The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-04


strike was not something "extraor-
binary" in the sense Of being
produced by peculiar, unique, I'M
usual forces and circumstances con-
fined to San Francisco, or to the
Pacific Coast. All factors going to
produce this great battle are &C
tive throughout the country Even
before San Francisco we saw them
at work in Toledo, Minneapolis, Mil
waukee, bringing these cities right
to the verge Of a general strike. A
hundred potential San Franciscoes
exist today in the United States,
awaiting only the final impulse,
which in each case will have that
accidental character of all events
which operate as "the last straw
which breaks the camels back"
Concentrated Glass Forces
2. Beginning in TYPICAL eco
nomic" struggle over wages and
working conditions of longshoremen,
whose strike began in San Fracisco
on May 9, which soon became a
general struggle of the entire marine
industry of the Pacific Coast, there
took place, step by step, concen-
tration of class forces in support OF
one and the other side which soon
aligned practically the entire popu-
lation into two hostile camps: CAPT
talist class against the working
class. with all intermediate elements
moving toward support of one or
the other. 1t became a well-deflned
class struggle, test of strength be-
tween the two basic class forces.
That means the economic struggle
was transformed into a political
struggle of the first magnitude.
The working class understood that
if it allowed the concentration of
capitalist forces to defeat the ma
rine workers, this meant a defeat
of the entire working class, general
wage cuts, speed-up and worsening
of conditions; the capitalist class
knew that if the marine workers
should win their demands this
would launch a general forward
movement of the entire working
class that would defeat the CAPT.
taist program for their way out of
the crisis, program based upon
restoring profits by reducing the
general standard of living of the
masses.
Here was a classical example of
the profound truth of the Commu-
mist thesis that, in the present
period of capitalist decline, stub
born struggle for even the smallest
immediate demands of the workers
inevitably develops into general
class battles, and raises the whole
question of State Power and the
revolutionary solution of the crisis.
1t was the capitalist class which,
in panic before the rising giant OF
class action by the workers, hys-
terically cried out that this strike,
which they could have settled very
easily and quickly at any time by
the simple expedient of granting
the workers demands, was actually
revolutionary uprising to over
throw the whole capitalist system.
OF course, this strike did not have
revolution as its objective, but only
the immediate needs of the work
ers. The unity of the workers, how
ever. raised before the bosses the
spectre of working class power, of
victorious revolution.
Bosses Aided by A. F. of L. Betrayers
3. The immediate results of the
struggle can already be seen in
their main outlines. The strongest
mobilization of working class forces,
in the four days of general strike
in San Francisco, was broken up by
the superior strength of the CAPT
talist forces, because the latter in
Guided not only the combined
strength of employers organiza-
tions. governmental powers of po-
lice. courts, and militia, the armed
Vigilante fascist bands, but also and
before all the official apparatus of
The leadership of the A. F. of L.
trade unions, local, industrial and
national, with the single exception
of the elected strike committees of
the original bodies of striking ma
rine workers.
But even with this tremendous
preponderance of all organizational
forces. the San Francisco capital
ISIS could succeed to smash the
strike on'v by combining with vio-
lent suppression, and an historical
auti-Red campaign, a series of con-
cessions of a very important char
acte-. The original capitalist pro-
o~am of "open shop" smashing of
RIO mass trade unions had to be
nubnclv renounced; all employers
N the marine industry found them
selves forced to publicly agree to
t-eat with all the striking marine
unions on all questions in dispute, /
and the solidarity pact between the
marine unions whereby they had
nIedoed to stand Or fall together, |
had TO be recognized to the extent
of providing for similar and stimuli
taneous settlement of all marine
demands of all unions involved. The
result is. therefore, not a simple |
defeat for the workers even in their
most immediate demands, but a |
compromise, while the moral gains
nj the workers, their consciousness
of power. their political understand
ing has been enormously strength
ened
Inference, in Forces, Methods
4 Why did the general strike
movement come to realization in
cav Francisco while it was choked |