The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-09-24
Soviet Authors in DAILY Lnteruiew
Tell What Writer'S Congress AcIpieued
American Writers Must
Do Hard Thinking,
Says LeOnOv

a couple Of special sessions, one on
paywrighting and one on poetry.
There were also special meetings Of
Soviet critics, etc. It discussed at
times quite heatedly such questions
as choice Of themes, where opinions
varied as I have indicated above be-
tween those who stick to struggle"
topics and those who are willing to
take up some of the new problems
for workers of the realization Of the
fruits Of victorious struggle.
It solved that problem by its def
milton of socialist realism-all
phases Of the new life must be por-
trayed, and all the emotional re-
actions that go with them.
An even fierce debate ragged over
the question of style, debate that
began even before the congress with
the pubic criticism by Cork of the
reckless language and improvised
new words Of such authors as Glad
kov C'Cement" and still more his
later works. and to some extent of
Sholokhov C'And Silent Flows The
DOM.
There was some discussion of the
methods Of collective work. set off
by the talented French writer NAL
raux, who doubted whether collec-
tive writing made the best litera-
ture. And here the general opinion
is that collective writing can pro-
duce good literature, though Ger
tainly no one is going to force any
writer to do his work collectively.
At the critics conference an ar
sument took place as to whether
third-rate critic should be allowed
to criticise a first-rste writer. It
was reduced to an absurdity and
laughed away by someone who
solemnly proposed a scale Of critics,
each opposite the writer of his own
weight" whom alone it would be
fair for him to criticise. Apparently
the majority feel that this problem
can be left TO editors and readers to
settle.
THE congress called more sharply
than before to the attention of
all the contrast between the prog
reSs Of the new Socialist literature
and the decadence of capitalist lit
erature, particularly Of fascist lit
erature. 1t emphasized the enor-
nous and vital growth of the lit
erature of the minority nationali-
ties Of the Soviet Union, developing
for the first time in an atmosphere
Of freedom. 1t gave one more ex-
hibition of the close ties that bind
the worker and peasant masses of
the Soviet Union with their writ
era and their literature.
1t also had its organizational side.
The congress fully approved the es-
Iaolishment of the new Union of
Soviet Writers, which now appears
with $500 members and 500 can
didateS for membership and with a
poicy that was expressed in a single
sentence at the congress by P. Yu-
din, secretary of the Writers Or
ganizational Committee, that car
ried through the technical task of
creating the Union of Soviet Writ
ers. He said: 1--WE welcome all into
cur ranks whose creative work can
serve the growth of our new Soviet
culture"
The congress itself In one Of its
final resolutions called on the lead
ing organs of the Union to: work
out on the basis of the reports and
exchange of opinions at the con-
gress practical measures for COOP
Grating with Soviet writer's in their
creative work, for rendering aid to
young beginning Soviet writer's, and
for strengthening the bonds be-
tween writer's and the toiling
masses so that the whole activity
of the Union of Soviet Writers may
insure further rise of creative work
in all fields of Soviet literature and
the creation Of works of high quail
ity Of art, permeated with the spirit
of socialism"