The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-03-14
BY SAM DON.

IT has been stated time and again that the
Right danger is especially great in the Ian
guage fractions This is absolutely so. How
ever, we did not sufficiently analyze the basic
reasons for the above statement. Instead OF
giving the causes we only stated the effects.
Namely: that the language fractions are not
participating directly in the class struggle and,
of course linked up with it, the non-participa-
ton in Party activities. But why is it so? Is
it merely because they are not citizens and
cannot speak English? Not at all While
the feeling of strangeness consciously cult
waited by the American and foreign language
petty bourgeois press, which also finds its re-
Election in our own language press) and the
legal and fascist terrorism directed especially
against the foreign-born workers are factors
which must not be underestimate 1--WE must
not forget, however, that in times of struggles,
as in the textile, steel, oil and needle indus
tries, the foreign born workers fought very
militantly and courageously). However, the
main reason for the non-participation of the
language fractions directly in the class strug
gle is the poor social composition of the lam
guage fractions
very large number of the language frac-
ton membership is composed of skilled work
ers and in some instances a heavy layer of
petty bourgeois elements. We find there
skilled building trades workers, skilled me-
chanics, store keepers, insurance agents, etc.
This, of course, does not reflect the compost
ton of the foreign-born workers in the Amer
lean industries-who are primarily unskilled
and semi-skilled. Due to naturalization and
the general post factos in American Economy,
there is a growing point of contact and fusion
between the increasing army of the native I'M
skilled and semi-skilled and the large army of
the foreign-born unskilled and the semi-skilled
Nor do the language fractions, therefore, re-
fleet sufficiently the powerful process of homo
geneity which is developing at full speed. To
sum up: Because of the poor social compost
ton of the language fractions, which does not
reflect the composition of the foreign-born
workers in industries and the process towards
homogeneity the language fractions are, there
fore, in many respects, more apt to petty bour-
geois nationalistic tendencies, and less to
Americanization (from class viewpoint) than
the foreign-born unskilled and semi-skilled
workers outside of the Party.
The poor social composition is further ac-
centuated by the fact lit is also reflection
of it) that the leadership of the fractions and
and especially the editorial staffs of the lam
guage papers, had received their early training
i'll the social democratic school. In no phase
of Party work will we find cadre of func-
tonaries with as strong social democratic
background and tendencies, as in the foreign
language fractions and papers.
We will bring few examples of recent ex-
periences to substantiate the above-made an
alysis.
A few weeks ago, the Jewish Forward in
Chicago, called a meeting of the Jewish I'M
employed workers. CAS- we are slow, the Chi
cago Federation and other trade union takers
arl Ehor,1 11s,, 80. e
schemes.) The line of the strike-breaking So
eial reformists at the meeting was simple and
clear. depend charity and not on viol-
ence." The District representative at the Jew
ish language fraction bureau suggested special
steps to counterfeit the meeting of the For
ward and for the development of mass move
nlent amongst the Jewish unemployed workers
An Interesting" discussion developed. In the
first DISCRIMINATING the step taken by the
social reformists as being mainly directed
against the Party. Secondly-that especially
amongst the Jewish workers one cannot de-
velop mass movement against unemployment.
Here are some of the "choce" arguments
"The Jewish worker is ashamed of his poverty
SO he will not participate in mass movement
against unemployment And further: "The
Jewish worker is too proud to admit his power
ty" Or: "the Jewish worker will not partici-
pect him to go to city hall and demonstrate
There is no tradition of struggle amongst the
Jewish workers against unemployment" etc.
to the point of disgust. Only highly-skled
workers with strong bourgeois tendencies
and pure and simple petty-bourgeois elements
can argue in this manner. The above argu-
ments are typical petty-bourgeois nationaistic
arguments, a direct reflection of the theology
consciously fostered by the bourgeoisie What
is the purpose of this ideology? 1t is obvious
to keep the foreign born workers from ac-
lively participating in the class struggle I'm
der the cloak of Specific nationalist features"
to justify and prevent the foreign born work.
ers from uniting with the native workers and
with each other in the struggle against their
common enemy. And here our leading COM
rades instead of fighting it fall into the trap
of the bourgeoisie!
A meeting was held recently of the Chicago
language fraction bureaus and editorial staffs
= the language papers appearing in Chicago
At this meeting report was made on the
Right danger in the language fractions In
this article we will relate few of the illum-
mating facts brought out in the discussion at
the above mentioned meeting
One of the leading members of the editorial
staff of the Wins stated: at is not SO much