The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-09-23

part of the Party in the shops and impermissi-
bic underestimaton of trade union and shop
work
Why are the decisions still on paper? Because
we have not changed our methods of work We
learn to speak in terms of thousands of street
demonstrations, but it is below our dignity to
worry about two or three workers in given
shop. Let us examine few questions based
on District experiences:
% Do leading comrades meet with shop
nuclei or shop workers? We can answer that
despite assignments, the great majority did not
This criticism applies particularly to District
Committee members
~ What is the approach of sections to shop
nuclei activities? 1t is no exaggeration to say
that when Section 3, for example, is referred to
as having nuclei. the leading functionary will
hasten to correct" and say only 5. What does
he leave out?-the two shop nuclei in decisive
factories. Other sections are similar.
When units talk about concentration on a
factory it too often means distribution of leaf
lets. Unit 503 for example has been "concen-
trating" on the w. Co. for months, but they
never spoke to a worker in the plant during that
time. They distribute all the general leaflets
and sometimes try to sell Daily Workers Dis
tribution of general leaflets should be done at
dozen shops, but concentration means getting in
touch personally with workers in that shop. is
suing special stickers or material, formulating
specific grievances or demands, recruiting in
dividual members.
80 Did we issue specific directives to shop
nuclei? No. only general Org Letter to all
nuclei Only twice did the District call in 2
shop nuclei to talk over their problems but
then we forgot" to follow up our conversations.
Not only must distinction be made between
shop and street nuclei in issuing directives, but
each shop must get individual attention and
directives.
"a Did discuss any of the four new shop
nuclei reported at July 1920 District PIenum?
Absolutely not. Does this not show the lack Of
orientation of even the leading committee, which
very proudly boasts of it's achievements but then
doesn't give a damn whether the nuclei live or
die afterwards This is the height of Journalism.
However, other specific instances could be
cited, including the laying off of thousands Of
workers in plants where we have nuclei, with
out single thing being done about it. Even
the smallest and easiest task-issuing Of shop
papers-has declined during June and July.
To remedy the situation we must not only talk
of a turn but organize the Party and change
the methods of work to help and facilitate the
Party to make this turn to shop work What
must be done?
ID Correct the wrong methods of work in
dcated above.
(2) Learn to utilize political events which
affect all workers, to penetrate the shops An
example in Chicago is August 3-8 events, which
had the entire city aroused, but the Party failed
to issue even one leaflet-1lot mentioning more
serious individual agitational work inside to the
workers directly, to such important plants the
stockyards. This does not mean that the local
bourgeoisie neglected the stockyards. They sur
rounded them Immediately the night of August
3rd with police. The raising and fighting for
demands for part time workers will also help
us to penetrate the factories.
80 Definite individual assignments to lead
ing comrades to shop nuclei This should be
taken seriously and therefore the same COM
rades should not have 10 other assignments
making it impossible to do any of them.
"a The entire structure of the Party should
be shaken up. Street nuclei today are really
territorial units. They have existed in the same
place for years and are petrified. Sometimes in
the territory of street nuclei there are big
factories, but many times you will find
nucleus centered in the most petty-bourgeois or
non-workng class neighborhood, and no one
ever sees the territory where shops and workers
are. Members move out but still belong to this
street nucleus. The size of our nuclei should be
cut and they should be planted closer to shops.
Members working in shops that the unit is con-
centrating upon must belong to that nucleus,
even though living in different territory. Our
experience in Section 4, where 6 months ago
there were nuclei, shows that after dividing
we now have 8, and of these are ready to be
divided again. Of course the mere dividing is
not the decisive thing-it is only auxiliary.
Mass work and struggle is the cause of Party
growth.
90 All departments of the District Commit
tee have responsibilities in shop nuclei work.
Up until now it was only the Org Department
that was even considered responsible. Each de-
partment of the district or section has spe-
cific duty in reaching workers of given shop
(6) We must learn to utilize sympathetic
mass organizations more than in the past. Two
examples will suffice:
(a) In Chicago the TWO has about 400 needle
workers, but the Needle Trades Workers Indus
trial Union has a smaller membership. Here
are possibilities to recruit if proper work both
general and personal activity, is carried on in
the TWO.
Co) In Gary where in answer to wage cut
by the U. S. Steel in some departments, as the
beginning of general wage-cutting policy our
Section Committee decided the proper and only
way to fight wage cuts was through street
demonstration but not through individual per-
sonal agitation and organization inside the
shop we have some mutual aid organizations Of
various languages. All of them lives nliser-
able barren existence The attention Of the
Party has been to get delegate to a so-called
united front conference occasionally and ask for
money. Why rot build these mutual aid
CARNATIONS? They are comprised 100 per cent
n Az MT ttti q