Up-State Socialists Stronalu Repudiate Bolters
Up-State Socialists Stronalu Repudiate Bolters Oneal Flays M. E. C. Plan To Recognize Faction Refuses to Serve as "Official Otaerrcr" at Secessionist Convention; "Militants'" Treason to Party...
...Treachery in New York Instead of the N.E.C...
...Carrying water on both shoulders, the "militants" say "no" and then say "yes...
...The unsolicited advice from this group asanas with ill grace considering that their contribution la their own state has aatt been fruitful m the direction of organization and expansion of party activities, bat oa the eawtrary, they have since resorted to outright secession from the party," the committee declared in an official statement...
...tlie report and recommendations cf Sarah Limbach...
...Aid to "Militants" Branches Spurn Bid of Bolters In New York By Algernon Lee THE bolt from the Socialist Party by the left-wing faction headed by Norman Thomas-has failed dismaHy, as we predicted it would...
...Not only have they failed to gain any branches beyond those whose delegates walked out of the Central Committee two weeks ago...
...This statement, like the Thomasi te claims of victory in the Bronx, is remarkably economical of truth and accuracy...
...Let rae^ay at the outset that I will not serve as one of the observers...
...That resolution orders Communists to give all support to elements nice the "militante" and to fight Socialists who do net accept cooperation with- the Communist Party...
...Their defeat has apparently left the Tbomasite faction in very nervous state, and since actual figures have now become too unpleasant for them, they have resorted to flights of imagination in their publicity releases...
...I stated flatly that ours was not— and could not be—a party of Voltaires...
...The State Executive Committee was reluctant to believe the pa*** reports that s SSSSSaMsss reprssComnuttee* wi'n'^n EMe"UT* W™"71oa*rChairBmn^f Uw^sT tion&l Ory>fci motion C^0MHRfS&GttL asking for official infonaatloB...
...Plans include...
...This was had enough, but when it is reanmmered that Thomas is the leader of the special machine in How York City which brought on afl the trouble, need anything more be said* New it is proposed that a committee of the N.E.C...
...be sect as "observers" to the state conference called by the secessionists...
...Knowing all of us intimately, the New York cesarades may judge for themselves...
...The topic will be "The Relationship of the Socialist Youth Movement of Germany, Czechoslovakia and France to Their Respective Socialist Parties...
...Hoffman also declares that National Secretary Senior furnished the dual secession group in New York City "a late list of local and branch secretaries in New York State for purposes of creating division and split in the party...
...This is the third time in the history of the American Socialist movement that it has faced the issue of armed insurrection since 1883...
...I will aat be a party to ft, aad I hope that Comrades Hoan aad Hoopes will not be parties to such sb amazing aad outrageous proe e dsi f The motion itself is disingenuous in its first paragraph...
...It must be remembered that the Fried conference lasted nearly five hours, and that it resulted in no agreement...
...I interrupted and said, 'What about Maurer—it is Thomas aad Maurer—and Maurer ia with the Old Guard...
...After listening to Louis P. Goldberg, Chairman of the party's Youth Committee, who called upon them to continue their fight in winning the workingelass youth to Socialism and to build up a YPSL capable of preparing future fighters for Socialism, and to August Claeaaens, the meeting without speeches attacked organization problems of a pressing nature...
...This was based open aa^earlier report that Ckeiisili Hoan**nas listed in the otosmtttee of five...
...And this despite the fact that two leaders of the Thornasite bolters were members of that branch...
...He erroneously TBentkms Comrade Hoan as one of the proposed "observers...
...arnea insur r cc ucm or «DCCae*oniisp Tbus^n^bu^^/^Mnrssly...
...Is it true that Kruger's apartment was a gathering place for Yipsels whom he taught Communism and that twelve of these Yipsels signed a manifesto resigning from the party and declaring that they were joining the Trotsky Communists...
...are chosen to go to this.illegal conference to observe and report upon an attempt to split the state organization as well...
...at its sessions in Boston last December, at Buffalo in March, and at New York in July, regarding the ineligibility to membership of those who favor advocacy of the Communist ideas ef violence, dictatorship, and armed insurrection...
...The Answer Was "Yes" Not only was She answer...
...hie: of tha "militant" demands was that, we "permit complete freedom of expression, within the •party, of all viewpoints and opinions as to the theories, policies aad tactics which the parky is to gogic appeal and asked Garfinkel, Altman and Delson the flat, specific question: Does that mean that you would require the party to permit advocacy by members at party meet* ings of the use of force, violence, armed insurrection or dictatorship...
...Thomas IS the Party", Siege Declares in Up-State Loca ROBERT A. HOFFMAN of Buffalo, a former member of the "militant" group in the Socialist Party, made a tour of up-state New York last week and reported that of 47 locals outside of New York City only three small ones had voted to send delegates to the secession "conference...
...The right of free speech does not extend to the privilege of urging political hari-kiri...
...In that state a referendum was pending proposing secession, and without any attempt to get responsible 'state officials to abandon it...
...not acquainted with the facts would be led by this statement to believe that the alleged conference is to be a gathering of the party members of the state through delegates chosen by locals in response to a call by the only authority the party members have vested with the power to call such a conference, the State Committee...
...The communication points out that although the Pennsylvania organization welcomes suggestions from individual comrades beyond its jurisdiction it does so only when presented through the State Committee, as does the National Executive Committee aad other organized states and locals and continues...
...At this meeting, Hoffman reports, Siegel read a letter from Norman Thomas urging the members to send a delegate...
...of secession from a state organization whose members are affiliated with the national organization...
...Upon receipt at a reply froSaMsjSm, the committee is to reconvene m special bosbjsb...
...A state conference called by whom...
...I sent a copy of sschl list to State Secretary Merrill (it is quite obvious that Merrill did not send a copy to Altman), and the only other copywent to the national office...
...It reads that "five official observers be sent to the state conference called for New York State at Utica, December 28 and 29...
...3. Is it true that fourteen Yipsets, six of whom were party members, signed s program which provided for the organization of armed forces to carry oa armed insurrection and elaborated reasons for carrying on agitation in support of this proposal...
...Letters were also sent to Heam and the National Executive Committee, protesting the abase of the branch secretaries* mailfaag tm% a protest prompted by the sctSSSi'of the bolting group...
...Were the •militant" delegates guilty of treachery to the party by opposing the expulsion of a member of this type...
...When the secession call for the "conference" came up in the City Committee of 21 members, it was unanimously voted to file communications received from the dual organization...
...As observers, both Krzycki aad Thomas constitute a farce...
...of the ruin he has wrought...
...My reasons are obvious...
...The motion was made by one of the "militant" sympathizers...
...It shows a "united front" between the "militants'' and the Communist Party, an understanding regarding common purposess the Communist International...
...More amazing is the fact that the leader of the secession, Norman Thomas, is named as one atpb "observers...
...A letter from Dan Hoan to Julius Gerber, in response to an inquiry by the latter, also indicates that the matter of the secession conference in Utica was not honestly placed before him...
...He said inasmuch as Thomas was our standard bearer, Olean should OBEY HIM...
...Obey him" because he "IS the Socialist Party...
...In one breath, the Call purports to deny it, in another it insists upon that self-same "right to free expression within party channels" of all views "of party affairs, theories, policies, tactics and tendencies...
...at tbe Boston meeting a year ago declared would invite police spies and government agents into the party...
...Recognizing loiters Now that secession from the party in this state is an accomplished fact, the proposals before us are that the N.E.C...
...I...
...One proposes that a committee of five members of the N.E.C...
...Resent Bolting Faction's Use Of Party's Mailing U* For Secession^ Purpoaea —Demand Explanation From Hours...
...It is my hope and expectation that those who believe in an active, aggressive, effective Socialist Party in New York City wffl rejoin the party...
...We welcome this evidence from snemy of the Socialist Party V*m of the organized labor xnoveJTnent...
...yet secessionists but contemplated secession...
...The secession allies of the Communists have .plenty of support from the Daily Worker, every issue of which for months shows that it has become the official organ of the secessionists...
...I can well understand why Thomas does not want to consult the evidence* He has fatally committed himself to the allies of the Communists and has placed himself at the head of the secessionists...
...I suppose that by giving different answers to different comrades the "militant" plan ¦ is to augment their caucus organization by appealing to all groups—irrespective of Socialist principle, sincerity and "clarity...
...Siegel read a letter from Norman Thomas urging- favorable action," writes Hoffman...
...When Garfinkel seeks to cast doubt upon my sincerity- and my actions in the party, I shall reply, for the benefit of his colleagues, merely by quoting from a recent letter I received from Norman Thomas: "However I may differ with r, yaw from time to time I never doubt your friendship or your ability and devotion to the parly...
...adopted a' motion by Coolidge requiring New York State to "show cause" why the charter of the state should net be revoked...
...An Anthracite District Socialist Conference was authorized to meet in February...
...That plea by Thomas was carried by Siegel to other locals up-state...
...The proposal to send a committee not to the local and state organization of the party in New York, but So a secession conference, is the most startling phase of the drama of disruption that has yet occurred...
...He added that unless the committee he picked was chosen he wanted so committee at all...
...written Thomas, the "observer," is quoted in the Milwaukee Leader as saying his secessionists will "present to the National Executive Committee a reorganized party" in New Tort State...
...It may be necessary to pin them down, because they will try to squirm, to avoid a precise, dear, definite commitment, one way or the other...
...Insurrection Issue Finally, let me say that the action , of Thomas and Krzycki in supporting the secession allies of the Communists is not surprising...
...The answer was a motion to adjourn, which was carried unanimously...
...He has given his reasons for his action in the letter below to members of the N.E.C...
...Jack Altman sad Msx Delson—sad three party members representing the centrist position— Dr...
...Thomas ia only one member of the Socialist Party.' Siegel answered —I quote him exactly—'Norman Thomas IS the Socialist Party, like it or not.' (In New York City, Harlemites say 'Father Divine is God.' Has it reached the point in the Socialist Party that ANY comrade—Thomas, Hoan, Hoffman, or any one ewe—IS the Socialist Party...
...did not get away with it...
...What would be the proper course of the N.E.C...
...oa tile disruption in New York State may now be summarized as follows: Early this year the N.E.C...
...Hoffman has sent a protest to Senior regarding this and in his report to State Secretary Merrill he says: "I am the only one in Buffalo having a correct up-to-date list of our branch (Secretaries...
...That committee would inquire of us as to whether we have any documentary or other evidence of the following accusations which we make against the secessionists: Chorees Against Bolters 1. Have they violated the decisions of the N.E.C...
...and Mrs...
...The course proposed in these two motions actually means * semirecognition by five numbers of the N.E.C...
...in such a situation...
...The right of free speech does not extend to the advocacy of its antithesis, dictatorship and armed insurrection...
...constitution was elected...
...t' - a* * * .....a...
...Thus the "militant" mind has raised Thomas to the heights of divinity...
...sending a committee to New York to ascertain the truth of these accusations, it is proposed that a committee go to Utica to observe the splitters in action...
...Swift action was 'token against those who were not...
...To get the facts, therefore, from such Janusfaced politicians, it seems to me that the baste way is for comrades to ask the Call—and Garfinkel, Altman, Delson, et al—the specific question: "Do yon demand that members be permitted to advocate, within the party, tha use of force, violence, at ami insurrection or dictatorship, aa a mesas of achieving Socialism...
...The fact is that the Knickerbocker Village Branch almost unanimously endorsed Goldberg and the party and only three of its members have aligned themselves with Thomas...
...Following the Anthracite Conference an organizer is devote himself exclusively to that district will be placed in the field...
...That precept has been applied by Garfinkel in a special supplement of tbe Socialist Can in which he purports to "blast" the article in The New Leader of December 7 about the conference in' Dr...
...Hoffman met him before Local Olean, and after a long debate Siegel urged that the members send a delegate to the "conference...
...This group circularized Pennsylvania hraathss with an attack open the Now Tor* organization aad s repass*, that branches pass s resolution, which was enclosed...
...Besides...
...Since the above was...
...Hoffman's report of the Olean meeting is so extraordinary and tlnuws "SOSB 'a light on the "militant" mind that the following sections deserve a permanent record in The New Leader...
...With this introduction, our readers win be interested in the following commeqtjby Oneal on the proposal that a *onrmittee "observe** secession in Comment by Oneal I vote No on motions 48 and 49, and the following comment will serve for both: ''Militants'' have seceded from the party in New York City and it is proposed to send Krzycki, Thomas, Oneal, Hoopes and Senior to a state conference called by the secessionists as observers, these observers to report their observations to the next meeting of the N.E.C...
...The Socialists never lost that battle, and they will net lose this one...
...The Executive Secretary's report indicated that the 1986 membership is likely to exceed thai of 1934, and that plans are under wag/ to reorganize the branches that fell below the Constitutional minimum...
...State Executive Secretary, the SthaV Executive Committee of the So* cialist Party of Pennsylvania, meeting here, voted to launch a campaign for a special session of the Legislature to push *:program of labor, social and rd|}tff legislation...
...tsmrn Oneal, a member of the NJ5.C has voted No on both proposals and has announced that he will not serve as an "observer" of the second stage of the secession...
...It is regrettable that Thomas and his followers find themselves in such desperate straits that they must descend to falsification and misrepresentation of a type that have made the Communist Party notorious, but I suppose it is simply a case of whistling to keep up their courage...
...It is upon the issue of the advocacy of armed issernotion and dictatorship, within Or without the party, and the related illusion of united front with Communists, that I, at a ese|*fg...
...Free expression" "within party channels" ef such s doctrinaire program wil make of the party nothing more than a theoretical debating society aad sa impotent . political force...
...Thus a "national leader" under his own signature urges support of a secession "conference...
...S. J. Fried, George Steinhardt and I participated on behalf of harmony...
...t<iea> regional conferences to set MS Sff executive body and to plan toTjif vigorous campaign in behalf eH this legislation...
...3P»TftS"movc was a motion by Ntraan Thomas to send a committee of three to investigate Local New York, he naming the comatose...
...Did the "militant" leaders ask, as the price of harmony, "the right of members to express any opinion, including the right to advocate force, violence, armed insurrection and dictatorship...
...two days before the "militant" caucus split the part...
...Comrade Hoopes was not present and is hot a party to the proposal...
...An "Inclusive" Parry Their - plea was for what has been euphemistically called an "inelusive" party:—that is, inclusive, among others, of the armed-insurrectionists...
...Why Comrade Hoan agreed to this proposal I do not know, but I do not question his good intentions...
...Both voted to condemn the New York State Committee for not directing the reinstatement of the Buffalo insurrectionists who frankly declared that they were Communists at their trial...
...After sixteen year*: of" intrigue, the Communist Party has accomplished its aim by finding allies in tim Socialist Party, but these allies are yet to learn.that, their treachery is futile and that they will find the road, easy for them to travel into one of tim Communist groups...
...It cannot appeal to me...
...Socialists Protest N.E.C...
...I assume that tbe answer is "No" to the Socialists and "Yes" to the Neo-Communists...
...In the Bronx the bolting county chairman, Aaron Levensteip, was repudiated by his own branch...
...aad that those who desire to advocate force, vkdsnns...
...Even in Norman Thomas' own branch there are not more than nine or ten members who support him while in those few branches, invariably the small ones, where the bolters mad a majority, a substantial mironity of between 46% and close to 60% has in every ease voted to remain loyal to tbe Socialist Party...
...Thomas and Senior...
...Action en the invitation te attend the Eastern States Conference, called by Massachusetts, was deferred to a special meeting of , the committee, pending further Information...
...In that conference, Dr...
...v Actions of s majority of the NJE.C...
...In the first place, this proposal is, quite in contrast with the action taken on the Indiana case...
...the charter of the state was suspended within lees than three days...
...Militants'" Treason to Party Exposed In Strong Statement TWO motions are pending in die National Executive CornjBrtiee of thr^Socialist Party on the sece^ioam New York...
...Perhaps a national convention consisting of "the leader" alone will be next on . 1__---X - — . The "Militants" And Armed Insurrection ? ? ? A Repl^to the Socialist Call By Matthew M. Levy " IT did not take long for Charles B.Garfinkd, the self-appointed "temporary chairman" of the socalled *wfficial" City Central Committee of Local New York —the self-anointed and very temporary leader of the leftwing bolters—to learn and apply the precept of Lenin—"to practice trickery, to employ cunning, and *' * * to sometimes overlook or conceal the truth...
...He apparently was not informed that it is a conference of secessionists...
...The secessionists sent Harold Siegel of Brooklyn up-state to get delegates...
...What right has the national office to furnish such a list to a group that, regardless of merits and demerits of the controversy in New York City, has called a state convention without following the procedure of the Constitution...
...Members of the N.E.C...
...2. Is it true that the "militant" delegates in the City Central Committee voted against the expulsion of Abe Krager, who admitted under his own signature that he is a Communist...
...If s single outside insurrectionist is admitted, there is no logical reason why a "revolutionary stream" of preach iers of violence sad dictatorship shoujd not be admitted...
...The big majority of the party members in this state are with us in this fight against party suicide and we have plenty of support in other states, now that the issue is clear, and every mail brings word 'oTThis support...
...Penna...
...Yes," orally given by the three leftwingers at the Fried conference, but tips documentary evidence printed in the Call itself confirms my statement of the facts in The New Leader...
...YPSELS TO BUILD YOUTH SECTION OF PARTY JT\ESPITE a driving rain, in answer to a call sent out by the Party Youth Committee of Local New York, 200 Yipsels met last Sunday evening ait the Rand School to show their loyalty to the pa rem organization...
...All three answered in the affirmative, and unequivocally stated that they would not agree upon any peace plan unless that "fundamentaV right was guaranteed...
...The second names the committee — Krzycki, Hoopes, Oneal...
...Its duty would be, if It selected any committee at an, to send a committee to New York to confer with the local and state officers of the party and learn from them first as to what has happened...
...The CaU carefully fails to give the reason the conference broke up without success...
...itants" desire an aggressive, active Socialist Party they have received my support...
...It is called to make the local split a state-wide Split, so five observers of the N.E.C...
...If the peace plan did not fall through because we centrists refused to agree with the "militant" demand to support the advocacy of armed insurrection and dictatorship, why was the conference abortive...
...Fried and myself, on tha other...
...By "mistake" my notice of this proposal was also received by slow mail while other members "received it by airmail...
...4. Is it true that whoa the grievance committee recommended the suspension of fear of these party members for a year, again the "militant" delegates in the City Central Committee voted against their suspension...
...The meeting wiU be held early in January...
...The demagogic plea ef "free speech"—to advocate Communist doctrines ia oar party—may appeal to the liberals sad romanticists...
...l I...
...Let the Call give a frank answer...
...It one who is already a member of tbe party may advocate violence with impunity, there is no reason why an outsider who does so should be prevented from joining the party...
...A committee to arrange for and publicize a meeting of the Socialist youth with Gerhart Seger as main speaker was referred to the Executive Committee...
...Joe Mendelsohn, Kay Sampolinsky, Eli Rosenblatt, Louis Karamerman, Abe Jaffee, Irving Shapiro, Mac Eisenberg and Seymour Klamper were elected as members of the new Executive Committee of the Gerater New York Federation | of the Y.P.S.L...
...It is like asking a man accused of murder to show cause why he should not be hanged...
...In Buffalo there are three "militant" sympathizers who left after the expulsion of five insurrectionists...
...and then to require a categorical and uneauivocal answer...
...Hoan refers to a "state-wide meeting "being called...
...That is what the responsible executives of a trade union would do if members" of a local union had seceded...
...and Garfinkel, Jack Altman and Max Delson participated on behalf of the "militants...
...Does anybody doubt what kind of a report Thomas will make to the N.E.C...
...The whole matter is considered by the Executive Committee an intrusion into the affaire of the Pennsylvania State organisation altogether .opt of keeping with the constitutisSaad spirit of aha Socialist Party...
...It would be ridiculous for any one local still affiliated with the party to call a state conference, but here we have secessionists from one local calling it, and bow we are asked to vote oa two proposals that ignore the responsible local and state organizations and give semi-official recognition to a comic opera coup d'etat...
...I shall net go into the question as to whether Garfinkel is a centrist, a militant, a Communist, or one who has been politically dormant for many years—now nobly springing into action to "bring peace" into the party by leading the die-bard secessionists...
...This reversed the democratic processes observed 'by al democratic organizations and even by capitalist courts...
...The conference is called by the secessionists of New York City, a group that has bolted the party organization...
...The verdict is sealed and ready to deliver even before the "observer" observes...
...but they have not even succeeded in holding all of those...
...actually send a committee of five to observe and report upon a conference that is intended to make the local secession a state-wide secession...
...New York, of course, refused to respond to such an oligarchic procedure and the majority of the N.E.C...
...The meeting adjourned with the singiqg of the International...
...Labor, labor fraternal, unemployed and Social is* groups wfH be invited Plans for the 1986 carapa.gr were formulated and the State Secretary was authorised to proceed immediately with the organization of Congressional District Campaign Committees...
...They aren't interested in fclther tbe accusations are false or they are not...
...8. J. Fried, George I. Steinhardt and Matthew Levy—met for five hoars, the latter three hoping to get from the "militant" leaders minimum proposals as a basis for peace and harmony in the party...
...By George F. Griffiths Sjpaetst to The New Leader PITTSBURGH.—Acting *dj...
...5. Is it true that two dsys before the 'militant" delegates walked out of the City Central Committee, three of their leaders—Charles B. Garfinkel...
...Our branches and our meetings would be devoted to the advocacy within the party of .armed insurrection, until such time as the party win be officially committed to its advocacy outside party channels...
...They will not support a course which even a majority of the N.E.C...
...Thomas and Krzycki bear a big responsibility for the secession, especially Thomas, who has tar several years been the counselor and leader of the secessionists...
...The "observers" are to ignore the basic causes of the conflirt...
...The largest of them, the Upper West Side Branch, repudiated the action of its delegates, removed them and elected successors and reaffirmed its loyalty to the organization...
...shall ignore the local and state organizations aad go to a secession conference to "observe" its actions...
...6. Is it true, as the three centrists declare, that Altman Garfinkel sad Delson made a proposal the substance of which was the folio wing geThe right of members to express any opinion, including the right to advocate force, violence, armed insurrection, and dictatorship...
...The farce is even more fantastic whert one remembers that the Jeader of the splitters, Norman Thomas, has the brass to permit his name to be included in the list of those who are to observe the attempt to split...
...Robert Lieberman, member of the Pittsburgh organization and bead of the Allegheny County Ua» employed Citizens' fumgm, the largest single unemployed MBtMP the country, was appointed SSpsl Organizer...
...True, the issue was sought to be placed by two of tbe three conferring left-wing leaders not upon the basis that they personally advocated these non-Socialist and unsound tactics, but upon the basis of "free speech" for those who might so advocate in the party...
...Never in the history of a labor party or trade union has there ever been such a proposal by responsible members of the national executive...
...Namecalling I shall leave to those who in the Call have asked for surcease of "mud-«linfring...
...A Question of Veracity The question is one of veracity between Garfinkel, Delson and Altman, on the one hand, and Steinhardt, Dr...
...Fried's home...
...If they are true, we have faced treachery in Local New York sad the party has rendered s service to the whole movement by trying to expel the Communist plants within the party...
...What tender solicitude for secessionists in New "York and what bitter resentment against proposed secession in Indiana...
...This is not the case...
...A committee of seven to revise the Y.P.S.L...
...Thus they have announced that the Knickerbocker Village Branch had joined their bolt and repudiated its delegate to the Central Committee, Louis P. Goldberg, who proposed the reorganization motion in the Central Committee...
...OBEY HIM" is the command of the secessionists by way of illustrating what they mean by democracy...
...eS*V not agree with the "militants...
Vol. 18 • December 1935 • No. 51
