The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-14
SPLIT THREATENS
THIRD PARTY IN
PLATFORM FIGHT
Efforts to Reconcile Etrem-
lsts' Ideas and La FoIIette's
Candidacy Prove Stumbling
Block in Fusion Convention.

SF1lCAGO, July 14.-Hopes for the
survival of the new fusion party were
at eob tide as the all-night conference
vi the new body's resolutions commit.
zee dragged along today in an effor,
10 get together on platform acceptable
70 senator La Toilette.
Ihe extreme left, which Yesterday
controlled co. the amalgamation and forced
piatiorm desires on the more con
strnclt iVe elements in the convention,
ipTwer OF the probable presidential nom .
, - o1 tne new party Forty eiphters
Mho constitute the right wing groun Of
ne ne fusion movement, are bitterly on
HhUeeu tha "a TO the more socialistic ideas of
thev hweai hnsi iaDor faction. In this stand
tnd{ En nave the support not only of La
ronette but Of several minority or
carnations subscribing to the political
combination.
The first evidence of a possib,e
,nent reatking fag up Of the new party move
ne Single Takers withdrew. adopted %
Their one plank platform and nominate
presidential candidates. For president
msy chose Robert C. MacAuley. of
thn tphmn.iadeIphia, and for vice president
ilney selected r. G, Barnum, Of Cleye-
lahd. H They quit the new party, Jerone a
Z. Refs. Single Tax leader, said he.
cause IL was not only apparent they
couid not obtain their platform desirnS
ana candidate committed to them
y nut also because they could not stand
me tns socialstio IDEAS" the dominant Ia
The birth of the new party yester-
gay after five days of conference was
attended by tumultous scenes in which,
more than once the fledgling movement
a,sto oaceu snipwreck on the rocks OF jeal-
vasIes . ana group antagQnisms. In the
very beginning the labor party organi-
zation grabbed the rudder and steered
the course until consideration of the
PLATFORM resolutions was begun. Sew
efal pianks had been read and an
proved when Forty-eighters began to
reiegation to the background.
There followed quickly demands for
revision of the procedure by which the
resolutions were being passed Leaders
OF the Forty-eight delegation insisted
on more prominent position in the
the angry delegates the labor leaders leaders
surrendered the craftsmanship to Pariey
christensen, of Utah, who presided over
the original Forty eight convention.
The concession failed. however, to iron
out the widely divergent views on plat
Lorm pIanks. AS a result, the fusion
movement was again placed in prac-
tlcaliy the same position in which it
had been during the more than SO hours
Of backing and pulling in conference
committees.
Forty eig hters then played their
tor La Follettes influence to bear and
demanded platform concessions before
their presidential candidate would con-
sent to. make the race. Questions of
naturalization of essential industries
and md. plank dealing with foreign rela-
blocks. La Follette's representatives
1eld out strongly against inclusion of
.hese planks as dictated by the labor
1arty.
Two planks of the platform being
irafted by the conference committee OF |
IL still were in dispute when word was |
'eceived that Senator La Toilette OBJ |
ected to certain planks in the tenta- |
i've draft.
Inclusion of the Plumb plan and dec |
aration for government ownership of |
lispute.
The unofficial version of the tentative
lraft which did not meet Senator La
Follette's approval follows:
1.-Repeal of all sedition and criminal
narchy statutes.
Amnesty for political prisoners
allied because of religious belief or
Industrial activity.
S.-Recognition of the right of work
RS, including government employees, to
trike, and stripping of the courts of
powers seized In dealing with indus
rial disputes and injunctional pro-
eedings.
4.-Recognition of the right of free
peech, free press, free assemblage and
be right of asylum.
5.-Declaration against war except in
ase of invasion, without a referendum
ote.
6.-Recognition of the Irish repub-
c" and the new government In Rus
Ia, and immediate lifting of trade re-
trictions with Russia.
7.-Denial of military or financial aid
D any foreign government invading Ire
md or Russia.
8.-Declaration for government owner
hip of utilities generally.
9.--Discharge of national war debts
, and all obligations to soldiers sailors
I'd marines in the late war by means
a graduated capital tax levy, i'm
osed especially on profiteers.
Other planks in the unofficial version
lvor the referendum and recall, dec
lration the United States should not
Id In exploiting OF weaker nations 'for
he benefit of money masters" refusal
, 60 to war with Mexico ''for the bene-
/ of Wall street" and abandonment of
merica's "imperialistic platform with
sgard to Cuba, the Philippines, Hawaii,
uam and Santo Domingo"