Declaration Debated Pro and Con
Panken, Jacob
Declaration Debated Pro and Con The Declaration of Princioles ly Jam*. Ooeal We are asked whether the defeat of the Detroit declaration in the comma; refer, end am will leave the...
...It was not part of the printed . agenda...
...I don't oppose it so much because it might bring the party and its members into conflict with the law...
...It was then called "direct action.* The older comrades will remember Article 2, Section 6. Haywood was defeated and a year later he was re-called from the National Executive Committee...
...The emancipation of the working class does not mean the dictatorship of one section of the workers over another section of the workers or dictatorship over other classes, but the abolition of all classes and the extension of democracy into social democracy which will include all humanity...
...The Declaration of Principles, if adopted by the membership, would mark a departure from Socialist theory and policy that American Socialists have heretofore adhered to...
...I oppose it because it is not Socialistic, because it is anarchistic...
...I might say, it is a sort of rugged individualism...
...Very well...
...The democracy won by the proletariat, however, i* not an end •» itself but a means of achieving social democracy through the abolition of the capitalist system of produstion and distribution...
...They were under the spell of the rhetoric of Norman Thon.as and others...
...The Declaration is not confined to a statement of Socialist principles...
...Tkty art {A« logical expression of a depression psychosis and a reaction to events in Europe...
...It was at this juncture that Waldman and Solomon heatedly argued against permitting any amendments whatever, arguing that two distinct philosophies were represented in this convention, and the convention was urged to register clearly its position, and so the Declaration was submitted in its entirety for rejection or adoption...
...The weighted vote is equally as conclusive and in conformity with Waldman's advocacy early in the convention that 25 delegates -esent, upon request, were entitled;to such a vote...
...Nevertheless, a competent observer can easily divide the convention into the following groupings: (1) Oklahoma Populism...
...the Declaration did not realize its implications and purposes...
...Fortunately, the Socialist Party of America was never meant to be a rigid, inflexible organization cornLouis Waldman...
...This means that if any party member commits any act of violence—say, blows up a battleship— the party 83 a whole and each of its members is bound to support that act...
...The result was not a consideration of issues on the basis of Socialist principles but on the basis of expediency and power...
...Socialists strive for social democracy which is identical with the eonqueet of complete power by the proletariat and Us democratic allies Short of the realization of social democracy, the working class must fight to retain what it has won over two centuries of bitter struggles and sacrifices...
...Such organisation and action Invite police spies and agents provocateur...
...Socialists cannot and will not vote for anarcho-syndicalist tactics...
...Can Louis Waldman deny the majority's right to construe his kind of Socialism and his principles, as being destructive of the Socialist Party and movement...
...The Socialist Party, I repeat, was defeated in its own house...
...Now for the disputed Declaration before the members...
...Every delegate present knew this...
...2) Revolutionary Policy Committee or I*ovestone Communism...
...You disagree...
...It was not concealed...
...It lets every member do what he likes...
...The Detroit convention has offered • very poor substitute...
...However, I believe that our party faces a danger...
...I am not a pseudo-radical...
...The composition of the new National Executive Committee is also representative of these groupings...
...Nothing, however, is said as to what tactics are to be pursued to make contact with the labor organisations...
...The Socialist answer to open or covert attempts by a reactionary clique it an open declaration of resistance by all means available to the working elate and other democratic tit* mtntt of the population...
...The long fight of the working class to retain these conquests must continue...
...Socialists must and will make use of democracy to carry on the education of the masses...
...The depression psychosis and emotional reactions to a decaying capitalist world wrote the decisions...
...That fight must be made in the open, above ground...
...Only for the moment...
...They will fight to the bitter end for the preservation of free speech, free press and free assemblage...
...On Sunday a declaration of principles, which confines itself largely to tactics, was passed which is in essence what was rejected Friday...
...It commits the party, and gives carte blanche to every party member to pursue any line of activity and makes every member responsible for such individual acts...
...Let us vote it down and stick to the declaration of 1924 and and 1932...
...Certain sections of the Declaration of principle : are merely a sympton of the drift That danger will emerge be ^fove-the end of the year...
...At the Milwaukee convention there - were three clearly recognized groups...
...Are we to understand that the traditional Socialist position is unalterably synonymous with Louis Waldman's interpretation of Socialism, or are we not to insist that the true traditional Socialist position is its inalienable right to democratically change or continue policies and programs...
...Why tell the working class that this democracy is "bogus" and then recommend a "bogus" instrument for their purposes...
...I am anti-war and antimilitarist...
...Comrades Hendin and Levy sought to submit amendments...
...I believe that the St...
...Statements appearing in the New York Times ascribed to Louis Waldman constitute therefore disloyalty which must not go unchallenged...
...Many members oi the right wing were anxious to vote for tfie Declaration of Principles, provided certain amendments were made...
...Such • document stands until it is repealed or something else put in its place...
...You can understand why , good Socialists might wish for a different wording of it...
...The Labor and Socialist International also stands for a general strike In case of war, but the resolution for a general strike was agreed upon with the International Federation of Trades Unions...
...Waldman stated: "We repudiate , the essential features of the Declaration of Principles adopted at the [Socialist National Convention in so far as they depart from the traditional Socialist position and commit the Socialist Party to the use of violende and extralegal means...
...On the one hand an appeal was made to sentiment by romanticists...
...Professional groups...
...That was sensible...
...In the same statement he argues "that the program runs contrary to everything for which the Socialist Party has stood and which it regards as fundamental...
...Norman Thomas did not tell the delegates that the Michigan trial jf Communists resulted in the conviction of Ruthenberg and others, and that the indictment upon which they were tried rested on statements in the Communist platform similar to those incorporated in the so-called Declaration of Principles...
...Certainly not...
...It is one thing (Centlnued on Page Right) Views of Socialists Whd Uphold Detroit Document DISSENTS PROM WALDMAN By Murray Baron The Socialist...
...The call to "heroic acts," even if they lead to extinction of the movement, imprisonment of many of our comrades and abandonment of Socialist philosophy, won the day...
...Party of America at its Detroit convention democratically and decisively adopted a Declaration of Principles which the assembled delegates believed would best serve the party and the working class...
...I am a Marxian Socialist...
...The national convention governs the entire party subject to the national referendum (Continned on Page Six) Socialism and Democracy The following is the section on Democracy in the resolution of Local New York referred to by James Oneal in his article this week...
...What happened is that the Socialist Party suffered a defeat...
...Let us quote further from Waldman's statement: "The Declaration commits not only the national organization, but attempts to commit also the State and local organizations, to a program wheh runs contrary to everything for which the Socialist Party has stood and which the Socialist Party regards as fundamental...
...It is anarchistic in its essence...
...Independents...
...The administrative forces at Detroit sprung this document a moment before it was considered...
...At Detroit there were six...
...It fosters romanticism, and attracts Irresponsible persons...
...What groups are meant T Read another portion of this (Continued on Page Sis) Panken Sees Disaster if Members Adopt Document By Jacob Panken the first day of the convenV tion the so-called majority report of the American delegates to the conference in Paris was rejected...
...That was good...
...Socialists refuse to give the capitalist class an excuse to drive us underground, even though contemplated conspirative activities may feed the hunger of the imaginative romantic and irresponsible...
...To surrender them because reaction challenges the basic contentions of this democracy would be to make the working class the accomplices of fascist reaction which fears the free action of the workers...
...This Declaration should be defeated...
...The result is now public...
...4) anti-Thomas Militants...
...It was open...
...When the Congressional program was submitted by the Platform Committee, one sentence of it was rejected by an overwhelming vote because in the judgment of the delegates it might invite the enemy to proceed along fascist lines...
...The young comrades do not know that in 1912, at the Indianapolis convention of the Socialist Party, Haywood and his followers attempted to incorporate in our program a policy of "sabotage...
...There is even a pseudo-Marxism that blesses Populism and its allies...
...Our comrades are 'ioumiI to vote against this declaration...
...The National convention not only "attempts to" but does commit state, local and national organizations as well...
...The following quotations are examples...
...So can I. You think that in "calling our present democracy bogus, it voices the criticism Socialists have made many times without number...
...Spokesmen fo...
...and if it brings you in conflict with the law, we shall support you, providing, of course, it is in opposition to war or the detailed plans for Va4" Then this Declaration talks of a general strike of labor unions and professional groups...
...Neither claim is valid...
...8) pro-Thomas Militants...
...Those of us who love the Socialist movement exercised our fundamental democratic right to change the position of the party...
...Often limited by the police, legislative and judicial powers of bourgeois governments, the working class in bitter struggles has again and again fought to strike down these limitations to its freedom of action...
...on the other, an appeal to reason, Socialist ideals and discipline...
...T"HE democracy for which the * proletariat fights is not a gift of the ruling classes but is a conquest made within capitalist society by the working class...
...Perhaps, but not in serious documents of any responsible working class party...
...Sanity will assert itself...
...It Is uieless to ignore these ¦vision...
...The issue ts not between this democracy and the social democracy if a Socialist world...
...There was a cleavage as to purpose, aims and policy...
...The Communists, to enable themselves to remain aboveground and to afford them opportunities to carry on open propaganda, expunged the stupid statements from their program...
...First, as to myself...
...I oppose, and the comrades generally, I believe, will oppose the Declaration...
...I tried to set an example i" my own article the Wed: before...
...What counted was a system of trade and barter among groups, similar to a panic on the stock exchange...
...All true Socialists will oppose it...
...If this means anything, it tells the party members: "You, each of you, individually, are to do as you want and whatever you do...
...It proceeds to draft a blueprint of general activities...
...refer, end am will leave the Socialist Party without any declared principles...
...Such organized resistance to reaction and Fascism an dtheir aim at dictatorship will be effective in proportion as the working class is of a democratic mind and appreciates the loss It will sustain If Its democracy and freedom of action are destroyed...
...It is my conviction that it will...
...will loyally support in the tragic event of war any of their comrades who for anti-war activities or refusal to perform war services come into conflict with public opinion of the law...
...We have the clear and convincing declaration adopted in 1924 and reaffirmed in 1932...
...Then the Declaration further says: "They |meaning the Socialists] will meet war and the detailed plans for war already mapped out by the war-making arms of the government by massed war resistance...
...That is not my understanding of Socialist theory or Socialist ethics or Socialist practice...
...In doing so, you expressed your opinions with a restraint that I hope others will observe...
...Through a long period of struggle the workers won freedom of organization and the right to strike, wrested the right of guff rage and Independent political action from the ruling classes, and the establishment of its own educational and cooperative organizations...
...While fighting for freedom of action within capitalist society, the proletariat does not cease to fight for complete emancipation from class rule...
...The Socialist Party opposes secret eonspiratory organisation and action in the United States...
...There is less cohesion of thought this year than there was two years ago...
...To Comrade Thomas By James Oneal JN your column Aist week you discussed the Detroit convention and differed with me in interpreting its composition and actions...
...Where reaction strives to destroy the democracy won by the workers, the Socialist Party will strive to effect an alliance of all working class organizations, and other allies opposed to reaction, mobilizing their united power In organized and disciplined resistance, including the stoppage of industry if it appears that such action and Fascism and their aim ized workers have sufficient unity of purpose to effect it...
...No opportunity was afforded to consider i the document carefully...
...The Socialist movements throughout the world are adopting programs which depart from positions which they previously held...
...It is inconceivable that sane Socialists will vote in favor of a Declaration incorporating tactics which have no basis in Socialist theory, practice and philosophy...
...If a proletarian party rejects the democratic conquests of the workers, it invitee the ruling parties of capital to destroy three conquests and to establish the dictatorship of capital...
...Many delegates did not know what they voted for...
...Now to the turn-about...
...Basic Socialist thought was at a discount...
...Not necessarily because it may bring us into conflict with the law, but rather because we believe that the Socialist Party must not abandon democratic weapons at our disposal...
...Louis Anti-War Resolution was the greatest document our party ever adopted and that aur stand against the imperialist war was the finest episode in the history of the International and was fully justified...
...The Old Guard claims two victories and a vague "left" composed of five discordant groups claim one...
...Declaration Debated Pro and Con The Declaration of Princioles ly Jam...
...6) Old Guard...
...It says: "They [meaning the Socialists...
Vol. 17 • June 1934 • No. 25
