The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-06
ESQ SOCIALISTS
MEET MAY Is
FOR CONVENTION
Norman Thomas Is Favored
as Party's Candidate
for President.
BY WILLIS THORNTON
Times Special Writer


opening gun of the fall presidential
campaign will be fred on the after
noon Of May 25. And it is going to
be loud discharge.
On that day, after two days of
preliminary sessions. the first po-
litical party to swing into official
sction-the Socialist-will choose its
candidates and PROFOUND its plat
form.
Meeting in the same building here
that will house the Republicans two
weeks later, the Socialists are ex-
pecting a conclave which will be as
hot, if not as large, as the G. o. P.
gathering About $50 delegates and
1000 visitors representing the 1880
pa!d-up members of the party will
be present.
Led Ticket Twice
Every indication points to nomi-
nation OF Norman Thomas for
President. He has twice before
made the race under the Socialist
banner, reaching a peak popular
vote of 884,781 in 1882, closely APP
preaching the Socialist high-water
mark of 919, 799 votes for Gene Debs
In 1920.
Thomas has indicated that he
would prefer to run for Congress,
but that he will make the race for
President if nominated
The heat of the Socialist conven-
ton is expected to be generated not
so much by the nomination itself
IS by bad split in the party, which
may change its future. A bitter
battle between 1.-The militants" and
"the old guard" seems certain.
fractional Fight Certain
The New York delegation of A, al
most a fifth of the convention, won
by the militants,' will be protest
ed BY ne "old guard" The mill
= !, 1action is strong in Massachu-
ITS Maryland. Connecticut, Indi-
ana, Illinois, and Pennsylvania also.
The odd guard" leader is Louis
Waldman, whose grip on the New
York party organization has recent
ly been shaken for the first time in
many years.
Significance of this conflict Is
greater than mere primary fight.
It lies in a deep Cleavage of thought.
Last year, at the Detroit conven-
ton, the party went on record as
favoring two things: First, joint ac-
ton with Communists to oppose, by
strikes and force if necessary, all
war preparation; and, second, that
in case the present government fall
tered as a result of social confusion,
the party would not hesitate to
seize power no matter whether it
represented a ma jority of the people
or not.
Opposed by "OId Guard"
These ideas are repugnant to old
fashioned Socialists, who have al
ways held that Socialism must come
by gradual education of the people
to the point where a majority of
them wish a socialist regime.
The old guard" has kept up a
running fight all year against the
militant" group, which now appar-
entity controls the party.
Many of these "militants" now re-
ject even the Communist alliance,
because they believe the Communists
have gone soft" in advocating legis-
lative reforms under the present
government.
Work With Communists
Thomas believes in working with
the Communists in specific cases,
such as the Scottsboro case or in
lobbying for unemployment inSur-
ance, but opposes a general politi-
cal union with them because of diff
ferences in philosophy. In some
ways he considers them too radical,
In others not radical enough.
It is unlikely that the Socialist
convention will back Farmer-La-
Dor party this year. Thomas is
against it.
Further friction will arise out of
the move to develop a Labor Nom
Partisan League for Roosevelt. The
Socialist convention is expected to
members of the party, believing it
impossible to register even an i'm
preSSive protest vote for their own
candidate, let alone electing him. are
planning to support Roosevelt
through the non partisan league.
David Dubinsky, president of the
International Ladies Garment
workers Union, is an example. He
resigned from the Socialist party so
that his support of Roosevelt would
embarrass neither the Democrats
nor the Socialists.
Krzycki May Be Keynoter
Keynote speech for the Socialist
convention will probably be made by
Leo Krzycki, labor organizer and
chairman of the executive commit
tee. He is also mentioned as a
probable vice presidential candidate
This speech, the mass meeting of
May %. floor sessions of May IS,
and possibly the banquet the night
of May rs. will be broadcast
Delegates will be present from
every state except Oregon. where
the Socialists are in the midst of a
party reorganization. The party's
campaign will feature a dozen sound
trucks. which will tour the country
in behalf of their nominee.
Cleveland sessions will be held
not in the great auditorium which
will accommodate the G. o. P.
hosts, but in the ballroom of the
Same Diif,lio HoII