3Jf F*2ff ?-H / FIFTH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE FARMER-LABOR PARTY OF ILLINOIS HELD AT DECATUR, ILLINOIS September 8 and 9, 1923 GIFFORD ERNEST, Secretary Headquarters: 166 West Washington Street CHICAGO, ILLINOIS FIFTH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE FARMER-LABOR PARTY OF ILLINOIS FIRST DAY—Morning Session Decatur, III., Sept. 8, 1923 The Fifth Annual Convention of the Farmer-Labor Party of Illinois was called to order at ten o’clock a. m., in Moose Hall, Decatur, on the above date, Frank A. Leven, State Chairman, presiding. Credentials Committee: The Chair ap¬ pointed the following Committee on Cre¬ dentials: Thos. G. McCabe, Batavia, Chairman George A. Irwin, Evanston J. J. McGuinn, Eldorado Julia Lordan, Centralia Harry E. Scheck, Chicago John H. Walker, Springfield Herb. Halls, Danville ADDRESSES OF WELCOME Elmer R. Elder, Mayor of Decatur, de¬ livered the address of welcome in behalf of the city. The following is an excerpt from his speech: I am glad to extend a welcome to con¬ ventions which meet here to centralize the convictions of men upon political (in the broader sense) and governmental ques¬ tions and problems. Decatur is closely associated with farm and labor interests and any measure de¬ signed to give to these two great classes of our population all that is rightfully theirs or improve their business and living condi¬ tions, should meet with the approval of all good citizens. Your party may do much to command the respect so essential to the accomplishment of the laudable purpose of helping to make this Government a Government of equal rep¬ resentation and of equal rights and privi¬ leges. When that is accomplished, your problems will have met their solution; and beyond that, neither your party nor any other party can hope to venture and endure. Decatur, therefore, extends her welcome in the firm confidence that what you say and do here will always be intended for the betterment of the conditions of mankind and the welfare of all elements of this great nation. James A. Henson, former State Sen¬ ator, Attorney for the Central Body of De¬ catur, and a member of the Bricklayers’ Union, was then introduced by the Chair¬ man and delivered an address of welcome on behalf of Organized Labor of Decatur. In part he said: I couldn’t say that you are welcome in De¬ catur. * * * You are welcome in Deca¬ tur to the man or the woman or the hu¬ man being who has a perspective of mind such as yourselves regarding the human family. To the Association of Commerce, you know you are not welcome; and to other organized business which adopts an arbi¬ trary policy of governing the human family, and usurp the function of government, you certainly are not welcome. Those people who live in this community who think as every individual should think, and believe in a democracy, certainly invite you to De¬ catur to remain, and you are perfectly wel¬ come. So my address of welcome will be limited to the kinds of people who will give you the liberty to think. The liberties which we formerly had have been abridged and denied. To" the injunction judges and such others, you are not welcome here. You are a despicable element to them, and theiy would prefer that you did not meet here. To the men and women who believe in law and order, to the man who believes in enforcement of the law, irrespective of so¬ cial status or social standing, you are wel¬ come. I might say to you that one thing struck me while looking at you, and I have ad¬ dressed a great many men and women in my time and have had an opportunity to observe. You don’t show the overfeeding that some bodies that I have addressed, show. But when I look into the faces of this type of citizenship it rather makes me feel glad that I have an opportunity of commingling with you—you are not so hand¬ some, you are not so overly dressed, but you look serious and I think that you are honest, and I hope that you have no ulterior motive in your mind with reference to any organization of the human family. You do not show, as men in other conventions which I have attended, that lurking, nervous, twitching eye of the delegates for the op¬ portunity to expound or orate upon the floor, to carry through some idea that had in it an ultimate charge of dynamite that would blow everybody else off the map, for them to obtain their selfish ends. I don’t seem to see that in the faces of the meeting here. Another pleasing think that struck me was that you are meeting in convention with men who want to organize for better con¬ ditions for the men on the farm, in the fac¬ tory and workshop. * * * I am not a member of the Farmer-Labor Party. I am one of those fighting, fault¬ finding, truth-saying Republicans. That don’t mean that the Republican Party owns me. * * * But I know they are wrong. They are making a lot of mistakes, and they are no better nor any worse than the Democratic Party. I don’t think either one is doing anything for the human family. * * * And I am disgusted with them and they are disgusted with themselves, excepting the of¬ fice holders. So it is necessary that some new party come up. And then the great economic problem arises. The Republican Party and the Demo¬ cratic Party have been so wise in inter¬ preting the constitution that they have de¬ nied to some people the right to live; they have misinterpreted and contorted the law until the employers can enjoin any one of you men but you can’t enjoin them. And in welcoming you here, while there are not so many delegates and you are a new party, I want you to know that I believe that in this community, in Lincoln County, and in the other counties, there are thousands of farmers who now know they have been fooled and lied to by somebody, and there are thousands of men in the "factory and shop who know that they are being fooled every day, and they are helpless about it. And if you can build a nucleus around which other men can go out to the polls and vote for better conditions, your party will suc¬ ceed. You come here because, from all of your studies and thoughts, you see the unequal application of the law in America, you see A> P f r ' 1 PROCEEDINGS OF FIFTH STATE CONVENTION OF THE FARMER-LABOR PARTY the unequal application of the taxes. For instance, I just read in the paper this morn¬ ing that this great light and power com¬ pany of Decatur only paid taxes on an es¬ timated value of $7,500.00. I am paying more taxes than that myself, and I am not wealthy. * * * You need some new party for that, because they have got the State’s Attorney, and the Attorney General, and they have the judges of the court and the board of review, and the tax assessors. There is an unequal application of the law, in the principle of taxation. There is an unequal ap¬ plication of injunctions. * * * That is what makes people think. It isn't fair. You are try¬ ing to alleviate the conditions, and I say to you that I think there are millions of people in America who feel the same way. My idea is that by an orderly, legally constituted porcess in politics w'e can change America’s policy so that the human right will remain for all time and be established higher than the dollar mark in America—we can have a party that will be the very symbol of de¬ mocracy in America. RESPONSE AND ADDRESS BY CHAIR¬ MAN LEVEN Chairman Leven responded to these ad¬ dresses. He said: We know that we have made progress in this state, and we know that we are making progress today. We can recall the big propo¬ sition that came before our convention in Rockford last year was the question of the defeat of the new constitution as proposed at that time for the State of Illinois. Through that convention last year we ap¬ pealed to our people to get on the job and defeat that proposed constitution, and we know without a question of a doubt that to a great extent we were responsible for the overwhelming defeat that was administered to it. At the same time we recognize and give due credit to the various other move¬ ments which assisted in bringing about this defeat. That is only one of the methods by which we have shown that in the State of Illinois we are making progress politically. We know that at this time a sentiment for in¬ dependent political action on the part of the producing class exists as it never existed be¬ fore in this state. We know that wherever we go, whether it be to the workers on the farms or the workers in the city, we find they are willing and eager to join in a movement that will bring about a political organization representing the views of the farm and city workers—the producing class of the state. It is only because we have been handicapped by lack of funds that we haven’t been able to make a greater showing. Our people don’t seem to have realized yet that it takes money to organize a state like this. * * * But I am satisfied that if the enthusiasm that is displayed in this convention today continues after the convention adjourns, the action taken at this meeting will renew the determination of the active men and woman throughout the state to bring about a work¬ ing class political party at the earliest pos¬ sible time. I believe that at this time the Farmer- Labor Party occupies a position in this state and in many other states that it has never occupied before. We find that we receive more favorable advances from those who up to this time have steered clear of the party. We find that the name “Farmer-Labor” takes hold of any audience which we might speak to. It is something they immediately be¬ come interested in. We find that even the parties that the bosses control, especially the Republican Party, in this state, in order to keep their control over the state offices, are attempting to steal practically everything that the Farmer-Labor Party has in its program and platform. And it again becomes our duty to remind the people in the State of Illi¬ nois that it is only another case of being fooled if they follow those advances. They have practically adopted and now stand on a platform that is like the platform of the Farmer-Labor Party—they have taken every¬ thing but the name (and that name is now placed in a position where it can’t be stolen). But outside of that, the Republican Party to¬ day, when going out before the producing class, attempts to claim that they stand for the same thing that the working class po¬ litical party has stood for ever since it was organized. I don’t think our people will be led into following a program of that kind. * * * I think that we have learned from past experience that the promises and cam¬ paign pledges of the old parties amount to little, and the only thing we can do in this convention is to plan to keep on building, in order that at a not far distant date we will be able to come out as a real political party in the State of Illinois. In my opin¬ ion, it is the only solution for the Farmer- Labor Party. We haven’t time to bother with the politicians and opposing political oarties—we have a program set for us which I am satisfied will be renewed in this con¬ vention. And I am satisfied that this con¬ vention will unanimously vote to go through with that program until we finally get to the place which we intended to reach when we first organized the Farmer-Labor Party of Illinois. We have had during the last year a na¬ tional conference of the political parties of the working class, so-called, and the outcome of that convention is one of the things that I believe is responsible for the increased prestige of the Farmer-Labor Party at the present time. At that conference the Farmer- Labor Party again defied the attempts that were made to swing it from the path it has always followed—the path of evolution rather than revolution. A motion was made and unanimously car ried to give a rising vote of thanks of the convention to Mr. Henson and to extend to him a mark of appreciation and an invita¬ tion to become a member of the Farmer- Labor Party, where he rightfully belongs. An amendment was offered that we include Mayor Elder, which was accepted as part of the original motion. CALL The call for the Convention was read by Secretary Ernest, as follows: CALL FOR FIFTH CONVENTION OF THE FARMER-LABOR PARTY OF ILLINOIS AT DECATURE, ILLINOIS, (MOOS HALL), Greetings: The Fifth State Convention of the Farmer- Labor Party of Illinois will convene at De¬ catur at a time when the producers have good reasons for encouragement. The wide¬ spread growth of co-operation of wage work¬ ers and farmers in every field of activity where economic and political interests are involved is manifest. The success attend¬ ing the FARMER-LABOR MOVEMENT is phenomenal, and OUR PARTY HAS A REC¬ ORD FOR HONESTY WITH THE UNION MOVEMENT AND THE PROMISE OF A GREAT FUTURE. The Farmer-Labor Party is the only work¬ ers’ political party in Illinois which admits the unions into affiliation with it and takes no part in questions which belong distinctly SEPTEMBER 8 and 9, 1923. to the unions, and seeks no control of or¬ ganized labor. Nor does it attempt in any way to dictate its policies and choose its leaders. The Farmer-Labor Party is an American political movement with which Labor can function on the political field without fear of having the party meddle in its union affairs. It has no connection with any national or international movement which would make it impractical or unwise for Labor to function with it. Labor organi¬ zations are invited to send delegates to its conventions and conferences who are in ac¬ cord with the purposes and policy of the Party. Practically all economic issues have their political reflections. The economic condi¬ tions resulting from the control of industry B I > n i* M ■ • - ft PROCEEDINGS OF FIFTH STATE CONVENTION OF THE FARMER-LABOR PARTY and government by organized capital have resulted in such political victories by the producers as the election of SENATOR FRA¬ ZIER (Nonpartisan League, North Dakota), SENATOR SHIPSTEAD (Farmer-Labor Party, Minn.); GOVERNOR Walton (Farmer-Labor Reconstruction League, Okla.); and, last week, SENATOR MAGNUS JOHNSON (Far¬ mer-Labor Party, Minn.). In Illinois, to the State Federation of Labor belongs the credit for defeating last fall the proposed new state constitution. These victories illustrate what can and is being done by united inde¬ pendent political action by farmers and wage workers The abuse of capital s economic power is made intolerable by capital’s con¬ trol of the government. Lately the sweeping injunction against the railroad shopcrafts has been made permanent, and this chal¬ lenges the intelligence and spirit of the hosts of organized labor. MINNESOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, OKLAHOMA, HAVE AN¬ SWERED THIS CHALLENGE! HOW WILL ILLINOIS ANSWER? THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE GIVE BACK TO THOSE WHO SHOULD POSSESS IT—THE PEOPLE! When electing delegates to the State^ Fed¬ eration of Labor convention, CREDENTIAL THEM TO REPRESENT YOUR ORGANIZA¬ TION AT THE FARMER-LABOR PARTY CONVENTION, and thus save the expense of sending additional delegates. The basis of representation is as follows: Each county and local Farmer-Labor Party organization —One Delegate and one additional delegate for each 100 members or fraction thereof. Each local union, district council, central body, co-operative society and farmer or¬ ganization—One delegate and one additional delegate for each 250 members or fraction thereof. Your organization is requested to send $5.00 as early as possible to the state office for each delegate, to defray the expenses of the convention. While this is only a re¬ quest, your compliance this year is earnestly urged on account of the necessity for funds with which to carry on the increasing Party activities. Everything possible will be done to work in co-operation with the organized labor, farmer and co-operative movements of the state. DON’T FAIL TO HAVE YOUR OR¬ GANIZATION REPRESENTED AT THE DE¬ CATUR CONVENTION! FRANK A. LEVEN, Danville, Chairman. GIFFORD ERNEST, Sec.-Treas. Headquarters: 166 West Washington St., Chicago, Ill. Motion made and carried that the call be adopted as read and recorded in the min¬ utes. The chair appointed Delegate Ben F. Fer¬ ris as Sergeant-at-Arms of the convention. Brother Ferris, on account of his recent illness, declined. The chair then appointed Charles F. Wills. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES The chair announced the appointment of the following committees: Committee On Constitution: Theodore Bis- ser, Quincy; Dr. H. L. Green, Quincy; Ger¬ trude Fitzgerald, Chicago; Lewis Wade, Dan¬ ville; Miss Emma Wienecke, Rockford. Committee On Rules and Order: James W. Short, East St. Louis; Anthony Koselke, Lansing; Thos. Polston, Chicago; Charles F. Redman, Chicago; Josephine M. Lovreglio, Oh icago. Committee On Organization: Robert Wil¬ son, Centralia; Madge Argo, Joliet; Wm. Tracy, Lansing; James M. Cahill, Chicago; Thomas Cameron, Belleville; S. D. Wham, Cartter; E. Menard, Chicago. Committee On Resolutions: Wm. A. Lewis, Rockford; A. * D. Sullens, Benton; Jay G. Brown, Chicago; Bert Gray, Collinsville; Dan Lamothe, Blue Island; Wm. E. Rodriguez, Chicago; Ruby H. Ernest, Chicago. Committee On Finance: David A. McVey, Chicago; I. L. Truax, Westville; Wm. E. Col- trin, Centralia; Dora Nordboe, Chicago; Charles F. Wills, Chicago; J. E. Gill, Dan¬ ville; Ardell Patterson, Murphysboro. Committee On Election: Charles Hayman, Chicago; Mrs. P. J. Carlson, Rock Island; H. A. Cox, Benton; T. J. Curry, Chicago; Jennie W. Buck, Chicago. Committee On Officers’ Reports: McElroy Trout, Johnston City; H. W. Olinger, Odin; Robert M. Buck, Chicago; Adelaide Bieser, Centralia; John G. Clay, Chicago; John F. Leheney, Chicago; George W. Whitehead, Chicago. Motion made and carried that the appoint¬ ments be concurred in. Secretary Ernest advised that he had heard from two members of the State Ex¬ ecutive Committee—John E. Fenwick, of Mount Olive, and J. T. Lloyd, of Coulter- ville, expressing regret at their inability to be present at the convention and also their best wishes for its success. The chair then announced that the follow¬ ing committee had been appointed as a Re¬ ception Committee for Senator Shipstead and to make arrangements for the meeting: Frank A. Leven, Danville, Chairman; Wm. E. Rodriguez, Chicago; John Fitzpatrick, Chicago; John H. Walker, Springfield; Madge Argo, Joliet; E. N. Nockels, Chicago; Marian Fuller, Chicago; A. D. Sullens, Benton; Ro¬ bert M. Buck, Chicago; Dora Nordboe, Chi¬ cago; D. A. McVey, Chicago; Ruby H. Ernest. Chicago; Arthur Olson, Chicago; Glenn Camp¬ bell, Chicago; Sam Finkel, Chicago; Wm. E. Coltrin, Centralia; Thomas Cameron, Belle¬ ville; J. J. McGuinn, Eldorado; Mrs. P. J. Carlson, Rock Island; Ed McChrystal, Gilles¬ pie; Julia Lordan, Centralia; John F. Le¬ heney, Chicago; Martha Wollenschlager, Chi¬ cago; James Cahill, Chicago; H. C. Dorne- man, Bloomington; R. G. Williams, Decatur. Motion made and carried that the appoint¬ ment of this committee be confirmed. Delegate Leheney moved that the conven¬ tion recess for thirty minutes, to give the Credentials Committee an opportunity to report. Carried. Upon reconvening, Delegate Irwin made a partial report for the Credentials Com¬ mittee. Motion made and carried that it be accepted as progress and that the dele¬ gates be seated. (Full report of committee will be inserted later.) Motion made and carried that we stand adjourned until 1:30 o’clock p. m. FIRST DAY—Afternoon Session Chairman Leven called the meeting to order, and the Credentials Committee pre¬ sented its final report. Motion made and carried that the report be received and the delegates seated. The complete report of the committee follows: BRICK AND CLAY WORKERS District Council No. 1, Cook County and vicinity—Wm. Roulo, Wm. Tracy, John H. Walker. District Council No. 2 (Central and South¬ ern Illinois)—N. J. Rogers, Streator. Local No. 1, Chicago—James McGraham, Oscar Erhardt. Local No. 2 , Lansing—Anthony H. Ko¬ selke, John Reed, Charles H. Lange and Barney Caserio. Local No. 3, Blue Island—Dan Lamonthe, A. Beedy, T. Cunningham and Wm. Revoir, Local No. 49, Chicago—Geo. A. Irwin. Local No. 116, Danville—-Cloyd H. George, Harry Hartman, Lewis Wade and Leo George. Local No. 214, Manteno—Walter Renwick. 4 PROCEEDINGS OF FIFTH STATE CONVENTION OF THE FARMER-LABOR PARTY Local No. 261, Roanoke—John Bacquet, Jr. Local No. 321, St. Elmo—John H. Peterson. BUILDING TRADES Aurora—P. J. Hickey. CARPENTERS Local No. 183, Peoria—V. W. Storry. Local No. 360, Galesburg—Chas. Benson. Local No. 644, Pekin—A. B. Shacklette. Local No. 742 1 , Decatur—Joe Ousting. Local No. 792, Rockford—Wm. A. Lewis. Local No. 1367, Chicago—Frank H. Kuch- enbecker, Brother Kmilek. CENTRAL BODIES Belleville Trades Council—W. T. Christo¬ pher. Benton Trades Council—Henry A. Cox. Bloomington Trades and Labor Assembly —H. C. Dornemann. Centralia Trades and Labor Assembly—Ju¬ lia Lordan, Wm. E. Coltrin. Chicago Federation of Labor—W. S. Deuel, Geo. H. Plowright, Arthur Olsen and J. J. Uhlmann. Collinsville Trades Council—Bert Gray. Danville Trades and Labor Council—Frank A. Levin, John E. Gill, R. R. Barger. Herrin Trades Council—G. W. Piatt, J. W. Ford. Joliet Trades and Labor Council—Mrs. Madge Argo. Lake County Central Labor Union, Wauke¬ gan—P. W. Slack. La Salle Trades Council—Chas. Bennett. Quincy Trades and Labor Assembly—Theo¬ dore Bisser. Peoria Trades and Labor Assembly—Harry A. Wickert. Rtockford Central Labor Union—-Art. C. Johnson. Springfield Federation of Labor—John F. Gaffigan. Westville Central Labor Union — Herbert Halls. FARMER-LABOR PARTY BRANCHES Adams County Branch, Quincy—Dr. H. L. Green. Marion County Branch, Sandoval—S. D. Wham, Cartter; H. W. Olinger, Odin. Rock Island Branch—Mrs. P. J. Carlson. Staunton Branch—John H. Sturm. Cook County Branch, Chicago — Glenn Campbell, Robert M. Buck, Dora Nordboe. CHICAGO 1st Ward—Tim Spain 4th Ward—E. N. Nockels 5th Ward—Lewis P. Hill 6th Ward—J. G. Brown 8th Ward—Gifford Ernest 9th Ward—George W. Whitehead 12th Ward-—Thos. J. Curry 15th Ward—Hattie Hayman 19th Ward—E. F. Cook 20th Ward—John F. Leheney 21st W'ard—David Bosgraaf 22nd Ward—Ruby H. Ernest 23rd Ward—Harry E. Scheck 26th Ward—Marian Fuller 28th Ward—Josephine M. Lovreglio 29th Ward—Adrian Vanderpoel 30th Ward—Charles Hayman 31st Ward—Eulalia Burke 34th Ward—Martha Wollenschlager 36th Ward—Edward McChrystal 37th Ward—Jennie W. Buck 39th Ward—Mabel McVey 40th Ward—Sam Finkel ENVELOPE MAKERS Local No. 16073, Centralia—Adelaide Bieser. FOUNDRY EMPLOYES Local No. 38, Belleville—Paul Schwesig. Local No. 7, Belleville—Thomas Cameron, Henry Dawson. GARMENT WORKERS Local No. 64, necke. Rockford—Miss LATHERS Emma Wie- Local No. 74, Chicago—David McVey, Ed¬ ward Menard, Ben F. Ferris. MACHINISTS Lodge No. 134, Chicago—Chas. F. Wills. MINE WORKERS Local No. 52, Centralia — Forest Devor, Mike Lordan. Local No. 91. Johnston City—Matt Rosetti. Local No. 125, Mount Olive—Curt Truetz- schler. ,, Local No. 264, Collinsville—Philip Rreider. Local No. 303. Orient—Robert Gault, J. T. Lucas, Frank Waite, Joe Caumient. Jack Roberts. „ Local No. 473, La Salle—Chas. Bennett. Local No. 493, Nokomis—Geo. Mehochko. Local 517, Tovey—Wm. Gorton, Joe Shears, Harry Roberts. Local No. 621, Sandoval—Thos. Snodgrass. Local No. 685, Collinsville, Robert Berto- lero Local No. 711, Johifston City—McElroy Trout. Local No. 715, Odin—Pearl Tadlock. Local No. 728, Mt. Olive—Chas. Hagen. Local No. 798. Harrisburg—Joe Holden. Local No. 826. Collinsville—A. A. Mrovka. Local No. 1356, Georgetown—Earl Attan. Local No. 1397, Centralia—Alex Reese, Sr., Alex Reese, Jr., Robert Wilson. Local No. 1426, Johnston City—Ed Thome. Local No. 1440, Taylor Springs—A. M. Cor- razza. Local No. 1782, Royalton—Perry Powers. George Dilbeck. Local No. 1795, Herrin—A. A. Avitts. Local No. 1865, Eldorado—J. J. McGuinn. Local No. 1959. Benton—A. 1). Sullens. Local No. 2219, Gillespie—Sam Stewart, Andrew Easton. Local No. 2621. Herrin—Frank Owens. Local No. 26*56. Livingston—Geo. Saka- loskv, Robt. Windisch, Jr. Local No. 2657, West Frankfort—William Winstead. Demnsev Ward, L. Freeman. Jr. Local No. 2679, Hillsboro—Steele Leake. Local No. 3160, Sesser—Ross White, D. J. Kelley. Local No. 3192. Johnston City—J. R. Woods. Local No. 3543, Benton—G. R. Price, C. C. Beaty, C. T. Ruemmler. Local No. 3703, Dowell—Wm. O’Brien, Gil¬ bert Roger. Local No. 3761, Pana—Fred Fggerman. Local No. 4049, South Standard—Owen Mc- Whinnie. Local No. 4280, West Frankfort—John Zim- belman, Lee America Ezra. Local No. 4821, Belleville — Jacob Bohll- mann. Loral No. 5509, Westville—H. M. Rucker, Ed Hembrey. MOLDERS Local No. 182, Belleville—Ed Wolter, A1 Towers. PAINTERS Local No. 180, Chicago—Thos. G. McCabe, Geo. Heh. Geo. Sfeoe. John Graham, Louis Swets. Wm. E. Rodriguez. Local No. 184. Chicago—H. Rittman, Ed J. Rvan, Chas. F. Redman. Local No. 194. Chicago—Geo. M. Hanson. Tom Lee. Alfred Rasmussen, C. A. Lund, A. C. Anderson. Local No. 2*88. Decatur—Monroe Strohl. Local No. 4 48, Aurora—John N. W'agner, John F. Renner. Local No. 787, Johnston City—W. F. Pitt¬ man. Local No. 505, Streator—Fred P. Schroeder. PRINTING PRESSMEN Local No. 3. Chicago—Harry McNerney, .Tav Horgan, W. Thos. Polston, Scott Mar- riner, James Cahill. RAILWAY CARMEN Lodge No. 646, East St. Louis—James W. Short. RETAIL CLERKS Local No. 1130, Herrin—Charles Grace. TEAMSTERS Laundrv Drivers Local No. 712, Chicago— John G. Clay, Frank A. Theis. TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION Local No. 16, Chicago—D. J. Fitzgerald. Sam Riley, Peoria—(No organization given) FRATER NAL DELEGATES Central Labor Union, Gary, Ind.—F. H. De¬ trick. Farmer-Labor Party of Indiana—Carl Mul¬ len. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RULES AND ORDER OF BUSINESS Report was made by Delegate Koselke. Motion made and carried to adopt report. Report follows: 5 PROCEEDINGS OF FIFTH STATE CONVENTION OF THE FARMER-LABOR PARTY Rule 1. The convention shall be called to order at 9 a. m., and remain in session until 12:30 p. m., and convene at 1:30 p. m., and remain in session until 5 p. m„ and that a night session be held Saturday night, Sep¬ tember 8th, at 7 p. m., and continue until such time as adjourned. Rule 2. Robert’s rules shall be the guide on all matters not herein provided. Rule 3. Speeches shall be limited to five minutes, but the time of speaking may be extended by majority vote of the convention. No delegate shall speak twice on any one subject until all other delegates who desire have spoken unless given permission by con¬ vention. The committee recommends that this rule be strictly observed. Rule 4. All resolutions to be submitted to the convention shall be in the hands of the Resolutions Committee prior to 5 o’clock p. m., September 8th. Rule 5. All addresses to the convention that shall be made during its sessions shall be confined in time to not exceed 30 min¬ utes, except by majority vote of the conven¬ tion. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS The nominations for election of officers to be made Saturday, September 8th, at 4:30 p. m., and election to take place Sunday, September 9th, at 11 o’clock a. m. REGULAR ORDER OF BUSINESS 1. Reading minutes of previous session will be dispensed with unless called for. 2. Report of Committee on Credentials. 3. Report of officers. 4. Report of regular committees. 5. Report of special committees. 6. Unfinished business. 7. New business. 8. Adjournment. (Signed) JAMES W. SHORT, Chairman. ANTHONY H. KOSELKE, Secretary. JOSEPHINE MARIE LOVREGLIO. THOS. POLSTON. CHAS. F. REDMAN. The secretary presented the matter of the proceedings of the convention, request¬ ing action by the delegates. Motion made that we have the proceedings printed. Amendment offered that a collection be taken to print the proceedings. Delegates Wills, Leheney, Olinger, Cahill and Olsen spoke on the motion, which, when put, car¬ ried unanimously. The chair appointed Delegates Madge Argo, Adelaide Bieser, Eulalia Burke and Ruby Ernest, to take up a collection, which they immediately pro¬ ceeded to do. (Note: The collection amounted to $126.92.) Secretary Ernest then read his report, as follows: SECRETARY’S REPORT TO THE DELEGATES OF THE FIFTH STATE CONVENTION OF THE FARMER- LABOR PARTY OF ILLINOIS. Brother Chairman and Delegates: The Fifth State Convention of the Party convenes at a time when more political eyes are directed Farmer-Laborward, for one purpose and another, than at any time since the inception of the movement. Some look approvingly and hopefully; others doubtfully or inimically. The Party has friendships to cultivate, fears to dispel and antagonisms with which to contend. Since the National Convention of 1920, when the name of the Labor Party wms changed to the Farmer-Labor Party, the two main contributing groups, agricultural and industrial workers, have forced to the front recognition of INDEPENDENT POLITICAL ACTION, to secure consideration of their economic needs, in a just, practical and legal manner. The American people, and more particularly the farmers and industrial work¬ ers, turn naturally and instinctively to po¬ litical action for relief from unnecessary and preventable evils, and even for the so¬ lution of their economic problems. No matter how ineffective poliitcal action may have been proved to be heretofore, in securing justice for the producers, the fact remains that our national past has been one of struggle for political freedom, equal¬ ity and democracy. The struggle to attain political democracy developed a strong faith by and through which other great struggles for freedom would be won. That political democracy constituted a means with which all other ends, including economic freedom and industrial democracy, could be secured is a conviction held by the vast majority of the American people. . Because of this widespread sentiment of American confidence in political action, the economic organization of the American farm¬ ers and industrial workers is perhaps made more difficult than otherwise would be the case if they had not become habituated to depend upon the ballot, without having used their franchise discriminatingly. Disillusionment that progress through po¬ litical action alone, and without economic organization on the part of the farmers and workers, is a slow process. The develop¬ ment of industry and resultant changes in the economic order, under private ownership of the natural resources and means of pro¬ duction for profit, have brought about a growing realization that POLITICAL DE¬ MOCRACY WITHOUT INDUSTRIAL DEMOC¬ RACY IS AN EMPTY TERM. This recogni¬ tion is beginning to penetrate the conscious¬ ness of our people, and they are demanding industrial concessions from the state. The collective mind of the producing masses in this country is still for the most part in the mold cast by our forefathers, which, based upon the conception of legal equality for all, would make the state spon¬ sor for and recorder of definite advancements for the common good. The state irs accepted as a social instrument. Only a movement to lift to higher levels the national standard of welfare and security will appeal to the American people as a whole. The national conception of justice and fair play must find expression. It will in the Farmer-Labor Party movement or the movement will miss its mark A great body of the producers as yet see no relationship between their own economic circumstances and the industrial arrange¬ ment of the present system with its state and national control. That the inequalities, disorder and discord result from unsympa¬ thetic misrule and mismanagement has not occurred to the people generally. In a population like ours, where class and caste lines cannot be drawn arbitrarily, and where group proposals and accomplishments reflect themselves for good or evil, in im¬ proved conditions for some and lowered standards for others, it is natural to feel that the arbitrament of the state, as the na¬ tional expression to which the common wel¬ fare is committed, be final. So we find a great majority of the people believing that political action is the only means through which changes should be attempted. For this conception, no defense is offered. It is only recognized as one of the outstanding facts in American national life. Many yet feel that the economic ills can be cured through political action alone, expressed through either or both of the old parties. These old parties, instead of condemning the cause of the ills of society, champion the present method of operating as well as own¬ ing industry. The old party directors do not recognize our economic disorder as the effect of a deepseated disease in the eco¬ nomic system. They diagnose and treat symptoms, as the a41opath school of physi¬ cians accuse the homeopath school of doing. They disregard, or discount, the causes from which these spring. With them, the prop¬ erty rights of individuals and corporations rise superior to every human claim and right. Our science of pathology has advanced, and so also our science of medicine has pro¬ duced a change in our therapeutics. So in the study of production, consumption and the service related to these two functions of society, we learn that fundamental eco¬ nomic disorders and grievances are inher¬ ent in our industrial and political system, as now controlled and operated. We have a veritable plague growing out of the prac- 6 PROCEEDINGS OF FIFTH STATE CONVENTION OF THE FARMER-LABOR PARTY tice of an unethical and uneconomic thera¬ peutics. „ .... . “Farmer-Labor” as a name for a political party of producers has overcome the preju¬ dice against its use, both within and with¬ out the Party’s ranks. It is now a name coveted by practically all progressive po¬ litical parties, and by the office seekers and fractions of the old parties seeking political capital and prestige through the use of shibboleths, rather than by sincerely advo¬ cating those fundamental principles for which the Farmer-Labor Party stands. The name is no longer awkward, if at one time it may have seemed so. Since the campaign of 1920, the name of the Farmer-Labor Party is one with which to conjure. The Farmer-Labor Party does not propose some new form of government or change of the state structure, so much as it stands for the recognition, as a political party, of the fact that progress must come through the working out of a program which will develop as the producers organize in de¬ fense of their interests. The recognition of the economic organizations of the farm¬ ers and city workers as the foundation for the structure which a real democracy will build is, in itself, disapproval of the capital¬ istic state as now managed. Just what form of government or nature of state the farm and city workers will evolve as they organize their economic power for action in conjunction with their po¬ litical power (since the workers as citizens are habituated to political action), isn’t de¬ termined. It is easier, because of the ideol¬ ogy of the workers to secure political ac¬ tion than economic action, even though po¬ litical action may be less effective. Without greater economic organization on the part of the farmers and wage workers, or pro¬ ducers, resort to political action must be had in order to secure remedial legislation and prevent legislation inimical to labor’s economic interests and also secure proper executive and judicial action. Labor fears politics for the reason that the economic power of labor has been and is menaced always by the political state. There is nothing that endangers progress, indus¬ trial and social democracy, as much as the paternalism of the capitalistic or socialistic state. The course that Labor must take politically will be determined by that which experience proves to best secure and con¬ serve labor’s economic freedom. Ideologically, the Farmer-Labor Party is located between standpat nonpartisanship and impossible utopianism. It may, indeed, be to the left of nonpartisanship for pro¬ gressive political action, but it has not yet moved east to the adoption of a program of dictatorship. Between the two extremes, the right and the left, the producers of America stand almost solidly. They are re¬ alizing more and more the necessity for in¬ dependent political action as a means of grappling with immediate and pressing prob¬ lems. Standing with them, being with the herd if you prefer it that way, the Farmer- Labor Party is in sympathy with them We. are not of the right nor of the left. Right and left are determined in relation to the average opinion and consciousness, as rep¬ resented by the Farmer-Labor Party. Re¬ action is to the right of us and impossibilism I s J-° Ideologically, the Farmer- Labor Party represents the producers of the United States. It is neither to the right nor the left. It holds the center. Time will prove this to be correct, and that time is not far in the future. Welding together the farmers and wage workers into a practical political movement has proceeded and progressed faster and farther in some states than in Illinois. There is no doubt, however, that the success at¬ tained in other states affects our prospects for greater growth. The stimulus given the movement by its success elsewhere is reflected and registered all about us. Are we of the rank and file, are you as leaders, big enough for our job? Have we sufficient creative ability and loyalty to seize the opportunity which is provided? We talk of “rank and file” organization, the need of one and the hope in one. So be it, but I observe the fate of a rank and file move¬ ment, whether without leaders or with an incapable or unprincipled leadership. In either case, the fate of the flock, the herd, or rank and file, is at the mercy of the wolves, whether these wolves be pretenders within or despoilers without. We, of the rank and file, need leadership with creative ability, energy and integrity, whether all of us want it or not. We need trained leadership. Our economic and edu¬ cational organizations are our training schools through which the rank and file pass —some into leadership. We have a name and the beginnings of an organization, together with an impreg¬ nable position politically and economically. Capitalizing these depends on whether we have leaders able to do it. Membership on the various committees of the party organi¬ zation is to some extent a test. The secre¬ tary ought to be a political dynamo, but alone and unaided he can do little. As secretary of the party for the past two and a half years, my conduct has been based on the following conceptions, as well as on that which has been previously stated in this report: . , 1. The Farmer-Labor Party is a citizen movement, which proposes to employ the po¬ litical power of the farmers, and laborers, in conjunction with the political support of such other elements as may be induced to join forces with it. 2. The organized labor movement is a contributing element which seeks to influ¬ ence this political movement without intend¬ ing to dominate it. 3. This is a political organization that in¬ terests itself with immediately pressing problems, and in which the internal affairs of economic groupings have no right or place. 4. This movement is primarily one which seeks to relate essential productive factors to the national life and secure for them the recognition to which their importance entitles them. It takes cognizance of and will* endeavor to advance the interests of every group, organized and unorganized, rural and urban. Uncompromising adherence to this policy has brought me into conflict with persons who dominate, or who aspire to dominate, the movement. Information relative to the plans and pro¬ gram to be followed by delegates of the Farmer-Labor Party to the National Conven¬ tion held July 3rd was not available. There¬ fore, in order that the Farmer-Labor Party delegates might be prepared to intelligently function in the Party’s behalf, and for the purposes of presenting a Party front with¬ out division, if possible, the Cook County Branch (after holding a special conference for the purpose of discussing the plans and, purposes and program of the National Con¬ vention) requested that the state Party call a conference of delegates of the Illinois Party who were to attend the National Con¬ vention, for the purpose of defining their policies and outlining plans to be pursued in the national convention, and to invite the delegates from other state Farmer-Labor Party groups to participate. The State Secretary called such a confer¬ ence. This was held Monday evening, July 2nd, in Chicago. State Chairman Frank A. Leven presided. Mr. Leven stated the pur¬ pose of the meeting and called upon mem- ■ bers of the National Committee who were present to give us information on organiza¬ tion details of the convention to be held be¬ ginning July 3rd. Robert M. Buck, a member '-of the National Executive Committee, read the following, which, it was stated, covered the action of the National Committee at its meeting that afternoon: “The Farmer-Labor Party is the proper vehicle for united independent political ac¬ tion by the working class. The time is even more ripe for development of a party by, for and of city and rural workers than when our party was organized four years ago. Therefore an active campaign should be made for affiliation of unions and farmer groups directly with our party and, at the conference, such organizations should be urged to join with our movement on such terms as may be capable of development. With national political parties the situa¬ tion is somewhat different. It seems obvious that they cannot, not because of any limi¬ tation by the Farmer-Labor Party, but in the nature of their own structure' and pur¬ poses, affiliate with the Farmer-Labor Party on the same basis as can unions, farm or¬ ganizations and political parties of local or only state-wide character. Moreover, since two of the working class political parties, namely the Socialist Party and the Socialist Labor Party, have elected not to participate in the conference, it would 1 7 PROCEEDINGS OF FIFTH STATE CONVENTION OF THE FARMER-LABOR PARTY seem to be the part of wisdom, before com¬ ing" to a definite agreement, to make further efforts to get these parties to agree to a plan of federation before final action is tcikcn Therefore it might be suggested to the conference that it consider whether the Farmer-Labor Party is the proper agency for such a federation of parties, as well as economic organizations and, if so, that the conference make such a declaration and re¬ quest each party represented to appoint a committee to engage at once in efforts to bring about meetings with like committees from parties not represented, in the hope that all working class parties may be brought into a general federation in the near future, at least sufficiently early to admit of united action in the 1924 national campaign.” The course followed in the organization and conduct of the convention was directly opposite to the plan the caucus called by the Illinois Party had been informed by the National Committee would be followed. When it became apparent that the leadership of the convention had passed out of the hands of the Farmer-Labor Party of the United States, a caucus of Illinois delegates was called, to which those representing the Illi¬ nois Party and delegates from affiliated un¬ ions were entitled to a voice and vote. Pro¬ vision was made for visitors to sit in the room, but without voice or vote. The caucus adopted a motion which em¬ powered a committee to draft a resolution, which was later adopted by the caucus, in¬ structing the Farmer-Labor Party of Illi-t nois, unless the National Committee acted, to call upon all other national and state groups represented in the conference to join, with it for the purpose of reorganizing the national Farmer-Labor Party along lines consistent with our priciples and the funda¬ mental basis of a truly constructive political party of the producers, that is: political and industrial democracy. A committee consisting of Wm. E. Rod¬ riguez. John Fitzpatrick. Gifford Ernest, Lil¬ lian Herstein and Madge Argo, was ap¬ pointed, to secure mutual action with like committees of other groups in harmony with the Party’s principles, such as the Progres¬ sive Party of Idaho, Nebraska, Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party, and the Wisconsin Nonpartisan League. This committee was authorized to get in touch with the National Committee and re¬ quest them to set a time certain for a Na¬ tional Convention of the Farmer-Labor Party in which none but representatives of the Farmer-Labor Party organizations and other organizations affiliated with the Party should sit, and that, in case the National Farmer-Labor Party officers did not set a time to call a convention, the committee was authorized to represent the Farmer-Labor Party in calling the convention. A convention of the Farmer-Labor Party was secured by the above action, with the result that the National Convention termi¬ nated as it did, when the gesture made to unite divergent political groups gave birth to one additional group. (It begins to look as if the surest way to increase the num¬ ber of working class political groups is to try to unite them.) The action taken by the Illinois Branch of the Party has met with the approval of practically all, except, of course, those who set out to capture the Party’s name, its prestige, and its record of honest dealing with the labor movement. Those who were disappointed over the outcome of the July convention have since been bent upon at¬ tacking and destroying both the Party and those whom they could not attach to their new movement, born of the abortion by a Caesarean operation. They attack only those who stood and stand in the way of the thing which would have destroyed the Party’s rec¬ ord of fair dealing with the labor move¬ ment. Now that, happily, as a result of the re¬ cent national conference, a definite line of demarcation has been established between the Farmer-Labor Party and those “revolu¬ tionary” elements who would proceed upon the principle that “might makes right,” the liberty loving, law-abiding farmer who has been so grievously exploited, can fully re¬ alize that the Farmer-Labor Party is the only available vehicle by which he can travel over the highway of orderly, constitutional processes to the goal of economic better¬ ment. On the one hand, he knows there is no hope for ihm in either of the old par¬ ties, and on the other, he has hesitated to align himself with any group of whose sturdy patriotism he has had an inkling of doubt. Exhibited, as he has been, by Big Business through the old parties, he yet has felt a repugnance to joining any movement that held the slightest taint or suspicion of the methods of Red Revolution. The July conference has removed the Farmer-Labor Party definitely and finally from any such suspicion, and he now knows that he can join consistently in our move¬ ment to wrest from the predatory interests control of our lawmaking, law-construing and law-enforcing machinery, without vio¬ lence or destruction, and without overturn¬ ing those established American institutions which he and generations before him have held in reverence. The need of the movement, then, is organi¬ zation. We should send among the farmers men who know the farmers’ problems, men who realize that, were the farmer to reckon production costs by the methods of Big Business, were he to make suitable allow¬ ances for adequate salary for himself, for overhead, depreciation, rent, interest, taxes, and all the modern “cost” devices by which the business interests boost their prices, he would be losing money every day, and that his losses would increase with the acreage he tilled. At the same time, the men we choose for this work should be men with the trade union viewpoint, who will be able to disa¬ buse the minds of many farmers of those prejudices against the organized workers so carefully and persistently inculcated by the subsidized commercial press. In other words, we need men who know and feel the real community of interest that exists between the citv worker and the tiller of the soil. To this end, I suggest the method of or¬ ganization so successfully carried on by the Nonnartisan League. It might be sug¬ gested, in opposition to this, that the Non¬ partisan League has been only temporarily successful, but this is due to the fact that its olan of procedure after organization was fundamentally unsound. It required those who joined it to pose as members of polit¬ ical parties whose antecedents, whose na¬ tional platforms, whose principles and prac¬ tices, were repugnant to them. They were required to act as members of one of the old parties in one state or one city and of the other party in another locality. They were required, virtually, to be Democrat's today and Republicans tomorrow; while the Farmer-Labor Party offers them a political home of their own. With the farmers organized, we need have no fear of those city workers who yet re¬ main aloof from our movement. All that has retarded them has been a lingering doubt of the possibility of success. The knowledge that the farmer is ready to join hands with the industrial worker will give them new courage born of consciousness of power. Knowing that they, also, have no means of relief from intolerable conditions except through our program, they will join us en masse, and the political and economic prog¬ ress of the producers will go forward with greater impetus. I, therefore, suggest that the State Ex¬ ecutive Committee be given instructions im¬ mediately to secure organizers and inaugu¬ rate an organizing campaign throughout the state, and that a financial agent, with nec¬ essary assistants, be appointed for every county in the state, to secure funds for or¬ ganizing purposes by personal solicitation, and by appeals to individuals, local unions, and other organizations, all assistants to re¬ port to the countv agent and he to report to the state office, the details to be worked out and the work performed under direction of the State Executive Committee. I have information that many farmers and city workers who. in the past, have endeav¬ ored to secure redress of grievances through the old parties now are abandoning that pol¬ icy and are more than ready to sro along with our movement. Results in Minnesota have demonstrated what militant action by those exploited elements, acting co-opera¬ tively, can accomplish. A few years ago these two elements were practically hostile groups, through lack of a medium through which a common understanding might be reached. Each was indifferent to and even at times opposed to measures for the relief of the other. This resulted from mutual prejudices engendered by the commercial in- 1 8 PROCEEDINGS OF FIFTH STATE CONVENTION OF THE FARMER-LABOR PARTY terests through the subsidized press. But no sooner had there been provided a com¬ mon meeting ground than they met and reached a common understanding, and the fatal prejudices which for so many years had kept them apart were swept away. In Minnesota they elected two members of the United States Senate and became the domi¬ nant party of the state. With the results already noted in Minne¬ sota, with the other states already organ¬ ized or now in process of organization, and with Illinois organized as it should be and can and shall be, we will have the political nucleus of a national movement that quickly will become the dominant political factor in the United States. In view of the fact that next year there is to be held a general state and national election. I recommend that this body go on record for a special nominating convention to be held at a time set by this convention or that the Executive Committee be author¬ ized to call such a convention at a time to be determined upon by the committee. The next regular convention would come just previous to the holding of the State Fed¬ eration of Labor Convention, which would be too late for participating in the campaign for the state ticket. In order that there may be in readiness a platform for consideration by this nomi¬ nating convention, I further recommend a standing Platform Committee, instructed to organize itself, each member of the com¬ mittee to cover some stated phase of the platform, if this is deemed desirable and practical. I further recommend that this convention take special action on the matter of pro¬ viding the Party with adequate financial support. To this end. I suggest that the Executive Committee be instructed to ap¬ point either from its membership, or other¬ wise, a committee on Finance, the work of which will not terminate until the close of the term for which they will be elected here. Such a committee should be made responsible for supplying the Party with funds more adequate to its needs. It is evident that an executive officer of the Party cannot do con¬ structive work without the co-operation of the Party in providing ways and means for activities. The duties of the Finance Com¬ mittee should be entirely and only that of providing funds for the treasury. Owing to the fact that our nosition on the ballot is to be secured by independent peti¬ tion in the campaign of 1924, and to pro¬ tect our party name from being pilfered, by order of the Executive Committee, I had the party incorporated as a corporation not for profit. In making preparation and plans for this convention, I asked for suggestions and as¬ sistance on the part of the Executive Com¬ mittee. In addition thereto, I have given diligent and careful attention to preparing for a convention of merit and great interest. T take great pleasure in the fact that the Farmer-Labor Party of Illinois is to have the honor of entertaining the first United States Senator elected on the Farmer-Labor Party ticket—Henrik Shipstead, who will be our guest and convention orator at a massmeeting to be held Sunday in this city. After many attempts by many other groups to secure Senator Shipstead, I feel person¬ ally gratified in having been able to present to you the fruits of my effort in bringing him to our great state. I trust that every delegate here will make it his and her pleas¬ urable duty to assist in the making of the mass meeting to be held tomorrow a great success and a step toward the ultimate po- litical triumph of the Farmer-Labor Partv of Illinois. Aside from the many victories won in lo- cai spring elections, in townships, towns and cities, in Illinois, one of the greatest vie- tones which our Party helped to win, was tne defeat of the proposed new state con¬ stitution at the special election held last fall, on December 12th. It isn’t too much to say that the Parmer-Labor Partv started the campaign which lead to the rejection of the proposed constitution. This was done by the party waging an energetic campaign for the election of delegates to the Constitu¬ tional Convention on a platform, the princi- w £j ch were the argument used in defeating the draft when it was submitted to the voters. The educational effect of our state-wide campaign in the fall of 1919 was such as to bring about, through the leader¬ ship of the Illinois State Federation of La¬ bor, a campaign last fall which effectively defeated the interests which, in the recent session of the Illinois legislature, caused the producers of our state so much worry and trouble in the presentation of bills which consumed the energy and time of our citi¬ zenship, in securing their defeat. The News Letter of the State Federation of Labor of June 23, 1923, states that scarcely a bill of any consequence was discussed in the Illinois Legislature without devoting most of the argument to the consideration of what interpretation some judge might place upon the language of the bill in case it should be passed, or whether the courts might or might not declare it to be invalid. It is evident that the greater portion of our time, energy and money is being spent to secure the defeat of proposed legislation inimical to labor’s interests instead of constructive legislation in the interests of our common welfare. The problem of legislation, the News Letter further states, is becoming in¬ creasingly difficult because the will of the people may no longer be fully expressed through the regular legislative body. We have to get our satisfaction through the dangerous bills we defeat, rather than through the bills enacted. How long will the farmers and wage workers of Illinois pursue this negative, expensive and inef¬ fective course? What is being done in other states, can and MUST BE DONE in this state. The development of confidence, the laying of plans, the drafting of programs, is work for this convention, to the end that Illinois join the ranks with Minnesota and other states 'where independent political movements have attained the position of second party with strong prospects of being the dominant party in the next campaign. A strong national movement is necessary to give virility, hope and victory, by combining or co-ordinating the activities of the various state movements in a national campaign. (Signed) GIFFORD ERNEST, Secretary-Treasurer. Delegate Polston moved that the report of the secretary be turned over to the Com¬ mittee on Officers’ Reports, that committee to work in conjunction with the Commit¬ tee on Organization. Seconded. Amendment offered and seconded, and accepted as part of the original motion, that the Committee on Officers’ Reports be in¬ structed to retire immediately. Motion car¬ ried. Delegate Leheney asked the chair for an interpretation of the motion and the chair ruled that the committee would first re¬ port to the convention, making such recom¬ mendations as it deemed necessary and re¬ ferring portions to Committee on Organiza¬ tion, etc. REPORT OF AUDITING COMMITTEE Report of Auditing Committee was read by Delegate James Cahill, as follows: Dele¬ gate Bisser moved that the report be ac¬ cepted and made part of the record. Sec¬ onded and carried. Accounts Outstanding as of September 1, 1023: Jacobson Printing Co.$ 90.25 Tom Tippett . 170.00 Federated Press . 25.00 George Wiley . 7.40 Wm. E. Rodriguez . 22.66 Gertrude Fitzgerald . 19.42 Joseph A. Rogers. 15.00 George McNeely . 2.80 Frank J. Esper. 84.55 Gifford Ernest (salary account). 160.00 Gifford Ernest (money advanced for postage for convention call). 32\00 Gifford Ernest (money advanced for traveling expenses for organizer).. 40.00 McGregor Paper Co. 6.19 Gifford Ernest (account previously cancelled)—in campaign for 1920— $89.00. 9 PROCEEDINGS OF FIFTH STATE CONVENTION OF THE FARMER-LABOR PARTY REPORT OF AUDITING COMMITTEE (For period from October 1, 1922, to and in¬ cluding- August 31, 1923.) Receipts: Donations .$ 224.15 Per Capita Tax. 1,597.79 Dues Books and Stamps. 171.60 Traveling Expenses . 213.84 Convention Fees . 320.00 Miscellaneous . 249.85 Pledges . 170.00 Literature and Buttons. 49.00 $2,996.23 Expenditures: Salaries .$1,771.07 Postage and Petty Cash. 85.92 Rent, Office Expenses & Supplies 236.34 Printing and Literature. 218.25 Dues Books and Stamps. 44.78 Traveling Expenses . 264.78 Per Capita Tax. 104.96 Miscellaneous . 254.46 $2,980.56 Recapitulation: Balance on hand October 1, 1922.$ 62.35 Receipts from October 1, 1922, to and including August 31, 1923. 2,996.23 $3,058.58 > Disbursements from October 1, 1922\ to and including August 31, 1923 .$2,980.56 Balance on hand September 1, 1923 . 78.02 $3,058.58 Audited and found correct, Tuesday, Sept. 4 1923 FRANK A. THEIS. JAMES M. CAHILL. GEO. W. WHITEHEAD. REPORT OF ELECTION COMMITTEE ON RULES Delegate Hayman presented report of the Election Committee on Rules, which was adopted as read. The report follows: We hereby wish to recommend the follow¬ ing rules governing the nominations and election: Sec. 1—That nominations take place on the afternoon of the first ddy’s session (Sep¬ tember 8th). Sec. 2—That after nominations are closed they cannot be reopened, except by a ma¬ jority vote of the convention. Sec. 3—Election to be held on the morning of the second day’s session. Any changes or additions to be subject to the delegates. (Signed) CHAS. HAYMAN, MRS. P. J. CARLSON, H. A. COX, JENNIE W. BUCK. While waiting for reports of committees and for the time for nominations for officers to arrive, Delegate S. D. Wham, a “dirt” farmer from Cartter, Illinois, gave a short address, which was greatly enjoyed by all the delegates. NOMINATIONS FOR PARTY OFFICERS The time for nominations having arrived, the Secretary read section of constitution regarding election of officers. The chair then called for nominations for STATE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Wills placed in nomination the name of Frank A. Leven, incumbent, Danville. Delegates Polston and Rodriguez seconded the nomi¬ nation. No further names being presented, nominations were declared closed. NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Delegate Leheney placed in nomination the name of John Fitzpatrick, Chicago. Delegate Wills placed in nomination the name of Mrs. Dora Nordboe, Chicago. Delegate McElroy Trout nominated Ruby Huber Ernest, Chicago, whose nomination was seconded by Delegate Olinger. There being no further nominations, nom¬ inations were declared closed. STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: The following were nominated for membership on the State Executive Committee: Charles F. Wills. Chicago. Jacob Bollman, Belleville. W. Thos. Polston. Chicago. Arthur Olsen, Chicago. Robert M. Buck, Chicago. James M. Cahill, Chicago. Charles Hagen, Mount Olive. A. D. Sullens. Benton. David A. McVey, Chicago. Wm. E. Rodriguez, Chicago. Dora Nordboe, Chicago. Madge Argo, Joliet. Thos. G. McCabe, Chicago. Mrs. P. J. Carlson, Rock Island. S. D. Wham, Cartter. Eulalia E. Burke, Chicago. Wm. Tracy, Lansing. J. W. Ford, Herrin. Gertrude Fitzgerald, Chicago. Julia Lordan, Centralia. McElroy Trout, Johnston City. Otis Clark, Herrin. Marian Fuller, Chicago. Adelaide Bieser, Centralia. J. T. Lloyd, Coulterville. Bert Gray, Collinsville. James W. Short, East St. Louis. J. J. Uhlmann, Chicago. Josephine M. Lovreglio, Chicago. Alex. Reese, Sr., Central City. Tim Spain, Chicago. Theodore Bisser of Quincy and Frank Theis of Chicago were also nominated but declined. There being no further names presented, nominations were declared closed. AUDITING COMMITTEE. The following were placed in nomination for Auditing Committee: James Cahill, Chicago. Lewis P. Hill, Chicago. Frank A. Theis, Chicago. Anthony Koselke, Lansing. Glenn Campbell, Chicago. W. Thos. Polston, Chicago. A. M. Corazza, Taylor Springs. C. T. Reummler, Benton. Hattie Hayman, Chicago. Fred Pittman, Johnston City. There being no further nominations, nom¬ inations were declared closed. At 5 o’clock p. m. the convention ad¬ journed, to reconvene at 7 o’clock. FIRST DAY—Evening Session Chairman Leven called the convention to order, and a supplemental report of the Credentials Committee was read and ac¬ cepted. Thomas Kelly, Vice-President of the Illi¬ nois State Federation of Labor, addressed the convention on the matter of the un¬ organized condition of the barber shops in Decatur and asked the delegates to patron¬ ize only union barber shops. He also told of the “open shop” fight at Streator. Delegate Brown moved that a collection be taken up for the benefit of the men on strike in Streator, to be turned over to Victor A. Olander, Secretary of the Illinois State Federation of Labor. Seconded and carried. (Note: This collection amounted to $77.27.) Thos. G. McCabe, of Painters’ Union No. 180, addressed the convention in behalf of Theodore J. Vind, of South Chicago, who was framed on during the steel strike in 10 PROCEEDINGS OF FIFTH STATE CONVENTION OF THE FARMER-LABOR PARTY 1919. Delegate McCabe's address intensi¬ fied the feeling in behalf of Brother Vind. Delegate Piatt of Herrin spoke on the union label, and the Herrin situation. Delegate Madge Argo, of Joliet, told of the effort to organize the hotel and restaur¬ ant employes of Decatur. She deplored the fact that a labor convention should have been held in Decatur while there are so many trades yet unorganized. Motion made and carried that the mass meeting to be held for Senator Shipstead be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. The convention then adjourned to meet the following morning at nine o’clock. SECOND DAY—Morning Session Convention called to order by Chairman Leven. Delegate Buck, of Chicago, asked for the floor on a question of personal privilege to reply to a newspaper story that appeared in the Decatur Herald, which he claimed contained misrepresentations which justi¬ fied taking the time of the convention on a question of personal privilege. After Delegate Buck had spoken for some time, Delegate Ernest raised a point of order on the ground that the question of personal privilege to answer a newspaper article was an infringement on the rights and time of the convention. The chair ruled that the point of order raised by Delegate Ernest was not well taken, for the reason that Delegate Buck arose to this question of personal privilege and explained it, and that in justice to him or anyone else who had been mentioned in any lies of this nature, he should be given the privilege of the floor. Delegate Buck then continued. Delegate Ernest again raised the same point of order and insisted that Delegate Buck had not the right to take the time of the conven¬ tion to answer a newspaper story and tell the story of the National Convention. He appealed from the previous decision of the chair. Delegate Wills raised a point of order that Delegate Ernest was taking his time to further assail Brother Buck. The chair ruled that the delegates should make their remarks as brief as possible, but that Dele¬ gate Ernest was within his rights, having raised the point of order. Vice-Chairman Wm. Tracy took the chair during the appeal. Brother Leven then ex¬ plained his ruling. Vote was taken on the appeal, which re¬ sulted as follows: Forty-nine to sustain the chair; 67 to overrule the chair. Vice- Chairman Tracy then ruled that the point of order of Delegate Ernest was well taken. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS Report was made by Delegate Wm. A. Lewis, and each resolution taken up seri¬ atim: RESOLUTION No. 1—Submitted by Dele¬ gates Josephine M. Lovreglio, Hattie Hay- man and Jennie W. Buck: WHEREAS, our economic system is pro¬ ductive of grave and serious results as it af¬ fects the womanhood and childhood of our country; and WHEREAS, the women of the United States are aroused now as never before be¬ cause of the Supreme Court decision de¬ claring the Child Labor Law invalid, the minimum wage law, the concerted attack upon the Women’s Bureau, the recent de¬ feat of the Women’s eight-hour bill in Illi¬ nois; and WHEREAS, a great struggle in the gar¬ ment industry, in which so many women are employed, is going on against one of the most vicious injunctions ever issued; land WHEREAS, there are twelve million wo¬ men in industry in the United States, most of whom have received little or no education in economic and political matters and are being exploited; therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Farmer-Labor Party 'declare its sympathy with, and wholehearted support of them in the struggle for them¬ selves and our childhood; and agree to do all in our power to assist in changing the deplorable conditions in which they must live and work; and pledge our co-operation /in organizing them economically and polit¬ ically to the end that emancipation of the 'womanhood and childhood of our land be accomplished. Committee recommended concurrence. Motion made and carried that the resolu¬ tion be adopted. Resolution no. 2 —Submitted by l. b. Strayer: WHEREAS, it seems that the time has come when our business organizations should be reorganized; therefore, be it RESOLVED, that there shall be no employ¬ ers or employees, but partners only. Committee recommended that it be re¬ ferred to the incoming executive committee for consideration. Committee’s recommen¬ dation adopted. RESOLUTION No. 3a—Submitted by Delegates H. L. Green and Theodore Bisser: RESOLVED, To ask the Illinois State Fed¬ eration of Labor to pass a resolution de¬ manding of Mr. John H. Walker, its presi¬ dent, a denial or retraction of the published statements concerning him by or as of the Republican Governor Small at the Kankakee convention, August 15, 1923, and in the event of him doing neither to demand his resigna¬ tion from the presidency of the Illinois State Federation of Labor. RESOLUTION No. 3b—Submitted by Dele¬ gate H. L. Green: RESOLVED, The position of John H. Walker, President of the Illinois State Fed¬ eration of Labor, being made ambiguous and uncertain by the publication of the Repub¬ licans of Illinois, assembled in convention at the City of Kankakee on the 15th day of August, .1923, motion is hereby made that Mr. John H. Walker be requested to clear this subject matter in a statement to this convention now assembled, and the same to be made public as widely as was that of Kankakee. Committee recommended nonconcurrence, for the reason that it is contrary to the policy of the Farmer-Labor Party to inter¬ fere with or question any activity of a trade unionist acting in an official capacity. Moreover, this question properly comes within the province of the Illinois State Federation of Labor. Delegate Tracy made a powerful speech against the adoption of the resolutions, in which he said that Mr. Walker had been in Streator to help out the brick and clay workers there, and that if the party “got” Walker they would be “getting” the brick and clay workers as well. Delegates Hill. Hartmann and Lewis also spoke in favor of the committee’s report. Motion made and carried that the report be adopted. / 11 PROCEEDINGS OF FIFTH STATE CONVENTION OF THE FARMER-LABOR PARTY RESOLUTION No. 4—Submitted by Dele¬ gate H. L. Green: RESOLVED. To start at a definite time to get a recorded expression from as many delegates as may wish to give their opinion on our Party name, giving one minute only by the watch and a gavel rap to each, those not speaking being recorded by their si¬ lence as giving preferential consent to the present name, Farmer-Labor Party. Committee recommended non-concurrence. Recommendation adopted. PLATFORM AND PREAMBLE—Submit¬ ted by Delegate H. L. Green in accordance with instructions from the Adams County Branch. Committee recommended that this be referred to Executive Committee and, in case of or when a platform committee is appointed, it be referred to that committee. Committee’s recommendation adopted. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON OFFICERS’ REPORTS Report was made by Delegate McElroy Trout, as follows: “The Committee on Officers’ Reports. Com¬ mitteeman Buck dissenting, concurs in the Secretary’s report, and instructs its chair¬ man to so report to the convention, to¬ gether with such reference to other con¬ vention committees as was made by the committee. (Signed) JOHN F. LEHENEY. Sec. McELROY TROUT. Pres. ADELAIDE BTESER, GEO. W. WHITEHEAD, H. W. OLINGER. The committee referred the following part of the Secretary’s Report to the Committee on Organization: With the farmers organized, we need have no fear of those city workers who vet re¬ main aloof from our movement. All that has retarded them has been a lingering doubt of the possibility of success. The knowl¬ edge that the farmer is ready to join hands with the industrial worker will give them new courage born of consciousness of power. Knowing that they, also, have no means of relief from intolerable conditions except through our program, they will join us en masse, and the political and economic prog¬ ress of the producers will go forward with greater impetus. I. therefore, suggest that the State Execu¬ tive Committee be given instructions im¬ mediately to secure organizers and inaugu¬ rate an organizing campaign throughout the state, and that a financial agent, with neces¬ sary assistants, be appointed for or by every county in the state, to secure funds for or¬ ganizing purposes by personal solicitation and by appeals to individuals, local unions, and other organizations, all assistants to report to the countv agpnt and he to report to the state office, the details to he worked out and the work performed under direc¬ tion of the State Executive Committee. The committee recommended that the fol¬ lowing sections be referred to the incoming State Executive Committee: In view of the fact that next year thore is to be held a general state and national election. I recommend that this body go on record for a special nominating convention to be held at a time set by this convention or that the Executive Committee be author¬ ized to call such a convention at a time to be determined upon by the committee. The next regular convention would come just previous to the holding of the State Fed¬ eration of Labor Convention, which would be too late for participating in the campaign for the state ticket. In order that there may be in readiness a platform for consideration by this nominat¬ ing convention a platform, I further recom¬ mend a standing Platform Committee, in¬ structed to organize itself, each member of the committee to cover some stated phase of the platform, if this is deemed desirable and practical.” The committee further recommended that the following section on finance be referred to the Committee on Finance: I further recommend that this convention take special action on the matter of provid¬ ing the Party with adequate financial sup¬ port. To this end, I suggest that the Execu¬ tive Committee be instructed to appoint either from its membership, or otherwise, a committee on Finance, the work of which will not terminate until the close of the term for which they will be elected here. Such a committee should be made respon¬ sible for supplying the Party with funds more adequate to its needs. It is evident that an executive officer of the Party can¬ not do constructive work without the co¬ operation of the Party in providing ways and means for activities. The duties of the Fi¬ nance Committee should be entirely and only that of providing funds for the treasury. Delegate Trout then moved to adopt the report of the committee. Seconded. Delegate Buck stated that he wishes to present a minority report as follows: I recommend that these sections of the Secretary’s report accusing unnamed persons of attempting to dominate and criticising the National Convention be stricken from the re¬ port. He then moved that the minority report of the committee be adopted. Delegate Rodriguez moved the following as an amendment to the majority report of the Committee, as an addition: WHEREAS, Recent events, with especial reference to the victories of the Farmer- Labor Party of Minnesota, have given re¬ newed hope and encouragement to the La¬ bor, Liberal and Progressive forces through¬ out the United States; therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the incoming State Executive Committee be authorized and di¬ rected to take such measures and action as it deems necessary to co-ordinate and to bring about the co-operation of the various state Farmer and Labor groups, with a view to the advancement of the National Farmer- Labor Party, and with especial reference to the Presidential Campaign of 1924. The motion was seconded. Delegate Buck spoke at length in favor of his minority report, and discussed the national convention. The chair ruled that, in line with a decision of the chair earlier in the session, he could not allow discussion of the national convention to proceed. Delegate Leheney appealed from the de¬ cision of the chair on the ground that he disagreed with the chair’s interpretation of the ruling which had been made previously, since the ruling made in the morning was on a question of personal privilege. Dele¬ gates Brown and Rodriguez spoke in favor of the appeal. Delegate Rodriguez stated that the only way in which the matter of the minority report could be discussed, also the matters and things which are involved as indicated by the report and by the re¬ marks, would be by discussing the national convention. Vice-Chairman Tracy took the chair, and, upon vote, the decision of the chairman was not sustained. Motion made and carried that the rules relative to time for holding election of officers be suspended, and that the election take place at 12:30 o’clock. Delegate Buck then continued the debate. Delegate Rodriguez moved that on this question the rules regarding time limit of speakers be suspended, but that no speaker shall be permitted to speak longer than fifteen minutes, also that Delegate Buck’s time be terminated in the next five minutes since he had already spoken more than fif¬ teen minutes. Motion carried. Delegate Buck shortly concluded his re¬ marks. Delegate Cahill spoke in opposition to the minority report and in favor of the majority report and amendment. 12 PROCEEDINGS OF FIFTH STATE CONVENTION OF THE FARMER-LABOR PARTY Delegate Wills spoke in favor of the minority report and against the majority report and amendment. Delegate Leheney spoke in favor of the majority report and amendment and in op¬ position to the minority report. Delegate McCabe spoke on the question, and the July Convention. Delegate Rodriguez moved that the rules be suspended and that the time for discus¬ sion of this matter be continued for forty- five minutes. Seconded. Delegate Chris¬ topher moved an amendment that the mat¬ ter be laid over until seven o’clock that eve¬ ning, inasmuch as the meeting for Senator Shipstead was to be held at 2:30 o’clock. An amendment to the amendment was of¬ fered that the election of officers be post¬ poned until after the discussion on the mat¬ ter before the house is finished. Seconded. The motion and amendments were carried. Delegate Rodriguez then took the floor and spoke in opposition to the minority re¬ port and in favor of the majority report and his amendment. Delegate Brown spoke in opposition to the majority report and the amendment and in favor of the minority report. Motion made, seconded and carried to ad¬ journ until seven o’clock. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9—Afternoon Session Meeting was called to order in the High School building, at 2:30 o’clock, Chairman Frank A. Leven presiding. Chairman Leven introduced Delegate H. W. Olinger, of Odin, who spoke briefly but wittily in announcing a collection to defray the expenses of the meeting arranged to hear United States Senator Henrik Ship- stead of Minnesota. Collection was taken, totaling $76.54. Chairman Leven then introduced Senator Shipstead, who spoke in part as follows: I want to assure you, ladies and gentle¬ men, that it is a pleasure for me to come down from Minnesota to be with you for a little while this afternoon, to see so many of the people of Illinois gathered from all parts of the state for the purpose for which you are gathered, and I want to assure you, men and women, that I do not come here with any idea that I can tell you anything new. I possibly thought I could give you a little word of cheer, bring you a little bit of a message from Minnesota, to try and tell you of the things that we have tried to do in Minnesota, and the reason for it, the forces that made it necessary for us to do something and how we tried in our way to best meet those forces. When I look upon this audience I feel as though I were facing a Minnesota audience. You look like my own people. There is a difference in this audience that I notice, however. Minnesota audiences are composed of about fifty per cent of women. I have always claimed that a man could not accom¬ plish very much, nor a group of men, unless there is a good woman back of him. And I want to tell you, men, if you are going to accomplish anything, if you are going to turn America back to the original pur¬ pose for which the American government was founded, I don’t think you will go very f °r unless you have the women help you. They say that life is one constant change from one thing to another aird that inertia and stagnation are a sign of death. We have had some change in Minnesota, in va¬ rious ways, and I want to tell vou about the change we have had. A good many years ago meetings of this kind were held as this meeting is, by about ninety-nine per cent men and one per cent women and if you had come to a meeting in those days the chances are that you would have seen about a hundred men and possibly two or three women, the wives of some of those men, and as the men would gather in the front part of the hall to listen to what- ever might be the business of the meeting these two or three women would meet in the back part and a conversation something hke this would take place: “Yes, Mary I’ll tell you how to do it. You take so much hour, and so much sugar, and so many eggs. . I cannot recall an accurate recipe but that was the substance of the convex- sation. Now, that has all been changed Last winter we had a convention in Minne¬ apolis of the Women Voters’ League and wom 6 pn W fn e tif a i there A al ? OXJt °ne thousand women in that auditorium, and with that thousand women came two or three men, and as the women gathered for the purpose of transacting their business, these two or three men gathered in the back of the hall. A friend of mine, curious to learn what they were talking about, went back there and heard this conversation: “Yes, Jim, I’ll tell you how to do it. You take some raisins and some sugar and some yeast. * * *” And so you see, my friends, that there has been a change. Minnesota is one of the great states of the Union. We have there the raw materials —the iron mines. It is the center of the milling industry of the United States—you might almost say of the world, because it is the “breadbasket” of the world. And all of these industries have built up a political machine. That machine is bi-partisan. The control of the machinery of both political parties is in its hands, and the men and women who produce the wealth of this coun¬ try were so exploited by that machine that the people of Minnesota arose, as our fore¬ fathers did in 1776, in order to obtain po¬ litical power. The economic organizations of both the farmers and city workers were good but, after a good many years of suf¬ fering, we discovered that by political power the control of finances and of transportation —control of the economic life of the people'— had been given to those who were using it for the purpose of taking from the pro¬ ducers of wealth more than their share of the produce of the producers’ toil. The farm¬ ers and city workers learned they were both producers and were in the same boat, and combined their efforts for the purpose of securing political power. I want to go into some of the reasons for the action that was taken in Minnesota. I don’t think these reasons are peculiar to Minnesota—they apply all over the United States. It is the old, old struggle between capital and the producers of weath. That struggle over the division or disposition of the products of the producers’ toil is a very old struggle. It has been, however, very much intensified, due to the tremendous ex¬ penses of the war, the tremendous debt in¬ curred, and, as capital pays no taxes as such it necessarily follows that the producers of wealth must either produce more or they have got to get along with a little bit less. The Senator here demonstrated the propo¬ sition that capital, as such, pays no taxes— that all taxes, of every kind, ultimately are passed on to the consumer. A lot of people at first began to sav that the political problems of the farmers and laborers and economic problems were so en¬ tirely different that the two could have noth- ing* in common, because the laborer wants to buy as cheaply as he can and the farmer wants to sell for as high a price as he can. «ut the people of Minnesota have overcome that idea—the farmers and the working peo¬ ple believe that they are both producers of wealth. And the very interesting thing about it is that the small banker and small business man now are realizing that they are becoming dispossessed of their prop¬ erty, and they have joined hands with the farmer and the working man of the citv to secure redress through joint political action m °X. emen u t ha ^ had a lons - steady growth. There have been certain things hap- 13 PROCEEDINGS OF FIFTH STATE CONVENTION OF THE FARMER-LABOR PARTY pen that brought it about—those who ex¬ ploited the people have helped the movement much more than those who were exploited. In order that the new movement can give better service to society it should be made to function for the people. Unless it can do that, there is no cause for its existence, and then it will die, as it ought to die. If it is for the purpose of office-seeking, then it will die as any organization ought to die. Issues are becoming more and more para¬ mount before the people, and the old par- ties are not meeting those issues, and they are not giving an answer to the people. This economic power that was given to those who control the money and credits of this nation by Congress—I want to show how thev got that power, and what they used it for, and what has been the effect on the people of America; and then I want to dis¬ cuss that other power that has been used particularly against labor—the abuse of the injunction power of the courts—in order that I can show you the necessity for political action. The Senator here, referring to the great change that came all over the United States after the signing of the armistice, told of the propaganda sent out by the Federal Re¬ serve Board, by placards in the post offices and railroad stations of the country, by ar¬ ticles in the newspapers, all telling the same story—all advising farmers and industrial¬ ists alike to extend credits and borrow money. They told the manufacturer that the world would have to come here for fifteen or twenty years to buy goods and they encouraged him to ex¬ tend his credit and go into debt in order that the world should be supplied. Then, when the order went out to call in the loans, inonev became very scarce, and the only thing he could do was to dump everything on the market in order to pay at least part of the debt he had been encouraged to incur. And then we had that terrific panic, which started the farmers of the United States on that slippery road down to bank¬ ruptcy. And how did it hit the merchant? He had been encouraged to go into debt and pile up wares on his shelves, and when the agri¬ cultural market broke the merchant couldn’t sell, and he couldn’t pay the bank, and that put him and the small town banker in the same boat "with the farmers; and when the retailer could not pay the wholesaler, the wholesaler found himself in the same boat as the farmer, and the small town banker, and so he could not pay the manufacturer, and the manufacturer had to close his factory, and this threw millions of people into the streets. And so the working people of Amer¬ ica were thrown out of work. Every branch of industry in the United States was affected. How do we know who did that? We have testimony to the effect that the order did go out from the Federal Reserve Board. In 1920 I made the charge that this was an ar¬ tificial panic, brought about by the use of the Federal Reserve Board, and I gave the reasons. Senator Shipstead here gave the reasons —how Wall Street “gambled at the bank of international politics and lost” how “Wall Street used the Federal Reserve Board as a man would use a gun against another man, for the purpose of taking away his prop¬ erty.” He said, “Money lost in a European gamble by Wall Street, which loaned $10,- 000,000,000 after the war, caused the de¬ liberate planning of the greatest money panic the world has seen. The Federal Reserve Board used the very power that had been created to prevent panics in order to create an artificial one and rob the American people of billions of dollars.” Describing the tremendous, deliberately planned calamity that threatened the farm¬ ers of an entire nation with bankruptcy, the Senator continued: They said that the reason for the fall in the agricultural market was because there was no foreign demand, that Europe could not buy anything, and we were not export¬ ing anything. The year the wheat market broke we were told there was no export market. That year we shipped out over three hundred million bushels—a larger amount than we had exported before. In 1923 we exported three times more wheat than in any previous year. Senator Shipstead then read the following figures covering the pre-war year and 1923: Lbs. Wheat—Pre-war year . 3,000,000,000 Last year . 9,000,000,000 Wheat flour—Pre-war year. 2,000,000,000 Last year . 2,900,000,000 Corn—Pre-war year . 2,000,000,000 Last year . 5,000,000,000 16 chief farm products— Pre-war year . 9,000,000,000 Fiscal year 1923.25,000,000.000 showing that we are exporting more now than we ever did before the war, and this propaganda that there is no market is not true, but the American farmer is not getting the benefit of it. He then declared that the power of the Federal Reserve Board must be abolished— that the people of Minnesota are determined that it shall be done away with. Going into the question of injunctions in labor disputes, the speaker told of their his¬ tory and of their origin in a day when the King ruled “by divine right,” and therefore “could do no wrong.” It was one of the privileges as well as duties of the king to settle, disputes between individuals and since he ruled by divine right and could do no wrong, there was no appeal from his decrees. In time, however, the King became so occupied with wild boar hunting and similar demands upon his time that he found it necessary to appoint a Chancellor to render decisions in such disputes, and the Chancellor, acting and rendering his decisions in the name of the King, became known as the “Keeper of the King’s Con¬ science.” As time passed, and more and more disputes arose it became necessary to appoint more and more Chancellors, more “Keepers of the King’s Conscience,” who rendered their decisions in the name of the King, who could do no wrong, and hence there could be no appeal from their de¬ cisions. From this practice arose the courts of equity of the United States, which, how¬ ever, usually confined themselves to the legitimate purposes of courts of equity until 1898, when the first injunction decree was issued in a labor dispute. From that time this abuse of power has grown until courts issue decrees prohibiting all manner of activities of working people in their strug¬ gle for better conditions, all arbitrary rul¬ ings, all demonstrations of autocratic power assumed by one man over other men, and all based on the historic fiction that the King—in our own time, the courts—“can do no wrong.” “One of the most necessary things in America today,” the Senator con¬ cluded, “is to enact necessary legislation to curb the power of courts of equity to issue injunctions. The use or abuse of this power by courts of equity is government by autocrats and not by law. “They say that a man can think best on an empty stomach. There were a good many empty stomachs after the Avar, and so we learned something:, and we learned that those who were in control of the govern¬ ment used it to further aid and help special privilege collect the wealth produced by the producers and concentrate it all the time in few'er and fewer hands. And we learned that we had to get control of the government to eliminate special privilege. “If a new movement is going to liberate the American people, it must have the spirit found among the people of Minnesota. I have seen women in Minnesota—mothers with babes in their arms—acting as chair- 14 PROCEEDINGS OF FIFTH STATE CONVENTION OF THE FARMER-LABOR PARTY men of meetings. At one meeting, the wo¬ man acting as chairman had a sick baby, and she held it in her arms, walking back and forth on the platform to sooth it as she presided over the meeting. “We think we are facing a crisis in Amer¬ ica, and so the producers in Minnesota have come together for the purpose of taking po¬ litical action. “Anyone who has studied a little bit can¬ not help but feel that Europe is going down. Europe is paying the price for its past crimes. Nations, like individuals, always pay for their mistakes. The thing for us in America is to see to it that we do not per¬ mit any more crimes than we can finally pay for, in order that we shall not have to pay with our national life. That, I think- is the spirit of the Farmer-Labor Party movement of Minnesota. I have tried to SECOND DAY give it to you hurriedly. There are very many phases of it, but I have tried to give you this afternoon the spirit of the people of Minnesota, and their determination. They are using the instrument that is called the ballot, bequeathed to us by our forefathers. We can vote to change the government if we see fit to do so. That is what we have started out to do in Minnesota, and I take it that that is what you intend to do here—to restore the government to the people, that America can carry out its historic mission. And if we do not care to do that, we cannot blame any one but ourselves. We hope the Minnesota movement may be of service to America, and I do not think it is vain to hope that it may be an inspiration to the people in other states whose hearts beat with that wonderful spirit which has come into the faces and eyes of the people of Minnesota in the last three or four years.” -Evening Session Called to order by Chairman Leven. Secretary Ernest took the floor and spoke on his report. The previous question was moved and car¬ ried. The question fell on the motion to substi¬ tute the minority for the majority report and the adoption of the minority report. The motion was lost. Vote was taken on the amendment to the majority report offered by Delegate Rodri¬ guez. Amendment carried. Vote was then had on the majority re¬ port as amended, which resulted in its being adopted. REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE Report was made by Delegate McVey, as follows: Your committee recommends that we put organizers in the weaker sections of the state for the purpose of establishing branch organizations of the state party on the cent per month per capita basis as recommended by the Rockford Convention; organizers to be selected by the State Executive Board and must be members in good standing of the Farmer-Labor Party. We further recommend that a monthly pledge card covering a period of one year shall be prepared for presentation to the delegates and others in sympathy with the purposes of our movement, said money to finance organization work as outlined in this resolution. We further recommend a standing commit¬ tee on finance to serve from convention to convention. (Signed) D. A. McVEY, Chicago, CHAS. F. WILLS, Chicago, EMMA WIENECKE, Rockford, JOHN E. GILL, Danville, DORA NORDBOE, Chicago, J. W. FORD, Herrin, ARDELL PATTERSON, Sec., Murpheesboro. Delegate Wills of this committee stated that it had been decided by his committee to report the following verbally: That, due to the fact that we have a very fair representation of Labor, and this con¬ vention seems to indicate that the move¬ ment is interested in building up the Farmer-Labor Party, the committee believes that this would be a very opportune time to get a number of those present who have as yet not become members to join the Farmer- Labor Party. We have membership cards, and we ask the delegates that are here today to stay with the party, not only for today and tonight, but tomorrow and the rest of next week, and that you will come back next year Farmer-Labor Party people, just as you are representing your organiza¬ tion here today. Motion made and carried that the report be adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES The chair then stated that we would pro¬ ceed with the election of officers and com¬ mittees. Mrs. Dora Nordboe stated that she de¬ clined the nomination as candidate for Na¬ tional Committeewoman. Motion was made and carried that, inas¬ much as there was but one candidate for State Chairman, Frank A. Leven be elected by acclamation and the secretary instructed to cast the unanimous ballot of the conven¬ tion for him. Motion was made and carried that the secretary be instructed to cast the unani¬ mous ballot of the convention for John Fitzpatrick and Ruby Huber Ernest, as members of the National Committee for the ensuing two years. The convention then proceeded to elect a State Executive Committee, to be composed of fifteen members, and a State Auditing Committee of three members. Blank ballots were distributed, and the chairman read the names of all nominees twice. Alex. Reese, Sr., Central City, withdrew his name as a candidate for State Executive Committee, and the name of Otis Clark, Herrin, was withdrawn, inasmuch as he was not a dele¬ gate and no one could vouch for his wil¬ lingness to serve. James Cahill, W. Thos. Polston, C. T. Ruemmler and Fred Pittman withdrew these names from the Auditing Committee nominations. Ballots were col¬ lected and the Election Committee retired to make count. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTION Report was made by Delegate Bisser, who reported that his committee had gone over the constitution carefully and found no changes necessary at the present time. Mo¬ tion made and carried that the committee’s report be accepted. Delegate Olinger moved that we extend a vote of thanks to the Decatur papers for their generous write-up of the convention. Seconded. Delegates Leheney and Chris¬ topher spoke against the motion, which was laid on the table by vote of the convention. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON ORGANIZATION Report made by Delegate Wilson. He ad¬ vised that his committee recommended that the section of the Secretary’s report which 15 PROCEEDINGS OF FIFTH STATE CONVENTION OF THE FARMER-LABOR PARTY had been referred to his committee be made a section of the constitution. When it was pointed out that this matter would have to be referred to the Committee on Constitu¬ tion, the Committee on Organization agreed that this matter be referred to the Execu¬ tive Committee for immediate action. Said section is as follows:. With the farmers organized, we need have no fear of those city workers who yet re¬ main aloof from our movement. All that has retarded them has been a lingering doubt of the possibility of success. The knowledge that the farmer is ready to join hands with the industrial worker will give them new courage born of consciousness of power. Knowing that they, also, have no means of relief from intolerable conditions except through our program, they will join us en masse, and the political and economic prog¬ ress of the producers will go forward with greater impetus. I, therefore, suggest that the State Execu¬ tive Committee be given instructions imme¬ diately to secure organizers and inaugurate an organizing campaign throughout the state, and that a financial agent, with nec¬ essary assistants, be appointed for or by every county in the state, to secure funds for organizing purposes by personal solicitation and by appeals to individuals, local unions, and other organizations, all assistants to report to the county agent and he to report to the state office, the details to be worked out and the work performed under direction of the State Executive Committee.” The committee on organization further recommended to the convention that all delegates be instructed to boost our official organ, “The New Majority,” and wherever a labor party is formed that at least one member in each locality be selected to keep in touch with The New Majority to report the local news to same in order that all localities may keep in close touch with the work of the party. Motion made and carried that the report be adopted. Delegate Hill offered a motion, which was seconded and carried, that the Farmer-Labor Party of Illinois tender to United States Senator Shipstead of Minnesota a vote of thanks for his generous address. The raffle of the two watches was held at this time, it being announced that the holder of the number on the seventh ticket drawn would be awarded the first prize of a 21- Jewel No. 992 Hamilton Gentlemen’s Gold Watch, and the holder of the eleventh ticket drawn would be awarded the second prize of a 15-Jewel 14-Karat Gold Case Ladies’ Bracelet Watch. A committee of three was appointed to conduct the drawing, composed of Julia Lordan, Adelaide Bieser and Madge Argo. The name on the seventh ticket drawn was that of Joseph Jaros, Jr., Noko- mis, Illinois, and that on the eleventh ticket Harry Morgan, Johnston City, Illinois, and the watches were so awarded. A motion was made by Dr. H. L. . Green and seconded by Theodore Bisser, both of Quincy, that the song “America,” being edu¬ cational and giving the best evidence of true and fundamental American sentiment, be recommended for adoption as the legally standard song of these United States of America, and that the Secretary be in¬ structed to carry this on in the essential procedure to accomplishment by the Con¬ gress of this country. Carried. Motion was made and carried that the Executive Committee be instructed to call a nominating convention in 1924 at such time as they deem necessary. STATE AUDITING AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES ELECTED The election committee presented its re¬ port on the result of the balloting as fol¬ lows: State Executive Committee: Votes Charles F. Wills, Chicago. 47 Jacob Bollman, Belleville. 103 W. Thos. Folston, Chicago. 37 Arthur Olsen, Chicago. 31 Robert M. Buck, Chicago. 38 James M. Cahill, Chicago. 96 Charles Hagen, Mount Olive.... 50 A. D. Sullens, Benton. 98 David A. McVey, Chicago.64 Wm. E. Rodriguez, Chicago. 105 Dora Nordboe, Chicago. 52 Madge Argo, Joliet. 116 Thos. G. McCabe, Batavia. 39 Mrs. P. J. Carlson, Rock Island.. 112 S. D. Wham, Cartter. 88 Eulalie E. Burke, Chicago. 32 Wm. Tracy, Lansing. 114 J. W. Ford, Herrin. 67 Gertrude Fitzgerald, Chicago.... 36 Julia Lordan, Centralia. 81 McElroy Trout, Johnston City. 67 Marian Fuller, Chicago. 75 Adelaide Bieser, Centralia. 69 J. T. Lloyd, Coulterville. 75 Bert Gray, Collinsville. 63 James W. Short, East St. Louis.. 85 J. J. Uhlmann, Chicago. 11 Josephine M. Lovreglio, Chicago. 19 Tim Spain, Chicago. 8 State Auditing Committee: Lewis P. Hill, Chicago. 46 Frank A. Theis, Chioago.. 72 Anthony Koselke, Lansing. 87 Glenn Campbell, Chicago. 43 A. M. Corazza, Taylor Springs... 88 Hattie Hayman, Chicago. 42 Delegates Jacob Bolman, James M. Cahill, A. D. Sullens, Wm. E. Rodriguez, Madge Argo, Mrs. P. J. Carlson, S. D. Wham, Wm. Tracy, J. W. Ford, Julia Lordan, McElroy Trout, Marian Fuller, Adelaide Bieser, J. T. Lloyd, and James W. Short were declared elected on the State Executive Committee. Delegates Frank A. Theis, Anthony Ko¬ selke and A. M. Corazza were declared elected as the State Auditing Committee for the ensuing year. (NOTE: When the Executive Committee met next day, Mrs. P. J. Carlson, who was a member of the Committee on Election, advised that an error had been made by the committee in transferring the number of votes from one sheet to another, and, therefore, that David A. McVey was elected instead of McElroy Trout. A recount of the ballots was ordered by the committee, but before this was done Miss Julia Lordan resigned from the committee, stating that by her election Marion County would have three members on the committee, one of whom was a member of her own local union, and that she thought it fair that other sec¬ tions of the state be represented. By her resignation, McElroy Trout was placed on the committee, and it was then felt that a recount was unnecessary.) Motion made and carried that the report be adopted. The Fifth Annual Convention of the Illi¬ nois Branch of the Farmer-Labor Party then adjourned sine die. GIFFORD ERNEST, Secretary. 16