The Pittsburgh Press (November 26, 1946)
Background of news –
Communism in America
By Buel W. Patch
Concern over Communist activity in the United States has mounted since the end of the war. Transfer of the leadership of the Communist Party of America to more militant hands, disclosure that Russia conducted espionage operations in Canada with the aid of members of the Communist Party of Canada, evidences of Communist infiltration in labor unions, and other developments have combined to spread such disquiet.
New light may be shed on operations of the Communist Party when the House Committee on Un-American Activities hears Louis Budenz and Gerhard Eisler. Mr. Budenz, ex-Communist and former managing editor of The Daily Worker, has described Mr. Eisler as the secret agent of the Kremlin “who directs all Communist activities in the United States.”
It is strongly suspected, despite Communist denials, that the Communist International has been continued or revived in one form or another since its ostensible dissolution in 1943. Whether or not American Communists take their orders directly from Moscow, they still follow the party line with undeviating regularity.
Voting strength small
The Communist Party of America, which originated in a secession of left-wing elements from the Socialist Party in 1919, today claims 80,000 members. It never polled many more than 100,000 votes in a presidential election, and that at the depth of the depression in 1932. But the party has exerted more influence than either membership or voting figures indicate.
During the period just before the war it pulled the strings in scores of Communist-front organizations, some of which became powerful propaganda agencies. And by use of skillful boring-from-within tactics it gained effective control of a number of large labor unions.
Although the Communists never made much headway in AFL unions, they are reported to be an influential factor today in nearly half of the CIO unions. But revolt over Communist infiltration has been brewing in the CIO.
Within the last few months, the presidents of two CIO unions have resigned in protest at Communist activity, another union has barred Communists from office, and a group of CIO union officials in New York has organized a committee to fight Communist encroachment.
Dupes and stooges
In working to spread their influence, Communists follow the principle that the end justifies the means. Thus they do not scruple to conceal their operations, make full use of dupes and stooges, and employ any tactics that promise to advance their aims.
Because they are highly organized and strictly disciplined, they often succeed in running the show even though they are in numbers a small minority. In labor unions they win rank-and-file support by readiness to make extreme demands on employers. In other groups they attract sympathizers by standing for laudable reforms.
Yet the ultimate and underlying purpose is to promote the cause of Communism.
To combat such a movement and such tactics puts a strain on domestic procedures but also presents a challenge. Barring persons from membership or office in an organization because of their political beliefs is essentially undemocratic. It has been suggested that a better way to counteract Communist influence would be to develop superior leadership and organization among the democratically-minded majority.