The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-29
THREE EASTERN C. P. DISTRICTS
MEET IN THEIR CONVENTIONS
Continued from Page y

With the first point, it was stressed
that the present membership of 700
was grossly insufficient, considering
/ the fact that the Boston district
takes in the five states Of Maine.
New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode
Island and Massachusetts, with at
least dozen big industrial cities.
Only seven shop nuclei were re-
ported to be functioning. Notwith-
standing this and other weaknesses
which were thoroughly discussed by
the delegates, the conventions spirit
throughout was one of real enthu-
siasm. The sharp self-criticism for
failures and mistakes, as well as
the gains recorded wherever real
work and attention had been ap-
piled, proved to all the delegates
what could really be accomplished
within the next period.
Philadelphia Discusses Shops, Mines.
In Philadelphia District - the
concrete discussion centered about
shop and mine problems and strug-
giles. Sixty-four regular delegates,
as we'll as so fraternal delegates
we're in attendance throughout. Ten
Negro workers and ten women were
among these delegates, the former
indicating serious underestimation
Of Negro work, since there are over
300 Negro Party members in the
district.
At this convention the extremely
energetic and enthusiastic spirit
pointed to rapid increase in ac-
tivity and the overcoming of many
serious shortcomings of the past
period.
Among these shortcomings was
the fact that there was no discussion
OF union and organization prolems,
little discussion of youth and Negro
problems, unemployed work, etc.
May First preparations were COM
pletely neglected The district, it was
revealed, had had no concentration
point and no specific plans on con-
centration work, but in the course of
thorough and excellent discussion
these faults we're brought clearly
into the light and new perspectives
for work based on the failures of the
past.
1853 Join Party Since Jan. /
New recruits for the Communist
Party, the convention disclosed, to-
tailed 369 since Jan. /, 1884. OF
these, 220 were native Americans, 81
belonged to A. F. of L. unions, 81
were members of the Trade Union
Unity League, so were Negroes and
so women. (Some Of these cate
gories overlap, it should be under
stood) These figures were stressed
as indication of the tremendous pos
sibilities which the district has for
growth if wholehearted attention is
paid to the recruiting of new mem
bers for the Party.
The Daily Worker circulation has
made Roadway only in the city of
Philadelphia, where it rose from 800
to 2100 circulation within the past
period. In other parts of the dis
/ trict, such as Baltimore, Allentown
and the Anthracite, the absence of
concrete work and plans has re-
suited in small and stagnant circu-
lation.
Isolated from Miners
In the major struggles in the dis
trict, speakers revealed that the
Party had played a slight and insult
ficient role. The Party's isolation
from the miners in the Anthracite,
the hosiery workers in Reading, the
Ford workers in Chester, was cited.
OF the 10000 workers who have
been on strike in the district during
the last period, the Party has led
only 10000 to 10000, a smaller per-
centage than in the country as a
whole.
A real gain was recorded by the
Partys leadership of two strikes of
A. F. of L. unions.
Other weaknesses were discussion
Of social-fascism and the fact that
no plans existed as yet for the pene-
tration of social-fascist towns like
Reading, Allentown and Camden,
N. j.
The convention chose q district
committee of 81 on which were rep
resented workers from marine, mine,
metal. hosiery and knitgoods indus
tries, as well as one farmer.
Progress in Connecticut
The New Haven District IS, Con-
necticut) convention, which was at
tended by 81 delegates of which
eight were women, seven Negroes,
and 10 directly from the factories,
participated in an animated discus
sion which showed that the Party
comrades are really involved in the
unions, that they have taken leader
ship in unemployed and C.W.A.
struggles.
The outstanding struggle discussed
was that in Bridgeport, against the
Socialist Party administration. With
an extremely healthy atmosphere
characterizing the convention, it was
pointed out that since the Open Let
ter IL shop nuclei have been estab-
lished where there were none be-
fore. A shop paper is being pub
lished regularly in the Winchester
arms plant.
Delegates from War Industries
OF great significance was the COM
position of the delegates. Nineteen
were from metal industries, with one
each from hatters, textile and to-
| bacco. This is unusually important.