The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-03-13
Demonstrations and Daily
Work
BY PAUL MUNTER.
portland, Ore.)


Portland, Ore)
THE demonstrations throughout the country on
L the tenth of February call certain factors to
our attention that may or may not be OF vital
Significance but which I think are of such ma
ture that they justify a thorough airing and
analysis.
From the press reports in the Daily Worker it
would seem that the weather was not a serious
factor in causing the relatively small tlrnouts
throughout the country In speaking Of relatively
small numbers, I refer to the obvious diScrepan-
cies between the thousands who marched in the
hunger marches prior to it and the number that
demonstrated for the Unemployment Insurance
Bill on the tenth.
In summarizing an opinion Of the activity 1t
appears that general mistake is the calling of
demonstrations in such frequent order that the
majority of workers react to them as of no espe-
cial significance. The efficacy of a demonstra-
ton is to call the attention of workers to huge
organized effort in their interests and to rally
them to the standard of the organizations wag-
ing the fights that the demonstrations signify.
In thus ralIying the mass of workers, measure
the correctness of our programs, and follow the
response up with organizational steps that make
the next attack of the workers stronger by a
recruiting of forces.
appear that the activities engaged in by actual
understanding members of the Unemployed
Councils, got the results Thus the daily activity
of an organization with the correct approach, is
again shown for its full worth. 1t is no mistake
to call attention to Dayton, Hartford, Cleveland
and the other cities where certain gains Gimme
diately graSped by the workers. were made, that
these results were gotten by an action of the
hundreds who understood the plan of action and
we're not merely in general sympathy with it,
That would indicate that the best results from
demonstration are not gained in calling an
other within a short time (hunger marches are
included as demonstrations in this account but
by following up the routine steps of organizing
those who responded. 1t is with this idea in
mind that Portland comes to the following con-
illusions.
On the Tenth in Portland, though the demon
straton received the response of the workers in
the largest numbers since March 9Th Gan indica-
ton of the severity of the times that cannot be
refuteO the actual gain in membership was not
in line with the enthusiasm of the crowd. One
of the most grievous errors in not having
hall to which to take the workers who wished
to join and having thorough discussion on the
demonstration and the future activity of the
council by the new members. The crowd showed
that they understood full well the role of the
C4ty pOllCe dIlQ were Wiling 10
defend their demonstration The squirt to revo-
lutionary activities that the demonstration
created is of no value unless the concrete daily
work of the council is pushed by the members.
1t is well established in Portland now that the
takers of the A. F. of L., T. w. W., UNEMPLOYED
Union, etc, are understood and properly CLASH
fled by the workers, even to the extent that the
Unemployed Council is the only group that the
enemies of the workers take cognizance of in
the unemployed movement. The Tenth made
the workers of Portland familiar with the tao
tics of their struggle and the role of the capt.
talist state and the Communist Party as the OPP
ponent Of it in the interest of the workers was
also well established.
Weighing all of these factors Portland decided
to concentrate on thorough plan of action for
the International Fighting Day, to be successful
in rallying the masses with good results. The
errors OF the Tenth to be avoided and allowances
to be made for the increased resistance of the
police, fascist elements, etc, who are thoroughly
alarmed by the results of the Tenth 1t is up to
the Party members in Portland to lead the new
forces we have gained into the increased struggle
with fighting example. We can materialize the
unemployed struggle and prepare the ground
work for thorough revolutionary organization
OF Portland workers by not allowing the stars
that shoot across the armament to dazzle us but
to keep our feet on the ground and build.
Does not this apply to the entire country also?
That is what we would like to hear More in
formation and suggestions from those engaged
in the daily work of the councils is vital to give
more up-to-the minute impetus to our activities.
Let us not make mistakes but avoid them by
thorough discussion on the results of our dem
onstrations. And lastly should we not keep the
fighting slogans of the days set for demonstra-
tons firmly in the front by not abusing the
spontaneous responses to our calls, and go into
the daily work more fully2