East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1920-07-10
National Convention is Called
to Order at 11:45 With 1900
in Attendance; 20 Percent
Are Women.
ADOPTION OF PLATFORM
is PREMIER PROBLEM
Agreement of Labor, Non-Par-
tisans and "MiddIe Class"
Union In Three Paragraph
Statement is Task.
BY DON Z. CHAMBERLAIN

By DON Il. CHAM MBcRIxAIN
Omitted Press Staff Correspondent.
CHICAGO, July 1o.-The nationa,
convention OF the committee OF 4s was
called 10 order at 1i:45 today. With
the exception OF bare spots in Ken
lucky. Montana, West Virginia and
Louisiana reservations. the hall was
well filled. The assembiage numbered
about 1900. 20 per cent being women.
IA Fqays TO Parties
Temporary Chairman Arccurdy. in
the keynote speech was enthusiastical-
iy cheered when he declared the call
for the convention was based on CON
viction OF the two existing political
parties united in n determination to
perpetuate the evils which the AM
ertcan people are determined to des-
troy"
lie particularly denounced special
economic privilege and when he de-
clared the capital Of the United States
was in Wall street. and not in Wash
ington. delegates stood and cheered.
McCurdy's reference to the non -parti-
san defeat Of the old parties of North
Dakota was also greeted with shouts
OF approval. The convention took a
recess pending q report OF the COM
mittee.
Introduction Il Brief
Chairman Hopkins. following the
prayer. said; 'swe're here to open up |
to American people the channel by
which the country will be able TO fight |
things nearest TO their hearts. Just as
Lincoln, half a century ago. struck
OFT the shackles OF slavery. We art
here today TO strike the shackles OF I
economic slavery from us. There are
difficulties in our way. but they were
minor difficulties. The essential jon
for us to do is to Unite our forces upon
a common platform and upon COM
mon candidate" AT the conclusion of
q brief speech. Hopkins turned the
gavei over to McCnrdy.
Cheer Public Ownership.
"Can we unite on this issue?" asked
McCurdy when he declared that the
paramount issue in the campaign
would be the destruction of special
privilege. The delegates leaped to
their feet and cried "Yes." Mccurdy's
tIbes at the old order of things con-
tinued to tickle the crowd. The dele
gates jumped to their feet. waved hats
handkerchiefs and sticks when he said
I'VE ought to have public ownership
of the department of Justice"
The convention gave McCurdy. who
spoke more than an hour. brief
demonstration. The state standards
and pennants were waved by the dele
gates who stood in the seats. Names
of the committee on rules and creden-
tIals and permanent organization were
announced by Miss Melinda Alexander
OF Montana the temporary secretary.
(By Associated Press.)
CHICAGO, July 10.--Adoption of
platform OF three paragraphs. on
which labor nom partisan and sym
pathizers with the middle class
union can agree will be the first task
of the convention called by the Com
rnittee of As, which began its sessions
today.
The platform will be used by the res
oiutions committee as a basis for its
work is one adopted by the committee
OF IS last December. when Il held the
first convention of the new party in
st. Louis 1t advocates public owner
ship of transportation facilities and
certain other public utilities, taxation
to force idle land into use and the abo-
lition of special privilege.
Seek Service Mems Approval
An effort will be made to obtain
endorsement of the platform by the Ia
Dor party OF tne Oniteu STATES an4 tne
world war veterans both OF which are
holding conventions here.
s'It is our hope that labor. includ
ing farmers and other divisions of the |
laboring classes. win find In the new
party's platform a common sense
IDEAL which they can support whole
heartedly at the polls" said ]. A. II. |
Hopkins. chairman of the committee !
Of 4s who has had charge OF the or
ganizatIon work which resulted in the |
calling of the convention.
Want Iabor's support. Il
'sThe full success OF what we are
trying toaccompiish would include our
getting the support of organized la
Dor. syna apthizers OF the single tax.
The non-ptartisan league and the bulk |