The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-11-21
VaIor Of Red Guards in Asturias
Is Beacon to Masses of Spain
by Burck

some of the Socialists to return to
the Cortes. 1t is especially maneuv-
ering with Besteiro and other right
wing Socialists.
A subscription has been started
by the government to pay the mer-
cenary troops of the counter-revo-
luton and for the widows and
orphans" of the troops who fought
against the workers. The former
King Alfonso donated $4,000 pese-
tas; the big corporations are giving
thousands, and the American COM
panies here are aiding the fascist
government collect this fund.
Workers Collect Funds
The workers are collecting funds
for the miners children in ASturias
and for defense; but everything is
being done to hamper them.
The position of the Socialist Party
is now very difficult. Even before
the general strike and armed up
rising, its position was hard. The
masses were held in tow only by the
Socialist Youth, who were becoming
more and more revolutionary, and
by the left" announcements Of
Largo Caballero. Besteiro, the right
Socialist leader, is trying to gather
together all of the right elements
to form labor party on the British
style. The Trotskyites, who never
had mass base, are clinging to
the Socialist leaders. Caballero is
in prison, and his associate, Prieto,
went to France.
The Communist Party has gained
tremendously from the struggles
and the united front. 1t is striv-
ing to win the masses behind the
anarchist leaders, who we're given a
smashing blow by their treachery.
The factors bringing the masses
closer to the Communist Party, are
l. The failure of the revolution
airy tactics of the Socialist Party;
2. The great destruction of re-
formist illusions in connection with
the bourgeois republic; 3. Dis
creditlng of the Trotskyites and
their resistance to modifying the
peasantry; f. The realization of
the Communist Party slogan of the
organization and preparation of
Soviet power as the only guarantee
OF victory of the dictatorship of the
proletariat; S. The treachery of
the neutrality-suspicious. leaders.
Workers Not Depressed
There is not the slightest spirit
OF defeat among the workers. The
glorious Commune of Asturias is
the main topic of discussion among
them. Asturias has become the
guiding light of the Spanish work.
ers. They hail LA Commune" of
Spain. The workers are learning
more and more of what happened;
are discussing their mistakes. pre-
pairing to gain by them. This is
frightening the despair of the bour-
geoisie.
Yesterday NOV. u one of the
bourgeois papers seriously advised
that all the mines in Spain be shut
down. 1t said investigation showed
that the miners of Asturias, far
from being defeated, were preparing
at the first opportunity to strike an
other blow; and Asturias was that
part of Spain most heavily pun
ished by the fascist butchers. The
trade unions are gaining larger
memberships than ever before.
Fascism is having the most diff
f1cult time trying to institute its
dictatorship over the workers. The
type Of fascism, based on the church
and religious trimmings, sought by
Robes, is finding the greatest diff
ficulty as the workers are learning
what fascism is. The briefest pic
turization of the situation in Spain
today is that of an invading army
which has managed to seize some
of the important fortified points
but is awaiting with fear and trepi-
dation the attack of hostile popu-
lation.