davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13

are practically possible in the
United States in 1898. After all, q
political party is not church which
is based chiefly on idealism ana
righteousness; 1t is an aggregation
Of citizens TO exercise political power
and if it fails to develop any poll
teal power after a whole generation
Of effort it has no claim to the
name. Bernard Shaw once re-
marked that one of our greatest
human weaknesses is our unwilling
ness 10 scrap an institution when
once it has outlived its usefulness.
1t seems to me that that applies
with equal force to the Social Dem
ocratic party Of Germany and the
Socialist Party Of the United States.
SIP. Bankruptcy
1t may be said that a man who be-
HeYes in the socialist ideal should con
tinue in the party and talk optinis-
tically even if he knows It is hope
less as a political instrument, until
some better party is formed to take
its place That raises a nice question
Of conscience which each party mem
Der must answer for himself. II
a director in a bank knows that the
bank is in danger he may be justified
in keeping up bold front so long as
he honestly believes that courageous
optimism will save the institution.
But II he invites new deposits after
he has himself become convinced that
the institution will fail, he is a man
of doubtful honor. There IS a point
at which further optimism concerning
the future Of the Socialist Party be-
comes deception, and each party mem
Der must Judge for himself whether
he has reached the point
I need scarcely add that no per
sonal considerations have entered into
my resignation from the Socialist
Party, and I hope that my altered
Judgment concerning political tech
nique will not affect my warm friend
ships in the movement.
I have labelled this statement con
fidential" not because want to keep
1t secret but because would not like
to see the conservative papers use my
resignation for an attack upon nv
friends and upon the party. 1t ma
not be possible to do this thing
quietly as I had hoped, so shall
reserve the right to make this state
ment public later on II the news
papers ask for it.
(Signed PAUL BLANSHARD
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13

who followed Lenin out of the hall
were sufficiently numerous to block
Naumoft's view of Lenin as he en-
tered the small square along the
street where an automobile was wait
ing to take him to his next meeting.
Rage Swept Workers
Both Naumoff and AIatrosoff testi-
fled that they heard three shots ring
out. Naumoff points out it was Len
ms custom to remain for a last word
with the workers while standing with
one foot on the running board Of the
car. He believes this was the mo-
ment that Vera Kaplan chose for her
murdcTGus attempt on his Nfe. Both
testify that Q wave Of horror and rage
swept the crowd Of workers as they
realized that Leuin had been shot.
Workers nearest to him instantly
raised Lenin, while others at once set
out in pursuit of the assassin who
was attempting to escape in the con-
fusion and was just getting through
the gate when pursuing workers chill
dren seized and held her until work
ers came up. The sentiment Of the
children was for summary action
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13

y The Communist Parties must,
with all resoluteneSs raise before the
masses the task Of the revolutionary
way out Of the crisis Of capitalism.
Against the quack recipes Of the
fascist and the social-fascist for saw
ing decaying capitalism, the Commu-
nists must prove to the masses that
the ills Of capitalism are incurable.
Therefore, the Communists, while de-
Tending in every way the demands of
the toilers, must untiringly disclose
to the masses who are suffering from
starvation and exploitation the whole
truth, viz, that their catastrophe
conditions will grow worse and worse
under the blows of the continuous
offensive Of capitalism, until the toll
ers succeed in uniting their forces
for counter-blow and the crushing
Of bourgeois rule.
There is no way out Of the general
crisis of capitalism other than the
one shown by the October Revolution,
via the overthrow Of the exploiting
classes by the proletariat, the con-
fiScation of the banks, of the fac
tories, the mines, transport, houses,
the stocks Of goods of the capitalists,
the lands Of the landlords, the church
and the crown.
Living Example Of Soviet Union
p It is necessary to increasingly
popularize the living example of the
Land Of the SoYiets and to explain
to the toilers and the exploited
masses in all capitalist countries how
Soviet economy, freed from the anar-
chy of the crisis Of capitalism, is In
the position to develop unhindered
the productive forces on the basis of
a socialist plan; how the Soviet
workers and all the toilers are vitality
interested in this DEVELOPMENT and
in its rapid tempo; how the Soviet
proletarian state, which is at the
same time the organization of the
power Of the proletariat as well as
the dominating productive organiza-
ton OF society, constantly increases
the social wealth and thereby the
welfare Of all the toilerS, whereas
every bourgeois state, being a social
economic parasite, devours and ex-
hausts the economic forces of the
people.
1t is necessary to unfold before the
toilers Of each country a program
which, basing itself on the experience
OF the great triumphs of the Soviet
workers and collective farmers on all
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13
Saw Shots Fired by the
observation-disclosures
Assassin
BY VERN SMITH
DAILY Worker Correspondent

MOSCOW, Jan. 12.-Two workers
who were with Lenin at the time Of
the attempt on his life on Aug. 30,
1918, at the Michaelson Machine Con-
struction factory, now called the
Vladimir Ilyitch factory, on the Ia
mcSkvaretchte rayon combination,
Moscow, when q social revolutionary
fired the shot that caused his death
several years later. were interviewed
today by your correspondent. Both
workers stressed the love and admira-
ton by the workers of the factory for
Lenin.
The two workers are Nikolai Mat
rosoff, moulder at the factory since
1908, and Naumoff, repair mechanic
at the factory since 1915.
Lenin and Factory Work
Both testified that Lenin paid spe-
cial attention to this factory as part
Of his Party work and addressed Sat-
urday afternoon meetings attended
by the 600 workers then in the plant
and several thousands from other
plants in the area.
Lenin discussed with the worker
the international situation, the im
peria6st blockade then in effec
against the proletarian state, tn
dangers at the Civil War front ant
the necessary next steps to carry or
the revolution and build Socialism.
Matrosoff describes these talks:
He talked workers language. Knew
all our problems. Answered frankly
all questions, with the result that
the workers loved and admired him
tremendously" Naumoff also gives
glowing account of Lenfn's actiyi-
ties in the factory:
Talked with Everyone
"Lenin would go from department
to department through the plant,
stopping to talk with everyone. All
who could leave work for few min
utes followed him from place to place,
asking him questions"
On the night of the shooting, Maui
moff says, the meeting had started
at 6 o'clock. Naumoff, who had lust
finished work, had run home to see
his wife while the speaking was 60
ing on. Lenin was not yet present.
Hurrying back to the factory, Maui
moff saw the assassin, Vera Kaplan,
standing with others outside waiting
Lenin's arrival. AS Lerin arrived, the
workers surged around him and fol-
lowed him into the plant. Naumoff,
who was in this crowd, says, 1--WE
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13
Factory Workers Loved
Him, Came to Him
for Grievance

against her, but disciplined Party
members prevailed upon them to
hand her over to the militia.
Lenin, asked if doctor should be
sent for. requested to be taken home
Immediately and was placed in the
car which slowly proceeded through
the streets with great throng of
workers following, anxious to learn
as soon as possible his chances for
recovery.
The spot where Lenin was wounded
by the assaSsin's bullets is marked
today by a small monument erected
by funds donated by the workers Of
this district.
Proud Of Their Present Achievements
The two workers, enthusiastic over
the leadership of the Party Of Lenin,
are intensely interested in the ap-
preaching world wide commemoration
by the proletariat Of every country of
the death of the great leader Of the
world revolution, and in the forth
coming 18th Congress Of the Commu-
rist Party of the Soviet Union, with
its program for the Second Five
Yea Pl2n. which will raise enor-
mously the living standards of the
Soviet masses.
They point with great pride to the
tremendous growth Of their factory
to over 5000 workers now. Both hated
intensely the extortions by the for
mer capitalist owners.
Matrosoff had participated in many
revolutionary meetings in the pre-
revolution era, and also in 1905 He
comments that Lsnin Day this year
falls not only on the eve of the 18th
Congress, but also comedies with the
conlmemoration of Bloody Sunday in
1905.
Naumoff. who is 80 years old, could
retire on a pension but boasts that
he will work on to build socialism. He
says:
THE Soviet Power can be proud Of
me, common worker, who has two
sons, both of them good engineers. .
The Marx-Lenin Institute is car
rying on research work in preparation
for full biography of Lenin. and is
also issuing an anniversary book Of
"reminiscences by so authors about
Lenin.
Krupskaya's new book on Lenin is
already published under the title:
Let Us Learn from Lenin How to
Work" Radio broadcasts are planned
to begin soon on the subjects of
Lenin and the Youth, Lenin and
Stain, etc.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13
Victimized Worker
Sells Daily Again
lBy a Negro Worker Correspondent

by a Negro Worker Correspondent
COLUMBIA, S. CT am TODAY
mailing you $3.50 as a payment for
the Daily Worker. The reason YOU
have not heard from me is that the
sheriff and other officers raided nv
house on December 10 and took all
papers and letters they coud find.
They also took me to Jail and they
sentenced me to 80 days on the chain
gang. But the other comrades got a
lawyer and I am out on bail. All this
was about the Daily Worker" and
the Labor Defender.
Please print the contents Of this
letter in next Saturdays Daily
Worker, also send same to all Negro
newspapers through U. S. A. Also
tell Central Committee OF the G. p.
I am writing Comrade VIM. L. Pat
terson tomorrow.
l am trying to sue Richland
County, s. c., for treating me SO low
and dirty. There is no power on earth
to make me stop reading the Daily
Worker and Labor Defender unless
they kill me. Please send me nv
papers three times q week. shall
write you again in a few days.
Comradely,
I. r. SHEPPARD.
Just out Of Jail. One of the bells
on earth.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13

tern to ruthlessly root out opportlm-
ism in all its forms, and above all,
right Opportunism CRemmels, Neu-
mann, the defeatists in other coun-
tries in their estimate of the pros
poets Of the German revolution
without which the Communist Parties
will not be able to lead the working
masses up to the victorious struggles
for the Soviet power.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13

t+SN eRPis w bAAS
present unemployed. His bill is only
10 take effect January 1, 1895" for
those who may be fortunate enough
10 be employed six months during
the previous year." This six months
period, obviously, was inserted to es-
tablish time during which a proposed
graduated surtax on workers wages
might be collected.
Other provisions of the Cannon
bill declare: No worker shall receive
in two years Of unemployment
whats around the corner, Mr..
P.W.A.?) more than "an amount of
benefits possible to be received by
him hereunder in six months; for
the possible six months insurance"
paid for partly by the worker, in a
probable two years period of to-
tai unemployment, the unemployed
worker receives a minimum Of $50
month, and nothing for his depend
ents; the act is to become operative
only Gin times Of unemployment
crisis" that is, a period Of general
unemployment within a State Ad-
ninistratiye District as found by a
vote of majority of the State Ad-
Visory Board and confirmed by the
Federal Unemployment Insurance
Commissioner and the President of
the United States; the UnempIoy-
ment Commissioner is to act imme-
diately under the Secretary Of Labor;
those suffering from partial unem-
ployment are to receive one-half of
the annual surtax paid; the apph-
can't for this unemployment benefit"
shall certify that he has been to-
tally Or partially unemployed for the
one-half-month period prior to the
date OF making said application"
TFIE Workers Unemployment and
Social Bill is simple, direct and
effective. Tt provides for immediate
Federal unemployment insurance at
the expense of the government and
the employers for all those now I'M
employed through no fault Of their
own 1t provides for unemployment
insurance CT the full average wages
of the industry or territory, but not
less than $40 for adult workers, So
for each dependent, for the entire
period of their unemployment. 1t
provides that the system be admin
isCered by workers and that the full
funds for it shall be raised by the
government from the billions now
set aside for war preparations and
by taxation upon incomes of over
$1,000 year And, as for part time
workers, they are to receive the diff
ference between their wages and the
unemployment insurance benefit. This
bill really recognizes the fact that
a psrt-time worker may get as hun
gry as fulI-time one.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13

THE Cannon Unemployment lnSur-
i ance" act contains a provision
that could easily be used by employ
ers as a strike-breaking, wage-cut-
ting and victimization weapon. The
unemployed workers application
Shall state that applicant has made
reasonable search for employment,
and was unable to obtain more than
he engaged in" What Is to legally
prevent the District head from CO.
operating with blood-sweating en-
ployer, to prevent the leading citi-
zens of the Detroit district, for in
stance, from forcing auto workers to
scab on their striking fellow-workers,
to prevent the employers from fore
ing workers to work under union
rates, or to work far from their
homes? Nothing.
The Workers Unemployment and
Social Insurance Bill, however, pro-
vides: mo worker shall be disqual-
fled from receiving unemployment
insurance because he refuses to work
at wages below what he was formerly
receiving or below the prevailing
trade union rates in that vicinity,
nor shall he or she be disqualified for
refusing to work because Of strike or
unhealthful conditions, nor where
hours are longer than the usual trade
union standards in the particular
trade OF locality. An employee shall
not be required to accept employment
if the establishment where employ
ment Is offered is at an unreasonable
distance from his or her home"
The Cannon surtax scale follows:
no surtax upon net incomes Of 1000
or less; upon net incomes in excess Of
$1,000 and up to $500, surtax Of
one half Of one per cent; upon net
incomes of $4,000 and up to $1,000, a
surtax OF three fourths of 1 per cent;
upon incomes of $1,000 and up to
$4,000, srlrtax Of per cent Of such
net incomes; upon incomes Of
$4,000 and up to $4,000, a surtax Of
one and one-haf per cent Of such
net incomes; upon net incomes of
$4,000 and up to 100000, q surtax
of 2 per cent Of such net incomes;
upon net incomes in excess Of $780,
900, surtax Of per cent Of such
net incomes.
The exploiter, for instance, whose
81 100000 net income comes from
grinding thousands Of workers who
may get anywhere from Sc to $50 a
week, pays a tax Of mere $4,000
while his wage slave who, let us as
sumo, is paid $40 week, must hand
over $500 a year Ca considerable
amount for a man with dependents
who receive only 1920 a year, into
a government fund from which he
will only be able to draw six months
insurance" in an unemployment
period Of two years.
THE much publicized Wagner "un-
L employment" bill, introduced every
session for the past four years, is
even worse than the Cannon proposal
since the former would merely ex-
empt from Federal taxation funds
paid by corporations into State I'M
employment benefit pools-in short, q
bill which would not commit the
Federal government to any guarantee
whatever to the 1obless. It is probable
that Senator Wagner will introduce
q bill to provide Unemployment in
surance" under the MIRA. codes to
be administered by the employer
groups who now execute codes drawn
up by themselves.
When the Unemployed Councils
convention meets in Washington Feb
ruary 8, 4 and 5, the unemployed
workers will not have 4 difficult
choice to make of what II to sup
port.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13


For two months I have been
pulling over the question:
What should a man do when, af-
ter fifteen years Of work in the So
cialist movement, he reaches the
conclusion that the Socialist Party
as a political instrument is hope
less? After much reflection and
doubt I have finally sent in my
resignation to the Sunnyside local
My reason for resigning is not
primarily loss of faith in the So
cislist ideal or disbelie in the
value Of socialist education, but the
conviction that the party in the
present situation in America is poll
tically useless. I think that the
energy spent in attempting to revive
it would better be spent in in
dustrial and educational activity
that might yield more definite re-
suits. The reasons which have led
me to reach this conclusion are
both negative and positive.
The negative reason concerning
the weakness of the Socialist Party
are well known, but they are not
always faced squarely by party
members because we who work ear
neStly in the movement are often
intoxicated by our own earnestness.
The bald truth is that although the
party has been in existence for
a generation it has almost no hold
on the American working class, and
it is weaker than it was twenty
years ago. 1t has no unsubsidized
English press and not enough money
to hire half a dozen workers in its
national Office. After four years Of
the worst depression in history and
after innumerable scandals in local
politics the local party is not in
a position in this city, the natural
stronghold of American socialism, to
elect a single alderman.
Says Roosevelt Stole Thunder
Many of these facts applied to the
party before the last national cleo
ton, but continued to hope in its
future. Then, after a brilliant cam
paign We polled less than one
fortieth of the total vote. Even af-
ter this blow I continued to hope
family because I could not believe
that the splendid educational work
of the candidates and the national
office could fail to bring in flood
OF new members. A year has passed
and the food has not materialized.
1t is now evident tina the party
could not realize its great oppor-
tunities during the depression be-
cause the American working class
had come to think of it as an in
significant and permanent defeated
organization. In addition two fac
tors, national and international
have made the party's position more
hopeless in recent months. Roose-
Yelt with his program of managed
capitalism has taken the initiative
away from us in immediate econo-
mic change, and the Socialist Inter
national has lost prestige so COM
pletely in Europe that it is DO
sitive disadvantage for an American
party to be connected with it.
Party Failure
Some of the comrades may say
that the party should be kept alive
as an educational force in spite of
its weakness and failure because it
IS fundamentally right in its ideas.
1 had that conviction myself until
recently, but new observations in
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13

munist Party and
t h e Unemployed
Councils, the Can
non measures only
relation to r e al
Federal unemploy-
m emit insurance
lies in its title.
Cannon, a Mil
waukee, Wis. Dem
)cratGc Represent
ative, proposes
that his "unem-
0loyment insur-
8nce" act should
II
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13
Confidential Letter of Paul Blanshard, Aid
To LaCuardia On Leaving the Socialist Party

Spain, Germany and Austria this
summer have altered it. I believe
now that American Socialists have
been thinking too exclusively in
terms Of rightness and intelligence,
and not enough in terms of power
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13

politics. The brilliant professors,
journalists, and preachers who write
analyses Of Socialist Party and
liberal policy in American journals
stress the things which We ought
to do rather than the things which
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13
STREETS
CAPITOL
By SEYMOUR WALDMAN-

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12-The Cannon Federal Unemploy-
W ment Insurance" BILL the only act the subject intro
duced during the present session of Congress- emphasizes the
demagogy and cruelty with which American capitalism
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13

Nemns those millions now I'M
employed, to outright starva-
ton, and the jobless of the
future to health-wrecking pow
egty. When compared with the
E.'orkers' Unemployment and Social
Insurance Bill, proposed by the Com
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13

-------------=-
mass organizations can ensure con-
facts with the masses and also the
maximum Of secrecy and efficiency.
In carrying out these tasks, the
Communists must utilize all legal pos
sibilities to develop mass work, and
to link up legal and illegal work.
The XIII Plenum Of the E.C.CI
calls upon all sections Of the Comm
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13

Fight for unemployment insur-
ance. Support the National Con-
vention Against Unemployment on
Feb. 8 in Washington, d. C.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13

This letter was sent by Paul
Blanshard to the Socialist Party
as a confidential statement-Ed.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13
Thesis of the 18th Plenum
of the COmintern

Continued from Page Six
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-06-30
By Blosser
THAT'S DIIfFEiiENT!

car and said, "We'de ready Co de' part" Just then, however, came roll of thunder from the sky.
 Look nt th6 dark clouds over head. US going tO riD," wee GOIdy gald, "Wher1 can we bldGs Not 0ne good bit of shelter can 1 spyW
 
 "IiIdo meath my wagon" Peter cried. There's no place else where you can blde.'
 "Oh, yes there ls." q we1k voice snapped. 1 have n bumbersb00t,
 "rberes room for every Tiny. mite. Come on, join msl YOniI be nll right. Course, If you do not w1nt to stgnd beneath it, you eah BcOOt.
 "Ijut. If you do, you'll all get wet" Then C0pDy answered, You can bet we'll gladly stand out of the rain Now, toll me, who are yOuW
 Tho whole bunch heard the yonnkMpF my, "Oh. 1 just ehase ihe r1ln away, and tell lt Co come back some other lime Thnt's whnt rwiii dOi"
 tcopynsbt 1884 KgA Service, Incl
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-06-30
FRECKLES

It wasn't very long until wee Windy, iD h voice real Bhrlll, yelled, "WolI, the peppers that we've picked will moro than fll Il peck.
 "It's really been a lot of fun, hut am glad that VIC nro done, If leaned OCT much moro, ] know that 1 would be wreck"
 Say! Duney snapped. I'm wrecked right now. Why, by the sweat of my small brow I've picked more peppers than fl single person in this bunch.
 "f1i simply hayc 10 sjt and rest know I've done my Very best 1 only wish we knew of some place where we'd ind some lunch"
 
 "Ahi So you're hungry" Peter said. Well. ali you Tinlsa shalI be fed. We'll drive right back io my house, where we'll And some food Co ent.
 You've worked just fine, and didn't stop. My peek is now liNsn f0 the top. Yue've been q lOt Df help f0 me, 70 you deserve a treat v They tossed the peppers on the
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-05-01

FERGUSON, 6551-Broad Ripple. 5 rooms.
bath. garage: garden space.
GENT. 2111-4-room bungalow dbl, garage,
will repair: So. formerly Sl8. LI-0474.
GRACELAND 3315-Semi modern 5-room
double; garage, $3.50. water paid. HA-