Socialist Party and the Militant Program

...Instead of a Left Wing, the Militants defy classification...

...At the same time in Germany they nave cooperated with tbe Fascists to the Prussian referendum and hi the Reichstag on important measures...

...Still another is devoted to mobilizing general opinion against the corruption of Tammany Hall...

...They represent a little of everything, including some old Infantile diseases of tbe past...

...At home we have a smallgroup in one of the smallest parties In the International which tellsthe millions of the working clasaIn Europe to end the policy of coalition...

...That is, roughly speaking, about threefourths of the signers are comparatively new members...

...if others do it, it Is a vies...

...The problem Is even less simpleabroad...

...Moreover, it was tried and experienced members who opposed the nomination of Benson, although a few of tbe older members also favored htm...

...But even modern Communists do not subscribe to tbe policy of no compromise as a general principle...

...The answer is that the party is the pioneer in workers' education through the Rand School which, by the way, is ignored hi this pamphlet and it has stimulated such education in other parts of the country through correspondence courses and classes...

...A comic aspect of the Militants is that they consider themselves a Left Wing...

...Problems of Internationalism The Militants propose election of delegates to International Congresses by a referendum...

...I t is a matter of common knowledge that they do not agree with each other on many matters...

...This applies to members of all ages, both sexes, aad regardless of their education, even though some may have passed through the university...

...There are Italian comrades la this country who supported that decision who will tell our Militant comrades that they had made a terrible blunder...

...Socialist Party and the Militant Program Published Statement of Dissenting Party Group Reveals an Inconsistent Mixture of Views Rather Than a "Left Wing" Position By James Oneal AFTER about two years of agit a t i o n before . p a r t y tranches and two New York City conventional, a f t e r numerous caucuses and special conferences bald during this period, tbe Militants have presented t b e Socialist p a r t y with tbe ripe fruit of their deliberations in a pamphlet of fifteen pages...

...a Socialism that does not want to offend middle class liberalism and free willers who t ry to reconcile free will with historical materialism, and a number who represent a mors consistent SocialIsm but who disagree with the p a r t y on one or two matters...

...In both cases the* result showed that the choices were unsatisfactory to the membership that chose them and in both cases it was a campaign waged for each b y free lance publications that resulted in tbe choices made...

...One of tbe first things many of us learned when we joined the movement was t h a t we had much to learn and we turned to years of study...

...To bind our own hands when the enemy has a big advantage and tell him "whether or not we shall fight him, is stupidity not revolutionism," said Lenin to the German Communists...

...Do theMilitants say bow we shall enteron this job...

...Take the last item first...

...Not one letter has been received from the other side demanding that Militants should be excluded...

...Members may express critical judgment of their own party, its policies, the International, the parties affiliated with lt, and other sections of the labor movement, but one thing is sacred—the five year plant An opinion that disagrees with theirs ia "unfriendly" or due to "prejudice" or to a desire to "score points" rather than pre-, sent "constructive criticism.'' Of course their criticism especially of tbe International and its affiliated parties, is not "unfriendly" or due to "prejudice," or a desire t o "score points...

...A Left Wing...

...Of the document as a whole we are convinced that it Is more intereating for what It does not say than for what It does say and where a definite statement of view is offered it is often vague...

...One in an ups t a t e city followed a messiah through devious political arrangements for years till the once powerful local, influenced by this policy, became a shadow of what it once was...

...It would be as anti-Socialist to suppress tbe views of the Militants as it would be to suppress the views of any other members so long as t h e views are expreased in good faith, without bitterness and questioning of motives, and with a sincere desire to enlighten the whole membership...

...The International will not object to usventuring on that "immediatestruggle" without delay...

...Moreover, I know of no labor struggles in recent history where tbe p a r ty organization withI n the zone of the struggle has not responded to its duty in this respect With much of the criticism of middle class reform we agree and yet there are signers to this document who have pursued tbe course that is criticized...

...Now it is stupid for a movement in certain exceptional situations not to retreat, not to concede something, not to compromise, if failure to do...

...The party tried this once in electing members to the International Bureau and nominating a presidential candidate...

...a near-syndicalism and a near-Communism colored with pink reservations...

...To deliberately walk into an ambush is simply folly...

...Knowledge is superfluous and party experience at a discount...

...In other words, some of the Militants have reached a stage on this matter that some foreign language federations had reached before the split in 1919...

...Tbe Italian movement made a decision in 1922 t h a t had dire consequences...

...This problem Is so Important that it justifies further consideration...

...Another desires to avoid widening the breach between Socialists and liberals, the l a t t e r representing tbe middle class reform trend that is criticized...

...This eagerness for a knowledge of fundamentals in economics, philosophy, history of the working class movement, etc., I am sorry to say, is not conspicuous today...

...In practice their view is this...

...Since then they have never been able to agree upon a spokesman because of diversity of opinions within the group...

...The Russian revolution la being freely discussed in the p a r t y press all over the world...

...r shall we carry on theImmediate struggle of reaching tbe working class, awaken the clasaconsciousness of tbe workersthrough all the agencies at ourdisposal until such tune as theyare fit and prepared for an "immediate struggle...

...In Europe Katsky, Bauer and Adler represent three trends of opinion and other shades of opinion are being expressed...

...Or shall we go Into the streets and pro ceed with the "Immediate struggle" and take that class by surprise...

...When they express a critical judgment It Is a virtue...

...He also justified compromises "extorted by objective conditions" that arise independent of the will of revolutionaries and this Is precisely the situation in Germany...

...Throughout its history the party itself, national, local and state, has served as a relief organization and it has done this work well without any special agency...

...Shall we demand the immediatesirrender of the capitalist class...

...Lenin had to take certain German Communists to task for their assertion of this view, pointing out that the Bolshevik peace at Brest was a n "Imperative" compromise with Imperialism...

...If the party press has not discussed policies of unionism for years we wonder what the Militants have been reading...

...If so, it Is the first time In our history that this rare type has appeared on the scene...

...We have had quite a number of new members, after a short sojourn in the party, Instead of turning to this study begin by calling themselves Militants...

...To retreat in order to consolidate your forces for attack under more favorable circumstances and t o avoid having your enemy put his feet upon your neck is sometimes necessary...

...The Militants "decry the present quiescent attitude of the p a r t y towards labor union organization," they want industrial unionism, and desire a national committee t o give its time to field organizers who will 'seek out situations," set up permanent machinery l o r relief, foster workers' education, and have tbe party press discuss policies of unionism...

...Tbe Blanqulst*, said Engels, "Imagine that, since they want to leap over Intermediary stations and compromises, the cause la as good as won," and added: "What childish naivete—to put forward one'a own impatience as a theoretical argument...

...As a group they are neither Left, nor Right, nor Center...

...A few have passed through the Communist corridor and have never fully recovered from the experience...

...Not a trace of a labor or Socialist or Communist movement has remained in Italy...

...Perhaps these comrades have superior abilities aad can equip themselves with knowledge and experience In a few years...

...What is striking In Communist polemics, however, is that they justify any compromise that external conditions force upon tbem and denounce any such action by Socialists a s "treason to t h e working class...

...Here will be found Christian Socialism, phases of opportunism and impoasi nil ism...

...Compromises" and Retreats The Militant view ia based uponthe idea that there shall be no compromise under any circumstances.Suppose it is a matter of doingwhat you do not want to do because of external circumstanceswhich you cannot shape to yourwill...

...This accounts for vagueness where clearness is desirable...

...We suggest that the Militant comrades take up a study of the elementary principles of logic aad avoid making one rule for themselves and another for others...

...We doubt whether tbe Militants have the final truth on this or any other issue, but in any event it Is important that the channels of discussion be kept open and that the discussion be kept oa a plane of tolerance and a willingness to give and take...

...Freedom af Pfaeaseloa Tbe Militant program declares that soma comrades are "unfriendly" towards tbe Soviets...

...Benson could not have been nominated ia a convention where representatives of the membership could confer with each other...

...Now we have no doubt thata case can be made out againstsome coalitions but to assert thatthe Militant demand can be followed as a general principle In all circumstances is to assert something that must be proved andthey do not attempt to prove it.They do not even state the problem that confronts the workers insome nations...

...Should tbe movementchoose tbe latter...

...Their chosen spokesman at that, convention also made such a poor showing and they were so much chagrined that they deposed him...

...We may add that, possibly excepting two or three, the signers are not those who have had experience In the mines, factories, railroads and shops where class feeling and, eventually, class consciousness bring workers into a Socialist movement...

...Knowing the lives and work of Debs, Haaford, Berger, Meyer London, William Maiiiy and others who spent years in groping for light aad la the process indulged to many illusions over which to later years they smiled, I am convinced that all others will repeat this history to the early years of their members h i p in the party...

...These who passed through the experience are not likely to welcome it again...

...so means to deliver the movement and the whole Working class into the hands of the enemy...

...His sad ease is commended to our Militant comrades...

...The Study ot Socialism The Militant program closes with a section on t h e need of a Socialist culture and we doubt whether there will be any disagreement with t b e sentiment expressed...

...As editor I have received some letters demanding t h a t those who do not accept the Militant view on this matter should be excluded from The New Leader...

...Now it is Just such choices that the workers have bad to make from time to tuns...

...that is, suppose it Is a matterof compromise for the time beingor death...

...This was evident in the city convention two years ago when they managed to say in different paragraphs of the same resolution that Marxism Is a "realistic approach to problems" and t h a t it is also a "dogmatic theory...

...Tbe writer was a Utopian who once hoped to colonize tbe s t a t e of Washington sad build a miniature cooperative commonwealth aad five years after having joined tbe movement bo was a bowling impossfbUlst but he lived to learn...

...We welcome the appearance of this carefully considered program and advise party members to read it...

...Of the 39 names associated with it all except eight or ten Joined the p a r t y in recent years...

...They have made little or no headway with tbe party members and in New York - C i t y those comrades whom they believe to be conspicuous opponents headed the list of the delegates chosen by the members to go to the national convention...

...Tbe merits and usesof the referendum require a moreexpanded treatment than it can be given here but tbe assumption ofsome comrades that it is a reliabledevice for any and all purposes isbelled by experience in all democratic organisations, The Militants are in "completeI disagreement'' with policies of sis-Iter parties abroad when they havebeen In office, they oppose any{coalition policy, would turn any"imperlalist war Into a class war,"and the L. S. L should stress "the immediate struggle for the realization of Socialism...

...Theysubstitute vagueness for precision...

...But they wantan "Immediate struggle...

...Lenin enumerated certain political blocs and alliances formed by Communists even with bourgeois groups that were justified in certain extraordinary circumstances...

...This, we believe, is due to the composition of the Militant group...

...Their attitude is an emotional one, not one based upona consideration of tbe factors whichface the workers in the newEurope after tbe war...

...In the early seventies Engels criticized a similar point of view presented by a group of Blanqulst Communists who wanted a a "immediate struggle" and condemned compromise...