The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-30
Agreed on Method of Procedure in
Convention After "A Threat
ening Storm.
MILLIONAIRE WILTSHIRE HERE
CAME NEAR LOSING ROLL or Rec
BACKS IN LAUNDRY BUNDLE.
A Movement to Strike the Word
democrats" from Party's Title
-ConventiOn's Doings.

The smooth sailing that encouraged the
Socialist Democrats in favor Of uniting the
two main factions of that party in the
opening of the national Socialist unity
convention, in Masonic Hall. yesterday,
was seriously disturbed by a sudden squall
In the proceedings late in the afternoon,
and it looked for a while as if the reor-
ganization of the Socialist Democratic
party would not materialize. After almost
an hour of discussion and peace offerings
the warning factions finally agreed on a
mode Of procedure and the threatened
break was bridged over. with no serious
results.
The convention was called to order at
10 o'clock by J. w. Kelly, of Marion, Ind.
He spoke briefly in favor of unification
and said Socialism reflected the only ray
of hope for the w-orkingman. After his
address he asked for a nominee for tenn
porary chairman, and a dozen men jumped
up to suggest George d. Heron as the
most suitable man to fill the chair. He
was chosen by reclamation. He made a
short address. in which he eulOgized the
Socialistic movement. He was formerly a
Congregations minister and a professor in
an Iowa college. He declared to the con-
vention that. no matter what his personal
views as to organization or method We're.
the decision of the convention was final
with him.
HOW THE TROUBLE ROSE.
There was no trouble in the morning ses.
sion, and after the appointment of commit
tees the convention adjourned until 5
o'clock. Some time before that hour the
delegates filed into the room. each wearing
a red badge and small button on which was
Inscribed Social Unity Convention" There
seemed TO be a warm feeling between the
MEMBERS of the Springfield and Chicago
factions, and when the delegates were
seated the members of the factions were
not separated.
The proceedings were not interrupted to
any great extent until the committee on
meet with the approval of the members Of
the two factions, and If by common con-
sent war was declared and a truce was not
agreed upon until there had been two
amendments to the report. The original
report of the committee provided that the
factions should vote on important ques-
tons as factions and the majority vote
would rule. This caused a storm of pro-
test. and at times il was necessary for
Chairman Heron to WELD his gavel vigor-
ously to maintain order. Delegates from
the two main factions and also from the
independent factions struggled for recog-
milton from the chair and there were in
situations hurled broadcast by those who
had the floor.
a motion was made by a member of the
chicago faction 10 dIltlQ the report OF the
rules committee. and he said that as the
Springfield faction had the greatest number
Of votes the Chicago faction feared it
would have no voice in questions of i'm
pOrtance.
CONVENTION UNIFIED.
This motion caused more stormy discus
sion, i'm which men and women rose and
beckoned to the chair for recognition. AT
least fifty speakers gained the floor during
the stormy hour and those who spoke
against the report of the rules committee
were bitter i'm their denunciation of the re-
port. Many alleged that the Springfield fac
tion, which Is in the majority, was trying
TO cOerce the Chicago faction, and this
charge brought forth more protests. Job
Hartman said ii is not coercion to count
the votes of men and women seated as del
egates in the convention. and men who
have come here at great expense should
nave a voice in the questions that come be-
fore the convention.
'Comrade' Seidel, of Wisconsin,, said
there was too much suspicion existing be-
tween the members of the two factions and
this must be dispelled 10 secure a com
plete unity. He shook his fist at delegates
who upheld the report of the rules com
mittee and this act caused another dele
gate 20 appeal to the chair to stop the lib
critics taken by Seidel.
The Chicago faction finally gained its
point and the report of the rules committee
was amended so that all matters of inn
portance, where a roll call is taken, the
vote of each party Gacton) represented
shall be taken separately. The yea and nay
votes of respective parties shall be added
and the majority vote Of the convention
as a whole shall direct the convention.
ALL ARE COMRADES"
Members of the Chicago faction in ex-
planning their position in insisting on the
report of the rules committee being amend
ed. said they desired to have their con-
s%tituents know the position they main
tanned on questions of Importance that
came before the convention and they could
not nave done this under the original re-
port made by the rules committee. which
provided that votes should be taken by
factions.
After the important matter of the after
noon was decided the delegates again en-
pnasiZed "cOmrade" in addressing brother
delegates. All delegates and. in fact. all
followers OF socialism are known as COM
radeS.
The rules of the convention provide that
a chairman shall be elected for each day
and as MIR. Heron was only selected tenn
pOrary chairman 1t was necessary for the
convention to go through the Formally of
electing him chairman for the remainder OF
the first days session. William Malily. or
New York. was elected permanent secre-
tary and Frederick @. Strickland, OF Chi
cago, assistant secretary.
The question Of holding a night session to
consider the reports OF the committees was
discussed and ii was decided 10 meet iast
evening. After the matter had been settled
one Of the delegates secured recognition
during a discussion on another subject and
Informed the convention that there would
be an extra cost of SO for rental of the
hall for holding a night session. This in
formation caused the convention 10 re-
scind action and no night session was held.
A motion TO appoint a press committee 10
prepare data Of each days proceedings for
the newspapers Of the country in order that
the rasses Of people could be Informed Of
the proceedings OF the convention caused a
lively discussion. II was finally lost after n
speech by Max HAYS. of Cleveland, who
saiG the meetings were open and the news
paper representatives would publish what
country would be well enough informed
concerning the convention and the scraps
that had occurred during the afternoon
without the aid Of n press committee.
COMMITTEES APPOINTED
The rules and credentials committees
were appointed at the morning session
The rules committee Is composed OF the
following delegates: Springfield party. Har-
riman and Ryan; Chicago party, Stedman.
OF Chicago. and seidel. OF Milwaukee; In
dependent. Dobbs. OF Louisville.
Credentials-Springheld party Richter, OF
Milwaukee, Hileuith, OF New York; Hays.
o. Cleveland. and Greenbaum. of ST. Louis.
Chicago party. Wcstphal. OF Chicago. Win
chefski, of New YORK; Elizabeth Thomas.
OF Milwaukee. and Bennest. or kalamazoo.
Mich. independent. Robinson, OF Louis
vile. and Jacobs OF Iowa. Because OF a
motion being adopted late in the afternoon
that permits OF a delegate acting on but
one committee. HilQuith. Westphal and
Robinson We're excused as members or the
credentials committee and Heydrick, Of
Pennsylvania: Seidel. OF Wisconsin. and
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