The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-01

~ IA po4iIcai aiiirs as IN PERSONAL iie anu as no
longer employing the aspirations of the Ameri-
can people or inviting the confidence of en-
nghtened, progressive patriotism. Their pro-
test against the admission of ''moral issues"
into politics Is confession of Sheir own moral
degeneracy. The declaration OF an eminent
authority that municipal misrule is the
one conspicuous failure OF American
politics follows as natural coase-
quence of such degenecracy, and is true
alike OF cities under Republican and Demo-
cratic control Each accuses the other of ex-
travagance In congressional appropriations, and
Dotn are alike guilty; each protests, when out
OF power, against iniraction OF the civil service
laws ana each when in power violates those
laws in letter and spirit; each processes fealty
TO the interests of the toilng masses. but both
covertiy truckle to tho money power in their
administration of public affairs. Even the
Mills bill and the Republican Mckinley bill, is
no longer treated by them as an issue upon
great and divergent principles OF government,
put as a mere catering to different sectional
ciass interests. The attempt made to wrest the
Australian ballot system from its true purpose
ana SO deio-m 1t as to render it extremely
dltncult for new parties to exercise the right of
euHrage is an outrage upon popular govern
ment. The competition of both parties for the
vote OF the slums, and the sssiduous courting
OF the liquor power and subserviency to the
money power has resulted in placing those
powers In the position OF practical arbiters of the
destinies of the nation. We renew the protest
against these perilous tendencies, and invite all
citizens TO join US in upbuilding a party that,
as shown in five national campaigns, prefers
temporary defeat to the abandonment of tho
claims OF justice. sobriety, personal rights and
the protection OF American homes
minority, composed of almost half the
members OF the resolutions committe, through
Wheeler, of New York, offered the following as
substitutefor the financial and silver planks:
The issuing of national currency belongs. 0
congress alone, as the representative OF the SOW
erelgn power Of the nation, and should not be
delegated TO private individuals or corporations
The insufficient production OF gold and the
variance in the relative values of gold and silver
render 1t Impract,cab,e to rely upon either gold
or silver Tor a sale, sound. sufficient currency.
We favor. therefore, the issue of legal tender
treasury notes, exchangeable in gold and silver
bullion on a plan similar to that which now
floats $40 COO OF green backs on $780, 900 of
gold reserve and makes them more acceptable
and convenient thsn either gold or silver coin.
In extension of this plan, rather than the coin
monetary problems that are disturbing all ma
tiOps.
For the tariff plank the minority offered the
following:
Our tariff should be so levied as to furnish
revenue for the needs OF the government
economically adm nistered, relieving the
necessities used by the mass of the people, and
Tor the benefit OF labor protecting American
productions and manufactures against the
competition of foreign nations The details OF
our tariff laws having become the football of
party politics, to the great disturbance and
damage OF our protective industries and COM
adjusted by a tariff commission to recommend
TO congress duties to meet the wants of the gov
ernment, so graduated as to protect American
skili ana labor against the competition OF tho
world
The following was offered by the minority as
an additional plank to the PLATFORM:
Recognizing and declaring that prohibition of
the liquor traftlc has become dominant issue
IN national politics. We invite to full party fell
lOwship ali those who on this one dominant is.
ia haf
this party can and will remove sectional differ
ences, pi omote national unity aud insure the
best welfare OF our entire Land.
The majority report was taken up section by
section, and no serious trouble occurred until
the financial and silver p,anks were reached
An effort made TO substitute the minority plank
caused parliamentary tangle, which was
further complicated by amendment Of
fered by Hartz, OF Illinois, having in
view, as a substitute for 10th, a declaration for
the free coinage OF the American product under
certain conditions. Professor Dickie endeavored
to cut off the debate, but ex Governor ST. John
demanded that it continue. The chairman
recognized Dickie, but on an appeal from the
decision OF the chair it was reversed by a vote
OF 4S2 to 453, aud there Was warm discussion
OF the silver question, st. John and Hill, of
California, championing free coinage, and
Cacden opposing it Finally Hartz' amend
ment was beaten and minority report defeated
d,
finance, was then adopted without division.
vote by states was then taken on the fourth
plank, 1t being rejected by vote OF 335 to go.
After the free coinage men were beaten an ef-
fort was made to strike out 'unlimted'' and
adopt resolution for "iree coinage" but it was
ruled out of order. A tariff fight followed, but
it took only few moments to defeat the minor
ity plank and adopt the majority. The other
planks went through without amendment,
though meeting with opposition. Rev George
Foodby, a colored delegate from Nebraska,
offered as an addition to the "mob rule" plank
the following: believing in the purity of the
ballot and freedom of elections, we denounce
the two old parties for purchasing votes, fraud
and intimidation" The amendment was de-
featad. The passage OF the public school plank
was greeted with cheers.
Consideration of the platform having been
completed, the minority resolution, intended as
an addition to the platform, inviting into the
party all persons who agree with the Prohib-
tionists on the liquor question as a dominant
issue, then came up and precipitated fight
Mrs. Cougar, ST. John and other strong anti
fusionists opposed it, and il was defeated
When ST. John endeavored TO put the platform
a whole on passage considerable confusion
arose. and cries OF "gag rule were raised
Dodge, of Michigan, was recogn zed, and offered
an amendment TO insert the words "to consist
of gold, silver and paper before the words
"snOuiu De lssueu IN tue INST line OF the
financial plank. 1t being discovered that the
words were inadvertently omitted. they were
reinstated. The recognition OF Dodge was a
dangerous precedent giving an opportunity to
renew the silver sQuabDe, much 10 the annoy
ance OF those who wanted 10 finish the work
Hl-feeling was also engendered in another di-
rection, and there was danger OF a split not only
in the convention, but in the party. and of the
bolt of some members OF the New YORK, Penn
sylvania and other delegations. The financial
and other economic planks were extremely dis
tasteful, and the minority resolution making
prohibition the only test o. party fealty was the
principal tie still binding them to the party. Its
defeat was taken hardly. and members ackn knowI-
edged that some of their associates were think
ing of leaving the convention The trouble was
known only to the leaders, and Stevens, of Penn
sylyania, saw the light of the storm and moved
to take the fealty resolution from the table and
add II TO the platform Wolffen berger of Ne
braska, opposed it, while Chairman Dickie de-
Tended it. Mrs. Cougar, amid scene OF yelling
and disorder. asked Wardell, treasurer OF the
Standard Oil Company, if he had
made the statement that unless the
convention adopted the plank he would walk
out of the convention and desert the Prohibi-
ton party. When the uproar subsided Wardeu
denied the statement, which denial was greeted
with great enthusiasm. Alter some further de-
bate, and amid considerable disorder, resolu.
tion was ad ted 10 the platform and the star Of
peace once again shone on the party. The plat
form as A whole was then adopted, and after
ward the following resolution, offered by j. c.
Evans Of Illinois, was carried:
Resofyed. That We favor liberal appropria-
TO-, bv rho federal government for the Ao-ldsa