Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-08
MANIPULATED BY A CLIQUE.
Some of the Inside Workings OF the
Prohibition Convention.

LINCOLN, Neb.,, June Especial to
THE BEE. The organization of the Prohlbi-
tory Amendment league at Lincoln on We'd
nesday has a history that has not yet ap-
peared in public print. Two Lincoln lawyers
with political kites to fly have set the move
ment under way tosgive them the tails they
lacked to soar into public notice. Like the
boy who fired the Ephesan dome they were
previously unknown to fame. The league IS
the creature of Messrs. G. A. Atkinson and
c. A. Robbins. 30
MIR. Atkinson has been connected with the
AntiSaloon Republican league of New
title, es but but It. has been lost
in obscurity. His office was the
secret meeting place last winter of the pro-
hibitionists in the legislature, MIR. Robbins
eral Leese to be allowed to plead for the
double-headed amendment before the su-
preme court, and when he came to speak he
apoiogized for his rambling talk with the
confession that Hon. John L. Webster had
stolen his thunder.
These two gentlemen concocted the call
for Wednesdays convention and circulated
it for signatures. They took two or three
other Lincoln men and several ambitious
legislators into their confidence, and that
little clique manipulated the convention.
They held a private caucus at Atkinson's
Office the night before and fixed up u scheme
of action.
An examination of the proceedings of the
convention will show how we'll the scheme
was worked. Representative Dempster
called the meeting to ORDERLY request. Mr..
Atkinson was made temporary chairman.
When member of the convention, evidently
not IN the ring, unexpectedly moved to make
the temporary organization permanent, Mr..
Robbins persisted that the motion might be
construed TO mean permanent orgaization
for the proposed league and he frantically
insisted on a ruling from the chair. The
latter relieved the minds of the schemers.
John M. Stewart, of Lincoln, deputy attor-
ney-general, moved the committee on plan
of organization. He was made char
man and given agreeable colleagues
MIR. Atkinson read tie women out of the
proceedings, but subsequently was overruled
by the convention. When the committee re-
ported a form of organization Mr.. Robbins
tried to cram it down the conventions throat
by moving to adopt it as e whole, without
discussion, and was supported by Reprcsen-
tatives Dempster and Whitehead. The con-
ventlon rejected the gag and the members of
the clique were vlsibly chagrined. When
the third party prohibitionists objected to
the name first selected (The Nebraska State
Temperance leaguel, it was Lincoln man,
H. II. Wilson, who met the emergency
new name. Mr. Robbins reported the
nominees for league officers. and Mr.. Demp-
ster the members of the executive commit
The list of officers shows how effectively
the little band of schemers finished their
work. Mr.. Atkinson is president; Mr.. Rob
bins secretary MIR. Dempster, first vice pres
ident; Mr.. Stewart is on the executive COM
mittee from the first district and Mr. White
head for the third.
Had those present at the convention OBJ
served its workings closely they would have
noticed how few members manipulated the
whole proceedings to their own glory and
advancement.
Representative Dempster aspred to the
leadership of the prohibition forces OF the
house of representatives. but it was snatched
from him by Hall and Ctdy and others. He
aspired to lead the new movement but he
was accused of desire TO use it to promote
his gubernatorial Ambition. To prove the
purity of his motives he said 'your presi-
dent can not be-" He has also denied that
he is candidate fon,the nomination for gov
ernOr, but the mild)tdisdaimer was laughed
at in the convention.