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

lican and Democratic parties against
the workers and farmers, Johnston
cried: 1.-THE two old parties have
proved their incapability, their I'M
willingness to purge themselves of the
sinister forces on the inside. They
have failed to maintain the prosperity
Of the nation; and we are unwilling
any longer to rely on the campaign
promises of either Of them. The dull,
lifeless convention of political puppets
that met in this hall short time ago,
and the antics of the disorderly mob
now meeting in New York have shown
the progressives Of these United
States that there is no hope for them
in that direction"
Johnston Attacks Communists.
After having made this brilliant dis.
covery he launched into savage at
tack against the Communists.
I'm our efforts to unite the progress
sives of the nation, we have decided to
exclude the exploiters, the boodlers
and the fanatics, whether they mask
under the title Of farmer-labor parties,
Trade Union Educational leagues or
Communists. We who have had years
of experience in the American labor
movement know that they are out to
destroy, and that in nine cases out of
ten they are on the pay roll of VIII
liam j. Burns. We have resolved not
to permit them to bore from within
and sink our ship"
This surely comes with ill-grace from
Johnston, who knows he is lying. His
own record is none too clear in the
American labor movement. Starting
out as captain in the Salvation
Army, he later joined the Social.
party and with it's aid became preNi-
dent of the machinists' international.
He renegaded during the war, became
wild war patriot, and left the party
on whose shoulders he had risen to
his position. OF late he gained con-
siderable notoriety for his reactionary
stand in the union, his policy of ex-
lpelling militants, and for his advo-
cacy of the infamous B. & o. plan.
Under his capable leadership the In
ternational Association of Machinists
has dropped in membership until it
now includes only about $4,000 mem.
bers.
Onlookers at the convention noted
with great surprise that the first day
passed and no chairman or secretary
was elected from the floor Johnston
acted as chairman by his own say-so
The credentials committee, over
which George H. Goebel of the Social
ist party watched with both eyes
peeled for possible Communists, had
not yet reported in full, and questions
are approved or disapproved without
the convention having formally organ
ICED itself.
All of the other keynoters who fol-
lowed Johnston made speeches which
ended up with eulogies for Robert La
Toilette. Mrs. Edward P. Costigan of
Washington, d. c., who would I'M
doubtedly make a charming hostess
for a lawn party; Senator Henrik
Shipstead, elected by the support of
radicals in Minnesota on the Farmer
Labor party ticket, and John Nelson,
progressive congressman from Wis
consin, all made appeals for support
of Fighting Bob" but very carefully
avoided the suggestion of organizing a
new party to carry on the campaign
and control its elected officials and
their campaign funds.
Not Ripe-Perhaps overripe.
"The time is not yet ripe for third
party" keyoted Nelson. "If we make
no mistakes, the progressives will con-
tinue to hold the balance Of power in
the houses of congress. 1t is for us
to move forward with patience, wis
dom and discretion"
But he certainly did not make use
of any of the three virtues when he
delivered rabid attack against So
Wet Russia.
1--WE must avoid the two extremes
of reaction" he said. Both of them
are supported by militarism: Russia,
with Lenin and his successors, and
Italy, with Mussolini and his Fas-
cisti."
This obvious attempt to purge the
LaFolletteites of any traces of "Mos-
cow" of which the alleged progressive
senator has been accused by the re-
dictionaries since his visit to Russia,
fell fiat even among the audience Of
overfed labor takers, "rubber-tired"
farmers, and Socialist party officials
who are looking for a place to hang
their hats.
Afraid Of Everyone.
But no protest is made against
these attacks and apologies. AS Nell
son himself stated, you know, we're
all afraid of being called radicals"
That is the convention OF the Con-
ference for Progressive Political Ac-
ton. It's afraid OF everyone, from the
Republicans to the Communists, with
the exception Of it's hero, Robert La
Nil