Books in Brief
Oneal, James
Books in Brief By James Oneal Socialist Planning: A Symposium MM I4I.IMT PLANNING AND A SOCIALIST PatOUBAM. Edited by Dr. Harry W. Laidler, with a* lawsdnctlsa by Neraaaa Thoma*. Falcon Preaa....
...Each unemployed person handling the soap will receive several cents for each bar sold, and the local Young Democratic Club will get the remainder...
...Here It la a matter of the working dose capturing what ia already built...
...It seems to us that your suggestion of a pamphlet is a good one...
...A comic incident demonstrated the sham of this "non-party" congress...
...We hate to run any of this material at all as the space can be better used for propaganda...
...In Canada, however, due to the heavy police tyranny, particularly In Toronto, the working class Is more eoheehw and the Communist* have shown thamsslaas to be honest...
...The quotation ascribed to Norman Thomas is a complete distortion and we are inclined to think that you can get a copy of the hearings by writing to the Clerk of the Senate...
...This symposium, to which thirty writers have contributed, considers many suggestions and programs related to the general point of view of "planning...
...Unfortunately the Communist* have made suae a united front impossible mother place...
...Forced to Discontinue Rakovsky had attended the Zlm-merwald Conference In 1915 and had also represented the Soviet Government for years as ambassador in London and Paris, but was exiled because he supported the Trotskyist position In the Russian Communist Party...
...The Yiptea and other labor group* have there fore bean able to cooperate with them Would that It ware possible elsewhere...
...Have miners in Reading actually been arrested for collecting funds and, if so, what relation exists, if any, between the administration and the police...
...However, The New Leader cannot undertake its publication but the national executive committee should consider it...
...Our i Yipsels were on hand distributing 1 literature at the Jobless Conven- \ tion," he writes...
...In New York or Chicago I would promote any movement against the reigning political machine, Irrespective of motive," he writes...
...The "nonparty" congress that would not hear a Trotsky speaker, that was called to organize against imperialist war, became transformed into a fight against the "Second International...
...TYRE TAYLOR, president of the Young Democratic Clubs of America, announces that unemployed persons throughout the nation will be used by member clubs In a campaign to sell 25,000,000 bars of "Democratic soap.' Each bar is wrapped in red, white and blue paper dotted with stars...
...Pierce Williams recognizes this When he declares that such plans "are symptoms of the basic intellectual disorder of our time," but Colston Warne declares that "Russian experience should be used to the utmost" and thinks that the "American Socialist movement has lost its vigor and effectiveness in part through its failure to prepare specific blueprints of the social system which it proposes to substitute for the present chaos...
...The congress proved to be the Communist ''maneuver'' that was expected...
...The national executive committee of the party had a proposal before it to endorse the soldiers' bonus so far as unemployed ex-soldiers are concerned which was, fortunately, defeated "There is no reason why we should confuse veteran-consciousness with class consciousness," Matthews writes...
...No economic need in prosperous America can be urged as justification for rob-, bing a child of his childhood...
...New York...
...The speaker was not permitted to finish his speech after mentioning Rakov-sky's name and was forced to leave the platform...
...and yet throughout the nineteenth century "the state was supposed to be uniquely characterized by the exercise of force, and outside the realm of governmental dealing of man with man -was supposed to be voluntary and contractual...
...We do not exaggerate in saying this...
...Felix S. Cohen does well in his contribution on "Politics and Economics" and one may commend this epigram to the liberals: "Politics Is trivial without an economic basis, and economics is futile when it is politically dumb...
...the Communist maneuver threw off its mask in this statement...
...One may observe that the Ameru in movement did substantially grow...
...New York, ft...
...Planning In the United States with the capitalist class in control means diverting our attention from our real problem of ousting that class, for any plans carried out under their rule will mean strengthening that rule...
...Books in Brief By James Oneal Socialist Planning: A Symposium MM I4I.IMT PLANNING AND A SOCIALIST PatOUBAM...
...It is true that our members generally pass The New Leader to others and our Information regarding these falsehoods is lost, but at the same time each branch can file one copy of each Issue for reference...
...When the congress bulletin was published, it contained this reference to Nicole's speech: "We have just experienced the most Important moment of the congress, when the French delegation broke out in loud rejoicing at the declaration of 400 Social Democrats, who desire to take up with us the fight against the Second International...
...Munzenberg, the German Communist identified with other international maneuvers of this sort, was the dominating figure in the affair...
...During that childhood child labor must wait on child welfare...
...The "non-party" character of the Congress was further Illustrated in the freedom accorded other speakers in attacking^ the Labor and Socialist Parties and the Labor and Socialist International...
...Its literature was circulated among those who attended the congress...
...It is also good to see this conference agreeing that, whether an instructor's field be geography, ar- , ithmetic, composition, playground supervision, or aught else, the good teacher does not teach his subject, he teaches the child...
...and he declares that 'this cm:out has been obtained in Russia...
...Comrade Vladeck Is an advocate of an "American party," and had he been as frank at the Milwaukee convention, this clarity would have been valuable...
...I NEW LEADER FORUM TORONTO TtTSKLs S)f Aaron Laeaastahi The Mew Leader report of the last masting of the Ytpsel nalinml exe-cuttw unmanM<II included the following statement: "A report by Aaron Lovenstein on the Canadian circles painted out that the Toronto Yipsels VOM cooperating with Communist or-gankwaWms, but that such a condition was necessary because of the preva-ient police terror which made open Independent organization on a large scale impossible" There see several mistaken implications that might be dram from the unfortunate wording of the- account The Yipsels hi Toronto do mam-tain their own Independent organisation, functioning separator/ as a unit The Y. P. S. L constitute* the only Socialist group in Canada that has any international affiliations, and this by virtue of its ¦"t—'t-frirr in the Young People's Socialist League of America The young SoohUMs have entered Into united fronts wan other organisations, Commas** and non-Communist, not because this *>«* "ninnary" from lbs point of view of the ¦aiaaWst movement'* own ac...
...Munzenberg announced that S74 Socialists were present, but there was no way of checking his figures...
...Gordon B. Halstead and Syud Hossaln will also speak on phases of India's struggle...
...This is all old stum, and Isn't true...
...Its trusted representative, Munzenberg, was the director of the demonstration...
...They thus indicate that sound basic principles are gathering recognition and force...
...BRONX FBEE FELLOWSHIP TO DISCUSS INDIA "The Crisis in India" will be the subject of the fellowship service and symposium at the weekly meeting of the Bronx Free Fellowship, Azure Masonic Temple, 1591 Boston road, near East 172nd street...
...So far, no pamphlet of this sort has appeared and all indications are that one Is necessary...
...No hint Is offered of the role played by the G. P. U. in getting that "consent...
...and it advanced as it sloughed off the blueprint views of Bellamy and the old Social ^Democracy...
...Hojghan and Matthews Jessie Wallace Hugbaa contributes a suggestive chapter on "Some Features of the Industrial Structure Under Socialism" and Morris Hlllqult presents a succinct interpretation of the Socialist platform...
...I How About Using It to "Clean Up" Tammany — and Mayor Hague—and the Solid South...
...The members had an executive committee picked for them in advance, as well as a resolutions committee which prepared the congress manifesto...
...Fundamental to the very existence of the home is the ability of the family to provide an adequate and assured income...
...There it is a matter of boil ding what we . already have here...
...A musical program by Genevieve and Zelma Kaufman has been arranged...
...This cen- i tering of attention on the Individ- 1 ual child is one of the most promising aspects of modern education...
...A Pamphlet Needed Herman Kappelow, California.— Your experience w|th these Communist falsehoods is the experience of party branches all over the country...
...ever the world, Canadian Soatattsts are in favor of a untied front ss a matter of principle...
...It Is simple...
...Its spirit dominated the congress proceedings...
...r' NEED be no surprise that Socialist thought In this country presents a variety of opinion following the plunge of capitalism from the heights into an abyss...
...The Russian plan intrudes here and there * in the contributions, and few writ-en keep in mind the fundamental difference between the problem of the Bolsheviks and our problem here...
...The important fact about these sentences Is not any startling or new principle tbey assert, but that they are pronounced in an official document of the federal Bureau of Education...
...Not for a million votes should there be any betrayal of the class conscious war register...
...The party's symbols appeared at every corner, its cries—and only these— rang out In the congress hall...
...Shakespeare...
...i - 1 The St...
...Louis Y ipse Is are en- i joying THE NEW LEADER, ac- , cording to Morris Duggan...
...One feels like quoting ) Cohen's epigram here in relation ] to this opportunism...
...I have nevsr come across i this accusation before and one i wonders where the author get the idea...
...If you care to get a direct reply, write to the Secretary of the Socialist Party, Reading, Pa...
...The separation of politics and economics is sterile...
...The symposium Is interesting, ¦ and we imagine a decade hence 1 there will be Socialists who will ¦ turn to it in assessing the views , of the present period...
...The Future of Education By Joseph Shipley TIE recent White House Conference on Child Health and Education has published lengthy recommendations for the future of education, which we may soon submit to analysis...
...Leon Nicole of Geneva, Socialist, spoke against war and Imperialism for the few Socialists who were present, and Munzenberg welcomed this declaration...
...Communist "Consent" We turn to Kirby Page, who contrasts the Socialist and the Communist programs and shows from William Z. Foster's writings how "consent" ia to be attained according to the Communist formula...
...We may well permit the Communists to indulge in this political opportunism...
...No encroachment upon the years needed for education and guidance should- be tolerated...
...The Amsterdam Congress was not dominated by a non-partisan spirit but by the Communist Party," writes Sturmthal...
...It is planned to conduct a nation-wide campaign selling the soap house-to-house and offlce-to-office...
...It is a fact, Every Issue of their sheet is a tissue of falsehoods when it refers to its opponents which Include Communists outside the party, —Editor...
...Minnesota...
...While beet fields must be w eed-ed, and glass factories mus be kept running, yet children have but one childhood...
...Our readers should understand that it is a fundamental "principle" of Communism to lie about opponents...
...Excellent as his chaptor is, he sasumes that this view of the state is typical of Marxists and dampens "alt thought of political reform with the relli gious assurance that the state will ¦ wither away when the revolution i comes...
...Printed on the front of each is the slogan: "Democratic Soap Let's Clean Up America.'1 On the back of each wrapper la: "Works best when wet—buy Democratic soap—your dime provides a job for another good American and helps carry on the fight for clean government...
...Aside from this distortion...
...Coward* die many time* before their deathi: The valiant never taste of death but once...
...The suggestions of B. Charney Vladeck would lead to the abandonment of a working class party...
...Foster draws upon the Russian model and we may anticipate an American O. P. U. One might point out more conflicts of vl-ew on this theme, but it is not necessary...
...J. B. Matthews' "Foundations of the Movement" is also informative and contains seme timely criticism of political opportunism...
...Leon Roaser Land, leader of the Fellowship, will speak on "What Can We Do In America to Help the Cause of India's . Freedom...
...Communists will destroy all other organizations and the Communist Party will rule with the "consent" of the masses because the latter will have no power to refuse it...
...When a Trotskyist speaker made the usual speech against the Labor and Socialist International, bis remarks were accepted, but when he mentioned the name of Rakovsky, Trotsky Communist exiled In Russia, the storm broke...
...Economic and social forces which threaten the harmony of the relationship which are the security of the family as a unit, endanger the welfare of the child...
...I wonder if a person can get a copy of those hearings...
...QUESTIONS and ANSWERS I ommnnisl Charges I enclose a clipping from the "Daily Worker" claiming that Norman Thomas declared before the U. S. War Policies Commis-• sion that the next war will be well i planned and that "If we were on ¦ the verge of war, I should probably be for it...
...Yours is not the first letter we have received asking for a pamphlet that will serve as an answer to this malign campaign...
...In a fair gale every fool may sail, but wise behavior In a storm commend* the wisdom of the pilot.— Qaarles...
...In the meantime, we may quote a few pertinent sentences from the report of the Conference in the government's official monthly, "School Life": "No system of education and training Is complete if it merely provides teachers and buildings where children may be assembled 40 In a room to be taught by whatever methods and whatever curriculum may be devised as best for the theoretically average child...
...With the whole structure of capitalism rocking in this country and workers awakening to class consciousness, one wonders how a Socialist can turn not only from a working class perspective in political action but also do so "irrespective of the motive" of those who merely i want to oust a reigning political i machine...
...A record of these views will be found in Socialist Planning and a Socialist Program, edited by Harry W. Laidler, with' an introduction b* Norman Thomas...
...Its slogans were heard In nearly every speech...
...Falcon Press, S2...
...The charge against Reading Socialists Is utterly false...
...The speakers were picked by the executive, that Is to say, by Munzenberg himself...
...Anti-War Congress" Described As Usual Communist Maneuver The press service of the Labor and Socialist International carries an informative article by Adolph Sturmthal on the "Anti-War Congress" held in Amsterdam...
...Phillips Bradley thinks that when we have won the transfer of power from the ruling class, "the process of education toward consent to the new political authority must continue...
...There are other interesting contributions...
...Questions and discussion from the audience will follow...
...There is no such child...
...FKED ODBERO...
...The teacher rather than teaching arithmetic should teach Harry Smith by , means of arithmetic...
Vol. 14 • September 1932 • No. 13
