Our 'Jenny Higgins' showed

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Socialist Action forums By WEINSTEIN Alice Snipper, a member of Socialist Action, died on New Year's Eve, 1987. She joined the revolutionary socialist movement in 1939 and dedicated her life to working-class internationalism and humankind. She never looked back but was part of that rocksolid foundation that will carry socialism and its ideas forward.

Alice was educated in the tradition of "Jimmy Higgins," that rank-and-file hero in Upton Sinclair's novel of the same name, written in 1919. Higgins gave his all to the cause of working people's dignity and worked without any other payment than the respect he earned from his comrades.

Jimmy Higgins became a model for all young people who joined the movement for a socialist society. Alice, herself, is another model for younger comrades to follow.

Hanging in there

Usually, when we read the history of revolutionary and working-class struggles, we are reading about the most exciting times—the French Revolution, the Russian Revolution, and the upheavals that freed China, Cuba, and other countries from the iron fist of imperialism. activist for Most often, we see these historic events through the eyes of dynamic leaders such as Leon Trotsky, Vladimir Lenin, or Rosa Luxemburg. But what about those who work day after day, not as great leaders of a revolution, but as part of a socialist movement that must hang on in those difficult periods when the working class is not in motion?

It is that hanging in theredespite all adversity, making small advances one step at a time-that makes the big revolutionary events possible. It is the gaining and the keeping of the socialist foot soldiers that makes it possible to make the great leap forward when the historic opportunities arise.

What makes the Alices of this world become the material that will change the world? One advantage she had was to come into the movement when the American working class was winning their fight for labor unionization. She watched as the oppressed and hungry of this country got up off the ground, stood up on their two feet, and took on the giants of capitalism and beat them down.

Millions of workers in this country had just gone through a depression that could have melted anyone's will. But the working class, with a lot of help from rank-and-file socialist militants like Alice, learned the secret of success—in unity there is strength.

Another heroine Along with that working-class hero, Jimmy Higgins, there should have been created another heroine, a Jennie Higgins-of whom there were many. My experience in the socialist movement since 1944 has been working along with the Jennie and Jimmy Higginses.

I will miss Alice at mailing of the paper, or when we must gather signatures to get our socialis: candidates on the ballot, or when we must organize a social or a garage sale to raise funds to print leaflets and pamphlets or buy office supplies.

I will miss Alice when we go on marches against American intervention in someone else's country, when we have to set up a book table at an antiwar event, when we march for women's reproductive rights, when we join workers on their picket line to help them fight for the unions, or Boston:

The Meaning of Gorbachev's Reforms. Speakers: Paul Siegel, author, and Jim Henle, Socialist Action. Sat., Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m., Cambridge YWCA "Living Room," 7 Temple St.

Chicago:

Film: El Hajj Malik El Shabazz.

Thurs., Feb 25, 7 p.m., Commuter Center, Rm. 218, Northeastern Univ., 5500 N.

St. Louis Ave. Students for Socialist Action.

Cincinnati:

Campus Rules vs. Free Speech. Wed., Feb. 17, p.m. U.C., Tangeman Ctr., Rm. 411. Students for Socia ist Action.

Los Angeles:

The Struggle for Palestinian Self-Determination. Speaker:

Ralph Schoenman, author.

Fri., Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m., ILGWI Hall, 675 South Parkview St.

(1 block west of Alvarado)

when we go to a campus or a rally to sell our newspaper.

I will miss Alice Snipper-my model Jennie Higgins-because she was always there when she was needed.

Alice was a few years older than me. But in the socialist movement there is no generational difference. Til tell you why. All of us are fighting for the future, for the next generation, to end racism, hunger, sexism, to bring about a real international fraternity of working people that will end, once and Santa Barbara:

Revolt in Palestine. Speaker: Ralph Schoenman, author. Mon., Feb. 8, 7 p.m.

UCSB Psychology Bldg., Rm. 1824. Students for So cialist Action.

Twin Cities:

Prospects for Socialism in America. Speaker: Adam Wood. Wed., Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m., Macalester College, 1600 Grand Ave. St. Paul.

mimeograph machine. In 1983, I along with many others, was expelled from the SWP solely because we were loyal to Trotskyism."

So ended Alice's biographical note-just a few short lines. But that was Alice-a very modest person. And she was not one to waste words—or anything else for that matter!

In addition to her other activities, Alice was a bookstore specialist, first in Los Angeles and also when she and Henry moved to Oakland in 1981. After her expulsion in 1983, she took charge of the fledgling San Francisco Socialist Action bookstore. Everywhere the bookstore went —demonstrations, special events, forums— there was Alice.

S.F. memorial planned Alice and Henry have two children and four grandchildren. The Snippers enjoyed life, especially camping and travel. After Henry retired, he and Alice spent one whole year exploring Europe in a camper, from the British Isles to Greece.

We will remember Alice as a gentle, kind person, a dear friend, loving and loved. We feel a deep sense of personal loss, a sadness. But it is not the same kind of sadness that comes over one when a promising young life is cut short. Alice lived her life to the full, guided by that vision of our socialist future, a future which will be realized by the millions of young Alice Snippers of all nationalities, races, and colors who will join our ranks.

A memorial meeting for Alice Snipper will be held in San Francisco on Sunday, Feb. 28, at 2 p.m. For information on location call: (415) 821-0458. Please send for all, the terrible threat of nuclear destruction.

This next generation owes a debt to Alice Snipper, who held tight to her revolutionary principles and worked actively for her beliefs.

I am thankful that Alice Snipper threw herself into the socialist movement. And I know that there are many more Alices out there. Alice would be the first to say: "It's your turn now, join the socialist future, you have nothing to lose but your chains—and a world to gain."

San Francisco:

Racism in the S.F. Fire Dept: The Struggle of Black Firefighters. Speakers: Lt. Robert Demmons, Pres., Black Firefighters Assoc.; Roland Sheppard, Socialist Action.

Fri., Feb 5, 8 p.m.

Film on Malcolm X. Speaker Kwame M.A. Somburu. Fri, Feb. 19, 8 p.m.

Place for both events: 3435 Army St., Rm. 308, S.F. Call: 821-0458.

messages to Socialist office.

A memorial meeting was held in Los Angeles on Jan. 10. Both meetings will be covered in the March issue of Socialist Action.

ACTiON Closing date: Feb. 1, 1988 Editor: ALAN BENJAMIN Asst. Editor: MICHAEL SCHREIBER Staff: Paul Colvin, Suzanne Forsyth, May May Gong, David Kirschner, Hayden Perry, Joe Ryan, Kwame M.A. Somburu, Business Manager: DON MAHONEY Socialist Action (ISSN 0747-4237) is published monthly for $6 per year by Socialist Action Publishing Association, 3435 Army St., No. 308, San Francisco, CA 94110. Second-class postage is paid at San Francisco, Calif POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Socialist Action, 3435 Army St., No. 308, San Francisco, CA 94110.

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Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of Socialist Action. These are expressed in editorials.

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this month: Henry Snipper/Socialist Action