Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-08-07
= SIX OF THE
FORTY-EIGHT
Bv FREDERIC I. HASKIN


~ convention to form third
party was held here recently
seems to have failed in it's project,
but its members assert that they are
still going to maintain their organi-
cation and work for Americanism, as
they interpret that much-used and
abused word. Since we are to have
the Forty-eight with us, still striving
in their official capacity for govern
mental reform, it might be of inter-
est to know something more about
them than their numerical quantity.
Amos Pinchot, J. A. H. Hopkins,
Charles H: Ingersoll, Prof. Durand
and forty-four other liberal-mindeo
Americans, met in St. Louis in 1918,
all brought together by a common
feeling that the two old parties had
failed to keep up with evolution by
and economical tendencies of the
times. They called themselves the
Committee of Forty-eight after an
other radical group of men in our
early history who in pre-revolution-
airy days formed a Committee of
Washington, Jefferson, Paine. etc.
They carried on such an extensive
campaign by mail that when they met
here last month they had 100000
members.
One of the most notable character
istics of the delegates to this conven-
ton was their leanness as compared
to the double-chinned type Of dele
gate which is so predominant in the
conventions of the older parties.
This might be explained by the fact
that a nervous, active, and therefore
thin, man is more likely to think and
be disconnected with his lot. For
bers of the Committee of Forty-eight
lack the sagging jowl, the pouch I'M
der the eye, and the manner of CLASSY
smoothness peculiar to the ordinary
politician.
Lean and Hungry-Hke
This alone should show a shrewd
statesman that they were not the
type to follow the beaten political
path. Shakespeare saw the same
bellion when he had Julius Caesar
point out that lyon Cassius has a
lean and hungry look" and might
therefore be expected to make trou-
BILE. Not that the Forty-eight In
tended to make trouble. They were
who felt that there was. something
lacking in our political life, and that
the proceedings of the two old par
ties in convention this year had had
the effect of f1abbergasting all good
men and true who were meekly raj
determined to rally round no longer.
J. A. H. Hopkins, who might be
called the prime mover of the Com
mittee Of Forty eight, was one OF the
outstanding figures at their conven-
ton. = Mr.. Hopkins was delegate
to the 1912 national convention of
Republicans, and a leader in the
Roosevelt revolt. He was treasurer
of the Progressive campaign commit
tee. In 1916 he came to the conven-
ton expecting to nominate Roose-
welt again, and when Roosevelt re-
fused the nomination hard words
passed between them. Then Mr.. Hop
ktns campaigned for woodrow WI
came disillusioned. AS he had tried
every known political party without
feeling satisfied, there seemed to be
nothing for him to do but to start
new one Hence the Committee or
Forty-eight.
It may be of interest for those who
think that the Committee Of Forty
eight is composed of Socialists, en-
vious of other peoples worldly goods
to know that Mr.. Hpkins is very
wealthy man, both through his own
work and money he inherited from
his father. His business is 1nsur-
ance, and his home is in Morr1stoWn'
N. J. However, money seems not 10
he the main interest in his life. He
has refrained from using the money
he inherited, and lately he has given
up taking an active interest In his
own business, preferring to give all
his energy to the new party plans.
Mr.. Hopkins Is Handsome
Mr.. Hopkins is a valuable asset
to the Forty-eight in another way
thusiast. He will be a great help
to them in attracting feminine votes
Not altogether because he has been
called the handsomest man In amer
lea. but because he was one OF the
first, men in the east TO come OUT
in support of woman Suffrage.
Charles H. Ingersoll Is another In
teresting Forty-eighter. He was the
poor farmer boy who conceived the
idea that everybody ought to have
a watch, and has now made this con-
venient possession possible to the
most poverty-stricken by his manu-
facture of cheap timepieces. He
he is still a single tax supporter.
Personally he is a simple, likable
man, who retains his simplicity in
spite of his great wealth. He Is a
chunky and absent-minded human
who is more than, likely to appear
at a formal banquet in baggy
business suit. His habit of rising
early caused much dismay among
the other Forty-eighters who were
often aroused from their slumbers
at a. m. to lend him safety ra-
zor. Mr.. Ingersoll, in his excite
ment, forgot to bring his safety to
the convention, and had to borrow
one from the Pullman car porter on
the way here in order to present a
pleasing countenance to Chicago. The
most remarkable thing about this re-
markable man, however, is that al
though he operates six factories dur
ing these troublous times he has
never had any labor disturbances
among his men.
Another well-known Forty-eighter
is Amos Pinchot, wealthy and lib
supported Roosevelt IN 1912, and like
Hopkins, was much disappointed
when Roosevelt failed the Progress
sives in 1916. He also became a
Democrat, and in due time a disap-
pointed Wilson man. He is another
lean and lank and long individual
of much nervous energy and unusual
culture and charm.
An interesting thing about the
Committee of Forty-eight is that
about half Of its members are wom-
en-, and women of widely different
types. There is Mrs. Ina P. Will
liams, of Yakima, Wash, for in
stance Mrs. Williams was an ac-
tive supporter of woman suffrage in
her state. She was a member of the
state legislature, and later ran for
woman, is interested in farmers
paper, and is member of the Won-
EMS Card and Label club, an organi-
cation whose members Will buy only
union made goods.