The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-27

The participation of the Party in
municipal election campaigns &C
quaints all sections of the popula-
ton with our class struggle program.
This has been the experience Of the
Party in two Iowa cities.
The question of participating in
the elections was raised in the Party
units when issues for the coming
campaign and announcements Of
capitalist candidates in the local
press marked the beginning of an
election.
The Party in the two cities en-
tered the campaign for the first
time 1t was unfamiliar with cleo
tion laws; it did not know how
many signatures we're required or
the filing date for nomination
papers; it did not know the number
and kind of offices to be filled, and
what are the differences between
the primary and general elections
under a commission form of gov
eminent. These questions had to
be answered before the Party could
take one step further. The answers
to these questions were obtained
from the statute books and SYM
pathetic lawyers.
When the membership was con-
vinced of the Party's stand for par
ticipation in parliamentary elections
it began selecting candidates and
formulating brief outline Of a
program. The membership had to
be convinced that the probable
small number of votes cast for
workers candidates as compared
with capitalist candidates is not
sign of weakness of the Party; that
we should not wait for endorsement
of labor candidates by the A. F. Of
L.; that candidates can run on
workers program in spite of the
non-partisan character Of the cleo
tons; that to delay entering can
didates with the hopes Of other labor
candidates appearing would make
us lose time and opportunity of
bringing forward workers pro-
gram.
Ignoring the elections would per-
NIT the field to be wide open to mis-
leaders of labor; the bipartisan
character of the election does not
mean the participation of the
Communist Party. The Communist
Party can endorse workers can
didates and their program. When
the various degrees of opposition to
entering the campaign were over
come the Party proceeded with the
selection of candidates and drawing
up a program.
The selection of candidates and
the formulation of a local program
for each candidate required the
knowledge of local affairs; Party
demands; knowledge of duties of Of
ficers and the possession of quail
fed candidates. Party and non
Party workers with standing and
reputation as mass leaders among
the workers we're selected as can
didates. Workers with special quail
f1cation and knowledge of certain
departments of the city were selected
to run for that department. For
instance, a comrarde had worked
for number of years in the street
department. He was chosen to run
for Commissioner of Streets and
Public Improvements.
Since each candidate had to run
independently, common program
could not be drawn up for all, Each
candidate drew up his own work
er's program corresponding to his
respective office. Each candidate
had to be able to say what he would
do if elected. For example, the cam
didate for Commissioner of Public
Safety would not permit the police
to break up picket lines; would not
use the fire department to break
up workers demonstrations; there
would not be any raids on workers
meetings etc, etc.
An issue such as free, non-toll
paying bridge, was supported By our
candidates but with an explanation
that this issue was used by other
candidates to sidetrack the question
of unemployment relief. Each can
didate supported the demands for
city ordinance for cash relief for
the unemployed, for the repeal of
the criminal syndicalist laws, and
for a Workers Advisory Council.
The Communist Party came out en-
I.W.O. Plans Courses