The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-15
GENERAL POLITICAL NEWS.
The Anti-MOnOpOlists Assemble in Con-
yentiOn and Demand Reform.
Ben Butler Nominated for President-The
Democrats of New Jersey Declare Their
Faith in the Old Ticket.
THE ANr1.MoNopoLIsrs
Organization OF the National Convention at
Chicago.

|
Chicago.
CHICAGO, MAY 14-The national convention
of the Anti monopolist party met in Henrshey
Music Hall this afternoon. The call provided
for between l. 800 and l, 600 delegates, but at the
opening there were only about 200 delegates
present The convention was called to order at
230 by John F. Henry chairman of the national
committee. In his opening address he said the
convention had assembled at a time when a
panic was raging in Wall street, mover before
equaled except by Black Friday.
A Delegate-It couldn't have come at better
| time.
Mr.. Henry then presented the name of Alison
j. Streator, of Illinois, for temporary chairman,
and he was chosen to that position. During the
course of his remarks the chairman referred to
the number present, but declared there were
more present than when the Declaration of indie
pendence was signed. The cause of the small
ness of the convention was mainly that its
members were too poor to pay their
| fare, and because the monopofstic railroads
| refuse to give them the same rates which would
be given delegates to other conventions. The
speaker said that all the platform he wanted
was: I'VE oppose all mopopolies; we believe all
men were created free and equal. and we believe
| in General Benjamin F. Butler
| Committees on credentials, permanent organi-
cation and resolutions were then appointed, one
| from each State.
The call of States showed sixteen States rep
resented.
Mr. Kil!mer, of New York, read resolution
| adopted by the executive committee of the Anti
monopoly League of New York, April Is, to the
! effect chat it was inexpedient to nominate presi
| idential and vice presidential candidates at this
| convention; that that matter should be delegated
| to the national convention, or another conven-
| ton called after the conventions of the Repub
| l!can and Democratic parties had been held, and
that committee be appointed to attend the
! conventions of the other parties and endeavor to
| secure a nomination of men leaning to anti
monopoly principles.
This caused ripple of excitement and after
some discussion and several motions, the whole
matter was laid on the table by a heavy vote
Recess was taken for half an hour in order to
give the committees time to report
Pending consideration of their reports by the
committees, the convention listened to speeches
by delegates. At o'clock the committee on
credentials reported twenty States repre-
| scented by delegates and proxies, with total
membership of l58, and that each delegate be al
| lowed to cast vote
The minority of the committee reported a reso-
| luton that in any State having but partial
delegation, that delegation be allowed to cast the
entire vote of the State even though, as III the
case of Maryland and some others, only one dele
| gate was present. The matter was discussed at
| length and finally the minority report was laid
on the table, and the majority report adopted.
The committee on permanent organization re
| ported for president, John f. Henry, of New
| York. and making the temporary secretaries
| permanent
Pending the report from the committee on
| platform, the convention adjourned till 7;3O.
Charles Litchman, of Massachusetts, presented
| the majority report of the committe on platform.
| 1t began follows: THE Anti-mOnOpoly
| ganization of the United States, in convention
assembled. declare: First-That labor and CAPT
tai should be allies, not enemies, and we demand
hOfl fhn rifr oil
! as against the privileges of the few. Second
| That corporations, creatures of the law, should
| be controlled by law. Third-'That we propose
! the greatest reduction practicable in public ex
| penses." The platform proceeds to call for
| the enactment and vigorous execution of just
laws and equality in rights burdens priv
! ileges and powers, and asserts that
it is the duty of the government
to at once regulate commerce, including trans
| portation, money and the transmission of intel
ligence; holds that bureaus of statistics must be
established, both State and national; the ma
tional eight hour law must be honestly enforced;
| the importation of foreign labor under contract
be made illegal approves the passage of the Rea
! gan interstate commerce bill demands payment
of the bonded debt as it falls DUE
the election of United States Senators
| by direct vote; a graduated income tax; a tariff
which is tax upon the people that shall be SO
levied as to bear as lightly rs possible upon the
pecessaries of life; denounces the present tariff
as being largely in the interest of monopoly, and
|
formed in the interest of labor instead of capital
that no further grant of public lands be made
to corporations, and that all land grants should
| be forfeited when the terms upon which the
! grants were made are not strictly complied with.
| The platform finally asserts that American leg
islaton, thus far, has Disseminated against agri
| culture which has, in the meantime, borne the
brunt of taxation. and appeals to the farmers of
the country to join III the anti-monoply crusade.
After the adoption of the platform motion
was made to proceed to the nomination of candi
date for President, and dispute arose over
the methods of proceeding. State Senator
against the honesty of purpose of the
chairman, and after declaring that
| the convention had been organized
| to advance the interest of one candidate as
against the advocacy of real principles, he
seized his hat and left the hall He was fol-
! lowed by the delegates from the District of
| Columbia. General Butler then put in
nomination successfully by Mrs. Todd, of Cali
fornia, Mr.. Roodey, OF New York, and several
| others
Mr. Blanchard, of Vermont, put in nomina-
ton J. B. Weaver, of Iowa.
The Chair here announced that he had just
| had an interview with Mr. Weaver. and that
gentleman had not only declared that he would
not accept nomination, but was in favor of
| General Butler
Mr. Barudof of Nebraska. nominated Alien G.
| Thurman.
On an informal ballot Butler received 124,
| Thurman Z and Scion Chase of Maine, l Gen
| eral Butler was declared the nominee of the con
vention
Adjourned
VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS.
/