The daily worker., 1933-12-23
What Do YOU Mean By
Discipline, Mr.. Thomas?

NORMAN THOMAS speaking about discipline" IS 9
strange twist But when two Leading Socialists go
over to capitalist government or to open capitalist
parties like Sinclair and Blanshard did the Socialist
Leaders find it necessary to Of their naked
nsss
In the December 2srd New Leader" Norman
Thomas writes This detection Of Sinclair in Cali
1ornia and Of B1anshard in New York has naturally
revived considerable interest in party discipline"
No sooner does he mention the word discipline"
than Norman Thomas begins to crawl back, to avoid
the crux Of the whole question "on the other hand
ne writes @I think We may fall into certain Commu-
nist errors and into the Communist unpopularity ii
IN labor unions farmers societies, cooperatves OF
ot1er organizations not involving political action or
any reputation Of fundamental socialist principles, we
tsrd our members to act only line"
AEr. Thomas doesn't want discipline II it en-
nsrrases the strkepreaking tactics Of Mr. Green
IN the A. F.. of L. He doesn't want discipline If it
hampers any str1kebreakdng actions OF the IL.GW.U
leaders.
THE willy Thomas does not want so much Iooseness
As TO be embarrassed by Blansard and Sinclair. But
he wants to continue his freedom in the Socialist
Party so he can do he pleases to help Mr.. Roose
yeit or Mr.. Green He wants freedom to continue
TO fight against revolutionary class struggle.
lie DOES not want that democracy m the Socialist
Party that Leads 10 serious discussion Of problems
and then when decision Is made to be bound by It,
Norman Thomas, who advises the workers "this is
not the time 10 strike" does not want the discipline
the workers md necessary in their struggles. The
workers have learned discipline and its value through
their bitter struggles against the bosses.
They discuss their demands They discuss strike
action and voSs Is taken. When the strike is on,
AL workers bound by proletarian discipline They
enter into the strike to carry It through to victory
and even those who voted against 1t are expected TO
join in the struggle Those who betray the struggles
are looked scsbs and traitors.
Norman Thomas and the Socialist leaders want
none Of this discipline.
The only discipline they seek Is TO Gust members
a fhe Socialist Party who try to achieve
front Of Struggle With the Communists
You Mr.. Thomas. and your ik in the Socialist
Party, don't hesitate to take action against Socialist
Party locals who voted for united front in the strug
gle against by participation in the AntiWar Con
gress. Party members and YPsL members have been
expelled for declaring for the united front with Com
munists
WHAT you want Mfr Thomas when you speak Of
" discipline is authority to smash the actions
Of the workers In your ranks.
But, at the same time. Mr.. Thomas wants full
freedom of action for himself and the trade union
bureaucrats to support the NRA, the Roosevelt in
haton program contrary to the interest Of the Social
Ist workers This high priest Of the Socialist Party
wants discipline to hamper him in such activities
In the Communist Party we have real democracy.
Every unit every section Of the Party has the fullest
opportunity for discussion Of all questions. The
policy of the Party is collectively decided on in the
way workers collectively decide to strike and
act on their decisions. The whole Party acts as
single body on its decisions.
FN THIS WAY the Communist Party is able to aid
tte workers in their struggles for higher wages
union organization and against the slave program Of
the MA It is able prepare and steel itself for
the struggle against and to meet the conditions
Of egaty that the workers meet the revolutionary
Of power.
What this means is shown by events IN Germany
There. the Communist Party, based discipline, has
withstood the attack Of the fascists The Social
Democratic Party, based on Norman Thomas's con-
cepton OF discipline has surrendered to the blows Of
the Nazis This would inevitably occur in every country
Thomas wants, in reality, neither democracy nor
discipline The Communist Party insists both
democracy and discipline.
The discipline Of the Communist Party. one Of its
most outstanding and revolutionary features grows
out Of its revolutionary principles and organization
As the fighting organization Of the working class 1t
calls fcr discipline to carry the effective strug
gle for the workers needs for the revolutionary srue
gle against capitalism.
The Socialist Party-an organization wsose
theory practices Is based on class collaboration
betraying the interests Of the workers based on
d.organzing the revolutionary struggles Of the vor-
ing class for the overthrow Of capitasr-deres and
rejects the need Of discipline fighting organization
.-CcuS OlS1SiLGtlOn pcdCS
losses rejects discipline but maintains bureaucratic
apparatus to ste revolutionary criticism from. its
rank and Ale r,ecnbershir
TIE disciplrs OF the Communists Party has nothing
OF the discipline Of the church or army
1t is based on the revolutionary conviction that
united party Of the workers is necessary firmly
founded on the revolutionary principles OF Margisrr-
Lsnirisn. It IS the discipline Of conviction within
the Party open discussion goes around all dues
tons Of struggle. There is established the principle
Of democratic centrasr-the democratic functaoning
Of the Party units with Capitalization OF leadership
for the most effective revolutionary struggle When
decisions are reached the whole force Of the Party
is nlobillzed behind them Here the iron discipline
Of the Communist Party is based on inner democracy
on democratic cenGralism
Tbs question Of discipline has been put as one OF
shs central reasons for the victory OF the proetaan
revolution in Russia by Comrade Lenin
BEYOND question:" wrote Lenin almost svery one
= krcws by this time that the boJ<h.vfks u,orys