The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-05-30
LaF 0IIette's Attack Is Signal for Harder
Work for Greater Convention at St. Pau
Manage Your OwnAffairs, Message
to Nations Workers and Farmers

to any great man. In justice to a great
cause the June 18th Convention must be
held.
In the first place it would be betrayal of
confidence to disappoint the vast numbers
who have been looking forward to June 18th
as the day of emancipation. 1t has not been
looked upon as a LaFoette day, but a day
of independence for those who toll.
In the second place, the charge that the
Communists will dominate the convention is
a gross misrepresentation. Every effort has
been made to secure delegates from every
group coming within the terms of the call
and Senator LaFoIIette and his advisors
must know that the Communists constitute
only a small fraction of those who are inter-
ested in a National Farmer-Labor Party.
The Communists make no secret of their
aims and frankly outline their method of
procedure. They signify in their published
statements that the program Of the Farmer
Labor Party represents the next step in pro-.
gressive political development and they are
willing to cooperate in promoting every
practical measure that will advance the in
terests of the wealth producing classes.
There is no more reason why sincere sup
porters of a National Farmer-Labor Party
should doubt the Communists than they
should question the sincerity of Senator La
Toilette. For many years he has maintained
formal affiliations with the Republican Par
ty, the most infamous political machine ever
in control Of the American government
For the same reason that Senator LaFol-
lette feels that the time has come for all
right thinking people to join in common
cause to break the shackles imposed on the
people by plutocracy, it is reasonable to give
the communists credit for as much honesty
and sincerity as Senator LaFoIlette claims
for himself by giving the Communists an OPP
portunity to unite their forces with other
progressives in the first great national battle
for freedom.
The Farmer-Labor party in Minnesota has
been developed along constitutional lines
and has always employed democratic
methods in carrying out its program and
principles The persons who are largely in
strumental in giving form and force to the
movement in Minnesota are behind the
June 18th convention. The Farmer-Labor
conventions of Minnesota unanimously en-
dorsed the proposed national Farmer-L labor
Progressive convention after the question
had been agitated for many months among
the membership.
In Minnesota all progressive elements
without regard to creed or philosophy have
engaged in united political action and have
built up powerful Farmer-Labor party
Wnicn mas accomplished more IN the few
years OF its existence than other states have
done in quarter of century to prepare the
way for truly progressive movement in this
country. 1t is by these people and by these
methods the proposed national movement is
projected
It s\ the successful experience of Mime
sofa in uniting all progressive elements into
an independent party which has employed
the democratic methods provided by the
United States constitution that has impeIIed
the farmers, workers and other progressves
to undertake the launching Of national
movement that will provide an opportunity
for the despoiIed to employ peaceful con-
stitutiona methods in bringing about the
great reforms that the masses of the Amer
lean people demand.
The Minnesota Farmer-Labor movement
has been and is movement of the rank and
file.
The national June 18th convention in ac-
cord with this successful, democratic policy
will be a rank and file convention.
Senator LaFoIIettes statement should be
a signal to all members of the Farmer-L abor
movement to come to the June 18th conven-
ton and demonstrate their ability to manage
their own affairs in building great national
movement in the same manner as they have
already built their state movements.
Committee of Arrangements:
William Mahoney, Chairman.
c. A. Hathaway, Secretary