The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-12-17
By JAY LOVESTONE.


~ and fights for it is a progressive
He who is against labor party in
1928 is a reactionary.
He who does not work energetical-
ly for labor party in 1928 is rem
dering objective support to the reac-
tionaries.
This rule applies also to all organ
izations which claim to be of work
ing class character. That labor or
ganization which fights for a labor
party is progressive organization.
That labor organization which stands
in the way of or binders the forma-
ton of labor party is consciously or
unconsciously serving in the role of
handmaiden of the most dangerous
reaction in the country.
S. p. Reactionary---Is Against Labor
Party.
This applies particularly to the So
cialist party, whose leadership pre-
tends that the socialist party is the
labor party. The socialist party is
much too narrow in its composition.
The socialist party does not CORE
spond to the stage of political devel-
opment of the American working
class.
The socialist party bureaucracy of
the type of Hillquit, Berger and
Company are part and parcel Of the
union-wrecking official leadership of
ho
Third Party and Labor Party.
Of course, we must not confuse a
third party with labor party.
Berger, who is now national chair
man of the socialist party, and other
extreme right wing leaders of this
organization, have declared their en-
dorsement Of third petty-bourgeois
party.
A third party need not necessarily
be labor party. 1t may be part
of disgruntled, disappointed, middle
and petty-bourgeoisie. While we well
come the dissolution of the two-party
system, while we welcome the confu-
sion in the ranks of the bourgeoisie,
we do not base our policy on these
divisions within the ranks of the
bourgeoisie. We only utilize these
divisions and riffs in the interest Of
the working class.
Third" Party Is Not Labor Party
A third party consisting of these
petty-bourgeois elements and based
on them is not party of the work
ers. Such party is not worthy of
the support Of the workers. Such a
third party is an enemy of the labor
party.
Such a third progressive" party
! must be fought by the workers. 1t
cannot speak for the basic class in
terests of the proletariat.
Possibilities and Limitations of the
Labor Party
The next step, very basic step,
in the development of the political
consciousness of our workers, is to-
wards the formation of a labor par
tv or a national united labor ticket.
The breakdown of the two-party sys-
tenn must be pushed by all militant
workers, since this two-party system
has been one of the worst obstacles
in the path of independent working:
class political action on a mass basis.
Trade Unions Must Be Base of Labor
Party.
A labor party must be based on the
economic organizations of the work
ers, primarily the trade unions,
otherwise it cannot live. A labor
party will be the next step to serve
as unifier of the working class on
a national basis in the United States.
Of course, a labor party is not a
party of the most advanced and con-
scious militants. 1t is a federative
organization of working class organ
izations and groups, political as well
as economic,
We should not and cannot permit
the development of illusions in our
ranks that a labor party is the agen-
cy which will seize political power
for the proletariat. The labor party
is merely the next step in the devel-
opment of our working class politi-
cally. The labor party can and must
be made to serve for advancing in
some measure the interests of the
working class and as much as posi-
BILE impede the political aggressions
of the bourgeoisie.
Capitalist Parties Cannot Serve
Workers.
Such tasks the democratic and re-
publican parties can never fulfill.
They are outright enemies of the
working class. Their best men and
most progressive forces are likewise
enemies of the working class.
The "good man" theory of bour-
geois politics has only served to raise
havoc in the labor unions and to make
the labor organizations bind them
selves to the capitalist parties. Look
at the paralyzing grip that Tammany
Hall has on the New York labor
movement!
The Job Ahead.