The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-05-30
BY J. T. MURPHY.

not improve matters for itself when
it retained office and brought in
window dressing program consisting
of items culled from the programs Of
the Liberals and the Labor party. All
that it succeeded in doing was max
ing clear to everybody that, apart
from its protectionist policy, there
was little to distinguish it from the
National Liberals Of the Lloyd George
group. Especially was this empha-
sized when Macdonald proposed, on
it's one remaining plank Of imperial
preference, to leave all parties free
to vote without the organized pres
sure of the party whips. There was
nothing left for the Conservative
party to do but to become the anti
Socialist propaganda body in the de-
Tense Of property interests and to
work for the discrediting of the La
Dor administration as a means Of
gathering the discontents of the Lib
erals who were class conscious and
reorganize it's forces pending an OPP
portunity to take once again the lead
on some patriotic issue.
During the first three months of
Labor in the government it has failed
to make much progress with its anti
Socialist propaganda, an it is long
way from having done much in the
way of party reorganization. 1t has
appointed a new organizer, who may
have a good reputation for organizing
tramways and tube railways, but he
has not yet made up for the want Of
a program sufficiently distinctive to
make the party real inspiring force
even amongst the defenders Of cap
italism. It's anti-Socialist propaganda
has done it more harm than good,
because it is so perfectly obvious
that the Labor government is indis-
tinguishable from a Liberal govern
ment except for the fact that there
are men in its ranks who have been
drawn from the working class. That,
as a matter of fact, adds to the pop
ular favor. It is looked upon as more
democratic, more broadly representa-
tive than if the Liberal party had
formed the government. The attacks
upon the Labor government are
strengthening it. The class hatred of
the ardent members Of the Conserva-
tive party has made them indiscreet
and caused them to forget the people
with whom they are dealing. The
masses of this country are far from
being as politically alive as the
masses on the continent. The effect
of the attacks only rouses the cry,
why, hang it all, they haven't had
a chance; "Give them fair play;
"You are jealous because you are not
in Office" But no discussion of poll
tics would follow from such remarks.
No attempt would be made to under
stand the why's and wherefores of at
tacks or defense. 1t would simply be
a question of giving stair play" to the
new lot.
This attitude towards politics is
difficult for Europeans to understand.
l will illustrate it still further in or
der to show the tremendous psyche
logical factors against which especi-
ally a revolutionary party has to
work, and how cleverly the capitalist
class for the best part Of a century
have supplemented their efforts to
keep the workers out of politics by
developing the sports.
L remember well the scene at La
Dor party conference in London when
Mr.. Henderson introduced Kerensty
and refused a hearing to Litvinoff.
He received a tremendous ovation.
Had the platform been given to Lit
vinoff instead Of Kerensky, he would
have received the same ovation and
welcome. 1t would not matter about
the contrast in the politics Of the two
individuals. They were visitors and
should be treated accordingly, given
fair play to express themselves, a
good cheer as a sign Of good sports
manship and permitted to depart. II
the leaders thought it advisable to
move a resolution in favor Of the
speech delivered. Il would be passed