The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-06-15
~ A. 3. MACH


CHE had come hundreds Of miles
y to attend the Socialist Party
convention. She had come hoping
against hope-perhaps there would
be some delegates who would really
take q militant stand. I saw her
the last day of the convention, dis
gust and indignation in her eyes.
Il thought the Revolutionary
Policy Committee was the real
thing" she said. AT their caucus
last night they said they wouldn't
compromise on any principles; and
today they've made deal with the
Mihtants for a joint slate for the
National Executive Committee"
Her eyes flashed.
The Militants talk radical in
order to make the Party members
believe they really want action, but
what do they do here7 On all i'm
mediate questions they either dodge
or line up with the resctionaries.
I've had talks with Kruger (Prof.
Maynard Kruger Of the University
Of Chicago, one Of the leaders Of
the so-called Militant group, and
you should hear how radical he
talks, But when IL comes to
showdown at the convention, he
pussyfoots.
These are nearly all middle
class people. The rank and file
isn't represented here at all. They're
going to be very dissatisfied with
this convention. Why, they haven't
taken UP any really vital questions
at all such as stopping evictions
and unemployment insurance. What
have they got to offer the work
erS?"
In her home town there had been
strike that was led by Commu-
nists. She ignored the official S. P.
ban on united front activities with
Communists, went 10 Communist
Party headquarters and offered her
services. Day after day she went
out on the picketline and fought
shoulder to shoulder with the mem
bers of the Communist Party and
Young Communist League. She
knew what the united front meant.
And she knew It was time to go a
step farther,
What are you going to do now7"
I asked.
We'll, it's kind Of a bitter pill,
but have no illusions any more.
There are q few people in my local
that I think I still can win over
and I'll remain in the Socialist
Party until can do that. But
when that's over, out I 90. I don't
want TO join any of these groups
like the Iovestoneites and Trotzky-
ties. I'll go into the Communist
Party. It has the only program
for the workers
I TALKED to some of the rank and
file delegates - they were few
enough-st the Socialist Party con-
vention. They were confused, they
still had illusions about the Mill
tants and the Revolutionary Policy
Committee, but there welled up out
OF them torrent Of disgust at the
reactionsry leadership and gen.
utne desire for united front action
with the Communist Party. While
the resolution on the united front
presented by the Militsnt-controlled
resolutions committee Ct was
buried. incidentally, and never came
before the convention) attacks the
Communist Party and continues
the S. P. policy Of sabotaging the
united front, the sentiment of these
rank and file delegates was quite
the reverse. One delegate, who
spoke in favor Of the united front,
was eager to see copy OF the ap-
peal Of the Central Committee Of
the Communist Party to the
Socialist Party members.
Another, who comes from a state
where 1t is decidedly tough to have
been born with q black skin, told
me he thought the program Of the
Militants neglected the Negro ques-
ton.
They were the lost voices at the
convention. Unorganized, confused,
without clearcut program, the
steamroller Of the machine worked
smoothly whenever they tried to
get the floor. In the helplessness
of these rank and file delegates was
revealed the complete bankruptcy
Of the leadership of the Revolution
ray Policy Committee, working
under the direction OF Lovestoneite
renegades from Communism. While