The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-06-06


purity OF the party, almost hid Ex-Governor st.
John from view when he called the seoond'day's
session Of the National Prohibition Convention
10 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. II they
looked rather tired and sleepy, however, they
We're not lacking I'm enthusiasm. and as the lead
ing representatives put in their appearance they
ut 10 o'clock by Rev. A. NJ. Richardson of Kansas,
and the routine proceedings went along
smoothly until the report Of the Committee
ON Rules was presented. The document
submitted, among number Of minor recon-
mendations, one limiting individual speeches TO
hve minutes on any one subject This raised a
storm among the anti.woman sufiragists, whose
grievance was stated by Walter Thomas Mills
the Little Giant Of Ohio" Motions upon mo-
tons were submitted. and for time the Chair
mans gavel was given all AZ could do. Speeches
were made while the utmost confusion feigned
Finally Mr.. Christian, Of Chicago, took the dele
gates sharply TO task and good order was restored
The previous question ordered by a large
majority; all the amendments were defeated,
and the report Of the committee adopted. This
was a decided victory for the women's side Of
the house and they cheered and cheered again.
Resolutions deploring the murder of Rev. DIR.
Haddock, OF Sioux City, who was designated a
martyr 10 the cause OF prohibition, were adopted
by rising vote.
In the morning session the Chairman OF the
Finance Committee, DIR. Evans of Illinois, urged
the necessity Of raising the sum Of 81, 900 for
campaign expenses, and called for pledges from
those present. Tho first pledge was made by b.
F.Sturtevant of New York for $1,000, which was
afterward doubled In less than half an hour
about S23, 900 was pledged. The widest enthusi-
asm prevailed, every one giving "A large sum be-
ing compelled TO stand in chair while the dele
gates cheered.
The platform was presented at the afternoon
session, ana tho plank reported was unequivo-
cally in favor OF unlimited suffrage. After the
Secretary, the Rev. Sam Small, had read the
port OF the committee, tho Hon. J. N. Olin, Of
Wisconsin, read a minority report. he alone disa-
inc wit aVrRfr III FaA IN
stitute, in which the whole question of woman
suffrage was relegated 20 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 10 five minutes each. IL 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 amond-
meft offered TO permit this under
the rules, and, after a sharp debate. in
which the convention was besought not TO
apply the gag rule, but to give tho necessary
plank, 10 was voted down by tremendous ma
jority. Speakers were therefore limited to five
minutes, and more able defense of woman suf-
frage or stronger argument against fncorporat-
ing it into party platform was never presented
In the midst of the contest over the woman
suffrage plank Mr.. Diclde, OF Michigan. tried to
compromise matters by moving that the debate
be confined to two hours, four leading men on
each side to speak. The convention would not
hear Of IL and the wrangle proceeded.
Mrs. Merriweather, of Missouri, denied that
woman suffrage opposed in the South. Those
who said so knew not whereof they spoke.
Mrs. Perkins, OF Ohio, followed in an earnest
plea for the ballot for women, without which the
temperance movement 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 a 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, q. w. Balm of Kentucky, and Mr.. Crandall
Of Texas. the first Of whom opposed the majority
report the other two urging the convention 10
drop sentiment and policy and stick TO principle
no matter ws-at the cost.
Neal Dow, OF Maine, favored the minority re-
port as 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-tiIne leader in the cause Of prohibition
spoke strongly in defense Of the majority report.
Mr.. Mills of Ohio, one OF tho leaders OF the op-
position to woman suffrage, declared that It
would require twenty Ave years to 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-five years. He pleaded with the conven-
ton not to do such disparaging act.
Rev. j. Guns 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 IL 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 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.
dozen voices were henrd shouting for the
previous question, and on being put it was
carried by an overwhelming vote. The amend
ment was then rejected and the majority report
adopted
The strongest speeches In favor Of substituting
tha minority renort were made by Oliver and