The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-01-26

SAsAO0 w ICb4aJ blAo AAoNCAhChtt bub
organizing a class political party that
win be the weapon of the farmers and
wage-earnes and not the tool Of some
clever but spineless politician. 1t
wants a party that can and will stand
on Its own feet, party in which pro-
gram Is more important than candi-
dates, a party whose platform is
based on the needs of the working
and farming masses OF this country
not compiled to hurt feelings on no
one while giving a semblance of lib
eralism. The Workers Party Of
Amarice stands for a party that will
fight for such demands as the land
for the users of the land, public own
ership of public utilities, nationalist
ton OF credit, five-year moratorium
for working farmers and the removal
Of all restrictions on civil liberties.
"It is not in favor of modifying a
single one of these demands to suit
the views Of any prospective candi-
date, no matter what position he
holds, or what his prestige Is.
"The Workers Party does not want
the great Farmey-Labor movement to
be turned into haven for disgruntled
politicians of the capitalist parties.
William Mahoney has said the same
thing many times, and his support of
the proposal to postpone the Confer
ence is a retreat from his former po-
sition.
His announcement of his intention to
urge the postponement of the Confer
ence is carried by the Minnesota Star,
Van Lear sheet, and given favorable
comment. This is in striking con-
trast to the bitter TRADES published
against Mahoney by this sheet, which
is committed to the Minnesota demo-
crat machine and has strenuously
fought the organization of a Glass
Farmer-Labor, party.
1t is quite apparent that Mahoney
has fallen victim to the wiles of clev-
erer politicians than himself. The or
ganized workers in the Twin Cities
who have watched with approval his
hight against the Van Lear-Pike ma
chine viii be disappointed. They are
against the Van Lear-Pike machine
because it is against real class 'arty,
and not even William Mahoney can
make them change that attitude.
Mahoney's project will be opposed
by the Workers Party of America
with all its strength. 1t calls upon all
organizations of workers and farmers
to protest against the postponement
in such a clear and emphatic manner
that Mahoney will realize the mistake
he has made under the influence of
INSCRIPTIONS middle-class politicians
and withdraw his proposal.
The Class Issue
"Our conception Of the National
Farmer-Labor Party is that it must
be composed of affiliated organiza-
tions Of farmers and wage-earners;
that it must be based on the differ
ence in class interests between the
producers and the class which exploits
them with the aid Of middle-class ele-
ments.
at must have its roots not only in
the economic needs of the masses, but
in their organizations as a guarantee
that the organization belongs to them
and them alone and will function in
their interest.
SmpStead ana Johnson
Senators Shipstead and johnson
represent the interests, not of the ex-
plotted wage-earners and farmers,
but of the middle class and well-to-do
farmers. It was even with considera-
Bile reluctance that they became cam
didates of an almost spontaneous and
poorly organized Farmer-Labor Par
ty controlled by middle class individ-
uals like themselves. Van Lear and
Chairman Pike can, by no stretch Of
the imagination, be called representa-
tives of the farmers and wage-earn-
ers. Both are politicians who have
capitalized the resentment and misery
of the masses to their own advance
ment. They are agents of the Capt.
talist parties in the ranks of the
workers and farmers.
"Both Shipstead and Johnson are
opponents Of national eless Farmer
Labor Party as well as opponents of
such movement in their own state.
"In Washington they have made
not a single speech that stresses the
class conflict responsible for their
election. Shipstead has said or done
nothing at all, while johnson has
amused the reactionaries by such
childish stunts as milking contests
etc. His utterances have been friend
ly to Coolidge and hostile to the
Farmer-Labor Party movement.
La Toilette Their Oracle
"Both Of these senator's, elected by
the farmers and wage-earners of Min
necota, have accepted without reser-
walton the leadership of Senator La
Toilette, who is himself the spokes-
man Of the small manufacturer, the
wealthy farmers and the small busl-
roads and giant monopolies, but al
ness man.
For La Toilette First
with one eye on his own political
fortunes La Toilette attacks the rail.
ways as a member of the Republican
party; he has herded his followers
into the Republican party year after
year; today he sees that he may be
forced out Of the Republican organi.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS