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

WDIk. Usually, We hScuC cUdllc 1851
let which is distributed house to
house and accompany it by personal
visiting of workers at their homes.
But, in the majority of cases the
youth (due to various ressons) are
not to be found hanging around
the house. They usually go out with
their friends, especially to these
youth centers. In the majority of
cases, the general neighborhood
work of house-to-house is totally in
sufficient in reaching these youth.
That is why, on many occasions,
we call youth meetings, issue youth
leaflets, but attract little youth.
We did not reach the youth where
they are to be found. Instead, it
would have been much better to en-
ter such big settlement houses and
there give out leaflets. visit the
clubs that meet there, etc. In places
like this, where large numbers of
youth are concentrated, we should
work to build up Unemployed Com
mittees and groups, sntiwar COM
nlitteeS, etc.
In Cleveland, as a result Of little
effort, we succeeded in getting 100
youth in a large settlement house
where Negro and white youth go
to sign a Scottsboro petition. Six
clubs in there adopted resolutions
on the Scottsboro case. In another
settlement house, we held an anti
war youth meeting, succeeded in
getting down workers whom we
never reached before, and got seven
youth to sign up for the Y.CL. In
another settlement house, several
clubs were gotten to participate to
some extent in anti-war activity
that was developed. These few in
cidents clearly illustrate the cor
.rectness of the points raised in the
draft your resolution for the
Party convention.
Building Up Mass Workers Youth
Organizations
We have spoken much about the
need of building such movements
as the TWO. and L.S,U. into mass
movements among the youth How
ever, the very life and orientation of
such a movement as the TWO.
Youth section is not such that can
readily attract the masses of youth.
One has to be either a Young Com
munist or considerably close to the
Communist movement, to enter the
majority of TWO. youth branches.
While non-Communist youth enter
the Two, yet the whole stmo-
sphere is such that it doesn't make
for drawing in such elements.
An illustration Of this is a GER
tain Two. Youth Branch located
in the Kinsman territory of Cleve-
land. At its meetings, practically
all of those attending are Y.CL.' ers.
Those who are not, are extremely
sympathetic and close to our move
ment. This branch has not been
able to grow or attract masses of
youth. It's activities have clearly
shown this. Would it not be better
if such branch would move out
OF its center" would move into
some large settlement house, and
orientate its activities with a view
Of attracting the youth from this
settlement house? Of course. we
should guard against the TWO.
youth becoming, in such a case, a
mere sport or social club That's
where the Communist fraction has
to play role.
One Y.C.L. Unit has succeeded in
getting into large settlement
house, getting q meeting place
there. Its representative is to be
sent also to the council of all the
clubs gathered in that settlement
house. The possibility of conduct
ing work in this place is extremely
great. Correct work can convert
such a center from being a strong
hold of the bourgeoisie, INFO our
stronghold. winning the masses Of
youth for our program.
Our Tasks
1t is necessary to build up TWO.
youth branches and other workers
youth organizations in these cen
tiers. Also, to build Y.C.L. fractions
and Y. G. L. units in these centers.
1t Is necessary to get comrades into
the most influential clubs of these
centers and have them carry
through correct Communist youth
work Particularly, such comrades
should aim to win over youth who
work in factories for our Y.CL.
All Of the major campaigns of the
League and Party should be brought
into these places and developed on
broad united front basis. Through
such work we will greatly assist
our shop work, create a strong base
for unemployed youth work. and
reach out among masses of Amer
lean proletarian youth.
The Pre-Convention period of the
Party and League shall be used to
give a critical examination of our
work in the boss controlled mass
organizations and the ways and
means of developing serious work
in them. The struggle against war
and fascism becomes only a pious
hope If our League does not take
serious and concrete steps for win
ming over the majority of the youth
under the influence of the boiIr-
geois-control1ed youth organizations.
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