The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-05-29
BROAD Gl1GERS
PrOhibitiOnistS Who Wished to
Make Prohibition the Sole
Issue
Defeated in the Convention at
Pittsburg--The Vote a
Surprise.
Augurs the Adoption of a Free
Silver Plank in the
P~latfor.f

PITTsBURG. May 29.-It was 80
o'clock before the second days session
of the Prohibition national convention
was called to order. The attendance at
that hour was light, as many Of the del
egates had been laboring in committees
until the early morning hour. When
comparative quiet had been obtained, |
Rev. Gideon P. Mackled of Ohio offered
prayer.
A resolution was then presented ex-
pressing sympathy for the sufferers of
the st. Louis cyclone and it vas adopted
by a standing vote.
Mrs. Frances Beauchamp of Lexing-
ton, KY, presented a memorial from the
the W. G. T. u, adopted at the national
convention in Baltimore last fall. The
resolutions reaffirmed allegiance to the
Prohibition party, las the only politi-
cal party with the courage to speak out
boldly in favor of woman's suffrage,
and the total humiliation of the liquor
traffic"
A request was also made that the
name of Home Protection party" be
adopted, and that the convention adopt
measures looking more to the protection
of the homes and care Of the young. A
committee of five was appointed to draw
up resolutions embracing the requests of
the ladies.
The committee OF platform presented
two reports to the convention. The
majority, Or marrow gauge" report de-
clares its agreement with the United
States supreme court that statistics of
every state show that more crime and
misery result from the use of ardent
spirits than from any other cause that
it corrupts legislation and makes good
government impossible.
That the party is unalterably opposed
to the drink traffic and declares for its
total suppression for beverage purposes,
rejecting all compromise measures,
whether license, local option, taxation
or public control. Wage earners' at
tention is called to the enormous waste
caused by the liquor traffic at the cost
of production, and that the success of
the prohibition party will remove this
great burden from industry. They
stand for good government, hon
estly and economically administered.
That there is no greater peril to the ma
ton than the competition of political
parties forthe liquor vote and calls upon
| voters to enforce the declaration of the
churches against the liquor traffic.
The minority report, which was pre-
sented by the broad gaugers," has the
following declaration on the money
question.
THAT all money should be issued by
! the government only and without the
Intervention of any banking association.
1t should be based upon the wealth,
stability and integrity of the nation, and
should be a full legal tender for all
debts, public and private, and should be
| of sufficient volume TO meet the demand
of the legitimate business interests of
the country. And for the purpose of
honestly liquidating all our outstanding
coin obligations, we demand the free
and unlimited coinageo of both silver and
gold at a ratio of Is to l, without con-
sulting any other nation"
Other planks in the platform declare
against the manufacture and sale of in.
toxicating liquors for beverage purpose.
The use of liquors for medical and
other legitimate purposes should be con-
trolled by the state.
Equal rights of suffrage for both
sexes is favored, alien acquisition of
land opposed. Government control of
railroads only English in the public
schools, and no public funds for sectar.
ian institutions election Of president
and vice president by popular vote ;
liberal pensions amended immigration
laws none but citizens to vote and, and
naturalized citizens to vote only after
being naturalized a year, are other
recommendations. The final declara-
tions of the platform are:
There should be proportionate rep
r%esentation in state and nation, and the
initiative and referendum adopted 30
as to secure free expression of the popu.
lar will. We favor the imperate man.
date as a guarantee against the misrep-
resentation Of the people by men chosen
to be their representatives"
Ex-Governor st. John read the minor
ity report. Almost every sentence was
applauded. When he came to the free
silver plank the broad gaugers broke
loos" with cheers and prolonged ap-
plause.
a4.er finishing its reading. Mr.. st.
John moved that the report be inoor-
porated as a part Of the majority report.
A motion was then made to lay on the
table, but it was defeated, the vote
standing $40 yeas to 400 nays, a. big VIC
tory for the broad gaugers. A great
connection was created when the vote
was announced.
Mr.. st. John then spoke in favor Of
the report. The motion to make the
minority report a part Of the majority
report wal carried. The motion to take
up the report section by section was
carried with q cheer, and the broad
gaugers were confident Of carrying
everything, including free silver, with
them.
The first seven planks, including the
~r~ -~--- $500