The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-09-09
WHITE CHAUVINISM IN
WASHINGTON, DC.

the Cooperative has been instructed time and
again to put up an theological and organiza-
tional struggle against these rotten bourgeois
tendencies in the camp and in the Cooperative,
but this has nto been done.
Opportunist Retreat on Negro Question.
Another manifestation Of this white chauvin-
istiC attitude occurred about two months ago,
when the Y. c. L. passed decision that at a
Forthcoming dance of the I. w o. Youth Branch
no efforts we're to be made to get Negro workers
to the dance. The presence of Negro workers,
according to those supporting this opportunist
decision, might create trouble" At Y. c. L.
meeting, some time after the dance, when Party
members criticized this decision, the League
members took the matter lightly. Only when
the Party representative threatened those re-
sponsible with expulsion did several members of
the League get up and state that they believe"
the decision was wrong Several openly stated
that they wanted to avoid the issue" Others
brazenly declared 'ft would break the I. w. o.
to invite Negroes" Proof THAT they are still
taking the matter lightly is seen in the fact
that a resolution condemning the Executive
Committee of the Young Communist League for
its action has not yet been sent to the Com
munist press as per the decision of the Y. c. L.
meeting. To the question as to why this has
not been DONE these comrades reply, I'VE are
Investigating Our suspicion is that they will
continue investigating" until they land outside
of the revolutionary movement.
In connection with this outbreak of chauVin-
ism in the Y. c. L. it is significant to note that
the inter-racal dances have been discontinued
the excuse being that no hall for the purpose
can be obtained.
Leading Committees Eyade Issue.
Gases Of individual chauvinism are necessarily
frequent where chauvinisn has official endorse
ment Some time ago at an International Labor
Defense dance a young Negro worker comph-
mented League member on her looks and got
the answer, in substance Don't speak of that
we are dancing with you for only one purpose!"
This comrade later denied that she made this
statement. However, as a result, the Negro
member stood away from the movement for
months. A few weeks ago, another member of
the Y. c. L. stated that she does not like to sit
next to Negroes in a street car. The matter was
brought to the attention of the E. c. of the
Y. c. With the greatest difficulty. One
meeting CT the E. c. was cut short in the midst
Of developing discussion on this case. At tie
next meeting, in the absence of the com~ada
prcferring the charge and of the Party repre-
sentative tie question was decided in Is min
utes of elaboration" The brilliant" decision
was that the guilty comrade be instructed to de-
sify her activities in this field At the meet
ing the guilty comrade was excitedly defended
by members of the E. C. with statements such
as; when we join the League old feelings don't
disappear. . We cannot control our aver
sions. :. We should not condemn her too
severely :. 1t is result of the schools, ETC.
1t cannot be helped" Similar anti-working-
class opinions were expressed by a Party func-
tionary.
These facts (and they could be multiplied
ten-foldD prove the necessity of the sharpest
struggle against white chauvinisn and all its
opportunist defenders in the revolutionary
movement in Washington D. c. The burning
ouS of white chauvinism is an absolute prerequi-
site to real mass work by the Party and the
Young Communist League among the Negro
and white workers of Washington. Every sin
cere, honest comrade must at once take up this
struggle against white cauvnism and its de-
tenders and apologists, ruthlessly exposing these
wherever they show themselves and supporting
the sharpest disciplinary measures, up to expul-
sion, against those elements Who resist the Com
munist line on the Negro question