THE NEW LEADER FORUM
Editor, the
THE NEW LEADER FORUM To Comrade Coleman and Others By the Editor The letter of McAUster Coleman In The New Leader last week regarding the way In which the editor fulfil* hia duties raises some...
...Should he desire to express another view he can do so under his own signature just as other members do...
...As soon as we get back on our feet to a certain extent a new difference of opinion under different pretences arises and threatens to disrupt instead of building up a strong and solid organisation of which we are so sorely to need...
...I feel that a discussion of the kind proposed should be utilised by us in order to present our case...
...The board decided that The New Leader would give equal space to any member who desired to answer the Oneal article but that It could not undertake to reprint a pamphlet simply because it had been criticized by the editor or any other comrade...
...The witness is Mr...
...but that when office and power does come to us, we shall be able to take full advantage of our opportunities...
...It is not enough to say, "Give us a complete majority and we shall do the rest...
...Such resolutions merely tend, to obscure the vital problem of the exact stops by which industry is to be socialised...
...The Militants circulated a petition and we are Informed that in some cases they asked for signatures on the ground that the editor refused an "article...
...Comrade Thomas wants facts and wants them Interpreted "objectively...
...Let us forget Russia and toe others, as they will not listen to our advice anyhow...
...There were Militant comrades in the membership meeting where this report was read and not one member objected to this or any other section of the report...
...The same old phrases are used by our young comrades every few years and threatens to disrupt...
...THAT PROPOSED DEBATE By Charles Sanachy The action of the city central committee in not permitting Comrade Thomas to participate In a debate with William Z. Poster of the Communist party may be Interpreted in two ways...
...Some of the locals had- members who proceeded to distribute leaflets, caw meetings, etc...
...1 also showed that Soviet Russia has not yet attained even that measure of production necessary for the satisfaction at least In small part of the commodity needs of the population and its most elementary necessities...
...Thus the real leaders of the party are individual members who are active in their locals...
...It concluded with the statement, 'Space does not permit the completing of this article in one section" and promised the second section the following week...
...This very matter was reported to the members of The New Leader Association at its last meeting on Nov...
...Finally, the training of the German workers in the workers' councils, the sitting of workers in ail the meeting* of the Industrial boards of directors and the economic planning to the basic industries might well be studied by us, not merely that we might be able to frame correct resolutions...
...The charge of blind opposition is also the convenient argument of Horthy and Mussolini against the critics of their bloody regimes, as it is the argument of Moscow against all Socialists who venture to speak the truth about Soviet Russia...
...that a great number of Russian workers have fled and are fleeing from the factories and mines because they are unable to stand the Intolerable working conditions...
...This question has been thoroughly discussed and it will be considered closed with one more letter if one is received—Editor...
...There is no provision for them in the party constitution...
...Democratic Socialism is the only hope of humanity...
...The answer Is that it la a duty that devolves upon any party editor...
...I cited from the Woscom Izvestla of January, 1931, the following statement from a speech by Yurkin, chairman of the central Organization in charge of administration of the collectives: 'In the collectives there are still millions of unemployed.' Furthermore, I cited Stalin's famous speech and an article in the Moscow Pravda of Aug...
...Comrade Coleman inquires why the Alitor occasionally comments on letters that appear In The New Leader...
...It is childish to believe that a handful of party secretaries, and executive members can do anything In the way of creating a national movement except take care of some of the details...
...His position requires that to the best of his ability he should i in—mt the leeMaws ef the party conventions and referendum...
...that explains the WlThe Maine comrades.also passed a resolution calling for an end to af participation in coalition governments...
...If the decisions are not explained and defended in between conventions or referendums by the editor then conventions and referendums serve no useful purpose whatever...
...but one need only look to find unemployment which challegnes the statement Just gained from the official source...
...The charge of "blind opposition" leveled against me by Comrade Thomas is no more justified than the contention of Mayor Walker that Comrade Thomas' opposition to the regime of Tammany Hall is Inspired by blind opposition and publicity seeking...
...In my pro...
...May I also cite a witness entirely friendly to the Soviet government and whose testimony confirms fully my Information about unemployment In Sovie, Russia...
...However, views of these comrades that came through the regular party channels are also contained In the agenda...
...UNEMPLOYMENT IN BTJ8SIA By David Shah In his letter to The New Leader of April B, Comrade Norman Thomas takes me to task for having failed to meet his criticism of my articles on unemployment to Soviet Russia.'Unfortunately, my reply to my critics appeared to The New Leader to such emasculated form as to justify his complaint...
...These idle folk may not be registered, counted...
...The second conclusion drawn is that fl!lTmi!er* °J th* centraJ committee lack faith and understanding both to ™tm*eIv7 !r ,n "* P6P PhllosfWrtJd Idao^i that for purely sentimental reasons and for lack of a EffJ^Ja other spheres they remain in the Socialist party, i J convinced that this Is a chalcapital and labor becomes more keen, !r^0*f,re wlU turn to the Left, fc/gjWjBgaj between the Socially and Communist parties will have to be crystallsed...
...30, 1031, and I quote from that report: Divergence of views among party members arise from time to time and it is Important that these views should be presented to our readers if the Socialist movement is to be adjusted to the changing world of capitalism...
...There Is between life and theory, between facts and statistics, a great gap...
...A statement that "The New Leader is being censored for the benefit of a clique Inside the party whose vested interests," etc., should not remain unchallenged...
...Boston, Mass...
...Although denying that they are an organised group in the party, letters were received by the editor within a few days from Boston and Buffalo demanding that the pamphlet be reprinted by The Leader...
...Recently the N. B. O. called upon party members to organise the unemployed...
...Thomas Woody, an American educator, who after a visit of 20 months to Soviet Russia writes the following in a book published recently In this country ("New Minds: New Men," the Macmtllan Company): "Just now It is maintained there If absolutely no unemployment, either in skilled or unskilled ranks (September, 1930...
...I read the following: "The unfriendly . . . attitude of certain of our party leaders towards the U. S. S. R." Now It is all right for a member of the C. P. L. A. to make such a statement...
...It is best that this I be done Intelligently I There an today many class-conscious workers whose minds are confused with the rapidly-moving panorama of world events...
...other locals did not* have such leaders...
...Moreover, for some months some comrades have considered publishing a pamphlet on party questions, giving Incidental attention to the Militants Should it be received by The New Leader It will not be printed...
...there may be none listed at exchanges, where calls for laborers are received...
...Bronx, N. Y...
...To believe it requires great credulity on the part of one who has traveled throughout many of the Soviet republics and observed more collective idleness than he had seen elsewhere...
...Norman Angeli's paper before the Fabian Society on "Industrial Marketing," might well be printed to The New Leader and discussed by American Socialists...
...To consider these invectives would lead to no good purpose...
...The report in full was accepted unanimously...
...The New Leader Is a So elattst party paper, explaining and defending party decision* made by the membership...
...It Is not a group paper that is required to reprint pamphlets of any group but it does present varied opinions of party members...
...The question is asked: Why did not The New Leader print the Militant program which has been published as a 15-page pamphlet} Comrade Theodore Shapiro appeared before The New Leader Board and requested that this document be printed as the editor's article had appeared...
...Had The New Leader seen fit to publish my comment as written he would have very likely been spared the necessity of returning to the subject...
...vTnl„-!u'st *hows • •** k"h In the ability of Comrade Thomas to interpret the Socialist philosophy and the program of the Socialist party ar related to the peculiar American scene...
...When they appear they Impose an Important responsibility upon the editor of any party publication...
...I am referring to the letter of McAUster Coleman to The New Leader of April 16, particularly the last paragraph of it...
...Can this situation be compared, with the condition of American farmers and how can any serious Socialist try to minimise the significance of these facts by cracking jokes about 'the one can imagine school?' " As to Comrade Thomas' argument that by criticizing Russia we provoke "a real feeling of irritation among those who ought to be friends of Socialism rather of Communltm," ] made the point deleted from my reJoinder in The New Leader, that "the entire labor movement in the United States is hostile to Communism and not at ail friendly to Soviet Russia" In other* words, while a few, very much confused bourgeois liberals and dllletantes, who shout for Soviet Rusu -"JV0'* ior u may be alienated by an honest Socialist exposition of the question, we have nothing to lose and everything to gain from a fearless, honest and absolutely necessary criticism of Communism and its methods, particularly so far as the organised workers of this country are concerned...
...The editor declined to be such an accomplice and withheld toe article...
...There is no doubt in my mind that no matter what the outcome it win redound to our credit . If there are doubts as to the capsbutties of comrade Thomas to hold his own against so wily and unscrupulous an opponent as Poster, I would suggest that Comrade HUlqult be substituted...
...After this decision Comrade Shapiro through another comrade said that he would send in an article...
...Allow me to refer these so-called Militants to the practical work of the Gallclan branch back to 1913...
...The editor was prepared to run such an article last week but when it was delivered to bun it proved to be a short introduction to the pamphlet with more than half of the printed, pages pasted in manuscript form...
...and that there are now no less than 10,000,000 (ten million) 'excess mouths' (as they are termed In the Soviet press) in the Russian villages, 'excess mouths' who have no work, receive no assistance from the government, and who are in a much worse situation than unemployed workers in England and Germany...
...True democracy means not only voting for officers who are asked to do all the work...
...Let us mind our own business: Bronx, N. Y. LEADERS AND MEMBERS By Abe BBttah The resolutions of the Maine Socialists re-echo statements which have been in the air for some time...
...It may be said that decisions of the members are thus carried out between conventions-and referendum...
...Daniel W. Hoan, Mayor Of Milwaukee now speaking: "Felloe cltuens of Milwaukee, as a Socialist I believe that this city should be run according to certain Meals...
...The main point in this whole issue Is that the editor, whether it be Oneal, or Coleman or any other comrade, Is required to explain and to defend the party decisions...
...I have presented facts, facts taken not from propaganda journals or the effusions of excursionists to Soviet Ruala who have no background or critical Socialist sense, or any knowledge of the Russian language, but from official Soviet sources...
...but also active participate by the voters themselves, in this work...
...Comrade Thomas complains that "most of our comrades who are so emphatic in showing up Russia are doing extraordinarily little effective work to build Socialism to America...
...More Important, however, is the fact that the words "party leaders" used in the manner of O. P. L. A. orators, shows a misconception of party democracy...
...31, 1931, by Kosslor, one of the outstanding Communist leaders, showing clearly that the Workers are running away from the factories and mines to the villages and that the peasants no longer want to go to the cities to work, contrary to their previous habit...
...There should be, however, a Urn* even to tolerance...
...In this way a solidarity of opinion and action as defined by .conventions and referendum* is preserved while at the same time divergent views may be expressed in the party paper...
...In carrying out this democratic policy the editor is occasionally required to comment upon some letter or other contribution which may be based upon a mhmnderrtsndlng of the party's position on setae matter and to the extent that the editor expresses and defines the do*basil* of the party en saeh matter does he meet the responsibility imposed upon htm...
...Descending to a more materialistic level, there is no doubt that the affair would net a substantial sum for The New Leader...
...Let us put this resolution to an Amer* lean setting...
...in training the workers to manage the plant, shows that it Is not as easy as all that...
...I may cite as the latest example the behavior of the Communists in the recent Presidential contest In Germany...
...An editor may personally believe that a certain decision is erroneous and yet it" is his duty to comply with the judgment of his comrades and give expression to the policy In that decision...
...The party never has recognised extra-legal organisations...
...We may ignore his references to "misty authoritarianism," "ancient allies," "brazen refusal," and "clique inside the party whose vested party Interests make them naturally antagonistic to dlasldenoe of any sort...
...In my mutilated reply I also stated: "In conclusion, may I say in common with all Intelligent Socialists who have paid any serious attention to the problem that neither Soviet Russia nor the capitalist world outside have been able to cope With the unemployment problem...
...In my articles I cited facts and figures taken exclusively from the official Soviet press and showing clearly that the unemployment problem has by no means been solved in Soviet Russia...
...In other words, Comrade Shapiro sought to make the editor his accomplice in Ignoring the decision of the board by running the pamphlet as an "article...
...And I have Interpreted the facts in the only way in which a Socialist uninfluenced by illusions could Interpret them...
...Those who give aid and comfort to the Communists do not promote the cause of Socialism here or elsewhere...
...New York City...
...It merits to my opinion a trial before a proper party tribunal McAUster Coleman and those that are with him (he is not alone to hia opinion, he states) should be given to understand that irresponsible public statements of this kind cannot be tolerated, that there is such a thing as party ethics and party discipline...
...Instead of hair spitting these comrades under the leadership of a few practical comrades organized almost the whole Bast Side and accomplished fine political success in their days of which we were proud...
...Ton refused to give it I r...
...but as a party member who may have to vote on this question I should like to know who these leaders are, what the exact charges are, and what«they have to say for themselves...
...The story of the Columbia ¦ Conserve Co...
...Coming not from the regular party channels The New Leader will not consider that It is under any obligation to reprint It...
...These men can Issue statements which the press will usually not print...
...the story of the American fron tier and Its effect on the labor movement, the effect on the psychology of the working class, and more recently the effects of the last world C02?**r*Uon on "r*dic»r thought...
...It contains suggestions that came from regular party organizations, some of them including the Militant views...
...that the condition of the workers employed in Soviet Russia is much worse than that of the workers In other countries...
...The parts which The New Leader, for some unknown reason, omitted from my rejoinder were as follows: "Not being an export on Soviet Russia, Comrade Thomas Is nevertheless certain that when the Soviet press speaks of a great number of unemployed in the villages it does not mean what is meant by that term in America, where there are also 'excess workers.' on what does be base his certainty...
...I know that Bolshevism wrecked the Socialist party to 1911 and is today the chief destructive force working against the Socialist and labor movements throughout the world...
...The spreading of unsubstantial charges leads to nothing but confusion...
...Brooklyn, N. Y. BUILD THE PARTY By 8. Bsrgwerk Allow me to consider a debate at the Belanls Club in the Bronx about the phraseology and tootles of our party...
...They are binding upon him and unless observed by him in the conduct ef the paper, party referendum* and conventions fail of their purpose so far as the party organ is concerned...
...Instead of all these debates and arguments, let us bettor plan how we can Interest our own membership and supporters to make them active and productive...
...fuse to collaborate any longer with Republicans and Democrats...
...ETHICS OF DISCUSSION By S. Mag-gin The policy of tolerance and openmlndedness pursued by the editor of the Forum unquestionably deserves every praise...
...Without venturing to speak for all the comrade* "who are showing up Russia" Z may say for myself that my work Is inspired precisely by the desire to build the Socialist party and promote Socialism in America...
...This is what I was driving at In my articles...
...I resignI" j It seems to me that only those who are willing that we here should act thus locally are Justified in asking that other Bocklisto surrender much more on a national scale...
...vious terms I was prevented from outing these ideal* into operation because of a non-Socialist city council In tip campaign which has Just ended 1 asked for a Socialist majority on the council...
...They can urge the members to follow a certain course but unless local members do the necessary work, nothing will be done...
...It is only fitting that the foremost Marxist in America, the nun who is the chairman of the national executive committee, be the one to show "the way out...
...It Is this course I have endeavored to follow and, in a sense...
...This week we are running the agenda to be submitted to the national convention...
...Unemployment and the entire social question cannot be solved by dictatorship, violence and oppression...
...THE NEW LEADER FORUM To Comrade Coleman and Others By the Editor The letter of McAUster Coleman In The New Leader last week regarding the way In which the editor fulfil* hia duties raises some questions that require consideration...
...It seems to be a curse on our beloved party...
...Hundreds of young people are being ensnared by "innocents" clubs and their minds poisoned against us without a hearing...
Vol. 13 • April 1932 • No. 17
