New-York tribune., 1922-02-21
Far1ner-LabOr
Political Union
Is Under Way
II
800 Spokesmen for Medley
of Progressive Fnds and
'Esms' Meet in Chicago in
Deeply Secret Convention
Aim TO 'Sical Primaries
Leaders Plan No New Party;
BOb-Hair Women Sit With
Dirt Farmers and Rail Men
Prom q StaN Correspordcnt

CHICAGO, Feb. 20.--With an at
tempt at secret dclbcrations, three
hundred spokcsmen for some Of Tho
labor unions, farm organizations and
various progressive" organizations
advocating many "isms' and theories,
met here to-day to form a coalition
"for united political action'
1t was a picture never before wit.
nessed in tho orthodox American
labor movement. Heads Of the rail
road, boilcrmakers' and other unions
found themselves for tho first time
sitting beside women with bobbcd hair
and horn trimmed spcctaclcs from Chi
cago's Greenwich Village, and callous-
handed, weathertoushcncd "dirt far
mcrs' shifted about in bcwildcrment
a they listened to tho benefits Of "a
new political party for the annihiIa-
ton of Republicans, Democrats and
capitalism"
rGc NorPartisan Campaign
What Morris Hillouitt. OF New YORK.
declared to be the most sisniGcant
event in the labor movement in years
waa the unanimous support given TO
the proposal to install men and women
of the working classes i'm the national
legislature. Non partisan action in tho
elections Of 1922 was the keynote of
the gathering Practically all the
speakers urged that only candidates.
favorable to the vorkingman be in
dorsed. In this way only it was as
serted, could the workers build up a
Formidable political machine.
The attitude of tho organized far.
mers was outlined BY A. II. Long. Of
me United Society Of Agriculture. He
SAID 1t was necessary to obtain the
actual facts Of the value Of their
products SO that they could demand
their fair share Of production.
with only two exceptions, all per
sons presenting credentials SHOWING,
the slIghtest faint OF "progressivisn"
were admitted as delegates The first
exception was George Conley, an 7. ".
w., who. after being requested to leave
the hall for reasons not explained
stood outside and applied his left ear
TO the door in an endeavor to gain "in-
side information' The second wa
gentleman giving the name Of Twin
hammer Johnson. who loudly pro
claimed the assemblage as GEARS sit
ting III duma" when he was led from
tho nail, vainly trying to attack Morris
Hlilqult on the charge Of having sat in
on Rand School banquet at 50 a plate.
Press Gets in by Rusc
AZ but one OF the representatives. Of
the "capitalistic press" were barred
from attendance. The one who did
gam adml.tance accomplished the feat
by rumpling up his hair and then 20
'nG INTO the hall, where he took of his
overcoat, jumped on it and burst forth
With loud dcnunciation Of Judge
Gary. He was immediately seated as a
delegate, remaining in the hall EXCEPT
at intervals when he stepped out to re
port developments 10 his fellow news
paper men.
Officially, the reporters were forced
20 obtain their news through the
medium Of Canned" statements issued
by the gatherings press agent As
there were not enough copies to 20
had to keep ono copy of each for
himself. TO read later" even this chan
nel of news Of the conference" was
somewhat difficult OF navigation
Ihe first such statement was copy
of the "keynote' speech. which was de-
)ivercd by William II. Johnston, presi-
dent of the International Association
Of Machinists, who maintained his po-
sition as the dominating spirit OF the
gathering
After blaming the invisible govern
ment." operated by Gary, Morgan, After
bury du Pont. Newbcrry and other
"schemng politicians" for having "di-
vided and betrayed the workers OF all
walks OF life" and asserting they "have
become entrcnchcd in government"
J Johnston went on to advocate that the
various groups represented "coalescc
and work through existing organiza-
tons rather than that they form
new political party, which he termed
"unwise even to consider"
Shall we lay down and be ground
into the dust?' he asked. eve must
hang together or we will hang sepa-
yately. In unity lies our only saliva
ton.
Let the organizations and groups