Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-07-15
LABOR GRg>>!s;
IN THE SADDLE
WHEN PLATFORM
IS PUT THROUGH
Majority Report Signed By
Five Workers and Two Of
the 48 Party'S Represent
ativeS, Is Adopted.
NUMBER OF DELEGATES
QUIT THE CONVENTION
Document Is Unsatisfactory
to Many Representatives.
Ferguson of Texas First
One to Withdraw,


Chicago. July 1.-THE labor
group was dominating when the
new fusion party adopted a plat
form late today in preparation for
nomination of candidates at to-
nights session.
A minority report from the plat
form committee was sponsored by
three of the five representatives Of
the committee of AS. but was de-
feated by a vote of slightly less
than three TO one. The majority
report was signed by the five labor
members of the committee on res
olutions and two of the As party's
representatives. 1t was adopted
oy big majority which, on mo-
don. was made unanimous.
OBJECTIONS from the ranks of the
new party began when II was
shown that the minority report
would be overwhelmingly defeated.
James Ferguson, former governor
of Texas. was the first to openly
pun out of the meeting. He was
followed by delegates from several
states. none of whom was identi-
fled with the labor party.
A near stampede developed
when at attempt was made TO
forestall Introduction of the ma
jority platform report by the sub
mission to the convention OF a re-
port that was reputed to be ac-
ceptable to Senator Robert Nj. La
Toilette. The senator's friends de-
clared the convention was "boss
ridden and clique controlled and
that the senator's own platform
ideas had been buried in secret
committee meeting.
storm Breaks With All Fury.
The storm broke with all the
fury of riot and La Toilette dele
gates were quick to seize the psy
Geological moment to spring their
presidential boom. A big photo
graph of the senator, flag -draped,
and a huge red banner inscribed
with his name were swung before
the convention and the demonstra-
ton was on. 1t 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 that the majority report
of the committee on resolutions
was before the convention and
must be dealt with first. The La
Toilette platform was never
brought up again.
The statement of George Rec
ord, who presented the minority
report, that, If 1t was adopted,
Senator La Toilette would be will
ing to run on 1t, was challenged
by Gilbert e. Roo, the senator's
representative. Roo reiterated
previous announcements that the
senator did not desire the nomi-
nation and asked that his name
not be presented.
The convention recessed an hour
after disposing of the platform,
planning to return and take up
the questions of party name and
presidential candidates.
McCurdy Makes Address.
About 200 of the committee of
AS delegates assembled at another
hall during the recess. Allen Nc
Curdy made an address full of
feeling, and before they adjourned
to meet again at 9 a. m. tomor-
row, it was clearly indicated that
many of them were far separated
from the labor group.
I'VE tried to get up a party for
just average Americans" McCurdy
said 1--WE have been thrown to-
gether with a group who are
working for MARKHAM socialism.
There isn't any enmity in me
when I say this; / have been try
ing to say it for xxx two days.
There has been an irrecon-
cilable difference between some
Of us in the committee of 4S and
the leaders of the labor group. 1t
is all expressed in one word in the
majority report; where 1t stands
for increasing control of industry
by the workers. That means that
they want TO sink the foundation
of the new party deep into COM
munism."
Melinda Alexander, secretary of
the committee of AS, said the
forty-eighters had been taken
in" and put in a position where !
their votes could not count, and !
their voices not be made effec- |
tive. A number of delegates left |
to go back to the labor conven-
ton. Others said they would stay
but the majority senu-
ment appeared to be with Chair
man Hopkins in his attempt to
Try and re-unite the body.
The new party, it was decided
At the night session, will operate
until August, 1921, under the la
Dor party constitution. A draft
Of q new constitution was referred
70 conference committee, to be
reported on next year.
Plank Branded "Despotic."
1t was discovered that the plank
On education had been lost from
he platform before it was adopt
I'd this afternoon and it was in
serted tonight. The plank calls
'or a government board of educa-
ion whose head would sit in the
.abinet.
. New York delegates said the
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