The Communist Labor Party, according to the Communist Party, had about 10,000 members at the time of the convention. Its own secretary, however, reported an estimated membership of 20,000 Americans, and added 9,000 others of the German, Italian, and Scandinavian Federations without saying definitely that they belonged to the party.[1] But these figures are evidently based on guesses and hopes.
The largest estimate thus for both parties is 68,000. The smallest is 48,000. Another estimate has it that there were 55,000 members of the Communist parties last September in the United States. Perhaps 45,000 or 50,000 is closer to the facts.
But if we go farther and try to find how many real Bolsheviki there were among these, the figures shrink. Most of the members of the Slavic Federation became Socialists during the latter part of 1918 and the early months of 1919. Many of them joined the party because of a feeling of patriotism over the events in their native countries, while others who had been Socialists at an earlier date were not Bolsheviki until the Soviet Revolution had run on for a time. The Michigan section of the Communist Party, it is said, is not really Bolshevik at all. The reports are that it refused to vote in the convention on the program and manifesto of the party.
The Communist Labor Party contains a variety of groups—some Bolshevik, others who say they are, and still others who are merely dissatisfied over certain of the methods of the Executive Committee of the Socialist Party. There are many "wavering centrists" among them who do not know exactly where they. stand. Moreover, the convention was a meeting of leaders; whether the rank and file are Communists is a question.
The gain of the Communists since last. September has been estimated at 55,000. But it is only an estimate and
- ↑ Idem.
