The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-10


It is necessary to study the actiS1s
ties of the various fascist and social
fascist organizations, as for example
the methods Of the Silver Shirts, the
activities of the Musteites, the Farm
er-Laborites, the Socialist Party, the
A. F. of L. bureaucrats, the renegade
groups. In this category of questions
can be- included the rise of company
unions, the situation within the A. F.
of L., the rise Of independent unions,
ETC. 1t is not enough to merely re-
peat the correct analysis of the world
situation as made by the Communist
international. AS Communists, who
strive to master the teachings OF
Lenin and Stain. we must learn as
they have always urged us to study
the application of the analysis to the
concrete situations. Only in this way,
by looking upon Theory not as g.
dogma but as a guide to action" can
we really fully accept and understand
the 18th Plenum resolution OF the
Comintern.
The second category Of questions
should deal with the experiences il
the mass work. This includes in the
first place our work in the factories,
our trade union work, our work
among the Negro masses, our work
among the poor farmers and other
strata Of the toiling population.
The experiences gained in the fight
for the united front furnishes an ex-
cellent basis for the discussion OF
many Of our problems. Our work
among the unemployed and the fight
for social insurance is another inn
portant question The work in the
A. F. Of L. unions, the work of the
independent unions, the work of the
T. U. U. L. unions in the last year
has much valuable experience that
must be brought forward to the whole
Party.
Concentration Tasks
However, in dealing with These
questions we must strive to do so in
the light of the Open Letter and the
control tasks and never lose sight of
the emphasis on the concentration
tasks provided for in the Open Letter
As an example let us state some con-
crete questions that can be discussed
with great profit to the entire Party.
Why did the Pittsburgh District not
carry through the decisions with re-
gard to the election of our supporters
to the o. M. w. A. convention? Why
don't we follow up more seriously the
work of the Party and Steel Union III
Arnbridge? Why was our participa-
ton in the recent Anthracite Miners
strike so weak? What are we doing to
overcome our isolation in the Packing
House Industry in Chicago? How we
made Roadway in the work in the
Progressive Miners Of America among
the miners in Illinois? How did we
lose the initiative in the struggles OF
the Detroit Auto Workers. and what
are we doing to change this situation?
Question For Discussions
What are the lessons of the ANAL
gamation in the shoe industry anG
the work of the New York Organize
ton as reflected in the recent Labor
Board elections? What were the re-
suits of the Cleveland United FROM
Conference? What mistakes did we
make in the work of the COMMITTEES
for the Struggle Against War and
Fascism? Why are there SO few Negro
workers in most of the T. U. U. L.
unions? Why do we have COM
paratively strong movement among
the unemployed in the West and in
Pittsburgh while the movement in
Chicago and New York is weak? How
we built a shop nucleus of the Party
in the ]. L. Steel plant in Pittsburgh?
How we doubled the circulation of the
Daily Worker in our Section? think
that here we already have an indica-
ton as to how to discuss the ques-
tons as to the methods and results
Of the mass work of the Party.
Work in Lower Units
AS to the third category of ques-
! tions. Here the main emphasis must
be given to the work of the lower
organizations Of the Party, to the
work of the trade union and other
fractions, to the training and develop
! ing Of leadership in the Party.
Here also must be taken up the
problems and lessons in the building
of factory nuclei, the work of the
factory nuclei, Of the street nuclei, the
agitation and propaganda work of the
Party recruiting, the extreme f1uctua~
| ton in membership, etc. think this
will be enough Of an indication as &c
/ the problems to be dealt with under
this category We should emphasize
here the necessity OF subjecting to
sharp criticisms the bureaucratic
methods of work of the Party organ
izations and individual comrades no
matter whom it may concern from top
| to bottom
Finally we wish to emphasize that
we must draw in the largest possible
number of comrades into the discus
sions. Every Party member who feels
| the need for participation in the dis
cussion must do so. Inability to write
properly in style or even language
| should be no bar. In the districts and
| the sections the leading committees
must help the comrades with such
| technical assistance that is required.
Let us begin at once without delay.
Let us carry through most serious
and self critical discussion bringing
forward all the positive and negative
sides of our work. This is not for
the purpose of merely registering
achievements or failures, but for the
purpose of more collective and rapid
| carrying through Of the pressing and
tremendous tasks laid down in the
| 1911, E1ay,,Y,, ,-aeo1x,+io,, Is, +l,e Cs,,c,a