The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-01-16
WHAT WILL WE DO IN CASE
OF WAR?

countries. A rapidly radlcalizing working class
and peasantry in all capitalist and colonial
countries is the record Unemployment is in
creasing in all capitalist countries, with momen-
tary recessions in England Misery is increasing
while the governments are spending ever
huger funds for war. $5000,000000 is being
spent for war-and more are under arms,
more efficient navies, airfleets and chemical de-
partmentS exist in every country. The capital
lists are finding no way out of the crisis-not
even through their "ten year plans" twenty
year plans etc War is their only way out and
they are feverishly preparing for it. Fascist re-
preston of the working class, lynch terror pre-
vail Unemployed workers are dubbed and shot
down. Workers fighting against wage cuts are
beaten up and flung into Jail Even that coun-
try of boosted democracy" and police without
batons, England, now has police who club the
workers; the British government adopts the
most drastic measures against the Indian revo-
luton. American democracy" is dropping its
mask. The League of Nations, the Kellogg
BRAND peace pact are a joke Whoever can
not see that the coming of war is not a dream,
but reality, is remote from life.
What, then, will the Party do when war is
officially declared? How will we do our reYolu-
tionary duty? Will we be in q position to de-
clare civil war against imperalist war? Is the
slogan that we place before the workers TODAY
realizable with present methods of work?
Are can we be sincere In proclaiming this
slogan if we do not take the necessary steps TO
place ourselves In position TO lead the workers
in civil war against imperialist war?
1t Is obvious that we're war to be declared
tomorrow, turning inperialist war into civil war
would be merely slogan-an unrealizable slo-
gan Communists are not utopians not phan-
tassts: they base their actions on realty-and
reality tells us today that our declaration of civil
war in the United States would be revolution
airy gesture, but only g gesture. We would not
have the forces to declare such war. OUR
DUTY IS TO PREPARE THESE FORCES
AND FAILING THIS, OUR SENTIMENT WILL
REMAIN PRAISEWORTHY, BUT IMPOTENT.
The tasks that are incumbent upon us there
fore must be clearly discussed What will be our
first task as the war becomes a reality? TO
STOP THE WHEELS OF INDUSTRY. This
will not be such simple task, for the capital
lists, through propaganda Of nationalist hatred,
will be able to whip up war hysteria. Patriot
ism" will run rampant, fear of death will de-
cline, the hope of plenty of work and wages will
increase. Attacks on the revolutionary organ
izations, and their complete suppression will be
the order of the day. The capitalists will have
full sway and their organs of hate will sweep
the country. At moment of this nature to be
able to stop production of war material TO DE-
CLARE STRIKES, TO BROADEN THE
STRIKES AND RAISE THEM TO POLL
TICAL LEVEL, TO LIFT THEM INTO POLL
TICAL STRIKES AND BROADEN THEM IN
TO POLITICAL DEMONSTRATIONS, DE-
MANDS CONTROL AND LEADERSHIP OF
MASSES READY TO FIGHT. AND TO FIGHT
UNDER DIFFICULT CONDITIONS. 1t is cor
rect to say that the masses will have guns in
their hands, guns placed there by the capitalist
government, which cannot make war without the
workers. But these workers will not be OURS,
unless much work is done, not merely Of propa-
ganda and agitation, not merely through DEM
onstrations and meetings, but through ORGAN
IzATION AND STRUGGLE-which are the
best teachers of the working class.
How can this organization and experience be
gained? How will we be able to lead the msases
upon the outbreak of war-if we have not this
control and organization today? If our Party
members do not perform their daily duty In
n1obilizing the workers for the struggle which
will make them OURS-ours gained through the
struggle on the basis Of their most pressing
needs and in fighting for which they will learn
where their interests lie and who their enemies
are?
This means concretey that WE MUST PER
FORM OUR DUTY IN THE SHOPS AND FAC