The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-07-14
BATTLE HARD
TO KEEP new
PARTY INTACT
Radicals Threaten to Bolt
Wildly in All Directions as
Leaders Keep the Lines S
Taut.
EXTREME LEFT RULES
(By Associated Press)

was made by the new fusion party
today and an undercurrent of dissat-
fsfaction was in evidence throughout
the meeting. 1t once more required
the pleas of the leaders and constant
conference to keep open breaks from
cropping out.
A majority report of the platform
committee of the fusion attempt at
creating labor party was finally par
tally prepared today.
1t represented chiefly the labor
party opinion, and members of the
committee of 48 stood ready after its
presentation to serve notice that Sen
ator LaFollette, of Wisconsin, gener-
ally proposed as the fusion nominee,
would not run for president upon it.
In consequence, a part of the major
ity report was still being held back
for endeavors to reconcile the differ
ence.
The committee of 4S, at an early
morning caucus, decided to continue
its state and national organization, re-
gardless of the action of the present
convention, and to meet separately to-
night to consider the conventions
action. Senator LaFollette was still
represented in platform conferences.
The extreme left, which yesterday
controlled the amalgamation and
forced its platform desires on the
more conservative elements in the
convention, struck a snag when it met
with the veto power of the probable
presidential nominee of the party.
Forty-eighters, who constituted the
right wing group of the fusion move
ment, are bitterly opposed to the more
socialistic adeas of the radical labor
faction.
In this stand, they have the sup
port not only of LaFollette, but OF
several minority organizations sub
scribing to the political combination.
Single Takers Withdraw.
The first evidence of a possible
breaking up of the new party move
ment followed last nights session
when the single takers adopted their
one plank platform and nominated z
presidential candidate. For president,
they chose Robert c. Macaurey, of
Philadelphia, and for vice president
they selected r. c. Barnum of Cleve.
land.
They quit the new party, Jerome c.
Refs, single tax leader said, because
it was not only apparent they could
not obtain their platform desires and
a candidate committed to them, but
also because they could not stand the
socialistic ideas of the dominant la
Dor group,
The birth Of the new party yester
day, after five days of conference, was
attended by tumultous scenes in which
more than once the movement faced
shipwreck on the rocks of jealousies
and group antagonisms.
Radicals Grasp Rudder.
In the very beginning, the labor
party organization grabbed the rud
der and steered the course until con
sideration of the platform resolutions
was begun. Several planks had beer
read and approved when 4Sers begar
to interpose strenuous objections tC
their relegation to the background.
There followed quickly demands fol
revision of the procedure by which
the resolutions were being passed
Leaders Of the 48'ers insisted on {
more prominent position in the pro
ceedings. In an effort to placate the
angry delegates, the labor leaders sur
rendered the craftsmanship to Parle.
Christensen Of Utah, who presided
over the original 4S convention.
The concessions failed utterly, how
ever, to iron out the widely divergen
views on platform planks, AS resul
the fusion movement was again placed
in practically the same position il
which it had been during more thai
fifty hours Of backing and pulling il
conference committees.
Demand Platform Revision.
Forty Lighters then played thei
trump card when they brought Sen
ator Lafollettes influence to bear, ant
demanded platform concessions befor
their presidential candidate would con
sent to make the race.
Questions of naturalization Of es
sential industries and a plank dealin!
with foreign relations were the prin
cipal stumbling blocks. Lafollette'
representatives held out strongl
against inclusion of these planks a
dictated by the labor party.
Two possibilities, therefore, stoo'
out today: first. that for the sake o
harmony the labor leaders may yiel
to the Lafollette forces and permi
changes in their platform drafts; anc
second, that they may remain stead
fast in their determination and de
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