The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-30
Radical Prohibitionists from Nearly
Every State Crowd the Hotels
Coming to Their National Convention They
Find Extreme Woman Suffragists Raising q
Knetty aud Dangerous Question to Solve.
Oratorical and Evolutionary Contests
Provide a Great Deal of Enthusiasm.
The National COMMITTEES Considered the Suf-
rage Plank, but Finally Left 1t to Its Sue
cessors-Other Features of the Event.


THE ARRIVAL OF DELEGATES.
scenes About the Hotels and Current Gossip
Among the Delegates.
Delegates to the national Prohibition conven-
Zion, of both sexes, came in on every train yes
Asrday, and the hotel Hobbies were thronged with
strangers last night The special train, with
the Eastern contingent, was delayed and did
not get in until late in the afternoon. 1t was
xaily decorated, and carried as a portion of its
equipment . big wooden crank, with o hand
organ. In its interior. At every way station Of
any account the train was stopped, the
prank deposited on the platform and . prohi-
Ebition tune or two was ground out for the edit
seation of the astonished natives.
/ Governor St John arrived in escort of the
Californian delegation. and found . band of music
awaiting him. The streets were SO muddy that
the delegation took to the sidewalk while the
band and one carriage containing the Governor
, went through the principal streets of the town,
leaving the eseors so far in the rear
THAT the crowds wondered what it all
meant Sam Small slipped in unobserved
.snd so did Mother Stewart. Of Ohio, Frances
willard and other leading lights Of the party.
All Of the delegates were supplied with
badges before their departure from home. but
they found that a plenteous supply, in all the
,eolors of the rainbow and more. and Of . dozen
designs, had been laid in by the local commit
tee, and they quickly pre-empted the hospitality.
Some of them are wearing six and seven. max
ing . solid line across the breast The press
badges are Of the bright yellow OF q quarantine
Gag. The Eastern delegates have q special badge
with the inscription, 'Billy Yanks." That of
the Wolverines reads, Michigan Prohibition
Cranks." The Texans are the "Lons Star
Boys The Philadelphia ~phalanx, in white
helmets. with flying blue ribbons, created a sem
sstion- Some of the delegates have ribbons
with the inscription. Protection Of Labor"
1t looked last night as If nothing could pre-
vent the convention from getting into a tangle
on she woman suffrage question The friends
Of the constitutional amendment are determined
90 test the spirit of the gathering, de-
spite the fact that all the old leaders
dsprscate such a course. During the past month
Miss Willard has been appealed to from number
less sources. and by people whose representa-
tons are entitled to her consideration, to abstain
from throwing . frebrand into the convention,
and the argument has been advanced that inas-
much ~ prohibition was not one of the planks
Of the women's rights platform. it would be
neither right nor just to load it upon the Prohi-
bitionists, In view Of the great diversity OF opin-
ION which exists among the delegates East and
South. One of the members of the executive
committee said last night, however. that all these
representations had been Of no result. and that
the convention would be compelled to face
1.-The issue.
> Wherever one found q crowd OF delegates, it
might De safely asserted that in four cases out
of FIVE they were discussing the pros and cons of
hhe matter. 1T appears that a large majority Of
4hs delegates favor the suffragistS The speech
es that have been delivered so far indicate that,
and q wide and careful canvass among the
several delegates by a Journal reporter substan-
states it. Still there Is . very decided and
most determined effort TO defeat the
movement The conservative. thoughtful men
OF the convention seemed to be inclined against
1t, while the enthusiasts, who want 90 run every
thing from first to last on q hurrah plan, are in
favor Of It They insist loudly that the party Ia
sslready firmly committed on the question and
that however wise the movement may have been
at first, it il now too late to change front on the
question. The most ~judicious Of the leaders,
however, say that the adoption Of q plank in
favor or women3 voting means the driving away
Of thousands OF voters without any recompense
In return whatever. Men are already openly
asserting that they will never act with the party
II such a course is pursued.
A Journal reporter asked one of the executive
- u
and settled IN committee and he was informed
that nc matter how that body might act on it,
The matter would be carried before the con-
vention and debated vigorously. The plan now
Is TO devote four hours TO its discussion, dividing
the time equally between the speakers of the
two sides and at the end Of that period take
the vote. This will probably be adopted. Be
that a. IL may, the audience tomorrow.
when the convention assemblies. will I'M
doubtsdly be treated TO an animated and posi-
bly, acrimonious discussion Of the subject. and in
whatever way the decision may be made, a
great deal of dissatisfaction will be the result.
Next TO woman's suffrage Endorsement the Sc
lection Of q vice presidential candidate 10 the
most important theme OF discussion. Any num-
Der of gentlemen are talked about and are
ready TO sacrifice themselves to make the race.
The Maryland delegates arrived last night in q
special car and are enthusiastic for Joshua Lev
ering, the big coffee merchant Of Baltimore. E.
L. Dahopey. OF Texas. Is being pushed vigorously
by his friends They claim that he is especially
strong with the laboring element in his own
State, and will poll q very large vote on that ac-
count. A good many delegate 9 are in favor Of
George ". Balm. of Kentucky. They urge that
he has been in the work for a number of years
and that q recognition OF his services ouehtto be-
made in some way. On the contrary it is urged
that he Is not able TO give up his
l~ecturing to make the canvass. for that
is his means of making a livelihood. One
enthusiastic supporter asserted, however. that
IL Col Balm would consent to take the race he
would GO into the convention and raise him sl0.-
00c without any trouble. Col Balm is undoubt-
edly very popular with the delegates, and fills
the bill In one respect-that is. he was in the
rebel army-something that the convention
seems bent on requiring of its candidate for the
vice-presidency.
Green Clay Smith is still talked of
considerably, though it il hardly
probable that be will be chosen.
Nearly every delegate wants TO select q confed-
crate soldier for that position, the general de-
sire oeicg TO make a soldiers ticket-ths Blue
and the Gray. DIR. Brooks, Of Kansas CITY. also
has . good following, and would. IL he were
further south, have a chance for the nomination.
Colonel Tanner, Of Alabama, still continues 10
have = following. On the whole the indications
are that the convention will be badly divided in
the choice of a candidate for this Office. with a
likelihood of taking several ballots before it Ia
decided.
THE VnTr<G C~nIIEGTANS