The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1920-07-15
THE THIRD PARTY
ADOPTS PLATFORM
xFARMER.LABOR" SELECTED AS
NAME OF PARTY THAT WILL
OPPOSE OLD PARTIES

OPPOSE OLu fANlACo
Chicago, July 14.-Robert La Fol-
aette, Jr., notified new party leaders
touipht that his father would not run
under any circumstances on the plat
form adopted.
The "Farmer-Labor Party" was the
name chosen by the convention OF the
new political party here tonight.
The Labor group was dominant
when the new fusion party adopted
a platform late today in preparation
of nominating candidates at tonights
session.
A minority report for the platform
committee was sponsored by three OF
the five representatives of the COM
mittee af forty-eight, but was defeated
BY a vote of slightly less than 8 to 1.
The majority report was signed by
the five Labor members of the COM
mittee on resolutions and two Of the
marty of forty-eight's representatives.
It was adopted by a big majority.
OBJECTIONS from the ranks Of the
new party began when it was shown
that the minority report would be
overwhelmingly defeated. James Fer
xuscn, former governor of Texas, was
the first openly to pull out Of the
meeting. He was followed by dele
Sates from several states, none OF
whom was identified with the Labor
party.
A near stampede developed when
IN attempt was made to forestall IN
PRODUCTION of the majority platform
report by the submission of the con-
yention Of a report that was reputed
to be acceptable to Senator Robert M.
La Toilette. The Senator's fr1ends
launched the attack with declaration
that the convention was boss-ridden
and clique-controlled and that the
Senator'S own platform ideas had been
buried in secret committee meeting.
The storm broke with all the fury
of a riot and LaFollette delegates
were quick to seize the psychological
moment to spring their Presidential
boom. A big photograph of the Sen
stor, flag draped, and huge red ban
ner inscribed with his name were
swung before the convention and the
demonstration was on. It lasted
about three quarters of an hour.
= Then a move was made to read the
Senator's platform, but it was blocked
by the decision of the chairman, who
ruled that the majority report OF the
committee on resolutions was before
the convention and must be dealt with
first. The LaFollette platform was
never brought up again, but the MI
nority report, which was later defeat
ed, was said by its sponsors to be ac-
ceptable to the Wisconsin solon.
About 1000 of the committee OF
Forty-eight delegates assembled at
another hall during the recess, J. A.
a. Hopkins, their national chairman
presiding. Allen McCurdy, who made
the keynote speech for their indepen-
dent convention, made an address full
of feeling and before they adjourned
to meet again 9 A. M tomorrow 1t
was clearly indicated that many OF
them were far separated from the La
Dor group.
eve tried to get up party for just
average Americans to get into action
in 1920" McCurdy said. 1--WE have
been thrown together with a group
who are working consciously for
MARKHAM socialism. There isn't any
enmity in me when say this; l have
been trying to say it to the fusion
convention for two days.
There has been an irreconcilable
difference between some of US in the
committee of forty-eight and the lead
eds of the labor group. It is all ex-
pressed in one word in the majority
report, where it stands for increasing
control Of industry by the workers.
That means that they want to sink the
foundation Of the new party deep into
sommunism, to be ready to deliver
the industries of this nation into the
hands Of the workers in those indus
tries to be owned, controlled, operated
for the benefit of the workers in them
or for the whole people.
'That's an honest difference. I say
.Godspeed to you if you believe it.
Il is sn irreconcilable differences for
8uzne Of us.