New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-01
PRICE THREE CENTS.
BIDWELL FOR PRESIDENT.
SCENES IN THE PROHIBITION
CONVENTION.
SPLIT IN THE PARTY NARROWLY AvEkrEo-
MRS. GONGAWs ATTACK On w. L. WARD.
wELL-A FREE-TRADE PLANK IN

MRS. GONGARS ATTACK On w. T. WARD
wELL-A FREETRADE PLANK IN
THE PLATFORM.
Cincinnati, June 3O.-TI,e Prohibition National
Convention just before midnight ntminated for tho
Presidency. on the first ballot. General John Bid
well, California pioneer, n former Congressman,
and a wealthy landowner of California. He
received 500 votes out Of total Of 974..4s votes
Icing necessary to a choice. The totals, before
any changes CT corrections made, stood $50
for Bdwel ls4 for Stewart, l42 for Demorest.
and 3 for Bascom
The stars shone tonight on a united. and 70
all appearances a harmonious National Pro-
hibition party but the sun had gone
down on that party in 6iscord, with not remote
prospect that the convention might end in a bolt
on the part of large and influential element OF
the party. All the latter part Of the afternoon
il looked though tie party might split In twain.
The conservative element found IL hard to remain
in convention that indorsed the most radical
economic ideas of frce-trade. large Issues OF cur
rency, and Government control Of Corporations:
and when declaration that Prohibition was the
sole test of party fealty was defeated they feie
that nothing remained for them out reluctans
departure from the party Some Of the leaders recog-
nzed the danger ahead and after noisy struggle
in which all rules were swept overheard, tney
succeeded in obtaining the reconsideration Of the
action on the Prohibition fealty resolution, and
its adoption part Of the platform.
Dramatic scenes attended the storm, ana f0
climax was an lnquisiton of William r. Wardwefl.
the treasurer of the Standard Oil Company and
one of the chief men in the Prohibition party by
Mrs Helen NJ Cougar. a member Of the partys
National Executive Committee. The platform
which caused this trouble Is a radical document.
The absence of free and unlimited coinage plank
is noteworthy. however, for the convention re-
fused to accept this plank OF the majority OF the
Resolutions Committee and struck it from the
platform without replacing it with any other
declaration the silver question.
Little was done at the morning session OF the
convention, and an adjournment was taken until .
o'clock, at which hour the platform was COM
pleted Minority reports were decided upon to
be presented against the financial and tariff planks
adopted by the ma j0f,ty
The financial plank, as reported, demanded an In
crease in the volume Of money, and insisted that
the money made lcgal-tender for the payment
of all debts, public and private. ard that its vol
ume should be fixed at definite sum per capita
and made to increase with the increase In pop
ulatiou.
The silver plank was this We favor the free
and unlimited coinage Of silver and gold"
The tariff plank was as follows: Tariff should
be levied only as a defence against foreign Govern
ments which levy tariff upon or bar out our pro-
ductions from their markets, revenue being incl
dental The residue of means necessary to an
economical administration OF the Government
should he raised by levying a burden on what
the people possess, instead of upon what We
consume"
Other planks demand the suppression Of specula-
l<;np in fbo ff Craln
and products, and the formation OF pools. trusts
and combinations for the arbitrary advance
ment of prices urge laws for the suppression
OF the liquor traffic: demand woman suffrage
and equal pay regardless of sex. call for Govern
ment control of railroads. telegraphs and other
public corporations and demand the further
restriction OF immigration and the extension OF
the naturalization period.
The minority composed of almost half the MEM
hers of the committee, through Mr.. Wheeler, OF
New York. offered substitute for the nnan-
cial plank, one favoring the issue OF legal tender
Treasury notes. exchangeabe in gold or silver
bullion on a plan similar 10 that which now
floats S340,0O0,0OC Of greenhacks on Sl0,00o,oo0
If gold reserve and makes them more acceptable and
convenient thar either gold or silver coin." For
the tariff plank the minority offered substitute
declaring that the tariff should be so levied as to
furnish revenue Tor the neeus OF tAc OoNtfnuichs
economically administered, relieving necessities
used 1y the mass of the people and for the bene-
fit of labor protecting American productions and
manufactures against the competition Of foreign
nations, and suggesting the appointment Of Q
tariff commission I, recommend to Congress du-
ties TO meet the wants Of the Government, so
graduated as TO protect .inerican Skill and labor
| against the competition OF the world.
There was q warm discussion Of the merits Of
the silver question: ST. John and lIipp Of Colorado,
championing free coinage, and Carskadon, OF West
| Virginia, opposing it. The minority report was
defeated on q rising vote of 337 nays 10 3l6 yeas
The majority plank relating TO finance was then
| adopted without division
| The fight then came up on the plank declaring
in favor of free and unlimited coinage Of both
metals. vote was promptly taken by States
and the plank rejected by a vote OF 335
10 500. The result Of this action is that the
third plank OF the platform, enunciating tho
financial policy of the Prohibition party, remains
| in the platform. but there is no plank the
silver question The tariff fight promptly fol-
lowed and it took only few minutes to defeat
the minority plank by large vote, and 70 adopt
the MA ajority plank Under the call IF the previ.
Gus question, vigorously led by Dr. Funk. Of
| New-York, the other planks of the platform went
| through without amendment
The consideration of all the planIls Of the plat
form having been completed, the resolution Of
the minority INTENDED as an addition TO the
PLATFORM, inviting into the party all persons who
are with the Prohbitionists on the liquor ques-
ton, as the dominant issue, then came up
and precpitated fight, Mrs Cougar. John !.
ST. John and the strong anti-fusionisis opposing
it vigorously. The minority could not rally the
200 votes necessary 10 order call of States, and
| accordingly lost their resolution.
| There were loud protests against the proceed.
inss by which st. John had been enabled, after
! making his speech to cat of debate on the last
minority resolution, and there were vehement OBJ
| jections which swelled into tumult of disorder
and confusion when Mr.. ST. John attempted %