The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-06-08
The First.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, May 3O.-The
first national convention of the year as
semhled here this morning, and for many
reasons the probable action Of the Ma
tiSnal Prohibition party is awaited with
extraordinary anxiety by the Republican
and Democratic leaders, not only in 1ndi-
ana, but throughout the commonwealth.
There are over two thousand delegates
and alternates in attendance and their
ranks are reinforced by thousands of
sympathizers with the prohibition move.
ment from both the old political parties.
Tomlinson's Hall, the place of meeting,
was taxed to its utmost capacity when
the convention was called to order this
morning, and many who desired to wit
ness the the proceedings could hot obtain
entrance to the building. As the call for
the convention was fixed for decoration day
and the majority Of tho delegates desired
to participate in the anniversary e1er-
cises II solemneties, Rev. Samuel
Dickey suggested an early adjournment
be taken and that the regular order of
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and action of the convention be deferred
until tomorrow. A great deal of prelim-
mary work, however, is being done prior
to the decisive action which will be taken
in the convention. Emissaries from both
the Republican and Dem )cratic parties of
undoubted influence and standing are
here in large numbers. They seem to
have no practical policy in view, however,
and no o%vertures for the support of the
prohibition vote appear to nave been
proifered or encouraged. 1t is reported
that no opposition will be made to the
concurrent action of the provisional dele
gates as was at first apprehended, al
though their status in the convention has
not yet been practically settled. The
call explicitly provides that in accord
ance with the action of the national COM
mittee of the Prohibition party and in
harmony with the instructions ofthe Pro-
hibition national convention of 1884, all
citizens of this republic who believe that
the traffic in intoxicating drinks is a ma
tional disgrace and a national scourge,
that it is destitute of wealth producing
power, that it robs labor. destroys CAPT
tai, ~debauches society, and corrupts pol
ltics, that it defies restraint, breeds law
l~essncss and fostess anarchy, that it seeks
to and already does to an alarming ex-
tent dominate in municipal. state and ma
tional government, that it threatens the
safety of our homes and the perpctuity
of our institutions and that it
ought to be forever prohibited,
who believe that to abolish the saloon
will in a great measure abolish poverty,
assist in solving the labor question, puri-
fly politics and add TO the solidity of our
institutions, who are convinced that this
desirable reform needs for its
ton the responsible agency Of a political
party, clearly committed thereto as a
matter OF principle and not as a matter of
eXpediency; who favor a general and pro-
gressivc system of popular education;
who would amend our laws to secure
greater purity of the ballot; who stand
for a free ballot and a fair count for both
the white man Of the north and the
black man of the south; who favor
the protection of American labor
and the American laborer; who would
foster our agricultural interests
who believe that the ballot in the hand of
woman will be the death knell of the
liquor traffic; in short, all citizens, how
ever they may differ upon other ques-
tions, who are agreed upon the wisdom
and necessity of separate political action
in order to secure the overthrow of the
rum power, are requested to unite under
this call in sending representatives to the
national convention. The basis of rep
rcsenta,ion has been fixed by the national
committee as follows: Two delegates
from the District of Columbia, two from
each territory, and from each state twice
as many as the representatives of the
state in both branches of the national
congress. This is apart from the
provisional delegates appointed sub
sequently under u ruling of the
national committee. This is the largest
convention ever yet held by the Prohibi.
ton party in the United States, and an
extraordinary degree Of enthusiasm and
expectancy is manifested as to the sue
cessful outcome of the grand reunion.
There were over three hundred women
identified with the advancement of the
temperance cause present in the hall this
morning, in addition to a large number
OF clerical delegates and sympathizcrs
with the movement; The general senti-
mcnt is u~nequivocally in favor of Gen.
Clinton B. Fiskc. of New Jersey, as
the choice of the party for the nom
nation for president and it is con
coded that he will meet no opposing can
didate. The party will poll, according to
very carefully prepared estimates, more
than three times TIE number of votes cast
at the last presidential election. and some
of the more sanguine Of the delegates to-
day predict that owing to the large num-
Der of converts TO the temperance side of
politics from both the Democratic and
Republican parties which have been en-
rolled in the prohibition ranks during the
past two or three years that at least a
half a million votes can be safely counted
on for the prohibition ticketth year, the
indications being that The vote will be
even much larger than this. Mention
has been freely heard in the hotels here
today as to the probable nomination of
Green Clay Smith, of Kentucky, for vice
president on the national ticket instead
of George w. Balm, the well known tenn
perance lecturer, but it is pretty well
assured that j. 3. Cranfll, of Texas, will
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