The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-04-21
Ramsay Macdonald and the |. L. P.
Bv 7 ]. O,FLAHERTY


" former, and first labor premier of
Great Britain was receiving the
plaudits of the capitalists and labor
takers in the United States and
spreading good cheer, optimism and a
certain brand of pacifism-beloved
by the demonstrating section of
the capitalist everywhere he
went, a delegate conference of his
own party in annual meeting as
sembled was busy discussing ways
and means of how best to wind up his
political career, as an LIP. leader.
The conference finally decided not
to put forward MacDonald's name
for treasurer of the Labor Party or
to nominate him as delegate of the
LIP. to the next Labor Party con-
ference.
What Does 1t Mean?
Is this a gentle tap on the wrist or
sock like unto what one would get
from a mule?
Why has the Independent Labor
Party not revolutionary party of
action by long way-turned down
the best advertised political labor
leader in Britain?
What relation does the LIP. bear
to the Labor Party and how much in
fluence has it in the councils of the
Labor Party?
From the correct answers to those
questions and not on the observations
of Arthur Henderson and other sup
porters of Ramsay Macdonald can be
determined the weight of the wallop
inflicted on MacDonald's political rear
by the conference of the LIP.
Followers No Longer.
In refusing to nominate Macdonald
for treasurer of the Labor Party or
for delegate to the Labor Party con-
ference, his party showed its repu-
diation of his policies and his general
attitude towards the class struggle
in as vigorous manner as one could
expect from an organization composed
OF such genteel characters as most of
the LIP. leaders.
But genteel as they are they were
forced to respond to the pressure of
the masses from below who have
deeply resented MacDonald's treach-
cry during the general strike and his
sabotage of the miners afterwards.
Once Defended Him.
In those days the LIP. leaders
who have now practically ousted him
from the LIP. upbraided the Com
munists telling the British workers
that Macdonald was traitor to the
workingclass in the throes of a mighty
struggle and that he and Thomas and
Clynes and the rest of the ilk should
be left to cool their heels outside the
workingclass movement or warm
their shins before the drawing room
fires of the inhabitants of MAYFAIR.
The LIP. leaders charged the
Communists with using unseemly
language; that while it is perfectly
alright to disagree with a person it is
beastly to call crook a crook or a
faker faker. Some other name
would smell sweeter and would keen
the bridge from right to left safe for
the political pedestrian who might
like to cross over to the right when
the left began to lose its charm.
Do Hate Scab.
But the rank and file of the work
ingclass do not affect the Oxonian
They don't stroll along the
Strand becaned and bespatted They
drink their beer in their neighborhood
pub OF an evening and melodiouslv
curse the capitalist system and all it's
works and pomps.
And when strike is called they
stand on the picket line and consider
every enemy of theirs from the scab
to the, king lower in the social scale
than the flea on skinny dogs back.
They have no time for politeness.
They growl and grunble and finally
the polite lads at the top of the LIP.
took notice and offered Mac to the
wolves.
The Issues.
Concretely what in particular were
the issues over which Macdonald and
the IL. p. parted company?
l. The political policy of the LIP.
is based on theses (they don't call
it that; it would smell of Commu-
nism) entitled Socialist In Our
Time" Macdonald, an outstanding
leader of the party, indeed the leader.
wrote big book, ridiculing the LIP.
for formulating such a program and
pouring ridicule and scorn on those
who would put the interests of the
workingclass above those of the
raw material has now been emit