watch;
Negro Worker Chairman; Cheer French Sailors

He criticized the resistance to
drawing in new elements into Party
leadership from the units up.
Benjamin Reports.
! Comrade Benjamin reported for
/ the District Committee:
Few, he said, dispute the correct
ness of the Party analysis, but the
right danger is principally found
in action. Struggles develop with
out our knowing beforehand the
nature of the elements which COM
pose them, and organizers are not
sent out until these struggles have
definitely erystallized into opposi.
tional activities.
/ We must organize contacts in the
shops and form the united front
from below.
1t is in trade union work that
the gaps between political influence
and organization most glaringly
show. While it is true that unions
report an increase in membership,
it is also true that many members
drop out. This is especially faulty
in view of the fact that the basic
industries in our district are, from
the organizational standpoint, prac-
tically untouched.
I In general, the Party does not re-
spond quickly enough to the require
ments of the present situation. Too
much time is spent among the
skilled workers and not enough in
organizing the unorganized.
The "Shoe Union" holds to the
argument that their defeat was a
result of their unions growing too
fast. That the Party line was not
applied is the real reason.
The Building Trades" cling to
the theory that the unorganized are
unorganizable, and they confine
their work to those who are men,
bers of the A. F. of L. unions.
Among the Printers" we find op-
position to the issuing of a shop
paper. In the Needle Trades" the
non-party members response to
block and shop committees is weak
ened by the fact that comrades, be-
ing on the picket line, cannot give
them the attention they should.
There are also the following bu-
reaucratie tendencies in the Party:
Often unions only concentrate on
small shops. The Food Union" we
find, is too much in camps and
"co-ops" and not enough in the cap
italist shops.
Steady preparation is ignored and
too much reliance is placed on
spontaneity. In our district strug-
giles against the right danger in
the Needle" and "Shoe" Unions we
pass resolutions and, lacking the CO.
ordination which should make them
into actions, nothing practical ever
comes of them.
| ~ IN DISCUSSION.
Seventy-nine delegates took part
in the discussion which started at
10 a. m. and lasted until $50 yes
terday evening. Trade union work
Negro work, the relations between
the Young Communist League and
the Communist Party were discussed
by the delegates in the light of THEN
past mistakes and from the point
of view Of the present tasks Of the
Party in this district. Speaker after
speaker stressed the necessity of
directing the Party's efforts to-
ward the shops and especially to-
ward the basic industries. The need
Of building up the Party work in
New Jersey and upstate received
considerable attention.
The discussion was marked by an
attitude of self-criticism, which
showed that healthy basis fol
solid work in the direction of win.
ming the masses for our Party is
actually being built up.
A representative Of the Young
Pioneers greeted the convention anc
urged the Party to cooperate II
building the Pioneer movement ir
this district. The convention was
brought to it's feet with enthusiastic
applause and spirited singing Of
the international" when two French
seamen, who had just landed in New
York, Unexpectedly brought greet
ings from the Communist Party Of
France. The sailors spoke briefly
in French, and their speeches were
translated to the convention, which
returned the greetings.
At the time the Daily Worker
goes to press the convention is still
in session.