The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-05-31
SECOND FOR BUTLER.
The National Greenback Convention
HOSTS It's Standard.
And or IL Arc Inscribed the Names
OfRutler and West-A Bolt
Talked Of The
Platform.

Talked Of-The
Platform.
INDIANAPOLIS, May 31-The national
greenback convention concluded its session
at O'Clock p. m., after protracted sitting,
by the nomination of Gen. Butler for pres-
dent, and Gen. A Nj. West, of Mississippi.
for vice president. The great fight made
was in the committee on resolutions,
which was in consultation. from 5 O'Clock
in the evening until 3 o'clock next after
noon. Three reports came from 1.-THE ma
lority report, which was adopted under the
operation of the previous question; minor
itY report, presented by George o. Jones, of
New York, and signed by the delegates of
SIX states, recommending the establishment
and perpetuation OF national currency that
will enable Americans to do business indie
pendent of foreign aristocracy, and that no
corporation should be allowed to own more
land than was necessary to its immediate use
and no individual more than he could cult
vate. second minority report was made
by 5. c. Blanchard, of Michigan, which was
In effect a reproduction of the Michigan state
platform, with strong condemnation of all
tariff laws
The majority report Of the committee on
resolutions was adopted, and in substance
was as follows: l. The supreme courts legal
tender decision is vindication of the Green
back party; greenbacks should replace
national bank notes, and the national debt
should be promptly paid. 2, Land,
railroad, money and other cor
porate monopolies should have their
usurped powers restricted. 3. The pub
lie domain and forfeited railroad lands should
I've held for actual settlers only, and alien
ownership prohibited. 4. Congressional reg
ulation of Interstate commerce is demanded,
"pooling," stock-watering and rate discrim-
nation is denounced, and government postal
telegraph asked for .-a II
The remainder of the resolutions demand
graduated income tax; the adjustment
of the convict-labor system; condemn
the importation Of contract labor and call
for its prevention; demand the restriction of
the "Veto" power of congressional COM
mittees; equitable pensioning of all disabled
soldiers of the late war; the submission to the
people test of woman-suffrage and
liquor traffic constitutional amendment.
The tenth resolution reads as follows:
"While we favor wise revision of the
tariff laws with view of raising the revenue
from luxurieS rather than from neceSSaries,
we insist that as an economic question its i'm
portance is Insignificant as compared with
the financial issues; for, whereas, we have
suffered our worst panics under low as well
as high tariffs, we have never suffered from
panic or seen our factories aud workshops
closed while the volume of our money in cir
culation was adequate to the needs of COM
merca tt- -
The opposition to Butler was easily van
pushed, although it had conferred on jesse
Harper, of Illinois, who got only ninety.
eight votes. Mr. Jones, of New York, who
headed the opposition, made a speech in
which he said that if Butler was nominated
he would withdraw from the convention, but
he afterward reconsidered this, and said he
would support the Massachusetts, states
man if he would make promise to stand
by the principles of the Greenback party.
Tho roll of states was called for nominal
tions, and representatives of each made
speeches. The best speeches by far were
made by Congressman Gillette of Iowa, and
Col John r. Winston, of North Carolina, in
support of Butler. Illinois gave only seven
votes to Harper and thirty-six for Butler,
and this weakened the faith Of the formers
adherents, who expected that his own state
at least would stick to him.
The ballot resulted: Butler, S23; Harper,
IS; Allis, .; Davis, /. Scion Chase, though
not placed in nomination, received two votes.
Gen. West was nominated by reclamation,
! and without a dissenting voice But little
is known of him among among the dele
gates further than that he is generally re-
al
inally an old line Wing, but afterward was
identified with the Democracy for many
years. He was a general in the Confederate
army throughout the war. Six years ago he
identified himself with the Greenbackers,
and in 1880 was the Fusion candi-
date for governor. 1t is known that
he will accept the nomination, and
Gen. Weaver, in brief speech to the
convention, said that he had Gen. Buffers
personal assurance that he wculd accept.
Thomas A. Armstrong, of Pennsylvania,
who was nominated by the delegates from
his own state and New York, declined to be
considered candidate. A significant fact in
the action of the convention was its refusal.
by vote of l46 to 245, to embrace in the
platform plank in favor of the
free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver
which has been in every previous plat
| form since the party was organized. Just
/ before adjournment Chairman Weaver ap
| pointed John r. Winston, of North Carolina
William P. Innis, of Michigan; G. B. Hutch
inson, of Massachusetts,; D, Hopkins, of New
Jersey, and Gov. Sprague, of Rhode Island
q committee to notify the candidates of theil
| nomination by the convention
The Chicago Times special correspondent
telegraphs his paper: When the nomination
| of Butler was announced in the Greenbacl
convention, the Delegates from Colorado
and Louisiana withdrew and declined t.
| participate further in the delibera
tions of the convention, because
had selected man for its standard
bearer who was not a member of tn
party, and who was simply an office-seeker
A formidable bolt was informally organizes
headed by Lee Crandall, of Washington, sec
rotary OF the national committee, and Georg
4 o. Jones, of New York. They say the pre-
4 ceedings were in the nature of q farce, auC
did not voice the wishes of the nasse
of the party. ) They charge that th
vote of several states was given to Butler b,
men who did not live in the states, and tina
the old reliable membersof the party win no
support the nominees There is much excite
ment over the matter .among the delegates
and determined, but SO far unavailing, Ell
fort is being made to reconcile the differ
ences.
The Eron VVOrkers.
| VnT-NGeToxrN nhin Nav Of Tho iro