St. Paul daily globe., 1892-06-30

JOHN p. ST. JOHN. Ots raul, MIllll.
When delegates and spectators had
partly recovered from the surprise
caused by the announcement of his pres
ence and name in such connecti on. a
great hush fell upon the asSemblage.
The dark garb and pale, ascetlc features
riyeted attention instantly, as with up
turned eyes he solemnly invoked the
blessing of Almighty God upon the con-
vention and the Prohibition party aud
asked that
The truth and the Light
shine upon all of the people. With one
accord delegates and spectators were
upon their feet, and with bowed heads,
amid strangely deep silence, joined in
the priests petition. 1t was, with one
exception, the only instance on record
III which Roman Catholic Clergyman
has officiated at national political con-
Yention in the United States.
Father Mahoney, who is one of Arch
bishop Ireland'S assistants, is, it APP
pears, a regularly elected delegate TO
she convention from Minnesota, and has
been an active prohibitionist for four
teen years. He delivered the prayer at
the personal solicitation of Chairman
Dickie, of the national Prohibition COM
mittee, and ex-Gov. John p. st. John.
of Kansas, the temporary chairman of
the convention.
At the outset Gov. st. John gave the
convention whole platform in his
speech assuming the temporary chair
manship, and from that time on the pro-
ceedings were kept moving constantly.
Impromptu musical efforts usually took
the form of topical hits at those who
talk prohibition and vote the other way.
and they met with enthusiastic recep-
tions.
Bidwe1l Easily Leads.
1t is hardly possible to canvass Pro-
hibiti0n convention accurately, but in a
general way Bidwell, of California,
seems to have material lead of the
other candidates for the presidential
nomination, while DemoreSt, of New
York, is hardly as prominent as yester-
day. Bidwell has also lost strength dur
ing the day. owing to the bringing out
of Judge Mccullough, of Illinois. as a
compromise candidate, but Bidwell's
friends still claim his election OH the
first ballot.
There is disposition to compliment
a number of ProhibitionistS with votes
for president, and the complimentary
votes may perhaps become so numerous
as to prevent any nomination on the
first roll call. Judge Mccullough has
gained great deal of ground during
the day. The action of the convention
refusing to permit states to cast votes
for delegates not present cut into Dem
orest's Southern following quite seri-
ously.
Tie platform committee is at work,
and has big task before it. The pro-
ceedings before the platform was sent
to formulating subcommittee of five
shows that there is decide d feeling
in favor of the ProhibitioDists taking
strong and advanced groun dis on vari-
ous public questions other than pro-
hibition, and broad, radical platform
is quite likely, and hot fight over it
may occur on the floor Of the cOnven-
ton.
PugnaciOus Sam Small.
> At the afternoon session the presenta-
ton of the report of the committee on
permanent organization recommending
Col. Eli Ritter for permanent chairman,
and Sam Small for permanent secretary,
and reinstating the rule voted down in
the morning giving states votes only
for delegates present, was the signal for
a fight.
Rev. Sam Small presented minority
report signed by fifteen states recon-
mending that each state delegation be
permitted to cast full vote, to which it
is eutitled. The majority report. he
said. bIotted out states, and made the
Prohibition national convention simply
a mass meeting of men with money
enough to get here.
David Morgan, of Minnesota, was
astounded at Mr.. Small's speech. He
had seen only c0rporals guard at Pro
hibition conventions under the old rule.
When one man could vote for a whole
state. a few fellows with little brains did
to stay at home. He wanted Prohibition
conventions we'll attended and was op
posed to few men. running the ma
chine. The question was discussed pro
aud con for nearly an hour, but a roll
call by states OH the adoption of the mi
nority report finally brought the matter
to focus. Itresulted in the defeat of
the minority report by vote of $50 to
ri, and then the majority report was
adopted. so that absent delegates will
have 10 vote.
A HOOsier Honored.
The honors of the permanent organi-
zation were hotly contested for in COM
.mittee. EX-Gov. st. John, Prof. Dickie,
A. A. Stevens, of Pennsylvania: w. j.
Grew, Of New York: Robert Ration, of
Springfield. Ills, and E. Ritter, of In
dianapolis, were nominated for the
permanent craftsmanship. Dlckie's
name was withdrawn in favor
of Ritter. Grew withdrew in favor of
Stevens. Ritter's name was strongly
urged on the ground that he was being
fought in President Harrison's home by
the latter's friends, and that with Ritter
upheld in the national convention. the
Prohibition vote in Indiana would re-
ceive Q magnificent impetus. Ritter