The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-08-26

Young ReOpleS SOClaLSG League 10
be held at Reading, Pa, August 26
and 27, it is important to examine
the evolution of the groups and their
meaning.
It is Of course, no accident that at
the present time there has arisen
strong left-wing within the Young
Peoples Socialist League. The severity
of the crisis now in its fourth year,
has had the effect of arouSing the
honest proletarian elements among
the Young Peoples Socialist League
and especially awakened a strong de-
sire for UNITY, for the united front.
AS a result, broad groups within the
YPSL especially centering around
Chicago, have participated in united
front activity. We, as the revolution
airy vanguard, must give advice and
guidance to this group so that they
reach their logical destination.
The Development of the Left Wing
A left-wing group first made its
appearance at the last convention of
the YPSL at Reading. Here a group
around Sol Larks of Chicago, made
minority fight for a class struggle
position on the questions of imperi-
alist war and the Soviet Union. This
group, however, suffered from lack
OF clarity on number of questions.
1t particularly suffered from dan
gerous centrist illusions. hortly after
ward, left-wing socialist organ, the
Class Struggle appeared irregularly.
Undoubtedly the rise of fascism in
Germany and the betrayal of the
Social Democracy, served to brush
aside many illusions. The sabotage
b. the Socialist Party of the Mooney
Congress and now of the Anti-War
Congress has also helped them to
understand many things
AS q result we found, for instance,
that throughout the country, the
reputation spread that the Chicago
YPSL was strong for the united
front.
The Socialist Party must have &C
cepted this as a challenge, for the
answer Of Hillquit ct al to theunited
front was the expulsion of half of
the City Executive Committee of the
Chicago YFSL and later on of most
of the membership.
When George Smerken, national
secretary Of the YPSL took a stand
for the United Front, he also was
expelled. and following this a host
of expulsion, ensued, in New York,
Philadelphia, st. Louis, Connecticut,
Los Angeles and elsewhere. The left
wing YPSL elements have since car
ried on a fairly creditable fight
against the explosions. Now they
propose to carry the fight to the con-
vention, with the issuance of a draft
program.
Now the question arises, what kind
OF a battle will this group put I'D at
the convention? viii they stick to
their guns? And after the conven-
ton, what?
AS to the draft program itself lex
cerpts of which were published in
the Daily Worker, on the whole, we
must hail this as marked step for
ward. The fact that scores Of active
members of the YPSL and Socialist
Party have been willing to sharply
criticize their national leadership.
and to come out openly for united
front struggle is a very healthy de-
velopment.
Some Criticisms
This program is somewhat weak
m that it makes practically no mem
ton OF the NRA, for at present this
Is the dividing line between proleta-
rians and petit-bourgeois. However.
The program very significantly at
tacks the ALL. leadership and de-
clares for some support of the revo-
lutionary unions of the TUUL.
The section laying stress upon ac-
zion, upon struggle, as opposed to
phrase-mongering is also important.
Among the proposals for action at
the convention are the demands for
reinstatement and for united front
action. While we believe the slogan
OF fight for reinstatement is cor
rect, still we must warn the left |
w1ngers against any illusions. The
refornist leadership will never con-
sent to this demand With the slogan |
OF the united front, we OF course |
agree 100 per cent.
Now, the most important question |
After the convention what? we feel |
quite sure that the convention pro-
ceedings will but confirm the previ- |
ouS experience Of the lefts. Unoues- |
tlonably the refor1nist machine AT |
che convention will attempt to |
steam-roller all opposition, and car
~ on In typical social-democrattc |
confusionist style. What thenq
We must then definitely point ont |
to these left-w1ng socialists the nv
pocrisy OF the Socialist Party. YPSI
leadership, their sabotaging Of unit
ed front actions, their support of
the reactionary A. F.. Of L. leader
ship, their betrayal Of the workers
In every crisis; all this can lead to
Just one conclusion: that the place
OF all honest workers, that their path
OF development must lead them to-
wards utilization with the Commu-
mist International.
There Is no middle ground. Just as
The Russian workers found their
place in the Bolshevik the Russian
Communist Party, and thus were
able to carry through their yictor1-
Gus revolution, SO must the sincere
fighters Of the American working
class find their place in the ranks
OF the Communist Party and Young
Communist League