The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-07-14
FUSION PARTY
| STRIKES SNACS
Hopes for Survival at Ebb
Tide--48erS VS.. Ideas of
Radical LabOriteS.
SINGLE TAKERS DRAW OUT

on a platform acceptable to sena.
tor La Toilette.
The extreme left, which yesters
day controlled the amaloamatlon
and forced It's platform desires on
the more conservative elements In
the convention, struck a snaa when
y met the veto power OF the prob
able presidential nominee OF the
new party. Forty Fighters. who
constitute the RIGHT wing group or
the fusion movement, are bitterly
opposed to the more socIalistie
Ideas OF the radical labor faction.
In this stand they have the support
not only Of la Toilette, but Of sew
erai minority organizations sub
scrlblno to the political comblna-
tIon.
The first evidence of a possible break.
lowed last nights session when the
single takers withdrew, adopted their
one plank platform and nominated pres.
idential candidates. For president they
chose Robert c. MacAuley, of Philadel-
phia, and for vlce-president they Sc
lected X, G. Barnum, of Cleveland
They quit the new party, Jerome c.
Refs. single tax leader. said. because
II was not only apparent they could not
obtain their platform desires and can
didate committed to them. but also be-
cause they could not stand the social
istic ideas" of the dominant labor
group.
on Rocks OF JeaIousies.
The birth of the new party yester-
day. after five days of conferences, was
attended by tumultuous scenes. in which
more than once the fledgling move
ment faced shipwreck on the rocks of
jealousies and group antagonisms. In
the very beginning. the labor party or
ganlzation grabbed the rudder and
\ q 4. At1t,
of the platform resolutions was begun.
Several planks had been read and ap-
proved when forty lighters began 10 in
terpose strenuous objections to their
relegation to the background.
There followed quickly demands for
revision of the procedure by which the
resolutions were being passed. Leaders
of the forty-eight delegation insisted an
a more prominent position In the pro-
ceedings In an effort to placate the
angry delegates. the labor leaders sur
rendered the chairmanship to Farley
Christensen. OF Utah, who presided over
the original forty-eight convention.
The concession failed utterly, how
ever to iron out the widely divergent
views on platform planks. AS result,
the fusion movement was again placed
in practically the same position In which
it had been during more than fifty
hours OF hacking and pulling in confer
ence committees.
Forty lighters then played their
trump card when they brought Senator
La Follette's influence to bear ana de-
their presidential candidate would con.
sent to make the race. Questions OF
naturalization OF essential Industries
and a plank dealing with foreign rreia-
tions were the principal stumbling
blocks la Follette's Representatives
-4a dncf inclusion
these planks as dictated by the labor
party.
Two Possibilities.
Two possibilities, therefore, stood out
today: First, that for the sake OF har-
mony, the labor leaders may yield 10
the La Toilette forces and permit
changes in their platform drafts; and
second, that they may remain steadiast
in their determination and demand
candidate who can ride on their decla-
ration of principles.
Leaders of both factions are eager 10
avert a breach, but yesterdays pro-
longed sessions showed plainly that thelr
ability to control and direct the con
vention's actions has been strained 70
the breaking point. the shghtest az
peal 10 prejudice ard passion. the lead
ers feared last night. would start
stampedc that would undo all they had
n accomplished. SO near was the STAN
pede last night that Chairman chris
tensen, for nearly two hours. kept the
delegates milling about redistrinn,ans trn,u Ha
for immediate consideration
of the platform. which. 1t was appar-
ent. could not be had.
THE delegates at last yielded In their
desire for action which would permit
them to complete their work and go
home, and voted to meet again tonay,
nj
adopted and candidates nominated
Two planks of the platform being
drafted by the, conference committee or
The labor party and the committee OF
forty eight still were in dispute when
word was received that Senator La
toilette objected to certain planks In
the tentative draft. Inclusion OF the
Plumb plan and declaration for govern
ment ownership Of mines were said to
be the points in dispute.
Failed Of Approval.
The unofficial version OF the tenta-
tive draft which did not meet Senator
La Folette's approval. follows:
/. Repeal of all sedition and crimi-
nal anarchy statutes.
2. Amnesty for political prisoners
Jailed because Of religious belief or IN
3 a Recognition Re- OF the right Of work.
ars. including government employees. to
strike, and stripping OF the courts or
powers seized" In dealing with Indus
trial disputes and injunctiona proceed
nEs.
(, Recognition OF right Of free speech,
free press. free assemblage ana the
right Of asylum.
&. Declaration against war except In
ase of invasion. without a referendum
vote.
6. Recognition Of the Irish republic"
and the new government in Russia
and immediate lifting OF trade restrIc-
lions with Russia.
7. Denial of military or financial aid
10 any foreign government invading
ireland or Russia.
S. Declaration for government owner
ship OF utilities generally.
2. Discharge Of national war debts
10 and all obligations TO soldiers, sail
1rs and marines IN the late war by
means Of a graduated capital tax levy,
imposed especially on prohteers.
other planks in the unofficial version
favor the referendum and recall, de-
-iaration the United states should nor
aid In exploitation Of weaker nations
for the benefit Of money masters. re-
fushl to 20 to war with Mexico for the
benent Of Wall street and abandonment
" Americas "imperialistic platform with
regard 10 Cuba. the Philippines, Hawaii
Guam and Santo Domingo
Prolonged Flpht Ahead.
A prolonged platform fight Was in
prospect when the new party fusion
opened this morning. Only
partial success had hc'A mot with In
he all night conferences on the subject
at which Senator Ia Toilette was rcp-
While leaders withheld state
ments. n was understood there would
1roha hly be two platform reports on
vital piankE put before the fusion gath
erinR. one hacked ny some leaders of
he committee Of fortv.eiEht. having the
entative approval Of Senator la Fol-
ette. and the second Nv the labor mem
hers. There was some dissenFion among
minority groups. the eN N-soldier organ
being dissatisfied with certain
details. while q part Of the single tax
contingent has already Withdrawn.
Tho proposal for levy on canitn'