Marxist Bulletin No. 4
Expulsion from the Socialist Workers Party
Document 16
To the National Committee Plenum of December 27-29, 1963 By
Arne Swabeck
The suspension of Comrades Robertson, White, et al. by the
Political Committee is, in my opinion, a violation of our principle of
democratic centralism as we have hitherto conceived it, and as is necessary if
the party is to remain on a revolutionary course. I therefore protest this
action to the National Committee Plenum and urge its reversal.
I have no sympathy whatever with the outrageous statements made by
some of these comrades in their own internal tendency documents; nor do I view
kindly what seems to be their group objectives. But reprehensible as this may
be, the far more important question for the revolutionary integrity and healthy
growth of the party is the right of comrades of a minority group, or any other
comrade to hold and express views, be they ever so critical.
To members of the leading party body, the National Committee, it
should not be necessary to emphasize the importance of maintaining that right.
Only the most complete freedom of expression of contrary views, even mistaken
ones, without, of course, interfering in any way with the pursuance of regular
party activities and duties -- only such practice of internal democracy can
give reasonable assurance of arriving at correct policies. A good deal has been
said about demands for internal party democracy elsewhere -- in China for
instance. Let us make sure that we ourselves set a good example. It will be
helpful also in the very serious task of maintaining clear revolutionary
perspectives.
The suspended comrades are charged with disloyalty to the party;
the charge is based merely on opinions expressed in internal tendency
documents. No acts have been cited to justify the charge. In any event, loyalty
to the party and to the principles for which it stands can be tested only over
a period of time and under varying conditions. In no case can the mere engaging
in, or refraining from, sharp criticism be considered a measure of loyalty.
I submit this protest in all earnestness to the National
Committee, hoping for favorable action. In connection with the Milwaukee case
my protest was rebuffed by the PC, and in the type of rude terms that should
not be practiced among comrades. I was accused of mistaking the party majority
as nothing more than a rival faction. No, Comrades, I am not making
that mistake. I know the majority is the party leadership. I respect that as an
established fact. This does not mean that I consider the leadership to be free
from factionalism. Quite the contrary. In the case of these suspensions
political differences are settled by organizational means -- by means of a
purge -- which can have no other motivation than that of factionalism. Therein
lies the great danger to the party. Unless this is changed, it can lead
straight to the monolithism we abhor.
December 5, 1963 Arne Swabeck
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