The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1924-06-06
CBy c. E. Ruthenberg)

Reports from St. Paul indicate a
nationwide interest on the part of the
farmers and industrial workers OF
this country, in the June 18th Far
mer-LabOr Party convention. I'm
ouestionablv several thousand dele
gates will gather in that convention,
representing at least million Orga-
niZed workers and farmers. And
what is more important, right now, is
the fact that already the work Of
building a solid organizatiOnal struc-
ture for the national organization
which will be formed as a result of
the st. Paul convention, is we'll Under
way in many states.
Significance of June 18th Meeting
A great national convention at st.
Paul would be splendid thing from
an agitatiOnal point Of view; but I'M
less this convention was supported by
State and local organizations through
out the whole country, it would not
be able to accomplish a great deal
in carrying on the fight of the work.
ers and farmers politically. The eff
feet of such q convention, if not fol-
lowed by concrete OrganiZatiOnal
work, would soon disappear. Thus
the significance of the June 18th con-
vention is not only that it is arOusing
a nationwide interest and delegates
are being selected to attend this con-
ventiOn from all parts of the United
States, but that in many States Orga-
nizatiOns are being built to serve as
the permanent foundation for the ma
tional organization which will be
formed at st. Paul.
Six Parties Support st. Paul
Convention
The st. Paul convention was called
in the name of six already existing
State Farmer-LabOr Parties. These
are the Farmer-LabOr Party Organi-
cations in Minnesota. North Dakota,
South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana
and Washington. All Of these politi-
cal parties have been in existence for
some considerable time. In MinnesO-
ia, South Dakota, Nebraska and
Washington the Farmer-Labor Party
and in Nebraska the Progressive Par
ty, have been in existence through
several political campaigns and have
polled large votes. The State Far
mer-LabOr Parties in North Dakota
and Montana are of later origin, but
they have a substantial backing and
are firmly rooted in the political
movement of those States. There
fore, the st. Paul convention and the
national political organization which
viii grow out of it begins with these
six strong organizations as the basis
for nationwide organization.
New State Parties Building
The six State political parties re-
ferred to above were already in ex-
istence when the st. Paul convention
call was issued. And since that time
movements have begun in a dozer
other States to build organizations
all of which are pledged to the st
Paul convention.
In Massachusetts. the call for {
State convention is being issued by &
group of local trade unions, and an
organization will be created during
the latter part of the month of May
which will be pledged to the June It'll
convention.
In New York State, the Buffalo La
Dor Party and the Federated Farmer.
Labor Party of New York City have
Joined hands to call a State conven.
ton at Schenectady on May 18th, al
which an organization will be formed
to send delegates to st. Paul.
In Ohio, a State convention will be
held on June 7th and 8th, for the pur.
pose of creating a State Farmer.
Labor Party of Michigan.
In Illinois, a large group of pro.
gressive trade uniOnists has issued {
call for a convention on May 18th, tt
affiliate with the st. Paul convention
on June 18th.
In Oklahoma, the call issued for {
convention on May 9th and 10th spe
cifeally pledges the State party there
formed to support of the June It'll
convention.
In Kansas, a group of some rs in