PHOTOGRAPH OF

1. Al. Renner, Chairman 2. Alexander Stocklitzky

3. Dr. Koppnagle, Chicago

4. Dennis E. Batt, Chicago

FIRST CONVENTION, COMMUNIST PARTY OF AMERICA, CHICAGO ILL., SEPT. 1-7, 1919.

10. Nicholas Hourwich, New York

12. Louis C. Fraina, Boston and New York 19. Rose Pastor Stokes, New York 20. Isaac E. Ferguson, Chicago 23. Oscar Tiverowsky, New York 36. Charles Jannsen, Massachusetts' 52. O. C. Johnson, Missouri

37. Max Cohen, New York 39. H. A. Rosenthal, Philadelphia 40. A. Forsinger, Philadelphia 43. Jay Lovestone, New York 44. G. Azkenuzi, New York 53. M. Wicks, Chicago

45. H. Hiltzik

46. J. V. Stilson

47. A. Bittleman, New York 49. Mrs. Nicholas Hourwich, New York 51. Carl Ruthenberg

Executive Secretary, Local New York, Communist Party of America.

Arrested on charge of Criminal Anarchy by direction of the Committee, November 8, 1919. tried, convicted and sentenced to State Penitentiary for not less than five years nor more than ten years.

Two drafts of the manifesto and program were presented to the Program Committee. One by Dennis E. Batt of Detroit, and the other by Louis C. Fraina, of Boston. The latter, after much condensation, was adopted by the committee, Batt and Wicks being in the minority.

The majority report of this committee was adopted by the convention, and the Communist manifesto and program became the statement of the party principles and tactics. The principles and objects of the Communist Party as stated in this manifesto are almost identical with those set forth in the Left Wing Manifesto, which has been previously referred to in this report.

Much of the redundancy of that manifesto was removed. The new manifesto opens with the following statement:

"The world is on the verge of a new era. Europe is in revolt. The masses of Asia are stirring uneasily. Capitalism is in collapse. The workers of the world are seeing a new life and securing new courage. Out of the night of war is coming a new day.

"The call to action has come. The workers must answer the call.

"The Communist Party of America is the party of the working class. The Communist Party proposes to end Capitalism and organize a workers' industrial republic.

The Communist Party insists that the problems of the American worker are identical with the problems of the workers of the world."

The inspiration of Soviet Russia and the international character of the movement which the Communist Party sought to represent is illustrated in the following expression which appears in this document:

"A giant struggle is convulsing the world. The war is at end, but peace is not here. The struggle is between the capitalist nations of the world and the international proletariat, inspired by Soviet Russia." (Page 1.)

The dominant Socialist parties are criticized for their participation in the World War. The collapse of the Second International is characterized as marking "the transition from the older moderate Socialism to the new Socialism of revolutionary practice and promise in the Communist International." (Page 3.)