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


less and less, with the possibility of
slice of it going into the Labor
party, as well as others moving over
to Churchill and the Tory party.
At this time the Labor party is
the one party among those defending
the interests of capitalism that is
growing in strength and influence. OF
that there is not the slightest doubt.
It is attracting the middle classes,
who have had their minds set at rest
so far as dangerous Socialist politics
are concerned. Macdonald has given
them every assurance that they have
nothing to fear Socialism is a
growth, a spirit, an attitude of mind,
any old damn thing that will give you
comfort when you are tired, inspire
you when you are sad and increase
your capacity for saying sentimental,
sloppy things that don't mean any
thing. You can take part in an arma-
ment race and talk Of brotherly love.
You can but there is no need to
go on. The middle classes are feeling
that the Labor Government is jolly
good thing.
The Labor Government is awaken
ing a great interest in the working
class. The abolition Of the gap in
unemployment pay and the other little
items which I have mentioned pre-
Iviously have meant much to them.
The handling of the industrial disputes
and the settlements which have result
ed in favor of the workers have given
encouragement to the workers to forge
ahead with their demands. The Labor
Government has escaped from the bad
situations it was developing, and any
discomfort which arose concerning its
actions in the disputes has been laid
to the account Of the other parties, be-
ing in the majority in the Parliament.
The blacklegging incidents have not
been on sufficiently large scale to
create a general cutlery. The tradi-
tional course of industrial disputes has
accordingly been maintained without
the masses seeing thru the policy that
was being pursued by the Labor lead
ers. Prompt inquiries, spectacular de-
bates, and then practical comprom-
sc" and fair play" have all done their
share in giving popular tone to the
Labor Government in wide circles Of
the workers.
But there is section which has
had much cause for discomfort and
that is the section Of the workers who
have put all their hopes into the
workers movement. Those who have
been active in the political party work
are not so sure. They have grave mis-
givings that everything is not well.
So many things have happened that
they did not expect to happen. They
feel Disconnected but are puzzled
about this minority position and ex-
plain things away to themselves and
others on the grounds of giving the
government a chance" and mot ex-
pecting them to do the same things as
they would if they had a majority"
But the discomfort is there. Yet there
is strong loyalty. The trouble is that
the whole movement is devoid of theo-
retical training and unable to explain
its experiences even to itself
The l. L. P. Conference at York this
week shows the confusion in excelsis.
Here the leading party Of the Labor
movement meets in conference. 1t isn't
sure whether it is still propaganda
party or a party responsible for the
political direction Of the government
It has six cabinet ministers and 126
members Of Parliament. The Premier
is its leader. He feels no responsibility
to the Party for the policy of the gov
eminent. He gives speech to the
conference as if he were fraternal
guest and tells the conference that the
government is doing its best, even goes
to the extent of telling them to forget
their socialist name, he prefers Labor
in order to suppress all class distinc-
tions. He gives them lecture on
moral uplift. on the spirit in which
bouo - h. 1Dno xuo~uc ~,