Perhaps, in his Party work or in his personal affairs, a member has given more attention to Mr. A than to Mr. B. If Mr. B’s feelings have been hurt, he may bring formal charges. In one instance, a group of Party comrades made plans to hold a picnic, then invited two additional comrades. The two declined, saying that by being asked at the last minute they had been slighted. Result: they planned to bring charges of chauvinism. There are different types of chauvinism. _White chauvinism_, for example, means that a white comrade, through word or deed, has “slighted” or shown that he feels himself better than a Negro comrade. If the reverse is true—that a Negro member considers himself superior to a white comrade—this leads to the error of _inverted white chauvinism_ or _Negro nationalism_. Then there is _male chauvinism_, also called _male supremacism_, when men comrades “look down on” the position of women. In one instance a man was accused of disapproving of his wife’s smoking. He was a male supremacist. If a woman thinks she is superior to a man, that’s _commandism_. Still another cause for disciplinary action is the charge of being an _informer_. Ever since 1949, when FBI informants testified at the first New York Smith Act trial, communists have been terrified of informers. They go all-out to catch “spies.” Member after member, completely innocent of the Party’s charges, has been expelled. “If you have to kick ten guys out to get the right one,” a comrade explained, “that’s the way to do it.” In one instance Party officials without any authority searched the home of a member “under suspicion.” In another instance an anonymous letter was received at national headquarters charging, among other things, that a high Party official was “a big bag of wind.” The Party instantly collected typewriting samples, hoping to catch the culprit. The Party, as part of its disciplinary program, encourages what is called self-criticism. The communists point to this technique as proof of the democratic nature of their Party. Actually, however, self-criticism plays into the hands of the ruling clique, enabling it to detect discontent and criticism of its leadership. It becomes an effective disciplinary technique to keep the membership in submission. Members are encouraged to criticize themselves and others. A well-established Party admonition is: “Test your work against Marxist-Leninist principles. Is anything wrong? Why did the registration program fall short? Are the officers of the club doing their duties properly? Why weren’t more pamphlets sold?” The membership is expected to bewail its errors, to say, “We were wrong. Have mercy on us. We will do better.” They prostrate themselves before Party bosses. For those who don’t “confess,” there are others to point out their errors. What else could be asked?