National conventions of the Communist Party USA

[2] When the conference met the delegates divided between a group around the periodical The Revolutionary Age that wanted to infiltrate the Socialist Party's convention in Chicago that September and those who wished to create a Communist Party immediately.

This group was mainly made up of the suspended language federations and the Socialist Party of Michigan.

The majority formed a national left-wing council and attempted to arrange a take over of the Socialist Party's convention.

However, by late August the majority decided to forgo this plan and joined with the National Organization Committee to create a new party at a convention in Chicago.

A minority, led by Ben Gitlow and John Reed split with the majority and attempted to infiltrate the Socialist Party convention alone.