The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-06-11
SOCIALIST CONVENTION.
Details Of the Gathering Held Here
Last Saturday.

About twenty-five delegates, repre-
senting practically exery part of the
State, attended the Socialist State
Convention at Bennington on Satur-
day. The delegates had all been
elected by referendum vote in con-
formity with a call issued by the
State Committee through its chair
man, John Spargo, of Old Bennington
The visiting delegates were welcomed
to Bennington by James Garfield.
Mr.. Spargo called the convention
to order and was at once nominated
as temporary chairman and unani-
mously elected. After Cyrus T. Good
ell, of Bennington, was elected tenn
porary secretary, and a Credentials
Committee had been elected and made
its report, Chairman Spargo delivered
a lengthy address outlining the work
before the convention, describing the
growth of the Socialist party and crit
icising the Republican and Democra-
tic parties.
Whereas the party had less than
10000 members twelve years ago, 1t
has now more than 100000 dues-pay-
luz UlClllDClos WI OPdi 6O lOlu AliC uOl-
egates. And whereas the party was at
that time practically without repre-
sentation in any branch of govern
ment, municipal, state or national, to-
day the party has nearly 10000 repre-
sentatives in office, ranging from the
Congress of the United States and
Legislators in several important States
to numerous mayors. aldermen and
minor municipal officials. The party
press has grown enormously in the
same period. The party had only
half dozen papers twelve years ago,
now it has more than four hundred,
published in upwards of thirty
languages.
After paying an eloquent tribute to
the national candidates of the party,
Eugene " Debs and Emil Seidel, the
former Milwaukee mayor, Mr., Spargo
turned his attention to the old parties
declaring them TO be equally corrupt,
antagonistic to the people, dominated
by the class which despoils the peo-
pie. THE disgusting and humiliat
1 ing quarrels and factions prompted
by personal ambitions which charac-
terize the pre-conyention campaign
will lead many thousands OF thought
full American citizens to seriously con-
slider the claims of the Socialist Party
this year." he continued, therefore
| it is incumbent upon the party 10
state its position frankly, in plain
language, in a platform which will
command the attention OF the
thoughtful men and women OF the
working class. There must be no
compromise; no truncating principles
| for the sake of votes. No increase of
the Socialist vote can benefit the So
cialist Party unless il is the express
| sion of an earnest and intelligent In.
crease Of Socialist understanding and
Socialist desire"
Mr.. Spargo then gave what devel-
oped to be a forecast OF the platform
which was subsequently adopted con
GLIDING with stirring appeal TO the
delegates TO make vigorous cam.
paign in all parts Of the State The
party in Vermont. he urged, is a part
of the great class-conscious Socialist
movement of the world. II is not in
any sense a mere reform party II
stands squarely upon the principles
OF international Socialism. Nothing
short of the abolition of the present
system under which the workers are
despoiled will satisfy the Socialists Of
Vermont.
Prolonged applause followed the
conclusion of Mr.. Spargo's address
and several delegates moved to make
him the permanent chairman of the
convention. but he declined to serve
4 N. A. Greenslet. OF Bennington, wal
then selected for the position.
For platform and resolutions the
convention elected the following
John Spargo, Bennington; Perkins
Woodstock; Pullman, Proctor; Suitor
Barre; Bourbon. Woodstock.
For Ways and Means to raise thu
necessary campaign fund, the conven
ton elected Messrs Greenslet, Ben
nington; Bryant. Readsboro; McMil
Ian, Burlington; Healey, Webstervill,
and Jones, Barre.
For constitution. TO revise the part,
constitution to make II conform 10 tn
needs Of the party in the state nov
that II is a legal party, ard to NEE
the requirements OF the new nationa
constitution of the party, the oonver
I tion elected Messrs. Spargo, Benninl
ton; Mcmillan, Burlington: Bryant
: Readsboro; Ordway. Proctorsvllle an
Z Perkins, Woodstock
. When Mr. Spargo read the plat
r form offered by the committee II wa
!. received with great enthusiasm an
: applause interrupted the reading a