The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-12-04

WE HAVE no reports as yet regarding the
role of our Party and tho Trade Union
Unity League In the strike of the Chicago
stockyard workers. We are, therefore, in no
position to draw the final lessons from our
participation IN the strike, to help fully In the solu
ttCn o6 The problems We faced with.
But main purpose Ia writing Of the situation
ID this tins IN view OF lack Of knowledge of the
role Of ths Communists played in the strike is to
s&asp| EaAss the question cs whole trade union
work IA the Chicago District d<amatiSed IN the
ssrs&s u The stccAysrd voorhees,
WHAT ass tse outstanding lessons OF the Chicago
packing house workerE strike?
First and foremost theirs stands out the isolation Of
our Party from the main body Of the workers in
Chicago. The strike took our Party by surprise. We
have in the city of Chicago membership Of $500 In
the Party but yet such an important struggle could
develop without Party In any way being prepared
FOR it, That this is be from the partcipa-
ton Of the Chicago comrades in the National Packing
house Conference and the meeting OF the District
Bureau Immediately following it, This results from the
following facts The Party is not yet composed of the
decisive sections of the Chicago prolearat it has not
yet drawn the membership into the trade unions (ony
20 to rs per cent are in unions and these In the
lighter ndustries); the leadership is not sufficiently
driving force for trade union work and the Party
although recognizing the growing rehabilitation of the
workers in resolutions does not draw the proper con-
illusions from this growing rehabilitation of the work
ers especially In the basic industries which include
large sections of Negro workers.
The second outstanding lesson is the failure OF the
District leadership to make serious efforts to carry
through the concentration policy with the resulting
serious consequences Of this failure The packing
dustry for time and especially so since the 14t
Plcnup of the Central Committee was recognized as
the main industry Of concentration in all resolutions
adopted by the District Committee But has this policy
bean carried into life? We're really serious efforts
made? Unfortunately even the District Bureau will
readily answer in the negative
The District Bureau has even after the Open Letter
neglected to take the work among the packinghouse
and stockyard workers central task. The serious
danger to the whole Party and the immediate effect
upon TIE membership from making repeated decisions
mat 1ealn on paper are, sure obvious to you
IL you only give the question a moments notice ANY
explanation that you did not have the forces finances
etc. can OF course not be seriously advanced as an
explanation. The Party organization that has $500
members in its ranks in the city of Chicago alone has
number OF experienced and leading forces including
members of the G. c. number Of important Party
daily papers in Chicago, English Party bi-weekly
numerous mass organizations Graternal language ur
employed councils, etc. embracing tens of thousands
OF white and Negro workers among whom without
doubt there broad connections among the stock
yard workers
The third outstanding lesson is without doubt the