Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-15
RADICALS
SHUT OUT
OF LABOR
CONGRESS
Conservative Element Wins in
First Clash in Convention
Called to ESpOuSe
MONEYS Cause.

Chicago, Jan. 14.-Socialists and
members of the /. w. w. made an
unsuccessful attempt to-day to gain
control of the national labor con-
gress, called by by the international
Workers Defense league to decide
upon a plan of action to obtain new
trials for Thomas ]. Mooney and
Warren Billings, now serving life
terms for murder in connection with
the San Francisco preparedness day
parade bomb outrage in July, 1910.
Trouble was precipitation at the
opening session when several hum
dred socialists and /. w. w. lead
ers insisted upon being seated as
delegates. Among the socialists in
attendance were Adolph Germer, ma
tional secretary of the party, and
Rev. Irwin St. John Tucker, recently
convicted for violating the espionage
law, and George Koop of Chicago.
Germer later was seated as a dele
gate from local of the United Mine
Workers.
Although the radicals were denied
seats, they refused to leave the hall
and attempted to participate in the
proceedings. Apparently they intend
to continue their fight at every ses-
sion of the three-day convention.
They will. it is said, work for the
passage of a resolution favoring a
general labor strike.
Confined to Trades Unions.
The international Workers De-
Tense league, in planning the con-
gress, invited only trades unions to
send delegates and wanted the dis
cussion confined to the Mooney case,
butt bolshevism and many other sub
jects would be considered before the
meeting if the radicals carried out
their plan.
R. H. Ashcroft, delegate from
Tacoma, is said to have a resolu-
ton calling for the release of indus
trial and political prisoners, includ-
ing Eugene Debs, Victor L. Berger,
Adolph Germer, William d. Hay
wood and all other radicals convict
ed since the beginning of the war.
He also declared that a majority OF
the delegates from the west and
northwest favored a general strike
to enforce their demands. He was
busy today circulating a petition for
signatures in support of this radical
program.
Although the conservative efe-
ment won in the first clash today,
there seems to be considerable
doubt whether they will be able to
control the action of the conven-
ton throughout.
Fist fights were imminent be-
tween the representatives of the
conservative and radical l..ctions.
Cochran Attacks California Courts.
w. Bourke Cochran of New
York, counsel for Mooney, ad-
dressed the delegates. He praised
President Wilson's labor policies
and made a violent attack on the
administration of justice in the
courts.
"The latest word from our presi-
dent is that the bolsheviki in Europe
can be quelled by food" said At
torney Cochran. Il do not agree
with him. The only cure for boil
shevism is to give them justice. Boil
shevism means rule by the majority.
That does not sound unfair. | do
not fear this new force that has
come into being. The masses have
never been vicious, it is always the
classes. The worlds choice today is
between democracy and chaos. In a
government likesthis everything de-
pends upon the honesty of the ju-
dietary. Our constitution amounts
to, nothing except so far as it is con-
firmed by the judiciary"
He said the Mooney case is now
an international question.
The convention passed a motion
directing the chairman to cable to
President Wilson and Samuel Com
pers, president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, in Paris, its ap-
proval of the sentiments expressed
by Attorney Cochran.