The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-04-07
MACNUS MIKES
WITH OILY PARTY
MACHINE OUTFIT
Fights FL. P. Position
In Illinois

MagnuS Johnson, who is supposed
to represent the workers and farm
ers of Minnesota in the United States
senate, has thrown himself into the
Illinois political situation in the re-
publican primaries.
The party that Magnus johnson at
tackled in Minnesota as the party of
the landlords, grain gamblers, bank
ers and food spectators, becomes in
Illinois the stamping ground of this
same "Magnus". one of whose
achievements in Washington, D. c.,
is losing out in a milking contest.
U. S. Senator johnson is in the re-
publican primaries, in spite of the
fact that the Cook County (Chicago)
Farmer-Labor Party has officially
called upon the workers and farmers
to stay out of the old party primaries,
and while the IlliQois Farmer-Labor
Party has labelled the republican and
democratic outfits as "decayed to the
core, and that the only solution is for
labor and the farmers to have party
of their own"
DOdges Questions.
Senator Johnson tried to justify his
action in lining up with the Jenkins
Small-Lundin political gangsters, who
are said to have a deal on with the
Ex-Governor Deneen forces, by giving
his views to the DAILY WORKER
in an exclusive interview.
When asked whether he would stay
away from the corrupt politicians, or
whether he would betray the farm
ers and workers who elected him to
Office, Johnson told the DAILY
WORKER, II am campaigning for
the election of Newton Jenkins, a
candidate for senatorial nomination
on the republican ticket. True, both
the republican and democratic parties
are smeared with oil, but I believe in
supporting farmer-labor party only
when there is a good chance for cleo
ton"
Senator Johnson seemed more an
xious to talk about himself than abdul
what he has done to justify the sup
port of the farmers and workers of
Minnesota. Instead of talking about
farm and labor legislation, Johnson
was more interested in his milking
contest with the Secretary of Agri-
culture, which seems to be Johnson's
only bid for fame. Former support
ers of the Minnesota senator are
pointing out that he lost even that.
For Small Business Man.
Senator Johnson placed more en-
phasis on the small business men in
talking to the DAILY WORKER,
than he did on the farmers and work
ers who elected him. When a direct
question was asked him about party
which really represented the workers
and farmers, or if the Teapot Dome
scandal showed that America is "class
ruled" by the capitalists, he side
stepped by talking about "good-fel-
lowship" and ''philosophy" When
ever johnson approached unsafe
ground, he pulled himself back with
the statement "Tha public is tired
of standpatism and Coolidgeism, and
/ am progressive.
"The business men are dependent
on the farmers and workers for their
trade and their existence, said john
son, "and in my campaign in Mime
sofa, had the support of the small
bankers and small business men. Even
the big business interests are not
strongly opposed to the La Toilette
movement. They see the handwrit-
ing on the wall, and they know what
is coming, Our enemies often call
US radicals and some of them have
even called me a Communist, but Of
course that is ridiculous"
The Cat Slips Out.
Senator johnson in his zeal for the
middle-class business men, belittled
the idea of an independent labor
party in this city which the militant
workers are advocating, on the
grounds that at didn't amount to
much and that all the labor leaders
have Endorsed the old party candi-
dates anyway" Newton jenkins,
who was with the Senator, agreed
with this statement. Kirkpatrick,
all the railroad unions, and practical
a