The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-25
THESE ONLY ARE HONEST
Pessimistio Declarations by the
Pharisees Of the National In-
dustrial Conference.
Integrity and Honesty Unknown
on Earth Except as Exem-
plihed by Them.
The Calamity Croaker In Good Voice
Prohibitionists Are Outiawed--Wi
Select Candidates July 4.

| Select Candidates July 4.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 24.-At the industrial
conference to-day the platform was pre-
sented and read. Without taking vote on
the adoption of the platform recess oi
two hours was taken.
Ihe platform states that the nation ia on
the verge of moral, political and material
rum; that corruption dominates the ballot
Dox OF legislatures, congress-, and touches
even the ermine of the bench; newspapers
are subsidized or muzzled; political opin-
ion silenced; business FRUSTRATED; homes
covered with mortgages; labor impover-
ished, and land and money are concentrat-
ing IN the hands of capitalists. Workmen,
it declares. are denied the right of organi-
zation for self projections; imported pau
perized labor beats down the wages; a hiro-
ling standing army, unrecognized by our
laws. is established to shoot them down
and they are degenerating to the level of
European countries: the national power is
used to appropriate money to enrich bond
holders; silver has been demonetized to
add to the purchasing power Of gold,
and the supply of currency is purposely
abridged 70 fatten usurers, bankrupt enter
prise and enslave industry.
The resolutions declare that the old
political parties have allowed this to exist
without an effort at restraint, and.thsrefore
1T asserts that new political organization,
representing the political principles herein
stated. is necessary. A declaration of
principles is then made. A national cur
rency is demanded that is safe, sound and
issued by the general government only, of
full legal tender for all debts, public and
private, and that without the use of bank
ing corporations. just and equitable
means OF circulation, at a tax not to exceed
two per cent, as set forth in the sub-tre
ury plan of the Farmers alliance or some
better system; it demands the free and un-
limited coinage of silver; that the amount
of circulating medium be speedily increased
to not less that $50 per capita; demands a
graduated income tax. and that all national
and state revenues to be limited to the
necessary expenses Of the government, and
that postal savings banks be established by
the government. The platform declares
that land shou not be nonopolized for
speculative purposes and alien ownership
of land should be prob ibted.
All lands now held by railroads and other
corporations, 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. It de-
clares that the government should own and
operate railroads, telegraph and telephone
lines, and demands that the government is
sue legal tender notes and pay the Union
fhp ffnrn ha%1
the depreciated money in which he was
paid and gold.
Ihe tight for recognition of the prohlbi-
ton issue in the platform started immedi-
ately upon the reassembling of the conven-
tion. Miss Frances E. Willard presented
minority. report, which she moved be
adopted immediately as an amendment to
the majority report. Tt favored woman
suffrage and demanded the suppression Of
the liquor traffic. On motion of Simpson,
to lay the minority report on the table, a
viva voce vote showed almost an even split
for and against prohibition. Coached by
Powdery. Miss Emma Curtis of Colorado.
q handsome young woman, captured tae
floor and proposed the following substi-
tute: "We demand that the question of
universal suffrage be submitted to the leg
islatures of the different states and terri |
tories for favorable action" Jerry Simp-
son shouted. "she has solved the problem"
previous question tho substitution was
made by q crushing nlajo itv among vol
1me of cheers, Miss Willard looking very
zlum.
Soon after Powderly announced that Miss
Curtis substitute was Withdrawn as a palt |
of the platform. Miss Curtis arose and de-
,lared that she had done no such thing.
The idea of dealing with the liquor uues-
lion by separate resolution instead of in
the platform was broached several times
during confused discussion, and favor
ably received. 1t WAS now apparently the
purpose, of Powderly, having kept Miss
Wizards minority report out of the plat
'orm, to placste her and her friends by
having the convention adopt the Willard
blank as n resolution in place of that of
Miss Curtis. When roll call was reached
IN what now became Miss Curtis minority
eport the vote was taken by states. It was
hought the Powaerly-W Weaver following /
lefeating the report, but Powderly voted
he knights solidly for the minority report.
secretary Hayes declared it carried, oa to
49, Some unofficial tally keepers made
cry ditfer totals. They declared that
he vote vote roally was 352 noes and 23S
yes, which. if official, would defeat the
minority report. Meanwhile. Miss Willard ,
nd Lady Henry Somerset left the hall and
i'd not return.
The knights and most of the alliance men /,
hen retired for caucus, despite some :
element protests. When the convention
OF together again. half an hour later. 10
atius Donnelly. to the surprise of a great
inny, declared that all business could lie
ound up in half an hour. Defer, by g
nanimous consent, tho little woman
ltfrage matter, adopt the majority i
'port appoint committee to
ct with the national committee q
the peoples party to call a national con- .
entlon to nominate presidential and vice :
residential candidates, and the thing was
one" The idea took like wldiire among n
10 tired and hungry delegates and within
So minutes the majority report was y =
1opted without solitary voice of dissent, =
nd nmid tremendous enthusiasm. Miss +.
urts' woman suffrage resolution as sub
ltute for prohibition was then adopted O
ithout opposition. and the convention ud- b
urned sine die after appointing u nnmmit=
% TO net with tho peoples party national v
The delegates to tho big conference pro-
SO to believe that mammoth new politi-
i combination is in existence fer the 4,
ming presldentlnl campaign. So the "
orm of convention probably never before o
ldeu 10 quickly in seeming harmony, and Ii
mt, too. after virtually slamminr the d
,ols in the face of u national party claim 4
2 million voters, NIL efforts of Miss i,
illhrd for n junctnro with the prohibi- ii
onista having been snutfed out at the IL
st moment. The peoples party Ii
on, who ara chiefly from northern a,
ates figure Tonight that they d
We BY strategy captured the political II
rength OF the alliance in tho south. On ii
Q other hand, the southern alliance mon , o,