The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-12-01
(BASED ON SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION
BY POLITICAL BUREAU, C. P, U.S.A.)


l. The results of the elections show that the
growing rehabilitation of the masses, which is
Stunning the character of a growing revolutionary
upsurge still continues to express itself chiefly in
strike struggles of the nature of class (nari-
time strike, San Francisco General Strike, National
Textile Strike); in the resurgence of unemployed
struggles in the struggles of the Negro tolers for
equal rights in the growing desire for united &C
ton against the menace of war and fascism
In the election results this rehabilitation process
has found little conscious expression. The general
increase in the Communist Party vote with the ex-
ception of Minnesota and Connecticut where it de-
clined) is highly significant as indication of the
great possibilities of making this rehabilitation find
a fuller expression also the election field. But
thus far the overwhelming masses are still giving
their support to the two old capitalist parties espe
cially the Democratic Party of Roosevelt, while at
the same time there is growing evidence (vote for
the third party candidates. that the traditional two
party system is being shaken To this estimate must
be added the fact that, aside from the increased
abstention Of eligible voters in this election mil
lions Of toilers dsfranchised because of nom
citizenship denial of vote to Negro masses in the
South, YOUTH etc., as in all previous elections In
addition, large sections of unemployed were dis
franchised this year through forced migration in
ability to pay poll tax, etc Among these exploited
and DISTINGUISHED masses unquestonably larger
already opposed to the Roosevelt new deal"
q superficial view of the results of the cleo
lions would indicate that the voters have have
given an overwhelming endorsement of the Roose-
welt New Deal" policies To understand the mean
ing Of the election results we must, however at
once bear in mind the two-fod character of the
New Deal" namely the class nature of the Roose-
velt policies carried through in the interests of
finance capital and the heavy coat of left dema-
WITH
tries to cover up the New Deal" policies
The Roosevelt government and the ruling class
whose interests it represents already developing
with greater cynicism and speed the attack on the
living standards of the workers Immediately fol-
lowing the elections. This whole attack now is be-
ing carried through under the slogan of recovery
before REFORM" through which they hope to foil
the masses into believing that the crisis can be
solved in the interests of the masses on the basis
OF greater temporary sacrifices the part of the
masses. This represents nothing more than the
general policy of the capitalists to try to get out Of
the crisis at the expense of the workers
The Roosevelt government having carried
through the election fraud the masses now feels
more secure in its position to attack the masses
although accompanied by new demagogy which
must be exposed But careful analysis of the cleo
ton results will indicate that such attacks will be
met with the greatest resistance on the part of the
New Deal" candidates, because they did not yet
understand the class nature of the New Deal" and
were still fooled by the Roosevelt promises and
demagogy
g. The central questions are (a) why did the
great masses still vote for Roosevelt and % why
did the Communist Party not gain a larger vote in
the face of the undouoted naturalization and the
growing influence of the Party in the daily mass
struggles. The answer is to be found in: a. the
specific characteristics Of the election maneuvers of
American monopoly capital and the two party sys-
tenn, and the assisting role of the A. F. of L. bl-
reaucracy and Socialist Party reformism; b. the
still existing lack of Bolshevik mass work on the
part of the Communist Party organizations, espe-
cialy in the factories and unions: c. the weak
nesses and errors during the election campaign
a. The election maneuvers of the monopolies to
put across the class line of the American bourgeose
(to save capitalism by capitalist way out of the
crisis through more rapid fascination and war
preparation) aimed to achieve the following results
a. to strengthen the government machinery
for further attacks upon the standards of the
masses, faster tempo of fascination and war
preparations
b to prevent large increase in the Commit
mist vote
g to check the crystallzation of a third
party" in order to maintain the "two-party"
system.
3. The results of the elections show that the ma
neuvers Of monopoly capital though largely sue
cessfu are net fully so, and that these successes
are bound to prove temporary. The large vote for
Roosevelt, occurring in mid-term contrary to the