New-York tribune., 1921-12-25
Radicals Form
Peace Party at
A Private Riot
fsunch Workers of Amer.
lea in Meeting of Del.
egates Representing Il
Groups of Left Wing
Seek Foothold in Congress
Aim to Overthrow Society
by Legal Means, They
Assert as They Quarrel

relegates from seventeen radical or
..n;zstions. representing about $4,000
ssmbers. met yesterday at the Labor
-.mnle. IN East Eighty-fourth Street,
I'D launched, after half an hour of
,sar-r,oting, the Workers Party of
america. The purpose of the new
u,rsnization. according to it's sponsors,
s 10 accomplish. in regular political
..ssion,r what the country's radicals
asve been unable to achieve by more
direct methods
ro this end thc new political party
sssspds 10 put forward candidates for
soogress IN 1922.
The Communist delegates started
.,sir frst uproar over the effort of
Harry waton. a we'll known radical
;. ret the convention to recognize him
ss delegate.
Demands lie Be Heard
Caleb Harrison. who was elected
,crmsnent chairman at the opening CT
the session, had previously declared
.sat delegates to the convention would
h. admitted only from recognized po-
Ntieal organizations which. prior to
.be issuance of the call, had made pub
II, declaration in favor of the prin-
rinles set forth in the call. All dele
estes, he said, were pledged to abide
5y the rules and principles Of the
eonveution.
The trouble started when Walton, de
MED admission by the convention
rules. demanded to be heard "on a
no;at of information" The chairman
refused 10 recognize him. telling him
he must report to the credentials COM
nittee. Naton continued to demand
recognition and shouted:
q demand a point OF informa ton
Even if you bust YOU will have 20 give
i TO ne This IS question of the
proletariat, and if lou put me out you
will have to use force"
Boos and hisscs greeted Waton'
announcement. and the several hun
dred delegates, including a minority
defending the insurgent radical
Jumped to their feet. shouting, and 6
fight started in the balcony.
The chairman yelled for the ser
~eant-at-arms. and, after rough scuf-
ac in the balcony, amid the boos and
cheers, about ten Of The disturbers
ware evic-ed As Walton was being
elected he yelled back over his shoul-
der: go to hell. yau damned skunks!'
tphraidS Second Internationalc
Another demonstration took place
when James ?. Shannon. Of the Ameri
can Labor Alliance, declared that the
new organization was to be carried
along on the lines of the Communist
Internationale. He was wildly cheered
he denounced the Second Information
ale as having betrayed Nc people.
He referred to The American Fedora
ton of Labor as "Gompers's bureau
cracy." and in comparing The labor
party and the Socialist party with thi;
new organization he said: The diff
ference between them and US is thai
We are lighting and militant organ
ization while they are afraid to tight.
There was no danger Of refornlistl'
tendency creeping into the new party
he said, explaining that the party
would be bound by discipline and moi
by Excessive referendum"
Margaret Prevy was made vice-chalr
man. and j. Louis Engdhal, former edi
tor Of Socialist magazine printed II
Chicago, and J A. Winestone and L. +
Allison were made secretaries.
Various kilograms of congratulated
on the launching of the new part
we're read from radical organization
throughout the country, and it va
then announced that congratulator.
messages had been telegraphed to 10