Double Page of Special
Breslow, Alfred
Double Page of Special By Alfred Breclow American Fascist Trends And Their Communist Aids U7HEN democratic methods be- " come inadequate to maintain its domination the bourgolsie seeks other...
...they are heartily in favor of dividing DOWN...
...Owen D. Young is by no means the only fascist among us...
...Unfortunately, all too few speakers point out the dangers of fascist development in the United States...
...But we are an intelligent people...
...That is all there is to this talk of vanity and personal ambition being the origin of party issues...
...Not that ho intends to do anything about it, but it's nice of him to want to know...
...Now Santa Clam doesn't have to go travelling about the country to learn what the people want...
...The more knowledge members have of the fundamentals of Socialist philosophy the more solid and independent will our thinking be...
...asked Joe with some irritation...
...One can only speculate as to its outcome...
...You think of them as solely devoted to street propaganda and party building and caring nothing about what kind of propaganda is carried on and what kind of party is being built...
...It is an hysterically nationalistic movement, the bitter and uncompromising foe of social revolution...
...Having spent two weeks saying "Howdy" to the folks out West, Frank Roosevelt is going South, after which he will return to say "How-dee-do" to New England...
...The German Social-Democracy torn by internal strife could hardly take the necessary vigorous steps required at that time...
...Chaos, the natural consequence of war, did seem to indicate the necessity for an Iron Hand in Italy...
...He serves his masters well...
...More Solid Thinking . "That will sometimes occur," said Bill, "but the less educated the members are the more likely is it that such loyalty will replace real thinking...
...I would despair of the Socialist movement if they didn't," Bill replied, "and it is a reflection on Jim and Jane to speak )f them as automatons who are merely interested in routine and little else...
...It is a reflection on the Higgins family to say that its members are not interested in principles and issues, for t h r t would be to say that they are not concerned with the character of the movement they are helping to build...
...India must be a very cruel placet The member of a high caste wouldn't even touch the member of the lowest caste...
...AH preparations for armed insurrection must of necessity be secret...
...The fact is that the Jimmie and the Jennie Higginses have always participated in the discussion of party principles and issues and have always helped to make decisions...
...Let me do it," • • .e "The Democratic magician fa The latest effort of the oldparties at magic is the attempt to put the unemployed to work by making* the jobless divide their joblessness equally among themselves...
...They must be reminded that any principle of liberty is safer when the workers are the keepers of its trust...
...Every demogogue paints lurid pictures of communism and confuses it with socialism in the attempt to give the impression they are one...
...India must be a foolish place...
...The communists refuse to understand this either through ignorance or deliberate evasion of the facts or both...
...Jim and Jennie Not Low Grade "That may be true," said Joe, "and yet it seems to me that group leaders because of their ambitions bring up those principles and issues and in this way they divert the Higgins family from their work...
...It serves the capitalist interests well to be confronted in a period of discontent with a movement that adopts illegal methods and promises armed insurrection...
...Do you think that the death of both solved the issue in that dispute or was it settled before both died so far as the Socialist Party is concerned...
...Oh, I know that the party settled that question in the convention of 1912 while Debs and Haywood were still living, but think of the time wasted by the Jimmie and Jennie Higginses in that dispute...
...Bill and Joe Di$cu»s Attain of the Well-Known Higginses, in Building up a Great Socialist Party By Autolycus '"THERE is one thing that makes m; tired," aaid Joe as • he and Bill sat down to order lunch...
...inquired Joe...
...Tactics of Hoodlumism Their tactics in seeking to smash the meetings of the Socialist Party in New York and other cities can have but one result...
...Fertile Soil Post-war Europe proved fertile soil indeed for the growth of reaction...
...You assume that if they do display such interest it is not genuine but due to the ambitions of leaders...
...America has just two classes—the idle rich and the idle poor...
...The capitalists, therefore, must have strong reasons to ask such sacrifices...
...You start with a general observation that permits of no answer...
...You don't Ipnglishmen rul- II a* America 1 Nobody but IN and their po- ! • u . No for- America...
...Whatever may be the incidental factors contributing to the development of as fascist movement, this much is clear: only a desperate working-class handicapped by political immaturity will allow itself to be imposed upon by dictatorship...
...We may expect that those "patriots" who now prate of the "fundamental principle of American liberty" will soon ask that such principle be handed over in their keeping...
...These spies frequently occupy high positions in the Communist Party and are always the most violent and "revolutionary...
...Once again Italy and Germany are cases in point It Is significant that Mussolini's march an Soma came soon after the workers had taken over the metal Industries without first having achieved political power...
...The American people will have to have about 40,000,000 oranges in a quick hurry...
...Santa learni by reading hi mall...
...Is that correct...
...This is a slight-of-hand trick If we watched closely we'd sec how they fool.us...
...After Roosevelt conclude* his tour, he will know Jnst what the people want...
...That is to say, you think of the Higgins family as being low grade members easily misled by leaders...
...No Party Caste Lines "There are no clearly defined roles," Bill answered...
...Well, be precise, Joe...
...The communists chose to interpret such adverse publicity as an indication of capitalist fears and proceed to provide the reasons for a hue and cry of "red menace...
...Germany, war-weary, starved and humiliated, provided the proper situation for spellbinders who preached "restoration of the German nation...
...The capitalists have always pretended that they are opposed to dividing...
...But all the good little boys and glr|a who "have new stockings that don't have any holes...
...But with the increase in postage rate*, it Is believed that Santa, expecting that the people will not write him, has sent Franklin D. as his agent...
...Don't let him fool you anj longer...
...The Republican magician is a faker," saya tho Democratic magician...
...If this were India Mr...
...This depression, for the American workers, is a struggle to keep touchable...
...They WU SUmmrr and findians dumb...
...The masses must know the meaning and causes of fascism...
...The same bonus army that was so valiantly crushed is now being organized into a "brown-shirted" army, admittedly without a program and obscure in purpose...
...Jimmie and Jane often take the initiative in raising a party issue in their branch because they are interested in t h e kind of a party to be built...
...Jimmie and Jane are often found eagerly debating party questions and the leaders often serve as their own chairman at street meetings, taking collections and selling literature as well...
...Reduced to the point of desperation and unconscious of its class interests, the working-class is laid open to the demogogic appeals for "national unity" and the "submission of all interests (by the mailed fist) for the common good...
...Mr...
...The first step UP is to unite lite workers as Socialists...
...And in America The demoralization in America gives hope to whatever fascist forces are afoot...
...We may well consider what this "something else" might be...
...The direct causes are, however, to a certain extent within its power to control...
...While the communists give sufficient cause to create • "red scare," still the Hitlerites continually provoke them to acts of greater and greater violence...
...Although the Swastika office in that city may present no serious threat, we should be • less contemptuous of the Secret Six, a super-"patriotic" organization whose self-assumed national- duty is to promote patriotism and smell out radical bodies...
...Bill Haywood and Gene Debs "Well, there have been many disputes among Socialists," said Bill...
...The truth is that they are opposed only to dividing UP...
...It insists upon dictatorship, ostensibly to lead the country from chaos, actually to stifle by force of arms the mass indignation and protest to the chaotic conditions of capitalism...
...There they take all the poor people and divide them into a lot of classes and castes...
...ANSWER: The Mahatma was on a hunger strike...
...These debates," Joe went on, "really range around personalities and leaders and as debates they are undesirable and unnecessary...
...It seems strange that communists do not see what is so obvious to everyone else...
...The capitalist parties can ask for nothing better...
...Lacking classconsciousness and never having experienced actual dictatorship of a monarchy, the American workers may be intrigued by the romance of a dictator, Owen D. Young's baccalaureate address at Notre Dame University was a trial balloon intended to test popular reaction to the "something else" proposed by him as a substitute since "democracy has failed...
...Can the workers secretly accumulate sufficient machine- guns, airplanes and bombs to offer even the pretence of struggle...
...You speak of diverting them from their work...
...But we don't believe in superstition...
...J. Pierpont Morgan simply wouldn't THINK of shaking hands with a street cleaner...
...Although considered a movement peculiar to Europe it has its American counterpart...
...They have the radio and the press...
...They appear justified in crushing it by whatever means seem fit to use...
...The tactics of the Socialist Party in combating fascism fall into two classifications: 1—Preparing the masses for fascist development...
...It seems less strange, however, on consideration of the numerous agents provocateurs within their ranks...
...You Socialists get into heated debates that are much ado about nothing...
...The ; gifts would fall right out...
...There they and Englishman rule see a handful ing the people Nosiree you Wall street band political tools can eign tyrants siree...
...The answer, of course, is in the negative...
...An intelligent proletariat, experienced in political matters, will insist on solving its own problems and resist the attempts of any individual or group to subordinate the will of the masses to dictatorial decree...
...And then those poor people eat is simply to begin to compare the American to have eat In India the upon the miserable America the idle rich look upon the go to Canada Cuba in the wind And are the...
...100,000,000 of l a handful of...
...When that occurs the differing opinions will And the Higgins family divided as well as the leaders...
...They're interested in propaganda and organization...
...The poor India for the right to sad life would we couldn't Hoover...
...It should be noted how carefully the III I and striking farmers avoided the slightest suggestions of communism within the ranks...
...Let's consider your view of the matter...
...To frustrate any fascist attempts should constitute at the present time a good portion of Socialist Party activities...
...It is obvious that the time to prepare against any invasion upon the right of popular election, freedom of speech and press is the present...
...Out with them...
...This may be due either to lack of knowledge...
...Of courae, you can't expect Santa Roosevelt to put anything into stockings that are torn...
...They look for a bugaboo and find that nothing serves so well as a movement or organization committed to the violent overthrow of the existing order...
...The conditions of desperation and political inexperience necessary for fascist rise are beyond the control of the Socialist Party...
...or being acquainted with fascist attempts our speakers may ignore them as inconsequential at the present time...
...The Chicago Tribune, too, occupies a prominent place among those who would save the nation by suppressing the workers...
...At its last national convention it passed a resolution proposing practically martial law to "put down the unrest" due to the depression...
...Inasmuch as the Instruments of war are considerably advanced over those of previous wars and the bourgoisie is In possession of the machinery of war, it ia preposterous even t o thlni thate the working-class can succesfully rise In arms...
...The Socialist Party is the only working-class organization that can be a check to fascist rise...
...It becomes necessary, therefore, to acquire political power by peaceful means...
...It is equally obvious that to wait until fascism has gained a foothold in America is to invite political suicide for the Socialist Party and all other working-class organizations...
...When Mr...
...But isn't it true that as a result of raising inner party issues that group loyalties cluster around leaders...
...Hoover's Contribution I t has been left to Hoover, however, to show by his treatment of the B.E.F...
...the latter following naturally from the former...
...No- 1ar« atruggling f*< Think how « America If fc»b»t Herbert tut I the lief In magic and superstition...
...nothing but a vicious appeal to race and national prejudice and a promise of "death to all Marxists...
...The communists, consciously or no, permit themselves to be baited and give reason enough to the fascists to save the country from the "red menace...
...The American Legion has every right to a place in the sun...
...Well, what are the roles of the leaders and the Higginses...
...just what will be the attitude of the bourgoisie if and when a show-down comes...
...So Jimmie and Jane also get involved in your arguments over, principles, methods and philosophy," said Joe...
...Parading industrial fascism under the cloak of progressivism his plan aims to strengthen the grip of big business upon industry...
...Vanity and personal ambition account for most of them...
...Bill Haywood represented one view of political action and Eugene V. Debs another...
...Hitler's rise grew In proportion to the terrorism of the German communists...
...If it is a vital issue it will be taken up in other branches and spread to other states...
...Their continual insistence upon violence has served only to frighten the American masses with a "red scare...
...2 —Emphasizing the legal nature of the party...
...The Republican and Democratic magicians know but one trickhow to pull votes out of the people whom they have betrayed...
...It is the fate of proletarian parties updn accession to political power to inherit conditions that are anything but conducive to the administration of socialist programs...
...Its ostensible non-violent character gives no opportunity to the superpatriots to alarm the country with a "red scare...
...If that spokesman is deposed, or becomes ill, or moves to another state, the rank and file group will find another one...
...Tht first step in dividing down is to diifide the workers as Democrats and Republicans...
...If that is true," Bill responded, "then these inner party conflicts can be avoided by deposing the leaders of all groups...
...They want their point of view presented as effectively as possible and they support that spokesman not because he has made up, their minds but because they have made up their own...
...though the trend is still in its infancy...
...With the American Legion it is merely a matter of extending its activities from California to the rest of the United States...
...The pitiful Indians is the >ia India have to i p » . It doesn't Hgfttth the food •IBtttloyed don't W t i look down H}»or, In Amer- W l unsiiiveto 9oile poor...
...Your trouble," said Bill, "is that you think of a Jimmie and Jennie Higgins that have no existence, and if they did exist I would have a poor opinion of them...
...asked Bill...
...We kick out the Republicans to put in the Democrats, and then kick out the Democrats to put in the Republicans— just to change our luck...
...Gandhi began feeling very jow, he ordered a glass of orange juice to break his fast...
...It may never be said of Herbert Clark Hoover t h a t he did not take every opportunity to demonstrate gratitude for his political career...
...At the same time when issues arise effective spokesmen will appear and even Jimmie and Jane will give way to one, not because they have no defined views but just because they have...
...There's frank Hague and darling title Jim Tarley and Gen* Tttnney, who can actually walk and talk...
...the greatest believers in direct mass action...
...Sure," Joe replied...
...Fascism possesses all the requirements necessary to fulfill such a task...
...Unfortunately, the proletariat did not hold political power long enough to learn the advantages of workingclass government...
...What's on your mind...
...A politically mature proletariat understands that crises come as a result of the conflicts between irreconcilable economic interests...
...The working-class in surrendering its political freedom is making a great sacrifice...
...To incite the masses to violence at the present time is tantamount to an open invitation to fascism and the consequent bloody suppression of the workers...
...Rooteveli's Santa I.us some cult dolls in stock for the flood Utile boys and girls who'll vote t! e Democratic ticket this year...
...Vote for Santa Claus Roosevelt and these cute little dolls will be put In the cabinet where all the Democratic boys and girls may look at them and feel ao glad...
...JuBt think, my children...
...Unemployment insurance is excellent as bait...
...Double Page of Special By Alfred Breclow American Fascist Trends And Their Communist Aids U7HEN democratic methods be- " come inadequate to maintain its domination the bourgolsie seeks other means by which to protect its existence and at the same time check the advances of a discontented proletariat...
...V However, proper conditions alone are insufficient for fascist development...
...that all political meetings will be prohibited...
...They merely disturb the hard work of the Jimmie and Jennie Higginses who do not care a hoot about these conflicts...
...Probably the most famous of the "social planners" is Gerard Swope...
...When the Republican magicjan fails to pull a full dinner pail out of capitalism, we hire a Democratic magician to pull a half-full dinner pail out of capitalism...
...the American people are on a hunger lock-out...
...Fascism must have these causes since it has no program...
...There are no caste lines in the party with one group doing the thinking and the other doing the routine Work exclusively...
...Its legal tactics give no cause to fear for the sanctity of the Constitution and American "liberty...
...The communists are the good providers...
...Chicago seems to teem with fascist activities...
...What This Country DIDDLE: What is the difference between Mahatma Gandhi and the American people...
...Its cartoons and editorials should be relished by Owen D. Young...
...The Communist Party, unless it changes its tactics, will some day come face to face with the responsibility for fascism in America...
...You still think of them as having no interest whatever in what principles, policies and methods the party may adopt...
...said Joe...
...Street meetings are not a prime necessity with them...
...There you go again," said Bill with a gesture of impatience...
...and must be prepared to recognize and fight it in any form...
...At least, we don't put our faith in one superstition...
...European events show clearly how fascists avail themselves of critical situations to appeal to the nationalistic and most vicious impulses of the masses...
Vol. 14 • October 1932 • No. 14
