Theodore Debs Flays Gang Rule of New York
Debs, Theodore
Theodore Debs Flays Gang Rule of New York By Theodore Debs Editor of Tbe New Leader : The amazing action of the National Executive Committee in "lifting" tbe charter of ««State of New...
...Another ridiculed "this thing ¦called democratic Socialism...
...exercise any power it deems necessary over the state organizations and he feds certain, no doubt, that as it rides roughshod over the rights of the state organizations he will always be able to find an excuse to -justify its actions with the aid of his "reasonable" construction of the constitution...
...He also announced that the maas meeting in Manhattan Opera House Sunday afternoon, February 2, and announced that George Field is being loaned to the Party Office by WE YD to assist in administrative work...
...Comrade Rhodes has served in that position for many years, and is one of the best liked and most respected of the labor nun in tins city, where Socialists and trade Satanista work hand-in -hand on all "Sjr;i:».__*" Militant Canard ri ailed Word has been received from Worcester, Mass...
...Field Takes Over ft A aMaSaWaUsssssja?ij».am Administration Task m N.Y...
...To bring about the creation of a j)arty which would exclude Social Democrats opposed to dictatorship and armed int-sorrcction the N.E.C...
...We have some plans...
...All who own cars should be at party headquarters, 1091 Southern Boulevard, no biter than 8 p. m. Should there be rain, snow or freezing temperature on Monday night, we will meet in the headquarters to plan our work for election day...
...ventured to violate the party constitu: tton and aH accepted party practice...
...THE ISSUE IS: SHALL THE SOCIALIST PARTY GO ¦OLSHEVIK OR SHALL WE REMAIN A SOCIALIST *ARTY...
...A democratie trial was -held by our city delegated body, consisting of 21 members...
...James H. Maurer, veteran of the Pennsylvania Socialist Movement, and Jasper MeLevy, veteran of the Connecticut |Ocialist movement, last week faced this issue by denouncing «e insurrectionists' raid oh New York State...
...The first such program has been arranged for tile Borough Park Branch, where enrolled voters are being invited to attend a series of discussions lad by Dr...
...It consists of exactly, 1? members—five who were expelled a year ago for advocacy of armed insurrection and 12 former members who resigned when the insurrectionists were expelled, none of whom had ever been members ef the party—and unlikely to join or remain in any radical group...
...The date for the annual state convention was set for April 24-25 at Boston, where delegates te the national convention will be instructed, in addition to nominating state candidates and adopting a state platform...
...Raitt IS chairman of one of five' carpenters' locals...
...They are : T—Is the...
...The vote was taken after an exhaustive discussion of the party situation and what had occurred at the Philadelphia meeting of tiie X.E.C...
...It was unconstitutional and arbitrary enough...
...On Wednesday evening, January 81, the Borough Park Branch will be host to B. Charney VTadeck and Judge Jeremiah T. Mahoney, who will take part in a symposium on "Nazism and the Olympics...
...Field was presented to the membership of New York at tao general party meeting in Beethoven Hail Thursday evening...
...four insurrectionists,j Hahn, Brickner, Baiti and dark...
...Such methods are shameful, unwarranted, indefensible, incompatible with harmony and progress within the ranks, and have no place in the settlement of party currerences...
...A new spirit was apparent from the moment the meeting was called to order by Chairman U. Solomon, and before the meeting had adjourned at midnight it had found expression in the adoption of plans to render party work in New York City more effective than it has been in years...
...The raiders will be defeated...
...The mam emphasis of the meeting, however, was not on what has already happened but on laying out an extensive plan for vigorous future activity now that the disruptive element is no longer present to prevent constructive work The meeting was attended by ovei 120 delegates, almost all brancher whose delegates seceded having elected successors...
...le over the states is...
...The conflict is much more fundamental than that...
...I am willing to take action for which these is no constitutional warrant," said Coolidge of Massachusetts in moving for the suspension on the basis finally agreed upon by the N.E.C...
...The resolution reads as follows: "Resolved, That we consider disruptive and we are utterly opposed to the action of the Marion al Executive Committee in suspending the charter of the New York State Executive Committee of the Socialist Party...
...At mat meeting one of the secessionists who pleaded for suspension of the New York charter frankly admitted that the ^Thomas group insisted upon the right to preach dictatorship and armed insurrection within the party...
...dictators in the N.E.C...
...Those voting in favor were Joseph Bearak, Max Hamlin, Thomas Nicholson, John...
...THAT IS THE ISSUE...
...for the suspension ol the New York charter we have a frank admission that the action was illegal...
...We refer to GarSnkle's statement on this point...
...Central Labor Body READING...
...Needless to say, this act was also a vain gestore for naturally NONE of the loyal members accepted...
...There were only allegations, scurrilous and slanderous, brought by those who frankly declared that they believed in the right of members te advocate dictatorship and armed insurrection, and who ridiculed "this thing called democratic Socialism...
...declared that there were 900 members of this local union who wanted to join the Socialist Party but were kept out by the "Old Guard...
...Herman J. Hahn admitted he favored insurrection and said the Detract Declaration of Principles justified his stand...
...rests upon what he pleases to characterize "as a strict conjunction of our constitution in a narrow literalistic sense and OB an exaggerated doctrine of states' rights...
...Friday night there is the mass meeting in Public School 20, Fox and 167th, Sta...
...we even allowed two of the defendants who were delegates to vote on their own case...
...Y. State Members of the Socialist .Party taroughoat Mew York State are notified not to register with tbe usurping committee set op by the National Bxeentive Committee...
...Subsequently four others, INCLUDING HAROLD RAJTT, were brought up on the same charges...
...This is putting a very limited perspective on the situatisi...
...rie would have the N.E.C...
...Not a single ss—ber of the bona-fide local responded except Charles H. Roth, County Chairman, who was sent there to tell the secessionists that they had no standing and that an justification for their meeting existed...
...H. J. Hahn, Pastor of Salem Evangelical Church, as local "acting chairman," urging them to attend a "re-organization" meeting Sunday night in Carpenters Hall...
...Innocents" who may not understand what they face ih*the dual organization set up by Thomas and his allies should consider this: The "registration" is set forward as far as February 7. This permits splinter Communists to enter the "inclusive" iud organization...
...Jtriins Gerber as Secretary, and August Claessens as Labor Secretary...
...Far from repudiating his statement, Comrade The Real Issue...
...Joseph Bearak reported on the Philadelphia meeting as a member of a committee sent to urge postponement of any action on New York until after the Eastern States Conference met and had an opportunity to bring about peace...
...Ins taken a step that any destroy the party...
...BUFFALO, N. Y.—The secess?om mountain labored in Buffalo and brought forth a mouse...
...Destroys the Party IN a resolution, the more effec* tire because of the restraint in which ft Is weeded, the Finnish Wm$wrMm of the Socialist Party charges that the National Executive Committee, by revoking the New York charter...
...I have a program of activities in mind for enrolled voters which must be carried out spontaneously and, if possible, simultaneously in all functioning branches...
...1 do not wish to be more unconstitutional and more arbitrary then necessary," he said...
...Speaking before the N.E.C...
...to propos* and direct a course of action , for branches...
...tutional and arbitrary than necessary...
...To buttress this spurious argument he repeats the falsehood that charges against the New York organization were properly before the N.E.C...
...In the appeal before Local Buffalo, Rev...
...Elizabeth C. Roth, Christ Hawkland and Nor-' man Heppel...
...The two questions are inter-related...
...All of us should immediately begin to boost that rally...
...We have never yet been able to obtain from Thomas and his secessionist minority a definition of what they mean by an ^l-inclasive'' party...
...and the N.E.C.—but met rebuffs all along the line...
...The statest eat, addressed to the N.E.C d?clar?e that "We held the act [of revocation of the Mew York charter] dictatorial and unwarranted, and tomi H sting a, usurpation of power...
...Every member of the real local, over 250 persons, received a letter, signed by Harold Raitt of the N.E.C.—constituted "state committee" and Rev...
...They need a dictatorship which at at any time it may deem necessary win walk into any state, suspend the charter, recognize a secessionist minority operating in line with its own^methods and ideas and ma prompte the establishment of that "all-inclusive" party...
...Local Buffalo — the REAL LOCAL at 483 Main Street—does NOT favor what is termed 'an inclusive party*—we exclude Communist» and insurrections...
...decided to suspend the charter of the New York organization ^nd obliged the secessionists bv establishing a dictatorship over jNew York...
...He promised devoted service in a brief statement outlining the immediate program: "I intend to work very hard, and as well as I can...
...raid on New York...
...Louis Hand in on Monday evenings...
...legal and organization status of the Socialist Party of New York State...
...Of course, a new paper local was set up...
...and his allies has made no change in th...
...This week Theodore, Dpbs, representing the tinest traditions of the So^aweaner* and the brother of our martyred 'Gene, also twees the Thomas N.E.C...
...The Socialist Party, state and local, is doing business as usual andjtojng'much more than it could do when the Thomas collect?oh ^jS^depression liberals, parlor Bolsheviks and adolescents obstructed the.party's work...
...Thomas substitutes his own "reasonable construction" of the party constitution, which, he says, gave the N.E.C...
...Nine expulsions do not equal 24 members expelled...
...This, at last, is clear...
...Retract it and save the Socialist Party...
...in Philadelphia is a fundamental one...
...No amen?t of verbiage and misrepresentation will help Thomas and his minority group of secessionists to mislead the party membership on this point...
...No, be did not wish to be more untoti sr...
...This is what they mean by an "all-inclusive" party...
...They filed no defense and never appealed their expulsions...
...Will you join me in the constructive 'task ahead T I understand my duties...
...Norman Thomas now declares that thpse who object to such procedure are reactionary ~Oid Guardists' whose interpretation of the action of the ^rt.EC...
...Coolidge was very kind...
...Matthew M. Levy then proposed the following resolution on the party situation arid after it had been enthusiastically adopted, the committee turned to plans for the future: "The action ef the National Executive Committee without presenting charges to the duly constituted state authorities, and without giving them dee opportunity to answer and appear, ta purporting to suspend the charter of the State of New York, appointing a provisional Stata committee and ousting the duly elected committees ef the party in this state, is illegal, ant usati tntional, dictatorial and undemocratic The City Central Committee of Local New York does net recognize this provisional state committee, and reiterates its adherence to the duly constituted stats committee, selected by the membership of the party, meeting ta recognized ess initios," Bela Low reported for the educational committee ht the course of which ho proposed that each Central Committee meeting fas .Ita roture begin with « brief but carefully prepared paper, preferably on some problem of contemporary American pontics sitai ta s Soetalist audience...
...The "all-inclusive" party is to be a party of confused and bewildered radicals, quasi-Communist s and bourgeois liberals mouthing revolutionary phrases...
...Every branch secretary and organizer should equip himself with a hat of the enrolled votera...
...First, there is the public mass meeting at Manhattan Opera House Feb...
...N.E.C...
...Neither did the fl.E.C...
...Socialist Party to be a party of Social Democracy ar is it to be that "all-inclusive" party which Norman Thomas and his secessionist minority would like to make of it—inclusive of elements inimical to the principles and methods of Socialism...
...He was Louis^ Sadoff...
...Yoor act," the statement con - eludes, "will destroy the Socialist Party...
...2, at which our spokesmen and leaders of labor will voice 'their demands for a constitutional amendment to protect workers' rights...
...he was also expelled from the Buffalo Central Labor Council and heavily fined for false accusations and disruption, and ran a very poor third when he was a candidate for business agent of the carpenters...
...The dual organization set Up by Thomas, et al., ia anxious to include tbe Lovestone Communists in the "inclusive" organization...
...that the "militants" in that local of the Socialist Party are circulating the story that James H. Maarer has repudiated his statement in The New Leader denouncing the N.E.C...
...William E. Beha reported the* s new semester of the Band Schoei would commence sa February S and urged the» to sew that now branch members were informed of it, pointing oat that much of the dissension through which the best has passed in the past few year* was due to the lack of grounding of many of the newer comrades ft So?taust fundamentals...
...Comrades Gerber and Clae&sens will be glad to help you obtain these Usta...
...has the right to...
...then prosjpMtp to consider speelse plans tmr assisting in the Special Eledtiss for Assembly m. tho Rh ?*lt, Bronx, January 21...
...part and parcel of the theories and state n mind of those who believe in dictatorship and armed inttirrection...
...With ONLY TWO DISSENTING VOTES—cast by themselves—the five were expelled...
...Mass...
...He is right...
...II—Is the Socialist Party to be a democratically organized and democratically administered party, or is it to become a highly centralized organization governed by a politbureau from Chicago determined to force its will and policies upon the membership...
...It was after hearing these representatives of the secessionists, of whom Norman Thomas is the head and front, that the N.E.C...
...Theodore Debs Flays Gang Rule of New York By Theodore Debs Editor of Tbe New Leader : The amazing action of the National Executive Committee in "lifting" tbe charter of ««State of New York in the face of the violent protest on the part of tbe great majority of its dues-paying membership, without formal charges or hearing, is die negation of democracy, th« dumping of the constitution info the ash can, and an unheard...
...Registering with these commissars would record a member as approving the gangster raid of New York State...
...Hoffman and Oneal expelled nobody...
...They are part of one sad the same thing—the consistent bolshevization of the party «ader the Issderinip of Norman Thomas and the petty dienders comprising the majority of the N.E.C...
...Socialists Denounce Phila...
...the right bade what it did...
...I Socialists who wHl not register by February 7 with the gllegal organization set up in this state by the N.E.C., So iciaiists who do not subscribe to the theories and policies of •dictatorship and armed insurrection—and no such Socialists will register with the illegal organization—are to be excluded from the Thomas party...
...Another defendant, William Chamberlain, former divinity student, asserted 'We ARE Communists with a small c' n "James Oneal, not being a member of Local Buffalo, had no vote on the expulsions—except as a member of two appeal bodies—the S.E.C...
...This action was taken at the recommendation of Executive Secretary Julias Oerbar in view of the situation created by the secessionists, forcing added burdens on the party...
...Your membership card hi vaHd in the only Socialist Party organization setup and maintained by the party members in New York State with headquarters at 7 Bast 15th BU New York City...
...Action ofNJLC* Special to fern New Leader...
...The issue raised hy the action of the N.E.C...
...The members ot the party must *»ce t squarely and NOW...
...He did not, however, explain that these members are Lovestone Communists, a fact that is common knowledge to people acquainted with the labor movement in New York City...
...It involves two questions of the highest importance...
...There is only one Sociahat Party organization built up in the city and state and it is officered by the comrades mentioned above...
...Upon its ultimate solution will depend whether the Socialist Party is to continue as a federated, democratic organization of Socialists enjoying autonomy ih their respective states, or whether we are to become * highly centralized, bureaucratically administered party orjani ration ruled by a dictator or a clique from one single «enne...
...These See appealed to a general membership' meeting of the local—later to the S.E.C...
...Buffalo...
...Next race it will go further...
...P a.—George M. Rhodes, long-time unionist and Socialist and business manager of tiie Beading, Labor Advocate, has been re-elected pr?sident of the Federated Trades Council...
...and four loyal Socialists—James, Battistoni, member of the real state committee...
...A more immediate task is the wind-up of the special election campaign in the Bronx, where Abram Hershkowitz is our candidate for the Assembly...
...S. P. Members Will Not Register with Usurpers SOCIALIST Party members throughout the country will understand mat the burlesque reign of terror staged by Norman Thomas...
...And now comes Norman Thomas wjho frankiy didicules the "exaggerated doctrine of state's rights...
...The Leader...
...On Monday night we will close the campaign with an automobile parade, weather permitting...
...To retain their membership members do not have to register with the usurpers, who have called a "membership" meeting for Sunday and have the brass to list Algernon Lee as one of the speakers...
...The local headquarters are at the same address with Algernon Lee as Chairman...
...of procedure in the history of the Socialist Party...
...JO question is ever settled until it is settled right, and no ™ :Socialist Party can exist and develop as a Socialist Party gatil it determines beyond doubt the things it stands for aha its methods of party administration and action...
...Suominen, Sylvester McBride and Savele Syr jala...
...In other words, the organization of a new dual Local Buffalo was a failure...
...In January, 1934, I preferred written charges against five members of Local Buffalo for public advocacy of armed insurrection...
...The Finnish Federation is the largest of the language sections ef the pasty, and besides an important dally newspaper, it owns cooperatives, houses, stores, a publishing firm, and plays an important role fat the fife of the Finnish working class population in America...
...Comrade Low% SSS* ommendation was promptly sad enthusiastically adopted...
...Those votine No were John O'Connors, Leslie Richardson and Louis Epstein...
...These Communists are expected to "register" and ratify the raid on New York State ! This is the third stage of treachery to the Socialist Party, '.the first beginning with secession in New York City, the second with its approval by the Thomas national machine, and the third by bringing Communists into the secession organization 1* The Socialist Party of New York State will defeat this treachery and it has the support of loyal party members throughout the country...
...Hoffman's letter follows: "Harold Raitt of Buffalo, described as 'president of the Carpenters' Union,' is quoted in your issue of January 10th to this effect: "Robert Hoffman and James Oneal, without trial, expelled 24 members of the party in Buffalo.' "The only correct statement made is that the name of the speaker was Raitt...
...Make no mistake about that ! N. Y. Socialists Defy Lifting Of the State Party Charter MEETING last Wednesday * evening for the first time since the Philadelphia sessions of the N.E.C, New York City Central Committee vigorously denounced the illegal suspension of the State charter and pledged its loyalty to the State committee which, it declared, had been duly "elected by the merftbership of the party meeting in recognized convention...
...The vote was taken on roll call...
...at Philadelphia, Murray Gross of Local 22 of the I.L.G.W.U...
...What is to unite'them is the homage,, they pay in common to the Wth...
...k Notice to Socialist Party Members in 'N...
...Such registration hi not necessary to retain your membership...
...They need a dictatorship within the party that is not concerned with what Thomas derisively .terms "a narrow, literalistic" conception of states' rights, with I ?ae wishes of the party membership...
...They are to carry out the plans of the Executive Committee and its administrative board...
...From the author of the motion in the N.E.C...
...Lee outlined plans adopted by the executive for conducting the primary campaign this spring, announced that an extensive distribution of literature for propaganda purposes will soon commence and proposed plans for securing subscriptions to The Now Leader...
...No Socialist Party member will register with the Thomas commissars set up by the usurping National Executive Committee at Philadelphia...
...J The Schenectady meeting of the dual state committee appointed a committee of eight to "reorganise...
...in the pillory...
...To be able to preach these doctrines' within the »rty without contradiction, to promote their acceptance in the Party, to force them upon the party, they need an organization *»kd by a dictatorial N.E.C...
...The committer...
...r~' Some comrades-in New York and elsewhere may regard the present unfortunate situation in the •party, which found its culmination in the illegal and dictotorial suspension of the charter of the New York State organization by the N.E.C., as a conflict of personalities and factions merely struggling for power...
...and N.E.C...
...meeting at which he bad been ar official observer for the local, and Algernon Lee for the City Executive Committee...
...Raitt, Leading Bolter, Was Ousted by Buffalo Labor Special to The New Leader OUFFALO.—Robert A. Hoffman, secretary of Local Buffalo of the Socialist Party, has sent a letter to the Socialist Call, which had the brass to report that James Oneal and Hoffman had expelled 24 party members in Buffalo...
...served the party in many capacities, Secretary of an Administrative Boarid to direct activities in this city...
...Several are enrolled Republicans, two are members of the Proletarian Party (Communist splinter) and the remainder were preachers, YW Secretaries sad members of the Salem Church congregation and Communist sympathizers...
...The closest they came to giving such a iflsnnition was at the Philadelphia meeting of the N.E.C...
...Epstein, Bearak and Syr jala were elected a committee with State Secretary Lewis to divide the state into districts for nominating and electing delegates to the national convention...
...Brief reports were submitted by U. Solomon of recent meetings of the State Executive Committee, I. Minkoff of tbe Philadelphia N'.E.C...
...THE Executive Committee of 1 Local New York has appointed George Field, active young Socialist who has...
...The Thomas conception that the N.E.C...
...The "all-inclusive" party is to be definitely exclusive of all Social Democrats who believe in ?ie Socialism of the Labor and Socialist Internadena...
...The state headquarters are located at 7 EastT5th Street, New York City, Herbert M. Merrill is the State Secretary, and Louis W?ldman is the State Chairman...
...Rhodes Heads Reading, Pa...
...8«ai Socialists know where they stand...
...There were no such charges...
...LOUIS WALDMAN, State Chairman of the Socialist Party, State of New York...
...BOSTON, Mass.—By a vote of "«'¦ito 3 the State Executive Committee of tbe Socialist Patty of Massachusetts has adopted a resolution con demping the National Executive Committee for suspending the charter of NewYork State...
Vol. 19 • January 1936 • No. 3
