Philadelphia Conference of 1939

Science Fiction Convention
Name:	Philadelphia Conference of 1939 (Philcon 1939)
Dates:	October 31, 1939
Frequency:	Once
Location:	Philadelphia, PA
Type:
Focus:	Science Fiction fandom, Worldcon 1940 site selection
Organization:
Founder:
Founding Date:
URL:
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The Philadelphia Conference of 1939 was held in the same hall as the Third Eastern Science Fiction Convention of 1937.

Events

Jack Speer's Fancyclopedia reported that both Futurians and members of the Queens Science Fiction League attended "for the last time at any one gathering", and "a fite almost happened between Sykora and Wollheim."

Reports

Bob Tucker

Bob Tucker in Le Zombie reported a near-outbreak of "fisticuffs", after "somebody named Sykoka [sic] made a statement that was doubted by somebody named Wollheim, and Mr. Wollheim was so rude as to declare his disbelief aloud."

Rothman & Speer had a plan to replace New Fandom with a new national organization, and Kyle proposed a congress of fan clubs, all of whichwere withdrew or snowed under. Philly endorsed new New Fandom proposed constitution, with about twenty-odd voting favorable, and perhaps a dozen opposed. See some authoritative account for the exact figures.

Le Zombie, issue 17 page 3 (November 18, 1939)

Tucker said that the gathering was "very dull" overall, and guessed about 40 guests were present. The pro authors A.M. Phillips and L.A. Eshbach were present, but Tucker was unable to find Charles Hornig or Mort Weisinger. Mark Reinsberg commented that he didn't read Amazing Stories, which Tucker described as "the gem of rarest value that will long be remembered."

Tucker later released a history of Chicon I in which he said that Mark Reinsberg, the head of the Illini Fantasy Fictioneers, didn't want him sitting near the Futurians during Philcon, as tensions were high between the Futurians and New Fandom in the aftermath of the Great Exclusion Act. The IFF was hoping to plan the upcoming Worldcon and didn't want to lose New Fandom's support.

Robert A. W. Lowndes

Lowndes' report was entirely concerned with the ongoing feud between his own club, the Futurians, and the Triumvirs of New Fandom/the Queens Science Fiction League. He gave a more detailed account of the near-fight between Wollheim and Sykora.

Sunday, October 31st, a Conference was held in Philadelphia for the purpose of discussing and taking the first stops towards acting upon the pressing need in American fandom: organization along entirely open and democratic lines. A loose central organization which would ensure a square deal for all individuals and groups and permit all to be heard in a rational way through mailings and conventions. At this conference, which New Fandom "packed" with members who did nothing but vote at the appointed times, a number of fruitful-sounding propositions were brought up, but, through the apathy, and, it is suspected, the connivance of the chair, all these were shelved while the trio poured out a welter of sheer tripe about New Fandom's proposed new setup. It was a triumph of bullying, intimidation, trick parliamentarianism, and general steamroller and stormtrooper methods.

For sheer ponderousness and insane ambition, the setup that New Fandom proposes cannot be beaten. It is practically a Corporate State in itself. Everything mobilised and regimented, everything lined up in such a way that only a favoured few can have any say in what is going on. In the name of harmony, all controversy will be squashed. Things are either "approved" or "unapproved" and the constitution cleverly avoids indicating what will be "unnaproved". While claiming not to be competing with any other organization, New Fandom, under this new (l cannot think of any word that better describes it than fascist) setup would soon freeze out and trample over every other organization in the field unless it voluntarily bowed and became a puppet of NF. It goes without saying that regardless of who may be elected the trio will be bosses.

I forgot to mention the most priceless thing of all: the purpose of this mobilisation. It is: to popularise science-fiction so that more and more of the general public will read it, become fans, and work their heads off popularising science-fiction so that still more of the general public will read it and join New Fandom. Any other purpose for stf. activities, or anything beyond this meaningless purpose is not "approved".

Two things of note occurred at this conference to give the lie to any constructive or sincere appearances the trio might have made. The first happened when Sykora blandly stated that no member of New Fandom had ever slandered anyone. That statement was challenged from the floor and Wollheim said: "That's a lie". Sykora immediately marched down the aisle and threatened violence, bursting into super-patriotic rod-baiting. The chair did nothing to halt this and ignored a demand from the michelists that Sykora be requested to apologise for this stormtrooper disregard of democratic procedure. The second was when Moskowitz proposed a motion to the effect that the conference approve the proposed constitution of Now Fandom. SaM never could express himself clearly, but after much fumbling it finally got over that he wanted a vote of approval of constitution with such suggestions for changes as those in attendance might wish to make. Pohl made concrete suggestions. They wore not noted down nor stated in the motion when the chair called for a vote. This was protested and, despite demands by Moskowitz and Taurasi for an immediate vote, it was hold up. After a little hemming and hawing around the issue, New Fandom, through Sykora, remade the motion, calling for a vote of approval on the constitution as read. The chair saw no point in Pohl's accusation that New Fandom had displayed its bad faith in withdrawing the original motion calling for suggestions, and substituting it with a notion for blanket approval the moment suggestions were made.

The one bright spot was the unanimous approval given to the 1940 Convention and the Illini Fantasy Fictioneers. Tucker stated very definitely that they would not line up with any other organization, that they welcomed the support of all. New Fandom assured them that its new setup would not harm the IFF or the Convention, but fans have learned through bitter experience just how valueless any assurance of Sykora, Moskowitz and Taurasi is.

Robert A. W. Lowndes in Fantasy War Bulletin (supplement to The Fantast), issue 4 page 2 (December 18, 1939)