The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-02-28
THAT SOCIALIST
PARTY CONVENTION

10 the Editor of the Labor World:
The report Of the Socialist con-
yention in Brainerd, appearing in the
Labor World Feb. II, misrepresents
entirely the proceedings of that body,
due possibly to mjsinfor,nathon In
honor OF the truth the following
statements are made:
It has come within the experience
of the. writer that whenever a So
cialist rose on the floor of a, trade
union organization and talked in the
interest Of working class solidarity
and unity on the industrial and eco
nomic fields, based on the principle
of the class struggle, he was prompt
1y informed, and not too politely,
that there could be no politics in the
union; tfat the trade unions could
not be tied to the tail of the Socialist
political kite. But now when the
report comes out that a prominen,
A. ~ Of L. leader in this state bolts
a Socialist convention that he couldn't
run to suit himself, a great yowl
goes up that the gargsters run. things
in the Socialist party. 1T is evil
IDENTIFY horse of another color when
the Socialists refuse 10 have, their
party tied to the tail of the political
kite Of an A. r. of L, leader. ..s
Convention Was ORDERLY.
The convention was orderly and
the delegates, in spite of sessions t',at
lasted until 1 and o'clock in the
morning, were courteous and good
ratured. The only personalities OBJ
served by the writer were those in
jected by Van Lear himself. :: 49,
Charges against Morgan were peas.
ing on appeal before the state execu-
tive board, this was reason sufficient
to the convention for refusing his
credentials. .... .: - -
Before every convention Of this ma
ture the Finnish people always eau
Gus on important questions, difficulty
with the English language making
this necessary. The state officials
certain questions regarding the af-
fairs Of the state organization. No
clique or ring had slate of any kind,
although the. minority had about as
compact a little organization as could
be wished for, a vote couldn't be
shaken loose from them with an
earthquake.
About Socialist Writer'S.
The resolution passed regarding
members of the party writing paid
articles for the capitalist press put it
up to the state executive board to
prepare a referendum for the ma
't1onal organization to vote upon some
time in the future. By taking. this
~
the necessity of building up their
own press to the point where it can
absorb all the work of it's good writ
crs and pay them we'll for it. Such
a resolution would, under the present
conditions, never pass the national
referendum. Although. in Germany
members of the party are forbid len
to furnish material to the capitalist
press.
1T is known to the writer that Du-
luth Typographical Union received
letters from the Socialist organization
regarding the Crosby kidnapping af-
fair; whether an appeal for funds was
made or not is not remembered -
the writer. -.
Not "Boss'' Anderson. @
r., And arson. or any other man, most
certainly did not boss the convention.
In spite Of the fact that Anderson
received 81 votes as chairman Of
the resolution committee, resolut Oh.
after resolution was turned down
that had been reported out favorably;
and resolutions reported out unfavor-
ably were adopted. To: say that the
convention was 'bossed" Is an insult
to the intelligence Of the men ard
women that have, night after night.
for years given the best that is in
them to the discussion and consider
alton OFF these labor questions. The
Labor World cannot afford to make
such 4 statement.
When Van Lear Vamoosed. &, M
II Sunday evening. resolution after
resolution that came up went on the
table. At 1880 a resolution from
Duluth and one from the Third Ward
----------- $500