The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-07-23
THE INDEPENDENTS.
Ehe Conference Takes Place in New
York City.
nent Present-Codman,sR Remarks
RESOLUTIONS Indorsfng CIeve- &
land and Hendricks.

New YORK, July 23.-The independent
Republicans held their conference in a little
theatre attached to the University club on
twenty sixth street Arrangements had been
made to change the place of meeting should
the hall prove too small for the delegates
who might attend Admission was by ticket
1nly There were present delegates from
Massachusetts,, Connecticut, Rhode Island,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York
The hall was comparatively well filled when
the meeting was called to order
The National Temperance society circulated
memorial to the conference, asking it to take
cognizance of the alcoholic liquor traffic and
requesting it not to endorse the saloon
plank" of the Democratic platform, which
says: I'VE oppose sumptuary laws which vex
the citizen and interfere with individual lib
arty."
Lawyer Charles H. Miller superintended
the preliminary arrangements.
At II 80 Carl Schurz, Benjamin H. Bris-
tow, w c. Beecher, Clearance W. Bower,
Francis c.. Barlow, and others made their
appearance and caused rounds of applause.
The members of the Independent executive
committee of Massachusetts, were all pres
ent. When Curtis appeared upon the plat
form he was greeted with applause. Curtis
called the conference to order and read the
call
Curtis nominated Charles r. Goldman for
chairman. He then read list of vice presi-
dents and the enrolment committee. The
names of Schurz, Barlow Bonaparte [of
Mary ylandl and others were received with ap-
plause, and the nominees unanimously
elected.
Tremendous applause greeted Goldman
! when he assembled the platform. Goldman in
his address said: You confer a great honor
| ON me in choosing me to preside over the de-
| Hh.Pa tinnS of only hoAu af fraa
| holders but of citizens whose only desire is
for the good of the whole country. We have
| decided to cast aside party affielia-
| tlons for the time being. The
nomination of the Republican party
for the presidency is an insult to
| American manhood. Blaine has not cleared
his record from the charges that he used a
public Office for private gain, and we fear he
will continue in his usual methods; that he
will prove no dead head" in any enterprise
lie may embark in We make no charges
against his private character, but Blaine
is not fit to be president. There
is no great issue clearly defined between the
| two parties, SO We have to conine ourselves
| to the question of fitness of candidates We
have one purpose in view. and, as responsible
men. desire to act together But we shall
| not make any attempts to demand
| pledges or bind ourselves. Whatever is
! uJtlt noAc ofOAJ 10 ALcc ~ iOuOV nlS
own course No pledges will be asked, and
| certainly none given. For myself / do not
hesitate to say that the defeat of Blaine
should be compasSed by all honorable means,
| As Il lifelong opponent of the Democratic
party, and with no intention of becoming iden-
tiaed with it, l will yet rejoice and say,
that it is fortunate for the republic that In
crises when party which has been the party
OF progress halts and is unfaithful, it shows
a wise intelligence and civic courage to de-
stroy 1t. The Democratic party has risen to
its great opportunity, and those Republicans
who would make efforts Of opposition to a
candidate they believe unfit, can with
40 loss OF self-respsct, without suTTen-
iering their convistioaS, and In
the exercise OF the highest political
expediency, give their votes to the reform
governor of New York. Let tus impress upon
the voter that political straightforwardness
is better than political success When we
have done our work here let US go to oul
homes and use our influence to further the
cause We conceive to be the cause of oul
country
The speaker was frequently interrupted by
applause.
After further speeches of the same tenol
as Codman's a recess was taken until p. m
After the recess the committee on resolution,
presented a report indorsing Cleveland ant
Hendricks. Wild cheering The committee
on organization suggested tae formation of 6
NATIONAL committee as the bsst method o
aiding the election of tae Democratic ticket
| The total number of accredited delegates
| present was 45f.