The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-02-21
1924 CRISIS GIVES.
WORKERS PARTY.
AT OPPORTUNITY.
Ruthenberg Puts Situa-
ton Before Branches

ANAAOWAh6 etERO0A W " A9s
Ruthenberg, executive secretary Of
the Workers Party, will be read at
every Party Branch. 1t describes
the magnificent opportunity before
the organization that has come with
the wrecking Of the regulations of
both old parties and asks for the full
est support at once:
"0ur party has before it a great
opportunity. During the past veal
we made great progress, as testi-
fled to by the letter to our conven-
ton from the Communist 1nterna.
tional. We have before us now the
opportunity for even greater achieve
1ments
"A crisis Of major Importance IL
shaking this country. For two years
tshe farmers have suffered under con.
ditions which have driven millions. of
them from the land. AS a result
there has developed a widespread
movement among the farmers for
farmer-labor party and independent
political action.
Oil Bespatters Both Parties.
"Now comes the Teapot Dome ex-
posure-showing corruption and
rottenness in high places unequall-
ed in the previous history of this
country. Both Of the old parties
are being splattered with the oil
from Teapot Dome. They stand
before the workers and farmers
as the corrupt instruments Of the
exploiting class, using the power
of the government to loot the ma
ton in the interest Of this class.
"The result of the Teapot Dome
exposures has been great impetus
to both the movement for a third
party and Farmer-Labor Party.
Literally millions Of farmers and
industrial workers are moving
away from the old parties and are
prepared for independent political
action thru Farmer-Labor Party.
We Must Lead Movement.
ut is our work to crystalline this
movement. 1t is our work to give
it definite form and to become the
leaders in this movement. If we do
not take the place in the forefront
Of this movement, these workers and
farmers, who are moving toward in
dependent political action will fall
under the influence Of petty bour-
geoisie Third Party leadership. They
will be misled and the class move
ment of workers and farmers will be
delayed for years in its crystalliza-
ton.
lis our party equal to the oppor-
tunity which lies before it? Are we
strong enough to win the farmers
and industrial workers for the class
movement in a struggle with the
middle class leaders? The Central
Executive Committee believes that
our party is capable of undertaking
this struggle and to win new sue
cesses for the Communist movement
in the United States. Our successes
during the last year prove our
strength to go forward to new
struggles and new victories.
The Central Executive Committee
has launched the campaign for class
Farmer-Labor Party in connection
with the Teapot Dome exposures as
the medium thru which to build Hp
our forces. Again we have taken
the position of leadership. Now we
must thru intensive work in this
campaign prove our right to that
position.
Need Funds to Build Movement.
''The immediate need of the Ma
tional Office in order to take full adj
vantage of the opportunity which lies
before our party is financial assist
No o,.lxr tLn M
tional Office has made no appeals
to the membership for funds. 1t
left the field clear for the DAILY
WORKER campaign, to which the
membership responded so splendidly.
The result Of the DAILY WORKER
campaign, however, was that the
National Office suffered financially.
All its revenue was reduced by the
fact that the membership were giving
all they could to the DAILY
WORKER.
"Now the national organization
faces a great opportunity to build
our movement with depleted
= treasury. It must have funds for
the Teapot Dome-class Farmer
Labor Party campaign. It must
have funds for the many political
conferences which are part of the
maneuvers in this campaign. II
must have funds for new literature,
for speakers and organizers.
"The Central Executive Commit
tee has, therefore, determined to
ask the party membership for a
Farmer-Labor Campaign Fund OF
$4,000. There will be no compul-
sorry assessment, but the Central
Executive Committee feels assured
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS