The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-27
TqUO Letters on United
Action

IN SATURDAYS issue of the Daily
l Worker we printed a letter on the
United Front from Norman Thomas, out
standing leader of the Socialist Party.
Today we print letter from John Jur-
KAHN, Socialist Party member, and Y. P.
s. /. organizer written in the Hillsboro,
illinois, Jail where Jurkanin was i'm
prisoned for united front activities with Com
munists against the fascist deeds of the Illinois
authorities
We quote first from Thomas letter: MY own
personal feeling is, as I have said many times
before that enormously desirable as united action
is AGAINST war and fascism between your party and
ours it cannot be achieved if your Party still re-
CARDS it as primarily weapon to destroy the Social
ist Party or for leadership"
AS Earl Browder general secretary of the Com
munist Party, in his reply to Thomas pointed out,
this was not direct answer to the Communist
Party proposals for preliminary conversations "d-
rected toward removing as far as possible any
obstacles there may be, to positive decision on
the part of the NEG"
But from prison, from the class battle where
workers of all political shades participate against
the bosses attacks Jurkanin's letter breathes the
growing cry for Immediate concrete steps for the
realization of this united front urgently needed
and wished for by the working class.
Il have read in the Daily Worker" he writes
from his CELL "of the American Youth CONGRESS and
of Norman Thomas statement that the NEG of
the Socialist Party is going to consider unity
pact during Labor Day weekend.
81 want to express to my Party comrades
fervent hope that they do everything possible to
further the actual carrying through of this prom
ise and that the much needed unity of the work
ers with its guaranteed, powerful impetus to
uncrganized workers comes down from the realm
of possibilities to concrete agreement"
EVERY Communist will joyously greet Jurkanin's
l. hopes and will do everything possible to speed
the day for the realization of just such united
front
Jurkanin's fervent urging for the establishment
of the united front undoubtedly expressing the
wish of increasing numbers in the Socialist Party
ranks grows out of his own concrete experience in
united front struggles with Communists, wherein he
himself saw the unjustiied qualification put by
Norman Thomas to his united front letter addressed
to Earl Browder.
Jurkanin correctly points out: There must, of
course, be action and good faith from both Com
munist and Socialist Parties 1t must be done;
1t can be done.
1.-THE working class must have this unity 1t can
have it. Let us look to France. have also seen
the power and full possible working of this unity
in my local experience"
In his letter to Norman Thomas, Earl Browder,
in the name of the Communist Party, flung the
doors wide open to the fullest possible discussion
and agreement on the questions of the United Front
THE Communist Party regards united action as
primarily weapon to protect the immediate needs
Of the workers and other toling elements of the
population" declared Comrade Browder, "to defeat
the attacks Of the capitalists upon the living stand
ards and civil rights, and to prepare the masses
through their experiences in the struggle for the
tasks involved in moving forward to greater aims"
GO FAR as good faith" and fair play is con-
cerned" Comrade Browder declared: THE es-
sence of the problem of good faith and fair play
can be found in determining concretely what is
necessary to fully carry out particular action"
And to determine this, Comrade Browder pro-
posed any means OF preliminary discussion, direct
Above all, Comrade Browder pointed out: THE
Communist Party is prepared for the effort to
arrive at such an agreement"
The issue is squarely up to the National Execu-
tive Committee of the Socialist Party. The Com
munist Party is ready to enter into any discussions
leading to negotiations for the United Front AS
Jurkanin points out the successful realization of
the United Front in France offers an excellent
precedent; and together with the letters of Norman
Thomas and Earl Browder. the Daily Worker pub
listed these conditions in full as guide
Every honest worker will agree The working
class must have this unity. 1t can have i'll"