Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-28
TWO REPORTS MADE
Factions at Pittsburg Failed to
Agree on a Platform.
SECOND DAY OF THE PROHIRIPIONISfS
Silver Men Were Victorious on a
Test Vote.
SYMPATHY FOR ST. LOUISIANS

PITTSBURG, Pa, May 2S.-It was $50
clock before the second days session Of
the Drohibition national convention. wis
called tC order. The attendance at that
hour was light. many of the delegates
had been laboring in committees until the
carly morning hours. When comparative
quiet bad been obtained Rev. Gideon -.
Maclen of Ohio offered prayer.
resolution was then presented express
ing sympathy for the sufferers of the St
Louis cyclone. and 1t was adopted by a
sta nding vote.
After the consideration of some routine
matter the report on the platform was
called for.
Chairman Funk stated that the narrow
and ''brOad-gauge'' factions were unable
to agree, and that two reports would be
presented. The narrowgause'' was the
majority report.
The Platform.
The committee on platform presented two
reports to the convention. The majority
or ''narrow-gauge' report declares its
agreement with the United States Supreme
Court that statistics Cf every state shows
mere crime end misery result from use of
ETdent spirits than any other source; that
liquor dealers corrupt legislation and make
good government impossible; that the party
ard declares for its total suppression for
beverage purposes. rejecting all compromise
measures. whether license, local option
texaticn o, public control. Wage earners
attention is called TO the enormous waste
caused by the liquor traffic at the cost of
production, and that the success of the pro-
h.bition party will remove this great bur
cen from industry: that they stand for
good government honestly and economical
ly administered that there is greater
Teril to the nation than the competition of
political parties for the liquor vote. and
calls upon voters to enforce the declara-
ton of the churches against the liquor
traffic.
The minority report which was presented
by the broad-gdugcrs, has the following
declaration on the money question:
That all money should be issued by the
government only, and without the inter
EentiOn of any banking association. 1t
should be based Upon the wealth, stability
and integrity of the nation. and should be
q full legal tender for all debts, public and
private, ard should be of sufficient volume
TO meet the demands of the legitimate
business interests of the country. and for
the purpose of honestly lIquidatng all our
outstanding coin obliga tiOnS. We demand
the free ami unlimited coinage of both sill
Yer and gold. al a ratio of III to l, without
COnsuitir Z any other nation"
OthrE planks IN the platform declare
against the manufacture or sale of intoxi-
eating liquors for beverage purposes. The
use of liquors for medical and other legiti-
mate purposes should be controlled by the
state Equal rights of suffrage for both
sexes are favored, alien acquisition of land
opposed, government control of railroads
only English in the public schools and no
public funds for sectarian Institutions
election of President and Vice President
by popular vote. liberal pensions amended
immigration laws, none but citizens to vote
and naturallzed citizens to vote only after
being naturalized year, are other recon-
mendatiCns. The final declarations of the
platform are:
There should be proportiorate repre-
seHtdtlon In state and nation. and the In
ltlitive and referendum should be adopted
so as to secure free expression OF the pep
ular will We favor the Imperative man
date as u guarantee against the InIsrepre-
Sehtdtlon OF the people by men chosen
Dy their representatives,
Ex-Gov. st. John read the minority report
and almost every sentence was applauded
w men he came TO the free silver Ilank the
brOad-gauSers broke loose with cheers and
prolonged applause.
After finishing its reading Mr. st. John
moved that the report - Incorporated as
part of the majority report. a motion
10 lay on the table was thea made but II
was defeated, the vote standing 3IO aves
10 ~ noes. big victory for the broad
gauSeTS.
great commotion was created when the
vote was announced.
Mr. 81. John then spoke In advocacy Of
the report The motion to make the
minority report part of the majority re-
port Was carried. The motioa to take I'D
the report section by- section was likewise
carried with a cheer. and the ''broads"
We're confident OF carrying everything in
Guiding free silver. with them
Ihe hrst seven plaIks. Including the one
1aNorlnE WOman's suffrage, were then
taken up and as theE did not differ mate
rally in either report were adopted
The convention, at 12:2U pm, then took
G recess for dinner.