The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-02-21
FAR M-LABOR OF
NEBRASKA HOLDS
STATE MEETING
Widespread Discomfort
Making Itself Felt


braska.
The state is now in the throes Of
political developments Of great di-
mansions and no one is ready to state
definitely what new steps the farm
ers and workers are planning to take
for the next campaign.
Call Gets Big Support.
A call for a statewide mass con-
vention Of the farmers and workers
to find ways and means Of striking
the heaviest blows at their political
enemies in the coming elections has
just been issued.
The call for this convention is
Endorsed by more than rs active
members Of the Progressive Party
and the former Non-partisan league.
This group is representative of the
most populated sections Of the state.
1t is the intention Of those be-
hind this call to get together on a
program and to build working
political machinery to enable the
farmers and workers Of the state
to agree upon, not only state can
didates, but also national candidates.
Opens Washington's Birthday.
This convention will open on
Washington's birthday, Feb. %, at
Grand Island. Neb.
1t is significant that the call reads
in part: Certainly, a program for
union with the Minnesota Farmer
Labor movement and similar groups
elsewhere in a national movement
should be adopted, and desirable
presidential candidates considered
and recommended"
Most of the Nebraska congressman
are lawyers or business men, not at
all representatives Of the dirt farm
ers Of the state who have been
hit hard by the economic depression
that has struck the agricultural
areas Of the country.
This dissatisfaction with the cleo
ted officials of the state is hitting
both the Democratic and Republican
parties alike. The Democratic con-
gresham, John Henry Morehead of
Falls City, is a spokesman Of the
big farming, mercantile, banking and
business interests of the state. An
other Democratic congressman, Ash
ton G. Shallenberger, is the presi-
dent Of the Bank Of Alma and is
engaged in cattle raising. The Re
publican congressman, Willis G.
Sears, is a prominent lawyer, and
Mr.. Robert E. Simmons, another Re
publican congressman is the sta+s-
commander of the American Legion.
Dirt Farmers Not Satisfied.
The dirt farmers of Nebraska feel
that these men do not represent
them in congress and are bent on
organizing to change the present I'M
satisfactory conditions.
The dissatisfaction of the farmers
and workers has been seriously ag-
gravated by the attempt Of the
Democrats to swallow up the Pro-
gressive Party organization here. A
traitor in the ranks, Mayor Ellsberry
of Grand Island has been prevailed
upon to start a movement in the
ranks of the progressives to turn
the tide to the Democratic fold. He
has just filed a petition at Lincoln
placing Governor Bryan's name on
the Progressive primary ballot.
The farmers of the state are very
sore over this maneuver because this
is the second time that an attempt
is being made to trick them out of
their political games. In the 1922
gubernatorial campaign. the progress
sive candidate, Mr.. Ray, was pre-
vailed upon in the midst of the cleo
ton contest to withdraw from the
race in order to throw all the pro-
gressive strength to his Democratic
Z opponent, the present incumbent Of
the Governors Office, Mr.. Bryan. This
betrayal had a demoralizing effect
on the ranks of the dirt farmers and
working men of Nebraska. They
,. are now determined not TO allow such
surrender to occur again.
The Progressive Party which has
been able to gain considerable
, strength in the state, Is an organ
ization of the farmers and workers
who after the breakdown of the Non
partisan league, refused to accept
Townley's balance Of power scheme
in politics.
Fight Democratic Steal.
The leaders and most active work
crs of the Progressive Party are
now marshalhng all their forces to
lprevent the Democratic clique from
stealing their organization.
If the convention at Grand Island
is sufficiently representative and
strong enough, there is a likelihood
Of its even going to the length Of
organizing a state Farmer-Labor
party in order TO end the present
political muddle and nullify the at
tempts Of the Democrats to file can
didates in every congressional dis
trict an tba nart,y ffrLnf
Among the most active workers
behind this move TO thwart the
Democratic politicians from mislead-
ing the farmers and workers OF
Nebraska are VIM. Repley Of Grand
Island, d. A. Kircheck Of Chapman,
G. W. Wagner Of Indianola, z. ].
Desmond Of Barley. Belle Taylor Of
Merna, ]. M. Paul Of Harvard, Guy
Farmer Of Inland, Morris Burkhart
Of Clay Center, VIM. Lyman Of
! nj -