The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-10-03
Music and Trotskyists Seek Unity
by Burck

erS of the Trotzkyist and Music
groups are already collaborating in
this very important field and this
becomes possible because both
Trotzkyists and the Music group
are following the same policy of
shielding the reactionary trade
union bureaucracy from the revo-
lutionary and militant elements in
the trade union movement.
In Toledo and Minneapolis, in
the course of this year, we have had
a convincing demonstration of the
opportuniSt and rerormist policies
of the two groups. What was es-
sentially the role Of Music and Co.
in Toledo? 1t was policy of sitting
the growing strike movement of the
masses. Music and Budenz bear
chief responsibility for the fact that
the incipient general strike move
ment in Toledo did not materialize.
Music and Budenz willingly allowed
themselves to be used by the re-
dictionary A. F.. of l., bureaucrats in
Toledo. When the reactionaries
could no longer face the radicalized
and fighting masses in Toledo,
Music and Budenz appeared on the
scene. They mouthed revolutionary
phrases, to be sure, in order to gain
sympathetic ear among the work
er, and for what purpose? For the
purpose of dissipating the strike
movement, for the purpose of steer
ing the masses back into the chan
nels of peace with the A. F. of L.
bureaucracy. 1t is in Toledo that we
had practical demonstration of
the meaning Of Muste's reformist
proposition that we must let the
A. F. of L. bureaucracy expose it
self. Toledo has proved that this
thesis means acquiescence in the
betrayals of the A. F. of L. bureau
cracy, that it means surrender and
collaboration with this bureaucracy
against the workers.
Trotzkyists' Role In Minneapolis
And what was the role OF the
Trotzkyists in Minneapolis? Raised
on top of the strike struggle by a
powerful spontaneous movement of
the masses, the TrotzkyisGs have
tried consistently to squelch the
movement, to send the workers back
to work under the most unfavorable
conditions This they did twice. In
Minneapolis, similarly to Toledo, we
had powerful urge among the
workers for a general strike The
policy of the Trotzkyists was to kill
this urge Of the masses, to prevent
the growth and spreading of the
strike movement. To achieve this
aim, they worked hand in hand with
the reactionary officials of the A. F.
of L., with the corrupt politicians
of the Farmer-Labor Party in Min
neapolis and with their chief, Gov
ernor Olsen.
The similarity in the tactics and
| policies of the Music group and the
Trotzkyists in Toledo and Minnea-
polls is very striking. 1t shows that
the leadership of both of these
groups are fully agreed on the trade
union question. Their common plat
form is the platform of sitting the
strike struggles of the workers, COM
batting the revolutionary initiative
of the masses, and collaborating
with the A. F. of L. bureaucracy
and the Farmer-Labor politicians
in achieving this end. 1t is this op-
portunist platform that unites the
| leaders of the Music and Trotzky
groups in their slanderous attacks
against the Communist Party and
the Communist International. 1t is
this opportunist platform that
makes possible the negotiations for
organic unity" between the lead
ers of these two groups.
The working class followers of the
Music and Trotzkyist leaders may
not yet fully realize the damage
that the Trotzky- Music policies are
bringing to the revolutionary work
ing class movement in the United
States, but they will soon learn be-
cause the sharpening class struggle
in the United States, among Other
things, shows in true light every
organization and group in society
But one thing should already bt
obvious to the working class follow.
ers of Music, as well as to the few
remaining workers who follow tn,
Trotzkyists. 1t is this: the organic