The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-02-04
The Labor Party

The Labor Party
Question: Why was there no discussion on the
question Of the labor party in the Daily Worker
before Earl PROVIDERS speech to the National Con-
gress for Unemployment and Social Insurance7
Y C. L. GROUP.
Answer: To answer the question adequately IL
is necessary to review certain aspects Of the prob
lem. We must emphasize the fact that the idea
Of Labor Party is not a new principle with the
Communist Party. The principle Of a class Labor
Party was developed and worked out by the Party
from about 1922 EDWARDS. In 1928 the Communist
International pointed out that to achieve such a
Labor Party built up from below, the Party had
ito concentrate attention the work in the trade
unions, in organizing the unorganized ETC., and in
this way lay the basis for the practical realization
of the slogan of a broad Labor Party organized
from below"
However there was not until now any mass
basis for such a movement. To have brought forth
the slogan would have meant playing around with
a abstract label; it would have diverted the at
tenton of the masses from the serious questions OF
this crisis Today, Comrade Browder pointed
out, big political changes have taken place among
the masses. Millions are breaking away from the
old parties. They will not come directly to the
Communist Party, but by utilizing such an inter-
mediary class struggle Labor Party the masses
can be directed through their own economic and
tionary movement.
The details Of the correctness Of bringing out
the slogan of mass Labor Party have been dis
cussed by Comrade Browder and Stachel in the
Daily Worker. And the main point about the en-
tire matter is that the fundamental political line
is correct
The next point concerns the announcement by
Comrade Browder at the National Congress for
Unemployment and Social Insurance. This was
golden opportunity to spread our ideas before a
broad united front audience who would carry back
to their unions and organizations the concept of
class Labor Party It demonstrated to the masses
that the Communists who initiated the struggle
for unemployment insurance, were the political in
itiators Of other necessary steps, It of decisive
Importance that the Communists show no lack
Of initiative, II they are to lead the masses in big
actions. The Congress was fine springboard from
which to launch united political actions To have
delayed the announcement for a later date would
have meant that the initiative would have come
from another direction, and we would have lost the
opportunity of utilizing the Congress as a sound
ing board to make known to the masses our posi-
ton on this important question.
We must have these things In mind when We
come to the question to whether was necessary
to have had discussions before Comrade Browder
under instructions from the Political Bureau Of
the Party, made the announcement In the first
place the leadership Of the Party is not isolated
from the membership or from the revolutionary
masses. Its authority flows not from formal
ukase, but rests upon the active trust and COL
laboration Of the broadcast circles of workers The
correctness of the policies of the Party is brought
home to the rank and file leadership in the light
of the common experience of both. Conviction
comes about from this mutual trust and activity
The authority of the Political Bureau rests upon
this confidence Of the masses. Convincing the mem
bership is the criterion upon which its steps and
decisions are taken.
The Political Bureau able to take this inn
portant step because it enjoys the confidence Of
the Party membership and non-PatJy masses
Through collaboration and the understanding of
its previous tasks, there is mass confidence that
enables the Political Bureau to act as it did Con-
ton up, with the knowledge that no new prin-
cple was involved and that the questions concern
ing practical tactics would be settled by thorough
discussion leading to complete UNDERSTANDING
Real understanding will come from full discus
sion by everyone in the Party and among the masses
outside Besides the articles that have already ap-
peared in the Daily Worker the Central Committee
has ordered two months discussion in the units
in the Party press and in organizations Every
one who has reservations should ask questions
Everything that troubles comrades should be asked
in order that every point be clearly understood
There will be full freedom Of discussion, and the
success of the Party in applying its tactics will de-
pend upon the earnestness and fruitfuness of the
discussions that are to take place Readers are
urged to ask the department all questions that con-
Germ them so that all Observation-Disclosures can be
cleared up. Of course, this will be incidental to
the basic discussion that will take place in the
units and Party press.