SOCIALISTS OF RUSSIA ASK FREE ELECTION
Socialists of Russia Ask Free Election Demand for liquidation of Dictatorship Circulated by Social Democrats m Soviet Country B' (By a Nl** ««* Corre**n**> , ^tV-The1 Central committee...
...to do battle for such a form of 7™^™*^ that y«m are now summoned 2_«* *WU» Social Democratic Party...
...It Is a fact that the interests of the two categories are in many respects opposed to one another, but alternatively there are many points where they converge...
...you need only take a look at the Italy of Mussolini, the Hungary of Horthy, and the Spain of Primo de Rivera...
...Socialists of Russia Ask Free Election Demand for liquidation of Dictatorship Circulated by Social Democrats m Soviet Country B' (By a Nl** ««* Corre**n**> , ^tV-The1 Central committee of the Russian Social-Democratic Party tfehxiilaang In Soviet Hussi* an appeal, excerpt* from which follow: •-To All Workers to Soviet Russia, "Comrades: • -Dteoord among the head*p£the Comiunlst Party rages ever stronger...
...It ~ te for It to recognize that the Bolshevist dictatorship has consumed itself It khigh time for it to demand that the dictatorship should be succeeded not by a regime based on the fascism of private capitalists but on the democracy of the workers...
...A report made by Deputy" Vtocent-Aurtol...
...Any branches considering that it is impossible for them—exclusively and strictly for material reasons—to do so, must consult the P.A.C...
...This raging strife is the death-struggle of the system of the Communist dlc' tatorshlp—and at the same time the great problem of the new order, which b to take its place, and which will seal for a long time to come the fate of the country and therewith the fate of the working-class...
...These articles will be written by men and women in the Socialist movement and the trade unions, the idea being to have the best writers prepare contributions which will make the book one of permanent value as well as a document celebrating the return of the Socialist Party to its old vigor...
...With 1713 votes, the Socialist list stands second...
...Jut in declining to form a united front vith the Communists, we shall decline equally to lend ourselves to any kind of enlarged national union against them...
...and generally speaking to take all requisite decisions for bringing about (he overthrow of the latter...
...To the thousands of Socialists, anarchists and non-party workers who for years lurVe been langmstam* to the prison* of the Tcheka, in cells and places of ban tehment, there are now being added their comrades in fate—communists of the Opposition...
...It is time far the working class to have its say...
...This is rubbish, comrades...
...The chief pressure toward imperialism is the desire of investors to go where they can buy labor more cheaply than in the United States or other advanced countries, and then, having found such a place, to keep down the nascent labor movements in those: backward regions by force of arms If necessary...
...In such a case Renaudel demanded withdrawal on behalf of the candidate of the former Left bloc, Bracke and Zyromski on behalf of the Communist...
...There is only one way to ensure that the Bolshevist dictatorship will be replaced by the right of the working-class to fight for their interests, for their ultimate liberation from wage-slavery, and this way is—the intervention of the working-class Itself...
...Among the workers silence prevails...
...This fight is no easy one, comrfcdes...
...Without us,—that means that those to authority, will get rights, but the workers and the dispossessed will continue without rights...
...namely those of frdhBrajthe nssta oBtttnf of the Election program and tit dedatag «he electoral tactics of the Parte...
...Strive for these demands at every opportunity...
...7. Liberation of the trade union and cooperative movements, freedom to strike, free re-election of the committees to tlie factories and workshops...
...Such a possibility is put out of the question by the terrorist dictatorship which shuts the mouths of all...
...We cannot, we dare xfct be silent...
...tA necessary preliminary to currency stabilization is stabilization of the floating debt, in accordance with the proposals made by the French socialist Party to IMS...
...whereas here is seems to live in constant fear of the attacks of so negligible an organization as the Daughters of the American Revolution...
...The moment is ripe I "November, 1927...
...He seemed to assume that very few of them, and practically none of those from Massachusetts would have any backbone or principles which would determine their vote on this bill, and that It was entirely a matter of swinging them one way or the other by bringing pressure on them to the form of letters...
...The workers have an interest in the quick development of agriculture, since (the economic welfare of the whole country is connected with it...
...For a hastily gotten up meeting it was very well attended...
...Lack of Labor Support Weakens Boston Pacifism (By a New Leader Correspondent) noSTON—The peace societies of ''Boston held an Emergency Meeting to protest against.the'Big Navy Bill (last Wednesday afternoon) with Frederick J. Libby and, Rennie Smith, a; Socialist-Labor M. P. from Great Britain, as the speakers...
...Without us that means that the red Communist sign-board of the dictatorship of the 'machine will be dispensed with, but that the dictatorship itself with its terrorist oppression will remain in existence...
...It Is conscious that new catasjwphes woqH only bring fresh sufferings Z 7^ WOrtten' and *resh opportunities *•«"* counter-revolution...
...la addition the Congress wok dfcljnna...
...Libby toward the action of our Congressmen on the Big Navy Bill...
...An amusing illustration of how the peace groups, having supported the Democrats and Republicans in a majority of cases, are now left to reap the whirlwind, was the attitude of Mr...
...Our party «• "«Wdate the dictatorship •meefwry, to steer it into the track of Ww.uu.ay...
...Where the peace mov...
...With regard to the ewcttorf program the question of townee formed the decisive problem...
...5. Foil amnesty for all political offenders in prison or banishment and cessation of every form of administrative procedure...
...Socialist Party Scores Victory in Yugo-Slavia Belgrade.—The municipal elections in Maribor, Yugo-Slavia, have brought an Impressive victory to the Socialist Party...
...Such stabilisation should be effective at a rate calculated to respect the economic relationship^ dependent on the drtrttng stability...
...Program Adopted On this question also a committee was appointed which submitted the following resolution to the Congress: "First Ballot: The Socialist Party most go into the fight in all constituencies...
...Democracy...
...last municipal elections the Increase to the vote amounts to 750, gbuc the increase of seats is 0* French Party Fixed Tactics For Election Finance Program Cans tot Wta&ff .Abhhhbhrsubt ˆ8t* (Br'a Ifew Leader Coriwsponwwt) ^Dtrf—The;recdns HimtMoaif Cdn* grew' oT the rVencfi SodfcusT Party was faced with two primary tasks...
...Such hypocritical and ambiguous combinations would, be dangerous to the working-class, for the only band which unites them is that of opposition to capitalism...
...It occupies 12 seats...
...We shall not even honor it by a reply...
...The audience contained only one man from organized labor, and indeed no worker could very well have attenTJed had he so desired for the meeting was held in the afternoon...
...The clash of views came to light most clearly in the discussion around the procedure when the candidate of reaction is already eliminated from the field to the first ballot, and the Socalllst candidate Is in one of the next positions against radical and _JJpr" munist candidates...
...The audience seemed quite determined to do all they could to prevent the passage of the bill and the speakers were vigorous and able in presenting the idea that we were now entering .on just the same sort of naval race with Great Britain that Germany and Great Britain staged prior to 15"14...
...Without us—that means against us...
...PAUL, Minn.—The Labor-Progressive forces of at...
...6. Abolition of the privileges of the communist party an_of the Comintern and stoppage "of subsidies to them oat of public money...
...In the question of electoral tactics the Congress had before it six resolutions which were introduced at length by their authors...
...A resolution was moved by Renaudel and bis friends providing that to the second ballot, to order to avert any danger of victory for reaction, that a Socialist candidate not standing first imongst the candidates of the Left should withdraw in favor of a candidate from the'fortner Left Bloc...
...Since cheapness of labor in other countries is obviously a genuine danger to the higher pay of workers here, it is plain that the workers here have a definite reason in self-interest for being opposed to imperialism and in favor of peace and the progressive reduction of armaments...
...Economics a Foreign Subject The greatest force in favor of a large military establishment is the tendency toward imperialism that is an almost inevitable part of capitalism...
...N. Y. Socialists To Publish Souvenir Book for Convention New York Socialists are arranging an ambitious program for the entertainment of the delegates to the Socialist Party national nomination convention which meets to New York City April 14...
...The program takes as Its starting point the problems of reparations and the war debts, and proceeds to the claim for legal stabilisation of the French currency...
...about it before the 15th of February, with a view to undertaking joint study as to the best method of ensuring the application of the principle laid down by the Party...
...The splendid lead toward disarmament and all inclusive arbitration treaties that have been given by, the Scandinavian countries, especially Sweden and Denmark, is the result of the pressure when out of office and, sometimes the actual governmental acts when in office, of the Socialist Party in thr ¦» countries...
...Practically every British pacifist who comes to this country is a member of the British Labor Party...
...The committee has sent letters to organizations representing every phase of the progressive labor movement...
...After an address by Leon Blum, the 'esolution was unanimously adopted...
...for is it not all the same Who wins' Comrades...
...The counterrevolution Is now approaching...
...On their side the peasants have an interest in the rapid growth of industry, since this procures for them better openings far markets and cheaper commodities...
...It is true, of course that the demand for work by workers in the Navy Yards and the munitions plants must not be allowed to stop our insistence on progressive disarmament...
...On the other hand the Party demands the levy of an extraordinary progressive personal tax on fortunes...
...Crushed by the terror and by unemployment they were watching the fight with indifferent and in part with mischievous curiosity...
...3. Unconditional and absolute abolition of the death penalty...
...This, however,-.can only be done on both sides if they secure the possibility of negotiating freely as organized classes...
...and injustice which has been shaped by the Bolshevist dictatorship...
...This calm and practically unconscious assumption that most Democratic and Republican Congressmen would have no principles or firm convictions on so vital a question as militarism was most enlightening...
...The owners and capitalists can manage very well without democracy or freedom...
...Paul met to a city convention last week with representation bom every ward club to the city and practically every trade union...
...ft fs convinced that sflch a ¦esaitfan Is possible when all workers wlUaK* distinction of party or grovp band themselves together to fight for tht immediate requirements framed by om party which-are a necessity for the entire working-class and which alone can assure to it the support of all workers from town and country: 1. Freedom of speech, of the press, of* meeting, of association * and of conscience...
...The parties opposed to armaments in other countries are the Socialist or Labor parties...
...Second Ballot: The Congress trusts the branches to ensure withdrawal in the second ballot fat favor of that candidate—to whatever political camp he may belong—who has the greatest chance of defeating reaction...
...The time chosen for holding the meeting was a fairly typical reflection of the total disregard of the labor movement and the working class here by the peace groups...
...The ways of terrorist dictatorship- lead to one of two blind alleys, either that of war-communism or that of counter-revolutionary private interests...
...The executive committee recommended a contest tor the offices of mayor, comptroller and tour oouncUmen...
...Compared with the...
...In the upper ranks scuffles are going on...
...When Rennie Smith spoke he was able to talk of real achievements made in Great Britain, from the definite anti-war pledge signed by over 120,060 people, on up...
...It is our own fundamental interests which are at stake...
...The owners and capitalists consider with envy the regime of terrorism...
...Comrades, close your ranks...
...It IS not a question of the Communist Party...
...In order to maintain the equilibrium of the budget, A*mm* ]¦ made for reduction of such taxation as cripples the productive activity of the country, and it IS necessary in particular to lighten the burden resting on consumption among the ma— of the people...
...and further stress is laid on the necessity of energetic retrenchment in the appropriations for military and naval expenditure...
...that is nothing but bourgeois Invention, we read to the columns racy is nothing more or less than freeof the "Pravda" and "Isvestia...
...The procedure in the second ballot formed a subject of controversy...
...Yet to a Socialist, the meeting was a clear indication of why the peace movement in the United States is today a sort of wandering ghost, a more or less pathetic spirit without a body...
...St...
...This book will contain important articles on the Socialist and Labor movement here and abroad...
...Bracke and Zyromsky urged that In such a case the electoral fight should be waged on the issue between bourgeoisie and working-class, that is to say, that there' should be a withdrawal to favour of the Communist Candida tea Leon Bhim demanded withdrawal to favor of that candidate who would be most likely to Insure the triumph of democracy over reaction...
...Yet most of the prominent pacifists around Boston were asked for help on the Socialist Party's Unemployment Insurance Bill, and, with the honorable exception of the Socialist Justice Committee of the Community Church, failed to give it...
...Can we allow this problem to be solved without us, through the trade union, and party bureaucracy, through the directors of the factories and workshops, through the social and finance officers, through the commanders of the Red Army, through the chiefs of the G. P. U., in abort, through all those whom the Communist Party has drawn into its conflicts...
...Fight for freedom and organization of he workers...
...Last year there was 10 support of an Ind-p*"""**"*1 candidate 'or may but experience with the man Kho was elected has convinced St...
...But these evils are Just as little bettered by dictatorship...
...Yet the peace and labor movements in Boston are totally separate, and the peace societies hew at any rate make no effort to approach conservative labor and are apparently afraid to cooperate with the radical workers such as the Socialists...
...But we must then provide some other means of taking care of these workers, such as Unemployment Insurance or an alternative public works program, instead of merely dismissing their demands" for a livelihood as "uneconomic...
...uHmM tile buddet of the "Populalre" by the levy of a special tax of 50 centimes a month...
...Aout the1 Party's finances and...
...W*"rh fonrM wttb arn" against toe "White," desires no fresh Upheavals, "•fresh insurrections, no renewal of otu war...
...Tto working class Is conscious that only democracy can give it the opportunity of organizing freely, of defending its interests with a view to securing power— ahd that means real power in the hands of millions of workers, and not In those of a clique of dictators...
...The'lead In the protest against the sending of British forces to China comes from the British Labor Party...
...The working class Is fully conscious that democracy in itself does not exclude the possibility of the division of society into classes, of inequalities and of exploitation of the workers...
...So it is natural that the labor and peace movements should march together just as it is natural for the "paytriotic" societies to be financed in large part by the munitions-makers, as Norman Hapgood has so well shown in his book "Professional Patriots...
...Democdom for owners and capitalists...
...4. Immediate cessation of the G. P. C. and of other organs of the terror...
...Accordingly, the worker ought not to strive against the peasant but should endeavor to come to an understanding with him...
...Paul Laborites Name Candidates In City Erection (By a New Leader Correspondent) CT...
...The was out of the blind alley is to be found not In the struggle for bread between the town-workers and the , peasants, but rather to union between them...
...It will only be restored by a regime of freedom and democracy...
...What was not done to parliament is not going to be done in the country...
...For the Central Committee of the Russian Social-Democratic Party...
...No effort will be spared to make the publication an attractive volume which will be treasured by every person who obtains a copy...
...They would be delighted to stamp out democracy in all other countries also if toe working classes were not on the alert...
...The program of the Arrangements Committee is unfolding and this week it announces that a Convention Souvenir Book of not less than 150 pages will be published...
...Finally, nationalization of the existing monopolies is demanded...
...An illustration of the reason for the failure of the peace groups to get cooperation wtih the trade unions may be found in the remark of Fred J. Libby at the Boston Emergency Meeting when he referred to the demand by the workers to the Navy Yards for a chance to work as one of the reasons for the sentiment back of the Big Navy Bill and cavalierly dismissed this demand as "uneconomic...
...It is planned to display their greetings and to obtain a sufficient number of advertisements to pay for the book...
...Their was unanimity that the Socialist Party in the first ballot should put forward its own candidates to all constituencies...
...2. New and free elections for the Soviets with equal franchise far workers, peasants, employees and unemployed...
...iVlth regard to the Communists' offer to orm a united front at the elections, he ¦aid: 'In the first place it goes without aying that we refuse the insolent offer iontalned in the Communist proposal...
...jnt is linked up definitely with the labor movement, in other words, it has power and mass behind it to a very large extent...
...Paul vorkers that this office is vital to the iuccess of a working claw political movenent...
...And the dlfference largely is that the peace movements and the labor movement in the European countries are practically one and the same or at any rate march side by side...
Vol. 7 • February 1928 • No. 8
