The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-03
A Conference OF Reformers.

Inc year IN Whicn PreSldenC ID 10 DO
elected is always a great year. an annus
mirabilis. for new parties and for confer
ences and meetings OF enthusiasts. who feel
sure that they hold the destinies OF their
country In the hollow Of their hands or
their heads. 1892 is not going to fall behind
the record OF Its elder brethren. The Farm
ers' Alliance. the Peoples party. and the
Columbians. promise. and have already fur
nished. indeed. an amusing bill: and much
good entertainment is to come. Some Of
1t came at Chicago last week. A meeting
properly described as gathering. that is
to say. a congestion or swelling. OF reform
enthusiasm was held In that town. It con-
tained special and general reformers. Pro-
hibitionists. farmers. Greenbackers. labor
ers. and the Hon. IGNAT1Us DoNNELLY.
the Sage OF Eininger. and the foe Of the
capitalistic press. Mrs. ANNA NJ. DIGas.
the deep-voiced orator OF the prairies OF the
Kaw. was there. and 80 was that irrepress-
ible financial reformer. Gen. WEAVER OF
Iowa. Miss FRANCES E. WILLARD OF the
w. O. T. u. GEORGE WAsHBuRNE. the Bos-
ton Nationalist. who holds the proud Office
of National Secretary Of the Peoples party.
and the illustrious TAUBENEcK OF the Farm
ers' Mutual Benefit Association OF Illinois.
were among the reformers who assembled
and met together. The central idea Of this
meeting and assembly was to unite upon
platform and candidate that would make
the old and effete parties sink into the
slime with that hollow and tragic PUNK
known to the small boy who fires a
rock" into a pond with the accuracy
and science known to experts as "cut-
b. -. ALL.
were 30 many shades OF opinion repre-
scented as to make a unanimous color
scheme out OF the question. Miss WILLARD.
who presided. said that the object OF the
conference was to prepare for the election
OF President who would kill the rum traf-
10 with ono blow. We don't SEQ how even
our distinguished friends Mr.. JOSEPH Cook
or DR.. I. X. FUNK could kill the rum traffic
with one blow. II they should be the tenants
OF the White House; but. however that may
DO. the other elements In the conference
would not unite for the pulverizing OF the
rum power. The Peoples party men and
women do not love prohibition; but the Pro-
hibitionists got even by opposing silver.
The Peoples party delegates wanted to
have the liquor traffic nationalized. They
labored for the adoption Of n resolution
demanding that 1.-THE exclusive importa-
ton. manufacture. and sale Of intoxicating
liquors shall be conducted by the Govern
ment or State. at cost" This arrangement
would probably make strong drink too ex-
Sensive for anybody but plutocrats. but
Of course. the mere mention OF 1t wrinkled
the fair brows OF the Prohibitionists. The
different classes OF delegates met sepa-
ratsly. but finally adopted In concert an ad-
dress which the Peoples party representa-
lives reject so far as 1t puts ban upon
drink. The signers OF the address were
good enough to say that they arrogated to
themselves mo right to speak authorita-
lively for any one but themselves" Still.
they could not but perceive "ths absolute
necessity which exists that the psope
rising up In their primal capacity
as citizens and voters. should wrest the
Government Of the State and the
nation from those who have So long
misgoverned It," Wherefore the future
wresters ventured to put forth few sug-
Gsstiups In favor OF consideration Of oil
po,ittoAt elements Ia behalf Of these Issues.
S1A" a. ~ tvs q thsas hsuss. the