MIA > Archive > Earl R. Browder
From International Press Correspondence, Vol. 3 No. 61 [39], 20 September 1923, p. 677.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for the Marxists’ Internet Archive.
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2020). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet Archive” as your source.
The left-wing movement in the American trade unions, expressed in the Trade Union Educational League, demonstrated at the Second General Conference, held in Chicago, Sept. 1–2, that it has firmly established itself as a permanent factor in the labor movement. There were 143 delegates elected and more than 100 present from 90 industrial centers including Canada and Mexico, who met for two days of strenuous work, unifying the forces of progress and mapping out programs to rejuvenate and remodel He unions to meet the “open shop" assault of the employers and overthrow the reactionary bureaucracy which is strangling the labor movement.
Facing the conference were the fights now going on in three great industries for the right of the militants to remain and carry on their work within the unions. In the Shoe and Leather industry, the Secretary of the Amalgamation Committee and several of his co-workers are on trial, the Union officials demanding their expulsion. Their local union has given them a trial, and returned a verdict of “not guilty” and rebuking the officials who are trying to throw them out. The officials are threatening to expel the entire union. In the needle industry (garment manufacturing) an unprecedented campaign of violence and expulsion against the left-wing is in progress, which culminated in an attempt upon the life of W.Z. Foster, secretary of the T.U.E.L., just a few days before the conference opened.
The Conference opened with telegrams of greetings from League groups all over the country, and a message from Eugene V. Debs. A cable from Lozovsky arrived after the Conference adjourned.
The National Committee presented a report, covering the activities of the past year, organization and finance problems, and statements of policies. The economic situation was analyzed, and it was shown that the trade unions have been decidedly on the retreat, in spite of the favorable economic conditions; while industrial depress on is imminent which threatens the very life of the labor movement if new leadership and new policies are not established. A statement on the United Front laid down the fundamental policies of the T.U.E.L., in accord with the R.I.L.U., calling for the unification of the labor unions by amalgamation into great industrial organizations, and the federation of the political forces of Labor in a Federated Party. It was pointed out that the Federated Farmer-Labor Party, by directly bringing the trade unions into the political struggle, is the most efficacious weapon for combatting the idea of trade union neutrality in politics. The function of the League, as a minority within the unions, was clearly outlined, and the charge that the League is a dual union conclusively repudiated in a detailed statement to be published in leaflet form. Tactics for fighting expulsions, disfranchisements, and violence against the left-wing, were developed in detail. The Conference unanimously adopted the proposed policies, and the organizational questions were referred to a Committee to study them and report back to the Conference.
Reports were then made by the District Organizations of the League, Comrade Manley, of the Eastern District, reported the great progress made by the League in the past year in that great industrial area. The many conferences held in that section had greatly strengthened and unified the left-wing. The Canadian District, reported by Comrade Tim Buck, showed the greatest concrete achievements; in Canada the labor movement has adopted amalgamation in principle in more than half of the unions, and the R.I.L.U. has become an immediate fighting issue there. The reactionary officials are on the defensive and fighting desperately, in conjunction with the U.S. reactionaries, against the League. The Central District, centering in Chicago, has stabilized and centralized its work; as this District was the first one to receive intensive organization, it did not have such great advances to record as the others. The Pacific Coast District is still largely unorganized, being still affected by the old dualistic tendencies inherited from the past; but prospects are good when the National League can give it more attention.
A report from the newly-organized T.U.E.L. of Mexico was given, which explained fully the industrial, political, and trade unionist situation there. The report was adopted as one of the important documents of the Conference.
Delegates to the Second Congress of the R.I.L.U. rendered a long report of that important gathering, followed by the report of Comrade Johnson of the Enlarged Executive meeting in June. The National Committee then presented a statement on International Affiliations, which condemned the Amsterdam and Berlin Internationals and called upon the American labor movement to affiliate to the R.I.L.U. After a thorough discussion, these reports and the statement were unanimously adopted.
Secretary Foster reported on the organization and work of the Red International Committee (Committee of Action), formed under the decision of the Second Congress, to unite the T.U.E.L. and the independent affiliates of the R.I.L.U, and co-ordinate the work of all revolutionaries in the labor struggle. The report was adopted.
The Resolutions Committee reported on a large number of documents submitted to the Conference, and after thorough discussion the following were adopted: 1. Pointing out the unorganized condition of large masses of the workers in America, and calling for a great organization drive to bring them into the trade unions; 2. Declaration of solidarity with the class-war prisoners in the various prisons of America; 3. Special statements on the Mooney-Billings, the Sacco-Vanzetti, and the Michigan Communist Cases; 4. Declaration of solidarity with the I.W.W. fight against the California injunction, and calling for a united front in the fight against criminal syndicalist laws; 5. A statement of solidarity with Soviet Russia, and calling for a campaign for aligning the labor movement for its recognition; 6. Endorsing the work of the Friends of Soviet Russia; 7. Denouncing the American Legion; 8. Endorsing the World War Veterans; 9. Against the Fascisti; 10. Endorsing the Federated Farmer-Labor Party; 11. Endorsing the dictatorship of the proletariat. 12. Solidarity with the Irish workers, etc.
The United Front of the International Transport Workers was reported upon by the Organization Committee, which recommended an intensive propaganda to acquaint ail transport workers with this great step forward achieved by the R.I.L.U. The various International Propaganda Committees in the industrial sections were commended to the industrial section of the League, and all were instructed to establish closest connections. Various other organization matters were handled and decisions arrived at to strengthen and consolidate the left-wing movement.
Industrial sections of the League, which held their meetings between the general sessions of the Conference, reported in full on their progress and problems. These included the Railroad Industry, the Metal Industry, the Building Trades, the Needle Trades, the Mining Industry, Printing Trades, Food Industry, and others. The industrial conferences, and their reports, were participated in by the delegates as the most interesting and vital part of the proceedings. In these were crystallized the practical programs and fighting methods developed in the various fields of struggle durng the past year.
At the close of the Conference a National Committee of seven was elected for the coming year; these were, Wm.Z. Foster, Secretary-Treasurer; J.W. Johnstone, Sam T. Hammersmark, Ben Gitlow, A. Obermeier, Earl R. Browder, and Tim Buck.
The Conference closed a year of intense struggle, during which, for the first time in America, a closely-knit national left-wing movement was permanently established in the American labor movement. The League has many great victories Io its credit, from which it has gained much confidence; it has met a few minor defeats from which it has learned how to gain new victories. The Conference was dominated throughout by the determination to face squarely the tremendous difficulties before it, coupled with the utmost determination and confidence in the ability of the League to continue its successful work of unifying the American working class in the international struggle against capitalism. The Conference has given renewed courage to the militants strengthened their organization, clarified their policies, united them yet closer together, and sent them back to the struggle doubly armed to fight for the principles of the R.I.L.U.
Last updated on 28 April 2023