The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1924-03-14
Spirit of Unity Preails at
St. Paul AS Farmer-La-
Dor Conference Starts
CONTINUED from page y

the convent ion was called to order,
in conducting a propaganda campaign
among the delegates against the
Communists with copies Of the
DAILY WORKER as Exhibit A.
The farmer delegates seemingly
have been vaccinated agains. Rod
Tiguez- -Mahonev virus, judging
by the amused lock on their faces as
they listened to the self-appointed
red baiters.
Mahoney's speech was cautiously
WoTded, and an attemp, to explain
the failure Of the committee to send
out the can for the May Both con
vention, but he admitted that this
failure had brought a storm OF criti-
cism and hundreds Of resolutions
from farmer and worker Organiza-
tions protesting the delays. He fur
ther stated that he had direct assur-
ance that La Toilette is to run in
dependently if his health permits.
Speaking of the Conference for
Poll zeal Action, MahOney said that
the group which endorsed McAdOO in
Chicago was more representative
than the group which was at the Off
cial st. Louis gathering. According
to MahOney's close friends this is
he first time he has made such an
admission.
Speaking of the May goth date he
asked the conference if they wished
tc organize only the advanced
farmer and working class elements
or if they wished to wait and pos
sibly break millions Of people away
from the old parties.
The I. w. w. in Washington are
swinging toward political action and
in number Of lumber communities
are cooperating with farmers politi-
cal movement to a marked degree,
according to William BOuck, head of
the western progressive farmers.
Free speech fights have been con-
due ed jointly by the farmers and
the lumber workers organized in the
l. w. w. and out Of these has grown
feeling of solidarity.
The bitterness Of the struggle in
which both groups are engaged has
| largely broken down the old antag-
onisms and a real united front is in
/ process of formation between bank
rUpt farmers and lumber workers.
Charles Taylor, Of Montana, is bub-
I DAAAAS NtfCL VIII CilJllbSlCo1ll ONCI BllC
rapid progress being made by the
Farmer-LabOr party in that stale.
| Beginning with a conference Of thir-
ty-siX delegates in Great Falls. the
latter part of Oc ober, in both the
numbering, mining and farming sec
lions Of the party it is building a
! powerful machine.
j. w. Anderson and Pat Budden,
state secretary, have been touring
the S ate and in many towns the halls
could not hold the crowds that turn
ed cut and the apathy that was prev
alent before the first of the year has
disappeared.
"The Conference for Progressive
Political Action is no longer a factor
/ in Montana" says Taylor. president
Steve Ely Of the State Federation
was bitter opponent of the Farmer
Labor party when first started, but
at one of Anderson's meetings short
ly before l left, Ely acted as usher.
He probably had a change of heart
after his own local at Sand Coulee
told him thev wanted no more oppo-
Sition of the Farmer-Labcr party
from him"
Local unions are affiliating direct
with the party in Butte and coal
mining towns and other industrial
centers. According to Taylor the
liberal Republican governor has made
his peace with the Anaconda Mining
Company and the lineup is conse-
qrently becoming clearer. ''If the
election was held tomorrow we would
count on at least twenty thousand
votes" said Taylor.