Buck: The 1920 Farmer-Labor Party Convention [July 11-14, 1920] 1 The Farmer-Labor Party Convention: Chicago — July 11-14, 1920. by Robert M. Buck Published as “Principles are Discussed First” in The New Majority [Chicago], v. 4, no. 3 (July 17, 1920), pp. 1-2, and “Platform Worth Fighting For” in The New Majority [Chicago], v. 4, no. 4 (July 24, 1920), pp. 1-2. Unsigned account attributed to editor Robert Buck. The 2nd National Convention of the Labor Party Forty-Eighters Offer Parley. of the United States convened in Street Car Men’s Hall, Chicago, July 11 [1920], for the purpose of adopting A resolution from the Committee of Forty-Eight a platform and nominating candidates for President which was read by C.F. France of Washington, asked and Vice President of the United States. the Labor Party convention provide for a subcommit- The general routine of the convention each day tee selected from the platform committee to confer is herewith recorded: with a similar committee of the Committee of Forty- Eight, that these two committees meet with a firm de- Sunday’s Session [July 11, 1920]. termination to attain a platform of fundamentals upon which both conventions could unite, a method for The convention was called to order at 11:15 am concerted political action, and common candidates. by Max Hayes, temporary chairman. Mr. Hayes rapped Considerable discussion was aroused over the to order with a hammer, while someone was looking Committee on Conferences which had been appointed for a gavel. “This tool,” said Mr. Hayes, “is emblem- by the National Executive Committee to meet with atical of what we are going to do to the old parties this committees of other groups, including the Single-Tax- year.” He called attention to the delegates of the treach- ers and the Forty-Eighters. The committee, which con- ery of the newspapers owned by big business and re- sisted of John Fitzpatrick, Charles Kutz of Pennsylva- lated how they had printed misinformation concern- nia, William Kohn of the New York Labor Party, Mrs. ing the last convention, when the withdrawal of 2 H. Evans of Indiana, Mrs. Alice Snell Moyer of Utah, members was exaggerated into a split-up of the party. and M. Toscan Bennett of Connecticut was under fire Mr. Hayes said he believed that there was but slight by several delegates who wished to have a committee differences of opinion between the various groups in elected from the floor. A substitute motion was finally Chicago bent upon establishing parties to battle the adopted to add 6 to the present committee, but when corrupt Democrat and Republican machines and 16 names were presented to the convention, the del- hoped that through various committees a mutual plan egates decided to elect the entire 16 by acclamation. of agreement could be worked out with the Commit- They are as follows: tee of 48 and other groups. William Mitch — Indiana; Louis Schock — Pa.; Mr. Hayes introduced John Fitzpatrick, Presi- Nicholas Klein — Ohio; Julius Deutelbaum — De- dent of the Chicago Federation of Labor, who deliv- troit, Mich.; Francis J. Dillon — Indiana; Max Sellen ered the opening welcome to delegates, characterized — Ohio; Bert L. Stout — Iowa; J.W. Selsar — Mis- as the keynote speech. souri; Mary Gawthrope — New York; C.H. Johnson (Mr. Fitzpatrick’s remarks are published else- — Missouri; James Duncan — Seattle, Wash.; Alex where in this paper.) Howatt — Kansas; H. Whittie — Iowa; Stalla Gramer 1 2 Buck: The 1920 Farmer-Labor Party Convention [July 11-14, 1920] — Washington; Thomas A. Jones — New York; Harry them.” Wineberger — New York. A resolution offered by Robert M. Buck that the Hayes Given Vote of Thanks. Committee on Conferences be authorized to continue its deliberations with other groups and to consider A vote of thanks was extended to Max Hayes by changing the name of the party to the Farmer-Labor the convention for his work in behalf of the Labor Party of the United States and admitting the represen- Party. tatives of farmers’ groups to function in the conven- Before the convention adjourned for the day it tion was referred to the Resolutions Committee. The was addressed by Tarknath Das on the political, eco- significance of this resolution was felt in view of the nomic, and educational status of India under the im- fact that the South Dakota delegation headed by W.C. perialistic policy of Great Britain. Remfer had decided not to go into the Committee of The deliberations of the Conference Commit- Forty-Eight and had expressed a decision that if the tee of the Labor Party and the Committee of the Forty- Labor Party changed its name to Farmer-Labor Party Eight Sunday evening resulted in the recommenda- it would definitely affiliate its Non-Partisan League tions that the following resolutions be presented to group with the Labor Party. the two conventions on Monday [July 12, 1920]: The rules used by the convention in November [1919] were readopted without the appointment of a 1. That the conference should recommend to the two conventions an amalgamation. Rules Committee and a partial list of credentials was 2. That the Political Procedure Committee of the read by Mrs. Moyer, chairman of the Credentials Com- Committee of Forty-Eight and the Constitution Committee mittee. of the Labor Party appoint two subcommittees of 5 members each to confer as to the machinery of amalgamation. Robert M. Buck was elected permanent chair- 3. That the Platform Committees of each group appoint man of the Resolutions Committee. a subcommittee of 5 to confer as to a common platform. Walker Elected Chairman. Monday’s Session [July 12, 1920]. Election of the permanent chairman of the con- vention took place by standing vote. John H. Walker, “Free speech or a free fight is the contest before president of the Illinois Federation of Labor; James the American people today,” according to Lester Duncan, former candidate for Mayor of Seattle; and Barlow, national organizer of the World War Veter- Francis J. Dillon of the Indiana Labor Party were nomi- ans, who addressed the Labor Party delegates. He stated nated. Two votes were taken, the second eliminating that American public school education had been pros- Dillon. John H. Walker was finally elected by a vote tituted by British imperial policy and cited instances of 237 to 158. James Duncan was unanimously elected from Hart’s school histories used in grade schools all vice chairman. In his speech of acceptance Mr. Dun- over the country to show that the books had been writ- can answered the challenges of several delegates who ten to glorify England and impair the reputation of questioned whether the nominees were regular dues America. “If freedom was worth fighting for in 1776 paying members of the Labor Party by stating that he it is worth fighting for in 1920,” he said. “We are not was a member of the working class of the world. The talking revolution, we are talking of maintaining the Central Labor Council of Seattle, of which Mr. Dun- government. The World War Veterans will campaign can is President, has definitely gone on record in favor for the Labor Party and will guarantee that a million of the Labor Party. He was sent as delegate from that ex-servicemen will know by November what democ- body. racy means.” “If Abe Lincoln were here today,” said Mr. Dun- can, “he would be in jail. A good American will take • • • • • all the chances that Abe Lincoln would if he were here. Let all the good people go to jail, not just a few of The second day of the Labor Party convention Buck: The 1920 Farmer-Labor Party Convention [July 11-14, 1920] 3 was marked by speeches from fraternal delegates, Frank • • • • • P. Walsh delivering the principal address of the after- noon. It was a day of suspense for the delegates who Mrs. Katherine McCullough of the national awaited with keen interest the report of the Confer- League of Women Voters presented the program of ence Committee of the Labor Party and the Commit- the women in a manner that captured the audience. tee of Forty-Eight. She asked that the convention embody in its platform Frank J. Esper, Secretary of the national Labor the things that the women were asking, including ad- Party, presented his report, which covered the activi- equate appropriation for the Children’s Bureau, pro- ties of the central office in Chicago since last Novem- hibition of child labor, federal aid for maternity and ber [1919]. According to Mr. Esper, 30,000 local infant care, federal aid for education, a federal appro- unions and central bodies in the United States have priation to eliminate social diseases, federal regulation been reached by Labor Party literature. Three states of marketing and food to prevent excess profits, and — Ohio, New York, and Illinois — have already cho- the citizenship of married women on an equal basis sen candidates for state offices on the Labor Party ticket. with men. John H. Walker is candidate for Governor of Illinois, H. Austin Simmons, Secretary of the Freedom E.L. Hitchens, of Cincinnati, is candidate for Gover- Foundation, spoke on amnesty for political prisoners. nor of Ohio. The office in New York has been left The question of amalgamation with the Com- open on account of a coalition candidate, Rose mittee of Forty-Eight was presented to the conven- Schneiderman, President of the Woman’s Trade Union tion Monday night by M. Toscan Bennett, chairman League of New York and an appointee of President of the Conference Committee which had been ap- Wilson to appear before the Peace Conference at Paris pointed to confer with a similar committee from the to represent the working women of America, has been Forty-Eighters.