The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-08-11

y AAo supporters or LaFOllette
always point with pride to Wisconsin
where the Senator is the undisputed
political boss, as a shining example
Of the genuine progressivism and
helpfulness Of his policies to the work
ers and poor farmers.
4 8. Finally, the program Of La Fol.
lette is said to afford the working and
farming masses the best way out of
their numerous political and eco
nomic hardships.
In our next article we will consider
LaFollette's regulation program and
his special war on Special Privilege. {"
But before going into specific
analysis of the above contention of
the worshippers Of the Wisconsin
senator it would be well for us to
consider briefly the material condi-
tons, the social mililu giving rise to
LaFolletteism.
A World Phenomenon.
At the close Of the World War the
employing class governments of the
leading countries tended more to take
on an openly reactionary and dicta-
torial character.
This tendency was stimulated by
political and economic class consider
ations of the capitalists. The feat of
Soviet Russia; the terror struck in
the hearts of the exploiters by the
rapid rise of the Communist move
ment; the necessity to restore pro-
duction and exchange at the earliest
moment in order to save tottering
economic system; the need for crush
ing the most elementary demands of
the working masses embittered by the
severe depression which came after
the Versailles Treaty-all of these
forces lent impetus to the trend to-
ward ruthless, open relationships.
But soon there was vigorous re-
action to this development. In Great
Britain the reactionary Baldwin and
Curzon rule gave way to the Labor
cabinet of Ramsay Mcdonald and
Philip Snowden. In France the mill
tarist Pioneers gave way to the So
called Socialist ministry of Herriot.
In Spain the dictatorship of Primo de
Rivera and the notorious Butcher"
Weyler is on it's last legs. Even in
Italy, the cradle of Fascism, Musso-
lini's power is waning.
Historical Background.
In the United States there was also
developing sharp swing from the
black days of Palmer and Daugherty.
The seven million majority of Hard
ing was turned into a minority in less
than three years. The strong resis-
lance of the workers to the terrific
open shop drive launched by the en-
ployers in the crisis of 192O-22-the
gigantic national textile, mining and
railway strikes-did a good deal to-
wards developing the political con-
seriousness of our workers and has
tened the change. Then the acute
agricultural depression of the last
five years was a powerful force to-
wards breaking up political and class
alignments. For the first time in the
history of American politics the or
ganized Farmer Labor movement
showed tangible signs and increasing
evidence of assuming a national or
ganized character.
In a word, the United States, like
the other leading capitalist countries.
veered from the openly dictatorial
frankly violent governmental admin
istrations to cabinets whose capital
list suppressive character was masked,
to policies whose phrases had a peace
full tone, to foreign relations which
had the veneer of liberalism and the
hollow ring of abstract democracy.
The Communist International has we'll
characterized the present political era
of capitalism as democratic pacifist.
1t is at such period, at such
turn, in the historical development Of
the United States that Senator Rob
ert Marion LaFollette of Wisconsin
appears as the personification of the
past, present, and future Of the small
sized and medium-sized capitalist
property owners to seek the political
support not only OF all honest bust.
ness men, OF all disgruntled, we'll to-
do farm owners and highly skilled
aristocratic laborers, but also OF great
sections OF the working class and the
exploited farming masses. Mr.. La
Toilette, the spokesman Of the lesser
which have been smarting under the
whip OF highly developed, monopo-
lized, trustified industry, is now seek
ing to lead and control the slowly
crystallizing class resentment OF the
working and poor farming masses
against the biggest exploiters thru a
loose political alliance Of the discon.
.ented working class and poor farm
ers with the middle class.