Evening star., 1922-02-21
0PENDR|VE T0PUT
WORKERS ON. HILL
Farmers, Socialists, Labor
Leaders and Clergy Seek
Class Representation.
BY the Associated Press.

CHICAGO, February 21.-Unanimous
support of new movement to
install men and women of the work
halls was pledged by farmers, men,
bers of the socialist anu farmer
labor parties, labor union leaders and
clergymen. in a conference yesterday
called by group of railroad union
men, headed by William Fl. Johnston
president of the International AS
soCiation of Machinists.
Declared by Morris Hil!quit of New
York to be the most significant
event that has taken place in the
American labor movement for Il
generation" the conference brought
together leaders high in labor. and
minor political party circ4cs-t AL
though Chairman Johnston declared
in his opening address that the time
was not yet ripe for the formation OF
4 new party. todays meeting was
expected to develop the germ of a
new political organization which
some delegates said would be func-
iionins by 1924.
Discuss 1922 Elections.
->ou pslI tlSdH pbiiil(dl aCtfOn IN the
1872 elections was the keynote of the
meeting. \ dozen speakers pledged
their support OF program TO indorSe
candidates favorable to the working
man. Committees on program and
organization will report tomorrow
when definite plans are expected tu
be adopted.
By combining their efforts, workers
could build Il political machine which
would elect to office men and women
truly representative of the people of
the United States" l.. j. Manon oil
the Order of Railway Photographers
told the delegates, and both he and
Thomas Van lear. former mayor of
Minneapolis, pledged their support to
such n movement.
Morris HilIquit of the socialist
party, declared ne was not at the
meeting to make political capital
and did not seek office for socia Ii st
candidates there.
lliilquit Thinks Move Vital.
We are willing to give every
thing We have as a party and as Il
movement toward the common cause,
he declared This is the first time
that the progressive elements of all
divergent factions have gotten to-
Setller in one common action. be-
lieve it is the most significant event
that has taken place in the American
Aoboi loI eSIltl dlioI
Rev. Herbert Bigelow of Cincinnati
made plea to capture tie primaries
in the established parties by elect
ing men representative of the work
ers' interests. and II. +. Samuels, a
farmer of Idaho, urged the unity of
all classes in achieving that end.
Rev. Richard Hogue of Philadelphia,
executive secretary of the Church
League for Industrial Democracy
pointed out the opportunity to gather
support from students. "A new tide
Of insurgency only lacking direc-
tion," he said. was sweeping the
schools and seminaries. and it's sup
port could be gained by. supplying 6
leadership.
Farmers View Presented.
The organized farmers attitude was
presented by y. Fl. Long of the United
Society of Agriculture, who en-
phasiZed the necessity of obtaining
the actual facts i'll value of thei.' pro-
ductfon and demanding their share OF
production.
The farmer-labor party. represented
by J. G. Brown, national secretary,
was friendly to the new movement, he
asserted in pledging his support. ."in
any liberal plan of coalition
1--WE must depend on ourselves and
not on our political friends" he de-
clared. I'VE must develop leadership
within our own ranks"
The same idea was expressed by
James H. Maurer of the national eX-
ecutive council of the socialist party
and president of the Pennsylvania
State Federation of Labor. He said
80 per cent of the union men in his
state had voted by ballot for inde-
pendent political action. and the state
convention of the federation had gone
on record similarly.
II am willing to go the limit with
you," he concluded. ito bring the pro-
ducing classes together for common
political action"
Following the election of Mr. John
S.on as permanent chairman, and
Benjamin c. Marsh of the Farmers
National Council. IS secretary, COM
mittees were named.