The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-10-27
By FRED FIRESTONE.

objection Campaign Director, Los Angeles.)
IN analyzing our achievements and short
comings in our Election Campaign work in
Southern California we must take into con-
sideration the peculiar difficult conditions our
section finds itself in. The attack of the
Chamber of Commerce on our section leader
ship almost completely shattered our section
apparatus. And the police terror on the left
wing labor movement since March 9th unem-
Payments demonstrations has been intensified.
Not week has passed since Feb. 26th with
out arrests and trials involving the most active
comrades. This terror is, of course, having
its affect on our membership and is constant
~ weakening our section.
Achievements in Election Campaign.
However, with all the shortcomings and
weaknesses we can record some achievements:
The section arranged election rallies with Com
rade SImons, governor candidate, In Bakers
field, San Bernardino San Pedro, San Diego
and Los Angeles with the attendance varying
from so to 400 workers.
In Bakersfield it was the first time that the
Communist Party held meeting there. Sew
eral contacts were made. In San Bernardino
the city that instigated the famous children
camp trial. it was the first time that the
Communist Party held meeting there and
was not broken up by the police. Fifty work
press threats. In San Pedro an open air meet
ing of three to four hundred marine workers
and sailors was broken up by police and Com
rade Simons and three more comrades were
arrested. In San Diego IS workers attended
the meeting. Eight workers afterwards made
applications to the Party.
In Los Angeles Comrade Simons was greeted
by well attended banquet on Sept. Goth On
the following day he spoke in the morning be-
fore Mexican workers and in the evening at
a big rally attended by about 400 workers
Thousands of leaflets as well as Daily Work
ers and pamphlets were distributed.
Though we made little Roadway in the sig
nature drive we cannot at all discount the
fact that the comrades have visited hundreds
of working class homes and brought the Com
rnunist Party to their attention, Several Vote
Communist Clubs were organized and though
we did not succeed in drawing in many out
sideSworkers it was nevertheless good start.
theological Shortcomings.
Our theological shortcomings manifested
themselves IN an underestimation by the sec
ton committee of the difference between this
efecton campaign and previous election cam
paigns, lack of political guidance and organ
national leadership to the Party membership.
A complete lack of understanding by the entire
membership of the role of the Party in the
election campaign and the tremendous posi-
bliltles for mass work. 1t may seem strange
that after what has been written and spoken
about Third Period" our membership did not
grasp the great economic changes taking
place in this country and throughout the capt.
talist world. For how else can we explain
such an attitude as displayed by our section
membership?
First of all the great majority of our mem
bers still have the old ideas of the role of the
Party IN this election campaign mainly that
we use the capitalist elections as a means of
propaganda only, leaving out of account the
great organizational opportunities. 1t also
shows that the comrades do not believe that
in this country the workers can force some
concessions from the capitalist government.
By looking at the present election campaign
the same way as on the previous election
campaigns means to leave out of account the
present economic crisis, and not to see the
readiness of the workers to struggle against
misery and starvation. Such ideas, of course,
lead the comrades not to take seriously the
Party's Election Platform, the Social Insur-
ance Bill, etc. Some comrades still hold the
opinion that "electioneering" is demoralizing
and corrupting the morale of the membership
and the Party should have nothing to do with
It'll
Organizational Shortcomings.
organizationally our section displayed more
serious weaknesses The election campaign
began with drive for signatures. Twelve
thousand for southern California as a quota
and twenty thousand for the whole state But
right at the outset the comrades showed an
indifference towards this important mass work
and remained SO until the last day of the drive,
with the result that an insignificant number
of signatures (700) were collected. But our