The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-07-17

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and all other reform organizations there as
sembled. If no satisfactory arrangement can
be effected this committee shall call a national
convention not later than June l, 1892 for the
purpose of nominating candidates for president
and vice president.
tee for each state where there is no independ-
ent political organization conduct an active
system Of political agitation in their respective
states.
The committee also reported distinct
from the platform these resolutions:
Resolved, That the question of universal suf-
frage be recommended to the favorable con-
sideration of the various states and territories.
Resolved, That while tho party in power in
1869 pledged the faith of the nation to pay a
debt in coin that had been contracted on a de-
preciated currency basis and payable in cur
rency, thus adding nearly 81 0OO, ,OO0, 600 to the
burdens Of the people, which meant gold for
the bondholders and deprecated currency for
the soldier; and holding that the men who i'm
periled their lives to save the life of nation
should have been paid in money as good as that
paid to the bondholder, we demand the issue of
legal tender treasury notes in sufficient amount
to make the pay of the soldiers equal to par
with coin, or such other legislation as shall do
equal and exact justice to the Union soldiers
Of this country.
Resolved, That as eight hours constitute a
legal days work for government employees in
mechanical departments, we believe this prin-
ciple should be further extended SO as to apply
to all corporations employing labor in the diff
ferent states of the Union.
Resolved, That this conference condemns in
unmeasured terms the action of the directors
Of the Worlds Columbian exposition on May
10 in refusing the minimum of wages asked
for by the labor organizations of Chicago.
Resolved. That the attorney general of the
United States should make immediate provis-
lon to submit the act of Marcia, 1889, providing
tlement, to the United States supreme court, SO
that the expensive and dilatory litigation now
pending there be ended.
The scene which followed the reading
of the report deserves place in history.
When Secretary Robert Schilling had
finished reading, the delegates rose to
their feet and their pent up feelings
broke loose. A storm of cheers greeted
the 'sNew Declaration of Independence,
as some one had termed it. Above all
the roar there rose terrific, piercing,
unearthly yell from among the Texas
delegates. It was such sound as never
came from mortal throat before. It was
very much like the old rebel yell, and
the old soldiers who were there recog-
nized it. The man who gave it was car
ried to the platform and made to repeat
it, He was tall, lank Texan from the
Rio Grande, clad in a butternut suit,
and typical southerner in every respect.
He made ringing speech of thanksgiv-
ing for the burying of sectionalism and
the union of the common people which
the spirit of the convention signifed.
Then came marvellous scene. The
convention had been wrought up to a
high pitch of feeling. The words of the
tall Texan caused the bursting of such
a volcano of patriotism as has not been
seen since the war. Union veterans
climbed upon the platform and en-
braced the man from Dixie land. Two
large flags which fanked the chairman's
desk We're pulled from their places and
waved over the group of ex-soldiers
from both armies The delegates were
unable to keep their places. They moved
en- masse toward the platform. Men
seized the tall standards bearing the
names of the state delegations and waved
them high in air. Men threw up their
hats and shouted; women waved their
shawls and shouted too Many of their
faces were wet with tears. Yes, and so
were those of the veterans. Bronzed
cheeks, wrinkled now, glistened with
tear drops, but they were tears of Joy
and patriotism. The audience in the
balconies caught the spirit of the occa-
sion. It was irresistible, unmatched, in
describable They joined in the mighty
chorus. They tore the bunting from in
front Of the balconies and waved it over
the heads Of the host below. Half the
throng of delegates succeeded in climb
ing upon the great platform with their
state standards, and there surrounded
the central group of veterans. Kansas
delegates made pyramid of tables and
chairs and climbed upon it. Then they
lifted others of their number upon their
shoulders, and the topmost of the pile of
humanity waved high above the throng
the Kansas standard.
All this took place in the midst of such
thunderous chorus of shouts and cheers
that no individual voice was heard above
the roar for more than a quarter of an
hour. 1t was amid such scene that the
new party, the Peoples party, found
birth. Its parents were men and women
controlled by splendid and inspiring
enthusiasm that means much to the DO
League and the work of organization,
and attends specially to the farmers in
terests in congress. The state Leagues
as soon as organized push the work of
organization in their respective states,
and attend to the farmers special inter.
ests in the legislature. The county
League attends to the farmers interests
in county matters, and to affairs in SEN
atorial and representative districts. The
town Leagues furnish the delegates who
constitute the county Leagues, and at
tend to the farmers interests in local
districts and in each election precinct"
1t was the League which shelved Gov
ernor Bulkeley, of Connecticut. 1t was
the League that was largely responsible
for the revolution in Massachusetts,. It
was the League which alone wrought the
political miracle of transferring the Mas
sachusetts senate from body four-fifths
Republican to one which is evenly bal
anced between the parties. The League
members were foremost in the revolt
against Quay in Pennsylvania, and in
other eastern states they everywhere ex-
ercised an active independence at the
polls.
The organization is of Massachusetts,
birth, and its brief history is wonderful
ly significant and interesting. 1t was
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