The Increasing Need for Socialist Education

...The rise of trade unionism, particularly since the eight' i-eighttes...

...8-9...

...the need for militant working class act'ion...

...the basic theories of Marxism...

...It Is enough to report that the country, with Its* highly Industrialized working class,* has been In a continual state of turmoil and that the master class, serving British and American copper and nitrate Interests, has been peculiarly vicious in its suppression of the masses...

...The branch has limited lltonds, and the workers have limit-fc* time...

...Perhaps an analysis Of Owen's ideas would bast serve the purpose, aided by a brief survey of utopianlsm hi this country...

...It should not be necessary to mention, of course, that mere lectures are not enough...

...10-11-12...

...Hence, the -Indian strain In Chile does not consist of beaten, cowed and almost inarticulate peasants, as is the case in Central America, Bolivia, Peru and all other Latin couafxles where the population is overwhelmingly Indian...

...maybe so, and maybe It is just another military revolt, so ' typical of Latin America, in which one set of grafters la ousted to make way at the trough for the feet of another set of grafters...

...Here the material Is immediate and concrete...

...A basic course of this kind, however, would make Socialism a more vital and tangible movement for those workers who are still uncertain of the road they should travel...

...Meanwhile, the "rotos," the "little men In brown," the "iil-smellIng" proletariat, were becoming restive...

...The numbers refer to class meetings: 1. For the sake of historical perspective, the first* meeting should be devoted to a discussion of the forces which opened up' the modern capitalist era...

...The Workers in Turbulent Chile Character of Present "Socialist" Revolt is Undefined By William M. Feigenbaum n p H E revolt in Chile is widely X advertised as a Socialist revolution...

...There is sotM...

...Workers' education in the United States has lagged far behind that in most European countries...

...The problem la not as serious in New York' as it is elsewhere...

...Aa intensive study of Engels' little book, Socialism: Utopian and, Scientific, with the introduction omitted, would be useful...

...I t is true, however, that there Is and has long been a genuine revolutionary movement in that distant country...

...Each party member should be familiar with Socialist fundamentals, and every opportunity must be seised to reach uon-members...

...It is a fact worth noting, however, that back of the revolt is a long and exciting history, often glorious and always tragic, of a working class struggling to be free of capitalist oppression in Its worst form...

...Even in New York more branch educational work could be carried on...

...Present-day problems: the Russian revolution and the rise of Communist parties...

...There are other courses that the individual branch may find it possible to undertake...

...The following outline Is given for what it is worth...

...As a result of our meager working class educational development the "broad masses," writes Hansome, "spend their spare time in commercial amusement centers which often propagandise against the true interests of the labor movement...

...The new additions to our party ranks are likely to become permanent only in as far "%s they catch the meaning and aspiration of Socialism...

...3-4-6...

...I would sugdoing effective education...

...But in places where only one or two locals exist, with no central educational agency, the problem Is Immediate and pressing...

...There la also a strong Irish and English strain, as evidenced by the fact that the Chilean national hero is General Bernardo O'Hlggins, and that there are such common names in Valparaiso and Santiago aa Livingstone and Lynch...

...work retail their experiences through the columns of the New I. Be Per...

...and the Germans, centering around the beautiful city of Valdivla, have made their characteristic contribution to an alert, wideawake people...

...Aa analysis of the disarmament conference, the Japanese imperialist venture in China, the nature of Hoover's rugged "reconstruction" measures, etc., from a Socialist point of view Will do much to Improve Socialist thinking and action...

...The development of mod-era Socialism at home and abroad...

...Leadership Lacking In 1924 over 300,000 "rotes" were organized and thus automatically became "obercros," or laborers, a higher social class...

...Undoubtedly additions and omissions could be made...

...Even so, the Socialist movement is so many-sided that the choice of subjects will present serious difficulties...

...Confused and Inchoate as they were, they were easily broken up and suppressed by the Ibanez reactionaries...

...They were well led, and they held vast and effective demonstrations...

...A National Turmoil Chile Is a long, narrow strip of country, Immensely attractive to Investors because of the abundance of copper and of tbe great nitrate deposits in the arid Tacna-Arlca regions...

...The Issuance of the American Socialist Quarterly affords an outlet for theoretical discussion...

...I t has been represented in the Chamber of Deputies off and on since 1894...

...6-7...

...Wherever possible, s competent party comrade should have charge'of the class...

...National affairs were complicated by the terrible "War of the Pacific" with Peru half a century ago that left its scars in the TacnaArlca brawl until very recently...

...it may be that they merely took the nearest stick with which to beat their enemies...

...and again they may be just mouthing phrases, as does Hitler, with which to capture the support of the cruelly suppressed masses...

...The Racial Composition The Chilean revolutionary movement has always been definitely proletarian, but It seems to have suffered from lack of informed leadership that would give it a definite character...

...A class in current events is another excellent educational device...

...2. The era of utoplan Socialism...

...Unlike most of the Latin nations, Chile's population is not a mixed Indian race...

...This would involve a consideration of the changes in the economic processes, the new alignment of classes, and an analysis of the changed status of the workers...

...Let us suppose that the class continues for twelve weeks, or, in other words, that twelve one-and-a-half or two hour periods are utilized In this limited time there will be no chance to indulge in frills...

...It was among them that the revolutionary movement sprang up...

...of the political career of Don Arturo Alessandrl, elected President as the Friend of the Rotos, who was later deposed and .exiled to Juan Fernandez—Robinson Crusoe's Isle— by the militarists under Carlos Ibanez...

...The Araucanians are Indians of tbe highest type of intelligence and energy, descendants of the fierce warriors who fought off the invasions of Almagro, chlaf lieutenant i f Pizarro, the only Indians who were able successfully to stand off the Spanish...

...of the great strikes and the massacre of • workers and the torture of their leaders...

...the strategy of the Socialist Party In 1932...

...Much material could be gathered from (meal's Workers la American History and from Ware's Industrial Worker, 1840-1860, to mention only two books...

...What can an individual branch .do, either Inside or outside of New YorkT The problem is to make more effective workers for the Socialist and labor movements...

...The origin of modern Socialism...

...A highly conservative type of trade unionism, sensitive to criticism and fearful of social change, cannot furnish the dynamics of a vital working class educational movement...

...It may be that the Davila junta recognizes the facts and Is genuinely determined to work with the masses...

...There are three definite race strains that have not mixed very much, the Castlllan Spanish, the Araucanlan Indians and the Hermans...

...The organization of Rebel Arts, especially if the movement spreads out from New York, offers the promise of the beginning of the fight for a more general Socialist culture...

...In their confusion, however, they adopted as their battle-cries, "Viva el Lenin," "Viva el Troteky," "Long live our Comrades, Sacco and Vanzettl...

...the end of utopianlsm...

...Time will tell...

...There are many signs of awakening...

...Under these conditions branch can do...

...Socialism must be spread among the workers...

...the world break-down of the capitalist system...

...a straight Socialist study course should be given...

...There are a number of reasons for this, but the most important hi the character of our labor movement...

...This is a critical period...

...Hshed recently has vividly Indicated the importance of workers' education to the Socialist and labor movement Marl us Han-some, in World Workers' Educational Movements (Columbia University Press, 1031), has brought together a vast amount Of comparative material on workers' education in many lands, and has done much to clarify the problems which the movement faces...

...The Rand School, of course, continues its invaluable work...

...This outline is suggestive only...

...It has been confused, it has been muddled, it lost much of its effectiveness by reason of its confusion and lack of unity, but it has made itself felt, ''and it is not at all Impossible that ambitious politicians have flattered and catered to that revolutionary movement in order to get into office...

...With little contact with any other movement, except for financial aid from the well-Informed Argentine Socialist party, It grew up almost as a weed...

...The movement in that country dates back to 1887...

...If a party comrade is not available, a college professor of labor problems, for example, may possibly be induced to undertake the work...

...differences between the Socialist and Communist movements...

...The relation between the economic and political movements of labor should be stressed...

...It may be that they are genuine Socialists, as are the leaders of the Spanish revolution...

...the fullest possible participation by the workers In the class, through discussion and reading, should be secured...

...It has been In turn a pure-and-slmple trade union movement, affiliated with the Pan American Federation of Labor, a Socialist party, a Communist party, an I. W. W. movement, and a mixture of all of them...

...This would be all to the good...

...Such a device as the L. I. D. lecture series is useful, and the numerous Socialist forums are valuable educational agencies...

...It can organise a weekly study class In Socialist theory and tactics...

...Hansome writes that in this country "the more formal side of workers' education with a political emphasis dates from the founding of the Rand School...

...new in this contention, but It must be continually reemphasi zed This article suggests a few things that can be done In places without a Rand School...

...What workers' education we do have today owes much to the pioneer efforts of the Socialist movement...

...In some cities the Socialists may be able to broaden their educational work, The city central trado union* bodies, or at least a number of local A. F. of L. unions, may be persuaded to help in tbe establishment of evening classes for workers...

...One of the first contacts the writer had with tbe labor movement was through an evening labor college, supported by the city central body, and made up of unionists, Socialists, and even some wobblles...

...The Workers' Education Bureau, now wasting away under A. F. of L. auspices, was formed by a group having a general Socialist slant...

...It would be well, though, If more sustained and connected efforts could be made, particularly with regard to new members...

...The Workers' Theatre has a definite place to fill...

...The political unconsciousness of the workers has, of course, also been a significant retarding factor...

...The Increasing Need for Socialist Education A Suggested Program for Party Branches to Stimulate the Development of Workers' Study Classes By H. ML Douiy * VERY excellent book pub-J...

...Hansome's book should be in the hands of everyone interested in this phase Of Socialist activity...

...A consideration of the factors which have retarded Socialist development in the United States...

...I t seems that there was no one great leader like tbe Spanish Pablo Iglealas to lead them .and organize them Into a substantial, well-Informed, disciplined national labor and political movement...

...The Spanish strain in Chile Ts almost pure Castillan...

...There is no space here to give details of the substantial though occasional political successes of the movement, and of the ousting of elected representatives...

...With discontent mounting, with a steady growth in the number of Socialist locals and party members, the necessity becomes imperative...

...He makes clear the fact that the driving force in working class education is the concept of a new social order, and the end a more effective participation by workers In the labor movement...

...American experience should be emphasized...

...At the present time, in the face Of wide-spread capitalist collapse, the need for a more extensive workers' y educatlomuV movement becomes strikingly apparent...

...For many years the ruling class ruled with an Iron hand, as did Porflrio Diss in Mexico, seeking to curry favor with American and British investors by keeping the workers virtually enslaved...

...it has taken the form of a well-organized and disciplined Socialist Labor Party, and at other times It has been a great mass of confused radical and revolutionary elements...