Report of Agenda Committee on War
Report of Agenda Committee on War On War—L RESCaLVHD, That the SoclaHat Party reaffirm its opposition to oil wan; That It org* total disarmament by agreement aa wen as by example; That It...
...Proposed Amendment to the Constitution Making War Illegal...
...As well organized drives for special purposes generally stimulate Intense party activity the national convention instructs the National Executive Committee to designate a certain week as "Red Week" for the . entire party membership and outline a pro...
...1. Considering the need of a more powerful Socialist press the National Convention instructs the National Executive Committee to get information from the movement in other countries regarding the methods of publishing and financing their Socialist publications, both local and national...
...The Socialist Party affirms that modern wars are the instrument by which the ruling classes of the capitalist-Imperialist nations seek to extend their dominion over the rest of the world, and that competitive armaments hasten such wars...
...That K ate its influence with its affiliates on the Industrial field to promote the calling of a general strike in case of war...
...Negro Workers—VII...
...If war breaks out, that it use all of its forces to bring about a speedy peace and to overthrow the capitalist system, the breeder of modern wars...
...Resolved, That the national headquarters of the Socialist Party bo moved from Chicago to Washington, D. C. Organization of Women—II...
...The Socialist Party, aa the party of the workers, cannot co-operate or fuse with any organisation that is not frankly baaed upon the claims and the Interests of the laboring population...
...I Where the cultural activities of members , have developed in a state or a number of , nearby states, then state or interstate conferences should be held to confer on the work being done...
...They represent no fundamental Ideaa of social change, and generally become the prey of ambitious politicians and disintegrate...
...The working classes are sacrificed in these wars...
...3) In coun- o tries where there still Is democracy, a union of both parties In an attempt to change t the present system by peaceful means and n by other means, If necessary...
...2) in Fascist countries 1 a union of both parties to overthrow Fas- e clam by any means possible...
...s Contact Committee—XI...
...On War—III...
...The work of organizing the clubs should be in charge of the national office of the Party...
...The Ideal of a disarmed world cannot be realised until capitalism la overthrown by aa organized working class inspired by the philosophy and program of the Socialist movement...
...It la this latter aspect of the struggle against militarism and armaments that distinguishes the aims of the working class from middle-class pacifism, liberalism and many sentimental peace movements, and It ia the duty of Socialists to emphasise our program of the complete conquest of capitalism in our struggle against war and militarism and for the reduction of armaments...
...t ! ". 1 International Unity—EC c That the national convention take the ¦ initiative In attempting to bring together t the Socialist and Communist Internationals ' (1) on the basis of democracy and civil I liberties In Russia...
...At the same time, reports of party activities and controversies carried on In the correspondence colums may be emphasized differently In the two editions to the great advantage of effective party work...
...Therefore, the fight for reduction of armaments must ge hand in hand with the fight for the overthrow of capitalism Itself...
...Racial prejudice, which is so carefully fostered by capitalism is a device to create antagonism between black and white workers, must be overcome In the common struggle to create a world free from exploitation...
...Red Week—IV...
...While the Socialist Party does not claim a monopoly of labor politics and baa always shown Its readiness to co-operate with other bona fide movements for Independent working class political action, this Convention declares that at this time there are no such serious movements In existence outside of the Socialist Party and that It Is, therefore ,the duty of Socialists to confine their political activities to the Socialist Party in a determined effort to build It up as an effective and powerful political Instrument of American labor...
...It is the task of Socialism to encourage the workers to organise Into strong, class conscious and closely unified political and industrial organizations so that they may be able to offer effective organized^, resistance to conscription and war...
...Branches and locals that take up this phase of Socialist ^^rk are also urged to report to the nationajHUce of their . programs and activities so tMrP^his infor, matlon may be placed before the members ; through the Socialist press...
...t That the nations* convention elect a c standing committee for the purpose of i drafting a new constitution for the United n States and some fundamental laws to gov- g - ern the future organization of the Indusi, tries, property rights, personal liberties, marriage regulations, etc...
...That it instruct its delegates to the Labor and Socialist International to urge a similar anti-war program upon the International and its affiliated organizations...
...When the leagues have become effective functioning organisations Impressive dem- y ©nitrations should be organised for marches , to the city halls in support of our program , for relief...
...b) That news of Interest to Negroes be regularly published In the party press...
...RESOLVED, That the Socialist Party reaffirm Its historic position In apposition to all wars, whether they are called wars of offense or wars of defense...
...Resolved, That the Socialist Party proceed to the organization of a League ol Socialist Women's Clubs modeled along the lines of the Federation of Women's Clubs, these clubs to affiliate with the Federation of Women's Clubs and each to be affiliated with the local organization of the Socialist Party...
...f gram for increasing the membership, getting subscribers to Socialist papers, dis' tributing literature and, In general, sup. porting the Socialist Party campaign...
...and, WHEREAS, During the World War the Socialist Party of America took an uncompromising stand against war and militarism...
...In line with theae principles the Socialist Party opposes all military and Industrial conscription and all reactionary war measures, such aa censorship of the press and mails .restriction of the rights of free apeech, assemblage and of the right to strike...
...Moreover, war Is generally accompanied by reactionary measures which restrict freedom of action of the working class in Its fight for emancipation from capitalistic exploitation...
...grams have appeared from time to time and disappeared...
...tlons exist, a permanent committee be or* ganized to bring them together in Informal conferences to consider practical steps to be taken on matters of concern to all...
...After a thorough study of the problem the National Executive Committee shall report on the advisability of establishing a chain of Socialist papers that will represent the American Socialist movement and avoid the chaos of competition between party papers and publications that bear no responsibility to the organized Socialist movement A Propaganda Paper 2. Resolved, That the Socialist Party proceed to publish a national propaganda monthly at fifty cents a year to subscribers with the view of eventually making It a weekly...
...a A New Constitution—X...
...Wa urge: (a) That special committees be formed for work among Negroes...
...They die as conscripts and those who survive are compelled to pay the staggering bills...
...On the Press—III...
...y >a Unemployed Leagues—VIII...
...The Socialist movement Is the only Instrument which can free the Negroes from capitalist bondage...
...The leagues should n demand that suitable public buildings be e made available for the Homeless and jobp less workers...
...Party members a must be enlisted to canvass their neighbort hoods with suitable literature, obtain mem¦- bers for the leagues, and signatures to the e petitions for our unemployment Insurance 0 bill...
...In cities where Socialist, Communist, the L. I. D., the Friends of the Soviets, the Civil \ Liberties Union and other similar organize...
...Cooperation of all labor and fraternal organ¦ lzations should also be solicited...
...that this paper be furnished in bundles at cost to locals aad branches...
...Campaign Slogan XII...
...The entertainment and educational programs of the local clubs should be left to the initiative of each club...
...The convention reaffirms the decision of the Party that local and state organizations may co-operate with genuine labor groups and parties in local or state campaigns, but all such co-operation should be subject to the approval of the National Executive)" Committee, In all auch cases of co-operation the Socialist Party muat not give up Its right to continue lta work of propaganda and organization...
...Such parties have no permanent place In our political life...
...r Representatives should be sent to local * and central bodies of trade unions and urge ' their representation in the leagues...
...that distributing squads be organised for its general distribution...
...That its representatives in the Labor and Socialist International urge upon the International and its affiliated trade union groups the adoption of these policies in apposition to war...
...1 Mass meetings and public demonstrations should be arranged by the leagues in sup- , 1 port of the program for relief and as leagues multiply in the large cities a can- , [ tral organization should be formed to co- , | ordinate their work...
...That It use every effective means at its command to prevent the country from enraging in war, whether such war be called one of offense or of defense, and that it refuse to support any war...
...WHEREAS, In Europe parliamentary support for measures for thoroughgoing disarmament comes from Socialist and Labor members and opposition from representatives of the capitalist classes...
...By this plan, both editions may contain the same general news and the same educational and Inspirational material, which will result in a great financial saving as compared with the publication of two separate periodicals...
...Each league should select a i- publicity agent to secure publicity of the e activities of the leagues...
...The convention also suggests the possibility of a few hours being set aside for the consideration of cultural activities at the next national convention should the interest In the cultural movement at that time warrant it Cooperatives—VI...
...i 1 Cultural Activities—V...
...and, WHEREAS, Our Socialist comrades who are striving for disarmament have expressed their appreciation of support by comrades In other lands...
...Third parties offering panaceas in the shape of monetary reforms or presenting "liberal" or "progressive" middle class pro...
...In every city workers are being evicted S for non-payment of rent and their families I' are becoming homeless...
...The Socialist movement of the world accepts the co-operative movement of the workers as aa important method of organizing the working masses In the fight for a better living and the Socialist Party urges Its members to assist this movement In every way possible...
...that the name of the paper should be a popular one not calculated to arouse prejudices, of new readers...
...t Considering the importance of a working i class culture to the Socialist movement, , and that talent in music, the drama, pageants, literature and other arts will remain fallow in our ranks unless cultivated, the 1 convention congratulates the membership on the revival of Interest in cultural activities...
...In states where a number of leagues havs 1 beau formed similar demonstrations should t ' be organized to make demands upon the t State Legislatures...
...The convention therefore instructs the , national office to gather material from our sister movements in all other countries re1 garding their cultural activities and make 1 the information available to the members i through the Socialist press or by direct I communication with local and branch or: ganlzations...
...Report of Agenda Committee on Organization National Headquarters—I...
...In view of the breakdown of capitalism, - the need of concrete proposals for the re- organization of our archaic form of govern» ment and the socialization of industry is i evident...
...RESOLVED, That we endorse the proposed Constitutional Amendment which has been Introduced Into the United States Senate and reads aa follows: "War for any purpose shall be illegal, and neither the United States nor any State, Territory, Association or person subject to its jurisdiction shall prepare for, declare, engage in, or carry on war or other armed conflict, expedition, Invasion, or undertaking within or without the United States, nor shall any funds be raised, appropriated, or expended for such purpose...
...The Socialist Party, therefore, declares that the fight for the reduction of armaments is a leading task of Socialists, the working class lageneral and all true friends) of world peace...
...a The convention therefore recommends that the National Executive Committee un1 dertake to formulate a plan of political 8 and Industrial organization of the United 1 States to guide our members in the actlvl8 ties...
...c) That trade unions end discrimination wherever It may exist against Negroes and that they open their doors to Negro workr- ers on a par of equality with white workers...
...On War—IV...
...The need of awakening the jobless masses ' to the necessity of action by themselves >. through organization of leagues of the unt- employed with Socialist co-operation be'¦ comes more apparent every day...
...The New Leader 8. We recommend that the National Executive Committee, as soon as practicable, make arrangements to have the New Leader published in two editions, one for local and one for national circulation...
...Demands should be made by the unemployed leagues for the free use of public e schools and other public buildings as meetr lng places...
...We urge '* renewed activity by the national office in stimulating the organizations of such leagues...
...On War—IT...
...That it Instruct its representatives to nsfues la veto for military and naval credits...
...1 Resolved, That the national convention 1 adopt for the Socialist Party the slogan of "Bread, Work, Security and FreedomY* On Third Parly Movements—XII...
Vol. 13 • April 1932 • No. 17
