davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-12-18
THE COMRADES OF THE MINORITY REPLY
TO THE COMRADES OF THE MINORITY

ment. Unless there is a national
capitalization of the labor party
movement enabling it to nominate
presidential candidate and to con-
duct a nationwide campaign, the
movement will receive a severe set
back and there will be no hope for
organizing a class-iabor party on
national scale for some years to
come. The whole life Of the move
ment depends upon national organ
ization and a national campaign and
such campaign is bound to awaken
great enthusiasm and enable the
class farmer-labor party idea to
make great strides forward"
Exactly! The slogan of the mass,
class farmer-labor party" which had
already lost its ability to move mass
es in the face Of the growing strides
of the LaFollette movement land it
must be remembered that the minor
ity comrades then maintained that the
workers will mot differentiate be-
tween such general third party move
ment and the class farmer.labor
movement")--this slogan became one
Of those magnificent, catching, in
toxicating slogans which have no
basis as Lenin wrote, slogans that
are of 'the nature Of the revolution
airy phrase (Lenin).
And, without in the least reflect
ing on the sober character of the COM
rades of the minority, 1 suggest that
they have become slightly intoxicat-
ed with this baseless slogan, and that
like all good inebriates, they continue
to hiccough the call for "a class farm
er-labor party''-having dropped, lin
the excitement, presumably, the
mass" aspect of this mirage.
Let these comrades reply to the
statements they had themselves made
less than year ago, prophesying so
clearly the general position now TAX
en- by the c. e. c. Let them show
where there exists any group, outside
of the Workers Party that can be
drawn into movement for a class
farmer-labor party.
And, comrades of the minority. do
not bring In the Minnesota farmer
labor party, which Comrade Pepper
called a peoples movement. not a
class movement; nor the Washington
anti-Communist farmer-labor party
with its LaFollette program; nor our
North Dakota bubble Of farmer-la-
Dor party; nor any of other fakes
with which you are embellishing your
show.
And don't forget your own party
program, which says that "a real labor
party cannot be formed without the
labor unions and organizations of ex-
plotted farmers, tenant farmers, and
form laborers."
But perhaps you want to slip over
on the party what Comrade Pepper
once correctly termed "a political
swindle and miscarriage"
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-12-18
Discussion of Our Party's Immediate Tasks

reach the goal in the most dangerous
and roundabout way; this is rather
an uncertain road. 1t reminds me of
an incident. A worker sitting next to
me in a shop where / worked during
the campaign, tried to convince me
that we Communists were too ex-
IRENE. why" said he, SHOULD you
vote directly for Foster? Why don't
you work the issue gradually by vot-
ing first for progressive, then for
a radical, then for Foster?" The COM
rades of the minority are portraying
the same psychology, namely; the
workers are not yet ripe for the Work
ers Party. Use the gradual method
of first the farmer-labor party, then
the Workers Party.
Having been one Of the soap box
speakers during the campaign, can
emphatically state that a tremendous
impression was created on the
masses in propagating the Workers
Party of America, which / did purely
and solely. In my estimation, the
Sdu4piASu III Jul OWn AdluS, bdfO luo
Workers Party not only publicity, but
it planted the seed of Communism in
many workers.
In conclusion, want to say, that on
reading Comrade Ruthenberg's ar
ticle, who Are the Farmer-Labor
Communists? / want to corroborate
that IL is very sad that slanderinp and
epithets are necessary to substitute
for arguments on the basis Of prin-
ciples and facts. l agree that people
in glass houses should not throw
tones, as in the case of Comrade
Bedacht's article, and others.
1 hope the minority will not accuse
me of being syndicalist, as 1 have
been granted a license from my dis
trict organizer, and always comply
with Communistic tactics and prin-
ciples.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-12-18
OPPORTUNISM AND THE ISSUES
BEFORE THE PARTY
BY JAY LovEsroNE.

II is very easy to sense the aim Of
the first bucketful Of filth poured
upon our heads by Comrade Cannon
as his contribution toward clarifying
the party's difficult problems.
Comrade Cannon has done more
than his BIT to engineer the virtual
deportation Of Comrade Pepper, a
comrade who has been of greater
service to the Communist Interna-
tional in general and to the Commun-
list movement in the United States in
particular than all Of the demogogic,
Ihypocritical defamers Of him and of
his ssociates-Ruthenbe Bedacht,
Gitlow, Engdahl and scores of the
most active comrades doing the indus
trial and political work for the party
turnout the country.
Now, Comrade Cannon is proceed
ing at feverish pace with a game in
which he is unsurpassed and unsur-
passable. He is now proceeding to
brand Ruthenberg an opportunist, a
farmer-labor Communist. He is now
proceeding to sling mud at all those
disagreeing with him in maintaining
the Communist position on the field
of united front maneuvers.
Marx once said that history re-
peats itself: "Once as tragedy and
again as farce" Comrade Cannon's
calling anybody at all in our party
an opportunist reminds one of this
great truth. The writer well recalls
the tragic end administered by the
Comintern to those who branded as
opportunists the comrades working
for an open Communist Party. When
the ex-chairman of our party calls any
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-12-18
BIZ MAX sHAcHTMAN.

THE headline above this article is
l not the result Of typographical
error. 1t is the result of a considered
belief that the comrades who are at
present the constituted minority of
the party's central executive commit
tee, are putting forth arguments which
have at one time or another been laid
low by none other than this same
minority. Further, that these COM
rades, despite their attempts to
change the basis Of discussion to is
sues Of secondary Importance, are now
confronted with the ghost of their
more logical past which they will not
SO easily be able to wave away with a
flip of the ever-ready pen or with the
label of Fosterian industrialism, Can
nonian opportunism, or its combina-
tion-majority opportunist syndical-
ism.
Without further introduction, pro-
duce the first two pieces of evidence,
taken from the thesis on the present
economic and political situation and
on labor party policy, proposed by
central executive committee (the then
majority and present minority, as
printed in the record of the third ma
tional convention Of the party, the
Second Year Of the Workers Party of
America. In section 4, sub-paragraph
a, Of the thesis, is found the follow.
ing significant statement:
"The third party movement and
the Ford movement. The workers
and exploited farmers of the United
States have for so many years sup
ported the republican and demo-
cratic parties that any organization
which breaks away from these old
parties will have tremendous ap-
peal for them and they will not diff
ferentiate between such a general
third party movement and the class
farmer-Iabor movement. Unless
there is national rallying point for
the existing farmer-labor groups
which represent the class parties
there is great danger that these iso-
lated groups will be swept into the
third party movement and thus the
whole movement for a class labor
party will be halted for years to
come"
The danger that was feared by the
comrades Of the present minority has
realized itself. What has happened
is exactly what the comrades of the
minority at one time predicted prac-
tically, and what the comrades Of the
present majority state! But that is
not all. These comrades Of the minor
ity at one time went even further in
their agreement with the present ma
jority. In sub-paragraph is to be
found this statement:
1.-THE presidential campaign Of
1924, will be one of the most vital
Importance to the labor party move
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-12-18
/ AM WITH THE MAJORITY

class farmer-labor party, but for even
such a party as LaFollette, which
represents the petty bourgeoisie. pro.
fessionals and some of the bureau
Gratis from the unions, and even they
deserted him in the end and returned
to their old policy-"reward friends
and punish enemies"
Summing up this situation and
summing up the work, the energy and
money the Workers Party spent for
the farmer-labor party, there is only
one solution. We must give all our
energy, time and money to work up
the Workers Party as the Communist
Party Of the United States under our
own name.
In looking over the thesis Of the
minority, ! saw to my amazement.
only abstract statements, disjointed
and lacking in concreteness that IL
would be risky to base policy.
In Comrade Ruthenberg's article,
the Logic Of the Majority" he con.
cludes, Il am against folding hands. :"
Is this to be interpreted that the
Workers Party will be of no value 10
the labor movement Of the United
states II the farmdr-labor party is
abandoned? In answer to this | want
70 stress few facts. What about
the Paterson strike? II gave extern
sive publicity to the Workers Party
without any mention OF farmer-labor
party. In the coal region, for instance.
where the outlaw strike is raging: II
we take the proper sttnd, the Workers
Party gains prestige ,ind receives pub
lefty This means that the Workers
Party has enough work In the politi-
,al and Industrial fields. Working
.oward certain god with direct
i'm is reaching 1t, Ind this Is the
Workers Party. But employing sub
'titutes, such as the farmer-labor
party. is nothing more than trying 70
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-12-18
BY ANNA LITvAkoFF.

ONCE there are so many views in
- circulation regarding our policy,
the policy of the majority, l read with
profound interest this controversy as
1t is presented by both sides. MY
ordinary workers brain is at loss to
decide just what attitude to take. If
l agitate for a mass farmer-labor
party, am pronounced a Communist.
If, on the other hand, ! agitate for a
great mass Communistic movement,
for the Workers Party Of America,
which is section of the Third Inter-
national. then | am crowned with the
titles of "syndicalist" and emporium
ist"; titles l have so often heard in
our office. In order to arrive at q
logical conclusion. am going to
analyze these facts from both angles.
The majority, in their statement
after elections, came out with facts as
to the proportion of votes each party
received. and it was surprising to
note the comparatively small portion
OF votes the LaFollette party received.
LaFollette. who was so popular dur
ing the campaign. LaFollette, the
Messiah! It was astonishing to note,
prior to the elections, how rapidly he
won over these multitudes OF poor
farmers who had lost everything, and
large numbers of workers who tried
to get into the farmer-labor party
before the campaign. He won them
over with the vision that he was their
Messiah. And the general opinion
prevailed that because Gompers with
his bureaucrats endorsed LaFollettte
he would draw the greatest majority
4 not all the votes. But what did we
discover at election? LaFollette did
not receive the expected support. WI
have made even a greater discovery
chat American workers and poor farm
RS are not yet ripe. not only for a
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-12-18

member an opportunist, it's Joke.
Comrade Cannon calling any party
member an opportunist is farce.
opportunIsm in Practice.
1t is not my purpose to call Com
rade Cannon an opportunist. l need
make no efforts to convince the mem
bership Of this. Comrade Cannon can
establish that about himself better
tnan anybody else, for he has long
ago convinced the membership of it.
In parentheses, l merely recite a few
recent incidents involving party
policy.
1. Thinking of the present insist.
ence of Comrade Cannon and his
group that the Workers (Communist)
Party drop the slogan of the united
front farmer-labor campaign because
the masses are not demanding the i'm
mediate organization of a class farm
er-labor party reminds one of the fol.
lowing Comintern declaration on the
American question last May:
THE Foster-cannon group (above
all, Comrades cannon-H athawav)
mIstook the real meanina of the
united front and made concessions
to the psychology Of the masses.
who still follow the petty bourgeois
leaders of the LaFoIlette type and
the reaetionary labor union bureau
craey."
Tnis is Numerically in opposition
10 the method Of quoting these nettv
bourgeois leaders in order to show
now the pressure of mass dissatis-
faction is driving them to ATTEMPT 10
mouth certain phrases in order TO con.
tinue their role of misleaders of these
masses. This is also as different as
pitch black night from bright sunrise
from my point of emphasizing the
tact that because Mahoney and COM
pany are now fighting tooth and toe
nan TO drive and keep the Commun.
lists out of the Minnesota Farmer.
Labor Federation, we, the Commun-
lists, only have more reasons to figbt
70 stay In, get in, and win a dominat.
ing position in this organization
Communists know that the only rea.
son why opportunist leaders battle 10
the bitter end against revolutionists
being in organizations where workers
and exploited farmers are found is
simply the fear OF these traitorous
capitalist henchmen that the Commun.
lists will separate these masses from
them and establish Communist
leadership over the very workers and
poor farmers in question.
2. And I can hear the voice of
Comrade Radek at the sessions OF the
American Commission in the Presid.
ium OF the Executive Committee of the
Comintern on May 20, 1924. when he
talked of the comrades who shave not
understand enough Of the revolution.
airy propaganda OF comrade Pepper.D
3. And can recall the fatherly
advice given to the political commit
tee OF the central executive committee
In early 1928 by Comrade Cannon not
to proceed with haste" In the ex.
pulsion Of Salutsky from the party
because Of his refusal to fight for the
Communists being seated at the con
ference for progressive political action
held in Cleveland at the close Of 1922.
4. And ] recall the weeks Il took
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-12-18

Good intentions butter parsnips! But understanding
and ACTION gave Soviet Russia. You understand!
NOW ACT!
The way is clear. The method is simple.
INSURE THE DAILY WORKER FOR 1925!
$4,000 Is THE SUM THAT'S NEEDED!
INSURANCE POLICIES ARE READY!
PRICED: $40, SIS, 81.
YOUR POLICY MUST BE TO BUY A POLICY!
Back up YOUR daily to the last cent.
Every comrade must meet expectations
YES-BEAT THEM!
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-12-18
Russian Mass Meeting.

A mass meeting with musical pro-
gram is called by the Russian branch
Of the w. p. for next Saturday, Dec.
20, at 5 p. m, at the Soviet School
1902 w. Division st. Speakers will
talk on the situation in the United
States and the program Of the Work.
ers Party. Admission free. Send
your friends who speak Russian to
this meeting
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-10
PRISONER FLIES LEAVING MOTHER
 IN COUNTY JAIL
Mallette Still At Liberty After Jump Down
 Elevator Shaft

TUSCALOOSA Ala, June 9.--Jack Mallette, who early this morning broke out of the county jail, leaving his mother locked in the hallway on the second floor was still at liberty to- night. He escaped by breaking a lock on the dumb waiter and descending to the first floor of the jail by means of the waiter.
 Hubert Williams, held on charges of issuing bad checks, but not yet in- dicted by the grand jury, escaped at the same time and in the same manner.
 Mallette was under suspended sen tence of seven years in the penitentiary for grand larceny pending the hearing of an appeal
 For some time he was held by of ficers here during an investigation of the killing of Motorcycle officer Ken. meth Thompson and the charges of grand larceny are based upon the theft of clothing from fraternity houses at the University of Alabama on the night Thompson was killed.
 AIallette's mother and father, said to be prominent people in the Caro- linas, were here for the hearings in February. His mother returned q few days ago, presumably for the hearings today.
 She was permitted to visit her son in an enclosed hallway on the second floor of the jail at about noon yeste1s day. She says the escape was mads by the two men at about 3 o'clock She remained locked in the jail until released by the jailer later.
 MaIlette's mother was released early Monday night on a $200 bond. She was charged with aiding Mallette in making his escape. She is not believed to have been a party to her sons escape but was put under a small bond as a mat ter of law. The mother came here sev- eral days az to be present at Mallette's trial, set for Monday.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-10
NINE LOSE LIVES
 AND SCORE HURT
 IN FLOODS WAKE
Many Houses Washe d Away By West Virginia
 Storm

BLUEFIELD, w. Va, June g. Nine persons were killed, score injured ana 20 hourses washed away in Mercer and McDowell coun- ties today by a flood following a heavy rainstorm that reached the proportions of cloudburst.
 Sections of Norfolk and Western railroad branch lines and sidetracks to mining operations were washed out. An entire family of seven persons was wiped out in Mercer county when their home was buried under huge by high water and swept against the attempting to work an opening through the buried house were killed when a second slate pile crashed against the first.
 Wire communicate in the affected area was crippled by the flood but the report of the casulties was verified in a brief telephonic conversation with of ficials of the coal company. At that time the names of the victims were not known.
 The waters from swollen mountain streams caused Crane creek to leave its channel, the flood carrying bridges, houses and all movable objects within its path. The main line of the Norfolk and Western railroad between North Fork and Ennis; distance of threv and one-half miles, was completely in undated and all traffic was held up be, tween the two points. In Keystone and Welch the waters of Elkhorn creek flooded some of the business sections oi those towns.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-10
BIRMINGHAM MAN
 REPORTED KILLED IN MISSISSIPPI
L. Victor, S8, Victim Of Auto Plunge Into
 River

L. Victor, age ss, retired business man, formerly of Birmingham, was kill ed in an automobile accident near Tish- amingo, Miss, Monday, according to information received by relatives in Bir- mingham Monday night.
 A telegram received here said that Mir. Victor was killed when the auto mobile in which he was riding plunged into river near Tishamingo. No other details were given.
 Mir. Victor had retired from business many years ago, and, according to rela- tives, was on an automobile tour to his children in various parts of the country. He was en route to the home of his daughter, Mrs. R. H. Carter, in Tishamingo, when he was killed, rela- tives said.
 The body will be brought to Birming- ham Tuesday morning by Brown for burial. Formal announcement will be announced later. {. .
 MT. Victor is survived by three sons, A. M. and I. W. Victor of Birmingham m and J. s. Victor of Middleton, Ky. /: three daughters, Mrs. A. G. Choppell, of Birmingham; Mrs. L. L. Pumpey, of Middleton, and Mrs. R. H. Carter of Tishamingo, Miss.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-10
WHEELER DISCOVERS
 NEW RUM RING
Anti-SalOon Counsel Publishes
 Canadian Sales Plot

WASHINGTON, June 9-A new Canadian rum-running company has been discovered by Wayne B. Wheeler, counsel here for the Anti-Saloon league. It is circularizing the country with its appeals for customers, Wheeler charges.
 'The Cooperative Alliance of Mon treal, headed by a Captain Archer, with William Mathewson as treasurer, seeks 2,O00 members who will invest from $20 to $1,000 in shipments of booze to be smuggled into the United Staes, promising a profit up to 50 per cent" Wheeler explains.
 A circular of the organization, made public by Wheeler, states that it is a matter of common knowledge that no serious effort is being made to prevent the import of beers, wines, whisky and other liquors, except sporadically," and declares that mo seizures of our ship. ments have taken place so far" and that "our club members have not suf- fered one penny loss."
 For convenience of customers, orders can be. placed with agents in the United States, the circular says.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-10
SUPREME COURT FURTHER SHIELDS RIGHT TO STRIKE Injunction In Labor Dis {. putes Is Weakened By
 Decision
 PICKETING IS LEGAL
 RULING DECLARES Does Not Constitute In- terfernce With Inter-
 state Commerce

WASHINGTON, D. C., June g.. Labor's right to strike has been fur ther protected, and the right of in- junction in labor disputes has been further weakened by the supreme court.
 In a decision Monday. the court held that strikers are not interfer- ring with interstate commerce when their strike prevents the manufac- ture of articles designed for inter state shipment, and holds up the filling of orders for shipment be- tween states. The action of such strikers, the court cid, can not be enjoined.
 Injunction Set Aside
 The court set aside an injunction granted by the federal district court at St. Louis to trunk manufacturers there against picketing by striking workers of the Leather Workers International Union. The decision of the St. Louis court was confirmed ol appeal by the United States circuit court of appeals, and overthrown by the supreme court Monday.
 The court further limited the defini- tion of what constitutes illegal inter- ference with interstate commerce first set up in the famous Coronado coal decision, holding that strikers must proceed with direct intention to crip- pie interstate commerce before it can be construed that their action, are sub- ject to the Jurisdiction of federal in- functions.
 Rendered By Taft
 The opinion was rendered by Chief Justice Taft. The vote was 6 to 3, Justices McKenna, Vandevanter and Butler dissenting.
 . It was contended by counsel for the strikers that interference with manu. facture where no intent to interfere with shipments of goods for points iu other states was demonstrated did not constitute interference with interstate trade.
 The manufacturers, on the other hand, argued that they had more than $500 900 worth of interstate orders on hand which the actions of the strikers pre- vented them for filling and that this was restraint of intestate trade.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-10
WIFE IS KILLED,
 COMPANION SHOT
Arkansas Physician Held In Jail
 Charged With Murder

ENGLAND, Ark, June 9.-Mrs. J. c. Tankersley, 30, wife of Dr. J. 0. Tankersley, 45, was shot and fatally wounded, and Sam Standard, 30, was probably fatally wounded while they were in an automobile in front of the Tankersley home early today. Dr. Tankersley is in jail here charged with the shooting.
 Dr. Tankersley surrendered to of- ficers following the shooting and is said to have told them he had waited from Il D. m., to 2 a. m., for his wife and Standard to return from an automobile ride.
 Mrs. Tankersley was shot five times with a revolver and died at her home several hours later. Standard was shot through the liver and abdomen but drove the automobile to garage where he was employed and then went to his home. He was later taken to 6 hospital at Little Rock.