The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-12
By NJ. CHILDs

THE Eighth Convention Of our
Party pointed out that in view
Of the growing rehabilitation of the
American masses. the capitalist
class, with the help of the Social
Fascist leaders. viii attempt to es-
tsblish all kinds of rauying centers
for intercepting the disillusioned
masses and to set up barriers against
Communism. This is the chief pur-
pose Of the Fsrmer-Lsbor Party at
this time.
A year ago, the labor bureaucracy
introduced the N. r. A. to the work
ing class as a CLEAN of hope and
"a charter that puts labor on an
equal status with that Of the en-
ployer." Since then, masses have,
to a great extent, become disillu-
stoned with the promise Of the
New Deal" The CLEAN Of new
hope" turned out to be like will
of-the-wisp-iust mirage that WIS
created to serve the capitalist class
and put damper upon the discon-
tent Of the working class.
Although millions Of workers and
farmers still pin their hope upon
the promises Of Roosevelt and the
Democratic Party, there is, never
theless, a great deal Of dissatisfac-
ton both with the Democratic as
well as the discredited Republican
Party. Monopoly capital will there
fore try to lead the masses through
other channels-perhaps a third
party, or should the situation war
rant--a Farmer-Labor Party. For
a time, it seemed as though the
so-ealled La Toilette Progressives
would be merged with the Demo-
cratic Party. Many so-cslled pro-
gressives were given high-paying
positions in the administration
Blaine, Brookhsrt and others.
When Postmaster General Farley
visited Milwaukee in 1888, he stated
that the Democrats will no longer
give special consideration to the
Progressives and urged that they
Join the Democratic Party. 1t is
obvious that since the growing strike
struggles and diss ppointment with
the New Deal that such move
on the part of the La Toilette Pro-
gressives would not be to the ad-
vantage of the big bourgeoisie. In
order to tie workers, farmers, and
sections of the petty bourgeoisie to
capitalism. this could perhaps be
fulfilled better through another
party--a supposedly independent
party--a Farmer-Labor Party.
On May 10, there is to take place
a state convention Of the La Toilette
Progressive group, which will make
the decisions for separation from
the Republican Party and for the
formulation of a third party or a
Farmer Labor Party. Labor organ
izations "a. F. Of L. and other
organizations have been invited to
send delegates. A recent decision
Of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
makes it possible for this third
party to put up complete slate
of candidates, state and local. with
out going through the procedure
that minority parties usually have
to 90 through; signatures Of one
sixth of the voters in ten out Of the
10 counties in the state is suffi-
cient to legalize this party.
Already at the 41st annual con-
vention Of the Wisconsin Fedora
ton of Labor, nine months ago, a
resolution was adopted in favor Of
Labor Party. After the Supreme
Court decision was announced,
Henry Oil, Jr, president of the
Wisconsin Federation Of L a b or,
stated that now the road for a La
Dor Party is open.
The creation Of a Farmer-Labor
Party in Wisconsin has the support
of a section of the Socialist Party
leadership. Whether the Socialist
Party will definitely affiliate to this
Party is not yet clear, although some
Influential leaders like Norman
Thomas and Others favor such q
move. Some people will ask how
can the Socialist Party support the
creation Of a Farmer-Labor Party?
1t is not very hard for Social-Fas-
cism, when the need demands, to
merge itself for a time with one or
the other sections of the bourgeoisie.
Did they not do the same in 1924
when they campaigned to elect La
Toilette for president? For Wiscon-
sin, it is nothing new. There has
always been an understanding be-
tween the La Toilette Progressives
and the Socialists on the division
of spoils in Milwaukee. To console
the followers of the Socialist Party,
the resolution adopted at the Wis
consin State Federation of Labor
showers praise upon the Socialist
Party but blames the workers and
voters for their inability to grasp
the intricacies Of philosophy so
far-reached and so involved that
political adyersaries found it pos
Sibe to divide the voters by con-
fusing them still more"
Therefore, the Social-Fascists pro-
pose to simplify the philosophy
little and thus bring the stubborn
voters a little closer through a
Farmer-Labor Party as first step
and then to Socialism The So
cialist Party justified this move in
the following statement which ap-
peared in the Milwaukee Leader a
/ number of months ago:
The State Federation of Labor
Convention promotes the under
standing between organized and
industrial workers and organized
farmers.
For q long time the interests