Workers. (Ccmmuni .. t) of America

Held ir. Chicago, 111 ••

Aug. 21-30, 1925.

Publlahd !Jy thl'l ,Dally Worker Publishing Company.

8481

•

chi_cago,_ 1~1.

,_

The Fourth National Convehtio~

of the

Workers (Communist) Party of Am~rica

iui~Ji;llllliiiiJIIIIIIIIIlllllllllilllllllillli:iumlllllllllllr;JIUUI;IIIIIIlliJII!liiUUilillliUIU!U;IUI:IJI!Iillll!lill · Report of the Central Executive

Committee to the 4th National Convention Held in Chicago, Illinois, Augu.s~ 21st to 30th,_19~5 BIIIIIIIIIIIIUillll!tllllll!lllll!lllllllllllillliiii!IIII/III!IIUII!IIIIIIIIIIIlllllllllllliiiii!!UII!Illllii!Uiill111111111111

Resolutions of the Par!ty Commission

and ethers.

PRICE 50 CENTS.

Pu!lll:shcd by the

DAILY WORKER PUBLISHING CO,, 1113 W. WASHiNGTON BLVD., CHICAGO, ILl.-,

~290

8482

TABlE OF CONTENTS

Pc.gi!J Majority Report on Credentlala ...•... : ..... : .................. H •••••••••••••••••••••••• _.f

·Minority RePOrt on Credentlals ................................ ,;;: .......................... .f.r. Rules or Order or· the CoDventJon .................... : ...... ;,, ...• ." .................... ,.,(' .. g: Reputl of the Centrol Executive· Commlttee ............... :~ ....•....•... : ......• 9:6:l

(a) Tlle Farmer-Labor Party Campaign .................................... !) (b)- Tho Election Col.mpnlgn,.,_,,, .... ;: ........................................... JO (c) Tbe Labor Part)• Campalgn ....•• :. ........................................ l0-11 (d) United Front and Other Special Catnpalgns .................... 10.U (e) Trade Union •. I. ,V. 1.V., Ind. UnJone, etc .............. ~ ......... U-16 Ct) .Agrarian, Educational, Women's. Negrooa' .lind Anti·

Imperlallct 'Vork ......... ·~ ............... ~ ............... ""'"'"''""'"""·--16-21 (g) Our Pnrty Press ...................................................................... 21·23 (b}. Membership ot·Our Party .................................................... .1:7-~0 (I) The Pl\rty Publlcatlone, Dlll'erent Languages .................. U-42 {j} I..anguace Sections .................................................................. 43-Sl (k) - FJnunclal Statement of the Nntlonal Omce ...................... 62-Q2

MuJority ResoluUou on the Report COil c. E. 0 ............................ : ...... 63-66 1\IInotit:y; Resolution on the Repert of the c. 1<~. c ......................... GG-70 Majority Resolution on C. I. Decision on Amerlcnn Questfon ........ 70-71 MlnorJty Resolution on C. I. Decision on American• Qaestlon ........ 71-12 The Present Situation ~nd the JrnmMf:=.tc Tasks Or lht= Party .. ~.;l<H11 Instructions for Labor Party Campalgn ..................................... ~ ....... 8l:SG_ Resolution on BolsheviUltion or the Par~y ........................................... &7·93 Resolution' on the Liquidation of Lnrelsm .......................................... 93-96 Motion on the Ezpulslon of Lore from the PartY ................. ; ............ ~!.t-98

- •rhe Jnciuatrlal \Vork or tb"e Workers (Cmnmunl&t) Party .............. 9!J.l08 (R) Main Tasks of U1e Party In the TrnUe TJnlons ................ lOl {b)- Neceaaary Organizational Measures ................. .:. ............. 102·104 (c) Shop Committees ............................................................. ; ...... 104·105 {d) Amalgamation and International ............ : ........................... 105·106 (e) Party Policies tor Trade Union 'Vork .............................. lOfi-107

The· International Lahor Defense Indorsed ................. - .................... 107·10H Communist .Agrarian Program and Pollcles ...................... : ............... IO!l-114 The Amerlnn Negro and the Proletarian Revolutlon ...................... 115-l23

(a) Tba Negro In American I-llstory ..... _ ................................... ll&-121 (b) Negro Hace Movements .................................. ; .......... : .......... 121·122

Communist Work Among Women In the United States .................. l!t·l~7 Thf> Anulrlcan Comnmnlst Struggle Against lmperlallam ..... ~ ..... l!8-UO Our Pledge to the Soviet Unlor. ....................... .-........... ~ ............... : ....... t-11-1':: Resolution oil the Young 'Yorkers League ........................................ 143-]H-Reaolutlona or tbe App'!ala Commlttee ............................. _ ............ ~ .. 145-HG Bullc!fng of tho Communist- Press ........................................................ 147·161 Report or the Dally 'Vor:Cer, FJnanclnl, etc~ ................................... 15!·11!S El('(!tlon or the I:~comlng Centrnl 1-:x:l'~llth·f' Commltte,, .............. ,.lG7·161i

8483

Page

etc-.................................. 152·165 Ex.~utlve Cornmlltee ................ 160•168

;

Foreword

'l'hc Fourt11- Na-tional Co/l'centioil- of the 1VorkcJ'3 · (Coni.munist) Party waR held in. OMcago Jron~ A.ugrl&t 21 to August 311 1925 • . -Dttri:rg the period of t~ da"ya thc ___ lfi:l:ty-cmc dclegatclt ·11rcsera-t debated, the ~ariotiB quc&tiatl-8 of policy and. tactics relating to the Party life lind the development of a revolutiatmry mot;emeni of trw workera flU"ain.Rt capitalism and th.c "winning 'of the leader­sh-ip of th-is movcritcnt ._b!t the Party.

Thia pamphlet contai-n a th~ ••>['liii-ts .wbmi-tted- to the .. convention aml the reaolutior111- adopted lly_ it, ·

Po1· a discualfion of rlivisiona wJt.icla- c:ri!ltccl wi-thin. the pa:·:y and tli.c d<;n;l~1micnt of ita policies~:Tw rea.d~'t' is referred to the pam1Jlllct uFrom the ThirrJ Through· the Fourth National Oowt:ention. of the lVorkcra (Co,nmun­iat.) Partu·~ by C. E. Hlltlwllht'rg~ the Ot'ilcrnl St·erctm·y of the Party:·

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rights of

'~'~:~:~~;::~;~:~front action with thf' to "Imperialist uar:5,

propaganda. all possible means the. pro­Peasants" Council end shall

American iarmers' orgnnlzatlonll

Tbc convention -lnstructH tho incoming Central Exe.-;Utlve Com· rolttee to appolr.t a commission to study tho agrlculturt.l question tn prepare a complete agrarian prosram.

{Adopt<'d unanlmo~bly.)

THE AMERICAN NEGRO AND THE PROLETARIAN REVOLUTION.

The Negro In AmCrican Hh:tory.

The ;Negro has played an ImPortant role In American history. -First his labor transformed the aouUu:rn wlltl€'rncss Into an empire. More than a score of heroic slave revolts earlch the forgotten pages of American hlston·. Tbci smoldering f!re or slave rebillllon was one or the Immediate torces Impelling thu n .... t c.:mtraU;ratlo~ ~ the government of the capltn.ltst republic-the adopt1on or the constitu• tlon and the formation of the national army.

From being a passive center of the bloc.d~· struggl'l of lSitl, the Negro· was transformed In three short years Into the black t~hoc){ troops whf<"11 helped to "turn the tide ot war a;:::n.lnat the southern oligarchy. Thus the Negro toller plcyed also hit~ part In the con· solldatlon of the cltpltallst republic.

'"AboUUori,"" however. did not 1rec the Negro laborer from all or the impediments of chattel t~I:J.vcr~·. The decade of :•reconstruc· tlon" closed with a rapprochement between tha Northern capltr.Ust class nlld the defeated Southern landlcrd.e, v:llo obtained a free band , to exploit the Ney,ro rnas~es to whom land wno not uUottt!d and who remained In a Jl03itlon of semi-slavery. politically dis!ranchh10d, vic· tlnibed by supcr·cxploltatlon nntl by e::u:eptton laws.

Today the maJoritY (about 8.000.000) of tlte NeFro lJOi'UIS.H(';n consists of explollt!d runners {mcstly l:tod!e.es temmtH} and ngrieul· tur.ti.l l.ti.borers. and bas a lltatus llttle abovo l!erfdom •. About one.­thlrd (4,000,000) of the Negro population a;re residents of eit1es, to.wn6 and Industrial district~. where their cccupatlons rano;e from domestiC and miscellaneous labor to Industrial labor In tho 1wayy lndul!lrh::s. l'r:lctt.::ally without axceptlon these are beld by law and custom with·

. in the bounds ot a. labor caste. segregated, habitually terrcrl:r.ed, and exploited to n greater degree than any other section ot thE> prole· tarlat. ·

Nevertheless, unlike the Negro rural population, a large portion or this group, especially In northern lndustdal centers, has won the · right to exercise the trnnchlse. A number of them have cume lulU tbe labor unlous and consequently have been drawn direetly Into the general struggles or the An1erlcai1 working class. From tbe Negro Industrial workers the leadership or the American Negro mass mo\·ement must come.

The "Negro bourgeoisie"" hi but n l!etty·bourgeols sec'tlon, snu\U In number ami ·or little significance as exploiters except lnsornr as they b~co:-me n::;enh! or the b!g ("!h!te) b~urgeo!s!e In the role d tl'Oisonoll:.\ Jiropaguntl1sts ~n r~!onn!st race movemen~s or tn cnpttc.l-

llG

1st political partJes. \Vltb tho latter excepllons t!l.o N'flgro p.t;tty­bourgeolsle ·Jtsolt as a wbolo suffers under racial penecuUon.

Jn chattel slavery tho asptcntion o[ the Nc,sTo '\li.'Ss to<tl!taln the condition· ot "Cree labor"-the _wage slavery ot' the white worker. Tho remnlnlng speelnl Innbllltlea ot the Nllgra---I!scrlminaUon In employment, exclun:Jon rrom trado unions, tnequatlly 0! pay, c:=.:n:c neat masses or Negro workers even today to rega:d tho- position or the white worker In Industry ns one whtcb Js stlll to bo atlalned. This tact h"as caused n1uch cor.iruf!lon nn(l con,pllcatlon lt.1 tho labor movement. lt has create1l th!:l baslfi ot the talco tradition that the Negro, even when· drawn into Industrial labor, J3 n "natural" ally and reserve ot capitalism. In Industry the fact thnt any degree or modern wage slavery has represented to the Negro nn advanc:::- from his tor­me.- serf·llke Status, taken In conjunction witl.: the "labor-arlstoc":"ntlc" attitude ot tho trade uaion bureaucracy, has givE"n birth to the raise tradition that the Negro Is a Htrlke·breaker •.

The basis ot that tradition ha'3 been undermined In the tumul· tuous changes or the -world wur. The present Is an epoch In which the Industrialized Negro proletarian and also the agricultural Jlrole­tarlat, mo\·es into fl. position wJth the general working class.

Tho N~gro Industrial Work~r.

The tremendous transformation among the .Negro masses rPilult· Jng from t!:.c world ~•il.r and ~Her-war cOndltiuut~, with U1c h"l'lvi migration or Negro agricultural laborers and tenan~ farmers Into the citieS an•l- Industrial districts, has Jl}ncetl the Negro •J(.ofinltely in a now position 1n relation to the Amer!can labor movement. . From being a .IIOCtlonal qucatlou, the Xcgro problem became a national ques. Uon. From being ~ secondary f«ctor In lndu;.trlai iabur, l.he Negro mo\·es Into position of a great mass employed In basic Industries, and nlro3dy In not3blo strikes In thC coal lifllds, et('., be bas .11bown him• selC eminently fitted for the Cront rnnk1:1 or mllltant organl~ed labor. Tho question ot the full nntl unstinting adm!!ls!on or thu Negro to the tr:ulo unions Is placed more Mhnrply tllnn c\·er before at the door of tho trade unions.

Tho conalltutlons or m:uw or the tr:1de unluns c::tdudt! tbo Segro trom tho unions. In tlu.o case or the;;o unions wl1lch hnvv uo such provl11lona In their constitution the Negro Is nc,•ertheless dhicrlrn· lnntod ngaln11t.

Tho IDcrea11lng a•rc:wurc or the Nc~~:ro worker for ndruittunce ·Into U::e trnl)u unlo11:1 Is nn Instrument ror 11rotound rc\•olutlonnry ch!!.n::c !n the !::.bo:~r rnot·cment. !t !:; no ::.cc!U::nt t!;at Uoo "Golup~nf· bureaucracy opposea tl1c entry ot th~ nowly lndut~trlall:ted Negro pro· lotnrlans Into the trade un!ons. As an Important nnd growing Jlllrt at the moat o::tploltcd l'cctlon or the -proletariat which doc:~ not sbaro In tho D.liMernlllu bribe-:'! with which hnpcrlnlhuu J!OIII'ons the UI'Per ll!Ctlon ot the worklnc ch,llll, tim mass or the Negro Industrial worlmr~; I• obj!'ctlvely anti potl•ntlally n part or the lort wln:g or tlu.~ tnbnr DIOVomont. In those nn!on8 Into which the Nt.•groJea nrc Jwir.g admit· tetl, tor IIIMtancr. !he cu:tl rnlnlnJ.:" unlona, the to:l.mslors, lon~:Mhorl'llll'll,

'" 8486

-:;,.;;,:•;m;;ons the Negro masses result· 1 conditions, with the heavy laborers and tenant farmers Into the

pJ~ed th11 Negro deil.nltel)" In· a American labor m:lVement. From

problem became a. national ques.

,-~'"'"'."';';~".;;'"~ddustrlal labOl', the Negro •• In basic ln;!ustrlcs, and

etc., he bas shown him· '·,~~llntrll•,,~r.ks mtlltaut organlzeu Jabal'. ... admission of the Negro to the

than ever before at the- door or

ot the trade union~ e::r.ctudc the Negro or these unlon!l. which have no such

tho Nocro h1 nevcrthclt!Sa dlscJim·

or the Negro worker tor admittance Ju8trument for profound revolutionary

It is no accident that the "Gomperu·· tile nuwl:· Industrialized Negro pro· Ae an Important and ,;rowln,; part

·Proletariat which does not sbaru Imperialism polaons the upper or tho Negro lbdUM1rlol \\'orkcrw

part or tho left wins of tho lall•Jr which tho Ncgrooa aro l•elnc at.lmH·

unlona, tho te.ll.m'ttorl'l, lou~:•horemcm,

110

building laborer.s, janltor.s, etc., the Negro plays &n lmporUtnt. part In strengthening the mlUtant. sect.ton ~r tho working c!:l.3s ... The. ollsti· nate failure to organize the general xnats nf -: un~kUlod ~rO)lGtar!l\llS, whose entry Into the labor movement would ACTVO ns a. further basis for proletarianldng the Ideology of the trade unions and revitalizing the class struggle, Is & part. of the general- eervlce which the trade union bureaucracy contributoR to ita capitalist mru~lens. And the failure to make n clean sweep or all obstacle~ to the Ncgrues' entry Into the unions Is an especiaii:r .,!gnlilcant part of thi:;; ~cnlce to capitalist reaction,_ for race prejudice or tho whlto worker agalllSt·tho black Worker Is today more than e\·er a pQwcrful weapon aga!nst t.hl3. solidarity of the wurklng cl~se.

The cause·of the Negro In the labor movement io ee::se.ntlally a left wing ftght and one which must enurgeUcally be chaiDlll!~ned by the Workers (Communl11t) Party. _Our Party ruust make -ltscU: the foremost 11pokesma.n for the real abolition of n.lt discrimination or the as yet largely unorgantztld Negro workers In tho same unions with tho whtte workers Oll tho bas1s or equality of membership, equal· lty ot right to employment In all branches of work and equality or pay. Our Party shall bring pressure on t.b.o un!onE. thnt tl::.e ncUv!ty or tbe Communist ~ractton">! among the Ne~ocs already tn the unio:1s, getting them to flght mi!ttantly fur tho abolttlon of_the color line, and by the lictlvlty ot the whole lett wing forcing the abolition or all racial discrimination. Our Party must work among tho unorganized Negro workers destroying whatever prejudi,zo Da).' ex!at ngulast the trade unlons, which hi being cultivated by the white capltalfsts, the Negro petty4lourgeolsle, and the oppo::;lt!on o[ the rcll.ctlnnary bureau­cracy as such, and must arouse thcin to demand and tlg!J.t [or admlr~• slon. Our fllm must be to show to .the white workers that only by complete solidarity or the races can any progress llo maiJe i.Jy either and to st.or. to the Negro wnrkors that In spite of the anti-Negro chnracter or soDe unions that l.n tholle unions where Negroes ai-e admitted the racial questloc 11as been Uquldatcd to the larg~t degree. Our demand Is to:- the Inclusion ot the Negro workers In the exl:.tlng unions, as agulnat racial f(Cparatlon, a.s against dual unionism. "\Vl1er<~ NPgroes are not permitted to join the eTistlnc "white" trade unions, It Is thP. duty ot tho Communists to takc-tbQ Initiative In tile forma· Uon of ore-nnl:zatlons of Negro workors declaring in principle against dual unionism II.Ild against racial <Separation, and tlt>c!arlng us a prl· mary purpose tho strug~:lo for admh!Rittn Into tho existing uolon11, but runctlonhl;t as tull·Oedgcd !"egro unions during: the &trugglc.

The Ncgrg T'=n!lnt·FOI!rmer and Agricultural \rlorker.

El~t million Nell:ro agricullii& • ..:. ;o;od:.er::, ~.l!.~r~rof!Crs a.nd ten• nnt farmers live lu the :!OUU:orn etL.tcs tn a ("Ondltlon In AOml! respect-a rcs~>mbllng tlio !'ertdom ot Europe two huudre•l yoea.u ago. Agrlcul· tural lnborers nrc forcibly ht=ld In comnuhor)" labor under eorpur:al­punlahnlCDt. Tenant and sllnro Cnrmera uro bound to the earth, hy rorcc prevented rrom leaving a Joenllty whf're they arc n.ljudge(l to

111

be In debt to landlords who e~erclsc the rlgh tli or feudal masters. A racial easte system, remaining from tho chattel slave period, l!harply divides· the exploited masse!! Into blnck and white, thus !acllitatlng the most cruel exploitation. Political rights arc .pr.actlcn.lly wlthh~l:! from the Negro laborer and farmer.

.Jt Is the duty of our Pai-ty to l:Lk(l the lnitlath•o In organizing Negro o.grlcultural workers ln!o la:,Or unions together with whit.:~ agri­cultural workers It possible, hut SOJ.M.rately I! unavtlldable, and to bring such unions ln.to the general In.hor .mOvement. Another !IU· premely Important duty of the Party Is to promote the organization of Negro tenant·fa.rmC!cn, 'Share-t:roppcrs and small !arUJcrs generally (together 'with white farmers of the same exploited class 1r posslhle), and to brla,:: such OrJ;anb:atlons into cooperation as allies of the Ia· tlor movement.

The Negro and the l.<~~bor Party.

The ta11k of the Communists among the Negro workers ru eh!e· where Is In :Its tlrst stage to bring about class consclousne!Js and to crystallize this In Jnllependl'nt class polttlcal action against the cap.. ltallst class .• The profound social cl::anges or the war and post-wnr periods have already shown Indications- or u partial c.xodus ot.Ncgro masses from the ret~uhllcan party: and this reprcscnt3 n brenk '·-Hh tradition, a vi_,.;Jble evidence of the be,::lnnlng of UuJ (!nd"of the ::!.111· once ot the Negro wltb the capitalist class.

The labor party slogan and campal{;n poss(lsses a pecuilar useful­ness In the work ot bringing the Negro workers Into the econonllc na well ruJ the political labor movement. 'Ve t>h.all ::.dv:mc{l th,; Mea. of the Negro workers taking an Initiatory and leading part In tho !ormation of the labor party. 'VIth this In Ylew we shall in en~ry labor party action prominently raise the Issues or dJscrlmlnntlon against the Negro poJJUcally. lnduntrlatly, and In r•uhllc cu:.noms. The dlslranchlsement of the Negro In tho southern :antes must ho _ made an especially urgent reason tor tho political orgnulzatlon o~ the Negro workers lhru collectl\'e nffillntlon with U1e labor party; and tbe winning of Polltlr:al rights tor the Negrn prolctn:-lans must be placed before both white nnd Nt"&ro work~>ra ns nn hun~edlrue objective of 'lha labor Joarty movement and a necessity for gh·lu,:: tht• ·workers" political mow•nwut "lUI ruu 6lrcn~rth,

Negro Memben;hlp. In the t:ommunllt Party.

!t !::: :::.b:::cl:u;::Is.· o;;;;;;.:n!lrtl tiu•t ·,.,reawr numbers or NcJ;ro work''TI!I co pablo or tnkln~: -a loadlnJ: llnl't Itt tl1e struggle bt• !mmediutely clra t\·n fnto the \\'orkero (Commun1stl Party. In all of o.ur party. actJon~. nil pnrty uuits must Dlakc an e~:~peclal eaort to real!h and enHst the Illest adva.nced Negro workers Into our ranks. Iu order to moct our problems it Is necessary to drnw these com:-ndns Into rcsponslblr. party work. .A great signitlcnnco or our work among Nugroll~ Is UJUt It wiJI l"ncllllatc tho tu."'k of enluTglnl': und e.;tnbUt~hln~ our l'arl,· 1::. :::o aouUIVfh itlutc11, \orhich haH bet"ome 11 prime necessity thnt cnu no lonl;"er he postponed.

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All !IIO{;"llDS

mnases, or which r;;:;r.:ra.Uco;.:o t:.: Utica! s.nd econom the demand1o·or th · manda for votiUcal nomic" liquallty, al:, uot written into It acgresatlon In scb all Rchools; Eqnal without aegregatto· p!:tCP.S O[ llUbliC t'l -r4 uts, etc.) end U.. COli:'!IO Of the ftlrU e;~::perlence that tl of the BUCC6S8fUI eRtabUI!hment of t'

Our work~~ NE!g:ro Lnbor Cor p 6rty recogulzei i

ot the Negro wor' composed, .nocor<il~

Dele&"ates iror Delegates trDI ·

Iaige numbers ot A few Ne&"I"O

ot the ra.ce. Delegates fro· Rcpreaentattv

organlzat1on:J wlH: nod farmers.

'fhe congren workers.

Thll slogans • placed beforft thl!

At the COJ:lgl :;ro•111~ .thruout ( workef'l'l helon!tln not JlOS~<Ihle. the In the hand!' of 1

In tho n.grlc tlf rarmerK and f1

The main o ccntrnlh:e_ th~ ill ulnto tho de11tre: nf whit~ wt:l'l<llf

Labor" Party,·

among the NeGro workers aa else­~g e.bout clus consciousness anrl to ua poUUcal action against the cap. I changes or t.he war and post-war ,allons of a pllrtJal exodus of Negro : and this represents a break with e be&!nnJng of the end ot the aiiJ· !at clan. !npafgn_ posaessea n. puc~llar useful··

Negro workeru Into tba economic lment. We shall advance the Idea lnJUatory. and leadh:g part In tb.e th this In view we shall In every alae the issuea of discrimination ustrlally, and In public customs. o In the southern state!! must bo

for t_h~- POlitical organization ot cti:Ulatlon with the labor !•A-rty· tor the Negro proletarians musi.

•Negro workers as aD Immediate 'nt and a necessity tor glvln~; the etrength,

_he ~ommur.lat P::~rty.

reater numb~rs of Negro workers 1e Atrugglc be immediately drawn 1• In n.U of oor t~::~rty nct.tons, ull !fOrt to reach and enlist the most

ranks. In order to meet our tbeae comrades Into responsible :>f our work among Negroes ts rsing end establl:~hlng our Part)-' :orne a. prlrne necessity that can

"Social Oemanda•• of the Negroe&.

All alogans of equality which nre curf.cnt. 9.mong the Ncr.ro mnsses, or which can be awakened among them, which exprer;~ thtr aspirations tor CIQUal rights nnd equal treatment. of_ Negroes in po­litical and economic lite and In public- cust<nns. are Jllaced among the demande ot the 'Vvrkers: . (Communlat) Party. Such ar~ the de· mand!l ror political equality, the right to vouJ,, sociai- equality, "flee• nomic" equality, abolition ot jlm-<:row Jaws and 3lso llm·er<lw cuutcms not written Into law, tho right to serve on juries. the abolltlon or segresatlon In schOols and the. rl~;llt ot Negro teachcra to teu.ch tn all schools; equal rights of soldiers and sa1!ors In army nnd navy without segregation In eolored regiments, the right to ·frequent all places ot public revort without segregation (hOtels, thNlten, rm!tnu­rants, 'fitc,} and the aboUUon or all antl·lntermarrJage lawa. In t~u~ course or the strugsic ·with such demands wf!o will detnonstr&te thru e:z:perle::ace that these aspirations can be realized only na a r-nsult ot the successful class struggle against capitalism Mrt with tb9 l.'stabltsbment of Ute rule of the working cla!UI In the Sovlst form.

American Negro L::~bor Con(ircP.II·

Our work among the Negroes centers now around the Amerlc:tn Negro Labor Congress u.nnounced for Chicago. October 25. Our Party rccol,':nltcs and supports this congren3 ns a &enulne exprea.1lo::a ot the Negro wurkers and farmers of tho United States. It wJ\1 be compoe~d, according to t.he official oall. o! the rollowlng: ·

Deleg3.tee from Negro and mixed lL0.1de ll{llons. Detesates from Negro workers tn factories and industries where

large numbers of them are employed. A tow Nc;;.-o workers who are known for their activit)' In behall

or the race. Delegates rrom Negro rarmcr Orsnnlz.atlon:~. Representatives of NCh'TO scml-lntcllectunl anti st;tm!•bourgeols

organizations who are sympathetic to thl" movement ot ~he workers and farmers.

The congress therefore will be bnt<lcttlly a gathering of Negro workers.

The slogans or our Part)· will ho lncorp.,rated In rc3olutlon1:1 and placed beforo U1e congress.

At the ('Ons:reu n permanent organization shoultl be formed of );tuUJ>S thruout the United States COilli>O!!t"ll 1Jt00omlnanfly or Negro workers belonging to unions wiwra possible. lc cltfctJ where thla is nol possible. the eontrol of the rommlttN.'"- shot:ltl Df!\·ertbelcsa be In the bands or uctual •,>,•orkers. -

In the ngrlculturni communities siuallu.r coum;alti~• o;um;JuGed of farmeMJ anti farm lnboreru tihould be torm~-...1.

The mnln object of the Jlermtmcht llrgunlzatlon shouhl l>o to ·~'!ntrnlh:e the protests of the Negro workers and Cnrmers, to 5tlm· ulllte the tle11lre fer orgn:llzntlon, to secnre atlmisston to or¥alli2ntlous nr whitt>- wr.rlt..,rK nntl farnwrs on un l'litml basts und to ClllllLllsh

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organic conn('ctlon lletwcen the struggles or the Negro und wb1ts masses. ·

The Congr"ess should connect the struggles or the Negro workers and farmers lu the United States wlth the stntgglea of the Negro colonials In American possessions such as Ha.ltl, etc.

.It should connect the struggles of the American Neg-rO<.l:J with t:hoso ot the African muses and fln.ally with those or nll Colonial and seml-colonl.at peoples. · ·

It ~bould addreaa it. manifesto to tbe Negroes ot the world calling upon· them to hOld a world race congress.

'I'be congress should strive to devolop e leaderslt!p for the Negro movement of the world for which the Amf!rlcan Nt>gro~&. hy the1r superior Industrial nnO: po!Jtlcal training, are the best fitted.

Our pa:rty fractions Wlll work for the above program. In connect1on with the linking of the struggle of the American

Negroes wJth those or their African comrade.!!, th1:1 congreSIJ should volnt out tho error or holding up Africa as a Nesro lllecr..a. It must· ·be made clesr that the connection between the Afrfcau nml ArncrJcan Negro llbe"i-atlon movement Is In the common struggle agulnst world Imperialism and that such schemes as mlr,:ratlon, etc., are >o~lmply chimeras which serve only to confuse and conceal the real Issues.

The congress ahould strive to develop a leadership for the Nt'gro Where a workers' and farmers' ~rovcrnment has soh·cd succeasf!t:ly all racial and national problems.

Lynching and Race Riots.

It Is the duty" ot thl.r Party io meet th~pJDblcm o! lynchln~; and race riots not merely •wtth words of sympathy hut with concrete organizational methods wltiCh can btl etrcctJVei;r flll!•l!ed. Tile cs&once ot the problem Js to create a nnlted class front 1lf the working class. \Ve shall endeavor to hnve established In Iocalllills whe:o both Negroes nnd ~white Industrial workers ur9 employed, permanent Inter· racial labor committees ngalnst lynching,- against terrorh:aUon or Negro and white workera. against the Ku lCiull: Klan, against lncG.ual· Jty at pay, against race diserlml.n:a.tlon In obtaining employment tor the fulJ admission ot Negro workers Into tho unlona with equality of membership rights, tor the complete orgc.nlzntlon of both Negro

-and white-workers Into tho same unions. ll 1!-hnll ba our endeavor to have such lnter·raclnl committees of workers serve as a medium thru which .the solidarity and cooperatton of tho worklug elaa1:1 ·and all workers' organizations can be obtnlued In tlmos or crisis such Ull

~:~trikes, race riots, attempted lynchings, etc .. to prevent COil~lcts between lbo workers ol the two races and to prevent lynchings.

The Negro and_ the Army.

\VIth the world war r..nd the con"crlpL!on of th~ Negro youth, resentment of dlscrlmlnntlon and other brutal trentmct1t In tho army nod navy became n major phenomenon amon!l" Negro toilers. Out or this mns11 conception arise many alognns and demands which th!.' \Vorkera {Co111munlat) Party muRt energetically clu~omrloo, and which

120

ospc~lnlly t.be · • me"at against ~~. dlscrlmW.ntion agalc.11t d15'crlt: the sharp and ("24th Negro 1: against tho P> tJ~ero ofHcerR' .· tlon, etc.

Tbe CUIJtOD srcsoton aga!nt Mexico In 1916 among the N"ef struggle in tb world·awakenln worlt:·Wide C!LP

eboot an under m'lnt un<] their

Partly as ' r;cE;ro Pt'lllUiatio partly as a. rl! rnflnta tbruout. Anla,. tbe PhlU: In thB United : RIO"f"Cment- nl'l!> Iadlll.ll workiDI States so.nporu spread r::.;:ldl;; worklug cls..ss. mctlt Ansoclatl ' the halt·ml11101 nntJ-ImPerlallst RB the demand of pay, etc., w Improvement • confusedly mix tb~;~ lenderablp pnclftst concep the world co•i state In AfriCJ necessary, bo.a exploitation of lzntlon, who cc funrla trc: ;oh NC'gro toilers l•rcmacy) In tb ing the dream allpflets of bet1

ot the Negro and whfto

the BtruggJes of the Negro workers ·the struccles ot ihe Negro as Haiti, etc.

:~--~- ~::. the American Neiroes with With those of all colonial

to the Negroes of tho world calling · :::ongress. · :o dev&Jop a ieadershdp tor the Negro

·.fc11. tb;;. American Negroes, by their .training, are the beat fitted. k tor the above program. lng of the atruggJo ot the Amerlr-.an :-lean comrades, the congress should ) Africa as a Negro Mecca. Jt must· n between the African and Amerlenn the common. struggle ngn.Jnst world

me& as migration, etc., are simply ntnse and conceal the real Issues. · 1 develop a leaderslllp fur the Negro 8'0\"ernment bas solved succeils!nlly

1 meet ihi:rprobtem ot lynching and :Is or .sympathy but with conCrete

effeeUyeJy app1Jcd. The essence class front or the working ~Iu.ss.

abllshed In localities where both tera are employed, perml\nent Inter. IYnch!:::g. ::.o;alnst torrorh:ation ot

·the Ku Klux Klan, against lnequal· aUon In obtaining employment for tera into tho unions with equality nplete organization of both Negro t•nlona. Jt sbnll be our endeavor

·ea of worJ.:ors 11erve as n medium PQrati(ln or the_ wO"rklng clllBl:l nnd )bt!:.ined In times ot crl!lls llUCh as .chlnge, etc .• to prevent courtlcts 1Cell and t<~ Prewmt lynchings.

1d the Army,

Conlcrlptfoa ot the Negro youth, ther brutal treatment In the 11rmy 'Ienon among Negro toilers. Out ,. !:!~;.;:ns anti demands which the merg•tlco.Jiy champion, nnd which

e!lpeclally the Young V.'erkers Lengue·can web champion: the;" move­ment against segrecatlon or Negroes In "Jim•crow•r regiments; against dlscrhnlnRtlon In tho klnda· ot tasks assigned· to ~egro troop unltft; against dbl'crlmlnaticin aga.fnst. Individual Negro J!IO!dlens; ap.tnst the sharp and. brutal punlahment or whole group_~ ot Negro troops ("24th Negril lnfnntry" case-13 summarily hanged, 56 Imprisoned}; against the principle or "white omcers ror NE!gro troops"; against Negro oiDCilrs' !allure to dcreud the Negro troops from dlscrhnina· tlon, etc. • .

The customary employment or Negro troops In Impcrinllatlc ag. gro::osslon ~ge.!nst we:l:cr p:::opios. (S:panlilb wu.r, lbe Philippines, an!l 11-fexfco In 1916), lntenslllcs the duty ot the Communists to awaken among the Negro masses a sensu or their own relation to the clusa struggle In tho United States, and their rel:atlon to the present world-awakening or the auppreascd rncea:· their relation to the new world·wlde capltn!lst slogan ot "white supremacy" (as In China): In short an understanding of the International role or cnpltullst govern· ment und thefr own role In the revolutionary c·po<:h, ·

NEGRO RACE MOVEMENTS.

Partly as a roou!t or the ·lnternnt!oual transformation :nmong, the Negro population In the United Statea and the 'Vest Indies, and also parUy ns a reaction to the war and the national llheratlcn move· menta thruout the world (especially the colonial rermcnt In Africa.. Asia. tho Phlllpp.inoo, Hnttl, etc,), a. Negro ntee movement centcr!n&" In the United States has Jleen stimulated to large propc..rtlons. This movement first crystallized Into orga.nl:::at!onal form among 'Vast Indian working class- lnamlc-rantl'l In New York HD!l other Unlted States !!cavorts as well ns the British 'Vest lndlan possessions, but spread rapidly among tho natl\'c American Ncgrccs, mostly of the working clasa. Under the name or tha Un!Vtlrsal Negro ImprO\"&­ment Assocl!!.t!on n fluctuating UHllllbtJI'Illhh•, u.t times appron.chln~; the halt-million tn:trk, was organized. At llrat It showed distinctly s.ctJ.Impcr!nUst tendencl~s. with speclllc working clnss demands such as the demand for openln;; lfle trade unlon11 to Negroes with equality ot pay. etc., na shown In the 1920 program or the Universal Neg;·o Improvement As80clatlon. At nil times th~se Uemnnds ha\'e been con!u:'ledly mixed with Utopian conceptions. ltapldly, however, under tbe Jeadersblp of Its principal rounder, l\farcm; Garvey, the Utopian paclllst conception thnt the oppresalon or thrJ Negro In America nllll the world could be remedied by the l.oulhllnc of n national Negro atate In Arrlcn, and that lienee the atrul-:"gla In this country Is un· necessary, hll.s become _tho dom:nant note o'Jr the orcnnlzatlon. The exploitation ot Uao Negro masses by dcmngos:-lc lcnderu ot this organ. lzatlon, who copy tho arts ot the Jf.lwlsh Zionist mo\·emcnt, soliciting runds rrom white capltnJists on the ground that the~· will teach ti1o Negro toilers to submit to "white RuprPmacy" (-1, e., capitalist au· ·vrcms.cy) !n Udz ;::ountry, wldlu ufficiuily dunyiug but In fact cultlvat• lng the drNuu ot mass mfgrn.tlon to Afrlcn, Is one of thr. cruelest .:IIIJICr-tR or bctruynl to which the hlnck Tlo"l'!rker, Is f!Ubjcctcd.

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An rntense sympathy with the colonloil ruvulta of the Clrlnelje, -the RJMa.ns, Sudanese, East Indlnn, 'Veat lndhui and Japan PW.PlC!J ligatnat fmperlaU;am Ja, however, nn almost unlveraal phenontenon among American Negro workers. It exists In n. mllltanL a;:gresliiVo, non·paclftst form, not only among some of the rnnk nnd tUo of the beforementtoned organization, but also widely beyond the lhnlt.s ot any organized form,· This phenomenon Is .!o~.:nd In-Its highest de­velopment among Negro lnduatrlal workers who complotltely repudiate the cult of submission In America and who conceive thell" tate to be bound up w.lth the American tabor.movernent. 'l'bltt eiemont oC Ne!;ro Industrial workers Is exceptlon~lly r~!!!H!n!!Yc to H:o.Comm.unl;,t prO:,. gram in both .Ita International and Its domestic: slcnlflc~mco. '!'heir Interest In questions ot colonial Imperialism (forced UPon them by their own persecution as an "lnterJor" race), Increases the .-a.Iue or­the contribution which t!lls moat e:z:ploltecl section or the proletarian Negro workers can make to tho labor movement. The guidance- or this curi-ent Into' tho channel of the labor movement and away from UtoP:a:~Jsm fa n very high ·task or our PnNy. It involves tlte need ot our Party members working within the Negro race movement. ll tnvolves tl!e atruggle ror working ch~&~ hegemony v.-'iU1In the mass organizations or the race movement, Including the atruggle against the Utopian leaders-agents of the bourgeoisie, It Involves combat· Ung the Ideology or concessions to "white supremacy," the Jnslstencfl upon an uncompromising struggle P.galnst the Ku Klux Klan, making these major Issues agnlnst the rea·cuonnry leadership. 'Vlthln so::ch organizations we must Insist upon the orgiUllzatlons taking up. tb'} Issues or the cln.ss struggle, constant!)• pointing to the tallur~ ot thfl lea.dera to a..ttempt tO proteo~e Negro toilers from oppression In Amorfctt.. r '\ ...

To acr.ompllsl1 this/ we ehoutd organb;o C.,mmunlst tractions within tbe Untveranl Negro Improvement Association which shaH strive to surround theuisctvos with tho working class and poor !armor clemcnta to; tt." pur ~e o~-ca • lr.g on tlte struggltJ to tranaform othe C»-gantzaU.oa toto 2-n orgu ntton tlgbtlng tor -the <'lass iuterests ut tbe Negro workers ln._tb nlted St:t.tes.

In the Negro ·race movementa and orgnnlzntlons It Is nccosaary constantly to emphasize the colonial program ot t~o Communlst,Intet'· national, polntl.ag out· that only with a united worlf! trout of an tho exptolted·-only with the conjunction of the prollltarlnn revolution with tho revolt or tho colonial peoples, thnt victory can h'J attained.

We should oncourng~ tho Negro workers to tako un Jntflrest In and !iUpport the movement tor freedom or tho suppressed colonial peoples. But It Is not permissible to encourago tho Utopian Idea tha.t tho Negroes In this country can win their emanclpat!on· thru ma11u migration or thru tho llsto.bllshmo:~nt of a. Negro Ju'ltlon In Africa. Tho reformist Jeadora (Garvey, «.'tc.) do not have a Procram tor tho liberation ot tho Negro peoples thfuout tho world. Tho revclutlo'ln.ry movement headed by the Communhlt Internn.Uonnl bu., a progrt..m whl~;l w111 Iiberato tho poopl.,a or Afrlcn, Asia, etc .. togother with tho proletariat oC nil countrle11, The Communist Jntornntlounl und Its

American nectlon Is a · peoplea, &.!ld opposes 1

orgQn!:utlona or Nee'-."'

Tho -African Blo.od eombln&d with a mfllt< Negro """OJ'kcra .a.ge.ir.l.l(.' -baa done a pioneer Wl ltant w:h·aneo-guard 'ot . ll~~ovu be~n in tbcll'!c e tacttc!J for enlarging Us Our policy In relc.Uon · lza.ti09S m-erge w1tb thl

In tbo Natlcmal • Pti'Ople, th<6 NeO'fO IWU.! reformist'S and mul~r (such o.s represented b · llcan national ccnventl operations •. Yet ft ill a paoslnc period of tbo 11 1st cla.a:s, that thts or1 the rote of cbamplonln~ workers' rlg!l.t to _ a.C.n org-a.nlzatlol', under sary for sc,lec.ted

to er.ter IUt '"'"''"''"" the Negro muses ·of the daas atrugg!e, fn the same persons 1 rneut~ures lli'OVOsod.

Howew·er !t Is onl:r ned c::rteoded !n the n.,: stand out as thg only. t all dlscrlmlnatlns and succetJstully comb:lt the

The Rim of our Par create fi. powerful proh the struggle uf the Ne1 In every form a::.d whlc movement or the 'l'rhoiE American Negro workers struggles or the with tb.e etrugglea of of a.tl tho world a.nd th tlon ani! tbe dlctatorshi

vltb tho coloni:!J revolts of the Clllne!le t Indian, W-est Indian and .Japan people; Reyer, an almost universal pbenomenoD rken. It extata In .a mliltUlt,. aggressive, ·among some of the rank and file or the JD, but also widely beyond the limits or pbencmonon Is round In Ita highest de-

.~ lustrlal workers who completely repudiate merlea an:l who coDcelvo their fate to be ' labor movement. This element of Negro JonaJly rcaponatve to the Communist pro­nal and Ita domesUc slgnlftca.nce. Their onlal lmporiallrun. (forced upon them by 1 .. lnfel'Jor" race}, Increases the value of most exploited section or the proletarian

> lbe labor movement. The guidance er !l or tbe labor movement and away from taak of our Patty. ll involveo tlle. need rk!ng wlth!n the Negro race nlovement. ,working class hegemony '\\'ithln the mn.!!s 1ovement, Including the struggle egalnat of the bourgeoisie. It Involves combat•

Ions to "white uuprcmacy," tho lnsiRtence uggle agnlnat the Ku Klux Klan, mnklnl! the reactionary leadership. 'VJtbln such

, It u:>an the organizations taking up the ~ con.atantly pointing to the fatlure or the . ~e N!JTO totlers from oppression In

·:·t· sho\lld organize C>Jmmunlst tr&.ctl!ln~ -) _Improvement Assndatlon which sb::.U ._ s wi~ the working class and poor farmer

-~ r <"& l')'lng <in the struggle to trans term ,: ;nl}i atlon fighting f'or th~ dau10 tnteret~tH : r"trnlted: States. 1ments and org3nlzatlona It Ia necossai-)· colonial program ot the Communist Inter· 1nly wltb a. united world front ur all the

. 1njunctlon of the praletarlo.n revolution· .1~1 peoples, that victory can Le o.ttnlnetl.

10 Negro workers to tll.ko an lntcrost In for freedom ot tho suppressed colonial

:nl.sslbla to encourage the Utopian !flea Juntey c::.n win their emancipation tt1ru sta.bUshment of a Negro nation In Africa. e:y, t:.tc.) do not ho.ve a program for the ·us tbruoat the world. The revolutlomd-y :ommunlst International has a vroll;rrun es ot Africa, Asia, etc., together with tl1c.

ThQ Communl&t lnt~rnotlonal nnd Its

"'

American eectlon Is a. friend or aU llberaUod movements or nppraned: peoples, a.nd opposes only the mll!ll<!adcrs and httrayf!m of,.tho ~sa orglinlzatlons of Ne&TOes. ··

OTHER NEGRO "RACE MOVEMENTS.

The African Dlood Brotherhood, with a. prc-.r;ra:n or cl&aA strcg,.:!e combined "";th -a mHitant championing oi the l!~i&l deo.nanda ·or thE': Negro workcru 3Gdnat racial d~cdrn.lncllon, io an 'Drgan.1zatlon which baa done a pioneer work uf conSiderable value, lu orgauh.ln:; a mU· ltant advance-guard or Negro workers. Otherwise Ita cblef succeu:.~ have been In . those cases when It has employed the united [nmt tactics tor enlarging Ita cootact with nnd lnnuence •.1pon wider drcl=~ Our policy In relation to thli~ organl:atlcn Is to !lave tho local organ• lze.t!ons merge wltb tbe unlt.B or the American Negro I..abor Cung-re!5B.

Jn the Natlonu.l Asso..:lation tor the AdTanccment ot: .Colored People, the Negoro pett1•bourgoa<olsle. tcgether with_ middle d~ white reformists .and undE"r the partlal leadeMhlp or tne "Wg bou!"G"OOII!IIe (auch as represellted by Senato-r Burton. chairman of the ~~~;,.~;;;,;·~y­llcan naUcnal con,·enUon) finds lhs chlet medium for IL'l operations. Yet It Is a :singular parndox and a reneetlon or the now passing period O[ the patronizing of the Ncsro":S C:.Ul!iC by the CD:Jllal-lat class, tba.t this organiz&tlon at Us l3.11t convention appeared In the role of r:hamp!onlnr,, tho ln a timid and "1"e5PC<:tll"bJe'' way, Negro workers' rlgbt to admittance In the tradfl nnl:)n:r. Even In thlR crganlzatlon, undar pres(lnt clrcumetAnccs. lt Is t!"(lrmlr.sible n~d neees· aary tor sc.lected Communists (not the OJarty mcrnbe~htp .aa u whole) to enter Its conventions and to make proposa.l£ t:nlcnJ~~ote~ tu enllgb.tcn the Negro mnsseu ucder ltR Influence ns •.o tba nature an:i nece::slty of tbe class stl"UgSle, the Identity o: thclr·exploltcrs, nnd their Jea<it::ra In the same persons and the tre~cherous nature of the :retormtst menl'ures proposed.

However' Jt Is only v.·ben the Communist- work Is :KO broadened and exlelhled lu t%ie field ot :::cbtO rnoT(Im:::=~ = to :n:~.kr: our P:1.rty stand out ns the only real champion or the Negro ag;:a.lnst lyncbim;. all dlscrlminntlug and all oppres!Jion and exploli.atlon tha.t •e ·caL succt'"Ssfully combat the lnftuonoo of t~ucll bourgo!"Ois '!Dovo>ments.

The ulm of our Pnrty In our work among the .Negro ma3aes Ia to crc&te a. powerful proletarian movement whtcb will tl.gbt and lend the struggle of the Negro rD.ce against exploitation n.nd oppressl:on In every form nn•l which wiJl be B. mllitQ;nt pnrt or tho reTolutlonary moTement Clf the whole American """Orkin~; class, to strenG"t.hen the American revolutionary movement hy bringing 1nto It t!"le 11,500,000 Negro workers and farmers In lhu United Sta.te.s to broaden the ntrutt:les of the Amerlcnn N"e,:;ro w-arloets and farmers, connect them with the struggled or the nat!onu.l mlcurltlel! o.nd cnlonlnl peoples of o.ll the world nnd thereby fUrther the C":AUfiO or tho ,..arid l"'lvotu· tlon nnol the dictatorship or Ute \lrolct.arlat.

8493