Bolsheviks Thwarting Socialist Possibilities. British Laborite Found
Bolsheviks Thwarting Socialist Possibilities. British Laborite Found (During th* rtei.nl vitit to Russia' •f the) British trad* Union Delegation, official Bolshevik paper* m tkat country publuked...
...C. E. C. Attacks Minority After weeks of discussion the majority has won in a referendum, but by a vote which leaves a large and determined faction dissatisfied with the results...
...The formal issue over which the factions divided' was the question as to whether the Communists should continue to "maneuver" for a Farmer-Labor party or whether they should continue in the field independently...
...The victors plead for a reconciliation of th* factions but in th* same statement also make threats against the minority...
...I must wait to see what happens, and then discuss each event in the light of other contemporary or past occurrences...
...Through a minority caucus these details were sent to minority members all over the country and a number of the heads of language federations were "incorporated into the caucus under the leadership of minority C. E. C. members...
...British Laborite Found (During th* rtei.nl vitit to Russia' •f the) British trad* Union Delegation, official Bolshevik paper* m tkat country publuked many ttoru* my...
...Others are...
...At that time the Communists said nice things of Mr...
...Since the St...
...Is it true that th* bringing up of children and education in general in Russia might serve as a model for the whole world...
...The only supporters of Communism are the industrial worker* in the factories, who are • •mall minority of the Russian people, altogether four and a half million...
...Communists' Thorny Road In a recent issue of his paper, Mahoney runs a personal letter giving his answer to the charges of the Communists and also his own reaction to Communist ¦ activities...
...Mr...
...The Communist movement is now as much discredited in Minneapolis as in any other city where its agents have been active...
...Specisl disss* in basketball for man and woman are being held, also classes in Interpretative, Folk and Social Dancing, and a recreation eless for adult*, J...
...He does not select any one outstanding topic...
...The women's classes ar* 8:46 to 10 p.m...
...On Friday evening, at 8:30 p.m., Clement Wood will talk on Psychology and Psychoanalysis in his lectures on "Our Expanding Universe...
...The Soviet Government has destroyed the machinery that had been created by the Cooperatives...
...Mahoney...
...The recent elections were a great disappointment...
...The souls of innocent young children grow corrupt and dozens of braVe, guiltless men are ruined...
...Physical Training Department . A reduction in rates has been made in the Physical Education Department for membership in the gymnasium course...
...If any change i* to come, it should come as a result of the practical experience gained in daily contact with the concrete problems which confront Russia...
...Everywhere we saw children toiling as in the 'good old times.' As to the cause of it I was given two reasons...
...For it* own reasons, tho bourgeois press of England reprinted many of these etorieo...
...Secondly, the Soviet regime is afraid to send teachers for the peasant* in th* villages, unless they are reliable Communists...
...This is one of the most dangerous nets spread in the present-day K..ssia...
...The two Communists had sent out a circular charging William Mahoney, editor of the Minnesota Union Advocate, and another trade unionist with corrupt deals with capitalist politicians and presented the Workers' party as the virtuous savior of the Labor movement...
...On Tuesday evening, February 10, at 8:30 p.m., Dr...
...A struggle for power ensues with intrigue and underhand maneuvering as weapon...
...In reality we saw children working at the age of seven and eight, and this i* not an exception...
...The committee charges that the minority's real aim "was to overthrow the C. E. C. To" this end a nationwide caucus organization has been maintained...
...The tiny vote received, probably 20,000 in the nation, encouraged the Ruthenberg faction to oppose Foster who is the leading spirit of the majority...
...I cannot announce any specific topics ahead of time," says Mr...
...The letter's conception of politics is referred to as "noisy, spectacular undertaking*," as "bluff, exaggeration and bombast...
...This is strikingly similar to recent incident* in the hierarchy of the Moscow dictatorship...
...on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, with instructor, Richard Blechschmidt, Jr...
...Gruenberg will continue hi* lectures on "Guiding the Child's Leisure...
...In the first place, the parents are so poor that they need their children's earning...
...Little boys or girl* have easy access to strange houses, and while playing with their young mates they spy upon the grownups, hear what they talk and see what they do...
...During the months of mob control alnne the line of the Missouri A Northern Arkansas road following the railroad's succeetsful effort te break the strike and to run trains with non-union crews, striker* were forcibly run out, many wer* horsewhipped or beaten and their homes and goods sold at public auction...
...Espionage Worse Than Csar's "It must be remarked, however, that for adults in the factories of Moscow and Leningrad there are evening schools and daily courses with the necessary teachers, on whom the Government may rely...
...Th* workers will stand the present yoke more readily than under th* Czar, as economically they now far* better than bafore...
...Will CwmsBibn Last 7 "Will th* pr**ent Communistic regime last long...
...In the hope of healing the wounds, the Central Executive Committee issued a statement to the membership, but it is ao worded that it is likely to increase th* factional feeling...
...All registrations in the men's and women's course in gymnastics are $4.00 for four months, starting February 1. The men'* hours are 8:46 to 10 p.m...
...on Saturday, February 7, Sherwood Anderson will lecture on "America, the Storehouse of Vitality...
...Of the demonstration in Tiflis, that lasted three hours, Comrade Turner said that according to the rule of the Communist trade unions the time passed in demonstrations is considered as working time, whereat the non-participants In SUCh demonstrations ar* fined...
...Wednesday evening, February 11, at 8:30 Carl Van Doren will lector* on "Love la American Literature...
...In view of that tituation, ipecial interest attaches to the following interview given in London by John Turner to a reporter for the Jewish Daily forward...
...Benj...
...It's up to Russia to solve her own problems," said Mr...
...Considering the recent deposition of Trotzky in Moscow, thus narrowing the issue to three men in the struggle to determine who is to b* th* ultimate dictator, there are those who see the struggle which centers in Chicago a* also having the same tendency...
...He makes rather a survey of the events of the week, interprets the real significance of many Items that others might consider of negligible importance...
...Th* columns of th* Worker also contained the charge that a "Workers' party" member brought ¦bout the deportation of John Pepper, ' hitherto a "Workers' party" leader...
...Such Communist teachers are very scarce, and the children therefore remain illiterate, as their parent* are...
...Last summer they were included in the invitation sent to many organizations to send delegate* to a national political convention In Minneapolis...
...Split Widens In Communist Party CHICAGO.—Not only from common gossip in Lsbor circles but from the innermost circles of the Workers' '(Communist) party come reliable information of bitter factional ¦ 1'i.irrels Even the daily organ of the movement, which for six weeks hss been filled with partisan discussions, has carried contributions in which mutual charges have been made...
...It resents the "stereotyped sneers" at the majority, a majority which claims to represent the real "proletarian elements" of the party...
...All he knows is that he is his own boss and is not considered as a proletarian, and does not giv* • rap for th* Proletarian Dictatorship...
...Private letter* from abroad ar* being opened as in dark day* of th* Czars...
...That's why we had so tremendous a demonstration in Tiflis," said Turner...
...A hint is also given of past factional struggles as th* C. E. C. majority boasts that it is th* first "central executive committee which ha* been able to withstand opposition...
...Vladeck...
...Besides, the Communists devised new and better spying methods than those of the Czars...
...Two strikers sentenced for burning bridges were released by the Governor and charges against other men were dropped when the strike was officially declared off' some months later...
...William Z. Foster heads the "majority" faction and Charles Ruth-enbarg the "minority" faction...
...I would not like to see a violent overthrow of the present system...
...The Statute of Limitations in the chief suits expired on January 16, and only minor cases could now be brought...
...My dear friend, you must not forget that theory is on* thing and actuality another...
...The police and espionage system of the Soviet regime are vastly worse than those under the Cxar...
...The Russian population, mostly peasants, arc for the Soviets...
...A special Investigation made for the American Civil Liberties Union through Charles J. Finger of Fayetteville, Arkansas, declared that the railroad manager was responsible for bringing in tha armed mob which lynched Grego* and which conducted the reign of terror for weeks afterwards...
...At 8:30 p.m...
...Minneapolis Against Communists Meantime trouble has developed for the Communists in the one remaining industrial center where their offer* of friendship had for a time been accepted in good faith...
...He leaves it all to the handful of Cnm-misars and functionaries...
...In my opinion, therefor*, the Russian people, due to crass Ignorance, will bear the Zinovievs and others of the Communist regime as it had suffered the Romahoffs...
...This l»w, however exist* only on paper...
...London is planning to give an outline of the history of Russia, to explain the failure of Russia to react to the movements of Western Europe, such as the Renaissance, Reformation and French Revolution...
...I do believe, however, that the Socialist and Labor movement of America should exercise friendly pressure on the Soviet Government to liberalize its attitude toward the non-Soviet elements...
...Here you have the secret of 'my' interview in The Manchester Guardian...
...B. Charney Vladeck, of the Daily Forward, is continuing his weekly series of .talks on Topics of the Times on Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m...
...As it is, Russia under the present regime has a terror called Communism...
...Likewise I was informed that there is a prison in Leningrad where the inmates sre absolutely isolated, having no communication whatsoever with the outer world, as their every word and step is being closely watched and spied upon...
...An investigation by a committee on the Arkansaa Legislature led te no result...
...The peasant, on the other hand, knows only that he has his own local 'Soviets,' and doea not care about anything else...
...The Communists were unable to prove their charges and were expelled...
...That's why at th* door of every factory is stationed an armed guard not to admit any outsiders...
...Nevertheless, they do not want any Communism...
...All factories, schools, public meeting places, and theatres are filled with Government spies, and woe to him who falls in disgrace or is suspected of unfaithfulness to the Government...
...ing tk* Britith delegates were delight** with condition* there...
...London, when questioned...
...A Comrade in Leningrad introduced me to a person who furnished me with evidence of all the horrors taking place at the Solovetsky Islands...
...On Thursday evening, at 8:80, Herman EpsUfn will discuss "The Fading of the Gods," the leal lecture in his course on the Ring of the Nibelungen...
...It makes life for freedom-loving people unbearable...
...Tho Labor preoo of England received only meagre communication* from the trade union delegate*, and printed very little, excepting an article in th* London Daily Herald which contained Russia's denial of tho celebrated Zinovio* letter to Britith Communiett, Delegate* Purctll and Bromley had been quoted a* especially pleated with conditions in Russia...
...His statement is all the more significant considering that last year he was one of the foremost in urging the acceptance of Communist cooperation...
...The Russian peasant is as much subordinated to Communism as Rockefeller to a trade union...
...I would not insist on the recognition of the Soviet Government by all the Governments of the world...
...With this ousting of Communists from the Labor movement of Minneapolis and with an Internal struggle in the party, the Communist movement in this country is threatened with early disintegration...
...The same person told m* not to writ* to him cither, a* it would enhance his persecutions...
...Those who have been trying to make arrangements for recovering damages for the numerous victims of mob violence have been forced reluctantly to abandon the proceedings, according to word just received by the American Civil Liberties Union, which had agreed to help finance the suits...
...The same can now be applied to Russian Communism: Russia perhapr could establish Communism, were it not for the Communists...
...Irritated by the minority opposition, the C. E. C. offers the following note of defiance: "It is tim* to say frankly to th* party and to the Communist International that we ar* losing ail patience with this superficial and condescending attitude towards our work in the trade unions and towards the comrade* who do this work...
...They have instituted spies among little children...
...As to the dreadful Solovetsky Islands, where hundreds of Socialists and Anarchists are confined, I can only tell you that in Leningrad itself there is a "Solovetsky Island...
...Y*s," replied Turner, "Russia is Russia...
...In Minneapolis the organized workers knew little of the actions of Communists in the trade union* of cities lik* New York, Boston and Chicago...
...on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, with Blanche Blnm as instructor...
...Then the Manchester Guardian printed an alleged interview with delegate John Turner laudatory of Rutsia...
...The workman is not interested in politics and political problems...
...Mahoney concludes his letter with the following statement: "Regardless of what may be the outcome of this contest, I wish to emphasize that Communist meddling la just as demoralizing as capitalist manipulation, and the Labor movement should be free from the destructive influence of both...
...These include not only the charge that one faction or th* other is "leformlst" or "*nti-Marxist" but also that some high officials h*d either squandered or embezzled party funds...
...Concerning Communism In Russia, Comrade Turner said: "You know Bernard Shaw once said that Socialism would have been realized long ago were it not for the Socialists...
...Their performance there sobered many who thought that they could work with Communists...
...not trusted by the Government...
...The Russian people are accustomed to the knout, inured like the beast of burden to the yoke, which they have suffered for centuries...
...About the alleged calmness in Georgia, Comrade Turner related that their train, when passing through Caucasia, wa* guarded by special soldiers...
...Minority member* of the C. E. C. are also charged with secretly sending out gossip about "the smallest details of C. E. C. proceedings...
...Since the November election the Minneapolis central Labor body has expelled two Communists who were delegates of a local machinists' union in that body...
...Considering that the majority also claims to represent the real "proletarian elements" it is certain that this attack of the executive will be resented...
...If the Communists had not destroyed the co-operative movement, condition* would today have another appearance altogether...
...After reviewing the statement of the two expelled Communists and the action of the central Labor body, Mr...
...Turner replied, "It is true that the Communist code, or 'workmen's decree' as they call it, expressly says that children under the age of 14 must attend school and not work, and between 14 and 18 may work only four hours a day, and should study th* rest of the time...
...Rand School Activities Former Congressman Meyer London begins a eourse of five lectures on "Russia, the Old and the New," at the Rand School on Saturday, February 7, at 1:30 p.m...
...Paul convention they have turned against him as they have against all those who do not accept Communist dictation...
...He will analyze the disadvantages of being a landlocked country, the disastrous effects of centuries of hostile, invasion, the characteristics of Russian feudalism and serfdom, its primitive commerce and industry, and the influence of the Greek and Catholic churches on the development of Russia...
...Given the formula of the "militant minority," which accompanies the idea of a Communist dictatorship, the formula inevitably turns against it* advocates...
...The delegates were frequently being asked for their autographs and many were given...
...Vladeck's method is unique...
...Replying on so slander a minority, the Soviet Government must resort to oppression and violent means to maintain its power...
...It was given by Comrado Ben Tillett Somehow, however, somebody attached to it a photo of my autograph...
...In the first place," Turner began, "I never gave any Interview to the Manchester Guardian...
...At the end Comrade Turner requested me to make it clear that all he had said was hie personal view and did not commit th* rest of th* delegaUoi SUITS AGAINST ARKANSAS LYNCHERS DROPPED The suits planned against the officials of the Missouri Northern Arkansas Railroad and the members of the mob who lynched E. C. Gregor at Harrison, Arkansas, in January, 1928, have been dropped because of the reluctance of the principal plaintiffs to go ahead for fear of reprisals by representatives of the railroad...
...That brought a demand from official Brittih Labor quarter* that the delegate* quoted either confirm or deny th* view* attributed to them, while th* Amiterdam Trade Union International and the British Trade Union Congress announced that pending publication of the delegation'* official report, all pres* interview* mult b« taken a* individual opinion...
Vol. 2 • February 1925 • No. 6
