1 organizational history
1.1 formation
1.2 dissolution
1.3 membership size
1.4 official organs
organizational history
formation
the communist league of struggle (cls) factional offshoot of communist league of america (cla), trotskyist political party headed james p. cannon. organization formed on march 15, 1931, owing declared principled errors of other communist groups , organizational violence...within communist movement.
the leading forces in cls textile union labour leader albert weisbord, former socialist party youth leader, 1924 graduate of harvard law school , member of workers party of america same year, , wife vera buch, activist in left wing section of socialist party 1919 , member of communist party of america 1920. pair had made names leaders of 1926 passaic textile strike, walkout of 15,000 new jersey workers in wool , silk mills of town of passaic , environs.
weisbord had been expelled communist party in 1929, ostensibly being of loose cannon in activities. instead of joining jim cannon , lieutenants martin abern , max shachtman in communist league of america, however, weisbord had determined start own group.
the cls pointedly styled vanguard party adhering international left opposition, led leon trotsky. in detailed statement on general policy issued @ group s foundation, cls declared heartily endorses concept of united front , called formation of mass labor party on federated basis move working clas of country independent political action.
the cls took harsh rhetorical stance towards other 3 communist organizations existed @ time of formation — official communist party usa, cannon s communist league of america (opposition), , jay lovestone s communist party (majority group), declaring considers other 3 groups right-wing opportunist groups, each differing in form , manner, each overestimating enemy , underestimating proletariat. @ time of group s formation weisbord brashly announced birth of not isolated sect, two-fisted hard group of communists.”
weisbord made effort gain mantle of official sanction exiled trotsky, writing him in 1931. trotsky not moved support of cannon s cla organization, however, replying weisbord letter carbon-copied national executive committee of communist league of america. trotsky harshly critical of weisbord s decision strike out on own new parallel organization:
cannot adopt standpoint. criticism of american league seems me one-sided, artificial, , terribly exaggerated. throw league , right wing together, shows utterly disregard fitness of things. make fun of publishing activity of league , counterpose mass action it. have mass activity behind you? before 1 turns masses, 1 must construct principled basis. 1 begins propaganda group , develops in direction of mass action. * * *
declare loyal international left opposition. organizationally not case. can therefore understood in sense of general solidarity of ideas. * * * if solidarity of ideas left opposition means you, must build bridge league....
weisbord moved trotsky s publicized rebuke enter unity negotiations cla, although differences in personality , perspective proved insurmountable , cla terminated talks in october 1932.
the cls maintained independent existence throughout existence. in 1935 briefly flirted dissolving workers party of united states formed joining of forces of a.j. muste s american workers party cannon s communist league of america, decision rejected. shall not join workers party, have no doubt best elements may have gathered moment within fields of workers party find fighting shoulder shoulder us, cls declared.
dissolution
the communist league of struggle passed silently scene in spring 1937, no announcement made of group s demise made in final issue of official organ.
membership size
the communist league of struggle (cls) did not publish tally of membership. given fact communist league of america (opposition), group split, had membership of less 200 during 1931-1933 period, seems highly probable cls began membership of fewer 50. group seems never have attained critical mass , have dwindled small handful of activists during final years.
the group severely weakened death of 1 of leading members, polish-born sam fisher, of tuberculosis in 1935, @ age of 27. expelled member of communist party, fisher active in organization of unemployed workers in new york city , organizer united laundry workers union , new jersey organizer cls.
official organs
the primary journal of communist league of struggle mimeographed newsletter called class struggle. publication issued approximately monthly occasional combined issues. first issue appeared in may 1931 , final issue, 53rd overall, dated april/may 1937.
the cls issued several issues of shop newspaper shipyard workers called red dreadnaught.
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