Political Freedom in trade Unions
Baron, Samuel
Political Freedom in trade Unions An Open letter to Emil Rieve, President of the Textue Workers union of America, on the Hillman-Communist Plan to Capture the ALP From Samuel Baron ? RKC.hKT that...
...the liberal Senator who fights the anti-lynching hill in the name of States rights...
...I heartily of party policies and decisions...
...and no one should submit without protests la soch slave-driving...
...In the meantime, I must retire, and I hope you can arrange to name a successor to me without delay...
...the mass...
...thst common action between as is impossible...
...When Mr...
...The top officials of a lsbor organisation control the livelihood of members snd minor officers...
...Hil'man...
...My association with you and the other officers oi our organization has given me a great deal of happiness...
...I therefore was among those who favored its rejection, although the auspicies under which it appeared have changed...
...The identical plan now reappears, sponsored by Mr...
...Theirs has invariably been the kiss of death...
...Hillman's representatives met with the A. L. P. officials to present the plan, one of the representatives he selected for the purpose was a Communist who acknowledges his adherence to the Communist point cf view...
...The New Leader applauds Ihe courage of Ham Karon...
...This is an issue that has national importance...
...the Communist dictator who in the name of "proletarian emancipation" introduces forced labor for millions...
...Hillman,'regardless of his own views and preferences, o< nfronted me with a choice between my position ami my conscience...
...in all of its struggles Is belie** (hat we believe in democratic processes while in effect and in fart the parly would be controlled bv the traditional enemies of democracy...
...Hat in his desire to attain national political leadership, he has created as intolerable situation...
...Your antipathy to the Communists is well known...
...bossism within the labor movement...
...To the totalitarian mind "life and property of the individual is worth little or nothing in comparison with the life or property of the.mass," to use the definition of Communist state philosophy given by an American correspondent The leaders, of course, identify themselves completely with the mass...
...VTKT my position with respect to this plan would not have affected my official position with our organization, ( r ;ed me to offer my resignation, if it were not for the tact that the decision which was m ide by our National Office, compelling every officer to string along with Mr...
...but by the time the propitious moment arrives for recovering the lost liberties a new generation has giown up that is ready to defend the cage in which it was born and to which it is accustomed...
...1 thereupon went a step further in the hope that unity on the issue might be preserves!, provided no one was compelled to act contrary to his convictions and principles...
...That would not bind anyone but myself...
...the French republican descendant of the Jacobins who contended that the Rights of Man were not meant for the colonial peoples...
...In the final analysis, such nnity, conceived in fraud, must end in deception, since it would mislead the hundreds of thousands of voters who have consistently ¦¦Snorted tne A.L.P...
...From various source* come reports of widespread discontent among the leaders and rank-and-file of the CIO with Hillman > arrogant attempt to force them to work actively for his plan...
...When a trade union leader endeavors to secure a political following for the interests of his organization, he must appeal to their intelligence and good-will—just as does any other publicist...
...When the candidates for the State Committee was compiled by the Hillman forces, it was a well-known Communist who called my office and virtually demanded setting a deadline for the names of Textile Union candidates for the Hillman-Communist slate...
...The New Leader has consistently advocated the entry of the trade unions into politics...
...Within a union, men may submit to some degree of coercion...
...That was rejectee...
...Political freedom is one of our most precious possessions...
...But the ungrateful slaves seldom appreciate that virtue...
...that, right or wrong, "we cannot let him down...
...Baron's letter highlights the fart that, here in New York State, Sidney Hillman has got off an Ihe wrong foot...
...A Communist inspired plan, by whatever other name it may be known, is equally repulsive to me...
...A»n attempt to compel individuult to follow the dictate* of a political beta, even though ft* comet /rtp»i the mvk* of labor, w fraught with danger...
...The Hillman plan, as you probably know, is not a plan which he originated or formulated, but one which was originally presented to the officials of the American Labor Party by representatives of the Communist Party, It was submitted as a basis for leadnntting the Communists to the American Labor Party and to give them a voice in the determination ef party policies and decisions...
...As a result, not only attempts against their lives, but even critical thoughts about their incomes (officially they have no "property") are suppressed as the most heinous crimes that could be committed against...
...To use sn economic sqneeze-play lo force these men into line is to do violence to our most sacred political traditions...
...SAM I EL WOLCHOK, president ef the I nited Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Employees and a member of the CIO national executive board, has attacked the Hillman « om muMi-t plan "to foist upon the American Labor Party of New York Slate a new form of organization," as one that, if successful, will lead to Ihe destruction of the A LI...
...This issue touches the deepest springs of liberty in Americs...
...But if the State is patterned after the system of Soviet Russia or Nazi Germany, then there is also progress in cannibals cooking their victims rather than eating them raw...
...His methods have alienaled an important section of his own following—and, incidentally, Ihe section most enthusiastically devoted to the support of President Roosevelt snd liberalism...
...Those of as who are familiar with Communist Party strategy—and most of us are, since we learned it from bitter experience in the labor movement—know that sooner or later they will attempt to dominate and control the organizations ¦at* which they infiltrate...
...He has demanded of the aati Communist forces in the C.I.O...
...1 realise fully that what is happening is not to youi liking...
...Dictators cannot be corrupted, say their ipol-ogists...
...m, From a Skeptic's Notebook By Max Nomad TPHE Church dignitary who opposes the Child * Labor Amendment in the name of Liberty...
...IN any event, as an individual, 1 cannot abandon my * convictions as to what I am to do politically at any one's behest...
...Such a policy is, moreover, foredoomed lo failure...
...Moreover, there ie such an irreconcilable difference between what they stand for and seek and what wo stand for and Seek...
...Political Freedom in trade Unions An Open letter to Emil Rieve, President of the Textue Workers union of America, on the Hillman-Communist Plan to Capture the ALP From Samuel Baron ? RKC.hKT that the derision made recently requiring * the " f ^j.Jt1 our organization to support the so-called Hillman plan for the American l.aUir Party leaves me no alternative but to submit my resignation «- General Manager of the New York Joint Board, to lake effect immediately...
...I'nder our democracy...
...At least, not in the labor movement, and not for men who would rather surrender their positions than their convictions...
...In their political loyalties and alignments,'they will not endure it...
...Your devotion to the principle ot political liberty is widely recognized...
...Yi u are entitled to know the reasons which prompt me to give up an association which I have enjoyed greatly...
...Neither cdh a slave-holder be bribed by his chattels...
...There may be progress in industries being run by the State instead of by private owners...
...In spice of the fact that there was not .,«« official In our organization who had any sympathy for the Hillman plan, we were placed in a dilemma, and compelled to take a position with which m«st of as are in otter disagreement...
...In the labor movement his position of leadership may entitle him to a respectful hearing...
...1 proposed the adoption of a policy of neutrality, except that 1 wanted to^be free to maintain the principles to which I have adhered...
...What k more, the C.I.O...
...Unity achieved by this type of compulsion can never be more than surface deep...
...It will be a sorry day for American labor if and when working people and labor leaders must do the bidding of self-constituted political bosses...
...Hence the severe penalties for counterfeiting...
...Under fascism or totalitarian collectivism they perceive what they have lost...
...the Spanish fascist general who boasts of his kindness for shooting only five hundred prisoners out of a hatch of five thousand—they are all brothers under the skin...
...The American Labor Party officers rejected the plan when it was submitted by the Communists...
...This is true, for everything is theirs...
...The Communists even now are not divorced frim it...
...was led into it without prior consultation...
...It was my opinion, as I know it was that of others in our organization, most of whom have consistently fought any attempt at Communist infiltration, that our organization ought to support tbe American Labor Party in its effort to keep itself free from Communist domination...
...Stability under a system controlled by capitalist interests depends largely upon a sound currency...
...I hope the time will come when we shall be able to further cement a friendship 1 have always prized...
...Under democracy the masses gradually get tired of the mountebanks and grafters they have elected and lend their ear to the siren song of dictatorship...
...I shall continue to hold you in the highest esteem...
...However, if for cm ganizat lonul reasons our organization could not take that position, I proposed that our National Office allow our local unions and joint boards in New York State, which are affliated with the A.L.P., complete autonomy in deciding what position they would take...
...Even among those close to Hillman, those who have admired and followed his leadership for many years, there is a lot of grumbling— not only criticism of the ides of alliance with the Communists, but criticism of the ides of politics...
...It is completely parallel with the .coercion which industrial over-lords have exerted in yeara past at the ballot-box...
...Stability under a system controlled by a totalitarian theocracy or bureaucracy depends largely upon uniformity of opinions...
...No labor leader has the right to assume the authority of a political boss...
...That, too was rejected...
...I, for one, cannot subscribe to that doctrine...
...However, that is an organisation question, and those who answer it must eventually bear the responsibility...
...Hostile and irreconcilable forces cannot be welded together by force...
...It antedates Mr...
...Hillman has the right to pursue any political policy he sees fit...
...But when trade union leaders go after voles, they must recognise the best democratic tenets of American political life...
...We hope that other labor leaders will follow his example and revolt against Hillman's dictatorial decree that they must fall into line and abandon their years of opposition to Communist dixtapiiun in the labor movement...
...There is nothing personal in the decision I have made...
...Hence the severe penalties for religious or ideological heresies as an infringement upon the most important government monopoly...
...Eventually it must become divisive...
...But neither he nor anyone else can long or successfully order working people, whether officers or members of the rank and file, to abandon their political views and embrace those he wishes to impose...
Vol. 27 • February 1944 • No. 7
