Evening star., 1936-05-24
FactionaI Dispute Marks
Convention Opening.
Labor Warned.
BY the Associated Press.

notified of this, created an uproar
that turned the convention hall into
q bedlam of shouts. protests and con-
troyersys
Supported "Old Guard"
Delegates from Massachusetts,. Penn
sylvania and Connecticut-support-
ing the ..Old Guard" in their conten- !
tion thaEthe National Executive Com
mittee in intervening in New York |
assumed dictatorial and illegal at
titude-demanded seats for the "Old
Guard" faction. led by Louis Wald-
man, prominent trade union attorney.
For some minutes the confusion
brought disorder Right-wing leaders
pointed to the leftist delegation from
New York-recogniZed by the Execu-
tive Committee and seated pending |
adjudication of the contest with !
vote-and raised vigorous hue and
cry.
To end 1t, Norman Thomas, leader
Of the leftist New York delegation,
shouted above the uproar:
Mr.. chairman-since there doesn't
eeem to be enough room on the floor
for the Old Guard delegation. let
them sit on the platform
Order Is Restored.
Order was restored. but not the
heat of the factional strife that, after
two years of efforts at settlement, still
threatens an irrevocable split with the
formation of a new MarxiSt party.
Io,
of New York and member of the
N E. C.-opened the presentation of
Z the rightists' case concerning New
York with the solemn words:
This is the greatest -upheaval in
our party since e1919"-Referring to the
break-away of t.e Communists in
that year over the issue Of joining the
Third (Communist) Ipternationale.
Before O'Neal was recognized by
Leo Krzycki, national chairman of
the party, the Executive Committee
presented brief report saying the
Leftist Observation-Disclosures in the
April primary, over the '.old guard"
In the fight for contro of the New
York City and State Committees
was recognized because the ''old
guard did not appear before the
committee to make contest; instead,
1t brought it's fight on to the floor of
the convention
Delegates Get Report.
A more extended report was dis
tributed In printed form to the dele
gates. The direct tssue-in the ques-
ton of seating the Leftist or richest
delegation-was the acceptance of
the N. Z. C. report or the O'Neal
minority report.
The debate-which promised to run
for hours with final decision not
probable until around midnight, if
then-was cut off at pm. Eastern
standard time) to make way for
mass meeting, with session again at
10 pm
Previously, the Leftists established
their temporary control with the aid
OF the Milwaukee delegation. led by
Mayor Daniel w. Hoan. in the other
major contest on credentials By
vote of lis delegates to S., the Leftist
delegation from New Jersey was
seated.
Hoan in Leaders Position.
In this contest, Mayor Hoan as
sumed what promises to be the dom
mating position in the convention
at least until after final decision of
the New York case 1t was reliably
reported Mayor Hoan would seek a
compromise-but that If the New
York ''old guard" refused a compro-
mise on the basis of proportional rep
resentation in the April primary, his
fQntinn Unnld cxx-iy,o
LeftistS.
In the debate on the New York sit
uation, resumed late tonight, speakers
on both sides discussed the issue of
the Old Guards delegate claim
Thomas and Waldman were the
principal debaters for their factions
By arrangement, three hours were
allocated alone for debate, making a
final vote impossible before 8 am.
Sunday (E. S. IT,.
The party opened its convention TO- |
day with demands for an immediate |
constitutional change. /
This coupled with a warning to la
Dor leaders who "blindly follow the |
false doctrine of Roosevelt or reac- |
ton" ~
They repeat the mistake of 1916 |
when they supported Wilson because |
ne kept us out Of war;" declared |
Thomas.
In the expenditure of relief funds" |
he said. zone of Roosevelt's first ac- |
tions was the spending of money in
preparation for war.
rs this the belief of those labor I
LEADERS De- r
millions should be spent for war, while |
millions go hungry and joblessss
Foremost Plank
In the coming campaign, the tall, !
white-haired Socialist leader said the /
advocacy of the workers and farm
ers' rights amendment-the so-calIed
Benson amendment-will be upper
most. 1<6
I'VE need this amendment" Thomas
declared, Ito crush the power of the
Supreme Court, to make democracy
constitutional ...,-
With Thomas as keynote speakers |
were Chairman Krzycki and Mayor
Hoan.
They. too, dwelt on a similar theme.
The opening of the convention |
brought out all the enthusiasm GUS
tomary to Socialist rallies.
The enthusiasm of the delegates
reached its peak with the first apear-
ance before the convention of Thomas. |
The sYpsels"-the Young Peoples So
cialist League, which Thomas has
championed in their steady growth |
In recent years-opened a parade of |
red flags.
Volga Boatmen Sought.
Volga boatmen who can sing are be. |