The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-07-23
On the
World Front
Austria and Frisco
United Front Appeals
Why No Answer?
BY HARRY CANNES

W y NV LAAa1 - -
THE Second (Socialist) Interna.
l tionaI is in q tough spot trying
to explain to the Austrian Socialist
workers who shed their blood WITH
Communists on the barricades
against Dollfuss fascism why the
Socialist International throws such
obstacles in the way of anti-fascist
united front.
Friedrich Adler, Austrian Socialist
leader who helped the Aus
trian capitalists maintain their
power against the revolutionary
proletariat in 1918, is given the task
of answering the Socialist workers
appeal for a united front with the
Communists. Adler has learned a
lot from the Austrian jesuits. I'M
able to argue against the united
front already established in Ge--
many and Austria between the
Communists and Socialists for ths
revolutionary overthrow of fascism,
he draws the line at countries where
the mask OF democracy has not yet
been torn off.
THE Austrian Socialist rank and
file who remember all of the lie
lusionS about peaceful develop
ment into socialism under bourgeois
democracy in Austria spread by
their leaders which cost the Austrian
workers 50 much blood and suffer-
ing declare that the united front
against fascism must be established
in so-called democratic countries as
we'll.
Adlers answer is of prime impor-
lance to Socialist workers in the
United States today especially in
the light of the Pacific Coast and
Minneapolis.
Adler writes:
But passionate indignation ali
the treachery of the bourgeoisie
should not mislead us into over
looking the role of democracy in
the non Fascist countries. Emphasis
Adler's). We prevent ourselves from
understanding the real problems Of
the international labor movement il
we regard democracy as such as one
of the illusions, as many are doing
in Austria today in their excited
zeal. The real difference lies in
the tactics in the non Fascist coun-
tries. And here you are faced by
critical question of conscience. Are
you willing to show international
solidarity with the comrades who
are defending democracy against
Fascism in their countries or notP"
THIS is put to the Austrian work.
ers in order to hide the treach-
erous role of the Ramsey MacDo-
maids, the Norman Thomases and
Waldman's in the countries of So
called capitalist democracy.
Are the Austrian workers told, for
example, that the British Labor
Party has beforehand promised to
support British imperialism in ne
next bloody slaughter if the war is
defensive" war-the very same
argument the German Socialist
leaders gave for supporting the
Kaiser in the last world war?
Are the Austrian workers told that
Norman Thomas supported the New
Deal and the N R. A., on the ground
it could lead to a peaceful trans
formation to socialism?
When the Communist Party pro-
rneed q united froY1f hoFora tla
reign of terror in San Francisco,
directed mainly against Communists
because of their militant defense of
the workers most elementary rights
! (the right to strike, the right to
organize into unions of their own
choice, the right of assemblage, and
press why did the Socialist Party
remain silent? When fascist attacks
were made against Communists and
militant workers from Seattle to
Los Angeles, when over 500 workers
were arrested the Socialist Party
leaders still refused to join the
united front against fascism and
for the protection of the democratic
rights of the workers.
VET, Adler tells the Socialist work
ers of Austria, that the Party
leaders are the guardians of the
workers democratic rights.
1t is the Communists in the
United States today who are bearing
the brunt of the battle in the de-
Tense of the most elementary and
democratic rights of the American
workers, and it is the Socialist
Party leaders who refuse even to
answer the appeal for the united
front against fascism.
Since Herr Adler wrote his casuist
letter to the heroic Austrian Social
list workers, the Communist Party
Of France, through a whole series of
united front actions of Socialist and
Communist workers, was able to
force, first the Paris district. and
Later the National Council of the
Socialist Parties to join the anti
fascist united front.
RUT still here in the United States,
- with workers blood being split
by the tankfulls by the capitalist
class, with the workers rights be-
ing smashed by fascist thugs, the
Socialist Party refuses to answer
the sincere appeal for united anti
fascist struggle addressed to them
by the Communist Party.
Every Socialist Party member in
this country should take to heart
the appeal of their Socialist brothers
in Austria chose heroic workers who
learned by the bitter treachery of
their leaders, and demand that their
leaders answer the appeal of the
Communist Party for a united front