The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-31
WORK OF SOCIALISTS
SESSION OF CONVENTION AT IN.
DIANAPOLIS LESS STORMY
THAN MONDAY
WHAT MR.. DEBs HAS TO SAY
Once Leader of American Railway
Union Claims the Convention
Is Not a Representa-
tive Body.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, July 30.-The
National Socialist convention made an
effort today to harmonic and was par
TALLY successful. After a conference
between Mr.. Brooks, leader of the Chi
cago faction, and Job Hartman, leader
of the Springfield faction, a message
was sent to Eugene V. Debs, declaring
the convention to be harmonious.
E. V. Debs, when asked at his home
in Terre Haute, tonight for an express
sion concerning the action of the con-
ventfon toward him, said:
The term 'shelved has little or no
slgnlncance with me. They may shelVe
me if they like. 1 have no personal
desire to be called a leader. The ac-
ton of the Springfield faction does not
disconcert me in the least It is simply
an effort on the part of the Eastern fac
ton to dictate to the Chicago faction,
OF which | am member The conven-
ton in indianapolis is not representa-
tive body of Socialists as the Springfield
faction is largely in the majority and is
strife is a part of politics, and if the
convention now sitting in Indianapolis
does not act in harmony, then the time
for SOcialiSm'S debut on the political
stage as strong party power is not
ripe"
The morning was devoted to hearing
reports of the national secretaries of
the Springfield and Chicago factions
Secretary Butler of the Springfield fac
ton, reported receipts of $4,188 expendi
lures of $,0S9 and a debt of $6T. Sec
rotary Theodore Debs, of the Chicago
faction, a brother of Eugene Debs, re-
ported expenditures of 49, 637 and d bal
ance on hand of 500. At the close of
his report Theodore Debs announced
that he would not be a candidate for
reelection when the parties were united.
Chairman Hoehn, of the committee, re-
ported the first resolution which favored
trades unions as the economic force to
carry on class struggles and a step
toward independent political action. In
the debate some animosity towards
unions appeared. The resoluetion was
sent back to the committee to be Snort
ened.
A Porto Rican resolution declaring that
the military tools" of the government
were suppressing trades unions and per-
scouting trades unionists also created
vigorous debate. A resolution was
adopted calling on workingmen of the
new possessions to organize.
The platform committee reported at
o'clock this afternoon. The platform as
reported declares that private ownership
of the tools of production and distribu-
ton is responsible for the ever increas-
ing uncertainty Of livelihood and the
poverty and misery of the working
class, and it divides society into two hos
tile classes-the capitalists and wage
workers. 1t advocates as immediate de-
mands' public ownership of all means
of transportation, communication and all
other public utilities, as well as all indus
tries controlled by monopolies, trusts and
combines, the reduction of the hours of
labor, state or national insurance of
working people, the Inauguration of a
system m Of pubic works and improvement s
for the employment of the unemployed
the public credit to be utilized for the
purpose; the education of all children I'D
to the age of eighteen years, and state
and municipal aid for books, clothing
and food; equal civil and political rights
for men and women; the initiative and
referendum; and no more public land to
be sold.
The platform was discussed at length
at the session tonight neld for that pur-
pose.