New-York tribune., 1922-12-12
Radical Wing
Under Fire in
Labor Farley
Credentials Committee Re-
jccts Workers of Amer.
lea Delegates at Progress
sive Congress in Cleveland
Special Dispatch 10 The Tribune


CLEVELAND. Dec. 1.-THE first
days session Of the Progressive Con-
gress here to-day was marked by two
clashes among the delegates, the first
coming on the question Of the right
Of delegates from local unions to sit
and the second on the attempt Of the
/ Workers Party Of America to obtain
entrance to the meeting The two
breaks sufieed 70 make Il clear that
the big task In hand-obtaining har
mony among the various elements
would not be easily accomplished. II
also sufieed to make clear that there
would be little steam rolling BY the
leaders, who are eager to sec that
their program goes thrOught without
undue friction.
Il also forecast a hard fight on the
question OF a third party and some
chance that the convention might vote
10 cut loose from the old party and
20 IL alone. This will be averted II
tho moving spirits az the convention
can help II, but there Is undoubtedly
strong group present who will fight
for the third p0rty.
The episode Of the Workers party
! credentials was the spectacular event
/ Of the initial session. The credentials
committee was finishing It's report with
no reference TO any Workers party
delegates, when c. +. Ruthcnberg, who
| had announced in the forenoon that he
had presented requests for himself and
/ three other men-William +. Dunno,
Butte, Mont; Caleb Harrison, Cleye-
| land, and Ludwig Lore, editor Of "Volks
Zeltung" Of New York, and recently
pardoned by Governor Len Small Of
! illlnois-rose 20 ask what action had
been taken on these delegates.
ave have received no such creden-
hals," the committee reported.
At this point Edward Heating, a
member OF the National Committee OF
the conference and editor OF Labor
Of Washington, stepped 10 the front Of
the platform.
81 hope we face this issue right
now" Mr.. Heating said. Lets have
no eamouhage OF this. There Is no
place in a convention OF honest trade
unionists for men Of this stamp Let
us decide now that IL this party has
the brazen effrontery 10 present ere
dentials they shall be rejected"
This denunciatlon Of the Workers
party Of America and. other radical
parties brought a storm OF disapproyal
from the gallery. Demands that the
convention 20 on record without equiv
ocation against the communists re-
suited In the adjournment shortly
after little had been accomplished.
| Action taken by the leaders az the
convention the first day made IL clear
that the program Is as follows;
That the primary laws be liberalized
as much as possible through state leg.
islatures, and that efforts 70 repeal the
direct primary laws, when they are
satisfactory, be fought 70 the finish.
That, wherever possible, all primary
laws be amended to go into the pri-
maries without declaration Of party
so that the liberals may see that al
least one liberal Is nominated by ono
Of the parties. Then that the strength
OF the conference be thrown behind
that candidate.
That the conference hamoniously
agree 10 use present organizations OF
workers and farmers throughout the
country In making their political fight