The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-09-02

creased today when the right wing dele
gates to the socialist party's national
emergency convention split over a pro-
posal to exclude from the convention
floor seeding left wing delegates who
previously had left the meeting and an
nounced their intention of uniting with
the communists. The motion was de-
feated by two votes.
Introduction of the motion followed
charges on the floor of the convention
that certain delegates were masquerade
ing as loyal conservatives, and in fact
were attending conferences of the left
wing radicals. The defeated motion
would have provided that any delegate
participating in left wing conferences
after 10 o'clock tomorrow morning be ex-
cluded from the convention.
Left wing delegates met during the day
with leaders of the communists, who
opened a national meeting today. The
communists gathering was enlivened by
an order from the police that red ban
ners and festoons adjoining the walls of
the convention be pulled down and Amer
lean flags substituted. The red banners
were taken down after delegate, who
gave his name as Charles Montgomery
and said he was an attorney, had been
arrested for disorderly protestation
Chairman Louis Fraina of New York
said in his opening statement at the
communists meeting that the convention
was called to discuss the new era in
the history of the nation. The times, he
asserted, called for revolutionary actions
Leaders of the right wing socialists
comprising the conservative majority
declared today that the split in the party
would be patched up by tomorrow night.
Seymour Stedman, chairman of the
convention, said perhaps SO delegates
had left the meeting.
TO PATCH UP SPLIT
by tomorrow night" he said, the
differences will be adjusted. 1 conf
IDENTIFY expect that many of the seced-
ing delegates will return. Some of
them cannot come back even if they so
desire. They probably will join the
communists. 1 don't believe there is the
slightest possibility that the socialist
party will divide into two factions"
He named John Reed, self-styled
"unrecognized bolshevik ambassador to
the United States" as one delegate who
would not be taken back into the con-
vention. Reed has been leader of the
left wing socialists.
Activities of the left wing radicals
marked virtually all discussions at to-
days sessions. During debate on a mo-
ton to declare void referendum vote
on the election of the national execu-
have the effect of overthrowing the
present committee, said to be under
control of the left wing, charges were
made that fraud had been practiced by
the radicals in gaining a majority of
the committee. A member of the Mas
sachusetts delegation asserted that in
many locals in that state votes had
been cast for members who were dead
and others who were living in Okla
homa and Texas"
1t is said that the convention will
take up before adjournment proposed
am ndments to the constitution which
will permit negotiations between the
party and the national Nonpartisan
league and other farmers organiza-
tons.
'As it now stands" said Mr.. Sted-
man, the constitution of the party pro-
hibits such negotiations. 1 do not be-
lieve any effort will be made at this
time to effect affiliations with the farm
ers' organizations. l do believe, how
ever, that the constitution will be ad-
| mitted to permit of fraternal exchanges
ofaviews."