The Dewey Trial

Abstract

This chapter flashes back to the early 1930s, when liberal and socialist leaders of Local 5 brought charges against young communist activists for disrupting the union and challenging the authority and judgment of its leadership. The “trial” of six communist union members, in preparation for their expulsion, was led by liberal philosopher and educational reformer, John Dewey, a friend and supporter of Local 5 president Henry Linville. In pushing the so-called “Dewey Trial” in spring 1933, Linville and Dewey set the persecution of communist teachers on a track that would eventually lead to the Coudert inquisition, by exploiting accusations of bad faith and misrepresentation against radical union members. Linville, a conservative socialist, joined in emerging efforts to isolate and defeat the growing communist activism of the Popular Front.