A LETTER FROM NORMAN THOMAS AND A REPLY BY ALGERNON LEE
Letter from Normun Thomas nd A Reply by Algernon Lee Issues Agitating Socialist Party Discussed in Communication Ad-dressed by Leader of Left Wing and Comment by Chairman of Local New York—The...
...We hope the material will help clarify the'ofrHmtttm i* the mssdi ef earn* reds* and will, contribute .to " s safution of the porta conflict and VBi' ss estivation ef party unity...
...It will or the job of the Party to bring that fee ssg-ge" home to ATfiCTfea,vto'-the- workers with hand ¦and brrtiv many of whom- still fSLtbotttly tWtrtt of themselves so in the middle class...
...What have been the results under the left wing leadership, with Thomas at the head, and of the Detroit declaration of principles-} In the p«st year the party lost approximately 7,000 members, or about one-third of the membership...
...Thomas's letter to the Forward characterises him very well...
...Cohan., editor of the Jewish Daily Foihcard, Socialist organ, dealing with the titration at the Socialist Party...
...Note the elements of^the resolution: Communists are ordered to help intensify the straggle between the right sad heft wings in the Socialist parties under the guise ef the united front appeal...
...the contrary is true...
...I shall put Ebsve to say briefly under tTastioaoJ sat* m the SoBvty will he a general dieBhbink it cast he averted...
...It will insist upon a course likely to keep the peace of the country, but it knows that in the end plenty, peace, and freedom depends upon a planned economy bT abundance resting upon social ownership...
...right to bargain with the Communists^ te fraternise with the Communists, to arrange debates with them, bat H la wrong to fraternize wkh the labor movement, to seek a healthy, fruitful relation with organised labor...
...To accuse those «¦» have devoted their entire livath the building of the Socialist PsNfof seeking s split is to fsi § understand that a split wouM h a very tragic moment for thus I do not want a split in the psrlf Locsl New York, New York ftp) and the thousands of my coaasil throughout the country as sp want a split in the party...
...Committee," which speaks constantly of armed insurypactioA...
...Even when he does utter a good word about the labor movement he does it with a "but" and *n "if...
...How, then, does Thomas now venture to speak so righteously of justice and unity in the party...
...Even a child will understand that if we are to establish friendly relations with the labor movement we cannot do it J>y fraternising with the Communists...
...He reported that the "militants" were deliberately sabotaging the campaign...
...Above all, such a party must {*¦ Socialist...
...We, the Old Guard, stand for democracy and democratic discipline...
...Thomas says we must wait, we must not act hastily .against such members, we most await the overt act Thomas has taW a* before that he does not want a party which permits the propaganda of armed insurrection, but, he forgets this when it comes to dealing, with his left wing semrades...
...Is Cemaffl Thorns* surprised because we fight against this...
...At its recent seventh congress in Moscow the Communist International, adopted a resolution (the full text is printed elsewhere in this section) instructing Communists everywhere to fan the factional conflict between the right and left wings in the Socialist parties and to utilize the left wings as instruments f or^destroykig the Socialists...
...I hare never been able to discover it...
...I Bps esa keep th* Matiemd ¦Lather...
...We, the Old Guard, take the sssition of the entire Socialist in ah ment in Europe—the British Lstat Party, the great Socialist partial of Scandinavia, of Holland, ff Chechoslovakia...
...We shouM like to ¦Jpgfthrr including the ele¦b New York City which Bit to split it...
...Thomas declares that if Local New York will dissolve organized factions in the party and suspend or expel members who preach Communist doctrines, the result will be a .national split in the party...
...There is little we can do about it if he wants to find an excuse, an issue...
...Ws, the Old Guard, do not wish .to make anyone useless...
...Only the frank or secret agents of Stalin or of the Communhtt splinter groups seeking to regain his favor by helping destroy the Socialist parties and winning in reward pel mission to retarn to the ranks of the Comintern can permit themselves to agitate fer the united front...
...Bc^ to Mass Potty 4. Mow da WE arssees to build a mass party sf Socialism in Aperies...
...A United Front 10...
...Communism Thomas speak* of s spirt in the Thomas says he believes that armed insurrection should not be preached in the party...
...What is this ? What a trsnsfersation...
...jflpnTelfl tea, Brefrdersjhajled Thapsjl our left wingers as allies sj9 war oa the OU Guard, aisZl which has but one par pose: t%jj line with the Comintern resobs...
...Is it not an extreme leftist, aurapaons to prspare for saixare of . fpv.er by axned uprising...
...And if he is not deaf and blind, he must know ?hat in their own circle, among '.themselves, Ahey talk differently, ^they talk of armed insurrection, dictatorship and other Communist theories...
...He is "not tssn I of the orders issued by the Hal intern to the Communist paraamk nurse and encourage the left ajsa in the effort to destroy the Soehmt parties...
...But I do not want ¦It even in Now York City mm HSBIOMvO r SJI |w It cannot be argued that the atpS to split the party is meant to pb party against Communism •sinst the advocacy of armed Bection...
...One can never be sure where he stands...
...Why was he silent when the party in New Jersey, where the loft wing is in control, expelled am eat ire county organization, with 16 right-wing Socialist branches, without s hearing, without triaL sad for no other reason than .that they refused te sell raffle ticket* for a left wing newspaper...
...This party is the more necessary if we are to' have a mass political movement of farmers and workers because that party can easily be captured by demagogues, by the quack medicine doctor or the labor politician unless there is the influence of Socialist education, - agitation and organization...
...This is to be used ss s means of intensifying the, struggle of the Communists against Social Democracy, which is slandered in the resolution in the usual Communist manner.' The purpose of the united front is clearly cxpresed...
...the left wingers...
...9o«-*«ofi of Sects 3. Thomas says we, the Old )Euard, want to have a sect, a ehnrch, a synagogue, a snail 7fcL.P...
...It was obvious at that time that this left wing majority did not like the peace pact...
...He and the extreme lefts control the National Executive Committee...
...Only the welding of the proletariat into a single mass political army will ensure^ its victory in the struggle against fascism and the power of capital, for the dictatorship of the proletariat and the power of the Soviets...
...Comrade Thomas has been sr going for three years that the Old Guard mast not remain in the party, nay longer, that its rale in the Socialist Party m flarishon We hare not yet forgotten the Milwaukee convention, where under the guise of seeking to Americanize the party he undertook to depose Morris Hillquit as national chairman...
...We do not seek to drive useful members from the party...
...It protests against a ifK in the Socialist Party...
...One can never be sure whether he meet its the fires or second thing he says...
...The Communist press tajfa to make the impression of bshf the best friend of the Sodsm Party...
...He will express what is apparently a definite view or make what appears to be a definite accusation...
...And >dbt is the history of the "Kevohrtionary Pol icy...
...And Norman Thomas, in his hetor to the editor of the fiinsk speaks in the same toae...
...I assume Thomas knows what he is miking about...
...And, we may add, only those Socialists hopelessly misled by the Communist maneuver can permit themselves to he influenced by the Communist propaganda and to stage united front demonstrations with them, as "did our "militants" in New York at a huge rally in Madison Sonare Garden last week...
...It has taken our leftists under its wing...
...Fraternally yours, ALGERNON LEK...
...And what is the history pf the other lefts, the "militants" ? *e will be told that officially they fcave changed their tone...
...and others bear all *he earmarks of professional spies...
...He who in the name of Socialism st this crisis discredits Socialism snd its ideals in the unions or in the country, or who tries to split the Party or to slander it, is aiding oar common enemy...
...t tea defeat, which the .Socialist CSH, organ of ' five states had a right set up.' It served the Party by doing it...
...I do .not believe be is, and dp not believe that I am...
...It knows that whatever the changes are it can expect only new efforts to disrupt and destroy the unions and the labor movement...
...On WmskW 1», IMS, Norma* Fas awe aflaVsoassI a tetter to Abraham...
...Ws# not want a church...
...Yes, we lost votes in New York this year...
...Is it any wonder that Local New York has been compelled to pat sn end...
...Forward's services to real Socialism in years gone by warrant a better hope of it than that in this hoax of emergency...
...The analogy applies not to us bet to the extreme lefts in- the -party, whose spokesman and defender Thomas has become...
...This is our hope against fascism and against war...
...Why did the party suffer such a severe defeat there...
...The Communist press is reprinting the editorials appearing in The Socialist Call, the organ of our left wing, of which Thomas is the leader...
...The assertion is contrary to W tlx facts...
...WL j. ohstounly msptred by pit'to get rid of myself and MplUMbsr ef other Socialists annuhmb fjkfgfjf jfswuoj kodyhhb sljlj hjlfkj;lgkjf...
...I tween the left wingers sndSfl Communists for the destmctasfg I as, the Old Guard...
...The party barely managed to, get on the ticket in IUiaois, where there » no Old-Guard...
...CONSCIOUSLY, TO ACHIEVE THEIR PURPOSE...
...we most wait until they obtain s number of misled followers ready to participate in armed insurrection...
...It will judge only on the basis of overt acts...
...He t» the leader of the left wing faction...
...It is I will happen if this movement pitt the Party goes through, anally I do not think that the 9 can be split on a national l We shall prevent that effort by opinion...
...we certainly do not want to exclude anybody...
...This opposite view he expresses upon sec—id thought...
...Beth the Ca9 mnaist Psrty snd these sadatE groups want te swallow oar saMjfl They have been at work for SjjBJ years te this cad...
...Charge of SpRt 1. Thomas begins his letter with the accusation that we, the Old Guard, want to exclude him from the party or to render him useless in the party...
...And now we eome to dh main point: I have dwelt at length upends various points touched by Tiroes* not beosnse I like to quarrel oft* ham...
...We recall that at the last moment *'a group of comrades begged 'Thomas not to destroy the unity of the party and to abandon his efforts to depose Hillquit...
...TsmiTh are idanlnaii si differences in the Party...
...To incktdje those matters the reply contain* P few additional remark...
...On}jr...
...That la why wo are fjH tag far oar...
...This is ekpb | provided for in the resolutives I the Comintern...
...neipiPTJ Vwanaa»ns«Ts 8. The substance of the whole situation is ss follows: Comrade Thomas's letter gives the impression that nothing, is going on between the Communists end...
...His an. swer was: "We bare a majority of C|the votes sad we will go through i with the operation!'' And now he savs that it is we who are trying [to split the party and that it is he Jwho is seeking to preserve its .«nity...
...We do not want a sect...
...The Madison Square GardajnLfl bate was part of the propagaah 1 and mechanics of the united hpL I of the fraternization progranr...
...And what do we see now...
...Such a party will not turn itself into a tribe of wstchhunters...
...Why did Thomas sad the left wing National, Execajlve jComssittee expat aa entire state organjfillfSf «».JP» #*he«- reason than that U was Tight win*, in sentitee hare decided-that they will no laager tolas ate hi the party elements who peach armed insarrection,, dictatorship and...
...Its purpose is to make it possible for Local New York to work and to function* The "militant" elements are staging scandals and obstructing our meetings...
...The "militants" were greatly disappointed and in despair after the July meeting of the National Executive Committee in New York...
...COMRADES, DO NT LET THE COMMUNISTS DESTROY OUR PARTY...
...The facts are quite different...
...The* organised labor m o v em e n t has had enough experience with the . Communists and will have nothing to do with them...
...I wanted, once and for 4 to state my own position and net of my comrades...
...The falsity of this accusation is too apparent to require an answer...
...The letter is written in an amiable, mild tone, in a holier-than-thou manse r. For heaven's sake, how ban a man pursue sues a double-entry system of horrtim ipins...
...Why does Themas defend them...
...We recall the underground campaign conducted against Hillquit...
...And what about Indiana...
...It is not to be brought about for the purpose ef establishing genuine unity of the working class, bat fer the purpose of promoting the Communist objectives...
...Three months before the congress of the ' Communist International, Browder, leader of the American Communist Party, made a speech in New York in which he urged the policy prescribed in the Comintern resolution, i.e...
...Thomas.and BrowsSjI taraed into a gigantic unites ha iip—tis'lis Ow...
...K is to clarify this issue...
...Has Thomas for gotten that...
...It must be international m the sense that it knows that Socialism will never be safely and securely established, that peace, plenty and freedom will never be surely obtained except as we win a world...
...How does Thomas intend to build a mass party of...
...We know that a split was averted at that time thanks only to the New York Old Guard and a couple of members of the National Executive Committee who simply forced a peace pact upon the left wing majority of the N.E.C...
...that the Communists mast encourage the left wing of the Socialist Party...
...Some are certainly Com-snuniat agents...
...JKo,mu*t await the overt act, he.tolls ns, before we ~ye$tnjs», tfe discipline them...
...LET OUR LEFT WINGERS KNOW THAT YOU WILL NOT TOLERATE THEIR POLICY OF HELPING THE COMMUNISTS, CONSCIOUSLY OR UN...
...The more we intensify our fight against the reactionary camp of Social Democracy, which is participating in a bloc with the bourgeoisie, the more effective will be the assistance we give to that part of Social Democracy which is becoming revolutionized, and the self-determination of the various elements within the Left camp will take place the sooner the more resolutely the Communists fight for a united front with the Social Democratic parties...
...The Resolution The Cominern resolution reads as follows: "Within the Social Democratic parties and the whole Second International a process of differentiation into two .main camp* is taking place- oMs by side with the existing camp of the reactionary element* who are trying to continue the policy of class collaboration with the bourgeoisie, there is being formed a camp of element* who are becoming revolutionized, elements who declare for the establishment of the united proletarian front and are adopting more and more the position of the revolutionary class struggle...
...But what does Thomas say to us...
...And Norman Thomas stake* tit sasse accusation...
...That is why they have overwhelmingly rejected the united front proposal aad will have nothing to do with the Cemmcnists...
...On si thought I ds sot believe the Forward Association ¦ anything of this sort...
...If they so desire, they can split the party...
...We will make the likelihood of violence less by building an inclusive party now...
...Why has the vote declined there...
...Why, then, does he strike this righteous attitude...
...Why does Thomas rash so eagerly to the defense of the left, of the "militants...
...And poor Coaaah I Thomas knows nothing ¦hssQu 1 He knows nothing of the existsp I of the Comintern...
...Fortunately, it developed at .Milwaukee that he did not have a , majority of the votes against Hillqu't...
...They have die power...
...As usual, he makes serious accusations, but immediately takes them back...
...keep the peace of the country, but it knows that in the end plenty, peace, and freedom depends upon a planned economy bT abundance Kng hhgh dh hlhj fl jabfjfn jkfjof vblvjnn ER am sot going to argue ¦fetntJojuUity ef tfcat at K« am simply snytnav "UPHjs> those tactics succeed, in K the Forty, what next...
...I say to Norman Thomas: we are not guilty...
...How do yon like the logie...
...Even left wing parties in Europe, which constitute a small minority, have taken the same position...
...As a matter of fact, as early as last July the left wingers made an attempt to split the party...
...No, Co asp Thomas, we want a strong Saebjf Party...
...If you have the proof, why don't yea have the courage to formulate your accusation concretely...
...In the reply by Cmttldt-.if* referent* is mode to matter* wkiek occurred, subsequent to iu publicoJbwn $t the Forward...
...Fortunately, in other countries the Socialist parties are thoroughly aware of the true character ef the Communist maneuver...
...The policy of the Comintern is being carried out on a large scale in this country, as elsewhere...
...H* ti against a split, he says...
...Thoma^s actions in the party are exactly the opposite of what he says...
...We certainly do not seek to bargain for votes or.jobs...
...It will be American in the sense that we try to meet American conditions in the light of American psychology...
...The Old Guard made the same argument against De Leon and how we make the same argument against Thomas and the extrema left...
...The fact is that the left wing majority of the N.E.C...
...Bat Csa I maoism can be criticized frse-i E Socialist platform sad in 0*31 eiaHet press...
...Thamrns bows very watt ;*hat it is only for "political," "uadejrgjBOuad'' raasnrv that they have ceased to agitate openly -fair WnMd Insurrection...
...A Uttle church pnagogne whore people...
...Save the Forty...
...For heaven's sake, asm not Comrade Thomas uaaVrshfiH that he fat net speaking te djB| drew ? Our isasri m that CoanaA Thomas deter mtee...
...The New Leader believe* it is it* duty to make them available to a wider audience...
...And Comrade Thomas encoaapj this Communist effort by rtrrbsL ht,Madison Square Garden thp_ believed the Communists —r>ahl cars in their "new line" aUasJu I longing their ability to cha* overnight...
...The contrary is true...
...been newikferingiy changed,: ^*"f regard^M*forthooming debate with Browder *s so meportaht...
...Where Is the Proof...
...Why Hi the Communists pell more votes than the Socialists in Cleveland...
...If there is-anyone who has ^seized power over the party it is the militants, not the Old Guard...
...With this frank resolution before us...
...What about Cleveland...
...He even attends' the very, smallest grasp meetings of Yipsets at which he incites those present against the Old Guard...
...Yes, I know, as Thomas asserts, that the Communists have recently changed their »Hne...
...The Old Guard, we aJW believe, is doing the ilrrili ajjp The Old Guard wants to spHNm party...
...Now let me state briefly the Party I want and^which I think on seeend thought most ef your readers want...
...Because the mattert touched in theme documents are of vital concern to all party member* throughout the country...
...It sped* as if it were the organ of the tV cislist Party...
...the labor movement in order to obtain concessions from it...
...All of as sincerely supHoe definite condemnation of ¦ insurrection that the NBC 'SeOde...
...We will certemy net reject say hoaest proposal (a- 1 unity, even if it be made st tat last moment...
...He cries: "Hitlerism...
...The labor movement knows, however, through Utter experience, that when Moscow orders the Communists to thaage their line it may expect new trouble, hew maneuvers, new tricks, new treachery- from the Communists, the labor movement is net ss easily impressed aa Thomas by change* hi the Communist line...
...Two weeks before election, Comrade Claessens, who is well acquainted with the facts and whose honesty no one doubts, presented s report on the progress of the campaign in New York...
...we have no hesitation in saying that those who agitate for a united front with the Communists are enemies of the Socialist ! parties...
...Last year, when toe left wing took over the national leadership of the party at the Detroit convention with the adoption, of -1ms dedans**** of principles, they assured us that tens of thousands of new members would flock into the party...
...It will be alive to the immediate things that can and must be done for workers and their children...
...A. 1st S-L.P...
...Why set up a court of honor to examine your charge, to sift the evidence sad to decide whether we sre guilty of bargaining with politicians OX whether you are guilty of scurrilous slander...
...The establishment of the united front of the working class is the decisive link in the preparation of the toiler* for the forthcoming great battles of the second round of proletarian revolution...
...that the old guard Bits done so badly in eiee¦p the last two or three years pjbsttsr in the election after S fortfaer split the Party and Boat sssse of us who have ¦are worked hard at elecI and at other times...
...tanas' Letter Gfear occasions I have Kg position on Forty .eonBat in the pages of Forward Epjssed my aonian* firom the Baton by Forward...
...Why not...
...W« jH tghtteg hecaaaa we are deeply <B vteced that the tactics of the S wing are i usmilsg the party tst_B| states of s sect...
...But on this point, too...
...What we want is mutual respect sad mssSfl-Jtola, based upon class iaHrrfafci aad-olas» eaasrfoasaesa...
...once sad for all, to this unbearable situation...
...It is a peculiar letter, fall of contradictions...
...Thano are the same elements •mho sing "Thomas is our leader, Tme shall not be moved!'' Many of these elements are, inarpi I ii need, ro ma nti e young people...
...Kjob and your readers do Heps...
...but having dene this he will reject some* thing which give* the utterance a contrary meaning...
...This is a strong expression...
...The Lpss •# Yates 7. Comrade Thomas makes charges without the slightest attempt at thought...
...Como* -ar , «£3 oTSSj S the status of s sect...
...The Old Guard, he says, is responsible for the decline of the Socialist vote in New York...
...By assailing the OM Guard in the Socialist Party aad conducting a systematic campaign against it, our left wing is helping the Communists achieve the purposes of the Comintern resolution...
...For this reason I will reply in ray own way to points which are important...
...They have made it almost impossible to do any constructive work...
...In Cleveland they have had a "united front" with the Communists on various occasions...
...He asks whether we...
...Soeh is the logic of ourfss wingers...
...Resolution of the Comintern Reveals True Purpose of the United Front WE reprint below from The New Leader of November 23rd the Cull text of the resolution adopted at the recent seventh congress of the Communist International in Moscow on the united front and Che tactics.prescribed far the Communist parties in pressing thenbattle for the destruction of the Socialist parties...
...It is sli...
...The "debate" staged under the auspices of The Socialist Call in Madison Square Garden between...
...he can has make it possible...
...For this reason I view with suspicion .Thomas's assertion that he wants to build an "American" jOftrty.' Leaving- aside such names as Beard* ley, .Graham, Ms illy, Stump, Maurer, Caasidy, Qneal, Kiikpatrick, McLevy, does Thomas thelieve that he is a better American than, Cahan, Claeasens, Gorber, . .JUdin, ?ank#n, Salomon or.*aUtan...
...A year later 'death took Comrade Hillquit from our ranks...
...Letter from Normun Thomas nd A Reply by Algernon Lee Issues Agitating Socialist Party Discussed in Communication Ad-dressed by Leader of Left Wing and Comment by Chairman of Local New York—The Threat of Split, Banger of Sectarianism and the Question of the Unity of the Party Lee's Answer I have refrained in the past from arguing with Norman Thomas...
...at is useless ¦L that the proposed reorEu of Local New York is Element to split the Party...
...They declared that Thomas and his colleagues in the National Executive Committee had promised them that they would withdraw the charter of the state of NewYork and that they were doublecrossed, betrayed...
...Comrade Thomas's assertions are contrary to the facts...
...Joint action with the Social Democratic parties and organisations not only does not preclude but, on the contrary, render* still more necessary the serious and well-founded criticism of reformism, of Social Democracy as the ideology and practice of class collaboration with the bourgeoisie, and the patient exposition of the principles and program of Communis* to the Social Democratic workers "While revealing to the masses the meaning of the demagogic arguments advanced by the Right Social Democratic leaders against the united front, while intensifying the struggle against the reactionary section of Social Democracy, the Communists must establish the closest cooperation with those Left Social Democratic worker*, functionaries and organization* that fight against the reformist policy and advocate a united front with the Communist Party...
...Why this sajfc 1 fraternization with the Coaai I nists...
...I have long followed his statements on the labor movement in an effort to detect a dear, honest, unambiguous evaluation-of the labor movement...
...I now iTftasJ spoeal...
...There is a Communist PartsV America aad a hah* dasea Ctetefl nist splinter groups...
...4 What is the substance sf the Detroit Declaration...
...It is difficult to argue with him...
...Surely ¦foot seriously) believe that mil he in a better position to j really Socialist influence in pisM'ii 1 all ii i movement that jsmerge if you hove reduced •,renk* stiH further agd/ have K^Kbat is H yen wont...
...There ought to -be room enough for all of US whs wiH work desoocratically within the Party, using the democratic machinery which is stffl left to us in the country as efficiently as we can while we- can...
...He tells us that he is fighting the Communists...
...Bet strangest of all it-tP following: ^e|L One shrugs one's shoulders h reading the Communist psaapE is difficult to believe one's ops...
...Fraternally yours, NORMAN THOMAS...
...Bet the question that toucher* all is whether there shall be ss% in the party...
...Bat this particular issue is a very weak issue over which Thomas ^an try to split the "party...
...Jfruv...
...By flirting with the Communists, by fraternising with them, by arranging debates with them and participating in united front demonstrations ? . No...
...The lefts are in control there, too...
...Has our party been Americanized in the past two years air-ice Kxryeki became national _ chairman in Hillquit's place...
...others are just fools, not S» young...
...Did he expect that no one would challenge them, that no one would point to the trae, honest, undeniable facts...
...Way doss Csarade 'Themas ptotsad to W e aware of what is takseg alsce4t> hiad the aceaos between the Ml wiagers and the Coanmaaieta...
...the Old Guard, want to Save <. a small sect in order that we may be able to Bargain .srfth Tafiaprdia far concessions...
...Has ,it helped our party very much...
...AH these pes parties have rejected omphilsssf the naitad froat with the Comae Appeal for Unity 11...
...Why .make, atataprnto IppspS...
...We have repeatedly declared .that is is extreme left-wing-rsm "that is driving the party -ft sectarianism...
...Hitler seized power over a nation, and we, Thomas tells us, have seised power in the party...
...once sad sQ, what HE waste and te tehrll firm paswtea aad dteg te ft...
...I Who Is Qeiaq the pplHftW I 9. Comrade Thomas aaplTuJ wanted to debate Browder is.saw 1 to criticize Communism...
...Forward knows too much of Socialist history—yes, and of American history—to try to impose ss a basis for membership within an American Socialist Party an agreement that never under any circumstances it any time will Socialists countenance tiie use of violence in resistance to fascist tyranny...
...Wall, Local Buffalo expelled five members who preached armed insurrection and who admitted that they ware Communists with a little "c...
...The Caav muaists ssake lose to ear MNt wiagers aad eeeaas the OW Gaad that it seeks to bring sboat a apt...
...He has no firm conviction...
...No, we of the Old Guiwd do not seek to bargain with' the labor, movement...
...And why dad the Socialist Fatty win such a magnificent victory in Bridgeport,, where the left wingers have no influence whatever...
...We know that the f stajt of the Socialist Psrty does astA, in the drrectten in which the IS wingers, the Communists aad mflL splinter grease want to arag^JH Bat Comrade Thomas asks eflR we want...
...indeed, it is to clarify ear Socialist lino as against the .Communist Htte, which ha...
...His plan failed...
...The Communist Party in New York is carrying out Moscow's instructions to the last detail...
...No faction of the Soft Party advocates armed in•stton...
...Thomas denies that there are groups in the party who believe in S_the necessity of armed insurrecUjtion...
...I will leave to the end the main question as to which side really wants peace in the party...
...But Thomas has quite a different conception of the labor movement...
...m If Thomas does really ¦ssm%A peace in the psrty...
...prtacifsii...
...How about Chicago, where the controlled by the left wing, and the entire extreme left wing office of the party is located...
...It will be inclusive in the sense that it has room for everyone who will work under the discipline' of s genuinely democratically controlled party for Socialism, without the advocacy of violence...
...We point out that the hope of Socialism lies in the organized labor movement .But Thomas accuses us that we want to bargain with...
...It is different for me to follow Thomas's first and second thoughts...
...The same was true in Reading...
...Why does not Thomas exateJi...
...eaoa thin air...
...These are Communist editorials...
...6. Thomas has a habit of making accusations without the slightest foundation...
...who p*> just the .amy yon, ds can spfcrrtnal consolation ? Or is sigh to have a little party of Bps with LaGuardia, perhaps I the labor movement...
...We are fighting K5 cease we do net want tMng occur...
...Socialism in America...
...oh the platform, in afnWic, do the* aft wingers use Ambiguous phrasfis to conceal the substance of their theories and jjfcbey are not always careful to do Ahat...
...We da PJ wsnt s synagogue...
...never did take the peace pact seriously...
...Thomas certainly did not show any enthusiasm for the peace pact...
...As to Rsorqosixotion 5. As regards the reorganization decided upon by Local New York, it is entirely proper sad constitutional...
...This tetter was published in the Forward with o reply by Algernon Lee, New York City chairman of the Socialist Parti...
Vol. 18 • December 1935 • No. 79
