The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-31

unions was woefully inadequate
despite one or two well prepared
and sustained indictments. The coal
and automobile industries were not
even represented, though fierce
struggles had centred around the
mines, and the auto workers we're
on the verge Of striking against the
vicious automobile code which was
approved by John l.. Lewis presi-
dent of the United Mine Workers
of America, and William Green,
president of the A. F. of L. In brief
most of the militant trade union
delegates who spoke at the public
criticism fest we're not supported by
either leadership or adequate pre-
paration.
BY no means do wish to detract
from such speeches as the fiery and
inspiring address Of Pat Cush, presi-
dent of the Steel and Metal Work
ers Industrial Union. Unfortunate
ly, however, the short notice given
Pat prevented presentation by
him of a detailed analysis and in
dictment of the slave steel code.
Some four or five weeks later the
country's attention was focused on
Washington where the Roosevelt
Administration, the automobile
bosses and the A. F. of l.. top lead
ers were busily engaged in sailing
off strike throughout the industry
until they could work out some
strikebreaking formula. All workers
looked to Washington which at that
stage of the struggle, was the main
front, not Detroit. The battle
shifted overnight from the economic
to the political front.
The publicity machine Of the Ad-
ministration worked overtime. DEM
agogy dripped. The capitalist press
dished up the old good of the coun-
try" The President held himself in
readiness to see workers delegates
or representatives of the manufac-
turers, the White House announced.
One of the leading Detroit papers
set the fascist tune of industry by
screaming the backfre, Don't
Wreck America" and shouting that
a strike would be treason"
1t was into such a political at
mosphere that the A. F. of L. local
leaders entered - to knuckle under
to Green and to tell the radio audi
ence how nice and gracious Roose-
welt was to receive them. The situa-
ton simply yelled for militant
leader to inject some fresh air into
the filthy stables by exposing the
strike-stalling tactics. But no Auto
workers Union delegate arrived UNI
til one day before the sell-out was
signed, sealed and announced, sew
eral days after the A. F. of L. dele
gates had been openly given the
run-around by Green and his buddy,
johnson.
This failure to realize that De-
troit, during those few days, was
not the main front, and the failure
to consolidate the splendid fight put
up by the Auto Workers Union
spokesman before the National La
Dor Board but a few weeks earlier,
now hamper the A.W.U. in its cam
paign to lead the auto workers and
save them from falling into the
through of despair.
What is the purpose of all this?
Simply to urge that the Commu-
mist Party, the vanguard of the
American working class, must be
more politically sensitized, must re-
act more quickly to tactical
change from the economic to the
political front, must make more eff
fective use of official forums when
they are offered, and, particularly,
must coordinate more effectively
trade union and political work.
The Communist Party has waged
many glorious struggles in behalf
OF the workers. Part of its strength
is due to a sincere desire to examine
itself critically. This it will do at
its Eighth Convention-and emerge
greater party prepared for greater
struggles.