The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-12-21
PARTY LIFE
How Is Open Letter Carried.
Out in the Marine Industry.
Party Committees Isolated from Concentra-
ton Industry in Recent Struggles

rIOulS analysis OF the Str1Kes been
made by the Section Bureau.
Recently North Atlantic Confcf-
ence was held in Baltimore by the
M.WI.U. Despite the recent struggles,
and tbs favorable opportunities that
exist, the Baltimore Party Committee
played absolutely no role in helping
the comrades prepare their reports
and proposals for the conference.
Neither was any assistance given to
help care for the out of town dele
gates. At the last minute the writer,
for leading, responsible members Of
the Bureau, had to take charge of \
the section apparatus and issue orders
in the name of the Section, which
couldn't be found, in order to get
anything done. ~
In Philadelphia recently there was
strike Of unorganized 1ongshoremen.
We we're aware of the possibilities Of
a strike because of wage increases
that had taken place in other ports
and also among the men organized
IN the I. L. A. For several days prior
to the strike we had contact with the
| tllCll d4l0 hAlCW ollG GCllUnQClu I'LL
struggle was developing. Our task
then was to help formulate the de-
mands Of the workers, show them how
these demands could be won, and
actively organize and initiate the
struggle. Instead of doing this, the
main point debated by the members
Of the District Buro was whether the
workers should be organized into the
M. w. ]. U. or an independent union.
While making up our minds on this
| question, the workers began striking
on one dock for their demands. A
telegram was sent to PhiladelphiA
urging that we take the initiative iU
spreading the strike-which was the
key task. The marine comrades do
not sufficiently understand this, an&
the District COMMITTEES was not On
the job to help explain 1t to them
and as a result the workers them
selves, despite the influence Of tbs
I. L. A. officials, who had gained hold
Of the situation, marched from dock
to dock pulling out the workers.
1t Is true that we did some good
work on one dock, Pier 4S, but the
results obtained here only prove THAI
had we taken immediate steps 10
spread the strike it would have beer
possible to do SO under our leadership.
After the first few days OF the strike
the work of our union began 70
slacken. Our activities were allowed to
nearly cease. It was reported ut o
District Bureau meeting that all the
workers had returned to work. This
was not correct, and while the strike
was still In progress two leading forces
involved in longshore work were en-
gagged in other meetings for two days.
And what was the purpose Of these
meetings? To map out a new concef-
tration policy for the District! And
while this meeting was on even the
deepwater longshoremen took action
on one dock and seanen on one ship
came out in support It's Ike Nero
fiddling while Rome burns.
Immediately after the conclusion Of
the strike the I. Z. A. offHcisls inten-
sified their activities in order to con-
solidate their already weak position.
We helped them by nquidating prac-
ticaIly all of our activities. A state
ment decided upon at the Bureau
meeting was not issued. For period
of two weeks there was no meeting
of the forces assigned by the Party
and Union for longshore work. There
: was absolutely 90 checkup OF control
on the carrying out Of number OF
decisions, And this happened IN the
main concentration point Of tbs Dis
trict, for which a member OF the DID,
trict Bureau was politically respcn-
sible, and who was supposed 10 b b
touch with the work daily.
tn he rnukannAAA