Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-30
B|DWELL HAS THE LEAD.
Prohibition Delegates Do a
Hard Days Work.
Three Sessions Of the National
Convention Held.
Eli Ritter, Psrmanent Chairman, and
Sam Small, Secretary.
John p. st. John Makes Fiery Speech.
General Bidwell Seems TO Have
Mortgage on the PrcsI-
Dental Nomination.

0ontiHA NomluaClOns
By the Associated Press.l
CINCINNATI, June 29.-The delegates to
the Prohibition national convention put
in hard days work, ending late to-
night, after three sessions. Permanent
organization has been effected, with Eli
Ritter of Indiana as presiding officer,
and Sam Small, the Georgia evangelist,
secretary, and tomorrow the convention
will be ready to pass upon the platform
and nominate candidates. In general
way tonight, Bidwell of California seems
to have the lead for the presidential
nomination. while Demorest of New
York is hardly as prominent as he was
yesterday. Judge Mccullough of Illinois
gained great deal Of ground during the
day. The proceedings before the plat
decided feeling in favor Of the Prohibi.
tionists taking strong and advanced
grounds on various public questions
other than prohibition.
THE CONVENTION MEETS.
The big Music hall was gay with
bunting, plants, flowers, temperance in
scriptions and portraits Of Washington,
Lincoln, Neal Dow and Frances Will
lard. when the sixth national conven-
tion OF the Prohibition party was called
TO order by Chairman Dickey of the ma
tional committee.
The proceedings were opened with the
hymn America on the organ, the audi
ence rising and joining in the singing.
At the conclusion OF the hymn Dr.. j.
g. Evans OF Redding college. Ills, Of
fered prayer.
Rev. DR.. M. G.. Lockwood OF Cincin-
natl welcomed the delegates In behalf OF
the city and state, saying among other
things that the organized laborlef the
country was beginning to aptrecs3fe itne
TACT that the labor and saloon ptoblems
were inseparable; that labor can never
rise while the saloon flourished.
Professor Dickey responded in behalf
OF the delegations, and said Prohibitions
lists knew precisely what they were
here for, and exactly where they were
going, and there was no danger of any
obstacle diverting them from their re-
lentless purpose. "We are here" he
said, ito put candidates in nomination
and keep them in the field until the
polls are closed next November"
This allusion to fusion with the Peo.
ple's party was loudly applauded.
ST. JOHN TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN.
The speaker further declared that the
delegates were here to make an une-
quivocal platform, and closed by naming
Ex-Governor John P. st. John as tempo
rary chairman.
Wild cheering, waving of flags and
handkerchief greeted the mention of
the famous Kansan's name, and was re-
newed as he STEPPED on the platform
and assumed the gavel.
Governor st. John thanked the con-
vention for the honor of being chosen to
preside over 'sthe greatest, grandest
convention in sobriety, moral force and
brain power ever convened on American
soil" and continued: sIt represents
the party that dares to do right because
it is right, and condemn wrong because
1t is wrong. 1t stands for peace, pros
perity and happiness to every home,
and death to every saloon in the land. It
demands for woman equal paw in the
shop, and equal say at the polls; a fair
ballot for the white men of Penpsyl-
vania and Delaware, as we'll as the black
man Of Mississippi and South Carolina |;
that the north and the south, the east
and the west, the rich and the poor.
shall have protection to their lives and
property; that the expenses of the
government be levied on wealth. instead
OF the necessities of the people. We
claim that any system which imposes a
high tariff on the food, fuel and clothing
Of The poor, and let's the diamonds Of
the rich come in free, legalizes robbery
under the guise of protection, and ought
to be forever abolished; that ali money
should be issued by the government :
every dollar of which, whether gold,
silver or paper, should stand upon an
equality before the law for all purposes :
that the coinage of both metals be free. -
The speaker continued, urging gov.
ernment ownership of railways and tele-
graph lines; the election of the presi.
dent, vice-president and senator's bv
direct vote; the extension of the presi-
Dental term to six years, with no suC-
cessive term; the suppression of monop.
olies, and continued: "The legalized
liquor traffic for beverage purposes is
the greatest monopoly that ever ex-
listed it destroys 15O, 900 lives costs .
billion and a half dollars annually
sends misery, poverty, crime and heart
ache broadcast among the people; it ie
q product of Democratic and Republican
rule, q damning blot upon civilization, q
sin against God and ought to be made 8
crime against humanity and driven
from the face Of the earth. The Prohibi.
tion party ie the only party that daret
to fight this mightiest curse of the
world. Here we are and we have come
to stay. From this hour let no fusion
no deals. no compromise be our motto
Let our platform be 80 broad, Just, cleal
and comprehensive that all who love
God or home or country can join the
procession now ready to move on to vic
tory"
His speech was frequently interrupted
by enthusiastic applause.
TEMPORARY ORGANIZATION PERFEcrED.
a. r.. Wolfenberger Of Nebraska fol
secretary, and the other officers sug
gested by the national committee wer,
elected.
The temporary rules presented by th,
committee provided that only delegateI
present should vote. 4 It was argued tha'
this would disfranchise distant states
and after = sharp fight the rules wer,