The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-30
BidwelI, Of California; Demorest, ofNew York,
and Mccullough. of Illinois, Foremost
Among Those Anxious 10 Be Sacrificed.
Col. Eli F. Ritter, of indianapolis, Per-
manent Chairman of the Convention.
Glib Sam Small Made Secretary and Our Own
Dear Helen G. Honored i'm Several Ways
SPEECHES and SOngs-Three Sessions.
BIDWELL In THE LEAD,

With Demorest and Mccullough Trailing
After for q Worthless Nomination.
CINCINNATI, June 29-The Prohibition
party put in q hard days work. ending
late tonight. the national convention be-
ginning at 10 A. NJ. and holding three
sessions morning, afternoon and evening.
AS result permanent organization has
been effected, with Colonel Eli Ritter,
of Indiana, as presiding officer and Sam
Small, the Georgia ev gelist, as secretary.
and tomorrow the convention will be
ready to pass upon the platform and nom-
mate candidates for President and Vice.
president. Probably the most unusual and
striking scene of the convention was the
opening of the second session with pray er
by Catholic priest-Rev. Father Martin
Mahoney, of ST. Paul. MINI. lt was. with
one exception, the only instance on record
in which Roman Catholic clergy man has
officiated at national political convention
in the United States. Father Mahoney.
who 10 ono of Archbishop Ireland's assist
ants, lie, it appears, O regularly elected
delegate to the convention from Mime
sofa. and has been an active Prohibition
ist for fourteen years. He delivered the
prayer at the personal solicitation of Chair
man Dickio, of the national Prohibition
committee, ami Ex-Governor John p. ST..
of the convention.
The numerous sessions gave the presi
Dental boomers little time for wire pull
ing and there was an absence of the nu-
merous caucuses which distinguish the
older parties. 1t is hardly possible to can
vass Prohibition convention accurately,
but In n general way Bidwell. of Cali
f0rnia, seems to have o material lead of the
other candidates for the presidential NOM
iDation. while DemOrest, of New York, is
hardly as prominent as yesterday. Bidwcll
has also lost strength during the day, ow-
ing to the bringing out of Judge McCul-
Tough. OF Illinois, as q compromise candi-
date, but BidwelPs friends still claim his
election on the first ballot. There Is O dis
position to compliment number of Pro-
hlbitionists with votes for President, and
these complimentary votes may perhaps
become SO numerous as to prevent NOM
ination on the first rol-call. Judge Nc
Cullough has gained a great deal of ground
during the day. The action OF the conven-
ton In refusing to permit States TO cast
votes for delegates not present cut int
Demorests Southern following quite serl-
ously.
The platform committee Is at work, and
has big task before it, The proceeding gs
before the platform was sent to O formu-
lating subcommittee of five shows that
there is decided feeling III favor of the
Prohibitionists taking strong and ad-
vanccd grounds on varions public qucs-
tions other than prohibition. and a broad,
radical platform Ia quite likely. and hot
fight over it may occur on the floor of the
convention.
The number of candidates in the field for
the presidential nomination was further
enlarged tonight Michigan decided to
put John Russell In nomination. and
tomorrow New York will decide whether
or not to name III. Clay Bascom. Tke
opposition TO Bidwell hope in this
was to prevent Bidwell's nomination on the
first ballot and leave the way open for any
one. except Bidwell or Demorest. The
platform committee was In session at mid
night. A silver plank will be contained in
the platform, but will be reported to the
full committee without recommended tion.