The San Francisco call., 1896-05-28
Displeased With the Selection for
Temporary Chairman, They
Create a Furor.
THEN THE BAND BEGAN TO PLAY
Amid Great Confusion the Free-Coinage
Minority Capture the Permanent
Craftsmanship.

PITTSBURG, Pa, May 27-The seventh
National convention of the Prohibition
party was called to order In this city this
morning in Exposition Hall. H. L.
Castle chairman of the committee on re-
ception, welcomed the convention as "the
representatives of an army of 300, 900 of the
most loyal and single-hearted patriots, and
of 600, 1000 of as devoted and consecrated
women as ever gathered under any banner
and made warfare against any enemy"
Samuel Dickie of Michigan, chairman
of the National Committee, responded to
the address OF welcome. Then, right at
the opening of the formal proceedings,
when Mr. Dickie presented the name of A.
A. Stevens of Tyrone, Pa, as temporary
chairman, the rebellion of the free silver
minority broke out. Half dozen deie-
gates shouted points of order at Mr..
Dicl1ie, who refused to hear them.
Mr.. Woodbey, colored delegate from
Nebraska, accentuated his rebellion by
standing on his chair and shouting at the
top of his voice. The band was called
upon to drown the uproar and give the
chairman time to recover his wind and
composure. Meanwhile half the conven-
ton was walking the floor and squad of
policemen was ushered into the hall to
Keep order.
Mr.. Wheeler of New York, the gentle
man named in the minority report as
temporary chairman, rose and for the
sake OF harmony withdrew his name, al
though protesting against what he called
an arbitrary and unjust rule.
At last Temporary Chairman Stevens
was permitted TO deliver his address. He
began by reciting the history of the Pro-
hibition party; then, coming to National
issues, he said:
"If my representations of the politics
of our country during this year be correct
each party will have its own issue to main
tain without entering into antagonisms
that have existed in the past in political
contests. 1t is therefore important that we
should make no mistake and avoid ex-
tremes In contending for questions that
the Prohibition party was never born to
settle SO long as the drink traffic remains
legalized by the Government We all have
our opinions on other political questions,
such as the tariff, free trade, free silver,
sound money, ETC., and our opinions are
by no means unit. Such ISSUES are to us
as a party divisive ones, and we should
avoid anything that will divide our ranks
or divert our mind from the great purpose
for which we are organized and cause
halt in the advance we have been making
for political power and control.
LET US, then, III this convention bear in
mind that nothing would SO crafty the
supporters of the drink traffic as a di-
vision in our ranks or fruitless contro-
versy in this convention.
''Let us stand back to back to face the
foe, remembering that thus united we
stand or divided we fall.'
Complete order was maintained during
Chairman Stevens address. A. Wilson
of Chicago, who had been selected as tenn
porary secretary, called the roll of States.
and the committee on credentials was
named.
At 1890 P. NJ. the convention took re-
cess until P. NJ, and the various COM
mittees proceeded to organize.
DR.. J. B. Cranfll of Texas has been
elected chairman of the committee on
platform. which is a victory for the mar
row-gauGe element of the party. Mrs.
Helen NJ. Cougar has been elected chair
man of the committee on permanent or
ganization.
George G. Christian of Arkansas pre-
sided over caucus of 300 narrow-gaugers,
which was held Immediately after the
recess of the convention. The caucus
adopted resolution declining TO support
any issue which could not command q
three-fourths vote of the convention.
At caucus of the broad-gaugers a call
of the roll of delegates present showed
l.
one-third of the total vote of the conven-
ton. This practically insures bolt OF the
broad-gauge or free-silver men.
When the convention reassembled in the
afternoon a resolution was passed ex-
pressing regret for the sudden death of
Hon. J. c. Brock, one of the delegates
from Massachusetts,.
The committee on credentials reported
$40 delegates present.
A resolution pledging the convention
not to abate its relentless war on the
licensed rum power was ordered tele-
graphed to various religious bodies now in
conference, also to Congress and to Miss
Frances Willard and Lady Somerset in
England.
Mrs. Helen Cougar, chairman OF the
committee on permanent organization, re-
ported the name of Oliver w. Stewart of
Illinois Zone of broad-gauge faction) as
permanent chairman.
Mr.. Ferguson of New York presented a
minority report on behalf of the narrow
gauge men, recommending the continu-
ance of a. A. Stevens in the chair as per-
manent chairman.
A tangle over point of order threw the
convention into scene of confusion which
lasted for more than an hour.
Much ill-feeling developed and Chair
man Stevens himself was for long time re-
fused hearing, but when at last he gained
the attention of the disturbing elements,
he said that though he believed he had
been put forward as q representative OF
the element in the convention which be-
lieved in prohibition and non-divisiye
issues, and though he believed in call of
the States he would be sustained, he would
desire to withdraw his name. This an
nouncement was received with cheers an d
the majority report of the committee was
then adopted and Mr.. Stewart was escorted