Evening star., 1948-04-18
Anti-Red Drive
Near in Sweden
Labor Party Plans to
Wrest Gains From
Communists
D. I'LL. p>...kL.I
By Teddy Rosenthol

STOCKHOLM.-Ho can the
Communists be beaten, their tactics
exposed and their threat reduced to
naught? Sweden's Social Demo-
cratic Labor Party thinks 1t has
the answer.
The situation in Sweden. where
the Communist Party never once
has been forbidden during the 30
years of It's existence, may we'll be
considered typical for Western
Europe.
Sweden's Communist Party, after
a decided slump in 1910, made its
strongest stride forward in the
parliamentary elections in 1914.
They received $4,000 Of 3,063, 900
votes and increased their deputies
from 3 to is in the 230-member
lower house. They also placed two
deputies in the 150-member upper
house.
Time to Win Back Workers
This striking gain runs parallel
to the ups and downs OF Russia's,
international good will. In 1910
after her attack on Finland, Russia
was very unpopular in Sweden. 1t
was openly declared in Parliament
that the Communist Party was mot
in the ordinary sense political
party, but part Of an international
organization under Russian con-
troll"
In 1914, Russia had gained great
good will because of her ight
against Nazi Germany.
There was another reason for the
Communist gains in the 1914 elec-
tions: The Social Democratic Party
had formed a national coalition
government with all parties except
the Communists. Workers COM
planning over the freezing Of wages
and wartime scarcities found no way
of voicing their dissatisfaction
except by voting with the Com
munists.
| Now, Social Democrats say, is the
time to win back these workers.
This fight against the Communists
is being concentrated into q spring
campaign"
The campaign is conducted with
public debates, intended to expose
Communist tactics, and the avowed
intention of Sweden's Communists
to reach the same goal as In
CZechoslovakia.
Trained to Bore From Within
| Paul Bjoerk, labor secretary"
Of the Social Democratic Labor Party
and central organizer of the spring
campaign, said the unmasking OF
the Communists should start at the
very place where they gain their
first foothold-in the labor unions.
mo party is as we'll organized
and so strongly disciplined and
trained for infiltration activities a.
the Communists, Bjoerk said.
Besides special agents In most
workshops, the Communists have .
mobile cadre OF workers, able to
move from one shop to another in
advance of important political or
union elections. The development
of such task forces has been ia
cilitated by the lack of skilled
labor, especially in the metal in.
dustries.
Outside the labor movement.
Communists are trying to infiltrate
in the cooperative societies, the
Workers Educational League, the
Tenants Savings and Building As
ISOLATION and other organizations.
The time of Communist coups in
labor unions is gone, Bjoerk said.
The Social Democrats now are wise
to their tactics and are beating the
Communists by their own methods.
But anti-Communist propaganda
Is carried outside local union in
terests. 1t takes up international
economic problems and spreads
information on foreign political
events.
The events in Czechoslovakia
have had a great impact on labor's
stand against communism in
Sweden In nearly all unions
holding elections after the Com
munist coup In Czechoslovakia, the
Communists have been removed
from Office
Several local unions have pub
lished resolutions urging Com.
munist leaders to dissolve their
party. only one labor party 10
they say.