The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-02-05
BY ]. LAWSON.

'f7EF illusions of democracy, OF the right TO
L change government by ballot, Of the right TO
petition government are widespread all over the
country Millions of workers have been fed up
on these illusions which helped the capitalist
class to continue their class rule under the cloak
of democracy But when the workers begin to
use even this so-called democracy for the pur-
pose of exposing it, for the purpose of revealing
the class nature of capitalist democracy for
the mobilization of the workers for struggle for
their immediate demands the brutal class char
acter of present society is revealed in all its
nakedness.
But nowhere do we find such open outspoken
class laws as in the State of Missouri. Besides
the above limitations, the most difficult thing
for working class candidate is to get on the bal
lot In the city of st. Louis only assessed tax
payers for two years can be candidates for al
dernlen This is definitely intended to exclude
workers from getting on the ballot.
Working class parties are even more excluded
from getting on the ballot. political party
within the definition of the capitalist law is one
that received three per cent Of the entire vote
in the previous elections. But you cannot get on
the ballot as political party in order to receive
that number of votes. Candidates of working
class parties when they go on the ballot as
"non-partisan candidates" have to pay de
post as evidence of good faith" per cent of the
salary for one year Of the office for which he
is candidate, which goes to the city revenue fund
while candidates of the recognized political par
ties have to show receipt from their respective
city central committees.
Communist Party Exposes Fake Democracy
In the elections in the city of st. Louis that
take place April Z. 1881, the Communist Party
for the first time puts its candidates in the field
lie
fighting to get the candidates on the ballot IN
der the name of the Party exposing their sham
democracy the Communist Party will carry on
the campaign on issues of vital Importance to
the working class.
Unemployment relief is the main issue raised
in the platform of the Communist Party. APP
preparation of S10,000,000 from the city budget
for immediate relief to be paid from the sinking
funds; cutting down the police budget cutting
salaries Of the city officials to maximum of
$4,000 year, and by levying taxes on all incomes
of $4,000 year and over, is the main issue in
this campaign. The answer the board of Alder
men gave the thousands of workers that put
these demands before them on January 18TH has
opened the eyes of many workers as to their
right to petition government, and has made them
more determined to fight for these demands.
The fight against evictions, and for laws that
will prohibit eviction of unemployed workers; the
fight against the exorbitant rent paid by the
workers; for seven cents street carfare instead
of the highway robbery 10 cent fare; for free
carfare for the unemployed and their children;
for free wholesome meals for the children Of the
unemployed; for lower rates Of gas and electric.
1t is on these issues that the Party will rally
the working class for support.
st. Louis, the gateway to the south, can very
well compare in its oppression Of the over 100000
Negro workers that live in it, with the south.
They are jinl-crowed in every restaurant, theat-
tire, meeting halls, union and schools. Separate
schools have been established for children Of the
Negro workers, their children getting only four
hours schooling two shifts day because the
schools are overcrowded.
Against this the Communist Party puts forth
the program for full social political and eco
nnnlic rights Of the Negro workers, relentless