Joel A Lewis Youth Against Fascism.pdf

UNITY OF YOUTH
Circle League insisted the new YCL program was "dulling the class consciousness of the
working youth" when it should instead "draw a sharp class line and talk in class terms" to
combat fascism. 153
Despite the YPSL's hostilities, the YCL continued making unity proposals. The YCL
contended the YPSL attitude was formed by misunderstandings and the influence of
Trotskyism. Max Weiss contended the YPSL was forming their political strategies in
negation to YCL practices, not from strategic principles:
In the past period the YPSL has begun to take on more and more the color of a faction
whose policy is dictated exclusively by what the YCL does or does not do. When we are
for, they are automatically against; when we are against, they are automatically for. We
must help the YPSL shake off the incubus of these factional, sectarian methods.... We
must not fight against the sectarian aim of the YPSL by an equally sectarian, negative attitude
to their proposals. 154
The key to forging socialist unity was utilizing a proper attitude that would overcome
past practices. In a debate with Gus Tyler of the YPSL, Gil Green contended the YPSL
position was based on a misunderstanding of the Popular Front:
What are the arguments against the united front.... It was said that the united front with
the Communists was impossible because we were too far left, we repelled the masses.
Then overnight the argument turned. We suddenly changed colors and became too far to
the right. Where is the logic and sense in all this… people [ought to be] judged not by
their words but by their deeds. We are ready to match our words with our deeds. 155
Green's observations asserted that the YPSL's positions were illogical stances bred
primarily by their traditional anti-communist prejudices.
The YCL vigilantly attacked the entrance of Trotskyists into the YPSL. Communists
constantly scapegoated the Trotskyists for holding back the development of socialist
youth unity. 156 Trotskyism was deemed a "poisonous ideology" that was "polluting" the
minds of socialist youth and "making the YPSL a sectarian organization." 157 Trotskyism
relied upon "high sounding [revolutionary] phrases" that were alienating, denying "the
need for allies in the struggles of the working class" and looking "upon other sections of
the population as a reactionary mass." 158 YCL accusations against the YPSL were not
completely unfounded. Trotskyism was quickly becoming the dominant ideology of the
YPSL. As a result, the YPSL left the Socialist Party in 1938, becoming the youth group
of the newly formed Trotskyist Socialist Workers Party. 159 Even without organizational
unity, elements of the socialist youth continued to work with the YCL in a variety of
campaigns and organizations throughout the Popular Front.
YCL propaganda continually strove to facilitate the greatest possible anti-fascist unity
among youth. The YCI stressed to the YCLUSA that "only a united youth can save itself
from fascism and war." 160 The YCL observed that in the United States there existed
"unity in Liberal opinion throughout the country" against fascism and war. The YCL
contended its role was to translate, guide and facilitate this unity of opinion into concrete
organizational and active political unity. 161 Unity was vital to strengthen the entire
progressive and pro-labor forces of the United States. Popular Front reports stressed that
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