The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-04-14
Immediate Demands and Revolution

Haverhill at this moment. They will allow
Zimmerman TO talk all he wants to about some
future revolution ss long as he doesn't fight too
hard for the immediate demands Of the HaPer-
hill workers.
This is the reality behind every concrete ex-
ample Of the charge against the Communists
that we sacrifice the immediate interests Of the
workers to the future revolution.
Is it true that there is a determining rela-
tionship between the fight for immediate de-
mands and the revolutionary goal of the work
ing class? Yes, there is such a determining
relationship. But it Is not that put forward
by the Haverhill Gazette and all the other
enemies of the Communist Party. The rela-
tionship is quite different. Let us take the
case of a group Of leaders heading fight for
immediate demands Of q particular body Of
workers They unitedly formulate these de-
mands with the participation and approval Of
all the workers; they present demands TO the
boss: the boss says: mo, it is impossible for
me to grant such demands without going out
Of business" The workers in other shops and
industries are putting forward their demands
All the bosses get together and say: 1T is i'm
possible to grant such demands without sac
rihcing profits. Profits are the handspring Of
the capitalist system. To sacrifice profits means
to destroy capitalism. This means to destroy
the Jobs of the workers, Therefore. in the in
terests of the workers, we must fight for lower
wages as the only way to preserve capitalism"
Among the workers leaders there takes place
division into two groups-one group says
/ of course, we're not trying to overthrow capt.
talism; we're not trying to put our boss out Of
business we're not revolutionists; If our de-
mands endanger the boss or the capitalist sys-
tenn we're ready to compromise them or aban-
don them altogether, and even submit to
worsening of conditions; we're willing to do
whatever is necessary to save our boss and the
capitalist system" The other group says: "The
workers demands are just and necessary; they
must be granted; the productive forces Of this
industry and the entire country are sufficient
TO provide this and many times more; the capt
talist is only anxious to protect his own profits
/ he can easily afford to pay; but even if The
can't then so much the worse for him and his
system" I'VE understand that the workers
sooner or later must do away with capitalism
and establish Socialist system. II our fight
for higher wages now, hastens the coming Of
Socialism, hsstens the coming of the working
class revolution then SO much the better. We
viii fight all the harder for higher wages"
This gives an example of the true relation
between immediate demands and revolutionary
aims. The A. F. of L. leaders and the Socialist
Party set as their guiding rule to do everything
I to avoid revolution to save capitalism; that Is
why they join Roosevelt In putting across the
New Deal and the MIRA; that's why they say
nov is not the time to strike that's why If the
workers strike in spite of them they try to
break the strike and send the workers back
without gaining their demands to tie up the
workers organizations in arbitration courts, ETC.
That is also why those who are revolutionists,
those who are preparing the working class to
establish Socialism, to overthrow capitalism
they are the only ones who can at all times
and in all places be depended upon TO fight to
the last ounce Of energy for the winning of
the immediate demands of the workers. without
consideration Of what result this has in decreas-
ing the profits Of the bosses. We revolutionsts
know that in America we have productive ca
pacity sufficient, if properly used, to give every
man woman and child comfortable and happy
life. We're going to organize and fight for the
a Continued on Page Hgha