Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1942-07-16
Government Issues
The Farner-Labor
Association and
Communism
BY Hjalmar Petersen.

Because the Farmer-Labor Asso-
citation has for a number of years
held state conventions, passed reso-
utions, adopted platforms, endorsed
candidates and published the Mime
sofa Leader, it has, in the eyes of
many, been looked upon as the
Farmer-Labor party. But it is not
the party. 1t is dues paying or
ganization and has no legal stand
ing as political party. When the
nominees for state and congressional
offices are made known by direct
vote of the people in the Septem-
Der primary elections those Is to
i18 candidates meet, according to
law, and choose statewide COM
mittee That committee then is the
legal set-up that speaks for the party.
1t is the Farmer-Labor party.
Back in 1924 the voluntary dues
paying organization was known as
the Farmer-Labor Federation. The
late Senator Robert NJ La Toilette of
Wisconsin, was then the liberal and
progressive candidate for president
of the United States. A national
Farmer-Labor convention was to be
held in st. Paul on June II of that
year. 1t was heralded as big affair
to boost La Toilette and the prospects
were for several thousand delegates
in attendance from all over the
country.
Samuel Gompers, then national
head of the American Federation of
Labor, and others informed La Fol-
lette that Communists in large num-
bers were coming to the st. Paul
convention to dominate the affair.
Many of them were coming under the
guise of trade unionists.
With this information in hand
La Toilette wrote letter to Herman
L. Ekern, attorney general of Wis
consin, advising against participation
in the convention on the part of real
progressives. He said that the Com
munists are out to "divide and con-
fuse the Progressive movement and
create condition of chaos favorable
to their ultimate aims" Their real
purpose, he added, is to establish
by revolutionary action a dictator
ship Of the proletariat."
After the La Toilette letter had
been given publicity individuals who
had intended to be in attendance at
the st. Paul convention wrote one
by one that they were not coming.
Instead of crowd of several thou
sand it turned out to be conven-
ton of about 500, half of whom were
Communists or fellow travellers.
Among them were Hathaway, Brow
der, Ruthenberg, Foster and many
others. The convention, of course,
did not endorse La Toilette. He did
not want their endorsement.
Following that national conven-
ton in 1924, VIM. Mahoney who was
then chairman of the Federation
and head of the Trades and Labor
Assembly in st. Paul, and other state
leaders of the liberal movement, felt
that the Farmer-Labor Federation
had suffered a setback due to the
Communist show and realized it was
well to change the name from Feder-
alton to something different. That
was done at special convention the
following year-in 1925-when the
organization became known as the
Farmer-Labor Association. At that
1925 convention the late Gov. Floyd
Olson was chairman of the constitu-
ton committee and wrote para
graph amending the constitution to
bar from membership in the Asso-
citation any revolutionary elements
advocating changes through violence
The amendment which was primar-
ily aimed at the Communists was
adopted unanimously by the conven-
ton. The regular rank and file
Farmer-Laborites, interested in g
truly democratic progressive move
ment, realized what had taken place
and realized the dangers to theil
movement from Communist infiltra-
ton and control. Therefore the
change in the constitution.
Throughout the Olson Farmer.
Labor administration the Commun.
lists were held at bay. In 1887 anc
following years they came to the
front again. More and more the
Association got into their hands unit