The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-05-21
Organize City Conventions to Fight
Unemployment and Starvation!

tons Of census taker Secondly we find that
while Investigations are carried through, the
workers whom we visit do not hear from us, once
we have investigated them. What do they think
of us under such circumstances Certainly not
what we aim to accomplish. Also there are cities
in which not a single step has yet been taken
10 carry through the work outlined in Next
Steps.
But from the general failure to react TO the
Iessening of relief we can draw the conclusion
that Next Steps has been interpreted in a way
as to give up the struggle for relief from the gov
eminent and the semi government charity Or
CARNATIONS. Otherwise how can we explain the
fact that during the period from February Is
until today only in one or two cities did we
organize demonstrations and actions in connec-
ton with the lessening of relief. The state hum
ger marches which are still being carried through
by some of the states are part of the program
worked out in october long before the Next
Steps were sent you. 1t seems that the Next
Steps were understood as a substitute for the
broad mass struggle to be organized on each
occasion when the interests of the unemployed
can be served through such actions, instead OF
as means of giving firmer foundation and
richer content TO these local actions and at the
same time through the self-activity of the mass
es build organization as result of these actions.
What is to be done about this? Some will
say, Let us return to the old methods" to
the methods of the general demonstrations and
admit that the work outlined in the Next Steps
does not work. This is not correct. In the first
place the Next Steps did not eliminate demon
STATIONS and actions On the contrary, they are
to be the basic work that will lead to bigger and
better demonstrations, and not merely demon
STATIONS that will take place on a certain day
not into Rllt1
demonstrations of a mass character that will
be the logical result of the diverse local and
neighborhood activities and struggles for the re-
lief Of the unemployed for every interest of the
unemployed. And as to the work outlined in
Next Steps, Can we say that this is not prac-
teal? That it will not build the movement?
We have not even begun to put it into operation
properly. We must make the first beginnings
Our policy is correct. But policy not carried
out does not build the movement. Let us stop
placing the question as one of either day to
day work and steady organizational work or mass
demonstrations Let us look at our work as fol-
lows Steady day to day struggles for food for
starving families constant building of the unem-
ployed branches; the development of the self
activity of the masses of the unemployed; the
building of the Unemployed Councils on city
basis through the united front policy the carry
ing through Of mass struggles and demonstra
tons on every occasion that makes it necessary
and possible constantly sharpened by the fight
ing for food for starving families fighting against
evictions. Had we carried on the work on this
basis we would have had many militant strug-
giles of the unemployed against the lessening of
relief We could have prevented the taking away
of the relief from the unemployed 1t is not
too late, though there is little time to be lost.
for our entire movement amoag the unemployed.
ITO help bring about sharp correction, and
to well more effectively unite the struggles
of the employed and unemployed workers in view
of increased slashes in wages the National Bro
of the TU.U.L. now calls upon all comrades
in all cities to organize City Conventions to fight
unemployment These conventions should take
place within month to six weeks from this
date. The basis for these conventions is
tanned in this very important letter to you