The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-09
BY HENRY RLEEckER.

by HENRY bLEECkEH.
THE movement for a farmer-labor
l party which started a few years
ago was swallowed by the LaFollette
movement. For this reason we must
abandon the slogan, For a farmer
labor party" and start building the
Workers Party according to the thesis
of the majority of the central execu-
tive committee. Instead of farmer
labor party slogan they propose the
slogan For a labor congress-"
Conditions Which Created the Farmer
Labor Party Movement.
The movement for a farmer-labor
party started to crystalline during the
year of 1919-20. This movement was
characterized by: (a) unemployment;
OBJ reduction of wages; (c) strikes;
(d) open shop drive; (e) injunctions.
In 1921 we passed thru a period of
economic depression, six million work
ers were unemployed as result of
his. Those who secured work were
forced to work for reduced wages.
In the steel strike of 1919 and the
miners strike of 1920 the government
used all it's forces to break these
strikes: Federal troops, injunctions,
etc. The realization of the workers
that he<government is protecting the
interests of the bosses stimulated
them toward independent political ac-
ton, with the result of the formation
of the Chicago labor party. But, this
movement made little progress until
1929 when the shopmen and miners
strike broke out. The government
again played the role of defender for
the capitalists. The farmers were
suffering from the same economic de-
preston. Millions of farmers were
driven into bankruptcy. The farms
were deserted, and the oppressed
farmers made way for the city in
search of work. This fermentation
among the workers and farmers
brought the farmer-labor movement to
the fore. Farmer-labor parties sprung
ipp lin several states. International
unions expressed themselves in favor
of Independent political action.
The Workers Party and the United
Front.
The Workers Party was politically
unknown othe masses. Thru its
participation in the movement for
farmer-labor' party and by applying
the United Front tactic in accordance
with the instructions Of the Comintern,
the Workers Party became factor In
the political struggles of the exploited
masses.
The LaFoIIette Movement.
Parallel to the farmer-labor move
ment, the small bourgeoisle who are
also in conflict with the big capitalists
began organizing politically, which ex-
pressed itself in the formation Of the
progressive bloc In congress under
the leadership Of LaFollette.
The call for the June IL convention
for the sake of organizing the workers
and farmers into a political party was
unsuccessful on account OF the attacks
OF LaFollette and the union bureau
Gratis OF the A. F. Of l.. The workers
and farmers deserted the June II con-
vention, and followed LaIrollette be-
cause they were under the illusion
that a farmer-labor party would be
created by LaFollette after the cleo
ton.
Who Voted for LaFoIlette.
In the article, Sound the Alarm"
written in the WORKER OF NOV. Is,
Comrade Bittelman states that the
petty bourgeoisie deserted LaFollettte
in the last election because of the
terroristic methods used by Wall
Street to elect Coolidge, and the prom
Use OF certain economic concession on
the part OF Wall Street to the petty