The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-02-23
THE GREENBACKERS.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL
CONVENTION.
Good Attendance ofDelegates-Judgs OF
Hughes, of Pennsy lvanta, In
the Chair-rbe Platform.

States met in its first regular convention
st 1880 O'Clock this morning, at th'
Wheeler Opera House, and was called K
order by DR.. d. B. Sturgeon. Of Toledo
Capt. K. F. Trevellick, of Michigan, wa
chosen temporary chairman. Aftel
affecting temporary organization, the
Convention adjourned till 2:30 p. NJ.
The most numerously represented
State in the Convention is Pennsylvania
which sends fifty-four delegates. Illinois
sends thirty. Michigan, Ohio and In
diana are also largely represented, bu'
there Is only one delegate from the Pa
cifc coast.
At meeting yesterday afternoon, the
more prominent decided to eliminate
from the platform ell mention of the in
tercouvertible bond. which seemed al
that time to be the only poist OF con.en'
tion among the delegations.
Upon Resembling, the committee:
not being ready to report, the Conven'
tion was entertained by the singing Of
green back songs. In response to cal
Mr.. Harper. OF Illinois, made q speech
and Mr.. Allis presented the views o; the
Green back State Central Committee oi
Wisconsin on the financial question.
Judge Francis w. Hughes, of Penn
sylvsnls, was chosen permanent chair
man, with one Vice President from each
State epresented-among the latter,
Thomas II. Bennett, OF West Virginia
Judge Hughes was formally intro
duced as permanent President OF the
Convention. He briefly thanked the
Convention for the honor conferred on
him, and reviewed at length the history
OF the National banking system, from
the irst feeble and fruitless attempts to
insugurate it in 1889 TO the present
time. He discussed a. considerable
length the problem OF labor and capital,
and declared that il would not be solved
by either of the great political parties,
and would remain unsolyed unlesss tie
party which has come here to-day should
settle the question in the future.
Regarding protection he said that the
State Of Pennsylvania had been mis-
represented. The $4,000 greenback
votes of Pennsylvania came from party
which sdyocsted the brosdest kind OF
protection, the protection Of labor against
capital and against the exlortion ot
usurers, the protection OF miners and
their families sgsins. the transportation
monopolsts. lie said protection should
be applied to the agricultural interests oil
the Mississippi Valley, that they should
- .k;olIod tror, Tho 10 ~, hI N at,oDa NJ the
trunk lines, and remarked incidentally
that he and the party favored eminent
domain in respect TO cottagers
as against the railroads In closing
he predicted the adoption here
of national platform that
would with great force carry into higher
places its standard bearers IN 1880, and
warned the Convention not to be SHARED
by the broken promises which we're now
being renewed by conventions OF other
parties in order 10 capture greenbsck
votes At the coming National elections
The report of the Committee on Resolu'
tions not being ready, the Convention
took recess st 5:46 till 7P.M.
At7P.M. the Convention re.sssembled
and the following
Platform
was Immediately read:
WHEEEAs, Throughout our entire
country the value Of real estate is de-
preclsted, industry parsl zed, trade de-
pressed, business, incomes and wages re-
duceu, unparalleled distress inflicted on
the poorer and middle ranks OF our poo
pie, the land filed with fraud, embezzle-
ment and bankruptcy, crime, suffering,
pauperism and starvation; and,
WHEREAS, This state Of things has
bsen brought about by legislation in the
interest OF and dictated BY the money
lenders, bankers and bondholder'; and
WHEREAS, While we recognize thii
fact, that men in Congress connected
with both the old political parties have
stood up msniully Tor the rights OF The
people, and met the threats OF the money
power and the ridicule Of an Ignorant
and subsidized press, yst neither the Re
publican nor the Democratic parties, in
their national platforms, propose rene.
dies for the existing evils and
WHEREAS, The Independent Green
back party and other associations more
or less effective, have been unable hilber'
70 10 make q formidable opposition 70 old
party organisations; and
WHEREAs, The limiting o! the legs'
tender quality Of green bscks, the chang
ing Of currency bonds into coin bonds
the demonetIzing Of the silver dollar, tbC
exempting Of bonds from taxation knc
the contraction OF the circulating medium
the proposed forced resumption Of specie
payments and the prodigsl waste o.
public lands, we're crimes against thu
people, and as far as possible the resulu
of these criminal acts must be counter
acted by judIcIous legislation. there
fore we assemble in nstona
convention and make declsrs
tom OF our principles and inyit
all patriotic citizens 70 unite 10 an ehor'
70 secure financial reform and industris
emancipation. Tbs organization shslI
be known a. the National Party. Anc
under this name will perfec: without de
lsy National State, and local ss'ocis
tiona 20 tecJr5 IN elect 90 10 omci
of such men only n will pIecge ikem
selves 10 DO al in their power 70 estsb
lish these principle:
|. I.isthe exclusive function Of III
general Government " coin and crest'
money and regulate its value. iAl
tank iaues designed 70 ciEculsts .
money. should be suppressed. The cir
culating medium, whether Of metal o
psper. shall BE- issued BY the GOvern
ment. and made iu!l legal tender 10
al debt, duties and tsIes IN .se Unite
States. Il its stamped value
2. There shall be 20 privileged clAs
reditors; ofsciAl salaries, passions, bonds
esud ali other debts and obiigstioni
public and private, shall Be discharged b
iegnI tender money Of the United s.sts
strictly according 70 the slip IlstIon
the laws under which tLey we're cor
1 trscted
q Tbs; the eoinAga Of silver b place
On the same footing % tbs. a gold.
4 Tb.. Congress shall provide ssi
money A1eqasie 70 the iull smpioyDsr
o. labor, The equitsbIe diftribu.ion Of II
products, and The Requirements OF bos
ness. ATlrg he minimum snOant P'