The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-06-18

people. 1t has not depended upon
great leaders for force and guidance,
and owes subordination to no one man
or set of men; it rests on the solid
foundation of the interests and intelli-
gence of the masses.
Problems National in Scope.
But there is limit to what can be
done by state in the solution of the
great fundamental problems of indus
try. Complete control of the govern
ment of Minnesota by the Farmer
Labor party would not enable it to
effect the changes necessary to secure
equal opportunity and equitable re-
ward for those who live by labor.
The great questions are national in
their scope and before the desired
ends can be achieved control of the
national government by the workers
must be an accomplished fact.
Minnesota has served as labora-
tory in which to work out the princi-
pie of political organization which
must be employed on a national scale
before the great work can be done
This brings us to the question Of a
national Farmer-Labor movement.
Began National Movement.
With the lessons of experience deep
! " impressed on our minds, and fully
conscious of our limitations in carry
ing out our program Of legislative
changes, the idea Of cooperating with
our fellow toilers in other states and
helping them to promote political or
ganization along the demonstrative
lines of Minnesota was a most natural
and proper course to follow.
Minnesota owes it to herself and to
other states to lend her resources to
united undertaking which will adj
vance the common interests. This
was recognized by other state move
ments, and without any great effort a
number Of unofficial representatives
of many state and national progress
sive movements, met in st. Paul on
the 18th of last November and dis
cussed the advisability of calling a
national convention for the purpose of
uniting all progressive elements on a
national platform of fundamental de-
mands, and behind a single set Of can
didates for president and vice presi-
dent.
All Labor Elements Wanted.
There was practical unanimity
among the representatives of the
Farmer-Labor state organizations that
assembled at St. Paul last November
that convention should be called on
May 80, 1924, and an invitation should
be extended to all labor, farmer, CO
operative and progressive political or.
CARNATIONS, which would agree r. =
tentative platform arc the Man of the
convention.
some opDAition was manifested at
TINS c'nlerence against the participa-
TIN of certain groups, but the doml-
+, nant sentiment was that the time had
come for great coalition movement
among all progressives who would
agree on certain definite demands
along legal and constitutional lines.
Prejudice and factionalism were re-
ljected.
Meets Great Demand.
This convention is meeting in re-
Spouse to sentiment of the great
mass of the farmers and workers for a
distinct Farmer-Labor party. It is
recognized that no permanent relief
can come to those who live by labor
until the power Of monopoly to control
the natural resources, money and
credits, and the means of transporta-
tion is broken, and this can be done
only by the workers themselves.
1t is not matter for a Moses to
lead the enslaved out Of the house Of
bondage, but rather for the oppressed
to strike OF their own shackles. Until
the masses understand that the eco
nomic woes of the people are due to
maladministration of the means Of
production and to the inequitable dis
tribution Of wealth, there can be no
hope. The miserable palllatives that
occupy the time of the politicians only
complicate the problem and disappoint
the people.
Destroy Power Of Few.
This new party that we are about
to inaugurate must strike at the root
Of the trouble and destroy the power
of the few by special advantages to
despoil the many.
This convention will not be re-
spectacle II 1t undertakes anything Of
this nature. Not only will big bust
ness assail ii, but some of our time
serving progressives and special sa-
viors will denounce it as dangerous
and radical"
Our big task will be to lay the
foundation Of a movement that will
provide place for every earnest hui
man being to help along in the move
ment for our common emancipation.
Especial to the Daily Worker.)
United Front Demanded.
ST. PAUL. June 1.-THE conven-
ton got under way with an invoce ton