The San Francisco call., 1896-07-20
SOCIALISTS HOLD
A CONVENT T|ON
Woman's Suffrage Favored
and Free Silver Con-
demned.
NOMINATIONS ARE MADE
Candidates for Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor and Presidential
Electors.
ATTITUDE ON TRADES UNIONS.
The Socialist Labor Party Has De.
clared Itself for a State
Campaign.
ATTITUDE ON TRADES UNIONS

The red flag foated with the stars and
stripes above the old Temple at lis Turk
street yesterday, for inside the Socialist
vention.
Delegates from Oakland, San Jose and
San Francisco were present and though
their number was small there were sim
cerity and enthusiasm sufficient for large
political convention. The meeting was
called to order at 10 A. NJ, with George
Aspden as temporary chairman. He in
troduced Miss Susan B. Anthony, who
was present to speak on behalf of woman's
suffrage.
Miss Anthony was received with ap-
plause. She said: al am, as you know, a
non-partisan in politics / am as good
Socialist this morning as l was Republi-
can at last nights meeting in Berkeley or
a Democrat at the Buckley ratification
meeting week ago in the Metropolitan
Temple. | am not a stranger in your
labor conventions or the councils OF labor's
representatives.
'Away back years ago 1 was a delegate
from a working-woman's club in labor
congress held in my home city. Among
the most welcome and encouraging greet
ings extended to the woman's National
suffrage organization in its work for the
cause of equal rights, none has arrived
that could exceed IN its sincerity the aid
and sympathy received from the socialist
democratic organizations throughout the
world.
Your party has been the pioneer party
to recos nize our claims and to EN- body
female suffrage plank in your platform.
On my arrival in your City, it was my
pleasure and privilege to address your
mfm hers before nF the socialist
branches. l hope to have the pleasure
OF coming before you again during the
next few weeks"
In conclusion, Miss Anthony related an
account of the work done by the woman
suffIagists in the various State conven-
tions.
The convention at once proceeded to the
election of permanent officers, with the
following results:
George Aspden. chairman; Edel Hecht,
secretary.
COMMITTEES on credentIals-H. -sahlender.
A. j. Merry and William Lewis.
Committee on platform and resolutions
James Andrew, A. J. Merry, 6. B. Benham.
Almost Immediately the committee
on credentials reported the following
named delegates present and entitled to
seats in the convention:
State executive-Emil Liess, Theodore Lynch,
Leo Grasser, Hermann Sahlender, G. B.
Benham, GustsVe Postler, Z. T. Kingsley, Edel
Hecht.
San Francisco section, Jewish branch-Wil-
liam Lewis. H. Bernard. Liberty branch-H.
Warnecke Jr. Leo Grasser, q. w. Metzger, W .
NJ. Wiley. German branch-H. Warnecke, II.
sahlender, H. Benhke, A. Miller, H. Franck, C.
Prossak American branch-George Aspden,
g. B. Benham, E. 7. Kingsley, Z. W. Carpenter
Oakland seetion-James Andrew, John H.
Jones.
San Jose sectional. ]. Merry.
The report of the committee was re-
Toda %t.n .
afternoon, when the com mmlttee on plat
form would be ready to submit a report.
At the opening of the afternoon session
Chairman Aspden called for the report of
the State executive. 1t was recommended
IN this report that the convention confne
its work to the nomination of officers to
be voted for by the State-that is for Pres
idential Electors and Lieutenant Gov
ernor-and leave the nomination of Con.
gresham and Assemblyman to Congress
sional and Assembly districts.
The report stated that finances were at a
low ebb. But $40 had been received by the
State committee from the sale of due
stamps. 1t had transpired that secretaries
OF sections and branches, instead of re-
ceiptiDg dues with those stamps on mem
bershlp cards, simply signed the papers.
SUCH cards were declared invalid and per-
sons holding them were not members of
the party. The report also stated that
steps nave been taken to organize a strong
section in Stockton.
The committee on platform and resoIu-
tions presented the following resolutions
which were discussed and adopted seria-
tum:
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
WHEREAS, Attempts have been made in GER
tain quarters to rekindle religious feuds which
should have no part in the political or econ
'omic discussions of civilized countries in these
times, be II
ba
all organizations based upon religious intol-
erance and regard them as mere devices to di-
Vlde the workers, play into the hands OF DOS
sessing classes and to perpetuate the present
exploiting system.
woMAN's SUFFRAGE
WHEREAS, The platform of the Socialist La
Dor party contains plank declaring in favor
= OF woman's suffrage; and whereas the nro-
posed amendment to the constitution of the
State of California known as the eleventh
amendment, is in accordance with said plank
In said platform, therefore, be IL
ResOtUed, That the Socialist Labor party of
California. in convention assembled, indorse
the eleventh amendment and recommend
its members TO vote therefor.
THE SILVER QUESTION
WHEREAS, We feel the sureness of no assist
1nce coming to the producers by any none.
tary arrangement except by circulating me
dunn based upon average social labor per-
formed and whereas, we recognize in the
struggle for and against the free coinage of
silver, at the ratio of is TO 1, merely a contest
u
products of labor and phase of the debt-rid-
den middle-class struggle for existence; and
whereas, such free coinage would be benef-
cial, if at all, to other than the producing
class, who are propertyless and debtless, but
creditors in EN- ployment; be 1t
Rescued, That we disapprove of the free coin
age of silver, at ratio of 16 to 1. by the
United States, as being class legislation for the
debtor class, detrimental to the interests of
the wage-earners, tending to further despoil
the producers by cheapening their labor and
reducing their purchasing power.
NEW TRADES-UEIoNIsM.
WHEREAS. The Socialist Labor party of the
United States, sympathizing with the efforts of
organized labor in its struggles TO defend itself
against the aggressions of organized capital, is
now and always has been the friend and active
supporter of trade s-uniopism; wisely guiding
II on lines looking to the final emancipation
OF the working class and guarding it against
designing individuals who seek TO keep the
rank and Fl lie IN ignorance OF the means where
by alone, freedom and the full products of
their labor can be secured to the workers viz. !:
collective ownership and control of land and
the tools of production; and, whereas, the ell
franchised workers cannot make their ballots
effective while in ignorance of their clas.,
character and condition they continue 10 cast
their votes on election day for the party tickels
OF those who own and control the means
whereby they (the Workers) are held in bond