The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-31
How Mr.. Jones, Negro Editor,
Proposes to Save Liberia

no doubt, term the "dictation of
Moscow"
Brushing aside for the time be-
ing-because space will not allow us
to deal with them in this article
the slanderous implications of this
statement, we comment now only
upon the gist Of Mr.. Jones asser-
tons, which are in effect that he
will not accept the guidance and
decisions of the world leadership of
the revolutionary movement, the
Communist International
Independent" Mr.. Jones
1.-THE very freedom" continues
Mr.. Jones, (which motivates me in
not being slave to the Republican
and Democratic parties, when they
fail to represent my ideal, would
keep me from being a slave to the
Communist Party or any other
Party" Mr.. Jones, the "revolu-
tionary Marxist," further stipulates
that he does mot believe that Com
munism is the last word in human
relations. There will come some
movement even better some day
than even the dictatorship of the
proIetariat, as administered by
Stain. When it comes, if I we're
living, I would not hesitate to turn
from Communism to it. In other
words, shall never be a slave to
any party" (My emphasis.-H. h
We have at the moment no time
to analyze all the confusion con-
tanned in these statements of Mr..
Jones. Let us rather get down to
the issues involved in the imme-
date controversy-that is, to the
question of Liberia and how to
achieve its freedom. Is 1t true that
Mr.. Jones' plan has no connection
with politics2 That It's sponsors are
motivated solely by the noble and
humane desire to save Liberia? Mr..
Jones makes much ado about his
political independence" He will
not 'be a slave to any Party" From
this sublime state of imagined in
dependence, Mr.. Jones looks down
upon the vulgar strife of parties
and classes, from which he feels
himself happily detached. Mr..
Jones is an independent man!
Let us examine this "non-par-
tisan" position. Let us see where
the Independent" Mr.. Jones lines
up on the question of Liberia.
Mr.. Jones innocently claims that
his only motive Is to save Liberia.
Now this problem of saving Liberia
is one in which we Communists are
vitality concerned. But for whom
to save Liberia For the money
lords of Wall Street? Or for the
Liberian masses? That is the ques-
ton.
Mr.. Jones lays claim to being a
revolutionary Marxist." Mr.. Jones
should then know that it is con-
tingent upon a Marxist, in the
working out of any program, to base
himself upon precise estimation
of the alignment of class forces in
a given situation.
Glass Forces in Liberia
What is the alignment of class
forces in the Liberian situation?
There are:
l. The imperialist power s.
American imperialism, represented
mainly by Harvey Firestone, which
at present controls the chief eco
nomic and financial resources of
the country. We have also British
and French imperialism, striving
through the League of Nations-to
expand their interests in Liberia
and increase their share of the
plumber.
2. The native upper classes-the
small capitalists, occupied chiefly as
traders, plantation owners and gov
eminent officials, aligned with the
native chiefs. These classes are
represented by the Barclay Gov
eminent in Monrovia. Their role is
that of local policeman, slave
driver, land-thief and recruiter of
forced labor for American ard
other imperialist Interests in Lii
IBERIA.
3. The toiling masses, the in
digenous population Berlin g
about 100000, the overwhelming
majority in Liberia. suffering under
the cruelest yoke of the imperialist