Manager’s Column

From Fourth International, vol.4 No.6, June 1943, p.162.
Transcribed, marked up & formatted by Ted Crawford & David Walters in 2008 for ETOL.

During the past month letters which have reached us from our friends in other countries have been especially interesting. Many of them extend support in our fight to regain full mailing rights for Fourth International and The Militant.

* * * *

England:

“The bundle of Fourth Internationals arrived safely and have already been bound. You can be sure they will be put to good use. One feels a real pride in looking through the bound volumes. No publication or political body has ever achieved such a consistently high standard of Marxist theory.

“The copy of My Life also made a safe crossing.

“Everybody here is following in detail your struggle against Biddle and the Post Office authorities. We wish you every success in resisting suppression and in fighting for the rights of the working class press.”

* * * *

England:

“I am under obligation to you for receipt of Fourth International and Militant. I have applied to the post office for a permit to send money, but am disqualified to fill in so elaborate a questionnaire. Is there any way I can recompense you – by sending books or publications?

“P.S. I date from association in Chicago with Spies, Parsons and others. Am now near 90 and appreciation of your work keeps me going.”

England:

“I have just received the back numbers of Fourth International. Many thanks.

“Is it asking too much to send me a copy of your latest book, In Defense of Marxism? No revolutionary socialist can afford to be without it yet we have no other way of obtaining it but by further imposing on your generosity. You have certainly performed a service to the working class in publishing this magnificent collection of the Old Man’s writings in book form. Far from having finished with petty-bourgeois oppositions in the workers’ movement, we are approaching a period, particularly over here, when the radicalization of the masses will throw all sorts of ’lefts’ into the ranks of the revolutionary movement and it is essential that we should be able to estimate their true value and not place the proletarian movement in jeopardy by reliance at critical periods on unstable allies and fellow-travelers of the revolution. The Old Man had this in mind when he so painstakingly exposed the true role of the petty-bourgeois opposition in the SWP.

“We have just received news about the revocation of The Militant mailing rights. We are shocked at this monstrous frame-up and will give it full publicity here.”

* * * *

From Australia we received the following cable:

“Send Militant and Fourth International from January 1943 send bill.”

* * * *

New Zealand:

“I am very sorry to hear of the troubles of the paper, but I very much regret to inform you that owing to the war regulations in this country prohibiting the sending of money out of the country, I am unfortunately unable to send you anything, much as I would like to. I sincerely hope that all those who are able to do so will rally to your aid and that a way out shall be found of your difficulties.”

Agents here at home have sent us welcome and enlightening letters, some excerpts of which we quote:

Minneapolis: “Frank’s article on John L. Lewis in the April issue has received praise from friends, who felt that it was a very valuable supplement to the current articles on the mine crisis, which The Militant has been carrying. Warde’s summing up of Ten Years of the New Deal was likewise approved, as was Wright’s Civil War In Yugoslavia.’ It is said that these articles supply the background and the necessary theoretical analysis for the news in the headlines, which The Militant cannot deal with exhaustively enough.”
Chicago: “Fourth International is now self-supporting insofar as our bundle is concerned. We have noted recently an increased number of calls at the office for copies of the FI. It seems to improve with each issue, showing the results of diligent research and selection.”
Toledo: “I have been drafted, so I suggest that you tell whoever has been sending me the magazine to use it where it will be read. Thanks, and keep the ball rolling and I’ll feel happier.”
Omaha: “Enclosed you will find $2.00 for a one-year subscription.

“Living costs here are way up and wages are the same. Most people were content to not say anything for a while, but lately there is quite a bit of grumbling about it. Maybe when they have been pushed far enough they will begin to see through some of the tricks being foisted on them and begin to do something.”
Los Angeles: “Please send 25 more copies of the FI. We ran quite short this time.”
Cleveland: “I am enclosing a money order for $12.00 to cover following subs ... We have been getting results from almost every contact, almost no outright refusals. The reception of the press is very encouraging.”

* * * *

Agents and subscribers: Anyone who has not received his copy of Fourth International as usual through the mails in April or May, please write immediately to this office.

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Last updated on 26.8.2008