The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-05
Anti InlperiaHst
York Is Often
Left Until Last
By LUCILLE PERRY

can imperialism and to mobilize the
American working class in support Of
the liberation movements in Yankee
colonies and semi-eolonies.
Anti imperialist work has been, in
fact, a sort Of step-child. That it is
an important field Of work has been
realized, but" it was argued, trade
union work is even more important
wait until we are less busy with other
things and we shall consider the
anti-imperialist struggle" The COM
rades have never been sufficiently
aware that anti-impeTialist work is
meaningless unless 1t becomes a part
Of working class activity in the trade
unions. the shops and factories; that
raising the question of support to the
emancipation movements Of the CO.
lonial peoples does not mean aban-
doning thought, the substitution OF
one kind of work for another.
The struggle against Yankee impe-
rialist intervention in Latin America
and China is an important part Of
the struggle against war and against
chauvinism; it is an important part
of the struggle against American
capitalism. It is raising the banner
of internationalism when the bour-
geosie throughout the world is max
ing every effort TO whip up national
ist sentiments. In the present period,
when war is apt to break out at any
moment and when the liberation
otrurqles are developing at most
rapid pace CUBA, China, etc9, it is OF
the greavest Importance that we
militant fight against American i'm
perialism.
THE Communists must g.. in
the imperialist countries come out
deter7ninedly for the independence.
Of the colonies, for the liberation
of the dependent nations from all
national oppression; in the key
points of national antagonists
Communists must struggle against
mperiaIist occupation and violence,
for the right of self-determina-
ton.
Our immediate aim must be to
raise the political understanding Of
our membership to a degree which
will enable us to undertake these
tasks, not in a sectarian manner, but
correctly combining this work with
day to day activities.
In fulfilling this task, it is Of the
utmost Importance that the Anti
Imperialist League be built into a
strong organization, capable of rally
ing the broadcast masses to the sup
port of the movements in the colo
MES. The reorganization Of the
League within the past month con-
stitutes an important step in over
coming its former weaknesses. The
national committee, still in process
Of form2tlon. consists Of active lead
ing members Of working class, student
r-1 gcnel organizations. The
executive committee drawn from its
will thus function as an anti-im-
periahst executive committee for
dozens of organizations, correlating
the anti-imperialist activities OF
these separate organizations, and de-
velouing an understanding of the
political and economic Importance OF
the anti-imperialist struggle.
The League must strive especially
to involve such organizations as the
Marine Workers Industrial Union,
the Needle Trades Workers Indus
trial Union, the Workers Ex-Service-
mems League, the colonial groups,
many of which were formed with the
assistance Of the League, but which
have unfortunately, due chiefly to ne
elect on the part of the League, been
following their own separate ways.
While these groups and others have
at times carried on commendable
anti-imperialist work, it has been
done in a manner so independent
and unco-ordinated that the real
force was lost
The trade unions must make every
effort to rally American workers to
support of the struggles of the CO.
lonial workers Of the same trade. In
Puerto Rico for example, negotia-
tons are being carried on to force
the NR.A. codes on the needle work
ers, very important section OF the
Puerto Rican proletariat, Many
strikes have broken out and spirit
of militant action is rising among
the workers. The Needle Trades
Union must take up this question, ex-
plain the basic identity Of interest Of
the American and Puerto Rican
needle workers, help expose the
MIRA. codes to the Puerto Rican
workers, send resolutions, greetings,
etc, and assist in raising relief funds
for striking Puerto Ricah workers. 1t
must raise the slogan of indepen-
dence for the colonies, especially
Puerto Rico and the Philippines.
What did the marine workers do
when strikes of longshoremen took
place in CUBA and in Puerto Rico?
This does not mean, of course, that
only the workers Of a particular trade
should be rallied to the support of
the colonial workers. Quite the con-
trary. But these workers should lead
in rousing support for their colonial
brothers.
Aside from the mobilization OF the
American working-class, there re-
mains the problem of the several
million colonial workers in the United
States. Suffering from discrimina-
ton and persecution this class of
workers can and will prove one Of
the most valuable aids in the struggle
fer the independence of the colonies
and semi-colonies; it is an important
ally Of the American proletariat in its
struggle against capitalism in the
United States. We must direct their
nationalist sentiments into anti-im-
perialist, internationalist channels.
We must organize them into trade
unicns, anti-imperialist groups. and
the PARTY. systematically cevelopinp