The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-09-05
LAFOLLETTE'S
POLITICAL STEW
BREWS TROUBLE
LaF oIIette's Man Shows
Labor the Door in Mo.
Especial to The Daily wOrksr)

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Sept. a.
A three-cornered controversy
that has been going on between
two local LaFolIette factions
and the national leaders OF the
movement came to a head at
committee meeting held here
when John M. Nelson, LaFol-
Iette manager from Chicago,
laid down the law to Rube
Wood, president of the Missouri
State F Federation of Labor.
Altho LaFollette apparently
had the support Of a quite a
number of trade unionists and
rural voters, both LaFollette
supporters and non-supporters
had begun to suspect something
wrong when the much-adver-
tised whirlwind drive did not
materialize.
History of Labor Party.
It will be necessary to go back to
the early stages in the movement to
get an understanding of what has TAX
en- place here.
Early this spring when the farmer
labor forces came together to perfect
a local organization and to select dele
gates to the June II convention, they
were Joined by an individual who APP
peared to be an enthusiastic F. L. Z.
supporter. The gentleman, one Tim
O'Neil, erstwhile proprietor of a scab
restaurant and self-styled implement
manufacturer, turned out to be hell
raiser in general
He claimed he had wide following
among the farmers in this territory
due to his farm implement business.
On his own hook he collected funds to
be used for the F. L. P. Suddenly Tim
had change Of heart. He resigned
from the F. L. P. and issued a state
ment saying it was too radical for
him. He refused to turn over the
funds he had collected.
SeIf-Appointed Leader.
After the Cleveland convention OF
the c. P. P. A. he decided to climb
on the LaFollette band wagon. Seeing
the national chairman Johnston was
self-appointed, likewise LaFollette,
the presidential candidate, Tim caught
the spirit and straightway appointed
himself regional manager for this ter
ritory.
He opened an Office in the expensive
Baltimore Hotel and proceeded to tell
everyone how well qualified he was to
organize the campaign because of his
wide influence among farmers and
rural business men gained thru his
implement business connections. This
latter argument got to be local joke
when it became known the implement
story was a fake.
This met with the disapproval of
the Missouri section of the c. P. P.
A. and a controversy developed be-
tween the c. P. P. A. supporters head
ed by Rube Wood and the supporters
of Tim O'Neil.
AS time went on the fight waxed
hotter and hotter. To and fro the bat
tie waged and the sparks flew. There
were charges and counter charges.
Turnout the controversy O'NeiP main
tanned he had been appointed by John
M. Nelson, national campaign boss.
Nelson Sent For.
Three national committee represent
atives came to Kansas City at differ
ent times, but none of them we're able
to reconcile the factions. Finally it
was announced that Nelson the head
mogul himself was coming to iron out
the wrinkles.
Nelson arrived and after a short in
terval, O'Neil gave out the following
statement to the press. II am done
with LaFollette. The old warrior,
Fighting Bob" has degenerated in his
old age to a substitute for that pic
turesque but visionary character, Eu-
gene V. Debs, and if that is his choice,
/ predict for him 100000 votes.
There never was a Socialist named
Tim O'Neil. / hereby release all my
followers"
II was surmised then by everyone
that Nelson had given O'Neil the boot
and handed over the reins to Rube
Wood and the above was reported in
the DAILY WORKER. But that is
not the end of the story.
Labor Too Radical for Nelson.
A later report coming from reliable
sources indicates that a committee