The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-07
FIRST SESSIONS HELD
NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE So
CIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
Speculation About the Probable Nom.
inees-Executive Committees Re-
pOrt-Haughville Meeting.

The first national convention of the So
cial Democratic party convened yesterday
morning at 10 o'clock in Reichwein's Hail.
Market and Noble streets, with about fifty
delegates present The delegates were well
coined to the city by Thomas Cation, a
member of local branch, No. 6. William
Mailly, of Haverhill. Mass, was elected
chairman by reclamation, and Fred Strick-
land, of Chicago, was selected as secre-
tary of the convention.
After short recess the national execu-
tive committee made report to the meet
ing showing the origin and development of
the party. 1t said that the American peo-
pie have been slow to recognize that the
existing economic system had divided
America into two classes, whose interests
are necessarily antagonistic and irrecon-
cilable and the mission of the Social Dem
ocratic party was to remove these existing
evils. The report concluded with the hearty
thanks of the party to its national secre-
tary-treasurer, Theodore Debs for his tire
less and unceasing efforts in behalf Of the
party.
The committee on rules submitted a re-
port on order of business. The report ia
vored the election of a chairman, a SER
geant-at-arms and committees on auditing,
constitution, declaration for platform, reso-
lutions, officers reports, press and mani
festo. The last business of the convention
will be the nomination of candidates for
President and Vice President. These nom-
nations will probably be made tomorrow.
A DISCUSSION PROVOKED.
A motion had been made to accept the
report, when ]. F. Carey, the Socialist
member of the Massachusetts, Legislature,
arose and moved that an additional COM
mittee be appointed to investigate and re-
port on the exact attitude of the party
toward organized labor. This provoked a
warm discussion. as his remarks were
taken as a personal affront by Mr.. Berger,
Of Milwaukee. where the Social Democrats
gained control OF the Central labor body
after a struggle. He declared that Carey
was talking about Milwaukee in a round
about manner, and it was out OF place to
question the attitude Of the Social Demo-
Gratis toward organized labor.
AS the two matters of Importance before
the convention are the nominations and
absorption of the Social Labor party.
which is boiling section of the party of
which Daniel De Leon, of New York, was
touching upon sore point. Eugene v.
Debs says that he will not accept the nom-
ination for President, already an
nounced in the Journal. because he fears
II will divert attention from the principles
of the party to his own personality, but II
is believed he will be nominated anyhow.
In the event that Mr.. Debs becomes the
nominee, IL is more than probable that j.
b. Hartman, of California, who was
named by the "bolting section" for Presi-
dent, will be the nominee for Vice Presi-
dent. 1t Is said by some of the delegates
that Mr. Debs is not heartily in sympathy
with the tacticians of the party. and this
is assigned as the real reason why he Is
ayerse TO accepting the nomination OF the
party 1t Is said that the socialistic move
ment is making gains. At an election held
in Erie, Pa. last week, where ticket was
in the field for the first time, the party
nominees received 500 votes. In California,
Massachusetts, Wisconsin. Illinois and
Ohio it Is expected that the party will have
| its chief strength. In New York there are
| two parties. one known as the De Leon
| party 1t is said that this wing of the
party does not propose TO amalgamate
with ne other branch. William Maiiiy
editor OF the Haverhill Social Democrat, In
speaking OF that city. said that the social
principles OF the party had been put TO q
| thorough test at the last election of Mayor
Chase He said that when he was first
| elected he defeated all Of the old parties
| by a plurality OF several hundred, but this
1 year he was reelected with all OF the par
| ties combined against him supporting one
] ticket. Mr.. Mailly said that In Haverhil
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