Letter to Albert Glotzer, July 12, 1933

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New Questions Will Produce New Alignments

Dear Comrade Glotzer:

I want to write you again about the very dangerous situation in the [American] League. The crisis is typical of the transition from one stage of development into another. But there have been examples in the history of human society when the crisis of transition became so acute, and absorbed so much strength, that society, instead of marching forward, collapsed. The same result has been observed, much more frequently, in the history of political organizations. I am afraid that a similar fate threatens the League.

Everybody accepted the resolution of the plenum of the International Secretariat. But nothing has changed. I do not contend that the blame for this rests with any one individual or with either of the two groups. The situation is such that without new factors or methods, the automatics of the internal struggle will paralyze the best will. Comrade Cannon proposes a radical change in the character of the work, beginning with transfer of the seat of the National Committee. Comrade Shachtman showed me your letter on this question and expressed some doubts on his own part to the proposition. It is naturally impossible to assert that the proposal is a panacea. Everything depends upon the material efforts in the new direction. But the proposals open up a perspective containing new possibilities, and can become salutary under certain conditions, especially if they receive general support.

The very fact of the transfer of the center into a new milieu and into a new atmosphere will have a favorable effect. The most disturbing point of friction lies in the relations between the National Committee and the New York branch. The transfer of the center will signify that the New York branch will become, to a certain degree, more independent, but at the same time it will be charged with more responsibility. Its energy must be concentrated around revolutionary tasks in the great field of its activity. On the other hand, the National Committee will devote the greater part of its time and energy to directing the work among the miners and the working masses in general.

Even should the work — in New York as well as in Chicago — be actuated to a great degree by factional motives, it would nevertheless not have a disintegrating effect upon the League. Quite the contrary. By winning over new worker elements, it can change entirely the present complexion of the struggle, the internal atmosphere in the League. New tasks will engender new political questions, and new questions will produce new alignments. And that would be the real salvation.

Some comrades say, quite sincerely, that the League is not prepared for such a radical change in its activity (the transfer of the National Committee, the new popular paper, the mass clubs, etc.). But what is meant by “preparation?” On the existing basis, the continuous preparing of a change is only the preparing for death. There are situations in which a hazardous step is unavoidable. I do not deny that there is some danger in the radical change, but it is impossible to avoid a great danger without any danger.

All the other considerations (New York is the center of political life, of the party, the printing plant question, etc.) are of secondary importance. The League does not desert New York, for the New York branch continues to function there, and let us hope it will extend and deepen its activities. The latest experiences of the Comintern throughout the world show that we must turn our face more in the direction of the masses than of the party. The printing plant question is a technical one and must be subordinated to the political one.

I know from your letter that you personally agree with the idea of the transfer to Chicago and I am glad to learn this. But it is quite necessary that all your friends who take a position against the moving should understand that by such a purely negative stand they will inevitably bar the road to the way out, and compromise their own group.

This letter is a purely personal one, but you may, if you find it advisable, show it to your friends. I have not consulted the International Secretariat about the questions involved, but I believe that my views move along the lines of the latest decision of the Secretariat.

My best greetings to you and the other friends.

Yours,

L. Trotsky