The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-12-15
FARM AND LABOR
GROUP IN CONfAB
Radical Political Gathering
Held At Cleveland
DECIDE POLICY ACTION
Two Hundred Delegates From
Nearly Every State; FavoTs
Primary Nominations. y


Cleveland, Ohio, December IL
The two day conference for pro-
ressive political action opened
here today with representatives of
labor, the farmer labor and Ma
tonal Nonpartisan League groups,
progressive and socialists in at
tendance to map out a policy for
present and future political action.
Most OF the opening session was
devoted to the reading Of reports,
appointment of commissions and
the annual address of william H.
Johnston, International president of
the machinists union and president
of the conference. 7-s .-
= 200 Delegates Present.
approximately 200 delegates from
nearly every state in the Union,
mainly accredited delegates of in
ternational labor organizations and
national farm groups attend ed.
Among the prominent leaders here
are Warren S. Stone, president of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
-gineers; d. B. Robertson, president
of the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Fremen and Enginemen; Sidney
Hillman, New York, president OF
the Amalgamated Clothing Work
ers; Edward Heating of Washing
ton, editor; Morris Hillquit, New
York, member national commission
Of the socialist party; Benjamin
c. Marsh, Washington, farmers ma
tional council; ]. G. Brown, Chi
cago. national secretary, farmer
labor party; Fred &C. Howe, New
York H.; F.. Samuels of Idaho,
representing the National Nonpari-
san League, and representatives Of
the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea, the Brotherhood of Boilermak>
ers, Order of Railroad Telegraph.
ers, and the Women's Trade Union
League.
Plan For Voting.
Each international organization
will have three delegates. In the
case OLA roll call vote, instead of
voting by delegates, each organiza-
ton will be allowed one vote for
each 10000 associated members.
Prior to the converting of the
conference Mr.. Johnston and other
leaders said the formation of a
third political party was not con-
templated. Mr.. johnson said that
I'VE are committed to the principle
that the primary is distinct insu-
tuition and that it is intended as a
means whereby voters can place
their candidates in nomination and
We intend to use our power in the
primaries to nominate the right
men, regardless of political faith"
1t was said some of the rank and
file were strongly in favor of a third
party movement.
Primary Nominations Favored
Demand for the primary nomina-
ton of candidates in states where
there is no primary, is made in the
annual report of the national COM
nittee of the. conference, which
states that through the primary
ballot progressive candidates can
be nominated" The committee de-
clared that Gin those states where
the primary law does not exist, a
demand for the enactment of such
a law should be made on the in
coming legislatures; in states where
the law is defective efforts should
be made to perfect them and that
efforts of big business and politi-
clans to abolish or devitalize the
primary should be defeated"
Summarizing the achievements OF
the recent election the report states
at has brought together the indus
trial workers and farmers and dem
onstrated their commob~
and political interests and that they
can and will unite their forces in
the political field" and at has Civ
en- dignity and standing to- the pro-
gressive movement that it has new
or had hoforen "