Montana labor news., 1932-07-28
LEAGUE FOR INDEPENDENT
POLITICAL ACTION ADOPTS
PROGRAM AT CLEVELAND

Definite steps yer taken towards the formal organization of a new
united political party in America, composed of groups in sympathy with its
program, by the League for Independent Political Action at its national
conference in Cleveland on July 9 and 10. By action of the conference a
national congress will be called early in 1888, to which will be invited repre-
sentatives of the Farmer Labor parties in the different states, the Socialist
party, the Independent Labor party of West Virginia, farmers groups
trade unions, organizations of the unemployed and other groups of similar
program. This national congress will undertake the final action for which
the League has been working for years.
Strong endorsement was given Norman Thomas together with al enconi
um for the Socialist platform. Endorsements were also recommended for
various candidates of the Farmer Labor and Independent Labor parties
The League voted with enthusiasm to back a selected list of candidates in
sympathy with its program in all parts of the country. No Republican
or Democratic candidates will be endorsed.
DR.. John Dewey was reelected with acclaim to the post of chairman
of the national committee, with Dr. Paul Douglas of the University of
Chicago Mrs. Anna cothier Hull and Emil Rieve, president II the Full
Fashioned Hosiery Workers of America, a vicecharman. Oswald Carl
son Willard, editor of The Nation, as reelected treasurer. Howard Y
Williams, national organizer, and John W. Herring, executive secretary
were reelected.
Dr. Dewey in a masterful address, presented in broad, telling strokes
the present economic and political situation. political ignorance and
economic niteracy" all the nation, Dr. Dewey declared. Democracy has
joined the unemployed"
Oswald Garrison Willard in a ringing address castgated the ineffective
ness of the present political order and described in graphic terms the Wor-
ny Go Round at Washington, where members of congress and the presi
dent move in a n atmosphere of indedsiveness and gloom.
Paul H. Douglas delivered a powerful statement in which he stated that
1.-THE white collar worker is the largest single class in America, number
ing 100000 individuals compared with 10000 900 workers and II 100000
farmers" This great group must decide whether-to affiliate with the
capitalist group, or with the worker and farmer. "The white collar group
has as great economic reason to seek a change as any group. 1t can
look the farmer and the laborer square in the face and cease to feel any
INST of inferoriy in view of its great size and Importance"
After tense debate for hours the League adopted the following program;
VOTERS OF 1882:
shtute intelligent poltcal. leadership for misrule. Only by abandoning the
tWlnm machines OF the Republican m Democratc parties, n supporting
independent candidates who stand for a united third party o a progressive
program of social control devoted to the welfare of the masses, can
1utlty be avoided in the future.
While re do not necessarily support every feature in the ultimate pro-
gram of the Socialist party, W do believe that in the present election the
candidacy and platform of Norman Thomas are infinitely preferable to
those Of other parties, and we therefore urge all our members and frlends
to work and vote for him.
The creation of strong local and state parties committed to a program
of protecting the interests of farmers, manual workers and white-colared
folk is however, absolutely basic, and n % national movement can develop
without them. We urge, therefore, that all our members and friends use
their full efforts to assist in organizing their wards, their cities, and their
states, and thus build the new party from the bottom up. In many locah-
ties this will mean active cooperation with the Socialist party; in others,
such as Minnesota and Chicago, with the FarmerLabor party; while in
other localities u members should help in forming new groups for this
purpose.
the following issues to be of crucial Importance in 1882:
]. Direct unemployment relief by the Federal government; and adequate
public works program, especially for housing; free labor exchanges; a
thrty-hour week to increase employment; Federal unemployment insurance
along with health insurance, old age pensions, etc; cost of public services
TO be net by increases inheritance axes ras'ct axe on large income
and taxes o speculative land values; the fostering of all sound measures
for the increase of the purchasing power of the people
q Public ownership of such utilities as coal, gas and electricity, water
power, oil and railroads; and meantime unwaverng opposition to the in
terests seeking to exploit the heritage of the people for private gain.
{. Restoration of agriculture to a secure basis by tax relief for farm
property; federal school aid; better roads, developing of cooperative sales,
of a Federal marketing agency and particularly by lowering tariffs, the
most important means of helping at once the farmer and the industrial
worker.
A Reorganization of the entire banking system to make it serve the
people instead of private promoters; to limit speculation; to assure full
publicity to all stages of bank procedure; and establishment of The postal
savings system as a peoples bank to cover all departments of the banking
business. Sterilization of prices at a higher level but with due protection
of real wages.
{. Legislation to safeguard justice, including free speech, free press,
and assembly, the right to strike and picket, and the abolition of the
injunction in labor disputes, and complete political rights for Negroes and
other oppressed groups; abolition of the third degree" the socaIed
criminal svndicaism" and "sedtionv laws. espionage acts. etc; the up-
building of u courts into dependable and honorable instruments Of law;
the immediate calling of a national constitutional convention to modernize
the government and governmental method. While ON democratic principles
We recognize the right of the people to vote effectively Oh the abolition
II the modification of the 18th amendment, we condemn the Republican
and Democratic parties for subordnahng urgent economic issues to the
liquor question.
8 Drastic immediate cuts in our ornaments, abolition of compulsory
military training in schools and colleges and of the citizens military train
ing camps; revision of the Treaty of Versailles; fullest cooperation with
the League of Nations, and entrance into the World Court; recognition of
Soviet Russia; cancellation of war debts in return for European co-Opera-