AGRICULTURAL DISCONTENT 



Commission, Burton K. Wheeler of Montana, George Norris of Nebraska, 

 and Warren S. Stone of the Brotherhood of Railroad Engineers. The 

 name of Charles W. Bryan also came forward, but this was turned down 

 because he was "tainted with his party's ills." 63 



On the second day of the convention La Follette was endorsed by the 

 delegates. There was no nominating speech, but there were four second- 

 ing speeches and a score of delegates were clamoring for recognition 

 when the chairman, William H. Johnston, brought the speechmaking to 

 an end. Likewise, the Wisconsin platform was "adopted with a whoop." 



In the matter of the third party, the Socialists made known their desires. 

 Hillquit made a seconding speech in behalf of La Follette but also declared 

 for the formation of a third party. The La Follette men, however, were 

 opposed; the senator wanted to conduct an independent campaign first 

 and form the new party after the election, using the campaign organiza- 

 tion as the nucleus. Some opposition also developed against vesting power 

 in the national committee and the La Follette for President Committee 

 to name a vice-presidential candidate. 



Among those speaking from the convention platform were Edwin 

 Markham, author of "The Man with the Hoe"; W. T. Raleigh of Free- 

 port, Illinois; Andrew Furuseth of the International Seamen's Union; 

 Attorney General Herman Ekern of Wisconsin; Representative Fiorello 

 La Guardia of New York; and Senator Lynn Frazier of North Dakota. 



The various organizations that were represented in Cleveland were 

 estimated to have had a voting strength of 4,628,000. The principal groups 

 represented were the Socialist party with an estimated membership of 

 1,000,000 voters, the Farmer-Labor groups with about 1,000,000 voters, 

 and the Nonpartisan League with about 500,000. The progressive strength 

 was unknown. A generous estimate would place the political strength of 

 the third party at not more than 5,ooo,ooo. 64 



It was to be expected that barred groups would fire their blasts against 

 the C.P.P.A. convention. Foster and Ruthenberg of the Workers' party, 

 as was to be expected, did this very thing. They branded it as "the most 

 reactionary political convention held this year." Its program, favoring 

 a middle course that was based on trust busting and supported by small 



63. Ibid., July 3, 13, 1924. 



64. Ibid., July 13, 1924. 



