Page:Grigory Zinoviev - Twelve Days in Germany (1921).pdf/21

 and Co." If Hilferding. Ledebour and Co. are forced to compromise themselves to that extent, surely it was because they were in a fix. They otherwise risked becoming generals without an army.

The Right leaders of the German trade unions form the chief support of the bourgeois counter-revolution. That is clearer now than ever. And one of the worst representatives of these reactionaries is undoubtedly Dissmann. He is not eloquent, but like all reactionaries he is a "man of action." He organised at the congress a group of irreconcilables, who from the very first made it their aim to disorganise the congress and to prevent any discussions on the points of principle.

Dissman's group used every conceivable opportunity to create disorder at the congress by throwing chairs about and hurling insults at Lefts, etc.

Dissmann reminds us somewhat of Noske, said several of our Left comrades, who knew Dissmann well. And, indeed, whoever observed the furious anger of this man, whoever saw with what hatred this bureaucrat regarded the whole of the Left, whoever observed the party tricks to which this gentleman resorted at the congress, must have acknowledged that this remark was not without foundation. Dissmann first established his reputation in the trade union movement as a representative of the Left. But as soon as he got the job he wanted he immediately followed the same trade union policy as did the Rights. All the workers see now that only a change of persons, not of policy, took place. At the recent congress of the Factory Committees, Dissmann did practically all that was desired by Legien. Dissmann is a sort of "whip." No doubt, in the party of the Right Independents Dissmann will be a virtual master. He will there put his feet on the table and make Ledebour and Hilferding dance to his tune.

If the bourgeoisie and the Scheidemannists require a new hangman for the working class, if they decide that in place of Noske they want a man with a different name, we may be sure that among the principal candidates they will name Dissmann. And we may assert with equal confidence that if ever the bourgeoisie and the Scheidemannists entrust great power to Dissmann, he will try and justify their trust in him; he will