The Portland daily press., 1891-05-21
1T DAMPENED THEIR WILD ARDoR.
The Union Conference Platform
Adopted by a Howllng Mob
Which Was.QuIckIy Sobered by a Pro-
1ibitIon Resolution.
The peoples Party" Enters the
Arena With a Great hubbub.

Union convention today, a long debate was
occasioned by the report of the committee on
rules and orders, mainly directed to the
question whether each state should vote as
unit or each delegate should be entitled to
voice. The latter method was decided up
on by large majority, the result being a
victory for the third party men.
A letter from l.. l.. Polk was read. advis-
ing the conference to issue an address and
defer the action on the third party until 1892
This caused breeze. When the motion to
refer 1t to the committee on resolutions was
declared carried. there was loud demand
that the negative be put more forcibly by
the chair. Ignatius Donnelly, chairman of
the committee on resolutions, climbed upon
the rostrum aud set the convention wild by
reporting that the committee ON platform
was uuit for the organization of a third
party. He gave way to Robert Schilling of
Wisconsin, secretary of the committee who
read the platform. 1t calls for the crystallf-
Zation OF the political reform forces of our
country and the foundation of what should
be known as the Peoples Party of the Unit
ed States. 1t urges united action; that all
progressive organizations attend confer
ence to be called February %, 1892, and rec
ommendS the appointment of a national
central committee to represent this body at
that conference. where. If no satisfactory
tee shall cali national convention not later
than June l, 1892, for the purpose of nomi-
mating candidates for President and Vice
President. The platform urges that the
state where there is no independent political
organization, to conduct an active system of
politica, agitation in their respective states 1t
endorses the demands of the platforms
adopted at ST. Lonis, Mo-. in 1889. Ocala,
Fla. in 1890, and Omaha, Neb, in 1891, by
industrial organizations. These demands
are: :The abolition of national banks as banks
OF issue; that as substitute for national
bank notes legal tender treasury notes be is
sued in sufficient volume to transact the bus
mess OF the country on cash basis, such
notes. when demanded by the people, to be
loaned to them at not more than two per
cent per annum, supon n0n-perishable pro-
ducts, as indicated in the sub treasury an,
and also upon real estate, with proper l. nit
alton upon the quantity of land and the
amount of money; that laws be passed pro-
hlbltlng alien ownership of land; that all
lands held by railroads and other CORPORA
tions In excess OF such as arc actually used
and needed by them be reclaimed by the
government and held for actual settlers only;
That taxation shall not be used to build up
one interest or c'ass at the expense of an
otner; that al revenue be limited to the
necessary expenses of the government
economically and honesty administered;
that just and equitable system of graduated
tax ON income be devised; that the most rig
ID. honest and just national control and su-
lie communication and transportation
be established; that, if this control and
supervision does not remove the abuses now
existing. the government shall assume the
ownership OF such means of communication
and transportion that the election of Presi-
ators be BY the direct TSts tfs psope. san"
Additional resolutions. not a part of the |
denim the action of the Worlds Fair Com
mission. with reference to wages. The
name of the new party is to be the Peoples
Party of the United States"
The platform ELECTED magnificent out.
burst OF applause, and, as each plank was
read. the cheering was renewed. One
plank recommended universal suffrage to
favorable consideration, and another de:
basis. The former met with rather chilly |
reception but the latter was roundly cheered. |
One delegate objected to the platform as |
one sided for the Farmers Alliance, but met |
with little encouragement.
Secretary Schilling declared the conven- |
tion was here for harmony and new Dec |
laration of Independence"
Mr.. Davis of Texas announced himself as |
an x-Confederate. and declared fol- the plat |
form, every plank and every resolution.
Mr.. Wadsworth of Indiana, an ex- Union |
soldier, rushed up to ex-Confederate Davis |
and the two grasped hands.
p. w. Humphrey of Texas, organizer of |
the Colored Alliance, which numbers over |
half million members, was seized with the |
inspiration of the moment, and suddenly |
Joined the ex-soldiers, and amid perfect |
cyclone of enthusiasm delegate moved .he |
adoption Of the platform as read. The con-
vention went wild, the delegates mounting |
tables and chairs, shouting and yelling like |
Comanches. The tumult lasted fully a |
quarter rof an hour, until it ceased from |
sheer exhaustion of the delegates. The |
platform proper. exclusive of the resolu-
tions, was adopted by rising vote. At this |
stage the convention was little better than a |
bowling mob. In the midst of the confusion
G. M. Miller of California came to the front
on the prohibition question. which was ig-
efforts to choke him off with points of order |
were Intellectual. The following resolution
was offered by him:
Resolved, That we favor the abolition of the
liquor traffic.
The confusion became worse confounded.
Fifty orators were clamoring tor recogni-
tion. The first to succeed was Schilling of
wisconsin. HE declared himself strong
temperance man, one who neither drank nor
smoked, but he opposed the discussion of
the question of prohibition at this time. He
declared the resolution proposed by Mr..
Miller was fully considered and voted down
by the committee on platform. To spring it
now was plainly throwing fire brand into
tn6 convention. In MS opinion, 1t was a
deliberate attempt to cause a split in the
party.
The prohibition amendment was over
whelmingly defeated, and the resolutions
were adopted with only three dissenting
votes.
Gen. j. B. Weaver relieved Chairman
Peffer, who was worn out with fruitless
efforts to preserve order.
A resolution against trusts was choked off
by point of order raised by MIR. Schilling,
that all resolutions be referred to the COM
mittee on resolutions without being read. 1t
was decided to let each state have three
members on the national committee but the
full number was not named. for every state.
The Maine members are 81. s. Hobbs, f. A.
Howard and ID. w. Smith.
ID. Il. Taubeneck of Illinois was chosen
chairman of the national executive commit
tee by acclamation. Loud calls brought him
to the rostrum. where lie made brief speech,
thanking the delegates. In conclusion he
said that they were standing on the brink of
a conflict between capital and labor The
longer that conflict was postponed the worse
1t would be. "Our politicians" said he.
might as well try to stop cyclone or the
movements of the stars as to eyade this
ISSUE" ~
The convention adjourned sine die