Socialism on the, Road to Power May First-Nineteen Thirtyfive
Abramowitsch, Raphael
Socialism on the, Road to Power May First-Nineteen Thirtyfive By RAPHAEL ABRAMOWITSCH severe blow deal: to in* ternational Socialism by Hkfcr's victory in Germany brought gady temporary...
...The gigantic perturbation produced by the depression, the deep ideological and psychological fermentation, symbolized by the Roosevelt experiment, ap peared to have created a favorable situation for the activity of the Socialist Party, for its transformation into a mass party...
...A strike vote was taken and the cqmmittee was instructed to call a strike at its discretion...
...It appears that the same road will be entered upon in the near future by the British Labor Party...
...V Im/m' :n *ne mills-: when they were obliged ^JKajfegr to compete against each other for I ^ employment...
...Bat this modest "reformist" taks as it presents itself in the present stage of capitalist development can no longer be carried out by capitalism itself...
...This advance is taking place, gist, is the democratic countries, later governments have come into psaer in ail the three Scandinavian jpptrinr They do not command aajprities in their respective parfcments...
...Socialism: Revolution of Minds By Victor L. Berger From Voice and P«n of Victor L. Berger are revolutionary not in the vulgar meaning of the word, which is entirely wrong, but in the sense illustrated by his-i lory, the only logical sense...
...In the United States the problem Socialists most solve is still the simple one of how to find the road to the masses...
...As long asj we are in the minority, we of course have no right to force our opinions upon an unwilling majority...
...The successful drives of the Metal Trade department, of the ' delivery and transportation depart- i roent, of maintaining impregnable tjfe Building Trades of CnyahogR County, even though the building trades suffered more than any other from the depression, ranged the union movement as a militant fighting organization...
...In the United States, as in other countries, the trade onion dates from the beginning of industrial society...
...With pride Hitler maintained that he saved Europe from the "Red menace...
...Tea*?, two years after Hitler's afreet to power, the Socialist proletariat is once more resuming its jggtcssive advance in Europe...
...But the movement has definitely revived from the mar asm of the early period of its defeats (19331934...
...Such is the dialectics of the present phase of capitalism...
...nor can it be arranged for the pleasure of a few...
...The crisis had attained a critical point, threatening the country with financial and currency catastrophe, pregnant with increasing misery for the masses in that highly industrialized country...
...It is of vital importance to the trade union that its members be class-conscious, that they understand the class truggle and their duty as union men on the political field, so that in.every move that is made they will have the goal in view, and while taking advantage of every opportunity to secure concessions and enlarge niejr economic advantage, they will at the same time unite at the ballot box, not only to back up the economic struggle of the trade union, but to finally wrest the government from capitalist control and establish the working class republic...
...They do not place bejSb themselves the task of im¦jafitr realization of Socialism...
...The workers are beginning to recover, from the first wave of confusion and are closing their ranks...
...In this task it cannot avoid concentrating its attention utton Soviet Russia and the United States, In Russia the problem of power gives the appearance of having been solved...
...The Joint Board arranged the installation at officers at a banquet in honor of Frank Rosenblom, head of the Western Organization Department, and Beryl Peppercorn, Manager of the Cleveland section...
...There is an entirely different problem, and a much more modest one, presenting itself, however, in the most powerful of all capitalist countries, the .United States...
...when the workers were dijHjglSpPr *^'^'**_ .jjflff vorced from their tools and recruited 'WteTi...
...The advance of the proletariat in our capitalist world, which has lost its old stability and unity, proceeds by short spurts and zigzags...
...IV crisis now shaking the edifee of capitalism to its very foundation, emphasi ng more dearly than ever the bankruptcy of capitalism, has compensated a considerable degree the defeat snffered by Socialism in Central Europe...
...Originally, the De Man plan had been intended as a platform for the attainment of power, for the winning of the proletariat and the ruined middle classes to the side of the Labor Party, The intensification of the crisis gave the Belgian Labor Party an opportunity to put this plan into effect by participation in the government with this very purpose in mind...
...Victor L. Berejer Yet we do not deny that after we have convinced the majority of the people, we are going to use force if the minority should resist...
...The State Executive Committee decided that ten local unions shall be considered an adequate number...
...The development of the working class movement throughout the world proceeds in various ways, by zigzags and forward spurts...
...This development had its inception long ago, when the aggressiverevolutionary wave oi' 1919-1920 had spent itself, when the radicalrevolutionary sentiments of the proletariat had been compromised and disorganized by the splitting tactics of the Bolsheviks, and the hopes of new democratic gains appeared boundless...
...One affiliate which contributed to this is the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, which organized all shops in the men's clothing industry, a number manufacturing shirts, and unionised one of the largest plans in the world, the Joseph and Feiss, where 2.400 worker* are employed...
...SaHerv WoHsfi to Strike ' Members of Battery ttdrkars* Federal TJ«i»n s >.'1»,2G6 voted to strike if the management does aot grant demands for shorter hours, increased wages and seniority rights...
...The destruction of capitalist stability may take the form of an unprecedented catastrophe in the event of war, now being feverishly prepared by fascism...
...Sidney Hillman, Joseph Schiossberg and Jacob Potofiky are guests of honor at the banquet, Friday, April 26, at the Hoilenden Hotel...
...This demonstration will be Sunday, May 5, in one of the largest halls in Cleveland...
...The capitalist parties stood helpless in the face of this catastrophe...
...Socialism on the, Road to Power May First-Nineteen Thirtyfive By RAPHAEL ABRAMOWITSCH severe blow deal: to in* ternational Socialism by Hkfcr's victory in Germany brought gady temporary confusion into to ranks, weakening for a while IB prestige and striking power...
...Their immediate task is fight against the depression and its consequences for the people and the toiling masses...
...They are very far removed from any specie* of revolutionary "radicalism...
...But the no less important problem remains: how to utilize that power, how to shape it, in order that it may become truly stable, how to...
...We want to convince the majority of the people...
...A resolution on the united front adopted at the last state <onvention authorized locals to participate in Communist united front activities if an adequate number of unions affiliated with the local central bodies officially take part in it...
...Besides, as modern men and true democrats, we have a somerevolution there is...
...The Socialist proletariat of Europe must display great discipline, endurance and political skill to utilize the contradictions of the situation in its own interests, in order that it may strike a death blow to both "capitalism and war...
...We want to observe closely the course of things, the development of economic and political conditions...
...During the colonial period of our history, when agriculture 1 ___was the principal pursu.t...
...A speedy and successful solution of this problem would bring a tremendous strengthening of the power of Russia's revolutionary government and would greatly strengthen the entire Socialist proletariat of Europe...
...The revival of Socialist prestige in the fascist countries and the strengthening of the labor movement in the democratic countries is reflected in an accentuation of revolutionary nynlisM...
...find out, if possible, where this development leads...
...The battles in Germany, and particularly in Austria, had, as a consequence, assumed the character of rear guard actions, such as armies are compelled to fight in periods of retreat...
...Such parties have before them no other road than the road to power...
...A far-reaching program lor educational and recreational activities resuited in well functioning Educational Classes, a Ladies' and Men's Choir of 75 voices, a Dramatic Club, Bowling and Baseball teams and l.b -¦¦-r *i/sj Sand...
...when they began to realize ^^Hj : that as toolless workingmen they were *T__—-ii^- masters, the necessity for union among ---" them took root, and as industry developed, the trade union movement followed in its wake and became a factor in the class struggle of the workers against the aggressions of the employers...
...And only the working class, as the basic power upon which modern industry rests, can help win a war should it be impossible to avert it The depression and the war danger split the forces of the proletariat, bat at the same time strengthened its position...
...The trial of the Republican Defense - Corps leaders in Vienna, the shop council elections in Germany are clear symptoms of the growing urge to revolutionary straggle...
...It is advancing forward and upward...
...The Federation has also sent a request to all breweries in the Cleveland area not to use the paper pads which beer houses put on the tables when beer is served...
...It can only be attained by patient work and intelligent organization...
...But in every democracy the majority rules, and must rule...
...The democratization of the Soviet regime, conciliation (through sonpromise based upon abandonment of utopianism) with the basic forces of the peasantry and the proletariat is the immediate task involved in the problem of the "road to power" in Russia...
...when the...
...The delegates from the Allied Printing Trades announced that the same pads could be bought in Cincinnati, made in a union shop...
...How to find the "road to power" in Europe and strengthen the power already acquired in Russia —these are the two cardinal problems before us...
...It would mean the beginning of a mighty new advance of Socialism in the entire world...
...Unfortunately the local Socialist movement will participate in a united front with the Communists on the first of May...
...It must be performed by the proletariat through the instrumentality of its own parties...
...Cleveland Unions in Big Demonstration By Sidney Yellen CLEVELAND...
...On the basis of this decision, ten minor unions, some not affiliated with the Cleveland Federation of Labor, will celebrate May Day with the Socialists...
...The bankruptcy of the various capitalist groupings brought the Labor Party upon the arena, the only party able to put forward a clear and definite plan of actum: the De Man plan...
...The Cleveland Federation of Labor has sponsored a huge May mass meeting where organized labor will unite in demanding unemployment and social insurance, a 30-hour week and a law against company unions...
...With new hopes and opportunities, with new strength and courage, world Socialism is celebrating May 1, 1935...
...It is clear that this revolution of the minds cannot be brought about in a day or two...
...The removal of these disagreements, maintenance of unity within the Socialist vanguard, is the immediate problem of Socialism in the United State...
...To enter into war with a hungry, discontented population, deeply dissatisfied with the government's policy, with poorly fed, passive workers, deprived of the right to all independent political activity by the terrorist dictatorship, would constitute a risk that even Stalin himself must understand...
...Unfortunately, strife and division have arisen within that little nucleus upon whose shoulders this great responsibility has fallen...
...It is feared that the decision to unite with the Communists, after the Cleveland Federation of Labor rejected the proposition by a unanimous vote and arranged its own May mass meeting, will embarrass Socialists in the unions...
...The question there is no longer how to achieve power...
...Everybody feels and understands it, and it is one of the paradoxes of contemporary capitalism that fear of war, coupled wish the growth of nationalism and armaments, is accompanied simultaneously by strengthening of the positions and prestige of the working class and of the Socialist parties in the eyes of the people, for only the forces of Socialism, representing the only sincere opposition to war, can prevent war...
...make of it the bulwark of the toiling people, in order that it may become an instrument for the advance toward Socialism and not a weapon for the preparation, however involuntary, for bonapartism and counter-revolution...
...An Appeal to trade Unionists By Eugene V. Debs JCVvfeao* sis TJ17«a4f^aaLa>M * ^uJ^ : t'JJNIOXJSM, as applied to labor in the modern sense, is the fruit and flower of the last century...
...Weakened politically and morally, the European proletariat was compelled to enter upon a period of retreat and to maneuver as best it could...
...In other -words, the problem before the labor parties in the Scandinavian countries is to supply "correctives" for capitalism...
...The nationalist-capitalist reaction, which had assumed such barbarous forms in Central Europe, lost its old aggressive power...
...The development hi question was halted and appeared to be smashed by the brutal advance of fascism and Hitler ism, which wrecked in barbarous manner the German and Austrian Socialist parties...
...In this proletarian sense the "road to power*' remains also for Russia a distant ideal, and in wide circles of Russian and international Socialism there is a profound and tragic feeling that Stalin's dictatorship may lead the Russian Revolution into a dangerous and inescapable impasse...
...We want to...
...Participation in the government to ameliorate the diseases of capitalism, in order that they may be able later to win complete power, participation in the government "with the permission of capitalism," as some like to put it, and on the basis of the existing system, in order to win complete power "with the permission of the proletariat" and the confidence of the proletariat for the larger task of abolition of capitalism and the building of Socialism—is the road upon which in ever-increasing measure the important labor parties in the democratic - countries are now entering...
...Then, supported by this knowledge, we want to put ourselves in line with the march of civilization, so that civilization will ca,rry us, instead of crushing us, which it would do, if—knowingly or not—wc should stand opposed to it...
...A similar process has just taken place in Belgium...
...Meanwhile, the danger of war is particularly real for Russia, more so than for any other country...
...These pads are made in Germany and the Federation, cooperating with trade unions all over the world, is enforcing the boycott against German-made goods as long as Nazi dictatorship lasts...
...The world now perceives clearly the true meaning and substance of Hitlerism: the revival of German militarism, the rise of German neo-imperialism, directed toward immediate preparation for another world war...
...when they found themZl mmgm' selves in the labor market with but a ^B&t^jdBi low bid or none at all upon their labor Jm^Mmm power...
...The general parliamentary elections are expected to strengthen the Labor Party so as to make formation of a Labor govment inevitable, regardless of whether or not our British comrades will have a majority or will represent merely the strongest single party in Parlament, as was the case in 1929...
...This process of recovery ifl taking place in countries where democracy is firmly in power, and on a platform of reformism and coalition with democratic-bourgeois parties...
...Bat not more than two years had passed when the situation began to change...
...The absence of a mass labor movement in the United States (in the post-war period) has been one of the weakest spots of world Socialism...
...v - shop was small and work was done '' '¦> hand* with simple tools, and the /r worker could virtually employ him' self, there was no unionism among the fc * ' ' When machinery was applied to „ industry, and mill and factory took MgB^aig^jin__|lK the place of the country blacksmith nuT si BPp^fcB sbop...
Vol. 18 • April 1935 • No. 17
