The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-02-25
A GREAT GATHERING.
Meeting I'm 81. Louis Of the Representatives
of the Different Labor Organizations.


The National Industrial Conference was held
at st. Louis Monday. A bombsholl was dropped
in the Convention shortly after the noon session
had begun, by a motion from Secretary Hayes,
OF the knights of Labor, that Torrill tho tenn
porary presiding officer. should appoint the
regular committees. II Hayes motion Sue
ceeded IL became apparent to many that Terrill
would hold control indefinitely, and being
vested by that motion with the powers Of a
Gar, would stave of the formation Of Third
Party, or at least delay the nomination OF
candidates until after the Democratic and Re-
publican Conventions, If not altogether.
But the uprOar which ensued upon the offer
ing of Hayes motion as quickly subsidized
when IL was declared that the motion was out
of order. It is explained that the third party
delegates believed. justly or unjustly, that a
combination had been made between Macune,
Livingston, Hayes, and Terrill to down the
new party scheme. The understanding was
that Terrill would appoint the committees 10
suit the ants, and in that way forestall the
placing of Farmers Alliance candidates for
the Presidency aud Yice-Presidency in the
field for the coming National campaign.
The principal speakers ofthe day were Presi-
dent Polk, Of the Farmers Alliance; I. V. Pow
dorly, of the Knights of Labor. and Ignatius
Donnelly. As three possible Presidential can
didates, these men were listened to with marked
interest
President Polk said the farmers had assem-
bled for the purpose OF performing a solemn
and responsible duty. On Wall street and on
the boards of trade money was II per cont. la
any OF the small towns on the other hand,
money was at from 10 to 90 per cent. That
had 10 be Tighted. The farmers, he declared,
paid over 90 per cent. Of taxes, and If money
can be borrowed in New York on cotton and
wheat 40 II per cent, why cannot the same
thing be done in the West2
Mr.. Powdcrly said that the time had como
when the people would surm0unt their Difficult
ties. Ii was not Powderly nor Polk that
would bring this about, but the people. The
speaker took MP the question of restricting i'm
migration. Through the gates OF Castle Gar
den, he said, stream pours into this country
and distributes itself. particularly in the coal
regions The cream Of the manhood was
crowded West, and they in the East have in
stead the poor unfortuuates, whom they must
educate year after year to prevent them from
using bombs insttad Of ballots. He had been
and still was firmly against such state OF
things.
Ignatius Donuelly was greeted with deafen-
ing applause as he succeeded Dir. POwderly.
lie declared that in the coming convention that
the labor advocates proposed TO wipe the Ma
son and Dixon line out of the geography; 10
wipe tho color line out OF politics; to give
Americans prosperity; that the man who ere
atcs shall own what he creates; to take the
robber classes from the throat Of industry; TO
take possession OF the Government Of the
United States, and to put their nominee in the
White House."
Marion Cannon, OF California, was nominated
temporary chairman after motion TO effect a
temporary organization. Three credential COM
mitteemen were appointed from the National
Farmers Alliance and Industrial Union, Farm
or's Mutual Benefit Association, knights Of La
Dor, National Citizens Industrial Alliance, Pa
National COlOred Alliance and Cooperative
Union aud National Farmers Alliance.
The convention little later adjourned over
until the next day.
IL is a sure thing that n the convention does
not take any action looking 10 the nomination
Of Presidential candidate the Peoples Party
will go ahead on its own hook Immediately.
Agents wanted. Comrades preferred. SEQ page 4