The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-08-07

pOlt NY FOLllS lOI OOIiLuulllSl
1t seems that the lawmaker
their utmost to make it difficult
for any other but the ruling
capitalist parties to put their
candidates on the ballot.
All sorts Of ostacles, in the form Of
legal requirements are part of the
election laws-obstacles which are In
tended to prevent minorities from ex-
pressing their will and to prevent
them from fighting for the support Of
the voters during election campaigns.
$4,000 Democracy in New York
In New York State the lawmakers
have expressed their views of demo
cracy" in an election law which re
quires that a new party wishing to
put candidates on the ballot must Sc
cure $4,000 signature, so of which must
come from each county in the state.
Obliging businessmen who are engaged
in the business of helping along de
mocracy" offer to secure these neces-
sary signatures for the sum of $4,000
In other words, in order to enjoy the
democratic right Of participating in
the elections in New York State a
minority party also needs $4,000.
In the state of Ohio the law requires
more than 10000 signatures for new
party to place its candidates on the
ballot Another expression of the un-
excelled American democracy"
Fifteen States to Go Over.
In spite of all the difficulties put in
the way Of new party entering the
fight against the parties of the capital
ist dictatorship, the Workers Party
will be able to place its candidates on
the ballot in large number of states.
Work is now underway in Mass
achussetts and Rhode Island in the
New England group of states and
Foster apd Gitlow, as well as the state
tickets will go on the ballot in these
states. In New York state, in spite of
the almost insuperable obstacles, the
party is throwing itself into the work
and there is good chance of winning
out. In Connecticut and New Jersey
the party candidates will be on the
ballot.
Special Work in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania the Steel Trust is
making an effort to drive the Workers
Party underground through prosecu-
lions under the sedition laws for mem
bership in the party. To meet this
situation an extraordinary effort will
be made to put the party on the ballot
in that state. Some 5000 signatures
are required to accomplish. Petitions
are in circulation and both the eastern
and western party district organiza-
ton in the state are putting their
energies into the work.
West Virginia makes it easy for a
new party to nominate, requiring only
convention and the w. p. will go
on in that reactionary state. The Ohio
comrades have their petition out and
are working hard for the 10000 sig
natures in that state. Nominations in
Michigan are assured, as the only re-
quirement is a state convention.
In Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin
conventions have been held or are in
process Of organization and petitions
will soon be in the field.
In the State of Minnesota the party
is nominating presidential electors
only, supporting the Farmer-Labor
Party so far as the state and local
ticket is concerned and the 1000 sig
natures required will be secured. The
Party will also have its state and
national ticket in the field in North
Dakota. Another agricultural state in
which there will be a Communist
column is Iowa where work has begun
with good prospects Of success. In the
Rocky Mountain territory the w. p.
will endeavor, to be on the ballot in
Colorado apd on the Pacific slope in
Washington and California.
Altogether the prospects are bright
for the Workers Party ticket going
over. so far as representation on the
ballot is concerned in fifteen of the
most important states Of the union,
which will be no mean achievement
for first effort to place a national
ticket in the field.