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Vol. 5, No. 7
CHICAGO, JULY, 1924
Price 10 Cents
Knt< . re( l „, Second-Class Matter at the Post-Office at Chicago, Illinois, January 26th, 1918, Under the Act oMtfarch Brd^lSTS.
IN THIS ISSUE
I
Page
RESOLUTION ON RELATIONS TO
THE C P. P. A. „- -_- jt
PLATFORM OF THE C P. P. A......... 2
AN ADDRESS TO THE MEMBERS
OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY .... 4
A SUPPLEMENTARY WORD BY
EUGENE V* DEBS >........--- 5
THE ENEMY OPENS FIRE .___ 6
Page
_ 7
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON OR-
GANIZATION OF C P» P. A* _ S
MINUTES OF THE NATIONAL CON-
VENTION OF SOCIALIST PARTY . 9
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON OR-
GANIZATION __ *5
Resolution On Relations To The Conference
For Progressive Political Action
(Adopted by the Socialist Party Convention at Cleveland, July 7, 1924).
The Convention of the Conference for Pro-
gressive Political Action which has just concluded
its work was the most significant gathering of
American labor for common political action.
It represented about three million of organized
workers, substantial sections of the working farmers,
several independent progressive political organiza-
tions and the Socialist Party through its national
and state committees. It adopted a progressive
labor platform. It took an important step to cut
loose from the old political parties by nominating
an independent candidate for President of the Un-
ited States. And finally, it issued a call for another
convention to be held next January for the express
purpose of taking action on a proposal to form a
permanent independent political party for national
and local elections upon a progressive and labor
platform.
The main practical object of the Socialist Party
is the organization of the workers into a political
class party. With that supreme object in view the
party has always encouraged and supported every
genuine movement of labor towards independent
politics. The Conference for Progressive Political
Action was organized with the assistance of the So-
cialist Party and our party co-operated with it in its
work and development.
The presidential campaign of the Conference for
Progressive Political Action will develop into an in-
surgent political movement of labor. It will be sup-
ported by the advanced workers of the country The
Socialist Party takes its stand with these workers.
During the four months to come the Socialists will
have an unparalleled opportunity to work with the
organized workers of this country, side by side, as
comrades in a common cause.
Our co-operation with the forces of the Con-
ference for Progressive Political Action has already
resulted in much good, and during the campaign
will, in our opinion, vastly facilitate the formation
of a genuine labor party next January. The So-
cialist Party with its political training and experi-
ence, its clear social vision and ideal, and its devoted
membership, will be called upon to give the new
movement substance and direction, and to play in
it a part as important as that which our sister party
in England plays in the political labor movement
of that country.
The integrity of the Socialist Party must be
preserved, and its membership and activities in-
creased not only for the good of the Socialist move-
ment as such, but also for the character, growth and
success of the political labor movement of the
country.
Your committee therefore recommends:
1 , That this convention concur in the endorse-
ment by the Conference for Progressive Political
Action of the candidacy of Senator Robert M. La
Follette for President of the United States on the
platform submitted by him.
SOCIALIST WORLD
The convention, however, specifically declares
•that the Socialist Party firmly adheres to the prin-
ciples of- Socialism as set forth in the Platforms and
Declarations of Principles adopted at this and pre-
vious conventions of the Socialist Party.
2. That it authorize the incoming National
Executive Committee in its discretion to endorse the
candidate for Vice-President of the United States
to be chosen by the Conference for Progressive Po-
litical Action.
3. That the Socialist Party request an increased
representation on the enlarged National Committee
of the Conference for Progressive Political Action.
4. That in the coming campaign the Socialist
Party co-operate whole-heartedly with the Con-
ference for Progressive Political Action in the na-
tional elections, and in all such state and local elect-
ions in which independent candidates are nominateq
with the co-operation of the state and local Socialist
Party organizations
5* That the Socialist Party send a full represen-
tation to the convention to be held in January, 1925,
for the purpose of considering the formation of a
permanent and independent new party and do
everything in its power to make that convention as
large, representative and successful as possible.
6. The representatives of the Socialist Party to
the January convention of 1925 are hereby instruct-
ed to vote and work for the formation of a party
composed of economic organizatins of labor, work-
ing farmers, the SciaHst Party, and othed advanced
groups; to be separate and distinct from and op-
posed to the Republican, Democratic, and other
capitalist parties; with a complete national, state
and local form of organization and upon a platform
containing as a minimun the planks of the platform
adopted by the convention of the Conference for
Progressive Political Action held in Cleveland,
July, 1924.
PLATFORM OF THE CONFERENCE FOR
PROGRESSIVE POLITICAL ACTION
(Adopted at Cleveland, July 5, 1924)
For 148 years the American people have been
seeking to establish a government for the service
of all and to prevent the establishment of a govern-
ment for the mastery of the few. Free men of
every generation must combat renewed efforts of
organized force and greed to destroy liberty. Every
generation must wage a new war for freedom against
new forces that seek through new devices to enslave
mankind.
Under our representative democracy the people
protect their liberties through their public agents.
The test of public officials and public polities
alike must be : Will they serve or will they exploit
the common need?
The reactionary continues to put his faith in
mastery for the solution of all problems. He seeks
to have what he calls the strong men and best
minds rule and impose their decisions upon the mas-
ses of their weaker, brethren.
The progressive, on the contrary, contends for
less autocracy and more democracy in government,
for less power of privilege and greater obligations
of service.
Under the principle of ruthless individualism and
competition, that government is deemed best which
offers to the few the greatest chance of individual
gain.
Under the progressive principle of co-operation,
that government is deemed best which offers to the
many the highest level of average happiness and
well being.
It is our faith that we all go up or down together
—that class gains are temporary delusions and that
eternal laws of compensation make every man his
brother's keeper.
Program of Public Service
In that faith we present our program of public
service :
(I.) The use of the power of the federal govern-
ment to crush private monopoly, not to foster it.
(2.) Unqualified enforcement of the constitution-
al guarantees of freedom of speech, press and as-
semblage.
(3.) Public ownership of the nation's water
power and creation of a public super-power system.
Strict public control and permanent conservation of
all natural resources, including coal, iron and other
ores, oil and timber lands in the interest of the
people. Promotion of public works in times of
business depression.
(4.) Retention of surtax on swollen incomes,
restoration of the tax on excess profits, taxation of
stock dividends, profits undistributed to evade taxes,
rapidly progressive taxes on large estates and in-
heritances, and repeal of excessive tariff duties, espe-
cially on tmst-controlled necessities of life and of
nuisance taxes on consumption, to relieve the people
I
SOCIALIST WORLD
of the present unjust burden of taxation and compel
those who profited by the war to pay their share of
the war's costs, and to provide the funds for ad-
justed compensation solemnly pledged to the vete-
rans of the World War.
(5.) Reconstruction of the federal reserve and
federal farm loan systems to provide for direct
public control of the nation's money and credit to
make it available on fair terms to all, and national
and state legislation to permit and promote co-
operative banking.
(6.) Adequate laws to guarantee to farmers and
industrial workers the right to organize and bargain
collectively through reprt sntatives of their own
choosing for the maintenance or improvement of
their standard of life.
(7.) Creation of a government marketing cor-
poration to provide a direct route between farm pro-
ducer and city consumer and to assure farmers fair
prices for their products, and protect consumers from
the profiteers in foodstuffs and other necessaries of
life. Legislation to control the meat-packing in-
dustry.
(8.) Protection and aid of cooperative enter-
prises by national and state legislation.
(9.) Common international action to effect the
economic recovery of the world from the effects of
the World War.
(10.) Repeal of the Cummins-Esch law. Public
ownership of railroads, with democratic operation,
and with definite safeguards against bureaucratic
control.
(II.) Abolition of the tyranny and usurpation
of the courts, including the practice of nullifying
legislation in conflict with the political, social or
economic theories of the judges. Abolition of in-
junctions in labor disputes and of the power to pumsh
for contempt without trial by jury. Elec tion of all
federal judges without party designation for limited
terms.
For Child Labor Amendment
(12.) Prompt ratification of the child labor am-
endment and subsequent enactment of a federal law
to protect children in industry. Removal of legal
discriminations against women by measures not pre-
judicial to legislation necessary for the protection of
women and for the advancement of social welfare.
(13.) A deep waterway from the great lakes to
the sea.
(14.) We denounce the mercenary system of
degraded foreign policy under recent administrations
in the interests of financial imperialists* oil mono-
polists and international bankers, which has at times
degraded our state department from its high service
as a strong and kindly intermediary of defenseless
governments to a trading outpost for those interests
and concession seekers engaged in the exploitation
of weaker nations, as contrary to the will of the
American people, destructive of domestic develop-
ment and provocative of war. We favor an active
foreign policy to bring about a revision of the Ver-
sailles treaty in accordance with the terms of the
armistice, and to promote firm treaty agreements
with all nations to outlaw wars, abolish conscription,
drastically reduce land, air and naval armaments
and guarantee public referendum on peace and war.
In supporting this program we are applying to the
needs of today the fundamental principles of Amer-
ican democracy, opposing equally the dictatorship
of plutocracy and the dictatorship of the proletariat.
We appeal to all Americans without regard to
partisan affiliation and we raise the standards of
our faith so that all of like purpose may rally and
march in this campaign under the banners of pro-
gressive union.
The nation may grow rich in the vision of greed.
The nation will grow great in the vision of service.
Don't Miss This Opportunity to Secure a Lecture Date for
RYAN WALKER
Socialist Cartoonist and Creator of Henry Duhb, Who Will Speak on
"HENRY DUBB © HIS TEAPOT DOME"
Illustrating His Subject With Pictures Dravra While Talking
Entertainment and Effective Propaganda
Combined!
Tour Will Begin In September - Twenty Applications Already
Received Terms Very Reasonable - Apply for Date at Once to —
NATIONAL OFFICE SOCIALIST PARTY
2653 WASHINGTON BLVD., CHICAGO. ILL.
Delay May Mean Disappointment — ACT QUICKLY!
SOCIALIST WORLD
OUR OPPORTUNITY IS HERE!
An Address to the Members of the Socialist Party of America
by the Cleveland National Convention
The Socialist Party has just held the largest,
most successful and enthusiastic convention in years.
It gathered in the determination to take its right-
ful place beside the victorious Socialist and labor
movement of England, France and other coun-
tries*
THE CONFERENCE OF JULY 4th
When the Socialist Party came to Cleveland it
found, in the immense public hall of that city, the
convention of the Conference for Progressive Po-
litical Action, consisting of more than a thousand
delegates, representing millions of members of the
great railroad, miners, needle trades and many
other unions, organized farmers, the Socialist Party
and kindred advanced groups.
It witnessed the adoption of a platform of for-
ward-looking measures, the nomination of an in-
dependent presidential ticket and the acceptance of
the proposal to hold a nation-wide convention in
January, 1925, to consider organizing a large and
permanent party of labor, Socialists and other pro-
gressive political forces opposed to the parties of
exploitation.
HOW IT CAME TO BE
The circumstances which brought this forth are
easy to understand.
As the Socialist Party had warned, the barbarous
forces, unleashed by the war, opened a period of
dark and extreme reaction. The predatory finan-
cial classes and their political agents holding offiee
have sought ruthlessly to destroy the trade unions
by the reckless use of injunctions, the open shop
drive, and to crush the farmers by wiping out the
value of their crops. They have engaged in a riot
of corruption, crime and betrayal of trust of such
mammoth proportions that its. exposure has caused
a veritable political earthquake. They have refused
to assist whole-heartedly the stricken peoples of
Europe to resume the production and exchange of
goods in order to rebuild the shattered world. They
have denied to the workers in our country a just
return for their labor which would keep industry
going.
LABOR'S AWAKENING
This flagrant capitalist misrule has at last awak-
ened the masses in our country. The knowledge
that similar evils had brought about the political or-
ganization of their fellow workers in other Ian Js and
their marked achievements since, especially the in-
spiration of the labor government in England, the
Socialist government in Denmark, and of the recent
elections in France and Australia, has aroused them
to an attempt to secure the like benefits here.
. For the Socialist Party there has been no purpose
in all its years of effort but to stir the masses to this
imperative necessity. For this reason it entered the
Conference for Progressive Political Action at its
beginning and heartily participated in its work.
The convention of this body has now been held.
It was the first national, political outpouring of the
toilers of America, While a labor party has not
been formed in name, owing to the varying election
laws of the several states and the lack of time before
election, a party of labor is being realized in fact.
The first great step has been taken. Relations with
the capitalist parties have been broken. The rest
will inevitably follow.
SOCIALIST PARTY ACTS
By an overwhelming vote of the convention of
the Socialist Party, it was decided that our place is
in this political revolt of the American workers. It
is our duty to give it loyal and devoted service and
the utmost co-operation.
It is likewise our duty to maintain the autonomy
and integrity of the Socialist Party, and as an or-
ganized party to continue with renewed energy and
in larger fields our mission of enlightenment and our
struggle for the complete release of humanity from
the thralldom of capitalism.
Comrades : We want new opportunities for ser-
vice to the toilers of the nation. Our speakers,
writers, organizers, executives and membership will
be called upon to do their share in this inspiring
struggle. To serve loyally means to earn their re-
spect and confidence and to fulfill our own clearest
aims.
The new activity will create fresh vigor in our
party. Indifferent members will resume activity.
Many who fell away because our past endeavors
seemed to be fruitless will joyfully return. There
will be a concrete and vital purpose in the work of
the Socialist Party.
Out of this significant start, the workers of Amer-
ica may soon build up a labor party which will take
its place beside the British Labor Party, and the
similar parties throughout the world in that inter-
SOCIALIST WORLD
national brotherhood of labor which alone can make
the new civilization.
OUR DUTY
The delegates to this convention of the Socialist
Party have shown by their unmistakable decision
that they are ready to grasp the wonderful pos-
sibilities of the situation.
At a banquet held during the convention the un-
precedented sum of $3,500 was spontaneously
poured into the treasury of the party by the com-
paratively tiny fraction of the membership there, as
an earnest of their abiding faith in the glorious
future of the party.
From his sick room, our own Gene Debs sent to
the convention this splendid sentiment:
"I hesitate at this distance to intrude upon your
deliberations, especially as I have full faith in the
loyalty and judgement of our delegates and shall
willingly abide by the action of our convention, I
think it wise for our party to make no nominations
under the circumstances, but at the same time to
hold the Socialist Party intact, adhere rigidly to
its principles and keep the red flag flying. I hope,
above all, there will be no division, but that all will
unite loyally in carrying out the program adopted
by the convention, I need not assure you that my
heart is with you. In this crisis, as in the past, the
Socialist Party is the party of the working class and
faces the future with absolute confidence and with-
out fear/*
Axe you ready to do your share >
This is our supreme opportunity. Will each and
every one of you contribute what you can to enable
the Socialist Party to become more powerful than
it has ever been?
Will each and every one of you work as never
before in the service of labor and Socialism?
Labor in America is on the march! All together!
Forward to victory!
A SUPPLEMENTARY WORD
By Eugene V. Debs
It is with real pleasure, no less than with a deep
sense of its fervent spirit and its loyal devotion to
the cause of the toiling and producing masses, that
I applaud and give my unqualified approval to the
eloquent and thrilling appeal of the "Address to
the Members of the Socialist Party of America,"
issued by the Committee representing the National
Convention of the Party held at Cleveland, which
ha* just concluded its deliberations and adjourned,
after completing its arduous labors, and so success-
fully meeting and overcoming the difficulties in the
complicated situation that confronted it, as to arouse
and inspire renewed hope and courage in the long
and sorely-tried membership, and open the road
and clear the way to a wider field of vital activity
than our party has yet known.
The appeal made to the rank and file in behalf
of the Cleveland Convention is a clarion call to duty
that thrills like a trumpet-blast, and what member
is so lost to the cause as to be insensible to its in-
spiration and significance?
I shall not attempt in this brief expression of my
approval and appreciation of the splendid work ac-
complished by our delegates at Cleveland to enter
into any analytical detail of the deliberations and
proceedings which led to their final action in deter-
mining, by an overwhelming majority, to cast their
lot with the Conference for Progressive Political
Action, and make common cause with the progress-
ive forces represented there, in the presidential cam-
paign this very important year.
I have to confess frankly that with certain fea-
tures of the convention of the Progressive elements
and with certain actions in their proceedings, I
could not possibly, under ordinary circumstances,
find myself in agreement. To yield to the weakness
and cowardice of expediency has always been re-
pugnant to my nature, and especially so since I
pledged my allegiance to the Socialist movement.
But the situation that confronted our delegates at
Cleveland was anything but an ordinary one. It
was indeed unprecedented and extraordinary in
every sense of the term. The wisest and most far-
seeing among us could not have forecasted such a
peculiar and remarkable event in our industrial and
political development, especially after our rigid
training in the inflexible school of "No Com-
promise.
Certain it is that the most progressive elements of
American labor were represented at the Cleveland
Conference, and equally certain that these elements
fairly represented the organized labor movement,
with which, generally speaking, we have never here-
tofore been in vital touch, and without which the
Socialist Party could never hope to develop its
power or fulfill its mission.
After years and years of agitation and education
the progressive forces of American labor arrived at
this stage of their development. Here were its
chosen representatives in convention assembled, pro-
claiming their purpose to sever their relations with
the old capitalist parties and to organize their forces
SOCIALIST WORLD
for independent political action in the service of the
toilers and producers of the nation, a situation of
hope and promise the Socialist Party in the twenty-
seven years of its pioneering and unceasing agitation
and education had done more to bring about, in my
humble opinion; than all other agencies combined.
And now, at this supreme juncture, this golden
opportunity, to have refused to join issue with these
gathering forces of liberation, after the many years
of toil and tears, of sacrifice and martyrdom in set-
ting them in operation, would have been the height
of stupidity and folly and the depth of desertion
and betrayal
Of course the platform is not as we would have
it, nor is Robert M. LaFollette a Socialist or a mem-
ber of our party, but what of it in the light of the
rich and abundant harvest that is certain to issue
from the broadcast sowing of the seed of solidarity
among the hitherto dissevered and enslaved pro-
ducers of the land?
It is in no spirit of vanity or presumption that I
declare a willingness to appeal to the shades of
Marx, Engels and Leibknecht upon this vital issue,
for were these Titans of emancipation still clothed
in living flesh, I have the positive conviction they
would have advised and approved the course taken
by our delegates at this historic Cleveland Con-
vention.
No fundamental principle of Socialism has been
or will be in the least compromised. The autonomy
of our party is absolutely inviolate and within our
party our authority remains supreme. We carry
forward our propaganda and promote onr activities
not onlv as before, but with a renewed and revital-
ized energy and enthusiasm inspired by this supreme
opportunity, and more thrilling and sustaining than
ever before.
Though he is not a Socialist we need not blush or
apologize to give our support to Robert M. La
Follette in the life-giving and hope-inspiring struggle
of the present hour. All his life he has stood up
like a man for the right according to his light; he
has been shamefully maligned, ostracized and per-
secuted by the predatory powers of the plutocracy,
yet his bitterest foe has never dared to question his
personal integrity or his political rectitude.
The Cleveland Convention was fruitful of the
most vital achievement and marks an epoch in
American labor history. More important than its
speeches and affirmations, more important than its
platform and its candidates was its pledge to the
American workers in mill and factory and mine,
upon the railways, out on the farms, and in all
their varied activities, that, following the election,
their forces should be marshalled in battle array in
their own political party, marching bravely in one
conquering phalanx beneath their own proud banner
to their destined goal— the emancipation of their
own triumphant hosts and of all humanity.
The American Labor Party is in sight!
Hail its inspiring advent and speed the day of its
glorious triumph!
The tocsin of battle sounds, and like Job's noble
war-steed we smell the battle from afar and welcome
the conflict with the enemies of labor and the des-
poilers of the people.
We stand for the peace and freedom and happi-
ness of all humanity and our cause is certain to
triumph in the end.
Fofa)ard, Comrades, with the courage of Con-
querors to the Land of Light and the Neu) Cioil-
ization!
The Enemy Opens Fire Upon The Workers-With Lies
By George K. Kirkpatrick
The press of American plutocracy has obediently
opened fire to damage with a deluge of lies the great
nation-wide political forward movement of the
common people launched last week at Cleveland.
Right well the masters of the bread know that al-
ready many millions of America's common people
are keen with interest and are expectantly waiting
for every scrap of news pertaining to the great work
started by the Cleveland Conference for Progressive
Political Action and the National Socialist Con-
vention. The masters begin to see clearly that their
challenge to the toilers of America has been accept-
ed and that the recent week's work at Cleveland
spells disaster to the old-time ways and means and
plans for holding the common people under the
galling yoke of industrial despotism.
Logically the plutocratic press attacks this new
nation-rousing movement — with lies, malicious
and malignant lies — and detestable misrepresenta-
tions. One of the first huge lies flashed oyer the
nation to deceive the workers is malicious misrepre-
sentation of Eugene V. Debs, National Chairman
of the Socialist Party. A cunning story is presented
on the first page of a leading Chicago paper with
Debs's picture with headlines reiterating three times
that Debs is delighted with the Democratic pres-
idential nominee, Davis. This same misrepresen-
tation is already in certain New York papers. And
thus the prostitute press begins to belch its filth of
malignant misrepresentation into the campaign.
Whatever Debs may think of Davis personally
he knows Davis as a loyal representative of the
SOCIALIST WORLD
great financial house of J. P. Morgan and Com-
pany, and as a powerful attorney standing before
the United States Supreme Court arguing with skill
and cunning on the Coronado Coal Company s at-
tack on the miners* union to the end that a decision
might be had from that court which would enable
the employers all over the land to destroy utterly
the organized national and international labor bodies
by making their treasuries good for all losses in-
curred by employers in consequence of strikes con-
ducted anywhere by union labor. Debs knows
just what this would have meant to organized labor.
Debs marked the enthusiasm with which the Em-
ployers* Association took up the arguments set forth
by the present Democratic presidential nominee,
Davis. And Debs of all men would be the last to
be "pleased with Mr. Davis's nomination for the
presidency of the United States* 1 — Dauis u)ho
Would place in the hands of the employers a court
decision that Would spell *u)ift and utter ruin to or
ganized labor in this country.
As soon as this shameless lie appeared the Na-
tional Secretary got into direct communication with
Debs and Dr. Holway, who has personal charge
of Debs at the Lindlahr Sanitarium, From Debs
the National Secretary has a positive written state-
ment that he has denied all and every request for
interviews and communications during and since the
Socialist Convention at Cleveland — except the re-
ception of the Committee appointed by the Socialist
Convention to wait upon Debs immediately follow-
ing the Convention. And from Dr. Holway she
has emphatic corroboration of Deb's affirmation
that he has firmly declined all interviews with the
exception just noted.
This will be one of the fiercest campaigns since
the Civil War, and the workers of this land must be
on guard; they can logically expect that by insin-
uation, misrepresentation and outright shameless
lying the plutocratic press will obey its master and
fill the air with dust and filth to the end that the
workers' understanding of the men and women, and
the issues, programs and purposes of the great new
movement may be hindered to the utmost limit.
Labor is indeed on the march in this country. The
first agency for their betrayal will be the plutocratic
press. Let the workers be warned, everywhere and
warned daily that their deadliest enemy is the press
that fills the air with malicious and confusing lies.
Declaration Of Principles Of The Socialist Party
The Socialist Party is the party of the workers.
It urges the workers to take economic and political
power away from the capitalist class, not to establish
themselves as a new ruling class, but to abolish for-
ever all class divisions and class rule.
America today is not owned by the American
people. Our so-called national wealth \s not the
wealth of the nation but of the privileged few. These
few are the rulers of America. They are few in
number but they dominate the lives of their fellow
men* They own our jobs and determine our wages;
they control markets and fix prices; they own our
homes and fix rents; they own our food and set its
cost; they own the press; they own the government
and make our laws; they own our schools and mould
the people's minds. The Socialist Party of the
United States demands that the country and its so-
cially useable industrial wealth be redeemed from
the control of private interests and turned over to the
people to be administered for the benefit of all.
The Socialist Party advocates the establishment
of a system of co-operative and publicly owned
and managed warehou;*s, markets, and credits to
promote direct dealing between farmers and city
consirmers at the cost of the service in their mutual
interests. This will reduce the cost of living, will
assure to the farmers a proper compensation for
their labor, and will enable them to escape from the
twin curses of tenantry and mortgaged serfdom.
The socialization of industry, as Socialists con-
ceive it, means more than is commonly understood in
the term government ownership: it includes demo-
cratic administration through the elected and res-
ponsible representatives of the workers in the res-
pective industries and of the people as a whole.
The bulk of the American people are worker?
of hand and brain; men and women who render
useful service to the community in the countless
ways of modern civilization. They produce the
nation's wealth but live in constant dread of pover-
ty. They feed and clothe the rich, yet bow to their
alleged superiority. They keep alive the industries,
but have no voice in their management. They con-
stitute the majority and can right all these social
wrongs whenever they learn to use the power of their
numbers.
The ruling class and their retainers cannot be ex-
pected to change the iniquitous system of which
they are the beneficiaries. The workers alone have
a direct and compelling interest in abolishing that
system.
To do this the workers must be united in a politi-
cal party and use it to enact such measures as will
immediately benefit the workers, raise their stan-
dard of life, increase their power, and stiffen their
resistance to capitalist aggression; and ultimately
8
SOCIALIST WORLD
to transfer to the people ownership of large scale in-
dustries, beginning with those of a public character,
such as banking, insurance, mining, transportation,
communication, and the trustified industries, and ex-
tending the process as rapidly as conditions will per-
mit, to the end that the exploitation of labor through
rent, interest, and profit may finally be abolished.
The workers of town and country must be strong-
ly organized on economic as well as on political
lines, The ceaseless struggle of the labor unions
and the constructive work of co-operative societies
are absolutely necessary, not only for the immediate
defence and betterment of the material and social
condition of the producing classes, but also to equip
them with the knowledge and the habit of self-
discipline which they must have in order to ad-
minister efficiently the industries of which they are
to win control.
It is the bounden duty of every Socialist wage-
worker to be a loyal and active member of the
union of his industry or trade, and to strive with all
his power for the strengthening and solidification
of the trade-union movement It is the duty and
the privilege of the Socialist Party and its press to
aid the unions in all their struggles for better wages,
increased leisure, and better conditions of employ-
ment.
The Socialist Party seeks to attain its end by or-
derly methods, and depends upon education and or-
ganization of the masses.
The Socialist Party stands for the mass of the
American people. But its interest is not limited to
America alone. In modern civilization the destinies
of all nations are inextricably interwoven. No na-
tion can be prosperous, happy, and free while its
neighbors are poor, miserable, and enslaved. The
ties of international solidarity are particularly vital
among the workers. In all advanced countries the
working classes are engaged in an identical struggle
for political and economic freedom, and the success
or failure of each is reflected upon the fortunes
of all.
The Socialist Party is opposed to militarism, im-
perialism, and war. Modern wars are caused by
commercial and financial rivalries and intrigues of
capitalist interests in different countries. They are
made by the ruling classes and fought by the masses.
They bring wealth and power to the privileged few
and suffering, death, and desolation to the many.
They cripple the struggles of the workers for poli-
tical rights, material improvement and social justice,
and tend to sever the bonds of solidarity between
them and their brothers in other countries,
The Socialist movement is a world struggle in
behalf of civilization. The Socialist Party co-
operates with similar parties in other countries, and
extends to them its full support in their struggles,
confident that the workers all over the world will
eventually secure the powers of government, abolish
the oppression and chaos, the strife and bloodshed
of international capitalism, and establish a federation
of Socialist republics, co-operating with each other
for the benefit of the human race, and for the main-
tenance of the peace of the world.
Report Of The Committee On Organization
And Campaign Of The C. P. P. A.
Adopted by the Conference for Progressive Political Action in Cleveland, July 5, 1924.
Your Committee on Organisation and Campaign
recommends :
(I ) That this Convention endorse the candidacy
of Senator Robert M. LaFollette for President of
the United States, upon the platform submitted by
him and read to this Conference.
(2) That it authorize the incoming National
Committee, in co-operation with the LaFollette-for-
President committee, and on consultation with the
Senator, to name a candidate for Vice-President
of the United States.
(3) That the present National Committee shall
be continued in office, with instructions to increase
its membership to not less than fifty.
The members of the National Committee shall
be as representative as possible of the various groups
and geographical sections represented in this Con-
vention, and shall have the power to add to its
numbers from time to time.
Your Committee recommends that the National
Committee, if it deem it advisable, may change the
location of the headquarters, and to establish branch
offices in other places.
During the coming presidential campaign the Na-
tional Committee shall function as the campaign
committee of this body. It shall have the power
to appoint a campaign manager and such clerical
help, organizers and employes as shall in its opinion.
be necessary, and to undertake such other actions
as will insure the proper arid efficient conduct of the
campaign. It shall also have the power to choose
officers and sub-committees, including an executive
committee.
The National Committee shall also be charged
SOCIALIST WORLD
with the task of securing the nomination and election
of U. S. Senators, Representatives in Congress,
members of State Legislatures, and other state and
local public officers who are pledged to the interests
of the producing classes, and to the principles of
genuine democracy in agriculture, industry and
government, and shall as soon as practicable or-
ganize state and local campaign committees to con-
duct the campaign within their respective territories
under the supervision and directions of the National
Committee.
A meeting of the National Committee shall be
held on Friday, July 18, 1924, at 10 o'clock AM.
at the headquarters of this organization, and each
meeting of the committee shall fix the date and
place of the succeeding meeting.
(4) That on the 29th of November, 1924, the
latter part of the month of January, 1925, at such
place and such d efinite date as the committee may
decide.
The object of the Convention shall be to consider
National Committee
shall
meet
and
issue a call for
a special National
Convention
to
be
held
in the
and pass u pon the questions of forming a permanent
independe nt political party for national and local
elections u pon the basis of the general principles laid
down in the platform adopted by this Convent i on
and for t he transaction of such other business as may
come before the Convention,
The basis of representation and voting at the
Convention shall be the same as adopted at the St,
Louis meeting of the Conference for Progressive
Political Action for the Cleveland Convention of
July, 1924.
Minutes Of The National Convention, Socialist Party
Cleveland, Ohio, Sunday, July 6. 1924.
MORNING SESSION
Convention called to order at 10:30 A. M. by
National Secretary Bertha Hale White. The fol-
lowing delegates answered to roll call:
California — Cameron H. King, Alexander Horr,
Walter Thomas Mills, Lena Morrow Lewis.
Connecticut — Louis Krahl, Mrs. Louis Krahl,
Walter E. Davis, Wm. Cahil.
District of Columbia — Marx Lewis.
Illinois — Tilden Bozarth, Katherine Claus, John
Collins, Wm. A. Cunnea, George Koop, Mor-
ris Siskind, W. R. Snow, John T. Whitlock,
Dave Woodhouse, Swan Johnson, John Frank
Dams.
Indiana — - Emma Henry, Wm. H. Henry, Seve-
rino Polio, Wm, Fogelson,
Kentucky — John Thobe.
Maryland — S. M. Neistadt, Wm. A. Toole,
James L. Smiley.
Michigan — M. Wagman, Louis Wise.
Minnesota — Lynn Thompson, D. Shier, A. B.
Bastis.
Missouri — W. L. Garver, W. M. Brandt, G. A.
Hoehn, B. Cohen.
Neu) Jersey— Leo M. Harkins, George H. Goebel,
Mrs. Charlotte Bohlin, George Bauer, Her-
man Niessner, Alfred Altert, James B.
Furber.
Neu) York — May Harris Mainland, Charles
Solomon, Morris Hillquit, Algernon Lee, Aug-
ust Ciaessens, William Karlin, Jacob Panken,
Morris Berman, Jos. D. Cannon, Julius Ger-
ber, Louis Waldman, Harriot Stanton Blatch,
Alexander Kahn, (Alt,), S. John Block,
Simon Berlin, James Oneal, A. I. Shiplacoff,
J. A. Whitehorn, W. W, Passage, Joseph F.
Viola, Jacob Bernstein, Henry Feuer, Patrick
J. Murphy, Joseph Kooperman, Edw. H.
MacDonald (Alt.), Herbert M. Merrill,
Warren Atkinson, Irving M. Weiss. Ray
Newkirk, Edwin D. Ladd.
North Carolina — M. E. Edson.
Ohio — Joseph W. Sharts, Oscar K. Edelman,
John G. Willert, Joseph Martinek, Anna Kiel,
Nick Weltlich, John Ojala, Thomas C De-
vine, J. H. Bjorn, Theodore Johnson,
Oklahoma — O. E. Enfield, (Alt).
Pennsylvania — William Adams, J. Aulenbach,
Cora Bixler, Josepr E. Cohen, Harry Eckard,
Darlington Hoopes, H. Levine, Alfred Baker
Lewis, P. A. McGowan, Charles Sehl, Frank
Silvis, Geo.W. Snyder, Sidney Stark, J. Henry
Stump, Wm. J. Van Essen, Anna Van Essen T
George Weinstein, John Weisberg and Louis
Zeff, (one-half vote each), Julius Weisberg.
West Virginia — I. G. Miller.
Texas — Robert M, Young, C. T* Stopper.
Wisconsin — John Bauernfeind, Victor L, Berger,
William Coleman, Dr. Karl L. DeSombre,
Mrs. Pauline Deuss, Thomas M. Duncan,
10
SOCIALIST WORLD
Paul Gauer, H. M. Seidelman (Alt.). Daniel
W. Hoan, Herman O. Kent, Edmund T.
Melms, Henry OH (Alt.), Leo Kryzycki,
(Alt), Joseph A- Padway, William F.
Quick, Charles C Schad, William F. Schultz,
J. J. Handley (Alt.), John Doerfler, Jr.
(Alt), Arthur Shutkin, Henry Sievenhaar,
Aaron Rosenthal (Alt), Herman Tucker,
Ernest Untermann, S. Ziebelman, Mrs. Victor
L. Berger (Alt).
New England States Organization District — A.
J. Parker.
Massachusetts — Geo. E. Roewer, Jr., Helena
Turitz, Albert Sprague Coolidge.
Rhode Island — Peter Marcus.
Mountain States Organization District — O. A.
Kennedy.
Northwestern States Organization District — Emil
Herman, F. M. Dwyer.
Young People's Socialist League. — Albert Weis-
bord, Oscar Albrecht, Harry Bordman, Mor-
ris Novick.
Bohemian Federation — Alois Kostka,
Finnish Federation — W. N. Reivo.
Italian Federation — James Battistoni, Girolamo
Valenti.
Jewish Federation — David Shub, H. Lang,
Nathan Chanin.
Jugo-Slao Federation — Frank Zaitz, Charles
Pogorelec, Andrew Sogatay.
Delegate Hoan of Milwaukee was elected Chair-
man, and Delegate King of California Vice-Chair-
man. Leo M. Harkins of New Jersey elected
secretary of the convention, Elizabeth Goldstein of
New York assistant secretary.
Telegrams of greetings were read from the
Y. P. S. L, of Milwaukee, from Otto Branstetter,
and from the state organization of Idaho. The
Convention voted to send greetings to Comrade
Branstetter and to Comrade Debs.
Toole of Maryland was elected Sergeant-at-
Arms.
Nominations for the Committee on Contested
Seats: Bohlin of New Jersey; Melms of Wiscon-
sin; Kooperman of New York; Roewer of Mass-
achusetts; Herman of Washington; Snow of 111-
inois; Horr of California. Declinations: Garver,
King and Cohen.
Nominations for Commitee on Constitution:
Doerfler of Wisconsin; Sehl of Pennsylvania,
Brandt of Missouri; Weis^ of New York; Wald-
man of New York; Quick of Wis.; Stewart of
Michigan ; King of California. Declination : Sharts
of Ohio,
The following were nominated on the committee
to formulate the Report on the Relations Between
the Socialist Party and the Conference for Pro-
gressive Political Action:
Lewis of Cal., Hoehn of Mo„ Panken of N. Y.,
Hillquit of N. Y„ Berger of Wis., Solomon of
N. Y., Harkins of N, J.. Oneal of N. Y., Roewer
of Mass., Block of N. Y., Herman of Wash.,
Stump of Pa,, Collins of 111,, Young of Texas,
Passage of N. Y.. Miller of W. Va„ Toole of
Md., Stewart of Mich., Goebel of N. J., Thobe
of Ky., Snow of 111., Davis of Conn., Enfield of
Okla, Declinations: Solomon, Oneal, Lee, Block,
Young, Passage and Toole.
By motion it was decided that above committee
consist of fifteen members, and not more than two
from each state.
The following were nominated for the Committee
on Resolutions: Solomon of N. Y., Furber of N.
J., Untermann of Wis., Thompson of Minn., Lee
ot N. Y., Hillquit and Passage of N. Y., Lewis of
Pa., Mills of Cal., Kiel of Ohio, Garver of Mo.,
Block of New York, Seskind of III, Atkinson of
N. Y. Declinations: Hillquit, Block and Seskind.
Following were nominated for Committee on
Organization and Finance: Viola of N. Y., Karlin
of N. Y., Coleman of Wis., Van Essen v of Pa.,
Kent of Wis., Berman of N. Y., Edson of N. C,
Devine of Ohio, Snyder of Pa,, Weisbord of Mass.,
Feuer of N. Y., Newland of Ind„ Krahl of Pa„
Whitlock of III., Weiss of Mich., Neistadt of Md„
Krzycki of Wis,, Emma Henry of Ind., Merrill of
N. Y. Declinations: Coleman, Kent, Berman,
Sdson, Feuer, Krahl, Merrill.
Upon motion, Ray Newkirk and Edwin D. Ladd
:f N. Y, were seated as delegates.
The following committee on Economic Organ-
ization, consisting of seven members were elected by
acclamation: Coleman of Wis., Seskind of 111.,
X'agman of Mich., Cannon of N. Y., Melms of
*Vis., Martmek of Ohio, and Hon of Cal.
By motion, the chairman was authorized to ap-
point a committee of three on Y. P. S. L. organ-
: nation.
The convention voted that the rules by which it
i&all be governed shall be as stated on page 1 1 of
rrje June issue of the Socialist World.
Voted that the Committee of Fifteen bring in its
report not later than Monday morning, and that
fust as soon as the report is ready that it be taken
mp immediately.
Motion expressing thanks and appreciation of the
convention for the untiring effort and careful ar-
rangements made by the Cleveland members for the
conduct of the convention, especially the comrades
c£ the Jewish Daily Forward, and in particular
Comrades Weinstein and Hanford of the Con-
?~ntion Arrangements Committee, adopted un-
t L_n:mously.
Snow of Illinois reported for the Committee on
SOCIALIST WORLD
II
Contested Seats. Report accepted.
The following were elected as the Resolutions
Committee: Lee of New York, Mills of Cal., Un-
terman of Wis., Lewis of Pa., and Solomon of
New York.
The following were elected the Committee on
Organization and Finance: Van Essen of Pa.,
Krzycki of Wis., Karlin of N. Y.. Weisbord of
Mass., Devine of Ohio.
The following were appointed as the Press
Committee: Duncan of Wis., Kirkpatrick of 111.,
and Wilson of Pa.
The following fifteen delegates were elected as
the Committee on Relations with the C. P. P. A.:
Hillquit of N. Y. (115); King of Cal. (110);
Berger of Wis. (107); Hoehn of Mo. (91);
Cohen of Pa. (88) ; Lewis of Cal. (80) ; Roewer
of Mass. (80) ; Sharts of Ohio (79) ; Harkins of
N. J. (77) ; Goebel of N. J. (76) ; Henry of Ind.
(73); Duncan of Wis. (74); Oneal of N. Y.
(73); Herman of Wash. (61); Collins of 111.
(60).
MORNING SESSION
July 7, 1924
Convention called to order at 10:10 A. M. by
Daniel Hoan, Chairman of the previous day. Lee
of New York was elected Chairman and King of
California Vice-Chairman.
By recommendation of the National Executive
Committee, Roland A. Gibson, President of the
Dartmouth College Club for Progressive Political
Action, was seated as a fraternal delegate with a
voice but no vote.
Telegrams of greetings were read from the Sec-
retary of Branch No. 15 of the Workmen's Circle
of Hartford, Conn., and from the 6th A.D. of the
Socialist Party, Kings County, New York.
Delegate Cannon, of New York, for the Com-
mittee on Economic organization, submitted res-
olution.
Moved by Delegate Cannon that the resolution
of the committee as read be adopted.
Amendment offered by Delegate Waldman to
insert two words in the fifth line of the second
paragraph so that the statement instead of reading
''unionism is the one institution on which they can
depend," will read, "unionism is one of the in-
stitutions."
The amendment was carried by a vote of 78
to 30.
Delegate Solomon of New York, for the Com-
mittee on Platform and Resolutions, read draft of
the Declaration of Principles of the Socialist Party.
Moved to adopt report of the committee, but to
send it back for improvement as to style.
Delegate Mills of California continued report of
the Committee on Resolutions, offering the follow-
ing resolution:
"Resolved, that the Socialist Party reaf-
firms its repeated and insistent demand that
there shall be granted by our government of-
ficial recognition of the Russian Government
and the maintenance of the same friendly
diplomatic and commercial relations as we now
maintain with the most favored nations."
On motion thej-esolution was adopted.
Roberto Haberman, fraternal delegate from the
Mexican Labor Party, upon invitation of the Con-
vention, addressed the delegates, bringing greetings
from the Mexican Labor movement, and outlining
the progress of the labor movement in Mexico, and
announcing the election on the previous day in
Mexico of a labor and Socialist president.
Upon motion of Delegate Lewis of California,
the convention voted to send congratulations to the
Mexican Labor Party for the election of Calles,
labor president, and an expression of sorrow for the
execution of Carrillo. This motion was unanimously
carried.
Tribute was paid by Delegate Mills of California
to the services rendered by the Mexican Labor
Movement to the American Labor movement, and
mentioned especially the valuable work of Brother
Kelley of the Machinists' Union.
The National Secretary reported that the Mis-
souri delegation had decided to donate to the Na-
tional Office their delegates' expenses amounting
to $121.24.
Delegate Waldman of New York, reporting for
the Committee on Constitution, recommended the
adoption of the constitution of 1922, with follow-
ing amendments: Section l t Article 2, to read:
"Political action within the meaning of this section
is participation in elections for public offices and
practical legislation for administration work along
the line of the Socialist Party Platform, to gain
control of the powers of government to the end that
the capitalist system be abolished and the Co-oper-
ative Commonwealth be substituted: This amend-
ment carried. Section 2, Article 2: Action on
amendment proposed laid over.
King of California, for the Majority Report of
the Committee of Fifteen, took the floor and read
the following and moved its adoption:
(See Resolution on Relations to the Conference
for Progressive Political Action on page 1 ) .
Snow of Illinois, for the Minority Report of same
committee, submitted report, moving its adoption:
MINORITY REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE OF 1 5 ON
RELATIONS WITH THE C. P. P. A.
Preamble
The Conference for Progressive Political Action
12
SOCIALIST WORLD
which has just adjourned in Cleveland in spite of its
significance as a gathering of progressive and labor
forces, has failed to launch an independent Party
of Labor, or even an independent thirt party; but
is rather the crystalization of the vague sentiment
of unrest around the personality of one man, and
that man a life long republican, who has never at-
tacked the fundamental foundations of capitalist
society, viz. — the private ownership of the tools and
instruments of production and distribution and its
consequent division of society into two distinct
economic classes, — the greatest single fact that exists
in the social relations of mankind today.
The Socialist Party is willing today as it has al-
ways been to work for the upbuilding of a strong
political party representing the useful producing
classes. But we cannot Submerge our identity and
lose all we have gained in forty years of painful
effort that has meant the self-sacrifice of thousands
of workers for some hazy; indefinite promise that
seven months from now a labor party may be form-
ed, or sign a blank check for a vice-presidential
nominee not yet named.
Neither can we subscribe to a platform so delight-
fully vague and indefinite as to the fundamental
causes of social injustice, that any forward looking
exploiter of labor, democrat or republican could
subscribe to. A platform so meaningless that it
might have been written by W. J. Bryan thirty years
ago. Shall we look forward to the future or back
to the past for inspiration? Shall we surrender our-
selves to forces that can well wipe out the last
vestige of an organized Socialist movement for
many years to come?
In order to preserve the identity and usefulnes of
the Socialist Party and the Socialist Movement and
make possible its usefulness in the future battles
of labor,
We. the Minority Committee, recorrxmend:
(1) That this 1934 convention of the Socialist
Party proceed to nominate its own candidates for
president and vice-president of the United States.
(2) That we proceed to conduct our own
campaign on a platform and with a program that
states distinctly the fundamental problems that con-
front modern society.
Fraternally submitted,
Wm. H. Henry
W. R. Snow
Committee.
Further discussion on these reports was deferred
until after the noon recess.
Convention adjourned at one o'clock, to recon-
vene at 2.
AFTERNOON SESSION,
July 7th, 1924.
Convention called to order by Chairman Lee at
2:15 P. M.
Delegate Solomon of New York offered the
following resolutions of greetings to be sent to
Ramsay MacDonald and to the Socialist Party of
France:
"Ramsay MacDonald:
The Socialist Party of the United States, in na-
tional convention assembled, sends its fraternal
greetings to you and through you to the labor move-
ment of the British Isles. We hail the rise to power
of British labor not only for what it means to the
workers of the British Isle but because of its sig-
nificance for world peace and the international So-
cialist and labor movement.**
"To the Socialist Party of France:
The Socialist Party of the United States, Ixj na-
tional convention assembled, sends its fraternal
greetings to you and acclaims your recent victories
as an outstanding augury for the early establishment
of an enduring world peace and an inspiration to
Socialists everywhere/ 1
On motion of Waldman of New York, Abraham
Cahan of Jewish Daily Forward was seated as a
delegate with voice and no vote.
With the consent of the Minority Committee, the
rules governing the discussion on the adoption of the
minority or majority report, or substitute, were
amended to give the spokesmen of the Minority and
Majority reports fifteen minutes each to open the
discussion, fifteen minutes to close the discussion;
and that for the other speakers the five minute rule
prevail.
Delegate King made the opening address on
behalf of the Majority Report.
Delegate Snow made the opening address on
behalf of the Minority Report.
Delegate Panken offered the following substitute
for the whole:
Proposition by Delegate ParJtrn
The main practical object of the Socialist Party
is the organization of the workers into a political
class party. With ihat supreme object in view the
party has always encouraged and supported every
genuine movement of labor toward independent
politics. The Conference for Progressive Political
Action was organized with the assistance of the
Socialist Party, and our party co-operated with its
work and development.
Our co-operation with the forces of the Con-
ference for Progressive Political Action has already
resulted in much good, and during the campaign
can, in our opinion, vastly facilitate the formation
of a genuine labor party next January. The So-
cialist Party with it* political training and ex-
perience, its clear social vision and Ideal, and its
devoted membership will be called upon to give the
new movement substance and direction, and to play
SOCIALIST WORLD
13
in it a part as important as that which our sister
party in England plays in the political labor move-
ment of that country.
The integrity of the Socialist Party must be
preserved* and it$ membership and activities in-
creased, not only for the good of the Socialist move-
ment as such, but also for the character, growth and
success of the political labor movement of the
country,
The convention specifically declares that the So-
cialist Party firmly adheres to the principles of So-
cialism as set forth in the Platform and Declaration
of Principles adopted at this and previous conven-
tions of the Socialist Party.
Resolved, that the incoming National Executive
Committee of the Socialist Party meet on the 20th
day of July, 1924, at a place to be fixed by the
National Executive Committee.
That the Committee is instructed to endorse the
candidates for president and vice-president of the
Committee for Progressive Political Action, provid-
ed the candidate for vice-president is not also the
candidate of either the Democratic or Republican
party and is satisfactory to the National Executive
Committee.
That the Committee is instructed in the event it
will not be able to endorse the national ticket of the
Committee for Progressive Political Action to cause
a call to be issued for a conference of representatives
of the Socialist Party state organizations.
That for that purpose each state delegation re-
presented in this convention is required to designate
a representative of the state to act in such event.
That the Socialist Party request an increased re-
presentation on the enlarged National Committee of
the Conference for Progressive Political Action.
That in the coming campaign tht5 Socialist Party
co-operate whole-heartedly with the Conference for
Progressive Political Action in the national election
and in all such state and local elections in which
independent labor and farmer candidates are nomi-
nated with the co-operation of the state and local
Socialist Party organizations.
That the Socialist Party send a full represen-
tation to the convention to be held in January, 1925,
for the purpose of considering the formation of a
permanent and independent new party arid do every-
thing in its power to make that convention as large,
representative and successful as possible.
The representatives of the Socialist Party to the
January convention of 1925 are hereby instructed
to vote and work for the formation of a party
separate and distinct from and opposed to the Re-
publican, Democratic and other capitalist parties,
to be composed ofeconomic organization of labor,
working farmers* the Socialist Party, and other ad-
vanced groups, with complete national, state and
local form of organization and upon a platform con-
taining as a minimum the planks of the platform ad-
opted by the convention of the Conference for Pro-
gressive Political Action held in Cleveland, July,
1924.
National Secretary White read the following
telegram from Eugene V, Debs:
Elmhurst. 111.,
Bertha Hale White, July 7, 1924.
Hotel Winton,
Cleveland, Ohio.
Love and greetings to our delegates. Answering
your inquiry, I hesitate at this distance to intrude
upon your deliberations* especially as I have full
faith in the loyalty and judgment of our delegates,
and shall willingly abide by the action of our con-
vention. I think it wise for our party to make no
nominations under the circumstances but at the same
time to hold the Socialist Party intact, adhere rigidly
to its principles and keep the red flag flying. I
hope above all there will be no division but that all
will unite loyally in carrying out the program adopt-
ed by the convention. I need not assure you that
my heart is with you. In this crises, as in the past,
the Socialist Party is the party of the working class
and faces the future with absolute confidence and
without fear.
Yours for Socialism,
(Signed) Eugene V* Debs,
The discussion lasted for several hours, after
which Delegate Henry made the closing argument
for the Minority Report, Delegate Hillquit for the
Majority Report, and a vote was taken.
Substitute by Delegate Panken lost. Roll call
showed 1 1 3 in favor of the Majority Report, and
19 for the Minority.
Schad of Wisconsin moved to make the Majority
Report unanimous. Stark of Pennsylvania object-
ed, whereupon Delegate Schad and one other
changed their votes making the final total 115 in
favor of the Majority Report and 1 7 for the Minor-
ity Report.
Delegate Mainland of New York cast her vote
for the Majority Report but wished it understood
that she did so to prevent a divsion and in the in-
terest of harmony.
Delegate Herman of Washington, when casting
his vote for the Majority Report, said; **In casting
my vote for the Majority Report I wish to say that
I do so merely because I realize that nothing else
can be done under the circumstances without sever-
ing our connection with the Conference for Progress-
ive Political Action, and that we cannot afford
to do."
The convention adjourned at 7:50, to meet
Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock.
14
SOCIALIST WORLD
MORNING SESSION
July 6, 1924.
Convention was called to order at 10:30 A. M.
by Chairman Lee.
Emma Henry of Indiana was elected Chairman
for the day; Van Essen of Pa., Vice-Chairman.
On motion the Convention voted to seat Marie
MacDonald of New York in place of Feuer of
New York; Novick of New York instead of Blatch
of New York; Wilson of Pa. instead of Siegel of
Pa.; and Mrs, Krahl of Connecticut instead of
Cahill of Conn.
Delegate Goebel of New Jersey moved that the
rules be suspended so that the nomination and elect-
ion of members of the National Executive Com-
mittee take place at 11:15 o'clock. Motion carried.
Delegate Waldman, for the Constitution Com-
mittee, continued report.
The amendments offered by the Constitution
Corumittec, which were adopted, also amendments
offered by delegates from the floor, are on separate
list attached hereto.
At 11:15 all other business was suspended and
the Convention proceeded with the election of mem
bers of the National Executive Committee.
The following were nominated for membership
on the N. E. C:
Stump of Pa., Hillquit of New York, Henry of
Indiana, Berger of Wis., Brandt of Mo., Collins
of III, Harkins of New Jersey, Wilson of Pa.,
Lewis of Cab, Melms of Wis., Roewer of Mass.,
Maurer of Pa. While the ballots were being coun-
ted, the convention proceeded with unfinished
business.
The following amendment offered by Hillquit to
the Constitution was passed by acclamation:
Sec. !2, Article 7. "The Convention shall elect
a National Chairman of the Party, whose powers
and duties shall be as provided by law. He shall
be a member Ex-officio of the National Executive
Committee.
Roewer of Mass. offered the following resolution
and moved its adoption: "That this Convention
delegate Bertha Hale White, James Oneal and
Joseph E. Cohen, to wait upon Comrade Eugene
V. Debs, and to express to him the regret of the
Convention at his inability to be with us on this
momentous occasion and to convey to him the af-
fectionate greetings of his comrades in the Socialist
Party."
Motion was carried that the question be divided,
so that convention first vote on the election of a
committee, and then elect the personnel. This
motion to divide the question carried.
The motion to elect a committee carried.
Discussion. Delegate Cohen stated he could not
accept.
The Convention elected James Oneal, Bertha
Hale White, and William Henry to constitute the
committee,
Delegate Waldman, for the Constitution Com-
mittee, continued report.
Comrade Claessens, for the Tellers Committee,
reported the following, on votes cast for members
of the National Executive Committee:
121 ballots were cast, 61 being necessary for
election. The votes as cast were as follows: Hill-
quit 110; Maurer 108; Berger 88; Collins 77;
Roewer 72; Harkins 62; Sharts 55; Henry 54;
Brandt 49; Oneal 48; Melms 28; Stump 27; Lewis
24; Kahn 21 ; Wilson 15; Lee 2; Hoehn 1 ; Cole-
man 1 ; and Karlin 1 .
Since only six nominees received the required
number of votes for election, a second ballot was
taken, resulting as follows:
105 votes cast, 53 votes required: Sharts 28;
Oneal 23; Henry 19; Lewis 11; Brandt 11;
Melms 8; Wilson 2; Stump 2; Kahn 1.
A motion was carried to take another ballot upon
all those candidates originally failing of election,
and if then no one is elected, the two delegates re-
ceiving the highest number of votes shall be the
nominees.
The third ballot showed the following results:
98 votes cast, majority required 50.
Henry 33; Sharts 23; Oneal 16; Lewis 13;
Brandt 9; Melms 3; Stump I.
On the fourth ballot the result obtained was as
follows:
94 ballots cast; 47 ballots required: Sharts 49;
Henry 45. Sharts elected.
Convention adjourned for lunch at one o'clock
to reconvene at 2.
AFTERNOON SESSION
July 8, 1924.
Convention called to order at 3 : 1 5, by Chairman
Emma Henry.
Telegrams of greetings were read from, the Y.
P.S.L. of New York and from the International
Pocketbook Workers* Union.
Delegate Friedman, alternate from New York,
seated as delegate.
Delegate Weisbord for the Y.P.S.L. Committee
offered resolution .which was carried.
Delegate Karlin for the Committee on Organ-
ization and Finance continued his report. An amend-
rnent to this report was offerecT by Viola of New
York, instructing the N. E. C to engage European
international Socialist leaders for an organization
and propaganda tour. The committee's report as
amended was carried.
Mills of California read a telegram from Mahoney
of the Farmer-Labor Party,
SOCIALIST WORLD
15
Delegates Lee of New York, Lewis of Pa.,
Untermann of Wis,, Mills of California, all took
the floor for the Resolutions Committee, and offered
the resolutions attached hereto, all of which carried.
The resolution on the Ku KIux Klan introduced
by Comrade Lee was opposed by Goebel of New
Jersey, precipitating a heated discussion lasting for
several hours. Goebel offered a substitute which,
upon a vote, was favored by 19 delegates and op-
posed by 53.
Lee's resolution was finally adopted by a vote
of 58 against 15.
Delegate Hillquit moved that the incoming Na-
tinal Executive Committee prepare a leaflet dealing
with the issue of the Ku Klux Klan, Hillquit's
motion carried.
Delegate Roewer of Mass. moved that the un-
finished business of this convention be referred to the
incoming National Executive Committee, including
the statement to the party membership of the Com-
mittee of Fifteen on Relations with the C P. P. A.
Motion carried.
Upon suggestions of Comrade MacDonald of
New York and King of California, it was moved
that the committee elected to visit Debs should also
visit Otto Branstetter. This motion carried un-
animously.
Vote of thanks was extended to Comrade Berger
for his work in Congress, and a motion was adopted
that a report of his work in Congress be sent to the
Socialist press.
Comrade King of California made a farewell ad-
dress, and the meeting then adjourned sine die.
Elizabeth Goldstein,
Assistant Secretary.
REPORT OF THE
ORGANIZATION
That the incoming National Executive Committee
be instructed to prepare and commence at the earli-
est possible date an extensive campaign throughout
the country. The plans for this campaign shall pro-
vide for new propaganda and organization literature,
and special work among the various elements of the
population in conformity with the new alignments
made by the party at this convention.
That State, County, and Local organizations be
directed to organize conference which shall consist
of representatives of labor unions, farmers, co-opera-
tive, and educational organizations, La Follette
clubs, and all other sympathetic organizations. Such
conferences shall create campaign committees for
the purpose of carrying on the executive work of the
campaign for the presidential ticket. Such con-
ferences shall be initiated wherever possible by So-
cialist organizations.
Large social affairs and other enterprises shall
be undertaken for the purpose of aiding the cam-
paign fund, and always with a view to attracting
the sympathetic elements to participate in the same,
That national campaign lists be prepared and
mailed to all constituent organizations, members,
and sympathizers, and that all monies collected on
same be divided as follows: 50% to the local or-
ganization in which the money is obtained: 40%
to the National Office; 10% to the State or
District Organizations.
That a campaign manager be immediately put
in charge of the work of the campaign, and that
campaign organizers be sent to the various unorgan-
ized fields for the purpose of placing the national,
COMMITTEE ON
AND FINANCE
state, and Congressional tickets in the field. That
additional representatives be sent to the unorganized
fields for the purpose of initiating conferences and
raising funds for the campaign.
That immediately prior to the commencement of
operations in a given territory, advertisements and
other publicity matter be placed in the local papers.
That the services of an expert be obtained for the
purpose of preparing advertising copy to be used in
various parts of the country for insertion in local
papers. That the party obtain the services of a
publicity manager who shall prepare material from
time to time to be used by the various campaign
managers throughout the country, and that a mat
service be instituted for the distribution of publicity
matter including suitable cartoons.
That a pamphlet be prepared containing all the
general talking points pertaining to the inunediate
issues as contained in the platforms of the Confer-
ence for Progressive Political Action and of the
Socialist Party, accompanied by a collection of
material facts and statistics pertaining to the same
issues. This pamphlet is to be used by speakers and
canvassers who are to be instructed to discuss the
immediate issues as outlined in the talking points,
and to keep away from discussing other matters as
far as possible during the campaign.
That the organizers, speakers, and canvassers of-
ficially designated by the Party in Jts locals and
branches be furnished from time to time during the
campaign with talking points relating to the im-
mediate issues of the campaign, and that they be in-
structed in the ways and means of improving the
16
SOCIALIST WORLD
THE SOCIALIST WORLD
Subscription Price: $J.OO a year. Single Copies JOc
AIL matter intended for publication mu.st reach this of fun-
not later than the 1st of the month preceding date of issue.
Published Monthlv at 2(153 Washington Blvd., Chicago, 111.
by the
SOCIALIST PARTY OF AMERICA
BERTHA HALE WHITE Bus. *Mgr,
Party organization, and increasing the membership
by drawing from the various elements that may be
attracted during the coming campaign such persons
as are available for our membership.
That a booklet be prepared outlining the im-
mediate issues, for general distribution throughout
the country. That suitable leaflets be prepared for
general distribution, and also such as shall contain
suitable material for unorganized territories in ac-
cordance with the conditions of the immediate
locality.
That the Party organizers emphasize in all So-
cialist centers the importance of keeping up the in-
tegrity of the Socialist Party while participating in
the general movement.
That the National Office prepare suitable Party
slogans and emblems upon buttons, badges, banners
and posters. Unique designs may be copyrighted
for the purpose of deriving an income to increase
the campaign fund.
That if possible a Socialist of prominence broad-
cast by radio from time to time appeals for funds.
That the Socialist platform and speeches of the most
prominent candidates be broadcasted by radio as
frequently as the finances of the Party will permit,
That the national campaign managers and com-
mittees co-operate with the state and local organ-
izations as far as possible in issuing local papers,
at least during the campaign for the purpose of
spreading news in favor of our platform and can-
didates. w
THE SOCIALIST PARTY
NEW LEAFLETS
EUGENE V. DEBS, National Chairman,
Terre Haute, Ind.
BERTHA HALE WHITE, Executive Secretary,
2653 Washington Blvd., Chicago, 111.
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Victor L. Bergcr, 980 First St, Milwaukee, Wis.
John M. Collins, S39 N. St. Louis Ave., Chicago, III.
Leo M. Harfcins, J325 Arch SU Philadelphia, Pa.
Morris Hillquit, J9 West 44th St., New York City, N. Y.
James H. Maurcr, 430 North St., Harrisburg, Pa.
Geo. E. Ro«wer, Jr., 20 Pemberton Sq., Boston, Mass.
Joseph W. Sharts, 805 Commercial Bid's-, Dayton, Ohio.
INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY
Morris Hillquit, 19 West 44th St., New York City, N. Y.
YOUNG PEOPLE'S DEPARTMENT
Albert. Weisbord, National Director,
64 Pembertoa Square, Boston, Masst
THE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
and the PLATFORM will each be issued as a
leaflet, smaller size; prepaid, 25 cents per 100;
$2.00 per 1,000; 5,000 or more $1.75 per 1,000.
CHEATED is the title of the next big illustrated
leaflet (by George R. Kirkpatrick). This leaflet
will have a really powerful picture, a stunner.
It will enable the unemployed toilers to realize just
how disastrously they are cheated; how the courts,
jails, bayonets and machine guns are ready to cut
them down if they DARE TO DEMAND the
right to work,— which they can never have under
the wage-system. This leaflet is a genuine red-hot.
50 cents per 100; $5.00 per 1,000: $20.00 for
5.000.
ALL NOW ON THE PRESS. OPEN FIRE!
FREE YOUTH
By Meyer Halushka
A real achievement of the radical youth of Amer-
ica is the June-July number of the Free Youth
Magazine. Its 32 pages are filled with writings
of men and women prominent in the Socialist and
Labor movement. There is a critical survey and
analysis of "British Labor's Rise to Power'* by
Charles Solomon, former New York Assembly-
man. An article on the meaning of Socialism by
William M. Feigenbaum, Asst. Editor of The New
Leader. There is a review of shortcomings and
fallacies of the recent political conventions by
Samuel H. Friedman, one of the editors of Free
Yooth.
A commendable feature of the publication is the
varied and numerous departments, such as: The
Theatre, containing reviews of current dramatic
productions; The Bookshelf, consisting of reviews
of modern books; Swinging Around the Circle, em-
bracing reports of Yipsel club activities.
The issue also contains an account of the life
of Ben Harford, and a reprint of the well known
Socialist classic, "Jimmie Higgins."
No Socialist should deprive his children or him-
self of the opportunity of reading this splendid
periodical. It is the only monthly magazine for the
youth devoted to the cause of the Labor and So-
cialist movement. Change your children from Henry
Dubb Juniors to Jimmie Higgins Juniors by sending
one dollar for one year's subscription to Free Youth,
People House, 7 East 15th St., New York, N. Y.
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