The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-05-29

w nile IL is true, as mas Deen pointed
out by the enlarged executive of the
comintern, in its thesis on the general
world situation, that the American la
Dor movement has moved to the right
under the influence of the concessions
which American imperialism is able
to make to the upper strata of the
working class, still at the same time,
thru the application of the tactics of
the united front, the influence Of the
party among the working masses has
grown.
The party has, for the first time in
it's history, become leading influence
in strikes of workers. 1t is succeeding
in drawing broader masses of workers
into common struggle with itself thru
the tactic of the united front. Thru
the extension of its mass work and its
work in the trade unions, it is break
ing the isolation in which it found
itself and all the indications are that
its influence among the masses of
workers is steadily increasing.
The Economic Situation.
THERE are indications that the
l. favorable economic situation
which this country has been enjoying
is approaching the end and that a
period of depression lies in the not
distant future. This estimate does
not mean that we are in for an i'm
mediate period of depression. Rather,
the tendency of industry is downward;
the actual period of depression still
lies some distance in the future.
Steel orders, which are a barometer
indicating the direction which indus
try is taking, show decided falling
off in advance orders. The building
industry, which has been in a boom
period during recent years, is also
slowing down. Manufacturing indus
tries generally during the month of
April showed a decrease of 10 in
the number of workers employed.
These are some of the first signs in
dicating that industry has reached the
apex of the period of so-called pros
perity and is now tending in the other
direction. A depression lies ahead.
In the agricultural field the farmer
has secured no relief from the renewal
of the agricultural crisis which de-
veloped during the present year. The
debts of farmers are increasing.
Tenancy is growing greater. Hundreds
of thousands of farmers are continu-
ing the migration to the cities.
Altho capitalism in the United
States has been enjoying a general
period of prosperity, certain indus
tries due to special conditions have
been undergoing crises. This has been
true of the coal industry, textile in
dustry, needle trades and the shoe
industry Because of overdevelopment
of the industry or changes in the
mode of production, and movement of
the industry from one part of the
country to another, these industries
have not shared in the generally fav-
/ orable economic situation. The result
of this and as a consequence of the
effort of the capitalist owners to make
the workers bear the burden of the
tries, is that the workers have been
! forced into resistance in order to pro-
tect their standard of life and working
conditions.
The party has made it's greatest
gain in it's work among the workers
of these industries.
The development of period of de-
preston in the cycle of capitalist pro-
duction will bring with it sharper con-
iicts between the workers in other in
dustries and the capitalist employers.
Thus the outlook for the future in this
country is TO a period of renewed
struggles which will create for the
party a favorable condition for its
work and for the development of the
party.
The Political Situation.
THE Overwhelming victory for the
i capitalists of this country in the
election of Coolidge in 1924 has re-
suited in the open putting into force
of the capitalist program thru the gov
eminent The Coolidge administers
ton has brazenly put thru its program
to strengthen the capitalists and for
weakening the workers. The govern
ment stands in the open as the rep
resentative of capitalist power in the
United States. This is particularly
evident in the fact that the govern
ment does not even seemingly appear
as the opponent of the trusts and
great corporations and every pretense
to enforce the Sherman antitrust law
has been abandoned and trustiiied
business has been given open approval
by the government
While the capitalist power Is I'M
challenged in this country, differences
have developed within the ranks of
the capitalists themselves which are
rejecting themselves in the struggle
within the two old parties
Thus, for instance, on two major
questions. party lines have been com
pletely broken in the vote of recent
legislation. This was true in the case
of the vote on the world court issue
] -. A.