The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-05-23
THE FIRST CONVENTION.
General Butler Nominated for Prcsi-
dent by The Anti.MOnOpOIists.

The national convention of the Anti-Mo-
nopolst party met at Hershey Music hall,
Chicago. The call provided for between
1900 and 1000 delegates. The con-
vention was called to order by John
F. Henry, chairman of the national
committee. In his opening address he said
that the convention had assembled at a time
when a panic was raging in Wall street
never before equaled except by "Black Fri
day" a delegate shouted: at couldn't
have come at a better time Mr.. Henry
then presented the name of Alison j.
StreatOr, of Illinois, for temporary chairman,
and he was chosen for that position.
Mr. killmer of New York, read resolu-
tons adopted by the executive committee of
the Autobiography league of New York, on
April Is, to the effect that it was inexpedient
to nominate presidential and vice-presi.
Dental candidates at this convention, and
that committees be appointed to attend the
conventions of other parties and endeavor to
secure the nomination of men pledged to anti.
monopoly principles. This caused a ripple of
excitement, and after some discussion and
several motions the whole matter was laid on
the table by heavy majority, but it was af-
terward taken up again and placed on file.
John F. Henry, of New York, was APP
pointed president of the convention and the
temporary secretaries were made permanent.
When the convention reassembled at : 80
IA,
take from the table the resolution of the New
York Anti-Monopoly league presented during
the afternoon and tabled. The motion called
out an excited debate. 1t was finally decided To
take the resolutions from the table and place
them on file. Charles Litchman of Massa-
chusettS presented the majority report OF
the committee ON the platform, which
holds that labor ana capital should
be allies, not enemies. "and we de-
mand justice for both by protecting the
rights of all as against the privileges Of a
few" That corporations are the creatures
of law and should be controlled by law "
The platform then calls for the enactment
and vigorous execution of just laws, and
equality i'll rights, burdens, privileges and
powers asserts that it is the duty Of the
government to at once regulate commerce
among States, including the transportation of
money and Transmission of Intelligence: de-
nounccs the present tariff as being largely in
the interest Of monopoly, and demands that il
be speedily and radically reformed in the in
terest of labor instead of captal urges that
no further grants of public lands be made to
corporations. The minority report was the
platform adopted at the Anti Monopoly CON
Vention held on July 4, 1883
The majority report was adopted by vote
of 90 to -.
a motion was then made to proceed to the
nomination of candidates for President. An
other dispute here arose over the method of
procedure, and State Senator Boyd, of New
York, seized his hat and left the hall He
was followed by the delegates from the
District of Columbia. General Butler was
then put in nomination successfully by Mrs.
Todd, of California; Mr. Rooney of New
York, and several Others. Mr.. Blanchard, OF
Vermont put in nomination j. b. Weaver, of
Iowa. The chair here announced that it just
had an interview with Mr.. Weaver, and that
he had not only declared he would not accept
the nomination, but that he was in favor of
General Butler. Mr.. Bawd, of Nebraska
nominated Allen G. Thurman. On an infor-
nal ballot Butler received l24 votes, Thurman
seven, and Scion Chase, of Maine, one Butler
was declared the nominee of the convention.