V. I. Lenin

The Second Congress of the R.S.D.L.P.

JULY 17 (30)–AUGUST 10 (23), 1908

14

SPEECHES IN THE DEBATE ON THE PARTY RULES

AUGUST 5 (18)

1

Letme reply briefly to both objections. {1} Comrade Martov says that I propose the unanimity of the
two collegiums in co-opting members; that is not right. The Congress has
decided not to give the right of veto to each member of two, possibly
rather extensive, collegiums, but that does not mean that we cannot vest this authority in the institution co-ordinating
all the joint work of the two centres. The joint work of the two centres
demands complete unanimity and even personal unity, and that is possible
only if co-optation is unanimous. After all, if two members find
co-optation necessary, they are entitled to convene the Council.

2

Martov’samendment contradicts the already adopted point on
the unanimous co-optation to the C.C. and the
C.O. {2}

3

Comrade Martov’s interpretation is wrong, because the exemption contradicts
unanimity. {3} I appeal to the Congress and request it to decide whether
Comrade Martov’s amendment should be put to the vote.

4

Ishould not argue with Comrades Glebov and Deutsch in substance, but I considered it necessary to mention the
League {4} in the Rules, first, because everyone knew of the League’s
existence, second, to make note of the League’s representation in the Party
under the old rules, and third, because all other organisations have the
status of commit tees, whereas the League is introduced to bring out its
special status. {5}

| Vtoroi ocherednoi syezd R.S.D.R.P. Polny tekst protokolov , Central Committee publication, Geneva, 1904 | Printed from the text of the book |

---
Notes:
{1}
A reference to the speeches of Trotsky and Martov objecting to Lenin’s
proposal that § 12 of the Party Rules should state that the C.C. and
the C.O. Editorial Board could co-opt members only with the consent of all
the members of the Party Council.

p. 92

{2}
A reference to Martov’s proposal during the debate on § 12 of the
draft Rules: “In the event no unanimity is reached in co-opting new
members to the C.C. or to the Editorial Board of the Central Organ, the
question of the member’s admission may be referred to the Council, and in
the event it annuls the decision of the collegium in question, the latter
shall take a final decision by a simple majority” ( Vtoroi syezd R.S.D.R.P. , 1959, p. 311).

p. 93

{3}
A reference to Martov’s words: “I propose that a majority dissatisfied
with a minority decision should be entitled to appeal to the Council for a
decision” ( Vtoroi spent R.S.D.R.P. , 1959, p. 311). Martov’s
amendment was adopted by the Congress by 24 votes to 23.

p. 93

{4}
The League of Russian Revolutionary Social-Democracy Abroad
was founded in October 1901 on Lenin’s initiative. Affiliated to the League
were the Iskra organisation abroad and the
Sotsial-Demokrat . revolutionary organisation which included the
Emancipation of Labour group. The task of the League was to spread the
ideas of revolutionary Social-Democracy and to help create a militant
Social-Democratic organisation. Under its Rules, the League was the
Iskra organisation abroad. It recruited Iskra supporters
from among Russian Social-Democrats abroad, gave Iskra material
assistance, organised the delivery of the newspaper to Russia and published
popular Marxist literature. The Second Congress of the R.S.D.L.P. confirmed the League as the only Party organisation
abroad with the status of a committee, authorising it to work under the
guidance and control of the R.S.D.L.P. Central Committee.

Afterthe Second Congress, the Mensheviks entrenched themselves in the
League and launched a struggle against Lenin and the Bolsheviks. At the
League’s Second Congress in October 1903, the Mensheviks secured the
adoption of new Rules aimed against the Party Rules, as approved by the
Second Congress of the R.S.D.L.P. From then on the League became a
Menshevik strong hold. It operated until 1905.

p. 93

{5}
In his speech Lenin replies to V. A. Noskov (Glebov) and L. G. Deutsch,
who proposed that § 13 (on the recognition of the League of Russian
Revolutionary Social-Democracy Abroad as the only R.S.D.L.P. organisation
abroad, and on its tasks) should not be included in the Rules, but referred
for discussion to the Central Committee (Glebov) or to the Party Council
(Deutsch). § 13 of the Rules was adopted by 31 votes to 12, with 6
abstentions.

p. 93