[Marxism] US SWP democracy and the Kirk-Kaye tendency

[Brian Shannon <Brian_Shannon@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Swabeck was aligned with Kirk-Kaye on both the questions of opposition
to black nationalism (Kirk-Kaye) and Maoism (Swabeck). However, the
Kirk-Kaye tendency was not Maoist. It agreed with the FI view not to
call for political revolution, but reform.

As a member of the Swabeck tendency, I received a private letter asking
me to come to Seattle for the formation of their new group.

They had not been expelled at this time! They were setting up their own
organization.

I reported this to the National Office. I was asked to go to the
meeting by the National Office. Because I had just started a new job, I
was unable to do this. I also hesitated to do this because despite the
alliance with Arne, I had never personally met the people involved and
did not feel competent on my own to accomplish anything worthwhile.

Although it was a while before Arne himself was expelled, certainly one
of the marks against him would have been his failure to report this
development when it happened.

After they set up their group and SWP comrades were sent to Seattle to
form a new branch, they discovered unopened Militant bundles dating
back several months.

I wish that I could quote an individual who related this. Unfortunately
I can't, but I believe that in that period, comrades were relatively
honest.

As to financial contributions, some day, some one, may publish the
facts on that. Unless someone out there has a report from the period.

from Brian Shannon


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