The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-20
THAT NEW PARTY
The National Union Convention
Organized.
ATTACKING soCKLEsS SIMPSON
He Tarrfed Too Long In Washington-The
Movement for Third Party Gains
Strength-Divided Sentiments.

! CINCINNATI, May 19.-The opening day
| OF the National Union conference was
blessed with mild temperature. The morn
ing hours were occupied by the state dele
cations perfecting their organization. A
feature that has attracted some attention
this morning is the apparent apathy of the
south. The delegates from that section
being few in number, wide interest at
tached to the presence among the delegates
| OF an unusually large number of prominent
labor men, particularly Knights of Labor
| leaders. 1t is rumored the knights are in
active alliance with the southern delegates
and others, to prevent the convention
organizing third party at this time.
General Master Workman Powderly in
an interview with an Associated Press
representative o-day just before the con-
vention was called to order, said:
ut is not true that either myself or the
other general officers or members of the
order here are as a body, working in any
such way. AS matter of fact" continued
PoWderly, 81 am not here as a delegate to
the convention, but to attend meeting of
the general executive board of the Knights
or Labor, which called me here simply that
the members of the board wished to keep
heartily in touch with the people who
would be present. IL
"a very large number of delegates are
knights, perhaps as many as two-t thirds,
put they are not here as representing the
order but as coming from political clubs or
other bodies of which they are members
a number have signified wish to know
how l would advise them TO act on such
questions as an immediate third party move
hn hou 70
course of action. My life work is to arouse
the people to think for themselves. The
workingmen, Ihave always believed, should
tie themselves to no one man or party. They
will then be in better position to dictate
terms"
Various states held meeting at the music
hall this morning. The attendance was
large and the business chiefly of routine
character.
The Ohio delegation decided in favor of
an immediate organization Of third party
and OF government loans direct to the peo-
pie On reasonable security at an interest
not to exceed per cent per annum. Almost
to man they declared themselves regard
less of what action was taken by the Ma
tional conference as bound at once to put an
Independent state ticket in the field in
Ohio.
The delegations from Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, California and
Louisiana also favored a third party. South
Dakota opposed the formation of third
party.
The Kansas majority is favorable to new
organization, but there is opposition to any
radical action at this time. About seventy
five delegates are present from Illinois, but
as there is some trouble about credentials,
no decision was taken.
The Iowa delegates, of which there are
seventy-tve present, favor the new party,
but are in doubt as to its advisability at
this time.
To the inspiring strains of the ''Star
Spangled Banner from the great organ
the delegates took the places assigned
them, Kansas and Nebraska getting the
most prominent positions close to the stage
Besides the national colors the only decora-
tions were the banners of the Knights of
Labor assemblies and kindred trade organ
lzations. At exactly 2 p. m. delegate ad-
vanced to the front stand accom- panied by
the great organ, and led the audience in
singing "My country, it's of thee" At
the conclusion of the song Rev. D. T. Fos-
ter, of Cincinnati, invoked the divine bless
ing The delegates repeated with him the
Lords prayer. Captain Power, OF Indi-
ana, then read the official call for the con-
ference and requested the various organi-
| cations therein named to rise as their names
were called, which was done. The appear
ance of each delegation was greeted with
applause
Charles E. Cunningham, of Arkansas,
was introduced as temporary chairman the
formality of election being dispensed with.
He made fervid appeal for harmony. An
Alliance song to the tune of "John Browns
Body" was the next feature of the pro-
ceedings. W. p. Robb, of Iowa, and George
T. Washburn, of Massachusetts, were
made assistant secretaries. S. w. Chase,
81 N1no F..
arms. A lively wrangle here ensued as to
whether states be called for members of
committees, or that various national organ
iZationS named in the call make nomiua-
tions of committeeman. Oakland, of Ken
| lucky, led the fight against the
first plan but was finally beaten.
After 500 p. m. the convention
had only completed one of its committees,
that on credentials.
| stirred up hornets nest during
the call OF the roll for the appointment of
committees by moving the appointment of
committeeman by each state completed in
lump, including member of the national
committee. This was taken to be an at
tempt to have the convention implicitly
commit itself to the organization of a tnird
party. It's opponents were up in arms at
once. General Weaver, of Iowa, de-
nounced what he termed an attempt to
pledge the convention on the sly to the
most vital action without one word of dis
cussion. Donnelly holly disclaimed any in
tentlon OF undue advantage. Again there
was prolonged hubbub, which was ended
at last by Chairman Cunningham declaring
Donnelly's motion out of order.
| The committee on resolutions was an
pointed with instructions to go into session
at once and prepare platform. Among
the members are: California, Il. E. Dillon
Iowa, j. r. Weaver; Minnesota lgnatius
Donnelly; Wyoming, H. E. Shears.
The courtesies of the chamber of com
MERGE and the merchants exchange were
extended to the delegates and an enterpris-
ing photographer worked in further an
nouncement he would gratitutiously take
pictures of the Kansas delegation. Amid
much laughter the convention adjourned to
meet to- morrow.
| The committee on resolutions met this
evening and organized by making Donnolly.
of Minnesota, chairman. Members who
emerged at intervals from the committee
room, predicted the committee would work
hard and tremendously, and said the St
| Louis platform would be taken as q basis
upon which to proceed. The third party
on the spot, Enthusiasts tonight blossomed
out with many pieces of blue ribbon, about
an inch square, on their white badges One
of them said, when asked its meaning
''The child is already born, and we mean
to put clothes on it right away" intimat-
ing that the growth of the new party spirit
had been such that those who had been
concealing their real sentiments from
prudential motives are inclined to throw
off the mask and urge immediate action in
some manner.
| The committee on permanent organiza-
tion tonight selected Senator Pfeffer for
permanent chairman. Hugh Navanaga, of
Cincinnati; j. A. Brooks, president of the
| National Farmers alliance. and Gideon
Delamater, of Colorado an old time green
hacker, were made Merchantmen. During