The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-06-23
Continued nom page II

and Frank Starkey of Minnesota.
Taylor is an individualist farmer from
Bryan's state, who felt that he carried
the weight of the worlds problems
upon his own individual shoulders.
Part of this problem, he felt, could be
solved ky handing LaFollette the
nomination for president on a silver
platter and showing it down his
throat with golden spoon. The sub
sidized press and the yellow news
agencies declared that Taylor bolted
with 80 other farmers.
Taylor Regulated.
Both William H. Green and J. L.
Beebe, representative members of the
Nebraska delegation, not only de-
clared that there was no sympathy
among the Nebraskans for a bolt, bat
said that Taylor himself had con-
fessed his regret at his peculiar antics
In the convention. This IVES abso-
fntely the only show of dissatisfac-
ton among the farmers over the de-
Cfsions of the convention.
Among the delegates Of Industrial
workers, StarkeY the st. Paul Comp
ers' business agent, worked night and
nAy in an effort to create disruption.
BE played upon all elements. But
his work was so coarse and apparent
mat he made no Roadway, and If he
walked out he walked alone, and no
one missed him. His actions from
The start showed him to be an old
party henchman and not imbued with
any sympathies for the development
Of Farmer-Labor movement on a ma
honal scale.
Very Much Alone.
The Taylor and Starkey tendencies
were the only split tendencies in the
convention. Taylor represents the
state of mind of the farmer who has
hot yet been persuaded that the land
worker must cooperate with the city
worker in building an independent
political movement. He showed in
his remarks that he would like a
Farmer-Labor party dominated by
farmers, with the workers accepted as
penitent brothers.
1t may be said that Taylor alone
voiced this opinion The universal de-
mand was voiced for worker and
farmer unity. with no prejudice dis
played against the recognized lead
ership of the industrial workers.
The Starkey tendency was not a
real tendency within the convention.
It was merely the open display Of an
outside influence injected into the
gathering, the same influence work
ing IN many rvavs under cover.
There is no doubt that Starkey was
working under Gompers' orders. He
was working in the open while SINH
lar disrupting influences were at
work under cover. In fact, no con-
Fention of workers and farmers in
this country has ever been subjected
% a greater or more insidious attack.
Dug Up Red scares.
Gompers got his daily, confidential
teports of the gathering. 1t was with
This information that he directed his
lgents in ST. Paul The Conference
Tor Progressive Political Action was
pot only represented in st. Paul by
It's own agents, but it sent out spe-
lially prepared propaganda from its
Washington offices, with new efforts,
llong old lines, to expose 'red con-
Ipiracies" and Moscow Influences"
The Socialists also had their agents
p st. Paul, as did the ti-Communist
Jewish Daily Forward Of New York
pity. So energetic was the Socialist
lffort, directed from New York city,
b subvert the purposes Of the st.
Paul gathering, that William Maho-
ley, chairman of the arrangements
lommittee, specially warned the ma
bonal committee members Of the
fnrmer-Labor rsrty against it.
Results in Closer Unity.
The work Of these would-be wreck
Irs seemed to have the same influ-
nce as the grossly malicious attacks
II the INSCRIPTIONS capitalist press.
drove the delegates into closer
unity in self protection.
This uncover attack was a confes-
Jon, on the part Of the Gompers ele-
hents, that masses are driving to-
yard the class party, while on the
part of other disruptionists. it was an
omission of lack of faith in what
hey expect the Conference for Po-
Itical Action to accomplish at its
cleveland gathering starting July 4.
In fact, when It was seen that dis
nption had failed, some Of these ele-
hents indicated a tendency to crawl
lnto the St. Paul bandwagon. They
logan making secret overtures on
low they could sneak Off the Cleve-
md wreck and affiliate themselves
nth the live and going concern es-
iblished at st. Paul. Such over
tres we're made even before the
invention got under way. But they
bceived little attention then. And
hey viii doubtless meet with cold
pception now.
Hathaway Made Secretary.
When the ST. Paul forces organized
fter the convention, in the meeting