1923: Is Your Neighbor a Kluxer? An anti KKK pamphlet

 

An image from the pamphlet, I can't make out the signature.

 I've found an interesting pamphlet denouncing the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) published by an organisation called the American Unity League (AUL). I haven't encountered the AUL before, wish I could say the same for the KKK, but what information I have found describes them as a group that supported immigrant communities and embraced a multicultural ideal for the United States. 

I'm publishing it here because I think it's important to remember that while the past is home to shocking levels of bigotry, there were also people actively challenging and fighting that hate. The future didn't become better by accident, that bigotries like chattel slavery and antisemitism are seen as taboo and disgusting attitudes of a regressive minority, thanks to the work of brave individuals and groups like the AUL.

This pamphlet exposed many of the secret rituals and organisational structures of the KKK and even included a list of names of members that they had exposed. The breaking of the KKK's secrets and membership made it extremely vulnerable to attacks and public ridicule, and as a result its membership haemorrhaged.  

At the time this pamphlet was produced, the KKK's "Invisible Empire" numbered in the millions and had chapters in many states beyond the deep south. At present the KKK is estimated to have a maximum strength of around 6,000, which is still too high in my opinion but does indicate how powerful and effective anti-Klan activity was in cutting out much of the rot that they represented.  

 Pamphlet source

Where The Names Come From

"WHERE do you get 'em?"

This is the question most frequently asked of TOLERANCE.   It refers to the names of Ku Kluxers which are published weekly.

The answer is that TOLERANCE gets them from the official records of the Ku Klux Klan.

When some individual has passed all of the preliminary investigations made by the Klan and has been found to be a "white, Gentile, native-born Protestant," he is favored with a questionnaire, a facsimile of which has been printed in TOLERANCE.

If he answers this questionnaire satisfactorily, he is solicited for $10 as a preliminary fee to admission to the Invisible Empire.   If he turns over the $10, he is given a receipt which acts as his pass to the "klonklave" which has been selected for his "naturalization."   He presents this receipt, takes the infamous Ku Klux oath, and becomes a subject of Imperial Emperor William Joseph Simmons.   Then his name is inscribed on the official role of the Klan.

TOLERANCE prints only names which are on this official roll.   It is prepared at any time, if the situation warrants the expense and trouble involved, to produce the original questionnaire and receipt.   It has done this in a number of instances, and will do it in any others when it is necessary.

There is one thing, however, on which readers of TOLERANCE and all for which it stands may rely.   This is that when any person is listed as a member of the Ku Klux Klan he is so listed on the official records of that organization.

TOLERANCE cannot afford to make mistakes, and TOLERANCE does not make mistakes.

TOLERANCE acts only when IT KNOWS.

***

The American Unity League

THE American Unity League is a non-sectarian, non-partisan organization of American citizens devoted to the preservation of religious, racial, and social liberty.

Its directorate and membership is composed of freedom-loving citizens from all races and from all religious affiliations.   It is not owned or controlled by any sect or organization, and it is not going to be.

TOLERANCE is the official publication of the American Unity League.   What TOLERANCE stands for, the American Unity League stands for.   Briefly, these principles are:

• The right of any person to worship as he pleases.
• The right of any person NOT to worship IF he pleases.
• Racial equality in keeping with that principle as outlined in the Constitution of the United States.
• Free speech, as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States.
• The abolition of the Ku Klux Klan and all similar organizations which preach or practice racial and religious discrimination.
• The equality of all persons before the law.
• Individual liberty in the exercise of rights which do not conflict with the welfare of the nation.
• Complete separation of the public school and all religion.
• Abolition of the system which has resulted in the domination of fanatical minorities.
• Abolition of all censorship except that which is dictated by personal taste or voluntary affiliation with some body of censorship which makes no attempt to incorporate its principles in the law of the land.
• Liberalism in thought and action in keeping with the principles of liberty of speech and action guaranteed by the Constitution.
• Complete freedom of the press.

TOLERANCE regards the preservation of these principles as the only means by which the United States can be saved from the growing spirit of intolerance which has manifested itself in such organizations as the Ku Klux Klan.

It is directing its fight against the Ku Klux Klan at present because, from the Ku Klux Klan, comes the greatest present threat against religious, racial, and social liberty.   But it will continue long after the Ku Klux Klan has been sent back to the oblivion from which it was resurrected, to continue its battle against all organizations which strike at the right of American citizens to worship, to speak, to write, to work, and to vote as they please.

***

Puzzle? Nope a "Klavern"

The adjoining chart of a "Klavern" or Ku Klux headquarters is from the Kloran, the "sacred" book of the Ku Klux Klan, and was drawn by no less a hand than that of the re-discoverer of the order, William Joseph Simmons, now "Imperial Emperor" for life.  It is supposed not to be seen by "alien" eyes, but here it is anyhow.

 

TO His Majesty the Imperial Wizard, Emperor of the Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (Inc.):

I, the undersigned, a native born and loyal citizen of the United States of America, being a white male Gentile person of temperate habits, sound in mind, and a believer in the tenets of the Christian religion, the maintenance of White Supremacy, the practice of an honorable clanishness and the principles of a "pure Americanism," do voluntarily, most respectfully, seriously and unselfishly petition you for citizenship in the Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and be a CHARTER MEMBER of a Klan to be located
at ________________. , State of  ________________.

I guarantee on my honor to conform strictly to all rules and requirements regulating my "naturalization" and the continuance of my membership, and at all times a strict and loyal obedience to your constitutional authority and the constitution and laws, and all regulations and usages of the fraternity.   The required "donation" accompanies this petition.

Signed —

Date ________________ , 192 __,        ________________________________ , Petitioner.

Endorser will sign on other side:

Residence Address ________________________________
Business Address   ________________________________
Occupation             ________________________________

NOTICE: Check the address to which mail may be sent.

 

 

TOLERANCE herewith reprints names of all Ku Kluxers in Chicago and the surrounding district which it published during the year 1922.

In a few cases where TOLERANCE has ascertained that persons have joined the "Empire" without realizing its true nature, have taken no active part in its program of persecution, and have sent in bona-fide resignations, the notation "Resigned" is made.

***

[The following is a sampling of names from Is Your Neighbor a Kluxer with additional information from research in the 1920 United States Census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, digital images, Ancestry.com.]

FREDERICK BRUCE AYRES, was listed on the 1922 KKK membership rolls as living at 6208 University Place, but we could not locate him in the 1920 census because there was more than one person in Chicago named Frederick Ayres.

CHARLES H. BADDELY was listed on the 1922 KKK membership rolls as living at 5522 South Park Ave.
    Charles Baddeley appears in the 1920 census as renting a home at 4308 Langly Ave.  He had a wife and three children, and he worked as a "traffic manager" at a publishing company.  We can place him in the working class according to the assigned category of homeownership, but it's hard to know how to assign him by occupation.

CASTON S. BAKER was in the 1922 KKK rolls as Kladd of the Woodlawn Klan (an officer responsible for prospective members and the Klan's property); he was living at 6200 S. Park Ave.
    A "Coston Baker" appears in the 1920 census on Indiana Ave, which according to the ward map is near Indiana Ave. He was married to Blanche Baker. He rented his home, which would make him working class. The census lists his occupation as auto trimmer (in a body shop), which would be a working-class job.

JOHN BAIRD was in the 1922 KKK rolls as living in 1018 N. Crawford Ave.
    He appears in the 1920 census at the same address. He was born in Wisconsin. He worked as a mechanic, which would be a relatively high paying working-class job that would have required some skills. He owned his own house, which would assign him to middle class status. He lived with his wife Bertha Baird, who was 32 years old, and his son John Baird, who was 2 years old.  He would have been middle class or upper working class.

HARRY H. BALDWIN was listed on the 1922 KKK membership rolls as living at 4838 Warner Ave.
    The 1920 census shows him living at the same address, in a house he owned.  At 47 years old, he was living with his wife and mother-in-law, and the family also had two lodgers. (His mother-in-law was an immigrant from France.) He was an office manager at a telephone company.  Based on his homeownership and occupation, we place him in the middle class.

ALLEN V. BALLANTINE was listed on the 1922 KKK rolls as living at 5311 Prairie Ave., but we were unable to locate him in the 1920 census.

RALPH W. BALLARD was listed on the 1922 KKK membership rolls as living at 4527 Oakenwald Ave.
    In 1920, he was 20 years old, living at the same address (along with his parents, two adult brothers, and his niece).  His mother was from New York and his father was from Indiana.  His brothers and niece were all from Vermont, and he was from Illinois. Also, his brothers had the last name of Lewis, so they must be half-siblings.  His parents rented their home.  His father, his brother, and he worked in the railroad industry as wage earners. He was an electrician, his father a commissary man, and his brother a mail handler. Based on the family's occupations and home ownership status, they appear to be working class.

HENRY F. BALTERMAN was listed on the 1922 KKK membership rolls as living at 4734 London Ave, and we were unable to locate him on the 1920 census.

CLARENCE J. BERKSHIRE was listed on the1922 KKK membership rolls as living at 756 Bowen Avenue.
    In 1920, a "Clarence Berkschire" was 29 years old, and he was living with his parents, wife, and children at a house on Woodlawn Avenue. His wife, Alma immigrated from Sweden to the United States in 1912, and his parents immigrated from England. Clarence worked as a clerk in the stockyard and earned a wage, the same as his father. Clarence seems to be a member of the middle class based on his occupation, but his living in a rented home suggests that he could be a member of the working class.

JOSEPH BERMING was listed on the1922 KKK membership rolls as living at 5041 Sunnyside Ave., but we were unable to locate him on the 1920 census.

ARTHUR A. BERNAHL was listed on the 1922 KKK membership rolls as living at 5314 Winthrop Ave.
    He appears in the 1920 census living several miles away at 3344 Marshfield Ave, a home that he rented. Aged 25 years old, he was a wage earner, working as a book clerk. He was not listed as having a wife or children.  His father was an immigrant from Germany. We classify him as middle class based on the assigned category of occupation, because his work used his knowledge rather than labor.

HAROLD  BERRY was  listed  on  the  1922  KKK  membership  rolls  as  living at 11347  Calumet Avenue.
    A Harold Berry appears in the 1920 census on Calumet Avenue, where he rented his house, though the census record has no indication of the house number. He was a yard master employed at a railroad company. He was 27 years old and had been born in New York around 1893. He had a wife named Grace Berry. According to the assigned categories of occupation and homeownership, he can be considered part of the working class.

CHESTER H. BIGELOW was listed on the 1922 KKK membership rolls as living at 155 N. Laramie Ave. 
    Two years earlier, the census listed him at the same address, where he owned his home (with a mortgage).  He had a job as a foreman in a rubber company, supporting a wife and daughter and providing a home to his aunt.  He was 26 years old and had been born in Illinois, with both of his parents having been born in Iowa.  His class status isn't clear – his occupation was working class, but his income was probably higher than other factory workers, and he was a homeowner.

RICHARD S. BLAISDELL was listed on the 1922 KKK membership rolls as living at 5619 Prairie Ave.
    A "Richard Blaisdell" appears on the 1920 census as living at 1605 Center Ave, Chicago Heights, a suburb of Chicago.  We are assuming that this is the same man who was later a KKK member in Chicago. He is listed as the head of the household, which consisted of himself, his wife, Elma, and their four children – two sons and two daughters. He was a wage worker and is listed on the census as an "all-around man" and laborer. At the time of the census, he was 35 years old. He rented his home. Based on this information, we classify Richard Blaisdell as a member of the working class, based on the assigned categories of home ownership and occupation.

ALBERT P. BLAKESLEE was listed on the 1922 KKK membership rolls as living at 5946 Indiana Avenue.
    He appears in the 1920 census at the same address, where he owned his house. He was a broker working at the Board of Trade. He was 58 years old and had been born in New York. He had a wife name Nellie Blakeslee, and two stepsons and a daughter, Arthur and  Sarah  A  Noble. Judging by the assigned categories of occupation and homeownership,  he  can  be considered middle class.

RUDOLPH V. BOBB was listed on the 1922 KKK membership rolls as the proprietor of Bobb's Market House that was at 1360 East 47th St.
    A Rudolph Bobb listed in the 1920 census was the "owner" of a grocery store, so he must be the same person.  He was not a young man – forty-five at the time of the census. He had a wife and three children, two boys and one girl.  They seem to be a middle-class family as he owned his home.

FRED J. BOLAND was listed on the 1922 KKK membership rolls as living at 4038 Adams St.
    In the 1920 census, a Fred J Boland lives on Kilbourne Ave., and his occupation is "service man" in the car industry. He was 29 and had a wife and two sons. (Another Fred Boland lived at 3848 Fillmore St., and he was a thirty-five-year-old blacksmith with a wife and four children.)

GEORGE FLOYD BRITTIAN was listed on the 1922 KKK membership rolls as living in 201 N. Karlov Ave.
    In the 1920 census, he was living at 210 North Keeler Avenue, which was just south of his residence in the 1922 rolls. He was born in Tennessee in 1886. His wife, Annie, was also born in Tennessee in 1887. They rented a house and had two daughters, named Ann E. and Juanita and both born in Illinois. George worked as an engineer and rented his house. He seems to be part of the working-class based on his occupation and not being a homeowner.

WILLIAM BROCKHOFF was in the 1922 KKK rolls as living on Irving Park Blvd., but we were unable to locate him in the 1920 census.  We found a Willmer Brockhoff, but he was not living near his 1922 address, so we have no way of knowing whether it was the same person.

JOHN BRONSON was listed on the 1922 KKK membership rolls as living at 2507 N. Mozart St.
    He shows up in the 1920 census at the same address, where he owned his home. He worked as a merchant. He was 46 years old and was born in Michigan. He had a wife and 2 daughters. Based on his occupation and homeownership, he seems to be middle class or even upper class.

ROYAL S. BROWN was listed on the 1922 KKK membership rolls as living at 4133 N. Kedvale Ave.
    He shows up in the 1920 census at the same address, where he rented his home. He worked as a mechanic. He was 24 years old and was born in Illinois.  He had a wife and two sons. Based on the assigned categories of homeownership and occupation, he seems to be working class.

LINDSEY CARR was listed in the 1922 KKK membership rolls as living at 5215 Kimbark Ave.
    He appears in the 1920 census at the same address, living with his mother, who rented the house.  He was 27 years old and single; he was  born in Illinois, but his mother's parents were born in Ireland. He was a record clerk for the railroad, and his brother was a stenographer, also for the railroad.  His class status is hard to identify.  His occupation suggests that he and his brother were middle class, though probably not well paid, but his mother's renting their home fits working-class assigned categories.

PETER E. CAVINESS was listed on the 1922 KKK membership rolls as living at 756 Bowen Avenue.
    The 1920 census shows him living at the same address, in the home that he rented, with his wife, mother-in-law, and father-in-law. In 1920 Peter was 27 years old, and he worked as a fireman for the railroad industry, where he worked for a wage. Peter's father-in-law worked as a conductor at the railroad, while his wife and mother-in-law were unemployed. Based on his job and status as a renter, we place him as part of the working class.

EDWARD C. ESAU was listed on the 1922 KKK membership rolls as living at 2401 Belmont Ave. and working at a soft drink parlor at same address.
    In 1920, he had been living one block over on Barry Street.  At 26, he and three adult brothers were still living with their parents in a rented home.  He and his brothers were all born in Illinois, but their parents were from Germany.  He was a wage earner then, working in a candy factory, but two of his brothers were unemployed, and his father was a contractor doing "job work." He seems to be working class, judging by the assigned categories of homeownership and occupation.  The information about his father and brothers suggests the household income may have been low as well.

OREN FLUETTE was listed on the 1922 KKK membership rolls as living at 358 E. 57th St.
    He appears in the 1920 census at the same address, where he rented his home.  He was a wage earner, working as a mail carrier.  He was 35 years old and had been born in Michigan, with both of his parents having also been born in Michigan.  He had a wife and a twelve-year-old son, whom he named Lincoln.  He seems to be working class, judging by the assigned categories of homeownership and occupation.

 

Notes on a Mickey Mouse Poster

 

The news that Mickey Mouse is now in the public domain was greeted with jubilation and much gnashing of teeth from a certain boardroom. During the celebrations, many shared some of the posters that Disney produced to advertise its first sound cartoon, including the one you see above. Looks like a cheery innocent little fellow doesn't he. If only we'd realised sooner. 

This poster has sparked a mini controversy, because it's not a 100% clear whether this poster was produced and released in 1928 or early 1929, and it is in colour and Mickey is wearing gloves. Why that matters? Well, it shouldn't actually matter at all, but many people who misunderstand property laws and trademarks have worked themselves up over it. The idea goes if this poster is from 1928 the same year of Steamboat Willie's release then it and its design of the Mouse is public domain and free to use, if not then we'll have to wait another year to January 2025.

The problem here is that the question is irrelevant, to qualify for copyright status in the United States of America before 1988, a work must be released with a valid copyright notice and be registered at the copyright office. Do you see a copyright notice? I honestly can't and this is the cleanest high resolution version I've found. So, while the year of release would be of historical interest, it's irrelevant to the subject of ownership.

 Under the 1909 Act, federal statutory copyright protection attached to original works only when those works were 1) published and 2) had a notice of copyright affixed. Thus, state copyright law governed protection for unpublished works, but published works, whether containing a notice of copyright or not, were governed exclusively by federal law. If no notice of copyright was affixed to a work and the work was "published" in a legal sense, the 1909 Act provided no copyright protection and the work became part of the public domain. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_Act_of_1909]

You might be wondering why Disney even in the early days when Disney was still just a man forgot to protect this piece of his IP. He probably didn't forget, he just didn't bother, lots of American advertising and promotional material was released without bothering to register for copyright. Remember, the point of copyright terms was to provide long-term ownership of material and its business potential, promotional materials by design have a short shelf life. The poster at the centre of this mini controversy was run at some point between 1928-29, and then never again. Disney and Iwerks made more Mickey Mouse cartoons and other shorts.

 Here's a playlist of other adverts that fell into the public domain for the same reason.

Popeye the Sailor Finally Sails to Freedom!

 

Countdown To Public Domain Day 2025

 

 Every New Year's Day is Public Domain day, when many works of art fall out of copyright. Last time the biggest news was Mickey Mouse, next January the United States welcomes Popeye to intellectual freedom. Popeye debuted in 1929 in the Thimble Theatre comics, and was the inspiration of E.C. Segar. Segar died in 1938 which means that Popeye has been public domain in the rest of the world for some years now. Though finally Americans get to join in the fun.

Of course, even in the United States a surprisingly large amount of Popeye material had fallen into the public domain before, including my personal favourite Popeye cartoon Popeye for President! (see above). But with his first appearance falling into the public domain in America, this will give fan artists and other creators freer reign to remix and incorporate him in their own works. 

I won't pretend Popeye is a favourite of mine, but he does hold a place in my heart. As a child, TV channels would play his public domain cartoons in the mornings, and as a son of a sailor I've had a soft spot for the guy and his squinty smile, he was certainly more relatable and less distant than Horatio Hornblower. And I do in fact enjoy me Spinach. Oh, and living in the UK we got to enjoy some perks of Segar's legacy, more on that below.

A fun fact about Popeye, his `Goil` Olive Oyl is already public domain in the USA too, she predates the sailor with a penchant for Spinach by one whole ten years. Olive Oyl was one of the original cast members when the strips were first run in 1919.

Scene from Thimble Theatre, 1925

Yanks will sadly have to wait two more years for the Hamburger mooching J. Wellington Wimpy "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a burger today", to fall into the public domain, as his first appearance was in 1931. Which makes sense, he is after all a reflection on the Great Depression.

Speaking depression Wimpy, in the UK there was once a popular burger restaurant chain named after Wimpy. That's right, Popeye as a brand was once so popular that a supporting character's name could shift burgers and build an international food company. The original Wimpy's were American, but its biggest markets were the UK, South Africa (during Apartheid) and Ireland. In fact, for a time Wimpy was so enmeshed in the UK economy that the Provisional IRA bombed one of their restaurants as part of their campaign to wreck the British economy and spread general panic. One bomb disposal officer was killed while trying to disarm the explosive.

I'm not old enough to remember its golden period, nor have I ever had a Wimpy burger, since I've never lived in a town where they still had their last remaining branches. But it is remembered by older people, who lament its loss when the restaurant is brought up in conversation. It was still around in a limited fashion when I was a lad though, I can remember seeing adverts on TV, and Popeye themed wind-up toys that were given away in its kids meals during a doomed attempt to survive competition with McDonald's, another fast food chain that has a history with the Provisional IRA now that I think about it. Looking back, I don't think naming a burger restaurant after a man named Wimpy and was famous for not actually paying for those burgers he snaffled was a great idea. But, then again, I'm no marketing genius.

On Time and Being in the public domain

 

Pay special attention to the year 1929 listed at the bottom

 

Warning to enjoyers of classic media, I've noticed a dirty trick by several bad actors to keep older works under control of estates and corporate departments. In the United States of America, copyright still works differently than in most of the rest of the world. The year of release is the most important aspect for determining if a work is or is not still in copyright. As the year's tick by and more and more popular and well remembered (still able to generate profit) works fall into the public domain, I'm seeing what I guess can be called retroactive release date extensions. 

If you look at the screenshot above, you will notice that the classic air ace film Wings is available for purchasing or rent on YouTube. You may also notice the year listed is 1929. This is not the year Wings was released. It was in fact released in 1927, why the discrepancy? Well, American works released in 1927 or earlier are now in the public domain. Whereas 1929 works at the time of writing are still in copyright. This isn't a little white lie either, I've received take down notices by companies using this false redating, and on at least one occasion while I was compiling evidence for my challenge I noticed that the English language wikipedia entry for the film in question had also mysteriously had new dates, this has since been corrected.

 

So, what can you do about this? Well, like all other forms of copyfraud we can't stop the perpetrators from doing this, we can however challenge and expose this. While wikipedia can be edited by anyone, there are several definitive databases that cannot be tampered with. For American film's I always check the American Film Institute which lists the release dates and premieres of every commercially released American film. For example, the entry on Wings clearly shows multiple screenings in 1927. For British films, the British Film Institute also fulfils this service.  So be vigilant, if in doubt check at authoritative sources.

Public Domain 2024, or why is Steamboat Willie still being flagged when I upload it to YouTube?

 

Yes, after Millions of dollars in lobbying efforts, after two decades of delay, Steamboat Willie the first animated short starring Mickey Mouse is finally public domain. Many have rushed to upload the short to their video platform of choice, which is of course YouTube. And yet many are finding that their videos are being claimed by the Disney corporation anyway. What gives? Well, as someone who uploads public domain material to YouTube regularly, including Steamboat Willie, nothing has changed.

There are two types of copyright triggers on YouTube, manual, where someone actively makes a claim and the much more common automatic flagging system which scrubs through whatever you upload to YouTube as part of the upload process, usually after the SD version is ready but before HD if that is applicable. And after uploading, your video will be subject to periodic and random checks for the rest of time. If you've ever received an e-mail out of the blue informing you that a video you uploaded ten years ago has been blocked in Greece or cannot be monetised because of a claim by a company in Australia, that is usually why that has happened.

This is an automatic flagging. Neither automatic nor manual copyright claims, blocks and strikes do not have legal standing and are not in themselves evidence of anything. But this is especially true of automatic versions when a work's copyright expires. All they mean is that someone - and it's important to remember that this could be anyone - has made a copyright claim on some material and either consciously made it against your upload or the automatic system thinks your content is a match for what's in its database to check for. So, once material has been added to the system to check it stays in there, it's up to the submitter to make changes and there is no obligation for them to do so nor sanction if they fail to do so. 

Last year, Disney was blocking my upload of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit's Trolley Trouble's. I disputed it and to my surprise, instead of running out the clock or trying to intimidate me into dropping the issue, they promptly responded and dropped the claim. A while ago, YouTube informed me that my channel could qualify for partnership, as part of the sales pitch it was keen to stress that I could make use of its checking system, simply upload my video to it, and it would take care of all the rest for me. I think you can see several of the potential openings for abuse right there.

Why such a boon for shady dealers and outright committers of copyfraud? Well, it's not YouTube's fault, well not exclusively its fault. It's the fault of Intellectual Property legislation. In particular the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the dreaded DMCA. Under the DMCA system, YouTube and all other websites operating under jurisdiction of the United States of America have to take allegations of copyright infringement at their word and act to remove it. This leaves it up to the user to challenge it if those complaints are unfounded. And sites aren't even obligated to provide you the means to challenge it. YouTube gets lots of criticism for its copyright policies, but I will give it the barest slither of credit, it does allow users to make a challenge in the case of abuse, from what I've seen other websites just act and then ban the user or send them a warning. YouTube's process is extremely flawed, especially if you don't have a lawyer on retainer, but it has a process.

If you're curious why websites behave this way, it's because that's a requirement of the `Safe Harbour` protections. So this is a compromise between big media companies and big tech companies. YouTube and all the big online media sharing sites are full of piracy, but they rarely face any legal consequences, because the liability is transferred to the anonymous individual users. This aspect was key to what made that lawsuit by the channel Business Casual so surprising, the alleged actions of YouTube as a company risk losing that Safe Harbour status and would put them at risk of direct litigation for copyright violations and other activities by the company and its administration. So, it will be interesting to see how that class action lawsuit they're building plays out.

But back to the Mouse, because of how 'Safe Harbour' works there is no attempt at evaluation or judgement, it is a simple as Step 1: Report and Step 2: Remove as an automatic function, this means that the copyright claims on YouTube videos don't matter beyond restricting and annoying some people. The system by design eliminates evaluation and judgement of merit until other parties take further action. My upload of Steamboat Willie is blocked in several nations, and according to YouTube the claim is made by Disney, but I won't have any proof that Disney is in fact behind the claim unless I proceed through the dispute process up to a point where YouTube enacts a "contact the claimant" option and gives me an e-mail address, that is how little effort YouTube takes in verifying the identities of the entities that claim their legally protected material is being harmed by its service. Oh, and for extra fun, even when you win a dispute, there is nothing in place to stop the same content being claimed, nor being claimed by the same people you fought off last time. Warner Bros, are pretty infamous for repeatedly trying to re-claim their former properties to take just one example. What determines the copyright status of works is legislation and case law. So, if you live in one of those countries that keeps blocking the Mouse, you need to look at your own nation's legal codes; does your nation have the "rule of shorter term" for foreign works? Is the work still in copyright in your territory, and if so in what fashion and to whom is the representative? A company arbitrarily actioning what is often an automatic response does not mean anything.

Addendum

On the 13th of March, Disney failed to escalate my challenge copyright dispute over the content of the video, during the dispute period Disney did however remove its region blocks and changed to what's called an "ad grab" copyright claim. That's the claim that doesn't affect the upload but does monetise it for the claimant. So, looks like we have clarity, Mickey Mouse the character is public domain world wide.

Countdown to Mickey Mouse entering the public domain

 

Mickey Mouse becomes Free

 

On the 1st of January 2024 after decades of intensive lobbying Mickey Mouse will enter the public domain. His first appearance the 1928 animated short Steamboat Willy will lose its copyright protection in its country of origin the United States of America and thus every other territory like the United Kingdom that has the rule of shorter term and country of origin. 

 

Still from Mickey Mouse and the Mad Doctor

 Of course several Disney products have already entered the public domain because registrations weren't renewed and for works contracted to the United States government during WWII. And this includes some works that feature the Disney Empire corporation's mascot and superstar Michael `Mickey` Mouse. If you come across a collection of comic strips called "Uncensored Mouse" that is a collection of Mickey Mouse comic strips that are in the public domain. The importance here is that when a character's first appearance enters the public domain it frees up that character for re-use in many creative ways, whereas previously we were limited to the handful of works that were in the public domain. 

Though its important to keep in mind that Disney will retain copyright on many later works documenting the Mouse and his adventures, we'll have trademarks to deal with, but this is still a big deal.

Imperial propaganda - The House that John Built

 The British Empire dominated much of the earth for several hundred years. To some this statement is a strange source of pride, an attitude of toxic superiority. For others this is something to feel embarrassed about. What's strange to me is that the Empire is barely talked about in modern Britain, its legacy is inescapable, but outside of history modules and specialised programming and literature its relegated in general discussions to vague mentions, this is true for positive (usually something about trains and ending slavery) and negatives, war, occupation and slave trading etc. 

So this short piece of early British animation The House that John Built is very interesting to me. Produced in 1928 by the Empire Marketing Board, the short was deisgined to have a wide audience, and was a forum for the Empire to justify and promote itself. I was surprised how it chose to do it. In this short Britain and the Empire are shown in purely economic terms. The greatness of both is shown first in their agricultural and cattle production, and then cemented by translating that bounty into a value in Imperial pounds. No talk of civilisation, or global stability, just animals representing statistics that showed annual growth in exports and imports. 

The Empire is great as it is a great system for the growth of capitalism. You have doubts about our Imperial accomplishments? Nonsense! Just look how well the pork markets were doing in 1925. The House that John Built is not an isolated endeavour. The Empire Marketing Board sponsored many marketing pushes to drive home the economic power of the Empire and to encourage purchasing. Economic patriotism from Canada to Australia, Nile to Cape Town. Looking back I find this revealing, while the talk of civilising the wild lands, and building technological progress have lingered on in the popular imagination, its clear from looking at the evidence of the time that as far as the Empire builders were concerned, the Empire was first and foremost a means to do business and enrich themselves. 

Manifesto on the Russian Revolution

I transcribed a scan of a manifesto written by several Anarchist groups exiled from the Russian Empire by the young Bolshevik government. It was hard to read in parts.

 The PDF is hosted on libcom.org

Manifesto

On

The Russian Revolution

Issued By The

Anarchist Communist Groups of U.S. and Canada

Federation of Anarchist Communist Groups of U.S. and Canada

Ukrainian Anarchist Communist Groups of U.S. and Canada

Distributed Free

1922

Manifesto on the Russian Revolution.

To the Proletariat of the World

Foreword

Before stating the facts of the present occurrences in Russia, it is important to dwell upon the differences in tactics and aims, which separated the Socialist and Anarchist into two distinct movements.

The Socialists doubt the ability and judgment of the exploited masses to free themselves. They consider the State an institution which must be conquered, and suffrage as a weapon through which to achieve this. In attempting to sieze the State the Socialists aim at capturing a machine with which to rule the masses, though they claim that the seizure of the State is for the workers’ interests.

The Anarchists, on the other hand, have always trusted in i he masses’ ability to bring about their own liberation. In recognizing the State as an institution intentionally created by Capitalism, forcibly to keep the workers down, the Anarchists see the necessity of its immediate and complete destruction. To bring this about, they propose the most direct revolutionary methods such as General Strikes and uprisings.

For this the Socialists have denounced the Anarchists as “madmen** and “Don Quixotes” whose methods meant useless bloodshed; while the Anarchists could see nothing but disappointment for the exploited in the tactics and aims of the Socialists.

The workers who gave their support to the Socialist movement reaped only this result: — the attainment of well paying positions for the Socialists elected to political offices, through the parliamentary tactics, but nothing of value gained to the proletariat.

The anti-revolutionary tactics of the Socialists led them to take stands against the interest of the proletariat in many Genera! Strikes, as in France. Spain, Germany, and Italy—even to oppose the General Strike as a weapon against war. The rear 1914, showed nearly the entire Socialist parliamentary representation in every country siding with the Capitalists war. The action of the Socialists in this war practically shattered any hope or trust left amongst the toilers towards the Socialist movement. It stood bankrupt and discredited.

Then came March 1917, bringing with it the Revolution in Russia. Both foes and lovers of true liberty recognize the fact that the overthrow of Tzarism in 1917 marked the greatest attempt of a people on earth, to liberate themselves from economic and political slavery. It is true that important revolutions have occurred ever since oppression, rule and exploitation began; the French revolution of 1848, not to speak about the earlier revolutions, or the year 1871 that saw the rise and fall of that gigantic and heroic Paris Commune; — nevertheless it must be admitted that of all the attempted revolutions in the history of mankind, none could compare in economic and political significance with the Revolution of Russia in 1917. If any doubt still lingered, the overthrow of the Kerensky regime erased it. Here were over 150 million people who desired, not a change in rulers,. but a change in the entire social order. This is why the people cast overboard the great idol of the March Revolution — Kerensky and his Government, by carrying out the October Revolution.

The people wanted peace. They realized how millions of their own flesh and blood were being vainly sacrificed for the Tzardom that they had destroyed. They wanted land and freedom. To them land and freedom meant to own, in common — the land and factories, themselves producing and consuming the necessities of life; it also meant the complete annihilation of every form of political rule. It was with this instinctive aim and spirit that the cry arose from the masses: “All power to the Soviets” ! This slogan did not mean though all power to any new set of rulers.... On the contrary, it meant all power to the producers comprising the Workers and Peasants Soviets. Thus, in this spirit and to attain this aim, the Anarchists in Russia joined in that same chorus wTith the fighting masses. This cry was also echoed by revolutionary Socialists calling themselves Bolsheviki. If the Bolsheviki had had the same aim as the Anarchists, they would have helped to materialize the slogan they were shouting. Instead of this what did they do ? The answer will be given in subsequent paragraphs. This answer calls for the earnest attention, not only of the dwindling pro-bolshevist Anarchists, but also of the rank and file in the Communist Parties, as well as all thinking revolutionary workers. The facts we state here are based upon documents which are known to all those taking an interest in the revolution in Russia, and can be verified by a perusal of the Anarchist and Bolshevik press of every language.

THE SOVIETS.

When the spokesmen of the Bolsheviki joined in the masses* cry of “All power to the Soviets!” they evidently never meant it in earnest. What they did strive for, however was to procure the masses’ confidence to make them believe that the Bolshevik party was actually for the slogan. When they had accomplished this, they immediately set about subjugating the Soviets, until they succeeded in making them mere supporting props of the Government machine which they created.* [1]

The Soviets, as they were understood by the masses who overthrew Kerensky, exist no more. The Bolshevik Party in establishing itself as a Government ended the Soviets’ function as expressive organs of the Revolution. To carry this out safely, the Bolsheviki had to subvert the Soviets into organs under their control so as to enable them in ruling over the people. Having accomplished this, their other acts followed as a natural consequence.

THE CO OPERATIVES

The Co-operatives which existed previous to the overthrow of Tzardom, and which could have been turned into organs to aid the Soviet of Peasants and Workers carry on the distribution of foods, etc., were absorbed by the Bolsheviki who turned them into organs of their Government.

THE LABOR CODE LAWS

An examination of the labor code laws reveals the fact that no worse form of compulsory labor, spy system, ‘‘efficiency” sweating of labor, and differentiation in payment of high and low wages, for “skilled” and “unskilled” workers was ever surpassed by any capitalist rulership. -It also reveals that all conditions of wages and labor rest finally and decidedly, not in the hands of the workers, but of the Commissars of Labor, who are the officials of the Government. Capitalism does not pretend to shield its exploitation and rule under any “holy” motives, whereas the Bolshevik Government hides its motives under the misleading defence, that its system of industrial and political slavery is carried on in the interest of the workers!

THE RED ARMY

A Revolution successfully to attain its aims, can depend only on the voluntary cooperation of the masses to defend it whenever needed. The masses in the Russian Revolution have shown that they could rise as volunteer fighters. The overthrow of the Tzar, Radzianko, Kerensky and Korniloff proves that. But the Bolshevik Government fearing the subversion of its rule, nullified the toilers’ right to bear arms, and began the formation of a conscripted army whose leadership was mostly composed of the same Generals and minor officials that had made Tzardom so abhorred by humanity.

PEACE AGREEMENTS

The first attempt which culminated in a peace agreement between Russia in Revolution and a Capitalist Government was the beginning of the Social Revolution's end. Russia in Revolution could either defy the entire capitalist world, by using the greatest opportunity in the history of the Proletariat’s struggles to arouse the oppressed of each country to rally to the defense of the Social Revolution in Russia, which would have meant the possible realization of a World Revolution, or, in the event of failure have gone down as defiant and brave as the Paris Commune. The memories of the Paris Commune are treasured and commemorated by every revolutionist because it fought uncompromisingly. We all revere it, for having remained true to its aims. The Bolshevik Government by concluding peace with Capitalism, prevented either victory for the Revolution, or intrepid, uncompromising defeat.

THE TRADE UNIONS AND THE RED INTERNATIONAL

After the Bolshevik Government realized its failure to subjugate and use the rank and file of the Trade Unions, as they had succeeded in doing with its officials, they adopted new methods of compromise, whereby they “granted” some rights to the unions, though retaining the bulk of power in their own hands.

The formation of the Red Union International was instituted by the Bolsheviki of Russia, not with the avowed purpose of uniting the revolutionary proletariat of the world, but, as they admit in their party press, for the purpose of gathering those forces only who approve of the tactics and aims of the Bolsheviki in Russia, under whose dominating influence the Red Union International will always be.

THE SYSTEM OF CAPITALISM RESTORED

The Bolshevik Government failed to force the peasants and factory workers to continue yielding their produced wealth to them, and this, in spite of their armed expeditions upon defiant peasants and their decrees and penalties upon factory workers. Instead of realizing and amending their futile coercive measures the Bolshevik Government further injured the revolution by a complete reintroduction of capitalistic barter, profiteering and speculation between the peasants and city workers, and by restoring on a larger scale than before high and low wages, premiums and bonuses amongst the factory workers.

RELIGION

The preachers of a future heaven have never as a whole sided with the exploited masses. Whenever they had a chance to mislead and harm them they did so. These adherents of Capitalism have been acknowledged as some of the worst enemies in the road of the toilers’ struggle for liberation. Yet, the Bolshevik Government gave full protection to the preachers to continue deceiving the people. In return for this we find the prelates working in close co-operation with the “revolutionary” government.

WHAT THE ANARCHISTS SAW

The Bolshevik Government began its attacks on the Anarchists and their movement because the Anarchists refused to assent to any of the perfidies committed against the Revolution. The Anarchists saw in the establishment of a Government by the Bolshevik party the death-knell of the Soviets that were to function as organs of the revolution. They saw in the signing of the Brest-Litovsk peace the next act of treason. They saw the Government’s subjugation of the Soviets, Co-operatives, and Trade Unions into Government organs, all controlled by the Bolshevik party. The Anarchists, saw, likewise, the peoples initiative killed and their spirit for the Revolution destroyed; and Tzaristic Generals becoming “red” army Generals, while Tzaristic exploiters at home were relegated to their old positions under the new name of “commissars”. They saw peace being made with Capitalism and its Governments, while Anarchist Communes (as in Samarov and Saratov) were relentlessly destroyed. The Anarchists then realized how all these acts by the Bolshevik Government were subverting the aims of the October revolution and making it impossible to arouse by such compromises the spirit of Revolt in the minds and hearts of the Proletariat in other countries.

WHAT THE ANARCHISTS DID

They refused to join in such acts, refused to assent, or to keep silent, and instead exposed every act of the Bolshevik Government to the best of their abilities. The work of the Anarchist movement in Russia, however, did not consist, merely in refusing to keep silent, but pointed out the road that the Workers and Peasants ought to take in order to save the Social Revolution. They showed that it was preferable to have production and distribution completely in the hands of the producers themselves, voluntarily united into Soviets of factory Workers and Soviets of Peasants, than to have a useless non-producing Commissar bureacracy comprising the entire Government, that has failed in spite of all its decrees, laws and repressive methods of Centralization, to show any light to its existence. They maintained, that if the Workers and Peasant Soviets had remained the organs of the revolution as outlined, then no conscription to defend the revolution would have been necessary, for there would have been all the volunteers needed for the defense of every endangering position of the Revolution. This movement also showed that it was better to have the producers make mistakes by practicing voluntary Communism than by laying off such practice “for 60 years or more”, in the meantime reintroducing every evil method of the Capitalist system of exploitation, and rulership. They showed too, that no compromise with Capitalism would bring about the rallying of the World Proletariat to the Revolution in Russia. The compromises and peace agreements made by the Bolshevik Government, would only estrange them. The duty of every sincere Revolutionist was to remain among and with the masses, always trying to show the right way — instead of leaving the masses and establishing themselves into a Centralized Dictatorial Government over the masses.

PERSECUTIONS OF THE ANARCHISTS

For these reasons the Bolshevik Government has and continues to persecute and jail Anarchists, suppressing their movement and refusing admission to deported Anarchists. They suppress also news about their repression of the Anarchist Movement. Thus does every Capitalist Government in the world always persecute and torture Anarchists for refusing to bargain or compromise with them, at the expense of achieving economic and political freedom. Why should then, one expect any different action towards the true libertarians from a Bolshevik government, though it calls itself “revolutionary”? The purpose of Governments, from the most reactionary to the most “revolutionary” are, and always will be — similar. The basic foundations of Government is to rule over the people and to oppress those who oppose their rule. The Bolshevik or any other similar named “revolutionary” government is not, nor can it be, any exception to the rule. As far back as April, 1918, the Bolshevik Government attacked all the Anarchist clubs of Moscow, murdering, wounding and jailing many Anarchists. In a more brutal manner, and on a larger scale, the Anarchist communes of Saratov and Samarov were destroyed by the government. Innumerable similar attacks were committed by the Bolshevik Government upon the Anarchists in every part of Russia, though they and their supporters kept on denying these allegations as invented lies of the Capitalist press to hurt the Revolution. For more than two years they succeeded in keeping the world ignorant as to the truth of these charges. But just as the barriers of Tzardom were broken, so the Bolshevik barriers were also torn down, by the underground methods always resorted to by revolutionists. All the denials of Anarchist persecutions by the Bolshevik Government were intentionally misleading, and the death and funeral of Peter Kropotkin revealed this in the most glaring manner. The radios sent out by the Anarchist Funeral Committee containing the news of Kropotkin’s funeral were censored by the Bolshevik Government. The portion which told of Anarchists imprisoned in the jails of Russia, of the manner in which the government first refused the release of the imprisoned Anarchists in Moscow to attend the funeral, of how they assented and then again refused this request; of how at last in order to avoid an open scandal only seven were released; of how the seven were the pall-bearers and that one of them spoke on the cemetery; of how a demand by the funeral commission to issue a four page paper in memory of Kropotkin, uncensored, was refused; and of how a demand to issue 400,000-copies of such a paper was also refused, and a grant of the right to issue 30,000 was given instead, that all these parts containing the above important facts of persecutions of Anarchists, sent out by the Funeral Committee, were suppressed by the Bolshevik Government.

The Bolshevik Government helped the counter-revolutionary movements in Southern Russia, when they persistently refused to furnish arms to the Makhnovtzi (comprising thousands of volunteer fighters), just because the Makhnovtzi would not recognize the Dictatorship of the Bolshevik Party.

The Bolshevik Government after joining forces with the “Makhnovtzes” and successfully defeating Wrangel, started to kill and jail every “Makhnovtzi” that they “captured”.

450 representatives of the Anarchist Movement at an Anarchist Congress in Kharkov, December 1920, were attacked and arrested by the Bolshevik Government. It is now known to all that a general relentless persecution, jailing and suppression of Anarchists and their organs rages continuously all over Russia, under direct orders from the Bolshevik government.

At the moment the Bolshevik party, at its tenth Congress, 1921 labelled the Workers' Opposition within their party, as a Syndicalist Anarchist movement, (because the Workers' Opposition favored the control of industries by the Trade Unions, and therefore must be crushed...) the day following this declaration, a general raid of every Anarcho-Syndicalist organization and jailing of their members took place all over Russia, ending in the entire suppression of the Anarcho-Syndicalist movement; , just as that of the Anarchist-Communist movement which took place long before.

The Bolshevik Government was not telling the truth when _ they asserted, that the Kronstadt uprising of March, 1921, was a counter-revolutionary one. The Bolsheviki themselves admit, what is now known to all, that the rising was inspired by the - desire Tor reorganization of the Soviets as opposed to the present Soviets that are being used as supporting tools of the Dictatorship of The Bolshevik Party. The government killed thousands of the best revolutionists when they defeated the-Kronstadt Revolution, which, if successful, would have meant a rebirth of the Social Revolution in Russia.

The Bolshevik Government refuses to admit workers, especially deportees into Russia, because they are Anarchists, in contradiction of their so-called “constitution” which promises free asylum to all political refugees. At the same time, they admit and welcome representatives of Capitalism and their Governments. This adds another striking proof as to what the Bolshevist Government is and to what degree it “represents” the true spirit of the Revolution.

Another action of this government was to assault the defenceless Anarchist and other political prisoners in the Bootirski Prison, during the night, of April 25, 1921.

Another wholesale murderous act upon Anarchists was committed in September 1921, when ten active Anarchists were murdered by the Tcheka. The charge made against them is in itself the most striking proof as to the depths into which even a so-called “revolutionary” government is forced to sink, in order to protect is rulership. The charge against the ten murdered Anarchists was published in the Isvestia of September 30th, 1921. They were accused of participating in an illegal Anarchist movement that carried out expropriations, m order to raise funds, with which to publish Anarchist literature.

Exactly the same charges that the Tzar used to make against the very same Bolsheviki when they were still revolutionists and not government officials 1 The Bolshevik regime is ruling supreme, taking all funds it finds necessary, from the Russian people, to publish dozens of daily papers, hundreds of weeklies and monthlies and millions of books and pamphlets. But when the Anarchists are outlawed, have they not then that absolute moral right to organize illegally and carry on expropriations upon such a “revolutionary” government?

At the time this is being issued, June, 1922, we still find houndings upon the most active Anarchists continuing as before; and the jails of Russia filled with hundreds of Anarchists and other revolutionists. These prisoners are moved about from one jail to the other, in most instances held for years without even a “trial”. In some prisons, the victims have to endure much torture. The Bolsheviki regime, seeming to imitate the Tsaristic regimes has also inaugurated deportations of revolutionists abroad and into different regions of the country.

WE ACCUSE

The Bolshevik Government is trying to defend every attack upon the Anarchist Movement by the cry that it is done for the “good" of the Revolution. The truth is however, that by attacking those class — conscious workers of the Revolution who refuse to betray the true aims of the revolution, it thus proves to the proletariat of the world, that it is the Bolshevik Government itself, which is betraying the Revolution.

The aims of every “Communist" Party outside of Russia, exactly resemble those of the “Communist" Party in Russia. The “Revolutionary" utterances by the Third “Communist" International and its affiliated parties are only intended to hide every compromise and perfidy committed by the “Communist" Government, at the expense and in the name of the Revolution in Russia.

All these betrayals are committed, not to save the revolution, but to save the rule of the “Communist" party, which blocked the Social Revolution when they established themselves as the “Communist" Government of Russia.

This Communist Government committed rank treachery by opening negotiations and concluding peace, with Capitalism, without even consulting the toiling masses of Russia, in whose name they pretend to rule, and only after the peace agreements were about completed, were the officials, not the masses, asked to approve them.

The Third Communist" International acted insincerely, when it appealed and expected the workers of those capitalistic countries with whom the “Communist" Government made peace to save the Revolution, — to rise in revolution against these very same capitalistic governments.

The “Communist" Government is misusing the masses’ trust by assisting in all ways, every “Communist" party in foreign countries, to carry on the propaganda of getting the worker’s confidence in helping them to gain power and afterwards rule over them as in Russia. This wealth is taken without the knowledge or consent of the toilers, at a time when thousands are dying of famine and disease.

From all we have stated, we believe we have a right to expose and charge the Socialist State of Russia and the “Communist" International which supports it with having deceived the people and betrayed the Revolution in Russia, and having sup- pressed every revolutionary movement that dared to expose them.

The proletariat of the whole world is beginning to realize, that the Third “Communist” International is nothing but the same discredited body as the second Socialist International, only bearing a new name. The deception of the Second was in the parliaments, General Strikes, and war, while this of the Third “Communist” International, is that of a Social Revolution.

A LESSON AND APPEAL

We have concluded our facts and accusations against the “Communist” Government of Russia, which is approved, upheld and defended by the Third “Communist” International, comprising every “Communist” party.

We do not ask you, the thinking revolutionary workers to waste any energy protesting against these acts of the “Communist” government and its parties. We understand that you, the rank and file of every revolutionary working-class movement, are sincere and honest. We believe that realizing the truth of our exposures, you will feel outraged. You may want to avenge the Anarchists who refused to assent to the betrayal of the Revolution, and, as a result, are being murdered, jailed, suppressed and lied about by the “Communist” Government. It is to all such revolutionists that this message is particularly directed.

We want you to understand that the vengeance which we would wish you to carry out is of an entirely different kind than you might expect. It is; that you realize that the Anarchists foresaw in the rising authoritarian Socialist movement, the dangerous consequences that might ensue in the event of the achievement of a Socialist State; just as they foresaw in the Socialists’ assent to participate in the electorate of Capitalism’s institutions of the State, the Stream for turning the Socialist movement into a channel where every revolutionist would eventually he tempted to enter, and thus turn traitor to the workers’ liberation.

We want you to realize that whether the Socialist State in Russia were composed of people calling themselves Social Revolutionists or Mensheviks the same treacheries would have ensued, just as under the “Communists”.

Why? Because the final aim of the “Communist”, the Social Revolutionist or Menshevik is the same, all striving to carry out in practice — Marxian — Authoritarian Socialism. Ih is this Marxian Socialism that considers the producing masses incapable and devoid of enough intelligence to carry on a revolution, or to rebuild society without first establishing a Socialist State.

This State would function as a ruling machine over the masses, for generations, until the whole earth were dominated, by Socialist States, and then, so Engels assured, the “political State” would be “turned” into simple “administrative” functions supervising the Social interests.

We trust you will understand why that what is carried on by the “Communist” Government in Russia, the entire stoppage of the Revolution and the re-introduction of Capitalism, is, already being justified by the “sound” conception of Marx’s viewpoint. Marx contended that only a people who passed all the stages of Capitalism were capable, and fit to rise in a Social Revolution. The Revolution in Russia, proved Marx’s fallacy. At first the “Communists” themselves admitted that. But since they became the ruling State in Russia, they nullified every organ of the Revolution, and gradually climbed down ini their compromises, until to-day, they shamelessly attempt to justify themselves by asserting that the people of Russia, (who had risen in a Social Revolution) must first pass all the stages of Capitalism before attaining a Communist Society!

We hope you will realize, also, that the deception of 50 years Parliamentary Socialism; of the “Communist” Government, in Russia and of the Third “Communist” International, are not treacheries developing because of the dishonesty of individuals, but because of the ideas and tactics of Marxian Socialism.[2] And this failure, bankruptcy and duplicity of 50 years Marxian Socialism has not only proven every contention of the Anarchist movement as correct, but what is more important we can point out that:

The toiling masses (as in Russia, October, 1917) are capable of arising in a Social Revolution, and are also capable (as they actually did) of taking over the land and factories Organizing production and distribution upon the basis of voluntary communism. If, after this, the voluntary communistic producers would unite in a Federation of Communes, they could not only become strong enough to crush every counter revolutionary movement within or without, but could also become the most gigantic inspiring reality in arousing the oppressed of the entire world in rallying to the necessary defence and support of the Revolution, by following the revolutionary road within their own countries. In this way, they could bring about the World Revolution.

We contend that the Revolution in Russia, could and still can organize itself on the basis of voluntary communism and dispense with the entire useless institution of the State.

We also assert, that the great success of “Saturdayna" in Russia, (the voluntary offer to do the most essential work on Saturday afternoons without any recompense) had proven, in the most striking manner that the masses are instinctively ready and willing to practice voluntary communism.

We contend, too, that the Social Revolution in Russia can and will yet be saved only by the toiling masses' destruction of every form of State, which means also, the breaking of every peace agreement with Capitalism.

Finally, we contend, that what has transpired in the last 50 years of the proletariat's struggles for freedom, and of what has — and is now taking place in Russia particularly, ought to be clear and convincing enough to show to the thinking proletariat of the World the road that he should choose in order to liberate himself from economic and political slavery.

Anarchism-Communism trusts the liberation of the oppressed, and the rebuilding of the new society and defense of it, into the hands of the exploited masses. This is the only ideal and pathway left for the proletariat of the world, if he wishes to achieve liberation.

We are proud that it is for the defense of this basic principle of Anarchism, that our comrades in Russia are sacrificing their freedom, energy and lives. From our murdered comrades graves, and behind the walls of the prisons in Russia, our comrades' message to the enslaved proletariat of the world rings out:

“We want you to avenge the sufferings inflicted upon us, by the “Communist" Government because we remained true to the aims of the Social Revolution. The only way for you to retaliate, is by saving the Revolution in Russia, and making the World Revolution 'possible.’’

How can you accomplish this? This is up to you, the thinking proletariat of Russia, and every other country who are striving to attain economic and political liberation. You ought to realize that this will never by achieved through trusting such a task into the hands of a Government- or Party rule. No Government or Party will ever cease its rule voluntarily. It will change its name from a political to that of an administrative State, but a State it will remain and rule it will continue over the people.

Particularly those sincere Communists in the rank and file of the “Communist” parties who can realize this, by what has, and is now occurring in Russia, should and can avenge the sacrifices of the Anarchists by leaving enmass the ranks of their parties and joining the movement whose ideal strives for, and whose tactics can attain, the economic and political liberation of the proletariat — the Anarchist-Communist movement.

This would be the only effective reward that we feel, would satisfy our comrades in Russia, the realization of a world wherein truth, liberty, equality and happiness for every toiler on earth — would begin.

We call upon every Revolutionist and sincere Communist to joins us in carrying out this vengeance, and never relent in our work until the liberation from slavery, oppression and rule is achieved, and the materialization of the World Federation of Communes has become a reality.

Down with every form of exploitation and rulership!

Long live the Social World Revolution!

Long live Voluntary — Communism — Anarchism Communism !

1922

 Anarchist Communist Groups of U. S. and Canada

 Federation of Russian Anarchist Communist Groups of U. S. and Canada

 Ukrainian Anarchist Communist Groups of U. S. and Canada

---

[1] *M. L. Olgin who is defending the “Communist” Government furnished the strongest proof of this when he wrote in the Forw ard (New York Socialist Daily) : “Thus it came to pass that in Russia there are two organs of power: the Soviets on one side and the Communist Party on the other. This duality was carried out from top to bottom. At the head of all Russia stands the Sovnarkom, (Soviet Narodnih Commissarov — The Soviet of People’s Commissars, the m inisterial cabinet of Russia), but the decisions that are accepted there, are first carried through by the Central Committee of the Party and before the Central Committee had considered and worked out an opinion, it will not be taken up in the “Sovnarkom”. It is needless to say, that the “Sovnarkom” will not accept a decision againt the desire of the Central Committee”

[2] In order to convincingly show th at in accusing the Bolshevik regime- with its protector the Third International of rank treachery, nothing is being exaggerated, it should suffice to bring forth the fact that a new Fourth Workers Communist International came into being this year. In its first manifesto this International (composed of the left wing element that left the Third Com. Int.) bases the right of its existence on the charge that the Bolshevik regime of the Communist Party in Russia, together with the Third Inter, which is controlled by them, has betrayed both the Russian revolution and the proletariat of the world. It is only to be regretted that the program of this new International does not differ much from the original program of the Bolshevik party before assuming power. This new International fails to realize that If its left wing element should per chance assume the reigns of government in Russia, they would gradually begin to commit the very same acts of treachery that every rulership must begin to commit from its inception till its death. The fault lies not with the dishonesty of the Bolshevik! but with the manner in which they try to do things. It is the ideas and tactics of Marxism that lead to the Bolshevik's course, and the same would occur if any other party of individuals accepted Marxism as a guide by which to„ carry on the Social Revolution.