The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-06
LdbOr-Farnper
MiSLeaderS At
3rdPartyMeet
Germs of Fascism in
Program of Sd Party
Movement

NEW YORK-Labor and farmer
misleaders united with a group Of
muddled liberals to discuss the build
ing Of a radical third political
party before an audience Of 500 at
Cooper Union last night. The meet
ing was called by the recently Or
ganized Farmer-Labor Political Fed
Grafton. Praise for Roosevelt and
LaGuardia was a dominant note in
all the speeches.
Alfred M. Bingham, Executive Sec
rotary of the Federation and chair
man Of the meeting explained the
objective Of the movement: ave want
to build an American movement
based on American traditions but
going beyond American movements
Of the past which were chiefly con-
cerned with reformism." Stressing the
need for a radical change, and de-
nouncing the capitalist system, Bing-
ham expressed the hope that the
change would be accomplished with
out civil war or violence.
Thomas A,nilie, chairman of the
Federation and former Congressman
and one Of the leaders Of the third
party movement declared that the
way to save the masses from poverty
and ruin to be elimination of the
absentee ownership of the means of
production through social ownership
and control. This would, however,
not exclude ownership by an in
dividual of his home or farm, he said.
John StracheyS article in the Daily
Worker of December 80 ably shows
how this program of leaving the
small man untouched is closely
akin to that Of Hitler.
How does Amlie propose to bring
about this social ownership of the
means Of production? "It is neces-
sary to change the constitution Of
the U.s." he declared. He proposed
doing this by sending petitions to
Congress demanding the calling of a
new constitutional convention to re-
organize the constitution sin line
with the principles Of the declara-
ton of independence" Amhe's praise
for Roosevelt and LaGuardia left no
doubt in the minds of most of those
present Of the brand of his radical
ism"
Alexander Whitney, President of
the Brotherhood of Railroad Train
men who put over a wage cut on the
railroad workers to aid the railroad
owners and bankers advocated ma
tionalization of the railroads.
I'VE propose that the government
provide credit for the continued oper-
alton Of the roads, take the profit
out of furnishing credit and relieve
the industry Of that evil and unnec-
essary load" he said. He wants gov
ernmenG operation of the railroads to
| aid the railroad owners. AS for the
third party movement, Whitney
thought organized labor would sup
port 1t. The highpoint of the eve
ning's discussion came with the
speech of Milo Reno, president of the
Farm Holiday Association and motor
ious for his role in breaking the
farmers strikes. When Reno de-
clared he would not support any
change in the constitution of the
/ United States, many in the audience
showed their disgust by heckling and
laughter.
You'll be emancipated under the
constitution just as Lincoln freed the
slaves" said Milo.
Your brain has taken a holiday, -
| shouted a worker you may think
you can fool the farmers with that
but you can't feed us that dope, y
another called out,
Reno deynagogically changed his
tune and spoke Of the farmers prob
lens.
The farmers, ne said, would pre-
vent any eviction with the help OF
God Not word of the heroic mass
+, struggles of the farmers which he
attempted to smother and later be-
trayed. The audience moved towards
the doors. Milo was soon speaking
to rows Of empty seats.