BOOKS
61
ed to the advances of our revolu–
tionary literature in the struggle
for Marxism since that historic
meeting.
].
B. Balch dramatized
the sectarian approach
oi
the move–
ment toward sympathetic writers by
showing how several of them had
been frightened away by inflexible
tactics. Meridel Le Sueur present–
ed a rich, moving
analysi~
of some
of the problems involved in the crea–
tion of revolutionary fiction. Wal–
lace Phelps discussed the role of the
John Reed Club magaziues, show–
ing their effectiveness ·as literary
organs and demonstrating the im–
portance of their creative reportage.
Philip Rahv dealt with the lessons
of the Soviet Writers Co11gress and
defined the nature of bourgeois in–
fluence on proletarian writers.
Joseph North dealt with the im–
portance of the
"New JlJ.asses
in
winning the middle class intel–
lectuals and professionals away
from fascism and reaction. He call–
ed upon the Clubs to take a more
active part in extending the in–
fluence of the magazine.
Reports of the artists' commis–
sion revealed the importance of a
revolutionary program in winning
the economic demands of hundreds
of artists and in turning them
against war and fascism. Boris
Gorelick of New York and Joe
Jones of St. Louis, demonstrated the
!Vast opportunities for the organ–
ization of artists on an economic
basis. In one report, Jack Kainen
analyzed the dangers of the rise
oi
a national chauvinist school of
painting in this country.
Alexander Trachtenberg brought
the greetings of the Communist
Party to the conference. He stress–
ed the importance of a creative
revolutionary literature in the fight
against capitalism and joined in de–
uouncing the sectarianism of the
cultural movement, pointing out that
we frequently underestimated the
radicalization of American writers
and artists. He proposed that the
Nationa! Committee of the John
Reed Clubs take the initiative in or–
ganizing a National Writers' Con–
gress in this country within the next
six or eight months; also the organ–
ization of a Workers' Dook Club
that would spread Marxist theo–
retical and creative work.
The concluding address was
made by Orrick Johns, who was
elected national secretary. The new
National Committee inchtdes Wal–
lace Phelps, Alfred Hayes, Alan
Calmer, Meridel
Le
Sueur,
J
~ck
Conroy, Paul Romaine, Richard
Wright, Joe Jones, Boris Gorelick,
Ben Bavly and Gilbert Rocke.
