The sun., 1919-08-18
RADICALS MAJORITY
HITS WILSON POLICY
Replies to QUESTIONABLE Sent
Out by Committee of 48
Show Need for Change.
LABOR PARTY IS INDORSED
Complete Returns Will Form
Basis of Programme for
Chicago Conference.

The COMMITTEES OF Forty-eight, which
Is engaged in q movement to bring the
radicals OF the country together on
programme of fundamental reconstruc-
tion." made public yesterday report on
the answers received to questionnaire
sent to Independent voters in various
parts Of the country.
No statement was made as to the
number Of questionnaires sent out or
the number Of replies received, but II is
understood that 100000 pieces Of mall
matter were issued from the offices at
10 East Fortieth street. this. city, last
month. When the complete returns have
been recorded they will form the basis
for programme which will be sub
United to a conference OF liberal voters
that will be held in Chicago, probably
in December.
J. A. H. Hopkins, who was associated
with Everett Colby in the Progressive
party in New Jersey, is chairman Of the
executive committee Of the Committee
Of Forty-eight. which refers to the num-
"
size of the committee. The other men,
bers are William F. Cochran. lincoln
Coicord, McAlister Coleman, William
Paine Everts, the Rev. Percy s. Grant,
II. B. Hoffman, Martyr johnson, Horace
NJ. Kallen, J. w. McConaghy, Allen Nc
Curdy. Dudley Field Malone. Frank A.
Pattison, Gilbert z. Roe formerly asso-
ciated with Senator La Toilette in Wis
consin; Mary X. Simkovitch. George-P.
West Major Samuel P. Wetherill. Jr..
Bishop Charles d. Williams of Detroit
and Oswald w. Knauth.
The Aims of the Committee.
The aims of this committee, as given
In its literature, are:
/. Organizing a conference OF Ameri-
cans interested in a thoroughgoing pro-
gramme of fundamental reconstruction.
2. Presenting to such conference a
tentative platform dealing with political.
social, Industrial and international re-
construction.
5. Discussing at the conference: (a)
forming a political party. OBJ forming a
coalition with other political parties. (c)
creating an organization to translate
liberal conviction into political action,
(d) accepting such other analogous sug-
gestions as are presented by delegates
| to the conference.
There were twenty-three questions in
the QUESTIONABLE, including these:
DO you favor the Plumb plan for the
operation OF railroads.
do you favor supertaxes on proflts?''
DO you favor compulsory military
training?"
Are you in favor OF organizing a
| new political party?"
At the end n space was left for the
voter to suggest additional planks for
the tentative platform, the first sketch
OF which already has been drawn up.
Nearly every reply. It is stated, con-
tained one or more suggestions.
I'VE have made an experiment in
democracy and il has succeeded" de-
| clared Allen McCurdy Of the executive
committee last night. When we started
to organize this conference we were
told 1t would be impossible to get Amer
lean liberals to agree on anything.
Furthermore, we were assured there
was no general interest in many OF the
subjects mentioned in the QUESTIONABLE.
| The results disprove both assertions.
Shows the People Are Thinking.
The American people are doing their
| own thinking to-day and liberals are In
general agreement from coast to coast
Not only are we receiving 100 per cent
| returns, but in many instances the ques-
| tionnaire has been sent back. with
lengthy marginal notes, or the views Of
the voter has been expounded in letters
| OF several pages.
mo one can look over these answers
and fail to be impressed with the de-
mand OF men and women who take
democracy seriously that something
definite be done"
From the questionnaires already re-
turned 40 per cent. favor the Plumb
plan for railroad operation. AZ per cent.
| favor general Government ownership
and Is per cent. are for private owner
| ship. Ninety per cent. voted to take
absolute control of foreign relations out
OF the hands of the President. 10 per
cent. favored its retention.
The programme OF the American La
Dor party received the Endorsement Of "a
per cent, as against 6 per cent. opposed.
For the initiative and referendum 95 per
cent. OF the returns were cast. For the
executive budget and a responsible cab
met there were 97h per cent. answers
| Ninety-four per cent. declared there
should be some Limitation on the power
| of the courts to declare laws uncon-
stitutional.
| For the programme OF the Non-Par-
tisan League of North Dakota there
were s6 per cent, and for tho aboli-
ton OF the espionage law 30 per cent,
with 10 per cent. opposed. There were
81 per cent in. favor OF free trade. 81
per cent for a protective tariff and IL
per cent for tariff for revenue only.
| The granting of equal legal and eco
nomic rights to women was favored by
| sSh per cent.
The greatest interest was displayed
in the formation OF a new political
/ party. Eighty per cent. voted to form
an Independent party. either alone or in
| federation with the labor and farmer
movements. Twenty per cent. urged
a non-partisan organization.
Compulsory military training was
voted down by IS per cent, and secret
diplomacy was defeated by a vote OF OF
to 8 per cent. Supertaxes on profits
received the Endorsement of SO per cent.
| OF the answers.
Members OF the executive committee
| will meet with representatives OF the
| American Labor party in Chicago to-
day TO discuss possible cooperation.