The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-05-17
COMPROMISES
CONTROL PENNSY
/ FL. CONVENTION
Vote To Send Delegates
To Cleveland Meet
BY ARRAM JAKIRA.


Farmer-Labor convention closed here
after a terrific seven-hour battle
which resulted in the defeat by the
official machine of the resolution call
ing for delegates to the June 18th con.
vention in st. Paul, altho the temper
of the convention was markedly in
favor Of the June convention rather
than the July 4th at Cleveland, and
four of the seven state Executive
Committee elected were for June
18th.
The DAILY WORKER was exhibit
ed and the "red" cry was raised by
the official machine. led by Chairman
Kutz, who succeeded in clouding the
issue and getting over the officials
program of endorsement for July 4th.
Resolutions Committee Leads
Offensive.
The resolutions committee appoint
ed by Chairman Kutz, a member of
the Fitzpatrick Farmer-Labor party,
would not accept the resolutions for
st. Paul and condemned the July
4th convention. The committee sub
mitted a substitute resolution to send
delegates to Cleveland and not to
affiliate with a national body without
action from the state convention.
Delegate Kushnie, of the resolu-
tons committee, submitted a minority
report in favor of June 18th and
against the July 4th convention.
Practically every delegate spoke on
the question during the succeeding
debaty
Pat Toohey, miner, opened the
fight for St. Paul. 1t was really a
magnificent sight to see the Is year
old miner standing in the center OF
the large, luxurious convention hall
giving the old-timers an excellent les.
son in politics. His speech was met
with general applause.
He was followed by Delegate Mark
vice-president of District 2, United
Mine Workers, who spoke for the ma
jority report. Not a single delegate
dared applaud him, so strong was the
sentiment for June 18th. He had to
admit he had nothing against st. Paul
Fred Merrick, in an eloquent
speech, made it clear that the leaders
Of the July 4th group are against in.
dependent political action and that
the convention is called to sabotage
rather than to form Labor Party.
Speaker after speaker spoke in
favor Of June 18th, with the excep-
ton Of a few union officials who de-
Tended July 4th.
Resort to Red Tricks.
The official machine saw its defeat,
when Lever, Of the Machinists' union,
and half-baked progressive, came to
the rescue by proposing a compromise
to send delegates to both conventions.
Up to that time Lever opposed June
18th.
The radicals refused to compro-
mise. Then the officials began a cam
paign against Communism, exhibiting
the DAILY WORKER as proof oi
their foul contentious. Chairman
Kutz refused to recognize numerous
objections against the attempt to OBJ.
,scure the issue by dragging Commun.
ism into the debate.
Before closing the discussion, the
chairman decided to resort to a tactic
usually applied by union officials in
critical moments, by making most
vicious and false report of what hap.
pened at the July 3rd convention and
pointing out that, as part of the ma.
tional Farmer-Labor Party, this con.
vention must send delegates to the
July 4th convention.
Roll Call Impossible.
Chairman Kutz would not allow
Fred Merrick and other delegates to
make corrections to his misstate.
ments, and succeeded in putting over
his trick.
The Lever group Joined hands with
the reactionaries and jointly defeated
the June 18th proposition by vote Of
80 to 21. Roll call was impossible as
no list Of the delegates was available.
The same delegates who voted for
July 4th, turned down resolution
condemning Pinchot for failing to
keep his promise to pardon political
prisoners. The so-called progressive
Lever Of Philadelphia politely re-
Trained from voting on this resolu-
ton.
A resolution proposed by Fred Mer.
rick, on the Pittsburgh car strike,
was unanimously adopted.
The same officers were reelected
and state executive committee OF
seven. Four Of these had stood solidly
for June nth, which illustrates the
eanfifnent of fhe convanfion