New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-07
THE THIRD P4RTY'S PLATFORM


The leading resolution of the platform which
the Third party PtohibidonSts adopted at their
recent convention at Syracuse reads rs follows
6. We recognize the duty Of the coming Legs
ature 10 submit 10 the electors of the state amend
ncnt 10 the Constitution prohibiting the liquor traffic,
but the political machinery of both the Old parties
and almost the entire press Of these parties In every
recent contest have been combined for the defeat OF
prohibition protest against any such submission
by any political party whose only purpose IS pro-
bibition defeat; and further declare that If the
amendment is submitted in this state. the Prohibition
party will make every possible effort 10 secure It's
adoption.
One Of Charles DickenS'S characters in mo-
ment Of entire fIankncSS and Self-abnegatlon
eXcaims: O. more muddled man than me
doesn't exist The match of this unfortunate
person would seem TO have had the controlling
voice in the Platform Committee of the Syla-
! cuse Convention. The Legislature is charged
with the duty Of passing the Prohibition
Amendment and at the same time the discharge
of that duty is protested against! The Third
party leaders have every reason to believe that
the Republicans will have a majority in the
next Senate and Assembly. So in effect these
leaders speaking through the platform Of their
party, say to the Republicans: We urge you
!
people may have an opportunity of voting upon
it, but at the same time we beg to assure you
that in your efforts for the accomplishment of
| that result you will receive no assistance from
us. While you are busy at work securing the
| necessary votes for the success OF the amend
ment we shall do our best to handicap you with
| our protests" Muddled indeed must have been
! the head responsible for such a wabbling plank.
! As for the last clause Of the resolution in
which the Third-party people commit them
| selves to every possible eifOrt' to secure the
| passage of the amendment in case it reaches
! the people, there is full warrant for charging
! that this promise was not made in good faith.
! They do not want the amendment to reach
| popular vote next year, or any year in the near
future The chairman Of their State Committee
| has admitted as much, and so has their party
! organ, 1.-THE Voice" 1t is not likely there
| fore, in the nature of things, that they will
make every possible effort for the amend
ment in the event of it's prompt submission.
| The obvious truth is that the Third party has
come to the conclusion that in its demand for
! Prohibition in New York State it represents an
inconsiderable minority of the people; and that
! it is most anxious to avoid having a popular
/
result would be demonstration of the fact
that it is the one julyman in the box who is
confronted by eleven obstinate associates. On
no other theory can the present fast and loose
attitude Of the Third party on Prohibition be
/ explained.
One other resolution of the platform deserves
attention. 1t is the plank which arrays the
party's convention against the partys organ.
The convention resolved that license, high or
low, is vicious in principle" But The Voice.
in 1887 distinctly favored license scheme
There is an easy and an Immediately prac-
teal way,' the Editor of " The Voice. wrote in
letter addressed to THE TRIBUNE " to reduce
the number Of the saloons. Let the present
law be amended as follows: Excise Commits
ioners shall not grant saloon permits in any
Assembly district beyond one to one hundred
| votes . The reform should go much
further; but if we cannot have the whole loaf
we are willing to take it in slicesn So far as
we have observed, THE Voice. has never re-
pudiated this license scheme which It's Editor
iathefcd, and if it never has, will it not feel
bound to dissent fIom the platform? The men