The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-02-06
Party Lite
Weak Unit Meetings
Cause FluctuatiOn
In Membership


IN our unit, and many others,
L we have for a long time
wondered why it has been i'm
possible to get most of our
comrades active in the sale of
the Daily Worker, the distri-
button of leaflets, street can
vassing, recruiting, etc. We
have also noted the marked fiuctua-
ton of our membership. At the
same time, it Is matter Of easy,
indubitable observation that our unit
meetings have been apathetic, drag
ging, dry and highly detailed.
The continued presence of these
conditions gave rise to certain
analyses and conclusions that may
be Of value in stimulating our meet
ings, creating enthusiasm among
the comrades, and squirting them to
the carrying out of necessary tasks.
The relationship between these fac
tors of our Party Life is clear and
certain one.
That lack Of activity and fluctu-
alton are intimately connected and
proceed directly from the weak
character of our meetings is UNI
deniable. Nevertheless, 1t is a fact
that despite these weak unit meet
ings, we have few comrades who
are in the forefront of Party work.
There Immediately arises the ques-
t1on-why do these comrades carry
on vigorously The answer must
be that they have q clearer view
of the class struggle, are more keen
ly aware Of its daily intensif1cation,
more acutely understand the i'm
perative need for constant revolu-
tionary activity. Concisely, these
comrades are well developed politi-
cally.
1t is precisely because of this that
he weak unit meetings affect them
least. However, it has long been
the custom for the greatest maiority
of the comrades to come to few
meetings, to sit inattentively through
them, and rarely do any work. In
Yariably these comrades show the
least political growth. Frequently
these comrades, failing to under
stand the underlying political sig
niflcance of organizstional and edu-
cational work, are at sea during the
meetings.
THE inability Of the unit to func-
ton as further instrument for
the greater politicalization of our
comrades is its most serious defect.
The unit thus far has failed to con-
vert the initial enthusiasm of the
new Party members into participa-
ton in the activities of the unit.
We have failed to understand that
the basis for revolutionary work Is
revolutionary understanding.
In the past, in an exceedingly dry
and detailed fashion we have as
signed tasks to our comrades, hay
ing neglected to explain carefully
the political value of carrying out
the assignment. It is evident to us
today that each bit of organiza-
tional and educational work must
be accompanied with its correspond
ing political idea.
Thus, the comrades, instead of
being merely assigned to the task,
become an integral, vital part of the
whole revolutionary movement. 1t
is extremely important that the
comrades know this. for their recog-
milton of this conception will pro-
duce within them an enthusiasm
which will serve as the principal
motivation for their activity.
The application of this principle
during unit meetings should serve
to activiZe both old and new COM
rades and aid in the reduction OF
f1uctuation.
r. C., Unit sos,
Section 6, Dist. 8 (Philadelphia).