Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-08-29
Support for the
New Party Grows
BY HOWARD Y. WILLIAMS,
National Organizer.

The Iowa Farmer-Labor party at its
state conference on August 10, en-
dorsed the program and platform
adopted by the American Common
wealth Federation for a new national
party in 1886. This state party polled
10000 votes in the 1894 election and
is making rapid strides.
In Michigan, the Farmer-Labor
party of that state at it's conference
on July 2Sth at Lansing took similar
action. This party was launched for
the 1894 campaign, and in some dis
tricts in the 1885 spring campaign
increased it's vote over 1000. State
conferences in Ohio and Illinois have
pledged fullest cooperation.
In Minnesota there is a very great
interest in the movement for a new
national party. Many of the county
Farmer-Labor party associations have
affiliated with the national move
ment and are cooperating in holding
meetings, distributing literature and
raising funds for the $4,000 cam
PoiSA hoho " SldIC dIlu luc
national conventions Governor Floyd
B. Olson has accepted the vice-chair-
manship of the Farmer-LabOr POlit-
ical Federation, the western section
of the American Commonwealth Fed
Grafton.
In. Wisconsin, the progressive news
papers are giving full publicity to
the idea of new party and assisting
in many ways. Meetings over the
state show a very great interest in
new national party on the part of
the rank and file.
Powerful Mass Support.
Since the Chicago conference which
formed the American Commonwealth
Federation there is a powerful mass
support making itself heard all over
the country. The Socialist party and
large sections of the labor movement
are ready to cooperate in a national
Farmer-LabOr party committed to a
new social order and based on work.
ers of brain and hand and the farm
ers. 1t was not expected that SUCH.
organizations would commit them
selves at the beginning. Large move
mentS are slow to act on things
which might be abortive and doomed
to failure. Action since the Chicago
national conference shows that the
new party idea is going to have the
support of the labor movement and
the various farm organizations, as
we'll as large sections of the middle
class, white collar, and professional
group. A rallying point has been
created for the production for use
forces and direction given to a lot
OF blind revolt against the existing
system.
The president will veto the Frazier
Lemke refinancing bill if it should be
passed, just as he vetoed the Soldiers
Bonus bill because of his opposition
to initiation of currency. The process
taxes are doomed. The farmers are
bound to get behind new party and
the Farm Holiday Association has
shown the way.
Labor Leaving Administration.
The Wagner Labor bill and the
hoped for passage of the Guffey Coal
bill are holding labor groups tenn
porarily to the New Deal In the
crisis the administration will have
to side with the industrialists Just
as it did under the MIRA in the auto
and textile strikes. 1t will not be
long before the workers will break
with Roosevelt and support the new
party. The Connecticut State Fedora
ton of Labor and the Toledo Central
Labor Union have set the pace and
others will follow.
A number of the progressive sena-
tors and congressman have been say
ing that they would make the tax bill
their final test of Roosevelt. Well,
the administration and the reaction
aries united to secure the passage of
a bill that does not distribute wealth.
The little fellows are still going to
carry the tax load. These progress
sives are bound to leave the presi-
dent. and Senator Nye's declaration
there will be a third party next
year" points their future allegiance.
To give direction to these ten
denotes state conferences are being
held in as many states as possible
in these next months. During Sep
TENDER the national organizer is con-
on Montana, Idaho, Ore
gon, Utah, and New Mexico. Other
leaders will cover other states. All
rank and file organizations will be
invited to send delegates to these
and work out a program
Of action and cooperation in the re-
spective states.
National Convention in Spring.
The national convention will prob
ably be held in February or March
at which time the national party will