Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-28

ried the country. In 1880 we failed because
we were afraid of our platform. 1 assert
with proof that the National Committee Of
| 1880, by refusing to defend the platform,
lost the battle. They declined to meet the
Republican argument, and surrendered by
giving orders that there should be no dis.
cussion on the tariff. This is why the
battle was lost know that Indiana Wa:
lost because of this timidity on the part OF
the National Committee. In only one dis
trict in Indisna-New Albany, where the
glass works of the Dupaws are located-we
made the tariff an issue. discussed it openly
and fairly and gained votes in October and
increased gains in November. This. too, in
spite of the fact that the Dupaws, who had
been Democrats, gave their support to the
enemy"
General Butler replied to Mr.. Watterson,
contending that the gains in New Albany
were due to the fact that all Louisville
crossed the river TO vote.
Mr.. Mengies, of Indiana, followed and
insisted that when the Democrats had the
courage of their convictions and put up
men who have. clear ideas and whose cleo
tion would mean something, they will win.
Butler again took the floor, contending
that exclusively" meant putting all other
objects except revenue beyond the taxing
! power OF the Government 1t meant reve-
nue. only in its strictest sense, nd the COM
mittee must understand if they adopt it
they must be prepared to defend it
The Protectionists CompIetely Routed.
The committee accepted this interpreta-
| tion, and on this the vote was taken. To
strike out Exclusively" was defeated 1S to
16-Hewitt and Youmans absent. Phel ps,
of Missouri, voted with the ''protecti on"
side. and in three hours 800 kilograms from
| st. Louis declared that he did not repre- sent
| Missouri The Revenue Reformers were
naturally jubilant. Their victory was en-
phatic and undeniable as Converse, Hay
and Randall had been beaten at every point.
During all this white heat discussion the
committee had been without a chairman. On
the first vote there was a tie between Morri-
son snd Converse-1S to 1S-and Malcolm
Hav, the Temporary Chairman, was con-
tinued. After the platform was formulated
it was agreed that a chairman in harmony
with it should be selected. The protection
lists urged that this would be reflection on
Mr.. H av. Clunie, of California, and made
blazing address against the election of Nor
rison. 1t was not to be, and Morrison was
chosen unanimously, thus completing the
rout, "horse, foot and dragons" of the pro-
tectionistS
At the night session an immense audience
filled Exposition Hall. The windows and
tIon came to order a resolution eulogizing
Tilden was passed amid immense cheering.
Barnum was elected Chairman of the Ma
tional Committee. New York was pouting
about something, as usual Villas was made
a member of the National Committee and
Perry, of Arkansas. attempted, by resolu-
ton, to have the two-thirds rule abrogated.
1t was beaten overwhelmingly and nearly
unanimously. At last the Committee on
Resolutions appeared. Both sides in the con-
vention seemed to be satisfied they had
gained victory. Morrison, who is not I
''golden-mouthed' reader, handed the report
of the committee to the secretary to read.
During the reading you could have heard
pin drop. The Revenue Reform part of
the platform got most of the cheers. At its
conclusion Mr. Morrison said he would al
low General Butler 80 minutes to make a
minority report, give five minutes to Con-
verse and ten minutes to Watterson, and
would then move the previous question.
Butler Made a Good Point.
Butler asked the Secretary to read his re-
port. 1t was a very ingenious document |
and was considered mainly vote-catching |
plea, meaning nothing, only to ''get there,
Eli" Ben made a good point when he |
stated that if it took the able gentlemen on |
the committee Sc hours to frame tariffplank, |
HOW lOuS WOulu it ldhc Tic ldDoTluS lucu W |
understand ii? He said there was no more
difference between tine platforms of '76 and
80 than the platform of tonight One
said Exclusively tor revenue" and the
other said revenue only" 'tNow, gentle
men, he said, ''what is the difference?"
A laugh followed, and the doughty General
stepped down and out
Converse pleaded for harmony with a big
H, and was loudly applauded. Watterson
was enthusiastically received. The Demo
Gratis know a Democrat when they see him.
clear, and all good Democrats could stand
upon it. He made several hits at Butler,
and concluding said, 'There had been more
differences in the past among Democrats
about the tariff than there ever would be
again."
Mr.. Morrison then moved the previous
question, and on the call of States the plat
form was adopted bv a nearly unanimous
vote. 1t was a red-letter day for Waiter
son and the Democratic party, and marked
the beginning of political revolution that
found its full expression at the Chicago
Convention last week in the nomination of
q candidate to fit the platform, if not plat
form in himself
How Watterson Won Out.
On the morning of July II, 1884, Waiter
|
the Palmer House. "Henri" was in e4-
cellent humor He said: 'If anybody can
see any protection in that platform he de-
serves chrome"
Hay-Then the protection in the plat
form does not protect?
Wat:erson-No, sir. refer you to the
text Revenue shall be exclusively for
public purposes" That is clear.
Bookwalter-Why didn't you adopt the
revenue only" plank?
Watterson-I'll tell you. The committee
had an idea it was Objectionable, and had
to tickle them with an equivalent. Butler
gave the thing away He was the only man
who's through it. Then the old growler
went over to his chair and told the COM
mittee what the word Exclusively" meant
Then the row began, which I was
afraid woald result in killing the
but it didn't We had close
call, however, and it was only passed by 20
to Is. The platform does not mean free
trade, and am sure it does not mean pro-
tection.''
Taking one thing with another
When the hurly burly's done,
When the battles lost or won,
his is a great year for cyclones and for
Henry Watterson. JAMES w. BREEN.