The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-02-01

of its program as a whole or of various cam
paigns of the Party
Two recent instances show that this latter de-
velopment is not entirely healthy one. First,
there was the invitation extended to Diego
Rivera, the renegade and ter-revolutionist
a propa gandist in the field of art and culture
for the present Wall Street owned Mexican gov
eminent, by the John Reed Club, with the ex-
cuSe that the members wished to hear what he
has to say and "to interest other" intellectuals
Communist Party members of the Club tooi part
in this decision.
Second, there was the debate" between Hey
wood Broun, members Of the socialist party and
Michael Gold Of the New Masses, on the question
of Socialism versus Communism" arranged by
the directing staff Of the New Masses, some of
whom are Party members. Communism versus
Socialism" under these circumstances means of
course, the Communist Party and its program
against the socialist party and its program The
debate, If it can be called debate was nothing
short of political scandal. The formalty and
the lack OF necessary political clarity and sharp
ness in the exposition made by Mike Gold can
be best exemplified by the fact that at the end
OF the proceedings, a worker arose and asked
What is the difference between Communism
and socialism,"
According to reliable reports Gold and Broun
went into huddle TO work out the answer to
this question and then replied that 1t would have
to be deferred to a later meeting They might
as well have stood arm and arm on the stage
singing, Where do we go from here?"
1t may be that the comrades who furnished
these reports exaggerated somewhat for the sake
of emphasis but information from all sources
forces us to conclude that this describes fairly
well the tolerant atmosphere in which this dis
of tho fuo oi,,
lions in the world today was conducted The
other question is Communism versus capitalism
and the first is directly related to it,
The discussion and debate on revolutionary
political questions is serious matter No Com
munist or supporter of the Communist Party,
should enter into such discussions or debates,
especially with acknowledged enemies of Commu-
nlsm, lightly, or unprepared 1t is the more
necessary, when one is not Party member,
as is the case with Conlrade Gold, but who is
believed by thousands of workers and intel
lectuels to be speaking for our Party and ex-
pressing its line and program, to take all pos
sible care not to play into the hands of enemies
OF the working class and our Party by creating
confusion through incorrect statements and espe-
cially by frivolous approach to such serious
questions as the difference between Communism
and fascism, the cause of fascism, the relation
of social fasciSm to fsscism, the reason for the
rise of fascist relationships ETC.
Something like this happened at the Gold
Broun debate. Many synrathizers of our Party
especially intellectualS, look upon Haywood
Brom IS clever but harmless jester TO king
capitalism. He is nothing of the sort. He is a
creator OF confusion and like all social faScists
he does not support revolutionary struggle for
the overthrow of capitalism and the establish
ment of the proetarian dictatorship, and will
If he lives long enough, and as he announces
from time to time, join with the capitalist class
in murderously suppressing revolutionary strug-
giles Of the American working class led by the
Communist Party. AS he said on January IL
in his column in reference to civil war for the
overthrow of capitalism:
"Of course, my young friend may be right
about the civil war which is to bring peace and
happiness to the human race Perhaps the in
evtable is just around the corner. 1t may be de-
layed by chatting with prosperity. But bless
your romantic heart, my friend even if it comes
| I won't be for it,"
"Is man creature to be terrified by tales
| about a giant ten miles tall who turks in the
mist behind the hill? 1t may be quite impos-
sible for me or any million like to to stave him
| off, but in my petty bourgeois way can take
sock at his ankle" The pacifist middle class
intellectual, the genial lover of all mankind,
here becomes warke when the question Of which
class shall have power is to be settled by armed
force-warlike against the workers.
| But Broun is not only against civil war for
| the liberation Of the working class and colonial
| peoples. He is also against the militant strug-
| giles of the American masses for such funda-
| mental demands as the release of Tom Mooney
| and Warren Billings. It was Broun who dis
covered" that the New York Evening Post and