The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-15
SOCIALISTS TRY
 ID GAIN CONTROL
 LABOR CONGRESS
Trouble Precipitated When Socialists and l. w. w. De- mand Seats as
 Delegates
sY As.oclated Prsss

Chicago, January 14-Socialsts and members of the I. w. W. made an unsuc- cessful attempt today to gain control of the national labor congress, called by the International Workers Defense league to decide upon a plan of action to obtain new trials for Thomas J. Moon ey and Warren Billings, now serving life terms for murder in connection with the San Francisco preparedness day parade bomb outrage July 22. 1916
 Trouble was precipitated at the open- ing session when several hundred reds and socialists and l. w.. w. insisted on being seated as delegates. Among the socialists in attendance were Adolph Germer. national secretary of the party and Rev. Irwin St. John Tucker both recently convicted for violating the es- pionage law. Germer later was seated as a delegate from a local of the United Mine Workers.
 Although the radicals were denied seats they refused to leave the hall and at tempted to participate in the proceed ings. Apparently they intend to continue their fight at every session of the three day convention. They will. it is said, work for the passage of a resolution fav- bring a general labor strike.
 The International Workers Defense league, in planning the congress, invited only trades unions to send delegates and wanted the discussion confined to the Mooney case, but bolshevism and many other subjects would be considered by the meeting if the radicals carried out their plan.
 Although the conservative element won in the first clash today, there seems to be considerable doubt whether they will be able to control the action of the conven- tion throughout.
 RADICALS PROTEST
 The trouble started when John Fitz- patrick, president of the Chicago Fed eration of Labor, after welcoming the delegates, attempted to introduce E. D. Nolen, recretary-treasurer of the Inter- national Workers Defense league, as the permanent chairman of the meeting There were loud protests from the radi- calls who insisted that the convention select it's own chairman.
 Finally it was agreed that N olanu should act as temporary chairman ana E. B. Ault of Seattle was chosen tenn porary secretary.
 Chairman Nolen reviewed the WorK done by International Workers Defense league in behalf of Mooney and advised that the remedy of calling a general strike be not used except after every other means had failed He suggested federal intervention or the passage of necessary laws in California authorizing the set ting aside of unjust verdicts as remedies. The delegates loudly applauded every mention of the general strike.
 Trouble was renewed when the creden- tials committee asked whether delegates from the socialist party and the l. w. w sent without invitation should be seated. Chairman Nolan said it was the intention to confine the membership or the congress to delegates from trades unions
 DEFIES SOCIALISTS
 Selig Schulburg of San Francisco spoke in favor of excluding radicals. Finally he shook his fist at a socialist ana shouted:
 sfYou never worked a day in your life and we want you and your kind to gel out. You fellows want to ruin this move ment-"
 Socialists and members of the l. w. w. insisted on speaking and declared that they had done more than organized lapoi to arouse public interest in the Mooney case After a turbulent Wrangie or neal ly an hour, Chairman Nolan put the motion to exclude the socialists ana l. W. w. and declared it carried by viva voce vote There was roar of disap- proyal but attempts to appeat from the decision of the chair were nowled down w. Bourke Cochran of New ork, counse for Mooney, then addressed the delegates He praised President Wilson's labor poll cies and made a violent attack on the administration of justice in the courts
 .The latest word from our President Is that the bolsheviki in Europe can pt cuelled by food" said Attorney Coch- ran. q do not agree with him. The . onlv cure for bolshevism is to give ther justice Bolshevik means rule by tht majority. That does not sound un1alr do not fear this new force that mas come into being. The masses nave never been vicious, it is always the classes The worlds choice today is betweei democracy and chaos. In government like this everything depends upon th' honesty of the judiciary Our constltu tion amounts to nothing except so lal as it is confirmed by the judiciary.
 INTERN ATIONAL QUESTION
 He said the Mooney case IS now af ;nternatjonal question. The conviction O Mooney on perjured evidence. he salo was a judicial crime. He asked the con yention to adopt resolutions demandihs that the California legislature pass Ia" permitting the setting aside or Neroic.' obtained on periured testimony. lie sai' nearly every other state has such law
 The convention passed motion dlrecl ing the chairman to cable 10 fresiueh Wilson and Samuel Gompers, presiuen of inc American Federation Of Lapor II Paris its approval of the sentiments eN pressed by Attorney Cochran
 Tomorrow the convention will complet' its oreanization by electing permanen officers and appropriation committees Frank P. Walsh, former Jolnt chaiiila'