New-York tribune., 1922-02-20
Labor, Farmers
And Radicals to
Plan New artv
Committee of 48 and MANY
Womens Clubs ToBcRcp-
resented at Conference To
Open in Chicago To-day
''Real America Bloc
iiiIlquit and Several Union
Leaders to Balk Unless
Workers Get Full Rights
rronl a Stor Corrcsnond,r,


CHICAGO. Feb. -Representa.ivoe
OF all except one of the railroad broth
erhoods and other trade unions n
number Of farmers leagues and osso-
cations, the Socialists and Single Tax
parties, the Committee of Fortv-ciqbt
several womens clubs. the Potato
Growers Exchange and an additional
assorted variety Of more or less "pro-
gressive' organizations Will begin q
three day conference here tomorrow in
an effort to effect coalition for polit-
ical purposes
In the event the coalition is com
pleted along the lines laid out for it bv
's chief hackers. tho railroad unions
ana the international Association Of
Machln'sts it will devote its chief at
nNon to supporting candidates for
7 pdolc office who will represent the
AIMS OF the organizations concerned.
IT also was announced by William
Johnston' president Of the machinists
union and one of the chief spirits IN
'he new move. that another cardinal
ann planned for the group will be ever
ton of its efforts for the establish
ment OF another "bloc" in Congress
that Is If 1t can be induced to coalcsco
to sufficiently formidable extent
ms. Mr.. Johnston confded. is to "bc
chrlstoned the real American bloc
guided by the idea of 'Americanism
first" ''''' SUI
H'Ilquit Threatens Coalition
These, according to Mr.. Johnston.
represent the two main hopes enter
tanned by him and the heads of tho
railroad brotherhoods for the move
mont. But right away comes = darl
little cloud on the coalition in the form
OF Simultaneous announcement hv
Morrls Hillquit, of the Socialist party.
and the Chicago labor leaders. that
they will enter the conference pre-
pared to demand that the outcome OF
the gathering must be the formation
of new labor party, designed to plav
the part in American politics played in
England by the British Labor party.
However, it was cmphatically de
clared by Mr.. Johnston that I've have
no ldea OF forming a new political
party He also LET it be known that
the movement is to be launched behind
closed doors.
The wondering public, said Mr. John
son, would be satisfied by the issuance
Of official communiqucs as to the pro-
ceedings every hour or so.
Closed Sessions Announced
Many of us said Mr.. Johnson.
"havc widely divergent views on the
subjects to be discussed and we de-
sire to give them full and untran-
meled expression without the knowl-
edge that what we say is being report
ed IN detail. am sure that YOU gen
tlemen Of the press will understand,
won't YOU ?'
The gentlemen Of the press replied
that they did.
Mr. johnson said that the proposed
coalition ''is based on a brand new
idea in politics. the gathering together
of all these great unions. farmer and
progressive organizations, TO back can
didates favorable to their interests. re
gardless Of party lines"
"But hasn't Samuel Gompors utilized
precisely that political strategy on be
half Of organized labor for the last
twenty years or ?" he was asked
well this differs from the policies
Of Nh c. mpers.' he replied This is
the first time that all these groups
have been brought together for uniting
to attain such political aims
"Ho y about the group representation
at the convention of the Farmer Labor
party two years ago." inquired an
other reporter.
"Ah,' he said. this is to be much
larger, and so much, much more i'm
portant.
Without A. F. Of l.. Support
Despite the large union representa-
ton. the coalition, if it is effected. will
not have the backing Of the American
Federation of Labor or the more con
serrative labor leaders, it was learned
authoritatively. The interests Of the
railroads in the movement was said bv
some close observers to be chiefly for
the purpose of reviving the Plumb
plan. for which they are reported to be
desirous of obtaining the support Of
the farmer and other groups in return
for supporting ce-+.in Of the latter's
"progre essive' aims.
As to the possible power that such
a coalition. even if it can be CLOSELY
organized, might be able to WELD in
national elections, the figures of the
last presidential election show that
out of total of 26.7S6.75S as the popu-
ar vote cast. the combined popular
vote of the Socialist, Socialist Labor