Manager’s Column

From Fourth International, vol.4 No.5, May 1943, p.130.
Transcribed, marked up & formatted by Ted Crawford & David Walters in 2008 for ETOL.

The following is a report from a branch of the Socialist Workers Party

In answer to the request of the editors of the Fourth International for a thorough discussion of the magazine in the branches, the Central Branch of Local New York prepared a questionnaire dealing with most of the problems that the editors were particularly interested in, and several others beside. On the basis of the answers to these detailed questionnaires an interesting and lively discussion took place in the branch.

Here briefly are some of the statistics gleaned from this survey.

52 questionnaires were answered.

The following are some of the questions asked with the answers listed numerically:

What type of article interests you most? (In answering most checked three or more of the subjects listed)

44 listed International

34 listed “From the Arsenal of Marxism”

27 listed National

27 listed Discussion articles

27 listed Trade Union articles

27 listed Editorials

15 listed Book Reviews

Which type of articles or subject’s do you think should receive more stress? Which less stress?

Less stress on Intellectuals – 1; Philosophy – 1; Historical articles – 1.

More stress on: Archives – 8; Economics – 3; Discussion articles – 3; Dialectical materialism – 6; International – 5; Current events – 3; Trade Union – 6; National – 6; Women Question – 4; Jewish Question – 2; Agriculture, Negro, Labor Party – l each.

Has the FI helped you in your contact work?

28 said “yes”

12 said “no”

Space does not permit us to quote as many of the interesting and helpful suggestions made by the comrade as we should like, but here are some:

A housewife – 2 years in the party says: “Sometimes the authors of articles take too much for granted as to the readers’ Marxian background. I would like to see shorter articles.”
A newspaperman-printer – 6½ years in the party: “To new readers, the FI has a forbidding cold and bald look. Trotsky’s own articles would suggest that it is possible to employ a few warmer stylistic amenities without necessarily diluting one’s principles.”
A machinist – 2½ years in the party: “I would like to see more stress on theoretical reprints and articles on dialectical materialism. I believe that the chief value of the FI lies in its ability to educate the comrades and contacts in those questions which are not and cannot be taken up in the Militant.”
A waitress – 8-9 years in the movement: “In view of our preparation to launch agitation for a Labor Party, clarification of national problems forms a vital preliminary. I was particularly interested in Warde’s series from this point of view. E.R. Frank’s and C. Thomas’ trade union articles are an indispensable contribution to the people working in industry.”
A member – 2 years says: “Contacts say FI is accurate in analysis of current events.”
Machinist apprentice – 2 years in the party: “Trade Union articles and editorials appealed to my contacts. Simpler language would make it easier for them.’

***

On DISTRIBUTION: Some of the suggestions were:

Special campaigns to sell at specific places, forums, meetings, unions, etc. when articles appear pertinent to the occasion, or of special interest to the people there.
Selling old issues at five cents.
More checkup on expired subs. Appeals at forums and classes for subscriptions.
Display cards at forums and classes advertising and stressing important articles.

BOSTON: A report by J. Kitting on a discussion in that Branch says:

The India articles were found especially good for some of our contacts. The comrades were enthusiastic over the magazine for their own reading. The Month in Review was particularly praised, some feeling it should be enlarged. I can say that the magazine, which was once read as a duty by many comrades, if read at all, is now a pleasure that every comrade looks forward to.”

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Last updated on 26.8.2008