New-York tribune., 1919-09-21
New Political
Party Backers
Call Meeting
'*Comn.ittee of Forty-eight"
Announces Conference i'm
St. Louis OH December 9
to Discuess Organization
Old Parties Denounced
Movement Aims to Unite
Workers and Farmers
to Control Government

Special Correspondence
ST. LOUIS, Sept ia national con-
ference to discuss plans for the forma-
tion of new political party, with the
farm and labor organizations of the
country as the basis, has been called
to convene in St. Louis, December o,
by THE Committee of Forty eight"
which has had the organization under
way in New York since early last
spring.
The committee, in advance notices.
announces that delegates from ali
states will attend. The conference
will continue four days.
Active in the movement is Dudley
Field Malone, formerly prominent in
Democratic politics as supporter of
President Wilson, and who was ap-
pointed Collector of the Port of New
York by the President. Those sign
ing the call for the conference include
DR.. l.. E. Bunte, Louis F. Budenz, secre-
tary of the Civic League; the Rev.
John L. Lever, Episcopal City Mission
ary; Arthur W. Lambert, treasurer of
the Lambert Pharmacal Company; the
Rev. DR.. John w. McIvor, pastor Of
the Second Presbyterian Church; Gus
tavus Tuckerman, civic secretary of the
City Club; Rabbi Samuel Thurman,
Professor Tyrrell Williams, of the Law
| School of Washington University, and
Percy Werner, lawyer.
Old Parties Denounced
Promoters Of the proposed party, in
their literature, denounce the Demo
cratic and Republican parties as un-
the country and charge that there are
no differences between the old parties.
except as to which one will hold the
Offices.
"They have lost contact with the
needs and desires Of the people that
they might maintain contact with the
needs and desires of the rapac;ous in
terests," the literature states. Heavy
taxation and wasteful extravagances in
public expenditures are said to be
chargeable to the political parties in
control and to have caused imitation re-
sultlng IN the high cost of living The
transportation facilities, the right of
free speech and free assembly, and
the right to a decent living for a
days work" are set out as among the
problems which the old parties have
tailed to solve and which the promoters
give as reasons for new party
Under heading, "Thc Remedy" the
committee SAYS:
The present and the future are in
the hands OF two political parties who
nave no differences except in name and
no aim except plunder. They are re-
veaed to themselves and to tn people
as SINGLE group, moved only by their
common purpose fmakng government
profitable business for themselves
and Tor the interests which finance
their periodical sham battles.
"Partlsan plots form their habitua
answer to the cry for popular reforms
Unity Is Urged
"Our government will remain ire
sponsive and irresponsible to the peo-
pie SO long as it is controlled by men
who are responsive and responsi ible to
the enemies of the people. We who
have the liberty and well-being of our
country at heart, the intelligent and
liberal citizens Of the Republic, are a
majority We can control our govern
ment We can meet this crisis and
solve its problems. But we must unite
Only by concerted action can we ac-
complish political results. The strength
OF the interests which rule the existing
parties has been that we have been
scattered and ivided. We have fol-
lowed seemingly sincere leader of
one party in one section of the country
and embraced a local issue of the op-
posite party in another section, only to
discover again and agai nthat we had
done nothing to shake the real control
OF either party.
"Their hope is to keep US thus scat
tered and divided, without the guidance
Of common council, without the strengh
of common action. This call for a con-
ference is our answer.
"lt is time of grave peril and of
great hope. Brave and wise things
must be done quickly. 1t is a day that
we hold in solemn trust-the trust of
posterity."