The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-25

"
egy captured the political strength of the
Alliance in the South On the other hand, the
southern Alliance men, under the plea of hay-
Ing acted as individuals, assert that they have
not altered the views they have held from away
back
When the industrial conference opened today,
Fred Sayne, ex-member of the Missouri legisla-
ture and labor agitator, attempted to introduce
an elght-hour resolution. In the fight that fol-
lowed sayne was ousted from the hall.
The report of the platform committe was pre-
sehted ana read. Without taking vote on the
adoption OF the platform a recess of two hours
was taken The platform states:
That the nation is on the verge of moral. no.
Htical ana material ruin; that corruption domi-
mates the ballot box, legislatures, congress- and
toucaes even the ermine on the bench that the
newspapers are subsidized muZzled; that
public opinion is sileneed, business prostrated,
MONIES covered with mortgages, labor impover-
isheu auQ llld and money concentrated in the
hands OF capitalists. Workmen are denied the
rlSht OF organization for selfprotec;ion i'm
ported pauper labor beats down wages; a hire
ilng standing army, unrecognized by our laws,
mas been established 10 shoot them down,
anu they are rapidly degenerating to European
coAdltlons, the national power is used to
create money appropriated to enrich bond
holders; silver has been demonetizad to add to
the purchasing power of gold aud the supply of
currency Is purposeiy abridged to iatten
usurpers bankrupt enterprise and enslave in
dustry. The old political parties allow these
wrongs to exist without effort at restraint and,
there lore, new political organization, repre-
sentlng the political principles herein stated is
necessary.
A national currency is demanded that is safe,
SOUND ana Issued by the government and the
only tull legal tender for all debts, public and
private; demands that without the use OF bank
lug corporations just and equitable means of
circulation be given; and that the taxes are not
10 exceed per cent. as set forth in the sub
treasury plan OF the Farmers Alliance. or by
some better system. The platform demands the
Tree and unlimited coinage of silver: that the
amount OF the circulating medium be speedily
increased TO not less than $50 per capita: a
graduated income tax; that all national and
state revenues be limited to the necessary ex-
penses OF the government, and that postni saw
ings banks be established by the government.
II declares that land should not be monopo-
l2ed Tor speculative purposes and that the alien
ownership OF land should be prohibited. All
lands now held by railroads aud other corpora-
tons in excess OF their actual needs and all
lands now owned by aliens should be reclaimed
by the government and held for actual settlers
only. II declares that the government should
own and operate railroads, telegraph and tele-
phone lines, and demands that the government
issue legal tender notes and pay Union soldiers
the difference between the price OF the depre-
elGted money in which they were paid and gold.
The fight for recognition OF the prohibition
issue in the platform started Immediately upon
the reassembling OF the convention. Miss
Frances Willard presented q minority report
which she moved be adopted Immediately as an
amendment to the majority report. 1t favored
woman suffrage and demanded the suppression
OF the liquor traffic.
On a motion of simpson 10 lay the minority
report on the table a viva voce vote showed an
almost even split for and against prohi-
bition. Coached by Powderly, Miss Emma
Curtis, OF Colorado, a handsome young
woman, captured the floor and proposed
the following substitute: I'VE demand that
the question OF universal suffrage be submitted
10 the legislatures of the different states and
territories Tor favorable action" JerrySimpsou
shouted: 'she has solved the problem" and
some Immediately demanding the previous
question, the substitution was made BY
crushing majority among volume o. cheers,
Miss Willard looking very glum. soon after
PowderIy announced that Miss Curtis substi-
tUte had been Withdrawn as part OF the plat
form Of Weaver snd the other leaders. Miss
Curtis arose and declared she had done no such
thing The idea OF dealing with the liquor
question by a separate resolution instead Of in
the platform was b.oached several times during
the confused discussion and f4vorably received.
Il was now apparently the purpose OF Pow
DERBY, having kept Miss Wiliards minority
report out OF the platform, TO plscste he. and
her friends by having the convention adopt the
willard plank as a resolution, II place OF tha.
OF Miss Curtis When the roll call was reached
on what had now become Miss Curtis minority
report the vote was taken by states, and it was
thought tie Powderly- Weaver following would
resent Miss Curtis spUnk mess BY defeating the
report but powderly voted the Knights solidly
Tor the minority report. Secretary Hayes de-
care3 It carried. - 10 2t6 The unofficial
talIy-keepcrs made very different totals, they
declaring the vote tally was 80 noes and 2}s
aves, which, If ofic,aI, would defezt the mi
no-ity report.
.rae.vb{ls Miss Willard and lady Henry
Somerset left the hail. and did not return.
The Knights and most Of the Alliance men re-
tired for a caucus, despite some vehement pro-
tests. When the convention got together a-sic,
half an hour later, Isnatsus Donaelly, TO the
surprise Of 3 great many, declared that all the
business could % wound up IL hall an hour.
Defer by unanimous consent the little woman