Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-10
SOCIALISTS COMING
. HERE FOR MEETING
Convention to Adjourn, Re-
converting in Capital
SATURDAY. Niuht.


ciated Press).-A committee of five.
to confer in Washington Friday and
Saturday with Attorney General Pal
mer and Secretary Tumulty in an
attempt to obtain amnesty for po-
litical prisoners. was appointed py
the socialist national convention TO-
day.
Announcement of the committee
appointment was greeted with great
applause and confirmed by virtually
a unanimous vote. 1t is planned 10
have the committee report back to
the convention and later to stage
mass meeting in Washington.
In order to add emphasis to the
Washington mass meeting, it was
decided to make it part OF the
convention by adjourning sessions
here today and reconvening in the
National Capital Saturday night.
The convention instructed it's com.
mittee also to call on Secretary OF
War Baker on behalf of conscientious
directors. who are now serving terms
in federal prisons.
The committee Will be headed by
Seymour Stedman of Chicago. general
counsel for the socialist party. and
Morris Hillquit, one-time New York
mayoralty candidate. 1t also will in
clude George E. Roewer. jr. Of Bos-
ton, Otto Branstetter of Chicago and
freq hogan OIL okidHOHleI >iey @1P
pointment of the delegation was an
bounced by the national executive
committee of the party
Advocates Radical Platform.
Declaring for the dictatorship of
the proletariat" and a "workingmen's
council in the government" the
Illinois delegation to the socialist
national convention today announced
it intended to fight to make the 1920
1yrol nd
representative of real socialism"
Led by j. Louis Engdahl, the Illinois
delegates declared too conservative"
the socialist platform outlined at
yesterdays mass meeting.
1.-THE platform showed no change so
far this year over that of the past,
and sounds like a reformed program
of one Of the old parties" Engdahl
said before going into the convention
today.
The party convention reconvened
today to begin weeks activities
that will include adoption OF party
platform, nomination of candidates
for President and Vice President OF
the United States, and modification
OF the party constitution.
Irving st. John Tucker. an Illinois
delegate, was elected chairman TOT
ing appeal from a twenty-year fed
eral sentence for violation OF the
espionage act.
The national executive committee. in
a report covering the last year. sub
mitted five recommendations for changes
in the socialist party constitution and
program.
These recommendations were that the
adoption Of the "agenda system" in con-
nection with national conventions. be
provided for: that the national office of
the party be made the only headquar-
tiers for distribution of propaganda:
that a special committee be appointed
to investigate and report on the i'm
proveYnent of the organization OF the
young peoples socialist leagues: that
the constitution Of the party be changed
SO as to allow adequate compensation
to translator secretaries and that. by
constitutional amendment, portion OF
the party membership dues be used In
subscription to the Socialist World. a
periodical to be issued by the national
Office as the official party organ, be-
ginning June !.
The social party yesterday plunged
broadside after broadside fired by its
big guns" at the national convention
mass meeting in Madison square Gar
den.
The meeting hailed Eugene v. Debs,
now serving ten years in the Atlanta,
Ga. federal prison for violation OF the
espionage act, as the socialist candi-
date for the presidency. Ovation after
ovation greeted characterization of
Debs as "our only candidate"
international socialism, to be gained
by peaceful means through the re
enforcement Of political action by in
dustrial action"-declared by speeches
Of socialist leaders to signify the gen
eral strike"-was declared the aim OF
the party ami dthe cheers Of an audi
eEce of 5000 persons.
Denounces Both Parties.
Debs was proclaimed the party's
presidential nominee by Morris Hill
quit in an address in"which he de-
nounced the administration at Wash
inRton and both democratic and re-
tionaty"-ifi contrast to the social
ist party. the only conservative force
in American politics"
Victor L. Berger. unseated United
States representative from Milwaukee
and under a twenty-year sentence for
violation OF the espionage act. de-
clared that he had nothing to take
back" II am the socialist representa-
tive from Milwaukee. no matter what
President Wilson. Congtess or the
league OF nations says about it, he
said
Il oppose any violent revolution"
he added Revolution by violence be-
gets nothing permanent If the Rus
SLAMS want their kind of revolution,
let them have 1t. and God bless them.
But want a different kind Of revolt
tion-without violence. 1t Is possible
10 have a. peaceful revolution-the
only kind that will last"
He closed with the remark: Stand
-, ,,o,,r rn1nf-rod there's No 0,Iea,