Evening star., 1922-02-22
new PARTY PLANS
PUSHEDAT CHICAGO
Leaders of Various Groups
Dissatisfied With Present
Government Meet.
By tie Associat ted Press.


CHICAGO, February 22.-Harmoni-
Gus action developed in yesterdays
conference of representatives from
farmer and labor blocs, railroad and
miners unions, socialists. farmer-la-
bor party leaders and others dissatis-
fled with Americas present political
leadership, and resulted in the ap-
pointment of a national committee, to
meet i'll New York December IL, to
organize what is expected to be
new political party.
The organization termed itself
conference for progressive political
action" and selected national conf
mittee of fifteen, which will act Is an
executive committee.
Refraining from drafting platform,
the conference declared for home rule
in the organization of state and local
committees.
The conference declared it's aims
can best be accomplished by united
political action suited to the peculiar
conditions and needs of each section
and state"
Nationally known socialists, includ-
ing Morris Hillquit and William u.
Foster of New York and Victor Ber-
ger of milwaukee,. mingled with rep
rcSentativeS of conservative farmer
organizations and labor unions, speak
ing in the same meeting with Benja-
min c. Marsh of the Farmers Ma
tIonal Council. A. c. Townley of the
Partisan League, John H. Walker.
president of the Illinois Federation of
Labor. and DR.. Frederic e. Howe.
former commissioner of immigration
at New York. William H. Johnston,
president of the International Asso-
citation Of Machinists. was chairman.
Organizations to be invited to the
December IL meeting are progressive
organizations of farmers and labor,
cooperative societies, the socialist
and farmer-labor parties, single tax
ers and other liberal political groups.
Prompt organization of state COM
mtteeS was urged and several groups
had already begun preliminary work.
\ declaration of grievances" drafted
by the program committee and, quoting
from the Declaration of independence
and the bill of rights, reasserted its
adherence to the principles of those
documents and assailed the republic
can and democratic parties.
Morris Hillquit. protesting against
reiteration of ancient declarations,
declared there should be more con-
structive ideas. but, he was hastily
informed that the committees report
intended only an address to the peo-
pie. No attempt had been made. it
was explained, to draft a platform.
AssaiI .Altnr of Creed"
Assailing both dominant political
parties, the declaration charged that
life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness all have been sacrificed upon
the altar of greed"
Free speech has been stifled. a
! free press has been throttled and the
right of assembly has been denied"
| it asserted. The seating of Sem
ator Newberry of Michigan was char
acteriZed as sanctio1fing 1.-The whole
sale corruption of the electorate"
| while it was charged the federal re-
serve system had been used to
| fault and crush farmers and inUe-
pendent business men,"
I The railroads have been permitted
| to operate for speculative gain, ac-
| cording to the statement; a campaign
! of ruthless Imperialism" was en-
gagged in Haiti and Santo Domingo.
! ''judge-made laws" have been "eXalt-
| ed above the statutes" "organized
! crimes and conspiracies of trusts"
! have gone u1hampered. and Amer
! icanism has '"been surrendered to
J GaryiSm."
Mr.. Johnston was elected chairman
! of the executive committee and MIR
Howe was chosen as secretary.
| Headquarters will be opened in
Washington at once, it was announc-
| ed. following the executive commit
tees meeting.