Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-06-07
SECOND Day,s ProceedIngs.

Second Days Proceedings.
Two handsome vases filled with lilies Of the
valley, the latter presumably emblematic OF the
purity of the party, almost hid Ex-Governor st.
John from view when he called the second days
session OF the National Prohibition Convention
to order. The delegates were slow in assem-
bling nearly all OF them having participated in
last nights reunion OF the Blue and the Gray,
which lasted until long after midnight. IL they
looked rather tired and sleepy, however they
were not lacking i'm enthusiasm, and as the lead
ing representatives put in their appearance they
received u warm welcome. Prayer was offered
at 10 o'clock by Rev. A. M. Richardson OF Kansas,
and the routine proceedings went along
smoothly until the report of the Committee
on Rules was presented. The document
submitted, among Il number OF minor recon-
mendations, one limiting individual speeches to
five minutes ON any one subject. This raised a
storm among the anti-woman suffragists, whose
grievance was stated by Walter Thomas Mills,
the Little Giant of Ohio" Motions upon mo-
tiOns were submitted, and for time the Chair
mans gavel was given all II could do. Speeches
were made while the utmost confusion reigned.
Finally Mr.. Christian Of Chicago, took the dele
gates sharply 10 task and good order was restored.
The previous question was ordered by large
majority; all the amendments were defeated,
and the report of the committee adopted. This
was decided victory for the womens side OF
the house and they cheered and cheered again.
Resolutions deploring the murder Of Rev. DIR.
Haddock, Of Sioux City, who was designated as
martyr TO the cause OF prohibition, were adopted
by a rising vote.
In the morning session the Chairman Of the
FINANCE committee, Dr. Evans OF ILLINOIS, urged
the necessity Of raising the sum Of go, 900 for
campaign expenses, and called for pledges from
those present. The first pledge was made by Is.
+. Sturtevant OF New York for 81 600, which was
SboGE Mas ped R less n S9@n hall an hS%r
asm prevailed, every one giving large sum be-
ing compelled to stand in a chair while the dele
gates cheered.
The platform was presented at the afternoon
session, and the plank reported was unequiyo-
cally in favor OF unlimited suffrage After the
Secretary, the Rev. Sam Small, had read the re-
port of the committee, the Hon. j. M. Olin, OF
Wisconsin, read Il minority report he alone disa-
greeing with the committee, He offered a sub
stitute, in which the whole question OF woman
suffrage was relegated to the States.
The platform was voted upon by sections, and
when this plank was reached the debate opened.
The report of the Committee on Rules limited
speeches TO five minutes each. 1t seems that
an agreement had been made between Mr.. Mills,
of Ohio, and Prof Bascom formerly OF Wis
consin, TO take two hours each in debate upon
the suffrage plank OF the platform for and
against its adoption respectively: An amend
ment was offered to permit this under
the rules, and after sharp debate, in
which the convention was besought not TO
apply the gag rule, but to give the necessary
time TO full discussion of this important
plank, il was voted down by tremendous ma
jority. Speakers were therefore limited to five
minutes, and more able defense Of woman suf-
frage or n stronger argument against incorporat-
ing il into party platform was never presented.
In the midst Of the contest over the woman
suffrage plank Mr.. Dickie Of Michigan, tried TO
be confined to two hZurs, four leading men on
each side to speak. The convention would not
hear OF it and the wrangle proceeded.
Mrs. Merriweather, Of Missouri, denied that
woman suffrage was opposed in the South Those
who said so knew not whereof they spoke.
Mrs. Perkins, Of Ohio, followed i'll an earnest
plea for the ballot for women, without which the
temperance movement was sadly hampered.
Prof. Olin repeated his argument substantially
as contained in his report and Sam Small, who
had originally opposed the majority report, said
that il was in spirit of compromise that they
could and did sign the majority report. He urged
the convention TO do likewise
Other speakers were Messrs. Tate of Tennes-
see G. w. Balm of Kentucky, and Mr.. Crandall
of Texas the first Of whom opposed the majority
report, the other two urging the convention to
drop sentiment and policy and stick TO principle
no matter what the cost.
Neal Dow OF Maine, favored the minority re-
port, did also several Others and the speakers
in favor OF the majority were numberless. So the
debate went on for nearly three hours
Toward the close Mother Stewart, Of Ohio, an
old-time leader In the of prohibition,
spoke strongly In defense of the majority report
Mr.. Mills, OF Ohio, of the leaders OF the OPP
position to woman suffrage, declared that 1t
would require twenty-five years 10 educate the
people on suffrage TO the same point to which
they are educated ON prohibition and TO adopt
the majority report would set the party back
thirty Ave years. He pleaded with the oonven-
| ton not TO do such Il disparaging act.
Rev. j. Cans argued that the question Of honor
was involved. The Prohibition party had secured
| the accession of the Home Protection party in
| 1884 by promising TO support woman suffrage
| and to go back ON it would be treason.
Mr.. John Russell of Michigan, and Mr. Ben
| nett, of Kansas, also strongly supported the
| majority report,
Miss Frances f.. Willard, rose, as it proved, to
| close the debate. She spoke favoring q compro-
mise of the contending influences, and appealed
to the delegates to vote in favor Of the original
woman suffrage plank.
As she closed, amid tremendous confusion, a
dozen voices were heard shouting for the
| uupatiOn being
carried by an overwhelming vote. The amend
ment was then rejected and the majority report
adopted,
The strongest speeches In favor of substituting
/ ha min hu oY,1