The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-04-12
The Present Situation.

we are witnessing now in the United
States growing revolt Of the work
ing masses on the one hand and of
the petty bourgeois elements on the
other hand against the domination
of the two old parties. The thesis is
very careful to avoid the use of the
term revolt. 1t says instead: grow
ing tendency, growing influence,
marked dissatisfaction" etc. But
this difference in terminology which
is important, of course, does not.
however, alter the fact that there is
on foot a growing movement invoiv-
ing large masses of workers. farm
ers. and petty bourgeois ele ments
tending to split away from the two
old parties. This is the most i'm
portant cardinal fact in present day
American politics. Therefore, 70
strategy can be correct which fails
to put this fact in its proper light
and to analyze its basic factors. The
thesis of Comrades Lore and Olgin
is deficient in both. 1t fails to probe
down to the real economic basis of
the insurgent movement, inside and
outside of the two old parties, and
therefore misses its true volume,
scope and significance.
The Economic Situation.
The thesis admits "the economic
situation is gradually approaching a
crisis" and that "the economic de-
nression has been on the increase
turnout the latter part of 1929"
This is correct but the present crisis
is not of the type of the periodic,
pre-war capitalist crises and herein
lies its significance. IT is not tenn
Dorarv or passing affair. It is mani
festation here in the United States
of the general critical state of world
capitalism. This crisis may have its
ups and downs but it's lasting and
permanent nature can not be dis
puted-
1t is this lasting and permanent
nature of the present economic de-
preston, plus the recent political de-
velopments, which have unmasked
the American government as the tool
and sergeant of big capital, that is
responsible for the acuteness of the
class relations prevailing at present
in the United States.
The Political Situation.
\. The thesis of the G. E. C. which is
to be submitted to the Communist
international speaks of the mass re-
volt in the United States against the
domination of the two old parties
as a revolt against the economic and
political rule of big capital. And
that is what it is, but this fact the
thesis of Comrades Lore and Olgin
fails to take note of. 1t speaks of a
growing dissatisfaction, "bitter
restlessnes" of the workers, farmers
and petty bourgeois elements without
realizing that what we are con-
fronted with now is a movement and
not merely state of mind. A move
ment of large masses against the
present rule of the bankers and big
industrialists, and that this move
ment is tending Enthusiastically in the
direction of third bourgeois
liberal party. Whether this party
materializes-if it does-as a petty
bourgeois liberal party or as reg
ular capitslist party similar to one
of the old parties is still somewhat
problematical 1t may eventually
turn either way, which does not in
the least change the present nature
and significance of the movement.
As to our tactics and attitude to-
wards third party the thesis of the
C. f. C. provides for either case. The
thesis of the Central Executive Com
mittee lays down clearly and definite
ly the conditions and terms for a
possible election alliance between the
Farmer-Labor Party and the Third
Party.
Our Attitude Toward the Third
Party Movement.
The thesis of the Central Execu-
tive Committee bases its attitude to-
ward the Third Party movement on
three sets of considerations. 4
THE Third Party movement ac-
CELEBRATES the development Of the
class struggle, produces a clearer
capitalization Of political groupings
on the basis Of real economic inter
ests. and weakens the united capital.