The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-04-19

VI buS uOH-pdTllSdn DUNK Oh sam
Gompers. At best a hip-hip-hooray
explosion in favor OF a petty bour-
geois third party candidate for presi-
dent. II the former happens, the So
cialist party and few more delegates
may split away from the conference.
If, on the other hand, the latter takes
place. some Of the die-hard reaction
aries may split away. But whatever
happens, no farmer-Iabor party can re-
suit Of the conference Of July 4.
June II the Only Instrument.
To bring about consolidation of
the farmer-labor forces, we must turn
to the convention of June II in the
Twin Cities.
In the first place this convention is
being called by the politically organ
lied elements of the workers and ex-
plotted farmers-by the Farmer-Labor
Party movement of the United States.
1t is predominantly a class movement
for class party. In the second place
this is rank and file movement
which is going to produce rank and
file convention. If at any time any
where in the United States there was
a gathering capable of producing a
united and strong political movement
of workers and exploited farmers,
such gathering will take place in the
Twin Cities on June II. In addition
to international unions, state and city
central labor bodies, national and To-
cal organizations of exploited farmers,
all existing farmer-labor parties, other
working class political parties, ma
tional and local fraternal- organiza-
tions of labor and co-operatives-in
addition to all these, every local union
will be called upon to send delegates
to the June IL convention.
Now is the time to pass over from
words to action. In saying this we are
particularly mindful of those labor
leaders and labor organizations which
are theoretically in favor of class
party of workers and exploited farm
ers, and do make the distinction be-
tween third party and labor party.
We might refer, by way of example.
to the Amalgamated Clothing Work
ers of America, whose official organ,
the Advance" carried in its issue of
March q an editorial in favor of a
labor party. The editorial is signifi-
cantly entitled Labor Party Not a
Third Party" and concludes by say
ing that:
ITO cope with those evils Tin our
industrial SYSTEM the workers must
/, have their own labor party. No
other party could or would do it,"
Correct. Only farmer-labor party
and not third petty bourgeois party
can or will effectively tackle the prob
lens of the oppressed masses and lead
successfully their struggles.
This is true. But what does it mean
concretely? Under the present con-
ditions and on the eve of two conven-
ttions, June IL and July 4?
If it means anything at all, it means
this: that every labor organization
must participate in the convention of
June II and not in the conference of
July 4. This the official organ of the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers failed
to say, whereas without this conclu-
sion no amount of professions and ex-
pressions in favor Of labor party will
have any practical meaning.
The left wing of the American Ia
Dor movement has at present seri-
GUS duty to perform. 1t must awaken
the rank and file workers and exploit
ed farmers to the significance Of the
June II convention. 1t must make it
clear even to the backward masses
that the call of the hour is the class
farmer-labor party. This party may.
under certain conditions, cooperate
with or even support the candidates of
third party. But the primary condi-
ton for this as for everything else is
first and foremost the consolidation of
the farmer-labor forces into an indie