The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-18
By TONY MINERICH.

THE recent conference of Y. c. L. organizers
of New York Philadelphia, Boston and New
Haven has clearly shown that the decisions OF
the enlarged buro in regard to the organization
of the first National Youth day in this country
have not been put into effect to any serious
degree. Not only did we fail up till now, to
popularize this day OF struggle amongst the
Young workers but even failed to begin to mob
ilize our own membership for this important
event in the life of our League. Now what are
some of the reasons for this slowness in our pre-
paratory work?
1. Lack of understanding of the meaning of
NYD as a day of struggle; for example, ten
dency to look upon NYD as big picnic Also.
tendencies to separate NYD from the general
work and campaigns of the League and thus look
upon it as "another campaign" with the result
that NYD will not become the eliminating point
of all our work, especially in connection with
unemployment, wage cuts, terror and the war
danger.
.. The failure of district committees and Ma
tional shock troops to bring NYD to the lower
ranks of the League, as well as the mobllzanon
of the Party, the Revolutionary Trade Unions
Unemployed Councils, LSU and other youth or
CARNATIONS An example of this was New Haven
where the leading comrades were so enthusiastic
that good" reports were sent to the n. Q. 'even
offered medals to the organization of NYD) but
"at home" failed to even bring their own de-
cisions to the membership This attitude pre-
walls in one or another form in the other dis
tricts
g. Sectarianism thst still prevails in our
ranks acts as lever in preventing us from
reaching large masses of young workers. There
are too many tendencies amongst leading COM
rades to make decisions in top committees, to
be satisfied at this and not make any attempts
to carry these decisions to the young workers
The failure of the MEG to still further con-
cretize the decisions of the enlarged buro and
mobilize the district leadership and membership
for NYD, thru the press
Significance of National Youth Day.
While the revolutionary movement, as whole
in the United States has already succeeded in
establishing its own revolutionary traditions and
days of struggle MAY First-Haymarket Riot
Ruthenberg Memorial etc), however, this cam
not be said specifically about the Revolutionary
Youth movement, like in other countries Ger
many.
The BOSSES in order to maintain their grip
over the working class youth, have established
in this country special days for intensfying lingo
and anti-working class propaganda duly 4th
Decoration Day. Armistice Day. Army Day, Child
Health Day, etc.. In order to fight these bour-
geois days of jingost preparations, 1t is ahso-
lutely essential to build up our own traditional
working class youth day of struggle. This is
especially important now that the United States
is taking the initiative in organizing a block
against the Soviet Union, and that this is done
under the cover of more pacifist phrases and
organizations. This increased activity of the pa
cifists is another proof of the nearness Of the
war.
The very conditions in the country at the pres
ent time are extremely favorable and ripe for
developing such youth days of struggle. Over
100000 young workers are unemployed With
the result that the youth today is becoming
more and more desperate, is ready for militant
struggle, is continually migrating from town to
town looking in vain for jobs in this way Fore
ing them to leave their parents, and sleeping in
flop houses, parks, subways. etc, as well as the
increased number of suicides as a result of
hopeessness and desperation among weaker ele-
ments who cannot see the way of struggle. The
Hoover stagger system affects the youth more
than any other section Of the wcr.ing class, the
average wage of a young worker being from ten
to twelve dollars, and in the case Of the South
from four to six and much worse for the Negro
youth with the result that the stagger system
stll further slashes the wages of the young