(2 of 3)
Next day, committees were appointed. The Communists put themselves in charge of all the important posts. State Senator Taylor of Montana took charge and made a speech: "In the Cleveland Convention sat Harry Daugherty and the representatives of the burglars who stole millions from the people while our boys were making the world safe for democracy; sat Mellon, the arch-boot-legger of the age; sat those who waxed fat and grew rich from the labor of the babies of our industries. ... In a few days more the other party of the international banking and industrial organization will meet in the very citadel of international capitalism and there ratify a platform and name the candidate selected for them by the Second Internationale of Capitalism; men like Doheny and Murphy and McAdoo and A. Mitchell Palmer; men who stole millions while the Republicans stole thousands. . . .
"I would rather sit with the reddest Communists in the world than sit with the aggregation that met the other day at Cleveland or who will meet in New York."
A minister, the Rev. J. L. Beebe, rose and said, "If I were not a preacher I should say 'To Hell with the Capitalist system!'"
By the third day Mr. Mahoney began to feel a little blue about the Convention. Said he: "LaFollette has repudiated this Convention and contributed in a large degree to make it what it is."
Four motions managed to get before the Convention at the same time. But they were disposed of by being talked into oblivion. Finally nominations were ordered. Alexander Howat nominated his friend, Duncan McDonald. This was in accordance with the Communist program. Although McDonald is not a Communist (at least, not openly) he was in close coordination with Mr. Foster. A delegate tried to nominate Senator LaFollette but withdrew his nomination when he was assured that
Mr. LaFollette would not accept. A man in a stage box, one Stephen Fay, rose and nominated himself. He was ruled out of order on the grounds that he was only a spectator.
Two voices were heard opposed to Mr. McDonald's nomination when the vote was taken. William Bouck of Sedro Woolley, Wash., was nominated for Vice President.
Joseph Manley read the platform:
Nationalization of monopolized industries.
Government ownership of all banks.
Courts, police, militia to be used, not against, but for Labor in strikes.
Abolition of Child Labor.
National maternity insurance for all mothers.
Abolition of residential restrictions upon the right to vote.
Participation of farmers in the management of Government-owned transportation facilities.
Government loans without interest, to distressed farmers.
Federal minimum wage laws and maximum 8-hour day.
Social insurance and old age pensions.