The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-12-05
Socialists Shelve
United Front
Continued from Page y

W. LII ~ 1AlCCbAA4Es W4AlSll WO1 OAb
an exceptionally sharp factional
program for the N. E. c. meeting.
They demanded the re-submission
of the Declaration of Principles to
new vote of the Party member
ship, and, pending such action, they
presented the unheard of demand
that the Declaration be not binding
on those States whose membership
had rejected it in the past referen-
dun-a proposal to virtually split
the party on basic programmatic
question.
Coupled with this they demanded
the removal of Clarence Senior, the
national secretary, and the addition
of four "old guard" supporters to
the N. E. G. The most brazen fac
tional gall was contained in the de-
mand that the N. E. c. liquidate
the two other factions, the so-called
"militants," headed by Norman
Thomas, and the Revolutionary
Policy Committee" so-called. The
most reactionary faction, openly de-
flying the decisions of the Detroit
convention, and brazenly threaten
ing a split in the Party, demands
the liquidation of the two groups
which, formally at least, adhere to
the Declaration of Principles!
That's democracy for you!
What WaIdman Said
But we will let Mr.. Thomas, the
"militants" and the R. P. c. worry
about their inner democracy; we are
concerned with the united front.
And on this the "old guard" leader,
Louis Waldman, had the following
to say:
"The National Executive Com
mittee shall announce in clear and
unequivocal language that it will
neither consider nor discuss any
proposals that may come from
Communists for a united front,
for any purpose, nor will 1t con-
slider embarking upon any nego-
tiations for such a united front,
and will also advise state 0rgani-
cations to so instruct their locals"
Now, the N. e. G. is not controlled
by Mr.. Waldman and his group; it
is controlled by Mr.. Thomas and his
"militants." Yet the decisions made
by the N. E. c., by the "militants,"
entirely conform to the demand of
the "old guard" Of course, Thomas
adds his liberal" trimmings; ne
says the S. P. heartily believes in
working class unity" but after hav-
ing said that he goes on to declare
that "the N. E. G. hereby decides
not to conduct negotiations for a
united front with the Communist
Party b, until after the next con-
vention' -that is in two years! Is
that not a complete capitulation to
the demand of Waldman?
B. Charney Vladeck, another "old
guard" spokesman, outlined most
clearly the course which that reac-
tionary group wishes to take, and
the reasons for their opposition to
the united front with the Commu-
nists.
amy bond with the Communists, -"
he stated, will surely separate the
Socialist Party from the broad
masses of the American workers "
He appealed to the N. E. c. ito sur
render its left policies Ell and rather
to seek for rapprochement with
the organized workers and farmers,
who are politically organized, as In
Minnesota and Wisconsin, and to-
gether with them create labor
party"
United Front ''Rightward''
This clearly is a proposal for a
united front toward the Right,
toward the A. F.. of L. bureaucracy
toward support for the New Deal"
as against a united front with the
Communists against the New
Deal" against fascism and war.
Here also the Thomas group fully
meets the demand of the "old
guard" They shelve the united
front with the Communists for two
years and at the same time agree
to undertake "a survey Of the polit-
ical scene with the aim in view of
possible cooperation in the forma-
ton of farmer-labor party"
From this it is clear that the pro-
gram put through at the Boston N
n t1anntiiNn iy1 oil -%Alsftna
essentials, by the Thomas group of
''militants" was in reality the "old
guard" program of Waldman. Nor
man Thomas, who greeted the
united front of Socialist and Com
munist youth at the National Youth
Congress, who there declared his
support for the Communist initiated
Workers Unemployment Insurance
Bill, who told that large audience
that the Socialist Party was about
to enter into united front with the
Communists, abandoned every prin-
ciple at Boston, and in the most
cowardly manner capitulated to the
reactionary Right Wing.
This action by the "militants
should discredit them in the eyes
Of every sincere Socialist worker who
saw in the new Declaration of Prin-
ciples much desired turn to the
left and who believed that the Bos-
ton sessions would take decisive
steps toward united action on a
class struggle basis.
These workers, ready to vigorous
ly fight hunger, war and the ad-
vance of fascist reaction, should
now see the necessity of needing the
Communist Party's advice: Form the
united front in your locality, in your
neighborhood, in your trade union!
Unite and fight, together with the
Communists.
In second article tomorrow I
will take up some of the arguments
advanced by the "old guard" and
AAI