Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-19
The National Union Conference at
Cincinnati Called to Order.
TO A new PARTY.
Affairs in Portugal in a Critical
Condition.
l TRAGEDY IN LIVERPOOL,
MEN OF MANY MINDS


CINCINNATI, May 19.-The nondescript char
acter Of the political reformers' conference
becomes more and more apparent as they
attempt to group their conflicting opinions
into some coherent purposes. They are slow
in getting an organization and they are spread
ing out over the whole broad field of speculat
and spectacular reform. No attempt was made TO
get the convention formally organized until
late this afternoon. and it looks like trying TO
combine all the repellsnt elements of nature
to bring them down to any one point Of agree
ment except that there must be q third party
at some time.
The meeting has none Of the elements Of i'm
portance that were expected to be found in it,
except in a negative way. II they do nothing
it means that the third party move
ment is serious and formidable. ANY action
they may take toward starting a third party
will have tendency TO retard or detract from
the importance of the movement 1t is con-
vention of individuals without authorization
or community of purpose.
LARGE ATTENDANCE.
The attendance will probably be consider
ably larger than seemed likely yesterday.
There were more than q thousand delegates
who could be located this morning, and there
may be fourteen or fifteen hundred at the con-
vention. Comparatively few, however,
come with credentials and represent
constituencies. The Farmers Alliance
bns to are sDe.t in thew majority apparently a
Jerry Simpson, Senator PETER, 7. v. Powderly
and other leaders are holding of their purpose
being to influence the meeting from the outside
and prevent Its going too far without themselves
being in any way mixed up in it. Others of
fl,.
the conference as delegates to take care Of the
sheep from their fold that are there.
POSITION OF THE ALLIANCE LEADERS.
The great alliance leaders are opposed to the
whole business They say that it is not an
alliance convention and has no proper connec-
ton with the great third party move
ment," which the alliance. the Knights Of
Labor and the other principal organizations
are working mp. In other words, they say
good naturally that it is an assembly of q lot
OF their friends who are so enthusiastic that
they cannot wait. but must blow of steam. In
Kansas, South Dakota and one or two
other places regular alliance dele
gates were elected to attend the con-
vention. For the most part the other dele
gates represent small local organizations
and have no Representatives at home when
they come away. Jerry Simpson was elected
delegate from Kansas and his credentials
were sent to him by the delegates coming from
his home, but be has not accepted them and
says he will be a spectator, but will take no
part in the proceedings. He may leave for
Washington tomorrow.
Powderly and Hayes. the grand master and
the secretary of the knights Of Labor, are here
to look after the interests of that order. 1t is
possible that Hayes may take part in the pro-
ceedings, but it is understood that Pow
derby, like Simpson and PETER, will
merely look and work from the
outside. None of these men want to take the
risk of being too closely associated with the
affair or to have any responsibility for il rest
on their shoulders. They expect to be able to
control the convention by their influence from
but they do not want to take the risk Of q fail
ure to do 30.
WISHES OF THE HOT HEADS
The ''hot heads" are determined 10 start q
new party now and to adopt q platform that
would be gaudy patchwork of reforms big
enough to cover the whole country and take in
every theoretical ''reformer' in the land
This is what the men who are seriously
engaged in trying to make big third party
that will live are afraid of and are fighting
against.
VARIOUS ISSUES ADVOCATED.
There are several women delegates and an ef-
fort is being made to drag in prohibition. The
Massachusetts, delegates want an eight-hour
plank in the platform, they want modification
OF the SILVER clause; an anti-immigration
clause and declaration in favor
of graduated income tax. The
single tax men and the Bellamyites want their
theories inserted. Each delegate has a syringe
full of some sort Of lymph. The more
the hot heads rub their scorched
and Beaumont, Macune, Hayes and
other recognized workers are kept busy apply
ing conservative ice, which is manufactured By
Simpson, the coolest and most self-con
tanned man in the whole assemblage
ton that there are certain men here as
delegates who have their expenses paid by one
or both Of the old parties and whose purpose
Is to provoke hasty action.
WHAT THE CONSERVATIVES WANT.
The conservatives insist, however. that they
will control and that the Endorsement of the
st. Louis and Ocala platforms, the passage Of
resolutions in that line, and possibly the ap-
pointment Of Q committee is all that will be
done. Mr.: Simpson says that he does
not think that this meeting viii
party movement Ii they do what he expects
follow the program just mentioned-it will be
wise, but should they follow q radical course
it would not affect the national alliance con-
vention to be held 1t Washington on the 29d Of
1892.
THE WARRINGTON CONVENTION.
The preparations for that convention are
being made in every state in the Union, dele
gates viii be formally elected and IL will be .
national convention Of the six great politico-
social orders Of America-the Farmers Alliance.
the Knights Of Labor, the Northern Alliance.
the Citizens Alliance, Farmers' Mutual Beneft
Association and the Colored Alliance. These.
Mr. Simpson says, represent 4, 000, 900 voters II
Is at this convention that the national partv Il
expected to be launched The ausctiou
d now whether or mot the meeting
1t Cincinnati will start on little psrty
on the same linea The northern and vestern
alliance men profess not to care 20 much about
what this conference does, but the southern |
men say that II the third party Il started too |
room It viii hurt the alliance in that section.
Up. II.
MRS. DUNCAN NAY RECOVER.