Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-01
0WELL A VICTIM,
:!
9 PrOhibitionists Wrangle
Until Midnight, When the
Californian Is Then
[0SEN ON ONE BALLOT.
ae of the Liveliest National Con-
ventions of the Whole Lot
EE COINAGE KNOCKED SILLY.
he Standard Oil Treasurer Attacked by
Mrs. Cougar, but he
[0SEN ON ONE BALLOT.
EE COINAGE KNOCKED SILLY.
rES OUT WITH A HALO OF GLORY

oec on q united, and to all appearances
nsnious National Prohibition party,
the sun had gone down on that party in
cord and the sgonies of internal dissen-
On, with not remote prospect that the
invention might end in bolt on the part
large and influential element of the
srty.
All the latter part of the afternoon 1t
,ooked as though the party might split in
vain. The platform was the cleaver which
mad descended on the party, and the con-
servative element found it hard to remain
in a convention that indorsed the most radi-
cal economic ideas of free trade, large is
sues of currency and government control of
corporations, and when q declaration that
Prohibition was the sole test Of party fealty
was defeated, they felt that nothing re-
manned for them but a reluctant and SORROW
full departure from the party.
Some of the leaders recognized the dam
ger ahead, and after a noisy, turbulent
storm, in which all rules were swept over
board, they succeeded in guiding the prohi-
bition ship to haven of peace by the re-
nsideration of the action on the prohibi-
On fealty resolution and its adoption as
.rt of the platform.
Dramatic Scenes During the Storm.
Dramatic scenes attended the storm, and
is climax was an inquisition of William T.
Vardwell, the Treasurer. of the Standard
il Company, and one of the chief men in
e Prohibition party, by Mrs Helen M.
ougar, a member of the party's National
eecutive Committee.
The platform which caused this trouble is
road, radical document The absence of
rec and unlimited coinage plank is note
orthy. however, for the convention re-
lsed to accept this plank of the majority
Of the Resolutions Committee, and struck
it from the platform without replacing it
with any other declaration on the silver
question.
The following was offered by the minority
as the additional plank to the platform:
Recognizing and declaring that prohibi-
ton OF the liquor traffic has become the
dominant issue in national politics, we in
vfte to full party fellowship all those who,
N % TINS C one comment ION hsiis. issue, are with us
d will remove sectional differences, pro-
ote national unity and insure the best
relfare Of our entire land.
cheers for All the Planks,
Secretary Wheeler, of the Platoon Com
ittee, read the majority report. The first
.ering came at the end of the prohibition
nix. Woman suffrage also elected cheers
,re was loud outburst of applause on
reading of the free coinage declaration
husiastic manifestations continued
ughout the reading, every plank SEEM
to strike q responsive chord in the con-
ntion, particularly the anti-option and
ublI> school planks
The minority report was signed by IL
lembers, headed by James Black, of Penn
lvania The two reports were read, and
e convention was in q good deal of confu-
ON over the method of proceeding with its
,nsideration, but finally, on motion of ex-
overnor st. John, the majority report was
ken up section by section.
There was no serious trouble until the f.
ancisl and silver planks were reached. An
fort made to substitute the minority plank
sused q champion parliamentary tangle,
duplicated by an amendment offered by
Iartz, of illinois, having in view as a sub
titute for both majority and minority
planks, a plank for the free coinage of
the American product under certain cordi-
tionA
Points OF Order in Plenty.
Points of order were as thick as flies
around q molasses barrel Prof Dickie. of
Michigan, endeavored to cut off debate to
get to voting at once, but ST. John ener-
getically asserted that he had been first
recognized; that Prot. Dickie's motion was
out of order, and that if debate were cut off
q million of voters would make answer at
the polls. Now and here was the time to
meet the question squarely.
Chairman Ritter ruling against st.
Johns right to the floor, there was an ex-
citing time, st. John evidently having the
convention with him, Notwithstanding the
protest of Morgan, of Minnesota, against
the convention being swayed by regard for
any man. flaming, of Michigan, appealed
from the decision of the chair, and wen by
q rising vote of 4S2 to 453.
The way was thus opened for debate, and
there was a warm discussion of the merits
of the silver question, St John and Hipp,
OF Colorado, championing free coinage, and
Carskadon, of West Virginia, opposing it
St Jonn objected to the resolutions of
so bound up with conditions as to be mean
ingless. 'tFor Gods sake" he exclaimed
''don't let's do anything that will need a
committee of Interpretation to explain it.
Free coinage OF American silver would not
furnish the needed relief, because the pro-
duction was insufficient. We have 70 cent
silver dollar now, because in 1873 Congress
adopted the most damnable robbery that
was ever perpetrated Under Republican
and Democratic rule, that system has been
cdptinued to the present time, and If we
hste 20 cent dollar it is a Democratic and
Republican 20 cent dollar. The op-
position to this free silver demand of the
laboring and farming interests found its
msinspring in Wall street"
A Babel Of Unnecessary Noise.
There was a babel of unnecessary noise be.
fore vote could be had, but finally Hartz's
amendment was beaten by large vote, and
then the minority report was defeated on a
rising vote of 337 noes to 3i6 ayes A roll
call by States was ruled out of order on the
ground that the announcement of the vote
nsd been previously made.
The fight then came up on the plank de-
claring in favor of free and unlimited coin
age Of both metals A vote was promptly
taken by States, and free coinage got q bad
knock out, the plank being rejected by a
vote of 1876 to 596.
The tariff fight promptly followed, and it
took few minutes only TO defeat the mi
nority plank by large vote and to adopt
the majority plank, which is as follows:
Tariff should be levied only as a defense
against foreign governments which levy |
tartn upon or bar out our products from |
their markets, revenue being incidental. |
noInical administration OF the Government |
should be raised by levy1ng q burden on /
wuat the people possess instead of upon |
we consume.
George w. Woody, q coal-black
o delegate from Nebraska, gained an
Jrtunity to offer as an addition to sthe 1
rule" plank the following:
elievfng In the purity Of the ballot and !
freedom of election, we denounce the
old parties for their purchasing of
es, fraud and intimidation.
fr. Woody had to be content with his
,ortunity, for his amendment failed of
ption-
here was serious danger of q big split,