The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1894-07-07
The Populists Nominate Him For
Congress From the East Side.
SPOKANE WAS NOT IN 1T
Organizer Adams of the A. II. u. the
Choice For the West sIde-TaIked
All Day on Platform.

night without touching the platform.
1t came up this morning and has oc'
cupied the entire days session. Today
has surpassed yesterday in the amount
of fighting over proceedings. The first
trouble arose over the simple statement
in the preamble that the 'friends OF
equal suffrage demand the enfranchise-
ment of woman Several delegates
jumped to their feet as soon as 1t was
read, obiecting noisily. Every man in
the convention seemed to desire to
sneak on everything and the chairman
was compelled to appoint two sergeant
alarms to preserve order. One delegate,
Gilmore, of King. was twice forced
into his seat. After the phrase had
been considered from every possible
standpoint, the section was finally
passed by vote of 104 to %.
Prohibition appeared in the pream BILE
in the innocent guise of 1.-The iniquities
of the liquor traffic demand remedy"
but the delegates jumped on it ii once,
and after the convention had laboTed
upon it for time they adjourned for
lunch. Upon converting again the
phrase was amended to read as follows:
''The iniquities of the bonding and
usury system demaud a remedy"
thereby elimating any reference in the
main platform to the temperance ques-
rIon.
These matters consumed five mortal
hours of the conventions time. Then
it battled on single tax, it battled on
the Nicaragua canal, which was laid
on the table; IL battled on opening
Indian reservations, which was killed.
it battled on everything, amended
everything, moved Substitutes for
everything, and usually ended by
adoption OF the original motion. Dur
ing consideration of the plank on de-
ficiency judgments, which, as usual,
was amended several times, one King
county delegate, la II supposedly sar-
castle mood, arose and proposed that a
substitute demanding the repeal of all
laws looking toward compulsory pay
ment of debts be inserted.
After much travail the last plank in
the platform, relative To graduated
land tax, was reached. Here was a
sweet morsel, and the delegates girded
on their armor. 1t was torn, il was
split, 1t was hacked, battered and
banged, but came up smilingly at the |
end of the fight, having successfully |
overcome the usual amendments, sub |
stitutes, etc. Then Gilmore of King |
sprung another bomb by moving a |
substitute of about eight lines for the |
entire platform as considered. Then
there was war. The sentiment was for |
a strong amendment, but the majority |
of the delegates could not be brought |
o see it, and after spirited addresses,
more or less personal, and during which |
The chairman stigmatized the conven- |
ton ''as the most disorderly ever held |
on the EARTH" Gilmore withdrew his |
substitute, trying 10 condition the !
by getting the convention |
to add nothing more to the platform as |
IL then stood. This was refused, of |
course, and w. ID. Jenkins of What.
coin notified the convention that he |
had a plank to present. after which the |
adjourned for dinner.
During the afternoon Forrest of King |
made a speech, I'm which he said that |
men who wished to 60 before the
people without some special plunks for
were consummate assoc.
or words to that effect. This did not |
suit either Delegates May of Island or
Hesse OF Spokane, who made vigorous
verbal exceptions. However, their
lacerated feelings were salved. 1t is
safe To say, though, that these two will
not vote for Forrest should he come up
Tor congress, for which his name is
The action of the convention this
evening surprised those who have fol-
lowed its action during the day. Upon
Resembling the platform, as con-
'idered during the day, was put through
With rush, additional resolutions be.
ng promptly voted down. The plat
.orm as adopted begins by re-
citing that the peoples party
s called upon to settle grave
questions, "that the friends of equal
suffrage demand enfranchisemen,
II woman; that the bond and usury
ystem needs attention; excessive tax.
'tion needs reduction and laborers pro-
ection; the peoples party recognizes
he sacred right of the people to bear
rms, but opposes the maintenance OF
military organizations by individuals.
operations or by the state in time of
'eace; official salaries should be re-
uced; 1t believes that these re-
Orms can only be secured TO ! .
he people by the adoption of
be system known as the initiative
nd referendum. The platform itself
eaffirms the Omaha platform; restora.
ion to the people Of free and I'M
mited coinage of silver at a ratio of
TO /; textbooks printed by the state: =
xemption of homesteads, willie occu-
led as such by the owner or families
, the amount of $4,000, and the ex.
nption of personal property from '
leriff's sale; direct election bv '
he people Of adequate grain I