The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-07-05
AFTERNOON SESSION.


AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Platform Presented After a Lorg watt
Gresham Men Precipitate q Row.
The robber of old was simple and bold,
And rarely put on any fr1lls,
But the robber to-day has a different way,
And the taxpayers foot up the bills.
That was the song TO the tune of Robin
Hood. which greeted the delegates and spec
tators as they filed into the big Coliseum
tins afternoon. Get of, get of the earth,
we can't have rest upon tt" was the sue
cessor to THE tax-pay ers foot up the bills"
They were sung from the stage with spirit
by o phenomenal glee club, and were re-
ceived with enthusiasm. A half dozen
other lively airs followed, one being accom-
panied by O kicking shuttle of the feet as
If the bassos saw with prophetic vision
of voters of the old parties making o volun-
tary exodus These songs served the double
purpose of keeping the audience in good
humor and semblsnco of order.
1t was 2:07 o'clock when Chairman
Louoks called the convention to order. but
it was efter p. NJ. before all the delegates
and visitors had secured seats and { be raps
Of the chairman had resulted in ev en- a be-
ginning of business. The tickets, which
had been withheld early in the day had
evidently got into hands that would use
them, for the immense hall was almost
completely filled. 1t was very sultry. and
fully o third of the delegates were in shirt
sleeves. A telegram was read. announcing
that the Republican delegation from Well
ington county, Kansas. had gene TO the con-
vention with q certain candidate who was
defeated. and th at on their return, the dele
gates put on badges of the Peoples party
candidate. The announcement was greeted
with loud cheers.
A motion was carried that the resolutions
committee report such parts of the plat
form as were ready and that these be con-
sidered while the other parts of the plat
form were being considered. his was sp-
parently the first move on the part OF the
Weaver men TO hasten the balloting A
suepicion had gained currency that the
committee on resolutions Was not anxious
TO make very speedy progress for the rea-
son that it, as a whole, preferred Judge
Gresham for the candidate and wanted
time to set an agreement from him that DO
would let tie convention nominate nm.
The motion was carried, but the committee
reported that IL was not prepared Just yet
TO make partial report.
WANTED TO BALLOT AT ONCE.
George c. Ward, of Missouri, got recog-
milton at once on this and moved TO sus-
pend the rules and proceed to ballot for
nominat ion of candidates This was Sec
onded, but there was nc intention on the
part of the ardent Gresham men 10 give up
hope until the last straw upon which they
leaned was broken, and an Illinois dele
gate made the point of order that the mo-
ticn was contrary 10 the rules liking an
order of business. The chairman over
ruled the point on the ground that the
convention could do as il pleased.
Mr.. Ellington, of Georgia, made a coun-
ter move on the chess board 10 this ruling
by moving the tabling of the motion and
carried his point by very large majority.
The Weaver meE knew they were very
strong on account of the Kyle kilograms
and lack of assurances from Gresham that
he would accept, and they wanted more
speed put on the wheels of the convention.
Mr. Lamb of Texas, q Weaver man, and
also working for Terrell for yice-president.
moved to adopt the entire st: Louis plat
form as the party platform. This motion
was greeted with mingled cries of approval
and disapprovai.
Mr.. Brown, of Massachusetts, made o
speech on the subject. declaring, amid sp-
plause that the st. Louis platform was the
one on which the organizations OF united
labor stood. They did not intend that any
thing should be taken from it or added 60
it. Several other delegates spoke In the
same strain.
The effect of the proceedings was to
alarm tho resolutions committee. They be-
came stampeded and soon filed on the stage
with platform hastily brought to q COM
pletion. Their appearance removed the
cause for the fight on the floor, and it was
permitted to 90 by the board. Then the
convention became silent while Thomas V.
Cater, of California, read the preamble of
the unanimous report OF the resolutions
Cater moved the adoption of the preamble.
and IL was adopted by o unanimous up
rising of the delegates and tumultuous ap-
plause.
PREAMBLE AND PLATFORM.
Following is the preamble and platform
as read and adopted:
Assembled on the one-hundred- and sixteenth
anniversary of the Declaration OF Independence
the Peoples party OF America, in their nrst
tional convention, invoking upon their action
name and on behalf OF the people OF this coun-
try, the following preamble and declaration OF
The conditions which surround us justify our
cooperation. We meet In the midst OF Nation
brought TO the verge OF moral, political and ma
terial ruin. Corruption dominates the ballot
box, the legislatures. Congress and touches even
the ermine OF the bench The people are de-
moralized Most of the states have been com
PEELED TO isolate the voters at the polling places
In order % prevent universal Intimidation
bribery. The newspapers are largely
ion silenced; business Frustrated; our
homes covered with mortgages; labor
impoverished, and the land concentrating ~ the
hands OF the apitalists- The urban workmen
are denied the right OF organization for self
projections: imported pauperized labor beats
down their wages; hirelin < standing army. un-
recognized by our laws Il established 10 shoot
them down, and they rapidly degenerating
into European conditions.
The fruits OF the toll OF millions are boldly
stolen 10 build up colossal fortunes for few,
unprecedented In the history of mankind. and
the possessors OF these in turn despise the Re-
public ana endanger liberty. Prom the same
prolix womb or governmental Injustice We
breed two great classes-trarn ps ana million
aires. The national power 10 create money
Is appropriated 10 enrich bondholders-
vast public debt. payable in le-
galtender currency; has been funded
into old-bearing bonds, thereby adding
millions 20 the burdens of the people. silver,
which has been accepted as coin since the dawn
of history. has been demonetized TO add 10 the
purchasing power OF gold by decreasing the
value OF all forms OF property, as we'll as human
labor and the supply of currency Is purpoSey
abridged 10 fatten usurers, bankrupt enterprise
and enslave industry.
A vast conspiracy against mankind has been
organized on two continents. and tt Is rapidly
taking possession or the world. IL not met and
overthrown at once it forebodes terrible social
commissions, tho destruction or CIVILIZATION, the
establishment OF an absolute despotisu. We
nave witnessed for more than quarter of
century the struggles OF two great parties
for power and plunder, while griev-