The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-20
PARTY LIFE
Building Of LSNR Is Problem
of Great Political Importance
Where White Comrades tVere ActiUe, We Won
Confidence Of Negro Workers, Says Ford

borhood meetings and general
meetings were called. At these
meetings the general program Of
the L.SNR. was carefully explained
and localized. In most cases the
workers we're very enthusiastic Tor
the L.SN.R. program.
do not know of single case
of a worker disagreeing or oppos-
ing the formation Of the L.SN.R.
Ten branches were set up in Har-
lem. Each branch had its execu-
tive committee. consisting Of the Of
1cers of the branch. Some branches
had 200 members, the average at
tendance at meetings ranging from
so to 100 members.
Six of tlae branches fumctioned
well; four we're rather irregular. 4
general membership meeting OF all
the branches was held after a
couple of weeks and the Harlem
Council of the L.S.NR. was set, and
a president and other officers were
elected; it meets periodically. These
officers work on voluntary basis.
Another stage. In carrying out
our work the question arose as TO
how the units and Party members
in the territory were 10 work m
building up the LSN.R. brAnczs
how were they to work inside the
branch; what were comrades 30 90,
etc? We had ALREADY had some
experience with the lid. IN tins
connection.
We discussed the question and
decided that from two 10 tM6e
Party comrades Of TIE unit A
the territory Of the branch wSze
TO work with q single bTaAGA Ct
the L.S.N.R. This was 10 eCnsf-
tute their main Party task OF
course, recruitments were 10 be
carried on to bring new e4emezz6s
into the Party. As to white conn
rades, here we had to be flexible,
realizing the suspicion that raw
Negro workers have for white
workers, especially II the wi1fae
comrades take too active or lead
ing and directing part IN ire
work of the branch.
First we settled the questions
white workers should be members
Of L.S.N.R. branches. We instructed
our white party comrades who were
assigned by unit or territory having
membership in an L.SNR. branch
that they should do everything
possible to prevent the justification
rsF anf vrykNA No
workers, were usurping the leading
role of the Negro workers but that
at the same time they should be
active members, leading forces,
helping and guiding as much as
possible, thereby winning the con-
f1dence of the new Negro workers;
that they should lead in the Strug-
gle for Negro rights. We have got
ten good results with this policy.
Some of our white Party comrades
have won the confidence of the
Negro workers. In no case have
we had from honest rank and file
Negro workers any objections to our
white comrades who are members
and who have been assigned to LIS.
Mr.. branches. One white comrade
through house to house canvassing
with the Liberator has got more
applications for the LS.N.R. than
any single comrade. His method
Of work should be instructive for
other comrades.
We warned against automatic
ally filing up L.S.N.R. branches
with C. p. members where they
would be in each others way and
often las we have found through
experiences with building the 1.
L.D.) where there are so many
C. P. members it Is usually they
who cause all kinds of confusion.
and even disrupt and break up
branches.
With these 10 branches as a
starter, each unit (all units are now
organized on territorial basis) has
the task of building up a branch of
the L.SN.R. in its territory. We
can say that this meager work has
been a great step forward IN car
L,S.N.R. work.
Ito be cOntinued.)