The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-09-28

| NOTES.
| The Temperance Alliance convention
las passed its resolutions and adjourned.
Many of the difficulties pointed out by
us last week were apparent in the make
up and sentiment Of the convention.
The contest in Batllgate resulted from
the want of distinct Temperance ALI
ancc party lines and the fact that the
average democratic or republican voter
finds nothing Ill the call TO prevent him
from participating in such caucuses or
conventions, provided that he is for farm.
crs rights or for local option.
Mr.. Wilson and his associates went
away angry and declaring that because
they were not admitted that it was q stab
at the Farmers Alliance. We think they
are in error; they were rejected because
the convention believed that they had
deliberately packed the caucus with
men who cared little or nothing for the
Alliance Or for Temperance, but who did
care Il great deal for the endorsement of
the democratic ticket by the Alliance
Temperance convention.
So far as the work done by the conven-
ton Is concerned, we are well pleased
with the general result, and we firmly
believe that the convention did the best
thing possible for the good of their
cause.
The republicans were largely in the
majority, and if any ticket had been cn-
dorsed as a whole it would have un-
doubleday been the republican ticket,
but the majority of the delegates had the
opinion that, as temperance men, the re-
solution passed was the best thing to do
for local option.
The newspaper men had to sit quietly
and take it. The delegates had the
floor. Rev. Mr.. Cooper and others paid
their compliments to the press in good
style. Rev. Mr.. Cooper corrected the
statement of the PIONEER EXPRESS that
"he voted for Cleveland" saying that he
voted for John L. st. John. We beg the
gentleman's pardon for the misstate-
inent, but don't think he has much to do
with the gist Of the report. which was,
that Mr.. Cooper, in endeavoring to show
the Bnthgate convention that he was
democrat, gave examples of his action
on election days in The past, and instead
of Cleveland lie may have said he voted
for Day or some other democratic nomi-
nee. But VIC distinctly remember that
MIR. e. did not mention to that conyen.
ton, to prove his democracy, that he
voted for st. john. BY the way, if Mr..
G. voted for st. John ins tead of Cleve.
land he must have enjoyed a privilege
not accorded to the average citizen of
Dakota, as we believe he was Il resident
OF this territory then. Mr.. Cooper COM
planned bitterly of the criticisms of the
press. seeming TO think that his action
was above criticism; but he forgets that
lie belongs to the two classes of men,
either OF whom the general public have
always considered as fair subjects of
criticism, to.wit: clergynlen and politi-
clans. Fortunately for Mr.. G. the con-
vention OIL Tuesday did not by endorse.
ment, put him, as third party man. to
the test of supporting his opponent, as
such endorsce, as against himself as a
democratic nominee.
The cx-oflicio members of the Bath.
gate delegation voted against the Wilson
delegates.
Drayton was divided house, but st.
Thomas was "solid" with it's IA votes.
Bro. Wilson moved that this delegation
take seats Oh the stage.
1t WAS only in the natural order of
things that temperance convention
should be republican in sentiment.
Most of the speakers seemed to think
and say that the regular parties had only
endorsed their platform in order to get
votes; and yet a large number present as
delegates were also delegates to either
the democratic or republican conycn.
tons, and there is no doubt that the ma
jority Of delegates in both conventions
favored local option. We might criticise
some of the temperance delegates on the
"policy business" but we forbear.
From some remarks made by mem.
bcrs Of the Alliance We should judge
that they were not altogether pleased |
with the results.
DNvN, skNl n