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From Socialist Appeal, Vol. 4 No. 49, 7 December 1940, p. 2.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.
Dear Comrades:
Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the summarizing of the Independent Labor League of America pre-convention discussion on the war issue, Bertram D. Wolfe, reporter tor the minority, resigned from the organization.
Reporting for the majority (Lovestone, Herberg, Herman et al.) which represents pro-Allied views ranging from demands for limited aid, to support of the recent battleship gift and calls for more, was B. Herman, who holds an extreme pro-British view.
Wolfe reported for the minority, which supports an anti-war position containing variations from the orthodox Leninist position to pacifism. Wolfe’s resignation left the brunt of the fight on primarily younger elements who, deprived of his experienced assistance and prestige, will not be able to bring any sort of forceful opposition against the seasoned maneuverings of Lovestone and Co. Especially since the minority has but one member left on the leading political buro, Jim Cork.
Herman directed slanderous accusations against the chief minority spokesmen: Wolfe, Cork, Stewart, Kone and Symonds. Part of his accusations were to accuse minority spokesmen of echoing the Daily Worker, Herbert Hoover and Lindberg and of acting in a manner that Will please Hitler, of being liars and fakers. These tactics aroused the anger of most of the general membership but most of them can be counted on to follow Lovestone.
In Wolfe’s resigning without feeling it necessary to dignify the minority’s stand by presenting a resolution or attempting to form a minority faction to fight for an anti war position at the convention in late December, the I.L.L.A. makes its final bow and will shortly, after the convention give up any pretenses at being a political organization it will continue solely as a “discussion and publication society.” A statement amounting to this was made at the meeting after Wolfe’s resignation by D. Benjamin, who recently resigned as N.Y. District organizer after holding the position for a number of years.
We who write this feel the left wing movement should know about Wolfe’s resignation and the accompanying situation even though he has not seen fit to publicize it nor has the Workers Age deemed it necessary to announce it as yet.
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N.Y., Nov. 26 |
For REVOLUTIONARY Socialist Unity, |
Upon being informed by us of the receipt of the above letter. Comrade Wolfe confirmed the fact of his resignation from the Lovestone group. he states that he does not plan at present to join another organization. – Editors
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