New-York tribune., 1920-05-09
''lnternationale'' Sung as
Party Opens National
Convention; Hillquit
Predicts 2 Million Votes
Asserts Wilson
Betrayed People
Declares President Acted
Contrary to Principles
He Advocated i'm 1916

With the singing of the Tnterna-
tionale" and ten-minute demonstra-
ton for Eugene V. Debs, serving a.
prison sentence of ten years for viola
tion of the espionage act, the Socialist
party of America opened it's Presiden-
tlal convention at Finnish Socialist
Hall, 127th Street and Fifth Avenue,
yesterday.
Morris Hillquit, temporary chairman,
IN his keynote address predicted that
the Socialist vote in the Forthcoming
election would be more than 100000.
he devoted large part Of his address
to violent attack on the administra-
ton Of President Wilson, whom he ac-
cused of bctraying not only the princi-
pies for which he stood in his campaign
for reelection in 1916, but also of the
fundamental principles and ideals of
Americanism and democracy. There
were no red flags. American flags were
displayed in profusion.
Mr. Hillqut predicted the American
people eventually would turn to
socialism as the only solution of the
social and economic problems before
them and declared there is no escape
tor the world as whole from its
present tragic condition of social dis
solution except through the policies
oodled IN the socialist doctrine. In
proof OF this statement he cited the
progress of the socialist movement in
Europe, ;he control obtained by the
Socialist and labor parties in Russia,
Germany, Austria, Italy. Czecho-So-
vakia, England and Scandinavia.
Says 1t Is Party of Labor.
He said the Socialist party of Amer
ica, has successfully parried the at
tacks directed upon it within the last
year and predicted that the party
eventually would survive what he
called the campaign of persecution to
which 1T has been subjected and would
come to be recognized as the poltica
party OF American labor. In this con
nectlon he expressed little confidence
IN n the movement under way for q
on the rocks of the opposition of the
Anne rican Federation Of Labor.
MT Hlllquit's statement in regard to
the Labor party was taken as an in
dlcation that the convention will reiact
the proposal for unity and cooperation
with the Labor party, the Nonpartisan
League and otner radical bodies which
1t is understood, some delegates from
the west are prepared to push before
the convention.
William z. Foster, organizer and
leader of the recent steel strike in n''a q
short address declared the steel work
ers 40 not consider themselves beaten
and blamed the immediate failure ot
the strike lot upon "the opposition of
Judge Gary or Charles Schwab." hut
upon the failure of the unions of other
trades to. come to their assistance
particularly the railroad men and mine
workers.
Organization Work Goes On
Foster, who was given an enthusias-
tic reception by the convention. said
the work of organizing the steel work
ers is being continued most energeti-
cal!y and that when they strike again
the mistake which brought their de-
feat in the recent conflict would not be
repeated, namely, they will see to it
that the railroad men, miners and Other
workers occupying strategic position:
in industry strike with them or take
steps to bring some form of pressure
upon the steel companies.
1--WE are not discouraged" he said
! Our mon have got a taste of power
in this strike. they have learned that
they can tie up the mills. The next
time we act we will see to it that we
have the miners, the railroad men ano
others with US"
This statement was taken as a pre-
diction that the steel strike would be
renewed accompanied by what may
amount virtually to general strike
1t provoked wild cheers and applause.
In his keynote address Mr.. Hillquit
said:
"In Europe, where tha ruling classes