The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-02-21
BY VIM. z. FOSTER.


Ii over the United States there is a sharp
n rehabilitation of the workers, under the pres
sure of the economic crisis, and, more than most
of us realize, under the inspiring influence of
the Soviet Union. This new spirit is exeln-
pifed in many ways; by the big unemployment
demonstrations, the growing strike movements,
the increased miitancy of the workers But no.
where is it more striking than in the West. In
deed, there is veritabe awakening taking place
among the workers of the western states.
For many years, the West was the stronghold
of the revolutionary movement in the United
States. The heroic battles of the old Western
Federation OF Miners, the many struggles of the
/ w. w, the deeply intrenched A. F. of L. unions,
the strong and cat that time) quite militant
sections of the Socialist Party-all testified to
the glowing revolutionary ardor of the workers
in the West
But about dozen years ago. with the onset
of the long period Of prosperity, the old-time
fighting spirit among the Western workers
seemed to evaporate. The L w. w. declined in
numbers, influence and fighting spirit, the A. F.
of L. unions were broken up or passed almost
wholly to class collaboration policies, the S. P.
lost the last traces of any miltancy it once had
and most of its organizations also The work
ers seemed hardly to have kick left in them.
Now, however, the West is coming back with
bang Again thu workers are beginning to
display their old-tinle militancy and fighting
spirit. A veritable wave of rehabilitation, born
out of the intolerable economic conditions, is
now sweeping over the whole West. In the strug-
gle of the coming period. the workers in the
western states will play big and decisive role,
and this time, Of course, the workers movement
will be broader in scope, deeper politically, and
of a more lasting character generally.
This new spirit was quite manifest to me at the
very edge of the West st. Louis. There the
T. u. u L. unemployed council meeting was the
best gathering held by revolutionary workers for
at least 20 years the memory of our local com
rsde. running back so far as a better meeting
Il, the midst of living conditions that are terrible
the workers, both black and white, fairly radi-
atad with enthusiasm and fighting spirit.
Kansas City was repetition of st. Louis, but
even more clearly expressed the new militancy
of the West. Again the comrades declared there
had not been such a fine meeting for many years
1t was made up Of splendid proletarian elements
Ia Kansas City. 1 came into contact with
comrades fresh from the Oklahoma oil fields
here the situation is truly inspiring. The
; Mkers the large majority of whom are ma
.i9e-boTa are displaying the keenest' mihtancy
reanjrGs me Of the great days of the l. w. w.
IN Goldiield
OpaaAa, with excellent meeting, emphasized
afresh tda rising fighting spirit of the workers
Many tirlcS l have spoken in Omaha during
the last yesrs hat this Was the best meeting
eyer saw there, rot only as to size and prole-
tartan composition but especially with regard
to enthusiasm and militancy.
peIyer aft?y e. big. unemployment demonstEa-
ton the day before, turned out crowd of 1900
at .25e. admission. 1t was splendid--the. same
enthusiasm, the same cilitancy, the same basic
worker elements. The capitalists who also every
where sense the new spirit of the workers, had
mounted police fer block in every direction
from the meeting hall
Then, last night, came Salt, Lake City. This
meeting and the circumstances surrounding it.
are a real symbol OF the awakening West A few
weeks ago we had almost nothing in Salt Lake