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Fourth International, January 1946

Manager’s Column

From Fourth International, January 1946, Vol.7 No.1, p.2.
Transcribed, edited & formatted by Ted Crawford & David Walters in 2008 for ETOL.

New York: Literature agent Carolyn Delaney reports that, following the success of putting The Militant on stands, 224 copies of the December Fourth International were placed on newsstands in Manhattan. Scores of additional news dealers are now carrying the magazine as a result of this well-organized distribution. Plans are underway to extend this campaign to the other boroughs.

Another part of this promotional Campaign to gain new readers for the FI is the series of educationals which are given at branches of the Socialist Workers Party in New York. In a recent talk Jules Jackson analyzed the contents of the magazine, with special emphasis on its value to workers who are studying Marxism. It reported a new reader’s comment that because of the understanding gained from political analyses in the FI, she was able to read the capitalist press news accounts with her eyes open to the broad implications of world events. Suggestions for improving the FI made during the discussion included a demand for book reviews of Marxist classics, as well as of non-Marxist novels, scientific works, etc.

* * * * *

Newark: Frieda Kalb writes: “Enclosed are two FI subs from Militant subscribers who were visited.

“After New Year’s week the Newark Branch will start its call-back campaign for Militant subscription renewals. The branch will be divided into two teams and will be scored by a point system. We intend to emphasize FI subscriptions by giving them a high point value.”

Other literature agents should consider the Militant call back campaign as an extremely fruitful field for introducing readers to the FI

Flint: It is always a pleasure to report an increase in bundle orders. J.H. Sloan asks for a 50 per cent increase to start with the December issue.

Portland, Oregon: For the past three months, Portland has requested a larger bundle order each month. The FI is not only sold at forums and lectures but also at social gatherings. C.M. Hesser has ordered extra copies for a New Year’s eve social. He writes further:

“I don’t know just what to makeof it – but the newsstand where we place the FI is always selling out the FI – the first time we gave them five copies. When we checked in a week they were sold. If it were not for the bill we would order about 30 copies just to see how many could be sold in a month.

“It’s the only stand of its kind in Portland and they seem to sell more magazines than papers. I am sure that if it was displayed (and The Militant too) the sale would pick up even more.”

We sent Portland 30 copies of the December issue, so that agent Hesser will have an opportunity to explore the possibilities for further sales in his area.

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Toledo: Maggie McGowan notifies us that she has become our new literature agent. She writes of future plans:

“To date, sales of the FI on newsstands in this city have been rather spotty, but I believe this has been primarily due to the location of stands. We have five stands which carry our magazine, but with the exception of one, they are all in out-of-the-way places with little traffic. However, there are several large, bustling newsstands in Toledo and I am going to attempt to place the FI on these stands when the December issue comes out. I believe the greater traffic in these stores will account for increased sales of Fourth International.

“I would like to compliment the editors of Fourth International on the job they are doing with the cover-page. It has been transformed from a hedge-podge in which nothing stood out to an exceptionally well-organized cover with a lot of sparkle to it.”

* * * * *

From subscribers: Many favorable comments have been received on Charles Carsten’s article Behind the Argentine Crisis in the November FI One subscriber writes that until she read Carsten’s class analysis of the political groupings in Argentina, she could not make head or tail of events in that country. An Argentine reader compliments the author on the excellence and accuracy of his analysis of the interrelations between the British and American imperialists and various sections of the Argentine ruling class. M.B., New Jersey, writes:

“I liked the article on Argentina in the November FI so much. It is a relief to read something on Argentina which makes sense, after all the hog-wash which is dished up for public consumption.

“The article by the German communist was also interesting.”

From France on the September FI:

“Read the FI from cover to cover tonight. Very good. The Review section was as good as any ever printed, even if long. In fact, every single piece was very well done. The International Notes were good too, French part superior ...”

From England:

“I would like a regular copy of Fourth International sent to me direct. Through all the years of the struggle of our movement (I have been in it since 1933) your publications have been the most helpful and one always looks forward to their coming.

“If you have any bound copies of Fourth International for the 1940s (and New International for the 1930s), would you please let me know the prices.”

We have answered this reader that the following bound volumes are available:

These volumes may be obtained from the Business Manager, Fourth International, 116 University Place, New York 3, N.Y.

 
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