The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-01
Massachusetts, Labor Takers

OF ducking roll calls in the legislature
thus helping to kill labor bills. No
sooner had this charge been made on
the floor of the Boston C. L. U. than
a group of democratic state repre-
sentatives, Birmingham, Buckley, and
! Twohig, came back with a counter
charge against tho legislative agents
of labor in general, and Marty Joyce
in particular. This counter charge
came together with q challenge to de-
bate the charges on the floor of the
Boston c. L. u, but the takers were
wise enough to let the matter get
flushed up"
Expert Vote Getters.
So closely allied are these takers
with the politicians at the state house
that the politicians actually regard
the labor movement as their own
movement. For purposes of vote get
ting they make no distinction between
the democratic party and the labor
unions, thus in challenging Joyce to
debate the charges, these democratic
politicians ask, "Is Joyce exploiting
labor and the democratic party for
/ his personal Advancement" Thus
they foist the capitalist political party
upon the labor movement creating in
the minds of ignorant workers the
idea that the democratic party is the
1 political arm of the labor movement.
The illusion is thus created that if
| you are against the democratic party
you are also against labor-linking
the official labor movement with the
capitalist democratic party.
These politicians know how to es-
tablish the theological hegemony of
the capitalist party over the labor
movement because many of them, in
Guiding President Green, are so-called
/ labor-men.
Silent on Issues.
In this connection it is interesting
to note that in their eagerness to adj
vance their own fortunes and as they
become more independent of their re-
sponsibilties and obligations to the la
Dor movement in so far as the rank
and file are concerned, these legisla-
tive gents practically forget mot
unco- ,iously) that they are to fight
in be1aif Of labor. The glazing truth
Of this assertion was brought out
in the reply of the democratic poll
ticians who said:
"The legislative agents have so
little interest themselves in legisla-
tive matters that the legislators do
not know who they are. The only
written communication we have re-
ceived on legislation so far this sea-
son from labor is the one urging that
we vote for Sunday professional base
ball. On the other hand we have with
out solicitation appeared on labor
bills before committees and fought
for them in the house without a word
being spoken by labor's paid repre-
sentatives in the state house.
Sob Stuff.
Only when a very popular bill is
before the house, such as the one to
increase the hours of labor for women
in the textile industry of the state,
will these agents come out in force.
And on such vital bills the most SEN
1 timental slop is spilled instead of
making a powerful labor attack on
the textile barons.
Expose System.
The appearance of a Communist
Party spokesman, not to lobby or
seek political favors from capitalist
politicians, but to utilize to the great
est possible extent the limited oppor-
tunities of capitalist democracy, to
champion the cause of the working
class, to raise the proper slogans and
issues, to develop united front move
ment with all honest elements for a
fight on certain issues, to expose the
fraud of the system and all its ram
ifications. is a duty that is sadly neg
leeted by the movement.
When one considers the tremen-
dous amount of money and energy
that is put into a political campaign
"a very necessary phase of activity
and compares results with those OBJ
tanned by participating officially as a
Communist Party at such hearings,
it will be readily seen that next to
the election Of candidate, participa-
ton at public hearings is the great
est means of utilizing the capitalist
legislatures as forum (limited and
restricted as it isl from which to
speak to the masses. Not only are
these hearings at which all interested
yoico their. oniY,ior,u wall offardad b,,+
the capitalist news agencies broad
cast the proceedings turnout the land.
Workers Forum.
Such opportunities should and must
be utilized by the party. Next to
parliament or legislatures this serves
as a tribunal from which to speak
and rally the masses around the re-
evolutionary movement. Women's or
ganizations, youth organizations, the
Workers Party, all interested in the
daily struggles of the workers must