The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1920-07-22
THIRD PARTY HAD ITS
TROUBLES
Convention Called by the Committee
of 4s Unable to Agree on
Anything.

of az Unable to Agree on
Anything.
The new party. which was sup
posed TO have been born when the
national convention called by the
COMMITTEE of 49, met in Chicago
last week, turned out to be twins or
triplets and very weakly, delicate
ones at that.
The party started under the. name
of the Farmer-Labor party and Par
ley 2. Christensen, a lawyer and
newspaper man, newspaper men are
| in great demand as presidential cam
diuates this Year, was nominated for
president. The troubles commenced
when an attempt was made to, draft
platform broad and liberal enough
to suit the farmer element of the new
party and radical enough for the la
Dor element. After a day or two OF
wrangling a platform of nine planks
was adopted, the summary of which
follows:
l. Americanization, demands the
right of free speech, amnesty for
political prisoners, repeal OF esPion1-
age, sedition and criminal syndical-
list" laws, referendum and recall for
federal judges and equal suffrage or
all.
e. Demands withdrawal of the
United States from participation UNI
der the Versailles treaty in the re-
duction of conquered peoples to econ
omic or political subjugation, recog.
milton of the Republic of Ireland and
the new Russian government" aboli-
ton of secret treaties, and withdrawal
of the United States from the die
tatorship we exercise over the Phil
ippines, Cuba, Porto Rico, Guam and
Hawaii" This section also pledges
support to "a league of free peoples.
4. Demands democratic control of
industries, laying down the right OF
labor for an increasing share in the
responsibilities and management OF
industry"
4. Calls for public ownership of
all public utilities and natural re-
sources and immediate repeal of ths,
Esch-C ummins railroad law.
S. Demands favorable laws for
farmers, establishment of public
markets, extension Of federal farm
loan system, organization of state and
national service to guide applicants
for farms and farmers already on
land and promotion of farmers bene.
fit organizations which actually will
help"
E. Advocates government economy
to replace Extravaganza that has run
riot under the present administra-
tion," denouncing the system that
has created one war millionaire for
every three American soldiers killed
in France" demanding that war-ac-
quired wealth be taxed so as to shift
the tax. burden from the poor, express
sing opposition to consumption taxes
and recommending steeply graduated
income taxes for federal revenue, and
taxation of land values and sharply
graduated inheritance taxes for state
and local government.
?. Urges reduction of the cost OF
living by sterilization of currency,
federal control of meat packing indus
try and enforcement of present laws
against profiteers, Especially the big
ones"
g. Favors Justice to soldiers Of
the world war as matter of right
and not of charity recommending
payment OF SUM SuIIlClCNt " LldNS
their war pay not less than their
peace time earnings
g. Labor's bill of rights, which in
Guides declarations for the unquali-
fled right of all workers, including
government workers, to strike; free
dom from compulsory arbitration;
maximum standard 8-hour day and
44-hour week; old age unemployment
payments and workmens compensa-
ton to insure workers against acct
dent and disease: abolition OF em-
ployment of children under 10 years
old complete and effective protec-
ton of women in industry with equal
pay for equal work; abolition OF pri-
vate employment detective agencies
used against strikes, and exclusion
from interstate commerce of convict
labor products.
After an attempt had been made
nominate Senator kafofictt for
president, large part OF the dele
gates bolted the convention and
formed a party of their own which
they called the Liberal party. Allen
McCurdey, keynote speaker OF the
convention, led the boilers and an
nounced that one of the purposes of
the new gathering was to oppose the
nomination of Lafollett for president
and w. J. Bryan for vice-president.