Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-11
SOCIALISTS MEET
TO NAME TICKET
NATIONAL CONVENTION HELD
IN CHICAGO
SPIRITED oRAToRY MARKS FIRST
DAYS SESSION
Question of Appealing Especially to
Farmers of the Country Brings
About Lively Dis
cussion
By A ssociated Press.

By Associated Press.
CHICAGO. May 10.-With a whirl-
wind of oratory, the Socialist party
delegates opened their national con-
vention here today. The first session,
which lasted from noon until near
clash between urban Socialists and So
cialists of the, agricultural classes, and
already the line of cleavage appears to
be sharply drawn.
The issue, according to the tenor OF
several spirited addresses by men and
women delegates. is whether the So
cialist party shall make special ap-
peal to the farmers of the country to
openly join the ranks of Socialism.
When the convention concluded its
days work the question was still un-
der discussion.
AS to the temper of the delegates
concerning the presidential nomination,
Eugene V. Debs and William d. Hay
wood, former secretary of the Western
Federation of Miners, seemingly are
the logical aspirants. The contest be-
tween them promises to be close.
The net results of the session were:
A refusal to permit the women dele
gates to control a majority of the COM
mittee, on the rights of women, with
regard to the Socialist movement;
refusal to name committee to discuss
through several ballots on the question
of proposed overtures to the farmers
and reference of same to a committee
of nine. The debate and the repeated
voting on the last proposition was the
significant development of the day.
Representatives of the city member
ship of the party appeared to be prac-
ticaIly unanimous in demanding an
appeal to the farmer vote:
nrL HlinapO
other cities voted as a unit in the af-
firmative. On the other hand, Texas,
Oklahoma, and in fact nearly all the
distinctly agricultural states, voted
Debates Spirited
Following the truce on this question,
the two-thirds rule of control came up
and a spirited debate followed.
Chairman-Secre Mousterman OF
the rules committee reported a clause
providing that a two-thirds vote should
be necessary for the nomination of
candidates for the presidency and vice
presidency The debate was scarcely
under way when adjournment was
taken, and the proposition will be the
first order tomorrow.
The credentials committee reported
contests over the seating of Delegates
McDevitt of California and Goebel of
New Jersey.
A provisional committee from the
state of Washington also contested
the seating of delegates from that
state.
In each case the delegates were seat
ed pending further investigation of
their credentials.
The rules adopted by the convention
provided for the selection of chair
man and secretary each day. Morris
Hilluuit of New York was named as
temporary chairman for today's ses-
sion. Frank I. Wheat was made tenn
porary secretary. Before the conven-
ton proper the delegates assembled
at the Garrick theater, where they
were welcomed to Chicago by Chi
cago Socialists. The theater was
crowded and many were turned away.
Music was furnished by the United
German Societies, the United Scandi-
navian societies and the Jewish Sing
ing societies. The meeting opened with
the singing of the "Marseillaise," in
which delegates and visitors Joined.
G.. T. Fraenickel delivered the address
of welcome ON behalf of the city and
he was followed by Morris Hillquit
of New York, international secretary
of the Socialist movement.
The announcement was made at this
meeting that Eugene V. Debs had been
detained by sickness in his family.