The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-27
RUN FIEND Is FORGOT
Silver the Issue in Prohibition
National Convention.
THERE WILL SURELY be A SPLIT.
The Defeated Faction VIM Bolt-st.
John fDr Silver. Dickie ~
Sound Meuey.


split In the Prohibition party rs q result
OF tomorrow's convention leaders Of both
factions freely admit tonight The spit
WIZ come. they say. over the money plank
IN the platform As yet scarcely word
has been said regarding prohibition The
money question has been the aH-absore-
ing topic Of discussion II has become
bitter and acrimonious discussion The
bitterness OF feeling increases hourly, and
when the convention meets IL promises
10 be little battle Of determination. II
gold standard plank should be adopted
In the platform by the Eastern delegates.
then those fsvorsng the coinage of silver
at a ratio Of Is TO will secede. II. on the
other hand. the so-caiied free silver dele
gates adopt a free coinage plank. then
the gold standard crowd viii leave. and
should the convention fail 10 declare for
woman suffrage the feminine portion OF
the convention will sever its connection
with the party.
II promises to be q memorable conven-
ton for the Prohibitionists. and bids fair
to wreck the party. As yet no move has
been made by any 81 the coutending fac
tons for a comprN aise~ Each faction
seems possessed by an undying confidence
In It's ability to worst its opponents. and
SCOTS at the idea OF making terms
There were three caucuses today. One
was held by the women. who decided that
unless suffrage plank was inserted in
the platform they would leave the party:
then the free silver wing caucused and de-
clared that their leader should run upon
broad gauge" platform or none at all. and
finally the single issue crowd came to-
gether and announced that neither free
silver. woman suffrage nor anything else
but prohibition should be mentioned in the
platform.
The broad gauge or free silver people
kSAA Co
Dickie for what they term his 'traitorous
conduct" He Is national chairman and a
delegate from Michigan. and Is the only
one from Michigan who is out for a gold
standard in money affairs. Ex-Gov. ST.
John and the other leaders Of the broad
gauge wing have openly accused Mr.. D.ckie
OF violating the instructions Of his people.
In reply to these accusations Mr.. Dickie
says ex-Gov. ST. John and his free silver
clique are guilty Of uttering untruths. He
Just-fies his actions In advocating q gold
standard by the statement that he In
formed the Michigan convention, when il
instructed him by a majority Of 100 for free
silver. that he did not intend to abide by
such instructions. and asked that another
be selected to take his place.
The leading candidates for the presi-
Dental nomination have made public
declarations as to where they stand on
money matters. Joshua lowering, after
announcing his adherence to a gold stand
ard, said: III the CONVENTION sees At to
adopt broad gauge platform / cannot
assent to the use OF my name. Neither
could l be candidate In case the party
saw mt to place in charge OF the coming
campaign oficials who entertain views OBJ
posed to my own on these matters at
issue"
Rev. DR.. Bentley meets Mr.. lowering
haif way and re.terates his statement.
except that ii Is Numerically opposite In
tenor. He said: I'VE in the West cannot
go back to our people and tell them Wa
want their votes for prohibition alone.
we nave had hard times In the West.
Our people believe the currency system
is at fault. and must have a plain spoken
declaration from us on that point. We
are for free silver, equal suffrage and pro-
hibition."
The free silver faction claims to hays
an Overwhelming majority Of votes Gov.
ST. John is Of the belief that the broad
gauge candidate VIII be nominated on he
nrst ballot I'VE have a majority Of 100
now and We think IL will be increased.
said he. Samuel D.ckie Is equally san
guine that free silver will be defeated
But whichever way 1t may result. Mr..
Dickie is OF the belief the outcome will
be a split In the party
There are thousands Of visitors from all
parts OF the country who have come to
watch the proceedings. 1t Is said by
some OF the enthusiastic believers In pro-
h.bition that over 1000 people viii attend
the convention.
II was decided at the caucus OF the free
silver delegates to support o. W. Stewart.
OF Illinois, for permanent chairman Of the
convention. Rev. Charles H. Bentley, Of
Nebraska, for president. and ]. H. South
gate. Of South Carolina. for vice presi-
ant nttrf shA
the gold standard faction was severely
denounced, and several of the speakers
had harsh things to say regarding Chair
man Dickie.