The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-18
.LAFOLLET'TE .STILLCHOICE FOR LEADER Wisconsin Senator's Re- buke Keeps Many Del
 egates Away .C. E. TAYLOR NAMED
 TO WELD GAVEL Purpose Is To Launch New National Party
 Keynoter Declares RADICAL FACTION
 WITHHOLDS FIRE Real Business Of Session To Open TOday-Fire
 works Expected
C. B. TAYLOR NAMED
 TO WELD GAVEL
RADICAL FACTION
 WITHHOLDS FIRE
(By Leased Wire To The Age.Herald)

(By Leased Wire To The Age.Herald)
 CONVENTION HALL, ST. PAL, Minn., June 17.-Communist delegates, 50 bitterly opposed by Senator Robert M. LaFollette, squeezed without opposition into the picturesque farmer-labor "third party convention" which got under way in a big downtown theater here Tuesday.
 Organizers of the convention who have views of forming a na- tional farmer-labor party to fight the old line major parties in the coming presidential campaign with drew their objections to seating of the communists at the last moment and the way was cleared for their participation in the convention on an equal footing with the other delegates.
 Only 300 Present
 The first session, attended by some 3OO delegates from about p states, was given over largely to organization ot the convention on permanent basis.
 A large number of delegates failed to appear and leaders admitted that it was because of the stand taken by LaFollette against the meeting. A thousand had been expected. Neverthe- less those who are here are prepared to endorse and perhaps nominate LaFol- lette if the communists will let them.
 William Mahoney, temporary chair man, a kindly gray-haired man, who has been editing labor paper here and has been unsuccessful socialist candi- date for mayor and secretary of the successful farmer-labor party of this state, sounded the keynote speech, criticizing LaFollette for his stand against the convention but endorsing his candidacy as that of the only logical man to lead the dissatisfied voters of the nation to a successful attack upon the old line parties.
 "The workers and the farmers of this nation must be represented by a national third party" Mahoney told the delegates admist applause. We are here to start the movement"
 They say the dead hand of Lenin rules this convention" Mahoney said. 'I don't believe it does. I think the farmers and laborers of this country rule this convention.
 "I don't want to see you spoil any chance for getting the greatest number of progressive votes by giving anyone a chance to criticise this convention"
 The communists kept pretty much to themselves, taking little or no part in the organization work.
 The delegates comprised farmers, just come to town from the fields, about 30 women-young ones with bobbed hair and knickerbockers, fat ones and old--flashily dressed young garment workers, officials from New York; col larless red-faced labor organizers from the west and every conceivable type of the various so-called radical groups of the nation.
 Real Business Today
 The convention will get down to real business Wednesday when the actual work of drawing a platform and select ing the method of indorsing LaFol- lette will come to the floor.
 Communists are holding their fire works until then. They propose to get into any third party or organization on an equal footing with everyone else if they possibly can.
 The first part of the organization program went off swiftly and with precision. But in the afternoon the delegates got into a squabble about how the permanent chairman should be chosen so that-as Delegate Taylor, Nebraska, who does not wear a neck tie, explained-"We will not look like steamroller to the capitalistic press which fills the platform"
 After a contest Charles E. Taylor of Montana was chosen permanent chairman of the convention. He re- ceived 71S votes, compared with 116 votes for William Mahoney of Minne- sota, and IA votes for Delegate Put nam of South Dakota.
 The communists voted for Taylor.