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From New International, Vol.6 No.1, February 1940, p.2.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.
AT a time when receipts from American branches of the party have dropped considerably, it is heartening to see the wholehearted cooperation of the sections of the Fourth International which are in the line of fire, in the war-torn countries of the world.
From all parts of the British Empire – South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, England itself – come orders for increases in bundle orders, with thankful reports of the copies which arrived safely. More than one of these sections has helped the New International out of a bad spot – and we cannot overstate our gratitude to our serious Bolshevik brothers overseas. Comrades, you put your American brothers to shame! We hope they will follow the example of whole-hearted cooperation you have set; for our part we promise to redouble our efforts to help you in every way in our power.
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There are hundreds and hundreds of dollars due the magazine from home branches, on many bundles which were sent out in the past and remain substantially unpaid for. If that money were paid we would have no difficulty in returning to a 32-page magazine immediately. Boston recently sent us a substantial payment on its back bill out of the profits of a dance. If dancing will do the trick then we say let every branch get up and dance! Can they dance any more energetically for the New International in Boston than they can in your home town?
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In the future we’re going to turn this column over to you. We want to know how you go about setting the New International, how your branch organises NI sales, what your contacting experiences have been, where your principal financial difficulties come in, where you chalk up your most significant successes.
To each branch which sends us a publishable report of experiences from which the party can benefit, we will send in appreciation a first-class picture of Leon Trotsky, suitable for display in your branch headquarters.
(There’s a devoted comrade in Flint, Michigan, who will gladly donate his services and his skill to the turning out of these pictures). And if a branch earns several pictures over a period of time it can always offer them as premiums in its own drives.
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Has any branch ever tried Sunday morning house-to-house selling of the NI? How has it worked out? Let’s hear from you on this.
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There is a large supply of the December (the special Negro number) issue of the New International, of which an extra thousand was printed. Branches doing Negro work may have these copies at a special price of five cents each. The investment should be profitable, permitting free distribution at Negro forums, churches, CP meetings attracting Negro listeners, union halls frequented by Negroes and similar points of concentration. Have any of the branches used this issue of the magazine for special drives among the more politically developed Negro workers ?
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Gleaned from letters received during the past month are these statements, which we feel set the keynote for the response from the branches to keep our publications going:
CHICAGO: “Within a short period of time Chicago is looking forward to another increase in the bundle order and also to making a concerted drive for renewals and new subs to the New International and the Socialist Appeal.”
MINNEAPOLIS: “Enclosed you will find a check for $S2.oo for the Socialist Appeal and the New International. The enclosed remittance should square up our accounts with both the Socialist Appeal and the New International, as of January 1, 1940. Please let us know if that is not so.” It assuredly was so! – and we hope other branches will speedily follow suit in clearing up their back bills.
ST. PAUL: “We are enclosing a check for $25.00 to be applied to the Socialist Appeal and New International accounts ... We have not taken up in the branch the question of a bundle order increase but will do this shortly.”
SAN FRANCISCO : “I am sending you herewith $14.21 in stamps which you will please turn over to our account on the New International.” We still can’t get rid of all those two-cent stamps but the substantial payment sure was welcome!
LONG ISLAND, from E.S.: “The NI is too important to be cut, and I hope we shall see a 32-page issue next time. I enclose my contribution toward it.” This letter contained a check for five dollars which, we assure you, was gratefully received.
NEWARK, from I.T.: “Please extend my subscription for another six months and apply the $1 enclosed. I wish it could be more! Long life to the NI!”
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Our bills are many, and our receipts as this issue goes to press have dropped to practically nil. We are putting up a valiant fight to make ends meet – but we cannot succeed without the fullest cooperation from the branches. Pay up your bills, always keep your current bundle paid for, and set as your branch goal the doubling of your bundle order The New International can be put back on its feet – and rapidly – if the party will unite in an effort to put it across.
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Last updated on 8.8.2006