The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-11-06
Putting Party
on the Ballot
inConnecticut
BY CHARLES MITCHELL

" SVS lOS uaIloIldl CdHQlQaLeS on Cne
ballot III the state of Connecticut.
in the present elections the Work.
ers (Communist) Party is on the
ballot in the Nutmeg State" and
besides the national ticket, repre-
sented by William z. Foster and
Benjamin Gitlow, we also succeeded
IN placing full state ticket, headed
by William Mackenzie for governor
and three congressman, Lyman
Wolfson, for Hartford, Joseph
Schlossberg, for. New Haven, and
Isadore Wofsy, for Stamford.
For the first time in the history
Of our Party, we have succeeded in
placing it on the ballot in this most
reactionary state, where the OPEN
shoppers reign supreme. For the
first time in the history of this
state, Workers Party will repre-
sent the workers with real work
ing class program, with demands
vitality essential for the lettering of
their conditions under capitalism,
ard at the same time putting for
ward its ultimate revolutionary aim
for the overthrow of the capitalist
system of society and for Comnu-
nism through the establishment of
the dictatorship of the proletariat.
Difficulties Overcome.
For the first time the workers.
from the huge metal shops, the
brass plants, the steel foundries, the
textile, rubber and ammunition fac
tories, which are the most exploited
group of workers in the country,
will have the opportunity to vote for
a real working class political party
and workers from the bench as can
didates.
Two things were absolutely neces-
sary, if we were to be successful in
this work; first, it was necessary to
start systematic discussion in
every unit, on the question: "Should
the Party be placed on the BALLOT"
Second, a certain number of COM
rades from each unit should take
the initiative and prove to the rest
how easy it is to get workers to
sign petitions for our Party.
This was done, and within a few
weeks the majority of our members
swung into line. This procedure
was unavoidable, in view of the fact
that this was the first time in the
life of some comrades that they
were to appear before great num-
bers of workers and were compelled
openly to identify themselves with
the Communist Party and break the
terrible seclusion that existed among
our members.
The next difficulty we had to
overcome was that great number
of our comrades lacked the English
language, not being able to present
cur Party's stand when confronted
by prospective signers.
This problem, too, was solved by
arranging the following methods:
First, a memeographed bulletin en-
bodying briefly the most important
demands of our election campaign
platform, a copy of which was left
with every voter visited, regardless
whether he or she signed for our
Party. And, in the case of an argu-
ment, all the comrade had to do was
to refer them to this material.
Second, comrades going out for
signatures were urged to carry with
them number of Party platforms,
which they themselves should thor
oughly read to know exactly on
what pages the various Party de-
mands are, so as to be able to refer
to thems copies of the platform to
be sold to everyone who signs our
petitions or left at their houses free
Of charge, if necessary. These
methods proved very successful.
Among those who helped tremen-
dously in this work are Gertrude
Duel, Rose Tomkin, N. Raskin and
Sarah Wand of New Haven, Ed.
Mrasko of Bridgeport and X. Ep-
stein and others of Hartford. Espe-
cially credit is due Comrade Duel,
who went out for signatures every
night from the beginning to the end
OF the campaign, collecting over 500
pames herself. Comrade Mrasko of
Bridgeport did something more! He
combined the getting of signatures
with selling literature. He always
carried with MIN from 25 to 80 cop
les of the platform and with asking
them to sign he would offer them
a copy of our program. In this way
he succeeded in selling a copy to
every other signer, having sold from
$50 to 300 copies thus.
Attract Non Party Workers.
In our signatures campaign we
succeeded in drawing into the work
many sympathetic workers in every
town in the state, who collected
of names for our Party.
In this respect, one in particular
must be mentioned, namely,
worker in a huge machine shop in
Rranford, Conn, who came to our
office, offered his help and took
petition lists. The next day at noon
hour, while the workers were eat.
ing their lunch on the benches, he
everyone in the shop and
obtained 30 signatures. Most of the
workers in his shop signed for it,