The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-01-22
PARTY LIFE
Is It PartyWo
BY JOSEPH NORTH.

A PARTY MEMBER engroSsed in Trade Union
"A Unity League rank and file activities in many
parts of the country labors under cloud Neg
lecting unit work" is a charge blasted at him
from jealous unit organizers. Charges in some
cases are brought against the worker And there
is perpetual wrangle between the party and the
TUUL in most districts over the activity OF such
a worker. -,.,-,---.~.-.'
In Cleveland district for instance a conlrade
placed in charge of organizing a plan to raise
finances for the TUUL, was unable latter two
weeks to accomplish any work for the TUUL.
She said she was too busy with party activity" :
IN Chicago unit organizer demanded to know
of the district Labor Unity agent in what capac-
ity was she to attend an unemployment confer
ence, instead of going out for signatures in the
local election campaign. He did not know, APP
parently, that Labor Unity, and its supplement,
the Unemployed Worker, is the official organ OF
the TUUL and of the Unemployed Councils. 1t
was very difficult to get the unit organizer to
agree that the Labor Unity agent for the entire
Chicago district should attend the Unenploy-
ment Conference and organize the apparatus for
building up the official organ of the TUUL and
Unemployed Councils, rather than to be out col
Letting signatures that particular day.
TUUL Work and Party work.
True, the party member functioning iii the
TUUL should be responsible to his party unit.
Reports must be made to the unit organizer as
to his activities in the TUUL. The TUUL secre-
tary must obtain the comrades release from the
majority of unit activity to work in the TUUL.-
So far thiSsiS not done. AS result, the unit
organizer is ignorant of the work of the COM
rade in the trade unions, and he skeptically eyes
the vacant chair of the conlrade during the unit
meetings. Words of blame may come from the
organizer. And yet at that particular time, that
party member may be trying to speak before
an A. F. of L. local, in danger of assault, or even
OF murder as the comrade who was killed recently
in Chicago distributing leaflets at an A. F. of L.
meeting. He may get fractured skull=or may
crash the gate and get his message to the ALL.
membership-but he's not doing party work"
The fault is in the organization of
party and TUUL cooperation. The failure to
check up on comrades in TUUL work. That is,
comrades who are engaged in TUUL work--a job
that requires more than every evening of his
time-must be excused, formally, from regular
unit activity 1t would be a good idea
if he could arrange his activities SO as to leave
the two hours open during the week when his
unit meets. But the A. F. of L. unfortunately
does not recognize party unit meetings, nor does
pfe-strike situation But speaking in general
the party member must attend his unit meet
ings despite his work in TUUL
But that he be required in addition to engage
in the multitudinous activities Of the party as
such, aside from his TUUL work, is piling up
too big burden any one comrades shoulders
In fact far greater uumber of party members
must be drafted to concrete TUUL activity.
Fractions.
In most districts. Party functions in TUUL
They don't exist AS a result many refornist
illusions are broadcast by well-meaning but un-
developed leaders in Unemployed Councils, often
acting as brake upon the militancy of the I'M
employed rather than squirting them on to
greater and more organized activity.
In most TUUL groups likewise. The fraction
is non-existent. The Party member Is too busy
in the fraternal organizations, or perhaps in his
singing society Chicago can attest to the latter
to participate in the fraction of the union. Or
even, in most cases, to even belong to the
union. ~as.-'ess a.
And in most cases the percentage of Party
members enrolled and active in the TUUL is
disgraceful. Here is the kernel of the situation.
In Detroit, for instance, only Is per cent of Party
members, are active in the unions. Fifteen per-
cent of the Party strength behind the TUUL
movement. which all recognize and agree" must
be pushed in this period to the maximum, to
achieve mass status.
But at this rate, comrades, at the Is per cent,
rate, it will never be achieved The bosses are
travelling 100 per cent speed. We will be lag
gng along at the tail of the movements of the
working class The enrolment of Party men,
bers into the TUUL is of absolute and funda-
mental Importance. The TUUL secretary in
each district should compile list of comrades
to be placed into 100 per cent active work in the
| different unions and leagues.
There are many Party comrades who have yet
to be introduced to the TUUL. To get. a clear
picture of the proposition. And the woeful ig-
norance of details Of organization and the strug-
gle for partial demands is widespread in the
Party.
This can be clearly mirrored in the percentage,
for instance, of the Party membership reading
| TUUL literature-Iabor Unity for example, and
its supplement-, the Unemployed Worker, the off,
cial organ of the TUUL and the Unemployed
Councils. To the great majority Of Party mem
bers, Labor Unity is a publication suitable only
for rank and file workers outside the movement
It's too elementary too simple. for the Party
member. The mere fact that Labor Unitys
worker correspondence section reflects brilliantly
the conditions of the American worker, Is Moth
ing. The fact that between rs and 100 letters
from as many sections of the country come
weekly to Labor Unity, Is nothing 81 No other
publication in the country gives mora accu-
| rate picture of the status Of the American work
| er. But too many Party member goes on the
assumption that "he knows 1t ALL As . result
too many Party member comes to the rank
and file unorganized worker, and to the A. F..