Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-25

tee was not present Wnen tHe tonPoi
ance plank was omitted. Potter, OF
Micigan, demanded to know whether II
the minority report was adopted the
Prohibition party in Michigan, for ex-
ample, would disband and IL their votes
would be given to the Peoples party.
Congressman Jerry Simpson declared
himself satisfied with the majority re-
port. They must cure poverty before
they could intemperance.
Upon motion of Jerry Simpson to
lay the minority report upon the table,
UiUd UOce vote was taken showing the
convention almost split evenly for and
against prohibition plank. Miss VII
lard called for formal division but
points OF order and parliamentary twists
Of every sort intervened.
A Texas prohibitionist delegate de-
clared that he had been assured the
National Prohibition party would be
satisfied with either woman suffrage
alone or the liquor plank proposed by
Miss Willard Coached by Mr.. Pow
derby, Miss Emma Curtis, OF Colorado,
handsome young woman, captured
the floor and proposed the substitute:
1--WE demand that the question OF uni
versal suffrage be submitted TO the
legislatures of the different States and
Territories for favorable action Miss
Willard seated upon the platform,
looked sober as II attending funeral.
Powderly hurried to the platform and
held a hasty conference with Miss VIII
lard. Soon afterward, before the roll
call which was demanded could be TAX
en-, the announcement was made In
Powderly's name that Miss Curtis's
proposition as part Of tina platform
had been withdrawn to be offered later.
To the surprise Of everybody, Miss Cur
tbs arose and declared she had done no
such thing.
The idea Of dealing with the liquor
question by separate resolution In
stead Of in the platform had been
broached several times during the con-
fused discussion and had been favora-
bly, received.
1t was now apparently the purpose
of Mr.. Powderly, having kept Miss Will
lard's minority report out OF the plat
form, to placate her and her friends by
having the convention adopt the Will
lard plank as u resolution in place OF
that OF MISS curtis.
When roll call was finally reached
on what had now become Miss Curtis's
minority platform report, the vote was
taken by States. 1t looked while the
voting proceeded, as ii the Powderly-
Weaver following were resenting the
"spunkiness" of Miss Curtis, and that
the remnant of minority report would
be bowled out of the convention, but
Powderly proceeded promptly to coun-
teract this impression.
Secretary Hayes declared the minor
ity report carried 254 to 246. Keepers
made the total very different-352 noes
to 23s ayes, defeating the minority re-
port. Meanwhile, Miss Willard and
Lady Somerset had slipped out Of the
hall unobserved, and did not return
again. Powderly now had another sur
prise. He shouted to all Knights OF
Labor present to follow him and go out
side of the hall for caucus. After a
half hours painful uncertainty the con-
ventlon got together again.
Ignatius Donnelly was granted three
minutes and declared all the business
could be finished up within half an
hour. He proposed that the woman
suffrage matter be smothered, majority
platform be adopted, a committee be
reported to act with the National Com
mittee OF the Peoples party to call
National convention to nominate
President and Vice President of the
United States, and the thing was done.
The idea took like wild-ire among
the delegates. Two minutes later the
majority report had been swallowed at
one gulp, being adopted without dis
sent. A great pent up volume OF doubt
and despair now seemed to be lifted to
the roof in the enthusiastic cheering
that broke forth at every hand. Hats,
papers, umbrellas, flags, everything
portable within reach was flung into
the air, the ten minutes of continuous
applause stopping only with five min
utes more OF a Tremendous "glory, glory
hallelujah."
The woman suffrage resolution as a
substitute for prohibition was lost sight
of in the excitement and the convention
instead took up collection TO pay ex-
penses; endorsed laws forbidding option
dealing but did not specify the proposed
Hatch statute; endorsed the stand Of the
Rochester, n. Y, Knights OF Labor
against a clothing combine and threat
ened q boycott II necessary, and en-
dorsed all goods bearing the Knights Of
Labor label.
Numerous attempts TO have the con-
vention proceed to appoint the commit
tee suggested by Mr.. Donnelly TO act
with the Peoples National Committee
were wholly Intellectual under the rul-
ings OF acting Chairman Terrill, and the
insistence of National Treasurer Will
let's, OF the Farmers Alliance upon a
motion to adjourn sine die.
Macune, of the Farmers Alliance, an
rounced, however, that all the dele
gates would hold mass meeting In
their individual capacity Immediately
after adjournment.
Without stirring from their seats the
delegates, after Terrill'S gavel fell, os-
tensibly adjourning the convention,
went right on, but with General Weaver
In the chair, and appointed the much
talked of committee.
D