The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-08-19
The Lessons of Aug, 3 in Chicago
and the Next Tasks

The significance of this-the largest demon
stration in the history of the Communist Party
in Chicago-was doublefold because it was pre-
cSey on the issue of unity of white and Negro
workers linked with the struggle for unemploy-
ment insurance and against eviCtions and terror
that caused this tremendous turnout of workers.
This unity of white and Negro workers found
expression in dozens of small incidents, all veri
flying the understanding of class solidarity and
overcoming of the artificially created race bar
riers. Negro and white marched arm in arm.
Once in the white territory, white workers were
seen bringing water to the thirsty marcherS.
Bottles passed from mouth to mouth of Negro
and white workers alike. All were united. New
slogans sprang spontaneously from the crowd
such as mo Work-No Rent" and were chanted
down the street. And above all, the Communist
Party received louder applause and more cheer
ing than any other organization, proof of the
fact that the Partys role was recognized. More
than 1000 workers filled out cards for the IN
employed Council, and 500 for the Communist
Party on that day. The next day another 500
workers filled out Unemployment Council ap-
plications at the South Side Workers Center.
Let us contrast August with February 10
just exactly six months later. On February 10
through the Unemployed Council demonstration,
we entered the South Side for the first time in
an organized body. We marched part of the
same route as on August 8. But what different
story. On February 10 there was one Negro
worker for every twenty white workers The
Negro masses looked with skepticism and some
with hesitation and indifference But during
these six months we had become known through
participation in struggle alongside of them. This
brought the vast difference between February 10
and August s.
Role of Liberals.
The Party leadership had no illusions about
the role of the liberals. But in connection with
the sending of our workers delegation to the
acting mayor, representing the TUUL unions,
the Party, Unemployed Council LSNR, LID,
and other mass organizations, some liberals we're
invited to go along. At preceding meeting, when
the U. G. statement submitted, everyone of
them, except one, ran away Some made ex-
cuses-others stated they could never agree to
sign document like that. One was not sure of
the facts Che was lawyer although none dis
puted that three men were shot dead by police
Another sky pilot thought that instead of shoot
ing it would have been all right to use tear gas
bombs 1t was then proposed that they organ
ize their own delegation on the basis of three
elementary demands, which the hearts and souls
of any "dear" liberal should have stomached,
such as:
% Withdrawal of 1900 police from the South
Side
90 Hold cr1ninally responsible those who were
responsible for shooting the workers
But even this weak liberal program was rejected
by thse self-Styled representatives of Chicagos
liberals. They exposed themselves openly and
fled from us as if we were poison. Today they
find their place on various advisory committees
OF Mayor Cermak and endorsing all his plans.
Weaknesses of Party During August 3rd
The one outstanding political mistake made
by the Party on the first day. which was quickly
corrected by the help of the Central Committee
was the wording of one of our main slogans:
Arrest of Lieutenant Hardy and policemen who
shot the workers. demanding death penalty for
the murderers." This formulation completely
overlooked the planned character of the muir
ders' as already referred to above at the meet
ing of real estate sharks etc, who instructed
the police to use more drastic measures. In the
leaflet, reference was made to the general res
sponsibility of the City Hall, but omitted in the
slogans. This formulation of the slogan did not
place the criminal responsibility on the city gov
eminent on Cermak and Alcock but only on
the policemen who did the numbering at the
behest of their bosses.
Other weaknesses manifested themselves in
the failure to spread a mass movement of str11g
gle to other parts of the city that same week.
although meetings were held with speakers from
the South Side, insufficient organizing of forces
10 recruit members sell the Daily Worker.
and complete absence of the Liberator.
"A grave shortconing was revealed in the in
capacity OF the section leadership to handle the
situation. 1t was lost in the waves of the mass
movement. To overcome this, it was necessary
TO reorganize the section leadership, with as
slstance of leading comrades and additional
forces from all other sections.
Our Next Tasks.
The funeral is not the climax of our activities
IL must only be the starting point With this
IN mind, the following tasks have been set and
are already in the course of being carried out:
ID Issuance and distribution of $4,000 leaf
lets in the name of the Party during the week
of August 9th explaining events of August Srd-
8th
90 Emergency conference on Sunday, August
10th, called by the Unemployed Council to
select mass delegation to Governor Emmersons
Commission which has been called into spe-
cial session.
CD Calling Of Cook County mass conference
on September 18th by the Unemployed Council
for Unemployment Insurance and against DO
lice terror. The call for this conference is not
only being sent to organizations but mass
distribution Of $4,000 copies is taking place
among the workers
"a Continuing to develop struggles in all parts
of the city against evictions, shutting off gas
and light; taking up specific outstanding cases
as examples to develop struggles against local
authorities; developing struggles around local