The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-04-08
ONLY THE PRESSURE OF THE
WORKING CLASS CAN SAVE /
WILLIE BROWN

che CWiilie) is victim Of the s1un neighbOrhOOd
in which he lives" The Negro masses must
be warned against such tactics, It becomes the
duty Of the workers. and revolutionary organiza-
lions to expose Alexander side by side with those
who are anxious to see willie Brown burn In
the electric chair. e =: ,-., sz ..
The case Of willie brown exposes the weak
nesses Of the Party in the Revolutionary organi-
cations and the necessity of being alert to the
schemes Of the ruling class against the workers
and its attempts TO terrori2e the Negro masses
particularly. Immediately upon the discovery OF
the slain child, and when 1t became evident from
the statements OF the police that Negro worker
would be framed up, the Party in the Phadel-
phia district committed serious error in its
failure to warn the workers against the forth
coming frame-up. The Party committed more
serious political and iTnperrnisSibie error later
when Willie was arrested and instead OF the
Party Immediately ringing the bell of alarm,
arousing and modifying the workers against this
frame-up, the leading comrades Of the district,
including the writer, allowed themselves to
speculate about the facts OF the case, allowed
themselves to wait and investigate.
On the other hand. the Negro masses felt that
an injustice was being done to a member Of their
race Instinctively they felt that Willie being
framed-up and upon their own initiative they
began to collect money for the case and organize
Willie Brown defense committee The Negro
masses look for leadership to rally them on
behalf Of Willie Brown. AS a result of the slow
ness of the district and its incorrect reaction to
the case nisleaders Of the workers among the
Negro masses saw in the case Of Willie Brown
an opportunity for them to get the Negro masses
for their petty-bourgeoS treacherous and poison
Gus propaganda, These niseaders began to call
meetings supposedly on behalf Of Willie Brown,
which were attended by 800 to 1000 workers.
They began to visit Negro churches and organ
izations thus utilizing this case to put over this
program which aims to separate the Negro work
ers from the masses Of white toilers, thus at
tempting to prevent a unified struggle Of both
white and Negro workers
The slowness Of the Communist Party leader
ship in the district to react to this case reflected
itself In the still greater slowneSs on the part of
our mass fraternal organizations in rallying
behind Willie Brown. At this late date, when the
frame-up is so obvious, when Willie is already
in the shadow Of the electric chair, we stin have
Clever" sympathizers who advise us to lay off
the case and put up the question. Are you
actually sure that Willie is innocent9"
Undoubtedly such confusion in fraterra1 or
CARNATIONS is possible because of the lack OF
theological Qualification and the improper func-
tioning Of Party fractions which failed to raise
in the organizations the class and national char
acter of the Willie Brown case The case was
looked upon by some Party members as some
thing that has nothing to do with their respective
organizations and they were left TO be inabued
with the poisonous propaganda Of the capitalist
press
AS expected, Willie Brown was found guilty BY
the capitalist court. The workng-class must I'm
mediately rally and save Willie from legal lynch
ing. Every woring-clasS organization must or
ganize indoor as well as outdoor meetings at
which resolutions must be passed and sent TO
Judge McDevitt demanding new trial for Willie
Brown.
In the campaign TO save While from death,
the white workers must take the leadership
There is no time TO wait Sl0wness may be too
late. Hesitation may mean death for Willie. The
bosses are determined to burn Willie. The
workers must mot allow this The workers must
and can save him for only the power of the
working class can tear Willie out Of the bloody
hands of capitalist Justice and give him back 10
the workers