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From New International, Vol. VII No. 2 (Whole No. 51), February 1941, p. 18.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.
It is becoming increasingly difficult for all shades of radical and progressive thought to penetrate the haze of reactionary and super-nationalist propaganda that is being dished out by both the warmongers and the isolationists. One by one, publications that have taken an anti-war position have succumbed to the pressure and jumped on the bandwagon. Of the few that still oppose the war, it remains for The New International to point the way and clarify the issues. Only Marxists are equipped, ideologically and theoretically, to do this. And today The New International is the only theoretical organ of Marxism in America.
We realize that a monthly magazine of only sixteen pages is hardly adequate to fill the historical role that it must fill. Even thirty-two pages each month is far less space than is needed to print the material that is available and should see the light of day. But with the limited resources that we hare available it has been impossible to do any more.
Therefore, we appeal to our readers once more to contribute what they can so that “for the duration” at least, we can publish a thirty-two page magazine. And if contributions are not sufficient to make a thirty-two pager possible every month, we’ll publish one as often as possible.
We still think that subscriptions are obtainable. Whether you contribute or not, make up your mind to get at least one more subscription before the March issue is out. If every subscriber would do this, we would have thirty-two pages in March without a doubt.
Some of our readers have written in and suggested suspension of publication if we must continue with sixteen pages. Some of their arguments, perhaps, are valid. But our answer to them must be, “It’s up to you to make it thirty-two pages. We have the material; we have the facilities. Get the subscriptions and contributions and we’ll give you what you want.”
Dorothy Williams has just been appointed literature agent in Los Angeles and it’s a pleasure to hear of real plans that are being made to increase the circulation of the N.I. She writes:
“... The N.I. has intermittently been put on two or three stands, and I hope we will now be able to make regular and permanent arrangements for putting it on these stands, and perhaps some others each month. In addition, we are going to have each comrade take an assignment to visit several sympathizers regularly to sell the magazine.
“... I am determined that our bills are going to be paid to date from now on ... I can picture just what it would mean to you to have everyone paying bills promptly. In fact I think it is a miracle you manage to get along as it is. Anyway, keep on performing miracles, and I’ll do what I can here.”
Space does not permit quoting her whole letter but she outlines her plan for getting subscriptions, contributions, etc. Letters like this from every branch in the country would change the picture in the business office considerably.
Oakland, long inactive, has gotten a shot in the arm from San Francisco and we’ve been paid in full for a bill that was long overdue. S.F. tells us that we will see an improvement there from now on.
Kansas City and a few other branches took advantage of our offer to supply extra copies of the December issue of N.I. for the cost of postage – 1½ cents per copy. We still have some left if any branches or individuals want them.
Chicago Central still owes too much. How about a payment?
Boston still remains one of the outstanding branches as far as bundle order payments are concerned. We feel, however, that in a city of that size, the branch might find a few more readers and increase the size of its bundle.
The same goes for Lynn as for Chicago Central.
Newark has a new literature agent who keeps his own account paid up – but when can we expect the back bill?
Cleveland and South Philadelphia have run up bills that are inexcusable. Unless something is done about it soon, we will be forced to hold up their bundle orders.
We are pleased to report that New York has practically liquidated its debt – but falls far short of what it can do in the matter of increased sales and circulation.. New York, above all, can do much more toward our thirty-two page magazine.
And thirty-two pages we must have!
THE MANAGER
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Last updated on 25 October 2014