LENIN ON ORGANIZATION 
hangers-on of the bourgeoisie in power. Conse- 
quently, without the freedom of discussion and 
criticism, the proletariat does not recognize unity 
of action. For that reason, intelligent workers must 
never forget that sometimes serious violations of 
principles occur, which make the break-off of organ- 
izational relations absolutely necessary.” 
Subsequently, this led to a complete split between 
the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks. In 1906-1907, 
however, Lenin regarded a complete split as pre- 
mature, and therefore, sometimes made very far- 
reaching concessions to the Mensheviks. For 
example, the Menshevik Central Committee insisted 
upon a bloc with the liberals at the time of the 
elections to the Second Duma. Lenin was strongly 
opposed to this bloc, but in order to avoid something 
worse he took up the position that the Party Con- 
ference, which had just been held, left it to the local 
organizations to solve this question for themselves. 
In the article referred to, entitled: ‘The Fight 
against Pro-Cadet Social Democrats and Party Dis- 
cipline,” Lenin wrote: 
“Before the Party there are two platforms: one 
proposed by 18 delegates of the Conference—Men- 
sheviks and Bundists; the other proposed by 14 
delegates—Bolsheviks, Poles and Letts. The com- 
petent bodies of the local organizations must select, 
amend, add to or substitute these platforms by some 
other. After the competent organs have come to 
a decision, we, all the members of the Party, will 
act as one man. A Bolshevik in Odessa must go 
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