The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-05-28
THE SINGLE ISSUE
Those Who Believe i'm but One
Plank to the Prohibition
Platform on Top.
A. A. Stevens Made Temporary
Chairman of the Pittsburg
Convention.
Some Of the Principles the Other
Wing Would Like to
Endorse.

P1TTSBCRG, May 2S.-Ihere was no
tagging on the part of the delegates of
the national Prohibition convention
They We're all astir bright and early,
and long before the hour for calling the
convention to order had come, the dele
gates had all assembled in Music Hall,
at the Exposition building, and there
were thousands of Prohibitionists from
all parts of the country who had come
to watch the proceedings. The gal
leries were crowded and so was the
main floor. All were intensely inter
ested. 1t was the seventh national con-
vention OF the party, and according to
those old war horses of Prohibition who
have taken part i'll every national con-
vention the party has ever held, it was
the most exciting. Never before has
the party had a questioyto settle which
caused SO much contention as has been
developed here during the last few days
over the money plank of the platform.
Favor Everything That Anybody Wants.
A part of the delegation are strongly
in favor of adopting the plank in the
party platform declaring in favor of the
free coinage Of silver at ratio 16tO l.
This wing also desires to declare for the
government Ownershipof railroads and
telegraph lines; for woman suffrage :;
for the abolition of trusts and monOpO-
lies; for restricted immigration, and as
one of the leaders put it. for "every.
thing that anybody wants."
The opposing faction believes that the
Prohibition party should confine it's dec
larations to the one issue Of prohibition.
And ever since the delegates began to
assemble, the war between the factions
has been increasing i'll bitterness. The
single issue, or gold standard faction, as
it is called, scored the first victory in
the national convention when it elected
A. A. Stevens of this state to act as
temporary chairman Of the convention.
By this defeat the broad gauge, or free
silver wing, was only
Intensified In It's Desire to Dominate.
Leaders on each side had met before
the hour of calling the convention to
order, for the purpose of making few
final preparations for the fight in the
convention hall. AS the prominent men
of the party came into the hall, they
were each in turn given an ovation Of
applause, and as the hour for calling
the convention to order approached, the
enthusiasm increased.
1t was not long after 10 o'clock when
Samuel Dickie, chairman of the national
central committee, stepped upon the
platform and called the convention to
order. When he had done this, he
called upon the Rev. Louis A. Banks of
Brooklyn to invoke the blessing of God.
The call of the convention was then
read, after which H. L. Castle of this
city made an address, welcoming the
delegates to the city.
After reviewing the history, progress
and growth of the Prohibition move
ment, he concluded as follows:
'And may God Almighty bless your
coming, and may all Almighty God
through curse and blight wither and
destroy the legalized liquor traffic. the
greatest foe to God and humanity ever
invented in hell or patented OH earth. "
When the applause following this
address had died away, Chairman
DlcAic Hlaue prieI reply III WHICH ne
thanked Mr.. Castle and the citizens of
Pittsburg for the cordial treatment the
representatives Of the Prohibition party
had received.
Excitement Over Temporary Organization.
When he had finished his response to
the address, Chairman Dickie said he
had the honor to introduce the gentle.
man chosen to act as temporary chair