The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-06-07
TrHE LaFollette illusion is still
here. 1t still has enough vital

here. 1t still has enough vital
ity to hold the minds of consider
able masses of workers and poor farm
ers and to inspire them with rosy
hopes in the beautiful future of a
y-bourgeois paradise But it is
already beginning to crack. 1t has
been pricked in a number of vital
places and is beginning to shrink and
shrivel. The process of vanishing has
begun.
1t was quite natural, and in line
with political developments all over
the world, for this LaFollette Illusion
to take hold of the awakening labor
ing masses Of the country. Econ
omic as well as psychological factors
have been at work for quite a num-
Der of years to produce a widespread
belief among certain sections of work
ers and poor farmers in the self
sufficiency of petty bourgeois liberal
ism, pacifism and democracy. These
factors are still in operation. The re-
sulting illusions are still active in the
oppressed masses. But the belief in
the political effectiveness of LaFol-
lette and his group is weakening. 1t
is giving way to doubts and critical
reflections. To be sure, it is not yet
complete establishment. 1t is, how
ever, the beginning of it.
The Progressives in Congress
The workers and poor farmers who
are able to think politically are be-
ginning to ask the question: Wha
has the Progressive group, under ths
leadership of LaFollette, done for us
in this present session of Congress.
Has it given expression to our real
needs and desires? Has it raised its
voice of protest and condemnation
against the iniQuities of capitalist
exploitation on the farms, in the
shops, factories, mines and railroads?
In vain will the workers scan the
records of congress to find anything
substantial to gladden. their hearts.
The only outstanding feature in the
accomplishments of the present ses-
sion of congress is the various in
vestigations. But what is their real
value? DENLY, Daugherty and Burns
are gone, it is true. The prestige of
the old guard in the two capitalist
parties has been undermined. This,
too, is true. And altho the investiga-
lions have not been conducted as thor
oughly and on as wide basis as
they should have been conducted, still
the masses have had a chance to
learn a good deal about the inner
workings of the machinery Of the cap
italist state.
But wherein did all this benefit the
workers and poor farmers? In what
way did it strengthen their hands and
enable them to fight their battles
against their exploiters more effect
lively? In no way and in no place
have the workers and poor farmers
become stronger as against their
enemies because of these investiga-
tons. For that matter, the entire
record of the LaFollette group in
Congress did not add single particle
of strength to the struggle of the mas
SEES against the rule of capital in the
United States.
Why? The answer to this question
contains the entire solution to the
present situation as far as the work
ing masses are concerned. Here is
the answer: Because the workers
and poor farmers had no political
party Of their own.
Middle Class Liberalism Versus
Class independence.
I.aFollette and his groun in con-