The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-02-20
Conference in Chicago
Has Machinists' Head
As Leader.
FARMERS WANT.
COST GUARANTEE
Socialists Favor Use of
Organization for Gen.
eral Strikes.


OF an American Labor party will be
undertaken here tomorrow. More
than 100 representatives of labor
unions. farm organizations and non
partisans will attend.
The conference is the first step
in the movement to amalgamate la
Dor and other elements into a po-
IiticaI union According to william
H. Johnston. president IF the Broth
erhood of Machinists. who will act
as temporary chairman, it is expect
ed a permanent organization will be
formed, a declaration OF principles
adopted and State organizations
started.
Will Enter Fall Campaign.
With this accom- plished. Johnston
said, the party will either indorse
candidates for Congressional nomina-
tion5 favorable to the party's prin-
ciples or will place its own candi-
dates in the primaries this fall.
The plan contemplates. he said. a
political party similar to the British
labor party. committed to progress
ivism, and prepared to swing its
strength to whatever candidates meet
its requirements
while this conference cannot hope
to set up all the machinery required
for a party such as we propose in so
short a time as our meeting calls
for, We do hope to effect permanent
organization, decide unanimously on
a declaration Of principles. and lay
the groundwork for State organiza-
tions," he said. 1--WE have called
here only the leaders with organized
followinEs behind them. PREPARED to
do something in this emergency.
Sees Desperate situation.
1T Is an emergency. The POSI-
tion of labor and of all people look
ing to progressive legislation was
never so desperate-never so black.
We hope hire to consolidate our
forces. The railroad unions alone
number near3v 1000. 900 men In nor
NAL times, not counting their wives.
who also are voters. Other great
unions like the United Mine Work
ers. with 100000 members; the gar
ment workers. the brick and clay
workers. the painters and carpenters,
and several others will also be In
this movement.
VIII Enlist Socialists.
There will also be efficient rep
resentatives of the Socialist party,
who, we know, are greatly inter
ested in our iplans.
Amos Pinchot and George L.
Record. progressive leaders, will
also assist us in this work"
Johnston said that the railroad
\ unions were a unit on the necessity
Nof political action and that there
was more likelihood of political
alliance between these unions and
others. notably the miners, than
there is for an economic purpose
joint strikes.
A roundup OF Middle West lib
eral farm organizations has been
Effected. it is stated Besides the
Nonpartisan league delegates who
are expected to be headed by Ar
thur ". Townley. president of the
league; the LaFollette organization
in Wisconsin will take a promi-
nent part. headed by ]. Weller
Long, secretary of the United Far
mers of America: Michigan farmers
by Herbert Baker. state senator
and head-of the potato growers
exchange. and II. L. Bissonnette.
president of the Iowa society of
Equity.
Favors General Strikes.
The Socialist party. with more
than 100000 Presidential votes in
normal years, is also committed to
the formation of the new union.
according to Otto Branstetter, exc
cutive secretary. But the Socialist
leaders. II Is reported. will ask that
the alliance be used in economic
crises also-for general strikes
This plan Is opposed by some Of
the delegates. who look to a po-
litical machine alone. The joint
strike scheme will also have the
support Of John L. Lewis. pres:-
dent of the miners, IL is understood
His union now stands committed
to a general strike referendum to
be completed by March 81.
But the railroad unions as a unit
are opposed to alliance with other
unions for strike purposes, IL was
declared by the president OF one of
the biggest unions in the federated
shop crafts.
We will meet with the miners
Tuesday" he said. While we will
be interested to know Lewis plans,
doubt very much IL an alliance for
offensive purposes could be formed
Seek Farmer Sentiment.
We favor political action as the
true means to end"
The leaders of the movement are
very anxious. it was stated. to learn
Just what proposals the farm group
will have to offer to the conference
The farmers met in a preliminary
session here. and under the direc-
tion of the Nonpartisan league on
ciaIs. mapped out a political organ
iZation Of their own, patterned af-
ter the North Dakota league. but
with plans to operate on a national
scale. II. Wells Andrews. an Illi-
nois dirt" farmer was named
president and it is stated organiza-
ton work would begin in every
agricultural State in the country.
Asks Government Guarantee.
The platform calls. for govern
ment guarantee OF the cost of pro-
duction of farm products, payment
of the soldiers bonus by taxation
of incomes. inheritances and excess
profits: government operation of
natural resources; regulation of
livestock prices; and the operation
of railroads for public service in
stead Of for private gain"