The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-03-24
By JAMES P. CANNON.

HS NOAASAuSi dJlOu Oh d hummer VI
new factors IN the objective situation
gave great Importance to the recent
meeting of the Central Executive
Committee of the Party. And, in adj
dition to that, the fact of the ap-
preaching national election campaign
gave a special significance to the
Plenum.
1928 will undoubtedly be a year Of
great political agitation, and interest
IL the elections will penetrate deeply
sp+ The masses. The public investi-
.ons of the enormous graft scan
dals and of the coal strike which are
now featuring the United States SEN
ate reflect profound disturbances
deep in the economic and political life
of America. The disgrace and COR
ruption they reveal make an appro-
pirate setting for the decline and
fall of the Coolidge Prosperity"
myth and they foreshadow some of
the vital issues of the class struggle
which viii be to the fore in the presi-
Dental election.
Mary hitherto inert workers,
rudely awakened from the dream of
Prepayment prosperity, will turn their
artgntion to politics this year. Our
Party will be able to utilize this cir
cumstance to great advantage and
can increase its influence and
strength to a considerable extent if
It is fully alive to the situation and
grasps the oportunity; if it comes
forward with all it's forces and en-
orgies as political party in the full
and complete sense of the word. 1t
must appear before the workers as a
party which has something to say and
a program to offer regarding each
and every problem vitality affecting
their lives, particularly those prob
lens and issues which will be placed
on the agenda of the election cam
paign.
Plenum Stressed Election.
At the sessions of the Plenum the
coming election campaign was promi-
nent in the debates. In this connec-
three questions were given par
ocular consideration, and the discus
sions at the Party membership meet
ings following the Plenum show that
these questions are also engaging the
attention of the party members.
These questions are: ~ Will we
support Labor Patty Ticket in the
1923 presidential election? (2) On
what basis vii we decide whether to
enter candidates of our own party?
t9) What viii be the policy of the
socialist party and our attitude
toward It?
The Plenum gave an answer to
these questions with which all Party
comrades should become familiar
ITO answer the first question it is
necessary first to refer to our gen
eral policy of the question. The
Plenum again reiterated the already
established party policy that Labor
Party, or a United Labor Ticket,
Which is the same thing in less de-
stopped form, must have firm basis
mass support in the unions. We
not prescribe definite numbers and
tainlv do not think the Labor
= hould wait in its formation for
'ial" sanction of the ruling
s, but in order to possess
~--et have a substantial
Ter than the present
ist sympathizers.
y Imperative.
ard the formation Of
a decisive step for
ass development Of the
)rkers, and it is one of
points of our party pol
< for this aim. 1t goes
ying that our Party would
IN the formation Of such
AMOR party and vote for it's candi-
les in the elections, while, at the
ne time, putting forward and popu-
izing our own independent plat
m and criticizing the reformist
ments and proposals in the United
Dor Party, and decisively refuting
idea that the Labor Party can
We the labor problem.
The question whether we will Sup
t" Labor Party ticket in the
IS elections naturally depends in
first place on the formation of
h party before the elections and
in torn depends on other factors
idcs our party Our attitude alone
not decide the question There is
siderable sentiment in the ranks
Of the workers for a Labor Party and
this sentiment is growing and viii
continue to grow under the pressure
If Increasingly worsening conditions.
But the prospect of Labor Party on
fairly broad basis being formed in
time for the 1923 elections is very ra-
mote, ard the probability of our Party
entering its own candidates conse-
nently is growing much greater. But
his prospect does not alter our main