The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-09-03
The Farmer and
Labor Day
By ALFRED KNUTSON

THE vast masses of farmers in America are still
sticking in the old political rpt, they still led
to believe that it is advantageous for them to make
alliance with country bankers and the small bust
ness interests in general.
Only small section Of the farming masses have
today to the realization Of the futiity of col
laboiatg with the capitalist forces which are doing
their best to rob the farmer of the fruits Of his toll
The farmer however is disgusted with his own
nomic condition and becoming and dis
gusted with organizations and movements which
are endeavoring to give him "relef" That is, for
the first time in many years he is at least begin
ming discover that there is something wrong about
the methods used by the advocates of farm relief.
He is not so easily fooled into believing what the
capitalist politicians telling him. He examines
farm relief proposals critically than before and
though he still fingers in the old rut his entire per-
spective in relation to his own problems is
undergoing big changes.
The opportunities for getting the farmer up on his
feet and to fight in his own interests were never
better than at the present time OF course,
must realize that nothing can be done to rouse the
farmers into action unless live, energetic driving
forces built up amongst them.
The masses of farmers in this country do not
understand the city industrial worker and one of
the big reasons for this misunderstanding lies in
the clever propaganda Of the capitalists which sep
arates them by telling them that they have nothing
in common, either politically or economically. The
farmer, the capitalists tell the worker, hires la
borers and he is therefore, capitalist, is inter
ested in having the city worker pay much
possible for farm products, and consequently is
exploiter with nothing in common with the city
worker And the farmer his side is being told
that the city workers responsible for the high
prices he must pay for the manufaetured articles
he buys because of the high wages paid to the
farmer The real truth which is that the capitalists
are exploiting both the farmer and the city worker,
is nv me he
did his game exploitation would come to sudden
end. .t
A big service can be rendered the revolutionary
movement in America by continually enlightening
both the worker and the farmer to their identity
of interests, all the time pointing out who the real
robher is, and farmers must learn to work to-
gether and solve their problems by united front
of both classes with the city workers taking the
leadership in the major struggles against the CAPT
talists.
On Labor Day the farmer should demonstrate to-
gether with the city worker. I do not now have in
mind the September labor day which is not the
real labor day but day set apart by the capital
lists to strengthen their hold on the robbery of Ia
Dor, but the First of May, which is the real workers
and farmers holiday.
was in Russia in 1924 on the First of May and
both the farmers and the workers celebrate
this day of days in complete solidarity After they
established a-worlers and farmers government over
there they have trouble at all in getting the
farmers and workers to work together harmon
ously, both the political and economic fronts.
We should strive by all might to do the
same thing here. When the First Of May, 1927
comes around let as many farmers possible join
the city workers in demonstrations for the unity
of the workers of the whole world. Because of its
tremendous importance in bringing the farmer and
city worker closer together should strive to
organize such joint demonstrations, matter how
small these may be to begin with. This should be
of special tasks for next May Day in as
many sections of the country as possible.
Farmers and city workers, unite