MIA: History: ETOL: Documents: International Communist League/Spartacists—PRS 5
Glossary
Written: 2000
Source: Prometheus Research Library, Prometheus Research Series No. 5, New York, 2000
Transcription/Markup/Proofing: John Heckman.
Public Domain: Encyclopedia of Trotskyism On-Line 2006/Prometheus Research Library. You can freely copy, display and otherwise distribute this work. Please credit the Marxists Internet Archive & Prometheus Research Library as your source, include the url to this work, and note the transcribers & editors above.
Abern, Martin (1898-1949)Joined SP youth, 1912; SP, 1915; IWW, 1916; founding American Communist, on Central Executive Committee almost continuously from 1920; national secretary of CP youth, 1922-24; CP Chicago organizer, 1924-26; ILD assistant national secretary, 1926-28; delegate to CI Fourth Congress, and to YCI Second Congress where elected to YCI Executive, 1922; member of CP’s Cannon faction; expelled from CP in 1928 for Trotskyism; CLA National Committee 1929-34; a leader of Shachtman faction in 1931-33 fight; continued cliquist opposition to Cannon thereafter; member WPUS, 1934-36; entered SP with Trotskyists, 1936-37; founding member of SWP and on NC 1938-40; split from Trotskyist movement with Shachtman in 1940; elected to NC of Shachtmanite WP, 1940; remained in WP until his death.
American Workers Party (AWP) Successor organization to CPLA; founded as Provisional Organizing Committee for the American Workers Party in December, 1933; led by A. J. Muste; AWP and affiliated unemployed leagues led successful Toledo Auto-Lite strike, spring 1934; fused with CLA to form WPUS, December 1934.
Basky, Louis (1882-1938) Veteran of 1919 Hungarian Revolution; emigrated to U.S. and became leader of CP’s Hungarian Federation in 1920s; he and a group of supporters, expelled from CP in 1927-28, were independently won to Trotskyism by Russian Oppositionists in New York; founding member of CLA; co-opted briefly to CLA National Committee, 1932; founding member of WPUS; expelled with Oehlerites in late 1935; founding member Revolutionary Workers League (RWL); expelled from RWL with Stamm in March 1938.
Bauer, Eugen (b. 1906) Joined Young Communists in Berlin, 1926; head of the Left Opposition in Saxony; member of ILO International Secretariat, 1932-33; leader of clandestine ILO section in Germany, 1933; opposed French turn and broke with ILO, 1934; later joined centrist S.A.P.
Budenz, Louis (1891-1972) Editor of Labor Age, 1921-33; founding member CPLA and its first national secretary, 1929; AWP 1933-34; part of AWP right wing, opposed fusion with CLA; joined CP in October 1935, following its adoption of the popular-front policy; managing editor of CP’s Daily Worker, 1940-45; broke with communist movement, 1945, and returned to Roman Catholicism; by October 1946 became fervent anti-communist, appeared as government witness in numerous proceedings and in Smith Act trials.
Burnham, James (1905-1986) (Pseudonym: John West) Philosophy professor, New York University; influenced by Sidney Hook, joined Musteite AWP; founding member WPUS and member National Committee, 1934-36; co-editor with Shachtman of New International, 1934-40; entered SP with Trotskyists, 1936-37; founding member of SWP and on NC 1938-40; ideological leader of SWP minority in 1939-40 faction fight; broke with Marxism altogether and resigned from Shachtman’s WP, May 1940; became prominent Cold Warrior in late 1940s; founding editorial board member of right-wing National Review, 1955.
Cannon, James Patrick (1890-1974) Joined SP in 1908; quit SP in 1911 and joined IWW; IWW agitator and organizer throughout Midwest, 1912-14; active in Kansas City IWW, 1914-19; joined pro-Bolshevik SP Left Wing, 1919; founding American Communist and chairman of first legal Communist party 1921-23; in Moscow 1922-23, serving on Presidium of the Communist International June-November 1922; CP Central Executive Committee, 1920-28; won to Trotskyism at Sixth CI Congress in summer 1928, expelled in October for his views; founding leader of CLA, 1929; remained principal leader and member of National Committee of American Trotskyist organizations for next 25 years; retired as SWP National Secretary in 1953, but remained National Chairman until his death.
Carter, Joe (1910-1970) Member SP youth, 1924; joined Communist youth, 1928; founding member of CLA; leader of SYL and editorial board member, Young Spartacus; supporter of Shachtman faction in 1931-33 fight; founding member of WPUS and on National Committee, 1936; founding member of SWP and alternate member of NC, 1938-40; split from Trotskyist movement with Shachtman, 1940; a leading member of Shachtman’s WP in 1940s; left Shachtmanites in early 1950s.
Communist International (CI, or Comintern) Also known as Third International. International revolutionary organization founded on Lenin’s initiative in Moscow, 1919; national Communist parties were sections of the International. Underwent degeneration after 1923 as Stalin faction consolidated control of Soviet state; dissolved by Stalin in 1943.
Communist League of America (CLA) Organization of American Trotskyists, 1929-34; published newspaper Militant ; launched theoretical journal New International, July 1934; fused with Muste’s AWP to form WPUS, December 1934.
Communist Party (CP) Used generically to refer to the American Communist movement. Two Communist groups split from the American Socialist Party (SP) in 1919; one was the Communist Labor Party (CLP), the other was the Communist Party of America (CPA); the various American Communist groups fused in the early 1920s under the urging of the Comintern. In 1921, the Workers Party (WP) was launched as the legal arm of the still-underground CP; it changed its name to the Workers (Communist) Party in 1925; in 1929 it reverted to the name Communist Party.
Conference for Progressive Labor Action (CPLA) Founded in 1929 by A. J. Muste; heterogeneous formation encompassing leftward-moving workers and unemployed leagues; changed name to AWP, December 1933 (see also entry for AWP).
Edwards, John Member SP left wing in Michigan, 1919; founding member American Communist movement; delegate to YCI Second Congress, 1922; attended Fifth Comintern Congress, 1924; member brickmakers union in Chicago; expelled from CP 1928; founding member of CLA and alternate on National Committee, 1931-34; close collaborator of Glotzer in Chicago, 1932-34; made pretense of being in separate “Chicago group,” but supported Shachtman faction on all essentials in 1931-33 fight.
Field, B. J. (1900-1977) Joined CLA, 1931; expelled for violating discipline, 1932; visited Trotsky in Turkey, 1932; regained CLA membership, 1933; expelled for violating party discipline during 1934 New York hotel strike; later formed League for a Revolutionary Workers Party which published New International Bulletin irregularly from October 1935 to March 1937; following expulsion of Field, the LRWP vanished.
French Turn Tactic of entry into Social Democratic parties, advocated by Trotsky for France in late 1934; subsequently applied to other countries internationally.
Glotzer, Albert (1908-1999) Joined CP youth, 1923; leader of Chicago CP District; CP youth national executive, 1927-28; supporter of CP’s Cannon faction; expelled from CP for Trotskyism in 1928; founding CLA member and on National Committee, 1929-34; supporter of Shachtman faction in 1931-33 fight; founding member of WPUS and on NC, 1934-36; member of Abern-Weber clique; entered SP with Trotskyists 1936-37; founding member of SWP and on NC, 1938-40; split from Trotskyist movement with Shachtman in 1940; leader of Shachtmanite WP/ISL; liquidated with Shachtman into SP-SDF, 1958.
Gould, Nathan Joined SYL in Chicago, early 1930s; member SYL National Committee, and by 1935 SYL national secretary; founding member of WPUS, 1934; entered SP with Trotskyists 1936-37; became secretary of Chicago YPSL, 1936; founding member of SWP; was delegate with Cannon and Shachtman at founding conference of Fourth International in September 1938; SWP NC 1939-40; split from Trotskyist movement with Shachtman in 1940; departed Shachtmanite ISL around 1954.
Hook, Sidney (1902-1989) Student of John Dewey and professor of philosophy department at New York University, 1933-70; best known as author of Towards the Understanding of Karl Marx (1933) and From Hegel to Marx (1936); leader of Muste’s AWP, 1933-34; retired from the AWP after giving approval to fusion with CLA; active in campaign to defend Leon Trotsky against Moscow Trial charges, 1937; by 1940 broke entirely with Marxism and socialism; by 1950s was anti-communist and ardent Cold Warrior.
Independent Socialist Party (OSP—Onafhankelijke Socialistische Partij) Organization formed from left-wing split from the Dutch Social Democratic Labor Party in 1932; signer of “Declaration of Four,” 1933.
Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) Founded in 1905 as a revolutionary industrial union movement; declined in the aftermath of WW I and the Russian Revolution.
International Labor Defense (ILD) Organization created by the CP in 1925 to organize united-front defense for class-war prisoners regardless of political affiliation; led by James P. Cannon from 1925 to 1928; dissolved in 1946.
International Left Opposition (ILO) International organization of Trotskyists, 1929-33; changed name to the International Communist League in August 1933 when Trotskyists ceased to function as an expelled faction of the Communist International and embarked on struggle to form new revolutionary workers parties and a new International.
Lewit, Morris (1903-1998) (Also known by pseudonym, Morris Stein) Participant as youth in Russian Revolution; emigrated to New York, 1920; founding member Communist youth, 1922; supporter of CP’s Foster faction; along with his life-long companion, Sylvia Bleeker, became sympathetic to views of Trotsky’s Left Opposition; expelled from CP, joined CLA, 1930; edited CLA’s Yiddish-language Unser Kampf ; supporter of Shachtman faction in 1931-33 fight; he and Shachtman went over to collaboration with Cannon in 1934; founding member of WPUS and on National Committee, 1934-36; entered SP with Trotskyists, 1936-37; founding member of SWP and on NC, 1938 through the early 1960s; served as SWP acting national secretary following imprisonment of SWP leaders under Smith Act convictions, 1943-45.
Lhuillier, René (1909-1968) Secretary of the CGT’s hairdressers’ union, entered the French Communist Party in 1928; later affiliated with the French section of ILO; opposed the French turn on principle, 1934; eventually entered SFIO and remained there even after the French Trotskyists were expelled.
MacDonald, Jack (1888-1941) Leader of 1919 Toronto metal workers strike and Ontario labor leader; co-founder with Maurice Spector of Canadian Communist Party, 1921; represented Canadian CP at Fourth Congress of Comintern, 1922; although he acquiesced when Spector was purged for Trotskyism in 1928, he was himself expelled in 1931; declared for ILO in 1932 and joined CLA’s Toronto branch; retired from active political work in 1936, but remained committed to Marxism until his death in November 1941.
McKinney, Ernest Rice (1886-1984) Joined SP around 1910 and the NAACP in 1911; worked with W. E. B. DuBois to form an NAACP branch at Oberlin College; member CP, 1920-26; founding Musteite and leader of CPLA/AWP 1929-34; founding member of WPUS and on National Committee, 1934-36; entered the SP with the Trotskyists, 1936-37; founder of SWP and on NC, 1938-40; split from Trotskyist movement with Shachtman, 1940; trade-union director in Shachtman’s WP; in 1946 ran as WP candidate for Congress in Harlem; quit Shachtmanites in 1950.
Muste, Abraham Johannes (1885-1967) Ordained as minister in the Reformed Church in 1909; pacifist in WW I, became national committeeman of the ACLU; leader of the textile worker strikes in Paterson, NJ and Lawrence, MA in 1919; became director of Brookwood Labor College in 1921; founder and principal leader of CPLA/AWP 1929-34; WPUS National Committee and national secretary, 1934-36; opposed entry of Trotskyists into the SP in 1936 and returned to religion and pacifist activism; established the American Forum for Socialist Education in late 1950s, attempting to broker a regroupment among socialists; active opponent of U.S. imperialist war in Vietnam at time of death.
Oehler, Hugo (1903-1983) CP District Organizer in Kansas City in 1920s; supporter of CP’s Cannon faction; won to views of the Left Opposition following Cannon’s expulsion; remained undercover in the CP for a year; helped lead CP work in 1929 Gastonia, North Carolina, textile strike; joined CLA in June 1930; CLA National Committee 1931-34; supporter of Cannon in 1931-33 fight; in 1934 began sectarian opposition, attempting to obstruct fusion with AWP and opposing French turn; founding member of WPUS and on NC, 1934-35; expelled in October 1935; founding leader of Revolutionary Workers League 1935-41; went to Spain and was active in Spanish Revolution, 1937; ceased to be RWL leader when he moved to Denver, 1941; RWL disappeared in 1950s.
OSP See Independent Socialist Party
Resident Committee The name Shachtman uses for the CLA’s equivalent of a Political Committee. The body was composed of all members of the National Committee resident in New York City.
Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP—Revolutionair-Socialistische Partij) Dutch Trotskyist organization formed in 1929 by ex-members of the Communist Party; led by Henricus Sneevliet; signer of “Declaration of Four” in August 1933; joined ICL in 1933; fused with OSP and became Revolutionary Socialist Workers Party (RSAP) in 1935; broke with movement for the Fourth International in 1938.
Revolutionary Socialist Workers Party (RSAP—Revolutionair-Socialistische Arbeiderspartij) Dutch Trotskyist Party formed by the merger of the RSP and OSP in March 1935.
Salutsky (Hardman), J. B. (1882-1968) Joined Jewish Bund in 1902 and participated in 1905 Russian Revolution; emigrated to U.S., 1909; secretary of the SP’s Jewish Federation, 1912-13 and editor of Di Naye Welt, 1914-20; opposed SP Left Wing in 1919 and prevented Jewish Federation from going over to CP; broke with SP in 1921 and helped form Workers Council which then fused with Communists; CP Central Executive Committee 1921-23; expelled from CP in 1923 for publicly criticizing the party in his paper, the American Labor Monthly; leading member of Muste’s CPLA/AWP in early 1930s; strongly opposed the fusion with the CLA in 1934 and quit the movement shortly afterward; education director of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union, 1920-40 and editor of its journal Advance, 1940-44; having added Hardman to his last name in 1924, he is known as Salutsky, Hardman or Salutsky-Hardman in the period relevant to this bulletin.
Satir, Norman Member of Chicago CLA; supporter of Shachtman faction in 1931-33 fight; founding member of WPUS and on National Committee 1934-36; member of Abern-Weber clique; entered SP with Trotskyists 1936-37; founding member of SWP; split from Trotskyist movement with Shachtman in 1940.
Shachtman, Max (1904-1972) Joined CP in 1921 as member of Workers Council; leader of Communist youth work, 1923-27; editor of ILD’s Labor Defender, 1925-28; alternate member of Central Executive Committee, 1927-28; supporter of CP’s Cannon faction; expelled for Trotskyism in 1928; founding member of the CLA and on National Committee, 1929-34; editor of U.S. Trotskyist publications, including Militant and New International; entered SP with Trotskyists, 1936-37; founding SWP member and on NC 1938-40; split from Trotskyist movement in 1940 in opposition to Trotskyist position of unconditional military defense of the Soviet Union; founding member and leader of Workers Party and its 1949 successor, the Independent Socialist League (ISL); led liquidation of ISL into SP-SDF, 1958; became member of Democratic Party and social-patriot.
Socialist Party of France (SFIO—Section Française de l’Internationale Ouvrière) French section of the reformist Second International.
Socialist Workers Party of Germany (S.A.P.—Sozialistische Arbeiterpartei Deutschlands) Formed in October 1931 by left-wing group expelled from German Social Democratic Party; in 1932, acquired a group which split from the Brandlerite German Right Opposition and which subsequently assumed leadership of the S.A.P.; one of the signers of “The Declaration of Four,” August 1933; later moved to the right and opposed formation of the FI.
Spartacus Youth League (SYL) Youth group of the CLA; began publication of Young Spartacus in December 1931.
Spector, Maurice (1898-1968) Founder of Canadian CP, 1921; served as national chairman, 1924-28; privately sympathized with Trotskyist opposition from 1924; delegate to CI Sixth Congress in 1928 and elected to ECCI; in Moscow he and Cannon made a private pact to build support for Trotsky back home; expelled from Canadian party in late 1928; founding member of CLA and member National Committee, 1929-34; supporter of Shachtman faction in 1931-33 fight; leader of separate organization of Canadian Trotskyists formed in 1934; elected to WPUS NC, 1936; SWP NC 1938-39; resigned from the movement in 1939.
Stamm, Tom Joined CLA October 1930; supporter of Cannon faction in the 1931-33 fight; circulation director of CLA’s Militant; part of Oehler faction 1934-35; member WPUS National Committee 1934-35; expelled with Oehler in late 1935; a leader of Oehler’s Revolutionary Workers League (RWL); expelled with Basky from RWL in 1938; formed organization, also called RWL, which published Revolt from March 1938 to January 1940.
Sterling, Max Joined CP youth, 1927; supporter of Lovestone faction; expelled for Trotskyism in 1930; joined CLA; supporter of Shachtman faction in 1931-33 fight; member of the Abern-Weber clique; member WPUS 1934-36; went with Muste to visit Trotsky in Norway, summer 1936; subsequently went to Spain and sent reports on Civil War to Trotskyist press; founding member, SWP; split from Trotskyist movement with Shachtman, 1940; member of Shachtman’s WP and leader of Bay Area branch; left WP after WW II. Known later as Mark Sharron.
Swabeck, Arne (1890-1986) Joined SP left wing, 1916; editor of SP’s Scandinavian Federation weekly press; IWW member, 1918-20; one of the leaders of 1919 Seattle general strike; joined CP, 1920; delegate to CI Fourth Congress in 1922, represented American CP on the ECCI; member of CP’s Cannon faction; expelled for Trotskyism in 1928; founding member of CLA and member of National Committee, 1929-34; founding member of WPUS and on NC, 1934-36; entered SP with Trotskyists, 1936-37; founding member of SWP and NC member, 1938-67; began to advocate political support to Mao’s Chinese Stalinists in late 1950s; expelled from the SWP, 1967; briefly a member of Progressive Labor Party in late 1960s.
Weber, Jack (b. 1896) (Pseudonym of Louis Jacobs) Joined CLA in 1930; supporter of Shachtman faction in 1931-33 fight; founding member WPUS 1934-36; spokesman for Abern clique, 1934-36; alternate member of WPUS National Committee 1934-36; supported SP entry and broke with Abern, 1936; founding member of SWP and NC member, 1938 through at least 1940; left SWP in 1944; contributed three articles to the Shachtmanite New International in 1946-47, but does not appear to have actually joined Shachtman’s WP.
Weisbord, Albert (1900-1977) SP youth leader, 1921-24; joined CP, 1924; organizer of heroic Passaic strike, 1926-27; supporter of CP’s Lovestone faction; expelled with Lovestone, 1929; advocated unity of Trotskyists and Lovestoneites; founded Communist League of Struggle (CLS), 1931; tried to gain entry into ILO but was never accepted; visited Trotsky in Prinkipo, 1932; worked with centrist POUM in Spain, 1937; disbanded CLS, 1937.
West, John See James Burnham.
Young Communist International (YCI) International organization of the youth groups of the Communist parties of the Comintern.
Zack, Joseph (1897-1963) Founding American Communist, 1919; led work of the CP in Harlem; supporter of CP’s Foster faction, elected to the Central Executive Committee in 1927; attended Lenin School in Moscow, 1927-30; led the CP’s Trade Union Unity League in New York but developed differences when the CP abandoned Third Period dual-unionism policy; expelled from the CP in 1934; briefly a member of WPUS in 1935 where he blocked with Oehler; testified for prosecution in anti-communist witchhunt proceedings from 1938.