New-York tribune., 1920-05-11
Factions Fight
Over Platform
OF Socialists
Hillquit Berger Machine
Accused by Left Leaders
With Using Steam.Roller
Methods in Convention
Clash Is Expected To-day
Repeal of Espionage Act and
One Union Demanded;
Debs Sure To Be Nominee

Cancellation Of all war loans by the
limited States, provided all other bel
lieerents in the European war take
similar action, is demanded in tenta-
tive platform submitted to the Socialist
convention yesterday by a committee
headed by Morris Hillquit. Adoption
Of the platform is regarded as certain,
the only opposition coming from those
who believe it to be too conservative.
II was on the question of the tenta-
tive platform, or declaration of princi-
pies and program, that the schism be-
tween the right and left wings of the
psrty developed when the convention
assembled in Finnish Socialist Hall.
'27th Street and Fifth Avenue. With
Mr.. Hilquit on the committee which
prepared the draft were Joseph f..
Cohen. of Pennsylvania: Victor l.. Ber
ger, Of Wisconsin; James O'Neal. of
New York and Gustave Hoehn. of Mis-
souri,.
Left Element Dissatisfied
The proposed program and declara-
lion did net suit the left element, con-
sisting principally or delegates from
Illinois. headed by Walter Kruse and
John Engdah, and from QueeAs and
Kings, marshalled by Benjamin Glass
berg and Moses Oppenheimer.
The lefts. made up of Bolshevist.
quasi Bolshevist and bow-tie elements
bitterly assailed the platform proposed
by the Hllquit contingent as yellow
and lacking in revolutionary spirit.
They were particularly anxious to in
clude in the platform "somc of the
latest IN Socialist theory, including
the dictatorship OF the proletarat"
and sovietism.
Ably supported by the gallery. ap-
parentlv filled with Communists ana
having the sympathy of Irwin st. John
Tucker of Chicago, chairman for the
Gay, they assailed viciously the docu-
ments presented by the Hillquit COM
mittee.
The let's intimated the HillQuit-Ber-
ger machine, as they vaguely styled it.
vas seeking TO steam roller its plat-
form through the convention. Kruse
moved that the platform and declara-
ton Of principles be referred back to
new committee for revision. Justice
Panken, Of the Municipal Court, moved
that il be considered by the entire
convention sitting as a committee of
the whole when the convention reas-
sembles this morning. After much
acrimonious debate Justice Pankens
motion vas carried. This assures adop-
ton OF the Hillquit platform and dec
iaration By the convention.
Favors One Big Union
The tentative platform submitted by
Mr. Hillquit included recommendation
20 the trade unions for the adoption of
The one big union idea The report
favored the closest cooperation of all
UNIONS as one organized working class
uarty."
In their great struggle for emanci-
nation, says the platte rm. "the work
ng classes Of America must present to
,T fheIT masters one solid front. indus
rally as we'll as politically"
Under the head of "foreign rela-
IONS the program demands:
Cancellation Of all war loans By the
United States provided similar action
IS taken by all other belligerents in the
" orId War, this being interpreted as
mounting virtually to a repudiation
II war debts; extension of the largest
1osslble credits in food. raw materials
md machinery to the stricken nations
II Europe; dissolution OF the league Of
latlons as constituted in the covenant
'm0odled IN the peace treaty, and the
'rea non OF an international parliament
u democratically elected representa-
mton of and trade with Soviet Russia;
recognition of the independence Of Ire.
and and the withdrawal of government
projection and property abroad
Inder the heading political" it was
'scommended that the party demand
repeal Of the espionage law and other
oppressive legislation; discontinuance of
7ii pending prosecutions under the es-
monage law and release of all political
prisoners; repeal of the arbitrary power
% deport aliens under administrative
order; abrogation of the power of the
.ourts to enJoin workers from striking
ana OF the application Of the Injunction
VIII IN labor disputes; election and re.
r2Ii or Federal judges; direct popular
lection and recall of the President and
Zee President of the United States:
qua! and unrestricted suffrage in fact
rs wei as IN law, and a constitut onal
amendment to remove all obstacles to
Industrial and social reform and re-
construction, including the aims of the
Socialist party.
Other demands included the social
-at'on OF basic industries and enforce
heht by Congress of the fourteenth
amenoment to the Constitution, insur-
ng the vote with full civil. political.
Inoustrial and social rights, to the
negro in the South.
Assalllng the Republican and Demo-
latlC .a'lC parties as representing the So
odted capitalist interests Of the coun-
ry' the platform declares:
america is now at the parting of
oo1 ne ,,9ds' roads If the outraging of politi-
'ai hoerty and concentration of eco
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