BY MEGAN ARNEY

The next several weeks are an opportunity to use the Militant subscription drive and campaign to sell Pathfinder books to build the regional socialist educational conferences being held November 29 - December 1 (see ad on front page) and to recruit to the Young Socialists. Getting subscriptions to the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial, the Marxist magazine New International and Pathfinder books into the hands of revolutionary-minded workers and youth now will prepare them for attending the conferences.

Leading up to the educational conferences, which will cap off the Young Socialists campaign to recruit 80 new members, socialist workers and youth are organizing special teams to reach workers involved in struggles, such as the Wheeling- Pittsburgh Steel strikers.

Joe Swanson in Des Moines, Iowa, said supporters there are continuing to organize sales teams to reach packinghouse workers in the Midwest. Immigration cops have recently carried out a series of raids at these plants, sparking some protests. Beginning November 4, three volunteers from Newark and Chicago will be on the road for nearly a week, visiting plant gates, working-class communities, and campuses in Iowa, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Socialist activists in Des Moines are ready to organize other teams as well. Those who want to volunteer can call (515) 277- 4600.

Swanson also wrote in about sales at the packinghouse where he works. "It helps to sell the Militant on the job when there is information on the workplace or industry," he said. "I sold one Militant subscription and took a payment on a second one this week at the IBP plant in Perry, Iowa." The two workers, who are 18-19 years old, were struck by a Militant article on the immigration raids and protests in the area. Swanson said they were impressed that "workers would take the time to go out and interview working people and research the facts."

Militant supporters in coal-mining regions are also organizing some regional teams. Estelle DeBates in Morgantown, West Virginia, reported that supporters there and in Pittsburgh have been organizing teams that combine sales at mine portals and campuses with Pathfinder book sales at public libraries. Anyone who would like to volunteer for these teams can call (304) 296-0055 or (412) 381-9785.

The following are other reports from supporters who are responding to the openings to discuss and read the socialist press, while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with those who are fighting for social change.

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John Steele in Toronto reports that an international team of Militant supporters found wide interest in the socialist press and Pathfinder books and pamphlets by participants in the Metro Days of Action (see article on front page). Over the course of the October 22-26 actions, sales teams sold 388 single copies of the Militant, and 80 books and pamphlets distributed by Pathfinder.

Participants also purchased 16 introductory Militant subscriptions, one subscription to Perspectiva Mundial, 12 single copies of the Spanish-language monthly, and 12 copies of New International.

Participants in the sales teams came from Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, and Chicago. Many of them were members of the Young Socialists.

The teams also participated in picket lines to help shut down the Toronto Transit Commission and in solidarity with striking steelworkers at the S.A. Armstrong company and the Ontario Food Terminal, and in rallies at the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Ministry of Education.

Ten literature tables staffed by Militant supporters and Young Socialists covered the huge October 26 march and demonstration. Books and pamphlets on the Cuban revolution were among the best sellers. Many discussions took place at the tables about the growing disorder of the world capitalist system and what working people can do to defend themselves.

Signs on the tables supporting the struggle for Quebec independence provoked considerable discussion.

Socialists found that while many disagreed with this position, most were willing to engage in civil discussion and consider the communist perspective. Many of the questions and comments focused on the fight for unity between Quebecois and other workers across Canada.

Over the course of the two days, 48 young people signed up to get more information about the Young Socialists and four expressed interest in joining. ***
Jon Hillson in Los Angeles reports supporters of the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial have found receptive audiences while campaigning for socialist candidates at events opposing the anti-affirmative action Proposition 209, which will be voted on November 5 (see article on front page).

Between sales at the University of California campuses in Los Angeles and Riverside, a debate in Pasadena, and a rally at the federal building in Los Angeles, supporters sold 12 Militant subscriptions, 4 Perspectiva Mundial subscriptions, and several copies of New International. At the 1,500-strong rally at the federal building, socialists sold $80 worth of Pathfinder books and pamphlets as well. The most popular titles were about the Cuban revolution and Malcolm X. Los Angeles is one of the areas that is at the top of the subscription chart this week. ***

Door-to-door sales in working-class communities have proven fulfilling in New York. Supporter Kathryn Crowder reports that while knocking on doors in Prospect Heights in Brooklyn, she sold a Militant subscription and a pamphlet of Malcolm X speeches to a high school student.

"When he answered the door he was on the phone. So while he told his friend to hold - he listened to me explain about the Militant, the socialist campaign and some activities of the Young Socialists," Crowder said. "The whole time he kept repeating to his friend what I was saying. `There's a socialist at my door - and she has a paper -hold on she's got a Malcolm X pamphlet! Yeah, I'll let you read them.' And then he gave me $20 for a Militant subscription and the Malcolm X pamphlet. The rest, he said, could go to the socialist campaign as a donation." ***

Carl-Erik Isacsson reported that supporters from Sweden and the United Kingdom sold 21 New Internationals at the Gothenburg Book Fair. Next week the Militant will have a more substantial report on that book fair, as well as a chart of Pathfinder books sold in October. We encourage supporters to continue to send in reports on book and subscription sales for this column.  
 
 
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