The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-20
POOLING ISSUES.
First Session Of the National
Union Conference.
Ih8 Committee On Resolutions Preparing
a Platform for Adoption.
Senator PETER Named for Permanent PFeSi-
dent Stirring Speeches at an En-
thuSiaStiC HaSS-M8atiHg.
EpecIaI to THE MORNING CALL

that has attracted some attention this morn
ing is the apparent apathy of the South, the
delegates from that section being few in
number. A wide interest is attached to the
presence among the delegates of an un-
usually large number OF prominent labor
men, particularly Knights of Labor leaders.
Il is umored the Knights are in active ALI
ance with the Southern delegates and others
to prevent the convention organizing a third
party at this time. General Master Work
man P0wderly, IN an interview with the
Associated Press representative to-day, just
before the convention was called to order,
said: 1t is not true that either myself, or
other general officers Of the order here, ar e,
as a body, working in any such way. As a
matter of fact" continued Powderly, 81 am
not here as a delegate to the convention,
but to attend a meeting of the Gen
eral Executive Board of the knights
OF Labor, which is called TO meet here, sim
ply because, as a member of the board,
I wish to keep heartily in touch with
the people who would be present. a very
large number OF delegates are hnig hts
perhaps as many as tTO-ttlrdS-Dut they
are not here as representing the order, but
as coming from political clubs or other
bodies OF which they are members. 4
number have siIniiied a wish to know how
/ would advise them to act on such QueS-
tiOus as the immediate third-p rty move
ment, but l have declined to indicate any
course Of action. Ny life work is 10 arouse
the people to think for themselves. The
WorkjngmeD, l have always believed should
tie themselves 20 no one man or party; they
Will then be in better position to dictate
teTms."
THIRD PARTY ADVOCATES.
Various States held meeting at the
Music Hall this morning The attendance
was large and the business chiefly Of q rOu-
tine character. The Ohio delegation de-
cided in favor Of immediate organization of
tlird party and of Government loans
direct TO the people on reasonable security
at interest not TO exceed , per cent per an
num- Almost TO man they declared them
selves, regardless OF what action Is taken
by the National Conference, as bound TO
have at once an independent State ticket in
the field in Ohio.
Tie delegations from Massachusetts,,
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, California and
Louisiana are also in favor of a thiTd party.
South Dakota opposed the formation of a
thhd party, OF those from Kansas the
majority are favorable to a. new orEaniza-
tiOu, but there IS some opposition to any
radical action AZ this time.
About sevcnty-hYe delegates are present
from Illinois. but as there was some trouble
about credentials % o decision was taken.
The Iowa delegates. OF which there are
seventy-fye present, favor a new party, but
sre IN doubt as 70 its ACCESSIBILITY at this
time.
FORMAL OPENING.
To tie aspiring strains of the Star
spangled Banner' from the great organ, tile
delegates took the places assigned them,
Kansas and Nebraska getting the most
prominent positions, close TO the stage. Be
sides the national cOlUrs, the only decOra-
tons We're the banners Of the Knights of
Labor assemblies and kindred organizations
At exactly , o'clock p. II. a delegate ad-
vanCed 10 the front Of the stage, and aC-
eompanied by the great organ, led The au-
0ience In singing Ny Country, lis OF
Thee" At the conclusion OF the song, R-v.
d. T. Foster Of Cincinnati invoked the
divine blessing, the delegates repeating
with him the Lords Prayer. Captain Power
OF Indiana then read the official call for the
conference, and requested the various or
CARNATIONS therein named 10 rise as their
names were called, which was done. The
appearance OF each delegation was greeted
with applause.
TEMPORARY OFFICERS.
Charles +. Cunningham OF Arkansas was
introduced as temporary Chairman. The
fOTmaity of an election being dispensed
with, be made a feTyd appeal for harmony.
An Alliance song to the tune Of John
Browns Body" was the next feature OF the
proceedings W. II. RObb of Iowa and q.
I. Washbum Of Massachusetts were made
Assistant Secretaries. 5. w. Chase of Kan
sas was elected for Sergeant-at-Arms
A lively wrangle here ensued as to
whether the States should be called for
members Of the committees or that the vari-
Gus national organizations named IN the
call make the nominations Of the committed
men. Oakland of Kentucky led the fight
against the first plan, but was finally beaten.
COMMITTEE on RESOLUTIONS.
A Committee on Resolutions was ap-
pointed with instructions to 90 into session
at once and prepare a platform. Among
the members are: ii. 4. Dillon, California;
De =. Weaver, Iowa; Ignatius DOnnelly,
Minnesota; IL. l. Shears, Wyoming.
The cOurteSles Of the Chamber of Com
merce and Merchants Exchange were ex-
tended the delegates, and an enterprlsing
photographer worked IN the further an
n0uncement that he would gratuitOusly
take the pictures OF the Kansas delegation.
Amid great laughter the convention ad-
jUurned till TO morrow
THE COMMITTEE AT WORK.
The Committee on Resolutions met this
evening and organized by ma king Ignatius
D0nnelly Of Minnesota Chairman. Mem
beTs who emerged at intervals from the
cOmmittee-rOOm predicted that the commit
tee would work harmOniOuSly, aud said the
St. Louis platform would be taken as the
basis upon which to proceed. The third
party on the spot enthusiasts tonight
blOssomed out, wearing pieces Of blue rib
bon about an inch square on their white
badges. One Of them when asked its mean
ing said: THE child is already born and
we mean to put clothes on it right away"
intmating that the growth Of the new party
spirit had been such that those VINO had
been cOncealing their real sentiments from
prudential motives are inclined to throw
of their mask and urge immediate action in
the matter.
PROPORTIONS PRESENTED.
It Is understood that when the States
were called in the Committee on ResOlu-
tions tonight Congressman Otis of Kansas
proposed that the conference reafirm the
Ocala and ST. Louis platforms, and appoint
a National Committee to confer with the
members Of the meeting to be held In Gin
cinnati February p, 1892 Otis prop osition,
# is said, was warmly supported by Weaver
of Iowa and DOnnelly of Minnesota, and
will probably form the basis upon which
the committee viii perform its laDOTs. The
new party men in this conference, who are
hourly growing bOlder in their demands FOR
Immediate action, are determined to head
Of the McCune-P Pulk-SimpsOn contingent
and TO that end they are exerling them
selves to have the convention take such ac-
ton and adopt such platform as viii make
new party certainty in 1892.
MCUNE AND SIMPSON.
Prohibition and woman suffrage were
aired before the cOmmi ttee. McCune and
Simpson are charged with lingering so long
in Washington after the adjournment Of
Congress that they nave become impressed
with the ideas Of those who are opposed to
active work looking to the formation of a
new party.
At midnight the Committee on ResoIu-
tions was still in session, with the prospect
Of an all-night meeting. From time to time
there has been intimation Of discord. About
10 O'Clock POwdery was summoned. Mr.
Norton Of the Chicago Sentinel address sed
the committee, urging the formation Of
new party at once, and announcing his in
tention in the event Of the committee shirk-
ing the responsibility imposed upon to carry
the fight iuto the convention. He was fre-
QuentIy interrupted by applause. The feel