Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-07
MILLER Is THE NAN.
Chosen by AcclamatiOn 10 Head the
State Prohibition Ticket
TYLER AND KAGLEY NAMED,

These for Lieutenant-G Governor aud At
ney-GeneraL-Mr. Moffetts
Desth-The Party's
Platform.
IL the worm OF the still" had crawled
into the assembly hall Of the Young Mems
Christian Association yesterday morning
he would have found things decidedly hot
for him. 1t was the wrong place for alco-
holic representatives OF any kind, for the
worthy Prohibltionists of Virginia were
holding a convention for the purpose Of
nominating Temperance candidates for
the coming gubernatorial contest.
Over one hundred Of the honest "cold
water men, including the Afro-Ameri-
cans attending the meeting, and oil por-
tions Of the State were represented in
the gathering. The lovers of the crystal
fluid seemed thoroughly enthusiastic,
and their deliberations we're characterized
by no little dignity and interest. Several
ladies graced the occasion with their pres
ence. All the delegates wore red silk
badges.
The body was called to order by Mr.
W. w. Gibbs. Of Staunton. who stated
that it was always the custom OF the Pro-
hibltionists to open their proceedings with
prayer. He presented Rev. Charles r.
stebblns, of Suffolk, who invoked the di-
vine blessing.
COME DOWN TO WORK.
Mr.. Gibbs, who is the State Chairman
Of the party then gave a brief resume OF
the work Of the temperance men during
the past year. He said that they had
done well and prospered in the noble
cause they represented.
Major d. Umphreys, OF Norfolk. was
! unanimously elected as temporary chair
man OF the convention. and Mr.. 7. A.
Ross az temporary secretary. The former
acknowledged the compliment with a
graceful little speech.
The next business in order being the
| election OF a permanent chairman and sec
retary, Major Umphreys was chosen for
the former position and Mr.. Ross, OF
| Staunton for the latter.
The chair announced the following COM
mittees:
Credentials: r. II. Beezley. c. +. Yer
deer II. Y. Zachary.
| Platform: w. w. Gibbs, w. r. Wilder,
w. j. Calls G.. NJ. Smi,hdeal, Irwin Mil
Ter, John Bustar.
The committee sent n congraulatOry tel
egram to their friends in Roanoke who
carried the local option contest in that
city on Tuesday
| After the committees on credentials and
| platform had withdrawn, the chair offer
| ed the delegates free use Of The floor and
| invited them to unite in a regular old-tlme
| experience meeting" The first speaker
| to pour the temperance hot-shOt and can.
| Mister into the alcoholic batteries was Rev
| l.. A. Cutler. formerly of Richmond. and
now Of Louisa. His charges were ire
sistlble and his arguments swept all be-
fore him.
Rev. L. II. Cutler, of Louisa, was this
next orator He struck the Democratic
party of his county some pretty hard licks
| and said that things had gotten to sucl
| pass there now, that their only hope
| lay in the chances OF either buying the
negro votes with whisky or money.
Major Umphreys delivered the third I'D
! dress He spoke of the great prospect!
of the Prohibition party. and told hi
| friends not to be dsmayed by the reports
| relative to the paucity Of their numbers
ii the United States Sneers could avail
| nothing against dhe temperance men
for victory was not always on the sd'
Of the strong. The speaker made som'
very good charges against the police o
| Norfolk and stated that they unhesita
| tingly testified falsely before the grand ju
ries of that citv.
Mr.. John Bustard. of North Danville
| and Mr.. Russell Of Shenandoah. also spok
on the same line.
Rev. Mr.. Wilson. of Warren. warne,
the convention not to make censoriou
| remarks about church members who dl,
not vote the Prohibition tickets. Th'
cause could not be strengthened by re
pulsive measures; the public should b
won over.
THE PLATFORM REPORTED.
At this iuncture the committee on plat
form submitted their report 1t was con
slderaed seriatim. and finally adopted a
a whole after a few unimportant amend
| ments.
The preamble which was adopted be
fore the platform was taken up Is in tn
| nature of n declaration OF principles. AM
| Is quite long. 1t opens with general de
| nInciation OF the Democratic, Republican
and Populist parties for avoiding decla
rations upon the subject of moral anC
| temperance legislation. declares for TEN
perance legislation the abolition OF unnec
essary offices. ballot reform, RAILROAD
commission immigration from othe
States OF the Union, economy in pubh
| affairs, "A graduated income tax, an in
| crease of school term. which would Civ
country children equal educational al
! vantages with those I'm the cities Thi
| could be done, It IS contended, by uslul
for school purposes the enormous sun
| annually expended by the State on ac
count OF the liquor traffic.
LIQUOR MANS GREAT ENEMY.
The platform proper embraces clever
sections. and contains nearly one thou
sand words. II opens by denounclng tn
liquor traffic "as the aggressive foe or al
that Is held dear by civilized nations, III
great enemy of popular government an
the interests of the people, quotes eX
tracts from decisions of the State ant
United States courts. and upon then
| bases the declaration that all license law
are unconstitutional, and that, with thi
ISSUE. are inseparably associated all OF III
moral. political and economic questions o
the day: declare that the circulating me
|
sist Of gold, silver and paper, every doila
OF which should be equal in value, an
should be sufficient in quantity to NEE
the demands Of business"
Here is the fourth plank: "Tarin shoui
be levied only as a defense against fof
eign governments which levy tarif upor
or bar out our products from their mar
kets, revenue being incidental. The res
due of means necessary to an economics
administration of the government shoul
be raised by levying the burden on VIVA
the people possess instead OF upon VIVA
they consume.
The platform declares further for rigi
economy in local, State and Natioha
affairs: favors salaries Instead Q
the allowance of fees to certai
officials: opposes all combinatioh
OF capital intended to increase the COS
OF products for general consumption ID
| H.. - bV the pee