The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-07-14
Forty-Eishters Battle With Platform
In Effort to Organize the Third Party;
Single Takers Leave Convention Because
OF SocialiStic Planks WhichSeemSlated
For the Declaration of PRINCIPLES

/ Chicago, July l4.-senator LaFol-
ietie, does not deem himself "ayail-
able as candidate" for the new
party presidential nominee. He sent
word to the convention that he did
not want the nomination.
Immediately after Chairman Walker
had announced IaFollette's decision
not TO accept a nomination, Lester
Barlow, leader OF the world war vet.
Grams, entered the fight and demand
cd that LaE'ollette be drafted despite
his wishes
He charged that the convention was
boss ridden by a secret. intriguing
clique and that its leaders were con-
cealingl.a Follette's platform for fear
the convention would adopt 1t. His
passionate appeal started an uproar
and delegates demanded the platform
be read.
AT the psychological moment some
one swung a large photograph of the
Wisconsin senator before the conven-
tion and draped it in an American
flag Tho non-partisan leaGuers from
the paltotas started a parade with the
state standards, and state after state
fell into line. Pandemonium reigned
for 30 minutes and was punctuated
of cries of read that PLATFORM" and
lets adopt It,"
Chicago, July 14.-Hopes for the
new fusion party were at ebb-tide as
all night conference of the new body's
resolutions committee, dragged along
today In m effort to get together on
a platform acceptable to Senator La
Toilette
The extreme left, which yesterday
controlled the amalgamation and
forced its platform desires on the
more conservative elements in the
convention struck snag when it
met the veto power of the probable
presidential nominee OF the new party.
PortN-elghters who constitute the
rlght wing group Of the fusion move
ment, are bitterly opposed to the
more socialistic ideas Of the radical
labor faction. In this stand, they
have the support not only of LaFol
lette, but Of several minority organi-
cations subscribing to the political
combination.
The first evidence of a possible
breaking up Of the new party move
ment followed last nights session
when the single takers withdrew,
adopted their one plank platform and
Nominated presidential candidates.
For president they chose Robert
McAuley OF Philadelphia, and for vice
president they selected II. c. Barnum
of Cleveland. They quit the new
: party, Jerome c. Refs, a single taxer
said, because st was not only appar-
ent they could not obtain their plat
form desires with a candidate COM
mitted to them, but also because they
could not stand the socialistic ideas"
OF the dominant labor group.
The birth of the new party, yester.
day, after five days of conferences,
was attended by tumutous scenes in
which more than once the fledglng
movement faced shipwreck on the
rccl1s and antagonisms
! Questions OF nationalism Of federal
industries and plank dealing with
foreign relations were the principal
stumbling blocks.
LaFollettc's representatives stood
out strongly for inclusion OF the
planks as dictated by the labor party.
Two possibilities, therefore, stood
out today: First, that for the sake Of
harmony, the labor leaders may yield
TO the LaFollette forces, and permit
changes in their platform drafts; and,
second, that they may remain stead.
fast in their determination and de-
mand a candidate who can ride on
their declaration Of principles.
The platform fight was in prospect
when the new party fusion convention
/ opened this morning. Only partial
/ success has been met with all-night
conferences on the subject, at which
| Senator +, NJ. LaFollette, was repre-
sented; while leaders withheld states
until they came before delegates, it
was understood that there probably
would be two platform reports pre-
sented on vital planks, one backed BY
some leaders Of the Committee OF AZ,
having the tentative approval of Sem
ator LaFollette, and the second by
the labor members. There was some
disseDsion among minority groups as
well, the ex.soldier organizations be-
| ing dissatisfied with certain details.
while a part Of the single tax CON
| tingent has already Withdrawn.
The proposal for levy on capital
values TO pay federal expenses, con-
tinued in the original labor platform.
was dropped by the conferees on
nearly unanimous vote. This elirnin-
uted one fighting point.
After the convention had been called
to order 40 minutes after the time
set for recommending, tho delegates
INDUCED in free-for-all contest to
select tellers to count the votes ex-
pected today, This consumed another
half hour That platform committee,
in the meantime, was reported to be
making strenuous efforts TO polish OFF
their resolutions.
The clamor of a brass band work.
ing at high pressure, the din OF feet.
voices and crealdng chairs and the
boom of flashlights, marked the as
semblage Of the fusion convention.
They filled the hall to its farthest
corners and double set Of statc
standards waved up and down trying
to find a resting place.
James Duncan, Seattle laborite, had
the gavel, but Farley p Christensen.
the 4Ser chairman, was given ris-
ing demonstration as he came on the,
platform, and the band played. HAL.
Hail, the Gangs AL Here" Vixen
the 'Marseillaise" was played the dele y
gates stood and yelled while It was,