Evening star., 1948-01-19
Pea Adopts Program
Possible Platform
For Wallace Party
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Star staff Cosrsspondsnt

CHICAGO, Jan. 19.-Practical
steps looking to the organiza-
tion of a new third party, with
Henry A. Wallace as its candi-,
date for President, were taken by
the national convention of the
Progressive Citizens Of America
at its sessions here yesterday.
The convention also adopted a
program-which may become the
basis of the platform of the new
third party once 1t is organized.
Principal items in this program call
for:
/. The junking of the Marshall
European Recovery Program and
the substitution of an aid program
to be handled through the United
Nations. with special stress giving to
aiding those nations which suffered
most from the Axis attack in the
recent war This means aid to
Soviet Russia.
2. The immediate withdrawal of
military personnel and military aid
from Greece and Turkey.
Aid to Chang Opposed.
3. The withdrawal of all support
of the Chiang Kai-shek government
in China.
All three Of these proposals are in
the interests of Soviet Russia. The
Pea prefers to say they are in the
interest of peace between the United
States and Russia.
4. The support of the partition of
Palestine-through the United Ma
tions-into Jewish and Arab states.
S. The lifting of embargo against
shipment of arms to the Jews in
Palestine-until the United Nations
acts to bring about the peaceful"
participation of Palestine.
6. Hating the manufacture of
atomic bombs and scrapping exist
ing stockpiles of atomic bombs. ''We
support international control Of
atomic energy" the report said.
Arms Expense Cut Urged.
7. The reduction of American
military expenditures ito an abso-
lutte minimum consistent with a
peace policy" and no universal mill
tary training.
8. Public ownership of the steel
industry, the coal mines, the public
utilities and the railroads.
To deal with the imitation pro-
gram:
9. An immediate price freeze and
rollback of prices, and rationing of
goods.
10. Reimposition of the excess
profits tax.
II. An increase of the minimum
wage to 81 an hour. President Tru-
man has proposed rs cents and the
existing law is 40 cents.
IL. A cost-of living wage increase
for all Government workers.
13. Increasing subsistence pay
ments for student veterans to 500
month and $125 for married vet
Grams.
IA. Supporting wage increases for
American workers in coming nego-
tiations.
IS Repeating the Taft Hartley
labor law and the portal-to- portal
law.
16. Exempting from income taxes
of families and individuals whose
income now falls below "the mini
mum standard budget" This Is
$3,152 a year for a family of four.
IT. Elimination of many excise
taxes and the increase Of corporate
income taxes, with exemptions at
lower levels, to encourage new in
vestment.
The program includes many other
proposals. Three are directed par
ticularly to the interests of Negroes
and call for the enactment of anti
lynching, anti-poll tax and FEPC
laws. There also are proposals to
bar all segregation because of race
or color.
The people of the District of
Columbia are not overlooked. The
programs proposes: Establish uni
versal suffrage for the residents of
the District and outlaw all dis
criminatory practices in the Ma
tons Capital"
Pea Machinery Available.
In order to foster the organization
of the proposed new third party,
the Pea voted to use its entire
machinery. 1t will leave to the
discretion of the national board of
directors the decision whether the
Pea is to affiliate with or merge
with the new party. Its organiza-
ton program is extremely flexible,
for State chapters are to determine,
too, whether there shall be aff1lia-
ton, or merger in individual cases.
No action by the national board for
merger with the new party will
become final, however, until ap-
pointed by two-thirds of the State
chapters at meetings of their board
Of directors.
The convention authorized dele
gate representation of the Pea at
a national conference-probably in
April-for the organization of a new
party. 1t is expected that this con-
ference will be attended by repre-
sentatives of many organized groups
labor, farmer, professional, small
business, Negro, nationality, church,
women's youth and veterans.
Groups Must Decide Course.
Any decision of the national
board of the Pea must reserve the
right of the Art, Sciences and Pro-
fessions Division and the youth
division-as semi-autonomous bodies
to determine their own courses of
action.
Ten representatives of the ASP
Council, including its chairman, DR..
Harlow Shapley, director of Har-
ward Observatory, at a press con-
ferece, gave their reasons for sup
porting Henry Wallace for Presi-
dent, discussed relations between the
United States and Russia, other in
tarnafi0Oal nrnhIeYns opd y,,opv,