The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-05-23
Where Does La Toilette Stand?

The Progressive group in Congress
are well aware of this situation. They
have. been the expression of it and
have helped to crystalline IT, The
power they have welded in Congress
has helped to organize it. The po-
litically unconscious and semi-consci
GUS groups have been encouraged in
their organization plans and are be-
ginning to seek power. The organized
workers have looked to the Prog
ressives to take the lead Of the
movement; the organized and un-
organized farmers have regarded the
Progressives as their spokesman. La
Toilette knows it; Brookhart knows
it; Shipstead and Norris know it.
Why have they not acted?
They have not acted because they
are too weak, too cowardly to take
a definite stand on these burning
questions. They are waiting to see
what the Republican convention will
do; they wish to see what forces they
will have behind them before they
split. They do not regard themselves
as PART Of the movement, but mere
ly as its leaders. But they are wary
leaders not venturing the fight till the
army demonstrates its strength.
This stand is plausible; LaFollette,
Johnson. Shipstead, Brookhart, and
the others ARE NOT PART OF THE
MOVEMENT. Their interests are not
bound up with it. They do not share
the sufferings of the workers and
exploited farmers They are plain
politicians attempting to capitalize
these sufferings and build move
ment for themselves.
It is highest time to talk to these
gentlemen. The workers and ex-
plotted farmers must demand to know
where these people stand. Are they
willing to line UP with the workers
and poor farmers IRREVOCABLY
against the big capitalists? Are they
willing to throw in their lot against
the government of the capitalists?
Are they willing to become part of
the coming Farmer Labor Party,
submitting to it's control?
They have already clearly
demonstrated their stand: THEY
REFUSE TO LEAVE THE RE-
PUBLICAN PARTY. They are dick
ering with the Republican generals
about candidates and platform; either
liberal" progressive" program to
fool the masses, or a progressive
candidate. This will keep the Re-
publican party intact and ensure
victory at the polls.
Is this what the workers and ex-
plotted farmers want? Are they not
aiming at the formation of a Farmer
Labor Party? Can the Republican
Party of Wall Street be made an
instrument of the workers and poor
farmers? THE ANSWER is CLEAR
LILY AND ALPHABETICALLY NO! A
farmer Labor Party must be formed,
and these would-be leaders must be
told to remain where their interests
place them, viz, in the ranks Of the
capitalists. They are betraying the
movement now when it is seeking
leadership; they will betray It later
when II is moving to power. Have
the workers and farmers not been
sufficiently betrayed in the land of
democracy" for them to have learned
that this new movement dare not be
trifled with? Or must they pass
through one treason after the other
before they will wake up?
The answer must be given to the
Progressive group to LaFollette,
Shipstead, Brookhart and all others
not after the Republican convention,
but NOW. Too much time has already
been lost. The workers. and poor
farmers can organize, build and run
their party themselves.