The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-07-17
fARMER-LABOR
PARTY CREATED
in WASHINGTON
Plan Second Convention
on August First
Especial to The Daily worker)

labor party was created here by a
mass convention Of workers and farm
ers from all over the state Of Wash
ington, assembled in the Labor Tenn
pie.
The former farmer-labor party, at
one time the second political party
in strength in this state, went out of
existence completely during the La
Toilette campaign. The convention
was a representative political assembly
Of producers, free of old party pol
iticans and professionals.
They Know What They Want.
within one Of the briefest sessions,
perhaps, in the history of political as
semblies, this convention of workers
and farmers, created a new party, de-
cided its platform, its form and struc.
ture of organization, adopted resolu.
tons, elected committees and tenn
porary officers and decided on another
convention inviting all workers or
ganizations, trade unions, farmers and
cooperative organizations to send
delegates. There was no squabbling
over parliamentary procedure or
trfhing. Every one of those present
knew what they wanted and why and
what kind of political organization,
and why they came to this convention.
The convention adopted a tentative
constitution defining the structure of
the farmer-labor party of the state of
Washington, to be a composite of af-
fihatde workers organizations, trade
unions, farmers and cooperative or
CARNATIONS and clubs Of unorganized
workers and farmers not to exceed %
members each.
The platform adoptde demands that
the government give loans to all cit
liens on equal terms as provided in
the federal constitution. 1t demands
a system Of land tenure to secure the
land for the users.
1t calls for the naturalization of
all natural resources, industrial mon
opolies, public utilities and means of
communication. The organization of
workers in the industries for partici-
patton in the management of the in
dustries.
It calls for the abolition Of injunc-
tons, the use Of militia and army in
labor disputes, abolishing of military
training in all public schools. 1t favors
occupational representation in all
legislative bodies and public institu-
tions Pacincation of child labor
amendments, release of a political
prisoners, immediate recognition of
Soviet Russia. Immediate granting of
freedom to the Filipinos.
Resolutions protesting the incarcera-
ton of Sacco and Vanzetti, against the
criminal syndicalism law, etc.. were
adopted.
Hit LaFolIette Movement.
The convention was opened by a
number of speeches by w. ]. Fortson,
Elihu Bowles, Aaron Fisherman, ]. H.
Anderson, F. B. West, H. G. Price and
others.
w. J. Fortson emphasized the neces-
sity of farmer-labor party and went
into the record Of the La Toilette
movement condemning it.
Elihu BowIes regretted the side
tracking of the farmer-labor party by
the LaFollette party.
Aaron Fisherman said that the work
ers and farmers, in order to wrest the
powers of state from the ruling class,
must organize economically and polit-
itically.
The farmer-labor party must be
build on economic grounds to rep
resent the interests of the producers.
It's structure must be a composite of
workers and farmers organizations
and it's membership of the producing
class.
Speeches, militant in character,
were delivered during the progress of
the convention by John Weppler,
Archie Young. A. F. Meisner, F.
Bostrom and others.
Meet August at Yakima.
A call for the next convention to
be held on August /, at Yakima,
Wash, the farming region, has been
issued TO all workers organizations,
farmers, trade unions and cooperative
organizations. At this convention the
ratification Of the work Of the conven-
ton held on July 4 will take place.
Also election of committees, nomina-
ton Of candidates for public offices
and such other business as II may
come before the convention.
officers elected win hold over and
serve until the Yakima convention.
J. B. Kelleher OF Sedro-Woolley is
chairman, and A. +. Meisner OF
Tacoma, secretary. The latter urges
that anyone interested in the conven-
ton or anything else concerning the
activities OF the body 10 get in touch
with him at $50 Broadway, Tacoma.
Messages Of greetings were read to
tho assembly from william Bouck,