The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1891-05-20
Session of the National Union Conven-
tiOn Begnn-Third Party Men
in the Majority.
A Lively Fight Promised Over Mime
sofas Double Headed Del
CATION.
The Silver Question and the Eight
Hour Day to BE Leading Features
Of the Debates.

CINCINNATI, Ohio, May 20.-The Ma
tional Union conference OF representa-
tives of the various farmers alliances
and industrial organizations was called
to order at $50 p. m. in Music hall by
Capt. G. A. Powers, of Terre Haute,
Ind. The hall has seating capacity of
1900 but the crowd of delegates and
outsiders who had been attracted there
in the interest of the event was large
enough to fill every portion of the struc-
ture. Charles Cunningham, of Arkan-
sas, was chosen as temporary chairman.
Prior to the convention coming to order
the state delegations held separate eau
cnses. In nearly every case Issue was
made between the third party men and
the antis, and the indications are that
the former win have control Of the con
a lively fight i promised oven
the admission Of one of the contendinE
delegations from Minnesota. One set OF
delegates il headed and appointed by
President Ignatius Donnelly Of the Min
nesota State Farmers Alliance, and the
other set are the appointees of the Ali
ance state central committee which con-
Quoted the campaign last fall The
committee delegates bear with them
properly certified credentials of the
state central COMMITTEES.
Donnelly and his followers do not ap-
pear to be worried about the situation,
and claim that the opposition comes
from persons hostile 10 the movement,
who are acting under orders from the
wheat ring Of Minnesota.
1t has not been determined what
method the conference win adopt to,get
its views before the people. There is
some talk of preparing an address in
which cardinal principles Of those at
tsnding the conference ON finance,
transportation, labor and law viii be
fully set forth. Again. it is urged that
the proper way would be to
Adept . Platform
and take such action "a win settle In
the Affirmative the question of cutting
adrift from the old parties and nomin-
ating candidates for the presidency and
vice presidency In 1892. The afternoon
was devoted chiefly to conferences of the
various state delegates, they being, for
the most part, harmonious In their de-
hberations.
The Iowa delegation, among other
things, adopted resolution urging the
nomination OF full independent ticket
next june, and telegraphed it's decision
to prominent men in that state in SYM
pathy with the movement.
silver and nm Eight Hour Day.
The Eastern men are quite active in
regard to the position to be taken on the
silver question and an reight-hour
plank. That the conference favors
the restoration of silver to the position
it occupied before 1878, viz, on an
equality with gold as monetary stand
ard of value.
Also the following: rAs eight hours
constitute legal days work for gov
errment employees In mechanical depart
ments, we believe this principle should
be further extended, so as to apply to
all firms and corporations employing la
Dor in the different states of the Union.
thus reducing the hours of labor and in
proportion increasing the demand for
it. ;"
Eastern men announce their deter
mination to make a strong effort to se-
cure the incorpol alton of these planks
in the platform, and indicate that their
zeal IN future will depend largely upon
their adoption.