New-York tribune., 1919-01-14
Tom Mo0ney's
Friends Fear
Red Tai11t
They Look for Radicals to
Attempt to Take Control
of Chicago Conference
National Party Planned
Non-Partisan League and
|. ". W. Cooperating;
Fight Is Expected To-day
Staff Corrcspondcnr


CHICAGO, Jan. l3-Friends Of "Tom"
Mooney, who called a national labor
conference here for tomorrow to help
obtain his release from San Quentin
prison, arc fearful tonight that by
placing the taint of Bolshevism on the
prisoner they will destroy whatever
chance he may have of being freed.
They fear fight on the floor of thr
convention between straight trade
unionists, whose only reason for COM
ing was to help Mooney and ultra-ra
reals. who plan tn use the meeting to
organize national political party.
They also fear the ultra radicals may
take the convention away from its
organizers and. sidctracknr Mooney,
proceed to create an indcpcnde Mt West
ern Federation Of Labor that will
include in It's membership the Non
Partisan League OF North Dakota, what
remains of the /. w. w. and ether
radical bodies.
AS way out. E. d. Nolan, Of San
Francisco. secretarytreasurc OF the In
tcrnational Defence League. the mar
who has dore most or the work for
matter is DISPOSED of the convention
adjourn and reassembIe later for polit-
lcai purposes. This plan meets with the
approval OF j. L. Leseur. the Western
radical and one Of A. c. Townley's lieu
tenants i'll the Non-Partlsan League.
Unionists Threaten Bolt
This is Objectionable to the trade
unonists, who threaten to bolt the con.
ference if this programme seems likely
TO be adopted to denounce the projec-
tors of the meeting for acting in bae.
faith and OF exploiting Mooney co.
uIterlor purposes: ard to leave the
ultra-radicals TO do as they please.
There also threatens to be row in
the convent,on over the way in which
funds raised for MONEYS defence are
being used. Delegates who have pa. /
their own expenses here or have h /
them paid by their organizations, have
found that in some instances men have
been brought here at the expense OF the
defence fund. How many of these there
arc Is one OF the questions being asked
Nolan. under the circumstances, is
admittedly worried. He says nothing
will be permitted that viii tend to hurt
Mooney. Rut he fears that something
will develop that viii not be to Q
Moneys interest
$50 far as we can control things" he
said tonight. "The meeting will be
Mooney and nothing else know some
plan to adopt a reconstruction pro-
gramme and that there are others who
plan for radical political action. but no
Trend of Tom Mooney will permit that
If he can help it. if VIC can free
Mooney. thereby creating a precedent.
by which labor will be assured Justice
we Will have done the biggest kind Of
reconstruction work.
Would End His Chances
"on the other hand, If, as some fear,
the meeting is turned into an ultra
radical political affair. whether it be
called Bolshevik or not, Mooney will
be stabbed in the house Of his sup
posed frienls. We realize that in the
present state of public opinion Boil
shevik tag on Mooney means an end
to his chances and that he will stay
IN prison to the end of his days"
II may be that the matter can be
disposed OF by first disposng of the
Mooney cose," continued Nolan. "and
then allowing those who may wish to
10 so TO hold a political meeting That
Is one way OUT
Nolan said he hoped John Fitzpat-
rick, candidate OF Chicago's labor party
lor Mayor and leader of the trade
union Increment here, would serve as
temporary chairman. lie also said
ne mad consulted with Ed Nockels,
probably the strongest labor man in
Cnicaeo and that Nockels and he had
agreed the meeting must be confined