The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-19
By WILLIAM Z. FOSTER

contribute only one article to the
Party discussion and I am selecting
the youth question to write upon
There are many fundamental phases
of the Party work that I would like
to discuss, but perhaps none in the
re-convention discussion will re-
ceive less attention than that Of
organizing the working youth, So
this article may not be amiss.
The youth question has, eSpe-
cially since the sharpening of the
crisis, become so important that
our Party must give it the very
closest and most energetic treat
ment. And, as the crisis deepens
this Importance grows greater and
greater. The more militant forms
the class struggle takes the more
decisive the role OF the working
youth.
Capitalism all over the world,
seeking a way out Of the devastat-
ing crisis, develops towards two
great objectives-fascism and war.
In its plans for the accomplishment
Of these aims the youth plays a
central role. The storm troops of
fascism are based upon the youth,
and it is the youth especially that
will be called upon to fight the
approaching imperialist war Of
course, capitalism tries to corrupt
with its plans the working class
and petty bourgeois masses gem
orally, Of all ages, but it devotes
special and energetic attention to
the youth.
This is true of the United States
as well as other capitalist countries.
1t would be idle to cite once more
the tremendous efforts the capital
lists here are making to fascize and
militarize the youth, especially the
proletarians. In all this the gov
eminent, national and local, takes
the lead. The c. G. c. camps and
other phases of the relief" work
are gigantic militarization schemes.
Likewise the huge patriotic organi-
cations Y M. c. A., Y. M. H. A.,
Boy Scouts, etc.-are no whit be-
hind in these ever increasing fascist
and militarist activities. The more
avowedly fascist organizations, such
as the Silver Shirts, Khaki Shirts,
etc, with liberal support from
bourgeois sources are Characters
tically devoting their chief atten-
ton to winning the youth Nor
does the third party of the bour-
geoisie," the Socialist Party, fail to
put more and more stress on the
youth. A striking manifestation OF
the capitalist determination to
capture the youth is to be seen in
the vicious campaign now being
carried on in the Hearst papers
against the Young Communist
League and National Student
League, whose activities, limited
though they are, the American inn
peIialists greatly fear as a deadly
obstacle in the way of their winning
the youth.
The Danger of Fascism
Now the most dangerous element
in the whole situation is the mani
fest susceptibility of the youth to
this fascist, militarist campaign.
The Central Committee draft con-
yention resolution correctly says:
Especially hard hit as a result of
the crisis is the youth of the work
ing class, farmer and middle class. y
Few will dispute this statement in
view of the huge numbers of work
ing class youth cast into unem-
ployment, hobodom and restitution
by graduating from the schools and
by being thrown out of the in
dustries. The young toilers of the
cities and farms, entering into
manhood, are denied the right to
earn a living and to satisfy their
natural instincts to establish 8
family.
The youth are greatly discon-
tented at all this. They want to
fight for better conditions. But it
is exacly in this militancy of theirs
that we face both a great oppor-
tunity and a great danger. If we
are intelligent and militant enough
we can organize and lead, for rev.
olutionary ends, the discontented
toiling youth. But if we are not
we may be sure that the fascists
will mobilize the youth for fascism,
war and counter-revolutionary ends
generally. The struggle to win the
working class and farmer youth is
one of the most acute phases of the
general struggle between the cap
italists and our Party to win the
masses.
In Italy and Germany, the fas-
cists doubtless have had much
success in winning the youth, not
only of the city petty-bourgeoisie,
but also, to a considerable extent,
of the working class and farmers.
But it would be a grave mistake to
conclude there from that somehow
or other, the youth are Realistically
inclined. All we have to do to con-
tradict such notion is to look
about us. Signs multiply of the
naturally revolutionary tendencies
Of these young toilers. Among such
are their increased and often lead
ing activities in industrial strikes,
farmers struggles and unemployed
fights. And in every college and
university in the country there is
a growing radical sentiment among
the students. Spreading discomfort,
growing class consciousness, in
creasing political activity, are
characteristic of the proletarian "a
farmer youth in every place where
they are to be found.
Youth Will Not Come Spontaneously
to Us
But let me repeat: all these out
groupings of radicalism and mill
fancy are by no means guarantees
that the youth will spontaneously
and automatically gravitate to class
consciousness and the Communist
Party leadership. We can win the