14 In order to co-ordinate and guide the work of the Youth Directors, the Party must set up a county Youth Commission responsible for work among the youth in LA county 4. The Party must as part of its drive to build the Party, also pay real attention to building the League; especially in the Goodyear, Harbor, and Industrial Sections. To set a quote of 250 mombers (new) by the Farty this year. (some sections lilo Goodyear, Belvedere and Lincoln Heights have set a good example.) If we are to utilize the splendid possibilities that exist for building the league we must cuarantee that all sections assign all young people for work Among the youth. 5. Our language dopartment and our fraction secretaries in all mass organizations must guarantee that in and around all mass organizations`a real drive is made to organize the youth. IV. PREPARE THE NATIONAL AND STATE CONVENTIONS OF THE YCL.. In May and Juno respectively, the n.tional and state co..ventions of the YCL convene. The Party must: (a) Barry through in all units and sections committee discussions on the issues confronting the convention and on the problems of party work among the youth. (b) Give concrete assistance to the League in preparing these conventions both in the discussions and in the technical preparations necessary: (c) Since the state convention will be held in Los An, eles in June to make May Party Youth month, in order to mobilize the widest masses of y youth for the anti-war actions on May 30th and in order to utilize the covention preparations to bring the YCL before the broadest masses of Youth. (Part 4) 29. We just say that in the last periód our sections and units have not done sufficient on this score. Very few leaflets have been issued, and the quality of our leaflets were not entirely satisfactory. This line of activity must be greatly improved. 1. Sections and units should issue at least one leaflet every month. Sections should concentrate on issuing monthly neighborhood bulletins on territorial and general issues. 2. Particular attention should be paid to issuance of leaflets, and bulletins in connection with the organization of the unorganized Trade Union Unity and support of the C.I.O. on independent political action through development of a people's front; the legislative program of our Party, the people's legislative conference,, etc. 3. The Industrial Section and units must pay particular attention to this phase of work. 4. Holding as often as possible open unit meetings inviting non-party people. Open air meetings and rallys, open forums, etc. 5. Mass distribution of our Press and pamphlets in T.U's, shops, factories, mass organizations, etc. SCHOOLS AND CLASSES 1. In 1937 we should hold at least one Full Time Training School (by October) and two part time schools (one trade union comrades in the Industrial Section) around July (T.U.) and December (general). To make possible these schools will take place as planned, each section should at once assign one comrade to a county wide school committee to begin the selection of students and collection of funds. The unit educational director should be responsible for this work in the units. The campaign for the schools should start not later than July 4th. With every section at once setting itself a quota for funds and students. 2. Much more care must be taken in working out the school programs to suit local requirements. Greater care of selection of students to assure the development of the needed forces: Native American Trade Unionists, mass workers, Negro women and youth. Comrades to be sent to schools be not simply those "we can spare" but those that need and deserve to be educated and developed for work. 3. Harbor, Goodyear, Hollywood and Eastside should organize classes on a section scale. Harbor should consider a full time section school in 1937. 4. Branches and units should organize classes or study groups for basic Party theory or study of Party documents drawing in non-Party people as well. These to be outside of unit meetings. Wider reading of Party press and literature by our membership must be fostered to raise the political level of our membership. 5. Special attention must be paid to developing teachers for our schools and classes to meet the ever increasing demands in this field of work. (Part 5) 6. The Workers' School must be utilized much more than is the. case now as a form of Party education. Each branch and unit should assign at least 3-5 comrades to attend the workers school, releasing these comrades of some other work to make their study nossible. 7. For active trade unionists, unable to attend full time or part time schools, special classes, small study groups or individual study must be organized to fit their time conveniences or other recuirements. 8. Special rssistance to the YCL in developing people able to build and lead a broad youth movement. We should help the YCL to orgnize at least one full time two weeks county training school and one class in higher education for leading comrades in 1937. 9. Setting up of county research committee to study and provide us with material of general and labor conditions in L. A. County. 10. Training of New Party members. Not one Party member should start his regular party work without having gone thru a new members class. a) The establishment of ner Party members classes or units in every section. b) Holding of monthly meetings with the teachers of new members classes or leaders of units must be most carefully chosen from amongst some of the most capable comrades. c) Teachers of new members classes or leaders of new members units should, upon completion of course discuss with each new members his further study and type of work he prefers and is best qualified to do. This to be transmitted to section and units and have definite follow up to effect these recommendations. a) Older and better developed comrades must make the development of new comrades their special duty-- having discussions with them, encouraging reading, ect. e) Special cere must be in the Industrial section. taken in establishing new members classes In some cases, because of the danger of exposure, these classes may have to be organized on a unit instead of a section scale. THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEADING PERSONNEL The County Committee should have personal contact with the leading people in the sections, units and fractions by: 1. Carefully studying the functionaries in the sections, units and fractions, discussing with them their work, finding out whether the work they are engaged in meets with their capabilities and choice; their personal problems, etc. Find out from them the composition of the bodies they represent, seeking thus to discover more people for development promotion and work. 2. Holding monthly meetings with all functionaries in the units and fractions to discuss general party problems and work. 3. Leading committees should carry thru periodical examination of the work of leading comrades, where friendly criticism and self-criticism of shor comings, conredely encouragements and evaluation of achievements should ensue. (Part 6) ROSSER EXHIBIT NO. 10 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA CONVENTION MAY 14, 15 1938 COMMUNIST PARTY (Part 1)1 Mr. ROSSER. At that meeting in San Francisco in 1938 there were quite a few outstanding Communists there that I knew: William Schneiderman, head of the Communist Party; Oleta O'Conner Yates, one of the State leaders of the Communist Party; Anita Whitney, one of the State leaders; Pettis Perry, one of the State leaders; Paul Kline, one of the State leaders, the county organizer of Los Angeles; myself. Mr. TAVENNER. Were you one of the presiding committee at that convention? Mr. ROSSER. Yes, I was. At that meeting I think Walter Stack was on the presiding committee. He is a trade unionist here in San Francisco; Al Yates is a trade unionist here in San Francisco-he was at that meeting. Mr. TAVENNER. Do you recall whether Roy Hudson was one of the honorary presidium, one of the honorary presidium? Mr. ROSSER. Yes, I think they named quite a few Mr. TAVENNER. Let me hand the exhibit to you to refresh your recollection. Do you see the name of Roy Hudson as one of the presidium? Mr. ROSSER. Yes, I do; Roy Hudson, it is there. Mr. TAVENNER. Were there also represented there representatives from France, China, and other countries? Mr. ROSSER. Representatives from China, Soviet Union-they weren't representatives, but they were honorary members of the presiding committee-from Spain, from China, from the Soviet Union. (Representative Harold H. Velde returned to the hearing room at this point.) Mr. ROSSER. This meeting was the last meeting that the Communists had on the united front, and as I said, Revels Cayton, a leading Negro in the maritime work here in San Francisco, was there he is in the Marine Cooks-and Hugh Bryson, a leading member of the Marine Cooks and Stewards, was there; Dick Criley, at that time the State president of the Young Communist League, a graduate and letter man from the University of California. 1 See p. 3113 for Part 2, Rosser Exhibit No. 10. DISCUSSION Oleta O'Connor San Francisco. Extended remarks on organization of election campaign. Mr. TAVENNER. Will you spell the last name, please? Mr. ROSSER. C-r-i-l-e-y, Dick Criley, he was there and there were many other Communists that I knew who were at this convention. It was a State convention of the Communist Party. Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Rosser, the contention is sometimes made by those who advocate communism that it is a political party. I would like to ask you, in light of your vast experience in the Communist Party, is it a political party in the sense that we understand that term in political science in this country as distinguished from an international conspiracy? Mr. ROSSER. No, it is not a political party. The party takes part in politics and election campaigns when they think that it is necessary 41002-54-pt. 1- -5 |