V. I.

Lenin

Draft Resolution for the C.C., R.C.P.(B.) [4] (May 22, 1921)

Decision of the C.C. (Politbureau) 22/V. 1921 on the
Decisions of the R.C.P. Group of the Trade Union Congress

The Central Committee approves Comrade Chubar’s theses (adopted by the group’s bureau) and rejects Comrade Holtzmann’s theses in
view of the fact that the former far more correctly take into consideration
the actual state of our resources, capabilities and means, which entail the
necessity of planning slower realisation of our immediate aims.

The latter theses, those of Comrade Holtzmann, on the other hand, verge
on the fantastic in many ways, they are out of touch with reality, which is
also one of the failings of Comrade Larin, who zealously supports these
theses.

The only important similarity between the two theses, practically
speaking, is the idea expressed in the note to Point 3 of Chubar’s theses [1] and in

Point 6 [2] of Holtzmann’s theses, both comrades confirming here, and not disputing,
the decision passed by the C.C. on 10.V.1921 in connection with the motion
of Comrade Larin and the

A.C.C.T.U. [3]

The R.C.P. group of the Trade Union Congress, despite the
recommendations of the Party’s C.C., approved Holtzmann’s theses by

5 6 7

votes, and rejected Chubar’s theses, which collected

3 1 7 votes.

Not wishing to revoke the decision of the group on an issue that does
not immediately affect the Government’s policy-since this policy is
predetermined by the decision of the C.C. of 10.V.1921, which, as pointed
out above, is approved, and not disputed, by both Comrade Holtzmann and
Comrade Chubar—the Central Committee in this particular case waives its
right of interference in the proceedings and decision of the congress.

The C.C. confines itself to prescribing that this decision he announced
at the group meeting and that the attention of the delegates be strongly
drawn to the obligation they are taking upon themselves in adopting
Holtzmann’s resolution, namely, to display not only extraordinary heroism,
but a degree of persistence, firmness and pertinacity in the fight against
all habits, customs and conditions of life among the working-class masses
far in excess of what is customary even in revolutionary times. It is now
incumbent on the trade unions, on the strength of the decision they have
made, to achieve an unusually rapid reduction in the number of enterprises
and workers by concentrating the latter in a minimum of the best and
biggest enterprises.

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Notes:
[1]
Here is the text of this note:

“The whole above-mentioned system of distribution should be effected by
way of experiment at several enterprises, where, in place of individual
rationing issues’ a system of collective supply should be introduced for
the personnel of the enterprises on condition that they raise labour
productivity.” — Lenin

[2]
Here is the text of this 6th Point:

“Pending the formation of a wages food fund, the afore-mentioned system of
distribution should be applied by way of experiment at several enterprises,
where, in place of individual rationing issues a system of collective
supply should be introduced for the workers of the enterprises’ on
condition that they raise labour productivity.” — Lenin

[3]
Here is the text of this decision. [5] “The motion of Comrade Larin and the A.C.C.T.U. in the part relating to
tariff policy shall be rejected and its authors asked to go into the matter
more thoroughly with an eye, especially, to the possibility of ensuring a
minimum of real food supply to a minimum of workers. Upon revision, the
motion is to be submitted to the C.P.C. or the purpose of introducing at
several enterprises, by way of experiment and in place of individual
rationing issues, a system of collective supply on condition that labour
productivity is raised.” — Lenin

[4]
The draft resolution for the C.C., R.C.P.(B.) on the question of the
decisions of the R.C.P. group at the Fourth Congress of Trade Unions was
written by Lenin in connection with the group’s adoption of
A. Z. Holtzmann’s theses on the question of wage rates, which ran counter
to the C.C.’s directives. This draft was adopted by the Politburecu on May
22, 1921. The congress group, on the motion of delegations from a number of
industrial trade -unions (the metalworkers, textile workers and miners) as
well as delegations from the leading proletarian centres (Moscow, Petrograd
and lvanovo-Voznesensk), revised its decision and by a majority vote
adopte’d as a basis the theses of V. Y. Chubar, which were approved by the
C.C. The theses adopted by the group were approved by the Fourth Trade
Union Congress on May 24.

[5]
The draft decision for the CC, was written by Lenin (see Lenin Miscellany XXIII , p. 142).