The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-25
MADE A PEACE TREATY.
The Industrial Conference Agrees to
Stop Squabbling.
THE PR0HlBlT0RY ISSUE.
A Platform which Freely Denounces and
DensNnds-Oil Poured ON the Troubled
Waters by "a "Biue and the Gray" Mass
Meeting.

ST. LOUIS, feD. zo,-1ne most exciting
and important session OF the National In
dustrial conference was expected to take
place yesterday. A "Blue and the Gray"
lass meeting, into which the convention
resolved itself before graphing with the
platform, poured oil on the troubled wa
tiers. Commodore Van de WORT OF Ne
braska, for the Union Veterans pres
ent in the convention pledged President
Polk for the old Confederate soldiers in
attendance, that they would join hands
TO bury sectional hate, and the treaty, il
such it might be termed, was ratified in
speeches.
Following are the salient features of the
PLATFORM:
We meet in the midst OF nation
brought TO the verge OF moral, political
and material ruin. Corruption dominates
the ballot box, the Legislature, the Con-
gress and touches even the ermine OF the
Bench.
The people are demoralized. Many OF
the states have been compelled to isolate
the voters at the polling places in order
to prevent universal intimidation or
bribery. The newspapers are subsidized
or muzzled; public opinion silenced;
business prostrated; our homes covered
with mortgages labor impoverished, and
the land concentrating in the hands OF
capitalists. The urban workmen are de-
MED the right OF organization for self
protection; imported pauperized labor
beats dawn their wages; hireiing stand
ing army, anrecognized by our laws, is
established to shoot them down; and
they are rapidly degenerating TO
European conditions.
The fruits OF the toll of millions are
boldly stolen to build up colossal for
tunes, unprecedented in the history of
the world, while their possessors despise
the republic, and endsnger liberty. From
the same prolific womb OF governmental
injustice we breed the two great classes
paupers and millionaires. The national
power to create money is appropriate TO
enrich bondholders; silver, which has
been accepted as coin since the dawn of
history, has been demonetiZed to add TO
the purchasing power of gold, by 'decreas-
ing the value of all forms of property, as
well as human labor, and the supply of
currency is purposely abridged TO fatten
usurers, bankrupt enterprises and en-
slave industry. A vast conspiracy against
mankind has been organized on two con-
tinents and is taking possession OF the
world. IL not met and overthrown at
once it forbodes terrible social convul-
sions, the destruction OF civilization or
the establishment of an absolute despot-
ism.
1t charges that the controlling influence
dominating the old political parties have
allowed the existing dreadful conditions
to develope without serious effort to re-
strain or prevent them. Neither do they
now intend to accomplish reform. They
have agreed together to ignore, in the
coming campaign, every issue but one.
They propose TO down the outcries of
plundered people with the uproar OF a
sham battle over the tariff; so that cor
porations, national banks, rings, trusts
ato he a OF tiVaf nf
silver, and the expressions OF usurers,
may all be lost sight Of.
1t demands a national currency, safe
and sound and flexible, issued by the
general government only; full legal
tender for all debts, public and private,
and without the use OF banking corpora
tions; just, equitable means of circula-
ton, at tax not to exceed per cent. as
set forth in the sub-Treasury plan of the
Farmers Alliance, or some better system.
Also by payments in discharge OF its OBJ
legation FOR public improvements.
1t demands free and unlimited coinage
of silver.
Demands the amount OF circulating
medium be speedily increased to not less
than 500 per capita.
A graduated income tax.
Demands that all national and state
revenues shall be limited to the necessary
expenses of the government economically
and honestly administered.
Demands that postal savings banks be
established by the government for the
safe deposit OF the earnings of the people
and to facilitate exchange.
Recommends that all lands now held
by railroads and other corporations in ex-
cess of their actual needs, and all lands
now owned by aliens should be reclaimed
by the government and held for actual
settlers only.
1t holds that the government should
own and operate the railroads, the tele-
graphs and telephones, in the interest OF
the people.
II demands that the government issue
legal tender notes and pay the Union SOL
dier the difference between the price of
tie deprecated money in which he was
paid, and gold.
There was an interesting fight led by
Miss Frances Willard for the recognition
OF n prohibition issue in the platform.
Miss Frances Willard presented a min
ority report, which she moved be adopted
Immediately as an amendment to the
majority report. The minority report
favored woman suffrage and demanded
the suppression" OF the liquor traffic.
Miss Willard and Lady Somerset left
the hall and did not return. After an in
| formal recess Ignatius Donnelly urged
the woman suffrage matter be deferred,
| the majority platform report adopted,
| and committee appointed TO act with
| the national committee of the People 8
| Party to call a national convention to
| nominate president and vice-president
! of the United States.
The idea took like wildfre and the ma
iority report was adopted unanimously.
! Great applause followed.
! The woman suffrage resolution was
adopted.
July 4 was selected as the date, the
place for the convention being left 10 q
subcommittee of ten.