The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-05-01
BY BILL GERERT

On April 22nd and 23Td, the Il
bnoiS State Convention of the Soci-
alist Party was held in Springfield.
In the report to the Convention, the
State Secretary of the Socialist Party,
Mr.. Ben Larbs, proposed to split the
Unemployed Councils. In his written
report. submitted to the Convention,
he declared:
Many of our comrades turnout
the state have become active spirit
IN the organization and mainten-
Srce of unemployed organization,
out due TO the fact that no general
wide policy was formulated
on this question, the majority of
the groups have been called "Un-
employed Councils" Many of our
comrades find themselves members
of LEGAL unemployed organization
which is afiiliated with a National
Unemployed movement actively
Sighting against their own Social
Isl Party"
Want To Split Unemployed Councils
This statement Of Mr. Ben Larks
definitely proves the fact that the
Unemployed Councils embrace all
kinds of workers, including members
of the Socialist Party who actively
participate in the struggles of the
unemployed, which is particularly
true in the mining towns. This form
OF united front struggle and activity
rs expressed in the Unemployed
Councils, Is against the principles of
the State Executive Committee OF the
Socialist Party and therefore, the
strike-breaker, Mr.. Ben Larks, recon-
mended to the State Convention, the
following:
THAT the Convention go ON re-
cord as instructing the members of
the Socialist Party wherever they
are members of unemployed coun-
ellis to do the following;
Ia Change the name il st all
possible unemployed League).
(b) Immediately dis-affiIiate the
Councils" ETC., from the National
Unemployed Councils Communist.
(c) Failing the latter, to i'm
mediateIy withdraw as members OF
that group and set up new group"
This recommendation Of Mr.. Ben
Sisrks is definite act of strike
breaker and enemy of the unemploy-
ed and an oct of one who stands in
the way Of Hiding organization of
unemployed winch embraces masses
OF workers, regardless of their poll
tical Affiliations Mr.. Ben LarkS pro-
posed further that the splitters are
DO build the Federation of UnempiOy-
ed Workers League, group that's
sympathetic to the Socialist move
ment"
This proposal of the strike break
sr Mr.. Ben Larks, speaking for the
state Executive Committee Of the
SOCIALIST Party of the State Of IL
Anois, aroused the delegates from
mining towns to the Convention to
such an extent that they were forced
10 refer action ON this part of the
report to the Resolutions Committee,
which brought a recommendation
that the whole matter be referred to
the State Executive Committee Of the
Socialist Party, as there was a fear
THAT such braZen, open strike
breaking policy will meet with defeat
by the delegates to the Convention;
thus, by these means, referring it to
the State Committee of the Socialist
Party to formulate q policy to split
the Unemployed Councils.
Against Unity OF workers
The State Convention of the Socl-
calling upon members and locals OF
the Socialist Party to withdraw from
al united front activities up 10 the
time that they receive advice from
the Second International as TO the
policy of the Second International
toward the united front.
This policy of the State Executive
Committee Of the Socialist Party Is
not accidental. 1t is a definite policy
pursued by the strike breakers In the
ranks of the working class. They
rejected the proposal Of the delegates
from the Communist Party, who
came to the Convention proposing q
united front of action on burning
questions confronting the working
class such as uniting the strength
of the workers and working class or
CARNATIONS in struggle for Federal
Unemployment Insurance at the ex-
pense of the Employers and Govern
ment, for adequate cash relief for I'M
employed, for shortening working
hours, increases OF wages, struggle
against fascism, against terror anc
persecution Of the workers, for the
right Of the workers to assemble, or
gHnize and strike, for freedom Of
Tom Mooney and all class war pris-
oners, for freedom Of the Scottsboro
Boys against discrimination and seq
regation and for equal rights for the
Negro people,
Thssc proposals as basis foi
unity, were rejected by the State Ex-
scutivs Committee vf me Socialist