The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1935-07-05
Farmers Union Herald.
st. Paul, MINI.
Dear Mr.. Kicker, Editor

We are glad that you have rails
ed the question of the future no
litical activity of the working
-eT qS!4Id sq4 10 9IdUBxe Gun DIN
Per and that you have invited cor
respondence from your readers ON
this subject.
You asked, as there a need for
a political party to- represent the
people who produce the wealth of
the nation but who are forced bv
the profit system to part with that
wealth, losing its possession and
benefits as soon as produced ?" We
agree with you that the answer is
eyes"
You have then asked "On what
basis should such a party be
built ?" To this you have answered.
"On the basis of production for
use, in abundance, and not for pri-
vate profit"
Since the question OF program is
one of the key questions in the
formation of a labor party, we
feel that it is necessary to repeat
some of your remarks in this re-
gard.
"The party would seek to change
the capitalist or profit system with
its private monopolistic exploita-
ton of the wealth producers for
private gain and concentration of
wealth in a few hands, to one
which would make cooperation,
pOrduction for use, and distribu-
ton to all to the point of reason
able comfort and individual secur-
ity." You state this would, you add
replace capitalism with at least
something resembling socialism.
because the opposite of capitalism
is socialism. If the capitalist or
profit system be abolished and a.
mother system replaces the CAPT
talist system, then the other sys-
tenn by whatever name you call it,
is in essence socialism"
You have raised many questions
in the above but one has ben for
gotten, and that the most impor-
tant one.
"What is to be the program of
a party of working people p
After all both farmers and work
ers are most certainly being dri-
ven to lower standards of living,
are being oppressed with greater
intensity. A real party of the
working people should have some
thing important to say on the
questions that harass the working
people,-unemployment, wage cuts
relief cuts, subsistence homesteads,
terror, war, evictions, foreclosures
and so on.
In explaining the new political
lineup you have neglected these
most important qustiOns. Instead
you have talked of cooperation"
of production for use in abun-
dance and not for profit, Of Soc
ialism and such like.
These things should be discussed
we feel for the question of contin
uing to exist under the capitalist
systm is being raised in the minds
of the working people.
When, however, you talk abou
these basic problems to the exclu
sion of immediate questions o.
living standards, of security, o
! adequate relief for workers anC
!, farmers then it is very differen
question.
What is the main job right nov
among the working people? Tha
' they shall be organized to figh
in defense of their living stan
dards and in order to raise them
that they shall fight against fas
cism and war.
When you do not mention thes
: things we are forced to conclud
that you are not seriously cor
cerned with these immediate pro
blems. If you are not concerne
with these immediate problem
then no manner of talk about "prc
duction for use" of socialism" ca
metn very much.
= Instead, it tends to divert tn
i attention of working people ava
: from these immediate problemi
e This weakens their ranks. Thi
e weakens their defense against tn
attacks Of the capitalists. This n
. suits in making it possible for tn
: capitalists to lower their Twin
standards still further and impos
= even greater oppression upo
/ them.
Obviously if a nationwide part
e is established on this basis it wi
n not help the working people. 1t wi
) merely be a party that talks in
= very radical tone but does M
carry on a struggle for the immed
ate interests of the working peopl
Il It would differ from the preser
e Republican and Democratic partit
only in the amount of promises
would make. Promises without flu
fillment, however, are betrayal I
the interests of the working p'
ople. For such a party we have 7
need.
+, Next week we would like to tai
N up the extmple of the British L
y Dor party, the Progressive part
If and similar socialist" parti