The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-07-07
LaFoIlette's Middle
Class Friends Heave
Big Signs for. '76
(Continued from page 1.l

the days gone by. The convention had
a strong labor foundation, but the
spirit that dominated 1t was that of
this group and the program Of action
it adopted was the program Of this
group.
LaFolette's Letter.
The only thing of any Importance
which one remembers among the poor
drab speeches of various celebrities,
the singing of hymns by the choir and
the reading of prehistoric documents
is Senator Robert M. LaFollette's let
ter to the convention announcing him
self as a candidate for president.
William Fl. Johnston was chairman
by grace OF the National Committee.
The delegates had nothing to say
about it. After having Mr.. MCGOWAN,
Of Illinois, read the Declaration OF In
dependence, and Lincoln's Gettysburg
speech, he proceeded to sound the
keynote Of the convention.
I'VE are all in the same ship, farm
ers, industrial workers, professional
men, independent manufacturers and
bankers" was one of the paragraphs
Of Mr.. Johnston's keynote, which he
thought worth while repeating twice.
He rambled along about railroad legis-
lation-everything which has to do
with the railroad, arouses much in
terest among the delegates, and other
abuses by Congress. He claimed that
the G. P. P. A. represented 100000
voters, and said that every one was
welcome except, 1.-THE Communists,
who are the tools of reaction and are
not wanted, even tho they mask them
selves under such names as the Fed
Grated Farmer-Labor Party, the Trade
Union Educational League or even
some more attractive name"
All Nominating Speeches.
No one had called for nominations
for president as yet, but Johnston pro-
ceeded to make nomination speech
for LaFollette. In fact, every one
who spoke made nomination speech
es for LaFollette.
81 challenge any one to prove
single case of corruption betrayal or
cowardice in the forty years of serv-
ice of Senator LaFollette," shouted
Johnston.
There is no reason why we can
not support Independent candidates
for president and vice-president while
at the same time we support those
who are our friends, no matter on
what ticket they appear"
When the keynoter finished one had
the feeling that it was time for the
convention to adjourn and the dele
gates to go home. Everything hac
been settled LaFollette had beer
nominated as an independent, the plat
form outlined, the policy Of rewarding
good" republicans and democrats
running for other Offices, stated.
At this point, however the chair
man bethought himself and named the
convention committee, on rules, or
ganization, resolutions and finance.
The balance of the day, until Robert
M. LaFollette, Jr. brought in his faith
er's letter to the convention, was CIV
en- over to speeches. Senator Ship
stead, Representative Nelson. and 9th
ers spoke-all throwing in liberal quo
tations from the Declaration of indie
pendence, Lincoln, Jefferson and
Washington.
LaFolIette's Announcement.
Senator LaFollette followed the ex-
n
nomination from this convention. lie
announced himself as candidate for
the presidency as an independent
progressive" and his platform as the
Wisconsin republican platform.
An attempt to stage a demonstra-
ton when the decisive words in La
Follettes statement was read failed.
There was applause and cheering for
two or three minutes. A few strag-
glers got into the aisles and started
to march, but they soon gave up and
the demonstration" was over.
IL would not, however, accept
nomination or election to the presi-
dency if doing so meant for progress
sive senators and representatives and
progressive state governments the de-
feat which would inevitably result
from the placing Of complete third
party tickets in the field at the pres
ent time.
1.-THE organization Of national
party among one hundred and ten mil
lion people scattered over forty-eight
states is a task of such magnitude as
to requirements of labor ant large ex-
penditures Of money. We are con-
fronted with the practical difficulties
that there is not sufficient time be-
fore the election in November for ade-
quate organization of such a party"
Try to Railroad Endorsement.
At the finish of the reading Of Sena-
tor LaFollette's statement, Delegate
Wills of the Engineers. was on the
floor with a motion THAT the conven-
ton endorse by reclamation the can
didacy Of Senator LaFollette."
This motion was too much for the
delegates who want third party, for