The San Francisco call., 1896-03-11
ALL OLD PARTIES
ROUNDLY SCORED,
Opening of a Convention of
United Reformers at
at Pittsburg.
VERY FEW ARE PRESENT
Mrs. Maria Freeman Gray Speaks
Vigorously in the Cause
of Temperance.
JOHN FLANNIGAN'S ADDRESS.
Says the Venerable John Sherman
Has Done More Harm Than
Jeff Davis.
JOHN FLANNIGAN's ADDRESS.

PITTSBURG, Pa, March 10.-The for
nation of new political party, in which
will be found the new reformers-Popu-
lists, free silver advocates, Prohibitionists,
Woman Suffragists, Greenbackers and
others-will be attempted by three-days'
conference, which began at the old City
Hall to-day. The call for this conference
was signed by 16, 600 men and women, and
the meeting is technically designated as a
general conference for the abolition OF
the drink traffic in the United States and
for such other moral, economic. financial
and industrial reforms as are needed in
this country"
At 1925 o'clock, when the conference
people. Carl Stewart, the National chair
man. explained that the conference was
merely conference and not gathering
of delegates. The principal parties, he
said, were corrupt. The Republican had
been his choice, but when it bowed down
to the LIQUOR traffic he became disgusted.
The Democratic party, one OF the negative
principles, was opposed to progress. If the
Populists, Prohibitionists, Silverites and
others could get together they could ac-
complish everything.
National Secretary Daniel Swoger read
the report of the committee of 100. The
financial report shows receipts TO date
from inception of the movement,
$3.50 81; expenditures, $3.50 IS; leaving a
balance of II cents. Secretary Swoger
and Mrs. Gray read a number of letters
from ympathizers with the movement.
John Flanagan, in his enthusiastic
talk indorsing the movement, character
lied John Sherman with having ac-
compIished more harm than Jefferson
Davis. Flanagan concluded by reciting
a poem illustrating the times as he sees
them. The conference adjourned for
dinner.
When the afternoon session opened
twenty people occupied seats in the
hall. After a few preliminaries Mrs.
Maria Freeman Gray of California spoke
on the question, "Can we reasonably
hope that either of the existing parties
Republican, Democratic, Populist or Pro-
hibitlon-win in the near future be able
to abolish the drink traffic and secure the
general reforms needed IN the Govern
mentr
Mrs. Gray said that under the Repub-
lican and Democratic administrations COR
ruption, dishonesty and trickery have
entered the halls of justice; therefore re-
form could not be expected from those
parties. OF the Prohibitionists, Populists
and other minor parties the speaker de-
clared that they have flung their banner
to the breeze with the express purpose
of bringing about better condition Of the
affairs of the Government, but as yet have
not succeeded.
Mrs. Gray, strong advocate of prohibi-
ton, dwelt upon that subject at length.
She declared, however, that she favored a
new party-one that would succeed where
the others have failed.
At the close of Mrs. Grav's address it
was discovered that the meeting was with
out a secretary. After some confusion at
the oversight Mrs. Gray acted in that ca
pacity.
Other speakers discussed the question
introduced by the California lady.
H. E. Cole of Pittsburg thought union
of the Prohibitionists, Populists and Sill
verites could overthrow the two main
parties. Rev. William Frost Cryspin
spoke against intemperance, saying that
the extinction of this evil would suppress
polygamy. gambling and prize-fghting.
Several letters were then read among
them those of DR.. John Stoltz of Reading,
Pa, and D. M. Grandon OF the Michigan
Messenger. Mr.. Grandon suggested ex-
Congressman Joseph Sibley of Franklin,
John P. ST. John of Kansas and Mayor HI.
E. Pingree of Detroit, as candidates for
President or Vice. President
Another session will be held tomorrow.