To Norman Thomas
To Norman Thomas A Statement by the Committee for the Preservation of Socialist Policies. To The New Leader: It is with deep regret and astonishment that we read Norman Thomas.' comment...
...Finally, Comrade Thomas suggests that some members of our committee may not agree with the contents of the Socialist Voice...
...Lena Morrow Ix-wla spoke to a large crowd here Tuesday...
...We have at least tried to confine the paper and the discussion to party members...
...They also point that-the national constitution provides for the amendment of any declaration...
...organizer of local Buffalo, who addressed a large gathering of Ihe unemployed...
...Ii.-i11nii.iiii...
...He Is accompanied by Comrade llerhaiiuncr of Kola iiiu/oo who operates the loud speaker equipment and takes care of the signs...
...Only when incidents could not be discussed without involving names of those concerned were names used...
...Braaeh I. The branch will hold a lawn party Saturday evening, Aug...
...Members of our committee may not—we hope are not—agreed on all things at all times...
...Vlpsels hold open •It meetings Ml the MUM corner every oUier Wednesday...
...The Voice DID very definitely make certain suggestions as to the biased character of the National Office, its boycotting of any but its own type of speakers, organ izers, etc...
...Wisconsin Tile lih kjailrirk meeting at Amery, Polk county, was especially successful...
...Roth, and W. Davis...
...In Honor of the Memory of Comrade R. B. Green The Seventh Congressional District of Chicago has passed the following resolution: On this, the first anniversary of the death of our Comrade, Dr...
...Can Comrade Thomas say as much ? He must have known when he brought his attack on his Socialist opponents into Today, owned by Vincent Astor and edited by Raymond Moley, that he was reaching at least some non-Socialists...
...Every Sunday morning we have committees out calling on all known radicals, to get them Into the parly, securing subscriptions for The New Leader and oilier publications to build up a sustaining fund...
...THirlng the winter we had as sneakers here Norman Thomas, August dlai'va-us...
...the names of the committee that authorized it, and the name of its Executive Secretary, and yet Comrade Thomas gives the impression that it is a nameless waif with no one on whom responsibility might be placed for it...
...She made a remarkable Impression...
...He has contacted a number of people In places where there are no branches and expects that before long these localities will apply for charters...
...Now, again, in The New Leader of last week, we have Comrade Thomas in the position of diverting the readers of Socialist Voice from the purpose and subject to which the bulk of the paper was devoted: namely, WHY THE DETROIT DECLARATION SHOULD BE DEFEATED...
...The Labor Day Picnic wlU be held at Mound Park between the IS and 19 mile road on Mound Rd, Branch I. Fred Herman elected temporary chairman...
...olran...
...New Jersey Passaic...
...Or denied HIS right of expression...
...Local Philadelphia has seconded the proposal of L»nl New V.nk Initiating a national referendum for the Declaration of Principle* recommended by the New York State Committee...
...and the cheeky, impudent attempt of employees of the National Office to rule "out of order" (ahem, "legality) substitutes for the Detroit Declaration offered and seconded by locals embracing thousands of members, in order that the rank and file may not have a chance to register any opinion save that desired from above...
...We ask Voice readers carefully to examine these articles...
...In the Voice is given the address and title of the organization publishing the paper...
...II, at 1628 Clxlrinuiit Ave...
...quick proof were needed members have but to read the bulletins being sent to branches, etc., with personal attacks on comrades like Hendin (no opportunity of reply being given...
...A Circle of the League Is tha result of their efforts...
...New York State l>e«l«o«llim Petitions...
...To The New Leader: It is with deep regret and astonishment that we read Norman Thomas.' comment on the Socialist Voice in his Timely ..Topics last week...
...Roth meetings at 8 p.m...
...enrollment for the Class In Socialism, sponsored by party branches under the leadership of the Rami School of Social Science, baa begun...
...Now In the summer we have transferred our uctlviUes to the open air, having neighborhood meeting* In ull parts of the city...
...Statu Secretary Francis King announces a new local al Ml Clemens...
...First, without implicitly saying so, he gives the impression we sent the Socialist Voice broadcast...
...Roy 1...
...3 Charles Solomon debated Ihe Detroit Declaration with Murray Huron before a mriiibersliln meeting...
...Kacklaaa County...
...One of them is that the Detroit Declaration of Principles should be defeated, and what we sincerely consider the Communist tendencies it seeks to promote be eliminated...
...Editorials were unsigned because of t)ie belief that the introduction of names leads to personalities, and consequent obscuring of issues...
...Burt and nuiiiy others...
...and Monroe St...
...They have been in many battles for Socialism, and have arrived at independent conclusions onv many subjects: but there are several things on which they ARE agreed...
...4, at Comrade DeYoung's Farm, I'reaknrss, NJ...
...Senator, four for State Senator, 38 for State Legislature and the balance for county officers...
...August Claim n« will be guest speaker...
...We challenge him to name one non-party member to whom we gave or mailed a copy...
...Because Comrade Thomas has made himself such an active factor in this unfortunate controversy, we were compelled to mention his name often in our articles...
...If there has been a larger masure of this two-sided discussion and education of the party membership, it is to our committee and not to Comrade Thomas or the socalled "Militants" that the credit is due...
...As hundreds of New York comrades know, we have refused to give out a single copy except by mall, and then only to party members whose addresses were sent us by comrades over the country in response to a letter which any New Leader reader can have on request (Room 706, 1 Union Square, New York City...
...Sneakers: in ¦. A. Ratten, if...
...Comrade Thomas gives New Leader readers the impression we attacked the N.E.C., past or present...
...We ask Voice readers to see if they can find more than the passing reference to the N.E.C...
...and liroadwuy, llaverstraw, and Thursday at Station Plaza, Spring Vulley...
...not an attack) on the front page...
...We doubt if any other party member would have been permitted to make such an attack upon reputable members of the party exercising their constitutional rights without giving those attacked opportunity to reply in the same I issue...
...the ukases being issued as to the English and foreign sneaking party press...
...Send us your money and we will do the rest" seems to be the slogan of the National Office...
...West Virginia The State Executive Committee voted 7 to 1 In favor of the new Declaration of Principles, one member not voting...
...Next week Misaourl State Organizers Nozer and Harris will be In Kansas Clly and we are preparing a busy week of hirelings...
...It maintains headquarters at Sheahaii's Hall, '.al1 . Main St., and holds frequent public no .hugs there...
...The consensus oi opinion la that the new declaration It a forward advance of the parly...
...The (llean, Cattaraugus County, local Is continuously active...
...Witness, for example, the fact that the American Guardian gives almost a page weekly FOR...
...the Declaration artd refuses to print even one letter AGAINST it...
...The compensating fact is that perhaps the very bitterness of his expression will cause the more open-minded comrades to examine the Socialist Voice for themselves, which is all we asked or hoped for—as our one big purpose was, and is, to compel a full two-sided discussion of a Declaration that we sincerely believe ennstitutes a distinct menace to the present and future welfare of the party, with a division of our energies and forces at a time when unity is most needed...
...I If Comrade Thomas' purpose was to create prejudice and to close in advance the minds of some receiving the Socialist Voice, we sadly admit it is possible he met with some success, as to many in the party he can do no wrong, and they will not weigh his words or acts in the light of facts...
...Philadelphia...
...A few night* ago Hurry I'lelsi limun and David Karuiazlii, niillonal organizers for tha Y.P.S.l., were Ihe speakers, discussing "The Menace of War anil Fascism" and the "Economic Depression...
...on an organizing tour, Indicate excellent prospects for the party...
...Annual picnic of Local Passaic will take place Sunday...
...R. B. Green, Be it resolved by the 7th Congressional District Branch of the Socialist Party of Cook County, Illinois, that we again express our admiration and gratitude for his devoted and untiring work for Socialism and that we declare our deep sense of sorrow and loss at his passing away...
...Melvln Bishop, permanent chairman, will be unable to officiate till later In the year...
...See whether in ei/en one case we have attacked the truthfulness or honesty or sincerity of Comrade Thomas...
...Street meetings next week) Tuesday ut the corner of llroad St...
...Party Progress Missouri Kansas City...
...We will place ANY PARAGRAPH in the Socialist Voice against Thomas' attack of last week in a test of tolerance and dignity, and adhering to facts rather than personalities...
...The Kansas City local has been very busy carrying on Intensive organization and educational activities...
...Those who desire to know why we so feel should write for a copy of The Socialist Voice, giving the name of their party branch and the address of its secretary.] And one final thing we are very definitely agreed on is that we consider it unfortunate that Comrade Thomas, whose position of leadership in the Socialist Party has been won for him not by one faction, but by the party as a whole, should now use that prestige to advance one faction as against another, instead of usiug it to build the powerful Socialist organization, without which resolutions are but the proverbial "scraps of paper...
...What any individual party member did with his copy is another matter...
...Let us briefly examine his statements...
...There was hut one dissenting vote In the Couuly Committee...
...A rcent speaker was l.inesi I...
...Michigan Reports from Organizer (luy I.ockwnod...
...Branch I continues Its open air meet Ingt each Saturday night at Hamilton Ave...
...An active campaign is bring waged by all our candidates numbering 68, Including live /or Congress, one for U.S...
...As to the controversial style of the Socialist Voice being "in the best Communist manner of the Daily Worker," readers of the Socialist Voice can judge for themselves...
...Witness also the fact that Comrade Thomas gave the impression (see The New Leader, June 23) our committee had raised $5,000 and boasted it could raise ten times as much, and again, by indirect suggestion, that our group was seeking to cause a split, thus prejudicing the mind of the membership against hearing our side...
...He was well received by several hundred fanners who had never listened to a Socialist speaker before...
...sharp...
...Olean Is looking forward to the coming of Charles Solomon, Norman Thomas...
...We must file our subscription nominating petition* not later than August 6. Pennsylvania Wheeling...
...locals requiring morn petition blanks should communicate with the Slate Secretary...
...Whereas he has written letters to members of our committee threatening to bring charges or even to cause expulsions...
...Divide and conquer" has always been good tactics for those who like those tactics...
...Wayne County...
...No petitions ran be filed with Kfertlon tioiinls or the Secretary of State before August II, none later than August 21...
Vol. 17 • August 1934 • No. 31
