The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-01

nothing that win tend 20 divide and weaken. To at
tempt TO carry to . successful issue another great
<1ded on a different line viii be to attempt what
VII Be an inpossibility .
An indorssmsnt Of women suffrage in Jour nation
. platform win effectualy prevent our ever oecom-
ing q truly national party. It is an appeal 70 the peo-
pie on behalf Of an issue admitted by its best fr1ends
to be opposed by a large majority IN AL sections OF
constitationally reserved TO the States, and which the
States may Justly claim may be safely LETT to them
which now seeks and is receiving support from the
members Of al parties without affecting their party
allegiance and viii thus tend TO check all advance for
woman's suffrage until the Prohibition party shall Dc
In tie majority: woman's suffrage 10 In its very
nature . dividing issue and no party can ever gain .
birion party seeks the support of all good people,
sufraeists and auti-suhragists alike. any
expression of sentiment on this question that
an unworthy compromise with principle. dictated By
the unworthy policy of seeking 20 reconcile the
friends and enemies Of suffrage which viii bring upon
Us the greatest shame that can befai any Political
party, that of constructing . platform that looks both
ways. We have been Representing the old parties with
compromising principle in order to get the friends
and opponsnts of the liquor traffic to stand together;
yet We would be doing exactly the same thing in re-
gard to the suffrage question. playing fast and loose
loss Of confidence but danger Of ignominious defeat
Fidelity 70 the great principle Of prohibition re-
auirss that we confne ourselves to this one great
issne- True policy, which Is wisdom and prudence
hand, demands that we pursue this course. Principle
and sound policy are IN entire harmony there Is.
demand that our platform should be free from any
oppression upon the question of woman suffrage.
At the conclusion Of the reading Of the report
Mr. Boole. Of New York. moved that the ma
jority report be received A dozen motions fol-
bowed in rapid succession, and the chairman
same near getting lost Mr.. Miller, Of Ohio,
moved to receive the minority report and on
his motion . vote was taken. by which the re-
port was received. The vote was 30 close that
, division was called for, but the chair refused
Sir. Boole did not think the minority report
should be considered at oil, beeause il was not o
report IL contained no plank on the suffrage
question, and was merely an argument THAT
DIN was not 70 be headed of, though. and
appearing on the platform he said
he had q resolution he wished TO offer will
you hear himP asked the chair. NO" came In
. chorus; but better Judgment prevailed, after .
few moments confusion. and the Professor read
ths GLOWING. which he said received thirteen
sotes In the COMMITTEES on Wednesday night:
w believe that this right Of equal suffrage
10 women IL one that should DO settled by the
several States. according to the public sentiment
10 those States, and We promise as . party that
- rapidly 40 We como into power We will sub
init this question to . vote Of the people in the
several States 70 be settled by them at the bal
lot-box.
lu6Eo WA6 III V0loCbi0u I6l8ou W 0SosAOu ~
By . delegate from Mississippi who didn't like
she word must but after q little discussion
the section was adopted. Sections three and
tour were also adopted without any opposition.
sion. Sidley, Of Illinois. didn't like the refer
ence TO direct taxation. which, he thought,
would be misinterpreted by the enemy In q
manner that would do them harm. The chair
man Of the committee on resolutions agreed
that the reference was q bad one, and BY con-
scnf fba phraaa a atrickap ont ann tha nlanR
was then adopted.
When section seven was reached the faces Of
the delegates wore . feverish expression.
Chaplin. Of Wisconsin, set the ball roll
Ing by moving that the minority report
be substituted for that Of the majority. Chair
man St. John then announced that the question
before the convention was the adoption Of the
motion Of Mr.. Chaplin, and the long-expected de-
bare was on hand A1score or more OF delegates,
10th men and women, were on the floor It once
attempting TO get recognition from the chair.
I. g. Richmond. of Wisconsin, was recognized.
He spoke strongly against the majority report
He said there were 10000 people in the South
who would support the party in case the suf-
fraee plank was not adopted The people were
not educated on the question OF woman's suf-
frage. Was the Prohibition party to indorse the
plank and then wait until 60, 900 people were
educated MP to the point reached by the
the convention would undertake but one reform
~ q time. Toe substitute gave the party all il
could ak. and as a matter Of policy should be
adopted While Mr.. Richmond WAS speaking
Mrs. Merriweatner, Of Missouri, attracted the
attention OF the entire convention by leaving
her seat end walking toward the chair Ia o de-
monstrative manner. When Mr.. Richmond con-
cludsd she attempted to secure recognition but
failed.
At the conclusion of Mr. Richmond's speech
Mr.. Diekis moved to have the rules suspended.
and that but two speakers be allowed to discuss
the question-four on each side. A vote Was
taken on the motion. and it was overwhelmingly
defeated.
Mrs. Merriwesther was next recognized. She
denounced az false the statement that the party
would lose votes Ia the South in case the ma
jority report was adopted. She had lectured all
over the South, had taken votes in hundreds Of
religious meetings, and she had found them al
most unanimous for woman suffrage. The men
who attempted to speak for the South knew not
whereof they spoke.
Mrs. NJ. e. Perkins said: ''who taught these
men TO be Prohibitionistsl Their mothersf
ask you 10 give their mothers the power to keep
their boys from the saloon Il has been said
that the mother who rocks the cradle rocks the
world That would be true If we
could keep the world in the cradle.
She appealed to the convention In be
half Of the mothers Of the land to adopt the
majority report. Prohibition may be secured in
every State. but it could not be enforced with
ont the vote of the women. 1t was said that ii
Was a question or expediency to indorse the
minority report. II was thought expedient to
cruelty Christ, but his crucifxion did not save
the jewish nation. The party should stand fol
the right, If IL forever remained Ia the minority
From among the large number Of delegates
asking to be heard the Chair next recognized
Prof Olin. the author OF the minority report
who stood on a chair in the extreme northeas,
corner Of the hall
go to the stage called several delegates.
Il was informed said Professor Olin, THAI
would not be permitted TO speak from that
stage" This retort created the widest excite
ment, and it was several minutes before order
could DO restored. Finally. Chairman st. Johr
succeeded in saying that be, himself, suggested
20 Professor DIN that he had not better speak
from the stage, but he intended no offsuse.
Professor DIN was permitted TO proceed, and,
In an eloquent and impressive address. he sup
ported the report he presented. He said he had
been in the minority before. All he had a.
Prohibition party. He was fol
woman's suffrage long before he became a
Prohibitionist. but he knew it was suicidal Il
indcrse the principle in the convention. "When
ever you put womanss suffrage in the platform
the csuse Of prohibition at the Ohio river" i
the plank was put in II would drive many Of tht
best men from the party, among them Judkinl
and Walter Thomas Mills
Col. George A Balm, Of Kentucky. was tn
next speaker. he favored the majority report
Every Southern man on the resolution commit
tee had indorsed 10. II believe said be. "tha
John M. Olin has done more to create dissatis
faction in the party than all other things com
bined" The Prohibitiouists could not unloat