The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-06-23
Ia Nine Years of Workers Mass Defense Led by the IL
The Party Must Support and
Build the LID, Says BrOwder
Capable Leading Forces
Must &c Given to
Build LID.

y
ternational Labor Defense makes US
conscious not only Of the tremen-
dous role played by the LID, and
Of its fundamental importance. but
also Of the fact that if the LID.
is to fulfill its task in the important
struggles which face the working
class, it becomes necessary to really
solve the problem of building a
stronger and more powerful LID.
The LID. is not receiving the
support and cooperation which the
Importance of its work demands.
The trade unions, the workers clubs,
the mutual aid societies, the Party
organizations, all absorbed in their
special daily problems and work, as
sumo that the existence of the LID.
relieves them Of all responsibility
for the problems Of defense. They
turn these problems over to the
LID. and proceed to other bust
ness.
But this will not work. The LID.
does not consist Of the few COM
rsdes placed in the offices to handle
it's business. If we leave these prob
lens to the unaided efforts of these
few executives, then the LID. will
surely break down, it will not be
able to handle the terrific load that
is being piled upon it by the sharp
ening struggle. And that is exactly
Whit is happening now
This condition must be remedied.
Every Party committee and unit.
every member, every trade union
and club, must be made to realize
that it is part of the LID, q
most vital part, and if these parts
do not work and take their share
Of the burden. then our LID. will
break down under its load.
Every class conscious worker
and organization must really be
interested in the LID. and
brought into active cooperation in
its work. Every committee must
begin to discuss and decide the
problem of what ii must do to
help the LID. to perform It's
most important tasks.
Build a Mass Financial Support
The LID. cannot fulfill its tasks
without funds. The problem of
finding the necessary money has
become critical one. The economic
crisis has reduced the size of con-
tributions. This must be compen-
stated for by increasing the mass of
contributors. That is easily pos
sible, because the workers are ready
and willing to support the LID
But 1t requires much more organ
ization than ever before; mass con-
tributions cannot and will not come
into the LID. spontaneously, but
only as result of organized efforts.
The LID. suffers also from the
attacks Of our enemies. The So
cialist Party. the NA.A.CP, the
Civil Liberties Union unite in their
SANDERS against the LID. We have
been able to meet these attacks and
to defeat them politically in most
smashing and satisfactory manner.
But the cost of these attacks has
been very great. These ISLANDERS
have hurt the LID. financially,
which was their main intention.
Our enemies hoped to create f.
nancial breakdown and thus defeat
us when they could not do so po-
litically. And they have succeeded
In creating tremendous difficulties
for us. At the most crucial points
Of the Scottsboro ca y, for example,
financial collapse was only averted
by the LID. calling directly upon
the Communist Party and borrow
ing several thousand dollars of the
Party's meager funds, which were
vitality. needed elsewhere. The same
condition exists, more or less. in all
other cases. in every locality.
This problem must be solved. It
can and will be solved by the same
means which ars necessary to build
and strengthen the LID. in all
phases of its work. as broad mass
non-Party defense movement.
First of all, the LID. must be
given capable leading forces from
its supporting affiliated organiza-
tions.
Secondly, nationally and locally
the LID. committees must be
broadened, drawing in the best sup
porters, mainly workers, but also
sympathizers of whatever origin.
The majority of all committees
should be loyal non-Party workers
who will fight and work for the
LID.
Third, broad recruiting cam
paign for members in the branches.
and for affiliation of organizations
must be carried out. The affiliating
organizations should give regular
financial support, send delegates to
committees, conferences. etc.
Fourth, mass collections for the
LID. campaigns and cases. and for
relief of prisoners and their de-
pendents must be made in every
shop, factory. mine, workers club
and organization. The dimes, nick
els and pennies of the workers must
be drawn into mighty stream OF
defense for the class war victims.
Fifth, the most exact financial
responsibility and accounting of all
funds must be guaranteed, nation
ally. in every locality, controlled by
auditing committees containing a
majority of non-Party workers, Civ
ing the most complete refutation of
all the ISLANDERS of our enemies.
Sixth, the LID. must be really
taken seriously and given all the
help, political, organizational and
material, needed to build the LID.
into a real broad mass organiza-
ton, Solidly based among the work